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Sunday, february 5, 2012 — FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

WEEKLY OFFERING came to £1606.46

EDUCATION MASS — SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH

Students, staff, governors, parents and grandparents from our three parish schools joined parishioners in St. Andrew's Church on Sunday, February 5th to celebrate Catholic Education. The day was designated Education Sunday and was marked by Christian Churches throughout England and Wales. It is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education.

Representatives from our three schools, St. Peter's Catholic College, St. Margaret Clitherow's Primary and St. Mary's Primary schools carried their banners in the entrance procession while the congregation sang Majesty. The Word of the Lord was read by Year 11 students from St. Peter's College while the Psalm was sung by the choir from St. Margaret Clitherow's School.

At the Gospel one representative from each school came forward to light a candle to be taken back to their respective schools. This candle will be lit when the Gospel is proclaimed at their monthly Friday Masses.

The bidding prayers were read by pupils from St. Mary's and St. Margaret Clitherow's.

At the Offertory, each school provided items which were presented as a symbol of the Catholic Ethos. St. Mary's offered their school uniform; St. Margaret Clitherow's offered their school prayer book and St. Peter's offered their house shield.

St. Andrew's Parish Priest Fr. Edmond Gubbins said: "We mark this day with other Christian churches in England and Wales. Our Catholic schools and colleges are a great treasure. This treasure has been given to us and we must ensure that we hand it on to future generations. Education is in a time of great change. For some schools, this may mean working in new ways and in new relationships. Whatever the challenges that we face, now or in the future, let us remain focussed upon Christ in all that we do."

Our picture above shows students from our three parish schools after the Mass. Photo by Paul Terry.

LATEST LOTTERY BONUS NUMBER WINNERS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1st
— NUMBER: 3 —
£25 EACH WON BY:M. TWOHIG and P. OLIVER
Winners contact Paul Terry with winning ticket to claim prize.

AMAZING PHOTOS OF 1962 DEDICATION SERVICE

These amazing photos arrived into our office on Tuesday, January 24th. They show the dedication service of St. Andrew's Church, Teesville which was held on April 11th 1962. The foundation stone was blessed by the then Bishop of Middlesbrough George Brunner. It would appear from the top photo that the entrance procession started from a builders hut over the road, while prams were left at the muddy entrance to the building as their occupants were carried into the site.

People were dwarfed in the aperture of the empty shell of the building as they watched the recessional procession. The sign just behind the gentleman in the front of the photo above reads:
'THE PUBLIC ENTER ENTIRELY AT THEIR OWN RISK'.
No need for hard hats or hi-vis jackets or vests in pre health and safety days!

As far as we can tell, some of the priests in the picture above are Fr. Tom Keilty, Fr. Garvin O'Hara, The Rite Reverend George Brunner, Bishop of Middlesbrough, Fr. Seamus Kilbarn, Fr. Tony Bickerstaff, Fr. Terence Gilgallon and our very own Fr. Jack McKeever who supplied the names.

People leave the dedication service and in the photo above we see the very first Parish Priest of St. Andrew's, Fr. Patrick Bluett.
The first Mass was celebrated on Janurary 23, 1963 by Bishop George Brunner when over 600 people packed into the church with over 250 of the congregation taking communion.
All of the photos above were sent into us by the family of St. Andrew's parishioner, Vincent Harrison who took the photos.

...AND WE STILL NEED YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
Baptisms/1st Holy Communions/Weddings/Confirmations, photos of summer fete's/parish days out/altar servers/pilgrimages, any events, that shows our parish community over the past 50 years. Please put your name/year of photo and any other information on the back and put them in an envelope with your name on and give to Fr. Gubbins or Paul Terry.

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH 50TH JUBILEE DINNER
Friday 11 May, 7.30 pm at the Thistle Hotel. 60 names so far. Transport will be proved. Names to the list at the back of Church. Cost £20 per person.

MASS OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK
At all Masses next weekend, this coincides with World Day of Prayer for the Sick which is linked with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (11 February)

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Takes place every Tuesday morning 9.45-10.30 am at St Andrew’s. Try to get along to Mass and sit in quiet prayer afterwards. Minister of Holy Communion especially, should benefit from this.

