TABERNACLE 4

After nearly a weeks work the Tabernacle is almost ready to to used again.  Just a few finishing touches needed to make this the fitting place ofr Our Lord's Sacramental Presence among us.

The next job will be the hanging of the Sanctuary Lamp.  Work on this begins tomorrow. 

I am grateful to the diocese and historical churches committee for granting permission for phase one of the 're-ordering of the re-ordering' to go ahead.  The work could not have been undertaken also with the exertise and skill of Alberti Lupton - Monumental Masons.  Other examples of their excellent work can be seen at http://www.albertilupton.co.uk/.  Click to visit their new website and then click on church interiors.

TABERNACLE 3

With the 'curious arrangement out the way work could begin on resiting the Tabernacle on the east wall.

TABERNACLE 2

The next stage of the work was to dismantle, what has been described by those more charitable than myself as a 'curious arrangement of altar rail fragments that does nothing to add to the beauty of the sanctuary.'

TABERNACLE

After what has seemed like an age of meetings, plans, discussions, seeking diocesan permissions, seeking authority from the historical churches committee permission was finally granted to move the Tabernacle from the side chapel back to its poistion on the east wall of the sanctuary. 

Work began on this project on 23rd May and it it soon reaching its completion.  Here are some of the photos of the work in progress.

The East wall of the Sanctuary when I arrived as Parish Priest in November 2008

Work begins on dismantling the Tabernacle in the side chapel

More dismantling

And yet more

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations and best wishes to Steve and Karen who were married in the Lord last Saturday at St Marie's.  We wish them every blessing in their married life.

BENE MERENTI

Congratulations to Ada Lee, devoted housekeeper to Father, now Bishop Mark Davies for many years who was recently presented with the Bene Merenti Award from the Holy Father for hwer services to the Church and the Priesthood. 

The award was presented by Bishop Davies at Mass last Friday in St John Boscco's, Blackley where Ada is a parishioner.

SCHOOL NEWS - SAINT JOSEPH'S

I was visiting the Year 3 children of St Joseph's School today to talk to them about the significance of the Paschal Candle.  Once again I forgot to take my camera with me so I am afraid their are no photos.

We talk about how the candle was made. The phrase 'fashioned from the work of bees' from the Exultet came to mind. We also looked at the decoration of the candle and the meaning behind the desgin.  

Do please keep the children of our school in your prayers as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday.  Pray that they will be faithful soldiers of Christ.

 

SCHOOL NEWS

During Holy Week St Marie’s School had its RE Inspection. We then had an anxious Easter break as we waited for the written report and find out the grade that we would be given. I am very pleased to say that the wait was worthwhile as we have passed the inspection and received the grade ‘OUTSTANDING.’ This has been achieved by the hard work of our headteacher and all the staff, both teaching and non teaching.

The following extract from the report will give you a flavour of the whole report. ‘St Marie’s is an outstanding Catholic school. Under the leadership of the dedicated head teacher and inspired by the gospel values , the well being of each child is central to the work of the school and the staff demonstrate a clear sense of service. The Religious Education curriculum enables children to make meaningful connections between their faith and life and, combined with the outstanding collective worship, they are enabled to give witness to their beliefs. This process is positively influenced and progressed by the support and guidance of the Parish Priest. St Marie’s School has an affirming relationship with the parish of St Marie and St Joseph which is influential in the lives of the children and parents. ‘

My sincere thanks go to the staff of both our primary schools. I am proud to be associated with St Marie’s and St Joseph’s because they are both excellent schools. Well done!

CONFRATERNITIES

Many of you will recall the Confraternities that we had in the life of the Church: the Agnesians, the Children of Mary, the Guild of the Blessed Sacrament, the UCM and CWL to name but a few.  Sadly most of these have gone the way of all flesh and those that still exist in parishes have difficulty in recruiting new members. 

Priests also need to get together with other priests from time to time to share their joys and sorrows, to pray and study together and to enjoy each others company.  With this in mind the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy has been formed as a way of providing a forum for priests to come together and share their life and ministry together.

