Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Begin at Shrine of Saint Jude

On 30 May 2015 the National Shrine of Saint Jude began their Diamond Jubilee commemorations with the Summer Celebration. The Mayor and Mayoress of Faversham, Councillor Nigel A Kay and Mrs Anne Kay attended the day, as did a number of other VIPs, including the Prior Provincial of the British Province of Carmelites, Fr. Antony Lester, O.Carm. The National Shrine is looked after by the British Province of the Carmelites.

On arrival, the Mayor of Faversham and other VIPs were taken on a tour of the Shrine and site by Fr. Wilfrid McGreal, O.Carm (Prior of the Carmelite community).  The guests discovered the history behind the Shrine and learnt that the founder, Fr Elias Lynch, O.Carm sat on the town council for a number of years.



In the afternoon, an outside Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated by the Prior Provincial of the British Province, Fr. Tony Lester, O.Carm. Fr. Tony thanked all the Pilgrims who have supported and visited the Shrine since 1955.  He noted that the Carmelite Order has been very proud of the work of the Shrine, the community, lay staff and volunteers over the last sixty years. The Mass was followed by a procession past the beautiful sixteenth century statue of Saint Jude.

The Mayor and other VIPs (including Guild of Saint Jude members) then enjoyed a drinks reception in the Saint Jude Welcome Centre. Later, the Mayor was invited to say a few words by Mr. Matt Betts, Development Manager at the Shrine. Councillor Nigel Kay thanked the Carmelite Order for their invitation to the Summer Celebration, and observed that the Shrine was a hidden jewel in Faversham. He was very proud to know that the Shrine was continuing the long history of pilgrimages to the area since the middle ages. Both he and his wife had an enjoyable day.

The weather was kind and the Shrine welcomed over three hundred pilgrims. Fr Michael Manning, Chaplain, said: “It was a truly joyous occasion and we were so pleased to have so many friends of Saint Jude attend”. Mr Matt Betts, Development Manager remarked: “The National Shrine of Saint Jude is proud of its 60 years of ministry and we are very pleased that the Worshipful Mayor and other VIPs could attend this special day. We are looking forward to seeing pilgrims at our Feast celebrations in October where the Diamond Jubilee will conclude – all welcome”.

Novena for the Feast of the Sacred Heart: 4 - 12 June 2015

Statue of the Sacred Heart, National Shrine of Saint Jude

The following novena was recently published in Carmelite News and is from the National Shrine of Saint Jude. Our novena to the Sacred Heart is for nine days.

You can pray the novena in private, with your friends or family, or in a group. The novena starts on Thursday 4 June and continues until 12 June 2015. 

Merciful God,
we rejoice in the gifts of love
we have received from the
heart of Jesus, your Son.
Open our hearts to share his life
and continue to bless us with his love.

We ask this through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

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

Mothers' Mass

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Posted by National Shrine of Saint Jude on Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Latest newsletter now live

Our summer issue of Carmelite News can be accessed, via this link: http://view.pagetiger.com/Summer2015/issue1The...
Posted by National Shrine of Saint Jude on Friday, 15 May 2015

Fifth Sunday of Eastertide

'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in them bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."   These words are from the Gospel of John for the 5th Sunday in Eastertide.  So what does Jesus mean when he says this to His disciples?  Well as so often Jesus is speaking in agri-speak; he is using images from the rural/fishing environment of most of his disciples; in this case that of the vineyard.  As anyone knows if they have tried to grow a vine or fruit trees or roses it is essential to keep an eye on how the branches and shoots are growing and whether they are becoming straggly using up energy from the plant or if the shoots are showing signs of fruit or flower buds.  This is the image Jesus uses to refer to his disciples and the wider group of his followers.  He is the vine, the source of nourishment for all those who profess his way of life and this strengthens our faith and gives us the strength to put into practice what he is teaching us. The branches exist to draw life from the vine so as to bear fruit.

"The fruit referred to in this saying is the holiness of a life made fruitful by union with Christ. When we believe in Jesus Christ, partake of his mysteries, and keep his commandments, the Saviour himself comes to love, in us, his Father and his brethren, our Father and our brethren. His person becomes, through the Spirit, the living and interior rule of our activity. 'This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Failing to do so they are cut away, thrown out, only good as firewood;  "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." 

So that we may live as fruitful branches in intimate union with Christ, the true vine, he has given us the Church, his true body in the world. "The mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church, which is the Body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit. This joint mission henceforth brings Christ's faithful to share in His communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit prepares men and women and goes out to them with his grace, in order to draw them to Christ who in turn brings us to the Father. The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurrection.  ‘And he opens their minds to understand the gospel.’ He makes present the mystery of Christ, supremely in the Eucharist, in order to reconcile them, to bring them into communion with God, that they may 'bear much fruit.'

The Church is not a way to Christ, as one choice among others, but the way to Christ. "Thus the Church's mission is not an addition to that of Christ and the Holy Spirit, but is its sacrament: in her whole being and in all her members, the Church is sent to announce, bear witness, make present, and spread the mystery of the communion of the Holy Trinity." (CCC 738)  As a Church we are in some mystical union made a part of that Trinity.  Seek the opportunity for daily participation in the liturgy; draw from the Eucharistic sacrifice the life-blood of Christ the vine that you may bear fruit that will last: heart, mind, soul and strength aflame with God's love unto life eternal! Let us pray; we "meet Christ in the liturgy" (collect for 5th Sunday of Eastertide).

Fr Michael Manning, O.Carm.

Fr Michael Manning, O.Carm with the Prior General of the Order and Matt Betts, Development Manager

Credit and Debit cards now accepted

The National Shrine of Saint Jude are very pleased to announce that we can now accept credit or debit card payments for your donations and purchases.

If you wish to pay your donation (or part thereof) by credit or debit card, please call the Shrine on 01795 539214. Please note that credit card payments incur a 2% processing charge. There is no extra charge for debit cards.

We accept the following cards:

 

Shrine Office and Information Centre Upgrade

Work continues at the Shrine to update the offices and Information Centre before the celebrations.