08 December 2013: Second Sunday of Advent, Year A

Christ, the hope of all people

John the Baptist emerges as a fierce character opting out of towns and villages and heading to the desert to preach a harsh repentance, fasting and penance. It was an austere lifestyle. Jesus did not follow John’s lead into the desert. He returns to the desert on a needs-only basis. His mission was to be in villages and towns to proclaim a repentance of mercy, love and compassion.

“Let us wait for him solemnly, fearfully, hopefully, patiently, obediently; let us be resigned to his will, while active in good works”John Henry Newman – the Tablet 07/12/2013

In and through our preparation in Advent we have to keep focused on what it is we are seeking: to enable the Lord of life to be reborn in this Christmas and that our public lives, will mirror the growing freedom of our private prayer.

Sometimes, for the love and joy of Christmas to flow and flower in us, we need to confront the blocks that get in the way of us living the life of grace.

May Pope Francis’ new message “The Joy Of The Gospel” guide us on our pilgrimages from inner decisions, by accepting our failures and imperfections to resolve to follow the example of Christ towards serving, a world in great need, ‘seeing God in all people and all things’.

01 December 2013: First Sunday of Advent, Year A

Stay awake, you must be ready

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Saviour of the world.  We ask you to bless the Advent wreath which we honour as remembrance of your first coming in glory.  Strengthen our hearts with the example of your love that we may receive you with joy and gladness on the day of our redemption, when you will come to reign as King for ever.  Amen

Fr Gaetan moving to parish in Brisbane in 2014

Dear friends at St Ignatius and St James,

The peace of Christ.

With the support of committed and gifted lay companions and other Religious who share leadership in our ministries, the Jesuits continue to serve the Church in Australia through parish ministry. However, in line with trends in the Australian Church generally, the number of priests in the Australian Jesuit Province has been declining steadily for some years. To prepare for the continuing decline in the number of Jesuits available in the future we are working on a plan for our pastoral ministries. The Richmond Parish Leadership Team is providing information about the parish to assist us with our planning. The pastoral ministries plan and recommendations will not be finalised until the middle of next year. In the meantime we have to take some interim measures to ensure that we can meet all our parish commitments around Australia in 2014. At present we have an urgent need in Brisbane, and after discussing the matter with Archbishop Hart, I have asked Fr Gaetan Pereira to move from Richmond to Brisbane in the New Year. Archbishop Hart has agreed to appoint Fr Nguyen Viet Huy as Administrator of St Ignatius Richmond for one year from 01 January 2014.

I wish to express my gratitude to Fr Gaetan for all that he has done as Administrator at Richmond this year, and thanks also to Fr Huy for stepping in as Administrator for 2014. I keep the people, ministries and concerns of the parish in my prayers for a blessed Advent Season and every blessing in the year ahead.

In Our Lord
Fr Steve Curtin SJ
Provincial