045 :
19 Mar 2010

The sad, sad result achieved by the Reform of the Reform... March on the Reform of the Reform and the turning of the once incredibly influential Roman Catholic Church into a remnant for the insecure and an irrelevant museum for the vast masses of ordinary people once enormously proud of their Catholic heritage and active participants in the sacramental life of the Church. Today's lead commentary by John Hushon, one of the co-convenors of the forthcoming American Catholic Council was recently published under the title "Recent History of the Diocese of Venice in Florida—or How To Destroy a Diocese" on the Voice from the Desert Blog. John has given us permission to re-publish the essay on Catholica and in fact this is an updated version to the one published earlier. Educated at Brown and Harvard Law, John Hushon was a successful international lawyer and CEO of a multinational energy company before retirement. Since 'retiring' John has obtained a graduate degree in theology, served as chair of a social justice group, taught in the RCIA program, sponsored a well-attended theology series with outside speakers, taught an adult religious education program with a syllabus pre-filed with the pastor, and served as a trustee and volunteer at many charities, organizations, and institutions of higher learning. Read this and weep. Do these people so enthusiastic for the Reform of the Reform ever sit down and "do the math": their activities might impress the likes of the late JPII and Benedict XVI, neither of whom seem to have a good grasp of math, but do they ever ask themselves if the Almighty is impressed at the persistent effort to turn the vast majority of the baptised out of the pews and turn the assets of the institution over to a tiny, totally unrepresentative minority of Pharisees? [more]

044 :
07 Mar 2010

The Saga of Munglanup A change of pace today — well, sort of, in that it's poetry and in the tradition of this nation's best balladeers. In other respects though it is no change of pace in that it echoes the disquiet of many of the faithful in this Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. Sit back and enjoy "The Saga of Munglanup" by Brian Clery. This might make up for our not being able to bring you poetry on Friday from Father Hartigan. [more]

043 :
02 Feb 2010

Celibacy — a problem for priests AND laity! Richard Sipe, the well-known campaigner against sexual abuse, has kindly sent us this update report on the problems with clerical celibacy. He points out that priest leaders have themselves been writing about the problem for decades — even back to the late 1920s/early 1930s. The lack of resolution of the problem has led to problems for lay people as well — many simply do not listen to the clergy anymore on a whole range of issues so much has clerical credibility been damaged by the lack of an effective response to the challenges posed by celibacy... [more]

042 :
20 Nov 2009

Supporting the Charter for Compassion... There is much spiritual energy in the world at the moment — some of it moving humanity in positive directions and some of it moving humanity in negative directions. Two of the seemingly postive initiatives at the moment are the Charter for Compassion project started by Karen Armstrong and the other is the World Parliament of Religions meeting in Melbourne in early December. Today's commentary from Andrew McAlister helps draw our attention to both these endeavours... [more]

040 :
16 Oct 2009

Addendum to the National Apology... As the author of "Orphans of the Empire" (Random House, 1998), Alan Gill took a special interest in today's apology by the Prime Minister of Australia to former child migrants and Australian-born institutionalised kids. He contacted Catholica earlier today to bring to our attention a little-known aberration where the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney may earn a few brownie points. Here's the story Alan sent us for publication on Catholica... [more]

040 :
16 Oct 2009

Enough is Enough! Tom McMahon came across this column by an Ottawa-based journalist and columnist, Janice Kennedy, earlier in the week and was so moved by what she wrote that he wrote to her to obtain permission for her work to be re-published on Catholica. Triggered by a comment made by the Archbishop of Halifax in response to the arrest of the Bishop of Antigonish, Janice Kennedy, argues that without profound change, the end is coming for Catholicism. [more]

039 :
02 Oct 2009

The Curious character of Curia's take on Priesthood… Something completely different today. Herbie — a regular contributor to the Catholica forums but a now retired theologian and teacher who has had an illustrious career lecturing around the globe — has been entertaining us in recent days with a series of funny posts on the forum taking the mickey out of a certain Cardinal Archbishop in America who created a headline a few days ago suggesting that priests are more than dispensers of the Sacraments. Here's his latest contribution to that series — and to the wider discussion on the changing nature of priesthood. How do the ordinary pewsitters view the priesthood and how do those who sit in the ivory towers of the institution view the role of the priest? You'll find the earlier post this commentary follows on from at: Post id=34581. [more]

