SPES at " Youth Festival" in Medjugorje

Deanna went to Medjugorje at the end of july for the Youth Festival, she was so happy it was made possible through all our prayer.

She enjoyed her time that it was a time of grace and much blessings.

The opportunity to share the joy and hope with other young people from all around the world.

First Friday Vigil, in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Next Friday, 4 March 2011, is our First Friday Vigil which will begin at 7 p.m. with the celebration of Holy Mass. At 9 p.m. the vigil will start with Night Prayer and carry on through the night with songs, praying the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and time of being quiet and still in the presence of the Lord. The vigil will come to a close with praying Morning Prayer together at 6 a.m. The evening is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus praying especially for vocations, young people, and the School of Evangelisation (SPES). All are very welcome!

SPES in " The Little Way " to Lisieux

SPES has received an invitation to meet Therese at Lisieux last week. Deanna and I joined this pilgrimage with Monsignor Keith Barltrop, Parish Priest of St Mary of the Angels, Bayswater, who organized in 2009 the visit in England of the relics of Therese and all the parishioners of Ealing Abbey and St Patrick Church, Wapping. We stayed in L’Hermitage, a guest house close to the Carmel Convent.

From her writings “The Story of a Soul” to

a real journey to Lisieux to came to know and understand more deeply Therese’s life and her message “The little way” is the path of hope and saintliness, it is the path of confidence and abandonment, …”of the child who sleeps without fear in the arms of his Father.”

We visited very important places in Therese’s life, St Therese’s family settled in this house. Therese spent her chilhood here.

This is the room where Therese was cured of a serious illness by the smile of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Saint Peter's Cathedral where Therese sat every Sunday at Mass and where she received the grace of understanding to her missionary vocation. The main altar was donated by her father ( Louis Martin). Near the entrance of the chapel where Therese made her first confession.

The Basilica of Saint Therese where mosaics illustrate the message of St Therese and also the relics of St Therese are displayed there.

We had Mass and also we said Vespers with the Carmelite nuns, we had access also to the reliquary.

These 3 days were a blessed experience for Deanna and I which we want to share and to pray with Therese asking for her intercession and her teaching “ The Father doesn’t need our great deeds, but only our love”.

St Therese of the Child Jesus –

Pray for us

St Claude De La Colombiere's Relic

After the beatification of John Paul II and Divine Mercy Sunday ( first Sunday of Easter), it was a very special and blessed day. Fr Alexander Sherbrooke ( Parish Priest ) returned from Rome and brought with him a Relic of St Claude De La Colombiere the Patron Saint of St Patrick's Evangelisation School. Deanna and I were very happy and blessed to receive it, particularly as we have seen this year how important the intercession and devotion of St Claude De La Colombiere has been and is for SPES.
The Jesuit Priest St Claude De La Colombiere was the first to believe in the mystical revelation of the Sacred Heart given to St Margaret Mary in Paray le Monial Convent, France . He dedicated his life to propagate the devotion to the Sacred Heart.In October 2010, SPES started our Vigils on 1ST Friday of each month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A time to bring others to Adore the Lord, to pray for those in need and also pray for the work of St Patrick's Evangelisation School .<span class="Apple

A Retreat for you!

Hi Everyone, You are warmly invited to come on a spiritual retreat, Discovering your vocation, discovering God's love...A Vocational Retreat for Young Adults (young men and women from 16 - 32 years of age) with the Missionary Servants of the Poor of the Third World, which will be led by Fr. Giuseppe the first weekend in April (1st - 3rd April 2011) in Navestock Side, Brentwood CM14 5SH at the Abbotswick House of Prayer. Hope to see you there!!! Barbara Toolan _UK Coordinator (Volunteer)_ Missionary Servants of the Poor of the Third World SPEC Centre All Saints Pastoral Centre Shenley Lane St. Albans AL2 1AG United Kingdom Tel. +44 (0) 750 042 1991 Fax. +44(0) 1727 829 227 E-mail: Servantsofthepoor.uk@gmail.com Website: http://www.msptm.com/

40 Days for Life...

The second 40 Days for Life Campaign, in London will be starting on 9 March 2011, Ash Wednesday, please have a look at the website, www.40daysforlife.com/london, and do come along; your participation is very much needed! With the efforts of many people uniting together around the world in prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, many minds and hearts can and will be transformed and lives and souls will be saved and changed forever!

Reminder...Talk # 1:

This Tuesday, 1 March 2011, starts our Talk Series on The Sacraments in the Catechism of the Catholic Church given by Father Francis Selman. Talk #1: Why does the Catholic Church have Sacraments and why seven? Come along and get formed in the faith! Soup supper at 7 p.m. with the talk beginning at 7.30 p.m. At St. Patrick's Presbytery, 21 A Soho Square, W1D 4NR. Nearest Tube Station: Tottenham Court Road. All are very welcome! Please bring a friend!!!! See you there.

