PASTORAL LETTER

This weekend the Bishop has published his proposal for the re-structuring of parishes within the diocese.  The full report can be read on the diocesan website www.salforddiocese.net.  The Bishop also wrote a Pastoral Letter for the whole diocese.  Within the letter there was a section about what was happening in each parish.  Here is the letter read this weekend in our parish.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am very grateful to all those who have helped me throughout this last year to consider the challenges to our Diocese and plan for our future. Thousands of people, priests, religious and members of parish communities throughout the Diocese have responded with comments and suggestions. In interpreting the “signs of the times”, Pope Francis urges us to consider that commission given to us by Jesus Himself. We are “to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News”. Pope Francis asks us to become “missionary disciples” in “missionary parishes”. To enable us to do this in the changed and changing  circumstances of the present time, there is need to re-draw parish boundaries and choose the best distribution of churches and priests for ministry to our Catholic community and for the development of our mission to the wider community.

I have written at some length about the purpose and rationale of the consultation and how it has progressed. That document can be found in printed form at the back of churches and on the Diocesan website, together with a description of the proposed arrangements for parishes throughout the Diocese. In just a small number of cases, it has not yet been possible to determine the best alignment for a particular parish and so it is necessary and just that these communities have a little more time to discuss their situation.

In the case of this parish of Saint Marie and St Joseph, Bury, it is proposed that it remains as at present.

The implementation of these proposals will happen in stages, appropriate to each situation, over the coming months and years.

Whatever your feelings may be (agreement, disappointment, relief or sadness) I would ask you to accept the decisions I have made about how our parishes might best be organised and engage in the growth and development of the Church in this Diocese, where each one of us is an ambassador for Christ and a missionary disciple. Let us all use the challenges of this present time to build a Church for future generations.

“Stay with us, Lord, on our Journey” 

With my prayers and good wishes.   

+ John Arnold, Bishop of Salford

OUTSTANDING!!!!

Recently St Marie's School had a visit from the OFSTED Inspectors.  It is always a tense time for everyone in the school community as the inspectors look at every aspect of the education that the children in our care receive to assess whether we are up to standard.  I am delighted to say that not only did OFSTED find that everything was in order but they judged us to be:

 AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL!!!

This is fantastic news for our our school and community.  The hard work of our teaching staff, governors, teaching assistants, ancillary staff and pupils has been recognised.  Congratulations to all who have contributed to us receiving this wonderful result.  

The full report can be read on the school's website www.stmariesrcp.co.uk but here are a few quotes from the document.

'The headteacher has realised her aspiration of ensuring that the school provides an excellent education for all pupils, irrespective of their backgrounds or starting points'. 

'Teaching and learning is very well managed. Leaders’ expectations of teachers and teaching assistants are high. All staff work hard and successfully. There is a clear ‘St Marie’s way’ of doing things. Highly effective teaching is based on consistently applied principles from Nursery through to Year 6'. 

'An increasing majority of children start this school having spoken very little or no English. Provision to support these pupils is outstanding and so they learn English quickly. By the time pupils leave at the end of Year 6, they have typically made excellent progress across all subjects from low starting points'. 

'St Marie’s is a school where pupils love to attend, are very well cared for and are very happy'. 

REV'D DR UNA KROLL

Of your charity pray for the happy repose of the soul of Rev'd Dr Una Kroll 

who died on Friday 6th January 2017 - Feast of the Epiphany.

Una was born in England but raised in Paris, Latvia, London and in suburban colonies of Russian emigrees, so grew up speaking three languages fluently.  Her mother, left as a single parent when Una was only two years old, had, like most girls of her age and class, little useful education and was determined that Una be well educated.  Una was to later go off to Cambridge and read medicine and and qualify as a doctor.

Una was well known as a campaigner for the ordination of women within the Church of England.   Her famous outcry at General Synod 'You gave us stones when we asked for bread' has been much quoted on both sides of the River Tiber.

Since her reception into full communion with the Catholic Church Una has worked tirelessly for the rights of women both within and outside the church.  She has been a great support and friend to many in our parish, relying on her experiences of ministry in the Anglican Communion to help them as a confidant and spiritual director.     

It will not come as a surprise to those who knew Una and know me that we had very different views about most things - both theological and otherwise.  This Una acknowledged in a lovely way in one of her last emails.  

In talking of her funeral and myself she wrote 'I have also asked him [Fr Francis] to come to the funeral, if he can, so as to be there as a representative of my beloved Catholic Church if possible.  He is a special person in my life as he holds very different views from myself as an ex Anglican priest now a Catholic but we have great mutual respect and are reconciled to one another's differences in God's Love where we find a unity, a unity that is not presently possible on earth.  I once lost my internet connection altogether recently and commented that:  'there is no wi-fi in heaven' and 'I cannot imagine there is disunity in heaven either' so maybe we will end up united in the Heart of Love. So, if he does manage to come please welcome him warmly and if he cannot I know he will pray for my soul'. 

