The Parishioner - Edition 23

S T F R A N C I S ’ C H U R C H MAIDSTONE
Parishioner
ISSUE 23 SUMMER 2014
Canon John moves to Sacred Heart Church, Wimbledon.
The end of an era!
Canon John Clark has
left us and is now
safely installed as
parish priest of
Sacred Heart Church,
Wimbledon. We
thank him for his
nineteen years of
dedication to us all
here in Maidstone
and wish him all the
best, good health and
happiness in his new
parish. The people of
Sacred Heart Church
are certainly very lucky people!
They gave Canon John a warm welcome at his Induction
Mass in his new church
on Thursday, 26th June,
celebrated by Bishop Paul
Hendricks and at a
reception afterwards. A
group of St. Francis’
parishioners and clergy
attended the ceremony to say
“God Bless” and to wish him well on the next
stage of his ministry.
40 Years a Priest!
The next day, Friday 27th, Canon John was back in St. Francis’ Church to celebrate his 40
years of priesthood with fellow clergy, parishioners, friends and a contingent from his new
parish. The Mass was said by Bishop Emeritus Kevin MacDonald, during which the Canon was
presented with a chalice and a cheque from parishioners, along with other gifts. The church
was packed with people for the happy occasion and afterwards many gathered in the United
Reformed Church Hall in Week Street for a party and speeches. Many thanks to the URC
for their kind hospitality.
1

Parishioner
THE PARISH OF ST FRANCIS
GROVE HOUSE, 126 WEEK STREET, MAIDSTONE,
KENT ME14 1RH.
Telephone: (01622) 756217 Fax: (01622) 690549
Email: stfrancis_parish@yahoo.co.uk
Web site: www.stfrancisparish.org.uk
Acting Parish Priest:Fr Bartlomiej Dudek
Ordinariate Priest: Fr Paul Gibbons
Assistant Priest: Fr Peter Kucharski
Parish Deacons: Rev. Tom Coyle & Rev. Ian Black
Editoral
Welcome to the new online ‘Parishioner’, full of
news, colour, photographs and interesting
contributions from parishioners of all ages.
Our aim is to “put out there” what we do in St.
Francis’ Church regarding our Catholic faith and
our love of God and the expression of that Faith
liturgically, pastorally and socially in our little
corner of the world-wide Catholic Church. It’s
daunting to know that online the ‘Parishioner’ can
by seen by anyone in the world who taps into the
parish website, so we pray that it will be an
acceptable introduction to Catholic life to those
outside the Church as well as a familiar newsmag
for St. Francis’ parishioners.
Previously the ‘Parishioner’ was printed and
distributed to all registered parishioners by post.
Since this became too costly it was decided to
produce it only online. We know that not every
one has a computer and might prefer the
‘Parishioner’ on paper. These pages can be
downloaded and printed on A4 colour printers.
Many thanks to Mark Coatsworth for his technical
assistance and most of the photographs in this
edition.
We hope you like it!
Denis & Ross Neale. Editors.
Welcome to Canon Luke Smith!
Our new Parish Priest arrives on
September 1st!
Farewell to Canon John
Ian Black, our new Deacon.
Parishioner Ian Black was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate
on Saturday, July 19th in St. Francis’ Church by Bishop John Hine.
Below is Ian’s message to the parish, written in the order of
service booklet on the day.
Today marks the completion, yet
also the beginning, of my
formation in the Permanent
Diaconate. A little over five
years ago I had a chat with
Canon John, one thing led to
another, one stage led to the
next, and the next, and after
many more we have reached
this day. Of course, this could
not have been possible without
the amazing suppoprt I have
received from so many different
people along the way. It isn’t possible to list
everyone, but a few special mentions must be
made. Canon John, for
encouraging and believing in
me. The Diaconate Formation
Team, not only from our
Southwark Diocese, but also
all those who had a hand in
the process - I’m sure I
frustrated and bemused
them at times! Special
thanks too, to Fr Brian
Coyle and Fr Damian Cassidy who
have played such significant roles over
the past few years. My fellow students and their
wives, with whom we have shared much, learnt
Ian with his family
so much from, smiled, laughed, commiserated
and celebrated with, and I’ve oft been consigned
to the ‘naughty table’ with.
Writing this doesn’t seem to do justice to the
support that I have received from the people of
our parish of St. Francis. The words of support,
the interest people have shown and the power
of your prayers has seen me through the many
different challenges along the way. I thank
Deacon Tom for his encouragement, listening ear
and tips on what may be to come.
Through this process I have become part of the
wider diaconal community and I
would especially wish to thank
the clergy of the Maidstone
Deanery who have showed me
the way when I have been
unsure. Thank you to Bishop
John who has been with me
step by step and, having
conferred the ministries of lector
and acolyte, it is special that he
is able to be here to preside over
my Ordination.
Friends and especially work
colleagues have helped me, probably more that
they know, to discern that this path was the one
for me. Not stinting in support, they have
questioned and made me think about how and
why I’m doing what I do.
My family have done a fantastic job
of trying to keep my feet on
the ground and my mind
fixed in reality. It isn’t easy
to get away with anything -
especially handing in an
essay late and then nagging
them about homework!
However, the biggest word of
thanks goes to Angela, who has
been with me throughout the
whole process. Without her support,
encouragement, endurance, wise words,
tolerance, friendship and love, none of this would
have been possible.
As I start on my ministry both here at St Francis’
and in other situations, I don’t know what the
future will bring. I’m sure the Holy Spirit has it
all in hand! As someone remarked to me recently,
“How do you make God Laugh? - Tell him your
plans!”, but I do know that I have support,
prayers and friendship of you all as we go along.
I hope and
pray that
my service
as a
Deacon
will be
worthy of
that office
and that
all of us
can work
towards
Canon John celebrated his final Mass in St Francis’ on 18th May, followed by a party in the parish hall.
Angela Black is presented with
flowers by Deacon Tom
the good of each other in all that we do. Thank
you and may God continue to bless us all.
2

First Confession
Nervous before, happy after.
Are you thinking it’s time you started going to Confession again? Is your child going to make their First Confession this year? Some of the children
who made their First Confessions last year describe their experiences.
Richard Ashton
Doing my first confession was scary at first,
but when you have finished you feel good
inside. It was not that bad - actually it was
awesome. I loved it. When I spoke to my
parents I felt like a new person that has been
reborn. And that is my confession. DA
First of all, I felt nervous and felt like I was
going to fail and get everything wrong.
