Letters: Interstate appreciation

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
26 October 2003

Meaning of life

Tuition fee jump

Award for Reservist chaplain

Outreach

Priests set priorities

Step behind the convent walls

Desire to serve others

Trial for euthanasia?

Interfaith

Seminar on self help in action for hearing impaired

Editorial: Enormous debt

Letters: Interstate appreciation

Conversation: Br Dan Stafford, chaplain to the Australian Jockey Club - A generous fraternity of 'saints and sinners'

Voice of Youth: Blessed upon the earth

‘Wonderful occasion’

Stone takes the cake

Bumper crop of students

Concert ‘journey’ by young honours Pope’s anniversary

‘My kids’ bring tears

Letters: Interstate appreciation

As a reader from another state I want to say how much I appreciate The Catholic Weekly.

I am not particularly interested in the news that is only applicable to NSW, but I really enjoy the more wide ranging news and features, e.g. the Holy Father, Australian and overseas news (including the US).

Leighton Crabb
Glengowrie, SA

FREE SPEECH

Jeff Condron (Man of Stature, Letters CW 12/10) objects to Bishop Pat Power (also a man of stature) exercising his free speech.

We have wonderful bishops, all gifted in different ways, serving the people of God.

Who can forget Bishop Pat Power ministering to the people of Thredbo after that horrendous disaster?

He reached out to all, sharing their grief and was a true “shepherd” as he gathered people, irrespective of religion, showing God’s overriding love and compassion and hope in resurrection.

Any “fortress mentality” we may have had was made obsolete by Vatican II.

It is by being seen as open and free to think and express those thoughts that we may attract freedom-loving people to offer their lives as priests and religious who will encourage us to “act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with the Lord”.

M Mackenzie
Bondi, NSW

FORTHRIGHTNESS

Jeff Condron’s criticism of the recent comments made by Bishop Pat Power regarding the appointment of Archbishop George Pell as cardinal (Man of stature, Letters CW 12/10) requires a response.

Bishop Power articulated a model of Church that many Catholics yearn for - a Church less concerned with institutional structures and more concerned with people.

While I sincerely congratulate Archbishop Pell on his appointment as cardinal, I also congratulate Bishop Power for his courage and forthrightness.

Fr John Crothers
Penshurst, NSW

PRAYER CRUSADE?

It is worrisome to see all the sorrow being caused to older and traditional Catholics grieving over the banishment of tabernacles from focal to obscure positions in their churches.

Many youngsters no longer genuflect in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Recently I was trying to make a thanksgiving after receiving Holy Communion.

The chattering in the church and children playing as though they were in the playground was distracting and I remarked to a young friend I would have to go home to say my prayers.

She looked at me in amazement and explained that home was the place to pray while the church is the meeting house.

Could we all join in a prayer crusade for our bishops and priests to listen to ordinary people. We are not theologians, but after all neither were the apostles. That seemed to be the way Christ wanted it.

Miss T Fitzgerald
Crows Nest, NSW

FOIBLES GALORE

Newspaper obituaries, by tradition, have a formal style which does not always convey the quirks and foibles that help make up a person’s character.

Brian Doyle (Editor and broadcaster, CW 5/10) had foibles galore. But we forgave him readily. They were part of his charm - making him irritating and lovable in equal measure.

I met him first about 25 years ago when he was editor of Brisbane’s Catholic Leader.

The paper had an independent approach - due to Brian’s strength of character and an understanding boss - and was regarded as the leading religious organ at that time.

Brian was at his best when working alone, or nearly so. In speech, though not in print, he was inclined to be longwinded, which tendency increased with age.

Stories abound of friends (including two bishops) walking slowly backwards out of a room, gently shutting the door - while Brian was still speaking - in order to terminate the conversation.

In his final days at the Leader he was virtually running the paper alone.

Alan Gill
Drummoyne, NSW

WELCOMING COMMUNITY

I would like to mention a couple of points which were not touched by Roger Pinawin (Why do we go to church? CW 5/10) - the presence or lack of a welcoming community in the parish and the amount of participation by the laity in the liturgy.

If we attend Mass as individuals, sitting absorbed in our own prayers and thoughts, we might as well stay at home. There is no magic in just being there.

We should be there to celebrate Mass with the priest and every other person present. This will be enhanced if people welcome and acknowledge those around them, say “hello” and introduce themselves to those they haven’t met.

To me, the most moving parts of the Mass are receiving Communion and giving and receiving the sign of peace. We should put our hearts into these.

The reception of the body and blood of Jesus should be done with some passion. After all, Jesus said: “Eat my body. Drink my blood.”

Imagine the gusto with which Peter and the disciples ate the bread and drank the wine. I’m sure they didn’t treat the bread as too holy to bite or the wine as only to be sipped. Drink, was Jesus’ request.

I was fortunate between 1988 and 2000 to be a member of Holy Name parish, Forster, in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

It was a magnificent experience at Sunday Mass, where 12 ministers of the Eucharist (the priest and 11 lay ministers) distributed Communion. Four handed out the body of Jesus and eight the blood of Jesus.

That’s what I call community.

The same kind of passion should also be evident in the sign of peace. If you know the people near you, shake hands firmly with the men, kiss the ladies. To people you don’t know, offer both hands, show that you mean it when you say: “Peace be with you”.

We have to take responsibility ourselves for community in our parish.

A welcoming community encourages others to look forward to going to Mass because they’ll know they’ll be among friends, not just individuals in a crowd.

It won’t be an obligation to go to Mass, but a pleasure and a joy.

Alf Zammit
Woolooware, NSW