The Parishioner - Edition 26|Spring 2016

Parishioner
ISSUE 26 SPRING 2016
CELEBRATING THE
YEAR OF MERCY
Deacon Tom Coyle
We are now well into the Year of Mercy. It began on the feast of the Immaculate Conception and will end
this year on the Solemnity of Christ the King. Mercy has been at the heart of Pope Francis’ pontificate
from the very beginning and the Year of Mercy is to highlight the loving mercy of God in the Church and
in our lives. To get some understanding of the place of mercy in the life and teaching of the Pope we need
to go back to several centuries to the great Italian painter, Caravaggio.
We are now well into the Year of Mercy. It
began on the feast of the Immaculate
Conception and will end this year on the
Solemnity of Christ the King. Mercy has
been at the heart of Pope Francis’
pontificate from the very beginning and the
Year of Mercy is to highlight the loving
mercy of God in the Church and in our lives.
To get some understanding of the place of
mercy in the life and teaching of the Pope
we need to go back to several centuries to
the great Italian painter, Caravaggio.
The calling of Matthew is one of his great
paintings and before Francis became Pope,
when he visited Rome he always stayed
near the church which contains this
beautiful painting. He had a special reason
for this. In the painting you see Matthew
(or Levi as he was also known) sitting with friends and obviously enjoying himself.
He was a tax collector, one of those people notorious for helping themselves to the
taxes collected, growing rich on the backs of the poor. At the other side of the
painting is Jesus who is pointing at Matthew, a beam of light illuminates the
painting and Matthew is pointing at himself as if to say ‘Who, me?’ Jesus gazes
at Matthew and we know the result: Matthew gets up and follows him.
Fast forward now to 1953 when the 17-year-old Jorge Bergoglio was in church on
the feast of St Matthew. He experienced in a very special and intimate way,
the loving presence of God. He went to confession and felt his heart
touched by the mercy of God. It changed his life. At that moment he
also felt God’s call to the priesthood and religious life as a Jesuit.
In memory of that event, when he became a bishop he chose as his
motto the Latin phrase: miserando atque eligendo. These were
part of a homily by our great English saint, Bede on the calling of
Matthew and they mean ‘In mercy I chose you.’ That is still his
motto as Pope, and it is the reason for his emphasis of mercy
since he became Pope and the Holy Year of Mercy we are now
celebrating.
I always wonder what it must have been like to meet Jesus.
Obviously not everyone reacted in the same way as Peter, Andrew
and the other apostles including Matthew but for those who were
open to his calling, their lives were changed; they left everything
behind and wanted nothing more than to follow this man. And of
course we know from the Gospel that Jesus caused scandal by eating
with sinners and tax collectors, but Jesus came to call sinners back to God’s
love. St Bede points out in his homily that
the conversion of Matthew was an example
of penance and forgiveness to many tax
collectors and sinners and Matthew was to
go on become one of the apostles and
teachers whose Gospel would bring the
message of Jesus all over the world. So
that meeting, that encounter with Jesus,
not only changed Matthew’s life; it helped
to change the world.
Jesus goes on meeting us in his Church and
we experience that mercy in a special way
in the Sacrament of Reconciliation or
Confession. Pope Francis wrote of that
confession on the feast of St Matthew: ‘In
that confession something rare happened
to me. I don’t know what it was but it
changed my life. I would say that I was
caught with my guard down. It was a surprise, the astonishment of an encounter.
I realised that God was waiting for me. From that moment God has been the one
who precedes me to guide me. We want to meet him, but he meets us first.’
In this Year of Mercy we are invited by the Pope to experience the mercy of God in
our lives and there are many ways of doing this. One is the Holy Door. The original
idea of the Holy Door was that there was one door in St Peter’s Basilica which was
only opened during Holy Years. Pope Francis extended the idea to Cathedrals and
places of pilgrimage throughout the world. So in our diocese there is a Holy
Door at the Cathedral and one here in our parish, at The Friars in Aylesford.
The idea of the Holy Door was explained by the Pope in this way:
This Extraordinary Year is itself a gift of grace. To pass through the Holy
Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who
welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of
them. It is he who seeks us! It is he who comes to encounter us!
This will be a year in which we grow ever more convinced of God’s
mercy. How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we
speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of
their being forgiven by his mercy (cf. Saint Augustine, De
Praedestinatione Sanctorum, 12, 24)! But that is the truth. We have
to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God’s judgement
will always be in the light of his mercy. In passing through the Holy
Door, then, may we feel that we ourselves are part of this mystery of
love, of tenderness. Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not
befit men and women who are loved. Instead, let us experience the joy
of encountering that grace which transforms all things.

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
Parish Priest: Canon Luke Smith
Assistant Priests: Fr Bartlomiej Dudek, Fr Peter Kucharski
Ordinariate Priest: Fr Paul Gibbons
Parish Deacons: Rev. Tom Coyle & Rev. Ian Black
Parishioner Editors: Denis & Ross Neale.
Telelephone: 01622 200025.
Email: denisneale@blueyonder.co.uk
A word from Canon Luke
Welcome to the latest instalment of the ‘Parishioner’ It
seems no time at all since I wrote the introduction for
the last issue; I’m not sure about you but it seems that
time is flying by at an increasing rate of knots and here
we are, over halfway through Eastertide! However, our
parish magazine bears witness that this time has not just
passed by in a vacuum, it has been full of fruitful activity.
Once again I would like to thank our editors Denis
and Ross Neale for the time they have spent eliciting,
chasing and editing the various contributions. Similarly I
would like to thank all those parishioners who have
kindly sourced and prepared articles and photographs.
The ‘Parishioner’ provides a rich tapestry of our
parish’s life; reflecting something of the rich diversity of
people, gifts, activities, prayer and witness. As the latest
issue is published it is wonderful to see that the works
on the roof and exterior of St Francis are now well
underway. Although bricks, mortar, slates and stone, and
our need of a worthy house of prayer in which we, the
living stones making up the Church are formed and
nourished, is not the be all and end all of the Church’s
existence; our Church building itself is a symbol of the
presence and action of Christ and His people in our local
area and in the world. St Francis’ certainly has a prime
location in Maidstone and many people drop in
throughout the day; hopefully we increasingly provide
an oasis of peace and prayer enabling all who enter our
doors to open their hearts and minds to the presence of
God.
Things are beginning to move with the proposed
re-development of the old school buildings and hopefully
we will have something concrete to report in the near
future; suffice for now to say: please pray for the success
of a certain planning application!
The Jubilee of Mercy has certainly made an impact on
us both as a parish and as individuals; the ‘24 hours for
the Lord’ during Lent was a wonderful oasis of prayer.
The Light Fever initiative that invites people from the
street into an atmosphere of prayer was particularly
moving with around one hundred people coming in to
light a candle and leave a prayer intention. During Holy
week and the Easter Triduum the priests of the parish
spent over 40 hours hearing confessions: wonderful to
see so many encountering the loving mercy of the Lord.
As you peruse this snapshot of the parish I hope it
will encourage and inspire you to take an increasingly
active part in our parish’s worship and activities, this in
turn deepens the bonds of
faith and fellowship which
knit us together as a parish
community and part of the
universal Church.
Canon Luke
Good News!
Good News! Roof repairs to begin soon!
Currently we have raised £88,626.44
(which includes the £30,000 legacy of Teresa
De Franca) for our roof repairs and thanks to a
confirmed offer of a substantial interest-free loan we can now
publish the proposed schedule for the works. However. we still have to
raise money to repay the loan, so all donations and current fundraising
events need to continue.
Project Start Date: 21st March
Scaffold Main Roof Install: 21st March - 1st April
No structure work will begin during Holy Week and no will take place
over Easter weekend.
Main Roof Works start: 29th March - 13th May
Scaffold removal to one side: 9th -13th May
Remaining Scaffold removal: 16th - 20th May
Flat Roof Works: 16th May 10th - 10th June
Decorations: 23rd May - 10th June.
OUR ROOF IS IN A STATE .....SO PLEASE BUY A SLATE!
