Dear friends,

This is a landmark weekend for me. March 11th marked my 50th birthday. It doesn’t sound so bad if you say it quickly. I mention this not to be flooded with birthday wishes, but to explain what is happening over the next couple of months. Turning 50 (the new 30) is one of those milestones that is worth celebrating in a significant way. After Easter, I will take 5 weeks long service leave and go on a long walk. From April 21st, I will be away on the Camino walk through Spain with some family and friends. I will reach Santiago de Compostela towards the end of May. Following the walk, I will be attending a conference in Leuven (Belgium) as part of my role with Brisbane Catholic Education. I will be returning just in time for First Communion celebrations on the weekend of June 17/18th. I have organised supply priests for the Sunday Masses and throughout the eight weekends, you will be joined by Frs. Orm Rush, John Grace, Paul Chandler and John Sullivan. We are still working on the weekday Masses, but it may not be possible to cover all the weekday Masses while I am away. However, we will try our best to make sure that all Masses are covered.

No doubt you have noticed the fruits of my training for the walk — trim and taut! As much for myself as anyone, I hope to write a blog each week while undertaking the walk and during the conference. I might even send through the odd photo or video, which surely will be unmissable viewing. I am sure that it will be a renewing time for me, and a worthy way to mark a significant birthday.

But to turn to this pilgrim time of Lent. We pause this Sunday up a mountain, with the account of the Transfiguration. It is a strange word, but it is the hope of all pilgrimages, whether up a mountain, or on a path, or during the season of Lent. We look towards God and ask that our shadows and darkness be transfigured, if only in the smallest way, by the Light of Christ.

Fr. Anthony