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One of our workstreams is labelled ‘Prayer Events’ and this typically involves arranging the annual SVP retreat for the team in April, as well as arranging the annual SVP ‘Festival Mass’ in September.

Given the current tragic events in the Holy Land, and on the theme of Prayer, we ask for your personal prayers for all those affected. In particular, please pray for those who visit the food bank who have very direct links with the area. Those clients now, more than ever, need to feel the warmth of our Christian love and it is with confidence that we know that your prayers will generate such a feeling through the Holy Spirit.

Firstly, on behalf of the B-Attitudes, we would like to thank everyone who supported the homeless sleep-out event last Saturday night. We were blessed with some mild and calm weather for the second year in a row! Rest assured that all the funds raised will be used to address the many homeless issues in our parish, borough and city.

Secondly, please be aware that next Tuesday, Oct. 17, is the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Why not read up on this, become informed, and see how you can help. Blessed Frederic Ozanam founded the SVP when he became aware and, with the support of people like you, his efforts continue to address poverty all across the globe.

Next Tuesday is World Homeless Day. In an effort to raise funds to help the homeless in our community, some of our B-Attitudes will sleep out on Saturday night in the church grounds, safeguarded by some adult members of the SVP. This will be the second year that the B-Attitudes marked World Homeless Day in this way. If you would like to donate, then please keep an eye out for the collection boxes this weekend or you can also use our JustGiving page.

Our Gifted Shop is open before and after all masses this weekend, as usual on the first Sunday of the month.

Each month, we look ahead to the upcoming saint and holy days and try and stock some appropriate items. In September, for example, we have St Theresa of Calcutta (on Sept. 5), birth of Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept. 8), St Pio (Sept. 23), St Vincent de Paul (Sept. 27), and Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (the guardian angels) on Sept. 29. In Gifted, you’ll find some lovely items such as rosary beads, candles and magnets associated with some of these saints.

The SVP team continues to be busy on a number of fronts and we would like to thank all of you for your prayers, as this is the fuel that energizes us.

On Friday evening, we held our B-Attitudes monthly meeting and plans are afoot to once again support World Homelessness Day in October – more to follow! Also, with the start of the school year approaching, we are looking forward to strengthening our links with our Mini-Vinnies in St Swithun Wells. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we trust that all three strands of the SVP (adults team, B-Attitudes and Mini-Vinnies) will be able to help the needy amongst us.