DECEmbEr 2023
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Edition 24
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Archdiocese of Liverpool embarks on sixth Ukrainian trip
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Young Author
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St Nicholas, 6th December
Gaza Christians: ‘Peace – we just want peace’ ACN
“We just want peace, peace. We have had six wars in Gaza. Children only know war.” A Sister at Gaza’s Catholic parish – now caring for more families following the bombing of the local Orthodox church – has made a heartfelt plea for peace. Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) by telephone, Sister Nabila, who is caring for Christians sheltering in Gaza’s Holy Family parish complex, said she is extremely worried. The parish has no electricity or running water and has resorted to drinking water from a well – which they fear could run dry at any time – or bottled mineral water, which costs three times its original price. Sister Nabila expressed particular concern for around 100 traumatised children they are caring for and who have known nothing but war throughout their lives. She said: “We just want peace, peace. We have had six wars in Gaza. Children only know war.” Holy Family parish has been providing aid and shelter to wounded and displaced Christians affected by the ongoing violence over the past two weeks – most of whom have lost their homes. Along with another six religious Sisters and a Catholic priest, Sister Nabila has been working tirelessly to support the almost 700 displaced persons that they are caring for – including 50 persons living with disabilities.
Holy Family Church in Gaza The number of those taking refuge in the Holy Family’s complex increased by around 200 after the compound of St Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church was hit by a missile that killed 18 people. Among those killed when the Greek Orthodox compound was hit was a teacher who taught at Rosary Sisters’ school, where Sister Nabila is principal, along with her entire family.
Other children who had been attending parish catechesis also died. Despite the shelling, Sister Nabila remains resilient, saying that “staying busy and helping others is the best way to cope with the devastation”. Sister Nabila told ACN that spiritual support for the people is providing hope.
Mass is celebrated twice a day, and people have been constantly praying the Rosary – seeking peace through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. She concluded: “Peace, peace, we just want peace. There is so much evil, so much suffering. It's terrible. Right now, we only have God.” Maria Lozano and John Newton
Page 2. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
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We need to know our place before God From the presbytery.............. by Fr Neil McNicholas
With all due respect to other faiths, Catholic pupils attending Catholic schools should be learning about their own faith as a priority – that’s what our Catholic schools are for. The word humility comes from the Latin humilis which in turn has its roots in the word humus (the ground). Someone who is humble is therefore lowly, modest, meek – but not grovellingly so like the loathsome Dickens character Uriah Heep.
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Our current catechism speaks of humility as ‘poverty of spirit’: standing empty-handed before God, acknowledging our dependence on his providence, subjecting ourselves to his will and the guidance of his Spirit.
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We are called to a poverty of spirit which shows itself in an openness to God’s action in our life – letting God be God. We need to reflect regularly on the story of St Peter being called out onto the water by Jesus, being asked to do something he knew to be impossible but learning, as a result, that with God all things are possible. He walked on water – or least for as long as he kept his eyes on Our Lord who had asked Peter to trust him.
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When, for example, priests ask people to consider becoming ministers of the word or of holy communion, the answer is often “I’m not worthy”. Of course they’re not, and neither are priests to do what they do, but we keep our eyes fixed on Our Lord who calls us out onto the water and we trust him to make us worthy and able – otherwise why would he have invited us? Our response calls for humility, a poverty of spirit that admits that by ourselves we can’t walk on water but we are willing to trust in God who calls us to try. Someone may say: ‘But it wasn’t God who asked me to become a minister, it was the priest.’ Well yes, but the invitation doesn’t always have to come directly from God, especially if no one is listening when he calls. Then he gets someone else to do the inviting instead.
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Considering the root meaning of the word humility (the ground), another sense in which I
would use the word is in the need to be “grounded” in our faith, to have a knowledge and an awareness of the fundamentals of what we believe. We now have at least two generations of Catholics who have been subjected to the political correctness of a national curriculum that required them to learn at least as much about other religions as they were allowed to learn about their own. With all due respect to other faiths, Catholic pupils attending Catholic schools should be learning about their own faith as a priority – that’s what our Catholic schools are for. But if the Catholic faith is only one of many theologies being presented to them, it’s no wonder young people don’t really know one from another. I also think the Church has paid a high price for allowing the old “penny catechism” to be phased out. That system of question and answer rote learning may not fit with today’s educational methods, but it served the Church well for many generations. Those of us who used that catechism grew up knowing the basics of our faith – a solid foundation on which we could build throughout our life and one which we could refer back to as a source of what was right and wrong. Critics may say it was very legalistic, but that was the whole point: the catechism set out the basic rules and regulations, it grounded us in our faith. What we now have are two or three generations of Catholics who seem to have been taught little other than the fact that Jesus loves them, and his forgiving love then becomes an excuse for doing whatever they want, making up the rules as they go along. This is why there is so much emphasis these days on catechetics and adult formation in parishes because it is clear that there are a lot of holes in people’s faith-knowledge that need to be filled. And yet it is typical of parishes
everywhere that whenever courses or programmes are organised, only a handful of people come. Even for those who received a good Catholic education that process didn’t end when they left school. We are never fully formed as Christians, we can’t ever say we know it all or even that we know enough. Things change, we change, the world around us changes. And surely we’re not too busy to come to courses and meetings occasionally? What other commitments could we possibly have that are so important that they take precedence? Humus, humilis. We need to know our place before God. He isn’t just another authority figure that we can challenge or ignore as happens with authority figures in society. He is our God; he is our life and our salvation; he is our rock and the foundation of our life. He is closer to us than we are to ourselves and so we can never run away or pretend he isn’t there. Being grounded in our faith is vital to our relationship with God. Humility, poverty of spirit, calls us to stand before God conscious that we are nothing without him. In the words of John the Baptist: ‘He (Jesus) must grow greater, I must grow smaller’. Humus, humilis. What does the Lord ask of you, only this: to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6 v 8) The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly, and then you will find favour with the Lord… (who) accepts the homage of the humble. (from Ecclesiasticus 3 v 17-21 The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love. (Pope Francis) Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. (C.S.Lewis) Wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other, because God refuses the proud and will always favour the humble. Bow down, then, before the power of God now, and he will raise you up on the appointed day. (1Peter 5 v 5-6)
Archdiocese of Liverpool embarks on sixth Ukrainian trip to deliver essential aid liverpoolcatholic.org.uk
The appeal would not be possible without the continued support of our archdiocese
A 12-tonne vehicle will transport goods including medical supplies, toiletries, crutches, Zimmer frames, blankets and blow-up mattresses. The aid has been purchased using financial donations from the #Liverpool4Ukraine appeal with support from Greenmount Projects, The Brick, Chorley & District Ukraine Support group and the supply chain of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.
A small group of representatives from the archdiocese and Greenmount Projects, who have been influential in the appeal, flew to Poland to support with the handover to Bishop Gregory. Martin Miller, chief operating officer at the Archdiocese of Liverpool, said: “This is our sixth trip to the border to deliver goods for those in Ukraine. For every trip, we have adapted our processes based on our previous experiences. “For this journey, we are using a 12-tonne vehicle for the first time which will enable us to take even more donations for those who need it the most. “The appeal would not be possible without the continued support of our archdiocese and I would like to thank everyone who has helped or donated since we started #Liverpool4Ukraine in early 2022.” Bishop Gregory visited the archdiocesan offices in August this year to thank everyone who had supported the appeal. He said: “I came here to thank the people of Liverpool who have helped so much. Life in Ukraine has changed – many people have lost relatives, lost jobs, lost homes, and many have had to leave Ukraine. If we didn’t get the help we’ve received we don’t know where we’d be – it would certainly be much worse.” Donations for the appeal are still welcome and more details of how to donate can be found by visiting liverpoolcatholic.org.uk
miracles start with You With news bulletins bringing us pictures of human suffering on a scale difficult to comprehend, there IS something we can do. If each of us pray a decade of the Rosary each day for peace in our troubled world, we can make a considerable difference. In this we need not dwell on the situation we are praying for, but offer our hearts to Our Lady whilst filling our minds with the scriptural story in our chosen decade. In this way we allow the peace of God to rest in our hearts also, in the knowledge that we have done what we could, through humble prayer, to alleviate the sufferings of others. Our prayers, humble prayers, will be heard and responded to in ways that we may not know of in this life, but surely will be shown in the next.
Essential aid for Ukraine left the Archdiocese of Liverpool on Tuesday 24 October in what is the sixth consignment of the #Liverpool4Ukraine appeal.
The goods will be received by Bishop Gregory Komar, from the Ukrainian diocese of SambirDrohobych, who will distribute them across the Lviv region of western Ukraine. Bishop Gregory is the auxiliary bishop of the diocese and has a close association with the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
The Catholic Post. December 2023. Page 3.
Former Faiths minister says lockdown of churches was “outrageous” catholicunion.org.uk
Over 700 people have taken part in the online survey so far Former Minister of State, Lord Greenhalgh, has told the Catholic Union that the closure of churches and other places of worship during the pandemic was “outrageous”. Lord Greenhalgh, who had responsibility for Government policy on faith and communities between 2020 and 2021, said that “people at the heart of power did not understand faith”. His comments come as the UK Covid Inquiry hears evidence from senior advisers and civil servants about the decisions taken during the pandemic. Last week, former Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Helen MacNamara, told the Covid Inquiry that decision makers had suffered from a “narrow perspective”. Last month, the Catholic Union launched a survey on the impact that the closure of places of worship had on people’s lives. Over 700 people have taken part in the online survey so far. The results will shape the Catholic Union’s written evidence to the Covid Inquiry.
