In the quiet time of the year, these Triduum days are an invitation to do the profound inner work:

to face our shadows and deep fears –to taste that in ourselves which already lies beyond death,

drink at its fountain, then to move back into our lives again, both humbled and steadied

in that which lies beyond both light and dark, beyond both life and death. 

What better tilling of the inner soil for the mystery of the Incarnation, which lies just ahead?

The Force That through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower   

Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees   

Is my destroyer.

And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose

My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

The force that drives the water through the rocks   

Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams   

Turns mine to wax.

And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins

How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.

The hand that whirls the water in the pool

Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind   

Hauls my shroud sail.

And I am dumb to tell the hanging man

How of my clay is made the hangman’s lime.

The lips of time leech to the fountain head;   

Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood   

Shall calm her sores.

And I am dumb to tell a weather’s wind

How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.

And I am dumb to tell the lover’s tomb

How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.

****************************************************

JOHN CLEARY

“Should Christianity still have

a Voice in the Public Square?”

John Cleary is the presenter of ‘Sunday Nights’ on ABC Local Radio.

He has been described as ‘one of Australia’s leading commentators

on religious affairs’. He is a member of the ABC’s specialist Religion

unit and is often heard as a commentator on Religious issues for

ABC Radio & Television. He is best known for his years with Radio

National as presenter of The Religion Report and, prior to that,

the philosophy program Meridian. Sunday Nights with John Cleary

is a unique weekly programme on ABC Local Radio exploring

the issues, events and people driving developments in religion,

ethics, spirituality, popular culture, values and beliefs in our country.

*******************************************************

She was the second female president

and was first elected in 1997

succeeding Mary Robinson,

making her the world's first woman

to succeed another as president.

She was re-elected unopposed for a

second term in office in 2004.

She is the first President of Ireland

to have come from either Northern Ireland or Ulster.

Mary McAleese graduated in Law from Queen's Univesity Belast.  

In 1975, she was appointed Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology

and Penology at Trinity College Dublin  and in 1987 she returned to

her Alma Mater, Queen's, to become Director of the Institute

of Professional Legal Studies. In 1994, she became the first

female Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen's University. She worked

as a barrister and also worked as a journalist.

She used her time in office to address issues

concerning justice, social equality, social inclusion,

anti-sectarianism and reconciliation. She described

the theme of her Presidency as "Building Bridges".

This bridge-building materialised in her attempts to

reach out to the unionist community in Northern

Ireland. These steps included celebrating The

Twelfth of July at Aras an Uachtarain and she

even incurred criticism from some of the

Irish Catholic hierarchy by taking communion

in a Church of Ireland cathedral in Dublin.

Despite being a practising Roman Catholic,

she holds liberal views regarding homosexuality

and women priests. She is a member of the

Council of Women World Leaders and was

ranked the 64th most powerful woman in the

world by Forbes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“I want to see truth and goodness

triumph over ideology, especially my own:

Good conversations submit to the topic

or question …. they have a

graced quality if we are attentive and faithful

to the moment … we experience them

as taking us where we have never been

before … they are always

an experience of what is true and good”.

(“Good Conversation” document, Catalyst for Renewal).

On the evening of October 11th 2012

Catalyst for Renewal

celebrated the fiftieth anniversary

of the opening of the

Second Vatican Council

with a Eucharist at

St Patrick's, The Rocks.

The Presider and Homilist was

Bishop Geoffrey Robinson.

Click HERE to read the text of the Homily

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Throughout 2012,

Catalyst celebrated

the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of

the Second Vatican Council

with a series called

"Q & A in the Crypt"

“What does it mean to you to be a Catholic?”

27^th May:        Professor Greg Craven, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University.

Sophie Kearns, Director of Pastoral Care at SCEGGS Darlinghurst and previously Director of Character Education at Loreto Kirribilli.

You can read the notes which accompanied this session - click HERE

24^th June:        Catherine Harris AO, PSM, Chair of Harris Farm Markets and Commissioner, Australian Rugby League Commission.

Father Michael Whelan sm, Director, Aquinas Academy and Executive Director of Catalyst for Renewal.

(moderated by Geraldine Doogue)

You can read the notes which accompanied this session - click HERE

29^th July:         Geraldine Doogue AO, well-known Australian journalist and radio and television host.

                        Peter Joseph AM, Chair of the Blackdog Institute and Chair of the St James Ethics Centre.

You can read the notes which accompanied this session - click HERE

You can read Geraldine Doogue's Text of her presentation on the Eureka Street Website by clicking HERE

The article has also appeared at ONLINE OPINION and a lively discussion has ensued, with over sixty responses.

To follow that conversation click HERE.

26^th August:    Robert Fitzgerald AM, Commissioner of the Australian Government Productivity Commission.

                        Sister Anne Derwin, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of St Joseph and President of Catholic Religious Australia

                               You can read the notes which accompanied this session - click HERE

                                              AND YOU CAN READ ANNE DERWIN'S TEXT - click HERE

                                               AND YOU CAN READ ROBERT FITZGERALD'S TEXT - click HERE

30^th Sept.        Deirdre Grusovin, Member of Board of CatholicCare Sydney and was a member of the NSW Parliament for 25 years.

Father Frank Brennan SJ, AO, Professor of Law at the Public Policy Institute, Australian Catholic University.

                       You can read the Notes which accompanied this session - click HERE

******************************************************

Vatican Forum Talks: In September 2012 Catalyst also held a forum on 
Vatican II... here are the texts:

	Vatican II Where Do We go From Here Daniel Ang - Pastoral Planning Officer for the Diocese of Parramatta
                            Read it HERE

        The Laity in the Church today - Dr Michele Connolly rsj
                            Read it HERE

         The 50th Anniversary of Vatican II - Br Julian McDonald cfc AO
                             Read it HERE

****************

Other Recent Events:

The Annual Spirituality in the Pub Dinner

at The Vault, Shepparton, on 21st September 2012

was addressed by Fr Frank Brennan SJ.

His topic was

'Looking Back and Looking

Forward Over Church and Life

on the 50th Anniversary of

Vatican II'

To read his text, visit the Eureka Street website

by clicking HERE

____________________________________________

AND

The Clifford Longley Lectures

Clifford Longley of The Tablet was a special guest of Catalyst for Renewal in May of 2012.

Longley presented a series of stimulating lectures in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney,

including themes around issues arising from Vatican II and its aftermath - a maturing laity,

the meaning of "the people of God" and authority in the Church.

Read the texts of his lectures - go to Archives in the top menu.