First Sunday of Advent

A PASTORAL LETTER

FROM THE BISHOP OF LANCASTER

For the First Sunday of Advent 2025

APPOINTED TO BE READ AT ALL PUBLIC MASSES IN ALL CHURCHES AND CHAPELS IN THE DIOCESE OF LANCASTER ON THE WEEKEND OF 29th/30th November 2025

My dear people,

As we begin the Holy Season of Advent my thoughts turn to Mary, our Blessed Lady, beginning the final month of her pregnancy.  She is carrying Life.  For eight months she has sensed this child growing within her, this child given to her, and taking from her.  As unborn children we feed on our mother’s blood, warmth, nourishment.  It is as though the mother says to her child, ‘Take and eat, this is my body for you. Take and drink, this is my blood for you, that you may have life from me.’  In her case of course this nourishment is of a created type.  Many years ahead, she would receive food given her by her Son, food of a different type, giving her eternal Life.

Let us reflect on this young pregnant woman as she offers us a way into this new Advent.  She is expecting, preparing and waiting.  She invites us to take on these same tasks in our own times by spending time meditating on her as she approaches the end of her pregnancy. We are so easily tempted to rush on to the events of the 25th of December, counting down the days, but that is to miss so much, as if we are so taken by the gift that we completely overlook the care taken by the giver of the gift.  

The gift has been chosen for us, prepared for us, brought to us, shared with us.  None of this should be taken for granted.

Before the shepherds are disturbed at night, before angel choirs fill the skies, before the Magi leave their homelands, and whilst Herod remains in the dark concerning world events, this young woman carries in her womb the Lord of Life, already started on His work of Salvation.  Even before her delivery she has so much to share with us. For her the Word became flesh nine months before Christmas, on the Solemnity we barely notice these days, the Annunciation of the Lord. She knows Him best of all.

What a precarious approach the Giver of Life has taken.  From her village life Mary would be well acquainted with the risks of pregnancy.  She would know of women who died in childbirth, of babies lost.  She would know of difficult deliveries and infection risks.  Added to that she now has an unwelcome 80-mile journey to make from Nazareth to Bethlehem and it has come at exactly the wrong time.  St Joseph may be a good carpenter, but he is no midwife. While in Nazareth she was amongst her own people and could count on the care and support of devoted family and neighbours experienced in these matters, and she had the comfort of familiar surroundings. Now however, she is to be at the mercy of strangers, in a place unknown to her, full of uncertainties.  It seems circumstances conspired against her and this little blessed life she carried within her. Thank God, with St Joseph by her side, she was able to trust in God’s protection for herself and for the child in spite of the odds.

We need to reflect on this because we live in a culture which is increasingly losing sight and understanding of the gift of life and losing sight of the Giver of Life.  Sadly, for all the advances in society, in healthcare and useful technology, there is much in our contemporary culture that works against life, particularly vulnerable life.  Unborn children are severely and increasingly at risk.  Each year hundreds of thousands are killed.  The elderly are facing increasing pressure to effectively end their own lives.  In hospitals DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) is often put on the records of disabled and sick by medical professionals without any reference to family.  It is becoming an ‘undisclosed policy’.  Government chooses to cut Development-aid in favour of Defence budgets.  The lives of millions of the poorest are adversely affected.  From my years in Zambia and my visits to Ethiopia, South Sudan and Kenya I have seen what a difference it makes to the people whose living conditions are little different from those that the Mother of our Redeemer would have experienced.  It seems that those who are born disadvantaged are subject to ever-increasing disadvantage.  I strongly recommend to you Pope Leo’s recently published first Apostolic Exhortaion, Dilexi te (On love for the poor).

There is another event and another date that remains hidden from us, brought to our minds every Advent; the Second Coming of Christ.  He promised to come again, and He keeps His promises.  It will happen at an hour we do not know, but we must expect and prepare and wait.

The Centenary year is over.  The year of Jubilee will soon be completed.  This has been a rich year of Grace and Blessings for us. Blessings are more than favours or tokens of approval from a kind Lord.  They are given as ‘cage-rattlers’ to wake us from sleep and pull us back from our distractions.  They are given as tonics to strengthen us for what still remains to be done if we are to complete our journey of faith.  They are given to enable us to expect, prepare and wait.  Like Mary, I am called to be a guardian of creation, a guardian of life by becoming a guardian of ‘The Life’.  If I fail in this, whatever else I may achieve will count for nothing.