Speaking to the Catholic Union, Lord Greenhalgh said that places of worship did a “phenomenal job” at controlling the spread of the virus, especially compared to rates of transmission in other settings that weren’t subject to the same restrictions. Lord Greenhalgh’s comments add further pressure to the Chair of the Covid Inquiry, Baroness Hallett, to properly consider the decisions around the closure and reopening of places of worship as part of the independent inquiry. Catholic Union Director, Nigel Parker, comments: “Before Covid, few of us could have imagined our churches being forced to close by law. Yet that is the situation we faced at times during the dark days of the pandemic. The inquiry into the UK’s response to the pandemic needs to consider the decisions around the closure and reopening of places of worship, which had such a huge impact on so many people. The Catholic Union led the charge in getting our churches open again, and we’re now committed to making sure they are never forced to close again. I encourage everyone to take part in our survey to make sure the voices of Catholic are heard as part of this Inquiry. To complete the survey search online for Catholic Union Covid Survey.
One day we will understand the power of praying for peace, and what it has meant for others: Maybe we will be shown the people who were brought food and water as a result of our prayer, and the people who were miraculously kept safe from injury, or be told of the influence that our prayers had on political discussions that brought peace. Our prayer makes things happen. And we will say: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison, and go to see you?” And the king will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25: 35-45) Pray the Rosary and bring Peace to our world. www.crownofthorns.org.uk office@crownofthorns.org.uk
Page 4. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
Cranes from buckfast to Hiroshima buckfast.org
This year, the project included a section on ‘War and Peace’ that highlighted the touching story of Sadako Sasaki RE:connect is an innovative project run by Buckfast Abbey Education Team that encourages young people to think deeply about the world around them through interactive activities and reflections. This year, the project included a section on ‘War and Peace’ that highlighted the touching story of Sadako Sasaki, and invited visitors to fold a paper peace crane to be displayed in the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima. Each year the Buckfast Abbey Education Team runs a project called RE:connect, specially designed to help young people think more deeply about themselves and the world around them through hands on and thoughtprovoking activities, exercises and reflections. This year, for the first time, it included a section called ‘War and Peace’. In the Peace Area we focused on the story of Sadako Sasaki – a girl who was a victim of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Sadako is sometimes known as the girl who folded 100 cranes (if you don’t
know her story then do look it up as it is very moving). Students and visitors to RE:connect were invited to fold a paper peace crane and leave it in a basket in the exhibition. We recently collected the Buckfast cranes together and sent them to Hiroshima to be displayed on the actual Children’s Peace Monument.
Sadako Sasaki and the international children’s movement for peace theelders.org
Her school-mates informed the teacher, and Sadako’s parents took her to the Red Cross Hospital to see what was wrong with her Sadako was two years old, and two kilometres away from the atomic bomb when it was dropped on Hiroshima. Most of Sadako’s neighbors died, but Sadako wasn’t injured at all, at least not in any way people could see. Up until the time Sadako was 10 (1955) she was a normal, happy girl. However, one day during a school race that she helped her team win, she felt extremely tired and dizzy. This got worse and worse, until one day Sadako became so dizzy that she fell down and was unable to get up. Her school-mates informed the teacher, and Sadako’s parents took her to the Red Cross Hospital to see what was wrong with her. Sadako found out that she had leukemia. At that time they called leukemia the “A-bomb disease”. There was a low survival rate for 'A-bomb disease and Sadako was very scared. During Sadako's stay in the hospital, her best friend, Chizuko, came to visit her. Chizuko brought some origami (folding
paper) and told Sadako of a legend. She explained that the crane, a sacred bird in Japan, lives for a hundred years, and if a sick person folds 1,000 paper cranes, then that person would soon get well. After hearing the legend, Sadako decided to fold 1,000 cranes and pray that she would get well again. Sadako kept folding cranes even though she was in great pain. Even during these times of great pain, she was known by hospital staff and other patients as cheerful and helpful, and always asking for scraps of paper or material to continue folding cranes. Although Sadako knew she would not survive, she folded well over 1,000 cranes and continued to be strong for the sake of her family. In October 1955, with her family standing by her bed, she died. Sadako’s classmates had lost many of their friends to the A-bomb disease and were saddened by the loss of Sadako. They decided to form a unity club to honour her and stay in touch after they all left school, which grew as students from 3,100 schools and from 9
Statue of the Child of the Atomic Bomb (1962) Photo by Kunio Iida, owned by Hiroshima City Archives foreign countries gave money to get a statue built to recognise the many children who lost their lives because of the bomb. On May 5, 1958, almost 3 years after Sadako had died, enough money was collected to build a monument in her honour. It is now known as the Children’s Peace Monument and is located in the centre of Hiroshima Peace Park, close to the spot where the atomic bomb was dropped
The act of folding a crane started by Sadako and her classmates turned into a national, then an international, children's peace movement. Children from all over the world still send folded paper cranes to be placed beneath Sadako’s statue. In so doing, they fulfil the wish engraved on the base of the statue: This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world.
The Catholic Post. December 2023. Page 5.
Catholic charity announces new award as part of #redWednesday ACN
The charity will be presenting its new Courage to be Christian award. A catholic charity has unveiled plans to launch a new award recognising fortitude and faith in the face of persecution – which will be presented by the papal ambassador to Great Britain. As part of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)’s #RedWednesday 2023 celebrations on 22nd November – which are set to include a special evening Mass at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark – the charity will be presenting its new Courage to be Christian award. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, said: “It is a great honour for me to be invited to present the first ever #RedWednesday ‘Courage to be Christian’ award. “Religious freedom is of the utmost importance and Aid to the Church in Need is doing a wonderful service by honouring those who have shown such extraordinary commitment to their faith in the face of persecution.” #RedWednesday events in London will start at 5.30pm with a gathering in the Cathedral’s Courtyard before Mass at 6pm, which will be concelebrated by Archbishop Buendia and Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark. The presentation of the award will occur at the end of Mass and will be followed by a reception at 7.45pm. Canon Michael Branch, Dean of Southwark Cathedral, said: “We look forward very much to hosting #RedWednesday here at St George’s Cathedral and warmly invite everyone to come and join us to thank God for the life and witness of those who have suffered so much to remain true to their Christian faith. “The theme of this year’s #RedWednesday is the persecuted Church in Africa and I am sure the Mass will have a particular appeal to those with connections to that wonderful continent living in and around Southwark.” In 2022 more than 34 percent of ACN (UK)’s support went to the African continent, where projects, including help for widows and orphans who lost husbands and fathers at the hands of jihadists in Nigeria, have been backed by the charity. The lead up to ACN’s 2023 #RedWednesday events started on Sunday 22nd October when Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme from Maiduguri
Diocese in north-east Nigeria led a Rosary service. ACN is encouraging Catholics to pray 100,000 decades of the Rosary for persecuted Christians in Africa in the run-up to #RedWednesday later this month. The charity has also launched a £100K4AFRICA challenge calling on individuals, schools and communities to help the charity raise £100,000 for projects by Christmas, with matched funding meaning that every penny donated will be doubled. Dr Caroline Hull, National Director Aid to the Church in Need (UK), invited everyone to join the Mass and events on Wednesday 22nd November. She said: “We are very excited about the #RedWednesday Mass and events at St George’s Cathedral – a wonderful opportunity to bear witness to the importance of religious freedom and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those who suffer just because they are Christian. “And it is a huge honour that our new Apostolic Nuncio has agreed to lead us by presiding and preaching at the Mass as well as presenting our first-ever #RedWednesday ‘Courage to be Christian’ award.
This Christmas, give the gift of faith to suffering Christians around the world War and persecution are leaving Christians suffering and in need. With your help, ACN can provide aid and pastoral assistance. Your gift of faith this Christmas can offer a much-needed lifeline to displaced Christian families in Nigeria and around the world in desperate need, helping keep the Faith alive.
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Synod on Synodality 2023
Page 6. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
Summary report calls for greater ‘co-responsibility’ in Church catholicnewsagency.com
The synod’s report also noted fears that have emerged around the process.
included in the working document that guided assembly discussions. The summary report did, however, emphasize the assembly’s “closeness and support to all those who experience a condition of loneliness” as result of “fidelity to the Church’s tradition and magisterium in marriage and sexual ethics” and called upon Christian communities to listen and accompany those in these situations.
“Some fear that they will be forced to change; others fear that nothing will change and there will be too little courage to move in the rhythm of the living tradition. Some perplexity and opposition also hide the fear of losing power and the privileges that come with it,” the document said.
Regarding resistance to certain proposals, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the relator general of the Synod on Synodality, said that if the results were considered in the context of parliamentary voting in a democratic state, “we would be very happy indeed” with the outcome.
The assembly also identified the need to determine why some Catholics did not participate in the synodal process, which was initiated by Pope Francis in 2021, and has included consultation at diocesan, national, and continental levels. Only 1% of Catholics worldwide took part.
