Rediscovering patience
Drawing on the history of our early Christian church, perhaps a formation in patience is the first step towards the countercultural conversion that underpins all radical change, writes Patricia Gemmell.
Voice to the Voiceless: a pilgrimage of hope and justice across continents
What began as a documentary idea focusing on the rehabilitation and rehumanisation of incarcerated people soon became something far more personal: a long journey of advocacy, accompaniment and relentless hope.
The Good Oil encouragement award: 'Holding on to hope'
Helen Bachmann’s entry ‘Holding on to hope’ received the Encouragement Award in The Good Oil 2025 Writers’ Award, which has the aim of supporting and encouraging emerging and published writers.
Once you choose hope, anything is possible
In this Year of Jubilee, we are asked to be Pilgrims of Hope, supporting others who are experiencing war, hunger or poverty or hardships of any kind, writes Pat O’Gorman.
An enlarged life
A life well lived is a normal human aspiration. But the challenges of everyday life can overwhelm us and seriously deflect our pursuit of a good life, writes John Haren.
The day I first met my mother
At Carrie’s funeral, her daughter speaks with simple clarity: “When my sister and I first met my mother, what I remember were the smiles, and the hugs. My beautiful mother.”
God, disturb me!
Listening to the story of another person’s painful experience can bring us out of ourselves and remind us that we are alive and of what drives us, writes Catherine McAleer.
Hear the heart sing
In the movie ‘Moana’ the heroine’s “voice inside” calls her to sail against convention. She dares to hope and dream of a better situation beyond the safety of the shore.
Advent: the season of the quiet adventure of the spirit
The lighting of a candle on the Advent wreath, the meditative moment, the perambulations through sacred spaces, the kneeling at a nativity scene, these are God times, writes Ann Rennie.
A Church of love
The strains of St Nicholas’ Church bells ring out over the harbour of Pothia. It’s Sunday morning, the mystical chanting of the priest dominates the sound space for several hours.
God does not have favourites
On the sixth Sunday of Easter this year, in various churches across Melbourne, women were given the opportunity to speak on the readings. It was an opportunity I gladly accepted.
My memory, my voice
Jennifer Tanti’s reflection ‘My memory, my voice’ was an entry in The Good Oil 2023 Writers’ Award, which has the dual purpose of supporting and encouraging emerging and published writers.