The Parishioner - Edition 25

ParishionerISSUE 25 SUMMER 2015What’s all this fuss about the roof ?Much has already been reported about damageand decay to the church roof and here we havethe photographs to prove it. The roof and theexterior show that a great deal of work is needed.This has now been considered, along with someinitial quotes for repair, by a building consultant,Mr Andrew Roche, who recently oversaw thereplacement of the roof etc. of Our Lady’sChurch, Gillingham and who is well respected bythe Diocese. His report sums up the stark reality:“The main issue is the failing slate covered pitchedroofs but there are also detached/eroding sectionsof stonework, defective and corroding caste ironrainwater goods, leaking downpipes, flaking paintcoverings, rotting timber window sills and frames,copings in need of repair and pointing etc.Essentially, reroofing and general overhaul ofthe church buildings.”We have been advised to expect a bill of£125,000+VAT for this work, which including theconsultant’s 10 per cent fee, brings us to the sumof around £150,000. The consultant will overseethe whole process: detailed building spec., tendersand oversight of the work itself. Due to theurgency of the work the Diocesan Finance Officehas given us permission to seek interest free loansfrom other diocesan parishes – letters have beensent out, so ‘watch this space!’. If any parishioneris in a position to offer a sizable interest free loanto the parish, please speak to Canon Luke.Obviously our commitment to fundraising isimperative for this project (see Page 2), amongstothers, and we are seeking loans as we cannotput the job off any longer otherwise thework needed will just snowball.Many thanks to Mark Coatsworth for the photos.

ParishionerTHE PARISH OF ST FRANCISGROVE HOUSE, 126 WEEK STREET, MAIDSTONE,KENT ME14 1RH.Telephone: (01622) 756217 Fax: (01622) 690549Email: stfrancis_parish@yahoo.co.ukWeb site: www.stfrancisparish.org.ukParish Priest: Canon Luke SmithAssistant Priests: Fr Bartlomiej Dudek, Fr Peter KucharskiOrdinariate Priest: Fr Paul GibbonsParish Deacons: Rev. Tom Coyle & Rev. Ian BlackParishioner Editors: Denis & Ross Neale.Telelephone: 01622 200025.Email: denisneale@blueyonder.co.ukA word from Canon LukeWelcome to the latest edition of the‘Parishioner’ Once again I would liketo thank our editors Denis and RossNeale for the many hours they have spenteliciting, chasing and editing the variouscontributions. Similarly I would like tothank all those parishioners who have kindlysourced and prepared articles and photographs.The ‘Parishioner’ provides a collage ourparish’s life; reflecting something of the richdiversity of people, gifts, activities, prayer,shared life and witness. The front pagehighlights our current preoccupation, whichthe replacement of our church roof. Althoughbricks and mortar, or should I say slates andstone, are not the be all and end all of theChurch’s existence, our need of a worthy houseof prayer in which the living stones making upthe Church are formed and nourished isimportant. The church building itself is asymbol of the presence and action of Christ’sChurch in the world. St Francis’ certainly hasa prime location in Maidstone and manypeople drop in throughout the day; hopefullywe provide an oasis of peace and prayerenabling all who enter our doors to open theirhearts and minds to the presence of God. The‘buzz’ created by the roof project certainlyseems to have drawn the parish together in acommon purpose and it is wonderful to see thesharing of ideas, projects and events, as well asand people working together in so many ways;this has not only borne material fruit butspiritual too as we the ‘living stones’ are drawninto deeper communion with God and witheach other. This reminds me of the challengethat the First Letter of St Peter puts before us:‘set yourselves close to Christ so that you maybecome living stones making a spiritual house.’As you peruse the articles I pray that it willinspire each member of the parish to take anactive part in parish worship and activities,which in turn deepen the bonds of faith andfellowship which knit us together as a parishcommunity and as part of the universalChurch.To those who read this on-line I hope thatit bears witness to the warmth, vibrancy offaith, and commitment to the Church I haveexperienced in the first year of my appointmenthere as parish priest. I pray that it may be notonly informative for allwho read it, but alsoinspire and strengthen youin your relationship withour Lord and his bodywhich is the Church.Canon LukeCHURCH ROOF FUND:OUR ROOF IS IN A STATE!SO... PLEASE BUYA SLATE!Leaflets are are available now in the church porch abouthow you can pay for your slates or can be downloadedfrom the parish website: www.stfrancisparish.org.ukThere are approximately 6,000 slates to be replaced onthe church roof. Please boost the roof fund by buying asmany slates as you can. Slates sponsored to date, 1,002.1 Slate = £5.00Thanks to all those who organised and contributed itemsfor the craft, cake and refreshment sale on Saturday, 13thJune which raised £395 including donations. The cake saleon Sunday, 26th July raised £82.Loose Change CollectionThanks, also, to Deacon Tom Coyle, his wife Lyn anddaughter, Katherine whoorganised a Loose ChangeCollection which raised £1570including Gift Aid.Currently we have raised£30,329.00 for the roof fund(NB the £30,000 legacy ofTeresa De Franca has beenallocated to this fund). Thank you for all recent donations;all your contributions really make a difference.TRASHED, RESCUED,NOW TREASUREDIt’s not easy to miss the Sacred Heart of Jesusstatue which was set up in the church in Juneand it has an interesting story. Spotted in Trashor Treasure, (the fascinating shop of collectiblesand vintage goods nearby the church), a couplefrom the parish (who wish to be anonymous)were saddened to see the state it was in, boughtit and donated it to Canon Luke for the church.Canon Luke happily accepted and sent it toJeanette Lewis, an expertin Liverpool who restoredthe statue to its formerdignity. On the Solemnityof the Most Sacred Heartof Jesus on June 12th, thestatue was solemnlyblessed at the 8pm Mass.Many parishioners haveThe statue used as a hat displayin the shopwelcomed this beautifuladdition to our churchbuilding.2

Keeping the Flame 2 alive in ouryoung people!!If anybody had passed St Simon Stock Catholic School on Saturday 7March 2015 they would have seen a very excited bunch of youngpeople and helpers on our way to Wembley! Was this for a popconcert or a football match? No, we were all going to Flame 2, acelebration of faith by young people.On Saturday 7 March 2015, 20 Phoenix Youth Club members andleaders together with 8 young people from St Simon Stock CatholicSchool together with Beth Reeves, the Christian Youth Worker andBrendan Wall, Head teacher. We were all gathered at St Simon Stockawaiting the coach to SSE Arena at Wembley to the CYMFED Flame 2Congress.A couple of members from Phoenix Youth Club had been to the firstFlame Congress in March 2012 but this was the first time I and most ofthe other people had been. I had no idea what to expect but I was reallyexcited to be going and had quite high expectations of the day.On arrival in Wembley immediately I wasn’t disappointed. As ourcoach pulled into the carpark there were other young people witht-shirts and hoodies with logos of the Diocese they had come with or thegroup of Catholic young people they were part of and you could reallyfeel the excitement in the air. As we entered the arena itlooked like a pop concert with large screens on each sideand a large screen in the middle, sound equipment, lighting,large inflatables advertising and welcoming, it wasbreathtaking.The show started with young people who work inyoung ministry dancing and singing followed by music fromMatt Redman which was amazing and really brought thearena to life, it is modern worship music which the youngpeople really enjoy. A couple of his more famous songs thathe sang are 10,000 Reasons and Our God, both of whichPhoenix Youth Club have sung when we have led the 6 pmMass.Lydia BurchellPhoenix Youth Club LeaderWe all really enjoyed listening to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, theArchbishop of Manila, who had recently accompanied Pope Francisduring his trip to the Philippines. He encouraged everyone to text afriend the words “blessed are the merciful”. We also heard from FrTimothy Radcliffe, Baroness Sheila Hollins, David Wells and CardinalVincent Nichols. A group of young people told us about their yearworking overseas for CAFOD and how their faith helped in their dailylives. Along with two Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, there weremany Priests from throughout England & Wales.During the break we all went outside to eat our lunch and enjoy thesunshine which we were so blessed with in March, the weather couldnot have been better.After lunch we took part in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ledby Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, we listened toreadings and prayers. Cardinal Nichols gave a homily during which heprayed for all the young people of the church. Adoration thenconcluded with 8,000 young people singing Benediction led by MattRedman.The day went so quickly, it could not have been better and I enjoyedevery moment. I met many people I know from theDiocese who are involved in youth work and it was afantastic opportunity for everyone who is involved inyouth ministry together with the young people tocome together to praise God.I would like to especially thank the CatenianAssociation for their help with the transport costs toFlame 2 and for being one of the sponsors of theevent. With 8,000 young people in Wembley Arenanobody can say that the faith is not alive in the heartsof our young people. Many of us at Phoenix YouthClub are really looking forward to going to WorldYouth Day in Krakow in 2016.We were requested by CYMFED FlameCongress to Tweet a group selfie onthe coach as you travel to WembleyArena – This is our group selfie!Travelling to Flame with Rebecca, James, Mikaela andAbigaelAn excited Phoenix Youth Club group photograph onarrival at WembleyGroup photo (inc Brendan Wall,headteacher from St Simon Stock) atlunchtime in front of the WembleyArchCardinal Tagle from the Philippinesgiving the young people at Flame aninspirational talk “Blessed are themerciful”Beautiful moment when Wembley came alive with the torches onmobiles as everyone prayed togetherWonderful rousingperformances onthe stage atWembley Arch whilewe are showered inticker tape3

