Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Mark (16: 15-18) where Jesus said to the eleven, “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned…”Today we celebrate the Feast of the conversion of St Paul.

Fr Paul said, before the change in name Paul was known as ‘Saul’. At that time, Saul was a young man who looked after the cloaks of the men who were stoning St Stephen, the first martyr of the church. Saul grew into a dedicated and efficient persecutor of Christians.

Fr Paul says today’s feast simply celebrates the day that Christ appeared to Saul in a vision. Saul was on his way to Damascus, and Jesus expressed his disapproval and disappointment in him for his persecution of Christians. Jesus converted Saul through this vision to the true faith.

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