Homilies, Reflections & Letters
From here you can access Homilies given by the priests of our parish. If the homily you are looking for is not listed please contact the
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
who will endeavour to make it available on the site in the future.
Fr.Enda Llyod
Below are links to some recent letters from Fr.Enda to Parishioners:
Fr. John O'Connell
Below are some of Fr.John's homilies:
Reflections
Most Sundays at the 10.30am Family Mass, after Communion a reflection is read by a child (normally from the Little Flower Hall Family Mass Group). We have been asked for copied of the reflections on a number of occassions so felt it appropriate to share these reflections through our the Parish Web Site.
Letter from Fr.Enda on 24th September 2009
Dear Parishioners,
Greetings. After almost a month in Bray I have decided to put pen to paper. By birth I’m a Tullamore man, my sister Nancy and family & sister Leonie still live there and my brother John and family reside in Sandycove. I come now from Greystones where I was very happy indeed. Previously I loved working in Roundwood and later in Glencullen so I feel very at home around here. I look forward to working very closely with my two new colleagues, with you and with all the Parish Groups
During most of the 90s I was in Chile, working in Santiago, in very underprivileged areas, with huge populations. From 2000 to 2003 Fr. John Greene and I along with Columban sisters and various others worked as a Pastoral Team in Puente Alto, south of Santiago, in a Parish with over 100,000 people, ten distinct communities & ten pastoral Councils. My very first leadership appointment in early/mid 90s was more than challenging. I was a Gringo coming in to work with people who had stood up to the deprivations, upsets and trials of the Pinochet years. They taught me much, indeed how I view The Church now is as they taught me. We were a community working together through all the ups and downs of life. Our aim was to use all the gifts that were available for the common good.
The communities I worked with in Chile were alive, fractious betimes, but always exciting. Perhaps this same spirit is something I already love about Bray, plenty of strong views of all kinds and shades & plenty of wonderful hard workers without whom the parish simply would not keep going. I hope to find Holy Redeemer a place where the Spirit of God is alive and active, that Jesus’ vision is the one that inspires us all.
Next week I would like to write to you about how I see the future here in Holy Redeemer and in Bray. In the meantime I ask people to reflect on what the parish is all about, no matter what newspapers may print.
By this time next week you will have voted in the Lisbon Referendum, perhaps the Dublin Commission Report will have been published and life moves on. Let us continue to build up the body of Christ, that is what our parish is all about.
We three new Priests look forward to the challenges and joys of working here with you in Holy Redeemer.
Enda Llyod
Back to top
Letter from Fr.Enda on 11th October 2009
Dear Parishioners,
Greetings again, sorry for not getting back to you last week.
As you probably know the Four Parishes of Bray co-operate well together and very soon will have a joint programme for ministers of the Word, and a little later a common programme to prepare Funeral teams. We are very fortunate to have Leonard Kaye, a Parish Pastoral Worker assigned to us by the diocese, who will help us greatly with all this formation.
Longer term Bray may well be one Parish, “The Combined Parishes of Bray”. Parish Pastoral Councils will play an ever increasing role as the years move on. In my time in South America I saw many huge Parishes flourish with a very reduced number of Priests and Sisters, but with fine Pastoral Workers and dedicated Pastoral Councils. At the moment some of our neighbours in Bray are involved in updating their PPC.
Coming directly to Holy Redeemer I look forward very much to our assembly of all the Parish groups on October 19th. I hope that there will be a very large number present. Sincere thanks to the Pastoral Council for their work in organising this meeting. Colin, Joseph and I can only marvel at the many groups in the parish and the astonishing number of people involved.
With regard to renewing our own Pastoral Council it is good to have Leonard Kaye with us. Leonard has worked with many Pastoral Councils and has helped a good number of them to set up. We will get great help from Sr. Anne Frances Carroll and the Area Team, much of their work is with Parish Councils. I would envisage meetings in November setting out the role structure and workings of Pastoral Councils in our Diocese. People who have an interest in serving as a member of the PPC would benefit greatly from these meetings, indeed they would be of benefit to the whole Parish. I imagine in December, we will concentrate on Advent and Christmas. In January, we would hope to get down to the details of our own PPC, guided by our deliberations in November.
It is good to remember that all our volunteers give of their time and energy willingly and freely. We are most indebted to them all. It will give me great pleasure to thank them in your name and in my own for their generous service. I hope we will have a great night on Monday 19th. I love a party!
