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On Sunday 1st October, we celebrated our Harvest Festival with non-perishable food items placed in front of the altar, afterwards these items were donated to the foodbank. Joining our Mass of celebration was deacons from Devon & Cornwall including our own deacon, Peter Skoyles. Our ploughman’s lunch after Mass collected £110:00 for St Petrocs to help keep them in their work, caring for the homeless in Cornwall. Continuing with our harvest theme, on Saturday 28th October Fr. Gilmour joined Brian Oldham and the Liskeard Old Cornwall Society in Liskeard Cattle Market for ‘Crying the Neck’ This is the Cornish Festival – a pagan religious celebration to welcome the Harvest at the end of summer recalling the last cutting of the sheaf and honouring the harvest so next years crop will be a good one. The neck is never held aloft to the West as this might bring a poor harvest next year. Crying the Neck has its roots as the Celtic Festival of ‘Samhain’ welcoming the harvest at the end of summer, when people would light bonfires and wear costume to ward off ghosts. The Introduction was given by Brian Oldham; Opening Prayer in Cornish by Rod Sheaff; Opening Prayer in English by Fr. Gilmour; Reading in English by Fr. Gilmour; The neck is then raised aloft to the North, East and the South; The Lord’s Prayer in Cornish by Rod Sheaff; The Lord’s Prayer in English by all present; Blessing by Fr. Gilmour; and all sing ‘Trelawny’. The Cornish Anthem ‘Trelawny’ is nowhere near as ancient and refers to the Cornish Bishop Trelawny who spoke out against James II and was imprisoned during the time of the ‘Great Political Unrest’ in 1688. Bishop Jonathan Trelawny is buried in the small church in Pelynt between Looe and Polperro – not far from Sclerder Abbey – in fact it was Trelawny’s descendants that built Sclerder Abbey. Bishop Trelawny’s Crosier hangs above his tomb in the church at Pelynt.
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For the Bethany Group meeting in October, several ladies from the group visited the Anglican Church of St Wenna, Morval {between Liskeard & Looe} to see the flower and craft festival themed ‘Community Life’. One of our parishioners and Bethany Group member did a floral display representing unity of all people, all Christian communities plus other faiths and no faith. Four small arrangements represented our four Catholic Churches {Liskeard, Saltash, Torpoint and Sclerder} around a large arrangement. This proved very popular, and several members returned over the few days it was on to see it again. Also, others from our church in Liskeard who had not been able to go on the Thursday afternoon the group went visited St Wenna. St Wenna is a beautiful little church down a country lane in the middle of nowhere. This allows the church to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The church warden explained how it was important to keep the church open and St Wenna was not going to be the sixth church closed; when a young mother had lost her baby and wanted to find a church to pray and sit quietly for an hour. She had tried 5 churches, and all were closed St Wenna was the last one she tried and found it open. How long the grief-stricken mother stayed in the church she did not know it could have been minutes or hours, but words could not express the relief and spiritual assistance she gained from visiting the church. On Wednesday 20th September, our Bethany Group went on a Mini Pilgrimage around our four churches. Starting at Our Mother Church at Liskeard, Saltash, Torpoint and Sclerder Abbey and then returning to Liskeard. We took with us our Peace Dove which had been given to Fr Gilmour on a Pilgrimage in the Holy Land, he had taken with some of our parishioners back in 2019. At each of the churches we were given a warm welcome the peace dove was placed in front of the altar and a prayer for peace was said. At Sclerder Abbey Fr Richard kindly joined us with our prayer for peace and conducted Benediction for us – it was beautiful to sing the ‘Tantum Ergo’ again. The Peace Dove is now doing a tour of the four churches and for November it will be visiting Saltash ‘Our Lady of Angels’. As part of Liskeard unlocked 2023 and the Heritage Trail in Liskeard, Our Lady & St Neot church on Saturday 9th September opened its doors. There were photo boards and information on the history of the church, with stewards on hand to guide and give information about the church. Also on display were church vestments, many of which having come from the Holy Land. Also on display upon the altar were the church’s silverware, items used for church celebrations of the Sacraments. Refreshments were available and all donations are to be given to Historic Churches.
