'Working for the Rat Race'?
Posted: Wed, 7 Oct 2020 19:18
Revisiting the music of his youth, Catholic teacher Mike found himself looking again at the true value of religious education, to which he's dedicated a significant part of his life. (Photo by Joseph Pearson on Unsplash)
Since 1980, when I was seven years of age, I have had an interest in 60's popular culture. Being born and raised in Liverpool means that The Beatles and the Mersey Beat groups have... Read More »
Helping neighbours get back on their feet in a time of crisis
Posted: Wed, 7 Oct 2020 18:08
Fr David O'Malley has spend the past months working in a community project, initially inspired by the Salesian parishes of Sacred Heart and the Church of England parish of St Mary's Battersea. Efforts were already being made to reach out to people in the local area and rebuild a sense of community and trust in a rapidly-changing area, but when lockdown hit, more community groups and volunteers soon... Read More »
Carlo Acutis - a 21st century teenager on the path to sainthood
Posted: Wed, 7 Oct 2020 15:50
The beatification of Carlo Acutis will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2020, at 4:00pm in the Upper Basililca of San Francesco in Assisi.
Carlo was born in London in 1991 to Italian parents who moved back to Milan with him when he was very young. He developed leukemia and died on 12 October 2006, at the age of 15. Despite his own suffering, Carlo did all he could to help the people he saw around... Read More »
Opening our hearts to share the feast of the Lord
Posted: Wed, 7 Oct 2020 15:41
Fr Gerry O'Shaunessy SDB reflects the Gospel for 28th Sunday of the year, with its call to fully take up the Lord's invitation to join him at the wedding feast. (Matthew 22: 1 - 14) (Photo: Source Unknown)
In our Gospel today, Jesus once again is speaking to the leaders of his people-these wonderful teachings apply as much today as they did in their original context. When the Old Testament prophets... Read More »
Restored film of Blessed Michael Rua's funeral in 1910
Posted: Wed, 7 Oct 2020 14:23
In the month of his feast, a remarkable 110-year-old silent film of the funeral of Blessed Michael Rua, first successor of Don Bosco, has been restored by the Italian National Museum of Cinema the National Corporate Cinema Archive. The partnership has been entrusted with the Salesians' photographic archive, and the footage of the events of 6-9 April 1910 is one of the first fruits of their work.
The... Read More »
'Fratelli tutti' - Pope Francis calls humanity to to come together
Posted: Tue, 6 Oct 2020 16:23
Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB looks back over a remarkable weekend in our tumultuous world, which included the publication of a new papal encyclical calling on us to come together to help each other through these crises, and gives us a summary of this historic document. (Image: Catholic News Service)
On a bright and fresh Monday morning, it's good to reflect on what has been an amazing weekend.
The 'London'... Read More »
Fr Harry celebrates 90th birthday
Posted: Tue, 6 Oct 2020 10:05
The Salesians and staff at St Joseph's Bolton celebrated the 90th birthday of Fr Harry O'Brien SDB last week.
Although the other part of the Thornleigh community was unable to join them in person, due to COVID restrictions, a very good time was had, with an Irish-themed cake specially made for him, and plenty of jollity.
Fr Harry among the first Salesians from our Province to travel to Liberia where... Read More »
Remembering Blessed Alberto Marvelli
Posted: Mon, 5 Oct 2020 07:16
'One can be in politics and be a saint, and this is a very great message that comes from the life of Alberto Marvelli.' These words, spoken by Archbishop Angelo Comastri of Loreto, are an important reminder to all of us, in times when popular respect and trust for politicians is generally low.
On 5th October, we celebrate this inspiring young man, whose life also reminds us that we are called to be... Read More »
Table fellowship - the 'Eucharist of the ordinary'
Posted: Thu, 1 Oct 2020 17:41
Some of the most important Gospel stories centre on sharing meals and breaking bread together. Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB looks at the importance of 'table fellowship' in our lives today. Photo: A seder meal at the Triduum Retreat, Savio House
But the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking, and you say, "That man eats and drinks too much! He is even a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet Wisdom... Read More »
Kindness must be our default position
Posted: Thu, 1 Oct 2020 11:35
Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB offers a reflection on the Gospel for 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Image by Marcello Cerrato via Qumran2.net
Once again we are presented with a parable about that important vineyard—that place of encounter with the divine. Once again the target audience are the leaders of the community—the chief priests and elders who should be listening to the WORD OF God. They... Read More »