Holy Land: Episcopal Church welcomes Gaza ceasefire page 4
Jubilee 2025 Pilgrims of Hope
pages 6 - 9
Be messengers of hope
page 14
Pope Francis: The Jubilee invites us to begin again
Vatican Media
Addressing nearly 8,000 people in the Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis centred his reflection on John the Baptist, whom he described as a "great prophet of hope."
In his first Jubilee Audience on Saturday, Pope Francis described the Jubilee Year as a time for a new beginning, rooted in the transformative power of God's Kingdom, drawing on the example of John the Baptist, a "great prophet of hope."
These words resonated throughout his Catechesis, serving as both a call to action and a reminder of the Jubilee's essence: the opportunity for everyone to start anew from God, our ultimate source of hope.
Hope, the theme of the 2025 Holy Year, will be the main subject of this new cycle of bi-weekly audiences, integrating the traditional Wednesday catechetical sessions.
Addressing nearly 8,000 people in the Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis centred his reflection on John the Baptist, whom he described as a "great prophet of hope."
Highlighting John's pivotal role in biblical history, the Pope referred to Jesus' praise of him as the "greatest among those born of women" (Lk 7:24,26-28).
John's mission, marked by his call for repentance and renewal symbolized by
crossing the River Jordan, mirrors the pilgrimage of Christians crossing the Holy Door during the Jubilee. This act, Pope Francis explained, represents a new beginning, a deep spiritual reset.
Hope, as the Pope elaborated, is not merely "a habit or a character trait", but a "strength ("virtus" in Latin) to be asked for", a gift of God that spurs Christians "to start again on the journey of life."
As the Gospel of Luke tells us, it requires a recognition of our human smallness in the face of God's greatness. "It does not depend on us, but on the Kingdom of God," where even the "least" become great, the Pope said.
“Welcoming the Kingdom of God leads us to a new order of greatness. Our world, all of us need this!"
Pope Francis also addressed the struggles of faith, drawing on John the Baptist's own moments of doubt during his imprisonment. These doubts, the Pope noted, resonate with the challenges faced by Christians today navigating a world where "many Herods" still "oppose the Kingdom of God."
Yet, he stressed, the Gospel provides an antidote to this despair through its transformative teachings, particularly the Beatitudes, which chart a new path of hope.
Pope Francis concluded with a call to embrace hope and renewal through service and fraternity, particularly towards the least, and through responsibility for our "common home" the Earth "so abused and wounded."
This, he said, is the essence of the Jubilee: a new beginning grounded in God and a commitment to love and service.
"Let us start again from this originality of God, which shone in Jesus and which now binds us to serve, to love fraternally, to acknowledge ourselves as small. And to see the least, to listen to them and to be their voice. Here is the new beginning, our Jubilee!"
Scan the QR Code to watch the Audience on VaticanYoutube channel.
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St Josephine Bakhita, 8th February
Audience in Paul VI Hall
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The Desert Experience
In order to listen to his voice we have to get rid of all the other voices and noises that make it difficult for us to hear
A desert is a harsh and hostile place where life struggles to exist and people struggle to survive; I know because I lived in a desert region for seven years. Oases show there is always the potential for life in the desert, but otherwise it’s a parched and barren wilderness that poses a constant threat to life.
Having said that, the desert (both in reality and symbol) was the birthplace of the People of God. He first led Abraham on a journey of faith and trust, leaving his homeland behind to journey in stages through the wilderness to Canaan. As the Jerome Biblical Commentary says: “An obscure Semite is called by God, and, through his response in faith, there begins the unfolding of God’s plan which will reach its climax in the events of the Exodus and Sinai”. And so, having ended up in slavery in Egypt, the events of the Exodus saw God’s Chosen People under the leadership of Moses begin an epic forty-year journey, again through the wilderness, eventually arriving back in the promised land of Canaan, a journey that symbolised the renewed relationship of faith that God established with his people through the covenant he made with them on Mt Sinai.
In the early centuries of the Church, there was a new movement founded in the desert – in this case the desert of North Africa – by individuals choosing to escape the worldliness and temptations of urban life, and in some cases persecution also, and begin a spiritual quest for God in the wilderness. Among these “Desert Fathers” were the great saints Anthony, Athanasius, John Chrysostom and Augustine. The spirituality they developed became the foundation of the monastic movement – the word “monk” coming from the Greek for “solitary” or “alone”. Originally the ascetic life of the hermit, it grew so much in popularity that, ironically, communities formed around these solitary individuals and monasticism was born – new branches on the Christian journey of faith.
From a spiritual point of view, what is it about the desert experience that is conducive to the discovery of God and the deepening of our faith relationship with him? “What did you go into the desert to see?” Jesus asks John the Baptist’s disciples. (Mt 11 v 7)
An initial answer has to do with what we have said about the desert as a wilderness, a barren empty place. To discover God, we have to empty ourselves. In prayer, especially, we have to rid ourselves of all the distractions that
impinge on our communing with God. In order to listen to his voice we have to get rid of all the other voices and noises that make it difficult for us to hear. Only by creating a situation in which we can be completely alone with God can we hope to do this. That is “the desert”. Apart from prayer time, one of the best examples of this spiritual effort would be a retreat and, specifically, the thirty day Ignatian retreat.
