Archdiocese of Birmingham newsletter 22nd June
| Seek Our Lady’s intercession at this year’s Hednesford Pilgrimage |
 Reflection – the Hednesford Pilgrimage The first two parish priests of Hednesford, Fr Patrick Boyle and Fr Joseph Healy, shared a great devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and, because of their devoted service, both became Honorary Chaplains of the Sanctuary there. Fr Boyle also had a vision to build a great church and grotto set in extensive grounds in Hednesford. Fr Healy was one of the “Founding Fathers” of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes and realised the dreams of Fr Boyle after his premature death. Even in an age of increasing secularism, interest in pilgrimage has not ended and large numbers of pilgrims still make their way to the great pilgrimage centres of the world. Pope Francis has stressed the role of pilgrimage in the Christian life. “A Pilgrimage is challenging – it takes us out of our comfort zone …. It is a transformational experience that changes lives and brings us closer to our faith in ways we could never imagine through sincere and concentrated prayer.” Hednesford is not Lourdes of course, although the church is trying to be as French as possible! However, following the vision of Frs Boyle and Healy, many have come here, in groups or as individuals to hear the message of Our Lady to Bernadette, to seek her intercession and to pray in a place which has itself been sanctified by the prayers of pilgrims over the years. On Sunday 2 July we invite you to join the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hednesford from 1pm – Rosary 3pm – Mass with the Anointing of the Sick 4pm. Fr Jeremy Howard, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Lourdes Hednesford, Staffordshire. Pilgrims… 1. Please bring a chair. 2. If anyone would like to say a Hail Mary in another language they are encouraged to make themselves known before the rosary starts at 3pm. 3. Are welcome to bring a posy of flowers to lay before the statue of Our Lady during the rosary. Join the Hednesford Pilgrimage |
 Now on: Holy Shroud of Turin Exhibition, Wolverhampton This exhibition opened on Tuesday at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church and runs until Sunday 2 July. The exhibition features a full-sized replica of the Shroud of Turin (the actual Shroud is housed in the Cathedral of the Italian city of Turin) and includes detailed information boards about aspects of the shroud. It has both a historical and a spiritual dimension. Shroud Exhibition |
 Still time to book! OVERFLOW comes to the Archdiocese this summer OVERFLOW is the first national gathering organised by CHARIS England and Wales (CNSC). CHARIS seeks to bring together individuals, communities, prayer groups and movements in Catholic Charismatic Renewal, who share in baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church and beyond. OVERFLOW will take place on Saturday 1 July at Bethel Convention Centre in Birmingham. Speakers include popular American speakers and couple Deacon Larry and Andi Oney, the Bishop of Northampton David Oakley, and young people from the Ascent – the discipleship movement which is sweeping across today’s youth like wildfire and raising up a new generation of passionate disciples of Christ. OVERFLOW |
 This week is Refugee Week Refugee Week started on Tuesday and runs until Sunday 25 June. Refugee Week is an annual event that takes place across the country. Lots of events are happening across Birmingham including a March for Compassion on Saturday 24 June. We stand in solidarity with our friends at St Chad’s Sanctuary – a place of welcome for asylum seekers and refugees since 2010. Refugee Week |
 Monthly Maintenance Surgery Contractors – how to manage parish expectations This month’s online surgery is on Thursday 29 June at 2pm. There will always be some job at the parish that will require the use of contractors. This session will look at how to know you are appointing the appropriate contractor for the job, what information to share with the contractor about your site and then how to go about managing them when they are working at your parish. The surgeries take place on the last Thursday of each month from 2pm. To sign up to the surgeries please email [email protected] As always, Tom and Tarnia from the Diocesan Property Team are on hand to help. Just email them at: Tom – [email protected] Tarnia – [email protected] For a full list of the maintenance surgery topics this year please visit the Diocesan website: Maintenance Surgeries |
 Sign up now for the KYT Summer Camp! The Kenelm Youth Trust are inviting all young people aged year 7 – year 13 to take part. Summer Camp takes place at Alton Castle from Monday 7 to Sunday 13 August. The camp week involves a range of exciting activities including a day at Alton Towers with its brand new roller coaster – ‘The Curse of Alton Manor’. There is also messy games, a day trip to a secret venue, our camp live band, night prayer and daily Mass all with the Alton Castle Mission Team. Sign up to Summer Camp |
 Webinar: Racial Justice in the Church Tuesday 11 July from 2pm. Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Racial Justice, will be hosting a webinar this summer to build upon the work that has taken place around Racial Justice Sunday in recent years. This includes the Image and Likeness of God initiative which celebrates images of Our Lady and the Child Jesus from a range of countries and cultures, and the Walking Together, Praying Together, and Working Together project, which reflects on the role that each of us has to play in promoting the mission of Christ and His Church. Find out more and sign up |
 Maryvale Institute recruiting students now for BDiv and Licence Programmes Maryvale Institute has just announced the continuation of the Bachelor of Divinity (BDiv) and Licence Programmes, allowing them to begin recruiting new students immediately. The Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (HIRS) is the only ecclesial institute of this kind in the English-speaking world. It operates both the B.Div and Licence Programmes. The Ecclesiastical BDiv is a five-year part-time, collaborative-learning degree programme in Catholic theology providing a comprehensive exposition and analysis of Christian doctrine based on the study of the sacred Scriptures, the works of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and the documents of the Magisterium. The Licence in Divinity: Pathway in Catechetical Sciences is another qualification of the Holy See, distinct from an STL, It is a three-year, part-time, programme aimed at those in leadership positions in catechetics and in other positions of responsibility. BDiv and Licence programmes |
 National Church Awards 2023 – enter now! The National Church Awards – the ‘BAFTAs for churches’ – is back and bigger than ever. Nominations will close on Sunday 23 July. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on Monday 6 November 2023. Information on tickets and how to join the livestream of the ceremony will be available nearer the time. This year’s awards are: Church architecture awards Church maintenance awards Church tourism awards Church volunteer awards Friends award Church of the year award. If you would like to discuss submitting an application please contact Tom Stockwell, Diocesan Property Team. [email protected] National Church Awards |
| Dates for your diary: the month ahead Sat 24 June: Bishop’s Mini Retreat on the Power of Forgiveness Mon 26 June: Divine Renovation webinar: From Programmes to Pathways: Making, Maturing and Missioning Disciples Sat 1 July: OVERFLOW – CHARIS national gathering Sun 2 July: Annual Hednesford Pilgrimage Sun 2 July: Day of Celebration sharing in the gifts of people who experience disability, at Aylesford Priory Kent Mon 3 July – Thu 13 July: Oasis of Silence 10-day retreat course Mon 3 July: A Celebration of Christian and Jewish Music Tue 4 – Thu 6 July: Three-day Kairos Conference, Aylesbury Tues 4 – Tues 11 July: Srebrenica Memorial Week Thurs 6 July: Organ Recital at St Chad’s Cathedral Tue 11 July: Racial Justice in the Church Webinar Thurs 13 – Sat 15 July: Triduum Retreat to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Sat 15 July: Pact Roadshow comes to the Archdiocese Sun 23 July: 3rd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly |
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