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Diocesan News
ON HOLIDAY WITH THE S.V.P.
Peter Hampson
During the summer of 2005 we took twenty-five youngsters from Year 6 in some of the Preston catholic primary schools to the Lancashire Education Outdoor Pursuits Centre at Hothersall Lodge, near Longridge. They enjoyed a week of adventurous and challenging activities! They never ran out of 'steam' and they were very well behaved! On the Monday morning they were a group of individuals but by Friday they had bonded as a team. Well Done!
Our 'helpers', mainly non-SVP members and seven in number, performed heroically! Our thanks to them and to the staff of Hothersall Lodge. We hope to repeat the holiday in 2006.
FAREWELL TO A 'GREAT TEACHER'
Simon Stewart
Jenny Pate, diocesan primary RE adviser for the last 13 years, bade farewell to friends and colleagues at a Mass in thanksgiving for her work at the Cathedral on October 10th. She is moving on to become deputy director of education for the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
Jenny with bouquet and surrounded by well-wishers
More than 130 people came from all over the diocese to express their thanks for Jenny's work. The new head of the education service, Fr. Luiz Ruscillo, welcomed them. Bishop Patrick was chief celebrant and a choir and music group led the music from The Blessed Sacrament, Preston.
Reflecting on the Gospel from Luke 17, Bishop Patrick reminded us that when Jesus used the analogy of a mustard seed, he was making the point that it is not great faith that matters, but 'faith in a great God'. We are all called to 'serve' this God and he said that Jenny had always tried to do this through her work. He concluded by describing her as a great teacher'.
At the end of Mass, Jenny's long-time colleague Alex Scott said a few words about the experience of working with her in the schools office. He thanked her for her support during his early days in the diocese and for her professionalism and friendship throughout their time together. Jenny herself then gave thanks for the support of the Bishop and all her colleagues in the diocese. She praised their work and the level of their commitment.
Armed with a beautiful bouquet and other presents, Jenny joined participants for the customary bun-fight in the Cathedral social centre. No doubt she nibbled on a quarter of a doughnut or a carefully cut third of a chocolate éclair. Hopefully, she basked in the affection and good humour of colleagues. We will miss her warmth, vision and commitment and wish her happy times up in the northeast.
ST MARY'S CATHOLIC COLLEGE – BLACKPOOL
David Slack
On Monday 5th September we took possession of our new rooms. The 7 new Science Laboratories and ICT Suite, Art Studios, Media Studies Room, Dance Room, Vocational Rooms and a renovated Sixth Form Common Room – they are all fantastic additions to the accommodation available. During September all the Staff worked hard to ensure the rooms were fully functional for teaching in and so they would be ready on time for the opening ceremony on 5th October.
The Chapel has also been re-wired and re-decorated and the workmen completed their tasks on the Friday before our Junior Open Day and only four days before Bishop Patrick blessed the new buildings. The Mass was a great success with out Parish Priests concelebrating the Mass with our Bishop. There were Governors, representatives of the local Borough, the Design and Building Team, Parishioners, our Gift Aid Contributors, the PTFA, Staff from all areas of the College and most important of all our students - everyone enjoyed a truly wonderful celebration at the start of the College year.
SPIRITUAL EVENT IN KENDAL.
Parishioners turned out in large numbers on October 7th, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, to celebrate Mass in conclusion of all those celebrations the parish of Holy Trinity & St George has had to mark the Year of the Eucharist. To emphasise the universal nature of the Blessed Sacrament it was decided to entitle this Mass, a Mass for All Nations. We are blessed in Kendal to have a number of parishioners who were born outside the UK. These friends were contacted to see if they would take part in the celebration, and the response was overwhelming. Many different nationalities were represented. On the night they processed into church carrying their national flags and wearing their very colourful national costumes. The result was eye-catching. . The Responsorial Psalm was beautifully sung in Polish. The Gospel was read in English, but afterwards the words of Mary, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done to me", were repeated in 10 different languages. Similarly the Bidding Prayers were read, not only in English but also Italian, Nigerian, French, Irish,German, and Spanish.The Offertory Hymn in honour of Our Lady was sung in Italian by members of the Cenacalo Community from Dodding Green, who joined us for the celebration. After the post-communion prayer, the lights were dimmed in the church and the Blessed Sacrament highlighted by a single spotlight. There followed a period of adoration, concluding when the Blessed Sacrament was carried around the church, and followed by a Blessing. Afterwards the congregation met in Fellowship in the Parish Centre for refreshment. The whole celebration was noteworthy for the tremendous spirituality of the occasion.
PILGRIMAGE TO OUR CATHEDRAL
Nikola Bell
How many young people can hang on one bell rope?
On Wednesday 26th October a dozen of us travelled to Lancaster from Barrow on a mini-pilgrimage and as part of our guided tour of the Cathedral the ten younger members of the group took great joy in ringing one of the bells. Despite a dreadful weather forecast we managed to avoid the rain all day and were very grateful for the hospitality of the folk at the Cathedral. We ate our lunch in the house and learnt a lot from John and Bob our guides round St. Peter's. A brief visit to the museum in the Judges' Lodgings and a graphic description from Fr. Gerry Dunn regarding the fate of the Catholic martyrs who had been held in the castle rounded off a tiring but fun day.
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE, MAY 2006.
Deacon Paul Marley
St.Cuthbert's parish in Blackpool is exploring the feasibility of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May, 2006. We need a minimum of 20 passengers for it to take place. The trip would take in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Galilee. It should be the spiritual journey of a lifetime, a chance to walk in the footsteps of Our Lord.
Dates: 5-13 May 2006, Cost: £734, all travel and half board accommodation costs, entrance fees to sites and the services of a professional guide, but not personal insurance. Travel: Manchester airport to Heathrow and then to Tel Aviv. We will not travel to any unsafe areas, and will be guided by advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Travel Company, Rosary Pilgrimages say that tours are again picking up and that those that took place this year were without incident. Any interested readers should contact Deacon Paul Marley, 7 Dunes Avenue, Blackpool, and FY4 1PU. Tel/Fax: 01253 318171, r email pnjmarley@blueyonder.co.uk not later that December 31st. A final decision on the viability of the pilgrimage will be taken early in the New Year.
RUBY JUBILEE AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S
Marjorie Ettles, Governor and Parishioner.
Mayor of Preston, Bhikhu Patel, and his wife with some of the children during the celebrations at St. Augustine's.
St. Augustine's Parish in Preston, has been educating its children since a school was built in the Parish in 1841. In the 1960s, schemes for the large-scale regeneration of the Avenham area were being planned. It was decided that a new St. Augustine's School should be built on land adjoining the church and parish house. Work on the infant school was completed in 1965 and on the junior school in 1967.
September 30th was chosen to celebrate the Ruby Jubilee of the present school building. A Mass was held, presided over by Bishop Patrick and concelebrated by Father Michael Murphy, parish priest, former parish priest Father Peter Foulkes, priests from the deanery and nearby parishes. The venue for the Mass was the St. Augustine's Avenham Centre and the somewhat stark surroundings of the activity hall were beautified by the use of our craftsman-made altar furniture and the use of a 3-metre by 3-metre fabric collage icon of Christ - a work of art designed and made by a young Polish parishioner, Agnieszka Zarzycka, The congregation of more than 250 included the Mayor of Preston, Bhikhu Patel, and his lovely wife, present and former staff, pupils and parents, former headteachers, governors and parishioners.
The Mass was marked by the inspired singing and playing of the music group, the dignified proclamations of Scripture by a member of staff and a present pupil and by the leading of prayers of intercession by present pupils. The altar servers, even the youngest, carried out their duties with great reverence and were an inspiration to all. At the end of Mass, each person was given a commemorative booklet, which outlined the history of the school.
BROUGHTON SOCIETY HONOURED
Andrew Seacombe
ONE of Britain's oldest charities has been honoured with the unveiling of a blue plaque at its birthplace 219 years ago. Awarded by Preston and South Ribble Civic Trust, the plaque commemorates the founding of the Broughton Catholic Charitable Society at the Golden Ball Hotel at Broughton near Preston on 6 May 1787.
The society was formed to help families made destitute by a smallpox epidemic in the Broughton area of Lancashire's Fvlde district north of Preston. Since then the society has dispensed many thousands of pounds to needy causes in many parts of the Third World as well as in the UK. This year its nearly 2,000 members will be awarding £11,000 to a variety of charities. The plaque was unveiled on what is now the Bay Tree Hotel by the Mayor of Preston, Cllr Bhikhu Patel, watched by officials and members of the society.
WOMEN TOGETHER IN THE DIOCESE
Collette Greenwood
An Ecumenical Day of Prayer and Reflection for Women Together in the Diocese of Lancaster took place on 1st October in the Hindpool Centre in Barrow. The Speaker Mrs Molly Dow gave a most interesting talk on her life and facing the difficulties in the journey of faith. She clearly expressed our dependence on God. The vote of thanks was given by Mrs Pauline Bush from Barrow. Pauline is the Organisor for the Furness Deanery. The day was organised by Pauline and Sister Moira Lever from the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Barrow.
Molly Dow has a degree in Chemistry from Oxford University. She also holds a Diploma in Theology and has been a Reader in the Church of England for many years. She is married to Graham the Bishop of Carlisle and is the mother of 4 adult children. She has studied Ignatian spirituality and has been involved in giving spiritual direction. She was the Spirituality Advisor for the Willesdon Area in the Diocese of London where she also co-produced various courses on personal and corporate prayer. She has written a book entitled Mountains and Molehills. We all bought copies of her excellent book. (Only £3.99)
A WAY WITH A MANGER
D Hyland
In many a drafty village hall
Fond parents are gathered ,one and all,
To see a familiar story played :
A baby in a manger laid.
There they see familiar sights :
Laundered tea-towels ( preferably striped)
Barely concealing a loved child's face,
Whilst shepherds wander all over the place!
No missing Mary - she's in blue-
But Joseph, type-cast- has just one thing to do:
He's got to find a room at the inn
And meets a young inn-keeper
Who can't help but grin.
"My wife and I have nowhere to stay
We've not been able to come till today
We've been doing our shopping and are proper worn out
Please say you've a room, don't say you've nowt."
The little inn-keeper gave a broad smile
He'd been waiting for this moment for quite a while
Until now he'd never been able
To offer a couple a place in his stable.
"I'm sure you'll be very comfortable here,
It's really quite warm for this time of year,
The breath of the animals might get up your nose
But that's the least of your troubles, I suppose."
Inside the stable there were animals galore:
There were penguins and zebras and lions that roar,
The teacher had made sure that all had a part
She was looking quite anxious right from the start.
Then a small squeaky recorder is heard
Played by a shepherd with an unusual beard,
Hooked over one ear and not the other,
A child in the audience cries: "That's my brother!"
There's hardly a dry eye in the village hall
At what has happened in a humble stall,
The birth of a baby brings so much joy
Especially the birth of this little Boy.
Young people from the Cumbrian St. John's ambulance who helped the infirm and handicapped at the recent "Year of the Eucharistic" celebrations at Cleator.
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