Friendship Groups
The Cathedral has a number of friendship societies and associations which meet regularly offering support and companionship. These are a lovely way to meet other parishioners and to be an active participant in the local community.
The Filipino Club at Westminster Cathedral
The FCWC is a social club that meets in the Hinsley Room on the first Sunday of each month from 1pm to 5pm. The club welcomes all nationalities – you don’t need to be a Filipino to join.
Our meetings usually start with lunch which gives our members a chance to catch up and chat with each other. We enjoy talks and discussions and planning club outings/pilgrimages and fundraising events, but the emphasis is on enjoying a wide range of social activities – including dancing.
The FCWC raises funds both for Westminster Cathedral and other Filipino charities. We hold regular charity dances in the Cathedral Hall, and take part in an annual sponsored walk. We also maintain links with other Filipino organisations across the UK and support their work and events whenever we can.
To join the FCWC, just come along to one of our meetings. There is a small membership fee of £15, payable annually. For more information, please email: chreception@rcdow.org.uk
Westminster Cathedral Grandparents Association
The mission of the Catholic Grandparents’ Association is to help grandparents pass on the faith and keep prayer in the heart of family life. From small beginnings in 2014, and originally guided by the late Canon Tuckwell, our active group has evolved to number more than 40 regular members. We meet in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace between 12:00pm and 3.30pm on the second Sunday of each month.
We gather to pray the Rosary, followed by the Novena of St Joachim and St Anne, the parents of Our Lady, and sing spiritual songs that lift our hearts into the presence of God. One of the Cathedral Chaplains joins our meetings to pray with us and to give us their blessing. We bring food to share over lunch.
We have organised pilgrimages for our members, both to Walsingham, where we met and worked with the founder of the National Catholic Grandparents Association, Catherine Wiley, and also to Holywell. As a group, we seek to offer mutual support to members and to the community by prayer and to play an active part in Cathedral life, organising and helping with events to raise funds for both for the Cathedral and for those in need in the community.
New members are always welcome – and you don’t need to have grandchildren to join – the CGA welcomes all parents. If you would like to know more please contact chreception@rcdow.org.uk
Nigerian Catholics Association at Westminster Cathedral
This group was formed in the 1990s for the care and welfare of Nigerians attending the Cathedral and to offer support to the Cathedral. The group numbers 50 strong, with some 20 active members and a further 30 associate members. We pray together, fundraise, arrange social events and pilgrimages while offering mutual support to one another. We are ready to assist the Cathedral whatever the need and our members are already serving in many roles including Altar Service, Catechism and Eucharistic Ministry and active involvement with Cathedral fundraising events.
We meet on the 4th Sunday of each month in the Hinsley Room after the 12pm Mass. If you are interested in joining the Nigerian Catholic Association please come to one of our meetings or for more information contact Joseph Samuel 07448009267 or email: chreception@rcdow.org.uk
Yoruba Group
The Yoruba of Westminster Cathedral is an ethnic, religious group, born out of the need to maintain togetherness and a mood of prayer during the Coronavirus pandemic. It started in June 2020, via conference call, due to the restrictions on physical meetings. Yoruba is one of three main ethnic tribes in Nigeria that share similar values and culture and a common language also called Yoruba.
The group was established to care for members and to encourage the deepening of both the Roman Catholic faith and Yoruba culture. It brings members together to work for the spiritual, intellectual and material welfare of members and their families, for mutual support in times of need, financially, morally and spiritually. It meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 13.30 – 15.00 in the Hinsley Room. Meetings begin with prayers, rosary and songs. For more information please contact Mr Benedict Adu email: benedictadutob@rocketmail.com
