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Meetings and events
We aim to organise at least one public meeting together with an AGM and Study Day each year. Many aspects of Catholic teaching and culture have been explored as the following list illustrates.
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Note Change of Date
AGM and Study Day 16th October 2010 at St James’s, Spanish Place.
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Report of 13 March 2010 – Day of Recollection and Prayer led by Fr Michael Dunne who organised the recent visit of the relics of Ste Thérèse to the UK. He chose as his theme “Intimacy with God: the Paschal Mystery in Thérèse of Lisieux and Teresa of Calcutta.
He reminded us that God already knows us intimately. He created us and knows every detail of our lives. For us to grow in the knowledge and love of God, we should get into the habit of walking in His Presence and conversing freely and lovingly with Him at all times in the midst of ordinary events of life as well as at times of of joy, temptation or sorrow. Both Thérèse of Lisieux and Teresa of Calcutta spoke of the importance of doing everything, no matter how small and insignificant, with love of God in our hearts. We must strive for self-abandonment to His will. We know that He loves us and does not ask the impossible. St John prays that “they may be one, as you Father, are in me and I in you”.
In feedback from the meeting, members said how consoled and encouraged they were to hear that both great saints had not only suffered physically but also endured long periods of aridity in prayer. They also battled with terrifying assaults on their faith. Through all this they held on, confident of God's love, as victims of divine suffering in the light of the Resurrection.
By general consent, this was a special Day for the many members and friends who were able to attend – an excellent preparation for Lent, at once, encouraging and reflective.
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Day of Art and Music 25 March 2010 for teachers and catechists, was held at the Monckton Room, at the church of Our Most Holy Redeemer and St Thomas More in Chelsea.
A superb presentation of glorious art by Lionel Gracey who works with the "Art Beauty and Inspiration" courses at Maryvale. Then a teaching session of plainchant with Jeremy de Satge of The Music Makers. Finally we went upstairs into the church for a beautiful Annunciation Mass, celebrated by Fr Sunny Paul from Woldingham School, with wonderful singing of the newly learned chant. We sand a Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei, did a beautiful Ave Maria for the Offertory, and as Mass finished honoured the Annunciation again with Ave Regina Caelorum. We also sang the psalm and a new English version of the Gloria.
The day was hugely successful - the third such event organised by the Association of Catholic Women. We had teachers from a number of London primary schools, plus a team from St Patrick’s School of Evangelisation, and from the Heralds of the Gospel, a new international movement with a branch based near Kingston.
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AGM and Study Day 10th October 2009
This was a very warm, friendly and relaxed day with members and supporters readily joining in all the discussions. It was also a very special occasion as ACW was launched 20 years ago on 7th October 1989. Thanks to Miss Flynn, we all enjoyed a glass of sherry and some delicious cake to mark the event. Mrs Robinson reported that in addition to all our regular activities we had organised two Study Days on Art and Music for Primary School teachers. One was held at Coloma School and the other at Westminster Choir School. The talks by Mr Gracey on the iconography in religious art and Mr Jeremy de Satgé on Gregorian chant were greatly appreciated. She thanked members and supporters who all helped in the work of ACW by their prayers, by monitoring the media, by writing letters, articles etc., by helping at meetings and by speaking to various groups and occasionally taking part in radio and TV discussions’
We are delighted that Mrs Darryl Boner was elected as our new Treasurer.
In the afternoon, Joanne Hill, education officer of LIFE, spoke of her work going into school and universities seeking to help young people face up to difficult issues such as relationships, the quality of life, abortion, euthanasia stem cell research. Everything may seem dark and forbidding but they should not panic for there are people ready and willing to be supportive. She tries to help them appreciate the miracle of life and give them a message of hope.
Fr Aidan Nichols chose as the subject of his talk “The situation of the Church in society today”. Our aim as the Church in England is to “gain that commanding moral influence which will permeate the country with the Spirit of Jesus Christ”. How far are we succeeding? He looked at the position of our schools. Sadly they do not seem to be producing a generation of practising Catholics. He questioned whether
there were enough practising Catholic teachers. He suggested that perhaps we should reduce the number of our schools in the state sector in order to deepen the catholicity of a realistic number. The second area he examined was the Catholic family which is facing great difficulties at the present time. We need a “thorough recommitment to our Catholic ethic of marriage and the family, to our sexual ethic.”
There is a serious drop in numbers seeking to enter monasteries and
religious orders and congregations. There is a similar problem with
seminaries. This is most serious because “a Church that cannot nurture
within itself in significant numbers those who are willing to invest the full energies of their lifetime in its service is not itself a serious Church.
In conclusion he said there is of course admirable work being carried
out by organisations such as Maryvale and the Catholic Truth Society.
We are united with the see of Peter and have a corporate vocation
as the dowry of Mary. We also have the assurance of the prayers of
the saints. He said that he would extend and complete the title of his talk to read “The situation of the Church in society today—set,as ever, in a World of Grace.”
