I had the opportunity recently to read Fr. Simon Lobo’s wonderfully written book “Divine Renovation Apprentice: Learning how to Lead a Disciple-Making Parish”. Fr. Simon is the current pastor of St Benedict Parish in Halifax Nova Scotia, the venue for a Divine Renovation Conference that my wife, Helen, and I will be attending in June … More THE MULTIPLICATION FACTOR IN MINISTRY

I’m nestled in our 5th wheel at Yuma Arizona this morning contemplating the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Helen and me. In prayer yesterday, I had meditated on the discourse between Nicodemus and Jesus recounted in John 3: 6-8 and the fact that, like the wind, the Holy Spirit operates in … More WHERE THE WIND BLOWS

Today offered another memorable homily at St John Neumann parish in Yuma Arizona. Fr. John Friel was responding to the tragic shooting in Florida that took the lives of at least 17 people, most of them students. The delivery in this post is somewhat different as Fr. Friel took his time to talk about “gun … More WHAT IS TRUTH?

Has the advent of Lent caught you unaware again? I know; the intellectual response to Lent for many is to sigh and ponder the inconvenience of fasting, increased prayer and alms giving. Can’t we maintain our commitment to God without having to undergo this annual ritual? Can’t Easter hurry up and happen? Don’t I already … More UNLOCKING INTIMACY

You’ve got to hand it to the old serpent. He’s devilishly clever. He’ll create an idol out of anything provided we can be tempted to drift towards it and he’ll custom tailor it for each of us. It’s no longer likely to be a golden calf. After all that doesn’t really fit with our modern … More SLIPPING INTO IDOLATRY

Discovering the love of the Father for me as one of His children is winning the lottery. Of course, God’s love has always been there. That’s why I exist. What hasn’t always been there however is my realization that all that is important in this life and in the next is tied to my “relationship” with … More DISCOVERING MY SPIRITUAL DNA

The New Evangelization contemplates New Ardour, New Method and New Expression. In the Parish setting, the task is always to determine what that might look like. St Joseph’s Parish at Vanderhoof.B.C., a small rural community in the central interior of the Province of British Columbia, is tackling that very question as the community moves into … More THE ROAD TO DISCIPLESHIP

In the spiritual realm, human kind, left to its own resources, stumbles along without a compass lost in the wilderness of life trying to perceive, never mind locate, a path suitable for travel. Clarity remains elusive and the daily encounters with others offered by life is often uninspired by anything other than self interest. In … More DISPELLING THE DARKNESS

If you are a Christian in search of a relationship with the Lord of the Universe, you have already gently touched the hand of God for you would not have embarked on the search but for the stirrings deep within you facilitated by God’s Spirit. In a secular world, where we may be preoccupied with … More GRASPING THE HAND OF GOD

Those of you who have been following my blogs over the last couple of years will notice an emphasis on “relationships” particularly the relationship with the triune God. Helen and I are on a journey seeking ways to effectively introduce others to the Creator of the Universe. We are currently looking at ways to foster … More STIRRING THE WATERS OF DISCERNMENT