Fond Farewell
We say goodbye to Frs Emmanuel and John. We thank them for their generous YES to the Lord and pray for them as they move on to pastures new. Fr Emmanuel will return to Nigeria whilst Fr John takes up a new role as parish priest in Middlesbrough as well as taking up his new role as General Councillor for the Oblates of the Virgin Mary.
Canon MacDermot-Roe Laid to Rest
Canon MacDermot-Roe was the faithful and devoted parish priest at St Boniface from 1969 to 2000. He sadly died on the 20th February 2019 and is laid to rest at Hollybrook cemetery. Parishioners gathered as Fr Tom blessed his grave stone recently installed and overseen by parishioner Brendan O’Donovan.
First Holy Communion Group
Recently, a group of children and their parents joined Fr Tom and the catechists for a away day at St Joseph’s at Ashurst.
The day was a blessing in every way providing a great opportunity for all to learn more about the Mass and Jesus’ Real Presence. We celebrated the Mass, held a Mass treasure hunt and beat our expert quiz master, Mike!
The day provided time to get to know each other especially over a lovely shared tea.
Please keep our children in your prayers as they prepare for their first Holy Communion on the 18/19th June.
Collection for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters
We want to thank all of our parishioners for their generosity and also those who helped organize the collecting and transporting of goods.
The Polish Club is still asking for monetary donations, as they have to pay lorry drivers to transport all the donated items to the Polish/Ukrainian border.
Here are other ways to support Ukraine as suggested by the diocese:
On Sunday, 13 March (Second Sunday of Lent) (and following the CAFOD Family Fast Day on Friday 18 March), there is the option to receive a second collection after Mass in aid of the CAFOD Lent Appeal, for which physical fundraising materials have previously been made available. In light of the situation in Ukraine, CAFOD has – in partnership with its sister Caritas agencies in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova – committed £100,000 on behalf of the Catholic community in England and Wales. Those who would like to contribute to this appeal can use the CAFOD Lent Appeal envelopes already distributed: if they intend their donations specifically to benefit those in need in Ukraine, please encourage them to mark their donations envelopes “For Ukraine”.
Alternatively, Bishop Philip has endorsed (as per the attached press release) the work of Caritas-Spes in Ukraine, who are also able to receive donations: https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/europe/ukraine-spes/. The direct donation link is here: https://www.caritas.org/ukraine-appeal-22/
Fr Eddie Richer, Rest his soul.
Photo taken by Philip Crook
Fr Eddie Richer JCL, a previous Parish Priest of St Boniface, recently passed away. Fr Eddie Richer also served in Aldershot from 1993-2000, and Fleet before heading south to St Boniface.
He is said to have been a very gentle and humble man who quietly served and achieved a lot in a friendly fashion.
“He was the last priest here to have a housekeeper who made him wonderful fruit crumbles. A vivid memory I have of this was in the garden of the presbytery when he came out with a rhubarb crumble still in the baking tin and a tablespoon offering me a spoonful of his crumble! …
A lovely shy man who had been evacuated from Guernsey WW2 with his mother and only survived through the help of the Salvation Army in Portsmouth, hence his interest in other local churches.” - Carole Olding.
Below is a farewell note given to him, remembering what
he had done for St Boniface.
In case you need a CV for your next job, here is a testimonial of your achievements in this parish:
You have
· Moved the font to the front of church
· Erected the stained glass window of St Boniface
· Commissioned The Update to the Parish History
· Supervised the Open day for 75th /100th Anniversary of the church in 2002
· Encouraged greater participation by ordinary parishioners
· Welcomed parishioners newly arrived from overseas
· Enjoyed the chanting in the Malayalam language
· Excelled at golf both in TOGS and with your fellow clerics
· Mended the central heating system
· Presided over the making of the ‘Secret Garden’
· Served at the same time as both secretary and treasurer to Churches Together In Shirley
· Helped us to send over 1,000 boxes in three years to the annual Shoebox Appeal
· Received new members into the Church
· Made our music legal by paying for Copyright
· Gave us a new set of hymnbooks
· Renovated the hall and all its facilities
· Arranged for access for the Disabled
· Mended the organ
· Repaired the dome – again !
