THE MESSENGER St Joseph & St Nicholas Moorends ISSUE 29
SEPTEMBER 2009
CAFOD CLIMATE JUSTICE CAMPAIGN How often do you hear people say “Give us a hand”? The campaign for climate justice is based on a hand-shaped card with the words “Our climate is in our hands”. The signed cards will go to our government to show that many ordinary people want to see the world cared for, for the good of all. The world’s climate is changing. There is no longer any doubt about this. In the past there were major changes, too, but they occurred over thousands, if not millions, of years. Today the change is happening at breakneck speed due to human action in the excessive production of carbon dioxide, which is a prime cause of global warming. God gave us this beautiful planet for all to enjoy and cherish. As Christians it is our privilege and duty to care for the earth and make sure that all its riches benefit all people. To make our voices heard CAFOD asked people to sign the cards. The response from our parish was splendid. On July 11th there was a procession through Doncaster town centre by groups from CAFOD, Christian Aid, Operation Noah and Stop Climate Chaos as well as other faith groups along with parishioners from Moorends, Stainforth and children from Holy Family School. The sun shone. The band played and there was cheerful encouragement from shoppers in Doncaster as we all walked with our MP Ed Miliband to the Minster (or St George’s, as it is known locally). Ed Miliband is Minister responsible for energy and climate change. He pushed his baby son along in his pram as we headed to the Minster for a Question and Answer session with the Minister. For over an hour Mr Miliband answered a whole range of searching questions on the governments response to climate change, how new measures would be financed, the role of the UK in leading the EU to more committed action on this issue, the technological aspects etc. Kate handed 111 signed cards from our parish to Ed Miliband. Finally, after a brief interlude for a picnic lunch, adults and children returned to the Minster for a service of celebration and commitment. Children from Holy Family Stainforth read prayers of intercession. The final blessing is for us all: Tend the earth, care for God’s creation and bring forth the fruits of righteousness.
EASTER IN MALLORCA Whilst on holiday in Mallorca at Easter we decided to attend the Davallament (Lowering) in Pollença. The main square in Pollença has the church of Nostra Senyora dels Àngels and from this there are 365 steps, bordered by ancient cypress trees, on the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) which ascend El Calvari (Calvary hill) up to a small chapel at the top of the hill. On Good Friday the brotherhoods of Pollença carry a figure of Jesus down from the chapel to the church at the bottom. There were thousands of people there lining the route but we found a place near the bottom of the steps and waited for the event to start. It did so at around 9pm and by this time it was dark, with torchlight lighting the steps. It was a very solemn procession, almost eerie at times. It took place in complete silence with the only sound being a slow beating of the death march on the drums. The procession was very slow and it took around 2 hours for the figure of Christ to reach the bottom. Each of the different brotherhoods were represented on the march and wore different coloured robes and masks. The only way to describe the outfits was that they were similar to those worn by the klu klux klan. This seemed to add to the haunting atmosphere. The figure of Christ was flanked by Roman soldiers and this made a great spectacle as it was taken past us and into the church. The final group on the procession were the grieving widows. Due to the crowd we couldn’t follow the procession into the church but went to the church on Easter Sunday where the figure of Christ that was carried down was the centrepiece of the mass.
OUTING TO HARROGATE Each year the Ladies Wednesday Group have a trip out to a place of interest. This year it was to Harrogate. As numbers were down for a variety of reasons, other ladies of the parish were invited to go along. So on May 27th around thirty of us set off. On arrival in Harrogate, after a lovely, scenic journey, we all dispersed to follow our own inclinations. Betty’s, the world famous café, was a magnet for the cake and coffee crowd but it did seem as if you might need to take out a second mortgage to pay for it! Still, once in a lifetime, it’s worth it for the experience. Harrogate has lots of shops as well as historical and cultural venues. There are some fine art galleries where it is great to look and admire the art, even if buying is not an option. Famed also for the magnificent Valley Gardens and The Stray it is possible, even in the rain, to enjoy the beauty of the floral displays. Agatha Christie spent some time at The Old Swan Hotel back in 1926 having mysteriously disappeared from her home near London. We enjoyed afternoon tea there, and with even greater relish as they had a two for the price of one offer! A leisurely and comfortable journey back to Thorne passed quickly with swapping stories and the shopaholics bringing out the bargains. Many thanks to the Ladies for asking us to join them for the day.
