WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

The Shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes
This weekend nearly 1,500 people from the Archdiocese of Westminster will be travelling to Lourdes to take part in the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage in the year that sees the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to St Bernadette. For many people this will be a first visit but for others it will be one of many. For several years I had no desire to go to Lourdes, but after my first visit, in 1980, I fell in love with it and have been numerous times since. It is the sort of place you long to go back to, and the minute you arrive there you feel instantly at home. Each pilgrimage, however, I do wonder whether I will experience the same sense of spiritual blessing that I have experienced in the previous years, and, amazingly, I do. Each year’s visit is quite different to the others and each year God touches my heart in a different way; sometimes it comes through the peace and quiet of the Grotto, sometimes through a penance service or a visit to the baths, sometimes through a conversation with other pilgrims. We cannot tell beforehand how God will speak to us at Lourdes, but if we go there in a state of prayerful expectancy, He will not disappoint us.

Everyone has their own special place at Lourdes. Mine will always be the Grotto because the events that happened there in 1858 are the focus of our prayer and the cause of our journey. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many people are there, there is over everything a reverent hush, and simply by closing ones eyes you can imagine that you are the only one there. To kneel right by the Grotto, or to look at it from across the river Gave, and to ponder the story of the Apparitions is one of the joys of a pilgrimage to Lourdes. I also love the Cachot, the town gaol where St Bernadette and her family were living at that time. To look at the old fireplace and to remember that it was to collect firewood to place there, so that her mother could cook a hot meal for the family, that led to Bernadette going down to the Grotto that cold February morning,. It serves as a wonderful reminder that it is often through the small and insignificant things of life that God reveals Himself, and also that it is often through small and insignificant people, like Bernadette, like Thérèse of Lisieux, like you and me, that God continues to make Himself known. Canon Christopher Tuckwell

Click here to read Fr Tim Dean's weblog and here to read recent Newsletter articles.

The Passage
The Passage, which is one of the Cathedral’s charities working with homeless people, is always looking for additional voluntary support. If you have some time to spare and would like to help either working directly in serving the homeless or behind the scenes in fund raising or administration, then please contact Sarah Norwood on 020 7592 1863 or email sarah.norwood@passage.org.uk

Friends’ Events
The famous Quiz will be held on Thursday, 31 July at 7pm in Cathedral Hall. Ticket £15 to include fabulous fish and chip supper.
Meeting the ancestors, Thursday, 25 September at 7pm in Cathedral Hall. A talk on family history by Mari Alderman, lecturer at Birkbeck and one of London’s leading experts on genealogy.
All tickets available from the Friends’ Office, Clergy House, 42 Francis Street, SW1, telephone 020 7798 9059.

Oblates
There will be a meeting of the Oblates on Sunday, 27 July at 2.30pm in the Hinsley Room. All are welcome.

Nigerian Catholic Association
There will be a meeting of the Association on Sunday, 27 July at 12 noon in the Hinsley Room.

Justice and Peace Group
Nete de Araujo, who works with APOIO, a partner organisation of CAFOD, will be giving a talk on her life with the homeless people of Sao Paulo, Brazil in the Hinsley Room on 21 July at 7pm. All are welcome. For further information contact 020 8449 6970 or email westminster@cafod.org.uk There will also be a meeting of the group on 16 July in the Hinsley Room at 6.15pm

RCIA 2008-2009
Are you an adult non-Catholic interested in exploring what Christianity and the Catholic faith are about or thinking of becoming a Catholic? If your answer is yes then it may be that the Westminster Cathedral RCIA programme is for you. The RCIA programme (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) begins on 17 September 2008 and will run until 20 May 2009. It will consist of regular weekly meetings. If you live or work within the Cathedral Parish or regularly attend Westminster Cathedral and would like to find out more please speak to one of the Cathedral priests or contact Fr Denis Sarsfield on 020 7798 9068. Alternatively, contact your local parish priest. Most parishes run an RCIA course.

