By Paul Dobbyn
Australian Catholic University theology lecturer, author and musician Verbum Dei Sister Maeve Louise Heaney brought the inaugural Truth and Charity lecture series to a memorable close with a talk blending theology with prayerful song.
Her lecture Jesus Today explored the reality of the Ascension and the place of art and beauty as “an access point to God”.
Sr Heaney’s song Bridge summed up the goal of her talk with its prayer that “I would like to be a bridge/that leads to You”.
The Irish-born Verbum Dei Sister also performed songs from her recently released CD Break the Crystal Frame in a gathering after the talk.
Brisbane couple Paul and Libby Blom, founders of the April to September lecture series held at the Francis Rush Centre, said the inaugural Discovering Jesus lectures had been well attended and a second series was planned for 2015.
“The inaugural series offered a consistent calibre of academics who opened up each topic in interesting, challenging and exciting ways,” Mrs Blom said.
Mr Blom is assistant principal religious education at St Augustine’s College, Springfield and Mrs Blom is a communication specialist who does volunteer work with Catholic agencies while raising a young family.
Mrs Blom said the series, which started with Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s talk Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, had received positive feedback from participants.
Other speakers included St Stephen’s Cathedral dean Fr David Pascoe, Broken Bay Institute Lecturer in Theology Rev Dr Anthony Gooley, Australian Catholic University lecturer in theology Dr Joel Hodge, Griffith Islamic Research Unit deputy director Dr Halim Rane and Lutheran Minister Stephen Nuske.
There were also many positive comments on the series’ social media site.
“Those attending referred to the lecture series as a wonderful initiative within the archdiocese,” she said.
“The reasons for this statement were many…we saw many examples of information and inspiration from the series being used in practical ways.
“For example, a number of the St Paul de Chartres sisters attending used each of the lectures as a basis for spiritual reflection in the weeks following.”
Brisbane Catholic Education also approved attendance at the talks as accredited professional development hours to teach religion in Catholic schools.
Fr Pascoe said the Bloms’ initiative to run the talks had been impressive.
“The location of the talks at the Francis Rush Centre was also significant,” Fr Pascoe said.
“It fitted in very much with the vision of the cathedral precinct’s role as a place of teaching and learning.
“People in the city were able to attend and it was also a central point for people to gather from all over Brisbane.
During the final lecture, Fr Pascoe invited Mr and Mrs Blom to return with another series of Truth and Charity lectures in 2015.
Mrs Blom said, “We were honoured to receive the invitation and can now reveal the series topic for 2015 will be Acting Justly: Living the Mercy of Jesus.”
The lectures will again be held from April to September on the last Tuesday of the month.
