Second Sunday of Easter

The image in the post I put up last night, as we began to celebrate this Sunday, was of doubting Thomas by Caravaggio; the image here is described as by ‘Martin Schongauer and workshop’. In Beckenham this Sunday, which as I noted earlier has several names, it is a beautiful

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Easter Saturday

Our first reading today from Acts (4:13-21) continues yesterday’s account of the apostles Peter and John before the council of priests and elders known as the Sanhedrin. We’re told that the priests look down on them because ‘they were uneducated laymen’: this is a warning to all of us not

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Easter Friday

I have only been once to the Holy Land, in 1986 with my late mother, when I was an Anglican transitional deacon. One of the most moving places I remember is the Church of Peter’s Primacy in the town of Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee, shown here. A big

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Easter Thursday

Today’s gospel reading for Easter Thursday is the continuation of yesterday’s account of Jesus meeting the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 35-48). As in other appearances there is a lot of emphasis on the physicality of the resurrection; the writer is going out of his way to

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Easter Wednesday

On Easter Wednesday our gospel reading is one of the best loved of the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection appearance – his meeting with two disciples on the road to Emmaus and his meal with them (Luke 24:13-35). The human touches and depth of understanding always touch our hearts – and

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Easter Tuesday

On this Easter Tuesday our gospel reading is always the sequel in John’s gospel (20:11-18) to the Easter morning account of the finding of the empty tomb by Mary of Magdala and Peter and the ‘beloved disciple.’ Mary encounters Jesus, without initially recognising him and thinking him to be the

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Easter Monday

Easter Monday, traditionally a Bank holiday in the UK and Ireland, is in some places a holy day of obligation (Poland, I think). We see the whole of Easter week, or the Easter octave, as a continuation of Easter day, with some of the same psalms and hymns in the

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Easter Vigil Reflections from Fr Ashley

I promised to write something about last night’s celebration of the Easter Vigil – this picture shows the Holy Father in an almost deserted St Peter’s Basilica, holding his candle and following the Paschal Candle. Many of you participated remotely in the ceremonies led in our church by Fr Steve

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Easter Sunday: Christ is Risen!

You will be able to join us online for Masses, live at 9.30am and 5.30pm, and available to watch at a later time under “Recordings”; our Webcam is HERE. You may also want to connect to the services at the Vatican, which are available via the LIVE link below: 

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