CA Lourdes Pilgrimage 2010

Thank you to everyone who joined the Catholic Association on Pilgrimage this year.

Sponsored Cycle Ride 2010

Congratulations to Patrick Noble, Matthew Sharrock & their support team (Alex Turvey, James Walden, Dail Maudsley) who took up the formidable challenge of cycling from London to Lourdes (a distance of approximately 600 miles in 6 days) to raise money for the Glanfield Children's Group and another charity.

After arriving on 20 August, they immediately started work in the Glanfield Children's Group for the whole week.

Well done to them for this amazing achievement.

Photos (c) Dail Maudsley

New look for CA news

The Catholic Association webteam have recently created this new CA news page, which can be accessed through our website: http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/ by simply clicking News.

We are now using Google's Blogger to create our news page, so it's more user-friendly and easier for people to add news items to it.

We hope you enjoy the new look, please let us know what you think on m.betts@catholicassociation.co.uk

If you would like to join the CA mailing list, please visit:

http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/website/email.shtml

Many thanks
CA webteam

Congratulations to...

....Becky and John Warren-Heys on the birth of their daughter, Laura Beth Warren-Heys this morning at 02:02 weighing 6lbs 13ozs (3.1 kg).

New Chaplains of Honour

Three members of the Catholic Association have been appointed a "Chaplain of Honour" by the Bishop of Tarbes & Lourdes in recognition of their promotion of the "Message of Lourdes and pilgrimage to the Grotto".

Fr. Tony Lester, O.Carm, Monsignor William Saunders of Southwark Archdiocese, and Fr. Nicholas King, S.J., of the Society of Jesus all receive the Chaplain of Honour.

The announcement was made on 12th July by the President of the Catholic Association Hospitalité, Colette Sharrock.

The citation makes reference to the three priests' work in promoting Lourdes and its spirituality by their preaching, writings, retreat-inputs, and their serviceof the sick. All three have committed themselves to Lourdes and the Catholic Association for a number of years. Fr Tony and Fr Nick are members of the HNDL and the CA Hospitalité, and work in the Accueil each year. Mgr William has been Pilgrimage Director of the CA for a number of years, and is a member of the CA Hospitalité.

Chaplains of Honour were first appointed in 1909 by Bishop Schoepfer to recognise priests who for the most part are not resident in Lourdes but who nevertheless contribute to the Shrine's pastoral life and outreach. Chaplains of Honour are presented with a distinctive insignia - a cross with Marian symbols.

Fathers Lester, Saunders and King received their new insignia at the celebration of Mass at the Grotto on 23rd August. The insignia was presented in the name of Monsignor Jacques Perrier, Bishop of Tarbes & Lourdes, by Bishop Paul Hendricks, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and Chair of the Catholic Association.

Photo taken by Johan Bergstrom-Allen

Maureen Quill

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce the death of Maureen Quill, a long standing member of the CA Pilgrimage, who passed away earlier this year.

Maureen who lived in Harlow was a long-serving Handmaid, and adoptive mother of Chris and Clare Quill, who used to be part of the "children's ward" in the 1980s, then part of the Glanfield Children's Group.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.

May she Rest in Peace.

Please pray for...

Please pray for the following people who have died recently and who have been connected and contributed to the Catholic Association Pilgrimage for many years.

Right Reverend Mervyn Alexander DD LLD (Hon), the eighth Bishop of Clifton, died on 14 August 2010 at St Angela’s Home in Clifton, Bristol. Mervyn Alban Alexander was born on 29 June 1925 in Highbury, London, the eldest son of William and Grace Alexander. On 20 December 1974, he was made Bishop of Clifton. He was succeeded as Bishop of Clifton by Bishop Declan Lang on the 28 March 2001. He attended the Catholic Association Pilgrimage as Bishop for many years and is well known to his Diocese.

And, please pray for Fr John Dunne, former Parish priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bournemouth who died last week. His parish have sent many young people and Assisted Pilgrims to Lourdes over the years, and he was very much involved in the fundraising initiatives.
May they both Rest in Peace.

Congratulations to...

...Emma Gale and JP Court on their recent wedding in Norwich, Norfolk. The couple were surrounded by family and friends. Fr John Warrington gave the blessing.

Congratulations to...

John and JoJo Kelly on the birth of their son, Daniel. Daniel was born on 10 August 2010.

Please keep this new family in your prayers.

Lourdes News: GPS Blunders

GPS blunders see Lourdes pilgrims travel to village of Lourde.

A small, but rising portion of the six million pilgrims who flock to the world's third most visited Catholic shrine in Lourdes are showing up at another, rather less well-known village called Lourde.

• See Telegraph article

Congratulations to...

...Libby Ridley (nee Waddington) and husband Nelion who are now proud parents to Dominic Christopher Ridley.