Father Behr writes:

Dear Parishioners

Once again, I am writing to you to ask if you could join me in prayer on Friday 22 October.  The second reading of the so called ‘Assisted Dying’ bill is due to take place on the 22nd of October.  This coincides with the memorial feast day of St John Paul II who was an outstanding defender of the sanctity of human life.

We will pray the Rosary at 9.40am for the sanctity of life with Mass at the usual time of 10am asking for the powerful prayers of St John Paul II to intercede for our nation.

There is also an invitation to pray a novena. The details are here.

Painting of Saint John Paul II painted by Zbigniewa Kotyłły, 2012.

Synod – for a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission

As you may have heard Pope Francis has launched a consultation process.

This is the timetable given by Archbishop John Wilson.

Southwark Synodal Timetable:

Sunday 17 October 2021 – Opening Mass at St George’s Cathedral (livestreamed) to launch the Synodal process in the diocese with a launch in every parish. A Pastoral Letter will be provided to be read at every Mass and In the afternoon of Sunday 17 October at 4pm an online session will be held for the delegates where Archbishop John will introduce the process with a time of Lectio Divina.

 18 October – a Synod ‘portal’ on the new diocesan website will be published, featuring resources for parishes and other institutions, and providing a place for individual and corporate submissions to the process. They can be made via synod@rcaos.org.uk or via post to Synod Submissions, c/o Archbishop’s House, 150 St George’s Road, SE1 6HX.

From 18 October to 19 November – local listening phase (i.e., parishes, and including schools where possible) which can comprise online or in-person gatherings as the organisers see fit.

From 24 November to 10 December – three meetings with Archbishop John (online) one for each area of the diocese to which parish delegates and clergy will be invited to contribute what has been heard in the local listening phase.

Best wishes,

Father Behr