Stronger 2010

Space

I am so honoured to be doing what I do! I love having been a seminarian, I love being a deacon, love that I am soon to be ordained a priest and just love ministering to God's beautiful people through word and music. What a privilege!!

I am currently in the middle of a music tour around Australia,

visiting churches, schools and concert halls with what I hope is a

message of hope, love and forgiveness! It is so humbling to meet people from around Australia who want so much to love and serve God but find that they often don't have the 'space' and opportunity to fulfil that desire.

This is what mission is all about: creating a space for people to know, love and serve God. We need to reach out, to be present and become discipl-ers of those who thirst for truth; the truth which Christ alone can give! "Lord here I am, send me!"

Retreat

I'm just back from 7 days of silence and prayer. It's amazing how God can work through silence and generous prayer. I feel refreshed, full of hope and confirmed in my vocation.

Some have asked how my days were spent...

The day would be spent as follows:

• Wake up - Pray part of the Divine Office (Prayer of the Church)
• Shower & Brekkie
• Meeting with Spiritual Director
• Prayer for 1 hour and 1 minute ;)
• Long Walk
• Another Prayer time for 1 hour and 1 minute
• Siesta
• Another Prayer time for 1 hour and 1 minute
• Run, push-ups and sit-ups
• Tea/Supper
• Last Prayer session (yes, you guessed it... 1 hour and 1 minute)
• Rosary and Sleep

I would spend the 1 hour and 1 minute worshipping God, praying for others and meditating on particular Scripture passages. After each prayer time I spend 5 minutes writing what God may have been saying during that time.

// Getting it Done //

With my new ‘Divine Mercy’ CD launched in Australia I can now focus on finishing of my Synthesis (thesis), prepare for my ordination & trip to Malta, & a preceding Short Australian Tour.

To get some work done I needed to get away for a few days, so I spent a few days away by the beach on the Great Ocean Road (Bliss!!)! It was a super productive & restful week and now I am back into my Melbourne lifestyle.

On another note, I watched an amazing TV Series which I could not recommend enough: Little Dorrit… if you get a chance to get & watch it please do!

Pre-Order New CD!

Divine Mercy Chaplet

This project has been in the making for well over a year. Having collaborated with the amazing Gary and Natasha Pinto, I am very excited to bring you the first in a Devotional Series.

For those of you who are not familiar with the ‘Chaplet’, this is a meditative prayer which is usually prayed using rosary beads, because there are five sets of ten short prayers to Jesus asking him to bless, protect and “have mercy on us and the whole world.”

It is a very powerful prayer that draws me close to the heart of God every time I pray it. The Pre-Order price is just $15 (approx. EUR 10). Read More & Listen >>>

// Do it Scared! //

New Podcast "Do it Scared!" up:

Fear is a common human emotion. It is OK to be experience fear, but what matters is what we do with this feeling. Rev. Rob gives a reflection about doing things inspite of our fear.

Download & Subscribe here >>>

New Blog: www.thatsworship.com/blog

// Welcome //

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!! I am so happy to . . . Read More >>>

Holy Spirit!

A New Podcast up:

"The Holy Spirt is the least understood person of the Trinity. In this homily given in Benalla on Pentecost Sunday Rev. Rob explains who the Holy Spirit is, and what the role of the Holy Spirit is in our life of prayer."

Click Here to Download or Subscribe >>

// Only By Grace //

Worth Checking Out!

It is not usual for me to promote single events, but this is one worth considering. If you are involved in music in your church, youth group or prayer group check out this conference in Sydney: (click on banner)

For more concerts and events visit my Upcoming Shows Page >>>

"Peace"

A New Podcast Now up!!

A homily delivered in Benalla on the sixth week of Easter (Mother's Day) 2010. "God offers us peace which the world can not give; a peace that is not determined by our feelings or circumstances but by faith and understanding that God is forever by our side."

Link Here >>>

Just A Quick Update!

Synthesis!

It is busy days that help us appreciate the more quiet ones. It's funny... I am a full-time student and have to fight to find the quiet time to sit at my desk and actually study. Today I am determined to put in some decent energy into my synthesis. These are my last three months of official study so it is with a thankful and enthusiastic heart I should and will write this 25,000 word synthesis.

