FORMATION
FORMATION 1998
INTRODUCTION TO FORMATION 98
For the final time I present to you the
Formation Programme for the Order of the Knights of the Southern Cross.
On 23 July 1997 I took up my appointment as
Bishop of Ballarat. Because of the duties associated with this office, I have asked the
Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference to relieve me of the appointment given to me
several years ago to be the National Chaplain of the Order of the Knights of the Southern
Cross as successor to Bishop Aloysius Morgan.
Now I am pleased to inform you that Bishop
Ronald Mulkearns, the former Bishop of Ballarat, has kindly accepted the appointment from
the Australian Bishops to be the National Chaplain of the Order of the Knights of the
Southern Cross. Although the appointment of Bishop Mulkearns was made at the November 1997
assembly of the Conference, I have agreed to prepare the Formation Programme for this
year.
As I indicated to you last year, I consider
it most appropriate that we should respond to the call of Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul
II, to prepare for the celebration of the Great Jubilee to mark the 2000th anniversary of
the birth of Christ.
In accordance with the plan suggested by
the Pope, this year the themes for the Formation Programme are dedicated to "the Holy
Spirit and his sanctifying presence within the community of Christ’s disciples".
The Order always commences its gatherings with a prayer to the Holy Spirit who is
sometimes referred to as the forgotten person of the Trinity. Hence I am confident that
you will respond enthusiastically to the call of the Pope for a renewed awareness of the
role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I trust that you have purchased a copy of
the Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" (referred to as TMA
throughout this Formation Programme) of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, which is readily
available in Catholic Bookshops. Summaries of the Papal document are also on sale at the
present time and will provide you with a more readable presentation of the mind of Our
Holy Father.
Many dioceses have taken up the call of the
Holy Father and have produced material which will assist people to ensure that the year
2000 will be a time for renewal and for greater involvement in the essential task of
evangelization. I wish you to feel free to use such material if assists you in making the
Formation Programme for your Branch more productive.
I have very much enjoyed my association
with the Order of the Knights of the Southern Cross ever since I was appointed State
Chaplain for Victoria in 1976. It has allowed me to associate with Catholic laymen of the
highest quality and who have inspired me with their commitment, with their love of the
Church and their loyalty to the Hierarchy. Above all else, I have observed and admired
their determination to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
It will be my constant prayer that the
Order will continue to provide a way of life which will assist the members to be the salt
of the earth and the light of the world
Bishop of Ballarat
P O Box 121
Ballarat Vic 3353
"The Scripture quotations
contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition
copyright © 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
FORMATION PROGRAMME 1998
Reflections on 1998
The Year of the Holy Spirit
in preparation for the Jubilee of
the year 2000
A Catholic Awareness Programme
Descent of the Holy Spirit
SESSION THEMES
- I believe in the Holy Spirit
- Titles of the Holy Spirit
- The Spirit and the Church
- The Sacrament of
Confirmation
- The Virtue of Hope
- The Spirit is the principal
agent of Evangelization
- The Church is one in virtue
of the Holy Spirit
- Mary, a woman docile to the
voice of the Spirit
Points for Successful Formation Programmes
Planning is the keynote. Choose a
discussion leader if practicable for the year so that he can plan the year’s
programme.
To increase members’ participation,
choose different assistants for each meeting.
Discussion leader and assistants are to
meet for, say ten minutes, prior to the meeting to make certain that preparations are
complete.
Members are to bring copies of the
Formation Programme to each meeting, but have copies for those who do not bring their own
copies.
Abide strictly to the allotted time; not
less than twenty nor more than thirty minutes.
