Synodal discussion on the family
Pope Leo XIV has convened the presidents of the world's 115 episcopal conferences,
to gather at the Vatican in Rome from October 7 to 14, 2026. This summit will focus
on new pastoral methods and the impact of rapid changes on families worldwide. It
will consider how to support families facing contemporary challenges in light of the
10th anniversary of Pope Francis exhortation Amoris Laetitia.
In the light of this upcoming meeting, it might help to have some ‘background’ on
Amoris Laetitia.
Plans for 'Amoris Laetitia' meeting (Sean Winter)
We learned more about how Pope Leo XIV intends to
implement the reforms his predecessor introduced when
the Vatican released a "thematic framework" for the
meeting this autumn of the presidents of the world's
episcopal conferences, as well as their Eastern rite
counterparts. They will discuss the reception of Pope
Francis' 2016 post-synodal exhortation, Amoris Laetitia.

Pope Leo’s strategy for overcoming a binary world (Joseph Borg)
Philosophically, a binary world refers to "binary thinking"—the human tendency to eliminate grey areas and split complex ideas into rigid opposites Pope Leo urges the world to move beyond binary readings of history and social realities, advocating a culture of dialogue and relationship-building as the path to peace and shared prosperity. July 9, 2026
From migration to governance, from national memory to the daily ethics of public life, from armed conflicts to appeals for peace, from racism to multiculturalism, from conservative to liberal positions, the world is confronted by questions that defy easy answers. The ethnocentric and nativist right-wing forces – often, unfortunately, masquerading as the paladins of Christianity – battle against a “woke” mentality that generally treats tradition with disdain and often scapegoats Christianity in a reductionist reading of history. Populism is the ever-growing solution many political leaders offer.

Birthday
It was going to be a quiet birthday, but Erick (with kind
intentions) shared the news that I was turning 80 last
Saturday. It was wonderful having four of my siblings here
for a few days and the acknowledgement at Mass last
Sunday was very warm and humbling.
Thank you to everyone who extended
greetings personal, by card or email. The
community and family shared a meal on
Friday night and that was very nice. Erick
and I shared a cake made for us. After all
that I am a bit behind in my work!

70 years ordained
On Tuesday June 30th, we celebrated Chris Mithen’s
70th anniversary of ordination at Nazareth House,
Camberwell, where he resides. He is only the fourth
member of the Province to celebrate this milestone.
Chris was born in Melbourne in 1932 and grew up in
Preston. He attended high school at St Pat’s East
Melbourne, with recently deceased, Gerry Bond. He
entered the Passionists and was professed

Passionist Institute
a) b) Our Passionist Institute was held last weekend and we were very
happy to have a good number of active participants at Holy Cross,
as well as many more following online, across the four countries
of our Province.
Passionist life and spirituality was founded on two Scriptural texts.
The sending out of the twelve in pairs with the commissioning to take nothing
with them, and other particular and relevant instructions (See Mark 6:7f).
When the twelve returned, Jesus called them to ‘come away to a quiet place’,
where they could be together, because the demands on them were so great.
Paul the apostle’s statement that Jesus did not cling to equality with God, but
emptied himself (kenosis) and became like a slave. He humbled himself
further being obedient to the will of the father (accepting the cross).
Therefore, he has been raised. (Philippians 2: 3-11)

One minute ministry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VaJDZk8koc&list=PLWvD8dQS9HB6h3lPvWuB
A-QT90_tELbAd&index=4
One Minute of God's Word ("Một Phút Lời Chúa") is a highly
successful, modern digital evangelization initiative, created by the
younger, intercultural generation of Passionists—specifically the
Vietnamese Passionist students and recently ordained priests (like
Tri) living and either in Australia, Vietnam, Manila or Blenheim, NZ.
It stands out as a brilliant example of adapting ancient scripture to modern, fast-
paced media habits.

Time
The information immediately below (on this page) is from a book ‘What Went
Wrong’ by (Bernard Lewis) that I read during my recent holiday. This led to some
further reflections about ‘time’.
The clock and the timetable, the calendar and the program – these are
modern instruments by which modernity, itself a new and modern
concept, is being introduced. By now, the whole world, including the
Middle East, has so thoroughly accepted them that they are no longer
considered of Western origin.
The transformation of life through the introduction of the 24 hour day, and of
devices to monitor and even to plan its passing, is enormous. In addition to
timetables, it has made possible, such things as schedules, agendas, programs,
intervals, recesses, and perhaps most difficult of all to
assimilate, the making and keeping of appointments. The last
word on this may be left to a distinguished French writer who
toured the Middle East in 1947: “I have made and still make
the most sincere efforts during my travels in the East, to arrive
late at appointments which they were kind enough to give me
and the time of which was aways carefully discussed and
finally agreed. I must admit that these virtuous attempts remain unsuccessful.

Our Field is the World…….Denis Travers CP
This reflection was offered to the Province on May 13th, by our Provincial.
As a timely reminder of our identity and in part as orientation towards our 2007
Chapter preparation work to come, as of this July, I wanted to share these
comments with you. I have written on these themes before, but this may be a
timely reminder.
As a Province we live, witness and minister in
societies that at times look much like tangled
balls of string. Whether in Vietnam, Papua New
Guinea, or Australia/New Zealand so many
‘threads’ (issues) that are focused on social
movements, traditions, conscious and
unconscious cultural imperatives, unabating
changes at the technological level, and current
social media and AI trends that intersect and act upon us. All are active at any one
moment. They get tangled up, and at times we get tangle dup in them too!

Holiday
I had a very nice holiday with my sister Anne-Marie. We
spent three days with our brother Peter, and were able to
catch up with five other siblings, which was terrific, as well
as wonderful time with a cousin and the same also for those
who know him, with Terry Lovat.
There were many rainy days, and a bit of work during a
holiday is part of
reality for me. This
letter includes some
information on AI that
I gathered during my
holiday. That has made
this a rather large edition. Despite that
interesting ‘work’, it was relaxing to not have daily expectations and schedules, and
to have time to sleep or rest, whenever the urge was strong, to have long walks and
to enjoy the beach (as the photo shows).
Special thanks to Erick, for continuing the newsletter so well, while I was away.

What childhood trauma does to the brain (Brian)
Jo Skinner 26th March 2026
There are some patients that stay with you forever. I was a young registrar when I
met Abby, who came in distraught on behalf of her husband Adam. ‘He was always a
fun, family man who worked hard and adored his two sons. Six months ago, he
seemed to change overnight. I just don’t know him anymore. He’s lost his job and
developed a serious cannabis habit. He’s never done drugs before, I mean he barely
drank alcohol.’
Abby brought a couple of photographs to show me. There was one of a smiling Adam
on a camping trip with his sons and another where he was receiving an award for a
research project he’d undertaken. Adam agreed to come and see me. I would not
have recognised him from the photographs, as he was dishevelled, with a shaggy
beard, and wouldn’t look me in the eye. He was not very communicative.
I considered a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and sought advice from
colleagues. He declined psychiatric assessment. It was a few months before I thought
to ask him about his family growing up. They lived remotely, so he went to boarding
school from a young age. He confided that he had been sexually assaulted by one of
the staff from the age of ten to sixteen years, but never told anybody as he was filled
with shame. When his eldest son turned ten, he found he couldn’t face himself
anymore and considered ending his life several times. ‘They’d be better off without
me.’