Enda Lloyd
Back to top
Letter from Fr.Enda on 1st November 2009
Dear Parishioners,
Greetings again.
On November 16 and 23, in Little Flower Hall, the Area Team (for the deaneries of Donnybrook, Dun Laoghaire, Bray and Wicklow) will present a detailed look at the role and constitution of Parish Pastoral Councils in the Dublin Diocese. The seminar is over the two evenings. I hope many will be interested and will be free to attend both evenings. Anybody who has a desire to be part of our own Parish Pastoral Council in 2010 would be well advised to attend. Both evening meetings will be held in Little Flower Hall, commencing at 7.30, to finish around 9.15 at the latest.
As we await the publication of the Dublin Report, I thought I would like to write a few lines to you. When the Report does appear our thoughts and prayers will be, first and foremost, for the victims, survivors, and their families. Surely, it will be a very difficult time for them. I sincerely hope that one outcome of the publication will be that, at last, they will feel that they have been heard and taken seriously. Without doubt all of us will be upset by what we read, although much of the awful detail will be known to us from the past reports. I will, personally, be filled with shame and sadness at the grievous harm done to innocent young people by certain priests. I offer no excuses at all. It was wrong, so very wrong! I sincerely hope, and pray, that all who were sexually abused especially those so abused during their tender childhood years may be enabled to find some peace and may receive all the supports they need to live a rewarding life. I know that our Diocese has offered help and support and will continue to do so. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will be the official voice of our diocese and we pray that the Holy Spirit of wisdom may guide him and give him all the courage and strength he may need.
A least there is one positive outcome of this very black chapter in our history. We have learned a lot more about the nature and the gravity of paedophilia – a lot more than we knew 20 years ago. Abused children will almost certainly never again go unheard or neglected.
We are all very conscious now of the need to have the safest possible environment for our children. We have thought-out guidelines and we are all determined to put them into effect. They form a code of “best practice” which has been implemented in our parishes. It is now necessary that all who have any contact with children and vulnerable adults as part of their parish commitment should be Garda vetted. This process is ongoing and forms part of our parish pastoral practice. In Holy Redeemer we have a Child Protection Team which can be contacted at 0868202090. The team carries a lot of responsibility and we are very grateful to them and we assure them of all the help and cooperation we can give them.
May God bless us all.
Enda Lloyd
Back to top
Letter from Fr.Enda on 6th/7th March 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Greetings once again. Spring has arrived hopefully, and Lent is progressing.
Our Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) renewal process is now completed. We were seeking eight new members. Our discernment process on February 20th gave us a clear six persons to be members of the PPC, and four who tied for 7th and 8th places. It was decided, there and then, to take two of the four names from a hat giving us a total of eight new members. Later, however, at our first meeting of the renewed Parish Pastoral Council, it was decided to add the two people whose names did not come out of the hat. Consequently we have ten new members of the Parish Pastoral Council. The full list of the renewed PPC is: Aherne, Michael: Apust, Joseph: Black, Bill: Connolly, Michael: Divir, Rosemary -.Donnelly, Maura: Farrelly, Anne (Acting Chair): Morgan, Aengus : Ivory, Robert : Lacey, Veronica : Lloyd, Enda : Nicolini, Melita : O'Neill, Domhnall; Paul, Jelson :Plunkett, Gemma : Rothery, Colin.
We have a very attractive copy of St. Luke's Gospel for every home in our Parish and of our worshipping community. On Sat. March 20 we hope to distribute our copies of St. Luke. We will be looking for plenty of help, and we will go from door to door in pairs. How will we be received at the doors? I have great confidence that parishioners will make us welcome, as always. In over 40 years of knocking on doors I have only had two bad experiences; one when I knocked during a family row, the other when I interrupted a man watching a match on Saturday afternoon. St Luke's is a very challenging Gospel. We will find strong emphasis on "The Poor", on "Praying". Women are treated with great respect. Jesus is seen as a person of immense compassion. We will have to plan well to get the best possible results from our Gospel. As a starter, on Saturday 27 March, in Holy Redeemer, we will have a Morning Blitz Workshop on St, Luke; you can't afford to miss it! Hopefully this will be the first of many events organized in Holy Redeemer for the Year of St. Luke. (See newsletter for Monday nights in Lent.)
