Root & Branch: Sr Gemma Simmonds – Tues 13 July – ‘Unnecessary Exclusion from the Sacraments’.
Root & Branchers have journeyed together for a year, discerning our way forward to our inclusive,
Lay-led Synod in September.
Now we invite you to our last two events
before our Synod:
our guest Sr Gemma Simmonds on 13th July,
and WOW’s 25th celebration liturgy on 25th July.
* * * * * * *
GEMMA SIMMONDS, CJ
TUESDAY, 13th July
14.00 BST
18.30 IST 09.00 EDT 15.00 CEST
OUR LAST JOURNEY GUEST before our SYNOD
We’ve had a beautiful Year of Discernment with our numerous guests and now we must prep for our forthcoming Synod. Who better to see us on our way than Gemma, our much sought-after theologian, writer and speaker?
GEMMA SIMMONDS is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus, founded by Mary Ward (1585-1609). She is a senior research fellow at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge where she teaches pastoral theology, ecclesiology and Christian spirituality and is director of the Religious Life Institute. She is also chair of trustees of the ecumenical Community of St. Anselm based at Lambeth Palace, London. An international speaker and lecturer, Gemma Simmonds is an honorary fellow of Durham University and past president of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain. She has been a missionary in Brazil and a chaplain in the Universities of Cambridge and London as well as a chaplaincy volunteer in Holloway Prison for 25 years. She is a regular broadcaster on religious matters on the BBC, Radio Maria and other radio and television networks.
Sister Gemma lectured in Christian Spirituality at Heythrop College, University of London from 2005 until its closure in 2018, specialising in Spiritual Direction in the Ignatian tradition.
We’re deeply grateful that she will talk to us on a topic that is not widely aired in Catholic parishes: ‘Unnecessary Exclusion from the Sacraments’. Do come and hear her thoughtful and careful analysis of the Church’s teachings and join the discussions for yourself.
Link to Sr Gemma’s talk:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81104898695?pwd=MzZSSDRRMXZNRG8zZTZPN21wNzJRdz09#success