1/ World Communications Day

Sunday 24th May is World Communications Day. The Bishops’ Conference has several resources that can be shared with Parishioners. This includes links to Pope Francis’ letter:
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/Pope-Francis-WCD-2020.pdf

Other prayer resources: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/wcd20/wcd20-prayer/
and a donations page:
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/wcd20/donate-world-communications-day-2020/

2/ Laudato Si

Sunday 24th May also marks the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato si’ – ‘on care for our common home’. Several resources are available to mark this anniversary including a prayer which people are invited to join in on at noon on Sunday. This prayer is available as a colour prayer card: https://laudatosiweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/PRAYCARD-DISCATERIO_EN-1.png and also as a PDF: https://laudatosiweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LSW-Common-Prayer.pdf

3/ Resources for the time between Ascension and Pentecost

The Bishops’ Conference has also provided some resources for parish websites focused on preparation for the celebration of Pentecost: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks/focus/
Including a text of a Pentecost Novena:
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Pentecost-Novena.pdf

4/ Marriage and Family Life

The Marriage and Family Life Team remain in post during the Lockdown and are providing many of their courses online: they are keen that clergy and parishioners are aware of the following:

Marriage Preparation – We continue to provide marriage preparation on all the scheduled dates using the same online format which worked well and was well received by the couples participating. Please continue to refer couples in the usual way.

Forthcoming dates for the official online Marriage Preparation course in Kent are June 27^th and September 19^th. Other dates for courses can be found at www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/marriage_prep_courses.html

Building A Better Marriage – In order to help married couples enrich their marriages we are holding more online courses. ‘Dear husband and wife! During the lockdown period an online Building a Better Marriage’ opportunity is being held on June 6^th and July 4^th, running from 10am -1pm.

The course offered means that you can attend the course from your own living room and there is no group sharing! For further information contact: Carole – Tel: 07983524727 – email: mflkent@rcaos.org.uk

Passing on The Faith – Parents have a lot more time with their children at the moment. So we felt it timely to offer a programme we have run in the past in several parishes but now as an online service for families. We would be grateful if you would publicise this in your parish/deanery in any way possible. For more details email Lisette Blanchett-Ball on mflse@rcaos.org.uk

5/ National Mass for Keyworkers and Families

The Bishops’ Conference have organised a weekly live stream Mass to pray for Keyworkers and their Families. These Masses are celebrated by a different Bishop each Thursday at 7pm from one Cathedrals across the country. Archbishop John will be celebrating the 2^nd July Mass. The planned schedule for the next few weeks is:

28 May
Bishop Terence Drainey
St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough
YouTube Channel

 4 June
Bishop John Arnold
Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Salford
Salford Cathedral on churchservices.tv

 11 June
Bishop Patrick McKinney
St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham
Nottingham Cathedral on churchservices.tv

 18 June
Archbishop Bernard Longley
St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham
St Chad’s on MCN Media

 25 June
Bishop Alan Hopes
Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich
YouTube Channel 

2 July
Archbishop John Wilson
St George’s Cathedral, Southwark
YouTube Channel

9 July
Bishop Tom Williams
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool
YouTube Channel
Facebook

 

Here is a link to the most recent updates from our Archdiocese, including:

• Vocations Sunday
• Mass for Migrants
• Domestic Abuse
• Ministry to the Sick
• Psychological Care for religious and clerg
• Healthcare and Prayer Resources at the time of COVID-19
• Masses for front-line workers and their families
• The Pilgrim
• NHS Prayer Buddies
  and others.

If you would like to subscribe to their newsletter, click here.

Join a prayer ministry for our invaluable NHS staff – an idea conceived by Rebekah O’Keeffe and Deacon Alfred. Any member of the NHS who wants to be prayed for at this difficult time will be held in prayer. The power of prayer is essential now more than ever.

The idea: Staff in hospitals will write their first name and job title in a book in the Chaplaincy, and will be then paired with people from throughout the Diocese who will be given only the person’s first name and their Parish.

If you would like to become a prayer partner/buddy, email Rebekah O’Keeffe directly: rebekah.okeeffe@gmail.com.

Some people have asked how they can continue to give their offering to the Parish. If you are able to, please either make an electronic transfer or set up a standing order to the Parish Bank account. (Forms can be downloaded here)