Divine Intervention?

As Chris mentioned, I got into work early enough to actually access Outlook and my files, thus enabling me to have quite a productive day. I had no internet or email access, so much of the day’s work was carried out face-to-face. The feeling in the office was like Sister Anna described—much like a snow day when things move a bit more slowly. People were limited in what they could do. Some people could not log on to their computers; others could not print. Despite these obstacles, most people were surprisingly relaxed. (Probably not the IT folks!)

Could the computer problems of today have been a result of divine intervention? Could it have been a way to force us to take a break? Whether or not it was, people were given a chance to breathe and collect themselves. From what I saw, most took advantage of the gift that resulted from a sort of helplessness. Perhaps we learned an important lesson in humility. With only 46 days to go, we shall need to keep that lesson in mind so that we rely less on what we can do by ourselves and more on what the Holy Spirit can do with our cooperation. Come Holy Spirit!

Australian word of the day: savoury. Yes, it sounds quite ordinary, but the Aussie definition is much different than the common North American one. This definition from merriam-webster.com captures the Aussie meaning: “pungently flavorful without sweetness.” For example, biscuits (that is, cookies) can be either of the sweet type or the savoury type.

Thank God for Laptops!

We all know things are getting busier at the office, but today it all came to standstill when the server went down just before everyone arrived at work. I hung around until lunch as there was quite a bit of reading that needed my attention, but when lunch had passed and the server was still down, I looked out my window at the beautiful Friday afternoon and decided I had spent enough time in the office.

I mean seriously, this is what laptops are for! So I packed up my computer and found myself a shady spot on the beach. I managed to get some good writing in and even had a little company here and there (see above).

And just in case your wondering, Morgan got in before the server crashed so he was able to work productively at the office . . .

Blessings and G'(Fri)day!

Movies with Class

Last night was cheap night at the movie theatre, and since Morgan and I highly object to paying full price ($17.50) for a movie, this was our chance to see Indiana Jones (for a much more reasonable $11). There is a cool little theatre down the street from our house called the Orpheum. If you recall, Morgan and I live in a ritzy part of Sydney -- little did we know. . .

Now the movies are expensive everywhere in Sydney, but if your gonna pay for it, you might as well watch a movie with class!

The amazing thing about Sydney, and maybe all of Australia, is that despite the commonly large size of people here (not overwieght necessarily, but the average build of people here compared with other areas, is just bigger), there is very little leg room anywhere. For Morgan and I, everywhere is just about a perfect fit -- theatres, buses, trains, church pews, etc. . . However, we keep wondering why they just don't add a bit of leg room?

As for the movie -- we both give it two thumbs up! It was one of the most enjoyable movies either of us have seen in some time. . . and you better believe our next movie experience will be at the Orpheum once again!

Blessings and G'Day!

Snippets of Americana

Allow for me to paint you a little picture – which is necessary because I don’t have any photos for this (but it is too good to not write about).

Last night, all the long-term volunteers through a surprise birthday party for one of the Americans who was celebrating her 21st birthday. It turns out, there are some standard traditions here about birthdays, and since the drinking age is 18 here, the usual American traditions are not all that important anyway. First, parties are often themed. In this case, it was “All Things American,” which I must say was a bit disturbing. Now they know that we Americans are much like everyone else, but when it comes to stereotypical American – these are things costumes, songs and ideas that depicted the USA: cowboys and Indians, boots, cowboy hats, bolo ties, the Beach Boys, American flags, Lee Greenwood, Delta Delta Delta, country music, Chicago Cubs, basketball, baseball, NASA, smores, chili, milkshakes and of course, George W.

It was all pretty scary.

And in lieu of the Australian Word of the Day, I would like to share with you some of the other Australian Birthday traditions: The birthday boy/girl is asked to make a speech, which is followed by a roasting of him/her by all of her closest friends. They have their own version of a birthday song, which I never quite got and at least in this case, there were letters sent by friends and family (even a video actually). All in all, a good time had by all.

Blessings and G’Day!

In the Streets of Sydney

As we all know, this past Sunday marks the feast of Corpus Christi, which often includes a Eucharistic procession. It is no secret that the Church loves processions – we have them all the time, but the Feast of Corpus Christi, which celebrates the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist as the Bread of Life, is often the largest procession of the year. There are several reasons for the procession, but perhaps the simplest explanation is to remember that we cannot live on bread (or any material items) alone; rather, everything that sustains us has a connection to God. As the bread from Heaven, the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our faith and so it leads our procession through the daily activities of our lives.

