Tuesday 13 December 2011

Hospitalité Winter Newsletter

From Nimal Hemelge:

The Hospitalité Newsletter is now available online for you to download and print out.

The hard copies through the post have started to arrive already. If you do not receive your copy through the post within three weeks and you have previously requested one, or you have moved / changed your name in the last 12 months please email me with your details as soon as possible, as our records on file for you may be incorrect / out of date.


Equally if you no longer wish to receive your hard copy through the post, or prefer to read online / print it out yourself please email me to confirm your decision. Printing the Newsletter out yourself, not only means you can print it out in colour, but of course it saves the CA
Hospitalité a lot of money which means money can be better spent on other things.


This year’s newsletter has articles on our 2011 Lourdes theme, the Our Father; a wonderful reflection by Bishop Crispian; plus an article by Lourdes stalwart Nell Atkin on her experiences of travelling to Lourdes as an Assisted Pilgrim for the first time.


Our thanks go to all our contributors, including the Heads of Service and the Young Helper's Group Leader.


We look forward to seeing as many of you at the AGM (11 Feb 20112 – Sawston, see newsletter for details) as possible.


We hope you enjoy it.


God Bless,

Nimal Hemelge

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Denise Phillips

Denise Phillips who died last week, was a long standing member of East Anglia and the CA Hospitalite. Denise originally went with her son to Lourdes with the CA group - GOBS (Grand Order of Babysitters). She would divide her time between the GOBS and the main Pilgrimage working as a part of the water team. Denise also looked after all the handmaid uniforms for a number of years.

Denise had a massive stroke a few years ago, and has been seriously unwell since.

Please keep Denise and her family in your prayers.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Bishop John Jukes - Southwark

Please pray for Bishop John Jukes who died on 21 November 2011 and who has been connected and contributed to the Catholic Association Pilgrimage a few times.

The Right Reverend John Jukes OFM Conv., S.T.L., Emeritus Bishop of Southwark was born at Eltham, London, 7th August 1923. Ordained Priest 19th July 1952. Ordained Bishop of the Titular See of Strathearn and Auxiliary in Southwark by Archbishop Bowen 30th January 1980.

His body will be received at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, on Sunday, 4th December, at 5:45 pm followed by the parish Mass at 6:00 pm. Franciscan Vespers at St George's Cathedral on Monday, 5th December, at 7:00 pm

His Requiem Mass will be held at St George's Cathedral on Tuesday, 6th December, at 12 noon

May he rest in peace

Thursday 10 November 2011

Congratulations to...

...Rupert Bell and Insa on the birth of their daughter Franziska. She was born today in Munich weighing 3,37kg and was 53 cm long.

Rupert was Chief Brancardier from 2006 - 2010.

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Congratulations to...

...Mary (nee Dujardin) and Shane Edwards on the birth of their son Charlie James. He was born today at 5.33am, weighing 3.43kg.

Monday 24 October 2011

Dr Derek Bedford

Dr Derek Bedford died last Friday evening in Reigate Hospital about 7pm as a resulting of a worsening of a heart condition that has troubled him for some time. His family were with him when he died, and Sr Maureen had managed to visit him a few days ago.

Dr Derek Bedford has been a great supporter of the CA Pilgrimage for many, many years and is a friend to many people. He assisted Sr Maureen for a number of years in working with the hotel APs. He will be greatly missed by all his friends.

May he Rest in Peace and rise in glory.

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Ellen Davis

Ellen Davis (on the right hand side of photo), who was an Assisted Pilgrim on our pilgrimage, died on 2 October at a nursing home.


Ellen was a great supporter of the Carmelites and the parish of English Martyrs, Walworth. Having joined our pilgrimage in 2008, she was admitted to the Catholic Association Hospitalité as a prayer member in 2009, and was on our 2010 pilgrimage.

Sadly she was too unwell to join us this year, but always had a special fondness for Lourdes, and we remembered her in prayer at the Grotto.


Please keep Ellen and her family in your prayers.


May Ellen rest in peace, and rise in glory.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Jim Dujardin

Mr James Dujardin died on 22nd September 2011.

James has been a great supporter of the CA Pilgrimage for a few years and is a friend to many people. He was both an assisted pilgrim and a helper for a couple of years.

May he Rest in Peace and rise in glory.

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Living by Giving Trust

From: Johan Bergstrom-Allen, Matt Betts, Stephen Daly, Dail Maudsley, and Sadie Vile

In 2010 a small group of us who have been involved with the CA for many years, set up a small charity which aims to support various causes and is currently focussed on "Living by Giving...young people new experiences".

A
mongst various undertakings we have been able to support, in 2010 we sponsored a child to travel on the CA Pilgrimage with the Glanfield group and in 2011 we gave financial support to three CA pilgrimage helpers. We also provided some funding to support the gap year work of a past CA brancardier, Roy Scivyer.

If you would like to support us in fundraising for future projects like this, and also to catch up with many people you met in Lourdes, please join us for our "First Birthday Celebration" on 22nd October 2011 in London. Our event will include music, raffle, a fully stocked bar, food, and much more, and will take place at the famous St Bride's Hall in the City of London, close to the historic area of Fleet Street and the famous St Paul’s Cathedral. If you would like to attend, please book your tickets before 1st October 2011 and they will cost just £15 each. You can purchase tickets online here:http://www.bmycharity.com/1stBirthday.

Have a look at our Facebook event page and say you're coming along:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205842466133693

We look forward to seeing you there!

More information: www.livingbygivingtrust.com

Monday 5 September 2011

Lourdes revisited....

Jimmy Burns, writer and journalist, has written in his blog about his experiences of Lourdes this year with the CA. Have a look here.

Tuesday 30 August 2011

CA Lourdes Pilgrimage 2011

A number of our groups and dioceses have produced a page about their pilgrimages to Lourdes with the Catholic Association this year. These can be viewed below:

Wednesday 10 August 2011

CA Novena

Many people find it very helpful to prepare for Lourdes by praying the nine or ten days leading up to the pilgrimage: to help you with this spiritual preparation, please click here: http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/spirituality/novena.shtml to go to our CA novena, written by Fr Nicholas King, SJ (one of the CA's experienced brancs).

The idea of the novena is to assist all helpers to get their spiritual focus right. Lourdes itself is such a hectic dash that sometimes it may seem that we don't even have time to pray. So, try and get there with your spiritual antennae already alert and receptive; read the meditations for each day, and the suggested scripture reading, and take as much time for quiet prayer as you can manage.

Listen out for what the Lord is saying to you.

Best wishes for a safe journey,

Catholic Association Hospitalité

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Bishop Crispian Hollis

Please pray for Bishop Crispian Hollis, Portsmouth who has been diagnosed with bowel cancer...

From the Catholic Herald.co.uk

"Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth has announced in a letter to his clergy that he has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

The 74-year-old bishop, who is soon to retire, had been diagnosed with the disease after a CT scan in mid-June at the Queen Alexandria Hospital, Portsmouth.

Bishop Hollis said the scan had revealed a cancer “which is probably malignant”. A biopsy and MRI scan will be carried out in early August, he said.

He has said that he would still hope to join the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes from August 21 to 27."

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Bishop Michael Evans

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce that Bishop Michael Evans (East Anglia) has passed away after a very brave fight against cancer. May he Rest in Peace and rise in glory. The CA Hospitalité extends its condolences to Bishop Michael's family, friends and his diocese.


From BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14118153):

The Right Reverend Michael Evans, the Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, has died in hospital at the age of 59 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

He was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive strain in 2005 but continued his ministry throughout his treatment.

The leader of Catholics in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk carried out limited engagements as his condition deteriorated.

He continued to work until his admission to hospital last Thursday.

Canon Evans was appointed the third bishop of East Anglia in February 2003 by Pope John Paul II and was ordained at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, in March of that year.

He was previously parish priest at St Augustine's in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

On his appointment Canon Evans said: "I was astonished to be appointed as Bishop of East Anglia, and have a real sense of my unworthiness for this responsibility, but I accepted this new ministry with a joyful though nervous 'yes'."

