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His Grace (Bishop William Godfrey) grants permission for the Mass of Our Lady of Good Counsel on 19th May 1953

Fr Gaffney writes to Very Rev. Mgr. D J Cashman STL regards Bishop's permission for the Mass and the prompt handling of the request.

Fr O'Toole cannot accept invitation to Chrism Mass because of a prior commitment to take Communion to 16 Old people on Maundy Thursday. Not a trivial reason for not coming.

Covering letter: Fr O'Toole is asked by a secretary at The White House, Poringland to help identify a Parish for a parishioner.
Subject letter: Mrs Yoland Creasley of Hatley St George is unable to determine which parish she lives in - too many boundaries and churches nearby. East Anglia Diocesan Year Book not helpful.

Fr O'Toole's programme for the visitation: 4 Sunday masses (Sawston / Great Shelford / Hauxton / Sawston) + Confirmation Mass + visiting the sick/housebound + evening meeting with parishioners. Fr O'Toole invites comments from the Bishop on his programme.

Last year the question of Special Ministers of Holy Communion arose - but not addressed. In August & September Fr O'Toole was incapacitated with torn ligaments and the need for these ministers became more relevant. Could Bishop come and commission them? Possibly before 1st April because of the special Mass to dedicate all those parishioners engaged in supporting roles in the Church. Would like Communion from the Chalice.
This event will be a stepping stone for Norwich on 16th May.
Manuscript note: "6th April Monday pm"

Bishop happy to go to Sawston and commission Special Ministers. He will do so after his visitation to Our Lady of English Martyrs (OLEM) in Cambridge. Each candidate must have adequate catechesis, be in possession of the CTS blue handbook and have a certificate for the Bishop to issue.
Delighted to hear that the parish is geared to Saturday 16th May.

Fr O'Toole describes the items within the programme for the Bishop's visitation.: Meeting with Tony Philpot & the vicar from Bar Hill; 4 masses; Children's Liturgy in one Mass; commissioning of Eucharistic ministers; coffee in hall; Confirmation Mass; tea in Hall; 13 elderly folk to be visited.

Fr Ray Kerby requesting permission of say Maundy Thursday Mass at Papworth. The community there consider themselves independent of St Ives. If not said there then a number may not be able to get to St Ives due to lack of Transport. Mass would be well attended, he feels.

Acknowledges letter of 29 October. Will establish an Altar Society. Dr Gaynor's offer of £25 will be accepted. Mgr Freeland will pay rent for the Chapel. New address: 1 Elm Terrace (opp. Police station). Use "Catholic Church" as it is simpler. Landlady, Mrs Dickerson, of Griffen Hotel in Attleborough has a suitable room for Mass. Please forward vestments, etc. to her. Propose to start on 7th November.
Armistice Service - vicar has asked him to take part in a combined service - would it be wise for me to take part?

Fr Chapman advising the Bishop that due to on-going works at his Church he will be saying Mass at Wymondham Abbey for first 3 Sundays of December. The Vicar there has already obtained his own permissions. Since Fr Chapman already uses Anglican churches at Attleborough and Hethersett, he assumed that this would not cause a problem to the Bishop.

Acknowledges the need for a review in the light of the closure of RAF Watton - wishes FR Jennings well in that. The ongoing formation of priests - since the departure of Tony Philpot to Rome there has been a gap and the Bishop hopes to remedy this before too long.

parish Council have suggested that a mass be said at Wymondham College on Saturday evening. Rationale - £4.50 coach hire every Sunday and space pressures in the Church building. Seeks Bishop's approval.

Further to the Bishops letter on Attleborough and in the light of Alies' recovery/non-recovery. Methodist Minister wants to explore sharing via the Shared Churches Act. Also, Fr Bredon Peters wants to reschedule Mass to 9 am from 4pm - he won't have to drive in the dark, and, better timing to help build up the congregation. Mgr Wace considers that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages - especially keeping Brendon happy. Methodist minister is happy with the proposal - less heating required.

Canon McShee writes: "All swell, that ends swell! And this seems to have ended quite swell. Better for you to keep the enclosed in your file, & then, before you keep the feast again, get the position regularised."
Reference is to His Grace (Bishop William Godfrey) granting permission for the Mass of Our Lady of Good Counsel on 19th May 1953

Notre Dame Convent's superior has arranged lodging. Will call on the Bishop midday on Friday. Expect to leave for Yarmouth via London by train early afternoon.
Manuscript annotation: "Ans: Say Mass at the Convent. Come to see me at 11 or 11.30. Stay for lunch, meeting Canon Tonks, and return by the 2.15 train Ap 20/27. Have given faculties in case Sisters want their Confessions!"

Now in "the saddle" and glad to be there. Issues to raise:

1. Fr Webb dated 4-11-1958 from the Bishop grants faculties to "the priest who supplies and arrives provided he is one of yours and has faculties elsewhere". Fr Wilfred Jolley SJ and Fr James Evans SJ are here and the Provincial wishes them to be retained as assistants.
2. Two absences - cancelled one, but not the other - this is leading a Pilgrimage as Spiritual Director to Lourdes from Mar 26 to Apr 4.
3. Requests renewing permission to duplicate for all three priests.
4. Requests delegate visiting SJ priests for hearing confessions
5. Two permissions for (a) Public Processions in honour of Our Lady on Sundays (not frequent), (b) Exposition on Sunday after Feast of Sacred Heart.
6. Permission granted for public procession of Blessed Sacrament on 2nd Sunday of Pentecost - not keen to renew but if Bishops wants it...
   Manuscript annotations at paragraphs: (1) "yes herewith"; (2) "Yes"; (3) "Yes no form and applies to those serving Yarmouth even supplies"; (4) "Yes if facs. elsewhere"; (5) Yes. add to Ben. Pagella in space below"; (6) Bp. not keen & it may be discontinued".

Pastoral letter hit nail on the head. Local M (Mr Anthony Fell of Yarmouth) in Acle congregation - wonder whether he digested the passage about exports and unnecessary industries!
Saved a few items for a convenient time to write to the Bishop:

1. Parish Trip to Rome - permission to accompany them from April 8th to 23rd; Fr Evans would be Vicarius Substitutus.
2. Permission for Friday weekday Evening Mass/
3. Mass Centres at Caister, Hemsby & Acle: Caister - Centre badly situated. Acquisition of a site and erection of a chapel indicated; Hemsby - suffices except in Summer. Extension urgently desirable. A new church would be costly but several more wealthy people have expressed willingness to help financially. Sufficient funds for a temporary enlargement; Acle - chapel adequate now, needs minor repairs. Housing development happening so may need a more permanent Church.
   Suggests a Fund for Future Development. Makes estimates for first and second collections at each centre plus need for other donations and fund raising activities. Currently a net surplus of £2000.
   Caister Catholic Cemetery much improved - tidy and cared for.
   Mission run jointly with Gorleston disappointing - "It was the good who came, and profited; the luke-warm and bad stayed away. I wonder what is the modern approach to the tepid in the face of TV and over-time?"

Fr Paul Maddison writing as Bishop's secretary to say categorically that there are no plans to end Mass at Hemsby and no correspondence to that end has occurred between the Bishop and Fr John Shannon at Yarmouth.

Fr Shannon details new arrangements, since there are only two priests now, for timetabling Masses in St Mary's Parish, affecting Hemsby, Caister, Acle, Yarmouth. Thanks the Bishop for his induction at St Mary's last week. Will be talking to the Vicar at Hemsby and the Methodist minister at Acle regarding use of their buildings for Masses.