ST CARTHAGE'S PARISH, LISMORE - Parish News

Bishop Greg's 2025 Christmas Message

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Interview with a New priest

Sat, 16 Aug 2014 04:54:35 GMT

On 7 July 2014, St Carthage's had the great joy of witnessing the ordination of Fr Bing Monteagudo. This clip is of an interview with Fr Monteagudo who shares about life as a new priest:

Mary, Our Mother

Wed, 28 May 2014 07:33:57 GMT

The Virgin Mary has a special place in the hearts of Catholics. She was a jewish woman who lived in the middle East early in the first century AD.

While still a young woman her life took an extraordinary turn. She gave birth to her first-born son Jesus who has profoundly impacted human history even to our day.

She was the most devoted follower of her divine Son remaining at His side during His crucifixion when He gave her to Christians as spiritual mother (John 19:27). While Catholics worship her divine Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, they render her special honour.

Her brightness is like that of the moon which only reflects the light of the sun. Bishop Fulton Sheen (1895-1979) says, "The moon does not take away from the brilliance of the sun: on the contrary, all its light is reflected from the sun. Our Lady reflects her Divine Son; without Him, she is nothing".

In this clip Sr Anthony Mary speaks concisely about the Virgin Mary:

Catholic Faith is reasonable

Thu, 22 May 2014 07:55:47 GMT

A basic principle about the Catholic Faith is that it is reasonable. In other words, the Catholic Faith makes sense; even though we can't fully understand some of the mysteries of the Catholic Faith it is nevertheless plausible.
We are not asked to leave our minds at the door when we enter into the Catholic Faith. We welcome questions and the effort to understand a little more.
There are some sound resources on the internet where most questions about the Catholic Faith have already been asked. These resources can be a great help to Catholics seeking to give a reason for their hope and for inquirers in general.

Two good quality sites recommended are:

Catholic Answers - Contains extensive answers to many questions from many inquirers; just use the onsite search engine to find what you are looking for.

WhyImCatholic - Contains great sharings from people who explain why they are Catholic.

Fr Robert Barron is an eloquent exponent of the Catholic Faith and speaks about reasonable Faith in this clip:

New stained glass windows for Cathedral

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:11:55 GMT

The existing stained glass windows of St Carthage's Cathedral, recently restored after the devastating hailstorm of 2006, have a beautiful new addition (see below) on the Western side of the cathedral.

The first of the new windows commemorates the work of the Marist Fathers and their brothers at St John's College, Woodlawn, since 1931. It depicts the college crest, St John the Evangelist, Bishop Carroll, Miss Margaret Buckley (who donated the land for the College) and the College's first rector, Fr Thomas Segrief, SM. (See detail below) Clearly visible is the College's Latin motto: in English, "Hold fast to the traditions."

The second window depicts the Marist saint, Peter Chanel, who was martyred on the Pacific Island of Futuna on 28th April, 1841. Also depicted are the Marist crest, the Blessed Virgin, the Ven. Jean-Claude Colin, SM (founder of the Society of Mary), and the celebrated shrine of Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon, where twelve priests and seminarians pledged to form the Society of Mary in July, 1816. (Second detail below.) It is graced with a motto of the Marist fathers, taken from the injunction of Jean-Claude Colin, that they should work "unknown, as if hidden."

(Information from Fr Paul Pidcock, SM)