Saint Joseph’s Church is celebrating its centenary this year, and several events are planned to mark the occasion. On Sunday 3rd April, Mothering Sunday, the Town Mayor, Councillor Lovejoy, has kindly agreed to attend the 11 am Mass. Flowers will be given to all the children of the congregation to present to their mothers. As Cllr Lovejoy’s grandchildren regularly attend Mass at St Joseph’s, she is sure to get a posy of flowers.

          For some reason Saint Joseph’s Church has never been consecrated. This rite is usually performed when churches are  safely out of debt, and it may be that in its early years, Saint Joseph’s being at that time a very poor parish, it never was out of debt. However those days are long past and on 20th September the Bishop of  Middlesbrough will mark the centenary of the building by consecrating it. This will be a great occasion and we hope that all our friends in Pickering, whether Catholic or not, will join us.

Fr. Bill East.