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The ‘lads’ enjoy Christmas Day, 2011 with Fr. Chris. at St. Clare’s.
In what has now become a UK Cenacolo Tradition the lads currently in our Cenacolo at Dodding Green, Kendal, spend Christmas Day
with Fr. Chris, this time in his Parish House at St. Clare’s in Preston.
After putting the true meaning of Christmas first with Prayers and Thanksgiving all then thoroughly enjoyed Christmas lunch together.
THE PICTURE OF THE YEAR
JULY 2011 at the Fest in Italy
Mother Elvira and the lads of the UK Cenacolo
All the lads from Dodding went to the Fest in Italy this year and were photographed together with Mother Elvira
Fr. Chris and Easter Hospitality --- EASTER visit to St. Clare’s
'It was a long 40 days,' was the comment of one of the boys referring to Lent. And now, after all the liturgical high- jinks of the Tridium, they were enjoying an Easter celebration of a different kind: 2 hours of football on the astro turf pitch made available to the lads by the kind auspices of Corpus Christi Sports College in Preston. Completely exhausted and equally famished, after a quick shower they sat down to a festive lunch at St. Clare's. The meal ended with the recitation of the rosary in the church; in the Glorious Mysteries all the friends and benefactors of the Community were remembered. Then back to the usual routine of the Community.
Bishop Michael visits the Cenacolo
CENACOLO COMMUNITY
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
NEWSLETTER SUPPLEMENT
Winter 2010
DEEP AND CRISP AND EVEN
As people are wont to say at this time of year when there is a smattering of snow or frost: it looked like a veritable winter wonderland. Whatever it looked like it was cold, very cold, freezing in fact. And that was the meteorological setting for the (near) Christmas Open Day at the Community House at Dodding Green which took place on the weekend of November 27th & 28th. Liturgically, it was a little early for a Nativity play, but as Don Andrea had to attend the Open day in Ireland the following weekend, and the event at Cuneo soon after, the liturgical niceties were set to one side and the Nativity play or mime or tableau, call it what you will, was held; but more of that below.
The parents of the lads and other family members began to arrive on Friday and most stayed at Brettargh Holt, and it was there that the lads and their families met us for the celebration of Holy Mass, dinner and Rosary & Adoration. It was a blessed moment, much rejoicing at the reunion; but as ever, a tense moment too. Often much healing has to take place between the lads and their parents, and these reunions help to take steps in that direction.
Saturday dawned deep and crisp and even following a fall of snow during the night. The parents arrived at the House at Dodding Green, for some of them the first time they had seen the place where their son lives. There were the obligatory guided tours whilst we awaited the arrival of more friends of the Community who, because of the weather, were much delayed. The well planned programme went out of the window, but Holy Mass was eventually celebrated. And this was a special and historic event. It was the first Mass to be celebrated in the Barn at least since penal times when it is just possible that it was used as a Mass station on rare occasions. The Mass was concelebrated by six priests and about 150 people. It was a joyous occasion of great thanksgiving.
Lunch was served in the House; it was not unlike the feeding of the 5,000 and there was still food left over! Mid-afternoon saw the Barn full again for rosary, testimonies and a period of Eucharistic Adoration. The testimonies were moving and uplifting.
As the sun set and the cold began to bite even harder the time for the Nativity arrived. Much preparation had gone into this production. The
Set had been erected over the previous weeks; electrical wiring and speakers had been set in position, the same too for the lighting. Costumes had been prepared and arms of friends twisted for them to do the bit parts as walk-on extras. Mary and the child Jesus were played by friends of the Community, and how enhancing it is to have a real baby in the manger with his mother.
One of the greatest efforts amongst the lads (at least for some) was the growth of facial hair. It was seen as essential to be bearded; unless you were to Archangel Gabriel who once again this year appeared to our Lady via an aerial wire way. He arrived at such speed that he spent as much of the time trying to stop spinning as he did delivering his message! The Lord God obliged by placing a dazzling star in the inky sky above the scene.
A DVD is available contact Rev J Selby 01539 720038
Gradually people wandered off home and the lads were left to clear up the House and Barn and plant and to spend a little more time with their parents.
Sunday was a quieter day. The parents and families came once again to the House and lived some times of prayer and sharing. It was another blessed time. On Sunday evening the lads and families repaired to Kendal Catholic Church as they do week by week; Don Andrea concelebrated the evening Mass and Martin joined the music group for the occasion. And then it was time for goodbyes until they meet again.
Such occasions take much organisation and preparation, and not just by the lads. There are a score of people who work often behind the scenes in all manner of ways to ensure the smooth(ish) running of events. They are called Friends of the Community for so indeed they are.
The lads really welcome a visit from one of the Community Priests, Don Andrea this time. These men are close to the heart of the Community and are able to transmit the spirit of the Community to our young men. The lads had the opportunity to speak with Don Andrea and greatly benefited from it. On Tuesday Don Andrea departed for the House in Knock for their Open Weekend.
