If you’re following the Mass word-for-word today on the Mass sheet, there’s a mistake in the Eucharistic Prayer. They’ve printed Eucharistic Prayer I, which is perfectly fine and valid, but they must have copied and pasted it from either Easter Sunday or Divine Mercy Sunday. I can tell that because there are special inserts to be used during that time, including where the paragraph begins, “Celebrating the most sacred day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fl

Sometimes, our faith can seem to be really complicated. There are so many things to know and do, and for new converts, despite attending all the preparation provided, there can still be so many things to catch you out later on. “No one told me about Mass offerings.” “I think we were told, but I completely forgot about abstaining from meat on Fridays.” “What is a narthex?” But it’s no simpler if you look at the Jewish faith back in the time of Christ. Just as we hold the first

“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Those words of Our Lord are a bit like the apparently misquoted words of St Thomas More: “I am the king’s good servant, and God’s first”. Our service to God and our service to the state, to our country, and our fellow human beings all have their place. If I can introduce yet another expression, “Good fences make for good neighbours”. When everyone respects each other and doesn’t t

This year we have had an unusually large number of weddings in the parish. When I say “unusually large”, it’s a relative term. So far whilst I have been here we have averaged two a year, but this year, six couples booked their weddings here, with five having taken place and one still to go. Next year though looks like a return to normal, with just two so far. Then looking at funerals, we seem to have had a sudden run – I celebrated two over the last two weeks, and now two mor

Our Lord is very clever with His parables. Sometimes some of the details sound a bit different from what you would expect, but often it’s because the parable is put together to reflect the reality He wants to lead you to, rather than being just a nice little story. For a bit of background, we have today’s first reading. The vineyard on a very fertile hill is symbolic of Israel. The very fertile hill makes us think of Jerusalem, where previously the Temple was situated up high

Which is better? Blunt honesty and refusal, or hypocrisy? But conversion is better than either. God asks us, not just to listen, but to do as well. When we look at who Christ was speaking to, it wasn’t the ordinary people, but rather the chief priests and elders of the people. They should have been the ones who were more in tune with God. God is doing something new, working renewal, but they are having none of it. Elsewhere (Matthew 23:27-28), Christ speaks of those who pass

Roughly two weeks ago, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, was visiting this diocese. If you don’t know what a nuncio is, the word derives from the Latin word nuntio, which means to announce, relate or inform. The nuncio is like a messenger from the Pope, a channel of communication between these isles and Rome. He celebrated the Mass at Harvington Hall two Sundays ago, and then on Monday he spoke with the priests of the diocese, before then

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In today’s Gospel, when speaking about forgiveness, Jesus tells Peter, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” This powerful teaching reminds us of the limitless and unconditional love of God. Through His mercy, we are offered forgiveness when we repent, and we are called in turn to be instruments of God’s love, grace, forgiveness and peace. Today, on Education Sunday, we celebrate the wonderful gift of Catholic educati

Many years ago (and in fact we might not have been old enough to drive at this time) someone said to me that he had been on holiday and he was surprised at how fast the cars were allowed to go on the motorway. The speed limit said 120! But I pointed out that this was in km/h. In mph it was only about 75. Correcting others – sometimes it’s easy, sometimes we just correct someone without thinking, and at other times it might be more awkward, and we might put it off, or wonder h

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, An identically flawed and widely criticised Private Members’ Bill is being brought back before Parliament. Its Second Reading is on 11 September when members of Parliament will be asked to vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. In addition to many members of the House of Lords, the Royal College of Physicians, Hospice UK, Sue Ryder Charity, British Association of Social Workers and the British Geriatrics Society have all exp

Today we celebrate Our Lady, being taken up into heaven, body and soul. Where she has gone, we hope one day to follow. It’s a good reminder that if we want to live well on this earth, we also need to have our gaze fixed on heaven. “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” That quote, from the Book of Revelation in the first reading, not only reminds us of Our Lady assumed into h

Today’s Gospel continues on from last Sunday’s. After the Feeding of the Five Thousand, Christ gets the disciples to get into the boat, He dismisses the crowds, and, finally, at last, gets some time for quality prayer. He is God the Son, yet He doesn’t see Himself as self-sufficient and not in need of anyone. He is desperate for that contact with His Father in the Holy Spirit in deep prayer, and in fact, unless He falls asleep part way through, He spends a considerable number