Luckily, I actually got everything correct and
everything was ok. AG
I had my first confession last December. I
was quite nervous at first, but when I was
actually in there and telling all my sins to
the priest, my fear was all gone and I could
feel that I had been cleansed from my mind
and through my heart.
For me it was an amazing thing that had
happened to me; being close to God and
repenting of all your sins was so much a
relief. GC.
I was nervous meeting the priest but in the
end it was fine. You have to go in to the
room and say all your sins to the priest and
he forgives you for your sins. Afterwards,
you have to say the prayers you have been
told to say. Tabitha W.
Moja pierwsza spowied? .
Bardzo ba?am si? i?? do pierwszej spowiedzi
bo nie wiedzia?am czy Bóg wybaczy mi
moje grzechy bo zanim posz?am do
spowiedzi zrobi?am rachunek sumienia.
Mia?am kilka grzechów ale ju? wiem co
robi?am ?le i w jaki sposób obrazi?am Pana
Boga . Nie chcia?am si? od Niego odwróci? i
dlatego posz?am do spowiedzi bo
wiedzia?am ?e Bóg mi wybaczy moje
grzechy bo naprawd? ?a?owa?am tego co
robi?am. Obieca?am Bogu ?e si? poprawi? .
Okaza?o si? ?e nie mia?am si? czego ba? i ju?
wiem ?e warto i?? do spowiedzi po to ?eby
by? blisko Boga i by? dobrym cz?owiekiem .
I had to think about what I needed to tell
the priest. Beforehand I was very nervous.
When I went in I was very scared but
afterwards I felt very happy because all my
sins were gone. Then I needed to say my
penance. Afterwards, mummy and daddy
came up to the altar with me. Daddy lit my
candle from the Easter candle. Then
mummy and I wrote my name on a heart,
and we put the candle on the heart and said
a prayer. I went again to confession on
Christmas Eve. Ciara M
Confession is great because the priests are
nice. So don’t be scared about your first
confession, or any confession. AM
Before I joined the first confession I made
an examination of conscience ... I was afraid
to go to confession but there was nothing to
fear. The priest heard my confession and I
was glad because God will forgive my sins.
Soon the idea again to confession and I
know it has nothing to fear. I love God
because I know that he loves me.
Weronika S
I was nervous before I went in. I found it
hard to remember what to do and say. The
priest was very nice to me. I felt better
when I came out. I was glad I made my
first confession because I was closer to
God. JC
Gdy przyst?powa?am pierwszy raz do
spowiedzi, to troch? si? ba?am. My?la?am ,
?e nie dam sobie rady i ?e zapomn? co mam
powiedzie?. Moje obawy nie by?y potrzebne,
poniewa? gdy ju? posz?am do spowiedzi to
ksi?dz by? bardzo mi?y i poradzi?am sobie.
Poczu?am si? ?wietnie i uwa?am, ?e to mi?e
uczucie; nie mog? si? doczeka? kolejnej
spowiedzi. Dzieci nie bójcie si?spowiedzi,
poniewa? nie ma czego, na pewno dacie
sobie rad? – jak ja. NM
First Holy Communion 2014
Polish Group 1st June
Group 2 8th June
Group 3 15th June
Photo: Fiona George Photography
Go to the encounter with him in the Blessed Eucharist,
go to adore him in the churches, kneeling before the
Tabernacle: Jesus will fill you with his love and will
reveal to you the thoughts of his Heart. If you listen to
him, you will feel ever more deeply the joy of belonging
to his Mystical Body, the Church, which is the family of
his disciples held close by the bond of unity and love.
HH Pope Benedict XVI
Photo: Fiona George Photography
3

“Thank You” Barbecue!
Christine and Rob Mace
Parishioners of St. Francis’ Church were invited to a barbecue by Fr. Paul and the Maidstone
Ordinariate on July 5th in the grounds of their Chapel in Wateringbury, in thanksgiving for the
welcome they have been given since becoming part of the Catholic Church.
There had been lots of
preparation for the barbecue for
about fifty people at the Chapel
of Our Lady at Wateringbury on
the 5th July, but now the day
had arrived, and it was raining!
The forecast had said it was to
clear up
around mid
day so we kept our spirits high, and our faith
in God that He would bless us with fine
weather and we were not disappointed.
What we had not appreciated was the
warmth and love that our Lord would pour
upon our little gathering. It truly was a
blessed day, and by the 12o’clock start it was
sunny!
It was an ecumenical occasion with
Catholics, Anglo-Catholics, and Church of
England who all enjoyed the day immensely.
Father Paul was there. Father
Bartholomew, and a novice from
the Brompton Oratory.
Everybody enjoyed each other’s
company in a very relaxed
atmosphere.
Towards the finish Father Paul
suggested that we
all go into the
Chapel and with
Geraldine playing
beautifully on the
organ/piano sing a
few hymns to
complete the day.
This really was the
icing on the cake, so
to speak. We sang about four hymns then Father Paul gave a final
little thank you speech. Such a lovely, lovely day. Praise be to God
for His grace and favour.
Catenians fund
Megan
Michael Reidy, president of the
Maidstone Circle of the Catenian
Association (136), presents a
cheque on behalf of the Catenian
Bursary Fund to Megan Fisher, of
Harrietsham, Kent. Megan
travelled to Nicaragua at the end
of June to work for ten weeks with
Raleigh International in an area of
extreme poverty. Projects include
basic hygiene and sanitation,
health and education and are
funded through Millennium
Development Goal grants.
WE ARE ASCENDING!
The Ascent Movement is an international organization for people over the age of 50,
although it welcomes younger members, who have time to meet on a regular basis for
informal get-togethers to enjoy each other’s company and take a not-too-serious view of
their Christian faith. In Maidstone we are a small group which has been in existence since
1980. Are we the second oldest Ascent Group in England? We think so, although there are
rival claims from our fellow Ascenters in the North. What do we do apart from meet once
a month? Every year we spend a day at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church in Headcorn
where Fr. Michael Woodgate always makes us welcome and finds a theme for us to discuss,
but, as mentioned before, nothing too serious.
Our other annual event is the Christmas lunch at the Friars, Aylesford, which is always
worth attending as the food is excellent. We have already received the menu for this year
and have booked in for Tuesday 9th December.
Aylesford is also the venue for a three day retreat (arranged by the Southwark region)
which is open to all members of the Movement, although this year our national President
and her sister from York were unable to attend – they were spending a few days on Holy
Island. The theme was “Why does God choose the most unlikely people?” and Fr.
