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Emmaus Book Group
As we came through our first Easter in Lockdown it somehow seemed easier to
understand the sense of devastation and loss experienced by the first disciples. We gathered together and pondered the writing of Fr Denis McBride as he invited us to open up our understanding of the Emmaus story. We met via Zoom and shared our interpretations, understandings and reflections, all with good humour.
The Emmaus Group was born.
Book for Lent, starting Monday 28 February then 14/28 March and 11 April.
What Does it all Mean? Richard Leonard SJ
“So these pages are for all the doubters and searchers I know; those who… ask hard
questions of Christianity and are often impatient for answers. We are fellow travellers on
the adventurous journey of faith.” Chapter 1
If you would like to join us please contact Jane or Rowena
We look forward to having you with us.
To date we have explored:
The Road to Emmaus and Beyond, Denis McBride
God in all Things, Gerard Hughes
Prayer, our Deepest Longing, Ronald Rolheiser
Journeying towards Jesus in Advent, Denis McBride
Seeing God in Art, Richard Harries
We’ve also met twice for St Vincent’s take on ‘A Good Read’. Here we bring along those stories which we have really enjoyed, have touched our hearts or inspired us in some way.
Journeying with Jesus, a companion’s guide, Denis McBride
is our book for Lent, starting Monday 22 February
If you would like to join us please contact Celia 439 3573.
We look forward to having you with us.
Emmaus Book Group
Monday’s at 2pm on Zoom
Parishes in Partnership
In South Sudan this involves reaching out to people most in need, buying and distributing basic food such as maize, beans and charcoal for cooking food. They also provide cleaning items and clothing and pay for transport. During the pandemic, churches in South Sudan have been closed since February 2021. Members are spreading accurate information about Covid 19.
The future is looking uncertain for Sudan and South Sudan, where the fragile peace is at great risk. Inflation has risen above 300%, unemployment has rocketed and Covid has brought an unprecedented need for medical help.
Update October 2021
We are continuing with our work here in St. Mary Magdalen, Riwoto. In the school at the moment we have over 1,200 children registered both in the nursery and primary school. Over 350 of those are girls. There are 32 children registered to do the primary leaving examination at the end of this academic year. Nine of those are girls. We have finished the building of the secondary school, which included 4 classrooms, an administration block with head teacher’s office, staff room and store, dining room/kitchen/ food store, and also teachers quarters. We need to buy text books and stationary, desks, chairs and other furniture. What St. Vincent sent (6,000 gbp) will go towards the cost of that. The month of September was designated the season of creation, when we are reminded by the Pope to care for our common home. Beside the planting of trees, the community celebrated a Mass outside on one particular Sunday and the story of creation was enacted. One of the issues we are facing in the education of girls is early forced marriages. Girls from the village are coming to us looking for refuge, because they are being forced by their families to get married. This is one aspect of the culture that we are fighting against. This week, our society child protection trainer is coming to Riwoto and meeting with a number of people, such as teachers, children, child safeguarding committee of the parish and the local Government commissioner, together with the paramount chief of the area. We hope something good will come out of it for the sake of the girls.
Tim Galvin
St. Vincent de Paul Society
News and update on our support to SVP groups in India and South Sudan
Our SVP conference is linked or ‘twinned’ with four other SVP groups in India and Africa. These links are made in a spirit of solidarity and friendship. They reflect the reality that there are no borders to poverty and injustice, and we want to support our friends in areas of greater poverty, conflict, famine and war.
In South Sudan this involves reaching out to people most in need, buying and distributing basic food such as maize, beans and charcoal for cooking food. They also provide cleaning items and clothing and pay for transport. During the pandemic, churches in South Sudan have been closed since February 2021. Members are spreading accurate information about Covid 19.
The future is looking uncertain for Sudan and South Sudan, where the fragile peace is at great risk. Inflation has risen above 300%, unemployment has rocketed and Covid has brought an unprecedented need for medical help.
South Sudan
Luongo, Juba, the capital city of the world’s youngest country situated on the White Nile, South Sudan – St Francis church.
Juba, originally serving a displaced person’s camp and now in the St Kizito’s area -St Matthias.
