Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper.
To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.
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Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive. |
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July 2008
From Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, July 2008
My Dear People,
Each time the World Youth Day Local Organising Committee meets, we begin with prayer. The prayer that impresses me most, and sums up the whole idea of World Youth Day, is this:
| "Holy Spirit pour out your grace on this great south land of the Holy Spirit, grant to us a new Pentecost. Make of this land a true place of welcome for the young people of the world, grant to those young people who come conversion of life, deeper faith and love for all. Enable them to build a new civilisation of life, love and truth. Make them true witnesses to your power and grace." |
Now that the round of meetings is almost over, and World Youth Day is upon us, I asked myself what do I hope for from World Youth Day, in Sydney, in 2008. My hopes for you, young people, are drawn from that prayer.
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New Pentecost
I hope that you will experience a new Pentecost; that you will experience
again the coming of the Holy Spirit in power.
Think back to that first Pentecost when the disciples, having first witnessed the glory of Christ's Resurrection, were given the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Although the disciples had walked with Jesus, listened to His teachings, witnessed His miracles, when the real test came they failed Him.
But, with the coming of the Holy Spirit their lives dramatically changed: they came to life; their hearts were filled with energy for mission; their fear faded. May World Youth Day do the same for you.
I am reminded of Pope John XXIII who convened the Second Vatican Council, which was sometimes called a new Pentecost. He had a truly inspiring saying: "consult not your fears but your hopes".
So, my dear young people, in your dreams for your life as disciples of Jesus in His Church, consult not your fears, but your hopes.
Place of welcome
The universal pilgrim Church comes to us, and what do we offer? We offer a
welcome of hearts graced by the Holy Spirit. Hearts full of love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness and trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.
These are the gifts of the Spirit, which we, in turn, pour out on our pilgrim brothers and sisters.
In the Diocese of Parramatta, we are pleased to host pilgrims from England, Lithuania and Poland. I hope that, in the reciprocity of hospitality, you and your guests will experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Life, faith and love
I hope that God will give you the deep desire for conversion of life,
deeper faith and love for all. In accepting the Holy Spirit, we allow God to
take possession of our lives, to change our hearts, to turn them anew to God.
In this conversion of life, you could do no better than to model yourselves on the first Christians "continue steadfastly in the teachings of the Apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers." (Acts 2:42)
Every act of reflection on Scripture and the teachings of the Church, every Eucharist, every prayer, every act of Christian charity and solidarity with others deepens our faith.
And our faith is in the God who first loved us, the God who said "yes" to us by giving us Jesus. Each day we say "yes" to God in the story of our lives, He, in turn, deepens our faith.
The love of a Christian is universal because Christ's love is for every human person. No one is excluded. This universal horizon is the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember the disciples before Pentecost - their focus was on Christ; they were followers. After Pentecost, their focus broadened; they were people on a mission. So are you.
New civilisation
I hope that you will be dedicated to building the new civilisation of
love. I suggest that the building blocks of this civilisation are justice,
peace and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a prerequisite for all the others. It is the hallmark of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ, who taught us how to forgive.
What kind of young people are needed to be builders of the new civilisation? We need people who are capable of dialogue: they must be able to listen, to respect, to be open, to create bridges; to touch the human heart, as well as to account for the hope that is in them.
We need young men and women who prefer meeting to confrontation; invitation to imposition; and place love above all else.
True witnesses
Witness is a permanent characteristic of the Christian person. We do not
decide that on Tuesdays we will be a witness. We are witnesses 24/7, as the
saying goes. Do not be afraid - let the power of the Holy Spirit shine out in
you. That is my deepest hope for all of you.
And to let that happen, I urge you to enrol in the school of prayer. If you are to bring the Word of God to others, you must live from the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will be your guide and teacher, and Mary, who pondered all things in her heart, will be your support.
Bishop Kevin Manning,
Bishop of Parramatta.
