JOHN SMEATON, DIRECTOR OF SPUC: Bishop Sherrington celebrates national Mass for pro-life groups

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Bishop Sherrington celebrates national Mass for pro-life groups

Last night I was in in Bedford representing SPUC at a national Mass for the work of pro-life organisations at The Church of The Holy Child and St Joseph. The principal celebrant was His Lordship Rt Rev John Sherrington, auxiliary bishop of Westminster, who also preached on the abortion crisis in Britain and on the work of the various groups labouring in the pro-life movement. He thanked Dr Sue Sarsfield, chairman of Bedford SPUC, which co-organized the event with the Keepers of the missionary image of Our Lady of Guadelupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe is known worldwide as the Protectress of the unborn.

Dr Sarsfield is pictured above introducing the event with Our Lady of Guadalupe's missionary image to the right and welcoming the many pro-life groups invited and present at this lovely event so beautifully supported by the parish, including a fine youth choir. After Mass Bishop Sherrington joined the congregation for a cup of tea and a bite to eat and I took the opportunity of thanking him for coming to celebrate the Mass and for his inspiring homily. Thanks are due also to Canon Seamas Keenan, the parish priest, for hosting the Mass, and who provides in his church the national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I was joined by Christopher Langley, a well-known pro-life leader in Luton, in saying the bidding prayers, and Ed Smith, of the Alliance of Pro-Life Students said the first reading. Other pro-life groups represented included leaders of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants and the Catholic Medical Association. The Knights of St Columba, of which I am proud to be a member, were also there in force.

The missionary image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is now going on mission to Leeds where it will be welcomed by the Helpers of God's Precious Infants. Let me know if you would like the missionary image to come to your area and I will pass on the message to the Bedford organizers.

Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk
Sign up for alerts to new blog-posts and/or for SPUC's other email services
Follow SPUC on Twitter
Like SPUC's Facebook Page
Please support SPUC. Please donate, join, and/or leave a legacy

About Me

I became involved in SPUC after graduating, when I established a branch in south London in 1974. I have worked full-time for SPUC for 42 years. I became chief executive of SPUC in the UK in 1996, having been general secretary since 1978. I was elected vice-president of International Right to Life Federation in 2005. At UN conferences in Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing, Istanbul and Rome, I helped coordinate more than 150 pro-life/pro-family groups resulting in pro-life victories in Cairo, Istanbul and Rome. I was educated at Salesian College, London, before going to Oxford where I graduated in English Language and Literature. I qualified as a teacher, becoming head of English at a secondary school. I am married to Josephine. We have a grown-up family and we live in north London.