NEWSLETTER

CONTENTS

Letter from Coordinator

Pilgrimage Contacts

Letter from Fr Joe Kengah

John & Lesley's Wedding

Presentation to Geoff Bedford, Crossmaker

New Pilgrim Arrival

Easter Pilgrimages

Pilgrim News

Jonny's Confirmation

My Wish For You

Dear Pilgrims,

Planning for Pilgrimage 2001, Lichfield - Lastingham;  Chad and Cedd , (I bet their mother got the names mixed sometimes) is going well.  At the January planning meeting we heard that

·         Aidan Simons has got all the accommodation settled,

·         finances are in fair shape,

·         we have Mary Fuller now as Medical Officer,

·         every stage has a route planner - even one route planned, well done Sue and Fred.

Do make a positive effort to recruit fellow-Christians from other traditions than your own to join us.  Otherwise the word “Ecumenical” is very hollow.

We hope to arrive in Lichfield in time for a tour of the Cathedral church of St Chad,  then Evensong and eventually Mass.  On Sunday we will set out after Eucharist at St Chad’s Church, where we ended our pilgrimage last year - that is continuity!  We should have the company of several fellow-Christians from Lichfield including Jill, Vicar of St Chad’s who made us so welcome in AD 2000.  This is something to look forward to, just like the spiritual benefits of having Tim Lestrange and Philip Lennon with us in times past.

We have rest days in Sheffield and York.  In the wet Sheffield, the Cutlers’ city suggests museum visits; if dry we might see the energetic out on the hills or visiting Chatsworth House & York has plenty for everyone.  Dean permitting, we hope to have an “arrival” ceremony in the Minster on the morning of our rest day.  Our goal, St. Mary’s Abbey, Lastingham, is a marked contrast to the splendours of the Minster.  I hope you will be moved by the little Norman crypt which houses the remains of St Cedd and a few Saxon fragments from Cedd’s crypt, already 300 years old when the Benedictines decided to establish a community there in 1078.  It's appeal lies in the very simplicity and smallness of the place compared with the princely magnificence of York Minster.  God is to be found anywhere and everywhere if we will only look!

We need to do a bit of looking also for people with gifts:  a new Accommodation Officer to take over from Aidan, who has done so well for us, and a new Data Base Manager to take over from Bill Haynes.  From my perspective as a ‘new boy’ Bill has done this job ‘for ever’ and has a good system up and running.  It is good to have people offer rather than be asked.  Present ‘officers’ would give plenty of advice and help to get you started, so how about it?  A new pattern is emerging which will guarantee the vitality of our Pilgrimages.  It is that Officers’ posts are not held for long spells but are taken on, done well (we hope) for two or three years, and passed on.  This makes volunteering a less daunting prospect:  you always have the experience of predecessors to draw on - until they pop their clogs which comes long after hanging up their boots with luck.

Finally, another appeal for help:  there is a “Pledge” slip enclosed with the mailing.   Fr Joe Kengah who enlivened our Pilgrimage last year says he would very much like to join us this year but the air fare from Kenya (~1100 US$) is the limiting factor.   Your Committee feels we cannot dip into our reserves for this but as individuals many of us would be happy to help.   It is normal human behaviour to procrastinate so PLEASE consider the request straight away and make a decision.   If, ‘Yes, I will help.’ complete the slip NOW, put it in an envelope and post it to me.   If, ‘No, sorry, I have too many commitments already.’ put it out of your mind.   I need to have pledges in by the end of February in order to tell Fr Joe so that he can start planning.   Pledges will be called in with the July mailing if the target is met.

God bless,        John Lamb

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Greetings and good wishes from Shima Hills Mivumoni.  Thank you very much for the newsletter on our pilgrim walk. I was very happy to learn that Monica is doing well after her treatment and Julian is also doing well.  It is nice to read the newsletter and remind ourselves what happened during the walk.  I laughed as I was reading about my washing and the English sun that never dried my clothes.  I will miss the walk for this for only reason that I will not have the fare to come for three weeks to the walk and meet friends.  If just in case you find some body or some people ready to sponsor me to and fro, I would try to organise my parish work because it is holiday time for school and I can get a friend to take care of my parish.  In fact it will be cheaper to buy ticket from UK and send it here.  I have never been to Lourdes, I could take the same chance to come and join the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and then wait for the walk and then have a week or two and come back home.  If you think you can do me that favour, I would be very much happy at same time I can start preparing myself for it then & there.  Friends I talked to about the walk in Hemel Hempstead and they were willing to do it this year, I am sure if I tell them that its possible for me to come they will also be happy.  I also got a card that and a wedding photo to Lesley and John and it is wonderful.  I am sending them a congratulation card. Next time I will be telling you about my work.  How is Patrick I hope his back has fully recovered.  Many thanks and keep us informed.

