The Catholic Weekly 16 May 2021

$2 16, May, 2021 AMAZON’S LITTLE ALGORITHM P11 Looking for a new job? www.catholicjobsonline.com.au If we are to be receptive to the Spirit when He comes, we’d best do this together, with the Church.” Archbishop Fisher OP ARCHBISHOP ANTHO- NY Fisher OP is inviting all Catholics to return to Masses in preparation for the feast of Pentecost after a year of ‘forced retreat’ due to the pandemic. In his latest pastoral letter the archbishop recalls how the apostles gathered with the oth- er early believers and Our Lady to pray after the Lord’s Ascen- sion in preparation for the ar- rival of the promised Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Catholics today are called to gather together for prayer and the Eucharist in our parishes to prepare for the “Church’s birth- day” on 23 May and to “Go make disciples” in the same way as those first Christians, he wrote. “To be ready for Pentecost ourselves, we…must open wide the doors to the chapel of our souls, inviting the Holy Spirit to take up permanent residence in us,” said the arch- bishop in the letter. “It’s not just a one-to-One invitation. “Ecclesia – church – does not mean a building so much as an assembly. “We gather, as the first dis- ciples gathered, in the days be- fore Pentecost. “If we are to be receptive to the Spirit whenHe comes, we’d best do this together, with the Church.” Churchgoers also asked to consider inviting others to Masses, either in personal conversations or via mailbox distribution of an invitational notecard. Other suggestions for parish outreach, drawing upon theGo Make Disciples archdiocesan Prepare for Pentecost Archbishop issues a call for Catholics to gather and invite others toMasses across the Archdiocese ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Out of darkness mum offers hope MOTHER OF the Year Lei- la Abdallah, who lost three of her young children to a driv- er affected by drugs and alco- hol, says that she will always pray for and support women who like her, have lost a child. Ms Abdallah said she felt ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues “humbled, privileged and grateful” to be chosen and dedicatedher award to all be- reavedmothers. “I was extremely sur- prised, I didn’t see it com- ing,” she said. The Sydney Maronite Catholic and her husband Danny inspired the nation when they forgave the driver who crashed into their four eldest children, killing Antony, Angelina and Sienna along with their niece Veronique Sakr and injur- ing their daughter Liana and their nephew Charbel Kassas in February last year. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 mission plan, include wearing red for the occasion, planning a parish open day, and praying for greater boldness inwitness- ing to Christ in the Eucharist. The letter titled Come Holy Spirit! Lead us back toMass for the Church’s birthday! will be distributed across the archdi- ocese’s parishes this weekend, along with invitational cards for letter-box drops. Come Holy Spirit will also be available online at sydney- catholic.org . Other resources for parishes and individuals preparing for Pentecost can be found at go- makedisciples.org.au They include a short guide on how to pray during a Holy Hour, an introduction to Lectio Divina (praying with scripture and other holy reading), and tips on connecting with pa- rishioners. Archbishop Fisher’s Pastoral Letter and parish resources draw upon the Go Make Disciples Mission Plan. PHOTO:ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Mother of the Year Leila Abdallah stands in front of a framed photograph of her children Antony, Angelina and Sienna. PHOTO: GIOVANNI PORTELLI THE BIGGEST STORY EVER P14