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[Intro]

In this week's stories...
 
Anchored in faith and love: Dr Jim Villiers’ 101-year adventure
In June, Dr Jim Villiers—the oldest parishioner of St Ignatius’ Parish in Richmond—celebrated his 101st birthday, marking another year of life and ‘reasonably good health’ at a ‘fantastic’ celebration with life-long friends. He shares with us some of the stories that have shaped a long and rich life, in which faith and service have sustained him professionally and personally, along with the enduring love of his late wife, Audrey.
 
 
Ann and Lucy Rowan on faith, food and family
There are lots of things Ann Rowan and her 12-year-old granddaughter Lucy love doing together, including cooking pavlovas, playing Rummy Poker and saying the Rosary. With nine children and 21 grandchildren, Ann says family celebrations are huge events, where good food becomes ‘a language of love’—an idea that also informs the work of the Bay Leaf Community Kitchen, the Geelong-based charity co-founded by Ann’s son, and Lucy’s dad, Martin Rowan.
 
 
‘Leave nothing undared’: 60 years of St John Vianney’s Parish Springvale North
This year marks 60 years since St John Vianney’s Parish in Springvale North was first established. Past and present members of the parish community came together earlier this year at an anniversary Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, and at a celebratory dinner dance. Long-term parishioner Nimmi Candappa shares some of the parish’s story, reflecting on the ways God has enriched and enlivened this close and vibrant community over so many years.
 
 
Mary Magdalene: trusting and trusted
We could all do with a friend like Mary Magdalene, whose feast day we celebrated this week. She was among Jesus’ most steadfast friends, her loyalty withstanding the heartbreak and humiliation of the cross and persisting even beyond the grave, into the dawn light of Easter Day, when the resurrected Jesus appeared to her and entrusted her with the most remarkable, most exciting news of all.
 
 
The Indy 50,000: Eucharistic Congress unites Catholics
Fifty thousand Catholics—including Melbourne's own Archbishop Peter A Comensoli—converged on Indianapolis for the US National Eucharistic Congress from 17 to 21 July. When talking about what the Eucharist means to him, Congress-goer Bob Willoughby, who travelled from the Diocese of Dallas with his wife and daughter, said, ‘It means everything to me. The Church is built around the Eucharist. If we don’t have the Eucharist, we don’t have the Church. That’s how important it is.’
 
 
Pope calls for Olympic truce, cessation of conflict among nations
With world peace under serious threat, Pope Francis called on all nations to observe the Olympic truce and cease all conflicts for the traditional period before, during and after the Olympic Games in Paris. May God help ‘enlighten the consciences of those in power to the grave responsibilities incumbent upon them, may he grant peacemakers success in their endeavours,’ the Pope said in a written message to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, published on 19 July, seven days before the opening of the Summer Games and the customary start of the observance of the Olympic truce.
 
 
Performing for peace: students raise awareness and $3,000 for Caritas
On Thursday 18 July, students from the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy hosted the ‘Perform for Peace’ concert and fundraiser, raising $3,000 for Caritas Australia and demonstrating that each of us is capable of making a difference, no matter how overwhelming a problem might seem. It all began when college captains Sinitta McCarthy and Leah Freeman began noticing 'a lot of things on the news—a lot of victims of war and people who are struggling right now'—and decided that doing something to help was better than doing nothing.
 
 
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Upcoming events
Six30 Holy Hour at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Thursday 19 December 2024 6.30pm –7.30pm
Join with young Catholics from across the city for a time of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, music and an opportunity for confession. For more information, email udisciple@cam.org.au or call 9926 5677.
 
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Open House Melbourne: Catholic Theological College
Saturday 27 July 2024
11.00am–3.00pm
Catholic Theological College will open for self-guided tours as part of the popular Open House Melbourne weekend. The striking bluestone building—designed by celebrated 19th-century Catholic architect William Wardell, who also designed St Patrick’s Cathedral—previously housed Catholic secondary schools Parade College (1871–1967) and Cathedral College (1968–94). Award-winning architect Gregory Burgess’ 199 ...
 
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Cathedral grand organ recital featuring Christopher Cook
Sunday 11 August 2024
3.00pm–4.00pm
St Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne is proud to open its doors to the community and offer an experience of the sacred through uplifting music from some of Australia’s most talented musicians. Christopher Cook studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, graduating in piano and organ performance, and has performed in most ...
 
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Newman College Open Day
Sunday 18 August 2024
10.00am–4.00pm
Save the date and visit Newman College and the University of Melbourne during Open Day on Sunday 18 August 2024. Newman College, a co-educational Catholic residential college at the University of Melbourne, has a unique community spirit to explore and offers a supportive environment that will help you make lifelong ...
 
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‘Poets and the Faith: Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Emily Brontë and Christina Rossetti’ presented by Philip Harvey
Tuesday 13 August 2024
6.00pm–7.30pm
St Peter’s Eastern Hill is hosting a series of talks about significant poets who have inhabited—or skirted the fringes—of the Anglican and Catholic traditions of Christianity. From Gerard Manley Hopkins to RS Thomas, from Emily Brontë to WH Auden, how did their poetry enrich and challenge their understanding of the ...
 
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Dr Myriam Wijlens on ‘The prophetic voice of the laity in the renewal of the Church’
Wednesday 14 August 2024
5.00pm–7.30pm
The next speaker in the Helder Camara lecture series is internationally recognised Dutch theologian, ecumenist and consultor to several Vatican bodies Dr Myriam Wijlens. She will speak on ‘The prophetic voice of the laity in the renewal of the Catholic Church.’ Myriam’s work focuses on reform of Church structures and ...
 
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Knights of the Southern Cross—Archbishop’s Dinner 2024
Friday 30 August 2024
7.00pm–11.30pm
Join the Knights of the Southern Cross Victoria to celebrate the 24th annual Archbishop’s Dinner. The dinner is held each year to raise funds for the Priests Support and Education Fund. This fund was established by the Knights of the Southern Cross to assist in the funding and education of ...
 
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To learn more about upcoming events and opportunities, visit the Melbourne Catholic events page.

This newsletter is published by the Communications Office
of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
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