GOLDEN JUBILEE OF ST PIUS X CHURCH. BARROW-IN-FURNESS

Bruce Boyns
On Sunday, 17th July, our church was filled with parishioners, relations, friends and guests from the other parishes of Barrow, including especially, clergy and parishioners from St Francis Church, the nearby Anglican parish which is also celebrating its Golden Jubilee this month. After Mass Bishop Patrick presented a bouquet to Mrs Madge Higgin who has lived continuously in our parish since its establishment was first mooted some ninety years ago. We all then went into the garden of the presbytery for refreshments provided by the efforts of the Golden Jubilee Committee. Various stalls and raffles and the School Choir's singing helped the event go with a swing. [Mr Boyns has produced a well-researched and informative history of the parish, well worth reading. Ed].

CARLISLE BIDS FAREWELL TO THE AUGUSTINIANS

In September 1951 Austin Friars School opened its doors for the first time. The Augustinian Friars had accepted an invitation from Bishop Flynn to establish a Boys’ Catholic Grammar school for the Carlisle area. The newly created parish for the north of the city, St. Augustine’s, together with the sister church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Longtown, was also to be administered by the friars on behalf of the Diocese.

This Summer the last remaining friar in the town leaves to join the Augustinian Community in Clare, Suffolk. The School, now known as Austin Friars and St. Monica’s has been bequeathed to the people of Carlisle. For some years now St Augustine’s Parish has had a diocesan parish priest.

It was a most happy and moving occasion. The church was packed, the liturgy was well planned and the music uplifting, such that every single person could not help but be fully involved. Appropriately, Austin Friars school had educated four of the priests concelebrating.

Fr. Bernard O’Connor who at different times has been Headmaster of the school, Provincial of the Augustinians in England and Scotland, and more recently, parish priest of St. Augustine’s, gave the homily. He stressed that this farewell should be in the spirit of Eucharist, that is to say thanksgiving. He said, “often on such occasions the emphasis is what the friars have done for the people of Carlisle, but we, the friars would like to acknowledge what the people and the Church in Carlisle have done for us as a body”. He continued, “it is well to be reminded that the abundance of priests and religious in the second half of the 20th century was the exception in the recent history of the Church, and that we are now settling down to a more normal pattern. The difference now is that there is a well educated laity, competent and able to exercise ministries of pastoral leadership in the local church community”.

GOLDEN JUBILEE AT HOLY FAMILY INGOL

There was a truly ecumenical blessing for Fr. Peter Dolan when he celebrated his Golden Jubilee at Holy Family Church in Ingol, Preston. Pictured imparting the blessing are: (Left to Right), Roger Fox, Methodist Minister at Bentham, formerly at Ingol; Paul Lavender, Baptist Minister at Tanterton, Preston; Rt. Rev Cyril Ashton, Anglican Bishop of Doncaster, formerly at St. Thomas’, Lancaster; and amongst the 11 priests and 8 deacons was Fr. Peter Sayer, of St. Mary’s Egremont, formerly of St. Walburge’s Preston.
Fr. Dolan was born in Carlisle in January 1930, went to St. Joseph’s College in Dumfries and was ordained in Carlisle in 1955. He initially served at St. Teresa’s, Cleveleys, followed by the Blessed Sacrament in Preston. 14 years at Underley seminary led to a brief spell at the Cathedral in Lancaster before taking over at Holy Family in Ingol 30 years ago.

PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK

Helen Tomlinson
Our annual pilgrimage from St. Ignatius Church Preston the Knock in County Mayo, Ireland took place this year between July 21st – 28th. In addition to the shrine at Knock, this year we included visits to Maynooth, Galway cathedral, the lovely village of Cong where the film, “The Quiet Man” was made and the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick. Our deepest appreciation goes to Fr Ambrose O.C.D. and of course to Anne Oastler our organiser and leader.
Here is a poem written by one member of our group. It will give you a sense of how we all felt.

There is an aura around the shrine, I find
That reaches deep into soul and mind
Peace and comfort surround the place
And calmness I feel just to look at her face

Our Blessed Lady standing there
Taking each into her care
And when I sit and turn to pray
Confident I am, she hears all I say

Our pilgrimage touches friendships old and new
Even to having a wee dram or two!
Laughing, relaxing, away from everyday life
Days to restore and renew.

Listening to Father’s stories, I think they’re great,
Others, I am sure will think so too!
So that’s my summing up of pilgrimage
I thought with you I’d share
Thank God for the time we spent together
At Knock; in prayer.

JESUIT MEMORIAL CHAPEL BLESSED AT BLACKPOOL

Ged Clapson
A chapel dedicated to the Jesuits who served the parish for 150 years has been blessed at Sacred Heart Church in Blackpool. The last Jesuit parish priest, Fr Denis Blackledge SJ, and Brother Andrew Atkinson SJ, who was sacristan there, represented the British Province at a special Mass attended by around 120 parishioners.
The Jesuit Memorial Chapel is situated at the back of the church with the altar taken from the House Chapel. The Baptismal Font that used to stand in this location has been moved to a dais at the front of the church. Two wooden plaques to the left and right of the tabernacle in the new chapel list the names of all the Jesuit parish priests since 1855, and note the handover of the parish to the Diocese of Lancaster in 2004.
A newly re-painted statue of the Jesuit founder, St Ignatius Loyola, stands to one side of the altar, with a votive candle stand and kneelers for quiet prayer.
Fr Denis paid tribute to Sacred Heart’s current parish priest, Canon Edmond Carey, and to those who worked to create the Jesuit Memorial Chapel.
“Much loving work has gone into the woodwork and general lay-out of the chapel,” he said. “We were privileged to be able to meet and bless those involved in the building and preparation of the chapel with Canon Ned. It was good to see the Parish flourishing even more under new management, with plenty of new servers and parish helpers, and a few new touches in the general lay-out of the church.”
Sacred Heart Church is located in Talbot Road, Blackpool, and is open until 5pm daily.