News
Archive

August
2011

 

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News Archive for 2011 - August

 

Southwark's Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Please click on the photo to view a larger version

Lourdes update: Monday, 22nd August

Photos from Lourdes are starting to arrive, so please click on the logo on the left to view our Southwark Lourdes Diary. 

Over 130 pilgrims from the diocese travel to Lourdes today, Friday, 19th August 2011, for the annual diocesan pilgrimage.

Bishops Paul and Howard are with them and Archbishop Peter will be arriving in Lourdes from Madrid on Monday, 22nd, afternoon.

Deacon Michael Kennedy, Southwark's Lourdes Pilgrimage Director, has written a message, which is on the Lourdes 2011 hompage, inviting those at home to join the Southwark pilgrims in spirit and in prayer. They will be praying each day for the diocese and ask that we join our intentions with theirs. Daily Prayer Intentions with the Prayer for our Diocese.

Please click here or on the right sidebar to read Deacon Michael's message and explore the Lourdes 2011 section of our web site.

 

 

Southwark's WYD Pilgrims have arrived in Madrid

Our young pilgrims, accompanied by Archbishop Peter, have arrived in Madrid for World Youth Day, where they are the guests of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Cabrini Sisters).

Over 150 pilgrims in the main group, organised by the Southwark Catholic Youth Service, arrived on Sunday, 14th, evening.

Already, photos and diary entries have been sent back to the diocese. Please click on the logo on the left to see our WYD Diary.

Added to the Southwark WYD Diary on 06-09-11:
Report from the Quo Vadis Vocations Group

 

Please join our pilgrims in prayer

During the second half of August, Archbishop Peter will accompany Southwark pilgrims to both Madrid for the World Youth Day and Lourdes for the annual diocesan pilgrimage.

This Sunday, 14th August, over 150 young people from the diocese will join hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims from around the world at World Youth Day. Bishop Patrick will be part of the Southwark contingent - his fluency in Spanish will, no doubt, be of value. They will welcome the Holy Father who will join them from 18th until 21st August.

Later next week, over 120 Southwark pilgrims, including Bishop Paul and Bishop Howard will embark for Lourdes. Again our young people will be in evidence as 23 young pilgrims will form the Youth Team. Archbishop Peter will arrive in Lourdes from Madrid on Monday, 22nd, afternoon.

Our pilgrims ask us to remember them during their pilgrimages and to pray  that God will fill them with every grace and blessing. They also invite us to join them in spirit and in prayer - for our diocese and for the intentions closest to our hearts.

It will be possible to make a 'virtual pilgrimage' at home:

World Youth Day:  download a schedule of papal events (.pdf) and there is the opportunity to view video footage during the pilgrimage. There is a WYD iPhone app (iGPII), which at the time of posting has an Italian version, but an English version is advertised.

Southwark Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: our internal site has information and prayer resources (eg Stations of the Cross) and the Daily Prayer Intentions.

Lourdes TVLive provides a webcam view of the Grotto (24/7) and will also broadcast the International Mass on Sunday, 21st, at 8:30 am (London time) - welcome of pilgrims and procession of banners from about 8:00 am -and the Mass at the Grotto on Monday, 22nd, at 7:30 am (London time).

We also hope to be able to bring you further news of these events on our web site as the information and photos come through.

(posted 10-08-11)

 

A voice calling for calm ...

On Monday night, 8th August 2011, Father Michael Scanlon, parish priest of Saint Peter's, Woolwich, was on the streets of his parish appealing for calm during the riots. He described the town centre as anarchy and a 'free-for-all' as gangs smashed and looted scores of shops.

Father Michael was able to escort people out of the area and confront some of the looters, telling them that what they were doing was wrong. He found it a 'horrible experience' and 'a very tough night'. He said: 'We need to reclaim the streets. We cannot let these people destroy our neighbourhoods and our city.'

© Bexley Times
Father Michael standing outside the Great Harry pub in Woolwich,
which was set alight on Monday night

After meeting Greenwich Council and police leaders on Tuesday, Father Michael said: 'This is a deprived area. More money needs to be invested in things for young people to do ... we have to be realistic about finding ways of dealing with this.'

Father Michael is Chairman of Southwark's Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.

The riots have affected a number of towns in the diocese, especially in the South East London area. Here Bishop Patrick has been in discussion with police and local clergy to ensure that peace swiftly returns to the streets. He has called for a public inquiry into the events of the week.

We pray for those who have lost their homes or businesses and all who have been adversely affected by the rioting.

 

Capuchin Brother ordained to the Diaconate at Erith

Bishop Patrick, Deacon Martin and Brother James Boner
(Provincial Minister)

On Saturday evening, 6th August 2011, Bishop Patrick ordained Brother Martin Mikuskiewicz OFM Cap to the diaconate at Our Lady of the Angels, Erith.

This was a joyful celebration for the Capuchin Order and for the Erith parish, where Brother Martin has spent two years of his formation. Franciscan brothers and sisters attended the ordination, some of the sisters expressing the joy of the occasion with their dance during the offertory procession. The Mass was followed by a reception in the parish centre.

Brother Martin will serve as a deacon in the Capuchin parish in Chester before returning to Erith for his priestly ordination next year.

We congratulate Brother Martin on his ordination and keep him and the Capuchin Franciscans in our prayers.

 

Father Charles Briggs celebrates his Silver Jubilee

Father Charles with Archbishop Kevin, clergy and servers after his
Jubilee Mass

Father Charles Briggs, Parish Priest of Saint Mary's, Chislehurst, and the diocesan Archivist, celebrated twenty-five years as a priest on Tuesday, 2nd August 2011, with a High Mass of Thanksgiving at St Mary's.

