This week we celebrate two great feasts: All Saints, and All Souls.Below you will find the times for liturgies this week at Our Lady of Victories, Sockburn.In...
john oconnor
Cemetery Visits
Cemetery visits in preparation for the Feast of the All Souls& to mark this month of the Holy SoulsFr John will visit several local cemeteries to spend time with...
Sacred Heart Timaru 100 years
This weekend the parish of Sacred Heart Timaru celebrates the centenary of their parish church. This magnificent temple has housed the faith, prayer and worship of the...
signs of hope (post-earthquakes Christchurch)
The news of the morning for Christchurch was that the Cashel Mall will open tomorrow afternoon. This is a great sign of hope for our city. Once again there are signs of...
Assisi 2011: Pope & prayer for peace
Twenty five years ago today, a remarkable gathering took place in Assisi, Italy. Pope John Paul invited religious leaders to pray together for peace. The pope pushed...
standing ready for God
When the roll is called at a meeting, the usual response when we hear our name, is to call “present”. When a person we respect enters a room we stand to greet them. ...
the morning after
At Mass here on the Chathams yesterday morning a few people suggested we pray for the All Blacks. Others thought they did not need our prayer. After Mass, during the...
Rugby World Cup – here’s hoping
Our rugby nation has been treated to a feast of the great game in recent weeks. I have already made plans to ensure that I get to watch the final live on the Chathams...
Battle For Basilica
This morning's TVONE documentary is available at this link.Battle For Basilica
an inspiring website
Each year, the bishop of every diocese arranges a retreat for the priests of his diocese. A bishop will always endeavour to choose someone to lead the retreat who...
Latest Posts
facing reality
Today I'm at one of the many very beautiful cemeteries of the Hurunui. We the family and friends of one who has died, have gathered here in Waikari to bury him. When we gather for a funeral, we are confronted with the reality of death. The one we have known and loved...
Inform June 2017
A Monastery garden, Ancient Order of Malta in Christchurch, news from the parishes of the diocese, diocesan events,,, You can read the latest issue of the magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch by tapping on the image below.
Sunday beauty
Today we are in a very beautiful place. I had the privilege of living not too far from here in the town of Cheviot for several years and today we are surrounded by the beauty of the sea, scenery and bird music. A significant number of people have replaced their past...
the present
I always feel a bit short-changed when a public holiday falls on a Monday as they mostly do. Today in New Zealand is the Queen's birthday holiday - even though the actual date of her birthday is April, happy birthday Ma'am. My weekly day off is Monday and I don't get...
the big picture
So much of our struggle and anxiety each day comes when we lose sight of the big picture. I like the story about the wise old man who was asked by the boy to explain eternity. They were walking on the sand at the time and the old man took a speck of sand from the...