Report on the activities of St. George with St. James, Aguadulce, Spain.
(The Spanish Mission)
By Father David Worsley
Greetings from the Parish of St. George with St. James, Aguadulce, Sevilla, Spain.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this will be a short(ish) report, but, we hope, encouraging! Joe and I arrived here in Aguadulce on the 23rd. August, 2007, having left England with the assurances that our house in Manchester was sold, but arriving in Spain with the news that it hadn’t been, imparted to us by our solicitor as we were off Ushant on the Pride of Bilbao en route for Spain! However, as I write this report, we are now hopeful that the house will be sold within the next few weeks but at a much reduced price than that in August of last year after which the market began to plummet! However, we have not let that daunt our spirits!
Knowing that we were coming here to do God’s Will, we set about trying to get our new house in order and, more importantly, our garage set up as a chapel, at least for the initial period, as quickly as possible. During our first weeks here, we were advised of an English Market held each Wednesday at the Saydo Hotel in Mollina. Our Spanish Estate Agent and our solicitors are based in Mollina, so it was clear we would go down to the Saydo and see what was going on. Apart from Boundary Park (we don’t attract too many foreign supporters at Oldham Athletic), I have never seen so many English people in one place at one time and especially abroad! This struck us as a base for Evangelism! The following week, I went in my clericals and this brought about many questions and enquiries. Resulting from this, we agreed with the hotel manageress that we would provide a weekly Mass for those interested and did a poster / leaflet drop in all the houses attached to the Saydo Hotel (Saydo Park) and put them on all the cars’ windscreens parked outside the hotel for the market! That has proved to be our most successful source of Evangelism.
Some years ago, I saw on the London Underground graffiti which proclaimed “The trouble
with England is apathy”, under which someone had scrawled, “Who cares?”This is nowhere
more evident than in relation to the Church. We are exceptionally happy at the response
we have had but amazed at the truth of that graffiti! Things improved, however, when
the local Royal British Legion invited me to become their Chaplain. The RBL Service
of Remembrance last year was memorable and our first real introduction to one another!
As things have evolved, we have a faithful nucleus of worshippers at the Saydo, two
of whom have been moved to join the HCC-
We have been greatly encouraged by the Receptions of Derek Cantellow and Beryl Lee. However, one person who was fairly regular, has left us and gone to the RC Church in Mollina because we were “too high Roman Catholic”! I take that as a compliment!!! What Church she thinks she’s attending in Mollina is anyone’s guess!
In Aguadulce, things are static, although daily Masses are, and will continue to
be, offered here. Despite mail drops and personal invitations, the response has been
disappointing. However, in July, there will be a renewed effort both at the Saydo
and here in the village to improve numbers. At the Saydo, it will be largely carried
out by Beryl, Joe and Derek, whilst I will be able to undertake a more hands-
Our relations with the Roman Catholic Church could not be more helpful, however.
Locally here in Aguadulce, we already had a very close relationship with Fr. Gines
– even before we arrived, and that continues with his successor, Fr. Juan. However,
the Episcopal Vicar (equivalent of an Archdeacon) for this area has proved to be
invaluable. Fr. Adolfo Pacheco is a fine priest and a great supporter of us in this
area. He is totally sympathetic to our Faith Position which he sees, for his own
Church, the best way forward. He finds our liturgy rewarding, meaningful and very
up-
One of our highlights in the last 10 months was assisting in the Diocese of Malaga, at the wedding of my Bank Manageress (from Liverpool, but we all have our problems!) to a lawyer from Malaga. Blue was the colour of the day – the Blue of Everton being joined together to the Blue of Malaga FC by the Blue of Oldham Athletic! The wedding took place in one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Malaga, Sant Iago, just off the Plaz Merced (where Picasso was born). The church is magnificent and Fr. Manuel, the very elderly parish priest, an absolute delight. A family friend of the groom, Fr. Antonio, took the wedding in Spanish and then I repeated each passage (including the vows) in English. It was a great privilege and a wonderful day (and evening!). To hear 68 Blue Scousers (and two Reds) lifting the roof off with “Jerusalem” after the Communion was amazing. Fr. Antonio just looked at me next to him at the altar and said “Wow!” Summed it up totally.
Pictures received from the Spanish Mission
Altar set up at the Saydo Hotel ready for Sunday 11.45 Mass
Fr David Worsley with Fr. Adolfo Pacheco, the Episcopal Vicar
Of the Diocese of Seville. Photo taken in Fr. David’s house Chapel
Fr. David just before Mass in his home chapel of St George and St James.
Reception of Derek Cantelow
(Chapel -
Reception of Beryl Lee
(Hotel Saydo)
