Cenacolo Prayer Group
The CENACOLO Prayer Group meets every Monday at 6:30 pm in St. Mary’s Church (Mass at 6.00 pm).
Everybody's Welcome!
For more details about The Cenacolo Community visit:
http://www.comunitacenacolo.it/index.asp?idlingua=2
or http://www.cenacolofriends.org.uk/
CENACOLO COMMUNITY
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
NEWSLETTER
June 2011
FROM THE BOYS
Dear Friends,
We would like to share with you some of our experiences in the Community during this year.
We began the Year with adoration in our chapel on New Year’s Eve with Frs Chris & Cassian. Mid-January saw the departure of Fabio to Italy for Mother Elvira’s Birthday celebrations. He presented M. Elvira with the painting which one of the lads in the House had produced. It now hangs in the chapel area of the newly refurbished barn. After these celebrations Fabio returned to his native Sardinia having completed his walk in Community.
On the 12th February Jerone arrived from Holland followed two weeks later by Jose-Maria from Spain. In March Diego attended the meeting of the older lads in Community. The meeting was held in Medjugorje where the lads met with the priests of our Community and shared their experiences and received some support.
By the end of March we had completed the wall by the side of the barn and the footpath and landscaping behind it. In April we finished the work on the pond; we also completed work on M. Elvira’s apartment, the first floor of the barn and its entrance. In April our numbers grew with the arrival of John & Andrew from America.
On the 1st of May we celebrated our sixth anniversary. Fr Andrea travelled from Italy for the celebration together with Henri. On the Friday evening we greeted our families at Brettargh Holt. Saturday, we had a nice day with our families where Fr Andrea celebrated Mass, and we had Adoration followed by testimonies from Sasha and Martin two lads who had been in our Community House at Dodding Green.
On Sunday Bishop Michael celebrated Holy Mass and blessed the barn which was a wonderful occasion to mark the end of all the hard work that had gone into the completion of this project. We were delighted to see so many of the Friends of our Community supporting us and we would like to thank all of you for all of the prayers and support that you give us.
THE ANNIVERSARY AND BEYOND
Well, it paid off this year in spectacular fashion! What? The transfer of the Anniversary celebrations from March to May, from St. Joseph the Spouse of our Lady to St. Joseph the Worker. It paid off in many ways: the weather was much kinder to us, warm sunshine, if a little windy, so much better than March. The sea of bluebells enveloping Dodding Green was a sight to behold. The season too, was much more appropriate for celebrating. Lent does not easily lend itself to joy-filled liturgies. This year, because of the moveable nature of Easter, the anniversary fell on the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Day with the added mix of the Beatification of John Paul II – there was so much going on, our cup literally ‘runneth over.’ And at last we were able to celebrate Mass in the newly refurbished barn the upper floor of which doubles as a Chapel when the need arises. This was the first official Mass and it was celebrated by the Bishop of Lancaster, The Rt. Rev. Michael Campbell OSA. Not only did he celebrate the Mass, but at the beginning he blessed a picture of St. Joseph which was brought forward by two of the lads of the Community and then hung on the wall to preside, as it were, over the workshops which will form the lower half of the building. Later, after his homily (in Italian and English!), the Bishop prayed the prayer of blessing over the building and was lead through it the architect. Mike Williams, sprinkling Holy Water as he went.
The Mass was followed by a festive lunch: lasagne made by the lads and all sorts of goodie provided by the Friends of the Community.
In the afternoon, at 3pm, the Divine Mercy Chaplet was recited and there was a time for testimonies. It was good to hear those of some of the lads who are former members of the Community and who had returned for the anniversary.
This year there were fewer parents present than in previous years. A few factors were at play: some of the lads who had been on verifica had only recently seen their parents; three of the lads are young in the Community and therefore, the time was not yet right for them to have a visit from their family, and the two new lads transferred from America had only recently seen their parents.
It is always good when one of the Priests of the Cenacolo Community can be present. Don Andrea made the trip from Saluzzo accompanied by Henri who enhanced our music by his guitar playing. Don Andrea made the heart of the Community present for the lads. He gave many catechisms to the group, he celebrated Mass with them; together they had a ‘revision of life’ lead by Don Andrea and the lads were able to speak to him on a one to one basis.
On his way home (he flew from Edinburgh) he attended the Prayer Meeting at Carfin Grotto in Scotland.
