Resources
FRATERNAL DIALOGUE - Monthly Spiritual Message May 2021
The Franciscan movement places a strong emphasis on fraternity. It is both a sign of our unity in Christ and a penance. The term “fraternal” frequently appears throughout the OFS Rule and Constitutions as a constant reminder of the fundamental attitude Secular Franciscans are called to hold towa ..
“THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL FRANCIS TO FRANCIS” PART 3 - Monthly Spiritual Message April 2021
As we enter this season of joy and celebrate the Easter mysteries, we continue that theme in this final reflection on the “joy of the Gospel” Francis to Francis. For St. Francis, to follow Jesus was to fully live the life of the Church, the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Innocent III had t ..
“THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL FRANCIS TO FRANCIS” PART 2 - Monthly Spiritual Message March 2021
As we continue our reflection, we find ourselves in the Season of Lent. To be a Christian requires “Conversion”. You do not choose to be a disciple of Jesus Christ without a decision to follow him and the change that this involves. Conversion is an ongoing chore that unfolds ove ..
“THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL FRANCIS TO FRANCIS” PART 1 - Monthly Spiritual Message February 2021
When the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, I was with another Friar watching the TV waiting for the announcement. Myself, thinking the new Pope might be an American and in particular Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap from Boston, a fellow Franciscan. I said to the other Friar woul ..
Towards Christmas - Monthly Spiritual Message December 2020
In anticipation of the Incarnation Today we rush to celebrate Christmas! As early as October you often start to see the first Christmas trees and tinsel appears in the shops. Advent, the period of reflection and anticipation seemly disappears as Christmas carols are sung and parties held. ..
The Countess Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich - Monthly Spiritual Message November 2020
The Countess Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich A descendent of St Elizabeth of Hungary in Ballarat Vic. The following article is from “The Age” Newspaper[1] in Melbourne: Secluded within the convent grounds at Mary’s Mount, in Ballarat Victoria is a beautiful little chapel which has been a ..
THE MERCY OF GOD AND “LAUDATO SI” IN POPE FRANCIS AND ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (Part 4) - Monthly Spiritual Message October 2020
Pope Francis reminds us time and time again that SIN does MATTER. Mercy assumes sin. Francis of Assisi was a man of mercy. In the opening lines of his Testament he wrote: “When I was in sin, the Lord gave me brothers!” St. Bonaventure a Theologian and one of his biographers wrote: “In ..
THE MERCY OF GOD AND “LAUDATO SI” IN POPE FRANCIS AND ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (Part 3) - Monthly Spiritual Message September 2020
We are also God’s gift to one another. When we fail to acknowledge as part of our reality the worth of the poor person. A human embryo, a person with disabilities, it is difficult to hear the cry of nature itself. This quality of life affects everyone on the planet. The Pope calls ..
Talks from the 2020 NSW & ACT Virtual Retreat
Talk 1: Fr John Nguyen OFM Cap "Prayer and Isolation" Audio Download (/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=207436) Talk 2: Fr Tony Fox OFM Conv "A Meditation on Franciscan Fraternity" Audio Download (/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=207438) Talk 3: St Pia Galea OSC "I Will Protect Yo ..
THE MERCY OF GOD AND “LAUDATO SI” IN POPE FRANCIS AND ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (Part 2) - Monthly Spiritual Message August 2020
We sin when we presume to take God’s place and forget that we too are creatures. It is a rupture in those relationships. So rather than thinking that the Biblical right of “dominion” over the earth is that as the higher being over God’s creatures justifies doing whatever we want with them and ea ..
THE MERCY OF GOD AND “LAUDATO SI” IN POPE FRANCIS AND ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (Part I) - Monthly Spiritual Message July 2020
The Earth was created to support life and give praise to God, but it is crying out with pain because human activity is destroying it. These are strong words to begin our reflection, but it is the reason that Pope Francis wrote his Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si” - On the care of our common ..
A TIME OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION - Monthly Spiritual Message June 2020
This year became for us the year of “Spiritual Communion” because the Lockdown closed all the churches just before Easter. The laity could not “celebrate Mass”[1] (applewebdata://118FD285-1068-4C2E-AABF-B5206AA36FFE#_ftn1) or receive Holy Communion! Usually, we go to Mass to hear the Word of God ..
Recent Articles
- FRATERNAL DIALOGUE - Monthly Spiritual Message May 2021
- “THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL FRANCIS TO FRANCIS” PART 3 - Monthly Spiritual Message April 2021
- “THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL FRANCIS TO FRANCIS” PART 2 - Monthly Spiritual Message March 2021
- “THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL FRANCIS TO FRANCIS” PART 1 - Monthly Spiritual Message February 2021
- Towards Christmas - Monthly Spiritual Message December 2020
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Are You Being Called?
If you sometimes feel the need, or an inner urging, to do a little more than just attend Mass and be a good parishioner, please...
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