News and Events - 2010

Sr Roseann Reddy - 14th June

We are delighted that Sr Roseann will be giving a talk in Nottingham, about the Sisters of the Gospel of Life.

This is a new religious order formed by two young women in January 2000.  The women took this initiative when the late Scottish Cardinal Thomas Winning invited any woman facing a crisis pregnancy, or suffering in the aftermath of abortion - to come to the Catholic Church for help.  He did this in classic Christian style - without preparation and stepping out in faith.  Today the sisters have helped many women.

Come and hear Sr Roseann explain the link between the religious life, and the right to life.

The talk is at the Cathedral Hall in Nottingham, at 8:00 pm. The hall entrance is from North Circus Street, Nottingham NG1 5AE. All welcome!

Silent Witness

This year's silent witness took place on 17th April 2010 at Trent Bridge.  Were you there?

Youth Conference

This year we sponsored two young people from Nottingham, to attend the 3rd International Youth Pro-Life Conference 19-21 March 2010 in Glasgow.  Here's one of their reports:

"I study Religious Studies as an A-level, and hope to continue with this subject to do Theology at University.  When the chance to go to the conference was put to me, I thought it would be a great opportunity to aid my learning on ethics.  I never thought, however, it would change my views on abortion and euthanasia.  I was moved by the speakers and what they had to say, the days seemed to fly past and you got to learn so much in such a short space of time.  The people there were amazing and at no point did you feel uncomfortable or awkward.  Once a speaker would perform his speech, everyone became so enthusiastic and the environment felt so incredible.

Not to mention the hotel, food and its services were fascinating. I was amazed to find out that it was only a four star hotel (it could easily have pulled off as being five).  The people were really friendly there and I even got the chance to use the sauna and swimming pool.  I also didn't think that I would throw myself into the feeling of SPUC as much as I did.  I left the conference with several badges, a t-shirt and several leaflets about the conference and different organisations.  I have joined on the SPUC facebook page and wish to go on a conference like this again with more people than last time.

It is truly an experience which will be hard to forget (especially when I ate a friend marsbar...[deep-fried] ok, I know it sounds disgusting, but I really wanted to try part of the Scottish culture).  I would love to do this kind of conference again and would highly recommend the trip to other people.  In a couple of years time, I hope to join on the SPUC team and try and do my bit.

I would like to thank you all for helping me get to the conference and giving me the wonderful opportunity."

Review of 2009

From our chairperson's report at the close of the year:

"As we complete one year, and start to plan ahead to the next, it is salutary to review the activities of the branch during the past 12 months.  In generally chronological order:

• Bi-monthly meetings (January, March, May, July, September, November)
• New treasurer and signatories for branch account – March
• White Flower appeals at St Barnabas’Cathedral, Cotgrave, Holy Spirit West Bridgford, the Good Shepherd Arnold – January
• Challenge Team (putting the case for sexual abstinence to young people) into local schools - February
• Meeting with RC Bishop McMahon to discuss church support for SPUC – February
• Briefing for parish priests on activities of SPUC written by group, okayed by HQ and local groups – May
• Briefing sent out to all parishes by Bishop’s secretary - October
• Silent Witness: Pro life chain on Trent Bridge – April
• Fun run, parish meeting and networking in St Francis, Long Eaton
• National Conference in Derbyshire - September
• Information stand at Holy Spirit parish West Bridgford – September
• Speakers’ conference in Birmingham – September
• Support for bi-monthly street stands in the city centre
• Donation of £300 to HQ for national campaigns
• Networking for ‘This is my body’ SRE programme with the C of E diocese of Southwell and Nottingham – October
• Support for the SNM gathering in Sheffield - October
• Debate at the Institute of Ideas - October
• Midlands regional meeting in Loughborough - October
• Support for the cathedral’s young adults group
• SPUC stand at the Cathedral’s Evangelisation Live event - October
• School based sexual health clinics campaign – talk to governors at the National School, Hucknall, on teenage pregnancies – October
• Meeting with director of the Briars youth retreat centre - November
• Talk to the Bishops’ Conference Bioethics Committee - November
• Revision of website to improve access for school groups to educational resources - November
• School talks
• Christ the King – February
• Landau Forte Derby – March
• Kimberley – March
• Toothill – October
• Ratcliffe College - December
• National, Hucknall x 7 – October- November

A highlight of the year was undoubtedly our meeting with Bishop McMahon, which we felt to have been successful, in redressing misconceptions about the work of SPUC. Since then, Bishop McMahon has become the spokesman for the Bishops’ conference on education, a role of great influence.

Another highlight was the number of abortion talks delivered in schools, and the improvements to our excellent website which followed. Contact was made with the Briars, a contact which could prove fruitful in the future; and the parish of St Francis in Long Eaton is being cultivated as a source of support.

The prolife chain, at a new venue, was more visible than before, and provoked more responses.

Once again, there was an emphasis in our activities on education: changing the climate of opinion in the longer term. During the coming months, with a general election approaching, we will need to focus our efforts as much as possible on raising awareness and supporting the national campaign through local political initiatives.

Our group finances are sound. In September we were able to order new resources from conference and USA; and to donate £300 to HQ.

There can be no doubt that we could have done more. But given the constraints of our situation, and the lack of full time, paid school speakers, this list constitutes a significant achievement for just one small local group.

As chairperson, I would like to record my thanks to members of the group for their dedication and commitment to the prolife cause over the past year, and indeed over many years."

More past news and events.