"Tens of thousands of Catholics watched live-streamed Masses in up to 17 churches across the Diocese of East Anglia over Easter, after churches were closed to physical congregations due to Covid-19 restrictions." Story continues
image captioned: "Live-streaming of Mass at St John's Cathedral in Norwich has been wonderfully well-received, says Bishop Alan Hopes (right) [image insert]: "To know that so many people have been watching and have received reassurance and hope in this difficult time is a source of grate blessing..'"
images of Fr David Bagstaff, Fr Luke Goymour, Canon Eugene Harkness
"A devoted priest overcame two exploding bike tyres to deliver his evening prayer podcast live." Story continues
image captioned: "Fr Sean Connolly with his bike and phone which he livestreamed the evening prayer from"
insert image of Fr Connolly
"Fr Sean Connolly overcame two exploding bike tyres to heroically continue broadcasting his increasingly popular Evening Prayer podcast live, as he wheeled his bike back to St George's, Norwich." Story continues.
Image caption: "Fr Sean Connolly with his bike and phone."
"Almost all of Norfolk's Catholic churches have reopened their doors to collective public worship over the weekend following the relaxation of government guidelines." Story continues.
Image caption, showing Fr Simon with communicants: "The Dean of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich, Canon David Paul, led the first public Mass at the cathedral for nearly three months, on Saturday"
"A parishioner fro St Mary's in Ipswich has written a book about the friendship which has grown up with villages in Cambodia through the Diocesan Building Bridges Scheme." Story continues.
Image caption "Marie-Madeleine Kenning with students in Cambodia"
"The launch of the new Sacred Heart Voluntary Aided Proimary School, and its associated Little Pedlars Nursery, has marked the start of an exciting time for the children and families of Swaffham and surrounding areas. The school is funded by the Government and is suported by the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia." Story continues.
Image caption: "Children from Sacred heart proudly show off their rockets."
"A new Cathoilic primary school - the first to open in Norfolk for decades - is marking the completion of its first year in what has proven to be an eventful 12 months." Story continues.
Image 1 caption: "Year six pupils at Sacred Heart Primary in Swaffham who voted to explore how rockets are made and designed and made their own during coronavirus lockdown"
Image 2 caption: "The Bishop of East Anglia Alan Hopes blessing the new Sacred Heart Catholic Primary and Nursery School in Swaffham."
"Fr Luke Goymour, parish priest of Brandon and Mildenhall, is about to celebrate 10 years as a priest of the Diocese of East Anglia." Story continues.
Image 1: Fr Luke saying mass
Image 2: Papal blessing
"North Norfolk Permanent Deacon Ron O'Toole, who had a great love of the Catholic faith, died on 11th August at the age of 90. Fr James Walsh pays tribute. Ron O'Toole had a long and varied life. At the age of 18 he entered the Cistercian abbey of Mount St Bernard where he spent eight years." Story continues.
Image caption: "Ron with his beloved wife, Inge"
Story 1: "Postcard invitations for all the parishioners of Our Lady and Good Counsel and St Peter in March and
Chatteris have been sent out to help encourage people to come back to Mass safely." Story continues.
Image showing Fr PaulSpellman, Sr Mary Fitzpatrick fmm and Ann Mashman.
Story 2: "The annual Red Mount procession at Kings Lynn went ahead as usual but in an unusual
manner, writes Stephen Farr. The solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady is usually marked by the carrying of the statue of Our Lady, which was granted to the pontifical National Shrine of Our Lady of
Walsingham in King's Lynn by Pope Leo XIII in 1897. The traditional route of the procession goes from the parish church of Our Lady of the Annunciation to the Red Mount, which is a late 15th-century wayside chapel for pilgrims on their way to Walsingham, and which houses two chapels." Story continues.
Image caption: "The faithful gather for a scaled back Red Mount service"
"The Roman Catholic church in March and Chatteris has re-opened and is inviting parishioners back for
In-person worship now the coronavirus lockdown measures have been eased. Father Paul Spellman, the
current priest in charge at Our Lady of Good Counsel & St Peter's in March and Chatteris, has arranged for postcards to be sent to parishioners outlining the weekly service schedule and safety arrangements now in place." Story continues.
Image showing Fr Spellman plus two
Story1:
"Anglia: Bishop Alan Hopes made a special visit to the Italian community of the Working Sisters of Nazareth recently in between two Confirmations in the parishes of All Souls and St Luke's in Peterborough, and enjoyed some fine Italian cooking from Sr Letizia while he was there." Story continues.
Image caption "Bishop Alan, left to right, are Sr Raffaella, Sr-Letizia, Sr Erika"
Story2:
"St Mary's in Thetford celebrated Remembrance Sunday by laying a wreath for those who had made the ultimate sacrifice in conflict." Story continues.
Image caption "Pictured is the wreath from St Mary's in Thetford."
Story3: "Anglia: Fr Paul Vincent OCD from St Mark's, Ipswich, recently completed a Masters Degree at Birkbeck College in the University of London." Story continues.
Image of Fr Paul Vincent
"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."
"Our Lady of the Annunciation in King's Lynn lit up the church in red in solidarity with Christians and others who are suffering persecution on 25th November... " Story continues.
Image caption "Our Lady of the Annunciation lit up in support of those persecuted for their faith."
"Cambridgeshire: As the second lockdown started, March parish created a Window of Hope to mark All Saints Day ..." Story continues.
Image of illuminated window.
"The Ignite Youth Team have set up a virtual studio in Norwich and launched an online chat show and youth Mass. ..." Story continues.
2 Images, caption: "Pictured ahove is Ciaran hosting the chat show and left. Hamish at the studio mixing desk."
Story 1: Community welcomes new roles, a Book of Life - and a shepherd's hut for prayer!
"The lastest news from the sisters at the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham (COLW) include a new role for Sr Camilla, the arrival of a shepherd's hut, a Book of Life and a special All Saints celebration." Story continues.
Image caption: "The new Shepherd's Hut at the Dereham COLW Convent"
Story 2: Prisoners' chocolate treats from Peterborough church
"An amazing 230 tubs of chocolates have been donated to prisoners at HMP Peterborough, thanks to St Luke's Parish in the town." Story continues
Image caption: "The three clerics with their stack of chocolate treats, which were sent to HMP Peterborough in time for Christmas"
Story 3: Norwich students quiz the 'naked scientist' on vaccines
"A-Level biology students at Notre Dame High School in Norwich interviewed 'Naked Scientist' Cambridge medical consultant Dr Chris Smith via Zoom before Christmas, with questions focusing on the challenges faced scientists in creating a Covid-19 vaccine." Story continues
"Catholic priest who spent more than five weeks in critical care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn after contracting Covid-19 has praised the efforts of doctors and nurses. as well as two church ministers, for helping him to pull through. Fr Michael Stack from Coventry died twice and was on a ventilator for three weeks and in critical care for five weeks before he miraculously pulled through, astonishing the medical team with his recovery." Story continues.
Image caption: "Fr Michael Stack."
"To keep parishioners safe, Fr Philip Shyrane from Huntingdon decided this year to re-route the Posada journey via Zoom. He describes below how it worked out. The virus has changed most of parish life this year, driving most parishes to online Masses and zoom meetings for many other events." Story continues.
2 Images caption: "The Posada at an online adoration and right, the postcards sent to every home in the parish"
"Ciaran Losasso, leader of the Ignite youth mission in the diocese, spoke recently on Radio Maria's Songs in the Wilderness show about his favourite music and his journey of faith." Story continues.
Image: Ciaran Losasso