the online presence of Fr Andrew Doohan
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Although in Australia's liturgical calendar the Solemnity of St Patrick will not be celebrated until Monday 18th March, the article below, written for St Patrick's Day, is well worth reading. This is particularly so, in my humble estimation, because of one of the proposed elements of "The Patrick Option" that the writer attempts to elucidate: … Continue reading Embracing “The Patrick Option”
My homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent (Year C) as preached during the 5.30pm Saturday evening Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13. "The temptation of Jesus in the desert - and the reliance of Jesus on God as revealed in the Word - reminds us … Continue reading Homilies: 1st Sunday of Lent, Year C
Poseidon's Gold by Lindsey Davis My rating: 4 of 5 stars Our hero, Marcus Didius Falco, has a new client who is very demanding - himself!Finding himself a suspect in the suspicious death of a soldier, a one time colleague of Falco's deceased hero brother, Falco needs to unravel some family dynamics - and some … Continue reading Review: Poseidon’s Gold
Each month a prayer intention is released, either for a universal need or for a specific evangelism need, through which Catholics are asked to join in praying with the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The intention for March 2019 is: That Christian communities, especially those who are persecuted, feel that they are close to Christ and … Continue reading Papal Prayer Intention for March 2019
World Without End by Ken Follett My rating: 3 of 5 stars The tale of the town and city of Kingsbridge continues in this second volume of Ken Follett's trilogy. Things have changed in the town and yet things have remained the same with competing priorities and egos lending themselves to the narrative that surrounds … Continue reading Review: World Without End