Depending on where you are, the procession of Corpus Christi may be as simple as a walk around the Church, but if you live in Sydney, 10,000+ flood the streets of the urban center in a witness of prayer, song and life. It was the largest procession Morgan and I had ever participated in and we were quite impressed. Yet again, the people here demonstrate such great hope for what will come from WYD – the anticipation characterizes everything the Church does at this point.


Of course, any event like this is not without its comical moments – something Morgan and I experienced first hand. Now, you have to understand, we didn’t know what to expect, so we came prepared for a journey, with a backpack containing a few things, walking shoes and pants along with our usual white shirt and cross. We arrived just prior to the procession, near the entrance of the church from where the procession would begin. Very quickly we were noticed by the volunteers as Basilian seminarians who then opened the barriers and instructed inside the church with all the other seminarians, priests and religious. Before we knew it, we were leading the procession, despite our attempts to duck out into the back somewhere. Keep in mind, we dressed for a walk and in no way fit in with the other religious folk who where wearing albs, cassocks or suits. No, no, we were in jeans and running shoes!

As it turns out, we managed to break back through the barrier so we could walk with everyone else; thus, saving ourselves from the anxiety and embarrassment of being unprepared. However, we learned a few things from this: As Religious seminarians so closely connected with the diocese, people want us to be seen and heard. We never considered participating in the procession as anyone other than Chris and Morgan, but the truth is people don’t just want us to be Chris and Morgan, but also be Basilian seminarians, which we are learning, demands much more awareness and humility. You would think we would realize that by now. . . and in a sense we do -- we know it, but we just didn’t realize how important it is for other people for them to see that we know it.


If the purpose of the Eucharistic procession is to remind people of the connection between all of life and God, then the priest, who is the primary minister of the Eucharist, must be the first one to witness our need for the Eucharist. As we are learning more and more, this witness isn’t just about knowing it, but about being seen as knowing it. Only when seen, will we be able to help others be a witness with their own lives.

Animated Saturdays

Yesterday, we were asked to help out with one of the "animation" seminars at a local parish. In case you are not familiar with animation teams, they are the "MC's" for the catechesis sites all over Sydney during WYD. There are approx. 260 sites where the bishops will lead catechesis sessions for all of the pilgrims. Each site ranges from 200 to 20,000 attendants and will be available in the four official languages of WYD08. The bishops are the teachers, but the animation team ensures that the bishop is comfortable; assist with crowd control, lead the prayer portion, coordinate musicians, etc. . .

Needless to say, these volunteers have a variety of experience, but such an undertaking certainly a bit of training. Yesterday was the last available training in Sydney, while the rest will happen in other cities across the country.

As it turns out, some of the usual trainers became ill so I was asked to fill in. A little flexibility and some good improvisation carried the day and all left very happy and feeling quite good about what they are supposed to do. Of course, the group was wonderful and I must say -- very talented and spirit-filled. Both Morgan and I have been quite amazed at the talent we have seen here - especially in regards to music. There is no doubt, the pilgrims coming to Sydney will be in very good hands!

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Sambo" which is a grilled or just a plain cheese sandwich. We are not sure where that name comes from, but it is very popular, and if you asked for a grilled cheese sandwich -- they haven't a clue!

Blessings and G'Day!

Parties and Prayers at Punchbowl!

Good times were had by all last night in the grand suburb of Punchbowl -- yes, that is the actual name! (but that is not nearly as crazy as Wagga Wagga or Woolloomooloo) Punchbowl is the home of all the international volunteers who every Wednesday host a cultural dinner and evening of prayer, which we attended last night.

There was quite a crowd beign that it was Italian night (cooked by Italians, of course). In addition to the first-time presence of the Basilians, the Nashville Dominicans were also first-time attendees -- adding the laughter and stories.

For many, it was the first time they had time to ask about the Basilians, so Morgan and I spent time talking about our founders, charism and general history. Many were quite curious about the shirt and cross we wear here (and which all like) and how Morgan and I could be so different and yet from the same community. We simply replied it is a question many have asked, and that the continued existence of the Basilian Way of Life, in general, is a testimony to the grace of the Holy Spirit!

