Wonderful news!

Being as it has been mentioned on a few blogs (Fr. Tim Finigan's and Fr. Ray Blake's) I should break the news to readers of this blog, who might not have come across the aforementioned blogs!

The (wonderful) Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate will be moving "up north" this month, actually, they should have moved already! They were, as some of you will now in the London Borough of Lewisham, in the diocese of Southwark. However, the need for an actual church became too great and they began looking around!

It was the incumbant Archbishop of Westminster in his previous position as Archbishop of Birmingham (Most Rev. Vincent Nichols) who had the insight to allow the Friars to take over a parish in the diocese of Birmingham.

I have it on good authority that the church has a beautiful interior!

Anyone who has met the Friars will understand how much of a 'big deal' it was for them.

The official opening mass will be celebrated on Sunday 9th August 2009 beginning at 4pm. The celebrant will be His Lordship the Right Rev. David McGough, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.

The address of the new mission of the Friars is;

St. Joseph’s Parish Church
Hall Street
Burslem
Stoke-on-Trent ST6 4BB

I pray that the Friars will sow many seeds in their new parish!!

Ave Maria