The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales has issued a statement on migration issues in the UK. Read the Bishops’ statement here.

Jesus Breathed On Them And Said ‘Receive The Holy Spirit.’ Led by Fr Chris Thomas. Friday 3-Sunday 5 June. Suggested donation: £190.

Who is included in God’s Church? Today’s readings make it clear that everyone is included. In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear how Paul and Barnabas preached the Word of God as they travelled, to pagans as well as Jews. In the book of the Apocalypse, John has a vision of the Church gathered before the throne of Jesus, the Lamb of God. He sees ‘a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language.’ Everyone is welcome in God’s kingdom. Nation or race, language or tribe are not important – only faith.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd, who knows each one of his sheep. The Church includes ‘a huge number, impossible to count;’ but the Lord knows every member of his Church by name, and he loves each one uniquely. Every sheep is precious to the Good Shepherd.

Jesus goes on to say, ‘the Father and I are one.’ Jesus’ love for God’s people flows from the love and unity of Father and Son. As members of God’s Church, we are invited to share in their love.

A seminar led by Dr Carmen Mangion, Senior Lecturer in the Department of History, Classics and Anthropology at Birkbeck, University of London. Wednesday 11^th May at 2.00pm. This will be a hybrid in-person/online event – details and registration at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ishwra-seminar-may-2022-tickets-320766550387

My dissertation is looking at how storytelling shapes identity of Irish communities in the U.K. I hope to interview anyone who identifies in some way with the Isle of Ireland (NI and IRL). The interview will involve a few questions about storytelling, drawing a family tree (anonymised of course), drawing a picture of what your identity means to you and telling me a story which can be about anything at all! It shouldn’t take more than 40 minutes and can be arranged in a public setting/ via Zoom at your convenience. Contacts: emily.m.jeffries@durham.ac.uk  or 07701 329143.

At the Last Supper, Peter was full of bravado, saying that he was ready to lay down his life for Jesus. But before sunrise, a fearful Peter had denied three times that he even knew Jesus, just as the Lord foretold. In today’s Gospel, Peter meets the risen Christ. How is Peter feeling? Is he afraid of meeting anger or rejection from his friend? It must have been a difficult moment for him.

Peter denied Jesus three times. Now, Jesus asks him three times, ‘Do you love me?’  and Peter replies three times that he does. In response, the Lord calls Peter to look after his lambs and sheep – to care for the disciples after Jesus has returned to God the Father. 

This difficult moment became a moment of conversion for Peter. He gave the rest of his life to leading the Church. In today’s First Reading, we see him fearlessly witnessing for Christ in Jerusalem. In the end, Peter did give his life for Jesus. According to tradition, he was martyred for the faith in Rome, crucified upside down on the site where St Peter’s basilica stands today. 

Today, the Lord asks us the same question he asked Peter; ‘Do you love me?’ We show our love by feeding the lambs and sheep; by caring for one another, as Peter learned to do.

Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be celebrated at St Cuthbert’s by Fr Peter Hannah OP on Saturday 7th May at 11.00am. Everyone is welcome.