With my blessing on you and your families,

+The Right Reverend Paul Swarbrick

Bishop of Lancaster

A little blue sky amid the rain clouds.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

“Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’”  The technical term for this inscription is called the ‘Titulus Crucis’, and according to Roman custom it was a board that was carried in front of the condemned person or sometimes put around their neck, so it could be easily be attached to the cross. 

We know from scripture that Pilate was responsible and took the initiative in writing these words, while it would have normally been a scribe to commission this type of work.  This inscription was written in three languages, Hebrew, Latin and Greek which were the great languages of the cultured world at that time in the Roman empire. 

Every nation had something to teach the world.  In Greece they taught the world – Philosophy.  Rome taught the world – The law and right government, and the Hebrews taught world – religion in worshipping the one true God. 

Since Jesus was ‘The law of God’ and the ‘image of God’, it is symbolic that the great nations of the world should claim Him King.  Jesus’ Kingship was universally proclaimed to all passers-by, through this multi-lingual announcement, indicating that Jesus was drawing all people to himself. 

The ‘Jews’ as you can imagine, rejected this title and insisted that Jesus was only a pretender to these claims.  However, Pilate replied, ‘What I have written, I have written,’ and he would not allow the inscription to be altered. 

While, Pilate seemed to crumble under the pressure at Jesus’ trial by the High Priest and Pharisees’, Pilate now is reasserting his authority, forcing the Pharisees’ to live with his decision, to a title of honour, confirming Jesus’ Kingship, that the ‘Jews’ were very keen to stamp out from the very beginning.

As we know, Jesus was crucified close to the city walls, and as a result, the Titulus inscription publicly became a talking point among the people.  The advantage of it being written in three languages, was to help formally announce ‘Jesus as King’ across the whole world. 

Originally the Titulus inscription was to charge Jesus as a royal pretender.  But now this real enthronement on the cross shows Jesus’ Royal Sovereignty and Kingship which is now acknowledged for all time.  Heralded by Pilate as a prophecy, who represented the greatest political power in the world, written in the sacred and secular languages of the era, shows the event of Jesus’ ‘hour’ on the cross, his only sacrifice as High Priest, Prophet and King as an important divinely event that concerns the entire world, giving humanity a last chance of salvation, to repent and believe.

We read in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, the ‘Word became flesh, and dwelt amongst us.’  Jesus is the Word of God; He came to earth over 2000 years ago as a child. 

However, Jesus existed longer than that.  He has no being and no end, like the Father & the Holy Spirit. 

They are the Alpha and the Omega, being with God the Father from the very beginning.  When creation of the universe began, Jesus was there as God’s Word, making everything come into reality.  Jesus is truly the King of the Universe.

Jesus has now opened the doors to everlasting life, through his ‘Hour’ of Glorification and Exaltation on the cross.  Through our Baptism in his Death & Resurrection, may we too enjoy his Kingship as anointed ‘Children of God’, as we continue to sing God’s praises with all the angels and saints during our liturgy of Holy Mass.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Today’s readings remind us of something we often prefer to avoid: the reality that this world will not last forever. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus speaks of the destruction of the Temple and warns of trials, persecution, and upheaval.  However, these words are not meant to frighten us but to awaken us to what truly matters.

We live in a world that values security and durability, yet Jesus tells us that even the most solid of structures will fall.  What endures is our faith and our relationship with God. “By your perseverance will secure your lives” Jesus says.  Perseverance is not passive waiting; it is active loyalty, holding fast to Christ when the world shakes.

In our first reading from Malachi, it speaks of the day of the Lord: for the evildoers, there will be fire; however, for those who fear God, there will be healing.  This is not about fear but hope.  God’s justice will prevail, and His mercy will heal.  

In these final weeks of the liturgical year, the Church calls us to look beyond the present moment.  The end times are not about predicting dates but about living every day, ready to meet the Lord.  That means prayer, charity, and trust, even when life feels uncertain.

So, as we approach Advent, let us renew our commitment to Christ. The world may tremble and shake, but if our hearts are anchored in Christ, we will have nothing to fear.  For He is our hope, our strength, and our eternal reward.

Remembrance Sunday

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son,

having conquered death,

should pass over into the realm of heaven,

grant, we pray, to your departed servants

that, with the mortality of this life overcome,

they may gaze eternally on you,

their Creator and Redeemer.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Eternal rest grant upon them O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them,

may they rest in peace.

