Bishop of Plymouth
Bishop Mark O'Toole
In response to the news of the death of RS, a Polish man and patient in Plymouth hospital, Bishop Mark said,
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Mr RS. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children, mother, sisters, and niece and with all those who loved and cared for him. Local clergy will continue to offer pastoral support to the family living in Plymouth, as they have done throughout his time in hospital.” The Right Reverend Mark O’Toole, Bishop of Plymouth |
Bishop Mark expresses sorrow and invites all to support
victims-survivors. |
On the 25th October, the Catholic Church marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Canonisation of St Cuthbert Mayne and the thirty-nine other Martyrs, who died for the Catholic faith in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In a Pastoral Message, Bishop Mark encourages those who can, to return to Mass, to be physically present in a church. Recognising that the world is in many ways “shrouded in gloom” at this time because of the “deadly virus”, Bishop Mark asked parishioners who were not vulnerable and not having to shield, “to be present once more at the holy sacrifice of the Mass.” He stressed that they could do so, “safely, whilst observing all the necessary protocols”.
|
|
Bishop Mark on Pope Francis’ new Encyclical
Bishop Mark today issued a Pastoral Message inviting all to embrace and to prayerfully reflect on Pope Francis’ new Encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti, Brothers and Sisters, all” Click the link below to read Bishop Mark’s full Message and links to the full text of the Encyclica Bishop Mark on Pope Francis’ new Encyclical |
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on almost every aspect of our lives – not least the way we worship together and pray as a Catholic community.
Ordinarily we would have celebrated Home Mission Sunday in September but, in 2020, we celebrate the day set aside to promote evangelisation on Gaudete Sunday – 13 December – the Third Sunday of Advent. There may not be an abundance of joy in our hearts at this time, but Bishop Mark O’Toole tells us that we can still hold on to this fruit of the Holy Spirit through our struggles. Bishop O’Toole is the Bishop for Mission at the Bishops’ Conference. |
“Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Jerusalem.
Shout with gladness, daughter of Sion.” (Zechariah 9:9) These words of the prophet Zechariah echo in us all. They are from the first reading we will hear, when we are able to return to the public celebration of Mass next weekend. In it, the prophet is describing the time of the return of the Jewish people back to Jerusalem following many years spent in exile, in Babylon. With this return from exile the people were able to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. They had the possibility once more of worshipping God in that holy place "Let us now open the doors of God’s House |
Churches re-opening |
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For 85 days, since the 20th of March our doors have been closed as a result of the Pandemic. Today with great joy we are once again opening our church doors for private prayer to our faithful and all those who would like to find quiet and peace in the House of God. We read in sacred scripture the words: For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. Conscious that our people have missed being able to attend this house of prayer, let us commend ourselves to the Lord as we pray |
“Bishop Mark speaks about Opening of our Churches and about St Boniface, Patron of the Diocese”
Listen to his piece on Radio Devon |
The Priestly Heart
|
“Equal from Day One – a message for LifeStream20 Seminar” |
A reflection By Bishop Mark on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of all Priests
We want today to give thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood, and to pray for the sanctification of all priests. We believe that the Merciful love of God that passes through the Heart of Jesus brought forth the great mystery of the priesthood. |
Click the button to read the full text
|
|
|
Bishop Mark's
|
“St Boniface – Model of Courage and Mission” |
|
|
“Let the children come to me”: a message from Bishop Mark to all those involved in Catholic Education in the Diocese of Plymouth
|
A reflection by Bishop Mark for the Solemnity of
St Boniface, Patron of the Diocese of Plymouth, 5th June 2020 |
In a reflection marking the 5th Anniversary of Laudato Si (Praise be to you) - Pope Francis’ Encyclical letter on the earth, which he calls, “our common home” - Bishop Mark O’Toole, the Bishop of Plymouth, has reminded Catholics, that May is a month when we remember Mary’s important role in creation and is a time, too, for recalling the beauty of that creation.
The Pope, Bishop Mark reminded everyone, links the “care of our common home” with the need to care for “those who are already poor and vulnerable”. “The Pope constantly links these two realities” the Bishop suggested, showing “the need to protect and respect our Common home and the need to respect and protect the dignity and lives of the poor. |
“Bishop Mark gives message of ‘a Long Good Friday’” |