Marriage is for Girls

Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

Blogged by James Preece on 5th August 2008

I just received the latest email from Elizabeth Davies and the Marriage & Family Life Project Office from the Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

New Marriage and Family Life Project Workers

Thanks to the Faith in the Future fundraising initiative of the Bishops' Conference a number of new project workers are moving into place across England and Wales to increase support for marriage and family life in a number of ways. Therese Gordon (Birmingham) and Joanne Hinds (Cardiff) are already in post with Mary Clark (East Anglia), Anne Ruane (Leeds), Sue Sanderson (Nottingham), Jillian Wilce (Plymouth), Keith Chappell (Portsmouth) and Helen Bassirat (Shrewsbury) due to commence employment in the autumn. Further appointments are awaited in Hallam, Hexham and Newcastle, Middlesbrough, and Wrexham. A national induction weekend for these new workers will take place in Cheltenham from November 6th-9th 2008.

Therese Gordon, Joanne Hinds, Mary Clark, Anne Ruane, Sue Sanderson, Jillian Wilce, Keith Chappell, Helen Bassirat.

Let me visualise that for you:
Female Female Female Female Female Female Male Female

Spot the deliberate mistake...

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.