The time of the anniversary was indeed a blessed time, and we give thanks to God for it.
FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE COMMUNITY
The words below were collected from the Official Website of the Community; they offer a sense of what Cenacolo is about.
From the imagination of the Holy Spirit, through the intuition of a consecrated woman, Sister Elvira Petrozzi, the Comunità
Cenacolo was started in July 1983 as the response of the tenderness of God the Father to the desperate cry of many youth who are tired, disappointed, desperate, drug addicts and non-addicts, searching for joy and the true meaning of life.
Collaborating with her are volunteers, consecrated religious and families who live and work full-time and gratuitously at the service of this good work.
The Mother House of the Community is found on the hills of Saluzzo, a town in the province of Cuneo (Piemonte region-Italy). Other houses were begun, as well, in these years: there are presently 56 spread throughout Italy and the world
In the places where Providence guides us, we want to be a small but shining light in the darkness, a sign of hope, and a living testimony that death doesn’t have the last word.
To those who knock on the doors of the Community we propose a style of life that is simple, family-oriented, in the rediscovery of work seen as a gift, of true friendship and faith in the Word of God, made flesh in Jesus Christ dead and risen for us.
We believe that the Christian life, in its fullness, is the true response to every anxiety of man, and that no one other than He who created man, God the Father, is able to reconstruct his heart led astray in a life without meaning.
Our strength must come from Love, that Love which comes from the Cross of Christ and which gives life to the dead, freedom to prisoners, and sight to the blind.
We are the first to be amazed by what the Lord is working in front of our eyes, and to thank Him because He makes us daily witnesses to His Resurrection, in the strength of which we see everyday life return in the smiles of people who had lost all hope.
OUR WEBSITE
It has generally been agreed that our Website is in need of not just updating but also of some TLC! We are looking for someone who has the time and the necessary expertise to take this under his or her wing. The website needs to be kept up to date with good information for those who might trawl the web looking for help to move away from addiction.
Other details too, like dates of events at the House and in Italy should be available on our website. If you are able to help please contact Bryan Ingleby at bryan@cenacolofriends.fsnet.co.uk
CHERASCO & CUNEO VISIT
Shortly after moving to Kendal 6 years ago I saw reference to Cenacolo in the parish newsletter. I started to ask what Cenacolo is. Over this time my family and I have got to know more about the lads and the Community at Dodding Green. For the last 3 or so years I have been attending the Thursday evening Prayer Meeting in Kendal from 6:30 to 7:30pm in the church. Afterwards in the Parish Centre we talk with any family members or friends who have brought their son or daughter to meet members of the Community to explore if Cenacolo may be the right path for them to manage difficulties in their life and walk from darkness into light. Our relationship with the House was cemented in autumn 2008 when Nicola and Diego were on the hunt for a mother and baby to play Mary and Jesus in the first live nativity play to be held at Dodding Green in Advent 2008 - Caroline played Mary and Ben, Jesus. Our children now enjoy visiting the House as they are always made to feel very welcome by the lads. The attraction of ducklings which Diego may be carefully tending in the incubator or the new piglets are also very strong pulls for a 6, 4 and 2 year old!
In December I was lucky enough to travel to Cuneo in Italy, joining family and friends of the various Cenacolo Communities for 2 days of meetings, prayer and celebration. The days were very different. Sunday was a very busy international celebration with a few thousand people from all over Europe as well as many other countries throughout the world. We heard Sister Elvira and Fr Stefano address the gathering, Holy Mass was celebrated and the spectacular live Nativity acted out for all to enjoy. These larger events were punctuated with music, songs and action full of fun and offering praise, discipleship and joy, and time for old friendships to be rekindled and new friendships to be established. I enjoyed catching up with Rainer, Federico, David and Paul whom I’d known from Dodding Green, Kendal.
An important aspect of the meeting was the chance for parents and family members to meet their sons or daughters that are in Community. This special time was evident during this day but even clearer the day before when smaller meetings took place with people meeting in language groups.
I visited the house at Cherasco, a mixed Community for women, children and men who opened their house to host the English speaking day which was facilitated by Fr Andrea. I have so many positive memories of this day and I’d like to share just a few. The welcome and hospitality extended to family and friends alike were wonderful and this just set the background for the day ahead.
