Yesterday I was called to a home where a parishioner had just died. It is a privilege for a priest to be summoned at this moment - even before doctor, or funeral...
john oconnor
Les Miserables
One of the video clips I used last week at Heart's Aflame was the bishop's forgiveness scene taken from an old movie version of Victor Hugo's great book "Les...
our constant care
Most of us have no memory of our own baptism. I was just ten days old when my parents took me to be baptised in the little Catholic Church in Otematata. It was a...
Hearts Aflame – Amen!
Dear Hearts Aflame participants,A week ago today, we completed the 'beginning retreat' at the Hearts Aflame gathering, and I headed back home to the parish.Today,...
Baptism: what date?
I'm back at Cheviot now after the circuit of Sunday Masses. Last night at Hanmer there was a larger-than-usual number of worshippers. For blog readers from other...
parish newsletter
The weekly newsletter for the Catholic Parish of the Good Shepherd, Hurunui District, (Sunday 13 January, Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord) is now available on the...
first NZ Mass
This weekend, pilgrims from all over New Zealand will gather in the Hokianga, Northland, to mark 175 years since the first Mass celebrated in Aotearoa New Zealand.In...
the restless quest
Last Sunday, the Feast of the Epiphany the pope ordained some new bishops. His homily for that occasion provides a powerful reflection on the kind of people we must be...
foodforfaith in your language
Every now and then I check the statistics for this blog. These stats tell me how many readers visit the blog, which blog titles attract the most visitors, and which...
open minded and curious?
A few of the young people at Hearts Aflame expressed surprise that they had heard little of the full beauty of Catholic life, until they began an adult faith search...
Latest Posts
meet Peter
I have a deep affection for St. Peter. I think I understand him well and I have a strong sense that he gets me too. This is why as a teenager I chose Peter as my confirmation name. What do I mean by my affection for and understanding of Peter? Last year on a visit to...
Chrism Mass
This week In every diocese of the world bishops will call together the people and priests of the diocese to celebrate the Chrism Mass. Traditionally this Mass has been celebrated on the morning of Holy Thursday, but in recent decades to enable a greater number of...
the crowd
At this weekend's liturgy we spend more time than usual listening to the scriptures. There's an extra gospel reading right at the beginning of Mass with the palm procession recalling Jesus triumphant entry to Jerusalem. The crowds were welcoming Jesus spreading a palm...
Palm Sunday
It's Palm Sunday this weekend, the day that marks the end of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. You will notice in the Palm Sunday gospel that people are shouting in praise of Jesus and laying palm branches as a carpet of welcome for him as he enters Jerusalem. Have...
never 2 L8 4 God
Today's first reading continues the Abraham story from verse 3 of Genesis chapter 17. It's a shame that verse 1 has been omitted since it contains a significant detail: "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said..." The age detail is...