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is relativelynew way of welcoming, forming and initiating newmembers into the Church, but is as old asChristianity itself. Like many things that broughtrenewed life to the Church after Vatican 11, its rootsare found in the very early Church.After Jesus’ death and resurrection the Churchendured sporadic persecution at the hands of theRoman authorities for nearly 300 years. Christianstended to live in small communities - perhaps similarto what nowadays we call a parish. Any adults whoshowed an interest in Christianity would live in thecommunity and were known as ‘Catechumens’. The Christiancommunity were tasked with setting an example, teaching theCatechumens and discerning their readiness for accepting theresponsibility of the Christian life which comes with Baptism.Over the centuries, especially after infant Baptism became thenorm in around the 5th Century AD, any adult wishing to join theChurch would be instructed in private sessions with their parishpriest and may well have slipped unnoticed into the pews to sink orswim among the congregation.In 1972 the Vatican called for the reinstatement of theCatechumenate and a process (RCIA) which would echo theexperience of the early Church. RCIA seeks to involve the wholecommunity and the ethos behind it is that it is awhole-parish process. It presents us with the theoryand practice that faith is living and growing withineach one of us and each of us is on a journey whichwe travel together. It seeks to give people knowledgeabout what the Church teaches and an awareness ofwhat that means in terms of a living relationshipwith God.We have been running RCIA at St. Francis since1993 and those of us who have been involved injourneying with the Catechumens over the years willtestify that our own faith is enriched, time and again,by the experience.So, what does all this mean for us asparishioners? I believe that we too need to recapturethe enthusiasm and commitment of those earlyChristians. We only have to read the Acts of theApostles to discover a people who were aware ofThe Parish and RCIASheila Connolly“The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’sword, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship andcelebration. In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelisers. It is acommunity of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journeyand a centre of constant missionary outreach.”Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ (The Joy of the Gospel) #28 (2013)their Baptismal ministry to evangelise - a word whichmeans spreading the Good News. They weren’tperfect, and we won’t be either, but by far the majorityof those that we have met on RCIA wanted to find outmore about our faith because of an encounter with aCatholic. On one occasion it was a six year old whotaught her mother how to pray. Blessed OscarRomero’s prayer ‘A Step Along the Way’ reminds usthat ‘we are ministers, not messiahs.........we plant theseeds that one day will grow’. We may never know theimpact of how some small action or gesture mayhave planted a seed and begun the process ofevangelisation.We are a huge parish, and it is difficult to spot the unfamiliarface. But we have a town centre church and people do pop in, soperhaps we can reflect on the quality of the welcome they mightreceive. The Welcoming Ministry doesn’t just belong to those whomake sure we have hymn books and newsletters at Sunday Mass.We all have a responsibility to make sure that whoever comesthrough our doors, fellow parishioner or stranger, is treated warmlyand courteously.We should try our best to be good examples of our faith, whichcan’t be just a private matter, but a way of life lived in the companyof others. At certain times of the year we will be praying for thecatechumens in the Bidding Prayers and this canhelp to remind us of their existence, and a few moreprayers wouldn’t go amiss. During Lent eachcatechumen is allocated a ‘prayer friend’ whoundertakes to pray for them each day as theyprepare to be received into the Church at Easter.Perhaps you might volunteer to do this? We couldcheck the newsletter to see when the special RCIARites are taking place at the 10.30 main parish Mass(starting in advent) and perhaps try to come along.If you recognise a new Catholic at Mass or in thesupermarket, say ‘Hello’ and if you know someonewho is a bit curious about your faith talk to themabout it and invite them to come and meet us.But underpinning all of this must be ourawareness that for all of us our journey of faith neverends. We are on exactly the same journey as theCatechumens and we can all learn from each other.New parishioners received into the Church during this Easter’s Vigil Mass and those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation, with their sponsors.4

What Does the Word Catholic Mean?by Steve Ray.As a Protestant, I went to an Evangelical church that changed animportant and historical word in the Apostles Creed. Instead ofthe “holy, catholic Church,” we were the “holy, Christian church.”At the time, I thought nothing of it. There was certainly no evil intent,just a loathing of the Catholic Church and a distinct desire to distanceourselves from its heresy and man-made traditions.I assumed that early on Catholics deviated from “biblical Christianity”so they simply invented a new word to describe their new society. Sincewe Evangelicals were supposedly the ones faithful to the Bible we had nointerest in the word catholic since it was found nowhere between thecovers of the Bible. It was a biased word loaded with negative baggageso we removed it from the Creed.I should have asked myself “Where did the word catholic come from,and what does it mean?” Was I right to assume that Roman Catholicsinvented the word to set themselves apart from biblical Christianity?.Let’s start with an understanding of doctrinal development and thedefinition of catholic.The development of doctrine is not just a Catholicphenomenon. It is also a fact among Protestants and all religions ortheological traditions. Over time, theological words develop to helpexplain the deeper understanding of the faith. As Christians ponder therevelation passed on by the apostles and deposited in his Church theChurch mulls over God’s Word, thinking deeper and deeper. It is not unlikepeeling the layers away from an onion as one goes deeper to the heart.Development of doctrine defines, sharpens, and interprets the depositof faith. The Bible is not a theological textbook or a detailed churchmanual, such as say a catechism or study guide. The Bible’s meaning isnot always clear as St. Peter tells us (2 Pet 3:15?16). Thirty-threethousand competing Protestant denominations also make this factapparent as they fail to agree on what the Bible says. It takes theauthority of a universal Church and the successors of the apostles toformulate the doctrines of the faith. As an Evangelical, I was naïve enoughto think I could recreate the “theological” wheel for myself.To illustrate doctrinal development, let’s look at the word trinity. Theword trinity never appears in the Bible, nor does the Bible give explicitformulas for the nature of the Trinity as commonly used today, such as“one God is three persons,” or “three persons, one nature.” Yet, the wordTrinity, as developed within the Catholic Church, is an essential belief fornearly every Protestant denomination. The first recorded use of the wordtrinity (trias) was in the writings of Theophilus of Antioch around theyear a.d. 180. Although not found in the Bible, the early Church developedwords such as Trinity, which are used to define and explain basic, essentialChristian doctrines.Interestingly, while many Protestants object to the idea ofdevelopment of doctrine within the Catholic Church, they seem to haveno problem with developments in their own camp—even novelties andinventions. Take for example the Rapture, another word not found in theBible and not used in any theological circles until the mid-19th century.After a prophetic utterance from two women at a Scottish revival meeting,the new doctrine of the Rapture spread like wildfire through England andAmerica.It was the Catholic Church that defined the Blessed Trinity, thedivinity and humanity of Christ—the hypostatic union of two natures inthe one divine person of Jesus—, salvation, baptism, the BlessedEucharist, and all the other doctrines that have been the bedrock ofthe Christian faith. It is also the Catholic Church that gave birth tothe New Testament—collecting, canonizing, preserving, distributing, andinterpreting them.As a Protestant I was quite willing to unknowingly accept theCatholic Church’s teaching on the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the closedcanon of the New Testament, etc., but I willfully rejected the full teachingof the Catholic Church. I now realize that it is in the Catholic Church thatwe find the fulness of the faith and the visible, universal body of Christ.However, we have yet to define the word catholic. It comes from theGreek katholikos, the combination of two words: kata- concerning, andholos- whole. Thus, concerning the whole. According to the OxfordDictionary of English Etymology, the word catholic comes from a Greekword meaning “regarding the whole,” or more simply, “universal” or5“general.” Universal comes from two Latin words: uni- one, and vertereturning.In other words, a “one turning”, “revolving around one,” or“turned into one”. The word ‘ekklesia’ which means “those called out,” asin those summoned out of the world at large to form a distinct society.So the Catholic Church is made up of those called out and gathered intothe universal visible society founded by Christ.In its early years, the Church was small, both in geographically andnumerically. For roughly the first decade the Church was made upexclusively of Jews in the area of Jerusalem. The word catholic hardlyseemed to apply. But as the Church grew and spread across the RomanEmpire, it incorporated Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, Romans,freemen, and slaves—men and women from every tribe and tongue. Butby the third century, one out of ten people in the Roman Empire was aCatholic. Just as the word Trinity was appropriated to describe the natureof God, so the term catholic was appropriated to describe the nature ofChrist’s body, the Church.But let’s get back to the history of the word catholic. The firstrecorded use of the word is found very early in Christian literature. Wefind the first instance the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch who was ayoung man during the time of the apostles and the second bishop ofAntioch following Peter. Ignatius was immersed in the living tradition ofthe local church in Antioch where the believers in Christ were first calledChristians (Acts 11:26). He was alive early enough to know the apostlesand was taught and ordained directly by them.From the apostles themselves St. Ignatius learned what the churchwas. From them he learned how it was to function, grow, and be governed.History informs us that St. Peter was the Bishop of Antioch at the time;in fact, Church Fathers claim that St. Ignatiuis was ordained by St. Peterhimself. Ignatius must have worshiped with Peter and Paul and John. Helived with or near them, and was an understudy of these special apostles.St. Ignatius of Antioch is known and revered as an authentic witness tothe tradition and practice of the apostles.In the existing documents that have come down to us, St. Ignatiusis the first to use the word catholic in reference to the Church. On hisway to Rome, under military escort to the Colosseum where he would bedevoured by lions for his faith, he wrote, “You must all follow the bishopas Jesus Christ follows the Father, and the presbytery as you would theApostles. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just aswherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church” (Epistle to theSmyrnaeans, 8).Another early instance of the word catholic is associated with St.Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who used the word many times. Polycarp wasa disciple of the Apostle John just as St. John was a disciple of Jesus.Like Ignatius, Polycarp also suffered a martyr’s death in 155AD. In theMartyrdom of Polycarp, written at the time of Polycarp’s death, we read,“The Church of God which sojourns in Smyrna, to the Church of God whichsojourns in Philomelium, and to all the dioceses of the holy and CatholicChurch in every place” (Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrnam,Preface)Later in the same book it says, “When Polycarp had finished hisprayer, in which he remembered everyone with whom he had ever beenacquainted . . . and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world.”They then gave him up to wild beasts, fire and finally, the sword. Theepistle then concludes, “Now with the Apostles and all the just [Polycarp]is glorifying God and the Father Almighty, and he is blessing our LordJesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls, and the Shepherd of the CatholicChurch throughout the world” (8).So we clearly see that early in the second century Christians regularlyuse the word catholic as an established description of the Church. Fromthe second century on we see the term catholic being used consistentlyby the theologians and writers. One can easily conclude that catholic wasa very early description of the Church, probably used by the apostlesthemselves.St. Augustine in the fourth century, relaying the tradition of the earlyChurch, minces no words asserting the importance and wide-spread useof the term catholic. He writes, “We must hold to the Christian religionand to communication in her Church which is Catholic, and which is calledContinued

