Author Archives: archbishopjohnwilson

Pastoral Letter concerning the Measures to be put in place Regarding Public Worship and the Celebration of the Sacraments in Relation to the COVID-19 (Coronavius) Pandemic ‘Our help in is the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ I wanted to write to you personally asContinue reading “Regarding Covid-19, 18 Mar 2020”

Dear Friends Today’s beautiful Liturgy of the dedication of this church and altar involves the most ancient signs and symbols of our Christian Faith. These are forever bound up with that first Covenant, that first saving contract God made with the People of Israel, which was fulfilled in the New Covenant made in Christ, theContinue reading “Dedication of St Joseph’s Church, Borough Green, 1 Feb 2020”

Archbishop John Wilson Towards the end of Christus Vivit, the 2019 Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation to Young People, Pope Francis writes ‘to discern our personal vocation, we have to realise that it is a calling from a friend, who is Jesus.’ (CV 288) The beauty of this unconditional friendship, of love given and received, connectsContinue reading “Priests are Disciples First and Always”

Dear friends, what does it mean to be a missionary disciple today? What does it mean to be a missionary priest today? And how do we answer those two questions in the context of ministry and service here in the Catholic Church in the British Isles? These are important questions as we give thanks toContinue reading “Feast of the Conversion of St Paul and gathering of the Missionaries of the Society of St Paul, 24 Jan 2020”

Pastoral Letter for the Solemnity of the Holy Family To be read at all Vigil and Sunday Masses over the weekend of 28/29 December 2019 My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ This is my first Pastoral Letter to you since becoming your new Archbishop last July. I want to begin by offering you,Continue reading “Solemnity of the Holy Family, 28/29 Dec 2019”

Dear friends, it may seem a slightly unusual gift, but for my fiftieth birthday I was given a Christmas Crib. This might not be the obvious present for somebody with a birthday in July, but for me it was perfect. From a young age I’ve been fascinated by Christmas nativity scenes. My first crib wasContinue reading “Christmas Midnight Mass, 2019”

Southwark Anglican Cathedral 16 December 2019 Dear friends It was early September when I first saw a Selection Box on sale in a supermarket. By mid-October I heard someone say they were already fed up with Christmas. In late November someone told me they thought Christmas was a waste of time and money, and couldn’tContinue reading “Mayor of London’s Christmas Carol Service, 16 Dec 2019”

Dear friends in the Lord Jesus Dear Daughters of Divine Love It is an immense joy to give thanks with you today to Almighty God for the foundation of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love. Born fifty years ago, in midst of the Nigerian/Biafran civil war, and inspired by a desire for reconciliation,Continue reading “Mass for the 50th Anniversary of the Daughters of Divine Love, 14 Dec 2019”

‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already.’ Dear friends Dear brothers These are poignant words for any disciple, but they have a special significance for us. They inspired Durante Alberti’s Martyrs’ Picture. They are inscribed on the coat of arms of the Venerable English College.Continue reading “Martyrs’ Day 2019 – Tyburn Convent, 2 Dec 2019”

‘As I have loved you, so you must love each other. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends.’ Dear friends, whoever we are, these words of the Lord Jesus speak to every human heart. Love is both something given and something received. The gift of love, the powerContinue reading “City Hall Remembrance Service, 11 Nov 2019”