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“REPORT ON THE DAVID TACEY FORUM, 6th APRIL 2008


Spirituality Hi-jacked?

 
“Brilliant” was the consensus view of more than 150 people who packed the crypt at St Patrick’s on Church Hill on April 6 to attend Catalyst for Renewal’s first forum of the year and listen to David Tacey pose the question: Are Religion and Spirituality drifting further apart? And brilliant it certainly was.

Had the religions lost their monopoly spirituality? he asked.  Had it been hijacked by the secular world and become just a buzz word? There was meat in every minute of his lecture and there were challenges too.  The religions had to stop being defensive, he said, and seek a “creative” relationship with the “secular spirituality” of the times.  

David Tacey, the author of eight books and 85 published essays on psychology, spirituality and cultural studies, is Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Critical Enquiry, at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

He told his Catalyst audience that it often seemed that the spiritual and the religious were separating categories of Australian experience.  “People often say they want spirituality without religion,” he said. “The young especially make this claim. Many Australians see spirituality as liberating and empowering, and religion as limiting and oppressive.  

“This is certainly the emphasis in secular society, where religion is heavily discounted and seen as irrelevant to the spiritual quest. But in addition to needing wings to fly, we also need roots to connect us to the earth, to the past and to community. I can understand the contemporary demand for wings without roots, but both are needed in a balanced spiritual life.  We need to resolve the tension between spirituality and religion, lest the one becomes a personal experience only, leading to isolation and loneliness, and the other becomes a routine performance, involving tradition and history but having no existential purchase on the human soul.”

 
THE FULL TEXT OF DAVID TACEY’S ADDRESS CAN BE FOUND ON THIS WEBSITE UNDER THE “CATALYST FORUMS” BUTTON

Peter Golding, Catalyst Reporter”

 

 

  REFLECTION MORNINGS

 

August 23 – Dr MICHAEL GRIFFITH

“Banksia, carry fire, like the thurifer
Over my sandy tongue-tied barren ground” (Francis Webb, “Banksia”):
Poetry the healing Word.

 

September 13 – MICHAEL WHELAN SM

“That they may be one”. [John 17]

 

October 25 – Yvonne Parker SGS

The Spirituality of Aging

 

 

WHERE?   WHEN?

Colin Library, Marist Centre, 1 Mary St

Hunters Hill NSW

9.30 AM – 12.30 PM

 

Come and enjoy some reflection, silence and solitude in the beautiful grounds

 

­ ALL WELCOME ­

­ ENTRY BY DONATION ­

 

Organized by Aquinas Academy & Catalyst for Renewal

  Call Sandra on 02 9247 4651 or the Catalyst Office on 9990 7003

CATALYST DINNERS

The next Catalyst Dinner is planned for Friday 17th October

This will be a good one so put this date aside in your diary

Further news shortly

Catalyst for Renewal Inc is a non-profit group seeking to promote conversation for the sake of renewal in the Church.

We organise Spirituality in the Pub, Dinners and Forums on topical subjects.

‘Seeking truth through conversation’

 

SPIRITUALITY IN THE PUB

 

General information about SIP evenings

Typically at SIP, 2 speakers will offer their insights on a topic (15 minutes each) followed by an hour of open forum to further explore the topic. The emphasis is on "conversation"

SIP Venues are listed alphabetically in states: SCROLL DOWN TO FIND YOURS!

NSW: Alstonville, Batemans Bay, Bathurst*, Blackheath, Braidwood, Dubbo,  Jamberoo, Kincumber,  Newtown, North Sydney, Paddington, Penrith, Sutherland Shire, Wagga Wagga*, Warners Bay*, Wollongong

VICTORIA: Alphington, Ballarat, Bendigo, Clayton, Colac, Fitzroy, Goulburn Valley (Shepparton), Mornington, Southern (Brighton), Western (Yarraville), Woodend

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Verdun

TASMANIA: Devenport, Hobart North

QUEENSLAND: Tully

* These Venues are in the process of forming

NEW SOUTH WALES

° Batemans Bay 

Soldiers Club, Beach Rd.

