ECUMENICAL ACTIVITY

Carlisle - United In Prayer Over Easter:
Tony Parrini

St Augustine's Parish in Carlisle was one of many Churches and Groups that took part in a 24 hour Prayer Chain across the City between 6am on Good Friday to 6 am on Easter Sunday morning. The aim was to link all denominations in prayer so as to give thanks and praise for all the good in the community. We also wanted to confess the wrongs of the City and our own part in them. We prayed too for City's Flood issues and for the way the unified Church responded to the flood disaster. The Chain encapsulated a number of other events. There was the Salvation Army march into the City. There was a public service in the City Centre amongst the Easter Market stalls. And there was the traditional Good Friday evening Walk of Witness from Our Lady and St Josephs in the City to the Shrine "outside the City" at Wetheral Plains Road, a distance of over 3 miles. This latter was organised by Kniights of St Columba. The end of the Prayer Chain was marked by a dawn service at 6.30am on Easter Sunday Morning in Carlisle Cemetery - despite the clocks going forward by an hour overnight, the event, or the breakfast afterwards at the St James’ Parish Centre, attracted a large attendance.

Shared Premises at Poulton
Bill Milton

Our photograph was taken at the opening of the new Church hall at Carlton near Poulton le Fylde. The new hall is the result of several years of fundraising and a great deal of effort by many people but even more it has become a symbol of the loving relationship that has blossomed between our two congregations. Thanks be to God. In the photograph, L to R: Fr Muir, Catholic Parish Priest, The Vicar of Poulton, Martin Keighly, The Bishop of Blacburn, Rt. Rev Nicholas Reade, Bishop Patrick, Archdeacon of Lancaster, Colin Williams, Altar Server Sam Eastwick, Rev Roland Nicholson

Easter Ecumenical Services In Lancaster
Mandy Whitehouse

Lancaster Council of Churches held their annual Good Friday evening service with a slightly different format this year. First there was a short service at the Priory on Castle Hill, and then a silent walk of witness through the city to the Cathedral for a concluding service – thus symbolically uniting Lancaster’s two great churches. On Easter Sunday morning there was the customary dawn service in Williamson Park at 6.30 am followed by a communal Jacobs Join breakfast in the Café.

Women’s World Day of Prayer in Preston 2005.
Margaret Rawcliffe

This was held at two venues- the Central Methodist Church in the afternoon and Fulwood methodist Church in the evening. The Christian Women of Poland prepared this years service. Poland has had a difficult past and experienced times of darkness from which they are emerging having now become a member of the European Union. It was therefore fitting that their chosen theme was “Let our light shine.” The service commenced with the Polish tradition of the distribution of bread and salt to the congregation-symbols of hospitality and friendship. Both services were well attended and women from various denominations took part. Christian women throughout the world shared the same service- united with the women of Poland- praying together that the Light of God’s Word may speak to us.

COMING NEXT: Churches Together in Grasmere
Fr D.G.Duane

We’re having a Whitsun Procession of Witness on Sunday May 15th, and all Voice readers would be very welcome. Take a copy of the paper with you and you will be mad especially welcome. The event is named, “PRAISE BY THE LAKE” and it starts at 2.00 p.m. from the church of Our Lady of the Wayside. It moves from our place to the Methodist church and then on to St. Oswalds where William Wordsworth is buried. The procession will then continue through the village and the A591 to White Moss Common . A short Ecumenical Service will be held on the Lake shore. Music will be provides by the Lakeland Singers, and others. The Service itself should start at about 3:30 P.M. Join us for a lovely afternoon in this picturesque part of the Lake District.

COMING NEXT: Eastern Catholic Event
Judith Swarbrick

A half day devoted to the Eastern Catholic way will be held at the Tabor Retreat Centre, 169, Sharoe Green Lane in Monday May 23, led by Fr David White, Melkite (Eastern-rite Catholic) priest. 1.15 – 4.30pm.

News from the Catholic Women’s League at Penrith
Brenda Smith.

Nineteen people came to our Day of Recollection at Brettagh Holt on Wednesday March 16th. It was an uplifting day led by Fr Wiliam Glasswell who is our Parish Priest. The morning session was occupied by with, “The Bible and its Transaltions” Then we had Mass in that lovely chapel at Bretargh. The sisters offered us a three course, before we got back to the Bible and more discussion. The day ended with Benediction.

Workington Winners
Doreen Burns

Jean & Peter Hayes from the parish of Our Lady & St.Michael, Workington are here pictured with the car they won in the recent S.V.P. national draw. Their Parish Priest blessed the car for them but did not give it a name so it’s up to readers to name the make and model.

