Cathedral stages National Memorial Mass

June was a unique experience for the Knights in Liverpool with so many signifi cant events coming together in one weekend.

We had the feast day of our patron, Saint Columba, celebrated with Mass at St Columba’s Parish Church in Huyton on Sunday 11 June and a gala provincial dinner held two nights before. Sandwiched between, as the highlight of the weekend, was the National Memorial Mass for deceased members at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Saturday 10 June.

We have been asked to support the ‘No child left behind’ campaign calling on MPs and the government to extend free school meals to every child in primary school. We are asked to pray for the 4.2million children who live in poverty in the UK according to campaigners, and for all those who go to school hungry. More details can be found at: www.nochildleftbehind.org.uk.

Most of our foundations have closed for the summer break. I wish you all a happy holiday and look forward to meeting up again in September. We have our bi-monthly Mass on 6 September at All Saints, Anfield.

Maria Pimblett media offi cer

Though this was a national event it was pleasing to see the offertory procession led by two local widows, Dorothy Connell and Patricia Fitzsimons. Behind them in our accompanying photo (above) are Brothers Charlie McCluskey, a past supreme knight, and Brendan McCann, supreme knight of the Irish Knights of St Columbanus. In the last row are Brother Peter Sims-Coomber, a former supreme director, and Jane Woods, daughter of Pat Hudson, another past supreme director.

Memorial books containing the names of all deceased members since the inception of the order are housed in the St Columba Chapel at the cathedral and are brought out in procession and laid on the altar during each Memorial Mass. They can be seen being carried to the altar in the photo.

■ We are glad to report the Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate of Brother Justin Malewezi, grand knight of council 584 here in Liverpool. He was ordained during Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 16 July. We congratulate Bro Justin who has not only worked extremely hard in the pursuit of his calling to the diaconate but also as grand knight of his council while at the same time supporting underprivileged children back home in his native Malawi.

■ It is with much sadness that we report the death of Brother Donald McGair of council 64, Ormskirk, on 10 June, just a few months short of his 94th birthday. The funeral Mass of this long-serving and much-esteemed brother was held at St Annes’s Parish Church on 28 June. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family at this sad time.

Websites: www.ksc.org.uk www.kscprov02.weebly.com

Email: dpokeane@aol.com