Seminary teacher

He became well known throughout the diocese for his teaching and set up an annual adult religious education programme.

He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Southwark in 1975, and spent two years as assistant priest at St Elizabeth's in Richmond, Surrey.

From 1977-1979 he studied for a Master of Theology degree at Heythrop College, University of London, and then returned to St John's Seminary for eight years as lecturer in Christian doctrine.

From 1985-1987 he was Vice-Rector at the seminary, with the then Monsignor Peter Smith (later the second Bishop of East Anglia, and now Archbishop of Southwark) as Rector.

A statement from the Diocese of East Anglia is expected to be made later.

PS:

Archbishop Peter Smith said: "I have no doubt that he [Bishop Michael] will be greeted by the Lord he served so faithfully, with the words: ‘Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the Kingdom prepared for you."

Please visit: http://tinyurl.com/69z83r2 for full statement.In addition, please do visit a recent interview with Bishop Michael Evans which took place after Easter 2011 in which he talked about his illness, and about finding hope in times of adversity: http://www.dayforlife.org/Day-for-Life/Video


Saturday 25 June 2011

Mary Mulligan

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce that Mary Mulligan has passed away after a very brave fight against cancer. May she Rest in Peace and rise in glory.

Mary had come with Portsmouth Diocese for a number of years and was a member of the CA Hospitalité.

The CA Hospitalité extends its condolences to Mary's family and friends.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Congratulations to...

Fabio and Lisa Galantini (nee Presgraves) on the birth of their daughter Katharine, who weighed 5lb 3oz.

Thursday 19 May 2011

Bella Borlase-Hendry

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce that Mrs Bella Borlase-Hendry has passed away.


She died at 10am this morning on Thursday 19th May, very peacefully in the Nursing Home in Bath. She was 91.

Her funeral is likely to be at the end of the month in her parish church, St. John's in Bath, but is not settled yet.
Bella was a true stalwart of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage, and was a nurse with us for many, many years. She will be really missed by everyone who worked with and knew her.
The CA Hospitalité extends its condolences to Bella's family and friends of Bella.
May she Rest in Peace

Her funeral is likely to be at the end of the month in her parish church, St. John's in Bath, but is not confirmed.

Bella was a true stalwart of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage, and was a nurse with us for many, many years. She will be greatly missed by everyone who worked with and knew her.

The CA Hospitalité extends its condolences to Bella's family and friends at this difficult time.

May she Rest in Peace

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Congratulations to...

...Catherine Hobday and James Astley on their recent wedding in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. The couple were surrounded by lots of family and friends.

Thursday 12 May 2011

Congratulations to...


...Emily and James Baker on the birth of their son Gabriel David William Baker born this morning weighing 9lb 3oz.

400 years of the King James Bible

This month marks 400 years since the publication of the King James Version of the Bible, for which much admiration has been expressed in this, its anniversary year. But just how much has it contributed to Christian theology and the English language? Scripture scholar and translator, Fr Nicholas King SJ describes the traditions and translations on which the King James Version drew, and clears up one or two misconceptions about the text.

Tuesday 10 May 2011

CA Hospitalité Newsletter

The CA Hospitalité Newsletter is now available online for you to download and print out, here.

The hard copies through the post will start to arrive towards the end of next week.  If you do not receive your copy through the post within three weeks and you have previously requested one, or you have moved / changed your name in the last 12 months please email me with your details as soon as possible, as our records on file for you may be incorrect / out of date.

Equally if you no longer wish to receive your hard copy through the post, or prefer to read online / print it out yourself please email Nimal to confirm your decision.  Printing the newsletter out yourself, not only means you can print it out in colour, but of course it saves the CA Hospitalite a lot of money which means money can be better spent on the funding of those who need the money.

This year’s newsletter has articles on our 2011 Lourdes theme, the Our Father; plus details on Lourdes 2011; Lourdes funding; and has a whole section on how you can travel and enjoy Lourdes as a Family. 

