Soli blog

Thank you St Joseph's Wrexham

 A big thank you to St Joseph's for their fantastic total raised for CAFOD! And thank you for the Gavin and Stacey DVDs and hot chocolate collection, we will enjoy them as soon as we can!
 
 [Entry dated: 18/05/2012]

Sunshine at Soli

Following a walk by the river this was the beautiful sight that greeted the team on their return.
Almighty Father, thank you for the beauty and wonder of Your creation. We marvel at the works of Your hands. 
 [Entry dated: 15/05/2012]

message

Heyyyya Guys !! I don't know If you remember me (from BGN school just in case
there has been another andre :L and to be super specific .. the guy that plays
guitar :D) But I just wanted to just say " Hi " to all the folks there at Soli .
To let you know , my friends who went there ; Alex , Izzy , Maddy and Emily are
making bracelets with quotes on them , we are selling them for £2 . All money is
going to charity and Soli which will be divided equally , so far we have raised
£51 just on our first day !! I have never felt so happy in my life .. God bless
to you all, Andre [Entry dated: 14/05/2012]

message

Hey Team! I love and miss you Soli and am trying my best to live the amazing
values you have reminded me of. You will be hearing from BGNYr10 2k12 again
pretty soon I'm sure, there is some top fundraising going on back here so send
your prayers. I love you all! Izzy (Team Fish-Fingers and Custard) xxxxx
 [Entry dated: 14/05/2012]

message

A massive thank you for such a great time the other week!  It was a wonderful
surprise that memebers of the team were at school yesterday & today, it was
great to reignite our wonderful relationship and spend a few more precious hours
with Ben, Laura & Miriam and meeting Catherine!
A big thanks for all
your effort and for such great times and I genuinely wish you all well! x [Entry dated: 14/05/2012]

press the priest

Thanks for a great time, a week ago today was our last day!
If Jesus was so outraged
at people setting up a market in the temple, is it acceptable for churches to
sell religious jewellery, bibles, missles, newspapers etc?
Greg
 
Jesus was outraged with the 'religious' people using their position and the temple to make money out of the poor. Jews were meant to sacrifice a lamb or two doves or pigeons as an offering in the Temple. These animals were meant to be without blemish, so firstly they were made to buy them from the Temple, then it was made that they could only buy them with Temple money, which led to the poor being robbed twice over: firstly through an unfair exchange rate, then by having to pay the price demanded. So it wasn't that money was being used in the Temple that annoyed Jesus - it was that it was being taken so abusively. It would be wrong to do this anywhere, but in his Father's house!! Not surprisingly, this made Jesus very angry; though he didn't lose his temper, he simply showed it.
Selling Bibles, rosaries, statues etc in the porch at the back of church is meant to help people draw closer to God. It shouldn't disturb the Mass or its preparation and the parish can't realisitically just give them away, though i would if someone wanted one and couldn't afford it. So unless they are charging way too much for them just so as to make a profit, please don't turn the tables over on Sunday when you go to Mass!!
 
 [Entry dated: 14/05/2012]

message

hey soli team,i would like to say maaahhooosssiiivveee thankyou for an amazing
retreat! i have to say they have been some of the best days of my life so far
and i cant thankyou guys enough,it was so fun and i became so much closer to so
many people! it helped my faith to become a lot stronger,and helped me to
realise how lucky i really am on global day,and reflect on myself at
reconciliation,thank you so much to the team for making my time at soli even
more special,they were all so happy and lovely and so easy to get along with,and
their enthusiasm for their faith really inspires me! thankyou especially to our
team leader lloyd,you were awesomely awesome!!! (fish fingers and custard crew
2K12) thank you! Maddy x [Entry dated: 05/05/2012]

message

Just wanted to say thankyou for the absolutely amazing experience you gave us.
I had a brilliant time this week, it's definitely been the best week of my
life so far and one i will never forget.. I don't think i've ever cried so much!!
My faith has become a lot stronger thanks to the inspiration and
enthusiasm of the team, especially my team leader Lloyd (Busted fans forever!)

