Mass celebrated at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne
Sunday 16 July 2017 At 11am
Dear Brothers and Sisters,Have you ever been in a crowd so great that you might have felt crushed, perhaps coming out of a sporting event as people surged forward? Those in Rome speak of the crush on the buses or coming out of Saint Peter’s. A huge crowd like this, pressing forward, came to the lakeside to listen to Jesus.There was always an attractiveness about him, a magnetic quality. Some would say it was the stories he told. They were realistic, simple and clear, and the points that he made highlighted God’s love for people and the invitation he gives to us to imitate his...
Sunday 25 June 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
An elderly woman, who had worked all her life sewing, finally saved up enough money to go to visit the Holy Land. She had never been on a plane before and was very much afraid. Even though there were four bishops on the plane, she remained totally fearful. Once the plane had reached a suitable altitude and was making its way across the sea the woman opened her eyes, looked out the window and saw that just at that moment one of the plane’s engines broke loose from its bearings and disappeared downward. ‘We are all going to die’, she shouted. The hostess came and tried to calm her, to assure her that the pilot could fly back under three engines and land safely. But she continued to cry, ‘We are going to die, we are going to die.’ Again the attendant assured her, ‘Don’t worry. God’s with us. We have only three engines, but look we have four bishops.’ To that the woman quickly replied, ‘I’d rather have four engines and three bishops.’
Sunday, 25 June 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today it is my honour on behalf of the Holy Father to present the Cross ‘Pro Ecclesiae et Pontifice’ to Father Luciano Rocchi, a longstanding Italian chaplain, priest and gifted pastor in our Archdiocese.
Saturday 24 June 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
With wonder we come forward for the ordination of Trevor Tibbertsma and Marcus Goulding to the priesthood, of Hubert Fernando to the permanent diaconate; and Tho Tran to the diaconate on his journey to the priesthood. Ordinations are an invitation to young men, supported by the Church, to come forward to be other Christs and Ministers of Word and Sacrament. Today we are surrounded by the joyful prayer and praises of the community of the faithful as these four men come forward to ordained ministry, supported by family, friends, seminarians, priests and bishops alike.
Thursday 22 June 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is the presence and love of Jesus which transforms all of us, and here at CRC over 35 years, gifted leaders and intelligent, aspiring young people have worked together to take their place in the world with dignity and skill.
For me this has shone out through the leadership of principals, the huge vision of Father John O'Reilly and the readiness of young people to give dignity, respect, care and hospitality, so that in passing through CRC Sydenham we see our place in the world.