Here you can find a collection of reflections about Sunday Mass themes or other topical items. The most recent is shown first. Older items can be found in the archives.

God will dwell with us - It is up to us Christians, even though we belong to different church communities, to let the world see 'one people' made up of every ethnic group, race, and culture, old and young, sick and healthy.

Who is my Neighbour? - They are to recognise goodness at work wherever it is to be found and to realise that no group has a monopoly on holiness and virtue.

Heart speaks to Heart - the theme of the papal visit.

Putting our hand to the plough - Jesus is so uncompromising in his demands, because he does not want his followers to imagine for one moment that this is some kind of 'soft option'.

Following Jesus - The cross and Christ are inseparable.

Contrasting Attitudes - How difficult it can be ... to really believe in the unconditional love and mercy of God for all.

Corpus Christi - It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way.

Papal Visit - Many people are asking about the arrangements for the papal visit and how they might get to see the Pope.

The Birthday of the Church - The Spirit is given for a purpose. The gift of the Spirit, as today's readings present it, sends us on a mission.

The Ascension of the Lord - ...it is not the task of Christians to 'stand looking up into the sky' either to mourn Jesus' departure from earth or to simply await his return.

"Peace is my farewell gift to you" - The notion of God making a home within us is one of the most peaceful and warming images of the whole Bible. Peace is much more than the absence of conflict.

A Fresh Start ... means a call to action. It doesn't ask for a new or elaborate strategy, but the will to take the first small step in reaching out to another.

Catholic Church and Child Welfare - A letter to The Times

Planning our Future - Jesus is alive and watching us from a nearby shore. He is not a name from the past or a picture on the wall.

I am the resurrection - This Life in the believer has the same nature as the risen Jesus and is, therefore, quite different from the human condition in which we find ourselves.

New Life - The Easter message is that Christ has risen. Life has conquered death. Don't give up!

Paschal Mystery - The effects of celebrating this holiest of times with your parish community can go far beyond what you anticipate.

Last Chance - ... a warning and a choice: you can go back to your old ways, or you can make a fresh start. It's up to you.

Homeward Bound - .. it might well be that for many of us the real challenge is to recognise in ourselves the desire to limit God's mercy to those we consider worthy.

Yet another call to repentance - .. if we refuse chance after chance, the day might come when all will be lost: not because God shut us out, but because we shut ourselves out.

High and Lows - It's wonderful when we meet him on the mountaintop, but most of the action is down here in the valley.

Inward Journey - The essence of these temptations was the idea that he could go it alone, that he could be entirely self sufficient.

Lent - ... is the season to realize that God is continually creating ...

Launch out into the Deep - In a world that demands perfection as a prerequisite for credibility, remember that it is not the world, but the Lord, Creator and Saviour who has confidence in you.

Blessings - During this coming week we celebrate two Feasts which have blessing rites connected with them.

Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. - Undernourished faith quickly dies. Shared faith never dies.

Wine - ... we must be trusting as Mary was and listen to her advice to the servants "Do as he tells you".

Baptism - You and I are at our best ... when we're giving, especially when we're giving of ourselves.

Christmas Message from Archbishop Vincent - The eternal word assumes our flesh. This is the source of our hope, for now every human life is clearly of eternal significance.

The Christmas Season - Much of the Christian meaning behind the symbols of Christmas has faded from the memory of our society.

Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation - ... we have discovered a new God - the God whose steadfast love endures for ever.

Preparing for Christ - If we begin to give of ourselves generously, the Lord will increase our love and help us to make progress in the kind of life we are meant to live.

Seek that which is above - May God guide your minds, and hearts this Advent that you will not forget or dismiss his blessings.

Christ the King - All the Gospel reading over the last year lead up to this moment...

Eternity - We look on the face of Christ and we find the antidote to our fears.

Invitation - To paraphrase St Paul "They will not come, unless they have been invited'.

When the Saints go marching in. ... we must proclaim it with our lives.

Lord, that we might see - ... we should pause and reflect on where Jesus is wishing to lead us ...

World Mission Sunday - In a world where so much divides us, World Mission Sunday rejoices in our unity.

The Vine - It's possible that you too fall into the mistake made by many Christians: activism and more activism, projects and more projects for the good of others, without taking the time to consider whether in all they do, and by all they do, they are united to Christ.