I loved every single minute and am definitely going through 'Soli blues'.
Miss you all loads!!!
Hannah xx
 [Entry dated: 04/05/2012]

message

hi guys, its already kicked off on facebook about how people think were stupid
for thinking that you lot have changed us!
 
Soli Response: Don't worry. Try and see it from their side: if loads of people you knew went off for a few days and came back as joyful as you lot, you'd probably be a bit confused. They might feel threatened by it all, or even a bit jealous. If you are going to respond, do it peacefully, and if they're good people, their fears and confusion will pass.
 
 [Entry dated: 04/05/2012]

message

Dear soli team! the trip was amazing! It let me focus on my life and the
lives of those around me and it let me explore my faith and become closer to
God. I can't thank you guys enough- I think you are all awesome for what you
do and what you believe in. I will never forget this trip it has taught me the
importance of God in our lives and the love he has for each one of us, it has
taught me about the persecution of Christians around the globe and it has
allowed me to look deeper into my own relationship with God. I will take all
that I have learnt with me and put it into practise in my own life. I really
respect you guys and will keep in touch. Thanks especially to Lloyd -  "go team
fish fingers and custard!"- you're awesome! I hope to see you all again
soon.
From Alex. [Entry dated: 04/05/2012]

press the priest

Does God punish people?
Leanne
 
A really important and deep question, which is at the heart of so much of our understanding of God.
The Bible tells us several things: God could punish us for our evil ways, our sins, and he has a right to in justice.
But the Bible goes on to understand that if he does punish us, it is meant for correction, not out of revenge.
But Jesus goes further and teaches us that there is nothing you or i could ever do to make God love you more, or to make him love you less. His love is a free gift; as Jesus puts it, the Father's perfect love is shown in that he lets the sun shine on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
This all helps, because we can go through all those stages. Whenever we or someone we love suffers, our first instinct is to think we must have done something bad to deserve this. Sometimes we can then begin to see a chance to learn from the suffering, but also we can be led to see a deeper, more constant love in the world.
But there is innocent suffering, and so much of the above falls down in the experience of that.
Only the Cross of Christ can speak to us then. That is the ultimate sign of innocent suffering and reveals that primarily God doesn't cause the suffering of the victim, but suffers alongside them. It is also the sign of hope for all suffering, because it promises Resurrection, it offers meaning to suffering, and the very worst things about suffering are its sense of finality and meaninglessness.
If you are struggling with suffering, take your struggle to the Cross. You might need to get angry with God, you might need to cry out with Jesus, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" but slowly you will also discover in suffering that we cannot avoid, an opportunity to love. Suffering without Christ leads to us being de-humanised; suffering in trust with him leads to life that cannot be lost.
I will pray for you.
 [Entry dated: 04/05/2012]

message

Would just like to say on the behalf of all 52 students at BGN, that we had the
most amazing time at Soli.
Those 4 days were the best 4 days of my life and
I dont think that i will ever forget a second of it. Thank you all so much for
giving us an amazing expreience.
Miss you all so much <3 Katie [Entry dated: 04/05/2012]

message

Thankyou soo much everyone i had an amazing time and i hope all the best for you in the future
Ben
 
 [Entry dated: 04/05/2012]

Soli Comment

Sorry!!! Some of the below comments are very late in going up - we just work sooo hard here!  
We promise to try harder next time x
 [Entry dated: 02/05/2012]

message

thank you for the brilliant time at soli. It was truly amazing. i hope you all have an amazing easter :)