WHITE FLOWER COLLECTION
Last weekend realised £299.96. Thank you to all who contributed. Proceeds will be split between SPUC and LIFE.

BAPTISM CONGRATULATIONS
To Isabella Guy, Jack Andrew Collier and Amelia Grace.

RCIA RETREAT DAY SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY
In York, for all those from our Diocese preparing to become Catholics at Easter.

ST PETER’S CHURCH ORGAN 100 YEARS OLD
Parish Songs of Praise to be arranged for June in St Peter’s Church. More details later.

COLLECTION FOR CANCER UK
Collection at the funeral of Ann Kelly realised £400 for Cancer UK. The family thanks all concerned.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES MASS
Friday 10 February , 7 pm at Christ the King, Thornaby (new venue). Cuppa afterwards in the hall.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND
4 - 11 March 2013. led by Bishop Drainey. Cost £1200. Brochure & Application Forms available. A deposit of £300 is required by before 27 April 2012. See poster for details

SAY FAMILY FUN RACE NIGHT FRIDAY 17 FEB
in the Parish Hall, to raise money to sponsor a party of young people to go to Flame at Wembley arena in March. Tickets on sale after Mass: Adults £2, Children up to 16 £1. Price includes free raffle. Bring your own drinks and food. Doors open at 7.15 pm, first race at 8.0 pm. A great nights entertainment and fun for the whole family.  Donations for raffle prizes would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

PARISH CEILIDH - FRIDAY 16 MARCH 7 -11 PM
To celebrate the feast of St Patrick’s we are having a Parish Ceilidh on Friday 16 March with the Steel String Ceilidh Band, in the parish hall. Always a great night! Tickets are just £2 and are being subsidised by the parish as part of our Golden Jubilee celebrations. See Joe or one of the functions committee for tickets

POPE IDOL, SATURDAY 3 MARCH
At Middlesbrough (Little) Theatre. Tickets £7.50 each. Tel 822056. See poster.

VIN GARBUTT CONCERT FRIDAY 2 MARCH
8 pm at the Marton Hotel & Country Club. For tickets (£10) telephone 475894.

CORRECTION FROM LAST WEEK
First Communion Sunday IS ON 24 JUNE, not 27th at the 9.30 am Mass

HAPPY GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR!

As 2012 dawned over the earth on January 1st, St. Andrew’s Parish entered its Golden Jubilee Year.

12 months of celebration will start in April to mark the blessing of the foundation stone by Bishop George which took place on April 11th, 1962; the celebrations will end in April 2013 so that the date of the first Mass which was celebrated on January 23, 1963, could also be remembered. The first Mass was celebrated by Bishop George when over 600 people packed into the church with over 250 of the congregation taking communion.

The first wedding celebrated was by Fr.Seamus Kilbane on Saturday, February 23, 1963 who married Anthony Paul Whitehead and Kathleen Mead. ALL THE DETAILS OF THE WEDDING

Events planned include a Mass to launch the jubilee year, a parish Gala Dinner at the Riverside Stadium in May, the publication of a book, a photo exhibition featuring images from the last fifty years and a Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Middlesbrough, The Very Rev. Terence Drainey in November and a flower festival for which a date has yet to be arranged.

Meanwhile, Over 700 people attended the Christmas Masses in St. Andrew's Parish with 502 attending the First Mass of Christmas at St. Andrew's Church. And those that were there for the start of the Carol Service at 7.30 pm were able to witness the Live Bethlehem scene (pictured above) performed by some of the children's liturgy group. The children walked up the centre aisle to 'the stable' as the congregation sang 'Away in a manger'.

The costumes worn by the children were made recently by St. Andrew's parishioner, Gladys Galloway. And after the scene she was presented with a bouquet of flowers by 'The Angel Gabriel' on behalf of the parish as a token of appreciation (pictured above).

