The week ahead: Little Sisters, St Augustine and an English martyr

The Little Sisters of the Poor celebrate the 150th anniversary of their presence in Philadelphia on Saturday August 24. There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, at 10:30 am. St Jeanne Jugan founded the Little Sisters in 1839, to care for the elderly poor. Thirty years later the first house was founded in Philadelphia.

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Wednesday August 28 is the feast of St Augustine, who among many other things is the patron saint of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. The town marks the date each year with the Higalaay Festival, which has lost most of its religious character.

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A new book on Reformation martyr St Margaret Clitherow will be launched this week. John and Wendy Rayne-Davis’s book will be launched at Theodore House, Stonyhurst, at 7.30pm on Friday August 30. There will be Mass next morning at Stydd Chapel, probably her resting place. If you would like to attend the launch, email bookings@christianheritagecentre.com