CA Filming

This year, James Silsbury - normally a branc - was filming everything about the CA Pilgrimage. Here, James talks about his work in Lourdes and for the next couple of months!

Lourdes 2010. Wow what a year. What turned out as a small chat over a beer last year turned into a reality this year as I embarked on the momentous task of filming a small documentary about the work the Catholic Association does out in Lourdes while on Pilgrimage.

I set off with my camera in one suitcase, the tripod in another, just hoping they would reach Lourdes safely. They did and the filming began almost instantly. I set myself a challenge and with a rough idea of what I wanted to film, set out capturing everything I possibly could – even if this meant getting into an interesting and slightly argumentative ‘conversation’ with an Italian stagiaire one evening!

Well, one week and 15 hours worth of footage later, I arrived back home, ready for the task of digitising the footage to the laptop. With this now done, I have set about making a rough edit of the film, trying to condense 15 hours of footage down to 15 minutes - this gives you a rough idea of the ratio!

The film should be ready by November at the very latest, although I would like to get it finished by mid October, but that may be a fantasy rather than a reality at the moment looking at the amount of footage to actually edit.

I will keep you posted of my progress and let you all know as soon as possible when it’s finished.

Ray Salt

The CA Hospitalité is extremely sad to announce the death of Ray Salt, a long standing member of the CA Pilgrimage, who passed away on Friday 27 August 2010. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.

Ray's funeral will be taking place on Thursday 9th September 2010 at St Joseph's Catholic Church, 39 East Street, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 1JU at 12pm.

May he Rest in Peace.

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.

Congratulations to...

...Mary Dujardin and Shane Edwards on their recent wedding in Peterborough. The couple were surrounded by family and friends. The Mass was celebrated by Fr John Warrington.

Congratulations to...

...John Kelly and JoJo Hickey on their recent wedding in Guildford, Surrey. The couple were surrounded by family and friends. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Tony Lester, O.Carm.

Sponsored Walk 2010

On Saturday, 29 May 2010, a few members of the CA successfully walked along the Ridgeway, which is Britain's oldest road, for 15 – 20 miles to raise money for the CA Hospitalite and Glanfield Children's Group. The team was (from left to right in photo): Thomas Gallop, Mary Maybury, Steve Daly, David Thonger, Nicole Gallop, Therese Gallop, Terri Betts, Naomi Ball, Judy Ball, David Ball, Matt Betts, Andrew Loynd, Jane Cadogan, Bernard Kelly and John Kelly. And, Mary Kelly, who took the photo.

New Archbishop of Southwark

Congratualtions to Archbishop Peter Smith, who was installed at St George's Cathedral, Southwark on Thursday, 10th June 2010 to become the new Archbishop of Southwark.

Archbishop Peter Smith was born in Battersea on 21st October 1943. He completed his secondary education at Clapham College and gained his degree (LLB) from Exeter University in 1966. He studied for the priesthood at St John's Seminary, Wonersh, and was ordained Priest on 5th July 1972.

His first appointment was as an assistant priest at St Francis, Stockwell (1972 - 1974). In 1977 he gained his Doctorate in Canon Law (JCD) from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome and became Professor of Canon Law at St John's Seminary (1977 - 1984). He was parish priest of St Andrew's, Thornton Heath, (1984 - 1985) and Rector at St John's Seminary from 1985 - 1995.

He was appointed as Bishop of East Anglia in 1995 and Archbishop of Cardiff in 2001. On 30th April 2010, the Holy Father announced that he would succeed Archbishop Kevin McDonald as the tenth Archbishop of Southwark.

Archbishop Peter is Vice-President of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Since 1998, he has been Chairman of the Department of Christian Responsibility and Citizenship of the Bishops' Conference.

His previous responsibilities have been as Chairman of the Catholic Truth Society (1993 - 2007) and Chairman of the Central Religious Advisory Committee (CRAC) of the BBC and ITC (2001 - 2004).

Congratulations to...

...Kate McCaffrey who has just completed her first half marathon on Sunday 23 May 2010 to raise money for the CA Hospitalite. Kate has raised over £600. Well done!

Benemerenti Congratulations

Special congratulations to John and Ros Hartley who have both received the Benemerenti in acknowledgement of their years of service to Catholic Church.

Congratulations to...

