Sunday 27th July

The Biennial Procession of Faith will take place in Bedford on Sunday 27 July, leaving St Joseph’s church at 1.30 pm and walking through the centre of Bedford up to the main Park. Here there will be an open-air service concluding with Benediction at about 3.30 pm. Please come along and join in; two years ago 1400 people did just that.
[Read more…] about Biennial Procession of Faith

Congratulations to…

Leon & Gertrude Lewis

Peter & Dylis Willis

Both couples celebrate 60 years of marriage in 2014.  Canon Seamus presented them each with a Papal blessing granted by Pope Francis.

by Marguerite Cook

It was a crisp winter morning when two black horses; their beautiful coats gleaming; pulled the hearse through the red brick entrance lodge into Bedford cemetery. The horses pulled a light load, a coffin containing the body of Johnny aged nine years. Later in the day, the horses would pull the coffin of his best friend Tom, aged eight.
[Read more…] about CANON JOHN WARMOLL, OUR APOSTLE OF BEDFORD

by Marguerite Cook

850 Years Celebration

In the presence of kings, O Lord, I will declare your will, for your commands have been my delight (Psalm 119, 46-47)

Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born in London in the year 1118. Thomas was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170 by four knights after coming into conflict with King Henry II. Thomas and King Henry had been friends, and Thomas had been Chancellor of England before becoming head of the English church.

[Read more…] about St Thomas of Canterbury – Diocesan Patron

by Marguerite Cook

A WALK THROUGH THE CATHEDRAL AND ABBEY CHURCH OF ST. ALBANS

A parishioner asked me to write about St. Alban. When I appeared reluctant, he reminded me of the beautiful glass etching of St. Alban and his Abbey at the back of St. Joseph’s Church. The etching was done by Alfred Fisher F.M.G.P.  St. Alban is venerated as the proto-martyr of Britain. Alban was a Roman citizen, who was converted by a priest whom he had hid from persecution, and had helped escape by giving him his own clothes. Alban was arrested and beheaded by the Romans for being a Christian. [Read more…] about A visit to St Albans