Liturgies

As we reflect on the year we realise that as the SMX community we walk with and alongside a loving presence just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus. It is in this presence we can open ourselves to change, it is here we can transform old opinions and expectations. It is here our sense of separateness melts and we are aware that we are part of the dynamic whole.

John Fitzwalter is an artist and a gallery owner. He talks about the role of the arts in helping us focus on that which really matters in our lives. He insists that we are not separate and that it is through the arts that we are able to gain connectedness.

This is the first of a series of one on one conversations we are planning. These will take the place of homilies and will focus on our community people and how they relate to what we do at St Mary's in Exile.

David Pincus will be speaking about Paul’s Epistles, which, he believes, were the vehicle that conveyed the message of Jesus to the world and convinced so many of the hearers that Jesus outlined a good way of living. St Paul was one of the most influential figures in Christianity's formation and influence. This weekend we explore some of the most interesting dimensions of this character.

The Season of Creation 2022 began on 1st of September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology. Season of Creation is the annual ecumenical celebration that unites the world’s 2.4 billion Christians in prayer and action for our common home.

On Father's Day our liturgy focused on the parlous state of men's mental health and how this was partly a legacy of Christianity's adopting Greek philosophy's disconnect of mind and body. This week we will be exploring how the ancient spiritual practices of making sounds like chants and singing can heal our bodies and minds.

Margaret discusses the concept of Reciprocity that scientist and author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, says, broadens what it means to be human in all our relationships, including our relationship with Earth. Kimmerer suggests that in a culture of gratitude, both the honour of giving and the humility of receiving, are necessary halves of the whole.

In the wake of some high-profile men committing suicide recently the topic of men's mental wellbeing has been a subject of much discussion. In our Father's Day liturgy, we will focus on the Christian religion's and Greek philosophy's legacy of the dualistic split of mind from body and its sad consequences for all, especially men.

“Can we save the planet?” aims to inform people of the seriousness of the rapid collapse of our environment, that is, our planet’s natural life support system, the foundation of the creation of our planet and human habitat .

In this week's liturgy, Fr Frank Brennan reflects on the recent Plenary Council of the Australian Catholic Church. In his reflections he focuses on two of the major issues discussed. A highlight was the acknowledging of the place and contribution of the First Nations peoples in the life of the Nation and the Australian Catholic Church.