DIOCESAN NEWS

40 Days for Life is an international movement which seeks to end the injustice of abortion through prayer and fasting, and by changing one heart at a time.  It is peaceful, legal and non-judgemental.  You can help protect mothers and children by joining this worldwide mobilization!  Through prayer and fasting, peaceful vigils and community outreach, 40 Days for Life has inspired 1,000,000+ volunteers.  The Nottingham Pro-Life Prayer Vigil starts on Ash Wednesday, 5th March and continues through Lent.  To take part or to find out more go to www.40daysforlife.com or email 40daysforlifenotts@gmail.com


Father Matthew Blake, OCD will offer a weekend (Friday 14th – Sunday 16th March) exploring the life and teachings of Edith Stein, or Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and her indominatable search for truth that led her to the Catholic faith. 
For more information and to book: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/the-search-for-truth-edith-stein/


FLAME is the largest Catholic youth event in England and Wales, and the Nottingham Diocese Catholic Youth Service  is co-ordinating a group to attend next year, along with 8,000 young people who will fill the OVO Wembley Arena on Saturday, 15th March 2025 for a day of prayer, adoration, catechesis, reflection, celebration and praise. If you are interested in attending email: michelle.thomas@ndcys.com


Sing the Mass, a day for parish choirs, cantors and anyone who believes that the one who sings prays twice, will cover: Psalms from the new lectionary; Chants in the missal; and Entrance and communion antiphons.  The Day will be held at Saint Wilfrid of York, Coalville, LE67 3JB, on Saturday 15th March, from 10.30am for 11.00am start.  Bring a packed lunch, hot drinks are provided.  The Day concludes with Sunday Mass at 4.00pm, singing what we have learnt.  The facilitators are: Lynda Durcan and Father Colin Patey, and the cost is £5, payable on the day.  For enquiries and to book: singthecatholicmass@gmail.com

 

Parents’ Retreat  The Diocese of Nottingham is organising a day retreat for parents on Sunday 16th March at Our Lady of Lincoln Parish (LN2 2HE), 10.00am-3.30pm.  The day will be led by Mike and Alicia Hernon, international Catholic speakers and hosts of the successful podcast: ‘The Messy Family Project’.  The day will include Sunday Mass, talks, activities for Children, Eucharistic Adoration and more.  Booking is essential.  The cost is £25 per couple, please also bring a packed lunch.  For more information, visit https://bit.ly/parentsretreat25


The Diocesan Education Service is hosting a Network Day for families who home-educate their children, on Monday 17th March, from 10.00am, in Our Lady of Lincoln parish centre, Lincoln, LN2 2HE.  Bring a packed lunch, and something to share with others.

 

Youth 2000: On Saturday 22nd March, Youth2000 is running a day retreat for all young adults (18-35) at The Briars, Crich, DE4 5BW.  The day will include lunch and dinner, inputs, prayer, and Mass with Bishop Patrick.  To purchase a ticket and find out more visit: https://youth2000.churchsuite.com/events/eo9c6nuj and for more information contact: charles.archer@dioceseofnottingham.uk.

Nottingham Cathedral Choir and Youth Choir are gearing up to perform the Bach St John Passion on Saturday, 29th March at 7.45pm, in Saint Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham NG1 5AE.  At the start of Lent, and for those haven’t experienced the St John Passion, it is the perfect preparation for Holy Week.  Since the performance falls the day before Mothering Sunday, the Choirs are offering 10% off tickets if you are treating your mum!  This discount is available until 19th March; simply use the code MUM10 at the checkout: use the QR code on the poster at the back of church.


The Christian Heritage Centre’s Christian Leadership Formation Programme is a fantastic opportunity for students in Year 12 / Lower VI, and is now open to applications for 2025.  Offering media training, tools for personal development, philosophical and theological study, and a chance to meet like-minded peers and Catholic academics and public figures, the programme offers a certificate validated by Saint Mary’s University, Twickenham.  For more information visit www.christianleadershipformation.com


The Diocesan Women’s Lent Retreat returns to Nottingham this year on Saturday 5th April.  The theme of the retreat is ‘The Sacred Heart: An Icon of Hope’ and it will be given by Canon Jonathan Cotton, a fantastic retreat leader.  Good Shepherd Church, Nottingham (NG5 4HT) will host the retreat which will include Holy Mass, Talks, confession, social time and more.  The cost of the day is £15, please bring a packed lunch.  For more details and to book please see the poster in church or visit dioceseofnottingham.uk/events


The Diocesan Choir is hosting a morning rehearsal for singers of the diocese to come together to learn music to sing at the Diocesan Chrism Mass.  All are welcome!  The morning is on Saturday 5th April, 10.30am-1.00pm; and the Chrism Mass on Wednesday 16th April, from 10.00am. 
To sign up email cathedralmusic@dioceseofnottingham.uk


Annual Men's Retreat: Join men from across the diocese on Saturday 12th April for our annual Men’s Retreat, once again at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey. The theme of the retreat is ‘The Journey Through Holy Week’ and it will be given by Father John Farrell OP, former provincial of the Dominican Order.  The retreat will include Holy Mass in the Abbey, Talks, confession, guided adoration and more.  The cost of the day is £15, please bring a packed lunch. 
For more details and to book: dioceseofnottingham.uk/events


NDCYS - The Nottingham Diocesan Catholic Youth Service is running an open retreat, Search for the Light, during Easter weekend, Maundy Thursday 17th – Easter Sunday 20th April, at The Briars Catholic Youth Retreat Centre.  Join the mission team as they walk with young people in Years 10 - Year 13 through the Easter Triduum.  To book visit: ndcys.com/events-and-opportunities/search/

 

The Jubilee Pilgrimage to Walsingham with Bishop Patrick takes place on Saturday 14th June, gathering at the Anglican Shrine with procession to Catholic Shrine starting at 1.00pm.  Mass will be celebrated at 4.00pm followed by departures.  More information about events for young people to come soon.


