St Albans RC Church Redcar
Union of Catholic Mothers
Wilf Mannion
St Abans In The Past
We Were There In 1982
Lets Have A Debate
Norman Evans MBE
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Crusade
The Cupid Cleric
First Communion 2004-2005
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Your Joking
New Beginnings
The Queen Arrives
A Meaning to Life
1933
The Cross-1900
For the Older Perso.
What's Your Hobby
AJourney of a Lifetime
Rowing the Atlantic
St Albans School
Sacred Heart and St Benedict- New Schools
Confirmation 2005
A Tale or Two to Tell
Redcar Cemetery
New Housing Estate
Sacred Heart School
Local Heroes
Out and About
Where does your Street Name come from?
Bishop Terry
My Old Banger
Post Cards
New Hospital
Do You Remember When?----
Human Fertililisation and Embryoligy Bill
A Dream Come True
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Disappearing Youth
John is sixteen,studying for O levels at a Catholic Comprehensive. He is six foot tall weighing fourteen stone with muscles in all the right places and having to shave each day.At school he wears the compulsive uniform.How does he unwind?. He wears the sloppiest tee-shirt and jeans with holes in them and trainers.More worrying,he 'hangs out' with his friends, buys tinnies from the off licence and maybe a bottle of Cider and either drink them in the street, or at a mates house during a sleep over. If this is on a Saturday,chances are he won't be at Mass on Sunday.Unfortunately, this is the norm, rather than the exception and as time goes on, John will come to the conclusion that this is normal and it becomes a habit.All thought of attending Church, at any time is passed over by late drunken nights, a Kebab in the town after the nightclub and a lie in to sleep it off. Does this sound familiar?.When questioned,he will say Mass is boring and he only went because you, as a family insisted. He only went because Clare, who he liked very much, was there but she has gone to Uni now, so there is no point. So how do we keep our young people interested in Mass.I remember telling a young girl off for swearing in Church, when she was relating to another girl, how she got drunk (or words to that effect) the night before, I couldn't believe my ears,why was I so shocked and dismayed at her obvious irreverence.Looking back, to when we were their age, most were working, earning our own money ,albeit not much but we would sneak into pubs,it's all part of growing up,plus we were working with people older than us, so they were an influence. We also had evening Mass then on Sundays.Is the Mass as we know it boring?, could we not go some way to attract the young people back?.Are the Hymns old fashioned, could we not liven them up?, could we use a synthesizer instead of an organ.
I remember being invited to a Pentecostal Church were a good friend of mine was Pastor. It was a special occasion, as a Canadian Evangelist was to preach. As I walked in, because I was a guest, I was shown to the front next to my friend.As the service started, the Canadian welcomed everyone and announced the first Hymn. When the music started, everyone started to clap and dance around,praising the Lord.I must admit I was embarrassed, to say the least but in no time I was joining in, such was their enthusiasm. The tune was lively and it told the same message. Sir Cliff Richard, had a single out a few year ago, called the Lords Prayer and it was a modern, up beat version of the traditional prayer. Is this what they want, or do we come back to the same argument, that probably goes on in most households with teenagers, that is, they complain they were forced to go to church, when they were young, they did not have a choice, now they have.What do you think. Let me know,it's your website, visit the Guest Book or E-Mail me |
Weddings
In recent time I have had the good fortune to be asked to Video Weddings. The most inportant aspect of capturing this special occasion is to be present at the rehearsal.Everyone knows their place including the camera man(away from the organ).Unfortunately the guests never see the exchange of rings which is a very important part of the proceedings.Many guests would be delighted if the Bride and Groom either faced the guests, or stood side by side when taking their vows. Is there any reason in our Church why this cannot be done. Does the Church see marriage vows as the couple pledging themselves facing the Tabanacle.What do you think?Let me know. |
Have Attitudes Changed
After forty years in Industry, you would think I and fellow Catholics, would be used to the ridicule, that comes our way.This comes from many sources and surprisingly, it comes from people who were Baptised as Catholics.So what have they got to say-
The vast majority insist, that amongst the Nuns that taught them in the 40's 50's and 60's, there were a few and most know who they were,who were sadistic and nasty when it came to discipline.So was this true?I have experience, of this type of thing and looking back I often wonder, whether the Nuns, had a true vocation or whether it was expected of them back in Ireland where most came from. On one occasion one Nun, asked the children to bring in flowers to decorate Our Lady's statue, coming up to Her feast day.Some families, were well to do and some didn't know where the next meal was coming from.One little girl took in a large bunch of flowers and was praised by the Nun, another brought in a bunch of buttercups and daisies and had them thrown back at her in disgust.Needless to say the mother of the second child flew into a rage, when she was told and vowed never to send anything to the school again.
