IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST PAUL

This image of St Paul of Tarsus has been composed from historical evidence by professionals using techniques normally employed in criminal investigation.    A group of sleuths from this Parish will be following in Paul's footsteps next week to see how much they can find out about his travels in Greece.   Our intrepid reporters will be among them, so that you too will be able to share in some of their discoveries.    Watch this space!

MARRIAGE IS A WONDERFUL INVENTION

The sad loss of her much-loved husband did not pevent Joan from celebrating her sixtieth wedding anniversary with her friends last week.   Some of her guests have been married for quite a few years, too.     We found that Tom, Denis and Peter, who had retreated to the corner of the room for a few minutes peace and quiet, have already managed to knock up a total of 149 years of matrimonial bliss between them!   They don't look any the worse for it, do they?

WHAT SHALL EXCLUDE THE BLACK DOG?

DeeJay has a complaint to make.   In this place there's far too much attention being paid to a couple of elderly female cats.   That's discrimination, and he doesn't approve.    He's a young Labrador Cross of about six years, who on Saturday mornings works hard trying to tangle himself around the chair legs of the non-confessing coffee group.   Adele got him in March 2006 to help her husband Frank, whose health was then in serious decline, and DeeJay was actually present in the room with him when Frank died.    Since then he's been a companion for Adele, and a constant critic of the felinist policies of the current government of this Parish.

SPRING OF EVER-FLOWING WATER

Those who possess keen visual faculties will observe in the distant background of this photograph several senior members of our Parish indulging in languid conversation.    By contrast, however, in the foreground, there is work taking place, real work, necessary work, the essential work which keeps the presbytery wastepipes gurgling, the loos flushing and the taps dripping.    We solemnly dedicate this photograph to all the sturdy fellows in the water business who, whilst others chatter, keep us from drying out, and thank them for allowing us to record their sterling efforts.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

We are sorry to have to inform you that Freda Collins passed away on the eve of the feast of the Annunciation.   She had been suffering from cancer for almost nine years, and had shown great courage in the face of extreme discomfort.   She was a capable and dedicated Eucharistic minister and altar server, as well as being a popular member and officer of the C.W.L.

GABRIEL TAKES MARY BY SURPRISE

We have chosen this painting by John William Waterhouse for our illustration of the Annunciation because it shows Mary totally bewildered by what Gabriel has told her, as surely she must have been.      Today,  March 25th, we celebrate the feast.

WEDNESDAY WORD IS NOW ONE YEAR OLD

One of the quieter successes of this past year has been the continuation of Wednesday Word, which when it began last March had originally been intended solely as a Lenten activity.   Yet its devotees so appreciate it that it has carried on throughout the whole year.   Here, are Clare, Agnes, Cathy and John enjoying the morning sunshine with coffee, biscuits and chat about next Sunday's gospel, as they do every Wednesday at 10.15am in the presbytery dining room.

And here is Agnes again, but rather younger.   Sadly her husband Leo died a few years ago.   He was a wonderful man, and she has only happy memories of him.   Although they lived in Germany and had both Jewish and Catholic relatives, the spirit of toleration was always there between family members.   Agnes has now left her native Germany to live here in Lymington, where she is now settled and very content.

A WARM WELCOME AT THE LENTEN LUNCH

This week it was our girls' turn to prepare and serve up the Lenten Lunch at St Thomas'Church Hall.   Rini with the plates, Anne with the soup and Margaret at the hatch with the bread and cheese saw to it that the punters got their meals.   Other parishioners ensured that everyone had a cup of tea or coffee, set out and put away furniture, and collected the takings.   Afterwards Cathy gave us an interesting and lively talk about several of the apostles and their relationship with Jesus.  

now for something completely different

Gigi sent us this link from the Chant Cafe.   She says:  "It's very short but very beautiful and quite a clear recording. It was posted originally as a Marian Antiphon for Lent, and I thought other readers might find it as restful as I had!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faNjo1exGkE

Thanks, Gigi, we'll be interested to know the reaction from others.  (Click on "comments" below as usual)

THIS SATURDAY BELONGS TO ST JOSEPH

Here is good St Joseph, letting light into the sanctuary and looking down on us from above the altar on the eve of his feast day.   A few years ago he nearly fell out as the panel beneath him began to bulge, but he was saved by an appeal for the restoration of the whole window which resulted in almost £7000 being raised in a few weeks.   But then, knowing St Joseph, that's what you'd expect, isn't it.    If you don't believe us, ask the Sisters!

FATHER RICHARD IS AT HOME IN SCANDINAVIA

Domkyrkan, August 2010

The younger man in the centre of this photo, nearest to the camera and wearing glasses, is Joan's other priest son Fr Richard Hayward.  (We've already blogged Joan with one of her sons, Fr Paul, on May 13th 2010, second item.)    Fr Richard has been in Sweden since 1984, supporting Opus Dei in that country and in other Scandinavian territories.   He teaches and helps with the parish.    We send him our best wishes, and pray that he may be successful in his work.