Una will be sadly missed by all who knew her as a friend, parishioner and confidante.  I will indeed pray for the repose of her soul and pray that one day we will be re-united in the Heart of Love.  May she rest in peace and rise in glory

BLESSING OF CHALK

There is a tradition of blessing chalk on the Feast of the Epiphany.  That tradition we continue in St Marie and St Joseph as we bless the chalk at the end of Mass.  This chalk can then be taken so that you can bless your homes with it.

The prayers that accompany this sacramental are given in this post.

A Blessed and Holy Epiphany to you all. 

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord

R. Who made heaven and earth

V. The Lord be with you

R. And with thy spirit

Bless + O Lord God, this creature chalk to render it helpful to men.  Grant that they who use it in faith and with it inscribe upon the entrance of their homes the names of thy saints, Caspar, Melchior and Baltassar may through their merits and intercession enjoy health of body and protection of soul.  Through Christ our Lord.  R Amen

OF YOUR CHARITY

There is no time when the death of our loved ones is welcomed but it always seems even harder to bear when our loved ones pass from us at Christmas our New Year time.

Of your charity pray for the repose of the souls of parishioners who have died at this time this year.  Also remember their families who feel their loss so acutely.

 Nora Stalker

Megan and Jim Martin

Tom Chadwick

CHODZĘ PO KOLĘDZIE

Another tradition familiar to the polish members of our parish family is kolęda.  The priest visits the house and family to bless it and them.  They may even join in singing a Christmas Carol.  This is sometimes followed by a cup of tea or coffee and some cake or even pierogi!!!

Wiekuisty Boże, Ty z ojcowską dobrocią zaradzasz ludzkim potrzebom. Ześlij hojne błogosławieństwo na tę rodzinę i na ten dom i darem swojej łaski uświęć jego mieszkańców. Niech wiernie zachowują Twoje przykazania i tak korzystają z obecnego czasu, aby kiedyś doszli do przygotowanego dla nich mieszkania w niebie. Przez Chrystusa, Pana naszego. Amen.

Niech to mieszkanie i wszystkich w nim mieszkających błogosławi Bóg Ojciec + i Syn, i Duch Święty. Amen.

Eternal God, who with fatherly kindness remedy our human needs. Send forth your generous blessing upon this family and this house, and the gift of your grace to sanctify your people. Let them faithfully keep your commandments, so that one day they may come to the mansion prepared for them in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May this house and all who live here be blessed by God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen

CHRISTMAS

Our celebrations of Christmas began with the Vigil Mass at St Joseph's Church on Christmas Eve. The church was pleasantly full and the arriving congregation joined in the singing of carols before Mass accompanied by two of our congregation on the accordion.

The traditional Midnight Mass, began at Midnight accompanied by our choir who sang and played traditional chant.  At the end of the Mass the image of the Baby Jesus that you can see in the accompanying photo was taken in procession and placed in the Crib whilst everyone sang See Amid the Winter's Snow.

At the end of the Midnight Mass there was the blessing and sharing of the opłatek - a tradition familiar to the Polish Members of our parish family.  

Mass was celebrated in each of our churches on Christmas day

May I take this opportunity to thank all those who worked so hard in both of the churches to prepare them for the celebrations.  A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make sure everything is as nice as it can be.  To those who collaborate with me to make things happen I am truly greateful.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Most people make New Year's Resolutions at this time of year.  This usually involves giving something up (like smoking) or taking something on (like learning a new language or skill).  I have never really been one for making New Year Resolutions as they usually get quickly forgotten.

However this year I am going to make a concerted effort to keep this blog more up to date,  We will see how we get on.

Before I can begin the task of blogging for 2017 there are just a few things to note from the year that has just gone by.

As part of their presentations of the Nativity of Our Lord the children from St Joseph's School produced a very thought provoking play entitled 'A Midwife Crisis.'  Through song and drama the children us led us in mind and heart to Bethlehem and the events that we celebrate at Christmas.

At the end of the play the Midwife said something along the lines of 'all along I was looking for the Baby Jesus and in the end it was the Baby Jesus that came and found me.'

Isn't that so true for all of us?  It is often the case that the Lord comes to find us.  May we have the grace to accept Him into our lives.

In the midst of our preparations for Advent and Christmas St Marie's School received the phone call that every school dreads - the notification that OFSTED will be arriving.  

We are confident that we have done well in the Inspection but at the time of writing this we have no received the official report from OFSTED so cannot say any more.  Watch this space!!!

On the 8th December - the Solemnity of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception I had the privilege of being in Lourdes to celebrate the feast.  The Mass for the Feast Day was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Muller of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In the afternoon we gathered for the Blessed Sacrament Procession and a time of Eucharistic Adoration in the underground basilica of St Pius X. I was asked to lead the prayers and devotions for the English speaking Pilgrims present for the feast.  You can catch a glimpse of me around 3 minutes 18 sec and then there are various other appearances as the procession and liturgy unfold.