ALL
SAINTS
News
Round-Up
July 2005
ALL
SAINTS
News
Round-Up
July 2005
ALL SAINTS NEWS
ROUND UP
With your
help, this news sheet will be a source of information giving fuller publicity
to activities in the parish. Please let us know of future programmes so that
others may join in. Everyone should be aware of what we can achieve together.
Contributions
will be welcome. Share your knowledge and experiences, or anything that is
close to your heart. Please take items for inclusion (marked News Round-Up) to
the Presbytery by 15th of the month, or e-mail Anna Burrage on aburrage@onetel.com
News from our
twin in
“We
thank from our heart for your loving service and the generous support you
rendered to us, the Holy Cross Youth. It is through your timely support we are
able to carry out some of the good works in the Parish.
As per your
request, all our brothers are happy to inform you some of the good works taking
place in our parish.
The Holy Cross
Youth adopted three old widows to provide once in three months money and rice
and sometimes on feast days. We provide meals, blankets, sarees to widows and
some of the poor. Apart from this we also
provide some
books for our poor catholic children.
Every second
week of the month we gather in the parish house and discuss about certain
problems. We are happy to inform you that
we pray
together. We also visit the sick in hospital.
The conference conveys our best wishes from the brothers to you and your family. Please continue to support us through your prayers and finance so that the conference may flourish day by day in the loving service of beloved Jesus.”
PARISH REGISTERS
CHRISTENINGS
We welcome in God’s Family:
April: Mina Darwin
June: Henry French
FUNERALS
May they rest in peace
April: Thomas Trainer
MARRIAGES
God
bless their union
July: Andrew Beattie & Lisa Peck
July: Daniel
Gillespie & Kate Williams
Dates
for Your Diary
28th
July: Pilgrimage to
29th
July: Candle Evening
10th
Sept : Bike or Hike
15th
October: Harvest Supper & Quiz
10th/11th
Dec: Xmas Pantomime
Matthews
Friends Launch
On the evening
of the 16th April – 277 people dressed in all their finery
descended on the Russ Hill Hotel in Charlwood, Nr. Gatwick to enjoy a Ball that
marked the launch of a new charity called Matthews Friends and the realisation
of a dream for Matthews Mum, Emma Williams.
Matthew was
diagnosed with uncontrolled complex epilepsy from the age of 9 months
old. He suffered tens of thousands of seizures over the years and
significant brain damage and scarring. Side effects from the cocktail of
drugs he was prescribed made him have severe behavioural difficulties and all
in all life was pretty miserable most of the time for this family struggling to
cope with it all.
In August 2002
all this changed – Emma finally got Matthew on the Ketogenic diet after 6
YEARS of trying and being fobbed off and made to feel guilty that she would be
doing her son more harm than good by even suggesting he should try this diet.
Only when there was NOTHING left to try for him did his doctor finally agree to
transfer him to another doctor within the SAME HOSPITAL that was running a
clinical trial on the Ketogenic diet. Within the first month of being on
the diet Matthews seizures had halved and his behaviour had got better.
After 6 months on the diet his seizures had decreased by over 90%, he was off 1
medication totally and was continuing to wean the others he was on.
Matthew has
now been on the diet for nearly 3 years, he has been medication free for just
over 2 years and his quality of life has been transformed as has his
families. Matthew does still have some seizures but nowhere near as many
as he used to have – overall his seizures have been reduced by about 85%
- going from approximately 20 per day to about 3-5 per week. No behavioural
difficulties and he has made nothing but progress since being on the
diet. Life in the Williams household is calm, relaxed and happy –
instead of wanting to bite and pinch, Matthew is more likely to cuddle you and
give you a big sloppy kiss. He has gone from being an aggressive and agitated
child to being a calm and affectionate child. He has suffered terrible
damage over the years and will always be classed as severely disabled and will
always need constant care from Emma BUT his quality of life is better than ever
and this truly has been a miracle for Emma and her children, Matthew and Alice.
After going
through all this, Emma could not sit back and let this happen to other families
– hence Matthews Friends is now the only registered charity in the
The 16th
April marked the charities official launch and it started in somewhat dramatic
form as Emma showed a video clip of Matthew having a full blown seizure –
although unpleasant and upsetting viewing it reminded everyone the reason why
they were all there. At the end of her presentation Emma again showed a
video clip of Matthew – only this time he was trampolining and laughing
as well as running about in the park with his sister – a true reflection
of what his life is like now – Happy.
The evening
was a tremendous success – raising just over £8,000. Their
Patron, Celebrity Chef Tony Tobin raised £1550 by auctioning his services in
somebody’s’ kitchen for the evening, although Emma has to go and
wash up for him! All the Trustees from the charity were totally
overwhelmed at how generous people were and Nick Atkinson (Emma’s Cousin
and Trustee) did a marvellous job of being MC for the night. Everyone
danced the night away to the band, Reservoir Frogs, who wanted to get involved
and offered themselves for auction and raised £1200. A good time was had
by all.
Already
the money raised is being put to good use and on the 15th July the
first Matthews Friends Conference takes place at the Russ Hill Hotel. The
day is called ‘The Ketogenic Diet – The Truth’. This day will
provide all the information that parents want to know about the diet in a
truthful and realistic way. It is also a way for parents to network and
provide support to one another.
Over the next
few weeks Emma and the Trustees will be launching an appeal to raise money to employ
Matthews Friends dieticians who will be specially trained in all aspects of the
ketogenic diet. The aim is that Matthews Friends will have dieticians
available in all areas of the country to make this diet more widely available
and to give parents a choice.
If you would
like to help Matthews Friends or would like to find out more then please
contact us:
Emma Williams
Founder/Chief Executive - Matthew's Friends
Parent Representative - KetoPAG
Tel:
0788 4054811 Matthew's Friends,
Update from Richard
Dear
all,
This is the last of Richard's round robin. On behalf
of Richard, we would like to thank you all for your sponsorship and interest over
the year which has made it all possible. Here are some extracts from his last
few letters:
My third years are being distracted by a family
of birds that have started nesting in the roof above the classroom. I can just
about continue to teach over the noise that they make, but it is a little hard
to hold the pupils attention when the birds start pooing on them! Someone
suggested building a fire and smoking them out but they decided not to after I
pointed out that this might not be such a good idea in a building constructed
entirely of wood.
Last Saturday, I went on a little day trip upriver
with Steve in a bark canoe. Bark canoes are easier and cheaper to make than
dugout canoes , but they do have the rather unfortunate characteristic of
not actually floating. the only thing keeping you above water is displacement,
so if you take on too much water then you'd better know how to swim. Needless
to say, we ran into difficulties about an hour upriver, just 50 yards from our
destination. It resulted in a lost paddle and a lost fishing rod, which sadly
meant that we never reached the intended campsite as the current was too strong
to be overcome by only one paddle. Fortunately, it was the same current that
carried us home without too many difficulties.
Then, on Sunday, after lessons in the morning, it was
time for football in the village. I came tantalisingly close to scoring with a
John Terryesque header from a corner, bur sadly there were too many bodies
between me and the goal. Then on Tuesday, there were the first of my CXC
exam (the equivalent of GCSEs) with accounts. Things didn't look too promising
at the start of the day when every single one of my pupils complained of having
fever/headache with suspected flu or worse, malaria. So instead of handing out
last minute advice, I was handing out Ibuprofen and cups of water.
Wednesday morning was the day of the debate against
another school. My team of 3 girls were almost overcome with nerves, and at one
point, they all threatened to feign sickness but I managed to give an
inspirational speech, reminiscent of Mel Gibson in Braveheart that calmed their
nerves and prepared them for battle. We lost, but the margin of defeat
was respectable.
Thursday was the English exam and because it
involved all the fifth years, and therefore required every single available
desk, there was no room for the rest of the school so we took forms one to four
to the village football pitch for sports. We also had to cook for them,
which was a serious challenge when there were over 200 pupils, e teachers, one
large cooking pt and half a ton of rice an beans. Still we managed to
produce something that was actually quite edible.
Richard should be coming home on August 23rd after
travelling round
CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME: Anyone out there to help on stage or behind scenes,
scenery, costumes sound etc. Phone Juliette Fox on 01883 713163
Reflections
for prayers
“Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart which no
unworthy thought can drag downwards; an unconquered heart which no tribulation
can wear out; an upright heart which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.
Bestow upon me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know thee, diligence to
seek thee, wisdom to find thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace
thee; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
Saint Thomas Aquinas
1.
An Indian businessman and admirer of Mother Teresa had the following five lines printed for her on small yellow cards. These she called her ‘business cards’.
“The fruit of silence is prayer
The fruit of prayer is faith
The fruit of faith is love
The fruit of love is service
The fruit of service is peace”
“Mother Teresa A Simple Path” compiled by Lucinda Vardey
2.
“The Lover was all alone, in the shade of a fair tree.
Men passed by that place, and asked him why he was alone.
And the Lover answered: I am alone, now that I have seen you
And heard you; until now, I was in the company of my Beloved.”
Ramon Lull, “The Book of the Lover and the Beloved”
Written in the vernacular for the laity and, is one of the most accessible written works of the medieval period. It had 366 short verses, one for every day of the year. The verses point to the mystic union with God through devotion.
3.
“Be consoled, you could not be seeking me if you had not found me already.”
Seventeenth century philosopher Pascal.
4.
“Between us there is but a narrow wall
and by sheer chance; for it would take
merely a call from your lips or from mine
to break it down,
and that without a sound.”
“The wall is builded of your images” RM Rilke, The Book of Hours
5.
“For it is not much knowledge that fills and satisfies the soul, but the intimate understanding and relishing of the truth.”
Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises
6.
A Walk on the Sea
“The wind blasted in my face as the storm whipped up the waves all around me into a frenzy.
‘Come! Get out of the safety of your boat and walk on the water to me!’
Faith agreed.
But the storm was very fierce and I couldn’t ignore the waves. After a few steps I sank. My friends in the boat feared while some smirked. I was as a wave of the sea. Driven and tossed by the wind. With nothing firm to set my feet on, I was unstable in all my ways. In that condition, what help could I expect?
‘Save me!’ I cried.
Unexpectedly, a hand caught me, lifted me up and set my feet on solid ground.
Now I am back in the boat. If he calls again I may have to go for another walk. The likelihood is that I will sink as before, but I am not afraid. For now I know he’ll never let me drown.”
The concluding chapter of Justyn Rees’ inspiring book “Honest Doubt Real Faith” A true story of lost faith recovered.
7.
The Presence of God
To be present is to arrive as one is and open up to the other. At this instant, as I arrive here, God is present waiting for me. God always arrives before me, desiring to connect with me even more than my most intimate friend. I take a moment to greet my loving God.
From the Irish Jesuit website www.sacredspace.ie
8.
“Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart which no unworthy thought can drag downwards; an unconquered heart which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
Saint Thomas Aquinas