CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART

and ST. MARGARET MARY

DEREHAM, NORFOLK

GOLDEN JUBILEE 1951 - 2001

OtfUWCtfOf TJfE S^C'R'E'Dand

ST.

"We come together today, 2ot(l October 2001 toceCeBrate the QoCden JuBilee of the opening andBCessing of the present church on 23rd September1951.

It is our pCeasure to welcome 'Rev. Mar. ThiCipShryane, 'Vicar-QeneraC, himseCf once a parishpriest here, who wi(T ceCeBrate the Mass of theSacred5/eart. ConceCeBrating with Mgr. Shryaneare a few former parish priests of T)ereham.SadCy, Jr. Teter Marsh couCd not join us.

J4t the end of Mass a statue of St. Margaret Mary,generousCy donated to us By the Visitation Order,wiCC Be BCessed and pCaced in the porch as amemorial to Deacon 'Bernard Warwick who servedthe parish so faithfuCCy for nearCy ten years untilhis death on January 4tf> this year.

I hope you wiCC enjoy the celeBration today, andtake home with you this Brief history of the church,and its deveCopment over the years.

Mgr.

on the occasion of the

WE CHV<RCH: of the SACK&D WEAK?and ST. MARGARET MJim'

1951 - 2001

Celebrant: Rev. Mgr. Philip Shryane, V.G.Con-celebrants: Rev. Henry MacCarthy

Rev. Mgr. Canon Edward McBrideRev. Tony SketchRev. Mgr. Harry M.A. Wace

Entrance Hymn:

1 . To Jesus' Heart, all burning, with fervent love for men,my heart with fondest yearning shall raise its joyful strain.

While ages course along,blest be with loudest songthe sacred heart of Jesusby ev'ty heart and tongue.The sacred heart of Jesusby ev'ry heart and tongue.

2. O Heart, for me on fire with love no man can speak,my yet untold desire God gives me for thy sake.

3. Too true, I have forsaken thy love for wilful sin;yet now let me be taken back by thy grace again.

4. As thou art meek and lowly, and ever pure of heart,so may my heart be wholly of thine the counterpart.

5. When life away is flying, and earth's false glare is done;Still, Sacred Heart, in dying, I'll say I'm all thine own.

Ptecue note that th& $foda. Sanctum. Cfapetdeclamation.,

Opening PrayerV

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16

Response to the Psalm:The Lord is my Shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want

Second Reading: Romans 5:5-1 1

Gospel Acclamation:Alleluia, alleluia! Shoulder my yoke and learn from me

for I am gentle and humble in heart. Alleluia!

Gospel Reading: Luke 15: 3-7

Homily

Bidding Prayers

Offertory Hymn:

1 . Father, I place into your hands the things I cannot do.Father, I place into your hands the things that I've been throughFather, I place into your hands the way that I should go,for 1 know I always can trust you.

2. Father, I place into your hands my friends and family.Father, I place into your hands the things that trouble me.Father, I place into your hands the person I would be,for I know I always can trust you.

3. Father, we love to see your face, we love to hear your voice.Father, we love to sing your praise and in your name rejoice.Father, we love to walk with you and in your presence rest,for we know we always can trust you.

4. Father, I want to be with you and do the things you do.Father, I want to speak the words that you are speaking too.Father, I want to love the ones that you will draw to you,for I know that I am one with you.

Eucharistic Prayer - Proclamation of Faith: (Sung)

Christ has died, Christ is Risen,Christ will come again.

Communion Hymn:

1. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;tender to me the promise of his word;in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

2. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;his mercy sure, from age to age the same;his holy name - the Lord, the Mighty One.

3. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!Powers and dominions lay their glory by.Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,the hungry fed the humble lifted high.

4. Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lordto children's children and for evermore!

Prayer after Communion

The statue of St. Margaret Maty will nowbe blessed and carried out in the final procession.

Recessional Hymn:

1. Battle is o'er, hell's armies flee:raise we the cry of victorywith abounding joy resounding, alleluia.

2. Christ who endured the shameful tree,o'er death triumphant welcome we,our adoring praise outpouring, alleluia.

3. On the third morn from death rose he,clothed with what light in heaven shall beour unswerving faith deserving, alleluia.