Yours sincerely,    Joe in Kenya

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Pilgrimage Contacts

The Pilgrimage can be contacted via

DABCEC, 4 Southgate drive, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6RP

Co-ordinator - John Lamb - e-mail: Via Website

Bookings Secretary – Pat Donachie -

Newsletter editor - Mike Kanssen - e-mail:  Via Website

Web Sites:                      http://www.pilgrimsprogress.org.uk  (Danny's)

                                 http://www.thepilgrims.org.uk  (Aidan's)

Wedding Report

The arrival of a radiate bride on her Father's arm dispelled the gloom. The happiness of Lesley and John as they made their vows and celebrated their Nuptial Mass was shared by us all. Several pilgrims took part in the liturgy: Andy Ollard was a server, Frances Dean and Terry Dodson took the Offertory gifts up.

Also there were: Patrick Reeves, Pat Donachie, John and Louise Chenery, John and Mary Russell, Sarah Doran, John Lamb, Mary Fuller, Mark Hopper and his wife, Joan Gale, Betsy and Julian Farmer, Richard House, Danny and Norma Thomas. (John Bentley, Patricia Curtis, Millie Young joined later)

Afterwards the celebrations continued at the Coulsdon Manor Hotel with the traditional meal, speeches and 'Cutting the cake' and toasts. This was followed by dancing more eating and drinking late into the night.

A great day to remember for us all and congratulations to Lesley and John.

 

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Geoff Bedford's Presentation

After many years of designing & making all the crosses for pilgrims Geoff Bedford is retiring. By way of a thank-you, he has been presented with an ornate Cross Icon (Made by Joan Gales husband) and a photo montage of the 26 inspirational pilgrimage crosses he produced over the years.

 Many thanks to Geoff for the many hours of work he's put in, His crosses have kept many of us looking for (& finding) deeper meanings & symbolisms.

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New Pilgrim Arrival

On December 2^nd, (Nearly 2 weeks late) Geoffrey Steven Kanssen made his reluctant way into the world! Since then he has of course been completely changing his parents way of life.

After a slightly slow start (Making the midwife nervous) Geoff is now gaining weight but is yet to develop his father's oversized appetite. By the age of 1½ months he has been supporting his weight when trying to stand, but I think if he's hoping to be walking all the pilgrimage this summer he has set his sights a little too high!

 

Geoff aged ~1Hr

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Easter Pilgrimages

If you wish to experience the pilgrim atmosphere whilst celebrating Easter, how about getting some pilgrimage practice on Student Cross or Northern Cross. Cross carrying Pilgrimages to Walsingham & Lindisfarne respectively. Most groups walk ~125 miles in a week, and all celebrate Easter together. Peter Storrow has contact details for Northern Cross & I can supply contact information for most Legs of Student Cross.
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Pilgrim News

Tom Jeffers (Lindisfarne, Bath, & cycled first 3 days of last summer's Pilgrimage) had a hip replacement op 2 weeks ago and is now home and doing very well. He would love to hear from any Pilgrim who knows him

Mark & Cecilia Symons (nee Mottram) now have 3 children in training for long distance walks. Hayley 9, Beth 7 & Susannah 3 all managed Snowdon last year. Cecilia is currently planning to do the Myrd Challenge walk in October (50 miles in one go!).

At the Committee meeting Monica McLauchlan reported that she is recovering well from her mastectomy operation & has now had her first dose of Chemotherapy. She hopes to be going back to work one day a week in the near future, and asks for your continuing prayers

In a chance meeting whilst visiting relatives at a Nursing Home, Pat Donachie met up with Brenda Dillon. I'm sure many of you will remember her irrepressible character, from many pilgrimages. Although Brenda couldn't speak at first, she did recognise Pat, and is now improving. If anyone would like to send Brenda a message Pat will be glad to pass them on.

This year Aidan is planning to produce a pilgrimage Tee shirt. Keep a look out for details.

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Jonny's Confirmation

 

One of this year's youngest pilgrims, Jonny Gamble, was confirmed by Monsignor Patrick McKinney, Episcopal Vicar for Staffordshire on Friday 24th November 2000. Here they are with his sponsor, big brother Ant.

Inspired by this year's pilgrimage, Jonny chose Chad as his confirmation name.

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