Peterborough City Council hears about proposed school
December 20, 2019
Christmas Mass, church restoration, diocesan medal
December 24, 2019
Latest news from across the Diocese of East Anglia includes a new religious order, an Advent celebration and 50 years’ of altar service.
A new religious congregation of the Order of Discalced Carmelites has been established in East Anglia in the parish of St Mark’s, Ipswich.
The arrival of the Carmelites was marked on October 6 when parishioners welcomed Carmelite brothers Fr Paul Vincent and Fr Bineesh to the parish.
During the Mass Bishop Alan installed Fr Paul as the new Parish priests and blessed Fr Bineesh for his future pastoral ministry.
In attendance were priests from the three existing Carmelite communities of England, at Kensington, Oxford and Gerrard’s Cross. Parish priest, Fr Paul Vincent OCD, said: “October 6 was a remarkable day for the parishioners of St Mark’s church. The Ipswich community is the fourth one established by the Carmelites and the order is looking forward to working with the people of East Anglia.
“This is the first Discalced Carmelite community in East Anglia (reformed Carmelites by St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross). At present we have two priests in Ipswich and we plan to form a bigger comunity later.”
Advent was celebrated in Dove Court care home in Wisbech thanks to an ecumenical team and children from St Peter’s Church of England Junior School.
Diocese of Ely church schools worker, Olivia O’Neill, collaborated with the Wisbech Churches Together team to help create us a wonderful Advent Celebration.
In the care team ministry are three members of the local catholic parish – Brian Prosser, Therese Chadwick and Sean Finlay. Sean (seanfinlay@aol.co.uk) would be pleased to hear from other parishes who are doing similar things as the local Churches Together is beginning to undertake a review of the ministry to care homes in our area.
Pictured, right, is Olivia with care home residents and pupils from St Peter’s.
A parishioner and altar-server at St Mark’s, Ipswich has been honoured for completing 50 years in the role by receiving a certificate from the Diocese of East Anglia. John Stubbs (pictured right) was presented with the certificate by Parish Priest Fr Paul Vincent OCD in a ceremony during Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 22).
