Author Archives: archbishopjohnwilson

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Dear friends It is our privilege today to be able to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the happy and peaceful repose of soul of our late Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Since the sad news of her death was announced on 8 September, Masses andContinue reading “Requiem Mass for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Sunday 18 September, 2022, St George’s Cathedral, Southwark“

Dear Michael, dear Joseph, dear Alan Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Dear friends My three sons, my three brothers, with all the talk about heatwaves, I have prayed that today you will be on fire. Not literally, of course. But on fire in the most intensely spiritual way possible. On fire with the Father’sContinue reading “Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood – Rev Michael Etuka, Rev Joseph Gulliford, and Rev Alan MacDonald, 16 July 2021, Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St George’s Cathedral, Southwark.”

Dear brothers and sisters in the risen Lord The most important privilege and responsibility of every Christian is to announce the Good News of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. So I say to you, the Lord is risen; He is risen indeed! On this joyous night, when we celebrate our Lord’s victory over sin andContinue reading “Easter Vigil 2022”

Dear brothers and sister in Christ A few years ago I read a book called The Choice by Edith Eger.[i] It tells the harrowing true story of her family’s imprisonment in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Edith and her sister survived and went on to build a new life. However, it was her description of their liberation thatContinue reading “Good Friday 2022”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ When the Lord Jesus took bread and said ‘This is my body,’ we believe him. And when he took wine and said ‘This is my blood,’ we believe him. If he who is truth doesn’t speak truthfully, who else can we trust? We believe the words spoken by theContinue reading “Maundy Thursday 2022”

‘What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners. ’ (Mt 9:13) Dear Brothers in Christ I send you my heartfelt good wishes and gratitude on this day when we remember ‘the institution of the Holy Eucharist and of priestly Order, and the commandment of the LordContinue reading “From the Archbishop of Southwark – Letter to Priests for Maundy Thursday 2022”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Dear brother priests As a child, when I was told to do something, and responded, shall we say, rather hesitantly, there was often a warning given by those in charge, whether at home or at school: ‘Don’t make me have to repeat myself,’ they would say, with a hintContinue reading “Chrism Mass 2022”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Dear friends For each of us the season of Lent has been both an individual and a communal journey of faith. I wonder what your particular experience of Lent has been like this year? A priest once said to me that we often get the Lent we need ratherContinue reading “Palm Sunday 2022 – St George’s Cathedral, Southwark”

Dear friends The author of the New Testament’s Letter to the Hebrews wrote simply, but directly, about the spiritual truth of the city: ‘For here on earth,’ he says ‘we do not have a lasting city; no, we are seeking that city which is to come.’(13:14) Implicitly, the writer recognises two cities: the earthly andContinue reading “The Spital Sermon 2022”

The Lord God says this: ‘My plans for you are for peace, not for disaster; To give you a future, a future filled with hope.’ ‘My plans for you are for peace.’ (Jer 29:11) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Dear friends and people of good will The news and images from Ukraine in recentContinue reading “Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family, London Sunday Divine Liturgy – Gospel: St Matthew 25: 31-46 27 February 2022”