CoC Newsletter #30

Issue #30 of the CoC Newsletter is available for downloading here (PDF, 348 KB). A few highlights are given below:

One journey ends another begins.” With that flourish in the last issue of Catholics on Campus (issue 29) Fr Laurence Foote OP, my predecessor as Catholic chaplain to Monash University, ended his journey at Monash and began his resumed journey as chaplain to the Australian National University in Canberra. As a believer in the importance of continuity in human life, I take Fr Laurence’s parting words as my opening words. .. (Fr. Chris Dowd)

A happy new academic year to everyone!  Once again we thank those students who have contributed to this edition of the newsletter.  It is always interesting to hear how students are occupying their time in learning about and experiencing their faith.  Contributions of your news and activities is always welcome. .. (Editorial, Barbara Shea)

Barbara also provides a list of good reading materials online. 

"Journaling is an excellent way to record and process what God has spoken to us.  Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings and important lessons!  You may want to share some of your journaling with your friends or mentors.   Through discussion, you may be able to look deeper into what God is saying, gain new insight and encourage others. .."  (Transforming my Mind Daily, reprinted with permission from the Bible Society's Eternity magazine)

2014 will begin with another full year of activities for the Catholic community at Monash University.  Commencing with the various annual campus (Clayton, Caulfield and Peninsula) Orientation Week activities in late February and early March, we will again welcome the help of the enthusiastic and inspiring young people from the NET (National Evangelisation Team) group. .. (National Evangelization Team, Richard Houlihan)

 During the Australian Day weekend, approximately 80 youths from different parishes came together for Evangelium Summer Course. This yearly event focuses on different aspects of Catholicism. The aim is to give an introduction course which all participants can then take as a foundation to study further.  The spotlight this year is on the Bible and across the weekend we learned about how to read the Bible based on the program designed by Jeff Cavins: A Quick Journey Through the Bible. .. (Evangelium Summer Course, Florencia Marcello)

Lent comes to us as a providential time to change course, to regain the capacity to react in face of the reality of evil that always challenges us. Lent is to be lived as a time of conversion, of personal and communal renewal through drawing close to God and confident adherence to the Gospel. In this way, it enables us also to look at our brothers and their needs with new eyes. For this Lent is the favorable time to be converted to love of God and of our neighbour. (Lent in the Thought of Pope Francis)

(Read more by downloading the newsletter as a PDF: 348KB)