PALM SUNDAY 2009 What a wonderful day on which to celebrate the reception of Holy Communion for the very first time! Four boys, Kieran Woods, Luke Green. Michael Kulawik and Thomas Flower had this great honour. All four had regularly attended their preparation classes with Kate and Mass on Sunday. They all had great support from their parents, too. During the Mass on Palm Sunday they were able to take an active part in the liturgy by carrying palms in procession to the altar, which they clearly enjoyed. After a mini celebration in the house after Mass, all the boys headed off to celebrate with their families. The boys received a book of Bible stories as a small gift. The beautiful gift of flowers from the parents for Kate was a delightful token of appreciation and gave much pleasure as they bloomed for six weeks! Please remember our four boys in your prayers. They are growing up in a society where faith in Christ is no longer the norm. In the past whole classes of children made their First Communion together and there was support and solidarity in that fact. Their families lived in an essentially Christian community. Nowadays they rely on their immediate family and the parish family for that support as they grow and progress in their journey of faith.
Postscript On July 19th Thomas. Michael. Luke and Kieran were presented with their certificates of First Communion. These were beautifully written by our very own “artist in residence” Natalya Olejnicka and will be a reminder to treasure in the years to come.
OUR LATEST ALTAR SERVER
How I wish I’d took care of me teeth, Not for the reason Pam thinks For the ones that I have commit many a gaff, So I sip at my tea and most drinks. Was the time I was learning to swim, Don’t know why it was only a whim, As I started to kick they were gone with a flick, Cross the pool showing how they could skim. There’s the day I went out for my lunch, Nothing fancy could say was high tea, Just imagine my face as I sat to my place, For they started the meal before me. Embedded they were in my greens, How they got there I just didn’t know, With a tissue I trapped them, In my handbag I snapped them, Carried on with my food but so slow. So I beg you take care of your teeth, Or you may be like me that’s the bet, Still convinced there not mine, And may prove it in time, Still escape every chance that they get!
Welcome to Tom McCabe who was inducted as an altar server on Sunday July 19th and received the cross of service as a sign of his commitment.
(For those of us who have reached a certain age) ACTIONS “CREAK” LOUDER THAN WORDS
MARIDON For the past nine years the Maridon Pastoral Centre in Netherhall Road, Doncaster has been a haven for weary souls. Sisters Bridget and Darina have welcomed thousands to the weekly Friday lunchtime Mass and to the café. It is with real sadness I must report that the two sisters are now retiring completely from this work and leaving Doncaster. Their last Mass was on Friday July 17th. The prayers of many of our parishioners will go with them in gratitude for their unstinting work and appreciation of their friendly welcome at the Centre. As yet there is no decision on who will carry on the work of the Pastoral Centre.
COME HOLY SPIRIT Tuesday July 14th arrived at last. Bastille Day for the French but for us in Moorends it was Confirmation Day for seven of our young people, who had been preparing for six weeks with Kate, to receive the sacrament. On June 27th we had had an Away Day at Denaby House in Conisbrough, the base of the Diocesan Youth Services in Reality Team. The sun shone, which was as well, since one of the activities involved racing about with copious amounts of water. The day was a great success and allowed all of us - the candidates as well as the parents present, the catechist and Fr Roy – to look at our faith commitment afresh. The invitations designed by the seven featured prominently in encouraging the entire parish to come and support them on this most important occasion. It was wonderful to see a full church as Bishop John confirmed Lauren, Chloe, Laura, Romy, Ebony, Richard and Sean. They chose the Confirmation names of Therese, Teresa, Joan, Faith, Esther, George and Dominic respectively. Each of the seven played a part in the Mass, as did the parents, by reading the epistles, psalm and bidding prayers, and at the Offertory, where they offered the preparation work file and a photograph of the Away Day as an offering of themselves, to God. Celebration was the key as most people joined in the feast in the house afterwards. Many thanks to all who contributed to this spread. Bishop John was very adept at serving cakes. He said it was the best way he had found of not then eating too many himself! The gift from the parish of an olive wood cross from the Holy Land was given to each confirmand and each received a Confirmation certificate. Bishop John commented on how beautiful the calligraphy was. Our sincere thanks go to Natalya Olejnicka for her work. A bouquet of flowers was given to Kate for her work as catechist. After being a catechist in the parish for over twenty years, all the time she has lived in Thorne, and for twenty years before that, Kate is retiring. Anyone who feels called to be a catechist should contact Fr Roy to find out more.