Synodal structures and decision-making
“The exercise of co-responsibility is essential for synodality and is necessary at all levels of the Church. Every Christian is a mission in the world” The Vatican’s nearly monthlong Synod on Synodality assembly, convened by Pope Francis, has concluded with members approving an ambitious text calling for greater “co-responsibility” among all believers in the evangelizing mission of the Church — and proposing concrete reforms to achieve it. Titled “A Synodal Church in Mission,” the 42page summary report included notable proposals to establish new ministries for the laity, increase lay involvement in decisionmaking, create processes to evaluate bishops’ performance of their ministry, change the way the Church discerns “controversial” issues, and expand the footprint of synodal assemblies going forward. “The exercise of co-responsibility is essential for synodality and is necessary at all levels of the Church,” the final report stated. “Every Christian is a mission in the world.” The final report itself provided comprehensive definition of the term:
a
“Synodality can be understood as the walk of Christians with Christ and toward the kingdom, together with all humanity; mission-oriented, it involves coming together in assembly at the different ecclesial levels of life, listening to one another, dialogue, communal discernment, consensus-building as an expression of Christ’s making himself present alive in the Spirit, and decision-making in differentiated coresponsibility,” it stated. Many of these themes ran throughout the document’s treatment of 20 different issues, including everything from “Christian initiation” to “missionaries in the digital environment.” The summary report noted areas of convergence, divergence, and concrete proposals that had emerged during the 365 synod members’ discussions on communion, participation, and mission from Oct. 4–28. “This is the approach of Jesus, to create spaces for everyone so that no one feels excluded,” said Cardinal Mario Grech, head of the secretariat for the synod, during the document’s presentation to media after its publication.
Controversial issues The final document was provided to members earlier today after writers attempted to incorporate more than 1,150 proposed amendments into the text. The 344 voting members present approved the text on the evening of Oct. 28, voting to include each paragraph proposed with the required twothirds majority After the final vote, Pope Francis spoke briefly to the assembly, thanking its members and organizers, and telling those gathered that the Holy Spirit is the protagonist of synodal process. Two sections that received some of the most opposition concerned proposals related to the possible inclusion of women in the diaconate. Sixty-seven members voted against the proposal that “theological and pastoral research on women’s access to the diaconate should be continued,” taking into account the results of two commissions Pope Francis established to study the topic. “If possible, the results should be presented at the next session of the assembly,” the report proposed. Sixty-one members opposed a proposal that said a “deeper reflection” on the diaconate’s status as “a proper and permanent degree of the hierarchy” would “also illuminate the issue of women’s access to the diaconate.” Notably, the final text did not include the term “LGBTQ+ people” after the phrase was
Perhaps the synod’s most significant concrete proposals came in the form of calls for changes in ecclesial decision-making and the expansion of synodal assemblies and bodies in the life of the Church. The report called for continental assemblies to be canonically recognized and for the implementation of “the exercise of synodality” at regional, national, and continental levels. One “issue to be addressed” was the revision of local Church councils to “realize through them a greater participation of the people of God.” The recent plenary council in Australia, which included bishop and non-bishop participation, was highlighted as an example to follow. The synod assembly also proposed formally reconsidering the composition of the Synod of Bishops itself In the section on “The Synod of Bishops and Ecclesial Assemblies,” the document said that changes to this year’s synod — most notably, the full participation of non-bishop members, including laymen and women — “were generally welcomed” by the assembly. While “preserving its eminently episcopal character,” the 2023 synod also reportedly “made tangible” the link between the participation of all the faithful, episcopal collegiality, and the primacy of the pope. “The synodal process was and is a time of grace through which God is offering us the opportunity to experience a new culture of synodality, capable of guiding the life and mission of the Church.” The text did note, however, that some members raised concerns that the equal participation of non-bishops in an episcopal
body could lead to the “specific task of the bishops” not being “adequately understood.” “The question remains open about the impact of [non-bishops’] presence as full members on the episcopal character of the assembly,” the synod document noted. The report suggested three options for the arrangement of future global synods: bishopsonly, both bishops and non-bishops, or an assembly of non-bishops followed by an episcopal assembly. The “urgent need to ensure that women can participate in decision-making processes and assume roles of responsibility in pastoral care and ministry” was also cited. The document referenced Pope Francis’ recent appointment of several women to positions of responsibility in the Roman Curia and stressed that “the same should happen at other levels” of the Church and that canon law be adapted accordingly. The document called for bishops to exercise their mandate to teach, govern, and sanctify through greater engagement with members of their local community. Concrete proposals included establishing “structures and processes for the verification of the bishop’s work” and making diocesan pastoral councils canonically mandatory. The assembly also called for a review of the criteria used to pick new bishops, incorporating broader consultation in the process, including greater input from laymen and women. And the importance of forming seminarians in a more synodal strain of pastoral engagement was also emphasized.
Ecclesial discernment and ‘open questions’ The assembly also proposed reconsidering the way the Church discerns “controversial” issues and “open questions,” a loaded topic that may raise concerns about the diminishment of the episcopacy’s charism for authoritatively teaching. “Some issues, such as those related to gender identity and sexual orientation, the end of life, difficult marital situations, and ethical issues related to artificial intelligence, are controversial not only in society but in the Church because they raise new questions,” the document stated. The report went on to suggest that the Church’s anthropological categories are sometimes “not sufficient to grasp” complexities that emerge through personal experience and scientific inquiry. Continued on page 7
The Catholic Post. December 2023. Page 7.
SCIAF takes global hunger message to steps of Number 10
Continued from page 6 As a response, the document called for the promotion of “initiatives that allow for shared discernment on doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues that are controversial” in “light of the word of God, Church teaching, theological reflection, and valuing the synod experience.” The text proposed that a confidential meeting of experts on these controversial issues, possibly with the inclusion of those who directly experience them, should be initiated, with an eye toward next October’s assembly.
synod also proposed giving episcopal conferences more authority over liturgy.
Relatedly, the document also said that “synodal processes” can verify when the faithful are in consensus (the “consensus fidelium”) on a given issue, which “is a sure criterion for determining whether a particular doctrine or practice belongs to the apostolic faith.”
“This is an experience that does not finish today but will continue,” Grech said.
While Catholic teaching affirms that the faithful cannot err in matters of belief when they manifest universal consent, many theologians and bishops warn about the inadequacy of attempting to gauge this through formalized consultation.
“And that’s the important thing, I think. That we move.”
Back in August we asked supporters to put pressure on Rishi Sunak's government as millions of people around the world continue to face the grim reality of famine.
In the meantime, synod members will return to their respective dioceses, where they have been tasked to get feedback on the summary report and to foster a synodal culture.
And they did not disappoint. 1,500 people, covering every constituency* in Scotland signed a letter with three simple asks around food security.
“I think people will leave tomorrow or the day after tomorrow going home with a heart full of hope, with a lot of ideas, and I’m looking forward to seeing them back next year,” Hollerich said. Jonathan Liedl
And today (16.11.23) we took that message loud and clear - to the steps of number 10, asking the UK government to serve up change for millions around the world.
In a move signaling openness to decentralizing the Church’s teaching authority, the document proposed further exploration of “the doctrinal and juridical nature” of bishops’ conferences, recognizing the possibility of doctrinal decision-making “in the local sphere.” The
Setting the stage According to its introduction, the 2023 assembly’s summary report “is in no way a final document” but will be used as the basis of the Synod on Synodality’s final stage — another Vatican assembly in October 2024. That assembly is expected to produce a final text that will be presented to the pope for his consideration.
Hollerich noted that he hopes next year’s document makes more concrete proposals but said that “even that document will be a step of a Church on the move.”
The Year of Prayer 2024 birminghamdiocesantrust.eu.rit.org.uk
If the Gospel is a message of Joy, then it is one we should be eager to share with others
ICN
It's time for action on global hunger. It's time to serve up change Ahead of a major global summit on food security in London next week, SCIAF (Scottish International Aid Fund) has delivered calls from people across Scotland for the UK Government to tackle the global hunger crisis.
Anne Callaghan was joined by London-based SCIAF supporter Amber Morris to deliver the message straight to Mr Sunak's front door. Anne said: "There are many factors contributing to the global food crisis - but it remains the case that there is enough food on earth to go round - it's just the system that's broken. It's wrong that while so many people across the world go hungry, others have too much food. "We asked SCIAF supporters to add their name to our letter which calls for three things - more food aid for East Africa, reversing the overseas
Anne Callaghan at No 10 aid budget cuts and an overall system change to promote sustainable forms of agriculture across the world. "Thanks to everyone who stood with us against food justice, and for standing in solidarity with people facing the global hunger crisis. It's time for action on global hunger. It's time to serve up change." The food summit on Monday 20th November is being seen as an opportunity to inspire renewed global ambition to make sure everyone, everywhere, has access to enough food. Anne said: "It is vital that this summit delivers the real change we need to see in the world and puts the needs of the poorest front and centre. This petition shows that people across Scotland support the government to do all it can to help our brothers and sisters around the world." *UK Government constituencies
CAFOD statement on the deaths of local partner staff in Gaza cafod.org.uk In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year 'Pilgrims of Hope', 2024 has been designated a Year of Prayer by Pope Francis. It starts this Advent. There is a particular focus on the Our Father, and this presents us with a great opportunity to go back to the basics of prayer. On Evangelii Gaudium Sunday this year (17 Sept 2023) parishes were encouraged to start considering how they can mark the Year of Prayer and help parishioners grow through a renewed life of prayer. If the Gospel is a message of Joy, then it is one we should be eager to share with others, and this can be done especially by
inviting people to a deeper, prayerful encounter with Jesus Christ this year. On Evangelii Gaudium Sunday the Diocesan Office for Mission encouraged every Catholic to reflect on their life of prayer: what they pray, how they pray, and why they pray. This is for two reasons: To encourage people to go deeper in their commitment to pray, and in their love of God; To think about how they might accompany someone else to pray during the coming Year of Prayer. The Office for Mission is already working towards the Year of Prayer and will be providing suggestions and resources for how you can begin to do that.
