The missionary Vocation of every Christian

The missionary Vocation of every Christian

Often we can assume the work of missionaries is one for Holy Orders in faraway lands, distant from the responsibilities of our own lives. However nothing could be further from the truth. Fr Kevin Dring is a priest coming to speak at Newman House next Monday (17^th January). He has given much of his vocation to the Latin American church, particularly in a number diocese in Peru. An engaging speaker, he will talk on the courage of listening to our own missionary vocation, that of every Christian.

Organised by UCL Cathsoc the talk will start at 7pm on Monday 17th January at Newman House, Gower Street 111.

There will be refreshments for all as usual!

Have you thought of applying for the Catholic Parliamentary & Public Policy Internships?

Young Catholics making a difference in the public square

Are you interested in politics? Are you considering a career where you can put your faith into action? You should consider applying for the Catholic Parliamentary and Public Policy Internships!

Now in its eighth year, this scheme will provide seven recently graduated Catholics with an intensive experience of political and social action in a spiritual context.

Three interns will be placed with Christian MPs and there are two further public affairs internships – at Archbishop's House, Westminster and a joint internship with CAFOD and CARITAS Social Action Network .

An intern will also be recruited to work with Christian MEPs in Brussels in a parallel scheme to be run by the office of the European Catholic Bishops’ Conferences based in Brussels (COMECE).

London-based interns join part-time MA students for one evening a week during the autumn and spring terms at Heythrop College, University of London for modules on Catholic Social Teaching and Foundations of Christian Ethics. (Equivalent studies for the Brussels based interns).

Interns are selected on the basis of ability and potential to gain most benefit from this unique experience. Financial support is provided which will fund accommodation, living and travel costs for the duration of the internship.

Find out more and read what the current interns have to say here

And read the Catholic Parliamentary Internship blog here

Happy New Year!

Welcome back to all students and visitors to Newman House!

Most of the students have returned to Newman House after the Christmas break and it's nearly all full again - a welcome change to the quietness over Christmas!

Mass began again on Sunday, please feel welcome to attend Mass in our chapel. On Sunday, you can come along on Sundays at 10:30am followed by refreshments or at 7:30pm, and on weekdays Mass is at 5.30pm.

The popular bible group "Shema-Exploring God's word" returns to Newman House on Thursday evening at 8pm on the 13th of January with the topic "Where do I belong?"
Join the Shema facebook group

Please keep an eye on our calendar for information on the regular university chaplaincy events.

We look forward to seeing you at Newman House soon.

UCL CathSoc Christmas Carol Service

UCL CathSoc marked Christmas this year with beautiful music and prayer at its recent Christmas Carol Service at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory Warwick Street, Soho.

A short highlight featuring "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" was posted on Youtube.

Essay Competition on Catholic education

Conference of Catholic Chaplains in Higher Education

Essay Competition for the Year of Catholic Education

Are you a university student who attended a Catholic School in England or Wales or who attends a Catholic Higher Education College?

What do you think you gained/are gaining from your time at your Catholic school or Catholic university college?

Has it helped you to live life to the full, to live as a person of faith and to engage with others?

If it has, please join in celebrating the Year of Catholic Education by taking part in our competition.

Just write between 500 and 1000 words on the theme “What my Catholic Education means for me now” and send it by attached file to Roberta Canning, the National Co-ordinator of Catholic Chaplains in Higher Education at angliacatholic@aol.com.

The competition is open to individual students and to small groups if two or three students want to work together.

The prize is a book token for £100.

The closing date is 20th February 2011.

Archbishop's recommendation for Christmas viewing

Our Archbishop, Vincent Nichols, has given an enthusiastic endorsement to the forthcoming broadcast of a new BBC dramatisation of The Nativity. The Archbishop writes:

‘Please recommend this to your parishioners. The programmes are a dramatised re-telling of the accounts of Jesus’ birth, with some clear dramatic license yet retaining an overall fidelity not only to the Gospel accounts but also to traditional imagery. The programmes have been made with sensitivity and have moments of great beauty and emotional intensity. The final episode is particularly moving.’

The account is given in four thirty-minute programmes on Monday 20, Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 December at 7pm on BBC1 .

The BBC Press Release about The Nativity can be seen here, and there is a website dedicated to the programme here.

Catholic Women of the year 2011

Just received this - If you can think of someone that qualifies nominate them!

Nominations are invited for the 2011 Catholic Women of the Year. Any Catholic woman can be nominated: we are looking for the "unsung heroines" who care for the sick or marginalised, visit prisoners, run errands in the parish, teach children the Faith, help those seeking to enter the Church, support priests and seminarians, raise funds for charity, or do any of the 101 things that brings the presence of Christ into the community and build up the Church.

All that is needed is a letter outlining the reason for nomination, and giving details of the nominee's name and address or parish. Letters should be sent to: Mrs Jan Woodford, Catholic Women of the Year, 22 Milton Rd WARE Hert SG12 0PZ or email: mijamajoje@ntlworld.com and MUST arrive before March 31st 2011.

Christmas at Newman House

This weekend, Newman House celebrated Christmas early!

On Friday night, it was the Newman House Christmas Party.

We went round the corner to the Bar @ TCR in our finest clothes for some drinking, eating and lots of dancing!

Thank you to the senior students for organising such a great night!

On Sunday, Santa Claus made an early visit to Newman House!
Pictures to come soon!

A weekend in Walsingham

On the first weekend of Advent students from the Universities of London led by Fr Peter Wilson travelled on pilgrimage to Walsingham in North Norfolk. Walsingham is a special place for both Catholics and Anglicans as England's National shrine of Our Lady.













Students took the famous Pilgrims Way in procession carrying aloft the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham.










These pilgrims were rewarded with a snowy 15th century village on the pictureque Norfolk coast.


















Thanks to the organisers for a very special weekend!

Walsingham Video collage

Over the first weekend of Advent, a group of about 20 from Newman House went on pilgrimage to Walsingam. A fuller report should follow soon. Of course, we met other pilgrims while we were there, among them Jackie and Steve Hindle. From the photographs they took they have compiled a video collage, which they have posted on YouTube. Here's the video: