Who We Are - Formation 2003

FORMATION

Formation 2004

Formation 2003

Formation 2002

Formation 2001

Formation 2000

Formation 1999

Formation 1998

Formation 1997

Formation 1996

FORMATION 2004

Click this image to see Jubilee 2000 at the Vatican

Introduction

Format

Programme

Theme
#1

Theme
#2

Theme
#3

Theme
#4

Theme
#5

Theme
#6

Theme
#7

Theme
#8

segment NO 4

theme:        “To be Australian”

call to prayer & opening prayer: As for the Order Prayers

focus:               “To promote the advancement of Australia.”

(Objects of the Order 1)

word of reflection

Reflect on the reading of the following words taken from the documents of the Church:

The largest country of Oceania in both size and population is Australia, where the Aboriginal people have lived for thousands of years, moving over large tracts of land and living in deep harmony with nature. Discovered and colonized by European people who named it the Southern Land of the Holy Spirit, Australia has become very Western in its cultural patterns and social structure. Deeply involved in the Scientific, technological, and social developments of the Western world, Australia is now a largely urban, modern and secularized nation, in which successive immigrations from Europe and Asia have contributed to make it a multicultural society. The Australians are therefore “an original people, the result of the meeting of people of very different nations, languages and civilizations”(Pope Paul VI – Homily, 200^th Anniversary of Arrival of James Cook in Australia).

John Paul II, Ecclesia in Oceania – The Church in Oceania #6

People live in both culture and nature. There are, of course, numerous cultures, each having a historical aspect as well as a social dimension, and a unique ethnic character. Because of all the changes that have taken place recently, we can actually call this a “new age” in human history. All of this raises some difficult new questions for us today. How can we continue to increase exchange among cultures while at the same time maintain the identity of the small community, preserve ancestral wisdom and save the uniqueness of each people?                                                          Vatican II, Constitution on the Church in the Modern World – paraphrase #53 - 56

            Allow a few moments reflective silence, then proclaim the Word of God

word of god

& The Gospel according to Luke 20:21-25

The Word of God is now read aloud slowly and prayerfully

So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"

But he perceived their craftiness and said to them,

"Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?" They said, "The emperor's."

He said to them, "Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."

$ For the next five minutes silently read and reflect on the readings.

       Underline what you consider to be key words and/or phrases for you.

the sharing

” Now bring your insights and reflection around the theme and the Readings into discussion of the following:                                                                                                       (10 mins)

v     What does it mean to you “to be Australian”?

v     How important is it to keep our ‘Australianness’?

v     What are the implications for the Church in regard to being Australian?

conclusion

Leader:         As we conclude this time of reflection, let us give praise to God as we say:

All:                  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

                        as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

The meeting proceeds

closing prayers: As for the Order Prayers at the Closing of the Meeting.

Last updated: 12/02/2006