Brentwood Cathedral

The Holy Spirit is at work in all our lives to open our eyes and ears and loosen our tongues so that we can sing the praises of God for what he has done in Christ. Read more on the concept of 'Ephatha' or 'Be Opened' in this week's spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-twenty-third-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/

We are not made clean or righteous or acceptable to God by some kind of external cleansing process if we are not cleansed within our hearts. Read more on this thought in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-twenty-second-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/

Join us this Friday – 23 August – as we celebrate and pray with the Ukrainian community on the eve of their National Independence Day.
There will be activities, including Ukrainian arts and crafts, in the Parish Hall from 4pm. At 6pm there will be a special Vespers for Ukraine in the Cathedral attended by the Mayor of Brentwood. Some of the music will be sung by Ukrainians as well as the Cathedral musicians. Please make an effort to support this service when we can pray together for peace in their country.
Afterwards there will be refreshments and entertainment in the Parish Hall .

Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest for a while’: we reflect on this thought in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection. Read more here: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-sixteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/

Although the idea of duality – good versus evil, the power of God versus the power of the devil – is rather foreign to us these days, it is integral to the teaching of Scripture and the Church. Read more on this thought in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-fifteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/

In this week's spiritual reflection, Fr John asks us, if you don’t believe in miracles, to change the way you think. Read more on this idea and why it's so important here: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-fourteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/

In this week's spiritual reflection, Fr John is reflecting on sickness, and how we shouldn't be shy or reluctant in seeking Jesus' blessing. Read more here: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-saint-peter-saint-paul-sunday-30th-june-2024/

Relying on God gives us a feeling of being protected and supported in life. In tough times, we rely upon Christ. Read more on how we can feel supported through Christ in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-twelfth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/

We all like a good story, especially one that captures not just our imagination, but also our hearts. Storytelling and the telling of parables was common in the ancient world, and Jesus’ parables are unlike any others the world has ever known. Find out why in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-eleventh-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/"

Catch up with the latest news and events in the parish. This week's newsletter includes information on becoming an Alter Server, Battle of the Organ ticket information and a reminder of the forthcoming Youth Mass. https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/newsletters/

This week's Spiritual Reflection from Fr John: We are delivered from evil in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, but also by the blood of Christ. Learn more about how through the power of God, we can triumph over evil in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-tenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b/

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity; where we proclaim that God is Father, Son & Holy Spirit. This is one of the great Dogma’s of our Roman Catholic Faith. Read more about this most fundamental of Christian beliefs in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-the-most-holy-trinity-b/

Catch up with all the news from the Cathedral parish in this week’s newsletter: altar servers training, Cathedral ‘Big Clean’, Friday community lunches, Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society ABBA tribute night and lots, lots more.

Newsletters - Brentwood Cathedral We provide a printed newsletter that is available at every Mass each week. You can view the latest and previous newsletters below.

Every week we pray for those caught in the most troubled parts of the world, especially Ukraine and the Holy Land. The most tragic innocent victims of these conflicts are the children. Their suffering has been captured in a series of highly impactful paintings by war artist Arabella Dorman.
There is an exhibition of her paintings called 'Child of War' at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London until 6 June. It is moving, powerful and very challenging but offers a deep insight into what war means for children and the damage it does.
It is well worth a visit if you are in London during the next couple of weeks.

Children on the front line: emotion must lead to action War artist Arabella Dorman called for more to be done to protect children caught up in war and conflict when she launched her exhibition ‘Child of War’ at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London…

Every Friday our Love in Action group hosts a community lunch in the Parish Hall. Everyone is welcome anytime between 12 noon – 2 pm for hot drinks, light refreshments and a very warm welcome. In the summer months freshly made sandwiches are available – and there is always cake!

This Friday - 24 May – is a special lunch as we will be welcoming St Francis Hospice, helping them to raise funds for their vital work.

It is a great opportunity for all ages to share the joy of friendship so please pop in one Friday.

Sunday was World Communications Sunday in the Roman Catholic Church. It is an opportunity to reflect on many aspects of what communications means in the modern world.

It is also an opportunity for those who work in the media to reflect on their roles and the values that guide them.

When Pope John Paul II came to the UK in 1982 he handed a simply typed note to all the journalists covering the trip. It was addressed to “My friends in the communications media”.

It was reprinted on the front cover of UK Press Gazette that week and still serves as a reminder of the importance of independent professional journalism, perhaps never more so than in this age of fake news, misinformation and suppression of free media in so many parts of the world.

••••••••••••••••••••••

Wherever the sounds of transmit are heard, wherever the images you capture are seen, wherever the words you report are read, there is your neighbour. There is a person you must love, someone for whose total well being you must work – and sometimes go without sleep and miss your meals.

You are the instruments through whom that person – and millions of others – enjoys a wider experience and is helped to become a more effective member of the world community, a true neighbour to others.

Your profession, by its very nature, makes you servants, willing servants, of the community. Many of the members of that community will differ from you in political views, in material prospects, in religious conviction or in moral performance.

As good communicators, you serve them all the same – with love and with truth: indeed with a love of truth.

As good communicators, you build bridges to unite, not walls to divide. As good communicators, you work out of the conviction that love and service of neighbour are the most important business in your life.

