Parish Profile
Westminster Record | March 2014
Our Lady of Victories, Kensington: A Church of Quiet Nobility parishioners and volunteers having been in the parish for much of their lives.” “Our Lady of Victories Primary School has also always been very involved in the life of the Church here.” For Fr Lorenzo, ordained in 2011, Our Lady of Victories is the first parish he has served and its youthfulness was what first struck him: “The church is full of young couples and families, especially the 10.30 Mass; it’s a nice noise, full of the sound of children.” Mgr Jim agrees: “One thing visitors always comment on is the number of children and young adults in the congregation.”
Youth and Young Adults: A Real Hunger for God When I ask how young people can get involved following Confirmation, Dan tells me that the youth in the parish are keen, with plenty of willing, charismatic volunteers, a combination which has led to the success of two projects: a post-
Confirmation group and Tutor plus. “The post-Confirmation group is a way to encourage further formation, based around what they want to do. Over the past year they’ve shown real interest in getting involved in a soup kitchen and now help out at the St Vincent de Paul Society at Holborn, and they really love it.” “Now, whenever I offer them a pizza night, they say ‘No, no, Dan we’d rather go help the poor’, which is inspiring to hear.” “We also saw a need in our own community, as many students do well in school because they have tutors, but those who cannot afford them are being left out. We now have a new tutoring group, Tutor plus, which provides free tuition for anyone who wants it and we’ve worked together with local parishes as well as the Assumption Sisters and Heythrop College to provide an army of tutors to help out in any subject.” Reflecting on the location I ask Mgr Jim if this presence of young adults is due to the
nearby Heythrop and Imperial Colleges: “There are some students in the parish, but it’s primarily young professionals we see here, many of whom are brought by their friends. Our Young Adults group has a long history in the parish; they come primarily to the 6.30pm Mass which has a popular gospel-style choir.” “Whether it’s through the Mass or by the work of the parishioners making this a place for young people, they have really grasped at it. There is a real hunger to get involved.”
The Challenge of Pope Francis This ‘hunger ’ has been fed by the impact of Pope Francis. Fr Freddie says that many whom he meets have been inspired in this way and Fr Lorenzo notes that talking about Pope Francis offers people who wouldn’t normally volunteer it a way to talk about their faith. Mgr Jim says that many groups in the parish have
The west front of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church
by Alex Balzanella tanding back from busy Kensington High Street, Our Lady of Victories Church is set in a small courtyard giving it a quiet, tranquil atmosphere. It was at the nearby clergy house that I met Monsignor Jim Curry, Parish Priest, Fr Freddie Jackson and Fr Lorenzo Andreini, his assistants and Sr Maureen McNamara and Dan McNamara (no relation!), catechetical co-ordinator and youth worker respectively. This team is supplemented by a committed group of volunteers.
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“Always an International Parish” They are keen to underline each others’ strengths. Mgr Jim begins with Sr Maureen, whose experience as catechetical co-ordinator and teacher at Our Lady of Victories Primary School totals 34 years. She says: “This has always been an international parish. It was formed by French priests and has always welcomed communities from around the world: Italian, Spanish, Americans have all come here. There really is a strong sense of community though, with many
Mgr Jim, Fr Lorenzo and Fr Freddie in the site of the soon to be completed Parish Hall
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