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 May, 2014
When life is full of loose ends, incomplete projects and half-fulfilled plans
Someone gave me this beautiful prayer sometimes attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero about how incomplete and fragile our work for the Kingdom always is. I hope you find it encouraging. In memory of Oscar Romero (1917–1980) […]
Do animals have morality?
Christians and biologists have often, mistakenly, seen themselves as rivals. Both have argued as if there is a choice between science or religion: biology or revelation as sources of knowledge; evolution or God as explanations […]
Not Dead Yet: a petition urging David Cameron to follow through on his declared support for the idea that Assisted Dying should not be legalised
This is taken from the Not Dead Yet petition on the change.org site. You can sign the petition here. And visit the Not Dead Yet website here. Please sign the petition TODAY to stop Lord Falconer […]
Training and formation for Catholics involved in healthcare chaplaincy
St Mary’s University, Twickenham, is recruiting students to begin its successful Foundation Degree in Healthcare Chaplaincy. This part-time two year course provides Priests, Religious and lay people with a recognised NHS qualification to be appointed as a Roman Catholic Hospital Chaplain. Supported by […]
Choosing life, choosing love: video resources about marriage, holiness, Humanae Vitae, evangelisation, and the impact of digital media
The Choose Life, Choose Love Conference on marriage and family life was held at St Patrick’s Church in Soho in March 2014. Speakers at the two day event included Jonathan Doyle, Founder and Director of […]
When I was in prison you visited me
Who are the most neglected members of our society? Most likely, the 85,000 men and women who are in prison in England and Wales today. Did you have any idea it was that many? An […]
The lost art of dating
Heather Cicchese writes about an experiment in a Boston College where instead of just ‘hooking up’, students take the risk of actually talking to each other. In a Starbucks on the Boston University campus, Dave […]
A Foyer de Charité retreat for 18-40 year olds
A Foyer de Charité retreat for 18-40 year olds at Micklepage What are the Foyers? The Foyers de Charité are Roman Catholic communities which have been formally recognised by Rome since 1986. Within them, lay men and […]
The opening of the first contemplative monastery in China since 1949
On May 1st, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the monastery of St Augustine was opened in Lintou, in the Shan Xi Province of China. This is the first contemplative monastery to be opened […]
Evangelisation: the miracles God can work through us when say Yes and put our trust in him
In this series of posts, “From the Mission Field”, I am sharing some inspiring stories: people open to the Holy Spirit, allowing him to do amazing things in their corner of the world. May these stories […]
Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Hallam
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed as the new Bishop of Hallam, the Right Reverend Ralph Heskett CSSR, until now the Bishop of Gibraltar. Bishop Heskett thanked the people and priests of Gibraltar as […]
#CapforStrat – from approaching death to superheroes to Christ
Over the last few days, the hash-tag #CapforStrat has been trending on twitter. It is the project of Sophie Caldecott (@SophieCaldecott) to get Marvel to release the DVD of the latest Captain America so that her […]
Testimonies of faith
The Diocese of Portsmouth seems to have been putting some energy into its evangelisation and outreach through media. See this short video which is a young man’s testimony about his faith and what it means […]
Ecclesiam Suam and its Legacy
Venue: St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London Date: Monday 16th – Wednesday 18th June 2014 FULL DETAILS HERE In Collaboration with Leeds Trinity University and Newman University, Birmingham Pope Paul VI’s debut encyclical Ecclesiam Suam affirmed that ‘The Church […]
Praying in the family
“A family that prays together stays together”, or so the saying goes. Now I don’t know if that is true but I do know that families who pray together are more likely to have a […]
The vocation to love, part 6: remembering Dorcas
I began this series of posts, you may remember, by talking about the Vatican II’s radical idea that every single Christian is called to a unique and irreplaceable mission. I then had a look at […]
HTB Leadership Conference 2014
I can’t let this week go without writing about the HTB leadership conference… Now, nearly a week later, it’s like trying to grip onto the wonderful gifts of God we received, and not to forget […]
A priestly vocation – to be an ambassador for Christ
On the day of my ordination, 14 September 1996, I gave people a prayer card. It’s what newly ordained priests often do. On it were written four words: Pray for Martin Boland and above this […]
UK vocations upturn
Nearly 100 men and women entered convents, seminaries and religious houses across England and Wales in 2013. These entry figures include 44 men to seminary, 22 men to religious life and 30 women to religious […]
Vocation, truth, and being true to one’s name
Vocations Sunday is coming up this weekend (11 May). Let me take a slightly angular way into this. In a recent interview Swedish singer Lykke Li (of “Sadness is a blessing” fame) finished with what was […]
