Carmelite Friars celebrate first Priestly Ordination in York since the Reformation

On Sunday 25th January York was the location for the first Carmelite friar to be ordained priest in the city since the Reformation.

Father Gerard (Ged) Walsh was ordained priest by Rt. Rev. Terence Drainey, Bishop of Middlesbrough, at Our Lady’s Church in Acomb, during the parish celebration of Mass.

This was an historic moment for the Carmelite Order which first came to York in 1250. Until the suppression of Catholic religious orders at the Reformation in 1536, York was the administrative and training centre for the Carmelite Order of mendicant friars (begging brothers) in northern England.

The friars returned to the city in 1995 and today have pastoral care for chaplaincies at the University of York and York Hospital, as well as Our Lady’s parish since the start of this year. In addition to friars, York is home to communities of Carmelite enclosed nuns, active sisters, and lay people, all of whom took part in the liturgy, alongside clergy of Middlesbrough Diocese.

Father Ged is Catholic Chaplain at the University of York, and his ordination was attended by many past and present students and staff, as well as his ecumenical colleagues. Father Ged (37) is originally from The Wirral, and his family and friends were among the large congregation. Prior to entering the Carmelite Order, Ged was a radiographer in Liverpool, but gave up this promising career when he felt called by God to enter the religious life. He studied for the priesthood in Dublin, and Carmelite friars from Ireland and across Britain were present.

Father Ged’s ordination to the priesthood is the second to take place in Britain within the last few months. The Prior Provincial of the Carmelites, Fr. Antony Lester, O.Carm., said: “At a time when vocations to priesthood and the religious life seem to be in decline in Europe, we Carmelites in Britain are very fortunate that God is sending us young men who are dedicating themselves to God’s service as friars. Ged will be a very fine priest, because he has a caring heart and good pastoral experience.” The ordination was attended by two young men who recently entered the Carmelite community as part of a new pre-novitiate programme.

Fr. Ged is blessed by Bishop Terry Drainey, Middlesborough

Fr. Ged concelebrates at his first Mass

Fr. Ged is congratulated by Matt Betts (Development Manager) and his wife, Terri and son, Joseph. 

All photos, copyright Order of Carmelites.

Novena to Saint Jude

The following novena recently published in Carmelite News and from the National Shrine of Saint Jude is for nine days.

You can pray the novena in private, with your friends or family, or in a group. The novena starts on Sunday 11 January and continues until 19 January 2015.

Jesus, I praise you and bless you

And give you thanks for

all the graces and privileges

you have bestowed upon

your chosen apostle Saint Jude...

 (Make your special request now)

Loving God,

who revealed to Saint Jude

your desire to come to us,

and share your life with us,

open our hearts

so that your Spirit may teach us your truth,

and that keeping your commandments

we may know your abiding presence. 

Photo of the month - January 2015

Happy New Year to all the friends of Saint Jude.

The Guild of Saint Jude membership badge

The Guild of Saint Jude exists to:

• Promote the love of God by fostering devotion to his Apostle Saint Jude
• Support and share in the mission of the Carmelite Family by prayer and material resources
• Raise awareness and encourage pilgrimages to the National Shrine 

At the end of 2014, we had 45 Life members; 67 family members; 47 joint members; and 272 individual members. All of  our members received the first Guild magazine at the end of 2014.

If you would like to become a member, you can do so via our email Guild@stjudeshrine.org.uk. Or you can fill in the form, which can be found here.

• Further information

Thoughts from the Chaplain: Christmas

The Bible is full of people whose names are not even recorded.  These un-named ones are our reminder that not only does God know our world, He has lived in it. He was involved with ordinary individuals.

Let us look at a two of them. In the school nativity nobody wants to play the innkeeper. They’d rather be a shepherd, or even a sheep.  After all the innkeeper was trying to make a profit out of the Roman census to make up for what the Romans had cost him.  And then came this couple, and it was hard for even him to turn them away, tired, bedraggled, and anxious as they were, a young woman, far from her home and pregnant. How could you? So you took this couple to the safest, most secure place you had… the stable where you kept the animals.  You could now sleep peacefully knowing that your pockets were full, your Inn was crowded, and you had not turned away a young family in distress. However, during the night a star appears and before you know it the stable is full of shepherds and angels and wise men.

Amazing how time and situation make some people so very important? Here is a character we will never forget; he was the one who assured us that Jesus would be born in a stable and make His first bed in a feed box.  Luckily he did this because how would anyone like to be known through history as the one who said, “There’s no room for the Messiah here!”
Another person in this wonderful story of grace is simply known as an angel.