Catholic not only by her own members but even by all her enemies” (TheTrue Religion, 7, 12). And again, “The very name of Catholic, which, notwithout reason, belongs to this Church alone, in the face of so manyheretics, so much so that, although all heretics want to be called Catholic,when a stranger inquires where the Catholic Church meets, none of theheretics would dare to point out his own basilica or house” (Against theLetter of Mani called “The Foundation”, 4, 5).The early usage and importance of the word can also be seen by itsuse in both the Apostles and the Nicene Creeds. If you were a Christianin the first mellenia you were a Catholic, and if you were a Catholic yourecited the Creeds affirming the “one holy, catholic, and apostolicChurch.” Unhappily, some people today try to make a distinction betweenCatholic with a capital “C” and catholic with a small “c”, but such adistinction is a recent development and unheard of in the early Church.Jesus commissioned his apostles with the words “Go therefore, andmake disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fatherand of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all thatI have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the endof the age” (Mt 28:19, 20). As Frank Sheed reminds us, “Notice first thethreefold ‘all’—all nations, all things, all days. Catholic, we say, means‘universal.’ Examining the word ‘universal,’ we see that it contains twoideas, the idea of all, the idea of one. But all what? All nations, allteachings, all times. So our Lord says. It is not an exaggerated descriptionof the Catholic Church. Not by the wildest exaggeration could it beadvanced as a description of any other” (Theology and Sanity [SanFrancisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 1993).Jesus used the word church twice in the gospels, both in Matthew.He said, “I will build my Church” (Mt 16:18). He didn’t say churches, nordid he imply it would be an invisible church made up of competing groups.He was going to build a visible, recognizable church. And in Matthew18:17 Jesus said that if one brother offends another they were to take itto “the Church”. Notice the word “the” referring to a specific entity. Not“churches” but one visible, recognizable church that can be expected tohave a recognizable leadership with universal authority.One can see the sad state of “Christendom” today by comparingJesus’ words about “the Church” with the current situation. If a Methodistoffends a Baptist, or a Presbyterian offends a Pentecostal, which “church”do they take it to for adjudication? This alone demonstrates the problemwhen 33,000 plus denominations exist outside the physical bounds of the“one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Jesus expected there to beone universal, authoritative, visible and Catholic Church to represent himon earth until his return.Just before he was crucified, Jesus prayed not only for theuniversality and catholicity of the Church, but for her visible unity:“That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I inYou, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that Yousent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, thatthey may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that theymay be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me”(Jn 17:21).The early Church understood Jesus’ words. What good was aninvisible, theoretical, impractical unity? For the world to see a catholicunity, the oneness of the Church must be a visible, real, physical, andvisible reality. All of this the Catholic Church is. Since the earliestcenturies Christians have confessed that the Church is “one, holy, catholicand apostolic.” One because there is only one, visible, organic, and unifiedChurch; holy because she is called out of the world to be the Bride ofChrist, righteous and sanctified; catholic because she is universal, unified,and covers the whole world; apostolic because Christ founded her (Mt.16:18) through his apostles, and the apostles’ authority are carried onthrough the bishops. Through the centuries, this creed has been thestatement of the Church.In these challenging days, Christians need to stand confident andobedient in heart of the Catholic Church. She has been our faithful Mother,steadfastly carrying out the mandate of Jesus Christ for 2,000 years. Asan Evangelical Protestant I thought I could ignore the creeds and councilsof our Mother, the Church. I was sadly mistaken. I now understand thatJesus requires us to listen to His Church, the Church to which he gavethe authority to bind and to loose (Mt 16:19; 18:17)—the CatholicChurch, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim 3:15).ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS,Or, as my mother would say, ”Words are Cheap” Our blessed Lord is recorded as saying, ”By their fruits you shall know them”Father Paul GibbonsDo you ever wonder why a person is attractedto the Catholic faith? For years I thought itpossible to be catholic and not a RomanCatholic, that is to say not in communion withthe Bishop of Rome. For the greater part of mylife I was an Anglo-Catholic priest. I saidMorning and Evening Prayer and offered theHoly Sacrifice of the Mass daily. I believed thatI received the Body and Blood of the risen Lordin Holy Communion. I went to confession. Iobserved the fast from midnight beforeattending Mass in which I prepared to make communion with the Fatherthrough the sacramental Presence of Jesus in the enabling power of theHoly Spirit I venerated Our Lady, and felt part of the Communion ofSaints, my older brothers and sisters who had gone before me in faith,and I looked forward to meeting them in my post resurrection body,alongside my parents, Godparents and friends following the GeneralJudgement.Very slowly it dawned upon me that I was a displaced catholic, thatin fact I was in the wrong boat in the Church of England which, followingthe zeitgeist (spirit of the age), had adopted government by Synod,whereby the majority vote won the day. The result of which led to adisregard of revealed truth as recorded in the Bible, the Fathers andHoly Tradition; to acceptance of mechanical forms of birth control bycontraception, to abortion, to women priests and bishops, tohomosexually active priests and to a desire to be popular and politicallycorrect in the eyes of our secular society ostensibly in order to attractthem to the faith of the all-inclusive Church of nice!Then came alongside Pope Benedict XVI andAnglicanorum coetibus, or as Monsignor AndrewBurnham, at that time the bishop of Ebbsfleetcalled it, the life boat named RITA (Rome Is TheAnswer) as a means of getting aboard the MainLiner headed for the harbour of Heaven. PopeBenedict, much influenced by John Henry CardinalNewman, a former Anglican, had beenapproached by a number of Anglo Catholics whosaw that the Church of England was at the mercyof the storm and headed for hell and high wateras a result of denying its Catholic roots, and he extended a ‘lifeline’. Iapproached the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady ofWalsingham, now Monsignor Keith Newton, who was my former bishopof Richborough, who applied for and received authority from the Vaticanfor me to be accepted. Having undergone instruction, I became aRoman Catholic and I was ordained by Archbishop Peter Smith incommunion with St. Peter’s successor, the Bishop of Rome, following acourse of Formation at Allen Hall Seminary in Chelsea.I now pastor a small group of former Anglicans, members of theCatholic Church based at a private chapel in Wateringbury, where wecelebrate the Liturgy on Sundays and Thursdays at eleven. I am alsopart of the Clergy Team here at St. Francis thanks to the initial kindnessof Canon John Clark and now to that of Canon Luke Smith.I am sad that so few followed me into the Personal Ordinariate, andthus into the Catholic Church. However we continue to evangelize and towelcome people of any faith or religion and any who seek revealedtruth, to our fellowship.6

