19 May 2022
Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial for Richard Connolly

Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial for Richard Connolly

In 1967 a rather precocious young Anthony Fisher complained to Sr Mary Eucharia RSM that the new hymn she was teaching us—Sr Miriam Therese Winter’s “I saw raindrops on my window: joy is like the rain”—seemed barely to mention God. In response Sister offered us a better hymn: she taught us Richard Connolly and James McAuley’s ♪♪ Seek, O seek the Lord, while He is near, Trust …

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28 Apr 2022
HOMILY FOR MASS FOR THE FEAST OF ST PETER CHANEL

HOMILY FOR MASS FOR THE FEAST OF ST PETER CHANEL

n the extreme sport of free-diving, competitors hold their breath unaided for as long as they can and drop to a depth of water as low as they can before resurfacing: some of you here tonight may have tried this as kids and given your mothers a fright! The king of this sport is Viennese-born Herbert Nitsch…

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24 Apr 2022
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY- Vigil Mass of ANZAC Day

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY- Vigil Mass of ANZAC Day

Just across the way from us, at the heart of the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, stands what some consider to be Australia’s greatest sculpture.1 Rayner Hoff’s bronze of ‘Sacrifice’ (1930-34) is in the Hall of Silence amidst many other features created by him. At remembrance services and other times, the sculpture is the object of contemplation for staff, pilgrims and tourists.

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17 Apr 2022
Homily for the Solemn Mass of the Sunday of the Resurrection

Homily for the Solemn Mass of the Sunday of the Resurrection

Simon Peter and John come running to the tomb (Jn 20:1-9). In Eugène Burnand’s impressionist painting of the incident (1898, Musée d’Orsay, Paris), it is a glorious dawn and Peter is staring ahead, hand-on-heart, finger pointing forward, face confused like a rabbit in headlights.

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