Newsletter - 10 September 2023
PARISH NEWS
Fr. Jacques-Désiré Laval
Dear brothers and sisters,
As you know, I was born and grew up in Mauritius. For about 20 years I lived approximately 15 minutes from a Shrine of a revered figure among the entire Mauritian population, Fr. Jacques-Désiré Laval. Born in 1803 in France, Fr. Laval arrived in Mauritius in 1841 as a member of the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary (later the Congregation of the Holy Spirit) after completing a medicine doctorate and serving as a priest in Normandy. Fr. Laval confessed “True. I hesitated all along between the priesthood and medicine. I chose medicine and now I see that God is calling me. This is my vocation. I must follow the voice of God.”
In Mauritius, he cared for those recently freed from slavery in what was then a British colony. He would promptly leave the presbytery to meet the poorest, travelling over the island creating hospitals and health centres while Mauritius was at that time experiencing the acute consequences of slavery and immense social inequalities. Being close to the poor, he would spontaneously put himself on the same level as the people; this weakened him until his death in 1864.
Today, Fr. Laval still arouses the fervour of all Mauritians, the more so on the anniversary of his death on September 9. Crowds of all religions – with a Hindu majority –usually come to the sanctuary, presenting to the Lord their own suffering, illnesses of their loved ones, or any other kind of problems. The Shrine is a place where people can drop the weight they carry irrespective of their religion, ethnic group or cultural background. For this reason, Fr. Laval is considered the "Apostle of national unity" in a country still experiencing certain inequalities and divisions inherited from the past. Fr. Laval was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1979.
On Saturday September 9 at 10 a.m. in St John Vianney Church, West Green, Fr. Jerome Dukiya, also a Spiritan, will celebrate a mass for the feast of the Blessed Fr. Laval. All of us, the more so those willing to learn more about this Apostle of the Poor and of Unity, are most welcome. We can also through his intercession pray for a grace of unity and reconciliation especially in our more challenging relationships.
Fr Pascal Sullivan ccn
Focus of the Week
Alpha
Stay curious, Try Alpha…
For the explorers, open-minded, still thinking and curious. This gathering will take place on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm on 28 September to 7 December 2023.
All welcome, invite your friends too.
Cockfosters Sharing Groups
In our parish we emphasise the importance of fellowship and we have a number of small sharing groups to support this -- Cockfosters Sharing Groups (CSGs).
We believe that a Christian community is strengthened by supporting one another in friendship and prayer.
Sharing our joys and our difficulties helps us to build a strong Christian community.
The purpose of these small groups is to grow in faith through personal sharing of our lives in the light of the scriptures. They are for everyone: singles, couples or divorced, elderly or young and they are made up of 7 to 10 people who meet once every three or four weeks.
Launch evening - Saturday 30 September 6.30 to 8.30pm (cheese and wine provided).