Category: Deacon Tony reflects

[Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56]

On the 1^st November 1950, Pope Pius XII declared that ‘the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.’[1] Pope Pius was confirming this belief, which had been held by some Christians for centuries to be a matter of fact and declared it as ‘divinely revealed dogma.’[2]

In the first reading from the book of the Apocalypse, St John uses images which would have been familiar to his readers; at least three pagan societies had mythical stories where a monster, which preyed on their society would be slayed by a saviour from within their community.  John used elements of these three stories.  The point John was making was that “the hope of salvation from evil and chaos, which such stories embodied has now become a reality; a reality known to the Church and shared through its witness to the whole world.” John is highlighting that “the hopes and aspirations of the world are not a threat to be avoided, but a dream which finds its waking reality in Christ.” [3]

Likewise, in St Pauls’ first letter to the Corinthians we are reminded that if death came to man through the actions of one man: Adam, then man can be brought to life again through the resurrection of Christ.  Jesus, the new Adam, will conquer all sovereignties, powers and dominions, and only then will he hand the kingdom of God back to his Father. The late Professor James Dunn of the University of Durham suggested “Adam represents humankind through life to death, so Christ represents humankind through death to life.”[4]

These two passages talk of heavenly conflict with victory for God. These are complimented by what initially seems like a very human story from St Luke’s Gospel.  Mary having recently found out that she is pregnant, goes to help her cousin, Elizabeth, who is also pregnant.  This is something which has happened in human society for what seems like forever and still goes on today.  Women who are pregnant meet up and talk about their joy, their hopes and fears.  However, when they meet, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt.  This first human recognition of Jesus; by the prophet from within his mother’s womb, is followed by Elizabeth; the prophet’s mother; recognising the significance of Mary, as the ‘mother of my Lord’.

We then have the beautiful prayer The Magnificat, when Our Lady, no doubt prompted by the Spirit, praises God for the blessings bestowed upon her and declaring that God will turn the world upside down by overthrowing what man sees as significant and re-establishing what God holds to be significant. 

St Luke then tells us that Mary stayed with Elizabeth until around the time that Elizabeth’s baby was due, before returning home.

These passages from scripture link heaven and earth, they link the beginning of time with the end of time and they link us as humans with God.  As Jesus was approaching his final breath, he gave His Mother, to be our Mother too.  He asked the disciple that he loved, to take His Mother into his home.  We know that Jesus loves each and every one of us. That message was not just for that one disciple, it was for all of us.  Today we celebrate our Heavenly Mother’s entrance into her Heavenly home.  She is sitting, waiting, beside our brother Jesus for the day when we can all be there together.  Until that day let the world resound with many Ave’s as we acknowledge Mary the Queen of Heaven, as our mother and take her into our homes.

Recently Bishop Philip announced that our Pastoral Area, which will develop into our new Parish will be known as Our Lady Queen of Peace. I think this is an appropriate name for a Parish which includes within its boundary two weapons factories. Having worked at both of these, I fully understand how necessary they are for the protection of our Nation. I also hope and pray that by having Our Lady as a patron, that we never have to use the weapons manufactured there.

Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

August 15: The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

CCC 411, 966-971, 974-975, 2853: Mary, the New Eve, assumed into heaven
CCC 773, 829, 967, 972: Mary, eschatological icon of the Church
CCC 2673-2679: at prayer with Mary

The Assumption of Mary: 12 Things to Know and Share – EWTN Great Britain

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those preparing for Baptism, either as an individual or as a parent.
• Firefighters throughout the world battling to keep communities safe.
• For students receiving their results; that they are rewarded for their efforts and that they have clarity of their next steps.
• For all pregnant women, and those struggling to conceive, may God bless them with successful pregnancies, granting them good health for their babies and themselves.

Deacon Tony

15th August 2026

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[1]&2 Pius Munificentissimus Deus 44 available from The Assumption of Mary: 12 Things to Know and Share – EWTN Great Britain accessed 14^th August 2026.

 

[3] Marcus Maxwell, Revelation – The People’s Bible Commentary, (The Bible Reading Fellowship, Oxford, 1997)112-3

[4] James DG Dunn, The Theology of PAUL the Apostle, [T&T Clark, London, 1998]241.

1 Kings 19:9a,11-13a; Psalm 84; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33)

I recently watched a documentary series on Elon Musk, which looked at his life, his ambitions and how he spends his money. For those that don’t know, he is driven to build a place where mankind can live on Mars. To this end he has developed or bought companies who manufacture electric vehicles, battery storage systems, enhanced solar capabilities and space exploration. Everything he seems to get involved with plays a part in his mission. One of his company’s has sewn up most of the NASA contracts to go to and from the International Space Station and to put new satellites into space. Despite all of this technology, one of the few things which still delays launch times is the weather. Man cannot control the weather. All we can do is forecast; based on previous weather conditions and computer modelling; but we cannot change it. In fact, this was demonstrated horrifically in January 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded because they took off when the weather was too cold despite engineers warning the decision makers that parts would fail if they tried to do so.

