What is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church?
For many, the understanding of a Jubilee Year is not always clear, so I thought to highlight some key points about what a Jubilee Year is and what it means for the Catholic faithful. A Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church occurs every 25 years. It represents a year of celebration, renewal, and special graces […]
Word of God Sunday Reflection
In Australia this year, Word of God Sunday is on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2 February). Word of God Sunday invites us to pay special attention to the Word of God that we hear in that Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word. When Pope Francis established this Sunday as a way of […]
St. Christopher Necklace
This thoughtfully crafted necklace features an oval St. Christopher Travel medal, elegantly suspended on a sleek black cord. As the patron saint of travelers, St. Christopher’s image on the medal symbolizes protection and guidance throughout life’s journeys. The refined oval shape of the medal adds a touch of sophistication, while the contemporary black cord offers a striking contrast, making the piece both meaningful and stylish. Ideal for those constantly on the move or as a heartfelt gift, this necklace serves as a constant reminder of faith and safety, wherever the road may lead.
Australia Day 2025 – Reflect, Respect and Celebrate
As dawn emerges on Australia Day 2025, citizens are called to reflect on all that this day holds within the diverse realities that shape this day in our national story. Australia Day celebrations in Sydney will begin with a traditional Dawn Reflection – a time to reflect on Australia’s history and its future as the […]
Sisters Celebrate Golden and Diamond Jubilees 2025
Diamond Jubilarians celebrating 60 years professed at Mary MacKillop Chapel in North Sydney Twenty-four Sisters of Saint Joseph from across the Congregation have celebrated their Golden and Diamond Jubilees marking 50 years and 60 years since their first profession. They were able to gather and acknowledge the event at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney […]
30th Anniversary of Mary MacKillop’s Beatification
Thirty years ago in 1995, I found myself in the very privileged role of President of the Australian-New Zealand Federation of Sisters of St Joseph, which was comprised of the diocesan congregations of Perthville, Lochinvar, Goulburn, Tasmania and New Zealand. Randwick Racecourse in Sydney was the ideal place for Mary MacKillop’s beatification ceremony. On entering […]
The Baptism of Jesus
Sr Helen shares a reflection for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, 12 January 2025. Your Baptism, My Baptism – what does it mean? We go in spirit to the peaceful and loving home of Nazareth. We somehow know that Joseph would have died, and Mary and Jesus are living their ordinary lives […]
What does Peace and Freedom mean to you?
Peace and Freedom are inseparable; without peace, there can be no true freedom. In today’s world, this truth is more relevant than ever. At first glance, it may be hard to recognise the peace and freedom we long for in the world. Acts of senseless violence and the cowardly abuse of power over humanity, often […]
Epiphany – God puts on flesh!
We saw his star at its rising… Matthew 2:2 God puts on flesh! God brings light! What do we do? The word ‘epiphany’ used in Greek indicates an appearance or manifestation. What does it invite us to?
Ordination Anniversary of Julian Tenison Woods
Twenty-four-year-old Julian Woods [1] was ordained a priest by Bishop Francis Murphy in Adelaide’s St Patrick’s Church on 4 January 1857. From his mid-teens, Julian’s one goal and longing had been ordination. Raised in London by his Irish parents with the general conviction of Christian faith, he had no clear denominational identity. His mother was […]
Mortgaging a Future of Hope – Debts Today, Peace Tomorrow
Pope Francis’ 2025 World Day of Peace message, “Forgive Us Our Debts: Grant Us Your Peace”, is a powerful invitation to everyone – individuals, communities, and nations – to engage in the transformative act of forgiveness. It is a call to embrace the principles of justice, reconciliation, and peace, not as lofty ideals, but as […]
A Reflection on the Beginning of a New Year
On 1 January 2025, this day will be an opportunity to look back and to look forward… The Romans chose to name the first month of the year January after the god Janus who is depicted as having two faces, one looking back, the other forward. On 1 January each year, we can take the […]