WHEN THE ROOF FALLS IN
MAJOR WORK AT ST.JOHN VIANNEYS, BLACKPOOL
By our Architectural Correspondent

When Fr Tony Walsh arrived as Parish Priest at St John Vianney’s Blackpool, he found that, like the Mikado of Gilbert & Sullivan, he had to take “under his wing, Tra La, a very unattractive old thing, Tra La”. The Church ceiling had historical defects, which needed immediate attention. Quite literally, it needed to be completely replaced. The problem of getting this work done while keeping the church in use was solved by building a platform close to the ceiling, rather like Michelangelo had when he was painting the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. The work was carried on above the heads of the worshippers, out of sight and mostly out of earshot too. But then came an interesting challenge.
The church ceiling consists of three domes, and Fr Tony struck on the idea of giving each a central point of interest in the shape a crest. He turned to the Art Department of nearby St. Mary’s Catholic High School. They ran a competition among the students and the church now has its crests in place. When you’re next in Blackpool, why not call in and see for your self? Meantime here are some photos to put you in the picture.

HEALING MINISTRY
Fr Alf Parker

In anticipation perhaps of a time when a priest, deacon or Eucharistic minister is not available, on Thursday 2nd December the parishioners of St Charles, Grange over Sands celebrated a service of the Liturgy of the Word and prayers for healing. A penitential rite with opening prayers and scripture readings was followed by a reflection on the word (not a homily) and a brief explanation of the healing service. For this service members of the prayer group formed two teams who prayed with parishioners who wished to come forward for prayers, either for themselves, family or friends. All in all it was a successful and interesting evening followed by the inevitable tea and biscuits. We hope to continue with these and other healing services. In the afternoon of the first Friday of each month we have a mass and prayers of healing for the sick.

LANCASTER DIOCESAN LOURDES SOCIETY
Gerald Vandome Chairman

There will be a Mass and Blessing of the Sick and procession in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes at the Sacred Heart Church, Talbot Road, Blackpool at 7.00pm on Friday February 11th 2005. The AGM of the Society will be held on Sunday February 27th 2005 at the chaplaincy, Lancaster University at 2.30 pm The Editor of the Lourdes Journal would welcome letters, photographs, interesting articles and any information for inclusion in the Spring Edition. Please send them to Mr Philip Wilcock, 30 Bridgeway, Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 5YJ Please send subscriptions to Gerald Vandome, 21 Northway, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9TP.

ZAMBIAN SUN BY A CARLISLE FIRESIDE
Tess & Derek Nash

Straw Huts, unlimited sunshine, low rainfall: the blissful images of the Holiday Brochures which pop up so conveniently at this time. How could we resist the invitation from Fr Jerome Ainsworth, and invite him to our home to learn more about those foreign shores. In any case we already from the pictures Fr John Baron had shown us and from those that have appeared in The Voice that the diocese of Monze in Zambia was not the idyllic holiday paradise of our dreams. Around the warmth of a winter fireside, curtains drawn, mince pies and home made cake, Fr Jerome discussed his African experiences and provided us with images every bit as good as those Fergal Keane brings us on Television.

It truly is difficult for us to understand the living conditions there. We sat comfortably in our easy chairs while before us were pictures of men on small stools and women on the floor. The children at our catholic schools in Carlisle sit in warm classrooms surrounded by several books, we were watching children in a school that has no glass in its window frames, and just one book between seven children. We saw children watering their garden with freezer size plastic bags, but the garden was not for flowers, it was for vegetables which were to be sold so the school could get needs glass in those naked frames. We take our Health Service so much for granted the images from Monze were frightening. Beds side by side, no heating, no food unless it provided by friends or family, two large boilers working but two idle as spare parts had to come from came from Germany.

But Fr Jerome also showed us picture of happiness, warm family relationships, an industrious people full of Faith. These were powerful images as we prepared for Christmas. After a few moments of reflection, we bade each other warm good nights. Did we sleep? Thank you Father. We needed to see the image of our faith lived in altogether different surrounding, miles away from the comfort of our own shores, where shortages of food, warmth, and health are the exception not the norm.

PRESTON, KERALA AND THE ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE
Fr Hugh Pollock

Most folk at a Sunday afternoon Mass probably don’t expect it to last too long. It’s not that kind of Mass. But recently Worshippers at the 4.00 pm at English Martyrs, Preston, got something of a shock. To be fair, they had been warned, but most probably paid no heed. Frs Tom Singleton and I had invited the Keralan Community to them for Mass. Kerala is a state in South West India with an ancient Christian tradition all of its own, founded, it is believed by the apostle St. Thomas. There are many people from Kerala working in our hospitals these days and a Jesuit priest from Kerala, has come across to assess their needs Fr Jose will be based at St Wilfrid’s until February. He usually says a Mass for the community in their own language, Malayalam, and their own rite, Syro-Malabar, but on this occasion we were combining, readings and sermon in English and the rest in their rite, Fr. Tom and I silently concelebrating.

Mass began about 4.15, because as Fr. Jose said, “we begin when everyone has arrived”. The chief celebrant was a relative of one of the community, a Schonstadt father, at present studying in Germany. Then Fr. Jose gave us an introduction into the rite, which, as he said, is not as logically organised as the Latin rite, but prefers to create a sense of holiness through prayer and especially song, with prayer for forgiveness running throughout the Mass. The singing was very impressive, even though Fr. Jose said it could have been better, and many people were impressed by the atmosphere it created. As one of our regular congregation said, “My first impression was – what a large and devout Asian Catholic population we have in Preston, with many young people and children. The Mass was very long compared to our normal 4 o’clock Mass (it ended at 5.30) and that was their low Mass!” We then had tea and cakes afterwards and had a chance to meet and chat.A nice end to the evening was the arrival of the L’Arche community who came to go round the Advent Prayer Stations in the church. We dispatched this account to The Voice immediately only to have the editor come back to us, asking why we didn’t have a picture. It’s a fair point. Sorry, Voice Readers, next time!

SHINING KNIGHTS

IT’S DIFFERENT IN FLEETWOOD

The Central Heating in St. Mary’s Church, Fleetwood decided to break down shortly before the Christmas Carol Service was due to take place. Did they cancel it? Not likely, this is Fleetwood. The service was simply postponed until Monday 10th January and they used it as a fund-raising opportunity for the Earthquake Appeal. And that’s not all. Have you ever heard of a SUMMER BARBECUE ON BOXING DAY? Well it wasn’t quite like that. Every September a group of parishioners organise a Summer Social Event and part of the proceeds of that event go to fund Christmas Party on Boxing Day. This year’s was held on the 27th as Boxing Day was on a Sunday. Here’s a picture to prove it.