Newsletter_Oct31

Every priest; every doctor is familiar with death. Even in this technological consumer society where it seems almost anything and almost anyone can be bought, there is one ultimate reality which came to us all. Most often, in this Society it comes as a result of some disease in a reasonably old person, who has lived a long time, had a good innings, seen a good part of what the world has to offer and lays down their life at the end of it, content to return to the Father. And at their funeral the people mourn not so much the person who has gone to God free from the pains of their earthly life, but their own loss of a parent, a spouse, a sister or a brother. Why should we really mourn for someone who has fought the good fight, lived the good life and has now gone to God? Rather, we celebrate a life well lived for the honour of God and the love of God’s people.

The average age at death of homeless drug addicts in central London is 34. The youngest I've had recently was 19. A nice lad from Scotland, he came down, as so many do, to get away from everything and everyone he had known in his life so far. Because the net result of his life to date was that he owned the clothes he stood up in, the bag he carried and one small teddy bear. His only unbroken relationships were with three drug dealers to whom he owed money. His only pleasure in life was crack cocaine.

He came to London and lived on the streets for a fortnight. Various people tried to help him as best they could. None succeeded; ourselves included. Everyone who met him noticed his complete lack of hope - his complete fatalism in the face of the disease that was destroying him. For him there was no resurrection - at least not in this world. At the end he took a large overdose, whether by accident or intent no-one ever knew – least of all the Coroner - and he died.

There are too many Sadducees in this world – too many people who say there is no resurrection. It is the most fatal and damaging belief there is. As St. Paul says, “If our hope has been for this life only, then of all people we are the most unfortunate... But Christ has in fact been raised, the first fruits of all who have fallen asleep.”

Of your pity, pray for the people for whom there is no resurrection - who have lost hope in the only thing in the world that is worth hoping for. And let us pray also that we may be given the grace to help them to find the hope and presence of God in the World.

Parents of children who wish to make their First Holy Communion or Confirmation next year, and are 7 or 14 years of age or above, respectively, should contact Patsy Cummings: see her after Mass or e-mail pcummings@rcdow.org.uk, to obtain the necessary forms. Please register before October 31st as there will be no places available after this date.

This competition is open to all children and young people aged 19 years or younger from a faith community (or none). The theme is ‘Faith and Helping Others’ and your artwork should reflect how you help others, and can be anything you choose, e.g. Praying for someone, doing a kind thing for your family or friends or helping someone in church. The closing date is NOVEMBER 19th and there will be an exhibition of the artwork and prize giving ceremony on DECEMBER 9th. For further details or an entry form please see Patsy Cummings or contact Jessica Bradford, email: jbradford@westminster.gov.uk. Last year one of our First Holy Communion children won the younger age group category, so get painting and drawing!

There is a series of spiritual films and discussion for young adults 17-35yrs on Wednesdays 7–9.30pm (refreshments from 6.30pm) during Advent. The first is The Bridge (2003) on WEDNESDAY 24th NOVEMBER at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory’s, 13 Warwick Street, W1F 9JR, nearest tube Piccadilly Circus. For more information contact mindtheap@rcdow.org.uk Tel: 0207 931 6028.

At Westminster Cathedral Hall (behind Westminster Cathedral, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QJ). 4 alternate Tuesdays 7pm -8.30pm: 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec . Cardinal Newman: a Man for our Times by Dr Judith Champ, 2 Nov, Newman on Reason and Faith by Fr James Pereiro, 16 Nov, Newman on Christ and the Church by Fr John McDade, SJ, 30 Nov, Newman and Friendship by Fr Daniel Seward, CO, 14 Dec. These are public lectures to which all are welcome. Registration is requested to guarantee a place. E-mail: faithmatters@rcdow.org.uk or telephone 020 7931 6078. Suggested donation per lecture £3. for more details, visit www.rcdow.org.uk/faithmatters. Booklets containing texts of last autumn talks on 5 aspects of ‘Fundamental of Faith’ are on sale for £6.95 from this weekend in the Hall and from Reception on Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm.

WORLD YOUTH DAY

Join other young adults (18-35) from Westminster Diocese on pilgrimage to Madrid to celebrate World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI. The pilgrimage is from AUGUST 11th-22nd, 2011 with preparation meetings beginning in January. Limited places available. For more information contact David Burke on 0207 798 9357 or visit: www.rcdow.org.ukfwyd.

FOR YOUR DIARY: FINAL VOWS

You are warmly welcomed to the Profession of Final Vows of Fr Dominic Robinson SJ on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 5th at 6pm in the church.

