This song can be sung to the tune of Waltzing Matilda. It was composed by Jesuit Father Joseph Sobb in 1988.Since today is Australia Day, it is a good day to remember the people of the Down Under country
God of Australia, you have loved this ancient land,
God of all peoples and God of the earth.
In the dreaming we find you, Lord of life and holiness,
Spirit among us creating new birth:
Chorus:
Praise God Australia!, Praise God, Australia!
Desert and seacoast and mountains give praise!
In the city, the workplace, bush and farm and home be praise!
Blest be the God who gives life to us all!
Chorus
God of Australia, you have known us all by name,
God in our present and God of our past.
You have called us to walk with
justice and integrity, vision of hope for the first and the last.
Chorus
God of Australa, you have loved us all our days,
God of the inland and God of the sea.
Guide us all in your mercy, as we hold your gifts in trust,
building a nation united and free.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sea Steam
It is about zero degrees Fahrenheit this morning. It is mighty cold. The ocean temperatures are warmer than the air and it is produces a great amount of steam. It gives the appearance that the ocean is simmering with fire. It just keeps swirling as if it is hiding a smoldering fire.
The wind chill brings the air temperature to -20 degrees (F). The good news is that we will have a snow storm tomorrow and it generally warms up in order to snow. I'm staying inside today. No five mile walk because the road ist still covered with ice.
The wind chill brings the air temperature to -20 degrees (F). The good news is that we will have a snow storm tomorrow and it generally warms up in order to snow. I'm staying inside today. No five mile walk because the road ist still covered with ice.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Brother Sun, Sister Moon
The moon last night and tonight is intriguing. It is so clear and seems magnified and bright. It is nearly full and last night's rise over the ocean caused us such wonder. During dinner, every retreatant lost focus on their food and admired the sun. It drew them in and slowed them down. It seemed odd that it was there at all because of the eight inches of rain that was forecast. As it ascended further into the night, a light cloud cover obscured its brightness, but its glow made it more mysterious.
We did receive eight inches of snow but the storm passed quickly and we had another clean night with that bright orb in the night sky once again. It seems like an old friend. It feels like it should be a summer moon, but the temperatures are well below freezing. It will stay that way for days.
Another 8-day retreat is coming to an end. When they are situated in the middle of a 30-day retreat, it seems to begin and end quickly. I feel like a good friend is leaving all too soon. The marking of time is still a big curiosity to me. Time slips so quickly even when it may pass slowly.
We have gained over 30 minutes of daylight since January began. In another two months, we'll be looking at crocuses and other early spring flowers, even though March and April are cruel to us in New England. In a little over a week, the groundhog will come up out of its den. If it sees its shadow, it will burrow back into its den and winter will be extended another six weeks. If it doesn't, he will stay above ground and spring will come early. We have this signs of hope.
I'm reminded of the passages from Ecclesiastes: There is a time for everything under the sun. What does it profit a person to toil all day long and not find happiness in his or her toil? I used to find that passage so desolating, but now it is one of the richest, most consoling books of the bible. We are to create our happiness in the midst of the cycles of the world. Eat, drink, enjoy the gifts of the world wisely and find a way to be happy. Happiness, like love, is a daily choice.
We did receive eight inches of snow but the storm passed quickly and we had another clean night with that bright orb in the night sky once again. It seems like an old friend. It feels like it should be a summer moon, but the temperatures are well below freezing. It will stay that way for days.
Another 8-day retreat is coming to an end. When they are situated in the middle of a 30-day retreat, it seems to begin and end quickly. I feel like a good friend is leaving all too soon. The marking of time is still a big curiosity to me. Time slips so quickly even when it may pass slowly.
We have gained over 30 minutes of daylight since January began. In another two months, we'll be looking at crocuses and other early spring flowers, even though March and April are cruel to us in New England. In a little over a week, the groundhog will come up out of its den. If it sees its shadow, it will burrow back into its den and winter will be extended another six weeks. If it doesn't, he will stay above ground and spring will come early. We have this signs of hope.