I travelled from the hotel with a father who had come with his wife to see their daughter who’d been in Community for 5 or so months. The journey lasted less than an hour but in this time, 2 strangers developed a friendship and learned a lot about each others lives, including our hopes and fears, and specifically in this journey, the hopes and fears that this man had about meeting his daughter again. I spoke with another couple I have come to know through Cenacolo and they shared similar feelings about meeting their son. What I observed when we arrived at the House was something that can only be experienced – the parents’ worries disappeared and there was no need for words as the love, healing and reconciliation was visible. The embrace between the parents and their child and vice versa said all that needed to be said. Yes, there was time throughout the day when stories were shared but this opening embrace really helped to give me a deeper insight into the power and gift that Cenacolo is, first to the family specifically but also as a sign of God’s love, active and alive in our presence.
I know that I continue to receive many blessings from our friendship with the lads at Dodding Green and Community Cenacolo. One of the very clear messages I brought back from this weekend, was to try and live out in my daily life the lesson about parenting and love that I witnessed during this day.
A final thought I’d like to share comes from adoration led by Fr Andrea. One of the phrases he encouraged us to think about and pray with was “do not be afraid, open the door to Christ, God will not hurt us, God only wants to give what is good for us.” I pray that I will have the courage to remember this and truly open the door to Christ. The weekly Prayer Meeting is one opportunity when I recall this prayer and continue to offer prayer and thanksgiving for Sr. Elvira and the Cenacolo Community, especially all the people I met over that weekend.
Chris D’Arcy
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
What Love means to a 4-8 year old
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of
4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined See what 'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8
'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4
'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5
'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy age 6
'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4
'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7
'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8
Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7
'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6
'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8
'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6
'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7
'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4
'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4
'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (What an image) Karen - age 7
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.' Mark - age 6
'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8
And the final one: The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, Nothing, I just helped him cry'
EASTER MESSAGE FROM M. ELVIRA
Let’s celebrate because Jesus’ Resurrection is the great feast of life.
Without His victory on death we would have never met, we would not be here. Easter Vigil is the greatest, most joyful, brightest night of our life and of all time, the highest moment in history :Jesus leaves the grave, His life wins over death and sin! The youth in our Community really wish to sing, dance ,be happy and celebrate life even in the labour of their walk towards light: maybe they do not know why yet, but they have guessed something , they have seen something already!
The stone of death outside Jesus’ grave rolls aside: that’s the power of love! We too have experienced the grave of darkness, hell, fear! Today we cannot go back to that grave: we have to look ahead because Jesus has risen and we have met Him. We have met a Saviour, a Redeemer, a friend, a Lord stronger than death.
Thanks to Him our destiny is Resurrection too. This is our story. What is waiting for us today, tomorrow and for ever are Resurrection and eternal life. We must experience love to really believe in Resurrection : not only with our head, but with all of our life because the very love that you donate to your brothers and sisters will make you rise! Suffering is the root of the tree of love and Resurrection is its fruit! Let’s go on celebrating , letting Jesus rise inside of us. We have to welcome “the surprise” that Jesus ,through His Resurrection, wants to do to each of us.
It’s a special feast, it’s the “heart” of the world’s life and Jesus bears something beautiful and important in his mind for each of us. Let’s open our heart and let’s say freely :” Oh Lord ,You know better than me what I need now”. Jesus knows that and wishes to give us this gift: the Father gave Him this power , because He died on the cross and rose to make us rise again!
Happy Easter to everybody!
A NUGET FROM THE SCOTTISH NEWSLETTER
The Cenacolo Community was founded in July 1983 by an Italian nun, Sister Elvira Petrozzi who wanted to give her life to God through helping those who have suffered from addictions and also other young people who have become disillusioned or dissatisfied with their lives. The Cenacolo today has about 64 Houses around the world.
There is no charge for living in Community. There are no doctors, psychiatrists or counsellors in Community. New entrants say that only former addicts can really know and understand how they feel. The leaders of each house have had at least two years of experience in a Cenacolo Community, usually much more. There is a wonderful spirit of love, friendship and joy in the Communities. Each day consists of prayer, hard work and companionship. A new entrant to a Cenacolo is given a "guardian angel", someone who is successfully rebuilding his/her life through many months in Community. The guardian angel guides, encourages and supports the new arrival throughout their early difficulties, staying up all night with them if necessary.