(Info: Monica 02 4472 2936)

° Bathurst

There is interest in the possibility of the establishment of a new SIP. If you would like to find out more, contact

Mark 02 6337 3849

° Blackheath 

The Gardners Inn.

(Info: Elizabeth 02 4787 6198)

° Braidwood 

Servicemen’s Club.

(Info: Pauline 02 4842 2829)

° Dubbo

Western Star Hotel, Erskine St. Dubbo.

(Info: Joanna 02 6845 2494) 

° Jamberoo 

The Jamberoo Hotel. 

2008 Theme: Sacred World Blessed People

May 8: "Are we ready for a very different future post Peak Oil" - Dr Paul Tranter UNSW and Dr Chris Riedy UTS

September 8: "What it means to call Australia Home" - Imam Alfroz Ali and Rev David Millican

(Info: Gabrielle 02 4232 2735)

° Kincumber 

The Kincumber Hotel, Avoca Drive. 

(Aquinas Retreat Weekend with Michael Whelan & Marie Biddle, St Joseph’s Retreat Centre, Kincumber 8-13th June 2008 – Info: 9247 4651).  

Theme for the Year: "What Really Matters"

March 4: Fr Rod Bower, Rev Greg Woolnoughand Fr Ziggy Wloczek

April 1: Don Grace and Tony Newman

May 6: Chris Paget and Tom Croll

June 3: Sr Annie Laurie and Jim Mein

July 1: Kiliti Na'ati and Clair Hayes

Aug 5: Mark Griffin and Kim Clarke

Sept 2: Rosemary Gilham and Terry Devine

Oct 7: Mark Lees and Felicity Flynn

(Info: Carmen 02 4367 2743 or Sue 02 4334 3174)

° Newtown

Carlisle Castle Hotel, 19 Albermarle St. Newtown.

(Info: Anna 02 9797 8128)

March 11: "Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus" - Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, moderated by Geraldine        

              Doogue

May 13: "Ministry in the Church" - Paul Collins (historian, broadcaster and writer)

 

July 8: "Living Our Stories" - Linda Burney, Rachel Kohn

 

September 9: "Ethics and Morals in Business" - Kate Englebrecht

 

November 11: "That May Be the One" - Michael Whelan

° North Sydney

Union Hotel, Pacific Highway & West St.

(Info: Michelle 02 9958 5963)

2008 Theme: STIRRING THE SPIRIT IN MY LIFE

March 17; "Recovering the Sacred in family Life" - Bob & Jo Kenderes and Sarah and david Massa

April 21: "The Power of Film" - Mary Ellen Mullane

May 19: "Are We Stewards of the Environment" - Robert Woog and Yale Carden

June 16: "Connecting with Indigenous Spirituality" - Denis Foley and Mary McGowan

July 21: "Beyond Homelessness" - Peter Lehner & friends and Ken Hamilton

August 18: "Educating the Heart" - Kate Edmonson and Joel Edmonson

September 15th: "Searching for Relationships" - Clementine Johnson and Michael Hickson

October 20th: "Being Authentic in the Workplace" - Michael Thornber and tba

° Paddington 

Bellevue Hotel, 159 Hargrave St. 

(Info: Marea 02 9387 3152) 

2008 Theme: THE SEARCH TO BECOME

March 5: "The Search to Become - Michael Hislop and Bron Lee Moderatored by David leary

April 2: "The Truth and Consequences of War" - Paul Ghanem ofm and Donna Mulhearn 

            Moderated by Marea Donovan

 

May 7: "Growing Up in a Material World" - Lucy Saunders, Fr Michael De Stoop and Amir Mesrinejad

          Moderated by Julie McCrossin

June 4: "Growing Up in a Media World" - Fr Richard Leonard sj

            Responder - tba    MC - Susan Eichorn

July 2: "Relationships. How? What? Why?" - Andrew Collis, Tom Brachen, Markiz Ansari. 

         Moderated by Julie McCrossin

 

August 6: "Belonging - New Identity" - Speakers to be advised

 

September 3: "Growing Up in a World that is on the Edge" - Alexandra Greiner, Okito Hirata and 

          Zuleyha Keskin. Moderated by Geraldine Doogue

 

October 1: "Our Fragile Earth. Handle with Care" - Miriam Pepper and tba

° Penrith 

Golf Club.

(Info: Sue 02 9760 2324)

Sutherland Shire 

Sutherland United Services Club East Parade Sutherland

(Info: Elizabeth 02 9520 0617 or Annette 02 9548 2475)

2008 Theme UNITY IN DIVERSITY

We live in a world filled with wonderful diversity of experiences, opinions, physical appearance cultures religion, etc. One of the challenges of this age is not only to find a way to live in harmony with people who differ from us, but to celebrate the diversity and learn from it. We can only learn a limited amount from those who are like us but there is a fortune of new knowledge to be gained from those who have a different perspective from our own

April 16: "Diversity within the Church" - Bishop Terry Brady and Anthony Steel

May 21: "Living with Diversity in Society" - Chris Sidoti and Professor Larissa Behrendt

June 18: "Different Ways of Being Prayerful" - Fr John Sullivan and Rev Sue Emelius

July 16: "Different Ways of Living Our Sexuality" - tba and Pam Williamson

August 20: "Young People and their Faith Diversity" - Peter Halpin, Chantelle Ogilvie and Craig

             Anderson

September 17: "Different pathways to God - Diversity of Religion" - Rev Rod Harding, Br Gopal

                 Charipanya (Hindu Monk) and tba (Buddhist Monk)

October 15: "Finding God in Everyday Relationships" - Annette Milross and Fr Michael Court

° Wagga Wagga

(Info Christine: 6925 5277)

There is interest in the possibility of the establishment of a new SIP. If you would like to find out more, contact  

° Warner's Bay

There is interest in the possibility of the establishment of a new SIP. If you would like to find out more, contact

(Info: Rev Chris 02 4956 5544 or Mob 0438 624 214)

° Wollongong

(Info: Janet  4283 1722)

February 26th: "The Church in a Changing World" - Bishop Geoffrey Robinson

May 27th: "Spirituality in a Changing World" - Fr Michael Whelan & Rev Sue Emeleus

August 26th: "Healing in a Changing World" - Dr Roger Cole & two Brown Nurses

October 28th: "Ministry in a Changing World" - tba

° Albury ° Goulburn ° Inner West (used to be Five Dock) ° Lismore ° St George ° Waitara 

We want to thank all of the people who have participated in our SIP over the years but we have found it necessary to call a halt. We will advertise here on our website and locally if we find ourselves in a position to start again on a permanent or occasional  basis

 

VICTORIA

° Ballarat

Midlands Golf Club.

(Info: Kevin 03 5332 7451) 

Second Wednesday each month over lunch, 12.00 noon til 2.00pm

° Bendigo 

(Info: Helen 0409 212 009)

Theme for 2008: Social Justice

April 2: "Standing with Rob" - Margaret and Kevin Peoples share their experience of learning that their son is gay

 

June 4: "Private Property & Public Spirituality" - Brian Coman & Roger Sworder

° Bulleen 

The Veneto Club, Sala Venetia Room.

Call 9850 7111 to book (Mention Spirituality in the Pub and the date you want); Dinner arrive 6.00 for 6.30, session begins 8.00 - 9.30pm

February 20 “Prophets in the Church Today: Dreams of the Church 20 Years from now”  Bishop Hilton Deakin & Ms Bernie Miles (Director, Campion Spirituality Centre)

April 16: “Conscience: What is it and how can it be formed? “ Sr. Frances Baker rsm (Head of Department: Moral Theology)

July 16 (Wednesday): "Interfaith Experience in Australia" - Perspectives from people of various faiths. A discussion led by Rev Greg Reynolds.

