• There was a special celebration for one of our Formby members last month as Patty Dixon, a founder member of the parish UCM group at Our Lady of Compassion, marked her 100th birthday. Maria Bruns, our diocesan president, was present for the celebratory Mass on 5 September, which was said by Father Bernard Higham and followed by a buffet at which Patty received a beautiful certificate celebrating her 70 years with the UCM. I wonder how many of those have ever been given? What an achievement, and what a lovely lady! It was a wonderful afternoon and we thank Win Collins, president of the Our Lady of Compassion UCM, and all her members for their warm welcome.• Now for some very advanced news of a date for your diaries which has been flagged up by our national secretary, Irene Mitchell. The Bishops of England and Wales have announced that they plan to hold a National Eucharistic Congress entitled 'Adoremus' (Let Us Adore). It will be held here in Liverpool, a great honour for our Archdiocese, from 7–9 September 2018. The congress will promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Church. Seminars and workshops will be run to ignite our enthusiasm and rejuvenate Eucharistic adoration in our parishes.
On the second day the Echo Arena in Liverpool will host a Congress Mass and there will also be keynote speakers and a drama highlighting the beauty of reverence and devotion. On the final day, Sunday 9th, there will be pilgrimage Masses followed by a street procession. Cardinal Vincent Nichols is encouraging people to attend the Eucharistic Congress "to strengthen our mission of making present the love and compassion of Jesus in our society". Dioceses and parishes throughout England and Wales will be invited to participate and I am sure the UCM will play their full part in this.