Christmas 2022
Wonderful to celebrate a Christmas after two years of Covid restrictions. Thank you Lord. We continue to pray for all those who are unwell and still impacted by Covid.
Thank you for the Shoeboxes!
Dear Carole and the Parishioners Of St Boniface, Shirley
Thank you so much for supporting our shoebox scheme again this year.
It has been another successful year, with nearly 1000 boxes collected from Magna Rotary supporters. In total, 18,207 boxes were collected across the Wessex District.
I hope you found the new system of us supplying boxes beneficial. Many of the boxes were beautifully decorated with colouring, stickers or wrapping paper.
From feedback I have received it proved popular with many, as shoeboxes are becoming more difficult to obtain. It also enabled a little more standardisation of contents as all boxes were the same size. It certainly made our job of checking and packing a lot easier.
Lorries will be heading off to Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Romania very shortly. Some of our boxes were identified as boxes to go to Ukraine. However, clubs in Lviv and Kyiv have said that they do not have the logistics capability to distribute them to orphanages etc in Ukraine. They are all extremely busy arranging shelters for tens of thousands of their population needing support, especially with more recent concerns of safety.
However, our colleagues in Moldova and Romania will make sure that those boxes will get to Ukrainian children who are refugees in their countries.
A huge thank you to everyone who donated shoeboxes, additional contents and knitwear and to those parishioners who sponsored boxes.
Chris Lait
Southampton Magna Rotary Club
Transformations…
The new kitchen and store room are now completed. (See before and after photos).
And the new accessible toilet is complete and in use. The new toilet is easier to access for church users and provides privacy for the hall hirers.
Thank you to our hard working finance and maintenance teams for making this transformation happen!
ST BONIFACE 23rd CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL
This weekend we are launching our 23rd Shoebox Appeal and we hope you will help us! We have sent almost 11,000 boxes to disadvantaged children/refugees in Eastern Europe and the Philippines from St Boniface Church since 2000. The boxes have been joyfully received by children in the most distressing of situations! Each box of love gives a child hope and belief that they are special and that someone they will never meet cares for them.
So-will you help?
This year there are some changes to the scheme made by the Rotary Club itself. First of all the boxes are provided by the Club as flat packs which we have made up for you. You can decorate your box by applying Christmas stickers, cut out motifs from wrapping paper, children’s messages and/or drawings etc. The lid has to fit into a slot provided on the box.
As before, the leaflet explains all you need to know and an elastic band/shoelace etc must be placed around the box and £2 towards transport be attached. Boxes can be collected this weekend or next and must be returned to the Margaret Clitherow Room in the Hall before Masses on Saturday or Sunday 22nd/23rd October (not the Saturday 10.00 am Mass).
It is a few months now since we saw on our screens the exodus of so many Ukrainians into the neighbouring countries in hope of safety. The Rotary clubs on the ground helped then and are still helping the thousands of people both those who have chosen not to leave their safe haven for Europe so they may return one day more easily, and those who did move on. The clubs in Albania, Moldova and Romania are active in this area and commit to doing their best to deliver our boxes of love and kindness (and those of other local groups and churches) to the most needy of children they help in their countries whether refugees or local families.
Please- whatever you are doing for your own families- help us by making up a box or giving a cash donation via the “Sponsor a shoebox” envelopes available in the porch!
The children who will receive the boxes are so special. Please remember them and help us. They are all God’s children and we can make a difference to their lives. Your box may be the only present some of these children have ever received or will ever receive!
Thank you so much for whatever you can do for us.
Carole and Tom Olding
Parish Mission Day
We give thanks to God for the Parish Vision/Mission Day!
We prayed and reflected on the ideas contained in the book ‘Divine Renovation’ by Fr John Mallon. This has been successfully used by many parishes as a guide for future growth and direction.
We asked:
How can we move from Maintainance to Mission
..From Guest to Host ,,,
…From Consumer to Disciple.
Please keep this work in your prayers.
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.
