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last 12 months please email me with your details as soon as possible, as our records on file for you may be incorrect / out of date.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.

Congratulations to...

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

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

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.

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

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:

• a volunteer helper, please ask them to contact us on volunteer@catholicassociation.co.uk
  
• an assisted pilgrim, please ask them to contact their Diocesan/Group Director (click here for list)

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

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.