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.