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NEW FOREST RC CHURCHES
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ARCHIVE
PAGES relating to NFDPC Old Happenings from the days when we were a Deanery! Minutes of the Meeting Report
from the Department for Collaborative Ministry
LISTENING 2004
For a really interesting
collection of informative and easy-to-read 'LOUD & CLEAR' 'Listening 2004: My Family, My Church' The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales are putting a great deal of effort into communicating more closely with the family people of the Church - 'the domestic church'- it used to be called. It is beginning to understand that there are many different life styles today and that 'Family' doesn't necessarily have the neat patterns of past times. To find out more
about what the Bishops propose doing about this
[
Click here ] to
see Agenda for Meeting at Lymington on 16th March 2006 [ Click here ] to see Minutes from Meeting held on 1st December at Ringwood
The Report sent to
Portsmouth relating to possible future plans for the New Forest Deanery,
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT* (2)
Latest: Things are still being sorted, and quite frankly your Webmaster has to confess failing to reorganise this site by now. But with the New Year and God's help all things will be possible! For people visiting over the Christmas period, it is hoped to put up a page with all the Christmas services for Milford, New Milton and Lymington, Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst by 20th December. Phone numbers are available on this site to make enquiries for Ringwood and Fordingbridge.
IP* (1)
Most of you will now be
aware that the former groupings, referred to as Deaneries, have been abolished,
giving place to 'LAP's - Larger Pastoral Areas. The former New Forest
Deanery is now to be known as Larger Pastoral Area 19. Your webmaster would very much appreciate your support while getting to grips with the protocol of sorting things out. Thank you.
DAY'S VISIT TO DOUAI We publish below a report on the visit to Douai from our Chairman, Richard Mills:Deanery Day of Recollection, Douai Abbey On 17th September, 2005, 45 people from across the deanery travelled by coach for a Day of Recollection in the tranquil surroundings of Douai Abbey near Reading. The day was designed specifically, but not exclusively for Readers and Eucharistic Ministers and led by Father Gervase Holdaway OSB. The focus was The Mass as a celebration of Word and Eucharist. The four keys to proclaiming God’s word were introduced and explored. The first key is Faith in the Word: the reader must be committed to the truth being revealed. Second, understanding the word of God: the reader must be prepared to analyze the text and find its meaning and relevance (exegesis and hermeneutics). Third, the reader should understand the power of the word (its ability to transform the future). The final key is the art of reading out loud. We thought about the skills needed and the ways they can be taught, learned and developed. We were challenged to think of Eucharist as a verb not a noun; a means of nourishing and changing us into missionaries who can transform our world as we in turn become Eucharist for others. There were practical examples of what this means and how we might become more attentive to our task of evangelisation and bearing witness. This led us to consider the position of Christianity in the world today. We feel weak and the world is indifferent. This was the situation of the early Christians of the 1st Century AD. The paradox is that by being powerless they were able to succeed: in a world of hatred and cruelty they introduced responsibility to be compassionate and caring. Christians grew in number because of their example. The day was informative and gave many of us new insights into the purpose and meaning of our ministries. It was a chance to share those thoughts over lunch and there was time for silence and reflection within the programme. The Abbey organises similar events throughout the year for groups and individuals and you can find out more at www.douaiabbey.org.ukRM 4.10.2005
The Assembly for the Diocese of Portsmouth
To get all the details of what went on just [ CLICK HERE ]
THIRD DEANERY EVENT Members of the Fordingbridge Parish were forewarned on the meteorological front but when they woke up on the Sunday morning things looked not quite as bad as anticipated and spirits rose. Sadly it didn't take long for the prophets of doom to be proved right: the heavens opened and the gazebos scattered over the lawn of Fordingbridge's interesting church were essential to protect scones, cream, tea cups, goodies to buy, musicians and those who attended the Service of Benediction conducted by our Dean, Rev. Canon Alan Griffith. Those who served and other members of the Deanery who attended enjoyed the most delicious cream and scones together with the mouthwatering cakes which had arrived in profusion. A big 'Thank You' to Fordingbridge for persevering under extreme difficulties, and to those who braved the weather to attend! (Removed to Archives 9th September 2005)
PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM - LATEST Unfortunately, although there was a lot of interest in this project, too many people who would like to have gone had already made holiday arrangements before the publicity was available. Perhaps there will be another chance some next year, when earlier consultation might find dates which don't coincide with a period where many people in the New Forest escape on holiday after the summer invasions and the children have gone back to school! Maybe the month of May? (Removed to Archives on 9th September 05)
REPORT ON THE FIRST TWO DEANERY EVENTS OPEN TO ALL PARISHES Storrington Pilgrimage The Pilgrimage on 18th March to Storrington and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick during Mass which took place on Pentecost Sunday afternoon in New Milton were both very well supported by parishes in the New Forest Deanery. The pilgrims travelled in two coaches, taking people from Ringwood and Fordingbridge areas and from New Milton, Milford, Lymington, Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst, and were blessed by beautiful weather. Although people were obviously busy at the run up to Easter, many of those who went on the Pilgrimage also managed to attend St. John's Cathedral for the Chrism Mass the following Tuesday. About 75 people went to Storrington. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was available there and a considerable number of the pilgrims availed themselves of the opportunity of refreshing their friendship with the Lord. This excursion was organised by the parishes of Lyndhurst, where it was initiated by Richard Mills, and of Ringwood and Fordingbridge, who organised everything for their parishes.
The Mass with Anointing of the Sick This took place at New Milton on 15th May, was attended by roughly 100 people. Those who came were very moved by the whole occasion. Many people had never attended such a Mass and overheard conversations certainly covered initial doubts about the whole thing and delight at what they had experienced. Sadly Father Vervenne himself, who had organised everything, was ill on the day and unable to attend. Mass was celebrated by Canon Alan Griffiths, who is now the Parish Priest of Ringwood and Fordingbridge, and concelebrated by Canon Dermot MacDermot-Roe. New Forest Deacons Rev. Hilary Parsons and Rev. Michael Welch assisted. Refreshments were served afterwards in a crowded Church Hall and everyone agreed that the whole thing had been a memorable occasion and one to treasure. Late News: 29th May 2005 Father Vervenne has received news of at least three people whose health appears to made a remarkable improvement since attending the above Mass with Anointing of the Sick, including your formerly limping webmaster!
NEXT STAGE OF Members of some of the NFDPC Parishes involved with leading Parish Groups in the programme of 'Growing in Christ' together with members of the Bournemouth Deanery, met this evening at the church of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Southbourne to be presented by the organisers of the next stage of 'Growing Together in Christ'. (Members of other Parishes will have attended a meeting elsewhere and are requested to let us have a report of their activities if they would like to do so.) The new programme, designed by the consultative committee in this area in Portsmouth, looks challenging and is nothing like the first group of meetings held in the Autumn. This is much more a 'hands-on' programme requesting idea from everyone about how we should go forward at this time of severely diminishing numbers of clergy, where the laity will have to take much more responsibility for the spreading of the Gospel and the Church Christ established as a means of bringing his Kingdom to our world. Among other things it will ask us to re-think the Church and understand that the people of God are his Church, which is a spiritual creation, and that the buildings in which we offer our services are of this world and temporal. We have to work for the real Church - us, the members of Christ's body, and not the bricks and mortar, love them as we may.
We have the times of the
Sessions in Milford and
New Milton which are on their own pages. If
your parish isn't one of these, please send the details of your Meetings to the
Webmaster. They
will then be put on your Parish page.
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