St Joseph’s Church
Holy Trinity House, 15 Marian Gardens BR1 3FH
St Swithun’s Church
Fashoda Road, Bromley BR2 9RE
020 8402 0459 / bromley@rcaos.org.uk
By GARRY CULLEN
This is the first time I have written a blog entry, so, readers, please forgive me as I am no doubt a novice. As most of you will know, I have recently completed my first year at St John’s seminary in Wonersh as part of my journey to become a Deacon, which – God willing – will see me ordained in 2018. So what have I learnt thus far?
By Fr TOM McHUGH
Daily we use body language to communicate. Friends and family often meet or part with a kiss or a hug. Others hold hands as they walk or wave to someone they know on the other side of the street. A handshake we use regularly in our culture.So when Jesus wishes to express his abiding love for us, he chooses to be with us in the form of Bread and Wine –His Body and Blood –‘His risen body language’.
By Fr TOM McHUGH
Celebrating First Holy Communion with nearly 50 families over two weekends in the first part of May was truly a time of great joy and festivity for our entire Parish community.
By BISHOP ROBERT BARRON
On a spring day about five years ago, when I was rector of Mundelein Seminary, Francis Cardinal George spoke to the assembled student body. He congratulated those proudly orthodox seminarians for their devotion to the dogmatic and moral truths proposed by the Church, but he also offered some pointed pastoral advice.
By Fr TOM McHUGH
Holy Week begins today, Palm Sunday, and ends with the Easter Vigil on Easter night. We call this week ‘holy’ because, throughout these days, we discover with admiration all that the Lord Jesus accomplished in order to show us the infinite tenderness of God, the embrace of God’s mercy.
By Fr SAJU PINAKKATTU
Pope Francis has declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. This Holy Year of Mercy began on 08th of December 2015, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. It will close on 20th of November 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. The motto of the Year of Mercy is “Merciful Like the Father”.
By Deacon BARRY MELLISH
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim though this barren land.
We are all on a pilgrimage – our journey through life in a world which can be very barren, particularly if you are a refugee fleeing the wars that are raging throughout the world.
By EDMUND ADAMUS, Director, Office of Marriage and Family Life – Diocese of Westminster
You may or may not have noticed that this has been Marriage Week. And the internet has been awash with a plethora of ideas to boost one’s marriage and the marriages of others. Bravo to the US Bishops in particular for their innovative “What have you done for your marriage?” quiz and other digital ideas.
By EDMUND ADAMUS, Director, Office of Marriage and Family Life – Diocese of Westminster
The other day I came across a rather witty set of questions entitled “The Charles Schulz Philosophy”, written by the creator of character Charlie Brown and the Peanuts comic strip. I am paraphrasing them here below and somewhat Anglicising them, but if you’ve never seen them before, read them through, answering them in your mind.
By EDMUND ADAMUS, Director, Office of Marriage and Family Life – Diocese of Westminster
The Jubilee Year of Mercy has begun and we must all try our best to embrace the many special channels of grace and beauty and blessing that are unmistakably going to come our way from the Father’s loving heart for each one of us.