Moving away from the shore…
When we visited Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia the day before the Divine Renovation 2016 conference, it was so foggy that we could barely see a few metres away from the rocks we stood...
View ArticleOutside-In or Inside-Out?
For just about everyone, everywhere, September is one of the busiest times of year. I’ve always found it quite exhilarating… (okay, so I was one of those geeky kids who loved nothing better than new...
View ArticleParishes, Culture & Evangelisation… Announcing My New Project!
The last couple of weeks, I’ve had my head firmly inside books on secularisation and religion in the UK. They’ve come with me to coffee shops and on trains. I am waking up to...
View Article“Without a vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18)
When it comes to parish renewal, where do you start? The beginning is tough. You see everything that needs to be done – children’s ministry, Alpha, catechesis, hospitality, liturgy, outreach — “who...
View Article“Religion is what other people do.”
In my studies, I have come across an illuminating article by sociologist Steve Bruce, “Late Secularisation and Religion as Alien” (2014, see here). He defines “late” secularisation as that state where...
View ArticleExperiencing the Love of God and the Love of the Church: Evangelisation...
I am loving the cold, frosty starts, the way the sun hangs so low in the sky, creating some beautifully golden afternoons in London, as the days get shorter and shorter. It’s around this time –...
View ArticleApproaching Christmas… Why We Should Laugh, Rest and Slow Down
Who else is counting down the days before Christmas?! It’s definitely that time of the year when all we want is finally to reach Christmas, with all the shopping, food preparation and parties behind...
View ArticleThe Secularisation of Consciousness and Evangelisation
I said I would post from time to time on some themes I’m exploring as I study (more about that here). The vast backdrop of my study is of course the secularisation of the West. Undeniably,...
View ArticleAfter Alpha: Forming Future Disciple-Makers
So, by this stage, lots of people know that in Richmond we have been using Alpha as our initial evangelisation tool. I keep hearing of parishes all over the place now using Alpha, including...
View ArticleJanuary and Dreams of Harvest
It is SO chilly right now in London. Chilly as far as London goes, anyway. I was loving the early morning frost at the beginning of the month, but now it’s the kind of...
View ArticleThe Paradigm Shift and RCIA
For those who have followed this blog for a while, you will know I have reflected endlessly and written a lot on RCIA (just seeing the RCIA tag here freaks me out a little!). When I worked in...
View ArticleProcess not Programmes
Five or so years ago, my approach to adult faith formation was all centred around the programme. I remember offering the Catholicism programme, shortly followed by a school of prayer, shortly followed...
View ArticleNotes from Nova Scotia…
Lots of people I know are praying the novena to the Holy Spirit right now in the lead-up to Pentecost. Just a health warning… be careful what you pray for. Two years ago, while...
View ArticleFamilies, Sunday Mass, and Evangelisation
We arrived on time, picked seats near the front, and the Mass started swimmingly. We’d talked about God and love and creation on the drive in, and everything was on track. Then, a family...
View ArticleHow your culture eats your strategy for breakfast
You’ve heard the famous Peter Drucker phrase, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” When I came across this quotation, I felt that it couldn’t apply more to Catholic parishes. Here’s what I mean. So...
View ArticleThe Parents’ Meeting and the Early Thresholds
A few weeks ago, I spoke at a First Communion parents’ meeting. One of the toughest gigs you can have as a catechist is the “parents’ meeting”. Every sacramental programme begins with one. It...
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Snow to Spring…
Just several days ago, this was the view from my flat. London never gets this much snow, especially the kind that sticks around for days in a…
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Has the parish had its day?
I recently read Getting out of the sacristy: A look at our pastoral priorities by Bishop Robert Barron. I invite you to take a look. He…
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Back in Business…
How much can change in a year. Most mornings during lockdown, I’ve gone for a run through the leafy streets near my parents’ house. A…
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Our Introverted Church in an Extroverted World
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain was a big revelation to me during lockdown. Somehow it felt…
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