Category: Deacon Tony reflects

(Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Psalm 69; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37)

This is probably one of the best-known parables, one which we with 21^st century knowledge view as one of the key aspects of Christian teaching, but one which would no doubt have shocked those who heard the exchange between the learned lawyer and the [as far as the Scribes were concerned] layman Jesus. The lawyer is appearing to be polite in calling Jesus, ‘Teacher’, but no doubt there would have been some sarcasm in his tone. The lawyer would also have been delighted to be given the chance to demonstrate his knowledge when Jesus asked him to answer his own question. He had good ‘head knowledge’ of the law, but Jesus wants more than that. Jesus wants us to live out the law from our heart and not adapt the laws to suit our circumstances.

The lawyer, emboldened by Jesus’ reaction to his initial answer, tries to test Jesus further –‘who is my neighbour?’ A simple enough question on the face of it, but the lawyers or scribes had been discussing this very question over a long period of time. They applied limits upon who they would view as their neighbour, and these limits varied between the various factions.

The parable Jesus taught them showed up their hypocrisy. The priest and the Levite ignored the victim not because they were inhumane or callous, but because they would have made themselves ritually unclean to be able to fulfil their responsibilities in the temple which dealt with sacrificial victims. They left a man for dead; so that they could sacrifice animals on behalf of the community to atone for their sins or as thanksgiving sacrifices. The person who did attend to the needs of the victim, was someone who the lawyers and scribes would all have agreed was not to be considered as a neighbour. Samaritans had nothing to do with the Jews, and the Jews had a pretty low opinion of them. However, the Samaritan did everything he possibly could, going above and beyond what would normally be expected to assist the stranger in need. The fact that Jesus was giving the Jews a Samaritan as a role model must have astounded his listeners.

Jesus simply asks the lawyer, which of the three travellers proved to be a good neighbour to the victim? The lawyer was compelled to answer that it was the one who showed him mercy [he couldn’t even say the word Samaritan]. Jesus simply said that we were to do likewise.

How do you measure up to the Good Samaritan?

Have you taken advantage of all of the opportunities God has sent your way in the last week, or the last month?

Do we see those in need as Jesus? Remembering what Jesus said about separating the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46, if you did this to the least of my brothers then you did it to me.

When I look at this parable, I am forced to examine my own behaviours when I encounter people in need. Part of my role is visiting people who are sick whether they are at home, in a Care facility or in hospital. I often find myself with very long lists, which inevitably means I can be rushing at times. I need to look at my behaviour and ensure that I am meeting the needs of those I visit and not my own needs. It isn’t their fault that I have a lot of people to visit, I need to try harder to make sure they don’t feel I am rushing them and that I give them all of the time they need. I was reminded of this earlier this week whilst reading the biography of Father Mychal Judge, the Fire Brigade Chaplain who died at the Twin Towers on 9-11. He seemed to have time for everyone, and he was a great listener, something which I also need to get better at. In addition to his work with the Fire Department in New York he ministered to people suffering from HIV when they were literally treated like lepers. He once said “If you descend into somebody else’s private hell and stand there with them, it ceases to be hell.”[1] Showing compassion to others is like that, we let the other person know they are not alone, that we care. We can’t always fix whatever the problem is, but knowing they don’t have to face it alone is how we can demonstrate our love for God and for our neighbour.

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

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
• Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.
• All the clergy in our diocese who have agreed to take up new responsibilities from September onwards and those still discerning.
• For the families due to begin the Baptism preparations sessions this weekend.
• For the ongoing success of the Alpha programme
• For those due to be ordained to the priesthood and permanent diaconate in the coming weeks

Deacon Tony

11^th July 2025.

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[1] Michael Daly, The Book of Mychal, [St Martin’s Press, New York, 2008] 90.

Last Monday evening, I attended a Parish meeting at St Oswald’s in Burghfield Common along with other members of the Pastoral Area Senior Leadership Team. We were there to share Fr John’s vision for the Pastoral Area and the Mission Plan as we start the process of merging the Pastoral Area into a single Parish in the years ahead. The meeting was fairly well attended and the Parishioners from St Michael’s in Tadley and St Oswald’s in Burghfield Common raised some very good questions and some points which will need to be carefully considered going forward. As a Senior Leadership Team*, we were energised by the response from those who attended the meeting and discussed it at length during our weekly Leadership meeting on Wednesday.

The energy we felt may be similar to the joy the disciples shared on their return from their mission. Jesus had sent them out with strict instructions; they were to carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals and ignore other travellers. They were sent out as sheep among wolves and were totally dependent on providence. They must have set out with some trepidation but step out they did; in faith. The message they were sharing was one of peace. They were tasked with healing the sick and announcing the kingdom of God to those they met. Through our Baptism we are all called to evangelise, we are called to share Christ’s peace and to take the essence of Christ out into the world.

Are you a messenger of peace?

Dare I ask if you are the disruptor of peace?

When did you last enjoy a real deep peace? How did it feel?

