The Catholic Women's League is a group of ladies who belong to a
World Wide non-political Organisation. Margaret Fletcher, a convert
and a woman of vision, founded the CWL in 1906 to unite Catholic
Women in a bond of friendship and to encourage them to use their
talents and skills in the service of the Church and the Community
at local, national and international level. The CWL motto is
Charity, Work and Loyalty.
The St Kentigern's section of the CWL meet fortnightly on Monday
evenings in St Kentigern's Social Centre. The meetings are for
mutual support and to discuss and organise the various works of
Charity in which they are involved such as Coffee Mornings, Jumble
Sales, Social Events and Annual Retreats.
All the money raised goes to Charity and the Church. On the last
Sunday of each month the CWL attend the 11am Mass together. New
members are always welcome.
On Thursday 24th February 1999 a member of St Kentigern's CWL
was presented with the Papal award "Bene Merenti" which was
presented to her by Fr John Foulkes at the CWL Annual Mass. Mrs
Maura Thomas is pictured here with Fr John Foulkes & Fr Luiz
Ruscillo.
The Knights of St Columba were founded in 1919 as a part of the Lay
Apostolate and have been active in the life of the Catholic Church
ever since. They are a body of men who are bonded in
FRATERNITY& CHARITY and their aims are to support the mission
of the Catholic Church and at the same time to work for the
spiritual, intellectual and material welfare of its members and
their families. They are organised in a number of Provinces
throughout England, Scotland and Wales and are affiliated to the
International Alliance of Catholic Knights. Each Province is
organised into a number of Charter Councils covering a group of
Parishes usually equivalent to a Deanery with 15 to 50 members in
each.
Each Charter Council meets monthly, their meetings start and
finish with prayers, they spend a time in studying scripture or the
Papal Encyclicals, with, wherever possible, their Chaplain to lead
them. Business concerned with the welfare of the members, action
for the Church and for the Order and activities for the benefit of
Youth is discussed and matters directed by province and by National
Headquarters. Social events are planned and members and their
families enjoy many of these. It has always been their practice to
give support and help to the parish Priests and they do this to the
best of their ability.
At the present time we have a number of members who have given
loyal cc to the order, but have now reached retirement age and also
a number who are frail and unable to play an active part in much of
our work. The active members do all that they can to support these
older members and also the widows and families of deceased
members.
The work that its done for the parish priest could be greatly
increased if we had more members and that is why we ask Catholic
men to join us, especially younger men, that is to say anyone
between the ages of 16 and 96!
Through our Fraternity, Charity and Unity we have a good time
and so do our families and welcome any new members to come and
share in it.
If you are interested and would like to know more about the
order, please see the notice on the Church Notice Board.
Council 91 meets on the last Tuesday of the month in St
Kentigern's Social Club.
Catechists
Parish Catechists support the Parish priest with the instruction
of the Catholic Faith. The word catechist derives from a Greek word
"katechethes" which means, "to instruct". Catechists are involved
in Sacramental Communion and Confirmation Programmes as well as the
Children's Sunday Liturgy. The role of the catechist is to prepare
the child and his / her family to receive the Sacraments. Adult
Catechists are involved in the Rites of Christian Initiation in
Adults Course (RCIA) which runs from September up to Pentecost.
The Parish Council
The Parish Council comprises of 18 parish members elected by
parishioners and up to 6 other members co-opted by the council.
Any parishioner who is at least 16 years of age is eligible to
serve on the Council. The role of the Council is to assist the
Parish Priest in the performance of his duty involving the
Parish.
Officers on the Council are elected from its number following
the Annual General Meeting. The President of the Council is the
parish Priest and officers consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman,
Secretary and Parish Financial Administrator. All the posts are
honorary. The Council meets once a month in the Parish Room and
deals with affairs of the Parish with the Annual General Meeting
being held each November.
Brownies
The 31st Blackpool (St. Kentigern's) Brownies meet once a week
during term time and once a month they attend Mass for their Church
Parade. For further information please contact Francesca O'Neill
(Brown Owl) on (01253) 353180.