Torit, Juba, Our Lady of the Rosary.
Photographs of Our Lady of the Rosary Church
Chowannur, a neighbourhood of Kunnamkulam in Eastern Kerala, South India – St Thomas church. St Ambrose conference sponsored a studentship in engineering.
Photograph of St Thomas’s Church
Our conference gives direct financial support to all our ‘twins’ so that they can decide how best to help the poorest of the poor.
In India, St Ambrose conference has sponsored and Indian student who studied engineering.
How can you help?
Through your prayers – we pray for our four twins at all our meetings, and we invite you, as members of our parish families to pray also for them. One of our churches sent us this prayer, please pray it with them.
‘We thank God Almighty Father for His protection. May He continue to keep and guide us safely under His mighty protection. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
Fundraising – the parish has been very generous in the past when we’ve appealed for financial help to fund the many SVP projects in South Sudan. We will be organising fundraising activities in the future and will update our parish communities about this later in the year.
If you would like to make a donation, this can be done by posting an envelope clearly marked through Our Lady’s Presbytery or sent direct to our SVP bank account. F180701 SVP. Sort code 60 60 04, Account number 46078134. For more information, please contact Kevin Mc Kenna on 07504 130749.
Flower Group
Return to topThe Flower Group, set up to organise the floral arrangements in church, was formed in 1990. At present, ten ladies are involved, some from the original group. We meet socially three times a year in order to plan for the forthcoming months. On average, each person is responsible for choosing and arranging the flowers for the main altar and the entrance table about four times a year.
Our most recent joint venture was at Easter when the church was decorated with white lilies, kindly donated by parishioners in memory of loved ones. Being a member of the Flower Group is a very enjoyable way of helping to enhance the beauty of our church. New volunteers are made very welcome, and help is given if required.
Rosary Group
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19 LIMITATIONS
The Rosary group meet once a month usualy on the last Wednesday at 7pm in the meeting room , We have a Scripture reading and then recite one mystery of the Rosary. All are welcome just come along.
Prayer Group
The Prayer Group started several years ago when about eight of us followed a course called ‘Praying Alone and Together’ by Arthur R. Baranowski. This gave us examples of different ways of praying, some familiar and some that were new for many of us. Each meeting left us with things to think about until the next time. I believe we all found it helpful in different ways and we decided to continue.
Community Refugee Sponsorship Scheme
Community Sponsorship update
Wow – So much has happened since our last update.
Daughter: – The first Christmas was an amazing time for our now, 5 year old. We went and visited a local street renowned for putting on a fabulous out-door display, every garden was a thrill. She took part in her first school Christmas play and was an active participant.
Now she has finished her first school year. Her English understanding is fabulous and her speaking and copying is amazing as she becomes clearer and cheekier every day. I am definitely getting told off in English JJJ.
Dad: – has now finished a full year at the Hardman Centre and we are now actively looking for voluntary work to build confidence in his listening and speaking – any suggestions welcome. Dad is also able to get his own prescriptions from the chemist now.
The new baby: – is a delight and is now actively being weaned, is sitting up and beginning to babble. She is very smiley and has a lovely temperament.
Mum: – is very keen to move forward with her English and is joining the Hardman Centre in September as well as the private lesson our group still provides. Mum in herself, is so much more confident.
Our English group: – has worked tirelessly to provide extra English Language lesson support, which has enabled Mum in particular to move forwards with her English despite not being able to go the Hardman Centre due to feeding the baby.
Independence: – They do all their own shopping without any help from the group. They successfully manage their own money and have never needed any money from the group due to not being able to manage. They have learned to keep their utility bills to the minimum.
Finance: – All the money raised that has been spent since arrival, to date, has been used directly on the family to facilitate, English lessons, Birthday/Christmas gifts, Travel for essential trips – Eg: we had to go to Sheffield en mass to get the baby registered for a British Residency Permit. We have enough money to facilitate the private weekly English lesson for the next year and review this on a termly basis.
Spiritual help: – Keep praying for our family and our group, especially for Dad moving in to the world of work in a new country with limited language skills. A nerve racking experience for him.
Thank you for taking the time to read our update.