Slates sponsored to date 2,352.
Sponsorship forms can be found at the back of the church and
obtained from the office. Please help us reach our target of the
6,000 tiles needed for the main roof!
Our New Tabernacle.
Our new Tabernacle,
which stands behind
the altar on a raised
pedestal in the apse,
was purchased last
year to replace the old
square one which had
been used for many
years for the
reservation of the
Blessed Sacrament.
Many parishioners will
remember when the
church was vandalised
in 2003 and the
Tabernacle was
removed a from the
church and found,
badly damaged, in
Brenchley Gardens. At
that time it proved too
expensive to replace, or even repair it
to its former glory so it was cleaned
up, the damaged parts of the brass
decoration removed and it was fixed
back onto its pedestal.
The new Tabernacle is taller and has
plenty of room to take the ciboria and
other sacred vessels and has a set of
veils in all the liturgical colours.
Different colours are used in Divine
Services as symbols.
Different truths or
sentiments are
symbolized by different
colours. The altar
cloths, the chalice
covering, and the veil
match the vestments
worn by the priest at
Mass.
The decoration on the
top of the Tabernacle is
of a pelican, a symbol
of
sacrifice,
selflessness and
generosity, the emblem
of the Eucharistic
Christ, whose blood
resuscitates the living
soul, as the female
pelican was thought to
to nourish her young with blood from
her own breast. In the hymn ‘Adoro
Te’. St. Thomas Aquinas addressed
the Saviour, “Pelican of Mercy,
cleanse me in Thy Precious Blood.”
As a sign of God’s mercy and
solicitude, this seabird is often
depicted in ecclesiastical writings,
painting, murals and stained glass.
2

E A S T E R 2 0 1 6
Good Friday morning. Churches
Together in Maidstone members walk to
Jubilee Square for a service of prayers
and hymns
Holy Saturday afternoon. Canon Luke
and Father Piotr celebrate the Polish
Easter Blessing of Food.
Deacon Ian
Black and
Rev. Andrew
Royal wait
to speak.
The Paschal
Candle is lit at
the Easter Vigil
Mass.
The Veneration of the Cross
Christ is risen! The empty tomb.
New parishioners received into the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass, those newly baptised and those who
received the Sacrament of Confirmation, with their sponsors and the clergy. Deo gratias!
3

W H AT ’ S S O S P E C I A L A B O U T
W O R L D Y O U T H D AY ?
Fr. Bartolomiej Dudek
This summer Pope Francis is going to meet young people from all over the world
for the next World Youth Day (July 24 - August 1) – the greatest festival in recent
history of the Catholic Church.
“Szczęść Boże!’‘
“Szczesc Boze!’‘ This
popular Polish Catholic greeting
needs to be learnt by 13 people
from our parish who are
attending World Youth Day (well,
technically 12, as I know it
already A. Going there, we need
to be aware that in its 30 year
2
long history it has been the most
joyful and fruitful Catholic
festival/retreat/pilgrimage ever.
Since the very beginning, in Rome
1985, when Pope John Paul II
invited young people from all over
the world, ‘The Spring of the
Church’ as he called young
Catholics, have been invited to
gather around the Holy Father to
worship the living Jesus, to
experience the global Church and
to take that ‘holy buzz’ home.
This year young people from our parish, members of the Phoenix Youth
Club, along with over 80 people from the Southwark RC Diocese, will
gather at St George’s Cathedral on 23rd July at midday to meet up for
probably one of the most exciting weeks of their young lives. A
Celebration of Faith is going to blossom in shows, catecheses, concerts,
prayers and sacraments. This appetising spiritual cocktail is going to be
drunk in one of the most historical, traditional, cultural and spiritual
cities in Poland – Kraków. Choosing this place for this special week,
Pope Francis was probably ‘tempted’ by these few determinants: it was
the former diocese of the founder of WYD; it’s the place where
the ‘sparkle of God’s mercy’ came from to flood the world
through St Faustina; and finally, the 2 million young people,
who are expected, can
be hosted in numerous
squares, fields and over
300 churches in Kraków
and its suburbs.
All of that is very
exciting but not possible
without money. After it
was announced that the
cost of this event is
£850 per person, the
Phoenix Youth Club set
out to fund raise
enough money to cover
half of the costs of each
youth club member
attending. The rest will
come from the
attendees’ pockets and
their relatives. We’ve
been enormously lucky
to have been given financial support from many people. So far the
organisations that have sponsored us are: KCC, Bracher’s, St Simon
Stock Catholic School and St Francis’ Catholic School. With fundraising
events like a Quiz Night, Boot Fairs, supermarket bag packing, a
sponsored half marathon, and the sale of St Francis buns the generosity
of a lot of people has helped us to gather over £2000. However we
need another £3000.
We believe that if God, through the prayers and the open hearts and
wallets of so many people, has given us hope that we can attend WYD,
He will continue to bless us in this mission, leading us to meeting
Jesus and His young Church in the sanctuary of God’s Mercy in
Kraków.
4

Confirmation Programme 2015
At the conclusion of the Confirmation programme, the candidates were asked, in their groups,
to write a homily for Deacon Ian recommending that young people next year come on to the
Confirmation programme. Below is the homily that they wrote. All of the groups’ work has
been combined into one document, using the best
parts written by each group.
Why be confirmed? Before you answer are you sure you actually know
what Confirmation is? It is the third Sacrament of Initiation making you
a fully fledged member of the church, just one reason to join the
programme.
It is also an opportunity to meet people from a variety of schools
and across year groups. It can be a cause for concern that others
on the confirmation journey will be “bible bashers” however
that’s really not the case, something that becomes apparent
whilst making friends and having fun on the retreat. Some
may not want to be confirmed because of past mistakes
however there are chances for reconciliation.
Throughout the course there are many opportunities to connect to God
in a more spiritual way than you have done before, and this is good. Many
people find that helping out in the Mass by altar serving, reading or offertory is
something not many people get to do. It helps to create a better link with God and the
local community.
By participating at Mass during our time at Confirmation we have begun to understand the
Mass which allows us to enjoy the experience and look at it from a different perspective.
Part of our course was a prayer evening where we could reflect and think of different ways to
pray such as through music, pictures, reflection and culminating in reconciliation, with shared
supper and social time.
The Sunday evening sessions let us meet new people and learn about the Catholic faith in an
interesting and sociable way. It has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and will involve you
partaking in a retreat to Whitstable.
You may be put off by the idea of “a retreat”, however
4
Confirmation
don’t be! With activity leaders near to our age group
who understand our idea of an enjoyable time, the trip
links fun and socialising with a spiritual way to pray and
understand God. We as a group feel that we are closer
now to God and have a good, strong and comfortable
relationship with each other. The retreat was the
highlight of our Confirmation programme. We enjoyed
the social time, the beach and the bowling which
brought us closer as a community. We had quiet pray
time and our busy Saturday finished with
reconciliation.
Another hesitation may be the balance between school work, social life and the confirmation
classes but all the candidates agree it is definitely manageable.
You may feel as if it’s your parents’ choice for you to come to church and these sessions but
when it comes down to it, it’s a real opportunity to discover your faith and make it your choice
to be confirmed.
You make loads of new friends and form bonds you will never break and memories you will
never forget! And obviously, the weekend away is an amazing time to get away, relax and have
loads of fun!
5

Saying a Fond Farewell to Phoenix
Youth Club Members
Lydia Burchell
Last summer we said goodbye
to 9 of our youth club members
who have moved on to
university, many of these
members have been with the
youth club since 2012. One of
the members going to
university was my own
daughter, Georgina, who was
one of the original members
who started the youth club,
after going to the first Flame
Congress in Wembley in 2012.
Phoenix Youth Club came about because of Jennie Kamps, Philip
Coatsworth, Jade Nelson, Joseph Black and Georgina Burchell
who all decided that they had had such an amazing time at Flame
Congress that this mustn’t be the end but just the start of young
people in the Parish coming together; We had two events to say
goodbye to our wonderful group of enthusiastic young people.