Once again, we are devastated to share the tragic news that several staff members at one of our local partners operating within Gaza have been killed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and all those injured and affected. They were humanitarian workers – but also mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, neighbours and friends – who, alongside their colleagues, continued to work to help others in their community who have been trapped by the aerial bombings and worsening humanitarian crisis over the last month. They had been tirelessly carrying out vital humanitarian work and promoting peace for many years.
CAFOD works with local organisations who are there before, during and after an emergency or crisis, yet never before have so many of the staff from our local partners been so personally affected by an ongoing crisis, as we are witnessing in Gaza. Civilians, humanitarian workers, hospitals, and places of refuge – whether that is a church, school or a home - should never be military targets. We renew our call for an urgent ceasefire, to protect every life. Where they are able to, our partners continue to respond, providing urgent humanitarian aid to those most in need. Please pray for all those who have lost loved ones, have been injured and displaced, and live in fear as the violence continues.
Page 8. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
Fathers need children salesianschools.com
The point of this brief reflection is that children need their fathers but it is also true that fathers need their children “The most important thing that a father can do for his children is love their mother.” I heard that sentence decades ago when fathers were the main bread winners and many mothers stayed at home rather than working in paid employment. The statement is true and a beautiful endorsement of married love as the complex commitment and rich relationship within which children are best raised. But I have a problem with it too. It seems to remove any need for the father to engage meaningfully with his children. It accepts too easily the notion of an absent father. The point of this brief reflection is that children need their fathers but it is also true that fathers need their children. Let’s take a look at the current situation which is in significant change
of wellbeing and are less likely to be depressed or suffer from anxiety. Positive engagement between a father and a sixteen-year-old leads to less psychological distress in adulthood. Socially, children with a warm and caring father figure relate better to other children. Studies found that young people were less likely to act out their tensions if they had a caring male figure in their life and were generally better at self-regulation. Intellectually children with positively involved fathers had a better cognitive function and did better at school. It is a significant listing of the benefits of having a close father relationship and one that might motivate men to engage with more confidence in care for their children.
Don Bosco as a spiritual father The impact of the pandemic The number of full-time stay-at-home dads in the UK has leapt by a third since before the pandemic, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. The data shows that one in nine full-time stay-at-home parents are fathers, up from one in 14 in 2019. The time spent by mothers in direct care for their children has dropped by 3% and the time spent by fathers has increased by 18% over the period from 2014 to 2022. This trend towards the closing of the gender gap in childcare is encouraging and looks likely to continue especially if working from home becomes an embedded feature of employment in the UK.
Text sent by email Fathers themselves benefit from engaging with care for their children. They end up happier and healthier. Fathers reported that child care was a source of wellbeing, life satisfaction and deep meaning for them. Fathers engaged with their children are healthier, less likely to adopt addictive behaviour than non-involved fathers. Additionally, fathers involved in child care are drawn more easily into engagement with the local neighbourhood and become part of the local community.
We call Don Bosco “The Father and Teacher of Youth” for the abandoned youth of Turin in the mid-19th century. Along with “Friend of Youth” it is one of his most popular titles. He developed a clear pattern of spiritual fatherhood that he called the preventive system which has four main focal points. I will end by briefly naming these with a comment. Perhaps they will help to reframe the way as mature adult males we care for young people.
Involved fathers
The need for fatherhood Recent UN studies[1] have outlined how important a father is to the healthy growth of children and young people. Children with warm responsive fathers are themselves more emotionally balanced and less prone to unhealthy outbursts. They have a higher level
In his apostolic letter “Patris Corde”[2] on the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph as the patron of the universal Church, Pope Francis comments that: “Fathers are not born but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking on the responsibility to care for the child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another in some way, he becomes a father to that person.” In that broad sense involved fathers can be teachers, uncles, grandfathers, older brothers and family friends. In caring for young lives, they can bring the benefits of fatherhood to young people listed above. Pope Francis holds up St Joseph as a model father in scripture even though he was not the biological father of Jesus. The church is full of such models of spiritual fatherhood from St Augustine to the present day and for me, as a Salesian priest, St John Bosco is a shining example of spiritual fatherhood
Playground - Fathers need to play with their children, find out what they are interested in and join in. As the young person grows older, fathers will need to wait for invitations to share their children’s lives and make invitations to the young to share their own hobbies and enthusiasms. These occasions with adult and child focusing on a common interest create the nurturing, understated quiet that is characteristic of male relationships. Church - Connecting young people to a religious pattern of living has been shown to enhance mental health, social concern and increase generosity as well as empathy in young people. A father who can pray simply, sometimes silently, and bless their young people will be helping them hugely in their search for meaning and can bring them into a personal relationship with God. Allowing young people to see a father praying can be a real protection from the superficial values of the culture in the western world.
Pope Francis
Researchers now speak of involved fathers. That can include stepfathers, uncles and grandfathers as well as the biological fathers of the children in the family. As long as they are consistently engaged in a caring role, they share something of the impact of a father. As blended families continue to grow, such commitments to a family life by a range of adult males are needed more than ever. In that sense we can reverse the sentence quoted at the start and say that the best thing a man can do for a mother is to love and care for her children.
themselves by taking on responsibility and the consequences of their choices. “Mansplaining”[3] is not good fatherhood.
Home - Care begins with people being at home, able to talk and to be themselves. It must be a place of physical and psychological safety. A father must be at home with young people, being part of their world and not distant or threatening. A father must be able to forgive and forget, insist on clear boundaries with relentless and reasonable loving kindness. His authority is based on truth, love and common sense. School - A father should be able to introduce young people to life in the wider world bit by bit so that they can grow and learn through making mistakes with the support of a solid father figure. Fathers should resist the temptation to demonstrate their superior knowledge and allow young people to learn for
To be a father figure is a wonderful thing, whether as a teacher, a family member or a family friend. But it is also a hard path. Young people will be inconsistent, let you down and at times, break your heart, just as the father of the prodigal son suffered when his son left with half his fortune. It is a Christian vocation and as such it must involve the cross before it leads to new and deeper life. It is an act of faith in the Easter mystery. May our men be strong and forgiving, patient and optimistic about the goodness of young people, and a consistent support for many families under pressure. Father David O'Malley [1] https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/docs/ egm16/BehsonRobbins.pdf [2] Patris Corde is translated as “With a Father’s love” [3] To explain something in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner
The Catholic Post. December 2023. Page 9.
Challenging Poverty in the North East Together diocesehn.org.uk
Others talked about the loss of face-to-face support, and of the remaining support being stretched to its limit Church leaders from multiple denominations and people with first-hand experience of poverty in North East England met to work together to tackle poverty in the region. Church Action on Poverty North East, Thrive Teesside and the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, co-hosted a roundtable event for 35 people at All Saints Church, Newton Hall, Durham on Wednesday 11 October. The agenda had been led by people with experience of poverty, and speakers included people with six particular perspectives of poverty: Davey, from Joe’s Place, Gateshead, had prepared an account about sanctions, which was read on his behalf. It told how an unnecessary sanction had led to him losing his housing benefit, and therefore being evicted while still grieving for a family tragedy. Sue from Joe’s Place, Gateshead told of the particular challenges facing carers, and the huge backlog of people waiting to be assessed for support. She also talked of sanctioning, saying, “People get sanctioned for any reason, sometimes if people could not get online to see a message from the DWP.” Lesley from Free Help With Debt, Jarrow relayed stories from a debt support programme, which is helping local people address more than £360,000 of debt collectively. Richard from The Pathway, Upper Teesdale talked about the invisible poverty in rural areas, exacerbated by people being pushed to use online services, when rural internet is often inadequate. Graham and Sharon from Café Together, Easington Colliery told of the challenges in exmining areas, and the lack of support services. Graham said: “A lot of people feel abandoned.” Julie from Thriving Women in Stockton on Tees read from a collaborative poem, which asked: “Whose narrative is being heard?” Others talked about the loss of face-to-face support, and of the remaining support being stretched to its limit, and David Burns from the Salvation Army talked about the need to uphold people’s dignity, and to accompany them rather than giving hand-outs. Attendees were encouraged to support community events during the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and a follow-up meeting has been arranged on Monday 30 October, to begin agreeing practical next steps. The meeting was chaired by Bishop Paul Butler, and church attendees included representatives from Hexham & Newcastle Diocese and the Church of England, Methodist
Church, Salvation Army, the Society of Friends, and United Reformed Churches. The northern church leaders will discuss this at their meeting next month, and also with people involved in the national Poverty Strategy Commission. North East Churches Acting Together would also continue to explore ways of working together to find collective solutions. Local and national government, and businesses must work together to improve conditions for the lowest 15 – 20 per cent economically and we must support the Let’s End Poverty campaign that all political parties must be pushed to say what they will do to tackle poverty in the run-up to the General Election. Bishop Paul said afterwards, “As always it was very good to hear the reality of poverty from those living with it. To be able to have a significant number of church leaders listening in to the stories, and hearing from others working alongside those facing the challenges of the social security system, the inadequacies of provision for those with significant mental health issues and the lack of support for carers, raises many questions that we need to face as a society. The journey to seek to really end endemic poverty is not a simple or easy one but it is one to which all of us gathered together are committed.” The Rt Revd Stephen Wright, Bishop of Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, said, “I’m very grateful for the invitation for the meeting of Challenging Poverty Together in the North East. Our Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle is committed to working alongside our Christian sisters and brothers, people of all faiths and none in accompanying those who face needs and struggle in life. “Our Lord always invites us to see our society and our political decisions through the eyes of the poor. As Christians, we are called to be advocates for their needs and to support them as best we can. I was very inspired to hear of all the ministry taking place across the North East and I am so grateful for all the volunteers who work across the region to support our brothers and sisters.” Claire Lowery from Joe’s Place, based at St Joseph’s Gateshead, said, “The issues are immense and potentially overwhelming. It’s really important that we make a concerted effort to achieve something tangible. We owe it to the people who have been brave enough to share their lived experience of poverty, to let them know that this event has been worthwhile. We need to give people hope and let them know that people care and that the actions coming from this event will be productive.”
