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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CA Hospitalité Newsletter

The winter CA Hospitalité Newsletter is now live on the CA website. Highlights in this issue include:

• Papal visit and Lourdes
• 2010 Reports
• Message from our new Chief Branc
• Hotel Nursing
• Treasurer's Report
• Elections 2010
• Ask Les

Please view here.

Glanfield Christmas Carol Singing 2010

The Glanfield Children's Group and friends got together for a third year to sing carols and raise money for the group on 11 December 2010. The carol singing took place at Whiteleys shopping centre in West London and at one point the group got to meet Santa himself.

The event was organised by Matthew Sharrock who was assisted by a number of musicians and singers. After a jolly afternoon of singing the team raised an excellent £526.07 for the Glanfield Children's Group. Well done to everyone who took part. Look at some photos in our slide show below:

Volunteer helpers - 2011 Pilgrimage

Our next Pilgrimage takes place from 19 – 26 August 2011, Each year, the Catholic Association Hospitalité of Our Lady of Lourdes is responsible for coordinating the welcome and care of pilgrims, especially our assisted pilgrims, who come to Lourdes.

If you are planning to travel independently, please view our form and further details by clicking on the link below.

• Apply to be a Volunteer Helper
• Further information our Pilgrimage

CA Pilgrimage 2010 - Photos

Photos taken by Durand, Lacaze and Viron can now be viewed on our website in a slideshow or in folder. Please visit our photo page here. If you would not like your photo on this website, please email us ASAP, and we will remove it. Enjoy!

Thanks to Johan for collecting these photos from various shops

The CA Hospitalité Council needs you - Elected Members

The Council is looking for somebody totake on one of the Elected Members positions and play a further part in the workings of the Hospitalité and our Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

If you would like to be put forward for this position you need to be nominated by two members of the CA Hospitalité.

Please send your nominations to hosp_secretary@catholicassocation.co.uk.

All nominations need to be received by 15 October 2010.

An election will then take place in the Hospitalité newsletter.

Lourdes 2011

Our next Pilgrimage takes place from 19 – 26 August 2011. Each year, the Catholic Association Hospitalité of Our Lady of Lourdes is responsible for coordinating the welcome and care of pilgrims, especially our assisted pilgrims, who come to Lourdes.

Assisted Pilgrims:
If you, or a friend/family member would like to come to Lourdes as an Assisted Pilgrim next year, please contact the Chief Doctor on: chief_doctor@catholicassociation.co.uk. Our Assisted Pilgrims are those who are ill or disabled, and would like to stay at the Accueil or a hotel, and will need assistance from our team of helpers. Financial help may be available, either through your Diocesan/Group Director, or through any member of the CA Hospitalité.

Volunteer Helpers:
Men and women of all ages and backgrounds come to Lourdes as volunteer helpers to answer Mary’s request for people to ‘come in procession’, but more importantly they come in response to the command of her son Jesus to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Gospel of Mark 12:29-31).These volunteer-helpers, who are pilgrims themselves, strive to encounter Jesus in each pilgrim, caring for their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The CA Hospitalité includes doctors, nurses, and non-medical helpers: brancardiers (male) and handmaids (female).

If you would be interested, or know someone who would be interested in coming on Pilgrimage next year as a volunteer-helper, please let us know at: volunteer@catholicassociation.co.uk, and someone will be in contact with you as soon as possible. Minimum age for helping is now 17 and there is no maximum age. NB, if you are aged 17-25, you can be a part of the Young Helpers’ Group, (a supervised group staying in a separate hotel) please let us know on above email address. Although we are unable to include people under 17 as full volunteers under the terms of our insurance, we welcome enthusiastic younger people whose families are on the Pilgrimage and who are interested in coming as volunteers when they reach 17 and wish to see what volunteer work is like.

Additionally, if you have children, the CA organises the Helpers' Children's Programme (HCP), which offers a programme of activities for the children (0 - 16) of helpers working on the Pilgrimage. It is generally open from 8.30 - 12 and 2 - 6 each day and your duties can be adjusted accordingly.