Firstly we finished off the summer term with a BBQ and were
very lucky that Fr Damian at The Friars allowed us to use the
Gatehouse, Courtyard and their BBQ for our party. We had a lot
of fun, in the beautiful
sunshine, after enjoying
a delicious cheesecake,
made by Sinead, we had
fun with a rounders
tournament on the green.
We also
returned in September
with a pizza evening to
say goodbye to everyone
and gave all our leaving
youth club members, a
card and the gift of a
Phoenix Youth Club calendar, Fr Bart and I promised to pray for
them and wished them well. Of course some of these members
will also be coming with us to World Youth Day, Krakow.
We said a special goodbye and thank you to Mikaela D’Souza,
Daniel Ellesmere, Olivia Ralph, Rebecca Saunders, Georgina
Burchell, James Williams, Abigael Wallis, Rachel Williams and
Amanda Chapman.
Lydia Burchell
1. How long have you lived in
England?
Well, the very first time I came
to England I was 5, really. Then,
due to my family connections, I
visited England on many other
occasions. Eventually I settled in
London, from the year 2000-ish.
2. When did you choose to become a priest
and what influenced your decision?
Somehow it was always with me as a
nagging invitation from the Lord to be a
priest. To pin point, it had to be since I was a
server at the age of 8. Then, even in the
midst of my life away from God, faith,
philosophical questions about our existence
etc. were always with me. After my
conversion around 2005, the voice of the
Lord became very clear again, therefore, even though I
was engaged to my beloved love of my life, Aneta, I
had to respond to God’s will. At this point the story of
Jonah’s call to be a prophet springs to mind, I was
running away, but still He called.
3 As a seminarian, how have you found your experience
at St Francis’ parish?
A very positive one indeed, I have already learned a lot.
All of this, as the Lord Jesus in His mercy, placed me
with a good priests and in an interesting environment
of Maidstone’s multicultural and multidimensional
community of the faithful.
4. Are your parents still alive and have you any brothers
and sisters?
Yes, they are still alive and live happily in my
10 Questions and Answers
for Sebastian Wierzbicki.
Continuing our series interviewing
members of the parish. In this edition we
feature our new seminerian,
6
home-town Krakow, and I have a
one brother in his early thirties,
Peter.
5. Have you travelled much and do
you have a favourite country? Yes, I
have travelled through most of
Europe and almost whole of
England.
I don’t have a favourite country per-se, as all of
them have a charming side to them.
6. What kind of music do you like?
Mostly classical, especially Baroque period.
7. What food do you most prefer?
Everything good, starting from a proper Kebab,
samosas, most of the Polish food, obviously,
and finishing with Chinese, a very wide variety
indeed as I have lived in London for many
years.
8. What do you miss most about home?
Warmth of my family home and my loved ones.
9. What do you feel is most challenging about the
priesthood?
Both challenging and rewarding, everything.... it is a
life of a loving sacrifice, rewarded by God by His
intimate loving, and often hidden, presence.
10. If you were marooned on a desert island, what
book, apart from the Bible and luxury item would you
have?
“Mystical City of God” by Venerable Mary of Agreda,
and my bicycle :-)

H o m i l y f o r t h e F e a s t o f S S M i c h a e l , G a b r i e l a n d R a p h a e l
given by Fr Michael Woodgate at St. Michael’s Church, Peckham Bush on September 29th 2015.
T
his
is the second time in four days
that I have had the privilege of
being at mass in a redundant
pre-Reformation church. Only last Saturday
I was in the church of Snave on Romney
Marsh, which is cared for by the Romney
Marsh Historic Churches’ Trust for a sung
mass in the Extraordinary Form. We were made
ver y welcome by the President of the Trust,
who, though not a Catholic, hoped there would
be more Masses there in the future. And one
reason why I mention this is because he said
that unless the redundant churches are used,
they will fall into disrepair because of lack of
interest or the will to keep them in good repair.
Can we guarantee that there will always be a
Churches’ Conser vation Trust to go on doing
the excellent work that they do here, for
example? The celebrant and preacher at the
Mass, Fr. Marcus Holden, PP of Ramsgate,
reminded us in his homily that these
pre-Reformation churches were built for the
celebration of Mass.
That is why it is so good that we
are celebrating here in St. Michael’s
this evening; we are fulfilling the
purpose for which those builders of old
constructed it. Since this occasion last
year, I have had the opportunity to read Margaret
Lawrence’s histor y of this church, which I found quite
absorbing. In Spain, and maybe other countries too, there is
a tradition of having a pilgrimage church outside a village,
in addition to the parish church in the village. On certain
occasions during the year and presumably on the patronal
feast, parishioners come on pilgrimage to honour the saint,
ask for his or her prayers and, above all worship Almighty
God.
It is precisely this that we are doing once again this
evening. We are on pilgrimage to a lovely building dedicated
to St. Michael the Archangel, seeking his prayers and help,
along with those of SS Gabriel and Raphael and indeed
honouring all the angelic host.
As we know , the angels belong and always have
belonged to the world of spirit. They are not and never have
been human beings, which is why it is ridiculous to say, as
some ignorantly do, that when we die we become angels.
There is a timelessness about the angelic world, the
heavenly world, again unlike the saints, who lived on this
earth, which is bound by time. When the Archangel Gabriel
came to Our Blessed Lady, time and timelessness meet. The
incarnation, in a sense, sanctifies time, for God chose the
moment of His Son’s conception with astonishing care. It
was no accident that he chose the country, the place, the
time, the culture and above all, the mother, in the way that
He did.
Our reading of the Apocalypse speaks of a war breaking
out in heaven when the angel which we call Satan rebels
against God and is driven out of heaven by St. Michael and
his angels. But why did Satan, described in our reading as
a dragon, rebel? According to some Jewish traditions, he did
so because he refused to acknowledge the dignity bestowed
7
on man when God made man in his own image and likeness,
as the Book of Genesis tells us. He refused to bow down
before this image of God, unlike Michael who did so. Satan
and his angels regarded man as their inferior and so
rebelled. If we go back to the Book of Daniel we find
it is Michael who defends the Chosen People on
God’s behalf. His name means “Who is like God?”
and his mission is to guard the rights of God
against those who would usurp them. The
Christian Church has always
regarded St. Michael as her
guardian in adversity, especially
when that adversity has emanated
from Satan.
Because of that sense of timelessness, we could see
that battle as being the war which Satan has never
ceased to wage against the Church and which
will take the most dreadful form at the end of
time. It is important at this point not to start
speculating, as some love to do. Let’s stick to
what we have in Holy Scripture but at the same
time not be blind to the signs of the times in
which we (and each generation) lives. We
are seeing clearly what happens in our own
times when people give up belief in God.
It used to be said that the Devil
scores a big point when he gets us to stop
believing in him. Well, he’s achieved that
pretty well. The next thing is to stop people
believing in God – and he’s achieving that pretty well, too.
It’s becoming more and more difficult to say to people,
“Such and such behaviour is not Christian” or “You’re going
against God’s laws by doing such and such” or “How can you
make your peace with God if you do that?” It’s becoming
much more difficult because the answer may well be “Well,
I don’t believe in God” or “I don’t believe in a personal God”
or “You have to keep up with the times – we don’t believe
in that kind of God any more.” Yes, the battle is on, but often
it doesn’t feel like a battle. That’s where the Devil scores
again because he can get on with his work undetected.
Fortunately, Pope Francis is very aware of the devil and
tells us so from time to time. In our battle against evil, St
Michael and the heavenly host are there to assist us. “Holy
St Michael, defend us in the day of battle….” The battle is
now, ever y day, and God has provided us with heavenly
protection through the ministry of the Holy Angels, with St
Michael as their leader. This church, perched on a hill, like
so many dedicated to that Archangel – Mont St Michel. St.
Michael’s Mount, for example, is a powerful witness to that
ministr y. Some words from another homily on St Michael
seems to sum up what we have been saying this evening.
“With Michael, all here are engaged in spiritual warfare. The
battle continues as we, though hindered by our own sins and
failures. Strive to create an oasis of sanity in a mad world,
a place where the love and peace of God is manifested”.