I'm reminded of the passages from Ecclesiastes: There is a time for everything under the sun. What does it profit a person to toil all day long and not find happiness in his or her toil? I used to find that passage so desolating, but now it is one of the richest, most consoling books of the bible. We are to create our happiness in the midst of the cycles of the world. Eat, drink, enjoy the gifts of the world wisely and find a way to be happy. Happiness, like love, is a daily choice.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Xavier Catholic School in Hervey Bay, Queensland
Here is an article from the Australian Jesuit publication "Province Express." I was assigned to this school to do the retreat in daily life.
A school with an evangelising mission
18-Jan-2011
It is 8:40am on a Thursday morning and there is silence throughout Xavier Catholic College in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Even the groundskeepers and office staff have stopped what they are doing. Over the school’s PA system, soft music is played while the community takes time out for its weekly examen.
Xavier Catholic College Principal Mr Kerry Swann says the examen is one of many efforts the school has made to give students and staff an understanding of what it is to be Ignatian.
‘I really believe that Ignatian Spirituality speaks better to teenagers, and staff who may not be all that churched’, he says. ‘They respond to the challenge of “Finding God in all things”, the commitment to social justice, and to understanding different cultures.’
Xavier Catholic College was first opened in 2003 with 90 students. The Prep to Year 12 school has now grown to 1150 students, and expects to reach 1350 in the next two years. It is located in Hervey Bay, a coastal city with a booming population of young families looking for a ‘seachange’.
When the school was first being planned, the local parish came up with three possible names. Xavier College was the one approved by the Brisbane Archdiocese.
‘Because this school would have an important evangelising role in the community it was decided that St Francis Xavier would be an appropriate patron’, says Kerry.
Believing strongly that a school with a strong historical story would be more successful at passing on values to students, Kerry decided to find out more about St Francis Xavier’s life. Martin Scroope, from the Loyola Institute, was brought in to work with Kerry and the school’s leadership team.
‘The whole school culture and ethos have been developed around the patron saint’, says Kerry. ‘We’ve really looked to build our culture around Ignatian Spirituality, St Francis Xavier, and of course the Jesuits.’
Along with the weekly examen, the school has sought to bring the Ignatian story to life by naming many of its buildings after historical Jesuit figures like Claver and Arrupe. Each year, the school celebrates Xavier Day on the birthday of their patron, with students undertaking community service activities such as cleaning up the environment or visiting retirement homes.
Another recent initiative has been a new award system called ‘Magis Moments’, recognising students who have gone the extra distance in living out the school’s ethos of ‘competence, conscience, compassion and service’.
‘It’s sending a message that we’re all called to go the extra bit, to do “the more”’, says Kerry.
In 2008, Xavier Catholic College was invited by the Australian Jesuit Province to become a Jesuit Partnered School. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Archdiocese of Brisbane, the Society of Jesus, and the College was signed in 2009.
Kerry says being part of the network of Ignatian schools across Australia has broadened the college community’s horizons.
‘The students feel part of a big story’, he says. ‘For a regional city like Hervey Bay, to be part of a bigger picture outside of our local area is something that really inspires students.’
A school with an evangelising mission
18-Jan-2011
It is 8:40am on a Thursday morning and there is silence throughout Xavier Catholic College in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Even the groundskeepers and office staff have stopped what they are doing. Over the school’s PA system, soft music is played while the community takes time out for its weekly examen.
Xavier Catholic College Principal Mr Kerry Swann says the examen is one of many efforts the school has made to give students and staff an understanding of what it is to be Ignatian.
‘I really believe that Ignatian Spirituality speaks better to teenagers, and staff who may not be all that churched’, he says. ‘They respond to the challenge of “Finding God in all things”, the commitment to social justice, and to understanding different cultures.’
