De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

A while back we had a really good Parish Mission at Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Joseph. The wonderful Norbertines from Chelmsford came and led a really powerful retreat which drew incredibly positive feedback from across the Parish family. Out of the grace that flowed from that week, Fr. Kevin was determined to capitalise, and asked me to present to the Parish Council on the possibility of running the Apprenticeship in Discipleship programme based on Sherry Weddell's Forming Intentional Disciples put together by the Diocese of Plymouth Evangelisation Team . I met the team when they came to London in October last year and ran a training day on disciple making disciples. The Plymouth team have developed a comprehensive and continuing programme to develop, mobilise support and sustain parish evangelisation teams. Through this programme, they have found that many individuals experience a deepening personal relationship with Jesus. This naturally leads to a hunger to know m...

Some wonderful news came from the Archbishop of Southwark, Peter Smith. Archbishop Peter has announced in a Pastoral Letter read out at all Masses today that Southwark Diocese are launching a new Certificate in Catechesis in conjunction with The School of the Annunciation in Buckfast Abbey. Cover of the new Certificate of Catechesis Archbishop Peter Smith and Fr Guy de Gaynesford signed a partnership agreement between the School of the Annunciation and the Archdiocese of Southwark at the end of a Mass for catechists in St George's cathedral yesterday. The School of the Annunciation will deliver the Diocesan Catechetical Certificate, beginning in January 2017. Archbishop Peter states in his letter: This new diocesan course is intended especially for catechists in our parishes and chaplaincies, but it will also be of importance and interest to teachers in our schools , to all who are engaged in faith formation in parishes, as well as parents, grandparents, r...

The Most Reverend Archbishop Rino Fisichella will be speaking on ‘A new phase of Evangelisation in the thought of Pope Francis’ at the School of the Annunciation: Centre for the New Evangelisation, Buckfast Abbey, on Wednesday 25th March, at 10 am.  All are welcome- Admission is free!  Archbishop Rino Fisichella will also preside at the celebration of Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord at 12 noon in the Abbey Church, and again, all are welcome to this celebration.  Archbishop Fisichella is the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization , responsible for fostering a ‘renewed missionary impulse’, especially among ‘Churches of ancient origin’. (Pope Benedict XVI, Ubicumque et Semper , 2010). Archbishop Fisichella’s address will be delivered at the Schiller Hall, St Cuthbert’s Conference Centre, Buckfast Abbey.  There is ample free parking on-site For further details see the website .  enqu...

The School of the Annunciation are holding a Guild Day this Saturday, 31st January at St. Patrick's, 21a Soho Square, London W1D 4NR. This will present an excellent opportunity to spend a day deepening your faith and networking with other Catholics. The day will constitute a conference on the New Evangelisation with the wonderful Bishop Philip Egan of the Diocese of Portsmouth as keynote speaker. Bishop Egan will present a discourse on Evangelii Gaudium , 27. A particularly interesting paragraph of Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation as it speaks of the indispensable contribution to ecclesial renewal made by mission. This may come as a surprise to many Catholics and others who read the news headlines, as opposed the Pope's actual words. He has been quoted as saying that he “ doesn’t want to convert Evangelicals ”, although, as usual, once one reads behind the report of a remembered conversation someone had with the Pope, we find a different story . In any case, I ...

I have been told about an exciting forthcoming event which I think deserves promotion: The New Evangelisation: Living and Sharing the Gospel - 5 July 9:15am at Ealing Abbey:  A series of excellent talks are avaliable in July at Ealing Abbey. Fr. Bernard Barrett will be speaking on The New Evangelisation & the Parish in Contemporary Culture ,  Dr. Caroline Farey will be speaking on Sacred Art in the New Evangelisation and  Dom Dominic Taylor OSB will speak about The Benedictine Way .  There will also be an opportunity to browse new resources for Evangelisation and Catechesis.  There is a small charge of just £10 (which includes lunch) to enjoy these excellent and invigorating speakers.  To register email: guildofourladyandstjoseph@gmail.com This event is presented in association with the School of the Annunciation .