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One factor says Stephen is that St Anthony’s is a very good parish, with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day. People are in and out the whole time, he says, particularly from the Tamil community, as they have a great devotion to St Anthony, even those who aren’t Catholics. He has been in the parish for about 20 years. The fact that he is an active and supportive parishoner he says made the parish priest more willing to give Goodnews a try, and it also makes it easier to sell the magazine because people know him. Even so a certain amount of badgering is also necessary he smiles. “You can’t just leave it on the table. People are only human,” he says, “and they forget, so you just have to remind them!” If at the end of the month there are still some copies of Goodnews left he’ll ask the parish priest or the parish secretary to give it a plug in the parish newsletter. “They are very good and usually do,” he says. He began with 20 copies and has gradually increased his order as he has seen interest in the publication rise. Having a glossy cover, he said, has helped, and sales increased when Goodnews went over to the magazine format. As it is a bi-monthly publication the magazines can get a bit manky if they are left lying around, so he only puts out ten Goodnews at a time and replenishes them when they need it. This way, he says the magazines always look pristine and attractive. His latest promotion idea is to tear off the front page of a copy and put it on the notice board with a message letting people know the new issue is now on sale. He feels Goodnews is important in that it helps “re-evangelise existing Roman Catholics.” He and his wife were drawn into Charismatic Renewal 20 years ago through their children. What struck him most was the way charismatics prayed and their intimacy with God – just talking to God instead of with set prayers. Being part of the charismatic community, and going to various events throughout the year, makes him feel he is part of a big Christian family. “I’m not a speaker or teacher but by promoting Goodnews I can help draw people in. So many people today don’t know how to pray. I have received so much from the Lord through Charismatic Renewal I just want others to experience it too"
PREPARING FOR LENT Dealing with the Avalanche
Here we have Isaiah eloquently campaigning on behalf of Amnesty International, Christian Aid, CAFOD and all the other aid organisations. We know what God thinks of those who are meticulous in their religious observance but who ignore people in need. But what are we to do with the avalanche of ever more sophisticated requests for our charity on behalf of the hungry, the imprisoned and the exile? Before I retired I had a long list of small standing orders made payable to those charities which appealed to me or which had caught me on a vulnerable day. Then, when I gave up work, and my income plummeted I panicked and cancelled all but two: Oxfam and the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture. For the past year I have been ruthlessly binning appeals on behalf of the deaf, the blind, the hungry and the mentally ill: I can’t cope with all and I expect you can’t either. I especially hate the ones that enclose a cheap biro or a shiny new 20p piece. I bin the biro and put the coin in my piggy bank (which the cleaning lady raids when I forget to leave any money out for her.) I’ve never found the right answer to the difficult question of the good stewardship of my hard earned wealth. When I came out of the convent I vowed never to buy anything new for my flat and to do without a vacuum cleaner, washing machine and television. It wasn’t long, however, before my clothes were grey and the dust made my asthma bad and I was forced to behave like everyone else. I held out a little longer with the telly but then they broadcast Brideshead Revisited and I was done for. Each of us has to work out for ourselves what we can afford to give and then get on with giving it with a smile, for it says in the Bible, God loves a cheerful giver. Perhaps Lent is a suitable time to review our charitable giving. This year I think I’m going to support Medicin Sans Frontieres because I wish that I had done that kind of doctoring when I was young enough. What about you? Perhaps you should review your bank statements this morning while having your coffee and biscuits. “Small World”, edited by Brendan Walsh, is published jointly by CAFOD and Darton, Longman and Todd and is available price £4.95 plus 75 pence p&p from Good News Books, 15 Barking Close, Luton LU4 9HG Tel 01582 571011
WORSHIP FORUM THIS PROMISE IS FOR YOU
We decided to produce a CD which would be part of the overall ‘This Promise is for You’ resource materials. The CD contains more than 14 tracks, which particularly fit in with each of the weekly themes. There is also some instrumental music suitable for reflection or playing in the background during the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. There is a mixture of some well-known songs and some newer ones. In order to include as many of the Worship Forum regulars as possible each of the tracks features a different worship leader. Many of these people will be familiar to those of you who have been at various conferences however, we were also able to incorporate one or two up and coming worship leaders. All this was made possible by Steve Szymanski who with Salv Lomanto, provided most of the backing music for the album, which was recorded in his home studio. Among the Worship Forum we ran a competition to see if anyone could compose a theme song to accompany the whole series. Personally I was surprised and delighted at the response. In all we had 12 entries. These ranged from individuals to parish music groups, experienced songwriters and those who were trying out their skills for the first time. The standard was very high. The chosen song “This promise is for you” and was written by Mike Stanley. All this is an indication that there is a lot of talent within Catholic worship circles. I hope that the Worship Forum may be a place of encouragement for songwriters and provide a platform for making our new songs more widely available. For further information about the Worship Forum contact:
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One
of our champion Sale/return agents for Goodnews is Stephen Ferros
from St Anthony’s parish in Hendon, North London. We couldn’t
believe that one person was managing to sell 50 copies of Goodnews
every two months in a parish and wondered what his secret was.
“Is
not this the sort of fast that pleases me; to break unjust fetters,
to undo the thongs of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free.”
(Isaiah 58.6)
Over
the last couple of years musicians from all over the country have
begun to meet together at the Worship Forum. From time to time, we
have spoken about working together on a project. As the ’This
promise is for you’ video series began to get off the ground.