Dear Signatories to the Petition,
We are writing to report back to you on the current state of the Petition presented to the Catholic Bishops of Australia regarding ordination and ministry which we organized late last year. Firstly, thank you for your support. The Petition far exceeded expectations. In the end 16,746 people signed. This included 166 priests, as well as many deacons, sisters and brothers. In all 14,650 signed hard-copies and 2,096 signed on-line. The vast majority signed-up after Sunday Mass in parishes or in schools and ministries in every state and territory. The core base came from Mass-going Catholics.
This made a real difference and influenced Bishops' Conference to discuss the Petition at length at their meeting in late-November 2007. We are grateful to the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry (chaired by Bishop Michael Malone) and Archbishop Philip Wilson (Adelaide), President of the Bishops' Conference, for their help in getting the Petition onto the agenda of the Conference
The result of the bishops' discussion was open-ended. In a letter of 30 November 2007 Archbishop Wilson said that "during the discussion it was clear that the bishops continue to be deeply concerned to make adequate pastoral and sacramental provision for the Church in Australia", and he assured us that "We intend to pursue discussions at future Plenary Meetings of those aspects which are within our competency as a Conference of Bishops in the Universal Church".
As we understand it the Permanent Committee of the Conference has not yet met to decide as to how this will be achieved. We know that a number of the bishops are quite sympathetic to the issues raised in the Petition. What is clear is that real change on the issues of ordination and ministry has to come from the grass-roots and that work at the local level is absolutely essential.
Certainly our small committee intends to work to keep the issues of ordination and ministry on the broader agenda of the Australian Church. We have recently set up a webpage as a basic means of communication. You can find it at www.catholicsforministrv.com.au
We would appreciate it if you would pass on this letter and the web address to anyone in your parish or ministry who signed the Petition or who is interested in the church's ministry. Again we want to thank sincerely everyone who assisted in any way with the Petition.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Collins, For the committee of Catholics for Ministry

Dear Fr. Bob,
We had the good fortune to be at your Christmas Eve Mass thanks to our daughter and son in law taking us. Just have to say you help elevate any boredom that often sets into our usual Sunday Mass. I'm sure you must take so much out of yourself all throughout the Mass.
My daughter and her husband live in Port Melbourne and always put the outing to Church as one of their highlights of the week (big thankyous and well done) for helping them keep sane being as they are so far away from family
My husband and I live in a little island in Scotland, called Rothesay. We are just back from 7 weeks in Australia, with 2 weeks being in New Zealand
If it were not that we still have one married daughter in UK we would move to Oz at some point after my dear Mum passes away (she is almost 88 yrs and has had a knee and hip replacement in the last 2 years and if she passes assessment will be having another hip replace before the end of the month.
Thank you again for all your hard work and I love your Web Site. God bless, Ellen, (until we see you again in Australia)

by Elizabeth Harrington Brisbane Liturgical Office
Liturgy is made up of more than words and music alone. Gesture, posture and movement are integral to communal ritual and worship.
Five different whole-of-body positions are adopted at different times in the liturgy: standing, sitting, kneeling, walking and, occasionally, prostration.
Standing expresses joy, praise and thanksgiving and is a sign of respect and reverence. Hence we stand for the prayers of the Mass, for the general intercessions and for the reading of the gospel. In some parts of the world, the assembly stands throughout the Eucharistic prayer.
Sitting is a posture of rest and openness and so is appropriate for listening to readings from the scripture and to the homily and for times of silent reflection.
Kneeling is a gesture of subservience, petition and piety. It has most commonly been used as a posture for private prayer and as an expression of humility, penance and adoration. Kneeling as a posture of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament is an important part of the liturgical tradition of the Roman Rite.
Walking symbolises that we are a pilgrim people. At every Mass we walk in procession to receive communion. On Palm Sunday the community processes around the church carrying palm branches and singing 'Hosanna!' At the Easter Vigil we process into the darkened church following the new paschal candle and proclaiming Christ as our light.
Prostration, a gesture of total submission and vulnerability, involves lying full length on the floor. It is reserved for solemn moments in the liturgy. At the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday the celebrants prostrate themselves before the altar in silence before the service begins. An ordinand lies prostrate during the singing of the litany of saints in the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Hands and arms are frequently used during worship. The faithful make the sign of the cross with blessed water on entering a church, trace small crosses on forehead, mouth and heart when the gospel reading is announced, shake hands at the sign of peace, and take the host and chalice in their hands at communion.
The celebrant's use of hands and arms is integral to the carrying out of liturgical rites. Hands anoint with oil, sprinkle or pour water, are held over the bread and wine at the consecration, are laid on heads.
Arms are opened wide as a sign of welcome and inclusion when the assembly is addressed and stretched over them for a blessing. The classical orans (praying) position, which involves standing with both arms raised to the side and extended upwards, is assumed whenever the celebrant addresses prayer to God in the name of the assembly.
It is customary for people to genuflect before taking their seats in the church as a sign of reverence for the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle. The gesture is not necessary if the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a separate Eucharistic chapel.
Occasionally someone will genuflect just before receiving communion. Apart from being hazardous to others in the line, such a gesture contravenes the General Instruction's call for uniformity of posture as a sign of unity. The new General Instruction approved for Australia, which will be implemented later in the year, directs the faithful to "bow in reverence of the Mystery that we are to receive" when approaching to receive Holy Communion.
Liturgical body language unifies the assembly and communicates respect for the liturgy, the community and for God. Through our gestures we are totally involved - body, mind and spirit - in the act of worship.