Much love Ellis :D
 [Entry dated: 02/05/2012]

message

I'd like to thank everyone there for your support especially Laura my small group leader and Michaela for supporting me and helping me when I was upset but it was truly an inspirational week thank you guys lots of love Troy xxx
 [Entry dated: 02/05/2012]

message

dear all the soli crew!
thanks for an amazing couple of days, we were all made to feel welcome, and loved every minute of it.
after a very emotional week none of us wanted to go home.
i can now play frisby thanks to lloyd and alex
thanks again

rachael (sfa)
 [Entry dated: 02/05/2012]

message

Heeey, I've had a really good time this weekend,we all want to come back! It was great to get to know your team xxx
 [Entry dated: 02/05/2012]

message

Dear Soli :D
I'm from Our Lady & St Chad, Just like to say a massive thank you for making my week the best time of my life, i mean that. I cant think of a time were i can relax and really think about the true meaning of faith. You've taught me the true way of God and this week ive been through every bit of emotion and i could do it all again. My feeling towards God and faith has change for life. Soli House has played a big part of my life and my tears cry for you. Youve helped me see the happiness of life and not the sorrow and saddness that belongs. Like to say a big thank you to Ellen my group leader. She has a heart off gold, you all have but Ellen stood out to me. She really understood me, understood my storys, My questions. My lifes complete. My Faith Well, Lets Pray to God...
From Callum
Soli House-Forever In My Heart <3
 [Entry dated: 30/04/2012]

message

Thankyou to everyone at Soli House for such an amazing Easter retreat! I had an amazing time and it's an experience I'll never forget, love Rebecca xx
 [Entry dated: 30/04/2012]

message

Thank you all for a great week and an especially big thank you to Dom Deboo for being a great leader!
Kevin [Entry dated: 26/03/2012]

message

Thankyou for an amazing retreat, I was crying all the way home I love you all so
much! You'll all be in my hearts forever, Lloyd, Ben(NEB), Dom, Helen, Ellen,
Laura and Mary, thank you all for making it wonderful, you've all helped me open
up and get over my shyness, I'm gonna miss you all so much, hopefully we see
each other again sometime, love you all!
From Lauren(Saint Augustine's)xxxx
 
Soli Reply: Glad you had such a great time Lauren; it was a very special week. Thanks for the card from your school!
Love from all the team xx
 [Entry dated: 17/03/2012]

Press the Priest

-It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter God's kingdom.
-The pauper who gave their last coins, gave the most...

The clear message we get sent as Christians is to drop the money and worldly goods. Why does the pope have his own gold-cladded city? With plenty of pope mobiles (they are very nice, we could put a bullet proof box on a wheelbarrow and it would be fit for purpose), extensive wardrobe, and staff at his beck and call, I even saw him fiddling with an IPad that are currently retailing at £399 the cheapest, Could that money not have gone to the child that died in the last 5 seconds of an illness that would have cost less than £10 to cure? PLEASE DO NOT SAY THAT IT IS GODS WILL THAT BABBATUNDE DIES WHILST THE POPE BROWSES THE APP STORE.

Why is this religion so self contradictory?! Surely the best pope would be homeless and starving if his real agenda was to live a good life and get into heaven? He hasn't been judged by God yet, so why does he get to live like a King in the Lord's name?

Soli Reply:
 You raise an important question that is relevant to every Christian, not just the Pope. Since in Christ we are all brothers and sisters how can we live anything but the simplest of life styles while people are dying of hunger and lack of clean water?

I do think we have to be careful though of over-simplifying what the Pope has. He doesn't own Rome or even the Vatican. Most of the treasures of the Vatican Museum are given over the centuries to be exhibited. I certainly wouldn't choose to go round all the time in a white cassock and if I was going for an expensive car, I wouldn't be choosing a pope-mobile! The Pope is the father of the human family, under God - that's a lot of communication; if an ipad helps him feed us all better then that works out as about 0.0000003p per Catholic. From what I know, the Pope lives simply: he has a piano, but even popes have to relax and it’s not so easy for him to just pop out for a coffee!

Also, as Jesus himself reminds us when asked a similar question (Matthew 26:6-13), we are called to look after the poor and to glorify God and inspire people to journey with Christ. It isn’t one or the other. Selling the Vatican art wouldn’t save the poor; we can’t just save them from money alone. It’s the same argument as to why we should still have space travel and universities and libraries and museums and public monuments that inspire: humanity is rich enough to do all these things and to feed everyone.

