Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dear friends, someone sent me a picture today which said: ‘This is the feast of the Ascension. To those who wonder what it’s about, it’s the day when the Lord Jesus started working from home.’ It may sound a little flippant, but it points to a truth. The Ascension marks the return of the LordContinue reading “Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, 21 May 2020”

Dear friends, I’m indebted to a friend of mine who introduced me to the American country and folk singer-songwriter Diana Jones. She has an amazing voice, and her songs speak poignantly of life’s relationships, life’s emotions, and life’s dramas. One of her songs, Henry Russell’s Last Words, is based on the true story of aContinue reading “Easter 6A, 17 May 2020”

Dear friends, I wonder if, at any point in your life, you’ve ever become lost. It can be a stressful and frightening experience, especially when it’s dark. I remember a few years ago, travelling abroad with a friend. We were in a hire car trying to find our way out of a city. We droveContinue reading “Easter 5A,10 May 2020”

Dear friends, although I know they can be very beautiful, I’ve never – as yet – been tempted to get a tattoo. I spent some time working as a prison chaplain and met a man who had an incredible tattoo of a rosary that wrapped itself around his arm. He told me it was inContinue reading “Easter 4A, 3 May 2020”

Dear friends, what extraordinary times we’ve lived through in the past few months. At the beginning of Lent – which seems an awful long time ago now – who would ever have imagined that we would be live-streaming our Mass today as part of your formation programme for ordination to the diaconate. How the lifeContinue reading “Diaconate Formation, 16 May 2020”

Dear friends, we’re told that the village of Emmaus was about seven miles from Jerusalem. The two disciples we meet today were heading away from Jerusalem, escaping Jerusalem. Jesus of Nazareth, the person they put their hopes in, the one they followed, the one whom they saw preach, and teach, and heal and forgive, hadContinue reading “Easter 3A, 26 Apr 2020”

What a strange beginning to Holy Week this is. Usually we would be at Mass with our congregations, blessing our Palms and joining in the procession. But this year, at home, we have to carry the people of our parish community with us. And in doing so, we have something in common with an essentialContinue reading “Palm Sunday Reflection, 2020”

Archdiocese of Southwark          The Solemnity of Easter, 2020 – A Message from the Archbishop Christus Resurrexit! Christ is Risen! Dear friends, on this holy night, the greatest feast of the Christian year begins with a new flame. Bringing light out of darkness, the new flame of the Paschal Candle is a symbol of Christ’sContinue reading “Easter Message, 2020”

From the Archbishop of Southwark Letter to Priests, Holy Week 2020 ‘All eyes in the synagogue were fixed on Him.’ (Luke 4:21) My dear brothers in the priesthood of Jesus Christ Holy Week this year would have been the first time that I celebrated the Chrism Mass with you and for you. Together with theContinue reading “Letter to Priests, Holy Week 2020”

St George’s Cathedral, Southwark I imagine that Archbishop Peter has a wry smile on his face concerning the funeral liturgy we are celebrating for him today. With straightforward faith, and seasoned humanity, he never really enjoyed the pomp and limelight that can accompany ecclesiastical high office. No matter how splendid the occasion, Archbishop Peter maintainedContinue reading “Funeral of Archbishop Peter Smith, 30 March 2020”