Vocations

The Guardian has published a very interesting set of interviews with people who have followed various vocations. One of these interviews is with two of very own CA priests: Fr Wilfrid McGreal, O.Carm (Prior in Faversham) and Fr Leonard Tatt (Southwark Archdiocese). The article compares the veterans and those who are starting in their chosen vocation. Read, here.

Holy Door of Mercy

In this Year of Mercy, many churches and pilgrimage sites have been asked by Pope Francis to open a Holy Door of Mercy. In the UK a number of Shrines associated with the CA have opened Holy Doors, including Walsingham; Shrine of Saint Jude, and all of the diocesan cathedrals. Do consider a visit!

In February 2016, the Bishop of Lourdes opened a Holy Door at Saint Michael’s gate entrance to the Sanctuary. Mgr Bill Saunders was out there to witness the ceremony, and has sent us some photos of this occasion, below:

For more information on the origins of the Holy Door and its purpose, please click here, or here.

Enid Price

We are sorry to report the death of Enid Price who has travelled to Lourdes as an Assisted Pilgrim in recent years and for many years as a nurse (at least 25!).

Please keep her family, friends, and Enid in your prayers.

May she Rest in Peace, and rise in glory!

Thanks to Andy Joyce for sharing this photo.

Congratulations to...

..Matt and Terri Betts on the birth of their daughter, Clara Eleanor Mary Betts who was born on 11 March.
..John and Jo Kelly on the birth of their daughter Rebecca Catherine Kelly, born on 22 February.
..Jenny and Ged Brumby on the birth of their son Daniel Johannes Maria on 22 February.
..Ciara and John Jackson, on the birth of their son Joseph George Jackson on the 10 February.

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

The following novena was recently published in Carmelite News and is from the National Shrine of Saint Jude. The novena to Our Lady of Lourdes is for nine days and starts today. Please view, here.

John Lewis

Please pray for long-time CA helper John Lewis who sadly passed away this morning. John has been connected to Lourdes for many years, especially as a kind and good helper with the CA Pilgrimage, and on stage with the HNDL. Please pray for John, his family, his friends, and his wife, Merlyn.

May John rest in peace and rise in glory.

Updates

John Lewis' family have asked that in lieu of flowers, they would appreciate donations to Catholic Association Pilgrimage Fund in memory of John. You can donate to this cause via https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/merlynlewis1, or you can send your donation to Meryln Lewis at her home. Please email webteam@catholicassociation.co.uk for the postal address if you would like to donate in this way. Thank you.

The funeral Mass for John Lewis will be held on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, 11 Feb 2016 at the Franciscan International Study Centre, Giles Lane. Canterbury  CT2 7NA.

Later  that day John will be cremated, then Merlyn will take his ashes to Lourdes where they will be placed in the C.A vault with his father Brian and his many friends.

Address from Pope Francis for Pilgrimage organisers

Carmelites from Britain, the Philippines and Poland took part in a gathering held in Rome in mid-January 2016 of those involved in the work of pilgrimage and shrine ministry. You can read the talk from Pope Francis on the Shrine of Saint Jude blog, here.

Marion van Terheyden

Please pray for long-time CA helper Marion van Terheyden who sadly died during an operation on Friday. Marion, her husband Rene, and many of her children and grandchildren have been connected to the CA Pilgrimage for many years. Her requiem Mass will be held on Wednesday 20th January at St Theresa Of Lisieux Church, High Lane, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8LQ. All Marion's CA friends are very welcome. 

  

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Congratulations to...

..Hamish and Vanessa Reid, on the birth of their daughter Florence Maria Alanna Russell Reid on the 28th of December in London.
..Edmund and Mildred Page on the birth of their son, Christopher Jawar. Christopher was born on 12 January in Nairobi, Kenya.