St Mary's Church, Falmouth

It was also the beginning of the week of prayer for Christian Unity. There was an ecumenical service at St Mary’s Helston on Sunday afternoon. Prayers were asked for Brother Raju Kana, the seminarian sponsored in India by St Mary’s, who had gained good results in his recent examinations. Prayers were also asked for Sheila Cottam, who died recently.

On Monday morning the Catholic Women’s League had their monthly mass and a business meeting afterwards. At St Mary’s Helston there was a short ecumenical service followed by a soup lunch. In the evening the prayer group met and on Tuesday morning the Society of St Vincent de Paul met in Falmouth presbytery. In the evening there was circuit training in the hall.

On Wednesday the rosary was said in the church in the morning and there was mass in the evening. The funeral of Sheila Cottam was held at St Michael’s Church, Mullion on Friday. This day was the feast commemorating the conversion of St Paul, which is always a part of the week of prayer for Christian unity.

On Saturday morning the Men’s Brunch was arranged at Membly Hall Hotel, with Sarah Newton MP as guest speaker.

Sunday was Education Sunday and children from St Mary’s School had prepared the readings from scripture, the responsorial psalm and the bidding prayers. There was enthusiastic singing from St Mary’s School choir in a church packed with their families, friends and well-wishers. In the evening there was a service at Emmanuel Baptist Church to conclude the week of prayer for Christian Unity.

Prayers were asked for Father John Richardson who died suddenly in the presbytery at Helston on Tuesday, January 22. He had been fighting illness for a long time. He had been ordained an Anglican clergyman in 1977 and served in various ministries in the north. He converted to the Catholic faith and in 1999 was ordained a Catholic priest. He served in Helston from 2000. His funeral will be held at the Catholic Church, Penzance on Friday, February 1.