OUR NEW PRIEST

A Lithuanian priest serving in Manchester from St Chad’s, Cheetham Hill has been a long tradition in our diocese dating back to the 1880’s when the first migrants came to Manchester and surrounding areas. This tradition has continued down through the years until the retirement of Canon Valentinas Kamaitis over 10 years ago. The Lithuanian Community now prepares to welcome a new priest, Fr. Donatas Kilmasauskas to continue this pastoral tradition.

Fr Donatus has been appointed by the Bishop as assistant priest at St. Marie and St Joseph’s Parish, Bury. In addition to this he will have responsibility for the Lithuanian Catholic Community in the diocese, the North West and the Midlands.

Fr. Donatas comes from a small village Lykšilis in Lithuania. He completed his studies at the Seminary in Kaunas and was ordained in 2008 in Siauliai. After ordination he continued his studies and gained a Master Degree from the University of Vilnius.

His arrival is a cause of great celebration for Lithuanians in the diocese and for our  parish of St Marie and St Joseph. Those of Lithuanian background will now have the opportunity to pray and worship in their native language and maintain the traditions of the Lithuanian Catholic Church.

A Welcome Mass

on Sunday 9th October at 4:00pm at St Marie’s Church

will be celebrated by Monsignor Edmond Putrimas,

the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference Delegate for the Lithuanian Catholic Apostolate Abroad,

Fr. Petras Tverijonas, Pastor of St Casimir’s Lithuanian Church in London

as well as representatives of the Ukrainian and Polish communities in Bury.

ALL MEMBERS OF THE PARISH ARE INVITED TO THIS MASS TO WELCOME OUR NEW PRIEST

POLISH WEDDING

From Lourdes I took the train to Paris to meet up with my travelling companion, Father Phililp Thomas Parish Priest of St Teresa's Wells and St Michael's, Shepton Mallet in the Diocese of Clifton.  Together we drove across to Poland so that I could officate at the wedding of two friends and then stay on for holidays.  The wedding took place in the Bazylika Sw. Ludwika Krola i Wniebowziecia NMP in Katowice-Panewniki.  

Please keep Piers and Karolina in your prayers as they embark on married life.

 

LOURDES

The month of August saw our diocesan pilgrimage ot Lourdes take place under the leadership of our Bishop.  Much has been written about the pilgrimage on the daily blog on our diocesan website.  For pictures, stories and reflections on the pilgrimage please visit http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/

This year marked my 25th pilgrimage with the diocese.  At the end of the pilgrimage on behalf of the Bishop of Lourdes, Bishop Brain presented me with a special award in recognition of that service.  The Bishop of Lourdes has made me a Titular Chaplain (Canon) to the Basilica at Lourdes. 

THE MONTH OF JULY

The month of July passed relatively quietly in the parish..  A highlight of the month was being able to attend the Solemn Profession of Brother Rupert Allen into the Premonstratension Order (Norbertines).  Do please keep Brother Rupert in your prayers as the day of his ordiantion to the diaconate draws nearer.  The enclosed pic shows Brother Rupert making his profession.

BACK TO BLOGGING

After a long gap, I thought it was time to update the blog.  The next few posts will be a summary of the main events since the last post.