When we look at today’s Gospel we hear amazing things. First of all, we hear that Jesus walked on the sea. Jesus as Son of God can do what He wants to do, and this act defied all logic. Secondly, when Peter asked if he could join him, Jesus allowed Peter to also walk on the sea, but Peter’s faith gave way because he was afraid. Peter failed not because of Jesus’ ability, but because Peter lacked sufficient faith to allow Jesus to work through him. Finally, Jesus calmed the wind. All those years ago Jesus did what two thousand years of scientific discovery and engineering still cannot do, He controlled the weather precisely in the area He needed it to be calm.

There are many times in our life when we need to find calm. By turning to Jesus and having faith in the promises He made, we can find calm. We also see this in the first reading. While all of the Natural events were going on were Acts of God, it was only in the quiet whisper that God could be found. Our world is a busy and at times noisy place. If we are to truly find God, we need to seek out times of silence. It is in those times that the ‘sound of the whisper’ heard by Elijah after his 40-day walk can be available to us too.

Seeking silence is associated with one of the six Holy Habits which Bishop Philip is encouraging us to follow. When we spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, we are in the presence of the Lord. It is a time for us to be still. In a message for Good Shepherd Sunday, earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV urges us to “make time, then, for Eucharistic adoration; meditate faithfully on the word of God, so that you may put it into practice each day; and participate actively and fully in the sacramental and ecclesial life of the Church. In this way, you will come to know the Lord.”[1]

One of the aspects of the Gospel from last Sunday and today which is often overlooked is the desire of Jesus, to pray. Last week He had just heard the news of John the Baptist having been executed. He sought a place to pray but was moved by the crowd to minister to them. This week, Jesus spends some time alone, praying. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus takes the opportunity to spend time with his Father. It was something Jesus needed to do to maintain that intimacy with the Father. It is also something we need to do to maintain our relationship with God.

In the second reading today, we are reminded of the links we have with the Jewish Faith. These are the people who were entrusted with God’s laws, who God made His first covenant with. These are the people of the Old Testament, a race into which Jesus Christ, our Saviour was born. It is impossible to love God and at the same time, hold resentment for the Jewish people; these were chosen by God and were described by Pope St John Paul II as our ‘elder brothers’.

At a time when keyboard warriors are attempting to destabilise countries all around the world by blaming immigrants and refugees for the problems of the world, we as Christians need to speak out when we see evil. There are even some elected officials in countries who incite others to hate. Hatred is never the answer to problems. Historians link some of the rhetoric of today with the political tensions all around Europe prior to World War II. Jesus proclaimed a message of love; love of God and love of neighbour.

In the world God created, every other man and woman is our neighbour. It doesn’t matter what they look like, it doesn’t matter if they follow God or how they follow God, Jesus even said it doesn’t matter whether they are our enemy. We are still to love them. That is what Jesus instructed us to do and that is what we must do.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 164: faith experiences testing
CCC 272-274: only faith can follow mysterious ways of providence
CCC 671-672: in difficult times, cultivate trust that all is subject to Christ
CCC 56-64, 121-122, 218-219: history of covenants; God’s love for Israel
CCC 839-840: the Church’s relationship to the Jewish people^[2]

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV FOR THE 63rd WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS (4th Sunday of Easter – 26 April 2026) – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those struggling with addiction.
• Those preparing for Baptism, either as an individual or as a parent.
• Firefighters throughout the world battling to keep communities safe.

Deacon Tony

8th August 2026

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[1] MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV FOR THE 63rd WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS (4th Sunday of Easter – 26 April 2026) – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila

[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145; Romans 8:35,37-39; Matthew 14:13-21)

When I was first ordained, the Parish Priest asked Pam and I to look after the Baptism Preparation for the Parish. So far it has been a fulfilling ministry. We get to meet lots of new [and nearly new] parents. Some we have gotten to know better than others. In the seven years we have been providing Baptism Preparation classes more than 200 children have been Baptised. It has given us an insight into how different people approach this First Sacrament of Initiation.

Today’s first reading gives us an opportunity to look at how we approach ‘The Water’. Isaiah, says “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” Everyone who comes to our class is in search of Baptism, but perhaps not all for the same reason. Some are genuinely looking to start the faith journey for their children, others it may be because that’s what their parents or grandparents expect, it might be the opportunity to get into a good school it might be the chance to have a family get together. Our role at the Baptism Preparation session is to remind them why we all approach the waters of Baptism. To help us get the message across we use short films with questions and discussions.

Isaiah continues Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which does not does not satisfy?”  Part of the conversations with the parents is about what kind of adult they would like their child to grow up to be. We emphasise that they, the parents and Godparents are the role models the children will follow, they will practice what they see. Children will see what their parents value. If they value possessions then the children will value possessions, if they value love and forgiveness then they will value love and forgiveness. Isaiah is telling us that we need to concentrate on what is important.

Isaiah goes on “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, delight yourself in rich food.”  We remind the parents that they are part of a community. A community who gathers each week to listen to the Word of God and be fed by it, digest it, allowing it to live in them. Which in turn they are encouraged to take out into the world they live in. Isaiah, tells us that all of this is so that “your soul may live.” And that we can share in the same promise God made to King David. Everlasting life.

