A couple of years ago I led a retreat for priests in a beautiful part of the Australian countryside. I had a few hours in Sydney on the way over from Christchurch so I...
john oconnor
Ascension
This weekend in New Zealand, and in many other parts of the world, we celebrate the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. In some other places the feast is still marked...
goodnight kiwi
For twenty years until the advent of 24 hour TV in the early 1990's, the New Zealand TV day concluded with a one minute animation of a kiwi preparing for bed. It was...
Dante and beer
What could a fourteenth century Italian have to offer citizens of a twenty-first century world? In a conversation at last weekend's retreat I heard of John Kinder's...
food from francis
Today is the last day of Pope Francis' weekend pilgrimage to the Holy Land. His reflections in these days give us solid food for faith. The Rome Reports website gives...
eager running
It has been an inspiration and a privilege in recent weeks to spend time reflecting on the reality of the resurrection of Jesus with several different groups. For too...
haircut
Getting a haircut is not one of my favourite things to do, but last week the need was pressing and the opportunity presented. Always the hairdresser begins by asking...
ready for sleep
The sleep experts, who make their living offering suggestions to people who find it difficult to get a good night's sleep, suggest that TV and computers in the hour...
the new normal
Did yesterday's budget deliver what you needed? I took some time after Bill English’s Budget speech to browse the news headlines and read a couple of leading...
Francis & satan
"Everyone loves Pope Francis" the woman announced to all the shoppers a few weeks ago in the Cheviot Four Square store. Her affirmation is widespread since something...
Latest Posts
Bono & Jesus
With U2 playing in Auckland this weekend I’m appreciating the opportunity to savour not only their music but also some of Bono’s inspiring interviews.
Guy Fawkes
We know that future generations will look back on us as primitive for treating explosives as a domestic treat.
remembering
As a preparation for this November month of the Holy Souls you might appreciate this interview on life and death based on my own experience at the time of the deaths of my parents.
Lorenzo
Lorenzo shuffled in, overweight and dishevelled and wearing an ill-fitting and badly stained clerical suit dusted with ash from his last few cigarettes. He began with risqué joke
facing entanglement
Saints are not recognised for their passionless lack of obvious sins, but because of the transparency with which they face the entanglements of life.