MAYBE I DO

US, 2023, 95 minutes, Colour.

Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, William H.Macy, Susan Sarandon, Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey.

Directed by Michael Jacobs.

A comedy drama focusing on three couples. As regards the “I do”, the young couple, in their early 30s, are questioning whether they are able to say I do and commit themselves for life. But there are two older couples, who have said “I do” long since and have begun to wonder how much they meant it. And the further complication is that the two older couples are the parents of the young couple!

There is a great deal of dialogue in this film, lots of conversations, lots of one-on-one interactions. And, we are told that it is based on a play – indeed, it is very theatrical, very limited in its locations, mainly hotel rooms, rooms in homes, going outside the house for some kind of air and freedom of movement.

One of the difficulties with the title including the word, Maybe, is that it can lend itself too readily for a play on words by a reviewer. Maybe I do go and see this film. Maybe I don’t. We might put it this way, there is no harm in seeing the film, and probably no harm at all in not seeing it.

And, this despite its stellar cast. The four main actors are all in their 70s – but the screenplay enabling them to say that they are still in their late 60s! The two younger actors are in their early 30s.

The stellar cast - we have been watching their films for decades, with Susan Sarandon and Diane Keaton, for over 50 years. We know them, appreciate their performances, their versatility (although Diane Keaton seems to be forever Annie Hall and, in fact, even here she still resembles Annie Hall), Susan Sarandon with an enormous range from Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking, to Thelma and Louise, to Marmee in Little Women, Richard Gere heartthrob all these years as well as strong dramatic performances, and character actor, William H. Macy, recently on television for 134 episodes of Shameless, worth seeing as the priest in the arresting drama, The Sessions.

We are introduced to two couples, not married to each other, sharing a risky night, Diane Keaton’s Grace responding to Macy’s Sam, sobbing uncontrollably in the cinema. Then we see Gere’s Howard in a hotel rendezvous with Sarandon’s aggressive Monica. Our puzzle about these relationships is interrupted as we are then introduced to the younger couple, Allen and Michelle, at a wedding, he leaping to catch the bride’s bouquet which was intended for her, and quite some tantrum consequences.

If we hadn’t known, we still wouldn’t be surprised to discover that, of course, change the foreground and we realise we have two married couples – and, then not surprised to find that they are the parents of intended bride and groom. An invitation to dinner – and a more well-behaved variation meeting and confrontation than might be expected in this tense Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf situation.

So, there is a pleasure in watching the four central stars (and the younger ones as well) dramatising the situation, the tensions, Monica assertive, Howard running for cover, Sam being the most sensible of the four, Grace feeling disillusioned about the commitment of her marriage.

Since this is an age-variation on a romcom, we have an expected, happily, happy ending, “I do” all round.

1. Title? Issues of ambiguity in marriage? Looking to the future, to the ceremony, to the life commitment? In retrospect, difficulties in marriage?
2. The film based on a play, the emphasis on dialogue, the limited locations, moments of opening out, the cinema, the streets and walking, the garden outside the house? The interiors, the hotel, home, cinema, cafes? The musical score?
3. The structure of the film, the introduction to the two couples, the revelation of their marriages, the revelation of the parenting the young couple? The setting up of the meeting, the interactions in the house, resolutions?
4. Howard, his successful background, the affair with Monica, her domination, threats in the hotel, his warding her off, the threats to kill him? Return home, the relationship with Grace, tentative? Grace, in the cinema, foreign language film, the sobbing, moving towards Sam, offering sympathy, the walk, meeting of minds, affection, the hotel, the wariness of the manager, the room, suggestion of an affair, their talking, walking? At home, Grace, believing in the marriage, surprise at a distance? Michelle, arriving home, the conversations, the questions about her commitment, Allen, advice? The suggestion to invite Allen’s parents to dinner?
5. Sam, at the cinema, the popcorn and sweets, sobbing, the encounter with Grace, affection, feeling listen to, the hotel, the walking, going home, Monica, her severity, mocking Sam? The relationship with Allen, the discussions about commitment, their own experience? Monica wary? Sam and his encouragement? the acceptance of the dinner invitation?
6. Allen and Michelle, the wedding, the friends, atmosphere, the bouquet, Allen and his leaping, Michelle and her upset, tantrums, discussions about the commitment, the diving into the deep together? At the apartment, Michelle walking out, Allen going home? Michelle at home, parents, room, listening to their advice, the discussions? Allen with his parents, the discussions, advice? The invitation to the dinner?
7. Audience tension with the dinner, Sam and Monica arriving, Howard and Grace and reactions? The children unawares? The formalities, Howard and Monica and the intense discussion, her saying she had killed him? The intensity of the discussions of Grace and Sam, Grace and her devotion to her husband, Sam and his pleading?
8. The “Virginia Woolf” tense situation, interactions? Truth?
9. The finale, the happy wedding, ceremony, feelings, both parents present, dressing up, the couple and their commitment, the symbolic dive? Future?
10. A romcom of older, younger, positive moral fable?