Safe to say, both natives and foreigners alike, believe the Basilians should have a stronger presence in Sydney. We, of course, think that is a great idea!

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Arcade", which is a shopping area, not a place where you play games. (consequently, I don't know what you call a place where you play games here). Arcades are everywhere and prove to be great places to find anything, like a last minute bottle of wine (which you find in Bottle Shops specifically). Speaking of which, most restaurants do not serve wine in Sydney, you purchase it at a Bottle Shop and bring it with you. And when you do go out to eat: there is NO tipping anywhere. It is included in the price, as is tax. So when they print a $15 lunch -- it really is $15! Amazing.

Latest from the Office

Here is the latest big news release from the media office:

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will visit the shrine of Australia's saint-in-waiting, Blessed Mary MacKillop, during his visit to Sydney in July.

The visit was confirmed by Vatican officials, in Sydney this week to inspect planning and preparations for World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08).

Papal Trips Organiser, Alberto Gasbarri, and Protocol Officer from the Papal Office, Paolo Corvini, arrived yesterday to approve the final stages of WYD08 preparations and approve elements of the Holy Father's itinerary.

"Today we can confirm that the Holy Father will visit the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop, one of WYD08's 10 patrons," said WYD08 Coordinator Bishop Fisher OP.

"Mary MacKillop's story of serving the poor and the uneducated is inspiring to all Australians and we hope she will also inspire the youth of the world."

The Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, confirmed the Holy Father will pray at Mary MacKillop's tomb in North Sydney during his stay.

"The Holy Father will be one of the thousands of pilgrims who will visit her shrine in July," Archbishop Lazzarotto said. "He will pray for Australia and the young pilgrims of the world so that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit and be witnesses to Christ."

Pope Benedict will spend eight days in Australia, including three days of private rest and reflection prior to his official arrival on Sydney Harbour on 17 July. Australia will become only the third nation (after Turkey and the United States) to have been visited by each of the three 'travelling' Popes - Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II and now Pope Benedict XVI.

Weekends by the Water

Another weekend has come and gone – this one however, was not quite as adventurous as the previous two. It seems the pace of the office has caught up with us as we enjoyed staying near and around the house, doing a bit of cooking, reading and writing. Nevertheless, we made our way CBD (Central Business District or “downtown) a couple of times on our new favorite way in – the ferry. Not only is it more scenic, but it turns out it is also faster -- so you guessed it, this is our new daily commute!


We did make our way to the little café around the corner – yes, this is our neighborhood!


But for the most part, we each did our own thing – Morgan went to the Powerhouse Museum which is much like a science and history museum focusing on Australian objects. I learned a bit more about Australia by sitting harbourside with a new book written by an Australian author, a beer, and a live jazz band in the background, all the while soaking in a bit of sun. Indeed, there is a little Australia for everyone! We left home as we arrived – with one heck of a view!


As for Australian word of the day: “Arvo”, which afternoon. It is hard to replace G’Day, but we see arvo written all over the place.

Until next time, blessings and G’Day!

Morgan's Debut

Chris probably cannot believe it, but I am finally contributing to the blog, which has consisted of his entries up until now. Since Chris has chronicled some of what we have both experienced here in Sydney, I shall use this entry to explain a bit about my role at the World Youth Day (WYD08) office.

I have the pleasure to be working in the “Liturgy Directorate,” which is responsible for the planning and execution of all liturgies during the week. Music, vestments, sacred vessels, liturgy texts, etc. fall under the Liturgy Directorate. With so many details to be covered, I am grateful to be working with a team that is both very capable and cohesive.

Within the Liturgy Directorate is the International Liturgy Group (ILG) with which I work specifically. The ILG consists of approximately 140 young men and women who have been nominated by their respective bishops’ conferences. They come from around the world, thus representing the universality of the Catholic Church. These pilgrims have a very special part to play in the WYD08 events because they are the ones who will perform many of the liturgical functions (for example, lectors, gift bearers, and readers of the Prayer of the Faithful) throughout the week.

Sister Anna, a Dominican from Nashville, has been organizing the ILG for the past several months. She and I form part of the ILG “team,” which has the task of coordinating the members of the ILG with respect to the various liturgical events throughout the week. We also will serve as group leaders for the ILG pilgrims once they arrive in July. So far, I have enjoyed what I have done—I have even had a chance to do a bit of “Morganizing”!

