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 * Rohr, R. (2009). Paper delivered at the Light for the Journey, Townsville Catholic Education, July. (WILL BE AVAILABLE MONDAY, 10 AUGUST, 2009. **

// Discussing lay spirituality // **…something that is accessible, democratically across the board, it doesn’t take a PHD, it doesn’t take a high education, and that’s why the word enlightenment or transformation is a different word to education. That’s what we are about in the life of the church. (Page 2)**
 * Quotes **

// Following the presentation of the poem ‘Snow Geese’ // **…the highest function of religion is to teach human beings how to see in that way, through a veil, secretly, joyfully, clearly. And when you see in that way you will see God. (Page 3)**
 * …spirituality is about seeing, and when you see broadly and when you see deeply, there is not integration between matter and spirit anymore. There is no separation between profane and spiritual. It’s one world. It’s God’s world and God uses everything and I mean everything, in fact, the good news of the Gospel is that God uses sin and failure and humiliation, most especially to bring us to God. (Page 2)**


 * When we can again teach people how to see, they will see for themselves. When we can teach people how to see, what is given to them is the most amazing gift of presence. And when you are present, truly present, all of you is here, none of you resisting the moment, you will experience the presence. (Page 3)**

//This I think is a challenge for many teachers. How often are we wrapped up in internal and external pressures, deadlines and what we have to do next? How often can we say we are truly present to our students? If we are not present to our students how can we expect them to be present to others? (Kylie Helmore)//
 * …present in the presence… There can be all the real presence you want, but if you don’t know how to be present to the presence, there is no real presence to you. (Page 3)**

//I wonder if an opinionated person would agree or accept this?? (Kylie Helmore)//
 * …being opinionated is not really a transformation… (Page 4)**

//How easy it is to rely on outer authorities, to quote someone else rather than trust what is really in your own heart and head. (Kylie Helmore )//
 * …when you don’t have a lot of inner authority, you know what you do is quote outer authority. (Page 6)**


 * …Catholic schools can be training in dualistic thinking…training in eliminating mystery, in eliminating the problematic, that which I have not yet experienced and immediately because I haven’t yet experienced it, calling it wrong or untrue or heretical or sinful…the contemplative, the true seer, is the one who does not divide the field of the moment, you let it be. (Page 8)**


 * …if spirituality is that which helps us access truth, God, ‘what is’, than more than anything else spirituality, lay spirituality, any spirituality, has to be a way of seeing not blocking, of allowing not resisting, of opening not closing and that is spiritual work. (Page 8)**


 * …what you are going to be able to hand on to your young people is who you are. Transformed people transform people, just by being who they are. St Francis told us, indirectly at least, that we should preach the gospel at all times, and when absolutely necessary use words. Because he knew that it wasn’t largely a verbal message, it was an energetic message, when you are around live people, people who are not blocked, people who allow the love to flow, you feel healed, you feel transformed, you feel enlightened, you feel invited and when you are around people who are blocked, negative, cynical, sarcastic, closed down, no energy flows, no life, no healing takes place. (Page 9)**

//This reminds me of something Fr. Dave Lancini (our Parish Priest) says to the staff at Ryan every year about our students"Whatever you do, just love them." (Kylie Helmore)//
 * As Jesus puts it, "Loving with your whole heart, your whole sole, your whole mind, your whole body and with your whole strength". When all of that can come together, and it doesn't come together naturally, usually we are eliminating one part of our self, but whenever all of you is there, you're praying. Where all of you is there, whatever you are doing is giving glory to God. That is the work of much spirituality. (Page 12)**