Michael Manning mentioned among others himself, Jeremiah and
St. Peter. In reply to one question, Fr. Manning
even gave his views on
Purgatory!
You will probably realize from
reading this article that
members of the Ascent Group
do not go around with gloomy
faces but enjoy life whilst
accepting all its problems. If you
would like to join us on our
ascending journey, please contact
Angela Hunter, tel: 01622 746792.
4

New parishioners received into the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass and those who received the
Sacrament of Confirmation.
First Holy Communions 2014
In Poland
Mateusz Bartman
Wiktoria Okupnik
Hubert Wila
Julia Mozdzierz
In Ireland
Eden Penfold
In India
Nayana Rojo
Tessa Rojo
Angelina Shaji
Jeslyn Kurian
Abraham Thomas
Tobin Thomas
Polish
1st June at 4pm
Natalie Czyz
Igor Figiel
Maciej Gmach
Julia Kutyla
Christy Mauriange
Natalia Migas
Marcel Rydosz
Dominika Sady
Artur Slupski
Wiktoria Stopa
Filip Surowka
Weronika Szkuta
Gabriel Witowski
8th June at 2.30pm
Daniel Akhetuamen
Apollo Booth
David Burstow
Gilmore Carino
Konrad Cook
James Cooper
Marianne De Villa
Evan Demery
Oscar Felgueiras
Joshua Furigay
Alicja Gogol
Alfie Holding
Wayne Hormillosa
Adam Hughes
Marco Jones
Leah Lewis
Joseph McBride
Mollie McCoy
Ciara McDowell
Konrad McElroy
Angel Miranda
Olivia Munn
Maja Pinkos
Eve Rogers
Paige Schumann
Saul Warr
Kristian Wozniak
15th June 2.30 pm.
Francheska Dalisay
Kieran Doherty
Francesco Ferrara
Jarema Gatkowski
Joseph Hill
Callum Machin
Erin Manser
Tia Mountain
Harry Noble
Lily Noble
Madeleine Seager
Olivia Seager
Isaiah Tayag
Callum Washford
Brogan Welfare
Rhiannon Barber
Katherine Burt
Leila Murphy-Powell
Tara Murphy-Powell
15th June 15th 9am
Tabitha Wimble
At Easter
Alessandro Ferrara
Tsholofelo Kgarebe
All that Remains
By David Adam
(for his daughter, Tess, on her 16th birthday)
And the mountains remember us
Where we walked, drenched by sun or rain.
And the woodland has kept the imprint of our souls,
As we wandered through the land.
And how the sun has smiled on us,
By sea and sand, by rock and stone.
High near clouds, where the wind lives,
And low where all is drowned by song of eternal waves.
So how hopeful we can be for all this beauty was ours,
And all this time that glowed lovingly through our hands.
For we have been blessed by a hundred days,
By a thousand days we spent together.
And so I will remember the child I carried up a mountain
And so I will remember the rain-sodden, clasping hand
And so I will remember words and songs and games
So much we have done, so many dreams we’ve had.
And as time moves on and our worlds transform,
I will remember that nothing can change all the good that has been,
For truth of memories can never fade.
As Love and Hope and Faith will always remain.
5

!
Over 750 people – laity,
religious, deacons, priests and
bishops – attended three diocesan
Evangelisation Conferences recently.
Organised by the diocesan Centre for Catholic
Formation, the three conferences were held at
Richard Challoner School at Kingston-upon-Thames
(for the SouthWest London Area), at St. Simon Stock
School, Maidstone (for the Kent Area) and at St. Matthew
Academy, Blackheath (for the South East London Area).
Each day consisted of a reflection on the recent papal
exhortation ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ given by the Archbishop,
Peter Smith, followed by deanery discussion groups and a
plenary session with short talks on various aspects such as justice
and peace issues, the role of our schools in evangelization, and how
to reach out to younger people. The day finished with a Mass of
Saint Augustine, Secondary Patron of the diocese and bringer of the
Gospel to these shores.
The Kent area conference took place at St. Simon Stock School on
Thursday, 28th May and was well attended by people from all parishes
in the area, including a good number from St. Francis’ Church.
6

P E N
T E C O S T
Homily given by Deacon Tom Coyle on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th 2014.
Just over a week ago about 200 laypeople, priests and deacons
from across Kent, gathered at St Simon Stock School with
Archbishop Peter for a conference on Evangelisation.
Evangelisation is one of those ‘churchy’ words which tends to make
people switch off but evangelisation, the spreading of the Good
News of Jesus, has been at the heart of Christianity since the first
Pentecost. And it is not something which is just for priests and
deacons; it is the responsibility of the whole Christian community –
a responsibility which we took on when we were baptised and
confirmed. Pope Francis keeps using the phrase ‘missionary
disciples’ to remind us that we all have the vocation, the calling, to
spread the Good News.
Of course, there are different ways of living out that vocation. When
the deacon or the priest ends the Mass with the dismissal, he often
says: GO AND ANNOUNCE THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD, or GO IN
PEACE, GLORIFYING THE LORD BY YOUR LIVES. Although the words
are different, they in fact mean the same thing. Announcing the
Gospel does not mean that we expect everyone in the church to
pour out into Week Street and proclaim the Gospel just like the
Apostles did at Pentecost; what it does mean is what the second
dismissal says: GLORIFY THE LORD BY YOUR LIVES.
There are many different ways of proclaiming the Gospel, of
evangelising. Priests and deacons do it in a more formal way by
actually proclaiming the Gospel at Mass, and by preaching about it.
But if our evangelising stopped there, there would be no growth in
the Christian community. Our lives, like yours, have to reflect the
joyful Good News of Jesus and we all do this by the way we try to
live lives which are based on the Gospel.
All down the centuries people have been attracted to Christianity
not just by the words of preachers, but by the lives of individual
Christians. This is how most people who become Catholics start
their journey. They see something in our lives which gives meaning
to what they are searching for – they may not even realise that they
are searching, but God is always there to open the eyes and the
ears of people to his goodness in the world; a goodness which we
try to show in our lives. It is only after they have been attracted that
they begin to find out what it actually means to be a Catholic; they
get to know other Catholics; they may join the RCIA programme and
learn about our faith, before they eventually make that decision
which leads them into the Church.
Sometimes I think that we ‘cradle Catholics’ have got so used to
being Catholics, that we forget the great gift that we have. Pope
Francis puts it beautifully in his message to the whole Church, called
The Joy of the Gospel. The whole message is full of joy and its
beginning sets its tone:
The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter
Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin,
sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is born
anew.
This is quite an amazing statement but it all hinges on this
encounter, this meeting with Jesus. We can only meet Jesus if we
open our hearts and our lives to him; if we are prepared to spend
time with him in the Scriptures or here in the church as we
celebrate the Sacraments.
The Pope gives us a challenge: “I invite all Christians everywhere, at
this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus or at
least an openness to letting him encounter them. I ask all of you to
do this unfailingly every day.”
So how do we do it? Well on this Pentecost when we celebrate the
coming down of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, and the birth of our
Church, why not make a resolution to encounter Jesus personally. In
a few minutes we shall encounter him really present in Holy
Communion – try to make this a special encounter with the Risen
Lord. Then why not make a resolution to begin each day with a
short prayer asking Jesus to be with us during the day; helping us to
encounter him in our own lives and in the lives of the people we
meet.
Pope Francis reminds us of this: “Whenever we take a step towards
Jesus, we come to realise that he is already there, waiting for us
with open arms.”
So on this day of Pentecost let us remind ourselves of our Baptism
when we received the Holy Spirit. I would just like to end with more
words of Pope Francis: “Every Christian is challenged, here and now,
to be actively engaged in evangelisation. Every Christian is a
missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of
God in Christ Jesus; we no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and
‘missionaries’ but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples’.”
At the conference I spoke about at the beginning of this homily, we
were encouraged by the Archbishop to put evangelisation, the
sharing of the Gospel, at the heart of everything we do as a parish.
It’s a challenge which we must accept if the Church is to continue to
grow and over the coming weeks and months I hope that we shall
be able to work together to become a community of missionary
disciples.
There is a Man on the Cross
Whenever there is silence around me
By day or by night –
I am startled by a cry.
It came down from the cross –
The first time I heard it.
I went out and searched –
And found a man in the throes of crucifixion,
And I said, “I will take you down,”
And tried to take the nails out of his feet.
But he said, “Let them be
For I cannot be taken down
Until every man, every woman, and every child
Come together to take me down”.
And I said, “But I cannot hear you cry.
What can I do?”
And he said, ”Go about the world –
Tell everyone that you meet –
There is a man on the cross”
Elizabeth Cheney 1859
7

Out and About
with Phoenix
Sponsored
Walk to St Thomas More,
West Malling, February 21st 2014
On Friday 21st February, in the evening, we did a sponsored walk
from St Francis in
Maidstone to St
Thomas More in
West Malling, a
journey which took
us past the hospital
and through East
Malling Research
Station. The weather
was perfect for the
hike and when we
arrived at St Thomas
More we were
welcomed warmly by Fr Peter Soper. Joined by Fr Peter, we had pizza,
hot chocolate and played ‘murder in the dark’. We stayed the night in
the priests’ house in sleeping bags, and in the morning had bacon
butties, thanks to the Youth Club leaders. The whole thing was great
fun and was a great bonding exercise for the members, and we raised
a fantastic £465 for youth club funds.
Philip Coatsworth
Brightlights, 27-29 June 2014,
Twenty one members of Phoenix Youth Club attended
the Brightlights festival at Aylesford Priory. The weekend
was a brilliant opportunity for all that attended to grow
in their faith as well as make new friends within a lively
Christian atmosphere. We enjoyed many different
activities including Praise and Worship with the talented
house band on the Friday evening, preparing us
spiritually for the weekend that followed. During
Saturday we had a very special visit from the parents of
Blessed Chiara Luce Badano who told the inspirational
story of their daughter and of her devotion to God.
During the afternoon there were a variety workshops
with something for everyone from sign language to rap
to sport! In the evening we enjoyed music from Adam
and Kid and Charley Pinfold with an amazing concert
Kingsgate Beach – Saturday 22nd
June 2013
Phoenix Youth Club went on a day trip to Kingsgate Beach on
Saturday 22nd June. With sun cream, beach towels and food packed
and ready we met at the Church early, in order to spend as long as
possible at the beach. As we boarded the coach rain was spitting but
not enough to dampen our spirits. After making our way through
traffic, most heading to the air show at Manston Airport, we arrived
at the beach by late morning. With the weather still quite dull, we had
the beach all to ourselves and set about making the most of it. First,
many of us went for a ‘paddle’ in the sea or in some cases a proper
swim, even though the water was freezing cold! Following this, we ate
our lunch, defying the gusty
winds which blew the sand
everywhere, including into
our food. After lunch, as the
sun came out, we played
different games and sports
such as: volleyball,
dodgeball and cricket, as
well as exploring many of
the caves and cliff faces at the beach. With the afternoon drawing to
a close but the sun still bright, we packed our belongings and made
our way back to the coach, to return home after a great day out!
James Williams
Thorpe Park, Saturday 5thApril 2014
The Phoenix Youth Club was lucky to go on a trip to Thorpe Park in the school minibus
driven by headteacher Mr Wall. We met outside the school at the early time, for
teenagers, of 9am, and settled down for the journey, which passed quickly because we
were so excited to arrive and go on all the big rides.
On arrival, Fr Bart was amazed at how tall the rides were but he didn’t get the full
picture until he went on his FIRST EVER rollercoaster– Stealth, much to the delight of
some of us. Splitting off into two groups based upon year group and friends, we
headed towards different rides to please the thrill seekers inside of us. With Fr Bart
joining the younger group, following his experience on Stealth, we made our way to
Nemesis Inferno where, between the seven of us, we deafened half of the other riders
with our screaming. As lunchtime came round, we joined the older group at the
picnic tables by the Rocky Express , a children’s ride which Lydia was too scared to go
on, and shared stories . A decision was made by the entire Youth Club to go on Loggers
Leap, which some regretted as we all got absolutely drenched, not only from the ride,
but people with water pistols at the bottom of the drop where they pay to get you even more wet!
While the majority of the Youth Club and Fr Bart went on Saw and Colossus, Lydia and a few other members went on a new water
ride called Storm Surge. In the queue Lydia tried to think of as many excuses as possible to get out of going on it, but we didn’t let
her give in and despite some screaming, I think she secretly enjoyed herself! We returned to the mini bus after a wonderful, but
exhausting day and with some people close to sleep we left the theme park and made our way home
Rebecca Saunders.
which got everyone up and dancing. On the final day we
were invited to watch a moving piece of live theatre by
the Ten Ten Theatre Company about the worldwide
problem of human trafficking. We were then encouraged
to consider what we could do as Christians. Following
this we had a moving Departing Mass during which we
reflected on the weekend. We all had an amazing
weekend and it was fantastic for us to see other young
people so passionate about the Catholic faith. I must give
special thanks to Liz Kilminster, Fr Bart and my mum,
Lydia, for organising and taking us all to Brightlights. I
greatly enjoyed the experience and I hope to reflect my
strengthened faith in my daily life. Already looking
forward to next year 26 to 28 June 2015! See you there!!
