A Conference for Converts

I have been invited to a Conference for Catholic Converts towards the end of June in the magnificent setting of Ampleforth Abbey.  More specifically, the Conference is oriented towards non-Catholic clergy converts, people who have left the ordained ministry in their denomination in order to embrace the Catholic faith – or, in some cases, to return to the Catholic faith of their youth.  Such ministerial converts have certain specific problems because they usually live in homes belonging to their denomination which they have to leave at the same time as they lose their employment.  For many years there has been a small Society in the UK Catholic Church to help them financially, nowadays it is called the St Barnabas Society.  In the US the Coming Home Network performs a similar task and it is a much larger concern.  There are sixty million Catholics in the US – about the same number as the entire population of the British Isles, and the Church there attracts many converts every year.  In this age of the internet the CHN has so many contacts in the UK that it has decided to organise a conference over here to encourage us.  One of my aims in attending this conference is to share the joy of Carmel.

Intercessions:

Louise Aldred OCDS RIP – a long-time member of the Nottingham Secular community

Brian Davis – cancer

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him) - cancer

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Rebekah – in hospital

K and C - facing very difficult decision