On another note: I put up another Podcast titled 'Consider it!' - you can download it for free here >> There will be a new podcast uploaded every few weeks, so if you decide to subscribe, iTunes will inform you when a new download is available!

In other news... a big Christian Website (www.Christian.com) is including this blog in its 'blogs' section. Be sure to check it out:

Podcast!!

Following your requests for a podcast of my testimony, homilies and reflections we have managed to set one up. You can now subscribe to the FREE podcast and iTunes will let you know each time one is added.

Download and Subscribe Here >>>

I hope this blesses you!

New Website Coming Very Soon!!

I am so excited about the All-New ThatsWorship.com coming out in June!

So far my official website has been mainly about my music; it is now going to be much more than that. The site will now have features such as Audio Homilies & Teachings, an incorporated Blog, Video and photo 'gadgets', a great new store (for CD's, books, T-shirts, downloads and more) and amazing music features such as song streaming, stories behind the songs, song usage suggestions and much more... all this wonderfully presented and designed by one of Australia's top web design companies!

Since we are in the design stage over the next few weeks I am more than happy to receive any suggestions if you have any! Until then you can still visit and interact with me, buy music and navigate around the current www.ThatsWorship.com.

Above All - Rob Galea

Website Down!

UPDATE: ALL SORTED AND ONLINE AGAIN!!!

Update since Post Below: Site up but email still down!!

My website (www.ThatsWorship.com) has been down for the last 48 hours. Hoping it will come back online soon.

Sorry for amy inconvenience caused! Please keep in touch through FaceBook, Twitter (www.Twitter.com/RobGalea) and download my music from iTunes or CDBaby.com.

Thanks!!

From Mess to Press!

A few months ago I got interviewed by an Australian Catholic magazine. They wanted to know about my conversion and why I chose to become a Catholic priest.

The article got published and before I knew it I got 'flooded' by emails and calls from local and even international journalists wanting to know more. In fact there are four magazines reporting the same story from a different angle this month alone (Contact Magazine, Kairos Magazine, Catholic Viewpoint and Osservatore Romano).

I am just amazed that God would choose to give people hope from my messed up past.

"If You can take and use it Lord... here it is... all of it!"

I will try to scan and post an article or two soon! Ohh... and HAPPY EASTER!!

// Chilax //

Ever lose sleep worrying about something, only to wake the next morning wondering why you made such a big 'fuss' over the issue? I do!! I recently got a MASSIVE telephone bill which I knew I could not have incurred. To cut a long story short, I lost some sleep and allowed anxiety to get the better of me.

But today (2 weeks later) I thank God for that incident because it helped me come to the realisation that my peace of mind is much more valuable than the few hundred dollars I may have to pay. Romans 8:28 says that God will use EVERY situation for the good of those who listen to, love and trust in Him. Allowing ourselves undue anxiety makes us unable to listen, to trust and to love!

Next time, instead of letting my tension rise I am going to chilax and face it with the understanding that all I have (including my money) is in God's hands, and if I have to pay the massive bill I do it trusting that life will go on and, if I am ready to listen to God speak through the situation, He will use it for my good!

Four Pillars

I'm at a point where I am enjoying my lifestyle more than ever. Not that life has become easier, or that I am more settled. Quite the contrary... my life is getting more busy, relationships and situations more complicated and I seem to be living out of a suitcase as much as I am in my own bedroom.

Despite all this I love the way my lifestyle is going... in all my movement, travels, music, studies, pastoral care and parish and seminary life there is a foundation of habits that keeps me sane and smiling:

• Prayer,
• Study,
• Maintaining and building friendships, and
• Exercise.

These 4 things are the pillars that keep my life constant in my not-so-regular lifestyle.

The thing is: we all live busy lives, and all need to have these four pillars in as part of our daily routine... even if it means praying as you wash the dishes, listening to an audiobook as you drive to work, calling, or meeting (not just on Facebook!!) one friend, and walking once around your block before your evening shower!