Welcome to the Watermead Apostolate
A sharing in love and faith through our God-
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Copyright © 2011 The Watermead Apostolate, St Joseph’s, Leicester LE5 6SG England, United Kingdom
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"Free" MUSIC / ART / RESOURCES
PRACTICAL ACTION works alongside communities to find practical solutions to the poverty they face, seeing technology as a vital contributor to people’s livelihoods. Their definition of technology includes physical infrastructure, machinery and equipment, knowledge and skills and the capacity to organise and use all of these. They actively seek to work with communities and adopt a collaborative approach, sharing knowledge and experience, increasing their impact by scaling up success and pushing for policy change that directly benefits poor communities.
MOCP (Mother of Peace Community) was set up in 2004 to provide funding for the MOPC orphanage in Mutoko, Zimbabwe. The orphanage was founded in 1994 in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe.
This UK charity was introduced to us by Father David Everitt (RIP), a former parishioner of St Joseph’s parish and priest in the Diocese of Nottingham. Watermead supported him in his preparations for his mission to the MOP community and since his untimely death in 2010 we continue that charity support through promising to share the profit from Lynn’s “Ositos” and “Sister Brother” series of cards. (Click to read Fr David’s story).
This UK charity was introduced to us by Father David Everitt (RIP), a former parishioner of St Joseph’s parish and priest in the Diocese of Nottingham. Watermead supported him in his preparations for his mission to the MOP community and since his untimely death in 2010 we continue that charity support through promising to share the profit from Lynn’s “Ositos” and “Sister Brother” series of cards. (Click to read Fr David’s story).
SPICMA reaches out to the poorest and most marginalized of our world, those who fall through the cracks of the larger charity projects, and is open to the cries of small communities and individuals who have no way of approaching larger agencies. SPICMA engages in relief and development as is appropriate. It has a special but not exclusive interest in Africa and was set up in 1967 in the Parish of St. Peter in Chains, Hornsey, London, where several people wanted to support the work of Fr. Bernard Phelan, a Mill Hill Missionary, recently ordained at St Peter's, the parish where he had grown up
LET THE CHILDREN LIVE Our association with this charity began in 1995 when our recording of "Mary Our Mother" was used by the charity for their own fund-raising.
The charity was founded by Fr Peter Walters to help the children who live on the streets of Colombia and you may have already met Fr Peter on previous pages of this site as the charity has become one that we regularly support. In 1998 this support culminated in the composing and recording their charity song, "Vivan los Niños". We also sell some of the charity’s fund-raising items through our online shop.
CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. They work with more than 500 partners in more than 40 countries across the world, and with partners in the UK, to bring hope, compassion and solidarity to poor communities, standing side by side with them to end poverty and injustice. They work with people of all faiths and none. Inspired by Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching and the experiences and hopes of people living in poverty, CAFOD works for a safe, sustainable and peaceful world.
St VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY (The SVP) is an international Christian voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. Their vision, which is inspired by Christ’s message to love our neighbour as ourselves, is for individuals and families who are in any form of need to have hope, together with a sense of dignity, worth, well being and peace of mind.
St Joseph’s parish has an active SVP Group and we are always pleased to support their work - local and international.
St Joseph’s parish has an active SVP Group and we are always pleased to support their work -
MAUNDY RELIEF apostolate is based in Accrington, Lancashire, and provides an immediate response to poverty and need in the local community. They work on the frontline in the community by responding to any need, whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. The charity was begun and is led by the inspirational Sister Dorothy, a regular customer and friend of our Watermead apostolate - encouraging many new designs with her very individual requests for cards.
St PAUL’S BOOKSHOPS are the best known Catholic bookshops in the country. Their centre at the side of Westminster Cathedral was the first retail shop to stock our Watermead items and we shall always be grateful to Stephen and David for the encouragement they gave us at the beginning – and which has continued.
CBC DISTRIBUTORS Many of the items in the Watermead Gift Shop come from CBC. We were delighted to be their customers, and then so pleased to become their suppliers when they began to stock our prayer books. Over many years, as we have come to know those who work at CBC, we feel it is not simply business but also friendship as we serve the people of the Church.
