Feast of Blessed Titus Brandsma

Today, we remember the Carmelite martyr Titus Brandsma. 

He was born in Bolsward (The Netherlands) in 1881. Became a real scholar in spirituality and mysticism, but bravely spoke up against the Nazi regime about the freedom of the press, the right of life for the Jews and the evil of Nationalism. He was arrested and eventually was killed in Dachau in 1942 by a lethal injection. 

Recently we have prayed to him for all the sick in the parish and beyond. Many had recourse to pray to him for me and, as my health has been rather poorly of late. So, I have decided to pray a novena to him. 

The prayer for his canonisation reads, “Loving God, your servant Titus Brandsma, laboured zealously in your vineyard (i.e.wijnaard!) and gave his life freely because of his faith in you. Through his intercession I ask for your mercy and help. Father, Titus never refused when he was asked for help by your people. In his name, I come to you with my needs [Mention requests]. Lord, help me always to imitate the great faith, generous love, and burning zeal of Titus Brandsma. Glorify your servant as he wished to glorify you. Amen. Mary, Mother of Carmel, pray for us. Titus Brandsma, Carmelite and Martyr, pray for us. Amen.” 

A couple of days after we have commemorated Titus I will get the results of my recent important CT scan. Your prayers to Titus would be very appreciated.

A beautiful image of Titus can be found at the National Shrine of Saint Jude - the image is below.

Fr Piet Wijngaard, O.Carm

Fr Piet is a member of the Faversham community, former chaplain at the Shrine and now Parish Priest at the church 

Icon of Bl. Titus Brandsma (left) and St. Edith Stein (right) in the National Shrine of Saint Jude

Mothers' Mass 2016

Last week, our new Chaplain, Fr. Brendan Grady, O.Carm celebrated our mothers' mass in the Shrine chapel for all the names we received over the last few months.

Fr. Brendan introduced the Mass by telling the congregation that we were praying "for all mothers that they may lead us to Jesus, just like Our Lady did...".

It was a joyous occasion with lots of friends of Saint Jude joining us. Photos from our special shared Mass can be seen below.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

The altar in the chapel at the Shrine

Fr. Brendan welcomes everyone the the special Mass

Fr. Brendan speaks about the importance of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and all mothers

Praying the Our Father

The Chaplain of the Shrine, Fr. Brendan Grady, O.Carm standing in front of the statue of Saint Jude

Future events at the Shrine of Saint Jude - 2016

We have a number of events coming up at the National Shrine of Saint Jude:

Children's Mass

For the first time, a shared Mass will be celebrated at the National Shrine of Saint Jude in honour of the Infant of Prague and all children.Simply add the name(s) of a child with a message on our donation site.

Those listed can be your child, someone else’s child, or a child who has passed away. You can add a name, here.

Anyone is welcome to attend our Mass, which will be celebrated on 23 September 2016 at 11am.


Feast of Saint Jude

Friday 28 October
12.00 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing
16.00 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing

Saturday 29 October
12.00 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing
14.00 - Saint Jude Mass with the Blessing of Oil and Anointing

Sunday 30 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

All welcome

Christmas Carols at the Shrine
3 December 2016

Christmas Carols at the Shrine. We will be singing all the great carols in the Shrine of Saint Jude. All our visitors will be able to sing with our musicians.

Mince pies, mulled wine, teas and coffees and fruit juice available. A book stall with lots of fiction and non-fiction will be available too. The whole day will be a great Christmas celebration.

All welcome. Carol singing starts at 2.30pm, but there will be plenty of activities before and after.

Novena for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 8 - 16 July 2016

The novena from the National Shrine of Saint Jude for Our Lady of Mount Carmel begins today. The novena is for the nine days leading up to the Feast of Our Lady of Carmel, which falls on 16 July. You can pray the novena in private, with your friends or family, or in a group.

Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, National Shrine of Saint Jude

O God, 

you have given us Mary as our Mother

and, through the Order of Carmel, 

we learn to call her sister.

May we imitate her goodness and faith

and be ever joyful in the wonderful things

you have done for us.

May Mary watch over and protect us

on our pilgrim way to your holy mountain,

Christ the Lord.

We make our prayer through the same Christ, 

Our Lord. Amen.

Make your special request now

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

Once again, a shared Mass will be celebrated at the National Shrine of Saint Jude in honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and all mothers and grandmothers. Simply add the name(s) of a mother, or grandmother via our special page.

Our Lady of Aberdeen

On Saturday 9^th July, Scotland celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Aberdeen. Not so long ago we had a community in Aberdeen and thus I have a few words about this feast. 

The website “The moving story of the statue of Our Lady of Aberdeen” gives us plenty. It tells us that the story of this small wooden statue is a fascinating tale of survival. It was made from oak in Aberdeen in the early 1500s, was placed in St Machar’s Cathedral in Aberdeen. It was known as Our Lady of Pity. Bishop Gavin Dunbar (Bishop of Aberdeen from 1518 to 1532) wanted a bridge over the river Dee. However, where to put it? He prayed to Our Lady and in a vision was given the exact location. It was completed in 1527 and it is still there. 

During the Reformation the statue was moved from place to place for safekeeping. However, the persecution became more intense and it was decided that the only way to ensure its survival was to send it abroad. Several miracles occurred to get it eventually to Isabella, the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. She lived in Brussels, where the statue is today under the title of “Notre Dame du Bob Succes” – Isabella having successfully won the battle against the Dutch United Provinces! 

Like Isabella and all the others involved with this statue let us turn in confidence to Our Lady for her powerful intercession for whatever battles we are facing! 

Fr Piet Wijngaard, O.Carm.

Photo(s) of the Month - July 2016

Summer (with rain) has arrived at the Shrine of Saint Jude. Fr Piet and the community have worked wonders. These special photos show some of the beautiful flowers that are growing in our gardens at the moment. We'll add more here next week.

Goodbye and Welcome - Chaplain

After two years as our Chaplain, Fr Michael Manning, O.Carm will be leaving for pastures new to assist in Aylesford Priory (our sister shrine). We are very pleased to welcome Fr Brendan Grady, O.Carm as his successor. Thank you Fr Michael for all your work with the National Shrine of Saint Jude, and welcome to Fr Brendan who we are looking forward to working with.

Later this month, we will introduce Fr Brendan on our blog, but first, Fr Michael wanted to say some final words:

"Well, the Summer Celebration is over for another year and this year I was not a part of it; except through prayer. I hope that everyone had a good Summer Celebration with Fr. Damian.

As is usual with religious orders I was asked if I would take up another appointment and I agreed to this and left Faversham on the 16th May.  I shall miss the Shrine of Saint Jude, the pilgrims and visitors, and the gardens.  But I will also miss the team of which I was a part: Matt, Rachael and Kevin.  I think we gelled as a team and got on well as friends; something you cannot always guarantee.  

My new appointment is at The Friars, Aylesford.  Not far away; only 35 minutes down the M2 so once I have settled in I hope to come down and visit now and again.

One of the things I did especially enjoy was the writing of letters to all the people who had asked for advice or wanted a little support with a difficult situation.  I hope that those who received letters from me found them to be helpful and a comfort in times of pain.  Here in Aylesford we also have a Blog called A Prayer in Stone and I will be taking up the writing of entries for that again, now that I am in Aylesford.  The photo below is the statue of Our Lady of the Assumption, the patron of the Carmelite Province which graces the shrine at Aylesford.

Thank you for all your support and prayers.  God Bless you and I’ll keep the Shrine and the Guild of Saint Jude in my prayers."

Thank you, Fr Michael. Saint Jude, pray for us.