43. The Soul
This week we celebrate the feast days of Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph. While Saint Patrick’s Day is well known as a day of celebration in remembrance of the patron saint of Ireland, the feast day of Saint Joseph follows closely on Friday, March 19th. In December last year, Pope Francis announced a Year of Saint Joseph, to honor the 150th anniversary of the saint’s patronage over the Universal Church. Pope Francis said he was establishing the year so that “every member of the faithful, following Saint Joseph’s example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.”
As this edition of The Soul continues to focus on Lent and the lives of the Saints, we explore the theme of accompaniment and how it relates to our vocation as teachers.
“He is Holy Joseph, because according to the opinion of a great number of doctors, he, as well as St. John Baptist, was sanctified even before he was born. He is Holy Joseph, because his office, of being spouse and protector of Mary, specially demanded sanctity. He is Holy Joseph because no other Saint but he lived in such and so long intimacy and familiarity with the source of all holiness, Jesus, God incarnate, and Mary, the holiest of creatures.”
- St John Henry Newman
In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis adds several phrases to the growing vocabulary and vision of the New Evangelisation - a vision to which each pope has contributed since the Second Vatican Council.
One of these phrases is “the art of accompaniment”:
The Church will have to initiate everyone - priests, religious and laity - into this ‘art of accompaniment’ which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5). (Evangelii Gaudium, 169)
Pope Francis introduces this phrase in Chapter 3, “The Proclamation of the Gospel,” under the fourth section, “Evangelisation and the deeper understanding of the kerygma.” Within this context it is clear that accompaniment is a means to the end of evangelisation, not “accompaniment for accompaniment’s sake.” Pope Francis explicitly states, “Genuine spiritual accompaniment always begins and flourishes in the context of service to the mission of evangelisation” (EG, 173). He beautifully explains:
Spiritual accompaniment must lead others ever closer to God… to accompany them would be counterproductive if it became a sort of therapy supporting their self-absorption and ceased to be a pilgrimage with Christ to the Father. (EG, 170)
How are we responding to the call to accompany others? Through our actions are we leading our students closer to God? Through our witness are we creating a path for our colleagues to follow that leads to evangelisation?
Excerpt adapted from The Art of Accompaniment by Br John Paul Kern O.P.
Her writings display a deep desire for God in the everyday moments of life. In the busyness of being a Catholic teacher, there is always the invitation to five minutes of stillness. What you are doing is a supernatural task that requires constant connection to the source from which your gifts come and the source to which all your efforts and energies are ultimately directed.
In the demands of the coming day, find your five minutes as often as possible.
Jonathan Doyle - One Catholic Teacher
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Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year B
John 20:20-30
- Praying with music hopes to showcase an eclectic selection of worship to suit different tastes in music. His Wings by Josh Garrels is a fun modern song about praising the Lord.
- To fall deep into the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, we turn to this beautiful acapella rendition of the classic The Irish Blessing.
- For nearly 30 years, Kirk Franklin has been widely regarded for revolutionizing Gospel music. He incorporates secular music (mostly Hip Hop) while preserving the message and integrity of traditional Gospel. Check out his powerhouse choir host the famous Tiny Desk home performance - Kirk Franklin (NPR Music)
- Run to the Father by Matt Maher takes the Prodigal Son parable and makes it personal. In placing ourselves into the parable as either the younger or older son, we realise that both sons see, need and receive God’s grace and mercy.
Last week saw the return of the Year 11/12 LEAD gathering following its fate as the first Student Discipleship Retreat to be cancelled in 2020.
The LEAD gathering uses Youth Ministry Officers to build on the Stage 5 Youth Ministry program by accompanying and equipping young leaders for Youth Ministry at their schools and at the SHINE gathering in August.
St Mary’s Parish, Casino
In the second of this Parish Lenten Series, Father Arthur Stidwill MSC unpacks the meaning of Good Friday.
Declan's Well
This article is taken from Declan’s Well, a parish Magazine of St Declan’s Catholic Parish Penshurst where Fr Chris Ryan is the Parish Priest. It is well worth a read.
- Two great songs for 200 years of Catholic Education including the National Anthem with updated lyrics by Andrew Chinn and featuring St Brigid's, Kyogle and St Finbarr's, Byron Bay.
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