Evangelisation - The Holy Spirit will use our natural gifts and talents for the work of proclaiming the Good News if we are open and willing.

Charity and Mission - May this jubilee year be for our Vincentian Family a year of grace and conversion...

Our Gifts - Just imagine what the Church would be like if all Christians, from children to adults, did all they could to put their gifts at the service of others.

Seek first the Kingdom of God ... Jesus turns the situation on its head.

Be Strong, Do not Fear! ... there has been a total explosion in the world of global communication and yet loneliness is on the increase. People live isolated lives, cut off from each other, feeling cut off from God.

Cork - ... I take this opportunity to thank you all for the way I have been made welcome here at Sacred Heart.

Pray for Priests - With faith in Christ's presence in His Church let us be confident that "we will not be conquered by evil but overcome evil with good."

Travelling light - On our spiritual journeys, 'being prepared' means abandoning our props and supports, and entrusting ourselves to God.

The Church of the Apostles - ... we belong to a Church that is constantly involved in conversion, a Church were position doesn't guarantee certainty but requires openness.

Can We Trust? - "God has not created me for naught...  He knows what he is about." (J.H. Newman)

Catholic Children's Society (Westminster) - ... it would be totally unacceptable for our Catholic agency to act in a way that is at odds with the teaching of the Church.

Our Christian Logo - With the sign of the Cross, we indicate who we are and to whom we belong.

Come Holy Spirit - The greatest sign and expression of God's Spirit is love. When we experience love, and witness love, and give love, we know that God is among us.

The Ascension of the Lord - Don't stand there looking at the sky. The kingdom of God is among us, right here, right now, and our future glory is guaranteed.

God's unfailing love - We should take the initiative where love is concerned...

Dear Parents ... keep the focus on the real wonder of the day, the joy of receiving Jesus for the first time.

Called to live the good life - There will be sufferings and disappointments, but they will have meaning for us if we centre our life on Christ.

Lourdes 2009 ... the mother of Jesus, whose only recorded instructions in the gospels are "Do as he tells you!"

Living in the presence of the Risen Christ - Faith in the resurrection of Jesus is a practical thing.

Easter People - Resurrection is not just a question of rising from the dead on the last day, but it also about daily rising from the many mini tombs within which we so often find ourselves.

He loved us to the end - ... it is not just a memory, not just an historical event of two thousand years ago that we commemorate. Rather it is a living story that beckons us to enter into it and be one with Christ as he passes from death to life.

Seeds of Goodness - With Jesus, a new spring always follows even the severest winter.

One Day at a Time - God does not wait for us to make the first move; the initiative comes from him.

Temples of the Living God - This gift of God's presence, he passed on to his disciples. We too are charged with the very life of God. God's love and grace are within the very fabric of who we are - identifying us, challenging us, and enabling us.

Trust in God - If God is for us, who is against us!

God's Paths - Lent is a season of grace when the church invites us to leave ourselves free to be loved once more by God who cares for us totally.

Your Sins are Forgiven - God wants us to know that his mercy has far more power to heal than sin has to wound.

Small Christian Communities - Lent 2009 We are challenged to relate Jesus' journey to our own journey through life...

Thanks and Appreciation - Fr. Kevin O'Shea CM ... gave me the very good news of your most generous donation of £440 to our mission here in Eastern Europe.

"CIC" - There are times they might think they are in the Odeon rather than Sacred Heart.

Running away from God's Will - ... often when we pray we find ourselves asking God to do our will, rather than listening and following what God wants us to do.

Situations Vacant - Gifted People Required - ... use your gifts in the service of our Parish.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit - let us leave behind our half-hearted efforts and show the world what Christianity is really about.

Epiphany - God does not expect grand things from us but does want us to be very conscious that the ordinary day-to-day pieces of our lives become precious gifts if we give them to God with love.

Holy Family - We don't become holy despite the hustle-bustle of family life, but in and through it.

Christmas - Maybe our politicians and financial leaders are tinkering with the outside symptoms without getting down to the root causes of our problems.

Humble Servants - It is only when we are open to God and others that we can truly rejoice.

The Voice of Peace - "So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works. Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual good will."

Joyful Hope - Overwhelmed by the demands of the season, we can wait for Jesus in a state of anxiety, or cynicism, or harried indifference toward the miracle that is upon us. Or we can take our cue from the prayer we hear every Sunday and "wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ."