God is love (1 John 4:16), the title of Pope Benedict XVI’s first Encyclical.
I don’t think I’ve ever read an Encyclical before. I can’t say if I’ve even ever had a desire to read one. But the title grabbed me and I thought I’d give it a read.
I am glad I did. [...]
恭喜發財!
I’m hoping to get to a few of the events in Sydney in the next week or so. Driving home from Wollongong tonight, I saw some fireworks and dragons as I passed through a suburb. Great celebrations!
A happy, blessed and prosperous New Year to all celebrating!
This afternoon I headed down with our sub-deacon to the city of Wollongong, about an hour’s drive south of Sydney. Our sub-deacon goes down twice a month to help serve the Liturgy at St Elias’ parish there.
A very small number turned up, but it was a beautiful service nonetheless. I do so love [...]
From Goulburn I headed off, in my automatic — I will not be ashamed I cannot drive a manual Mimi, Miss Lisa and Deeleea! — to Wombeyan Caves. Wow. And Wow again. I can’t wait to get back there. I loved it. I was talking about it to [...]
Troparion:
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile,
And your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance.
By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe.
O our holy father Ephraim, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Konatakion:
O holy father Ephraim,
As you meditated constantly on the final judgment,
You shed abundant tears of [...]
An absolutely wonderful evening and day in Goulburn and at Wombeyan Caves: I’m already planning my next visit! I enjoyed the quiteness and beauty of Goulburn, and I’d love to do some of the bushwalks around Wombeyan Caves — there are quite a few. I also hear there are glow-worms not far from [...]
I can’t believe it!?!? My niece is one year old today. One year! It flew by.
I can’t believe she’s gone from this
to this
to this in one year!
We’re having a party at my parents’ place from 11 to 2. I’ve bought her a jacket that has a kangaroo on the front and [...]
Tomorrow, January 26, is Australia Day, our national holiday that commemorates the landing on January 26 of the First Fleet in Sydney Harbour in 1788.
Recently, and quite rightly I’d say, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander commemorations of what they saw as an invasion have played a larger part. As we mature as a country, [...]
I went for another ride last night: and I have to say I am actually quite enjoying it.
After two very warm days, yesterday was a bit cooler and a change came through in the afternoon making it even more pleasant. Again, I’ve discovered that certain streets are a bit steeper when you are tackling [...]
The Prayer Rope, one might say the Orthodox counterpart of the Rosary, is something I have known about, but have not had much to do with at a personal level. Something within me, as odd as that may sound, is prompting me to look deeper into it at this time.
Many parishioners at my parish [...]