SCRIPTURE READINGS (A)
Acts
2:14 , 36-41
Peter boldly proclaims the Ressurection of Christ
Psalm 22 (23) The
Lord is my shepherd
1
Peter 2:20-25
Chrst is the shepherd of your souls
John
10: 1-10
I am the gate of the sheepfold; anyone who
enters through
me will be safe
THE
ELECTION OF A POPE
Attention
is now turning to the election of a new Pope, which will
begin on Monday. This election takes place by secret ballot,
which has been the normal form of election for several
hundred years. The Apostolic Constitution which regulates
this was promulgated by John Paul II in 1996 and is called
Universi Dominici Gregis. It goes into great
detail as to the process to be followed. There are three
scrutineers, three infirmarians (to collect ballots from
incapacitated Cardinals) and three revisors of the ballots
whose names are drawn from a receptacle by the most junior
Cardinal Deacon.
During
the actual balloting, everyone else, other than the Cardinal
Electors, must be outside the Sistine Chapel; only the
115 Cardinals may be inside. The maximum number of electors
is fixed at 120; the Election of the Supreme Pontiff is
the sole prerogative
of the Cardinals except those who, at the time of entry
into the Conclave, had completed their eightieth year.
However, Cardinals over this age are not thereby ineligible
for election. During the Conclave, important matters are
determined by the General Congregation, which is a group
of all the Cardinal Electors present there. Routine matters
are dealt with by a particular Congregation, comprising
the Cardinal Camerlengo and three Cardinals elected by
the whole body. Every third day of the Conclave, three
others are elected to replace them.
When
casting their ballots, each Cardinal approaches the altar
at which tellers stand. They say, "I call as my witness
Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is
given to the one who before God I think should be elected".
The ballot paper is then placed on a plate which drops
it into a receptacle on the altar. When all have voted,
the counting takes place: each paper is examined by the
scrutineers and the revisors and each vote is read out,
as are the final totals.
Voting
continues until the requisite two-thirds majority is obtained.
(This is the required majority for election; it is two-thirds
plus one if the number of Cardinals present is not divisible
by three).There are normally two ballots in the morning
and two in the afternoon. If, after three days of voting,
a decision has not been reached, the process can be interrupted
for not more than a day. If necessary, there can be up
to two such interruptions. When someone has been elected,
the ballot papers are placed in a small furnace along
with some whitening substance and set on fire: the white
smoke which emerges signals to the world that a new pope
has been elected along now with the bells of St Peter's
Basilica.
James
Campbell, SJ
SADHANA
:
A WAY TO GOD
An
introduction to Christian contemplation is being offered
at 114 Mount Street over six evenings: Thursdays, 6.30pm-7.30pm
. This is based on Eastern techniques which have been
adapted to Christian use. You can join this course at
any time (it's free). See notices at the doors for details
and take a Mount Street Jesuit Centre calendar (at the
church doors) for information about other programmes.
There is also a service for providing one-to-one spiritual
accompaniment.
EVENTS
CALENDAR
LONDON
MARATHON
Jesuit
Missions is fielding a strong team of runners, including
some Farm Street
“First Sunday” young
adults. The event is today, Sunday
April 17th . There will be news coverage.
JESUIT
REFUGEE SERVICE
QUIZ
NIGHT
This
takes place tomorrow, Monday
April 18th in the Church Hall, 7pm
for 7.30pm
. Support this great
work and have some fun at the same time. This is a chance
to meet other parishioners! Please let Caroline Blaazer
know if you are coming: 8299 2490. See posters.
WALSINGHAM
A
parish pilgrimage to the historic shrine of Our Lady will
take place on Saturday May
7th with a coach leaving
at 8.30am
from the church and returning at 8.30pm
. Nicolas
Steeves SJ will be accompanying. Tickets (including lunch)
£25. Please contact Joan Hammet for details: 8657
6367 (after 6pm).
THE
JEWISH VIEW OF JESUS
This
important study/discussion evening at Heythrop
College
will be on Monday
May 16th , but we are happy to give advance
notice: Rabbi Mark Solomon and Fr John McDade SJ will
be speaking.
VOCATIONS
SUNDAY
This
Sunday is “Good Shepherd Sunday”. We pray throughout the
Church for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Although we are a Jesuit parish, we fully support the
Diocese of Westminster, so please hand in an envelope
at the end of Mass with your contribution to the Westminster
Ecclesiastical Education Fund to help pay for the training
of seminarians. Envelopes are available at the doors,
as are copies of The New Mulberry (the Allen Hall magazine).
HOME
IMPROVEMENTS
Work
is being done in the Meeting Room at 114
Mount Street to improve storage
facilities for some of our church groups (notably, our
hard-working catechists) and we hope soon to be making
improvements in the Church Hall (a sound system and a
new floor). Sorry for any inconvenience.
PERMANENT
DIACONATE
The
Diocese of Westminster is encouraging men, single or married,
to consider a vocation to the diaconate. If you would
like to know more about this ministry, contact Canon Pat
Browne at Holy Apostles, Pimlico (7834 6965), or speak
to Fr William.
CARDINAL'S
LECTURES
A
series of Wednesday evening lectures at Westminster Cathedral
on the theme “Faith in Europe ”
began last week with a talk from Jean Vanier to an audience
of sixteen hundred. The talks are free and further speakers
include Timothy Radcliffe, Bob Geldof, Mary McAleese and
Chris Patten. Details from the Cathedral: 7798 9180.
PERMISSION
Please
remember to see one of the clergy before leaving any material
on display at the doors or on the notice boards. Thank
you for your help.
WE
LIFT UP OUR HEARTS IN PRAYER FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT IN THE ELECTION NOW BEGINNING IN ROME. MAY GOD
BLESS HIS CHURCH!
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