James in the Philippines
Posted: Tue, 24 Apr 2007
James was a volunteer in Pasil in the Philippines. Read an email from him below.
Hi everyone,
I've been here for two weeks now. In some ways it feels like much more than that. It seems like months since I slept in my bed at home or ate a meal that did not include rice. On the other hand, the time has flown by because of all the incredible experiences I've been so privileged to have had.
My flight arrived... Read More »
Province Retreat at Worth Abbey
Posted: Wed, 4 Apr 2007
During Easter week 2007 nearly fifty Salesian priests and brothers from the UK gathered in Worth Abbey for the annual Province retreat.
Fr Nick Reina SDB led the retreat. He is Rector of the Salesian House in Richmond California and was formerly Provincial of the USA West Coast Province. He based his morning talks on the Resurrection narratives in the Gospels and his evening talks on the Religious... Read More »
New Look in Newent
Posted: Thu, 29 Mar 2007
The parishioners of Our Lady Lourdes in Newent, Gloucestershire, have returned to their own parish church after an eight month 'holiday'. From the beginning of August 2006 until the end of March 2007, they have been celebrating weekend Masses as guests of the nearby United Reformed Church.
Fr Aidan Murray SDB, the Salesian Parish Priest, described the extensive work which was going on. The old tower... Read More »
New Books for Teachers
Posted: Sat, 10 Mar 2007
The annual meeting of The Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges (CATSC), which took place this year in the Best Western Hotel in Stoke over the weekend of March 10th & 11th, was the venue for the launch of two new books by Don Bosco Publications. The Christian Teacher - Shepherd of Loving Kindness and Christian Leadership in Education. Both books have been written by David O'Malley... Read More »
Name chosen for New School
Posted: Tue, 20 Feb 2007
The Governors of the new community school based at St James, Bootle, have announced the new name of the school. It is to be called ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, BOOTLE, and will open on 1st January 2007. It is the amalgamation of two existing schools at St James and St Joan of Arc; the third partner school closed down last year at St Winefride's & St Richard's. The Governors chose this name... Read More »
Chinese pupils visit Bootle
Posted: Tue, 6 Feb 2007
Did you know that Merseyside has the oldest Chinese community in the UK? At our parish primary school, All Saints, we are keen to foster links with other schools and in the first week of February 2007 we welcomed 27 children and ten staff from our partner school of Backu in central China.
East meets West in All Saints School
Our visitors, only the second official primary school group to leave China,... Read More »
South African Provincial Team
Posted: Tue, 30 Jan 2007
Kgotso! Pula! Nala! That means Peace! Rain! Prosperity! - a traditional Sotho greeting and blessing.
The Provincial Council in South Africa completed its 124th meeting since the Vice-Province became independent and each member received a yellow umbrella, a reminder of the Rector Major's strenna, on the eve of the feast of our founder.
From left to right- Fr Robert Gore (Economer/ex-Provincial),... Read More »
Opening of All Saints Catholic Primary School, Bootle
Posted: Thu, 25 Jan 2007
Over five hundred people packed into St James' Church on Thursday night, 25th January 2007, for the official opening ceremony of our new parish school, All Saints Catholic Primary School, Bootle, which we will share with St Joan of Arc parish. Teachers and children presented a wonderful service based on theme 'Building the Future on Firm Foundations' through music, readings, reflections, artwork and... Read More »
Funeral of Fr O'Shea
Posted: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:38
Farewell to Fr Eddie
Today, 23rd January 2007, we were present at a packed Mass and for the burial of a dearly loved Teacher and Salesian Priest, Father Eddie O'Shea SDB. So many of his past pupils from Battersea and Blaisdon and other schools were able
to pay their last respects to this wonderful man. Father Provincial gave a moving and empathetic homily and described Father Eddie just as so many of... Read More »
Fr Laurence visits Hong Kong
Posted: Mon, 22 Jan 2007
In January 2007, Fr Laurence Martin visited the Salesians in Hong Kong and China and was present at a Memorial Mass for his brother, Fr Denis Martin, one year after Fr Denis had died. Fr Denis had spent 65 years as a Salesian missionary in China.
Image: Fr Laurence greets youngsters at a Salesian Orphanage near Canton
Fr Denis was ordained in Shanghai in 1949, but soon after his ordination the Communists... Read More »