Amen.

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

The most important temple is the temple of a person’s soul because God dwells within each one of us, in the most secret centre of our being. 

In addition to the temple of the soul, there are many sacred places throughout the world.  There are shrines, churches, basilicas, grottos, cathedrals, and other holy places that are set aside for the sole purpose of worshipping God.  They are to be a Heaven on earth, a place where we join with the Seraphim and Cherubim singing praises to the Most Holy Trinity.  Today’s feast commemorates one such a place.  In the city of Rome, there are four major basilicas.  St John Lateran is one of them and it is the oldest and most important, because it is the Pope’s cathedral.  Not the Vatican which most people think about. 

This means St John Lateran Basilica is not only the mother church of the Archdiocese of Rome but also the mother church of the entire Catholic Faith.

In 312 when ‘Constantine the Great’ became ruler of the Western Roman Empire, he took possession of the Lateran Palace and gave it to the Pope.  The construction of the first Basilica in Rome began.  Upon its completion in the year 324, it was dedicated by Pope Sylvester and given the name the ‘House of God’, with a special designation to Christ the Saviour.  ‘Constantine the Great’ did much to help the Catholic Church flourish after legalising its practice.  He saw to it that the Lateran Basilica was beautifully decorated. 

Up until that time, the Church had suffered greatly, always fearing persecution and death.  Now it has its first cathedral in the heart of Rome, with the Roman Emperor’s full support.

In the Gospel, we witness Jesus entering the Temple in Jerusalem and driving out the money changers.  His zeal for His Father’s house is striking: “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”  This moment is not just about cleansing a physical space, it’s a prophetic act pointing to a deeper truth.  When challenged, Jesus says, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” St. John tells us He was speaking of the temple of His body, when he laid in the tomb for three days before His Resurrection.

The Lateran Basilica stands as a symbol of unity in the Church. We worship in many parishes and chapels, we are one Church, one Body in Christ.  This feast reminds us of our communion with the Pope and with one another.  It is a call to build up the Church not just with bricks, but with lives of holiness, charity, and fidelity.

As we celebrate the dedication of this ancient basilica, let us renew our dedication to being living temples of God.  

May our hearts be places of prayer, our lives signs of unity, and our communities reflections of the holiness of the Church.

And may Christ, who zealously cleansed the Temple, purify us so that we may truly be His dwelling place.

Today, we also pray for our own Diocese of Lancaster and Bishop Paul, all the religious orders throughout the UK, and the Universal Church in general. 

Our churches are sacred places that exist to be places where we can come to encounter the Lord.  So, we pray especially for the Pope Leo today, asking the Lord to help him and support him, in mind, body and soul, may he receive many blessing on his Papal See. 

All Souls

Today, as we commemorate All Souls’ Day, we bring before the Lord the memory of all our departed loved ones.  We pray for their eternal rest, trusting in the mercy of God who is the Lord of life.

In the Gospel, Jesus comes to a town called Nain, a small village about six miles from Nazareth.  He sees a funeral procession of a young man who had died, and his mother, a widow, is heartbroken.  She had lost her only son and without a husband she has lost all means of support.  Jesus can see her pain and was deeply moved.  This moment shows us the heart of Jesus, perhaps He sees in the situation a foreshadowing of the sorrow of his own mother, at His pending death on the cross.  As the Lord of life, He doesn’t ignore the situation, He steps into it.  He brings comfort, healing, and hope.  His word brings life, even in the face of death.

Today, we remember that death is not the end.  Jesus has conquered death through His Resurrection.  The raising of the widow’s son reminds us that Jesus has power over death and He promises eternal life to those who believe in Him.

On this feast of the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, we pray for all the souls who are on their final journey towards Heaven. 

We ask the Lord to guide them, and to bring them to the doors of paradise through the intercession of All the Saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We remember all our loved ones who have died, also for all the Holy Souls who have no one to pray for them.

As Christians we all belong in the One Body of Christ, a community that is visible and invisible.  Our prayers for the dead are always heard, and it helps them to move closer to the Lord, bringing them peace and eternal rest to their immortal souls. 

During our Mass today, we place all our petitions upon the altar, remembering all the people currently listed in our Holy Souls box, our family members, friends, teachers, work colleagues, our war dead and all the parishioners in our diocese who have gone before us, they will always remain with us, in the depths of our inmost hearts.

