THE RETIREMENT OF BERNARD AND BERNARD
On 2nd February 2025, we marked the retirement of our Deacon Bernard Rigby and Lay Funeral Minister Bernard Kean.
Bernard and Bernard both wish to extend a thank you to the Parish
A NOTE FROM DEACON BERNARD:
On Sunday 2 February we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. I had chosen that date to announce my resignation as St Mary’s parish Deacon after having recently celebrated my 80th birthday, officially Deacons retire at 75! It is a date I will never forget! I had been asked to stay for a “few words in the hall,” it was a wonderful surprise to walk into a crowded building and be greeted by so many parishioners. Angela and I were overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity. It was like Christmas all over again. Your many gifts, cards and prayerful greetings are truly appreciated. Even our youngsters created beautiful cards with their blessings and best wishes. Also, my gluten-free diet was catered for with lovely eats and a splendid cake. Delicious! Thank you all so, so much. We don’t ever plan to leave St Mary’s, where we feel truly at home, and will continue to contribute as much as we can in the years ahead. God bless us all. Thank you.
WORD OF THANKS:
Bernard Kean wishes to thank you all for the many cards, messages and generous gifts received on his retirement as a Lay Funeral Minister, God bless you all
St Mary's SVP during lockdown
When lockdown started, we looked at our list of contacts and each member of the SVP took responsibility to ring the same group of contacts each week. This means that all our contacts have somebody to talk to, fetch any shopping, run any errands and be available at anytime on the end of a phone. Members have been delighted at being able to offer this and we have all benefited from the calls. I know I speak for us all when I say it is a privilege to be able to do this.
We deliver shopping for those who have been unable to get out, take home baked cakes to our Carmelite friends at Maryton Grange each week on behalf of one of our ladies and shared many a laugh over the phone during what has been a difficult time for so many.
GIFT BAG DELIVERY
Christmas gift bags have been delivered to St Mary's parishioners including those who have attended our regular afternoon tea and singalong.
Here are photos of some of the happy recipients
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DEMENTIA RESOURCES DURING LOCKDOWN
Dementia support line https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-connect-support-line
Demetia support forum https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/
Top Five tips
The Alzheimer's society have produced a top 5 tips for people caring for those living with Dementia. You can download a copy of this volunteer toolkit by clicking here
Supporting older people and those living with Dementia
YOUTH J&P GROUP AND NUGENT
Once again our young people have shown what stars they are, they have clubbed together to donate lots of items to Nugent's hamper appeal
In the Easter newsletter we invited our children and young people to write letters and cards for those people in our community who live in social isolation. Below you will find a 'thank you' email from Dr Kuruvilla on behalf of Woolton Community Life.
Very well done to all of our children and young people who responded to this wonderful initiative. If other children and young people would like to get involved, there is still time to write letters/cards draw pictures etc. and post them through Catherine Higgins Law, 45 Allerton Road, Woolton Village and Woolton Community Life. will ensure they are delivered to our residents who are socially isolated.
Your efforts are making a real difference!
DEMENTIA OUTREACH AS WE APPROACH CHRISTMAS
Around this time, the team of volunteers at St Mary’s would have been preparing for their annual Christmas Special – Dementia Friendly Afternoon Tea and Singalong. Regretfully, as a result of Covid-19 restrictions this has had to be cancelled, together with all of the other monthly Afternoon Tea and Singalong sessions since March this year.
However, to ensure our parishioners and guests know we are still thinking about them and to let them know how much we all miss our monthly gatherings, the team have been working behind the scenes preparing ‘gift-filled’ Christmas Stockings for delivery in mid-December.
As with previous Christmas Specials, this is a real community effort, supported by our Children’s Liturgy Group, local schools and businesses. The Children’s Liturgy Group have been beavering away making decorations, whilst the children at Much Woolton School have been preparing Christmas cards, all to be included with the Christmas Stockings; fifty of which have been donated by SFX College.
Palm Sunday 2020
We were invited to decorate our doors and windows with greenery and branches to welcome in Holy Week as Jesus was welcomed in to Jerusalem. The response was brilliant.
Thanks to Olivia for producing a montage of the photos we received. If you click on the small thumbnail you can see the montage in all its glory.
Pictures can also be viewed in the Palm Sunday album on the parish facebook page. Click here
ST MARY’S PARISH - WOOLTON
Still Striving to Become a Dementia Friendly Parish
Early in the Covid-19 lockdown around April this year, members of the Pastoral Team became acutely aware of the challenges being faced by all our vulnerable parishioners, not least those living with dementia and their carers.
Read more: Still Striving to become a Dementia Friendly Parish
St Mary’s making links with Strawberry Field
During the week commencing the 5th August three members of the Pastoral Team visited Strawberry Field and had a guided tour by Louise Brown – Fresh Expression Lead.
Here are a few photos of the visit
ST MARY’S CHILDREN’S LITURGY DURING LOCKDOWN
When lockdown was announced none of us understood the impact it would have on everything we do and just how inventive and creative people would be in finding new ways to be ‘together’ and new ways to worship. As well as watching Fr Tim’s weekly message and tuning in to the recorded Mass each week we have enjoyed sharing our children’s liturgy live stream at 11am each Sunday with more than 50 families!! (stmaryswithyoualways facebook group)
Dementia Action Week Event at St Mary’s.
On Friday 24th May the Parish hosted a Free Market Place of Information and Services for people living with dementia and their carers. It was a great success, with some twenty organisations providing vital information for people living with dementia and their carers/ families.
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