I wonder if it felt anything like how the disciples felt.

The result for the disciples was that they were filled with joy at how the people reacted to the message and the healings they were able to facilitate in Christ’s name.

The local mission plan is a way of our Pastoral Area to implement the bishop’s 10-year plan ‘You will be my witnesses’.[1] There are three main focuses: the first is that we are to be a Christ centred Church; everything we do has to have Christ at the centre, this includes our liturgy, which should be inspiring, uplifting and devotional; there has to be ongoing formation for every Church member and evangelisation has to be led at local levels; local people know locals needs and have more encounters within the Community to evangelise in their everyday lives.

The second part of the strategy is focussed on Mission; we all have a duty to take Jesus beyond the walls of the Church. This doesn’t mean studying the Bible and knowing chapter and verse, although knowledge of Scripture is important, taking Jesus out into the world is about love, how do we show love to our neighbour? Using the words from today’s Gospel – how have I taken Christ’s peace out into the Community this week? Maybe for a moment, you can ask yourself the same question.

The third part of the strategy is perhaps the one which has attracted the most attention; it is about careful stewardship of our resources. Many people have honed in on this because, quite rightly, it focuses in on the blindingly obvious; our priests are getting older, there are not as many men in formation as there are priests due to retire in the next few years, so there will have to be some changes to the way our parishes are run. There will need to be more collaborative ministry with clergy and laity. Some priests will be covering more than one church. The details of all of these changes in structure will be mostly decided at a local level, where possible.

In the first reading Isaiah is urging those exiled in Babylon to continue to trust in the Lord. He paints a picture of God caring for each of us in the same way as a loving mother who knows what is best for her children; again, they are asked to trust in God’s providence. Isaiah tells them that God will extend peace to them and gives them hope that they will return to Jerusalem. God provides.

In the second reading we hear St Paul stating the only thing he will boast of is his relationship with Jesus. This allows him to have peace of mind and he says that all who walk with Jesus will have peace and mercy.

Do we accept that if we walk with Jesus that we will experience His peace and His mercy?

When I started to prepare this reflection towards the end of the week, I was highlighting that the people of St Michael’s and St Oswald’s Parish have a lot on their minds at the moment; amongst other things there were concerns about whether the bishop would have been able to appoint a new priest when Fr Patrick retires. I was delighted to hear on Friday that the bishop has found a priest for the area and I look forward to working with him to serve the needs of the Parish and work with the Pastoral area to help us all to become Missionary disciples.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 541-546: the Kingdom of God is at hand
CCC 787, 858-859: the Apostles, united to the mission of Christ
CCC 2122: “the labourer deserves his food”
CCC 2816-2821: “Your kingdom come”
CCC 555, 1816, 2015: the Cross as the way to follow Christ

*The Senior Leadership Team have been chosen by Fr John to support him to implement the Pastoral Area Plan. As Fr John said at the meeting on Monday, its membership is not cast in stone, but is based on the model used by Christ, of an inner circle. While Christ had the disciples and the apostles, he chose a few members of the apostles to be closer to him. I was surprised to be asked to be part of this, but I’m relishing the challenge. There is plenty of debate amongst the group and we are developing a deep respect for one another as we try to support Fr John with his mission.

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
• Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.
• All the clergy in our diocese who have agreed to take up new responsibilities from September onwards and those still discerning.

Deacon Tony

5^th July 2025.

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[1] You Will be My Witnesses – Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth

(Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 33; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

With the election of our new Pope, Pope Leo still freshly in our minds the words in today’s Gospel have a fresh significance. Pope Leo has been chosen by the Conclave, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as the successor of Peter. The responsibility of the Office he now holds is summed up in the words we hear Jesus speak today “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” When Simon [Peter] heard those words spoken by Christ, the infant Church had maybe a few hundred followers by the most optimistic of guesses; today there are more than 1.4 billion Catholics and around another 1.2 billion other Christians in the world. The Christian population is expected to reach 3.3 billion in the next 25 years. [1]

In this digital age, the recent conclave seemed to be everywhere; on the news and social media. One of the many learning points for me was the name of the anti-chamber where the newly elected Pope changes from his red cardinal clothing to the white worn by the Holy Father. This is known as the room of tears.[2] This is a room where the newly elected have started to realise the enormity of what they have just given their consent to. For example, in 1878 Pope Leo XIII is reported to have wept because at the age of 67 he thought he was too old for the job. (He lived to be the second-oldest pope and died at the age of 93).[3]

This solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul bringing the two great apostles together on the same day is a great day for those of us who struggle with our faith. St Peter the ‘rock on which the Church was built’ denied Jesus three times at a time when most observers would think he needed to provide support. St Paul’s first mention in the Gospel was under the name of Saul, where he, as a persecutor of the Church, approved of the stoning of St Stephen [one of the first deacons]. But as we know from Scriptures, neither of these acts brought condemnation from Jesus. After the Resurrection Jesus sought out Peter on the shore and over breakfast allowed Peter to revoke his denials and profess his love for Christ three times.  St Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was called to turn his zeal for capturing Christians for punishment into a zeal for capturing souls for Jesus.