That little story, unfortunately was common and it drove thousands away from the Church, when they grew up.
Some religions, spend hours pouring over the teachings, of the Catholic religion and ridiculing what is taught.So how do we deal with this?.Turn the other cheak, or know how to respond.When the media and newspapers, highlights a Priests misdomeaners, this is fodder for these people and we need to know how to react.
A friend, who was a Deacon in his Church said they did not believe in the Transubstansiation and I as a Catholic adult, had no idea what he was talking about, I had never heard the expression before, but he had.So what do you think?, have we turned the corner, with new rules on disipline in the schools.Can we convince ex Catholics, or children of ex Catholics that Catholics schools, don't only teach religion as they have been brought up to believe. Can we point out, that Catholic schools, have above average passes in academic achievment.We have heard all the derogative stories many times before, so now is the time to move on and welcome new members who see us as we are.What do you think?. Let me know , visit the guest book. |
Something New
I attended a funeral of a colleague recently at our local Crematorium and the proceedings were conducted by a member of the Humanist group.This means all the religious trappings are left behind and an atheist view is put forward.It was conducted in a very respectful manner by a very good speaker, who told the life story of the deceased and invited the mourners, to spend a while in silent thoughts of prayer, or reflection to the background of soothing music.
Our way of life is tied, which ever way you look at it by religion.As an example the speaker quoted from a popular song of the sixties-
There is a reason, Turn Turn Turn.
In the song, are the words 'under Heaven', which this person omitted.
The proceedings were also conducted, in the Chapel of a Saint.This was thought provoking but left me feeling, that something was missing, maybe because it was the first.It reminded me very much like a Register Office Wedding.What do you think? Let me know use the guest book |
The BBC
Recently the BBC broadcast a documentary drama called Jerry Springer -The Opera and 64.000 viewers complained, about the gross blasphemy and obscenities contained in this film depicting Jesus Christ in the most deprived manner.They also abused the stature of Our Lady in the most discusting way.
The people who complained contribute over £650,0000 each year to have this filth transmitted into their homes.
The Director General is none other than Michael Grade who, when in charge of Channel 4 it had the title of being the 'Porn Channel'
I am very surprised the Church don't complain vigorously to the BBC, when this type of programme is being broadcast.
On the BBC's website, is a printable text outlining the reasons this was shown.Of five unelected members of the complaints committee quango, only one, voted against it's showing and they decided that Michael Grade should have the final say.He decided for, in THE INTEREST OF ART.The text states there were as many as 205 obscene expletives and sexual references involving Our Saviour and His Mother, in the show.
Many complaints stated that, in the multicultural climate, the British people reluctantly find themselves in, the BBC would have the full weight of the British Law, on discrimination, bearing down on them, for insulting other Religions and stirring up unrest.
In my view the atheists and agnostics must be rubbing their hands in glee and it begs the question,what moral standards do the people who run the BBC and the complaints committee uphold?.It seems to me, that billions of pounds are being spent at the BBC and with some exceptions, we are being offered rubbish, in return.Let me know your views.
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A Forgotten Enemy
People over the last couple of weeks, have been sweltering in a heatwave,some say they love it,others say they can't stand the humidity but that is typically English.The clouds gather menacingly and people rush for cover, fearing a downpour, together with thunder and lightning.
