The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales invite the faithful to pray a novena, nine days of prayer, seeking the intercession of Pope Saint John Paul II, to help defeat the 'Assisted Dying Bill 2021' [see letter from Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales below]. The Bill will receive its Second Reading, with full debate, in the House of Lords on 22 October. If successful, it will allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live, assistance to commit suicide.
In the lead up to the Second Reading, from Thursday 14 October, Catholics are encouraged to pray the novena with daily intentions to uphold the infinite worth of each human person through proper investment in palliative care. Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, said: "Jesus told his disciples to pray at all times and not lose heart. Providentially the discussion of Baroness Meacher's Bill in the House of Lords falls on the feast of Saint John Paul II on 22 October. "The novena, asking the intercession of Pope Saint John Paul II, who spoke courageously about the infinite worth of each human person and witnessed to the cross in his final illness, calls upon Catholics and all who share our view that assisted suicide is wrong, to pray with perseverance that this Bill will be defeated. "Saint John Paul II, pray for us!" Download a PDF of the novena to your phone or device here: www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/Novena-Pope-St-JPII-Assisted-Suicide-2021.pdf ![]() Born on October 17, 1912 in Forno di Canale (today Canale d'Agordo), in the province of Belluno, and died on September 28, 1978 in the Vatican, Albino Luciani was Pope for only 34 days, one of the shortest pontificates in history. He was the son of a socialist worker who had worked for a long time as an emigrant in Switzerland. Pope Francis has authorised the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree on a miraculous healing attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul I. The miracle The Congregation’s website says it is about the healing of an eleven-year-old girl at the end of her life with "severe acute inflammatory encephalopathy, a malignant refractory epileptic illness and septic shock". Her situation was very serious, characterized by numerous daily seizures and a septic state of bronchopneumonia. The initiative to invoke the Pope had been taken by the parish priest of the parish under whose jurisdiction was the hospital. So for Pope John Paul I, who hailed from the northern Italian region of Veneto, the way to beatification has been cleared and Pope Francis will decide upon a date for the ceremony. For further information on Pope John Paul 1 and his journey to becoming a Saint: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-john-paul-i-miracle-for-canonization.html The Passage a Catholic Charity working with homeless people has its annual opportunity to take up a public collection on the streets of the City of Westminster on Tuesday 19 October (from 7.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.). In order to make the most of this opportunity to raise funds to support homeless people they need more volunteers on the day. Could anyone interested please contact Andrew Hollingsworth [email protected] 020 7592 1886 (07928 703131)
![]() If you're a Merton resident and would like to find out more about staying well as the colder weather approaches come and join us at Wimbledon Library on Wednesday 13th October from 2:30 - 4:30pm. Get your blood pressure checked with One You Merton, pick up your free information pack (with a handy room thermometer) and enjoy our free brownies and refreshments. Plus, visit our COVID-19 Vaccination Pop-Up Clinic for your vaccine. Stall holders include: Wimbledon Guild, Age UK Merton, Thinking Works, Healthwatch, the Alzheimer’s Society, the Police, the Fire Brigade, WDP, Merton Uplift and Diabetes Champions. For updates and more information, visit www.warmandwellinmmerton.co.uk |
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