EBONY AT THE GRAND THEATRE In May of this year, Ebony (Garbutt aged 13) was attending a rehearsal for the Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir when she found out about auditions which were coming up in Leeds for a part in an opera. She forwarded her details and was invited along to the audition at the Grand Theatre. Ebony was given a call back and a week later she received the exciting news that she had been offered the part of a younger sister of the main character, Charlotte. After obtaining a performance licence and receiving the go ahead from school, Ebony began rehearsals back in July. Rehearsals are approximately three times per week and take place at the Grand Theatre in Leeds. The performances will start in Leeds on 26th September. There will be 6 performances in Leeds, and two each in Belfast, Nottingham, Salford Quays and finally two in Newcastle at the end of November. The opera is Jules Massenet‘s ‘Werther’ and it is being produced by ‘Opera North’. It is a German opera which is sung in French. There will be English titles for those who need them!! Here is a synopsis of the story, taken from the Opera North website www.operanorth.co.uk/events/werther-massenet-autumn-2009 Werther is a story of impossible love, binding promises and missed opportunities, based on the loosely autobiographical German novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, by Goethe.Bringing the tragic love story to life is a thrilling cast, featuring the award-winning mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, who began her career with Opera North. This is her first British performance in this iconic role for a mezzo, at the peak of her international career. Outstanding lyric tenor Paul Nilon will join Alice on stage in the lead role. Set in Germany, Werther is a passionate young poet who has fallen in love with Charlotte, the eldest daughter of a local family. Having made a promise to her dying mother, Charlotte is already betrothed to another man. Despite this, the young Werther cannot let go of his feelings for her, which sets the scene for this poignant tale of heartbreak and tragedy. Bringing this lush and dramatic piece together is an exciting high profile ensemble, lead by prestigious stage director Tom Cairns, who has a background in design for theatre, film and TV and is joined by theatre designer Hildegard Bechtler and film and TV costume designer Amy Roberts. Opera North’s Music Director Richard Farnes conducts.
WELCOME TO OUR MAGAZINE Welcome once more to the Messenger. A very big thank you to all the contributors to this publication. Please start now to think of something for the Christmas edition, articles, snippets, photographs, jokes, poems, prayers, stories, or anything else you think may be of interest. Please pass them to me at Mass, or leave them with Father Roy who will pass them on. Alternatively you can email me at: maria@stockton.force9.co.uk Finally, many thanks for the donations last time! Please keep up the good work!
DEATH ON THE SOMME THE SACRIFICE OF THORNE IN WORLD WAR 1 As I continue my articles about those listed on Thorne War Memorial I will cover the eight soldiers from Thorne who died in the Great War and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in the Somine Region of France. The memorial lists the names of over 76,000 servicemen who died in this area and have no known grave, often because their graves were disturbed by later fighting. The Battle of the Somme started at 7.30am on 1st July 1916 when thousands of soldiers went “over the top” to attack German positions. The British Army suffered its worst casualties in a single day as soldiers walked into heavy machine gun fire. By the end of the day there were 57,000 British casualties, including 19,000 killed. The fighting continued until November with further Allied attacks which gained very little ground. Later in the war the ground was fought over again as the Germans advanced and then were finally pushed back before the armistice. Three men with Thorne connections died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme: HERBERT BOON was serving with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). He was born in Thorne, the son of John, a farmer, and Edith Boon. He was married to Nellie and lived at Mooredges. Herbert was reported missing and his death was confirmed to his wife and children in October. ALBERT BUTLER was serving with the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was an apprentice carpenter at Dunston's shipyard before joining up. Albert, a son of Mr. & Mrs. John Butler of Queen Street had married Hilda Farras in December 1914. Only 10% of the men in Albert's battalion returned after the unsuccessful attack near Ovillers. Three of Albert's brothers also served in the Great War, two at sea. His brother Thomas was invalided out of the Army and died a few months later. The third casualty on 1st July 1916 was ARTHUR LAVERACK who was serving with the East Lancashire Regiment when he died aged 29 while attacking near Beaumont Hamel. He was a son of Thomas and Harriet of Station Rd., Rawcliffe. Arthur was married to Edith and lived in Rawcliffe Bridge. Arthur's brother, Clayton Pinder, was also killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme while serving with the KOYLI. Both Arthur and Clayton are listed on the war memorial at Rawcliffe, but only Arthur's name appears on the memorial in Thorne Park. GEORGE WILLIAM KENDELL was only 19 when he was killed on 24th September 1916 while serving on the Somme with the York and Lancaster Regiment. His parents, William and Cora, lived in Bleasby's Yard in Thorne. Lance Corporal GEOFFREY KENYON was probably the most famous of Thorne's sons to die in the Great War. He was the son of George Kenyon, a Thorne solicitor, and lived at Field House. Geoffrey had studied law but decided not to go into