Father David Callaghan knows what it is to speak the truth in new and interesting ways.
The Canberra based Missionaries of God’s Love priest will be heading west in January to lecture at the Disciples Summer School (January 6-13) where he will present talks such as ‘Man Up’ and ‘Is my smart phone a brain-eating zombie?’
Fr David will speak directly to the challenges people face today.
“It seems that we are so busy trying to keep up with the rapid pace of society that we have lost our ability to judge how these changes affect us,” Fr David said.
“Media and technology are becoming the two greatest forces shaping our culture, and are therefore shaping us as human beings.
“This has a direct influence on our understanding of what it means to be in relationship with God and with each other.”
The Disciples Summer School he attended in Perth when he was 18 had a major effect on his life.
“[It] really set me on the path of discerning my vocation,” Fr Callaghan said.
“I’ve been involved with many church events over the years and I am yet to find one that is as good as Summer School.
“In one week, this event opens people up to the beauty of our faith, a deep encounter with Christ and a powerful experience of the love of God expressed through Catholic community.”
Held annually, in four locations across Australia, the week-long retreat is billed as an opportunity “to experience God’s Holy Spirit in new and profound ways”.
Various local and interstate speakers, all with formal theological training and/or extensive personal experience of faith and Christian community, will deliver the school’s many lectures and seminars.
The sessions allow participants to explore different areas of faith, to ask questions fostering spiritual growth, and to discuss numerous topics relevant to evangelisation and the Church.
The retreat will also feature a vibrant experience of communal and personal prayer including the Divine Office, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Adoration, and Charismatic praise and worship.
Summer School is run by the Disciples of Jesus – a Catholic community with branches throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines and Indonesia. The community is made up of families, singles, priests and consecrated men and women.
For more information about, or to register for the Disciples Summer School, visit www.summerschool.org.au. – Vanessa speary