Catholic Outlook August 2015

NATIONAL VOCATIONS AWARENESS WEEKSunday 2 August – Sunday 9 August 2015Dominicans celebrate 800 year JubileeDominicans around the world are gearingup to celebrate the 800 year Jubilee of theOrder. Their story can be traced back to theearly 13 th Century when their Founder, StDominic, sought to establish a worldwideOrder which would dedicate itself topreaching Veritas – the Truth – at theservice of Christ and His Church.On 22 December 1216 Pope HonoriusIII gave approval to the Order of FriarsPreachers. In 2016, Friars, Sisters andLay members around the world willhold celebrations.As the Order was founded to preachagainst a heresy which taught that thematerial world was evil, it is only rightthe Order will celebrate in various wayswhich reflect the goodness of its Creator,a goodness which shines through men andwomen created in the image and likeness ofGod for truth, love and perpetual happiness!The Province of the Assumption ofthe Blessed Virgin Mary will be holdingevents across the territory of its province –Australia, NZ, Solomon Islands and PNG.These events include a Jubilee Mass forthe feast of St Dominic on 3 August 2016celebrated by the Archbishop of Sydney,Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP.A Pilgrimage is also planned to visitRome, Spain and France in conjunctionwith World Youth Day 2016 in Poland. ADominican Family Gathering is planned forthe second half of 2016 for all associatedwith the Dominican Family to discuss wherethe Dominicans have come from and wherewe are going in the future.Vocational discernment days will also takeplace for those who think they may have acalling to the Dominican way of life.For further information please contact FrKarl Emerick OP, Jubilee Coordinator (karl.emerick@op.org.au), or Fr Thomas Azzi OP,Vocations Promoter (thomas.azzi@op.org.au).Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma“It’s hard to know what to do!” is acommon statement of frustration fromthose discerning their vocation. We mayeasily forget that God doesn’t hide His willfrom us.Part of our “Call to Holiness” is toremove the obstacles in our human naturethat keep us from recognising whatHe wants of us. Most of us have fears,inadequacies and frailties, all of whichGod’s assistance will overcome.Although Adam and Eve first walkedcalmly with God in the Garden ofEden, after Adam had eaten theforbidden fruit, his first words toGod were that he “was afraid”.It’s not surprising, then, that the mostrepeatedphrase in the Bible is “do not beafraid”. It’s there more than 300 times!God is with us, even when we may not feelhim near.Similar to the experience of having acuppa with a close friend that changesour outlook for the rest of the day, ourencounters with the Lord are meant to giveus spiritual effects.One of the ways we encounter the Lordis in the celebration of the sacraments.We are given spiritual strength from thoseencounters. For example, in Baptism wereceive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and thevirtues of faith, hope and love. We neverlose those gifts and virtues.It depends on us, though, how much weexercise the gifts and virtues, so that theyare developed and useful in our life.Confirmation is another encounter withGod that spiritually strengthens us to beable to answer that question, “What doesthe Lord want of me?” The new incrementof the gifts of the Holy Spirit that comes inConfirmation helps us to look out on theworld with more spiritual attentiveness.The events in our lives and thepeople placed in our path reveal thepath best meant for us. Then, as theLord said to Joshua when he was giventhe vocation to lead God’s peopleafter Moses, He says to you “Be strongand courageous!” (Joshua 1:9).Visit www.rsmofalma.orgSr Mary Rachel Nerbun, a medical doctor, inour apostolate.ReligiousSisters of Mercyof AlmaWhere the Mercyof God Meetsthe Misery ofMankindAstrong prayer and common lifeallows us to extend the Mercyof God through the Spiritual and CorporalWorks of Mercy in professional disciplinesthat include the fields of educationand health care and wherever we can beof service to the Church.“Those who have been given the pricelessgift of following the Lord Jesus moreclosely consider it obvious that he canand must be loved with an undividedheart, that one can devote to him one’swhole life and not merely certain actionsor occasional moments or activities.”– Vita Consecrata 104We invite you to visit us at ourconvent in Camperdown.(near the University of Sydney)• 02.9557.2398 •• 0447.381.439 •• stjoseph@rsmofalma.org •To learn more about us, please visitour website:www.rsmofalma.orgor email: vocation@rsmofalma.org28