And in brief ...

pathways, OCTOBER 2007

 

 

 

 

A Religious publication has taken out the major award for magazines at the annual Australasian Catholic Press Association Awards, while other publications and writers also featured.

 

Echo from Africa and Other Continents, edited by Sr Miriam Lorenz SSPC, was awarded the Bishop Phillip Kennedy Memorial Prize for magazines.  The corresponding award for newspapers was made to NZ Catholic, edited by Gavin Abraham.  (Sr Miriam is pictured with Bishop Pat Dunn [Auckland] who presented the trophy.)

 

Echo was judged also to have the best layout and design for a magazine.

 

The unnamed Bishop Phillip Kennedy Memorial Prize judge said:  I chose Echo primarily because of its visual appeal and strong sense of its own identity. Its mission appears simple: to inform its supporters about the work of the Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver. Other publications were a bit confused about this, with the end result looking like it was put together by committee.  Each publication of Echo, however, is consistent and has a beginning, a middle and an end, with readers knowing what to expect from issue to issue.  It is well-designed with good use of photos, illustrations and typefaces. Production values could be higher but I think they are adequate... In summary, I think Echo fulfils its mission effectively, whereas many of the other publications try to be too many things to too many people.

 

The layout/design judge said:   Echo is a smart and colourful magazine that exploits its compact size (A5) with short, well-written articles and effective photography...  The reader is presented with a highly attractive package that doesn't belie its serious content and message that, to quote its editorial mission, to speak loudly and unceasingly about the needs of missionaries and asks help for them.

 

 

Best news story:  highly commended, Eureka Street; author, James Massola, "Simple Pleasures in Melbourne's North African Heart" October 3 2006.

 

Best feature story: winner, Eureka Street, author, Peter Cronau, "Catastrophe on Australia's doorstep" October 3 2006.

 

Comment: Peter's story of the HIV/Aids crisis in Papua New Guinea was told in a poignant, original way.  He used the combination of a photo essay and a feature story to lay bare the issue and the plight of those in its midst.  With pictures and words, Peter revealed faith and social justice in action through the Aids Angels - the nuns, lay workers, and activists - battling to help those in need; the courage of its victims; and the desperation of the prostitutes who continue to ply their trade, despite knowing the danger they face.  The story's backbone was its strong reporting through the gathering of the staggering figures, and the setting out of the debate.

 

(This article also won the Best news reporting - magazine in the Australasian Religious Press Association awards, asnnounced two days later.)

 

Highly commended, Australian Catholics, Fr Andrew Hamilton, SJ , "Addictions", Spring 2006

 

Best editorial:  highly commended,  Madonna, Fr Chris Gleeson SJ, "Trying to be here", November/December 2006

 

Best column: highly commended, Madonna, Michael McGirr, "Dog time: God Time",  May/June 2006;  Marist Messenger, Fr Paddy Cahill, "A minute or two"; Madonna, Fr Peter Steele SJ, "The Pursuit of Happiness", May/June 2006

 

Best social justice coverage:  winner, The Far East, Fr Peter O'Neil, "A case for outrage",  January/February 2007.

 

Comment: I began reading this story while just generally examining the awards to see what was entered - but I couldn't put the story down until I'd got to the end. It was captivating, well-written and an utterly compassionate account of a heart-breaking situation.   The well-written account of Sanan Tahmasee's trip to Taiwan to find work and the dreadful tragedy which unfolded there would not be out of place in any major international publication. This was by far the most outstanding work submitted in this category and immediately jumped out as the clear winner.

 

Best example of education coverage:  winner, Marist Messenger,  Br Romuald Gibson, FMS, "I have seen the future", "I cannot chose not to be" and "Visit to a friend in prison"

 

Comment: Of Brother Romuald Gibson's three articles, the stand-out was "I have seen the future". All the articles were written in the same style: very inspirational; captures the way people speak and portrays this so clearly, you can almost hear the dialogue, see the people talking, sit in on their meetings. Well-crafted, stylistic and the obvious winner of the category.

Best devotional article applying faith to life: winner, Champagnat: A Marist Journal of Education, Brendan Geary, FMS, "Resisting prayer" December 2006.

 

Comment: Devotional articles often fall into the trap of being either overly pious or other-worldly; either way, they are inclined to put this reader off. But here's a piece that talks about prayer in ways that make it sound as normal as breathing - and just as necessary if we want to keep our faith alive... With helpful headings and well indented quotes, the article is enhanced with thought-provoking photos by Australian Jesuit Paul Fyfe.  Many outside the Marist network could find this piece both relevant and rewarding.

