Seafarer gift donation comes of age

The Friday Knitting and Natter Group at St Clare’s Church, Brookfield, Middlesbrough, donated 120 gift bags for seafarers arriving in the Tees during the Christmas and New Year period.

They presented the bags to Deacon Peter Barrigan, the Stella Maris port chaplain for the Teesside area.

This was the 21st year the parish has supported this cause, and this year they held a special celebratory lunch. One of the guests was Tony McAvoy, who was the first chaplain 21 years ago when Stella Maris was known in this country as the Apostleship of the Sea.

In July 2009, the then Bishop of Hexham and

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Newcastle, the Rt Rev Seamus Cunningham, presented Tony with the Benemerenti Medal, which is awarded to members of the laity by the Pope for exceptional service to the Catholic Church.

The Friday Knitting and Natter Group works tirelessly throughout the year, organising the Holy Island pilgrimage and supporting many other causes.

We would like to thank St Mary’s Cathedral and St Francis Church for their tremendous support with the Christmas bags. This year’s Holy Island Pilgrimage is on June 24. Contact Theresa Davies on 01642 591009 for details.

Ann Stones