The Antiochian Orthodox Church will serve Divine Liturgy at St Matthews at 7.00 pm this Thursday 24 September. All are welcome and refreshments will be served afterwards at Silvercraigs Hotel, 27 Palace Terrace, Queens Promenade.
The service will predominantly be in English with a choir singing Byzantine musican and will include some of the the different language groups on the Island - Slavonic, Greek, Romanian, Arabic and Manx. The celebrant will be Rev Fr Irenaeus from The Antiochian Orthodox Church of St Ignatius in Belfast.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Tallis Consort
This Thursday evening Tallis Consort will give a recital in Celebration of the Centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Maughold in Ramsey. The recital is in the church and will start at 8.00 pm. All welcome to attend.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Table Quiz
On Saturday, 3rd October at Columba Catholic Club in aid of St Ninians Learning Support Unit. 8.00 pm start. Tickets £5 including buffet available from Brian Murphy 627 729 or Josie 406 067
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Youth Club
Children from year 6 in all Douglas parishes are welcome to the start of a new year at youth club, starting this Thursday, 19 Sept, from 6.00 unil 7.30 pm at St Columba Club, Circular Road. Family members are welcome.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Racial Justice Sunday
“The Changing Face of Britain and Ireland” is the theme of this year’s Racial Justice Day.
You would have to be blind not to have noticed the way in which these islands have become more multicultural and cosmopolitan over recent years. How do Christians respond to this? Or, more importantly, are Christians bothering to respond?
If we sit back and offer no support to vulnerable sections of society, whatever their origins, then we open the door for extremists to seize the moment and to peddle suspicion, hatred and racism. And this is no distant problem that can be solved from the comfort of an armchair. It’s on our parish doorstep…
You would have to be blind not to have noticed the way in which these islands have become more multicultural and cosmopolitan over recent years. How do Christians respond to this? Or, more importantly, are Christians bothering to respond?
If we sit back and offer no support to vulnerable sections of society, whatever their origins, then we open the door for extremists to seize the moment and to peddle suspicion, hatred and racism. And this is no distant problem that can be solved from the comfort of an armchair. It’s on our parish doorstep…
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Confirmation Conversation
The monthy meeting for the Young People who have been Confirmed will take place on Wednesday at 7.00 pm at the Grotto Hall at St Anthony’s.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Cover Story
St Mary of the Isle 150th Anniversary Celebrations are the cover story in this months Catholic PIC which is available this weekend at the back of Chuch. We have only received a limited number of copies so once their gone their gone.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Christmas Cards
St Mary of the Isle 150 Anniversary Christmas Cards are now avaiable from the Repsository. The cards cost 30p each or a pack of 12 cards for £3.00.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Weekend Course
Are you interested in training as a LIFE Listener or Skillked Helper? Or do you work in health, social work, counselling or psycholody and would like to do some CPD / awareness-raising/exploration of the issues involved in:
Telephone listening skills
Pregancy Loss Issues
Post Abortion counselling?
For more information or to book a place please contact: Margaret Newton on 628995 or margienewtoniom@hotmail.com or Jackie Easton on 825239 or ballachesed@manx.net.
The course will be on Friday, 25th Sept from 7.00 pm until 10.00 pm. And on Saturday, 26th Sept from 10.30 until 4.00 pm. The venue will be the Alpha Centre, Broadway, Douglas and the cost is £ 15 (including lunch). The trainer will be Gill Duval, National LIFE Courses Co-ordinator.
Telephone listening skills
Pregancy Loss Issues
Post Abortion counselling?
For more information or to book a place please contact: Margaret Newton on 628995 or margienewtoniom@hotmail.com or Jackie Easton on 825239 or ballachesed@manx.net.
The course will be on Friday, 25th Sept from 7.00 pm until 10.00 pm. And on Saturday, 26th Sept from 10.30 until 4.00 pm. The venue will be the Alpha Centre, Broadway, Douglas and the cost is £ 15 (including lunch). The trainer will be Gill Duval, National LIFE Courses Co-ordinator.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Little Church Workshop
September 5th: Little Church Workshop on Advent and Christmas with Maureen Knight. at St Joseph’s Hall.
Road Closed
Please note that Hill Street will be closed to traffic and for car parking this weekend.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Victorian Society Visit and Tour
The Isle of Man Victorian Society will visit St Mary’s at 3.00 pm on Sunday, 30th August. Parishioners and friends are welcome to join the Society on this Guided Tour to learn more of the history of the building and its contents.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Liturgy Workshop
September 4th & 5th: Fr Philip Gillespee returns for a session on The Liturgy for CCRS Group Members and anyone interested in learning more about the Liturgy. Venue St Anthony’s Hall.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Taking a break..
Legion of Mary: No meeting this week.
St Mary’s Music Group: Next meeting on Sunday, 6th September.
St Pio Prayer Group next meeting this Thursday, 3rd September at 7.00 pm at St Joseph’s, Willaston. All welcome.
Youth Clubs: Will meet again mid September.
Mums and Tots Group: Next meeting on Tuesday, 15th Sepetmber in the Meeting Room at the back of St Mary’s Church.
St Mary’s Music Group: Next meeting on Sunday, 6th September.
St Pio Prayer Group next meeting this Thursday, 3rd September at 7.00 pm at St Joseph’s, Willaston. All welcome.
Youth Clubs: Will meet again mid September.
Mums and Tots Group: Next meeting on Tuesday, 15th Sepetmber in the Meeting Room at the back of St Mary’s Church.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Canon Brendan Alger’a sermon 150th Anniversary Mass at St Mary of the Isle, 4th August 2009
It began in Advent last year. A journey to reflect upon 1859 and since. It is a journey which I hope has taken in much prayer, many a gathering of people together for international dinners in the Parish; a week of celebration for the school, who are away on holiday now and in which they participated with their art and trying to reflect on what it meant to be this old as a Parish Catholic community in Douglas. I hope this (evening) is a bit of a highlight on the day this Church was first opened for the celebration of mass.
It is not the end it is just part of a journey. During the rest of the year we have time to reflect upon the work of the Sisters of Mercy and the American Sisters Paulette and Janet who work among us. An opportunity to hear some of the work that’s been done in Kenya, Kuro, in Bethlehem and South Africa because we have journeyed with those communities and their struggle for better health, learning, development as well and would sum up the year on the feast of Christ the King, the end of the Church’s year and make some people really reflect as we celebrate a Latin mass again in this Church. Remembering all that’s been said, celebrated in a 150 years here and for us in the Archdiocese Christ the King is Youth Sunday and so we have a youth celebration mass of evening of Christ the King.
It is a story which began well before First Advent, it began well before 1859. It began in critical times, a struggle at first to be, to exist, somehow or other the Catholics on the Island and those who came to live here managed to survive with the help of occasional priests, the Benedictines from Cumberland the old Catholic Mission there, the Jesuit Fathers from Dublin who creep in. One time a French émigré priest fleeing from the Revolution, acting as a French teacher to the Governor’s family, he was to be reported for saying mass for these “disobedient Catholics”.
