St Joseph’s holds Lent lectures by six high-profile speakers

FORMER general secretary of the campaign for Nuclear Disarmament,Bruce Kent,is among six high-profile speakers lined up for a series of free public weekly Thursday lectures at Hackney St Joseph’s Hospice during the period of Lent from March to April.

The peace campaigner and former Roman Catholic priest, is now vice president of international Christian peacemaking movement, Pax Christi.

He and fellow speakers will all tackle the subject

“Service of the Poor Today.”

Opening the series of lectures today (Thursday) at 1.30m in the education centre of the hospice in Mare Street will be Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin who combines her role as chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons as vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Beechwood Road Dalston and vicar of its sister church, All Saints in Livermere Road, Haggerston, as well as Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey

Sister Hilary Thompson, director of mission at the hospice said: “St Joseph’s was started by the Sisters of Charity, and inspired by the words of their founder Mary Aikenhead, who expressed her desire that ‘the poor be given for love which the rich obtain for money’.

Our mission at the hospice continues - to provide the best possible care for all those in our community. Service of the poor is at the heart of what we do and these lectures, from five distinguished speakers will offer genuine food for thought.”

Writer, biographer, journalist and broadcaster Peter Stanford will give his lecture on March 17. Cathy Corcoran OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Cardinal Hume Centre, will give her talk on March 24.Sister Frances Dominica Ritchie OBE, Founder of Helen House and Douglas House Hospices in Oxford will give her address on March 31 followed by Patrick Watt, Director of Development Policy, at the charity, Save the Children on April 7

Bruce Kent Kent will be the final speaker on April 14.