May this church of St Michael and our Mass on this
lovely feast inspire us. Incidentally, is it he who is the angel
who takes the Holy Sacrifice to the altar in heaven, as
proclaimed in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1) Some
certainly think so.

St.Edmund Gennings
Text and Picture by Charlotte Cassidy
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, (1558 to 1603), when the Anglican faith
became the nation’s state religion by law and Catholics were being persecuted,
St. Edmund Gennings was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, in 1567.
His parents were innkeepers, loyal to the Queen, and raised Edmund and his
younger brother, John, in the Anglican faith. As a child, Edmund was a serious, studious
boy and excelled in his class at Lichfield Grammar School.
At the age of sixteen when his education was complete, Edmund went to work as
a page in London in the house of renowned drapers, Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood. The
Sherwoods were devout Catholics, their four sons were Catholic priests. The couple
had been imprisoned numerous times for their faith and could only attend
Mass in secret. The Sherwoods treated Edmund more like another son
than an employee. Inspired by Mr. Sherwood’s love and knowledge
of the Gospel, Edmund soon became drawn to the catholic faith
and decided to convert to Catholicism. He made his confession
and was received into the Catholic Church, at the age of
sixteen and attended his first Mass in secret in the
Sherwood’s house.
At that time, the persecution of Catholics was
relentless. They were forbidden to attend Mass or even
pray the Rosary. Catholic laity were often imprisoned for
practising their faith and if Catholic priests were found
secretly celebrating Mass in a house, they were
immediately arrested, brought to a brief, sham trial and
sentenced to a traitor’s death at Tyburn.
While attending his first Mass, Edmund felt a deep love
for Jesus and a calling to the priesthood. It was illegal for any
young man to study for the Catholic priesthood in England so
Edmund left the Sherwood’s employment to study abroad at the
English Biblical college in Rheims, France. At the college, Edmund
befriended fellow Englishman and seminarian, Polydore Plasden. Both young
men hoped to return to England after ordination.
Despite being diagnosed with tuberculosis shortly after his arrival in France,
Edmund managed to complete his studies. Because of his ill-heath a special
dispensation was arranged so that he could be ordained earlier that usual and in
1590, at the age of twenty three, Edmund was ordained a Catholic priest.
A month later, Father Edmund and Fr. Polydore set sail on their return voyage to
England, arriving at Whitby, Yorkshire, late at night. Willing to die for Christ the two
priests then parted company. Fr. Edmund returned to London where he stayed at the
house of Swithun Wells and his family at Gray’s Inn Lane.
Swithun was a kind Catholic layman who had opened his home as a refuge for
the persecuted Catholic priests. After a few days Fr. Edmund left the generous
hospitality of the Wells family and for several months travelled throughout England in
his priestly ministry. He celebrated Mass in secret, heard confessions, anointed the sick
and gave spiritual guidance to the persecuted Catholics.
In November of 1591, Fr. Edmund decided to return again to the home of
Swithun Wells in London. By chance along the road he met his good friend Fr.
Polydore Plasden who was also on his way to Swithun’s home and the two priests
continued their journey together, arriving at their destination at night.
Fr. Edmund rose early the next morning to celebrate Mass in secret with Fr.
Polydore in a room in Swithun’s house. Swithun had been called away the previous
night on a mission of mercy. His wife and daughter, however, had invited several local
Catholics to the Mass. Shortly after Mass had commenced there came a loud thud at
the front door. One of Swithun’s servants went to investigate and realized with alarm
that the Queen’s chief torturer, Richard Topcliffe, had entered the house with soldiers
to arrest Fr. Edmund and Fr. Polydore.
Fr. Polydore confronted Topcliffe and asked that the mass be allowed to conclude,
after which everyone would surrender. Topcliffe agreed to his request. When the Mass
had ended, Fr. Edmund carefully took the Holy Eucharist and the chalice containing the
Blood of Christ and hid them in a cabinet in the house so that they would not be
desecrated by Topcliffe and his soldiers.
4
8
Fr. Edmund tole the faithful present to remain calm and above all loyal to
Christ, then everyone surrendered peacefully to the priest hunters. The two priests were
immediately arrested. Fr. Edmund, still in his vestments, was made to wear a fool’s coat
(a long coat with gaudy, multi-coloured plumes) and, together with Fr. Polydore, he was
escorted by soldiers through the streets to Gatehouse Prison.
On arrival at the prison the two priests were put in separate cells. In the
solitude of his cell, Fr.Edmund prayed and told Jesus he loved Him and was prepared
to lay down his life for Him. Later that evening, Fr. Edmund was moved to the prison
dungeon where Topcliffe awaited him. When Fr. Edmund refused to renounce his
faith, he was taken to a torture chamber where he was mocked and
subjected to agonizing torture for hours on the rack.
Six days later, on December 4th 1591, Fr. Edmund and Fr.
Polydore were brought to a sham trial at Westminster, found
guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Swithun Wells,
having been arrested on his return home to Gray’s Inn
Lane, was also sentenced to death.
The two priests were offered their freedom if they
rejected the Papacy and their Catholic faith and
conformed to the Anglican religion. Both priests bluntly
refused. Fr. Edmund then denounced Anglicanism and
the Queen as head of the Church on spiritual matters
and declared his undying love for Christ and the
Catholic Church.
Enraged by this declaration, Topcliffe ordered both
priests to be taken to a dungeon in Newgate prison where
they were tortured. Fr. Edmund was then dragged from the
dungeon and thrown in a pit within the prison known as the
‘Dark Hole’. In this narrow, confined, terrifying space Fr. Edmund
could see nothing at all. He passed the days saying the Rosary,
meditating on Christ’s passion and uniting his sufferings to Christ on the
Cross.
On December 10th 1591, Fr. Edmund was at last taken from the ‘Dark Hole’ and
reunited with Fr.Polydore. Both priests were then brought outside to the prison
courtyard, tied to a hurdle along with Swithun Wells and dragged through the streets
of London. Fr. Edmund thought he would die with Fr. Polydore Plasden at Tyburn.
Instead, the group of soldiers escorting the three men abruptly changed direction
at Holborn, taking both Fr. Edmund and Swithun to Gray’s in Lane. A gallows had been
especially erected outside Swithun’s home where Mass had been celebrated only two
weeks earlier. Fr. Edmund was to die with Swithun Wells. As a noose was roughly
placed around Fr. Edmunds neck, his thoughts and prayers remained with Fr. Polydore
who continued on his journey to be hanged drawn and quartered on the infamous
gallows at Tyburn.
Before the gathered, jeering crowd, Topcliffe demanded that Fr. Edmund confess to
treason. Fr. Edmund calmly responded, “If to return to England as a Catholic priest and
to celebrate Mass is considered treason, then, yes, I am guilty of treason with the
greatest joy!”
Furious at his unrepentant reply, Topcliffe instantly devised a particularly cruel
death for Fr.Edmund. Topcliffe ordered that Fr. Edmund be hanged and cut down
almost immediately. Unsteady and barely stunned from the hanging, Fr. Edmund was
then pushed to the ground. He was fully conscious as the executioner began his
gruesome task with a knife. Fr. Edmund could hear Swithun’s prayers for him as he
felt his chest being split open. The executioner then ripped Fr. Edmund’s heart from
his chest and held it up before Fr. Edmund’s eyes. In excruciating pain, Fr. Edmund
managed to say these last words, “St. Gregory, pray for me!”
Fr.Edmund was only twenty four. There were many conversions among those who
had witnessed his barbarous death, including the conversion of his younger brother,
John. St.Edmund Gennings was beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI and canonized in
1970 by Pope Paul VI. His feast day is 10th of December.

The following e-mail was received last summer,
2015, by the Good Counsel Network:
Hello
I`ve been searching around on the internet for a while now
and have come across this organisation
[www.goodcounselnetwork.com]
I was hoping to be able to track down the church or group
who would have held prayers outside the Marie Stopes
[abortion] clinic in January 2003. I realise it`s a lot to ask since
it was such a long time ago now. I tried to work out which
was the local church but didn`t get very far.