Georgina Burchell
8
The Phoenix Youth Club is for young people from 15-18 who meet
every Friday from 6.30 -9.30 pm in the Youth Room. Check out our
web page: www.stfrancisparish.org.uk/phoenix.html

The flame Youth Group was established in November 2013 for young people aged between 11 – 14 years old. The
group meets on Saturday evenings between 6 and 9pm. Their activities are very varied but always fun and
include discussions and activities around a theme, along with games and social time. There have been many trips
out including a few to London where we visited HMS Belfast, Brompton Oratory, Harrods and other places. There
are members from a wide spread of schools and the group continues to grow, both in numbers and as source of
support and friendship. They also support the parish Feed the Hungry project.
Activities
Camping is a favourite activity and members have already enjoyed nights away to Hope Hill in Meopham and
Lower Grange Farm at Sandling.
Cooking breakfast in camp – Frank (far left)
is shy.
Members of the group with bags of food
collected for the Feed the Hungry project.
Ready for early morning keep fit in camp.
Rifle shooting – thankfully, with an
instructor
Youth Group members fly
to Poland!
On Tuesday 29th July seventeen members of the group
flew to south-east Poland to meet with members of a
youth group in Bialobrzegi, near Rzeszow. A video link has
been established between the two groups as the first steps
towards the next World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016.
Look forward to reading about their time in Poland in the
next Parishioner.
9

Maidstone Man’s Skull
Flies to Spain!
By Fr Michael Woodgate
No. this not another miracle – much more down to earth (or up in
the air!) than that. But let’s start at the beginning. In 1550, the year
after Maidstone received its first charter of incorporation, a baby
to be named William Weston was born in the town. In or around
1564 he went up to Oxford for the next five years and then
continued his studies in Paris and Douai. He then went on foot to
Rome where, on 5th November, 1575 he entered the Society of
Jesus, founded, of course, some decades earlier by St. Ignatius
Loyola and the order to which our present Holy Father belongs. His
novitiate was made in Spain and he pursued his ministry there until
called to serve the English Mission. On 20th September, 1584, he
reached England where at this time not a
single Jesuit was at liberty, Catholic priests
being routinely hunted down and usually
martyred. Fr. Weston’s autobiography tells of
his missionary adventures in this country at
that time and they make for exciting, if
harrowing, reading.
Something which gave him great joy was
receiving into the Catholic Church Philip
Howard, Earl of Arundel, who eventually died
as a martyr in the Tower of London, refusing
to renounce his faith. His burial place and
shrine are in Arundel Cathedral.
One of Weston’s particular ministries was that
of exorcism and before long he was arrested
and imprisoned with other priests in August
1586. Two years later, they were removed to
the castle at Wisbech, itself fast becoming a
ruin. For four years conditions were severe.
But in 1592 the prisoners were allowed to live
on alms given by Catholic faithfull who were Fr. William Weston
able, in considerable numbers, to visit the
priests for their ministry, albeit without attracting to much
attention, especially for the sacrament of penance. In fact, the
priests lived together as a college, insofar as that was possible.
Clearly, at this time, persecution was less fierce.However, this was
not to last and in 1599 Fr. Weston was sent to the Tower of London
where his sufferings were so great he nearly lost his sight. Mercifully,
he avoided execution and in 1603 was exiled, going first to Rome
and then the following year was sent to the English College of St
Alban in Valladolid (Spain) as spiritual director and confessor to the
students, in addition to being a consultor to the Jesuit provincial.
Three years later he moved to the English College at Seville, but
returned to Valladolid as Rector in 1614, a post he was to hold for
less than a year, for he died a year later.
If you have been patient enough to read so far, you will want to
know what justifies the eye-catching title of this article. The English
College at Valladolid today is still up and running and offers a year
long preparatory course for seminarians. Increasingly, the bishops
of the Conference of England and Wales send men there whom they
feel would benefit from such a course before going on to one of
the seminaries in England or Rome. Fr. Peter Harris is the honorary
archivist of the College and one day when he was chatting at Farm
Street to his opposite number there (the archivist of the British
Province of the Society of Jesus), he noticed, as he was leaving, a
skull in a wooden box with a glass door. Upon being told it was the
head of Fr. William Weston, he showed some surprise for he knew
his body was buried in the College at Valladolid under the chapel
floor. It seemed only right that the head should be united with the
body and after due consultation the Provincial agreed, although
the skull should remain the property of the Society of Jesus, but on
permanent loan to the English College.
Next came the question: how was Fr. Harris, the College’s archivist,
10
to transport Fr. William’s head to Spain? British Airways had no
objection and so with the precious relic covered in bubble wrap and
placed in Fr. Harris’ hand luggage, he duly arrived at London City
Airport. Placed on the conveyor belt, Fr. Weston’s minder held his
breath. No problem arose and eventually the plane took off – at
least the second time Fr. Weston had crossed the Channel with only
his head. But the flight was to Madrid and that is a long way from
Valladolid. Fr. Harris then remembered that Charmartin airport also
boasted a scanner or two. Would they make it to the English
College? Would they both end up in prison – one for the first time,
the other an old lag from the Tower? Again, no problem. Perhaps
St. Ignatius and one or two Jesuit martyrs
had been praying hard the scanner would
not notice the evidence. Anyway, no one
was bothered but Fr. Weston’s head is still
not united with his body because it is now
on display in the side chapel of the well. He
was, reputedly, a man of wisdom and piety
and he seems to have been an excellent
Rector of the English College, despite such
a short tenure. His impression on the
students was outstanding and he taught
them to be holy priests. Clearly, like all
those missionary priests sent to England, he
was courageous and zealous for the Faith,
full of the Spirit. He has left us his
autobiography and a number of letters.
One question which someone reading this
might be able to answer is: where did he go
to school? Was he an ‘Old Maidstonian’, the
name for an old boy of the Maidstone
Grammar School, which was founded the
year before he was born and situated in
Corpus Christi Hall in Earl Street, after the Brotherhood there had
been dissolved? If so he wouldn’t have received a Catholic
education. Was he educated privately by someone faithful to the
Catholic Church? Was he reconciled to the Church after he left
Maidstone? Answers on a postcard – or email. Please!
