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PRAY and REFLECT
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Issue 26: Spring 2025
Download the pdf version of this issue by clicking here.
The word ‘CATECHIST’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘to echo’. As Catechists or teachers of RE we do not proclaim our own word. We echo the message of Jesus Christ our Lord. This newsletter aims at providing parish catechists and teachers of RE in schools some support in terms of reflections, ideas, useful resources they can use and so on. Feel free to share with other colleagues and friends. There is also a pdf version which you can download by clicking on the thumbnail below.
| In this issue |
| The Jubilee Year |
| Quotes by Pope Francis |
| The Jubilee in the Bible |
| SDC Activities in London |
| Online Resources |
The Jubilee Year 2025
The concept of a Jubilee year has its origins in the Old Testament times when slaves, animals and the land itself were given ‘rest’. Pope Francis described this Jubilee Year 2025 as an "event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church."
The Jubilee year is therefore a special year of renewal for all of us; it is a time of reconciliation and ‘coming home’. The chosen theme for this year of grace is PILGRIMS OF HOPE. Many will be going on pilgrimages of some sort, locally or abroad and to this effect, bishops have chosen designated churches or shrines as pilgrimage destinations in each diocese.
While we embark on our Jubilee Year pilgrimages we also think of the fact that our whole life is a big journey towards a destination that we cannot yet see or describe. The struggles of life, its ups and downs and good and bad times are a reality that we have to journey through to reach what God has prepared for each one of us. This Jubilee year is a step in the right direction of that destination. The concept of HOPE is a virtue that keeps us going on our life journey.
And for those of us who are catechists or teachers, we also have the call of accompanying others on the journey and be beacons of hope for them.
Quotes by Pope Francis
We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.
To ‘be’ catechists! Not to ‘work’ as catechists. Catechesis is a vocation; ‘being a catechist’ - this is the vocation not ‘working’ as a catechist.
The Jubilee Year in the Old Testament
“The sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves and for your hired servant and the sojourner who lives with you; for your cattle also, and for the beasts that are in your land, all its yield shall be for food.”
Leviticus 25:6-7
Our Recent SDC Events and Gatherings - SDC in London
REFLECTION DAY - SDC FRIENDS GROUP
Our reflection away day last term took place in September. We first travelled to Dorking where we stopped at St Joseph’s Parish Church for mass which was followed by the Rosary prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. We then proceeded to Chichester were we had a guided tour of the Cathedral, then walked along part of the city walls and explored the city centre. We then went to Bognor Regis where we prayed the Coram Domino in the parish Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.
CATECHISM GROUPS
Catechism programmes for the 2024-25 year begun in October at The Holy Rosary Parish, Brixton and at St Andrew’s Parish, Thornton heat. These are preparation programmes for the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. We are grateful for other catechists who join us in this important ministry of catechesis for children and young people in our parishes.
SDC FRIENDS – BIBLE STUDY GROUP
Our weekly sessions this year resumed in January 2025 and 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’s Bible sessions is ‘The JUBILEE YEAR’ through which we are looking at different themes related to this special year such as FORGIVENESS, CARE FOR CREATION, MODERN SLAVERY and others. Among the other topics we regularly cover are the History of the Church, aspects of SDC Spirituality, Lives of Saints, and current affairs.
Online Resources
Have a look at these Church News websites
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News from the Catholic world including the Vatican itself and dioceses and Christians around the world. Also includes a direct link to the Vatican Radio. |
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THE VATICAN WEBSITE (vatican.ca) The website of the Holy See - Vatican news, information, special events, pope's speeches, links to church publications, biographies of popes and more. |
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L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO (osservatoreromano.va) The website of the official Vatican newspaper. News and reports about events in the Church itself and in the world. |
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