The day begins at 6am. At 6.30am everyone meets in the chapel to say their morning prayers, and to share. Breakfast is from 7.30 to 8 am and work begins at 8.30am. There is a five-minute break mid-morning. Lunch is at 12 noon, followed by half an hour free time. Work continues with a five-minute break in the afternoon. Work ends at 6pm sometimes a little later in the summer months. After supper, there is about an hour's free time. Bedtime is at 9.30pm or 10pm.
Some of the recovered addicts voluntarily get up at 2am or 3am to spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Between all the Communities around the world there is ‘Perpetual Adoration’. Sundays and feast days are days of celebration and relaxation when football, table tennis and other games are played.
Each House, as far as possible, grows its own vegetables and, depending on the particular location may keep animals - cows, pigs, goats, chickens etc. There are no radios, newspapers, cigarettes, alcohol or drugs of any kind. They have no access to television programmes but they may have a TV and Video on which to watch videos of football matches. The Communities make their own entertainment, music, play guitars, play football, etc. The work consists of gardening, woodwork, metalwork, looking after animals, cooking, painting icons, cleaning, laundry etc.
The young people work in pairs and usually spend 3 months at each occupation. They may learn the basics of carpentry, plumbing, building etc. There is no time limit in Community. Sister Elvira calls it a "School of Life "and recommends 2 to 3 years stay though there is no fixed time. There are no barriers as to nationality or religious belief (or lack of religious belief!). Everyone has the opportunity to learn Italian which is the common language throughout Cenacolo Communities.
A YOUNG WOMAN’S STORY
My name is Carolina, and every day I spend in the Comunità
Cenacolo I get more and more to know and love myself in truth. Accepting myself as I am has always been a great problem since I was a little girl, because I felt different from the other kids and it was hard to make friends. I didn’t feel my family close to me. My parents used to work very hard to give us everything, but we children missed them a lot. I didn’t have a sincere relationship with them, but I had a strong one with my younger sister. I was the older child, so I felt responsible for her, but our parents had such different behaviours toward me and toward her that I got very jealous. As a consequence, I became violent and tough to her. My parents brought me up well. We were Catholic. I met Jesus, but we had no realistic view of faith. I was convinced that suffering had no meaning, so when I started to suffer, I felt disillusioned and I went away from God.
When I was about twelve, I started to ask myself many questions. There were many problems in my family, but nobody spoke about them. There was a heavy silence around us. I was full of anger so at school I became very insubordinate. I refused my family and started to wear masks with my friends to be accepted by them. I lost my personality and wrong relationships with my peers led me to lose my dignity and the values of life. I felt sadder and sadder, so at sixteen I left school and became addicted to light drugs first, then I passed to stronger ones. I was totally addicted to discos and other bad things. I thought I was free and happy, but I plunged deeper and deeper into evil. I needed money, so I started to steal. My only goal was to buy drugs.
I spent a lot of time in the streets, where I met heroin. I used to say to myself, “Just today. Tomorrow I’ll quit,” but that moment never came. When I realized I could not get out of it, I asked my mother for help. She told me about the Comunità
Cenacolo, but when I knew it was Christian, I refused it because to me God was responsible of all my problems. I was false. I didn’t consider myself addicted because I was young, my teeth weren’t falling out, and I didn’t suffer from hepatitis. I was pretty ok, so why such a hard life? I left home and went on taking drugs. That’s when my life plunged into total darkness and desperation. I didn’t see a future for myself. I felt bad and full of shame, so I decided to enter the Community to be helped, because I had no other place to go. The girls were very welcoming and patient. What really struck me was that even if I told them bad words and rejected them, they showed me a lot of love. I didn’t often do what I was told, but I was not punished. They only asked me to start again, being honest.
I started to trust Jesus again when I saw that He was with me in my sorrow. When I felt bad, I experienced His presence through others and in prayer. During the first two years my heart was full of darkness. I still liked drugs a lot, and I realized this when I went home for a few days. When I went back to the Community, I wanted to wipe everything out, pretending I was ok. Thank God, I was moved to another house where they asked me to remain in silence. Thanks to this and to the prayers of my sisters, my conscience started to shout. For the first time I realized how much work I still had to do. So I started my walk towards the light, which I consider a privilege and a great gift.
Now I have been in the Community house of Lourdes for some time and the sweetness of Our Lady is healing me. Today I understand that forgiving is better than evil. None of our mistakes prevent God from loving us and now I feel I’m a daughter, loved by Him and by the Community. Today I feel I really wish to return this love by helping others, because I do want to learn how to love.
