Friday 9 January, John Pridmore, former gangster, now apostolic speaker for the Catholic Church, will be coming to speak at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen. talk starts at 6.30pm in the Church.Youngsters especially invited but all are welcome. Here is a link showing how to get to Blackfen.
13 comments:
John's a great speaker- you are all in for a treat!
I sure hope he leaves the machete at home! I was more taken aback by the impression of a thug with a crucifix -- I almost didn't read the text below the image.
Perhaps a PR-guru can find a more flattering way of expressing a life of crime overcome by Christ: perhaps a kneeling ex-thug with a broken-bladed machette in front of him; his hands folded in prayer as he looks up towards the altar crucifix?
Merry Christmas, Father!
--Guy Power
I heard John speak at World Youth Day in Sydney. I also purchased his book.
It's well worth putting in the effort to go and listen to him and his book is a great read.
He looks like he'd make a very effective church doorkeeper.
"Oi! No jeans! No trainers"
Hi Fr Tim - do you mean Saturday 10th or Friday 9th? If it's Saturday then we will try and get up there with some friends!
scaaaaarey
It is Friday 9th. Thanks for the correction.
GHP - there will be no machete, and John has spent many hours before the crucifix praying. I thought this was a striking photo illustrating the way in which violence contributes to the passion of Christ and how this way of life can be repudiated.
Fr. Tim,
Your blog post prompted me to watch a Youtube clip of John Pridmore preaching.
I always wondered how a hardened gangland type could possibly undergo such a conversion. In the Youtube clip, John revealed the secret: his mother had been praying fervently for him.
There's a lesson for any Catholic parent who suffers the inner martyrdom of watching a child embracing a life of evil -- just keep praying.
"A Very British Gangster" is the title of a recent documentary about Dominic Noonon and his brother, Desmond Noonon. Dominic is seen visiting in church. They represent a certain section of the Church in Manchester.
Edward - John would not participate in any glorification of gangsterism. He has thoroughly rejected his former way of life and speaks eloquently of its evils and the goodness to be found in a genuine faith and sacramental life.
Dear Father Tim
A more accurate image of contemporary 'gang' culture here in London would be a gun pointing at the crucified Christ's head.
Machetes and knives are much further down the psychological chain of terror employed by the bosses who run London's profession of violence.
East London's John Pridmore claims on his website www.johnpridmore.com that his East and West End of London connections 'were the guys who ran most of the organised crime in London'.
My own Cat 'AA' Deptford and South East London experiences 1956-2008 have taught me otherwise.
As a concerned local parent I have contacted John Pridmore about his planned performance at Our Lady of the Rosary on Friday 9th January.
I have yet to receive a response to my e-mail which provides details of the real life drama here in the London Borough of Bexley.
Hard evidence relating to my high profile FARE JUSTICE NOT VENGEANCE FOCUS 1991-2008 :MPS ref PC/2571/07 case for the defence against NF/BNP entry-ism into London's Sporting/Planning Arena,which was originally backed up by a malevolent prosecution by CID Greenwich after a phone call made by Steve Taylor of the TSG,has been handed to MPS Assistant Commissioner Robert Quick MBA by DS Ian Coleman of the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards,Internal Investigations Command.
Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us in Richard Barnbrook's NF/BNP/GLA/LDA NEO-NAZI DEVELOPMENT TIMES Amen
Dear Father Finigan
The Staines v Millwall FA Cup tie has become the focus for some seriously disturbed criminal posts.
The following link will be of great interest to our mutual friend John Pridmore http://laleham.stainesnews.co.uk/2009/11/fears-over-millwall-versus-sta.html#comment-4632278
Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us!
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