India could feed itself and half the world if we helped them with all the technology and knowledge we have, but we don’t. The root of human suffering is human sin, not lack of money.

Having said, that we cannot get complacent about the suffering of others, especially the poorest.

When Westminster Cathedral was being built, Cardinal Heenan got increasingly frustrated by the lack of care given to the homeless living near the cathedral while so much was being spent on the church itself. Eventually, he halted the building work until more was done with the homeless, and when people responded to that, he commenced building again.

The Church is the Body of Christ; people, especially the poor, are the Body of Christ: we should love him both ways.

So the Pope should challenge himself, but so should each of us. Do you go on holiday? Have the latest mobile phone/ ipod/ trainers/clothes etc, while people are dying? Is your gift to charity out of the change you’ve got once you’ve got everything? When was the last time you actually went without something so as to give money to the poor? These questions are for each of us to ask, and help us on our journey with Christ and the poor.

 [Entry dated: 11/03/2012]

message

I would like to say thanks for a fantastic week and have seen lloyds video of busted and could you tell him it was great, Tiarnán
 [Entry dated: 11/03/2012]

Prayer request

Soli Reply: Zoya, we're praying for you, be assured. Hang in there, Soli Team
 [Entry dated: 11/03/2012]

Soli House message

Soli Message: Sorry! With half term and a busy time ther's been a gap in blogs being put on the website! Here's a few, with a press the priest to come - when it's finished!
 
 [Entry dated: 26/02/2012]

message

Hello (: 
Just wanted to write and say i hope you are all okay and i miss Soli a lot. It was such a wonderful experience, twice. I learnt so much about other people and myself. The beautiful side of the world.
Thank you.
Hannah, St.Joseph's Wrexham
 [Entry dated: 26/02/2012]

message

Hi guys,
Thanks for the amazing time at soli, someone hug Lloyd for me :D
Adam
 [Entry dated: 26/02/2012]

message

hi.thanks for the amazing week i really miss it. how can i get the same peacefulness and serenity at home?
Ciaran xx
 
Soli Reply: It's God who gives us peace and serenity. Sunday Mass is by far the best way of receiving that peace; he died so he could be at Mass, we just have to make a bit of an effort. Some Masses you'll enjoy, some will be a bit boring, but it's not about that, it's about offering ourselves to the fatehr with Christ, and receiving Him in return, and that gives us a deep peace and joy, a sense of purpose, belonging and hope.
We also need stillness in our lives so that we can hear the still small voice of God calling me by name, and giving me peace.
We also need each other: to be able to talk heart to heart about the important things of life, about God and our feelings and our hopes, fears and struggles.
But peace is a deeper quality than just feeling mellow. Maybe returning home might mean we lose that surface feeling; but peace is about dealing with the nitty gritty of life and still being affected by it, but sensing that anchor in my life of God's love. All will be well, and all will be well, and all will be wonderfully well. So be at peace. 
 [Entry dated: 26/02/2012]

message

Thank you so much for an amazing week at soli, loved sharing the experience with the team and the SPG's especially the snazzy spguirrels and team fattys. Still trying to get over soli blues now </3
Love you all, ciara :) xxx
 [Entry dated: 26/02/2012]

CAFOD collecting RECORD

Well done to all the students from Bishop Walsh and Hagley who were at Soli House this week, they raised a whopping £236.90 for CAFOD!
During Lent, all donations to CAFOD are being doubled by the government. This means that every pound will be doubled!
 
