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Mums the Word

How can Lent have stolen up on me so quickly? I am still finding odd bits of Christmas decorations that have not found their way up to the loft. Clearly, I must do better!

How to do better for Lent, though? Father David Potter, the UCM’s spiritual director for Liverpool Archdiocese, told us a beautiful story in his homily at our last Bimonthly Mass.

He told us about a church in a small village in Germany, which was almost destroyed during the Second World War. The local people really loved their church and especially a very old crucifix which it contained. Imagine their distress, therefore, when they found the crucifix among the ruins of the church, but minus its arms, which had been blasted off in the attack.

After the restoration of the church, some villagers wanted a replica to be made; others called for the crucifix to be kept, but with new arms. It was finally decided to put the crucifix back with no arms and a notice saying ‘You are My arms’. What better thing could we do for Lent than to become the arms of Our Lord? Not with a massive wonderful gesture but through many small acts of devotion, kindness or helpfulness. A warm thank you to Fr Potter for an inspiring story.

Ladies, please remember that on Friday 6 March we celebrate Women’s World Day of Prayer. There will be many services around the diocese so I hope that you can find one to attend. Also in March we celebrate two national saints’ days, so I wish all our members with Welsh names or connections a happy St David’s Day, and likewise our Irish members on St Patrick’s Day.

The March bi-monthly Mass is at St Aidan’s, Winstanley (WN 6EE) on Wednesday 11 March at 7.30pm. Many congratulations, finally, to St Aidan’s UCM who are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their foundation.

A century of service News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

Indian boys’ home to benefit from new action plan

Every two years the Knights of St Columba, at our annual supreme meeting, consider proposals for a national action plan to provide financial support for a deserving charity. At October’s meeting it was decided to raise funds over the next two years for the John Foster Charitable Trust which fully finances the John Foster Memorial Home located in Kamanur village in the state of Kerala in southern India. The home provides food, clothing and education to 28 destitute boys, offering them hope of an escape from poverty by giving them an education, which will enable them to make a way for themselves in the outside world. The trust is registered both in the UK and India and therefore enjoys all the legal advantages of both countries pertaining to trusts, and all funds raised go directly to the charity. The trustees have a close association with the KSC and include the former supreme knight of the order, Ken Hargreaves, together with his wife Sheila and Sue Ferro (pictured during a visit to the home).

The main building of the home needs to be rebuilt, having suffered extensive damage in a fire caused by an electrical fault, at an estimated cost of £45,000. There is also a need for classroom teaching aids and equipment costing £5,000. Given the rural setting, private transport is another requirement and the home’s jeep, which is over 10 years old, needs replacing at a cost of £12,000. The order has asked all of its councils across England, Scotland and Wales to raise funds by whatever means they choose and send the proceeds to our head office on a regular basis for onward transmission to the trust. Further details can be found on the trust’s website: www.jfct.org.uk. Donations can also be sent to Knights of St Columba, 75 Hillington Road South, Glasgow, G52 2AE. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Knights of St Columba’ and on the reverse write ‘NAP – JFCT’. Websites: www.ksc.org.uk and www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com