Mrs Sirpa Tuulikki Edwardes27th November 1944 - 30th April 2015Iwant to start by saying thank you to all of you who have come today,for all your loving words and hugs, the beautiful flowers and cards yousent whilst mum was so ill and since her passing, for visiting her in herlast few months and for supporting dad, Chris, me, Abbey and Lucy through101 small acts of kindness at such a difficult time. Since we first learntabout mum’s cancer just before New Year’s Eve, I have feltstrengthened and comforted by the huge outpouring oflove which has come from all four corners of the globefrom mum’s family and friends. She touched so manypeople over the years with her warm smile, herwelcoming, friendly nature and her readiness tohelp anyone in need that it is no surprise thatthe church is full today of people wanting tosay a final ‘thank you’ and I feel immenselygrateful and proud that Sirpa Edwardes wasour mum and the bestexample of what agood person should be.So, where do I begin? Mum has done somany things in her life, it is impossible tomention them all but I will attempt to giveyou some highlights….Mum was born towards the end of theSecond World War to a poor, unmarriedmotherwho had to work miles away in Helsinki to earnenough money to keep the two of them. She livedwith her grandparents on their small farm andalthough they lived a very humble life it was neverthelessa happy childhood, growing up in the country, skiing toschool in the winter and ice?skating on the lake with her cousinRiitta. She was a very good pupil at Turku Grammar school and excelled atlanguages – as well as her native Finnish, mum could speak Swedish,German, French and English. This was what brought her to England back in1965 at the age of just 20, seeking to improve her English and looking foradventure – which is exactly what she got!Mum and dad met at a dance put on by the International Club inCamberley and there followed a whirlwind romance. Just six months aftermeeting one another, dad was posted out as a young Royal Engineer toSingapore. However, he was determined not to let her slip away andproposed by letter from the jungle in Thailand and then had to wait 6 weeksuntil her reply ‘yes’ arrived by post. They married on mum’s 22nd birthdayamidst warnings rom both sides of the family that it wouldn’t work becausetheir backgrounds were so different. How wrong they were! Next Novemberthey would have been celebrating 50 years of marriage together. They hadan amazing 2½ years in Singapore. Mum enjoyed her free time there,shopping in town and at the night markets and she learnt how to cook thebest ever sweet and sour pork. They bought a motorbike and mum wouldride side saddle all around the island and up to the beaches in Malaya. Theyalso made some lifelong friends, four of whom (John, Sheila, Stella andFrancesca) are here today.From hot and humid Singapore they came back to cold and wet Kentin the autumn of 1968 and one year later my brother Chris was born, swiftlyfollowed just 15 months later by me. I honestly can’t imagine how mumcoped on her own all day with two babies and no family to support her butas she did with everything in her life, she just took it all in her stride andsmiled! By 1975 mum and dad had bought their first house in Queen’s Rd,Maidstone as dad had been posted to 36 Regiment Royal Engineers. Chrisand I started school and usually we walked down the hill to BrunswickHouse and I remember mum testing me on my spellings as we went. I alsoremember cold, frosty mornings when dad was away and the car wouldn’tstart. Mum would get us to cross our fingers on the back seat, pray and justwill the car to start and eventually it did!In 1978 we were posted to Hamelin in Germany for 2 years and then afurther 2 years in Krefeld on the Dutch/German border. They were happytimes. Lots of friends and family visited, and mum enjoyed socialising withthe other army wives in a never?ending round of dances, balls and dinners.Mum got herself a job at the local Naafi and one day in walked Stella, herBy her daughter Heidi7long?lost friend from Singapore. Stella had married another young squaddiecalled Maurice and they had also been posted to Hamelin. Mum and dadbecame godparents to their children and those children and grandchildrenare also with us today. We have in fact been enjoying Stella’s satay eversince 1978!Whilst in Germany we also bought a caravan (the onethat still lives in retirement at Uncle Lawrence’s house inthe South of France). We travelled all over Germany, toHolland to see all the beautiful tulip fields and downto Lake Garda in Italy, where we spent amemorable summer watching Charles and Di getmarried on a tiny black and white TV with halfthe campsite trying to crowd in to see. Wewould also make the long drive every otheryear to see mum’s family in Finland. 2 daysand 3 nights later we would dock in Turkuand mum would get to see her mum andother family members and friends for twoweeks. She loved to catch up with everyoneand we would travel from one relative’shouse to the next filling up on coffee and cakewherever we went . At her friend Lahja’ssummer house we would all enjoy a barbecuetogether, have a sauna and run naked along thejetty and jump into the sea! Dad and Jalli would tryto out drink each other and he was always the worsefor wear the next morning! I remember mum taking usarmed with an old ice cream tub into the woods to gohunting for wild blueberries. We would emerge an hour later, stickywith juice and our tubs brimming over with the most delicious berries youhave ever tasted!We also made an epic 5 week trip to India touring around the wholecountry and mum loved it so much that they returned regularly there after,especially in later life to support the great work that Sister Christobel doeswith the homeless women and children on the streets of Bombay and inGoa. After Germany we moved to Antrim in N. Ireland for two years wheremum spent a lot of time perfecting her badminton playing with her newfriend Linda, who is also here today. So much so that mum and dad won theopen mixed doubles badminton championship in Northern Ireland!We returned to Maidstone in 1984 so Chris and I could finish oursecondary schooling in one place and mum and dad bought their house inBarming, moving in next to Pete and Bette who became firm friends overthe years. Mum worked as a clerk and librarian for Wimpey Homes and forWeeks and finally retired just 10 years ago, when she promptly got herself apart?time job at the local florist’s where she was able to express her artisticside. Here she learnt the skills she has put to good use over the years,making many a floral bouquet or wreath for friends or family who neededone and creating beautiful displays for the church in Nettlestead, where shehas attended mass for the last20 years. The house in Barming was always open to everyone and mumand dad enjoyed entertaining all sorts of people. They started up thetradition of our annual family barbecues back in the 80s, which still continueto this day. 50?60 people would descend on Belmont Close once a year toenjoy mum’s fabulous cooking! They hosted a number of mum’s Finnishrelativesas they came here to improve their English and they are also withus today. SistersChristobel and Lucy came from India along with their friendsfor months at a time, a Russian folk group, French exchange visitors and meand my band of university friends, we all received a warm welcome!They also used their time to travel extensively to Australia and NewZealand, to Canada a number of times, to the East and West coasts ofAmerica, South Africa, the Caribbean, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Egypt,Russia and most of Eastern Europe, not to mention pilgrimages to Jerusalemand Rome!Mum always seemed to have limitless energy and I felt envious of herwhen I was worn down by a demanding job in teaching and two smallContinued

children. But mum used her energy to help others, not to do things forherself. She was a brilliant nana and helped me out all the time with my girls,picking them up and taking them to their various activities, cooking us dinnerwhen I had late nights at school and looking after Abbey and Lucy when theywere ill. She was always ready to drop everything if we called and shedeveloped a fantastically close bond with the two of them. If they were everupset at the world, they knew that a hug and a chat with Nana would makeit all better.Mum also helped her neighbours. She looked after Lily the old ladyacross the road and Pete and Bette next door who often required herexcellent sewing skills to take up or let down Pete’s trousers! She spenthours cleaning another neighbour’s house as she was depressed and unableto look after herself or her disabled mother. She gave freely of her time tohelp out at all sorts of charity events and fairs in the neighbourhood and washeavily involved in organising fundraising events for Sister Christobel.Mum was also a key member of the local Finnish Community group andhosted Christmas events for the children and their families every year. Sheand Karin became firm friends and together they helped Morel to set up theMaidstone Mela in 2003 and have watched itgrow in size and popularityever since. I can’t imagine how the Finnish stall will look this year withoutmum in her national dress serving up coffee and cinnamon buns with asmile. She was recognised for her work in promoting the Finnish culture bythe Finnish Embassyand we are very honoured to welcome the Ambassadorto our church today. Finally I would also like to thank all the Catenianmembers who have come to support dad and the family today.Mum would grumble privately about all the time dad was spendingorganising events for the Catenians but she always supported him and sheenjoyed spending time with all the friends she made through the Circle, a lotof whom have been helping and praying for her through these last fewterrible months.Thank you for being so patient and listening to the ramblings of herdaughter. I know it has been very long but mum has packed so much into herlife and she has touched so many people for the better that I think shedeserves our time now.A LITTLE HOLY HUMORSubmitted by Dennis EdwardesFOUR RELIGIOUS TRUTHSDuring these serious and troubled times, people of all faiths should rememberthese four great religious truths:1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God’s Chosen People.2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.4. Baptists do not recognize each other at the off licence.GOOD SAMARITANA Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan.She asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded andbleeding, what would you do?” A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence,“I think I’d throw up.”DID NOAH FISH?A Sunday school teacher asked, “Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishingwhen he was on the Ark?”“No,” replied Johnny. “How could he, with just two worms.”THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERDA Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of themost quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters amonth to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he justcouldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past thefirst line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front ofthe congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up tothe microphone and said proudly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I needto know.”UNANSWERED PRAYERThe deacons’ 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowedhis head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked himwhy. “Well, dear,” he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of hismessages. “I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.” “How come Hedoesn’t answer it?” she asked.BEING THANKFULA Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, “So your mother says your prayers foryou each night? That’s very commendable. What does she say?”The little boy replied, “Thank God he’s in bed!”ALL MEN / ALL GIRLSWhen my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every familymember, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks, afterwe had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, “And all girls.” This soon becamepart of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me andI asked her, “Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?” Her response,“Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying ‘All Men’!”SAY A PRAYERLittle Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother’s house.Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When LittleJohnny received his plate, he started eating right away. “Johnny! Please wait untilwe say our prayer.” said his mother. “I don’t need to,” the boy replied. “Of course,you do” his mother insisted. “We always say a prayer before eating at our house.”“That’s at our house.” Johnny explained. “But this is Grandma’s house and sheknows how to cook.”PARISH TRIP TO WIMBLEDON – April 2015Olga D’SilvaSome of our parishioners werefortunate enough to attend CanonJohn’s induction Mass at the SacredHeart Church in Wimbledon in the earlyautumn of 2014. It was then that theidea came for our next parish trip,incorporating a visit to the All EnglandLawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and thecelebration of Mass and a social atCanon John’s ‘new’ parish.The parish trip was duly organised for the following April, and wewere blessed with fine weather and friendly guides and staff at theAELTC. It was wonderful to visit the iconic All England Tennis Club,the home of Wimbledon tennis. Between morning coffee and lunch,we had a guided tour which included a visit to a quiet Centre Court,as well as time in the museum and shop.After lunch, we took a short coach ride to the Sacred Heart Church,8where we were given a very warm welcomeby Canon John, some members of the ParishPastoral Council and the FriendshipGroup. After the celebration of Mass, therewas a sumptuous afternoon tea and warmgreetings and exchanges between St Francisand Sacred Heart parishioners.We had a memorable day and greatfeedback, and my particularthanks go to Mary Insall, Cathy andFenton Buckley and Terry Smart, whohelped toensure thateverything ransmoothly onthe day.

