Dear Friends,
By Virginia Ryan

Thank you to all who participated in the National St Luke e-Conference.

The Origins of Christmas
By Gerard Moore

For the first two centuries or more of Christian worship the early churches felt no great need to hold a feast of the birth of the Lord, nor did they have agreement as to the date on which Jesus was born.

A Wait Problem
By Dr Carmel Davis

As a society, we Australians are not very good at waiting. Being at the end of a long queue in the supermarket, or at the petrol station, or the ticket office is enough to send us into an agitated frenzy.

Light of Torah
By Teresa Pirola

The complex family life of Isaac and Rebekah and their sons has all the hallmarks of a soap opera: a painful pregnancy, two warring siblings, parents with 'favourites,' competition and cunning, deception and betrayal... Can this really be the way the divine plan is worked out?! Explore the mayhem and mystery of our ancestral story with this issue of Light of Torah.

Catholics coming back to Mass after Christmas?
By Martin Teulan

They say there are three questions a person will ask you when you are calling for change from that person. 

The varied ways to prepare for Christmas
By Dr Margaret  Ghosn MSHF

In Australia we are so familiar with the term Advent - the period in which the Roman Catholic Church prepares for Christmas.

Preparing to Welcome Christ
By Jim Quillinan

St Paul gave voice to a wonderful prayer in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus (Ephesians 3 16-22).

Fr. Warren Kinne pictured
By Dr Matthew Del Nevo

I'm going to be in China again this Christmas.  I hope we see Fr Warren Kinne the Columban priest who helped set up You Dao, a charitable work supporting migrant communities in Shanghai. 

Did not our hearts burn within us?
By Fr Noel Connolly

A couple of years ago I attended the funeral of one of our priests, Fr Michael Cryan in Perth.

Bringing the Gospel to the Streets

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 5, 2009 (zenit.org). - The power of the Gospel finds unique expression when it is proclaimed on the streets, according to the Vatican's council on migrants and travelers.

Living and Breathing the Word of God
by Anscar J. Chupungco OSB

Wednesday, January 20 ~ Friday, January 22, 2010

Study Online in 2010 with The Broken Bay Institute

Course UNITS available online in Semester 1

Broken Bay program 2010

The Broken Bay Institute is affiliated with the University of Newcastle.

Catholic Mission's Gift Registry

It is designed to give where it is needed most. Eighty per cent of the world’s population is living on less than $2 a day. See more information at www.catholicmission.org.au

Pastoral Planning & The Environment
'What is the Connection?'
Keynote Presenter: Dr John Williams

Teleforum - Friday November 20th 2009
Click here for Registration form (PDF)

Pray 2010

7-10 July 2010 - Brisbane
An initiative of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane

Silence in The City with Laurence Freeman OSB

The Australian Christian Meditation Community (ACT) invites you to talks by Fr Laurence Freeman, Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation

2010 Columban Calendar Order Form

PO Box 752 Niddrie
Victoria Australia 3042
Telephone: 03 9375 9475