My Facebook page is more of a diary and documentary site for events, reflections and encounters that make up, my life. I have chosen some of these faith highlights from 2019 to share with those who may not usually see my FB feed
24 January 2019
A valuable resource for the Christian-Muslim journey.
The aim of the week is to promote harmony and tolerance between all people of the world, regardless of their faith or religion. Interfaith Harmony Week aims to be inclusive of all people, including those of differing faith as well as those of no faith. It seeks to do this by promoting the common basis of all faiths and religions, “Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbor”.
24 January 2019
A valuable resource for the Christian-Muslim journey.
Letter of the General Minister of the Order of Friars Minor on the 800th Anniversary of the Encounter between St. Francis and Sultan al-Malik al-Kāmil
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2 February 2019
During the first week of February every year, the World Interfaith Harmony Week is observed by people of faith around the world.
World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan, and was proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/65/5 adopted unanimously on 20 October 2010.
The aim of the week is to promote harmony and tolerance between all people of the world, regardless of their faith or religion. Interfaith Harmony Week aims to be inclusive of all people, including those of differing faith as well as those of no faith. It seeks to do this by promoting the common basis of all faiths and religions, “Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbor”.
I am blessed by a life surrounded with religious diversity. I share my home with my soul mate who is Hindu, I have a network of friends whose religious commitments include Islam, Sikh, Judaism and Buddhism. I have been welcomed as a regular visitor to the Holland Park Mosque and support the work of the Ecumenical Inter-religious Brisbane program. As a photographer I am honoured to have one of my images on permanent public display at a memorial to a Sikh bus driver burnt to death in a tragic incident. My coverage of this event is featured on the SBS Punjabi web
6 March 2019
On this day we wear the mark of the ashen cross to remind ourselves that stardust is our origin and our destination. We have a responsibility for right living with each other and our Mother Earth.
We wear the cross of suffering and pain inflicted by injustice and exploitation. We wear this mark to remember the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth so that all may have life and have it to the full.
Repent is not a popular word and rarely makes it into the friendly game of Scrabble. Yet it is a life giving choice we make if we are to be agents of change and rewrite grace into history
Ash Wednesday calls us to repent of all that is not life giving at the personal and social in our choices. Repentance also demands a change of heart and practice if it is going to be effective.
This is the time to fast from inhumanity and cruelty. This is the time to put our prayer into action and our alms giving into justice making.
Let us be glad for the season of Lent
13 April 2019
Holy Week 2019
This week is different for those who share my community of faith. This is a dramatic week dominated by the colours of blood red, regal purple and dazzling white. This is the week of donkey riding, foot-washing service, breaking bread and drinking wine with the discovery of an empty tomb as the peak moment of belief and solidarity.
This is the commemoration of a moment in history that has defined values, fired the imagination and plunged us into the joys and hope, the grief and anguish of human life.
These are days of storytelling, dramatic recreations of passion, suffering and life, and music that finds the crack in everything; that’s “ how the light gets in”
Today our religious observance and language will be meaningless if we refuse to confront the powers of empire .
Our cries of "Hosanna" must echo the cries for freedom and liberation of those detained because they seek refuge and asylum in our land.
This week will not be Holy unless we refuse to crucify the innocent.
This week will not be Holy unless we break bread and drink wine with the poor and abandoned of our community.
This week will not be Holy unless we walk the passion of the earth.
This week will be Holy if we commit to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with all that is sacred.
The image I have selected for Holy Week 2019 is the Laughing Christ no.10 by Noel Counihan 1972
In his series of the Laughing Christ Counihan makes a strong statement expressing what he saw as institutionalised religion’s support of the Vietnam war. Counihan’s Christ laughs in derision at the charade of Vietnam and the Church’s participation in supporting the military intervention.
Counihan’s Christ is an Australian. He sits upon the cross, arms folded across his body like a wharfie at a union meeting. He wears his crown of thorns indifferently, even jauntily. The bulky figure exudes apathy and indifference, the mouth wide with cynicism and condemnation.
Today this Christ will grimace at a Church that has become a byword for shame and disgrace. This Christ will grimace at a clerical culture that has valued power over service, status over transparency and wealth over stewardship.
May this distorted image of the sacred shake us from religious apathy and indifference to live this Easter renewed with a re-imagined faith with the vision of the women who first proclaimed the Resurrection.
(Notes adapted from a text by Rosemary Crumlin RSM)
13 June 2019
Today in Catholic World is the feast of St Anthony of Padua. His popularity guarantees a Catholic Church just isn't finished unless they have his statue somewhere. He missed a possie in the Cathedral of St Stephen, Brisbane but has a corner spot in Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral. I should do a photo album of "Anthony Spotting" for Churchcrawling - church art, architecture and history.
