2000

16th March 2000
Tim Costello Speaks at Religious Life Celebrations
Well-known Baptist minister and lawyer, Reverend Tim Costello, is visiting the Hunter this weekend. He will be the special guest speaker at a dinner organised by the Council of Religious of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Pope John Paul II has declared 2 February as "Consecrated Life Day" to draw attention to religious life. With this in mind, each year the 11 orders of religious brothers, sisters and priests of the diocese come together for a Mass and dinner.

Marist Brother, Michael Akers, says that while the celebration focuses on the life and work of religious, all are welcome to attend.

This year the Catholic Church throughout the world is celebrating its jubilee. One of the themes of the jubilee year, and the theme of the Mass and dinner, is reconciliation.

According to Br Michael, the celebration will focus on reconciliation from a broad perspective and aims to "highlight everybody's need for reconciliation".

During the dinner the Reverend Tim Costello will share his belief in the importance of each of us taking greater personal responsibility for reconciliation. He claims there is an urgent need for each of us to work towards reconciliation: both among individuals, as well as nationally with our Indigenous peoples. "We can't just leave it to John Howard and the government".

Catholic Bishop, Michael Malone, will preside at the mass for Religious at 5.30 pm on Friday evening (February 18) at St Joseph's church at East Maitland. Dinner at the Therry Centre will follow the Mass.

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