Catalyst for Renewal is joining with Aquinas Academy to present four forums relating to the Royal Commission's inquiry into sexual abuse in institutions in Australia.

These forums are intended to provide substantial factual information as well as an opportunity to join like-minded people in an effort to be constructive and honest in addressing the tragedy of sexual abuse, especially within the Catholic Church.
  
Easch forum will inclued a presentation followed by open forum.
  
The forums will be held in The Crypt of St Patrick's Church at 1.30pm on the following Sunday afternoons:

September 1 - Geraldine Doogue
September 22 - Francis Sullivan
October 27 - Bishop Geoffrey Robinson
November 24 - tba
 
All welcome. Entry free.  Information <mailto:secretary@aquinas-academy.com>

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Spirituality in the Pub

     SIP Weekend 2013

A time of reflection to help each of us develop our personal and group spirituality

A conference dinner and special SIP

Opportunities to share and learn about having great conversations

Saturday 27^th – Sunday 28^th July 2013

Live in or attend daily

“The Centre” 14 Frances St (cnr Cook St) Randwick

The Program

Saturday from 9.30am               • Keynote speaker: Fr Michael Whelan sm

                       3.30pm             • Eucharist

                       6.00pm             • Pizza & beer (or wine!) followed by a special SIP

Sunday from 9.30am                 • A program of sharing stories and learning about the ‘nitty-gritty’ of organizing                                        Spirituality in the Pub at local and national levels

FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDING COSTS

AND BOOKING INFORMATION AVAILABLE: CLICK HERE

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.