Welcome to...

...the following new full and ordinary members of the Catholic Association Hospitalité of Our Lady of Lourdes. All the below joined during our Lourdes Pilgrimage 2010 and were welcomed to the Hospitalité by their Head of Service, the President and Patron of the Hospitalité.

Ordinary:
Richard Arundell

Maria Bertenshaw

Aimee Dangalan

Jim Dujardin

Marivic Fabiculana

Izzie Fernandes

Steve Gill
Frances Hicks

Aran Houlihan-Burne
John Jackson
Christine Lees

Shaun Mahon

Paul Mallabone

Edward Martin

Nuala Mellows
Anna Moore

Paola Moretti

Patrick Noble
Jessica Norton
John Robbins

Christina Santiago
Sarah Sheppard
Sarah Jane Ward


Full:
Roseanne Allen

Ann Barry

Caroline Blaazer

Louise Child

Shelley Foreman

Mary Hamilton

Catherine Hobday

Chantal Hobday

Mary Lycett

Ciara Mellows

Mary Okeke

Patrick Page
James Silsbury

Applications are still open for people to join the CA Hospitalité and the form can be downloaded from here. and must be submitted to him or her by 1st January of the following year (2011), having first been signed by a Head of Service. For this purpose, Heads of Service are defined as: Chief Brancardier, Chief Handmaid, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nurse, and leader(s) Glanfield Children's Group. Other helpers on the pilgrimage not directly in these services (such as clergy) should have their forms signed by the President of the Hospitalité. Further information on the Hospitalité can be seen here.

CA Lourdes Pilgrimage 2010

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
• Northampton Diocese
• Southwark Archdiocese
• Stonyhurst College
  

Angela Clarke

Please pray for Angela Clarke, who worked for Tangney Tours for seventeen years, who sadly passsed away on 19 September from cancer. Angela worked with countless CA Heads of Service over the years and is well known to many CA pilgrims.

Angela was taken ill a few weeks ago and deteriorated very quickly.

Please pray for Angela, her family and her friends at this difficult time.

May she Rest in Peace.

Young branc begins Dachau placement

A young CA branc who travels with the British Province of Carmelites has recently started a years placement at Dachau, the Second World War concentration camp.

For more information, please read the Carmelite news story about Roy's journey, here.

(Photo shows Roy in the middle presenting a cheque to the Glanfield Children's Group)

Walsingham Retreat - 2011

Every two years the CA Hospitalité holds a retreat at Walsingham - now organised by Pat Richardson.

The next CA Hospitalité Walsingham Retreat is taking place on 8th-10th April 2011, and will be given by Fr Antony Lester, O.Carm.

If you would like to attend, please fill in the form and send to Pat's address with a £20 deposit per person. Please download form here. The Walsingham retreat is a very popular event, so people should send their forms to Pat as soon as possible.

For news of the last two retreats, please view here, or to learn more about Walsingham, please view here.

Papal visit: Have immigrants saved the Catholic Church?

An influx of immigrants have brought their faith into the pews of Catholic churches in the UK since Pope John Paul II's visit in 1982. Just how important are these newcomers to the Church's survival, as Pope Benedict XVI prepares to begin his tour? Former CA Chaplain of the Sick and Hospitalité has been interviewed by the BBC to discuss this question.

Fr Michael is Parish Priest for St Peter The Apostle church in Woolwich, London. Please view the BBC interview here.

Simple profession

Andy with his CA friends
click on photo for a larger size

On 11 September 2010, Andy Joyce made his simple (first) profession of vows as a Carmelite friar during a celebration of the Eucharist at Aylesford Priory at 11.30am. Andy was joined by many of his CA friends, seen in the picture above.

Please pray for Andy as he dedicates himself in the service of God and neighbour.

Andy has been coming with the CA on Pilgrimage for a number of years as a nurse. Andy is also an Elected Member of the CA Hospitalité council and attends May stage with the Catholic Association.

Please feel free to leave messages for Andy below.

Image copyright Kevin Melody.net

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.