Catholic Identity
Reflection
Religious Education Leader – Catholic Identity – Elizabeth Holligan
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr Michael Tate
Befriending Time
God’s plan for human happiness is mostly frustrated by a good person burying his or her personality traits, what one might call one’s talents, which is really to bury oneself and to become invisible.
In the old language of my schoolboy catechism, we should be concerned not just with sins of commission, but with sins of omission – failure of courage, failure to take risks, failure to put everything on the line with the personality and the moment in time given to you and to me.
As Shakespeare says in Julius Caesar:
‘There is a tide in the affairs of men
which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
omitted, all the voyage of their life
is bound in stillness and in miseries.’
The Divine Tide is flowing through human history. We should trust ourselves to that tide which can carry us to the shores of Heaven. Failure to take risks leads to Hellish stillness and miseries.
We could pause for a moment to pray that we might use our talents so as to hear: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant … come and join in your Master’s happiness.’
© Fr Michael Tate; mtate@bigpond.com
Rev Prof Michael Tate graduated in Law from the University of Tasmania in 1968, and in Theology from Oxford University in 1971. He lectured at the University of Tasmania from 1972-78, being Dean of the Faculty of Law in 1977-78. He was a Senator for Tasmania from 1978-93, being Federal Minister for Justice from 1987-93. He served as Ambassador to The Hague and the Holy See from 1993-96. He then returned to Australia and was ordained in May 2000 and has been a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Hobart since then. He is an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Tasmania where he lectures in International Humanitarian Law.
General Notices: Religious Education Leader: Elizabeth Holligan
Sacramental Program 2023-2024
Students undertaking the St Mel’s Parish Sacramental Program met at St Anne’s College have now completed two home sessions and will be meeting Thursday, November 23 at St Mel’s Hall for their next Adults and Children session as a group. We pray for those students and families undertaking their sacramental journey and as they prepare for the Second Rite of Reconciliation on Thursday, November 30 at St Mel’s Christ the King Church. Please contact St Mel’s Parish for details.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Voucher Fundraising
We thank you for your continued support this term in our fundraising for the Vinnies Christmas appeal. The Shepparton South St Vincent de Paul Conference assists many members of the local community facing challenging times financially. Our local St Vincent de Paul conference is requesting our help as they aid over 450 clients this Christmas.
Each year level and PG is asked to raise funds to purchase vouchers for families and individuals in need this Christmas. You can help by donating cash or vouchers for the provision of food from business like SPC or supermarkets (not cards that can be spent on alcohol). Any cash sent will be used by the school and Shepparton South St Vincent de Paul conference to purchase vouchers. Vouchers will be presented to the Shepparton South St Vincent de Paul conference at our end of year mass, Friday, December 8. Your generosity, kindness and assistance is greatly appreciated in our fundraising at St Anne’s College.