 

Best editorial feature, newspaper or magazine: highly commended, Voice Katolika, Solomon Islands, editor, Fr Ambrose Pereira, SDP (pictured left), "Health and the Environment" Third quarter.

 

The Australasian Catholic Press Awards were announced on September 20, during the association's annual conference in Auckland, New Zealand.  A full list of the awards and judges' comments can be found on the ACPA website.

 

The Australasian Religious Press Awards also were announced during the association's Auckland conference a couple of days later.

 

As well as Eureka Street taking out the Best News Reporting - Magazine (see above) other religious award winners were:

 

Best editorial:  winner, Eureka Street, Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ, "Christmas takes us beyond 'family first'".

 

Comment:  In the nature of the iconoclast it was questioning and critical, it took risks, it challenged complacency. One may not agree but one is forced to engage, to think.  It was a strong example of the genre of editorial opinion writing.

 

Best magazine front cover:  high commended, Tui Motu - Inter Islands (New Zealand)

 

Best devotional article applying faith to life:  winner, Tui Motu - Inter Islands, authors Mike Marshall and Case Genefass, "Blokes in garages"

 

Best story on social justice:  winner, The Majellan, author, Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR, "Feeding the world"

 

 

 

A series of three conversations with Bishop Geoffrey Robinson has been booked out, with numbers held at 150 people.

 

Organised by Sydney's Aquinas Academy, the conversations are being held around Bishop Robinson's new book, Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church:  Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus.

 

The first conversation was held on Thursday, September 27, with the others to follow on October 4 and 11.

 

The book has caused a storm of interest and discussion since it was launched on Sunday, August 26.  It was in reprint within a week of the launch and soon after the conversations were announced, a change in venue was needed.  Now, people are being turned away.

 

pathways has been told that the first conversation was lively and highly interactive. Many people have contacted Aquinas Academy since to express their thanks and staff are struggling to keep up with the book orders.

 

While there has been no decision made on whether or not the conversation series will be repeated, the conversations are being tape and will be available for purchase - $15 for an individual session or $40 for the three.  The launch is also available on CD.

 

(further information:  Aquinas Academy, telephone 02 9247 4651 or email sandra@aquinas-academy.com)

 

see also pathways' Bishops bombshell in reprint  (which includes numerous links)  and National Catholic Reporter's  Bishop's book calls for a better church

 

 

 

 

 

Bishop Eugene Hurley was installed as Bishop of Darwin on Wednesday, August 29.  He is the first Bishop of Darwin not to be a Missionary of the Sacred Heart (MSC).   The MSC Provincial, Fr Tim Brennan, (pictured) reflects on the occasion and its implications ...

 

I accompanied Bishop Ted Collins MSC as he entered St Mary's Cathedral, Darwin, for the last time carrying his crosier. He was to lay his crosier on the altar prior to the installation of Bishop Eugene Hurley as the fourth Bishop of Darwin. Bishop Hurley had left his own Diocese of Port Pirie in South Australia to come north.

 

The Cathedral was packed with locals, 27 visiting members of the Australian episcopacy, two Anglican bishops, and a big contingent from Port Pirie - both clergy and people.

 

All was ready thanks to the tireless efforts of the Chancellor, Fr Stephen Hackett MSC and the Cathedral Administrator, Fr John Kelliher, MSC. A visiting organist from Sydney and Gerard McCormick of Camp Hill as choirmaster augmented the locals. The OLSH Sisters provided a meal for the visitors prior to the Liturgical Reception.

 

Walking the Cathedral aisle that night with Bishop Ted was full of poignancy.

 

Yes, it was the close of Bishop Ted's Episcopal ministry, and all those in the Church held their personal memories of that 21-year ministry. But in addition it was the final page of 100 years of MSC leadership of the local Church.

 

The Cathedral itself had been planned and built under the watchful eyes of John O'Loughlin and Frank Flynn. Fr Henschke had served in the Cathedral Parish for 50 years.

 

But even the Cathedral does not contain the story of that MSC leadership of the local church.

 

There is Fr Docherty bringing the faith to Port Keats; John Leary joining the first MSC brothers to commence the MSC presence at Daly River; Alan Corry engaged in begging, borrowing and stealing to build the Church in the mining town of Nhulunbuy. Brothers Ed Bennett and John Pye can recount the early days at Alice Springs and Port Keats.  Or

again 'down the track' planting the Church in Tennant and Katherine were people like Fathers Wilf Dew and George Taylor.

