Letters and Homilies

From Bishop David and Bishop Emeritus Peter

from the desk of bishop david oakley

recent homilies and pastoral letters

Pastoral Letter – Third Sunday of Advent 2021 – On Expectation

Read or distributed in all churches and chapels of the Diocese on the Third Sunday of Advent, 11th and 12th December, 2021

Homily – Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Bishop David’s homily given at the Mass for the Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8th 2021

Homily – Mass of Thanksgiving for the ministry of Mgr Kevin McGinnell 

Bishop David’s homily given at the Mass in thanksgiving for over 30 years of ministry in education on the retirement of Mgr Kevin McGinnell

Homily – Good Friday 2021

Bishop David’s homily given at the The Lords Passion Good Friday – 2 April 2021, Northampton Cathedral

Homily – Maundy Thursday 2021

Bishop David’s homily given at the Mass of the Lords Supper Maundy Thursday – 1 April 2021, Northampton Cathedral

Homily – Chrism Mass 2021

Bishop David’s homily given at the Chrism Mass – 1 April 2021, Northampton Cathedral

Letter to the diocese from bishop david

Bishop David’s writes about the closure and reopening of our churches

Pastoral Letter – from bishop david

Bishop David’s first pastoral letter, March 2020 

Homily – Easter Vigil 2020

Bishop David’s homily given at the Easter Vigil – 11 April 2020, Northampton Cathedral

Homily – Holy Week reflection by bishop david

Holy Week service to reflect on God’s love and mercy – 6 April 2020, Northampton Cathedral – See video here

Homily – Farewell Mass for Bishop Peter

Farewell Mass for Bishop Peter. Feast of the Chair of St. Peter – 22 February 2020, Northampton Cathedral

Homily – Annual Mass for Religious

Annual Mass for Religious at Northampton Cathedral 6th February 2020

Pastoral Letter – Feast of the Holy Family 2019

Read and/or made available at all Masses of the weekend of the 28th / 29th December 2019

Homily – Diocesan Patronal Feast and launch of year of the word

Mass for Diocesan Patronal Feast Day in honour of Mary Immaculate on Saturday, 7 December 2019

Pastoral Letter – Advent and the year of the word

Read and/or made available at all Masses on the weekend of the 30th November and 1st December 2019

Pastoral Letter – Extraordinary Month of Mission 2019

Read and/or made available at all Masses of the weekend of the 28/29 September 2019

Homily – Thanksgiving for the Vincentian Mission in Dunstable

Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, 28 September 2019 at St. Mary’s, Dunstable

Homily – Lourdes Grotto Mass August 2019

Mass at the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes this Year of St. Bernadette, August 2019 

Homily – CWL National Pilgrimage Mass August 2019

Mass in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow St. Wilfrid’s Church, York August 2019

Pastoral Letter for Lent 2019

Read out or made available in all diocesan churches on 2nd/3rd March 2019

“..I have been asking Our Lady and St Joseph to pray for me, and to intercede for us all in the Diocese of Northampton.

Let us keep each other in prayer over the next few weeks, and let us pray that as this new chapter in the Diocese of Northampton opens, that all of us together will be able to continue that great mission we have been entrusted with of building God’s kingdom in this part of his vineyard”

Bishop Elect David – January 8th 2020