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 it so often in your own conversations. While thinking what to say today on this wonderful occasion of honouring St Margaret Clitherow, once a citizen of this great city of York, two such sayings came to mind. They are rather obvious, but I am not renowned for subtlety - “Oh, I could die for it” – meaning this is something I really want, I really desire with every ounce of my being, without it I could not live; and “I would stake my life on it”, meaning something which is fundamentally right, true necessary, something which cannot deceive or let you down. It is interesting that in an age which would find it hard to define anything as absolute, fundamental and common to all, we use such graphic and shocking language. Read More

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 for much much longer than that. Read More

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. Read More

Bishop Terry’s words at World Youth Day, Sydney 2008

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 self-control. (Gal 5.16ff)

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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 our midst. It is good to have the successor of Peter with us, the one on whom Christ built his Church. It is one thing knowing this intellectually and it is another thing experiencing it in a situation like this. Read More

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. Read More

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 self-control. (Gal 5.16ff)

Read More

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 that through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we may be faithful followers of the Church’s missionary endeavour. Read More

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;

Lord, you are our Light and our help
Lord, have mercy

You are the stronghold of our life.
Christ, have mercy.

You are our Rock of safety.
Lord, have mercy. Read More

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 and one whose faith brought her through anguish and pain to the joy of resurrection

In the Gospel at Mass today we hear how the apostles had spent much time in the company of Jesus. They had heard him teach and preach. Yet, despite this they still thought according to their own categories and saw everything through the prism of their own prejudice – Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel? Despite the teaching and personal attention, something was still missing to allow the apostles to open their hearts and minds, to understand and integrate all that Jesus had said.

Many of us can empathise with the apostles because we find ourselves in the same position – unable to rise above our prejudices and plagued with ignorance and fear.

We turn to the Lord for mercy, pardon, strength

Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and prince of peace.
Lord, have mercy.

You are Son of God and son of Mary.
Christ have mercy

You are Word made flesh and splendour of the Father.
Lord, have mercy. Read More