Then the heavens open and people say they have never seen anything like it before.The drains can't cope and the water is flowing down the streets, at a tremendous rate.Then all is calm but one creature is disturbed in all the melee, THE SEWER RAT.You first spot it meandering across your beautifully manicured lawns.The first thing you do, is scream and the rest of the family rush to the window, to find out what all the fuss is about.You shout to your husband, for him to tackle it with the nearest shovel, he can lay his hands on, then you dive for the phone."Hello Environmental Health please". " Yes what can we do for you"?."Rat catcher please"."Sorry we don't employ a rodent control officer anymore"."What you need to do is go to to a High St hardware store and purchase a commercial product they sell containing Warfarin,see ours is too strong and not recommended for residential properties after only seeing one rat"."If there is evidence of an infestation and you live in a Council property we may be able to help but if you are a private owner occupier then we make a charge."Please don't hesitate in contacting us, if we can be of any help, in the future.Enough said |
The Ill's of Society
Having just watched 'Panorama'on ASBO's,it got me really thinking as to why this is happening.Anti Social Behavior is nothing new but it has taken on a much more sinister aspect.So who is to blame, answers are very complex but all members of society must stand up and be counted.
The Licensing Authority.
Not so long ago, Pubs, Clubs and Off License's, were the only people allowed under the Law to sell intoxicating drinks.Then the big Supermarkets pressured the Authority for them to sell alcohol and threatened to pull out of developments costing millions of pounds,in Tax Payers money,if they did not get their way.So now we have the situation where Supermarkets are crammed to the gills with alcohol,made up of very cheap strong Beers,Lagers and Spirits.Wines now have a very strong alcohol content and sell for as little as £2.99.Some if not all will find it's way onto the streets for youngsters to drink.Have the Authority got the bottle to address this problem (sorry about the pun)or are the Supermarkets too big and by adopting a bullying approach can get away with saturating our Towns and City's with tons of booze.
The Parents
I should say Parent because in the 'Panorama' programme only one man was interviewed about his son and he had just come out of Prison,so it would appear,there is no male influence and a total lack of discipline, of any kind.The moral seems to be,to do what ever you want,as long as you don't get caught you have a strapping fifteen year old with a timid mother,with no father around, then this spells trouble.
Th Police.
Whatever people say, the Police don't seem to get it right and are directed to do what they have been trained to do which looking at this programme was the wrong tactics altogether.The time has come, as was blatantly obvious in the programme for everyone who is in Authority,to study this footage and comment on where the young Police Woman was wrong in her dealings with drunken discusting women.First and foremost they must establish their authority on the situation,otherwise the are open to ridicule and not carrying out the job as most law abiding people want them to.The most important thing as far as the vast majority are concerned is to be on FOOT PATROL,not riding around in flashy souped up cars with the familiar logo.People do not want to see Police cars flying at break neck speed from one trouble spot to another.This totally defeats the object of good Policing.This is what the public want but it seems always to fall on deaf ears,as if the Police know best.The new licensing Laws will make the situation ten times worse.Years ago,all pubs would have their doors locked at 11.30pm, or lose their license and people would be off the streets and in their own homes.Now the Towns and Cities are still teaming with people at 4.00am.It is common knowledge that the people who agree to these opening hours and their consequences,don't live anywhere near the scene, so can have a detached view which errs on the side of big business.How much influence does the business groups have in lobbying?.Food for thought.
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Another Christmas With Lousy TV
The mind once again boggles at the programmes offered to the general public over the Christmas period.What value are we getting for the vast amount the BBC receives in the licence fee? My answer is we are being conned in such a way it is nothing short of a national scandal.They are funding channels such as BBC3 which if you read the programmes are catering for the MINORITY with such rubbish as 'Little Britain'where the writers have admitted they have run out of scripts that cater for good taste and would have to stoop so low that they would be in danger of offending joe public.
