An Option for the Poor
A Theology of Liberation In 1973, Peruvian theologian Gustavo Gutierrez’s ground-breaking A Theology of Liberation was published in English. This wonderfully erudite yet readable publication invited disciples of Jesus to…
Ask the Beasts and They Will Teach You
In 2014, American theologian Elizabeth Johnson wrote a wonderful book that included in its title Ask the Beasts. Job 12:17 continues, “ask the beasts and they will teach you.” We…
Declining Membership: Coming to Completion
Many apostolic congregations of religious women in the West find themselves having conversations about “coming to completion,” that is, about declining membership, a rising median age, and lack of interested…
Beginnings and Endings
I have recently been to two Catholic funerals for dear friends and was once again struck by the older theologies that so often underpin such events. We were back in…
Rethinking the Solemnity of Christ the King Part II
This reflection is a continuation from Susan’s June 26 article of the same title. Here the expression, “Cosmic Christ” can be helpful as it points to Christ’s care of, and…
Rethinking the Solemnity of Christ the King Part I
The coronation of Charles III last month, which drew the attention of much of the world, provides a timely moment to rethink Catholic devotion to Christ the King. Luke 2:7…
What’s in a Name?
There is much that Canada and New Zealand do not have in common. Canada is nearly 40 times larger than New Zealand area-wise and very different in respect of climate.…
“And There Was No Room For Them At The Inn”
In recent years, I have been more involved in working with politically and economically disenfranchised New Zealanders which includes in worrying rising numbers the homeless. Their situation is distressing and…
The Birds of the Air, They Will Tell You
As I write this, it is mid-October here in Aotearoa New Zealand and so half way through spring. It has certainly been the birds and bee season around our home…
Moving From a Team of 5 Million to a Divided Society
On 25 March 2020, the New Zealand government imposed a strict lockdown on people in an effort to keep us safe from the worst effects of what came to be…