THE BLACK DEMON

US/Mexico/Dominican Republic, 2023, 100 minutes, Colour.

Josh Lucas, Fernanda Urrejola, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Venus Ariel, Carlos Solorzano, Omar Chaparro.

Directed by Adrian Grunburg.

Yes, important to say at first, this is another shark movie. And this time, the shark is a Meg, a prehistoric megalodon (popularised recently by the series with Jason Statham, The Meg).

The shark-trend is now almost 50 years old, and can be traced back to (blamed on?) To 1 Spielberg, 1975, the American summer, the release of Jaws (and the rest is history!). So, so many writers and directors have felt that they need to contribute their own shark film – and director here, Adrian Grunberg, was born in March 75, just as Jaws was released to the world.

However, some differences. The setting is the Mexican Baja Coast. The central character, however, is American and, as will be explained later, he is definitely an Ugly American. But the production was filmed in the Dominican Republic.

At the opening, there is information about Mexican traditions, the story of an underwater beast, a Black Demon, an aggressive and destructive shark. And, immediately, on an oil rig off the coast, the workers are attacked by the Demon. In fact, during the film, there are many references to beliefs, religious for some, superstitious for others, and a reference as well as statues and imagery of Aztec deities.

Into the rather drab town, the citizens rather listless – or aggressive – comes an American family, father, mother, teenage daughter, little son, almost picture book with the niceness as well as the tantrums of the children! The father is Paul, played by Josh Lucas, who very soon emerges as an Ugly American. He is colonial in his attitudes towards the Mexicans. He is arrogant in US supremacy and know-how. He is completely rationalist, granting against religious superstitions and their effect. And he works for a huge US fossil fuel Corporation which has cut many corners on the maintenance of the rig out at sea, just beyond national jurisdictions. And later we, and Paul’s wife, a very sympathetic character, discovers that he has been cutting corners, pleasing his affluent masters. He has arrived in the town to go to inspect the rig.

We do not need to be an Oscar-winning screenwriter to know what is going to happen. And it does – though, with some variations. Paul goes out to the rig, finds two survivors, the rig in disrepair (which is his fault for not reporting failures in the past), the threat of the shark. When some of the locals behave suggestively towards the daughter, mother hurries the family onto a boat to be with her husband. So, there is the family with two of the workers, not quite ready to combat the Black Demon.

Paul is shown actually at his aggressive worst, especially in his rants and despising superstitions but, a touch of spoiler here, he is ultimately convinced that there is more than he can deal with rationally and the group joining in prayer before the final confrontation. And, he does admit his guilt and is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for his family.

There are a lot of hostile reviews. Many of them don’t seem to have noticed that there are some deeper themes, although the nature versus capitalistic humans is very evident, environmental and exploitation themes by fossil fuel corporations. But they seem not to have registered the possibility of some kind of repentance, atonement, an appeal to better human nature.

