The Easter holiday.

We have lived through Lent, shared his sufferings and now experience the joy of the Resurrection.

Today is a holiday, so what better than some humour!!

For those who are not so keen on puns, blame can be laid with Jim Miller MSC of the US province who posted them on his Facebook page.

He is not to blame for this one……..

An Easter Reflection

Free Bibleimages

Some days, and especially through the pandemic, some of us may have felt that life is not worth it, that all seems to be dark. Even for us then, with all our theological studies, our first question may have been, ‘Is God for me?’ ‘Can God love me through this mess?’ ‘Where is God?’

Then we have this Easter event! Christ is risen!

What can we make of it all? What is God asking of us? What might it be saying to us?

To be an optimist because we know what happened on the third day. We know that it worked. That Jesus’ leap of faith was not in vain. This is the point, I think, that His leap of faith was not in vain! He trusted enough to outstare the darkness, to outstare the void, to wait upon the resurrection on the third day. He remained faithful to the fact that God would remain faithful to him. Jesus shows us the way through. God will remain faithful, despite death, even in the face of death, because of death, God will remain faithful.

All the readings over Easter, for me, reveal one thing - God is faithful. God is nothing else but ‘love unto love unto love.’ God is faithful to this promise. This is what Jesus reveals in the resurrection. It is the other side of the cross. In fact, it is the light that shines through His heart on the cross. Jesus is the beginning, the middle, and the end. Jesus is everything.

For all time, Jesus becomes our sign, our promise, our guarantee, our fulfilment. He is what God can accomplish in humanity when we say ‘Yes’ to God… for what takes place in the Body of Jesus takes place in us. All our crucifixions will be turned to resurrections. All those dark times we have experienced over the last few years - for what is given to God is always returned transformed.

Edited from the MSC Magazine, Chris McPhee MSC

RIP Peter Hoy

Peter Hoy, who shared many years with us as a confrere, died in Geelong this week.

Peter was ordained in 1957 and was sent to Rome for further studies. He specialised in Church History and returned to teach in Canberra and Croydon. He acted as editor of Compass Theology Review, 1968-1971 and was Superior of Croydon Monastery in the early 1970s. He took active part in many of the renewal programs of the 1970s.

He left the congregation in 1981. In 1982 he married Hennie, a former OLSH Sister. They had 40 years of marriage until her death last year.

Peter died at 91. Brian Gallagher kept in touch with him and, providentially, visited him the day before Peter died (and did not anticipate his dying). Brian said that Peter always asked after members of the Province.

May he rest in peace.

A Holy Week reflection in word and image

The last word that came from Jesus on the cross was, “Tetelestai!”.

Patrick O’Carrigan MSC explains it is the Greek word that a winner shouts in an Olympic contest. We present one of his Crucifixion pictures and one of the 12th Station of the Cross

Below is Roger Purcell’s reflection on this word, which he composed in 2016.

The sky grows dark and foreboding

The wind stirs the dust and sand

Whipping around in the crowd.

People grow fearful staring at the sky

In fright of the strange event

They turn to leave, to hurry home

The show is over, the criminals hung up

They turn to go, turning back,

The figure hung high cried out,

Cries in a loud voice, shouts loudly,

“It is accomplished, “Tetelestai”

It is done!! I have won!!”

They turn to stare at him hung,

Beaten, bloodied, naked before all

Shamed, belittled before the world

They came from afar for the feast

Travelled from foreign lands

They know and understand the cry

The athletes cry of victory and success

But how can he cry out this way

Beaten, bloodied, naked before all

Shamed, belittled before the world

But he cries out loudly, loudly shouting

He has accomplished, has won

In the failure, the shame and the pain

He is victorious

vNo weak muttering, “it is over, finished”

Beaten, bloodied, naked before all

Shamed, belittled before the world

The proclamation of victory

In this I know him, I see him,

In pain and effort, in anxiety and work,

I have won, have accomplished

It is done, it is finished!!

In this he knows me, sees me

In this the knowing is twofold

The understanding, the connection is complete

I know him and he knows me

It is done, it is accomplished.

Anticipating the First Friday/ Good Friday. Chevalier Family Social Justice/ Laudato si  

The next step in appreciating and applying Pope Francis' vision for our world and our environment.

Chung moves to Kippax

It has been an eventful year for Chung, beginning the year with the Siloam program online from Vietnam, then his ordination in the Philippines after having to wait because of Covid restrictions on travel to Manila, then receiving his visa for Australia and arriving in Melbourne in June.

