Well, that was fun, and make no mistake. I have just returned from dropping Mark Shea back at Melbourne Airport for his return flight to Sydney where he wil continue his speaking tour for a few days before returning home to Seattle. Mark spoke at the Cardinal Knox Centre last night on the topic of his latest book/books “Mary: Mother of the Son”, available in Australia through the Mustard Seed Bookshop – and soon at the Catholic Central Bookshop here in Melbourne as well.
Thanks very much to Mark and to the Mustard Seed shop for this wonderful experience. We had about 40-50 people last night, supported with supper afterwards by Anima Women’s Network and Catholic Women’s League. Mark spoke at length on the Four Marian Dogmas (not – as he was misheard by a Sydney journo to have said “the Four Million Dogmas”) of the Catholic Church. He is a engaging speaker, and I am assured by my good friend Fraser Pearce, who has read all three books, that they are a “good read”. He is also the author of “This is my Body”, “By What Authority?” and “Making Senses out of Scripture” (also available from the same sources). So go and buy his books, guys. And then read them.
And a little know fact about Mark Shea: He is an actor, TV star and soon to be star of a feature film. The Film is of “Man Alive” by Chesterton, and Mark plays the lead character “Innocent Smith”. It is a complete reworking of an EWTN TV series done a while back. Actually, I think that Mark would probably make a very good casting choice for the author rather than the main character. Here is scene from the EWTN version:
at the Catholic bookshop ? Good i can say hello to my former TAFE teaching colleague mary long
Yep, Mary was here last night, and a faithful supporter of Anima. She is also a regular reader of this blog, so you can say “Hullo” right here!
Thanks Schutz and are we right for singing on the 28th @ your Church?
Mary ‘g’day from your formercolleague at BHIT when we were out at doncaster east ,except i was in HACS dept.Initials (WP)
Robert Sungenis didn’t appear and challenge him to a debate did he? (Sorry bad joke).
Mark’s blog title “Catholic and Enjoying It” always used to bother my conscience. Obviously, Mark’s was the right attitude – whereas I was “Catholic and Hating Mostly Every Minute of It”. Something had to give. Today, I’m at home in Holy Orthodoxy.
Thanks, Mark!
2 stars, David
I am assured that the film will be in another dimension entirely, Tony!
Hi David! Happy to hear the talk went well. I would have loved to see Mark. I was in contact with him for work, plus I would listen to him on Catholic Answers Live and I was following his blog there for a while! But it’s a bit hard for me to leave the house these days for interesting Catholic talks:). You’ll be pleased to know that the boys and I have made it to Mass each week though!
Also, thanks for your congratulations! I only discovered your email in my spam box this week.
My boys are a month old now – it’s gone very quickly!
Great to hear from you, Bekky! Make sure you come into the office with the two bubs as soon as you are able. We all want to ooh and aah. (Warning: I get all mushy and paternal around babies.)
Hi Rebecca – make your visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday so I can meet the new arrivals!
No mistake made, it was fun — and I learned much from it. My only regret is that I hadn’t been able to bring more people along as I could have if I’d remembered about the talk a bit sooner. What a shame we didn’t fill that room! And btw, the air conditioner did come on, David, at about the time Philip and I sat down where we did, but it might have mostly been most palpable from up there (we were maybe six rows up). That might have been the reason why those folks at the very back refused to come down, too. ;-)
Mark Shea is a good guy. I’m sure he was well received down under.
Christine
I’m intrigued, Christine. Why do you say that Mark is a “good guy”? I mean, he is, and I would find it unnatural for anyone who has met him to think otherwise, but I am particularly wondering what contact you had with him and what it was about him that impressed you – especially given that you have now taken a step against which he would strongly warn any Catholic considering it.
I would have loved to have been there. A bit too time consuming to get up there at this hectic time of year, unfortunately.
I’ve been a reader of Mark’s blog since 2004.