Synod of Bishops on the Family 2014

Family life will be the focus of an extraordinary general session of the Synod of Bishops that will meet at the Vatican between 5-19 October 2014. Around 150 Synod fathers will take part in the meeting to discuss the "pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelisation." It is expected to last two weeks.

Pope Francis has asked that the Church sets aside a Day of Prayer on Sunday 28 September to pray for this important international meeting.

You can also look back on the last Synod of Bishops meeting on the family held in 1980 that resulted in the document Familiaris Consortio.

You will find a number of links with interesting background and preparatory material about the Synod here.

Above all please respond to the call of Pope Francis to pray for the Synod. Here is a prayer he himself wrote:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

in you we contemplate

the splendour of true love,

to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

grant that our families too

may be places of communion and prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel

and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may families never again 

experience violence, rejection and division:

may all who have been hurt or scandalized

find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may the approaching Synod of Bishops

make us once more mindful 

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,

and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.

Our Lady of Walsingham

The Collect for today's feast of Our Lady of Walsingham is particularly beautiful. You may like to pause and pray it now.

Grant we pray, almighty God,

that as in the mystery of the Incarnation

the Blessed and ever Virgin Mary

conceived your Son in her heart

before she conceived Him in the womb,

so we, your pilgrim people, 

rejoicing in her motherly care,

may welcome him into our hearts

and become a holy house fit for his eternal dwelling.

Who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Harvest Thanksgiving

This Sunday we welcome children from St Charles Catholic Primary School to participate in our 10am Mass, as we thank God for the Harvest.

Joyce Foster RIP

The newsletter refers to a card from Beaumont House thanking us for the donations in memory of Joyce. It was good to see some of the wonderful staff from Beaumont House at Joyce's funeral. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Home Mission Sunday

This weekend is Home Mission Sunday.

Here is a prayer you might like to use:

Loving and merciful Father, we know and believe that you are near and are attentive to our every need.
We bring before you now all those we hold dear, who are distant from the family of faith, the Body of Christ.
Silently bring to mind the people that you know to whom this applies
We ask in the name of Jesus, Your Son, that you bless them abundantly. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, use us to reach out to them in a way that they feel free to respond.
May we all seek and discover afresh the joy of faith and life in Christ, and always remember that your ways are not our ways, that the last will be first, and the first last.
Amen.

You can donate to the evangelistic work of the Church in England and Wales here.

Newsletter for 20/21 September - Sunday 25(A)

Click here to read the latest newsletter.

Vacancies in Local Catholic Schools

There is a vacancy at St Charles', Measham, our own lovely school, for a Classroom Teacher (fixed term contract to cover maternity leave). Details here.

St Winefride's  at Shepshed are seeking to appoint a headteacher. Details here.

De Lisle are seeking to appoint a Lay Chaplain. Details here.