Part 2: 1985-2000
1985-1995
Fr. Russ saw the schools in the parish as the future of the Church, and did a great deal to expand the numbers in the two schools. He also allocated parish money for the schools buildings, and obtained many grants from the Education Authorities for this purpose. Fr. Russ also encouraged further study, and a group of parishioners attended regular lectures at St. Bernard's for two years for the Diploma in Theology. He also initiated regular discussions after evening Mass on Friday evening. These were originally intended for the training of deacons, but became a source of spiritual food those who attended them, and he encouraged people to read the Catholic philosophers, including Bernard Lonergan. During this time the Sacred Heart Sisters decided that they could no longer maintain the Convent, so they their house was put on the market and sold as a private dwelling. They were greatly missed as they had become so much a part of the parish, and they had contributed so much. In 1990 St. Gilbert's Church in Eton Wick, came under the auspices of secular clergy, it was no longer served by Datchet, but by the priests of Burnham. St. Gilbert's had been built at the expense of the parishioners, and had been blessed by Bishop Parker in 1964. Fr. Richard Barrett joined Fr. Russ as his assistant, he organised a very successful series of talks on the New Catechism and these included many interesting speakers.
Fr. Russ brought back the Guild of St. Stephen, and altar girls later joined the boys on the sanctuary. When Fr. Tony Brennan joined the Parish immediately after his Ordination at St. Anthony's he organised inter-parochial football matches for the altar servers. The Catholic Women's League was started by Fr. D'Sonza while he was an assistant priest in the Parish. The forming of the Justice and Peace Link was also instigated by Fr. Russ. Another very important venture which was started in the parish soon after Fr. Russ' arrival, and greatly encouraged by him was "The London Run". Every Monday evening a group of people from the local area took food and clothes up to London for the homeless living under the arches of Waterloo Bridge. This has now grown to great proportions, and is a fully ecumenical venture involving forty parishes, and is a Charitable Trust, with ecumenical trustees.
» Fr. Timothy Russ (now Canon Timothy Russ) has written a blog about the philosophical writings of Bernard Lonergan, click here to read it.
1995-2000
In December 1995 Father Russ was asked by the Bishop to go to Great Missenden, he was replaced by Father Sean Healy. Fr. Healy arrived in Burnham in January 1996, he had previously been in Milton Keynes where he had been involved in building a new ecumenical Church. The most pressing problem on his arrival was to do with fabric. It had already been agreed to re-felt the flat roofs of the Church. The presbytery was already in need of renovation, and after extensive discussion with the Diocese and the Parish Council the work was carried out in May 1996. Also in that year the Department of Education refused permission to enlarge the Middle School, and over the next two years work was carried out to enable it to receive three forms of entry. The schools take up considerable time, and both Infant and Middle Schools have had new head-teachers and deputy heads in the last four years.
In January 1999 the Parish started to work hard to prepare a Mission which was held in November. It was led by the Catholic Mission Society, and it was a means of preparing for the Millennium. It was a great success and did much to enliven and enrich the Parish community. Christian Unity has been very much a live issue in the parish, and working with the Anglican community at St Andrews has been rewarding. The ecumenical project was reviewed in November 1998, and the implications of this are being worked out.
Fr. Tony Brennan was moved from the parish in February 2000 to become Parish Priest of St. John Ogilvie' in Corby, as yet he has not been replaced. However this has led to an increase of lay participation, and regular Services of the Word and Communion are now being held. Two of the Deacons, Rev Ted Connelly and Rev. Ernest Mills are now semi-retired, and the Rev. George Brooker has pastoral care at St. Gilbert's and is also Chair of the Shared Church Board at St. Andrew's. The Rev Douglas Denny has moved into the parish. The Rev. Catherine Dyer has been Vicar of St. Andrew's since 1995.
