A warm welcome to our parish website. Our posts below cover all the latest news from our parish and from the national Catholic community so please scan right down the page to make sure you don’t miss something!
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On the 29 February we became a new Parish under the patronage of our local martyr St. John Boste.
Please keep our Parish in your prayers, under the guidance of St. John Boste and the patrons of our churches, St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Wulstan & Our Lady of Appleby.
The Parish logo at the top of the Newsletter is based on the title given to the missionary priest John Boste ‘the great stag of the North’ - a new website will appear soon!
The parish has now been presented with a copy of the Life and Letters of Rev. George Leo Haydock, edited by Sidney K Olhausen.
Parishioners wishing to purchase their own copies should contact sales@cenacle.co.uk. Michael Mullett
Congratulations to all who were confirmed by Bishop Paul last Tuesday evening. The Mass and celebration afterwards were much appreciated – thank you to all involved for your great work! Special thanks to Deacon David and Sue who led the preparation programme and to those who supported the candidates on their spiritual journey.
We pray for the continual presence of the Holy Spirit in all our lives. Fr John
Image: from Upper Eden Food Bank
As we enter 2024 there is sadly an ever-growing need for continuing support to alleviate the poverty that many in our community experience.
At present the greatest need is for sugar, tinned sweetcorn, tinned carrots, curry sauces in jars.
Foodbank containers to collect items are at each of our churches. Thank you for all your support.
Penrith Foodbank: (collection baskets at St. Catherine’s and St. Wulstan’s) St Catherine's supports the local ‘Nourish Project’ at the Salvation Army Food Bank, thanks for your generosity, and we ask that this continues. Mary Coen
The Upper Eden Foodbank: (collection points at St Lawrence’s, The Sands Methodists and Our Lady of Appleby grey bin in the church porch). All contributions are most gratefully received. Marilyn Martin
The Holy Father has announced that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee, something which happens every 25 years. The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”, and it will be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID 19 pandemic and a climate crisis.
Preparations have now begun for the 2025 Year of Jubilee with a preparatory year of prayer. Please see https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-year-of-jubilee- 2025/letter-from-pope-francis/ and also https://pray-as-you-go.org.
Please join Bishop Paul on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 23-30 July 2024. The Youth Section will travel by coach with an evening and a day sightseeing in Paris 22 July – 1 August 2024. For further information please check out the Diocesan Pilgrimage website www.lancasterlourdes.co.uk or email operationsdirector@lancasterlourdes.co.uk and for the youth email: youth@lancasterlourdes.co.uk. Posters and booking forms are also at the back of church.
Image: from Unsplash
The Parish takes Safeguarding very seriously. All the churches’ Safeguarding reps have been working together.
There is now a dedicated phone number and email address for contact, support or reporting any concerns: 07469 511974; safeguarding.stcatherines@btinternet.com.
Contact details are also displayed on the posters in all churches. Rosemary (Penrith), Mike (Appleby) & Jeanette (Alston).
This is available from Westmorland & Furness Council if your home is off-gas. It is a great scheme, with grants up to £38k (for solar panels, heat pumps, etc.) You can contact Anna Oliveira for more information via the parish office or call the council directly on 01768 212 348.
At St Catherine’s in Penrith we now have a statue and an icon of Northern saint, St Margaret Clitherow. One of our Appleby parishioners has also just been to the Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow in York and shared this photo.
Margaret Clitherow (1556-1586) risked her life by harbouring Catholic priests in her house in The Shambles, in York during the reign of Elizabeth I. When she was arrested she refused to plead, thereby preventing a trial that would entail her three children being made to testify. She was tortured and sentenced to death. Although pregnant with her fourth child, she was executed at Ouse Bridge in York by being crushed to death.
Sr Mary Stella who wrote our beautiful icon added an explanation of some of its features:
The gold background indicates that Margaret’s life gradually became more centred on God and immersed in God’s ways. Gold is a metal that does not tarnish and is seen as eternal. God is eternally present to us are we also present to God.
The Tudor costume sets Margaret in her time, it is simple as Margaret liked to wear good but simple clothes. She ran her household and would often do the dirtier tasks out of humility, even though she had servants. She was very good at running the family butcher shop, here she met the townspeople who loved her.
Her face is illuminated with God’s love shining through her. She was very good to the poor.
The scroll indicates that although Margaret was illiterate she shared a great deal with her confessor Fr Mush who wrote down her conversations. These reveal her ardent love of Jesus and the Catholic Church.
The red/orange colour of her outer garment symbolises the fiery faith of her martyrdom.
The blue colour of her dress suggests a celestial influence as Margaret allowed God to “Divinise” her.
The shoes highlight that Margaret went to her death bare legged and without her shoes. These she left to her daughter Anne that symbolically she would also follow Christ.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word at 10.30 Mass: Children of all ages are welcome. The children will be invited to come forward at the beginning of the Mass and then process to the Quiet Room. Helen, one of our catechists, explains what happens at the liturgy: In children's liturgy, the children firstly have time to reflect on their week and say sorry for what they have done wrong. They then listen to the Gospel and discuss it together. The children then complete a craft activity that reflects the Gospel message and write a prayer that will be read to the congregation when we go back into church towards the end of the Bidding Prayers.
The ‘Story Sacks’ are now available from the narthex again, for young children to use during Mass. The seating in the Lady Chapel area works well for young families.
CHILDREN’S MASS LEAFLETS for children of reading age are available here. Each week the leaflet has puzzles etc based around Sunday’s Gospel and a cartoon strip about the life of a Saint.
