Spring 2012 - Grasshopper Hosting
Spring 2012 - Grasshopper Hosting
Spring 2012 - Grasshopper Hosting
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Diocese of Nottingham<br />
Extraordinary Ministers<br />
of Holy Communion<br />
Newsletter Issue 23: January <strong>2012</strong><br />
A Message from Fr. Michael<br />
May I respectfully remind you of the commitment of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to<br />
the Annual County Renewal Days. These Days are very important spiritually as well as being kept<br />
up to date with the business side of the Ministry. Please do your best to attend these Days. If you<br />
have any problems of any kind, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will always do my best to<br />
help.<br />
Thank you.<br />
Father Michael<br />
SECRETARY’S REPORT 2011<br />
At the beginning of this report, I would like to bring to mind, Shaun Aitken, who came to a<br />
training weekend in 2010 but, because of illness, was not Commissioned. He died just before<br />
Holy Week this year. He will be remembered in the Book of Remembrance as will all our<br />
deceased Ministers. May they rest in peace.<br />
This has been a quiet, tranquil year of service and commitment which has seen no special<br />
events or happenings except for the introduction of the new translation of the Service of<br />
Word and Holy Communion. This was made easy for us by the timely intervention of Searle<br />
Clark who, as Director of Aftercare, ensured that we had the translation in a handy format<br />
by the beginning of August. This just needed to be circulated, via our Secretariats, and<br />
copied. Thank you, Searle.<br />
The attendance at Renewal Days was again disappointing. The promise made by us, at our<br />
Commissioning, to attend a Day of Renewal, seems to be being glossed over or forgotten.<br />
Obviously there are times when attendance is not possible but one day a year, which we<br />
promised, does not seem to be asking too much. Please read Fr Michael’s message on this<br />
topic. Next year we hope to see Bishop Malcolm at the one Renewal day to be held in<br />
Lincolnshire.<br />
Training of future Extra-ordinary Ministers took place as usual but, this year, we began to<br />
see our ever increasing need of new recruits to our little team as sickness, accidents and the<br />
onset of old-er age took their toll. We did welcome one new member, Anita Kerry, who<br />
joined us for a weekend and is there ‘for good’! To all who were unwell, we send our good<br />
wishes.<br />
The initiative, started last year, of training younger members of our communities to be<br />
Ministers of Holy Communion to serve in the schools and colleges, has continued this year and<br />
about twelve young men and women spent a special weekend at Crich. This is very heartening<br />
at a time when so many young people seem to be disaffected and we thank them for their<br />
generosity.<br />
1
The Commissioning Mass was, once again, a time of rejoicing, thanksgiving and hope as we saw<br />
nearly one hundred members of our Diocesan Community commit themselves to bringing<br />
Christ to others. The Parishioners of St Barnabas’ Church once again helped us with the<br />
organization on the day. They with Fr Geoffrey Hunton, Parish Priest and Dean, made us feel<br />
most welcome. Thank you.<br />
Gradually, over the years, the Training Team has become ever more self-sufficient. We have<br />
now got our own laptop, projector and speaker system. In addition to the Sacred vessels etc.,<br />
which we have had for some time, this year we went even further and bought our own<br />
Monstrance and a beautiful new Altar cloth. We realized that becoming less dependent on<br />
any Parish for these articles would be sensible so Fr John Daly came to our rescue, very<br />
handsomely!<br />
Believing that we cannot give what we do not ourselves possess, the training Team and the<br />
Executive members get together for a Day’s retreat, sometime before the Commissioning<br />
Mass, each year. This year we went to the Rosmini Centre where we had two inspiring talks<br />
given by Bro. Michael Burleigh, Novice Master at Mount St Bernard’s. The afternoon<br />