P U R G A T O R Y E X P L A I N E DTaken from the website:Our Catholic FaithHow do you answer your non-Catholic friends whenthey speak to you about your belief in Purgatory andsay:“I don’t believe in Purgatory, because it is notmentioned in the Bible! There exists only heaven andhell!”The Catholic Church teaches that Purgatory is a temporaryplace of purification where those who have died undergo aperiod of expiation to remove all stain of mortal sin dulyforgiven or all stain of unrepentant venial sin. Souls are sentto purgatory as “nothing unclean” (Rev. 21, 27) can enterheaven. All souls that are sent to Purgatory are destined toultimately enter heaven once all stain of sin has beenremoved by its purifying fires. Once the last soul leavesPurgatory at the General Resurrection and Judgment, it will beextinguished and only heaven and hell will remain. ForCatholics the strongest argument for the existence ofPurgatory is the constant and universal writings of the earlyChurch Fathers, the ancient liturgies of the East and West, thenumerous inscriptions on the walls of the Catacombs, and inthe pronouncements of the Councils of Florence (1438-45)and Trent (1545-63).“Sure, but all this means nothing, for the Bible still saysnothing about Purgatory.”2 Maccabees 12, 43-46 shows that the Jews in the OldTestament certainly believed in a middle state where the deadcould profit from the sacrifices and prayers of the living: “Andmaking a gathering, (Judas Maccabeus) sent twelve thousanddrachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered forthe sins of the dead...It is therefore a holy and wholesomethought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed fromsins” (Douai). Protestants deny the canonicity of theMaccabean books, nevertheless, their historical value cannotbe denied, and even Jewish prayer books today contain suchprayers. If the doctrine of Purgatory had been invented by theJews, it would. undoubtedly, have been condemned by JesusChrist, as He condemned them for a long list of changes indoctrine and discipline in St. Matthew. 23.On the contrary, the doctrine of purgatory is actuallyimplied in the Gospels: “I tell you, you will never get out untilyou have paid the very last penny” (St. Luke 12, 59);“Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, itshall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the HolySpirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor inthe World to come” (St. Matthew. 12, 32 [Douai]). Accordingto Pope St. Gregory the Great the words of Christ in St.Matthew infer that sins can be forgiven in the next life. Nowthis cannot be done in heaven or hell, but only in anotherstate which the Church calls Purgatory.Further, St. Paul writing his first letter to the Corinthians(3, 13-15) says that “each man’s work will become manifest;for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed withfire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one hasdone. If the work which any man has built on the foundationsurvives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work isburned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will besaved, but only as through fire.” His soul will be saved, butonly after spending time in the purifying flames of Purgatory.“But Purgatory is unnecessary, for Christ’s death on theCross has paid all debt of punishment for sin.”Christ’s death on the Cross sufficed to redeem humanityand free us from the eternal damnation of hell, but it did notfree us from the need to undergo temporal punishments forsin. For example, humanity is still subject to the temporalpunishments of labour, pain, sickness and death even thoughwe have now been redeemed. St. Paul makes this point clearwhen writing to the Colossians: “I am now rejoicing in mysufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completingwhat is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body,that is, the church” (1, 24).The essential reason why Protestants reject the doctrine ofPurgatory is due to their belief in the un-Scriptural doctrinesof total depravity and non-imputation of sin concocted byLuther and Calvin. They taught that the sin of Adam sodamaged humanity that we were now nothing more than wildbeasts whose every actions, no matter how good, were sinful.Since we are incapable of good actions there is nothing wecan do to remit our temporal punishments either forourselves or for anyone else. Only Christ is therefore capableof achieving this and this He did on the Cross. Further, as oursouls are already totally depraved any additional sin on ourpart cannot leave a “stain of sin” which needs to be purifiedin purgatory. By accepting Christ as our “personal Lord andSaviour” God ‘covers up’ our sinful natures, in this waymaking us fit to enter the Kingdom of heaven.But the Bible makes it clear that in the past there hasexisted more than just the two places of heaven and hell inthe next world. St. Peter tells us (1 Pet. 3, 19) that after Hisdeath Jesus preached His redemption “to the spirits inprison.” Therefore, the concept of another temporary,intermediate place such as purgatory is not out of thequestion.The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992) states (No.1030): All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but stillimperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternalsalvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as toachieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. No.1031: The Church gives the name Purgatory to this finalpurification of the elect, which is entirely different from thepunishment of the damned. The Church formulated herdoctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils ofFlorence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by referenceto certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire. As forcertain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the FinalJudgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is Truth says thatwhoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will bepardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. Fromthis sentence we understand that certain offenses can beforgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come (St.Gregory the Great,Dial. 4, 39: PL 77, 396) No. 1032: Thisteaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead,already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore [JudasMaccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might bedelivered from their sin” From the beginning the Church hashonored the memory of the dead and offered prayers insuffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that,thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. TheChurch also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works ofpenance undertaken on behalf of the dead:Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons werepurified by their father’s sacrifice, why should we doubt thatour offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Letus not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer ourprayers for them.9

DADI never ever told you DadBut I guess you always knewHow much this lad loved youWith Mum and my brothers too.And now it is a hundred years sinceMud and blood and gore,While the diplomats lied for senseless prideAs they guided us to war.I never asked the questionsI should have asked before,“What did you do in the conflict Dad,A century ago,Were there screams in the dark as the bullets flewAnd the sniper found his mark?Were there tears in the trench as the rain did drenchThe streams of blood away?”Thank God you survived and came homeTo create the life of this lad today.Did you ever recall those fearful daysPerhaps a nightmare or two?While this young lad was hearingThese few bitter words from you,“Better not knowing lad –History will tell the taleOf a time to kill – and mournWhile widows weep and wail”.I don’t recall a hug at allPerhaps, not a manly thing to do,But oh those smiles and laughterRemembered a lifetime through.And even your admonishmentsTold me right from wrongAnd I think that wink assured meThat I really did belong.Len WatsonWar tornI’m ready for my soulTo soar, escape, leave this place.My box full of memories,A faded card with lace and loveSends silent screams remembering,Battlefield claimed my young beau.Was it yesterday or long ago?Tired but rested, close my eyes,Floating, gliding, now feel free,There’s my soldier boy, awaiting me.Mary BrittainSince wars begin in the minds of men, it isin the minds of men that the defences ofpeace must be constructed.(Constitution of UNESCO)DONATE8news‘Great things happen when peoplework together’Many thanks for the wonderful response to the tasksrequested by the team leaders in the parish since Donate8was launched on the feast day of St Francis in October 2014.Hundreds of hours of volunteer time have been donated forexample, to the following tasks:• Cleaning, polishing, wax removal and window cleaning• Collecting and tidying hymn books after 10.30am SundayMass • Helping with the First Holy Communion sashes andties. • Helping with the preparation for Mass, altar cloths,altar linen at Nettlestead • Laundry of altar linen on aninfrequent basis when required at Nettlestead.• Washing ofthe altar servers albs at St Francis’ church • Calligraphy forthe First Holy Communion certificates • Database entry inthe Parish office • Helping with Sunday morningrefreshments by baking cakes (St Francis’ 10.30 Sun Mass)• Serving teas, setting up tea arrangements and clearingaway (St Francis’ 10.30 Sun Mass) • Art work on the Nativity• Counting of Sunday Mass collections • Helping to design amonthly poster for the Mass centres, giving details of eachnew DEW Association charity and other notice boardrequirements • Constructing a plinth for under the candlestands at St Francis’ church • Replacing the wall lights at StLuke’s chapel • Organising refreshments in the Heart of KentHospice café following the 8.30am Sun Mass at St Luke’schapel • Fundraising for the roof repairs at St Francis e.g.Easter Sunday Cake sale.The maxim ‘Many hands make light work’ has truly beenborne out this year and we look forward to the future withrenewed optimism. New tasks will be available after thesummer holidays to help maintain the smooth running of ourgreat parish.If you would like further information about Donate8please contact: donate8@stfrancisparish.org.uk or leavea note in the RED donate8 box an the back of church.10

