First Communions

Sunday 4th July saw two young people receive their First Holy Communion at St Joseph's. First Communion Sunday is always one of the happiest days of the year, and this was no exception. Although there were only two candidates, we are impressed by quality not quantity, and our two children are a splendid example for the young Church. Indications are that there will be a much larger First Communion class next year.

LENT 2010

Lent will as usual be marked by many special devotions and services at Saint Joseph’s. The Rosary will be recited on Tuesday evenings, Stations of the Cross on Fridays, and there will be exposition and Benediction of Saturday mornings before Mass. In addition, Fr Bill will be giving a Lent Course entitled ‘597 and All That.’ On Mondays during Lent there will be mid-day services, followed by a frugal lunch, at the pariticipating churches; the proceeds will be given to Christian Aid or CAFOD.

CHARITABLE GIVING

Charitable giving is a sign of the health of a church community. We are pleased to report that recently £270 has been sent to the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, to help in their campaign to protect human life from conception to natural end; £358.38 has gone to the Saint Barnabas Society to help former clergy of other denominations who have joined the Catholic Church; and £734 to CAFOD in response to their appeal for Haiti.

Benemerenti for Dennis

On Sunday 10 January, Fr Bill East presented Dennis Selina with the Benemerenti, an award granted by the Pope to those who are outstanding servants of the Church. “Benemerenti” means simply, “To the well-deserving …”

Dennis’s early days were spent in Leeds, where he served as organist at St Augustine’s Church from 1941, having sung in the choir for several years before that. In 1956 he came to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Hessle, then on to St Vincent’s and also St Wilfrid’s Churches in Hull. By 1976 he and his family had moved to Pickering, where he has been organist and musical director over the years. Last year he stepped down from the post of musical director, but continues to play the organ.

More than an organist, Dennis works tirelessly with cantors and singers, encouraging young organists and achieving an excellent standard of music at St Joseph’s. As well as this, he sings in Middlesbrough Diocesan Choir, taking part in major liturgical occasions at the Cathedral and elsewhere.

Besides his work for in music ministry, Dennis is always foremost when there is any parish work to be done, from church cleaning to publicising fêtes. He is a founder-member of St Joseph’s Conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, and indeed was active in visiting the sick and housebound before the SVP conference was founded at St Joseph’s.

Fr Bill said, “I am honoured to be the one to present this much-deserved award to Dennis, and offer him most sincere thanks on behalf of the Holy Father and the Church for his lifetime of service. To his wife Joyce and his whole family, all of us at St Joseph’s extend warm congratulations and best wishes.”

CHRISTMAS

The Christmas services were well supported at St Joseph's. Celebrations began with the Carol Service at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve; this was followed by the Midnight Mass, which by a miracle of organisation began at precisely midnight. There was one morning Mass, at 10 am. The Church was full for both Masses, and there was lusty singing of many familiar Christmas Carols. Father Christmas made an appearance after the morning Mass and gave presents to the children.

Aid to the Church in Need

On Sunday 6th December Mrs Betty East made an appeal at both Masses on behalf of Aid to the Church in Need. The appeal raised a total of £469.80, including £381.80 in donations and £88 in sales of books and gifts.

Christmas Fair

Saint Joseph's Christmas Fair took place on Saturday 5th December. There were the usual tombola, cake and jam stalls, candles and teddy bears, teas and mince pies. Father Christmas was in attendance, and a good time was had by all. A total of £505 has been banked following the event.

Fear Not!

Fear Not! Preaching in the Year of Luke is the title of Fr Bill's latest book, the third and final in a series of books of homilies covering all the Sundays and major feasts of the lectionary. It is published by Dominican Publications, Dublin, and is available from St Joseph's repository and from good bookshops everywhere, price £7.50.

SOME ADVENT THEMES

'Some Advent Themes' is the title of a course being given at St Joseph's by Barbara Knight. Meetings will take place on three Tuesdays: 24th November, 1st December and 15th December, following the 7.00 pm Mass.

Wedding

Jake Marley and Rachel Armstrong were married in Saint Joseph's on 7th November. The beautiful ceremony was followed by a reception in the church hall. We congratulate them, and wish them both every happiness.

BISHOP VISITS PICKERING

Our Bishop, Terence, has given up much of his time to visiting Pickering and encouraging us. On 25th June he came to Saint Joseph’s School and opened the new extension. On 8th July he came to Saint Joseph’s Church, celebrated the morning Mass, had coffee with the parishioners, visited the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a housebound parishioner, a residential home for the elderly, and the Friday Fellowship (convened on this occasion on a Wednesday). Then again on Sunday 12th July he came to our church, celebrating both masses and taking time to talk with the people after each one. It is an unusual and a welcome thing for a bishop to find so much time to get to know a parish, and we are grateful to him.

Summer Fair

On Saturday 27th June the Friends of Saint Joseph’s School held their Summer Fair at the school. There were plenty of stalls, with hot dogs, cream teas, raffles, tombolas and all the fun of the fair. The rain held off, and the event was well supported, raising £1,067.90p towards school funds. We are grateful both to those who organised, and those who supported, the fair.

BISHOP OPENS EXTENSION

Bishop Terence visited St Joseph’s School on Thursday 25th June to open the magnificent new extension. Present were the children, staff and governors of the school, members of the Friends of Saint Joseph’s School, parents and parishioners and gentlemen of the local and diocesan press. The extension provides two new classrooms, a prayer room, a much-enlarged hall, several storage cupboards and decking overlooking the school playing field. The Bishop congratulated the various bodies present who had worked together so well to make the extension possible.

The Upper Room

Thanks to the labours of a working-party, the room above the parish hall has been cleared of junk and is now available for meetings and events. In effect, we now have two parish halls, which is very good news. Our thanks to the many people who helped.