Homily Helps

Sunday Homilies

Fr John Thornhill from Australia has an international reputation as a lecturer and a writer. Now retired he publishes homilies in advance of the Sunday.

The Centre for Liturgy hosted by St Louis University provides excellent background resources for homily preparation as well as model homilies. The site’s articles include a justice perspective, relevant extracts from early church writings, historical /cultural context and scriptural exegesis.

Homilies.Net offers homilies in English and Spanish. They have a selection of short homilies by various authors. There is good mixture of style and they usually have at least one good illustration that can be used

Fr Joe Pellegrono offers a weekly spiritual reflection.

Fr Guy Carlson is an Indian born Jesuit who now works in Australia. These commentaries can be accessed by clicking on Sunday Commentary button.

The Irish Jesuits in their site Living Space offer a commentary on the Sunday readings in their site. Click on Sunday Scripture Reflections.

Text this week is an ecumenical site. It has extensive links to liturgical resources and homilies related to the Sunday Lectionary text of day.

Homilies Alive from the co-authors of the book.

St Vincent’s Archabbey “Weeklywords” offers a summary of the Gospel and a reflection on some possible life implications

This Weekend offers links to the weekend’s Scriptures, some general reflection questions for those preparing their homily and a spiritual reflection.

Sunday contributions from various ordained and lay people at the Jesuit Collaborative Ministry at Creighton University. Each week’s guide offers reflections on finding intimacy with God in the midst of our everyday busy lives.

An extensive list of Homily sites – some of which are mentioned above.

Generally these homily and liturgy resources have a theme which links them. Sometimes they have prayers, a selection of songs and hymns (perhaps better known overseas), and a children’s story as well.

A summary of the first reading and Gospel combined with links to the specific readings and points on which you may care to base your reflection>.

Fr Jack at St Vivian’s places his homilies on line for all to share.

Rather than a homily, these reflections are the seedbeds from which a homily can be built

As well as discussions on a range of aspects on liturgy, Liturgy.co.nz also offers Sunday reflections.

Preaching on Sunday readings by the English Dominican Friars. Homilies can be emailed to you each week.

Rev Richard Fairchild provides sermons and liturgical resources for Sunday’s and special occasions.

The Independent Catholic’s Chaplain’s weekly reflections.

Sacerdos provides a short homily suggestion. Available also in French, Spanish and Portuguese

Journey to New Life is a New Zealand based site which has a links to liturgical resources and commentaries on the Sunday Lectionary

eSermons provides weekly sermons and illustrations which can be sent by e-mail. The service needs to signed up for, and the full service carries an annual fee.

Homilies Alive contains archived homilies from earlier years which are relevant to the present cycle of readings.

300+ Free Catholic Sunday and Holy Day Homilies

Homilies to be used on Sundays all with a Justice theme

Daily Reflections

From the One Bread, One Body ministry these resources are described as the basis for good “brief reflections” after the Gospel during the week.

Contributions from various lay and ordained people in the daily Bible reflection guide for Catholics is based on the Scriptures of the day. Generally the reflection is about three paragraphs.

Daily prayer and reflections based on the Scripture readings of the day. Supplied by the Madonna Magazine.

Sr Rosemary Ann Cuneo, C.R., Offers what she calls “Resurrection Reflections” based on the daily Scripture readings. In addition she prompts our thought further by asking two or three pertinent questions.

The Carmelites invite you to participate with us for Lectio Divina On-line. This practise offers a short time of concentration and reflection on the Gospel of the day. It is the method used by all Carmelites and also by hundreds of people throughout the world.

Children’s Homilies

Each of these Bible stories for Kids contains a retelling of the Bible story, questions to think about, a special lesson to remember, a Scripture memory verse, a prayer, where the story can be found in the Bible, and sometimes activities, crafts, and songs to go along with the story.

Roland McGregor is Pastor of the Asbury United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Each week he posts a children’s story. The children’s story links with his sermon for adults and both can be sent to you via e-mail.

Special Occasions

Sermon Central has a number of wedding homilies. Search on the keywords of “marriage” and “wedding”.

Fr Tommy Lane has provided excerpts from his funeral homilies, which may help in preparation for a homily.

Rev Richard Fairchild provides links to a number of homilies for weddings, funerals and other special occasions.

Homilies Alive provide some examples for Weddings and Funerals.

Stories

The Good Clean Funnies List Archive provides numerous jokes and stories which with a bit of imagination, can help illustrate a homily!

Fr Bob periodically places his homilies online in batches; only in rare circumstances are they available for the upcoming Sunday. However there is always a story.

Sermon Illustrations allows searching for particular illustrations by New Testament passage, Old Testament passage, A-Z single word or even multiple words.

Inspirational Christian Stories, Poems and Thoughts is an archive of resources gathered around particular themes.

General Resources

The New American Bible

Catholic Calendar has all the fundamentals for planning, the yearly cycle, Saints days, readings of the day and even the Rosary of the day to be said. Compiled and hosted overseas, time and sub-cultural difference require respect

The Church’s yearly cycle – dates through to 2010

Liturgy.co.nz is an ecumenical resource with international material for spirituality, worship, preaching, teaching, or a pew sheet.

Liturgy.com offers liturgical planning guides that contains a variety of excellent resources to help you prepare the liturgy, including music suggestions, practical advice, a music planning template, suggestions for the Introduction to Mass and suggestions for general intercessions.

The New American Bible version of the Church’s daily cycle of readings.

Sunday Gospel Readings has links to the readings, a copy of the Gospel, some interesting details about the reading, one main point followed by two or three brief paragraphs of reflections.

Rev Dr Moira Laidlaw is a retired minister in the Uniting Church in Australia. She appreciates how worship preparation shrinks due to the pressure of other tasks and so she prepares lectionary generated liturgies solely as an aid for ministers. While not Catholic, some useful ideas and themes may emerge.

Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner are Catholic women who pray every day and who create and celebrate liturgies, lead workshops and retreats. In placing some of their liturgies online they hope they can lead people to the Wellsprings in their own lives. These liturgical ideas cover the whole of the Church’s year.

Seekers Liturgys, provides liturgy structures for different times of the Church’s year and which are inclusive in nature.

Word Search Puzzles based on Lectionary readings.

Using the Sunday Scripture in a Lectio Divina setting.

Celebrate Magazine is a useful liturgical resource. This website introduces the magazine and provides material for subscribers.