Catholic Church of Our Lady & St. Wilfrid, Ventnor 150th Anniversary Booklet This month marks the 150th anniversary of St. Wilfrid’s Church and the 125th anniversary of St. Wilfrid’s School. This history book has been written to commemorate these two anniversaries and to understand, appreciate and give thanks for the many past priests and parishioners who strove tirelessly to build and develop a parish community. The CHS has been pleased to write and publish this book for the South Wight Parish. It has a FOREWORD by Bishop Philip and Father Joe. The booklet is available at the three churches of South Wight for just £2-50; or, it can be ordered from our society. E. mail [email protected] St. Wilfrid - Patron of the Island and titular patron of Ventnor’s Catholic church. This is a copy of a painting by Madeleine Beard, a Catholic artist and writer, and one of our mainland CHS members. The framed painting will be presented to South Wight parish next month, for St. Wilfrid’s Church, and to mark their 150th anniversary. th S t. Saviour’s, Totland – 150 anniversary On the First Friday of September a special Mass celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Saviour’s Church in Totland was offered in Weston Manor Chapel (just a stone’s throw from the church). It was the Ward family who built Weston Manor in 1871 and obtained permission to have their own family chapel within the house. They made it available for the Catholics of West Wight. William Ward was a contemporary of St. John Henry Newman and an influential figure in the Oxford Movement with the Church of England. After converting to Catholicism, he was influential and supportive initially in Cowes, before moving to Totland. The chapel is exquisite with a marble altar (see photo - right) and adorned with wall paintings depicting symbols of Christ’s Crucifixion (nails, hammer, sponge, vinegar etc). This chapel served as the parish church of West Wight until the present St. Saviour’s Church was built in 1923. Catholics were delighted to be able to return to Weston Manor chapel for this Mass, offered by Fr. Emmanuel. It was tinged with some sadness, as this was just four days before Father leaves the Island and returns to his native Nigeria. In his sermon at the Mass, he reminded the people of the Ward family’s desire to provide a suitable home for the Mass and the for the spiritual nourishment of the Catholics of the surrounding area. We remember with gratitude the initiative of William and Frances Ward, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of this beautiful chapel. After the Mass, a buffet lunch was arranged to the parish hall, where there was also an exhibition and display of some of the church vestments and a history of the chapel. The Mass, lunch and the exhibition was planned and co-ordinated by one of the parishioners, Barbie Straker. She has also written a history of St. Saviour’s, Totland, which is available from the church. There is an article on the CHS website, which describes religious life at the chapel and how Holy Week was celebrated in 1905. Click on this link to read it:- Isle of Wight Catholic History Society (iow-chs.org) Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) Latin Masses in the Extraordinary Form have been offered here on the Island for the past thirty three years. These Masses, they are continuing to be offered both here on the Island; mainly at Cowes; and at other churches in the diocese where they have been celebrated on a regular basis; with Bishop Philip’s approval and support. Latin Masses at St. Thomas’s are on Thursdays at 12 noon, with Confessions and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 11-15am. Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham Inaugurated by Pope Benedict For details of Ordinariate Masses here on the Island please contact Fr. Jonathan Redvers Harris. Tel. 07847521717 E. mail. [email protected] Poetry Corner Creation By Paul Howe of Ryde This tiny, brittle thin, This life He made for us; Was it not fragile, this dust He gathered there to breathe upon? Particles to bring this man, And then this woman into being, Unique within the universe The Lord God was lonely, so He made man in His own image, Adam and Eve, to be created, to live a while In the Innocence of Eden, then through disobedience Of sin, to die …. Yet we are worthy through His Grace, To become the daughters and sons of God, Redeemed children of the Light. Holy Communion By Elizabeth Foley of Seaview I need to concentrate so well For at the Consecration bell If I could see with angel's