Facebook and similar communications’ technologies could be used to alleviate poverty, encourage the culture of encounter and bring a message of hope, especially to the most disadvantaged. This week’s meeting at the Vatican between Pope Francis and Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of social networking giant Facebook, looked at ways to achieve this. The meeting Read more
This is my confession: I have a mental illness When I was 17, I was diagnosed with Chronic Depression (yeah, we’re diving straight in) but I believe that if I’d had the guts to see my doctor earlier, it would’ve been diagnosed when I was 13, or maybe even earlier. I suffered from Insomnia throughout Read more
Archbishop John Dew has contrasted the freedom of speech prevailing at the synod on the family with the atmosphere at a past synod. The Archbishop of Wellington told Vatican Radio that what is happening is very different from a synod on the Eucharist nine years ago. “ . . . I talked [then] about the possibility Read more
Bishop Peter Cullinane was one of a number of speakers at a recent multifaith event in Palmerston North. Prisms of Light – An Interfaith Conversation on how Compassion Transforms our Communities, explored how compassion is a central theme in the the living out of many world faith traditions. Other speakers were: Helen Chong spoke on roots of compassion Read more
In a sermon given in Auckland, the spiritual head of the Anglican communion has challenged the Church to overcome its fears. Preaching at a packed Holy Sepulchre Church in Newton, Archbishop Justin Welby said the Church has “so often lived in fear and often does so now”. “Fear causes our quarrels, whether it is sexuality Read more
When Mum called to tell me she had cancer I didn’t answer. I looked up from my eggs on toast, registered her name flashing on my phone, and decided that whatever Mum wanted could wait. It waited until after I’d showered, watched an episode of Orange is the New Black, painted my nails a lurid green, Read more
What are the signs of hope in the Church and the world? My initial reaction to that question was somewhat confronting. Besides the “Francis factor”, I saw very few signs of hope in the Church. This response was probably strongly influenced by the heart-rending stories of pain, suffering and broken trust that have been told Read more
“Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem…” (Luke 2:4) As we remind ourselves each year, Joseph and Mary made their long journey, compelled by a census. It became a journey of joy as Mary gave birth to a baby whom we call the Read more
We have begun the Season of Advent in the year of Our Lord 2013, and we are still waiting. What are we waiting for, and why? The Lord has come; the Lord has redeemed us on the Cross; so why do we begin again this annual cycle of reading the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Read more
Since Pope Francis took office in March, almost everything he has said and done indicates that he is bent on carrying through a thorough reform of the Roman Catholic Church, beginning with the Vatican itself. Scarcely a month after taking office, he created an international group of eight cardinals to advise him on reform of Read more