Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling My rating: 4 of 5 stars One of the great things about spending a lot of time in the car recently has been the opportunity to listen to Mr Stephen Fry read the unfolding story of Harry Potter to me. The combination of a rich… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling My rating: 4 of 5 stars Returning to this book again was a wonderful adventure. There were memories of the great narrative, the incredible world that Rowling has created, and the introduction of the characters who we will come to know over the succeeding volumes in… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Review: Traitor’s Field
Traitor's Field by Robert Wilton My rating: 3 of 5 stars This entry from the Archives is set within the English Civil War, looking at the intelligence aspects of that conflict between Royalists and Parliamentarians. It is an interesting period of history and the development of the narrative in this particular novel is most interesting.I… Continue reading Review: Traitor’s Field
Review: Watching Brief: Reflections on Human Rights, Law, and Justice
Watching Brief: reflections on human rights, law, and justice by Julian Burnside My rating: 3 of 5 stars Anyone even remotely familiar with the work of Julian Burnside QC will not be shocked by the range of subject matter that feature in this collection of his work. There are, unsurprisingly, a number of essays devoted… Continue reading Review: Watching Brief: Reflections on Human Rights, Law, and Justice
Homilies: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, Year C
My homily for Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord (Year C) as preached during the 5pm Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were: Acts 10:34. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9. "The Resurrection is the birth of our hope - for salvation, for life, for all that God created us to be.… Continue reading Homilies: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, Year C
The Modern Crosses Facing the World
The following was first featured on Vatican News. Pope Francis concluded the traditional Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum on Good Friday evening by reciting a litany of present-day crosses, representing various forms of suffering in the world today. Children, the elderly, the poor, families, migrants, and the earth itself: the Pope recalled these, and others,… Continue reading The Modern Crosses Facing the World
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages; God has died in the flesh, and… Continue reading An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
Homilies: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year C
My homily for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (Year C) as preached during the 9.30am Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14 - 23:56. "We have the opportunity to look at the Crucifixion through the lens of the self-emptying love of Jesus… Continue reading Homilies: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year C
An Easter Election
Below is my regular column in the Parish Bulletin for this coming Sunday, written in light of the calling (finally!) of the 2019 Federal Election. As you will now be fully aware, we’re OFFICIALLY in ‘Election Mode’! It is unfortunate in some sense that the beginning of the election campaign coincides with our celebration of… Continue reading An Easter Election
Review: Eye of the Needle
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett My rating: 3 of 5 stars A wonderful story of World War II espionage - and counter-espionage - as British authorities attempt to track down the elusive German spy living amongst them, a spy who has discovered the truth behind the misdirection and deception that is at play… Continue reading Review: Eye of the Needle
Review: The Rising Laity: Ecclesial Movements Since Vatican II
The Rising Laity: Ecclesial Movements Since Vatican II by Massimo Faggioli My rating: 4 of 5 stars Historian and theologian, Massimo Faggioli, brings his intellectual weight to the question of the rise of the so-called 'new ecclesial movements' in the life of the Church, particularly from the perspective of his native Italy. Tracing their development… Continue reading Review: The Rising Laity: Ecclesial Movements Since Vatican II
Review: Interrupting Silence: God’s Command to Speak Out
Interrupting Silence: God's Command to Speak Out by Walter Brueggemann My rating: 3 of 5 stars A brief yet fascinating study from Walter Brueggemann on the place and power of silence - and the act of silencing - in the Christian Scriptures that points out that at the heart of silence is the application of… Continue reading Review: Interrupting Silence: God’s Command to Speak Out
Review: Nemesis
Nemesis by Rory Clements My rating: 3 of 5 stars The next instalment in the Tom Wilde series picks up just months after the last volume and covers the period at the very beginning of the Second World War. Wilde and his girlfriend/fiancee are inadvertently caught up in a plot to infiltrate a German agent… Continue reading Review: Nemesis
Homilies: 4th Sunday of Lent, Year C
My homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent (Year C) as preached during the 9.30am Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. "Before we can revel in the love and mercy that God is willing to lavish upon us, we need to repent, to recognise… Continue reading Homilies: 4th Sunday of Lent, Year C
Review: A Column of Fire
A Column of Fire by Ken Follett My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Kingsbridge trilogy comes to an end with this volume set during the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and her heir, James (I & VI of England and Scotland respectively).Following the turmoil that comes in the wake of the religious Reformation… Continue reading Review: A Column of Fire
Review: On Aunty
On Aunty by Jonathan Holmes My rating: 4 of 5 stars I make no secret of the fact that I am a fan of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and am an avid consumer of many of its products. I don't always agree with some of the reporting that comes from the ABC - and in… Continue reading Review: On Aunty
Review: Treason’s Tide
Treason's Tide by Robert Wilton My rating: 4 of 5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this excursion in the dark world of English espionage set in the time of the attempt by France's Emperor Napoleon to invade England. The shadowy Comptrollerate-General for Scrutiny and Survey, part of the British Admiralty though not well known then or… Continue reading Review: Treason’s Tide
Homilies: 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C
My homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year C) as preached during the 5.30pm Saturday evening Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Exodus 3:1-8. 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9. "Our Gospel reading reminds us that if being Christian is not a 'once only' deal. We are called to be… Continue reading Homilies: 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C
Finding True Harmony In What Unites Us
This article was originally written for and published on the diocesan website, mnnews.today. It subsequently appeared as an opinion piece in The Newcastle Herald on Wednesday 20 March 2019. On the evening of Saturday 16 March, together with hundreds of people from across Newcastle, I gathered at the Newcastle Islamic Centre in Mayfield. I gathered… Continue reading Finding True Harmony In What Unites Us
Homilies: 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C
My homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent (Year C) as preached during the 9.30am Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17 - 4:1; Luke 9:28-36. "The Transfiguration of the Lord reframes the covenant between God and God's People. To be in right relationship with God - and… Continue reading Homilies: 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C
