Day trip to Lanhydrock

It's surprising how often we don't get round to seeing our own local historic sites. Lanhydrock house and gardens must be one of the treasures of the National Trust. The weather was great and the day proved to be a good opportunity for parishioners to spend time together (look carefully and you might seen a former pp: Fr Brian Kenwrick joined us).

Copy of Our Lady's Tilma comes to Cornwall

Fr Chris went up to London to receive the specially blessed digital copy of Our Lady of Guadalupe's miraculous Tilma from the pastoral director of Westminster Diocese. It has been sent to our country by the Cardinal of Mexico and it seemed only right that if it was touring the country, it should come to Cornwall. It was displayed in both churches, the convent and St John's school before going to Lanherne, Truro, Falmouth and Plymouth Cathedral.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for us

(Was St John's historic statue modelled on the image?)

The Cornwall CWL had their Mass in Camborne.

Beatification Mass

The coach left Camborne around midnight, with 22 of us joining Penzance parishioners. It was still dark and raining when we arrived at the huge coachpark on the outskirts of Birmingham. We had to walk for about a mile to get to Cofton Park - carrying our parish banner (and a Cornish flag).

Fr Chris had a great place just on the edge of the priests' area of the staging overlooking all the people. As the pope arrived by helicopter, the sun broke through the clouds. All the banners and flags went up into the air to the thrilling strains of 'Praise to the Holiest'. What an honour and a grace for our country - that Pope Benedict should himself choose to beatify John Henry Newman here.

Delusions of grandeur

Getting back to Camborne - what an experience!
(Here is the link to the BBC Cornwall page on the visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8979000/8979621.stm)

Harvest Supper at the Lowennac Hotel

Following Radio 4's 'A history of the world in a 100 objects', parishioners were invited to bring in obscure items for identification as a sort of quiz. We got slightly more than we bargained for. Don't people have some strange things in their homes?! These two are of course from the church - a mother-of-pearl shell for baptisms and the wooden clapper is used instead of the bell at the consecration on Holy Thursday. But you knew that.

St John's School's 150th

Following the sesquicentenary of the church last year, it was time to look back to the foundation of our primary school. A magnificent marquee was erected in the playing field thanks to the generosity of a benefactor. The sun shone, the bishop preached and the children sang their hearts out.

The Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Lady Mary Holborow and the High Sheriff of Cornwall, James Williams were amongst those who attended.

Sr Annunciata represented the Sisters of St Joseph who gave so much to the school over so many years.

The dean of Cornwall, Fr Jon, planted an apple tree for posterity (Fr Brian Kenwrick, parish priest until 1997, Fr Chris and Br Nicholas of Buckfast look on)

And the next day, the school took the opportunity to relive Victorian Camborne.

Safari Supper

No lions or giraffes. In fact it's the evening when the Christians of the various denominations in Camborne provide successive courses of a meal: you have to walk from church to church to be fed. St John's gets to do the puddings. I wonder why we have a reputation for them...

Cornwall Deanery Corpus Christi Procession in Truro

This is our 6th procession through the main streets of Truro. Unfortunately, because of new health and safety legislation, the police cannot be involved, so road closures mean we were confined to Lemon Quay (this is last year's photo). Still, the sun shone and people prayed - and Our Lord was honoured in public.

Parish trip to Country Skittles

This seems to be a popular venue for people of all ages; we've taken altar servers there in the past. It certainly brings out the old competitive streak...

Sr Columcille rest in peace

Sister was the much-loved headteacher of St John's from 1981 to 2003. We were able to easily fill a coach to attend her requiem Mass at the provincial house at Llantarnam Abbey - on the feast of St Columcille, 9th June.

May Procession at St John's School

This is an impressive tradition that has been kept going over the years. Year 6 boys carry the statue of Our Lady, First Communicants get to wear their outfits once again and the girls dress in white to strew petals. We do always seem to have 'Cornish sunshine' unfortunately, but it doesn't dampen spirits. The main statue in the church is crowned by a specially chosen year 6 girl and there is a variety of prayers, hymns and devotions. Beforehand rosaries sell from the repository like there's no tomorrow!

St Patrick's Night

We managed to celebrate on the night itself. The Inn For All Seasons provided its usual hospitality. Riverdance had nothing on us.

And when it came to the raffle, there was the luck of the Irish...

Parish retreat at Treloyhan manor 25th-27th Feb

This is our second year at Treloyhan Manor - a Christian hotel in Carbis Bay.  It's a fine place to stay and the weather always seems to be good for us. 

The theme was 'Celebrating the Year of the Priest'. Fr Philip Dyson, parish priest of Penzance spoke to us about the 'marks' of the priesthood.

Fr Mark O'Keeffe, parish priest of Newquay, told us about his experiences as military chaplain in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan where, rather amazingly, this fine chasuble was discovered:

Lent begins...

...with the burning of last years' palm crosses

The Stations of the Cross at St John's have been refurbished in time - and add something to the appearance of the church.

Altar Servers trip: Ice skating at Eden

We have a great team of altar servers in the parish. The ice rink at the Eden Project seemed to be an interesting venue for our annual trip out. The day was spent doing the tour, beginning from the viewing platform:

The mediterranean biome provided a bit of Spring in January...

...bringing cheer to faces.

It was dusk when we reached the ice rink.

The ice-skating marked the end of an enjoyable day.