Congratulations Marie Claire & Luke

It was my great pleasure to be in Ronda this weekend for the marriage of Marie Claire Dunlop and Luke Parker. I have known Marie Claire's wonderful family since my Woking days (assistant priest Nov 97-Aug 99). The marriage took place in the church of Espiritu Santo where I was fortunate enough to celebrate Mass on the Satrurday and Sunday. In Spanish style we began the ceremony at 5pm and the bride left the dance floor after 5 the next morning!
The sacristan Diego and the pp Don Salavador gave us the warmest of Spanish welcomes.
It is a great treat of the priesthood to be asked to preside at these wonderful moments of God's grace and to spend time like this with people who have been such solid friends and great supports over the years.
Please pray for the newly married and for at least four other couples who were at the wedding and preapring for marriage in the near future./

We four.....

Fr Steven Purnell, Fr Jonathan Martin, Fr Brian Taylor, Fr Richard Biggerstaff.
Fr Taylor had the spelendid idea of signing an ordination card and sending it to Cardinal Murphy O'Connor.
We are so grateful to the cardinal for his kindness to us. We talked warmly of the priests who welcomed us into their presbyteries and parishes in those early months after reception into the Church and before ordination: Mgr Jim McConnon RIP, Fr Gordon Simmons RIP, Canon Bernard Thom RIP as well as Fr Bennie O'Shea, at present pp of Esher and a vicar general.

A close up of the holy faces

Feast of St Philip Neri

Fr Richard celebrates his fifteenth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood today. He was one of four ordained by Bishop Murphy O'Connor at Arundel on this day in 1996 which was the Solemnity of Pentecost. Fr Jonathan Martin, chancellor of the diocese of Arundel & Brighton, Fr Steven Purnell and Fr Brian Taylor are meeting at Arundel Cathedral to make a pilgrimage and enjoy a lunch. All four had been Anglican ministers. Today there are some 17 former Anglican clergy who are serving as priests of the diocese of Arundel & Brighton.

Stella Cooper

Stella Cooper is pictured in the grounds of St Pancras Priory. Each week Stella takes Holy Communion to Mary McDougall in Ringmer. Stella reads at Holy Mass and organises the readers rota for the 6pm Vigil Mass. She is always full of good humour and is a joy to meet. The other day I bumped into her at the garden centre, she was there for her dinner!

Mrs Brenda & Mr Tony Wade at the Mass of St Pancras, Lewes Priory on the Feast

The baptism of Greta

Last Saturday Greta was baptised at St Pancras. The daughter of Andrei & Caroline, this family live in Canada. Caroline & Andrei were married in St Pancras Lewes on 1st November 2008. This was a lovely occasion. Andrei's mother was present from Russia and Caroline's parents from Gundreda Road! There were also assorted friends and family. Mrs Wade, one of our longstanding parishioners and Caroline's first school teacher, came to the baptisim. Baptism is the most beautiful moment, and the most important.  We treasure the celebration of a baptism, not least because it is the most eloquent reminder of our own moment of baptism and therefore the most important day of our lives. 

Holy Mass of St Pancras at Lewes Priory

Was this the first Mass to be celebrated at Lewes Priory since the English Protestant Reformation and the destruction of the Priory Church.? Almost 200 of us gathered to celebrate the Mass of St Pancras our Patron. The Mass was offered for Fr Tony Collins who is sick and all those who are sick in the parish.
Pancras the Peerless Patron of children, Pray for us

Pope Blessed John Paul II

I managed to be in Rome for a few days after the beatification ceremonies of John Paul II. I was with freinds and a vast number of pilgrims and we managed to find our way into the basilica at 2am on Monday! It was worth the wait. I prayed for the parish and for all parishioners at the relics of Pope Blessed John Paul II.