November brings a feast for our souls
"It is natural for all of us that at times our thoughts turn to those whom we have loved who are no longer with us.
How appropriate, then, that the Catholic Church offers us November, which begins with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, as the Month of the Holy Souls." - Bishop Les Tomlinson
A meditative prayer to bring you to Jesus
"By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. The month of October is dedicated to the holy Rosary, one of the best known of all our Catholic devotions. October includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7)." - Bishop Les Tomlinson
Springtime: a time to make a fresh start
"In this year of Grace we are especially conscious of God's presence in our lives and in the moments of challenge and joy, His grace lifts us to meet these challenges and heighten our joy" - Bishop Les Tomlinson
Bishop's invitation to priesthood talks
"How do I know if I have a vocation? It is difficult to describe a vocation because, in a sense, a vocation is a mystery ..... I invite any young man interested in knowing more about the priestly vocation to contact me and maybe join us on September 7th. Maybe there are some pondering questions such as, What if I listen for God’s call? What if I don’t? Listen to the invitation of Jesus: Come and see!" - Bishop Les Tomlinson
Bishop calls young to answer God's call
"Prayer for Vocations
God of life, In the name of Jesus,
we ask you to send your Spirit
so that men and women among us will respond to your call
to service and leadership in our Church as priests, deacons, sisters and brothers." - Bishop Les Tomlinson
Shining light of faith
"Father, help all people to know their vocation in life, and assist them to prepare for it. For your glory, and for the service of your people, call many to be Priests and Religious. Give those whom you call the grace to respond generously and persevere faithfully.
Mary, Mother of the Church, show your care for the body of Christ, encourage many vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Amen" - Bishop Les Tomlinson
A chance to celebrate the core of our belief
"Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year. It is the time of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. Advent also is that season in which we are mindful not only of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem, but also that He will come again to judge us in the future and He continues to come to us in so many ways in the present, but especially in the Eucharist." - Bishop Les Tomlinson
Caring for Priests
"Although it is just three months since my arrival in the Diocese of Sandhurst, I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating you, the people of the Diocese on your support and esteem for and appreciation of your priests. In visiting a number of the parishes, I have been heartened to see this regard for your pastors demonstrated in practical ways by the manner in which you care for and support your priest with your assistance, encouragement and friendship." - Bishop Les Tomlinson
A time to remember His precious blood
"The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. John XXIII in his Apostolic Letter ‘Inde a primis’ reminded us that ‘by gazing at the wounds of the crucified Christ each man, even in conditions of abject moral poverty, can say: ‘God has not abandoned me, He loves me, He gave his life for me’, and thus rediscove hope." - Bishop Les Tomlinson
Call for focus on Year of Faith, sacraments
"In this Year of Faith, I would like to emphasise to parents how important it is that they reflect seriously about the celebration of the sacraments with their child, and to ensure that they understand the significance of the sacrament. It can often be difficult to keep a focus on the sacramental journey on which your child has embarked and not to get carried away with the trappings of the celebration itself. It can also be a challenge to respond to the call to be vibrant and full members of the Church after the reception of the sacraments, and not just in the period of preparation. Your school, our priests and parish community are here to help you in this task." - Bishop Les Tomlinson