Paray-Le-Monial Pilgrimage

Deanna had the chance to make a Pilgrimage to Paray-Le-Monial last weekend for a lovely two day retreat with a time of prayer, reflection, Adoration, Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the chance to meet new people. It was wonderful to see so many young people on fire, full of enthusiasm and joy for the faith. While I was there also had the privilege to visit the tombs of St. Claude La Colombiere and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, along with being in the Apparition Chapel where Our Lord revealed Himself to her. It was an honour especially with the celebration of St. Claude's feast on the 15 February.

Join Us......Talk # 4 T.O.B.

This coming Tuesday, 22 February 2011, is the last talk in this month's series on the Theology of the Body. Do come along to hear Jane Deegan speak on this topic and see for yourself how beautiful this teaching of John Paul II really is! It definitely has the power to truly inspire and transform your mind and heart through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's grace working within us. The Truth really does set you free.

SAVE THE DATES:

Next Talk Series, The Sacraments in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which will be starting next Month, every Tuesday: 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 March 2011.

Talk #1: Why does the Catholic Church have Sacraments and why seven?

Talk #2: Why do we need to be confirmed if we are baptized?

Talk #3: The Eucharist the ultimate Sacrament of Love!

Talk #4: Why do we need a priest to be forgiven by God?

Talk #5: Why do we need priest and why go to church to marry?

The Talks will start at 7.30 p.m. which last approximately an hour with time at the end for Q & A. Come along early to join us for a light soup supper from 7.00 p.m. giving us time to have a chat and meet you.

Please bring a friend or pass onto others who you know would be interested. All are very welcome!!! They will be at St. Patrick’s Presbytery, 21 a Soho Square, W1D 4NR. Nearest Tube Station: Tottenham Court Road.

First Friday Vigil

Come and join this evening for an All Night Prayer Vigil here at St. Patrick's Presbytery. The evening will start with the celebration of Holy Mass at 7 p.m. The all night prayer vigil will start with Night Prayer at 9 p.m. and finish with Morning Prayer and the Angelus at 6 a.m. The vigil will be in hounour of the Sacared Heart praying for all of the intentions of SPES. Throughout the evening there will be time of praise and worship, praying the Rosary, intercessary prayer and time of quiet. Please come and support us for an hour or the whole night. See you this evening!!!!

Novena to St Claude La Colombiere

On Monday, 7 February 2011, we will be starting a Novena to St. Claude La Colombiere. St. Claude is one of the Patron Saints of the School of Evangelisation. He was the spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary and helped to bring the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the world. He is known as the faithful servant and perfect friend to the Sacred Heart. Please join us in saying this Novena when praying this Novena please include the intentions of the School in your prayers. Your support is greatly appreciated! God bless!!!!

NOVENA to Saint Claude La Colombiere (1641-1682) Feast Day is February 15th. O divine Jesus, you said, 'Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you'. You promised to bestow abundant blessings on all the undertakings of those who honour your Sacred Heart. Hear our humble, confident and incessant prayers, and grant us the grace we ask of your infinite mercy in this novena. We ask it through the intercession of St Claude La Colombiere, whom you have honoured with the title 'faithful servant and perfect friend', and who had such filial, unbounded and unwearied confidence in you. O St Claude, most ardent apostle of the divine heart of Jesus, deign to intercede for me with this divine heart, that I may obtain the grace I ask for in this novena. Amen Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory be... Pray for us, St Claude, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let Us Pray O Lord Jesus Christ, you deigned to make St Claude the faithful servant and wonderful lover of your Sacred Heart. Grant us, through his intercession, the grace to imitate the virtues of this divine heart, and be inflame by its love. We ask you this, you who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of St Margaret Mary O blessed Father Claude La Colombiere, I take you for my intercessor before the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. Obtain for me from His goodness the grace not to resist the designs he has on my soul, and to make me a more perfect imitator of the virtues of His divine heart.

