The Messenger

St Josephs & St Nicholas, Moorends

Down Memory Lane

BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PUT YOUR GLASSES
Back in the 1960’s, when Bella McDonald was the house-keeper, a Priest came to the house for one week in order to let. Father Zyerveld take a well earned rest. On his arrival he was introduced to Bella and they sat and talked for a while. At the time I was the gardener & decorator and I was introduced to him. Also we took him over to the Church so that he would know where everything was. I was present at that Mass and I thought how unsteady he was, in fact I thought he could be ill. When he went back to the house he told Bella how bad his vision was and how he had struggled to complete the Mass. Bella started laughing. He said he didn’t think it was a matter to laugh about. While he had been in Church Bella had started preparing a meal for him and she was having the same trouble as Father had in Church. When she looked more closely at her glasses she realised that the frames were the same and also the same colour as Fathers. Then she remembered that whilst they were sat talking they had put their glasses on the table. By the time Bella had realised what had happened the Mass was well on it’s way and she could not do anything about it. Father joined in the laughter but I noticed he never put his glasses down again after that.

Cyril A Marsh

A Glimpse into the Parish Archives

Since our Parish Priest, Father Quigley, retired from St Josephs it has been my job to keep the parish records up to date —i.e. Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms and Confirmations.

Looking back the first recorded Confirmation is — Confirmation at Stainforth. 19th August 1934, Right Rev Dr Cowgill, Bishop of Leeds. There were eighty confirmed on that date, men, women, boys and girls. Names that spring out of the pages — Verhees, (five of them), John and Mary O’Neill, Veronica Parkinson, Kempen (three), Balfour (two) Ann and Winnie, Carlins (four), Corrigan (one), Clews (four), Gavin (one), George (three), the Ice Cream family John Tony Frances, McKeon (two), Ruanes (six) Patrick-Chas-Margaret-Rose-Mary-Peter, Smith (four) Sid-May-Joe-Cecelia, Sellars (two) Agnes and Joan, Malley (two) Tom and Mary.

The next record is 1939 at Moorends only 5 years later, and there are sixty five confirmed, the Parish Priest was Father Smith. After that we move to 24th May 1949— Bishop Poskitt of Leeds. Nothing was recorded for those 10 years, but in those days there was only one sponsor for men and boys, a Jeremiah Supple and Mrs Gavan for women and girls. 1949 shows forty men and boys, fifty five women and girls, Brickley (four), Deacey (three girls) Kath Maureen Lena, Duffy (two girls) Joan and Doreen, Ellis (two), Hamilton (three), Spence (two), Round (three), Verhees’(another three), after the five of them in 1934, Tolley (two) Pauline and Rosaline. Then we move on 4 years to 25th June 1953 with Bishop Heenan of Leeds. Sponsors again were Jeremiah Supple for men and boys, Mrs Gavan for women and girls, twenty men and boys, thirty six women and girls. Next comes March 9th 1958 Bishop Dwyer of Leeds. This is only another five years, yet still there were forty women and girls, thirty four men and boys.

As I read the records I wonder where these parishioners have all gone. Then I look at the records for funerals, 1960 five deaths, 1961 six, 1962 ten, 1964 eight, 1968 ten, 1975 eight, 1978 twelve. Fifty nine deaths in eighteen years recorded, so few against the numbers confirmed, it shows a vast number of Catholics have fallen away from the Church, but that is enough of funerals. This year we have 9 children confirmed. Reading the names for confirmation over the years I find a lot of these were converts, marrying either a Catholic boy, or girl, but there must have already been a large number of Catholics in Thorne and Moorends, I hope you enjoy reading my little bit of the past.

Denis Woodward

Welcome to Father Pannell

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Father Roy Pannell. We hope that his stay in our parish will be a long and happy one.

Bazaar

Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make the Bazaar such an overwhelming success. Also a big thank you to everyone who gave their support on the day. As a result of your efforts the grand sum of £1,030 was raised!