I look forward to Pope Benedict's Pastoral Letter; I hope it will help us all. It is good to remember that we in Holy Redeemer have a very good Child Protection Policy in place. See our website. All of us involved with children or vulnerable adults have been Garda vetted, or are in the process of being vetted. Our Child Protection Team is made up of parents from our community. Their task is to see that we have "best practice" in all matters that have to do with children, that we are truly child friendly.
Peace be with you,
Enda Lloyd
Back to top
Confirmation Homily 2008 - Saturday 12th April 2008 (Fr.John O'Connell)
The Archbishop has asked me again this year to preside at the administration of the sacrament of Confirmation in Holy Redeemer parish. I am delighted to oblige for a variety of reasons. I have many links with most of them I know that I have already baptised and given First holy Communion to some of them. I have over the years visited them in their class room from junior infants up. Not only that but I have been in Bray so long that I must also have done the same thing for some of the parents here today. I might even have officiated at the weddings of a few of them.
As I retire this Summer I thought it would be nice to spend a few Euros and present each young person with a keepsake of the Confirmation: a wooden box, about an inch square; can be folded in two. On one side a small copy of the famous Rublev icon which the children would be familiar with from their religion book. This icon or image of the Holy Trinity was painted by a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 15th century, Andrei Rublev. The three figures are the persons of the Trinity. On the left is the Father, in the centre the Son and on the right the Holy Spirit. The empty place at the table tells us that each one of us is invited to sit at the table. Jesus the Son of God invites us to share his life, the life of god.
So, I hope that this little gift will be a reminder to you in the years ahead that you are always welcome at the Table of the Lord and also welcome in your parish community. As well as that it will be a reminder that Confirmation is a day to celebrate with family and friends, but also that it is a Sacrament of commitment. A commitment, in the first place to living the Christian life at home, in school and in all your dealings with people and events – trying to bring the love and the compassion of Christ with you wherever you go. What Jesus says to his disciples in the Gospel just read in today’s Mass, he says to all of who have been confirmed ‘As the Father has sent me, so, I am sending you.’ We all have the task of continuing the work of Christ in our world
Secondly it means making a place for god in your life; that means a place for prayer. Surveys show that most young people do in fact pray.
Thirdly it means keeping contact with the Christian community on Sunday. Ideally every Sunday, but at least not to lose contact completely. The story of the man getting married: would I mark you down as regular or irregular at Sunday Mass. Answer: Every Christmas and Easter. So, I will put you down as irregular. No, he says, regular, every Christmas and Easter. I hope most of you will do better than that
On the other side there is the Dove, the image of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Remember we all have gifts. Never forget that. And we are called upon to use them in the service of one another.
As well as the icon I also intend giving you a card with a lovely verse by the poet Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less travelled by
And that made all the difference
In any battle or contest even in sport there are two rules of conflict.
First, never underestimate the enemy. You are now facing into your teenage years; you will shortly be changing from primary to second level school. You will be called upon to make choices, difficult ones. There will be peer pressure to take the easy path, to follow the crowd, to appear cool. One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the gift of courage. Courage to swim against the tide, to take a stand, to follow the road less travelled.
The second rule of conflict, never underestimate yourself. You are a good person. Always think well of yourself. OK, there is dark side to our nature, but also a bright side where honour and decency gain a hearing.
To quote Nelson Mandela. The charismatic former president of South Africa:
‘We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually who am I not to be?
You are a child of God… We were born to make manifest the glory of god within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone
If we think good of ourselves we will try to live up to it, if we think badly of ourselves we will live down to it
So, have a great day. We all rejoice with you: your parents, family, teachers and friends. Enjoy your celebration. The God of Jesus is no kill joy. In fact, he is the source of all that is good, and happy and joyful in our lives.
Back to top
The Dragonfly Story - Monday 12th November 2007 (Fr.John O'Connell)
Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions.
Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.
Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top.
When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.
So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.
Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.
But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life, free as the wind!
Back to top
Martha and Mary - Monday, 23rd July 2007 (Fr.John O'Connell)
There must be few readers of this Gospel who do not feel a profound sympathy with the long-suffering Martha and certain exasperation with her sister Mary who, according to Jesus had chosen the better part.
This story has often been misunderstood. It would be a gross distortion of St. Luke’s purpose to claim that he was advocating the superiority of prayer over good works or even proposing that life in the convent or monastery is more acceptable to God than the active life in the world. By placing this story immediately after the parable of the Good Samaritan, St. Luke made it abundantly clear that it is love of one’s neighbour, which is the supreme value in the life of a Christian. Martha is criticised here (if that is not too strong a word) not because serving at table is unimportant, but because at that particular time Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem where he was to suffer and die and what he needed above all was a listening ear which Mary provided. The best therapy for people who are worried and anxious is often not more pills but simply to be able to talk to a sympathetic listener. That is what friends are for.