Chung has been living in Naughton Housse at Blackburn, graduating from Siloam.

He has been appointed to Kippax, the parish, and was farewelled by the Melbourne community before travelling to Canberra last Saturday.

Our MSC students march for justice and refugees – Palm Sunday

Our students, Hoa, Trieu and Daniel (who designed the MSC Justice posters)

with Margaret Burchell IBVM, Pastoral Associate, and Liam from St Thomas parish Blackburn, marched in the Palm Sunday support of justice and for refugees.

We remember the many Vietnamese boat people of past decades, and members of our province who were boat refugees themselves.

And we support the refugees from Asia, Africa to Australia – and the millions on the move in our world today.

And, in the spirit of Palm Sunday and the many marches around Australia.

Visit the MSC Vocations Australia Facebook page for the streaming of a 7 minute video of the march. And thanks to Trieu Nguyen MSC

LA IRA DI DIOS/ THE WRATH OF GOD

Argentina, 2022, 97 minutes, Colour.

Macarena Achaga, Juan Minujin, Diego Peretti.

Directed by Sebastian Schindel.

The title, obviously, has some theological and biblical overtones – which are referenced throughout the film.

The film is also challenges the audience, working in two time eras, 12 years apart.

The film also focuses on sexual harassment, legal issues, tensions between husband and wife, depression, killings and suicide, and the investigations by a journalist.

The director is a novelist, celebrated, working with his secretary, attempting to kiss her – with consequent ambiguities and some disastrous consequences for those concerned. And this is complicated by the novelist‘s wife, a ballet dancer, injured, depressed, getting the information about the kiss, killing her daughter, killing herself.

The journalist enters, the audience identifying with him in his investigations.

And the setting is Argentina.

1. Title? The explanation in Kloster’s final speech? Punishment, vengeance?
2. Argentina, the settings, the city streets, homes, book launches, beach sequences, hospitals, homes for the elderly? The fires? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Kloster, his successful novel, the launch, the crowds and applause, his speech? Esteban urging him to speak to Luciana, the confrontation, the sound of Luciana falling?
4. The interspersing flashbacks with the present? Kloster, writing, dictating, Luciana helping in the research, relationship with his wife, her ballet career, the accident, her psychological state, his devotion to his daughter, bathing her, her love for him? Luciana and playing with the daughter? The episode, Kloster’s roving eye, the kiss, his thinking it a signal, Luciana’s reaction and leaving?
5. The introduction to Esteban, his work as a journalist, flashbacks to his dictating to Luciana? The revelation of his article against Kloster 10 years earlier? The role of the editor, giving him leave to investigate Kloster? The contact from Luciana, his visiting her, her story, the deaths of the members of her family? Her blending Kloster, the visuals of being present at the deaths?
6. Luciana and her mental state, her place in the home, her work with authors, her bonding with Valentina? The repercussions of the harassment? Vindictive against Kloster? The range of the deaths, the seaside, the life-saving brother and his drowning? The mushrooms, the research, her father’s death? Episodes in Kloster’s novels? The brother, the accusation of the affair, the bashing, the anonymous letters, the killer escape from prison? The fire, burning the home, her mother’s death?
7. Esteban, the ambiguities in his attitudes, investigation, the past, helping Luciana? The past article, his being fired? At home, Luciana wanting to meet Kloster, going to the book launch? His final dismay?
8. Kloster, audience suspicion of him, his capacity as a novelist, to imagine, the research by Luciana, the possibility of his arranging the deaths of her family?
9. The revelation of Valentina, wary of Luciana, her friends, ballet school, the revelation that they had met with Kloster, his new novel, their involvement, the funeral, Valentina with Kloster, Esteban and the confrontation?
10. Luciana, the confrontation with Kloster, his talking to her about her mental state, his eyes glancing to the ground, suggesting the suicide?
11. The complexity of the plot – giving enough for audiences to ponder, to discuss?

SVOLTA/ THE TURNING POINT

Italy, 2021, 97 minutes, Colour.

Andrea Lattanzi, Brando Pacitto.

Directed by Ricardo Antonarolli.

This is a mixture of drama and comedy, a focus on an odd couple. While there is some background of crime and gangsters, the focus for the most part is on the two central characters. And a lot of time spent in the apartment of Ludovico.

