Each person is unique, special with immense dignity. In a normal family life each is treasured and loved by parents, siblings and extended family – uncles, aunts, grandparents. All normal parents have fond memories of the birth of their children. Of nurturing them through babyhood, as toddlers, young children and teenagers. The hopes and dreams …
Do we ever reflect upon the crucial importance of the family- For the personal development of each person? For the well being of society? For the future of humanity? Walking in a local park recently I was struck by the endearing sight of parents and children happily walking together. And at a granddaughter’s Confirmation Mass …
Jesus said, “This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. Love is the panacea for all ills. Love engenders peace and harmony in every situation whether personal or between nations. What are the characteristics of true love? Love demands respect and sacrifice. The example of love par excellence is the death …
In The gospel reading for the fourth Sunday of Lent we hear the story of the Prodigal (lost) son from Luke’s gospel 15: 1-3. 11- 32. In this well known parable which Jesus told, a young son goes to his father and demands his share of the inheritance? The son then goes off and squanders …
The Lord God says this: ‘My plans for you are for peace, not for disaster; To give you a future, a future filled with hope.’ ‘My plans for you are for peace.’ (Jer 29:11) ——- Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Dear friends and people of good will The news and images from Ukraine in …
Addressing St Peter’s Square pilgrims last Sunday (27th February), Pope Francis said Catholics had been shocked by the outbreak of war, after “repeatedly praying this road would not be chosen,” and repeated his call for March 2nd, Ash Wednesday, to be marked by prayer and fasting for peace. “He who wages war forgets humanity – …
This Sunday’s Gospel reading at Mass is the familiar account of Jesus and his disciples and Mary the mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee. In this first miracle of Jesus, 880 litres of water are turned into wine. Not only that, the best wine, unusually saved until last was the …
In this week’s Sunday Gospel, we see how Jesus was immersed in His Father’s affirming love by the words spoken from heaven following his baptism in the Jordan “You are my Son, the beloved.” The Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit signified by the dove, were present at this event. What does this mean …
Continuing the theme of human rights, just last week the House of Lords passed unopposed the second reading of the assisted dying bill – a euphemism for assisted suicide, which has now gone to committee stage. I pray it may never see the light of day. As with the 1967 Abortion Act which gained sympathy …
Heidi Crowter, a young woman with Downs Syndrome lost her High Court challenge to the Government over a law that allows abortion up to birth for a baby with Downs Syndrome. The High Court judges deferred responsibility for the law that allows discrimination against people with Downs Syndrome back to Parliament. The court refused to …