KRZYSZTOF JUNIOR BECOMES A CHILD OF GOD

Here proud parents Krzysztof and Kamila Perlowski  are seen holding Krzysztof Junior for a photo just before his Baptism, through which he entered the gateway to life in the Spirit, became part of the Church and was marked with a seal that can never be broken. We rejoice for him and welcome him into our Parish!

CWL MARK FOUNDER’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

Our local branch of the CWL joined their colleagues in the National Pilgrimage to St Aloysius Church, Oxford to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of their founder, Margaret Fletcher. 

   Margaret, Maureen, Joan and Eileen were among the group from our branch, who then attended an official reception at the Town Hall.
                                                                                                   Our thanks to Joan for the photos.

PARISHIONERS VISIT MUDLESS GLASTONBURY

                                                                                                                                 photo by Joan 

Not a drop of mud in sight as Audrey and Pat relax in the Glastonbury sunshine.      Joan was with them, too.   Well of course she was - she took the photo!

WHAT! NOT ANOTHER RETIRED TV STAR!

                                                                                             photo by Louise
We had wondered what would happen when Muffin the Mule grew old!     Doesn’t time fly!

THE WEDDING OF ROSALIND AND ARREN

                                                                 photo kindly donated by Michael Harris (mjh1972@me.com)
On Saturday we were delighted to be able to attend the marriage of well-known  parishioners Ros Hayward and Arren Barnett, which was conducted by Fr Danny.    We all wish them every joy and happiness in their future life together.

YET MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SITE

Thanks to John S, for the very smart lighting to help those who use the back entrance on dark Saturday evenings.

Thanks to Gerry, who organised the removal of this unsafe wall and the replacement of the back door of the coffee-serving area …..

…..  by a new disabled access door, and the gold medal goes to Ros, for being the first competitor to arrive through it!

STRAWBERRY TEA AT MILFORD ON SEA

This strawberry tea was held at the church of St Francis of Assisi, Milford-on-Sea, on Sat 11th August.     About 30 attended and a good time was had by all!     The weather was excellent, sunny but not too hot.
                                                                  photo and report by Anthony

HOW BLUE SUEDE SHOES CAME TO AFRICA

Here’s the answer to the question we asked you two weeks ago:   The tall pop star who visited June in 1968 while she was living in Rhodesia was Vince Eager, who helped to popularise some of Elvis’s tunes as he toured Africa.

THE ASSUMPTION LOOKED AT FROM THE EAST

On Wednesday this week Christians throughout the world celebrated the wonderful Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.   We in the west are used to seeing medieval pictures of her flying up towards Heaven.   Yet paintings from the eastern tradition often have a different take on the words of Pope Pius XII “…when the course of her earthly life was finished (Mary) was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory…” (Munificientissimus Deus).    We haven’t been able to trace the origin of this superb painting showing Our Lord coming down to bring her up to Heaven with him (well, surely he would have, wouldn’t he?)  …. Can anyone help?

MINISTERS OF A VERY SPECIAL MINISTRY

As the congregation leave the Church, the duty Eucharistic Ministers clean and polish the ciborium and chalices and store them away ready for the next day’s Mass.     Kevin and Agnes are among those who have the privilege of serving Our Lord in this most important duty.

NO GOLD MEDAL FOR FR DANNY, IT SEEMS

Why was the post box painted gold which stands directly opposite the presbytery?     Had the dive with triple somersault and twist from the three-metre ladder to the church floor been recognised as an Olympic sport?    Or was the post box opposite the wrong house?    (Ben’s is on the right side of the church entrance.)      And now we’re told that the painting had been done illegally!    Here’s principal suspect Rob being interviewed by South Today.    But he hasn’t had his trial yet!     Where’s the justice in that?    As always, we welcome your comments.

GEORGE IS NOW A MEMBER OF OUR CHURCH

George Joseph Myers with his parents Claire and William, his godparents, his family and their friends being greeted by Fr Danny at the entrance to the Church of Our Lady of Mercy and St Joseph.   A few minutes after this photo was taken George entered the gateway to life in the Spirit as he was baptised and became a son of God.      We welcome him into our Parish, and congratulate him and his family on this great occasion.

FOR THOSE IN PERIL ON THE SEA

On Sunday afternoon the annual RNLI service, promoted by Lymington Churches Together and led by Lifeboat chaplain the Rev Peter Salisbury, took place on the Bath Road Recreation Ground.      Popular hymns were led by the choirs of St Thomas’s and St John’s Boldre accompanied by the Town Band and supported by Christians of all denominations.

IN TOWN THIS MORNING

It’s Saturday morning again.   And once more the mighty roar of Lymington’s market is hushed as we tiptoe into the Parish Hospitality Rooms for our weekly shot of CWL coffee, scones and cake, delightfully served this week by Anne and Wendy.    Nearly all of the £1500 or so raised annually by the lovely ladies of the CWL at Saturday coffee mornings is donated by them to selected charities.

A GARDEN IS A LOVESOME THING, GOD WOT

Many parishioners with truly sensitive natures had long hoped that when the huts behind Our Lady of Mercy were removed, they would be replaced by an attractive garden, with a lawn and sweetly scented floral borders.   Yet now anyone who is unwise enough to stand and chat there after Mass does so in a noxious atmosphere of hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide pumped out by departing cars.    So we are publishing these photos today to express our gratitude to Pat, who with Brian’s support keeps pots of beautiful flowers blooming outside the doors of the church, the presbytery and the hospitality suite.     

HOW GREEN IS THEIR VALLEY

Last weekend your intrepid editorial staff boldly travelled westward to spend a few days with Rosemary and Jim, ex-parishioners who now live in Neath, South Wales.  (Jim is the folk musician and sculptor whose Bernadette now graces the Lourdes grotto at the north-west end of Our Lady of Mercy’s grounds.)   On Sunday we all went to Mass at St Joseph’s Church in Neath.   Its wide sanctuary often accommodates as many as ten red-cassocked primary school children who between them accomplish all the servers’ duties, while the young pig-tailed thurifer is able to move around easily to complete the incensations fully and with quiet dignity.

Surprisingly, there is no choir at this Welsh valley church, but the Lady chapel adjacent to the sanctuary hosts the music group who accompany the hymns and anthems on a variety of instruments.    We are grateful to them for allowing us to photograph them for our blog.

In the afternoon we went to a light-hearted medieval re-enactment in the ruins of Neath Abbey, a huge twelfth century Cistercian monastery which housed before its dissolution in 1539 some fifty monks and about a hundred lay brothers. 

  







Some of the spectators had dressed for the part, too, and this twelve-year old was delighted to be rewarded with a proposal from the victor of the jousts.