continued with Adoration and Evening Prayer and Mass celebrated by Fr Michael Eastwood.<br />
May I remind all Ministers that we have a Web site on which County Reports and other<br />
information can be readily accessed. Just open the Diocesan website and follow the links.<br />
The Chairman and Executive members of the Commission thank you all for your generous<br />
service and for your willingness to help those, who in their homes, need Christ’s presence and<br />
yours.<br />
Celia Bermingham (Secretary to the Commission)<br />
2<br />
County Reports<br />
Derbyshire<br />
There were again two Renewal Days in Derbyshire in 2011: on March 26th at St Mary’s Derby and May 14 th<br />
at St Anne’s Buxton. Thank you to so many of our Extraordinary Ministers for filling in the Questionnaires<br />
on the days; we hope to implement as many of these as possible at the Renewal Days in <strong>2012</strong>. Watch this<br />
space.<br />
Bryn Kelly brought everyone up to date with the finances. His very valuable financial acumen is much<br />
appreciated.<br />
Both days were expertly led by Father Philip Scanlon with the theme “The Mass...what is it” He led us<br />
from Biblical beginnings to the crossing of the Red Sea showing how, in one act of salvation, God led His<br />
people through water, from slavery to the Freedom of the Promised Land. He drew our attention to the<br />
exact parallel with the Christian plan of salvation, whereby Jesus led His people through the waters of<br />
Baptism, from slavery and sin to the Promised Land of Paradise.<br />
In his second talk, he included our role at Mass, and visits to the sick. Extraordinary Ministers were able to<br />
air any concerns they had about taking Holy Communion into people’s homes or to hospitals. Fr Philip<br />
quickly put our minds at rest and everyone went home with a new attitude and a spring in the step.<br />
One person said all her worries disappeared at a stroke!!!<br />
Fr Michael could only attend our Renewal Days in the mornings but while at the Derby Day he gave a very<br />
fitting tribute to Anna Zimand and Bill Grattidge for their hard work at Renewal Days over many years.<br />
Derbyshire Extraordinary Ministers asked Fr Michael to say a Mass for them both, because we can never
epay them enough for all they have done not only for Derbyshire Extraordinary Ministers but also for the<br />
Secretariat.<br />
At Derby and Buxton Fr. Philip led us through beautiful meditations and intercessions at Holy Hour. The<br />
day concluded with Mass.<br />
We must thank all those people who gave their help and support at Derby and Buxton in so many ways.<br />
It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the Derbyshire Days and we look forward to seeing even more<br />
Ministers in <strong>2012</strong> when the Renewal Days are: March 10 th at St Mary’s Derby, and May 19 th at St Anne’s<br />
Buxton.<br />
Julie Corden<br />
Lincolnshire<br />
Lincolnshire continued this year with three Renewal Days, in the hope that Extraordinary Ministers in this<br />
large rural county would not have too far to travel. We were welcomed for a second year running in the<br />
parishes of Our Lady of Lincoln (Lincoln) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Sleaford) and St Bernadette’s<br />
(Scunthorpe). We are all indebted to the Parish Priests, Parish Contacts and parishioners of our three host<br />
parishes. The hard work of the contacts and the welcome we all received ensured that our Renewal Days<br />
were a really great get together and spiritual boost for us all.<br />
Our Renewal Days were enhanced by a very thought provoking talk by Deacon John Wilford. The title of his<br />
talk was “Thomas Watson the last Catholic Bishop of Lincoln”. He particularly linked Watson’s love and<br />
devotion to the Real Presence, with our work as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.<br />
After a lively business meeting, and a slightly more thorough registration process to facilitate an update of<br />
our records, we enjoyed a break for lunch prior to a quiet and reflective Holy Hour which Fr. Michael<br />
Eastwood and Deacon John Wilford led. We are especially grateful to Fr. Michael for being with us on each<br />
of our Renewal Days, and for Deacon John who on all three occasions spent the whole of the day with us.<br />
