Letters

Gem of a priest (letter)

Patrick Nathan

Contents - Apr 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain!' - Peter Westmore Melbourne 'Sexuality Directives' put parents first - Anthony Cappello News: The Church Around the World Documents: John Paul II on the Catholic Faith in our region - Pope John Paul II Events: Carnivale Christi 2002 - Young Catholics restoring Sydney's Christian culture - Helen Ransom Adelaide Thomas More Centre address: The key elements of Catholic Action today - Archbishop Philip Wilson Melbourne TMC: The rights and responsibilities of laity in the Catholic Church - Archbishop Denis Hart The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter and Star Wars - Hal G.P. Colebatch A fresh way for children to learn the faith - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Anne Delsorte Australian version of Maltese Marian shrine of Ta' Pinu 'Victims of Abortion' founder appeals to Catholic priests - Anne Lastman Letters: Gem of a priest (letter) - Patrick Nathan Letters: Vocations (letter) - Erin Carli Letters: Ambassador (letter) - Tom King Letters: Reforming the reform (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: Evangelisation (letter) - Mavis Power Letters: Telling the truth (letter) - Teresa Martin Letters: Vocations Pilgrimage (letter) - Martine Watkinson Letters: Harry Potter (letter) - Christine Slagter Letters: Bare churches (letter) - Ned Haliburton Letters: Croatian appeal (letter) - Fr Zeljko Rakosec SJ Letters: Mutilated hymns (letter) - Eric G. Miller Letters: Generous response (letter) - Grace O'Hara Letters: EWTN (letter) - J. Clarke Letters: Purgatory (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Books: 'The Church In The Dark Ages' by Henri Daniel-Rops - Michael Lynch (reviewer) Books: The Clash Of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion and Morality in Crisis - David R. Oakley (reviewer) Books: Bound To Forgive: The Pilgrimage to Reconciliation of a Beirut Hostage - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Engaged to be Married - A Giftbook for Engaged Couples - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: For Youth and the Poor - De La Salle Brothers in Australia, PNG and NZ 1906-2000 - Michael Bohan (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: Father forgive them ...: Our Lord's example for Christian living - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes PP

As a parishioner of St Francis De Sales, Oak Park, during all 33 years of Father Des Byrne's occupancy of the presbytery as pastor, I pay tribute to a gem of a priest in the crown of the Archdiocese of Melbourne who retires this year.

Having been privileged to serve as a reader, especially during the Lenten season, I witnessed one who never took a backward step in teaching the doctrines of the Catholic Church. Time and time again, he declared, "there is no compromise with the truth".

Opportunities for receiving the sacraments were unlimited, especially the Sacrament of Penance.

Father Byrne taught that everyone is subject to the authority of the Church, from Peter to John Paul II. For the Church had received from Christ the mandate to which He guaranteed His guidance in matters of faith and morals until the end of time.

Father Byrne's sermons were firm and clear, concise and compact, but always illuminating, with signposts set in concrete, impossible to be blown away.

In the Right to Life walks he put his feet to the asphalt, walking the last 10 kilometres in all of the 19 walks.

PATRICK NATHAN
Oak Park, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 3 (April 2002), p. 13