The parable of the dragnetJul 31, 2025
The other day I met up with a friend whom I knew in Fiji. We got to talking about a remarkable teacher who came to Fiji to conduct social analysis seminars. He usually began with a drawing of a reef connected to an island Read more
Is it just me?Jul 24, 2025
These days at our office morning tea, our conversation often comes back to the state of the world and the litany of awful events, crazy ideas and power-hungry people that dominate the news Read more
Celebrating bees on World Bee DayMay 20, 2025
Today, 20th of May is World Bee Day. But why do these little beings get their own date on the international calendar? They might often be ignored or even batted away, but bees are crucial to our future – and more intelligent than you might think. Read more
Remembering Bishop Owen DolanMay 07, 2025
Yesterday, we attended the funeral of a great friend of the Columbans whose lifelong motto was, ''May the same mind be in me that was in Christ Jesus.'' He was Bishop Owen Dolan, retired auxiliary bishop of Palmerston North who died at the age of 96. Read more
A Different RetreatMar 20, 2025
When my friends told me that they had stayed in a cabin overlooking the ocean, I immediately thought that would be a good place for a solitary retreat Read more
Celebrating the feast of St PatrickMar 17, 2025
Today we celebrate the feast of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Today is a special day for Columbans as our missionary society was founded in Ireland in 1918 and the first Columbans were Irish as have been a large majority of our members. Read more
Ash Wednesday 2025Mar 05, 2025
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the forty days of preparation to recall and celebrate the salvation that Jesus won for us through his birth into our human nature, his life of missionary service and his death and resurrection. Read more