Today's reflection gives new Christchurch bishop-elect Paul Martin a good mention, but the post is not about him. There's also a mention of children counting the sleeps...
john oconnor
bishop for ChCh
It is with great joy that we learn this morning that Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Paul Martin SM as the tenth bishop of Christchurch. Bishop-elect Paul comments on...
St. Nick & Santa
Make sure there are no children reading over your shoulder before I tell you that a couple of years ago I visited the grave of Santa Claus. I was in Bari in southern...
playfulness
Have you ever thought of prayer as child-like playfulness. There are some similarities and today's gospel in which Jesus encourages us to be childlike gives us an...
stay awake!
Happy Advent! For those of us who follow the life of the church we can also say Happy New Year since today, the first Sunday of Advent, is the first day of the new...
a new beginning
The daily liturgy readings this past week have presented a potentially depressing theme. Today is the last day of the Church year before tomorrow's new beginning for...
ultimate journey
Welcome to Food For Faith for Advent. Even though we don't begin Advent until this Sunday I'm thinking ahead, especially because I'm celebrating Mass and preaching at...
NZ Vocations
For the past twenty-four hours the NZ Vocations Directors have been meeting in Christchurch. We are each appointed by our diocesan bishops to encourage youngish people...
in God’s time
If you are following the daily liturgy gospel readings this week you will notice a bit of a potentially depressing theme. It's the last week of the Church year before...
faith & Vietnam
It was four years ago today (24 November 2013) that the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch gathered for Faithfest celebration to mark the Feast of Christ the King, the...
Latest Posts
breathe again
Sometimes when I don’t feel like praying I simply become aware of my breathing.
living power
God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power
come & see
The church is much larger and more diverse than we might think on a Sunday morning.
i have decided
My problem is that I have picked up so many patterns of behaviour and ways of thinking, idols even, that are holding me back
THE encounter
It is the Risen Lord who is our security, who makes us experience profound peace even in the midst of life’s storms