The Isle of Man, in fact since the reformation, many of the rigours and hardships that faced across did not exist but we still waited for the chance to be free. To be free to worship. That came in 1829 with emancipation. But before that, as I said, in Castletown they were already laying seeds in a Church there which served the Irish Catholic groups in the Garrison Castletown, Catholic merchants, a few innkeepers as well and then the light dawned in Douglas. Masses being said in houses out on the Old Castletown Road, at St Bridget’s and then in the very difficult years in the forties because of the numbers of increasing population disease rife in the Isle of Man cholera, the plague one of the priests great founders of the Church in Douglas Father McMahon who died and was buried at Braddan, . He died caring for the sick.
1829 brought freedom to mobilise and to act to think of even a Church fit for the glory of God different from SFX, the old Methodist schoolroom at the end of Athol Street.
A decisive date for the Church in the British Isles and also for our Diocese of Liverpool 1850 in September when for the first times we had residential Bishops the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the country was divided up in such a way that the Diocese of Liverpool formed made up of the coast regions of Lancashire. That went from Coniston to Merseyside and the Isle of Man were included in that document and so that began our official link with the Diocese of Liverpool to which we must always be grateful because it was from Liverpool direction was given and it was from here the money came to build a church but we have had that continued relationship.
I said September 1850 the establishment of a Diocese, two months later a young Priest was ordained in December at Usher College in the North East of England. After two years of struggling working in Whitechapel and Liverpool he was assigned here to take up the task that had been done and planned of building this Church. A remarkable thing for a young man to do, a remarkable thing to be achieved and considering the poverty of people in general in the Island not just the Catholics. Yet it was done a remarkable gift he had in his choice of an architect he had in John Clutton. For after here Clutton became famous for stately homes and many a church throughout England.
This Church opened in 1859. It was a big shock to the system. You know things shouldn’t change as you all know so rapidly in the Isle of Man. The change caused a fence. There were great demonstrations attacks upon the old Church on the corner of Athol Street with windows broken and there was a really popular song at the time “To hell with the Pope and throw old Kelly in the Dock”. The priest James Carr was at the blessing of the foundation stone in 1857 because of the troubles and opposition in 1858 he wrote a pamphlet to the citizens of Douglas.
In 1859 30 priests came off the ferry at the quayside with two Bishops. August 4th this Church was opened with a mass.
I said 1850 was a great date for the English Catholic Church. Freedom to live. Freedom to worship but what was more remarkable then it really amounted to a freedom to flourish in an amazing way.
John Henry Newman spoke to all the new Bishops of England and Wales in 1852 and he told them you’re in for a shock. This is going to be marvellous. These were people who didn’t know where they were going. Overburdened with terrible problems in terms of the great numbers of starving Irish immigrants pouring into England and the problems of disease in the towns and of course the rural poverty that existed everywhere but the fact was an extraordinary picture developed of the ability of people to strive, to build, to grow.
1859 this Church opened, two years later St Mary’s School opened, 1860 we planned the opening of Ramsey, a Church was built in Peel eventually Castletown and then of course the growth of St Anthony’s, St Joseph’s Willaston and the Sacred Heart in Pulrose. They wouldn’t have believed it possible in 1859 but that was really not because of the building was it.
As I said at the beginning of our year of preparation its good that we have such a wonderful building being cared for so much but its really the temple within. God living in us that the work really done and the witness to what we celebrate here is given. That was done very remarkably and this is true of all our Churches and all the congregations in the 19th century. The Church leaders seeing the importance at a time of great difficulty and hardship the importance of the child and the school and how much we owe all of us to those dedicated people who taught in our schools at St Mary’s, lay staff and very soon Sisters of Mercy came in 1860s, they remained here for over 100 years and I am happy that Sister Theresa of the Sisters of Mercy is here to see the results of the work of her Sisters over 100 years here.
I suppose I could say much of the work focussed yes on the school and the children but on the priests and people and families the weekly and daily prayer activity, the preaching of the word, the sacraments, the caring of the sick. That multitude of ministry that really was left very much to priests, to clergy. I am glad we have Peter Ryan with us today because he really I think marks another period of flourishing in the life of the Church here in the Island. For an example of that Peter was here when the Sisters of Mercy left and we had the help of the two Sisters from Canada. Because what then flourished under Peter and is certainly continuing in the Diocese and our Church and all the Churches is the ministry, the ministry of all. The preparation of so many different adults to ministers of the Gospel, of the Eucharist, ministers caring for people in marriage, preparing families for Baptism that was a big change in the life of this Parish and our Parishes and the Church in general.
You see it isn’t just the building, it’s not just our mass and our word of God that sustains us its a countless number of ordinary folk, priests, religious, men and women and children who hear the word are fed by the bread of life and out there in the Isle of Man, in the world have lived the Gospel. A great way of saying thank you to James Carr, for the many different priests and families that served the Church. That had many benefits too that enabled poor congregations to build beyond their means and then have to pay for it for years afterwards as well. This Church was built in 1859. James Carr came back here to celebrate 50 years of St Mary’s. He lived to 1913 actually but when he came back it was for the opening of our new [Radados]. there at the back but he was able to come back and see a flourishing congregation and well please God he enjoys what he sees in you today and all of us. Benefactors, the Higgins family, sorry Moira isn’t well enough to be here but representatives of the family are, Albert Gubay who gave us such an increase in buildings at St Anthony’s Onchan and in many different ways has helped the Island and St Columbus Port Erin.
But thanks to all of you. But if this is God, if this is a temple blessed to Solomon, whilst it is the place where God is known and his name is revealed but we have to heed St Paul that we are the living stone we are to go out and bring life to what we believe and practice so really it is worthwhile thanking God for all the good people who have led us to this celebration.
It is not the end it is just part of a journey. During the rest of the year we have time to reflect upon the work of the Sisters of Mercy and the American Sisters Paulette and Janet who work among us. An opportunity to hear some of the work that’s been done in Kenya, Kuro, in Bethlehem and South Africa because we have journeyed with those communities and their struggle for better health, learning, development as well and would sum up the year on the feast of Christ the King, the end of the Church’s year and make some people really reflect as we celebrate a Latin mass again in this Church. Remembering all that’s been said, celebrated in a 150 years here and for us in the Archdiocese Christ the King is Youth Sunday and so we have a youth celebration mass of evening of Christ the King.
It is a story which began well before First Advent, it began well before 1859. It began in critical times, a struggle at first to be, to exist, somehow or other the Catholics on the Island and those who came to live here managed to survive with the help of occasional priests, the Benedictines from Cumberland the old Catholic Mission there, the Jesuit Fathers from Dublin who creep in. One time a French émigré priest fleeing from the Revolution, acting as a French teacher to the Governor’s family, he was to be reported for saying mass for these “disobedient Catholics”.
The Isle of Man, in fact since the reformation, many of the rigours and hardships that faced across did not exist but we still waited for the chance to be free. To be free to worship. That came in 1829 with emancipation. But before that, as I said, in Castletown they were already laying seeds in a Church there which served the Irish Catholic groups in the Garrison Castletown, Catholic merchants, a few innkeepers as well and then the light dawned in Douglas. Masses being said in houses out on the Old Castletown Road, at St Bridget’s and then in the very difficult years in the forties because of the numbers of increasing population disease rife in the Isle of Man cholera, the plague one of the priests great founders of the Church in Douglas Father McMahon who died and was buried at Braddan, . He died caring for the sick.
