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Theotokos Newsletter - Autumn/Winter 2003|
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Theotokos Catholic Website Newsletter - Autumn/Christmas 2002 - No.4 http://www.theotokos.org.uk Dear Friend, This is a joint Autumn/Christmas issue of the Theotokos newsletter due to the fact that I am a bit pressed for time! This edition of has details about my (very) soon-to-be published book, due out 19 November, and also news about Youth 2000, a visit to Poland, the Foyers of Charity and Fatima, amongst other things. God Bless and best wishes for Advent, Christmas and the New Year Donal Foley p.s. You are receiving this Theotokos Newsletter because either I have been in touch with you at some time, or you have contacted me at the Theotokos Catholic Website - www.theotokos.org.uk - or a friend may have forwarded it to you. This is the fourth edition of the Theotokos Newsletter which is presently appearing quarterly. If you don't wish to receive it in future, then you can unsubscribe by replying to this e-mail with "unsubscribe" as the subject. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very soon-to-be published! Marian Apparitions, the Bible, and the Modern World by Donal Anthony Foley by Gracewing Publishers, 19 November 2002 Foreword by Fr Aidan Nichols OP Imprimatur from Bishop McMahon of Nottingham Diocese, England ISBN 0 85244 313 7 - 374 pp - £17.99 This is an in depth investigation into the major Marian apparitions that have occurred during the last five centuries. It relates them to secular happenings and important revolutionary events in Western history including the Reformation and the French and Russian Revolutions. It also argues that the major apparitions are not random or historically inconsequential events, but actually seem to follow a preordained plan, one intimately linked with the biblical Marian typology explored by the Church Fathers. In particular, this books looks at the importance of Fatima in the life of the Church, its links with the papacy, and its continuing relevance for the Third Millennium. You can see more details, including the foreword by Fr Aidan Nichols, at: www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/books/books.html Here is a commendation of the book written by Fr Peter Fehlner: "With his Marian Apparitions, the Bible, and the Modern World, Donal Foley has made a very important contribution to our understanding and appreciation of private revelations, in particular those of Our Lady. Far from being random events without relation to divine Providence or substitutes and supplements of public revelation, the approved Marian apparitions of modern times (beginning with that of Guadalupe in Mexico in 1531) reveal a pattern foretold in the Bible. ... [T]hese revelations are events at the center of the history in which they occur and in virtue of the biblical typology which they incorporate so profoundly [they] enable us correctly to interpret and participate in that history. Not only ... scholars and believers, but the general public will find this volume informative and inspirational." - Fr. Peter M. Fehlner, F.I. Ordering the Book The book should be available for order from bookstores in Britain from 19 November, slightly later overseas, at a cost of £17.99 (about $30/30 euros). It also should be available via the Internet on sites such as Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. If anyone is interested in a signed copy, please let me know, but that would mean postage/packing costs on top - about £3.50 for the UK, about 8 euros for Europe, and about $12 for the US - please note that the exact prices could be a bit more. EWTN Bookmark appearance! I hope to be interviewed regarding my book by Doug Keck on the EWTN Bookmark programme. This is to be taped at Littlemore, Oxford, on 19 November and then shown at a later date. I have never done anything like this so I would be grateful for a small prayer on the afternoon of the 19th! Better still say a prayer now - especially if your memory is anything like mine. There are getting on for 400 subscribers to this newsletter and if everyone said one Hail Mary that would be nearly equivalent to two whole rosaries (including the new luminous mysteries). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contents Autumn 2002, Issue 4 1. Theotokos news - 'Call in Scripture' - Vocations weekend, Youth 2000 festival, Poland visit, Foyer of Charity retreat, Lay community, Fatima pilgrimages, Creation Symposium 2. EWTN in Britain 3. Useful Web sites 4. Security/virus info 5. Petersnet Documents/Resources 6. Services worth using/supporting 7. Theotokos Catholic Website sections to note 8. Messages to God from young children! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Theotokos News The numbers of visitors to Theotokos Catholic Website continues to rise - there have now been over 26,000 visitors to the site. Please continue to feel free to continue to send me any questions, comments etc., you may have to: A) 'Call in Scripture' - Vocations weekend (for men and women) - from 6th-8th Dec. 2002 - At St. Dominic's Convent Stone, Staffs, England. Talks by Fr. John Farrell O.P. Opportunity to pray, read and discuss - please reply if possible by Nov. 20th 2002 to Sr Valery Walker, Dominican Sisters, 155 Huntingdon Rd., Cambridge. Tel: 01223 353730 - e-mail: B) Youth 2000 Prayer Festival I went with Timothy Tindal-Robertson to the Youth 2000 annual Festival at Walsingham in August: the fervour and orthodoxy of the young Catholics who attended was very impressive. We ran a joint Friends of the Foyers/World Apostolate of Fatima stall, and several useful contacts were made. This movement is now worldwide and holds great promise for the future. It has already produced a number of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. Following on from this there will be a Youth 2000 New Year Prayer Festival this year, at which Archbishop Vincent Nichols will celebrate Mass on the first evening, and be in attendance. The Festival will be looking in depth at