Letters

An exemplary priest (letter)

John Monaghan

Contents - Jun 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Corpus Christi: at the core of the Faith - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: New English Missal: Archbishop Pell to chair international Vox Clara committee - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Neocatechumenal Way setting up its second Australian seminary - Richard Egan Sydney initiative to strengthen Catholic influence at university - Robert Haddad A post-1968 Catholic's view of R.E.: 'My generation was shortchanged' - Mark Power Moral leadership of American hierarchy under scrutiny at Rome meeting - Philip Lawler Following our baptismal calling takes courage - Chrism Mass homily - Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett How John Paul II's 'new springtime' came to an American parish - Elizabeth A. Wittman Pope John Paul II on Catholic Action (from Ecclesia in Oceania) - Pope John Paul II Letters: IVF expansion (letter) - Brian A. Coman Letters: Father Fessio (letter) - P.A. McKenna Letters: An exemplary priest (letter) - John Monaghan Letters: Heroic fantasy (letter) - Hal G.P. Colebatch Events: Talks on the Faith at Thomas More Centre - AD2000 Letters: Good example (letter) - Paul Foster Letters: Radio apostolate (letter) - Maureen Federico Letters: Inclusive language (letter) - George F. Simpson Letters: Accuracy (letter) - Fr John Crothers PP Letters: Excellent edition (letter) - Anne Boyce Letters: Ambiguities (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: Latin Course (letter) - Rev V.I. Falconer SJ Letters: (letter) Letters: Latin Masses in Victoria (letter) - William Campbell Books: 'Right And Reason: Ethics in theory and practice', by Fr Austin Fagothey SJ - Michael Casanova (reviewer) Books: 'Socrates Meets Jesus', by Peter Kreeft - Arthur N. Ballingall (reviewer) Books: The Travels of Friar Odoric, 14th Century journal of Blessed Odoric of Pordenone - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: A reason for mercy: healing post-abortion trauma - Anne R. Lastman

My family has resided in the St Francis De Sales Parish, Oak Park, for approximately 15 years. My brother Peter taught at St Francis de Sales and my children have attended the school. And from my family, his and many other families in Oak Park parish, we wish to lend our praise to the work of Fr Des Byrne.

Fr Byrne was parish priest at St Francis De Sales for 32 years. Unfortunately he finished his parish work on Sunday 5 May. What has impressed me most about Fr Byrne is that he always lived the message he delivered in the pulpit. When you listened to his sermons you learned about your faith and were challenged to be holy. His sermons were well prepared, to the point, and based on a well-researched understanding of the issues and teachings of the Church.

His challenge to holiness was supported by frequent opportunities to pray and attend Mass, Novenas and confessions. Other parishes I have attended lost sight of these fundamentals.

Let us hope our parish doesn't, now that our motivational leader has left.

God bless you, Father, and thanks from the families in Oak Park.

JOHN MONAGHAN
Oak Park, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 5 (June 2002), p. 14