As part of the Baptism Preparation, we often urge the parents to make sure their children see them reconcile with one another after they have been upset with one another. We take this opportunity to remind them of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and encourage them to celebrate that Sacrament before they make the vows on behalf of their children. These same vows are included in the Creed, which we say each Sunday. We state our belief in God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit and in the Church which He founded and everything She teaches. Beliefs are easier to state when things are good, but more difficult when things get tougher.

The second reading today, helps us to look at how we deal with adversity. We all have times in our life when we struggle. Struggles come in all sorts of ways and St Paul lists some of them. St Paul tells us that no matter what is troubling us, we must remember that Jesus loves us and with His help we can conquer every problem.

In today’s Gospel we hear of other’s approaching Jesus at the water. The crowd gathered as Jesus came ashore; they had already been drawn towards Him. If we look closely at the encounter in today’s Gospel, it is similar to our Mass. The people gather, Jesus heals them, no doubt they will have also listened to the voice of Jesus before He took the bread, offered, blessed it, broke it and shared it with them. That day Jesus took a little and changed it into a lot. So much that there were twelve baskets left over. God’s generosity is boundless, if we as parents, grandparents and God parents can make sure that our children grow up knowing how much God loves them, then we are giving them the best possible opportunities in this life; as well as hope for the next life.

The Baptism Preparation we do, doesn’t just cover the Baptism Service, it is an outline of how the Church would like parents to approach the way they bring up their children; to get to know God better. By knowing God we can get to love Him, by Loving Him we can form a relationship with Him, By having a relationship with God we can be better people, helping us to spread His love by what we do and what we say.

That day when Jesus fed the five thousand, He was setting us an example. An example which is repeated to this day. If we, who have a little, are prepared to offer what we have for the greater good, then Jesus will multiply that gift. Whether it is through lots of other people joining with us or through His Divine Providence, Jesus shares the love in a way that only He can, because Jesus is love.

Ubi Caritas et Amor, Deus ibi est. [Where there is charity and love, God is there.]

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 2828-2837: give us this day our daily bread
CCC 1335: miracle of loaves prefigures the Eucharist
CCC 1391-1401: the fruits of Holy Communion^[1]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those struggling with addiction.
• Those preparing for Baptism, either as an individual or as a parent.
• Firefighters throughout the world battling to keep communities safe.

Deacon Tony

1^st August 2026

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(1 Kings 3:5-6a,7-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52)

One of the strongest memories I have from my teenage years is when I was punished for being cheeky to my Grandad. I, like many teenagers thought that I was clever and had given him some backchat which obviously upset him enough to let my Dad know. My Dad made sure I knew never to do such a thing again. The wonderful thing about this episode was that my Grandad never held it against me, he continued to love me and look after me. When I moved in with my grandparents a couple of years later, he spent a lot of time looking out for me, and nothing ever appeared to be too much trouble.

Now that I am a grandfather myself, I try to have the same patience and realise that at times it is really difficult. This helps me to have an even deeper appreciation of how wonderful all of my grandparents were. The memories I have of them are treasures, which I hold onto with great fondness.

In the Gospel today we hear Jesus talk to us about how the kingdom of heaven being like a treasure hidden in a field which a man finds and wants to keep for himself, so he covers it up and hides it allowing him the time to sell everything he has to then purchase the field. He also describes heaven as being a fine pearl, which again the one who finds it sells everything he has to acquire it.

The message here is that getting to heaven is the purpose of our life. None of the possessions we have or the titles or honours we receive in our lifetime matter if we do not find the treasure; which is the kingdom of heaven.

We see a close link to this in our first reading, when King Solomon, in a dream, is given the choice of a gift from God. He did not choose long life or earthly riches or power over his enemies, instead he sought a discerning mind; one that would help him to understand and serve his people. If only we had leaders like that nowadays. Solomon was given a mind which could determine what was important and how other people think.

In the second reading St Paul is telling us that we, who have been called to be brothers and sisters of Christ, are also predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. The closer we can be to Christ the more like him, we become. This reading concludes by reminding us that we who have been predestined, have been called, those who have been called are justified and those who are justified will be glorified. God’s promise to us, is that if we love God and follow his commandments then we will be like Jesus and live in the kingdom of heaven for ever. Jesus tells us how this will happen in the Gospel, “at the end of the age, the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace.” Just like in the Gospel last week, the evil (the weeds) are taken away from the good and taken to their fate. The righteous are taken for their reward.

I started today by remembering my grandparents. Today the Church recognises the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. It falls on the Feast Day for St Joachim and St Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. In his message for this day Pope Leo XIV wrote, “The celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is an opportunity to rediscover that the Church is called to be a mother to all and that at any age it is always possible to recognize ourselves as sons and daughters of God. May this day, therefore, be an inspiration for everyone, especially the young, to revive the beautiful custom of visiting their grandparents, the elderly members of the family and even those who have no one to visit them. Bring them, through this message and your presence, the closeness and affection of the Pope. Ensure that the words of the prophet, “But I will never forget you,” take the form of a tender and affectionate encounter”.

