May they Rest in Peace
Sister Catherine Joy RIP
It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that Sister Catherine died on Monday evening (13 September) at the Bowdon Vale Convent of Saint Emilie. Her death has been described as peaceful and it is also said that she died with a smile on her face. It is comforting to know that she was accompanied by members of the community praying at her side.
We send our sincere and heartfelt condolences to her family of whom she was very fond and proud. Also, to her religious community who cherished her as a co-disciple and for whose welfare she worked tirelessly until very recently.
Here in Warrington as previously at St Joseph’s parish in Winsford very many will recall her energy, enthusiasm, determination, and kindness shown in so many ways. Her attention to detail in preparing children for the sacraments and the support she offered parents was especially appreciated.
Catherine added her feminine, Irish and religious charm and grit to the shared mission with Deacon John and Fr Peter. She served with us for more than twelve years and there are many of you who will have personal recollections to bring a smile to your faces and warmth to your hearts as we commend her to God’s eternal love with great trust and deep gratitude.
Fr Peter
Michael Wright who first played the organ at Our Lady's church in 1956 and who subsequently directed the choir died in 2020. A Memorial Carol Concert was held to acknowledge his many years of dedication. This was provided by the members of two choirs to which he belonged, the Lydian Singers and the Chester St Cecelia Singers. This concert was recorded and is available on the Newman Live Warrington YouTube channel although the sound reproduction does not do the singers justice. You can view the programme by downloading the link below
Whirled dust, world dust,
tossed and torn from trees,
no more they labour for life, no more
shelter of green glade, shade
of apples under leaf, lifted in air
they soar, no longer leaves.
What, wind that bears me,
am I about to be? Will water
draw me down among its multitude?
Earth shall I return, shall I return to the tree?
Or by fire go further
from myself than now I can know or dare?
Falling Leaves by Kathleen Raine
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39
Without communion with the dead a fully human life is impossible. W.H. Auden
|
Christ is the morning star |
Who when the night
Of this world is past
Brings to his saints
The promise of
The light of life
& opens everlasting day.
Prayer of Saint Bede
As Christians we have
-
FAITH in the Resurrection of Jesus
-
HOPE in eternal life
-
LOVE that outlasts all of these things
We have a special concern for those experiencing grief and we unite ourselves with them in honouring those who have died by remembering them in our prayers and Masses.
Please send us an email if you have a relative who has died recently or whose anniversary occurs soon. We will try and add them to the list. Please give their name and date of death.
July 1st 2016, marked the commencement of what was known as the Battle of the Somme. It lasted for 141 days with tens of thousands killed on both sides of the conflict, 20,000 British and Empire soldiers lost their lives on the first day.
Following, is a list of 34 members of Our Lady’s Parish who lost their lives in the First World War, taken from the memorial plaque outside the church. There are probably members of today’s parish community who are related to these brave young men. We would be interested to hear from them with any stories that have been passed down through their families. This will help ensure that they will not be forgotten. Not all of them died in, or as a result of the Battle of the Somme, however we can remember them all in our prayers.
It is our intention to dedicate a Sunday Mass in their memory and for all who lost their lives in WW1. The date and time will be advised.
