"As reported in the 30th October issue of The Catholic Universe, 29 Grade I and Grade II* listed churches and cathedrals in England are to receive £3m funding for repairs and restoration projects from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund. The grant programme is part of the Government's Heritage Stimulus Fund, administered by Historic England and is aimed at supporting major repair projects which either stalled earlier this year because of Covid-19, or where loss of income due to many months of closure put urgently needed projects on hold." Story continues.
Images: "St Peter's Gorleston", "St. Mary's Great Yarmouth. Below, the mural at St Mary's has been suffering water damage due to a failed valley gutter." , Preston's Cathedral of St Alphonsa - formerly the Jesuit church of St lgnatius where the priest and poet Gerard Manley Hopkins once served, and now the Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy - is another to benefit from the grants."
Story 1: "A student at Notre Dame High School in Norwich has been named as 'World Changer of the Year' for her efforts in helping young people with their mental health during the pandemic. Year 10 student Chili Tozer won the Pearson accolade after teaching herself to use an electric sewing machine in lockdown with the help of her grandma on racetime." Story continues.
Image 1: Chili Tozer
Story 2: "Staff and children at the Sacred Heart VA Primary School in
Swaftham did not allow all the Covid-19 restrictions to dampen their Christmas cheer as they raised money for Uganda. A Christmas jumper design competition was one of many events which the school arranged in the lead-up to the Nativity. Won by Kimmie, the competition attracted a variety of artistic jumpers for the children to model. Money raised has been donated to the Sisters' mission in Uganda.". Story continues
Image 2 caption "Pictured above is Logan with his winning poster."
"A new film which uncovers the beauty and power of the prayer of the rosary is to be shown at the Narthex at St John the Baptist Cathedral on 7th May." (Article continues...).
The Catholic Universe (1860-2021)"Nearly 3,000 pilgrims representing the worldwide Catholic Church gathered in the National Catholic Shrine at Walsingham for the colourful Dowry of Mary Pilgrimage." Story continues
image 1 a group of pilgrims
image 2 : bishop Hopes greeting pilgrims
Seven young people from Norwich travelled to Panama for World Youth Day. The Mass on January 27 was celebrated by Pope Francis.
For news providers' articles see "Sources" below.
Sunday, February 3 - Jessica McCall from the IGNITE youth team talks to BBC Norfolk presenter Anthony Isaacs about her recent trip to World Youth Day in Panama with half-a-dozen others from the Diocese of East Anglia.
Start listening at 1.44.00 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p06y7c33 (not accessible 15-7-2022)
"In his first Christmas message as the new Bishop of East Anglia. Bishop Peter Collins looks at the good news that enlightens a world threatened by darkness." Story continues
image caption: [a correction plus] "...Bishop Peter is pictured right."
"Around 40 Catholic churches across the Diocese of east Anglia have re-opened their doors for private prayer in a move welcomed by Bishop Alan Hopes." Story continues.
Image 1 caption: "Pictured are Bishop Alan Hopes (left) and Canon David Paul opening the doors of St John's Cathedral to the public for the first time since lockdown began."
Image 2 caption: "Left, volunteer stewards help visitors for private prayer at St John's Cathedral, Norwich, disinfect before entering."
"At a Capitular Mass at St John the Baptist Cathedral, Bishop Alan Hopes installed Fr Pat Cleary as a Canon of the diocese. Canon David Paul, Dean of St John's Cathedral, said: 'Canon Pat Cleary brings with him wisdom and great experience of the diocese. In addition, his tremendous work in encouraging vocations has been invaluable in the mission of the Church in East Anglia.'" Story continues.
Image caption: "Fr Pat vested in a Mozetta (short cape) with Bishop Alan Hopes at the service that saw him installed as a Canon of the "diocese
"Eleven teenagers received the Sacrament of Confirmation in King's Lynn recently from Bishop Alan Hopes in a Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation, King's Lynn." story continues.
image: teenagers standing in nave of church.
"Francis Fitzherbert, Lord Stafford, recently paid a visit to Our Lady and St Walstan's church in Costessey, near Norwich, which is built on land donated by his ancestors." story continues.
2 images captioned; "Left, Lord Stafford and Fr David Ward in the porch of the church, standing in front of the list of those
members of the Staffords-Jerningham family who are buried in the church cemetery. Above, a picture of Costessey Hall from the scrapbook which Lord
Stafford brought."
"Around 130 parishioners came to St Mary's parish, Thetford, to welcome back Fr Pat Cleary to the parish for the second time as parish priest." Story continues
image caption: "Cutting the cake right are Fr Pat Cleary and Paul Gilbert"
"The Catholic community of Cambourne, south west of Cambridge, celebrated Easter in a number of cultural traditions, embracing its Irish, Indian and Polish" Story continues
1 image caption: "The St Patrick's party"
"Plans for a major re-development of the Catholic National Shrine at Walsingham in North Norfolk are to be reviewed after concerns were raised about its effect on the Grade I Listed Slipper Chapel and the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on future visitor numbers and finances for the project." Story continues.
Image caption: "The Slipper Chapel."
"Children from St Louis Catholic Academy in Newmarket were thrilled to welcome Bishop Peter Collins to bless the Mustard Seed Kitchen, a recently completed teaching hub. The bishop visited on 20th March and the parish welcomed children to celebrate Mass with him before returning to school."
Image 1: Bishop standing with children from the school
"An unusual coincidence has seen a Catholic group in East Anglia embark on a sewing project to promote peace in Colombia - at the same time as the South American group was doing something similar." story continues.
image1 captioned: "Students from Notre Dame High School and the Explorer Scouts designed the squares and the CAFOD group sewed them together."
"Bishop of East Anglia Peter Collins took part in an ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving for 50 years of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (SHCT), at St Edmundsbury Cathedral on Sunday 17th September." Story continues.
Image caption: Bishop Martin Seely and Bishop Peter Collins".
"Devout parishioner Olga Devonish celebrated her 100th birthday in style, attending Mass, being presented with a papal blessing and receiving a card from the Queen. The loyal parishioner has been attending St Mary's Church in Thetford for almost 60 years, and has played an active role in parish life ever since, most notably with the St Vincent De Paul Society (SVP)." Story continues.
image 1: Olga with card from the Queen
Three candidates to the diaconate were instituted as acolytes at St John's Cathedral on 3rd November, reports Rev John Morrill, assistant director for the permanent deacons. Brett Gladden from Bury St Edmunds, Martin L'Estrange from King's Lynn and James Hurst from Newmarket (pictured right - front row) reached a final staging post on their tour-year formation journey following 'candidacy' in their second year and 'lectorship' in their third year. Bishop Alan Hopes (flanked by Deacons John Bell and John Morrill) instituted them as acolytes at a Mass attended by many members of their families.
News items from The Cathoilc Universe
The Catholic Universe (1860-2021)"A farewell Mass heard tributes paid to the Acting Rector of the national shrine at Walsingham, Fr James Mary, as he left the post.
The event was presided over by Bishop Peter Collins, Bishop Emeritus Alan Hopes and Bishop David Oakley of the Northampton Diocese." Story continues.
image 1 caption: "From left are Bishop Peter Collins, Fr James Mary and Bishop Emeritus Alan Hopes."
"Tributes have been paid to devoted Norwich nurse, mother and Catholic Cathedral steward Estrella Catalan, who died last Friday at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital where she worked, after a month-long battle against Covid-19." Story continues.
Image 1 Estella Catalan