In truth it is not a question of choosing between Martha and Mary, but of choosing both. Healthy living and healthy spirituality has always been a question of balance, of walking a tight rope so as not to fall off on either side, which we are always tempted to do. For example, there is danger of conflict between work and family. Which is the more important. Most would say home and family. But the demands of the job for many people seem to be eating in more and more into time spent with the family.
Again Prayer or service, which is the more important: the story of Martha and Mary remind us of not being so busy that we have no time for reflection – so busy that we have no time to smell the roses.
Monastic or domestic: where is God most easily found in the church or in the kitchen, in the monastery or in the family, in Lourdes or in Croke Park. The Christian God is found in both. But the temptation today is to confine God to the Church building, to Holy places and to times when we are at prayer.
To quote Michael Quinn, Director Family Caring Trust: ‘I spend a lot of my time trying to convince parents that it is holy to get up in the middle of the night to attend to a child – even when they haven’t time to pray. I tell them that it is holy for a father to come home from work to teach his daughter how to ride a bicycle or to negotiate pocket money with his son. I feel sad that parents don’t hear that in homilies’
Martha and Mary welcomed Jesus into their home. Lord, help us to serve as Martha did; Help us to be silent and listen as Mary did.
Back to top
Fr. John’s Golden Jubilee homily - Monday, 11th June 2007
I was ordained a priest on 26 May 1957, 50 years ago. Hard to believe – where did the time go? Yet, keep it in perspective – not that long when you remember that the world is 16 billion years old and that the scripture says: in God’s eyes a 1000 years is like a day. Anyhow, next year I will be 75 and will be expected to retire as pp. Does that mean another party? Maybe this party will kill two birds of one shot.
Six of the men ordained with me in 1957 have died. I am sure they have gone to heaven and I also hope to go to heaven when I die, but at the moment I am in no hurry getting there. The story of the two Kilkenny hurlers. There is hurling in heaven and you are picked for full forward next Sunday. Thank God to be alive. Carpe Diem, relish the day.
I had a few lucky breaks in my lifetime.
At the end of my seven years in Clonliffe, The Archbishop John C. Mc Quaid called my in: Father, I am sending you to Rome for postgraduate studies and you will stay in the German college in the Vatican (no question of will you or wont you). It was a great time to be in Rome. I was there for the death of Pope Pius X11 and I was standing in St. Peter’s square the night that John the 23rd was elected. Preparations for the Second Vatican Council were about to take off.
In 1961 I was put teaching theology in Clonliffe College and at the same time chaplain to Mt. Joy prison. In 1974 I was sent to Bray by A.B. Dermot Ryan as a curate, then as P.P. in 1981 and I have been here ever since.
I have had some great times in Bray. Some of the older people will remember the great crack and fun we had in connection with the Lord Mayor campaigns linked with the Bray festival. We also established very good relationships with the other Christian Communities in Bray. I am delighted to see Rev. Baden and Bev Ian from the Church Of Ireland here with us tonight.
In the past 50 years I have witnessed great changes. When I was ordained I said Mass in Latin with my back to the people while the people carried on with their own prayers, usually the rosary. I remember my father would judge a Mass too short if he hadn’t time to get in three rosaries and too long if he had time left over after the three rosaries.
Vocations to the priesthood have dropped dramatically, but the number of lay people involved in the different ministries has increased even more dramatically. We have a very active hands-on Parish Pastoral Council which will make sure that Holy Redeemer will continue to flourish.
Changes that I am very happy to have been involved in were the introduction of the communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
When I came to Bray first, hearing confessions accounted for much of my work as a priest… After some time I came to realise that going to confession was for many any thing but a joyful experience: feelings of anxiety, guilt, scruples and fear. The communal celebration removed much of that negative stuff and the sacrament became as it was intended by the Lord a happy encounter with the God of love.