These two apostles gave their lives for Jesus; they dedicated their life to spreading the Good News and gave up their souls as martyrs of the early Church. The growth of the Church from a few members into billions started with the work of these men and their fellow apostles under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Church continues to have people give up their lives for Jesus. The tragic events in Damascus last week where at least 25 Christians were martyred[4] and in the previous week in Nigeria where at least 218 Christians were martyred[5] demonstrates that Church members are still being persecuted today; because they love and follow Jesus.

The friends and families of those left behind have also had to endure their own room of tears. Whilst they weep locally, the world outside their immediate vicinity seems to go on with barely a mention on the main broadcasts of mainstream media or perhaps a byline in the inner pages deep within the published news media. Christian lives do not seem to matter to those who bring us the news; is it any wonder that Christian voices are often ignored when major issues like abortion or assisted suicide are debated by legislators with laws being passed in the past few weeks which herald a new age in our country under a culture of death. These new laws allow the slaughter of innocent babies right up to birth and will irrevocably change the relationship between doctors and patients when people are diagnosed with life limiting conditions and the doctors, instead of looking at treatments to preserve quality of life or to manage pain, will be asked to start conversations with their patients; asking them about ending their life. Sadly, the MPs which represent the majority of our Pastoral Area voted in favour of both of these laws; which is shameful.

The feeling of being ignored can lead us to either give up or to knuckle down and work harder to get our message across. The two great apostles, Peter and Paul did not let imprisonment, shipwrecks, violence or the loss of colleagues deter them. They worked for the Lord until their last breath. Every one of us, who have been baptised, have been baptised as priest prophet and king; it is our Baptismal duty to share the Good News, even if those who we are speaking to appear to be deaf to our voice.

Are you prepared to do this, with the help of the Holy Spirit?

[The further reading this week has a passage which allows every Christian to contemplate their own Room of tears, you may find it useful].

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

The Room of Tears: Where the Holy Spirit Speaks in Silence – Catholicus.eu English

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
• Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.
• Sophia and Freya who will be baptised this weekend in St Bede’s.

Deacon Tony

26^th June 2025.

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[1] Global Christian Population Projected to Reach 3.3 Billion by 2050 – Good Faith Media

[2] The Room of Tears: Where the Holy Spirit Speaks in Silence – Catholicus.eu English

[3] The Room of Tears: Where new popes go right after their election – EWTN Great Britain

[4] Syria: Suicide bombing at Damascus church kills 25 – BBC News

[5] Attack on Nigerian Christians prompts urgent global response – Mission Network News

(Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11b-17)

It will come as little surprise to those who know me well, that many of the memories I have involve food. I have some great memories of my Grandparents, my parents and of growing up, and the prominent ones involve me being fed. I am sure I am not the only one this applies to. Jesus, being true God and true man understood our human nature. We are people who like to live in communities, most of us would struggle if we had no other human contact. Jesus also recognised the importance of eating and drinking together and many of the landmark events in our family lives are marked by getting together to share a meal and fellowship.

This is also true of our Church family, we gather round the table of the Lord to do the same thing. In our first reading the eternal priest Melchizedek brought out bread and wine and bestowed a blessing on Abram; who became Abraham; our Father in faith. Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, teaching us that we have to provide for our Church.

St Paul shares with the people of Corinth the news that after Jesus had been betrayed, He took bread and wine, blessed it gave thanks to God and encouraged us to eat and drink this bread as His Body and the wine as His Blood. Jesus taught his disciples to do this “as often as you drink, in remembrance of me.”  To quote a dear priest who has now gone to the Lord [Fr Frank O’Sullivan] “The Eucharist is not just a memorial. Jesus becomes present, as the head of the Church family, at our family meal, the Eucharist.”[1]Jesus, Son of God, became man so that when we receive His Body in the form of bread, so that we as humans can become like God. The prayer offered quietly when the drop of water is being added to the wine at the Offertory in Mass states “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” By sharing in the Eucharist we become like God; we are receiving a share in His divinity.

When Jesus encouraged the disciples to feed the people themselves, Jesus was not only preparing them for a miracle, but He was also preparing them for a life of service. Men look to what they know and understand, the disciples knew they only had a small amount of food; unlikely to be sufficient to feed the disciples and Jesus, never mind the multitude before them. Until that time, they did not know the full extent of Jesus’ powers. Jesus could make what is small into large amounts. Those called to serve, are called to make themselves small in the eyes of men and will be viewed as giants in the eyes of God.

Jesus is our Servant King. He gave and continues to give His all, so that we who follow Him, will continue to be satisfied. Only Jesus can satisfy us. All other sources of satisfaction are time limited and full of empty promises. Jesus gives eternal satisfaction; in return we are asked to give ourselves to Jesus and to serve Him by loving God and our neighbour.