Yes, this one, small-budget and not so well-known, takes its place along with the 50 year gallery of cinema sharks.

1. A shark film? Mexican setting? Mexican stories and traditions, Aztec images?
2. Environmental message, fossil fuel corporations, American domination, unscrupulous? Nature against exploitation?
3. The Mexican setting, the Baja coast, filming in the Dominican Republic? The town, streets, homes, hotel, dismal and depression? The oil rig, fast, collapsing? The open sea, the boats? The musical score?
4. The introduction, the mythology about the Black Demon? Tradition? Mexicans? The later introduction of the Aztec traditions, the statues, the boy taking one, images for protection? The Megalodon, prehistoric, the attack, the worker and water, his death? The daughter later falling into the water, the severed limbs? Sense of menace?
5. Paul and the family, very American, his wife and her Latin American background? The bickering of the youngsters in the back? Coming to the town, its looking depressed, the hotel, the prospects of the holiday weekend? The reaction of the locals, despising, not speaking English, the seeming friendships, no phone calls, the small boat, taking Paul out? The aggressive meaning, the mother, taking the children, going out to the rig? Paul being upset?
6. The situation, Paul and the American company, the collapsing rig, his past reports, falsifying documents? The two men on the rig, the explanations? Paul and his reaction? The threat of the Black Demon? Strategies? Limitations, the collapsing structure?
7. The two men, friends, working together, one going down into the water, the attack? The survivor? Clashes with Paul, working with Paul? Plans, the blueprints?
8. The family, the discovery about Paul’s deception, the upset wife, the children trying to help, using ingenuity? The issue of superstitions, Paul and the scepticism, intellectual American rant, over-violent reaction? The eventual challenge, his admitting what he did wrong, the group in prayer?
9. The preparation for the attack, the visuals of the shark? Paul and his being prepared to sacrifice himself?
10. The explosion, into the mouth of the shark? And the surviving family?
11. A message film, the environment, nature, human exploitation, fossil fuels? Underlying themes of responsibility, acceptance, atonement, self-sacrifice?

THE LITTLE MERMAID

US, 2023, 135 minutes, Colour.

Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Noma Mumesweni, Art Malik, voices of: Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina.

Directed by Rob Marshall.

There are strongly divided opinions about the Disney remakes, live remakes of some of their classic animated films, especially from the 1980s and 1990s, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King. On the one hand, the opinion that the animated classic should stay as they are, fairytales, with all the magic of animation, colour, design,. On the other hand, the live-action makes the stories more real, more realistic, enabling the audience is to identify with the tales and the characters.

Which means that opinions on The Little Mermaid are divided in these ways.

In fact, in many sequences, some of the action may be a bit frightening for the intended younger audiences, especially the ship, the storms, huge waves, the crew abandoning ship, the dangers for Prince Eric. But, these sequences make the story more credible. But, whether life under the sea, the realm of King Triton, his mermaid daughters, Is Angry sister, Ursula, is credible… Actually, once the camera goes under the surface of the ocean, into the deep, there are some wonderful sequences, the camera roving through the underwater beauty, we become readier to suspend disbelief, and are very much charmed when we meet Ariel herself, the youngest of Triton’s daughters, the little mermaid, vivaciously portrayed by singer, Halle Bailey (who does more than justice to the songs. (Disappointingly, there have been some protests about her casting, some saying an African-American in the role is wrong. What are the reasons for this?)

While the basic story is that of Hans Christian Andersen, he might be surprised at the location of the action in islands off the coast of South America. The kingdom where the young prince, Eric (British Jonah Hauer-King) is to become a ruler, his dominant mother, preparing him for his role, wary of his great desire to keep going to sea, but his being quietly encouraged by the chief minister played by Art Malik.

Ariel is very mischievous in her way, fascinated by the world above the surface of the water, by humans, and intrigued as she explores the shipwrecks on the ocean floor. She has a little confidante, Flounder (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), has a bird friend, Scuttle, an erratic character if ever there was one, (voiced by Awkwafina). King Triton himself, played by Javier Bardem, relies on his crab adviser, Sebastian, who gets a lot of the funny lines (voiced by Daveed Diggs). So, live action with three characters straight from the animation.

The plot is familiar, shipwreck, Ariel rescuing Eric, the father disapproving her wanting to go near humans, the jealousy of her aunt Ursula (Melissa McCarthy more than strident), her being given the opportunity to have legs and feet and to go on land, the romance, the experience of the court, her exhilaration in Eric’s company. And, despite the warnings from her three protective friends, the vengeance of Ursula.

One of the values of having this kind of version of fairytale is that it offers an opportunity for young audiences, even little audiences, to go to the cinema rather than watching on television, see the huge screen, the visual wonders of those sequences of the beauty of coral and plants, of fish and creatures under the sea. It is an encouragement for them to go to other films and watch them on the big screen. (But, this reviewer was conscious all the way through of the continual treks of parents and children to the toilet – no pause button, no commercials for toilet breaks! And, at 2 ¼ hours this version is quite long).

So, for audiences who enjoy life-action versions of animated classics, why not?

1. The popularity of the original animated film? Hans Christian Andersen’s story, characters, the style of the animation, Ariel as the Princess heroine from Disney, the songs?
2. The popularity of life-action Disney remakes? Arguments for and against? The possibilities for greater realism?
3. The importance of the visuals, the beauty of the underwater sea photography, the vitality of the underwater world? Plants, corals, fish, menacing fish, and the shipwrecks and their contents? The portrayal of King Triton, his daughters, the mermaid costumes? The contrast with Ursula, squid, ugly? The ship, storms and swelling sea? The contrast with the kingdom, the Palace, the town, the townspeople, costumes and decor?
4. The musical score, the songs, from the original film, Ariel’s songs, Eric, and the popular “Under the sea”?
5. The realism of the ship, the times, life on board, the characters, Eric and his work on the ship, the realisation that it was the Prince and heir, his hard work? The storm, the hardships, everybody overboard, the dog, the fire, Eric in the water, and his being rescued by Ariel?
6. The underwater kingdom, King Triton, his personality and rule, summoning his daughters, severity, forbidding them to go to the shipwrecks, to have anything to do with the humans? His exasperation with Ariel, loving her, but demanding off her? And the clash with Ursula? Ursula, her jealousy, ugly, wanting vengeance?
7. Eric, heir o the kingdom, his mother, the adviser and his support, Eric and’s prospects? His fascination with the rescue, wanting to find Ariel?
8. Ariel, going to the surface, watching Eric, the encounter with Eric, the deal with Ursula, three days, having legs, coming on land, Eric, spending time with Ariel, the carriage for the day, the outing, the romantic interludes, returning back? Ariel in the Palace? Eric’s mother’s reaction?
9. The three comic creatures, Scuttle, the awkward bird, flight, chatter, warning Ariel, urging her on? Flounder, the baby voice, the sea companion? Sebastian, orders from the King, his voice and accent, song under the sea, exasperation, working with Flounder and Scuttle, the time running out, their wanting Ariel to kiss the Prince and break Ursula’s spell?
10. Ursula, her form as the beautiful young woman, Eric under her spell, the preparations for the marriage, Ariel’s response?
11. Ursula, the exposure, the fights, dominating Ariel? Ursula, the confrontation with the King, destroying him?
12. The fairytale aspects, Ariel, her revival, her friends helping her, the confrontation with the young woman, her being exposed?, Ursula exposed and destroyed?
13. The revival of the King, his daughters, Ariel restored, his change of heart, giving her legs and feet, Eric and his realisation of the truth, the preparation for the marriage? The Queen Mother and her adviser, everybody happy?

