HOW TO EVANGELISE YOUNG MEN
Chris Lee and John Nguyen from Sydney Catholic Youth discuss the young men of Gen Z, the challenges they face, and how to best share the Gospel with them, who wittingly or not, are deeply thirsting for it .
HOMILY FOR MASS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY FOR ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL COLLEGE
Drought, then fires, moths, storms and floods, then plague: what a strange year or two we’ve had!
HOMILY FOR MASS FOR OPENING OF THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR + COMMISSIONING OF NEW TEACHERS FOR SYDNEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
In 1820, after waiting 42 years, the Catholics of the colony of New South Wales were finally given two official chaplains…
HOMILY FOR MASS OF THE 6TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
When I was quite young,
and quite small for my size,
I met an old man in the Desert of Drize.
and he sang me a song, I will never forget.
At least, well, I haven’t forgotten it yet.
HOMILY FOR MASS OF THE 5TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
What does it mean for God to pray? More specifically, why would Jesus, who is God, feel the need to pray?
Clearly, it was not for want of confidence in His divine mission or powers.
HOMILY FOR MASS FOR THE OPENING OF THE SEMINARY YEAR
Typecasting. If a young lawyer wins a complex case in an obscure corner of the law such as admiralty or financial derivatives, he or she may spend the rest of their life being given cases in that same area.
HOMILY FOR THE PONTIFICAL MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL FOR VERY REV ISIDORE ANANTHARAJ EV
Some years ago I heard Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta – now Cardinal Gregory of Washington DC – give a World Youth Day catechesis on the subject of Christian joy. He observed that we Christians have every reason to be happy: we have been given life in a world full of beauty and opportunity
Introduction to Commissioning Ceremony for Sydney Delegates to the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia
Welcome to St Mary’s Cathedral as we commission the Sydney-based delegates to the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia. The previous four such councils – in 1885, 1895, 1905 and 1937 – were all held here in Sydney with this cathedral as their focal point, as will be the case for the final session of the 2021-22 council. Last time the aged and long-serving Archbishop Michael Kelly of Sydney presided.
HOMILY FOR MASS OF THE 4TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
In 1925 the Star of the East sect of Theosophists built a 200-seat amphitheatre here in Sydney. Krishnamurti, their ‘World Teacher’, was expected to preach there. He was said to have prophesied Christ’s imminent return, walking on water through the heads of Sydney harbour, and so the theatre was built at Balmoral Beach.
HOMILY FOR THE MORNING MASS OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Even her betrothed took some convincing not to put her out of sight (Mt 1:19-25). Months later, and now heavily pregnant, she was forced by unsympathetic authorities to take the road to Bethlehem with her husband (Lk 2:1-6).
HOMILY FOR THE MIDNIGHT MASS OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Christmas can be very isolating. Think of the teenager with the strange story about how she got pregnant (Lk 1:26-38; Mt 1:18). Amidst all the village gossip, she went off to the hills to stay with an aunt (Lk 1:39-56)
HOMILY FOR END-OF-YEAR CAS STAFF MASS
Welcome to our end-of-year Mass for the staff of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. How very sad that we are back to sitting at opposite ends of the pews from each other in masks and unable even to sing an Advent carol!