On February 8, the Church commemorates the life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan.  Her story is a harrowing one. See HERE Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869, in a small village in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was kidnapped while working in the fields with her family and subsequently ...

In these times we are sharing a very profound journey of prayer, care and support for those whom we know who are sick in our family, our neighbourhood and in our community. We also experience a strong sense of closeness, interconnection and fraternity with our sick sisters and brothers throughout the world. At the same time this experience is a ...

This year’s Racial Justice Sunday (31 January 2021, Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales) with the theme ‘A Time to Act’ has never been more vital. The effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, the killing of George Floyd, and the powerful message on fraternity and equality by Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti all speak of the need to actively oppose ...

On the 1st February we are at a ‘crossroads’ halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.  A crossroads can be a good place to stop and refuel for the journey onward and outwards, and we can do this in no better company than that of Brigid whose feast day is on this day (Lá Fhéile Bríde). We thank ...

The WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE – February 2nd, 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul declaring the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple as World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. On this day in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5.30 pm (Rome Time)  there will a  service of celebration of  Consecrated Life.  In ...

“Come and See” (Jn 1:46). Communicating by Encountering People as They Are Every year on the Sunday before Pentecost the Church celebrates the achievements of the communications media and focuses of how it can best use them to promote gospel values.  This year, the 55th World Day of Communications takes place on the 16th May 2021 On Saturday, 23rd January ...

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE – February 2nd, 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul declaring the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple as World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. St. John Paul II established the World Day for Consecrated Life in 1997 to be celebrated in conjunction with the feast of the ...

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU 2021) is traditionally observed annually from 18 – 25 January.  However, in the southern hemisphere, where January is a vacation time, churches find another time during the year to celebrate it, for example around Pentecost which is also a symbolic time for the unity of the Church.  The theme for this year ...

Little Christmas (Irish: Nollaig na mBan) ‘Women’s Christmas’), also known as Old Christmas, is one of the traditional names among Irish Christians and Amish Christians for 6 January, which is also known more widely as the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated after the conclusion of the twelve days of Christmastide. Owing to differences in liturgical calendars, as early as the ...

A peaceful silent vigil before the crib each day brings revelations far beyond the scene itself.  A deeper understanding of who this Child is for us.  I glimpse the Magi on their journey, coming in the distance, still following in the light-filled footsteps of expectation; of both welcoming and exchanging heart to heart with the Christ Child who has made ...