Bulletin Board
Keep up with the latest news from in and around the diocese.
The London Eucharistic Octave
Place: Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NB
Celebrating the Eucharistic Heart of the Catholic Church
Saturday 25th May @ 6pm: Vigil of the most Holy Trinity. Sung Mass opening the Octave.
Monday 27th May to Friday 31st May @ 6:30pm: Mass in various Rites and Uses of the Catholic Church.
Thursday 30th May – Saturday 1st June @ 7am to midnight: Quarant’Ore Devotions | maidenland.org.uk/forty
Sunday 2nd June @ 11am: Pontifical Mass of Corpus Christi with the Nuncio His Excellency, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia followed by The Continuation of the the Corpus Christi Procession @ 3:30pm.
Pilgrimmage to Italy
Date: Wednesday 4th September to Thursday 12th September 2024
Destination: Italy
Deposit of £300 is required by 5th July 2024
Programme
S. GIOVANNI ROTONDO (2 nights): SHRINE OF S. PIO * MT. S. ANGELO (visit): SHRINE OF ST. MICHAEL ARCHANGEL * LANCIANO (visit): SHRINE OF THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE * ROME (3 nights): ST PETER’S BASILICA COMPLEX AND VATICAN CITY v S. MARY MAJOR BASILICA AND/OR OTHER CHURCHES v CATACOMBS v Free time to explore the VATICAN CITY and ‘old Rome’, shopping * LORETO (visit): THE HOLY HOUSE OF OUR LADY * MOUNTAIN SHRINE OF LA VERNA (3 nights): 1,283 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL, NEARLY 4,000FT (ST. FRANCIS RECEIVED THE STIGMATA HERE). GUIDED TOUR. FREE TIME. CHAPEL OF THE STIGMATA AND OTHER ST FRANCIS PLACES AND RELICS. ROOMS WHERE ST BONAVENTURE AND ST ANTHONY LIVED, CHAPEL WHERE JESUS APPEARED TO ST FRANCIS. LOCAL FOREST, STUNNING LANDSCAPES. * ASSISI (visit). * A Catholic priest will accompany this pilgrimage as spiritual director t Spiritual conferences, Daily Mass, Rosary * A detailed daily programme will be provided.
Please complete booking form to reserve your place.
Celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage at St. George’s Cathedral
Date: Saturday 13th July 2024
Place: St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark
If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th + wedding anniversary this year, please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than May 31, providing the following details: your names in the format John and Mary Smith, your home address, the anniversary you are celebrating, so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop for the renewal of vows during Mass. Spaces are limited. Email us at mflse@rcaos.org.uk. As the title of your email, please write your parish location e.g. Clapham, Beckenham.
Catholic Parish Summit
Date: Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th June 2024
A thousand people from 16 countries (and counting) will gather for a 2.5 day event to send disciples, equip leaders, and launch a transformation of the nations. See us at our booth— we would love you to join us there!
Here are five reasons to why you should come to the Catholic Parish Summit…
- Do you find trying to lead a life of faith in the world takes its toll? Whether you’re parent, teacher, parishioner, or leader in any sphere of life, hear Sr. Miriam James Heidland speak about healing, self-leadership, and rest — and experience the transformative power of the Eucharistic healing service…
- Hear Fr. Philip Conner and his leadership team in Good Shepherd, Workington, share about their first year of leading renewal in their parish…
- Hear Nicky Gumbel and Fr James Mallon in conversation about how the years towards 2033 can be a world-changing, evangelistic decade in the UK…
- When Maria Quinn shared on a webinar about how Blessed Sacrament, Exeter shifted to a radical new model for sacramental preparation, parishes around the country got in touch and replicated the model. Hear her in conversation with Fr Kentigern Hagan and team members from Our Lady and St Benedict Parish, together with Jenny Baker from Celebrate, a ministry equipping families across the country…
The Alpha Café will be open every day selling coffee and tasty snacks. Chat with the Alpha UK team over a cappuccino about how to reach more guests and how to best use your Alpha to change culture in your parish…
First Saturday Divine Mercy Recollection Day
The Divine Mercy Apostolate, London is holding a First Saturday Divine Mercy Recollection Day at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, on Saturday 1st June 2024 from 11 am to 4:30 pm. The Recollection Day will include teachings on the Message of Mercy, Holy Mass, Stations of the Cross, Hour of Mercy with Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the Image of Merciful Jesus. All welcome. Pls call millie on 07957594646 for more information. Coaches from Ealing Broadway and Victoria.