Last Thursday I went into Bishop Challoner School with my wife to support their Vocations Day. The young people were given a short presentation by people from various vocations; there was a priest, two religious sisters, a religious brother, a seminarian and my wife and I all talking about our vocations. As we talked to the classes they were encouraged to ask us questions and also to think about what purpose God has for their lives and what they are called to do as a result.

This calling is not restricted to young people. God calls everyone of us to a distinct purpose. As St John Henry-Newman said “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work.” [2]

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ this Sunday, perhaps we can ask God to help us to see the work He has committed to us when we receive the Eucharist this Sunday. Through this Sacred Mystery we are the Body of Christ, through this mystery may we take Christ out to others; who will never get to know Christ unless we help them through our words and deeds.

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

St John Henry Newman – John Henry Newman

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
• Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.
• All the couples; including my wife and I; who are celebrating Significant Wedding Anniversaries at a Mass at St Bede’s this Saturday.
• Eloise, Daniella, Leonardo and Arthur who will be baptised this weekend in St Bede’s and Leon who will be baptised at St Michael’s this weekend.

Deacon Tony

20^th June 2025.

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[1] Fr Frank O’Sullivan, I am with you Vol 3, [Two in One Flesh, Caterham, 2012]143.

[2] St John Henry Newman – John Henry Newman

(Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15)

Have you ever wondered how often you have made the sign of the cross? Think about it for a moment, how many times a day do we bless ourselves? Every time we start and finish prayers, at the beginning and end of every Mass, some people bless themselves when they pass a Church, we bless ourselves with Holy Water when we enter and leave a church, others bless themselves when they see an ambulance and maybe offer a silent prayer. Every time we bless ourselves, we are praying and stating that what we are either about to do or what we have just done, is done in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today is a day which celebrates the three persons in the One God. Today is a crucial component in our Christian Faith.

For me, this is such a part of my life that there is a risk that sometimes I say and make the Sign of the Cross without fully appreciating the meaning of what I am saying and doing.

When we are baptised, we are baptised in the name of the Trinity. When Jesus commissioned the Disciples, He instructed them to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” [Mat 28:19]. This commission has been passed down through Apostolic succession for 2000 years and is still in effect today. Although we bear the name of Christ; the Son; in our title as Christians, we are Baptised in the name of all three persons of God. The use of the Sign of the Cross goes back to the earliest days of Christianity; in the Roman times slaves were branded by the mark of their owners on their foreheads. In our baptism the celebrant traces the Sign of the Cross on our forehead, turning what was a shameful execution into a sign to be proud of, we proudly profess our faith as Christians by using the Sign of the Cross.

The readings today give a brief insight into all three parts of The Holy Trinity. In the first reading we hear how before anything was created God was there and how God delighted in what and who He created. The words ‘delight’ and ‘rejoicing’ are present; a very positive sense of enjoyment on God’s part in the whole process of creation and in the ongoing sustainment of creation.^[1]

Many people struggle to understand the concept of the Trinity; One God with three distinct parts; in today’s Gospel Jesus tells us not to worry about the things we cannot understand, He will send the Spirit of truth to lead us to the ‘complete truth’. This should give us great hope; Jesus is promising us that He will send His Spirit to lead us back to Him.

The idea of hope which is evident in John’s Gospel is fully supported by the passage from St Paul in his address to the Romans. He tells us that through suffering, endurance and character our hope is real because God has made it so. This stems from the love of God which has filled our hearts through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. By knowing God, fearing Him and loving Him; we have proof that the Holy Spirit has already entered into our mind and heart; this confirms that our hope is real.

Today’s readings invite us not to struggle with complex theological concepts, but rather to contemplate the truth of God actively present and ‘delighting to be with the sons of men’; this is you and me.

The late Pope, Pope Francis challenged us on Holy Trinity Sunday in 2022 to “think of the names of the divine Persons, which we pronounce every time we make the sign of the cross: each name contains the presence of the other. The Father, for example, would not be such without the Son; likewise, the Son cannot be considered alone, but always as the Son of the Father. And the Holy Spirit, in turn, is the Spirit of the Father and the Son. In short, the Trinity teaches us that one can never be without the other. We are not islands; we are in the world to live in God’s image: open, in need of others and in need of helping others. And so, let us ask ourselves this last question: in everyday life, am I too a reflection of the Trinity? The sign of the cross I make every day — the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit — is that sign of the cross we make every day a gesture for its own sake, or does it inspire my way of speaking, of encountering, of responding, of judging, of forgiving?”[2]

I will do my best to think upon this when I make the Sign of the Cross going forward.

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

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
• The people killed in the aeroplane crash in India, their relatives and all of the emergency workers who responded to this tragedy.
• Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.

Deacon Tony

13^th June 2025.

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Inspired by Robert Draper, Breaking the Word Pastoral Review Vol 18 Issue 2, (The Tablet Publishing Company Ltd, Twickenham,2022)82-3.