In these days when many of us live far from where we grew up, it is not always possible to visit our elderly relatives. But modern technology gives us a way to keep in touch and to tell them we still remember them, we still love them. The Holy Father is inviting us to renew that bond between the generations; he is asking us to keep alive the words of the prophet Isaiah “But I will never forget you.”  Today on this day dedicated to Grandparents and the Elderly, may we take up his encouragement and make contact with at least one elderly person or a grandparent. Especially if we are aware of people who live alone or who are in a Care setting. In this way we can build up treasure which matters for our journey towards the kingdom; which is more valuable than all of the jewels and pearls in the world.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 407: cannot ignore wound of sin in discerning human situation
CCC 1777-1785: moral decision making in rapport with God’s will
CCC 1786-1789: seeking will of God in divine law in difficult circumstances
CCC 1038-1041: separation of good and evil at Judgment
CCC 1037: God predestines no one to hell^[1]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those struggling with addiction.
• The grandparents and elderly in our Community and those older relatives who helped to form us.

David, Arianna and J

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 65; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23)

Last week, along with some other parishioners, I was on pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi. We were blessed to be able to celebrate Mass in some special places. We had very good guides and were able to learn more about these two special places and the saints who gave their life for Jesus; sowing the seeds of martyrdom to encourage others to get to know Jesus and build up the Church. I said at one of the Masses last week, that the fruits of their martyrdom were visible to us everywhere we went; not in the basilicas and churches but in the people from all over the world with their different languages and customs; we are the fruit of their sacrifice.

Today, in one of the best-known parables, Jesus speaks about the Sower, who sows seed. He explains that this seed is the Word of God and describes the different circumstances and obstacles for people who hear the Word of God. I think many of us can relate to the seed sown among thorns. There are two main obstacles here, one is the ‘cares of the world’ the other the ‘deceitfulness of riches.’

In the parable these two conditions result in no fruit to harvest, however, I would suggest, that these two conditions give us opportunities to change if we allow the Creator and Sower to work in us and co-operate with Him. If we turn to the ‘cares of the world’ first, there are times when we allow the worries of the world to dominate our thoughts so much that they can become overwhelming. These are the times when we need to trust in God and go to Him in prayer. Jesus instructed us “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” [John 14:27]. And “if you ask anything of the Father in my name he will give it to you.” [John 16:23-24]. When we share our burdens with Jesus or ask for His help He will respond. We may not fully understand the response, but Jesus has told us to ask.

The other condition is the riches of the world, which choke the word. Riches does not always mean money or wealth. These ‘riches’ are the things which take us away from God. Our distractions, the things we do which leave us trying to fit God into our day. Anyone with a garden or who walks next to grassed areas will recognise at this time of the year how dominant some of the thorns and nettles can become, if they are not pruned or cut away.

What are the ‘thorns and nettles’ in our life, which we need to cut back on, to allow God to be the centre of our life?

What action do we need to take in our life to change the thorny soil in our life to become fertile soil?

At the end of last year, I stopped using social media as I found it literally drained hours from my day. Whilst on pilgrimage, I switched it on again to get access to some pictures from the pilgrimage, which had been shared on Facebook. As a result, I now find that I am wasting time on it again. So, it’s time for me to ‘weed’ it out of my life again. As we know if we do not nourish and tend fertile soil, the weeds come back again even more quickly. My replacement for social media has been an online bible which shows a percentage of how much of the bible I have read. I find this a far more productive use of my time; which I hope will bear fruit.

The parable of the Sower was given from a boat, with the listeners standing on a beach. Jesus called his first disciples to become fishers of men.

This weekend the Church celebrates, and fund raises for the Apostleship of the Sea, known in some places as Stella Maris. This organisation does tremendous work in ports all around the world supporting sea farers who are often away from their families for months and sometimes years at a time.

Some of these seafarers are exploited by unscrupulous employers, Stella Maris advocate for these workers and provide supplies and spiritual support for them. As an island nation we are dependent on seafarers to get many of the things we take for granted, to our country. The recent conflict in the Middle East with the disruption to shipping routes has emphasised the danger many of these workers face; just to put bread on their table and to get goods into our shops. Please, if you can, support the collection in your parish this Sunday.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 299, 381: man created in the image of God; the first-born
CCC 1931-1933: viewing neighbour as another self
CCC 2447: corporal works of mercy
CCC 1465: the priest as Good Samaritan in the sacrament of Penance
CCC 203, 291, 331, 703: the Word and creation, visible and invisible^[1]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those struggling with addiction.
• All those who work on the sea.
• For those parents who begin their Baptism Preparation sessions this weekend.

Deacon Tony

11^th July 2026

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 34; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

As I prepare to travel to Rome and Assisi with other pilgrims, it is timely that we should be celebrating the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul. These two Apostles who both gave their life for Jesus in Rome, the Eternal City. Rome was the capital city of the Roman Empire, the heart of the Gentile world into which Christianity spread from Jerusalem,[1] much of the work to spread Christianity was taken on by these two great saints of the Church.

