Cardinal's Homilies
We are the humble flock on a journey to the place where the Brave Shepherd has already reached, the Risen Lord, our heavenly home. The first reading vividly portrays how this journey took on a particular moment, a decisive moment, how the message…Read more
This is a day of sadness as people everywhere learn of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. Here many tributes are being paid to him, including one from our King Charles and Queen Camilla. They speak of their ‘heavy hearts’ and pay tribute…Read more
Tonight we’ve been playing with fire. We have seen the fire, lit and burning – with great care, of course – at the entrance to the Cathedral: one of the most powerful symbols of this night, drawing us into its wonder. This fire brings light…Read more
On each day of this Holy Week, we are keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. He is the great leader and teacher of life. In him, we find the deepest truths of our humanity. From him, we learn how to live, without fear, fully in the sight of God,…Read more
In this solemn Mass of Chrism, our eyes are firmly fixed on the person of Jesus, the anointed one, the Christ. It is he, the anointed High Priest, who gives us, the Church, our fundamental character and mission. Today we seek renewal in our…Read more
Today we begin our journey through Holy Week, following in the footsteps of our Blessed Lord. As we do so let me say this: During the days of these sacred ceremonies, keep your eyes focused clearly on the Lord. Have eyes only for Jesus. That is…Read more
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I wish to speak with you today about the process in which our Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I have made clear…Read more
On this, our Jubilee Year Lourdes Mass, in honour of our Blessed Lady of Lourdes, I welcome you all and thank especially those who have made great efforts to be here today. As you know, the theme or motto of this Holy Year is that we are…Read more
We come to this lovely celebration of Mass together this morning in order to renew our commitment to the Lord and his mission. As we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord, we present ourselves afresh to him who has called us, out of love, to be…Read more
Today, we open this Year of Jubilee, the Holy Year 2025. The Church first declared a Holy Year in 1300 and has continued ever since. They are occasions for the Church to seek renewal, to undergo a 'reset'. And this Holy Year invites us to deepen…Read more
‘In the beginning’. These words open the Gospel of St John. He signals that something of great importance is being unfolded in what follows. It is something from before time began. ‘In the beginning’. And, more importantly, it is…Read more
My dear friends, Tonight this cathedral is filled with beauty. At its focal point is the crib, and looking into the crib our eyes go straight to the child, the Christ-child. With the eyes of faith, here, we see the greatness of God in a tiny…Read more
I am delighted to be part of this prayer of thanksgiving for the founding and life of this Church of The Immaculate Conception. A year of thanksgiving is coming to a close, 175 years since this church was formally opened in 1849. And we do well…Read more
This evening we pray for the seven priests and two deacons of this Diocese who have died in the last twelve months. As we do so we hear the words of the Gospel: 'Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared…Read more
1974 is a such a long time ago. 50 years, back to Cardinal Heenan. We have seen so many profound changes in this land and in our lives. But one presence does not change: that of our Lord Jesus Christ, his Gospel and his promise to be with us…Read more
‘This sanctuary has been opened to be specifically devoted to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament’. These are the words of Cardinal Manning, spoken 150 years ago today, on 20 October 1874, at the opening of this Church of Corpus Christi.…Read more