Totus Tuus - To Jesus through Mary.

To impel the beauty of the new evangelization – this is the charism of the Heralds of the Gospel; Its founder, Monsignor João Dias explains."The Heralds of the Gospel is a private association of faithful with a very special charism based essentially on three points: the Eucharist, Mary and the Pope."

The Heralds of the Gospel are an International Association of the Faithful of Pontifical Right, the first to be established by the Holy See in the third millennium, during a ceremony which occurred during the feast of the Chair of St. Peter (February 22) in 2001.

The Heralds of the Gospel strive to be instruments of holiness in the Church by encouraging close unity between faith and life, and working to evangelize particularly through art and culture. Their apostolate, which differs depending upon the environments in which they work, gives pride of place to parish animation, evangelizing families, providing catechetical and cultural formation to young people, and disseminating religious Iiterature.



Tuesday 29 January 2013

Contact your MP: Speak Out for Marriage



This post is taken from:
The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
The government has published the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Billwhich, if passed, will fundamentally alter the meaning of marriage.
We urge you to ‘Speak Out for Marriage’ and defend the definition that has played a fundamental role in society for centuries.
The most effective way of defending marriage at this point is by contacting your local MP in order to make your views known.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has launched a postcard campaign entitled ‘Speak Out for Marriage’. Postcards should be available in every Catholic Church in England and Wales by Saturday 26 January.
All you have to do is write the name of your MP on the front, your name and address on the back, affix a stamp and pop it in the post.
Alternatively we encourage you to write personally to your MP. There are a few guiding points below if you need them.
It is particularly important at this time that all MPs are made aware of the strength of feeling among their own constituents on this issue. We must ‘Speak Out for Marriage’.

What if I don't know the name of my MP?



The parliament.uk website has a 'Find your MP' search page. Just enter your town, city or post code and you should be given the correct name and contact details.
Click the link to 'Find your MP'.

Please send a ‘Speak Out for Marriage’ Postcard



The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has launched a postcard campaign entitled ‘Speak Out for Marriage’. Postcards should be available in every Catholic Church in England and Wales by Saturday 26 January. We urge you to send one to your MP and pass a few on to any friends or family who also wish to ‘Speak Out for Marriage’.
All you have to do is:
- Write the name of your MP on the front
- Write your name and address on the back
- Affix a stamp
- Pop the postcard in the post
Postcard to MPs 110.97 kB

Text of the postcard

Dear Member of Parliament,
As a concerned constituent I urge you to vote against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
  • Marriage between a man and a woman is the foundation of the family and provides the best circumstances in which to raise the next generation.
  • This is why society has recognised marriage as having an identity distinct from any other relationship, however much love or commitment may be involved; marriage is about the common good.
  • No mainstream political party promised such a radical change in its last election manifesto. There is therefore no mandate for it.
Please vote against it and let me know your views.
Alternatively please write personally to your MP
Personally written letters or emails from constituents are a very effective way of influencing MPs.
Postal Address:
MP for [your town/city/constituency e.g. Gloucester]
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Again, you can find your MP’s name from local information or the 

Points to make

The law helps to shape and form social and cultural values. A change in the law would gradually and inevitably transform society’s understanding of the purpose of marriage.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill will:
  • Change the meaning of marriage for everyone.
  • Break the fundamental connection between marriage and child-bearing.
  • Disregard the importance of male and female complementarity and creativity.
  • Reduce the meaning of marriage solely to the commitment of the two people involved.
  • Impact religious freedom.
  • Have numerous unintended consequences, for example for schools, in the workplace, in one’s personal life, for inter-faith relations, and many other areas.
The British public, as a whole, did not seek this change. None of the mainstream political parties promised it in their last election manifestos. Nor when the government launched its consultation did it ask whether the law should be changed; instead it asked how the law should be changed.
In publishing this Bill the Government has ignored the views of over 626,000 people who signed a petition opposing the change, and the submissions of many others to the consultation. In its response to the consultation, the Government even chose to ignore many of the findings therein.
There is no mandate for this change and the government appears to be rushing the Bill through Parliament against the strongly held views of the public, and without pausing to properly think about the consequences of such a change.
This is a major constitutional change and the British public should and must be consulted. We must make our views known to our MPs and ‘Speak Out for Marriage’.

Finally

Please think and pray
Please act now
Please help preserve the meaning of marriage for future generations

Friday 18 January 2013

Irish Bishops: “Message to priests and parishes from Archbishop Martin concerning Catholic teaching on the dignity of human life and regarding abortion”


“Message to priests and parishes from Archbishop Martin concerning Catholic teaching on the dignity of human life and regarding abortion”

