I'm delighted to greet you as we come together to celebrate the great feast of Easter, the most important feast in the Christian calendar.
 And it's wonderful for the family of our Archdiocese to give thanks for the new life which the Risen Lord brings to all of us, especially through our parish communities and through the different works of outreach, which were inspired by this new life in the Risen Christ.
At the beginning of the Easter Vigil, we light a fire. We bring new light into the world at a moment of darkness and in the procession, as we carry the paschal candle, we sing the light of Christ.
We recall that when Jesus spoke about himself, one of the things that he described was his own gift of light.
He said, “I am the light of the world”.  
We know that this year has been difficult for people in so many parts of the world.
We pray especially and continue to do so for the people of Ukraine. And we think of the suffering in Israel and Gaza as we pray for the Prince of Peace to influence those who can make decisions and bring peace into the world.
We also know that in our own lives, just as we carry the candle at Easter, so the light of Christ can shine out from within us, particularly in our words and our deeds, because we recognize that we are indeed an Easter people.
I want to wish you and your families and all those close to you, every blessing this Easter season.
Let the light of the risen Christ shine through in the things that you say and do, especially within your
family settings, with your neighbours, and as you witness to him in the world today.
And pray for that gift of peace, that the light of the world may shine in the darkest places of our world today.
May every blessing be yours this Easter season. And I assure you that I pray for you and all those close to you. A very happy Easter.

​In response to requests from parishioners, Fr John will be forming a 'Men of Faith' group, to be based at Holy Trinity. The first meeting will be on Tuesday 9th April at 7pm and thereafter on the first Tuesday of every month. To begin with, we shall spend 30 minutes in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, which will include a brief presentation by Fr John. Following Adoration and Benediction, the group will be invited to a local pub for a drink and some social time.
 

A film based on the life of Catholic missionary  Mother Francesca Cabrini is showing at the Vue Cinema this week. Mother Cabrini arrives in New York from Italy in 1889 and manages to convince the hostile mayor to secure housing, healthcare and schooling for the city's destitute orphans. She was the first U.S. Citizen to be Canonised. 
See Vue Newcastle Under Lyme Cinema Film Listings & Times | Vue (myvue.com) for showing times - final showing Thursday 21st at 4.15pm. 
​

Today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of the Right Reverend Declan Lang as Bishop of Clifton. Bishop Declan was ordained the ninth Bishop of Clifton on 28 March 2001 and has served the Diocese for 23 years as its bishop.
The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Canon Bosco MacDonald, a priest of the Diocese of Clifton, until now Dean of the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bristol, as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton.
Bishop-elect Bosco MacDonald said, on hearing the news of his appointment:
“I am humbled that His Holiness Pope Francis has called me to become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton, following the retirement of Bishop Declan Lang who has served us so lovingly and faithfully for 23 years, giving his life completely to the joys and hopes as well as the challenges of our Catholic communities here in the West of England.
“As I embark on this new journey, I am filled with gratitude for the prayers and affection of so many wonderful priests and people, family and friends far and wide.
“I am eager to renew my profession of faith and deepen my communion with the Successor of Peter and my brother Bishops. And just as Pope Francis encourages Bishops to be close to their people in a spirit of service, I accept this new role in obedience to my priestly call with a commitment to serve the priests and people of Clifton to the best of my ability, with care, tenderness, and compassion.
“May the love of Christ and the intercession of Our Blessed Lady, Conceived Without Sin guide every step I take as the 10th Bishop of this lovely Diocese of Clifton.”
Bishop Declan Lang said:
“I would like to congratulate Canon Bosco MacDonald and accompany him with my prayers on his appointment as the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton. He has many years of pastoral experience having worked in a number of parishes both as an assistant priest, parish priest and Dean of Clifton Cathedral. He brings much experience to his new ministry within the diocese which he will carry out with dedication and faithfulness.
“I am sure he will also be a valuable member to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales as we discern the way forward in a changing society.
“Please remember Canon Bosco in your prayers as he prepares for this new ministry.
The Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-elect MacDonald will take place in the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Clifton, Bristol. The date will be announced in due course.

Catholic Bishops' Conference (cbcew.org.uk)

One of the beautiful Lenten disciplines we undertake is praying the Stations of the Cross. 
 
St Francis of Assisi, at the time when pilgrims were unable to go to the Holy Land because of the Crusades, was the first person we know of to encourage a prayer procession using a sequence of scenes from the passion and death of Christ.
 
Through the following centuries, a range of sets of 'stations' were used throughout the Church. In the 18th century St Alphonsus of Liguori composed a set of reflections and prayers based on a set of 14 stations.
 
Partly through the popularity of St Alphonsus’ 'Way of the Cross', this set of 14 stations now adorns many Catholic churches, and his prayers and reflections are still popular today.
 
In St Alphonsus’s prayers, at each station, we pray:
 
"I love you Jesus, my love above all things.
I repent with my whole heart for having offended you.
Never permit me to separate myself from you again.
Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will."
 
It is one of my favourite prayers throughout the year, but especially in Lent. There is so much in it that I find it difficult to focus my heart on all the phrases at once. This year I find myself drawn most often to the phrase, "Never permit me to separate myself from you again."
 
Read through the prayer slowly and ask yourself, “Which phrase do I find myself most drawn to?”
 
Fr Robert Taylerson, Spiritual Director at St Mary's College, Oscott