MUSLIM TRIBUTE TO JOHN PAUL II

St. Augustine’s parish, Preston
Among the many tributes to Pope John Paul received from members of the local Muslim community was this from Mrs Azra Butt, who teaches in our school. "Please accept and pass on to all my heartfelt sympathy on the departing of Pope John Paul II. We have lost in body but not in soul a very beautiful and rare treasure. I pray that his successor is able to unite all of mankind in the very special way he was able to." She also added this prayer. “Verily to Allah belongs what He took and to Him belongs what He gave. Oh Allah, make Pope John Paul II a preceding reward and stored treasure for all who knew, loved and respected him. Make heavy his scales and magnify his rewards. Make honourable his reception into the Garden and unite him with the righteous believers. Amen."

NEWS FROM ULVERSTON

Colette Greenwood
St Mary's Parish Gala will be on Sunday 12th June at 12 noon. It is held in St Mary's School and grounds in Springfield Road. Bring your friends.

PRESENTATION OF BENE MERENTI MEDALS

Deacon Bill Wright
It was a case of Surprise, Surprise, with Cilla Black nowhere to be seen, when Bene Merenti Medals were presented to Peter and Cynthia 0'Connor, husband and wife parishioners of St. Edmund of Canterbury parish Fleetwood. The joint presentation was made by Father Edmund Gomall, Parish Priest of St. Edmunds at the end of Mass on Saturday evening 16th April to a very surprised couple, as the presentation had been kept a secret from them. Gerald Vandome, Chairman of the Lancaster Lourdes Committee helped Father Gomall with the presentation. It was a coincidence that the certificates had been signed in Rome on 11th February the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and were presented to Peter and Cynthia on the 16th April the feast of St.
Bemadette. The medals were given for their devotion to caring for the sick and the handicapped over many years in various different ways. Peter has been a Brancardier on the Diocesan Pilgrimage for over 30 years and held the position of Chief Brancardier taking over from Bert Osbaldeston. A sprightly and well fit man for his age, just 79, Peter will be taking a rest from his Brancardier duties this year but no doubt he will be back. Cynthia cannot match Peter's record for length of service on the Diocesan Pilgrimage but she has been in Lourdes as a Handmaid for many, many years. Lourdes is a very special place for both of them and there is a very special place in their hearts for the sick people that they have cared for over the years and have made many friends with whom they still keep in touch.

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE NEEDS HELPERS:

Pilgrimage Director, Cath Morgan
Are there any young or fit older people who would like to go to Lourdes as helpers? We are short of helpers who are flying with us as helpers. The dates are 22nd July to the 29th July and details are available from me, e-mail fourthnight@btinternet.com or 01253 892029. Thanks.

THEY BOUGHT A GOAT

Members of a Faith and Justice Group at Saint Mary's Catholic College Blackpool recently raised over £40 by sacrificing an Easter Egg! The money raised will be used to purchase a goat from Cafod's World Gifts Catalogue. The goat will be provided for people in East Africa - allowing them to have a supply of milk to drink and manure for their crops. The students managed to raise the money by creating an invitation asking their parents to donate the money they would have spent on an Easter Egg to the "buy a goat" appeal.

PRAYING IN THE ABBEY

An ecumenical Prayer Gathering in support of the Make Poverty History Campaign is to be held in among the ruins of Furness Abey, near Barrow in Furness. It will take place on Sunday June 26th between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Already involved are the Churches Together in Ulverston, Barrow, Grange-over-Sands, Ambleside, and Windermere. There seems to be great enthusiasm from all the churches and some are even making it their Sunday service. It is hoped that Bishop Patrick and Bishop Graham Dow will be able to take part.

FAITH IN THE MODERN WORLD

Cathedral Social Centre, Balmoral Road, Lancaster Wednesday, 1st June 2005 at 7.30 pm Fr. Francis Marsden, “Faith and Modern Thought: Barriers to Belief?” Parish priest of St. Joseph’s, Anderton, near Chorley, Lancashire, Fr. Marsden has a doctorate in organic chemistry from Cambridge niversity and the Licentiate in moral theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He lectures at the Maryvale Institue in Birmingham and writes a regular weekly column in the Catholic Times.
Wednesday, 6th July 2005 at 7.30 pm Dr. Margaret Atkins “Faith and Ethics: How to be Happy.” Dr. Atkins teaches theology at Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds. She writes regularly for the Independent and has translated some of the writings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

WOMEN TOGETHER IN THE DIOCESE OF LANCASTER:

In this year of the Eucharist we invite all the women in the diocese to meet on Saturday 14th May 2005 at the church of Christ the King in Harraby Carlisle with Mass at 12 noon celebrated by Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue. Afterwards there will be an informal gathering in the Harraby Catholic Club next to the church. Tea and coffee will be served: please bring a packed lunch. This will end with a meditation led by Sister Zela Procter O.S.U. before departures at 3.00 p.m. TRAVEL: A coach has been arranged for people coming from the Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Kirkham, Preston areas. To book seats, please telephone Pauline Drake on 01253 733985.
BY CAR: Leave the M6 northbound at junction 42. Take exit2, signed A6 Carlisle. Follow this road for about 1 mile. At first set of traffic lights, turn right onto Cumwhinton Road. Then take first left onto Edgehill Road. The church of Christ the King is approximately 300 yards on the right hand side. For further information, contact Secretary on 01353 34419

The Parting of the Waves

By Kevin Lonergan
Led by Archbishop Kelly of Liverpool, more than 300 people turned up on Bank Holiday Monday, May 3rd, to cross the sands of Morecambe Bay in support the Right to Life Group. After a short service on the pier at Arnside, we ventured out into the Bay with the beautiful views of the Lakeland Hills to our left, the coastline of Morecambe to our right and behind us the flat topped hill of Inglebrough. Everyone was excited as for many it was their first time, and they knew they’d be safe under the watchful eye of Queens Guide Cedric Robinson.
We had to wade through various stretches of water and I couldn’t help thinking of Moses and the parting of the waves. We all got a good soaking and were glad to reach the finishing line some 3 ½ hours later at Kents Bank Railway Station. There was still the 10-minute train around the bay to Arnside and I was quite embarrassed as the children started to “serenade” the Archbishop with “Because the Lord is my Shepherd” and even had him doing one of their dances! All in all it was a day to remember for us all. I hope that plenty of funds were raised for the Life Charity and that this will become an annual event in the Calendar.
Pictures show Archbishop Kelly setting out across the sands and later being interviewed by young Michael Lonergan

Thanksgiving Mass at St. Winefride’s

On February 28th last there was a thanksgiving Mass at the retirement home for priests in Blackpool. The occasion was the retirement of committee members, Mary Newton, (Chair) Tom Newton, (Treasurer) Kate & Cecil Uppard, Betty & Tony Smith and Bill Rodway who have cared for St Winefride’s for 18 years. After Mass a small presentation was made. Please note that the annual Mass in honour of the local martyr, Edward Bamber will be celebrated at St. Winefride’s on Thursday, July 7th at 7.00 p.m.

Joint Service Cadet Forces Expedition East Africa 2005

By A proud Grandfather: Fred Unsworth, K.S.C.
s On Monday 11th July 2005, 34 youths aged 16 to 20 will fly from Heathrow to Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), in East Africa. But this is no cosy packaged holiday. It will be a gruelling 4 week expedition that will include trekking to several villages (with food and drink carried by a donkey), climbing 3 volcanoes and Mt. Killimanjaro and working in three ‘Make Poverty History’ projects. These projects are the primary reason for the expedition – the rest is just to keep them fit.
Sixteen year old Stevan Barnes a pupil of Cardinal Allen school, Fleetwood and a parishioner of St. Bernadette’s Blackpool is the youngest of the thirty four young people on the trip. Stevan is a member of the Blackpool Sea Cadets and last year he won the Penelope Association Award, the Most Improved Cadet of the Year Award, the Overall Best Cadet of the Year award, and the Sports Cadet of the Year award (for the third time).
Stevan says that the trekking and mountaineering is the ‘fun’ part of the expedition. He is really looking forward to getting ‘hands on’ experience of the culture and poverty of third world citizens. He will be working with them in an effort to ‘Make Poverty History.’ He believes that sympathy is not enough; it’s compassion that counts. Stevan and his family are at present busy raising money towards the £1300 it will cost to send him on the expedition. So if you see them at any of your events selling raffle tickets or running a stall at your car boot sale, please be generous. Please remember Stevan in your prayers.

Bike Ride for Tsunami Appeal

Dear Readers of the Voice
We would like to thank all those who supported out sponsored Bike Ride on February 14th last from Morecambe to Glasson Dock. Prayers for a fine day were answered and after an interview on local radio, “The Bay.” And a pub lunch, we returned home having raised £1300. Thanks everyone.
David Townsend & Nial Ryan (aged 12)