Prayer, Prayer Groups and Faith-Sharing Groups
Parish Prayer
Father,
pour out the fullness of your Holy Spirit
upon all who live in Epsom,
and in particular upon all parishioners
of St Joseph's Church
Help each one of us to live the Gospel in its power
so that we may be effective signs of Christ to our world
May your word so live in our hearts and minds
that people everywhere will see you alive in us.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen
Livesimply
Compassionate and loving God,
you created the world for us all to share,
a world of beauty and plenty.
Create in us a desire to live simply,
so that our lives may reflect your generosity.
Creator God,
you gave us responsibility for the earth,
a world of riches and delight.
Create in us a desire to live sustainably,
so that those who follow after us
may enjoy the fruits of your creation.
God of peace and justice,
you give us the capacity to change,
to bring about a world that mirrors your wisdom.
Create in us a desire to act in solidarity,
so that the pillars of injustice crumble
and those now crushed are set free.
Amen
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Our new church design lends itself perfectly to the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the seating behind the altar screen. We are pleased that many parishioners wish to avail themselves of this wonderful opportunity to pray and reflect before the Blessed Lord. You will find it a time of peace and spiritual enrichment. It takes place from immediately after the 10am weekday Mass (details of times in the Newsletter). Parishioners are invited to sign the list in the porch if they wish to take part on a regular basis. We need a minimum of two parishioners to be present at all times. If you would like to take part at a different time from those stated above, please sign the list and state the preferred time. Consideration will be given to all requests.
On-line Prayer Resources
Sacred Space is a site which is "highly recommended" by some of our parishioners. The site is run by Irish Jesuits and provides a daily opportunity for prayer.
pray-as-you-go.org - another highly recommended Jesuit site, this site provides a daily audio meditation for "listen now" or as an MP3 download (Podcast). Updated 20/01/2007 MER
Life in the Spirit Prayer Group
Meets Wednesdays at 7.30 pm in Chapel of Reconciliation.
All are welcome more information available via the Parish Office. If you are new to the group, please check that the group is meeting on the Wednesday you plan to join us.
Lenten and Advent Groups
Following the success of the small faith-sharing groups started during Renew in the early 90's the diocese continues to prepare resources for small groups meeting for 5 or 6 weeks during the Advent and Lenten periods
In addition, each Lent ecumenical groups are arranged.
Watch out for seasonal announcements.
Christian Meditation
St Joseph's Church has a small group affiliated to the World Community for Christian Meditation. The group meets on Thursdays at 8pm and lasts for one hour. The format is:
- a 10 minute "instruction" tape recorded by Fr John Main OSB or his successor, the Benedictine monk Fr Lawrence Freeman.
- a period of silent meditation
Christian meditation is what the early Christians called "pure prayer" and consists of:
Please think about joining us, everyone is most welcome. Contact the Parish Office for more details.
Marketplace Prayers
Each Thursday lunchtime at the Spa Room in the Ebbisham Centre a small group meets to talk and pray about all aspects of life in Epsom and for those who work in the town. Everyone is most welcome to call in anytime between 12 noon and 2pm. More information available via the Parish Office or email info@generation.org.uk
THE ROSARY
Tthe Holy Father, John Paul II, called Catholics everywhere to pray the Rosary for "the great cause of peace". The Holy Father continued, "I wish to entrust the great cause of peace to the Rosary". The Rosary is a way to contemplate the face of Christ through the eyes of Our Lady. Therefore it is a prayer rooted in the Gospel.
Urging everyone to recite the Rosary for peace in the world, Pope John Paul said: "The Rosary has been shown to be a particularly appropriate prayer. It builds peace because while it appeals for God's grace, it deposits the seed of good in the heart of the one who recites it, and from this one can hope for the fruits of justice and solidarity in personal and community life. The Rosary can help bring these fruits of justice and solidarity not only to nations but also to families ... what peace would be assured in family relations if the recital of the Rosary were again taken up in families?
St Jerome tells us that "The beauties contained in the Hail Mary are so sublime, so wonderful, that no man or angel could fully understand them". The Hail Mary is like a mine of gold that we can always take from but never exhaust. Each time we say the Hail Mary, we are repeating the same words with which St Gabriel, the Archangel, saluted Mary on the day of the Annunciation, when she became the Mother of God.
Oceans of graces and joys filled the soul of Mary at that moment. Now when we say the Hail Mary we offer anew all these graces and joys to Our Lady and she accepts them with immense delight. St Bernard said that it was never heard, at any time or in any place, that Mary refused to hear the prayers of her children on earth.
Each Hail Mary, well said, gives the greatest joy to Our Lady and obtains for us wondrous graces. All we have to do in order to say the Hail Mary well is to remember that we are offering to Our Lady the very same joys that St Gabriel offered her at the great moment when she became the Mother of God.
House of Prayer
35 Seymour Road, East Molsey.
The Sisters of the Christian Retreat is a Roman Catholic Congregation founded in France in 1789 by Fr Anthony Receveur to help people find God in their daily lives through the practice of spiritual retreats and daily meditation. Today the sisters, the Retreat Team and Associate Members carry out this vision by their work and mission in the House of Prayer which is ecumenical and welcomes Christians of all denominations and people of good will. Website: www.christian-retreat.org
Youth 2000 Prayer Group
In 2006 a new prayer group started in our church. It takes place on Tuesday evenings, 8-9pm. It is based on "Youth 2000" meetings and involves the Rosary and a time of Adoration.
Bible Study Group
Seasonal Thoughts and Meditations