The following Videos were taken during the Marist International Laity Conference in Sydney. The 2 key note speakers were Fr Michael Whelan from Sydney and Anne Dooley from Melbourne.
Spirituality in Conversation (Part 1)
Marist Father Michael Whelan speaks at Marist International Laity Conference in Sydney April 2008 - 'We need to build a culture of conversation. Very similar to the word conversion. If nither party is open to conversion, then no conversation will take place. The heart of conversation is an encounter with another which I change. Thus it is transforming. You need practical things for conversation - Respect, listening, patience, and others. metanoia. 4 fold - with God, with Self, with other human beings and with creation. This is the core of our humanity. We are relational human beings. To be me is to be with you.'.
Spirituality in conversation (Part 2)
The one creator God who manifests diversity. To become me, to become you is to become part of the one God. We play a part in the one creator God. Lifes process is a spiral. A spiral of encounter and engagement through which relationship develops contrete details and division. If the core of this is me, is calls us to a vision. It shapes a moral dimension of what is to be me. This develops a love. God's promise is as we undertake this vision.... 'I shall be with you', in the good and the bad. I am who I am.
Spirituality of Conversation (Part 3)
There is no such thing as private spirituality. The post modern thinker says 'I am spiritual but I am not religious. Don't talk to me about community or commitment'. Today we love our private space. But there is not such thing as private spirituality. It needs institution. People say - 'Can't we just have faith in Jesus?' Precocious - 'Its a disaster without rules and regulation'. They give structure. Human being do not come together and love each other perfectly. We need laws. It is hard. Institutional structures are to serve relationships to help us have conversation. We need to agree upon a moral law of our group. Relationships tend to break down in the detail of the institution. We need to be in conversation in order that we may seek conversion.
