Growing Old Grace-fully is hosting six online sessions in 2024.
The first is Spirituality in Later Life: Praying Beyond Words, on Tuesday 14th May, 7:00-8:00pm with Fr Donal Lucey and Paula Shanks.
The session, with reflections and music, is being led by Father Donal Lucey and Paula Shanks. Fr. Donal is a retired Catholic priest of the Leeds Diocese, he was latterly parish priest in Garforth and in Harrogate and is the Chaplain to Faith and Light. Paula has a background in teaching and is trained in Ignatian spiritual accompaniment.
The session will start at 7pm and finish at 8pm.
To reserve your place, please book a free ticket on Eventbrite here.
Please do also share this with anyone you think may be interested in this session and the work of Growing Old Grace-fully.
The next two online sessions will be on these dates:
Wednesday 12th June – 2:30-3:30pm Thursday 18th July – 7:00-8:00pm
Best wishes, Carol Burns On behalf of the Trustees of Growing Old Grace-fully
Photo courtesy of St. Mel’s Cathedral, Longford (Facebook page)
These beautiful modern Stations of the Cross were sculpted by Ken Thompson for St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, County Longford in Ireland, to replace the wooden ones burned in a fire at Christmas 2009.
The Cathedral was badly damaged but the beautiful new sculptures are part of the resurrected Cathedral. (It is the local home Cathedral of Fr. Jim Leavy known to many of us in the Leeds Diocese).
Why show two Stations of the Cross at Easter tide?
13th Station
You may notice that in the 13th Station that the inscription is “Indeed this Man was the Son of God”. (Mk. 15:39.)
And if you look at the foot of the Cross, the Devil, depicted from one old tradition as a mouse, is rushing headlong into the trap!
Christ has overcome evil.
14th Station
In the 14th Station Jesus lies on what is portrayed as an altar, as the Eucharist.
Looking out of the door the Cross is growing green shoots: Life…The inscription: “Why seek you the living among the dead?” was the question the angel put to the women rushing to the Tomb.
The angel proclaims “Gloria”!
The word NIKA above the entrance to the Tomb means VICTORY and the Tomb is no longer dark but full of light.
When Fr. Jim Leavy showed me a book of these amazing sculptures they made an impression on me. The Lenten Practice of making the Stations of the Cross transitions to the Resurrection. Instead of having a 15th Station of the Resurrection, which increasingly occurs in modern Stations, we are visually made aware of Christ’s Resurrection in signs and scripture. Christ rises from the dead, the Cross is transformed to a source of life and we are given the Eucharist.
As an older person who has lived through many Lents and Easters, like many of us, I am aware of the cyclical nature of life and death, death and life. There are many struggles, pain and disappointments but also hope, happiness and life.
After the dark comes the dawn…After Lent comes Easter…
In his message for Lent 2024, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “pause” for prayer and to assist our brothers and sisters in need, in order to change our own lives and the lives of our communities.
CAFOD have a range of Lent resources including prayers, reflections and an interactive calendar. Sign up to the calendar and receive daily Lent emails of prayer, reflection and practical actions, offering an opportunity to pause, reflect and pray as we prepare for Easter.
Independent Catholic News have published a series of resources for Lent 2024, from books, to apps, online series, email reflections and activities to choose from – listed in alphabetical order.
It’s time to feel good about ageing. This is the message of the first Age Proud Festival in Leeds from Monday 6th September to Friday 17th September.
It will kick off officially on Monday 6th Sept 10.30am at West Yorkshire Playhouse with a range of events and tasters for you to try – watch the Heydays dancers, listen to the People’s Choir, have a go at putting on a Sari, create a collage of sunflowers….you choose!
There is a dizzying array of events being held throughout the two weeks both in Leeds City Museum and in many local communities – see THIS PAGE and click on a date for the full lists of local events. Enjoy a swim at Bramley Baths for £2 any weekday of the Festival at 12 noon, learn how to start a family history using Ancestry.com at an interactive session at Armley Community Hub, go on a tour of Leeds Central Library, join a webinar about ‘being an ancient in a modern world….the list goes on.
Now that we can go out and mix more, why not give some of these events a try!
Need some help to ensure your church or Parish Hall is more Age and Dementia Friendly?
Time to Shine have developed a detailed and useful guide for businesses and organisations to support and encourage you to take action to become age and dementia friendly.
If you would like to discuss how Growing Old Grace-fully might help support older people in your parish then please visit our contact page here and get in touch.
