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.

Feast of Blessed Isidore Bakanja

Happy Feast of Blessed Isidore Bakanja. At the National Shrine of Saint Jude, we have a beautiful icon of this holy man (see below).

Blessed Isidore Bakanja was born in 1888 in a fishing community in the Congo. He was baptised on 6 May 1906 and from that day he wore faithfully the Carmelite scapular.

He was working in a plantation run by a colonialist who did not want Christianity to be spread. By wearing the scapular and showing everyone his faith, Blessed Isidore was flogged several times. In 1909, the superintendent of the business tore off the scapular and severely beat him. He died on 15 August 1909 as a result of the wounds inflicted in "punishment" for his faith and which he bore patiently while forgiving his aggressor.

He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 24 April 1994.

Green Pilgrimage to Canterbury - 3 October

***Update: If you are joining us, please arrive at the Shrine for 8.30am***

The National Shrine of Saint Jude are very pleased to announce that we are going to take part in a Green Pilgrimage on 3 October 2014. 

The Green Pilgrimage Network (GPN) is an initiative of the Communities and Partnerships Framework of the Diocese of Canterbury.   The Diocese joined the GPN last year, and is now developing an ecumenical partnership and associated action plan to highlight all the pilgrim places and ways in the Diocese, which exist alongside Canterbury Cathedral.  The GPN is a “global network of pilgrim cities and sacred sites around the world intending to be models of green action and care. The vision is that pilgrims, and the places that host them, will be cleaner, greener, and leave a positive footprint on the earth.” There are over 20 places in the GPN, worldwide and many of the world’s major faiths are part of this network.

Catherine Lloyd, Green Pilgrimage Network Project Officer said “We are delighted to be working with the National Shrine of St Jude in Faversham, as one of the many pilgrim places in Kent and the Diocese of Canterbury.  The Shrine is a good example of a modern sacred site, that has developed more recently, and which we are keen to promote alongside more historic routes and pilgrim destinations.  We look forward to greeting people making a “mini-pilgrimage” from Faversham as part of the GPN Canterbury Partnership launch on 3rd October.”

Fr Michael Manning, chaplain to the Shrine said, "This is all very exciting and we are looking forward to taking part in October. The National Shrine of Saint Jude is very proud to be part of this Green Pilgrimage Network".

The GPN partnership is using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the events around the launch and the associated Pilgrimage Weekend taking place in Canterbury  on 3-5th October, and are encouraging everyone who has photos, short videos, anecdotes, prayers and experiences to share to post them tagging with  #canpilgrim, so that they can all be gathered together online and shared.  

The National Shrine of Saint Jude would love to hear from you if you're interested in joining us on this special day. Please let the Shrine office know via shrineoffice@stjudeshrine.org.uk or 01795 539 214.

If you join an annual pilgrimage, we would love to hear about it, or even if you make a particular journey for personal reasons – in memory of a loved one perhaps – it would be good to hear your story, if you don’t mind sharing it of course! 

tag,  #canpilgrim on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram