25th August 2010 - RIP Fr Benjamin Camilleri who died in Malta on this date. He was ordained as a Franciscan in 1962 and joined the Diocese in 1977, serving in many places, most recently at St Margaret of Cortona in Dallington, Northampton, from where he retired in 2001 ( that church being then closed). His funeral was on 27th August in Malta. May he rest in peace.
24th August 2010 - RIP Fr Patrick Branagan, who died on this date in Luton and Dunstable hospital. Father Pat was a ordained a priest in Dublin 1964 and was from the Birmingham Diocese. During his latter days he assisted Fr Eamon Murray at St Margaret of Scotland, Luton. His funeral will take place in his hometown of Carlow. May he rest in peace.
22nd August 2010 - RIP Canon Norman Smith who passed away peacefully in his sleep on this date. His body will be received into the Cathedral on Wednesday, 1 September at 6.30pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm. Bishop Peter will be celebrating the Funeral Mass on Thursday, 2 September at 12.30pm followed by a burial at Kingsthorpe Cemetery.
Canon Norman was ordained in 1956 and served in many locations in the Diocese, most recently at the Cathedral before his retirement in 2003, following which he remained a familiar sight in Northampton and elsewhere. He was Episcopal Vicar for Clergy between 1988 and 1993, and Provost 1996-2003. May he rest in peace.
18th August 2010. The detailed timetable for the Papal Visit has today been released - click here. Parishes have heard from Fr Chris Whitehouse of Sacred Heart, Luton, the Diocesan Co-ordinator for the Visit, with their ticket allocation for the Vigil event in Hyde Park on Saturday 18th September, or for the Mass of Beatification for Cardinal Newman, taking place on Sunday 19th September, at Cofton Park at Rednal, SW Birmingham. In the meantime, another website is giving information about the "Big Assembly" for Catholic schools on 17th September in Twickenham.
The official Prayer Card for the Papal Visit is available to download from here - type Papal in the search box to the left of the blue & green Downloads icon. See also our new Visit page for Diocesan arrangements.
24th July - Michael O'Leary was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate at St Patrick's, Duston, Northampton
17th July. Fr John White, a priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster, has arrived to take up his on-loan appointment as Parish Priest for St Teresa's, Princes Risborough, for three years. Bishop Peter expressed thanks to Fr Tom Kenny who has been looking after the parish since Mgr Moorcraft's retirement in April.
10th July. Michael Ossei-Williams was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate at Holy Redeemer Church, Wexham Road, Slough.
26th June - David Smith was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate at St Augustine's, Daventry, where he joins David Franklyn in diaconal service.
20th June - The newsletter of Our Lady of Peace parish at Burnham, Slough, carries the news that parishioner Mary McCarthy has been honoured with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for her work over many years with the "Charlie's Angels" youth group at St Gilbert's, Eton Wick. Congratulations ! The full story will be in the Vine shortly.
18th June - Canon Bosco Clarke, parish priest of St Peter's, Marlow, since 2002, has retired on this date for health reasons. Ordained in 1968, he served in Norwich, St Ethelberts Slough, High Wycombe (1976-84), and Langley (1984-2003) before moving to Marlow. Pending a new appointment, the parish will be served from Beaconsfield with Fr Higgins as temporary priest-in-charge.
11th June - The Year for Priests concluded with a Papal Mass in Rome, and a Mass at Westminster Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Nichols. Read all about it and download his homily from here.
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