Emeritus Bishop Peter Cullinane wrote an open letter in October to the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the dire situation in the Middle East and the need for somebody to call the USA to account. Israel is getting its deserved criticism, he says, but the USA is getting off scot-free.
Over the years I’ve observed that when a nation’s politics move away from the centre towards right or left extremities, it usually reflects a growing polarisation within its society. Leaders who arise during these periods tend to exploit and encourage this polarisation, first for political gain and then to maintain power.
Fifth Gospel Living: God’s People Sharing Food for Faith has something for everyone. The seeker, the regular Mass goer, the half-in – half-out Catholic hoping for bigger Church change than apologies and those that see themselves as people of faith but no longer participate in a faith community.
Pope Francis has declared 2025 as a Year of Jubilee with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, giving voice to his desire for the year to foster a greater sense of global sisterhood and brotherhood, solidarity with the poor and caring for the environment.
So often we come to this point of the year and we find it hard to believe that another year is coming to an end. We can look back on all that has happened and marvel at the moments of joy and delight and recognise the moments of struggle, sadness and challenge. All of this makes up the tapestry of our own lives and our life as a Church community.
A new year has begun in the Church, and very soon the great festival of Christmas will be upon us. Once again, we will be invited into the great mystery of God’s love for us. A ‘love’, as St Augustine reminded us – whose quality makes us feel ‘as if we were the only one…’.
In the Catholic Church Advent is a time of waiting. In our lives there will be many times when we are waiting for someone or something to arrive. It can be a time of unmixed joy, as when we wait for the homecoming of someone we love or wait for the great holidays we have planned.
We’re in the season of getting together. Family members coming home. Friends re-connecting. Christmas!
Second Sunday of Advent – Luke 3:1-6 The Preaching of John the Baptist 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, […]
This question came from a woman returning to the Catholic faith.
A chaplet is a devotion that uses beads and repetitive prayers, such as the Rosary. The structure of these prayers can vary widely, and many have their own sets of beads, shorter than Rosary beads.