The CA Lourdesathlon
July - August 2021

While plans for this year’s physical CA Lourdes Pilgrimage are on hold until 2022, what better way to still celebrate the miracle of Lourdes than by joining together as The Catholic Association family, to make our own pilgrimage...of sorts!

The Catholic Association is calling on pilgrims and carers across the Diocese of Clifton, East Anglia, Northampton, Southwark, The Stonyhurst Pilgrimage Trust and The Glanfield Group to dig out your trainers, skipping ropes, toboggans and bikes to join together in collectively covering the 700 mile distance between the UK and Lourdes.

Perhaps you’ll do a weekly Summer wander around your garden, a 5k run through the park or even track your short walk to the shops. There are no rules or limitations on how far you must travel, or by what means. Maybe you’ll even ask a friend to cover the distance for you! 

Everyone is welcome to join, in whatever way they like...every step counts! Our goal is to reach the 700 mile mark by the end of August in time for the start of the Virtual Pilgrimage. More information will be posted here and across Social Media in due course.

Please email contact@CatholicAssociation.co.uk for more information

It is with great sadness, but trusting in the loving mercy of God, that we inform you that Deacon David Wakefield of the Clifton Diocese passed away on 21st June 2021. He will be remembered as a pillar of Clifton and The Catholic Association.

Tina Quinn, Chief Nurse, has shared her memories of Deacon David:

Deacon David Wakefield was the Clifton Diocese pilgrimage group director for a number of years before he became unwell. David was the inspiration and driving force behind the provision of a Jumbulance to take pilgrims who were too sick to fly or who needed 24 hr medical care en route. David not only coordinated the Clifton group but was one of the drivers for the jumbulance taking CA pilgrims to Lourdes and back for our annual pilgrimage.

David touched so many hearts and lives: His humanity, patience and smile never wavered. He would be seen preparing meals in the jumbulance kitchen and insisting on doing the washing up when he was not driving. Despite his own battle with cancer he never once complained and looked forward to the time when he could come to Lourdes as an official AP but Covid did not allow.

He leaves Liz (his wife) and three children. May his gentle soul RIP.

May he Rest in Peace and rise in glory!

As our CA Pilgrimage has sadly been cancelled, many people have asked if it is still possible to volunteer in Lourdes in 2021; the answer is YES!

HNDL (Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes, the welcoming hospitalité) expect to reopen on 12 May 2021 and people will be able to sign up for a stage (minimum 6 days).

If you have never done stage, or haven’t done stage for some time, join us on Saturday 22 May at 2 p.m. for a Zoom meeting during which we will talk about the different services and how to complete a stage application form.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89593557168?pwd=MTh1LzVwRmNnQ2tkbmlCNnV5TDU1UT09

If you have any queries before then please email them to: stage@catholicassociation.co.uk

We look forward to gathering for a Mass and Rosary this evening, to celebrate The Feast of St. Bernadette - marking the day she passed away on 16th April 1879.

How to join!

(1) 7pm Livestream Mass from the Diocese of Clifton Homepage
Follow this link to watch the Mass: https://cliftondiocese.com/

(2) 7:45pm, the Rosary on Zoom
After Mass, click the link to join the Zoom call for the Rosary:
https://zoom.us/j/99433671368?pwd=US9STVNzWWVrdTNDMmd0cHhMSTRBZz09
Meeting ID: 994 3367 1368
Passcode: 946246

(Given that the evening is in two parts, it might be worth having your Zoom
set up and ready to go before joining Mass!)

And lastly, if you would like to watch the Mass and Rosary Live Streamed
- and not be on the Zoom call - that is also possible via https://www.facebook.com/CAPilgrimage

If you have any questions about technicalities, timings or anything else at all
please email contact@catholicassociation.co.uk
or call Flora on 07427605868 who will be on hand to help.

Please join us this Friday 16th April at 7pm to mark

The Feast of

St. Bernadette

A 7pm Mass will be led by Fr. Liam Slattery and Live Streamed
from St. Peter's Church, Gloucester
(details will be available on the Clifton Diocese website www.cliftondiocese.com)

This will be followed by a Rosary at 7:45pm led by Fr. Simon Blakesley on Zoom for around half an hour.
Zoom details will be shared on Friday morning via email and also on the Catholic Association News Page Here

Please do share the invitation far and wide with family and friends! We look forward to celebrating together and welcoming you all.

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Luke 1:31

To celebrate today's Feast of the Annunciation, we invite you to take some time today to reflect upon this seminal moment which has been reimagined for centuries through art, music and prayer alike.

We hope you enjoy listening to the 17th century sounds of the Austrian composer, Biber and a short video of Annunciation art through the ages accompanied by The Angelus prayer read by Bishop Paul Hendricks.