God did not send an archangel to say that His son was to be born in Bethlehem; no it was just an ordinary angel that did the talking. Of course it doesn’t take a much for a group of shepherds to get excited. So maybe sending in an archangel might have pushed them over the edge. I think the reason God would pick an average, ordinary angel to deliver such startling news is easy to understand; so many of us are like those shepherds even on our best days, we’re not much more than average ordinary folks.

So, please, let us hear the message of these unnamed yet widely known characters whether they are an innkeeper, an angel, a shepherd or later one of the wise men. After all, this entire whole story about mangers, shepherds, and wise men is not so much about people who lived long ago and far away. No, these are stories about you and me, and a struggle to find a life that’s real, meaningful, and gives us a glimpse of the glory that’s waiting for us around the next bend in our journey to Jesus. So let us not be the one to say “sorry I have no room or time for you Jesus”, let us accept the word from an ordinary angel, and let us be like the shepherds and hurry to kneel at the manger which is the bed of Our Lord.

Fr Michael Manning, O.Carm.

Thoughts from our Chaplain - Fourth Sunday of Advent

On the Advent journey to Christmas, the Fourth Sunday belongs to Mary. This is because Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus, necessarily involves the motherhood of Mary. However, the story of that birth is reserved for Midnight Mass, while today's gospel tells us how Mary prepared for that wonderful starting with the Annunciation; that alone would probably shock anyone but Mary listens to the message, questions how it could come about and then accepts the will of God’s, allowing God to determine how she would be a mother.

If through the centuries Mary has captured the imagination of the world, it is in large measure because she faced the mystery of God and said, "Let what you have said be done unto me”. Even her greatest privilege as mother of the Saviour presupposes this radical trust and generosity. It's easy to ignore the mystery of God until the very end of life; it is also easy to live in fear of that mystery.

However, human life will never be really successful until we learn to embrace God's mystery with trust and confidence. Mary shows us how to do that and what wonderful results will follow. Although we know very little about the "historical" Mary, her symbolic presence is real and powerful. In her case, symbolic truth presupposes an historical person but it reveals the universal and perennial significance of that person. It is a truth that transcends such limitations as age, race and gender as it reveals the meaning of Mary, Virgin, symbol of hope and of course Mother.  From the early middle ages Mary has been depicted in white  and blue; the blue robe signifying heavenly grace but also hope and servitude (the handmaid of the Lord) and white representing her purity and her holiness.  In her role of Mother Mary symbolises compassion, nurturing but also fruitfulness and the willingness to suffer for her child. Mary is also for us Mother, willing to listen, support and intercede for us.

These are some of the ideas we can take with us as we celebrate this last Sunday before Christmas.

Have joyous and blessed Christmas.

Fr Michael Manning, O.Carm.

Thoughts from our Chaplain - St John the Baptist

John the Baptist was at ease with his role in history. However, the Jews were confused so they sent priests and Levites to question John. They asked, "Who are you?" It was as if they couldn't figure out why the man could have such devotion to a cause they know nothing about. John simply told them, "I am not the Christ." When they asked him" Are you Elijah" and "Are you the prophet" he answered them simply: “I am not”.  In answer to their final question: “Well who are you?” he quoted the Isaiah message “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord." He was confident that he was on the right mission, that he was here ‘to make straight the way of the Lord.’ The one who is among you whom I am not worthy to serve.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were all like John the Baptist? He knew exactly why he was here.

During the season of Advent we all have a chance to become more like John the Baptist. This is a special time of the year; it's special because it is the anniversary of the coming of our Saviour. But are we aware that this is a special time of the year? Are we preparing to buy the trappings and tinsel of Christmas or are we preparing for His coming? John the Baptist knew it was a special time. He summed it all up when he said, "I baptise with water one is coming who will baptise with the Holy Spirit".

 Let us rejoice in this time of Advent, prepare ourselves to celebrate Christ’s birth; dedicated to "making straight the word of the Lord."

Fr Michael Manning, O.Carm.

Saint Jude Gift Shop - Christmas posting

The Saint Jude gift shop has a wide range of gifts for friends and family. With books, cards, and stocking-fillers, there is something for all friends of Saint Jude.

To be sure of delivery before Christmas please note the following dates (UK only):

2nd Class – Wednesday 17th December
1st Class & Courier – Friday 19th December

Please ensure that we have received your order by 2pm that day.

Orders can be placed online: http://tinyurl.com/perbzlo, or by phone on 01795 539214.