4. Hell's gloomy gates yield up their key,paradise door thrown wide we see;never tiring be our choiring, alleluia.

5. Lord, by the stripes men laid on thee,grant us to live from death set free,this our greeting still repeating, alleluia.

At the conclusion of Mass, please make your way tothe marquee as quickly as possible to allow the

caterers to prepare the luncheon.

Perhaps you would like to have a closer lookat the statue at the end of lunch.

ALACOQIl'E

Margaret was Born on July 22^ 1647 atLJfautecour, (Burgundy, 'France, ^hen herfatherdied she was sent at the age of 8 to the (Poor Cfaresschool at CharoCfos.

She had poor health which forced her to leave school;she prayed to our Lady and promised that if she wascured she would dedicate her life to the service of theMother of (jod - she was unable to wa$d her bonespierced her s^in in several places and she becameseriously ill and emaciated.

'Her health returned and she was able to enjoy her lifeagain as a lively teenager. She refused marriage andlooked after her sicf^ mother till she was allowed byher brother and family to enter the convent of theVisitation Sisters at <Paray-fe-!MoniaCin 1671.

Margaret experienced a number of visions andrevelations; in them our Lord told her she was chosento be his instrument in devotion to his Sacred'Heart.

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(Rebuffed by her superior and many of the othersisters, she stiff persisted and won support from thecommunity's confessor, St. Claude fa Cotombwre.

One of her supporters in the convent was ejectedsuperior and made her the assistant. She CaterBecame Novice Mistress. The convent observed thefeast of the Sacred Heart privately from 1686; thissoon was adopted 6y the whole Order.

aint died in 1690 But it was not unti(1785 thatdevotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was formattyaccepted by the Qopeforthe whote church. In 1920Margaret was canonized and the worf^of our Lord'sfaithfut servant was completed; devotion to ourLord's Sacred Heart had become an accepted practicethroughout the Church.

Most Sacre^Jfeart of Jesus,Jfave mercy on us

St. Margaret Mary,(Pfayjbrus.

IN THE BEGINNING.

The first record of Catholics in the area was in 1834 -three at Gressenhall and five in East Dereham. Fivewere parishioners of the Anglican church in 1886, butthere is no further reference to Catholics until 1911when a series of lectures entitled "What CatholicsBelieve" were held by the Motor Mission, each attendedby over seven hundred people.

As a result of the Mission a number of people were laterreceived into the church, including a 17 year old whowas to become Mrs. May Rayner. In the ensuing yearsshe and her husband worked tirelessly for the parish,and were generous benefactors.

Prior to the latter part of 1911, Fr. Gray fromFakenham used to celebrate Mass in a private house inDereham, and later used the club room in the BullHotel and a small room of the Postmaster's House.Each year he arranged for a horse and wagon holding10 people to travel to Fakenham for Midnight Mass,Christmas Eve; they left at 9.30 pm and arrived homeat 3 a.m.!

In 1912 Fr. Gray purchased the piece of land at thecorner of London Road and Commercial Road,previously known for many years as the Childrens'Recreation Ground, and eventually a temporary woodenhut, provided by the Guild of Ransom, was erected onthe site.

This building was consecrated and dedicated to theSacred Heart and St. Margaret Mary on 21st July 1925,

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by the Bishop of Northampton, the Rt. Rev. Carey-Elwes, who celebrated a pontifical High Mass inthanksgiving.

The Bishop and clergy later joined the congregation fora luncheon at the King's Head Hotel. Pastoral care ofDereham was then given to Fr. Phillips of Wymondham.

Generous financial donations and gifts were given tothe church, including the statue of Our Lady ofWalsingham, still in the church today, which was givenby Mr. and Mrs. Rayner in memory of their son,Kenneth, who died in 1939 aged 18 years. TheMonstrance was donated in memory of Rev. GeorgeFressanges of Norwich who was killed during the war.

The prominent statue of the Sacred Heart, which camefrom Belgium, was erected in October, 1932. The localnewspaper reported that "donations towards the cost ofthe statue (£25) are being solicited". In 1934 Fr. JohnKetterer served Dereham from Wymondham, followedby Fr. M. Cowin in 1947.