[2] Angelus, 12 June 2022 | Francis

(Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 103; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15-16,23-26)

I think I have lost count of the number of times my wife has asked me “Did you pray about it?” To add to my frustration; because she usually asks when I have had an issue with something or I’m worried about something, my answer is often, ‘No’. I have taken part in online courses reminding us to pray and reminding us that we can’t always do things under our own power; and that we need to ask for God’s help.

In fact, if we listen to today’s second reading from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, we hear that we ‘have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba! Father!’’ As children of God, we are expected to stay in close communion with the Father; by loving the Son and allowing the Spirit to guide us.

We also hear Jesus in the Gospel, telling us that if we love Him then we will keep his commandments and that He will send the Holy Spirit to teach us and to help us to remember what He has shared with His disciples.

How often do you call on the Holy Spirit to help us?

How often do you try to do things under our own power?

I remember just a few short years ago, on my ordination day, one of the priests saying to me to call on the Holy Spirit during the service to help calm my nerves. I seemed to spend much of the first part of the Mass saying over and over again, ‘Come Holy Spirit!’. For months afterwards I experienced a period of calm; the likes of which I had never experienced before or since. Things which would normally stress me or get me angry just didn’t touch me. That day I know I was blessed with special grace from the Holy Spirit.

In our Scripture readings today, we hear how the Holy Spirit first came on the apostles and those gathered with them in the Upper Room. The Spirit didn’t come gently that day, He came with so much power that He drew all those visiting the City to their vicinity. The apostles were transformed by the Holy Spirit from fearful men hiding together in the upper room into men filled with evangelical zeal. The Spirit allowed the apostles to obey Jesus and go out to the whole world and share the Good News.

This is not something reserved for apostles, popes, bishops, priests or deacons. This is something which every Christian is called to do. Last week Pope Leo addressed a seminar and said that Christian families are called to be “missionaries of the Gospel to new generations”. He added that “it is the responsibility of the Church – bishops and the laity – to reach out to families who are spiritually distant from us and become ‘fishers of families’, fishers of couples, young people, children, women and men of all ages and circumstances, so that they may encounter the one Saviour”. He added that “through baptism each one of us has been made a priest, king and prophet for our brothers and sister and a living stone [1Pt 2:4] for the building up of God’s house.” As a Christian Community we need to engage with God to discern what He needs us to do in our community. Just like St Peter listened to Jesus when He was instructed to cast his net in a specific place, we need to listen and cast our net outside of the Church building; where the Spirit leads us; and become the type of fisher which Pope Leo is reminding us we need to be.

Pope Leo also asked us “all to join in the work of the Church in seeking out those families who no longer come to us, in learning how to walk with them and to help them embrace the faith and become in turn ‘fishers’ of other families.” He added that “spreading the ‘gospel of the family’ is a mission that can only be sustained by prayer and an encounter with Christ. Consequently, if we want to help families experience joyful paths of communion and be seeds of faith for one another, we must first cultivate and renew our own identity as believers.” He then encouraged us to seek the guidance of the “Holy Spirit in discerning criteria and methods that support and promote the Church’s efforts to minister to families and to let us help families to listen courageously to Christ’s words of encouragement.”

So, the next time Pam asks me if I’ve prayed about something, my sincere intention is to be able to say that I have and to be able to tell her in what ways he has supported me to do whatever it is I’ve had to do. Of course, this isn’t just for me, it’s for you too, so over to you to call on the Holy Spirit yourself more often, and if you don’t normally do this, I strongly encourage you to give it a go; you’ll be amazed what happens when you become more conscious of how He works in our lives. It’s as easy as it sounds…’Come Holy Spirit’

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Solemnity of Pentecost

CCC 696, 726, 731-732, 737-741, 830, 1076, 1287, 2623: Pentecost
CCC 599, 597,674, 715: apostolic witness on Pentecost
CCC 1152, 1226, 1302, 1556: the mystery of Pentecost continues in the Church
CCC 767, 775, 798, 796, 813, 1097, 1108-1109: the Church, communion in the Spirit

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
• Fr Patrick in Tadley as he celebrates his 75^th birthday this week.
• Those starting the Alpha course this week.

Deacon Tony

5^th June 2025.

As a deacon I am very aware of the readings which mention St Stephen; one of the first deacons and the patron saint of deacons. In today’s first reading we hear again of how he was martyred and can see parallels with Jesus’ crucifixion. How he asked God to forgive his persecutors, how strong his faith was.  I find myself asking if I could forgive under those circumstances or if I could endure the trial he did.  The answer for me and no doubt for many of you, is that we do not know until we are put into that position.

What is it that gives martyrs that resolve and where can we receive it?  One answer is in Holy Scriptures; and one of the great sources has been accompanying us on our journey these past few weeks during Eastertide. The book of Revelations or the Apocalypse as it is otherwise known, gives us an insight of what is to come in the next life. St John was given visions to share with the world, and he uses provocative language; some of it beautiful some of it terrifying.  The book is filled with promise as we hear that God will protect and save all those who trust in Him.  It is this promise that gives true believers like St Stephen the courage to stand up to their persecutors in full recognition that we are more than just our earthly bodies.

