Category: columns2012

columns2012

Vocations, gift of the Love of God

Post author By Web administrator
Post date April 29, 2012

Today our Church observes the 49^th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. On October 18, 2011, in preparation for Vocation Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI meditated on the theme: Vocations, the Gift of the Love of God.

The Holy Father reminds us that “It is in this soil of self-offering and openness to the love of God, and as the fruit of that love, that all vocations are born and grow. By drawing from this wellspring through prayer…it becomes possible to live a life of love for our neighbours, in whom we come to perceive the face of Christ the Lord”.

Tags vocations

columns2012

Observing Earth Day

Post author By Web administrator
Post date April 19, 2012

“.…there is an order in the universe which must be respected…the human person, endowed with the capability of choosing freely, has a grave responsibility to preserve this order for the well-being of future generations. I wish to repeat that the ecological crisis is a moral issue.” – Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace Message, 1990

Today as the world observes Mother Earth Day, let us reflect on how we are treating God’s gifts to us and what our Church has said about the need to protect creation.

Tags earth, environment

columns2012

Apostles of unity, hope and salvation

Post author By Web administrator
Post date April 13, 2012

“Every Christian is sent to be an apostle of unity, of hope and of salvation…There is a danger that many will ask – ‘What can I do’? But if only members of the Church both as individuals and in cooperation with others would stand up for Christian principles, practising and insisting upon justice, practising the self-sacrificing love Christ asked of us, denouncing corruption and partiality, it would be amazing how much would be achieved.” (AEC Bishops – True Freedom and Development in the Caribbean – A Christian perspective – 1982).

After all these years this short 20-page document remains relevant to us Catholics as we seek to read the signs of the times during this Easter season.

columns2012

We are an Easter people

Post author By Web administrator
Post date April 5, 2012

“O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and you are abolished. Christ is risen and the demons are cast down. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life is freed. Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” (taken from an Easter homily by St John Chrysostom).

Happy Easter, my friends! Let’s reflect on the meaning of Easter in our lives. Our renewal of our baptismal promises must lead us to rise in Christ; to commit ourselves to take our belief in the risen Christ out into the world with us; to be His instruments of justice and peace.

Tags Easter

columns2012

Journey to Easter

Post author By Web administrator
Post date March 29, 2012

The sight of thousands of golden daffodils everywhere in London, “tossing their heads in sprightly dance” (Wordsworth), reminds me of the many gifts given to us by God. Today, Palm Sunday, I shall be joining family and friends in London in an annual procession as we begin our journey through Holy Week, following Christ to His crucifixion on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is important that families and schools educate youth about Holy Week. On-going faith formation is critical – particularly after Confirmation.

Tags Easter