Bishop Paul McAleenan Addresses and Homilies
Given for the Ordination of Phil Etuk, Jim McLean and Sam Mulira to the Permanent Diaconate, on 8 Today is a day of joy for Phil, Jim and Sam, their families, their parishes and indeed for the whole Church. Scripture records that through the ages…Read more
The reality of the life of a refugee, the hardships and hazards they endure opens this Refugee Week as we listen to the accounts of the latest tragedy off the coast of Greece. No doubt there will be investigations and enquiries into the tragedy,…Read more
Well, it is did wonderful for us to be back again here in this particular place where we can be conscious, as our welcomer said, of so many themes: of silence, the beautiful silence and also creation itself as we offer this mass. The Cite St…Read more
Stories This evening we will hear stories of welcome, I would like to tell you such a story, though it is not what you might expect. It happened on the coast of Northern France when I visited the areas where those attempting to cross the Channel…Read more
Mark, Marco, Domagoj, Juan, and Francis, as the Church prepares to ordain you it is important that we acknowledge first of all that it is the action of God and his choice of you that has brought us here. No doubt you will have noticed the…Read more
Welcome again to your Cathedral for our International Mass, a long-standing feature of our diocese, interrupted last year by the pandemic. It is hoped that as we return, we do so stronger in our resolve and determination to share and to celebrate…Read more
It is a pleasure to be with you today to celebrate this Mass. With the words, ‘The Legion of Mary’, very clear memories of my time as a member of the Legion come flooding back. I remember the parish hall where we assembled, the neatly…Read more
This homily was given by Bishop Paul McAleenan at the Mass of Ordination to the Diaconate, celebrated on 12th June 2021 at Westminster Cathedral. The mood of an ordination ceremony is always one of rejoicing. John, Daniel, Matteo and Michael, we…Read more
When the annual Mass for Migrants began several years ago, it was subtitled: ‘To celebrate the contribution of Migrants to the Church and Society’. The Mass recognised not only the presence but also the value of those from overseas who had…Read more
Every month the Pope has a particular prayer intention; Catholics are asked to include this intention in their prayers. In May of this year the Holy Father’s intention was the Deacons of the Church. In presenting his intention he said deacons…Read more
Given at the Mass for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees in Westminster Cathedral on the 26 WDMR 2020 There is constant movement in our relationship with God. We are either gradually moving towards or away from him. The Gospel today (Matt…Read more
All the saints of Ireland
Each year we commemorate all the saints of Ireland. It is good that this year we celebrate in this chapel of St Patrick, the spiritual ancestor not only of all Irish saints but of Irish people. Only four of those Saints ...Read more
Given on the eve of the canonisation od St Oscar Romero, at St Ignatius, Stamford Hill
Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him. He looked steadily at him without speaking but attempting to convey only understanding and love and invitation
O...Read more
Christmas Reflection 2017
‘Are you going home for Christmas?’ In this season I am often asked this question. It is a well-meant conversational piece. ‘Perhaps in the New Year,’ I reply, imagining what Christmas would be like in parishes...Read more
A vocation to the diaconate and the priesthood is a strange thing. It slips into someone’s heart and initially the one who has received this vocation does not know what it is, sometimes it is present in a longing of the mind, in a desire which c...Read more
In Lent we remember how Jesus on the cross cried out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me’, words which express his anguish and the separation he experienced between himself and his Father. Until then he had felt close to God; now he see...Read more