Xavier Catholic College was first opened in 2003 with 90 students. The Prep to Year 12 school has now grown to 1150 students, and expects to reach 1350 in the next two years. It is located in Hervey Bay, a coastal city with a booming population of young families looking for a ‘seachange’.
When the school was first being planned, the local parish came up with three possible names. Xavier College was the one approved by the Brisbane Archdiocese.
‘Because this school would have an important evangelising role in the community it was decided that St Francis Xavier would be an appropriate patron’, says Kerry.
Believing strongly that a school with a strong historical story would be more successful at passing on values to students, Kerry decided to find out more about St Francis Xavier’s life. Martin Scroope, from the Loyola Institute, was brought in to work with Kerry and the school’s leadership team.
‘The whole school culture and ethos have been developed around the patron saint’, says Kerry. ‘We’ve really looked to build our culture around Ignatian Spirituality, St Francis Xavier, and of course the Jesuits.’
Along with the weekly examen, the school has sought to bring the Ignatian story to life by naming many of its buildings after historical Jesuit figures like Claver and Arrupe. Each year, the school celebrates Xavier Day on the birthday of their patron, with students undertaking community service activities such as cleaning up the environment or visiting retirement homes.
Another recent initiative has been a new award system called ‘Magis Moments’, recognising students who have gone the extra distance in living out the school’s ethos of ‘competence, conscience, compassion and service’.
‘It’s sending a message that we’re all called to go the extra bit, to do “the more”’, says Kerry.
In 2008, Xavier Catholic College was invited by the Australian Jesuit Province to become a Jesuit Partnered School. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Archdiocese of Brisbane, the Society of Jesus, and the College was signed in 2009.
Kerry says being part of the network of Ignatian schools across Australia has broadened the college community’s horizons.
‘The students feel part of a big story’, he says. ‘For a regional city like Hervey Bay, to be part of a bigger picture outside of our local area is something that really inspires students.’
Flooding in Toowong, Queensland, Australia
The Jesuit parish of St Ignatius in Toowong, Brisbane, is helping coordinate some of the volunteers that have provided an inspirational response to the devastating floods in Australia.
Fr Greg Jacobs SJ, the assistant priest in the parish, said the disaster was bringing out the best side of people.
‘There has been a great sense of people coming together. It’s been amazing, particularly for those of us who didn’t go through the 1974 floods’, he said.
Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have been devastated by flooding over the last month, with many parts of the country still bracing themselves. Brisbane was the biggest urban centre hit by the floods, with many houses in riverside suburbs swamped with water.
The floodwaters are currently receding in Brisbane, leaving a massive clean-up task for the community. None of the parish’s buildings were affected by the waters, although the floods were just down the hill from Holy Spirit Church in Auchenflower.
The parish offered the church hall in Toowong as a place for people to take shelter. However, generous parishioners provided rooms and beds for any families in need. Much of the accommodation will be ongoing while the clean-up takes place.
‘We had a family who had lost everything, and who won’t be able to get back in their house for at least six months’, said Fr Jacobs. ‘Another family offered them a granny flat out the back of their home for the next six months. It wasn’t even a member of the parish, just a lady who lived down the road from one of the parishioners.’
Volunteers from the parish and primary school community have been organising themselves to clean the mud and damaged items from the affected houses.
Fr Jacobs says he has been moved by how the cycle of generosity moves from place to place.
‘We had a collection before the flood hit Brisbane for the people affected by floods in Emerald, just north of here’, he said. ‘Then when we got hit, North Sydney had a collection and they’ve been very generous to us. I think a number of people around Australia are finding that. When you’re being generous, you get the generosity coming back to you.’
Along with the funds from North Sydney, the Province Office has also given the parish money to support in the relief efforts. The school and parish will be looking at building an ongoing network of volunteers, to continue any clean-up work needed as others go back to work. They are also hoping to support those who don’t have a parish network to hook into.
‘We do have a number of volunteers still around, and we’ve got some funds available to us at the moment. So we’re looking at how we can be with people as they look to the next stage of the recovery process’, said Fr Jacobs.