PALESTINE PILGRIMAGE builds on the work of Fr Paul Maddison, a Catholic priest who has led more than 30 pilgrimages to the Holy Land and enabled over 500 individuals to not only visit the Holy Places but also to meet the people who make up the Christian community in the Holy Land. This not for profit organisation combines Fr Paul’s great knowledge and extensive network of Israeli and Palestinian contacts, with an experienced team of Christian professionals, in order to offer tours individually tailored to church, school and youth groups who wish to deepen their understanding of this complex society.
LEISURE TIME TRAVEL is a pilgrimage company that specialises in organising and operating top quality pilgrimage travel to Lourdes, Rome, Fatima, Knock, the Holy Land, Poland, San Giovanni and many other pilgrimage destinations around the world. Watermead has been grateful for advice – and been glad to give it – over the years.
RALPH is a travel counsellor who organises for parishes, groups and individuals. He has been most helpful over the years in the pilgrimages that our Fr John has organized through the Watermead Apostolate. When the young people from St Joseph’s went to World Youth Day in Australia – Ralph very successfully organised the whole trip for them: flights, hotels, links. With his many contacts in “Travelcounsellors” Ralph can organise for and to any part of the world.
COMPASS TRAVEL is a family owned tour operator, established in 1973, who specialise in quality pilgrimages for adult and youth groups in addition to general tours and educational trips for adult and school groups. They tailor tours to groups’ personal requirements to any part of mainland Europe. They are a pleasant firm to deal with.
REDEMPTORIST PUBLICATIONS During the past fifty years Redemptorist Publications has served the Church communities in Great Britain by offering a range of products to support Christians at every stage of life. Their mission is to proclaim the Good News to everybody in simple, everyday language. We came to know Redemptorist Publications when they published our “Getting to know the Bible” book, based on notes Fr John had made for a parish group. The book sold out and several years later Fr Tim Buckley asked if we would work on a new edition, which saw publication in 2005. Redemptorist Publications continue to offer our book alongside their other products, ranging from Sunday newsletters to books (including CD and DVD presentations) - with materials from other Christian publishers.
THE CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY is an independent publisher and charity and has been publishing books and resources to help people to understand and practice the Catholic faith since 1868. Our Watermead Shop stocks many CTS books and leaflets.
THE PRAYER TRUST was started in 2000 under the leadership of Father Pat Sayles, whom we first met in 1998 when he came to cover our Watermead story for the “Columba” magazine. Having spent years in Peru as a Columban Father, Fr Pat is aware of the uplifting power of prayer across the world. Now based at Our Lady & St Benedict's Church in Wootton Wawen, Fr Pat is still driven to spreading prayer! Taking advantage of modern First World benefits, such as computers and printing presses, Fr Pat, through The Prayer Trust, is able to continue the work of bringing people closer to God through prayer. Our Watermead Shop always carries a good supply of all that the Prayer Trust produces.
MISSIO has been the Catholic Church’s official support organisation for overseas mission since 1992. Missio cares for and supports the younger churches until they are able to be self-sufficient. It raises awareness and fosters prayer and cooperation in the whole Church, with 120 offices worldwide. It is the only organisation which supports every one of the 1,069 mission dioceses of the world, playing a crucial role in combating poverty, disease, injustice and exploitation. Our friend, Sister Janet, whom we met at Vatican Radio as part of the interviewing team, is a key member of the Missio office and writes regularly for the Catholic press.
Sister Janet is a religious sister of order of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (often known as FMDMs). They are members of the Franciscan family, and their service is expressed in many forms in response to the Church's needs. The Franciscan spirit is one of presence among the poor, and, as Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, they have a special concern wherever there is poverty of family life - their mission is not to lands, but to people. For information click above adjacent FMDM logo.
