The Union of Catholic Mothers has volunteered the help of all of our members at the National Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in Liverpool from 7–9 September. We have been asked to help at exhibitions taking place in the Echo Arena and the Metropolitan Cathedral and Crypt. Please contact your foundation president, who will liaise with diocesan president Maria Bruns over times and venues.At the beginning of summer, the UCM archdiocesan committee received an invitation from Father David Potter, our spiritual adviser, to attend the consecration of his church, St Albert the Great in Stockbridge Village. Most of us had never been to a church consecration before but the service, performed by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon on 9 June, was fascinating to see. After the prayer of dedication, the altar table and the walls of the church were anointed with chrism; the church was then incensed and the altar covered; and finally, candles were lit on the altar and all around the church. As the church glowed with candlelight, the choir of St Bartholomew's, Rainhill provided us with fine music to complete a lovely evening.
Sixty members from Liverpool Archdiocese travelled to Walsingham for our annual pilgrimage in July. As usual, Our Lady favoured us with wonderful weather. We had beautiful Masses and an uplifting and humorous address by our new national president, Margaret McDonald. On our way home, we were welcomed at the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in King's Lynn, Norfolk. This church contains a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth, built in 1897 to revive public devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham, and there the ladies of the parish cooked for us a lovely meal, served in the church garden.
Thank you to all for the wonderful companionship, the reverence displayed, and the joy of the pilgrimage; and for the support of Fr Potter, Canon Prescott and Monsignor Butchard.