I spent a year-and-a-half as a Jesuit novice and one of the first things we did in terms of our introduction to Ignatian spirituality (and as part of the process of testing our vocation) was to make the thirty-day retreat, and essential and central to that is the desert experience. For thirty days you talk to no one except God and your spiritual director. You watch no TV, listen to no radio, read no newspapers, and hear no news of the outside world. Over the course of the thirty days your director leads you through the spiritual journey of the “exercises” developed by St Ignatius.
As you might imagine it was extremely difficult to enter into that sort of isolation, but it was an important process designed to create a situation in which you could be alone with God and better able, therefore, to hear what he might be saying to you. It probably took the best part of the first week just to overcome all the usual temptations to distractions to which we are so addicted. For most of us it was the first time we hadn’t talked to anyone for a whole day, two days, a week, two weeks… Little by little you begin to fill your day with right things to do, things that made it possible to be quiet, to be alone with God, to pray and to meditate, to reflect and to listen. Most of us made it, a few didn’t. For me it was a tremendous spiritual experience that has stayed with me ever since teaching me, amongst other things that, contrary to expectations, there can be life - and growthin “the desert”.
There is, of course, a parallel between Our Lord’s forty days in the wilderness and the forty days of the season of Lent which is meant to be something of a desert experience for us in which we too can confront our “demons”. The call of Lent is to a time of penance and self-denial in reparation for our sins as we prepare for Our Lord’s ultimate victory over sin and death in the events of Holy Week and Easter, a victory we can also share with him or, rather, which he shares with us. We make Lent something of a desert
experience to the extent to which we reduce the comforts of life, deny ourselves the luxuries, making each day of Lent a little more “barren” than usual - the purpose being to invite God into those emptied spaces, discovering day by day throughout Lentthrough prayer and other spiritual activitiesmore of the presence of God with us and his life in us.
Ultimately we have to ask ourselves why we are doing what we have elected to do during Lent and whether they are achieving their purpose? Do they help us to deny “self”, to empty ourselves desert-like, and then, with those spaces cleared, does that make it possible for us to open ourselves up more to God so allowing him to occupy the place he should have in our life? And, of course, Lent isn’t just a quick-fix in preparation for Easter. Prayer, self-denial and almsgiving – which the Church especially advocates during Lent –should be a constant part of our lives as Christians. Whatever we decide to do to make Lent significant and to improve the quality of our relationship with God should surely be important to us all the time. But it’s like the parable of the seeds and the weeds: it’s a constant effort to keep the ground clear so the crop grows and the weeds don’t. That’s where the desert experience comes in.
In the desert nothing grows – only that which we choose to water and nurture. I used to have a photo that I took in a friends’ back garden in my desert days. Like many others, they had a lush green lawn but only because they watered it and tended it regularly. When you opened the garden gate, on the other side there was nothing but sand and stones; where the grass (and the watering and nurturing) stopped, the desert immediately began.
The “desert experience” isn’t about experiencing the desert, but experiencing God. Whether actually or figuratively, I wouldn’t recommend the desert on a permanent basis because it can be a very hostile place and surviving its hardships is hard work. But, in the spiritual sense, every once in a while it’s good to get the sand between our toes, to journey into the wilderness – even though it’s a barren place where St Mark’s “wild beats” may dwell –and to confront our “demons”, even the demon, just to know we can… with God’s help. God is in the desert. It’s an open space so it’s easy to find him (unless we are the ones hiding) and it’s a silent place so it’s easy to hear him (unless we are the ones making a noise).
As Saint-Exupery said in the quote we opened with: “What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well”. God is that well and, finding him, we draw life-giving water from him so as to nurture the life – his life - that is within us.
From the presbytery.............. by Fr Neil McNicholas
Inter-faith and ecumenical conference celebrates progress
The Bishops of England and Wales recently organised a conference for those who lead ecumenical and Interreligious work nationally.
Bishop Patrick of the Nottingham Diocese attended in his role as a member of the Department of Dialogue and Unity, with responsibility for Interreligious relations. He talked of the importance of promoting cooperation and understanding between different faiths.
Archbishop Bernard of Birmingham Archdiocese, Chair of the Department for Dialogue and Unity, responsible for Ecumenism, spoke about how the ecumenical landscape has changed in the past 40 years, and how the Catholic impact has born fruit. Today we expect as a norm to be working more closely with other Christian traditions.
Bishops from different churches meet together regularly, both nationally and internationally.
Fr Jan Novotnik, Chief Ecumenical Officer for CBCEW, gave a talk on the Vatican II document ‘Ecclesiam Suam’ (dialogue in the Church). The need to engage in dialogue with others is essential, we cannot make assumptions about others beliefs.
