PARIS HONEYMOON FOR PARISH NEWLYWEDS

                                                                                                                                     photo by Barbara

When Nicky married John last Saturday the Church of Our Lady of Mercy was full to capacity with the couple's friends and extended families and well wishers from across our community.    The service was celebrated by Father Danny, assisted by Monsignor Peter Ryan and Deacon Stephen Morgan. Fr Danny's moving homily emphasised the validity and sacredness of marriage.  The couple have known each other for four years as volunteers for The Society of St Vincent De Paul.

                                                                                                                                      photo by Barbara

The celebrations continued in the Parish Rooms with standing room only.    The happy couple are honeymooning in Paris before returning to make their home in Lymington. 
                                                                                                                                         report by Gigi

FR GERRIT CELEBRATES HIS SEVENTY YEARS

                                                                                                                        Photo by Frances    
Fr Gerrit celebrated his seventieth birthday last week by lunching with Fr Danny and some of his friends.      We wish him many more years of health and happiness.

WELL DESERVED AWARD FOR LOYAL SERVICE

An Apostolic blessing was awarded to John Stephenson last week for his long and dedicated service to the Parish.   We are most grateful to him for all the work he has done for us.

CAKES DOWNED IN VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE

                                                                                                                    photo by Barbara

There was a good turnout for the Annual General Meeting of the Lymington Section Catholic Women's League this week: the brightly refurbished Hospitality Room seemed cosily full on St Valentine's Day. Our League guest was Jeanette Collins, Portsmouth Branch Treasurer; soon to become National Treasurer. Our surprise guest was Father Danny, who had been invited to observe the AGM. He may also have been tempted by the array of cake, flapjacks and biscuits provided by the good ladies of the branch. Father D offered some good-natured heckling from the sidelines but our chairman Margaret remained unruffled: it's no surprise that she was unanimously re-elected to post at the meeting.

The Branch also elected a new Vice Chairman, Treasurer and committee members. Our wonderful Secretary Ann was unanimously re-elected. Time was taken at the beginning of the meeting to remember the much loved departed Freda Collins, who had been elected Branch Vice Chairman at last year's AGM.

                                                                                                                 photo by Barbara

One brave and articulate member (it was Pat and it was her birthday) voiced concerns that the membership of the Catholic Women's League has declined drastically since the 1970s. The consensus is that this needs to be addressed at branch level but also at national management level. The CWL is often seen as an older ladies' club: we need to redefine the inclusivity of the League for Catholic Women of all ages and from all walks of life. Jeanette Collins had travelled from Jersey to speak to us. She emphasised the essential support the CWL continues to provide to CAFOD and other international aid agencies. She also spoke about the local support provided to members who are suffering hardship or are incapacitated by illness or disability.

                                                                            Report by Gigi

NO HIDING PLACE FOR MICE IN THIS CHURCH

                                                                                                                          photo by Barbara
If you mices think you can hide away anywhere in this church, you're mistaken!  Not while Molly's in charge, you won't!

SAINTLY SISTER'S NAME FOR BRIGHTON BUS

A holy nun from Brighton has been honoured by the City Bus Company in an unusual way.   Look under "Pages" in the right hand column for "Mother Riccarda's Bus" to see the full story.

TO NAME OR NOT TO NAME?

Since we last considered your views a fortnight ago, we have received three more written comments, all from named parishioners or contributors and all in favour of publishing names.   All the comments are printed on the "to name or not" page in the right hand column of this blog.   Our decision is that from now onwards we shall publish people's names where it is helpful to do so, but only with their permission.  

HENS' SUPER SEND OFF FOR BRIDE-TO-BE

Some of Nicky's friends gather to offer their condolences on her impending departure from the chicken run.

NIPPI IN NAME AND NIPPY IN WINTER

                                                                                                                                      photo by Nicky
When the manufacturers decided what to call their wheelchair-carrying scooter, we don't believe they were thinking about how cold the driver gets when it's racing along at full speed on a frosty day.    But Ros has the answer - furry earmuffs!

LYMINGTON QUAY IN FEBRUARY

                                                                                                                                    photo by Nicky

Very peaceful at this time of year, but the visitors will return with the Spring.

                                                                                                                          cartoon sent in by Gigi

REMEMBERING THE FOUNDING OF CAFOD

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development was born when members of the National Board of Catholic Women organised the first Family Fast Day in 1960, in response to a devastating hurricane in the Caribbean. Two years later, CAFOD was officially registered.    On Saturday 28 January 2012, on a grey winter afternoon, Westminster Cathedral was packed to capacity with vibrancy and joyful voices for a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the work of  CAFOD over the past 50 years.     Among the 1,500 strong congregation were CAFOD workers and supporters from the UK and beyond, together with representatives of international Caritas agencies. The Catholic Women's League was nationally represented, including 100 members of the Portsmouth Diocese branch. Of these, 15 ladies, including Ellen and Joan, had braved the chill to travel up from the Lymington Section.

The principal celebrant was the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, with more than 18 bishops and 30 priests concelebrating. Among them were the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Anglican Bishop of Winchester and the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini. Our leader Margaret also spotted Portsmouth's own much loved Bishop Crispian Hollis; it's reassuring to see him out and about in spite of recent ill health.   The service was inspiring both in tradition and innovation. The homily was given by the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster John Arnold, Chair of CAFOD Trustees. He told us that the work of CAFOD is founded on the Gospel, based on core values of Compassion, Dignity, Hope, Partnership, Solidarity, Sustainability and Stewardship. A procession of photos accompanied stories from places such as South Africa, Mozambique, Brazil, Ethiopia, Cambodia. The voices were those inspired by and involved with CAFOD, including Cardinal Basil Hume; and ordinary people from disadvantaged areas stricken by poverty, war and HIV. The presentation was simple but incredibly moving.

The Mass ended with a Rite of Recommitment, with colourful Nigerian hymns of thanksgiving from the Saint Ignatius African choir. We were addressed by Margaret Mwaniki from Kenya, a CAFOD trustee and partner. She spoke with humour and passion, emphasising that in supporting CAFOD we are not donating but sharing: we do not help the poor because they are poor but because we see one humanity; we do not give because we are rich but because we are sharing the fruits of one world. The Lymington ladies left Westminster warmed and cheered in spite of the cold journey home.

                                                                          photos and report by Gigi

"In recognition of the generosity of CAFOD  supporters the British Government has agreed, that through UK Aid Match funding, it will match a pound for pound every donation given to CAFOD during this years Lent Fast Day to help some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world."

A MEMORY OF A RATHER DIFFERENT KIND

As a complete contrast to the celebrations in Westminster, two members of the Parish went to Redlynch Village Hall last week to hear The Frenzied and The Diligent play vajazzle (a variety of jazz and skiffle),  and to remember some stars of the past, including the great Lonnie Donegan.                                                                                                                                                                                                                

SUNDOWN ON BRIGHTON BEACH

 

May the sun set kindly on your prayers,

though you might call for the moon.

May your faith compass and anchor you;

may your soul rise in a sea of losses.

May you harbour truth within you,

and may the tides never turn you

from a stranger's shore or the face of God.

photo and poem by Gigi

For further photos and an eyewitness report on the Occupy Brighton Camp see Pages in the right hand column.