Canon Sheehan a century ago in his book ‘My New Curate’ writes of the Parish Priest Fr. Dan who boasted: ’Now that I am a pp I am independent: there is nothing the Bishop can do to me’. When this declaration of independence reached the bishop’s ears, his reaction was: ‘what can I do. I can send him a curate that will break his heart in six weeks, that’s what I can do. I have worked with a good number of priests during my time in Bray and I can say truthfully, none of them broke my heart. In fact I think I have remained good friends with nearly every one of them and of course George. Everybody loves George. And I am not jealous. The more weddings and funerals I see going to George the more pleased I am. Victor as you know has gone on for further studies and also to give himself time for reflection. Victor was a very easy man to live with. I wish him only the best.
There must be very few people in Holy Redeemer parish that I have not been involved with in some way. It is an enormous privilege to be given the opportunity of sharing in the lives of people at all the peak moments – at baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and at the burial of their loved ones. I have enjoyed my 50 years as a priest.. It has been rich (not financially!) and varied, challenging, humbling and fulfilling.
At the same time it must be admitted that young men are not cuing up to replace me when I retire. Why is that I do not know. Maybe there is no simple answer.. Maybe the shortage of vocations for the ordained priesthood is the work of the Holy Spirit so that lay people are given the opportunity to take ownership of what is after all their Church.
In the mean time we need priests to preside at the Eucharist and all that goes with it. Maybe there is somebody listening to me tonight who has such a calling. Reflecting on the readings this evening, we are all called in our own way to bring the Good news to the poor, and to serve rather than be served.
At this stage I had better be careful and remember the message of the bull and the lion. When you are full of bull keep your mouth under control.
I am delighted that John Daly is here tonight. He started as sacristan in 1957 also, John was always a gentleman and still is.
People have given out to me on occasion, but I have never once experienced hostility, in fact the opposite, from Holy Redeemer parishioners and our cherished non-resident parishioners, from Church goers and non Church goers alike. I am so grateful to you all, especially those of you who came along for tonight’s celebration, So here’s to the next 50 years.
Back to top
Trinity Sunday – God is always ready to meet us - Tuesday, 29th May 2007
(Fr.John O'Connell, Written by Donal Dorr)
The most distinctive thing about our Christian faith is our belief that there are three persons in God. It is a pity, then, that many of us see this as a doctrine which is so much a mystery that we seldom think about it. We just pray to God in a rather general way without adverting to which of the three persons we are talking to.
Perhaps it would be helpful if we were to think of the three persons as three faces of God, three different ways in which we can relate to God.
GOD, THE CREATOR
We can begin by praying to God as the Creator, the One who at times inspires us with wonder and praise for the beauty all around us. I think of an old African lady I knew in Lagos in Nigeria. She gazed for a long time at two newly-born kittens with their mother. Then she looked up and said to me in pidgin English, ‘God, He do well’.
When we find ourselves almost lost for words in the face of the beauty of nature - or of the love and care of our friends - we may find it helpful to adapt the words of the old hymn and address God not as ‘0 Lord, my God’ but simply as ‘Creator God’.
We might also wish to change some other words in the hymn. For instance, on a summer’s day our revised version of the first verse could be:
I see the sun, I feel the gentle breezes,
Thy gifts throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, Creator God, to thee:
“How great thou art, how great thou art.
“Then sings my soul, 0 Giver of good gifts:
“How great thou art, how great thou art.”
JESUS: THE HUMAN FACE OF GOD
God is not content to be present to us only through the power and beauty of nature. The divine love longs for a more intimate relationship with us. God wants to share the joys, worries, uncertainties, disappointments, sufferings, and even the death that is part of what it means to be human. That is why Jesus came to live among us. In doing so he shows us how to live and how to face death.
This means that, as Christians, we now see a second face of God: God as willing to be human, to be vulnerable, to be friends with us in a fully human way. So there are times when we are moved to turn directly to Jesus; perhaps to ask for something but perhaps also simply to express wonder and praise.
So we could adapt the second verse of the hymn read as follows:
And when I think how you, yourself not sparing,
Came down to Earth, to live and die for me.
Then sings my soul, 0 Jesus God, to thee:
“How great thou art, how great thou art.”
Then sings my soul, 0 Saviour God, to thee:
“How great thou art, how great thou art.”
THE SPIRIT OF GOD
There’s a third face of God, one which Easter Christians take very seriously but which we in the West have often forgotten about. This is the Spirit who from the beginning has moved over creation bringing life and variety and bubbling creative energy. Perhaps even more important is the truth that the Spirit of God lives in each of us, bringing those marvellous gifts which we call ‘the fruits of the Spirit’ - love, joy, peace, patience generosity, gentleness, faithfulness and so on.
