The Papal Visit of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI

From the national allocation of Pilgrim Passes for the major Papal events our recent parish ballot allocated the 114 passes for Hyde Park and 37 for Birmingham. Our parishioners who successfully came through the ballot (and contacted by the end of July) need to secure their Pilgrim Passes by immediate payment of £10 for Hyde Park or £25 for Birmingham per head. These costs cover transport (coach from our door to the Birmingham Mass), the Pilgrim Pass (vital for admission) and the comprehensive Pilgrim Pack. Cheques, payable to ‘St Joseph’s Catholic Church’, need to be dropped through the Presbytery letterbox immediately and clearly marked with your name and “Papal Visit Pilgrim Pass”.

Details of these and other events are on the Papal Visit Website while local details will be on our parish website and announced more fully in the next edition of this Bulletin on Sunday 5th September. There is an important preparatory meeting of all our Parish Pilgrims in the Pastoral Centre at 8pm on Monday 6th September.

The two major events are:

• Hyde Park - on Saturday 18th September - from afternoon until 9pm
• Birmingham - on Sunday 19th September - early morning for 9.30am Mass.

For those who didn’t come through the ballot, and for our many other parishioners who want to see and welcome the Holy Father, we are cooperating with the national movement to line the streets of London as our Holy Father journeys to Hyde Park in the Popemobile. We shall travel into London together as a Parish group, meet up with others, and enjoy the wonderful experience as part of our national Catholic community. Details will be in the 5th September Sunday Bulletin and on our parish website.

Meanwhile: Let’s unite daily to pray for Pope Benedict XVI, and for British Catholics whom he is preparing to visit, not neglecting to pray for those who are responsible for organising this four day State Visit, for those intent on disruption, for all people of good will, and for everyone who may be profoundly affected for good by the pastoral care, wisdom and gentleness of this Vicar of Christ, and Servant of the servants of God.

We have a wide range of supporting materials to inform and enlighten your preparation for this most significant event for our country, including delightful books for children and young people. Visit St Joseph’s Bookshop and the booklets displayed for sale on the counter at the back of church.