This week's news

Please see the times and places of Masses and Services over Holy Week and Easter. Everyone is invited along to join us - you would be very welcome at any of the events.

You can read, by clicking here, the Pastoral Letter on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in conjunction with Bishop Bosco.
5/6 April 2025 ~ Fifth Sunday of Lent.

And Following on from last Sunday’s Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Bishop Bosco has written his own message on the Gift of Human Life and linking it to a new framework for the Pastoral Care of human life. Please find below links to read the message.

Bishop Bosco: Place the gift of human life at the heart of the Church’s mission - 7 Apr 2025

Faces of the Gospels

In the run-up to Easter, Vatican News is releasing an 18-episode series on 'Faces of the Gospels', narrated by Pope Francis and now available with English subtitles.
Click here to go onto the Vatican News Podcast page and click the little wheel symbol for settings - from there you can turn on English 'CC' / Subtitles.

Reflections for Palm Sunday Year C - Thanks, as always to Deacon Vincent.

The Processional Gospel according to Luke 19: 28-40.

Luke gives us one of his beautifully crafted opening passages preparing the scene for us. Everything is as Jesus described the situation, he mounts the colt after the disciples had thrown their outer coats over the animal. Then with great Joy Jesus takes another journey into Jerusalem accompanied by the singing of the Psalm 118. It is a wonderfully exciting moment for Jesus and his followers. There is great expectancy from the crowd.

1st Reading from the prophet Isaiah 50:4-7.

This is taken from the Second Isaiah and is the third song of the perfect servant of God. It is easy to see how the early Christians saw in it the understanding of the appalling fate that befell Jesus. He is the Perfect Servant. The tone is set for today’s sad reflection.

Psalm 22(21): 8-9, 17-20, 23-24.

This psalm from the earliest stages was important for Christians as they recounted the story of Jesus’ death. We join with him in his great cry for deliverance. It is heart wrenching, as Jesus still proclaims the greatness of the Father, in the midst of his great agony. What a Man!!

2nd Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 2: 6-11.

Paul quotes this hymn to promote solidarity in the Church, for Paul this is the Mark of the Christian Church. Whether he composed this song or took it from an existing liturgy, we cannot tell from this distance, but it has always held a special place in the hearts of the Christian Community. It is a remarkable piece to meditate upon.

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 22:14-23:56.

We follow Jesus through the Last Supper and come to the realisation of how the Eucharist is interwoven with the Passion of Christ. There is an interesting shift in the way Jesus addresses the denial of Peter. He starts by calling him “Simon, Simon”, but when he states that he will deny Jesus three times he calls him by his nickname, “Peter” (Rock). Luke emphasises how Pilate tries to release Jesus but describes how monstrous was flogging an innocent man. Then there is the “Barabbas” episode. We have Jesus the Son of God, and the terrorist Bar meaning, “son of”, and “ABBAS”, meaning “father”. So, we have two sons of the father. It is like the tradition of the “scape goat”. One goat survives, whilst the other is driven into the desert carrying all the sins of the community to die with their sins upon it. We have a vision here of the meaning of Christ’s death. Then Luke describes the struggle to Calvary, and Simon is forced to carry the cross behind Jesus, the soldiers knew Jesus was close to death after all the beatings. The crucifixion between two criminals. We have the crowd watching, the religious leaders and one thief cursing and poking fun of Jesus, but one person gets it triumphantly and dramatically right. His reward? “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Jesus final moments are related, and the Roman Centurian acclaims Jesus’ innocence. The crowds all leave beating their breasts, whilst Jesus’ friends watch from afar. Joseph asks for Jesus’ body from Pilate and buries Jesus in a stone tomb in which nobody had ever laid. All come sorrowfully away, together with us. We might contemplate that this is what Jesus’ did for us. What are we doing for Him?

God grace us to proclaim our Saviour Jesus Christ now and always. Deacon Vincent