MSC vietnam ordinations in the Philippines June 3rd

"I thank my God, each time I think of you.

And when I pray for you, I pray with joy."   Frank Andersen MSC

The ordination of the three Vietnamese MSCs of our Australian province.

June 3rd 3023

The celebration took place in the Philippines

with the presence of Chris Mcphee - Australian provincial,

Hoang Nguyen - Vietnamese community superior, and the three newly ordained men's families.

We are grateful for the hospitality and the spirit of the brotherhood of the Philipines province.

And, in case you thought it looked too easy, some rehearsals.

St Mary’s Towers, beginning the pre-novitiate.

With thanks to Dominic Gleeson, pre-novitiate director for sending this account of the ceremony, a Douglas Park community ceremony, and to Tru for the photos.

Dominic writes: “On the evening of 1 June,2023, Nang Vu and Long Tran  committed themselves to walk the journey with the MSC Pre-Novitiate process at St Mary’s Towers Douglas Park.

The liturgy of welcome began with the lighting of the Paschal candle to remind us all of our baptismal call.

We then proceeded to light the newly created St Mary’s Towers, MSC Community and Chevalier family candle.

From that candle, which was lit from the Paschal candle which had a double wick, was lit by a professed MSC, Len Helm, and a member of the Lay Chevalier Family (Fred Stubenrauch). 

We then asked Nang and Long to light a dedicated MSC Pre- Novitiate candle which had a double wick also so that each could light the candle.  It is a red colour to signify the presence of the holy spirit, the enlivening and vivifying experience of the invitation of Jesus to ‘come and see’.  

The rite of reception and blessing, focused on the experience of Jesus conferring upon the early Christian community, his peace.  We reflected on John chapters 13-17 to help ground the place of the Jesus heart in ours which is a call to live our life’s journey in him that we can all welcome in grace. 

The St Mary's Towers community, Frank Dineen, Nang, Long, Dominic, Sue Stubenrauch (which means that Fred is the phtographer), Peter Harvey-Jackson, Paul Brennan, Len Helm, Tru Nguyen (and the other member, Josef Senjuk, absent unwell).

The celebration continued into the night followed by a few games of snooker on the pool table in the community room.

Chevalier Family Laudato si program, First Friday, June

Remembering our Chapter commitment

The Chapter recommends, through the existing Laudato si’ Committee, that the Province join the Laudato si’ Action Platform and communicate resources and challenges to live with greater commitment. This is a sign of our individual and communal ecological conversion.

 Some Significant June Days for the Chevalier Family, 2023

Feast of the Sacred Heart, 16th June

NOTE:

this is an amplified version of Significant Days, combining the list made originally by Cor Novum, Issoudun, now with the addition of dates from Father Jan Bovenmars MSC’s book, Jules Chevalier, Daily Readings. His book was published in 1993 – so, more recent just from all around the congregation and the Chevalier family would be most welcome.

16 new Significant Days have been added.

1 June, 1940

Mother M Electa, MSC, promises to build a chapel in honour of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, in Hiltrup, Germany, to seek protection for the Congregation and its works during World War II.

3 June, 1874

Fathers Chevalier, Vandel and Jouët renew their profession before Pope Pius IX.

4 June, 1980

Father Jose Maria Gran Cirera, MSC, of the Spanish Province, is assassinated in Chajul, Guatemala.

Now the feast day of the Martyrs of Quiche.

5 June, 1900

Archibald Shaw, first Australian-born MSC priest, ordained in Sydney.

5 June, 1944

During World War II, New Guinea Missionary Sisters were imprisoned in Ramale Camp, New Britain, in PNG.

5 June, 1986

Canonical erection of the first MSC house in Seoul, Korea.

6 June, 1846

Jean-Marie Vandel is ordained a priest at Fribourg, Switzerland, at the age of 37 years.

6 June, 1914

Father Hubert Linckens begins prolonged visitation of the Australian MSC province: 1914-1921.