The attendance numbers for each Christmas Mass are:

St. Andrew's The First Mass of Christmas on Christmas Eve: 502;

St. Peter's Christmas Morning at 9 am: 163;

St. Anne's Christmas Morning at 10.30 am: 82;

which equals 747 in total.

The Christ who brightens our darkness lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom. 2.64 million people are out of work this Christmas. In the High Street many shops are boarded up.

“In the Bleak Midwinter” we are called to “give him my heart”, my hopes, difficulties, my anxieties, ‘The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light’ (1st reading, midnight Mass). Christ in the manger born is a reassuring source of strength and hope and security.

“He shall be called Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God is with us’.

Have a Holy and Happy Christmas and happy New Year from all at St. Andrew's Parish. PARISH MASS TIMES

REVIEW OF 2011
Baptisms (54); Converts (1); 1st Holy Communion (37); Marriages (4); Funerals (60); Average weekly Mass Attendance (465)

The top photo above shows the children's liturgy group perform their Live Bethlehem scene at the First Mass of Christmas; the middle picture shows Gladys Galloway being presented with flowers by 'the Angel Gabriel' as a token of appreciation for making new costumes for this years scene and the bottom picture shows the Manger in St. Peter's Church, South Bank. Photos by Paul Terry.

HISTORIC PHOTO OF FOUNDER MEMBERS OF ST. ANDREW'S PARISH

In April 2012, St. Andrew's Church will begin to celebrate its Golden Jubilee with a year of planned celebrations. The foundation stone was blessed and laid by Bishop George on April 11, 1962 and the first Mass was celebrated on January 23, 1963.

The photo above taken in 1943 shows members of St. Peter's Youth Group otherwise known as 'The Glee Club' at St. Peter's Church, South Bank. When you study the image you realise that it also has significant historic value to St. Andrew's because most of the young people in the picture were founder members of St. Andrew's Parish in 1962, twenty years after the photograph was taken.

People in the picture are:

(Back row): Gerard Murray, Dessie Byrnes, Ron Davies, Tom Conway, Peter Monaghen, Phil Harris, Andrew Walsh, Desie Gollogly.

(Middle row): Len Davies, Mr. Skillen (Head Teacher), Tom Darragh, Mollie Moss, Molly Donnelly, Monica Hughes, Moira Martin, Moira Coughlin, Rita Coates, Jack Hammond, Wally Walker.

(Front Row): Canon Nerney Parish Priest, Hilda Waterfield, Doreen McNulty, Joan Reed, Fr. Murphy, Edna Davies, Mary Davies, Babs Traynor, Bella Murphy.

Thanks to Mary Steele (nee Davies), fourth from right on the front row, who is a Minister of the Word, one of the people who folds the parish newsletters and is also on the cleaning rota for St. Andrew's. She is sat next to her sister Edna who is the organist at St. Andrew's Church.

WE STILL NEED YOUR PHOTOS FOR JUBILEE
We are still looking for photos of St. Andrew's for our Golden Jubilee celebrations. If you have any please write your name on the back with the year taken if possible and put them in an envelope with your name on. Our plan is to compile them all in a book which tells the story of St. Andrew's Parish in pictures and also show them in a photo exhibition.

FR. FOX'S CHALICE COMES HOME!

The personal gold Chalice and matching Patten of a Mill Hill Missionary priest from Grangetown has been presented to St. Andrew's Parish by members of his family.

The chalice and patten belonged to Fr. Michael Fox, a missionary who served in Kenya and The Sudan for many years. They were left in storage at Freshfield in Liverpool after his death in 1969 until they came to the attention of Fr. Michael’s nephew, St. Andrew’s parishioner, John Fox. John visited Freshfield in the summer of 2011 where he was talking to one of the Mill Hill Fathers who showed great interest when John revealed to him quite by accident that he was a relative of the late Fr. Michael Fox.

The priest showed John the chalice and patten left by Fr. Michael. In the presentation box was also a note which reads: ‘This chalice belonged to Father M. Fox. His family have left it to be used untill such as a member of the family may need it.’ After consulting other members of his family John decided to bring it back be used by St. Andrew’s Parish.

