SVP stalwart honour, new music, assisted suicide plea

Latest news of interest to the East Anglia Catholic community includes a long-service award for a West Norfolk SVP stalwart, new musical resources for Advent and Christmas and a final plea to lobby local MPs over the assisted suicide bill now before Parliament.

St Mary’s SVP Conference in King’s Lynn has paid tribute to stalwart Pat Carney for her dedicated service to the society for over 50 years

A framed certificate and medal were presented to Pat at the SVP Mass for the Sick, at Our Lady of the Annunciation in King’s Lynn, by fellow member Pauline McSherry.

Pauline said: “The work of the society of St Vincent de Paul began in our parish in the fifties.  I have been told that the floods of 1953 brought members to the fore and the society’s work has never ceased in our parish or community.

“In very recent years age has caught up and membership decreased.  So it is an appropriate time to say thank you to all members past and present. Thank you Pat for your devoted service to SVP in our parish and beyond. A word of thanks too to John, your husband.  God bless you both and your family.  May your inspiring example encourage younger parishioners to continue the work of SVP.  

“Our active, perhaps not to active, members these days, need younger folk if the work of St Mary’s SVP Conference here in Lynn is to continue.”

Pictured above is Pat Carney with her certificate and medal.

On the first Sunday of Advent 2024 a new Lectionary comes into use throughout England, Wales and Scotland. This will affect the texts of Responsorial Psalms and Gospel Acclamations that are sung at Mass. 

Diocesan Director of Music David Grealy has made a selection of psalms available online, suitable for different parts of the liturgical year, beginning with Advent and Christmas of Year C.  Click here to access and download them.

A bill has been introduced to Parliament by Kim Leadbeater MP to legalise assisted suicide. This will be voted on by MPs on 29th November 29 and a final plea to lobby local MPs has been issued by John Deighan CEO of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.

He said: “We know that assisted suicide laws in other jurisdictions have had devastating consequences for the poor, disabled and marginalised. This is the biggest threat to the vulnerable in a decade, and we need a huge effort to lobby MPs to vote against the bill. Please urgently contact your MP and ask him/her to vote against the bill. You can contact your MP by visiting www.livesworthliving.org.uk or write to him/her at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.”

Meanwhile a short documentary, “Do No Harm”, which highlights some of the grave concerns around the proposed legislation to legalise assisted dying in the Westminster parliament in the United Kingdom has been published online by Being Catholic TV and can be viewed on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/Mi3S2yp3hjY

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