Category Archives: Uncategorized

‘I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord. ’ (Phil 4:4) Dear Brothers in Christ I want to write to you about happiness. You may think this a strange subject given the experience of the past year and the ongoing pandemic. No one can underestimate the tragedies and challenges the past twelveContinue reading “Maundy Thursday Letter to Priests 2021”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Dear brother priests Today, together, as clergy, religious, and laity, we thank God for the gift of priesthood, shared universally by all the baptised, and individually by those configured to Christ through the laying on of hands. Last year, the impact of the Coronavirus prevented our Chrism Mass fromContinue reading “Chrism Mass 2021”

Dear friends You may have seen Mel Gibson’s film ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ For some, it’s a moving portrayal of our Lord’s suffering and death. For others, a too violent depiction of His journey to the cross. When I first saw it, it moved me to tears, partly because the contrasts are so great:Continue reading “Palm Sunday 2021, St George’s Cathedral, Southwark”

Dear Friends Back in February 2011, I was privileged to visit two priests from the Diocese of Leeds working in Peru. One served a parish in Carabayllo, on the far outskirts of Lima, just off the main highway. I stayed with him for a week and, out one day for an early morning walk, IContinue reading “41st Anniversary of the Martyrdom of St Oscar Romero – Mass at St George’s Cathedral Southwark, 27 March 2021”

To parish representatives taking part in a virtual retreat organised by the Canonesses of St Augustine at Boarbank Hall, UK Dear friends Thank you for the invitation to join you this evening as we reflect together on Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ with a focus on the theme ‘Your Parish and Your Planet.’ IContinue reading “Laudato Si’ – Your Parish and Your Planet”

A webinar presentation on behalf of the Catholic Association of Preachers to Catholic clergy, leading into discussion and shared reflection – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klGyk6959G8 Introduction I would like to begin by sharing with you some words offered to preachers, back in 1982, by the Catholic Bishops of the United States: ‘Some years ago,’ they wrote,’ a surveyContinue reading “Preaching in a Time of Turmoil”

Dear friends The Holy Season of Lent begins today. It’s a time for renewal in our Christian living, an invitation, an opportunity, to follow the Lord Jesus more closely, more intensely, more devotedly, and more generously. In St Paul’s words, we – you and I – are to be ambassadors for Christ. We are HisContinue reading “Ash Wednesday 2021 – St George’s Cathedral, Southwark”

Do you think that the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Southwark will emerge stronger or weaker from the coronavirus crisis? This is a difficult question to answer, partly because we don’t know, as yet, how things will unfold. It also depends on what criteria are used. I think the Church in our Archdiocese willContinue reading “Responses to Questions from Luke Coppen, Catholic News Agency, 9 Feb 2021”

Dear friends Perhaps more than any previous January, I’ve been struck this year by the number of people who’ve kept their nativity scenes on display until today’s Feast. In uncertain times, when many are distanced from those they love, when many are anxious about their health and the future, we need to prolong the unchangingContinue reading “The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 2nd February 2021”

JB: You became Archbishop of Southwark, and within a year, you were in the nationwide lockdown for the Coronavirus – all normal events and activities cancelled, churches and schools closed. And you had to preside over the funeral of your predecessor under these unusual circumstances. Tell us a bit about how that has been. JW ItContinue reading “Joanna Bogle talks to Archbishop John Wilson about his first year as Archbishop of Southwark.”