Come and hear...

...lovely music from a Polish children's choir...and a first-hand account of working with St Teresa of Calcutta ..and the latest news about developments at Walsingham...and more...

It's all happening at the 2016 TOWARDS ADVENT Festival. Westminster Cathedral Hall, Saturday November 26th. Doors open 10 am, official Opening ceremony 10.30s,.   Admission FREE.  Talks and workshops £2.00p each.  Refreshments available all day. Stalls and displays from Catholic groups and organisations from across Britain...

A special feature is the De Satge Music Workshop. Talented muscian Jeremy de Satge played a major role in introducing children and young people to the glories of the Church's rich heritage of music. For several years he led Music Workshops at the Festival, teaching people how to sing Gregorian Chant.  We now offer an annual Workshop in his memory, led by Joseph Estorninho, music director at St James' School, twickenham.

The TOWARDS ADVENT Festival began at the Millenium and has grown and grown in scope and popularity... it's now a big part of the annual Catholic scene in London. Come and be part of it!

As the Autumn begins...

...thoughts turn to the great TOWARDS ADVENT Festival of Catholic Culture.

Want to learn how to sing Gregorian Chant?

Want to hear some first-hand stories of Mother - now Saint - Teresa of Calcutta?

Want to find out what's happening at Walsingham?

Then TOWARDS ADVENT is for you...

Saturday November 26th 2016 at WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL HALL.    Doors open 10am

ALL WELCOME.  Admission FREE. A modest charge (£2)  for the workshops and talks.

Fr Alexander Sherbrooke will be talking (1pm)  about Mother Teresa - with whom he worked - and about her recent canonisation in Rome.

Joseph Estorninho, Director of Music at St James' School, Twickenham, will lead a workshop  (2pm) on Gregorian Chant. Come and learn how to sing it!

Mgr John Armitage will talk  (11.30am) about what is happening at Walsingham - npow officially declared a Basilica. Come and hear about the new developments at this great shrine. In 2061 it will mark one thousand years of its history...

Refreshments available all day: freshly brewed coffee and tea, good sandwiches, cakes and buns...


WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL HALL< Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1. Nearest tube: VICTORIA   or ST JAMES PARK.

Note the date...

The 2016  


TOWARDS ADVENT FESTIVAL

takes place on

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26th 2016

at Westminster Cathedral Hall
Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1

10 am doors open

10.30am Official Opening

Bishop Nicholas Hudson

with POLISH CHILDREN'S CHOIR


Events and workshops during the day including:

Mgr John Armitage:
"Something big is happening at  Walsingham"

Stalls and displays from a variety of Catholic groups and organisations: books, DVDs, craft goods, and more on sale...
Refreshments available throughout the day

Admission FREE


The Towards Advent Festival is sponsored by
The Catenian Association
The Association of Catholic Women
The Knights of St Columba

Spread the word...

...about the Festival, and come and join us at the Opening Ceremony at 10.30am on Sat Nov 28th.

Come and meet...

...the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, the Catenians, Youth 2000, the Association of Catholic Women...and lots of other groups and organisations that make Catholic life in Britain hum with activity and prayer...

Westminster cathedral Hall, sat Nov 28th. Things will start with music from the choir of St James School, Twickenham, at the Opening Ceremony, 10.30am....

A project for pupils...

...at  Catholic secondary schools in the dioceses of Westminster and Southwark, and all Catholics of secondary school age living in those dioceses.  As part of the 2015 TOWARDS ADVENT Festival, we are awarding a prize to the student who writes the best essay on the topic "The real meaning of Christmas". The prize will be presented at the Festival on Sat Nov 28th at Westminster Cathedral Hall. For more info, send a Comment to this Blog WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS so that we can send you details. Every Catholic secondary school in these dioceses is being notified.

TOWARDS ADVENT 2015...

...looks set to  be wonderful!

The Choir from St James School, Twickenham will be singing at the Welcoming  Ceremony at Westminster Cathedral Hall, at which Cardinal Vincent Nichols will declare the Festival open. There is always a special moment as the choir leads the singing of "O come O come Emmanuel" and the whole hall takes up the chorus:"Rejoice" rejoice" Emmanuel shall come to Thee O Israel..."

 We have held the TOWARDS ADVENT Festival every year of this new Millennium, and it has become an established part of the London Catholic calendar. There will be stalls and displays by a great range of Catholic groups and organisations, and visitors (Entrance is FREE - all  are welcome!) will be able to browse, meet friends, enjoy freshly-brewed coffee and tea and delicious sandwiches and cakes, and buy gifts, Christmas cards, Advent calendars, books, DVDs, CDs, and more...and more...and during the day there are talks and workshops on Gregorian Chant , the life of the Franciscan Friars, and the urgent needs of Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere...

Come and be part of it. Saturday November 28th, Westminster Cathedral Hall, Anmbrosden Avenue London SWI. Doors open 10 am. Nearest tube: VICTORIA or St JAMES PARK.