Our thanks go to all our contributors.

We hope you enjoy it.

God Bless,

Nimal

Thursday 5 May 2011

Congratulations to...

two Lourdes helpers who have recently married:

Chrissie Lees and Mary Hamilton who both married their new husbands during the months of April and May....

BSP/Torchlight

The Chief Brancardier would like to thank everyone who has notified him of the changes that will be happening to the BSP and Torchlight from this year.

Matt is in contact with the HNDL about the various changes, and it should not affect our normal timings too much.

If you have been out in Lourdes and seen the changes in action, please feel free to contact Matt here.

Monday 2 May 2011

Nurses

The CA Hospitalité would like to ask all members who live in any of the CA Dioceses (Clifton, East Anglia, Northampton, Portsmouth, and Southwark) to contact their local hospital chaplains and see if they would be interested in putting up a poster about our Pilgrimage, and particularly our appeal for more nurses. Please use the posters below...

Thursday 28 April 2011

Northampton Diocese

Two members of Northampton Diocese have recently written for the Diocesan newspaper about their experiences of Lourdes with the diocese and the CA.

In the article, Paul Deveraux and Tracey Hemelge talk about their experiences of bringing family to Lourdes this year.

To read the full article, please view here.

Wednesday 27 April 2011

HCP News

Peter and Mike Tingle join Simon Gallop and Nicole Gallop Mildon as HCP coordinators following the resignation of Chris and Hillie Buller.  Our thanks to Chris and Hillie as founding members for all their hard work over the years!

Families wishing to book their children in with HCP can download the form here. HCP accepts the children of helpers (handmaids, brancardier, nurses and doctors); it can also accept the children of Assisted Pilgrims on a case by case basis.

People wishing to volunteer with HCP are most welcome - please download the form here. We have a preference for people who have come with the CA as a helper at least once before and who have experience of childcare/teaching/youth groups.

Deadline for returning forms is 31 May 2011.

Please do not hesitate to contact HCP by email if you have any queries. 

Sponsored Walk 2011

As previously promised, here's a few more details about the walk:

We're meeting at 9:30 at North Greenwich pier, near the O2 (what used to be the Millennium Dome) and North Greenwich tube station.

We'll then walk west along the Thames, keeping as close to the river as possible until we get to Putney Bridge, where we will congregate in an appropriate pub for a meal and a few well-deserved drinks (venue tbd - suggestions welcome).

This route will be a little over 15 miles. While the terrain is pretty flat and even, some of you may not wish to walk the whole course. If that's you there is the option to use public transport to skip ahead and rejoin the main group.

For those who walk the entire thing, it should mean walking at a relaxed pace for about 6 or 7 hours, including rest stops, which means finishing by 5:00pm.

Sponsorship is going well, mainly thanks to the off-line fundraising many of you are doing. Please continue to gather pledges on our website, it's such a worthwhile cause: http://www.bmycharity.com/SW2011

So, any questions? Now's the time to ask them! Reply here or email us here.

John and Matt

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Phil Devlin

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce that Mr Phil Devlin has passed away. He died early on Monday morning in Hitchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon after he had a fall at home last week where he broke a shoulder and leg. He developed a chest infection at hospital.

Phil has been coming to Lourdes since 1997, first with the GOBS Group, and then as an Assisted Pilgrim. He recently joined the CA Hospitalite as a Prayer Member.

May he Rest in Peace.

Thursday 21 April 2011

Happy Easter

Upper Basilica
The Catholic Association webteam would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Holy Easter weekend.




(Photo is from the Upper Basilica and was taken by Matt Betts.)

Monday 18 April 2011

St Benoît-Joseph Labre

At various times during the CA Pilgrimage or during the Act of Consecration, we often pray to St Benoît-Joseph Labre, the pilgrim saint. Who was St Benoît-Joseph Labre? The Catholic Herald has written an excellent mini-biography of this great and humble saint, here.