Please keep us and all those preparing for WYD08 in your prayers!

Australians have a different way of asking how you are doing. This leads me to the Australian phrase of the day: "How's are you going?" Proper answer: "I am going fine."

Ambassadors Named

We were at a press conference yesterday with Cardinal Pell and Bishop Fisher as they announced the WYD Ambassadors. The Daily Telegraph printed a rather good story on one of the ambassadors in particular. You can read about Sophie's story here and the impact of Blessed Mary McKillop on her life - which we found rather amazing.

Latin America Down Under

Before we ever left Canada, Morgan and I came up with a "to-do" list -- that would be fun stuff, not work stuff. Living in Australia for four months is something we are not likely going to have the opportunity to do again, so we are making the most of it!

The challenge is that work makes our to-do list rather difficult to complete. Our weekends are quickly filling up with WYD activities, and we know it is just going to get worse. This means the more we can see earlier is much better than later.

All that being said, you cannot come to Sydney without attending a performance at the Opera House. After finding the best possible deal, we made spent last night listening to the melodic beats and grooves of the Sydney Orchestra playing Latin American tunes . (We are from Texas, after all and it was fabulous!) Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would be able to do such a thing. Thanks be to God for such a gift.

The Time of Your Eternal Life

Here is the latest WYD08 commercial to be shared with all your closest friends. . .

Just in case you thought it was all fun and games. . .

We have all experienced that wonderful period when you start a new job and no one really knows who you are -- or what you are capable of. . .

Well, those days are long gone!

Safe to say, weekdays should really be called weeknights. Especially since it is winter here, we arrive and leave the office in the dark. We have adjusted our prayer routine so that it occurs at the office and we can pray outside on the deck overlooking the city. Combined with lunch, it is our chance to soak up a few sun rays before going back inside to a computer and LOTS of meetings.

Specifically, I have been assigned to the Evangelization and Catechesis Team where I have three roles at the moment: Vocations Expo, Active8, and Screen Content. Along with two other priests working on the vocations expo, I am basically responsible for all exhibitors before and during WYD. So far much of that work has consisted of solidifying the final numbers of exhibitors and ensuring we all know what to expect from each other. The great benefit for me is that I get to learn about the religious congregations and organizations all across the world.

My second role, Activ8, is one I just started this week. In short, Activ8 is the curriculum the Australian dioceses will use to engage or activate the pilgrims once they return to their local communities. There has been a great deal done on this already, but the bishops have asked for a stronger theological component to the program, which is where I come in. Basically, it is just like school, but with a much more immediate and far-reaching impact.

The last role, screen content, has just been assigned to me. All over Sydney are large jumbo screens that will be strategically placed at venues during WYD to covey various messages. Basic directional, promotional and sponsorship videos are already set, but we also want to use these screens to convey spiritual and pastoral content at the proper moments. My job is simply to identify the right materials and make sure they are on screen when they are supposed to be.

So now you know. Morgan has promised a description of what he is doing as well. In short, he serves on the International Liturgy Group. He also has lots of meetings, but other than that, you will have to wait for him to provide the update.

Please keep both of us, the many other preparing WYD as well as all the pilgrims in your prayers.

As for the Australian word/phrase of the day: "Tomato Sauce", which is ketchup. They don't know what ketchup is over here, and this can be very upsetting when you need a quick lunch with some chips (that would be fries).

Until next time, blessings and G'Day!

WYD Embracing Technology

This WYD promises to be one of the technological yet. In addition to what the Cardinal is speaking about, we have heard that Pope Benedict XVI will be sending a text message to all the pilgrims. You can read more about it here.

Papal Impact

Just about every day, there is something in the local papers about World Youth Day. The press has been rather critical, but Saturday’s edition of the Sydney Morning Herald ran an article from John Allen that is worth reading here.

Contrary to the local news, the various international sources writing about WYD, especially in light of the most recent Papal visit to the U.S., have been overwhelmingly positive.

Two such examples come from H2O News (a quick three minute video clip entitled, Pope’s Visit to US a success found here) and the Brian Lehrer Show of WNYC in New York (a 23 minute audio clip entitled, Message of Hope found here). All three provide answers to some of the criticism and speak of the importance of these visits. God be praised.

