Dunno if it's useful to let you know what's on 3JJJ on Sunday night 9-1 1pm.
It lets both Blogsville and SSPP Parish know what I'm up to. I thought that'sa good thing but a confidante told me this week that no one else gives a bugger about the 'noble cause' I'm espousing.
'They care about you, personally', said he, 'but not about the people you keep raving on about'. 'You confuse people by telling them too much detail about your clientele'.
So, where does that leave me? Out on a limb, I'd say, and I'd may as well get used to it.
If I'm that out of touch, why go to the bother of continuing to publicise my 'unique selling position'?
It is, after all, to put it religiously, 'to give glory to god and bring salvation to Souls'.
To put it infotainingly was the task given another confidante and this is what he came up with:
Unconventstitutional
Ankon,venf,stitjufenel/, adj. 1. hybrid term: describing the blend of unconventional and yet institutional means by which social capital is invested in and subsequent financial capital raised to help the underprivileged; the rise of unconvenstitutional ethics and behaviour is largely attributed to the work and example of Fr Bob Maguire through his three charitable movements, The Emerald Hill Mission, the Fr. Bob Foundation and Open Family.
Although, sometimes controversially, Maguire himself gnostically ascribes much earlier instances of unconventsitutional behaviour to historical figures like Jesus Christ.
unconvenstitutionalism, n.
Related Keywords: GRUNT, PETER, PAUL, MARY AT THE BARRICADES, DOING THINGS, RISKY.
Sheedy's gone. Howard tripped. Connolly and pagan are gone. If you don't perform, you're out. 'It's the economy, stupid'. 'Is it me?' asked all the above named.
In my case, It's more like Zac Mayo in 'An Officer and aGentleman' - 'You can't throw me out. I've got nowhere else to go!'
How true it is after a lifetime of one thing, then confronted with emptiness.
Yet, I'm told that's the defining Spiritual feature of the Aussie landscape and landscapes do deeply influence the development of character (read John Hirst's latest for evidence).
There's nothing more exhilarating, I'm told than the Aussie desert after a decent rainfall.
One minute there's emptiness. The next there's a burst of colour.
I can only quote others 'cos that's another mistake I've made. I've never travelled. Most of the Maguires and McLaughlins (my mother's family) is in Scotland.
I've never been there. My fault, I'm advised over and over. 'So much money has passed through your hands, willingly given by admirers to further your work.'
That's the point. I'm old fashioned. The money was give given for my work not myself.
This very week, a cheque arrived for $205K from a deceased estate, a bloke who wanted to help me and my work, as most substantial donors to my three 'Charities' do, but the cheque was made out to one of the charities c/-Father bob Maguire.
I knew where the $20K would be best spent but was hamstrung by advice to the contrary. My own pocket would not even be considered. It never has. It never will be.
So, instead of travel through space, from place to place, my time is spent on #JJJ talking to a young Jewish student in Sydney, 'Reporters sans Frontiers' in Paris, John Ronson in London and Halal Mate in Melbourne

Mass for people Living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by HIV/AIDS is held at St Francis, Lonsdale St, Melbourne, on the second Tuesday of each month, at 5.30 pm, February through to November 2007.
For those of you who want to make a donation to the cause, a collection is held during the Mass at St. Francis. For those of you who are unable to attend, but would like to make a donation, you can send a cheque to P 0 Box 171, Clifton Hill. 3068

We are pleased to advise that we have appointed Chayn McGhee to fill the vacancy following Henry Nissen's resignation. Chayn had previously been working with Sacred Heart Mission.
Open House continues to supply 600+ meals every month and 200 food parcels. Special thanks to all volunteers who kindly offer their time for this important work.
Due to the closure of Flemington as they lay a new track there is no Raceday this year but we will be back in 2008.
Special thanks to The south Melbourne Community Chest. This local group gave EHM a grant of $1000 for the work of Open House. The group operate an Opportunity Shop in Bank Street near Clarendon Street and are always looking for good, clean items to sell. Please support them when you have that 'clean out' at home or you have finished with your books.

