- God is born for us: an act of pure love 17 Dec 2011
Christmas is a week away. It now dominates our life. We are aware of all things we need to accomplish within the next seven days. It is an event celebrated not only by devout Christians, but by the society as a whole. And it marks the beginning of the holiday month which will run to Australia Day. Today the Church gives us a story with which we are all very familiar - the story of the Annunciation. It is depicted beautifully in Christian art. Its location is preserved in wonderful splendour in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
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- Prepare a way for the Lord! 10 Dec 2011
Hear the voice of the prophet crying out to each of us: Prepare a way for the Lord! Prepare a place for the Lord in your heart. Clear away the junk. Clear away the sins that are accumulating in us. Let us prepare our hearts as you would our homes to receive the Lord.
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- "Open the Doors to Christ" Parish Mission 30 Nov 2011
In the season of Advent the Church fixes its gaze on Christ, the Son of God, who came in time and will come again at the end of time. The Church is aware of these two comings: one in humility and one in glory.
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- Thirst for God 27 Jul 2011
Jesus said, "If any man is thirsty". Do you know this thirst? Even if we believe and live out our faith is it true that our lives can become dry and empty without the presence of God? When the psalmist says, "O God you are my God for you I long" (Ps 62) - do we not find our own hearts saying these words with deep conviction? Lord, I long for you. I need you. And when the psalmist says in Ps 42: "Like the deer that yearns for running streams so my soul yearns for you my God" - do not these words stir our hearts?
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- Do not try to carry your burdens by yourself 2 Jul 2011
The Lord says, "Come to me". Come to me all who are burdened. We can hear this invitation from the heart of One who loves us intensely. The Lord is appealing to us: "Let my love refresh your soul". This cry of the Lord is a cry to those who are suffering and burdened: do not hesitate, come to me. Do not try to carry your burdens by yourself. Come to me.
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- Corpus Christi Procession 2011 26 Jun 2011
The final words of the Lord recorded by St Matthew are: "And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time" (Mt 28:20). "Know that I am with you always'. It is clearly evident that though the Lord knew that once his earthly mission was ended he would return to the Father, he intended to leave a means by which he would continue to remain in a living union with his disciples.
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- Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians 28 May 2011
Today we look to Our Lady and we are also aware of our beloved country, Australia. Today, as we honour the patroness of Australia, we are conscious of the blessings and needs of our nation. However, we are aware of shadows that gather over our nation. We are aware of threats of religious freedom, of a growing culture of death, of a weakening of marriage and family life. We know that there has been a decline in the practice of Christian faith. Many in Australia who have a Christian heritage in their family now live as though God does not exist.
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- To proclaim a crucified Christ 26 May 2011
Today's reading provides an interesting insight into the life of the great evangelist. After what had been perhaps a relatively short stay in Athens Paul travels to Corinth. His first letter to the Corinthians describes his personal state. He was shaken by his experience in Athens. He came down to the bustling port city with not a little fear and trembling (2:4). He had made an error in Athens in trying to present the Gospel in the terms of philosophy. It had not worked.
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- Anzac Day at Domus Australia in Rome 25 Apr 2011
This Easter Week focus on the Risen Christ is not inappropriate as we honour all those who served our nation in times of war and particularly those who paid the ultimate price of their lives. Here in Domus Australia - the new pilgrim centre for Australians in Rome - at this first of what hopefully will be an annual event, we link ourselves with our nation and its remembrance of those who served and died for our freedom and wellbeing.
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- Penance and Glory 20 Mar 2011
St Simeon in his preaching had a simple message. He said that if a person humbled him/herself before the Lord in true contriteness of heart, able to say with utter conviction, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner", then God will visit them with the power of the Holy Spirit and they will be wonderfully transformed by the grace of God. St Simeon had discovered a profound truth through his own mystical experience: God wants to draw us even now on the path of transfiguration. Glory is not reserved for heaven but begins now.
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- Our words must translate into action 5 Mar 2011
The Gospel today reminded us, we will not build our house on sand, but listening to the word of God and putting it into practice in your life, we will build on rock. You know that God wants to speak to us through his Word. So when we pick up the Scriptures we say, "Speak, Lord your servant is listening". We want the Lord to speak to us, to our hearts, and then listening to what the Lord has said we will put it into practice. We will do the will of the Lord.
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- Lectio Divina: listening attentively to the Word of God 20 Feb 2011
More than ever in this current age we need people in the Church to be diligent listeners to the Word of the Lord - Verbum Domini. It is becoming more and more apparent that there are many in the Church who may have a heart open to God, but a mind that is more formed by the world. They think as the world around them thinks, while in their hearts they have something of the compassion and kindness of God that motivates their actions. The secret to having a mind truly enlightened by God's wisdom and truth is attentive listening to the Word of the Lord. Pope Benedict has often commended the tradition in the Church of lectio divina.
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- Come and discover Jesus Christ - Mascot Parish: 125 Years 12 Feb 2011
When the Lord sought to explain what the Kingdom of God is like he used a number of images. One image that he used was that of a mustard seed, which he said was the smallest of seeds but grows into a great tree. Today we are celebrating and recalling the story of the planting and growth of the Parish of Mascot, and particularly wishing to acknowledge the contribution of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Sisters.
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- "You are the Light of the World" - Domremy College Centenary Mass 5 Feb 2011
"You are the salt of the earth". "You are the Light of the World". This passage from St Matthew's Gospel is chosen for this Centenary Mass because our Lord speaks to his disciples about being light - indeed a light to the world. This is a theme linked to Nano Nagle - the Lady of the Lantern. And the theme of light can naturally be linked to the College motto - veritas. It is a very fitting text of Sacred Scripture to hold up on this Centenary Celebration.
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