1829 brought freedom to mobilise and to act to think of even a Church fit for the glory of God different from SFX, the old Methodist schoolroom at the end of Athol Street.
A decisive date for the Church in the British Isles and also for our Diocese of Liverpool 1850 in September when for the first times we had residential Bishops the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the country was divided up in such a way that the Diocese of Liverpool formed made up of the coast regions of Lancashire. That went from Coniston to Merseyside and the Isle of Man were included in that document and so that began our official link with the Diocese of Liverpool to which we must always be grateful because it was from Liverpool direction was given and it was from here the money came to build a church but we have had that continued relationship.
I said September 1850 the establishment of a Diocese, two months later a young Priest was ordained in December at Usher College in the North East of England. After two years of struggling working in Whitechapel and Liverpool he was assigned here to take up the task that had been done and planned of building this Church. A remarkable thing for a young man to do, a remarkable thing to be achieved and considering the poverty of people in general in the Island not just the Catholics. Yet it was done a remarkable gift he had in his choice of an architect he had in John Clutton. For after here Clutton became famous for stately homes and many a church throughout England.
This Church opened in 1859. It was a big shock to the system. You know things shouldn’t change as you all know so rapidly in the Isle of Man. The change caused a fence. There were great demonstrations attacks upon the old Church on the corner of Athol Street with windows broken and there was a really popular song at the time “To hell with the Pope and throw old Kelly in the Dock”. The priest James Carr was at the blessing of the foundation stone in 1857 because of the troubles and opposition in 1858 he wrote a pamphlet to the citizens of Douglas.
In 1859 30 priests came off the ferry at the quayside with two Bishops. August 4th this Church was opened with a mass.
I said 1850 was a great date for the English Catholic Church. Freedom to live. Freedom to worship but what was more remarkable then it really amounted to a freedom to flourish in an amazing way.
John Henry Newman spoke to all the new Bishops of England and Wales in 1852 and he told them you’re in for a shock. This is going to be marvellous. These were people who didn’t know where they were going. Overburdened with terrible problems in terms of the great numbers of starving Irish immigrants pouring into England and the problems of disease in the towns and of course the rural poverty that existed everywhere but the fact was an extraordinary picture developed of the ability of people to strive, to build, to grow.
1859 this Church opened, two years later St Mary’s School opened, 1860 we planned the opening of Ramsey, a Church was built in Peel eventually Castletown and then of course the growth of St Anthony’s, St Joseph’s Willaston and the Sacred Heart in Pulrose. They wouldn’t have believed it possible in 1859 but that was really not because of the building was it.
As I said at the beginning of our year of preparation its good that we have such a wonderful building being cared for so much but its really the temple within. God living in us that the work really done and the witness to what we celebrate here is given. That was done very remarkably and this is true of all our Churches and all the congregations in the 19th century. The Church leaders seeing the importance at a time of great difficulty and hardship the importance of the child and the school and how much we owe all of us to those dedicated people who taught in our schools at St Mary’s, lay staff and very soon Sisters of Mercy came in 1860s, they remained here for over 100 years and I am happy that Sister Theresa of the Sisters of Mercy is here to see the results of the work of her Sisters over 100 years here.
I suppose I could say much of the work focussed yes on the school and the children but on the priests and people and families the weekly and daily prayer activity, the preaching of the word, the sacraments, the caring of the sick. That multitude of ministry that really was left very much to priests, to clergy. I am glad we have Peter Ryan with us today because he really I think marks another period of flourishing in the life of the Church here in the Island. For an example of that Peter was here when the Sisters of Mercy left and we had the help of the two Sisters from Canada. Because what then flourished under Peter and is certainly continuing in the Diocese and our Church and all the Churches is the ministry, the ministry of all. The preparation of so many different adults to ministers of the Gospel, of the Eucharist, ministers caring for people in marriage, preparing families for Baptism that was a big change in the life of this Parish and our Parishes and the Church in general.
You see it isn’t just the building, it’s not just our mass and our word of God that sustains us its a countless number of ordinary folk, priests, religious, men and women and children who hear the word are fed by the bread of life and out there in the Isle of Man, in the world have lived the Gospel. A great way of saying thank you to James Carr, for the many different priests and families that served the Church. That had many benefits too that enabled poor congregations to build beyond their means and then have to pay for it for years afterwards as well. This Church was built in 1859. James Carr came back here to celebrate 50 years of St Mary’s. He lived to 1913 actually but when he came back it was for the opening of our new [Radados]. there at the back but he was able to come back and see a flourishing congregation and well please God he enjoys what he sees in you today and all of us. Benefactors, the Higgins family, sorry Moira isn’t well enough to be here but representatives of the family are, Albert Gubay who gave us such an increase in buildings at St Anthony’s Onchan and in many different ways has helped the Island and St Columbus Port Erin.
But thanks to all of you. But if this is God, if this is a temple blessed to Solomon, whilst it is the place where God is known and his name is revealed but we have to heed St Paul that we are the living stone we are to go out and bring life to what we believe and practice so really it is worthwhile thanking God for all the good people who have led us to this celebration.
Monday, August 03, 2009
150 Events
On Tuesday Bishop Tom together with priests and deacons of the Island and priest guests will celebrate Mass at 7.00 pm. All are welcome - Please come along.
Please arrive in plenty of time as there is limited parking in the streets around St Mary’s
On Thursday evening at 7.30 pm there will be a Music Celebration at St Mary’s.
Music will be provided by St Mary’s Choir, St Mary’s Music Group, Tallis Consort, Jude and the Filipino Choir. MC for the evening is Judith Ley.
Admission is free so please come along. Refreshments will be provided after the concert.
Please arrive in plenty of time as there is limited parking in the streets around St Mary’s
On Thursday evening at 7.30 pm there will be a Music Celebration at St Mary’s.
Music will be provided by St Mary’s Choir, St Mary’s Music Group, Tallis Consort, Jude and the Filipino Choir. MC for the evening is Judith Ley.
Admission is free so please come along. Refreshments will be provided after the concert.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Welcome
On Tuesday we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of St Mary of the Isle in 1859 and we welcome to our celebrations this week:
Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Mgr Peter Ryan, Parish Priest of St Mary’s the Isle from 1980 to 1989.
Canon William O’Sullivan, priest at St Mary’s in the 1949 to 1956.
Fr John Hindley, priest at St Mary’s from 1999 to 2006.
Sr Teresa of the Sisters of Mercy. Their convent served the parish and Island for over a 100 years until 1988.
Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Mgr Peter Ryan, Parish Priest of St Mary’s the Isle from 1980 to 1989.
Canon William O’Sullivan, priest at St Mary’s in the 1949 to 1956.
Fr John Hindley, priest at St Mary’s from 1999 to 2006.
Sr Teresa of the Sisters of Mercy. Their convent served the parish and Island for over a 100 years until 1988.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Liturgy
Fr Philip Gillespee returns for a session on The Liturgy for CCRS Group Members and anyone interested in learning more about the Liturgy. The venue will be St Anthony’s Hall on September 4th & 5th.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Little Church Workshop
On September 5th there will be a Little Church Workshop on Advent and Christmas with Maureen Knight at St Joseph’s Hall.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Day for Life
In recent years the Church has dedicated the fourth Sunday in July as the Day for Life. On this day we celebrate the dignity of life from conception to natural death and this year we focus on the theme of suicide. The main emphasis of Day for Life in 2009 is on the pastoral dimensions of this difficult and sensitive subject.
