Adamah Young Writers Competition Fundraiser
Adamah Media are fundraising for a competition aimed at budding journalists and writers aged 17-26, offering cash prizes for the three winners along with further opportunities for their development as writers. Adamah Media publishes articles focusing particularly on social, cultural, and spiritual topics. It seeks to be a platform where a wide range of views can be respectfully exchanged, aiming always at fairness and truth. Your support for the competition fundraiser could launch a young writer on their career and support Adamah too in its mission of promoting positive and respectful dialogue.
What are you reading?
I’d be very keen to hear from you, my readers, as to what you are reading at the moment or if you have any suggested spiritual reading. Please let me know and if you like I can even feature a comment from you and a link to the book in my next newsletter.
Pure in Heart Advent Walk
Fr John Jesus Moloney CSJ is organising a walk on Saturday 4th December. Details to follow, but it will be a tube or train journey, then walking for a few hours, followed by Mass together with members of the Pure in Heart prayer group.
Order of Malta Carol Service
The Order of Malta are hosting their annual candlelit Carol Service and Benediction at 7pm on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Wednesday 8th December, at St James’s Church, Spanish Place. The service will be followed by a festive reception. Tickets available here.
White Knights Ball 2022
The White Knights Ball will take place on Saturday 15th January 2022 in the Great Room of the Grosvenor House Hotel to raise money for the work of the Order of Malta Volunteers. The evening will involve a champagne reception, three course meal, and dancing until carriages at 2.30am including opening the ball with a waltz. Tickets are available here; buy your ticket before the 6th December to benefit from the early bird rate!
Institute of St John
The Institute of St John are running a series of classes every Tuesday morning from 10.30 to 12.30 in the downstairs hall of St Patrick’s Soho. The next one will take place on Tuesday November 30th and will given by Catherine Wallis-Hughes on Signs and Realities: Aquinas on the Sacraments. For those unable to make it in person a Zoom link can be acquired from Claire Bruce on claire.bruce@gmail.com.
Effatha initiative - 40 days of perpetual adoration
I would like to invite you to take part in the Effatha initiative - 40 days of perpetual adoration that started on 2nd of November and will end 12th December. Please check it out here and share with the whole world. They have flyers in 20 languages and want to spread it as far as they can and create an intercessory chain with people praying 24/7 for 40 days. People can adore in any church in the world (or online if not possible in person), they just ask people to sign in on their website for a specific hour/day you are available to adore, so they can ensure continuous prayer 24/7 over the 40 days. They have people from more than 20 countries participating (China, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Russia, African Countries, Ukraine).
Rosary Group
Jesuit Young Adult Ministries host an online group recitation of the Rosary for young adults every Thursday at 9pm. If you wish to join email yam@jesuit.org.uk.
Loretto Worship Nights
Praise and worship every Sunday night from 7pm in the crypt of St Mary’s University Chapel in Twickenham.
Deo Gratias Mass and Christmas Party
On Saturday 11th December the Deo Gratias group will be holding convene for Mass and a Christmas party.
Brompton Oratory Carol Service
Brompton Oratory will be holding their annual carol service at 7.30pm on Monday 20th December. Doors open at 7pm.
Looking for flatmate
Flat on Kew Road (with balcony!) and only a 10 minute walk to Richmond station. Rent is £800pcm including council tax, but excluding utilities. Available from 4th January. Let me know if you are interested or know anyone who might be.
Year of St Joseph
Plenary indulgences can be obtained for the following devotions this year:
Contemplation of the Lord’s Prayer for at least 30 minutes, or participation in a spiritual retreat of at least one day which involves meditation on St Joseph.
Fulfillment of a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, after the example of St Joseph.
Recitation of the Rosary in families and between engaged couples.
Daily entrustment to the protection of St Joseph, and invoking his intercession so that job-seekers may find employment.
Recitation of the Litanies to St Joseph or Akathistos to St Joseph, or some other prayer to St Joseph, for the relief of Christians suffering from persecution.
Recitation of any prayer legitimately approved in honour of St Joseph on the 19th of every month and every Wednesday.
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 seems particularly apt this year as St Joseph (whose year it is) is the patron saint of workers. It may be of particular interest to those who are job-hunting or for those who are keen to sanctify their work.
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)
Tyburn Convent (Shrine of the Martyrs at Tyburn)
Volunteering Opportunities
Accommodation
Netherhall House (male)
Ashwell House (female)
Quote of the Week
“If your selfishness leads you away from the ordinary desire for the holy and healthy well-being of mankind, if you count the cost or if you are not moved by the wretched material or moral condition of your neighbour, you force me to reproach you strongly, so that you can do something about it. If you do not feel a holy fraternity with your fellow men, and you live on the margin of the great Christian family, you are just a pitiful waif.”
St Josemaria Escriva, The Furrow, 16
Pope’s Prayer Intention for November 2021
People who suffer from depression
We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life.
Postscript
Inevitably I will have left out events, prayer groups, 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.