In the Gospel this week we hear Jesus pray for his disciples and those who will follow them. This includes us. Jesus prays for all of his followers to be one. This is something which really concerned Jesus because during this prayer He asks for this oneness four times. Some scholars nowadays will say this is about Christian Unity, and I think there is an element in there where the churches must come together; something which we must all pray for.  But this is about far more than that. We as Christians need to be one with each other, that includes within families, within Parishes, within Dioceses, within Countries. Two weeks ago, during the same prayer we heard Jesus tell us that the love we have for one another will allow everyone to know that we are his disciples.  How is that working for us at the moment?

Do others see us as a loving community? Do we look out for one another? Do we see ourselves as a loving community?  Does the love we have for one another reflect the love Christ has for the Father? In His prayer, Jesus says that He wants those the Father has given Him to be where He is, so that we can always see His glory. Are we helping each other as we accompany one another towards that goal? Do we always speak lovingly of our brothers and sisters? Do we listen to gossip or when we hear others start to share things do we encourage them to speak well of people? Or worse still do we start gossip? Do we criticise our brothers and sisters or do we give them the benefit of the doubt? Do we encourage those amongst us who are struggling, do we join in the criticism or let them go on struggling?

We are called to be one. One body; the Body of Christ. If we are not one, then the enemy is winning. By being one, the world will see that we are His disciples. By living as disciples then others will recognise that Jesus is Lord and that He was sent by the Father.

Next Sunday we will be celebrating Pentecost. Please join me in asking God, that this Pentecost will bring the Peace of Christ to the whole world.  That people throughout the world will recognise that we are all part of the same one human race.  That by living in peace, we can work together to tackle the challenges of climate change, poverty and inequality.

This is the prayer of Jesus, this is His call that we are all one, as He is one with The Father.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

CCC 521: through Christ we live in communion with Father
CCC 787-790, 795, 1044-1047: the Church is communion with and in Christ

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The children making their First Holy Communion at St Oswald’s this week and all the other children who have celebrated the Eucharist for the first time recently. May they all have such a love of Christ that they will desire to receive Him frequently.
• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• All the pupils and staff of our schools as they return after the half-term break, we also remember those who are in the throws of exams at our schools, colleges and universities.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.

Deacon Tony

30^th May 2025.

[Acts 15:1-2,22-29; Psalm 66; Revelation 21:10-14,22-23; John 14:23-29]

When I take Holy Communion to people who are housebound or sick, I have a choice of Gospel reading to use from the little prayer book I use. When I go into where the person is I often have a chat with them prior to the Communion service. It is during this chat that I am listening to determine which Gospel reading to use. Recently the most common reading I have been using is from John 14:27 “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” This is part of our Gospel reading today.

Often the people who are housebound or sick, have very few visitors, they see the news on TV or hear it on the radio, and it can trouble them. Having few visitors means that they have more time to think about what they are hearing and seeing, and they are given the gift of seeing how serious some of the situations in the world actually are. Those of us who are rushing around in our own busyness do not have that opportunity, which means some of the news items which are particularly serious pass us by; as we believe it doesn’t affect us.

We have been hearing about the troubles in the Middle East for decades and the conflict in Ukraine for more than 3 years now, and these news stories, whilst we accept them as serious issues, can almost appear to be on a continuous loop where we hear of 100 people killed overnight or so many drones attacking on another night. We hear of these atrocities so often they are no longer shocking, as we are in danger of becoming desensitised to them. Meanwhile, we get on with our busyness. These conflicts are far away, we may think that they do not affect us, our daily life can continue almost as if we live in a different world.

In today’s Gospel we also hear Jesus give three important messages: the first is that if we love Him, we will keep his word. The second is that when He is no longer with us, He will send the Holy Spirit to teach us and remind us of what He taught us and the third thing was that He would give us His peace; adding that His peace was not the type of peace the world gives. I would like to suggest that in our country, we have the type of peace the world gives. Most of us live in a world free of violence, however, that is not true for everyone. Some people may see freedom from violence as peace, but it is much more than that too. The peace Jesus gives us is peace in our hearts and in our minds, it is a taste of what heaven will be like, because it is only when we reach the promised land that we will reach eternal peace where nothing or no-one can cause us any sort of trouble or anxiety again. The peace that Jesus gives isn’t just about peace for us, but it is knowing that all of our brothers and sisters are living in peace too. In offering us this gift of peace, Jesus is fulfilling yet another prophecy from the prophet Isaiah, who said in chapter 26 verse 12 ‘O LORD you will ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us.’

When we offer each other the sign of peace at Mass, today, let us remind ourselves that, it is this peace, the Peace of Christ, we are sharing. We are saying to those we greet, in a very conscious way, that we want their hearts to be filled with Christ’s love so that their hearts are no longer troubled and that they will have nothing to be afraid of.