David Jonathan spoke about his interfaith work with Grassroots based in Luton, where he is responsible for community cohesion and interfaith work.
Doral Hayes, CTE’s Principal Officer for Ecumenical Development, led a session on the current ecumenical climate. Today CTE is more diverse than ever, having begun with 16
An Angel to the Rescue?
A small red car travelled down a country lane. On approaching a bend with a humpback-bridge only wide enough for one car to pass, the driver was horrified to find a lorry approaching in the middle of the road. She shut her eyes…. As nothing happened and after what seemed minutes, the driver re-opened her eyes. Her car was safely driving up the road on the far side of the bridge…. On looking in her mirror, the lorry was disappearing in the opposite direction.
There is no explanation to this story except that the little red car’s driver had been taught by her mother to pray daily to her Guardian Angel.
Angels accompany us from the time of our conception to the time of our reunion with our creator, at the time of death. They are our greatest friend, guardian, company and consolation. Yet how many of us even remember they are there?
Pope Francis tells us: “We all have an angel with us who protects us. No journey is alone and no one should think they are alone, because this companion is always there. God said: ‘I send an angel before you to guard you, to accompany you on your journey, so you will not go wrong.’”
A prisoner in a maximum security unit wrote to tell us of the comfort his angel now gave him: “I am glad you have told me about my Guardian Angel. It never occurred to me to think about him, or even that I have one. I have given him the name ‘Ekolelo’. In our local language this means Trustee. I will always remember him by that name”.
Angels are mentioned in the bible many times as messengers and companions, even comforting and strengthening Jesus in times of pain and need. Talk to your Angel.
www.crownofthorns.org.uk
email: office@crownofthorns.org.uk
churches, it now has 53 member churches, half of which are Pentecostal. Ecumenism brings challenges and opportunities, there is a danger that instead of being integral to Christian life, it can slip into being an add-on.
The goal of ecumenism can be seen differently - some seek shared mission, others full unity/Communion. Spiritual ecumenism emphasises praying and worshipping together; social ecumenism is more focused on justice and joint community action. Doral spoke about the need for all Christians to stay connected to Jesus, the True Vine. We need to connect with each other, and remain in Christ together, even in the hard times.
Perhaps a symbolic sign of how far we’ve come ecumenically is that five Christian traditions prayed over the new King at his Coronation. In 1953, at his mother’s Coronation, the Catholic Cardinal chose to remain outside the Abbey.”
Fran Hazel, Chair Nottingham Diocesan Ecumenical Commission
Holy Land: Episcopal Church welcomes Gaza ceasefire
Only through such a transformative change of hearts, we believe, can there emerge a just and lasting peace between the peoples of the Holy Land, as well as among all those living throughout the Middle East
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
On the evening of Wednesday 15 January, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, announced that, after more than a year of unproductive deliberations, negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas had finally reached an agreement for a ceasefire between the two warring parties.
The first phase of the ceasefire, lasting 42 days, was agreed to begin on 19 January. During this time, hostilities are to cease and armed forces withdraw in order to facilitate the release of an agreed number of hostages and prisoners, a surge in humanitarian relief, and the return of
all displaced Gazans to what remains of their neighborhoods and homes.
Concurrently, negotiations are to continue in order to work out the details of two additional phases. These would ultimately result in the release of all remaining hostages, the liberation of many additional Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of occupying forces, and the cessation of all hostilities. If successful, these envisioned phases would essentially bring the devastating 15-month-long war to an end.
Having repeatedly called for such a negotiated outcome, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem welcomes this ceasefire. Moreover, we appeal
to fellow Christians and all those of goodwill to continue to advocate and pray not only for the adoption of the full agreement, but also for the region's leaders and people to invest as much of their political and financial capital towards peacebuilding as they tragically have in waging warfare over these past many months-and in the decades preceding. Only through such a transformative change of hearts, we believe, can there emerge a just and lasting peace between the peoples of the Holy Land, as well as among all those living throughout the Middle East.
At this time, we would like to commend the courageous staff and volunteers of our Ahli Arab Hospital and its clinics in Gaza, who have endured unbearable hardships in extending Christ's healing ministry to the thousands of wounded patients they have treated throughout the course of the war. They are the true heroes of this disastrous chapter in our region's history.
We would also like to thank our many partners and donors around the world: Without your
generous support, we could not have kept our hospital supplied and running amid the many adversities it has faced. In the weeks and months ahead, there will be more opportunities to contribute towards expanding the work of our hospital in order to meet the increasingly desperate needs of the battered Gazan community in the face of a largely demolished healthcare system.
Finally, we would like to call attention to Christ's words from the Sermon on the Mount, quoted above: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." These are one of the eight Beatitudes or blessed sayings of our Lord, so-called because those who embody them will not only be blessed by God, but also become a blessing to countless others.