Why did the programme planners see fit to commission the 'Two Ronnies' with such a dated routine that has to be said wasn't funny,then to repeat the same programme two days later.We have slipped into a rut where agents of so called 'CELEBRITIES'must be laughing all the way to the bank at the stupidity of so called programme planners to allow all and sundry to try their hand at singing, kneading doe or just generally making a fool of themselves and been payed a fortune of our money.Things have got to change and quickly and the programme planners must be told in no uncertain terms that programmes commissioned must have an imput by the general public on a democratic footing.It would appear that the 'Lovie' element plays an enormous part in who gets on our screen and this has got to stop.
On ITV the suite retailers must of paid an absolute fortune to promote their wares, when one particular retailer was on seventeen times in one day.
They also shot themselves in the foot where the most popular programme, where a little dog steals the show,was shown before Christmas.This was the Paul O'Grady Show with Peter Kay dressed as a Christmas Tree.This would of attracted millions of viewers if it had been on Christmas Night.This is entertainment at it's best and could be adjusted to span a longer time but maybe I am being two faced with the'Lovie'element playing too big a part.What do yo think?,let me know |
Has Depravity Gone Too far
This website is meant to be informative as well as being entertaining but in the past few days the media has reported cases of such depravity it beggers belief.What is our Country coming to, to fester such obscene behavior, which in the main is drug fueled.
The West case was bad enough for everyone to bury their head in shame but the case of the two who subjected a two month old baby to horrendous violations is too much to bare.
How many times have we seen photo's in the newspapers of old ladies,someone's mother and grandma, beaten to a pulp by young lads after a drug fix?.
The case in the courts at the moment of two young girls subjected to torture, rape, murder and shootings, means we have lost the plot completely and Government must pull out all the stops, to turn this around, even bringing back the death penalty, why aren't these men named?
Hang on a minute (if you will pardon the pun)isn't the general public and the media being forty faced, when they enploy an actor, who was a convicted killer and who went on to be a national heartthrob and had the nation guessing and the newspapers speculating, as to the cause of his characters demise
In 1966 there was a hold up of a Post Office Mail train, where the gang got away with £2 million pounds of our money.The Government of the day were humiliated and embarrassed and the judge decided to make an example of these men and sentenced them to a minimum of 30 years in prison.Now with a good defence lawyer, a murderer can get off with a quarter of this sentence.We seem to be getting hardened to even the most vile crimes imaginable and we don't have an answer.What makes a person capable of inflicting such grievous injuries to a fellow human being, as for Police to discover a young lad with an ice axe buried in his head.This has got to stop.
It appears that if there is money to be made, even by reputable companies, providing they can get past red tape,will sell anything.The Internet,very violent war games on game machines,the music industry and their so called stars,the very well respected Hollywood stars, two of who'm entered politics in the USA and the scripts they accept,must have a detrimental effect on society.Families and the breakdown of so many relationships,must also play a great part.What I would hate to see is everyone becoming complacent and except this as inevitable.Let me know your views. |
What's Good for the Goose
In a recent episode of Coronation St (yes I have watched it since day one in 1960),Sinita's brother tried to persuade her to come back to the family circle, so they could raise the new born twins as their own.During an argument the brother accused her of being swayed by 'White Trash'.Isn't this a racist remark in reverse?Is that what the ethnic minority think of us or have the script writers gone 'over the top'?.Food for thought. |
Us and Them
This is a 'tongue in cheek'look at the differences between shop floor workers and Management, based on forty years experience.
Management or office workers in general have a language all their own.For example where did onvelope come from?.Other examples are-
Sods Law
The Bod over there
If you repeat what I have just told you I will deny it.
I know where your coming from but money is tight at the moment.
Me Chief,You Indian.
I want it done yesterday if you get my drift.
I would be the first person to congratulate a colleague who got promotion on merit but unfortunately the 'scratch my back'syndrome was rife and if you boozed with the 'gaffer'or were a member of a professional group your job was safe irrespective of how successful you were at the job.
Shop floor workers aren't immune to their own patter such as 'look busy'.
Has he gone yet?.
What time does the canteen open I'm starving?.
Fancy a brew?
Get that fire going I'm freezing.
What time is it?
Don't say the lifts bust and I have to walk up.