These words spoken at a time when Jesus must have been anxious, are a comfort to all who suffer.  Jesus knew that He was about to be taken and brutally killed, and yet He was telling the apostles ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.’ Jesus continued to teach right up until His dying breath and just in case we forget anything; He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us remember and to continue teaching us.

We heard in the 1^st reading from the Acts of the Apostles, that there was great debate around certain practices from the Hebrew Faith and whether they should be continued in the early Christian Church.  The decision taken by the early leaders of the Church, following a period of discernment and prayer to the Holy Spirit and conveyed to the Christians in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, confirmed that the Christian Church still had its roots in the Hebrew Faith; but that through the New Covenant some of the traditional customs and practices were no longer necessary for people to be saved.  Through the Paschal mystery the roots of the faith remain, but now it would be taking a different direction.  Now all mankind can be saved; not just the Jews, now everyone could become part of the Chosen people.

Note that these decisions were not taken by the men alone; they invoked the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit promised by Jesus as our Advocate to the Father.  The account given in the First Reading is one of the earliest examples of this Advocacy in action.  The apostles trusted completely what Jesus had told them throughout his Ministry and because they trusted Him and loved Him they were able to build His Church.

We also hear in the 2^nd reading a continuation of the description of the New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ begun in last week’s reading. It is a vast place, bejewelled with precious stones, it is a place with no need for a temple, nor sunlight nor the light of the moon because it is basking in the glory of God the eternal goal for the whole of creation to return to the Creator. This is the place where true and lasting peace can be found, this is the place where love dwells and where we all hope to see God face to face.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Sixth Sunday of Easter

CCC 2746-2751: Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper
CCC 243, 388, 692, 729, 1433, 1848: the Holy Spirit as Advocate/Consoler
CCC 1965-1974: the New Law fulfills the Old
CCC 865, 869, 1045, 1090, 1198, 2016: the heavenly Jerusalem

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• Lemachi, who will be baptised at St Bede’s this weekend.
• The safety of all of those on a half-term break from our schools

Deacon Tony, 24^th May 2025

In the 2001 film ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, based on the novel by Louis de Bernières, the actor John Hurt delivers a memorable monologue to his daughter who is caught between her love for a local partisan and an Italian soldier who is occupying her homeland during World War 2. This monologue describes love, and when I first heard it, I was really struck by it, so I would like to share it with you.

“Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Because this is what love is.

Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.”[1]

This is a reading which is often used at secular weddings, to describe the love a couple have for each other. But there are elements which we, as Christians need to be aware of. The first thing is that love is not a feeling; it is a decision. We decide when and whether to love those in front of us. Whether it is in our family relationships or in the people we meet. We constantly make decisions as to how we demonstrate our love. The second element is that those who truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground. In the Gospel today, Jesus tells us that ‘all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’. We form the Body of Christ. Using the analogy from the monologue, if we truly love, then our roots grow together and we are no longer several different individuals, but we become one, which is the Body of Christ.

This ‘new commandment’ given to us by Jesus is supported by the other scripture readings we have today. Notably in the psalm used we hear ‘The Lord is kind and full of compassion… abounding in mercy….good to all….compassionate to all his creatures.’ The psalm continues ‘your works shall thank you, O LORD, they shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your mighty deeds.’ Remembering that Jesus said people will know His followers by their love, the psalm continues ‘ to make known your might to the whole human race, and the glorious splendour of your reign.’

Jesus is telling us that our faith is not a theoretical faith, we are called to love, in other words to make the decision to love others. Our Church is not confined by the walls of any building. We have to go beyond the walls, we are called to search for the lost and the lonely, we are all called to be missionary. In his first public remarks as pope, His Holiness Leo XIV offered one piece of his vision for the Church: “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges (and) dialogue, always open to receive (people), like this square, with open arms – everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.”[2] In 2023, on his transfer from Peru to Rome he said “I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.”

Pope Leo is telling us that to be a Christian is to be a Missionary and that to be a Missionary we do not have to travel very far. There are poor and lonely people probably sitting amongst us in our congregation today and there are people in need in our communities; we are all called to help them.

Jesus tells us today, ‘people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ So how do we measure up in our Pastoral Area in 2025?

In our neighbourhood and across the Pastoral Area, would they recognise us as followers of Jesus by our love? How do we as the Catholic Community in this Pastoral Area demonstrate our love for one another and our neighbour? We all need to ask ourselves, how do I as an individual express my love for other people?

