Prize-winning brothers, patronal Mass, Remembrance

Latest news from across the Diocese of East Anglia includes prize-winners brothers, a patronal Mass and a Remembrance service.

Altar-serving brothers Thomas and James Gigy have been presented with certificates and prizes as winners in the Knights of St Columba essay-writing competition

The brothers each won personal prizes of £82 as individual winners of the KS4 (James) and KS3 (Thomas) groups of the Provincial and National rounds of the 2019 Essay Writing competitions with James receiving a trophy and special certificate as overall winner.

The awards were presented by Provincial Grand Knight of East Anglia Province, Bro Jason Wickard assisted by Past PPG Bro Chris Brooks.

Pictured above are James Gigy (left of centre) and Thomas Gigy (right of centre), with their family, Parish Priest Rev Fr Adam Sowa MS and Bros Jason Wickard and Chris Brooks.

At the end of Mass, the brothers each presented a donation of £200 from the Knights for the benefit of the Parish of St Peter and All Souls Peterborough.

Bro Brooks announced that details of the KSC 2020 Easter Scene, Prayer and Essay Writing competitions will be circulated to schools and parishes in the Diocese for the New Year.

The patronal Mass to commemorate the feast of St Edmund took place on Sunday November 17 at St Edmund’s Church, Bury St Edmunds reports John Saunders.  Present were dignitaries from West Suffolk Council and Bury Town Council and Matthew Vernon Canon Pastor from St Edmundsbury Cathedral. 

Displayed on the altar was a relic of St Edmund (pictured right) which was kindly given to the parish by previous parish priest, Canon Mark Hackeson.  The occasion was also marked by the use of a chalice of 16th century origin that was presented last year to the church by the nephew of Fr Joe Collins who had been chaplain to the American air force during World War II. 

An extremely impactful sermon was delivered by Canon David Bagstaff, highlighting the life and martyrdom of Edmund and his enduring importance to the local community. This will particularly be remembered in 2020 which marks the 1000th anniversary since the founding of St Edmund’s Abbey, which was one of the largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in Europe. 

Mass included excellent singing by the choir of an anthem to St Edmund, which had been composed by Fr John Barnes during his time in the parish. Following the Service, members of the congregation gathered in the Crypt for the traditional St Edmund’s Day lunch.

An ecumenical Service of Remembrance was held at St Edmund’s Church, Acle, on Sunday November 10.  

Pictured are, from the left,  Methodist minister Rev Andrew King, trumpeter Chris Gould, President of Acle Branch of the Royal British Peter Kingsley and standard bearer Godfrey Rope.

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