Encouraging Signs

We hope you have all had a fruitful Lent and a Happy Easter. What with the winter floods and the crisis in farming, not to mention declining standards of civilisation in our country, there is a good deal of reason for pessimism at present. But we must avoid this and look on the positive side of things.

There are encouraging signs in Europe as a whole as well as in the UK. The Jubilee Year brought many graces to countless people. The World Youth Days were mentioned in the last Newsletter. The British based "Youth 2000" is forging ahead. There are plans for the Order of Saint John to establish a house in this country.

Plater College Summer School

The Oxford-based "Movement for Faith and Culture" is developing well and they, together with the "Catholic Herald", are organising an important Summer School at Plater College in the week beginning July 28th.

This will bring together a fine selection of speakers largely devoted to examining the role of the laity and of the New Movements in the Church, to which the Foyers of Charity belong. Indeed Marthe Robin may be seen as the prophet of the New Movements, and was the inspirer of several besides the Foyers.

Plater College Summer School - Mission of the Baptized: John Paul II and the Laity

Six days of speakers, discussions, workshops and prayer with Cardinal Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and the Archbishop of Birmingham, Rt. Rev. Vincent Nichols. From 28th July to 4th August.

The Foyers of Charity - Focolare - Youth 2000 - Faith - NACF - Life - Charistmatic Renewal - and many other movements and lay organizations.

Speakers include: Fr. Ian Ker, Prof. John Saward, Prof. Mary Shivanandan and Peter Garret.

Information and Reservations: Marilyn Leeks, tel: 01865 740 520, Plater College, Pullens Lane, Oxford, OX3 0DT. E-mail:

For info and background reading see: http://www.secondspring.co.uk

20th Anniversary of Marthe's Death

On February 6th 2001 they celebrated the 20th anniversary of the death of Marthe Robin at Châteauneuf-de-Galaure. Mgr. Marchand, Bishop of Valence, together with thirty-three priests concelebrated in the Centre-Foyer church, and it was well reported in 'Alouette' no. 203. Here are a few extracts from his homily.

"We are gathered together to give thanks to God for the gift of Marthe to the Church, for her life so freely given, for the Foyers, signs of the spiritual and ecclesial fruitfulness of Marthe, and for the truth and authenticity of her life.

"Rather than lie back in her handicap, she transfigured it by giving herself totally to the Lord. She made of it an offering which she joined to Christ's Passion. I recall the words of certain handicapped persons: 'we need Marthe for she helps us to accept our handicaps.' She herself once said of another handicapped person: 'he's a chosen one, a co-redeemer'. Rather than remain immobile, though she could not move her own limbs, she was the foundress of new communities throughout the world - the Foyers of Charity.

"Their witness is a sign of the spiritual richness of Marthe's life. Marthe loved the Church which was the pole-star of her life. She was truly a daughter of the Church. Her desire to do everything in union with the Church was always clear. ... She prayed for the Pope and the Bishops. ... Marthe foretold the renewal of the Church to be realised through the Council. She spoke of a new Pentecost within the Church. That is what we are living today.

"May we today, following the example of our sister Marthe, become authentic witnesses to the Love of God in the transparency of our lives. And may the Foyers be authentic centres of Christian and missionary life, shining with the truth of Love."

We think this reinforces the need for a first Foyer of Charity in England. Another Foyer-type retreat is booked at Boars Hill near Oxford for September, and details are included on a separate sheet.

Donal has had some good news in that Gracewing are due to publish his book "Marian Apparitions, the Bible, and the Modern World," in August 2002. This is the full version of the CTS booklet, "Apparitions of Mary: Their Meaning in History."

Appeal for Funds

So far the Friends of the English Foyer has been financed by a few generous patrons. As the day when we found our first Foyer approaches (and please God it will not be too distant) so our need for funds will increase. May we suggest that those who can afford it send a donation of £5, (cheques payable to "Friends of the English Foyer" - address details from: ).

All donations will be acknowledged and accounted for. Some of the money may be used to subsidise the annual retreat, and some may be used for advertising. It would help, too, to let us know if you no longer wish to remain on our ever-growing mailing list.

As you know, a new Foyer can only start at the invitation of a diocesan bishop. It then requires authorisation from the Centre-Foyer, an active priest and three or four active lay persons. Please pray that these may soon be forthcoming.

Martin Blake & Donal Foley