A particular gift which the Spirit offers each of us is guidance, a sense of where we are being led and of what God would like us to do at any given moment. When we feel swamped by a multitude of options, or when we feel trapped with little or no choice, we can turn to the Spirit and ask for guidance.
As we develop a greater sensitivity to the gentle touch of the Spirit we find ourselves growing in inner freedom and in love. We are reminded that the Spirit is the living love of God. To describe this Spirit we can borrow a phrase from St. John of the Cross, ‘the Living Flame of Love’.
And if we wish, then, to sing out our gratitude and praise to the Spirit, the third face of God, we can do so by adding a third verse to the old hymn:
And then I think of you, the Holy Spirit,
You live in me, and guide me day by day.
Then sings my soul, 0 Spirit God, to thee:
“How great thou art, how great thou art.”
Then sings my soul, 0 Living Flame of Love:
“How great thou art, how great thou art.”
When we are aware of these three ‘faces of God’ it broadens the scope of our prayer. No matter what frame of mind we are in when we turn to God, we find a face of God that matches our mood.
God is always ready to meet us—as Creator, as the human God, or as the Spirit moving within us.
Back to top
4th January 2009 Reflection (Feast of the Epiphany)
You’d have to feel sorry for the wise men.
Just when most people are taking down Christmas trees and decorations, the wise men arrive when everyone else is finishing up.
But the feast of the Epiphany, which we celebrate on Tuesday, is an important one.
Just like the wise men we are also searching for meaning and purpose to life.
We are looking for answers to our deepest questions.
The journey of the wise men reminds us that those who are searching for something deeper will find God in their lives.
God is waiting to be discovered in the places and people that we least expect God to be.
We pray today for guidance and direction in our own daily journey.
Like the wise men we also pray for strength and courage on our journey especially when it’s easier to quit.
Back to top
11th January 2009 Reflection (Back to school)
We went going back to school this week so we need to pray for our teachers:
Lord Jesus, when you lived and worked in Palestine, they called you teacher.
Help our teachers to remember that they work with the most precious material in the world – us children.
Give them patience with those of us who are slow to learn and even those of us who refuse to learn.
Give them the strength to teach us to use our minds and to become independent thinkers.
Help them to be creative, imaginative and interesting all day every day.
And if they have to correct us help them do so gently.
Amen
Back to top
18th January 2009 Reflection (Called to help)
This was read by two children.
Reader 1: In today’s gospel we are all called to help others. …When you share your bread with the hungry
Reader 2: You are the light of the world
Reader 1: When you do your best to find shelter and homes for the poor
Reader 2: You are the light of the world
Reader 1: When you clothe those who are cold and educate those in ignorance or support those who help others
Reader 2: You are the light of the world
Reader 1: In the darkness and gloom of confusion and dread,
the light of God will shine,
only because you have chosen to be
a helper, a listener, a friend.
Reader 2: Let our words Lord , be words which bring light,
Let our touch bring consolation and light
and let us believe strongly and in the heart
that each of us is the light of God. Amen
Back to top
1st February 2009 Reflection (The Challenge)
The challenge:
We have taller buildings…let’s make sure we don’t have shorter tempers
We’ve wider roads…let’s have wider viewpoints too
We’ve been all the way to the moon …let’s make sure we can cross the road to visit our neighbour.
We’ve added years to life…let’s add life to our years.
We’ve cleaned up the air …let’s not pollute our souls
We’ve split the atom…let’s totally destroy our prejudices.
Don’t mind doing larger things…let’s do better things.
Back to top
8th February 2009 Reflection (Love)
Once upon a time, there was an island where all feelings lived Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others including Love.
One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all went to their boats and left. Love was the only one who stayed.
Love wanted to stay until the last possible moment.
When the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help:
Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel.
"Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me Go with you." "Oh...Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her!
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an older person. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the older person her name.
When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way.
Love realizing how much he owed the elder asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered. "Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"
.
.
.
Knowledge smiled with deep Wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."
Back to top
15th February 2009 Reflection (Don’t Judge)
Don’t judge people by the clothes they wear.
It was only a tailor who made the clothes.
God makes the person.
Don’t judge people by their family relations.
Cain came from a very respectable family.
Don’t judge people by the company they keep.
God comes in many disguises
Don’t judge anyone by the colour of his skin.
If you cut anyone’s skin the same colour blood comes out because we are all come from the same source.
Don’t judge people by their failures in life….many people are too honest to succeed.