In our first reading today, we hear the story of St James being martyred and how when Herod saw that this pleased the Jews he arrested St Peter with no doubt a similar intent. However, God had other plans for Peter and sent an angel to aid his escape Peter thought he was experiencing a vision, but it was real and the angel guided him to a place of safety. I think the words Peter uses are another step on his faith journey, when he says, ‘Now I am sure…’ Looking back at our own faith journey, are their times we recognise that have helped to convince us we are on the right path? I can think of times when I was struggling with my faith and God found a way of bringing me back to the right path. It may have been a word from a friend, or a direct intervention from a fellow parishioner, but when I look back, I can see that many of these encounters have led me towards the Diaconate.

In the second reading we hear from St Paul, as he reflects on his work for the Lord, he is certain that God has called him and that he has carried out the mission assigned to him. I would love to feel that certainty; the fact that I don’t feel it tells me that something is still missing for me. I need to pray more and build my relationship with Christ in a similar way to the saints, who have gone before us.

Our Gospel takes us to Caesarea Philippi, Caesarea Philippi was a city in the time of Christ located in the foothills of Mount Hermon, about fifteen miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The natural spring near Caesarea Philippi is the largest source of the Jordan River. Caesarea Philippi is mentioned only in the New Testament gospels of Matthew and Mark, both recording this same incident.

Caesarea Philippi was named by Herod Philip, whose father, Herod the Great, had built a temple there. Philip took a special interest in the village and enlarged it; attaching his name to that of Caesar. The name Philip gave the town, also served to distinguish it from another town called Caesarea (Acts 10:1). While Caesarea was located in Judea on the border of the Mediterranean Sea, Caesarea Philippi was in Galilee within the land allotted to the tribe of Naphtali. The gospels record Jesus going to Caesarea Philippi only once, possibly because it was sparsely populated and situated on the northernmost border of His travels.[2]

When Jesus asked the disciples, who do people say I am? He was already aware that some were saying John the Baptist, others Elijah or Jeremiah or another one of the prophets. Jesus also knew that his disciples were gaining confidence to continue following him despite the fact He had never declared who He is. By allowing St Peter to verbalise his belief, Jesus was able to positively share with the disciples who He is. In response, Jesus said ‘you are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church’.  This is the first time Jesus mentions ‘Church’ in the New Testament. This remote sparsely populated place in the footsteps of Mount Hermon is where Jesus informed the disciples that He is Christ.

St Peter and St Paul had their mission; it was to evangelise the whole world. Thanks to their many successes, our mission is smaller, but similar. We have to evangelise those we meet. Who and how will you evangelise this week?

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

June 29: The Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul

CCC 153, 424, 440, 442, 552, 765, 880-881: Saint Peter
CCC 442, 601, 639, 642, 1508, 2632-2633, 2636, 2638: Saint Paul^[3]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• Those who have completed and those who continue with the RCIA programme; especially those who received the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Ryan Hawkes of our Pastoral Area who will be ordained as a deacon next Sunday in Rome.
• Elroi-Jaiden and Edson who will be baptised on Sunday at St Bede’s Church.
• Success of the forthcoming pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi.

Deacon Tony

27^th June 2026

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[1] A Pilgrim’s Guide to Rome and Assisi, Raymond Goodburn, [Pilgrim Book Services Ltd, Woodbridge, 2010]5.

[2] What is the significance of Caesarea Philippi in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

[3] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33)

Our readings today encourage us to live a life of faith which is courageous. In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah is being pressured from all sides including his friends. Jeremiah highlights their lack of faith and goes to the Lord in prayer giving him the courage to persevere regardless of what those who surround him are saying.

In the second reading, St Paul is encouraging the faithful who live in Rome to look at the evidence. He argues that as sin and death came into the world through one man, then it is perfectly acceptable that the sacrifice made by another man, Jesus Christ, can be the remedy for sin and death. The sacrifice Jesus made in dying on the Cross allows us to be able to accept the gift of eternal life from God, if we are faithful followers of Jesus.

In the Gospel from St Matthew, Jesus is urging his Apostles und us to be courageous. He explains how valuable everyone of us is to the Father, so valuable that every one of our hairs has been counted. This courage which Jesus calls us to have means that we have the responsibility of professing our Faith at all times and to never deny that we are Christians. If we can always declare our Faith, even in hostile environments then Jesus will vouch for us before the Father.