Sister Janet is a religious sister of order of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (often known as FMDMs). They are members of the Franciscan family, and their service is expressed in many forms in response to the Church's needs. The Franciscan spirit is one of presence among the poor, and, as Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, they have a special concern wherever there is poverty of family life -
THE PRISON ADVICE AND CARE TRUST (PACT) is a charity which supports people affected by imprisonment. They provide practical and emotional support to prisoners’ children and families, and to prisoners themselves. Working at a number of prisons across the UK, they support the families of prisoners, run family-friendly visitors’ centres outside prisons, children's play services in prison visits halls, and more.
InterCare is a UK registered charity which collects selected returned patient medicines from GP practices and, after appropriate quality controls, recycles them free of charge to a network of over one hundred health centres in six desperately poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa. We at Watermead were glad to know the founders of the charity, David and Pat Rosenberg, when they lived in St Theresa’s parish, along with Margaret Greiff who took on the running of the charity after their deaths (her dedication recognised by the granting of an MBE). Margaret is now retired, but still very active in St Joseph’s parish, running the fair trade stall and parish library.
THE CENACOLO COMMUNITY was founded in July 1983 by an Italian nun, Sister Elvira Petrozzi, who wanted to give her life to God through helping those who have suffered from addictions, and also other young people who have become disillusioned or dissatisfied with their lives. The Cenacolo today has about 60 houses spread throughout Italy and around the world, with the ‘parent’ house in Saluzzo in Northern Italy. There are houses are in France, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina (Medjugorje), USA, Ireland (Knock), Poland, the UK, etc., and several Mission Houses in Mexico and South America. Their Liverpool group has used Watermead items as part of their own fundraising.
LIGHT FOR THE BLIND is a registered charity based in Leeds, England, whose objective is to improve the welfare of the blind, mentally ill, handicapped and, above all, destitute dying people living in India. They work with Father Thomas Rathappillill, a priest working in the Dindigul District near Madurai and in Kancheepuram District near to Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The UK contact can be reached on telephone 01226 722786.
The PREDA Foundation was began in 1979 in response to the discoveries by Fr Shay Cullen (a Columban missionary priest from Ireland) who, when assigned to a parish in Olongapo City, in the Philippines, found the city to be “one big brothel; thousands of women and children were systematically sexually exploited, were exposed to HIV-AIDS and were victims of violence”. The PREDA organization (Peoples’ Recovery Empowerment and Development Assistance Inc.) aims to give shelter and protection and recovery to victims of abuse and, more importantly, to change the unjust situation in society that abandons children and criminalizes them and prostitutes them, allowing them to be abused without getting help and justice. We met Fr Shay when we arranged an awareness-raising visit for him to the parish of St Joseph’s and various venues and radio stations around Leicestershire. His mother had recently died and on leaving he gave us a poem he had written for her “A Mother’s Love” for us to include in our series of “Smiles and Sighs” cards.
FIAT ASSOCIATION Co-founder, Cardinal Léon-Joseph Suenens, recalls that "the little group known as F.I.A.T. (Family International Apostolic Team) was born in 1981 in Paray-le-Monial, France, during a Renewal retreat.” From these beginnings the FIAT Association was later incorporated as a non-profit association in 1985 to encourage the spread of cells of evangelization, gathered around the prayer of the FIAT Rosary - which is how we came to know about the Association.
Fr John found the FIAT Rosary in a shop in Walsingham and thought its simple approach to the traditional Marian prayer one that he wanted to introduce in the parish and at the regular retreats he preached. People then contacted us wanting to purchase rosaries and, after seeking permission (and the official medals) from the FIAT Association, one of our ladies, Doreen, began hand-making the rosaries. Later, we came to know Margaret, niece of Veronica O'Brien (co-founder of the FIAT Association and Rosary) and husband, Roger, who gave us Veronica's morning prayer which we now publish as a laminate and a card.
Further information about the FIAT Association and the FIAT Rosary can be obtained by contacting Cecile and Roger through the FIAT website.
MADELEINE Prayer is at the centre of the Watermead Apostolate. Madeleine’s family have been parish friends over many years. We have shared the sadness of the prayer for Madeleine and for all missing children and their families. We shall always stay involved.
