2 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + July 2023
NEWS
Bishop’s Column Continued from Page 1 outlets in our country. I suspect very little. I wonder is it because they don’t want our young people to know that the vast majority of people of their age in other countries are people of faith? I wonder… Then on Sunday August 13, we will celebrate our Assumption Pilgrimage to Mount Grace. This is our principal local Marian Pilgrimage, and we are so blessed to have such a historic shrine in our diocese. Again, weather permitting it should be a focal point of our summer activities as well as the focal point of our devotion to Our Blessed Lady. As we believe that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead, so we believe that he has also received his mother into eternity. Yours in blessed hope,
BISHOP TERRY'S JULY ENGAGEMENTS 2
4
5 6 8-9 11
Attends 165th anniversary of the founding of St Peter's, Scarborough 11.30am Celebrates Mass at the Postgate Rally at Egton Bridge 3pm Attends meeting of the Diocesan Trustee Board at the Curial Office, Middlesbrough 10.30am Attends AGM at Madonna House, Robin Hood’s Bay 4pm Visit to Full Sutton Prison, Pocklington 1.30pm Parish visitation to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Middlesbrough Attends Bishop’s Council meeting, Middlesbrough, via Zoom 10.30am
Please support our advertisers. Revenue from advertising pays for the production of this paper and without them we would not be able to produce the Catholic Voice free of charge each month, so please support their businesses.
Lourdes 70 is resounding success Continued from Page 1 At the Anointing of the Sick, you could feel the Holy Spirit in that chapel. It was palpable that the Spirit was truly there.” Asked about what people could take back home, Bishop Terry said: “I hope they take back that the pilgrimage is about beginning the journey, it’s not the end. We’ve been sent on a mission to construct and build the Church and we take the Grotto and the peace of this place in our hearts wherever we go.” Bishop Terry also took the opportunity to remember those who laid the foundations in the early years and kept the flame burning so brightly. He said: “This didn’t just happen out of thin air. We got here on the shoulders of all sorts of other people. “There’s been a long, organic growth of this pilgrimage over the last 70 years and so many people have contributed in the past, just as they continue to do in the present day. “Please God, when we look around at the
younger ones here, we pray that the next generation will contribute and in another 70 years will be grateful for the work we’ve done. “Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving for all these years of blessing and God’s grace working in and through us. “We also remember all those people who have gone before us and we thank God for their example, for their work and for all that they left for us.” Head of hospitalité John Brown thanked all those who worked so hard to make the pilgrimage go smoothly. “We had a fantastic week, and our supported pilgrims were very complimentary of how they had been well looked after during the week,” he said. “As always, it’s a great privilege to represent you all.” Medals for long service were given out at the closing ceremony and there was also a moving standing ovation for Keith Tillotson, who is stepping down as pilgrimage director, to be replaced by Mark Taylor. Afterwards, Keith said: “Lourdes is a special place and for some people, returning for the first
time in four years, this week would have been emotional and difficult, but we were all there as a family to support them. “It never ceases to amaze me how people put to one side their personal issues and feelings to come together as one to support each other and care for our supported pilgrims. It has been a pleasure and privilege to work alongside you all. “On a personal note, as I move into a supporting role, I hope you will give Mark the same support and assistance you have given me over the years.” Keith’s wife, Chris, is also stepping down from her role as head handmaid, while head brancardier Tony Kirk and his deputy Tony Walton also served in these roles for the last time. "We thank Chris, Keith and both Tonys for their immeasurable contribution to our pilgrimage and their tireless work over many years,” said Bishop Terry. "We know they will all continue to support the pilgrimage in many ways and give us the benefit of their wealth of experience." • We'll have a picture special from Lourdes 23 in next month's Catholic Voice.
Fond farewell to ‘wonderful’ parish priest Father Antony St Anthony and Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Hull came together to bid farewell to Father Antony Chundelikkat at a packed Sunday morning Mass. Father Antony was celebrating his final Mass as our parish priest before moving to a new parish in Cheam. It was a celebration that was tinged with sadness as we were saying goodbye to a truly wonderful priest. Father Antony arrived in 2014 and was only meant to stay for a year, but in the end, much to everyone’s delight, he stayed for eight!
He brought such happiness into our lives. When he spoke to you, or greeted you in the street, he had a unique gift of making you feel very special. Going to Mass was a joy because he was full of life and fun and made it a real celebration. He brought everyone together as a parish family. In addition to his duties as parish priest, he is also the pro-vicar general to the Indian community throughout the United Kingdom. This entails a great deal of responsibility and travel. How he managed it all and still looked after his parish is a wonder to us all.
Father Antony with his former parishioners at St Anthony and Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Hull
There was a buffet reception after Mass during which speeches were made and Father Antony was presented with a cheque, a specially commissioned mini statue of St Anthony and a stole with his name embroidered into it. We wish him every happiness in his new parish and we welcome Father Joseph Pinakkattu as our new parish priest. We are truly grateful that he has chosen to come to us and look forward to giving him all our help and support in the years to come.