OUR PARISH BLOG IS ONE YEAR OLD!

Our Parish Blog started steadily enough in November 2009 and had reached 50 hits per week over Christmas.  The graph shows how in the early Spring two posts each provoked more than 100 hits.  The first on January 6th was the result of Sr Michelle's election, and the second on February 4th was a picture of a lavatory door!  Towards the end of March our computer was out of action for three weeks, but it was four more weeks before our readership recovered itself.   The next peak (June 10th) was during the fortnight after Fr Danny's first visit.   Then came the nine weeks of August and September, during which we averaged 167 hits per week.   The high point (July 29th) was when one post had nine photos taken at Fr Jamie's farewell party and scored 248 hits.   201 readers logged in during the week of the Papal visit (September 15th).

We are now studying other statistics to find out more about our readers, how they log in, why they do so and which items in the blog interest them the most.  We suspect that we may be about to uncover some surprising facts, so watch this space!

THE THIRD PAPA RATZINGER BLOG

Another anniversary which will be coming up soon is that of the Papa Ratzinger Blog, which will be two years old in February.   It gives accurate information about what is currently happening in the Vatican, before any of the media have had the chance to put their own particular spin on it.    The latest version is Blog 3, which is at  http://paparatzinger3-blograffaella.blogspot.com    This photo is taken from it.    We'll keep a link to it in our right hand column.

CAUGHT WITHOUT THEIR BICYCLES

Last Sunday we stopped Adrian and Mary after Mass and found that they hadn't come on their bikes this week.  So here's a rare photo of them about to leave the Church on foot!

STITCHES TO BE DROPPED TWO WEEKS

Ramona, Eileen, Joy and Frances were among those who came last Friday when the Knit and Stitch Club held its first meeting in the Parish Rooms.    Conspicuous by their non-attendance were male parishioners, though we are assured that they would have been made very welcome had they been there.     The Club will not be meeting this week or next for unspecified reasons (don't ask!), so the next session will be on November 5th and will start half an hour later at 1.30pm, finishing at 3.30pm.  
Remember that the meeting times of all the Parish clubs and societies are shown at the end of this section of the Blog.    Just scroll down to the bottom to check that your club is listed correctly.

PREACHER MEETS PRESIDENT

Last weekend we were visited by Fr.David Saunders of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), who appealed on behalf of his order, then chatted to parishioners as they left the Church.   Here he is with Tom, who has taken to dressing very smartly these days, hasn't he.   We don't mind, because we're proud to have the President of the District Council of the SVP in our Parish, and if that means having to put up with him going around all spruced up and snazzy before he goes to a meeting, then we shall just have to suffer in silence!  

WELCOME TO THE CHURCH, SOPHIA!

On Sunday Sophia Putt became a member of Christ and of our Parish through Baptism.    Here she is with parents Inona and David a few minutes before her Sacramental Rebirth as a child of God, doing her best to smile into the unseasonably bright sunshine.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

See how pertinacious this trio are in their endeavour to overcome any problem which may threaten the success of their mission.   Sean is resolute in his determination to find the necessary coins to enable him to make his purchase, whilst Maureen and Ann are unflinching in their resolve to ensure that he receives the reinvigorating drink that he has paid for.  This is the indomitable spirit which continues to ensure that shoppers from Lymington market can enjoy coffee and biscuits each Saturday morning in a Catholic atmosphere while the CWL's charities benefit as a result of the money raised.   So keep it up, guys.   The module will return to earth's atmosphere at 12 noon!

ONE MORE STEP ALONG THE WORLD

Many of us, faced with the problems from which Gordon is now suffering, would have settled ages ago for a Minister of Communion bringing Christ to him in Holy Communion each week.    Yet with Christine's loyal support he regularly makes his pilgrimage to Lymington to encounter Our Lord in Holy Mass, and long may he continue to do so.

THE PRESENT REPLACES THE PAST

Photo by Cathy

Although the historical exhibition had actually been up for rather less than 150 years, it's a relief to see it go at last from the coffee room, to be replaced by a simple guide to the seven secraments.   John welcomes any comments or suggestions which may help to make this new display clearer or easier to understand.

THE FOREST ESCAPES BEING SAT UPON

Last Monday afternoon the Friendship Club enjoyed, one way or another, its annual jaunt through the New Forest.    Due not so much to environmental misgivings as to meterological uncertainty, the picnic itself took place inside the Parish Rooms.    So after their trip all our friends were able to sit, warm, dry and in comfort to enjoy the freshly made tea, delicious scones and lovely cakes prepared by the hard-working organizers and helpers, and the Forest was left in peace.

SPACE AND DIGNITY AROUND THE ALTAR

The new flat top over the font gives Brian and the other servers plenty of room to set out the chalice, the wine and the hosts for Holy Mass, and the removal of the credence table gives space to move around the sanctuary more freely.    Our thanks to Joe, who made this smart new top for us.

BIG JIM MAKES A HAPPY TRIPP

It was good to see Jim and Liz here for a short visit with Nicky on Sunday.   Jim kept the customers of the Thomas Tripp entertained the whole afternoon with his heartfelt vocal and guitar renditions of popular folk material, and even after all the sound gear had been cleared from the stage he sat down with us and continued to keep the patrons happy without electrical assistance.