Laudato Si

November 25. Widows and orphans are commonly mentioned in the Bible as being poor and needy.  We often think of grandmothers caring for grandchildren who are orphaned, having lost one or both parents.  That isn’t always the case and there are also…

November 24. Sunday Christ the King B. There are many parishes dedicated to Christ the King, but at St Damian’s Fr Peter had put a crown on the figure on the cross for all to see.  He spoke of kings and queens, princes and princesses who hold a rather confusing place…

November 23.  Continuing Bonds.  At the widowed retreat the group prayed the Stations of the Cross for Widowed People.  “You know why we have a 15th Station,” Antonette asked.   “Because for all of us, who miss our spouses so much we have a need to see them again, to…

November 22.  Jesus.   Margaret once challenged the Sacred Heart Sodality members about the wording on their T-shirts. “Yes, we all do see Jesus as meek, mild and humble but I ask myself is that your favourite image of him? There are different images and sometimes I…

November 21. Jesus’ Concern. Pilgrimages to the Holy Land have been popular for many centuries.  Nowadays Jerusalem doesn’t look like it did in Jesus’ time as it was already partly destroyed by the Romans only 30 years after his death. It was captured and fought…

November 19. INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY. When Stuart lost his job it seemed like the end of the world to him.  The retrenchment package was only going to help the family for a few months and he was the main breadwinner.  He went into depression and for a time wouldn’t…

November 18. The diocese had organised a pilgrimage to Lourdes for a number of families who had members with disabilities. They had met beforehand to pray together, and all became very excited.  Would they or any of them be healed?  The trip was quite…

November 17. Sunday 33B.  WORLD DAY OF THE POOR message: “The prayer of the poor rises up to God.”  Fr Peter, first chose the message of the gospel where Jesus spoke of the great tribulation and that he will gather the elect from the ends of the earth.   He then also …

November 16. Widowhood. Widows are commonly mentioned in the Bible, primarily because of their vulnerability, rather than the fact that they are widows, have lost a spouse and maybe mourning that loss and learning to deal with the life experience.  Widowers too have…

November 15.   Isn’t it true that in spite of all the terrible wars  and disasters that we see on TV every day many of us carry on living as normal. We may give some money to a disaster fund or a charity out of a sense of obligation, maybe guilt or compassion. However…