On Saturday October 8 th eighteen parish contacts met together for a meeting at Our Lady of Lincoln.<br />
There was much discussion of the challenges of the New Translation and Fr. Eastwood who was our<br />
celebrant at morning Mass, stayed to lead a question and answer session before travelling across the<br />
diocese to Crich to attend the Youth Formation weekend. That we were able to begin our day with Mass,<br />
and have the opportunity to sit and talk to Fr. Michael about anything that we had queries or concerns<br />
about made the meeting especially fruitful. Thank you Fr. Michael.<br />
We look forward to <strong>2012</strong> and the one Renewal Day to be held on May 12 th in the parish of St Peter & St<br />
Paul in Lincoln. Bishop Malcolm who will be the main celebrant at Mass, will be joining us for the whole<br />
day. We look forward to a day with a varied format and the opportunity to offer (via workshops) a choice<br />
of topics for the Extraordinary Ministers attending. It was really great to get ideas and suggestions from<br />
the parish contacts at the meeting. We would love to hear from those not able to attend the meeting, as<br />
we are keen to make Renewal Days really focussed towards everyone’s needs.<br />
Ethne Dawson<br />
Leicestershire and Loughborough Deaneries<br />
Both the 2011 Renewal Days were held at St Peter’s in Hinckley. The attendance around 300 was down<br />
from previous years. Those who attended commented on the superb facilities in the Parish Centre which<br />
had been dedicated in September 2010. The parish and Fr. Daly extended a warm welcome to all who<br />
attended. Many positive comments were expressed about the Spirituality, the content of the day and the<br />
good humoured way in which Fr Daly delivered his serious message. Fr. Daly concentrated on the practical<br />
aspects of our Ministry and the issues which could arise. He felt that the primary duty was to serve others<br />
and the Lord in a discrete and conscious manner .This involved mainly taking communion to the sick in<br />
hospital, to the elderly in residential care homes and those who are housebound. He said that people who<br />
had been active in the parish should even when ill feel that they are still an integral part of the parish. Fr<br />
3
Daly then discussed many of the issues which could arise in Ministering to the sick and gave practical<br />
suggestions on carrying out our Ministry within the restrictions imposed by institutions. He also spoke with<br />
feeling about our obligation to attend the Celebration of the Eucharist because not as many now attend or<br />
choose to only when it is convenient and fits in without changing more material with other commitments.<br />
During the days and at the Parish Representatives meeting views were canvassed on a number of practical<br />
issues which had arisen.<br />
4<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other issues<br />
<br />
<br />
The lower attendance appeared to be due to the days being on consecutive Saturdays. It was<br />
agreed that this was not ideal but was due to the commitments of the Parish Priest.<br />
The venue was too far for some to travel to. It was agreed that in future at least one day would be<br />
held in a Leicester parish assuming suitable accommodation could be found.<br />
The dates clashed with parish fixtures especially First Holy Communion. It was however agreed that<br />
the timing of either March or April was a good one. The Secretary agreed to notify all parish<br />
representatives about the <strong>2012</strong> Renewal dates as soon as they were agreed. This was done in<br />
October with a reminder to let all EM’s know.<br />
It came to light that the January newsletter was not circulated by some parish contacts. Hence<br />
some EM’s did not know the dates of the Renewal Days until the detailed attendance forms came<br />
out later. It was pointed out that a letter was enclosed with the newsletter reminding the parish<br />
contact to circulate it to all their EM’s.<br />
The Secretariat was not being notified of EM’s who pass away, although a reminder was sent out<br />
annually about the need to do this.<br />
During the year Mr Paul Kamm the representative for the Leicester West Deanery resigned for personal<br />
reasons. We thank him for his service. His replacement on the committee is Mr John Ambler from The<br />
Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Leicester.<br />
The Renewal Days for <strong>2012</strong> are,<br />
28 April at Our Lady of Victories, Market Harborough<br />
12 May at St John Bosco - Leicester<br />
Louise Kidd and Mary Hunt<br />
Nottinghamshire<br />
Our Renewal Days for 2011 were held on 9 th April at Our Lady & St. Thomas of Hereford, Ilkeston and on<br />
the 21 May at Holy Trinity, Newark. We held mass in the morning, which in both cases was conducted by<br />
the parish priest of the said churches.<br />
At Ilkeston we were given a talk by Father Stanley Ofoegbu a Nigerian priest from Holy Spirit West<br />
Bridgford, followed by a Holy Hour which was based on “Peace Throughout the World.”<br />
At Newark we were given a talk by Deacon John Wilford, who kindly postponed his birthday celebrations<br />
until the next day, Sunday, in order to be with us, which was much appreciated. This was also followed by a<br />
Holy Hour on the same theme as Ilkeston.<br />
Attendance at both days was just above average, there obviously being some room for an improvement in<br />
attendance figures. To all of us let’s try and make <strong>2012</strong> a bumper year.<br />
Generally both days went very well and were appreciated by all those who were there; once again we were<br />
blessed with fine weather on both occasions.<br />
Both Graham and myself would like to personally thank all those who attended for making the occasion a<br />
memorable one. We would also like to thank the parish priests Father Peter Harvey from Ilkeston and<br />
Father Michael O’Donoghue from Newark for giving their precious time and making their churches<br />
available to us.
Finally we would like to thank Father Michael Eastwood, our Director, for his attendance and his very<br />
kindly and spiritual talk and words of encouragement to us all in our Ministry.<br />
Alan Simmons<br />
County Renewal Days <strong>2012</strong><br />
As you are aware one of the conditions of your commissioning is that you attend a Renewal Day each year.<br />
If you are one of the few who have not managed to attend for the past three years please make a special<br />
effort to attend one this year.<br />
Each county will be holding their County Renewal Days as detailed below: -<br />
County Date Location<br />
Nottinghamshire 21 st April <strong>2012</strong> Our Lady and St Thomas of Hereford – Ilkeston (to be<br />
confirmed)<br />
26 th May <strong>2012</strong> Holy Trinity – Newark (to be confirmed)<br />
Derbyshire 10 th March <strong>2012</strong> St Mary - Derby<br />
19 th May <strong>2012</strong> St Anne - Buxton<br />
Leicestershire 28 th April <strong>2012</strong> Our Lady of Victories - Market Harborough<br />
12 th May <strong>2012</strong> St John Bosco - Leicester<br />
Lincolnshire 12 th May <strong>2012</strong> St Peter and St Paul – Lincoln<br />
Mass to be celebrated by The Bishop<br />
Note there is only one Renewal Day in Lincolnshire this<br />
year<br />
An invitation and further details will be sent nearer the time. There will be elections at some of the<br />
Renewal Days. Your County Secretariat will advise you of these. If you are unable to attend your own<br />
county day then why not attend the day of another County.<br />
Scapulars<br />
If you require a new scapular please send your request to Alan Simmons, 36 Holkham Avenue, Chilwell,<br />
Nottingham NG9 5EQ. Along with a cheque for £12.00 each made payable to X.M.O.H.C.<br />
5<br />
Handbooks<br />
In 2008 a copy of the new handbook was sent to every church and chapel in the Diocese through the Parish<br />
Contact. It should be located in a place that is available for every Minister to have access to it, such as in<br />
the Sacristy. It is also available on the Diocesan website in PDF format for you to download. Should you<br />
require your own copy one can be purchased for £5.00. Please send your request and cheque to Searle<br />
Clark, 75 Horsegate, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8EW. Cheques should be made payable to<br />
X.M.O.H.C.
Points of Contact<br />
If you have any queries, comments, suggestions or notifications of deceased Ministers please<br />
contact one of the people listed below: -<br />
Position / Name<br />
Address<br />
Secretary<br />
Mrs Cecilia Bermingham<br />
Nottinghamshire<br />
Mr Alan Simmons<br />
Derbyshire<br />
Mrs Julie Corden<br />
Leicestershire<br />
Mrs Louise Kidd<br />
Lincolnshire<br />
Mrs Ethne Dawson<br />
52 Foxley Court<br />
Bourne, Lincolnshire<br />
PE10 9TY<br />
36 Holkham Avenue<br />
Chilwell<br />
Nottingham NG9 5EQ<br />
4 Mallard Walk<br />
Mickleover<br />
Derby DE3 0TF<br />
34 Westland Road<br />
Cottesmore<br />
Oakham<br />
LE15 7DT<br />
2 Addiston Drive<br />
Lincoln<br />
LN2 4LF<br />
Tel: 01778 426310<br />
Email: celiabermingham@talktalk.net<br />
Tel: 0115 849 4623<br />
Email: maal_canis_vulpes@ntlworld.com<br />
Tel: 01332 513846<br />
Email: auqh92@dsl.pipex.com<br />
Tel: 01572 812494<br />
Email: l.kidd194@btinternet.com<br />
Tel: 01522 824636<br />
Email: ethne.dawson@ntlworld.com<br />
A full list of the Secretariat members is given in the yearbook and on the Diocesan website at<br />
http://www.grasshopper-hosting.co.uk/Diocese/04_Liturgy+Euch/euch_ministers.htm .<br />
The Faculty<br />
Those of you who have attended the Formation Weekends at Crich in recent years will be aware that the<br />
Faculty that you received at the Cathedral is valid for three years, and at the end of that period will need to<br />
be renewed by your Parish Priest. This gives both you and your Parish Priest an opportunity to decide<br />
whether you and he are agreeable that you continue to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.<br />
The Facilities of those who were commissioned in November 2008 are now due for renewal.<br />
This is really a reminder so that those who have not had their Faculty renewed, and wish it to be so, to<br />
contact their Parish Priest and obtain his signature. Once renewed the faculty will be valid indefinitely.<br />
Those of you who hold a Faculty issued in February 2002, in which Bishop Malcolm re-commissioned you,<br />
need take no action as this Faculty has an indefinite status.<br />
Temporary Commissioned Ministers<br />
At the present time there are a number of temporally commissioned ministers in the Diocese. These occur<br />
when for pastoral reasons there is an urgent need for Extraordinary Ministers and there is no possibility of<br />
them attending a Formation course in time or when a trained Minister has been unable to attend the<br />
commissioning at the cathedral. In all cases the temporary commissioning lasts until the person can attend<br />
the next Formation course and Commissioning. This is normally a maximum of one year.<br />
Those who have attended a formation course and have not been able to be commissioned should reserve<br />
Saturday 10 November <strong>2012</strong> and make sure that they are invited to the commissioning.<br />
6
If you have not heard from the EM Commission by October 15 <strong>2012</strong>, then please contact Graham McKenna<br />
Tel 0115 849 4623 to ensure that you are commissioned. This is especially important if it is more than one<br />
year since your formation course.<br />
May we remind all Ministers especially those who are temporally commissioned that they may not take<br />
communion to the sick and housebound unless they have a current CRB check certificate in place covering<br />
parish work. Without this they may only distribute communion in church.<br />
Recent Queries<br />
During the past year the following queries have been raised by Extraordinary Ministers. These queries have<br />
been referred to Bishop Malcolm and the following are his answers to them.<br />
Q/ Can the service of Communion to the Sick and Housebound be provided in Braille<br />
A/ The Bishop is happy for the Service of Communion for the Sick to be provided in Braille.<br />
Q/ Do we have to use the new translation when taking communion to the sick and<br />
housebound especially when the person has difficulty with it<br />
A/ The Bishop is more than happy for any sick and housebound person to use the old formulae should it be<br />
too much for them to change.<br />
Q/ When is a service of Word and Communion allowed<br />
A / It is important that a worshipping community is kept together, and that the faithful be able to be<br />
nourished by Word and Sacrament without having to travel an unreasonable distance, and The Bishop is<br />
happy for the following to be the norm: -<br />
Services of Word and Communion may be held in any parish on any weekday other than a holyday of<br />
obligation in place of the celebration of Mass when the priest is not able to celebrate Mass due to his<br />
absence from the parish. They may be led by a Deacon, or in his absence an Extraordinary Minister of Holy<br />
Communion.<br />
There should be no more than one such Service in any parish on any given day. A Service of Word and<br />
Communion may not be held in a parish if Mass is being celebrated in the parish church or chapel-of-ease<br />
on that day, unless the two churches are more than ten miles apart. Only the formula which the Bishop has<br />
approved may be used.<br />
The Bishop is aware that the Department for Christian Life and Worship is preparing a revised edition of<br />
the text for celebrations in the absence of a priest, and will let us know when the text is ready.<br />
Bishop Malcolm hopes, in particular, that no Minister feels that what he or she has been doing in the past<br />
is `wrong', since their ministry is valued immensely.<br />
7
Book of Remembrance<br />
Please remember all deceased Extraordinary Ministers in your prayers, especially the following whose<br />
names were added to the Book of Remembrance during the past year.<br />
Name<br />
Bernard McCabe<br />
Mary Sage<br />
Rosanne Higgins<br />
Mary Snee<br />
Michael Atkin<br />
Sr Bernadine Comerford<br />
Ruth Boothroyd<br />
Glenys Moore<br />
Keith Moorhouse<br />
St Theresa Anne Aylward<br />
Catherine Farrell<br />
Heather McKenna<br />
Derek White<br />
Shaun Marshall Aitken<br />
Eileen Veronica Curtis<br />
Mary O'Malley<br />
Betty Dolan<br />
Theresa Kelly<br />
Joan O'Boyle<br />
Raymond (Dickie) Bird<br />
Michael Rooney<br />
Lydia Rose Whittle<br />
Tom Maher<br />
Thomas Anthony Ely<br />
Mary Mould<br />
Mary Reilly<br />
Andrew Christie<br />
Stanley Vernon<br />
Deacon John Hague<br />
Parish<br />
Christ the King - Alfreton<br />
St Patrick - Leicester<br />
Sacred Heart & St Margaret Mary - Leicester<br />
St John Bosco - Leicester<br />
Our Lady of Victories - Market Harborough<br />
Sacred Heart Convent - Rearsby<br />
St Mary - Marple Bridge<br />
The Asumption - Beeston<br />
Our Lady of Lourdes - Mickleover<br />
Holy Trinity - Holbech<br />
St Mary the Immaculate - Grantham<br />
St Margaret Clitherow - Keyworth<br />
St Francis of Assisi - Long Eaton<br />
Holy Souls - Scunthorpe<br />
St Francis of Assisi - Long Eaton<br />
Immaculate Conception - Oadby<br />
Immaculate Conception - Oadby<br />
St Anne - Radcliffe-on-Trent<br />
St Anne - Radcliffe-on-Trent<br />
Our Lady of Lincoln - Lincoln<br />
Our Lady of Lourdes - Michleover<br />
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Carlton Nottingham<br />
St Joseph - Derby<br />
St Mary the Imaculate - Grantham<br />
St Joseph - Oakham<br />
St Mary – Derby<br />
Holy Trinity - Newark<br />
St Peter & St Paul - Swadlincote<br />
All Saints – Hassop & English Martyrs Bakewell<br />
Some of these Ministers died over a year ago but we have only received notification during the past year.<br />
Eternal rest grant to them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.<br />
We try whenever possible to send a condolence card to the next of kin and for a member of the Secretariat<br />
to be present at the funeral. This is only possible if we are notified promptly of a Minister’s death. There<br />
are currently 309 deceased Extraordinary Ministers recorded in this book.<br />
Please also remember in your prayers all those Ministers throughout the Diocese who are no longer<br />
enjoying good health especially those who are suffering serious illness.<br />
8