Our story begins in the Narthex {porch} with the holy water stoup, just inside the entrance door. This consists of a heavy stone basin, bearing on one side a rudely carved face with a gaping mouth. This basin dates from the 13th century and is said to have been the recipient basin of the water of the Holy Well of St Cleer, given to the church in 1889. It is mounted on a Portland stone column, resting on a granite base bearing the inscription “Iterum Deo Servio”, meaning “Again, I serve God”. Also in the porch on the table is a model of a tin mine and a floral display representing the fiery furnace where the molten tin and copper was melted. This represents the history of our church when our Catholic population grew, needing to enlarge the church in 1863 with designs from Joseph Hansom {the inventor of the Hansom Cab}. Many Irish families fleeing the potato famine in Ireland {The Great Hunger} came seeking employment in the copper mines on Caradon Hill. Every Sunday 200 miners and their families walked from the mining areas around Bolventor, Minions and Pensilva on Bodmin Moor to hear Mass in our church. Walking through the wooden door and reconstructed wooden screen – formerly in the church of St Martin of Tours in Liskeard – this post-Reformation Gothic screen is one of several legacies secured by Fr. George Graham during his incumbency in the 1880s. Entering the church and walking up the aisle to the altar on either side can be seen photo boards displaying photos of the old church, vestments and stoles on display and our Mayer’s of Munich, dated 1886, stained-glass window. This was a gift of remembrance of Joseph Francis Kaupp, a local jeweller and benefactor of the church, residing in Higher Lux Street, and his wife Bridget.  Our window is a fine example of Victorian Gothic and as can be seen in our window broadly speaking, the Munich Pictorial Style; romantic and owed much to the revival of religious painting – especially fresco painting in the tradition of the Italian Renaissance masters especially Masaccio, Raphael, and Michelangelo – in Germany early in the 19th Century. It represents an aesthetic that was evidently prized in its time for its craftsmanship and opulence as well as for its ability to engage the viewer emotionally and spiritually. Our six chasubles displayed are generally a representation of the liturgical calendar’s time of the year. Colours of the church year follow a set pattern as the seasons change through Advent, into Christmas and Epiphany-tide, followed by Ordinary Time then into Lent and Easter and back through Ordinary Time to the beginning of the Church Year in Advent. White represents the pleasure and purity that comes from faith. It is one of the most popular colours in liturgical vestments worn by priests daily, regardless of the liturgical season or celebration. These robes are often worn during Christmas and Easter. They represent Christ’s birth and resurrection. The Pope’s default vestments are white, indicating his position as the closest ally of Christ’s glory. Green, a sign of hope, persistence, and continuing listening, is the most utilized colour at Sunday Masses and weekdays outside of declared festivals. Green is the traditional colour for “Ordinary Time”, the period between Easter and Christmas, and vice versa. It is supposed to express the expectation and hope in Christ’s resurrection. Green represents the optimism and life that each new day brings. Purple is especially popular during Advent and Lent. Purple liturgical garments distinguish the Mass for the Dead, and they can be substituted by black vestments. Purple signifies penance, preparation, and sacrifice when worn during Lent or Advent. Because of its association with mourning, it is frequently worn at funerals. Purple vestments, along with white and black, are worn to encourage funeral attendees to pray for the departed’s penance and absolution. Red represents Christ’s passion and the bloodshed in martyrdom by Him and the Saints. This is used for liturgical vestments on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost, commemorating the Lord’s Passion and feasts of the Apostles, Evangelists, and Holy Martyrs. Cardinals wear red to demonstrate their loyalty to the Church and the Pope. It is to represent the blood they would bleed for Christ and the Church. Rose vestments are only worn twice a year, on the third Sunday of Advent {Gaudete} and the fourth Sunday of Lent {Laetare} and represents joy and solemnity. Certain colours {pink} are worn on these days to represent Christ’s joy and love. They are intended to remind Catholics of the joy of penance and devotion. It is worn during martyr’s feast days, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, and Pentecost. Blue vestments are only worn once a year, on the Feast of Mary. Blue is used especially for celebrations in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mostly in Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries.
