Fr Roger Raven
The Birmingham Oratory was the setting on Saturday 22nd September for the ordination to the priesthood of Roger Raven.
Fr Roger, formerly an Anglican clergyman, was received into the Catholic Church a couple of years ago. Since that time St Pauls has employed him to work in our shop in Birmingham, thereby giving him the financial means to support his family during his training.
At the start of the Mass, Archbishop Bernard Longley, who ordained Fr Roger, very graciously acknowledged the role St Pauls has played in Fr Roger’s path to priesthood; as Fr Roger himself did in the order of service book, where he wrote:
"I... wish to express my gratitude to the Society of St Paul for providing me with the means to put bread on the table for my family, and also for generously accommodating my somewhat eclectic timetable as I have shuttled between the bookshop and Oscott."
Taking an active role in the Ordination Mass, as one of the Altar Servers, was Peter Raven, Roger’s youngest son. Peter is the boy to whom Pushkin relates his life story in the book Pushkin the Pontifical Puss, published last year by St Pauls Publishing.
All at St Pauls wish to assure Fr Roger and his family of our prayers as he continues to minister to the people of God.
Annual Romero Lecture in York
St Ignatius, a Member of Parliament, a family holiday and the Spiritual Exercises
Not an obvious combination, but St Pauls is publishing the book written by Edward Leigh, Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, in which he seeks to answer questions on faith and doubt by following in the footsteps of St Ignatius.
Full of doubts and questions about God, religion and faith, Edward Leigh suddenly discovers the sixteenth-century Spanish saint, Ignatius of Loyola. After numerous attempts to read about the life of this great saint, he takes his family on holiday to Spain to meet him "face-to-face".
The result is this three-in-one story. A personal spiritual journey of one unbeliever prepared to believe. Secondly, the story of a saint’s life and how that saint helped the author face his doubts and questions. Thirdly, the story of how a family holiday visiting places associated with the life of St Ignatius impacted on the author’s wife and young children.
The second part of the book is an introduction to the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius and how they can help us face the doubts and questions we may have about God, religion and faith. Each chapter of the book concludes with a meditation based upon the format Ignatius uses in the Spiritual Exercises.
"This is a book that speaks to the needs of our time." Fr Nicholas King, SJ
The book, expected from the printer at the end of September, can be ordered here.
Requiem for departed members of the Pauline family
On Wednesday 12th September at 6.30 pm a Requiem Mass is to be offered for recently departed members of the Pauline family, including Fr Sebastian Karamvelil and Br Eugene Priante. This will be in the crypt chapel of Westminster Cathedral and all are invited to join us.
Power failure in Victoria
Our sincere apologies to people who have been trying to telephone our London shop today. An area of Victoria experienced a failure of electrical power for much of the day. This resulted in our telephone and computer systems not working and the majority of the shop without lighting.
Customers visiting the shop were very understanding of the situation and we thank them for their patience. The shop staff showed themselves to be incredibly adaptable. Thanks to their ingenuity and resilience, they were able to serve those customers who ventured into the upper part of the shop.
It appears that the problem was caused by workmen in the area cutting through a mains cable. Power has now been restored and it will be business as usual tomorrow.
The Assumption of the BVM
Mary is taken up body and soul into the glory of Heaven, and with God and in God she is Queen of Heaven and earth. And is she really so remote from us? The contrary is true. Precisely because she is with God and in God, she is very close to each one of us. While she lived on this earth she could only be close to a few people. Being in God, who is close to us, actually, "within" all of us, Mary shares in this closeness of God. Being in God and with God, she is close to each one of us, knows our hearts, can hear our prayers, can help us with her motherly kindness and has been given to us, as the Lord said, precisely as a "mother" to whom we can turn at every moment. She always listens to us, she is always close to us, and being Mother of the Son, participates in the power of the Son and in his goodness. We can always entrust the whole of our lives to this Mother, who is not far from any one of us.
Pope Benedict XVI
Homily on the Solemnity of the Assumption
15 August 2005
Text Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Quoted in Spiritual Thoughts Series V.5: Mary
St Pauls Bookshop Manager
Due to personal circumstances, Shaun Glossop has resigned from his position as Manager of our London bookshop. As a purely temporary measure, David Chapman has very kindly agreed to return to St Pauls on a part-time basis to manage the bookshop until an appointment is made.
During his time with us Shaun has made a significant contribution to the shop and we wish him well for the future.
Applications for the position are now being invited from prospective candidates by way of submitting a CV and covering letter. A Job and Person Specification may be obtained from Stephen Moseling, Operations Co-ordinator, stephen AT stpauls.org.uk