The Church believes that every life is worth living and cares about the reasons why people contemplate suicide, including acute mental illness and the possible spiritual factors involved. We pledge ourselves to support all that the professional services can bring and hopefully help to reduce the stigma too often associated with mental illness and depression.
Building upon last year’s focus on mental health, the bishops hope that this year’s day with its particular focus on suicide will help raise awareness of the vital role played by families and a supportive parish community in supporting and sustaining those who may be struggling to cope.
The Church believes that every life is worth living and cares about the reasons why people contemplate suicide, including acute mental illness and the possible spiritual factors involved. We pledge ourselves to support all that the professional services can bring and hopefully help to reduce the stigma too often associated with mental illness and depression.
Building upon last year’s focus on mental health, the bishops hope that this year’s day with its particular focus on suicide will help raise awareness of the vital role played by families and a supportive parish community in supporting and sustaining those who may be struggling to cope.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Celtic Christian Celebrations
Friday 31st July - Kirk Maughold patronal festival
Most of the events take place around Maughold Village.
Exhibition: Maughold through the ages
3.00 pm: Pilgrimage to St Maugholds Well. (Meet at Maughold Church gates at 2.45 pm)
4.15 pm: The Viking Raid on St Maughold - a glimpse into mediaeval sainthood - talk by Dr Lily Mo in Maughold Church.
from 5.00 pm: Buffet Tea in Maughold Parish Hall.
7.00 pm: Outdoor Sung Celtic Eucharist in the North Keeill in the churchyard based on ancient liturgies, celbtated by the Lord Bishop.
Moe information from 842045 or 812389
Most of the events take place around Maughold Village.
Exhibition: Maughold through the ages
3.00 pm: Pilgrimage to St Maugholds Well. (Meet at Maughold Church gates at 2.45 pm)
4.15 pm: The Viking Raid on St Maughold - a glimpse into mediaeval sainthood - talk by Dr Lily Mo in Maughold Church.
from 5.00 pm: Buffet Tea in Maughold Parish Hall.
7.00 pm: Outdoor Sung Celtic Eucharist in the North Keeill in the churchyard based on ancient liturgies, celbtated by the Lord Bishop.
Moe information from 842045 or 812389
Monday, July 20, 2009
Lourdes in the Archdiocese
During the Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes - 24 to 31 July Bishop Tom Williams is visiting each Pastoral Area (Deanery) to encourage those unable to go to Lourdes to take part in the Pilgrimage activities.
He will begin in the Isle of Man this Friday, 24th July and the following services will take place at St Anthony’s Onchan:
7.00 am: Mass (an opportunity for people to attend Mass before work).
2.15 pm: Healing service with anointing of the sick. If you know of anyone who would like to attend please bring them along.
7.00 pm: Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.
He will begin in the Isle of Man this Friday, 24th July and the following services will take place at St Anthony’s Onchan:
7.00 am: Mass (an opportunity for people to attend Mass before work).
2.15 pm: Healing service with anointing of the sick. If you know of anyone who would like to attend please bring them along.
7.00 pm: Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Mums and Tots
A Mums and Tots group has been set up at St Mary’s and they had their first session last week with three mums and three tots. They are hoping to meet each Tuesday morning at 10.30 in the meeting room at the back of St Mary’s Church. Anyone with pre-school children is welcome to come along.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Lourdes Bingo Night
Thank you to all who arranged and supported the recent Lourdes Bingo Night. The enving raised £1,270.00 for the Lourdes Youth Fund.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wedding: 29th May 2010 1 pm
The couple who booked this time and date please contact the Parish office this week on 675509.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Share in our work
This weekend at all Masses there will be an appeal for Missionary Sisters.
Here in our Parishes Sister Maura Lyden will speak at all Masses. She is a member of the Columban sisters but the appeal is for all the Missionary Sisters of England and Wales. Please support.
Here in our Parishes Sister Maura Lyden will speak at all Masses. She is a member of the Columban sisters but the appeal is for all the Missionary Sisters of England and Wales. Please support.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Church Music Workshop
On Saturday, 11th July at St Anthony’s with Anne Preston from the Liverpool Archdiocese Music Service. All welcome. To help with the planning please register your interest with the Parish Office by email (parishoffice@manx.net) or call 675509 during office hours.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Peter’s Pence
Next weekend at all Masses there will be a second collection for Peter’s Pence. In September of 2006, Pope Benedict XVI gave a homily in which he explained that those who are baptized create one family of believers who are never alone. The Peter’s Pence Collection unites us in solidarity to the Holy See and its works of charity to those in need. Your generosity allows the Pope to respond to our suffering brothers and sisters with promptness, love, and compassion, so God’s people will not feel alone in their time of misfortune.
The Peter’s Pence Collection derives its name from an ancient custom. In ninth-century England. King Alfred the Great collected money – “pence” or pennies – from landowners as financial support for the Pope.
Today, the Peter’s Pence Collection supports the Pope’s philanthropy by giving the Holy Father the means to provide emergency assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war, oppression, and disease.
The Peter’s Pence Collection derives its name from an ancient custom. In ninth-century England. King Alfred the Great collected money – “pence” or pennies – from landowners as financial support for the Pope.
Today, the Peter’s Pence Collection supports the Pope’s philanthropy by giving the Holy Father the means to provide emergency assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war, oppression, and disease.
Monday, June 15, 2009
School Vouchers
Please return any Tesco for Schools and Clubs vouchers this week to the Parish Office or St Mary’s School.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Music Group
The St Mary’s Music Group are meeting on Wednesday 17th June and Wednesday 1st July at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church. All welcome
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Bingo at St Anthony’s
Bingo session at the Hall at St Anthony’s will be on Thursday, 18th June at 7.30 pm. All welcome.
150 Flower Festival
There is a meeting on Monday, 15th June at 7.30 pm at St Mary’s Church for all those working on the Flower Festival for the 150th Celebration Week in August. If you are interested and wish to know more please come along.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Sea Sunday
As part of our 150th celebrations, Sunday 12th July will be a day of remembering past and present members of the Parish who have or had connections with the Sea. If you or your family have any history or anecdotes of seafarers could you please contact Mary Carter on 621258.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Something to pray about...
We can join Pope Benedict in his prayer intentions for the month of June:
General:That international attention towards the poorer countries may give rise to more concrete help, in particular to relieve them of the crushing burden of foreign debt.
Missionary: That the particular Churches operating in regions marked by violence may be sustained by the love and concrete closeness of all the Catholics in the world.
General:That international attention towards the poorer countries may give rise to more concrete help, in particular to relieve them of the crushing burden of foreign debt.
Missionary: That the particular Churches operating in regions marked by violence may be sustained by the love and concrete closeness of all the Catholics in the world.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Church Music Workshop
Saturday, 11th July at St Anthony’s with Anne Preston from the Liverpool Archdiocese Music Service. All welcome. To help with the planing please register you interest with the Parish Office by email (parishoffice@:manx.net) or call 675509 during office hours.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
School Visit
As part of the 150th celebrations a school mass will be celebrated at St Mary’s Church at 10.00 am this Tuesday by the students and staff of St Mary’s.