the Holy Father's call for a renewed appreciation of the Rosary, and at the new Mysteries of Light. Begins: evening of Sunday 29th December 2002 - Ends: afternoon of Wednesday 1st January 2003 At: Bishop Challoner Secondary School, Institute Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7EG PLEASE let Youth 2000 know if you'll be coming, so that they can plan accordingly. You can either email them at "We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son." - Pope John Paul II, Closing Homily, WYD, Toronto, July 2002 C) Poland visit I also went with Timothy to Poland, primarily to publicise the new Polish edition of his book Fatima, Russia, and John Paul II, (revised English edition still available from Gracewing Publishers) but also, for me, to experience something of Polish culture and life. It was very interesting and highlights included visits to Krakow, surely the most beautiful city in Europe, and Zakopane in the southern mountains. As soon as we arrived we went to stay in a small town called Jablon, near the Eastern border. On the journey it was quite a jolt to see a signpost for "Moscow" - you realise that Poland really is in the heart of Europe. It also explained the fact that we saw a statue of Our Lady of Fatima in nearly every Polish church we visited - the Poles are well aware of the importance of the Message of Fatima. In many respects the Church in Poland is thriving - the local diocesan seminary at Jablon has 100 seminarians - that is just for one diocese! I would be surprised if there are many more than that for the whole of Britain, and certainly we could not compare with Krakow, the Pope's old diocese, which has more than 300 seminarians. We saw many signs of life in Polish churches, but Catholicism is also hard pressed by materialism and the new government, which is largely made up of ex-communists and is apparently quite hostile to the Church. Certainly secularism is proving very popular for the young especially, and it will be hard for the Polish Church to counter it, although important steps have been taken in this direction. There is a Catholic radio station, called Radio Maria, and a new daily Catholic newspaper, both of which are doing very well, but not without some controversy! In particular we saw many young women religious dressed in black habits and also many young Franciscans, as well as secular clergy - clearly the triple influence of St Faustina, St Maximilian Kolbe and Pope John Paul II has had a powerful effect. We also visited Zakopane in the mountainous south of the country, where a Fatima shrine, run by the indefatigable Fr Drozdek is flourishing. The Pope was there as recently as 1997 to consecrate the beautiful new church, and apparently he regards Zakopane as his favourite Marian shrine! Certainly pilgrims are coming in large numbers, almost a million last year, thus rivalling the numbers visiting Czestochowa, the older Marian shrine which houses the famous "Black Madonna." Overall, Poland seems to be one of the few bright spots for the Church in Europe, and I feel there are many lessons we in the more affluent parts of the West can learn from the Polish Church. D) Foyer of Charity retreat - September 2002 The sixth annual Foyer-type retreat took place in September at the Carmelite Priory on Boars Hill, Oxford England. 20 retreatants from all over the world took part under the leadership of Fr Ian Ker, in what was felt to have been perhaps the best retreat yet. Fr Ian came over daily from his parish at Burford. He not only gave us two conferences a day, but also celebrated our Mass at midday, gave freely of his time to individual retreatants, and led our Holy Hour at 6 p.m. The theme of his talks was the art of prayer, and he drew on the new Catechism and on his extensive knowledge of Cardinal Newman's works. All in all, a very successful week and Boars Hill has already been booked for next year's retreat. E) Lay Community In connection with the Foyers, I am floating the possibility of having a temporary Catholic "Foyers/Fatima" Lay community next summer in England, one based on the Mass, the rosary, and prayer and work in common. Perhaps such a community could be the catalyst for a more permanent Foyer or Marian community in Britain. If you are interested in this idea please e-mail me at: F) Next year's World Apostolate of Fatima (England) National Pilgrimage, will take place in July. Details are yet to be finalized but it is expected that the price will be the same as last year, that is £430 per person, sharing, is inclusive of tax and insurance. The flight will probably go from London Heathrow, and we will be staying at the World Apostolate house in Fatima, Domus Pacis. Once again it promises to be a very good week. Last year over fifty pilgrims spent a very enjoyable week at the Portuguese shrine. Mgr Tom Fallon will be the spiritual director. For more details e-mail: www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/waof/waof.html Those in the US, who would like to go to Fatima, might like to try: www.bluearmy.com/pilgrimages.htm G) Rosary Pilgrimage Apostolate - Pilgrimages to Fatima: Autumn 2002 - Spring 2003 Pilgrimages to Fatima staying at the World Apostolate of Fatima hotel, Domus Pacis - this is one of the very best in Fatima; Half Board accommodation. Dates: November 4, 18; December 5 [for feast of the Immaculate Conception]; January 20, February 10, 17, March 10, April 7. All 5 days, 4 nights. Scheduled flights from London Heathrow. School Groups: £279; Adult Groups £299. Groups: One free for every ten paying. Full and rewarding Itinerary with free time for shopping etc. With School Groups, there is an offer of a free single room to teachers. Otherwise single rooms are £56 - Groups can arrange their own dates if desired . ROSARY PILGRIMAGE APOSTOLATE TRUST Suite 2, Newburn Centre, Newburn Crescent, Swindon, SN1 5ES. 01793/422714. Fax: 01793/422715. E mail: (Please mention Theotokos website when contacting Rosary Pilgrimage Apostolate) H) Creation Symposium The Rome Creation Symposium, an offshoot of the Creation conference held in Arlington in October, was, according to the organizer Hugh Owen of the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation, a great success.The Holy Father gave his blessing to the symposium at a private audience, while Guy Berthault was able to speak privately with Cardinal Ratzinger, who, along with and at least one other influential person in the Vatican, is very interested in receiving the proceedings of the Symposium. Through these proceedings, there will be the possibility of a new debate on the idea of creation as the authenticview of origins within the Catholic Church.There is an overwhelming case for special creation from Scripture, Tradition, and natural science, and it is mainly a question of getting this message across. The proceedings of the symposium will be placed on the Kolbe Center website in the near future - see: http://www.kolbecenter.