On October 29 the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes Mickleover, Derbyshire, celebrated 50 years of walking together in faith.
Bishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham concelebrated a very joyful Mass, ably assisted by Bishop John Sherrington, recently ordained as an auxiliary bishop in Westminster diocese, together with past parish priests and Derby deanery priests.
Bishop Sherrington was parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes for five years so at the end of the Mass he was presented with a gift from the parish to mark his appointment as a Westminster auxiliary bishop.
Bishop McMahon blessed two stained-glass windows installed to mark the 50th anniversary. The windows were designed by Phillipa Holland, a Derby stained-glass artist, and are based on the stories of Lourdes. They create an area of peace and contemplation close to the statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette.
The noticeboards and displays in the gathering area and the parish centre charted the stepping stones in the life of the parish and showed all the activities, pastoral work and fundraising both at home and abroad carried out during those 50 years.
After the Mass everyone went to the parish centre for a celebratory meal, talking together, meeting old friends, remembering Mass in the beginning in the Memorial Hall at Mickleover and how priests and people worked tirelessly to build the church and community.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.