The reason for wanting to track them down was to say a
massive thank you. If I hadn`t seen them I might not have my
son with me today.
He turns twelve this July and although he is sometimes a heck
of a lot to handle I wouldn`t be without him and I`m so pleased
that I saw those people praying that day. Up until that point all
I had thought about was myself, and how scared I was, and
how I didn`t think I could see a way out of the situation I`d
created. I wasn`t thinking straight. All I wanted was to turn
back time and for everything to go back to normal.
I saw just 2 people, one was kneeling, they never said
anything but they had a placard with them. I think it might have
been a picture of Mary.
I still went ahead and walked into the clinic and was shown
to a waiting area. It was as I sat there waiting that I thought of
those people out there praying. I started to look around the
room and realised that there must have been at least 20
women all looking as downcast and scared as I was. I was
really shocked. I never thought that that many women could
all be waiting for the same thing. I was so shocked that it just
seemed all so clinical, one out, one in. No compassion at all.
I felt sick to my stomach that all those lives would be snuffed
out. That was the first time it occurred to me that this wasn`t
just an inconvenient pregnancy. This was a baby. So I got up
and left! Very quickly. I really hope that some of the others did
the same.
Anyway, I`m not sure how often you get to hear of the
happy endings. But this certainly is one. If it wasn`t your group
there that day then I can only assume it was another local
one. But, thank you anyway. Keep up the good work.
Warmest blessings,
Tina
If you feel that God is calling you to join in the prayer which
has been taking place since the year 2000 outside the
Maidstone abortion facility in Brewer Street, please look in the
newsletter for details of the monthly priest-led prayer vigils. A
small group also leaves from the Church porch after the 10am
Mass on most Fridays.
“
The Barbarian
The Barbarian hopes — and that is the mark of him,
that he can have his cake and eat it too.He will
consume what civilization has slowly produced after
generations of selection and effort, but he will not be at
pains to replace such goods, nor indeed has he a
comprehension of the virtue that has brought them into
being. Discipline seems to him irrational, on which
account he is ever marvelling that civilization, should
have offended him with priests and soldiers.... In a
word, the Barbarian is discoverable everywhere in this,
that he cannot make: that he can befog and destroy but
that he cannot sustain; and of every Barbarian in the
decline or peril of every civilization exactly that has
been true.
We sit by and watch the barbarian. We tolerate him
in the long stretches of peace, we are not afraid. We
are tickled by his irreverence; his comic inversion of our
old certitudes and our fixed creed refreshes us; we
laugh. But as we laugh we are watched by large and
awful faces from beyond, and on these faces there are
no smiles.”
Hilaire Belloc
Baby Kenneth is baptised.
On January 31st 2016, Prince Kenneth Essien
Oluwapelumi Bassey, the third son of Godwin and Fumi
Bassey, was baptised at St. Francis’ by Rev. Fr. Kenneth
Adesina from Rome. His Godparents are Chris and Ehi
Peiris, Cecilia Mayne, Julia Whittning and Esther
Kwashie.
Father Bart’s Farewell Mass
Father Bart has left St. Francis’ Church, Maidstone and has
taken up his new post at Walderslade but he will come back to
St Francis’ to celebrate Mass with us on Friday, 20th May at
7pm followed by a reception at URC Hall, Week Street,
Maidstone.
If you would like to make a donation towards a presentation
to Fr. Bart please put it in an envelope marked ‘Fr. Bart’s
Presentation’. Either drop it into the parish office or along with
the Sunday Collection.
9

Mary Teresa Reynolds
19 November 1935 to 28 July 2015
As Mary had expressed a wish for no eulogies at her funeral, here is the homily given at her Requiem Mass
by her son-in law Deacon Ian Black
It is perhaps no surprise that the
readings of our Mass today focus on
living a Christian life, or to put it
another way, how we live with Christ in our
lives. It isn’t just about following rules -
what you can do and what you can’t do,
but rather about giving us a framework
upon which to form our responses and
choices to the daily world in which we live.
Part of that framework is rooted in the
inspirations that come from those who are
close to us.
At a time like this memories come to the
forefront of our thoughts. Those memories
mark out how living in a Christian way can
be seen in day to day life. Things like being
the one pouring the tea in preference to drinking it, making
sure that there is a spare seat at the dinner table for those
who might be on their own at a family time, each shop
putting something in the basket to fill shoe-boxes of gifts for
charities at Christmas, or just being there like a second mum
to those in need of that type of contact.
But living this type of life isn’t as easy as it sounds. We all
experience the frustrations of our human weaknesses and
shortcomings that come with trying to live as a Christian, and
being able to accept our limitations are key. Two things
should hold us strong - We have the direction given to us
through the teachings of the church, particularly what we find
in the scriptures.
And then we have our faith. A faith that leads us to the
promise of salvation and eternal joy with
our Father in heaven. A faith that asks us
to do our best.
Our lives are often described as a
journey. Sometimes we feel as if we are in
charge of the direction of the journey, and
at other times, the term “I’m at a
crossroads in my life” is used. It is at those
moments that we have an opportunity to
make a choice. Today gives us the chance
to look at how we make our choices, what
our influences are and once again our
memories are there to give us guidance.
When we are younger, either consciously
or without much active thought, we ask
ourselves - What would my parents do?
Sometimes we might actually even directly ask them.
Life values centred on our faith, put others, with Christ as
the key to the decisions and lifestyle choices that we make. I
heard on the radio just this last week an interview with an
author who pitched himself as an atheist. He was asked how
it was that the teachings of Jesus often appeared in his books.
To which he replied that in his mind, even if he didn’t believe
that Jesus was God, that didn’t mean that His teachings
couldn’t be a core inspiration in a person’s life.
To have the inspiration of someone who has helped to form
us is invaluable. That inspiration remains in our memory and
in our hearts, never lost, just with us in a different way. Still
there whenever the need arises, supported by our faith as we
continue our journey.
Many parishioners will remember with affection Fr V Maria Alphonse who worked in the parish with Canon
John Clarke for fifteen months before returning in 2005 to take up an appointment in his home diocese, Kottar in
Tamal Nadu, South India. Parishioner Margaret Ruddy has kept in contact with Fr Alphonse and has allowed us to
print this latest letter from him so that we can all see how he is getting on.
Dear Margaret,I trust and pray that this small
note found you in good health and in the best of
dispositions.
Though I am late to wish you, you are always
in my thoughts and prayers. Believe me, I often
remember you and your family at the celebration
of the Eucharist.
The ministry that I am assigned in the new
diocese of Kuzhithurai, bifurcated from the Mother
diocese, Kottar, keeps me busy all through the
day. The new diocese of Kuzhithurai was erected
on December 12th 2014 and I was appointed Vicar
General on March 1st, 2015. Till June 21st, 2015,
I continued to work from the parish ofåoffice on
June 22. 2015.
t is now a year since the new diocese of Kuzhithurai was
established and the experience ofåå the new job is quite
enriching and challenging. Since we are at the beginning, a lot
oßf things have to be done. We still do not have a proper
building for the offices to function. Together with the people of
the diocese, we are trying to build ourselves up. It will surely
take at least three to five years to stabilize ourselves.
The asset of the diocese is our people, 264,537 Catholics,
100 full-fledged parishes and 102 priests. We are, in fact short
of priests, hence we have sought the help of religious
10
congregations. So, the new diocese of
Kuzhithurai goes on with the heavenly protection
of the local martyr, Devasahayam Pillai (April 23,
1712 to January 14, 1752) who was martyred for
the Catholic faith that he embraced, lived and
propagated.
Devasahayam Pillai was an official in the court
of the King of Travancore, Maharaja Marthanda
Varma, when he became under the influence of
Dutch naval commander, Captain Eustachius De
Lannoy, who instructed him in the Catholic faith.