The chasubles and stoles pictured were mainly made by Palestinian women in the refugee camps situated in the Occupied Territories of the region. The Holy Land Benevolent Arts Society – a small charity based in the old city of Jerusalem – runs a small shop in the Via Dolorosa {the traditional Way of the Cross} - tries to find work for the refugees to encourage the learning of traditional needlework skills. Making vestments to be used at Mass allows their beautiful handwork to be sent to different countries and serve as a continuing reminder of the hardship facing refugees. The stole is an item of liturgical clothing worn by priests and deacons as a sign of their office. A stole is always worn when celebrating a church service or administering the sacraments. Often, they are not seen as they will be covered by a cloak or a chasuble, and usually they are the same colour that the liturgy of the day demands. When worn alone they will reflect the celebration, i.e., white for a wedding or baptism and purple for a funeral. Sometimes local craftworkers produce multi-coloured stoles for use on suitable occasions and come in all colours and patterns, and designed for specific uses and occasions including baptism, marriage and death but also for industrial chaplains, chaplains to sea scouts etc. In terms of decoration, only one cross is essential on a stole, at the back of the neck. No rules exist as to design or ornamentation, meaning that all clerical dress stoles show the widest variation of decoration, colour and interpretation as far as design goes, and are frequently highly decorated with figures or patterns in gold and stones. The chasuble, cloak, and many stoles displayed were greatly commented on by all who came in to view them and many photos were taken of them and the church. Some of the stoles displayed came from the Holy Land. A white stole from Israel depicting the Jerusalem Cross and wheat and grapes a reminder of the Eucharist. This stole would mainly be used when Holy Communion is brought to those who are housebound or in hospital. Another white stole comes from Palestine and has been decorated with traditional local needlework. The Jerusalem Cross, a large cross surrounded by four smaller crosses is said to represent the five wounds of Christ, those made on his hands and feet at the crucifixion and that on his side made by the spear. The blue stole was made in England and shows an oak tree, representing the growth from a small acorn into a mighty tree, a wish for the Christian church. The dove and tongues of fire are symbols of the Holy Spirit without whom the growth of the Church will not happen. Also, on display was a multi-coloured stole from Mexico, and a very colourful stole from South America, probably Chile, brought to England by a priest who worked many years in that country. Also, on the altar we had a display of silverware used for celebrations of the Sacraments. The monstrance - which houses the Consecrated Host and plays an important part in Eucharistic Adoration and gives faithful Catholics to pray to Jesus in His very presence through the Holy Eucharistic at parish or during feasts and processions – and various Chalices and Patens – Early chalices were akin to drinking vessels normally in use and were distinguished from these only by ornamentation. Until the Middle Ages it was customary for each church to have but one chalice; since Masses have become more numerous, most churches have several chalices, and a great many priests possess their own. The paten is a shallow plate on which the large host rests at times both before and after consecration. It may be of gold, silver, gilt on the concave surface. Originally, a paten was a very large dish, sometimes of metal but often of wood, from which the Eucharist was distributed to the faithful in the days when unleavened bread was in use. By the 9th century, when Communion of the faithful had become infrequent, the paten was reduced in size and in time assumed its present form. The veil covering the chalice and paten as they are carried to the altar is, at least in the Latin rite, of comparatively recent origin. Not until 1570 was it prescribed for the Roman Rite. Since the reforms of Vatican II, its use is now optional. Finally on display on the altar, is the case containing the three types of holy oils used in the church today. The Church’s rites prescribe that the oils are normatively blessed {or consecrated, in the case of chrism} at the Chrism Mass each year. All priests may bless the oil of catechumens and oil of the sick ‘in case of true necessity’. As evidence of their fruitfulness and importance in our sacramental life, oils take centre stage when they are blessed and consecrated just before Easter, at what is called the Chrism Mass. This provides for the new oils to be used at the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. The three oils are: - Oil of Catechumens is used at Baptism, and it is said the oil of catechumens extends the effect of the baptismal exorcisms: “Before they go to the font of life to be reborn, the candidates for baptism are strengthened to renounce sin and the devil”. By the anointing with the oil of catechumens then, it can be said that the recipient gains God’s grace and help to overcome the power Satin and sin have over us and profess the Christian faith with boldness, all of which aims toward the newness of life received in baptism. Oil of the Sick is used by priests to anoint the sick: “They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them”. All who receive anointing with this oil receive God’s blessing, as the prayer of blessing says, so “that they may be freed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind and soul”. Sacred Chrism in the Old Testament was used to anoint priests, prophets and kings. Priests and Bishops today are anointed with sacred chrism at their ordinations. “Let the splendour of holiness shine on the world from every place and thing signed with this oil. After their blessing or consecration, at the Chrism Mass, the holy oils are distributed to the parishes and institutions of the diocese, usually available immediately after the Mass for priests or parish representatives to retrieve. This brings a close to our open day tour of Our Lady & St Neot, Liskeard. More photos available in the slideshow below.  Following on from last weekend’s celebrations of Fr. Gilmour’s Golden in Jubilee of his Ordination, six Polish children made their First Communion at the Sunday Mass at Liskeard on the 23rd of July 2023.
