The captions and images shown below give an idea of activities and special events held at our SDC centre in London. Our main contribution in parishes mainly involves running catechism groups but other activities are held throughout the year for other groups for young people and adults.

See other years here:

Confirmation

Following completion of the Catechism programme over two years, 31 candidates received the sacrament of Confirmation at the Holy Rosary Parish, Brixton on Sunday 13th July 2025. The Confirmation Mass was led by Rev Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar of the Southwark Diocese. After the ceremony all candidate were presented with their certificates to mark this special occasion.

Lake District Trip / Pilgrimage

During the May half term week a trip to the Lake District area was organised as an opportunity for the SDC Friends group to spend a few away days for reflection on the Jubilee Year of Hope as well as visiting places of interest in the Cumbria and Lancashire areas.

We left on Thursday morning and first stopped in North London for mass. We then proeceded to the North but made a stop over in Sheffield. We arrived at our accommodation in the evening. On Friday and Saturday we attended mass in different parishes and explored the area included a number of towns and villages in the Lake District and beyond. Every evening we met for prayers and our daily reflections on the theme of Hope which were led by Natalino Camilleri who was visiting from Malta. On our way back to London on Sunday we stopped for Mass at Lancaster Cathedral, one of the designated Jubilee Year shrines for the diocese of Lancaster.

First Holy Communion - Holy Rosary Parish

Two groups of children made their First Holy Communion at the Holy Rosary Parish in Brixton on two consecutive Sundays, 18th and 25th May 2025. This came at the end of a year long programme during which children attended Catechism sessions every Saturday. They had previously also celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time during the Lenten Season.

Feast of St George Preca

On the occasion of the feast day of Founder St George Preca, a mass was celebrated on Friday 9th May 2025 at the SDC House. Members of the SDC Friends group and other parishioners were invited.

The celebrant was Fr Celestine Ekwueme, parish priest at St Matthew’s parish, West Norwood who spoke about the virtues our Founder lived and how we ought to imitate him in our daily lives.

Presentations on the life of St George Preca were also given to children in Holy Communion and Confirmation Catechism groups as well as at meetings for parents.

The Echo Newsletter

More issues of the ECHO Newsletter continued to be published this year (Spring Term and Summer Term 2025). These termly Newsletters are published on the London SDC website www.sdc.me.uk/newsletter and also circulated to friends, teachers and catechists. Among the themes included in these recent newsletters were those of the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis and Pope Leo as role models for catechists, information about SDC activities in London and other aspects related to Catechesis.

Fr Bernard Heaphy - RIP

Fr Bernard Heaphy, former parish priest at Our Lady of the Rosary parish, Brixton, London passed away on Saturday 15th March 2025. SDC members worked with Fr Bernard for many years at his parish in South London running catechism groups and supporting the parish in other ways. Around two years after their arrival in London the first three members established contact with Fr Bernard and his parish which then led to them moving in with him in 1990 where they lived in the Parish House for many years until a new property was purchased in 2006 in Upper Norwood. Fr Bernard was a humble and unassuming man who served at the Rosary parish until 2014 when he had to retire for Health reasons. He continued to show inner strength during the years when his health was deteriorating by continuing to contribute and support communities as best as he could during such difficult time. We are indebted to him for his support and for his contribution in helping SDC become more established in London. May he rest in peace.

Lent Away Day - SDC Associates Group

For our Lent Away Day this year a trip was organised to Arundel in West Sussex on Sunday 16th March 2025. We first attended mass at Arundel Cathedral, then proceeded to the convent of the Poor Clares just outside of the town where we gathered for a Bible reflection in the common room and prayer in the convent chapel. Before returning to London we then visited the coastal town of Worthing.

SDC Bible Study group

The SDC Friends / Bible Study Group meetings for the new year 2025 resumed in January. These continued to be held in a hybrid way where people can attend in person or join us online via Zoom. The main theme for this year is ‘The Jubilee Year’. Apart from Bible study and reflection, other topics we regulary cover are the History of the Church, aspects of SDC Spirituality, Lives of Saints, and current affairs.