Newsletters

Details

FR DAVID WRITES
I had a lovely break spending some time at home with my family and also on the island of Rhodes. It was a pleasure to visit the Franciscans and the small Catholic community. I prayed for you all during my visits to the church and Mass there. Thank you to Fr Tom and Fr Johnson for their work here while I was away. Fr Tom is away right now, but will return shortly. For many more of us now, I know that the summer holidays begin in earnest. For all of you travelling or going on holiday, I wish you and your family every blessing for a safe journey and a happy time! 

Details

FR TOM WRITES
On Wednesday, we celebrate the feast of St Bridget of Sweden, one of the six patrons of Europe, alongside St Benedict, St Thérèse of Lisieux, St Catherine, St Cyril and St Methodius. As we are encouraged to pray not only for ourselves and our loved ones but for the whole world, let us pray for Europe, that God's love may once more touch the hearts of all who dwell here. 

Details

FR TOM WRITES
The Gospel this Sunday speaks of the Word of God as the seed of eternal life, and Christ warns against the ways in which this seed can be stifled. Though many areas of life are winding down as we approach summer, may our relationship with the Word never dwindle, and may we keep our ears open to the voice of the Lord.

Details

FR TOM WRITES
As we approach summer it feels as though things are winding down in the parish and in the school, however, this Sunday’s Second Reading is a reminder to not allow ourselves to slip back into the life of the flesh but to constantly allow room in our lives for the Spirit. The Spirit wants to make a home in you, not only to fill a void, but to allow us to live a life overflowing with love.

Details

FR DAVID WRITES
Today is the solemnity of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. By their ministry to the Roman Christians and by the testimony of their blood, they became the patrons of the City and the Church of Rome. Today, as we honour their discipleship and the witness of their martyrdom, we pray for the Pope and for the unity of the Church throughout the world. We also ask the Risen Lord to help us in our own way of discipleship, that we may always hear and respond to his call, ‘Follow me’. Felicem festum, O felix Roma!

Details

FR DAVID WRITES
Today our journey through the summer season of Ordinary Time continues. In the Gospel Jesus gives a word of encouragement to his followers to be free from fear. He also gives a word of caution: to remain faithful to God and to be ready to be his fearless witnesses in the world today. Next weekend, we will celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. They were also free from fear, and displayed a courageous faith which allowed them to witness to Christ even to the point of their martyrdom. May God give us strength, joy and a courageous faith to witness to the Risen Lord! 

Details

FR TOM WRITES
After the seasons of Lent and Easter, as well as the feasts of the Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi, this Sunday the Church returns to Ordinary Time. It is easy for us to think this time is less significant, yet, it is a beautiful time in which we discover the joy of following the Lord in the simplicity of our daily lives. May we seek the Lord no less now than we do at other times of the year, and may we desire to become more and more like him in all our thoughts, words and actions.

Details

FR DAVID WRITES
Today is the solemnity of Corpus Christi: the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The first Christians had a saying: ‘We become what we receive’. Today we celebrate that truth. Christ is truly present in the Eucharist not in a static way or as a holy relic. His Real Presence is dynamic - the presence of Risen Lord -  building up the Church and forming us into his living body. As we participate in the Eucharist, and receive the Lord, may we become more and more the Body of Christ in our lives, in the Church and in the world today. May God bless us all in the coming week. 

Details

FR TOM WRITES
Following the culmination of the Easter season and the celebration of Pentecost last Sunday, today we celebrate Holy Trinity Sunday and next Sunday, Corpus Christi. May these Sundays after Easter help us to live our daily lives as Christians, seeking to share in the love and unity of the Trinity and drawing strength from our Lord in the Eucharist. May God bless you all in the coming week.

Details

FR DAVID WRITES
Happy Pentecost Sunday! Today is the solemnity of Pentecost, also known as Whit Sunday, when we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. This promised gift of the Lord brought life, energy and dynamism to the Church which has continued throughout the centuries; it enabled the apostles and their successors to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Today we celebrate the birth of the Church in time and history, and celebrate the unity of our faith which gathers diverse peoples, tongues and traditions into the one family of the Risen Lord. Today marks the end of Eastertime and the beginning of the liturgical journey into the summer. May God bless us all on this great day, and the may the Holy Spirit inspire us all.

Details

FR TOM WRITES
On Thursday, we celebrated the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven, which leads us into the novena to the Holy Spirit which will culminate in the great feast of Pentecost next weekend. When Christ ascended, he assured the apostles of his continuing help in announcing the Good News. The Good News is that this same Holy Spirit is offered to us. May we truly prepare ourselves to receive this gift; that we may be filled with the Spirit which leads Christians through life. May God bless us all in this coming week and may the Holy Spirit bring manifold gifts into our own lives and families.