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 […]
Lifestyle
Extraordinary Synod final report: English translation of the relatio synodi
What follows is the official English translation of the Relatio Synodi, the concluding report of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops, which was voted on by 183 synod fathers at the conclusion of the meeting in […]
Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve? What is a Christian parent to do…
The one thing about October half term is the ever present Halloween parties that seem to hold children in such great sway. Halloween is fast becoming a nightmare for Christians parents who feel it epitomizes […]
Loneliness, part 4: the experience of Christ
An acceptance of the “original solitude” of Eden is called, in time, to mature into the loneliness as experienced by Christ in Gethsemane. In Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI writes of this defining event: […]
Loneliness, part 3: Pope John Paul II and ‘Original Solitude’
The early chapters of Pope John Paul II’s theological project, The Theology of the Body, develop a philosophical anthropology based on a close reading of the Genesis creation stories. John Paul II contends that the […]
Loneliness, part 2: the experience of the priest
The popular description of loneliness emphasises its social dimension. Loneliness is the absence of companionship, a failure to create and sustain a web of meaningful, supportive attachments. Circumstance or choice means that some people live […]
Loneliness, part 1: the human condition
For many people, loneliness is that facet of human existence that they most dread and, from which, they tirelessly labour to escape. Yet, loneliness is one of the distinguishing hallmarks of our humanity. It is […]
A one day workshop about post-abortion counselling: for those wanting to offer support to women and men after an abortion
Theresa Burke, founder of the Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries, will run a series of clinical training seminars in London on Saturday 1 November 2014.The day is open to health professionals, priests and deacons, counselors and those […]
The temptations you face when working in finance
Michael Lewis writes about the occupational hazards of working on Wall Street. He wonders why so many bright graduates still go into finance and what temptations they face when they arrive there. The question I’ve […]
MA in Catholic Applied Theology (Marriage and Family)
With the Synod coming up, it’s a good time to advertise this MA on Marriage and Family at Maryvale. See the site here for more information, and the blurb copied below. This programme teaches the […]
Discipleship: How to Reach the Average Catholic Parent
Some news from an evangelisation survey (undertaken by Home Mission at the Bishops’ Conference) is interesting. To summarise, the following are some reasons that non-practising Catholic parents (with children at Catholic primary schools) gave for not going regularly to church: […]
Annulment reform: the synod’s first fruit
With cardinals who head the world’s major dioceses lining up against Cardinal Walter Kasper’s proposals to provide a path back to the Eucharist for those who have entered new relationships after divorcing, reform is increasingly shifting to the sphere […]
Human jealousy and divine generosity
Is God unfair? A sermon by Fr Stephen Wang, about the dangers of jealousy, the wonder of God’s generosity, and the puzzle of why he gives some things to some people and not to others.
Pre-synod jostling points to dynamism of Rome meeting on family
The Australian cardinal whom Pope Francis earlier this year put in charge of Vatican finances has added his voice to a large number of senior church figures warning against expecting changes to come from next […]
Celebrating the feasts of St Monica and St Augustine
On Wednesday and Thursday this week we celebrate two great Saints, St. Monica and her son St. Augustine. Monica is a great example of Christian motherhood. In fact she is the patron of all married […]
Natural Family Planning UK Conference – 15 November 2014
All NFP practitioners in the UK are warmly invited to attend the UK:NFP Conference. Booking for the 2014 conference in London, on 15 November 2014, is now open. Natural Family Planning in the UK is delivered by […]
How to awaken curiosity about the faith in our friends and colleagues
One of the most difficult things we can encounter as Christians are friends who have no interest at all in Christianity, even if they “respect me for being a Catholic”. It is like a bridge of trust is there, […]
Grief to Grace, Healing the Wounds of Abuse – London retreat this November
Grief to Grace is running a London retreat this November, facilitated by Dr Theresa Burke the founder of the programme. It takes place at the Kairos Centre, Roehampton, London SW15 4AJ, from 3-8 November. Contact […]
Vocation to Love, part 7: Job, Career or Vocation?
My great-nephew Aidan is five. He knows what he wants to do when he grows up. ‘I’m going to be a floor-layer,’ he says. I made a suggestion about a hobby he might enjoy. ‘No,’ […]
Tinder: the dangers and delights of mobile app dating
[A guest post by Stephen Rooney]. With the tag line “A fun way to break the ice” and launched initially as an iPhone application in September 2012, Tinder has taken the millennial dating market by […]
The beauty and power of the Sacrament of Marriage: a new DVD resource for parishes, schools, catechetical groups and couples themselves
Catholic Faith Exploration (CaFE) have just published a marvelous new DVD about the Sacrament of Marriage. You can order it here. You can watch the trailer above, and read the blurb that follows: A TV quality […]
