Catholic Education
On 10th September we celebrate Education Sunday when Catholic Church congregations commemorate their predecessors of the 19th century, many of whom were living in poverty, paying for schools to be built. Our parishioner forebears and their bishops rightly saw education as the principal means of handing on the faith and improving the spiritual, moral, social […]
St Augustine of Hippo
From the Confessions of St Augustine O Eternal Truth, true love and beloved eternity Urged to reflect upon myself, I entered under your guidance the innermost places of my being; but only because you had become my helper was I able to do so. I entered, then, and with the vision of my spirit, such […]
Our Lady of Częstochowa
Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa – The Black Madonna – The Queen of Poland. Northeast of the ancient city of Krakow, Poland, is the small town of Czestochowa. To every Pole the name means but one thing – Mary’s Sanctuary. On a nearby hill – the Bright Hill, Jasna Gora […]
Synod Thoughts
Here is a Pastoral Letter written by Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler in the USA. Definite food for thought and prayer not just for the universal Synod and also our own upcoming Diocesan Synod. My Dear Sons and Daughters in Christ: May the love and grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be […]
Queenship of Mary
From a homily by St Amadeus of Lausanne, bishop Queen of the world and of peace Observe how fitting it was that even before her assumption the name of Mary shone forth wondrously throughout the world. Her fame spread everywhere even before she was raised above the heavens in her magnificence. Because of the honour due […]
Pope Pius X
Today Holy Mother Church celebrates the Feast of St Pius the Tenth (1835-1914)He was born in the village of Riese, near Venice, one of ten children of a very poor family. He was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 23. He was successively bishop of Mantua and of Venice, and was elected Pope, […]
The Magic of Travel
As we are still in the ‘holiday season’ and as a bit of light entertainment I thought I’d share with you the Magic of Travel by those two intrepid travellers Cissy and Ada.
Pope Francis – Angelus
Greetings the crowds of visitors in Saint Peter’s Square for the Midday Angelus, Pope Francis offered his customary reflections on the Sunday Gospel which today narrates when Jesus walks at night on the waters of the lake of Galilee to reach his disciples in their boat being tossed about by strong headwinds and choppy waters. […]
Lourdes 2
It was lovely to be in Lourdes again this summer. Each day there are two processions. The first takes place at 5pm each evening and is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The procession begins at the Altar of the Podium opposite the Grotto on the far side of the river. The various pilgrimages in […]
Lourdes
Today I had the privilege of concelebrating at the International Mass in Lourdes. I was asked by the MC if I would take one of the speaking parts for concelebration at the Mass. The picture shows me at the Main Altar of the Underground Basilica of St Pius X. With the assurance of my prayers […]