With Lent and Easter just past, along with the Centenary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli I am very aware of the deeply contemplative reflections we have undergone during this time.

Lent is, of course, the time we intentionally set aside to reflect on our earthly journey with our God. Many of us are involved in group Bible studies during this time, with the focus on our beliefs surrounding the sacrifice of Jesus and how we live these beliefs in our lives.

Anzac Day places our focus on the sacrifice of those who have lived and died to demonstrate their beliefs in freedom and justice. It is a time when much of the world shifts its focus to those rocky cliffs in Turkey where so many of our young men, and the young men of New Zealand and Turkey, fought and died, very graphically demonstrating their beliefs.

I am sure we have all read many of the very moving accounts of those days, with many of our young people engaged in in-depth study of the circumstances surrounding the encounter. I hear them expressing how much these accounts have changed them and made them reconsider the patterns of their lives.

This in turn leads me to question how we tell our Christian stories, showing our communities how these accounts have changed the way we live and work. God has provided us with the necessary stories and framework to make a huge difference in the world – No, to change the world completely!

Are we happy to tell our stories and show our deep beliefs in the way we live, work and show regard to all others? Do we really acknowledge our beliefs?

DOWNLOAD ENCOURAGER HERE    ENCOURAGER May 2015 No 91

From Diocesan Spiritual Director, Stephen Niland – I am very humbled to be writing to you as the newly commissioned Diocesan Spiritual Director. This appointment certainly came out of “left field” as the saying goes.
The Cursillo Movement continues to play a significant role in the life of our Diocese. The Diocesan Ultreya was a wonderful celebration of the ecumenical nature of our movement where we were joined by our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. The sense of community came through very strongly in Nicole’s witness talk and the image of an archaeological dig – with its many layers – connected well with what we are all about. We are all members of multiple communities – and these will only work if we take time to build, grow and maintain our relationships with each other. Armed with some basic biblical knowledge about the town of Bethsaida, the location of the dig, Nicole joined a whole new community of people – drawn from all walks of life – on a journey that has become one of the important structural foundations of her faith and the way in which she relates to others. Notice how she began – respectfully and slowly – beginning to uncover things initially hidden from view. With patience – and time – and love – and care – and respect – she began to identify the structures being carefully excavated.Nicole began to discover walls – ultimately constructed during differenttime periods – and a door. That’s how it needs to be in our relationships as well – we need to be patient – take our time – and as our levels of trust and understanding begin to establish and grow between each other within
community, we will give each other the privilege of uncovering things – at all different levels – that between us become part of each other’s stories.

DOWNLOAD ENCOURAGER HERE – ENCOURAGER 90 February 2015

The Latest Issue of our Cursillo Diocesan Newsletter…

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,  Cursillo is such an important part of this diocese, so many of our leaders have made their Cursillo and would name it as the point at which things started to change for them in regards to taking their faith more seriously. It is wonderful to know that this year, there have been more people who have gone on their three-day weekends and come out the other side looking at how they can serve God better.  Taking people away to think about who Jesus is, was something that Jesus himself even did. (Matthew 16:13-20) Jesus, took the disciples away to Caesarea Philippi away from their normal  surrounds and asked them “Who do you say that I am?” This is the question that is at the heart of the Cursillo movement, from the weekend when we focus on who Jesus is and how we should be living out following him, to each and every fourth day. So I wonder, when did you last ask yourselves these questions. “Who is Jesus? What do I need to do in response?” I believe when we ask these questions deeply, we will find ourselves seeking to live out God’s will for our lives, sharing love and forgiveness and working for justice. Thank you again for the privilege of being involved in the Newcastle Cursillo movement and please be assured of my prayers for you all into the future.

De Colores— Rev. Stephen Bloor. DOWNLOAD ENCOURAGER HERE –  ENCOURAGER 89 SUMMER 2014