The "temporary" wooden hut served the growingcommunity well but the war years had preventedrepairs being carried out, and in wet weather waterrained down upon the altar and worshippers with theresult that the church became so damp the BlessedSacrament could no longer be reserved there. In 1949the church ceased to be used except on Holy Days, andSunday Mass was held in the Assembly Rooms.

In October 1950 the old timber church was demolishedwhen work began on the present brick church whichwas completed the following year.

THE LAST FIFTY YEARS.

FT. Cowin threw all his energy into the creation of thenew church, and Mr. Reginald Rayner and his brother,Leslie, inaugurated and provided a large proportion ofthe cost of £5,000 for the building of the present brickchurch in memory of Kenneth Rayner.

On 23rd September 1951 the Bishop of Northampton,the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Leo Parker, blessed and opened thechurch, and celebrated Mass at 9.30 a.m. at which 150parishioners and guests were present. Music wasprovided by the choir from St. John's Cathedral. Areception was held at 5.30 pm in the Kings Arms Hotel(the site where Woolworths now stands.)

Fr. Cowin continued to serve the community from hisparish of Wymondham until 1965, when he wassucceeded by Fr. Brophy.

In 1968 a new altar designed by Mr. Con O'Donnellreplaced the former altar, and this allowed the priest tocelebrate Mass facing the congregation. About thistime the organ was purchased for £200 out of a fundprovided by the people.

The congregation continued to grow, and althoughDereham was not a parish, a Church Council wasformed, a treasurer elected, minutes recorded, and in1971 the Union of Catholic Mothers was formed, itsfirst president being Mrs. Shepherd. This strong andreliable body still serves the parish well.

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In 1973 a rearrangement of the parish boundariesresulted in Dereham being amalgamated withSwaflham and RAF Swanton Morley, severing itsprevious connection with Watton and Wymondham.Fr. Tony Sketch then served Dereham from Swaffharnand initiated plans to build a priest's house.

In March, 1975 the UCM presented the parish withblue fitted carpet for the sanctuary and centre aisle.The altar rails were removed and brought into use asthe arm rest for the front row of chairs.

On 1st October Fr. Peter Marsh became the firstresident parish priest of Dereham, albeit in "digs" at theRAF base at Swanton Morley. With the arrival of Fr.Marsh, the parish now became a fully independentcommunity - in November the first AGM was held, andMidnight Mass was celebrated for the first time inDereham, Christmas, 1975.

In February 1976 work began on the building of thepresbytery by a member of our parish, Mr. MichaelReavey. The Bishop of the newly formed East AngiiaDiocese, the Rt. Rev. Alan Clark, blessed the completedpriests' house and consecrated the church on 23rd

September 1976. The presbytery became the venuefor parish meetings and events and the childrens'Sunday liturgy was introduced.

On 20th July 1980 Tim Lynch was commissioned by theBishop as the first Eucharistic Minister, and he waslater joined by Felix Jackson and Robert Watson.These three men took Holy Communion to the sick ofthe parish every week, a practice which is carried on bymany Eucharistic Ministers today.

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In September 1980 Fr. Marsh was moved toNewmarket, and on 1st October Canon Edward McBridewas transferred to Dereham from the Cathedral.

He introduced the Parish Mass books, monthly Bibleclasses were well attended and in 1981 Canon McBrideacquired the Stations of the Cross from Italy, which canbe seen in the church today. The old Stations found anew home in the Wayland Prison Chapel. He laterinstigated the "100 club", the parish "flutter", which hasgrown now to the "130 club".

After a short stay of only two years Canon McBride wasthen moved to Ipswich and was succeeded by Fr. PhilipShryane on 5th October 1982. At this time DeaconRon O'Toole and his wife, Inge, were welcomed into theparish.

As the numbers of parishioners grew steadily, Fr. Philipasked the diocesan architects to draw up plans for anextension to the church; during the six months ofconstruction we enjoyed the hospitality of the Anglicancommunity to celebrate our Sunday Masses in St.Nicholas' church.

The dual purpose extension was named the EmmausRoom; it provided additional seating for worship, or aroom for meetings and social events. At this time theporch was constructed, together with kitchen and toiletfacilities. The total cost was £40,000, of which £28,000was borrowed from the bank - through the generosity ofthe parishioners, this sum, plus interest, was repaidwithin five years. On 7th December 1984 the extensionwas blessed during Mass celebrated by Bishop AlanClark.