May it be our prayer that, in the days and weeks to come, the Almighty might indeed grant us the blessings of peace in our troubled region-and that those blessings might begin within each one of us.
Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and Middle East
Cathedral Church of St George the Martyr, Jerusalem
Only 'education and hope' can defeat terrorism
Aid to the Church in Need
“At night, most of the population along the border doesn't sleep at home - some people even sleep under trees”.
As attacks by Islamist militants continue in Cameroon, the bishop of the worst-affected diocese has stressed the importance of providing education and giving people hope as an antidote to extremism.
Jihadist terrorist group Boko Haram has been carrying out "sporadic attacks" in northern Cameroon, mainly to "steal food, livestock, money and even clothes", but they no longer have "heavy weapons", according to Bishop Bruno Ateba of Maroua-Mokolo.
Speaking with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Ateba said that the two parishes of his diocese which border Nigeria are the most impacted by the violence, suffering "two attacks per month because the terrorists are hungry".
He told ACN that weapons will not "solve the problem of Boko Haram".
He said: "The first thing is formation and work. If young people have prospects, it will be difficult for Boko Haram to recruit new members and brainwash them."
He added: “At night, most of the population along the border doesn't sleep at home - some people even sleep under trees. Most of the time, the army is there to protect the population, but the partisans of Boko Haram in Cameroon tell Boko Haram in Nigeria when the soldiers are not there."
"The people are afraid. When I go and visit the parishes I am accompanied by soldiers. I call them my guardian angels."
In the 2024 Global Terrorism Index report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Cameroon was ranked as the sixth country in Africa and 12th in the world worst affected by terrorism.
The bishop underlined the importance of ACN's help in his diocese, which has included the construction of a cathedral, the translation of the Bible to the local Mafa language, support for the formation of seminarians and other pastoral aid.
He concluded: "I would like to take the opportunity to express my deep gratitude to ACN and to the benefactors who support us in our pastoral work. It's not easy here, especially because of climatic conditions, poverty and terrorism, but ACN helps us enormouslywhether that is in the formation priests and seminarians or with various projects."
Richest 1% use their entire annual carbon limit in ten days
“Governments need to stop pandering to the richest polluters and instead make them pay their fair share for the havoc
they're wreaking on our planet”.
The world's richest one per cent have burned through their share of the annual global carbon budget -the amount of CO2 that can be added to the atmosphere without pushing the world beyond 1.5°C of warming- within the first 10 days of 2025, new Oxfam analysis reveals.
This alarming milestone, dubbed 'Pollutocrat Day' by Oxfam, underscores how climate breakdown is disproportionately driven by the super-rich, whose emissions far exceed those of ordinary people. In stark contrast, it would take someone from the poorest half of the global population nearly three years to use up their share of the annual global carbon budget.
While the richest one per cent are responsible for more than twice as much
carbon pollution than the poorest half of humanity, it is people living in poverty who have done the least to cause the climate crisis that are experiencing its most dangerous impacts. To meet the vital goal of keeping global warming within 1.5°C, the richest 1 per cent need to cut their emissions by 97 per cent by 2030.
Chiara Liguori, Oxfam GB's Senior Climate Justice Policy Advisor said: "The future of our planet is hanging by a thread, yet the superrich are being allowed to continue to squander humanity's chances with their lavish lifestyles and polluting investments.
"Governments need to stop pandering to the richest polluters and instead make them pay their fair share for the havoc they're wreaking on our planet. Leaders who fail to act are
culpable in a crisis that threatens the lives of billions."
Oxfam is calling on the Chancellor to increase taxes on climate-polluting extreme wealthsuch as private jets and superyachts - to raise the much-needed funds to tackle the climate crisis in a way that targets those most responsible and those who can most afford to pay.
Liguori said: "As global temperatures continue to climb, the UK must show how it will
generate its own share of new, fair funding to meet the escalating climate finance needs and fight inequality - significantly higher taxes on polluting luxuries like private jets and superyachts is an obvious place for the Government to start."
Oxfam calculated that fair taxes on private jets and superyachts in the UK could have raised up to £2 billion in 2023 to help generate vital funds for climate action.
Oxfam
Amy Balog
Ordination of priests in new cathedral funded by ACN in Maroua, Cameroon. © ACN
Pope Francis declared 2025 a Jubilee year and each month, we will be covering stories related to the Jubilee from across the world.
What is the Jubilee?
“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year; the name comes from the instrument used to mark its launch. In this case, the instrument in question is the yobel, the ram's horn, used to proclaim the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This (Jewish) holiday occurs every year, but it takes on special significance when it marks the beginning of a Jubilee year.
We can find an early indication of it in the Bible: a Jubilee year was to be marked every 50 years, since this would be an “extra” year, one which would happen every seven weeks of seven years, i.e., every 49 years (cf. Leviticus 25:8-13). Even though it wasn’t easy to organise, it was intended to be marked as a time to reestablish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.
Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ mission in this way: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus lives out these words in his daily life, in his encounters with others and in his relationships, all of which bring about liberation and conversion.
In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee, also known as a “Holy Year,” since it is a time in which God's holiness transforms us. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over
time: at first, they were celebrated every 100 years; later, in 1343 Pope Clement VI reduced the gap between Jubilees to every 50 years, and in 1470 Pope Paul II made it every 25 years. There have also been “extraordinary” Holy Years: for example, in 1933 Pope Pius XI chose to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the Redemption, and in 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy as an extraordinary jubilee. The way in which Jubilee Years are marked has also changed through the centuries: originally the Holy Year consisted of a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, later other signs were added, such as the Holy Door. By participating in the Holy Year, one is granted a plenary indulgence.
There are various elements of the Jubilee. These are: Pilgrimage
The jubilee calls for us to set out on a journey and to cross boundaries. When we travel, we do not only change place physically, but we also change ourselves. Hence, it is important to prepare ourselves well, to plan the route, and learn about the destination. In this sense, the Jubilee pilgrimage begins before the start of the journey itself: the starting point is the decision to set out. The etymology of the word “pilgrimage” is quite telling and has undergone
little change in meaning over the years. The word comes from the Latin “per ager,” meaning "across the fields," or perhaps from “per eger” meaning “border crossing”: both possible origins point to the distinctive aspect of undertaking a journey.
The journey takes place gradually: there are various routes to choose from and places to discover; it is made up of particular sets of circumstances, moments of catechesis, sacred rites and liturgies. Along the way our traveling companions enrich us with new ways of understanding things and fresh perspectives. Contemplation of creation is also part of the journey and helps us to realize that care for creation “is an essential expression of our faith in God and our obedience to his will” (Pope Francis, Letter for the Jubilee 2025). Pilgrimage is an experience of conversion, of transforming one's very being to conform it to the holiness of God. During the pilgrimage, one also shares in the experience of those who, for various reasons, are forced to leave their homelands to seek a better life for themselves and their family.
Holy Door
From a symbolic viewpoint, the Holy Door takes on a special significance: it is the most
powerful sign of the Jubilee, since the ultimate aim of the pilgrim is to pass through it. The opening of the door by the Pope constitutes the official beginning of the Holy Year. Originally, there was only one door, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. Later, to allow as many pilgrims as possible to take part in the Jubilee experience, the other Roman Basilicas also opened their own holy doors.
In crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, the pilgrim is reminded of the passage from chapter 10 of St John’s gospel: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Passing through the Holy Door expresses the decision to follow and be guided by Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd. The door is a passageway that ushers the pilgrim into the interior of a church. For the Christian community, a church is not only a sacred space, to be approached with respect, with appropriate behavior and dress code, but it is a symbol of the communion that binds every believer to Christ: it is a place of encounter and dialogue, of reconciliation and peace which awaits every pilgrim, the Church is essentially the place of the community of the faithful.
In Rome, this experience takes on a special significance because of the special links between the Eternal City and Saints Peter and Paul, the apostles who founded the Christian community in Rome and whose teachings and example are models for the universal Church. The tombs of Saints Peter and Paul are located in Rome, they were martyred here; and together with the catacombs, these sacred sites are places of continuous spiritual inspiration.
Reconciliation
A Jubilee year is a sign of reconciliation because it establishes a “favorable time” (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:2) for conversion. We are called to put God at the center of our lives, growing toward Him and acknowledging His primacy. Even the Biblical call for the restoration of social justice and respect for the earth stems from a theological reality: if God is the creator of the universe, He must be given priority over every reality and partisan interest. It is God who makes this year holy by bestowing on us His own holiness.
As Pope Francis recalled in the 2015 Bull proclaiming the Extraordinary Holy Year, “Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert, and believe. […] God’s justice is his mercy given to everyone as a grace that flows from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus, the Cross of Christ is God’s judgement on all of us and on the whole world, because through it he offers us the certainty of love and new life” (Misericordiae Vultus, 21).
In practical terms, reconciliation involves receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation, taking advantage of this time to rediscover the value of confession, and experiencing God's personal words of forgiveness. There are some Jubilee churches that stay open continuously to make available the sacrament of Reconciliation. You can prepare yourself to receive the sacrament by following a guide.
Prayer
There are many reasons and ways to pray, but at the root of prayer is always the desire to be open to God's presence and His offer of love.
It is the Spirit of the Son that calls the Christian community to prayer and allows fo turn each person to return to the Father. It was Jesus who entrusted His disciples with the Lord's Prayer, which is commented on by the Catechism of the Catholic Church (cf. CCC 2759-2865).
The Christian tradition also offers other texts, such as the Hail Mary, that can help to find words to address God: “By a living transmission—Tradition—the Holy Spirit in the Church teaches the children of God to pray” (CCC 2661).
