Divine Providence and Outreaches

Another whole week of lectures has just flew by. We've have now finished 3 weeks of SPES!  Where has the time gone.  So far we all seem to be settling in well and getting on with each other.  Each day we are discovering more and more about ourselves and each other.


This past week our lectures were focused on Divine Providence and Outreach.  We were introduced to some of the Parish's outreaches which we will be involved in.  Alexandra introduced us to the SOS Prayerline, which has been running now for over 11 years. We are looking forward to being a part of it soon. All the prayer books from the past 11 years are kept in the Chapel downstairs.  It is amazing to think that there are all these requests for prayer by telephone and soon we were be there to receive the calls and offer the prayers to Our Lord, present in the Blessed Sacrament.




As well as this we also learnt more about Open House, which is when the Parish feed some of the homeless and less fortunate in our area. It happens twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Normally there are approximately 60-80 guests each night.  The evening relies on the support of volunteers.  We will be helping on one of the nights each week.  The idea of it seems a little scary at times but after learning more about how it is run we are looking forward to helping out and meeting some of the guests.



There were lectures about some of the other outreaches we will be involved in such as LumiNations and NightFever. This weekend we were able to experience our first NightFever together as a group. We have been looking forward to it all week. (We'll do a separate update soon all about our first experience of NightFever at St Patrick's).  Paula, from the Cenacolo Prayer Group, came along this week and spoke to us about the Cenacolo Community and providence.  It is amazing to hear how God has worked in the community.  It truly shows how God provides for us.  Robert, from 40 Days for Life, spoke to us about some of the pro-life issues and in particular the 40 Days for Life campaign, which is happening in London at the moment. Yesterday we headed out on a Catholic History Walk with Joanna Bogle. It was a fantastic experience, there is so much Catholic history right here on our doorstep! (Again we will do a separate post about Joanna's walk.)

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!

Hope to see you this week!

Our Evangelisation Talks are going extremely well with many young, very excited and enthusiastic individuals. They have a hunger and thirst for knowing what the Church teaches and says about Evangelising. It was a real treat to have again with us Mgr. Keith this past Wednesday. It is quite the privilege to have someone as knowledgeable as himself to grace us with all of his wisdom and insight. He has brought a document, Evangelii Nuntiandi, which is many year’s old very much alive. He’s filled with great joy and is so encouraging being in his presence! This coming Wednesday we will have the honour of Father Paul Keane with us who will be speaking on Apologetics and how to handle the different objections people have about the Catholic Church! Come join us as well on Friday evenings at 6:45 pm to put into practice all that is being taught. We will be going out into the streets of Soho. Have courage to give it a try! We are called to evangelise and give witness to the love and joy that we have in our lives and to share it with others! Evangelisation is not an ‘add on’ to our faith, but is essential to it!!! We are in the process of getting things planned and organized for our Advent Mission, so please if you could remember to pray for all that needs to be put into place that would be greatly appreciated! Continue to support the 40 Days for Life campaign through prayer and fasting and giving that witness outside the Abortion clinic. As it states in Matthew 25:40 “Whatever you do for the least of these brethren, you do for me.” Pray for the grace to not be afraid! Life is precious and deserves to be valued and protected! Have faith and trust in God! This past week was the start of First Holy Communion. It is a new opportunity for me to have the privilege to teach the little ones. I am looking forward to this opportunity very much. This is a special time for them in each of their lives, so please pray not only for their Catechesis, Deanna and Magdalene, but for all the Communicants. Pray that they are open to God’s graces and blessings and all that He wants to reveal to them. Thank you for all your support thus far for this year! Have a fabulous week and don’t forget to share the faith. You are in our prayers! God bless!

UK Premiere of the Film Blood Money

Wednesday 27th October 6:30pm Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, W11 3LB Nearest Tube: Notting Hill
As part of the 40 Days for Life London campaign of prayer, fasting, witness and outreach to end abortion in the UK, we are showing the UK premiere of a stunning and inspirational new documentary. With personal testimonies of women who have had abortions and personal testimonies of abortion clinic staff, the film brings home the reality of abortion and its effects on real people. It ends on a note of hope. The film will be preceeded by a short presentation by Robert Colquhoun, Campaign Director, 40 Days for Life, London. There will be opportunity for discussion after the film
	For tickets, call 07832 113614 or email 40daysforlifelondon@gmail.com. You can watch the trailer of this stunning and utterly inspiring film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaTywSDmls

Hope you had a wonderful week! Maria, a faithful parishioner of St. Patrick's has passed away. Her funeral will be at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane today, Wednesday, at 1:05 pm. May Maria and all the faithfully departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace. Amen!