This week the students will also be looking at the history of St Mary’s and parish life.
This week the students will also be looking at the history of St Mary’s and parish life.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Second Collection for CCN
The Catholic Communications Network provides support for the Bishops of England and Wales in promoting the Gospel in the media. There will be a second collection to support its work at all Masses this weekend.
The CCN depends on your generosity.
Thank you.
The CCN depends on your generosity.
Thank you.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Message for the 2009 World Day of Communications
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In anticipation of the forthcoming World Communications Day, I would like to address to you some reflections on the theme chosen for this year - New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship. The new digital technologies are, indeed, bringing about fundamental shifts in patterns of communication and human relationships. These changes are particularly evident among those young people who have grown up with the new technologies and are at home in a digital world that often seems quite foreign to those of us who, as adults, have had to learn to understand and appreciate the opportunities it has to offer for communications.
In this year’s message, I am conscious of those who constitute the so-called digital generation and I would like to share with them, in particular, some ideas concerning the extraordinary potential of the new technologies, if they are used to promote human understanding and solidarity. These technologies are truly a gift to humanity and we must endeavour to ensure that the benefits they offer are put at the service of all human individuals and communities, especially those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable.
The accessibility of mobile telephones and computers, combined with the global reach and penetration of the internet, has opened up a range of means of communication that permit the almost instantaneous communication of words and images across enormous distances and to some of the most isolated corners of the world; something that would have been unthinkable for previous generations. Young people, in particular, have grasped the enormous capacity of the new media to foster connectedness, communication and understanding between individuals and communities, and they are turning to them as means of communicating with existing friends, of meeting new friends, of forming communities and networks, of seeking information and news, and of sharing their ideas and opinions. Many benefits flow from this new culture of communication: families are able to maintain contact across great distances; students and researchers have more immediate and easier access to documents, sources and scientific discoveries, hence they can work collaboratively from different locations; moreover, the interactive nature of many of the new media facilitates more dynamic forms of learning and communication, thereby contributing to social progress.
While the speed with which the new technologies have evolved in terms of their efficiency and reliability is rightly a source of wonder, their popularity with users should not surprise us, as they respond to a fundamental desire of people to communicate and to relate to each other. This desire for communication and friendship is rooted in our very nature as human beings and cannot be adequately understood as a response to technical innovations. In the light of the biblical message, it should be seen primarily as a reflection of our participation in the communicative and unifying Love of God, who desires to make of all humanity one family. When we find ourselves drawn towards other people, when we want to know more about them and make ourselves known to them, we are responding to God’s call – a call that is imprinted in our nature as beings created in the image and likeness of God, the God of communication and communion.
The desire for connectedness and the instinct for communication that are so obvious in contemporary culture are best understood as modern manifestations of the basic and enduring propensity of humans to reach beyond themselves and to seek communion with others. In reality, when we open ourselves to others, we are fulfilling our deepest need and becoming more fully human. Loving is, in fact, what we are designed for by our Creator. Naturally, I am not talking about fleeting, shallow relationships, I am talking about the real love that is at the very heart of Jesus’ moral teaching: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You must love your neighbour as yourself” (cf. Mk 12:30-31).
In this light, reflecting on the significance of the new technologies, it is important to focus not just on their undoubted capacity to foster contact between people, but on the quality of the content that is put into circulation using these means. I would encourage all people of good will who are active in the emerging environment of digital communication to commit themselves to promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship.
Those who are active in the production and dissemination of new media content, therefore, should strive to respect the dignity and worth of the human person. If the new technologies are to serve the good of individuals and of society, all users will avoid the sharing of words and images that are degrading of human beings, that promote hatred and intolerance, that debase the goodness and intimacy of human sexuality or that exploit the weak and vulnerable.
The new technologies have also opened the way for dialogue between people from different countries, cultures and religions. The new digital arena, the so-called cyberspace, allows them to encounter and to know each other’s traditions and values.
Such encounters, if they are to be fruitful, require honest and appropriate forms of expression together with attentive and respectful listening. The dialogue must be rooted in a genuine and mutual searching for truth if it is to realize its potential to promote growth in understanding and tolerance. Life is not just a succession of events or experiences: it is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this – in truth, in goodness, and in beauty – that we find happiness and joy. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by those who see us merely as consumers in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth.
The concept of friendship has enjoyed a renewed prominence in the vocabulary of the new digital social networks that have emerged in the last few years. The concept is one of the noblest achievements of human culture. It is in and through our friendships that we grow and develop as humans. For this reason, true friendship has always been seen as one of the greatest goods any human person can experience. We should be careful, therefore, never to trivialize the concept or the experience of friendship. It would be sad if our desire to sustain and develop on-line friendships were to be at the cost of our availability to engage with our families, our neighbours and those we meet in the daily reality of our places of work, education and recreation. If the desire for virtual connectedness becomes obsessive, it may in fact function to isolate individuals from real social interaction while also disrupting the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development.
Friendship is a great human good, but it would be emptied of its ultimate value if it were to be understood as an end in itself. Friends should support and encourage each other in developing their gifts and talents and in putting them at the service of the human community. In this context, it is gratifying to note the emergence of new digital networks that seek to promote human solidarity, peace and justice, human rights and respect for human life and the good of creation. These networks can facilitate forms of co-operation between people from different geographical and cultural contexts that enable them to deepen their common humanity and their sense of shared responsibility for the good of all. We must, therefore, strive to ensure that the digital world, where such networks can be established, is a world that is truly open to all. It would be a tragedy for the future of humanity if the new instruments of communication, which permit the sharing of knowledge and information in a more rapid and effective manner, were not made accessible to those who are already economically and socially marginalized, or if it should contribute only to increasing the gap separating the poor from the new networks that are developing at the service of human socialization and information.
I would like to conclude this message by addressing myself, in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. In the early life of the Church, the great Apostles and their disciples brought the Good News of Jesus to the Greek and Roman world. Just as, at that time, a fruitful evangelization required that careful attention be given to understanding the culture and customs of those pagan peoples so that the truth of the gospel would touch their hearts and minds, so also today, the proclamation of Christ in the world of new technologies requires a profound knowledge of this world if the technologies are to serve our mission adequately. It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this “digital continent”.
Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the “Good News” of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing.
From the Vatican, 24 January 2009
In anticipation of the forthcoming World Communications Day, I would like to address to you some reflections on the theme chosen for this year - New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship. The new digital technologies are, indeed, bringing about fundamental shifts in patterns of communication and human relationships. These changes are particularly evident among those young people who have grown up with the new technologies and are at home in a digital world that often seems quite foreign to those of us who, as adults, have had to learn to understand and appreciate the opportunities it has to offer for communications.
In this year’s message, I am conscious of those who constitute the so-called digital generation and I would like to share with them, in particular, some ideas concerning the extraordinary potential of the new technologies, if they are used to promote human understanding and solidarity. These technologies are truly a gift to humanity and we must endeavour to ensure that the benefits they offer are put at the service of all human individuals and communities, especially those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable.
