This week

MONDAY

UCL CathSoc: John Smeaton, Director of SPUC- 6.30pm

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TUESDAY

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - 6-9pm

Here I am, Lord – 7.30pm: Sr Cathy Jones RA

Benediction 9pm

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WEDNESDAY

Tea with the Chaplains – 3.30pm

OASIS: Are you saved? – 7.30pm

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THURSDAY

Shema: Exploring God’s Word - 8pm

David- Forgiving Ourselves

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FRIDAY

Choir Practice – 6.15

The Sacred Made Real

Archbishop Vincent Nichols reflects on the meaning of three Spanish works of art at this exhibtion at the National Gallery.

The Sacred Made Real from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.

OASIS

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Our formation series known as Oasis has now swung into existence for this term. Please click the link below to see the full programme.

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Oasis: Spirituality Matters

This week - from 26th October

MONDAY
UCL CathSoc: Aramaic Workshop - 7.30pm
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TUESDAY
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 6-9pm
CathDocs – 7.30pm
Benediction – 9pm
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WEDNESDAY
Tea with the Chaplains – 3.30pm
OASIS: Water of Life – 7.30pm
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THURSDAY
Shema: Exploring God’s Word – 8pm
Ruth - Love crosses boundaries
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FRIDAY
Choir Practice - 6.15pm

St Thérèse: Homily of Archbishop Vincent Nichols

Preached at the Mass of Departure.

St Therese Homily by Archbishop Vincent Nichols from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.

This Week

MONDAY
UCL CathSoc: What is healing? 6.30pm
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TUESDAY
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - 6-9pm
Here I am, Lord - 7.30pm
NewLaw - 7.30pm
Benediction - 9pm
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WEDNESDAY
Visit to Great Portland St Synagogue 2pm
OASIS: Getting Started 7.30pm
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THURSDAY
Shema: Exploring God’s Word
Moses - God's call is too great - 8pm
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FRIDAY
Choir Practice - 6.15pm

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For photos of recent events please check out our Facebook Page

And so it begins...

Whilst many postgraduate students started work several weeks ago (and some only managed to snatch a holiday at some point), the deluge of Undergraduates is descending this weekend on most of the colleges in London. Our prayers are with them as the year begins.

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A date for your diary:

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Sunday 11th OCTOBERzz

Freshers' Mass at Newman House

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10.30pm

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with Archbishop Vincent Nichols.

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We look forward very much to welcoming the Archbishop on his first visit to Newman House and to the Chaplaincy community since his installation.

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Photo: Marcin Mazur

CJC

Westminster Record

This month's Westminster Record carried a profile of Newman House on the back page.

Click here to read it.

Fr Edward Houghton RIP

From the Vicar General of the Diocese:

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"It is with a profound sense of shock and sadness that we announce that Fr Ed Houghton was fatally injured in a road accident in North Yorkshire yesterday, Friday 21st August. He was forty years of age and had been a priest for just over one year. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fr Ed's immediate family - his sisters and brother, at this time. We remember also the parish communities at Chiswick where he was Assistant Priest, and the Cathedral where he served his year as a Deacon."

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Fr Edward Houghton at his Ordination to the Priesthood

at the hands of Cardinal Cormac Murphy O' Connor on Saturday 31st May 2008.

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Fr Ed was born in Preston and prior to studying for the priesthood worked as an English and Religious Education teacher at St Charles Sixth Form College in Ladbroke Grove. He had been a resident at Newman House when he was a student. Our prayers are with his family and all who mourn him. May he rest in peace.

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Photos: www.rcdow.org.uk;

www.allenhall.org.uk

Pilgrimage to Taize

Sr Mary gives an account of the recent pilgrimage to Taizé.
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Sr Mary Kenefick and five students from LSE and a professional member of staff from Goldsmiths College made a pilgrimage to Taizé from 20-29 June 2009. As an English student group we were delighted to meet students from Keele and Warwick Universities. Later in the week, the UK contingent of thirty were joined by a group of eight parishioners from St Mary’s Church, Cadogan St, accompanied by their priest Fr Georgios Ntakgas.
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It could be called a spiritual holiday in sunny central Burgundy, France, given the prayer environment of this unique ecumenical community of monks founded by Brother Roger. The sun gave of its best for 7 days while on Friday we were reminded of God’s presence for five hours through thunder and intense rain reviving the earth, grass and flowers.
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Daily life at Taizé includes Catholic Mass at 7.30am, followed by Morning Prayer with the Eucharist followed by breakfast round 9am. There is a bible teaching/reflection at 10am for one hour. Midday prayer, lasting half an hour, takes place at 12.30pm followed by lunch. One is free for an hour and then either or discussions or workshops are available in groups. These were excellent because one got to know and share faith with Christians from around the world. In my case it was with Christians from Sweden, Norway, Spain and Great Britain. Their difference brought enrichment into our lives and some long lasting significant friendships have been forged.
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It was astounding how quickly we build community and significant relationships within a few days. Evening Prayer was preceded by dinner. Central to all the prayer times was an 8 minute silent period and, of course, the Taizé chants. The silence was respected and reached profound depths at times.
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There is a necessary element of penance, with regard to food at Taizé. It was sufficient and healthy. Taizé is a homely place and this is expressed through the inclusion of everyone in prayer, reflection and building community through household tasks.
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I was delighted to locate Brother Roger’s grave at the entrance to the old, local and first chapel of the community just outside the campus. Many people prayed here and I left some vocation literature there. The Taizé community bases its ecumenical living style on that lived by the early Christians in the first two centuries, loving and sharing Eucharist. They are influenced by the teachings of St Ignatius of Antioch and St Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, their neighbourhood.
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The spirit of Brother Roger lives on and this was affirmed by people who had made pilgrimages there during his lifetime. We were told one amusing story by one of the brothers. “When brother Roger lived he was old, not only in years, yes, but also in his mind. When he began to tell a story, which he often did, you knew after the first four words what the next ten minutes would be like!”
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This pilgrimage has been a defining moment in the prayer life of the students. While there, two volunteered to work in the kitchen cooking the dinners and two others made a silent retreat for 3 days. The discussions groups played a big part in broadening their faith and knowledge of it and the universal element of the Catholic and Christian Churches. They certainly discovered a new meaning and vitality for their life.
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There is a great opportunity at Taizé for volunteer work; in fact I would say they depend greatly on volunteers and I met some from all points of the compass.
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I would like to end with a quote from Brother Alois, current prior: “Yes, God is present in every person, whether they are believers or not. From its very first page, the Bible describes in a beautiful and poetic way the gift that God makes of his breath of life to every human being.”