THE ROSMINI CENTRE HOUSE OF PRAYER is situated in Leicestershire, attached to the Rosminian College known as Ratcliffe College. The essential purpose of the Centre is to be a place of prayer and a sign of love of God and neighbour, through various activities of spiritual, intellectual, and temporal charity. Prayer and worship mark the essential moments of its daily life and the Fathers at the Rosmini Centre are available all year round for confessions, spiritual direction, and spiritual retreats and prayers, welcoming groups who wish to book the facilities. Our Fr John belongs to the Rosminian Order (The Institute of Charity) and there is contact regularly with his brother priests based at the Centre.
LYNNE AND MARTIN have both been involved in supplying products and services to the Church and associated organisations and establishments for over 30 years. At Ecclesia Supplies their mission is to use their knowledge of products and product manufacturers, wherever they are in the world (in combination with their expertise in the marketplace), to help locate and supply a wide variety of religious items.
We shall always be grateful to Martin and Lynne as it was they in 1997, as “SOS Church Supplies”, that encouraged Watermead to enter the commercial market, promoting our Watermead items through their own Church Supplies catalogues and sales.
We shall always be grateful to Martin and Lynne as it was they in 1997, as “SOS Church Supplies”, that encouraged Watermead to enter the commercial market, promoting our Watermead items through their own Church Supplies catalogues and sales.
WHITE HOUSE SOUND is the recording studio we approached in 1994 to “tidy up” our first amateur recording “Our Songs Give Praise” – and over the years Mike, Kay and son, Mark, have produced our recordings. Their studio is a long established audio recording company with over 40 years of experience in the recording industry, based in Syston, near the city of Leicester.
Whilst based at St Theresa’s in Birstall we took the whole choir into the recording studio to record “Mary Our Mother” and “LIFE, a Journey Shared” and the team at the studio later welcomed our children’s choir for the “A Little Child Shall Lead” recording. In 1998 Mike and Mark came out to the church to record the congregation who sang the backing chorus on “Vivan los Ninos”.
A further three of our recordings have been produced by the team at White House Sound during our time at St Joseph’s - “I Call You Friends”, “Don Sings the Parables” and “People of God”.
Whilst based at St Theresa’s in Birstall we took the whole choir into the recording studio to record “Mary Our Mother” and “LIFE, a Journey Shared” and the team at the studio later welcomed our children’s choir for the “A Little Child Shall Lead” recording. In 1998 Mike and Mark came out to the church to record the congregation who sang the backing chorus on “Vivan los Ninos”.
A further three of our recordings have been produced by the team at White House Sound during our time at St Joseph’s -
GRANT was introduced to us as a freelance sound recording engineer working at White House Sound, where he worked on three of our recordings ( “I Call You Friends”, “Don Sings the Parables” and “People of God”). He also independently recorded Matthew’s “This Old Guitar”, a birthday gift CD recording for Matt’s Mum, Doreen, of popular contemporary songs - which Watermead Music later sponsored as a charity fundraising CD.
St JOSEPH'S The Catholic parish of St. Joseph's began in 1938 when people gathered for the celebration of mass on Christmas eve in a converted stable. There have been three churches on this site. The temporary second church was built in the 1950's, with the intention of its becoming a parish hall when the third and present church was built in 1968. There are around 700 homes in the parish which is served by two churches - St Joseph's and Our Lady of the Rosary.
In 2001 our apostolate was invited to St Joseph's by Bishop Malcolm McMahon and Fr John became priest of the parish. At the time of our coming to St Joseph’s the derelict old stable church - the original and first church of the parish - was offered for our use, but it wasn’t until 2005 that we were able to finance the renovation of this building which has now become the Watermead Centre and shop.
In 2001 our apostolate was invited to St Joseph's by Bishop Malcolm McMahon and Fr John became priest of the parish. At the time of our coming to St Joseph’s the derelict old stable church -
www.ourliturgy.com
OURLITURGY.COM was the official website of the Children’s Liturgy at St Joseph’s parish. The website was designed by Nick, a parent in the parish, and its content and characters have been created and content regularly updated by Lynn.
