The prayer intention of Pope Francis for December 2018 is one for evangelisation: That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time.

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

Surfing some music on YouTube tonight I came across this. I looked for some other versions of the same song - the words are very moving - but this is by far the most touching version. Enjoy!

The letter below from Pope Francis to the whole People of God was released in Rome tonight Australian time... Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the People of God “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” ( 1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I … Continue reading Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the People of God

A musical treat today for Mother's Day...a very Happy Mothers Day to my Mum, Tricia, and to my sisters, Jodie, Sally, Breanna and Cian, and to my sisters-in-law, Susannah and Kerry, who themselves are mothers to my nephews and nieces.

This evening I've added a new feature/option to The Doohan Discourse website: receiving posts by email. In addition to other options, it is now possible to subscribe to an email list that will see you receive each post from The Doohan Discourse by email. The subscription form for this new feature can be found on the right … Continue reading A New Feature for The Doohan Discourse

During March, Pope Francis will be praying That the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels. What is Spiritual Discernment? Take a look below...

The words of the Agnus Dei from the Mass set to the music of Samuel Barber, specifically his Adagio for Strings, was a good find on YouTube for me tonight...so good that it had to be shared. The coming together of Barber's marvellous musical score, the words of the liturgy, and the unaccompanied voices of this choir … Continue reading Barber’s Agnus Dei

The Prayer Intention of Pope Francis for February 2018 is: That those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption. “Dirty bread of corruption” In his homily during Holy Mass in the Chapel of Santa Marta, Pope Francis commented on the parable of the dishonest steward taken from the Gospel … Continue reading Papal Prayer Intention for February 2018

The prayer intention of Pope Francis during December 2017 is: "That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations."

From time to time I come across a recording of a song, hymn or other piece of music, that reminds me just how powerful good music can be. Good music - and that is a definition that is as much personal appreciation as 'scientific' assessment - has the ability, the power, to reach inside one's … Continue reading A Reminder of the Power of Music

On the 2nd November, the Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day), Pope Francis visited and prayed at the Ardeatine Caves, the sight of the massacre of Italian political prisoners and civilians, including Jewish civilians, on 24th March 1944 perpetrated by German occupation forces as a means of reprisal for attacks on … Continue reading The Fruit of War is Death

The Pope's prayer intention for November 2017 is That Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions.

The Prayers of the Faithful represent a vision of the Christian in the world that should not be forgotten by the Mass-goer. We don't leave behind our material and historical realities when we got to Mass. We don't got to Mass to escape from the sorrows of the word, as if Church is a safe … Continue reading Transforming The World

The first two lines of the Gloria are in fact essential to understanding what takes place at Mass. In this small parish church, where the lives of men and women unfold over the years, the Word still becomes flesh. God's glory appears in the reading of Scripture, in the body of Christ assembled, in the priest's … Continue reading The Unfolding Yet Hidden Glory of God