Pope Leo’s Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
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June is traditionally a month dedicated to the Sacred Heart to Jesus.  Pope Leo XIV's monthly prayer intention for June is "that the world might grow in compassion", and he has written and issued a new prayer to the Sacred Heart, the text of which is below
Lord,
I come to your tender heart today,
to you who have words that set my heart ablaze,
to you who pour out compassion on the little ones and the poor, on those who suffer,
and on all human miseries.
I desire to know you more,
to contemplate you in the Gospel,
to be with you and learn from you
and from the charity with which you allowed yourself
to be touched by all forms of poverty.
You showed us the Father’s love
by loving us without measure
with your divine and human heart.
Grant all your children the grace of encountering you.
Change, shape, and transform our plans,
so that we seek only you in every circumstance:
in prayer, in work, in encounters, and in our daily routine.
From this encounter, send us out on mission,
a mission of compassion for the world
in which you are the source
from which all consolation flows.  
Amen.

Pope Leo’s Prayer intention
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Pope Leo XIV's monthly prayer intention for June, the month traditionally dedicated to devotion to the Heart of Jesus, is "that the world might grow in compassion."

Novena Prayers preparing for Pentecost
 
Divine Spirit, renew your wonders in this our age, as in a new Pentecost, and grant that your holy Church, praying perseveringly and insistently with one heart and mind, together with Mary the Mother of Jesus, and guided by Saint Peter, may increase the reign of the Divine Savior, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen
St Pope John the 23rd
 
Father, pour out Your Spirit upon Your people and grant us a new vision of Your glory, a new experience of Your Power, a new faithfulness to Your Word and a new consecration to Your service, that Your love may grow among us and Your Kingdom come through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
 
As we prepare for the Feast of Pentecost ..
.. it is good to hear the reflection of one of the members of our Parish who attended “Flame - The unstoppable - Fan the flame of hope” earlier this year when 10,000 young people gathered in Wembley Arena for a day of talks, worship and prayer.  The day was predominantly aimed at Catholic teenagers upwards from Year 9
He writes that  “Organised by the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation, the day involved lots of music as well as talks from celebrities like Bear Grylls and Adonike, bishops, organisations and monks. The day also included Gospel readings, prayer and adoration.
Bear Grylls is probably most recognisable for his series tv about extreme adventure. He is a former 21 SAS soldier, who went on to become one of the youngest ever climbers of Mt Everest. He is also a commited Christian and book author. He spoke at Flame about his journey of faith and hardships and gave away a copy of his latest book - “ The Greatest Story Ever Told” - to everyone at Flame.
It is the story of Jesus retold in action book manner gripping detail through eyewitness accounts whilst staying true to the biblical context by directly quoting Jesus when he speaks.  The book allows young people and people who struggle to read to more easily access Jesus’ story.
The day also included messages from Pope Francis and  , the Apostolic Nuncio to the United Kingdom.
The music throughout the day, performed by various Catholic groups and singers like One Hope project and Adonike. The music really brought the day together allowing everyone to join in and enjoy themselves”.
 

Novena for Pentecost
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On Thursday the Church begins 9 days of preparation for the Feast of Pentecost.  Below are two prayers you might like to use during this time.
 
Divine Spirit, renew your wonders in this our age, as in a new Pentecost, and grant that your holy Church, praying perseveringly and insistently with one heart and mind, together with Mary the Mother of Jesus, and guided by Saint Peter, may increase the reign of the Divine Savior, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen
St Pope John the 23rd
 
Father, pour out Your Spirit upon Your people and grant us a new vision of Your glory, a new experience of Your Power, a new faithfulness to Your Word and a new consecration to Your service, that Your love may grow among us and Your Kingdom come through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Pope Leo the 14th Motto
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Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition “In Illo uno unum”, which means “In the One, we are one.” The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”
In a 2023 interview with Vatican News' Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: “As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of Saint Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,” he said. “I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me promoting unity and communion is fundamental.”
Saint Augustine’s reflection on Psalm 127 highlights the theological foundation of this idea. “Christ - head and body - is one single man. And what is the body of Christ? His Church,” Augustine writes. He then adds, “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one. We are many and we are one - because we are united to Him, and if our Head is in heaven, the members will follow.”

