Catholics celebrate declaration of late Newman as Saint

MEMBERS of the Catholic faith celebrated the newly-canonised St John Henry Newman in a gathering in Port Moresby last month.
Newman was canonised by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome on Oct 13.
The gathering at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBC-PNGSI) on Oct 27 was graced by the Bishop of the Diocese of Kimbe, Bill Fey, who spent time where Newman lived and taught.
Fey celebrated mass at Newman’s alter in his study and he studied Newman’s books in which he saw the text that Newman underlined and read the notes written in the margins, therefore they had an engaging talk.
The talk which Fay led through a presentation began with the prayer “Lead Kindly Light”– a well-known prayer of Newman, in which he expressed his feelings about facing darkness and uncertainty and, in the face of that his complete trust that God would lead him safely home.
Newman ran into big trouble at various times after his conversion from Anglicanism which included him being called a heretic, charged with libel and dragged before the court but he continued the walk with God. Newman had the firm belief that God cared about the creatures he created.
This leads to the recurring theme of Providence in his prayers, letters and teaching. In his life when he meets all kinds of trouble, he does not give up.
Newman preferred living saints. He had a deep, humble and obedient sense of personal mission.
He expressed it in these words well-known to many who had struggled to respond to God’s call to a challenging mission: “God has created me to do Him some definite service, therefore, I will trust Him.”
According to Newman’s autobiography he was born in 1801 and died in 1890. He began the study of Greek at the age of nine and wanted to be virtuous, not religious.
In his autobiography he explains how he understands faith and how his faith developed. Newman is a source of inspiration and in his many writings he challenges Christians to grow, to not be afraid.