IT’S LADIES’ AFTERNOON AT THE LIDO

                                                                                                                                        photo by Nicky
Some boatowners moor their dinghies between Lymington Quay and the pontoon.      This dinghy hasn’t been used or even emptied, and provides a graphic illustration of the amount of rain which has fallen this summer.       For ducks here is a chance to wash out all that horrid salt which damages their feathers and exposes them to the cold.   They have spent the afternoon washing and preening themselves in their freshwater bath, and are now having a few minutes quiet time.   Their drakes do not condescend to join them, but swim by contemptuously.    Fancy making all that fuss about a little bit of salt in your underfeathers!

MISSION APPEAL FOR SPIRITANS RAISES £536

On Sunday Our Lady of Mercy and St Francis of Assisi Churches were visited by Fr Terry Donnelly (second from right in this photo).    He gave a stimulating Mission Appeal on behalf of his congregation, the Holy Ghost Community (the Spiritans).    The appeal raised a total of £536.73, and a further £25 can be recovered through gift aid.   For more information about the work of the Holy Ghost Fathers, click on: www.spiritans.co.uk
        

SUCCESSFUL MUSICAL EVENING AT ST ANNE'S

Our thanks to the Sisters for this photo, which is a still from the video which it is hoped will appear on the new Priory website (live but under construction) at www.dominicansistersofstjoseph.org

A concert by the Grainger String Quartet has boosted the funds of St Anne’s Catholic Church in Brockenhurst.      The program was very varied and included a wide range of musical styles from the classical to the contemporary in its 10 pieces.  Sr.  Mary Catherine from the Priory at Sway joined them in performing the Mozart Flute Quartet and the truly surprise item was a string quartet arrangement of the Dr Who theme.       The concert ended with a jaunty performance of Makin Whoopee and everyone agreed that this was a fitting conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable evening.                               
Refreshments were served in the Parish Rooms during the interval and with an attendance of 65, the concert raised £336 which will be used for repairs and improvements.
                                                                                      Thank you, Michael, for this report.

A WELCOME VISIT FROM ELAINE AND NICK

At weekends Elaine and Nick Mellish sometimes visit Elaine’s sister Andrea in Pennington and come to Mass here on Sunday.      Elaine is a speech and language therapist, mostly helping pre-School children.       Nick was a pupil at Downside School at the same time as Lulworth’s owner Frederick Weld, whose ancestor Joseph gave the site and the Church of Our Lady of Mercy to us.    Also at Downside with Nick was Philip Hansom, the great great grandson of Joseph Aloysius Hansom, the architect of our Church.   As a senior pupil Nick recalls playing squash with and losing heavily to the Ampleforth Abbot (later Cardinal) Hume when he visited Downside.       We enjoyed chatting with Elaine and Nick, and look forward to seeing them again when they next visit us.

There's a photo in this week's blog which is too wide for the page.    So if you want to see the rest of it, use the right arrow key!

YEAR OF FAITH BEGINS WITH VATICAN II TALK

                                                                                           photo by Dave Hill, Portsmouth Youth Advisor
Last Thursday evening many of us from our Pastoral Area were privileged to hear Rev Father Gerry O'Collins give a very informative talk on the Second Vatican Council.  It is now 50 years since the start of Vatican 2 and 25 years since the publication of the revised Catechism of the Catholic Church.  At the start of the Year of Faith it gave us all a good spiritual beginning to remind us of the important Documents emanating from that Council.
                                                                           Thanks, Cathy, for this report.

DORIS RECEIVES PAPAL BLESSING AT 97YEARS

Fr Danny presented Doris Smith with an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Benedict on the occasion of her 97th Birthday.  Fr Danny commented afterwards that 'she couldn't have been more pleased if you had handed her 100 gold bars!'  Doris continues to receive the Blessed Sacrament in her home in Pennington from her faithful band of Ministers of Communion.
                                                             report and photo by Cathy

AN AREA RETREAT, THOUGH NOT AS PLANNED

The Pastoral Area’s Day of Recollection on Saturday was held partly on the site of Our Lady of Mercy and partly at the Lymington Community Centre.     Sadly the speaker, Fr Dermot Power, collapsed on his way here in the morning and was taken to hospital, but Fr Danny and Cathy gave us plenty to think about in the talks they gave when substituting for him at such short notice. 

One element of the day which did go as planned was the provision of refreshments.    The Authentic Paella Company were up to their usual high standard, whilst in the small kitchen Martha, Liz, Eileen and Frances cheerfully coped with everything, refreshed everybody and washed up after us all, then went down to the hospitality rooms and did it all again.     What would we do without them!

