The Cathsoc Year — Spring Term
[ 24/7 Prayer Week |
International Masses |
Trip to Oxford |
Lent Retreat |
Pancakes Party |
Paris in the Springtime |
Bishop’s Visit |
St Patrick’s Party |
Pilgrimage to Lourdes ]
United 24/7 Prayer Week
In the spirit of the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the
Christian groups on campus
gather together to host the United 24/7 Prayer Week.
The 24/7 Prayer Movement was born in 1999 in Revelation Church, Chichester. From
its humble beginnings, it is now a global movement across many nations, denominations
and languages.
Held in Eliot Ecumenical Chapel, the 24/7 Prayer
Week brings together fellow Christians from various backgrounds, cultures and
denominations into an entire week of intense and continuous prayer for unity. During
this week, we also spread the Good News to those who have not yet known Christ as their
Saviour.
 See Spring Term Programme for details
The website of the 24/7 Prayer Movement
International Masses
Each year during Spring Term and Summer Term, we share the Internationalism of
the Catholic Church — and the Cathsoc at the University of Kent in particular — by
celebrating our International Masses. On these Sundays, different ‘flavours’
transform our celebrations.
The Mass, its songs, prayers and readings are all in a particular language; whilst our
Pot-luck Lunch continues the same theme with a gourmet meal — with the best
dish of that country/region prepared for us!
In previous years, we celebrated African, French, German, Hispanic, Italian and
Polish Masses. We hope to repeat their success in the years to come.
Moreover, we also encourage groups from other countries/regions/languages to
join in and to show their commitment as well!
See Spring Term Programme for details
Trip to Oxford — The City of Dreaming Spires
Oxford — “That sweet city with her Dreaming Spires...”, so Matthew
Arnold wrote in the 19th century, and it is still true today. The golden stone of
university buildings with their spires, towers and domes have shaped a graceful and
timeless city, which no visitor forgets.
Over 900 years as a seat of learning have made Oxford a very special place but the city
also has a youthful feel to it. Oxford is a city of cosmopolitan restaurants and lively
pubs, a wide variety of entertainment and excellent shopping. Combine that with an amazing
variety of museums and you will soon realise that Oxford needs time to explore.
We are made welcome as guests of the Oxford
Catholic Society but the day is free to explore as you wish.
See Spring Term Programme for details
Further information on Oxford
Preparing for the 40 Days of Lent
To get away from the ‘Stress & Strain’ of life on the campus, the Cathsoc organises
an Away Day at Broadstairs to prepare for the season of Lent.
As guests of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, we are able to have a quiet day
reflecting and preparing for the forthcoming major celebration of Easter. Once again we
are well fed and nurtured, allowing us to return to campus refreshed and renewed.
See Spring Term Programme for details
The FCJ website
Pancakes & Plonk Party
The Tuesday before the start of Lent, Mardi Gras, is known in England as Shrove
Tuesday (when people were ‘shriven’, i.e. made their confession) or Pancake
Tuesday, since the tradition is that if one is going to fast from sweet things
during Lent, they should be used up the day before!
To help us do this, we organise our free Pancakes & Plonk Party at
St John Stone House! Each year we try to exceed the number
of pancakes cooked and eaten (235 is the record so far!) and enjoy them with free ‘plonk’
(cheap wine, historically from the French ‘Vin Blanc’). Follow this with dancing
& relaxing, and we are ready for Lent to start...
See Spring Term Programme for details
Paris in the Springtime
The highlight trip of the Cathsoc year is our Weekend Retreat in Paris each
March. Travelling by Eurostar, we arrive in Paris by Friday lunchtime and spend three
days as guests of the Bénédictines du Sacré-Cœur de
Montmartre.
Situated right by the Sacré-Cœur, near the artist quarter of Place
du Tetre, we are able to relax and share the life and hospitality of this dynamic and
renewed contemplative community as well as have plenty of spare time to explore Paris.
On Sunday we share the worship of the Community of Jerusalem — a working community
in the heart of the city.
See Spring Term Programme for details
The website of the Sacré-Cœur
The website of the Community of Jerusalem
The Bishop Visits the Cathsoc
Each year, many students use their time at Kent as an opportunity to explore or deepen
their faith and commitment. In the past few years, a substantial number of students have
desired to be confirmed or to join our Catholic Community. Sometimes this has
meant they have ‘come into full communion with the Catholic Church’ from another
Christian body; whilst in others it has meant preparation for baptism.
To try to ensure that this major step in these students’ lives is as memorable as possible,
our local bishop, Bishop John Hine, presides at our Mass that day. Naturally, such
an event is followed by another memorable Pot-luck Lunch!
See Spring Term Programme for details
St Patrick’s & St Joseph’s Day Party
Contrary to the image so often falsely given by the media, the Catholic Church in England
is not just a branch of that in Ireland, but in fact very English, as well as being
international, the latter particularly so at the Cathsoc at Kent!
We don’t, however, let this fact stop us having an ‘Irish’ party around the time
of the feasts of St Patrick (17th March) and St Joseph (19th March).
With Irish music, beer and dancing we enjoy another memorable night at
St John Stone House.
See Spring Term Programme for details
The HCPT Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Our commitment to those less fortunate than ourselves is illustrated by our involvement
with the HCPT Children’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Each Easter week, nearly 5000
children, helpers and medical staff go to Lourdes to make it the biggest English event
there in the annual calendar.
As a result of the weekly collections at our Sunday Mass, we
are able to financially support two or three student helpers each year (together with the
particular handicapped child they care for).
The HCPT website
|
