12/06/2026
𝑭𝒓 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔
I have had a week. (1) Thank you for the kind messages and generosity of the First Holy Communion children and parents. The catechists and I have been most touched. We hope that the whole weekend was special for the families, and that you will continue with regular practice of the “greatest gift we can receive”. (2) I greatly enjoyed the diocesan clergy in-service, looking at an important theme as we journey forward in the , in these difficult times. (3) I had a useful meeting with the “in-solidum” clergy and our Diocesan Administrator (Cn. Jonathan Martin), and Episcopal Vicar for Surrey (Mgr. Tony Barry). (4) On Thursday I had a one to one with Canon Kieran O’Brien, reflecting on the important changes ahead for our new parish. Then on Friday lunch with the Verona Fathers to celebrate the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart. Please pray for your priests and deacons, and for a Bishop to guide and shepherd us, as we seek to work together to provide a where Christ’s love truly dwells.
I had the great privilege of sharing with the year 6 pupils at St Cuthbert’s School about the Pope’s latest encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas”. We are truly “magnificent”! As God’s children we must never lose our capacity for compassion, the pursuit of , our drive for connection between individuals, groups and nations, and our ability to empathise with one another. Next weekend we celebrate the Church's “Day for Life”. We raise awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition, from conception to natural death. Despite our complexities and flaws and with the backdrop of our broken world, we are capable of generous acts of , artistic beauty, and profound understanding of our nature and purpose - unapologetically.
“Jesus saw the crowds and he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a .” Mental anguish, fear, loneliness and depression, the search for meaning and purpose, are very prevalent in today’s world. People don’t need looks that judge or criticise, but a comforting presence. Jesus looked at the ordinary person and would see the deep needs within. He had for them and would minister to them in loving and life-changing ways. Compassion involves being alongside, stepping into someone else’s shoes, accompanying and seeking to enable them to recognise hope, worth and value amid their struggles. We all need warm and generous hearts so that we may “give without charge” to the needy of our time.
We need labourers in the – called by name to be liberators and lovers, building hope, peace and reconciliation. Is that you? Can we sincerely say …
𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌
Download the latest Newsletter here:
http://poegham.files.wordpress.com/2026/06/14th-june-2026-11th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-assumption-of-our-lady-church-parish-of-weybridge.pdf