Parish priest Fr Peter Quin said the next week will be an important one for people.
‘We’re going to be trying to help people with new carpets and whitegoods’, he said. ‘Once the river has gone down, and once people start really cleaning out their place, that’s when we’ll know a bit more about what’s needed.’
Funds not used directly in the parish will be given to St Vincent de Paul and other agencies that will be providing long-term support to affected families.
Fr Jacobs said the people of Brisbane appreciated all of the support that was flowing in from around the country.
“There are a lot of people who can go and clean up a backyard. But there is also a lot of value to prayer, and letting people know they are in our thoughts. That can be an equally valuable gift to some people.’
Flood donations
St Vincent de Paul: http://www.vinnies.org.au/qldfloodappeal
Queensland Premier’s Appeal: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
Fr Greg Jacobs SJ, the assistant priest in the parish, said the disaster was bringing out the best side of people.
‘There has been a great sense of people coming together. It’s been amazing, particularly for those of us who didn’t go through the 1974 floods’, he said.
Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have been devastated by flooding over the last month, with many parts of the country still bracing themselves. Brisbane was the biggest urban centre hit by the floods, with many houses in riverside suburbs swamped with water.
The floodwaters are currently receding in Brisbane, leaving a massive clean-up task for the community. None of the parish’s buildings were affected by the waters, although the floods were just down the hill from Holy Spirit Church in Auchenflower.
The parish offered the church hall in Toowong as a place for people to take shelter. However, generous parishioners provided rooms and beds for any families in need. Much of the accommodation will be ongoing while the clean-up takes place.
‘We had a family who had lost everything, and who won’t be able to get back in their house for at least six months’, said Fr Jacobs. ‘Another family offered them a granny flat out the back of their home for the next six months. It wasn’t even a member of the parish, just a lady who lived down the road from one of the parishioners.’
Volunteers from the parish and primary school community have been organising themselves to clean the mud and damaged items from the affected houses.
Fr Jacobs says he has been moved by how the cycle of generosity moves from place to place.
‘We had a collection before the flood hit Brisbane for the people affected by floods in Emerald, just north of here’, he said. ‘Then when we got hit, North Sydney had a collection and they’ve been very generous to us. I think a number of people around Australia are finding that. When you’re being generous, you get the generosity coming back to you.’
Along with the funds from North Sydney, the Province Office has also given the parish money to support in the relief efforts. The school and parish will be looking at building an ongoing network of volunteers, to continue any clean-up work needed as others go back to work. They are also hoping to support those who don’t have a parish network to hook into.
‘We do have a number of volunteers still around, and we’ve got some funds available to us at the moment. So we’re looking at how we can be with people as they look to the next stage of the recovery process’, said Fr Jacobs.
Parish priest Fr Peter Quin said the next week will be an important one for people.
‘We’re going to be trying to help people with new carpets and whitegoods’, he said. ‘Once the river has gone down, and once people start really cleaning out their place, that’s when we’ll know a bit more about what’s needed.’
Funds not used directly in the parish will be given to St Vincent de Paul and other agencies that will be providing long-term support to affected families.
Fr Jacobs said the people of Brisbane appreciated all of the support that was flowing in from around the country.
“There are a lot of people who can go and clean up a backyard. But there is also a lot of value to prayer, and letting people know they are in our thoughts. That can be an equally valuable gift to some people.’
Flood donations
St Vincent de Paul: http://www.vinnies.org.au/qldfloodappeal
Queensland Premier’s Appeal: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
Monday, January 17, 2011
Anniversary
One year ago today, I set foot for the first time in Sydney, Australia. I was greeted by Adrian Lyons, the tertian director, and was given a tour of Sydney Harbour. I could not wait to venture into the city to explore more of this distinguished city. I was greeted with a Sunday lamb meal - one of my favorites and my soul was open to the new possibilities that were too unfold. I feel very blessed.
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