Thank you, Jesus, and thank you, Mother Elvira, and all the Cenacolo family because you gave me the opportunity to turn my life from evil into beauty and truth.
IMPORTANT DATES
FESTIVAL OF LIFE – SALUZZO
The exact travel dates have not yet been finalised. But this event always takes place around the Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel: July 16th.
Contact; Jean McGuinness 01928 795326
RETREAT FOR PRAYER GROUPS
This is a new departure and will be held at Brettargh Holt over the weekend of Friday (evening) September 23rd, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th. This will provide an opportunity to connect with the heart of the Community. It would be helpful to have representation from each Prayer Group. It is hoped that a priest of the Community will lead the Retreat.
ITEMS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
Fr. Chris Loughran will, for the time being, looking after the production of the periodic Newsletters. His contact details are:
St. Clare’s Presbytery.
Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9HH
Or email: frloughran@saintclares.co.uk
Fr Chris would love to receive information, articles etc from individuals and especially from the various prayer groups dotted around the country. Electronically generated items are preferred for ease of handling but all items welcome.
MONTHLY MASS
Every Wednesday (more or less) Mass is celebrated in the Chapel at Dodding Green at 6pm. The Responsible and the Community welcome friends of the Community to join them for that Mass on the First Wednesday of the Month.
SAFEGUARDING
The Diocese of Lancaster, together with the other diocese in the country, has a very strict Safeguarding Policy. Therefore, priests wishing to celebrate Mass at the House must first of all gain the permission of the Responsible (Leader) of the House, and then apply in the usual way to the Diocese of Lancaster for explicit permission to exercise priestly ministry in the diocese.
Main Meeting places for addicts and their parents.
Kendal
Thursday evening: Prayer Meeting 6.30 -7.30pm followed by meeting at which Cenacolo ‘Lads’ are present from 7:30pm
Holy Trinity and St. George, New Rd. LA9 4BW
Contact: Joan 01539 741138 or: Sheila 01539 724718
Liverpool
Tuesday evening 7pm-9pm Blessed Sacrament Shrine, Dawson St.
Contact: Mary G 0151 342 4990 or Mary C 07883 339 980 or
Margaret 0151 342 1043
London:
Monday evening 7.30pm - 9pm usually at St Patrick's, Soho Square
Contact: Paula 020 8671 8027 or 0779 505 3466
Birmingham
Fridays 7-9pmHoly Rosary Parish,141 Park Field RoadContact: Daniel Tel No: 0781 806 5309
Scotland Carfin, Monday evening 7.00 pmNational Shrine of Our LadyContact: Mary 0753 878 9548
Prayer Groups
Bradford Every Wednesday at 7pm,St Anthony’s Convent,
24 Bradford Road, ClaytonContact: Sr.Antonia Tel: 01274 882167
Stockton-on-Tees 3rd Saturday of the month, 7.30pm English Martyrs & Sts. Peter & Paul, Redhill Road Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 9BY
Contact: Fr. Nick Jennings Tel: 01642 580171
Loughborough First Tuesday of the month at 7pm
St. Mary’s Church, Ashby Road, Contact: Fr Scanlan 01509 262123
Croydon Every Friday at 8pmSt. Dominic’s Church,
243 Violet Lane Contact: Lourdes 0776 536 1998
Hull Every Wednesday 6:30pm to 7:30pm
The Endsleigh Centre, 481 Beverley Road, HU6 7LJ
Contact: Sr. Catherine 07855 816577
North London Every second Thursday from 8-9pm
St. Anthony’s, Edgware, Middlesex
Contact: Theresa & Tom 0208 346 1210
Wales
St Anne's Church, Prince Charles Road, Caer Park
Wrexham. Fr. Jim Durkin
St. Anthonys, High Street, Saltney
North Wales. Fr Francis Doyle
Friday evenings 7pm, location alternates between the two venues listed above Contact: Joan Glendining 01244 552861
Scotland
Inverness Monday, 6.30pmSt. Mary’s,Huntley Street
Contact: Fr. James Bell Tel: 01463 233519
Shettlestone, Glasgow Every Tuesday at 7 pm,St. Mark’s
51, Edenwood Street, Glasgow, G31 5GL Contact: Sister Francesca
Tel: 07788798731
Greenock First & third Monday of each month, 7pmSt. Joseph’s,
Bow Road.Contact: Anne O’DonnellTel: 01475 805 625
Arbroath, Monday 7pm St Thomas of Canterbury, Dishlandtown Street, Arbroath, Angus DD11 1RA Contact Annemarie on 07826084122.