(With acknowledgements to ‘The Vallisoletan’, journal of the English College.)
Francis meets Francis
Earlier this year, parishioner Godwin Bassey took his family to
Rome for a holiday. At a general audience in St. Peter’s Square one
of the attendants lifted little Francis Bassey up to Pope Francis for
a blessing. Not sure what little Francis thought of the encounter
but big Francis looks pleased. What a lovely memento of a happy
occasion!

St Marianne Cope
Written and Illustrated by charlotte cassidy
St. Marianne Cope was born Maria Anna Barbara Koob on January 23rd 1838,
to Peter and Barbara Koob in Heppenhein, Germany. Eighteen months later the
Koob family emigrated to America, settling in Utica, New York, where Maria and
her siblings attended school at the nearby Catholic parish of St. Joseph.
Eventually, the entire family became American citizens, changing their name
from Koob to Cope.
At the age of fifteen, Maria had hopes of becoming a nun. However, she had
to delay her aspirations when her father, Peter, became an invalid and Maria,
the eldest of the Cope children, had to leave school to work in the local mill to
help support her family.
After her father’s death in 1862, Maria, now aged twenty four, decided to
pursue her vocation and entered the Order of Franciscan Sisters in Syracuse,
New York. On completion of her novitiate year she was clothed in
the habit of the Franciscan Sisters and received her new name,
Marianne. Shortly afterwards, Sister Marianne became
principal English teacher in the newly established school
for German speaking immigrants in New York City.
In 1870 she became a member of the
governing council of her congregation and
founded two Catholic hospitals, St. Elizabeth’s
Hospital in Utica and St. Joseph’s Hospital in
Syracuse. St. Marianne first became a nurse
in St. Joseph’s hospital and then the
hospital’s administrator. This latter post,
which she held for seven years, would
prove providential in preparing her for the
special ministry for which she was
destined.
As hospital administrator she invited
student doctors from Syracuse Medical
University to further their studies at St.
Joseph’s Hospital, firmly stipulating that the
poor were to be given the same respect and
medical care as the rich, regardless of race
or creed. Both of Sr. Marianne’s initiatives
were unique at the time and she was loved by
the people of Syracuse for her kindness. In
1883 she was appointed Superior General of her
congregation and became known as Mother
Marianne.
In that same year Mother Marianne’s life took an
entirely different direction when she received a letter from
King Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) pleading
for urgent help to care for the island’s abandoned sufferers of leprosy
(now known as Hansen’s Disease). Due to the widespread fear of contracting
leprosy, more than fifty religious orders had already declined the King’s plea for
help.
Mother Marianne, however, responded with enthusiasm writing, “I am hungry
for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones whose
privilege it will be to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the
poor islanders. I am not afraid of any disease, hence it would be my greatest
delight even to minister to the abandond lepers.”Shortly afterwards Mother
Marianne, accompanied by six of her Sisters, set sail from Syracuse to Honolulu.
On the voyage she assured her Sisters that they would never be afflicted with
leprosy. When their ship arrived in Honolulu Harbour the bells of Our Lady of
Peace Cathedral pealed a welcome to the Sisters. Mother Marianne was then
assigned to care for leprosy patients at the overcrowded Kakaao Branch Hospital
in Oahu, near Honolulu, where sufferers of the disease gathered from all over
Hawaii to receive treatment. The more advanced cases were always shipped to
a settlement on the remote Hawaiian island of Molokai. At the Oahu Hospital
town officials soon recognized Mother Marianne’s leadership qualities and
appointed her administrator of the hospital. The following year, at the
government’s request, Mother Marianne founded founded Malulani Hospital,
the first hospital on the island of Maui.
A year later in 1885, Mother Marianne founded a home in Kapiolani for young
homeless girls born to parents with leprosy. Although these children were
healthy, no institute other than the Sisters would care for them because of their
close association with those suffering from the dreaded disease.
King Kalakaua was so moved by Mother Marianne’s concern and devoted
care of the leprosy patients that he bestowed on her the Cross of a Companion
of the Royal Order of Kapiolani.
However, in 1887, the bleak situation for those diagnosed with leprosy
suddenly became even more drastic. The newly elected government of that year
brought in extremely harsh policies towards leprosy sufferers. It
ordered the immediate closure of the leprosy treatment hospital
in Oahu, where Mother Marianne was administrator.
Government policies also firmly stated that all leprosy
patients resident in the hospital, including young
children, must be transferred from Oahu and
permanently confined on the remote Hawaiian
island of Kalaupapa, Molokai.
Consequently, as the number of new
leprosy cases increased in the town of Oahu
and with no hospital for them to receive
treatment, politicians quickly realized that
they had made a error in closing the
hospital and pleaded with Mother
Marianne to care for the leprosy sufferers
on the island of Molokai and to establish
a new home for them on the island.
Although the move to Molokai meant
she would never again be able to see her
family and friends in Syracuse, Mother
Marianne regarded the leprosy sufferers as
God’s children who needed her love and
care, so, without hesitation, she responded to
God’s call enthusiastically saying, “We will
cheerfully accept the work.”
In November 1888 Mother Marianne and her
Sisters arrived at Molokai to care for the lepers and
also the dying priest, Fr. Damien de Veuster, later
canonized for his heroic care of the leper colony on the
island. Fr. Damien had also been diagnosed with leprosy
and, when he died nine months later, Mother Marianne
immediately assumed his responsibilities with great zeal, taking
complete charge of the island’s only hospital.
To help care for the men and boys suffering from leprosy, Mother Marianne
requested from mainland Hawaii, the assistance of four monks from the Order
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so that she and her Sisters could care for the
women and girls. Mother Marianne opened a new home for on Molokai for
sufferers of leprosy arriving from Oahu as the government had commissioned.
She also opened a girls’ school on the island. Each day in the island’s hospital
she gave devoted nursing care to her patients of all ages. She would carefully
measure and administer their medications. She was never afraid to touch the
lepers and would apply soothing ointment to their disfigured hands and feet. To
give her patients self esteem, Mother Marianne and her Sisters decided to sew
cotton dresses, fashionable at that time, for the women and girls and put ribbons
in their hair. She also taught them prayers and read passages from the Bible to
them and she would encourage them in their skills of traditional arts and crafts
and singing. She also encouraged them to establish a colourful floral garden
on the island to brighten their surroundings.