038 :
29 Sep 2009

Lay Celebration of the Eucharist... Now here's something to stir your passions — and bring the trads down out of their trees roaring their terrible roars — our resident Irish-Catholic, aged, liberal, reforming pot stirrer, George Ripon, rips into any number of Sacred Cows — popes and bishops. Let her rip, George. Come back and tell us what you think of George Ripon's proposals in our forum… [more]

037 :
11 Jul 2009

The Point of Pursuing the Notion of Trinity – Part 2... Whether we appreciate it or not, all of us model our lives and behaviours on paradigms — big canvas ideas that mould our thinking and which we learn from our culture, our religion, ideas planted in our minds and being passed down through our families, the heroes we learn about through our reading and study, as well as the big ideas that are fashionable in society in our present moment. Just think of all the paradigms driving the behaviours of so many individuals around the world in the last week at the passing of pop star Michael Jackson. In this two-part article (we published the first part yesterday) Dr Anthony Lowes is looking at the theological concept of Trinity and argues that for many it has become an esoteric idea trying to describe a God 'out there' or 'up there'. Consequently most people today probably spend very little time if any at all thinking about "Trinity" — or see it as having much relevance in their day-to-day lives. Along with other theologians he refers to in this theologically dense essay, he is arguing we need to grab the concept anew and not exclusively see it as a concept trying to describe the 'Being' of a God "out there" but it is a powerful tool through which we can understand our own 'being' and what it means to be a person aspiring to re-union and comm-union with God and with one another. There is a profound mystery or paradox to our own being: to be the perfect individual we cannot achieve it as an individual but only in relation (communion) with others. [more]

036 :
10 Jul 2009

The Point of Pursuing the Notion of Trinity – Part 1... Something a little bit different today — and a bit heavier to provide much food for useful reflection and comment. Dr Anthony Lowes sent this in to us for consideration a couple of weeks ago. In the wake of the decline in relevance of religion he argues we are in danger of effectively throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Most people probably don't spend much time thinking about the Trinity these days considering it a form of thinking that belongs in the past. In this two-part article, Tony Lowes argues we need to re-discover the real depth in Trinitarian thinking (and rescue the entire concept from the neanderthal sectors — those incapable of change even if the survival of their church or species depended on it — who seem to make us want to believe Trinity is a physical reality and we're all damned if we don't accept their dogmas on the Trinity [yes, you have our permission to smile])... [more]

035 :
17 Apr 2009

Planning for Priestless Parishes... Like many older Catholics George Ripon has found himself increasingly frustrated watching the steady exit out of the pews as the episcopal leadership turns increasingly inward and only interested in responding to the needs of those who seek certitude in preference to truth and consolation in the past in preference to providing effective responses to the real challenges of today. In today's commentary he puts forward a set of proposals that might provide the basis of an effective and pastoral response to the looming crisis in this country where, in the space of a further decade or two, there will simply not be enough ordained priests to go around. In a related article (see box in main commentary) we provide extensive coverage of a major development in the United States where parishioners in 18 dioceses have taken it into their own hands in an unprecedented appeal to the Vatican regarding Parish closures. [more]

034 :
14 Mar 2009

The Welfare of Former Nuns... In a landmark research study and discussion paper released a few days ago by the Victorian Women's Trust the treatment of former nuns has been described as "often inadequate, poor, and unjust, resulting in great hardship". To draw attention to the report we publish as our lead commentary today the Executive Summary to the research and discussion paper prepared by Susan Powell and Mary Crooks for the Women's Trust. [more]

033 :
07 Mar 2009

Electing our priests and bishops? Like many older Catholics George Ripon has found himself increasingly frustrated watching the steady exit out of the pews as the episcopal leadership turns increasingly inward and only interested in responding to the needs of those who seek simple answers and certitudes. In today's commentary he not only asks why can't the ordinary pew-sitters have a say in the election of bishops and priests, he also poses questions worth reflecting on as to whether we even need bishops today or, if we do, what is their role? [more]

032 :
06 Feb 2009

Are these the only ones who will be saved? Recent news has projected back into the spotlight the small ginger groups way over on the extremes of Catholicism. Veteran religious affairs journalist, Alan Gill, recalls his meetings with two of the highest profile spokesmen for a couple of these groups, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who visited Australia in 1974 and Hutton Gibson, the father of actor Mel Gibson. NOTE: This page contains a link to the main flash file on Hutton Gibson's website. The sound might drive you crazy after a while so be prepared to turn your speakers off. Unfortunately we cannot control the sound from its source. [more]

