Creed, Code & Cult

This coming Saturday, 9th October, St. Joseph's is hosting the first in a series of monthly talks about different aspects of the Catholic Faith by Alan Houghton, of Torch of the Faith. He and his wife Angeline (pictured above) will be arriving early that morning, ready to kick-off with 10.00am Mass, which I'll celebrate with any other brother priests who happen to come along.

Alan's first talk will start around 10.45am, there will be a break for tea and coffee at around 11.30am, then another short talk and a bit of discussion, if people feel chatty, and we'll finish off with a buffet lunch.

The title of these first two talks is 'Back to Virtue' - Christian Values in an age of chaos. As well as listening to Alan, participants will have the opportunity to buy one or more CTS pamphlets on subjects related to his talks:

About two years ago Alan gave a similar excellent session here on Bishop O'Donoghue's report Fit for Mission? Church. Everyone who attended agreed that Alan was a gifted speaker, and rounding things off with lunch was a good idea too: a morning of hard thinking followed by plenty of food, drink and convivial conversation (remember Hilaire Belloc? -

"Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine

there's always laughter and good red wine.

At least I've always found it so.

Benedicamus Domino!").

If you don't come for the religion, come for the free nosh!

So far about twenty-four people have put their names down to attend, and some others from the local Catholic parishes and indeed from the various local Protestant communities may well attend. All in all, a day to look forward to.

Here's the full list of the planned 'Creed, Code & Cult' sessions:

1. 'Back to Virtue' - Christian Values in an age of chaos (9th October)

2. The Gospel of Life and the Culture of Death (13th November)

3. John Paul II's 'Theology of the Body': human sexuality and the call to holiness (11th December)

- break for Christmas -

4. Integrity in the Liturgy - reforming the Reform (before it's too late) (late January or early February)

5. Do the Sacraments matter (or are we all honorary Protestants now)? (late February or early March)

6. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: God's suffering and redeeming love (late March or early April)

- break for Easter -

7. Mary in God's plan of salvation (early May)

8. Christians as citizens: lay vocation and the Church's social doctrine (early June).

I think this last subject will be especially topical as Catholics assess the unfolding social and economic policies of the new government, as well as recent claims by e.g. Baroness Warsi and Eric Pickles that the Coalition will reverse New Labour's hostility towards religious, especially Christian, values.