For the thirteen months of the Year of Faith, this Icon of Mary the Mother of the Church has travelled the parishes and schools of the diocese of Christchurch. The icon...
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dawn of new year
It is the dawn of the new year here in New Zealand. Shortly I will head up to the church to celebrate the first Mass of the year at which I will pray especially for...
who needs tv
Who needs TV when you can find videos like this one online. In 2006 English historian Simon Schama presented a BBC series on the Power of Art. In each of the eight...
Bible mini-series
I'm usually pretty selective in my TV watching, and mostly record the programmes I think might interest me for later viewing. The constant rain in these post-Christmas...
family life
Pope Francis is big on simplicity, not least of all in his words and manner of speaking. He often gives a take-home catch phrase as he did yesterday speaking on the...
word on fire
It is Sunday evening and I have just arrived home after celebrating the last of the four Sunday Masses here in the Hurunui. I'm just about to pour a beer and have a...
Sagrada Familia
One of the must-see places in Spain is the Basilica of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. It is 130 years since construction of this magnificent church began, and it is...
bye bye, lully lullay
Surrounded by presents and tinsel, peaceful nativity scenes and Christmas goodwill, it is easy to forget the full reality of the Christmas event. Today's feast of the...
Catholic schools
At the end of each year, the Christchurch Press publishes pages featuring the outstanding senior students from each High School in the region. Each school is asked to...
Joy of the Gospel
A welcome opportunity from Radio NZ's Morning Report to reflect on "the Joy of the Gospel." Tap here to listen to the five-minute interview: Radio New Zealand National...
Latest Posts
facing fear
We spend most of our lives running from death and the daily moments that feel deathly. We do our best to avoid such uncomfortable realities and expend time, energy and resources trying to avoid anything that hints at death.
at table
In comparison with moralism, Christianity is something more and something different. Our activity, our moral capacity is not placed at the beginning.
a kneeling church
And so the church that once stood strong and militant marching in step has been brought to its knees. And in this humility we find ourselves where Christ needs us not standing proud, but humbly kneeling.
together
It is my experience that when I set out to find friends I fail finding the attempt frustrating and exhausting. However when I seek to live fully in relationship with Jesus Christ, friends arrive, and I have no doubt are given to me by God.
full immersion
Our adult life of faith, actively seeking maturity in following Christ, demands as a first step the reawakening of a desire to be fully and authentically human.Â