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. EWTN in Britain EWTN - Eternal Word Television Network - the global Catholic network - is now available in Britain. If you are fed up with the downward spiral in the standards of British TV, then EWTN will be like a breath of fresh air for you. More information is available at: www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/ewtnbrit/ewtnbrit.html If you live outside Britain, you can get more details at: www.ewtn.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Useful Web sites Traditional Catholic Reflections & Reports ©. News, Opinion and Information for Catholics loyal to the Pope and Church with particular coverage of matters relating to the Mass and spirituality of the saints, changes made by theologians, priests and bishops after Vatican II, as well as matters relating to abortion, ethics, apologetics, prolife, philosophy, culture, and the arts. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/3251/ http://Google.com according to some people Google is the world's number-one search site. www.alltheweb.com isn't bad either. http://www.answersingenesis.org/ - for some very useful creationist material ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Security/virus info Amazingly, the W32.Klez virus is still circulating - this must have been going about for six months or more now - a more recent variant is the "bugbear" virus. As long as you have good anti-virus software and don't open suspicious attachments, you should be OK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Petersnet Documents/Resources - Petersnet (www.petersnet.net) continues to be an excellent Catholic site, and is well worth visiting on a periodic basis - they are constantly updating their resources. Below is a selection of links to some Petersnet material: 1. Surviving as a Catholic Family in the Third Millennium Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap reflects on the problems facing families http://www.petersnet.net/research/retrieve.cfm?recnum=3D1372 2. Co-Patronesses of Europe In an Apostolic Letter of October 1, 1999, Pope John Paul II proclaimed three Co-patronesses of Europe: Sts. Bridget of Sweden, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. It is well worth looking again at what the Pope had to say about these great women http://www.petersnet.net/research/retrieve.cfm?recnum=3D1239 3. Indulgences See how the Pope explains the real meaning of Indulgences under the title "Indulgences Are Expressions of God's Mercy." His reflections can be seen at: http://www.petersnet.net/research/retrieve.cfm?recnum=3D1245 Trinity Communications Research Database http://www.petersnet.net/research/study.cfm PetersNet Site List - ratings for web sites http://www.petersnet.net/search/viewsitelist.cfm?all=yes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Services worth using/supporting http://www.kirche-in-not.org Website of Aid to the Church in Need - a Catholic organisation helping the persecuted Church around the world. xenocast.com (formerly New Eve Media) - specialists in Web design, hosting, and promotion - they host the Theotokos site. http://www.xenocast.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7. Theotokos Catholic Website sections to note include: www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/recbooks/recbooks.html (Recommended Books) and www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/breviews/breviews.html (Book Reviews) You can also visit http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/whatsnew/whatsnew.html for up-to-date info. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. And finally ... Yet more messages to God from young children!. Dear God: Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Dear God: I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over. Dear God: You don't have to worry about me I always look both ways. Dear God: I think about you sometimes, even when I'm not praying. Dear God: Of all the people who work for you I like Noah and David the best. If anyone has any more items such as these they would like to share please forward them to me at: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you have received this Newsletter from a friend, and would like to subscribe to future issues, then simply send an e-mail to Or you can subscribe at the Theotokos site at: www.theotokos.org.uk/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi - your e-mail address will then be added to the list. Please feel free to recommend this Newsletter to anyone you think might be interested in its contents and the topics covered on the Theotokos site. Just click on "Forward" in your e-mail program, and select their address (in addition, a little note from you to them would help!). Privacy Statement: Theotokos Catholic Website will not distribute your e-mail address to any third parties. If you have any ideas / news items / suggestions / feedback etc., for future issues, please contact me at: Copyright 2002 Donal Anthony Foley/Theotokos Catholic Website ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
or phone on 01937 - 579700 / 579720. Thank you.
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