This Sunday is the day for prayer for Life in the British Isles. This year it also falls on Father’s Day. In the Bishops Conference’s joint message, they encourage us to ‘remember with gratitude the loving care and direction our parents gave to us, whether they are still with us or have gone to the Lord.’[1] The Bishops ask us to remember in prayer all parents who have lost a child either before birth or in infancy. Having worked in the Parish for several years now I am aware of many families who have lost a child at various ages. These days when we celebrate Mother’s Day or Father’s Day can be particularly difficult for these parents, so hopefully our prayers may give them some consolation. Pope Leo has sent a message to the Bishops Conferences of England & Wales, Ireland and Scotland which expresses his prayers for ‘parents grieving the loss of a child, especially an infant, [that they] may find comfort and peace in the knowledge of God’s love for them and for their child.’[2] 

As Christians we believe that all life from conception to the point of natural death is a precious gift from God. While the Day for Life is focussed this year on the full humanity of the baby in the womb, there is another pressing issue which attacks the sanctity of life in our country at this time. An MP has expressed their desire to reintroduce the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the Autumn. This Bill which originally had built in lots of safeguards when it was passed in the House of Commons, was found to be extremely flawed by members of the House of Lords, with many of the so called safeguards found to be diluted, removed or unsuitable. Archbishop John Sherrington, the lead Bishop responsible for Life Issues for our Bishops Conference, stated “The recent debate about this Bill showed how many people found the proposed legislation, even if they accepted it in principle, to be flawed and full of unresolved matters. The majority in the Commons reduced between readings, the Lords identified many shortcomings and bad legislation.”[3]

This is an example of where we as Christians can choose to be courageous in our faith. Do we sit back and do nothing allowing the death culture to erode another aspect of Christian teaching from our Society, or do we take action and write when we are encouraged to by the Bishops or Pro-life Groups? John F Kennedy once said, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good persons to do nothing.”[4] Are we living in a time when those who back evil; the killing of people; will succeed because of the inaction of the many who seek good?

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 852: the Spirit of Christ sustains the Christian mission
CCC 905: evangelizing by the example of life
CCC 1808, 1816: courageous witness of faith overcomes fear and death
CCC 2471-2474: bear witness to the truth
CCC 359, 402-411, 615: Adam, Original Sin, Christ the New Adam^[5]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• Those who have completed and those who continue with the RCIA programme; especially those who received the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Parents who grieve the loss of a child or children.
• All the couples who celebrated at the Significant Wedding Anniversaries Mass on Saturday.

Deacon Tony

20^th June 2026

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[1] The Wonder of the Child in the Womb – Catholic Bishops’ Conference

[2] Papal Message: Day for Life 2026 – Catholic Bishops’ Conference

[3] Bishops’ statement on re-introduction of Assisted Dying Bill | ICN

[4] A Profile in Courage: Advice from JFK Almost 60 Years Ago

[5] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(Exodus 19:2-6a; Psalm 100; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36-10:8)

On Friday, I sat with a group of pupils at St Anne’s school in Basingstoke. They had each prepared two questions to ask me about the Diaconate and my life as a deacon. It was a lively session, and the pupils had obviously put a lot of thought into the questions they asked. I answered as honestly as I could and they all seemed to enjoy the experience. For me it was a great reminder of why I serve as a deacon. A time of looking at the high points of my Diaconate and the days when it was really difficult, as well as a reminder of the sacrifices that both I and my family make; to allow me to serve.

When Jesus chose the 12 men to serve as apostles, they too had to make sacrifices. Their sacrifices were far greater than the ones I have had to make so far. In parallel with the First reading where we have the descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel who multiplied so much, they numbered the stars in the heavens and the grains of sand on the shore. (as originally promised to Abraham) We, the spiritual descendants of the Apostles are numerous. Through their hard work and their sacrifices, the Good News of Jesus has been spread to every continent on the earth and has even been taken into space. A high proportion of the Apollo astronauts in the 1960s and 70s were Christian and there was even a live TV broadcast Bible reading from space in December 1968 when the astronauts took it in turn to read from the first few verses of the Book of Genesis.[1]

The twelve Apostles created a New Israel, and they were instructed to ‘heal the sick, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.’ These are all healing activities, and they are not restricted to the ailments mentioned. This New Israel, which we are all part of, is a body who look out for those in need. Our mission is to take God to those we meet. By feeding the hungry we can help to heal the sick, by helping those with addictions to get healthy again we are cleansing the lepers in our society, by forgiving one another, we can cast out the demons which grip every sinner, those demons that tell us we are not good enough, those demons which urge us to repeat mistakes, those demons which promote apathy amongst the faithful.

The times when we are disheartened are the times when we allow apathy to enter our hearts. This is the enemy infiltrating our thoughts and influencing our actions, putting distance between us and God.

I’ve experienced this myself. At times, when I know there are sacrifices to be made, I can question if it’s really worth it. Then, when I’ve done whatever ‘it’ was, I find that I’ve been truly blessed by meeting someone new, experienced something I’d never of thought of, or just enjoyed being with others.

During this week ahead, if you feel that God is not close to you, I’d like you to think again. God is always close in our relationship.

 Ask yourself, am I close to God?

What is it in the choices I make which puts distance between me and God?

Our Scriptures today, remind us that God is always there. He rescued the Israelites from slavery and then sent His Son to rescue their descendants. Those who listened were saved, and sent out to widen the Chosen people to the whole world. Those original Apostles sent out as shepherds to the world to guide and teach, have their own descendants now. It is not by their blood and DNA that they can trace these descendants. Their descendants are the bishops of the Catholic Church today, and the blood they demonstrate their descendance by, is the Blood of Jesus Christ. The bishops of today still teach the Good News, they are our Spiritual fathers as successors to the Apostles.