A Day in the life of a ThinkerLen WatsonMy wife has gone to sleep in a huff. We argue a lot these days. It’s all down tothe recession of course – I’ve been out of work for four months now. I expect tobe awake for some little time yet, for she has given me something extra to thinkabout —- but there’s no hurry —- Why is it that moonlight is that insipid colour?Why not pink or aquamarine, or some other romantic tint? Silver is so ‘yuleish’— like trying to sleep under a tinselled awning with fairy lights. I’m beingdistracted – where was I? Ah yes! Mary bless her. I do try to see her point of view,but she has rather ruffled me this time. She called me indolent – Me indolent! Herexact words were something like: “What do you do with yourself all day, youindolent clod?”I was so taken aback I looked it up in the dictionary. Good God! Doesn’t sheknow that thinking is a time consuming business? Anyway, I’m determined tohave an answer for her in the morning. I’m in the process of collating my fullagenda of thought for yesterday. Now let me see – I did think about getting out ofbed about nine. No! We won’t count that; I fell asleep again until eleven. Isuppose my intensive cogitations began ten minutes later in the bath —— Why isit that the ends of your fingers go ‘crinkly’ when immersed in water for a while? Isit something to do with hard water? These are not considerations that will solvethe problems of the universe, but only the mental pabulum with which I begin myday – (‘Mental Pabulum’ is just something else I discovered in the dictionary –must remember that for Mary). I can just see her gape in astonishment at mywisdom: “All the great issues of daily woe are my mental pabulum that keeps mefrom indolence. Food for thought, lass, – food for thought; keeps me goingthrough the day”.Then I tarted myself up quickly – the pub will be open in five minutes.There were a group of youngsters in the corner. I guessed they were students forthey were discussing poetry. Immediately I’m interested, for I have an anthologyof poems on my bookshelf (it stands next to the dictionary). They were reciting‘Frost at Midnight’ – unfortunately they were also referring to Wordsworth. Ithought I would enlighten them: “Keats” I said, assembling my most intelligentpose.Two of them looked surprised, and a freckled young lass in the corner had anattack of the giggles.“I just thought you might like to know – you know – ‘damsel with a dulcimer –from distant Ophir’”.More giggles! This time the boys joined in as they filed into the Lounge Bar. Ahwell! Some people you just can’t help. But it did start me thinking again. Idawdled over my pint (the dole money was not due for two days yet). Yugoslavia!Yes – now I remember – I considered the Balkans – it was the ‘frost’ that did it. Allthis bother with these Groats and Kerbs and such; the answer is so simple – TheArctic! Repatriation for the lot of them! After all, they did once belong to Austria –another move might do them good. They would be so busy building igloos andchasing seals that they wouldn’t have time to rub noses; never mind rubbing eachother the wrong way. Politicians don’t give themselves time to think. I think theyshould try this unemployment lark for a change. Of course, there may be someperil in thinking. Take Mrs Lofthouse at number 3. She thought she was quickerthan a 97 bus. I did think about attending her funeral but it looked like rain. Nowlet’s get this straight – what did I think about after my afternoon nap? Well I didthink about making Mary a sandwich but the bread was frozen from the freezer.Yes – the more I thought about it – the Arctic was definitely the solution. Most ofthe evening was spent arguing. Mary thought she was right – and I – well‘indolent indeed!’ I revised my list in my head; changing a phrase here,sharpening a calumny there. When I felt ready with my ‘ammunition’ I fell asleep.It’s not easy feigning sleep when your wife’s banging wardrobe doors andbawling “I’m late for work now, have you seen my pleated skirt?” I keep my eyesresolutely closed; all the time practising my ‘mental pabulum’ bit. But no – off shegoes again: “What time do you intend to get up? The grass needs cutting, andyou can hang that washing out for me. Do you hear me?”“I’ll think about it dear”. “Think about it? Oh you will, will you? Well myprocrastinating oaf, think about this too. If I come home to wet washing, or thatgreen ‘paddy field’ out there; you and I are going to be talking in termsof‘Psilosis’.I just hope she has finished. ‘Psilosis?’ What the hell …………..the dictionarylands with a thump on my head (thrown from the doorway). Damn! Why did Ihave to marry a schoolteacher? Now I’m going to have a headache – it’s goingto hurt too much to think.MemoriesSadly the Convent of the Sacred Heart building,that became the Russell Hotel in Boxley Road,Maidstone, was demolished in April this year.My schooldays at the Convent were wonderful,the nuns were kind(well, most of themwere) and thesetting wasperfect; treesoutside thewindows with redsquirrels inresidence. I usedto watch them,when I lost a bit ofinterest in mylessons.Sadly the Conventclosed in 1975. The nuns offered their SacredHeart Statue (see picture) to my mother,Kathleen Dominey. This was kept in herbedroom until her death in 1991, when Ibecame its custodian. It stands on a small tableon the corner of my bedroom (but moved to thestairs for a better photo). The statue is 2ft 9inshigh and is quite heavy. It has now been in ourfamily for 40 years, a lovely, lasting memory ofmy convent schooldays.Mary Brittain (nee Dominey)Winning team at the St Francis’ ChurchQuiz Evening, Saturday 16th May in theURC church hall.A good number of St. Francis’parishioners joined the ChurchesTogether Good Friday Walk from ourchurch to Jubilee Square where there wasa short service with hymns. Thisphotograph shows parishioner DennisEdwardes holding the cross with Robertand Sarah Waters.11

The PARISHIONER Revisited.The first of a series of articles from past PARISHIONERS you may have missed. This one is thestory of the making of the Stations of the Cross, now in St Francis’ Church and their restorationin 2006 (taken from Parishioners 1 and 13).Our Stations of the Cross – a unique work of Art.During the renovations and reconstructions in St. FrancisChurch over the years, many older parishioners may havebeen reminded of the major changes which took place in1954 when the original church was extended on both sidesand a porch and doorway constructed to the north side ofthe church facing the road (since replaced by the modernporch constructed in 1998). The architect was Mr. JohnPoltock, who was on the staff of the Rochester School ofArt. The whole extension cost £24,000 and increased to416 the number of seats in thechurch.Part of Mr. Poltock’sdesign was a representation ofSt Francis for the wall of thenew porch and hecommissioned his colleague,Miss Enid Edwards ARCACIAL, a tutor of embroideryand toymaking at theRochester art school, to makeit. She designed and fashionedthe figure of St. Francis out offine glove leather and padding,using her skill to mould theseinto exquisite shapes to resemble the figure of the saintand the birds and stars which would surround it. She useda mosaic of different colours and textures, stitched withsilk, to achieve the effect of shading and the folds of thefigure’s clothes. The features of the saint were drawn andpainted in and the halo was was worked in gold threadover black and gold leather, with pearls filling the spacesbetween the crossed leather pieces. When put on the wallof the porch the figure was illuminated by night, to beconstantly visible to passers-by walking along WeekStreet.The finished figure was so well received that MissEdwards was asked to produce a series of Stations of theCross for inside the church in the same style. The projectspread over the next few years, each station taking anaverage of six months to complete. Miss Edwards madethe figure of St. Francis and the Stations of the Crossentirely without assistance and in her spare time.Although she and Mr Poltock were non-Catholics, fewpeople could have been more enthusiastic than hey toperfect this original art technique and few would havespent so many painstaking hours to ensure the finestpossible results. Before even touching the leather, MissEdwards spent hours in her garden studio researchingdetails of the people who shared Christ’s life. She had toknow what they would have worn, their attitudes and theirfacial expressions. Many sketches were made before MissEdwards reached the point where she could selectmaterials. “I only use the best grade leathers”, she told areporter at the time. “and take great trouble to ensure theyare of the finest quality to stand the test of time”.The panel “Jesus dies on the Cross” was the first tobe unveiled on 10th of October 1955 during a visit to StFrancis’ Church by the then Archbishop of Southwark,Cyril Cowderoy, to confirm 180 young people.The figure of St.Francis was removed fromits site when the old porchwas demolished in 1997and can now be seen in thenew porch by the doors.Sadly, the birds and starswhich adorned the figureoriginally no longer existand are thought to havebeen used to repairdamage to the leatherworkon one of the Stations.Nevertheless, the figure ofthe Saint and our Stationsof the Cross remain a unique work of art – a continuingsource of inspiration and pride for the parish....By 2006, after 51 years of being exposed to dirt, dustand drying out, Miss Edward’s Stations of the Cross hadbecome seriously deteriorated and fragile and were inurgent need of repair. The parish was very fortunate to beable to call on the skills of Senora Nellie Sanchez, a giftedartist and restorer who agreed to take on the job. The worktook her many painstaking hours, as she had to clean theleather and replace a number of damaged pieces. Shealso repaired beading and stitching on the artwork andrestored faded painted sections. When finished, all thepanels were covered with glass by maintenance craftsmenat the time, Tony Gibbs and the late Chris Dowle, toprotect the artworks for many more years to come.12

