I’m a Catholic, and have been since I asked my parents to have be baptised at the age of 11. Since then, I’ve grown up with Catholic theology, and it has become one of the largest parts of who I am. I studied religion at university, have grown to take …
This is yet another controversial topic, but here goes… I find myself having repeated debates with people, sometimes online, sometimes face-to-face, about what I refer to as the “BNP mentality”. That is to say, the opinion that, in Britain, we should be banning immigration, expelling foreigners and (as one person …
Dear Friend, How are you? I just had to send you a note to tell you how much I care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all day, hoping you would want to talk with me too. I gave you a …
In the Christian calendar, we’re now 2 weeks into the season of Lent. Lent is a period of 40 days, dedicated to fasting, repentance and prayer. During Lent, we free ourselves from temptation, imitating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, as described in the Gospels. Last week, …
For 8 years, I’ve been an actor with the Westenders Drama Group in Edinburgh. Annually, the group performs a pantomime locally in Bromhouse for members of the community. It’s always great fun and the cast are terrific to work with. During a moment of madness, I agreed to have a …
WARNING: CONTROVERSIAL POST AHEAD. Since finishing my undergraduate degree last year, I’ve always had my heart set on returning to university to study for a Masters. I’ve even found the course I wish to study: MSc in Translation Studies and TESOL at Stirling University. However, I’m finding myself getting increasingly …
In the Catholic Church’s calendar, today is Gaudete Sunday. “Gaudete” is Latin for rejoicing, so today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is supposed to be spent rejoicing at the prospect Christ’s birth. I always love Gaudete Sunday, because the mass always seems so much more upbeat than normal. For example, …
Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord. I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, If you lead me, I will hold your people in my heart. Those are the words in the chorus to one of my favourite Catholic hymns. They talk about the …
Last night, I posted a link on Twitter, within which I expressed my opinion that the Catholic Church is in dire need of waking up and smelling the coffee, or addressing several key issues, before it’s too late. For me, these key issues are specifically the following: Giving priests THE CHOICE …
When I was living in Tours, France last year, it really opened my eyes to the realities of French culture. Obviously, as a student of French in the UK, I had been taught about the romanticism of Paris and the amazing history of the country, but it’s not until I …