As for the local situation here, we asked a few parishioners after mass today how the lead-up to WYD compares to the lead-up to the Olympics. It is as we thought – the press was just as hard on the Olympics before hand, but when everyone arrived, there was not enough praise for what took place. According to parishioners, there is even very little difference in the topics of criticism – cost, logistics and inconveniences all seem to be the only story worth printing. As for the numbers of people at the Olympics: roughly 120,000. Compare that to approximately 400,000 Holy Spirit-filled youth and you get a city that is about to experience the event of their history!

Come Holy Spirit, Come

We spent the eve of Pentecost as only one can when preparing to invite the world to receive the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) – at a vigil service with youth and the young-at-heart. Sponsored by the Emmanuel Community and hosted at St. Benedict’s parish downtown, the three-hour service was filled with prayerful song, adoration, reconciliation and an address by Bishop Julian, auxiliary of the Archdiocese.


Amidst all my prayers, both personal and as part of what is occurring here, I was struck by two themes. The first is the idea of holy waiting, hope and expectation. Without a doubt, this captures the mood of Catholics here. Like the apostles in the upper room, the Church here is not only hard at work, but hard at prayer – longing for the Spirit to renew their efforts and their land. For the city outside, life moves about as it always does, but for the people we have met here who are preparing for World Youth Day, you can see the flame ever-growing in anticipation of the fruits that will come from their efforts and with the grace of God.

The second theme is renewal. I have never been in a place where a “spring-time” is so clearly seen. Living and serving where I have, I have benefited from the catalysts that have come before me. Yes, things could be better, but the Church in North and South America is alive. Renewal is needed in every aspect of the Church here – liturgy, social justice, homilies, youth ministry, care for the disadvantaged, family ministry, catechesis, praise and worship and the list goes on. . . But, you can literally feel the tide turning in this “upper room” in which we pray. You can feel courage swelling, purpose manifesting and excitement building – particularly from the youth and lay ministers.

One thing I have realized here, is how skeptical clergy can be. In just one week, I have noticed it in others and seen it in myself. I am not sure how it happens, but it does, and it is now my prayer for Pentecost:

Renew in us the faith of children. Let us be wise, but keep us simple. Help us live with purpose, and with joy. Guide us with prudence, but help us be bold. Open our hearts to learn from others and not cling too closely to what we think we know. Come Holy Sprit, come. Come Holy Spirit, come.

Thank God for the Weekends!

I know what your thinking -- are we actually working in Sydney, or just lounging around, basking in the sun? Rest assured, with under 70 days to go before WYD , the pace at the office is quite furious and I will update everyone soon enough.



In the meantime, we are enjoying the few weekends we have before they include time at the office (which we know is coming). Saturday's trip was just a short walk down the street to the zoo, which is about 100 years old and just spectacular. Of course, I took plenty of pictures, but not just of what was in cages, but of what was in the surrounding environment as the sights and sounds of the Australian habitat are unlike any I have seen.






The local birds are quite bold -- not just in color, but in attitude. These two guys were trying to steal our lunch.



We have spiders too. BIG ones, and they are everywhere, and we are told (like everything here), poisonous. In fact, in the Australian exhibits, there is usually a line that reads something like "one of the deadliest in the world."

Morgan loves birds, so a must-see what the bird show, which I have to say, was worth the wait. Everything was timed as birds flew in on cue in the exact direction they were told. Amazing. Parrots, owls, eagles and others flew right over our heads (like inches over) and even perched themselves on folks in the crowd. Quite fitting, we thought, for the eve of Pentecost!

Until next time, blessings and G'Day!

Movin' on up!

We finally moved to our new home yesterday, after a wonderful week at Good Shepherd Seminary in Homebush (see here).

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the future priests (and some current priests) of the Archdiocese, but it wasn't meant to last.

Now over the years, I have lived in some, shall we say, "interesting" places as a Basilian. Strawberry Island had bats (everywhere) and New York had rats. But, you accept what you are given, knowing that, if anything, it will make for a good story later. Indeed, I can say that I look back on every experience with great fondness and happy memories. As for our new home -- I can look on it now with great fondness!

No, we didn't petition for this, we just went where we were told. We living in the presbytery (or rectory) of a church on the North Shore of Sydney.




