It is very fitting to fulfill the commitment to World Youth Day and celebrate with the wider church community.
At the same time the local church has been admonished for its crimes of sexual abuse.
In an interview in The Herald, our bishop, Michael Malone, has taken the step of expressing sympathy for the victims of sexual abuse and has shifted from the indifferent legalistic approach that is often heard. The bishop has a mission to see that the church continues to work to overcome this failing.
Denial could be avoided in many aspects of life and times in this church in these days.

Here are contrasting images of an age old religious art form .
Mother and Child in an Indigenous Australian interpretation and in the lower photo, a traditional icon that has a special place in many churches in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese (as well as elsewhere).

Our bushland with certain trees and plants is an environment that differs from many other places.
The visitor is surrounded with new sights, sounds and smells which most of us love to experience but a few people can find this upsetting and may seek support so as to adjust.
Tree planting is a good community service that pilgrims can do in Days in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and join in greening the world. Cherish all creation!
As well, jet travel uses fossil fuel and contributes to global warming and tree planting is a means of establishing carbon offsets.

Days in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will bring some World Youth Day pilgrims to the delightful Port Stephens/Nelson Bay environment and a planned hike up the peak at the headlands is sure to be a memorable day and a mini-pilgimage in itself.

A local theme with Australian Flowers in stained glass.
From Corpus Christi Church, Waratah in Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.