The Saint Vincent de Paul Society and CAFOD are working together to offer a week of free residential work experience for 20 young adults in England and Wales.  The experience will run from 22nd 27th June in London.  Candidates must be aged have completed their first or second year at university and have a passion for social justice.  Applications close on Easter Day, 20th April.  For any queries please email KeziaH@svp.org.uk

40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40 day campaign that seeks to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil close to places where abortions are carried out.  There has been a campaign in Nottingham since 2016.  Abortion hurts women as well as ending the lives of innocent unborn children, and since the introduction of ‘pills by post’ the number of abortions in our communities has risen to record levels.  If you would like to do something to end this terrible injustice, join in prayer and witness during Lent 2025.  

 

The Catholic Union is holding a webinar on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Thursday 3rd April at 6.30pm.  Chaired by Baroness Hollins, President of the Catholic Union, it will give members and supporters the chance to unpick the Bill guided by three experts: Dr Matthew Doré; Dr Philip Howard and Professor Julian Hughes, before the Bill returns to the Commons’ Chamber for Third Reading on 25th April.  To sign up for the webinar register at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hard-cases-dont-make-good-law-assisted-suicide-webinar-tickets-1233106176769?aff=oddtdtcreator


Men’s Spiritual Exercises, Monday 31st March – Saturday 5th April  A 5-day version of the Ignatian Exercises offered specifically for men (whether lay or ordained), this retreat will be preached at the Christian Heritage Centre, Lancashire, by the Benedictine Monks of Saint Joseph’s Abbey, France.  Founded in 1988, this community has retained its charism of a specific apostolate to men.  One-to-one direction will be offered alongside the talks.  For more information and to book: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/mens-spiritual-exercises/


NOTTINGHAM DIOCESAN JUBILEE LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: Bishop Patrick invites parishioners to join the Nottingham Diocesan Jubilee Lourdes Pilgrimage taking place between Monday 14th and Friday 18th July.  The Pilgrimage includes a full liturgical programme, with Mass each day; return direct flights from East Midlands Airport to Lourdes; full board for four nights in a three- or four- star hotel; assistance (for those who need it) from the Diocesan Hospitalité and Health Team.  Prices start from £899, and more details are at: www.dioceseofnottingham.uk/events/lourdes

 

Young adults (18-35) are also warmly invited to join the Jubilee Lourdes Pilgrimage. For young adults interested in supporting pilgrims, deepening faith, and coming together as a community, contact charles.archer@dioceseofnottingham.uk or visit www.tangney-tours.com/tours-and-pilgrimages/diocese-nottingham-ya/

 

Historic Padley Chapel near Grindleford is a Designated Pilgrim Place for the 2025 Jubilee Year, and more people are needed to help with the Chapel opening on Sunday afternoons and the occasional weekday during the Jubilee Year of Hope.  Volunteers will be part of a team of two – four people with full guidance and support given.  For more information email friendsofpadley@hallam-diocese.com or telephone Sheila: 07855 039711.


Faith and Footprint: Caring for Creation. 

Book now at bit.ly/faithandfootprint



Young Adult Formation Course:  If you would like to deepen your faith, grow in community with other 18-35 years olds as well as engage more fully in your parish then the brand-new Young Adult Formation Course run by the Diocese of Nottingham is the course for you.  For more information contact charles.archer@dioceseofnottingham.uk or sign up at: https://forms.office.com/e/9qvH5SjRHh

 

ACN (UK) has launched an Open Letter Campaign calling on Foreign Secretary David Lammy to make persecuted religious communities priority recipients of UK Overseas Development Aid (ODA).  They need your help to reach their goal of 10,000 signatures, which will trigger a response from the Government.  Please sign their open letter today: https://acnuk.org/our-campaigns/red-wednesday-advocacy-letter.  Together, we can help Christians and other religious minorities trapped in modern slavery, extreme poverty and worse.

Caritas Leicester and Leicestershire Advent Calendar: in this Advent season, we are amplifying the reach of some local charities which aim to bring light into darkness.  There are, of course, many others.  Please have a look and join us in raising hopeful voices.   The colour version is at: https://bit.ly/3ZmMGuI, and the black and white version is at: https://bit.ly/40UwnGw


Catechist Formation Pathways – Are you a catechist? Have you thought about being one? The Diocese offers three courses that can be done together or stand alone.  Encounter Catechesis provides the foundations of catechesis; Discipleship Catechesis explores a good knowledge of key points of Catholic Theology; and Missionary Catechesis is focused on going beyond sacramental preparation to help form disciples of all ages. To enquire please follow this link bit.ly/formation2425 or email: formation@dioceseofnottingham.uk

World Day of Migrants and Refugees:  The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914.  It’s always an occasion to express concern for different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for them as they face many challenges; and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.  The theme of Pope Francis’ message for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is: God walks with His people. The Holy Father reminds us that all of us, God’s people, are migrants on this earth, on our way to the “true homeland”, the Kingdom of Heaven.  Migrants are a contemporary icon of this people on a journey, of the Church on a journey, and at the same time, it is in them and in all our vulnerable brothers and sisters that we can encounter the Lord who walks with us.