All your concern then will be for the community’s good. You will feed it on the truth. You will enlighten its conscience and serve as its peacemaker.

You will set before the community standards that will keep it stretching for a way of life and a mode of behaviour worthy of its potential, worthy of human dignity.

You will inspire the community, fire its ideals, stimulate its imagination – if necessary taunt it – into getting the best out of itself, the human best.

You will neither yield to any inducement nor bend before any threat which might seek to deflect you from total integrity in your professional service.

More on World Communications Day https://catholicherald.co.uk/communications-sunday-and-the-role-of-catholic-journalism-to-guide-and-inspire/ #:~:text=World%20Communications%20Day%2C%20also%20know,gospel%20message%2C”%20Patrick%20Duffy%20writes

World Communications Day and Catholic journalism's role to 'guide and inspire' - Catholic Herald On the Sunday before Pentecost the Catholic Church celebrates the role of communications media and focuses on how it can best use such platforms to promote the gospel values.Communications Sunday, also known as World Communications Day, was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual celebratio...

In this week's spiritual reflection, Fr John reflects that as we have just celebrated the Ascension of the Lord, now the work of the apostles must begin. Read more on this thought here: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-seventh-sunday-of-easter-b/

This week's newsletter includes information on the upcoming 'Battle of the Organs' concert and other events and parish news https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/newsletters/

Read the latest newsletter with details of events and opportunities within the parish: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/newsletters/

Love, rather like forgiveness, is a great idea until we really must dig deep and love. Read more on this theme and how we can fulfil the Christian command to love in Fr John's latest spiritual reflection: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-sixth-sunday-of-easter-b/

The vine is frequently used in the Old Testament as a symbol of Israel. Israel is the vine, but Jesus is the true vine.

Developing this analogy of the vine we learn that we are branches and branches need pruning. We cannot produce fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, unless we are pruned. Furthermore, we cannot produce fruit unless we remain in the vine.

Read more on how we can flourish as vines in this week's spiritual reflection: 

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION – Fifth Sunday Of Easter (B) - Brentwood Cathedral The vine is frequently used in the Old Testament as a symbol of Israel. Israel is the vine, but Jesus is the true vine. Developing this analogy of the vine we learn that we are branches and branches need pruning. We cannot produce fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, unless we are pruned. Furthermor...

Latest parish newsletter which includes important information regarding Gift Aid and making a regular offertory via direct debit.

Newsletters - Brentwood Cathedral We provide a printed newsletter that is available at every Mass each week. You can view the latest and previous newsletters below.

Like sheep, we all go astray from time to time. We all wander from the path of righteousness, we all follow the herd, and we all need the guidance of the Good Shepherd. The Chief Shepherd is Jesus; the Good Shepherd. Read more on how we all need His guidance in our lives in Fr. John's latest spiritual reflection:

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION – Fourth Sunday Of Easter (B) - Brentwood Cathedral Pope Francis caused quite a stir when, at the beginning of his Pontificate, with a memorable turn of phrase he encouraged the clergy to be ‘shepherds living with the smell of the sheep’.

Reading the Bible is so fundamental and essential in living the Christian life. Fr John explores this fact, delving into why this is the case, in his latest spiritual reflection: 

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION – Third Sunday Of Easter (B) - Brentwood Cathedral One of the remarkable things about today’s post-resurrection appearance of Jesus is that he ate grilled fish! Quite why the resurrected body infused with the very life of God, a body which had conquered sin and death, needed the nourishment of the broiled fish is hard to know – one to ponder for...

Catch up with the latest news in and around the parish and cathedral:

Newsletters - Brentwood Cathedral We provide a printed newsletter that is available at every Mass each week. You can view the latest and previous newsletters below.

In this week's spiritual reflection and through the intercession of St. Faustina, we ask for the grace to plumb the depths of God’s mercy and love, and ask ourselves, Are we merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful?

Read more here: 👇

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION – Second Sunday Of Easter (B) - Brentwood Cathedral On the 5th October 1938, a young religious by the name of Sister Faustina (Helen Kowalska) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. Having been born into a very poor farming family, Sister Faustina received only basic education, and so, on entering the...

Celebrate the EASTER VIGIL at 7pm today at Brentwood Cathedral. All are welcome. Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia! Alleluia!

GOOD FRIDAY: Today we join today to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Cavalry as part of the Pascual Triduum. The Passion of Our Lord will take place at 3pm at the cathedral.

Full details of all the Holy Week and Easter services are available in this weeks newsletter:

Newsletters - Brentwood Cathedral We provide a printed newsletter that is available at every Mass each week. You can view the latest and previous newsletters below.

"As we embark upon our Holy Week 2024, we journey with Our Blessed Lord and accompany Him in faith and love, through his Pasion & Death, to share in the triumph of Resurrection Faith on Easter Day. In this week's spiritual reflection, Fr John looks at the Holy Days leading up to Easter Sunday, and asks that you join us in our celebration of faith: https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/spiritual-reflection-palm-sunday-of-the-passion-of-the-lord-b/"

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION – Palm Sunday Of The Passion Of The Lord (B) - Brentwood Cathedral We are about to embark upon our Holy Week 2024, journeying with Our Blessed Lord and accompanying Him in faith and love, through his Pasion & Death, and, to share in the triumph of Resurrection Faith on Easter Day.