The prayer opportunities on the journey show that the pilgrim holds the path to God “in his heart” (Psalm 83:6). Refreshment is also provided by the various stops and opportunities for rest along the way, which are often organised around shrines, sanctuaries, and other places filled with spiritual significance, where one realises that — before us and alongside us — other pilgrims have also passed along and traveled those same roads. Indeed, the paths leading to Rome have often been trod by many saints.
Liturgy
The liturgy is the public prayer of the Church: in the words of the Second Vatican Council, it is the “summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; (and,) at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10). At the center is the Christian liturgy is the Mass - the Eucharistic celebration, where the Body and Blood of Christ are truly received. As a pilgrim, Christ himself walks alongside the disciples and reveals to them the mysteries of the Father, so that they too can say, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” (Luke 24:29).
One liturgical rite that is specific to the Jubilee year is the opening of the Holy Door. Until the last century, the Pope would symbolically initiate the demolition of the wall that kept the Holy Door bricked up on non-Jubilee years. Masons would then fully remove the brick wall to be able to open the Holy Door. Since 1950, the ceremony has changed and now the wall is dismantled beforehand and, within a solemn choral liturgy, the Pope pushes open the door from the outside, passing through it as the first pilgrim. This and the other liturgical expressions that accompany the Holy Year emphasize that the Jubilee pilgrimage is not merely an intimate, personal gesture, but is a sign of the journey of the whole people of God toward the Kingdom.
Profession of Faith
The profession of faith – also known as the ‘Symbol’ - is a sign of the identity of the baptized person. The profession of faith expresses the central content of the faith: it succinctly captures the main truths that a believer accepts and witnesses to on the day of his or her baptism and shares with the entire Christian community for the rest of his or her life.
There are various professions of faith which show the richness of the experience of encountering Jesus Christ. Traditionally, however, there are two that have gained special recognition in the Church: the baptismal creed of the church of Rome and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed, originally formulated in 325 at the Council of Nicaea, in present-day Turkey, and then refined at the Council of Constantinople in 381.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved,” (Romans 10:9-10). This passage from St. Paul emphasizes how proclaiming the mystery of faith requires a deep conversion not only in one's words, but above all in one’s understanding of God, of oneself and of the world. “To say the Creed with faith is to enter into communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and also with the whole Church which transmits the faith to us and in whose midst, we believe” (CCC 197).
Indulgences
The Jubilee Indulgence is a concrete manifestation of God's mercy, which goes beyond and transforms the boundaries of human justice. This treasury of grace entered human history in the witness of Jesus and the saints, and by living in communion with them our hope for our own forgiveness is strengthened and becomes a certainty. The Jubilee indulgence allows us to free our hearts from the weight of sin because the reparation due for our sins is given freely and abundantly.
In practical terms, the experience of God’s mercy involves some spiritual acts indicated by the Pope. Those who cannot make the Jubilee pilgrimage due to illness or other circumstances are nonetheless invited to take part in the spiritual movement that accompanies the Jubilee year, offering up the sufferings of their daily lives, and participating in the Eucharistic celebration.
JANUARY 2025
24-26 January
Jubilee of the World of Communications
FEBRUARY 2025
8-9 February
Jubilee of Armed Forces, Police and Security Personnel
15-18 February
Jubilee of Artists
21-23 February
Jubilee of Deacons
MARCH 2025
8-9 March
Jubilee of the World of Volunteering
28 March
24 Hours for the Lord
28-30 March
Jubilee of the Missionaries of Mercy
APRIL 2025
5 -6 April
Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers
25-27 April
Jubilee of Teenagers
28-29 April
Jubilee of People with Disabilities
May 2025
1-4 May
Jubilee of Workers
4-5 May
Jubilee of Entrepreneurs
10-11 May
Jubilee of Marching Bands
12-14 May
Jubilee of the Eastern Churches
16-18 May
Jubilee of Confraternities
30 May - 1 June
Jubilee of Familes, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly
June 2025
7-8 June
Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Assocations and New Communities
9 June
Jubilee of the Holy See
14-15 June
Jubilee of Sport
20-22 June
Jubilee of Governments
23-24 June
Jubilee of Seminarians
25 June
Jubilee of Bishops
25-27 June
Jubilee of Priests
JULY 2025
28 July - 3 August
Jubilee of Youth
SEPTEMBER
2025
15 September
Jubilee of Consolation
20 September
Jubilee of Justice
26-28 September
Jubilee of Catechists
OCTOBER 2025
4-5 October
Jubilee of the Mission
4-5 October
Jubilee of Migrants
8-9 October
Jubilee of Consecrated Life
11-12 October
Jubilee of Marian Spirituality
31 October - 2 November
Jubilee of the World of Education
NOVEMBER
2025
16 November
Jubilee of the Poor
22-23 November
Jubilee of Choirs
DECEMBER
2025
14 December
Jubilee of Prisoners
View from the Pew
One, two, three …
Dr Jay Kettle-Williams
I walked self-consciously across the floor and coyly invited her to dance. No way would I have considered myself a dancer and certainly nothing like the dancer she then turned out to be.
