Category: Latest News

The weekly Thursday conversation groups are now fully booked but the Monday videos can be viewed via our website www.abdiocese.org.uk Transcripts of Speakers and those giving testimony are also available.  Thank you to all who have signed up.

ONLINE RETREATS: The Open Cloister at Worth Abbey
led by Michael Woodward (member of the Lay Community of St Benedict)
12th-14th March:   Romero and the Salvadorian Martyrs:
Along with St Romero, we will look at his friend Rutilio Grande, the four US Churchwomen, the UCA Jesuits & the hundreds of lesser known Salvadorans who died from 1977-1992.
26th-28th March (Palm Sunday weekend)  The Holy Shroud:
Gospel beyond Words – What the Shroud Tells Us
Book your place on line at https://worth.co.uk/retreats/online-retreats     Further information available from E: [email protected]

On behalf of the Maryvale Institute, you are invited to participate in the Exploring the Directory for Catechesis Conference 2021.

To register: https://bit.ly/2Z2KqIX

For more info please visit: https://www.maryvale.ac.uk/conference-2021.html or contact [email protected]

About the Conference:

Maryvale Institute, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, is delighted to announce a free, virtual conference that will focus on the new Directory for Catechesis. The Directory, published in March 2020, makes clear the essential elements in teaching and personal formation required by the mission of catechesis. Building on the previous 2 catechetical directories (1971 and 1997), this new text is a vital resource for all those engaged in the Church’s work of proclaiming the Gospel.

This conference offers an opportunity for those either involved with or interested in catechesis, to explore the main themes and key emphases of this important text, and to reflect on its implications for their work in the Church and the world.

The conference will take place across 3 sessions, focusing on different aspects of the directory:

• Session 1, Friday 12th March, 2.00-4.00pm:‘Dynamic Continuity’: The Purpose and Distinctive Emphases of the New Directory. Speakers confirmed so far: Archbishop Rino Fisichella (Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation), Archbishop Bernard Longley (Archdiocese of Birmingham and Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation) and more.
• Session 2, Friday 16th April, 2.00-4.00pm:Key Emphases/Foci of the New Directory: a Closer Look. Speakers confirmed so far: Fr Jan Nowotnik (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and Archdiocese of Birmingham), Katherine Coolidge (Catherine of Siena Institute), Dr Tamra Fromm (Catholic Biblical School of Michigan and Maryvale Institute), Sr Hyacinthe Defos du Rau OP (Dominican Srs of St Joseph and Maryvale Institute) and more, followed by breakout sessions.
• Session 3, Friday 14th May, 2.00-4.00pm:Growing in Faith: A Lifelong Journey of Catechesis. Speakers confirmed so far: Angela Wood MA (Maryvale Institute), Sr Carino Hodder OP (Dominican Srs of St Joseph), Lianne Pap (Archdiocese of Birmingham and Maryvale Institute), Paul Northam (Archdiocese of Birmingham, Beccy Roseman (Kenelm Youth Trust, Archdiocese of Birmingham) and more, followed by breakout sessions.

There is no cost to register and attend all sessions of the Conference, although we would encourage delegates to consider a donation of £5 or £10 or more towards scholarships for those enrolling on Maryvale Institute’s adult formation courses, to help support and train the catechists of the future.

DO YOU WANT TO FAST THIS LENT?

In the words of Pope Francis

Fast from hurting words and say kind words. 

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints, contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness, fill your hearts with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words: be silent and listen.

The Diocesan Formation Team is hosting a mission for you this Lent.   It will be the first of five seasons of mission, helping you to explore God’s Invitation to live your life with him.

What is a mission? An opportunity for everyone in the parish to sit back and reflect on the content provided.  Season one is a series of programmes that help us to understand exactly how much we are loved by God, and features guest speakers such as David Wells, Eleanor Oliver and David Beresford. You will then be able to join a virtual conversation to meet like minded people and discuss what you have learnt. Visit www.abdiocese.org.uk/invited to find out more.   You, are Invited.