Pilgrimmage to Fatima 2024
Pilgrimage to Fatima
Date: 7th to 14th June 2024
Cost: £870.00 (twin room), £950 (single). All ensuite. Deposit £570/£650 to be paid by 10th April 2024
Booking form: www.adaywithmary.org
Daily Mass (some in Capelinha) and Rosary l Tour of Fatima Shrine, Aljustrel Village, places of the apparitions of the Angel of Fatima l Free time l Exhibition in Postulation Office (causes of St. Francisco and St Jacinta) l Guided tour of the Shrine’s excellent ‘Luz et Paz’ Exhibition l Basilica with tombs of St. Jacinta, St. Francisco and Sr Lucia ● Shrine’s official celebrations 12 & 13 June and international Mass l Processions of Our Lady and of the Blessed Sacrament in Shrine, International Rosary and procession l Outdoor Stations of the Cross and Holy Hour at St. Stephen Chapel (Hungarian Calvary) l Day tour by coach to Batalha, Alcobaza and Sitio (Our Lady of Nazarè) A Catholic priest will accompany this pilgrimage.
View brochure here.
How Beauty Draws us Closer to God
Fr Patrick van der Vorst, a recently ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster, former Director of Sotheby’s Europe, and founder of the evangelistic initiative www.Christian.Art, will deliver our Marian Lecture on How Beauty Draws us Closer to God. Fr. Patrick will explore how beauty elevates us to encounter the Divine, how the Church has historically sought to create art that facilitates this meeting, and how this can happen in our visually overstimulated world.
Tickets are £10 and can be purchased How Beauty Draws us Closer to God | Fr Patrick van der Vorst (17-May-2024) · ChurchSuite Events
Pastoral Message on Assisted Suicide
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Our world is beautiful, but it is also troubled. We are witnessing an increasing number of threats to the dignity of the human person. These range from violence and war to poverty and disease. Our global climate is in crisis. Some of these threats may seem distant to us. They happen to other people in other countries; but the human family is one. We are our brothers and sisters keeper. We share a common home and share one humanity. There are, however, some direct threats we face at home, threats to human life at its earliest beginnings through abortion, and threats to human life at its end through assisted suicide. These threats are not only physical. They are also moral and spiritual. They may involve individuals, but their impact is much more extensive and challenges our very understanding of the value and dignity of human life. Threats to human life, at whatever stage of existence, undermine our claim to uphold equality in a most fundamental way……..
Click here to view full message from Archbishop John Wilson.
Catholic Mothers Apostolate Conference 2024
Date: Saturday 11th May & Sunday 12th May
Place: St. Francesca Cabrini Covent of the Sacred Heart, Forest Hill Road, Honor Oak, SE23 3LE
The apostolate aims to support and help mothers to grow in faith and understanding of their vocation as mothers and wives. Mothers from across the diocese (and further) are invited to join us for a weekend of prayer, friendship and formation. Sign up for event online Events – Bringing mothers and families together (catholicmothers.co.uk)
View leaflet for more info.
Altar Servers 46th Annual Rally
Date: Monday 6th May 2024 @ 10am.
Place: The Friars, Ayelsford Priory, Kent, ME20 7BX
Our annual rally for Southwark Altar Servers is on May Day Bank Holiday Monday 6th May 2024 at The Friars, Aylesford Priory, Kent. We are pleased Canon Victor Darlington is the principal celebrant, and you are invited to concelebrate.
As usual servers will be enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen and those already in the Guild may renew their promises. Should you wish any of your servers to be presented with a long service award, such as the silver medal for ten years’ service, please email name/s by the end of April.
The annual rally gives the servers a great opportunity to collectively acknowledge and celebrate their special Ministry of Service in the Church. Furthermore, the
gathering encourages servers to socialise with other servers and share and renew their faith, so helping to build God’s kingdom. If you have not attended the rally before, please take the time to ‘Come and See’. We look forward to welcoming you, your servers, families, and friends, at The Friars and hope you will have an enjoyable day. Saint Stephen, Christ’s dear martyr, pray for us.
Download program here.
