Dear friends in Christ,

In today’s world we could easily become dismayed by the darkness that has come over the minds of our contempo-raries. Blessed John Paul II referred to it as “an eclipse of the mind.” Just as the sun is darkened in an eclipse, so the light of the Son of God, which was previously shining in the minds of people, has now been darkened by confusion and deception. Many believe that their lives can be ful-filled without God, and regard the Church as an antiquated institution bent on making our lives miserable. In this pre-vailing secular mentality people unfortunately lose their moral bearings. If we lose God then we ultimately lose a sense of what is to be truly human. This current darkness is evident in the cultural shift to general acceptance of moral choices opposed to the gospel: abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriages, “de facto” partners, contraception, and a whole range practices contrary to the Church’s teaching. This social environment, which is becoming increasingly hostile to Christianity, could easily be for us a source of disillusionment and discouragement. Some Christians al-low it to breed in their hearts a negative, condemning atti-tude towards people they know and towards the society in general. Unfortunately, this sort of response reinforces in the minds of our contemporaries the caricature that many already have about the Church; that she is against what is truly human.

Our first response in today’s secular situation is to witness to another way of living which is joyful and free because it is rooted in Christ. Rather than curse the darkness it is better to light a candle in the darkness by living the gospel of love and life in a genuinely convincing way. Paul once said, “This may be a wicked age, but your lives should redeem it.” There’s the challenge! Can people look at our lives as Christians and see the difference? Do our lives cause them to ask questions: who are these people, why do they live this way? How is it that they are so happy? What is their secret? Friedrich Neitsche, the father of modern

1Missionaries of God’s Love

6 Boake Place, Garran ACT 2605 | ph 02 6281 0132 | fax 02 6281 5910 | frken@iinet.net.au

atheism, once commented. “These Christians! They say they are redeemed, but they certainly don’t look like it!” Is it possible that our poor witness could be one of the rea-sons for the growth in atheism? We need to become good news to others by the light of Christ shining in our indi-vidual lives and in our communities. Pope Paul VI once said that modern people are more likely to be persuaded by witnesses than teachers, and if they do listen to teachers it will be because they are good witnesses.

Our second response to the secular situation is to speak the truth in love. One of the reasons why there is so much strife in the world is because too many good people have remained silent. We need to stand up and be counted, not afraid to proclaim what is true. But this must be done in love. Otherwise we lose our credibility. We need to show people that the most joyful, free and human way to live is the way of Christ, who is the fullness of humanity. We point people to Jesus, who is the Truth. We invite them to meet Him and to find in Him the answer to the deep-est questions of the human heart. We invite them into an encounter with God’s love, found in their hearts through the proclamation of the gospel, and the persuasive witness of our lives.

Fr. Ken

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Deacon Matheus, Fr. Vincent, Archbishop Mark and Deacon Wens (see story inside)

2The homilies of MGL priests are now available on a new online Catholic radio station. You can download the homilies at http://cradio.org.au

Vincent Widi MGL from Bali Indonesia was ordained a priest by Archbishop Coleridge at St Christopher’s Cathedral Canberra on Friday 18th November. In the same ceremony Wenseslaus Edy MGL and Matheus Wuwu MGL, both from Flores, Indonesia, were ordained deacons.

Over 200 people gathered on Saturday November 5th for the official opening of the new MGL Seminary building by Archbishop Denis Hart. The Archbishop affirmed the MGL seminarians for their witness of love saying, “here are young men touched by the love of Christ, open to his transforming power and generous and unreserved in the way they respond to it.” He expressed his delight that the MGL have decided to locate their Seminary in Melbourne and was enthusiastic in his support for the work.

Fr Ken thanked the Archbishop for his commitment to the MGL. He also thanked the thousands of people who donated to the Appeal. “We have been blown away by the generosity of the people from all over Australia who have given, and often it has been the equivalent of the ‘widow’s mite’” He said this shows the heart of the Catholic people who want to see good and holy priests formed for the future, and are prepared to make sacrifices for this to happen. The Appeal has been so well supported that the bulk of what was needed has already been given. There still remains $50,000 to be found to fully pay off the loan.

The Archbishop blessed the building, saying, “My prayer is that those who enter these doors will never forget the trans-forming power of Christ.”

