CONTACTING THE VOICE

By Mail:	Editor, (Rev V Farrell), Holy Family Church, Links Road, Blackpool, FY1 2RU
Fax:	01253 590018
Telephone:	01253 351258
Email:	Editorial – voicechain@aol.com Letters – voicechain@aol.com
LAST DATES: Last date for submissions to the May edition is April 5th, and for the June issue, May 10th.

Congratulations from Liverpool
I’ve just read a copy of the latest edition of The Voice, and I must congratulate you on its content. I am from the Liverpool diocese, and am very envious of your diocesan newspaper. Your recent edition for February was perfect and I am writing to thank you for the Paper and everyone connected with it.
Kevin Finn(Rev)
Mawdesley

Dodding Days & Canon Bamber
I have just read your article on Dodding Green Presbytery, it brought back some memories to me. Although I never attended the Church of St Alice and Robert, or the presbytery, the priest in charge was a Canon Joe Bamber. Fr Bamber, as he then was, played the drums at my father’s, Concerts in the Watterton Hall in Carlisle and other locations. My Father, Thomas Leo Harold, was a founding member of the Catholic Railway Guild and a well-known organist. He organised various concerts and one I remember was at Warwick Bridge on the property of Warwick Hall on the banks of the River Eden. This must have been in the late 40's as I was just a lad. Fr Bamber officiated at our wedding at Our Lady and St Joseph in Carlisle in July 1961. Thanks for the article.
James L Harold
Pickering, Ontario
Canada

March Editorial - “A Firm Purpose of Amendment”
So much of last month’s editorial is of paramount importance. Over the last 50 years I have found myself saying “we are the Church” and “this is our parish” but often this has met with mixed responses from both clergy and laity. In many parishes the laity have no involvement in decision making or inspiring the parish in its mission, though in some parishes there is a deep awareness of these things. At Deanery level there is a similar range of attitudes. Some Deaneries meet together and share the responsibilities, but in other deaneries, only the clergy meet.

Does the Laity have any real say in the running of OUR diocese? Or are all the decisions in the hands of a very select few? How were the members of the recent reviews into Finance and Property, Education, and Faith and Justice, chosen? If we need to review those services, and of course we do, then the reviews must be seen to be open, honest and just. We should have the right to share in these reviews, at all levels. You ask why we hear so little about collaborative ministry these days. Is it about the fear of losing power and control?

You are right to say that so many of our clergy, both past and present, have been remarkable examples of “a calling to serve Christ.” But I can think of many laity too who have done likewise. It is so sad that at a time when we are so short of clergy, some priests seem set against our diocesan services. Even I fear, attempting to dismantle them on the grounds of cost. Why not evaluate them on the on the grounds of the quality of the service they provide? I have spent many years in Catholic schools, primary and secondary, as teacher, and clerk to the governors and I have no doubt that without the guidance of the Diocesan Education Service many Heads and Governors would have foundered. I have had similar help and advice from the Finance team. This Diocese has a large number of dedicated clergy and laity well capable of working together. I hope and pray that we will be encouraged to do so.
Frank Hartley,
Ribbleton, Preston

The Word Of God
I was very interested in the second Editorial in the March issue. It brought back many memories of how we have been deprived of feasting on the Word of God. It does make you wonder why it happened. But happen it did. The Holy Scriptures are wonderful. They speak to us in many different ways and at different times. What a privilege it is to be asked to proclaim God's Word. But, I wonder if we do consider reading to be less important than distributing the Holy Eucharist. In January a group of our readers spent an afternoon with Fr. Eugene at Tabor. He gave a passage from one of the early church fathers Caesarius of Arles who says that the word of God is no less important than the body of Christ. So all those years ago the Church recognised the importance of Scripture.
Rev Chris Barwise
Sacred Heart Church
Preston

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