The young people I met on Friday, have a thirst for learning more about our Faith. They asked about how I can encourage others in faith and on a previous visit another young person asked how they could encourage others to believe.

For me the answer is always by our actions.

People are more likely to want to follow Christ if they see Christians put our faith into action. That’s what I try to do and that is what the Apostles all did until their dying breath.

I’d like to encourage us all to become more in tune with our mission here on earth; working with and for each other, to achieve it.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 551, 761-766: the Church prefigured in Old Testament community
CCC 783-786: the Church a priestly, prophetic, royal people
CCC 849-865: the apostolic mission of the Church^[2]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• Those who have completed and those who continue with the RCIA programme; especially those who received the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those in need of work.

Deacon Tony

13^th June 2026

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[1] Astronauts Had ‘Space’ for God – The Tablet

[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(Deuteronomy 8:2-3,14b-16a; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58)

Holy Scriptures is the history of our salvation. Throughout the Bible we are told how God, not only breathed life into us and created a world for us to live in, but He has also ensured that since the beginning of time, He has provided us with everything we need. From Genesis, where He created us and provided us with every type of food that we could possibly need, as well as everything that we would need for shelter and warmth.

In our first reading we hear Moses reminding the people of the great deeds God has done for their benefit. He tells them never to forget these great deeds: freedom from slavery in Egypt, led them through the desert, gave them water and food where there was none. Just as God provided for Abraham when he took Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him, God provides for Abraham’s successors; and that includes us.

In the Gospel we hear from St John, Jesus is telling the people that to be saved we must eat of His flesh. This caused outrage among the Jewish leaders, who failed to understand that this was God continuing to provide for all of our needs; just as He had done for their forefathers from generation to generation. There is a sense of urgency in the words of Jesus. He homes in on their disbelief and re-emphasises that this is not something which we should merely want, it is something we need.

If we want to inherit eternal life, the Body and Blood of Christ gives life to our eternal soul; in a similar way to oxygen, which allows our physical body to live. We take in the oxygen which is then carried throughout our body by the blood giving life to all of our organs. But not only that, the Body and Blood of Christ gives Spiritual Energy to our physical body too. Through receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, we become like Jesus, we have a desire to be One with the Father, we have a desire to be one with our brothers and sisters in Christ too. This Spiritual Energy is what feeds our desire to serve; it is what reminds us of the sacrifices Christ made for us, it drives us to love.

These words from Jesus also speak of the relationship Jesus wants to have with everyone of us. Jesus loves us so much that He wants to be part of us. Jesus wants an intimate relationship with us all. As St John Paul II said at an audience in October 2000 ‘with the Eucharist the intimacy becomes total; the embrace between God and man reaches its apex.’[1]   The passion shines through in the words Jesus uses in today’s Gospel, He loves us so much and wants us to love Him too.

Every time we come to Mass we are fed by the Word of God and by the Body of Christ; both inextricably linked. Even for those unable to receive the Eucharist we have the opportunity for Spiritual Communion; in some places this is still said publicly, others it has disappeared since the lockdown ended. But the words of Spiritual Communion remain available for all those unable to receive for whatever reason. We can still receive Jesus spiritually. When Jesus said at the Last Supper that we were to do ‘this’ in remembrance of me, He was telling us to come to Him. For us as Catholics, ‘this’ coming to Mass, to get as close to Jesus as we possibly can; be present, listen, sing, pray, offer up Christ to his Father along with the priest, receive Holy Communion, trying to live outside the church walls what we have done within them.[2]

This is a day when many parishes choose to celebrate First Holy Communion for their young people. The Parish of St Michael’s, Tadley and St Oswald’s, Burghfield Common are doing so this year. The parents of these children have listened to the words from the Baptism Service which says, ‘they will share the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice.’ Every parent who presents their child for First holy Communion is enabling their child to partake in this banquet.

Even though it was many years ago, I look back fondly to my own first Holy Communion. In those days, the Parish I lived in had two Catholic primary schools and a ‘Special’ school for what we now call children with special needs. That means there were around 150 of us who made our First Holy Communion together, I was still six years old. Did I fully understand what I was receiving on that day? I think I understood enough for a six-year-old. Do I fully understand what I am receiving now? It is unlikely that we will ever fully understand, but my journey of faith still drives me to explore and to try to understand more every time I receive the Eucharist.

When the priest holds the host up and says, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world, Happy are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb.’ Firstly, I am truly happy that I have been called to the Supper, but next very aware of my unworthiness as we say the prayer ‘Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.’

For me this is one of the most important prayers of the Mass. For us to receive worthily, the Body and Blood of Christ, we need to recognise that we are not worthy and to seek God’s permission to receive Him, worthily. As we remember this bread ‘is not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live for ever.’

