Good to see a positive story about the Church in the MSM (main stream media). Melanie McDonagh writes in The Times:

44 people entered seminaries and monasteries in England and Wales last year; in 2003 it was 24. There were 3,255 people received into the Church this Easter. And in London especially, dynamic priests have helped. In the past decade, the church of Holy Ghost in Balham, South London, doubled its congregation.

The Catholic chaplaincy in Cambridge is similarly dynamic. Father Alban McCoy, the chaplain says, “we've had to buy extra communion hosts, extra chairs...we had 15 converts this year. And we've had 14 vocations to the priesthood and religious life since 2000.” Some of the growth is down to the emphasis in the chaplaincy on examining the faith - but he also gives credit to the present Pope. “He's done a lot to boost the confidence of the young,” he says. There's been similar growth at the University of Kent where the chaplain, Father Peter Geldard, perhaps best sums up the formula that seems to be working so well for the Catholic Church. “It's orthodox,” he says. “And mainstream.” That combination is saving Catholicism.

As they say, read it all.

Many thanks to everyone who attended the parish AGM last Sunday. There was an excellent turnout, particularly when you consider the other attractions of the evening, and on behalf of the Parish Council I would like to thank Cecilia Webb and her helpers for the smooth organisation, and tea and sandwiches afterwards. The most notable feature of the evening was the election of three new members to the Parish Council: Gerard Barden, Greg Howard and John Wilson. New blood and new ideas will be very welcome on the council. The minutes of the last AGM, in 2007, are now online, as is the annual report for 2007-2008. We hope to have the minutes for Sunday's meeting written up and available on the website soon.

Thank you also to all the people who couldn't attend the meeting but who contributed ideas, questions and prayers. The next Parish Council meeting will be in September, so may we wish you a very relaxing summer.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES, NEW SOUTHGATE
PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT
SUNDAY 29th JUNE 2008

PARISH TEAM
Fr. Tom, Fr. Damian and Aileen are still going strong.  They discuss weekly events and set up the various catechetical programmes that run annually in the Parish. Fr. McDade still comes every Sunday to take one or two Masses.

Fr. Thomas Parayadyil has been staying with us whilst serving as the Syro-Malabar chaplain to the Kerulan community.  Recently he has also had Fr. Joseph to assist him.  They work very hard, travelling all over the country and are rarely around at the weekends, although they do help with daily masses.  Fr. Jose has now gone home to India.

Fr. Damian offered House Masses on the Fridays of Lent and Advent, which attracted about 20 people at a time.  They were arranged so that they took place in different areas of the parish, and the idea was to invite your neighbours rather than your friends, who may not live in the immediate area.

Fr. Damian has been appointed as part time youth chaplain to the Diocese and spends one day a week at SPEC.  He will be joining the Westminster Group going to the World Youth Day in Australia.  One of our young parishioners, Elizabeth Coleman is also going, sponsored by the Catenians.

Minutes of Our Lady of Lourdes Annual General Meeting Sunday June 17th 2007

PRESENT
Fr. Tom Egan, Eddie Albert, Pat Bolger, Cecilia Webb, John Donnelly, Ramon Landi, Joe Sutton, Jane Landi, Brian Hunt, Clyde Webb, Tina Bolger, Frank Nolan, David and Frances Clarke, Pat Hunt, Norah Curtin, Libby Biberian, Peter Wurr, Irene Plunkett, Michael, Mary McMullan, Felicity Brown.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Jackie Reddington, Fr. Damian Cassidy, Peter Coleman, Aileen and Brian Adams, Joan Wurr, Harriet Albert.

MINUTES OF THE LAST AGM ON JUNE 11th 2006
Minutes were agreed and signed as correct.