Photo of the month - October 2014

A portrait of Fr. Elias Lynch, O.Carm.

The photo above is of Fr Elias Lynch, O.Carm who founded the National Shrine of Saint Jude.

The development of Faversham into a centre of devotion to St. Jude arose out of the work of the Carmelite Press.

The Press (which today has been superseded by Saint Albert's Press) was founded in 1938 to support the work of the Carmelite friars, then only recently re-established in England after a gap of four hundred years. The Press printed a newsletter, Carmelite News, which kept supporters of the friars in touch with their developments at Faversham and across the country. Carmelite News is still sent out to Saint Jude supporters today.

In the early 1950s Fr. Elias received an increasing number of requests from readers of Carmelite News for prayer cards of St. Jude. Having distributed such a card, donations to "The Shrine of St. Jude" and requests for prayers started flooding in. Such a shrine did not exist, but perceiving the need Fr. Elias quickly developed a place of prayer and devotion to the Apostle Jude alongside the parish church in Faversham.

On 28th October 1955, the Bishop of Southwark Cyril Cowderoy, assisted by the Prior General of the Carmelite Order, the Prior of Aylesford, and many other priests and religious, dedicated the Shrine of St Jude. Bishop Cyril described the shrine as "a jewel for the diocese".

If you would like to subscribe to Carmelite News, you can do so, here.

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.