Fr Adrian Tuckwell, CARITAS lead, said, “Hearing of how the very services that are set up to help people in need are failing to do so, was so distressing”. It must inspire us all to work with those who have these experiences and raise our voices against such failures.” Bernadette Askins, from Church Action on Poverty North East, said, “Listening to the
voices of people from our North East communities who live daily with poverty was a very powerful experience. I feel very hopeful that by working together we can make a real difference.” The image is re-produced with the kind permission of the Diocese of Durham.
Light up Christmas for hundreds of seafarers and fishers. Look around you: 90% of the things you use has been brought here by sea. It’s extraordinary to think how much we depend on the shipping industry. But so often, men and women of the sea are forgotten. This Christmas, the port chaplains and ship visitors of Catholic charity Stella Maris will welcome many seafarers and fishers in ports around the UK, bringing them gifts, and ensuring Mass is organised for them, where possible, at this special time. And it’s all thanks to you. Your gift to Stella Maris helps us to share God’s love with seafarers and fishers and make their Christmas special.
Please visit www.stellamaris.org.uk for more information about how you can light up Christmas for seafarers and fishers. Please also keep them in prayer. Thank you, in advance, for any support you can kindly give.
Page 10. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
View from the Pew
YOUR PEST, OUR PROBLEM.
Live and Let Live Dr Jay Kettle-Williams
Christ fulfilled his mission, supported by his ever-growing band of disciples, to bring peace and understanding to humankind Hinduism is an Indian religion described as the oldest religion in the world. A distinguished Hindu gentleman, whom I met some years ago, quickly picked up on my amateur but keen interest in comparative religion. He explained that Hinduism evolves by adopting and adapting characteristics which it admires in other faiths. In that way, he went on to explain, Hinduism develops its dharma, the cosmic law underlying the correct behaviour and the ensuing social order espoused by its adherents who will continue, he insisted, to grow ‘pan ethnically’ in number. At that point I backed off from potentially stumbling onto the geopolitics pathway. However, the Hindus do currently number 1.2 billion or so, constituting some 15% of the global population. Judaism, on the other hand, is an Abrahamic, monotheistic and ethnic religion, although not necessarily ethnically restrictive. It comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jewish people. Judaism originated as an organised religion in the Middle East evolving from Yahwism some seven or eight thousand years ago. The Judaism we recognise today retains observance of the Mosaic covenant established all that time ago between God and the Israelites. The current Jewish population worldwide stands at a little more than fifteen million.
The Abrahamic group of religions also includes Christianity (with currently some 2.4 billion adherents worldwide) dating back over two thousand years, and Islam (with some 1.9 billion adherents) dating back some thirteen hundred years. All three religions are of comparable ilk centring as they do around the worship of the God of Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch often mentioned in the religious scriptures of each of these three Abrahamic religions. To an outsider, to a Hindu holy man such as a sadhu for instance, it must be unfathomable that these three Abrahamic religions, so closely related and with so much in common, have so often been fragmented and at such variance over time in internecine strife … perhaps that’s no more so than over the last one hundred years, yet still ongoing as recent calamitous events attest. Nobody can but despair of war, particularly of the conflict and horrendous carnage of late in the Middle East, across the very land where Christ was born, where Christ fulfilled his mission, supported by his ever-growing band of disciples, to bring peace and understanding to humankind. Therein lies the sick irony of our Middle Eastern tragedy. But Hindus and others of faith or none can’t fail but recognise the commonality which Jesus represents for those of us actively worshipping within the Abrahamic tradition. Jesus, whether He be hailed as a teacher – as Jews have come to accept - or as prophet - as He is among Muslims - or as the Saviour, to give him his place among Christians, is therefore recognised as a personage common to all. Moreover, Muslims believe that Jesus, apart from being a prophet of God, was born to a virgin (Mary), and that He will return to Earth
before the Day of Judgement to restore justice and to defeat ‘the false messiah’, the Antichrist. As of today’s date in our Christian calendar, Mary - having shown herself submissive to the will of God - is heavy with child, and we anxiously await the Virgin Birth as the period of Advent moves on. But this year as in many years previous, Commercial Christmas took root and a firm hold early. Some stores put up trees and other decorations as early as September prefacing Advent by three months, effectively reducing the Christian celebration to a mere act of Mammon. So, when the new-born Jesus opens his eyes, just think what He’ll be looking at in our world of today. What will the fresh eyes of an omniscient observer make of things? Hopefully the forthcoming birth of a teacher, a prophet-cum-saviour will bring those of us in the Abrahamic tradition further focus, new life, a fresh start and renewed hope. Acknowledgements and Attribution: Texts/References adapted and/or adopted from http://en.wikipedia.org under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike License 4.0: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/; Photograph © Anuja Tilj (Unsplash): The Holy Bible; Photograph © Diana Polekhina (Unsplash): The Torah; © GR Stocks (Unsplash): The Quran.
Dr J L Kettle-Williams is an experienced business communications consultant and wordsmith (tutor, writer, translator). Please support our Advertisers
Clergy Training Fund Appeal
The Catholic Post. December 2023. Page 11.
diocesehn.org.uk
Our priests walk alongside us in the good and more challenging moments of life, they celebrate the sacraments for us, particularly the Holy Eucharist
OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Hare Lane, Langley Green, Crawley RH11 7PZ Headteacher Tobias Melia Telephone 01293 526057
Sunday 29 October 2023 marked the beginning of a period of a second collection in parishes for the Clergy Training Fund.
Be er Never Stops!
The Clergy Training Fund is used to support the formation of Diocesan seminarians, who receive no funding from the state. It also supports the training of Permanent Deacons and the ongoing formation of all Clergy, helping them to grow and adapt in their ministry. Due to the impact of Covid-19, your generosity is needed now more than ever. Father John Bagnall, Diocesan Director of Priestly Vocations adds: “In the life of our parishes and partnerships we rely upon the service of one another to build up the Church. It is through prayer and the joy of serving others that we find our vocation, our calling in Christ. Among the various ways God calls us the Lord Jesus himself established the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the threefold ministry of bishops, priests and deacons. Through the laying on of hands, priests and
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deacons share in a very special way the ministry of Jesus who came not to be served but to serve. Our priests walk alongside us in the good and more challenging moments of life, they celebrate the sacraments for us, particularly
the Holy Eucharist. Priests and deacons preach the gospel and are a reminder to us of the love of Jesus. In July this year our Diocese was blessed with the ordination of two new priests, Paul Kilduff and Endre Kormos and two new permanent deacons, Alison Rebello and Patrick Rutherford.”
Cambridge priest to walk 82km for charity
Memorable Pilgrimage from Louth to Poland
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can so easily dominate the coming weeks. This year Advent comes to a conclusion on December 24th. Whilst this will be perhaps a challenge to families with young children it will be a great opportunity to explain the true meaning of Christmas and why the season of Advent is so important.
Educational Research reported that the attainment gap between Year 3 and 4 pupils for free school meals and their peers is wider than before the pandemic. So put more simply the children who are poorest are still being left behind in reading and maths.
The references to children and Advent is also a reminder that not all live in the happiest of circumstances. Much has been reported of the tragic consequences of children in war zones. In our own country the need of Food Banks to feed our youngest family members has been well reported by the Trussel Trust. We also have those who sadly seem to be classified at primary school level as “disadvantaged”. In early October the National Foundation for
The Holy period of Advent also encourages us to pray for all who have left the Christian Faith and for those who are suffering. This year sadly the violent conflict so near to the Holy Land should be added to our reflections and if we can, let us send Christmas cards which not only illustrate the Holy Family but also the peace that the world needs.
