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The King and The King of Kings

Image: CNN Last Saturday, 6 May was the day when Westminster Abbey in London was the setting for the first British coronation in 70 years. This event marks in a special way King Charles III’s transition from history’s longest-reigning Prince of Wales into King of the United Kingdom, which comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and the… Read More

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The Mystery of Holy Week

Image: Canva When we enter Holy Week and Jesus enters Jerusalem, we begin to confront the great mystery of our faith – the  Paschal Mystery: the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Christians call this “a mystery” because it is a truth known only because it has been revealed to us by God.  Reason alone… Read More

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The Last Miracle- Lazarus

Image: walkingintheshadowlands.com The gospel last Sunday was about the raising of Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead for three days. The only account of this event is found in John Chapter 11, verses (1-44), and is the last of the signs through which Jesus showed who he was before his passion and… Read More

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Happy Anniversary Pope Francis!

Image:www.americamagazine.org On Monday of this week, Pope Francis marked 10 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church by celebrating Mass with cardinals in the chapel of the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence where he has lived since his election.  He never took possession of the papal apartments in the Apostolic palace used by his predecessors,… Read More

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The Transfiguration of the Lord

Image: www.catholicnewsagency.com In his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Maria, Pope St John Paul II instituted the Luminous Mysteries, also referred to as the Mysteries of Light.  The Fourth Mystery is a meditation on the Transfiguration of the Lord and the gospel reading at Mass last Sunday was about this beautiful and glorious event. The word… Read More

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Some Symbolic Lenten Foods

Image: Canva The word ‘symbol’ comes from a Greek word that means ‘to juxtapose’ or  ‘throw together’. Broadly, a symbol can be an object, word, or drawing that represents another reality not directly perceivable or expressed. An obvious example is the exchange of wedding rings which symbolize the love of a couple getting married. Symbols… Read More

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At What Cost?: Russia vs Ukraine

Image: www.abc.net.au In recent days the major international news story has been the decision by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that his government will provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks and approve requests by other countries to do the same. Naturally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his satisfaction at this development calling them, “important… Read More

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Do Unto Others: The British Royal family

Image: www.newyorker.com Whatever one’s personal opinion about the British Royal family they make headlines, sell newspapers, and have been an integral part of English identity since Athelstan defeated the last of the Viking invaders and consolidated British rule from 925-939. They are very much in the news again this week with the publication of Prince… Read More

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In Town Before Christmas

  Image: www.ireland.com When visiting the center of Dublin at this time of the year we all know we can expect crowds, and we have been told that after two years of Covid restrictions there will be a great swell of people converging on the city. This was in my mind when I went in… Read More

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Keeping the Crib in Christmas

Image: Br Sean Blackwell The crib in Bethlehem is what Christmas is all about, although with every year that passes it seems that this truth is becoming more and more blurred.  We are becoming increasingly aware of the ways in which the Season has become a time for overspending and overindulging, and much has been… Read More

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Left Out in the Cold

Image: StSavioursPriory Two people I was talking with recently both mentioned in passing that snow is expected later in the year. This is not good news. We have been warned incessantly that we are facing a very difficult winter ahead, mainly as a consequence of the huge rise in energy costs caused by Putin’s war… Read More

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The Greatest Teacher

The Greatest Teacher There is a well-known saying which goes as follows , ‘If you want to feed me today, give me rice.   If you want to feed me for the rest of my life, teach me how to grow rice.’ The long-term goal is education, and it is the teacher who is at the… Read More