031 :
01 Dec 2008

Today is World AIDS Day… As a commentary we have another of those "the corner stone rejected by the builders..." stories to add to the stories of St Mary's South Brisbane, St Vincent's, Redfern and even Catholica itself. It's the story of journalist Brian Haill's endeavours to establish a charitable initiative to assist sufferers of HIV/AIDS. The establishment doesn't like any of these initiatives that don't comply to their neat little picture of what Catholicism ought to be with all the "sheep" neatly corralled in a pen, and being totally obedient. Line up and place your bets folks: "who's gunna be the next Archbishop of Westminster — who's likely to score a seat in Paradise?" That's the choice that things are rapidly degenerating into for all thinking Catholics. [more]

030 :
27 Nov 2008

Unity in Diversity… During the week Dr Luis T Gutierrez sent me an email drawing attention to his E-Journal of Solidarity, Sustainability, and Nonviolence. In particular the lead article in the present edition might be particularly pertinent to readers of Catholica in the context of the discussion on Paradigm Shifts and the Zeitgeist movie. It is also relevant in terms of the on-going Catholica discussion about "Building or Rebuilding a sense of Church Community". Readers who have the time will also value the diversity of other resources in this subject area available on his website at pelicanweb.org [more]

029 :
19 Nov 2008

An Australian Catholic Synod… Frank Purcell argues the world economic collapse can be likened to the collapse of Catholicism. In this short essay he entitled "Leadership Responsibility and the Collapse of the Australian Church" he argues that a possible way forward for the Church is the calling of an Australian Synod. [more]

028:
14 Nov 2008

Clerical-Sex, Blackmail, and the link to Sexual Abuse… That other great American clerical campaigner on behalf of the victims of sexual abuse, and on greater accountability by the institution and its leaders, Fr Richard Sipe, in this new article argues for more honesty by the institution and greater efforts to eradicate the travesty of the sexual abuse of minors. [more]

026 :
12 Nov 2008

Dispassionately assessing the legacy of Pius XII… Catholic historian, Dr Paul O'Shea was accorded a significant honour last Sunday evening by being invited to deliver the Reichspogromnacht/ Reichskristallnacht Commemoration Service at the Great Synagogue in Sydney. We are pleased to publish his address on Catholica in two parts. His address, to a mixed Jewish and Christian audience sought to provide an insight into the Catholic thinking that formed Pope Pius XII's worldview towards the Jewish people. It also provides a summarised overview of the political and diplomatic exigencies that helped mould the public policy positions taken, or not taken, by the wartime pontiff. [more]

025 :
17 Oct 2008

Four effective ways to collapse the Church in Australia in one generation… Frank Purcell has been doing a lit of lateral thinking. It's called "negative brainstorming". He's come up with four good ways for the bishops to fast track the collapse of the Church into a remnant within one more generation. That seems to be the preferred policy direction of recent decades so why not finish the job off quickly and cleanly? [more]

024 :
16 Oct 2008

A Parable… Take yourself back … back to before you were born … back to imagine yourself as the first child to have heard a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale … or one of the first to have heard Jesus "speak in parables". How would you discern the meaning of a parable hearing it for the first time? Today we have a complete change of pace for a lead commentary on Catholica. Francis Brown presents us with a modern Australian parable. You, Dear Reader, are presented with the challenge of discerning its meaning. Enjoy… [more]

023 :
15 Oct 2008

House Churches and their Ministers… The recent commentaries by Francis Brown and Dr Charles Kelliher on the "house churches" of early Christianity have generated significant discussion. Today, another scholar who has an enduring interest in the subject, Dr John N Collins, contributes some further background information. Dr Collins raises, without answering, the interesting question of what sort of formation the ministers to "house churches" might need? He argues that small communities need leaders and the chief responsibility of the leader is "to proclaim in the name of the Body of Christ the central mystery of faith: his death and resurrection". [more]

