As Christians we have become so accustomed to seeing the crucifix in our churches and homes that we can perhaps forget the horrific suffering it represents. When we do reflect on that suffering, the Exaltation of the Cross—that cruel instrument of torture and execution—can seem scandalously insensitive to what Christ underwent for our salvation. Indeed, […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 23rd Sunday
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 10 September, 2023: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20 If I’m looking for a calculus to cut off someone, I won’t find it in today’s Gospel. Jesus’ instruction makes every effort to ensure respect for the person who sins against me. And his final point is very challenging in […]
Wednesday of the 22nd Week of the Year
A crucial aspect of our growing union with Christ is becoming aware of, and breaking, our unhealthy attachments—usually to the passing things and values of this present world. Perhaps someone may wonder if God can ever become an unhealthy attachment? The crowds, described in today’s gospel, offer a clue: We are told that they sought […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for the 22nd Sunday
Lifeguards attempting to rescue a drowning person are sometimes hindered in their attempts by the panicking of the one they are rescuing. This usually results in their wildly thrashing around in the water and being unable to stop trying to save themselves and allow the lifeguard to do his/her work. This is somewhat analogous to […]
Wednesday of the 21st Week: Saints Warren & Amadeus
The greater our deficits in true self-knowledge, the greater our tendency to judge and harshly condemn others. This tendency underscores the fact that true self-knowledge includes a deep awareness of our own inherent weaknesses and propensity for sin—either by offending against love of God and/or love of neighbor. Accordingly, the deeper we know ourselves, the […]
Friday of the 19th Week of the Year
Having been born into a sinful world—and ourselves afflicted with Original Sin from our birth—we tend to simply accept much of the dysfunctionality of our world and society as “normal,” or as just the way things are. In doing so, we need to be reminded—like the Pharisees—that this was not how it was in the […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the 19th Sunday
Nineteenth Sunday, Year A, 13 August, 2023: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew14:22-33 It’s too easy for a preacher to present Simon Peter as an impulsive, unthinking negative example for Christian disciples to avoid. Granted, none of the twelve Apostles garner high marks in comprehension during Jesus’ lifetime, but to reduce them to bad […]
Saturday of the 18th Week of the Year
In what is something of a paradox, our quest for inner peace and happiness is such that when it is attained—even only partially—it exposes us to spiritual danger. And this is because the peace and cessation of the struggle can induce complacency. Then by careless neglect of inner vigilance we expose ourselves to the attacks […]
Holy Mass Time-Changes
Please be aware that because this Tuesday, August 15, is the Solemnity of the Assumption, Holy Mass will be at 10.00 a.m. Then, on Wednesday, August 16, Bishop Michael Burbidge will be making his annual Pastoral Visit to the community and, again, Holy Mass will be at 10.00 a.m.
Tuesday of the 18th Week of the Year
Memorial of Saint Dominic: In his list of the seven principal vices, Saint Gregory the Great doesn’t list Pride. Instead, he understands pride to be the source and instigator of all the vices. This is no less true of envy and jealousy—manifested so clearly in Miriam and Aaron’s sarcastic-sounding question: “Is it through Moses alone […]