We all know that when things are good, showing our love for others can be quite easy…it’s in those difficult and challenging times when the decision to love comes into its own. I experienced a real challenge in the middle of writing this. I had already struggled to return some items to a well-known DIY shop; only to be told that I needed to go through a 3^rd party to agree the return; on speaking with them, I experienced real frustration, not only as a result of waiting 25 minutes to get through to them on the phone, but that the advice they gave me seemed to be a waste of time. When the lady on the phone asked me if there was anything else she could help me with, I replied that she hadn’t helped me at all, and I put the phone down. I then found myself feeling really disappointed at myself and wondering how I could treat another human being in this way. Had it not been for the length of time it took me to get through to her in the first place, I would have called back again and apologised. I know that I need to stop allowing my emotions get the better of me and try to understand things from the other person’s perspective too. Only then will I be able to demonstrate to myself that I am loving as Jesus is loving.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Fifth Sunday of Easter

CCC 2746-2751: Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper
CCC 459, 1823, 2074, 2196, 2822, 2842: “as I have loved you”
CCC 756, 865, 1042-1050, 2016, 2817: a new heavens and a new earth

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• The 11 families completing the Baptism Preparation sessions this Sunday at St Bede’s.
• The children who made their First Holy Communion at St Bede’s this weekend and all those preparing for their First Holy Communion in the Pastoral Area in the next few weeks.

Deacon Tony, 16^th May 2025

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[1] Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, [Vintage Books, 1998]

[2] Quotes on Mission from Pope Leo XIV | Congregation of Holy Cross

[Acts 13:14,43-52; Psalm 99; Revelation 7:9,14-17; John 10:27-30]

This has been a momentous week for the Church. A new Shepherd has been chosen to take up the Commission given to Peter by Jesus Christ. As we waited with bated breath, my wife and I both shrieked in delight as we heard the name of the new Pontiff. Earlier this year, whilst we were in Rome for the Jubilee of Deacons, we were hosted by Cardinal Prevost for a catechesis and sharing of experiences on the “Concrete signs of hope in the ministry of deacons.” He came across as a very capable man, a man without airs and graces. He was prepared to make himself vulnerable by holding a question-and-answer session with all present. We also had a brief chat with him afterwards. From the brief time we spent with him we are filled with hope, that he is the right man to shepherd the Church going forward.

The shepherd-sheep relationship symbolizes trust, dependence, and the need for guidance. Sheep are known for their vulnerability and tendency to stray; necessitating a shepherd’s constant care. This dynamic reflects the spiritual reality of humanity’s need for divine guidance and protection.[1] The Gospel this week is a fitting one to follow on from last week’s when Jesus asked Peter to ‘feed my lambs, look after my sheep and to feed my sheep’ Today we hear Jesus state that His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him. Leo XIV is the successor of Peter, and he now has to take up this commission; to tend the flock given to him by God.

This Sunday we are encouraged to pray for vocations, especially vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate and the religious life. My ministry, whilst challenging at times gives me the opportunity to serve people. Many of whom I would never encounter, if it wasn’t for my ministry. I have had many joyful times with people as well as accompanying them at some of the saddest times of their lives. I have met some extraordinary people who share aspects of their lives with me, a stranger. I have sat with people when they are scared and try to find the words to reassure them. I couldn’t do any of this without the help of God. I know that God is with me when I go out to visit people in their home or in hospital.

On his visit to Ireland, Pope St John Paul II, said in an address to the priests at Maynooth “Your first duty is to be with Christ. You are each called to be a witness to his Resurrection. A common danger with priests, even zealous priests, is that they become so immersed in the work of the Lord that they neglect the Lord of the work. We must find time, we must make time, to be with the Lord in prayer. What the people expect from you, more than anything else, is faithfulness to the priesthood.” The Pope then turned to those in contemplative life and said “Never was the contemplative vocation more precious or more relevant than in our modern restless world.” The Pope then pleaded for many more young people to be “called to the contemplative life, at this time when the future of the Church and the future of humanity depends on prayer.” The Pope concluded “This is a wonderful time in the history of the Church. This is a wonderful time to be a priest, to be a religious, to be a missionary for Christ. Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice in your vocation.”

There are currently 11 men in formation for the priesthood for our diocese, one of them from St Bede’s Parish. There are also 8 men in formation for the Permanent Diaconate with another 3 due to start in the next year. Three of these men are from this Pastoral Area. God willing, there are two men due to be ordained priest and another two men due to be ordained as Permanent Deacons this summer.

Please keep all of these men and their families in your prayers. Please keep all of our priests and deacons in your prayers.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Fourth Sunday of Easter

CCC 754, 764, 2665: Christ the Shepherd and Gate
CCC 553, 857, 861, 881, 896, 1558, 1561, 1568, 1574: Pope and bishops as shepherds
CCC 874, 1120, 1465, 1536, 1548-1551, 1564, 2179, 2686: priests as shepherds
CCC 60, 442, 543, 674, 724, 755, 775, 781: the Church is made up of Jews and Gentiles
CCC 957, 1138, 1173, 2473-2474: our communion with the martyrs

Topical Bible: The Relationship Between Shepherd and Sheep

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• The new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that he may look after the flock given to him by God.
• The families starting the Baptism Preparation sessions this Sunday at St Bede’s.
• The children who made their First Holy Communion at St Bede’s this weekend and all those preparing for their First Holy Communion in the Pastoral Area in the next few weeks.

Deacon Tony, 10^th May 2025

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[1] Topical Bible: The Relationship Between Shepherd and Sheep