Saturday, August 01, 2009

Franciscan Friar no longer homeless




The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate have been looking for a home in England for ages, they found one at long last at St Joseph's in Burselm, Stoke on Trent. Their new Marian Friary opens next Sunday with Mass at 4.30pm celebrated by Bishop Gough.
I can't help being surprised that it has taken them so long, especially as so many Churches are closing for want of a priest. It would seem some bishops would prefer to see closures rather than inviting the new communities into their dioceses.
The Church is huge and the house is large enough for a community of half a dozen friars, say a prayer for them.


12 comments:

Giorgio Roversi said...

Great news Fr Ray!

Let's hope that other dioceses will follow. The Institute of Christ the King have been trying for years to take over the running of St Walburge’s church in Preston, which is threatened with closure, without success. As you said “It would seem some bishops would prefer to see closures rather than inviting the new communities into their dioceses”.

Et Expecto said...

What wonderful news. The franciscans of the Immaculate are a great order.

Kate said...

Fantastic news!
God Bless the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, and may our Bishops welcome them, along with other new communities, to serve in dioceses where they are so needed, owing to the shortage of secular priests. I'll certainly be praying for this, and for more vocations to the priesthood to be heard and answered.

Et Expecto said...

Have you seen the inside of the church? It is stunning. If you search under St Joseph, Burslem, you can see a slide show and someone from English Heritage extolling its virtues.

fidelisjoff said...

I am not at all surprised I know of a bishop that prefers to merge parishes rather than ask traditional communities for priest or the epicscopate of countries with a surplus or priests to help i.e. Poland - now I wonder why? But if you are married and want to be a deacon and inhabit a presbytery that once had a priest you are very welcome - is it a new model of the church. Unfortuntaley some of them believe they are priests in waiting.

Matthaeus said...

EtExpecto - I have just had a look at some images of the church, and you are right, the interior is magnificent. I know the Friars of the Immaculate will see that it is used as it was intended. May God bless them and their work in their new home.

M.

Unknown said...

That was a beautiful video, too.

Can anyone tell me the title of that lovely song sung by the Sisters, please?

Crux Fidelis said...

"Unfortuntaley some of them believe they are priests in waiting."

I know several permanent deacons who know that they are precisely that - permanent. Anything else is delusion.

Simon Platt said...

This indeed is excellent news.

Giorgio is quite right about the Institute of Christ the King and St. Walburge's, Preston. Please pray that Bp. Campbell will relent and accept their offer.

Anonymous said...

Hope you won't mind my correcting you Father, but it's 'Bishop David McGough'. Burslem is literally a ten/fifteen minute walk from my home, so i'm certainly glad to hear this excellent news for my area and all the Catholics in it!

Supertradmum said...

Can you do an update on this order?

Fr Ray Blake said...

I haven't heard more recently

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