Prayer Pope Leo XIV

"Peace be with you all.
Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter our hearts, to reach your families: to all people wherever they may be, to all nations, to the whole earth: peace be with you. This is the peace of the Risen Christ: a disarmed peace, a disarming peace, humble and persevering, it comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally.”
Words spoken from the balcony after his election
 
Almighty God, shepherd and guardian of all,
we pray for your servant Pope Leo.
Grant him grace to follow in the footsteps
of the Good Shepherd,
to preach the Gospel with boldness,
to build up your people in unity and peace,
and to serve them with humility and love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

​The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
 
May 13 is the anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in the small village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917.   An apparition of ‘a woman all in white, more brilliant than the sun’ presented itself to the three children saying “Please don’t be afraid of me, I’m not going to harm you.” Lucia asked her where she came from and she responded,  “I come from Heaven.”  The woman wore a white mantle edged with gold and held a rosary in her hand. The woman asked them to pray and devote themselves to the Holy Trinity and to “say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war.” She also revealed that the children would suffer, especially from the unbelief of their friends and families, and that the two younger children, Francisco and Jacinta would be taken to Heaven very soon but Lucia would live longer in order to spread her message and devotion to the Immaculate Heart.  In the last apparition the woman revealed her name in response to Lucia’s question:   “I am the Lady of the Rosary.” Perhaps the most well known utterance of the apparition of Our Lady at Fatima was her confident declaration that  “My Immaculate Heart will triumph”. 
 
Reflecting on this Pope Benedict the 16th wrote “The Heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind. The fiat of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world, because it brought the Saviour into the world—because, thanks to her Yes, God could become man in our world and remains so for all time. The Evil One has power in this world, as we see and experience continually; he has power because our freedom continually lets itself be led away from God. But since God himself took a human heart and has thus steered human freedom towards what is good, the freedom to choose evil no longer has the last word. From that time forth, the word that prevails is this: “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). The message of Fatima invites us to trust in this promise.

The Paschal Candle
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The Paschal Candle is one of the most sacred and enduring elements in Christianity. Made of beeswax to represent the purity of Christ, the candle’s wick signifies Christ’s humanity, and the flame His Divine Nature. It is adorned with one or more Christian symbols, often the cross to represent His redemptive sacrifice; the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet - Alpha and Omega – to signify that He is the beginning and the end;
The Paschal candle is a rich symbol of our faith. It reaches its pinnacle at Easter. Each year during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday a fire is kindled and blessed and from this fire the Paschal candle is lit and carried in procession into the dark church. The “new” fire serves as an image of the Resurrection. The candle, which represents Christ himself, is placed on a special Paschal candle stand near the altar. Five grains of incense are inserted into the candle to recall the aromatic spices that were used to prepare Christ’s body for the tomb, and the wounds in His hands, feet and side, which remained after His resurrection.
The Paschal candle remains in the Sanctuary during the full 50 days of the Easter season. After Pentecost the candle will be placed next to the baptismal font. The candle is lit during all baptisms throughout the year, passing the light of Christ to each person baptized. The candle is also used at funeral services, and placed next to the coffin during a funeral Mass, a reminder that the sacrament of Baptism is itself a death and resurrection in Christ, and testifies to Christian certainty in the resurrection of the dead and life with Christ in the world to come.
This candle, also called the Easter Candle, originated in the earliest days of Christianity, when evening prayer began with the lighting of a candle. This practice was probably inspired by the Jewish custom of lighting a lamp at the conclusion of the Sabbath. Historical references mention the Lucernarium, the evening prayer rite with which the early Christians began each Sunday vigil. The lighting of the candle dispelled the darkness and represented Christ – the Light of the World.
This solemn rite was carried out with even greater reverence during the Easter Vigil. In the time of Constantine we are told by the historian Eusebius that the emperor "transformed the night of the sacred Easter Vigil into the brilliancy of day, by lighting throughout the whole city pillars of wax, so that this mystic vigil was rendered brighter than the brightest daylight.”
In Italian basilicas the paschal candle stand was made of marble and designed as a permanent attachment to the ambo. Several of these candle stands still survive, as in the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (Saint Lawrence outside the Walls) in Rome, which was built in the 3rd century.
By the second half of the 4th century, a hymn in praise of the candle and the Easter mystery was sung, as referenced by Saint Jerome in 384 AD. Saints Ambrose and Augustine are known to have composed these hymns of praise.
 The precise use of the Paschal candle has varied over the centuries. Initially it was broken up after the Easter Vigil and fragments were given to the faithful, but from the 10th century onward it was kept in a place of honour near the Gospel until the Feast of the Ascension, 40 days after Easter. By the 12th century, it was common to inscribe the candle with the current year. Over time the candle grew in size to merit the description of “pillar”. By the mid-sixteenth century, some Paschal candles weighed as much as three hundred pounds, and, after use, were melted into tapers to use at the funerals of the poor.
The word "paschal" is the equivalent of the Greek paschs, derived from the Aramaic pasḥā and Hebrew pesaḥ, meaning the passing over. In the Old Testament it refers to the night the Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land, when God struck the houses of the Egyptians but left the Israelites untouched, thus “ passing over” or sparing them.With Christianity the word “paschal” took on a new meaning, referring to Our Lord’s passion, death, resurrection, and glorification. These events stand at the center of our faith. God's saving plan for us was accomplished by the redemptive suffering and death of Jesus. His resurrection and glorification are our assurances of eternal life - if we follow His words and His way.