Let us spend a moment of silence today as we bring our thoughts to mind, remembering the old good times, the happy times, when they were still with us, memories that we will always treasure and hold most dear. 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace.  Amen.

All Saints

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, a feast that lifts our eyes to heaven and reminds us of our true destiny. It is a day of joy, hope, and deep spiritual reflection. We honour not only the canonised saints whose names we know within the Canon of the Church, but also the countless unnamed saints who lived holy lives in the sight of God.  They are our ancestors, our neighbours, perhaps even our family and friends.  Today, we celebrate the great multitude “from every nation, race, people, and tongue” who now rejoice in the presence of God.

The Saints, show us the way of God’s divine path, that long straight, narrow path, that many of us fall and trip upon, but we need to have the courage and the faith to climb back onboard, and carry on.  The examples of the Saints encourage us and spurs us on, telling us that our future is with God, since we are his adopted children.

The Gospel today was the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes.  These words of Jesus are at the very heart of the Christian life.  They describe the character of the saints and the path to holiness.  In a sense they portray Jesus Christ Himself.

Blessed are the poor in spirit:  To be poor in spirit is to recognise our dependence on God.  The saints were not self-sufficient; they were humble.  They knew that everything they had was a gift.  St Teresa of Calcutta, for example, lived among the poorest of the poor, yet she radiated joy because she relied entirely on God’s grace and love.  

Blessed are those who mourn:  The saints were not indifferent to suffering.  Think of St Monica, who wept for years over her son Augustine until he turned to God.  Mourning in this sense is not despair, but a deep compassion and longing for God’s redemption.

Blessed are the meek:  Meekness is not a weakness.  It is a strength.  The saints were not aggressive or domineering; they were gentle and patient.  Jesus Himself said, “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”  Meekness allows us to respond to others with love. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness:  The saints were passionate for justice, truth, and holiness.  They did not settle for  common ground.  They longed for God’s will to be done here on earth.  This hunger drove them to prayer, to service, and to sacrifice.

Blessed are the merciful:  Mercy is the beating heart of the Gospel.  The saints were merciful because they had experienced God’s mercy themselves.  They forgave, they healed, they welcomed.  St John Vianney spent hours in the confessional, offering the mercy of God to sinners, giving people spiritual comfort.

Blessed are the pure in heart:  Purity of heart means having a single focus, a focus on the Lord.  The saints were not divided in their loyalties.  Their hearts were undistracted by worldly ambition.  They saw God in prayer, in the poor, and especially in the Eucharist.  Purity opens our eyes to the divine presence of all those around us.

Blessed are the peacemakers:  Peacemakers are not just those who avoid conflict, but those who actively build bridges.  The saints reconciled enemies, healed divisions, and brought unity.  They were children of God because they reflected the Father’s love for all His children.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:  Many saints suffered greatly, some even gave their lives.  However, they did so with joy, knowing that their reward was in Heaven.  Persecution did not defeat them; it purified them.  Their witness inspires us to remain faithful, even in our darkest of moments.

The Beatitudes are a way of life.  They are the path to Sainthood.  Sainthood is not reserved for a few extraordinary souls.  It is the universal call, our common vocation of every Christian.  

Let us thank God for giving us ‘ordinary folk’, the ability to become Saints in the Kingdom of Heaven.    

May we one day join that great multitude of Angels and Saints in Heaven, as they sing in one chorus of exultant praise, to the Lamb of God.

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C

‘The tax collector beat his breast and said “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”’  The Lord presents to us today an image of two people praying in the temple.  The pharisees stands in prayer, his mind focused on how loyal he is to the temple, always keeping to the rules of fasting and almsgiving twice a week.  He is pleased with his outstanding level of piety and religion, oozing with pride and a sense of great security in his own uprightness. 

The tax collector, who is a social outcast, and conscious of his wrongdoing humbly confesses his sinfulness and asks for God’s mercy.  This humble prayer touches the tender heart of God, and he receives forgiveness.

Many of us, will be able to relate to the tax collector’s sheer state of sorrowfulness of heart.  Possible that he was on his knees, unable to raise his eyes to heaven, in total shamefulness of his sins.  Being desperate to receive the God’s love and mercy, he poured out his heart and soul to the Lord.  How many of us, have done the same throughout the years, in total desperation, pouring out our hearts to the Lord?  Knowing that God is the only person we can turn to.  God is our final hope.    