6 June, 1980

Erection of the MSC novitiate in Manoku, Abemama, Kiribati.

7 June, 1861

The Vicar General of Bourges blesses the first part of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Issoudun. In the window near the altar of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, is a stained-glass representation of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, her first image. This same stained-glass window is today located above Our Lady's Chapel entrance door, situated inside the Basilica.

9 June, 1983

(And 40 years later, Bonaventura, Abzalon and Marife)

The three Generalates, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart meet together for the first time. The first meeting took place at the MSC Generalate, Via Asmara in Rome.

10 June, 1854

Father Charles Piperon, a significant early member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is ordained priest for the Diocese of Bourges.

10 June, 1855

Authorized to take the title of Missionary of the Sacred Heart, the young Chevalier ceases his functions as curate in Issoudun. He takes up the role of parish priest of Issoudun more than 20 years later in 1872.

12 June, 1874

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Pope Pius IX signs the decree of Approbation of the MSC Society. Father Chevalier also offers Pius IX a petition, asking him to consecrate the whole Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

12 June, 1885

Watertown USA: first profession of Pierre L’Esperance, the first MSC from the New World.

12 June, 1970

The first mission in Peru, entrusted to the North German MSC Province since 1938, becomes a Region.

13 June, 1891

Rome: the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars issues a decree regarding the “sanationes”. It prescribes also that the General Assistants must reside with the General; Father Jouet, therefore, is no longer Assistant but remains General Procurator.

13 June, 1946

The Vicariate of Papua is divided into the Vicariate of Port Moresby and the Prefecture of Samarai. Father A. Sorin (France) is appointed Vicar of Port Moresby and Administrator Prefect of Samarai

.

14 June, 1851

Father Chevalier and eleven other seminarians are ordained priests in the cathedral of Bourges by Cardinal Dupont.

14 June, 1937

Louis Vangeke, MSC, is ordained the very first priest for the Papua New Guinean Catholic Church. In 1970, he became Auxiliary Bishop of Port Moresby, PNG, and then Bishop of Bereina, PNG, until his retirement in 1979. He died in 1982.

15 June, 1851

Father Chevalier celebrated his first Mass in a small chapel (no longer in existence) in the garden of the major seminary in Bourges.

16 June, 1868

First General Assembly of the Third Order of the Sacred Heart in Montluçon. Father Guyot is its General Director, in the name of father Chevalier. It is a Third Order for women without vows and is associated with the MSC congregation from 1865 to 1874.

16 June, 1950

(Fr Bryson is the tall one beside Fr Harry Reid in uniform, with the first Australian MSC to Japan)

Father Archibald Bryson (Australia) concluded negotiations for the establishment of the MSC mission in Nagoya and is now in charge of the Japan Mission.

17 June, 1851

Father Chevalier receives his first appointment: curate in the parish of Ivoy-le-Pré. He remains in this parish for 7 months before taking his second appointment in Châtillon-sur-Indre.

18 June, 1971

Erection of Curitiba- PR, Brazil, as MSC Region, entrusted to the Belgian Province.

18 June, 1982

The MSC residence at Suva, Fiji, ready since January is blessed by Bishop Paul Mea MSC.

18 June, 1986

Canonical erection of the Union of Francophone Africa (UAF). It is placed directly under the superior general.

19 June, 1885

Father Henry Verius and the brothers Salvatore Gasbarra and Nicola Marconi (Italy) leave Thursday Island for Yule Island, on board ship of Ed Mosby.

19 June, 1940

At 8:30am, Issoudun is bombed: 100 people died and many are wounded. The historic presbytery from which Father Founder was evicted in 1907, is destroyed.

20 June, 1882

Father Navarre is appointed Superior of the little group making its way to the mission of Melanesia.

22 June, 1938

The first two MSC appointed to Peru, Fathers B.Sievers and J.Petermeyer, leave from Hiltrup for Lima.

23 June, 1919

The German MSC are forced to leave the Apostolic Vicariate of the Marshall Islands.

24 June, 1915

During the First World War, Missionary Sisters in New Britain (PNG) are imprisoned.

24 June, 1946

Canonical erection of the Spanish MSC Province.

26 June, 1859

Laying of the first stone of the new sanctuary of the Sacred Heart in Issoudun by Monsignor Caillaud, Vicar General of Bourges.

26 June, 1984

Sister Klara Sietman, MSC, is elected as 6th Superior General of the MSC Sisters.

28 June, 1928

Father Arthur Lanctin, MSC, 2nd Superior General of the MSC, 1901-1905, dies in Issoudun.

30 June, 1850

Jules Chevalier is ordained to the Sub-Diaconate, in the Chapel of the major seminary in Bourges.

30 June, 1887

The first MSC arrive at Quito, Ecuador. This mission will end in 1894.  

Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

Tim Brennan MSC, our Safeguarding Officer for the MSC Society has sent this press release from the Vatican, suggested that the release be posted.

For issues of religious life and apostolic life today, visit www.vitaconsacrata.va

PRESS RELEASE

Vatican City, 26 May 2023

The new website of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (www.vitaconsacrata.va) is now online. The portal, in its completely revamped version, aims to be an agile communication and information tool for all, especially for consecrated men and women.

The website collects news, activities, documents and publications of the Dicastery. In addition to reference materials and forms, it also contains some of the Dicastery’s publications in different languages, starting with the letters to consecrated men and women presented during the Year of Consecrated Life. The search engine on the home page provides quick access to all the information.

The portal is also meant to be a sign of closeness and sharing through which the Dicastery intends to accept the invitation of the Holy Father Francis: «I dream of an ecclesial communication that knows how to let itself be guided by the Holy Spirit, gentle and at the same time, prophetic, that knows how to find new ways and means for the wonderful proclamation it is called to deliver in the third millennium» (FRANCIS, Message for the 57th World Day of Social Communications 2023). The Cardinal Prefect is Joao Braz de Aviz from Brazil.

In case dicastery is not an everyday word, some Google definitions:

What is the Dicastery of the Holy See? The Dicastery has responsibility in the areas that fall within the competence of the Apostolic See for the development of the life and apostolate of the lay faithful, for the pastoral care of young people and the family and its mission according to God's plan, and for the protection and support of human life. There are 16 Vatican dicasteries. For more detail Google the dicastery and Wikipedia. 

Cardinal Aviz visited the MSC General Chapter of 2017 - and, earlier, when visiting Melbourne, had lunch with the Melbourne community at Cuskelly House.

Chevalier Institute, 20 years anniversary

Bob Irwin and Anne McAtomney (current Chevalier Institute Director).

20 years ago, Bob Irwin founded the Chevalier Institute.Last week there was a gathering (mass and meal) with those who have journeyed most closely with the Institute over that time. James Maher, who worked with Julie Taylor in the early days, was very much remembered and ‘present’ at the gathering through his music.

Chris McDermott (former Principal of Chevalier College) and Alison McKenzie (former Chevalier Institute Director)

Philip Fitzgerald (former Chevalier Institute Director), Julie Taylor, and Bob Irwin (Spiritual Director of the Institute).

Blackburn farewell for Long and Nang as they go to Douglas Park for pre-novitiate formation.

Long came from North Vietnam last year. Nang’s family live in Melbourne. They have been living in the parish house with Alo Lamere.

They had a farewell Mass in the parish. Khoi presiding.

They have been studying English as a second language at the school at YTU

And were farewelled there.

Finally a Mass at Cuskelly house, Brian Gallagher presiding,

The community blessing them as they went, 

Nang's parents, two sisters and a nephew present

The Melbourne community.

With thanks to Hoa for the photos.

At St Mary’s Towers their director will be Dominic Gleeson,