HOLY FAMILY CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF FAIRTRADE
Rosa Trelfa

Holy Family Catholic Church of Freckleton and Warton marked the first anniversary of supporting Fairtrade in the parish by taking on the Fairtrade Pledge. Mr Ian Shearer, of the Fylde Fairtrade Group, presented it to the parish during the national Fairtrade Fortnight on Sunday, 13th March. He is seen here with Fr Peter Clarke, the parish priest, and Lucy and Sarah Trelfa, who manage and run the weekly stall in church, which has been enthusiastically supported by the parish. As a parish, we pledge to use Fairtrade tea and coffee at all of our functions and support and promote the Fairtrade principle wherever we can. It is encouraging that a growing number of parishes in the diocese embrace Fairtrade – a simple but effective way of tackling poverty through trade.

PARISH GALA:

St. Mary’s parish Ulverston will be having their annual Gala on June 12th. It is always held on 2nd Sunday in June, being first introduced by Fr Tom Ward in the Seventies. Please come and take a copy of The Voice with you for a free cup of tea!

LIFE CARES IN BLACKPOOL
Mary Hetherington, Caring Officer.

"I know I'll never go to heaven, now." Living out our days on earth in such - for most of us - unimaginable despair doesn't bear thinking about. And yet these were the words of a young, beautiful, married mother of two, who accidentally contacted Blackpool Life Group suffering from severe post-abortion trauma. She had intended to seek help from the agency who set up her termination, but by the hand of God, I am certain, ended up in Life's care. The number of women damaged by abortion is an obvious consequence of the 180,000 babies aborted in this country each year. The pain and anguish which many of these women experience is all the more tragic because, having been given the abortion, they are expected not to speak about their problem. "You had the right to choose so your choice can't be wrong” seems to be the last word from the abortionists. We disagree. Our last words are " hope, forgiveness and reconciliation". In 1971 the Blackpool Life Group was formed as the result of an all night prayer vigil held in response to the 1967 Abortion Act. Our counselling was done from our own homes. In those days our advert "Pregnant and frightened? Abortion is not the only answer" was sufficient. In the present social climate, however, where government agencies have an agenda to decrease the number of teenage pregnancies, whilst remaining unconcerned about the promotion of ever more promiscuous life-styles for our children, a wider approach is needed. Condoms and Morning-After pills are “big-business”. Life's response is rising to this challenge?
Life Cares can be contacted on 01253 625190. National Hotline 01926311511. Reg. Charity 274144

THE GENERAL ELECTION

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is encouraging Catholics to question parliamentary candidates on a number of key issues and have highlighted six for special consideration:

• Marriage and the family. Politicians are urged to support and strengthen family life and assess all legislation for its impact on the families. The bishops emphasise that the traditional family structure remains the building block of our society.
• Respect for life. The bishops reiterate their opposition to abortion, the cloning of human embryos and euthanasia. They call for policies that safeguard the fundamental right to life, and call for the especially vulnerable to be treated with care and dignity.
• Criminal justice. A compassionate and fresh approach to crime and punishment is urged. Politicians should develop policies that produce a more humane criminal justice system.
• Education. Education is about the formation of the whole person whether at school or as an adult. It needs to be well funded so that no one is deterred from learning for economic reasons.
• The global common good. The cancellation of debt, more and better aid, and fair trade should be at the top of the agenda for our government. International organisations, such as the UN, should be strengthened.
• Refugees and migrants. Policies should protect the human rights and dignity of refugees and migrants. Standards governing the treatment of refugees and migrants and which seek to combat the criminal trafficking and sexual abuse of women and children should be supported.

DEANERY MASS AT ST. TERESA’S
Joan Connors

In our town parishes, a full church and an enthusiastic congregation are, sadly, a rare event. However, here at St Teresa's, Preston on Wednesday March 2nd, parishioners from St. Augustine's, St. Joseph's, St. Maria Goretti's, Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady's, Alston Lane came together in our church for the fourth Deanery Lenten Station Mass. It was a wonderful celebration with our music group capably leading a very joyful crowd who also gave generously to the overseas charity. Afterwards the parish centre was busting at the seams with the queue for tea and biscuits stretching from the kitchen almost to the presbytery. The noise of priests and people chatting and renewing old and new friendships, especially our two 90 year old school friends Mollie and Emily, was a real joy. The sense of belonging to our Deanery is beginning to grow.
Preston has three Deaneries, English Martyrs with ten churches, St. Walburge's with nine churches and our own, St. Augustine's, with six. This year the priests of our Deanery decided to revive one of the oldest devotional services in the church dating from the 2nd century AD, known as the 'Station Mass'. This involved during Lent, a group of churches engaging in a Fast, going in procession to and around a church reciting litanies and psalms and culminating in a Mass which was heard by all 'standing.' The name station comes from this practice of standing.
In our 2nd eucharistic prayer, the priest declares after the consecration, "We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence.'
In the years ahead, our Deanery along with the other Deaneries, will need to plan for our changing circumstances. It will be important for priests and people together to be consulted over this, especially in the form of a Deanery Pastoral Council. Already, Deanery Pilgrimages and Retreats are being planned so that whatever changes may occur, we will all retain that sense of belonging.