Xavier College is offering a range of scholarships for students entering Years 7, 9 and 11 in 2009. The closing date for application is Friday 8 February 2008. For registration and information see Xavier's website: www.xavier.vic.edu.au/scholarships or contact Mrs Dianne Odgers on 9854 5307

Saturday 16 February. Gates open 11 am Geelong Racecourse, Breakwater.
Race day entry $15 Concession $10 Bring your own picnic to eat on the lawns while listening to music or pre-order platters. Lots of entertainment for the kids. Packages available for lawn, car park, marquee, dining. Call 0409 007 913 or email geelongstpatraceclub@bigpond.com

At 98 Albion Road, Box Hill. Enrolments now open for 2008 for day and evening classes studies. Classes begin 25 February For more information call 9890 3771 or www.ytu.edu.au

Australia Day is on the 26th January. Some call it Invasion Day! I can't take sides - black armband vs white eye patch - because they made me one of many 'ambassadors' who are commissioned by a State government committee and dispatched to various State towns and 'villages' to thank the locals for their loyalty to principle and practice of community.
I go to a beaut spot called Ballan, an hour out of Melbourne on the way to Ballarat. Twenty years ago, one of my 'outfits', Open Family, had a 110-acre property in the Ballan area. A pretty strict bunch of Christians sold it to us. It had two decent houses, a solid bunkhouse for 20 people and plenty of room to run and jump.
It was also bordering the State forest so there was heaps more room for exploring and prospecting for gold.
Through fundraising we afforded to connect electricity and install a pump to get water from the humble Moorabool Creek to the bunkhouse. We had a way of getting things done in those days.
It's a long story but we eventually had to sell to pay the bills. We asked everyone, including Church and State, for help to keep the place.
I don't know if you younger people realise but 'bleeding hearts' like me, if you like, are praised for caring for the poor and excluded, but left to fundraise, awareness raise AND care for the poor and excluded. Tough call. Anyway enough about Ballan. Memories. If only we had the property now!
Back to Federation Square, last Monday, 11am. Acting Premier Rob Hulls launched the Melbourne Australia Day Programme. I was there, representing you.
Of course, the social activist in me noticed the array of 'suits', the orderly arrangements, the serious speeches about our history, our future, our diversity, our great state and our great nation. It wasn't my place to be prophetic. It was a secular occasion. I had to be civil.
Thank God for the colourful music and singing of 'the Sparks of Creation' a mix of Sudanese, Senegalese and Jewish performers. They started with the haunting sound of the shofar, used by Jews as a call to prayer.
They were dressed colourfully too, especially for a Melbourne Monday morning. I took a couple of names and contact numbers in case I can persuade Triple J to put them to air. They'd be good for church too.
Australia Day could be appropriated by Catholics as an antipodean 'carnival' on the eve of Ash Wednesday February 6th this year. Let's use our imagination. There's only a few days between Australia Day and Ash Wednesday.
Eat, drink and be merry this Australia Day, but be warned -'carnival' means 'farewell' to the 'flesh' and that again means to prepare for 40 days and nights of self-discipline. Traditionally it's called Lent by Catholics. Muslims do Ramadan. Catholics do Lent.
Lent means 'springtime'. Because, for better or worse, Catholics are global, as well as local, we mix our metaphors a lot. February in Australia is anything but springtime. No help from nature, then. Unless, perversely, you go back to an area burned out by the last bushfire and notice the new greenery sprung from the ashes!
Whoever's handing out ashes in a church near you on February 6th should intone 'Turn from sin. Follow the Gospel.' Decode that, for usefulness, to 'Turn from self and towards others.'