Westminster Cathedral Grand Organ Festival
The Festival concerts take place on Wednesdays at 7.30pm and the next one will be by our Master of Music, Martin Baker, on 30 July. John Scott will be on 27 August, Jon Laukvik on 24 September and Stephen Cleobury on 29 October. John Scott’s performance is in association with The Southbank Centre Messiaen Festival. (www.southbankcentre.co.uk, call 0871 663 2500). Tickets from the Cathedral Music Administrator 020 7798 9057 or email organ@masterofmusic.org

Young Adults Group
Young adults are invited to come along to the Cardinal Pub (just behind the Cathedral on Francis St) for a social gathering each Sunday following 7pm Mass.

Christian Meditation Group
For this week only the group is meeting on a Tuesday, 22 July at 6.30pm in the Hinsley Room. Normal service will be resumed next week when we return to our usual slot of Monday at 6.30pm. All are welcome.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
The Government has now postponed until autumn the final stages of its Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, including debate on pro-abortion amendments. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) believes the government’s decision was influenced by the marvellous opposition of courageous church leaders, churchgoers and supporters to this profoundly unethical bill, for which SPUC is enormously grateful. More help is now needed to campaign against the bill over the summer. Telephone SPUC on 020 7091 7091 or email political@spuc.org.uk

Collection 13 July 2008
Mass £5897 Music £355

Clergy House reception is open
Monday – Friday 8.00am – 7.00pm
Saturday & Sunday 10.00am – 1.00pm
Tel: 020 7798 9055

American Friends
American taxpayers can receive a US income tax deduction for their contributions to support the work of the Cathedral by sending their contributions to American Friends of Westminster Cathedral, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization (EIN# 13-2983174). They will also enjoy special events and receive newsletters about Cathedral activities. Donations may also be made through bequests and charitable trusts. Contact Ms Una Chang, President, American Friends of Westminster Cathedral, Inc, P.O. Box 92 New York, NY 10185-0092 e-mail UChang1@aol.com

If you go into Hospital…
Under current legislation, hospital chaplains cannot be given your details. You - or your relatives - will not be visited by a chaplain unless you specifically ask for the catholic chaplain. A list of chaplains to our local hospitals is posted on the notice board at the back of the Cathedral.

A new Healthcare section on the Diocese of Westminster's website provides information about the work of the Hospital Chaplaincy Service and a full listing of Catholic Hospital Chaplains. Click here for more details.

Free money - a gift to the Cathedral!
If you are a UK taxpayer, you can add an extra 28p to every £1 that you give - at no cost to yourself - with Gift Aid. You have already paid tax on your donation; the Government will refund it to us. All you have to do is to fill in a form (giving your name, address and the date) and sign a declaration saying that you pay more tax than the amount that we will reclaim. Leaflets and Gift Aid envelopes are at the back of the Cathedral.

A new way to help our Twin Parish
To make it easier to contribute to Bl. Mother Teresa Parish in Guayaquil, Ecuador, the Diocese of Westminster has established an account here in London. Please make cheques payable to “WRCDT - Fr. Tom Oates” and give cash or cheques to the information desk, the Sunday collection basket or to Clergy House 42 Francis Street London SW1P 1QW. The money goes directly to the Free Lunch Programme with no administrative overhead. Include a gift aid form and your donation will be granted a bonus of 28%!

Lifts to Mass
Every Sunday, volunteer drivers and helpers bring disabled and elderly people to the 10.30 Mass. The minimum commitment is about 2 hours every five weeks or so. If you are over 25 and would like to help us please email john@johnmole.com

Mass Times:
Sunday (18.00 Sat), 8.00, 9.00, 10.30, 12.00, 17.30, 19.00
Mon - Fri: 7.00, 8.00, 10.30, 12.30, 13.05, 17.30.
Sat: 8.00, 9.00, 10.30, 12.30, 18.00

Clergy House reception is open, Mon - Fri 8.00 - 19.00
Weekends 10.00 - 13.00. There is usually a priest on duty.
At other times, in an emergency, please call
020 7798 9055.

Collections
13 July Mass £5,897 Music £355

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