All CF e-News
From the Editor One of the most wonderful things about children is their surprisability. It’s so easy to surprise them, and their expressions of anticipation, followed by shock and glee, are a joy to behold! Maybe that’s one reason everyone loves Christmas; it’s a golden opportunity to delight and surprise each other. God is always
From the Editor Marilyn Rodrigues In this edition we feature the testimonials and commentary of people who are walking with those whose life circumstances and choices make it difficult for them to feel that they belong in the Catholic family. Many same-sex attracted or gender questioning Catholics, for example, feel rejected by the Church rather
From the Editor Marilyn Rodrigues Marriages are central to the life of the Church, our culture and society. They are vital to our future. St Pope John Paul II said, “Humanity passes by way of the family” and as we know, marriage is the basis of family. The Church is deeply invested in the marriages
From the Editor Marilyn Rodrigues We have no greater treasure to pass on to our children than our faith. Father of three Sam Guzman, mother of five Carrie McCormack, and youth evangelist Fr Rob Galea share the reasons and the ways they share Christ's good news with the young people in their lives. To view
From the Editor Marilyn Rodrigues Many wonderful saints share the month of August for their feast days, but it is hard as an Australian to pass up the opportunity to celebrate St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Sr Monica Cavanagh RSJ, the congregational leader of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, has
From the Editor Marilyn Rodrigues On awe, praise and the care of creation Has your child ever been captivated by the sight of a full, golden, moon hanging low on the horizon, drawn to running water, or collected shells, rocks and sticks? It’s been one year since Pope Francis published his encyclical on the environment,
Loving God in a material world Our financial attitudes and behaviours form a big part of our lived experience as we journey with God to the fullness of life. Thus our children will benefit hugely from formation in the Christian approach to money and wealth. We can guide them to properly appreciate money from a
The Cross of Infertility and Subfertility Around one in six couples of childbearing age experiences infertility or subfertility at any one time. Like any cross, sometimes this one is harder at some times than at others to bear. Mothers’ Day blessings at Mass can be particularly difficult. Or the Christmas season with its endless nativity scenes and hymns about the long-awaited birth of a
Pope Francis is big on joy. Not only is he always smiling and delighting in the people he meets, many of his writings express the joy he has in his faith. His first two (not counting the one he finished for Pope Benedict), The Joy of the Gospel and Praised Be!, are firmly planted in
Lent is the perfect time to prune whatever distracts us from the enjoyment of God’s presence and peace. Many self-help experts preach decluttering and simplifying in order to create a calmer and more focused mind. For Catholics, neat cupboards alone won’t really cut it in the spiritual life, but Jesus did ask us to live
