As he arrived in Lisbon for World Youth Day, Pope Francis reminded the gathered pilgrims, ‘You are not here by accident. The Lord has called you … Indeed, he has called you by name.’
This week, Melbourne’s pilgrims begin their journey home. With some beautiful parting words from Pope Francis and estimated crowds of 1.5 million people, this was an experience they are unlikely to forget.
Some of them have already been talking to us about their highlights. The sleep-out on the Field of Grace along with Eucharistic adoration was certainly a standout; pilgrims also share how God really spoke to them through their World Youth Day experiences, from a private audience with Pope Francis to visiting the Basilica of St Clare in Assisi.
Also this week, new research released by the National Centre for Pastoral Research reveals the social profiles of dioceses around the country; in honour of St Mary Mackillop’s solemnity, we learn about how Mackillop Family Services carries on her vision by caring for children and families across Melbourne and Geelong; and as the FIFA Women’s World Cup keeps us on the edge of our seats, the Socktober 2023 campaign launches in schools across Melbourne, helping kids and families to engage with the problem of global poverty through the unifying power of the world game.
Last Sunday 6 August, the feast of the Transfiguration, was the beginning of National Vocations Awareness Week, an opportunity for each of us to reflect on what it means for God to call us by name. We hear the story of Emma Llewellyn, who first felt a calling to religious life at 18 and recently renewed her first vows with the Sisters of Mercy. We also explore how a sense of vision and vocation can help us chart our path through life.
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