education
schools & education

schools & education

As the Aotearoa New Zealand school year begins for 2022 here’s a thought on the purpose of education, and a reflection on prayer in schools.

what star?

what star?

Teachers in all New Zealand schools have a tough vocation. Their passion for education of the young has led them to the classroom where they often find themselves...

schools follow-up

schools follow-up

Earlier this year I wrote a piece in response to a Christchurch Press advertising feature page in which several city colleges promoted their schools. Included on the...

treaty & culture

treaty & culture

Today we mark 176 years since the first signatures were put to the Treaty of Waitangi on Thursday 6 February 1840. Rightly this day is a public holiday in New Zealand,...

back to the books

back to the books

Here in New Zealand thousands of school students are in the last week of their summer vacation. In a few weeks University students will return to their studies. No...

totality of reality

totality of reality

In our southern part of the world this week sees return to school for primary and high school students. Some young people will be excited at the prospect and others...

one foot outside?

one foot outside?

You have heard me comment about Fr. Robert Barron’s wordonfire.com website, and his inspiring Youtube clips on a variety of contemporary topics. A few weeks ago I was...

on our knees

on our knees

A few weeks ago I had a couple of hours' session with a dozen teachers in one of our Catholic High Schools. My brief was to present something of the beauty of the...

Latest Posts

in the field

in the field

Such wise people have reflected on their life experience enough to know that while a peaceful and perfect day is welcome, we are most connected with others and therefore with God (we could also say most connected with God and therefore with others), when we live a struggle together.

FFF the book

FFF the book

Every day I am with people who may have once been baptised but now feel a distance between themselves and the Church and God. We are these people, as are too many of our family, friends, neighbours and workmates. This book therefore is for us.

church beauty

church beauty

We call things beautiful when they reveal to us their inner essence, their reality as understood in the mind of God

All Souls

All Souls

By looking at the graves, before which countless memories return, we remember how they lived, what they loved

revolutionaries

revolutionaries

On this feast of All Saints in 1541 Michaelangelo‘s Last Judgement was unveiled on the rear wall of the Sistine Chapel.