This post is a bit of a personal news update with a request.

On the seventh day of Creation, the Sabbath, God rested and instructed us to do the same. (Gen 2). The land too rests since every seventh year the land is to lie fallow (Gen 25:20-22), and after each seven times seven years the fiftieth year is named the Year of Jubilee (Gen 25:8).

The concept of sabbatical is less common today, but many professions encourage employees to stretch themselves by taking sabbatical weeks or months to reflect, to learn, to live apart from the usual programmes of work in an environment which broadens perspective and renews focus and energy.

While I have had the opportunity for study over the 38 years since my ordination I have never taken sabbatical of more than a month or two,

I am grateful to my bishop Michael Gielen who has granted me a five months’ sabbatical beginning at the end of this month.

The green text below is taken from my application for Sabbatical and will give you some idea of my hopes for the month

In recent years my ministry has in large part been with the National Liturgy Office, and accepting invitations to lead retreats and formation seminars, primarily for those who are seeking greater maturity of Christian faith.

The 2018 Aotearoa census (when placed alongside diocesan statistics) indicates that well over fifty percent of those who name themselves as Catholic in New Zealand are not connected regularly with our parishes or our schools. There are also many other baptised Catholics who have drifted from religious practice and now list themselves as “no religion” on a census.

In recent years I have met many of these people as they request sacraments for their children, or as they bury their parents or grandparents. In conversations with them it is clear that they would be happy to be connected with the Church, but they consider themselves to be too distant to easily return, or Catholic Christian life has not been presented to them in a way that is life-giving.

For some time it has been my motivation to present Catholic faith in a way that is relevant, digestible, and attractive.

One of my test groups for this has been a community of several small parishes in the north of Italy. This diocese, one of the smallest in the world with around 1000 people at Mass on a Sunday, sees an average (over the past 20 years) of 350 people taking a week’s faith-centred vacation together. Twelve years ago they invited me to serve as their vacation-chaplain. This community focusses on the centrality of Christ and steers clear of the moralism and legalism which many Catholics experience as the prime focus of faith. As my local ministry in New Zealand allows I have tried to be with them as often as possible for their annual August gathering.

This experience has motivated my need to study Italian language – to better understand this broader and positive experience of Catholic faith.

It is my plan on returning to NZ in September following Sabbatical to continue to (using some of the methods experienced in Italy) reach out to those in Aotearoa who might be open to greater maturity of Catholic faith.

The www.foodforfaith.org.nz website, with daily podcast of Lectio Divina (now nearing 650 episodes) weekly Homily Studio (almost 200 episodes), café gatherings (across the country – initiated by readers of the website) daily Lent & Advent reflections and two or three reflections each week across rest of the year (now over 10 years 3000+ reflections).

I am more convinced than ever that this Food For Faith mission, and associated retreats, seminars etc, has the capacity to rekindle the faith of many who may feel as though they are distant.

So, my plan is to spend two months in USA, firstly for a holiday – with a lot of good novel reading (I’m always open to recommendations), good walks every day, and time with good friends.

Then early June I’ll go to Edinburgh for a few days to visit my sister and husband and their two children.

From mid-June until the end of July I will be studying Italian language in Italy. The plan is to do this quite intensively while living in a religious community, an environment of good company and conversation (I hope I am able to chat more than “una birra per favore”) all in a community of prayer.

As I mention in my sabbatical application notes (above in green), I’ll spend August with the community that have become friends in the north of Italy, attending a couple of week-long meetings including the well-known Rimini Meeting.

I don’t find it easy to ask for personal sabbatical support, but others have encouraged me by saying that it is the parishioners who benefit most from a priest’s sabbatical and while I am not serving in a parish Food For Faith readers are my parishioners.

As many of you know living overseas is a rather costly experience (travel, accommodation, food, study courses etc). So, I humbly make this request for your support.

I will continue regular reflections on these pages while I am away, including a couple of reflections each week as well as the daily Lectio Divina and the Homily Studio.

Click the image below to make a contribution.  Or contribute at this link, or contact me to discuss at john@fff.org.nz.  Receipts will automatically be sent at the end of the financial year, OR if you you would like a receipt sooner please send a brief email requesting this to admin@fff.org.nz.

Gratefully, In Christ