Events 2017

Carol Service

On Monday 18th  December the Parish community, children from school and neighbours came together to celebrate the imminent coming of the Christ Child at Christmas.  A packed church joined in the traditional readings and carols with items from our school choirs and concluded with a blessing from Fr Croft.  We were then were treated to mulled wine, mince pies and home made soup in the new church hall, The Croft.

 

St Hilda’s Feast Day celebration

On Sunday 19th November around 70 came to join in our celebration of the Feast Day of our Patron Saint.

Proceedings started at 4pm with a Solemn High Mass – Celebrant Father Ronald Croft, Concelebrant Father David Sutton, Deacon Rev Nicholas Johnson from Glodwick in Oldham and Sub-Deacon Canon Paul Denby.

We also welcomed Father Mark Williams from Worsley.

The Mass was followed by a sumptuous buffet prepared by the ladies of the parish and served in The Croft, our new Church Hall.

Saturday 18th November

Quiz Night – Organised by John and Gary

A wonderful night with refreshments provided by members of the congregation.  Around 50 competed raising £363 for church funds

Saturday 7th October – Harvest Supper in the Croft!  The first event in our new premises.  A great success.  The evening started with Bingo, joyful cries of “Line” and “House” interspersed with groans from the less lucky punters.  When all the winnings were paid out we settled to a tasty pie and peas supper.  In total over £600 was raised for church funds.  Thanks are due to Phyllis and Maryrose and their helpers for a very successful and enjoyable evening

Wednesday 20th September

Dedication of our new Church hall – The Croft      See item in “News”

Saturday 20th May we held our annual Summer Fair in church.  A wide variety of stalls and lots of willing helpers helped us raise £784.98 towards church funds!  A momentous event as it will be last to take place before we take over the new church annexe that is currently under construction.  This is due to open in September.

Walsingham 2017

Parishes of St Hilda Prestwich and the Ascension Salford – Pilgrimage to Walsingham 2017

Father Croft, Father Mark, Freddie Lucas, Keith & Mary Hanrahan, Marion Lees, Marcelle Baluch, Irene Healy, Geoff Kay, Margaret Finch, Margaret Mahon, Beverley Davis, Pat Clarke, Phyllis Lefèvre, Joe Walk, Warren Mitchell, Keith Banda, Arnold Mwalino,

Monday 5th June

9.30am Following Mass in the Lady Chapel at St Hilda’s we all gathered round the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham to offer up a prayer for a safe journey.

The convoy then set off in four cars, after the usual debate about the best route to follow.

We all arrived in good order after problem free journeys, collected our keys, settled in, and then headed off for an individual first visit to the Shrine.

Following Dinner we came together in the Orangery for the customary entertainment organised by Mary. This consisted of a competitive game of Bingo, won by the left handed members of the group!

Tuesday

8.15 am Concelebrated Mass in the Holy House

After Breakfast Fr Croft and Fr Mark led us in the Stations of the Cross around the grounds. The weather was giving cause for concern but fortunately the rain held off. However almost immediately afterwards torrential rain and high winds made it seem more like winter than flaming June.

We then braved the elements to visit the Roman Catholic Shrine at the Slipper Chapel, though no one was courageous enough to attempt to walk the Holy Mile.

The afternoon was free but due to the unseasonal weather no one ventured out of doors.

In the evening we gathered together with all the other pilgrims for the Service of Healing & Reconciliation followed by Sprinkling at the Well in the Shrine Church. The service was rounded off with Benediction

I find the profound silences, as we gather for the services, to be balm for the soul but which then is transformed into glorious sound as we join together to sing Mary’s praises.

Our day was concluded as we gathered in the Green Room for a nightcap.

Wednesday

11.00am The Pilgrim Mass. The sight of so many priests stretching out their hand to join together in the Act of Consecration is at the very heart of our Act of Worship.

In the afternoon, as the weather was marginally better, we all set out on visits to the local high spots.

After supper the whole community came together for the procession of Our Lady around the grounds. Keith and Freddie were given the great honour of carrying the statue of the Virgin as we processed with our candles, raising them together as we praised Our Lady with the chorus of “Ave Maria”.

Once again we came back together in the joint act of worship of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

We concluded our evening with our own quiz in which a team from the Ascension and St Paul’s was triumphant.

Thursday

We assembled in the Chapel of the Guild of All Souls for our final Mass and last goodbyes.

It was a fitting conclusion to what had been yet another enjoyable and prayerful visit to England’s Nazareth.

After the important expressions of gratitude to our two priests and to everyone involved in the organisation we set off for home, batteries recharged and already discussing plans for Walsingham 2018

 

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