Saint Stephen's Blog
The Assumption of Our Lady as a dogma of faith was formally defined by Pope Pius XII with the Apostolic Constitution, Munificentissimus Deus on 1 November 1950. The essential passage was:
We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.
Our amazing Mum, who was also a sister, aunt, grandma, great grandma and to so many, a friend, who knew her simply as, Ludi. Continue reading “Tribute to Ludovina DeMello”
On the evening of Thursday 8 September, St Stephen’s hosted a special Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate Bishop Pat Lynch having been ordained a priest 50 years ago. The news had just come through of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II as people began to gather in the church, so the Mass naturally included special prayers for her.
“Padre!” implored one of our local tramps as I made my way into the papal basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls, which is just over the road from the Beda seminary, for my ordination. I felt ashamed as I had no coins to give as I hadn’t put any in my cassock pockets – I hadn’t thought I was going to need any money. Dressed like that it was natural that he took me for a priest, but I reflected, “Why, I’m not even a deacon, yet.” A second thought came almost instantly: the yet would be redundant in a couple of hours. The habit doesn’t make a monk or the collar a cleric, but they are a sign to the world of an inner change and a symbol of dedication. I was going to have to get used to being on display.
St Stephen’s parish is proud to congratulate Fr Joseph Gulliford who was ordained by Archbishop John Wilson at St George’s Cathedral on Saturday 16 July, along with two other men who had been studying for the priesthood with him. Joseph grew up in the parish and attended St Stephen’s Primary School along with his brother and sister. His parents, Gillian and Charlie, are still parishioners. Those from the parish who were able to attend the magnificent ceremony found it a very moving occasion; in most cases it was the first ordination we had attended, and a very special experience to queue up for a blessing from such a newly ordained priest.