NEWS FROM THE TRUSTEES
At a recent Meeting of the Trustees some changes were made to the Trustee body. Two of the original Trustees are soon to step down. Philipp Habsburg and Margaret Stanley are not abandoning Cenacolo, far from it; they will both carry on their sterling work with the Prayer Groups in London and Liverpool respectively. They will be involved in a myriad of ways as they are now, further they will be available to give help and advice to the New Trustees: Fr Christopher Loughran and Mrs. Mary McNally. It is appropriate that a great vote of thanks be given the Phiipp and Margaret for their service as Trustees over many years.
John Godwin continues in his role as Chairman of the Trustees. Much of the day to day work is undertaken by Brian Goldrick who is the treasurer and so much more. Another Bryan too, is never far away working as he does as the secretary to the Trust. These men (and so many more) are a great blessing to the Cenacolo movement.
At their last meeting, the Trustees paid tribute to the memory of Bill Hodson who had been a tireless worker for Cenacolo and who had sadly recently died. Holy Mass was offered for Bill in the Chapel in the House.
The accounts were discussed and it was noted that donations were fewer that in previous years, but on the positive side a generous grant and a bequest had been received. This money will help towards the on-going costs of the Barn and the continuing ordinary expenditure of the House.
There was a discussions on how Cenacolo should be developed in the UK. Ideas included: (a) Revising roles of Main and Prayer meetings, new meeting places and prayer groups. (b) Creation of a more effective network to help the Cenacolo develop ‘Nationally’. (c) How to better inform UK addicts and ‘Drug Action’ groups about Cenacolo. (d) How do we develop better communication between Support Groups and Prayer Groups. (e) The organisation of Open days, Retreats, large visits, etc.
OUR WEBSITE
It has generally been agreed that our Website is in need of not just updating but also of some TLC! We are looking for someone who has the time and the necessary expertise to take this under his or her wing. The website needs to be kept up to date with good information for those who might trawl the web looking for help to move away from addiction.
Other details too, like dates of events at the House and in Italy should be available on our website. If you are able to help please contact Bryan Ingleby at bryan@cenacolofriends.fsnet.co.uk
IMPORTANT DATES
ANNIVERSARY OPEN DAY 2011
This will be held over the Bank Holiday weekend at the beginning of May 2011. Evening of Friday April 29th, Saturday April 30th & Sunday May 1st. The Friday evening is, at the request of Don Andrea, only for parents and family.
FESTIVAL OF LIFE – SALUZZO
The exact travel dates have not yet been finalised. But this event always takes place around the Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel: July 16th.
Contact; Jean McGuinness 01928 795326
RETREAT FOR PRAYER GROUPS
This is a new departure and will be held at Brettargh Holt over the weekend of Friday (evening) September 23rd, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th. This will provide an opportunity to connect with the heart of the Community. It would be helpful to have representation from each Prayer Group. It is hoped that a priest of the Community will lead the Retreat.
ITEMS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
For quite sometime Katy Whenray has been editing this Newsletter, she has now relinquished the role. We are enormously indebted to Katy for her hard work and sharing her skills and talents with us. For the time being Fr. Chris Loughran will look after the production of the periodic Newsletters. His contact details are:
St. Clare’s Presbytery. Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9HH
Or email: frloughran@saintclares.co.uk
Fr Chris would love to receive information, articles etc from individuals and especially from the various prayer groups dotted around the country. Electronically generated items are preferred for ease of handling but all items welcome.
MONTHLY MASS
Every Wednesday (more or less) Mass is celebrated in the Chapel at Dodding Green at 6pm. The Responsible and the Community welcome friends of the Community to join them for that Mass on the First Wednesday of the Month.
SAFEGUARDING
The Diocese of Lancaster, together with the other diocese in the country, has a very strict Safeguarding Policy. Therefore, priests wishing to celebrate Mass at the House must first of all gain the permission of the Responsible (Leader) of the House, and then apply in the usual way to the Diocese of Lancaster for explicit permission to exercise priestly ministry in the diocese.
Christmas lunch for the Lads
It seems to have become a bit of a tradition for the lads in the Kendal House to be entertained to Christmas Lunch by Fr Chris, the priest visitor to the House.
This year the lads were fewer than in the past as a number had been transferred to other Houses just before Christmas. The lads duly turned up at noon and for a whilewatched 'Loony Tunes' cartoons. Then came the usual Christmas Lunch after which they all repaired to the church to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
and to light candles in front of our Lady's statue, for their families.
Following the prayer they watched a suitable movie and wended their way back to Dodding Green.
Fr Chris
Update February 2010
In October 2009, the Vatican announced that the whole of Cenacolo is now officially recognised as an Association of Christ's Faithful.
