Must Watch Videos
I’m a fan of YouTube and I’ve always been tempted to start a channel. So here’s an initial attempt with my new series - In Conversation with Edward Kendall. I have lots of ideas and I’m sure it will be a great experience, as well as a great lesson in not taking myself too seriously and just going for it.
What are you reading?
At the White Knights Ball the person I was sitting next to mentioned the recently-beatified Carlo Acutis and how inspirational he was. She suggested reading Blessed Carlo Acutis: 5 Steps to Being a Saint by Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo. I am most grateful for the suggestion, as the book proved to be a great read full of practical advice taken from the life of this very ordinary and yet remarkable young saint who achieved so much in his short life. By following his example and plan of life we can make great strides in fulfilling our vocation to sanctity.
Basic Plan of Spiritual Reading
My spiritual director has suggested the following list as a good program of basic spiritual reading to follow:
To Know Christ Jesus, by Frank Sheed
Jesus as Friend, by Salvatore Canals
Story of a Soul, by St Therese of Lisieux
Interior Freedom, by Jacques Philippe
This Tremendous Lover, by Dom Eugene Boylan
In Silence with God, by Benedict Baur
Mary of Nazareth, by Federico Suarez
Simon Peter, by Georges Chevrot
Confessions, by St Augustine of Hippo
Difficulties in Mental Prayer, by Eugene Boylan
Frequent Confession, by Benedict Baur
Theology for Beginners, by Frank Sheed
About the Holy Spirit, by Francisca Javiera del Valle
Introduction to the Devout Life, by St Francis de Sales
The Soul of the Apostolate, by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard
The Life and The Foundations, by St Teresa of Avila
Opus Dei in the Church, by Monsignor Ocariz and others
The Sacrifice of the Altar, by Federico Suarez
The Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Alban Goodier
Sunday Church Services
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL: Masses: 8, 10 (Sung), 12 (Solemn), 5.30 (Sung) and 7; 9.30 Sung Morning Prayer; 4 Solemn Vespers and Benediction. Streaming details from westminstercathedral.org.uk
THE ORATORY, Brompton Rd: Masses: 8, 9, 10 (Family), 11 (Solemn Latin), 12.30, 4.30, 7; 3.30 Sung Vespers and Benediction.
Monthly Recollections for Men
Monday 7th February from 7.30pm-9.30pm at Edenbrook, 107 South Eden Park Road, Beckenham BR3 3AX. Tel: 020 8650 4354.
Wednesday 9th February from 7.15pm-9.15pm at Kelston, 159 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NQ. Tel: 020 8673 2242.
Saturday 12th February from 9am-11.30am at Kelston, 159 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NQ. Starts with Mass at 9am. Tel: 020 8673 2242; from 4.30pm-6.30pm at Edenbrook, 107 South Eden Park Road, Beckenham BR3 3AX. Tel: 020 8650 4354.
Tuesday 15th February from 7.30-9.20pm at Elmore, 8 Orme Court, London W2 4RL. Tel: 020 7243 9411.
Wednesday 16th February from 7pm-9pm at Netherhall House, Nutley Terrace, NW3 5SA. Tel: 020 7472 5730.
Monday 21st February 6.30pm for 7pm at Crosmore, Flat 3, 12a Finsbury Square, EC2A 1AN; from 7.30pm-9pm at St Mary Moorfields church, 4-5 Eldon St, EC2M 7LS. Tel: 020 7472 5730.
Catholic History Walks
All welcome - no need to book, just turn up! Each walk lasts 1-2 hours. Walks are led by journalist/historian Joanna Bogle.
Monday February 7th. London by lamplight. Meet 6pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane London WC2E 7NB. Explore Covent Garden, The Strand, the Savoy Chapel, and the story of St Clement Danes.
Wednesday February 16th. The Monument and The Tower. Meet 6pm at The Monument, Fish Street Hill EC3R 8AH (nearest tube station: Monument). Hear the story of the Great Fire and walk along the river to the Tower of London.
Sunday February 20th. St Mary's, Strawberry Hill. Meet 3pm main entrance, St Mary's University, Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4SX. Learn the story of this University and its connections with Horace Walpole, its WWII stories, and more. Nearest station Strawberry Hill.
Youth 2000 Women’s Coffee Club
Clapham First Saturday - Synodality: What is it?
Young Adults Adoration
On Monday 14th February there will be Eucharistic Adoration at St Mary’s Church, Clapham from 7pm followed by pub social from 7.45pm.
Loretto Worship Nights
Silent Retreat at Wickenden Manor for Young Professionals
A silent retreat for young men aged between 21 and 30. To book a place please email Peter Brown at peterbrownnw3@gmail.com.
Youth 2000 Leeds Retreat
Join Youth 2000 at Leeds Trinity University from 18th till 20th March 2022 for three days of fun, fellowship, and worship. The Leeds Retreat is open to anyone aged between 16-35 years. You can sign up here.
Silent Retreat at Thornycroft Hall for Young Professionals
A silent retreat for young professional men aged between 21 and 30. Bookings can be made here.
Examen
The examen is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. It’s actually an attitude more than a method, a time set aside for thankful reflection on where God is in your everyday life. It has five steps, which most people take more or less in order, and it usually takes 15 to 20 minutes per day. Here it is in a nutshell:
Ask God for light. I want to look at my day with God’s eyes, not merely my own.
Give thanks. The day I have just lived is a gift from God. Be grateful for it.
Review the day. I carefully look back on the day just completed, being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Face your shortcomings. I face up to what is wrong - in my life and in me.
Look toward the day to come. I ask where I need God in the day to come.
Source: A Simple, Life-changing Prayer: Discovering the Power of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Examen, Jim Manney (2011).
Novena for Work
This novena for work may be of particular interest to those who are job-hunting or for those who are keen to sanctify their work.
Three-Day Residential Retreats
Silent retreats are run by Opus Dei in the following locations:
London Shrines
Westminster Cathedral (shrine of St John Southworth)
Rosary Shrine (diocesan shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary)
Corpus Christi Maiden Lane (diocesan shrine of the Blessed Sacrament)
Church of Our Lady of Willesden (visited by St Thomas More, St Josemaria Escriva, and Blessed Alvaro del Portillo)
Tyburn Convent (Shrine of the Martyrs at Tyburn)
Volunteering Opportunities
Accommodation
Netherhall House (male)
Ashwell House (female)
Quote of the Month
“You will never be a leader if you see others only as stepping-stones to get ahead. You will be a leader if you are ambitious for the salvation of all mankind. You can’t turn your back on your fellow-men: you have to be anxious to make them happy.”
St Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 32
Pope’s Prayer Intention for February 2022
For religious sisters and consecrated women; thanking them for their mission and their courage; may they continue to find new responses to the challenges of our times.
Disclosure
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Postscript
Inevitably I will have left out events, retreats, workshops, and volunteering opportunities so please feel free to get in touch with me at edwardckendall@gmail.com if you know of anything worthy of inclusion in this newsletter. And please subscribe and share this newsletter with all your friends and anybody who you think might be interested by clicking the buttons below.