12 Aug 2024
HOMILY FOR SOLEMN MASS FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

HOMILY FOR SOLEMN MASS FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

The British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has an illustrious CV. For 13 years he held the University of Oxford’s Chair in the Public Understanding of Science and in 2001 was made a fellow of the prestigious Royal Society. He’s authored nineteen books and countless articles and received numerous honours. His most important work has been on the role of genes and DNA in evolution, culminating in his…

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06 Aug 2024
Homily for Mass of the Feast of the Transfiguration

Homily for Mass of the Feast of the Transfiguration

Jesus mostly eschewed the limelight, preferring to preach and heal through small gestures that encouraged and persuaded, rather than big ones that wowed and overwhelmed. But sometimes He “let rip”, as it were, and today was such a day. He goes up a mountain as if He were the new Moses. But where the first Moses went to converse with God, this One is revealed to be the very conversation of God, the Logos, communication…

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22 Jul 2024
HOMILY FOR MASS FOR THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME +INSTALLATION OF RELIC OF ST CHARBEL MAKHLOUF

HOMILY FOR MASS FOR THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME +INSTALLATION OF RELIC OF ST CHARBEL MAKHLOUF

The adventure film Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks, was released in the year 2000. It tells the story of Chuck Noland, a FedEx troubleshooter who is stranded on a desert island following a plane crash. As the sole survivor, he must fend for himself, finding food, water and shelter, and try to find a way back to civilisation…

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14 Jul 2024
HOMILY FOR SOLEMN MASS OF THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

HOMILY FOR SOLEMN MASS OF THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

The term ‘quiet quitting’ first appeared in the social media a little over two years ago. A 17-second video clip that went viral on TikTok sparked a global debate about work especially amongst young, disaffected professionals. The online trend quickly morphed into a broader social phenomenon, with countless articles appearing in the mainstream media…

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11 Jul 2024
Homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood of Rev. Mr Adrian Suyanto, Rev. Mr Likisone Tominiko and Rev. Br Charbel Boustany FFI, Memorial of St Benedict

Homily for the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood of Rev. Mr Adrian Suyanto, Rev. Mr Likisone Tominiko and Rev. Br Charbel Boustany FFI, Memorial of St Benedict

A recent article in Seek.com outlined the importance of a well-crafted job description for attracting suitable candidates and establishing expectations for the role.[i] According to the experts, a good j.d. must showcase the company, describe the critical functions and core responsibilities of the position, and specify qualifications and rewards.

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02 Jun 2024
FERVERINO FOR BENEDICTION AFTER “WALK WITH CHRIST”

FERVERINO FOR BENEDICTION AFTER “WALK WITH CHRIST”

The term “communion” translates the Greek word κοινωνίᾳ koinonia and the Hebrew word חַבּוּרָה chavurah. Both indicated an association or cooperative, such as Jonah and Sons, and Zebedee and Sons, who were in partnership in the fishing business at Lake Galilee, until the boys ran away from home to join Jesus and fish instead for people. Already at the time of Jesus, as today, a chavurah or minyan of at least ten men was required to represent the community of Israel at a synagogue service, wedding or funeral…

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02 Jun 2024
HOMILY FOR MASS OF CORPUS CHRISTI THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

HOMILY FOR MASS OF CORPUS CHRISTI THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

It was probably the largest gathering ever held in Sydney. Half a million people packed the streets for a week. The opening and closing ceremonies gathered people of every stripe from all around our city, country and globe, ordinary people both young and old, and a Who’s Who of celebrities. Despite adverse publicity in the lead up, Sydney was a joyful host, and in the end almost everyone judged it a great success…

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31 May 2024
“Religious Freedom in a Secular World: Doomed or Doable?”31 May 2024

“Religious Freedom in a Secular World: Doomed or Doable?”31 May 2024

The year is 2035, hopefully my last as archbishop. I’ve just emailed my draft homily for Sunday to the Religious Safety Commissioner for her approval. She’s the independent regulator charged with ensuring that faith groups spread no discriminatory and otherwise harmful messages. With the help of AI, she vets all planned sermons and spiritual talks to be given in Australia each week, catching any inappropriate words or themes before they are spoken…

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