Tell Me A Story grew out of homilies preached in the Sydney parishes of St Francis of Assisi, Paddington and Holy Family, Menai. My working title for the book was What's It All About?, but in the end I felt that sounded too pretentious. Tell Me A Story won't tell you what it's all about, but I hope it offers some helpful insights into the mystery at the heart of our human journey. Story and myth are a way of seeing into that mystery — they are our compass and chart as we seek our bearings.

I grew up in Sydney and joined the Franciscan Order in 1965. Although I have subsequently transferred to the Archdiocese of Sydney, Franciscan spirituality remains a formative influence in my own life. I was ordained in 1972, and my first appointment was to parish of Our Lady of the Angels in Singapore. It was a culture shock in reverse when I returned to Australia in 1975 to the parish of Collie, a small coal mining town 200 kms south of Perth. After Collie I was appointed to the staff of Padua College in Brisbane, and thus began my ministry in education. After teaching in secondary school for several years in Brisbane and Sydney I joined the staff of the Catholic College of Education (now the Australian Catholic University) as a lecturer in Religious Education. My initial studies in theology were completed at the Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne, and I completed a Masters in Theology at the University of Sydney. I also have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Sydney.

I returned to parish ministry in 1990, thoroughly enjoying nine years at St Francis of Assisi, Paddington, a parish on the periphery of Sydney's CBD. My transfer to Holy Family Parish, Menai was a fascinating challenge. Menai is a parish of young families, and crying babies were part of every liturgical celebration. I have just taken up my appointment as parish priest of Revesby.