On Anzac day in 2008, thirty pilgrims from Our Lady of Victories parish, Christchurch prayed at the NZ Monte Cassino war graves in Italy. Â The day had not gone...
john oconnor
seven years
Last night a great group gathered at Robbies Elmwood for Theology in the Pub. Â Seven years earlier, to the hour, Pope Benedict celebrated his first Mass as pope (April...
theology on tap Tuesday
I am on Theology on Tap tomorrow night at Robbies Elmwood (starting 7pm). Â Topic: "2012, Is this the End?" Â This comes from the fact that many Christians (and others)...
autumn
The colours of Autumn are covering the Hurunui parishes these days. While we appreciate the colourful autumn decline in the trees, the autumn years of human life are...
to Jerusalem
In just over a week parishioners of Our Lady of Victories, with family and friends leave Christchurch on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Â To journey as a pilgrim to the...
new evangelisation
Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?This is a simple question. We know the answer. Yes, Jesus did rise from the dead. This reality is the heart of...
newsletter (22 April)
Weekly newsletter for Sunday 22 April in the parishes of the Hurunui district, and Chatham Islands is now uploaded on the parishes website at this link.
Holy Land pilgrimage
In ten days I will be travelling on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.There are twenty pilgrims on this "Our Lady of Victories" parish pilgrimage - the majority from the...
humour
The pope turned 85 this week, and also marked the completion of his seventh year as pope.A writer who has just published a biography of Pope Benedict suspects that if a...
Titanic
These days are filled with TV documentaries and media commentaries marking 100 years since the sinking of the great liner Titanic.As the ship slipped from the dry-dock...
Latest Posts
change
This weekend I informed parishioners that after six years as the Parish Priest of the people of the Hurunui I will early next year take up new appointments based in Christchurch city. I have no doubt that this change will be good for the parish of the Good Shepherd...
a daily guide
On this Second Sunday of Advent Food For Faith gives the floor to Christchurch Bishop-elect Paul Martin on this first Sunday after the announcement of his appointment. In this clip he encourages us to use the daily readings as a guide to keep us focussed on the heart...
touching eternity
Many of you will read this on Friday morning 8 December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. I am sitting down to write late in the evening of the 7th, the feast of Ambrose, and the 32nd anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. It's been a full day. This...
waiting for…
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 until Christmas, but the reflection is not about them either. You might take a moment now to watch...
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 his appointment: "I’d like to express what a privilege it is to be chosen to serve in the Diocese of...