Strangers into Citizens Mass

The Mass for Migrants in Westminster Cathedral prior to the Strangers into Citizens march on May 4th 2009.

Strangers into Citizens March

Carl and Mark on the march in London on May Bank Holiday 2009. The march and rally was to campaign for an amnesty for those undocumented migrants who have been in the UK for more than 4 years.

Strangers into Citizens March

Marching through central London with the group of people we travelled with from Birmingham (Mercy Convent, Handsworth).

Strangers into Citizens March

Mark on the march.

Strangers into Citizens March

Marching past the Houses of Parliament.

Strangers into Citizens March

A group of Congolese women who sang throughuot the whole march!

Strangers into Citizens Rally

The Strangers into Citizens Rally in Trafalgar Square, London.

Glastonbury

Glastonbury High Street

Glastonbury - Tor House

An old photo of the MSC house and minor Seminary. It is built into the corner of the Chalice Well gardens plot, alongside the two roads. The cottages (upper left) are all that remain of the buildings.

Glastonbury - Chalice Well Gardens

The entrance to the Gardens. The cottages on the left are the only remaining buildings from the time of the MSC presence on this site from 1886 to 1909.

Glastonbury - The Chalice Well

The well - source of the spring water in the gardens.

Glastonbury - The Chalice Well

Sign over the entrance to the upper gardens

Glastonbury Tor

A view from the top of the gardens to Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury - Chalice Well Gardens

A view of the cottages from inside the gardens

Glastonbury - Chalice Well Gardens

The waters from the well-spring are channelled down into this collecting pool in what would have been the back yard of the MSC house

Glastonbury - Chalice Well Gardens

The corner of the gardens that borders the two roads. In this corner of the garden the MSC house and Seminary/Novitiate was located.

Good Friday Walk of Witness '09

Gathering outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Good Friday Walk of Witness '09

Outside sacred Heart Church

Good Friday Walk of Witness '09

Outside Birchfield Gospel Hall

Good Friday Walk of Witness '09

Leaving Birchfield Gospel Hall to walk down Witton Rd

Good Friday Walk of Witness '09

Walking through the Witton Rd shopping area

Visit of Provincials, Sept 2008

L-R: Ton, Ben Verberne (Dutch Provincial), Mark, Pat Courtney (Irish Provincial) and Carl

Visit of Provincials, Sept 2008

Ben, Carl and Pat in conversation

Visit of Provincials, Sept 2008

L-R: (Back) Pat and Ton, (Front) Mark, Carl and Ben

Evaluation and Planning Day, Sept 2008

Mark, Carl and Ton with Sr Breda Noonan at the Jesuit Novitiate house in Harborne, Birmingham

Basic Introduction to Islam

Ton leads the first session in the five-week Basic Islam Course in the Undercroft of Sacred Heart Church

Special visitors for Mark's 40th birthday

Mark with his mother and Fr Herman Von Holsbeeck, a good friend from Belgium, visiting to celebrate Mark's birthday.

BBQ for Senior Citizens

In July 2008 we hosted the Senior citizens to a BBQ in our garden

BBQ for Senior Citizens

All tucking in!

BBQ for Senior Citizens

Carl as chief chef!

BBQ for Senior Citizens

Michael, Greta and Theresa

Senior Citizens

Each Tuesday we join the Senior Citizens' Lunch Club in Sacred Heart Primary School

Senior Citizens

Mark in conversation with some of the group

Hope 08

During the summer months we participated in Hope 08, four weekends of service and witness organised by Aston Churches Together.

Hope 08

Awaiting the rubbish collection at the end of the morning session

Hope 08

One of the blocks of maisonettes whose gardens, stairwells and landings we cleaned.

Hope 08

The children were involved in some litter picking.

Hope 08

Ton helps sweep one of the stairwells.

Hope 08

Having lunch together in the Salvation Army Church after the Saturday's work

Hope 08

Face painting on the Sunday Fun Day

Hope 08

In the Hope 08 tent at the Aston Pride Festival.

Mark and Pat in Tesco

Mark began work in Tesco at the end of March 08. The Irish Provincial, Pat Courtney, paid a visit a few weeks later.

Good Friday Walk of Witness

Arranged by Aston Churches Together, this walk used many of the Christian Churches in Aston as "stations" for song and prayer.

Good Friday Walk of Witness

A pause for scripture reading and prayer on Mansfield Green.

The Community

The three of us outside our front door shortly after we had moved in.

Our street

The row of six new houses completed in September 2007. ours is the third from the left.

Shahjalal Sunni Mosque

The Bangladeshi Mosque opposite our house.

Aston Fire Station

The Fire Station is next to the run of six new houses on our street.

Aston City Academy

This City Academy, which also runs adult education classes in the evenings, is half way along our road.

News Agent

Our local news agent, opposite the City Academy.

Ismael Foodstore

A general food store opposite the City Academy.

Mosque

Another larger Mosque and Islamic Centre close to our house.

IB Superstore

This is our local shop, almost opposite our house.

Aston Library

The library is towards the top of the Witton Road which runs through our neighboourhood. It is also the home of Aston Pride.

Mount Beulah Church

This Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church is just round the corner from our house on Witton Road.

Sacred Heart Church

Our Catholic parish church, on the corner of Witton Road and Prestbury Rd, immediately behind our house.

Parishioners leaving Church

After a weekday mass.

Voice of Aston

The predominantly Pakistani youth centre where Mark volunteers on a Monday evening.

Upper Witton Road

A view from half way down Witton Rd, looking up the hill. You can see Sacred Heart Church on the upper left hand side.

Maaz Supermarket

Our local supermarket - halfway down the Witton Rd.

Maaz Supermarket

Fruit and Veg display outside Maaz Supermarket

Hardware Stores on the Witton Rd

Some of the stores on the Witton Rd.

Zaf's Hairdressers

One of eight or nine gents hairdressers on the Witton Rd.

Charlie's Fish and Chip Shop

One of several Halal fast food outlets.

Lower Witton Rd shops

More shops on the lower Witton Rd.

African Store, Witton Rd.

Store specialising in African foodstuffs

Witton Islamic Centre

Smaller Mosque, Madrassa and Islamic Centre on the lower Witton Rd.

Broadway Mosque

One of the larger, purpose-built Mosques in Aston, on the corner of the lower Witton Rd and Broadway.

Sacred Heart Primary School

The Catholic Primary School, on the corner of Trinity Rd and Earlsbury Gardens.

Birmingham Jaime Masjid

The largest Mosque in Aston, opposite Sacred Heart School. Originally built for the Iraqi community, now a Mosque catering for all nationalities.

Pawnbrokers

Aston still has its own (successful) pawnbrokers.

Tesco

The newly built Tesco supermarket where Mark works 12 hours a week.

Centre for the Aston Family

The old Aston Cinema, now a multi-purpose resource centre.

Astro Turf Pitches

The newly developed all weather sports pitches opposite Villa Park.

Villa Park

The home of Aston Villa Football Club, seen from the children's playground in the park opposite.

Villa Park

The Holte End of Villa Park (the home supporters' end of the Stadium).

Aston Parish Church

St Peter and Paul's Parish Church, the Church of England Parish Church of Aston.

Aston Hall

A Jacobean Manor House and surrounding parkland, now being restored and redevelopped by an injection of funds from Aston Pride.