And on Sunday, December 4th at the 9.30 am Mass, John and members of his family presented the gold pattern and chalice to the parish when they carried it in the offertory procession. The Parish Priest, Canon Edmond Gubbins then used it for the Consecration and Eucharistic prayer and then invited John to minister with the chalice.

Fr. Michael Fox entered this world on October 1, 1908 and was one of nine children (five boys, four girls) born to John and Bridget Fox (nee Quinn) who lived in Bessemer Street, Grangetown.

Between 1923 and 1927 Fr. Michael was a student at St. Peter's College which was the Mill Hill minor seminary at Freshfield and between 1927 and 1929 he studied at another minor seminary at Burn Hall in County Durham. In 1929 he was promoted to the major seminary at roosendaal in the Netherlands where he studied Philosophy for two years. On September 23, 1931 he became a student of theology at St. Joseph's College, Mill Hill.

Fr. Michael was ordained on July 14, 1935 by Archbishop Hinsley of Westminster and was appointed to the vicariate of the Upper Nile, Uganda. There he became a teacher at Namilyango College.

Fr. Michael Fox's
Ordination photo

Fr. Michael served his country during the war as an army chaplain and in 1943 was sent to the Middle East as Senior Chaplain to African troops. At the end of his military service he was appointed to teach at St. Peter's College, Freshfield.

In 1951, Fr. Michael was appointed Rector of Herbert House, the retirment home at Freshfield, with the additional responsibilities of Chief Organising Secretary for the mission appeals. He remained Rector until 1957. However, in the late 1950s he suffered from heart trouble and he came home to reside with members of his family in Bolckow Road, Grangetown for a long period of time. In 1961 the Superiors withdrew him from the post of Organising Secretary for appeals. In 1963 Fr. Michael was once again appointed as Rector of Herbert House and completed a six year term of office that ended in June 1969.

At the beginning of November, 1969 he was admitted to Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool, where he underwent surgery but unfortunately died on November 13th at the age of 61. He is buried in the grounds of St. Peter’s College at Freshfield where he had studied as a 15 year old and where he later went to teach.

Our Photos show (top) members of Fr. Michael Fox's family formerly presenting his gold chalice and patten to St. Andrew's Parish; (middle) the chalice and patten are carried in the Offertory procession by his relatives watched by the children's liturgy group and (bottom) they are used in the Rite of Communion by Parish Priest Canon Edmond Gubbins. Photos by Paul Terry.

SAY ON MOUNT GRACE RETREAT

St. Andrew's Youth (SAY) braved all weathers when they spent the afternoon at the Lady Chapel at Mount Grace, Osmotherly on Sunday, December 4th for a short Advent retreat.

Leaving the bus in the village, the party of 24 walked up the hill to the chapel in the freezing cold and, for part of the way at least, snow. But before reaching their destination they also experienced moments of sunshine and almost clear skys giving a brief perfect view across the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.

On the way up they prayed the Stations of the Cross with the young people taking it in turns to read a station each.

They then went into the Chapel where Fr. Gubbins gave them a short history of the Lady Chapel before they settled down to their picnic lunch in the dining area. After lunch the party had the opportunity to light a candle and spend some time in silent prayer before saying a decade of the Rosary together and starting their way back down to the village.

Pictured top are the SAY team under the cross made from two beams from the first Catholic Church in Middlesbrough, St. Hilda's. For a lot of years the cross was carried to the top of Eston Hills on Good Friday by local people, explained Fr. Gubbins. Our bottom picture shows the party praying the Stations of the Cross with the Lady Chapel in the background. Photos by Paul Terry.

PARISH TOTE
The Parish Tote is a painless way of raising funds for the parish and at the same time, an opportunity to win some money. Some of our more senior parishioners who used to faithfully support the Tote are no longer with us. We need more parishioners to play the Tote to keep up the winnings. Costs as little as 20p a go. Will you help? See Joe for details.

THE MONTHLY PARISH DANCE

LATEST 300 CLUB RESULTS