AMPJP Executive Officer’s report on August 2021
The most recent AMPJP Council meeting
coincided with the feast day of St Lawrence, my patron saint.
In preparing the prayer for that Council meeting I found the painting on the left which shows a strong and determined looking St Lawrence. This image seems more consistent with the legend of Lawrence as faithful steward and protector of the poor. What a contrast to the docile liturgist of the traditional holy card (right).
The table below illustrates parallels in the scriptural account of the appointment of the first deacons and MPJPs in today’s Church:
| Acts 6: 1-6 Appointment of the first deacons | MPJPs in today’s Church |
| Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.
|
Education, health, aged care and community service ministries are growing in response to community need.
Clergy and Religious are not available, or in some cases competent, to ensure that these ministries are run well and true to their mission. |
| And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
|
Bishops and Leaders of Religious Institutes realise that a new Church Authority needs to sponsor these Church ministries.
The Apostolic See or another Bishop(s) establishes a Ministrial PJP to be the responsible the Church Authority. The Church approved Statutes of the MPJP specify the process and office bearers/PJPs to select appropriate men and women to be the Canonical Stewards (Trustees) of the MPJP. |
| They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
|
The MPJP operates in the name of the Church and continues Christ’s mission through its ministries. |
“I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love,
even when there’s no one there.
And I believe in God,
even when He is silent.
I believe through any trial,
there is always a way
But sometimes in this suffering
and hopeless despair
My heart cries for shelter,
to know someone’s there
But a voice rises within me, saying hold on
my child, I’ll give you strength,
I’ll give you hope. Just stay a little while.
I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love
even when there’s no one there
But I believe in God
even when he is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way.
May there someday be sunshine
May there someday be happiness
May there someday be love
May there someday be peace….”
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9812347-i-believe-in-the-sun-even-when-it-is-not
New events listed on the website:
- Workshop: Governance in the Catholic Church (to take place 02 Sept 2021)
- Good Governance and the Journey towards Integral Ecology (added 26 Aug 2021)
New website content:
The About us page was updated with:
- AMPJP organisational structure (31 Aug 2021)
The public news section of the AMPJP website now has the following posts:
- AMPJP webinars 23 Aug 2021 (posted 31 Aug 2021)
- AMPJP Council response to the AMPJP Review 2016-2021 (posted 31 Aug 2021)
- AMPJP Canonical Stewards Formation Committee (posted 31 Aug 2021)
- Paper seek parntership of all Catholic School Authorities in Governance (posted 27 Aug 2021)
Featured image: St Lawrence, Keeper of the Treasures ©Lawrence Klimecki, courtesy of www.deaconlawrence.com
