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of our leading unpaid volunteers has learnt that he has been awarded a Papal Bene Merenti by the Cardinal. The Ewing family originated in Hornsey North London. However, during the Second World War they were evacuated to Holland-on-Sea. The family moved back to St Peter in Chains Parish, Hornsey, where Sam along with his two brothers and one sister attended St. Peters R.C. school. He remained there until the age of eleven. He then attended St William of York R.C. School, leaving at 16. Sam and his family stayed in the Parish of St Peter-in-Chains throughout his life where Sam eventually married Anne his childhood sweetheart. He was always active in his parish. It was as alter servers that he and Fr Bernard Phelan first met. Sam was one of the first people to work as a volunteer when SPICMA was established in 1967. Sam and Anne have two sons and a daughter; they too were brought up in North London. Sam has worked as an unpaid volunteer ever since. He was at the packing of every air shipment, the packing of every 20' and 40' sea containers, assisted at all the fund raising functions like jumble sales and dances. He was chosen to receive this award because of the outstanding support he gave the director and the charity over the last thirty eight years. He currently lives in Ware in Hertfordshire and is a trustee of the charity. Although now in his early sixties, Sam continues to support the SPICMA office. |
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 Sam, accompanied by his wife Anne, accepts the Bene Merenti medal from Fr Bernard Phelan |
On 21st January 2006, family members and friends gathered at St Joseph's College in Mill Hill, for a Mass and presentation service celebrated by Fr Bernard Phelan, president of SPICMA. In his homily, Fr Bernard said,""The hall mark of Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom, is the sense of urgency which surrounded everything he did. It first revealed itself when he called the apostles, telling them "follow me", leave your boats and family. These rather successful fishermen were infected by the same sense of urgency and we are told immediately left everything to follow Jesus. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, Jesus said. That was the reason for the urgency. The time has come when God will reveal his salvation for all peoples. Jesus indicated what the Kingdom meant by his concern for the poor and the marginalised, healing them and drawing them back into society. |
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They are often about "what I have done". Church awards like the Bene Merenti (well deserved) are given to those who have worked for God's Kingdom. No doubt all the founders of SPICMA would deserve the Bene Merenti medal, but we are very happy that Samuel Ewing, one of the stalwarts of SPICMA, has been given this medal. He represents all the faith and commitment of these past 30 years of all those who have contributed in any way to the work of SPICMA and to the furthering of God's Kingdom." Our Hon. Director, Patrick Phelan, recalled that when SPICMA came into existence it was known as St Peter in Chains Missionary Association. Responding to appeals for help, the volunteers in those days would purchase huge containers and fill them with whatever materials were needed. For example, in a building project the container would include heavy duty tools like cement mixers, plaster, cement, furniture, household goods, medical aids and equipment teaching materials and so on. After unloading, the containers would then be utilised as workshops, building annexes or storerooms. |
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