In this episode of Conversations from the Classroom, @raymondfriel.bsky.social explores Catholic Social Teaching with @davidkaletheia.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_-k... Find the full episode at www.dcu.ie/mdcce/conver... and on Spotify

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

Dr Martin Luther King Jr

MLK Day, 20 Jan 2025

The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face
to shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up
his countenance upon you
and give you peace.

Numbers 6: 24-26

#HappyNewYear

Dear new friends on BlueSkysocial, wishing you and yours all the blessings of Christmas and a hope-filled new year. See you on the other side.

Thirty-two years married today. It can take a long time to get over yourself, and there is more than one path. For us the path has been marriage, and we’re very grateful for that.

@raymondfriel.bsky.social your comments about social Justice and today’s gospel inspired me: open.substack.com/pub/kbrady20...

In this weekend’s gospel, Luke’s account of the preaching of John the Baptist is all about social justice: share what you have with those in need, do not gouge or exploit. The overture of the reign of God which Jesus will bring to fullness with good news for the poor. #DoJustice

Advent Reflection 2
Isaiah 11

youtu.be/Gb9A1Mu3iWQ?...

"Fight for the common good, serve the poor, be protagonists of the revolution of charity and service, capable of resisting the pathologies of consumerism and superficial individualism (174)." #PopeFrancis #ChristusVivit

“In the winters of your prayer, when there seems to be nothing but darkness and a situation of general frozenness, hold on, wait for God. He will come.”

Maria Boulding

New articles on the News section of my website, including:

Season of Advent
Social Justice Calendar: Jan-Apr 2025
Catholic multi academy trusts: stronger together?
Freelance report: autumn 2024

It’s free to subscribe!

www.raymondfriel.com/news

This is the last weekend we’ll hear the Jerusalem Bible translation of scripture at Mass. Next weekend, we move to the ESV translation. A moment of sadness for many of us who were formed in the tradition of the dynamic and accessible translation of the JB. My copy from 1974.

“The heart of Christ is ‘ecstasy’, openness, gift and encounter. In that heart, we learn to relate to one another in wholesome and happy ways, and to build up in this world God’s kingdom of love and justice.”

Pope Francis, Dilexit Nos, 28

I’ve made contact with the nuns of Blue Sky! I’m made up.

“I am only a poor sister who prays. By praying, Jesus puts his love in my heart, and I go to give it to all the poor I meet along the way. Pray too! Pray, and you will notice the poor who are beside you.”

St Teresa of Calcutta, quoted in Pope Francis’ message for 8th World Day of the Poor

This morning I’m breathing in the fresh air of Blue Sky. What’s it like here, folks? Who wants to connect? I’m Catholic mainstream, into Catholic Social Teaching. I give talks, write books. A lifetime in Catholic education, starting in London as an English teacher. Always learning.