Newsletter

Dear Friends, What a contrast between the depressing musings in today’s first reading with the powerful message in the second. Paul speaks of a radical conversion: at its heart is Christ - ‘he is everything and he is in everything’. The murder of Father Jacques Hamel in France has been the most shocking and disturbing item of news this last week. We keep him and the … [Read more...] about Newsletter 31.07.16.

Dear Friends, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’. The request of the apostles chimes in with our own need to go to Jesus as a master of prayer. In response he shares with them - and us - his own prayer to his Father (and our Father). To pray is not to impose our will on God but to ask him to reveal his will to us. It is to ask him to change us, to form us as his children. … [Read more...] about Newsletter 24.07.16.

Dear Friends, Today’s Gospel is about Martha and Mary who welcome Jesus into their home. Mary is commended for focusing on the one thing necessary: to listen to the words of Jesus and to act upon them. Yet Martha’s role is also important - someone needs to do the housework and the cooking! Martha and Mary - service and listening - both are needed. Do not listen without … [Read more...] about Newsletter 17.07.16.

Dear Friends, The story of the Good Samaritan is a familiar one to everyone. But it had an edge for the original listeners. Samaritans were shunned by the Jews and regarded as outsiders. To make such a man the hero of the story would have surprised, even shocked the listeners. CAFOD has launched an appeal for the people of Ethiopia who are suffering a severe famine. … [Read more...] about Newsletter 10.07.16.

Dear Friends, We are hearing St Luke’s Gospel in these Sunday readings. He puts the ministry of Jesus in the context of his journey to Jerusalem, his goal. On the way he encounters those who are friendly and those who are hostile: but to all he proclaims the Good News and challenges his hearers to respond to it - as he does to us Sunday by Sunday. CAFOD has launched an … [Read more...] about Newsletter 03.07.16.