CAFOD:  Abdella lives in an extremely remote and mountainous part of Ethiopia.  It takes him ten hours a day to collect water.  He says his life is being wasted as he has no time for anything else.  Give today to reach vulnerable communities around the world with water and to provide other vital support.  Donate online at cafod.org.uk/give or  by using one of our envelopes.  Thank you.

Lent began last Wednesday and we were reminded that there is no better time than the present to turn to God for forgiveness and to forgive others. Lent is the ideal time to renew our commitment to the church and to live lives of faith, service, sacrifice and love. Let us all seek the courage to act and respond NOW as you read this!, not tomorrow or next week.

Pope Francis encourages us with sayings such as these: “Sister, brother, even if you buried hope in your heart, don’t give up. God is sweeter. Darkness and death do not have the last word. Courage, with God nothing is lost!”

“Faith begins when we realise we are in need of salvation. We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves we flounder: we need the Lord, like ancient navigators needed the stars. Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives. Let us hand over our fears to him so that he can conquer them.”

Some prayers for use in Lent: 1. Loving Lord, help each one of us to set an example to others in following you with trust, so that all may see how our chief shepherd, who suffered for us, is the Son of the living God. Amen. 2. Dear Lord, whatever we choose to go without this Lent, may it serve as a reminder to draw closer to you in prayer and petition with thanksgiving for all that you give us. Amen.

Finally to lighten the content: “Two boys were walking home from church and sharing their reflection on the lesson. They had been studying the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Little Peter said to his friend John, “Do you believe that stuff about the devil? Do you think there really is a devil?” John looked at him and said, “Naah, it’s just like Santa Claus — it’s your dad.” 

With my love and prayers for you this Lent.

We begin each Station of the Cross with the prayer “We adore thee  O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.  The Stations of the Cross can be a very important devotional prayer in our lives, but especially during Lent.  Our human story, the journey of life.  A memory in my life is from the beginning of Lent in my first year at the seminary.   The president decided that he would give us a good introduction to Lent by leading us on the Stations of the Cross.  He began by giving us a lecture on their great importance, and that as seminarians this devotion should be at the centre of our lives.  Then he began “oops” he went to the last station first, the 14th …… of course there must be someone to blame…… ok yes the acolytes.

So for us to begin.  The first station “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world”.  Jesus is condemned to death.  This is part of a great reality.  We are all condemned to death.  A reality.  Here at St Wilfrid’s we had a great shock with the tragic sudden death of Hannah Hoad, a young parishioner.  It is honest and sincere she was “a real treasure”, obviously for her family and especially her parents David and Anne.  In spite of her handicaps she was a bundle of life with attitude, able to stand up for herself, full of life, mischief and fun.  Some of our elderly parishioners had lovely things to say about her over the years.

Then at St George’s Church we had a very special funeral celebration for Ronald and Monica Williams who died together in Eastbourne Hospital from the coronavirus.  Their son Ed gave us a heartfelt story of their life, and as we streamed the service we will place their story on our website.  Summed up in the words of their son “Ron and Moni were inseparable for 60 years, they devoted their lives to their 3 children, David, Edward and Anna, and they were just as in love on their last day together as they were on their wedding day.  They did everything together, they cared and loved and fought for their children together, they grieved together, found the strength to go on together, and finally they died together, and they will be together forever”.  So, as we place our lives at the foot of the cross, preparing to make the stations of the cross as part of the journey of life this Lent.   We make it our great desire that the journey of our lives will bare much fruit, fruit that will last.  Then one our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory to be it Father.

As you are likely already aware, the UK Government has temporarily allowed home abortions.

Since home abortions were temporarily allowed, as has been reported extensively in the media, a number of significant problems have put the lives and health of many women in danger. 

The UK Government has launched a consultation on whether to make permanent the current temporary arrangement allowing ‘DIY’ home abortions. The consequences of this measure would be devastating to the care and protection of both unborn babies and their mothers. It is vital that as many people as possible take part to ensure the voices of the most vulnerable are heard. 

Right To Life UK has set up an easy-to-use tool on their website that makes it simple to complete your submission.. If you would like to take part and make a submission to this consultation before it closes at 11:59pm on 26 February 2021, you can do so by visiting the link below. It only takes 2 minutes!

Respond to the UK Government’s consultation on ‘DIY’ home abortion