Christmas Joy

This week many of the usually faces of St Patrick's are not around. Many people who help run the parish along with many of the students are back home spending Christmas with their family and friends. For the few that were still here went to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Canning Town to help out with their Christmas dinner in the soup kitchen to feed the homeless. It was a lovely time to spend talking and bringing them joy.

Birthday Wishes

We celebrated Fr. Alex's birthday with breakfast together, a delicious homemade chocolate cake made by Aisling, and a birthday song written and sang for Father by the students. It was an opportunity for us to share this special day with him and to more intensively think about all of the wonderful work he does and to sincerely thank God for the gift of his life that he so generously gives to all of us! Happy birthday Fr. Alex, we love you!!!

Christmas Dinner at St. Patrick's Church

The week before we broke up for our Christmas Holiday we helped with the preperation of the big Christmas dinner for our homeless brothers and sisters at St. Patrick's. We tried to make this Christmas time more bearable for them by performing The Navity, singing Christmas carols, and serving a delicious turkey.

Advent Mission

As we're getting ready and coming closer to the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ we spent three days in Leicester Square spreading the Good News through not only smiles and friendly greetings but also by little gift boxes we made which included a Scripture verse, a Miraculous Medal and a sweet! While encountering the people in the streets we also invited them to the French Church, Notre Dame, where we fed them physically with mince pies and hot chocolate and spiritually through prayer and singing.

Douai Abbey retreat

We've just arrived back from retreat at Douai Abbey, a monastery of the English Benedictine Congregation near Reading. After finishing their first Catechism essays on Sunday, the students were ready for a break with both spiritual nourishment and a few 'creature comforts'. The fathers most obligingly provided both; being able to join the sung monastic office, including Vespers according to the 1934 Antiphonale Monasticum, was a privilege and helped to raise our prayer. The relaxing surroundings and excellent food also certainly aided the students' recovery - though as you can see, lie-ins were not possible! Thank you to all of the fathers for their hospitality and talks.