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Category: Fr John’s Weekly
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Church Abuse & Guilt (2)
The most condemning words about the Catholic Church that have been spoken in our lifetime are words of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. We shall not hear stronger. The words were spoken at the Stations of the Cross in Rome in 2005, written by Pope John Paul and spoken by his great…
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My Community, My Street
Before the pandemic (March 2020) our children would come around the altar at the beginning of mass, receive a blessing and go to their liturgy – always beautifully prepared and with originality by our wonderful team. When they returned they came in procession to the altar, stood facing and smiling at the people, knowing how…
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Synod: 2021/23 (2)
Bishop Flores of Brownsville, Texas, has written a beautiful letter about the Synod. Its theme is: ‘We cannot love the Church as we wish she were but only as she is.’ He talks about God’s healing our wounds and Christ’s suffering on the cross as sign of how much God loves us and invites our…
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UN, Ukraine & UK
“I hope to save lives and end suffering” were the inspiring words of Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, before and during his visits to Moscow and Kyiv. He was everything we hoped he would be from the impression he has given in recent weeks during the terrible invasion of Ukraine. We can…
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Catholic Schools
The congregation for Catholic Education at the Vatican has issued a document on schools and their Gospel-inspired mission, stressing that Catholic Schools are for all who want to attend “especially for the weakest.” A good school offers education as a model of “a Church which goes forth, in dialogue with everyone.” We must not lose…
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Forgiving Others
On Thursday afternoon I was taken over. Planning for two funerals was being made so I could not phone out, as I like to do each day, to the lonely, ill, housebound in the parish and around the country. I have a generous contract with BT that allows unlimited calls (landline or mobile) for a…
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Mother’s Day – True Believers Live Faith, Not Religion
On Mothering Sunday we pray for Mother Russia sending her Russian children to kill her Ukranian children, and controlled by the Godfathers, President Putin and Patriarch Kirill. This is the latest horrifying example in our world’s history of the poisoned alliances between religion and politics. True believers live faith, not religion. Faith reflects God’s love…
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Ukraine Invasion By Putin (Russia) (2)
I read the report from Reuters – the world’s most trustworthy news service. The end of the war in Ukraine is in sight. Putin cannot win but needs to save face: (1) Crimea (2) North East Ukraine (3) Ukraine not to join NATO. President Zelensky will know how to negotiate those terms. Meanwhile, the suffering…
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Ukraine Invasion By Putin (Russia) (1)
Each time I saw the ambush of the Russian tanks I found myself rejoicing and then ashamed. How could I want to see anyone blown up, suffering, dying? Those Russian soldiers are boys, deceived by men in suits and medalled uniforms to fight and die for what is hateful – conquest of a free country.…
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Ash Wednesday
Two men went to pray on Ash Wednesday. The one was holy with goodness to spare, so that he could pray in reparation for those who were sinners. “I thank you, Lord, for my virtuous life. I pray twice in the week, pay my mite, have sympathy for all your suffering people. I wish I…