He was killed by the then Travancore state for
upholding his Christian faith. Martyr
Devasahayam was beatified on December 2nd,
2010. We are praying for his canonization, which
we hope will take place soon. Kindly keep me, the diocese and
the people in your prayers.There are lots more things to be
written but I shall write to you sometime in the New Year.
Hereafter I shall try to update things that happen in this part of
the world.
With lots of love and prayers,
Sincerely yours, Fr. V Maria Alphonse

Pauline Jacqueline Marie Sexton
20th February 1927 - 31 August 2015
Edmund and Gerard Sexton combined to give the Eulogy for Pauline during her Requiem Mass.
Edmund
Not since Mum tied the knot with Dad in 1951
will she be the first out of the Church after
this Mass. The queen of the Narthex
chin-wag; where many a distressed soul was eased
or advised and a good hearty debate would ensue.
Project Pauline kicked off when she was born to Cecil
and Frederick Cheesman in Feb 1927 and she was
handed her instructions by her heavenly Father. Her
mission statement was to embrace the ministry of a
fervent Christian; one of sacrifice, selflessness,
devotion and love. Spiritually and humanly she
excelled; Mum didn’t do things by halves; she truly
grasped the nettle of life and drove a huge Pauline
shaped furrow through it touching many who met
her. Her conviction to her faith and her down to earth
humanity was the central tenet to which she tied her
colours.
A pilgrim, a sports woman, a joker; a singer; a
thespian, apple scrumper (least said, Mrs Murphy!); a dedicated nursemaid and
carer; a rally driver (again need I say her driving prowess and high jinx!), a
counsellor, a cook, a poet, a horticulturist, a letter writer, a reader, a fund raiser,
a campaigner (notably for the unborn child); a conversationalist. A companion
and selfless friend, a servant to her fellow person; poor of spirit or less
fortunate. A true advocate of Christ, Our Lady, mother church and all the saints
and holy people, a true friend and companion, a dutiful daughter, sister, a
beautiful and loyal wife, a loving grandmother and latterly great-grandmother
and above all else a wonderful mother… forgiving; the personification of the
unconditional love that the gospel expounds.
Mum had committed herself to so many things; however the abbreviated
CV would say ‘doing God’s work…’
She had a special place in her heart for the great heroes and heroines of
the faith whose example she leant on greatly throughout her life;
predominantly the Blessed Mother Theresa whom she met with her daughter
Teresa in 1971 and again later in her life. Her tireless work as a dedicated
Co-worker was so important to her living Mother’s message. But there were
so many others; Padre Pio; Titus Brandsma; The 40 Martyrs of England and
Wales; you name it mum knew them all.
She jumped in both feet to faith based projects with CWL; Women’s World
Day of Prayer, The Carmelite Third order, the ecumenical movement, numerous
prayer groups and church coffee morning and Life (she so loved children and
was persistent with her campaigning for the right to life of the unborn Child).
She was so happy to accept the responsibility of becoming a special minister
and served the Parishes she attended notably Brentwood Cathedral and St
Francis’ Church, Maidstone with magnificent consistency, humility and
enthusiasm.
As a relentless pilgrim she embraced Aylesford; Walsingham, Lourdes,
Fatima, Medjugorje and Rome. The air miles alone would get her to Heaven I
think!
On her journey Mum met so many wonderful people that became friends
to us all. The roll call would be extensive. Many of you are here in person or in
spirit and know her; you know she loved you all as we know you loved her. I
know she’d say you are in all in her ‘White Bag’. On her endless runs to London
with our Sister Teresa it was her white bag she carried with her and she adopted
the term to those in need ‘We’ll put you in our white prayer bag.’ Well, aren’t
we fortunate she’s taken it with her in her heart and soul straight to the Boss?
She prayed so hard for all of humanity but had special cause with those
she met on her way. Today we’d ask you (if you wish) to write a short message;
memory or intention and place it in the bag at the reception where we’ll meet
you at later this afternoon. Mum would be so heartened. It’ll also be nice for
Dad and the broader family to reflect upon in years to come.
Mum’s greatest achievement was her family; nine children she would have
died for. Her family were paramount and the greatest expression of the love of
a wonderful husband and a strong faith. Her example to us all should be
honoured and I think she wouldn’t want a tree or a
stone but more a memorial in action; what we can to
do for the least of these, thy brethren; to pray for her
and world and to spread love which she had such a
natural propensity to share.
Dementia stole some of mum away some time
ago but we were lucky she was strong and still shone
through like a bright shard of light on a stormy day. She
would be happy that we’ve set up in her memory a
JustGiving page to supplement the offerings to the
Sisters today for Dementia UK to help in easing this
most cruel disease
Mum used to say in some of our darkest hours
‘Offer it to Jesus for those who are worse off’. Mum’s
final sacrifice (of which there were many throughout
her life) came to an end, her race was won when her
earthly ministry peacefully diminished on 31st August.
Gerard
Where do I start? Charshalton, Bromley, London Rd. Brentwood, Warren
Rd. Shenfield, West Malling. How do I distil 88 years into just 7 mins. Pauline
Jaqueline, a mother, a daughter, a sister. a painter, a writer. A wife to one, a
mother to nine, a grandmother to 15, great-grandmother to 1 speaks volumes
about you. You taught us your values, you showed us the way. Each of us carry
some small part of you throughout our lives and as we multiply so the process
continues; as Shelley writes “we are a portion of everything we ever loved”.
What a journey Mum! Mary arrives in 1952 and Edmund in 1971, a gnat’s
whisker shy of 20 years between number 1 and 10. Did you ever imagine what
you let yourself in for. Probably the answer is no. I know you left your fate in
your Lord. The comings and goings of missionary priests from Africa and North
America, au pair girls from Belgium, Japan and Denmark and Armando from
Italy. Your life was spent in service to others. Whatever happened along the
way, you remained steadfast, rarely flustered, always dignified, the one
constant, the one certainty, our mentor, our succour in times of need. You, never
outwardly flinched, you only rarely scolded, almost never judged, you listened
to all our woes, as the shipwrecks came and went you helped steer their ships
to calmer waters. I want to celebrate your compassion, your relentless
acceptance and your devotion, to your husband our Dad, to us your children,
to your grandchildren, to the Church and to your faith. I want to be reminded
of your humility, your grace and selflessness, your strength of faith and your
humour and, above all, your love.
You were a giver, never a taker. You nurtured rather than demolished, you
facilitated rather than demanded, there was never a tragedy large enough -
and there were many - to send you off balance, as your sails seemed always
full your energy.
Your belief in God and the teachings of Jesus were indeed your inspiration.
His light shone through you like a trillion stars, never faltering, never
complaining, always teaching, always showing us his way, the path to
redemption and freedom. That light can never be extinguished. It burns bright
in us all, its flame showing us the way to everlasting joy. Your purpose was
always clear. To enrich so many lives as you did is more valuable than any
amount of money. We each have stumbled, tripped and grazed our
metaphorical knees but you were always our nurse, patching us up, reminding
us tomorrow was another day, life goes on and there is a way out, with trust
in the Lord.
I know we all at some time and most likely more than once thought we let
you down but you never let us believe it. All of us independently and collectively
will have memories, stories about your courage in the face of all that unfolded
as we grew to take on our own worlds and to face our own demons..
We know you were so proud of all of us and full of praise for each one of
us. We know you loved us unconditionally, with all your heart your soul and
your being. We all owe you our lives, not as a debt but as a gift. You were our
guardian angel, our rock. We will miss you in the flesh, though treasure you in
the spirit.
11

JOHN DERMOT NELSON McELROY
This In Memoriam is based on the eulogy given by his son, John, at the funeral Mass, 2nd December 2015
The many people who knew John at St Francis or
Nettlestead churches or as members of Maidstone
Circle of Catenians were much saddened to hear of
his death. John was born in Dublin in 1933 the eldest son
of a family of four children. His father was a business man
and his mother a lawyer. He grew up in a large and close
knit family with three siblings and 21 first cousins. His
schooling was blighted by recurrent asthma requiring
protracted periods of convalescence. Then, when 16, he
fell seriously ill with meningitis. At the time, this was a
deadly disease but John was fortunate to be an early
recipient of penicillin. In fact, during his illness Alexander
Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, was lecturing in
Dublin and, through the intervention of his very
determined mother, came to visit John in the clinic giving
invaluable advice to the physicians treating him.
