July / August 2010

Our cover
Rising very early, Jesus went into a desert place to pray (Luke 4:42). Many times we are told that Jesus retired away from everybody to pray, often it would seem into the desert. Where do we find a desert place in our lives in which to refresh our souls?

In this issue ...

Go into the desert to pray ... ‘Rising very early’, Mark tells us, ‘Jesus went into the desert to pray’. Where do we find desert places in our daily routines where we might go to take time out with/for God?

Soul Matters - Chris Gleeson SJ
Noticing. Finding God, Ignatius taught, means noticing where God is already active in our daily lives.

Tête à Tête — Mary Manning
The Holy Island. St Aidan was sent to bring the Gospel to the kingdom of Northumbria, establishing a Christian outpost on the holy island of Lindisfarne.

A martyr for his people. Through what seemed to be an unlikely conversion, Oscar Romero devoted his whole energies and eventually his life to the cause of the poor.

Pilgrims on the way - Rosie Hoban
Sometimes gladness. Poet and Madonna contributer Bruce Dawe talks of his life and work.

The Sahara’s great gift. In the desert Carlo Carretto found the way of prayer. He writes of what the experience was for him.

Family Matters – Teresa Pirola
Words that feed us. Can we sometimes become too acquainted with the scriptures, letting the words and their meaning wash over us unnoticed?

Your Daily Prayer — July & August. A prayerful reflection on the scripture readings for every day of the month.

The power of story — Elizabeth Pike
The Sun Woman. We trace the daily journey of Wiriuprantilli, the Sun Woman, as she brings light and warmth and life to the Land and its creatures.

A Cloud of Witnesses - Edmund Campion
A survivor honours Mary. Holocaust survivor Henryk Skrznski kept his vow to honour Mary in a special way, following  a successful business career in Australia.

Home for the homeless. The Gethsemane Community in inner Sydney is home to people who might not find one elsewhere.

Bread for the Journey — Peter Steele SJ
Good Samaritans. Everyone comes to need a Samaritan one day – even Jesus, at the end, and there was no one to be had.

A woman in the Vatican. Rosemary Goldie was one of the first women appointed as an auditor for Vatican II and went on to head up the secretariate for the laity.

Friend to the Lady with the Lamp. This year we celebrate the centenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. We also honour a Mercy Sister who was her friend and inspiration.

Faith & spirituality in review — New books and films.