Ecclesiastical and Local information

BISHOPS' ENGAGEMENTS
Birmingham Mgr. Williams, Archbishop of Birmingham. who was reported to be seriously ill, is now progressing favourably, and it is not thought that a major operation will be necessary.
Southwark
For Archbishop Amiga, Bishop of Southwark Sunday, March 3. 6 p.m. Visitation and Confirmation at Our Lady's, Peckham. Tuesday, March 5. 6.30' p.m. Visitation and Confirmation at Walton. Ash Wednesday, March 6,
10 a.m In the Pro-Cathedral blesses and distributes the ashes Assists at Mass. Thursday, March 7. 3.30. Visitation and Confirmation at Billingsburst.
Clifton
For Mgr. Lee, Bishop of Clifton: Sunday. March 3. Confirmation at St. Bonaventurc's. Bristol, in the afternoon.
Nottingham
For Mgr Ellis. Bishop of Nottingham: Sunday, March 3. Visitation and Confirmation, St Mary's, Loughborough, Leicestersbire Friday, March 8. Visits German prisoner-of-war camps in the diocese.
PRIESTS' APPOINTMENTS
Westminster
The Pope has appointed the Very Rev, Canon George D. Smith, D.D.. Ph.D.. honorary canon of Westminster and professor of Dogmatic Theology at St. Edmund's College, Warm to the vacancy in the Metropolitan Chapter of Westminster, caused by the death of the late Mgr. Canon Arthur Jackman, D.D.
Southwark The following appointments in the diocese of Southwark are officially announced: The Rev. M. Moriarty, rector of Corpus Christi, Tonbridge, has been wanted sick leave and is succeeded by the Rev. E. Wake; the Rev. P. McPatin has been appointed parish priest of Mellor Street, Bermondsey ; the Rev. C. Ward, rector of St. Lawrence's, Edenbridge; the Rev T. McCarthy, additional assistant priest at Our Lady of Ransom. Eastbourne.
Portsmouth
The following appointments in the diocese of Portsmouth are officially announced : New Canons—the Rev. I. Conolly. Wokingham; the Rev. B. Morris. Aldershot; the Rev. A. Lion, Ryde, I.O.W.
Plymouth The following appointments in the diocese of Plymouth are officially announced: Owing to the recent grave illness of the Vicar-General of the diocese of Plymouth, Mgr. C. F. Mahoney, the Bishop has decided to appoint the Right Rev. Mgr. J. M. Ryan as an extra Vicar-General.
The Rev. A. O'Keeffe to be parish priest of Sherborne. Dorset; the Rev. J. Hug has become chaplain to the Convent of Les Filles de la Croix, Penryn, Cornwall; the Rev. F. Raiment, ex-Army chaplain, has been appointed En Lanherne, Cornwall ; the Rev. M. G. White has become chaplain to the Oratory Preparatory School at 13ranksome : the Rev. V. Robertson has become curate at St. Joseph's, Branksome : and the Rev. Thomas adilleriek has heen appointed curate at the church of the Holy Ghost, Exmouth, Devon.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Travelling Mission
The centres to be visited this weekend by the Southwark Travelling Mission are Ide Hill, parish of Sevenoaks, Kent. Mass will be said at the Wheatsheaf Inn on Sunday. March 3, at 9.15. Mass will also be said at Holly Cottage, Knockholt, at 8. Horan% parish of Eastbourne, Sussex. Mass will be said at " Hotly Croft," Little London Road. on Sunday at 8.30.
Nurses' Guild
The Westminster branch of the Catholic Nurses' Guild are holding a half-day Lenten Retreat at Virgo Fidelit Convent, 189, Old Brompton Road, S.W.5, on Sunday, March 3, conducted by Fr. Devas, S.J. The retreat will open at 2.45 p.m.
Birmingham Ramblers The next ramble of the Birmingham Catholic Rambling Club will take place
on Saturday, March 9, and will be to Weatheroak, Leader, Miss Kath Meet 2.15 p.m. Navigation Street for Cotteridge tram.
Catholic Europe
The next Novena in the Crusade for a Catholic Europe will begin on Tuesday. March 5. Further particulars and leaflets to be obtained from the secretary, St. Kevin's, Jane's Lane, Burgess Hill, Sussex,
The Sword of the Spirit
A Shrove-tide party will be held on Tuesday; March 5, in the Jesuit Hall, at 114. Mount Street, from 6.30-9.30 p.m., for members and friends of the Sword of the Spirit. One of the chief amusements will be a Brains Trust with Fr. Heves, S.J., as questionsmaster. Miss Pamela Frankau, Mr. A. C. F. Bealee and Fr. John Murray are among those on the Brains Trust,
SOCIETIES C.Y.M.S., Westminster The annual general meeting of the Westminster Archdiocesan Council of the C.Y.M.S. met in 1946 with a feeling that the war years had wrought considerable havoc with its organisation, but that at the same time the future held for the (:.Y.M.S. opportunities which if taken bold of firmly can mean that the society call become a real force in the Catholic life of the south of England. It was with these and similar thoughts in mind the delegates elected the following officers: President, Bro. J. McConoloque; vier:president, Br. E. McGuire; treasurer, Bro. J. Connolly; National Executive
Delegate, Bro. Suilavan; Deputy National Executive Delegate. Bro. W Konyc; secretary, Bro. .1. C. McBride, 6, Woodside Close, Wembley.
R.I.P.
THE REV. R. H. KERR The death is announced of the Rev. Robert Henry Kerr, parish priest of St. Cuthbcrts, Wigton, for over 40 years.
Fr. Kerr, who was 87, went to Wigton in 1906 from Biddleston, Rothbury, whore he had been a private chaplain. Well read and extensively travelled, he was a keen naturalist, specialising in the study of birds. The
funeral took place at St. Cuthbert's, Wigton. on Friday, February 22, where Requiem Mass was celebrated previous to the interment at St. Mary's, Ilexham.
THE REV. MARTIN FALKNER
Founder or the parish of St. Hugh of Lincoln, Manchester, the Rev. Martin Falkner, died in a Manchester nursing home on Saturday, February 23. Fr. Falkner was forty-nine years of age, a native of ivlullingar, ordained in St. John's Cathedral, Kilkenny, in June, 1920. Immediately after his. ordination he was appointed to Salford Diocese and took up duties as a curate in St. Anne's, Salford.
In -1936 he was called to found St. Hugh's parish. Two years later the building of the church was commenced and eight months later it was completed. He announced last year that all the parish debts had been cleared. Early in the was years, because he could not get a grant for a school in the parish. Fr. Falkner opened a private school which maintained over 100 pupils on parish funds.
Last month he accompanied a deputation to the Ministry of Education and secured permission to build a permanem school. Mgr. Marshall, Bishop of Salford, presided at the Requiem Mass celebrated on Wednesday prior to the funeral at Wardley Cemetery.
THE REV. JEREMIAH CROWLEY The Rev. Jeremiah Crowley, curate of Our Lady and All Saints, Otley (Yorks), and formerly of Heckmondwike, who died in a Leeds Nursing Home on February 20, aged 33, was a native of Co. Kerry, studied for the priesthood at Mount Mellary and St. Joseph's Seminary, Leeds and was ordained at Leeds Cathedra! in 1938.
The Bishop of Leeds presided at the Solemn Requiem Mass at Otley on Friday and Mgr. Canon J. Dinn, D.D., former rector of the Seminary, preached the panegyric. More than a hundred priests of the diocese attended the Requiem.
MR. G. SHERWOOD
St. Paul's Church, Haywaids Heath, Sussex, has suffered a big loss in the death of Mr. George Sherwood, due to an accident. For 20 years a most zealous helper, he was leader of the choir, on the council of the Guild of Om Blessed Sacrament, chairman of the entertainments committee, stezetary of the C.P.E.A., and also secretary of the local branch of the British Legion.