John Safran and I are on 3JJJ this Sunday 9-11pm.
Triple J is a national youth orientated radio station. Youth is from mid-teens to late 20’s. I know these things because I had to ask, being 73 years of age and all that goes with that.
I’m telling you about 3JJJ so you’ll know what I, Parish Priest, Sts Peter and Paul, South Melbourne, am up to and why.
I’ve got nothing for or against the music played on 3JJJ. I’m musically neutral, I suppose.
Thank God for that because, as a catholic priest, since 1953, when I started in the priest nursery, I’ve been bombarded by the results of the Vatican 2 revolution in 'catholic' style.
That’s all it was, by the way. A nip here a tuck there. Whatever makeover was necessary to present catholic 'core business' as fit for public, secular consumption.
Church music became popularised in the 1960’s because it had been exclusivist for centuries.
The 'Masses' so often 'oo’ed and ah’ed' over by concertgoers and listeners to ABC FM stations, were performance pieces for the ruling classes (including the senior clergy!). The language was exclusivist, Latin, to remind lesser beings and nationalities that all roads lead to Rome. Guess what? There’s a revisionist plot on, right now, to restore Latin on demand.
A Brisbane priest was quoted last week as praising the move back because he felt much more comfortable and spiritually refreshed if he had his back to the congregation and was the only one knowing was being said!
The musical style of a cathedral or posh church, supportable by heaps of money, comforts upwardly socially mobile churchgoers.
Suburban and rural area churches make do with less. Which worship style creates/supports genuine parish centres, souls of their neighbourhoods, beacons of hope?
3JJJ music is only part of the Sunday Safran show.
This week we interview Stephen Mayne, Australian journalist and self-described/appointed shareholder activist who ran, unsuccessfully, as a People Power Party candidate in the Victorian election, 2006.
Then we have Dr. Peter Lavelle, former GP and now Health Journalist with ABC, Health Online. 'Is Religion good for your health?'
Older listeners will be interested for personal reasons, in Sofia Stefanovic’s review of the documentary film 'The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches on'. A brilliant exploration of memory and war guilt, a subject often ignored in modern Japan.
Next is Brother Ali, sight impaired and devout Muslim, raised by afro-americans. Brother Ali is from a fairly legendary hip-hop crew called the Rhymesayers. Religion is a theme often mentioned by Ali in raps such as 'Self taught' and 'Victory'.

Confirmations will be held on Sunday, 26 August 26 2007
10am Mass
Classes for instruction in the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin on Wednesday, 18 July and will take place in the Emmaus Room at the back of the Church on Wednesdays from 4.30 – 5.30 pm. Parish catechist Sue Kidd will conduct the classes. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to ring Sue on 9646 2686 (H) please leave message.

Carol will be away for three Thursdays in August, (9, 23, & 30). Will someone volunteer to help get the Southerly together with Kevin Lee on these nights? She will have most of it done and there will only be a small section to type. If you can give a hand please call Carol 9699 2892 or email cleahy@iprimus.com.au

I am preparing the new rosters at the moment and would like to know if there are parishioners who would like to be reader, special minister or part of the hospitality group. If you would, please contact me on 9699 2892 or by email cleahy@iprimus.com.au. If you wish to have your name removed from the rosters please let me know. I have quite a few email addresses for those on the rosters; however, if you have changed your email or would prefer to be contacted by email please send a message to cleahy@iprimus.com.au
Many thanks, Carol

Much has been discussed about what songs are sung or not sung at our Sunday Masses.
So to help rectify this situation Kate and Barbara, two of our organists have offered to begin monthly choir practices – the first one to be held this Sunday 15 July straight after the 10am Mass for a half an hour. Kate and Barbara hope to introduce some new songs as well as refresh some of the older ones. Everyone is welcome to grab a cuppa and join Kate and Barbara at the organ after Mass.

This Sunday night, 9-11 pm, 3JJJ, John Safran and I (Safran mainly, 'cos he's the celebrity host of the show - don't expect too much of me!) interview Kristina Jones, author of 'Not Without My Sister.' She tells the story of her and her two sisters into and growing up in a dangerous cult known as The children of god (now called simply The family). Despite her tender years, Kristina seems to have maintained a commonsense, critical approach to the enforced brainwashing, finally escaping to share her tale in an honest account.
Our second guest, Rachel Cook, is a columnist for MCB (a gay and lesbian publication). You mightn't hear much from me in this one, except for the occasional bit of, what John calls, 'Bobbywaffle'! We'll see.
Next, we question and learn from Simon Sebeg Montefiore, author of 'Young Stalin'. He's now writing 'Jerusalem: the Biography' a fresh history of the Middle East. Based on intensive research and astonishing new evidence in archives from Moscow and Georgia, 'Young Stalin' is a chronicle of the Revolution and a pre-history of the USSR - and an intimate biography: this how Stalin became Stalin.
One good thing about being on 3JJJ with John is that I have to read these books. Most of them, leaving aside the expense, wouldn't be my normal fare. They, therefore, challenge me to read and think outside my comfort zone.
Maybe my captive audience every Sunday benefits from this enforced reading and reflection. I don't really know because there's not much feedback.
Jewish/Christian scriptures are on the menu whenever we Catholics assemble for Mass (worship). But, there's another traditional feature called preaching. That's when the celebrant (presiding officer) is expected to grab the core meaning of the scripture readings and add the essential ingredient of 'right here, right now.' It's alleged that many preachers are OK at rehashing the scripture readings but not too good at adding the essential ingredients.
Worse still some preachers may add the toxic ingredient of their own misguided prejudices, bringing both the scriptures and religion itself into disrepute. I don't know what the vaccine is for this troublesome virus. Secular societies are entitled to expect that preachers in mosques, synagogues, church, ashrams, temples and atheist assembly halls will at least stick to the ethic 'Do no harm and, even a little good'.
Maybe preachers from all the abovementioned sources could be awarded a 'tick', just like dairy products or an award offered by friend Hans, found of NAITD (National Assessment of Industry and Trade Development - see article on Fr Bob blog page) whereby preachers can be identified as, at least, not harmful.

