2018 An Update

2018 - What have we been up to from January to April?

We have been busy for the first half of the year so far with lots of work taking place within our parishes in a low key but essential way none the less. It is difficult to document everything, especially when you are in the thick the action but below is a taste of the main points of action.

It all began on January 1st with our 90th anniversary of existence working in Southend. We welcomed the New Year in with Mass at the parish of Saint Peter with our Chaplain Father Jeff, and then gathered for coffee and cake in the hall for a good catch up to discuss who had had the Australian flu that Christmas.

The following Saturday evening we officially celebrated our 90th with a small party with friends, widows and fellow Knights from across Essex and it was a chance to raise a glass to all those who we have followed and are no longer with us.

Towards the end of January, Southend 192 ran a Race Night for the whole of Province and the Knights around Essex to get together for a fun evening and to raise funds to support the training of seminarians in our Diocese. Apparently some of the horses are still running!

Provincial Race Night

February had us back at Sacred Heart cooking early morning breakfast for around 50 paying guests who had gathered to hear our Chairman and Grand Knight Liam give a talk about his work as a script writer, and the people and films he had worked upon. A fascinating insight in his great career and an inspiration to those looking to follow their dreams and aspirations. The profit for this morning effort went towards the Sacred Heart Maintenance fund as a new industrial boiler is not a cheap commodity these days.

Later that day we were involved in gathering a crowd after evening Mass at Holy Family Benfleet to give people a chance for parishioners to talk to each other after Mass, and #fairtrade refreshments were available with a great spread of food. The profit from that went to the parish working fund.

Coffee evening at Holy Family, Benfleet

The SPUC White Flower Appeal was then delivered the following weekend in the two parishes of Holy Family, Benfleet with Saint Thomas More, and Saint Peter in Eastwood with the appeal across all Masses that weekend with what is a very emotional concern.

March brought more snow so our Saint Patrick's Night social was postponed until early April to prevent any accidents but our rescheduled Irish Night social was a great success with Irish food, Irish dancers entertaining us, and a good sing song to boot. Our MP Sir David Amess came along and gave us a fantastic speech towards the end of the evening which made everyone feel valued.

In March, we also organised the Provincial Quiz which was hotly contested by different groups of Knights, a parish team, and teams of wives too. After evening Mass in Hutton, contestants sat down to homemade soup and roll, before battling it out to see who had the best collective minds with Chingford narrowly beating all to have the privilege of representing our Province at the Knights national quiz final in the Autumn.

We supported the work of SPUC in the parishes towards the end of April, and we also helped with the organising of the #RosaryontheCoast that took place by the Crowstone on Chalkwell beach. We had parishioners from across the deanery and beyond in attendance with five parish priests leading proceedings and we were on hand to marshall the day by handing out programmes, keeping the public promenade clear and to help those who were infirm to be a part of the afternoon. And we prayed.

So we have had a few things to do with lots more taking place in the coming months. Yes we are a workhorse in the parishes, but we do balance our collective efforts with time for God, with Mass, as well as logistical support with bodies on the ground to make an event happen and to fundraise.