During this difficult time, as the Cathedral remains closed in Holy Week and Easter, we have prepared a selection of prayer and reflection resources - including a section for young people:
Live-Streamed and Recorded Services
The Diocese now has a list of almost 50 parishes that are live-streaming or recording Mass. Many other parishes are offering additional services such as Holy Hour, Morning Prayer and Compline, or leading prayer such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet or Rosary. Please check the individual parish websites for information.
To view details visit: www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/streaming.html
Exploring the Gospel of Matthew
www.soundcloud.com/catholicchurch/matthew-chapter-23
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales have been exploring the Gospel of Matthew via podcasts during Lent. This series, available on SoundCloud, is worth sharing with parishioners as a means of reflection during Holy Week.
Faith in Isolation
The 'Lent in Isolation' initiative, offering daily readings and reflections, has become 'Faith in Isolation' as it plans to continue beyond Lent and the current suspension: www.faithinisolation.com
Southwark Spirituality Commission
The Commission has produced a Lenten newsletter, which you can read here.
Online Magnificat
https://us.magnificat.net/free
At this time, Magnificat, a publication intended to help people grow in their spiritual life, are providing complimentary access to their online version in order to assist everyone in praying from home. There is also a children's version called 'Magnifikid'
Cafod Prayer and Chat
Tuesday 7 April, 11am - 12pm
Cafod invite all to join them for prayer and reflection, followed by a virtual coffee morning. Participants need to have a candle ready to light when they join the prayer. The session will be held on Zoom, you do not need to register. Click the relevant link at the start.
Pause for Faith
Catholic life, Conversation and Prayer
Join Fr Stephen Wang each day as he live-streams on the new YouTube channel “Pause for Faith”. You can visit and subscribe to the channel here: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrIxeH2TSwEc8eVwwMGv8w
The channel offers informal conversation about living the Christian faith, with Catholic history and spirituality, the lives of the saints, Christian teaching, practical tips for everyday life, contemporary issues facing the Church and the world, some Q&A and interviews.
Provisional streaming times: 11am and 8pm UK time, Monday to Friday.
You can also access the channel via:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pauseforfaith
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pauseforfaith
CTS
The Catholic Truth Society has produced an attractive and extensive blog called 'Spiritual Support in Isolation'. It offers prayers, reflections, advice for parents on schooling children and how to participate in Holy Week at home.
www.ctsbooks.org/blog
Hozana online prayer community
www.hozana.org/en/
This site offers a wealth of spiritual content, from a number of faith communities. You can meditate on the Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross with the Dominicans or spend Holy Week with a group inspired by the spirituality of Mother Teresa. There is something for everyone.
Emmaus Productions - Spiritual Comfort for Troubled Times
www.emmausproductions.com
As the world goes into lock-down, Emmaus Productions is offering families and communities video and music resources to support them spiritually during this extraordinary time as well as offering support to them in their celebration of Holy Week and Easter.
YOUNG PEOPLE
The Easter Story in plain English
www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks
This new Easter story resource, offered by the CBCEW 'God Who Speaks' project, is designed for children who prefer the Bible in plain English words and pictures.
CAFOD Children's Liturgy
CAFOD continue to run their popular and successful children's liturgy webinar each Sunday morning at 10 am. Signing up in advance is essential and those interested can gain also access to regular Children's Liturgy emails via this website page: www.cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy
RISE Theatre
During this period, Rise Theatre have decided to make available three hi-res versions of their short dramatic sketches on a 'pay what you like' basis to be used in church live online streaming or personal prayer time. Please prayerfully consider making a one-off donation to allow RISE Theatre to continue and help spread the good news to people at home.
For a taster of their three sketches, here are the YouTube links below (in low-res):
Jesus the Photographer
Spiritualeyes
God Air
Catholic Icing
www.catholicicing.com/ultimate-guide-for-celebrating-holy
This site has some really wonderful Catholic craft ideas for children, helping to make faith a priority for them and, as such, it is well worth exploring. For example, during Holy Week you can help them understand liturgical colours, explore stories behind certain recipes such as hot cross buns, create Holy Week in handprint painting. The ideas are very creative and plentiful.
Church at Home
www.churchathome.squarespace.com
This website is dedicated to young people of all ages to enable them to creatively engage with Church from home, For example, the young adults' section encourages them to reflect on particular questions, journal their thoughts, pray, and listen to some relevant music.
Rainbow Crosses
There has recently been a Campaign to place drawings of rainbows in house windows as a sign of hope in these challenging times. Why not encourage young people to make rainbow crosses for Easter Day, speaking of the transformational power of God over death, leading to resurrection and new beginnings. This could even be a centrepiece to an Easter table decoration or door wreath.
HOLY WEEK
Cardinal to celebrate Easter Day Mass on BBC Radio
We have received word that Cardinal Nichols will be celebrating Mass on BBC Radio on Easter Morning at 8 am. We are currently endeavouring to find details of local stations on which this can be heard. Please watch our Facebook page for further information.
Read more here.
Stations of the Cross Video
Bishop Paul Hendricks and the Anglican Bishop of Croydon have been working on a project to make a video of the Stations of the Cross. This is, in a small way, to make up for Croydon not being able to have its usual (quite dramatic and very popular) Procession of Witness on Good Friday: https://youtu.be/LUkKMMMtzIo
Easter Through Art: the painter's path
www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks
Fleur Dorrell of the 'God Who Speaks' project takes us on a visual journey from Palm Sunday to the Second Sunday after the Resurrection
Wintershall Livestream - Friday 10 April 2020 (Good Friday)
The Passion of Jesus and One Good Friday story will be available online on Good Friday, 10th April, because Wintershall cannot perform live in Trafalgar Square. As a result, they have created a livestream through their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Wintershallplay
Online performances will take place at 12pm and 3pm and will include pre-recorded excerpts of rehearsals from their Passion Play 2020 (and of previous years) together with excerpts of Passion performances from the other cities and towns taking part in the One Good Friday 2020 project.
After the livestream, the recording will be available on YouTube: www.wintershall.org.uk/passion-jesus-london
Stations of the Cross
www.soundcloud.com/user-882403520
All are welcome to pray and reflect on the Stations of the Cross. These Stations were created by SCYS written and led by Fr Nicholas King SJ. They perhaps particularly good for sharing as a family.