Our Father

 Just a few thoughts

·       Children learn from what you live, not from what you say.

·       "If you don't think you have anything to be grateful for, keep looking. Because you don't just receive optimism. You can't wait for things to be great and then be grateful for that. You've got to behave in a way that promotes that." -- Michael J. Fox

·       May this Lenten Eucharist be a powerful prayer to inspire people to put aside hatred and work towards peace wherever there is violence.

Reflections

ü First Sunday of Lent: Put to the test

ü We do not say ‘My Father, who art in heaven

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Live Simply

Ø God’s Vision Quest

Musical Reflection

¯  When Jesus wep't the falling tear

¯  Popule Meus

In serving one another we are serving God

·       "A simple strategy that will save you so many headaches: Don't care about winning trivial arguments. Someone says something you don't agree with? Smile, nod, and move on to more important things. Life is short. Not caring about having the last word will save you so much time." -- James Clear

·       "Befriend the man who is brutally honest, for honesty is the highest form of respect." -- Daniel Saint

·       May all members of the human family grow in the grace and wisdom of God.

Reflections

ü Sunday Homily-Frank Brennan

ü Overcoming Our Temptations

ü He is the bridge between this darkness and light.

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Pope Francis marks anniversary of Russia’s ‘absurd and cruel’ war on Ukraine

Ø Social Justice Trends

Musical Reflection

¯  Jesus, Remember Me

¯  O Vos Omnes

Scripture is a powerful tool for our spiritual battles.

Just a few thoughts

·       "If there was no money, and everything depended on your moral standards, the way that you behaved, and the way that you treated people, how would you be doing in life?" -- Tupac Shakur

·       Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. -- Nelson Mandela

·       May the staff and volunteers of humanitarian agencies bring help and inspire hope wherever people are in crisis.

Reflections

ü Australian Women Preach

ü Unscrambling

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Stations of the Cross – Play video online or download and play it on your machine

Musical Reflection

¯  God So Loved the World

¯  Attende Domine

Sitting in judgment

Just a few thoughts

·       The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love. -- Coretta Scott King

·       You are what you do, not what you say you'll do. -- Winston Churchill

·       May this season of Lent help each one of us to look honestly into our own hearts, repent of our sins, and seek the forgiveness of God.

Reflections

ü All of us, without exception, are in need of healing.

ü Is my commitment to justice personally costing me something? If not, should it be?

ü Demons

The Signs Of The Times

Ø A Lesson From The Misfit

Ø Vinnies warns homelessness services under threat

Ø How Did Jesus Approach Scripture?

Musical Reflection

¯  If Ye Love Me

¯  Turn Back To God

Intentions for Lent?

Just a few thoughts

·       The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. -- Winston Churchill

·       Global poverty is rising for first time in over 20 years

·       May we Australians be a people who always act with integrity.

Reflections

ü LENT - In the chaos of our world—particularly seen through the eyes of children and young people impacted by the world’s violence—where do I find God?

How can I be more attentive to God’s presence in the chaos, to be present to and attend to the needs of those on the margins, and to the work of justice?

In what ways, during this Lenten season, can I bring peace, love, patience, understanding, care, compassion, and justice to help heal the world around me?

ü Arts & Faith: Ash Wednesday

ü FASTING - Pope Francis (Ash Wednesday 2017) suggests the following possible fasts… perhaps more challenging than giving up chocolate!

Fast from hurtful words and speak kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words; be silent so you can listen.

ü Lenten Exercises

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Oceania bishops' assembly spotlights climate crisis

Ø Albanese open to concessions on Voice to Parliament

Musical Reflection

¯  In these days of lenten journey

¯  Loving and Forgiving

Carrying our crosses

Just a few thoughts

·       A good school is one where your child is safe, feels like they belong and can participate in a rich learning environment. It not its NAPLAN rating

·       "Life always offers you a second chance. It's called tomorrow." – Anon

·       During this season of Lent may we follow Jesus with trust and hope.