...Cliona and Paul Devereux on the birth of their new baby boy, Colm Patrick Devereux. Colm was born on 15 March 2010 at 9.36am.

Muriel Shryane

Muriel Shryane mother of Father Tony and Father Phillip Shryane passed away on Monday 8th March in her 92nd year.

There will be a Mass on Thursday 18th March at 7.30pm at Bury St Edmunds and the Requiem Mass will be on Friday 19th March at 12pm, at All Souls Church Peterborough.

Michael Gilbert

Please remember in your prayers Michael Gilbert organiser of wheelchairs, co-ordinator at Stansted and ex-Secretary of the Catholic Association who has been coming to Lourdes for over 20 years.

He was recently diagosed as having bowel cancer and underwent a short course of radiotherapy followed by surgery. He is now recovering and thanks everyone for their prayers.

Photo (c) Matt Betts

AGM 2010

At the recent AGM for the Catholic Association, a number of announcements were made:

Colette Sharrock, Hospitalite President, will be standing down after Lourdes 2010. Nimal Hemelge, Hospitalite Secretary thanked Colette for her stirling work over the last few years - a great example to us all. It was announced that Chris Buller would be taking on the role as President from September 2010.

The two new Elected Members were also announced. They will be David Ball (for three years) and Vicki Gale (for two years). Nimal Hemelge, Hospitalite Secretary, thanked Martine O'Meara who was standing down at the AGM for her six years of service. He also thanked James, Jane and Andrew for putting their names forward for the election.

Finally, the President, Colette Sharrock, announced that Matt Betts will succeed Rupert Bell as Chief Brancardier from October 2010.

Paschal Hemelge

From Nimal Hemelge:

It is my sad duty to inform you that my father passed away on Saturday morning. Lourdes was his life long passion, and travelled with the CA for many years during the 80's and 90's. He instilled in me a love for Lourdes. He had returned from Hospital the night before, and the nuns in the nursing home, where he has spent the last 7 years looked after him, and got him ready for bed. During the night, he woke up, prayed with the Sister Superior and passed away. Thankfully he wasn't in any pain, and was completely unaware he was leaving us.

Now he is reunited with Hazel and joins the chorus of saints in heaven. I would be grateful if you could remember him in your prayers, and pass this news onto those that knew him.

May he Rest in Peace.

Christmas Carol Singing 2009

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Carol Singing in London to raise money for the Glanfield Children's Group on 19 December 2009. The event was organised by Matthew Sharrock and raised lots of money for the group. Well done to everyone involved.

Archbishop of Southwark

The Archbishop of Southwark has resigned with "great sadness" due to ill health.

Archbishop Kevin McDonald, 62, has had a triple heart bypass.

He also suffers from severe osteoarthritis which has already necessitated surgery and he may need more next year.

Archbishop McDonald, who was installed in Southwark six years ago, said: "I feel great sadness at having to relinquish my post as Archbishop of Southwark."

He added: "Although I have had to contend with illness over the last three years, this appointment has been a great grace.

"It has been a privilege to lead this great diocese and I have received a wonderful response to everything I have tried to do.

"I have also been very appreciative of the prayers of so many people while I have been ill.

"The diocese will continue to be very much in my thoughts and prayers in the time ahead."

Archbishop McDonald, who became a priest in 1974, was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in England and Wales said Pope Benedict XVI had accepted Archbishop McDonald's resignation on Friday.

Congratulations to...

Hannah and Keiron (Zippy) O’Brien on the recent birth of their daughter, Lily.

Congratulations to...

...Nimal Hemelge and Tracey McEvoy on their recent wedding at Corpus Christi Church, Wokingham. The couple were surrounded by many family and friends. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Tony Lester, O.Carm.

Congratulations to...

..Emily and James Baker on the birth of their daughter, Isabelle. Isabelle was born on 18 October 2009.

Please keep this new family in your prayers.

Congratulations to...

....Matt Betts and Terri Parry who married on 24 July 2009 at Corpus Christi Church, Bournemouth amongst lots of family and friends. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Nicholas King, SJ and Fr Tony Lester, O.Carm. It was concelebrated by Fr John Warrington, Mgr Bill Saunders, Fr Hilary Thomas, SJ, Fr Simon Blakesley, Fr Michael Flannery, SJ and others.