Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP. PHOTO: Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat.
British theologian Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP has addressed an online symposium with participants from Australia and overseas, encouraging people to use creativity and imagination to open their minds and hearts to God.
Reflecting on the Marist Association’s theme for 2021, “Breathe – the spirit of life (Romans 8:2)”, as stimulus, the symposium attracted 600 Catholics from dioceses throughout Australia and other countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and members of the Marist Brothers General House in Rome.
Fr Radcliffe is well known to many as the former Master of the Dominican Order worldwide. A celebrated theologian, Fr Radcliffe has written many inspiring books and shared his beliefs and understanding of God with believers all over the globe.
Some of the participants who were gathered to hear Fr Radcliffe address the online symposium. PHOTO: Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat.
His most recent book, Alive in God – A Christian Imagination, was a source of stimulus for the Marist Association theme, and his thought-provoking comments and reflections on living the Christian life prompted discussion during the symposium.
The essence of Fr Radcliffe’s address was the assertion that “we are most likely to excite people with our faith if Christianity is grasped as the invitation to live fully”.
Speaking of the many challenges that young people face in Catholic schools, participants were reminded to create space to allow the healing love of God in their lives. Drawing on the metaphor of gardening, Father Tim posited that the challenge for Christians is “to become gardeners of life, raising children who know the art of speaking healing words to others, who give freedom from failure and oxygen to live … knowing when we share in that divine creativity we heal, we set free, we forgive, we make new”.
In a media statement, Marist provincial Br Peter Carroll FMS said: “The number of participants and quality of engagement demonstrated once again in this holy season of Lent, the thirst among committed Catholics for spiritual thought, discourse and reflection. Seeing so many people in a diversity of contexts earnestly searching together was a graced experience.”
CRA will be offering a Zoom webinar wtih Fr Timothy on June 2 from 5pm to 6.30pm. Details will soon be available on the CRA website.