Pastoral Ministry Online

For people to communicate about where they feel they are, how they got there, and where they would like to be.

OUR NEW SONG

From composer Dan Shutte we have lyrics and music for lines found throughout many of the Psalms. One such composition runs with the joyful chorus: Sing a new song unto the Lord; Let your song be sung from mountains high Sing a new song unto the Lord Singing alleluia I have sung it for years, […]

ST JUAN DIEGO AND THE APPARITIONS

From Cardinal Burke in his website presenting the Nine Months Novena invoking the Intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Two important background documents.    The first is from Saint Juan Diego’s own account of his encounter with the apparition. The story was written by Antonio Valeriano. It is entitled The Nican Mopohua which are the […]

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

For October 7th, Feast of the Holy Rosary It’s a special day for one who was first formed in a Parish dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. In those days there were fifteen decades of an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, Glory Be, and the Jesus prayer from the children of Fatima, Portugal, 1917. […]

DOING LITURGY CORRECTLY

Various appliances and furniture kit sets to be assembled usually come with instructions. Often, we tend to push ahead with assembly without reference to the instructions. Liturgy has guidelines too, instructions for how celebrations are to be assembled and celebrated. The Roman Missal is used at Mass. It begins with ninety-two pages by way of […]

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

Do you recall how after the invasion of Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian Bishops, Pope Francis agreed to the consecration of Russia as specifically asked for by Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal in 1917? We were all able to join in that act of consecration in our Sunday congregations. Those were days of […]

SAINT IRENAEUS

When Pope Francis decreed on January 21 St. Irenaeus (c. A.D. 130-202) a Doctor of the Church, many Catholics were surprised, as many thought that Irenaeus was already so honoured. Pope Francis has indicated that St. Irenaeus should be known as “Doctor of Unity,” because he “was a great spiritual and theological bridge between Eastern […]

SETTING UP A PARISH

Recently I read a priest’s description of his first experience in charge of a parish. It was in a town in the State of New York, USA during the early years after the 2nd Vatican Council. Preparing for his assignment, he had been thinking how to exercise his new responsibility. He clearly realised many parishioners […]

DEVOTIONAL FRIENDSHIP – with God / Part 3 of 4

Reading about young Samuel in 1st Samuel Chapter 3 reveals his simple pathway to divine and prayerful intimacy. How about taking a deep new dive yourself into sacred scriptures? In search of similar material for fruitful meditation. Much wisdom, teaching, and spiritual experience are recorded in the Hebrew scriptures, all looking forward to the coming […]

SPIRITUALITY AND COVID 19

Covid 19 and its effects weigh heavy on human existence. The world looks to science to understand the virus, to treat and control it, and eventually bring it to an end. For the time being nations have rules to protect lives and livelihoods. Health personnel and other community services step up in support. On the […]