 

As I walked up the Cathedral aisle I was very conscious that the gesture Bishop Ted was about to make was really a gesture of the whole Australian Province.

 

Our MSC responsibility for the Darwin Diocese had given the MSC a unique place in the Australian Church this last 100 years.

 

MSC will continue to be part of the NT Church but we are now called to make our contribution in a less noticeable way.  Like the Benedictines in Sydney and the Pallotines in Broome, it is now the MSC who welcome a new phase in the life of the local Church.

 

Now, we have the opportunity to reflect on what role we feel called by God to play as this new chapter of the Northern Territory Church begins.

 

The splendid Liturgical Reception would have left Bishop Eugene Hurley in no doubt how welcome he was.

 

 

 

 

 

East Melbourne's Catholic Theological College will offer The Eucharist in the Liturgical Assembly over several weekend sessions during October and November.

 

To be presented by Fr Tom Knowles SSS and Sr Margaret Smith SGS, the unit will explore the liturgy of the Eucharist and it celebration; the Eucharistic Prayer as the source of Christian life and spirituality; the Preparation of the Gifts and Communion and ways of revitalising parish Eucharistic awareness.  Each session will be held from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, October 6; Sunday,  October 7, and Saturdays October 20 and 27, November 10 and 17.

 

(further information: Veronica Biddle on 0407 870 526 or vbiddle@ctc.edu.au   or telephone 03 9412 3333)

 

 

 

 

 

An opportunity for meditation at the close of the day using the traditional prayer of the Church will be offered in Melbourne when the Choir of Newman College (University of Melbourne) leads Compline and Reconciliation by Candlelight, in the Newman College Chapel, on Thursday, October 4, at 9.30pm. 

 

 

 

 

 

Philosophers with special interests in medical ethics will present a public lecture on the New National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

 

The lecture will be given by Associate Professor Christopher Cordner,  Deputy Head of the School of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne, and it will be chaired by Fr Bill Uren SJ, Rector of Newman College and a former Australian Jesuit Provincial. Both men were members of the Working Committee to review the National Statement which was established by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC),  the Australian Research Council (ARC)  and the Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee (AVCC).

 

The lecture which will be delivered on Monday, October 8, at the Oratory, Newman College, from 6-7pm, is being hosted by the Allan and Maria Meyers Academic Centre of Newman College and St Mary's College.

 

 

 

German scientist Professor Wilfred Janig will present a public lecture, The Function of the Autonomic Nervous System in Health and Disease, also at the Oratory, on Monday, October 15.  Professor Janig, from the University of Kiel, is considered an outstanding scientist in the field of the autonomic nervous system, especially in relation to blood flow and blood pressure.  He will be at the University of Melbourne as an Allan and Maria Myers Visiting Fellow for the Howard Florey Institute.  The lecture will be hosted by the Academic Centre, from 5-6pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each year, women and girls are brought into Australia, kept in confinement and forced into prostitution - just part of the massively lucrative global phenomenon of human trafficking. Church groups in Australia and their international networks are on the front line addressing this issue - through rescue, rehabilitation and support for the victims; advocacy for legislative reform; and tackling the desperate poverty in source countries where women and girls are lured or sold for 'export'.

 

transcript       Sunday September 23 - audio

 

 

 

Hundreds of people who gathered to celebrate 125 years in Goulburn for the Sisters of St Joseph heard a 91-year-old Sister talk of the importance of preserving history.

 

 

 

 

by Br Shane Wood CFC  ...  The Federal Government has moved to act in respect of the horrendous findings of the report into sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. There would be few who would not respond with outrage at the commission of such criminal acts and with compassion for the victims. The fact that this has been exposed is a necessary thing if the underlying problems in these communities are to be addressed.

 

 

 

Fr Frank Brennan SJ  speaks at the Loreto, Normanhurst, conference "Reinventing Schooling for the 21st Century"  ... Having recently published a book entitled Acting on Conscience, I am delighted to have the opportunity to wrestle with these issues. I am no stranger to arguments and positions at odds with the prevailing orthodoxy of our politicians and media. I even have the occasional difference of opinion with some of my own church leaders...

 

for powerpoint, podcast and speakers notes and links to other speakers and presentations click here