New group, women’s retreat, sight-loss friendly church

Latest news of interest to the East Anglia Catholic community includes an inaugural Secular Franciscans meeting, a retreat day for women and an introduction to Sight Loss Friendly Church.

The Norwich Secular Franciscans held an inaugural meeting of the Friends of St Francis on June 23, held in the garden of St John’s Cathedral reports Anne Murrin. 

Those involved enjoyed a bring-your-own-picnic with discussion and it was followed by a voluntary walk down to the Julian Chapel for prayer and meditation.  Quizzes and games were available for children.

The group seemed very keen to learn more about St Francis without necessarily wishing to join as Seculars.  This is the intention for forming the group.  For the next meeting, on Sunday, September 1 at 2.30pm in St George’s Hall, it has been decided that tea and cakes will be followed by general discussion and a quiz based on St Francis and his life.  Anyone who would like to learn more about this amazing Saint, so appropriate for our times, may stay on for our regular monthly meeting that begins at 4pm.

The meeting is open to all and we have activities for children and no booking is necessary, simply turn up to St George’s Hall, 223 Sprowston Road, Norwich, NR3 4HZ.

Pictured above is the inaugural meeting of Friends of St Francis in the garden of St John’s Cathedral.

“Called to More: Finding God in the hidden things of daily life” is the theme of a Diocese of East Anglia Retreat Day For Women to be run by the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham in Newmarket in October. 

Organiser Antonia Braithwaite said: “Christ often chooses to act in hiddenness. He, who possesses ‘all power in heaven and on earth’ (Mt 28:18), ‘empties Himself’ (Phil 2:7) that we might know the greatness of His love. Every detail of your life matters, and He desires to share every moment of it with you.  This Diocesan Retreat Day for Women run by the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham will provide you with tools to open yourself even more to the reality of this in your life.”

It will take place on Saturday October 12 at Our Lady Immaculate & St Etheldreda Newmarket Church, CB8 8LT.

Booking is essential; please contact Antonia Braithwaite to book a place and for more details:  mflcoordinator@rcdea.org.uk

An Introduction to Sight Loss Friendly Church (SLFC) and Q&A Zoom sessions are set to be run by Christian sight loss charity the Torch Trust to help churches to become more accessible for people with sight loss, and these free Zoom sessions explain how.

Introduction to SLFC – Wed September 11, at 2pm (45 minutes): This session covers a brief overview of what it means to be a sight loss friendly church. There is an interactive element in the form of an informal quiz, personal stories and videos about sight loss and an overview of our services. Come along if you’re thinking of signing up your church or if you’d like to refresh old knowledge.

Registration Link – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsd-quqT0iG93v81-xnPO6mxXjDDDNdCtB

More details and sessions at: https://torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church/

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