Praying the Rosary

This year the Pastoral Theme for Lourdes is With Bernadette, Praying the Rosary.

The Catholic Association Pilgrimage offers some thoughts on the theme in the Pilgrimage booklet and our website, but as this will not be till later in the year, the CA web team would like to share some early ideas.

The rosary is a popular devotion, and in addition to meditating on the mysteries, it is normal to say the rosary for a particular intention. How often do you pray the rosary? Why not try it this month?

If you are already confused, have a look at these pages of our website, which will provide some guidance:
http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/spirituality/sayrosary.shtml and http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/spirituality/rosaryabout.shtml

Given this year's theme, we are inviting our fellow pilgrims to pray the rosary for their bishops and priests. Our clergy need all the support that they can get as the tide of secularism increases, and many of them found the prayers during the Year for Priests (2009/2010) very helpful.

There is even a handy site where one can sign up and get reminders to pray for one's bishop:

http://rosaryforthebishop.org/

Let us know how your devotion has gone, or if you have any further thoughts, please let us know below…

CA web team

New Bishop for Lourdes

Yesterday, a new Bishop of Tarbes & Lourdes was announced at the Grotto. The official Lourdes website states: "On February 11, at midday, at the Grotto, the archbishop of Toulouse, Mgr Robert Gall, announced that the Pope Benedict XVI had just named Mgr Nicolas Brouwet as the new Bishop of the diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes. He succeeds Mgr Jacques Perrier, who has been Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes for the last fifteen years."

A video is available here of the Service is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOADftKiiSA

East Anglia

Message from Fr David Bagstaff

The process of appointment [of a new Bishop] will involve discernment of the present needs of the Church in East Anglia, so that we may be an ever more effective channel of God's love and grace for all the people who live in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Central to this discernment is prayer: prayer for the Diocese, prayer for those charged with its care during the period without a bishop, prayer for those involved in the choice of a new bishop. Please use the prayer below in your own daily prayer, that the Holy Spirit guide us all to know the Father's will.

Eternal God, shepherd and guide,

in your mercy give your Church in East Anglia

a shepherd after your own heart

who will watch over your people with loving care;

a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth

who will inspire young and old alike.

So may your Church be built up,

your Gospel heard,

and your name be glorified.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Lady of Walsingham - pray for us!

St. Felix - pray for us!

St. Edmund, King & Martyr - pray for us!

St. Etheldreda - pray for us!

More information: http://www.catholiceastanglia.org/files/uplink/frb.pdf

Bishop John Jukes - Southwark

Please pray for Bishop John Jukes who died on 21 November 2011 and who has been connected and contributed to the Catholic Association Pilgrimage a few times.

The Right Reverend John Jukes OFM Conv., S.T.L., Emeritus Bishop of Southwark was born at Eltham, London, 7th August 1923. Ordained Priest 19th July 1952. Ordained Bishop of the Titular See of Strathearn and Auxiliary in Southwark by Archbishop Bowen 30th January 1980.

His body will be received at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, on Sunday, 4th December, at 5:45 pm followed by the parish Mass at 6:00 pm. Franciscan Vespers at St George's Cathedral on Monday, 5th December, at 7:00 pm

His Requiem Mass will be held at St George's Cathedral on Tuesday, 6th December, at 12 noon

May he rest in peace

Bishop Michael Evans

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce that Bishop Michael Evans (East Anglia) has passed away after a very brave fight against cancer. May he Rest in Peace and rise in glory. The CA Hospitalité extends its condolences to Bishop Michael's family, friends and his diocese.

From BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14118153):

The Right Reverend Michael Evans, the Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, has died in hospital at the age of 59 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

He was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive strain in 2005 but continued his ministry throughout his treatment.

The leader of Catholics in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk carried out limited engagements as his condition deteriorated.

He continued to work until his admission to hospital last Thursday.

Canon Evans was appointed the third bishop of East Anglia in February 2003 by Pope John Paul II and was ordained at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, in March of that year.

He was previously parish priest at St Augustine's in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

On his appointment Canon Evans said: "I was astonished to be appointed as Bishop of East Anglia, and have a real sense of my unworthiness for this responsibility, but I accepted this new ministry with a joyful though nervous 'yes'."

Seminary teacher

He became well known throughout the diocese for his teaching and set up an annual adult religious education programme.

He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Southwark in 1975, and spent two years as assistant priest at St Elizabeth's in Richmond, Surrey.

From 1977-1979 he studied for a Master of Theology degree at Heythrop College, University of London, and then returned to St John's Seminary for eight years as lecturer in Christian doctrine.

From 1985-1987 he was Vice-Rector at the seminary, with the then Monsignor Peter Smith (later the second Bishop of East Anglia, and now Archbishop of Southwark) as Rector.

A statement from the Diocese of East Anglia is expected to be made later.

PS:

Archbishop Peter Smith said: "I have no doubt that he [Bishop Michael] will be greeted by the Lord he served so faithfully, with the words: ‘Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the Kingdom prepared for you."

Please visit: http://tinyurl.com/69z83r2 for full statement.In addition, please do visit a recent interview with Bishop Michael Evans which took place after Easter 2011 in which he talked about his illness, and about finding hope in times of adversity: http://www.dayforlife.org/Day-for-Life/Video

Bishop Michael Evans

Bishop Michael Evans of East Anglia has been having treatment for prostate cancer for the last five or more years. During that time he has carried on heriocally with a full diary. He has just told all those in East Anglia diocese that he now probably has only weeks to live and that he is as prepared for that as he can be, accepting it with faith as a gift of God's grace.

In a letter to the Diocese, Bishop Michael said: "In the last few weeks, the cancer has rather quickly taken control. My oncology and palliative care consultants informed me openly and honestly just before Christmas that I now probably have only weeks to live, and I am prepared for that as I can be, accepting it with faith as a gift of God's grace."

"Rather than resign, I would like to continue among you as your bishop and the father of our diocesan family until this stage of my life ends. I do not know how long that will be. I am most grateful for the ways you have cared for and so prayerfully supported me in recent years. You remain very much in my thoughts and care. As I am sure you understand, I am able to do very little, and will need to rely on others. Please can I ask you to limit any expressions of care to prayer for now, rather than anything else to which I cannot respond."

"As I live now under the shadow of death, my prayer is very much that of St. Paul that I may know something of the power of Christ's resurrection and a share in his sufferings, trusting that the Lord is with me. I pray that even now, I can joyfully witness something of the good news we are all called to proclaim." Read full letter here.

Please keep Bishop Michael, his diocese and his family in your prayers at this very difficult time.