THE NEW RECOGNITION
The ecclesial journey of a work of God is evaluated by the Church in small steps of recognition, according to the growth and development of the life and specific charism of that particular work. Our ecclesial journey took its first steps on the Solemnity of Pentecost 1998. On that date, through the hands of His Excellency the Most Reverend Diego Bona, then Bishop of Saluzzo, Comunita  Cenacolo was recognized as a Private Association of the Faithful for three years “ad experimentum.” After years of sharing her life with youth and serving them, on that day we received ecclesial recognition. From that moment, the Community was no longer only a good work of someone, but she became part of the Church, hands and heart of that Mother and Teacher who has served humanity for 2000 years and who proclaims the Risen One. Successively, on Pentecost 2001, Comunita Cenacolo was recognized as a Public Association of the Faithful for three years, again “ad experimentum.”
After the development and stability of the work matured through the years, our current Bishop of Saluzzo, His Excellency the Most Reverend Giuseppe Guerrini, definitively approved Comunita Cenacolo as a Public Association of the Faithful of diocesan right on December 8th 2005, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
HISTORY AND PRECIOUS GIFT OF THIS NEW RECOGNITION
With the growth of Comunita Cenacolo beyond diocesan and national boundaries, many bishops throughout Europe and the world, in whose dioceses we are present, urged us to begin a journey of pontifical recognition of the work. Mother Elvira Petrozzi, founder of Comunita Cenacolo, participated as an auditor in the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist in October 2005. She gave testimony of the “Eucharistic miracle” of resurrection of our youth, thanks to the celebration of  the Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration in our houses. Only after the Synod did we perceive that the “hour” had come to begin in humility this journey to verify if the conditions existed to be recognized by the Holy See.
It had been suggested to us that we initiate the process of recognition as an International Association of the Faithful by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Hearing the favorable opinion of our diocesan bishop, who has always fully supported and sustained our journey, we took our first steps. The following period was composed of careful development of the Community statutes according to the directives received, thanks to the collaboration of the experts who accompanied us in preparation of said draft.
This time of work was also a time of grace, because the various observations received during this journey helped us in a peaceful way to order and delineate everything the Holy Spirit, in the mystery of His love, had birthed in us through the years. Step by step we discovered our specific charism, always more clearly, thanks to the Church who guided us with her wisdom.
The precious gift of this recognition is the even stronger bond that unites us with the Holy Father, with the heart of the universal Church, and with her closest collaborators. With all our poverty, fragility, and smallness, we enter delicately and humbly into the great universal mission of the Church, Servant and Mother of humanity, who brings “good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and healing to the brokenhearted.” We are deeper in the heart of the Church, united to the heart of the Pope, a work of God placed in his hands and at his service, fully cognizant of this great, great gift.
THE PROVIDENTIAL DATE
In June we received the news that our statutes were accepted and approved for five years. The Pontifical Council for the Laity indicated that it is c ustomary that the decree of recognition be granted on a significant date. We chose July 16th, 2009, Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and birthday of the Community. It is beautiful to see the tender hand of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who guides us and accompanies us on this journey: at the end of our jubilee, the 25th anniversary of Comunita Cenacolo, the Church welcomes us in her universal heart and sends us forth into the world. It is a new beginning with new strength and a new light, with a new belonging, which requires greater maturity, responsibility, and commitment, but also has given us so very much joy.
 Unplanned and clearly providential, the date the decree with be physically given to us coincides with another special date. October 16th is, in fact, the date on which “a man from a far away land,” John Paul II, was elected Pope. We also rejoice for this reason that we will be in Rome on that specific date to give thanks to Our Lord and the Virgin Mary. Our Community was born, developed, and grew under the pontificate of John Paul II, and now at the beginning of our 26th year of life, we receive pontifical recognition and our journey of ecclesial maturation continues, as we entrust ourselves to be guided by the sure hand of our Holy Father Benedict XVI. One hand in that of John Paul II and the other in that of Benedict XVI—with both our hands in theirs, we walk safely, securely, and confidently.
NEWS ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF OUR SISTERS
During the preparation of the statutes according to the directives given by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the role of our sisters was delineated more clearly. From the beginning, their journey as consecrated wom en has been that which is proper to the religious life, evidenced by their habit and veil and proclaimed by their public vows before the bishop. For this reason, we received the directive that their journey, though it originated from the same charism, has a particular identity guided by the norms of the canons proper to the religious life. Therefore, in accord with our diocesan bishop, we are preparing a statute for a Public Association of the Faithful of diocesan right, directed to become in the future an Institute of Consecrated Life for Women.
It is beautiful to see how different ways of life and participations in the charism of the Community have become delineated in this journey we are making with God, this journey validated by the Church. Each person can find his place of service in the kingdom of God, according to the individual call he has received and the openness of his own heart.
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