022 :
10 Oct 2008

House Churches: what are they? Dr Charles Kelliher, one of our readers in the United States was taken with Francis Brown's commentary last week and sent in this short essay he's recently written regarding the House Churches. Given the challenge posed by dwindling vocations around the world, Dr Kelliher, suggests we might move back to a model like this. Like a growing number of people who are seriously considering the challenges facing the Church today he also suggests the idea has merit from other points of view… [more]

021 :
03 Oct 2008

Francis Brown shares the story of his spiritual journey… The lengthy discussion thread in our forum last week "Why so cognitive?" started by Nicholas (See post#17017), set Francis Brown off on his own spiritual reflection. He wasn't sure how it might fit with the flow of the thread and emailed it to the editor for a second opinion. It's a pretty frank confession of his own spiritual journey and fits so well with our desire here at Catholica to encourage the "sharing of our stories" that we asked Francis if he minded if we ran it as a lead commentary… [more]

020 :
11 Aug 2008

A 'must read' commentary from Fr Tom Doyle… Today we publish an abridged version of what is probably the hardest-edged commentary we've yet published on Catholica. It is from an address Fr Tom Doyle gave to the annual gathering of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) in Chicago on 13 July 2008. The paper might be of particular interest to readers of Catholica for two reasons: Firstly, it is one of the most comprehensive discussions you're likely to find anywhere on the steps that are necessary to bring the maximum possible healing to victims of abuse. Allied to that what Fr Doyle has to say might provide valuable insights for any person who is dealing with the effects of abuse, either as a victim or a person endeavouring to provide support to victims. Secondly, the necessary discussion on the nature of priesthood and the nature of the Church Tom Doyle engages in provides a wealth a valuable reflections that dovetail in exceedingly well with the on-going discussion we've been having on priesthood. While Fr Doyle largely raises these issues in the negative context of what went wrong, when viewed in a positive light they also shed light on what needs to be done to bring about a more effective priesthood that can better minister to the needs ot people today. The commentary also contains a link to the full version of his paper (approx 11,000 words) [more]

019 :
01 Aug 2008

What people wrote in their letters to Pope Benedict… In his official visit to Australia for World Youth Day, Pope Benedict saw many people and spoke to many officials and selected young people. He didn't travel widely around our nation and it is doubtful if he even had a chance to have much of a heart-to-heart with bishops outside of Cardinal Pell's immediate circle of influence. Catholics for Ministry organised a small letter-writing endeavour at late notice in an endeavour to provide His Holiness with a slightly wider view of the state of the Catholic Church in Australia. Today we publish extracts from some of those letters which attempt to give an overview of what was said in the broad thrust of all the letters that were submitted. [more]

018 :
24 July 2008

A participating priest's reflection on WYD… We have much pleasure today in publishing this unsolicited reflection which Fr Paul Roberts sent in to us last night giving his reflections on World Youth Day. The publishers of Catholica have enormous respect for Fr Roberts as a personal friend but much of this personal respect has been forged through his honesty and his self-evident success as a very pastoral priest in the communities he has led. He has recently taken on a significant challenge in rejuvenating a very old parish in the diocese of Parramatta in addition to his diocesan duties as Vocations Director. He had a very active part in encouraging a very multi-cultural group of young pilgrims from his parish to participate in the major events of World Youth Day and he was active at the Vocations Hall at Darling Harbour. As editor of Catholica I have little hestitation is writing that of all the parish priests I have seen at work in my 60 years in diverse parts of Australia Paul Roberts would have to be up there amongst the most successful community builders I have ever seen. I urge readers to pay special attention to his reflections. This priest seems to understand where ordinary Aussies are at in their lives and spiritual journeys more than most. …Brian Coyne [more]

017 :
12 July 2008

Does Pope Benedict need to do more than apologise? Melbourne lawyer Angela Sdrinis in an article published in Thursday's Herald-Sun newspaper (10.07.08) accused the Catholic Church of using legal devices to protect itself from the claims of abuse victims. With permission of Angela Sdrinis we republish her article here as our lead commentary on Catholica this Saturday along with two questions: (i) What sort of Church do we want representing us — one that reflects the compassion and understanding of Jesus Christ to victims, or one that endeavours to put victims through the sort of trauma and injustice that Jesus Christ himself was put through? (ii) Is an apology from the Pope enough, or does His Holiness need to suggest his bishops in Australia start exhibiting the compassion of Jesus Christ towards the victims of clerical sexual and other forms of abuse? [more]

