As we enter into the month of May—the ‘Month of Mary’—and as we prepare for Mother’s Day this Sunday, we might find ourselves reflecting and giving thanks for the ways our mothers, both spiritual and earthly, have guided and blessed us in our lives.
In his video message for May, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli continues to lead us through some of the treasures of our Catholic prayer tradition. This month, appropriately, he invites us to pray and reflect on that great prayer of praise and petition, the Hail Mary.
We hear how mothers, fathers, grandparents and carers have been meeting together every Tuesday with their preschool-age children for fun and friendship—and a growing sense of community—at Little Frannie’s playgroup, a joint initiative of St Francis Xavier Parish and Primary School in Box Hill.
Also this week, Australia’s bishops approve the Mass of the Land of the Holy Spirit, a liturgy incorporating elements of Aboriginal language and culture, for use in the Diocese of Broome in Western Australia. Melbourne priest Fr Jude Pirotta MSSP reminisces about the joys and challenges of 40 years of priestly ministry. Bishop Greg Bennet of Sale, well known to many Melbourne Catholics, is elected the new Vice-President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. The former director of the world-famous Notre Dame Folk Choir, who will give an online public lecture later this month, shares some thoughts on raising up liturgical musicians for the Church. And Caritas Australia celebrates its 60th anniversary with the launch of a new book of photo portraits.
Finally, at the end of this month, Melbourne’s Catholic communities are being invited to enter more deeply into the Year of Prayer by participating in the second annual Fiat weekend of prayer, culminating in a Eucharistic procession from Corpus Christi College in Carlton to St Patrick’s Cathedral to mark the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on Sunday 2 June.