Last September Dennis Edwardes organised a 5 day trip forCatenians, parishioners and friends, based in Boppard, an attractivesmall town on the banks of the river Rhine. Our 4 star HotelBellevue overlooked the river, with an outdoor gardenarea for dining at the water’s edge. We were welllooked after in the fine hotel, but the weather wasnot so kind – mostly sunny on the journey there andback, but wet in between.Each day was an adventure to somewhere new.We visited the old cobbled town of Rudesheim whereseveral of the ladies would have liked to delve intosome interesting shops, but soon we were back toview the ‘Rhine in Flames’ evening from a vessel onthe river after a cruise past the Lorelei rock. We had reserved tablesright at the front to see the firework display, which was just as wellbecause we shared the vessel with some 600 other people. Butmy, did it pour down while waiting for the coach back to the hotel!The next day we went to Koblenz. Some of the party took acable car up to the Castle with views overlooking the city and theconjunction of the Rhine and Mosel.Others, after seeing where the riversjoined, strolled in the city for a leisurelylunch. In the afternoon we had a tour of abrewery, with some free tasters, and thendinner in the evening where the helpingswere rather large. See how Mary Adam’splate was overwhelmed by a pork knucklejoint!Mary v knuckle jointMaidstone Catenian CircleFive Days in the valleys of the Rhine and MoselOn the last day, we visited a vineyard.We squeezed either side of tables in theback of trailers behind two tractors and were taken up a narrowwinding road with extensive views over the vineyards and theTour of the vineyardMosel river. One of the ascents on the lanes was a Way of the Crossbut that was as near as we got to a pilgrimage. We were pliedwith wine from the vineyard in the trailers where, very thoughtfully,a metal arrangement down the middle of a longtable held both glasses and bottles from spilling.On the descent a couple on two bicycles couldnot pass the second tractor so Dennis, at the backof the trailer, passed them a glass of wine whichwas gladly accepted before being passed back. Awine tasting session followed which resulted in thereturn journey having a number of cases on board!Then on to the riverside town of Cochem wherethe braver souls climbed to the castle.We were grateful for having lovely Sophie as interpreter andher father Achim. But more significantly our thanks go to Dennis fororganising the trip and dealing with issues as they arose. Also toSirpa and family for the light touches, such as cakes from herdaughter on the coach to relieve the long journey going andschnapps on the way back.On our last day,after worryingabout whether ourcoach driver wouldhave to have abreak that wouldmean us missing ourferry, we made itback to Maidstoneand a happy banddispersed home atabout 8pm.Last night partyAs a group we have enjoyed celebrating theChinese New Year and various Saint’s Days. The staffof the Society Rooms have become accustomed toserving parishioners and friends wearing masks,hats and draped with flags etc!Our programme of events is varied - we try tocater for all tastes. We meet regularly for coffee,lunch and occasionally a cream tea. Trips to theChurchill Theatre are always popular.Every month devotees of Tenpin Bowling meetto compete at Lockmeadow and Scrabble is on offer everyMonday in the Hospice Coffee Shop in King Street.The Friendship GroupMary AdamMary celebrates St Patrick’s DayLine Dancing has proved so popular that thereare now 2 sessions every Wednesday between10.00 - 12.00 in St.Faith’s Church Hall.The most significant and pleasing outcome ofwhat began as a parish based social club is that wehave been joined by non-parishioners who ask tobe included in our various activities andcelebrations.Find out what is going on in the FriendshipGroup every week in the St. Francis’ newletter. FFI contact Mary(01622) 677448 or just come along and introduce yourself.The other day I went to a Christian Bookshop and saw a “Honk if you loveJesus” sticker and I put it in my car. I’m so glad I did - what an upliftingexperience followed!I had stopped at a red light at a busy crossing, just lost in thought aboutthe Lord and how good He is, I didn’t notice that the lights had changed. Itwas a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn’t honked I’dnever have noticed. I found that lots of people love Jesus.While I was sitting there, a man behind me started honking like crazy,and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, “For the love of God,go, go!” What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus, everyone startedhonking! I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling atall these lovely people. I even honked a few times myself to share in the love.I saw another man waving in a funny way with only two fingers stuck inthe air. When I asked my teenage grandson (sitting beside me) what thatA letter from GrandmaSubmitted by Fr Paul13meant he said it was probably an Hawaiian good luck sign or something.Well, I’ve never met anyone from Hawaii, so I gave him the good lucksign back. My grandson burst out laughing, even he was enjoying thereligious experience.A couple of people were so caught up in the joy of the moment thatthey got out of their cars and started to walk towards me. I bet they wantedto pray with me or ask which church I attended. This was when I noticed thelights had changed and so, not wishing to hold anyone up, I gave a cheerysmile and waved goodbye to all my new found brothers and sisters anddrove off.In my mirror I noticed that I was the only car that got across before thelights changed again. I felt very sad that I had to leave them all behind afterall the love we had shared so I slowed down, leaned out of the window andgave them the Hawaiian good luck sign as I drove away.

St Anna SchafferWritten and illustrated by Charlotte CassidySt.Anna Schaffer was born on the 18th of February1882 to impoverished, pious Catholic parents inMindelstetten, lower Bavaria, Germany. As aschoolgirl Anna had a deep devotion to Jesus andthe Blessed Virgin Mary and she had hopes ofentering a religious order and becoming amissionary nun. Her father, however, a joiner, diedsuddenly at the age of forty, leaving his widow anchildren in dire poverty. So, at the age of fourteen,Anna had to leave school to work to support hermother and younger siblings. She worked first asa maid for a local counciller, then in a laundry. Shealso wanted to save a dowry, which she needed tobecome a nun (in those days women had to makea financial contribution to enter a convent).Two years later, in 1898, when Anna wassixteen, she heard Jesus’s voice within her soul tellher that before she reached the age of twenty she was destined to endurea long and painful suffering, and to pray the Rosary. At first Anna wasalarmed by this divine prophesy, then she told Jesus she would willinglyaccept anything He wanted of her and she began to pry the Rosary eachday.On that fateful evening of February 4th 1901, while working in thelaundry, the stovepipe over the laundry boiler became detached from thewall. When Anna climbed some steps and tried to reattach the stovepipe,she slipped and fell into a large vat of boiling bleach, which severelyscalded her legs above the knees.She was taken in a cart to hospital and over the next few monthsthirty operations followed. When repeated skin grafts failed and herdreadfully scarred legs became partially paralysed, her physician, Dr.Waldin, regretfully told her there was nothing more they could do for herpainful burns and she was sent home.Anna was nineteen. She would now be bedridden for the rest of herlife and she would suffer much, just as Jesus told her. She had to abandonall hopes of ever becoming a nun. Her burns had to be carefully dresseddaily, which caused her much pain. Her mother became her full time carer.Because Anna could no longer work, the Schaffer family would endureextreme poverty.Although Anna struggled for a while to accept that she had becomean invalid and clung to the hope that her damaged legs would eventuallyheal, she never lost her love for her Catholic faith. She became a memberof the Third Franciscan Order and even though she endured constantsuffering from her burns, her great love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus andthe Blessed Virgin Mary deepened.Parish Priest Fr. Karl Rieger would bring her the Eucharist each day.Anna wrote joyfully of this, “I cannot write by pen how happy I am everytime after Holy Communion. Ah, I forget my earthly suffering and thelonging of my poor soul draws me every moment to adore my God andSaviour hidden in the Blessed Sacrament.” On rare occasions Anna wasbrought to church in an armchair to attend Mass.In 1902, Anna’s legs became completely paralysed. Fr. Rieger wouldlater say that he never once heard Anna complain of her painful sufferings.Anna’s profound holiness soon became known in the small Bavarian townand townspeople would often visit her requesting her prayer. She wouldcomfort them with cheering words when they told her their problems andshe would write many encouraging letters to those seeking her advice.She became loved by the townspeople, even non-believers were drawn toher patience, kindness and the joy she radiated despite her suffering.Children especially loved to visit her, she would tell them of Jesus, theBlessed Virgin Mary and the saints. She wouldalso knit beautiful garments for friends andintricately embroider cloths for the local chapels.Anna was unable to sleep at night andduring this time she would pray and set beforeGod all the petitions the townspeople entrustedto her. She would also pray for priests and theChurch. In 1910 she offered her suffering hersuffering in reparation for sinners to the SacredHeart of Jesus. Some weeks later she had a visionof St. Francis, then Christ, who accepted hersacrifice of reparation and she received thestigma ata on her hands and feet. She kept thishidden from the townspeople that visited her asshe did not want fame or sensationalism, and shewould pray fervently to remove these wounds ofChrist’s Passion.She often said she had three keys to Heaven, her suffering, her sewingneedle and her pen, adding “With these three different keys, I strive eachday to open the door to Heaven. Each of them must be decorated withthree little crosses which are prayer, sacrifice and selflessness.”From 1910 to 1925, Anna wrote her spiritual thoughts in twelvenotebooks. She considered that her sufferings had value and she wouldalways unite her sufferings to Christ on the Cross. In one of her notebooksshe wrote of her gratitude to Jesus. “I thank you for my Cross and mysufferings, in union with the thanksgiving of Mary, the Mother of Sorrows.”Anna’s spiritual writings have become an inspiration for many faithfultoday, In 1925, Anna was diagnosed with a terminal illness. She had tostop her sewing work and her letter writing, both of which she loved, andit was now impossible for her to be brought to church in an armchair toattend Mass. Realising she had only weeks to live, she wrote in hernotebook, “Soon I will live from God Who is Life itself. Heaven has no priceand I rejoice every minute in the Lord’s call to the infinitely beautifulhomeland.”On October 5th 1925, her condition worsened. After receiving HolyCommunion from Fr. Rieger, Anna made the sign of the Cross andwhispering these last words, “Lord Jesus, I love You, Anna Schaffer diedpeacefully. She was forty three.Her funeral procession was the largest ever recorded in the Bavariantown of Mindelstetten. The many townspeople who had known Anna allsaid they felt they had been in the presence of a saint. Immediately hertomb within the Catholic parish church in Mindelstetten became a placeof pilgrimage and the many graces and cures hundreds of pilgrims receivedhave been attributed to her intercession.She was beatified in 1999 by St Pope John Paul II and canonized onOctober 21st 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. In his canonization homily, theHoly Father said, “St Anna Schaffer’s sick-bed became her cloister cell andher suffering a missionary service. She understood her situation as a lovingcall from the Crucified One to follow Him. Strengthened by dailyCommunion, she became an untiring intercessor in prayer and a mirror ofGod’s love for the many who sought her counsel.” St Anna Schaffer’s lovefor her faith and her acceptance of suffering continues to inspire manypeople faced with physical suffering today.Months before his own death in 2005, St Pope John Paul II, whenspeaking of St Anna Schaffer, said these poignant words. “She was givento grow in the correct understanding that weakness and suffering are thepages on which God writes His Gospel. Her sick-bed became a cradle ofan apostolate that extended to the whole world”.14

