Must-Reads
Pope Francis made a speech in which he makes some very daring proposals for a new society.
Mark R. Miller talks about his socialite mother Ann Russell Miller becoming a Carmelite nun in this article for the Guardian.
George Weigel weighs in on the debate surrounding the reception of Holy Communion by ‘estranged’ Catholics: https://denvercatholic.org/pope-francis-estranged-catholics-and-holy-communion/
Nicole Law talks about authentic love in this article for Adamah.
Move For Trees
I shall be walking 50km between 1-31 October to raise money for the National Trust to fulfil their pledge to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030.
Trees provide homes for wildlife, reduce flooding and clean our air. Today the UK is the least wooded country in Europe, and 41% of UK wildlife species have been in decline since 1970. When you plant a tree, you contribute to reducing emissions, as these hardy plants work hard to lock up carbon. These trees will also open up new habitats for wildlife such as the red squirrel, the hazel dormouse, the greater spotted woodpecker and other birds like the song thrush and the red kite. Trees are good for nature. They're good for the climate. And they're good for people. It costs just £5 to plant one sapling and help grow the woodland of the future.
Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si’, speaks of “a nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily actions” amongst which he includes planting trees. In response to the Pope’s call let’s see if we can get one tree planted on behalf of every Catholic in the country! That would equate to over 4 million trees!
If you wish to support this cause and contribute to my fundraiser please click here.
Other ways in which you can play a part in helping the environment include signing the Climate Coalition’s declaration for a greener tomorrow and by 16 “little daily actions” which can be found here.
Monthly Recollection
On Thursday 28th October Opus Dei are organising an evening recollection for young professional men at Kelston Club & Study Centre, 161 Nightingale Lane, SW12 8NQ. The recollection will begin at 6.30pm with a talk followed by Eucharistic Adoration, a spoken meditation given by a priest, a guided examination of conscience, and Benediction. The recollection will be followed by pizza and beer (£3 per person).
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.
Fra’ Angelico Art Group
The Fra’ Angelico Art Group will meet at St Patrick’s Studios in Wapping at 10.30am on Saturday 30th October for a day of creativity and companionship. Please bring your own materials and lunch. For more information please contact Irene Novelli at irenenovelli@hotmail.com or call 07481 763845.
Eucharistic Rosary Procession & Vigil of Readings for the Eve of All Saints
The Rosary Shrine will host a Rosary Vigil at 7pm on Saturday 30th October. The Vigil will include Adoration and readings from some of the Church’s youngest saints and blesseds, a Eucharistic Rosary Procession, and music composed and conducted by Polish composer Pawel Bebenek. The Dominican friars are also looking for four men who could help with carrying the canopy over the Blessed Sacrament and if there are four people (male or female) who would be interested in doing some of the readings by and about the saints. If you are interested in helping in either capacity please contact Fr Joseph Bailham O.P. at joseph.bailham@english.op.org.
Loretto Worship Nights
Praise and worship every Sunday night from 7pm in the crypt of St Mary’s University Chapel in Twickenham.
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 2nd and will given by Br Michael Paul CSJ on Thomas Aquinas on the Life of Christ. 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 will start on 2nd of November till 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).
Theology of the Body Conference
On Saturday 13th November TOB Network UK are hosting a Theology of the Body Conference at St Patrick’s Soho from 9am till 4.30pm. The Conference includes Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, keynote talks, and a discussion panel. Tea and coffee will be provided, but you will have to bring a packed lunch. Book your tickets here.
Nightfever
On Saturday 13th November St Patrick’s Soho will host Nightfever from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Nightfever is a night of music, adoration and personal prayer. Volunteers stand on the street inviting passers-by to come into the church and light a candle. For more information have a read of this article which appeared in the Big Issue a couple of years ago.
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 5th December. Let me know if you are interested or know anyone who might be.
Year of St Joseph
It being the year of St Joseph and the month of the Most Holy Rosary you may want to finish your daily recital of the Rosary with this prayer:
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen.
Plenary indulgences can also 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.
Novena for Work
This novena for work has recently come to my attention and 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.
Tuition
I have been giving private tuition since May this year (having worked in educational settings prior to that) and am offering tuition in History, English, Religious Studies, and Politics at a rate of £25 per hour. I can provide tuition online or in-person (so long as you are in reasonable distance). Let me know if you or anyone you know might be interested, and please spread the word.
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
“The Rosary is most effective for those who use their intelligence and their study as a weapon. Because that apparently monotonous way of beseeching Our Lady as children do their Mother, can destroy every seed of vainglory and pride.”
St Josemaria Escriva, Furrow, 474
Pope’s Prayer Intention for October 2021
Missionary Disciples
We pray that every baptised person may be engaged in evangelisation, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel.
Spiritual Reading
The Consolation of the Devout Soul
Chapter 2, Section 3: Determines what kinds of venial sins are an impediment to perfect union with the Divine Will.
The venial sins which hinder our perfect union with the Will of God, and which consequently hinder the progress of Christian perfection, are those of which we are fully aware - that is to say, those which (as I have said) we commit with our eyes open. The other venial sins, of which we are not fully aware, do not hinder the progress of Christian perfection; and these are what produce a kind of tepidity which St. Alphonsus designates as inevitable (Pract. cap. vii. n. 2), because the soul cannot be exempt from them without a special privilege from God, according to the teaching of the holy Council of Trent; and it is not known that any one of the saints has possessed this privilege, with the exception of the most Blessed Virgin Mary. Now then, since no one can pretend that your purity of conscience equals that of the great Mother of God, so no one can teach you that, in order to progress in Christian perfection, you must always be free even from venial sins of which you are not fully aware. Of such I am not going to speak for the present.
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.