50 years ordained (commissioned cleric) catholic priest halfway through 2010.  Used to look at such veterans, when I myself was just out of officer training college, as incredibly antiquated . Now I’m there myself, together with half a dozen others.

Another dozen have gone onto better things, either here or “there”.

The less said the better about those 50 years, I guess, in the light of my troubled 2009. Sadly the “troubles” weren’t confined to me and my priesthood. The dispute contaminated the public perception of this venerable parish and my office as Parish Priest.

Anyway 2009 is gone (mind you there was a 2009 BCE!) and the sooner we get on with the business of making 2010 another step forward, the better.

This coming year we may well have to decide politically, how to deal with unlicensed visitors aka boat people.

I’m glad to report, from personal experience of a local detention centre, that the staff exercise a very high level of care of detainees.

It should be noted and appreciated that many Australians are involved in advocacy on behalf of these exhausted people.

Of course, there’s another point of view and another vocabulary. Let’s hope both parties and the big number of “don’t knows” remain civil towards each other in the name, if not of God, of the common good.

Another vexed issue for 2010 will be how many innocent lives may be taken when the “good guys” go after the “bad guys”.

Will the Americans attack Nigeria, Yemen, Iran? Where is the root of this infernal toxic plant? What local collateral damage can be tolerated in keeping the rest of the world safe from infection?

These global issues of war and pace are mirror images of local issues of crime and punishment.

I don’t mean local social unbalances segue into global reprisals – revenge as a remedy in the absence of a clear and present attempt at remedying such social ills as hunger for food and/or respect.

Commentators delight in revelling that it’s the rich kids who indulge in terrorist self destruction.

Well fed and educated “rich kids” (of whatever age) may well suffer from “low identity security” – “poor darlings”, do I hear you protest?

Humanity’s search for meaning began with us. We’re still moving the pieces of the cosmic jigsaw to discover who we, collectively, are.

We know that “noblesse oblige”. Those who have, have a cosmic obligation to havenots. We know but we are still evolving in feeling.

The teenager, Jimmy Nguyen, who drowned at South Melbourne beach, just down the road from here, this Tuesday, was “felt” for by his mates from Simonds Catholic College less than 24 hours later when they gathered at the same beach.

These kids, probably not rich in $’s but rich in the meaning of life, have lit a candle for 2010 not cursed the darkness of 2009.

Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind! Not so, say Jimmy Nguyen’s family of friends. 2010 is our work in progress.

RJM.