Sing a song of 2.5pA pocket full of ryeFour and twenty non-defined birdsBaked in a pie (with separate veggiepie available if required).When the pie was opened the birdsbegan to sing,Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set beforemonarch or president or other leader?The monarch (or president or otherleader) was in the part of the housedesignated for commercial use,Half TermRaincoat, picnic, fresh air, flask,Grandchildren, what more could I ask?Trundling, up hills and down tracks,Weather good, I’m carrying the macks.Find a play area, break at last.Brief rest, now, please push me fast.Glad no rain, gentle breeze, tepid sun.Play hide and seek, games and fun.The grandchildren enjoying the time,I feel young, a child in mind,I’m one of them, new perfect bliss,Freedom, tall trees, too good to missMary BrittainOn Saturday 4th July a Church Unity barbecuewas held at the Chapel of Our Lady atWateringbury. The Chapel is the home of theMaidstone Ordinariate of Our Lady ofPolitical Correct Rhyme for ChildrenOrdinariate BarbecueChristine MaceCounting all his ill-gotten gains forredistribution to the poor,The monarch (or president or otherleader)’s partner was in another roomEating a nourishing meal containingat least one of the five-a-daynecessary nutrients,The employee was in the gardenengaged in paid laundry work,When down came a non-defined birdand caused a significant nasal injury.THE HIKEAmanda ChapmanWe walked through a lot of mud and a lotof rain, whereby I instantly regretted notwearing wellies! Everyone else wassensible enough to dress for theoccasion, and we all had a lovely timesinging songs and playing games to keepour pace. When we arrived at St. ThomasMore’s in West Malling, where we werewelcomed by Father Peter Soper with hotchocolate and pizza. We all enjoyeddrying off in the warmth and being ineach other’s company. After dinner, weplayed “murder in the dark” and had lotsof fun chasing each other around in thepitch black of night! Just before we wentto bed, Father Bart did a lovely eveningprayer with beautiful music toaccompany it. We sat in a cosy roomfilled with candles and just shared in themoments we had together. It was a lovelyway to end the evening before we eachwent to bed. We had an early startinvolving yummy bacon rolls before weall made our way home to catch up onwell-earned sleep.`Tucking into well earned pizzasWalsingham.The weather, by the grace of God, was perfectfor the occasion and the barbecue was sizzlingwith food as the guests arrived. The salads wereready and the sauces, and notforgetting ice cold jugs of lusciousPimms!Everybody enjoyed the food andthe company, especially thenumerous diet killing desserts!Then it was off into the Chapel forthe singing of hymns, complimentsof our dear pianist Geraldine.Finally we finished with cups of teaand more chatting. A lovely daywas had by all.First Holy Communions 2015Week 1. Polish communityWeek 2Week 3Thorpe ParkJames WilliamsEarly on the morning of Tuesday 21 st April, PhoenixYouth Club arrived at St Simon Stock School toboard the minibus. Ahead of us was an actionpacked day at Thorpe Park but first the seeminglylong journey awaited. Nonetheless, excitement andanticipation grew resulting in an enjoyable journeywith singing and laughter. On arrival at Thorpe Parkthere were many cheers as the exhilarating day wasabout to begin. Throughout the day we enjoyednumerous rides such as ‘Saw’, ‘The Swarm’ and‘Colossus’. Adreneline accompanied us throughoutthe day as nerves, along with excitement, filled us aswe queued and boarded rides. At the end of afulfilling day, we all went on ‘Tidal Wave’ – a ridethat was certain to get us drenched! Consequently,we all sat in wet clothes on the drive home! It was alot quieter coming home on the minibus than whenwe were coming because everyone was worn outfrom an brilliant day!15

BAPTISMSMarch 2015Rene Turner, Oliver Brzeski, Seweryn Zajac,Annabelle Simpson, Julia Reis, Harvie PullumbiMatthew ColeApril 2015Louis Tandoh, Aubrey Tandy, Fabian Ciesielski,Kaya Luft, Bernard Adach, Caitlin MorlingAidan-James Stevens, Grace ChapmanKaya GlowaMay 2015Leo D’Souza, Sofia Thompson, Michat NowakLukas Stepien, Maja Olik, Cash SmithJune 2015Oliver Brook, Elsa-Grace Waigo, Lilla BatogKinga Mozdzen, Prosper Mbala, Joshua HickeyKasia StockingJuly 2015Saorsa Godfrey, Aiden Tilbee, Jan MazantowiczZanelle Page, Matthew SavageMARRIAGESMarch 2015Gavin Andrew and Emma NeildApril 2015Tristan Thomas and Sharon RodriguesPawel Adach and Aiste KaranauskiteAnthony McEwan and Sinead CorbettMay 2015Mark Clune and Emma GarnettJune 2015Andrzey Stefanski and Makgorzata KrawczykProsper Mbala and Esther StoneDEATHSJanuary 2015Gerald KeatingFebruary 2015Isabella DuffettMarch2015Michael Mackie, John MaskellApril2015Sirpa Edwardes, Enid SwanJune 2015Daphne KoppJuly 2015Nora Cleak, Alistair Black, Mary Reynolds,Douglas Hoskins.St Francis’ SchoolSports Day,June 26th. Howardhouse (yellow) werethe winners. Here, theexcited champions runa lap of honour - welldone!The World’s True LightI am the flame of the votive light,There to show the prayer you make,I flicker and burn until I’m spent,For I am not the light.I am the candle upon the altar,The work of many bees,My flame will flicker and die away,Because I am not the light.I am the flame of the processional candle,Following behind the cross,†I burn and give myself completely,For I am not the light.I am the candle in the sanctuary,There to tell the Blessed Lord is near,My name it is perpetual, but even I go out,Because I am not the light.I am the Paschal Candle the tallest of them all,Bringing light in the darkness of the Easter Vigil night,I give my light to many, but I too will be spent,For even I am not the light.So all the candles burning, the greatest or the least,Will in time just flicker, until they all go out,But Christ the Light is always burning,Because He is the world’s true Light.Margaret EmersonWALKABOUT MAIDSTONE QUIZ“Where you might hear a cheery holiday greeting from someone wearing ayellow jacket”. Can you identify this shop in Maidstone by this clue? If so, youshould have joined our Quiz on 19th July. The response was not huge, buteveryone enjoyed it immensely. We were blessed by good weather and the 14participants formed 5 teams. Results ranged from 28 correct answers out of 30,to just 5. Times ranged from 23 to 65 minutes. Answers depended onobservation and general knowledge. Entry was free but donations will buymore slates for the Church roof.We will be holding another event like this one in the future so please join us!(For the answer to the above clue come along to the next event!)Len and Viv Watson16