Thank you to all involved in a splendid celebration Mass and social gathering last Wednesday at St. Wulstan’s. The community at St. Wulstan’s shone like stars!
It was much appreciated that Fr. Hugh, Fr. Baron, Fr. Jerome and Deacon David were with us to celebrate. God bless, Fr. John.
Carved on Westmorland Slate, an inscription on the Epistle wall of the sanctuary, reads:
To the Glory of God
This Church
Founded by Thomas Edward Bishop of Lancaster
Was dedicated on 20 September 1953
Under the patronage of St. Wulstan
In memory of
Thomas Wulstan O.S.B.
First Bishop of Lancaster
Who raised his eyes to the eternal hills
If any parishioners are interested in helping with the bell ringing at 8.20am and 10.20am before Sunday morning Masses, please give Paul Harper a call on 07900 803178.
The bell at St. Catherine’s was blessed on Sunday 18 September, following its refurbishment and return to service after many years of rest! We remember our faithful benefactor the late Patricia Bille whose legacy to the St. Catherine’s has made this possible.
From the Book of Blessings: Bells have a special place in the life of God’s people: bells mark the hours of prayer and call us to the celebration of the liturgy; bells alert us to important events, both happy and sad, in the life of the Church and the community.
May your people hasten to your church when they hear the call of this bell. May they persevere in the teaching of the apostles, in steadfast fellowship, in unceasing prayer, and in the breaking of the bread. May they remain ever one in mind and heart to the glory of your name. Amen.
The Festival was a great success at St. Wulstan’s, Alston. Thank you to all who supported it. £300 was raised for the Eden Valley Hospice.
A very big thank you to Pat and Anne for their wonderful organisation and to all the local community groups, churches, businesses and individuals who contributed displays. All were much appreciated and enjoyed by the many who came.
Well done everyone! Fr. John
I am sure that 8th July will be forever etched into my mind, and that of many others, as we gathered in Lancaster to witness and participate in the Ordination of the two Davids. Both Deacon David Pope and myself are so incredibly grateful that so many of you could be with us to share in such an important event in our lives. Many of you were also present at the Mass of Thanksgiving on the Sunday followed by a buffet lunch and again in the evening for Evening Prayer and Benediction as we rounded the Ordination weekend off with Prayer.
I am so grateful for all the prayers, support, cards, gifts and Masses that I have received. To each and every person who has been involved in all the many aspects of preparing and delivering such a wonderful weekend, I offer my heartfelt thanks.
I also offer my sincere thanks to all of you who have supported me in my vocation over the many years.
May God Bless you all. Deacon David Greaves
Are you interested in making a difference by hosting a family fleeing the war in Ukraine? As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, the need for hosts and homes is as high as ever. Please consider making a home from home for those in need. To find out more, download the leaflet here or go to www.sjog-homesforukraine.uk.
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), work in partnership with St John of God Hospitaller Services, to coordinate a Homes for Ukraine programme, which provides temporary housing and support for Ukrainian displaced individuals as they adjust to life in the UK.
The purpose of the programme is to evacuate people from the warzone and prevent homelessness amongst those Ukrainians already in the UK. We’ve already supported 179 people into the UK and have over 900 people waiting to be supported. There is more to do. The programme has received funding from The Albert Gubay Foundation and the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities. As an official provider of the Government programme, SJOG Homes for Ukraine provides matching, training, and ongoing support to hosts and guests. SJOG Homes for Ukraine, ensures only suitable matches are made by carefully considering the requirements and preferences of both parties. We offer introductory calls for sponsors to meet the family, cultural orientation, paying for transfer from the Ukrainian border to the airport nearest to sponsors' home, and providing a welcome box for Ukrainian guests on arrival to make them feel they belong.
Image: from Unsplash
At present there are:
Alston, 2 parishioners visited by Fr. John
Appleby, 2 parishioners visited by Jessie as minister of Holy Communion
Penrith 16 parishioners (12 households) visited by a minister of Holy Communion (4 ministers assisting Fr. John)
If you know of any parishioner requiring Holy Communion at home, speak to Fr. John or John Kent for Penrith and Jessie for Appleby & Kirkby Stephen. Anointing & Confession contact Fr. John.
Image: by Yohan Marion on Unsplash
Image: by Clay Banks on Unsplash
The Roman Catholic parishes of St Catherine's and St Wulstan's, welcome you and all our online visitors to our parish website. We hope you will discover something of our life and mission in this most beautiful part of Cumbria and, whether you live in the area or are visiting, that you will want to share with us in person the saving message of Jesus Christ living in His Church.
Mass Times - see blog post opposite.
Confessions St. Catherine’s: Saturdays 9.30am-10am St Wulstan’s: Saturdays 5.30pm Our Lady of Appleby: Sundays 3.30pm Also any time on request
Devotions
The Rosary Thurs 6.40pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Sat 9.30am-10am
PLEASE NOTE on Saturday 11 May there will be no 9am Mass, Confessions or Adoration due to the First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am on that day.
Click here for this week’s prayer intentions.
Click below for the latest news:
CONTACT
Fr John B Winstanley
Telephone: 01768 862273
Email: parishoffice.stcatherines@btinternet.com
Web: www.stcatherinepenrith.org.uk
ADDRESS
St Catherine’s Church
Drovers Lane, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9EL
St Wulstan’s Church
Kings Arms Lane, Alston, Cumbria CA9 3JF
Our Lady of Appleby Church
Pembroke Street, Appleby-in-Westmorland CA16 6UA
A Parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster
A Parish of the Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees
Registered Charity no. 234331
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Copyright © 2020, The Catholic Parish of St Catherine and St Wulstan. All rights reserved.
