I remember the first time - the only time in fact - that I watched the movie Schindler's List. It was one of the very few occasions in my movie going that at the end of the movie, no one moved until the credits were over, and then they moved in silence. Such was the power… Continue reading Music To Stir The Soul
Month: November 2018
A Library of Stories
I'm reading a book entitled In the Beginning There Were Stories by William Bausch. The subtitle of the book is "Thoughts about the Oral Tradition of the Bible", and Bausch is making a case that to adequately understand the Scriptures they need to be seen as the written form of what were initially oral stories. One… Continue reading A Library of Stories
Saved From The Bench
In reading some public comments on a story from the criminal justice system this morning I am particularly grateful that the commentators' only power comes from their keyboard and not from their being members of the Bench. Reading between the lines of some of the comments, I'm also grateful that there is an independent judiciary… Continue reading Saved From The Bench
Be Afraid Of Being Afraid
I find it interesting that the default position of some political operatives is to turn to the generation of fear, usually fear of something that is not nearly as bad as portrayed, in order to entice people to vote for a 'solution' proposed by the same political operative. Whatever happened to election campaigns being run… Continue reading Be Afraid Of Being Afraid
Be Authentic Witnesses
Reversing The Deficit of Trust
A wonderful argument from Eureka Street commenting on the nature of the current state of our political, economic amd social institutions, and the leadership thereof. It is an article well worth reading and pondering. The thrust of the commentary can perhaps best be summed up with this quote: Whenever institutional interests are put ahead of the… Continue reading Reversing The Deficit of Trust
Homilies: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
My homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Year B) as preached during the 5.30pm Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33-37. "The Feast of Christ the King challenges our understanding of exactly what the Reign of God is meant to… Continue reading Homilies: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
An Act of Ecumenical Hospitality
Tonight, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton, once again hosted the community of the Anglican Cathedral - Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle - to help mark their Feast of Title with the celebration of Festal Evensong. This act of ecumenical hospitality was necessitated because of the running of a motor race in the inner city of Newcastle, which… Continue reading An Act of Ecumenical Hospitality
Some Changes Happening Here
Regular visitors to The Doohan Discourse might notice that the website isn't looking like it used to. Last night I made the decision to move hosting providers and the resulting transfer of the site has thrown up a few 'issues', issues, thankfully, that are predominantly about appearance. The same great content is still available for your pleasure… Continue reading Some Changes Happening Here
Homiles: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
My homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) as preached during the 9am Mass at St Joseph's Church, The Junction. The readings were Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14; Mark 13:24-32. This Mass was the annual Remembrance Mass for those whose funerals have been celebrated in the church during the past year, and for… Continue reading Homiles: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Review: Celtic Spirituality in the Australian Landscape
Celtic Spirituality in the Australian Landscape by Ray Simpson & Brent Lyons-Lee My rating: 3 of 5 stars From the back cover: This book explores the nature of Celtic Christian spirituality and why it has resonance in Australia. Ray is a citizen of Celtic lands who makes regular pilgrimage in Australia and Brent is an… Continue reading Review: Celtic Spirituality in the Australian Landscape
Review: Persona Non Grata
Persona Non Grata: A Crime Novel of the Roman Empire by Ruth Downie My rating: 3 of 5 stars Another rollicking yarn in the ongoing adventures of Gaius Petreius Ruso. This edition sees Ruso travel back to his home in Gaul, accompanied by housekeeper Tilla, and straight into murder, mischief, and family dramas. This volume… Continue reading Review: Persona Non Grata
Homilies: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
My homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) as preached during the 5pm Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44. "The observation of the behaviour of people contributing to the Temple treasury is a reminder to us that, like the widow, Christians are… Continue reading Homilies: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Faith And Australia – Part 2
Following my recent posting sharing a column from Bishop Bill about his concerns for the Plenary Council, another voice has come to the fore, this time from Shane Dwyer, Director of the National Centre for Evangelisation and the Catholic Enquiry Centre. It, too, makes a lot of sense and is worth reading. The closing paragraph… Continue reading Faith And Australia – Part 2
Faith and Australia
The title of this post - 'Faith and Australia' - is the same as that of the regular column from Bishop Bill Wright in the November edition of Aurora, the magazine of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. It is reproduced in full below, basically, because it just makes sense. ‘What do you think God is asking of… Continue reading Faith and Australia