· Gave us a new P.A. system so that we could hear your sermons
In short:
- Brought the parish into the 21st Century!
Thank you!
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
St Boniface opened its doors to Shirley for Private Prayer, Adoration and carols.
On Friday evening, 17th December from 5pm to 7:30 pm, St Boniface was open to anyone to come in the church to spend a few moments in private prayer and listen to carols being sung by the Filipino music group and Wood family.
Various parishioners were on the church steps to meet and greet passersby and invite them to spend a few minutes sitting in the church. Tea and coffee was available and mince pies were being handed out to all.
Well done to all the St Boniface Confirmation candidates who were present to help out and support this event. Thank You.
This was a simple way to share the Good News of the Nativity with the good people of Shirley.
Parish Cake Sale great sucess
Well done to everyone involved in baking, preparing the hall, serving and everyone who turned up to the cake sale on the wonderful Feast of Christ The King…..
Work underway for the New Parish Office to be located in the Parish hall
Work has started to prepare the St Vincent’s room in the St Boniface Hall to become the new parish office in Nov 2021. New electric sockets have already been fitted and the room is now being spruced up with a new coat of paint…….
Strong winds bring down trees in the Presbytery garden……
Presbytery garden 31st Oct 2021
On Sunday 31st Oct, 2021 just before the start of the 9am mass, strong winds caused extensive damage to the trees in the presbytery garden; felling some and leaving others in a precarious condition.
Fr Tom was able to secure the services of a local tree surgeon who came out that same day to make what remained of one tree, which was in danger of falling on the the presbytery, safe.
Thanks to Mark and ‘Mellor Tree Surgeons Ltd’ for their prompt attention and service.
The picture below show the before and after of the storm damage.
It is sad to see these tress having to be removed. It is possible that some might have been planted when the Church and Presbytery was built around 1927, who knows. Still there is now, a great opportunity plant some new tress in the spring.
Thank You Lord, that there was no lasting damage to the presbytery or garage and more importantly to anyone who might have been in the vicinity.
Parish Picnic 2021
The parish picnic was a great success. We had lovely weather, delicious food and great fun and games. Many thanks to all the organisers and participants!!
Congratulations on Being Awarded the Diocesan Medal
We want to congratulate Eileen Aylett, Micheline Brady and Richard Pilley.
Bishop Philip presented them with a diocesan medal to honour their lifelong and dedicated service to our parish.
Blessing of the Restored Tabernacle
It all begins with an idea.
As many of you may have already noticed, we are once again using the central tabernacle. Bishop Philip Egan celebrated a beautiful Mass with us on Monday 10th May and reconsecrated the tabernacle.
This is a beautiful end to that tragic chapter in our history that began with the desecration of the tabernacle and Blessed Sacrament.
From Desecration to Reconsecration
St Boniface reconsecration
Written by Eileen
The phone rang at about 9pm on Friday 27th December 2019; it was Fr John to say that there had been a break in at the church as reported to them by a passer-by. Clive and I went straight there to find that entry had been gained through the Priests’ Sacristy window and then into the church itself.
The scene that met us included considerable damage to the Tabernacle and its marble surrounds made by a fire extinguisher. The most upsetting sight was the consecrated hosts scattered amongst the debris: worthless to the vandals but priceless to us.
The police were called and plans made for a forensic examination the next day.
Some keys had been stolen but nothing else so Clive made the window secure before getting home at around midnight.
The next morning, as Fr Tom was away, I contacted Fr Anthony Gatt as pro tem Dean and he came to undertake the correct disposal of the consecrated hosts and arranged for one of his parishioners who was a locksmith to fit additional locks to secure the church. Forensics came but that was the last we heard from them.
There followed a busy period of obtaining quotations for the various repairs needed for the Tabernacle doors, the marble work, and lock changing. This sounds quite easy when written down – it wasn’t!
We were fortunate to have the Tabernacle on the Lady Altar although no-one could have anticipated that we would need to use it for such a long period of time.
This was because COVID 19 now entered all our lives and delayed not only the work but also the opportunity to arrange for Bishop Philip to come and reconsecrate the Tabernacle. This finally happened at a special Mass on Monday 10 May 2021.
I believe that no-one was more relieved than I that the work was now completed and our church returned to its proper state.