016 :
10 July 2008

What message does WYD really give to young people? Marilyn Hatton is a woman who perhaps represents many older women today in the broad mainstream of Catholicism in this country who have "been through the mill" of actually raising a family through to adulthood and learning a lesson or two "from the coalface". She is a mother and grandmother and remains a committed Catholic speaking up and asking for a Church that is more responsive to the real needs of the people it is meant to be serving. She is a passionate advocate for women being given greater input into spiritual leadership and is national convener for Ordination of Catholic Women (OCW). In today's commentary, Marilyn asks some pointed questions about what we are honestly seeking to achieve through World Youth Day. [more]

015 :
05 July 2008

The threat posed by religious intolerance… High Court Justice, the Hon Michael Kirby, delivered a thought-provoking address on religious tolerance to an international Conference at the Sidney Myer Asian Centre at Melbourne University last Monday. Following is an edited transcript of the address. He argues that unless society curbs religious fundamentalism "the mixture of religious intolerance and weepons of mass destruction will be a great threat to the world and every one in it". [more]

014 :
03 July 2008

Bishop Robinson's impression following his US Tour: "The American church has massive problems before it!" Bishop Geoffrey Robinson in his first comprehensive report since his return from a month-long lecture tour of the United States reflects on the tour, on the attempt by Cardinal Re in the Vatican to try and stop the tour, on the state of the Church in America following the abuse scandals, and on the statement put out under the name of the Australian Bishops... [more]

013 :
21 Jun 2008

Richard Sipe's overview report of Bishop Robinson in America Renowned campaigner against sexual abuse, Richard Sipe, has sent us this special overview report for Australian readers of how Bishop Geoffrey Robinson was received by the audiences who attended his lectures in America... [more]

012 :
06 Jun 2008

What sort of Church do we want? A short commentary today from one of our rapidly expanding community of subscribers and readers in the United States, Richard L Walters. Seemingly inspired partly by Bishop Geoffrey Robinson's book and partly by Tom Lee's commentaries, Richard poses some questions about the sort of Church we ought be trying to create, or get back to... [more]

011 :
15 Mar 2008

The Pope's comment on the relationship between civil law and moral values… The visit of Pope Benedict to the United States and the United Nations is proving to be unexpectedly interesting from a range of different perspectives. His comments on the differences between the secular cultures of Europe and the United States in particular have generated considerable interest amongst those who have been following the lengthy discussion in recent years of the threat to religious values posed by secular culture. One of the most interesting observations was made by Sandro Magister yesterday with the brief comment and a more lengthy comment from Pope Benedict which Magister has taken from a book Benedict wrote in 2004 when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger and which we present as our lead commentry today. [more]

001 :
08 Mar 2008

Steps towards Ministry… We are all called to evangelise. In this article, originally published in the New Evangelisation newsletter, New Zealand (www.newevangelisation .wellington.net.nz), Sydney-based lay activist, Harvey Smith, outlines some thoughts for stirring us out of our complacency. [more]

001 :
07 Dec 2007

A plea from the heart… On a regular basis now we receive unsolicited commentaries and reflections from readers and, where possible, we endeavour to slot them into our publishing schedule. Today's contribution comes from Kerry Gonzales whom I do not know other than what you will read in this essay. What she writes struck me as a "from the heart" plea and I feel many will be attracted to the frankness and honesty of what she expresses. …Brian Coyne, Editor [more]

001 :
04 Nov 2007

What would you do? This commentary is an account of a complex case involving allegations of abuse sent into Catholica by one of our readers. The case is situated in another country, not Australia. Our correspondent has brought it to our attention as it involves complex moral issues. They suggest virtually all of the players in this case have become "losers" and asks "which one was the victim?" By way of introduction our correspondent writes: "This is a case involving an infatuated woman, a naive priest, a misguided crusader and a weak bishop and how a confluence of circumstances combined into a tragic loss for the diocese and almost a suicide." All the names have been changed, and other details that might make identification of the particular individuals involved or the location difficult. The principal reason we publish the story is that in a way it is an excellent hypothetical. Except perhaps for the children involved, whom one can excuse on the grounds of childhood innocence, all of the other players in the drama have self-evident moral flaws of one description or another. We end the report with two questions that might form the basis for discussion in our forum. [more]