All Saints – 1st November Icon of All Saint of Kyiv
CAFOD launches Appeal for Crisis in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory and urges civilians to be put first cafod.org,uk
CAFOD joined 11 other major humanitarian agencies in calling for the UK to use its influence to help protect civilians caught up in the conflict and bring an end to the fighting The Catholic aid agency, CAFOD, has launched an Appeal following the escalation of violence in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. People are being killed and thousands of homes are being destroyed – families will need urgent, practical help to recover. Funds raised will ensure life-saving aid can be transferred into Gaza, Israel and other parts of oPt as soon as access is available, and that local organisations have what they need to help those most affected.
CAFOD has worked for many years in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and is in regular contact with partners as the situation develops. CAFOD’s local partner,
A time for preparation for the coming of our Saviour
On Sunday December 3rd the season of Advent commences. Some years ago I well recall my then Parish Priest reminding me the congregation that this was a time for preparation for the coming of our Saviour and not just for the material aspects which
Junior Semi-Finalist For BBC Young Chorister Of The Year!
The situation in Gaza is increasingly desperate with an urgent need for water, electricity and fuel. It is reported that residents are consuming contaminated water from wells, which could lead to the spread of waterborne disease, and vital services are on the brink of collapse. Over 3,000 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis have been killed since the violence escalated and 1 million people are estimated to have fled their homes and are living in dire conditions in central and Southern Gaza.
Frank Goulding
Being born in 1944 I have no direct memory of the war years 1939-45. My first knowledge about that conflict came from some hard back books showing vivid black and white pictures of bombed buildings, injured soldiers and wrecked human lives. Little did I realise that all these years later I would witness similar tragic circumstances in full colour through the medium of television which daily inform us of the fractured world in Israel and Palestine.
www.CatholicPost.co.uk
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Caritas Jerusalem, has a number of staff in Gaza and commented: “Most of our employees have been forced to leave their homes. Some have sought refuge in the Holy Family Compound in Gaza City, others in UNWRA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) schools, and some in the homes of relatives and friends. Several of our employees’ houses have been completely demolished. They’re in shock, confused, and perplexed. They don’t have electricity, and the internet is sporadic.” In a statement released on Saturday, CAFOD joined 11 other major humanitarian agencies in calling for the UK to use its influence to help protect civilians caught up in the conflict and bring an end to the fighting. CAFOD has also asked supporters to write to the UK Foreign Secretary, urging that the UK
plays its part in upholding international law, ensuring humanitarian aid can reach people in need, and working with other world leaders to secure a lasting peace for the region. Elizabeth Funnell, CAFOD’s Country Programmes Representative for the Middle East, said: “We condemn the horrific killings and kidnappings led by Hamas and the scale of the Israeli government’s violent retaliation, which is causing more civilian deaths and injuries. We urge all parties to end the violence and abide by international law. This means protecting civilians, releasing hostages and not punishing innocent civilians by stopping food, fuel and water reaching Gaza. “Right now, people are literally trying to stay alive. It’s virtually impossible for people to leave Gaza so there’s no way for civilians to escape the current Israeli bombardment.
Thousands of people have begun to move to the south of Gaza, but the lack of food, water or shelter will have disastrous humanitarian consequences. The attack on Al Ahli Arab hospital is a shocking reminder of how nowhere in Gaza is safe. “The situation for families in Gaza is extremely severe and our local experts in Gaza are already providing support where they can. The level of need is huge, and other partners will start to provide urgent help to people living there as soon as it is safe to do so.” Pope Francis has also urged people to take the side of peace, saying during his weekly General Audience on 18 October: “War does not solve any problem, it only sows death and destruction, increases hatred, multiplies revenge. War erases the future.”
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Page 12. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
Prayer, reflection and Team building for Saint Paul’s Students! diocesehn.org.uk
“The retreat offered many bonding opportunities for the Year 7 students whilst at the same time providing a time for reflection and peace”. Some of the refugees sheltering at Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza (Image ANSA)
Pope Francis calls Gaza parishioners every day Vatican News
Parish Priest Fr Gabriele Romanelli says there is no safe place in Gaza "neither in the North nor in the South." Pope Francis is continuing to be in contact, every day, with the Catholic community at Gaza's Church of the Holy Family, that is currently sheltering around 700 Palestinians who have lost their homes in the ongoing bombardment by Israel. Following the attacks by Hamas on 7 October in which 1,400 people were killed and 200 others kidnapped, Israel's retaliatory strikes on Hamas infrastructure in Gaza have killed more than 10,000 people, including over 4,100 children. Tens of thousands have been displaced. Parish Priest Fr Gabriele Romanelli says there is no safe place in Gaza "neither in the North nor in the South." Fr Gabriele, who was in Jerusalem at the time of the Hamas attacks has been unable to enter Gaza to be physically with his flock, but says he speaks to them every day if possible. At times communications have been cut off, leaving the community isolated, but at the present time they have resumed. Fr Gabriele says his parishioners are as well "as one can be in a time of war, in a place of war, but the place they feel safest is with Jesus.. They know, that there is no safe place in all the Gaza Strip, neither in the North nor in the South, but they feel the presence of Jesus, the closeness of Jesus and of the whole church." Fr Gabriele reiterates their gratitude to the Pope, whom he says "calls them every day, to say 'hello', to ask how they are doing and to give his blessing."
Above all, Fr Gabriele says, they pray and they ask that we continue to pray for peace. "They have a Mass in the morning, one in the afternoon, the constant recitation of the Rosary" in different groups and with some of the 700 refugees who are sheltered in the church and parish grounds. Fr Gabriele appeals that those who have a voice - diplomats, politicians, journalists, people of good will, men and women throughout the world - not only pray, but also work for peace. In his address to the United Nations in New York yesterday, Vatican envoy Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, expressed sorrow at the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza. He decried the loss of innocent Palestinian lives as well as "the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and the indiscriminate suffering of the population," which has been deprived of basic needs. "As in any conflict the Holy See calls for the absolute protection of each and every civilian. It is imperative that hospitals and medical facilities, refugee camps, schools, as well as places of worship and their premises, are not targeted by anyone," he added. The Apostolic Nuncio reiterated the appeal made by Pope Francis: "I beg you to stop: cease using weapons! I hope that avenues will be pursued so that an escalation of the conflict might be absolutely avoided so that the wounded can be rescued and help might get to the population of Gaza where the humanitarian situation is extremely serious. May the hostages be freed immediately." "Let everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian disaster, while keeping humanitarian corridors open to allow aid to reach the entire population and to heal the wounded."
Students from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester were offered an opportunity to step away from their busy start to their high school lives and enjoy some space for team building, reflection and prayer when they recently spent a day on retreat with the Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team.
Mrs Monika Timkovicova, Head of RE at Saint Paul’s, said: “The retreat offered many bonding opportunities for the Year 7 students whilst at the same time providing a time for reflection and peace. The retreat is seen by the school as an integral part of the life-long faith formation of young people. The students withdraw from the ordinary activities of the school for a period of time to be with God in prayer and reflection.”
The students engaged in a number of groupbased activities and the day was full of thoughtful activities which they enjoyed very much. Some of these activities included icebreaker games, creating posters and writing prayers. The Year 7 students were able reflect on their faith and look more closely at their relationship with God as well as with their peers.
“We all need the space and the silence to reflect and pray, it can help us begin to sense a deeper truth about ourselves and God, how he loves us as we are,” explained Mrs Hannah Chisnall, Year 7 Progress Leader. “The retreat gave us the opportunity not only to reflect upon our goals and ambitions and how our faith supports us in achieving these; but also a chance to get to know each other better.”
One of the focuses of the retreat was thinking about Saints and completing a saintly challenge. Saints are an important part of our school, so the Year 7s were given the opportunity to think about and complete tasks relating to their Form Saints. These activities were very helpful, fulfilling and enjoyable for our Year 7s.
Mr Mike Whiteside, Headteacher, added: “The retreat is a spiritual exercise which provides the opportunity for our pupils to deepen their relationship with God, with others and with themselves, through reflection and prayer.” We want to thank Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team for taking our Year 7s on this journey of faith.
The Catholic Post. December 2023. Page 13.