BEST BIRTHDAY TREAT JOAN COULD GIVE

For Fr Richard Hayward there could have been no better present for his sixtieth birthday than to be visited by his mother, Joan.     He has been living in Sweden and working as a priest there and in other parts of Scandinavia since 1984.      Here they are with Joan’s daughter Maureen outside the main doors of Stockholm Catholic Cathedral.

QUARR ABBEY'S ONE HUNDRED TOMORROW!

                                              Our thanks to the community who allowed us to go into their sanctuary to take this photo.
The day after this blog is published is the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Quarr Abbey, which took place on October 12th 1912.      At one time there were over a hundred monks there, but even though the community now numbers only eight, they continue to be a powerhouse of prayer in support of the local Christian parishes.  

 At the back of the Abbey building is the Pilgrims’ Chapel, which for individual visitors is an ideal place for quiet meditation with its separate altars and wonderfully peaceful atmosphere.

WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS FUN?

Last Saturday evening a very enjoyable quiz night was held in the Hospitality Rooms at Our Lady of Mercy, thanks to Fr Danny who also gave the ploughman’s supper which lovely Frances prepared.  Our thanks also to Egans, the Ship, Lounges and several parishioners for the generous prizes, and to Leigh and Georgie who did the raffle.    And of course, very special thanks to Jacqui and Peter who planned and arranged it all, and to quizmaster David who can be seen in our photo taken moments before the action started wondering what he’s let himself in for!

                                                                                       photo by Leigh

The Four Graces were the team that won first prize, and look what they got!     They received the shield, which will be engraved, and a bottle of wine each.  No wonder Liz, June, Pat and Louise look so happy.        They can’t wait for the next event that our super new social committee are arranging!

AUTUMN SPLENDOUR IN MADEIRA WALK

A fine Virginia Creeper coats the wall of this old alley behind the High Street where it connects with Captains Row, a hundred metres from the gates of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

We were saddened to hear of the death of Eddie Colehan.    A private, very devout man with a love of scripture, he sometimes read at daily Mass.    We send his family and friends our sincere condolences; his funeral will take place at St Anne’s Church on Tuesday 16th October at 11am.     

A MOMENT TO RELAX, THEN THE JOB BEGINS

                                                                                                                         Diocese of Portsmouth                                        
This photo of Bishop Philip, looking very relaxed, was taken a few days before he became our bishop.    At his ordination he prayed that he might be “a humble and holy, orthodox, creative and courageous Bishop of Portsmouth.”   Less than a week later he is already showing us what kind of a leader he is going to be.    When interviewed by Emer McCarthy for Vatican Radio this week he talked about us “gently evangelising” our land, once known as Mary’s Dowry. He emphasised the need for belief and for witness, and suggested some practical examples of small ways in which we can witness to our faith: wearing a crucifix, making the sign of the cross before a meal in public, and saying ‘Thank God’ when we hear good news.     But all this needs to be accompanied by a deepening spiritual devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.     To read more of what he said, or to listen to the interview, go to http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2012/10/01/from_mary's_dowry_a_gentle_new_evangelization/en1-625949

THE ANGELS MICHAEL, RAPHAEL AND GABRIEL

 

                                                                    Copy of icon by Arlene Tilghman.

Oh, Michael, mighty soldier of The Lord

Stretch out your arm when sin tempts us away,

Guard us from evil with your gleaming sword,

Hit hard and drive Satanic force away.

Raphael, come to us with healing balm,

With whispered words to cool the fevered brow,

When trouble rages, speak to us of calm,

Stay with us at this moment, here and now.

And Gabriel, God's messenger of peace,

"Glad tidings of great joy" for all to hear,

"Be not afraid," with these words all fears cease,

Both then and now and throughout every year.

Archangels three, protect us with God's love,

And guide us all to His kingdom above

                                                                                                 Ros Browne
                                                              Feast of the Angels  - September 29th                                  

FRIENDSHIP CLUB NOTCHES UP SIXTH YEAR

On Monday we celebrated the sixth anniversary of the foundation of the Friendship Club, by meeting together for lunch at the Wagon and Horses.     We enjoyed an excellent meal and outstandingly good service, thanks to the wise planning and hard work of Clare, Joan and the other parishioners who helped arrange it and the transporting of everybody.     One of the striking things about this happy club is the number of its members who have been with it from the beginning and attend consistently.    Long may they continue to enjoy each others’ company!