Welcome to St Wilfrid's Parish in the Heart of Preston
Welcome
St Wilfrid’s is an active Catholic parish. in the heart of Preston, served by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), with a history going back over 200 years. As Parish Priest I am delighted to welcome you to St Wilfrid’s. This website gives you details of the many activities of our dedicated parishioners as well as the history of this church. Please contact us for more information or if there is anything we can do.
Wishing you every blessing.
Chris Pedley, S.J.
Pope's June Prayer Intention
That the world might grow in compassion.
Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
Visit the website of the Pray with the Pope.
PENTECOST
Holy Spirit, Lord of light
With the Feast of Pentecost, we come to the end of Eastertide. We pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that together we can be Church, truly living out Christ’s message of love.
The First Reading gives us an account of the first Pentecost day. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, speak to the people who have come from different countries to celebrate the Feast of Weeks, fifty days after the Jewish Passover. Today they are understood in their own language.
The Psalm is a lyrical song of praise to the God who fills all creation with his life.
St Paul (Second Reading) reminds us that the Holy Spirit dwells in us and gives us life. We have received the Spirit of adoption and so we can call on Abba, Father!
Our Gospel, taken from Jesus’s words to the disciples at the Last Supper, is his promise to ask the Father to send us another Helper. With the Father and the Son, the Spirit will remind us of all that Jesus has said.
As Pilgrims of Hope this Pentecost, may we may ponder the gift of the Spirit that fills all people and things, and give thanks for the beauty of creation. We remember in prayer all those who cannot enjoy a livelihood because of the damage we have caused to our common home.
(With thanks to St Beuno's Outreach)
ARTWORK
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Gerolamo Muziano (1528-1592)
Apostolic Palace, Room of Tributes, Vatican Museum
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A copy of this painting was given by Pope Francis to each member of the Synod on Synodality in October 2024.
Bishop Brian McGee of the Diocese of Argyll & the Isles was the delegate for Scotland at the Synod. Click here to read his Pentecost message, where he considers Pentecost, and reflects on synodality, his experience at the Synod and what this painting means to him.
