Today is the feast day of St Oliver Plunkett. This is a photo of the best known image of the saint in this diocese, on the outside wall of St Francis Xavier College in Balham.
He was the last priest to be martyred in penal times in this country, in 1681. Archbishop of Armagh and leader of the Catholic community in Ireland for twelve years, he worked hard to increase standards of education and morality – and made enemies among some clergy. He was falsely denounced in the famous ‘popish plot’ conspiracy towards the end of the reign of Charles II and brought to London where he was tried and executed.
A good day to pray for the people of Ireland, where there is a new coalition government, and especially for the people in the north, where is great economic uncertainty at this time.
God bless and take care
Fr Ashley
