The sun is God'

‘The sun is God’, artist J. M. W. Turner is said to have uttered on his deathbed. Whatever he might have meant by these words, they indicate the importance of colour and light in his work: he has been hailed the ‘painter of light’.

Mass for the fallen

Most of us know composer Christopher Willcock. We may not be on speaking terms, but if you have been to Mass in the past three decades you are probably on singing terms with him

Singing the journey

Merlyn Quaife started walking and didn’t stop for thirty-six days. She found a sense of peace and healing along the 800 kilometres of road stretching from France to Santiago in Spain and in small, often isolated places of worship in villages along the way. 

Tender moments

Our lives are full of tender moments. Recently, I was listening to our Province Treasurer and long-time school friend, Father Des Dwyer—better known as ‘Dialogue Des’—and I asked him about the health of one of our mutual school companions. 

To enter the extraordinary

Our Community of Prayer - September, October, November

Faith in the family

The Synod on the Family, which may have begun and even concluded by the time you read this article, has caused a stir. Bishops have publicly differed about some topics to be discussed in it, priests have taken up petitions, and journalists wondered if it might divide the Church. If family life is a happy topic, the Synod has strangely put frowns on many faces. Why is this so?

Apostleship of prayer

Pope Francis’ worldwide prayer networkThe Apostleship of Prayer receives monthly prayer intentions from the Pope and urges Christians throughout the world to unite in prayer for those intentions. Thus we all become part of an international Community of Prayer

To live as saints

27th Sunday Year BGenesis 2: 18–24, Mark 10: 2–16The Genesis story of the creation of Eve can suggest that the first human was male, and his need for companionship brought about the creation of woman. This reflects a Jewish prejudice at the time of man’s superiority over woman. This prejudice is not found in Jesus. For him, women and men stand together as equals before God. Their companionship is truly mutual and life-giving for each other

A father's journey home

Driving home from hospital with our first child, James, I heard my wife say, ‘Did you click his seat belt?’ Pulling over, I was struck by the realisation that from now on my first thought would be about someone other than me

Snapshots of family life

‘You are privileged.’ My friend smacks me in the face with this statement. I had been extolling the virtues of travel and sagely explaining that all young people should take a year to see the world. My ever-blunt friend (quite rightly) reminded me that this isn’t a possibility for many people. They may have medical expenses for themselves or their family, debt, or they may have to support their younger sibling’s education. To travel is a luxury

Faith & Spirituality in Review

Will ye go, Lassie go: Celebrating the life of Sr Bridget Harley D.C., ed Sr Maeve O’Brien, D.C., Blue Mountain Education and Research Trust, ISBN 978 0 9941555 04.