Dear Friends, As a nation we have joined with each other in the remembrance of Anzac Day and the effects that war has had on all families in this country. We join also with our Australian brothers and sisters in their remembrance. I remember the Anzac services that I attended as a child, compulsory for … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! Welcome to S. Michael’s today as we continue to celebrate the risen life of Christ in our midst in the great fifty days of Easter. At the 10:00 am Mass we are delighted to welcome Jennifer De Leon, who will dance for us following … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Easter at S. Michael’s has been a great occasion as usual—we are very fortunate to be able to participate in our own way in the journey of Jesus to the cross, and his triumphant resurrection. Jesus Christ is risen, alleluia! Thank you to all who helped in any way to make this such … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Welcome to S. Michael’s on this joyful morning as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. During our pilgrimage of Lent and Holy Week we have examined ourselves and walked the way of the cross with our Lord. Now as we come to Easter we celebrate the heart of our … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Welcome to S. Michael’s as we begin Holy Week together on Palm Sunday. Today’s liturgy starts in the school and then we process with palms to recall Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We hold the excitement and expectation of that occasion before the Passion of our Lord. We come now to the most significant … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Welcome to S. Michael’s today for Passion Sunday. The focus of Lent moves ever more directly now to centre on our Lord’s passion and death as we approach Holy Week. One of the important disciplines of Lent is personal examination. This leads to a deeper recognition of our own sin, indeed our separation … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Welcome to S. Michael’s for Mothering Sunday. Today we are delighted to welcome the community of S. Michael’s Church School as it joins with the Parish to celebrate this important day when we give thanks for and honour mothers. Mothering Sunday comes at the midway point of the season of Lent, and it … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Welcome to S. Michael’s on this third Sunday of Lent. The Epistle reading today speaks about the cross. When we begin the Mass the first thing the presiding priest does is to lead the community in making the sign of the cross. This is the pre-eminent Christian symbol. Whilst in our minds it … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Welcome to S. Michael’s as we continue our pilgrimage in Lent. Today our reading from the Gospel recalls the Transfiguration of Jesus. One way of understanding the Transfiguration is that on this occasion Jesus’ divinity shone through his humanity. When we come to Mass we begin spiritually to climb a mountain, as Jesus … [Read more…]
Dear Friends, Today we gather for the first Sunday of Lent and I welcome you to S. Michael’s. This date has a particular poignancy for Christchurch, being the fourth anniversary of the earthquakes which devastated our city. In these years much has been accomplished, yet for many people the trauma of that day, and the … [Read more…]
