Last week, with about 400 friends, I spent a day hiking in the alps between Italy and France. Â We began by driving into the Little St. Bernard Pass, and climbing...
john oconnor
Otematata – where it all began
You have read the title so you will guess that this picture is of the Catholic Church in Otematata. Â This is where on 10 September 1961, I was baptised. Â The Church is...
Christmas shopping
As I write the Christmas Clock is telling me that there are only 108 days, 33 hours until Christmas Day.Many parents, grandparents, Godparents, aunts and uncles...
plans for peace
For those who are willing to pray with the Church, the daily Prayer of the Church offers real food for faith.From today's Office of Readings:"I know the plans I have in...
paralympics and reason
Unfortunately I am not getting a chance to see too much of the London Paralympics.   The exceptionally high TV ratings suggests that viewers are inspired and...
hard sayings
In the Sunday liturgy over the last month we have jumped (from Mark) into the sixth chapter of John's gospel. Â Next Sunday we leap back to Mark. Today the gospel verses...
friendship
If Pope Benedict were asked to summarise his teaching in one word, it is quite possible that he would name "friendship" as the heart of his message.He would then stress...
let’s light(en) up!
I think I will take up smoking.My new desire was motivated by the lead story on yesterday's BBC world service. The Australian government has passed legislation to ban...
happy in your work?
I am not at all surprised by the news at this link!http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2011/09/12/the-ten-happiest-jobs/
Assumption
missing the pointEach day I receive by email and text message several commentaries on the scriptures of the day. Sometimes these inspirations and encouragements come...
Latest Posts
Ash Wednesday
Whatever season of the year you are living in today, and whatever season of life's journey, today we enter together a spring-time of growth for relationship with God. Take two minutes to watch this video clip and find out why I'm thinking of spring on Ash Wednesday...
mardi gras
Today, the day before Ash Wednesday, is commonly known as ‘shrove‘ or ‘pancake’ Tuesday. This day is more widely known in many parts of the world as Mardi Gras (ie fat Tuesday), or ‘Carnival‘ (literally ‘goodbye meat’). These celebrations began years ago when the...
what star?
Teachers in all New Zealand schools have a tough vocation. Their passion for education of the young has led them to the classroom where they often find themselves caught between the needs of their students, the expectations of parents, and the requirements of national...
just ask
This weekend's Sunday Gospel opens with a beggar coming to Jesus. The beggar (begging because he was a leper) kneels down and begs Jesus saying "If you wish, you can make me clean." Humans are created to be beggars and we are healthy and happy to the extent that we...
have your say
There is just over a week before submissions close on the End of Life Choice Bill currently before the New Zealand parliament. I know what it's like, we intend to make our view known, and suddenly the deadline has passed and we have not done anything. So this morning...