Category: Updates from Brisbane Oratory in Formation

On Sunday 13 October we celebrated the canonisation of St John Henry Newman. St John Henry established the first Oratory in the English speaking world in Birmingham. He was a well known convert from Anglicanism having to give up much when he became a Catholic. He is one of the greatest intellectuals in the Church, a man of deep prayer, and sought his pastoral work among the poor of Birmingham drawing souls to Christ through friendship and joy.

In preparation for this feast we have been praying a Novena to St John Henry in our parish, in which we also celebrated his feast day, finishing with a celebration on Sunday with his canonisation with a sung Mass followed by a spit roast picnic with our parishioners. It wonderful to have so many of our parishioners and supporters join us on this great day.

The post Celebration for the Canonisation of John Henry

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Brother Conor moved a step closer to priesthood when His Grace, Archbishop Coleridge, visited on September 9 to admit Brother as a candidate for Holy Orders.  Brother is resolved to complete his preparation for ordination, and the Archbishop has accepted that declaration in the name of the Church.

Archbishop Mark and Fr Adrian recipe Br Conor as a Candidate for Holy Orders.Maria Rose Anna Photography.

Oratorians around the world are rejoicing that, in the coming weeks, another of our own will be raised to the dignity of the altars.  John Henry, Cardinal Newman will be canonised by the Holy Father on Sunday 13 October.  Father Scot is making the journey to Rome to represent us at the celebrations there.  Here in Brisbane we will celebrate his feast day on Wednesday 9 October (in the week leading up to the canonisation day), and on the day of the canonisation itself we warmly invite you to celebrate with us at the

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The Catholic Enquiry Group will begin a new cycle starting on Tuesday 1 October at 7:30pm – 8:45pm. This group is for adults who wish to enquire into or prepare to be received into the Church and become Catholic. This program also takes the place of RCIA. Catholics who wish to reconnect with their faith after some time away from the Church, or who would like to go over the faith, are also welcome.

Here at the Oratory we use Evangelium which is a thourough program that covers the Catholic Faith to give people a solid foundation in what Catholics believe and why including the Creed, Sacraments, Morals, and Prayer. The groups are usually small in number allowing some time for discussion and questions.

If you are discerning a call to become a Catholic or would just like to learn more please contact Teresa Martin who is the program coordinator on 0413763256

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With the growth of Annerley in the early 1900’s, Catholics who were having to walk more than five kilometers to St Joseph Church Kangaroo Point, approached the then archbishop, James Duhig, who purchased land in October 1912, and then blessed the newly constructed church (with eventual classrooms underneath) on June 14 1914. This original wooden church stood where the Marymac Centre now stands, and could hold up to 300 people. Known as the “Ipswich Road Parish”, this new community of faith took in the present parishes of Coopers Plains, Corinda, Darra, Graceville, Inala, Moorooka, Oxley, Salisbury, Sunnybank and Woodridge(!) The parish priests travelled on horseback, until parishioners purchased a ‘T’ model Ford in 1920. 

Only ten years after the opening of the original church, Archbishop Duhig announced the building of a new parish church, to meet the demands of the rapidly growing parish. It was to be built in memory of

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On Friday 2nd August, the people of our Parish are being asked to pray for the priests and young men of the Brisbane Oratory in Formation. Intercessory prayer, sacrifice and penance are essential in the formation offaithful priests.

To this end, the prayer day will begin at 8:20am (before the 9:00am Mass) with a Rosary led by the Legion of Mary. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will then follow. The church will remain open all day to allow parishioners to pray privately. The day will come to its conclusion following Holy Hour at 8:30pm.

Coincidentally the Portiuncula plenary indulgence may be obtained on this day and is granted under the usual conditions to the faithful who visit a parish church and devoutly recite the Our Father and the Creed. Indulgences are a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1471).
The post

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The Fathers and Brothers of the Brisbane Oratory in Formation rejoice with our confreres around the world at the news that Blessed John Henry Newman will be canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday 13 October 2019.  Newman was ordained a priest in the Church of England and became a leader of the Oxford Movement.  He converted to Catholicism in 1845.  He established the first Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in England at Birmingham in 1849, thus bringing Saint Philip’s Oratory to the English-speaking world. Cardinal Newman is widely considered to be one of the most significant figures of the 19thcentury. 

At his Beatification in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI said: “The definite service to which Blessed John Henry was called involved applying his keen intellect and his prolific pen to many of the most pressing ‘subjects of the day’. His insights into the relationship between faith and reason, into the vital place of revealed religion in

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Br Conor writes this months reflection in the Newsletter

The last reflection which I shared with you was written from the cold and wet, yet always beautiful Eternal City, Rome. This time I am writing to you from sunny one day, perfect the next Brisbane (though if I am being honest, today is anything but sunny). A lot has happened since my last contribution to our Oratory Newsletter. Both Br Tyson and myself have returned home to continue our studies at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and with Oratory Father, Scot Armstrong. We have also had to say goodbyes to Shawn and Hung after they decided that the Oratorian life wasn’t for them. Their departure gave me cause to stop and reflect upon my own vocation. While it always deeply regrettable to see someone leave the Community it is also an opportunity to reflect on where we are and where we

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Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating the Feast of St Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory, and principal patron of the Brisbane Oratory in Formation. This feast day also marks four years since our Oratory in Formation officially began and we continue to look to the future to our formal establishment.

The Brisbane Oratory celebrate the feast of St. Philip NeriPosted by Maria Rose Anna Photography on Wednesday, 29 May 2019

After Mass we gathered on the lawn for drinks and canapés. It was a great opportunity to catch up with many of you our parishioners and supporters and thank you for your continued support.

Posted by Maria Rose Anna Photography on Wednesday, 29 May 2019

The post Feast of St Philip Neri appeared first on The Brisbane Oratory in Formation.

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Join us for one of the biggest Catholic social events in Brisbane, the Brisbane Oratory Vallicella Dinner and Dance 2019. Enjoy canapés by the river, drinks, dinner, and desert. Then join the live band for dancing or step outside for a drink and catch up with friends or make some new ones!   Proceeds from the evening support the works of the Brisbane Oratory in Formation and the education of our seminarians.  Raffle tickets can also be purchased on this site, with or without tickets to the dinner.  Major prize: $2’500 Visa Card.  Raffle tickets are $10 each or six for $50.

Saturday 17 August 2019 6:30pm

Dress: Semi-Formal | Evening wear

Ticket price includes canapes, drinks, three-course dinner.

Riverside Receptions, 50 Oxlade Drive, New Farm.

Purchase TicketsThe post Tickets Now Available appeared first on The Brisbane Oratory in Formation.

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In Holy Week, the Church recalls the mysteries of Christ’s passion and resurrection. In this way “the Church opens to the faithful the riches of her Lord’s powers and merits, so that these are in some way made present for all time, and the faithful are enabled to lay hold upon them and become filled with saving grace” (SC, 102). Attending the Easter Ceremonies is a wonderful way to receive very many signal graces. We encourage you to attend all, or as many as possible, of them, as a most effective way to grow in the life of faith.

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