This week we are back into the routine with daily rosary, mass, adoration, and lectures on the Catechism with Fr. Francis. We have been working hard on our second essay which is due by the end of this week. Please keep us all in your prayers for the gift of wisdom to help us with the challenge of getting them finished and finding the right words to use. God bless!!!!

Snow Friar

Snow fun in Aylesford!!! Not only were we prayerful, but also playful. We are pleased to introduce Snow Friar Francis. :)

Retreat in Aylesford, Kent

We have just returned back from a five day retreat at the Carmelite Friary in Aylesford led by Fr. Joe Chalmers and Fr. Kevin Melody. It was not only a great place to get away from the hecticness of London, but an amazing place to reflect, pray, and appreciate nature. With the cold weather and snow made it such a beautiful atmosphere to be in which we enjoyed very much. We learned a bit about the history of the Carmelites, Prophet Elijah, St. Peter, and St. Simon Stock. We were given much opportunity to think about prayer as a relationship with God in our life.

Killing Time in Aylesford

Anxiously waiting at the train station for Fr. Joe to take us to the Carmelite Friary. As you can see we are very excited for our retreat to begin!!!

New Years

A few of us spent our New Years in Balham for a Youth 2000 retreat where there were many young people gathered together to pray, sing and worship. It was a real pleasure to be there to end 2009 and to ring in the New Year with perpetual adoration, many amazing speakers and engaging conversations. It was truly a blessing to be amongst so many young people sharing our faith together.

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.