15 December 2008 Teesside University – All Saints Church, Middlesbrough Can I make a terrible heartfelt confession to you all – I do feel awfully ashamed of myself, standing here, festooned in all this fine ecclesiastical regalia. And here you are all gathered in this beautiful setting listening to the wonderful readings, the carefully prepared [...]
29 August 2008, York When you are listening to a conversation, does it ever happen to you that you hear an expression or a phrase as if for the first time? Perhaps the particular expression strikes you as amusing, bizarre or even shocking. Yet you have heard it over and over again and have used [...]
17 August 2008 Introduction A warm welcome to everyone as we gather together from all over the diocese to celebrate our own very special diocesan pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady of Mount Grace. This is the 50th Anniversary of the modern pilgrimage, though we can be sure that our forefathers have been coming here [...]
the Holy Spirit, the principal agent of mission You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses. (Acts 1.8) I hope you are bright and fresh this morning? Yesterday was a good day, with many memorable moments, not least of all welcoming the Holy Father into [...]
For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body; and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cor 12:13) I am going to start with a story today. I hope you like stories, and I am praying that you won’t have heard this one before. Here we go.
If we live by the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit (Gal 5.25) If you live by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence……If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you…what the Spirit brings is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and [...]
Sydney, 18 July 2008 Today we celebrate a Mass for the Evangelisation of Peoples. We, as Christians, are called to be bearers of “Good News”, and therefore we are asked to renew and deepen our vocation to evangelisation, so that the spreading of this message may reach to the ends of the earth. We ask [...]
Sydney, 17 July 2008 God never ceases to provide for his Church in every time and season. Through the power of the Spirit he guides the Church on earth in the ways of his providence. For our doubt, for our fear, for lack of trust in God’s providential love, we ask for mercy and pardon; [...]
Sydney, 16 July 2008 Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Scriptures speak of the beauty of Carmel. It was here that the prophet Elijah defended the faith of God’s people. Mary for us reflects both the beauty of a creature of God adorned with the gifts of the Spirit [...]
Scarborough, 1 July 2008 The Lord is the living stone, a precious cornerstone, a keystone, a rock. These phrases are used frequently in the scriptures. Strong and protecting, lasting and faithful, surprising source of life and that which holds life together; for a foundation or for stumbling. As we come together to celebrate the anniversary [...]
