Sunday, July 27, 2025

The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him

Just a few thoughts

  • "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive." -- Howard Thurman

  • As Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, may grandparents and the elderly show the path of prayer to succeeding generations so that we all recognise God as our Father.

Reflections

The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

Saturday, July 26, 2025

A call for tolerance, patience, compassion and understanding

Just a few thoughts

  • "Don't wait for the stars to align. Reach up and rearrange them the way you want." -- Pharrell Williams

  • "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -- T.S. Eliot

  • We pray for women in the church, that every door possible will be laid open to enable them to offer their gifts of leadership, witness and service to the whole community.

Reflections

The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

Friday, July 25, 2025

Caring for our brothers and sisters

Just a few thoughts

  • "Your life isn't behind you; your memories are behind you. Your life is ALWAYS ahead of you. Today is a new day. Seize it!" -- Steve Maraboli

  • May we accept that we must share the cup of the Lord’s suffering in order to share the joy of his glory.

  • We pray for workers in essential industries, especially those employed in dangerous, demanding and unpopular work, that they will be justly appreciated for their service.

Reflections

The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?

Just a few thoughts

  • "Life is like a camera. Just focus on what's important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't turn out — take another shot." -- Anon

  • May Christians recognise the presence of God in prayer, and on the faces of the poor and oppressed of the world.

  • We pray for the church in Australia, that the practice of synodality will take root in every diocese, parish and organisation across the nation.

Reflections

The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

It is Christ who lives in me

Just a few thoughts

  • "The secrets of success are a good wife and a steady job. My wife told me." -- Howard Nemerov

  • May bishops, priests and deacons, ordained to preach the word of God, prepare their homilies with prayer, careful attention, sound knowledge and pastoral love.

  • We pray for the leaders of nations, that they will increase, not cut off, the flow of humanitarian aid on which many millions rely on to survive and to care for their children.

Reflections

The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The Christ we know now

Just a few thoughts

  • "Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken." -- Albert Camus

  • “Always laugh when you can; it is cheap medicine.” -- Lord Byron

  • We pray for all women in the Church, that inspired by St Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles, they will give witness to the Risen Christ by their faith and love.

Reflections

The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

Monday, July 21, 2025

The true sign of Jonah

Just a few thoughts

  • "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -- Marcel Proust

  • May we, this day, see God at work around us, in creation and in the people we meet.

Reflections

  • The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Getting our priorities right

Just a few thoughts

  • "When you get little, you want more. When you get more, you desire even more. But when you lose everything, you realize little was enough." – Anon

  • We pray for the leaders of nations, that they will increase, not cut off, the flow of humanitarian aid on which many millions rely on to survive and to care for their children.

  • We pray that our faith will always be centred upon the mystery of Christ among us, our hope of glory, so that like Martha and Mary we can combine the activity of charity with the silence of prayer.

Reflections

The Signs Of The Times

Musical Reflection

 

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Legalists

Just a few thoughts

·       "Freedom begins between the ears." -- Edward Abbey

·       We pray for every country where people are exhausted through war and violence, that God will raise up leaders, women and men, energetic in the cause of peace.

·       We pray for the sick of our parish and families, that the healing of Jesus may give them peace and hope.

Reflections

ü The Little Prince

ü How do we respond to opposition and injustice

ü Love, Justice, and Housework – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø A legacy to care for all of God’s creation

Ø Three dead after Israeli tank fires on Gaza Catholic church

Musical Reflection

¯  There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

Friday, July 18, 2025

Observance of law - degree of love and compassion

Just a few thoughts

·       "The greatest gift is not being afraid to question." -- Ruby Dee

·       "Your best teacher is your last mistake." -- Ralph Nader

·       Let us pray that as the Sabbath was originally a day to give thanks to God for the gift of creation, we will work together to preserve and enhance our planet, our common home.

Reflections

ü I desire mercy and not sacrifice

ü A Different Way

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Mass for Care of Creation

Ø Jesus advocates an identity characterized by solidarity, sensitivity, and nonviolence

Musical Reflection

¯  Canticle of the Sun

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Humility

Just a few thoughts

·       "If we want to avoid the suffering of someone leaving us, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking." -- Henri J.M. Nouwen

·       We pray for those who are over burdened with the worries of life         that through faith they may find courage and hope.

Reflections

ü The ego is incapable of humility.

ü Present to God – next Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Great expectations for implementing the Synod on Synodality

Ø Pathways to Joy

Musical Reflection

¯  I Am The Vine

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

It is “the infants”, his disciples, who have been graced with understanding the secrets of the Kingdom.

Just a few thoughts

·       “We’re all just walking each other home.” -- Ram Dass

·       May every effort to end the war between the Palestine and Israel be grounded in respect and justice, free from all exploitation, accompanied with the release of hostages and prisoners.

·       We pray for our parish and school community, that we will all encourage one another to love God and neighbour with all our heart and mind and soul and strength.

Reflections

ü A promise of presence

ü A parable that has suffered from being known too well

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Need for reform of aged care system has reached a critical point

Ø Purgatory as Purification Through Love

Musical Reflection

¯  Open wide the door

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Are we clearly and obviously followers of Christ and his Way?

Just a few thoughts

·       "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity." -- Simone Weil

·       May the babies and infants, victim of the wars in the Holy Land and Ukraine, through religious persecution in Nigeria and the repression of the people of Myanmar, be given the chance to survive, live and flourish.

·       We pray for the church, that in our war-torn world it will be a vibrant sign of the Christ in whom all things have been reconciled in peace.

Reflections

ü Servant Leadership

ü Led by the truth in our hearts – last Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The story most Israelis are not allowed to hear

Ø New Vatican document calls Catholics to move forward together for synodality

Musical Reflection

¯  All Are Welcome

Monday, July 14, 2025

There are people who crush life all around them and call it restoring peace.

Just a few thoughts

·        "The answers you seek never come when the mind is busy; they come when the mind is still, when silence speaks loudest." -- Leon Brown

·        May all peoples cease to do evil, learn to do good and search for justice as we pray for all trapped in the nightmare of war, oppression and hunger.

·        We pray for unheralded Good Samaritans who care for the needy with no thought of recognition or reward, that they will be blessed for their humble goodness.

Reflections

ü Christianity is outward-looking

ü As disciples of Jesus, we are called to be a countercultural force -a community

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Caring for others is the supreme law: Pope

Ø Government urged to adopt a strong climate pollution reduction plan

Musical Reflection

¯ Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Let’s all be good neighbours!

Just a few thoughts

·        "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." -- Mother Teresa

·        May we have the courage to recognise that our neighbour is everyone in need, and so with deep justice and charity come to their aid in whatever way that is possible

·        We pray for our global neighbours cruelly deprived of their daily bread, that the world community will unite in sharing its abundance with them.

Reflections

ü Homily by Frank Brennan

ü 2 minute homily

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Climate Justice And Ecological Conversion

Ø What Is the Source of Your Joy?

Musical Reflection

¯ Beauty for Brokenness

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Do Not Be Afraid

Just a few thoughts

·        "Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him." -- Groucho Marx

·        May governments who give their approval to the abuse and torture of prisoners change their evil policies, and learn to treat everyone with respect.

·        We pray for the staff and volunteers of humanitarian agencies, especially those serving the millions of people displaced in Sudan, that they alleviate much suffering while being kept safe themselves.

Reflections

ü We are not just disciples, we are recipients of mercy, love, grace, and dignity.

ü God’s love for us is outrageous.

ü God makes “peace through the blood of his cross” while our world tries to make peace through the blood of soldiers and innocent civilians. – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø A personal tribute to Pope Francis

Ø Sea Sunday

Musical Reflection

¯ How Long

Friday, July 11, 2025

St Benedict

Just a few thoughts

·        The risk of turning everything over to AI is that we give over human responsibility to an algorithm. Once we human beings lose sight of the process, we lose ownership of the results. We give up our free will, and with it our sense of responsibility for each other. -- Michael McVeigh

·        We pray that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Archdiocese of Adelaide will have a voice, and from the richness of their culture, history and spirituality teach us much.

·        May the Archdiocese prayerfully prepare next year’s Diocesan Synod so that following in the spirit of synodality all will look to the future with hope.

Reflections

ü St Benedict and the way of life suggested by his Rule.

ü In the midst of all the chaos we are called to remain steadfast in faith and in the mission to which we are called.

ü The Divine Samaritan – next Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Pope: ‘Hunger must not be used as a weapon of war’

Ø Vatican offers new guide for implementation phase of Synod

Musical Reflection

¯ For Everyone Born