Letters

Lay led liturgies in Rockhampton diocese

Jessie Roger

Contents - May 2006 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Benedict XVI: love and truth are inseparable Papacy: Benedict completes his first twelve months as Pope - Fr Ephraem Chifley News: The Church Around the World Satellite service: EWTN Australia Events: Carnivale Christi 2006 scheduled for Melbourne and Sydney in May - AD2000 Report Benedict's first twelve months: 'We Are Church' delivers its verdict - Michael Gilchrist Catholicism-lite's Church of convenience - Paul A. Wagner University: Students should challenge dissenting teachers - Dr Michael Casey Vocations: Can religious life be rebuilt in Australia? - Sr Mary Augustine OP Foreign priests - a tale of two Brisbane parishes - Bob Osmak Letters: Adoption - our experience - Bella and Leon Voesenek Letters: Bigotry - Maureen Federico Letters: Religious dissent - Kevin McManus Letters: Lay led liturgies in Rockhampton diocese - Jessie Roger Letters: Actions and attitudes - S. Chaston Letters: Liturgical abuses - Rosanna Sherman Letters: Inclusive language - John Daly Letters: Elites - Peter Gilet Letters: Conscience - Jerome Gonzalez Letters: Modernism - Don Gaffney Letters: Intelligent Design - Michael Griffiths Letters: Creationism? - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Phillip Adams - Frank Bellet Letters: Warning! Letters: Rosary beads request - Jim Smith Books: The Victory Of Reason, by Rodney Stark - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: On The Way To Jesus Christ, by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) - Jacinta Cummins (reviewer) Books: Young Faces of Holiness: Modern Saints in Photos and Words, by Ann Ball - Jacinta Cummins (reviewer) Books: Stimulating reading from AD Books Reflection: Oneness in Christ: the heart of the priesthood - Fr John W. O'Neill PP

Thank you for publishing the remarks by Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth (March AD2000).

What a consolation to know there is a member of the hierarchy trying to preserve the teaching of the Church and doing something useful to help others know what the church really is, not what the secular media concoct against it at every opportunity.

Sadly, the opposite applies in the Rockhampton Diocese. I now refer to notes I took the first time I heard Bishop Brian Heenan speak in a church here. He said that it was a good thing there is a shortage of priests in the area, since lay people can take more part in the church, console the bereaved, baptise, and bury the dead.

Things which were in the Church 30 years ago had to change, and while we regret their passing, the Church had to keep up with modern world. Don't judge things; there's no need to fear God or carry a cross - have optimism and joy. End of quote.

This was followed up by a series of talks from a Rockhampton priest and another priest who was in Mackay at the time. They explained that there had to be change. Mass as we knew it was going to be replaced by a paraliturgy conducted by lay people. Meanwhile, the Bishop keeps saying we need a new model of being church.

When people suggested that overseas priests be brought to our Diocese the Bishop said priests from other lands and cultures were not required. The result has been that there are many lay led services where there once was a Mass.

JESSIE ROGER (MISS)
Mackay, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 19 No 4 (May 2006), p. 14