The Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer

& St. Thomas More

 

Home  >>  Newsletter

NEWSLETTER FOR JULY & AUGUST 2010


FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS

Thank you for the letters you have sent in expressing appreciation and pleasure both for the ceremony itself and for the work of our catechists.  Twice this year our candidates made their First and then their Second Confession (Reconciliation).  Then on Saturday June 19th, 32 of our little ones received their First Holy Communion.  They were Cosima Aslangul, Adriana Azagra, Cristina Azagra, Thomas Baker, Othello de Baynast-Cheval, Nicholas Brenninkmeijer, Robert Brewer, Giovanni Cavallari, Giulio Cavallari, James Cullimore, Maya Demeure, Camille Gustin, Archie Halliday, Molly Hyde, Nicolas Irusta, Tristan Kelly, John MacGreevy, Alston McMillan, Charlotte Marshal-Lockyer, Chloe Merry del Val, Constance Molhant Proost, Luis Moreno, Carlos Ohler, Una O’Neill, Carla Puliti, Penelope Reid, Sara Risco, Isabel Ritchotte, Paul Schell, Emilie Tabet, Luisa Thomas, Clara Treherne.  We pray for them and for their families.  I do want to thank the parents for their gift of the beautiful flowers for the sanctuary.  To see some photographs click here.


CATECHISTS

The co-ordination of the catechetical work throughout the year has been in the hands of a very capable team led by Miss Sarah, assisted by Miss Arantxa, Miss Mary, Miss Patti and Miss Sophia!  I do want to assure them of my admiration for all the work they do during the course of the year as we seek to assist the parents in the work of handing on the Catholic Faith.  Their planning showed itself again on the First Holy Communion Day, with the liturgy, the logistics and with the behaviour of the children.


CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

Registrations begin on Tuesday 7th September 2010 at 5.00pm for First Holy Communion preparation and also for the pre-First Holy Communion class and for the post First Holy Communion class.  Because of available space in Church for candidates and their families, priority will be given to our parishioners and those already registered as regular worshippers here.


R.C.I.A.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults will also start up again in the autumn.  This is the vehicle through which those adults seeking admission into the Catholic Church are instructed in the Faith and are introduced to prayer and to the culture of Faith and is without any obligation.  Other parishioners simply seeking a ‘refresher’ course are also welcome.   Monday evenings at 7.00pm in the Monckton Room.  Start date to be announced.  Meanwhile I would be happy to hear from anyone who might be considering the course.


MGR. DAVID NORRIS RIP

Bishop Patrick Casey was Parish Priest of Holy Redeemer from 1980 to 1989.  During part of that time Mgr. David Norris, who has died aged 87 years and in the 63rd year of his Priesthood, came to live in the Rectory in Cheyne Row and helped with the Sunday and daily Masses.  Equipped with a history degree from Cambridge University he seemed destined for a career as a priest schoolmaster, but instead he was for most of his ministry, Private Secretary to three Cardinal Archbishops, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Westminster and General Secretary to the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales.  He spent his last years in semi-retirement on the Cathedral staff where he became a valued confessor and latterly he had been in the care of the Sisters of Nazareth in East Finchley.  Lux perpetua luceat ei.


VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD

The recent summer months have seen a number of ordinations to the Diaconate and Priesthood amongst the men at Allen Hall, the Diocesan Seminary in Beaufort Street, as well as from our Colleges abroad.  It is always good news to hear of their progress.  It may be that some of our young men have considered the Priesthood in the past but have put it out of their mind.  If they would still like to talk things through I would be happy to hear from them with no obligation.  There is also a College for late vocations in Rome where some of our candidates are trained.


WEDDINGS

Marriage is also a vocation and I am delighted to announce the following weddings will be taking place this month at Holy Redeemer:  Sarah Phipps to Alexander Hawley and Charlotte Powner to Leo Thompson.  We offer them all congratulations and prayers. 

I have also helped prepare for the weddings of a number of couples who, ‘though living locally have, for one reason or another, opted for marriage abroad.


BAPTISMS

Congratulations to the parents and sponsors of the following infants who were baptised here in June:  Felix Fox, Charles Flackett, Elisa Bird, Josephine Jeffcock, Gialomo Napolitano and Benedict Butterfield.


GRAND ORGAN FESTIVAL 2010

From April to October on Wednesdays at 7.30pm Westminster Cathedral presents a series of seven concerts on one of the world’s finest organs – 21st July: Patrick Russill, 25th  August: Giampaolo di Rosa.  Admission free.  The Grand Organ of Westminster Cathedral is considered by many to be the greatest achievement of Henry Willis III, one of England’s organ builders. 


GRANDPARENTS’ PILGRIMAGE

A national pilgrimage for grandparents to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham will take place on Saturday 24th July.  Grandchildren’s activities!   Contact Catherine Wiley 01328 820217


HOLIDAYS

May I wish happy and refreshing holidays to all and safe journeys.


Canon Michael Brockie


SOLEMNITIES, FEASTS & COMMEMORATIONS IN JULY 2010

1st  DEDICATION OF THE CATHEDRAL

3rd  ST THOMAS, Apostle

4th  FOURTEENTH  SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.48

11th  FIFTEENTH  SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.51

15th  St Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor

16th  Our Lady of Mount Carmel

18th  SIXTEENTH  SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.54

22nd  St Mary Magdalen

23rd  ST BRIDGET OF SWEDEN, Religious, Patron of Europe

25th  SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.56

26th  Sts Joachim & Ann, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

29th  St Martha

31st  St Ignatius of Loyola, Priest


SOLEMNITIES, FEASTS & COMMEMORATIONS IN AUGUST 2010

1st   EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.59

4th  St John Mary Vianney, Priest

6th  TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD  p.108

8th  NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.61

9th  St TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS, Virgin & Martyr, Patron of Europe

10th  ST LAWRENCE, Deacon & Martyr

11th  St Clare, Virgin

14th  St Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr

15th  ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.  p.111

20th  St Bernard, Abbot & Doctor

21st St Pius X, Pope

22nd  TWENTY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.66

24th  ST BATHOLOMEW, Apostle

26th  Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, Priest

27th  St Monica

28th  St Augustine, Bishop & Doctor

29th  TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  p.69

31st  St Aidan, Bishop & the Saints of Lindisfarne