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Holy Family Parish celebrated 4 great events on the 2nd
February with a special Mass on Tuesday evening. |
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Collect:
All-powerful Father, Christ your Son
became man for us and was presented
in the temple.
May he free our hearts from sin and bring
us into your presence.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen. |
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The presentation of the Lord or the
Feast of Candlemas
1957 and the
first Mass in Langley celebrated in the
newly
built Holy Family Church.
2007 was the
reopening of a completely refreshed Church,
and this year, 2010, Fr Kevin’s 60th
birthday. |
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Assisting Father Kevin at the Mass were Fr
Jude Iroh, currently assigned to Holy Family;
Fr Francis
Higgins, St Teresa’s, Beaconsfield
and Fr. Dan Kiely,
St. Bernardine's,
Buckingham. |
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Candlemas commemorates the
ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth
of her son Jesus. This day also marks the ritual
presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple
at Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was
met by Anna and Simeon. Simeon held the baby Jesus
and called him a Light to the World.
The festival is called Candlemas because this was
the day that all the Church's candles for the year
were blessed. On Candlemas night, many people place
lighted candles in their windows at home. |
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In pre-Christian times, it was the festival
of light. This ancient festival marked the
mid point of winter, half way between the
winter solstice (shortest day) and the
spring equinox.
Some people lit candles to scare away evil
spirits on the dark winter nights.
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"Be light and comfort to
everyone you meet. Like lighted
candles, burn with the love of
Christ. Spend yourselves for
him, spreading the Gospel of his
love everywhere. Through your
witness the eyes of many men and
women of our time will also be
able to see the salvation
prepared by God "in the presence
of all peoples, a light for
revelation to the Gentiles, and
for glory to your people
Israel".
~ Excerpted from HOMILY OF JOHN
PAUL II |
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People
believed that Candlemas predicted the
weather for the rest of
the winter. |
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If
Candlemas Day be
fair and bright
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings
cloud and rain,
Winter will not come again.
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Candles were also in demand way back in
1957 at opening of the newly built Holy
Family Church on Saturday, 2nd
February. As the Slough Observer
reported; about 400 people took part in
a candlelit procession to the still
non-electrified church.
And 50 years
later on Friday, 2nd.
February, 2007 the church reopened after
a massive seven month refreshment
program. |
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The construction vicar for the above project ( the
2008 one) was Father Kevin pictured wearing his
designer on-site gear and looking very - religious.
You can read more about these
past events by
browsing the history section of our archive pages.
The Mass this evening was
also in thanksgiving for Fr. Kevin reaching the ripe old age of 60 today, Tuesday,
2nd February, 2010.
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It
was a lovely, moving service and the Mass was supplemented
with beautiful readings sensitively
interpreted by the readers. |
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The music was incredible. I missed a photo cue
because I was so fascinated. Their range of
instruments blended together perfectly and their
choice of hymns and the harmonising was perfection.
Plus the ladies have voices you would die for. And
of course the maestro himself, Kieran, plucking,
strumming, conducting and singing his way through a
beautiful programme. Well done, team. |
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Fr Francis Higgins, from St Teresa’s, Beaconsfield
gave us a very humorous – but necessarily censored -
account on Father Kevin’s early life which whetted
many appetites and will generate a few invites out
to the club for a few ‘looseners’ to hear more.
17 year old Parishioner, Lauren Manning who is a
keen amateur photographer, presented Fr Kevin with a
beautiful photo album containing a collection of
pictures of himself, parishioners and church studies
she has taken over the years. |
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Roni Russell (below)
presented Fr Kevin with
flowers and a gift donated
by the parishioners.
Fr. Kevin thanked everyone
for their incredible
generosity and expressed his
appreciation to Lauren for
her very thoughtful gift.
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had been asked
to draw their
impression of Father
Kevin. |
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There was a short AV
presentation in
which Kieran showed
us a few of those
drawings.
And here is Fr
Kevin’s personal
favourite that will
probably become
obvious why it is - when you see
it. |
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At the end of Mass Fr Kevin
invited everyone to
join him in the narthex for a celebratory toast
– and as you can see –
they certainly did!! |
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FR KEVIN WRITES
Thank you, thank
you! The Mass we had on the occasion of the
anniversary of the opening and re-opening of our
church and on my big, big birthday was truly
beautiful. One parishioner summed it up completely
when he said it was a
"really happy parish
event".
I know that Kieran and Roni (and I am sure there
were others) worked hard to organise it all and I am
grateful to them. I feel thoroughly spoiled......a
big cheque, lots of messages, many cards and
presents galore.......please accept my grateful
thanks and please excuse me if I am not able to
thank you all personally.
As you know, Pope Benedict has asked that this year
be marked as the "Year for Priests". Please know
that you have given your own priest nothing but
encouragement and support.
The Pope will be very pleased with you! |
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A
Quick Burst
of Nostalgia
from Fr Kevin's
birth year : 1950 |
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1950
JUKEBOX
Go on!
Turn your Sound up.
Click on the jukebox
and then on song
23
and let's boogie
(once the music starts
you can shrink the
jukebox and carry on
surfing) |
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A
Few Events Throughout the year |
The United Kingdom recognizes the
People's Republic of China.
The Republic of China severs
diplomatic relations with Britain in
response.
In 1950, the first modern credit
card was introduced.
The first organ transplant was
performed, and the first Peanuts
cartoon strip was released.
The Korean War began, and Senator
Joseph McCarthy begins the communist
witch-hunt.
United States President Truman
ordered the construction of the
hydrogen bomb.
Queen Elizabeth 2nd came to the
throne Mount Everest was conquered
England lost against USA in a FIFA
Cup. |
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Some of those born in 1950 |
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Bill
Murray:
Popular actor
Cybill Shepherd: Actress,
model and producer from the USA
Ed Harris:
Famous actor, 1950+
Franco
Harris: Athlete, 1950+
Gabriel Byrne: Actor
Gloria Naylor:
African-American novelist, 1950+
Jay Leno: American talk show
host
Jeremy
Paxman: Presenter of
political shows, famous for asking
difficult questions
Karen Carpenter: Musician
Mark
Spitz: Successful athlete,
one of the best swimmers ever, 1950+
Nora Roberts: Author
Kevin
O'Driscoll: Canon
Peter Frampton: Famous
guitarist
Richard
Branson: One of Britain's
most successful entrepreneurs,
creator of the Virgin brand
Stevie
Wonder: R&B and soul
singer/songwriter
William Hurt: Actor |
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©Bernard Stanley 5th
February, 2010 |
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