Mass for New Catholics
This year, the Mass for New Catholics will be offered, to all those who are being received into the Church this Easter, in three different locations. Please invite those who will be new Catholics (neophytes) to attend the Mass of their choice (along with any friends, family or supporters) and ask them to register their intention to do so through the relevant link, provided below.
Mass for New Catholics (05-May-2024) · ChurchSuite Events (main celebrant: Bishop Paul Hendricks)
St Teresa, 4 Maidstone Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8TX
Mass for New Catholics (15-May-2024) · ChurchSuite Events (main celebrant: Bishop Philip Moger)
St Peter the Apostle, 103 Woolwich New Road, Woolwich, SE18 6EF
Mass for New Catholics (25-May-2024) · ChurchSuite Events (main celebrant: Bishop Philip Moger)
The English Martyrs, 2 Mitcham Lane, Streatham, SE16 6NN
Selce Energy Efficiency Advice for your home
Selce are pleased to announce new offerings for community groups and residents in Greenwich and Lewisham, including:
- Five new free bookable workshops and talks, in addition to our classic energy advice workshop
- FUTUREFIT HOMES: A handholding service to help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient
To book a workshop, talk, pop-up energy café or stall for one of your events or groups please contact community@selce.org.uk
- NEW FREE WORKSHOPS FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS!
In addition to our classic energy advice workshops, we’ve created a number of workshops to empower the residents in Greenwich and Lewisham understand all the different things they can do to reduce their energy bills, our new workshops include:
- Keep Cool In the Summer! (low cost ways to stay cool & safe in the summer)
- Installing Draughtproofing and Small Energy Savers
- Future-proof your home: an introduction to home improvements for energy efficiency
- Insulation! Insulation! Insulation! with Mr. Egg and Friends (for children and families)
- Nature-based materials for improving your home’s energy efficiency
To find out more visit: www.selce.org.uk/workshops and to book contact community@selce.org.uk
Events in the Archdiocese
Young Adult Events
St George’s Cathedral hosts a monthly Young Adult Mass at 6:00 pm on the first Sunday of every month, followed by a social gathering (for those aged 18+). There are also weekly events and socials on Thursday evenings. Details can be found on the RCAOS website, Facebook, and Instagram @stgeorgesya.
Flame 2025
Flame is the largest Catholic youth event in the UK, featuring guest speakers, award-winning musicians, praise and worship, Eucharistic Adoration, and much more! The event is open to those from school year 9 to university age.
The Archdiocese has purchased a block booking. Group Leaders from schools, parishes, and universities can book at www.tinyurl.com/flame25
The early-bird price is £29, which is payable by 1 August 2024
- To receive regular updates on youth and young adult activities, please sign up to our Youth Network at www.tinyurl.com/scysnetwork
- For details of forthcoming youth days, youth retreats, training, and other events, please visit www.tinyurl.com/scysevents
- Please direct any enquiries to youth@rcaos.org.uk.
- ‘Beginning Experience’
Beginning Experience provides peer support for Separated, Divorced, and Widowed persons, so as to facilitate the grief resolution process, and enable those wounded by grief to rediscover love for themselves, others, and God. Facilitated by trained peer ministers, grief resolution programmes take place in nine countries on three continents, including here in the south of England.
The poster gives details of the weekend 12-14th April 2-24. Click here to download.
A Day with Mary 2024
Download poster for full schedule here.
Date: 24th February 2024
Place: St. Elphege’s Catholic Church, Stafford Rd, Wallington, SM69AY
Date: Sunday 12th May 2024
Place: Walsingham National Catholic Shrine. View poster for travel information.
Date: Saturday 13th July 2024
Place: Westminster Cathedral, Westminster.
Date: Saturday 27th July 2024
Place: St Anselm, Tooting Bec.
Date: Saturday 24th August 2024
Place: St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark.
Date: Saturday 12th October 2024
Place: Westminster Cathedral, Westminster.
Date: Saturday 14th December 2024
Place: St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark.
Please check www.adaywithmary.org or www.eventcatholic.com for times.
Foster Carers with Chrysalis Care
Have you ever considered being a foster carer, or know someone who has space in their life and a spare bedroom to help transform a child’s life? You could become a foster carer and give a child in need a secure home.
Chrysalis Care was establised in 1997. We are a family-owned high quality foster caring agency with a purpose to transform the lives of children and young people.
