Synod of Bishops on Evangelization

I was a young pastor in Melbourne, Australia when Pope Paul VI wrote an exciting letter (actually called an Exhortation!) to the church. It was called “Proclaiming the Gospel Message”, (Evangelii Nuntiandi) and I took to it with a young priest’s zeal. Since the...

Msgr. Ed Howley, 1922-2012

In 1989 having concluded my second term as Provincial of the Australian and New Zealand Dominicans, I thought I was going to study for a semester at Boston College. However, I received a call from a Dominican friend, Fr. Bernie Maxwell, who introduced me to Fr. Ed...

What’s in a word?

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE MISSAL There is a word which keeps occurring in the new translation of the Missal. That word is “MERIT”. It is a word which concerns me because it is easy to think, “I deserve”. “I  have been good and merit...

Wise words from Sojourners Leader

Listening for the Voice of Aslan We have been members of Sojourners for several years. It is an ecumenical organization devoted to social Justice. Rev.Jim Wallis is a Baptist minister, providing a powerful voice amongst politicians. During this election year we seem...

An article from Fr Ronald Rolheiser

MOSQUITO BITES 2012-01-22 When grace enters, there is no choice – humans must dance. W.H. Auden wrote those words and, beautiful as they sound, I wish they were true. When grace enters a room we should begin to dance but, sadly, more often than not we let some...

The Gospels in Our Lives

In my more mature years, I would explain my basic faith position as a “Gospel oriented Catholic”. The teaching of Jesus in the Gospel is my motivation, although I would never claim that I live it well! In the last year I was introduced to a book by Alexander Shaia...