Archdiocese of Birmingham newsletter 29th June 2023
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| Peter’s Pence and Pilgrimages |
 Peter’s Pence: ‘Let us share the joys and sufferings of others, inspired by fraternal love’ Today (Thursday) is the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul. The Peter’s Pence Collection usually takes place in our churches on the Sunday nearest to the feast of SS Peter and Paul, this year it is this Sunday, 2 July. Peter’s Pence is a worldwide collection that supports the activities of the Holy See through which Pope Francis governs the Church and exercises his charitable works. It is an offering that may be small, but is of great symbolic value: it expresses the sense of belonging to the Church, and love and trust in the Holy Father. It is a concrete sign of communion with him, as Peter’s Successor, and also of solidarity with the most needy, for whom the Pope always cares. With your donation, you support the Pope’s mission, which embraces the whole world: from the proclamation of the Gospel to the promotion of integral human development, education, peace, fraternity among peoples and charitable works in aid of people and entire populations, thanks also to the activities of service carried out by the Holy See every day. Please give if you can. Peter’s Pence: Information and Resources |
 This Sunday – Hednesford Pilgrimage This 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 |
 Today – 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 |
 Harvington’s Pilgrimage celebrates 100 years since Hall’s rescue from oblivion Sunday 3 September from 1.45pm.Every September hundreds of pilgrims gather in the beautiful grounds of Harvington Hall, Worcestershire, for the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of the English Martyrs. This year is extra special as it marks the centenary of Harvington’s rescue from ruin by Ellen Ferris, who gifted the Hall to the Archdiocese of Birmingham. The moated property, which was gifted to the Archdiocese in 1923, has the greatest number of priest hides of any house in the country. Master builder St Nicholas Owen, believed to have been the creator of four of them, is remembered during the Archdiocese’s annual pilgrimage to commemorate the English Martyrs at Harvington Hall. To mark this milestone in our history we are pleased to announce that His Grace, Archbishop Bernard Longley will be the principal celebrant of this year’s Pilgrimage Mass. We hope you can join us to support this act of devotion to the Martyrs of the Midlands. Harvington Pilgrimage |
 Srebrenica Memorial Week From the charitable organisation, Remembering Srebrenica: This year’s Srebrenica Memorial Week will be taking place from Tuesday 4 to Tuesday 11 July. Faith commemorations play a significant role in our efforts to help strengthen and bring communities together. Last year, acts of commemoration took place across the entire UK including Srebrenica services, interfaith events and social media posts. Parishes across the Archdiocese of Birmingham are invited to commemorate Srebrenica Memorial Day by holding an act of commemoration. Information and Resources |
 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 |
 ‘An Evening with the Ambassador’ The Catholic Union will be hosting a webinar with His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Chris Trott, on Thursday 13 July, 6.30 to 7.30pm. The event will give people the opportunity to hear about the work of our Embassy in the Vatican and the life of an Ambassador. The evening will be hosted by Catholic Union Deputy Director, James Somerville-Meikle. Chris Trott became the British Ambassador to the Holy See in September 2021. More details and register |
 All Welcome – Voices of Vocation event Wednesday 5 July, 7-9pm, at the Dormer Conference Centre, St Peter’s Catholic Church, Leamington. A number of fab speakers will be talking about different vocations including priesthood, religious life, marriage and the diaconate. The event is open to all, but especially for young people. Voices of Vocation |
 Spiritual Direction Formation Programme 2023-2025 – starts September 2023 The Spiritual Direction Formation Programme (Carmelite Tradition) – which has been running since September 2019 – builds on an interpretation of the experience of journeying towards intimacy with God as expressed in the life of the Carmelite saints and deriving principles from this for the growth and flourishing of the spiritual life. Registration is now open for a September start. Online with two residential sessions each year in London. Course Information |
| Dates for your diary: the month ahead 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 Wed 5 July: Voices of Vocation, Leamington Thurs 6 July: Organ Recital at St Chad’s Cathedral Sun 9 July: Sea Sunday Tue 11 July: Racial Justice in the Church Webinar Thurs 13 July: ‘An Evening with the Ambassador’ Thurs 13 – Sat 15 July: Triduum Retreat to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Sat 15 July: Pact Roadshow comes to the Archdiocese Wed 19 July: Divine Renovation: How to Build a Parish of Apostolic Disciples Sun 23 July: 3rd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly Wed 26 – Sat 29 July: Society of Saint Gregory Summer School |
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 Supporting your parish You have asked us how you can continue giving to your parish. Parishes still greatly need your support. We do though recognise that many parishioners may be struggling financially, and there is no expectation to give where you are unable to do so. You can donate via standing order or single donation. Support your Parish |
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