I find solace in the familiar rhythm of the shoreline, the gentle lapping of waves against the sand. Easy. When I ponder the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday, Luke 4: 1-11, it directly challenges me to leave the shoreline and go into the deep water. Into that dark blue water with the hard to…
Author: Virginia Ryan
Christmas Serenity Prayer
Sometimes the expectations, the busyness and last-minute pressures of Christmas can frazzle our nerves and undo our joyful intentions. About ten years ago a wonderful colleague and friend, Marty Scroope shared this prayer with me. This be the ideal prayer to pray just before we start cooking the turkey, glazing the ham, cutting the fruit,…
It’s all about the Crib
I read an article by Fr Nicholas King SJ awhile back and he asked an interesting question: what was the first Christmas like? He suggests that we like to imagine what that very first Christmas was really like for the young couple Mary and Joseph. I think it captures our imagination in a very particular…
Embracing the Heart of Christ
Love That Transforms: Embracing the Heart of Christ In today’s fast-paced world, where moments for introspection can be rare, the message of love often gets overlooked. Recently, I found myself deeply moved by Pope Francis’ latest Encyclical, Dilexit Nos, which explores the profound connection between human and divine love, especially through the Heart of Jesus…
Spiritual Leadership Today
School holidays are a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues you haveworked with over the years – you may leave a school but you never leave the people you have worked shoulder to shoulder with in the pursuit of educatingour young people. And so we gathered for dinner and the conversation flowed. One of…
Hope and Suffering
A number of years ago I read an inspiring reflection by Sr Hildegard Ryan OSB. It has stayed with me over the years because it gave me a sense of hope in the midst of suffering. She makes it clear that we are first called to evangelise ourselves and continue the process on a daily…
Gratitude melted my numbness.
“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”– Meister Eckhart I have absolutely nothing in common with Meister Eckhart: Eckhart who was born in 1260 in Hochheim (Thuringia). He entered the Dominican Order and received most of his education in the Studium Generale in Cologne. But this quote was a…
Power of Gratitude
“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.” Meister Eckhart I have absolutely nothing in common with Meister Eckhart: Eckhart was born in 1260 in Hochheim (Thuringia). He entered the Dominican Order quite early, and received most of his education in the Studium Generale in Cologne that Albert the…
Come out of your Tomb: The Easter Invitation
Every year, as the leaves turn golden brown and the air carries a hint of autumn chill, a timeless story unfolds – the story of Easter. Beyond the vibrant colours of autumn and the joy of Easter egg hunts lies the promise of hope, renewal, and transformation. It’s a story that transcends time and touches…
A Mother’s Prayer – Praying for each other in Lent
I was busy preparing a presentation for a group of teachers based on Jesus’ core question; who do you say I am? As I was scrolling through my documents, I came upon this reflection written by our inspiring Australian scripture scholar, Fr Gerald O’Collins SJ. As I reread it I was captured by the words…