Having taken so much time out of school for ill health, John decided to go
straight into business. He was a gifted craftsman and began to make wood
furniture which he successfully sold to department stores like Clery’s in
Dublin. One of his signature pieces, a clothes horse appropriately called the
Mac Rack, can still be found in discerning Dublin homes!
In 1957 John decided to search for pastures new and moved, with some friends,
to London. It was here that John met Jo when he and his friends were at a party
organised by their landlady. John and Jo married in 1960, a year after John
had taken up a job as a furniture designer for the Kent County Council Supplies
Department, at the time a major procurer of goods and services for schools,
the police force and other government departments. John remained with KCC
throughout his career, eventually becoming deputy head of the Supplies
Department. He was really an entrepreneur at heart. So, when the opportunity
presented itself, he took early retirement and began a consulting firm, going
back to what he enjoyed most, running his own business.
centre in Maidstone.
John loved to travel and took great pleasure in visiting
family in Ireland and in Washington DC where his
parents and siblings had moved. For many years he had
a caravan and took Jo and their two sons John and
Aidan exploring France, Germany and Italy. John also
loved to walk, and he and Jo enjoyed many hiking
holidays with friends in France, Switzerland and in the
Lake District. Indeed, until a year ago he and Jo
walked once a week with their close circle of friends.
John took an active role in the life of St Francis Church
in Maidstone. He was chair of the finance committee
for some years and became a Eucharistic minister. He
wasn’t just a pillar of the Catholic Church but also
took time to assist other communities, for example,
helping to raise funds to build the new Salvation Army
John was a committed member of the Catenian Association to which he
belonged for over 45 years. He was president of Maidstone Circle twice and
truly believed in the Association’s values. As President, in 2008 he held a
memorable dinner at Leeds Castle to celebrate the Circle’s 500th meeting.
Catenians have been an important part of John’s life giving wonderful
friendship and support over the years and, in particular, over the past few
months when he was most ill. He much valued the visits and messages, and
took comfort from the knowledge that the brothers would continue to be there
for Jo too.
John’s faith was strong and he was able to bear his final illness with fortitude
and stoicism. When the end came, it came peacefully. John touched many
peoples’ lives and was widely known and respected as a gentleman, and, indeed
a gentle man. We know that his memory as a gentle and generous man will
live on with all of us.
Grandchildren
Mary Brittain 2nd June 2014
At first, small bundle to cuddle and feed
Change nappy, soothe, bath is all they need
Before long they sit, crawl, try to stand
Now smiling toddlers, isn’t life grand?
Sarah and Gemma were first to arrive
Time goes so fast, now almost five
Christopher and Strachan, now on their feet
And new baby Amy, all keen to meet
Another year and two more babies to come
Rachel, followed by Gareth, oh such fun!
Two more years, two more babies so fine
Emily and Jevan bring Grandchildren to nine
Look forward to when they come and stay
The cousins meet, chat, fight and play
Outings in the car, are no good at all
Now hire a mini-bus, we all have a ball
Over the years the Grandchildren have grown
Don’t come and stay, the nest they have flown
But to keep numbers up, three more arrive
Now Lewis nine, Sophie eight, little James five
Usually the youngest seven of the dozen
Still stay with us, sleeping cousin to cousin
Playing, swimming or just having tea
Take photos, make albums for them and for me
Oldest five between twenty-five and twenty
Are happy, healthy, doing well, fun a-plenty
A Great-Grandmother, I want to be
Not on the cards yet, I can see
Other Grandchildren, please think of my plight
But have your babies when it feels right
Hope to have my get up and go
Trust it’s not gone, but who’s to know?
I will be ready and waiting for sure
With stories of you, your parents and more
albums to show, memories to make
Grandad and I, just have to wait!
(P.S. Am still waiting!)
The seven youngest Grandchildren.
12

Dispassion and Detachment
Christine Mace
Dispassion
In the dictionary, the meaning of dispassion states... not
influenced by strong emotion, rational and impartial.
In reality, it is a Grace given by the Holy Spirit, which is a
detachment from sensuality and all pleasures and desires of the
flesh, and detachment is a pulling away by the Holy Spirit from
the enticements of the world and the focus of our affections.
believe the Grace of dispassion is acquired by a soul who
genuinely desires it in its fullness. One can say that one would
wish to be detached from the flesh but to mean this request in
all its implications is a different matter. This is particularly true I
should imagine if one is in the flower of youth when by the very
force of nature, passions run high.
After all, along with the Grace of dispassion comes also the
elimination of all vanity. One never again contemplates oneself
as a desirable object. In fact, one is horrified at the thought of
a member of the opposite sex even glancing at one in a
lecherous way. Dispassion is absolute and serious in the
administration of its lethal medication, that of the spiritual
anesthetizing of the flesh. The Holy Spirit therefore, who can
obviously never err and knows us far better that we can ever
know ourselves, does not administer this lethal dose without
knowing that the soul in question sincerely wishes to be freed
totally and completely from the agitations of the pleasures of
the flesh.We are a fallen creation and in consequence we crave
flesh. We are as a creation flesh, but we also have a much
higher, much neglected, nobler part which is our spirit.
Of course, as with all matters concerning God, love is the key,
love is the opener of the enclosure. When one, by Grace, can
love God to the depth of turning aside all human excitation,
then one is truly suitable for the reception of this privilege. For a
great privilege of the Spirit it most certainly is! For when one falls
madly in love with God, and I repeat madly, very swiftly one
turns away from the world and all that its tentacles hold. I always
think that Jesus does not prefer lukewarm and it is confirmed in
His words to the Church in Laodicea.
But because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will
begin to vomit thee out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:16
Douay-Rheims
In a word dispassion is freedom. Christ opens the cage and the
master that is our flesh is annihilated and we are freed!
“For you brethren have been called unto liberty. Only make not
liberty and occasion to the flesh: but by charity of the spirit serve
one another.” Galatians 4:13 Douay- Rheims
Detachment
In the dictionary the meaning of detachment states... the state
of being objective or aloof. A person who has been given the
Grace of detachment can, to a degree, often seem to the
outside world within their own world so to speak. They do not
join in the daily functions of other folk to any degree. They
recognize the tabernacle of Satan (the television) confirmed by
St. Padre Pio, and watch it as little as they possibly can. They
abhor large department stores, or any gathering of people who
are solely intent on enjoying themselves in consumerism. For the
world the flesh and the devil is recognized as the enemy when
we have eyes that can see through the spirit by the Grace of
God. All three represent temptation and distraction from our
path to holiness. For we are in reality, all called to be holy as
our Father is Holy. “Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I
am Holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 Douay-Rheims I believe in the power
of the Grace of faith in its fullness. This much neglected root of
Christianity. Jesus has said on His return will He find any faith?
“But yet the Son of man, when He cometh, shall He find, think
you, faith on earth”? Luke 18:8 Douay-Rheims.
Faith, because it is another gift of the Holy Spirit can be given in
measure and that measure is the depth of the love we return
to the source of love itself, God. A lukewarm faith is an indication
of a lukewarm love for our Creator. All is not lost however in the
mercy of God. Ask for a deeper faith and it shall be given to
you, ask for anything that is not against the Fathers will and it
will be given to you. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved
about by the wind.” James 1:6 Douay Rheims.
