GROWING up in a bustling city of more than a million people in the Philippines, a young Elmer Ibarra could never have imagined he’d one day be standing side-by-side with a bishop in the dust in the dead centre of Australia celebrating Mass. That’s part of the great unknown Fr Elmer signed up for when he was ordained a priest ... Read More »
TWENTY-year-old Matt Foxon remembers well what it was like to be searching for answers and “hungry for purpose” in those awkward teenage years. And now, having been away on the journey of a lifetime, he’s throwing himself into helping young people in his own backyard find their way through those years. Matt’s taken on the role of youth ministry co-ordinator ... Read More »
“GOD’S embrace” has made all the difference in Percy Pamo Lawrence’s life but, at 54, she still finds herself yearning for her mother’s hug. That’s something she missed so badly as a child when her mother Rosa left the family in the Philippines to search for work in London. Percy’s family was one of thousands struggling to make a go ... Read More »
COVID-19 has forced Fr Gary Walker, a man who once craved a life of adventure and excitement, to do something he’s never dreamed of doing – stop and rest. Even though the 76-year-old Columban missionary is retired, he’s used to being busy and he was intending to keep it that way. Sitting in a presbytery where he lives in Sandgate, ... Read More »
“The last will be first and the first will be last.” Now there’s a phrase that we’ve all heard (misused) before. It is scriptural, of course: it occurs in one of the gospel passages that will be proclaimed this month. It is spoken by Jesus during his attempt to explain the Kingdom of Heaven to the disciples. As is often ... Read More »
TERESA McGrath’s work for the Church is guided by two of her favourite Scripture quotes – one from St Paul and another from St Peter. The one from St Paul is from his second letter to the Corinthians – “His grace is sufficient for me, for His power is made perfect in weakness (12:9).” And St Peter’s is from his ... Read More »
PAUL Lucas remembers the first time he read Laudato Si’ (On Care for Our Common Home) – he danced around the house. He laughs loudly as his memory of that day comes back. “I was just over the moon,” he said of Pope Francis’ encyclical as the Church celebrates the document’s fifth anniversary through the Season of Creation (September 1-October ... Read More »
SR Janine Bliss is on the lookout for a flat or a caravan in Bundaberg but she’s not thinking of a holiday – she’s too busy for that. It’s just that she’s spending so much time in the south-east Queensland town that accommodation is costing her an arm and a leg and she was hoping someone could help out. She’s ... Read More »
HOMESICKNESS is not an issue for Fr John Panamthottam partly because he feels at home among Brisbane Catholics, and his favourite cricketer Virat Kholi possibly played a role too. Fr John arrived as a missionary from India to Brisbane archdiocese in August 2015 and during his first summer here, the Indian cricket team toured Australia for a One Day International ... Read More »
The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You
