Newsletter

    Dear Friends, The readings this weekend focus on the Incarnation. In today’s Gospel John the Baptist appears as a witness to what has been revealed to him about Jesus. ‘He is the Chosen One of God’. Our faith tells us that God has come among us in Jesus who is truly human as well as truly divine. We speak of it as a ‘mystery’ not because it is incomprehensible or a … [Read more...] about Newsletter 19.01.20.

    Dear Friends, Today we recall the Baptism of Jesus which is recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels. Only Matthew includes the exchange between John and Jesus before his baptism. Jesus insists on receiving John’s baptism, not because he needs to show repentance but rather to identify himself with the human race. The baptism is followed by the visible descent of the … [Read more...] about Newsletter 12.01.20.

    Dear Friends, For many in our society Christmas ends on 26th December. But for Christians Christmas celebrations continue up to today’s feast - the Epiphany. This is a very ancient feast; in fact it was the original celebration of Christmas which began in the eastern Church. The present date of Christmas in the western Church came about only in the 6th century. The … [Read more...] about Newsletter 05.01.20.

Dear Friends, Today is the feast of the Holy Family. Our images of this family can be cosy and domestic. The reality was very different. For this family violence and death were a threat from the very beginning: flight and insecurity were all too real. It helps us to appreciate the situation for many families today and throughout history. The Gospel puts the origins of Jesus … [Read more...] about Newsletter 29.12.19.

Dear Friends, Today, the fourth Sunday of Advent, brings us close to the feast of Christmas. The opening lines of today’s Gospel sound ordinary enough: ‘This is how Jesus Christ came to be born’. But they describe an extraordinary event that goes far beyond folksy sentimentality. The Gospel stories of the birth of Jesus are full of language and images that reflect the faith … [Read more...] about Newsletter 22.12.19.