GARSTANG CATENIANS

Back in April, the Garstang circle of the Catenian association celebrated the 40th anniversary of its foundation. Bishop Patrick joined the brothers for the happy occasion during which the six founder members were presented with scrolls to mark the period of membership.

ST TERESA’S YEAR OF CELEBRATION

Bernard Davies
2005 is the Year of Celebration at St. Teresa's, Fishwick, Preston. On Sunday May 11th 1930 , Rt. Rev. Bishop T.W. Pearson. O.S.B., first Bishop of the diocese laid the foundation stone, the 11th foundation stone of a Catholic church to be laid in Preston. Our celebrations have been much enjoyed all year, culminating in the recent Mass of Thanksgiving led by the Principal Celebrant Rt. Rev. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue, the fifth bishop. Assisting at Mass were 16 priests and two deacons of our diocese.
Our photograph shows:- Fr. Cooper, Fr. Monaghan, Fr. Collins, Bishop Patrick, Fr. McMahon, Fr. Murphy, Deacon James Maguire and Fr. Callaghan.A packed Church enjoyed their schoolchildrens singing of the hymn to St.Teresa, accompanied by their headmaster Mr Whalley on guitar, as others took a basketful of roses to her beautiful shrine.
Afterwards, the parishioners provided a sumptuous buffet in the Parish Centre for over 200 current and past parishioners as well as a coach load from Fr. Collins' former parish.
Everyone was delighted when Bishop Patrick not only offered Grace but was prepared to mingle and chat with everybody

PAPAL AWARD FOR WESTBY PARISHIONER

Alan Pugh
On the 22nd June a special sung Mass was celebrated at St Anne’s Church, Westby. Not only were we celebrating the feast day of two of our great martyrs, St John Fisher and St Thomas More, we were also celebrating an award given to one of our favourite parishioners, George Dobson. And his award was the Papal Medal, the Bene Merenti, in recognition of his lifelong service to the parish and community.

George is a big man, with a big voice and a big heart, but it was a very subdued George who received his medal from Fr Paul Johnstone during Mass which was attended by a hundred and fifty Mass goers... George has worked tirelessly for the parish particularly in the promotion of any event which we organise. He has raised hundreds of pounds for the parish by selling tickets and is always on hand to raise a few more pounds with his auctioneering skills.

On April 4th 1930 George graced the village of Wrea Green with his presence. He is the second of three brothers. By the time he was seven George was serving on the altar at St Anne’s. When he was fourteen his teacher decided George had a good voice and put him the choir and he is still singing 61 years on. George’s proud boast is that he is a descendent of the martyr Blessed George Haydock of Haydock Hall, St Helens. He still lives in the same house in which he was born.

In 1960 George and his brothers bought the grocers shop in Wrea Green and it soon became the hub of village life. Customers were greeted by an exuberant George and it was this exuberance which usually persuaded them to leave the shop with purchases they had not intended to make. The shop was well known for its window displays, for which George was responsible, and they won several awards. The brothers also won the BBC Retail Grocer of the Year in 1979. In 1994, the Brothers Dobson decided to retire and the shop was sold.

George is also well known on the luncheon circuit as a speaker, being a member of the North of England Luncheon Club. A man of many talents, he was a founder member of the Wrea Green Players and also a member of the Blackpool Operatic Players.

After Mass we retired to the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes on Sea for a buffet during which George regaled us with a short but amusing account of his life. As George has often said about his award, it is as much an honour for the parish as it is for him.

SUPEHEROES

Peter Reed
Over 200 youngsters gathered at Ampleforth College for the annual Camp Vincent organised by the Youth section of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. With the theme “Superheroes”, the young Vincentians held workshops each morning to highlight their qualities. Throughout the country there are 3,000 members of the youth SVP who go out into their local communities to help the elderly, housebound, handicapped and disadvantaged. To these people the youngsters are true superheroes.
Whilst the mornings were taken up with these workgroups, the afternoons were given over to leisure time using the many facilities available at Ampleforth. Evenings saw a ceilidh and a karaoke. Each evening ended with a very moving Reflection by one of the leaders in the candle-lit, hushed marquee.

MASS IN POLISH (WHERE AND WHEN)

Lancaster- Our Lady Queen of Poland Church- Sat 18.00, Sun 10.00
Blackpool- St Kentigem's Church, 25a Newton Drive- Sun 12.30
Carlisle- Our Lady & St Joseph, Warwick Square- 1st Sun 17.30
Morecambe- Holy Family, Westgate. Preston – St. Ignatius , Sundays at 12.00 noon.