 [Entry dated: 25/02/2012]

message

Thankyou for an amazing week, I'll never forget it. You made it the best week of my life! I'm going to miss it a lot! GO TEH PEOPLE! WOO :)
From Aurora <3 xxx
 [Entry dated: 29/01/2012]

message

Hi to everyone at Soli! Thank you for such an amzing time, I loved it so much!  Thank you to Laura for being an amazing group leader of the god squad! Lots of love Charlotte xxx
 [Entry dated: 29/01/2012]

message

Thank you soo much for an amazing, eye-opening experiencee. I loved every second of it, especiallly our time with Laura and the epic kitchen krew:D. Looking at the status' i can tell that all the SPG's have the Soli blues. Thankyou and hopefully see you all at Easter, love Jen (SPG)<3
 [Entry dated: 29/01/2012]

message

What team?! ;)
Just wanted to say hey and that we all miss you lot like crazy already! On the coach everybody was like 'I want to go home' meaning back to Soli. Thanks for an amazing week that has changed my life, see you all at Easter! ;D

Abi, SPG. xxxx
 [Entry dated: 29/01/2012]

message

Thank you so much for one of the best weeks of my life ^-^ it was so much fun and I learnt a lot from it. Thankyou so much, Tara :D
 [Entry dated: 29/01/2012]

message

Thank you so much for an amazing retreat its been awesome... i well and truely have the Soli blues .... GO THE KITCHEN KREW  Ellie :D xxx
 [Entry dated: 29/01/2012]

message

 Hi Soli Team!! Thank you so much for a fantastic week; you are all so inspiring and fantastic at what you do!! This was the second time I'd been to Soli and I hope to see you all again soon!! Megan L <3 xxx
 [Entry dated: 29/01/2012]

message

Thank you all so so much for the amazing experience, I enjoyed every second of it and I'm going to miss you all a lot! The week was absolutely brilliant and one I will never forget! Rebecca SPG ;)  xxx
 [Entry dated: 27/01/2012]

Press the Priest

Why can't women be priests? as everyone is equal + Mary was a major part of God's plan
St Paul's Girls
 
Good question! And a good point about Mary: she was more central to God's plan than any human person (Jesus is a divine person who became human!) In a sense though, that helps us see why women aren't priests. A priest offers Christ to the Father, and to us, and no one did that more than Mary, especially at the foot of the Cross, and yet she did not become a priest. That was not just a cultural thing as God had guided the culture of the Jews for nearly 2,000 years before Jesus, and other religions had priestesses.
Jesus reveals God as Father. God is neither male or female; God is spirit, but in his wisdom Jesus revealed that the best way to understand God and his relationship to us is as Father, the best way to understand the Church is as our Mother. Once Jesus reveals that, we can begin to see the wisdom in it: generalisations are dangerous, but perhaps femininity is more about a nurtuing , enfolding love that gives the child the courage to grow from knowing they are loved; perhaps masculinity is a slightly more seemingly 'detached' love, that draws us out of ourselves and helps us to grow that way.
Jesus is able to say,"to have seen me is to have seen the Father." (John 14:9): that's an amazing gift to us, an important reason why he did become human, so that we could see the Father's love revealed in humanity. The ridiculously exalted vocation of the priest is to be the same; for every priest in what they are and what they do and say, to strive to say, "to have seen me is to have seen the Father." if this was a role taken by the priest, it would be the ultimate in arrogance; since it is given by God, it has to be accepted in humility. I am in no way better than any woman, nor am i necessarily better than any woman at preaching or any specific element of what a priest does: but I am better at being father, and that is what the priest is called to be. It's not about power, it's not about ability, it's about service and weakness and fatherhood.
Fr Stephen
 [Entry dated: 23/01/2012]

message

Hey, I'd like to say thank you to the whole team for a great experience. Just to let Laura know that today I had a football game and not only captained my side to a 4-0 win but also finally gained the courage to say a prayer in front of everybody before walking onto the pitch...thank you for giving me the bravery to do this and thanks for making my thoughts on faith amazingly clearer.
Luke
 [Entry dated: 23/01/2012]

Message

Got home yesterday and really want to go back! I officially have the soli blues!! Thank you for the experience especially Laura and 'The God Squad'.
Evan [Entry dated: 22/01/2012]

Message

Hey guys! (Please don't laugh at my email address, I made it years ago!) Thanks! Missing you guys so much already! I'm sat at home now, on the laptop, writing this email to all of you! All I wanted to say was thank you for an amazing time and the lovely food and everything basically!! Hope you are all well! I've got voluntary work in about 5-10 minutes, so I best hurry! And please can you email me back the graces that we sang at breakfast, lunch and dinner and could you send me the songs that we practiced and sung in Mass please! I love them!! We are all going church on Sunday, so all good :)! I'll keep wearing my bracelets and stick everything on my wall in mine and my sisters bedroom and I will keep all of yous in my thoughts! Speak to you guys soon, so please email me back, because I really want to know them! Thanks! Speak to you soon,
                                        Alexandra and Jessica! (But mainly me, Alex)!!
                                                                xxx
 


Soli Reply: We thank you, God (WE THANK YOU GOD),
                 For all our food (FOR ALL OUR FOOD).
                 We thank you God for all our food.
                 For breakfast, lunch and dinner,
                 we thank you God for all our food. Amen!
Will that do for now?! Hope Sunday Mass was good and you told your priest about us! Be well :-) 

 
 [Entry dated: 22/01/2012]

Soli message

A few of you have asked about Easter retreat:
invites are going out to schools for Thursday of next week,
so ask the relevant teacher then.
If you don't go to a Catholic secondary school then get in
touch with us through this blog and we'll send you one.
Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, £64 each. Look forward to hearing from you!
 
 [Entry dated: 18/01/2012]

Message

hi soli only georgia here its been about 1 month since my visit with you and alot has happened i am now a god mother and i help out at my local church liturgy group. i am so stoked about being a god mother and am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. once agian thank you for a fab time.
love and prayers georgia bridgett x
Soli reply: Godmother and church liturgy group: what a Soli star you are!
 [Entry dated: 18/01/2012]

Message

It's Michael Again!

Just wanted to say that I got the letter you guys wrote back to me. Y'know it actually meant so much I thought about keeping the envelope? Yup. I'm still as strange as ever. But that's what make me feel great! I still massively appreciate that the lot of you were like best friends to me. I still miss you all, and probably still will once you finish your gap years... Still. I might strike it lucky and see you when I'm in sixth form or with BCYS.

Once again, this is Michael, signing off
Soli reply: it's ok Michael, you child of God, deep breath and then recycle the envelope; u know it's right!!

:)
 [Entry dated: 18/01/2012]

Message

I first visited Soli House in 1956 as a 14 year old with a group of girls from my school. Also there at the time were a group of young men from St John's School in Portsmouth. It was a wonderful experience. I have just discovered a set of photos of our time there. I now live in Sydney Australia and have not been back to Stratford in many years. I was amazed to find Soli House still going strong!
Pat McLagan
 
Soli reply:Wow Pat! 56 years ago and half a world away: that says a lot about Soli's reach! Please send us copies of the photos!
 [Entry dated: 18/01/2012]

Press the Priest

Why do so many of you priests play golf ?
My bonus question is : How old actually was Methusalah?
Kev
 
Not so long back, many of the priests in England came over from Ireland. That was amazingly generous of them, to give up being anywhere near their family, and their homeland, and come to a country that hasn't always treated them as well as we might.
So, on their day off they had no family, and not so many non-priest friends, so they would chill out together. A good way of doing that is golf. It's a bit of exercise, a bit of competition, a bit of fresh air
... but not too much of any of them. It's something you can play at almost any age, and it's great for getting us all together. I think a lot of us English priests have found that out too, but there are less and less younger priests that play
There' s an old joke that if your handicap is above 18 you're ignoring your golf, and if it's below 18 you're ignoring you're parish!
My handicap is 17, so erm, I think we'd better move on...
 
