News & Events - Parish News

June's Pastoral Letter from the Vicar

‘They say when you marry in June …’

Posted on Tuesday 3 June 2025 at 10:52am

Fr Nicholas

It’s from a song from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in case you were wondering.

As we step into the beautiful month of June, the world around us seems to come alive with colour and light. The long, sunlit days and blossoming gardens remind us of the Creator’s handiwork and his promise of renewal. Just as nature flourishes in this season, so too are we invited to grow deeper in our faith and our walk with God.

In the liturgical calendar, June often falls within so-called Ordinary Time, a period that may sound mundane but is rich with spiritual meaning. We know that no time is ever truly ordinary when lived in communion with Christ. It’s a season where we are encouraged to focus on the day-to-day journey of discipleship. Green vestments return to the altar, symbolising growth, vitality, and hope. It is during this time that the Church invites us to be formed not by festivals alone but by the steady rhythm of prayer, sacrament, and the cultivation of virtue. There are few major feasts or fasts, but that doesn’t mean it is without purpose. Think of it as the ‘growing season’ for your soul.

There is, of course, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on 27th. In Anglo- Catholic devotion, this month is set aside as a time of deep reflection on the love of Our Lord, poured out for us in the Holy Eucharist and in the mystery of his Passion. The Sacred Heart is not a mere pious image, with questionable art to accompany it, but a profound symbol of Christ’s divine love made manifest in human form – a heart that beats in perfect charity, pierced for our transgressions, and constantly interceding for us before the throne of the Father.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6.9) St Paul reminds us that even when results are not immediate, the seeds we sow in faith and love, with heart, will bear fruit in time. Whether it’s your service with the life of the Church, your acts of kindness, or your time spent with God in quiet devotion – none of it is wasted. This is a good season to recommit to the Daily Mass, where we are nourished by the very Body and Blood of Christ. If you have fallen out of the habit of weekday Mass or morning/evening prayer attendance, June is a beautiful time to return.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: remain in my love.” (John 15.9) In the Sacred Heart, we are invited to dwell in that love, not merely as recipients, but as living vessels through which Christ’s mercy can reach the world. Let this month be a time where we don’t just enjoy the beauty of God’s creation but actively participate in his work to grow the Kingdom. Let June be not merely a summer interlude, but a time of renewal in prayer, reverence, and holy affection for the Sacred Heart. May our parish continue to be a place where the beauty of holiness draws souls ever closer to Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Indeed, may we be wedded to Christ.

Your sincere friend and parish priest,
Fr Nicholas

May's Pastoral Letter from the Vicar

Witnesses for Christ

Posted on Thursday 1 May 2025 at 7:00am

Fr Nicholas

Although I’m writing this – late, again! – on the Monday of Easter Week, a little bleary-eyed much like the first disciples, I’m charged with the responsibility of saying something helpful and coherent for this May edition of St Matthew’s Mail. Well, on Thursday 29 May, forty days on from Easter Day, we celebrate the Feast of Christ’s Ascension into heaven – Ascension Day (Sung Mass at 7.30pm). There is much that could be said. Christ’s is a strange path to glory. I could write about ‘presence’ and ‘absence’, but I'm going for a more developed understanding of what it is for each of us to see ourselves as witnesses for Christ, as surely as those actually present with Christ and on the day of his ascension were witnesses.

Before leaving his apostles, Jesus commissioned them to preach the Gospel to the whole world. In order to help them carry out that mission he promised to send them the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost day he fulfilled that promise.

The task of preaching the Gospel to the world now depends on us. We are Christ’s witnesses. It’s a great privilege but a daunting task. However, we also can rely on the help of the Holy Spirit. But how are we to witness?

There is the witness of words. We witness by professing our faith. This could include explaining it and defending it.

There is the witness of deeds. An apple tree that never produced an apple would be a poor witness for the orchard. Even one good apple speaks. ‘Never recommend anything unless you can provide a sample of it’, wrote Thoreau.

