21 Wednesday walkers and former walkers came together for a walk and lunch on 29 June 2021 to bid farewell to Michael who for many years was a regular walker. We are sorry to see him go but wish him all the best back in Sheffield.

Michael Wheeler

Thanks to parishioners Grace Bradley and Michael Combes it is now possible to order Fair Trade goods once again...

Alan Hughes introduces us to this amazing book and reminds us of the Refugee Support Fund which assists Syrian refugees in Guildford.

A 'Virtual Pilgrimage'

Here is a tremendous initiative by parishioner Roy Morrow to boost funds for the CAFOD Coronavirus Appeal.  Roy has this message for his supporters:

Roy explains below how the 'virtual pilgrimage' he starts today will work...

UPDATE JULY 2021:  NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK NO LONGER WORKS WITH BANKUET, BUT STILL WELCOMES DIRECT DONATIONS:
http://northguildfordfoodbank.co.uk/food-donations/

Whilst reading about the increased demand at the local food bank, I discovered a new way to make donations - via an organisation called Bankuet which uses one-off or regular cash donations to purchase and deliver the items currently needed to a nominated food bank.  It struck me as a good idea, since it is so simple to use; once the payment is set up a monthly email arrives to confirm that the food parcel has been delivered. 

Sadly, we probably need to consider that the economic problems brought on by the fight against the virus will place demands on the food banks for the foreseeable future.

Watch the 30s Bankuet video here

Donations can also be made directly to the North Guildford Food Bank and food items may be deposited in a collection bin at Sainsbury's in Burpham.

Nick Fox

Groups from all over the Diocese travelled to the Cathedral of Our Lady and St. Philip Howard in Arundel on Saturday 29th February.  The occasion was the annual Rite of Election,

The beginning of the Lent season was marked by an evening of Taizé chant, scripture and peaceful reflection in St. Pius Church on Friday 28th February.  Here parishioner Rick Mills explains how it came about:

"Cook one dish - taste them all!"
The Shared Lunch at St. Pius X is highly recommended to lovers of good food and good company.  Keep an eye on the newsletter for details of the next one...

It was the Feast of the Epiphany – Sunday 5th January 2020 – when a large number of parishioners gathered in St. Joseph’s Hall.  They were some of the people who minister and volunteer in the parish, who had been invited by the Clergy Team to a festive afternoon tea party as a gesture of their thanks.

Nine new Altar Servers were enrolled into the Order of St. Stephen during the Mass on 26th December for the Feast Day of Christianity's first martyr.  One server received a silver medal and seven received Certificates of Merit.  Fr. Sebastian was the celebrant.

Thanks to Joseph Chan for the photo.

All gleaming and new - the boiler house at St. Joseph's following the recent installation of new heating boilers.  Below: how it was before...

Thanks to Seán Evans for the photos.

The diocese worked with the Guildford Deanery and the Jesuit Ministries to organise a two-day School of Prayer in St. Peter's School on 30th November & 1st December 2019.  Over 90 people took part, more than had been expected, and the feedback was very encouraging.

The Sunday session included instruction in methods of prayer, with emphasis on the 'Prego Group' approach for prayer meetings, in which the following elements are suggested (download the booklet below):

1. A time of stilling: slow entry into prayer.
2. Time with scripture (maybe read it aloud several times with pauses in between, or use another method such as Lectio Divina or imaginative contemplation).  You can use any of the readings or even the opening prayer.
3. Invitation to share what went on in prayer; not what we think we should do, not a discussion.  No compulsion to do so.
4. Intercessions.  Individuals simply mention a name or intention. and if desired add an Our Father or Hail Mary.
5. One word or a short phrase can be offered to reflect on this time of prayer.  This can be followed by a Glory be or other suitable closing prayer.
6. A cup of tea or coffee, which helps to build community.

A 'School of Prayer' booklet (download below) also mentioned four 'Anchor Points':

1. Preparation
2. Entry into Prayer
3. Exit from Prayer
4. Review after Prayer

A mobile app was also mentioned, for those who might find it convenient to have a guide to daily prayer on their phone or tablet.  The app is called 'Pray as you go' and is available on the Play Store for Android and the App Store for iPhone/iPad.

Pray as you go is also available for computers here:  pray-as-you-go.org/

* The aim of the diocesan Spirituality and Formation team is "to assist parishes to form adults into missionary disciples of Jesus Christ".  Four key areas of work are:

• to provide training opportunities for Catechists, including a diocesan course and parish based sessions
  
• offering advice and resources to parishes developing their own strategies for adult formation
  
• supporting the mission of evangelisation by providing events and training, and identifying resources
  
• provide faith-sharing materials for small groups in Advent and Lent
  

Just in time for National Youth Sunday, join our Youth intern Pippa for her video diary showing two days in her hectic life.
Watch the video here.

Congratulations to Pippa and Aseel for a great job!

P.S:  Wondering what a 'vlog' is?  Don't worry, it just means you are probably a little older than Pippa.  It means 'video blog', or log, or something... :-)  

Keeping up a long-standing tradition, a group of parishioners celebrating '0' milestone birthdays hosted a party in St. Pius Hall on 23rd November 2019.  The Big '0's being celebrated ranged from 40 to 90, and perhaps it is not too indiscreet to mention that Fr. Sebastian was at the lower end of that scale!

There was a full house in St. Pius' Hall for the latest Film Night.  This time the film was "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society",  set in occupied Guernsey during the Second World War.

Across the parish wreathes were laid on behalf of the Catholic Community.

A message from our friends Carole and David Hudson at the Project Peru charity:

Click here to see the full range of Christmas cards
and to learn more about
the amazing work of Project Peru.

Thanks to Alan Hughes and Michael Combes for this account of the fundraising dinner which took place in St. Pius Hall on 19th October 2019, and of the CPG Refugee Support Fund.

Why "Installation"?

This comes from the Latin installare, to put into a stall, referring to the solemn induction of a canon into the stall or seat which he is to occupy in the choir of a cathedral.

Why "Canon"?
"Canon" is from the Latin canonicus, itself derived from the Greek κανονικός, kanonikós, meaning "relating to a rule", or "regular".

The Feast Day of St. Pius X is celebrated each year on 21st August.  As this date fell on a Wednesday this year...