O holy angel at my side Go to the church for me Kneel in my place at Holy Mass Where I desire to be. At offertory, in my stead Take all I am and own And place it as a sacrifice Upon the altar throne. At holy consecration bell Adore with seraph’s love My Jesus…
Reflections (Page 2)
Fr MATTHEW KWAGHTAVER
In biblical times, it was stipulated by the Law of Moses that every firstborn child belonged to God and the parents had to buy him back on the fortieth day by presenting him to the temple and offering a sacrifice for his redemption (Ex.13:1-2, 11-15).
Fr TOM McHUGH
No words of mine can ever adequately express my deep gratitude to the wonderful community of SS Joseph & Swithun for the human/divine celebration that was the One Parish Mass. Nothing could have been more appropriate to celebrate our shared pilgrimage of faith over the past 13 years.
By Fr TOM McHUGH
If there is one word that we should never tire of repeating, it is this: dialogue. We are called to promote a culture of dialogue by every possible means and thus to rebuild the fabric of society.
It is sadly true that abuse takes place in many institutions and within families. However, today’s Gospel reminds us, how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,’ when you cannot see the plank in your own? We need to get our own in house…
By MARY CROSBY and DEACON GARRY
What was the The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress like? This is the question that we, the delegates, have been asked since our return from Liverpool. It is not easy to distil three days of intense experience into a few words. And like any profound experience the effects begin to emerge gradually.
By Fr TOM McHUGH
The long hot summer is giving way to the beautiful glow of Autumn sunshine. Our children return happily to school.
By Fr TOM McHUGH
A huge thank you to the nearly one thousand people who gathered to celebrate with me a Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of my Golden Jubilee of Ordination to the priesthood. The joy-filled and festive experience was for me superlative in every way.
Pope Benedict XVI has given us a truly memorable phrase: “There is nothing more beautiful than the encounter with Christ.” Specifically, in the celebration of Mass, we meet him in his people, in his Word proclaimed, in Holy Communion shared, and in the Minister presiding.
By Fr TOM McHUGH
Recently, a number of people who have lived to be over 100 were interviewed about what contributed to their long life. While there was great diversity in what they had to say, they had one thing in common: an “attitude of thankfulness and an interest in the world around them”.