Opening of the New Seminary Building

To all those who have given so generously to the Seminary Building Fund. Thanks for giving us this beautiful building. We need a further $50,000 to pay off the loan. We are

trusting this will happen quickly.

A BIG MGL THANK YOU!

Right: Archbishop Hart blessing the new Seminary building with

Fr. Chris Ryan, MGL

A group of fourteen members of St Martin de Porres community in Darwin travelled to the ordination, together with Fr Dan Benedetti MGL and Fr Joseph Neonbasu MGL, who are both working in the Darwin mission. Vincent, Wens, and Matheus have all spent time working in the Darwin mission, and have a special connection with the indigenous people. The Canberra Indonesian community, and also many of the Indonesian community from Melbourne, were present to cel-ebrate the event. They provided food for the reception after Fr Vincent’s first Mass on Saturday 19th November at 11am at St Benedicts Narrabundah.

Ordination: Fr Vincent, Deacon Wens andDeacon Matheus

Archbishop Mark Coleridge laying hands on Fr Vincent

Fr Ken MGL laying hands on Fr Vincent

Ordained deacons: Wens and Mat Fr. Vincent’s First Thanksgiving Mass

Ordination photos courtesy of C

elestina Leong

From left: Francis Moore, Tom Fahy, Robyn Fahy, Sam Broccio, Fr Chris, Archbishop Hart, Baiju Thomas, Fr

Ken, John Hendriks, Malanie Edwards MGL

Thanksgiving Mass: Aboriginal Dance (Offertory)

3

Mission

Alex Nolasco is also finishing off his study this year, and next year he will be ordained deacon and then, six months later, he will be ordained priest. These celebrations will take place in Manila. Alex will be our first Filipino to be ordained. Vas Clementine has been having a mission experience there during the first half of this year, and they also have Mark Vestil living with them in preparation for coming to Australia next year – overall that is a brotherhood of 8 members.

The Youth Alive program continues to be full of life. I attended a Praise Rally of about 50 young people. The Young Men of God Movement is firing well. I attended a breakfast with 40 young men. The Livelihood program, helping people to develop their skills for self-reliance, is developing. Fr Steve is collaborating with Australian parishes to mount a project that may mean purchasing a building for this purpose. We are grateful for those in Australia who support this initiative.

The team is hoping to develop more strongly the evangelizing dimension of the mission through a more concerted focus on heal-ing Masses, retreats and other ministries which will help people go deeper in personal conversion. I was grateful to the Lord, and to Fr Steve and his team for their faithfulness and their generosity in building this mission in such a dynamic way. •Fr Ken

I visited the Manila mission for a week during September 20-27. The new Mission Centre is fully operational, including adoration chapel with Blessed Sacrament exposed 24 hours, clinic with doctors available for the sick, a bap-tismal area, offices, meeting rooms, and a larger events room on the second floor. Half of the second floor and the top floor is accommodation for the brothers. The priests in the mission team are Fr Steve Tynan, Fr Brian Steele, and Fr Daniel Strickland. They are assisted by brothers Al Habagat and Martin Lada, who are also studying as part of their on-going formation.

In September the brothers and sisters made a flying visit to the Townsville diocese respond-ing to an invitation from Bishop Michael Putney to do a mission week. So Sr.Therese, being almost a local to Townsville, opened many doors and acquainted us with her many contacts in the diocese. The team consisted of two sisters, Therese and Amanda and three brothers, Fr Steve, Adam and Greg. It really was a blessing to be on mission together.We were kept very busy and did diverse ministry. So it was essential to have five Mgl brothers and sisters with a variety of gifts, experience and age. Most of the time was spent with indigenous youth and elders. We ran a leadership and ministry morning for the Di-ocesan Indigenous Catholic Council under the leadership of the Bishop and made up of elders, religious and priests. On Palm Island Sr.Therese was busy connecting with young people who were on the

indigenous leaders training schools in Darwin and Canberra. There were also youth who had been on WYD in Sydney and Madrid. The people were warm, friendly and keen to show us around the Island. Greg, Adam and Amanda engaged the many children in all sorts of activities which brought them the warmth and respect of the parents.

