Sacred Heart and St Anne RC Parish Blackburn

Our thoughts and prayers this weekend are with Pope Leo as he is officially installed as the 267th Pope of our Church. In his first week, he has spoken powerfully about the need for global solidarity and offered the Vatican’s role as a mediator in world conflicts. I find great encouragement in this because I believe the Church has a special and much-needed voice regarding peace and diplomacy. It often works in the background. With Pope LEO, it may be more visible as he is gifted with several languages. What ever happens, the Holy Spirit will guide him.

The Church has a unique role as its foundation is not national or economic interest, but fundamentally, the love of God, echoed in today’s Gospel. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: Just as I have loved you.”

God’s love knows no limits, it doesn’t build walls, it tears them down, bringing healing, freedom, and peace.

A historic moment in the life of the Church as we welcome Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope. Although a native of the United States, he spent years serving as a missionary priest and teacher in Peru and has dual citizenship. He led the Augustinian Order globally and was later appointed by Pope Francis as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. He brings a deep knowledge and understanding of the global Church and speaks five languages: English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. These experiences have shaped him well for this moment, as he leads us forward in faith and mission.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has consistently reminded the world of the healing power of compassion, the strength found in humility, and the importance of embracing the most vulnerable in our societies. His message transcends borders and divisions, inviting all people, regardless of faith or background to walk the path of reconciliation, justice, and love.

By placing mercy at the heart of the Church’s mission and offering hope to those on the margins, Pope Francis has reawakened the call to serve humanity with tenderness and courage. His legacy will endure as a beacon for future generations, pointing always to the Gospel values of inclusion, dignity, and grace.

I fondly remember meeting Pope Francis in 2016 at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences during a dedicated gathering of scientists, policymakers, and strategists addressing the global narcotics crisis. The Holy Father showed deep compassion for those struggling with addiction and encouraged everyone involved in rehabilitation to keep pursuing innovative solutions to these challenges.

May he rise in Glory.

As we journey through these final days of Advent, let us fully embrace this sacred season of preparation and anticipation. Advent is a time for quiet reflection, heartfelt prayer, and opening our hearts to the hope and light that the coming of Christ brings into the world. It is an invitation to deepen our faith, strengthen our love for one another, and prepare to welcome our Saviour with joy.

As Advent culminates in the glorious celebration of Christmas, we rejoice in the wondrous gift of God made manifest in Jesus Christ. Christmas is a time to celebrate the profound mystery of the Incarnation—God becoming flesh to dwell among us, bringing salvation, peace, and hope to all humanity. It is a time to share this joy with family, friends, and neighbours, spreading love, kindness, and goodwill.

With hearts filled with gratitude and wonder, I wish each and every one of you a very Happy and Blessed Christmas. May this season of Christ’s birth fill your homes with peace, your hearts with love, and your lives with joy, now and always.

As we light this second candle, Lord of Peace, may Your Spirit fill us with the peace that only You can give. Help us to prepare our hearts and our world for the coming of Your Son, that we may be instruments of Your peace and bear witness to Your love.

As we commence our Advent journey, we are invited to enter a season of reflection, expectation, and preparation for the coming of Christ. The first candle of Advent, often called the Prophet’s Candle, represents hope—a hope deeply rooted in God’s promises and the words of the prophets from the Old Testament, fitting significantly with the coming year. Pope Francis has given 2025 as the Jubilee Year with the theme of Pilgrims of Hope.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, a feast that draws our liturgical year to a close and invites us to reflect on who Christ is as King—not a king of earthly power, but one who reigns with love, justice, and humility. This celebration reminds us of a profound truth: Christ’s kingship is not rooted in domination, but in service, not in wealth, but in self-giving, and not in pride, but in humility.

MESSAGE FROM FR JIM:
Happy Corpus Christi. Today, as we gather to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, we are reminded of the profound mystery of the Eucharist—the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this sacrament, heaven and earth converge, the divine touches the human, and the spiritual nourishes the physical.

The Eucharist is not just a symbol or a mere remembrance but a miraculous encounter with the living Christ. In this sacred meal, we partake of the very essence of our faith, for Christ himself said, “Take, eat; this is my body… Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In these simple elements of bread and wine, we encounter the presence of our Saviour, who offers himself to us in love and humility. May the body and blood of Christ nourish our souls and strengthen us each day and sustain us for the journey ahead.

The Risen Christ invites each of us to experience the radiance of His light. This is not meant to be a solitary endeavour but a transformative experience that naturally compels individuals to share it with others.

In the simplest of ways, sharing that light means embodying the love, compassion, and forgiveness that Christ exemplified. It’s about extending kindness to others, helping those in need, and offering encouragement and support. It’s in our smiles, gestures of understanding, and willingness to listen with empathy. Sharing the light of Christ means being a beacon of hope and positivity in a world that often feels dark and troubled. It’s about living authentically and reflecting Christ’s teachings through our actions so that others may see His light shining through us and be inspired to do the same.

I sincerely thank all who prayed for me during my recent injury and Father Paul for all his support to the Parish.

Happy Easter

Fr Jim

In today’s Gospel, symbolic gestures demonstrate the authority of Jesus and His commitment to restoring the true purpose of the temple as a house of prayer. The Lord is calling attention to the need for spiritual renewal and purification, both in the temple and the people’s hearts.

“Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up.” Jesus is referring to his death and resurrection, which will ultimately fulfil the true purpose of the temple. Through his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, Jesus will become the true dwelling place of God among humanity. No longer will God be confined to a building made of stone; instead, God will dwell in the hearts of all who believe in His Risen Son