(this report was written in 2005)
S. Francis of Assisi Church in Bournemouth has just finished an exciting year of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the church's dedication.
The celebrations started with a Mass for Candlemass in February and climaxed in October at S Francis-tide.
It has been a very busy and enjoyable year with many positive memories including a pilgrimage to Walsingham and another to Assisi and Rome, numerous and varied musical events, a summer fete, a flower festival and many social occasions, including a trip to Monkey World and a 1930's evening.
Chapters from the gospels have been hand written by members of the congregation with an age range of 6 to 90. They have been bound up into four commemorative volumes.
We were fortunate that our 75th year coincided with the Stand Up for Jesus festival in the Royal Albert Hall, a magnificent occasion enjoyed by many of our congregation.
Our pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi was made even more memorable as it coincided with the inaugural Mass of Pope Benedict XVI, together with the imposition of the pallium and conferral of the fisherman's ring.
A group of us were lucky enough to be present amongst the cheering and chanting crowds in S. Peter's Square; a truly unforgettable occasion.
All the pilgrims from S. Francis attended the inaugural general audience when his Holiness welcomed the pilgrims from S. Francis, Bournemouth.
The Roman authorities were very generous, allowing us to say Mass each day at various churches, Basilicas, convents and the catacombs of San Sebastian.
The flower festival illustrated the life of S Francis in flowers and heralded the celebrations marking the climax of this joyful year.
On S. Francis day the setting was Hayden's Mass in D Minor (the Nelson Mass) which was beautifully sung by an augmented choir. The preacher was the Bishop of Winchester, one of whose predecessors consecrated the church.
The Sunday in S. Francis-tide was highlighted with the principal celebrant and preacher being the Bishop of Richborough, and Mass was followed by a parish lunch, a great social occasion.
The final celebration was on Sunday 16 October, the dedication festival where the preacher was Fr George Guiver CR, Superior of the Community of the Resurrection, who are the patrons of the parish.
This has been a wonderful year of celebrations, inspirational pilgrimages and the forging of friendships old and new.
However, we cannot rest here - next year we are planning a Fan the Flame mission just after Easter.