Social Justice Thought For The Week

"Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

Social Justice Thought For The Week

"Words of praise, love and gratitude are life-giving and life-enlarging.
They are moments of grace." Chris Gleeson (Madonna)

Social Justice Thought For The Week

"Compassion is a foundation for sharing our aliveness and building a more humane world."
Martin Lowenthal

Youth Mass in the Vineyards

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Youth Mass in the Vineyards - Sat 6 Feb 2010 - with Bishop Peter Ingham - 6pm The Hermitage, Old South Road, Mittagong. Why not pack a picnic and stay for dinner under the stars? More information - Loretta Brinkman - 4253 0809 or youth@dow.org.au

Have you visited the new-look Diocese of Wollongong website - relaunched for the start of 2010?

Also of interest: Heaven marries earth A newborn Saviour Positions Vacant @ Diocesan Office Pope Benedict challenges us to take personal steps towards achieving peace Catholic Diocese of Wollongong, 86-88 Market Street (PO Box 1239), Wollongong NSW 2500. For more information, please call (02) 4253 0900 or email info@dow.org.au

Social Justice Thought For The Week

"Now let us do something beautiful for God." Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

Social Justice Thought For The Week

"What gifts have we received from those who have gone before us? What gifts will we leave to those who come after us? (Madonna Magazine December 27th, 2009)

Blessed New Year

Faith and Life News | Youth eNewsletter | Catholic Diocese of Wollongong

every grace and peace for 2010!

Mary, the mother of God The Christian New Year is celebrated on January 1, one week after the celebration of the birth of Jesus. January 1 has been given several different names that reveal something of the nature of the feast. First of all, the Christian New Year is within the Octave of Christmas [i.e. 8 days after the birth of Jesus.] Before the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council [1962-1965] the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus or the Naming of Jesus [Holy Name of Jesus] was celebrated on this date to commemorate the Gospel account of Jesus' circumcision according to the ritual prescriptions of the Mosaic law, thus becoming officially a member of the people of the covenant: "At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus" [Lk 2:21-24 ]. Following the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council, January 1 has now been known as the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of the Lord, and it has also been designated as the World Day of Prayer for Peace. We may often wonder if New Year's Day has accumulated so many different meanings, that people no longer pay attention to the feast. Is it also not true that the atmosphere of revelry attached to New Year's Eve hardly leaves anyone with the energy, desire or willingness to consider New Year's Day as a religious feast? Let us consider some of the biblical foundations for the various meanings attached to the Christian New Year. Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus In antiquity and in the Scriptures, it is a common belief that the name given to a person is not just a label but part of the personality of the one who bears it. The name carries will and power. Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem to Jewish parents [Matthew 1-2 ; Luke 1-2 ]. At his conception, it was told by an angel that his name would be "Jesus". The Hebrew and Aramaic name "Yeshua" [Jesus] is a late form of the Hebrew "Yehoshua" or Joshua. It was a very common name in New Testament times. The meaning of the name is "The Lord is salvation" and it is alluded to in Matthew 1:21 and Luke 2:21 . Read More Lent Program 2010 - Do you love me? Our 2010 Lenten Program focuses on our life of service. It is an "invitation to explore and deepen our life of service in Jesus Christ." This year the program features one of the amazing works of art of Fr Seiger Koder for each week, to assist our reflection upon that week's scriptures. The weekly themes are: What does it mean to serve? A service which transforms What we offer in service When service is rejected To serve justly Do you love me? Recent items added to the website: Dates for 2010 Christmas Message The Canonisation of Mary MacKillop Pope calls for action on climate change Lent Program 2010 - Do you love me? Christmas Mass Times 2009 Social Networking Protocol for the Catholic Church in Australia The Church and Climate Change Don't forget to check out the new Pastoral Planning website as well: http://www.ourjourneyahead.com/ Every Advent we prepare for the coming of Jesus. Preparing for and celebrating the coming of our Saviour reminds us that we are called to live for a new future, a future that we can hardly dare to imagine. Each week we listen to God's promises and we light an extra Advent candle to dispel more of the darkness of sin and ignorance. We accompany Joseph and his spouse, Mary, pregnant with the Saviour, on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. We need to recall that God has given us the best Christmas gift – His love for us made flesh in His Son, Jesus. Remember also our movie review feature, with more than 120 movie reviews now available on the Diocese of Wollongong website. Plus, you can sign-up to receive the latest news items and movie reviews direct to your inbox as they are published each week. Some of the current film reviews are: Avatar Away We Go Sherlock Holmes Broken Embraces (Los Abrazos) The Boys are Back Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs The Invention of Lying Antichrist The Informant! Paranormal Activity Zombieland Where the Wild Things Are Planet 51 The Catholic Church Offices in Market Street will re-open on 4 January 2010. Our prayers are with you over the New Year. May the hope and joy of Christ's coming stir anew in your heart. Diocese of Wollongong Parish Services and website team

For more information, please call (02) 4253 0900 or email info@dow.org.au