Praying with Scripture - Lectio Divina - presented by Fr Greg Bourke, PP of Hoppers Crossing & director of RCIA Office
Tuesdays 22 & 29 January, 5, 12, 19 February from 6.30 - 8.30 pm

Christian Mysticism - presented by Fr John Dupuche, PP of Beaumaris & Black Rock and Director of Ecumenical & Interfaith Office
Saturday 9 Feb 10 am - 2.30 pm, Thursday 14 Feb 6.30 -8.30 pm, Saturday 16 Feb l0 am - 2.30 pm, Thursday 21 Feb 6.30 - 8.30 pm

All courses held at Thomas Carr Centre, 278 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne Cost $80 per course. Enquiries 9412 3325 or email schoolofprayer@melbourne.catholic.org.au

Caritas is accepting donations to support families affected by the recent civil violence and damage that followed the contested Presidential election results. More than 180,000 people have been displaced from their homes and communities and some have crossed the border into Uganda.
To donate to Caritas Australia's Response to the Kenya Conflict call 1800 024 413 or email www.caritas.org.au.

You are invited to join with Rotary Club of St Kilda to celebrate Australia Day on Saturday January 26, 2008, this year again at the South Melbourne Town hall (Bank St) - 10 am for 10.30 am until 1pm.
Guest speaker - Lillian Frank AM MBE - in every sense, an extraordinary 'woman of many hats'.
Tickets $55.00 per head (includes buffet brunch - proceeds aid Sacred Heart Mission. To book, call Elaine at the Elwood/St Kilda West Parish Office 9531 6120.
Australia Day is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our remarkable country, appreciate our wonder people, reflect upon and acknowledge our history, and look forward to the future and its potential. At the same time we will be helping others and having fun.

Saturday 9 March 7.00 to 9.00 pm
An opportunity for Catholics between 15 and 30 to meet together, eat together, and have fun in a friendly atmosphere. Program includes: meal, quiz, speakers and a chance for questions and answers.
The evening will be held at the Cardinal Knox Centre, 383 Albert Street, East Melbourne
To be part of this night, please email or phone David on 9926 5708 or ecum@melbourne.catholic.orn.au. David is also seeking people to help out on the night, so if you would like to be one of the speakers, or lead a quiz etc, please contact him.

Introductory Morning on 8 February, 10.00 to 12.30. Light lunch to be provided.
Children's Liturgy Support Group
Thomas Carr Centre, 278 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. Phone 9267 0228 or email csignorini@ceo.melb.catholic.edu.au

The Sheriff's coming in a minute to pick up $300 he says we owe from 2001. We help (a point of clarification for those who don't know our history) people who don't manage their affairs very well. I talked to Warren, the Sheriff's man on the phone explaining how I'm very good and proper at paying people's fines because I know Warren, indeed, all Sheriff's Officers, have no hesitation in arranging the arrest of a non-compliant debtor or alleged debtor.
Ah! The heavy hand of the Sheriff's Office. No mucking around, no bleeding hearts. Reminded me of the inglorious days of the all-powerful clerics. No mucking around then, either. No, bleeding hearts except the penitent's or petitioners. Just black and white. Pay the fine or get arrested and locked up for a period of time estimated, by God knows who, as the ticking equalling of $300.
What I want to do, but don't, is get a lawyer to demand a search of files at the Court whence came the warrant to arrest.
But whoa! The Commonwealth is in a struggle with India. The State is on holidays Warren is right out of the sitcom about the invasion of the Sheriff's officers. He got no Christmas leave so why should the good citizens of Victoria be left in peace in 100-degree heat. Warren knows, by nature or nurture, when citizens are at their most helpless.
Anyway, he's coming at 12.30 pm, just after my midday command Church performance. The dozen churchgoers expect me to be there and on time.
Warren expects me to be here and on time. Safran expects me to be at Triple J later this arvo, having read the scripted interviews (lovingly prepared weekly by producer Serpil) and hot to trot to Safran's sardonic beat.
Since the silly season started, i.e. Christmas 07, and my parish infrastructure went into silly season mode, I've kept a record of just a few days here on my own. I know workers need breaks, I just wonder, in this whiz bang volunteerism era, why I can't expect local churches, allegedly the heart of this neighbourhood to be open for a few hours every day of the year?
Here's my entries in the log book for a few days 29/12 - 8/1.
'Couple of weddings today, 2 pm and 4 pm. So far, so good, because we do good happy weddings here. Carol and Elaine make sure of that.
30-year-old bloke at parish house door straight after wedding. CCTV should be installed and replayed for parishioners, especially 'leadership groups', to demonstrate need for continuous staffing by volunteers.
Parish house needs to be staffed for, at least, part of each day, including holidays.
There are no days off for a parish intending to be the heart of the neighbourhood. Maybe, I'm the only one with this aspiration but I truly believe that Sts Peter and Paul had this vocation thrust upon it over recent, say 30, years of local social disruption.
Some local churches, as well as clubs and pubs, aspire to be shrines, catering for devotees and tourists only.
Our parish is open to all, in principle, and wants to cater for Catholic parishioners and locals of any code or creed. The parish house built in the 1860s is now a house of hospitality for the poor.
It needs to be staffed by at least one 'duty' officer for part of each day of the holiday season.
Maybe the only way to activate well-meaning parishioners and existing volunteers to do more is to show CCTV footage of a typical day of the 'silly season' around the parish precinct.
We're not a $ business. We're a provider of spiritual and corporal goods and services - that's the model of Catholicism developed here since 1973 (in keeping with the preceding 100 years).
Log entries have a certain sameness like 'No, were not open' in respect to several transients and some local inquirers. Compensated callers with $20 each, to refresh themselves in over 100 degree heat.
There are a couple of log entries about a new tactic by transients. They follow you into church even knowing that there's a congregation watching, and haggle publicly for a few $s.
This is a new style, probably indicating these petitioners are transients recently released from prison, therefore relying on 'old world' direct approach style.
These blog ravings help me but I do hope do you no harm. I'll be more deep and meaningful next week.