the family law firm. Instead, with his Irish bride, he went to run a tea plantation in Ceylon. When George had a seizure in 1913, and subsequently died, Geoffrey returned to Thorne to run the law firm with his brother Harold, who had been practicing law in London. Rather than wait for a commission as an officer, Geoffrey signed up as a private with the Royal Fusiliers in April 1915. He gained rapid promotion. The Doncaster Gazette reported his death, aged 30, on 7th October 1916 at Flers as the result of a single shot from a sniper. Geoffrey's brother Harold (then a major in the Territorial Army) presided over the “unveiling” of Thorne War Memorial on 11th November 1921. The memorial is visible from the offices of today's law firm, Kenyon, Son and Craddock. WALTER HAROLD LAWRENCE was born in Thorne and worked as a surface man at Hatfield Colliery. He died on 10th January 1917 aged 19. He had served as a private in KOYLI and transferred to the Border Regiment shortly before his death. He was one of 6 killed in an attack near Mailley-Mallet. The second Thorne casualty that month (26th) was THOMAS VIVIEN STILLWELL, a private with KOYLI, also aged 19. The Doncaster Gazette reported that Thomas, who was manning a machine gun post, had died as a result of an attack by Germans who threw bombs at his post. Thomas' parents lived on King Edward Road. The last casualty commemorated at Thiepval, WALTER LARDER was serving as a private with the Highland Light Infantry. He was one of 160 men killed during a German attack on 25th August 1917. Tony Brookes (Tel: 01405 814108)
(SIGNS FOR HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT) THE REASON I’M SMILING IS BECAUSE I CAN’T HEAR A WORD YOU’RE SAYING ***
IT’S HARD TO BE NOSTALGIC WHEN YOU CAN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING ***
EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO MY OPINION! ***
WHY HAS EVERYONE STARTED MUMBLING? ***
DO I LOOK LIKE A PEOPLE PERSON? ***
EVERYTHING I CAN’T FIND IS IN A TOTALLY SECURE PLACE
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JOSEPH RATZINGER This little book by Alessandra Borghese is an affectionate portrait of our Pope Benedict and his home in Bavaria, where he was born and spent most of his childhood .It gives a privileged insight into the formative influences on the Pope from people who know him well. Bavaria, the largest German county is in Southern Germany, bordering on Austria, with Munich the chief city. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty, small family farms are still tended in the many little villages which cluster round their church and the Catholic faith is intrinsic to the culture, history and everyday life. Little roadside shrines abound in the countryside – often with fresh flowers lovingly placed there by the local villagers. Into this area of deeply rooted faith, Joseph Ratzinger, was born in 1927, on Holy Saturday, and baptised the very next day on Easter Sunday. He grew up in a devout and loving family, with his older brother Georg and his sister Maria. He remembers his childhood as one where there was little money but true riches in the love and faith lived and cherished by his parents. He was only twelve when war broke out in 1939. His father, a village policeman, tried to shelter his family from politics as far as he could. It is a strange coincidence that Marktl am Inn where the future Pope Benedict was born, is almost directly opposite the town of Braunau am Inn in Austria, on the other side of the River Inn, where Adolf Hitler was born in 1889. The two men also share April as their birth month. Perhaps it is part of God’s great plan that we should be given two Popes, the beloved John Paul from Poland and Benedict from Germany to counteract the evil caused by Hitler and to reassert the values of faith for our time. These two Popes both had direct experience of the horrors of war and both proclaim steadfast loyalty to Christ and the beauty of the Christian faith. Benedict has written that his First Communion in March 1936 has been “a lifelong gift of friendship and a shared journey for him with Jesus”. In Bavaria there is a great devotion to Our Lady – die Liebfrau, which is especially evident in Altotting, a shrine of Our Lady for a thousand years, and an important place of pilgrimage even today. For Bavarians it is as important as Czestochowa is for the people of Poland. “The older I get” said Pope Benedict “the more dear and important the Mother of God becomes to me”. Every year the Pope receives a jar of local honey from the village of Pentling, where he lived and where his parents and Sister Maria are buried. He bought the house many years ago for his retirement, never expecting to be elected Pope. Friends care for the house and a feline friend of Pope Benedict, a tabby cat called Chico. Reading this book reveals a man of great faith and formidable learning but one who is at the same time simple and sincere. He is a sensitive and gentle person, despite the weight of responsibility which rests upon him as Pope. I leave the last word to him, “Those who believe are never alone”.
JANE TOMLINSON “10K RUN FOR ALL” On Sunday 21st June Nichola McCay and Caroline Mitchell completed the “Jane Tomlinson 10k Run for All” which was held in Leeds. This was in memory of their Nana, Agnes Stockton, who they lost to cancer in March of this year. Together they raised
£422.00 for Cancer Research.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Please pray that we can all work together to prevent climate catastrophe in using the following prayer of the great Saint Teresa of Avila. Christ has no body now but ours, no hands but ours, no feet but ours. Ours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion is to look out to the earth, ours are the feet by which he is to go about doing good, and ours are the hands by which he is to bless us now.