The accessibility of mobile telephones and computers, combined with the global reach and penetration of the internet, has opened up a range of means of communication that permit the almost instantaneous communication of words and images across enormous distances and to some of the most isolated corners of the world; something that would have been unthinkable for previous generations. Young people, in particular, have grasped the enormous capacity of the new media to foster connectedness, communication and understanding between individuals and communities, and they are turning to them as means of communicating with existing friends, of meeting new friends, of forming communities and networks, of seeking information and news, and of sharing their ideas and opinions. Many benefits flow from this new culture of communication: families are able to maintain contact across great distances; students and researchers have more immediate and easier access to documents, sources and scientific discoveries, hence they can work collaboratively from different locations; moreover, the interactive nature of many of the new media facilitates more dynamic forms of learning and communication, thereby contributing to social progress.
While the speed with which the new technologies have evolved in terms of their efficiency and reliability is rightly a source of wonder, their popularity with users should not surprise us, as they respond to a fundamental desire of people to communicate and to relate to each other. This desire for communication and friendship is rooted in our very nature as human beings and cannot be adequately understood as a response to technical innovations. In the light of the biblical message, it should be seen primarily as a reflection of our participation in the communicative and unifying Love of God, who desires to make of all humanity one family. When we find ourselves drawn towards other people, when we want to know more about them and make ourselves known to them, we are responding to God’s call – a call that is imprinted in our nature as beings created in the image and likeness of God, the God of communication and communion.
The desire for connectedness and the instinct for communication that are so obvious in contemporary culture are best understood as modern manifestations of the basic and enduring propensity of humans to reach beyond themselves and to seek communion with others. In reality, when we open ourselves to others, we are fulfilling our deepest need and becoming more fully human. Loving is, in fact, what we are designed for by our Creator. Naturally, I am not talking about fleeting, shallow relationships, I am talking about the real love that is at the very heart of Jesus’ moral teaching: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You must love your neighbour as yourself” (cf. Mk 12:30-31).
In this light, reflecting on the significance of the new technologies, it is important to focus not just on their undoubted capacity to foster contact between people, but on the quality of the content that is put into circulation using these means. I would encourage all people of good will who are active in the emerging environment of digital communication to commit themselves to promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship.
Those who are active in the production and dissemination of new media content, therefore, should strive to respect the dignity and worth of the human person. If the new technologies are to serve the good of individuals and of society, all users will avoid the sharing of words and images that are degrading of human beings, that promote hatred and intolerance, that debase the goodness and intimacy of human sexuality or that exploit the weak and vulnerable.
The new technologies have also opened the way for dialogue between people from different countries, cultures and religions. The new digital arena, the so-called cyberspace, allows them to encounter and to know each other’s traditions and values.
Such encounters, if they are to be fruitful, require honest and appropriate forms of expression together with attentive and respectful listening. The dialogue must be rooted in a genuine and mutual searching for truth if it is to realize its potential to promote growth in understanding and tolerance. Life is not just a succession of events or experiences: it is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this – in truth, in goodness, and in beauty – that we find happiness and joy. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by those who see us merely as consumers in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth.
The concept of friendship has enjoyed a renewed prominence in the vocabulary of the new digital social networks that have emerged in the last few years. The concept is one of the noblest achievements of human culture. It is in and through our friendships that we grow and develop as humans. For this reason, true friendship has always been seen as one of the greatest goods any human person can experience. We should be careful, therefore, never to trivialize the concept or the experience of friendship. It would be sad if our desire to sustain and develop on-line friendships were to be at the cost of our availability to engage with our families, our neighbours and those we meet in the daily reality of our places of work, education and recreation. If the desire for virtual connectedness becomes obsessive, it may in fact function to isolate individuals from real social interaction while also disrupting the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development.
Friendship is a great human good, but it would be emptied of its ultimate value if it were to be understood as an end in itself. Friends should support and encourage each other in developing their gifts and talents and in putting them at the service of the human community. In this context, it is gratifying to note the emergence of new digital networks that seek to promote human solidarity, peace and justice, human rights and respect for human life and the good of creation. These networks can facilitate forms of co-operation between people from different geographical and cultural contexts that enable them to deepen their common humanity and their sense of shared responsibility for the good of all. We must, therefore, strive to ensure that the digital world, where such networks can be established, is a world that is truly open to all. It would be a tragedy for the future of humanity if the new instruments of communication, which permit the sharing of knowledge and information in a more rapid and effective manner, were not made accessible to those who are already economically and socially marginalized, or if it should contribute only to increasing the gap separating the poor from the new networks that are developing at the service of human socialization and information.
I would like to conclude this message by addressing myself, in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. In the early life of the Church, the great Apostles and their disciples brought the Good News of Jesus to the Greek and Roman world. Just as, at that time, a fruitful evangelization required that careful attention be given to understanding the culture and customs of those pagan peoples so that the truth of the gospel would touch their hearts and minds, so also today, the proclamation of Christ in the world of new technologies requires a profound knowledge of this world if the technologies are to serve our mission adequately. It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this “digital continent”.
Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the “Good News” of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing.
From the Vatican, 24 January 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
World Communications Day
The official theme is: “New Technologies, New Relationships. Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.”
In his message for this year’s World Communications Day, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, addresses young people in particular:
“It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this ‘digital continent’. Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the ‘Good News’ of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people.
Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing.”
Communications Sunday Prayer
O God, whose word is truth
and in whose light we see light,
guide those who tell the story
of our times through word and image.
Make them seekers after truth
and advocates of human dignity.
Grant discernment to all
who rely on their labours,
and, as we confront the pain
and promise of this world,
awaken in us a sense of wonder
at your presence
and of longing for your peace.
Please remember the work of communications professionals on World Communications Sunday.
In his message for this year’s World Communications Day, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, addresses young people in particular:
“It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this ‘digital continent’. Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the ‘Good News’ of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people.
Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing.”
Communications Sunday Prayer
O God, whose word is truth
and in whose light we see light,
guide those who tell the story
of our times through word and image.
Make them seekers after truth
and advocates of human dignity.
Grant discernment to all
who rely on their labours,
and, as we confront the pain
and promise of this world,
awaken in us a sense of wonder
at your presence
and of longing for your peace.
Please remember the work of communications professionals on World Communications Sunday.
Coffee Morning
Onchan Methodist Church are hosting a coffee morning on Monday 25th May from 10.30 until 12 noon. Proceeds in aid of the work of Methodist Mission Partner Rev Dr Janet Corlett and in Utila, Honduras. Admission is £1.00.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Evening Pilgrimage
This Friday, 22nd May, there will be an evening pilgrimage and prayers by candlelight in the grounds of Rushen Abbey.
The evening will begin at 9pm in the Parish Hall of the Abbey Church, Ballasalla, where a simple supper will be available.Everyone is welcome and admission is completely free of charge. There is no need to book – just turn up on the night!After the supper in the Parish Hall, there will be a procession to the grounds of Rushen Abbey for an act of worship and candlelit pilgrimage. The event will conclude in the Abbey Church.(Should it be a rainy evening, the prayers will take place in the Abbey Church.)
For more information, please pick up a leaflet from the Manx Museum in Douglas or visit www.prayingthekeeills.org.
