Category Archives: Credo

we are motivated by our beliefs, our sense of purpose, our faith. Doing what we do for a reason

Credo

Part of The BIGGER STORY

Trying to teach about faith to a child often seems like a fool’s errand. Last weekend, a scene played out in our house, which no doubt was repeated up and down the country… If not the world. “Do we have to go to church”? Such was the utterance of our 4-year-old.

I suppose we could look at it a different way. After all, is it not a philosophical question about the purpose of going to church at all? I doubt that she meant it in that way. I often picture the Catholic Church and the format of the typical mass, and it is indeed true that this is not really a place for young children. Up and down the country in Australia, there is an exercise called a plenary council. It is taking place as we write. Its question is to ask what we want the church to be in Australia in this modern-day and age.

I’ve been involved a little bit, and I can say that, from what I’ve seen, there isn’t really a clear vision from anybody. The most popular views seem to be revolving around women priests and married clergy. If I apply a little bit of analysis to the ideas; however, what I see 10’s back to the theme of family and community. Call them hashtags if you will.

We have realised that – from a superficial level – there is not really a place in the church for a 4-year-old. Yet, church need not necessarily be the act of attending mass. Alas, many people think that is what church is about, but this is only a subsection of faith. Instead, a church should actually revolve around those themes of togetherness, sharing, family and of course, faith. And the only way to teach this to our children is to involve them and to attend. At least they will learn that there is also a place in faith for quiet time and prayer. Such elements are essential if we are to practice religion with intent. But we must not miss the other things too, and if those things are indeed missing then surely we must put those missing ingredients back so that the vision of faith can be fulfilled.

We learnt a lot about that during our time in Vallendar. It was not so much about “going” to church but rather to be part of a church. To be part of the community and making a difference.

Credo

Church of the world


Missing Out On World Events

It feels like we often miss world events by just a few days when we go on a big trip. Back in 2011, we were in Florida just a few days before the last ever launch of the space shuttle, mission STS-135. Now we are in Dubai, just a few days before the visit of Pope Francis. It would have been serendipitous to see him on this trip, in Dubai of all places.

I did not imagine that he would have planned a visit to here. Each day we hear the local calls to prayer. They are enigmatic and audible from the hotel, in shopping malls, everywhere. But here is the pope, about to be welcomed in a country that is not famous for Christianity.

Church in Dubai

This morning we went to St Mary’s Cathedral for mass. It was 6:45am, and we realised that such an oddly timed ceremony was designed for people who have to go to work. In Dubai, Sunday is a working day, the first day of the work week.

Mass itself was different too. The same format but people seemed, hmmm, responsive and somewhat more enthusiastic. As for the building itself, it seemed to be in a quarter of the city with a few different religious schools and cultures. I’d never seen anything like it. The main church seemed to be made of two parts with slightly different styling and a large folding room divider in the middle. I think they could have run 2 masses at the same time if they wanted to. As it was, they had TV screens showing the altar, which seemed like a great idea. And there were no candles in the church at all.

Universal Church Should Be Treasured

Something is comforting about being part of a universal church, and all that it stands for. To understand that there is a history and philosophy ad meaning behind what it does, rather than the simple notion that some other churches preach of being able to “consume God” as if He is a tank of petrol or a box of tissues. Perhaps that is something that this church has to get used to and learn to celebrate a little more.

We walked outside after mass, in that early Dubai morning sun. The mosque was just at the entrance. It seemed like a harmonious confluence of Abrahamic faiths, not something you get to appreciate very often.