December 2011

There are times when we can be comforted by the romanticcised picture of Christmas with which we are also so familiar: the familiar story, the crib, memories of childhood, Christmas ritual. There are times too when we can see behind the story to the coming of God into the harsh realities of human life. We

Among the influential names of world history are the founders of the great religions. Unique among them is the role played by Mary in the foundation of Christianity. In none of the other religions is an ordinary woman asked to play such an important role. In the mystery of the incarnation, the Lord empties himself

On this Sunday the Church reminds us of the call to rejoice. “Be happy at all times,” says St. Paul in today’s second reading. We are called to have so much hope in our hearts and trust in God that we are able to do this in good and bad times. In the Gospel we

Our lives, to be fruitful, must be full of Christ; to be able to bring His peace, joy and love we must have it ourselves, for we cannot give what we have not got – the blind leading the blind. The poor in the slums are without Jesus and we have the privilege of entering