Although we have not yet restored reception of Holy Communion with the chalice, the children were allowed to receive the Precious Blood. A special thanks goes to the Catechists who have devoutly helped the six children prepare for the Sacrament. Many family members turned out for this special occasion in these children’s lives – some even travelling from Poland. There were extra special refreshments supplied by the Polish families after the Mass and all were welcome to come and share of which many of the regular congregation attended. The Sacrament of Communion for the First Communicants was not the only Sacrament celebrated at this Mass, Maria Victoria, was welcomed into the Christian Community of Liskeard parish, by being Baptised, symbolizing purification and accompanied by name-giving. We welcome her and the six Polish children into God’s family on Earth.  Many congratulations to Fr. Gilmour McDermott who celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination as a priest on Friday 14th July 2023. Members of the Catholic community in southeast Cornwall celebrated a weekend of festivities.
Fr. Gilmour was ordained at St John’s Wonersh in Surrey on the 14th of July 1973 by Bishop Michael Bowen. His first parish was St Edmunds Godalming from 1973 – 1978. From 1978 – 1983 found Fr. Gilmour at Our Lady & St Philip Howard, Arundel Cathedral - just recently Fr. Gilmour returned to Arundel Cathedral to attend the 150 anniversary Mass. Between 1983 – 1987 he was at St Joseph’s Redhill, where he was Chaplain at St Bede’s School; Catholic Chaplain to Surrey scouts; and made his first pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He moved to St Mary Preston Park Brighton where he remained until 1992. While at St Thomas of Canterbury, St Leonard’s on Sea between 1992-1996, Fr. Gilmour became Prison Chaplain at HMP Northeye. From 1996-1997 he took a sabbatical in the USA at Washington Theological Union and visited Missions in Thailand and East Africa. On his return he was put on loan to the Plymouth Diocese and has remained there ever since. From 1998 Fr Gilmour was parish priest at St Joseph and moved to St Edward, King & Martyr, Shaftesbury in 1999 and became Prison Chaplain at HMP Guys Marsh. Leaving Devon, he moved to Cornwall to the parish of The Sacred Heart & St Ia, St Ives & Hayle from 1999-2003. From there he moved to Our Lady of the Portal & St Piran, Truro, from 2003-2015, where he was Chaplain to Truro British Legion and Chaplain to Treliske Hospital. Fr. Gilmour arrived at Liskeard, Our Lady & St Neot in 2015. Since arriving at Liskeard, he has put in hand many improvements to the church and built a loving and welcoming community, which is open and supportive to all. This was reflected in the speech given by Cllr Simon Cassidy, Mayor of Liskeard, who presented Fr. Gilmour with a scroll at Fr. Gilmour’s party at Liskeard Public Hall on 14th July. Fr. Gilmour also inherited responsibility for services at Sclerder Abbey, near Looe and, a few years ago, the parish was extended to include responsibility for the Catholic churches in Saltash and Torpoint, where he has also seen improvements to the buildings. Fr. Gilmour has frequently led pilgrimages to the Holy Land – with another planned between 8th-15th December this year. In recognition of his concern for the Christian communities in the Holy Land, he was appointed as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. Since coming to Liskeard, he has sought to provide material support to the Christian families and groups who live in the complex and difficult context of the Middle East today. Fr. Gilmour’s weekly schedule is hectic with Holy Mass to be celebrated at Sclerder Abbey and in Liskeard each Sunday, with services at Saltash and Torpoint fitted in on Saturday evenings. Fr. Gilmour’s timeline of ministry is reflected in the gorgeous floral display in front of the altar beginning with St John’s Seminary Wonersh and ending with the parish of Our Lady of the Angels, Liskeard, Saltash, Sclerder Abbey, and Torpoint. Parish celebrations began on Friday July 14th with Fr. Gilmour leading a Concelebrated Mass at Our Lady & St Neot, Liskeard at 18:30 assisted by eleven priests from all over Cornwall. Attended by the Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Liskeard, Fr. Gilmour’s brother and his wife, and parishioners from all four churches, and invited guests. This was followed by a parish party at Liskeard Public Hall, where the mayor gave a presentation to Fr. Gilmour. Saturday 15th July saw the church of Our Lady & St Neot open for all to come and view the decorations, find out about the history of the church, and a selection of Fr. Gilmour’s Mass Vestments – many of which were from the Holy Land. Also on display was Fr. Gilmour’s various stoles from all over the world, along with Flags from the World, the Polish Flag and of course the Cornish Flag – bringing together the diversity of the parish of Liskeard - followed by refreshments. This was well attended from all four churches and the community of Liskeard and its’ various churches. On Sunday 16th July at Sclerder Abbey Fr. Gilmour celebrated an Open-Air Mass in the Abbey gardens at 15:00 followed by an afternoon cream tea which was attended by all four parishes. |
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