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Teresa Stockton

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce the death of Teresa Stockton, a long standing assisted pilgrim of the CA Pilgrimage, who passed away last week. Teresa was also a Prayer Member of the Hospitalité.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

May she Rest in Peace.

CA Walsingham Retreat

On the weekend of 8th-10th April 2011 members of the Catholic Association Pilgrimage went on a retreat to Walsingham, England's National Marian Shrine, which is celebrating its 950th anniversary this year.

The retreat was led by Fr Antony Lester and organised by Mrs Pat Richardson. There were over forty attendees, including several past and present Heads of Service.

The following report comes from the British Province of the Carmelites:

"With Holy Week approaching, Fr. Antony invited his fellow Lourdes volunteers to consider what their impression of "The Passion" is, and how it has been influenced by art. He spoke of "The Passion" both as the suffering and death of Christ, and of his passion as an icon of God's passionate love for every human being.

The group stayed in Elmham House Catholic retreat centre, celebrated liturgies together in the Church of the Annunciation, and visited the various different places of worship run by different denominations in Walsingham. Many enjoyed social time in the beautiful Norfolk village, and made a trip to Wells-Next-The-Sea.

On the Sunday morning the group made the traditional Holy Mile procession along the Pilgrim's Way from the village of Little Walsingham to the Slipper Chapel in Houghton St. Giles."

Our group attended during the 950th Anniversary since the shrine was founded, and the whole CA Hospitalite received a certificate to commemorate our retreat in 2011. View here.

More information on our retreat is here.

Thank you to Fr Antony Lester and Mrs Pat Richardson on providing everyone with such a wonderful weekend. Our slideshow of photos is below (thanks to Johan Bergstrom-Allen and Terri Betts for letting us use these).



Monday 4 April 2011

Bishop Crispian receives a road honour

The road outside Bishop's House, Portsmouth and St John's Cathedral was re-named Bishop Crispian Way on Sunday, to mark his forthcoming retirement after 22 years service.

The road naming was a surprise for the Bishop and was revealed to him after Mass on Sunday morning by the Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson. Bishop Hollis was installed as the seventh Bishop of Portsmouth on 27 January 1989.

Bishop Crispian said: 'I am overwhelmed by the honour that is being done to me by the renaming of what I might call our section of Edinburgh Rd. As far as I know, no such honour has been done to any of my predecessors and I am still at a little bit of a loss to know what I have done to deserve this honour.

'I have now lived in the city of Portsmouth for nearly 23 years and I have come to love it as my home. I have always tried to engage myself in the life of the wider community of the city and when the time comes for me to leave, I will do so with great sadness.

'But I don't want to dwell on that today. Suffice it to say that I thank the Leader of the Council and his colleagues for the honour that they do me and the honour that they do to the whole diocese at the heart of which is our great city of Portsmouth.'

Bishop Crispian is leading the CA Pilgrimage this year, and is the CA Hospitalité Patron.

Monday 21 March 2011

Italian Fundraiser for Glanfield

Mary Maybury has organised an Italian Night on the 16 April 2011 at the Holy Ghost Parish Centre, Luton to raise money for the Glanfield Children's Group. Tickets are only £5 per person and will include food, music, raffle and much more...

Details for Holy Ghost Parish Centre, Luton are here.

Tickets can be purchased on the door.

Monday 7 March 2011

Congratulations to...

....Tracey & Nimal Hemelge on the birth of their daughter, Ophelia Hope Hemelge born this morning weighing 6lb 14oz.

Thursday 3 March 2011

Nurses Reunion

The Chief Nurse, Sue Woodford, invites all CA Nurses to a reunion in March.

There will be a Lourdes CA Nurses Reunion in Cambridge on Saturday 26th March at 11am in Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church Hall. This will be followed by Mass at 12.30pm, celebrated by Fr Simon Blakesley.

Afterwards, attendees are welcome to join Sue in town for some lunch.

If you are able to attend, please email Sue here.

Thursday 24 February 2011

Congratulations to...

....Andrew and Sarah Sparrow on the birth of their daughter, Evelyn Lily born this morning weighing 9lb 1oz.