Shop Stewards always started a conversation at a meeting with 'appertaining to this Mr Chairman'.
If you worked in a very noisy environment a signal code was developed.
If you 'fancied a brew' you would catch the other persons eye and raise your hand to your mouth as if it were a cup and shake your hand against your mouth.
If you wanted the time you would place a hand on your breast pocket as if you were taking out a pocket watch and move your hand up and down fast.The person you were attracting would signal back by telling you it was two thirty by running his hand across his waist then raising his hand quickly past his head then holding two fingers up.You knew exactly what time it was.The quarter hour was signalled by running your arm across your chest.
Management had a habit of humiliating their colleagues to score points.I was attending a meeting with a 'so called' high flyer when his boss came into the room and in a very loud voice said "That toilet is still not working I thought I told you to get it sorted.
What are your experiences?Let me know?. |
Women in the World
I am a feminist at heart,there I have said it!!but perhaps I am being two faced when I say I don't like the idea of women Priests.All religions over the years have and still do, treat womem as being inferior.The Catholic Church has over the Centuries treated women in the most deplorable manner.If we take the ancient rule of Churching, which to my mind was a very degrading step for a Catholic woman, where she was not allowed to receive the Sacraments because she had carried a child and give birth until after a certain period had past and she went through a sought of cleansing process.This was because she was deemed as carrying original sin in a male dominated Church.It was only after Vatican 2 that women were allowed on the Sanctuary unless they were being married.Maybe it was tied to the celibacy laws but thankfully the Church has turned the corner and realised that women in the Church are a major asset.In television pictures the Muslim ands Jewish faith's never ever show women in a prominent role.
In all walks of life women have it rough although they won't always admit it.From puberty they have to thwart advances from men and when they do find a man to love they go through the process of giving birth which to my mind, because the medical profession is male dominated, the birth process has to some women, become a painful burden, they could do without.In some religions women are nothing more than chattels and judging by the number of children they have to bear they seem older than their years.What do you think?As a male would you swop places?No I thought not.
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The End of Another Season
So the Boro come to the end of another season after such optimism only to end in a position that has the fans biting their nails.The Riverside acts like a magnet for thousands of fans every fortnight during the season but in the ten years that they have been on the site the fans are still being treated with contempt by both the Club and the Council.
Many a family are uttering a sigh of releif now the season is coming to an end and dreading the applications landing on the mat to renew the season tickets for next season.Stalwarts will renew never mind the cost, then prepare to run the gauntlet of the A66 and the flooded underpass to get to the ground in all weathers.
How many times have the Council promised to develop Middlehaven.Many a fat cat has been created with nothing to show only endless acres of deralict land where for ten year a proper supervised car park could of been established instead of cars being parked up to a mile from the ground.Then the Police on mega overtime money being obnoxious when setting family down near the club.Then the pick up,park in McDonalds buy a hamburger and coffee and sit in the car and be approached two or three times by bored Police asking you your business for being there.
There will always be us and them,the well heeled and over payed players are cosseted while the money paying public who pay their wages continue to get a raw deal.Picture the scene when Boro had a good run in the cup.Queues outside, all season ticket holders, waiting up to thirteen hours only to be told at one thirty in the morning the staff were now going home and the ticket office was closed and for the suckers waiting there to come back next morning.How much of a kick in the teeth was that from a mega rich club.Give me Ali and Bernie and a couple of lagers in the comfort of my own home anytime.What do you think,let me know? |
The Law is an Ass
Question---What three Traffic Offences do the Police tend to ignore.
Answer-----Cyclists without lights,Noisy exhausts and SPEEDING.
The reason for this is because many motorists are guilty of at least one of the above and the amount of revenue generated would have motorists and poloticians up in arms.
On the A66 at Stockton a 30 mile speed limit has been in place for two year but using this road every week I still find motorists travelling at 40-45 mph through this section.