Then there is the witness of one’s life. Trees witness to life just by being. Tall, straight, motionless, they are silent yet eloquent witnesses to life. Flowers bear witness to beauty simply be being what they are. And Christians bear witness by what they are. The most eloquent sermon is the silent sermon for example. Today people no longer want to listen to sermons on faith. They want to see the Gospel in action.

The witness of a Christian life is more powerful than any argument. There are those whose lives bear radiant witness to the transforming power of the faith. In their lives the faith is a bright flame, whereas in the lives of others it is a dim glow or an occasional spark. The person who, despite all his/her human limitations and defects, lives a simple life, taking Christ as the model, is a sign of God and of transcendent realities.

The evangelical witness which the world finds most appealing is that of concern for people and of charity towards the poor, the weak, and those who suffer. Pope Francis, who died this morning, was an outstanding example of that, a compassionate Shepherd. May he inherit the eternal reward. The generosity underlying this attitude and these actions stands in marked contrast to human selfishness. It raises precise questions which lead to God and to the Gospel. A commitment to peace, to justice, to human rights, is a witness to the Gospel.

There is a fourth degree of witness, namely, to bear witness with one’s death. But this is not granted to or asked of everyone. What is asked of each of us is to witness with our lives. This is no soft, easy way, but a way that calls for a special kind of toughness, strength and courage.

There is a hunger in the world today for the Christ of the Gospels. Jesus said to the apostles, “Stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.” The power in question was the power of the Holy Spirit. We need that same power, individually and as a community, if we are to witness to Jesus here in Northampton. Those who witness will share in his glory.

May you joyfully witness to Christ far beyond this Easter and Ascension-tide.

Your sincere friend and parish priest,
Fr Nicholas

An Opportunity…

Does being a School Governor interest you?

Posted on Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 7:00am

Victoria Linthwaite, Executive Assistant and Governance Officer for the David Ross Education Trust is encouraging people to join their Academy Scrutiny Committees as School Governors at their schools across Northamptonshire.

Being a Governor within a Multi Academy Trust is not like traditional school governance where Governors set budgets, write policy etc, it’s more of a scrutinising and checking role. The commitment is fairly minimal (5 meetings a year, all in term time, with the occasional optional review panel) but volunteers get Board experience to put on their CV, networking opportunities both within education and with other Governors, as well as learning about finance, education, HR etc.

If this is something of interest to you, please contact Victoria at vlinthwaite@dret.co.uk for further information or visit www.dret.co.uk

Cathedral in Crisis

Posted on Monday 27 January 2025 at 10:37am

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston
(Dean of Peterborough)

Dear Friends,

Safeguarding concerns have presented a big challenge for the Church of England nationally, but, nearer to home, the now well- publicised financial issues facing our Cathedral have helped to bring home the challenge we are all facing, whether as individuals or as parishes, to make ends meet or to fund properly the ministry and mission of our church. Jesus said, “the poor you have with you always” – and it can sometimes seem as if we are always poor! From a Cathedral perspective it’s disappointing to be facing yet another financial pinch point when we’ve done so much to improve our financial management, and been so creative in the delivery of a fantastic array of exhibitions, events and activities. But like every other business, we’ve all of us been facing the same issues; Covid, the cost of living crisis, the rising costs of fuel and employment – they’ve all continued to pile pressure on our balance sheets.

We have launched an emergency appeal here, and we pray that that may be fruitful. But “we are afflicted but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair” writes St Paul in 2 Corinthians, and Jesus again and again called us not to be afraid or anxious because “your heavenly Father knows you need all these things”. The real challenge for us all is not one of systems, or process, or finance or funding – but faith.

Whatever we face as individuals or as communities – and we need to be responsible in our stewardship and disciplined in our actions – but above all we need to renew our trust in the living God: “strive first for the kingdom of God... and all these things shall be given to you as well”. (Matthew 6.33)

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston
Dean of Peterborough

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