Thought from Fr. Colm - 4th October 2026

Two first class meetings this week that we hope to follow up on. The evening of reflection on meditation and the climate change crisis - and yes it is a crisis. More on both, especially if we can nab Prof Stanley for another practical session before he returns to India. Watch this space.

Lots happening this weekend with the schools’ First Communion programme kicking off with parents and children getting more involved at Masses. Well done catechists.

Thanks rota readers for stepping aside and allowing. Welcome all our visitors from Italy for Sunday’s baptism.

And speaking of Italy, we recall the 800^th anniversary of the death of St. Francis on Saturday 3^rd October with Vespers at 7.00pm in St Godric’s.

The Capuchin Friars have also been invited by Bishop Stephen to preach at the 11.30am Mass this Sunday at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Our congratulations to the Capuchin Community at Tenter House Friary. A belated welcome to Bro Michael Welch to the Capuchin Community.

Thought from Fr. Colm - 6th September 2026

Bro John: there will be an opportunity for all to thank, and bid farewell, to Bro John this Sunday after the 9.00am Mass.

Do join us for a cup of tea/coffee in the John Boste Room at St Godric’s. We will follow same at St Joseph’s the following weekend in the Jubilee Room after the 10.30am Mass at St Joseph’s. Those in charge of the usual teas and coffees in both churches, please take note.

Also, we will have a retiring collection for a charity, or charities, of Bro John’s preference after all Masses, the weekend of the 12/13th September.

The parish pilgrimage to Holy Island takes place this Saturday. It seems appropriate that Dan Snow followed the footsteps of St. Columba last Tuesday on BBC 4.

Those travelling on Saturday to Holy Island might find it particularly worth revisiting. You can access it on BBC iPlayer.

Welcome back to school staff and pupils.

Just received the sad news of the death of Jane Wilcockson’s husband, Robin, after a brave fight against cancer. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with you, Jane and family.

Some reflections by Wendell Berry, American poet and author, who died this week aged 92:

I take literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world. I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love.

I believe that divine love, incarnate and indwelling in the world, summons the world always toward wholeness, which ultimately is reconciliation and atonement.

HOW TO BE A POET:

Sit down. Be quiet.

Breathe with unconditional breath the unconditioned air.

Shun electric wire.

Communicate slowly.

Live a three-dimensional life;

stay away from screens.

Stay away from anything that obscures the place it is in.

There are no unsacred places;

there are only sacred places and desecrated places.

Accept what comes from silence.

Make the best you can of it.

Of the little words that come out of the silence

THE ONLY SUFFICIENT ANSWER:

The only sufficient answer is to give up the animosity and try forgiveness, to try to love our enemies and to talk to them and (if we pray) to pray for them. If we can't do any of that, then we must begin again by trying to imagine our enemies' children who, like our children, are in mortal danger because of enmity that they did not cause.

Thought from Fr. Colm - 16th August 2026

Two Magnificat Poems by: Amy Scott Robinson

SONNET:

My soul is shouting that the Lord is great,

my spirit is rejoicing: God is best!

For he has seen me in my low estate,

from now on, everyone will call me blessed.

For mighty God has done great things for me,

his mercy is for those who love his name,

for he has shown his strength and majesty,

the proud in heart have all been brought to shame.

The mighty have been toppled from their thrones,

the weak and feeble seated there instead:

The rich sent off with nothing, all alone,

the poor and hungry welcomed in and fed.

For God remembers what he said before:

His promises to Israel, evermore.

ACROSTIC:

My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit rejoices in my saviour!

Generations will call me blessed,

Naming God as holy and mighty.

In strength he has scattered the proud,

Fed the hungry and left the rich empty.

Israel will see his mercy again.

Children of Israel, you know what he promised

Abraham and his offspring for ever?

This is happening now.