We took to the floor. From then on I more or less followed her – ‘One, two, three, one to three … ‘ – me randomly rising and falling as she waltzed effortlessly, leading me across the floor. I shuffled along under her stewardship feigning my mastery of the situation. I could hold my own all the time we kept to a straight line: ‘One, two, three, one, two, three…’
I remember her to this day: tallish, slim, long dark hair, a smile ever on her lips as she fluttered her eyes incessantly. We were both in our teens. This was long before Strictly.
The band finally stopped, the dancing ground to a halt. She must have been relieved. As for me, I could escape further embarrassment and shame after what had seemed like an eternity.
As I turned to thank her for the dance, she raised her head and, asking to look at me, brought her hands up to my face and gently felt its features. She was then escorted back to her seat by one of the mistresses from her school, back to where her schoolfriends were gathered.
The girls school for the blind which she attended owed its foundation to Christian philanthropy in the 19th century, or maybe even long before that. It had been customary over the years for the older girls to be invited to the annual VI form dance at our boys school, also of Christian foundation.
The adjective ‘blind’ and the associated abstract noun ‘blindness’ are used in English in both a physical sense and metaphorically, in a virtual way. Occasionally English does have distinct descriptors for such different phenomena (‘Height’ and ‘Highness’ being an example) but, strangely enough, not in the case of blindness.
The Bible carries many references to the blind and blindness, both spiritual and physical. The story of the blind beggar Bartimaeus is a memorable case in point, among the most noteworthy. It’s featured in the Gospel of Mark where Bartimaeus calls to ‘Jesus, Son of David’ thereby affirming his belief that Jesus was indeed the Messiah - see 2 Samuel 7: 14-16 (JB). Bartimaeus persists in trying to attract Jesus’ attention from among the crowd until finally he gets to say to Jesus: ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’ And Jesus replies, ‘Go, your faith has healed you.’ Bartimaeus could then immediately see.
I don’t think I’m alone in having thought that the proverb ‘There are none so blind as those who will not see’ must surely have come from the Bible. But that’s not so. First recorded in the 16th century and to have entered common parlance soon thereafter, the sentiment does admittedly run along the lines of Jeremiah 5:21 (JB), further steered by Matthew 13:13 (JB) and Matthew 9:26-27 (JB), all reminiscent of Isaiah 6:9 (JB). However, the term ‘none so blind as those who will not see’ is often attributed specifically to John 9:39-41 (JB), where Jesus speaks about spiritual blindness and refers to those who refuse to acknowledge the truth.
The proverb as such has been traced back in English to 1546 (John Heywood) with the exact wording reputedly first appearing in print in 1548. Since then it has been paraphrased and adapted in various forms in literature and discourse asserting that some people are wilfully ignorant of or choose to ignore the truth, making them ‘blind’ to reality despite having the ability to see. Be that as it may,
Bartimaeus comes shining through, notably for his conviction, dedication, hope and faith.
The pervading message is one of faith, the charism or spiritual gift which we are all asked to preserve and nurture. Faith is an issue with which we may all have to wrestle from time to time, following in a straight line, albeit taking one step at a time.
Acknowledgements and Attribution: Accompanying image (Statue with Blowing Horn) after the sculpture Exultate Jubilate by Philip Jackson.Texts/References adapted and/or adopted from http://en.wikipedia.org under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-sa/4.0/
Dr J L Kettle-Williams is an experienced business communications consultant and wordsmith (tutor, writer, translator).
St William of York Scouts receive The King's Award for voluntary service
liverpoolcatholic.org.uk
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities
4th Crosby (St William of York) Scout Group, a group of volunteers based in Thornton, Merseyside, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
This award recognises the contribution of the leaders and adults working with their local community to provide a range of opportunities for young people to develop skills for life while enjoying the adventures of Scouting.
4th Crosby Scout Group is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
Their work, along with others across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities.
It was created in 2002 to celebrate the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of the King. 2024 marked the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Recipients are announced annually on 14 November, The King’s Birthday.
Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a mental health and wellbeing support network for veterans and their families in Yorkshire; a group preserving a historic 12th century castle in south Wales; volunteers providing English lessons for refugees in Stirling and an organisation providing opportunities to engage in the arts for people with learning disabilities in County Fermanagh.
Representatives of 4th Crosby Scout Group will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mr Mark Blundell, Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside early next year. In addition, two volunteers will be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Group Scout Leader, Catherine Ashcroft said: “Receiving this award is tinged with great sadness at the unexpected death of our Parish Priest Fr Dunstan Harrington on Remembrance Sunday.
"Fr Dunstan was very proud of our young people and the work our volunteers undertake in our parish, he would have been delighted to hear this news and his support has been invaluable to us over the years. May he rest in peace.
“It is truly an incredible honour to be recognised in this way for the efforts made by our team. We have the most amazing group of adults you could dream of working with.