001 :
04 Oct 2007

Who will celebrate the Sacraments in ten years time? In light of the present petition to the Australian Catholic Bishops, readers of Catholica will be interested in this discussion paper prepared by the Pastoral Council at the Parish of the Immaculate Conception, Rosebank, Johannesburg late last year which discusses the similar looming crisis in Ministry and the availability of Sacraments facing the Catholic Church in Australia. [more]

001 :
17 Aug 2007

Another lay response to Bishop Manning's interview… Way over on the other side of this continent in the South West of WA, Peter Beeson, has been mulling over what the Bishop of Parramatta, Kevin Manning, had to say in his interview with Catholica editor, Brian Coyne, last week. He provides a summary of what he thinks were the key points in Bishop Manning's argument and he shares his thoughts on a couple of areas where he finds himself in disagreement with the Bishop and indeed with Church teaching as it has been urged on the faithful… [more]

002 :
01 Jul 2007

Can you assist Dr Gakavian in his work? Last year Cliff Baxter introduced readers of Catholica to Dr Armen Gakavian, a still youngish graduate based here in Sydney, who has made it his life's work to assist the people of Armenia. He writes, researches and undertakes practical social justice endeavours in support of the long struggle the people of Armenia have been involved in to carve a better place for themselves and their nation in the world. One of the practical endeavours which Cliff and Armen brought to our attention was the situation of one particular family in Armenia, the Nersisyan's, whom Armen has made it his business to assist financially. Today Dr Gakavian puts before you a further request for financial assistance for the Nersisyan family. [more]

001 :
04 Jun 2007

Catholic Religious Education in Australia — why and how it has changed... Catholic Education in Australia faced a major crisis in the 1960s to the point where the bishops of the time seriously considered having to close the entire system down because they simply did not have the resources to sustain it any longer. The new system that was established in the 1970s, thanks largely to government funding, is fundamentally different to the system of religious education that had existed in the past. In today's commentary, Dr Graham English, Senior Lecturer in Religious Education at ACU National, explores some of the other social and cultural factors that make Catholic Religious Education today so much different to what it was in the past. [more]

001 :
18 May 2007

Draft Pastoral Plan needs serious re-write suggests Academic... The Archdiocese of Sydney recently circulated a Draft Pastoral Plan for public discussion. A pdf copy of the draft document is available on the Archdiocesan website. The feedback being picked up by independent religious journalists and commentators around Sydney is that at the parish level there is disquiet about the draft plan. Fr Daniel Donovan, a lecturer at the School of Religious Education at ACU National was approached by a number of parishes to provide a critique of the Draft Plan. His conclusion is that the draft is seriously flawed and needs to be taken back to the drawing board for a major re-write. He argues the document is theologically flawed and needs to pay far greater heed to official Vatican documents and the accepted teaching of the Catholic Church. In his critique, Fr Donovan cites a number of significant Vatican level documents which would urge a different approach to be taken to what has been proposed in the Draft Pastoral Plan for Sydney. We publish here the critique Fr Donovan has provided to the parishes that requested it. [more]

018 :
23 Dec 2006

"Our political leaders must listen to the voice of the oppressed in this Holy Land" Patriarch Michel Sabbah's Christmas message underlines the enormous contradiction that Bethlehem presents to our world today. [more]

013 :
01 Dec 2006

Renewal within Catholicism Michael J Bayly argues: "As Benedict XVI breathed the air and walked the ancient streets of Istanbul, my hope is that he was similarly moved and inspired to usher in a "renaissance" within the Catholic Church — a new era marked by creativity, tolerance, and the inclusion of the experiences and insights, hopes and aspirations of all. Just as Mehmed II revitalized Istanbul, may Benedict XVI facilitate a renewal within Catholicism. This "renewal" could be initiated by the Pope's convening of a truly ecumenical council — perhaps in Istanbul!" [more]

001 :
13 Aug 2006

Life Cycle... Andrea Snashall was one of the most outstanding public relations officers working in any of the Catholic schools in Western Australia in the 1990s. She was seconded to work at the Catholic Education Office because of the quality, and effectiveness, of her work. A few years ago Andrea moved to live in Switzerland following a long-distance romance across the globe. She is now married and the mother of Luca and Gioia (10 mths). She wrote this reflection recently for a magazine for expats living in Switzerland. It's a particularly poignant reflection on her relationship with her father. [more]