Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Mark (3: 31-35) where Jesus said ‘whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’.Fr Paul says today we celebrate the life of St Francis De Sales.

Francis was born in Savoy. He studied law, and then despite the opposition of his father he was ordained to the priesthood. His first mission was to re-evangelize the people of his home district (the Chablais), who had gone over to Calvinism.

Fr Paul says, Francis was always in danger of his life from hostile Calvinists, however he preached with such effectiveness that after four years most of the people had returned to the Church.

Francis was then appointed Bishop of Geneva, and spent the rest of his life reforming and reorganising the Diocese, and in caring for the souls of his people by preaching and spiritual guidance. Fr Paul says about preaching Francis said, “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.”

St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists.

Today in the tradition of our Church, Fr Paul invites us to pray ‘St Francis De Sales…Pray for us!’