Back to top
22nd February 2009 Reflection (Lent)
This was read by two children.
Reader 1: Lent starts next Wednesday so this Lent
Reader 2: Give up complaining-concentrate your thoughts on gratitude.
Reader 1: Give up pessimism-begin again as an optimist.
Reader 2: Give up worry-trust in God’s providence.
Reader 1: Give up discouragement-be filled with hope.
Reader 2: Give up bitterness-practice forgiveness.
Reader 1: Give up hatred-repay evil with goodness.
Reader 2: Give up anger-learn patience.
Reader 1: Give up gloom-the world is still beautiful.
Reader 2: Give up jealousy-send good thoughts and wishes.
Reader 1: Give up gossiping-rein in your tongue.
Reader 2: Give up sin-practice virtues.
Reader 1: Give up giving up-hang in there.
Back to top
15th March 2009 Reflection (Anger)
Today’s Gospel is about anger
I’ve learned-
That sometimes when I’m angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn’t give me
the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned-
that just because two people argue or are angry,
it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other…...
And just because they don’t argue or get angry,
it doesn’t mean they do love one another.
AND
I’ve learned –
that when you harbour bitterness,
happiness docks elsewhere.
Back to top
22nd March 2009 Reflection (Confirmations)
Today Confirmation is celebrated in Holy Redeemer at 12.00 noon and at 3.00 p.m.
It is an important day for all of us.
How does one describe the Holy Spirit?
We have all been in a restaurant where the waitress has asked, “Can I top up your coffee for you?” The cup may be nearly empty and cold after sitting on the table for a while. When she pours the new coffee in, she refills and warms up the whole cup once again. In ways we are like the cup of coffee as well, perhaps we are spiritually cold and empty. We need a spiritual boost.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is God filling each of us with the Holy Spirit, to renew and refresh us.
We ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us and to teach us what’s really important in life.
And let us pray God’s blessing on all the boys and girls who will celebrate this wonderful Sacrament this afternoon. Amen
Back to top
29th March 2009 Reflection (Let Go)
This was read by two children.
Reader 1: Let go of the desire to control.
Reader 2: Let go of anger.
Reader 1: Let go of worries.
Reader 2: Let go and let things follow their natural course.
Reader 1: Let go of the need to use every second to the full.
Reader 2: Let go of the need to be right.
Reader 1: Let go of the need to be successful.
Reader 2: Let go of the need to seem strong or know it all.
Reader 1: Let go of the future you had charted out for yourself.
Reader 2: Let go of the need to be the best.
Reader 1: Let go of the impulse to do more than can reasonably be done in the time available.
Reader 2: Let go of trying to change others.
Reader 1: Let go of criticism.
Reader 2: Let go of being harsh on yourself and others.
Reader 1: Let Go and Let God
Back to top
5th April 2009 Reflection (Palm Sunday)
This week we heard the story of how Peter denied Jesus, not once, not twice but three times.
Was Peter wrong?...... Yes.
Was he human?...... Yes.
So what did he do then?
He spent the rest of his life affirming the message of Jesus - a message of love and of ….. forgiveness.
.
.
.
.
It is human to make a mistake.
The question is: What do you do then?
Back to top
12th April 2009 Reflection (Because)
Because
Because He emptied Himself of all but love. . . you can be filled.
Because His body was broken. . . your life can be whole.
Because His blood was shed. . . your sins can be forgiven.
Because He was forsaken. . . you will never be alone.
Because He was buried. . . you can be raised.
Because He lives. . . you don't have to be afraid.
Because He was raised. . . you can be strong.
Because He reached down to you. . . you don't have to work your way up to Him.
Because His promises are always true,. . . you can have Hope!
Back to top
26th April 2009 Reflection (Is there anything worse?)
This was read by two children.
Reader 1: I am so busy. Is there anything worse than being too busy?
Reader 2: Yeah, having nothing to do.
Reader 1: Well, is there anything more painful than having to give away stuff we own?
Reader 2: What about having nothing to give away!
Reader 1: What is harder than being brought to our knees by the demands of others for our time and energy?
Reader 2: Being the one on your knees asking for YOUR time and energy.
Reader 1: Can anything be harder than being dragged out of bed to look after someone else who says they need help.
Reader 2: Well yes. Not having a bed to get out of or being the one asking for help.
.
.
.
Both Readers: We are very lucky who are asked to give rather than receive.
Back to top
|
