A few times each year priests of the regions of the Christchurch diocese meet to reflect, discuss and pray together. These regional meetings hear from and report to the...
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many storeys
Even fifty years after his untimely death, Thomas Merton remains one of the great Christian writers and teachers. In Christchurch we feel a special connection with him...
Sr. Leonie “bottled”
As the Rector of the host College for this year's Bishop Lyons Shield Competition, Justin Boyle of St. Bede's had the opportunity for a last word before asking Bishop...
gift of words
When I arrived at the Bishop Lyons Public Speaking competition on Sunday afternoon, Bishop Barry Jones had just celebrated Mass for the teams from our seven Catholic...
in the gaze
The image that I had prepared for last Sunday's homily on the vine & branches gospel is the Vine & Branches gold resin windows from Our Lady of Victories...
funerals
In a rural parish, funerals are a significant gathering of friends and neighbours with family. This week in the Hurunui I have assisted with two funerals; Katie after a...
choosing a g(G)od
In 1974 Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh (accompanied by his wife Queen Elizabeth) visited Vanuatu a small archipelago in the Pacific Islands. Newspaper headlines...
SMSM’s@Chatham
By the late 1940's the NZ government was finding it impossible to provide adequate medical care for the people of the Chatham Islands. The government made a request of...
a life of value
When did you last encourage someone to consider that God might be calling them to serve as a priest? This Sunday (“Good Shepherd Sunday”, Fourth Sunday of Easter) is...
Anzac Day
The entire morning of Anzac Day on the Chatham Islands is taken with dignified commemorations. The service at dawn is followed by breakfast. Then the parade from the...
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all or nothing
Watching live-streamed Mass? Try turning off after the homily and spending the next ten minutes praying with the scriptures you have heard.
truth tellers
It only takes one person living uncompromisingly in relationship with Jesus Christ to begin a movement of renewal
chosen
“But now there is a difference; the initiative is entirely with God”.
a bit of colour
I usually spend a day with the following day’s scripture so that in the evening I have something to share in these FFF posts.
just pruning
Perhaps the pain you are experiencing today is not a cutting that causes death but a pruning that is preparing you to live more freely and fully ?