“You’re a mongrel dog!” – a friend said to me once, surprised to learn I had ancestors and relatives from all continents. Only in Australia could that be said affectionately!
17
Feb
2019
10
Feb
2019
HOMILY FOR MASS FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
The 18th century Scots philosopher David Hume had some strange ideas. Taking a boldly skeptical approach to almost everything, he doubted that there is a permanent self that continues through time or that there was real cause and effect in the external world.
08
Feb
2019
ANTI-SLAVERY ETHICAL SOURCING SEMINAR & EXPO FEAST OF ST BAKHITA
Welcome to St Mary’s Cathedral Hall to this Anti-Slavery Ethical Sourcing Seminar and Expo. As we honour past and present elders of the Gadigal People and the Eora Nation, we acknowledge that our history as a nation includes a shameful chapter in which many Indigenous people
08
Feb
2019
HOMILY FOR MASS FOR THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPHINE BAHKITA
The story of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37) is surely one of the most beloved of all Jesus’ parables. But the risk with stories we’ve all heard before is that we switch off when they are retold.
05
Feb
2019
MASS FOR 125th ANNIVERSARY OF SANTA SABINA COLLEGE
There are in religion two contrary tendencies. The first focuses on the spiritual dimension of human beings. It regards the physical universe as confining and distracting, and emphasises God the pure spirit, the angels also, and the dead now released from bodily life.
24
Jan
2019
HOMILY FOR MASS OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES AFTER WYD CATECHESIS
Google “how to be a great lover” and you get some interesting answers. Some offer advice to men who are all at sea when it comes to women: world-shattering insights as “Make time for her”, “Listen to her” and “Compliment her”.
24
Jan
2019
“I AM THE SERVANT OF THE LORD” World Youth Day Catechesis, Panama City
‘I’m a servant.’ Such talk sticks a bit in our throats, makes us more than a bit uncomfortable, doesn’t it? A waiter or waitress OK. An airline steward, maybe, as long as I don’t have to look after a plane full of Aussies going to WYD. A nurse, sure.
22
Jan
2019
BLESSING & INVITATION
Wow young Australia! What an awesome Aussie gathering this has been to introduce our World Youth Day week! We come together this week, young people with their lay leaders, pastors, and pope as a living-breathing, singing-dancing, praying-acting proof that the Catholic Church is alive and well.
20
Jan
2019
HOMILY FOR 2ND SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
This morning’s story of Jesus’ “first great sign, given at Cana in Galilee,” is dazzling in its scale. Jesus turns wine into water, but not just enough wine for those at the wedding reception to drink, but about 800 litres – enough to drown them in! (Jn 2:1011)
19
Jan
2019
“Choosing Life for the Dying” Talk for 20th Annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life
Might I begin by congratulating the organisers of this twentieth annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life here at Georgetown
