WELCOME TO THE NORTHERN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
and our own most gentle Queen and Mother,
look down in mercy upon England,
thy Dowry, and upon us all who greatly
hope and trust in thee.

Through thee it was that Jesus our Saviour
and our Hope was given unto the world;
and he hath given thee to us that we
might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou
didst receive and accept at the foot
of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother.
Intercede for our separated brethren,
that they may be united with
us in the one true Fold. Pray for us all,
dear Mother,that by faith fruitful in good
works, we may all deserve to see and
praise God together with thee in our
heavenly home.
 
Amen.

Conference Theme

A word from Fr. Pat Deegan Spiritual Director of the NCC

Luke 4:18-30 tells us that, after His baptism in the Jordan and subsequent battle with Satan in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Nazareth. Initially His family and town’s people welcomed him, but hearing Him preach in the synagogue, they turned against Him and hustled Him out onto the cliff their town was built on, intending to throw Him off. Jesus evaded them and joined His disciples in Capernaum but, convinced He was out of His mind, His family came to take Him home (Mk3:20-21). Jesus’ refusal to go with them began a growing tension which developed between His two rival families i.e. kin and disciples. The great reconciliation between these two groups, represented by the beloved disciple, John, and His mother, took place while Jesus was hanging on the cross. Looking down from the cross Jesus said to His mother, “Woman this is your son “, and to John he said: “This is your mother”. From that moment, the disciple made a place for her in his home. (John 19:25-27) One of the fruits of Jesus’ sacrificial death was the reconciliation of the two rival families. As a consequence, both groups were present in the upper room in Jerusalem at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down to establish the Church, the mystical body of Christ, on earth. They then worked together to bring the Good News of the Gospel to those in Jerusalem and beyond.

In preparation for our conference in June, let us pray for reconciliation between the different Christian churches in our country, that they may be one as Jesus intended. (John 17:11) and may England, rededicated as the dowry of Mary, once again become a country of hope and glory, under the mantle and protection of the Blessed Mother.

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