Memoria of St Joseph the Worker.
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The feast of Saint Joseph the Worker which is celebrated on Thursday was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955. This feast extends the long relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers in both Catholic faith and devotion. Beginning in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has long been celebrated as a participation in the creative work of God. By work, humankind both fulfils the command found in Genesis to care for the earth (Gn 2:15) and to be productive in their labours. Saint Joseph, the carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is but one example of the holiness of human labour.
Jesus, too, was a carpenter. He learned the trade from Saint Joseph and spent his early adult years working side-by-side in Joseph’s carpentry shop before leaving to pursue his ministry as preacher and healer. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II stated: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society.”
Saint Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.”

We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ…

During the Stations of the Cross in Lent we have used the traditional prayer “We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world”. 
 
However this isn’t the complete prayer which was actually composed by St Francis of Assisi who whenever he caught sight of a Catholic church in the distance, would kneel down and give praise to God. We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ, in this church and all the churches of the world, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Amen
 
He  encouraged his followers to clean up churches physically and to ensure that the Blessed Sacrament and the Scriptures were reserved reverently, while also “not neglecting to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, work to alleviate the suffering of people suffering from leprosy, and engage in every possible corporal and spiritual work of mercy—never with the assurance that their best efforts would be enough to wipe out these and other pressing human needs. They did these things always with the confidence that their small contributions are precious in God’s eyes”
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In all of this, vowed Franciscans and admirers of Francis have been mindful over the centuries of our need to give the good example that God rightly expects of us. The “We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, and we bless you” prayer has kept them focused both on current needs and the heavenly banquet “where God will be everything in all of you,” as Saint Paul wrote

“Give hope, sow peace”
the Good Friday Collection 2025
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Hope is the central message of Jubilee 2025, the living and personal encounter with the Lord. A concrete gesture of hope is represented by the Good Friday Collection, also known as the Colletta pro Locis Sanctis, one of the collections in aid of the places and needs of the Holy Land. To know more about how it works, and to give straight away, the site www.collettavenerdisanto.it is available where, alongside materials and guides, the reader can also find the text of the Via Crucis prepared by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, with the meditations and testimonies of the “Living Stones” of the Holy Land.
Now more than ever, the suffering populations of the Holy Land, the few remaining Christians, the religious communities, young people and children, who are the future of those communities, but also the sick and the elderly, are in need of concrete and immediate help, even just to “maintain their positions”, thus mitigating the damage that continuous conflicts are causing to the daily life of the people.
The Collection, which takes place on Good Friday, this year on 18 April, the day that commemorates the Passion of the Lord, has its origins in Saint Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation Nobis in Animo, of March 1974. The Collection was established with the intention to strengthen the bond between Christians around the world and the Holy Places, and it is one of the official collections of the Catholic Church.
This collection represents the main resource for supporting the activities and life around the Holy Places. The donations gathered by the parish communities and the bishops are transferred, via the Commissioners of the Holy Land, to the Custody of the Holy Land. These funds are used to preserve the sacred sites and to support the local Christian communities, often defined as the “living stones” of this region.
The territories that receive support from the Collection include those where the Custody has been present for centuries: Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Cyprus, along with countries where the eastern Christian communities are present: Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq and Türkiye.  The Custody has 270 missionaries from over 30 nations. The friars take care of the Holy Places and welcome pilgrims 
The Christian communities have been left without employment and the entire economy linked to religious tourism. As a result, most families suffer from the economic crisis and struggle to pay school fees. Schools, however, remain the place where the friars build Peace every day.
The Good Friday Collection, together with pilgrimages, therefore represents the main source of funding. The Custos of the Holy Land, Brother Francesco Patton, writes: “Thanks to your generosity, we will be able to care for and make the Holy Places places of prayer and welcome for the faithful and pilgrims; respond to emergencies; support schools, clinics, dispensaries, homes for the elderly and for young families; and promote humanitarian works for migrants, displaced persons and refugees. Help us to Give Hope and Sow Peace!”.