I am Oman Ashraf, originally from Pakistan, and I am currently a novice with the Augustinian Order (OSA). My journey toward religious life has been one of faith, transformation, and a deep sense of calling—a path I never expected to take. Growing up in a strong Catholic family, I never imagined becoming a priest. It…

Religious life is something which should be primarily seen as a gift of God. It is a gift of grace which calls men and women to give their whole lives to the love and service of the Lord Jesus, through the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. I have been in religious life for over…

What are you looking forward to right now? What got you out of bed this morning? It’s undeniable: we need something to hope for as much as we need food and water. In his masterpiece encyclical on Christian Hope, Spe Salvi, Benedict XVI starts by comparing the plight of the pagans of St Paul’s time…

Last month, we all went into shock at the news that Willie Walsh had died suddenly while having a coffee with his son in a local cafe in Carrigaline, Co. Cork, his adopted town from his native Ballyphehane in Cork city. Willie, 74 years old, was loved in Carrigaline, in Ballyphehane, in the church community which…

Several years ago, a Presbyterian minister I know challenged his congregation to open its doors and its heart more fully to the poor. Initially the congregation responded with enthusiasm and a number of programs were introduced to invite people from the less-privileged economic areas of the city, including a number of street-people, to come to…

The Word became flesh for us to save us by reconciling us with God, who “loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.” Our nature demanded to be healed. The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God’s love: “In this the love of God was made manifest…

For the last couple weeks, the Sunday scriptures have given us a healthy dose of what is commonly called ‘The Sermon on the Plain’ – Luke’s version of the more famous ‘Sermon on the Mount’ found in Matthew’s Gospel. The lessons have been familiar – but strikingly direct. What we hear is Jesus speaking directly…

St Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia on November 26, 1858, the second daughter of wealthy banker Francis Anthony Drexel and his wife, Hannah Langstroth. Her mother passed away shortly after Katharine’s birth, and her father remarried Emma Bouvier in 1860. Katharine and her sister Louisa received an exceptional education through private tutors and travelled…

I recently attended the baptism of my first grandchild, 3-month-old Charlotte. I must say, Charlotte is adorable. So, with that impartial assessment out of the way, I offer some reflections that Charlotte’s baptism brought to mind. My parents were in a huge hurry to baptise us. It was the before the Second Vatican Council, when…

“Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?” “We are” Recently, I was made the godfather of my girlfriend’s nephew. When her sister and brother-in-law asked us to be godparents, I’ll admit I was both surprised and deeply honoured. The request made me curious though – what…