Young citizens receive awards from bishop Alan dioceseofbrentwood.net
“Thank you to all for what you have done for the benefit of others – and the many acts which are only seen by God” At a joyful celebration in Brentwood Cathedral earlier this year, Bishop Alan Williams presented awards to young people nominated by their schools for their acts of outstanding citizenship. Bishop Alan said he was delighted to be present: “As we heard in our reading today, our faith is all about loving God and our neighbour. The best proof of that was Jesus himself. Everything he did was about this. Today we are seeing the word of God in action. We are here to be amazed by the saintliness of young people at school. Pope Francis said look for the saint in the person next door to you, your neighbour. There are lots of them in this room. Thank you to all for what you have done for the benefit of others – and the many acts which are only seen by God.” Testimonies from schools evidenced the many selfless acts the young people present had carried out – from using their own bereavement to support others in similar situations, to responding to their own traumas, to caring for sick or challenged siblings and parents, to fundraising for charities. Isla at St Teresa’s, Dagenham, for example, channelled her own grief at the loss of her mother into the creation of a memorial garden at school and has used it to support other bereaved children. Robson from Saint John Payne in Chelmsford also provided bereavement support to others. Gabrielle and Grace at Brentwood Ursuline, meanwhile, have been the Year 8 road safety
ambassadors since September 2022 and lead on the tasks set by the Essex Safer Roads partnership by creating campaigns, posters and banners to promote road safety. Arabella received the award on behalf of the New Hall School Chaplaincy Sixth Form Prefects for their support of Confirmation candidates while Rebekah from St Mark’s, Harlow has been part of St John Ambulance for five years and volunteered in a Tanzanian primary school last summer, teaching Maths, English & Science. Many young people raised money for charities. Emily at Sacred Heart of Mary School in Upminster was cited for her passionate fundraising for Barnardo’s while Siddhanth at St Mary’s, Hare Park in Gidea Park raised over £1,100 for those in need, sacrificing his birthday presents in exchange for donations to a charity fund of his choice. At the Bishops’ Primary in Springfield Ivy and Poppy made bookmarks to
raise money for Farleigh Hospice, after the loss of their grandfather. Max at De La Salle, Basildon climbed Ben Nevis and with others raised £2,563 for the Royal London Hospital for Cancer Care and a dementia charity. Several schools nominated refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan who have overcome great difficulties: Marharyta and Veronika at St Francis, Maldon, Stepan and Yustina from Ss Peter and Paul in Ilford, Misha from Our Lady of Lourdes in Leigh-on-Sea and Ehsan from St Bonaventure’s in Forest Gate gained plaudits for their resilience and dedication in embracing their new lives in UK schools. At St Angela’s School in Forest Gate, Avital, Nia, Leona and Eden have all been active members of the school’s Youth SVP group since its formation, working to promote the Catholic Social Teaching of the preferential option for the poor. Meanwhile, Chinedum embodies Holy Family, Walthamstow’s ethos inspired by
St Oscar Romero: ‘aspire not to have more but to be more’. Entirely on her own initiative, Chinedum introduced the role of student wellbeing champions, showing a deep-rooted concern for others, attending meetings and participating in the Wellbeing for Schools panel. The Awards were initiated in 2002 as a way to respond to government requirements re the inclusion of citizenship in the curriculum. They were inspired by Professor Lord David Alton, an MP for many years and now a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords. An alumnus of St Helen’s, Brentwood and the Campion School, Hornchurch, he was Professor of Citizenship, Liverpool John Moores University from 1997 to 2016. Lord Alton presented those first awards to the children and young people nominated. While just 11 schools took part in 2002, thanks particularly to Sr Jude Groden, the event has grown and developed. This year more than 50 schools participated.
Page 14. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
Book Reviews Called by God: Preparing for my Child’s baptism (Keepsake) by Ellen mcbride & Sr margaret Jones £3.95
Product Code: 1869 ISbN NO:9780852315576 www.rpbooks.co.uk Called by God seeks to reclaim the real meaning of baptism as the beginning of a new life in Christ. With scripture readings and reflections, a detailed look at the elements of the rite of baptism, and discussions and advice on raising children to know the person of Christ, it aims to meet parents wherever they are in their own journey of faith. The parents’ booklet gives time and space for parents to reflect on the sessions and will act a reminder and keepsake of this time spent preparing for their child’s baptism. “A really good approach to working with parents in preparing for their child’s baptism. A very timely, valuable and comprehensive resource for catechists. The reflective and prayerful sessions will encourage parents and catechists to search deeper into the real meaning of baptism.”
provides a basis for evangelisation. With real insights into the history and development of the sacrament of baptism, Called by God will be invaluable to those tasked with sacramental preparation.” Canon David Wallace, Director of Pastoral Liturgy, Archdiocese of Glasgow
Diary 2024 Through the Years with 12 Parables of Jesus By Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R £7.96 Product Code: 1960 ISBN NO:9780852316399
This stunning hardback diary features a thoughtprovoking reflection by Fr Denis McBride on twelve parables of Jesus. Through the parables we learn that inside the story of our everyday life lies the deeper story of our salvation.
If the parables work, they leave us wondering not just about the dynamics of an interesting story but about deeply personal and social questions we face every day. Parables are not fictional diversions from real life but deliberate Mary Crowley, Catechetical Adviser, Agency probes into the lives we actually live. They call for Evangelisation, Westminster us to think again about how we see and how we behave, to think again about attitudes and “A really helpful pastoral guide to prepare behaviour in our community or society that we families for the baptism of a child which accept lazily or uncritically. The parables of Jesus make the ordinary important: Jesus speaks out of a theology of ordinariness when he begins his theological thinking with things as OFF they are. Religion is not primarily about special cultic activities or secret wisdom; it is about loving the God who created us and loving the neighbour we find ourselves beside. Liturgy can be left to one side when more important Order now at Bloomsbury.com/Jerome business, like forgiving with discount code JEROME30 our brother or sister, is until 31 December 2023 waiting as the real religious agenda.
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Our 2024 diary is A5 in size and has a practical full week to view across a double page spread. Included in the diary is an introduction from Fr Denis, year planners for both 2024 and 2025, key dates and feast days, notes pages, and a ribbon page marker. All of these features make it the ideal faith companion, appointment organiser and thoughtful gift.
Holy Hour Altar Edition
by Denis mcbride C.Ss.r. £14.95 Product Code: 1790 ISbN NO:9780852315187 www.rpbooks.co.uk
The Holy Hour: twelve complete services will rejuvenate the Eucharistic Adoration in parishes and encourage a greater love for the mystery of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. It will engender a deeper understanding of the place of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. Includes hymns.
Seeing the Pandemic with Eyes of Faith Fr Ivano millico £5.95
CTS Product Code: PA63 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISbN: 9781784696542 www.ctsbooks.org Fr Ivano Millico looks at the Covid pandemic through a prophetic lens enlisting the help of Saints who have lived through moments of great personal or societal crisis. So much has been said and written about the Covid Pandemic which has generated more heat than light, criticising the government or the Church and dividing people into believers or deniers. Fr Ivano Millico looks at the events of the last year through a prophetic lens enlisting the
help of Saints who have lived through moments of great personal or societal crisis. St Therese of Lisieux, Job, St Charles Borromeo are just some of our guides as we search together for what God is saying to the Church and the world through the ongoing Pandemic. These words of hope and warning aim to ensure that this time brings each one of us closer to God and neighbour.
SYCAMORE: The Catholic Faith Explained Fr Stephen Wang £16.95
CTS Product Code: DO944 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784696160 www.ctsbooks.org In SYCAMORE you will find answers to the most common questions about life and faith, whether you want to deepen the faith you already have or are exploring the faith for the first time. Written in a conversational style with beautiful colour images. Do you want to understand the Christian faith? Have you ever wondered about the meaning of life? Whether you want to deepen the faith you already have, are exploring the faith for the first time, or are just curious, in SYCAMORE you will find answers to the most common questions about life and faith. What is happiness? How can we know that God exists? What do we really know about Jesus? Can we trust the Bible? What is faith? Does prayer make a difference? Is there such a thing as right and wrong? What is the meaning of love? In addition to the essential questions about life, SYCAMORE explains simply the central beliefs and practices of Catholic Christianity. Understand the seven sacraments, the moral and social teaching of the Church, the Christian vocations, the Virgin Mary and the saints, life after death, and the hope of heaven. Comprising twenty short chapters, SYCAMORE is written in a conversational style, using stories and examples to bring the ideas alive. Questions for reflection are also included, alongside specially selected passages from the Bible, and over a hundred beautiful images. This book can be read on its own or used by those who are following a SYCAMORE course in their parish or community.
The Catholic Post. December 2023. Page 15.
All Saints Catholic Primary School’s successful SVP Food Pantry helps to feed the community rcadc.org
Fast forward a couple of years and a chance conversation with someone from the SVP about how they could raise funds to cover a collection that been led her to tell them that they were looking to set up a food bank All Saints Catholic Primary School in Ebbw Vale is located in one of the most deprived areas of Wales and 56% of its students qualify for Free School Meals (FSM). The cost of living crisis and other economic factors have contrived to make life especially hard for the families whose children attend the school. However, with the help of staff and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) the school has managed to create a wonderful initiative to ease the burden of these families.
Deborah Storey and the CSL Group Every Friday, without fail, at 3:00 p.m. the doors of The Food Pantry open and parents, having paid the admission fee of £2, come in to stock up on essential food and other items: fruit, veg, bread, cereals, pizzas, tins, toilet roll and many other items. They reckon that around 40% of the families use the Food Pantry. Joe Price, head teacher of All Saints said, “What is absolutely fantastic about this is I know, and my staff know, that we have families who are part of our community who are going to eat in the evening and, most importantly, we know that the children will come to school having had breakfast. We’ve been doing this about a year and we are feeding about 35-40 families per week”.
Where did it all start? The Food Pantry is the brain child of Deborah (Debs) Storey, a Year 1 teacher and RE coordinator who started the initiative. The idea for the Food Pantry started a few years ago when Debs was undergoing her Performance Management Review and one of her targets was to set one up, though it didn’t get off the ground at that time. Fast forward a couple of years and a chance conversation with someone from the SVP about how they could raise funds, led her to tell them that they were looking to set up a food bank. One of the people from the SVP suggested they set up as an SVP conference and so the Ebbw Vale CLS came about (CSL stands for Caring, Loving, Sharing).
