For each month of the year the Holy Father chooses a specific prayer intention. Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December is for voluntary organisations and charities; so, this month we give thanks for volunteers, those who give selflessly and generously of their time to help others. As the Holy Father
Continue readingSt. Paul mentioned the Church in the household in his letter to the Corinthians (1Cor.16.19) to show that the ecclesia gathering starts from the private houses. The home of Aquila and Priscilla can be seen as an example of the Church that is in the house. Every Christian home is
Continue readingONE OF THE KEY FIGURES of the season of Advent, beginning this weekend, is Isaiah, shown here to the left of the Nativity scene (Duccio, Nativity with Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, National Gallery of Art, New York, At Mass today we hear these rousing words from chapter two of his
Continue readingSOME OF YOU came to the day conference at St Mary’s University last Tuesday, The Catholic Church and International Relations, organised by the university’s Masters’ programmes in Catholic Social Teaching and Diplomacy and International Relations. The final keynote speaker was Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Apostolic Nuncio (that is, the Pope’s ambassador)
Continue readingOn the 5th November 2021 Archbishop John laid his hands gently on my head and called down the Holy Spirit in the act of ordination. On that day my life was changed forever, and so were those of my brother deacons John Fogarty and Con Diver. We three were ordained
Continue readingDespite the massive wave of sorrow that followed the death of Queen Elizabeth, many people in this country continue to attack the whole idea of monarchy as being out of place in a 21st Century democracy. If the King wields any power, runs the argument, it is deplorable that a
Continue readingThe month of November is around the corner – the traditional month of remembrance of and prayers for the dead. These are our loved ones and those who have given us their help while on earth, and are in Purgatory. The Church teaches that Purgatory is not so much of
Continue readingTHIS PICTURE [see Newsletter] is of Pope Francis in Canada, praying in a cemetery during his recent visit to express penitence in response to revelations of abuse of indigenous people in Catholic residential homes. The visit was the more moving because it was so different from many papal visits, marked
Continue readingI guess that while some parishioners will have heard of the ‘First Friday’ devotions many will not know much about them, apart from hearing at Mass last Sunday that we are going to revive the practice in St Edmund’s. That may well be because, for so many of us, going
Continue readingA few days ago, along with more than half the population, I watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth on television. I did so with a mixture of deep sorrow at her death, of gratitude that so many good people had felt drawn to wait for hours or even days to
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