Tag: prayer

Cardinal calls for an hour of prayer for the dignity of human life on Wednesday 13 November

Photo: RCDOW

Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the other bishops of England and Wales are encouraging all to join them as they pause for an hour in the middle of their autumn plenary meeting, at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 13 November, to kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament to pray for the dignity of human life and to uphold a culture of life in our countries.

They will gather in the Chapel of the Holy Family at Hinsley Hall, Leeds, to unite in compassionate action in light of the bill passing through parliament that seeks to legalise assisted suicide. The holy hour will end with Evening Prayer before a concluding Benediction.

Cardinal Vincent said: “We offer our prayers this holy hour for the dignity of human life. In particular our focus is on the end of life and praying together in front of the Blessed Sacrament that assisted suicide will not become law in our lands. This would greatly diminish the importance and innate value of every human person, akin to saying that our life is not a gift of God. Instead we would be asserting that life is our own possession to do with as we choose. But we are far more important than that. We are a gift of God – a gift that is freely given. Then, when God is ready, we are called back to him.

“During this holy hour, we pray that many minds and hearts will be open to this beautiful and great truth about the value, importance, and beauty of every human person. We pray passionately that we will not take a step in legislation that promotes a so-called ‘right to die’, that will quite likely become a duty to die and place pressure on doctors and medical staff to help take life rather than to care, protect, and heal.

“When you are praying, please remember those who offer such care and accompaniment to people facing their last days and hours. Especially pray for those who work in palliative care – nurses, doctors, people who are home visitors. They do a wonderful job with care and compassion, but they need more resources. That is what we should be investing in, not a piece of legislation that leaves us vulnerable and under pressure to seek an end to our life.

“This is an important moment in our history. Please write to your MP and express your view to that member of Parliament. Many have not yet made up their minds how to vote.

“May God bless us all, bless our countries, and bless those who make our laws with courage to embrace and uphold a culture of life.”

On Friday, 29 November, the House of Commons will hear the Second Reading of a new bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This is another attempt to legalise assisted suicide and we need you to contact your MP to voice your opposition.

Please visit the Bishops’ Conference resources on assisted suicide. Here you will find content that explains why we oppose assisted suicide, provides answers to FAQs, helps Catholics to quickly and easily contact their MP, provides further information on hospice care, and more.

Here you can download a simple two-page A4 PDF with suggested readings, intercessions and reflections to accompany your time of prayer, whether this is in church in front of the Blessed Sacrament, or in your own home.

There will be a Holy Hour at Farm Street Church, on Wednesday 13 November 2024, 5.00-6.00pm, with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and prayers for the dignity of human life at 5.30pm.

Members of the Westminster Justice and Peace network are particularly welcome to join us for this time of prayer, either in person or on the parish livestream.

Farm Street Church

Watch the Cardinal’s Message on Youtube here: 

Three Years of Home Office Vigils for Migrants

October 2024 Vigil outside the Home Office. Photo: Pat Gaffney

By Abi Yendole

This month’s Migrants Vigil at the government’s Home Office in London marked three years of monthly prayers there for people who have died trying to reach the UK and for the UK to be a more welcoming nation. An organiser, Barbara Kentish, said. “If only we could say things were better, but alas, we need to pray harder than ever.” The one-hour vigils are co-sponsored by Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, London Catholic Worker and London Churches Refugee Fund.

Brother Johannes Maertens of the London Catholic Worker gave a reflection on his visits to Calais and the work of an arts refugee project that uses maps and art to encourage refugees to tell their stories. He commented that some of the young men he met had been on the road for six years.

The names of people who died a year ago – in October 2023 – trying to enter Europe or the UK were read out and a prayer of repentance said afterwards: “You told us to welcome strangers in our land, but we have hated, humiliated, imprisoned, and killed those who have asked for our hospitality. Forgive us and help us to change.”

Around 30 people attended the latest vigil on Monday 21 October. James Trewby (Columban Justice, Justice, Peace and Ecology coordinator) and Abi Yendole (Columban Faith in Action Volunteer) accompanied the Justice and Peace Committee of 16 Year 10 students and one teacher from St George’s School in Maida Vale to the vigil.

One student said afterwards: “Hearing all the names and stories of those who have died meant I was able to personify every victim; give every victim a face; it was powerful.” Pope Francis has said something similar, captured on the refugee memorial in Dover, that, “every migrant has a name, a face and a story.” Another student said: “As a member of the justice and peace group, going to the Home office to pray for refugees has been a profound and humbling experience. Standing in solidarity praying for those seeking safety and refuge, I felt the weight of their struggles and the urgency of advocating for justice. In the quiet moment of prayer, we offered up hope for a system that could see beyond the borders to the humanity of those in need. It was both a spiritual act of compassion and a call for action, reminding me of the power of community and faith in pursuing change.”

Also present on Monday were representatives from churches around London, Jesuit Refugee Service, London Catholic Worker, Pax Christi England and Wales and Seeking Sanctuary.

Intercessions included the prayer: “We pray for the end of the hostile environment, and the creation of safe, legal routes to claim asylum in this country.”

Watch: Refugee Action Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcaM89VzkEY

Christians for Palestine Prayers at St Anselm & St Cecilia’s

Christians for Palestine at St Anselm & St Cecilia’s, 5 October 2024. Photo: ICN

Source: Jo Siedlecka, Independent Catholic News

A record number of Christians from different denominations – clergy, religious and laypeople – gathered for prayers at St Anselm & St Cecilia’s Catholic church in Holborn on Saturday 5th October 2024, before joining the 20th National March, from Russell Square to Whitehall, to appeal to the government to stop arming Israel and demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Israel and Iran.

The prayers were led by Revd Sam Fletcher, an Anglican priest from Exeter, and Colette Joyce, Westminster Justice and Peace Coo-ordinator.

The Jewish Bloc was also the largest ever.

Organisers say more than 300,000 people took part in the demonstration.

John Sloboda, academic, musician, and co-founder of Iraq Body Count , told ICN: “As a British Catholic I consider that participating in these marches and rallies is an important act of witness that I can offer, in the face of the ongoing decimation of the Palestinian people.

“What our taxes are paying for goes against everything I hold dear as a Christian. Marching together with fellow Christians jointly asserting “not in our name” brings some relief and encouragement, in the face what would otherwise be an overwhelming sense of despair about our country and the ultra-timid role our church leaders are playing at this potentially apocalyptic juncture in world history…” More

Read full article Independent Catholic News

Westminster Justice and Peace E-Bulletin October 2024

Fr Dominic writes,

A new year begins.

Our schools reopen, our parishes restart catechetical programmes, search for new volunteers and, in some cases, welcome new priests.

The work of Justice and Peace goes on in and out of season as does the Church’s mission in the world but a new year is also an opportunity to pause, reflect, discern priorities, and, strengthened hopefully by holidays, we take up our work again with a new enthusiasm.

One event which aims to draw together as many as possible involved in the work of Justice and Peace in our diocese is our inaugural lecture at Farm Street Church on November 1st by Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary General. Baroness Scotland has a huge experience and an enormous heart for putting Catholic Teaching into action. We really hope you can make it.

Justice and Peace Westminster Ebulletin October 2024Download