As part of this restoration, the Catholic Diocese of Southwark was erected on 29th September 1850.
Now celebrating 175 years since then, and 60yrs since the formation of the Archdiocese of Southwark, the Jubilee Year established by the late Pope Francis, was an ideal time to come to together to commemorate the occasion.
The Diocese of Southwark covers the London boroughs south of the Thames, the County of Kent and the Medway Unitary Authority.
Three thousand Catholics including many family members came together at Aylesford Priory, Kent for a day of celebration to mark the Year of Jubilee.
The day was filled with prayer, reflection and celebration.
More…https://rcaos.org.uk/news-events/news/successful-pilgrimage-to-aylesford-for-jubilee-celebrations/
Holy Innocents’ was well represented, with a full coach and many others going by car earlier as volunteers undertaking many roles. It was truly a prayerful joyous celebration with opportunities for Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, personal prayer and the Rosary, led by Archbishop John and so much more. For the children there was a ‘Saints’ Treasure trail. The diocese has seen 77 Saints over the years and 11 of these were highlighted for the event. This was very popular with the children, who were eager to learn more of our saints. Our Bob Skudder was portraying St Theodore the 6th Century Archbishop of Canterbury who was "the first archbishop whom all the English obeyed."
On Saturday for the Maidstone area the weather forecast promised us “unseasonally high winds and thunderstorms from 2pm.“
Not put off by the forecast, thousands of people prayed for better weather so many would attend. Open air Mass at 3pm was beautiful with many priests and deacons in attendance and thousands of people crammed into the pews and beyond. The wind had dropped and it was dry!
As Mass ended the Archbishop said it could rain now and a few minutes later it did!
The heavens opened and what a deluge! The M20 motorway was like a river! Imagine that falling on unsheltered people at Mass!
God had other ideas. Storming heaven with prayer works!
See pdf with photos.

pilgrimage_to_pentecost_the_year_of_jubilee.pdf |
Emerald Delaney giving a poetry and scriptural recital >>> | |