Saturday, 24 December 2016

Grand Master's Christmas Message


For a child has been born for us; a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isiah 9:6) 

The message of Christmas is one of hope and confidence amidst the vicissitudes of life.

In the tiny babe born in seemingly uncertain surroundings and in the wider context of a political and military occupation, all is not as it appears on the surface of the Christmas story. God's grace is truly at work for our eternal salvation. A grace that transforms the society and the people on whom it acts, even before it is seen or acknowledged by the world.

Our Christian vocation, and by extension the vocation of our Order, is a means of bringing this unseen grace into the world and into the lives of those who are suffering. Thus being in good standing in one’s faith, responding positively to the Gospel, provides a sure and certain way of bringing God’s goodness to this sometimes troubled world.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” [Mt 2. 2-3]  

Inspiration can be drawn from this journey of faith. Even in the face of change and hardship, to act for good begins to change the world. Through the same spirit which guided the wise men from the East to pay homage, the work and the spirit of the Order of St Lazarus should function in the world.

The goodness we bring to society may or may not be acknowledged but whether it is or is not, we must never tire of trying to renew our vocation of charity, tradition and chivalry. It is this that makes us good Christians and good citizens. The leaven in the dough of the world! A world searching for the good things our values offer.

Our loyalty to Tradition reminds us that in the midst of change and uncertainty, Christ, our unseen captain, will continue to give us the certainty that makes our charity worthwhile, showing God's mercy where it is most needed.

But to do all this, we need to work together, with trust in one another, without rancour or jealousy, following the beatitudes. Like a family who might sometimes have disagreements but whose love for one another never fails. For without this unity and loyalty to one another, our work and our true vocation will not bear the fruit that it should. 

This year has been one of growth for the Order and I greatly rejoiced at all the good things we learnt from one another at the General Chapter at the heart of Christendom in Rome. I thank you all for your contribution to those good things.

I pray that God will bless all our family of St Lazarus in this Christmas season and continue to bring us together in spirit and in truth.

HE Jan Count Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz
The Grand Master

Tuesday, 20 December 2016

Carol Concerts for SUROL have raised £30,000


Last Saturday evening the annual Carol Concert was held in the Chaplain General's church, St Catherine Labouré in Lancashire. Now in its sixth year, funds are raised through the concert for the work of SUROL - the leprosy charity in Sri Lanka supported by the Grand Priory of Great Britain - a support also taken up throughout the Order at the request of the Grand Master.


 Once again, we were treated to a wonderful evening of festive music and readings, in the presence of our Grand Prior, The Much Honoured Baron of Fetternear, and supported by members and friends of the Order, parishioners of St Catherine's and guests from the wider community in Leyland. Together we raised the fantastic amount of

£5,710

Thank you to everyone involved.

These funds are sent to Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the  Archbishop of Colombo, who, as Patron of SUROL, is kind enough to act as our conduit to the good work done by the team in Sri Lanka.

This year's amount means the total over the past six years is now

£30,000
God be praised for such generosity from all those involved here in Lancashire.


 Mr David Scott-Thomas, organist and musical director of the Octavius Choir conducts.
The Order gives its thanks to him and to all the members of the Choir for the time and talent they give in support of this great cause.


As well as congregational carols for all to join in with the Octavius Choir also sang pieces old and new with some interesting twists:

Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day (arr. by Sir David Wilcocks)

The Angel Gabriel

Ding Dong Merrily on High (arr. by Charles Wood)

Away in a Manger (arr. by Bob Chilcott)

Silent Night (arr. by Carsten Gerlitz)

Three Kings of Orient ( arr. by John Rutter)

New Year (John Rutter)

Deck the Hall (arr. by Sir David Wilcocks)

The Most wonderful tme of the Year (Edward Pola & George Wyle)

The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé & Robert Wells)


Chev. Anthony Dickinson KLJ reads one of the festive poems. 
He is also the inspiration behind the Carol Concert, organising rehearsals, programs and a multitude of other details to drive the event forward each year.

Monday, 12 December 2016

Congratulations - the Order of St Gregory the Great


Congratulations from the Grand Priory of Great Britain 
to 
H.E. Jan Count Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz, 50th Grand Master of The Order 
on his appointment as 
Knight Commander of the Order of Gregory The Great. 

The Order is given to those gentlemen of proven loyalty to the Holy See who, by reason of their nobility of birth and the renown of their deeds or the degree of their munificence, are deemed worthy to be honoured by a public expression of esteem on the part of the Holy See. They must progressively maintain, by continued meritorious deed, the reputation and trust they had already inspired, and prove themselves worthy of the honour that has been conferred on them, by unswerving fidelity to God and to the Sovereign Pontiff.

Seen here in Prague on Saturday presenting the award at his Archiepiscopal Palace is Dominik Cardinal Duka Chaplain General of The Order of St.Lazarus.

.

Photo: Martina Řehořová

Carol Concert


Just a reminder that our Carol Concert, organised by Chev. Anthony Dickinson KLJ is this coming Saturday. Always a fantastic event. We have raised thousands at this event over the last five years which has been sent to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of SUROl, the leprosy charity of which he is the patron. Let's make this another great year!
Carol Concert
With Mince pies & mulled wine
Free Entry
A collection for the work of SUROL
(those affected by leprosy in Sri Lanka)
will take place
 Mince pies & Mulled wine to follow
 at
 St Catherine’s Church
Stanifield Lane      Farington   PR25 4QG

 Saturday 17th December
7.30pm 

  www.surol.org