Grassroots Liturgist

One of my university lecturers – the Professor, no less – was famed by an occasion when virtually an entire one-hour tutorial was held in silence.   A tutorial is very different to a lecture.   A wit once wrote that ‘a lecture is the process by which information is passed from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the student, bypassing the brain of both.’ But tutorials have a more interactive format.   They are designed for discussion, clarification, and applying the knowledge gained in lectures.   You cannot expect to turn up and be passive or disengaged.   You must be tuned in. Now, this Professor had asked his students to prepare for the tutorial by doing some reading.   This reading was essential as it would prepare fertile ground for the advancement of their studies; their understanding of the topic would deepen though their shared exploration of the reading and, because of this, they would take ownership and think for themselves – developin...

In Lent, there are echoes from significant past events.   One of those is the Jewish people being led through the wilderness towards the land that God had promised them.   Despite some hiccups, they trusted God and allowed him to lead them. Their journey was not just a trek with a destination, but a pilgrimage – a journey of transformation; they were being made fit for the Promised Land.   Any pilgrimage that does not lead to a transformation of the person making it is, in the end, no more than a long walk. And Lent is very much a pilgrimage.   In his recent Message for Lent 2025 , Pope Francis asks us to reflect, “ Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone?   Am I seeking ways to leave behind the occasions of sin and situations that degrade my dignity? ” Pope Francis also reminds us that we do not make this pilgrimage alone, but in fellowship, as di...