Feast of Saint Jude celebrations 2014

The Feast celebrations are taking place on: 25, 26 & 28 October 2014

The feast weekend is the highpoint of the calendar in Faversham, and hundreds of pilgrims come here in devotion to the Apostle. Although most come from London and the southeast, many others come from across Britain and even from abroad to celebrate this special time with God and with one another, in the company of the Carmelites.

The programme of activities during the feast includes regular celebrations of the Eucharist, blessings with the oil of St. Jude, and other devotions. During the celebrations there is a piety stall, a display of Carmelite books, and light refreshments available.

If you are bringing a group of more than 10 people to Faversham for any of the feast celebrations, it is very important that you please contact the Shrine Office in advance so that we have an idea of numbers and can let you know details for coach parking etc. You can contact us on shrineoffice@stjudeshrine.org.uk

The programme is as follows:

Saturday 25 October
12.00 - Saint Jude Mass
14.00 - Saint Jude Mass
16.00 - Devotions with Blessing of Oil and Anointing

Sunday 26 October
12.30 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing
14.30 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing
16.30 - Guild of Saint Jude talk (Guild members only)

Tuesday 28 October
12.00 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing
15.00 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing
19.30 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing

Plus.. meet some friars, purchase items from the shop, light a candle, and pray and leave intentions at the Shrine.

If you cannot attend, you can purchase a candle via our online shop. Your candle will be lit during the Feast weekend.

Please note that the Shrine is based at: 34 Tanners Street, Faversham, ME13 7JW

Novena to the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

The following novena recently published in Carmelite News and from the National Shrine of Saint Jude is for the nine days leading up to the Feast of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary.

You can pray the novena in private, with your friends or family, or in a group. The novena starts on Monday 28 September and continues until 7 October 2014.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

O God, whose only begotten Son,

by his death and resurrection,

has gained for us the rewards of eternal life,

grant we beseech you

that we who meditate on the mysteries

of the Most Holy Rosary

of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

may imitate what they contain,

and obtain what they promise.

Through Christ our Lord.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us.

That we may be worthy

of the promises of Christ.

Our Lady statue outside the Shrine of Saint Jude

You can also view this novena, here.

Welcome to our chaplain - Part 2

Fr Michael Manning, O.Carm joined the National Shrine of Saint Jude as Chaplain last month. Here he tells us a bit about himself:

“I was born, brought up and schooled in Cambridge. After school, my first job was in the hotel industry, where I lived and worked at the Blue Boar Inn, Cambridge. After a few years there, I eventually left Cambridge in 1973 moving to Germany to work for the American part of NATO. I lived in Germany for eighteen  years, but as time went on, I was starting to discern for a new journey.

In 1984 I became a Catholic and this was followed by a term of discernment to discover what God was asking of me. I joined the Benedictines for four years, but this did not work out, and I left before solemn vows spending the next two years avoiding discernment and the call back to religious life. However through a colleague, I discovered the Carmelite Order and Aylesford.

I became a novice of the Order on 7 September 1991 in Aylesford. As part of the formation as a Carmelite Friar you undertake a grounding in Carmelite spirituality and the history of the order, followed by studies appropriate to your future role in the order.  For my first few years, I was based in the English Martyrs church and obtained a Diploma in Pastoral Theology from Heythrop college, moving then to the Missionary Institute, London armed with a degree in Theology.  I was ordained a Deacon in English Martyrs, Walworth.

My first appointment was to St Winfried’s in Aberystwyth and on 9^th June 1999 on the feast of St Columba, I was ordained a Priest, in Borth, just outside Aberystwyth. The parish had never had an ordination in their 125 years which they celebrated in 1999, so it was a double occasion. After ministering in Aberystwyth, I then moved to York as Chaplain to the University for three years taking on the ministry of Fr Tony Lester who had been elected Prior Provincial.

Many people who visit the National Shrine of Saint Jude will already know me from Aylesford, where I moved to next. I was in Aylesford for a number of years ministering to pilgrims, guests and community as well as developing a liking for retreat ministry both in Aylesford and further afield.

Outside my work in the Order, I am an enthusiastic historian and an “amateur art historian” as well as a member of the National Trust. I am looking forward to discovering some of the National Trust properties in this part of Kent.

Thank you to everyone for the welcome I have received since arriving here in Faversham. I am looking forward to meeting you all.  Be assured of my prayers for you before Saint Jude and I would ask the same of you."

Thoughts from our Chaplain - First views of our Shrine

Last month, Fr Michael joined the Shrine team as our Chaplain. Here he talks about his first month:

“One of the greatest joys of Faversham is to welcome pilgrims who have come here to express their devotion to Saint Jude, asking him to intercede for them and their needs. In the month that I have been Chaplain of the Shrine, I have seen many groups, families and individuals who have travelled here to spend a large part of their day with Saint Jude.  For most of them it is not their first visit, but for some it has been their first time.

These ‘first-timers’ all speak about the sense of prayer that they experience as they enter the grounds. These pilgrims are instantly part of a multitude of people who have been pilgrims here over the years.  Each pilgrim leaves some trace of their visit, not just in petitions or entries in the visitors book, but also in the fabric of the Shrine.

Pilgrims are part of something greater than their party, whatever size it may be. Arriving at the National Shrine of Saint Jude is a part of a journey which started long before their decision to visit here, and will continue for many years after they have left. 

Their journey becomes part of our journey, and our journey in turn becomes a part of theirs, and in all of this stands Jesus; for as he says in the Gospel for this coming Sunday: ‘where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’ (Matt 18.20)

Fr Michael Manning O. Carm., Chaplain

Pilgrims always welcome

Last week, Fr Michael (our chaplain) welcomed a group of pilgrims to the National Shrine of Saint Jude. Our photo below shows the pilgrims enjoying table fellowship whilst here. 

Pilgrims to the National Shrine of Saint Jude are always welcome to visit. Please contact the Shrine office if you would like to bring a group.

Photo of the month - September 2014

The Kossowski ceramic depicting the martyrdom of Saint Jude

Within the outer shrine there are the three ceramic plaques in the Outer Shrine area including one of the martyrdom of St. Jude. St. Jude is traditionally depicted with a club in his hand. This stems from the tradition that he was clubbed to death for his fidelity to Christ. The ceramic depicts this moment of human brutality - perhaps this is a moment for prayer for those in the modern world who suffer the same fate for their beliefs? 

Why not say the the following prayer to Saint Jude?

Glorious apostle, martyr and relative of Jesus, Saint Jude Thaddeus, who spread the Good News among distant nations; who won to the obedience of Jesus Christ many peoples by the power of his Holy Word; grant, I beseech you, from this day, that I may renounce every sinful habit, that I may be preserved from all evil thoughts, that I may love my neighbour as myself, that I may always obtain your assistance, particularly in every danger and difficulty, and that I may safely reach the heavenly country, with you, to adore the most Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.