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

CCC 790, 1003, 1322-1419: the Holy Eucharist
CCC 805, 950, 2181-2182, 2637, 2845: the Eucharist and the communion of believers
CCC 1212, 1275, 1436, 2837: the Eucharist as spiritual food^[3]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those housebound who desire the Eucharist and are unable to receive it due to too few Eucharistic ministers.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• Those who have completed and those who continue with the RCIA programme; especially those who received the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those affected by addiction.
• Those fruitlessly searching for a food that satisfies more than the Eucharist, that they realise that only Jesus can fully satisfy.
• Those in need of work.

Deacon Tony

6^th June 2026

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[1] St. John Paul II on his love for the Eucharist – EWTN Great Britain

[2] Placid Murray OSB, 100 Liturgical Homilies, [The Columba Press, Dublin, 1988] 57.

[3] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

(Exodus 34:4b-6,8-9; Daniel 3; 2 Corinthians 13:11-14; John 3:16-18)

Every time we start a prayer, we start by saying – In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do this at the start and end of Mass and we recognise the significance of the Cross before we hear the Gospel by tracing the sign of the Cross on our head, our lips and our chest. This is a request to God that He will place the Gospel in our minds, on our lips and in our heart.

These same words are the words we hear as our Christian life begins, when the celebrant says the words, ‘I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’.  The Trinity is central to our Christian life and by using the Sign of the Cross, we not only recall our Baptism but we are placing God at the centre of our life and by recalling that Our Lord is the Son of God, leads us to think of the Father, whose Son He is and of the Spirit which He promised and sent to us.[1]

The Scripture readings we have today outline the importance of the Trinity in our lives. In the reading from the Book of Exodus, we have Moses; having returned to Mount Sinai after having smashed the original stones which God had inscribed with the 10 Commandments; return and God tells him that the He is ‘the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.’ The LORD also demonstrates this mercy and faithfulness by inscribing fresh stones which He had ordered Moses to cut; remembering that Moses had smashed the stones because of the Jewish people’s sinfulness.

In the place of the psalm today we use a small selection from the Book of Daniel allowing us to praise God in the same way that Daniel did when he was faced with imminent death for not bowing down to false gods. Pope Benedict XVI said about today’s Solemnity ‘the liturgy invites us to praise God not merely for the wonders he has worked, but for who he is; for the beauty and goodness of his being from which his action stems.’[2] Using the reading from Daniel allows us to praise and exalt God for the many benefits and gifts He bestows upon us; as his beloved children.

In the second reading from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we are encouraged to remember that we are his children and that everyone else who professes Jesus to be the Son of God is our brother or sister. For this reason, he says we have to live in harmony, support one another and love one another.

When I think about this in my life, I know that I struggle. A very recent example of this, was earlier this week when I let my frustrations get the better of me because an activity that Pam and I were doing together, wasn’t done the way I wanted it to be done. I wonder why it had to be done my way? Did I not trust that someone else could have a different, maybe even better way of doing this? Why do I and perhaps we, make things like this so important, that it affects the harmony we should be enjoying as brothers and sisters in Christ? What does my anger tell me about myself? Why do I put my pride first, rather than be life giving to the people I love?[3]

In St John’s Gospel we hear that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that we, who believe, would not perish. Our belief in God, His Son and the Holy Spirit call on us to set aside our own needs; and look out for the needs of those around us. The beauty of this is that if we surround ourselves with other people of faith, then they will also be looking after our needs.

I started this reflection by saying that our Christian life begins by us hearing the words of our Baptism. If we are truly blessed, our life may end by hearing the words from a prayer attributed to St John Henry Newman which is a prayer for the dying –

          Go forth upon the journey, Christian soul!

          Go forth from this world! Go in the name of God

          The Omnipotent Father, who created thee!

          Go, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord,

          Son of the Living God, who bled for thee!

          Go in the Name of the Holy Spirit, who

          hath been poured out on thee!

          …Go on thy course;

          And may thy place today be found in peace,

          And may thy dwelling be the Holy Mount

          of Sion; – through the Name of Christ our Lord.

          [Newman, ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ Verses on Various Occasions, 326][4]

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

CCC 202, 232-260, 684, 732: the mystery of the Trinity
CCC 249, 813, 950, 1077-1109, 2845: the Trinity in the Church and her liturgy
CCC 2655, 2664-2672: the Trinity and prayer
CCC 2205: the family as an image of the Trinity^[5]

Please accompany in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• Those who have completed and those who continue with the RCIA programme; especially those who received the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those affected by addiction.
• Those in need of work.

Deacon Tony

30^th May 2026

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[1] Placid Murray OSB, 100 Liturgical Homilies, [Columba Press, Dublin, 1988] 53-55.

[2] Pope Benedict XVI, The CTS New Sunday Missal, People’s Edition, [Catholic Truth Society, London 2024] 818.

[3] Mark & Liz Dutton, I Am With You, Year A, Scripture Reflections for Couples, [TWO IN ONE FLESH, Caterham, 2013] 140-141.

[4] Quoted by Placid Murray OSB, 100 Liturgical Homilies, [Columba Press, Dublin, 1988] 54.

[5] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments