Is it right to fear God? What is the difference between a destructive fear and a “holy trepidation”? An Advent homily by Fr Stephen Wang: Look around you at the chapel walls. Look at the […]
Archive for April, 2014
Raising a moral child
Adam Grant discusses how parents can help the moral development of their children, particularly in the area of becoming a ‘caring’ person. Although some parents live vicariously through their children’s accomplishments, success is not the No. […]
Spirit in the City: can you help out at London’s largest Catholic festival?
Spirit in the City is a festival that gathers people of all cultures for a joyful and dynamic Catholic celebration of faith in the West End of London. The dates this year are 11 to […]
Between the fire and the water, an Easter homily, by Fr Stephen Wang
A homily from the Second Sunday of Easter, reflecting on the Easter fire, the baptismal font, the presence of Jesus in the Upper Room, the Canonisation of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, […]
Welcoming the Gift, Acknowledging the Giver: Theologies of Gratitude. A Day Conference at Blackfriars, Oxford, Saturday 17th May
The philosophy, psychology and theology of gratitude do not seem to have received much attention, and Blackfriars’ Aquinas Institute is pleased to host a conference on Theologies of Gratitude jointly with the Jubilee Centre for […]
The secret of what makes the two popes saints
Speaking this week at a Vatican press briefing entitled ‘Why Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II are saints’, Fr Giovangiuseppe Califano, the current postulator for John XXIII’s canonisation – the fourth since 1966 – said that […]
The vocation to love, part 5: Vocation as conversion
We are all familiar with the conversion of St Paul – one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Church. Artists have had a field day with it, adding a colourful fall […]
The vocation to love, part 4: The call of Mary
Luke’s Gospel begins with two stories of vocation: of John the Baptist through his father, Zechariah, and of Mary to be mother of Jesus. John is a link between the Old Testament and the New. […]
Taking religion seriously and moving beyond an ‘unreflective atheism or agnosticism’
In a recent article, Charles Murray advises that an important aspect of living a fulfilling life is to take religion seriously. “Start by jarring yourself out of unreflective atheism or agnosticism”. Now that we’re alone, […]
International Day Against Child Slavery
This comes one day late. Yesterday, April 16th, was the International Day Against Child Slavery. From the Solidaridad campaign: On April 16th 1995, Easter Sunday, Iqbal Masih was assassinated. In memory of Iqbal, symbol of […]
Notes for Holy Week
~ 1 ~ Well, everyone, welcome to Holy Week. Some words before the Palm Sunday Procession struck me: “Let us commemorate the Lord’s entry into the city for our salvation, following in his footsteps, so that, […]
Pope Francis hosts trafficking conference organised by Church in England and Wales
Last Thursday the Vatican hosted an international conference on the scandal of human trafficking, deplored by Pope Francis as a “crime against humanity”. The two-day conference, organized by the Church in England and Wales and chaired by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, […]
Pope Francis appoints a new bishop for Brentwood Diocese
Pope Francis has appointed Father Alan Williams SM, currently the Director of the National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, as the seventh Bishop of Brentwood. His episcopal ordination will take place at Brentwood Cathedral […]
A week of Catholic theology organised by the Dominicans for university students and young adults
A Vision for Life: The Spirit of Catholic Theology A Study week led by a team of Dominican Friars and Sisters in collaboration with the Benedictine monks of Buckfast Abbey offering a systematic overview of […]
The Passion of Jesus, Trafalgar Square, London, Good Friday – 18 April
The huge Wintershall cast – including a donkey and horses – in colourful costumes, realistic scenes and a heart-moving crucifixion and resurrection: The Passion of Jesus makes a great impact. The Passion of Jesus has […]
How to find healing after an abortion: weekend retreats with Rachel’s Vineyard this June and October
Rachel’s Vineyard UK has two weekend retreats coming up over the next few months. One of the best ways of publicising these is through the parish newsletter and noticeboard. You can find out about the […]
How to enter into the Passion and Resurrection of Christ
Lent is passing so quickly and we are in the final days before Holy Week. I don’t know about you, but I always find the emotion of Holy Week quite hard to take. Perhaps it […]
A meditation on Holy Week and the Passion of Christ – in a UK shopping centre
In 2013, Ten Ten Theatre – the Catholic professional theatre company – staged a Passion Play based on the Stations of the Cross involving over 250 people from the local churches and schools in Runcorn and […]
Do you want a ‘start-up’ marriage in your 20s or a ‘corporate merger’ marriage in your 30s or 40s?
Charles Murray dishes out some advice for young people. It includes looking at the difference between a “start-up”and a “merger” marriage, how to discern a soul-mate, and the importance of religious friends. (Full disclosure: I’m […]
