Confirmations Retreat at Buckfast 8th-10th April

Ten of our sixteen candidates for Confirmation were able to join the weekend away at Buckfast. It was a unique opportunity for them grown in their faith as they prepare for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We stayed at Grangehurst - the largest of the self-catering houses run by the Abbey.
 It is a magnificent place to stay in a beautiful setting.

The first signs of Spring were evident in the surrounding trees.

The schedule was quite full, with catechetical talks, Mass, a tour of the grounds, benediction, dvds and a walk - not to mention meals and knock-about football.

We had Mass in the Blessed Sacrament chapel

Activities laid on for children in the old guesthouse

seemed to occupy these teenagers for some time!

Teaching the ancient art of dandelion trumpeting on our walk up the hill.

The monks were very welcoming - here is Fr Christopher from the abbey.

Our Confirmation catechist and helpers were also generous with their time and energy.

I'm sure we will all say a prayer for all our candidates: the bishop is coming to St John's on May 20th.

Good News for our New School initiative

Last Monday the Government moved forward the proposal for our very first state-funded Catholic secondary school in Cornwall opening in September 2012. The proposal now goes to the next stage - 'business and planning' so we are not there yet: please keep on praying. Of course we also still need to prove evidence of demand; do speak about it to any parent who might be interested. For although it will be a school where the teaching and ethos will be fully Catholic, it will open to all children.

The School hopes to open in the fine old Grammar School building in Camborne

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...