According to Genesis Methuselah was 969 years old when he died (I think, but it is nearly midnight and I haven't got the energy to look it up!), but those early chapters of Genesis aren't meant to be taken literally and in rigid way, after all, until you'd worked out about seasons etc, what was a year anyway? What the list of ages is trying to tell us, I think, is that God created mankind perfect, but it was our sin that made things go wrong. That first sin of Adam and Eve began the rot, leading to Cain killing Abel and from then on it got worse and worse. In those early 11 chapters of Genesis, the more we turned away from God the lower the timespan of a human life: communicating that in turning from God, the source of life, we suffer more and die sooner - like a plant turning away from the sun, if you like. We live in God; we die without him: it's one of the central truths of our faith, communicated to us in different ways.
 [Entry dated: 08/01/2012]

message

To the team and Fr Stephen,
Thanks for a great week and being so fab with our kids. Just wanted to let you know that I was successful in my audition yesterday and I am now a member of the "Birmingham Symphonic Winds".

Thanks again and best of luck in the future to you all.

Love and prayers from Nicky and Stephe, St Thomas More Nuneaton. I'm sure Olly and Helen send their love too.
 [Entry dated: 08/01/2012]

message

Hi Soli team,
I got back Friday from Soli house and had an amazing time. Thank you to everyone who made this trip so special, especially to Lloyd who has made my faith so much stronger. Also happy birthday Miriam!
Thank you everyone for everything from Eirini x
 [Entry dated: 08/01/2012]

message

I just like to thank all of the team at soli house so much for making my time amazing. Even though I only stayed for 4 nights it felt longer as you were all so loving as soon as we walked in.You have brought out a new me that i didnt know i had, it has been a trip of a life time and I would love to come back again but thankyou so so so much xxxxxxxxxxx.
You people are truely amazing and ask anyone who has visited soli house and they will quote that, you're all so loving and open and trustworthy and thats what made me feel at home when i came to soli house.
p.s:Miriam and Michaela- you are the best!xxxxxxxxxxx galaping oatcakes forever!!<3 much love Paige
 [Entry dated: 20/12/2011]

Prayer request

Please can you pray for someone I know who was stabbed and killed in Birmingham last week. He had done nothing wrong. please pray that his family have the strength to get through this difficult time. Thank you.
 
Soli: we will remember him and his family at all Masses here this week. May he rest in peace, and may you find peace too.
 [Entry dated: 29/11/2011]

message

It's me, Michael. The Year 10 from Thomas More. I don't know if people still send these messages, but I want to say that I appreciate everything. Over the course of a few days, the team have helped me realise who I was meant to be. A child of God.

Thank You, and God bless
Soli response: Thank you Michael; it was a privilege to walk with you on your journey.
 [Entry dated: 26/11/2011]

Prayer request

Please could people keep my friend Mark in their prayers: his mum is very ill in hospital
 
Soli response: we prayed for Mark and Mum at Masses this week; may they find comfort in Christ and hope in his Cross
 [Entry dated: 21/11/2011]

message

Oh my life, its been 7 months since the three of us have been to Soli and we still have the Soli blues!! Its been such a significant part of our lives and we miss the Soli House and team greatly. We hope that Vicki remembers the 'Chaddy Haribo Monkeys' in the peace room. The rest of the Soli Team were just as fabulous! And our overall time was great! We're doing our best to persuade our school to let our year group come again to meet the new team and have another perfect retreat.

One of our favourite parts was the final Mass when we all participated and took part, the overall experience has changed us, the doctors say forever but we dont mind!! We only hope to be reunited with Soli castle built by God to awaken our hearts and minds to faith that we thought was never there. Much love and God bless, Beatriz, Callum and Hannah (from St. Chads, Wolvo Apr2011) xxxxxxx
Soli response: Of course we remember you! we tried forgetting - it just didn't work!?!
 [Entry dated: 14/11/2011]

message

I LOVE THIS! :D XXXX
Lizzie Brookes [Entry dated: 13/11/2011]

Prayer request

Could you all please spare a few moments in prayer for Iranian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani who is facing execution at any moment.
Simon
 
Soli response: we have prayed for Pastor Yousef and continue to do so
 [Entry dated: 11/11/2011]

Comment

Love the new website! The Soli artwork is a great link to the house and its very friendly. May it strengthen the outreach of the whole Soli team and be a blessing to your youth ministry.
Well done guys! Sandra
 [Entry dated: 11/11/2011]