Letters

Stations of the Cross

John D. Wightman

Contents - May 2008 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Re-evangelising young unchurched Catholics - Michael Gilchrist Two changes: Bishop Jarrett explains upcoming Mass changes - Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett News: The Church Around the World Summorum Pontificum: Benedict XVI's Latin Mass document: a parish priest's response - Fr Andrew Wise Interview: Positive impact of Pope's decree on the Latin Mass - Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos Green sisters: New-look US religious: Al Gore's latest 'eco-justice' disciples - AD2000 REPORT Ballarat: Children's Spirituality Conference at ACU: not to be confused with religion! - Michael Gilchrist FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH: What are the basics of Catholic belief and practice? - Lucy Tucker Magisterium: When is it infallible? - John Young Youth: Eucharistic devotions: revival in Melbourne - Br Barry Coldrey Letters: Church architecture - Terry Parkhouse Letters: AIDS Prevention - Dr Arnold Jago Letters: Altar rails - John Murray Letters: Receiving Communion - Charles Haber Letters: Stations of the Cross - John D. Wightman Letters: Brisbane - Franklin J. Wood Letters: Cosmic Liturgy - Grahame Fallon Books: Irish journalist exposes 'Kathy's Story' book and movie as fabrications - Gary Brady (reviewer) Books: NEWMAN'S APPROACH TO KNOWLEDGE by Laurence Richardson - Philip Trower (reviewer) Books: THE REALM: An Unfashionable Essay on Converting England, Aidan Nichols OP - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: Books available from AD2000 Books Reflection: How to recover a sense of the sacred at Mass - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

As a recent report in the Catholic press (enclosed) indicates, there are no Stations of the Cross in the newly completed Church of the Holy Spirit, Gungahlin, in the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese, which was officially opened on 14 February 2008.

As the report states, 'Rather than the traditional Stations of the Cross, the church displays the story of the cross designed by Sr Jenny Ryan [a parish team member] and reflecting on the words commitment, judged, accepted, supported, cradled and recognised'.

My wife and I feel downhearted at this decision as we were under the impression that the Stations have been an essential sacred feature of all Catholic churches. I am sure other Catholics would feel much the same as we do.

JOHN D. WIGHTMAN
Hughes, ACT

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 21 No 4 (May 2008), p. 14