"East Anglia: A Celebration of Priesthood Massand lunch took place at Our Lady of the Annunciation in Poringland and at the Bishop's White House on 13th June." Article continues...
Image with caption: "Pictures above with Bishop Alan Hopes (centre) outside the White House, are from the left, Fr Michael Vulliamy, Fr Roger Spencer, Fr Anthony Shryane and Fr Denys Lloyd."
"Fr Anthony Foreman, a retired diocesan priest, has published a book on the intriguing medieval history of Lidgate, the Suffolk village where he lives. Lidgate, which is in the Newmarket parish, boasts the remains of a Roman villa, a Norman castle and was the birthplace of John de Lydgate, the famous medieval poet and monk of Bury Abbey. He presented a copy of his life of St Edmund to King Henry V on his visit to the abbey." Story continues.
Image - Fr Anthony with book
"Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt Rev Alan Hopes, celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the Catholic priesthood with a Mass at St John's Cathedral in Norwich on 4th December. Also celebrating priesthood jubilees, and concelebrating with Bishop Alan, were Fr Dick Healey (40 years), Er John Barnes (25 years) and Fr Luke Goymour (10 years). Other diocesan priests celebrating jubilees this year include Canon Simon Blakeslev (30 years) and Canon David Paul (25 years)." Story continues.
Image showing Bishop Hopes in the Cathedral
News cutting - undated; unattributed
2 columns; using text from press release for the article.
"Retired diocese of East Anglia priest, Fr John Fowler, has died after more than 60 years of ministry in the Catholic and Anglican churches. John was ordained as a priest in the Catholic Church for the Diocese of East Anglia by Bishop Peter Smith on the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, 24th September, 1999, at the Church of St Etheldreda's, Ely." Story continues.
image 1: Fr Fowler
Fr Francis McDermott was found guilty of 18 counts of historic child sex offences. A Catholic priest has been jailed for nine years and 11 months. McDermott, 75, abused six victims, some as young as 10, in London, Norwich, and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, between 1971 and 1978, Aylesbury Crown Court heard.
See links to news articles below.
"East Anglian priest Fr Mike Brookes recently gave a radio interview about his work as a chaplain at the West Suffolk Hospital, and how it has changed in the face of the Covid pandemic. Fr Mike Brookes is relatively recently ordained priest; prior to joining the clergy he was a nurse for 25 years. That career has left him with great empathy for both the people he works with in the hospital and a developed understanding of the needs of patients and their loved ones." Story continues.
Image 1: Fr Mike Brookes
Image 2: Ambulances
Describes the need for laity involvement in the diocese and the assembly called by the Bishop to consider and address the issue.
Eastern Evening News (1882-)A short report on the permission to be ordained for married man as a Catholic priest.
Eastern Daily PressAssembly at St Bede's School in Cambridge on July 18 wherein the laity and clergy of the diocese of East Anglia will "attempt to solve the problem of a shortage of priests..."
Catholic Herald"Fr Dennis Finbow, a retired priest of served in parishes in Peterborough the diocese of East Anglia, has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after he was convicted for three historic (non-recent) child sexual abuse offences. The sentence was passed down at Cambridge Crown Court and follows his conviction at Huntingdon Crown on 31st January." Story continues.
Universe Catholic Weekly (2021-)"For the third time in two months, the Pope has given permission for a former Anglican priest to be ordained as a Catholic priest." Comment from Peter Cornwall, one of the earlier priests referred to. Comment by the author on celibacy in the priesthood.
The Independent"Fr Alban Hood from Douai Abbey has been appointed as the new chaplain at Fisher House, the University Chaplaincy at Cambridge. "I know that Fr Alban will receive a warm welcome from the Diocese," said Bishop Alan Hopes, "and in particular from those working and living in the Cambridge Deanery, whom he is looking forward to meeting in the near future." Story continues
Image caption "Fr Alban is a renowned spiritual director and leader of retreats".
"Many in the Church are mourning the death of Fr Peter Edwards, who died on 18th December. From 1997 until 2021, Fr Peter was assistant priest at St Philip Howard Church in Cambridge." Story continues
image caption: "Fr Peter is pictured at his daughter's wedding party in July 2022."
"Cherry Hinton, Cambridge: On the feast of Saints Paul Miki and Companions (6th February), Fr Philip John was installed as the new parish priest of Saint Philip Howard.
In his homily, Bishop Alan Hopes reminded everyone that the installation of a new parish priest, is a moment of grace and a moment of challenge and opportunity both for Fr Philip and for the parish community. ..."
"Norwich: St John the Baptist Cathedral bid a sad farewell to much-loved priest Fr Arockilya Seelan on Sunday 27th January.
"Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine." With these words from Ezra the priest the congregation was sent out following a farewell Mass for Fr Seelan attended by over 300 people who turned out to wish him all the best for his new role and to thank him for his great contribution to St John's, particularly as chaplain at the
hospital. ..."
"A Catholic priest who 'died' twice' and spent five weeks in critical care battling coronavirus has saluted the medical effots amd religious guidance which helped him pull through." Story continues.
Image caption "Father Michael 'died' twice while battling coronavirus at Queen Elizbeth Hospital in King's Lynn"
"Fr Dennis Finbow, a retired priest of the Diocese of East Anglia, was convicted on 31st January of three historic (non-recent) child sexual abuse offences al Huntingdon Crown court." Story continues
Universe Catholic Weekly (2021-)Cambridge Evening News article: outlines a "mystery" about the whereabouts of Fr Roy Gathercole. Fr Marsh, Newmarket is to give the congregation an explanation on Sunday.
Cambridge NewsThe coroner advises Catholic Church to take action after a Canon (Fr Brian Frost) died following a fall at his Suffolk home. (more...)
Eastern Daily Press