We are just up the street from the zoo and when you walk down 10 minutes to the end of the street, this is our view:

We live with the pastor and the associate pastor (who is also my supervisor at the office) who lives in a semi-attached apartment, so we are in good hands.




Of course, as I do when I am anywhere new, I went for a run this morning. For those of you who read Runner's World, it was a "Rave Run." I joined up with a group (that was quite speedly) and we ran our way across the "heads" of the North Shore, along the beaches and up and down the cliffs. Just fabulous.


Afterwards, Morgan and I decided we would go out to the little cafe down the street. Complete with a flower in our muffin, this is how you know you have moved uptown! Thanks be to God, we are finally home -- if only for four months.

Happy Mum's Day!

Well here we are on the other side of the world from our mothers; however, that doesn't mean you aren't loved. In fact we have been thinking about you all day! (Actually all day, plus last Sunday when we realized that we better get cards in the mail ASAP!)

So happy mother's day to all the mom's out there. Thank you for all that you do: rising to our defense, listening to us ramble, keeping us well fed, and making sure we stay true to who we are.

Many blessings on your (official) special day. If we could get flowers out of the country, these would be the ones -- Birds of Paradise grow everywhere around here.

(And just in case the rest of you are curious, our cards made it on time -- complete with kangaroo stamp and "Happy Mum's Day" on the title)

One of the Best Things about Australia

I have already raved about the greatness of Sydney, but there has been a little bit of Heaven that has been overlooked until now:

Apples. Not just any apples, mind you -- Pink Lady Apples.

Now I grew up in Texas, and my parents, God bless them, did as well. So as a kid, all I ever knew was Washington Red Delicious Apples. If you ever want your children to grow up not liking apples -- feed them Washington Red Delicious Apples. They are terrible -- mealy and tasting like cardboard, with an even worse after-taste.

However, when I moved to Detroit, and later to Toronto, I began to understand why the apple is the king of fruit. Crisp and sweet, the really are hard to beat, and there is such a HUGE variety. Now local apples in season top the list, no matter where I am, but on a regular basis the apple of choice is Pink Lady.

In North America, they can be hard to come by and often rather expensive, but here in Australia, they are the local apple. Yup, grown right here in Australia and New Zealand, I can have one or two a day! Life is good! (it really is the little things, isn't it?)

As for the Australian Word of the Day: "Spot On" meaning a variety of things -- right on! Perfect! Hits the mark! Or some thing of the sort. It is a very common term here.

As promised. . .

As promised, Sydney along my running route. There will probably be more of these as this city is just amazing when the sun is on the horizon. And while many out there think I am nuts for such an activity, there is a small group in the office that is motivated enough to join me during the lunch hour twice a week. Yesterday was the first trip out and it was great. Here is a little view of our route during the day -- High Park which runs along side the Cathedral.
As for the Australian word of the day: "Solicitor" which is the Australian term for a lawyer. In turn, solicitors as termed in North America are called Hawkers. So if you get a call from a solicitor around here, don't be too quick to hang up.

Lest We Forget . . .

At a general staff meeting, we received an update from the staff who just returned from Oceania. This would include Fuji and the Solomon Islands. Granted, life is quite different in these "poor" countries; however, the update left me with a bit of perspective.

These people are literally selling off land in order to pay the airfare needed to send their youth to WYD. The prime minister sings the WYD theme song just about every day, as do all the students in the schools. Our staff was greeted by dancers every where they went. And everyone is contributing to make the trip possible -- even in the smallest villages, they are collecting rubbish for money.

For these people, WYD not only brings a renewal of faith and spirit, it brings the excitement of belonging to a world centered around Christ. It is a good reminder for those of us who take things like this for granted -- it is not just work for a series of days, but for a lifetime.

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

Does this stuff ever happen to anyone else, or just me?

We have been in Sydney almost one week now, and I decided it was time to get into some sort of routine. The daily fight for "real estate" on the commuter train stresses me out and I have not been able to find the quiet time I usually enjoy. (no, I am not talking about chapel time -- we actually have quiet a bit of that, I am talking about running).

So I decided I would get up early, find a comfortable seat on the train and use the 20 minutes for prayer and thought before getting to the office. We have showers here, so once I am downtown, it is light enough but still too early for the city to be bustling with activity -- perfect for a morning run.

