Media Releases
2003
Friday 19th September 2003
"Yearning for But Resisting Community":
US Small Church Community Specialist
While
it's clear that human beings yearn for community, is there a current
trend in our contemporary world to resist the notion of community?
Dr Robert
Moriarty SM, an internationally renowned practitioner in the development
of small Christian communities, will visit Newcastle next week
(Tuesday 23rd September) to deliver a public lecture on this topic
at the invitation of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
Dr Moriarty,
a Marianist Brother based in Connecticut, will explore the topic
"Yearning For, But Resisting Community" in today's society
and link this to his own efforts to build Christian community.
Dr Moriarty
has been a significant figure in the development of Small Christian
Communities across the United States and has close connections
with Small Christian Communities in Tanzania, Kenya and Latin
America.
He holds a
PhD in Religious Studies from Marquette University, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. Since 1989, Dr Moriarty has served as Director of the
Pastoral Department for Small Christian Communities in the Archdiocese
of Hartford, Connecticut. From 1991-98 he served on the board
of the North American Forum for Small Christian Communities (NAFSCC),
and he is a current member of the board of directors of the National
Alliance of Parishes Restructuring into Communities (NAPRC).
In addition
to the evening lecture, Dr Moriarty will conduct a morning session
with representatives of parishes from the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
on "Establishing Small Christian Communities".
During this
session Bishop Michael Malone will launch a set of posters designed
to promote Neighbourhood Church Communities in the diocese.
All are welcome
to attend the evening public session. Entry is FREE but a donation
to cover costs will be appreciated.
"It
is a tough proposition to face… but perhaps we are so
complacent in the conduct of our relationships with family
and friends that it takes something as cataclysmic as a terrorist
attack - or even a "real" war - to remind us that
constancy in love and friendship is vital to our mental and
emotional health."
(Hugh Mackay 'Staying
Connected in a World Gone Mad', Sydney Morning Herald,
8.2.03) |
PUBLIC LECTURE WITH DR ROBERT MORIARTY SM
WHEN?
Tuesday 23rd September 2003 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (doors will open
from 7:00pm)
WHERE?
Catholic Diocesan Centre (Victor Peter's Suite) 841 Hunter Street,
Newcastle West
This
event is an initiative of the Diocesan Pastoral Support Unit in
the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
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