Our Lady and St Kenelm, Halesowen
  • Our Lady and St Kenelm, Halesowen
    • About Father Stefan
    • Archbishop Bernard's letter to Father Stefan appointing him as our Parish Priest
    • Parish Directory
    • Russells Hall Hospital Chaplain
  • Our Lady of Lourdes, Old Hill
    • Archbishop Bernard's letter to Father Stefan appointing him as Parish Priest
    • Isewlation Quilt
  • Joint Parish Bulletin
  • Pictures from Lourdes 2025
  • Readings at Mass
  • Mass Intentions
  • Getting help from the SVP
    • How the SVP can help
    • OLSK SVP Latest Annual Report
    • SVP in the Parish
    • Cost of Living Crisis - Dudley Council might be able to help
    • Appeal by Jane Clarke
    • Mini Vinnies Group
    • Top Award for SVP Mini Vinnies
    • St Vincent teaches on serving the poor
  • Photos
    • Gallery
    • The Stations of the Cross
    • Veronica's Veil
    • Shrine of St Joseph
  • Offertory Giving and Parish Finances
    • Offertory Giving Options
    • Legacy Giving
    • Parish Financial Reports for the year ending 31 st December 2024
    • Financial Report for the year ending 31 st December 2023
    • Financial Report for the year ending 31 st December 2022
    • Financial Report for the year ending 31 st December 2021
  • Links
    • Catholic Community
    • Russells Hall Hospital Chaplain
    • Neighbouring Parishes
    • Schools
  • Contact
  • Safeguarding
  • Our Lady and St Kenelm, Halesowen
    • About Father Stefan
    • Archbishop Bernard's letter to Father Stefan appointing him as our Parish Priest
    • Parish Directory
    • Russells Hall Hospital Chaplain
  • Our Lady of Lourdes, Old Hill
    • Archbishop Bernard's letter to Father Stefan appointing him as Parish Priest
    • Isewlation Quilt
  • Joint Parish Bulletin
  • Pictures from Lourdes 2025
  • Readings at Mass
  • Mass Intentions
  • Getting help from the SVP
    • How the SVP can help
    • OLSK SVP Latest Annual Report
    • SVP in the Parish
    • Cost of Living Crisis - Dudley Council might be able to help
    • Appeal by Jane Clarke
    • Mini Vinnies Group
    • Top Award for SVP Mini Vinnies
    • St Vincent teaches on serving the poor
  • Photos
    • Gallery
    • The Stations of the Cross
    • Veronica's Veil
    • Shrine of St Joseph
  • Offertory Giving and Parish Finances
    • Offertory Giving Options
    • Legacy Giving
    • Parish Financial Reports for the year ending 31 st December 2024
    • Financial Report for the year ending 31 st December 2023
    • Financial Report for the year ending 31 st December 2022
    • Financial Report for the year ending 31 st December 2021
  • Links
    • Catholic Community
    • Russells Hall Hospital Chaplain
    • Neighbouring Parishes
    • Schools
  • Contact
  • Safeguarding

OUR LADY AND ST KENELM, HALESOWEN

What St Vincent de Paul has to say about helping the poor.....

"Serving the poor is to be preferred above all things
Even though the poor are often rough and unrefined, we must not judge them from external appearances nor from the mental gifts they seem to have received. On the contrary, if you consider the poor in the light of faith, then you will observe that they are taking the place of the Son of God who chose to be poor.
Although in his passion he almost lost the appearance of a man and was considered a fool by the Gentiles and a stumbling block by the Jews, he showed them that his mission was to preach to the poor: He sent me to preach the good news to the poor. We also ought to have this same spirit and imitate Christ’s actions, that is, we must take care of the poor, console them, help them, support their cause.
Since Christ willed to be born poor, he chose for himself disciples who were poor. He made himself the servant of the poor and shared their poverty. He went so far as to say that he would consider every deed which either helps or harms the poor as done for or against himself. Since God surely loves the poor, he also loves those who love the poor. For when one person holds another dear, he also includes in his affection anyone who loves or serves the one he loves. That is why we hope that God will love us for the sake of the poor. So when we visit the poor and needy, we try to understand the poor and weak. We sympathise with them so fully that we can echo Paul’s words: I have become all things to all men. Therefore, we must try to be stirred by our neighbours’ worries and distress. We must beg God to pour into our hearts sentiments of pity and compassion and to fill them again and again with these dispositions.
It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible. If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer. Do not become upset or feel guilty because you interrupted your prayer to serve the poor. God is not neglected if you leave him for such service. One of God’s works is merely interrupted so that another can be carried out. So when you leave prayer to serve some poor person, remember that this very service is performed for God. Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity. Since she is a noble mistress, we must do whatever she commands. With renewed devotion, then, we must serve the poor, especially outcasts and beggars. They have been given to us as our masters and patrons.​"
The Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Kenelm, Halesowen
Siviter Street, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 3JU
The Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Old Hill
Halesowen Road, Old Hill, Cradley Heath, West Midlands B64 6HN
To contact the Parish Priest ​Father Stefan Laszczyk
Telephone 0121 602 1972   mobile (for emergencies) 07958 730539
Email ​[email protected]
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The Presbytery Postal Address
​
22 Cobham Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 3JZ
Website by Gabriel Media
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​Our Lady and St Kenelm Parish and Our Lady of Lourdes Old Hill Parish are part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham (Registered Charity Number 234216)
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