SILENT WITNESS
On February 27th this year, the
from the corner (instead of seven
small Ordinariate Chapel of Our
from different areas) and sent it off
Lady in Wateringbury was packed
to three arbitrarily selected
with people who had come to hear
laboratories (instead of blind and
a talk given by David Rolfe, film
controlled tests to the world’s leading
director and producer and BAFTA
seven laboratories). At the same time
winner for his film “Silent Witness -
the scientists didn’t protest too much
an Investigation into the Shroud of
as they were afraid that the Vatican,
Turin” in the 1970s.
who had taken so long to agree,
would cancel the test if a fuss was
The documentary film was a great
made.
success, shown in cinemas and on
television as well as being featured
The test and results were rushed out.
in the Sunday Times magazine
To the sceptical press the results
which bore the amazing image of
were no surprise and the headlines
Christ’s face on its cover. David
that flew around the globe branded
Rolfe’s talk, apart from the history of
the Shroud a medieval fake. And to
t h e Christine and Rob Mace, David Rolfe and his wife and Fr. Paul Gibbons all intents and purposes. that’s how
making of his film, also covered as much as is the public perception has remained.”
known of the history of the Holy Shroud itself,
from its earliest documentation in the 12th Recent tests on the shroud have shown that the piece of cloth used in
century as well as scientific investigations of the the C14 test was taken from
cloth and image details which might indicate a the part of the shroud which Footprints...
much earlier date, even the first century. ttwas badly contaminated in
medieval times when the
Interest in the Shroud, eventually in the 80s, lead Shroud was held up during
to the use of carbon 14 dating tests and David festivals and religious
Rolfe went out to Turin with his team to film the ceremonies. David Rolfe’s
process. Everything was prepared meticulously talk was fascinating and
but suddenly the protocols agreed were set intriguing .
aside. “It was almost as though they didn’t care
any more” he said, ”they just abandoned all the You can find out more about
protocols that had been agreed with the the Holy Shroud on the
international team of scientists, cut one sample Internet.
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Creation and Imagination
by Len Watson
Last year my wife and I were in Birmingham and with time to kill we popped
into an Art Museum. Whilst there I became fascinated by a particular painting.
The image is of a young couple in a secret meeting in a wood. Their faces are
bathed in a melancholy yearning as they face the reality that they cannot marry.
The young man is a lowly Parson and his love is adorned with rich garments.
Their despair is mirrored in both their faces. I was delighted to receive a copy
of the painting as a Christmas present. The painting is called The Long
Engagement, and the artist is the Pre-Raphaelite - Arthur Hughes.
Now, as I look at it, I have been moved to compose a poem around it. It takes
the form of a conversation between the lovers.
The Long Engagement
“Pray my love, where are your thoughts
You seem so far away”
“Oh my dear, sad news I fear, I met your Papa today
And though I pleaded our undying love, his mind I failed to sway.
With stubborn frown and words unsaid, it seems the case we cannot wed.
A lowly parson such as I, devoid of wealth and social graces,
May never even venture, to undo your dainty laces”.
“Dearest love do not despair and you shall see, with time and prayer
Our union will meld with Heaven’s peace,
And your worried frown will surely cease
To darken this wooded glade of ours.
This glade of fern and sturdy bough
That entwines our hearts here and now”
“You’re right my dear, in this natural bower
We shall plight our troth, and heaven’s bliss will bless us both
And time will calm parental doubt, and we shall live our whole lives out
Together forever. No longer lonely, dwelling as one in matrimony”.
The Holy Doors of Mercy
Canon Luke Smith.
What is the meaning of the Door of Mercy?
The original meaning of the Door of Mercy is very
simple. Each 25 years one of the doors of St. Peter’s
Basilica that is normally bricked up, along with the
three other doors of the other great Basilicas in Rome,
and many thought the world, are opened wide. It is to
let the people know that by coming through that door
they may come closer to God. The doors have also much
deeper meaning. They are being opened wide to make
the believer aware that we are getting closer to God by
experiencing conversion. This Jubilee Year is called
‘Special’ because it was given to the followers of Christ
nine years before the actual one in 2025. However, as
with all other Jubilee Years, it brings a special occasion
to experience God’s Mercy. It is because the Door offers
us the opportunity to gain an Indulgence.
What kind of practice is an Indulgence?
The actual meaning of indulgence flows from the words
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of Jesus spoken to St. Peter. “Truly I tell you, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever St Peter’s Holy Door, Rome
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt
18:18) If so, every successor of St.Peter can almost ‘open the door of heaven’
to the people on earth according to the will of God.
The way in which we should understand an indulgence can be found in the
Catechism of the Catholic Church: remission of temporal punishment due to
sin, whose guilt has already been forgiven.’ (CCC 1471) Indulgence is then
a purely spiritual and devotional practice leading us to intimacy with God
through His love and mercy.
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What shall we do ‘with’ the HolyDoor?
As with every indulgence there are several steps to be
taken. To some people they may be the daily acts of their
deep devotion. To some others a real journey of faith.
Why? Because ‘it is necessary that the person is in a state
of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is
completed’. What must we do then?
1. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be in the
state of grace (one sacramental Confession suffices for
several plenary indulgences).
2. Receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
3. Have the interior disposition of complete detachment
from sin, even venial sin.
4. Visit/go through the Holy Door (nearby they are in
Westminster Cathedral, St. Georges’ Cathedral,
Aylesford Priory and Faversham Priory.
5. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father with the
Apostles Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Indulgences can always be applied either to oneself or
to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied
to other persons living on earth. A plenary indulgence can be gained only
once a day.
I hope your experience of this actual and spiritual journey will lead you to
the experience of God’s mercy coming into you and flowing through you. I
hope that, because indulgences are intended to ‘spur us to works of devotion
and charity’ (CCC1478)

BAPTISMS
July 2015
Julia J Bizunowicz
Emma E Bizunowicz
Noah S F Dryden
Sopie M Gregg
August
Oliwier J Witek
Maya Stankiewicz
Junior Jackowiak
Charissa A Boamann
Isabella R Wiles
Evelyn G Evans
Xavier C B Bean
Alexander R Ebdon
September
George W Romero
Maya ?yzak
Laurie E Collier
Kyran G Callinan
Roxie A Hulak
Marley R Douglas
Tiago G de Albuquerque
Leah G da Silva
Naomi Z Hadas
Kenneth E O Bassey
October
Hanna H Mochol
Nadia E Majkut
Felicja C Kwiatkowska
Noah D March
Lars S Pettit
Richard Lanevskij
Julia E Kozakowska
Erina Wallace
Rebecca Szmurlo
November
Filip Biega?ski
Erin M Slaughter
Penelope A Hennessy
December
Simona Majer?ikov?
Alex Mycka
Poppy I A S Buckley
India F E S Buckley
Charlotte Menyhar
Robert A Rose
Mi?osz Chyla
Piotr Musialski
Zachary G Peach
Christen T Knowles
Amelia G Warner
Francis M Grech
Taylor J Morgan
Venessa Shirokanska
MARRIAGES
August
Terry May & Amy O’Sullivan
Shane Davies & Kayliegh Davies
Adam Szydlik & Iwona Radomska
November
David McPherson & Kayley Lunt
Michael O’Connor & Mary-Anne Cash
December
Alexander Hodgson & Catherine Dix
DEATHS
July 2015
Bridget Buckley
Joseph Jensen
Margaret O’Kill
Mary Reynolds
August
Kathleen Lenzie
Percy Gooch
Lindsay Shepherd
Paul Amos
Anna Galeotanza
Donald Bingham
Pauline Sexton
September
Angela Angiolini
Jean Carley
Carole Quinn
October
Thomas Durling
Eileen Pearce
Mary Akehurst
November
Mary Carmody
John McElroy
Maria Toms
December 2015
Aileen Bayton
James Mulloy
Regina Kwiatkowska
Colin Watson
Sheila Baker
Ask Us Another!
Congratulations to the winners of the last Parish Quiz Night held at the
URC Hall on November 7th 2015.
The next Parish Quiz Night will be held on Saturday, 21st
May, starting at 7.30pm in the United Reformed Church
Hall in Week Street. Entrance is £6 per person with all
proceeds going to the Roof Fund. Teams of up to 8 but we
will find teams for fewer people to join. Bring your own
drinks and supper; a small selection of drinks will be
provided for a donation. Raffle prizes would be welcome
(we are permitted to give alchohol as prizes). To book
your table ring Mary Adam 01622 677448.
Come along and have some fun!
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Prayer of St Ephrem (4th Century)