Things that work
‘Isn’t it good when things just work!’ You may recall the ad. A silver ball rolled down spirals, through switches, setting off balance beams and catapulty things, until finally something hit an array of dominoes that beautifully fell into place. It was a car ad, I think. But it is true, isn’t it? It’s good when things just work.
A dynamic duo leads with ability at Muswellbrook
On Wednesday 14 December 2016, Mary Ballard, along with the parents of 14 other school captain hopefuls, waited with bated breath as principal Niamh Marzol announced the St James’ Primary School, Muswellbrook, school leaders for 2017.
You’re invited to a youth festival like no other
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) will take place in Sydney from 7-9 December. Organisers are expecting 15,000 young people (Year 9 - 30 years) from around the country to attend. Caprice Skinner has attended the previous two festivals and World Youth Day in Poland and encourages young people from our diocese to attend this year.
Caring for those in supported accommodation
In my role as NDIS Program Manager with CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning, I have been fortunate enough to witness our clients in supported accommodation experience so many memorable times.
Tim Flannery to speak at Tenison Woods Education Centre Dinner in Maitland
The Tenison Woods Education Centre is delighted that the guest speaker at its annual dinner this month will be Professor Tim Flannery. His topic will be Laudato Si’ – Responsibility and climate. Here he writes in his role as Chief Councillor of the Australian Climate Council.
Satellite classes continue to thrive in the Hunter
This story explores the partnership of diocesan schools and Autism Spectrum Australia during Autism Awareness Month.
Achieving a ‘work-screen’ balance in family life
Q My children seem to be addicted to their electronic devices, especially their iPads, and so getting them to do anything around the house is so difficult. As much as this frustrates me, I accept that I have allowed this to happen and now really want to find ways to reduce their device time. Any ideas?
From island home to long career at Calvary Mater Newcastle
Last year Calvary Mater Newcastle’s Clinical Nurse Specialist, Fane Falemaka, was the proud recipient of the Mary Potter Award. She was nominated by her peers because they felt she exemplified Calvary’s values of Hospitality, Healing, Stewardship and Respect. Also in 2016, Catholic Health Australia honoured Fane with the highly coveted Nurse of the Year Award. Aurora invited Fane to share her remarkable story. International Nurses Day will be celebrated on 12 May.
Interfaith forums bring community together
Bringing together people of faith is something the diocese does each and every day through its worship, community outreach and education services.
Three new St Nicholas centres to open
The diocese’s childcare agency, St Nicholas Early Education, is set to expand with three new centres to open late 2017 and early 2018. With services already operating at Singleton and Newcastle West, St Nick’s will soon have five centres across the region - opening at Cardiff, Chisholm and also Lochinvar in late 2017 and early 2018 ready for the school year.
Mother love: it’s complicated
I remember when I used to meet up with friends, go to the movies and read as many books as I wanted. I would literally put one book down and pick up another. I remember regularly ringing one of my best friends and enjoying epic two-hour conversations. I remember re-watching all seven seasons of The West Wing in a month (long before Netflix and binge watching were even a thing). I remember walking my dogs every day. I remember lazy Sunday afternoons on the couch. Sometimes I would even have a nap!
While Syria suffers, Iraq, Libya and Vietnam come to mind
A local commentator unpacks the recent US attack on Syria. What may have happened by the time you read this?
Nirvana: All that’s required is a wish to find real inner peace
Newcastle Buddhist Kadam Mick Marcon introduces the teachings of Buddhism, with reference to the writings of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
Exploring ‘cyclospirituality’
As far as I can recall, ‘cyclospirituality’ is a term which came to me while I was happily cycling along a quiet country road one morning.
Countering Islamophobia
Islam continues to be prominent in news reports, usually for all the wrong reasons. Editor of Bridges (see below), Columban Patrick McInerney, offers helpful suggestions to those who want to penetrate beyond the headlines. In doing so, he echoes the documents of the Second Vatican Council.
Why not learn the lessons of the ‘Long Paddock’?
If cemeteries can be said to be beautiful places, Bourke cemetery is. It’s strangely peaceful and quite stark in its beauty. Old pioneers are buried alongside generations of loved ones. It’s a place to be reflective, a place to think about the things that matter and the things that don’t.
New mentoring program for Australian Catholic women set to launch
A new mentoring program to build the skills and faith of Australian Catholic women so that they can have a positive impact in the Church and wider society is about to be launched.