However. . .

No one told me that our building has an alarm. Yes, you guessed it -- I set it off. I managed to make my way up to the floor and through two doors before my card stopped working. Since we all use electronic keys to get into everything, it was about that time that the security guards caught up with me and very politely asked who I was and what I was doing here. After a bit of clarification and proof of my identity, we worked it out. They now know to expect me early in the mornings and I know to check with them at the office marked "inquires" (ie. security) when I arrive.

As for the run. . . glorious -- along the shoreline watching the sunrise over the harbour illuminating the opera house in a golden glow. (Next time, I will bring my camera)

And for an extra feature of the Australian word of the day: "bloke", that would be a man, male, but different from a "mate" which is a good friend. So the security guards from the "inquiry" desk were simply being good blokes this morning.

Advancing the Argument

Our dear friends from Nashville were the guest presenters at Theology on Tap Monday night, speaking on the evangelical counsels. Theology on Tap is a new thing in Australia and the youth are coming out in some very exciting numbers in response to the speakers and topics (I am sure the location doesn’t hurt either).

The three Nashville Dominicans are all on staff at WYD and spoke with the upcoming event in mind. The often misguided ideas of happiness, pleasure and freedom were the words associated with poverty, chastity and obedience throughout their presentation. As one can imagine the Sisters did a wonderful job, but it left Morgan and I with a lot to talk about on the way home. We are left wondering how we advance the argument? I imagine most the audience has a pretty good sense of what the Gospel is demanding, and are in good company in failing to live up to its demands. . . leaving us to wonder why? How do we get around saying the same thing over and over again?

Believe it or not, I have a working hypothesis -- though it is probably overly simplistic and certainly not original, but worth pondering nevertheless.

During the Q&A, every single question concerned some form of pluralism: how do I share my faith with my friends of other faiths without condemning their beliefs? What do I say to friends who see no need for God? How do I discern what message I am supposed to listen to, and act on? These are the questions they need addressed. Ministers are very good at speaking about poverty, chastity and obedience – be they under vows or not, but how often do the youth today hear how they can live these values in the pluralistic contexts of their lives?

Many have told me this is an issue that has been around for a long time, but we have never had so much information coming to us that requires so much discernment; never had such open communication with faiths from around the world; never been so stretched for time and so on. . .

It was quite clear to me that these youth know and want to live the Gospel in a radical way, they are just lacking the resources and knowledge as to how they can live this life in harmony with their friends and neighbors without compromising their values – which most would agree, is what was previously done.

So the answer to my question about advancing the argument comes down to really solid catechesis. Young Catholics today are so hungry to learn more about their faith they are even gonig to the bars – not to drink, but in hope that they may learn something about how to live an authentic life with conviction. Dummed down theology has no place here – the people present last night don’t have the time or energy for it. As one young woman said tonight, “tell me straight up – I can take it, and if not, I’ll pray about until I can!”

As for the Australian word of the day: "diary", that would be your schedule or calendar. We were quite amazed for a while when everyone we ran into had a diary. Alas, now Australians are not nearly so impressive.

Praying in so many ways. . .

The guys take things pretty seriously at the seminary -- I mean we all do, but these guys really show it. Sundays mean extended liturgies, beautiful choral sets and chants. It also means that it was a very good thing that Morgan and I packed our cassocks.

Last time, we had a picture taken like this, it was just before our first vows. My, how we've grown (you can fill in any number of words here: up, out, wise, holy, or grey -- to name a few)





Speaking of first vows, when we were in the novitiate, one of the Dominican novice masters spoke of the importance of praying in church, but he said, "too much time in church is not so good. Learn to pray everywhere." I always loved that advice, and today we lived up to it. Be it that it is supposed to be a slower day, Morgan and I went to the beach. You may recall that the beach is a place both of us love, so much so that in last year's blog we had a contest to see who could take the better beach picture.

This year, I think we both win.

I suspect that Morgan spent much of his day reflecting about the goodness of God as we took in the sights -- perhaps.


I, on the other hand, remember quite clearly what I was thinking at this point: How do we convince the Basilians to start an apostolate here? Really, I promise I will work hard -- really. . .

