In his pastoral letter for the beginning of Advent, Bishop Alan muses on the legacy of the Year of Mercy, which ended last week. In his visits to parishes, schools and communities he has seen the amazing impact of this “extraordinary moment of grace and spiritual renewal”.
And, he says, we must continue to keep the doors of mercy and reconciliation open in our own lives, just as Pope Francis has asked us to do.
Referring to the sterling work done by Fr Dominic Howarth and Basildon parish for refugees in Calais, Bishop Alan goes on to call on Catholics across the diocese to see Christ in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger. “Refugees, migrants and the victims of human trafficking are our sisters and brothers wherever and whenever we meet them.”