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
The key to a successful Christmas lies in the patient waiting and making useful preparations. Easier said than done!! The placement of Christmas Day, being on 25 December, is of course based on a northern hemisphere timeframe. The notion of Advent, a quie... read more
The Solemnity of Christ the King is a relatively new formal liturgical celebration in our Church, initiated in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to the rise of secularism and a denial of Christ throughout much of Europe, including: in 1917 the seizu... read more
This Sunday, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, is really the last of our Liturgical Year. Next Sunday is the feast of Christ the King and the week after we commence the Advent period in the run up to Christmas. Advent marks the start of the Church�... read more
Today’s Gospel speaks of the Resurrection – the core of our Christian faith. The Resurrection ushers in a completely new kind of existence. When we say someone has died or “Gone”, the obvious next question has to be “Where to?” Below is... read more