BOUND FOR ETHIOPIA

Rosa Trelfa – Holy Family parish, Freckleton
In spring CAFOD advertised nationally for 6 volunteers to take to Ethiopia, as part of an ‘exposure’ visit. I work part-time as a teacher and my head teacher was very supportive. I applied and went for interview. I didn’t really hold out much hope of being selected, but to my delight I have been

The trip is in October, for two weeks, and the itinerary is amazing. It includes visiting a honey production plant, a water diversion programme, an HIV/AIDS programme, a secondary school to name a few places. It will mean meeting staff from the Catholic Secretariat in Adigrat, Government representatives, the EU Trade Advisor and the Ethiopian Archbishop Berhaneyesus – to name just some of the ‘officials’. We’ll be giving presentations about the kind of work that we do in campaigning for CAFOD in the UK. We’ll be flying and driving to remote parts of the country. And somewhere along the line, we’ll be visiting the amazing rock hewn churches of Lalibela and maybe even an afternoon of animal and bird watching. The purpose of the trip is to see for ourselves how CAFOD works in Ethiopia and to see how we can further support and develop the work already taking place. Afterwards, when we return, well, that's when the work really starts. We'll do whatever necessary to support CAFOD in its work in Ethiopia.

ASCENT

More than 140 Catholics in their middle and later years – including a Lancaster diocesan group - walked with a “spring in their step” after celebrating their movement’s 25th anniversary.
The Ascent men and women marked the occasion socially and spiritually at a three-day event “Springtime of the Spirit” at Newman College, Birmingham (July 26-28).
“We ended our celebration with a spring in our step aiming to expand. We particularly welcome new members who are recently retired to join our 60 parish groups,” said president Margaret Snowdon, of York.
She said the 800-member Ascent had added groups in Wales (Aberystwyth) and Scotland (Glasgow) to those in England, covering 11 dioceses. Bishop Howard Tripp, who has been the bishops’ advisor to Ascent since 1983, said: “It’s an excellent lay organisation meeting its three-word objectives – friendship, spirituality and mission.” He said the movement was different to other organisations involving the elderly because it did not “do things for” them, but enable them to do things for one another.

WALKING WITH GOD - A day of prayer and reflection for all.

Do come and be with the Carmelites in Carlisle on Saturday, 17th September, for all or part of a quiet day of prayer and reflection. The day is organised by the Carmelites for all who would like to join them in prayer, including those enrolled in the Brown Scapular.The day, with the theme ‘Walking with God’ is at St.Bede’s Church, 120 Wigton Road, Carlisle, from 11am to 5pm, with a Gathering Service of prayer, reflection and testimony at 11.30, lunch at 12.30 (please bring a packed lunch!), and talks on Carmelite Spirituality at 2pm followed by Mass at 3.30pm. Members of the Carmelite Family from all over the north, ie. Friars (including the Prior Provincial), Sisters and lay people, will be present and looking forward to welcoming you. Do come!
Further details are available from Mrs Patricia Wilson, 9 The Ridge, Eastriggs, ANNAN, Dumfriesshire, DG12 6NR, tel: 01461.-40434, email - carlisle@laycarmel.org

HOW THESE DAYS BEGAN

Deacon John Kennedy
The order of The Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel had it's foundation at the beginning of the 13th century. Hermits who dwelt on the mountain to give honour and praise to God by lives of prayer and contemplation, requested St Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem (1206 - 1214) for a rule by which to live in community. This he granted and which they observed under the title and patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary and after the example of the prophet Elijah who had given glory to God on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 20.40) In 1240 the Carmelite brothers were brought to Europe by crusaders returning from the Holy Land. A number of these came to England some of whom settled in Northumberland, the remainders at Aylesford in Kent, where Baron de Grey gave them his mansion, which subsequently became the famous Carmelite Friary. It was there in 1251 that the Prior General Simon Stack, received the Scapular Vision in which the Blessed Virgin Mary gave the consoling pledge of her special care and protection, both in life and at death to all wearers of the brown habit (scapular) of their order. In the following centuries membership of the order greatly increased especially when permission was granted for the establishment of convents for enclosed and external nuns, Third Order membership and scapular confraternities. Sadly that bright light of Carmel which illuminated the lives of so many prior to the dark years of the Reformation is struggling like the Church herself to pierce the mist of religious apathy so prevalent in England and Europe, her second home land.
However, England still has a second jewel in her crown, as along with her sister shrine at Walsingham, Our Lady Carmel draws great numbers of pilgrims to her ancient home at Aylesford. To help make the Carmelite Order better known in the North West of England, it was decided by Third Order members and their Provincial Delegate that an annual gathering be held at Carlisle. Both Fr John Watson P.P of St Bedes and his successor Fr Jim Allan P.P gave their kind permission and co-operation when requested the usage of the church and parish hall. The first gathering was held in September 2004 and turned out to be a very happy spiritual and social occasion. Around 100 Carmelites, parishioners, friend and visitors from parishes in the Northern area took part.

CAFOD AT THE SHOW

Andrew Seacombe
With its current theme of Make Poverty History, CAFOD had a voice at the morning service held during this year’s annual Royal Lancashire Show at Ribchester. Conducted by Chruches Together in Lancashire, the service was held in the main area between a Camel race and the parade of Shire horses. CAFOD was represented by Preston-based North West regional Co-Ordinator Anne Marie Coppack who is pictured here being interviewed after the service by BBC Radio Lancashire.s Paul O’ Gorman.