In the psalms we read “The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.”  In the most desperate of times, when we are at our lowest, the Lord is always there. 

He is waiting at your side, knocking at the door to your heart, so, let us have the courage, to open that door and invite him in.

The words in the poem ‘Footprints in the sand’ seems appropriate:

 “I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life there was only one set of footprints.  I don’t understand why, when I needed you the most, you would leave me.  The Lord whispered, my precious child, I love you and will never leave you, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was when I was carrying you.” 

In our first reading we hear that ‘The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds.”  In our humbleness and total desperation, it is like pressing a red button, to turbo-boost our prayer past all other prayers, piercing through the clouds, and going straight to the altar of the Lord.  In the Lord’s loving kindness, he answers our prayers immediately, giving us instant comfort and consolation through his grace.  The Holy Spirit covering us in his presence, giving us peace in mind, heart and soul.

During our Mass today, when I offer up the gifts of bread and wine placed on the altar, you can also place all your troubles and concerns through prayer, and together, we will offer everything up to the Lord, to his Holy Altar in Heaven.

We are members the Body of Christ, a community who serves the Lord, as humble servants.  May we lose our pridefulness that eats away at the core of our heart. 

May we empty ourselves of all pride, so that, we can rely solely upon the Lord Jesus, who guides our daily thoughts.

Prayer comes from a sincere and humble heart.  If we want it to be heard, let us imitate the tax collector’s humbleness, during our next recitation of the penitential prayer of the ‘I confess’ remembering to beat our breasts at the words, “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault,” and the Lord will hear you and give you mercy through his loving kindness.  

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Today’s readings speak powerfully to us about perseverance, especially in prayer, in faith, and in our mission as disciples.  In a world that often demands instant results and quick fixes, the Word of God invites us to a deeper, and a more enduring trust in the Lord.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow who keeps coming to the unjust judge, pleading for justice.  Though the judge neither fears God nor respects people, he eventually gives in, not because he is righteous, but because the widow refuses not to give up.  Jesus uses this image to teach us about the power of persistent prayer.  “Will not God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night?”  The answer is clear: Yes, God hears us. But yet, Jesus adds a sad and tender question, asking whether:  “When the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on earth?”

This question shifts the focus from God’s faithfulness to our own faith.  Will we remain faithful?  Will we keep praying, even when answers to our prayers seem delayed?  Will we trust in God’s justice, even when the world seems unjust?

In our First Reading from Exodus, it gives us a vivid image of perseverance in action.  As Israel battles Amalek, Moses stands on the hill with the staff of God raised in his hands.  As long as his hands are raised up, Israel prevails. But when he grows tired, the tide turns.  So Aaron and Hur support his arms, helping him to remain steadfast.

This is a beautiful image of intercessory prayer and community support.  We are not called to persevere alone.  We need one another, to lift up each other, to hold each other in prayer, and to stand together in faith.

The Second Reading, from St Paul’s letter to Timothy, reinforces this call to perseverance. St Paul urges Timothy to remain faithful to the Scriptures, which are “inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” He exhorts  him to “proclaim the word, in season and out of season.” This is the mission of every Christian: to be rooted in the Word, to live it boldly, and to share it patiently, even when it’s difficult or unpopular.

So what does this mean for us today?

First, it means we must be a people of prayer.  Not just occasional prayer, but persistent, daily prayer, the kind that shapes our hearts and opens us to God’s will.

Prayer is not about changing God’s mind; it’s about aligning our hearts with His.  Like the widow, we must keep coming to the Lord, trusting that He hears us and will act in His time.

Second, we must be people of faith.  Faith is not just belief, it is trust, even when we don’t see results.  It is the conviction that God is good, that He is working, and that His justice will prevail.  

In times of trial, when we feel weary like Moses, we must allow others to support us, and be willing to support them in turn.

Third, we must be people of the Word.  Scripture is our foundation.  It teaches us who God is, how He acts, and how we are to live.  In a culture that often distorts the truth, we must be rooted in the truth of the Gospel, proclaiming it with love and courage.

Finally, we are reminded that God is not like the unjust judge.  He is our loving Father, who knows our needs and desires justice for His children.  However, He also desires our hearts:  Hearts that trust Him, hearts that persevere, and hearts that will remain faithful.

So let us take courage from today’s readings.  Let us be persistent in prayer, steadfast in faith, and bold in proclaiming the Word of God. And when the Son of Man comes, may He find in us, a faith that endures forever.