A plenary indulgence, applicable to all the souls in Purgatory, is granted to any of the faithful who (1) on one of the days from 1-8 November visit devoutly a cemetery or simply pray mentally for the dead; (2) on All Souls Day visit a church or chapel with devotion and there recite the Our Father and the Creed.

A partial indulgence, applicable only to the souls of Purgatory, is granted to any of the faithful who (1) visit devoutly a cemetery or who simply pray mentally for the dead; (2) recite devoutly Lauds or Vespers of the Office of the Dead, or the invocation ‘Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord…’

Christians across the UK have been invited to place a light in their windows on OCTOBER 31st as a sign to passers-by of their being followers of Christ. This initiative, called ‘Night of Light’, is part of an international initiative to reclaim Halloween as a joyful Christian celebration. Coming on the eve of All Saints, ‘All Hallows Eve’, is an opportunity to celebrate the victory of light over darkness. Jesus is that Light, the light which the saints strove to live by, and which we, in our turn, are called to witness to. In his recent pastoral letter Archbishop Vincent asked us to take up the Holy Father’s invitation to make our faith visible. Participating in this ‘Night of Light’ by SAFELY placing a light in their window is one way in which our people can make their faith visible. Additional ideas and resources to celebrate the night can be found on: http://www.nightoflight.org/.

And for the children… Instead of witches and goblins, why not dress up as Angels and Saints this Halloween to shine our Christian light over the darkness. Be adventurous, be an Angel!

Farm Street Films’ next screening will be Rosetta (1999, directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardennes) on THURSDAY 4th NOVEMBER at 6.45pm, with an introduction by Peter Bridgman. Emilie Dequenne plays the title role in a film that became a rallying cry in Belgium for political and social action. After the film won the 1999 Palme D’Or, the Belgian government passed a law establishing a minimum wage for young workers, and this law became known as the “Rosetta Bill”.

And for your diaries – our films up to Christmas will be: NOVEMBER 18th: Bicycle Thieves (dir. Vittorio De Sica, 1948); DECEMBER 2nd: Miracle in Milan (dir. Vittorio De Sica, 1951); DECEMBER 16th: Father Brown (dir. Robert Hamer, 1954).

If you are interested in how your parish can plan ahead and prepare for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, you will find it vital to attend the briefing presented by More Than Gold, the umbrella Christian charity serving the 2012 Games, during their Nationwide Vision Tour, WEDNESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER at Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, W1C. The briefing will give your church the opportunity to hear how churches responded at previous Games; learn about the tested programmes and resources which are on offer for all ages, made uniquely available through the charity, and identify the best way for your church to be involved, and to dream a little of what could be done!

Refreshments from 7pm, meeting from 7:30-9pm. For more details, call More Than Gold on 0845 475 2012 or visit their website.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the building works in Mount Street. Completion date: January 2011.

The Imitation of Christ will be introduced by Fr MEREDITH on THURSDAY 4th NOVEMBER at 7pm, there will be a session for questions with Fr Anthony on THURSDAY 25th NOVEMBER.

Spirituality and theology are rich, varied and multi-faceted. But what holds it all together? For Christians, what is “foundational”? What is at the heart of our graced path to God? These sessions offer an opportunity to explore the foundational building blocks of life in Christ. Particular attention will be given to the following topics: mystery, conversion, faith, hope and love.

At many levels of our lives, cultural conflict presents apparently insuperable challenges: families, Europe, the Catholic Church have all struggled with conflict. The goal will not be to advocate a position on any particular cultural issue, but to help each participant to understand cultures better and to act in a culturally plural world.

An opportunity to learn about and explore Sadhana meditation, a form of Ignatian contemplation developed by Anthony de Mello, an Indian Jesuit. The course comprises a series of exercises from his book Sadhana – a Way to God. Beginning with developing stillness and awareness, we then move on to the use of our imagination and into opening our lives more fully to the love of God.

St. Ignatius’ story re-considered, re-imagined, re-expressed to shed light on our contemporary journey. Spirituality through story, looking at what God did in St. Ignatius’ life and what God wants to do in ours. Looking at Ignatius’ story and who we are; what we desire; how we choose and act, and how we receive and give.

We will explore ways of discovering how we can see through the illusion of violence as a solution, how realistic non-violence might be in practice, how I initiate the realisation of my true identity, how I discern what I really intend and desire, how I imitate Christ today.

If you would like us to put on a course or a one day workshop on a particular topic of interest to you now is your opportunity to make your requests.