 |
Helder Camara
that spends itself, that consumes itself while there is still wax to burn;
when nothing more remains to be consumed,
that my flame, yet an instant,
dare to remain alive and afoot, to rumble after,
happy in the conviction that one day the force of Right
will conquer the pretended right of force.”
About the lectures
Dom Helder Camara of Recife, Brazil visited Australia in May 1985. To commemorate this visit an annual series of lectures was begun to continue his message of peace and justice for all.
For 20 years the Marist Brothers, assisted by Noel and Carmel O'Brien, have organised the lecture visits of many eminent Catholic global leaders. These have included Cardinal Basil Hume OSB of Westminster; Professor Mary Ann Glendon of Harvard; Professor Joseph Donders of the Missionaries of Africa, Washington DC; Cardinal Carlo Martini SJ of Milan, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris plus Cardinals Joseph Bernardin and Francis George OMI of Chicago and, in 2003, Cardinal Walter Kasper. Lay leaders like women theologians Dr Linda Hogan of Trinity College, Dublin, Sally Trench, Patricia Jones, Dr Maria Harris and Mrs Dolores Leckey have played a major role in the Series.
These prominent international lay leaders and bishops visit Australia annually to help inspire young people and adults with hope for the future of the church and its role in social justice.
The visits, which are called the Helder Camara Lecture Series, are a source of strength to ordinary Catholic lay people, who see them as one of the real 'good news' stories today. They also aim to encourage Australians of all faiths to develop a more just and compassionate society.
The lecture series is now formally associated with Newman College, University of Melbourne. This web page will provide information about forthcoming lecture events and also some MP3 audio files and (when available) texts of past lectures.
If you wish to be informed about the 2010 events, please contacvt Br Mark O'Connor fms markoconnorfms@gmail.com
To listen to past lectures and to download podcasts of most of the series in the last 20 years see further on this web page.