Aug 13 – Memorial for St. Pontian, pope, martyr, and St. Hippolytus, priest, martyr Pontian was among the first victims of an anti-Christian new emperor. Rounded up with the antipope Hippolytus, Pontian was deported to the labour mines. While imprisoned, Hippolytus reconciled his differences with Pontian and even ordered his followers to bring themselves back... Continue Reading →
12 August, Friday — Deaf ears
Aug 12 – Memorial for St. Jane Frances de Chantal St. Jane married Baron de Chantal. She restored order in the household, which was on the brink of ruin, and brought back prosperity. During her husband’s absence at the court, or with the army, when reproached for her extremely sober manner of dressing, her reply... Continue Reading →
15 July, Friday — Keeping Busy in God
Jul 15 – Memorial for St. Bonaventure, bishop, religious, doctor St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) entered the Franciscan Order when he was 22. At the age of 35 he was chosen General of his Order and restored a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. He did much for his Order and composed The... Continue Reading →
14 June, Tuesday – Achieving Perfection
Tuesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 21:17-29Mt 5:43-48 Therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. At first glance, it is mind-boggling that St Matthew would exhort for us to be just as perfect as our heavenly Father. Surely this can’t be possible. For there is no mortal being that... Continue Reading →
30 May, Monday — On Peace
Monday of the 7th Week of Eastertide Acts 19:1-8Jn 16:29-33 “...so that you may find peace in me.” Peace -- something that the world needs right now. Loads of it. One could argue that we are suffering as a result of centuries of strife and wars and that the current generation of world leaders are... Continue Reading →
29 May, Sunday — Saints in the making
7th Sunday of Eastertide Acts 7:55-60Apo 22:12-14,16-17,20Jn 17:20-26 “I have given them the glory you gave to me...” It has been an interesting couple of weeks for me from a ministry perspective -- serving at two retreats a fortnight apart and being blessed to have listened to two priests who, though separated by a significant... Continue Reading →
2 April, Saturday — Commitment
Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent Jer 11:18-20Jn 7:40-52 ...for I have committed my cause to you. In any leadership transition, there comes a time when those working directly under the ‘previous regime’ will feel disgruntled or question their value, especially when the new leadership team begins to make whatever changes they deem necessary... Continue Reading →
1 April, Friday — On Justification
Friday of the 4th Week of Lent Wis 2:1,12-22Jn 7:1-2,10,25-30 Let us...since... Today’s first reading smacks of arrogance, impatience and even a ‘know-it-all’ attitude. If this all sounds familiar to some of you, I think you probably know that it exists in many of our ministries and parish communities. We think we know better, and... Continue Reading →
31 March, Thursday — On Stubbornness
Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent Exo 32:7-14Jn 5:31-47 “I can see how headstrong these people are!” I’ve always admired people who are headstrong and stick to their beliefs/guns, without fear of speaking up and going against established thinking. They behave as if they have nothing to lose and either end of getting their... Continue Reading →
30 March, Wednesday — Lest we forget…
Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent Isa 49:8-15Jn 5:17-30 Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you. Last month, I met up with an ex-colleague/mentor, who had flown in from Sydney to visit his in-laws. N had taken me under his wing more than 30 years ago when I was starting out... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 