Ludovico is middle-aged, a comic artist, at something of a standstill in his life, a colourful apartment but also something of a mess. His reclusive. He has had a lady friend for many years but restrained in approaching her. Then, suddenly, a thief, Jack, intrudes into his apartment and into his life, wanting some kind of shelter. Jack has stolen money from some mobsters who are after him.

While there are the crime elements, the main focus is on characters, their interaction, their getting to know each other, trust each other, Jack, especially, urging Ludovico to more action in his life, Jack not quite the thief and criminal that Ludovico thought of him as he intruded into his life.

There are some action sequences, the mob bosses coming after Jack, drawing on the resources of each of them.

Interesting character studies, pleasing moments of drama and comedy in their interactions.

1. The title, for Jack, for Ludovico?
2. The Italian city, homes and apartments, police precincts, drug deals? Neighbourhoods, streets, shops? The interior of the apartment block? The musical score?
3. Ludovico’s story, his father’s visit, critical, supportive? His mother? Ludovico, depression, and studies, reclusive, his drawings, plans for his comic book? Quietly at home?
4. Jack’s story, his background, his brother going to Brazil, his ambitions, the drugs, his brazenness, stealing them?
5. The drug criminals, their background, the chief, his brutal henchman, the headquarters, the thugs, their dependence on the chief, memories of loyalties and fathers? The orders for the search for Jack, the pursuit, narrowing the focus, the apartment block, pretense of inspecting gas leaks and electricity, casing the interiors, reporting back?
6. Jack, the escape, intruding on Ludovico? Ludovico and his fears?
7. The strange friendship, Jack and his concern, analysing Ludovico, giving advice, encouragement, the comic strips, the food, going out to the shops? Gradually getting to know each other, the dangers and atmosphere, Jack talking about the Stockholm Syndrome? And Ludovico identifying with Jack? The girls upstairs, Spanish and Italian, Ludovico and his attraction? Jack and his advice? Ludovico and Italian films, the posters, the student asking his advice, going upstairs? The plan for the meal?
8. The tension between the two in the apartment and the pursuit by the criminals? The tension with the criminals, the henchmen, brutality, shooting the thugs, the threat to jack and Ludovico?
9. The discussions with the girls, preparing the meal, going upstairs, the drugs, Jack and the sexual encounter, Ludovico and his reticence?
10. The thugs, the shootings, Ludovico going downstairs, tortured and interrogated?
11. Jack, the late escape, returning for Ludovico, the escape in the streets?
12. The final confrontations, the death of the drug chief, Ludovico and his dying in the room, tended by Jack, Jack in the street, the pursuit, his dreams of Brazil, his death?
13. The extremely pessimistic viewpoint of the screenplay?

MURDER MYSTERY 2

US, 2023, 90 minutes, Colour.

Adam Sandler, Jennifer Anniston, Mark Strong, Melanie Laurent, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Kani, Dany Boon, Adeel Akhtar, Enrique Arce, Jilian Bell, Tony Goldwyn, Kuhoo Verma.

Directed by

A very popular American comedy. There is little that needs to be said about Murder Mystery 2. It follows, of course, on the very popular comedy, Murder Mystery, pairing Adam Sandler with Jennifer Aniston, reminding audiences of the durability of both stars, Adam Sandler with a long history of goofy comedies, proving a stronger acting talent in more recent years, Uncut Gems, Hustle, and Jennifer Aniston who enlivened Friends for many years as well as many romantic comedies.

If locations are a great appeal to popular comedies, then this one has strong appeal, half an hour immersing the audience in an experience of Bollywood colour, dancing and singing, characters – and an abduction and death. However, the main action takes place in Paris, a lot of it on, above, and dangling from the Eiffel Tower, not to mention chaos at the Arc de Triomphe, car chases, a country mansion is.

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston play a married couple who, in the first film, solve a mystery, not without a lot of accompanying deaths. They are still wanting to be private investigators. But, they receive an invitation to the wedding of an Indian friend (a deal Akhtar and his fiancee Melanie Laurent). There are quite a number of guests – and a range of suspicions when the friend is abducted.

British intelligence then comes to the rescue with the leadership of Mark Strong and the action transfers to Paris, the ransom, car chases, all kinds of things going wrong that could, some doublecrossing, villains unmasked, and drama on the Eiffel Tower.

Interestingly, the cast is not American: Melanie Laurent and Dany Boon from France, John Kani from the previous film from South Africa, and Enrique Arce from Spain, and the British contingent, Mark strong, Jodie Turner Smith, Adeel Akhtar.

Preposterous in so much detail, but preposterously enjoyable.