Archbishop Martin asks all Priests over the coming weeks to draw attention, in an appropriate way, to some basic principles of Catholic teaching concerning the dignity of human life and regarding abortion.
Ample resources prepared by the Irish Episcopal Conference are available www.chooselife2013.ie   Statements of Archbishop Martin are available on the Diocesan Website www.dublindiocese.ie under Latest News
The Christian message is a message of life.  It is about how every human life is a reflection of the very life of God.  Each of us is created in the image of God.
Catholic teaching clearly affirms that every human life has unique and irreplaceable dignity.  Every human life has the right, from its very beginnings, to flourish and develop as God wants it to.
Any society which attempts to define certain lives as being of lesser worth and of lesser protection betrays the common good.  All should be equal in the face of the law.  That is a fundamental principle of our Constitution – and indeed of democracy – to be maintained and protected.
Compassion and support for women in difficult situations also belongs to the essence of Catholic teaching.  The Catholic pregnancy counselling service CURA www.cura.ie provides advice to pregnant women as well as counselling services to women who have had abortions or who experience difficulties following childbirth.
Various Pro-Life groups are organizing a Unite for Life Vigil in Merrion Square, Dublin on Saturday 19th January beginning at 16.30 p.m. The Archbishop asks that you bring this Vigil to the attention of parishioners at all Masses this weekend and during the week.  More information is available at www.prolifecampaign.ie
In advance of the Vigil there will be a period of quiet prayer in Saint Andrew’s Church Westland Row from 15.00-16.00, which will be attended by Archbishop Martin.  Please inform parishioners of that event.
Prayer for the Child in the Womb which may be recited at religious services over the coming weeks.
Lord Jesus, you are the source and lover of life.
Reawaken in us respect for every human life.
Help us to see in each child the marvelous
work of our Creator.
Open our hearts to welcome every child as a
unique and wonderful gift.
Guide the work of doctors, nurses and
midwives.
May the life of a mother and her baby in the
womb be equally cherished and respected.
Help those who make our laws to uphold the
uniqueness and sacredness of every human life,
from the first moment of conception to natural
death.
Give us wisdom and generosity to build a
society that cares for all.
Together with Mary, your Mother,
in whose womb you took on our human
nature,
Help us to choose life in every decision we
take.
We ask this in the joyful hope of eternal life
with you, and in the communion of the
Blessed Trinity.
Amen.


Archbishops' Joint Letter on Marriage

17/01/2013 5:00 pm




In 2012, the government launched a consultation on changing the legal definition of marriage. Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Peter Smith, President and Vice President of the Bishops' Conference respectively, wrote to Catholic parishioners to voice their opposition to any change in the law and to encourage participation in the consultation:
"Changing the legal definition of marriage would be a profoundly radical step. Its consequences should be taken seriously now. The law helps to shape and form social and cultural values. A change in the law would gradually and inevitably transform society’s understanding of the purpose of marriage. It would reduce it just to the commitment of the two people involved. There would be no recognition of the complementarity of male and female or that marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children.We have a duty to married people today, and to those who come after us, to do all we can to ensure that the true meaning of marriage is not lost for future generations."
Supporting the existing legal definition of marriage, they say:
"The roots of the institution of marriage lie in our nature. Male and female we have been created, and written into our nature is this pattern of complementarity and fertility. This pattern is, of course, affirmed by many other religious traditions. Christian teaching fills out this pattern and reveals its deepest meaning, but neither the Church nor the State has the power to change this fundamental understanding of marriage itself."
The letter was read out at Masses throughout England and Wales on 10/11 March.

Full Text


Bishop Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster, to lead youth catechesis


Bishop Alan Hopes and the SPEC mission team will lead the next diocesan catechesis for young people in the Year of Faith on Tuesday 15 January. The catechetical series called ‘You Believe’ is an opportunity for young adults in the Diocese of Westminster to explore the Catholic faith together with our bishops.



The next session will be celebrated on Tuesday 15 January at 7pm at St Aloysius, Somers Town (Euston) in central London. The session will be held in the meeting hall of the new Centre for Youth Ministry.

The year-long programme is at the heart of the celebration of the Year of Faith for young people in the Diocese of Westminster. At the diocesan level, it seeks to address the on-going and essential desire for catechesis, faith encounters and positive experiences of the Church for our young people beyond the age of the confirmation, as well as to meet the invitation by the Pope to place evangelisation and catechesis at the centre of the Year of Faith.

Further dates for 'You Believe' are:

Tuesday 5 February Life in the Church – with His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. 
Tuesday 12 March Celebrating Faith
Tuesday 30 April Finding Happiness
Tuesday 14 May Living Life to the Full
Tuesday 25 June Communion of Saints
Tuesday 17 September The Gift of Prayer
Tuesday 22 October The Journey of Renewal

Bishop Alan Hopes started 'Young Adults in the West' a regular meeting with young adults several years ago, and has always had a close bond with the young people of the diocese. He has attended the last two World Youth Days in Sydney and Madrid with young people from London. Last year, he took part in the 40 Days for Life vigil with many young adults from the diocese and beyond.

The theme of this You Believe will be ‘Faith in Jesus Christ’. Everyone is welcome.
St Aloysius at Euston is conveniently located in central London, with easy walking access to Euston, St Pancras International, and Kings Cross stations for Hertfordshire parishes, as well as the Piccadilly, Victoria, Northern, Circle and Hammersmith & City underground lines for London connections. If you want to send young people aged 16-17, please remember to make sure they also have the consent of their parent or guardian.

Please contact Westminster Youth Ministry for more details by emailing davidreilly@rcdow.org.uk