September 4 (Thursday): "Ecology and Spirituality" - Megan McKenna. A Catalyst for Renewal Talk facilitated by Yarra SIP

November 12 (wednesday): "Women in Leadership in the Church" - Speakers to be advised

(Info: Charles 0417 319 556)  

° Clayton 

The Notting Hotel 8pm-9.30pm 

(Info: Jo 03 9807 1912)

° Colac 

The Union Club.

(Info: Clare 03 5236 2091)

° Fitzroy 

Pumphouse Tavern, 128 Nicholson St Fitzroy. 

(Info: Denise 03 9816 3001)

° Goulburn Valley 

Terminus Hotel Shepparton.

Monday 25th February:  "Spirituality of Relationships " - Fr John Ryan, author (book of same name) & Dr Selina Quilty, psychotherapist

Monday 19th May: "World Youth Day – What’s happening before, during after?" - Jane Branigan , Sandhurst CEO RE Adviser; Les Billings, 

                       

Friday 20th June  Dinner at Mulones -  Margaret Coffey ABC Radio National Encounter Program – Catholic Identity

Monday 15th September Topic & Speakers: TBA

Monday 17th November Topic & Speakers: TBA

(Info: Kerry 0408 579 904)

° Mornington Peninsula 

The Royal Hotel. 

(Info: Colleen 03 9775 2163 or Carole 03 5976 1024).

° Southern

The Dev, cnr Bay and New Sts, Brighton (formerly Finbars: same pub, different name)

(Info: George 03 9598 1195)

° Western 

March 18: "Dialogue/Conversation in the Church" - Michael Camilleri

May 20:    "Resettlement challenges faced by Refugees" (See advertisement below) - Tom Molesworth and Phong Nguyen

July :       "My Child is Adicted to drugs and/or alcohol" - Alan Murnane and Sue Nerrant 

Victoria on Hyde, Yarraville. 

(Info: Anne 03 9312 3595)

° Woodend

Holgate Brewhouse / Keating's Hotel.

(Info: Margaret 03 5429 5907)

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

°  Verdun 

Stanley Bridge Tavern, Onkaparinga Rd.

(Info: Gerald 08 8388 5957)  

 

TASMANIA

° Devenport

Molly Molone's Irish Pub.

(Info: Graham 03 6424 8286)

° Hobart North

Moonah Cafe Bar & Bistro.

(Info Tony 03 6273 8590)

 

QUEENSLAND

° Tully

There is interest in the possibility of the establishment of a new SIP. If you would like to find out more, contact

Roy on 07 4068 3610 or MB: 0409 662 117

 

 

OVERSEAS

° Boston USA

May 19: "New Directions in Spiritual Direction" - spiritual direction with the poor and homeless

June:    "Ruined for Life - the Jesuit Volunteer Corps"

July:    "The Apology" - two speakers from Australia

 

Over the years that Spirituality in the Pub has been running, we have seen growth from the first venue at Paddington to around 30 venues all around Australia... sometimes one closes for a time until it is reinvigorated by a new group, but most have run continuously for years - the champion being, of course, Paddington, which celebrated its 12th anniversary in May 2005!

By late 2007, there had been over 1200 SIP gatherings!

Be prepared now to BE AMAZED at the depth and breadth of SIP topics covered over the years, and by the extraordinary range of speakers, some well known Australian voices, some obscure, but all with something important to add to the conversation... here is as complete a list of venues, dates, topics and speakers as we are able to assemble!

 

 

 

 

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Send mail with questions or comments about this web site please
Contact PAULINE O'NEILL (Secretary) directly on catalyst-for-renewal@tpg.com.au 
Last modified: June 21, 2008   
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