Man

ilaTownsvilleFrom top, clockwise: Adam Domingo,

Sr Therese Mills, Greg Jeffery, Amanda Kalauta and Fr. Steve Fletcher

From top row, clockwise: Br Alex Nolasco, Br Vas Clementine, Fr Steve Tynan, Fr Dan Strickland, Mark

Vestil, Fr Brian Steele, Br Al Habagat

Young Men of G

od

Many of the brothers in formation participated in the Young Men of God conference held at Collaroy, Sydney, on 14-15 October. Over 150 young men gathered to hear talks that chal-lenged them in faith, moral integrity, and leadership. Shayne Bennett from Emmanuel Community, Brisbane, was a key note speaker, together with Karen and Jonathan Doyle from Choicez media. Fr Chris Ryan MGL spoke on leadership.

Some of the Canberra brothers participated in this year’s Explo-sion youth conference (3-7 October 2011), a work to the DOJ com-munity Canberra. It was an incredible experience witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit, not only in the lives of about a hundred youth that participated, but also in all the leaders as we celebrated God’s love and were empowered and challenged to partake in the Church’s mission of evangelization. Thanks for all those people who helped out and especially for the prayers. • Greg Jeffery

Explosion Conference 2011

In Townsville we worked alongside the NET team at a charismatic healing mass and a youth rally to follow up all those who had been on WYD from the Dio-cese. For the last two days of mission we split the team –two brothers travelled to Mt.Isa some 900km from Townsville where they were welcomed by the local parish priest Fr.Mick Lowcock. Here we spent time with members of the local Aboriginal Catholic Council. • Fr Steve F.

Adam and Amanda with Aboriginal children: Xavier, Frankie and Fabog

The homilies of MGL priests are now available on a new online Catholic radio station. You can download the homilies at http://cradio.org.au

Spiritual AssociationCANBERRA: On Oct 22 Fr Ken cel-ebrated a Healing Mass. Last day for the year. Contact: Anne and Jim Foster, Ul-ladulla (02)4455 5542 or 0427 277 072 Email: fosterja@tpg.com.au

MELBOURNE: gathering at held at MGL house September 3. Last for the year. Contact: Jenny and Glen Rawlins (03) 9708 0810 glennrawlins@optus-net.com.au

BRISBANE: Fr Ken gave a Retreat Day with Healing Prayer on Saturday 27th August entitled A Future Full of Hope at St Thomas’ Catholic Church, Camp Hill. The day was blessed with many people attending and a beautiful spirit of hope and joy. For information on S.A., contact Frank & Vilma 0405 514 929 or Margaret-Mary 07 33491944

SYDNEY: On 22nd October, Sr. Judy Bowe gave a retreat day at the MGL sisters new home at 11 Torbert Av., Quakers Hill. Find out about us and see great photos on facebook. Contact: Maureen Richardson 0417 042790 or email: jennytscott@hotmail.com

DARWIN: The Spiritual Association is firing well at the Top End. Contact: Heather Helms, 0414 258 424 , Heather.Helms@catholiccarent.org.au

On October 2nd Archbishop Mark Coleridge installed five brothers as acolytes and seven as lectors in a Celebration Sunday Mass of Dis-ciples of Jesus Community.

On December 3rd five brothers, who have completed their novitiate, professed initial vows with the MGL, and seven took promises as their entry into the no-vitiate. The celebration was attended by family and friends of the brothers, who gathered at a reception

after the ceremony.

Acolyte and Lector

Initial Vows and Promises

A LIGHT FOR MY PATHScripture Prayer Journal

Fr Ken is publishing another book! A scripture prayer

journal to help you pray with the word of God each day for 30 consecutive weeks.

Keep an eye out for it. HAVE YOU

CONSIDEREDREMEMBERING

THE MISSIONARIES OF GOD’S LOVE

IN YOUR WIILL?

Fr Ken’s popular work His Name is Mercy was launched as an audio book at the Porti-co Bookshop in Sydney on November 10th. A big thanks to Celia Smith who recorded the book and organized the publication.

Books!

Archbishop Mark with brothers who were installed lectors and later made their promises. From top, clockwise: Terfa Akaweh,

Greg Jeffery, Moses Nyingmah, Paul Hoare, Von Marimon, Adam Domingo and Leo Chakrampully

Archbishop Mark with brothers who were installed acolytes and later made their Initial Vows. From left: Mark O’Dea, Anil Thomas, John Lawani,

Anianus Bai and Luke Vandermark

Happy Christmas!To all our wonderful

FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS

May the peace of Christ be with you and your loved

ones!