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*What it means to be a Catholic woman in today’s society - Lynette Burrows 1990
*Thanks for the feminine - John Saward 1990
*The Trial of Jesus - from a lawyer’s point of view - Judge Humphries 1991
*Pilgrimage to Walsingham - Dr Mary Remnant 1991
*Exposé of the hidden face of Catholic feminism -Donna Steichen 1992
*The Media and the Catholic Church - Alenka Lawrence and Joanna Bogle 1994
*Converts speak - Ruth Rees, Fr Graham Leonard 1995
*The Law and Marriage - Jamie Bogle 1996
*Looking forward to Christmas -Rosemary Rendel and Joanna Bogle 1996
*The Betrothal and Marriage of Mary and Joseph - Dom Bernard Orchard 1997
*Presentation of Medieval Music in Honour of Our Lady - Dr Mary Remnant 1998
*Marriage AD2000 and Beyond - Lynette Burrows, Fr Peter Bristow 1998
*Pre-Reformation Church Music - Dominic White 1999
*Edith Stein (St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) - Joan Slater 1999
*The Great Jubilee - Fr Martin Edwards 2000
*Can Catholics paint icons? David Clayton 2001
*Faith and the Pursuit of Beauty - Sarah Janson, Anthony Delarue 2002
*Pope Pius XII - the truth revealed - James Bogle 2003
*St Edmund Campion - Alexander Haydon 2003
*Newman a saint for our time - Fr Michael Lang 2004
* World Youth Day - Lucy Nash 2005
*Editing a Catholic Newspaper - Luke Coppen 2005
*A Journey to the Church from Islam - Aghi Clovis 2005
*Bishop Challoner - a good shepherd for hard times -
Fr Richard Whinder 2006
*Music and Liturgy - Jeremy de Satge 2006
*Westminster Cathedral - more than just a beautiful building - Mgr
Mark Langham 2007
*Shrines of Our Lady in England - Anne Vail 2007
* World Youth Day in Sydney – Monica O'Shea 2008
* Is CTS past its sell-by date”. Fergal Martin 2008
* Teaching the Truth about the Sanctity of Life - Joanne Hill Education Officer London LIFE. 2009
* The Position of the Church in today’s society - Fr Aidan Nichols O.P. 2009
Study Days
*The Dignity and Vocation of Women - Mulieris Dignitatem - Fr Jeremy Davies 1990
*Rerum Novarum - Dr Sheila Lawlor 1991
*Music in the Liturgy - Dr Mary Berry 1991
*The Problems of Suffering - Dr Forrester, Stella Lilley, Dr Peggy Norris and Sr Florence of the St Joseph’s Hospice 1992
*The Catechism of the Catholic Church - Fr Thwaites, Fr Finigan, Fr Bristow 1994
*The Eucharist and the Church - Fr Roger Nesbit 1995
*Lent A Time for Conversion - Fr Donal Corry 1996
*The Priesthood - Fr Kevin Preston 1997
*Day of Recollection - Fr Christopher Basden 1997
*The Holy Spirit - Fr Paul Hayward 1998
*Repentance - the Basis of Renewal - Fr Dangerfield 2000
*Day of Recollection - Fr Patrick Doyle 2001
*The Carmelite Way - Fr Stanislaus Callanan 2002
* Day of Recollection for Lent - Bishop Hopes 2003
* Day of Recollection. Preparation for Holy Week and Easter -
Fr Dominic Allain and Fiorella Sultana de Maria 2004
*Day of Recollection and Prayer on a Lenten Theme - Fr Anthony Pellegrini 2005
*Day of Reflection and Prayer - Fr Nicholas Schofield 2006
*“Living Lent” A Day of Reflection and Prayer - Fr Stephen Wang 2007
*“In Love and Hope” - Day of Recollection and Prayer - Fr Michael O’Boy 2008
*Study Day on Art and Music for Teachers at Catholic Primary Schools at Coloma Convent Girls School, Croydon, - Speakers Lionel Gracey on Teaching Christ through Art and Jeremy de Satge on Enriching School Masses through Gregorian Chant 9th February 2009
*The Good News of Lent. Day of Reflection and Prayer - Fr Raphael of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. 21st March 2009
* Westminster Cathedral Choir School Study Day on Art and Music for Teachers at Catholic Primary Schools, 24th June 2009.
* “Intimacy with God; the Paschal Mystery in Thérèse of Lisieux and Teresa of Calcutta”. Day of Reflection and Prayer - Fr Michael Dunne 13th March 2010.
* Study Day on Art and Music for teachers in Catholic Primary Schools at Our Most Holy Redeemer and St Thomas More, Chelsea.
Pilgrimages
When possible, we organise pilgrimages to sites of Catholic interest as for instance Our Lady of Consolation at West Grinstead, Stonor, Oxford, Cambridge, Tyburn Convent London, St Etheldreda’s Ely Place and Farnborough Abbey.
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