The second Howard McBrien Walk took place in September, again led by Inga. Starting from The Flower Pot Inn, the walkers enjoyed a circular route which in part passed along the River Thames.
Past GB National President Gerry McCormack and wife Anna joined those walking.
Others later joined for an outside BBQ lunch at The Flower Pot .
Following the July dinner, President Jacek gave a presentation, illustrating his carpentry work at both Ealing Abbey and at Westminster Cathedral and his devotion to Mary.
The icon known as Our Lady of Częstochowa or the Black Madonna is not only a significant religious icon but a national symbol for Poland of its nation and culture. The Black Madonna is said to have miraculously saved the monastery of Jasna Góra from the Swedish invasion in 1655.
Ealing Abbey had to be extensively renovated after World War II. As there was a large presence of Poles in the London Borough of Ealing, a wooden chapel featuring a copy of the original icon was erected in the Abbey.
The original chapel was destroyed in the 1990’s as thieves tried to steal the votive offerings. Jacek’s friend Marek, a Polish Knight of Malta, was alerted and approach Jacek asking to use his carpentry skills to create a modern version of the chapel. Marek had already commissioned the new painting
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Before the English Reformation, the major Marian site of devotion in England was at Walsingham. The original shrine was destroyed in 1538 during the Reformation under King Henry VIII. The historic statue of Our Lady was seized and taken to London to be burned.
Following the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales the ruined Slipper Chapel was restored in 1850. In 1922 a new Anglican vicar of Walsingham, Father Alfred Hope Patten, commissioned and enshrined a new, specially carved statue of Our Lady of Walsingham.
In 1954, Cardinal Griffin commissioned a new hand carved wooden copy of the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham to be placed in a position of honour in the Westminster Cathedral. The statue did not remain static, and extensive use resulted in widespread damage. Consequently, the statue was placed in the Westminster Cathedral Crypt out of public view.
Jacek’s friend Marek, who had already commissioned a replacement lily for the statue, alerted him of the situation and a new project began. The statue was fully restored and a new pedestal, based on a pre-reformation marble altar now in a church in Chipping Norton, was designed by Jacek. The Polish Knights of Malta commissioned an oak copy of the original.
In 2016, the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham was formally placed and enthroned in its permanent, prominent position in Westminster Cathedral’s Chapel of St George and the English Martyrs.
Catenians and wives from Circles across Province 8 joined Provincial President Martin Robins and Caroline in Wokingham to celebrate Provincial President’s Sunday. A group of 8 from Maidenhead Circle attended.
Following Mass at Corpus Christi Church in Wokingham. lunch was enjoyed at Sand Martin’s Golf Club.
Following dinner, Provincial President Martin presented the Derrick Gallagher Memorial Trophy to the circle recording the highest net increase in new members. The winning circle this year was his own Circle of Wokingham. Derrick Gallagher was not only a former Provincial President but was a member of Maidenhead Circle.
For more on the Provincial President, see https://www.thamesvalleycatenians.org.uk/about-us/meet-the-president?
President’s Sunday started with Catenians and wives joining parishioners for Mass at St Edmund Campion’s Church in Maidenhead. At the end of Mass, Eddie gave a short presentation on the Catenians, referring to this website to see more about us.He noted that we would welcome new members.
President Jacek and Basia laid on a delectable range of dishes , many Polish for lunch.
The garden trees provided welcome shelter from a very warm summer as all enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in Cookham.
Organised and led by Inga, the Inaugural Howard McBrien Walk took place on a warm sunny day. Starting off from the Dew Drop Inn near Hurley, the walkers (and dog companions) made a circular route via the grounds of the Berkshire College of Agriculture in Burchetts Green, before returning to the Dew Drop Inn for a well deserved lunch where others joined them.
Summer is the time for an outdoor performance of Shakespeare but being England, one never knows what the weather will be like. After several days of heavy rain, including on the performance day, we had to forego the opportunity for an outdoor picnic beforehand. The rain had however stopped before the performance and we were able first to enjoy a pre-show drink under canvas, entertained by The Bards of Arden , who also featured prominently in the performance.
The venue was Hall Barn, Beaconsfield and the play was As You Like It, performed by the Chiltern Shakespeare Company (CSC) and Fourways Theatre Company. It was the 40th anniversary of a Shakespeare production by CSC, with their first also being As You Like It.
Did we like it ? Yes, we did.
