Feast Day: 6 July Maria Goretti was the daughter of a poor Italian tenant farmer. She had no chance to go to school, never learned to read or write. When Maria made her First Communion not long before her death, she was one of the larger and somewhat backward members of the class. On a
By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to certain devotions. July is devoted to the Precious Blood of Jesus. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood. The Precious Blood which we worship is
Feast Day: 29 June On 29 June the Church celebrates the feast day of two great saints, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Peter and Paul are known as the two pillars of the Church. Their lives were very different but both overcame weakness; St Peter denied Christ and St Paul persecuted the Church. Both repented
25 July 2021 is the inaugural World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in the Catholic Church. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, is echoing the Pope’s words to young people encouraging them to talk to their grandparents if they want to be a sign of hope for the world. Promoting the important
Feast Day: 22 June John Fisher was born in Yorkshire, England in 1469, the son of a cloth dealer. He was educated at Cambridge University beginning at age 14, and became a distinguished scholar. He was ordained a priest in 1491 at age 22, and became vice-chancellor of the university ten years later. John Fisher
Feast Day: 22 June St Thomas More is known as one of the more famous martyrs of Henry VIII’s reign. The popular image is of a man – principled, steadfast, courageous – who placed his own conscience above his king’s demands. Thomas More was an English statesman and writer of the early 16th century. Thomas
Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. – Matthew 11:11 This Thursday, 24 June, is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist.
A beautiful new film has been made about Fatima portraying the events of 1917. The new film on Fatima will be shown on demand and in selected cinemas here in UK from 25 June. On demand: it will be available on demand initially on Apple TV (£9.99) and later on Google Play, Prime Video, Sky
Father’s Day: the Catholic Perspective We wish all the fathers in our parish a happy and blessed Father’s Day! Fathers are called in a special way to reflect God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Similar to the way our heavenly Father cares for us, our earthly fathers are there to help us navigate life’s challenges and
Feast Day: 13 June St Anthony of Padua is one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints. Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen articles, was a powerful Franciscan preacher and teacher. He’s typically portrayed holding the child Jesus — or a lily — or a book— or all three — in