Father Charles was assisted by Father Timothy Finigan as deacon and Deacon John Harrison as subdeacon. Archbishop Kevn, who gave the homily, was among the large number of clergy from the diocese and beyond who were present. Eight servers competently served the High Mass, which was in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. At the end of Mass a Solemn Te Deum was sung in thanksgiving.

Father Charles offered a further Mass on Saturday, 6th August, when he was joined, among others, by Provost Joseph Collins and Father Philip Glandfield

And from the Archivist's personal archive:

Father Charles is ordained by Bishop John Jukes in August 1986

  

Clergy Appointments and News

 

Archbishop Peter has made the following appointments
(these moves have taken place or will take place in the Autumn):

Father James Hurley
as Episcopal Vicar for Religious

Father David Caine
as Parish Priest of St Thomas of Canterbury, Canterbury

Father Philip Seed
as Parish Priest of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Broadstairs

Father Edmund Higgins
as Parish Priest of St Elizabeth, Richmond

Father Dominic O'Toole CSsR
as Parish Priest of Our Immaculate Lady of Victories, Clapham

Monsignor Timothy Galligan
as Parish Priest of St Vincent de Paul, Clapham Common

Father Geoffrey Pointer
as Parish Priest of St Peter, Bearsted and Harrietsham

Father Sean O'Connor
as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Gillingham, Gillingham

Father James Teeling
as Parish Priest of The Sacred Heart, Sittingbourne

Father Thomas McElhone
as Parish Priest of St Boniface, Tooting

Father Peter Murphy
as Parish Priest of Corpus Christi, Tonbridge

Father Huebert Miranda MSFS
as Parish Priest of St Michael, Pollards Hill
(Gratitude to Father Jan Bak SDS and the Salvatorians for their care of the parish in recent years)

Father Richard Mway Zeng SDS
as Parish Priest of Precious Blood, Borough

Father Roy Tablizo
as Parish Priest of Holy Family, Maidstone South

Father Victor Darlington
as Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, Camberwell

Father Anto Chittilappilly CMI
as Parish Priest of St Thomas a Becket, Wandsworth

Father Addison Okpeh MSP
as Parish Priest of St Thomas the Apostle, Nunhead

Father Kevin Robinson
as Priest in Charge of Our Ladye Star of the Sea, Greenwich, and
St Joseph, East Greenwich

Father Ivan Aquilina of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
as Priest in Charge of St John the Baptist, Westerham

Father Christopher Lindlar of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
as Priest in Charge of St John the Evangelist, Mongeham and Sandwich
(Gratitude to Father Ivan Dawson CSsR for his work in the diocese - he returns to his home province in America)

Father Peter Mansfield
as Administrator of the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, Sydenham Kirkdale (while remaining Parish Priest of Sydenham)

Father Richard Diala
as Administrator of St David, Abbey Wood (while remaining Parish Priest of  Abbey Wood St Benet)

Father Alfred Osamor CSsR
as resident at Sydenham Kirkdale with responsibility for the pastoral care of the parish

Father Jonathon Routh
as Assistant Priest at St Joseph, New Malden

Father John Baalabore CSSp and
Father Agnelo De Souza (Goa and Damon Diocese)
as Assistant Priests at St Saviour, Lewisham
(Gratitude to Father Bosco Gali for his work in Lewisham over the past few years)

Father Ignatius Edet (Aba Diocese)
as Assistant Priest at St John Fisher, Merton

Father Justin Daanaah (Tamale Diocese)
as Assistant Priest at English Martyrs, Strood

Father Christian Onyigbuo (Enugu Diocese)
as Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Pity and St Simon Stock, Putney

Father Sebastian Mathai CMI
as Assistant Priest at St Anselm, Tooting Bec

Father Cyric Lixon Joseph OFMCap
as Assistant Priest at St Thomas More, Dulwich

Father Soosai Manickam (Calcutta Diocese)
as Assistant Priest at St Francis, Maidstone

Father Martin Manuel (Tuticorin Diocese)
as Assistant Priest at St Peter the Apostle, Woolwich

Father Henry Tiku Wenna (Arua Diocese)
as Assistant Priest at St Thomas of Canterbury, Sevenoaks

Father Peter Growney
as resident at St Francis, Maidstone

Father Gregory Griffiths,
to have oversight of St Christopher's Hospice, Sydenham

Deacon Mathew Manoharan
to serve the Lewisham Deanery based in Lewisham Parish

Deacon Jolyon Vickers
to serve the Maidstone Deanery based in Tenterden Parish

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Archbishop Peter welcomes those newly incardinated into Southwark:

Father Edmund Higgins
Father Roy Tablizo
Father Thomas Udie

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Archbishop Peter has accepted the following resignations from office:

Canon Michael Bunce
Father John Lavery
Father Philip Matthias
Father David Standley
Deacon Maurice Williams

He thanks them for their long years of service to the people of the diocese and wishes them a long and happy retirement.

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Archbishop Peter thanks Father Anthony Barratt for his ministry to the diocese as he is excardinated from Southwark into the Diocese of Albany. He wishes him well as he settles into his new home diocese.

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Monsignor Gerald Ewing is taking Sabbatical leave after thirty years in the priesthood, fifteen of which he has spent as parish priest of St Thomas a Becket, Wandsworth.

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We keep all our priests and deacons who are undertaking new responsibilities in our prayers and wish them every blessing and happiness.

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