Medjugorje

It appears the CDF have reached a negative decision about the supernatural nature of the visions at Medjugorje although they say it is to be  regarded as a special place of prayer. It`s up to the Pope to make the final decision. I`ve always had my doubts about Medjugorje. It will be interesting to see what happens as Medjugorje has passionate supporters who will not be happy. For more read here.

News from the FSSP.

Saturday 20 June, 11:00AM: First Solemn High Mass in England of newly ordained Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP at St James Church, Spanish Place, 22 George Street, London W1U 3QY.

Byrd's Mass for Four Voices

With Clergy from the FSSP

Born in Birmingham in 1982, Fr Verrier grew up as an Anglican and read Music at Manchester University. After his conversion, he taught Music in a boarding school and entered our American seminary in 2008. Please come and give thanks to God for yet a new priest, who will begin his ministry in Reading this summer.

Refreshments and First Blessings in church basement after Mass.

Plenary indulgence granted to those attending the Mass. All welcome.

Read interview of then-Seminarian Verrier here: http://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/i-fell-in-love-with-latin-mass.html by Mary O'Regan.

In England, up to last week, we were but two priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in one house. Not enough to make hell tremble! Through God’s mercy and through your prayers, in the last dozen years we have ordained 7 priests from this country: Fr Konrad zu Loewenstein in 2002; Fr Brendan Gerard in 2006; Frs Matthew Goddard and William Barker in 2009; Fr Simon Harkins in 2010; Fr Matthew McCarthy in 2011 and Fr Ian Verrier this month. In addition, we have 10 seminarians from England and Wales beginning or continuing their studies at our two international seminaries in Bavaria and Nebraska next autumn. This gives reasonable hopes for one new deacon and one new priest from England and Wales ordained every year in the forthcoming years. Please pray for more work entrusted to our priests in England, and more will be sent.

Please consider making your prayer for vocations even more fruitful through our prayer network, the Confraternity of St Peter: http://www.fssp.org/en/confraternite.htm . You only need to pray daily one decade of the Rosary, recite one prayer for vocations and have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered once a year for vocations. In return, you can gain special indulgences and also be supported by the prayers of our 160 seminarians and of our 250 priests. Every day, 13 Holy Masses are offered specifically for the intentions of the 4,700 members of the Confraternity and for our vocations.

St Wilfrid`s Summer Fayre 1989.

Recently I was contacted by Bill who had made videos of parish events before he left the parish asking if we had any copies of his tapes. He had put the 1989 Summer Fayre on the web and was looking to add to it. It`s been popular so far with parishioners. I`m hoping we will be able to see the 1993 First Holy Communions and May Procession soon. 

I arrived at St Wilfrid`s in 1995 and stayed until 2005. We still had the summer fayres in those days. We had one laast year too but the small number of parishioners felt the burden of organising it was getting too much. So this August marks the twentieth anniversary of my arrival and tenth of departure for Forest Hall for eight years. Gateshead clergy seeem to be a remarkably stable lot. Last night I was at the Golden Jubilee Mass for Fr Cummins, parish priest of St Oswald`s, Wrekenton, where he has been for nineteen years. Also present was Fr Patterson who has benn at St Patrick`s, Felling for over twenty years. The Judicial Vicar Emeritus, Fr Zielinski, who was at Annunciation, Deckham before moving to Prudhoe for twelve years is now back in Gateshead at St Augustine`s, Leam Lane.  This video shows my predecessor at St Wilfrid`s, Fr O`Mahoney and on part two is his predecessor, Fr Donnelly who died in the early 2000`s. it`s nteresting to see some of the leading parishioners who are no longer with us such as the Hughes brothers, the Fagans,Catherine Hanley, Irenes Summers and Dooley and Maria Bell and her mother Cathy Bell (who died this week RIP). Other fundraising does continue with enthusiasm at St Wilfrid`s and is about to take an interesting turn about which more later.....

St Wilfrid's Catholic Church Summer Fayre... by wilmazoe

 
St Wilfrid's RC Church Gateshead Summer Fayre... by wilmazoe

How it used to be done.

I saw this recently at St Patrick`s, Ryhope. I suppose we are more shy nowadays about asking for funds. I remember reading somewhere the national average donation at Mass is 89p.

Corpus Christi 2015

Well everyone said it weent very well.Beautiful music, lovely new vestments, enthhusiastic serving team anda good congregation (although I thought we might have had a few more). Fr Bede Rowe joined us as celebrant and gave a rousing ferverino on devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Fr Philps made the consierable journey from Berwick to be deacon. The reception afterwards was well attended. So here are some pictures courtesy of Mike.