Westminster: Jubilee Days for Catechists 2025

Source: Diocese of Westminster

More than 80 catechists, mostly from parishes in West London and Spelthorne, gathered with Cardinal Vincent Nichols last Saturday, for the first Jubilee Day for Catechists to be held this year.

The event was organised and led by the Agency for Evangelisation with colleagues from Caritas Westminster and Westminster Youth Ministry team. It was held at St Gregory the Great parish in South Ruislip - the Jubilee Church for that area - where Fr Paulo Bagini and parishioners provided wonderful refreshments, welcomed us and hosted a joyful Mass in the parish Church.

The theme for the day was 'Reawakening Blessed Hope'. Drawing from St John's account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, those present reflected on how God nourishes us and how we in turn nourish others. In his reflection for the day, the Cardinal drew on key moments from the life of Mary and spoke about the importance of the Christian virtue of Hope, the theme for this Jubilee Year.

This was the first of four Jubilee Catechists' Days which will be held this year in the different episcopal areas of the diocese. The others are as follows:

- Saturday 11th October: A day for catechists from parishes in North London with Canon Shaun Lennard (Episcopal Vicar for North London) at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, NW10 9AX

- Saturday 18th October: A day for catechists from parishes in Central and East London with Bishop Nicholas Hudson at St Mary and St Joseph, Poplar, E14 6EZ

- Saturday 15th November: A day for catechists from parishes in Hertfordshire with Bishop Paul McAleenan at Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3TP

- For more information about these forthcoming Jubilee Days and details of how to book to attend, see: https://rcdow.org.uk/evangelisation/jubilee-days-for-catechists-2025/