I'm thinking ahead a couple of days to Lent which begins this week on Ash Wednesday. I heard someone once say that Lent was a kind of "boot camp" for the Christian, a...
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Cardinal John Dew
Just a few hours ago in Rome Pope Francis created a group of new cardinals from many of the geographical peripheries of the world including New Zealand and Tonga. This...
Happy Valentine
Yes, there was a Saint Valentine. In fact it seems there were many early Christian martyrs named Valentine. But people do not think of these saints when they celebrate...
powhiri
It is early in the morning here in Hamilton New Zealand, and I am appreciating the opportunity while in the city for Bishop Steve Lowe's ordination to stay with my...
living vocationally
Thirty-five years ago this morning (12 February 1980) I woke for the first time as a seminarian discerning a call to diocesan priesthood for the diocese of...
grace at Lourdes
After my ordination to the priesthood my first appointment was as assistant priest to the parish of Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. I...
keep in prayer…
Keep in your prayer, especially this week, Bishop-Elect Steve Lowe who will be ordained as Bishop of the diocese of Hamilton New Zealand on Friday evening 13 February...
hope in suffering
Over the weekend I was a bit preoccupied by the many ways in which those I love, (friends, family and parishioners), suffer. It was yesterday's first reading from the...
FFF on F’book
For some time I have been posting a link on Facebook whenever I update this Food For Faith page. It is a way of reaching out to those who might be interested but have...
Waitangi 175
School is back after our NZ summer break, and on Friday of this week we mark 175 years since the first signatures were put to the Treaty of Waitangi on Thursday 6...
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lighting darkness
Returning to the way things were is the “recession” of which we should have the most fear.
gone fishing
Jesus asks them about fishing, something they knew about, their ordinary, everyday, practical human reality.
getting physical
We have filled the space left by the lack of availability of the sacraments with live-streamed liturgies. But because we humans are physical creatures a virtual connection is always inadequate
talking together
Many of us began 2020 with hope-filled goals for the year. Perhaps we were still tracking well through February into early March but then the virus threat became lockdown
with new minds
You might have heard the story of the Mexican fisherman who every morning rose early and fished for a couple of hours to catch enough to feed his family and to maintain his simple peaceful lifestyle.