News
Archive
June
and
July
2007
News Archive 2007 - June and July
Gillingham welcomes a new permanent deacon
Father Geoffrey Pointer, Parish Priest, and members of the parish of Our Lady of Gillingham celebrated the ordination of their new deacon, Michael Knight, by Bishop John on Sunday, 22nd July 2007.
Fourth Annual Youth Festival at Aylesford Priory
On Saturday, 7th July 2007, 420 young people gathered at Aylesford Priory for the annual Youth Festival organised by the Southwark and Brentwood Catholic Youth Services. The theme of the day was 'The truth will set you free' (John 8:32) to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.
Society of Jesus welcomes two new priests
Archbishop Kevin receives the First Blessing from the newly-ordained priests
On Saturday, 7th July 2007, Archbishop Kevin ordained Roger Dawson and Tim Byron of the Society of Jesus to the priesthood at the Sacred Heart Church, Wimbledon.
Read Archbishop Kevin's Homily
More photos taken after the ordination
Syro-Malabar Mass in honour of St Thomas, Apostle
The Syro-Malabar community packed the Cathedral on 3rd July 2007, the Feast of St Thomas, Apostle. By tradition, St Thomas landed in Malabar, southwest India, in 52AD to preach the Christian message.
Short report and some more photos
Extension to St Mary Magdalen's School is blessed
Archbishop Kevin with Mrs Carmelita Winston, Head Teacher, and Father Michael Lovell, Parish Priest, in front of the plaque commemorating the blessing of the school extension
Archbishop Kevin opened and blessed the extension to Saint Mary Magdalen's School, Brockley, on Monday, 2nd July 2007.
Short report of the occasion with more photos
Pastoral Letter to mark 'A Day for Life'
'A Day for Life' is being held in England and Wales on 1st July 2007.
'Blessed is the fruit of your womb' is the theme for this year's Day for Life - the day dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.
27th October 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Abortion act in England, Scotland and Wales. This year's Day for Life focuses on why the Church opposes abortion and the practical, emotional and spiritual care which the Church offers to women and babies in need.
Archbishop Kevin has written a Pastoral Letter to mark the occasion.
Read Archbishop Kevin's Pastoral Letter
Visit the Day for Life website
Blessed Sacrament Procession at Lesnes Abbey
Father Michael Scanlon, Parish Priest of St Peter's, Woolwich, and Dean of
Greenwich, carries the Blessed Sacrament in procession. On the right of the
picture is Deacon Con Boyle, who was ordained to the diaconate the previous day
at St John's Seminary, Wonersh.
A procession of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Benediction, organised for
the deaneries of Bexley and Greenwich, took place on
Sunday, 24th June 2007 in the grounds of Lesnes Abbey, which is sited in the
parish of St Benet, Abbey Wood.
Archbishop Kevin gave the homily.
Read Archbishop Kevin's homily
Canonisation of Malta's first Saint
SAINT GEORGE PRECA
Pope Benedict
XVI canonised Saint George Preca in Saint
Peter’s Square on Sunday, 3rd June 2007.
Commenting on the canonisation, Archbishop Kevin said:
'I am delighted that today Sunday June 3rd, Pope Benedict XVI has made the first Maltese saint through the canonisation of St. George Preca.
Today’s celebrations are a great joy for the Maltese people and I am particularly mindful of the Maltese communities in the diocese of Southwark where through the intercession of St. George Preca the second miraculous healing took place.
The canonisation is also a great joy for the Society of Christian Doctrine who this year are celebrating their centenary year. The Society of Christian Doctrine founded in 1907 by St. George Preca has a small community in Upper Norwood in the diocese of Southwark and I extend my congratulations and delight to them.'
The Maltese parents of a new-born baby, brought to Kings College
Hospital, Denmark Hill, in July 2001 with severe liver failure,
prayed to Saint George Preca for a cure. Their son recovered without the need for a transplant and today is a healthy five-year-old.
This cure was
accepted as a miracle by the Congregation of the
Causes of the Saints in 2004 following the witness of medical staff,
including Anil Dhawan, Professor of Paediatric Hepatology at the
hospital, who
said that there was ‘no scientific explanation’ for the
recovery. Professor Dhawan, a Hindu, attended the
canonisation.
Patriarch of Jerusalem invests Knights at Cathedral
Archbishop Kevin with
His Beatitude Michel Sabbah,
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, invested 15 new Knights of the Holy Sepulchre during Mass at St George's Cathedral on Saturday, 2nd June 2007. Archbishop Kevin is the Grand Prior of their Lieutenancy of England and Wales.