On the A74 through from Kirkleatham to to Graystones Roundabout there is a 50 mph limit but the majority of motorists ignore this so 60-70- and 80mph is not uncommon.On the other hand if you travel from the A66 up Church Lanr to Eston the whole strech is 30 mph and it is very difficult to maintain with what is an open road.Driving 12,000 miles a year I find driving standards have got worse and with the volume of traffic this can only lead to more accidents.Many a time I have been travelling on the A19, level with a slip road and a car in the overtaking lane has cut right across me to use the slip road.What do you think?e-mail gedffleming@hotmail.com.
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The Big Ripoff
You decide to invite your nearest and dearesst to a meal at a five star hotel.You book your table and find meals range from £15 to £20 JUST FOR THE MAIN MEAL but you think it is a special occasion when for that price the meals should be beautiful and succulant.How wrong can you be.The meal is advertised in a mind boggling aray of unpronounsible dictacts and covered in a sauce that completely takes the taste away from the food ordered.A round of drinks are ordered and when the bill arrives and delivered by a very smart waiter your eyes smart at the drinks bill when a pint of lager, which is not a popular brand, comes in at a mind boggling £3.47.Who are the mugs,I ask myself after loads of food is just moved around the plate and the nearby pigs will think their birthday has come.A relax in the nearby lounge after such a mouth watering meal is par for the course."Same again Sir"says the waiter hoping for a hefty backhander.Hopefully some other mug will pick up the tab.In one corner is a cabinet stuffed with cigars for the after dinner relaxation.No thanks at thirteen pound for ONE CIGAR.Where have we been for such extravegance you may ask?.Well in Cleveland such a place exists but please don't let me put you off you might enjoy the experience as long as you take out a mortgage. |
Smoking Ban
So we are now well and truly into the smoking ban in any enclosed space and as a smoker of 48 years standing I can understand the concerns of non smokers.Unfortunately the do gooders sat in little quangos have decided to go well outside the bounderies of the legislation.These pompous upstarts have decided without any backing from the Government to take the law into their own hands and set out no go areas.For example NO SMOKING IN ANY SCHOOL GROUNDS.NO SMOKING IN BUS SHELTERS.NO SMOKING IN HOSPITAL GROUNDS.I was at the Little Theatre in Middlesbrough and during the interval decided to walk outside for a smoke,quite legitimate you may think,no, a barrel chested bouncer informed everyone outside to be SIX FEET from the building.This was when it was pouring with rain.Who decides these rules and what backs them up?It won't be long before someone challenges these people and point out to them that Doctors and Teachers cars should not be driven into the car parks but must be pushed so as not to pollute the atmosphere.These people are out to dictate and unfortunately there are many who will try to push through their crackpot ideas.A local councillor once said at a council meeting that she was pushing for car parking tickets not to handed over to other individuals if their time had not run out.How crazy can one get.There are rumours abounding that council officials have warned tenants not to smoke in their own homes for thirty minutes before they visit.I was in a pub only this week and smoking was allowed in the beer garden.When I went out three quarters of the area was non smoking how daft is that.Come on smokers and non smokers let me know what you think. |
The Queen (Film)
I have been an avid reader of books for over fifty years and I can tell within the first chapter whether the author has done his homework.Sometime he or she will mix fact with fiction and the facts unfortunately don't ring true.
So this was the Queen film.The 'star' of this feted (in America) film, Helem Mirren was given a role to play that portrayed our Queen as being a surly, bad tempered, arrogant upstart, supported by an equally arrogant non person in Phillip.In not one scene in this film did we see the 'Queen' break a frosty face look.Compare this to our real life Queen who is noted for putting you at ease and has a wicked streak to her humour.Yes she has to have a certain aura when in the public eye but once inside she will kick her shoes off and order a large gin and tonic if that's her tipple.At Christmas parties she can be found dancing round the floor with her footmen and having a real good time.I am very surprised Granada, who commissioned this film allowed themselves to be drawn into this drivel.If I am not mistaken the film won Helen Mirren an oscar,most actresses could have played this role standing on their heads.So what was the purpose of this horrible film.Was it to undermine the role of the Queen in this country by wealthy backers who looked towards the American dollar and their way of life.Food for thought?Let me know what you think. |
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