At Christmas in 1895 there was discussion in the media about the merits of Christmas – many young people wrote letters to the Sunday Times. Among the contributors was a girl from a St Patrick’s Mortlake family, published in the Sunday Times... read more
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. This brings to an end the season of Christmas. In the Eastern Church this feast is called Theophany because at the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan, God appeared in three persons. ... read more
Special thanks to Mons John for saying this weekend’s Masses whilst I am down the south coast with family. I know you will be praying for victims of these terrible bushfires. Know also that through these difficult times we also see an insight into the g... read more
This Monday, 30 December 2019, marks the 125th anniversary since the foundation stone for our parish of St. Patrick’s was laid by Cardinal Patrick Moran, then Archbishop of Sydney. The foundation stone is located at the right hand exterior entrance to t... read more
I find the advertising for food products over the Christmas period astounding. In between supermarket chains, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver cooking shows advising us how to cook ‘the perfect’ turkey, one could easily think that 25 December was a Mic... read more
As a child I used to love playing “SUPER TRUMP” card games . . . . . . . alas, they were simpler times, when the use of the “TRUMP” word meant a child’s card game, and wouldn’t have us engaging in stories of a certain U.S. President’s antics... read more
My father’s family came to Australia as dairy farmers and settled in the Taree district. Many of my relatives still live in that region, with some still on the land as farmers. They are the patient and practical side of the Stevens family . . . . . . an... read more
one of the highlights of my time spent in Rome as part of my studies was the anticipation of seeing the various Nativity scenes unveiled around the city this time of the year. Coming from Sydney, I was amazed at the accepted public display of faith throug... read more
