Pope Francis has consistently reminded of our duty toward migrants and refugees and called for us to pray for those seeking a better life: "May the Mediterranean never again be a theatre of death and inhumanity. "May the Lord enlighten the minds and hearts of all, arousing feelings of fraternity, solidarity and welcome.” World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) is an annual celebration marked by the Church to increase awareness about migration and its opportunities, as well as its challenges. The day is marked on the last Sunday of September and has been celebrated by the Church since 1914. This year, the celebration will be marked on Sunday 24th September. The Pope shares an annual message to mark the celebration and the theme for this year’s message is Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay. In his message, the Pope recognises the many reasons for flight, including conflicts and natural disasters, which force people to flee and deny them the opportunity to live a dignified and prosperous life in their native land. The Pope recognises the need for eliminating the causes of migration, calling for the shared commitment of all to recognise their responsibility and identify actions to be taken, but also to recognise what we need to stop doing in order to prevent the devastation and destruction of our common home. The Pope speaks of the common good, respect for fundamental rights, and access to an integral human development to ensure each person is able to live a truly dignified and fulfilling life, to allow homelands to flourish and to ensure migration is a free decision. The Pope reiterates the importance of respecting the rights of migrants and upholding their dignity by building bridges and not walls, and to ensure there is always a community ready to welcome, protect, promote and integrate everyone, without distinctions and without excluding anyone. In Preparation for the day CSAN ( Caritas Social Action Network of England and Wales) is hosting a webinar on the evening of 20th September. Register to attend. On behalf of Caritas Southwark and Justice Peace Jackie McLoughlin will be running 4 pilot seminars to support the dissemination of ‘Love the Stranger’ the latest teaching document of the Catholic bishops of England and Wales. Please watch out for details. Resources you may find useful:
PRAYER: God, Father Almighty, grant us the grace to work tirelessly for justice, solidarity and peace, so that all your children may enjoy the freedom to choose whether to migrate or to stay. Grant us the courage to denounce all the horrors of our world, and to combat every injustice that mars the beauty of your children and the harmony of our common home. Sustain us by the power of your Spirit, so that we can reflect your tender love 3 to every migrant whom you place in our path, and to spread in hearts and in every situation the culture of encounter and of care. Pope Francis We welcome prospective parents and pupils for admission into Year 7 in September 2024 to our OPEN EVENING on Thursday 28th September 2023 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm see our website for booking information The headteacher will give a number of talks during the evening. The talks are ticketed. Details of the times of the talks and how to obtain tickets can be found at www.wimbledoncollege.org.uk/openevents. Tours will take place throughout the evening. Last tours at 7.30pm. Open mornings: For current year 6 pupils only – by appointment only. Monday 2nd to Wednesday 4th October 2023 at 9am. Deadline for applications for entry in September 2024 is 31st October 2023. Bishop Howard Tripp’s first anniversary of death is on 3 October. There will be a Year’s Mind Mass for him - celebrated at St George’s Cathedral - the day after, on Wednesday 4 October at 12.30pm. Bishop Paul Hendricks will be the main celebrant.
This Mass will be simply the usual lunchtime Cathedral Mass, but it was felt important to mark Bishop Howard’s first anniversary in some small way, in the place where he lies at rest in the Cathedral crypt. Bishop Howard gave 24 years of devoted episcopal service as Auxiliary Bishop in the South West Area of the Diocese, and continued his episcopal service indirectly during his 18 years of retirement. May he rest in peace and rise in glory! Everyone is most welcome to attend the Mass. |
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