Marian Procession

Unfortunately we couldn’t make it to this lovely event in Barnard Castle because our car was out of action.
However, 5 HFG families (15 people) did make it, along with about 25 parishioners.
Report from Pat: “The rain held off. The gathering processed out of church to the grotto, prayed 5 decades of the rosary and then processed back to church for some favourite hymns, including “Bring Flowers of the rarest”. Fr Elkin said a few words at the grotto: in line with St Louis de Montford and other saints, he said that, although there is nothing to document it, he is sure that Jesus would have gone to see His mother after the Resurrection to reassure her. He also said that, in these days of trial within the Church, we should bombard Mary with requests for her Son to help us. The afternoon concluded with Benediction, followed by tea, coffee and sweet treats under the gazebo.”

Next Event: Feast of Divine Mercy

On Sunday 7th April at St John Vianney, Hartlepool at 2.30pm  with talk, chaplet, veneration and blessing of images (please bring your Divine Mercy image to be blessed if you have one), opportunity for Confession.  All welcome.  A good link for finding out more about this feast: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/feast.htm

For more details please email angela@hammond.me 

Stations of the Cross

We held a Lenten Family Day for the 2nd year at Osmotherley on the afternoon of 17^th March.  Six families/couples met in the village to walk the mile (approximately) to the Lady Chapel, there are crosses to mark the Stations of the Cross along the way.  Despite the rain families took turns leading a station.  The older children had prepared lovely illustrations to accompany them and were each given something to carry along the way to represent each station e.g. a rosary for the meeting of Jesus and Mary.  The children enjoyed jumping in the huge puddles and mud but for the parents with pushchairs it was quite tricky!

We arrived at the Lady Chapel and prayed the Holy Family Guild prayers and prayers for the Pope.  

A lovely volunteer was waiting with much needed tea and coffee in the hall and the families had brought a selection of food to share.  We were amazed when we went back outside to discover it was snowing and it was really quite heavy on the walk back down the hill to our cars.

It was a memorable occasion for the children and the difficulties helped us adults to identify with Our Lord's way of the cross a bit better.

Novena to St Joseph

Today is the day to start a Novena to St Joseph.

We have found this on XT3 (http://www.xt3.com/library/view.php?id=12621&categoryId=42):


Join Cardinal Dolan in asking St. Joseph for prayer for the upcoming conclave and the election of a new pope!


PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we have recourse in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy thrice holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also.

By that charity wherewith thou wast united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly affection with which thou didst embrace the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray, that thou wouldst look graciously upon the inheritance which Jesus Christ hath purchased by His Blood, and assist us in our needs by thy power and strength.

Most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; keep far from us, most loving father, all blight of error and corruption: mercifully assist us from heaven, most mighty defender, in this our conflict with the powers of darkness; and, even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the supreme peril of his life, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; keep us one and all under thy continual protection, that we may be supported by thine example and thine assistance, may be enabled to lead a holy life, die a happy death and come at last to the possession of everlasting blessedness in heaven. Amen.

Next Event: Stations of the Cross

The next event will be family-oriented Stations of the Cross at Osmotherley during the afternoon of Sunday 17 March (5th Sunday of Lent, displacing St Patrick’s Day).
Meet at 1:45pm at the bottom of the track (looking at the map, this appears to be on the junction of Ruebury lane and North End, but we’ll only know for sure once we get there!).
We will begin walking at 2pm sharp.
Please let us know if your coming and whether your children would like to draw one of the Stations
of the Cross beforehand to bring with them.
Once we get to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace (pictured above), we’ll have prayers in the
chapel, followed by afternoon tea in the hall. Please bring some cakes/snacks to share. All drinks
will be provided.
See www.ladychapel.org.uk. The postcode for the chapel is DL6 3AP. The postcode for the Catholic church in the village (near where you can park) is DL6 3BB.
The Catholic church in Osmotherley itself is worth a visit. 

Epiphany Party

We really enjoyed hosting this and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves too.  There were 9 adults and 11 children and some lovely costumes.

We began with a shared table of Eastern and star shaped food which made a change after 12 days of mince pies and Christmas cake!  We attempted a traditional Galette cake consisting of frangipane and puff pastry although due to health and safety we didn't hide anything in it :-) 

After the food and some play time for the children we had a treasure hunt, following a star, with 12 pictures leading from place to place until we ended at the crib where the 3 Kings found the real treasure of the baby Jesus!  There were also gold coins hidden there to keep the children happy.

We then sang the 12 days of Christmas with Roy leading us and Paul gave us adults a quiz on the real meaning of this popular song.  

Next we blessed our house with the help of our young guests and everyone received chalk, holy water and a house blessing to take home.  We processed up the stairs singing 'We Three Kings of Orient..' with 3 children chosen to carry the 3 gifts, to our chapel where we prayed the HFG prayers.

We were able to show the children our real Frankincense, Myrrh and gold in special boxes.

This party was such a good way to end the 12 days of Christmas and we hope to do the same next year.

Some of the food and the 3 gifts

"Come to our next event or else I'll..." Roy threatening our newest members

Joseph 'reading' us a story

We've been a bit behind updating the blog with Christmas etc. but hope to now add reports of the past couple of events plus photos.



Carol Singing

Members and friends of the Holy Family Guild gathered at our home in Washington and walked

singing carols from house to house and even stopped in at the village pub. We collected for a

local hospice, but the main aim of the event was to spread the Christmas message in the form

of carols. In so doing we were also keeping alive a tradition which goes back centuries in

Europe and then Britain and which we read about in the novels of Thomas Hardy, Kenneth

Grahame and Louisa May Alcott, among others. After the cold frosty evening kept us moving

briskly, we returned for mulled wine, mince pies and buffet food. Then the children had a visit

from St Nicholas, who told us about his life and handed out gold coins, before we prayed

together in the family chapel.

Next Event

There will be Carol Singing on Sunday 9 Dec at 4pm in Washington, plus a visit from St Nicholas. If you are coming, please bring some food to share, a lantern or torch, some warm clothes, and your best singing voice! If you do not have the details please request them by emailing paul@hammond.me