St Patrick’s Missionary Society's 13th General Chapter gets underway this weekend in Ireland (Sunday, May 1st – May 20th). The Society’s Chapter takes places every 6 years. It is a general meeting of representatives of all the Society’s members to evaluate and plan for the following years. New leadership is also elected. It was due to happen in 2020 but was postponed many times due to the global pandemic. After 2 years of delays and much preparation work it will begin on Sund

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead – the central element of our Christian faith and yet so difficult to grasp at times. Death is not the end, just a stage on our journey to perfect life with God. St Paul uses the image of the seed being sown, dying in the earth and yet producing abundant fruit – much more than the original seed. Death is sad – indeed the bible mentions Mary Magdalene and the disciples as being sad at Jesus’ death. And yet joy takes ove

Tonight, is the greatest of all our Christian feasts. ‘If Christ hasn’t risen from the dead’ St Paul once wrote, ‘we are the most pitiable of all peoples.’ Because it is not easy to identify with, we depend on our faith to make it our own. New life can come from hopeless situations – not just at the end of our lives but in the many setbacks of life. Tonight, we pray that as baptised people the Spirit of Jesus who rose from the dead will be the truth that guides our lives. All

The main, indeed only, theme today is suffering and death. Because of the great symbol which the cross is, it is stamped on all our memories. Perhaps we struggle at times with the meaning of Holy Thursday or Holy Saturday – not with Good Friday. And how much more so this year. The Ukrainian people have been living a prolonged Good Friday: agony, suffering and death. And there are other cruel wars in the world, ruthless empires still exist. May all suffering people draw streng

Today we remember the last day of Jesus’ life as a human being here on this earth. It’s a day full of commemoration and symbolism. The Last Supper of course sums it all up – the celebration of the Eucharist is to be the centre of our lives as Christians, forever. ‘Do this in memory of me’. Holy Thursday however reminds us that Jesus didn’t only bless the bread and wine, he washed feet. There was the chalice, and the basin. The eucharist means adoring God, and serving all our

After a winter that was not too severe, we now savour the joys of Spring and await the new life of Easter. God brings creation alive at this time of the year. God, also, brings new life and hope to us at Easter. As each new day begins, we remember that God has raised Jesus from the dead and He gives life, hope, and help to all who believe in him. We place all that happens to us in God’s hands. From Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday we will remember, especially, the intentions of