I'm close to heaven - crushed at the gate.
Hell is boiling over and heaven is full.
We're chained to the world and we all gotta pull.
God used me as a hammer, boys, to beat his weary drum today.
The devil knows the Bible like the back of his hand.
God builds a church. The devil builds a chapel.

Like the thistles that are growing round the trunk of a tree. I left my Bible by the side of the road. Carved my initials in an old dead tree.
You can drive out nature with a pitchfork, but it always comes roaring back again.
Did the devil make the world while God was sleeping?
I swang out wide with her on hell's iron gate.

Well, you say that it's gospel, but I know it's only a church.
Well, I got to keep myself, keep myself faithful and you know I've been so good except for drinking.
But He knew that I would...

Goddamn there's always such a big temptation to be good, to be good.
There's always free Cheddar in a mousetrap, baby...

Well they've stopped trying to hold him with mortar, stone and chain
He broke out of every prison.
The boots mount the staircase.
The door is flung back open.
He's not there for He had risen...

Don't you know there ain't no devil.
That's just God when he's drunk. Well, you leave me hanging by the skin of my teeth.
I've only got one leg to stand
You can send me to hell but I'll never let go of your hand.

Thanks to Tom Waites and Paul X

Thanks to the many volunteers helping ensure our Church was ready for Christmas celebrations. The extra effort was appreciated after God sent the rain to freshen and rejuvenate our gardens, (which also made its way into the church causing water damage). Thanks again.

Please say prayers for Val Boothey who is currently sick in hospital. We wish Val a speedy recovery.

Many thanks to those people who have handed in their square for the Tapestry. They are beautiful. For those of you like me and have put it in the too hard basket, after Christmas we will have a decorating bee after one of the I0 am Masses and help each other. Carol

Christian Meditation
Evelyn Reinehr - Six-Week Introductory Course
A contemplative form of silent, imageless prayer using mantra. Dom John Main osb (1926-1982) re¬discovered this ancient prayer tradition for contemporary men and women.
Thursday Mornings: May and 5 June
Wednesday Evenings 8 - 29 October & 5 and 12 November

Reflective prayer days & meditation
Tuesdays: 4 March, 6 May, 24 June, 12 August, 14 October, & 25 November

Retreats
Group day retreat: by arrangement
Personal day retreats: by arrangement
Live-in directed retreat at Queenscliff - 9 to 15 November
A week of guided prayer
2-hour reflective prayer

Contact: Kaye Twining 9690 1203 prayerguides@kilbridecentre.com .au

Workshops
Enneagram - Gordon Carter
The Enneagram is an ancient way of understanding human personality and growth. A Study of it can lead to greater self-understanding and deeper appreciation of others and their uniqueness.
Weekend One: 19-20 April
Weekend Two: 20-21 September

Conversation Occasions
Faith & Reason Series Maryanne Confoy

Monday Evenings: 3 March & 7 April
'What TV Production Has Taught Me About God'
Television Producer, Peter Thomas shows three documentaries and talks about the experience of his involvement in each production and the effect of this on his life.

Monday Evenings: 19, 26 May & 2 June
'Eco-Justice: Right Relationships within the Earth Community'
Anne Boyd

Thursday Evenings: 10-24 April & 1 May

If you would like a booklet mailed to you and/or email reminders of events, contact us: 03 9690 1076 or contact@kilbridecentre.com.au