Loan Offerings

Items for Loan. Some brief information about some items can be found below. Depending on available time, this section will be expanded in the future.
Every parishioner is different and at various stages of faith development. Some books will need to be read twice, some will be theological, others more spiritual, others seeking to assist people in just daily living, others eg DVDs will present Catholic beliefs in easier language, others on prayer and so on.

The Emmaus Series - a series of 20 DVDs, explaining the Catholic Faith - Fr. John Thornhill
Fr. Thornhill has divided the DVDs into 4 groups.

Basic items of Evangelisation
Good News for our World
Jesus Christ Today
Why the Cross?
Do this in Memory of Me
Mary’s place in our Faith

Life in the Church
The Community of the Lord’s Disciples
Do we need the Church?
The Liturgy as the centre of our Faith life
Making good sense of the Scriptures
How is the Church Ministry changing?

Living the Faith
Can prayer be a satisfying experience?
Conscience in Catholic teaching
The Sacrament of forgiveness
Discovering an Australian Spirituality
Stages of Faith experience

Other themes
The Creed: Statement of our Faith
Vatican ll: The first Council of Evangelisation
Christian Faith in today’s world
The Sacraments of Initiation
Beyond Death: What can we hope for?


"Jesus before Christianity" - Albert Nolan, a Dominican Priest. 25th anniversary edition 2001. First published 1976 with several editions since. 170 pages. Contact Pat Condon 33511163

Nolan's portrait introduces readers to Jesus as He was before He became enshrined in doctrine, dogma, and ritual, a man deeply involved with the real problems of His time, which are the real problems of our time as well. In a new preface, Nolan reflects on recent work in Christology and how a book written in South Africa in 1976 still has a message for people today." (a published statement about the book) Nolan reproduces the culture and society of Jesus' time. A knowledge of both the various groups Jesus mixed with and the context of the times he lived in, assists us to gain an awareness of what Jesus was all about during his 33 years on earth. What did he stand for, whom did he speak up for, what were the features of the Kingdom he came to tell us about and which put him so much offside with various powerful groups at that time, which then led to their need to kill him. This book has influenced many people in the past in how they understand Jesus the man, as well as God. The book illustrates how important it is to read Scripture with some understanding of the literary genres of that time, the meaning of the language used and, above all, the context of the times in which the books were written.

"On the way with Francis" - Fr John Thornhill
A very readable small booklet. Only 75 pages and 6 small chapters. The booklet assists us to explore some of the thinking of the Pope as he reminds us of some major rethinking to which Vatican 2 exposed us. It seems clear that Pope Francis has put a new spring into step of the Church. John Thornhill teases out the reflections of the Hoy Father, and explains how they are part of the authentic tradition of the Church and how they are sourced in Vatican 2. (Bishop Gregory O'Kelly SJ)

"Joy in Believing" - How Vatican 2 changed our approach to God. Fr John Thornhill. Contact Pat Condon 33511163
Another slightly bigger booklet by this readable theologian - some aspects will cause one to reflect more deeply. It was written in 2012 when Pope Benedict XVI was in the position. Pope Benedict had called the Church to mark the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Second Vatican Council by undertaking a renewed study of the Council's teaching. John Thornhill's work as a theologian has been, in large part, an interpretation of the Church's Faith in the light of Vatican 2. What he writes in this short volume can help us gain a deeper understanding of what the Council has given to the Church.' (Most Rev. Peter Connors DD, DCI Bishop of Ballarat)

"The Book of Forgiving" - Desmond Tutu (South African Anglican Archbishop & MPHO Tutu) Contact Aileen Fitzpatrick 38511636
Forgiving is one of the hardest things we are called to do if we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. This book was strongly recommended by Fr. John Chalmers when he addressed a gathering of parishioners at an AFE Grovely event in 2016 on the topic of Mercy. It puts forward a model of 2 pathways we can chose to follow when confronted with a word or action of another which has seriously offended us. One pathway leads to revenge, bitterness, a closed mind to any form of forgiveness while the other leads to peace and harmony in our lives and, if we so choose, to an acceptance of the offender. This is a book full of wisdom and encouragement from a man somewhat in the mould of Mandela and others. All of us will be confronted with such situations during our lives - 228 pages of thoughtful and challenging ideas.

"A Modern Credo - telling the Christ story within the context of creation" - Kevin Treston (2010). Contact Aileen Fitzpatrick 38511636
For many years, Kevin has worked across the globe in areas of Education, Leadership, Spirituality, Theology, Scripture and Personal development. On page 8 Kevin raises 8 questions for investigation about Òther telling of the Christ story to people of the twenty first century. As he writes in the Introduction to the book, 'Within the context of an emerging ecological awareness, what does the Christ story mean to people living in a global world that is linked by technology and pluralistic beliefs and cultures?' This book aims to give another perspective on what we believe - the basic truths of our Catholic Faith do not change but the way of expressing them and understanding them has to change, as new knowledge of us and the universe comes to light. A book for the thinking Catholic.

