God has chosen to be one with us and showing us the way to live

Just a few thoughts

·       May our new year be filled with positivity.

·       "It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership." -- Nelson Mandela

·       May we care with great responsibility for our planet earth and the universe, created through the Son of God.

Reflections

ü Jesus is the Word of God—God’s self-communication.

ü Embracing the coming year with faith and courage

ü A reenvisioning of family

The Signs Of The Times

Ø “You are the salt of the earth” – thinking about the new year
I recommend you watch the video

Ø For the right to an education for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war

Musical Reflection

Salt of the Earth

Being attuned to God’s word

Just a few thoughts

·       "When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always." -- Mahatma Gandhi

·       In the grace of this Jubilee Year may we give thanks for each other, and stand together when there are difficulties, as did Joseph and Mary with the child Jesus.

·       We pray for parents, that they will take great delight in their children and enable them to thrive.

Reflections

ü The baby in the Christmas narrative, is not just for Israel, but for the whole world.

ü The Feast of The Holy Family

ü Family Life As Sacrament

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Jubilee 2025

Musical Reflection

¯  We Are Called

¯  People look East

Faith, love and devotion

Just a few thoughts

·       "Everything you go through grows you." -- Robert Tew

·       May our Australian society strengthen its appreciation for life, value the right to life of every conceived child,  stand by the disabled and provide palliative care for all who are approaching death.

·       We pray for parents, that they will be loving, wise and steadfast guides for their children as they make their way to maturity and independence.

Reflections

ü Their Son had a very special mission which went far beyond his life in Nazareth.

ü A Holy Family

ü There He Sat

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The Divine in This and in Us

Ø Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system

Musical Reflection

¯  Come To Me and Find Rest

¯  Come to Me

Goodwill and Community Wellbeing

Just a few thoughts

·       The story of Herod and the holy innocents seems so close to home in the Holy Land today.

·       “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart” -- Eleanor Roosevelt

·       May fire fighters giving of themselves to contain and extinguish bushfires through the Australian summer be protected from personal injury.

Reflections

ü ‘Lord make me an instrument of your peace’

ü Jesus was born as part of an oppressed community

ü The Holy Family

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The incarnation of God in Christ

Ø Health and Human Security: a sense of control over one’s life

Musical Reflection

¯  Gloria in excelsis Deo

¯  Go Tell It On The Mountain

The peace, goodwill, and love of Christmas aren’t confined to December—there’s an opportunity to see the sacred in everyday moments, all year round.

Just a few thoughts

·       "Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." -- Calvin Coolidge

·       May the memory of the poor shepherds, who received the message of the angels, bring hope to all people who are struggling at this time, so that good people will help them in their needs.

·       We pray for all expectant mothers, that their hopes for a safe confinement and the gift of new life will be happily fulfilled.

Reflections

ü John, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.

ü Creating Space to Believe

ü Christmas Day reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The peace, goodwill, and love of Christmas aren’t confined to December—there’s an opportunity to see the sacred in everyday moments, all year round.

Ø The Magic Of Christmas

Musical Reflection

¯  Gloria in excelsis Deo

¯  Journey of the Angels

Our wellbeing through goodwill

Just a few thoughts

·       The big message in the story of the birth of Jesus was and is that through Jesus we can achieve peace on earth by means of the goodwill exercised by his true believers.

·       “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” -- Andre Gide

·       We pray for the countless men, women and children around the world denied a safe place in which to dwell, that the world community will unite to provide them with secure shelter.

Reflections

ü The Prince of Peace in the kingdom of violence

ü Jesus was born into a broken world where fear and greed prevailed.

ü A Disruptive Child – Christmas Reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The Risk of Living the Gospel

Musical Reflection

¯  Go Tell It on the Mountain

¯  Night of Silence

God is with us!

Just a few thoughts

·       Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to all people

·       May the tender love of Mary for her son, Jesus, and the strong protection of him by Joseph, help all of our families to care for each other.

·       We pray for the whole human family, that the glory of Christmas will shine forth across the earth and bring fresh heart to all who long for peace.

Reflections

ü We Love to be Loved

ü Christmas homily by Frank Brennan

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Tidings of Great Joy

Ø Christ’s Birth in Bethlehem – Soothing or Disturbing?

Ø ‘Subtle is the Lord’

Musical Reflection

¯  Gloria In Excelsis Deo

¯  Benedictus

Light of the World

Just a few thoughts

·       "Leadership is not a licence to do less. Leadership is a responsibility to do more." -- Simon Sinek

·       May the Light of Christ shine upon our world in peace, now and always.

·       We pray for ourselves, our families and our friends, that these final days of preparation for Christmas will be peaceful and prayerful for all.

Reflections

ü He is “the light that shines in the darkness”

ü Benedictus

ü Blessed are you who believe – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Prince of Peace, the Christ Child

Musical Reflection

¯  Benedictus

¯  Canticle of Zechariah

What then will this child be?

Just a few thoughts

·       "Make somebody happy today, and mind your own business." -- Ann Landers

·       We give thanks that the White Australia Policy introduced this day in 1901, has been overturned, enabling us to become a multicultural nation, rich in our diversity.

·       We pray for those who carry grief in their hearts at this time of the year, that whatever sorrow afflicts them they will be comforted by the love of friends and the embrace of the community.

Reflections

ü Receiving a gift

ü Let us lift up our heads, truly and deeply open our eyes, and quieten the egoic ramblings in our heads so we can truly hear.

ü Christian Faith Is Pivoted To The Imitation Of The Self-Emptying God – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Mary as Model of Faith

Ø From Saints to Celebrities: Our Evolution in Admiration and Imitation

Musical Reflection

¯  What Child Is This?

¯  Bread of Life

Mary And Elizabeth

Just a few thoughts

·       "Try to be like the turtle - at ease in your own shell." -- Bill Copeland

·       May the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth instil in us a great charity by which we reach out to all in need with tenderness and compassion.

·       We pray for the leaders of the world’s great faiths, that together they will proclaim a powerful message of grace and peace for all humankind

Reflections

ü Australian Women Preach

ü Homily by Frank Bennan

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Archbishop O'Regan's Christmas message 2024

Ø Christmas story calls us to open our hearts wider to receive the unknown

Musical Reflection

¯  Breath Of Heaven

¯  Immaculate Mary

Joy and expectation

Just a few thoughts

·       “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” --  Oscar Wilde

·       We pray for all who live in the land when Mary visited Elizabeth and where Jesus sanctified John in his mother’s womb, that real peace, justice and reconciliation will be theirs.

Reflections

ü The Visitation

ü Our lives are full of visitations or ‘encounters’

ü Singing Practice – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Bishop Vincent’s Christmas Message 2024

Ø Searching for a Womb to Birth a Messiah

Musical Reflection

¯  I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

¯  Make Room