As for the Austrailian word of the day: "Scabbing", which is the term used when you take something from someone else. (However, since Morgan didn't want those fries anyway, I am not sure this is entirely appropriate)

Enough fun in the sun, tomorrow, the real rat race begins. Until next time, Blessings and G'Day!

Perfect Weekend

Morgan and I finally had a chance to be tourists now that the weekend has arrived. After a rather exhausting week of travel and work, we decided that we would take it easy and just walk around Sydney Harbour. Of course, I ended up with far too many pictures of the Opera House, but as you will see above -- it is rather amazing. This picture was taken from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which we walked across.

Also taken from the bridge, the Opera House with Downtown Sydney in the back ground. As we were walking, Morgan and I kept counting our blessings, that we were able to do this before 350,000 young people were trying to do it at the same time. Crazy -- just crazy!

It's autumn in Sydney, which is a bit odd. Yes, the leaves are falling and people are breaking out their autumn (and it is autumn, they will laugh at you if you say Fall) clothes. It also means there are a ton of street festivals and weddings -- my goodness, there are lots of weddings. But no, this happy couple was not a part of the wedding but a 1970's dance festival that was taking place later in the day. Morgan and I both thought it best to pass on this opportunity.




Speaking of street festivals, we ran across this chap who was quite entertaining -- throwing knives, juggling chainsaws, climbing on top of people and here, riding a bike on a pole while "swallowing" a sword -- which happened to be a balloon. Even with all this, he managed to make a pass at several women in the crowd. Very talented -- very talented indeed.







Back to the Opera House. The whole design is based on a sphere -- Morgan, of course, knew exactly how this worked and didn't quite explain it to me in terms I could understand, so I will just share with you that it is made out of tiny tiles, seen here.

So to bring this happy little photo show to an end, I leave you with a picture of Morgan and I in front of the Opera House and another of downtown Sydney.

























And now, at the request of many, we will leave you with the Australian word of the day: "Schooner" -- is a mug of beer. (We learned this today at one of Australia's oldest brewery, the Lord Nelson -- a perfect way to end a day of walking . . . for hours and hours and hours) Until next time. . . G'Day!

No Time for Jet Lag

You can imagine what a whirlwind Morgan and I have landed in. I am not sure how many people work on staff here, as I think I went blurry after the first two departments. It doesn’t really matter anyway as there approximately ten volunteers being added each week from now until July. Morgan was swept up into the massive organization of the International Liturgy Group and the Liturgy Team of WYD, while I have been assigned to the Vocations Expo. Both of us have spent our first day in meetings or buried in documents. Much like we expected, the excitement is clustered with the overwhelming sense of magnitude concerning what we are being asked to accomplish. And so it begins. . . dive right in, pray quite hard, and don’t worry about sleep . . . that’s what Heaven is for. . .

As for the Australian word of the day: "Jab" which is a shot -- like the kind you get for medical reasons. This is in the news a lot right now since winter is approaching a many are getting their flu jab.

Stranded Between Two Worlds

In religious contexts, people often speak of the difference between travel and pilgrimage. Travel is usually associated with vacations – something we do on our own terms as a way to experience another world. However, pilgrimage is something quite different, for it is on God’s terms, not ours. Yes, travel is usually a part of it, but it does not have to be anything exotic. Pilgrimage, rather, is an event in our life when we surrender ourselves to the experience.

World Youth Day is a pilgrimage, no doubt about it. Though Morgan and I are not necessarily classified as “pilgrims”, we discovered very quickly that we are not in control of our journey to Sydney. There is nothing like a cancelled leg of a flight to tell you that. That’s right, we made it from Toronto to Vancouver, boarded the plane to travel from Vancouver to Sydney – but never left the airport. After sitting (or sleeping) on the plane for three hours in the middle of the night, we were informed that the plane was broken and we would be stranded for one day. Air Canada did take care of us once they determined the plane could not be repaired, and after a night in the airport, we finally made it to a hotel to get some much needed sleep. After we caught up a bit, we were rescued by our good friend, Marc de Asis, SJ who toured us around UBC, which included a nice hike (see our rather symbolic photo above) followed by sushi with a few friends. Twenty-four hours later, we found ourselves at the Vancouver airport once again to board one plane with a passenger list for two.

The rest of the story is no more eventful than any other plane ride to the other side of the world. We have since settled into our temporary home in Sydney and will begin work shortly.