At a three-4y meeting at the Verona Fathers' Provincial Centre in Dawson Place, London, the secretaries of the National Missionary Councils of European Bishops Conferences discussed items of common concern regarding mission problems. Bishop Mahon, a member of the Bishops' Mission Commission of England and Wales, was guest of honour at the final discussion.
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The Nationwide Festival of Light has moved its headquarters from South Woodford to 21A Down Street, London, WI, so as to be more accessible to national authorities and the media.
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The Archbishops of York and Canterbury, next Tuesday will join 900 guests, including several other bishops, in celebrating the hundredth birthday of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, a college for training clergy of the Church of England. Both Archbishops received their training at Wycliffe Hall.
* * * A series of Friday lunch-time meetings on the theme "The Fruits of the Spirit" ictaking place until June 3 at the John Wesley Room, St Matthew's Church, Clarence Street, Cheltenham. Further details are available from J. E. Fraser: telephone Cheltenham 24215.
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The replacement of St Peter's Junior School, Dagenham, Essex, a major project at St Bonaventure's School and a small project at St Angela's School, both at Newham, Essex, will now have to be delayed because of reductions in the amount of money available to education authorities.
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"Bring in the young!" was the plea made to a gathering of mostly middle-aged people meeting in London last week to review their work for the elderly and lonely people in the community. Lord Pritchard, speaking as president of the Abheyfield Society, said that the young of today were more conscious of the need for helping old people than at any time. If approached constructively they had a unique contribution to make to the wellbeing of otherwise lonely people of all backgrounds. The 1,200 Abbeyfield supporters who had come from all over Britain for their coming-of-age meeting, were congratulated by Princess Alexandra on their record of voluntary help "willingly given and imaginately used" in the service of "this large and very important section of the community".
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Dom Ambrose Griffiths, OSEI, Abbot of Ampleforth, will speak on "Prayer and the Following of Christ" at the Old House, Prinknash Abbey, on Saturday, July 2. Further details from Martin Davis, 3 Hill View, Sevenhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
* * * A conference on "The Living Word" will be held from August 8 to 13 at Ampleforth in liaison with the National Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Residential accommodation is offered at Ampleforth College, but there will also be facilities for caravaners, campers and day visitors.
* * * Mr Donald Swann will be among the performers at a presentation on the meaning of Ascension Day and Pentecost to be held at St James's Church, Piccadilly, on May 27 at 6.30 p.m. The event, organised by the London Ecumenical Centre, will include a dramatic presentation called "I am with you always" by the students from the interdenominational All Nations Christian College at Ware, liertfordsh ire.
The implications and requirements of the Race Relations Act and the Sex Discrimination Act will be examined at a meeting organised by the Industrial Society at Peter Runge House, London, on June 24. Called "Equal Opportunity in Employment: Policy and Practice" the meeting is principally for personnel managers and those responsible for ensuring that company policy does not discriminate. Further details from PO Box 1BQ, Robert Hyde House, 48 Bryanston Square, London, WI.
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About 100 people attended the first meeting of Middlesbrough Diocesan Justices and Peace Liaison Group last week when Mr Cecil Fanekiso, from Botswana, suggested that British workers should not emigrate to South Africa because it deprived black workers of the chance of learning technical skills.
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A Thomas More colloquium will be held at Crosby Hall, Cheyne Walk, London, SW3, on May 27 at 2 pm. Speakers will include Professor D. Baker-Smith on "Purity or Politics: A Humanist Dilemma". Further details are available from the Society for Renaissance Studies, Department of Italian, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1.
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A meeting for all those concerned about the increasing crime rate among young people will be held at Caxton Hall, London on May 25 at 7 pm. Those interested in discussing methods of prevention are welcome, and are invited to contact Mrs Mary Hunt, 123 Lingfield Road, East Grinstead, Sussex,
Telephone East Grinstead 25501.
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The Catholic Stage Guild will hold its annual meeting at Heythrop College, London, on Sunday at 7 pm. The meeting will be followed by a cheese and wine party. Further details are available from 1 Maiden Lane, London, WC2. Telephone 01240 2674.
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More than 120 nurses end midwives attended a LIFE nurses' group conference, organised by the !VW -Kent Life Group on "Abortion — the Nurse's Dilemma", in London on Saturday.
Dr Barry Jones, consultant development paediatrician at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, told the conference of the need for greater concern and willingness to nurse the handicapped. "We reject abortion for the potentially handicapped and we therefore have a special responsibility to care for those born with a disability", he said.
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More than 100 members of the Catholic Women's League attended the summer meeting of the Northampton diocesan branch at Gerrards Cross, last Sunday. They were addressed by Miss Anne Forbes, chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission, who spoke of the increasing poverty of The Third World and the diminution of human rights in many countries.
* * * The Union of Catholic Mothers is planning to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the Queen with a Mass or Thanksgiving at 11 am on Wednesday, June SI, at Westminster Cathedral. The chief celebrant will be Cardinal Hume. It is expected that some 3,000 members will take part.
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The Legion of Mary has organised a special showing of the film "Miracle of Fatima" at St Anselm's Church Hall, The Green, Southall, Middlesex, next Thursday at 8 pm, at which all are welcome.