The Confraternity currently has two chapters: Southern and Northern.  Recently I went along to the meeting of the Northern Chapter held at St Catherine Laboure in Leyland near Preston.  The speaker was Canon Meney of the Institute to Christ the King woh told us about the founding of thE Institute and of his work at the newly opened Shrine Church in New Brighton.

After a very interesting, informative and humorous talk by the Canon we gathered for lunch in a nearby hotel. 

After lunch we gathered in Church in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament to pray for each other and the people of the parishes and chaplaincies that we serve.  It was a good way to spend a 'day off.' Our next meeting is planned to be in Newcastle.  Details to follow.

I am grateful to Fr Simpn Henry, our host for the photo taken from his blog http://www.offerimustibidomine.blogspot.com/  Do take a look at his blog and have a read of a further report of the Conference.

THE MERRY BIRDS..

'The merry birds Te Deum sing, tis Mary's Month of May' are the opening lines of a hymn I remember singing at the May Processions of my teenage years.  So it is in that great tradition of devotion to Our Blessed Lady that we crowned her statue in both our churches. 

I am afraid the post here only shows the Lady Shrine at St Marie's.  One from St Joseph's will follow when I remember to take my camera there.

IN SERVICE TRAINING

Once a year the Latin Mass Society puts on a Training Conference for those priests who are interested in learning the Extra Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  In the last year or so this has broadened into providing training for servers and those who wsh to become Masters of Ceremonies. 

This year the conference was held at Belmont Abbey, the Benedictine Monastery in Hereford.  I was invited along as tutor to help pass my knowledge (limited as it is) to another group of priests wishing to deepen their love of the liturgy of the Chutch.  The pictures in the post show some of the priests and servers at the end of the conference. 

NEW BRIGHTON

During the Easter Octave I was able to visit the Shrine of St Peter and Paul and Philomena in New Brighton.  This shrine church as recently been given over to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest for the celebration of the Mass and Sacraments according to the extraordinary form of te Roman Rite.  Under the father care of Canon Olivier Meney, the Rector this church will also be a Shrine of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and will eventually have exposition of the BLessed Sacrament 24 hours a day.

Below are a few pictures of the Mass I offered at the Shrine.

EASTER VIGIL

It might seem a little late in the day to be posting about the Easter Triduum and the Great Easter Vigil especially as we are coming towards the end of the Easter season, but as the saying goes better late than never.

This year the entire Easter Triduum was celebrated at St Joseph's Church.  We gathered on Holy Thursday Evenig for the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Mandatum, Procession to and Watching at the Altar of Repose.  During the homily we rflected on the gift of the priesthood and the Eucharist in the life of the Church.  In a rather long homily (Father Donatas told me it was twenty five minutes) I challenged people to think seriously about their vocation in the life of the Church and for the need to envourage and foster vocations.  As I said then, I say again 'Young men, do not leave it till I am old and past it before you consider a vocation to the priesthood.'

On Good Friday afternoon we gathered again forthe Solemn Liturgy of the Lord's Passion.  This is always a very moving liturgy as we contemplate the great love our Lord had for us sinnners in willingly undergoing the agony of the Cross.

The climax of our Easter Triduum was the Great Paschal Vigil.  The Easter Candle, lit from the new fire was solemnly carried into the a darkened church and the praises in honour of the Risen Christ duly sung for the frst time in the new translation. 

May I take this opportunity to thank all who worked so hard in the days leading up to the Triduum, during the Triduum itsrlf and afterwards to help make this a fitting celebration of the events of our redemption.  My thanks go to our altar servers who, due to the way they served the ceremonies helped, me and the congregation to pray.  Music also played a big part in our Holy Week celebrations and my thanks goes Marie, our organist for playing at the entireTriduum (and putting up with my sometimes off key singing!!!).

Here are a few photos taken at the services. 

IT MUST BE LOVE

Congratulations to Chris Corrie and Rebecca Tiernan who were recently married at St Marie's.  We wish them every happiness in their married life.

SCHOOL VISIT

Recently some of the children from St MArie's School came to look around the church and to talk about some of the things that can be found inside the church.