Through the love and dedicated care of Mother Mariannne (contd page 12)
11

dignity and joy was restored to the lives of the leprosy sufferers, even to those
most severely affected and they loved Mother Marianne amd her Sisters. In
admiration of her work a few notable people, having overcome their fear of the
disease, would often visit Mother Marianne and her patients on Molokai. These
included the renowned Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson.
Mother Marianne always asked her visitors not to view her patients with
glum curiosity, but greet them with a smile and to focus instead on their lovely
personalities beyond their disfigurements.
Although Mother Marianne and her Sisters were in direct contact each day
with the leprosy patients, they were never afflicted with the disease, as she had
promised. This was seen by many as a great act of faith, after thirty five years
of devoted care of the leprosy patients in Hawaii.
Mother Marianne died from natural causes on August 9th 1918 and was
buried on Molokai. She was eighty years old. She was beatified in 2005 by
Pope Benedict XVI and canonized by the same Pope on October 21st 2012. In
his homily the Holy Father gave this tribute to St. Marianne Cope; “At a time
when little could be done for the suffering from this terrible disease, Marianne
Cope showed the highest love, courage and enthusiasm. She is a shining and
energetic example of the best of Catholic nursing Sisters and of the spirit of her
beloved St. Francis.”
Today many Franciscan Hospitals, schools and child development centres
have been founded worldwide in her memory and she is still remembered in
Hawaii with deep affection. In 2004 the Order of Franciscan Sisters arranged
the return of St. Marianne Cope’s remains from Molokai to the convent of her
congregation in Syracuse, New York, where she now rests in an ornate shrine
adorned with beautiful carved symbols of love and esteem from the Hawaiian
people.
A RABBIT’S EYE VIEW OF
MOATENDEN AND THE TRINITARIANS
“For hundreds of years rabbits have lived in the
fields around Moatenden, and those there today
can probably trace their ancestry
back to the days before
humankind came to settle
in these parts. Let’s imagine
that they can talk and that
the story of the priory has
been passed down to each
generation of rabbits. In this
way, we can hear of how
strange men from France came
to live here in the early 13th century....”
On Saturday 12th July, Father
Michael Woodgate launched
his book, A Rabbit’s eye
view of Moatenden and
the Trinitarians at a
meeting in the church of
St Thomas of Canterbury
in Headcorn. Although
originally intended as a
children’s book (hence the
rabbits), it will interest all
ages as it traces the history of
the Order of the Most Holy
The Trinitarian Seal
Trinity for the Redemption of
Captives, the Trinitarians, from its founding in 1198 at
Cerfroid in Northern France by two men, John de Matha
and Felix de Valois. It was the time of the third Crusade
and the order was dedicated to helping Christian captives
by buying their release and caring for sick prisoners. In the
early 13th century they built a priory and small church at
Moatenden, near Headcorn, which was suppressed at the
Reformation and no longer exists today. The Trinitarians
still exist and work all over the world. There is a
community of Trinitarian Sisters in Bromley, Kent.
Father Michael had invited John Pontifex, who now works
as Head of Press and Information for Aid to the Church in
Need. It was great to see John again. He was the original
editor of the Parishioner when he was a St.Francis
parishioner in Maidstone and worked as a reporter on the
Kent Messenger. For the ACN he now travels to places
where there are conflicts which affect local
Christian communities and reports back to
the organisation what is needed for their
support. He is also the spokesman for the
organisation in the press and on television.
His talk was most interesting and very
disquieting. Much of what he spoke about
is not generally reported in the press and
mainstream news. He spoke of
Christians being killed by extremist
Islamic groups in Africa, the Middle
East and Iraq or ejected from their
homes, their priests murdered and
churches desecrated or destroyed, of
overcrowded refugee camps, disease,
suffering and despair. He asked for
our prayers that the work of ACN
might bring relief to our persecuted
fellow Christians. Find out more
about the ACN at www.acnuk.org
John Pontifex and Fr.Michael Woodgate
After John’s talk, tea and cakes were very welcome and we
had the opportunity of buying Fr. Michael’s book. If you
would like a copy (or copies), they are available from the
St. Francis Repository or ask at the Priest’s House. Price
£4.50. The proceeds of the book will be going to a project
in the Phillipines
12

Parish Trip to the Houses of Parliament
and Greenwich
Olga D’Silva
The Houses of Parliament was so popular as our parish trip at the end of October
2013 that it sold out within days. There was such a long waiting list that I
decided to go for a ‘repeat run’ in
April 2014. Canon John joined in
October and thoroughly enjoyed it,
particularly as, like many from our
group, he had never visited the
Houses of Parliament before.
Westminster Hall is the only part
of the medieval Palace of
Westminster remaining
today. Here, you have to look
down as well as up; at the wooden
hammerbeam ceiling, at the
stained glass window that the
Commons and Lords gave to the
Queen for her Diamond Jubilee, at
the plaque where the late Nelson Mandela addressed
both Houses of Parliament, where Charles I received
his death warrant, where the Trial of William Wallace
took place, where 20th century monarchs have laid in
state, and, I haven’t even mentioned Guy Fawkes! For
the more modern 19th century architecture, we have
to thank Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who
commissioned Augustus Pugin to transform the Palace
of Westminster to what we know today. The ‘bonus’ to
our visit was to take a boat trip on the Thames to the
Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich Park and the
must see twin domes designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The October group
Every month in St Francis’ Church, a collection is held by the Dew
Association to help people who we know are among the poorest in
the world. Usually around £500 is raised. In most instances, when
the pound is transferred into the currency of the recipient country,
the benefits are enormous.
The Association helps people across the globe; in India, Ghana,
Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to name
just a few. We work with trusted partners in these places and always
receive confirmation that the money has arrived and how it is being
spent.
Fr Peter Adu in The Gambia was supported by the Dew
Association from August 2004 until August 2008. In total, £2490 was
donated. This money helped build St Francis’ Senior Secondary
School, turning the building from one classroom without a roof into
a well­equipped education establishment for 500 pupils.
In 2008, Fr Peter, who is originally from Ghana, had to leave The
Gambia, because of a law preventing foreign teachers from teaching
in the country for more than ten years. His superiors in Rome then
sent him to America to study for his MA at Pittsburgh University.
Upon completion of his course, he returned to Ghana. Once again,
he was asked to build a school ­ another senior secondary
establishment in a very poor and remote area where a school had
been promised for over 20 years. It would be the only school within
a 70 kilometre radius.
