The Parishioner - Edition 17

Join our parish coach
trip to Winchester
Saturday, September 12th 2009
ollowing past years’
interesting trips to
FChichester and Oxford
we have decided to visit
Winchester this September.
Located at the western end
of the South Downs,
Winchester is a historic
cathedral city and the
ancient capital of Wessex
and the Kingdom of
England. It developed from
the Roman town of Venta
Belgarum.
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester’s major interest to us is Winchester
Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in England,
with the distinction of having the longest nave
and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in
Europe. It was originally founded in 642 on an
immediately adjoining site to the north.This
building was known as the Old Minster and
became part of a monastic settlement in 971.The
Old Minster was demolished in 1093.
The present Winchester Cathedral was built in
1079. It contains much fine architecture spanning
the 11th to the 16th century and is the burial
place of numerous bishops of Winchester (such
as William of Wykeham),Anglo-Saxon monarchs
such as Egbert of Wessex, and later monarchs such
as King Canute and William II (Rufus) as well as
the 19th century writer, Jane Austen.The cathedral
was once an important pilgrimage centre and
housed the shrine of St Swithun.The ancient
Novena for the First Friday
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I unite myself
To thine adoration
To thy burning love
To thine ardent zeal
To thy reparation
To thy thanksgiving
To thy firm confidence
To thy fervent prayers
To thy silence
To thy humility
To thy obedience
To thy gentleness and peace
To thy surpassing kindness
To thy universal charity
To thy deep recollection
To thine intense desire for the
conversion of sinners
To thy close union with the Heavenly Father
To thine intentions desires and will.
Love of the Heart of Jesus
Inflame my heart
Charity of the Heart of Jesus
Abound in my heart
Strength of the Heart of Jesus
Uphold my heart
Pilgrims Way, travelling to
the shrine of Thomas Becket
in Canterbury, starts in
Winchester.Work on the
building continued into the
15th and 16th century,
notably with the building of
the retroquire to
accommodate the many
pilgrims to the shrine of St
Swithun.After Henry VIII
seized control of the Church
in England, the Benedictine
foundation, the priory of St.
Swithun, was dissolved in
1539 and the cloister and chapter house were
demolished.
Apart from the Cathedral,Winchester contains
many other points of historic interest. One, for
instance, is Castle Hall, all that remains of William
the Conqueror’s castle, built in the 12th century.
The Great hall is famous for King Arthur’s Round
Table, which has hung in the Hall since 1463. King
Arthur, of course, is mythical but the table is of
considerable historical interest. It dates from the
13th century and was originally unpainted but
was decorated for Henry VIII in 1522 with the
names of the legendary Knights of the Round
Table, surmounted by King Arthur on his throne.
Winchester has fine shops and good
restaurants and eating places.Why not make your
booking soon to make sure of your seat on the
coach. Just ring Olga da Silva on 01622 726772
St Swithun
St Swithun was the Bishop of Winchester in the 9th century. One of the many miracles he was said
to have performed concerns a woman who dropped a basket of eggs near the church after bumping
into a monk. Swithun happened to be passing by and was so moved by the woman’s distress at the
broken eggs that he made the eggs whole again. On the altar screen in the cathedral, the saint is
shown with a pile of eggs at his feet and each of the four candlesticks in his shrine has a broken
eggshell at its base. When Swithun died in 862, he was buried outside the Old Minster in accordance
with his wish to lie where the rain would fall on him. Nearly a century later the monks decided to move
his remains to a worthier resting place. St Swithun, it is said, angered by the removal of his remains,
made it rain so violently for 40 days that the monks gave up the plan. Ever since then, rain on
St.Swithun’s day (July 15th) has been an omen of continuing bad weather.
Mercy of the Heart of Jesus
Forgive my heart
Patience of the Heart of Jesus
Do not weary of my heart
Kingdom of the Heart of Jesus
Be established in my heart
Wisdom of the Heart of Jesus
Teach my heart
Will of the Heart of Jesus
Dispose of my heart
Zeal of the Heart of Jesus
Consume my heart
O Mary conceived without sin
Pray for us to the Heart of Jesus
Sweet Jesus, who through thy tender love for
the Church thy Spouse, opened to her the
richness and unspeakable sweetness of your
Sacred Heart, grant that our hearts may be
enriched with the treasures it contains and
replenished with its overflowing and unfailing
delights. Amen
Contributed by Elizabeth Price
Saturday night at the movies
Len Watson
In February, an audience of parishioners were treated once
again to an evening of nostalgic cinema. If you have ever
thought “Well yes - I used to like the cinema - but they
don’t make films like they used to” Well then, my nostalgic
Film Night is for YOU.
The evening began with a live scene from a classic
Bogart movie, with the ‘seductive’ Mary Adam as Lauren
Bacall: “All you have to do is whistle Steve”
The evening continued with film clips from two
momentous Hollywood years - 1939 and 1946.
During the intermission Mary was presented with a
well deserved ‘Oscar’ for her dramatic performance. The
evening concluded with Music from the Movies, including
a vintage musical interlude from Laurel and Hardy
“Another fine mess you have got me into Stanley”
The audience enjoyed an evening of drama, laughter,
and romance, from the days when cinema was the prime
entertainment in town. And what is more, we raised £130
for the Maidstone Hospice. So come along next time and
enjoy cinema the way it used to be. I am even open to
requests. See you then.
An overwhelmed Mary receives the Oscar from her leading man, Len Watson, for her fine
performance in a scene from “To Have and Have Not.”
Catholic Singles: What is it?
What does it do? How can I
get involved?
P
arishioners have probably seen a notice on the porch notice board
and occasionally a mention in the weekly newsletter about Catholic
Singles (CS).
CS is a non profit-making organisation which aims to help practising Catholics
meet other Catholics and support Catholic parishes and charities. It does this by
providing an optional, strictly confidential service, sending members a monthly
bulletin, which includes brief personal descriptions of themselves, if they wish, and
also advertising social events organised by Catholic parishes and organisations free
of charge.
We advertise every week in The Universe, The Catholic Times & The Catholic
Herald, in diocesan newspapers, and in parishes around the country with the £10
annual membership fee and initial donation going towards operating costs. We have
hundreds of members and publicise social events, as well as providing a facility
which allows members to meet on a one-to-one basis if they wish.
CS has spread across the whole of the country and beyond. There are several
CS members in our psarish and elsewhere in Kent. One Kent group is based on
Canterbury and our local group (‘Kent/Essex’) is based on Maidstone and meets in
Maidstone or in Essex at least once per month. Membership has presented a
wonderful opportunity for social networking and making lots of new friends, both
male and female. As practising Catholics, there is always a common ground
amongst members. This has been invaluable in helping Catholics who are single,
divorced, separated or widowed. There is a big emphasis on social events in the
Kent/Essex group. Events that have taken place or are planned include: Mass at
Westminster Cathedral/local Church; regular monthly meetings for drink/meal in a
pub; meet at a shopping centre for shopping and meal; quiz night and BBQ; country
walks; visit to museums. With the summer coming, there will be more emphasis on
eating al fresco. There is even talk about the possibility of a trip to Assisi in the
future.
One local member said that he was apprehensive at first about joining CS
because he was worried it might be a sort of dating agency. Having been reassured
and joined, he says that the last few months have seen a vastly improved social life
and dozens of new friends.
If you would like more information on local events, please contact Julie on
07944-684759 or Peter on 07857-070952.
For more information on the organisation as a whole and to obtain an
application form for membership, please contact James Judge on 0161-941-3498.
Email: info@catholicsingles.org.uk. Website: www.catholicsingles.org.uk
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