Tuesday 15 February 2011

Sponsored Walk 2011

This year the CA Sponsored walk will be along the famous and ancient Thames Path in London. It will be taking place on 7 May 2011.

We've chosen this not just for it wonderful scenery but also because it's an accessible route for most walkers, easy to get to and easy to extend for the more adventurous!

Bring your kids, bring your friends, bring your dog, but most important of all, raise some money for the CA to help us take sick, elderly or disabled people on a well deserved holiday and a rewarding pilgrimage to Lourdes.

All money raised goes towards the CA Hospitalite Sick Fund/Way Donnelly Fund, and to CA Trust to help nurses come with us.

Please sponsor us here: http://www.bmycharity.com/SW2011. Or, if you would like to join us on this walk, please let us know by email to (sponsoredwalk@catholicassociation.co.uk) or by visiting our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=110335642376182

THANK YOU!

John Kelly and Matt Betts

Monday 14 February 2011

Stonyhurst Pilgrimage Ball

The Stonyhurst Pilgrimage Ball is to be held on Saturday 4th June 2011 to raise money for the Stonyhurst Pilgrimage Trust.

The Ball is being hosted by The Mellows Family at their home: Keepers Cottage, Wick Hill Lane
Finchampstead, Berkshire, RG40 3PY from 7.30pm.

Tickets £50 (under 25s £35)

Dress: Black Tie

To include:
  • Drinks on arrival, and a Fabulous Meal with Wine!

  • Piano playing by the sensational Dom Hartley!

  • Dancing

  • Licensed Bar

  • Auction with Fantastic Prizes

  • Tombola

Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment!

Contact Beverley Sillitoe at association@stonyhurst.ac.uk or by telephone: 01254 827043

All proceeds to go to the Stonyhurst Pilgrimage Trust to help provide funds for assisted pilgrims, current pupils and recent OS.

See our poster here.

Friday 11 February 2011

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. Please pray for all sick members of the CA Pilgrimage and the Hospitalité on this very special day for them.



Lourdes TV will be showing the following ceremonies LIVE on their website here:

10am - International Mass
5pm - Blessed Sacrament Procession
9pm - Torchlight

Thursday 10 February 2011

Help the Pilgrimage

An appeal to all our Hospitalité members and others...

One of the important commitments we make as Hospitalité members is to help promote the Pilgrimage in our homes and parishes.

For our Pilgrimage in August 2011 (19 – 26 August), the CA Hospitalité is appealing for everyone to invite any friends, family members or fellow parishioners who might want to come to Lourdes as an assisted pilgrim, or as a volunteer helper in order to help provide the support that our assisted pilgrims need.

The CA Hospitalité Council have produced a promotional poster and letter, and we would be grateful if members could place it in their local parish church, local school/university, or wherever they think people would be interested. We would also be grateful if each member could add themselves as a local contact in the space provided, so that people can enquire further; or if you would rather not be the local contact, please add your Diocesan/Group Director as the contact (click here for list).

If people contact you about the CA Pilgrimage, lots of information can be found on the CA website FAQ pages, or if they contact you to come as:

Download the promotional poster here.

If you would like to help the Council further in their promotion, please contact us here.

Thank you for your help!

CA Hospitalité Council

Monday 24 January 2011

CA Hospitalité AGM

For those attending the AGM, the CA Hospitalité Secretary has provided us with the draft AGM agenda, so that attendees have the opportunity to ask questions or seek answers at the meeting.

