Events Search and Views Navigation
May 2019
Saint Theophilus of Corte
Saint Theophilus of Corte’s Story (October 30, 1676 – June 17, 1740) If we expect saints to do marvelous things continually and to leave us many memorable quotes, we are bound to be disappointed with Saint Theophilus. The mystery of God’s grace in a person’s life, however, has a beauty all its own. Theophilus was born in Corsica of rich and noble parents. As a young man, he entered the Franciscans and soon showed his love for solitude and prayer.…
Find out more »Saint Bernardine of Siena
Saint Bernardine of Siena’s Story (September 8, 1380 – May 20, 1444) Most of the saints suffer great personal opposition, even persecution. Bernardine, by contrast, seems more like a human dynamo who simply took on the needs of the world. He was the greatest preacher of his time, journeying across Italy, calming strife-torn cities, attacking the paganism he found rampant, attracting crowds of 30,000, following St. Francis of Assisi’s admonition to preach about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.” Compared with…
Find out more »Saint Cristobal Magallanes and Companions
Saint Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions’ Story (d. between 1915 and 1937) Like Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, S.J., Cristóbal and his 24 companion martyrs lived under a very anti-Catholic government in Mexico, one determined to weaken the Catholic faith of its people. Churches, schools, and seminaries were closed; foreign clergy were expelled. Cristóbal established a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. He and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28). All of…
Find out more »Hear God’s Voice – Tuesday May 21st 2019
On Tuesdays, from 7.40pm to 9.00pm we are coming back to our SCRIPTURE MEETINGS - ‘HEAR GOD’S VOICE’. This is a very special and different way to read God’s Word - we continue the journey with St Mark’s Gospel. We ask The Holy Spirit to lead us, to open us for the things which He would like us to notice, to focus on, to put into the action. ALL ARE VERY WELCOME. In the Presbytery - 105 Waverley Road, Southsea.…
Find out more »Saint Rita of Cascia
Saint Rita of Cascia’s Story (1381 – May 22, 1457) Like Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rita of Cascia was a wife, mother, widow, and member of a religious community. Her holiness was reflected in each phase of her life. Born at Roccaporena in central Italy, Rita wanted to become a nun but was pressured at a young age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her 18-year marriage, she bore and raised two sons. After her husband was killed in…
Find out more »Saint Gregory VII
Saint Gregory VII’s Story (c. 1025 – May 25, 1085) The 10th century and the first half of the 11th were dark days for the Church, partly because the papacy was the pawn of various Roman families. In 1049, things began to change when Pope Leo IX, a reformer, was elected. He brought a young monk named Hildebrand to Rome as his counsellor and special representative on important missions. Hildebrand was to become Gregory VII. Three evils plagued the Church then:…
Find out more »First Holy Communion Programme – 23-05-2019
o First Holy Communion September 2018-2019 Programme for St Swithun's & Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Our Parish's programme will start in September and there will be a number of sessions on both Thursdays and after the 10:15am Sunday Mass at St Swithun's. It is important that you return the form below to our team here at the parish so we can ensure your child is on our programme. Our First Holy Communion Programme Dates for 2018-2019 we will be adding…
Find out more »Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi’s Story (April 2, 1566 – May 25, 1607) Mystical ecstasy is the elevation of the spirit to God in such a way that the person is aware of this union with God while both internal and external senses are detached from the sensible world. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi was so generously given this special gift of God that she is called the “ecstatic saint.” Catherine de’ Pazzi was born into a noble family in Florence…
Find out more »Film Night; The Bible Episode 6- The Hope
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQwCe6_Wb84] The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 6: The Hope - Roman, birth of Christ, John the Baptist, Jesus and Peter During the time of Roman occupation, the Angel Gabriel tells Mary she will bear a child; Joseph takes Mary to Bethlehem for the census, where Jesus is born; the Holy family escapes Herod’s order to kill Bethlehem’s male babies; Judea comes under the ruthless rule of Pilate; John baptises Jesus, who is now ready to take on his mission…
Find out more »Film Night: ‘ Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed’
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5EPymcWp-g] Our Parish Cinema invites you all to see " Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" Big science has expelled smart new ideas from the classroom ... What they forgot is that every generation has its Rebel! That rebel, Ben Stein (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) travels the world on his quest, and learns an awe-inspiring truth, that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired, for the crime of merely believing that there might be evidence of design in…
Find out more »