Message from Father Jim
6th September 2026
The readings this Sunday focus on our responsibility to one another, but, more importantly, on the responsibility we have towards God. They remind us that our faith is not something we live out in isolation. We are called to care for one another, to speak the truth, to offer guidance, and to help each other remain faithful to God.
The first reading presents a powerful image of God appointing Ezekiel as a watchman for the people. A watchman was someone who stood on the lookout, watching carefully for danger and warning the people when a threat was approaching. Ezekiel’s role was not simply to observe what was happening; he had a responsibility to speak out and warn the people when they were turning away from God. In the Gospel Jesus says to his disciples, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault.
However, I want to stress the Psalm, “O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.” May we have hearts that are open enough to listen to God and compassionate enough to listen to one another. May we be willing to speak when we need to speak, but also willing to listen, understand, forgive and show mercy. And may our responsibility towards others always flow from our deeper responsibility to God.
St Paul sums this up beautifully in the second reading when he reminds us that love is at the heart of our responsibility towards one another. We are called to love our neighbour as ourselves. This is more than simply being kind when it is convenient; it is a call to genuinely care for the other person and to seek their good
Father Paul
Several photos were taken at Fr Paul’s Reception and Requiem and can be viewed here
Newsletter
This week’s newsletter can be viewed here
Vatican News
The Vatican news widget is now onsite so the latest news from the Vatican can be accessible from the right hand side of this page under the menu, or alternatively click here for a larger display.
Contributions to Sacred Heart & St Anne
Donations can be made via the collection plate in Church or direct from your bank account, the details of which can be found here
If you pay tax please consider adding gift aid to your contribution which would enable the parish to claim an extra 25% courtesy of the taxman at no cost to yourself. If this is something you would like to consider please contact me here with your phone and email address and I will ask Margaret, our gift aid co-ordinater, to get in touch.
Current gift aid donors can ignore this paragraph as we will pick up the information from their names if they donate online.
Past Memories
Recent events and memories from much longer ago can always be found on our History & Archive pages
Parish Facebook
In order to be able to keep parishioners informed whenever Father Jim makes any communications or when the website is updated with newsletters etc we have created a Parish Facebook page.
If you have a facebook account please visit and like the page so that you will then be automatically notified whenever this website is updated otherwise please visit this page periodically to check for any updates
For those parishioners without a facebook account I have embedded a feed from it below so everyone will be able to access the latest 5 postings to the page
(Please note not all browsers will display the feed)
