Wednesday, December 31, 2008
A HUGE Christmas Thank you
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Social Justice Thought For The Week
Monday, December 22, 2008
Christmas Mass Times 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Social Justice Thought For The Week
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The power of G
G is faithful.
Last Tues., a bro called and told me he was thinking of me. He wanted to know how he could pr for me. One of the three things I told him was, "my spirit is broke, my spirit is broken right now."
The next day, an elder couple I met with, who didn't know too much of the details of my situation started telling me about, "a broken spirit" and what J first said on the mount, "blessed are those who are poor in spirit". While the husband was talking inside that restaurant on the top floor, I was cracked to tears, "depleted" and "deleted" are descriptive of my state, yet feeling the immense love of G, and that He's in passionate pursuit of me. That's the good news. It's like you feel like a piece of poo, but G would call you "blessed".
This past Sunday, a good brother from the States sent me a message, actually, it's a rap song interlude, called, "Theology of Brokenness". One line in the less than 2 minute interlude says, "listen, if you want to walk in the implications of the Gpsl, you're going to have to be married to the understanding of the principle of brokenness." My heart nodded in agreement to that so deeply b/c I knew it to be true. ("Thanks for sending that to me friend.") Recently, I have been even more grateful for the foreign brothers and sisters who have been a great support to me. At the same time, it's also been mutually refreshing to one another as we journey on amidst the spiritual scars and iron bars.
-Decision Making, "Turning" & Moving Forward-
... I've decided to explore something that I believe has been planted into my heart years ago. I'll be looking into various Chrstn (Sem.) schools. I hope to find growing up through solid training in formal settings in tandem with a church where I would be able to commit myself and serve for a long while. There is a quiet assurance to begin taking serious steps of faith towards this new direction, though outward circumstances such as finances, the economy, scarce jobs, etc. may say otherwise.
-Closing Thoughts & Remember-
I ask for you pr's regarding this new direction I'm heading ... and for this city and country to be radically transformed by the life of JC through His Spirit living inside His people. My pr for you is that whether in cold, sunny, windy, rainy, dry or humid, good, bad, happy or sad conditions that you'll be able to experience a true "white Christmas" this season, where you can rest assured in heart and spirit that all your sins have been washed away, white as snow, once and for all by the precious blood of JC. Believe.
Thanks for standing with me. "
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Social Justice Thought for the week
Blessed Mary MacKillop.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Spirit of Christmas
As Christians, we understand that this time of year is a celebration of the birth of Christ. The below Youtube video is just a nice reminder of the spirit of the season, presented in a practical and welcoming way.
Its been a rough year for many, and for the world in general. Lets pray that even when events seem dark, that we stay mindful of God in our hearts and world. We can get there folks, lets pray for hope this Christmas.
God's always walking with us.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Faith(&)Worx - An interesting article
New Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Coordinator
Bishop Peter is pleased to announce that Loretta Brinkman has been appointed to the position of Youth & Young Adult Coordinator for the Diocese of Wollongong. Some of you may know Loretta from her previous work in our diocese as the Youth & Young Adult Coordinator for the St Vincent de Paul Society.
Please find attached some information on Loretta. Loretta will be starting work in this role in early February 2009. There will be a commissioning for Loretta at the Diocesan Mass on the beach on this Saturday 6 December at 5.30pm at North Beach, Wollongong. Come along to the Mass and meet Loretta, and join us for fish and chips on the beach after Mass.
LORETTA BRINKMAN
Loretta lived in the Wollongong diocese for over twenty years before moving to Melbourne. She attended John Therry Catholic High School and then graduated from the University of Western Sydney (Macarthur) with a Bachelor of Arts. As a parishioner of Mary Immaculate Parish, Eagle Vale, she was involved in various ministries including Youth Ministry, a term on the inaugural Parish Pastoral Council and President of the Liturgy Committee. Loretta also travelled to three World Youth Day's (1997, 2000 and 2002) as part of Wollongong pilgrimage groups and was a member of the Diocesan Vocations Advisory Group.
After joining the St Vincent de Paul Society at high school, Loretta continued as a volunteer for many years, taking up a number of youth leadership roles culminating in being appointed as the NSW/ACT State Youth Representative. Following on from her volunteer involvement Loretta worked as the St Vincent de Paul Society's Youth and Young Adult Co-ordinator in the Diocese of Wollongong for over eight years before taking up a position as a Learning Facilitator for the Society's NSW/ACT Learning Services Department.
In 2006 Loretta moved to Melbourne to take up a position working for the Australian Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. This role was an opportunity for her to continue her work as a founding member of the national Oblate Youth Australia community, working as Project Officer for the International Oblate Youth Encounter (a pre-World Youth Day event) and as the Coordinator of Rosies Oblate Youth Mission.
Loretta has a firm belief that young people have a vital and unique role to play in our church, a role that they excel at when given the support and respect they deserve. Loretta is looking forward to coming home and is keen to meet and work with the young and the young at heart throughout the diocese.