Sep 5 – Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu (born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), honoured in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She was born in Skopje (now the capital of North Macedonia), then part of the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. After living in Skopje for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland... Continue Reading →
3 September, Thursday — Learning from Peter, the sinful man
Sep 3 – Memorial for St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor St. Gregory (540-590) collected the melodies and plain chants so associated with him, that they are now known as Gregorian Chants. He was elected by unanimous acclamation for pope. Incidentally, he was also the first monk to be pope. Before his papacy, he... Continue Reading →
12 August, Wednesday — The four (or more) stages of negotiation
Wednesday of Week 19 in Ordinary Time Eze 9:1–7,10:18-22Mt 18:15-20 "For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them." My first thought when I read the Gospel for today was that Jesus gave pretty detailed advice to his disciples about what they ought to do when someone sins against... Continue Reading →
4 June, Thursday — Seeing the face of God
Thursday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time 2 Tim 2:8-15Mk 12:28–34 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself... I just watched the long-running musical Les Miserables, in a different format titled the Arena Spectacular version, where the cast members stand onstage and... Continue Reading →
3 May, Sunday — We could all be deacons
5th Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1-71 Pet 2:4-9Jn 14:1-12 It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them,... Continue Reading →
17 March, Tuesday — The struggle to refrain from judging
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent Eze 47:1-9,12Jn 5:1-3,5-16 One man there had an illness which had lasted thirty-eight years... Writing today’s reflection gave me an opportunity to read more about St Patrick, whom I had only vaguely associated with Ireland up till now. Going through his biography, I was surprised to learn that... Continue Reading →
9 February, Monday — Our constant need for healing
Monday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 8:1-7,9-13Mk 6:53-56 … they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to attend a talk by Raymond... Continue Reading →
13 January, Tuesday — Seeing God in the ordinary
13 Jan – Memorial for St. Hilary, bishop and doctor of the Church St. Hilary of Poitiers (315-368) was known as Athanasius of the West. He was born to wealthy polytheistic, pagan nobility. His early life was uneventful as he married, had children (one of whom was St. Abra), and studied on his own. Through... Continue Reading →
12 January, Monday — Hannah’s offering
Monday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 1:1-8Mk 1:14-20 "...Why so sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” I have always found the story of Hannah in the first reading challenging. How could Hannah have consecrated her son to God just a year after giving birth, especially after enduring the... Continue Reading →
16 December, Tuesday — The unwilling sons
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent Zep 3:1-2,9-13Mt 21:28-32 "Which of the two did the father’s will?” Sometimes, I wonder which son I resemble in the Gospel passage for today – the one who initially refused his father’s request but then later changed his mind? Or the one who initially agreed, but then did... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 