Volume 19, Issue 8

Australia’s most senior Church leader has spoken out against a national charter of rights, in a landmark speech praising the role of parliaments and warning against rule by ‘relativist’ judges.

Volume 19, Issue 7

 I last saw Archbishop Sir Frank Little on Sunday 6 April. It was for a Confirmation at St Christopher’s Church, Camberwell, the centre of the German-speaking Catholic Community in Melbourne. The Archbishop arrived before 10am. After greeting everyone in the sacristy, he promptly signed the Confirmation certificates that had been prepared. The server, Christophe, asked Sir Frank if he could hold the crozier even though he had no cloth. Sir Frank joked and said he would give Christophe the polish afterwards. He had brought his own alb with him as I discovered after the ceremonies had ended when I was going to hang the alb among the vestments.

Volume 19, Issue 7

  An atmosphere of beauty and transcendence surrounded the lowering of the casket containing the mortal remains of our deceased father-in-the-faith Archbishop Francis Little into the crypt of St Patrick’s Cathedral. In harmony with the late Archbishop’s motto, the whole celebration of the funeral liturgy was a cry of Kyrie Eleison – at once a petition and a celebration of the Easter victory over sin, death and corruption.

Volume 19, Issue 6

Archbishop Thomas Francis Little was born at Moonee Ponds on 30 November 1925. He was the son of Gerald Thompson Little, who was a well known Melbourne civil engineer and surveyor, and his wife, Kathleen Annie McCormack.

His family settled in Essendon. This began a great love of Archbishop Little for the Essendon Football Club which he remained devoted to throughout his whole life. He was educated firstly at St Columba’s School, Essendon and then at St Monica’s Christian Brothers’ College, Moonee Ponds. His secondary education was conducted at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat where he was a boarder.

Volume 19, Issue 5

Archbishop Denis Hart has written to all parliamentarians of the Government of Victoria expressing his unequivocal opposition to the Relationships Bill 2007. The Archbishop has written with the full endorsement of, and on behalf of, the Bishops of all Victorian dioceses. This follows discussions with the Attorney-General the Honourable Rob Hulls in February this year.

Volume 19, Issue 5

It is sometimes quipped that, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your pastoral plans. While it is true that our plans fade into insignificance in the light of God’s unfathomable will, we do nevertheless need to put into place concrete plans for our work in the vineyard of the Lord. Pope Benedict XVI specifically mentions the need to include pastoral work for vocations in the pastoral plans of a diocese; this, in addition to nourishing faith through prayer, preaching, catechesis, hospitality, spiritual companionship, reflection and discernment.

Volume 19, Issue 5

Pope Benedict XVI, a lover of classical music, has been called the Mozart of Theologians. His ability to express difficult concepts in common yet precise language is a great gift. When I talked to some young people in Cologne after the Papal Mass at the last World Youth Day, many said that their most memorable moment was the Holy Father’s homily. This is even more remarkable given that our Melbourne pilgrims heard the discourse via a translator.