Sunday Reflection - 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Posted: Fri, 17 Sep 2021 12:45
It is interesting that the gospel this week opens with Jesus' re-enforcing what being the 'Messiah' actually means: 'The Son of Man will be handed over to those who will kill him. Three days later, however, he will rise to life' (Mk 9:31). Mark places this event after the gift of Transfiguration: Peter, James and John gained an insight into what resurrection would mean, but they were still confused... Read More »
September 11, 2021
Posted: Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:33
This reflection, written by Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB, reflects on the events of September 11, 2001, and of Fr Mychal Judge OFM
Watch and reflect:
Those of us of a certain age, we will remember well what we were doing on 11th September (9/11 is US speak) 2001. I remember the day well as I was in Oxford to attend an interview for a teaching post. On my happy drive back to London... Read More »
Sunday Reflection - 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Posted: Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:16
Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy reflects on the Gospel for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time, looking at the difficulty that Peter faced when answering Jesus.
In our reading from Mark's Gospel today, Jesus asks the serious question: 'who do people say that I am?' (Mk 8:27). The disciples do not want to seem to answer this, opting for the popular ploy of politicians they tell Jesus that 'people are saying!' In... Read More »
Kids on the edge
Posted: Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:25
You may have been following the new Channel Four documentary, 'Sixteen: Class of 2021'. It followed a group of final year students at the Link Academy in Dudley during the trauma of the pandemic. It is an honest and, at times, brutal account of what our young people in school shared during lockdowns that ranged from in class-learning to on-line in their pyjamas! We saw the highs and lows of this cohort... Read More »
Final Professions of Brothers Steven Lloyd and Godwill Togbe
Posted: Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:42
On Saturday 17th July, Brothers Steven Lloyd and Godwill Togbe, made their final professions at the Church at Thornleigh Salesian House. The service was presided by Fr Gerry Briody SDB, the Provincial of the Salesians in the United Kingdom, in the presence of the Rt Rev John Arnold, Bishop of Salford.
Photos of the day can be found here: https://flickr.com/photos/87339615@N06/albums/72157719750751899... Read More »
Sunday Reflection - 23rd Sunday - Year B
Posted: Tue, 31 Aug 2021 08:56
Our Gospel today is very vivid and shows the power of incarnation—an incarnation that is not magical or some fantasy experience. Jesus meets a man who is deaf and unable to speak; aware of the need for privacy and not making his miracle some sort of tabloid sensation, 'Jesus took him off alone, away from the crowd' (Mk 7:33). With Jesus we see a profound respect for the dignity of the individual;... Read More »
Sunday Reflection - 22nd Sunday - Year B
Posted: Tue, 24 Aug 2021 10:24
Today we return to the gospel of Mark, after our summer reflection on the 'bread of life' in John's gospel. Last week we saw people leaving Jesus' side because they cannot accept the overwhelming power of the good news. Today we meet Jesus in another conflict situation: his disciples are criticised because they have not washed their hands PROPERLY before a meal. Jesus certainly enjoyed meals and would,... Read More »
Priestly Ordination of Fr Greg and Fr Joe
Posted: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:39
On the 26th June, Fr Gregory Echegwo and Fr Joe Tran, both made their Priestly Ordinations. The service was presided by Bishop Paul Hendricks, Auxillary Bishop of Southwark in the presence of Fr Gerry Briody SDB, the provincial of the Salesians in Great Britain.
Here is an album of photographs taken of the day.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/193339143@N02/albums/72157719476069886
Photos © Sacred Heart... Read More »
Professions of Br Augustine and Br Stephen
Posted: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 11:02
On Sunday 4th July 2021, Br Alfred Augustine Unuakhe SDB and Br Stephen Mensah Teye SDB made their Perpetual Professions at St Anne's Parish in Chertsey. The Mass was presided by Fr Gerry Briody SDB, the Provincial of the Salesians in Great Britain.
Here is a collection of photographs that were taken on the day. More can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/193339143@N02/albums/72157719552665115... Read More »
Moving forward - Sunday Reflection
Posted: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 10:13
In our Gospel today we see the honest fall-out from Jesus' teaching: Jesus said to them, "if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in yourselves' (Jn 6:53). John presents an unambiguous teaching on the 'bread of life'; he is pointing to the reality of crucifixion and death that cannot be hidden or brushed under the carpet. As Christians, we often want... Read More »