LANCE CORPORAL EDMUND HINDE
PRIVATE FRANCIS HOLIGAN
SERGEANT JOSEPH HENRY MURRAY
STOKER 1st CLASS CHARLES STIRRUP
PRIVATE FRANCIS WELSH
BUGLER JOSEPH NOONS
RIFLEMAN JOSEPH PATRICK TAYLOR
RIFLEMAN DANIEL WALSH
PRIVATE PAUL LEO ROWE
PRIVATE PATRICK CORNELIA
PRIVATE THOMAS TALLON
SERGEANT ROBERT HAYHURST LOWE
PRIVATE CHARLES CONNOR
PRIVATE JOHN MILLER
PRIVATE FRANCIS GRIMES
SERGEANT JOSEPH MILLINGTON
SERGEANT THOMAS WARD
PRIVATE JOHN SHEPHERD
PRIVATE CHARLES JOSEPH GRIMES
CORPORAL JOHN McCAULEY
LANCE-CORPORAL JOSEPH DUNN
MAJOR EDWARD FRANCIS NICHOLSON
PRIVATE THOMAS FORD
PRIVATE HUGH LAWRENCE KNIGHT
LIEUTENANT WALTER HENRY DENSHAM
PRIVATE PATRICK NOON
PRIVATE PATRICK RALPH
PRIVATE THOMAS PEACOCK
PRIVATE BERNARD KERWIN
PRIVATE HERBERT JAMES BRADY
PRIVATE THOMAS MORRIS
LOUIS WILSON
LEO KNIGHT
BERNARD GRIFFITH
Peter Cornelia, who has two relatives on the above list, is hoping to collate burial and service information on each individual to be kept at the church for future reference. Any information relatives can provide will be welcome. Peter can be contacted on 07966 402443 or at peter@fswhome.fsnet.co.uk
Our MAY THEY REST IN PEACE page has a number of photo tributes to some deceased parishioners - you can add your own by sending digital photographs with the name and years of birth and death to bjhnwarrington@gmail.com
Bishop Brian Noble RIP
On Monday 28 October 2019 the Bishop who had the vision to imagine a new church for the people of Latchford died after a short illness.
Bishop Brian Noble came to our Diocese 24 years ago with his Lancashire roots, his experience as a parish priest in Cumbria, his background as a university chaplain and as teacher of pastoral theology at the Beda seminary in Rome. He took a keen interest in our Catholic schools and nurtured an interest in Christian spirituality. He presided over a year dedicated to the Eucharist during which he was the first Catholic Bishop since the Reformation to fill Chester Cathedral to overflowing for Mass. A year focussed on the Liturgy of the Word in which we learned more about the significance of the Book of the Gospels. A year of Saint Paul culminated in a celebration at Liverpool Catholic Cathedral. All of this while nurturing the daily round of parish life with visitations and confirmation celebrations. Bishop Brian also knew first hand the experience of life threatening cancer which enabled him to share sensitive and thoughtfully encouraging insights with fellow cancer sufferers. He drew special inspiration from St Ignatius, from a love of music, particularly C20th British music, poetry; especially that celebrating the beauty of nature was another source of joy and consolation, as was birdwatching and walking. The dedication of our church 9 years ago came towards the end of his years as Bishop but he continued to support Bishop Mark and the parishes of the Diocese and he was a popular retreat giver too. Bishop Brian has been a constant mentor for Fr Peter, Deacon John also remembers working with him in the support of deacons and their families. Sister Catherine even managed to grab him for the Holy Week services at Bowdon Vale. So we have much to give thanks for as he surely receives an eternal place among God’s beloved. May he rest in peace.
Fr Peter Robertson RIP
We have cause to be grateful to God for the life and ministry of Father Peter Robertson who died peacefully in the care of very good friends on Sunday 10 August 2014.
Fr Peter was just weeks short of celebrating his 80th birthday but regardless of his age he will be remembered for his boundless enthusiasm and his love for people. Countless numbers have good cause to be thankful and he spent ten of the happiest and most effective years of his ministry here in Warrington.
His association with our parish was renewed following his retirement and we were always delighted whenever he came to spend time with us.
To all who loved and admired him we send our sincere and heartfelt sympathy. To the God who blessed us with his life we say Thank you and we will keep his memory alive here over the coming years.
Fr Peter's Funeral took place on 20 August in a packed Saint Michael and All Angels Church Birkenhead.
Blest be the Lord, Blest be the Lord, the God of Mercy, the God who Saves!
I shall not fear the dark of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
We held a celebration here in Warrington to share our own memories. Fr Peter loved being in company, talking, laughing and crying with anyone and everyone; it was one of his special gifts. So we appreciated spending some time together in this way.
