CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY

Today we celebrate the transferred Solemnity of Corpus Christi.  At St Marie's at the end of the usual sung Mass to mark this Solemnity we had a procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction was given in the small garden adjacent to the church.

 

We were blest with a good turn out of the faithful and with nice weather.

 

 

FATHER KENNETH WALKER RIP

On Friday I had privilege of offering the Holy Mass for the happy repose of the soul of a brother priest, Fr  Kenneth Walker of the Fraternity of St Peter who so tragically lost his life in America recently.

 

May Father's gentle soul through the mercy of God rest in peace.  Please continue to pray for Father and his family.  Pray also for Fr. Joseph Terra who was injured in the attack and is recovering in hospital.

 

THANKS

 

 
During the week I received a nice card of thanks from the family of the late Rita Roberts whose Requiem Mass I offered recently at St Joseph's Church. The inside of the card reads as follows:

 

Dear Father Francis.

 

On behalf of Rita we should like to thank you for the Requiem Mass as the Service at the cemetery.  Your homily was particularly uplifting and comforting and we know that Rita would have appreciated it. 

 

Kind regards

Jean and David Pilling

 

It's nice to get letters and cards of appreciation from time to time.  It makes up for the brick bats that are sent.

 

 

 

 

CORPUS CHRISTI THURSDAY

 

On the Thursday of Corpus Christi I had the honour and privilege of Offering the Holy Mass with my confreres at the Institute of Christ the King in New Brighton.

 

The evening o devotions began with sung vespers followed by silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  A Missa Cantata (sing Mass) in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed then followed.  The devotions concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Today at St Marie's we celebrated First Holy Communion.  Our love and best wishes go to the children who received Our Lord for the first time today in Holy Communion.

 

The celebration of First Holy Communion is always a special time in the life of priest and especially this year on 'Father's Day' as I pray for my spiritual children in the parish and beyond.  My pray prayer for you all today, my dear sons and daughters is that you will grow to love Jesus more and more in the Blessed Sacrament.  He is close to you always.  may you always remain close to Him.

ORDINATION

 

On this day 16 years ago the titular Bishop of Strathearn, the Rt Rev John Jukes OFM Conv

 laid hands on me and ordained me to the Sacred Priesthood.

 

Spare a prayer for me today

and for the eternal repose of my ordaining Bishop

BISHOP MICHAEL GOKUM

 

 

Congratulations and best wishes to Bishop Michael Gokum who was consecrated the first Bishop of the newly erected diocese of Pankshin, Nigeria

 

I first met the then Father Michael when he was studying for a Doctorate in Ecumenism in Rome.  He visited the parish of St Kentigern, Fallowfield where I served as curate.

 

Father Michael has supplied for me in my last parish and I look forward to welcoming him to Bury at some future date.