Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C)

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Habemus Papam ! With thanksgiving to the Lord we welcome our new Pope: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born Augustinian, who spent 30 years as a missionary in Peru, until recently Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, was elected on Thursday and has taken the name of Leo XIV (the Fourteenth). On this Good Shepherd Sunday we pray for the Pope; may the Lord guide him and may the world heed his call to peace. Fr Nigel From John L. Allen Jr, 1st May 2025 (Catholic Herald): There are three qualities cardinals look for in a pope: they want a missionary, someone who can put a positive face on the faith; a statesman, who can stand on the global stage and hold his own; and a governor, someone who can take control of the Vatican and make the trains run on time, including dealing with its financial crisis. There’s a solid argument that Prevost ticks all three boxes. He spent much of his career in Peru as a missionary, and parts of the rest of it in seminary and formation work, giving him an appreciation for what it takes to keep the fires of faith lit. His global experience would be an asset in the challenges of statecraft, and his equanimous personality might well lend itself to the art of diplomacy. Finally, his successful runs in various leadership positions offer proof of his capacity to govern. A 2023 tribute from CTU (Catholic Theological Union, USA) sums up his appeal: “Prevost brings to the College of Cardinals the heart of a missionary and years of ministerial experience, ranging from academic classrooms to poor barrios to the upper echelons of administration. He embodies the Gospel call to be ready to serve wherever the Spirit leads.”   A biography of Pope Leo XIV can be found on the Bishops' website: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/pope-leo-xiv-biography/   Please pray for those who are sick: Gwynneth Flower, Lina Senior, Elizabeth Freeman, Peter Hawthorne, Vidal Geronimo, Estelita Risaldo, Claire Godinho, Eunice Van Vurren, Canice Carson, Pamela Faber, James Langan and Theresa Chee.      Please pray for those who are recently deceased: Fr Francis Press. Please pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time:  John Fitzpatrick, James Ian Anderson, Jim Phelan, Claude Hyacinth, Francis Vaulbert de Chantilly, Kay Binyon, Michael O’Riordan, Dennis Barungi, Maria Angco and Anthony Woollen.   Congratulations!          Well done to over 50 children of our parish celebrating their First Holy Communion around this time! We pray for them and their families, with grateful thanks to Sr Maureen and all our catechists and helpers for their hard work throughout the year!   Talk on the Spirituality and History of Walsingham Sunday 18th May 2025, 1.30pm                                                                     We are delighted to remind all parishioners of our forthcoming day pilgrimage to Our Lady’s National Shrine and Basilica at Walsingham on Saturday 7th June (scroll down to dedicated notice for more details). Walsingham, known as “England’s Nazareth”, is a place of deep spiritual significance, where countless pilgrims have journeyed for centuries to seek Our Lady’s intercession and to deepen their faith. This pilgrimage offers a special opportunity for prayer, reflection, and fellowship within our parish community, as we come together in devotion to Our Blessed Mother, as part of our Jubilee year celebrations.   To help us prepare spiritually for our pilgrimage, all are warmly invited to a special talk on “The History and Spirituality of Walsingham”, which will take place on Sunday 18th May at 1.30pm in the Parish Centre, following the 12 noon Mass. This talk will provide valuable insights into the rich tradition of Walsingham, its importance in the life of the Church in England, and how our own pilgrimage can be a moment of grace and renewal.   