At present this website is undergoing an upgrade, so canot be accessed. But we will keep visitors informed of progress, and when the new site goes live, through our links page.
The Children’s Liturgy became a part of St Joseph’s parish liturgy in 2001 and the children’s site was a Christmas gift to the children of the parish in 2005. Since then it has grown to a resource containing hundred’s of pages of Sunday Liturgy reports - a very useful reference for those planning and preparing liturgies for children.
Pictured with the balloons on the website header is Frankie, the children’s guide around the website and named after the guide dog of Paul, a former blind parishioner at St Joseph’s. Frankie has his own series of cards and stationery produced by Lynn and published by Watermead.
At present this website is undergoing an upgrade, so canot be accessed. But we will keep visitors informed of progress, and when the new site goes live, through our links page.
The Children’s Liturgy became a part of St Joseph’s parish liturgy in 2001 and the children’s site was a Christmas gift to the children of the parish in 2005. Since then it has grown to a resource containing hundred’s of pages of Sunday Liturgy reports -
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NOTTINGHAM Both our birth parish of St Theresa’s in Birstall and our current host parish of St Joseph’s, Leicester, are in the diocese of Nottingham. The Nottingham Diocesan Archives cover the counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, and Lincolnshire and was formed in 1850. The present bishop, since December 2000, is the Right Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP.
THE CATHOLIC NEWS The diocese of Nottingham’s newspaper is The Catholic News. The tabloid size newspaper is printed in full colour and is available every month on the first Sunday of the month from parishes around the diocese. The paper has been running for over 12 years and has a total circulation of 7,000. There is an editorial team headed by the editor John Clawson who can be contacted here.
HEART GIVES UNTO HEART (HGUH) Catholic Community Digital Radio was set up in 2010 and broadcast successfully for 10 days during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. The programmes were all original and produced entirely by volunteers. Watermead offered a couple of our recordings for the radio to use during their initial 2010 broadcasting and at the beginning of 2013 we were asked to further our involvement by being presenters.
The first presentation done specifically for HGUH Radio was "The Third Day" - an Easterm Meditation of about 20 minutes - which was broadcast on Easter Sunday 2013. If you would like to hear the recording click here and visit our archive recording page. But, better still, click on the adjacent address and bookmark the HGUH page so that you can listen in to the radio on a regular basis - it is good.
The first presentation done specifically for HGUH Radio was "The Third Day" -
CHARITIES AND GOOD WORKS / PILGRIMAGES /
RELIGIOUS SUPPLIERS AND PUBLISHERS / RETAIL OUTLETS / MUSIC
The Watermead Apostolate has also become linked with a number of organisations,
commercial and charitable, and over the years we have come to know of
many charities and good works, along with good dedicated people and organisations,
who help by sharing their particular skills and expertise in a variety of ways.
Below is a list of all (in no particular order) that we would like to share with you, together with
a small outline of their work and, where applicable, of Watermead’s connection with them.
RELIGIOUS SUPPLIERS AND PUBLISHERS / RETAIL OUTLETS / MUSIC
The Watermead Apostolate has also become linked with a number of organisations,
commercial and charitable, and over the years we have come to know of
many charities and good works, along with good dedicated people and organisations,
who help by sharing their particular skills and expertise in a variety of ways.
Below is a list of all (in no particular order) that we would like to share with you, together with
a small outline of their work and, where applicable, of Watermead’s connection with them.
CHARITIES AND GOOD WORKS / PILGRIMAGES /
RELIGIOUS SUPPLIERS AND PUBLISHERS / RETAIL OUTLETS / MUSIC
RELIGIOUS SUPPLIERS AND PUBLISHERS / RETAIL OUTLETS / MUSIC
The above lists just some of the many people, organisations and charities that we have come to know since our beginnings in 1992 - long before the facility of internet! We have included those of you who we have found on the web but know we may have missed some contacts out. If we have missed you, then please do contact us with the details and we shall be happy to add you to our page of links.