How do you explain the vocation of religious life to young people in a secularised culture like Australia? A new book by Catholic Religious Australia and St Pauls Publications aims to assist.
Our Stories, Our Lives, Our Mission: Catholic Religious in Australia was launched last week at Catholic Religious Australia’s national assembly.
A year in the making, the idea for the book arose as CRA’s response to World Day for Consecrated Life, celebrated by the global Catholic Church on February 2 each year.
“On this day, the Church celebrates our way of life as integral to the life of the whole ecclesial community,” CRA president Fr Peter Jones OSA said.
“Our Stories, Our Lives, Our Mission provides a tool for connecting the stories of religious congregations with the teaching agenda of schools and the formation of the young. It offers a kaleidoscope of fascinating insights into religious life, be it the education of children in outback Australia or an ecological ministry of the 21st century, a Sister’s 19th-century shipboard diary, or the artistic symbolism of a religious insignia.”
In 136 pages — along with a digital version and accompanying online teacher notes — more than 60 Catholic religious institutes and societies of apostolic life in Australia provide compact insights into their charisms, gifts and ministries. Links in the online version take the student to relevant congregational web pages and the free online glossary that accompanies the book explains more than 200 Catholic terms in a brief sentence or two.
CRA national executive director Anne Walker said: “If a teacher, parent or youth minister is seeking to awaken Generation Z or Alpha to the beauty of religious life as a sister, brother, or religious priest, then this resource provides a valuable starting point. Having parented children through their school years of religion assignments, I wish I had a copy of this publication for its accessibility, information and heart!”
Our Stories Our Lives Our Mission – Catholic Religious in Australia can be purchased as a printed book from the website of St Pauls Publications website, with further information online at Catholic Religious Australia.
FULL STORY
New book by Catholic Religious Australia building religious literacy during Vocations Awareness Week (Catholic Religious Australia)