Theology of the Body of JPII Talk Series TALK # 2

The first talk that took place on Tuesday, 1 February 2011, had a huge turnout, approximately 60 people here in the Presbytery. It was lovely to see many familiar faces, but had many new ones as well. There is a great thirst and hunger for this subject. It definitely brought many enthusiastic people from all around London. It was pleasure to have the chance to chat and meet many of you! This Tuesday, 8 February 2011, is the second talk in our series on Theology of the Body of John Paul III. The evening will begin with a soup supper and time for fellowship at 7 p.m. The talk will start at 7.30 p.m. given by Jane Deegan here at St. Patrick’s Presbytery lasting about an hour. Jane has many years of experience speaking about this topic! With her talk Jane wants to introduce and explain some of the teaching of the Theology of the Body with a view to encourage those to begin the journey with John Paul II. TOB is very beautiful and if the text is read, meditated on, prayed with it, it can and will transform and heal hearts, minds and lives. Jane says “This can and will happen for all those who open themselves because firstly, it is a teaching rooted in the truth and the truth has a power of its own, and secondly it is a teaching built upon certain key passages of Scripture, and all scripture is alive and active, with the power to bring about what it proclaims. It is all about rediscovering the truth about the human person, human sexuality, marriage and family and more importantly, it is all about the true meaning of, and the call to, LOVE.”Please come along all are very welcom!!!

Theology of the Body of JPII Talk Series TALK # 1

Today, Tuesday 1 February 2011, starts the first talk in our 4 week series on Theology of the Body of John Paul III. The evening will begin with a soup supper at 7 p.m. and the talk at 7.30 p.m. given by Anthony McCarthy here at St. Patrick’s Presbytery which will last only an hour. We are very excited and looking forward to hearing the truth proclaimed and to have you join us!

JOIN US!!!

LumiNations...EVERY 4th Friday of EACH MONTH! Come and join us, tommorrow evening, where we will be doing street outreach around Leicester Square at Notre Dame de France Church. There will be entertainment on the Steps of the Church with free tea and coffee for those passing by for a brief moment or for a while. Not only will there be singing and praising going on outside the Church, but there quiet time going on inside for Adoration. Here is where you will find the Risen Lord waiting and longing for you to visit Him. If you are interested, but are unsure if this is something for you, come along, check it out and see for yourself what exactly it is all about. You never know, you just may enjoy it!!! Go to the Parish Website to find out what the evening will look like (http://www.stpatricksoho.org/parish/events.htm). See you there!

It's Time for a Mission...

On Saturday, 22 January 2011, we had the opportunity to share a lovely meal together to talk over and start organizing our Mission that we are hoping to do in the next few months. It will be in Scarborough, in the Northeast of England. Last year's mission with the SPES team was an amazing experience from going into the streets in the village to walking along the harbour and striking up conversation with many people. We also did a prossession with an icon of Our Lady with guitar playing and songs of praise and worship which drew much attention prompting many onlookers to stop and have a glance or even ask some questions. We also went into a couple primary schools and had the chance to work with a youth group one evening. Although we don't have a SPES team in place persay this year, we do have many enthusiastic individuals that are eager to get involved. Over our supper we shared our experiences of going into the streets, what we enjoy about it, why we feel encourage to do it, but also about our fears and dislikes. It was really nice to have this time to share not only a meal together but our thoughts and feelings as well. Needless to say we are very excited to think about another mission soon to be taking place. It's not easy, but with the grace of God, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit leading us, many hearts and minds will be open to all that our Heavenly Father wants to pour out upon all those we encounter. Please keep this Mission and all of our out reaches in your prayers! Very much appreciated!

Announcements...Save the Dates!!!

We are happy to announce of our New Talk Series starting next Month on Tuesday evenings here at St. Patrick’s Presbytery. It will be a four week series starting 1 February 2011 and finishing on the 22 February 2011. The series topic will be on Theology of the Body of John Paul II. The evening will kick off with a light soup supper and time of social. The talk will last about an hour with a opportunity of Q & A at the end. The time is yet TBA. So, please stay tuned to our parish website and our Blog.

Another reminder our First Friday Prayer Vigil will be in three weeks time on Friday, 4 February.

We have also started our Street Evangelisation again which takes place on the second and third Fridays of every month. It truly is a blessed time to share the faith with others. Come along sometime and give it ago. You will be surprised how God will use you, if you let Him! We really do hope you can join us and we look forward to seeing you very soon!!! Please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Congratulations!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!! Hope you also had a very Blessed and Holy Christmas! Edna and I both had a lovely Christmas season, time well spent with family and friends. This week we were back in the office getting back into the swing of things. We are looking forward to this year and all that it is going to bring.

Over the Holiday’s we have wonderful news to share with you all. Two of SPES's past students got married. Congratulations to both Jenny (07-08) and and husband Peter and Vincent (06-07) and wife Dawn. We pray God will bless them abundantly in their new lives together!!! There was a bit of a SPES reunion as well. Marcus (07-08), Anthony (07-08) and Jeanine (05-6) all were able to attend Jenny's wedding and Jeanine (05-06), Henry (06-07), Desirae (08-09), and Deanna (09-10) all attended Vincent's wedding. It was lovely to have had the opportunity to share this special day with them not only a blessing but privilage! It was a very beautiful ceramony!