It's the name day I share with quite a few Facebook friends called Anthony or Tony. Wishing each of you blessings and the finding of all that loss stuff on our patronal day!! And a special mention to friends over at the parish of St Joseph and St Anthony Parish, Bracken Ridge.
8 July 2019
Began National NAIDOC 2019 celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Sunday with new and old friends who teach me culture and connection to country. See images here.
Grateful for my friendship with Murri Ministry in the Archdiocese of Brisbane and so who many young Murri brothers who share dance and story.
I acknowledge Queenie McKenzie's work,, “Peace to this house and all who dwell within" the theme for the day.
30 August 2019
When I was young I liked purple. However my parents and community didn't think it was an appropriate colour so I was not allowed to wear it.
I loved Lent and Advent because the Church was decorated in purple and the priests wore purple vestments. But no-one told me that purple was a colour for celebration.
So now I wear purple in solidarity with young people who respect diversity and sexuality. I wear purple as an older man to make up for the years I missed out on this experience as a young man.
So, today 4 years after first posting this message I again don my purple shirt and hat with pride.
1 September 2019
The Season of Creation is our special time for the Creator and each other.
From September 1 to October 4, Christians around the world celebrate the Season of Creation. Some of us pray, some of us do hands-on projects, some of us advocate.
We all protect creation. It’s powerfully good work that’s urgently needed.
The momentum continues long after the season ends through ongoing prayer, changes in lifestyle, and advocacy.
During the Season of Creation, we live out our faith to care for creation. If you’re new to this movement, welcome! If you’ve participated for years, welcome home.
For Brisbane friends: https://www.stjosephsbrackenridge.com/…/living_laudato_si_i…
7 October 2019
Unlike Rotary, being Catholic means you get to carry a lot of historical baggage. Most pew warmers have little idea of the colourful anthology that goes with ticking the Catholic box on the census form.
Today is the "Don't mention the war" day. In devotional terms it appears as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Sounds pretty innocent and we have a couple of parishes and schools in Brisbane dedicated to to OLR. ( Catholics invented religious acronyms )
However back in 1571 long before interfaith dialogue and non violent conflict resolution Christians and Muslims faced off in the messy Battle of Lepanto.It came to a grand final on October 7 that year with the Christians 1 defeating the Muslims 0
The connection with Mary aka BVM is that the commander in chief of the Christian in this battle was a saintly but war savvy Pope Pius V ( that's a 5 not a V). As well as building a coalition of the willing among disparate interests he added a dash of devotion by inspiring the troops and most of Europe's Catholics who had 't gone Protestant to pray the Rosary. As they say, the rest is history. Remember this was done long before Facebook events pages or Meetup.
Thankfully we have moved a little beyond the murky world view of the 16th century where religion, politics, culture and conquest all rolled into one agenda. Or have we?
So today is a good day for all people of faith to pray for peace and understanding. If you are Catholic dust off your grandmothers beads and run your fingers over the mysteries of life. For instructions just got to YouTube for video or google for a text version.
Better still if you can, send a message of good will and solidarity to a Muslim friend or Christian. But as John Cleese would say "Don't mention the war".
1 November 2019
Majella Tracey FMM was the last surviving member of my mother's family. On All Saints Day 2019 a unique gathering of cousins related in the Tracey line joined of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in the funeral and burial rites for a much loved family member and religious woman.
20 December 2019
As we celebrate the days leading up to Christmas I greet my diverse Facebook network with the universal message of peace on earth and good will to all.
I wrote this reflection in 2013 It bears repeating just as our work of building peace and community is a constant refrain to life's song.
May the ancient story of a child born in occupied territory open our hearts to the work of defending human rights.
May the birth of every child call us to our communal responsibility to protect children,to take them on wild adventures and to let them grow into the unique person they are called to be.
May the image of a family forced to seek refuge and asylum far from their home inform our political choices as citizens of a global village.
May our messages of good wishes and happy holidays not blind us to the work of justice making and non-violence.
May the lights and decorations of the season remind us of our mission to bring light to the darkness and celebration to life.
May our gifting be generous as we remember those who live in situations of poverty and exploitation.
May we hear angelic voices singing our dream of peace on earth
Image is the work of Mark Knight cartoonist at The Herald Sun in Melbourne http://www.heraldsun.com.au/…/3a75151fbab76180dfd2225950ca2…
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