Thoughts and Prayers

In this edition of eTOPICS we wanted to alert you to a resource for your spiritual wellbeing within the Australian Catholic Principals’ (ACP) Portal at ACPConnect. It is called “Thoughts and Prayers with Helen” and the resource is just that…. some thoughts and prayers based on the weekly scriptures from the lectionary, following the Liturgical Year.

The resource is an aid to prayer and specifically to support the spirituality of Principals in faith based schools. From the feedback we have received, Josephine, who manages the portal and I have scheduled each upload to be viewed the week prior to the Sunday in the Liturgical Year. Principals have asked this so that they can use it for their own prayer or use it with staff if appropriate.

The idea for such a resource came from a weekly blog/memo that I used to write for my own staff each weekend. It was my way of grounding our work in the Gospels and an invitation to staff to be conscious of God’s loving presence in the daily work of the school with students and families.

Having just retired from Catholic education with 45 years’ experience as a teacher and leader, including two years as an ACPPA Board member (2018-2019) I look on this work as a way to still be connected to and contribute to the Principals Alumni. I also draw on my experience as Head of Mission in the Archdiocese of Hobart (2004-2012) and through my Ph.D. study which married my love of professional development and religious education.

The goal of the resource is to help us all to live a more contemplative life in the midst of the busy everyday rather than in a monastery or hermitage. I like to call it contemplative leadership because by living in the presence of our God and drawing on the fount of love and goodness that God is, we are able to fully respond to the invitation to give spiritual leadership in our communities.

Each blog is structured to help us to Learn about the Word with some background information, to Listen to the Word through Lectio Divina or meditation and to Live the Word through prayer and or action.

Our faith life is a journey and there are no experts in the spiritual world. We are all seekers. Preparing the blog each week helps me to reflect on the scriptures and feeds my prayer life too. As “Thoughts and Prayers” grows, I hope that others will share their thoughts and prayers with me and contribute ways that help us all to lead a more spiritual life.

I recommend this practical resource to you and invite you to make it your own.

Feedback can be given through the ACP Portal ACPConnect or through email at helen.healy12@gmail.com

As we move into the second half of Lent and prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection I will quote here from Pope Francis:

FASTING

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so that you can listen.

Good wishes for a joyful Easter.
Helen