See 'Supporting our Parish' for the story of one of our parishioners climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa
Parish Groups
St Catherine's School pupils, with staff and if Fr Charles Reid and Fr Edward Hill then taken between 1932 and 1938
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Penrith LIFE Group
Within St Catherine's parish we have a strong and active pro-life mission covering abortion and post abortion trauma in women but also broader concerns such as: IVF, embryo experimentation, cloning and genetics and issues around euthanasia and the care of the sick and elderly. The Penrith LIFE group was formed in 2008 as a focus for pro-life action. We meet once a month (on the third Thursday at 7.45pm in St Catherine's presbytery).
We concentrate on three main areas: caring, education and political action.
Caring One of the main reasons for joining LIFE's national organisation is that we are keen to offer positive help and support to women contemplating abortion, suffering after pregnancy loss or struggling to cope after abortion. The caring side of LIFE's work involves free, confidential information, counselling and support through a national telephone helpline, a text to talk service and local care centres. We have two local trained counsellors who will be taking part in LIFE training during 2009 along with several skilled supporters.
Education We hope to arrange LIFE talks by our regional Education Officer in QEGS and Ullswater Community College during 2009. We have hosted a talk by Dr Michael Dunlop from the Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle as part of a focus on the sick and elderly and particularly to look at ways of volunteering help. During 2009 we are taking part in Conferences in Keswick and Kendal on Human Fertilisation and Embryology organized by the Social Responsibility Form.
Political Action During 2008 we campaigned on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. We attended rallies in Glasgow and Newcastle by David Alton and Ann Winterton, wrote to our local MP, Rt Hon David Maclean and several members of the House of Lords about the Bill. We also had a talk from Dr Philip Howard about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and its implications.
LIFE is a non-denominational organization and we welcome everyone who is interested in pro-life work. Alongside the LIFE group, since 2007 we have also had a Respect for Life prayer group. We meet before the LIFE meeting:
Over the last 2 years we have also discussed the church's teaching on pro-life issues and undertaken specific prayer intentions: during 2009 from the Feast of the Annunciation in March until Christmas we are undertaking a "spiritual adoption" programme. With the formation of the LIFE group in 2008 we were keen not to lose the spiritual aspect of our work and we hope to meet as a house prayer group on a quarterly basis so that we maintain our Catholic prayer focus.
Contact: Chair Susan Steven (01768 867532)
Secretary Jane Plasom-Scott (01931 712955)
O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life. Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women who are the victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely,
in order to build, together with all people of goodwill,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God, the creator and lover of life.
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Catholic Women's League, Penrith
We were given official status by the late Bishop Flynn in Dec 1952. Currently we have 11 paid up members. We are actively involved in all aspects of parish work, PDT, flowers, readers, Eucharistic ministers, Deanery Council, church housekeeping, etc. New members very welcome. Telephone: Brenda Smith (Chairman) on 01768 862138.
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Helpers of the Holy Spirit Sisters Zambia
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit Sisters are attached to the Catholic Diocese of Monze in Southern Zambia. The sisters live in the townships and rural communities, leaving their community each day to work among the poor in schools, hospitals and rural clinics, visiting the sick, caring for the orphaned and assisting families afflicted with AIDs. They draw strength from prayer and their community life. We support the sisters by our prayer, fundraising and constant interest in their work and life.
For further information see 'Helping Others' on main menu of this site.
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Welcoming our Polish parishioners
Witamy bardzo serdecznie w parafii św. Katarzyny (St Catherine) i na naszej niedzielnej mszy św. Zapraszamy wszystkich na kawę, herbatę po każdej niedzielnej mszy o godzinie 10:30. Jest to okazja aby poznać innych parafian. W naszej parafii mamy również raz w miesiącu mszę św w języku polskim, odprawianą przez ks. Andrzeja Kolaczkowskiego w każdą trzecią niedzielę miesiąca o godzinie 12:30. Indywidualne konwersacje jezyka angielskiego beda odbywaly sie za wczesniejszym uzgodnieniem terminu z Ksiedzem Jerome pod numerem telefonu 01768 862273.
Welcome to St Catherine's, to our parish life and to Sunday Mass. Come to the refreshments we have after the Sunday 10.30am Mass to meet our parishioners. We have a Polish Mass said by Fr Andrew Kolaczkowski every third Sunday in the month at 12.30pm. If you would like to arrange individual English conversational lessons on a personal basis please contact Fr Jerome. He will put in touch with one of our parishioners for you to arrange a time at your own convenience. Contact Fr Jerome Ainsworth on 01768 862273.
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Catenians
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APF Supporting the Missions
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CRB: protecting children & vulnerable adults
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Parish Pastoral Council
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Parish Finance Team
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Children's Liturgy team
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Prayer Group
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PARISH DIARY
SUNDAYS
Any Sunday by prior arrangement, 5.00pm
'Conversational English' for migrant parishioners, on request
First Sunday of the month 3.00pm.
Prayer & Benediction.
Third Sunday in the month 12.30pm
Mass celebrated in Polish by Fr Marian Jachym of Lancaster
SATURDAYS
Every Saturday 9am to 10am
Church's Prayer then Exposition of Blessed Sacrament with Confessions
Every fourth Saturday of the month 4.00pm
Syro-Malabar Rite Mass: Fr Raphael Thottan SJ of Preston
THURSDAYS
First Thursday of month 7.45pm
One World Group: Supporting Spirit Sisters in Zambia & Fair Trade
Second Thursday of month 7.45pm
Journey in Faith : RCIA
Third Thursday of month 7.45pm
LIFE group meeting
Fourth Thursday of month 7.45pm
'Discover our Faith' using the Catholic Hand Book
FRIDAYS
Every Friday 12.30pm
Simple Exposition after Mass closed by Chaplet of Mercy at 1.00pm
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Parish Sacramental Programmes
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School PTA
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Church Music Group
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C.A.F.O.D.
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