98. The Soul
Welcome to The Soul, a resource for Catholic school staff in the Diocese of Lismore and beyond.
This edition, we’re reflecting on The Call, the unique and personal invitation each of us receives from God. Whether it’s a quiet nudge, a moment of clarity, or a path we never expected, God continues to call us into deeper relationships, purpose, and service.
Pope Francis often reminded us that we are not meant to keep our faith locked away, but to live it boldly and joyfully. In his vision for a “missionary Church,” he encouraged us to go out, to reach the margins, and to live as people who are sent. Each of us, he said, is called to be a missionary disciple, someone who hears the Gospel and carries it into daily life with courage and compassion.
Let’s be people who hear the call like Pope Francis did and respond with hearts ready to listen, to follow and to love.
Pope Francis once shared the story of his unexpected call to the priesthood and later, to the papacy. These were not paths he sought out, but roads that unfolded before him as part of God’s divine mission. He came to understand, as we all must, that God doesn’t call the equipped - God equips those who answer the call, even when it feels uncertain or overwhelming.
In the silence, Jesus waits. He knocks gently at the door of our hearts. The Holy Spirit doesn’t shout over the noise of life but speaks in quiet whispers, urging us toward something deeper, something greater. But how do we recognise that voice? What does it mean to be called?
So often, we expect God’s voice to arrive with drama, a booming word, a sudden revelation, a late-night phone call that changes everything. Yet, as the saints have shown us, God rarely speaks through spectacle. God’s voice is found in the stillness, in the sacred pauses of our lives, where something stirs quietly in our spirit. It’s there in the calm, the discomfort, and the ordinary that we begin to hear God.
And still we struggle to listen. Why?
G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” He recognised that the Christian life isn’t always easy. It asks something of us, courage in small things, faith in unseen outcomes, obedience without full understanding. But in its simplicity lies its power to transform.
When we say yes to God’s call, however it comes, we open ourselves to the strength of the Spirit. We begin to live our vocation. And in doing so, we help others encounter Christ.
In the end, we don’t need to be world-changers, heroes, or podium speakers. We are called, simply, to listen. To be faithful to the whisper. To follow “The Call” with integrity, even when no one is watching. That is where transformation happens. That is how we make the most profound difference.
And now, in this moment in the life of the Church, we welcome a new Pope! Another humble servant stepping into the shoes of the fisherman. Popes come and go, but Jesus remains the same: the unchanging cornerstone, the Good Shepherd who leads His flock through every season.
We pray that this new Holy Father may be strengthened to serve with wisdom, compassion, and courage. May he, like Peter before him, say yes, not because the path is easy, but because Christ has called him. Just as Pope Francis once shared how his call came quietly and unexpectedly, we remember that the call to serve is rarely glamorous and often comes when we feel least ready. But we know this truth: God equips those who answer, and blesses those who serve His Church with an open heart.
Let us ask the Lord to bless Pope Leo XIV , guide him with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and to help him lead us in faith, hope, and love.
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Nothing I Hold Onto: Acoustic Prayer Cover (Proclaim Lismore Wildfire)
Join Daniel from ‘Proclaim Lismore Wildfire’ as he leads us in beautiful, acoustic worship of God to Will Reagan and United Pursuit’s ‘Nothing I Hold Onto.’
- Take a listen to this beautiful anthem by the new, powerhouse collaboration of worship artists Sons of Sunday. Featuring leaders such as Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake and Pat Barrett, this song reminds us of the importance and power of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
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All Things New (Ethan Nathaniel, Taylor Armstrong)
This easy-listening, indie worship song by Ethan Nathaniel reveals his heart for God and reminds us that God is always calling us home.
Refresh your spirit, reconnect with what matters, and step into new possibilities. Ready to embrace faith and wellbeing in simple, powerful ways? Read more here.
In the chaos of daily life, could your family be missing God’s quiet call? Discover how ordinary moments can become sacred spaces to hear His voice together.”
From Chicago to the Vatican: Meet Pope Leo XIV, the First American Pontiff Leading the Catholic Church into a New Era."
For more details, you can read the full article here.
Pray every day with Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, and millions of others around the world on Hallow, the #1 prayer app.
Hallow is a Catholic meditation and prayer app, It provides audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music.
Farewell Pope Francis:
In light of Pope Francis' passing on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the global community has come together to honour his profound impact on the world. As the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, his legacy of compassion, humility, and advocacy for the marginalised has left an indelible mark on both the Church and broader society.
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