The warmest of welcomes

Continued from Page 1

I honestly don’t know where my life would have gone if I hadn’t met Father Pat and M at that time. God sends the right person along. It was a perfect introduction – not a heavyduty “come to church”. For a long time I was undecided and happy just to sit on the fence and not receive Communion, but then all that changed. What began as a social thing has slowly evolved into something much more important.”

“After ignoring the presence of God for many years, I found it harder and harder to do so. I really wanted to belong to a Christian community, but didn’t know which and had started going to different ones. Someone invited me to come along to Mass and once I had got over the shock and horror of going into a Catholic church, I went and immediately loved the Mass. I spent months then just listening to it and accepting it. It was a real rollercoaster of doubt, though. It came down to accepting the reality of the Body and Blood of Christ. If I couldn’t do that, I wasn’t going to go anywhere. Then it was quite simple. I realised that Jesus said: “This is my Body” and I only had to accept his words. That was it. Receiving Communion now completes everything.”

“Out of long spiritual seeking, and in mystery, Our Blessed Lady brought me to the Church and the Church brought me to Christ, and there you have it. I simply got up one morning and it was the only thing to do.”

Angela Simek

BISHOP TERRY'S MAY ENGAGEMENTS

3 School Visitation to St Hedda’s Primary School, Egton Bridge 9am

4 Attends Dedication Mass for new chapel at St Mary’s College, Hull 2pm

5 Celebrates Coronation Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough 7pm

7 Celebrates Mass and Confirmations at Ampleforth 11.15am

9 Attends meeting of the Bishop’s Council, Middlesbrough, via Zoom

10.30am

Celebrates Confirmations in Northern Deanery at St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough 7pm

11 Celebrates Confirmations in Northern Deanery at St Thérèse of Lisieux Church, Thornaby 7pm

12 Celebrates Confirmations in Southern Deanery at St Wilfrid’s Church, Hull 7pm

13-14 Parish Visitation to Egton Bridge, Lealholm and Ugthorpe

16 Attends meeting of Diocesan Trustee Board at the Curial Office, Middlesbrough 10.30am

Celebrates Confirmations in Southern Deanery at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel Church, Hull 7pm

17 Visit to St Joseph’s Primary School, Loftus 9am

Attends Retirement Mass of Bishop

Tom Williams, Liverpool 7pm

20-21 Parish Visitation to SS Joseph & Cuthbert’s, Loftus, St Anthony of Padua, Brotton, and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Staithes

23 Attends meeting of the Northern Province, Bishop’s House, Leeds

10.30am

27- Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to 2 June Lourdes