Time to say Goodbye, or perhaps, Welcome!
I love this time of year, always have, and I suspect always will. This season we know as Advent brings with it a particularly distinctive invitation to enter into a kind of timelessness. This timelessness can be understood in a variety of ways, but always gravitates to the same end: God’s purposes being fulfilled in and because of his love in Christ. We are more obviously aware that we await, plan and prepare for the commemoration of Christ’s birth on the 25th December. The signs of that are all round us. Lurking in the scriptures at the commencement of the season however, is the Church’s invitation to face the unspecified time, for we know “neither the day nor hour” (Matthew 25: 13), of Jesus’ fulfilment of that love, that very force which brought him to dwell among us in...
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Maria to Brazil for three weeks
Our music mistress for our LITE team, Maria Novani has been asked by Father Pat Costello to attend the Commission for Mission group who are meeting in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Maria will be away for three weeks. The Holy Spirit is looking after Maria!! Maria was asked to Brazil as an ideas person and also to submit a report on The Bl. Sacrament Communities and their ministeries in our province of St. Peter and Paul . Maria will also give an in depth report on LITE which will take the form of a clearer view and understanding of the capabilities of the communities and their ministeries …how they operate good or not so good. New ideas can be offered. The focus towards the next General Chapter. Next team meeting of the Glasgow LITE is on the Monday 19th November...
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Paschal Life – Novice Life
Some of you may be old enough to remember London Weekend Television’s sitcom ‘Two’s Company’, staring Elaine Stritch and Donald Sinden. The basis of the comedy is cultural difference as the banter between the brash confident American writer rubs up against the reserved, poised manner of her hired English butler. Thirty odd years later, the scenario remains largely the same. The Dublin postulants and have now become the Manhattan Novices, and two months into this yearlong adventure, I have been asked to provide some insights into the world of Religious formation, which, I have to say feels a bit like writing a postcard home. It is though a marvellous aspect of this life to find oneself in a culture so different from where my life began. A year in Dublin; a year in the USA, this is a collection...
read moreMy visit to India: a rich experience
Last August I had the immense pleasure of visiting India again for a month – my second visit. I went there to experience its people’s life and rich culture, to listen to them, to learn from their wisdom, to understand them and particularly to meet my fellow SSS religious. Ever since I read the life of St. Francis Xavier as a boy, I had a special interest in India. After visiting there in 2003, I wanted to go back and see more. India’s civilisation is as ancient as that of the Middle East, with a splendid and enduring culture. Despite growing economic development, the people of India have not lost their ancient values – I was deeply impressed by their love of education and their determination to succeed, their respect for people of all ages, their ability to endure...
read more13 March 2011 – First Sunday of Lent
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 Year A Jesus was let into the desert …. Lord, Your ancestors knew the Sinai desert for 40 years. Like them, You want to experience it. The desert, land without water, without life, is the place of need… and therefore of temptation. How often the Hebrew people have complained and have wanted to go back to where they had come from. They were hungry, they were thirsty…. But the desert is also the place to hear the Word of God: I will lead her into the desert (my unfaithful spouse, My people) and I will speak to her heart. (Hosea 2:16). You have lived these two aspects, Lord: the temptation and the listening to the Word of God. Thank You for sharing Your challenges in this way, and thank You for the example that You give...
read moreFuture LITE Events
Life in the Eucharist I Programme will be conducted at Blessed John Duns Scotus (Franciscans) 270 Ballater Street, Glasgow G5 OYT this Saturday, 11th December. It begins with a Mass at 10 o’clock and will be finishing around 4.00pm. The following day Sunday, 12th December, the session will be from 1.00 pm – 4.30pm. Glasgow LITE team is pleased to announce that next year 2011, the LITE programme will be conducted at the following: a) 40 Hours Adoration – St Aloysius, Springburn – Sunday, 23rd January, Monday, 24th January, Tuesday, 25th January 2011: 5.30pm – 7.00pm b) Life in the Eucharist II – Scriptural Aspects Three evenings at University of Glasgow Chaplaincy: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday [40 Hours Adoration] 6th, 7th, 8th February 2011 c) Life in the Eucharist I Programme Five evenings at St Brendan’s, Yoker – Fr Pat will...
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LITE Team Glasgow Training Day
The Glasgow Life in the Eucharist Movement has been invited to lead Events for several Parishes over the next six months. For example: a) Life in the Eucharist I Programme at Blessed John Duns Scotus (Franciscans) 11-12 December 2010; b) 40 Hours Adoration at St Aloysius, Springburn: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday 23-25 January 2011; c) Life in the Eucharist II – Scriptural Aspects at Glasgow University Chaplaincy (40 Hours): three evenings 6 – 8 February 2011;d) Life in the Eucharist I Programme at St Brendan’s, Yoker: March 14th 2011 – five evenings; e) One-Day Retreat at St Joseph’s, Helensburgh: Saturday, 26th March 2011; f) One-Day Retreat at St Gregory’s, Wyndford: Saturday, 7th May 2011 (for those in Church ministry). Training days taking place prior to all...
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2nd Sunday of Advent – 5 December 2010
Gospel : Matthew 3 : 1 – 12 Year A In those days, John the Baptist appeared and proclaimed…. John the Baptist did what he was sent to do : he proclaimed. He is a voice crying. He lends his voice to God so that the divine message can be spread throughout the world. It was the role of Moses and of the Prophets of Israel. How often this order of God is repeated to those He has chosen: Go, tell My people…(Is.6) Go and shout this in their ears… (Jer. 2:1). I am sending you to them to say ….(Ezek. 2:3). They don’t have to rack their brains to find the words to say: I put My words in Your mouth. (Jer.1:9)… They must be attentive to God to transmit His message. John has fulfilled his task well....
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1st Sunday of Advent – 28 Nov. 2010
Gospel : Matthew 24 : 37 – 44 Year A Jesus spoke to His disciples about His coming …. You come unceasingly into our lives, Lord. It is You Who keeps us in existence: God holds in His hand the life-breath of humanity, said Job (12:10). God gives to all the life and the breath and everything else, recalled Paul (Acts 17:25). In You is the source of life, sings the Psalmist (Ps.35:10). Too often we forget the origin of this wonderful gift. Like in the time of Noah people want to be masters of their own lives, without reference to Him Who gave them this gift. You came, Lord, to offer a new dimension to our existence. We are not just fleeting earthlings. You came to share our life to let us share Yours. You gave us power...
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