Reflections & Homilies

11th January 2026 Though our Liturgy has its structures, its rubrics, its scriptures, poetry, prayer texts and its chants, it can never really be tidied up according to human desires, because perfection is not something we, as humans, will ever achieve in this life. And that is all for the good, because the messiness of our worship, the untidiness of each one's vocation of prayer and Christian lif... Read More

"It is the Magisterium [of the Second Vatican Council] that still constitutes the guiding star of the Church's journey today," Pope Leo said, during his Wednesday General Audience, on 7 January, in the Pope VI Hall, as he began a new catechesis series, dedicated to Vatican Council II and a rereading of its Documents, following the Jubilee Year's focus on the mysteries of the life of Jesus. The P... Read More

With the first prayer intention of the year, Pope Leo XIV invites us to rediscover the transforming power of God's Word, the Word in which "we find the light that guides our steps." Along with the Holy Father, we turn to prayer, asking that we might be a Church that "prays with the Word, that is built upon it and shares it with joy, so that in every person, the hope of a new world may be born agai... Read More

On the Feast of the Epiphany, London Catholic Worker volunteer Harry Wills, reflected on who the Magi were and what they teach us about the meaning of the 'Other'." One of my university teachers told us about the time he spent living in rural Africa. He was the only white Christian in a Muslim community. At first, he felt like a distrusted other'. Yet, they shared their space and resources with hi... Read More

January 6th 2026 Familiarity with many of our Christmas carols and hymns might easily lull us into that rather comfortable state of joyful contentment. Memories of times past and people loved, our half awakened inner child still able to be partly excited at these days of festivity. But the adult in us knows not everything is rosy, not all the stories finish in happy endings. Some of our older caro... Read More

Second Sunday after Christmas If we fail to remember that the words of the Liturgy are poetry, symbolic in meaning, and crafted down the centuries to carry the weight of the mystery that is 'God-in-Christ' come amongst us, then we will fall into all kinds of traps; such as taking literally what was not meant to be; imposing the letter of our liturgical rules and regulations on the flexible dynamis... Read More

During his first Angelus greeting of 2026, Pope Leo urged everyone to "build a year of peace, by disarming our hearts and refraining from every form of violence." Greeting over 40,000 pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square on the first day of 2026, Pope Leo XIV extended his heartfelt wishes for peace and every good to them. He also shared his best wishes to the President of the Italian Republic... Read More

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first public Mass of 2026 on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, telling believers that Mary has revealed the 'unarmed and disarming' face of God. Pope Leo opened the homily at his first Mass of 2026 by reflecting on this blessing from the Book of Numbers, taken from the day's first reading: "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on yo... Read More

Archbishop Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin, celebrated Mass today for World Day of Peace 2026 in the Church of the Guardian Angels, Newtownpark Avenue, Dublin, attended by lay faithful, religious and priests of the Archdiocese; Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor John Stephens (representing the Lord Mayor); Ministers of State Jerry Buttimer and Jennifer Murnane O'Connor; members of the diplomatic ... Read More

January 1st 2026 That the first day of the New Year should be dedicated to Mary the Holy Mother of God, and on the Octave Day of Christmas, is another gentle reminder of her place in the story of salvation-especially as we celebrate the great Nativity feasts, which are so rich in colour, story, and personalities. Today we find her given to us by the Church to be revered as the Mother of God, a tit... Read More

In his homily on the Feast of the Holy Family, the Bishop of Plymouth, Bishop Nicholas Hudson reflected on how "very fitting" it was that this feast day had opened and now closed the Jubilee Year of Hope in the diocese because the Holy Family was "nothing if not a family of hope, a hope-filled family." Drawing upon Pope Benedict's reflections on the Infancy Narratives, Bishop Hudson shared that wh... Read More

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, the Church invites us to contemplate anew the quiet strength, the steadfast love and the attentive trust that marked the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Their life in Nazareth was simple, hidden and at times anxious, yet it was within that small household that God chose to dwell among us. The Holy Family shows us t... Read More

28th December 2025 I do find the first reading from Sirach rather lop sided. Of course it belongs to an age where lines of authority were clearly set and the patriarchal role far more dominant, but the language used starts with authority over others, and the call to revere your mother and honour your father does not seem to take into account a reciprocal sense of relationship being at least two wa... Read More

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, Today's Feast of the Holy Family continues our rejoicing in the birth of Jesus, our hope and our salvation. This Feast has also been chosen as the moment in which dioceses throughout the world mark the end of the Jubilee Year with its theme of 'Pilgrims into Hope'. I think these two themes, of hope and family life, go well together. During this Holy Year ... Read More