New prayer groups please contact Bryan Ingleby on 01995 602577
for a listing and advice.
DONATIONS
Please send Cheques/Postal Orders in favour of
‘Friends for a UK Cenacolo Community’
The Treasurer,
9 Maple Drive,
Kendal, LA9 5BN
A huge THANKYOU to the many anonymous donors, who we are unable to write to personally.
Cenacolo Prayer
Cenacolo is the Italian word for 'Cenacle', the upper room, in which Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Last Supper before he gave himself in sacrifice on the Cross. There he worked his greatest miracle; changing bread and wine into his Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. He also gave us 'the great commandment'... “Love one another as I have loved you”.
He shared his sacrificial love with his brothers, the apostles, and showed this by washing their feet. The first Cenacolo or Cenacle was a sharing of fraternal charity and love; this was the First Mass.
The apostles gathered in the Cenacle with Our Lady after Our Lord's Passion, Death and Resurrection, in order to support each other and to pray that the Holy Spirit would come and make them into new people. That is why we see the Holy Spirit as a Dove - the motif for the Cenacolo Movement.
The Cenacolo or Cenacle is primarily a gathering of people to PRAY asking that the Holy Spirit may come to enlighten and heal. (Especially those suffering from addiction).
Like the first disciples in the Cenacle, we too are called to live in the truth by fraternal charity and mutual support, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to aid us in our weakness.
To gather in a 'Cenacolo' or 'Cenacle' also means to give ourselves to Our Lady, who became Mother of us all at the foot of the Cross and is present in every 'Cenacle Meeting'.
Exposition
Hymn Number 58
Be still for the presence of the Lord
Solo
Come to us Holy Spirit, as You came to the Apostles.
Open our minds that we may see the hidden things of God.
Send love into our hearts like a flame of fire that our lives may be changed
by the power of Your Spirit to do God's work on
earth and bring people with us to Heaven.
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand Of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Rosary
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope. To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To Thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, Thine Eyes of Mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the Blessed Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Rosary Prayer
All:O God, whose only begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life. Grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to St Michael
All:Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in this day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the wicked spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Prayer of Consecration to Our Lady
All:In awareness of my Christian mission I put my baptismal pledge into your hands, Mary. I reject selfishness. I reject satan, all his temptations, and all his works, I reject all evil, and I consecrate myself to Jesus Christ to faithfully carry my Cross with him each day according to the Will of God. In the presence of the Church I accept you, Mary, as my Mother and Empress. I consecrate to you my person, my life and the value of all my good deeds, the past, the present and the future. Direct me in everything that belongs to me to the greater glory of God for all time and eternity. Amen.
Prayer for the release of a loved one from addiction through the Divine Mercy and Blood of Jesus
Priest: Lord Jesus, I put myself into your hands this day, I ask you with all my heart to cure the terrible addiction to drugs and alcohol of (first name of persons). Create in them an intolerance for drugs that will prevent them from ever offending those who love them again. And grant their loved ones the grace to forgive them for all the hurt they have caused. Through the Divine Mercy and Blood of Jesus, I also pray that they will be healed of all withdrawal symptoms of this terrible affliction. I sincerely ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Hymn
Chorus
Lay your hands gently upon us
Let their touch render your peace
Let them bring your forgiveness
and healing,
Lay your hands, gently lay your hands.
You were sent to free the broken-hearted
You were sent to give sight to the blind
You desire to heal all our illness
Lay your hands, gently lay your hands.
Chorus
Lord , we come to you through one another,
Lord we come to you in all our need
Lord we come to you seeking wholeness
Lay your hands,gently lay your hands.
Psalm 62
All:O God, you are my God, it is you I seek; for you my body longs and my soul thirsts, as a dry and weary land without water. Thus have I gazed upon you in the sanctuary, to see your power and your glory. Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will bless you as long as I live, lift up my hands and call on your name.
Hymn
Let all that is within me cry Holy x 2
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lamb that was slain.
Let all that is within me cry Jesus x2
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Is the Lamb that was slain.
