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.

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.

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".

Amongst 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

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.

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:

• British Province of the Carmelites
• Southwark Archdiocese

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

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."

See: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2011/07/27/bishop-hollis-is-diagnosed-with-bowel-cancer/

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

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.

Congratulations to...

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

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

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.

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.

View here

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

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.

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...

• East Anglia Diocese
• Northampton Diocese
• Portsmouth Diocese
• Southwark Diocese

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.

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

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.

Happy Easter

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.)

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.

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).

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.

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.

Congratulations to...

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

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.