eyes Heaven touches earth, but hidden lies From us who round the altar kneel, Where forms of bread and wine conceal THE SON OF GOD; Whose waiting there, Prepared with each Himself to share, At Communion in each breast Jesus Christ is each soul's guest. What preparation did I make? Or do I let the time slip by Complacent of my company? My Guardian Angel help me be Alert at all times God's with me. Please join me angel as I raise Songs in my heart of love and praise The Queen of Fair Women By Edmund Matyjaszek of Ryde Tender to the touch A womb so warm, Beginning to bulge beneath the dress; A slight wobble in the walk, a breath Deeply taken, the lungs' lunge; While below the heart A sharp pain of joy and pride. She walks through the crowded streets of her husband, Stops for the mild gossip of the morning, Carrying fresh fish, or hens' eggs, Goose feathers for a softer bed; Almost careless in grace, so abundant With the living presence of her Lord. Though years will take tears to tell, Shattering sorrow, bitter grief, bitter beyond words, Nothing can take away that morning When she stepped out lightly, laden with love Confirmation Hymn By Andrew Pellow of Nettlestone Confirm Lord, our heart’s desire From this day forth we turn to you As we before you bow, And with one voice declare; Pour on us your celestial fire; The Christian life we hold in view Take every part as you require; “Almighty God, our lives renew” – O come and bless us now. This is our fervent prayer. Breathe your Spirit from above Our trust is in the Father, Son As we this promise make, And Holy Spirit, three; Descend upon us like a dove A pilgrim’s journ ey now begun; And fill us with undying love; In Him, by faith, agree. Defend us for your sake. These poems and many others written by CHS members, can be found in a Poetry Book. Details on the CHS website. 20th Anniversary - Annual Walk from Ryde to Quarr Abbey This year’s annual Walk from Ryde to Quarr Abbey was on the Feast of the Assumption. It was most appropriate walking from a parish (Ryde) where the church is dedicated to Our Lady, to an abbey (Quarr) also dedicated to Our Lady. Thirty four people joined the walk. This was a much improved attendance at this (Post Covid) time, for the 20th anniversary of this annual walk, organised by the Island Catholic History Society. (Picture below at the start of the walk. ) The origins of the walk, however, go back to Victorian times when Catholics would walk on Sunday afternoons in summer to the Medieval Cistercian ruins to pray for the return of monastic life to Quarr. This prayer was answered by God when the Benedictines moved to Quarr in 1907 from Appuldurcombe (on the south of the Island). This short annual pilgrimage (just three miles) emphasises our affiliation with our Victorian Catholic ancestors who walked the same route. The group was accompanied once again by Fr. Jonathan Redvers Harris, who has been a keen participant and supporter of this annual walk. It was good also to welcome Sister Philomena; a Dominican nun, who was staying on retreat at St. Cecilia’s Abbey. The pilgrims stopped en route at Westfield House, the former Summer residence of the Spencer family. The Passionist priest, Venerable Ignatius Spencer, converted to Catholicism in 1830 and was ordained in 1832. He spent his Summer holidays as a child at Westfield House. Just a few hundred yards away is Buckland Grange, the former home of the Bowden family. They were former Anglican friends of John Henry Newman. Like Newman, they converted to Catholicism and two of the family became Oratorian priests through Newman’s influence. In September, 1865 Newman came here to Ryde to spend a few days with the Bowdens at Buckland Grange. Whilst there, he celebrated Mass in St. Mary’s Church, before moving on to Swainstone Manor at Calbourne to visit Sir John Simeon, the convert Catholic M.P. for the Island in the 1860s and another former Anglican friend of Newman. The half way stop en route was the Medieval Church of Holy Cross at Binstead (once served from Quarr Abbey, wher Hilary Spurgeon gave us an interesting history of the church and its historical association with Quarr. We stopped then at the Cistercian ruins, where Ed Matyjaszek read a T.S. Eliot poem “Little Gidding” which describes the atmosphere surrounding abbey ruins; also, “Ode to Quarr” by Blake Everitt; and one of his own poems, “The Vigil of the Assumption” (most apt for today’s feast The group arrived at the abbey for the Office of NONE; after which, Abbot Xavier spoke the group about the Feast of the Assumption.