Saint Joseph’s has acquired two treasures in recent times. One is an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help – a hand-painted copy of the original, sent from Rome through the generosity of a parishioner. The original was stolen from a church in Crete by a medieval merchant. Repenting on his death-bed, he asked that the icon be given to a church, where it could be venerated by all. After several moves, it now resides in the Church of Saint Alfonsus, the headquarters in Rome of the Redemptorist order, who have supplied St Joseph’s with an authenticated copy. The second treasure is a mosaic by well-known local artist Audrey Murty of Christ blessing the five loaves and two fishes. Audrey made the mosaic many years ago, when she was living in Stockport, and it won a place of honour in the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Exhibition; it was also featured on the front page of the Daily Mail at the time. It draws its inspiration from an ancient mosaic of the loaves and fishes which still survives at Tabgha beside the Sea of Galilee, the traditional site of the original miracle.

          The services of Holy Week and Easter were well supported at Saint Joseph’s,  particularly the 11am Mass on Easter  Sunday.

          As the Beacon goes to print, the Ryedale Walsingham Association (most of whose members attend Saint Joseph’s) is off on its annual pilgrimage to Walsingham, the site of an appearance by Mary the mother of Jesus in the year 1061.

          On June 18th Bishop Drainey will visit St Joseph’s to confer the sacrament of Confirmation on a number of young people.

          Saint Joseph’s School continues to flourish under its (fairly) new head, Mr Kevin Macklam. A few places are still available for the next academic year, but parents are advised to put their children’s names down well in advance.

Fr Bill East.