Goodbye Middlesbrough and God Bless...

The Redemptorists after being in the John-Paul Centre and part of the John-Paul Centre for 21 years took their sad leave the other day when Bishop Terence Drainey came to celebrate a mass of Thanksgiving with the wider community. The Bishop expressed his gratitude to the Redemptorists for all they had done over the many years there and he also thanked them for what they were leaving behind. The present community, Fr Michael Henesy CSsR and Br Michael Duxbury CSsR worked deligently behind the scenes to ensure many good things were in place and would continue - for this we also thank Fr and Br Michael.

(Fr Michael Henesy CSsR at the lecturn)

 While it was certainly a sad occasion, there was joy and laughter as stories were shared and memories again brought back to life. However an event in the day certainly added sparkle to some sadness.

The event was the Presentation of the BENE MERENTI to Doreen Orton.

(Bishop Terence Drainey and Doreen Orton BM)

(Bishop Terence Drainey with Our Mother of Perpetual Succour on his shoulder)

Completely unbeknowns to Doreen, the Holy Father Pope Francis granted this Honour upon her for her years of dedication and service to the place of and the people at the John Paul Centre.

(Br Michael Duxbury CSsR with many priests and a bishop)

(Doreen Orton BM)

(Doreen Orton BM,

with Fr Michael CSsR (on the right) of the old dispensation and Fr James (on the left) of the new dispensation.

While the Redemptorists are sad that their time at the John Paul Centre has come to an end, it is with joy that we will remember our many friends and the many stories that we all have between us. Goodbye Middlesbrough and God bless!

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Below there is a copy of Bishop Drainey's homily,

2016.03.03 – Mass at the John Paul Centre

Homily:

“O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’”  Today’s response to the psalm is haunting, but what does it mean for us?   Would we really “harden” our hearts, and not listen to God?   Or is it true that not listening and not acting on what the “voice” says is what actually happens in the heat and hurry of our everyday lives?

 In today’s first reading Jeremiah says the Lord has said “Listen to my voice,” but people don’t listen.  With all the distractions from our technologies, diversions, responsibilities and escapism, we don’t have enough time or focus, to even thinks of God.  We don’t stop to praise or thank God in the good moments, and when we mutter “Lord, help me!” or “God, why me?” when bad things happen, too often we’re still not listening.  Just when we need to be open-hearted, willing to listen, our world-worn hearts are crusted over and untouchable – hard!   

In the Gospel Jesus knows people around him are not “listening to” are not understanding what it means that he can drive out demons and free a man from his disability.  He says ‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.’ What I notice is that it’s not enough to passively have faith / be baptized / call myself Christian.  We not only “are,” but we also “do.”   The faith, the baptism, the being Christian has to be active, and acted upon – and that means daily, each day, now.

St Alphonsus de Ligouri took this theme of putting the gospel into action very much to heart. Tired out by his great missionary work, he went to rest in Scala on the Amalfi coast in Italy. However, when he was approached by groups of poor shepherds who lived in that area, asking to learn about the Word of God he responded with holy zeal and total commitment. On November 9, 1732, in his beloved Scala, St. Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer to follow the example of our Saviour Jesus Christ announcing the Good News to the poor. He was 36 years old. His life became one of mission and service to the most abandoned. The Congregation was approved by Pope Benedict XIV on February 25 1749. And the rest is history, as they say. 

We, in this diocese, have benefitted greatly from the spirit and ministry of so many sons of this wonderful family, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, or as we know them, the Redemptorists. They responded to the request of the Bishop of the day and came here to work in the John Paul Centre. So much fruitful ministry, kind support offered, so many words of consolation spoken, sacraments administered. Those in need always found a helping hand and the hungry, those lacking sustenance, both physical and spiritual, never turned away. Father Provincial, what a great work your brothers have done here to the praise of almighty God, and the honour of our Blessed Mother of Perpetual Help and Succour, and how we have profited! On behalf of the Diocese, in particular the Catholic Community of Middlesbrough and beyond; thank you. I know I can offer the thanks of people of faith and no faith who have been the grateful recipients of kindness and support given by and through your brothers ministering here at the John Paul Centre. 

Here all can witness the Gospel in action; faith lived out each and every day. And the work has been so fruitful, by the grace of God and the intercession of Our Blessed Mother that you have planted even for the future. You leave behind you a great legacy; volunteers and helpers particularly for the Upper Room Project. In the last few years, in order to use the facility for the general benefit of all your brothers have established the centre as a 'Community Hub' with a group of local people with business and community experience as a management committee. This hub works in cooperation with the local authority and local ecumenical social action organisations. May the work prosper and grow to the glory of God and for the good of all. 

            
Now I return to the Gospel passage:  ‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.’ I pray that all take to heart Jesus’ words; that we listen, truly listen and hear these words spoken to our hearts. And for us all I ask that in standing with the Lord, he will give us the grace never to scatter, but always and at least today to gather with him for the building of the Kingdom, the spread of the Gospel and the good of all our brothers and sisters whose lives we touch in any way. Amen.