Sunday 27th September

26th in Ordinary Time

11am. Solemn Mass at St John Fisher RC Church

 home to the Southend Ordinariate Mission

Celebrant Fr. Jeff Woolnough

Do unto others..?

Dear friends,

It has been fascinating to follow our Holy Father on his trip to the U.S.A. Pope Francis’ speech to the U.S. Congress was received very well and below is a brief summary of the contents…

Pope Francis has told the US Congress that the US must see migrants as "persons" and not as "numbers".

Speaking to a rare joint session, the Pope said immigrants should be treated "with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated".

In the same address, the pontiff renewed his call for ending the death penalty, and for better treatment of the poor and disadvantaged. He was warmly greeted by 500 lawmakers, justices and officials. After entering the chamber to thunderous applause, he said the world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since World War Two, and noted the immense challenges that the crisis presents. But he drew particular attention to the movement of migrants from Central America to the United States in search of a better life - a reference which drew a standing ovation.

"We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation," he said.

For years, hopes of wide-reaching immigration reform have been dashed by political disagreements in Washington, and President Barack Obama’s attempt to allow 11 million undocumented immigrants to avoid deportation has been stalled by a legal challenge.

Also in the speech:

*the world must be attentive to "fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind"

*on economic inequality, he said "even in the developed world, the effects of unjust structure and actions are all too apparent"

*renewed calls for "the global abolition of the death penalty" saying criminals should be rehabilitated

*he reaffirmed his "esteem and appreciation" to the indigenous people of the Americas who faced "turbulent and violent" contacts with colonising powers

*the "very basis of marriage and the family" is being called into question, in a thinly veiled warning about same-sex marriage

*Our Pope called on Congress to be inspired by Moses and promote unity through "just legislation"

Just a short reminder, then of the impact that Pope Francis is making on the world on behalf of Jesus Christ as his Vicar on earth!

Fr. Jeff