Dear Friends,
Peace. During the past months while I was absent from Australia at the Jesuits' 35th General Congregation, Chris Burke IBVM stepped into the chair for Catholic Religious Australia. Many thanks Chris.
Thanks also are due to Laurie Needham CFC who has been valiantly administering CRA affairs since the beginning of 2008.
A number of other international Chapters have been held in recent months, notably the Salesians and the Christian Brothers. In each case the Holy Father acknowledged the contribution of religious and the esteem he has of each community. The Jesuits found his remarks particularly affirming: "the Church needs you, counts on you, and continues to turn to you with confidence ..." he told us.
The CRA National Assembly, this year in Melbourne at Newman and Queens Colleges, Melbourne University, begins at 2 pm on Monday, June 30, and continues until a final dinner on the evening of Thursday, July 3. Preparatory teams have been working hard on the logistics and on the theme,
Our Australian Multicultural Church: reality, gift and challenge.
Application forms have been sent to Leaders, and a good number of responses have come in already. We look forward to meeting you there. This year we will have elections for roles on the CRA Council.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has invited leaders of religious congregations to meet with them on Saturday morning, May 3, at the Isabel Menton Hall, Mount Street, North Sydney. This year the theme is Our Multi-cultural Church - grace and challenge which will be a first run at the topic of our National Assembly. Our aim is to enhance understanding and solidarity in a fundamental area of Church life in Australia.
The meeting runs from 9am till lunch at 12.30. If national leaders cannot attend, they are welcome to name a Sydney representative. Kindly inform Laurie Needham if you will attend.
Every blessing and good wish,
Mark Raper SJ, CRA President
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