Please save both dates in your diary and consider joining us for these special events. Please contact the Parish Office for more information: [email protected] - Tel: 020 7937 4778 (see also dedicated notice further down this newsletter). In Christ, Deacon Paul   Jubilee Year: Talk - Allen Hall Saturday 7th June To Celebrate the Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope and the 1700th Anniversary of Nicaea, the first Ecumenical Council, there will be a talk at Allen Hall Seminary on the eve of Pentecost, Saturday, 7 June at 3pm entitled, “The Holy Spirit – Taste and Dynamism of Hope”. It will be given by Canon John O’Leary, Rector of Allen Hall. He also teaches philosophy at the seminary and lectures on the doctrine of Creation and Eschatology at St Mary’s University. You are invited to stay for refreshments after the talk, then enjoy a tour of Allen Hall with an explanation of its rich history starting at 5pm. You are also most welcome to join the Allen Hall community for Vespers at 5:30 pm. This will end with devotions to the Douai Martyrs - including veneration of St John Southworth’s relic. The afternoon will finish at about 6 pm. To help plan for numbers, please register to attend by emailing [email protected] (her name is Monica). Numbers are limited, so early registration is recommended! Just coming for the talk without staying for any other part of the afternoon is fine.  However, kindly indicate for which additional elements of the programme you wish to stay. The address of Allen Hall is 28 Beaufort Street, Chelsea, SW3 5AA (it’s on the site of St Thomas More’s House). Buses 19, 49, 319, 345 stop practically at the front door and nos. 11 and 22 stop close by on the King’s Road. If you register, but then find you cannot attend, please let Monica know so that your place can be allocated to someone else. Thank you.   ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE – Diocesan Pilgrimage  - 12th July 2025   St Edmund’s College, Ware, the oldest Catholic College in England, is a continuation on English soil of the famous college that was founded Cardinal William Allen at Douay in Flanders in 1568. It is important to us because it was probably the strongest single agency by which Catholicism was kept from perishing in England. Originally intended as a seminary to prepare priests to work in England to keep the faith alive, it soon also became a Catholic boys’ school, debarred as they were by the laws of the land from having such institutions at home. Many of its students, both priests and laymen, returned to England to be put to death under the anti-Catholic laws of the time, and the College has among its alumni 20 canonised and 133 beatified martyrs. The seminary part of the College moved to Allen Hall in Chelsea in 1975, but the school, now co-educational, continues to this day. Buried in its grounds are the bodies of some of the Vicars Apostolic who looked after the Church in the south of this country before the restoration of the Hierarchy in 1850.   OUTLINE PROGRAMME – Saturday 12 July 2025   11am               Pilgrims are invited to arrive and gather. Confessions will be available.  There is ample parking 12noon           Solemn Mass for the Jubilee Year celebrated by H.E. Cardinal Vincent Nichols in the school grounds – please bring suitable clothing etc in the event of rain. 1.30pm           Picnic lunch (bring your own); tours of the College.  Adoration and Confessions in the Chapel during this break. 2.45pm           Procession of the Blessed Sacrament; please gather outside the College Chapel for the procession to the school grounds where Mass was celebrated and where Benediction will now be given. 4pm                Departures.   St Edmund's College Farm Lane, Old Hall Green, Ware, Hertfordshire SG11 1DS Contact: 0207 798 9173 Save the Date - Parish Jubilee Walking Pilgrimage On Saturday 24th May we will be walking the 'Westminster Way', beginning at English Martyrs Church, Tower Hill to Westminster Cathedral, Victoria. Approximately 2 hours walking time. Following the footsteps of London saints we will visit various churches, holy sites, with prayers and meditations along the way. More information:  www.rcdow.org.uk/jubilee-2025/westminster-way Priest Training Fund - Collection, 10th-11th May 2025 This fund pays for the priestly formation of men for the Catholic priesthood. There are currently 13 men studying at Allen Hall seminary for our own Diocese, including 2 deacons. We also have 2 seminarians at the Royal English College in Valladolid. Last year 3 deacons who studied at Allen Hall were ordained priests. Your gift ensures we can provide training for these men responding to Christ’s call to dedicate their lives to serve God’s people. Please be as generous as you can. Please also pray for vocations and for all our priests. Thank you for your generosity! You can also donate via the diocesan website, visit: https://rcdow.org.uk/donations/priests-training-fund/ Jubilee of Communications Competition As part of the Jubilee Year of Pilgrims of Hope, the Church is celebrating the great service that communications teams offer all over the world, and praising God for how he uses them to build his Church. Westminster Youth Ministry are celebrating young talented writers by their Framing Hope competition series, and we can’t wait for you to get stuck in! Write us an article answering the following question: How do you live as a Pilgrim of Hope in your daily life? Deadline: Friday, 14th November at 12:00. Word limit: 750 words 3 age categories: 11-14, 15-17, 18-35.  