The school site sat on 20 acres of dense rainforest, and work to
clear the area began in August 2011. Fr Peter himself borrowed a
JCB, supplied his own fuel and worked to clear the entire site, with
were fortunate to tour the Painted Hall and the College Chapel before we left
for home with the light fading. The April group had more time here as we arrived
in Greenwich in the morning.
However, only the Chapel was
open but we had time to visit the
Queen’s House, the National
Maritime Museum, the Greenwich
Discovery Centre (all free of
charge) and wander around the
Cutty Sark (if you did not wish to
pay a rather hefty ticket price).
The main highlights for us were
that our guided tours of the Palace
of Westminster also included
seeing the Monarch’s Robing
Room for the State Opening of
Parliament, as well the Chambers
of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
On both occasions we were blessed with good weather
and I can honestly say that the experience on both
days was ‘iconic’, not least because of the relaxing
boat trip between Westminster Pier and Greenwich
Pier and seeing famous London landmarks from the
river on the way. One notable for me was the Tower
of London and my discovery that Traitors’ Gate was
not ‘Traitor’s Gate’, ie, more than one traitor was
expected in those days! Fortunately, I had not booked
a one-way ticket for our parish trip there.
The work of the Dew Association
By James Dowling
help from local villagers. The Dew Association provided funds from
2011 until April 2014, donating over £2340 in total. With this
support, the Lieberman Senior Secondary School in Elubo, Ghana
was finally a reality.
The money from the Dew Association helped Fr Peter overcome
many difficulties. For instance, at one time he had received
permission from his superior to employ six local people to do
labouring work. But when the work was complete, he was told there
was no money to pay the workers. They were angry, becoming
threatening and aggressive. But a Dew Association collection
received around this time enabled Fr Peter to pay £400 to the
labourers before the situation escalated into nasty crisis.
The school now has six classrooms already built and work is
currently underway to complete a dormitory, which will hold 150
female live­in students. There are currently over 80 students at the
school. The aim is to accommodate over 500 secondary school
students.
Earlier this year a priest in The Gambia celebrated his fiftieth
anniversary of priesthood and he sent Fr Peter an airline ticket to
attend the celebrations. When Fr Peter arrived, he found thousands
of ex­students from the first school he built also in attendance. The
St Francis School he originally built to teach 500 students now
teaches 900 and is known as one of the best schools in The Gambia.
When we support the Dew Association we never fully know in this
life what excellent help we offer or what results we have achieved.
Hopefully, we will know in the next life.
13

BAPTISMS 2014
January
Ewan Christopher Martin, Miles John Peen,
Abigail Elizabeth Maclellan,
Etta-Rae Judith Dorothy Gerald
Alex Scibisz, Olivia Pospiszyl, Jude Amit Kumar
February
Aaron Lukas Callinan, Kevin Yuheng Cao,
Aron Mangili, Nadia Zajac,
Kacper Andrzej Piera, Zuzanna Laskowska,
Jacob George Wallace, Kaja Maria Legierska,
Michelle Agata Florkiewicz.
March
Thomas Kumstys, Filip Kazimierz Romanski,
William Louis Benjamin Osborn,
Marcus Ricardo Fernandes, Maya Ferandes,
Dylan Roberto Groom.
April
Hanna Rogala, Frederick Marcel Krzywon,
Sara Mikulska, Imogen Amy Tollerbey,
Olivia Maisie Kendall,
William Julian George Bishop, Filip Artur Drag,
Eva Francesca D’Souza Watts.
May
Kacper Lukasiewicz, Eliza Julia Wiejaczka,
Aleksander Krawiec, Marcelina Borowska,
Tobe Frederick Payne,
Annalise Christine Philips,
Clarissa Marie Molyneux,
Freya Kirsty Ann Forbes-Dampier,
Zuzanna Maria Mazantowicz,
Jakub Stanisław Musialski, Markuss Skrimblis,
Albert Oliver Shilling, Maisie Lorraine McNellis,
Ruby Amelia Rodrigues, James Simon Davey,
Samuel Davlan Hubbard, Jan Daniel,
Gino Daniel, Nadia Hanna Wisniewska,
Liliana Balážouá, Martin Baláž, Emily Csernus.
June
Adrianna Jasmina Sebastianiuk,
Primrose Bowman, Krzysztof Stanisław Skalski,
Luna Helen Jacobs, Theodore Uriel Tayag,
Zofia Bronisz, Ciaran Brenda Francis Beirne,
Serena Jae Crunden, Dominic Mikstas.
July
Natan Sławomir Krecki, Wiktoria Oliwia Mega,
Carlos Moncrieff, Zachary Peter Barton,
Adam Nalepa, Tomasz Nalepa,
Matthew Jamie Joseph Thomas Widden,
Caelan Leon Clarke-Gibbon.
DEATHS 2014
January
Elizabeth Lanaghan,Teresa Dias De Franca,
John Islwyn Ratcliffe, Peter Appleby,
Kathleen Simmonds, Christina Keane,
Ernest Willey, Bill Blackeby.
March
Fr Joe Whooley, Doris Thompson.
April
Kathleen Teresa Clark, Mary Ellan Bowles,
Derek Hopkins, Aubrey John Sidwell.
May
Blodwin Wilson, Margaret West,
Gerald Eotes, Maria Lembo,
Maria (Doris) Nicklin, Jean Margaret Moyce.
June
Michaeal Kehily, Basil Wilfred Robinson,
Sheila Smith.
July
Margaret Brookes, Alfred Fagg, Peter Chapman
MARRIAGES 2014
May
Matthew Michael Lewis and Marie Elizabeth
Holiday, Jerzy Osuch and Aneta Marzena Drag,
Szabolcs Csernus and Aleksandra Marta
Zlotkowska.
June
Luis and Elwira Felgueiras (Validation)
July
Michael David Holliday and Samantha Kelly
Manchester
In Memoriam
Maria Dolores (Doris) Nicklin
17 December 1949 - 26 May 2014
Reverend Father Joseph Whooley
8 August 1922 - 3 March 2014
30 years a husband - then 30 years a
priest
O Lord, support us all the day
long,
until the shadows lengthen,
and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then in your mercy,
grant us safe lodging and a
holy rest,
and peace at the last.
Amen
Parishioners Denis and Rosemary Neale
celebrated their Golden Wedding on June 20th.
The proud winners of the St Francis’ Quiz held on
May 24th at the United Reformed Church Hall.
14
Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman