Catholic Herald Correspondent
THE weekly draw tickets in St. Agnes's parish, Huyton, Liverpool, have taken on a new importance and are now in greater demand than ever. The reason is that the parish priest, Fr. John Gavin, has decided to give two trading stamps with each ticket sold. The result so far has been most effective.
Fr. Gavin, whose new church design was published exclusively in the CATHOLIC HERAt.n two weeks ago. needs f300 a week to meet his total commitments. With the spread of planned giving there has been a marked decline in the patronage of parish pools and weekly lotteries. This innovation may well As designed by Charles Hansom. See St. John's, Bath.
bring about a much-needed revival in this sphere of fund raising. In St. Agnes's parish there are 6.000 one-shilling tickets available weekly carrying a prize value of £364. There are also 12,000 trading stamps,
Says Fr. Gavin: "I see nothing morally wrong with the Church giving vouchers. They are only a sales gimmick, and these days you don't get anywhere without a gimmick." The parishioners are immensely pleased with the scheme. So is the parish priest. who secs some prospect of paying his £150,000 debt.
Holidays
Meanwhile at nearby Speke the pupils of All Hallows Secondary Modern School have found another use for trading stamps. They are bringing them to school to help meet the cost of a holiday in Switzerland next Easter. The idea is to convert them into as many gifts as possible and sell them to swell the camp fund.
St. John's, Bath
THIS year which saw the 160th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Hansom also sees the centenary of St. John's church, Bath, designed by his brother Charles. The two brothers worked together on many of their architectural enterprises of which St. John's is probably the most outstanding. Built by the Benedictines of Downside it was served by them until shortly after the first World War when it was taken over by the bishop.
Celebrations will take place at St. John's next spring when the Bishop of Clifton is back from the Council. The picture above is Charles Hansoms original drawing for the church—a picture which might well be a photo of the church as it looks today. It was severely damaged in the Blitz, but has since been restored in its original form.
Portsmouth plea THERE is an urgent need for priests in the Portsmouth Diocese, said Archbishop King, Bishop of Portsmouth, in a letter read on Sunday in churches throughout his diocese. The Archbishop asked older boys and young men to "think seriously about a vocation to the priesthood".
In September, eleven students entered major seminaries, and thirty-three students in all were
now completing their studies. In addition, six young men began their preliminary studies at Campion House, Osteriey. Four priests in all have been ordained for the diocese this year.
Salford leap
THREE new churches, together with considerable extensions and renovations to existing churches, were listed by Bishop Beck, of Salford, in a letter read on Sunday in churches of his Diocese.
Bishop Beck stressed that the material development of a diocese or parish is Important because "the holiness of the church expresses itself in the great act of worship of Almighty God, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass".
He asked all churches to contribute generously to the Poor and New Parishes Fund, through which new parishes are helped to meet "the heavy expenditure which they are bound to incur".
Finchley founder
THE founder and former headmaster of Finchley Grammar School, London, was the guest of honour when the annual prizegiving was held last week in the presence of the school, parents, and the Deputy Mayor of Finchley, Councillor L. Sattin and Mrs. Sattin.
The present headmaster Fr, A. C. Groves, reported that in the past year three boys have gained Catholic Herald Reporter
THE oldest member of St. Joseph's Missionary Society, Mill Hill, Brother Bernard van
Berkel today (Friday) celebrates the 70th anniversary of his profession as a Laybrother. He was born in 1868 in Holland — one of a family of 23 — two years after St. Joseph's was founded.
He went to Mill Hill in 1890 and completed his training at Liverpool taking his perpetual oath in 1893. Shortly afterwards he was appointed to a mission in Borneo but his journey to the Far East stopped short at Mill Hill where his duties on the farm, in the garden and about the college caused his journey to be post admission to Oxford, and four to Cambridge. One State Scholarship was won and two Open Exhibitions. Four other students have proceeded to Universities. B. A. Garvic won the Kent County Open Championships gold medal in the Windsor round.
Eight left
ONLY eight scats remain to be filled on the All Night Vigil plane flying to Rome on Friday November 29 (returning Monday December 2), the last weekend of the Council session. Vigil will be held in the Russian College. Incl. fare £28. Applications should be sent urgently to Hon. Sec., 3 Oakhill Road, Putney, London S.W.15.
Strawberry Hill
Bishop Beek, chairman of governors, will officiate at the solemn blessing and opening of the new chapel for St. Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, on December 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception. After the blessing, the Bishop will celebrate Pontifical High Mass, A dinner in the new dining room will be attended by the governing body and the architect of the new chapel, Sir Albert Richardson.
Archbishop Heenan of Westminster will preside at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Our Lady of Lourdes to be held in Westminster Cathedral Hall at 7.30 p.m. on December 13,
poncd and kept him busy for 70 years! Although at 95 he declares himself to be "Al at Lloyds" it seems unlikely that his ambition to go to the missions will he fulfilled.
During his 70 years he has seen more than 1.000 members of the Society of many generations complete their training and go off on their life's work.
But even in retirement he does not rest. At least two or three beautifully made rosaries flow every day from the well worn pliers wielded by his agile fingers. The Rosaries have gone in their hundreds to mission countries, and the sale of rosaries to visitors to the College has enabled Brother Bernard to send funds to the missions.