Brisbane Oratory News

On this Feast of St Cecilia, patroness of musicians, we thank our musicians, singers, and organists! Together they lead our community in the sacred music of the Church, so that our love, expressed in the union of harmonious voices, may render pleasing worship to God. We are very grateful for those giving their time and gifts to assist all of us in sacred worship here at the Oratory.

This week we celebrated the two important days of All Saints and All Souls.

On All Saints Day, we celebrate all those who are in heaven and we call upon their intercession. On the High Altar we put out all of our relics of the Saints as a way to honour them, and to call upon their aid. To name a few we have Saints Philip Neri, John Henry Newman, the Apostles, Robert Bellarmine, Thomas Aquinas, Charbel, and Jacinta and Francisco. Orate pro nobis!

On All Souls Day, we remember those who have died, and still toil for their good in Purgatory. We pray for these Holy Souls, in order that we may help them merit the grace to come quickly into the joy of heaven, where they in their turn will pray for us. Representing their faithful departed, a catafolque is constructed, over which Father recites prayers for them. The skull is what we call a memento mori, it is a reminder for us, that should be prepared for our own death by ensuring we conform ourselves to Christ and grow deeper in the practice of our faith.

Recently Fr Scot has begun a series of faith formation talks. The talks take us on a deep dive in certain aspects of the faith. Some of the topics covered so far include: The Daughter of Sion: typology, grace and the fulness of Israel; The Historical Case for the Gospels: rabbinical literature, reductive approaches and form; The Way of the Pilgrim: the Jesus Prayer, perseverance and the heart’s stillness. The Talks are held three weeks on, one week off, on Thursdays at 7:30pm and are repeated on Fridays at 10:00am to give those who wish to attend more options in available times. To see what the talk is for the current week, check the Weekly Bulletin.

Richard Connolly was the Catholic composer of many hymns that have become engrained in the memory of all Christians in Australia. All are welcome to join us for our Richard Connolly Memorial Musical Oratory as we journey through the Liturgical Year featuring some of his most loved compositions including:

• By Your Kingly Power
• Jesus in Your Heart we Find
• Holy Father, God of Might
• Help of Christians Guard this Land

Congregational singing will be supported by an eight-voice choir formed for the occasion.

To conclude there will be Solemn Benediction with some beautiful motets for the occassion.