"A Lever and a Place to stand" - Fr Richard Rohr (Franciscan) (2011) - short book of 106 pages. Contact Pat Condon 33511163
The founder of the 'Centre of Action and Contemplation' in Albuquerque in New Mexico, United States, in 1987. A prolific and much read writer, who seeks to merge both action and contemplation in our spiritual lives. He believes this merging is possible for all of us ( not just the contemplative saints ). Any of his books are sought by numerous thinking Catholics who wish to grow a little more in their relationship with the divine - a good introduction to his thinking

"In Search of Belief" - Joan Chittister (Benedictine Nun) 2006 revised edition - 210 pages - Contact Pat Condon 33511163
The founder of the 'Centre of Action and Contemplation' in Albuquerque in New Mexico, United States, in 1987. A prolific and much read writer, who seeks to merge both action and contemplation in our spiritual lives. He believes this merging is possible for all of us ( not just the contemplative saints ). Any of his books are sought by numerous thinking Catholics who wish to grow a little more in their relationship with the divine - a good introduction to his thinking.

"Laudato Si" - Pope Francis, 2013 - 188 pages - Contact Rosaleen Prouse 33516601
An encyclical letter on ecology and climate.

"Evangelii Gaudium" - Pope Francis, 2015 - 200 pages - Contact Contact Rosaleen Prouse 33516601
This book is just so refreshing in its ideas of what the church is about and how we are called to think and act as members of the church. Ideas which were at the forefront of the Church's thinking in Vatican 2 are reiterated here by Pope Francis. He has been a breath of fresh air since he was elected and his words and actions are a tonic to us all.

"Where the Hell is God?" - Fr Richard Leonard, 2010 - 66 pages - Contact Aileen Fitzpatrick 38511636
A short book which tackles the perennial problem of why terrible things happen to us in life - he wrote this book as an answer to the pain of his sister's accident which left her a paraplegic for the rest of her life. Why do these things happen and what is the value of prayer in so much of the pain, suffering, heartbreak in our lives?

"Why Bother Praying?" - Fr Richard Leonard, 2013 - 140 pages - Contact Aileen Fitzpatrick 38511636
This book deals with the various forms of prayer and just what is prayer. We do not pray to get God to change his mind about something we want - God cannot change in any way - rather we pray to change ourselves so we can have a better relationship with God. So, why do we pray? What is the point?

"What are we doing on earth for Christ's sake?" - Fr Richard Leonard, 2015 - 155 pages - Contact Aileen Fitzpatrick 38511636
A title aimed at making one wake up with a jolt. The book has three chapters: 1. Belief and unbelief 2. 12 questions about our faith e.g. How can such outdated thinking offer anything to modern society? and 3. Witnesses of Faith, Hope and Love. Significant signposts for our own Christian living e.g. Thomas More, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day.

"Faith, Hope and a bird called George" - Michael Morwood, 2006 - Contact Pat Condon 33511163
An excellent writer who will challenge the reader to take a more adult approach to some of the things we have been taught from an early age about what we are to believe. We need to question some of the truths we were taught - in this way we grow into a more adult Faith and then to a deeper relationship with God. By means of spiritual fable, makes us think more deeply about some aspects of our Faith which we have always taken for granted. This is a fascinating small book which will pull you up short, as you realise you have never questioned such matters as why do we think God is somewhere else, away from us, instead of in every created thing in the universe and especially within us.

"It's Time: Challenges to Doctrine of Faith" - Michael Morwood, 2006 - Contact Pat Condon 33511163
In this book he more deeply critiques various strongly held beliefs from our school religion lessons which just do not make sense in the 21st century, with the expansion of knowledge in so many specialised fields which were unknown ( and could never have been envisaged in past times) to the Church leaders in bygone centuries. The book is not meant to confuse people who have believed certain things all their lives, but is meant to challenge us to question more often, as we seek to grow in our faith as we get older. Come to it with an open mind.

"Vatican 2 Made Simple" - Fr Bill O'Shea, 2005, 73 pages - Contact Aileen Fitzpatrick 38511636
This is a small booklet for beginners who are wondering what the key changes of Vatican were. In the booklet the author picks out some of these changes which occurred in the Church's thinking at Vatican 2 and which are still positively impacting all of us. A few parts of the book deal with some current events that were relevant at the time and have now passed, but from which the author draws some lessons for us as Christians.

"Come and See - Spirituality for Everyday Living" - Kevin Treston, 2015, 60 pages - Contact Aileen Fitzpatrick 38511636
Very practical small booklet from an excellent writer and discerner of the current times. It is being well accepted in schools and parishes as a work book type approach in small groups. Spirituality is a difficult topic for some of us to comprehend because it can be confused at times with Religion. Both have a role to play but there are differences between them.

DVDs. The following are part of Fr. John Thornhill's Emmaus series of 20 DVDs on various aspects of our Faith and Church. They take about 55 minutes to watch. His language is easy to understand as he is very good at explaining theological concepts in everyday language Contact Pat Condon 33511163

• "Mary's Central Place in our Faith"
• "Why the Cross?"
• "The Liturgy as the Centre of our Faith Life"

Review of Kevin Treston's Book "Opening Doors" by Fr Peter Maher - Here