‘If there was ever a time when the feast of the Holy Spirit takes on urgency, I think it is now when we see so much confusion, so many false values of redemption, so much militarism and selfishness, so much hatred and violence. This is a precious moment when we
Continue readingTODAY THE CHURCH celebrates Ascension day (transferred from last Thursday) marking not only Jesus’ return in his physical post-resurrection body to heaven, but also his triumph, a point of culmination in the season of Easter and its celebration of Jesus’ victory over death, sin and evil. The idea of triumph
Continue readingMAY IS THE MONTH OF MARY, we sing in one of the traditional hymns for this time of year. Last week we had a May Procession in Bishop Challoner school and next Friday we have one in St Mary’s; traditionally here at St Edmund’s we say the Salve Regina at
Continue readingLAST TUESDAY was Europe Day. This observance marks the anniversary of what is known as the ‘Schuman declaration’ in 1950 which led to the setting up of the European Coal and Steel Community, the prelude to the Common Market and the present European Union. It is an important observance for
Continue readingSometimes you still hear France referred to as ‘the eldest daughter of the Church.’ I am not sure how old the phrase is but it is thought to refer to the fact that Clovis, King of the Franks, accepted Christianity with his followers as early as the 6th century; as the precursor
Continue readingIn my three previous parishes in Orpington, Ashford and Walderslade I have been aware of a great desire and even dare I say hunger from many parishioners to know more about the Faith and to find ways of building up and nurturing their own faith. One of the resources that
Continue readingAlthough the year of mercy has ended the works of mercy have not: the doors of mercy were closed in our basilicas and dioceses last year but the living doors of mercy are opened 24 hours a day. Jesus’ gate of mercy has no lock, his mercy flows like a
Continue readingTHIS YEAR, unusually, we celebrate Easter day on the same day as Christians of the Eastern churches. As we celebrate the victory of the risen Christ over death, this coincidence enables us to think about how much we share with other Christians in all other parts of the world as
Continue readingA BIG PART of our Lent programme of talks this year, about discerning the ‘signs of the times’, has been concerned with trying to recognise the presence of evil in the world, the personification we traditionally call Satan. For the first time this year we had the talks in the
Continue readingThe following is the text of the fifth and final of our Lent programme of talks. It was delivered by Father Ashley in Church on 4 April 2017, and a recording is available on our Webcam page. You can also download or print a copy. Introduction – Satan in Shirley Much
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