The evening will begin at 9pm in the Parish Hall of the Abbey Church, Ballasalla, where a simple supper will be available.Everyone is welcome and admission is completely free of charge. There is no need to book – just turn up on the night!After the supper in the Parish Hall, there will be a procession to the grounds of Rushen Abbey for an act of worship and candlelit pilgrimage. The event will conclude in the Abbey Church.(Should it be a rainy evening, the prayers will take place in the Abbey Church.)
For more information, please pick up a leaflet from the Manx Museum in Douglas or visit www.prayingthekeeills.org.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Our Father Banner
To mark the 150th Anniversary of St Mary of the Isle the pupils at St Mary’s School have made the “Our Father” banner which is now hanging near the first Station of the Cross in St Mary’s .
The wall hanging is over eight feet square and has the words of Our Father.
Each pupil of the school, last year, made a letter for the banner. It’s a work of art.
The wall hanging is over eight feet square and has the words of Our Father.
Each pupil of the school, last year, made a letter for the banner. It’s a work of art.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Hand of Hope Concert
The Salvation Army Douglas will present the "Hands of Hope Concert" next Saturday, 23rd May at the Salvation Army Citadel, Lord Street starting at 7.00 pm.
This will be a musical feast featuring soloists Terence Qualtrough and Karen Elliott with Douglas Salvation Army Band and Timbrels.Tickets are £4 each including refreshments. All money raised will be given to the Manx Register Charity "Hands of Hope" who assist the poor and needy in the Dorohoi area of Botosani County, Romania.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Sea Sunday
As part of our 150th celebrations, Sunday 12th July will be a day of remembering past and present members of the Parish who have or had connections with the Sea. If you or your family have any history or anecdotes of seafarers could you please contact Mary Carter on 621258.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Praying the Keels 16th to 23rd May
This is the fourth successive year that a week in May has been set aside for ‘Praying the Keeills’. Organised by local churches, ‘Praying the Keeills’ Week includes a varied programme of events, including visits to the Island’s ancient keeills.
Monday, 18th: An illustrated talk by Manx National Heritage Curator of Field Archaeology, Andrew Johnson, will form another part of the ‘Praying the Keeills’ Week event programme at 7.45pm at the Promenade Methodist Church, Douglas. Andrew will talk about the discoveries made at a keeill site at Mount Murray Country Club by Channel 4’s Time Team in 2006. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Friday, 22nd May: An evening pilgrimage and prayers by candlelight in the grounds of Rushen Abbey. The evening will begin at 9pm in the Parish Hall of the Abbey Church, Ballasalla, where a simple supper will be available.
Everyone is welcome and admission is completely free of charge. There is no need to book – just turn up on the night!
After the supper in the Parish Hall, there will be a procession to the grounds of Rushen Abbey for an act of worship and candlelit pilgrimage. The event will conclude in the Abbey Church.
(Should it be a rainy evening, the prayers will take place in the Abbey Church.)
For more information, please pick up a leaflet from the Manx Museum in Douglas or visit www.prayingthekeeills.org.
Monday, 18th: An illustrated talk by Manx National Heritage Curator of Field Archaeology, Andrew Johnson, will form another part of the ‘Praying the Keeills’ Week event programme at 7.45pm at the Promenade Methodist Church, Douglas. Andrew will talk about the discoveries made at a keeill site at Mount Murray Country Club by Channel 4’s Time Team in 2006. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Friday, 22nd May: An evening pilgrimage and prayers by candlelight in the grounds of Rushen Abbey. The evening will begin at 9pm in the Parish Hall of the Abbey Church, Ballasalla, where a simple supper will be available.
Everyone is welcome and admission is completely free of charge. There is no need to book – just turn up on the night!
After the supper in the Parish Hall, there will be a procession to the grounds of Rushen Abbey for an act of worship and candlelit pilgrimage. The event will conclude in the Abbey Church.
(Should it be a rainy evening, the prayers will take place in the Abbey Church.)
For more information, please pick up a leaflet from the Manx Museum in Douglas or visit www.prayingthekeeills.org.
International Dinner Night
The South Douglas Old Friends Association was full last night with many people enjoying the delights of food from around the world prepared by members of St Mary's parish community. We had dishes from many places including the Isle of Man, China, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Zimbabwe. There was food to suit all taste buds. And of course there was a wide selection of deserts to finish the meal. Music for the evening was provided by Shenanigans.
It was a wonderful occasion not only from a dining experience but also an opportunity to meet other people from our Parishes.
Thank you to all who supported the evening by preparing the food and attending the event. The International Dinner was part of the celebrations to mark the 150th Anniversary of the opening of St Mary of the Isle in August 1859.
It was a wonderful occasion not only from a dining experience but also an opportunity to meet other people from our Parishes.
Thank you to all who supported the evening by preparing the food and attending the event. The International Dinner was part of the celebrations to mark the 150th Anniversary of the opening of St Mary of the Isle in August 1859.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
May time tea
The Isle of Man Adoption Society are holding a May Time Tea with entertainment by Cronk-y-Berry School Choir on Thursday, 14th May from 2.00 to 4.00 pm at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Douglas. Ticket cost £4.00 (including Afternoon Tea). Please support.
The Great Adventure
A journey through the Bible in film, discussion and learning at the Grotto Hall at St Anthony's Onchan every Friday evening at 7.45 pm. Everyone welcome
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Christian Aid Week
Christian Aid Week starts today. Here on the Island Christian Aid are aiming to raise £40,000 and it is hoped that the IOM Government will match this amount. The money raised will go to a project in Burundi. Events during the week include:
Sunday, 10th May at 6.30 pm: United Christian Aid service at Trinity Methodist Church. Speakers: Rev Dee Dee Haines and Rosario Advirta (CA Angola Programme Officer).
Tuesday 12th May from 10.00 am to noon: Coffee morning at Port Erin Methodist hall.
Wednesday, 13th from 3.00 to 5.00pm: Fair-trade cakes and yummies at The Well, Broadway, Douglas
Wednesday, 13th at 7.30pm: ‘Quizaid’ at Corrin Hall, Peel. Teams welcome – contact Pauline Davenport 842507.
Friday, 22nd at 7.30pm: ‘Quizaid’ at St Andrews, Douglas. Teams (of 4/6) welcome – contact Joyce Gaskell 813824.
Sunday, 10th May at 6.30 pm: United Christian Aid service at Trinity Methodist Church. Speakers: Rev Dee Dee Haines and Rosario Advirta (CA Angola Programme Officer).
Tuesday 12th May from 10.00 am to noon: Coffee morning at Port Erin Methodist hall.
Wednesday, 13th from 3.00 to 5.00pm: Fair-trade cakes and yummies at The Well, Broadway, Douglas
Wednesday, 13th at 7.30pm: ‘Quizaid’ at Corrin Hall, Peel. Teams welcome – contact Pauline Davenport 842507.
Friday, 22nd at 7.30pm: ‘Quizaid’ at St Andrews, Douglas. Teams (of 4/6) welcome – contact Joyce Gaskell 813824.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Celebrating 150 Years
As you may be aware St Mary’s celebrates the 150th Anniversary of its opening on the 4th August this year.