PARISHIONERS WIN THEIR CHURCH BACK

flickr.com

In the Spring of 2008 the splendid church of St Peter and St Paul, New Brighton, was under threat because of rising costs of repair and maintenance.    Despite strong protests it was closed in August of that year.   The parishioners formed a campaign committee which appealed to the Congregation of the Clergy in Rome.   In the summer of 2009 the Vatican ruled that the closure order was unjustified, but then other reasons were soon found for not reopening the church.   However, the parishioners' persistence and their fundraising efforts have now resulted, earlier this month, in part of the church being reopened for its first weekday Mass for almost three years.   We salute and congratulate St Peter and St Paul Parish, and wish them all success in the future.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

We were very sad indeed to hear that Colin Moon had died.    It was a real privilege to be with him as he battled with his frustrations

and a delight to share in his triumphs.     We pray for him knowing that he is going to Our Lord after a lifetime in God's service.

Our sincerest condolences to Frances, Denis and Angela, and to all those who were close to him.

FATHER EDWIN BARNES ORDAINED PRIEST

Several carloads of Lymington Parishioners together with Fathers Danny and Peter were at Portsmouth Cathedral on Saturday for Deacon Edwin's ordination to the priesthood.   We were all sitting in the front two rows and had an excellent view of his prostration during the Litany of the Saints.

After the Laying-on of Hands he was invested with his stole and chasuble by Fr Peter, who more than forty
years earlier had made a similar journey of faith to become a Catholic priest.

Now a fully ordained priest of the Catholic Church, Fr Edwin and his wife Jane stand between Bishop Crispian on the left of the photo and Fr Keith Newton, the newly appointed Ordinary, on the right. Although Fr Edwin will be part of the Ordinariate, he will also be working for the Diocese so will be available sometimes to help us in this Parish.  To prove that this could be so, sixteen hours after his ordination he was saying the early Sunday Mass at St Anne's before coming over to Lymington to assist the Bishop at the eleven o'clock Mass here.    Then on Monday he said the 9.30 Mass here, so he has certainly hit the ground running!      We wish him well and promise him our prayers.

WAS THIS OUR BISHOP'S LAST VISIT TO US?

Fr Crispian Hollis, the Bishop of our diocese of Portsmouth, came to our Parish to offer Mass here last Sunday morning.   He assured us that he had not come to inspect the Parish or to sort out problems, but to say goodbye to us as he is hoping that the Pope will allow him to retire this Autumn.

After Mass he joined us for a buffet lunch which would have fed hundreds, at which Cathy read for him a blessing from Benedictus by John O'Donohue.   The final lines are:
                                                         May the slow light of the Eucharist
                                                         Be a sure shelter around your future.

Then Clare made him a presentation on behalf of the Parish.    Bishop Crispian has had to tackle, during his time in office, one of the most critical periods in the history of our diocese.    He had to propose and carry out drastic solutions to some of the problems he faced, but showed himself willing to modify his proposals where an individual situation merited it.   We wish him well and pray that he will enjoy a happy retirement.

A PLACE OF PEACE IN OUR BUSY HOSPITAL

One of the lesser known pleasures of the new Lymington hospital is its Faith Room.    When you take the lift to the first floor, turn left along the main corridor and you'll find it just past the wards.

 photo by Cathy

Inside, all is peace.   There are some chairs, a table, some symbolic items, a few books and booklets, and a prayer mat.   A place where people of all faiths can think or pray quietly, or just relax.

WHY WE HAD CAKE AFTER MASS LAST SUNDAY

Rini was embarrassed to be presented with this beautiful cake at the end of Mass on Sunday.      She had hoped that we wouldn't find out that it was her seventieth birthday.  So who, you may well ask, was responsible for wikileaking this treasured secret to Fr Danny?    It was Keith, of course!    He looks a bit vunerable there, doesn't he!   But Rini's forgiven him, and everybody had cake with their coffee afterwards.

HOT POOL GETS GREAT GRANDMAMA WRINKLY

News from Nicky in NZ.  She's fine.  She and her family are in North Island, and the earthquake hasn't affected them.   A couple of weeks ago she sent us this picture of her paddling in the Pacific.  She tried to make us envious.   She said: "We have also been to the hot pools which are lovely and warm for swimming and afterwards you can relax in another pool of 29degrees and get all wrinkly."   It's all right for some, isn't it.   Come home soon, Nicky.   The choir needs all its members.   With the new bright lighting we can see how few of you there are up there!

THEY'RE ALSO KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH US

Judith and Anthony assure us that they are not Lymington parishioners, although we could be forgiven for thinking otherwise from the frequency of their visits to our Church on weekdays.    Yet on Sundays they regularly attend Mass at the St Francis of Assisi Church in their own parish of Milford.    So we're delighted to welcome them on to our blog, as friends and part of the community of this Pastoral Area.      They've other friends on the web, too, for Anthony is the Coordinator for our Pastoral Area of the Keeping In Touch (KIT) programme, which can also be found through Facebook.