Confirmation will be on Sunday, August 26 2OO7 at l0 am Mass.
Classes for instruction in the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin on Wednesday I 8 July and will take place in the Emmaus Room at the back of the Church from 4.3Opm - 5.3Opm. Parish Catechist Sue Kidd will conduct the classes. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to ring Sue on 9646 268(H). please leave message.

Much has been discussed about what songs are sung or not sung at our Sunday Masses. So to help rectify this situation Kate and Barbara, two of our organists, have offered to hold monthly choir practices starting on Sunday 15 July, after the l0 am Mass for a half an hour. Kate and Barbara hope to introduce some new songs as well as refresh some of the older ones. Everyone is welcome to grab a cuppa and join Kate and Barbara at the organ.

Everything you wanted to sing in church but were too afraid to ask! Join us for a huge community sing-out accompanied by organ, piano, brass ensemble, percussion and choir at South Port Uniting Church, Congregation of Paul the Apostle, 329 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne. ($10 donation for Uniting Church Overseas Aid)

You are invited to hear Dr. Tom Woodward, author of 'Doubts about Darwin' and 'Darwin Strikes back' on Monday 6 August at 7.00 pm at the Anglican Church, 800 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley (Email npnewton@hotmail,com), Prof. Woodward is considered one of the world's leading experts on 'Intelligent Design'. His website, www.apologetics.org is regarded as one of the leading resources for Christian thinking. Tom will be presenting evidence for 'Intelligent Design'. Question and answer segment included.

Fr Bob Maguire wrote: 'Thanks to the 50 civic-minded people who attended the meeting described below. South Melbourne needs its town hall as a symbol of the civil community South has been since its birth and wants to be forever.'
'Locals Lose a race for space' by Mary Bolling
'THEY say you can't fight city hall but South Melbourne residents are making a final stand in the fight for theirs. More than 50 residents last night attended a council meeting to find out the fate of the South Melbourne Town Hall.
At the meeting, Port Phillip Council voted to give an extra chunk of South Melbourne Town Hall to current tenant, The Australian National Academy of Music. But furious locals say council is giving away their space and want the town hall given back to the community.
'For the past 10 years, the ANAM has occupied most of the South Melbourne Town Hall, paying a peppercorn annual rent of $1. The deal was done by the state government and Port Phillip commissioners during council amalgamations in 1996, before the election of the first Port Phillip Council.
Last night, the council voted to accept a council officer's report recommending ANAM be allowed to extend into the upstairs of the Town Hall's west wing, conditional on the group paying market rent for the site. It also supported a plan for a community centre on the remaining ground floor of the. west wing.
Campaigning to save the town hall, former councillor Julie Johnson said the recommendations were exactly what the community didn't want. 'For the last 10 years locals haven't been able to use the hall for anything, not even to book it for a wedding or put on a school play,' Ms Johnson said. 'The community is essentially locked out.'
'The hall, opened in 1880, is on Victoria's heritage list and Ms Johnson said it used to house countless community events.
'This is about council regaling control,' Cr Bolitho said. When the town hall space was given to ANAM, the lease was binding until 2016.
Cr Bolitho said a new deal signed with the group would include greater access to town hall facilities such as the main auditorium. She said the council decision contradicted a site assessment panel, which said the hall should be kept for the community.
'But Port Phillip Mayor Janet Bolitho said the space handover was necessary to rewrite the lease and get a better deal for the community.'