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SYNOD ON FAMILY LIFE: update

Pope Francis has called a meeting of bishops from around the world to discuss the present state of family life in relation to Catholic teaching and pastoral practice. He has initiated a worldwide consultation, seeking to discover what Catholics actually think and do in relation to important issues. Each diocese will seek to elicit the information, and forward it to Rome for the end of January.

The Archdiocese of Luxembourg’s questionnaire, responding to the Holy Father’s request for consultation may be found here. The survey in English, along with supporting documentation, on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales can be found here: Family Life Consultation. The questionnaire is quite detailed, and some parts complex — so advance preparation is recommended. Please, if possible, respond to the Luxembourg consultation. Don’t worry if you find some parts of the questionnaire not relevant to your situation, or difficult to understand — answer the sections you wish to, and are able to, complete.

A consultation exercise on this scale is unprecedented in the Church, and it will be interesting to follow its course. Topics covered in the survey include: living together before marriage; divorced and re-married Catholics; same-sex unions; contraception and adoption.

The archdiocese has forwarded a letter from the archbishop, along with the official Preparation Documents (‘lineaments’) inEnglish and inFrench. There is a letter from the Archbishop, and finally, the questionnaire.

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT THE EUROPEAN SCHOOLS update

The following ‘Form for tabling a parliamentary question’ has been presented to us as a matter of urgent concern. Copies of the form will available at weekend Masses. It is important that show our support for Religious Education at every level, making our voices heard. Signed forms may be returned to myself at St Alphonse. Fr Ed

update: It has been pointed out that this petition has been organised by parents concerned at the proposed reductions/cuts in Religious Education, and not by any other official body.

“The Board of Governors of the European Schools has announced cost-cutting measures within which religious education at the European Schools shall be reduced or entirely cut. This issue was taken off the agenda of the Board of Governors at the beginning of 2013 following the European Parliament’s urging. It was announced that working groups, together with the Churches, would develop a new framework regarding religious education by December 2013.

It seems, however, that the Churches and those affected by the new framework, namely the students and their parents, have not or not sufficiently been included in this process and have not been sufficiently informed.

What position does the European Commission advocate in the working groups and the Board of Governors regarding the cutting of religious education in the European Schools? How can, according to the European Commission, the concrete and differentiated conveying of values be ensured in the European Schools if religious education will be cut? Will religious education be offered in the students’ mother tongue? What further steps are planned? Is there already a specific timeframe for the decisions to be taken?”

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REQUEST FOR PRAYER

Dear Father Ed

Please can you help us to start a chain of prayer for Lauren Patterson, a  lovely young woman of only 24, who was brutally murdered in Doha, Qatar last month. Some of our parishioners, especially children who attend St. Georges school, will have known her. She worked as a teacher there before she went to Doha to teach English 2 years ago. She was the eldest of three children and a tremendous support to her mother, Alison, who tragically lost her husband  (Lauren’s  father) just 5 years ago and has since moved back to England with her two younger children…
 After speaking to Alison, we think that it would be a wonderful and positive thing if we could get as many churches as possible, of all denominations both here and in the UK and Ireland, to include her in their prayers this Sunday. We will be in touch with our old parish, St. Aidans in Coulsdon and many friends from HCPT  as well as friends and family who attend churches in UK and Ireland and ask them to pray for her on 24th November, an important time for her family.
If you could please ask our parish to pass on this request for prayer to their friends and families too, we could have thousands of people praying together for Lauren.
  
John and Sonya Heffernan
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LITURGY FOR 24 NOVEMBER, CHRIST THE KING

Christ the King, YEAR C  23/24 November 2013

Readings and prayers for the day can be found: NEW MISSAL: 968  Readings only, OLD MISSAL: 914

First Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3 David is anointed as King of Israel — foreshadowing the Kingship of Christ

Second Reading: Colossians 1:12-20 God the Father has created a place for us in the Kingdom of Christ

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43 The Kingship of Jesus is not of this world: it is established by love, by suffering, by obedience and by mercy.

Preface: Christ the King, NM 971

Eucharistic Prayer II NM 472

Music (Sunday)

Sunday 24 November
Opening Hymn: Servant King
Kyrie:   Lord have Mercy Sung into
Gloria: Clapping Gloria
Psalm: sung
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia
Preparation of the Gifts: One Bread, One Body
Sanctus: Holy Holy (folk)
Eucharistic Acclamation: Echo
Agnus Dei:  sung
Communion: :  Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
Closing Hymn:  Shine Jesus Shine