Farewell

We sadly have to wish Vincent and Monica farewell. Monica is heading back home very soon to Australia where she will be with her loved ones who are very excited to have her back with them. Vincent is soon to be married to a lovely girl. Thank you for your dedication and commitment throught the years at St. Patrick's. We do wish you all the best for your futures! You will be missed for sure, but it is not goodbye, it is see you later. Know that you will be in our thoughts and prayers. May God bless you both and all your future endeavours abundantly and may our Blessed Mother watch over and protect you always!!!

Talks

The first Talk: Evangelisation – The Challenge in the Modern World by Mgr. Keith Barltrop was fantastic! It was not only engaging, interactive, but gave much food for thought. It’s exciting knowing he will be returning this week on Wednesday, 13^th October to continue to share with us the wealth of knowledge he has on this topic. Thank you so much Mgr. Keith for all your insight, it will absolutely go a long way. We hope and pray that it not only gets people thinking about the way they evangelise in their daily life, but may have the courage to witness in their life daily! Please join us for the next talk. Come along and see for yourself exactly what you are missing out on. 6:30 pm for light supper at St. Patrick’s Presbytery with the talk starting promptly at 7 pm. Don’t miss it and bring a friend!

40 Days for Life

There are a couple of ways to take an active role and answer to the call of being witnesses here and now. One way is praying outside the abortion clinic, 108 Whitfield Street at the Mary Stopes Clinic, during the 40 Days for Life Campaign. This is a prayerful peaceful vigil where many are uniting themselves in prayer and fasting together around the world. The campaign is currently taking place in 238 cities. Do not be afraid to stand up for what is right and speak the truth in love! Being that public witness in support of life which God has created so beautifully in the womb is an encouragement to many. Please continue to pray for all men and women contemplating to terminate the life of their unborn baby, for all those working in abortion facilities, for all people who are suffering the affects of abortion and who are in need of healing. Pray that many lives and souls are saved and that there is a respect for all life from the moment of conception to natural death! Thanks be to God for His unconditional love and infinite mercy!

Street Evangelisation

The second way is joining us on Friday evenings to go into the streets of Soho. The evenings begin at 6:45 pm and finishes around 9 pm. This is when we have the opportunity to meet many people and share with others of the joy we have within ourselves and explain to people what we are so happy about and why. It’s not only a time to engage others in conversation, but to shed a little light of Christ’s love on them through a smiling face, a kind gesture or just to be there with a listening ear to those that need it. We also offer them the chance to come to our chapel here at St. Patrick’s to meet the Risen Lord who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Throughout the evening we will also pray with them then and there or let them know they will be in our prayers as are their intentions. This is not an easy task, but is very much needed! If you desire to come along and feel called to participate, please do! Feel free to give us a ring to find out more.

Pray

Please continue to pray for the life of SPES, for Father Alex, Edna and I coordinating, our outreaches, missions and the work of Evangelisation, the benefactors, friends, and lecturers, the past and future students of the school and for all of our intentions. Thank you for your support especially in prayer. It is much appreciated. God bless you all!

Evangelisation

Edna and I are keeping very busy with much to prepare, plan, and organize this Month being dedicated to Evangelisation. Starting this week is the first Talk in our series on Evangelisation. Every Wednesday of this month the evening will begin with a light supper and fellowship at 6:30 pm with the talk starting at 7:00 pm here at St. Patrick’s Presbytery. If you fancy coming along to learn more about Evangelisation, please do come! You will be warmly welcomed with open arms! The schedule is as follow: 6 October: Mgr. Keith Barltrop – “Evangelisation – Challenge In the Modern World”, 13 October: Mgr. Keith Barltrop – “Evangelisation – Is that Catholic?”, 20 October: F. Paul Keane – Apologetics, and 27 October: Fr. Emmanuel CFR – “Practicalities – How to Evangelise?” Hope to see you there!!! Every Friday we will be putting into practice what we are learning through these lectures by going into the streets of Soho overflowing with joy to share with others Christ’s love.

This past Friday was the first of our First Friday Vigils of the year. The First Friday’s of each month is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This will be marked with an overnight prayer vigil praying for young people, vocations and the School of Evangelisation. It was beautiful to have Jesus at the centre of our prayer, praise, and worship! Thanks to all those who came out and took part. Your support is very much needed and appreciated. If this is something that interests you and you would like to get involved please do not hesitate to contact us.

40 Days for Life is well on its way, please continue to pray and fast during this 40 day campaign for an end to abortion. God is smiling on you for your efforts as are the babies!!! If you are able to participate please do! Go to www.40daysforlife.com/London to get involved! If you would like to hear all the amazing stories and testimonies of God’s grace and blessing please take a look at the 40 Days for Life blog: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1050.

It was lovely to have our Welcome Mass, this past Friday, on the Feast of St. Therese where we committed ourselves to another Year at SPES as Coordinators. Please keep us and all the intentions of the school in your prayers. God bless and have a wonderful week full of many blessings!