Madonna - January / February 2005

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2005

Our cover
‘People keep us new.’ ‘Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will’ (Psalm response for the 2nd Sunday). A new year can often mean the opportunity for a new start; a chance to realign ourselves with the Way of Jesus.

Soul Matters – Christopher Gleeson sj.
People keep us new. Encounters with two young friends and a group of teachers, and a moving funeral celebration, highlight the importance of others in our lives.

Roadside rest
Churches and ambulances. Meet one of the ‘locals’ – a man of the land with his own deep spirituality, who offers a prayer whenever he sees an ambulance go by as well as when he passes a church.

Now she is like everyone else.
Jesuit Brendan Byrne tells of the gift brought to his family – and to so many others – in the person of his sister Dorothy, whose name means ‘Gift of God’.

The quest for grace.
Bishop Pat Power is reminded by the title of historian Manning Clark’s book of his own quest for grace through life.

A very big issue – Jan Tully
A throwaway remark from a teacher reveals the inhuman that we need to be on our guard against.

Family Matters – Teresa Pirola
When hands meet. Shaking hands need not just be an empty social gesture. It can carry a wealth of meaning and bring a new awareness of the dignity of others.

‘New.’
‘Sing to the Lord a new song’ – poem by Catherine Gower.

Your Daily Prayer – January & February.
A prayerful reflection on the scripture readings for every day of the month.

A Cloud of Witnesses – Edmund Campion
The things that unite us. Rev John Dunmore Lang is well known as an antagonist of the Catholic (and Anglican) Church in our early days. We are reminded that he was a great statesman too, and, as a private meeting with Archbidshop Polding showed, he understood well those whom he opposed.

Bread for the Journey – Peter Steele sj
Taking away the sins of the world. By inserting himself into the thick of outrageous evil, to the point that he is killed, Jesus conquers death and sin, and does it on our behalf.

On retreat in daily life.
Irene Cheung participated in a Retreat in Daily Life through her local parish, and found it gave her new ways of refreshing her life in the Spirit.

Full of Surprises: The Bible without Blinkers – Antony F Campbell sj.
Isaiah and injustice – Isaiah 5. Isaiah’s song lists ways in which evil and injustice pervade society , and indicates the inevitable outcome – social decay and finally disaster.

Around and about.
News of people and events of interest.

Faith and spirituality in review.
Recent books.