Marist Messenger

Worship in parish churches during the Holy Three Days (Triduum) over Easter is definitely the high-point of the year for liturgy planners and musicians. Read more »

Easter Message 2007 – The resurrection of Christ gives hope to a world afflicted by natural disasters, disease and violence, said Benedict XVI in his Easter message. Read more »

A rich tapestry of people from all walks of life makes up the recently opened Catholic Discipleship College. This is true of its history and its people from staff to board, from trustees to students. Read more »

There is an old Jewish belief that we see and hear the things we are meant to see and hear. Read more »

There is an old Jewish belief that we see and hear the things we are meant to see and hear. Read more »

In this reflection Messenger writer Maria Kennedy sees parallels and wisdom from Thomas Aquinas and Thomas Merton on a difficult topic Read more »

I’ve had several people come up to me (knowing that I write this column and I’m the WYD contact person for two parishes) and say, “can you boil it down for me – actually what is World Youth Day?” Read more »

2007 is the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. William Wilberforce the Hero was a saintly man. Read more »

June has some very special saints who lit up their age.
Read more »

Michael Mrong of Caritas Bangladesh recently toured NZ, giving talks in parishes,and visiting schools. Read more »

Last article Tricia traversed the First Four Crusades. Here she discusses the long-term outcome
of this most colourful and influential period of church history Read more »

My first encounter with Fr Paul Glynn was five years ago. Read more »

Recently it has fallen to a little band of parishioners to unlock our Parish church during the week. We no longer have a resident priest. Read more »

“Rely not too much on your present disposition for there is nothing in the soul so firmly established that it cannot be removed by time and neglect…… What disposition cannot be induced, destroyed or changed to its contrary by force of habit? How many have come by habit to find pleasure in the evil, which before inspired only horror and disgust?” Read more »

A man was given an unusual name by his parents who simply named him ‘Odd’.The man enjoyed his name and told his wife that when he died he wanted on his gravestone just his date of birth and date of death. So that when people read his gravestone they would say “ Now, isn’t that odd!”

A true story
The Marist Fathers moved into a brand new building, and were upset to discover mice in the building. A phone call went to the builder who was asked “Didn’t we sign off on a mice-proof building?” “You did,” said the builder. “What does that mean?” asked the occupant. Said the builder:
“It means that they can’t get out!”

And another…
Cardinal Heenan was once called upon to ordain a Nigerian priest in London. Concelebrating with him were several African Bishops and all the altar-servers were African seminarians. Fr Ronald Knox was the preacher, and approached the cardinal for a blessing before reading the gospel. The cardinal whispered to him “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.”

Senior Moments
Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.
A few days later, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm.
A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, “You’re really doing great, aren’t you?” Morris replied, “Just doing what you said, Doc: ‘Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.’”
The doctor said, “I didn’t say that. I said, ‘You’ve got a heart murmur; be careful.’”

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement centre were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: “Slim, I’m 83 years old now, and I’m just full of aches and pains. I know you’re about my age. How do you feel?”
Slim says, “I feel just like a newborn baby.”
“Really!? Like a newborn baby!?”
“Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.”

The Church in Singapore
Last year I spent a day in Singapore and had the opportunity of seeing a little of the life of the Church there. Read more »

The Marian Court Community Silverstream has truly lost a cherished friend, a thoughtful leader and a most zealous pastoral chaplain. Read more »