Cover Story
From the Holy Father
Come Alive News
Birthday Babies

I do

Career Guide

Real Life Cross

Unto the ends of the earth - WYD 2008 Coverage
View-Vek
Life-Line
Ministries Update
Art-Inspiration
Saint of the month
Meet the Core
Apostleship of Prayer
Down memory Lane
Puzzle Yourself
Did you know?

 
"For every soul that is damned, Mary suffers over again the same pains she underwent in the Temple and on Calvary–  St. Catherine of Genoa
   
 

 A life of Prayer...

Just imagine: a life without human relationships, without communication, what would it be like for any of us?

Prayer is a matter of fundamental importance in the life of a Christian...

Click here to read Sr.Luciana's article to youth on the importance of prayer.

 
   
 
 

An excerpt from

Pope Benedict XVI's Homily at the closing Mass - WYD'08 Sydney

  
 

"May This 23rd World Youth Day Be Experienced as a New Upper Room"

Dear Friends,

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). We have seen this promise fulfilled! On the day of Pentecost, as we heard in the first reading, the Risen Lord, seated at the right hand of the Father, sent the Spirit upon the disciples gathered in the Upper Room. In the power of that Spirit, Peter and the Apostles went forth to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. In every age, and in every language, the Church throughout the world continues to proclaim the marvels of God and to call all nations and peoples to faith, hope and new life in Christ.

In these days I too have come, as the Successor of Saint Peter, to this magnificent land of Australia. I have come to confirm you, my young brothers and sisters, in your faith and to encourage you to open your hearts to the power of Christ's Spirit and the richness of his gifts. I pray that this great assembly, which unites young people "from every nation under heaven" (cf. Acts 2:5), will be a new Upper Room. May the fire of God's love descend to fill your hearts, unite you ever more fully to the Lord and his Church, and send you forth, a new generation of apostles, to bring the world to Christ! "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you". These words of the Risen Lord have a special meaning for those young people who will be confirmed, sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, at today's Mass. But they are also addressed to each of us - to all those who have received the Spirit's gift of reconciliation and new life at Baptism, who have welcomed him into their hearts as their helper and guide at Confirmation, and who daily grow in his gifts of grace through the Holy Eucharist. At each Mass, in fact, the Holy Spirit descends anew, invoked by the solemn prayer of the Church, not only to transform our gifts of bread and wine into the Lord's body and blood, but also to transform our lives, to make us, in his power, "one body, one spirit in Christ".

But what is this "power" of the Holy Spirit? It is the power of God's life! It is the power of the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the dawn of creation and who, in the fullness of time, raised Jesus from the dead. It is the power which points us, and our world, towards the coming of the Kingdom of God. In today's Gospel, Jesus proclaims that a new age has begun, in which the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all humanity (cf. Lk 4:21). He himself, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, came among us to bring us that Spirit. As the source of our new life in Christ, the Holy Spirit is also, in a very real way, the soul of the Church, the love which binds us to the Lord and one another, and the light which opens our eyes to see all around us the wonders of God's grace...

Click here to read the complete homily

 
 

My dear friends,

World youth day has come to an end and the pilgrims from Come Alive (like those all over the world) are bursting with energy, and so many have returned with a renewed sense of what their faith is about, learning new things. My sister went and was blown away by the numerous youth all coming together to share their faith with each other as ONE FAMILY apart from the warmth and generosity she received. This is who we are, all part of one big family of Christ, part of the Kingdom of God which Jesus wishes all to fall in love with.

To be able to go for World Youth Day is a wonderful gift the Lord gives. A gift given to young pilgrims especially, to experience and explore the love and goodness of Jesus: through their surroundings, people, Masses. All this so that they can learn, share this with others and be witnesses of Christ despite everything that happens in our world today. And what better way to build our relationship with the good Lord than to spend time with Him in prayer. So in this issue we feature Sr. Luciana, a Comboni sister in the St.Mary’s Parish sharing with us the importance of prayer in our lives. We also catch a glimpse of what the pilgrims experienced at WYD, Sydney through sharings and pictures galore...

We hope you enjoy this issue of CANVAS and remember there is never a dull moment with Christ. So start clicking and reading.

Do not let yourselves be shaped by the world where you live but be transformed by the renewal of your mind… (Rm 12:2)

                         Caroline
 

Here we feature some great Catholic websites and handy online info.
Christ in the Third Millenium
Body Language - The Faith, Sex and Culture Podcast
Our Lady of Lourdes