Clare Schwantes
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The courage to be unremarkable
In a culture that prizes visibility, true worth comes not from standing out — the real challenge isn’t accepting ordinariness.
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The liturgical discipline of mystery
Water, oil, fire, bread and wine do not merely represent something else — within the liturgical action they do something. They engage the body, awaken memory and invite response. Over-explanation risks leaving the assembly understanding more while perceiving far less.
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Mercy, joy and the nearness of God
People arrive at liturgy seeking love and mercy but leave without feeling them. The gap between what the words intend and what worshippers experience raises an urgent question: what is the liturgy actually revealing about the God we gather to meet?
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The words we pray shape who belongs in the Church
The language used in Catholic worship is not a neutral tool — it actively shapes who feels seen, welcomed, and addressed by God. When liturgical words no longer resonate with the lived experience of the assembly, the Church’s ability to gather all the baptised is quietly undermined.
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From TikTok to the baptism font
Faith communities are engaging digital culture rather than retreating from it. Conversion stories on YouTube and TikTok, alongside a growing Vatican online presence, are sparking real curiosity that leads people from screens to parishes and into sacramental preparation.
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Listening transforms liturgical life
Choirs are not performers. They are prayer guides. Pope Leo reminds liturgical musicians that their work begins in silence, not rehearsal. Music is meant to draw people into prayer, not simply impress them. Deep listening is the choir’s first spiritual task.
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Catholic educators sacred calling
Catholic educators carry the profound task of shaping hearts that encounter the living God through prayer and liturgy. Beyond curriculum, this mission calls teachers to nurture faith through lived, transformative experiences that form lifelong belief and deepen students’ awareness of God’s presence.
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What young people seek in faith
The decline of youth in the Church is not the full story. Across Australia, young Catholics are rediscovering faith in surprising numbers, seeking authenticity, community, and a sense of hope that speaks to their deepest aspirations.
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New Lectionary promises inclusive language
A new Lectionary in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand signifies a renewed commitment to ensure that Scripture is proclaimed with inclusivity, accessibility, and depth. It invites the faithful to recognise the living word as central to liturgy, identity, and mission.
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Pilgrims of Hope: a lighter footprint through liturgy
Celebrations now integrate natural materials like water, flowers and stones, with some communities worshipping outdoors under trees. These gestures revive the sense of creation as the Church’s first cathedral, linking worship directly to the earth.
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