St Mary's

I would like to thank the Columban Mission Institute for the recently produced Australian Version of The Stations of the Forests (www.columban.org.au/Archives/…/video-stations-of-the-forest/)

In this powerful story, the writer of John’s Gospel is aware time is running out – Jesus’ life is about to be terminated. In this gospel, Jesus wants to reinforce all that he has taught, using more words seems superfluous, he performs an action which goes beyond mere words, and he performs an action which goes to the heart of the message.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;  I hid not my face  from shame and spitting. 7 For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded;  therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame

My God, My God why have you abandoned me?

EASTER MASSES 2011

Thursday   April 21               7.00pm TLC

Friday          April 22               9.30am Stations of the Cross,

West End Uniting Church, Sussex St, West End

Friday         April 22                3.00pm TLC

Saturday   April 23                6.30pm TLC

Sunday      April 24               9.00am TLC (no 5pm Mass)

Homily for Week 5 of Lent, 2011

My dear friend, Wendy Brown, recently said to me, ‘Hey, Bernie, would you do a homily in Lent on the “Wilderness Within” topic? You’d be good at that!’  Only certain family members and special friends could say that kind of thing to you with no evil intent….

Anyway, I had a look at this Fifth Sunday of Lent’s Gospel about the re-vitalisation of Lazarus, and thought about the experiences of my daily workplace in the wards of a children’s hospital and thought that, yes, there are a couple of things I could say. And, yes again, I could also do that within the boundaries of another seven minutes.

Over 10 years ago, myself, Peter and Joan Mooney undertook the arduous car journey to Sydney in Peter’s parents 1973 Green Holden Monaro (not the Kingswood). I think it took longer than 12 hours in this old beast. But that’s another story. We attended an 8 day Zen Buddhist retreat. There were many things I learned and could relate but one that stays with me was the “waking up” meditation. In Zen Meditation, everyone is invited to face the wall sitting upright on a black prayer matt or stool. In the “waking up” meditation, the Zen master walks around the centre of the room with a rather large stick. A stick which he uses to strike the meditator on the shoulder with, if he feels the meditator is falling asleep. If you receive a gentler tap on the back, you are invited to bow and present your neck to the master, which he then strikes with a waking blow. If you were a little sleepy before the strike, believe me, you are far from it, after being struck. Better than a strong cappuccino or flat white, whatever your preference. No more falling asleep for this meditator.

St Mary’s – Doing Spirituality

I was fortunate enough through the enthusiasm of my wife, Angela, to discover this community a long time ago – 1988 I think, and I have been a fairly regular attendee ever since.  Certainly I have been a constant attendee since, to borrow a term from the Irish, “since the troubles”, the troubles of exile.