All the details can be found at: https://youth.rcdow.org.uk/january-jubilee-of-communications/   Jubilee of Artists Competition Throughout the ages, art has played a central role in the way the Church teaches her children about God’s plan of salvation for us. Historically, when only the most educated could read and write, visual art both evangelised and catechised (stained glass windows, altar-pieces, sculpture and painting…). Today, art remains an indispensable expression of the soul’s hunger for God, and of the wonders of God’s creation. So during the Jubilee Year the Church wishes to celebrate her artists, through whom God never ceases to speak to us and show us his love. Westminster Youth Ministry are excited to take part in these celebrations by celebrating young talented artists in our Framing Hope competition series, and we can’t wait for you to get stuck in! We want you to create a piece of artwork that represents HOPE. Artwork will be judged by the Westminster Youth Ministry team. The winning pieces and the runners-up will be exhibited in our Retreat Centre and online for all to see. 3 age categories: 11-14, 15-17, 18-35. Submission deadline is 12:00 on Friday 14th of November 2025. All the details can be found here: https://youth.rcdow.org.uk/february-jubilee-of-artists/ Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham – Jubilee Celebration: 7th June 2025 Mark your diaries for Saturday, 7th June 2025, as our parish embarks on a special day-pilgrimage to Walsingham, the ancient National Shrine lovingly known as “England’s Nazareth”.           This pilgrimage is a unique opportunity to celebrate the Holy Year Jubilee proclaimed by Pope Francis, a time of renewal, grace, and deepened faith. Please register your interest with the parish office as soon as possible but expect an early start from 7.30 am. For a commitment, we are requesting  £10 deposit. Donation: using the reference ‘Walsingham’: Bank: HSBC, 69 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5EY Sort Code: 40-05-20 Number: 61263714 Or in cash, or cheque  Account: Our Lady of Victories, Kensington Pauline Books and Media The bookshop will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Friday and Sundays. The contact number is 07561 456074. Young Married Couples Group Are you a young married couple seeking to build friendships and desiring to connect with other young married couples? Well, a young married couples group is present in our parish. The purpose of the group is to offer support and foster friendship and connection among the many young married couples present in our parish. The ideal age range of the group is under 40. The group meets every month to socialize and foster communion and support. Among the different activities offered are meals together, trips out, games nights and social exercises. If you’re interested in attending, please email Steve and Annie Caprio at [email protected]. You can also join our Whatsapp group using the QR code below:  Welcome to all our Parishioners If you are new to the parish, please come and say hello and complete the parishioner registration form which can be found on our website:  https://www.ourladyofvictories.net/support.html Here you can also find further information on all our parish activities. Weekly Mass Schedule Saturday (vigil): 6 pm Sunday: 9 am, 10.30 am, 12 pm and 6 pm.  Monday to Friday: 10 am   All our Masses are live-streamed from our website.  Please note: the sanctuary and first five pews are livestreamed 24/7. All the celebrations of Mass are recorded. The recordings are kept securely for 28days, after which they are deleted.   Eucharistic Adoration and Confession On Wednesdays, after the 10am Mass, there is Eucharistic Adoration. This is an opportunity to spend some time in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. A priest will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 10.30 to 11.15 am. Adoration concludes with Benediction and the Angelus at Noon. Confession also available every Saturday from 5 to 5.45 pm. Parish Team: Fr Nigel Woollen (Parish Priest) Fr Francis Thomas (Assistant Priest) Rev. Paul Hewitt (Permanent Deacon)  Sr Maureen McNamara rsm (Sacramental Programmes) Mrs Rachel Mulira (Parish Secretary) Our Lady of Victories 16 Abingdon Road London W8 6AF 020 7937 4778  [email protected] Support our Parish Financially here