In 1994, Pope John Paul II was everywhere. In this year, he shored up his work on the nature of moral theology from the year before, evangelised on the dignity of the person, established diplomatic relations with Israel and underlined the importance of the family (it being the United Nations International Year of the Family). Also during that year, the Pope worked on a profound Meditation on Givenness.

The text was left relatively unknown until it was published 16 months after his death in 2005. Despite this, Meditation remains important because it presents in one summary text keys to the Polish pontiff’s thought and mission.

Central to John Paul II’s philosophy, his interpretations of scripture, his mystical vision and his moral teachings is a “theology of gift”.

In brief, the Pope sees written into the entire cosmos – into all being and all beings – the continuously giving and creative love of the Blessed Trinity.

This is particularly true in the gift of consciousness, freedom and reason in the human person. The Pope saw with blazing clarity how transformative is the grace to see this “entrustment” in the meat of our own lives.

“To entrust means that God believes in you, trusts that you are capable of receiving the gift, that you are capable of embracing it with your heart, that you have the capacity to respond to it with a gift of yourself.” – JP II, Meditation on Givenness

Here is the hub of John Paul II’s vision for Christocentric redemption; the integration of faith and reason; his “theology of the body”; “authentic ecology” and an “economy” of moral and spiritual virtue, which require grace, maturity, and self-mastery in order to contribute to a concrete “civilisation of love”.

Thirty years on, it is precisely this emphasis on personal vocation and experience that inspired the Thomas More Centre’s recent Autumn School in Albury entitled, “Truth and Beauty of the Human Person and Vocations”. This was the first of the new era of intensive TMC schools.

The Autumn School was full of enlivening presentations and fresh approaches to foundational issues of Christian faith.

Friday evening saw an entertaining and insightful exploration of the importance of the gift of human reason for faith by associate professor and Campion College educationalist, Anthony Gordon.

The Saturday program consisted of Mass, prayer, time for socialisation, splendid meals and refreshments as well as lively discussion pivoting around five excellent presentations.

Wagga’s Vicar General and Moral Theology lecturer Fr Peter Murphy presented a crisp, accessible and memorable presentation on the gift of conscience, nature and “Natural Law in a Digital Age”. Sara Moore spoke of the important collaborative work of the Anima Network in the formational work of the Thomas More Centre.

Fr Sean Byrnes – a Wagga seminary lecturer, dogmatic theologian, vocations director and talented broadcaster – presented a deeply and soundly pastoral study of the damage and pathways out of pornography use and digital addiction, which he called “the hidden pandemic”.

Family counsellor and founder of the online and interactive Virtue Ministry, Stina Constantine ran an engrossing workshop in which participants were encouraged to examine in very practical ways the “soil and culture” of their own growth in virtue.

Over the genial dinner on Saturday night, Wagga Seminary formator and Army Chaplain Fr Bradley Rafter gave a lively and succinct talk about priestly vocations.

Nearly 100 people from different backgrounds and ages attended the school. There were people from both sides of the NSW/Victorian border and some travelled great distances to attend. We are so grateful for their interest, support and enthusiasm for future events in the region.

So many gifts and graces made the Autumn School possible.

A memorable feature was the fine catering by Wasim, his family and the staff at La Maison from Wodonga. They provided such lavish offerings over the program for such outstanding value. This set a high standard of hospitality for us.

Critical to the success of the school were the labours and attention of the TMC Albury team, each of whom over many months met, coordinated, refined and grounded the many moving parts of the school’s original design.

Each member donated gifts of their time, skills, and imagination with such an openness to collaboration. They were indeed a dream team. A huge debt of thanks go to Albury organiser Catherine Stewart; Master of Ceremonies Andrew Garrett; Registrar Sara Moore and the ever practical and professional “brains” trust – Fr Sean Byrnes, Stina Constantine and Anthony Gordon.

Thanks also for the commitment and generosity of the team’s spouses and families who supported this work in so many ways.

A great synergy was established between the local team and what I called the “ground control” of TMC staff. This was crucial to the school’s success. Special thanks to Gabriel Tipnis for his presence at the school (along with his generous wife Zara and baby Joshua) and for his IT and technical support, and to Nicole Yap in Queensland for her design, digital and promotional work.

It is important to note here how, behind the scenes and during the school, so many of the Wagga Diocese’s priests supported, promoted and contributed to the program of the Autumn School. Special thanks go to the Vicar General, Fr Peter Murphy and the parish priest of Albury, Fr Lednich and at Jindera, Fr Chris Heffernan and other priests from the Diocese. The complementarity between priestly and lay vocation was wonderfully evident here.

Thanks to Wagga’s Bishop Mark Edwards, who gave the Autumn School his encouragement, moral support and sent a short video message of blessing for the school.

The school was truly a work of grace and the gift of wonderful people. We plan to make some of the fruit of this school available more widely in the near future.

In other news ...

Perth: On May 8, the Thomas More Centre in Perth will be hosting a workshop on the dignity of human life in preparation for the Rally for Life on May 15. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and learn more about the work of the TMC. Contact Warwick at 0431 571 837 or tmcwa1@gmail.com for more info.

YPAT: The TMC’s immersive retreat exploring politics and society, which provides critical-thinking, skills training and networking for young people interested in political and cultural engagement, will be held at Campion College, Sydney from June 25 to July 1. Apply here, or please consider donating for sponsorships here.

Thank you for your support!

Anna Krohn
Executive Director
Thomas More Centre