Annual General Meeting 2011
12th February 2011, 11.00am – 12.15pm - Corpus Christi, Wokingham


President Welcome: Chris Buller
Opening Prayer and Act of Consecration: Fr Simon Blakesley.
Apologies
Secretary’s update: Nimal Hemelge
Treasurer’s update: Richard Long-Fox
Lourdes 2010 review: Read by Anna Jackson
Lourdes 2011:
· Spirituality and 2011 Lourdes Theme : Fr Simon Blakesley
· Chief Branc and Chief Handmaid: Matt Betts and Anna Jackson
· Travel Details: Matt Betts
· Chief Nurse: Sue Woodford
· Chief Doctor: Dr Adam Famer
· Young Helpers Group: Tina Walker
· Glanfield Group
· Stage
· HCP
· Music

Newsletter: Nimal Hemelge
Fundraising
Future Events
· Retreat: Pat Richardson – Walsingham
· Next AGM: 11th February 2012.
· Pilgrimage dates 19-26th August
· CA Sponsored Walk 2011
CA Hospitalité Insert: Matt Betts
Pilgrimage DVD:
BBC Documentary Production: Anna Jackson
Any other business

Followed by:

12.30pm : Mass, celebrated by Fr Simon Blakesley (CA Hospitalité Chaplain) in the Parish Church.

1.30pm : Lunch

If you still need to vote and advise your attendance/send your apology, please view details here.

Friday 7 January 2011

Appeal from the BBC

The BBC are putting together a documentary film project about being Catholic in the UK.

Three 60 minute documentary films are being made for BBC4 by Wingspan Productions, an independent production company, about the experience of being Catholic in Britain today. The films will be made over the coming 12 months.

Wingspan are currently planning to make one film about men, one about women, and one about children. They are researching a number of possibilities for each film but are actively considering basing the film about women around a pilgrimage to Lourdes. They would therefore like to speak to women planning to go to Lourdes in 2011, either as nurses, handmaids, or indeed pilgrims themselves.

The production company would like to speak to both seasoned volunteers and those for whom this will be their first trip; those travelling alone and also those bringing family; and both those who are devout Catholics as well as those who may be less certain about their faith but nevertheless see the value of such acts of Catholic charity or pilgrimages.

In the first instance the company are really just hoping to speak to people as part of their research; getting in touch with them in no way commits you to taking part in the programme.

If you would be interested in finding out more about this project, please contact Anna Jackson (Chief Handmaid) on Chief_Handmaid@catholicassociation.co.uk.

We would love to hear from you.

Barbara Barnes

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce the death of Barbara Barnes (Northampton Diocese), a long standing handmaid of the CA Pilgrimage, who passed away last week.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

May she Rest in Peace.

Thursday 6 January 2011

CA Pilgrimage Calendar

The CA webteam have recently added a new calendar to the CA website here: http://www.catholicassociation.co.uk/pilgrimage/calendar.shtml.

The calendar includes various application form deadlines, Hospitalité events, and Pilgrimage events.

If anyone has any events or dates that they would like to add, please let the webteam know here.

Wednesday 5 January 2011

AGM 2011

The Hospitalité President and Hospitalité Council would like to invite all members to our Annual General Meeting 2011.

The AGM is an opportunity for you to put forward your ideas, receive updates from the Council, to meet with your friends, to bring a little bit of Lourdes back into your daily life and much more.

The AGM hosted by the diocese of Portsmouth will be taking place at Corpus Christi Church and Hall, 60 Sturges Road, Wokingham, RG40 2HE on 12 February 2011. The nearest station is Wokingham and the Parish Church and Hall are only a 15 walk away through the town.

The AGM will start at 11 a.m. in the Keenan Rooms (Parish Hall) and attendees may arrive from 10.45 a.m. when tea and coffee will be served. Mass is at 12.30 p.m. After mass, lunch will be served in the Keenan Rooms and will cost only £15 (including wine) per person. Please email us to let us know if you will be attending at: agm@catholicassociation.co.uk. Please don't forget to vote too, more information here.

Vote!

As you will have seen in the newsletter and in Lourdes, Andy Joyce has served his full term, and his position is up for reelection.

Three Hospitalité members have been nominated and are canvassing for your vote.

Andy Joyce
Nominated by Antony Lester and Sue Woodford.

I have been an elected member of the Council for a number of years now and have enjoyed it immensely. I wish to re-stand for election because I believe that I can build upon the work that we have already achieved and continue to promote the message of Lourdes and the Hospitalité.