A team effort Debs and her colleagues, Foundation School colleagues, and good friends, Fran Basini, Chloe Mayo, Dan Butler and Joe Price, (Headteacher) put in place a structure, completed training with SVP and decided that donations from the harvest festival would be put towards the Food Pantry.
Debs says, “I am very lucky that I work with such an amazing group of people and I really couldn’t do it without their support”. Debs also stressed the importance of different Catholic groups working together.
Sourcing food supplies The next task was to get some food for the food bank and thus Debs decided to post a message on a local Facebook Group asking for donations – this resulted in her being contacted by someone from Risca food bank to offer all the surplus food for the week. Every Tuesday they would bring over crates of food and this helped them get started. With money they raised they were also able to put orders with Asda and once all this was in place they were ready to launch.
The role of Abergavenny Saint Vincent de Paul Society with the Food Pantry When the SVP opened a shop in Merthyr Debs went along and met Monica Chidgey, president of the Abergavenny conference. and after hearing the story of the Food Pantry she straight away offered the services of Abergavenny SVP. If you’re not familiar with the SVP, it operates throughout the Archdiocese: there are 34 active conferences (mainly parish based). It is a voluntary network dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms by providing practical assistance to people in need. Aside from being the president of her conference Monica Chidgey is the recentlyelected SVP Cardiff Central Council President; she is also on the board of Trustees of SVP (England & Wales). When Monica got involved with The Food Pantry in Ebbw Vale she was able to find a way to source food and access financial support. The idea is that in the future, Ebbw Vale CSL will become more self sustainable but at the moment Abergavenny is supporting them and will do so as long as they need. Abergavenny SVP’s involvement started in November and coincided with the yearly appeal that the SVP do in the church of Our Lady and St Michael and Monica. It brought to the attention of parishioners that Ebbw Vale was in need. They had the most overwhelming response as many people from Abergavenny grew up in Ebbw Vale. Their yearly collection was 3 times more than usual and people would
donate spontaneously on the back of that. They were also lucky that a Sister who belongs to the order of the Society of the Sacred Heart attended mass and ended up giving a grant to the Food Pantry. Monica said the project has been good for Abergavenny SVP and given them a spur in their fundraising. This scheme is unique for two SVP conferences to work together. However, one of the challenges for the SVP in the Archdiocese is trying to set up conferences where there is the most need – the poorer parts of the Archdiocese.
Support from Tesco and Waitrose About 40% of the fresh produce comes from Waitrose and Tesco – this is food will soon pass its sell by date. 60% of the rest comes from purchases that the conferences in Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny make. These are nonperishables and can be kept in a storage room in the school. Monica collects the food every week and drives to Ebbw Vale to help Debs set up the pantry. This working together of two SVP conferences is quite unique and may well offer a template for other SVP conferences in the future.
CAFOD welcomes release of Luis Diaz and role of Catholic Church partners CAFOD The father of Liverpool footballer Luis Diaz has been freed by his captors in Colombia almost two weeks after being kidnapped. Luis Manuel Diaz was released by guerrillas from the National Liberation Army (ELN), according to the Colombian FA. Diaz's parents were abducted in Colombia by armed men on 28 October. His mother was rescued hours later, but his father remained missing as authorities desperately searched for him. Ulrike Beck, CAFOD's Colombia Programme Officer, said: "We are delighted to see the safe release of Liverpool FC's Luis Díaz's father in Colombia. Luis Manuel Díaz was handed over to UN and Catholic Church officials, which included CAFOD's longstanding partner, Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao. "The Catholic Church has played a key role in peace negotiations in Colombia and is one
Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao (left) with Luis Manuel Díaz (centre) of the four stakeholders of the current ceasefire between the ELN armed group and the government which has been in place since August (alongside the Colombian Government, ELN and UN). "We are proud to support Mgr Héctor Fabio Henao, who is respected and renowned in Colombia and around the world. He has worked for decades on promoting peace, human rights and an end to the armed conflict. In December 2003 he led talks resulting in the release of British hostage Mark Henderson and six other foreign tourists held by ELN guerrillas."
Page 16. The Catholic Post. December 2023.
Young Author
THE WINTERFOLD
A young pupil at Winterfold School has written his first children’s book. Krish Cheema, who is in Year 2 at Winterfold School in Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, has published his very own book called ‘Logan and the Jungle Mountain’. The book has already been read by families all over the country, receiving 4.6 stars on Amazon, spreading the message of confidence and positivity. Kan Cheema, Krish’s Father, was going to read a bedtime story to Krish but forgot the book and instead of going to find it, used his imaginative skills to create his own fantasy land with the help of his father. With Kan’s burning passion for personal growth and positive mindset, coupled with Krish’s overwhelming creativity, they were able to build on their first night’s fantasy story time. The next few days, every night, together, they applied layers to their story until it was complete. They knew that the story had a special message that everyone needed to hear and so, the rest was history - ‘Logan and the Jungle Mountain’ was born. Co-Author, Kan, says ‘Regarding the publishing journey, much like Logan's quest, it lacked a clear map. Nevertheless, step by step, the book took form, and we embraced the adventure despite its challenges. Krish and I are now continuing with Logan's journey, currently crafting the second instalment in the 'World of Logan' series, aimed at teaching children about the magic of giving.’
WAY
REGI
But the journey for Krish was not only to spread positivity but to further support his twin sister Arwyn Cheema, who is non-verbal, as the book dives deeper into personal growth to better support Arwyn on her unique journey. Winterfold School has supported Krish throughout his journey as classmates and teachers enjoyed a special reading of ‘Logan and the Jungle Mountain’. At Winterfold, pupils are encouraged to showcase their creativity and talents no matter what that might be, and with the guidance of teachers and like-minded classmates, they are able to hone their talents and creativity in a number of ways.
C R O S S WO R D
A TOP FIVE CATHOLIC PREP SCHOOL
Open Morning Saturday 3rd February 2024
Rated
EXCELLENT ISI inspection June 2023
COME TO OUR OPEN MORNING OR MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL VISIT Small classes and inspirational teaching Highest standards of pastoral care A happy and nurturing environment, fulfilling your child’s potential Please contact Admissions to find out about joining Winterfold at any age from baby to Year 8 Non-selective independent day school and nursery for boys and girls 330 pupils from babies to age 13
01562 777234 admissions@winterfoldhouse.co.uk www.winterfoldhouse.co.uk Winterfold House, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire DY10 4PW
2-in-1 Cross
You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same.
CRYPTIC Down 1 Nothing in vehicle list is of the age of the new king (8) 2 Philistines prevailed here, but Mongolia is free (5,6) 3 First family: one on bridge,... (4) 4 ...for the other, it's the brink, mate (3) 6 Publish again in the matter of offspring (7) 7 Neal's Harems: massages for old Assyrian kings (11) 10 Push off and lose one's way (3,4) 11 Fruit in here has variety enclosed by old railway (8) 14 One pub promoted Italian port (4) 16 One of twelve in Israel to get higher than black belt (3)
QUICK Across 4 Isaac's firstborn (4) 5 Rim;frontier(6) 8 Roman emperor between 37 and 68 AD (4) 9 Female domestic servant (8) 10 Common seabird of Europe; ancestor of many domestic breeds (7,5) 12 Variety of football played at a particular public school (4,4,4) 13 Headgear associated with Mexico and SW USA (8) 15 FatherofMenaham(4) 17 British political party members: Irish RC 17th century outlaws (6) 18 Poetic name for Ireland (4) QUICK Down 1 Pertaining to two dynasties in 17th century Britain, and one in the 21st century (8) 2 Site of King Saul's last stand (5,6) 3 Robert ----, Scottish architect and furniture designer (4) 4 Verge;threshold(3) 6 Releaseoncemore(7) 7 Assyrian king, the fifth of his name, who captured Samaria and took the Israelites into exile (11) 10 Go away and stay away (3,4) 11 Building, greenhouse, associated with fruit (8)
14 Italian Adriatic port (4) 16 Son of Jacob and tribal ancestor (3)
SOLUTION
Across: 4 Esau, 5 Border, 8 Nero, 9 Handmaid, 10 Greylag Goose, 12 Eton Wall Game, 13 Sombrero, 15 Gadi, 17 Tories, 18 Erin. Down: 1 Carolean, 2 Mount Gilboa, 3 Adam, 4 Eve, 6 Reissue, 7 Shalmaneser, 10 Get lost, 11 Orangery, 14 Bari, 16 Dan.
CRYPTIC Across 4 One of the twins seen tucking into Lincolnshire sausages (4) 5 British sect's on edge (6) 8 Number, including the Queen, he fiddled, so some say (4) 9 Subordinate created with care, it's said (8) 10 Complex soggy eagle, or a great seabird... (7,5) 12 ...low mental age resorting to a noble pastime (4,4,4) 13 Headgear of Oregon revolutionary angry medic donned earlier (8) 15 Menaham's dad soldier imprisoned today (4) 17 Party members after allegations, lose face (6) 18 Yeats's land in Ulster, knowledge of the Scriptures will bring it all back (4)