YOU ARE GOD'S WORK OF ART!

23rd May – Therese Murray is an accomplished painter. She had once an Exhibition of her watercolor paintings at the Victorian Artists’ Society Galleries, Melbourne. Therese came to visit us in one of ourFriday night gatherings at DMC. The purpose of her visit was to see her painting in the Rector’s office that was hanging there for the last two years. As soon as she saw her masterpiece, she cried out like a child in bliss, “My painting! Look at my painting! It’s still there!” She pointed at her own signature on the painting; then she gazed at her piece of art for a while, wrapped in ecstatic joy. ***

An early century mystic, Macarius the Great, maintained that Christ is a portrait artist. As an artist He gazes continually at his object-model. And His object-model in turn continually gazes at Him. In this way He can accomplish His masterpiece (Homily XXX). ***

Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “We are God’s work of art” (2:10 – JB). And Genesis tells us that God created humans in His own “image and likeness” (Gen. 1:27). … Now aren’t these enough reasons to propel us: you and me into joyful ecstasy like artist Therese Murray? ~

PROFILE: JEROME DULUNAQIO

It’s hard to miss him, because he’s perhaps the tallest guy in the whole block. JEROME or JAY as his close friends call him was born on the 1st of December 1983 in Suva City, FIJI. He is third eldest of a family of seven: three brothers and three sisters. His parents: Paulo Dulunaqio, Snr. and Maria Piniana and family all reside in Fiji. Jay was educated in the Catholic school, both in primary and secondary level.

This is Jay’s own story of how he came to know and join the house of formation at DMC - “It all started when I first met Ioane (Racumu), now deacon, back in 2002. Ioane then introduced me to the SVD. So I started communicating with the Society. Later in 2003, I met Tim Norton, but I wasn’t yet very sure at that time of my calling. Last year, Ioane called me up and arranged a meeting between Boni, (SVD vocation promoter) and me. There and then I made my decision. ‘Why not,’ I said, ‘maybe I can give it a try!’ And then next thing I knew, I was already on the plane on my way to DMC.”

Jay arrived on 22nd March this year. He has lots of talents in sports, especially in rugby. In weight lifting, he holds a record of around 120 kilos. (See photo, right). When asked to describe his new life at DMC, he said: “I am learning many new things and enjoying them; but at the same time, I feel homesick.” Just hang on there, Jay. Your homesickness will soon wear out! ~