Pray4@NW5

Last night the Lady Chapel of St. Dominic's hosted an event like no other event it has hosted before! Teenagers from around the Parish joined us for a night of Prayer, Praise and Pizza. After a time of prayer and praise led by an excellent worship band, Fr Irenaeus Vincent OP gave an inimitable and rousing interactive sermon, for which the young people demonstrated their appreciation with a round of applause!

Pray4 Banner incorporating prayer intentions

The Band warm up

After prayer and praise, the promised pizza was provided in the parish hall, where the young people collaborated with a Friar DJ to introduce the other brethren to a range of popular 'choons'.  

Praise and Worship in a contemporary style...

We are now looking forward to the final weekend of our Pray4 mission. Today brothers will be manning a stall on Queen's Crescent Market; this evening promises an opportunity to develop our dancing skills at the parochial Ceidlidh. Tomorrow the mission reaches its source and summit in the Solemn Celebration of Sunday Mass, at which Fr Richard Ounsworth OP (editor of Godzdogz) will preach.

Our Lady, carried in procession around Gospel Oak last Sunday, has remained in the Sanctuary all week.

Pray4... Forgiveness

For the fourth consecutive night, we were joined by a larger than expected crowd for our evening service of reconciliation. We gathered in the Lady Chapel, around the Baptismal Font, where we recalled our initiation into friendship with Christ, listened to the Holy Scriptures and renewed our baptismal commitment.

Candlelight filled the church

Renewal of Baptismal Promises

After processing into the main body of the church, priest friars were available for both confession and counsel. At the confessional, we restored, rekindled, renewed and repaired the friendship with God that we received by God's grace at Baptism.

Confessions were heard in the Side Chapels dedicated to the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

Confession is the Sacrament of Return to Holy Communion. As we processed into the Church, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed on the throne of the High Altar. In anticipation of the eternal inheritance promised to us by the Father, we gathered around the glorified and risen Christ, asking his mercy for ourselves and our world.

Gathering around Our Lord in Prayer

Many entered church via 'Alan Cheales Way', named by the local council after our late brother, Fr Alan Cheales OP (1913-1996), whose ministry of reconciliation is still fondly remembered in this parish.

With the main West doors of the church open, the candlelit sanctuary looks particularly beautiful from the road. Many passers by have stopped to chat, light a candle or offer prayer: for some, this has been the first time they have seen the interior of the austere-looking building that they pass by daily.

Although the evening events have been covered on Godzdogz, they are by no means the only thing the brethren have been doing. Yesterday morning, for example, brothers preached at a local secondary school, and visited those in local nursing homes and sheltered accommodation. This evening our thoughts turn toward the teenagers of the parish, who are invited to join us for 'Prayer, Praise and Pizza' at 7.30 p.m.

Pray4... The Dead

It is our Christian duty to pray for our departed brothers and sisters. Last night hundreds of people joined us at St. Dominic's to fulfil this duty, remembering our loved ones who are no longer with us before the Lord at the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Many people arrived early to pray silently for their loved ones.

The Parish Priest, Fr Tim Calvert OP, presided at the Mass, during which the Parish Book of the Dead was placed near the altar.

Fr Tim censes the altar

Fr Gregory Pearson OP proclaims the gospel

In his sermon, Fr Tim reflected on the Lord's words that there are "many rooms in the Father's house" (John 14:2), noting that in Christ our sorrow and mourning takes on the light of God's hope.

Other members of the Dominican community concelebrated or attended in choro. Many of those attending had first met the community through the ministry of our two hospital chaplains, Fr Dominican Ryan and Fr Peter Harries, or as a result of a recent funeral. Despite the obvious sadness, it was nice to welcome so many friends, old and new, in a spirit of thanksgiving and hope.

  

Many people stopped to chat after Mass, and some joined us for refreshments in the cloister. The Parish will continue to support the bereaved: Fr Leo Edgar - recently returned to London after six years as Prior of Newcastle - will be running a bereavement group that will meet regularly for prayer, reflection and supportive fellowship.

Pray4... Your Family

Last evening St Dominic's was delighted to welcome so many people to a service of light to pray for our families. The service included a period of time for silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, meditative music, blessings for individual families and opportunities for confession.

Meditation stations were located in the five side chapels dedicated to the Joyful mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

Three of our brothers from Oxford, including our indefatigable Student Master, visited for the afternoon to support us with their prayers and service. Above, Br Gustave Ineza OP helps to light some of the candles that gave the church a warm glow.

The heart of the evening was simple: gathering as a Parish Community in prayer around Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. 

Br Matthew Jarvis convened a small schola drawn from the parish and friends of the community (seen here rehearsing). In the background our visitors from Oxford are seen lighting yet more candles (thank you, brothers!)

Earlier in the day we welcomed the children from St Dominic's Primary School, who held a prayer service based upon the artwork they had produced with the brothers in class. Their work will be displayed in some of the side chapels throughout the mission week.

Pray4... Healing

After the wonderful start to our Pray4 week at St Dominic's London, Monday's service focused on healing, including the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and a special blessing for those who care for this sick. After Mass water collected during the recent Provincial Pilgrimage to Lourdes was distributed and will be taken to the housebound who were unable to join us.

...and all to whom that water came have been saved, and they will sing alleluia! (Ezekiel 47)

Fr Gregory Pearson OP presides at Holy Mass

Br Nicholas Paul Crowe OP prepares the Lourdes Water for distribution

Holy Communion

Pray4... St. Dominic's, London

After the deafening silence that has befallen Godzdogz in recent weeks, my brothers have asked me to reassure readers that the Godzdogz team have not been languishing without apostolic work! In fact, three of the Godzdogz team have been preparing and executing a week of prayer and mission in our London Parish.

Those in or around London are welcome to join us at St Dominic's, Haverstock Hill, NW5, each night this week at 7.30pm, when we will host a variety of services that touch upon the things that matter most to us.

Flyer for St Dominic's Pray4 Week

Whilst the brethren were busy visiting local primary schools last week, preparing holy artwork and leading assemblies, the parish mission was successfully launched yesterday with a Marian procession through the streets of Gospel Oak and Haverstock Hill. Children from local primary schools led us in prayer and reading, and particularly relished the opportunity to throw rose petals at a statue of Our Lady and give visible witness to their faith. One participant described it as a "once in a lifetime opportunity"!

Taking a breather mid-route to allow the back of the procession to catch up!

Joyfully greeting Our Lady at the main doors of the Church!

Parishioners were duly impressed by the DIY of Fr Greg and Br Oliver who, upon returning from Br Andrew's profession the night before (report to follow shortly), showed incredible ingenuity and uncharacteristic initiative in constructing a platform for Our Lady from curtain poles, a bed sheet and planks of wood fortuitously acquired. Fr Tim Calvert, Prior and Parish Priest, meanwhile made his debut on the megaphone, whilst Br Matthew led the singing, and Br Nicholas exercised his newly-minted diaconate.

The procession makes its way out of the church towards Gospel Oak.