After the Heart of God: The Life and Ministry of Priests at the Beginning of the Third Millennium

"This book has emerged from a period of reflection as Rector of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Sydney. The question of the future shape of the life and ministry of priests came into sharp relief. As Rector it was important not just to presume on the past, but to look squarely at the reality of the 'context' from which vocations today come and to which the newly ordained priests will be sent. It ios also a question that the Church began asking itself in the light of the factors that challenged the traditional identity of the priest. In the post-conciliar period the Church witnessed many priests struggling to come to terms with a changed social and ecclesial setting for their priestly ministry. The question of the, nature, life and ministry of the priest became a matter of some real concern.

This book on the priesthood is a reflection on the times and the needs of the Church and society. It is offered to priests to assist them in their own reflection on their lives and ministry, and it is written in a particular way for seminarians as they look to their future service in the Church. It is hoped that this book will also assist lay people in understanding the nature and challenges of the priesthood at this moment in history."