Despite unprecedented access to a multitude of media tools and stimulation, many people today experience profound existential isolation, mental confusion and the fracturing of identity. Different generations have their own digital intoxicants of choice – Facebook, Tumblr, Snapchat – each platform creating and clamouring for time and attention. They flash out images in mazes of…
Many (many) years ago, while working in bioethics, I was invited by some teachers to a Catholic boys’ school to talk to the students about virtue and the culture of life. I was tempted to drop the phone (yes, it was what is now a vintage landline handset) – “Wild request: brave teachers!” I thought…
In this newsletter, we will once again reminisce about the wonderful experience that is the Democratic Conference. On a warm and sunny weekend in Sydney, from February 2 to 3 in the beautiful facilities and grounds of Campion College, the National Civic Council – along with co-sponsors News Weekly, the Thomas More Centre, Campion College, Mother…
We have had an amazing weekend! Great company, great conversations, great community building. Soon we’ll be on the road, driving back from the amazing experience that was the Democratic Conference 2024, but we just had to give you a brief report while we digest the riches of the weekend. This conference was a first in…
Welcome to the latest Thomas More Centre newsletter. On Thursday, January 25 in Brisbane, our Queensland organiser and scripture enthusiast Mark Makowiecki followed up his earlier talk on the ‘new Adam’ with another entitled, “The New Eve: How Mary Undoes the Fall of Woman in the Gospel of John”. Mark began by pointing out that,…
Catholic bishops have the responsibility to be “governors and sometimes judges, as well as teachers and sacramental celebrants, and are not just wall flowers or rubber stamps”. These typically punchy and memorable words were written by Cardinal George Pell, in an article in The Spectator magazine that appeared with characteristic panache shortly after his sudden and Church-shaking…
On Thursday, January 11, the Brisbane branch of the Thomas More Centre began the year with a talk by our very own Mark Makowiecki entitled “The New Adam: How Jesus Undoes the Fall of Man in the Gospel of John”. About a dozen people gathered in the meeting room of Indooroopilly Library (which will be…
Happy New Year and welcome to the first Thomas More Centre newsletter of 2024! Since the launch of the ‘TMC redux’ last June, we’ve been building up our capacity to produce edifying content and deliver informative events such that 2024 promises to be a big, breakout year. Before listing coming events in January, we thought…
Thank you for your friendship and interest in the revival of the Thomas More Centre throughout 2023! It has been wonderful to receive so many encouraging emails, letters, and phone messages about the TMC and our Social and Cultural Studies this year. 1. Thoughts to Bethlehem As we head spiritually and liturgically towards Bethlehem –…
On Friday, December 1, the Thomas More Centre held a Christmas lunch for approximately 40 sponsors, volunteers, and friends of the National Civic Council and Australian Family Association in Perth. Warwick D’Silva, West Australian manager of the Thomas More Centre, welcomed all present at the lunch. He spoke about the hope that the Perth office…