CATENIANS CELEBRATE MASS IN THE FOREST

Our thanks to John Stephenson for this photo of Catenians and their wives taking part in the Mass in such a delightful setting.  The celebrant was Canon MacDermot-Roe and he was asisted by Deacon Stephen Short, who is the current Circle President.

THREE'S COMPANY WHEN YOU'RE IN HARMONY

Louise and Deirdre have just popped into Church to practice some hymns, and Ann has come along as well to accompany them on the organ.   They are part of our choir, who enjoy music and love to sing.    If you like singing, why not come along sometimes?    You'll be made welcome, even if you can't always come on Sundays.

BRIGHT SUN ON THE COSTA DEL LYMINGTON THIS WEEK

Pedro and José are two of our most loyal Sunday morning Mass attenders, and this week they allowed us to photograph them in the bright Spanish sunshine outside our church.   Muchas gratias, Señores.

ISN'T FORMULA ONE A BABY FOOD?

Young William's not interested in having his photo taken.   He wants to watch the cars attempting to gain pole position on their way out of the car park.   Peter and Dolores will have to watch him, he'll be wanting to try it himself soon!

A BROADER VIEW FOR HAPPY COUPLES

Bishop Crispian celebrated Mass at Basingstoke last Saturday for some happy married couples, including Alice and Leslie Dobson.   Alice, who moved into our parish quite recently, but is already a dedicated post-Sunday morning coffee consumer, allowed the Blog to scan their wonderful wedding photo, which we are proud to show you.  They have been married 63 years!

Another  happy couple are Suja and Jacob, here for once without their lovely family.   "What's the purpose of the Blog?" some people ask.    Well, for one thing, it helps us to get to know one another better, doesn't it.

We could not, of course, show the whole of the Needles Eye Cafe while our Friendship Club were having their annual cream tea there.   Such a sight would have been most indigestible.  So from among the many friends who were present we've just selected one couple, Hazel and Mary.   They certainly enjoyed themselves, and we know that all the other friends had a good time, too.   Thanks, Joan for organising it, and for this photo.

Now here's a couple of happy people.   Nora and Mike have just qualified as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.  Nora has already begun her ministry, and Mike will be starting his in the next few days.   Our congratulations to them both!

And here's our final couple for this week, Wayne and Derek Hayward, who helped to clear unwanted items from our Parish Rooms last Monday.  We are very grateful to them for the use of their muscles and the van and for being such good sports to let us blog them, and we thank Margaret (Derek's husband) for lending him to us, and Frances for the photo.   Furthermore in recognition of their achievement in having got everything in the van without removing either the walls or the roof we would like to dedicate this gentle refrain (click!) to them. 

YET ANOTHER CONFIRMATION PHOTO!

Here is another picture of the group who were confirmed last week, from a different angle.  Our thanks to David Lawrence for this shot, which shows to good advantage in our new wider template.

BISHOP CONFIRMS OUR YOUNGSTERS

Chris was one of the ten candidates from our community who presented themselves to the Bishop at New Milton last Friday evening.   Here he is, surrounded by his family, receiving the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Crispian.

Young people from the four parishes of the New Forest Pastoral Area gathered around Bishop Crispian at the end of the Mass, which was held in Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

report and photos by Cathy

CWL EXPERIENCES FLOWER POWER

These lucky CWL members are about to experience a transformation.   From the bucketful of flowers, Pat produces a variety of glorious arrangements, and shows her audience how to emulate her.

  They are able to share Wendy's excitement as Pat's produces stunning groupings, some of which  have now been placed in the Church.

Afterwards, this candle, beautifully decorated as part of Pat's demonstration, was presented to Doreen.  She is still an active member at the age of 97, and first joined the CWL when she was eighteen years old!

photos by Freda

MORE HELP FOR THE COSTA ROSTER

Welcome to the Sunday morning coffee rota's latest recruits Martha and Kate, who joined Eileen this week to help quench the thirst of our Sunday morning Massgoers.   (No, that's not Martha's halo - it only happens when she stands under a hole in the roof and the sun's shining!)

FATHER DANNY McAVOY, S.M.M.

The man who is to become our Parish Priest in September of this year is Fr Danny McAvoy, who is a member of the Montfort Missionaries.  Although this will be Fr Danny’s first experience of ministering full time in a parish community, he has regularly helped parishes out at weekends, mainly in Southampton.   At first he was a prison chaplain, although as he always worked in a different prison to Canon Peter Wilkie they’ve never met, so that’s one pleasure he’s looking forward to.  For the past twelve years he has been attached to St Joseph's Pastoral Centre at Ashurst, initially running a 25-bed centre for refugees from countries such as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.  After the work in the refuge was completed he went to work for three days a week as Chaplain to Alabaré Christian Care and Support, a wonderful charity founded by five Catholic families in Salisbury which now boasts 47 projects which take care of the most vulnerable in our society.   He is a qualified psychotherapist, specialising in trauma work with survivors of abuse and emotional deprivation.  He hopes to continue with this work in a way which supports his commitment to the Parish.

Fr Danny was born in Scotland, and although his and Fr Jamie’s careers have followed different courses, they have been friends since their days at school together in Paisley.   He will be coming to us in September, together with Mollie and Margaret Mary, of course.    (Margaret Mary’s the grumpy one.)  We shall all be looking forward very much to their joining us.   When Fr Danny was asked how he felt about taking on this new role as a Parish Priest he replied that working in a Parish setting will bring for him a real difference both in mission and in ministry.   Is he looking forward to it? “Oh, yes, very much so.”   

No, no, they’re his cats, silly!

          

IS IT THATAWAY OR THISAWAY?

Joy and Pam are among a coachload of our parishioners who have come to Arundel to see the Carpet of Flowers.    But the arrow on this notice points away from, instead of towards it.  Will our intrepid duo be misled?

No, they've arrived safely in the Cathedral with the rest of the group.   There, looking as though he's just been on the receiving end of a left hook from Frank Bruno, is John, joining Rini to admire the flowers arranged down the centre aisle.

Marianne and Cathy stand near the edge of the sanctuary, so that they can look down the full length of the carpet of flowers.

A special memory for Marianne, as she contemplates the Cathedral organ, which her grandmother used to play.

END OF A DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON

Smiles all round as Mike, Terry, Gerry and Jill, having spent all their spare cash at the St Dominic's Whit Monday bash, can now relax and enjoy a cuppa.