My time on the Council has been enjoyable. I have helped a number of the Heads of Service over the years, and have been involved in a couple of the Preparation Days too. I find all of this rewarding and so by standing for re-election I hope that you will allow me to continue the work that I have so much enjoyed and appreciated.

Mary Lycett
Nominated by John Cribbin and Rachel Easton

Lourdes 2011 will be my sixth consecutive year with the CA, volunteering as a handmaid, and since last year, as a nurse aid.

I come with the Stonyhurst Group and have partaken in Accueil care and hotel rolling, night duties and in 2009 I was deputy team leader with James Silsbury.

Back in the UK, I have been very fortunate in obtaining a degree from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, after partaking in my first professional show aged 13 and first professional opera aged 17.

I am now undertaking a degree in Nursing at Cardiff University and am currently in my second year. It is from my experiences in Lourdes that changed my profession, and I owe it all to the fantastic people I have met in the CA and Hospitalité.

As an elected member, I hope to further the good work of the Hospitalité by being proactive rather than just reactive, assisting the Heads of Service, to take the time to listen to people and in doing so, give people the best service I can.


Dail Maudsley
Nominated by Patrick Noble and Matthew Sharrock

This year’s Pilgrimage was my seventh trip to Lourdes. For the past four years I have worked with the Glanfield Children’s Group and I was previously a member of the Stonyhurst group for three consecutive years.

Throughout this time I have held various roles and have been involved in both rolling and working in the Accueil as a handmaid, as well as acting as a carer for children with disabilities whilst working with Glanfield.

For me, my first journey to Lourdes was a life-changing experience. It has led to my involvement in more than just the Pilgrimage each year and amongst other things I am a member of the CA web-team, I attend the AGM and help to organise various fundraising events for the CA and Glanfield Children’s Group – a black tie ball and two cycle rides from London to Lourdes to name just two.

It is the wonderful people I have met and continue to meet in Lourdes that inspire me to return each year. Some of my greatest friendships have been forged during the hard work involved and I’m proud to be able to help support that work as well as to be part of it.

In the ‘real’ world I continue the charity theme and work as Managing Editor for the Royal College of Physicians as well as planning and organising the various charity fundraising events I am involved with throughout the year.

I would like to increase my involvement with the CA and believe that by working with Heads of Service throughout the year as well as in Lourdes, and using my experiences in the Accueil as well as the Glanfield Children’s Group, as an Elected Member I can enhance working relationships and have a significant impact, bringing those within the CA closer together.

If you would like to come to the AGM and vote for one of the above candidates, please email:
AGM@catholicassociation.co.uk.
If you email your attendance and vote, payment for lunch needs to be provided at the AGM. Please send your vote and notification of attendance by 31 January 2011. Only Hospitalité can vote in this election.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Bishop Michael Evans

Bishop Michael Evans of East Anglia has been having treatment for prostate cancer for the last five or more years. During that time he has carried on heriocally with a full diary. He has just told all those in East Anglia diocese that he now probably has only weeks to live and that he is as prepared for that as he can be, accepting it with faith as a gift of God's grace.

In a letter to the Diocese, Bishop Michael said: "In the last few weeks, the cancer has rather quickly taken control. My oncology and palliative care consultants informed me openly and honestly just before Christmas that I now probably have only weeks to live, and I am prepared for that as I can be, accepting it with faith as a gift of God's grace."

"Rather than resign, I would like to continue among you as your bishop and the father of our diocesan family until this stage of my life ends. I do not know how long that will be. I am most grateful for the ways you have cared for and so prayerfully supported me in recent years. You remain very much in my thoughts and care. As I am sure you understand, I am able to do very little, and will need to rely on others. Please can I ask you to limit any expressions of care to prayer for now, rather than anything else to which I cannot respond."

"As I live now under the shadow of death, my prayer is very much that of St. Paul that I may know something of the power of Christ's resurrection and a share in his sufferings, trusting that the Lord is with me. I pray that even now, I can joyfully witness something of the good news we are all called to proclaim." Read full letter here.

Please keep Bishop Michael, his diocese and his family in your prayers at this very difficult time.