Vatican Media Adviser Greg Burke Gives Media Lecture

Archbishops Comment on Same Sex Bill - Think Again

© Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk

"We urge members of the House of Commons to think again about the long-term consequences of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill in deciding how to vote at the report stage and third reading debates this week (20-21 May).

"Many people within and beyond the faith communities deeply believe that the state should not seek to change the fundamental meaning of marriage. This proposed change in the law is far more profound than first appears. Marriage will become an institution in which openness to children, and with it the responsibility on fathers and mothers to remain together to care for children born into their family, is no longer central to society’s understanding of marriage. It is not too late for Parliament to think again and we urge MPs to do so.

"Furthermore, the Bill as currently drafted poses grave risks to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. If the Bill is to proceed through Parliament we urge members to ensure it is amended so that these fundamental freedoms we all cherish are clearly and demonstrably safeguarded."

For more read here

Hove Catholic School Creates Prayer Room to Help Exam Stress

Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove has created a prayer room to help with exam stress

Thousands of students will be sitting down to take exams across the country this month - but this Catholic school in Brighton & Hove believes it's not only good teaching and revision that gets the grades.

Cardinal Newman Catholic School has set up an interactive prayer room for pupils who are feeling the pressure. Charlotte Wilkins from ITV News has been to take a look. 

See Charlotte's video report 

Cardinal Schönborn Speaks at HTB Leadership Conference in London

Family Talent Show in Selsey Parish for the Local Community

Lucy entertains on the keyboard

On Sunday 21st April St Wilfrid's Selsey opened its doors to welcome the local Community to their ‘Family Talent Show’ This was the first time such an event had been planned and so it was all a bit of an unknown quantity and it was unclear how many would support the enterprise.

After a tentative start in terms of ticket sales and the slow recruitment of local amateur entertainers the event gathered momentum in the week before the big day and a last minute decision to change the venue from the Church Hall to the Church itself proved to be absolutely correct as over 120 members of the Church and wider community attended to see 22 acts ranging in ages from 4 to 84 perform for all.

‘Fernando The Frog’, a Juggler, a Tuba player, a Ukulele trio, Keyboard players, Folk singers, Guitarists, Acapela singers all kept the enthusiastic audience entetained and rocking in the aisles, whilst refreshments including wonderful home-made cakes kept up the energy levels for all and swelled the coffers

A raffle raised extra funds bringing the total raised for Church maintenance for the day to £500.

A Church spokesperson said “the money raised was fantastic but was never the first priority for us; we wanted to reach out to the wider Community to demonstrate that St Wilfrids Church Selsey is alive and well and has great facilities for all ages to come along and enjoy the fun. We will certainly be doing it again next year and now we know what a Family Talent Show looks like we can improve on the ‘prototype’”

Farnham Parish Brazilian Night

Ready for Rio

The St Polycarp's School Hall looked like the rainforests of Brazil with trees and tall plants all around and jungle creepers across the ceiling. At 6pm, members of Samba bands from Dorking and Horsham were drumming a Brazilian beat to welcome the 60 or so participants to the workshop and within minutes, they were all swaying from side to side with an instrument in their hands and a beam on their face.

Some people made use of the earplugs provided and chatting was impossible, but by half past six, the newly formed band of 60 were ready to parade from the hall to the front of the church of St Joan of Arc, Farnham and back making a noise that wasn't too uncomfortable!

At 7pm the evening guests arrived and participated in a party to remember with pineapple cocktails, salsa dancing, flashing lights and delicious food. At the last count, £2,100 was raised for the group (see many of them pictured) travelling to Rio for the World Youth Day.

Missionary Nun talks about Christians who flee the Holy Land