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In 1986 we were given the beautiful stained glasswindow for the porch; this was donated by aparishioner in thanksgiving for a long and happymarriage. The window shows seeds of corn growinggreen shoots towards the golden ear and links in withthe bread of the Eucharist and the supper at Emmaus.

In October, 1989 Fr. Henry MacCarthy was welcomedby the parish as its new priest, and almost immediatelybegan the first RCIA (Journey in Faith) meetings in thepresbytery.

To the joy of the parish, Charlie Seeker (now a young 90years of age!) was awarded the Bene Merenti for histireless work for the church, and he still delights uswith his presence every Sunday at 11 am Mass, withhis wife, Margaret.

Fred Evans was given the Diocesan Medal, and after hisdeath in 1993 the Paschal Candle stick was donated tothe church in his memory by the parishioners.

1990 saw the formation of the Dereham St. Vincent dePaul Conference, and the work and dedication of itsmembers continues as an outstanding example ofChristianity.

On 25 May 1991 the parish rejoiced when ourparishioner, Bernard Warwick, was ordained Deacon atthe Cathedral. He was a man of so many talents -instruction in the faith, leading prayer groups, visitingthe sick at home or in hospital, taking HolyCommunion to the housebound - and much, muchmore.

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It was a sad day when the parishioners bade farewell toFr. Henry MacCarthy after his short stay of two years.

Towards the end of 1991 Mgr. Harry Wace arrived asparish priest after ten years as administrator of StJohn's Cathedral, Norwich.

That year saw the formation of the Justice and PeaceGroup; a visit from Sr. Bernadette of the Sisters ofNotre Dame brought to our notice the way of life inAfrica, and this ultimately led to our parish beingtwinned with Kulende, Nigeria - donations fromparishioners, and fund raising activities by the Justiceand Peace Group ensure a constant and healthy flow offunds to assist in the educational and medical facilitiesin Kulende.

Fr. Harry set about building the Peace Room which actsas the repository, confessional and a place for smallmeetings, and doubling the size of the sacristy to caterfor the ever-growing number of altar servers. Thiswork was done by Paul Reavey at a cost of £13,462.

It was with regret that the RAF decided to leave theirSwanton Morley station from which many of thewartime initiatives had been launched, and to whichmany crippled planes were just able to get back aftercombat and raids.

The Chapel which had once been a parachute packingroom was deconsecrated on 31st August, 1995. Thestatue of St. Joseph was re-erected in the SacredHeart Church and one kneeler bearing the RAF badgewas made for this church as a memento of ourchaplaincy work with the RAF.

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The policy of the Army which took over the camp was toencourage their personnel to use the nearest parishchurch where provision could be made for catecheticalinstruction and social life; the Army was not anxious tore-establish a Catholic Church on the site.

Thus the Saturday evening Mass was moved to theSacred Heart Church - the altar server and sacristanwho had served our chapel for many years at SwantonMorley, Mr. and Mrs. Tony and Muriel Harmer,continue to service our Saturday evening Mass.

In 1995 Sr. Margaret McMahon of the Sisters of NotreDame arrived in the parish to be the Parish PastoralSister. She stayed for five years and did great workenhancing the catechetical work for the children,training new catechists, helping with the "Journey inFaith" (RCIA) weekly meetings, visiting the sick, takinga keen interest in the music for the liturgy andaccompanying many services on her guitar.

Sister had boundless energy and enthusiasm butexhausted herself, so generous was she in her service ofthe parish; she was told by her superiors that sheshould retire and the parish gave her a great partybefore she left us for Blundell Sands where a number ofthe Sisters are based.

It was a sad situation that the church land was onlysufficient for the church, presbytery and car parkingarea, which meant that any large social gathering ormeetings could not be held in an adjoining hall, unlikefacilities at many other parishes.

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Fr. Harry, therefore, sought permission to allow, onspecial occasions, the sanctuary to be screened offfrom the nave of the church, and this was done in timefor Bishop Peter's visitation in May, 1998, by theinstallation of vertical blinds which are drawn across infront of the altar. New, stackable chairs werepurchased, the kneelers re-covered, the tiled floorcarpeted, and the rood statues erected.

In August/September 1998 the priest's office anddining room in the presbytery were extended by 6 feet -an inconsequential distance, it seems, but anenormous difference to those who had to meet or workthere!

In 1999 the parish raised funds to enable three youngpeople to answer the Pope's invitation to join him (andthousands of others) in Rome in August, 2000, anexperience never to be forgotten.

The occasion of the new millennium was marked by thepainting of the church, and the purchase of some newvestments from donations by parishioners.

2001 - our Golden Jubilee......

The church does, indeed, still look very good fromthe outside, enhanced by the Virginia creeper whichgives much delight. We are always glad to hearvisitors comment on the joy and peace they feel,especially when they enter the church for the first timeand see the tabernacle beneath a blue "sky".

This year sees the enhancement of the entrance porch -we have been given an antique statue of St. Margaret

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Mary by the Visitation Order to which the saintbelonged, and this is being dedicated to the memory ofour much loved, and sadly missed, Deacon BernardWarwick.

It is impossible to look back on 50 years and recalleverything and everyone, but those parishioners whohave worshipped and worked in the parish for thatgreat length of time should be mentioned here: KayVincent, Mary Rush, Joan Faulkner, Mary Reeder,Charlie Seeker, Tom Nally, Fred and Janet Lennon,Simon and Michelle Salter, Ron and Phyllis Thurstance,Paddy Bane, Tom Brady, Kath Carroll, TeddyO'Donnell, Ken and Anna Harvey.

We cannot forget Martin Barnard who recently retiredafter 20 years as the trainer of the altar servers, nor theyouth of the parish, many of whom have given up aweek of their holidays to help with the sick in Lourdes(and it is very hard work there!)

the organists, choir, lay ministers, sacristans, flowerarrangers, cleaners, catechists, fund raisers such asPat Monaghan who has valiantly swum miles forKulende, and who has given a lot of time in running the130 club, and the UCM which holds two successfulfayres each year.

Fred Power's fine dry flint wall in the car park will beadmired for a long time to come; and then there is PeterKnight who keeps our fast growing hedge in order -and, well, the list is endless.

Thanks go to John Richardson who compiled this briefhistory in co-operation with our so energetic parishsecretary, Mary Merrick.

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.AND NOW TO THE FUTURE

"We have a conscientious Tarish TastoraC CounciCready to take on a "wider roCe as the Caity becomemore fuCCy invoCved in the mission of the church; agrand team of Cay ministers and an active andhappy congregation. "We witt soon have a new,younger parish priest unencumbered with diocesanduties, anxious to get our youth cCub off the groundand appoint a CiveCy roCe-modeC Ceader.

It is up to aCCofus to continue the good work thathas enaBCed our Cathode famiCy to grow fromabout a hundred in 1951 to over two hundred andforty in fifty years.

This church has Been the focus, the enricher of oursacramentaC fives, the pCace where Our Lord hasforgiven our sins, nourished our spirituaC fiveswith his ^Word and his reaC presence, andstrengthened us with his BCessings and graces; herewe have grown in stature through the gift ofprayer and the encouragement of the cCergy andone another. It is there chaCCenging us to deepenour spirituaC Cife, to go out of its waffs after eachMass and bring the Qood News to aCC we meet, tiCCwe are one famiCy of Gjod that has been Broughttogether By him from our varied reCigious, ethnicandcuCturaC Backgrounds.

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J4. hundred years ago the priest coming to ceCeBrateMass here was stoned'; we have moved a Cong, Congway from those times and prejudices, and we nowhave many aCCies in the other Christians; we needto deepen our cfoseness to aCC sharing the sameBaptism and seeking to serve the same Qod whodied for each one of us.

It is with sadness that I wiCCBe Ceaving you for youhave Been a great strength to me, a great pointerto what our fives are aCC aBout, sinners confidentCyBattCing our way to our father's home,accompanied By Our LordhimseCf.

However, I am sure that you have a priest comingto you who wiCCinspire you to far greater progress,and care for you with a generous and tender Cove;and I know you wiCC give to him what you havegiven to me, a joyfuC trust in the presence of Qodamong us and a wiCCto secure that pCace where wewiCC aCC meet together again in the overwhelminghappiness of heaven.

Qod'BCess you aCC,

H,A.