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‘Dawn comes just after the darkest part of the night’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Dawn comes just after the darkest part of the night’
Fr Frankie Mulgrew has given a message of hope during the coronavirus pandemic

Fr Frankie has given a message of hope during the pandemic

Fr Frankie Mulgrew has talked about the “coming of the dawn” as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Jimmy Cricket’s younger son is the parish priest of St James and All Souls in Salford and Catholic chaplain at Salford University.

He has also been assisting with hospital ministry during the current crisis.

Fr Frankie is reported in the Catholic Universe talking about the importance of hope and love in response to the virus.

“The greatest message we can give anybody is the message that they’re loved, and to know they’re not alone,” Fr Mulgrew said in a recent interview with The Art of Dying Well.

“They’re loved enough that someone wants to be sat next to them in this difficulty, wants to stand with them on this front line… I think that’s really key.”

Fr Frankie has been supporting Fr Mark Paver, who is the lead chaplain at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.

He said chaplains have personal protective equipment (PPE) and take the lead from the hospital on whether they can go into wards to minister.

“We’ve got to have the gear on, and even with personal equipment – there’s still the eyes, hopefully you can still display a message of eyes of love,” he said.

However, he admitted it was “tricky” and these are particularly “difficult circumstances”.

‘No night lasts forever’

“It’s letting people know that they’re not alone really,” Fr Frankie explained. “And from the priest’s perspective; it’s that God never leaves them.

“I think that’s the key thing, that He never leaves them; and that he always joins them in their pain.”

He said it was “a great honour” to be able to help and support as a chaplain, but insisted: “The real heroes are the doctors and nurses.”

Fr Frankie added: “What I am holding onto is that basically, the dawn comes just after the darkest part of the night. The dawn is coming. No night lasts forever before the sun rises. And when it rises, boy, does it shine brightly.”

Read the full story here

The UK government announced on 23 March it was imposing strict new curbs on life in the UK.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said public liturgies should cease until further notice because of the coronavirus.

Many churches have been getting around the problem by streaming their services online – including Fr Frankie.

Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: Fr Frankie’s Masses go online

Over £6,000 raised for Francis House 150 150 mhamer

Over £6,000 raised for Francis House


Jimmy and The Krankies

Jimmy and The Krankies

Jimmy Cricket helped to raise more than £6,000 for a Manchester-based charity at a two-night extravaganza.

The famous Irish comedian appeared in the fund-raising “Stars Come Out” show at the Oldham Coliseum on Monday and Tuesday (October 10 and 11), along with husband and wife comedy duo The Krankies and sixties Merseybeat band The Swinging Blue Jeans, of “You’re no Good” and the “Hippy Hippy Shake” fame. The show also featured the Dobcross Youth Band.

An extra night was added after the originally-planned one-day performance was sold out.

Jimmy’s good friend, Jim Nicholas, was the evening’s host and he also co-produced the show. Jim has a disco outfit called “Cliff’s Disco” and as a day job is the chief gardener at the Bishop of Salford’s residence, Wardley Hall.

On the Monday night the comedian Stu Francis came to watch as the Krankies were staying overnight with him in Bolton because they are good friends. He was enlisted to help with the raffle. On the Tuesday night Coronation Street fiesty newcomer Catherine Tyldesley (Eva Price) assisted with the raffle.

The money from the shows will go to Francis House Children’s Hospice, which is based at Didsbury in Manchester. The Hospice cares for children and young adults with life-threatening conditions and provides a home from home where families can receive professional care, support and friendship.

Jimmy Cricket said: “At the end of each show we were grateful for the director of Francis House – Rev David Ireland (who also happens to be the main reverend for the United Reform Church in central Oldham) to be on hand to personally thank each and every one of the audience for coming along and supporting the event on behalf of the charity.”