ECUMENICAL LINK PARISH
San Paolo Apostolo - Fano, Italy
On Sunday 16 February 2026 the Parish of St Saviour's signed a twinning agreement with the Roman Catholic Parish of St Paul the Apostle in Fano, Italy.​
​Between 12-16 February 2026 a delegation of 14 people from St Saviour's made their pilgrimage to the Holy House of Loreto and then travelled on to Fano to share in the Sunday Mass. The Mayor of Fano Luca Serfilippi and other representatives of the civic administration joined the regular congregation at San Paolo to witness the signing of the agreement.​​
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The picture left shows Don Francesco blessing Fr Richard and Fr Jonathan at the end of the mass, after they had in turn blessed him.​ Previously in the service Don Francesco and Fr Richard each offered a brief homily on the Gospel passage of the day: Matthew 5.20-22, 27-28, 33-34, 37.
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Fr Richard's text is below.
HOMILY
Jesus said to his disciples "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all. Let your Yes mean Yes and your No mean No; Anything more is from the evil one."
Those verses from Matthew’s Gospel challenge us to go further. To strive to be better. To not kill isn’t good enough, we shouldn’t harbour anger either. As disciples of Jesus we are called to go beyond keeping the rules, beyond observing boundaries and fulfilling the law – our calling as the people of God is to explore the depths and riches of God’s grace. And it is God’s grace shown to us in Christ that challenges us to go further. To strive to be better. To go beyond the boundaries that separate and divide. So our celebration together this morning is a demonstration of God’s grace.
As I reflected on the gospel reading for today, drawn from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, it was the last verse that leapt out at me. “Let your Yes mean Yes and your No mean No”. In it’s original context, Jesus is encouraging his disciples to be plain-speaking. To live and speak with an integrity that doesn’t require them to swear, or make special oaths to demonstrate their sincerity. Just a simple Yes or No will do. Well for us who gather today – we come as two congregations from different places to pledge a simple ‘yes’ to one another. ‘Yes’ to travelling together as pilgrims and disciples. ‘Yes’ to supporting one another in prayer, and learning from one another – across our different countries, denominations and traditions. It is a simple but definite ‘Yes’. And that simple ‘Yes’ is an outworking and demonstration of God’s grace, in all its depth and richness.​​
But those of us who have travelled to Fano from St Albans didn’t come here directly. We took a detour. We stopped first in Loreto, and made our pilgrimage to the Holy House. The house where Mary’s ‘Yes’ still resounds today - her simple ‘Yes’ to God’s call on her life. Her ‘yes’ to bringing Christ to the world. As two parishes, two congregations, two Christian denominations today we say ‘yes’ to one another. A simple and straightforward commitment to journey together. But in saying ‘Yes’ to one another, we are saying ‘Yes’ to God – who in Christ yearns for us to be one. And as we say ‘Yes’ to one another and ‘Yes’ to God - like Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, we bring Christ to the world.
Jesus said: “Let your Yes mean Yes and your No mean No.”
Amen? Amen!