Contact Chrysalis Care at:
Email: info@chrysaliscare.org
Tel: 0208-298-2800
www.chrysaliscarefostering.org
FUTURE-FIT HOMES: A NEW HANDHOLDING SERVICE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS MAKE THEIR HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT
Selce has been awarded funding to support Lewisham and Greenwich homeowners to access the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme to make their homes more comfortable, cheaper to heat and better for the planet.
Our Future Fit Homes team will provide a personalised, end-to-end service to make greening the home easier to navigate, including:
- an over the phone funding eligibility assessment;
- a home assessment from one of our expert team, checking where your home is losing heat and what measures could help;
- identifying local contractors who could complete the work;
- acting as a single point of contact with contractors and the local authority (where necessary).
This service is completely free to homeowners eligible for ECO funding and offered at cost price for those who are ineligible. To register for a call back for yourself or someone in your community by completing this form.
If you think members of your community would benefit from knowing about this service, we can come and speak to your group about the service, deliver a Future-proof your home workshop, or bring our stall to one of your events.
Contact community@selce.org.uk to book in a visit.
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Retrouvaille: A Programme for Couples Struggling in their Marriages
Download poster here.
Help Your Marriage – Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue … or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille is a programme to support couples who have difficulties in their marriage. It brings a positive focus, new hope and helps nourish and grow your marriage. Tens of thousands of couples headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending and using the tools provided. The programme helps spouses uncover or re-awaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together. It helps them through difficult times whether they are disillusioned or in deep misery. There is no group therapy or group work. For confidential information about ‘Retrouvaille’ or to register for the next programme commencing with a Virtual weekend on 8 – 11 February 2024 or a Face to Face weekend in Welwyn Garden City on 14-16 June 2024, call or text 07887 296983 or 07973 380443 or email retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com – or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk.
Retrouvaille – Do you need in your marriage? Retrouvaille has helped many couples find new hope, nourishment and growth in their marriages. If you want to uncover or reawaken the love, trust and commitment that brought you together and work through difficult times in your marriage contact Retrouvaille confidential for more information about our 2024 programmes. There is no group therapy or group work. Our next programme commences with a Virtual weekend on 8 – 11 February 2024 or there is a Face to Face weekend in Welwyn Garden City on 14-16 June 2024. Call or text 07887 296983 or 07973 380443, email retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com – or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk
Catholic Youth Ministry Internships
Castlerigg Manor (The Lancaster Diocese Retreat Centre) is looking for young Catholics aged 18-25 to join their Youth Ministry Internship Programme. The scheme gives participants wide ranging experience, skills, training, and qualifications as well as the opportunity to work with a fantastic team based in the English Lake District. For more information contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk
Girls Self Defence classes in Lewisham
Lewisham Housing are delighted to announce that Clarion have organised new Free Self-defence sessions for girls aged 13 -16 years running every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:30 at the Orchard Gardens Community Centre, SE13 7LQ.
Participants can expect:
- Professional & Experienced Trainer
- Improved Confidence
- Equipment Provided
- Increased Fitness
Participants will learn:
- Self Defence Techniques
- Sparring
- Grappling
- Situation Awareness
These sessions will focus on self-defence techniques while incorporating open discussions in a safe environment.
For more information please contact info@savingsouls.org.uk or call 07572143835
Courses and Pilgrimmages offered by the London Jesuit Centre
Visit the website for all courses and dates at October Events at the London Jesuit Centre (mailchi.mp)
Discover Ignatian Spirituality
Date: 3 October- 28 November
every Tuesdays 6.30pm-8pm
Website: Discover Ignatian Spirituality (03-Oct-2023) · ChurchSuite Events
Spiritual Exercises Ignatius of Loyola
Date: 26th June to 30th July 2024 (30 days retreat)
Place: The Spirituality Centre, Ignatius
The Spain of St Ignatius Loyola: A Pilgrimage
Date: 27th July—3rd August 2024
Price: £775 or EUR890
Website: https://www.iscglasgow.co.uk/pilgrimagespain.html
Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England & Wales – Decree on the minimum age for marriage
In November 2022 at the Catholic Bishop’s conference Plenary Assembly unanimously agree to increase the minimum age for marriage for both sexes from 16 to 18. Click here to view full decree.