There are many events and activites during the year to mark the occasion. You will have already seen last November "A year of meditation and prayer" booklet and we had the "Journey to Calvary and Beyond" booklet in February.
This Thursday the parish will celebrate with the International Dinner (tickets still available).
The following are some of the other events that will take place during the year:
Tuesday, 25th May: St Mary’s School Celebration Mass at St Mary’s Church and during this week at school will look at some of the history of St Mary’s.
Sunday, 12th July: Sea Sunday - celebrating the links between St Mary’s and the sea.
Celebration Week 2nd to 9th August
Exhibition and flower festival at St Mary’s.
Ave Maria - a small book of devotion to Our Lady - will be available this week.
Sunday, 2nd August: Childrens Day.
Tuesday, 4th August: 150th Anniversary Mass.
Thursday, 6th August: Songs of Praise Music Evening.
Sunday, 22nd November - Feast of Christ the King.
11.00 am: Latin Mass at St Mary’s.
7.00 pm: Youth Mass at St Mary’s.
November: launch of Music from St Mary’s CD.
These are just some of the events that are taking place. Details of these and other events will be published in the weekly Newsletter.
There are many events and activites during the year to mark the occasion. You will have already seen last November "A year of meditation and prayer" booklet and we had the "Journey to Calvary and Beyond" booklet in February.
This Thursday the parish will celebrate with the International Dinner (tickets still available).
The following are some of the other events that will take place during the year:
Tuesday, 25th May: St Mary’s School Celebration Mass at St Mary’s Church and during this week at school will look at some of the history of St Mary’s.
Sunday, 12th July: Sea Sunday - celebrating the links between St Mary’s and the sea.
Celebration Week 2nd to 9th August
Exhibition and flower festival at St Mary’s.
Ave Maria - a small book of devotion to Our Lady - will be available this week.
Sunday, 2nd August: Childrens Day.
Tuesday, 4th August: 150th Anniversary Mass.
Thursday, 6th August: Songs of Praise Music Evening.
Sunday, 22nd November - Feast of Christ the King.
11.00 am: Latin Mass at St Mary’s.
7.00 pm: Youth Mass at St Mary’s.
November: launch of Music from St Mary’s CD.
These are just some of the events that are taking place. Details of these and other events will be published in the weekly Newsletter.
School Vouchers
The pupils at St Mary’s School are collecting the Tesco for Schools and Clubs vouchers. If you shop there please collect the vouchers and hand in to the School, Parish Office or at Mass each week.
The Wednesday Word
A new, weekly, Scripture and Prayer resource for the 21st Century Church.
In our three churches the The Wednesday Word is available each weekend for you to take home.
Full details about the mission can be found at http://www.wednesdayword.org/.
In our three churches the The Wednesday Word is available each weekend for you to take home.
Full details about the mission can be found at http://www.wednesdayword.org/.
150 International Dinner
As part of the celebrations to mark the 150th opening of St Mary of the Isle there will be an International Dinner on Thursday, 14th May at 7.00 pm at Douglas Pensioners Club, Finch Road. Only 100 tickets available. Music by Shenanigans.
In appreciation of the many nationalities in our church community we wish to have a variety of dishes all supplied by members of our International Church Community. We hope to have Indian, Irish, Italian, Maltese, Phillippino, Portuguese, South African and Zimbabwe. If you would like to offer a dish from your country, main or desert, we would be very pleased to accept.
For tickets or to offer a course please contact Sheila Scott 475990 or our Deacon Graham 495704.
In appreciation of the many nationalities in our church community we wish to have a variety of dishes all supplied by members of our International Church Community. We hope to have Indian, Irish, Italian, Maltese, Phillippino, Portuguese, South African and Zimbabwe. If you would like to offer a dish from your country, main or desert, we would be very pleased to accept.
For tickets or to offer a course please contact Sheila Scott 475990 or our Deacon Graham 495704.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Lourdes Fund
The Lenten Alms collected at our three churches raised over £1,200 during Lent. The beneficiaries are The KSC Lourdes Fund and The Lourdes Youth Fund each receiveing £620. Many thanks to you all for your generosity.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
A new, weekly, Scripture and Prayer resource for the 21st Century Church
I am writing to tell you about The Wednesday Word. This is a national prayer mission which I am asking you to support. The mission links parishes and schools throughout the country through regular weekly prayer.
Each week the Parish Version of The Wednesday Word will be made available for parishioners to take home with your newsletter. Please do consider starting to pray the Parish Version of The Wednesday Word in spiritual solidarity with many parishioners throughout the British Isles.
And please particularly remember the non-practising families throughout the schools in our countries – that they be touched by the Gospel they read in the Primary School Version of The Wednesday Word and that their faith may be deepened and their lives in Christ flourish.
The Wednesday Word Mission is dedicated to St Joseph, Patron saint of Families and Protector of the Church. In the tradition of the Catholic Church each Wednesday is dedicated to him.
Lord, we ask you to bless our parishes and the many families in our Catholic schools.
Open our eyes to see your glory; open our ears to hear your call; open our lips to sing your praise; guide us on our journey of faith.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
St Joseph, pray for us.
Our Lady, Star of evangelisation, pray for us.
Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB
contributor to The Wednesday Word
Each week the Parish Version of The Wednesday Word will be made available for parishioners to take home with your newsletter. Please do consider starting to pray the Parish Version of The Wednesday Word in spiritual solidarity with many parishioners throughout the British Isles.
And please particularly remember the non-practising families throughout the schools in our countries – that they be touched by the Gospel they read in the Primary School Version of The Wednesday Word and that their faith may be deepened and their lives in Christ flourish.
The Wednesday Word Mission is dedicated to St Joseph, Patron saint of Families and Protector of the Church. In the tradition of the Catholic Church each Wednesday is dedicated to him.
Lord, we ask you to bless our parishes and the many families in our Catholic schools.
Open our eyes to see your glory; open our ears to hear your call; open our lips to sing your praise; guide us on our journey of faith.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
St Joseph, pray for us.
Our Lady, Star of evangelisation, pray for us.
Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB
contributor to The Wednesday Word
Friday, May 01, 2009
Want to learn more about your faith?
Knowing God Better at the Grotto Hall at St Anthony’s Onchan each Friday evening at 7.45 pm. Good company & fellowship. All welcome.
Church Music Workshop
Saturday, 11th July at St Anthony’s Hall with Anne Preston from the Liverpool Archdiocese Music Service. All welcome.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Welcome Group
In our churches we are seeing a number of new members each week. We feel there should be an opportunity to help them settle into their new enviroment by having a regular social evening where they can meet other new members and existing membersof our church community. Arrangements will be made to take them out to places of interest on the island including eating places.
If anyone would like to be involved could we meet this Thursday (30 April) evening at 7.00 pm in the Tea Room at St Mary’s Church from where we will go out. Just turn up. All welcome.
If anyone would like to be involved could we meet this Thursday (30 April) evening at 7.00 pm in the Tea Room at St Mary’s Church from where we will go out. Just turn up. All welcome.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Clocks for Koru
St Anthony’s Repository has handmade clocks, made by local craftsman, Alan Stone, in wood from the original Altar Rail from Our Lady’s Grotto. They are being sold in aid of Koru Hospital Fund. They can also be made to order by contacting Alan on 484381.
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