Many thanks to those who played an active part in our truncated Maundy Thursday Mass this evening. Not to have the procession at the beginning with the oils, the foot washing and the procession to the Altar of Repose in the hall was a great loss liturgically, spiritually and emotionally
Continue readingOn Maundy Thursday we only have one Mass – in the evening at 8pm (pre-booked places only). In the morning we have Morning Prayer at 10, live-streamed only and preceded by rosary at 930. The Mass this evening will be simpler than usual – no procession of the oils, no
Continue readingToday is Spy Wednesday – the gospel reading from Matthew 19 describes the treachery of Judas. As I said in my homily at Mass yesterday, when we looked at this through the lens of John’s gospel, part of the message is the chance we have to reflect on the ways
Continue readingOn Tuesday in Holy Week, sometimes called Holy Tuesday, our gospel reading is always from John 13, where Jesus predicts both Judas’ betrayal of him and Peter’s denial. Amidst rather shallow optimism which seems to be around, traditionally Christians see Holy Week as a time of penitence: just as we
Continue readingToday is traditionally known in England as ‘Fig Monday’, but the gospel reading is the account in John chapter 12 of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointing Jesus. A very good reflection about this event (and similar accounts in the other gospels) is in the latest edition of The Tablet
Continue readingThe church is open this morning for Confessions from 1040 until 1230 and again for the Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday at 6pm. Places at Masses must be pre-booked. Please make sure you wear a mask at all times in the church and you will be asked for your name
Continue readingIn today’s gospel reading (John 10:31-42) the confrontation between Jesus and his opponents leads for the second time to an attempt to kill him – ‘they fetched stones to stone him…’ – this has happened a short time earlier as well (you would have heard that gospel yesterday [John 8:
Continue readingToday the Church honours St Oscar Romero, martyred on this day in 1980 – forgive shameless plug. We have already circulated details of a special Mass being celebrated by the archbishop in our cathedral on Saturday, where there is a shrine to St Oscar. God bless and take care, Fr
Continue readingThis is a depiction of our first reading today from Numbers chapter 21. Jesus applies this image to himself in John and in today’s gospel (John 8) talks of himself as being lifted up. At this stage in Lent we see the Lord crucified as a source of healing, like
Continue readingTuesday 21 March, the anniversary of the first lockdown in England, has been designated a national day of reflection. Alongside this the Bishops Conference has asked for it to be a day of prayer; we have Exposition live-streamed from the church for most of every day but you might want
Continue reading