Busy, stressed? Time to find the balance

BY JOHN MCLAURIN

BUSY and stressed Australians are encouraged to find the balance between the Martha and Mary aspects of their lives.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse developed this theme at his annual day of teaching for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Canberra.

“We Australians are very busy, stressed people, very much like Martha in the Gospels,” Archbishop Prowse said in his first talk.

“Mary instead sat at Jesus’ feet in silence, stillness and simplicity.”

This was the third year that he had invited members of the local Renewal to gather for teaching, worship and prayer.

The latest meeting took on extra significance with the Renewal celebrating 50 years in 2017.

“Fifty years of Catholic Charismatic Renewal … A current of grace of the Holy Spirit.”

Pope Francis proclaimed these words in June at a worldwide gathering of charismatic Catholics in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Renewal in the Church.

This same current of grace flowed through the Haydon Hall as about 140 people attended a joyful and inspiring day of teaching.

Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament were other highlights of the day, as was the “show and tell” session, where groups and communities represented on the local CCR service committee, gave short presentations.

“Renewal is for everyone; it’s not a separate movement in the Church,” Archbishop Prowse said.

CCR Chairperson for the Archdiocese Neda Kesina encouraged people to thank the Lord for the grace of the Renewal, and to reflect and repent.

“The Lord wants to open new streams of living water in the desert,” she said.

“He can open streams of living water in us and touch many other people through us.”

The CCR will run the annual New Year’s Eve adoration vigil again this year.

Everyone is invited to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at St Peter Chanel’s Church, Yarralumla, between 7.30pm New Year’s Eve and 6am January 1.

For more information, contact the intercession coordinator on 0419 902 293.