Reflections

ü The reason we pray for those who persecute us

ü Following Jesus’ Way

ü A reflection for Ash Wednesday

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Faith leaders send an open letter to federal parliamentarians on The Voice Referendum

Ø Does synodality dilute the apostolic tradition?

Ø Ethics - 2022 Chocolate Scorecard

Ø Ethical chocolate Easter eggs

Musical Reflection

¯  Tree of Life

¯  Out Of Ashes

Carnival is over

Just a few thoughts

·       Lent - a time to shed our clothes of excess, shed our masks, and enter a spiritual cell of quietness, peace and rest….

·       May our fasting and other Lenten penances release us from earthly desires and make us more intent on goodness, justice and mercy.

·       May this time of Lent make Australian Catholics more sensitive to the sufferings of the world, especially through Project Compassion by which we show justice to the poor and needy.

Reflections

ü Nonviolence, The Way Of Jesus And The Only Way

ü Our new life has to come from the deepest place in us: not from our ego ambitions and pursuits, but from our true nature, which is “hidden with Christ in God”

ü It Always Begins in Dust and Ashes

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Our Over-Burdened Planet

Ø Caritas Earthquake Appeal

Ø Pearson will ‘fall silent’ if Voice referendum fails

Musical Reflection

¯  Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace

¯  Ubi Caritas - Hurd

The greatest is the servant of all.

Just a few thoughts

·        If we underscore what we do by reference to long valued ethical and moral standards then our lives are ennobled... To do otherwise, is to more or less devalue our own humanity. -- Daniel Gilbert

·        "Above all else, go with a sense of humor. It is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lip is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life." -- Hugh Sidey

·        May governments and companies that profit from the arms trade invest instead in industries that advance human well-being.

Reflections

ü Mimic holiness

ü The ego is a false identity

ü Embodying Service As A Leader

The Signs Of The Times

Ø What is God asking of me during Lent this year?

Ø Pope Francis finds similarities between Lenten and synodal journeys

Ø The Church is a home that priests and laypeople need to care for together, -  Pope Francis

Musical Reflection

¯ Loving and Forgiving

¯ Where Charity And Love Prevail

Are we channels of God’s healing power?

Just a few thoughts

·        "If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome." -- Michael Jordan

·        "In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers." -- Fred Rogers

·        We pray for Pope Francis and all promoters of peace. May they be resolute in their mission to bring war and bloodshed to an end

Reflections

ü Homily by Frank Brennan

ü By trusting you learn how to trust

ü I Believe; Help My Unbelief

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The power of love

Ø A Secure Attachment to God

Musical Reflection

¯ Go Out, Go Out!

¯ What The World Needs Now

Why do you strike me?

Just a few thoughts

·        "The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises." -- Leo Buscaglia

·        Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today. -- Will Rogers

·        We pray for all prophets and practitioners of peace, that they will never cease to call us to the way of non-violence.

Reflections

ü Australian Women Preach

ü Tell me what you're doing now.

ü The Major Imperatives within Mature Discipleship

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Farewell the unlamented TPVs

Ø Does synodality dilute the apostolic tradition?

Musical Reflection

¯ Sing a Joyful Song

¯ Sisters and brothers, with one voice

Listen to Him.

Just a few thoughts

·        "I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be." -- Ken Venturi

·        Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

·        May we all take the health measures necessary to limit further Covid infections and deaths.

Reflections

ü The identity of Jesus

ü The Temple of God?

ü A Glimpse of the Resurrection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø To Voice or not to Voice, that is the question

Ø Australia ends decades-long uncertainty for thousands of refugees

Musical Reflection

¯ If Ye Love Me

¯ In Times Like These

Take up your cross and follow me.

Just a few thoughts

·        Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too. -- Mark Twain

·        May we see, in the diverse languages of people, not a stumbling block, but a rich cultural heritage through which people preserve their history, spirituality and culture.

Reflections

ü There is no such thing as a painless life

ü The Beauty of Compassion

ü The Cross

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Asylum Seeker policy: compromise has finally led to decency

Ø Living Catholic eNews

Ø Unconditional and Conditional Love

Musical Reflection

¯ Ode To Freedom

¯ If You Love Me