Gospel Reflections for Lent: Year B Sunday 4
Posted: Tue, 17 Mar 2009
This Sunday we stay with John. Our Gospel extract is part of the encounter in Jerusalem between Jesus and Nicodemus, an important Jewish leader, who approaches Jesus by night in search of the truth. Initially their conversation revolves around entry into the Kingdom and new birth through water and spirit. Jesus then develops his thought in a different direction, and the dialogue becomes discourse.... Read More »
A Past Pupil returns to Chertsey
Posted: Mon, 16 Mar 2009
On 16th March 2009 Dr John Lofting visited the Salesian School at Chertsey which he had left as a 14 year old in 1941.
Dr Lofting in the garden of Salesian House Chertsey
As he describes he has led a charmed life, but without his education at Chertsey he would probably have ended up pursuing a criminal rather than a medical career.
He was brought up in Addlestone by his mother, a district... Read More »
Gospel Reflections for Lent: Year B Sunday 3
Posted: Wed, 11 Mar 2009
Today we switch from Mark's Gospel to that of John, with a description of an incident which occurs in the Jerusalem Temple:
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He... Read More »
Gospel Reflections for Lent: Year B Sunday 2
Posted: Thu, 5 Mar 2009
For the second Sunday of Lent the Gospel reading is always the story of the Transfiguration. Mark's version, which we are following today, reads as follows:
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there... Read More »
A Rectors' Meeting with a Difference
Posted: Wed, 4 Mar 2009
Fr Francis Preston, former Provincial of the Salesians in Great Britain, is now working in Jerusalem. He has sent the following account of his visit to Egypt for a meeting of Rectors which took place in Cairo from 4th to 8th March 2009:
The Salesian Middle East Province [MOR] where I have been working for three last three years has communities in seven different countries: Israel, Palestine, Egypt,... Read More »
Gospel Reflections for Lent: Year B Sunday 1
Posted: Sat, 28 Feb 2009
Each year Lent is introduced with the story of the testing or temptations of Jesus. In Year B of the liturgy, which we are currently using, it is Mark's version upon which we are invited to reflect.
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested,... Read More »
Agnelli visits London
Posted: Fri, 20 Feb 2009
In February 2009, 130 students from the Salesian Agnelli School in Turin visited London. 45 of those students met up with our Year 11 student leaders from Salesian College Battersea. We also welcomed two students from Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton. The visit followed on from our successful inaugural trip to Turin with Year 11 in June 2008.
Some of the group outside Westminster Cathedral
We... Read More »
Why am I staying in Swaziland?
Posted: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:59
Why I decided to stay in Swaziland
I was dreading this, and, in true Megan style, delayed writing as long as I could! Why do I want to stay volunteering with Manzini Youth Care? Should be an easy question, surely? It was my idea and my decision so why? The magic created by Manzini Youth Care is so amazing, it sucks you in.
After spending a couple of months working with the Salesians in Swaziland, I began... Read More »
The Southern Network and Don Bosco Day
Posted: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 11:59
A group of young and not so young adults gathered alongside the SDB and FMA Communities in Battersea to celebrate the Feast of Don Bosco. The idea had originated from the âCelebrating Salesian Volunteering Weekend held in January, because some people felt that it was on days like this that they missed the Salesian Community the most!
So 20 of us gathered in the Orbel Street Chapel... Read More »
Summer Camp in Holland
Posted: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 11:59
It is said that Dutch people keep themselves to themselves. Maybe Don Bosco Dutch people havenât heard this rumour. On arrival with two Slovakian volunteers, in a foreign country to a place consisting of a Salesian house, a cafe and a glorified barn, I could be forgiven for being a little apprehensive but we were greeted enthusiastically and made to feel right at home as we sat chatting... Read More »