"They are committed to delivering the best opportunities to challenge our young people, teaching them skills that will raise aspirations and prepare them for the future. They consistently go above and beyond and are a credit to our organisation.
"This award will mean so much to our young people, volunteers, trustees and parents, we are delighted to receive it.
"Thank you to everyone who contributes to make the 4th such a special place to volunteer, we hope to continue to make a difference in our community.”
President Biden awards Pope Francis Medal of Freedom
As the People's Pope, you are a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world
Outgoing US President Joe Biden has awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the United States' highest civilian honour.
Biden announced this directly to the Pope, in a telephone call on Saturday, 11 January. The two were due to meet in person on 10 January at the Vatican, for a private audience, as part of Biden's trip to Italy, the last international trip before the end of his mandate. However, the emergency caused by the fires in Los Angeles forced him to cancel the trip.
The President had an earlier call with Pope Francis on 20 December during which it is reported that among the various topics
discussed, the issue of human rights had occupied a central place, linked to the Pope's concern for prisoners sentenced to death in federal prisons in the United States.
In fact, that conversation came after Biden's decision to commute the death sentences to life imprisonment for 37 inmates, men and women. A White House statement reported that Biden "thanked the Pope for his continued commitment to alleviating global suffering, including his work to promote human rights and protect religious freedoms."
Essentially, these are the reasons that led President Biden to choose the Pope as the recipient of the Medal. This honour was
already awarded a week ago to 19 political, sports and artistic personalities who "have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, to world peace or to other important social, public or private endeavours."
Some observers had noted that the number of laureates was not the usual 20. Biden was evidently saving the surprise for his visit to Rome.
The Washington statement says: "As a young man, Jorge Bergoglio sought a scientific career before faith led him to a life with the Jesuits. For decades, he served the voiceless and vulnerable throughout Argentina. As Pope Francis, his mission of service to the poor has never ceased. A loving shepherd, he joyfully answers children's questions about God. An inspiring teacher, he charges us to strive for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths. Pope Francis, the first Pope from the southern
hemisphere, is unlike anyone who has come before. Above all, he is the people's Pope: a light of faith, hope and love that shines brightly throughout the world."
Biden presented the award to the papal nuncio to the US, Cardinal Christoph Pierre, as seen in a post on his X account. (pictured) The image is accompanied by a post from the president, which reads: 'Pope Francis, your humility and your grace are beyond words, and your love for all is unparalleled. As the People's Pope, you are a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world. Today, it was my honor to award His Holiness Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.'
This is not the first time that a pontiff has received this honour from the American presidency: on 4 June 2004, then-President George W Bush awarded the Medal of Freedom to Pope John Paul II, during one of his visits to the Vatican.
AICA, Vatican News
Msgr. Liam Kidney (left) and Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson are pictured at St. Monica Church with the recovered tabernacle from Corpus Christi Church. (Victor Alemán)
LA firefighter salvages tabernacle from Corpus Christi rubble
Archdiocese of LA/ICN
Ann Rodgers reports, Four days after Corpus Christi Church was incinerated in the Palisades fire, Captain Bryan Nassour of the Los Angeles Fire Department picked his way over a six-foot layer of rubble in the ashen bones of the sanctuary and recovered the tabernacle.
"I did it because the whole community has been decimated - it looks like a nuclear bomb has gone off and nothing is standing," said Nassour, a member of St. Francis de Sales Church in Sherman Oaks, whose brother belongs to Corpus Christi.
“My brother lost his home. I have close friends who lost everything but the shirts on their backs, and they belong to that church too. So, if I could save just one thing, let it be this, so they have something to believe in."
To read more on this story scan the QR Code below:
February Saint
St Josephine Bakhita, 8th February
Josephine Bakhita:
From Slavery to Sainthood
Josephine Bakhita, canonized as Saint Josephine Bakhita, stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, embodying the triumph of the human spirit over unimaginable adversity. Born in 1869 in the Darfur region of Sudan, her early years were marked by tragedy when she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders at the age of 7. The trauma was so profound that she forgot her birth name; her captors mockingly called her "Bakhita," meaning "fortunate" in Arabic.
Enduring years of brutal slavery, she was sold multiple times, suffering unspeakable abuse. Yet, amid the darkness, Josephine’s inner strength never wavered. Her fortunes changed in 1883 when she was purchased by an Italian consul who treated her with kindness. Eventually brought to Italy, she served a family in Venice, where she encountered the Catholic faith. In a lifealtering moment, she refused to return to Sudan with her former owners, asserting her freedom under Italian law.
Josephine entered the Canossian Sisters, dedicating her life to God and serving
others. Known for her gentle demeanor and unwavering faith, she became a beloved figure, offering hope to those around her. Despite her painful past, she forgave her tormentors and often expressed gratitude for the journey that led her to God.
Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, Saint Josephine Bakhita is celebrated as the patron saint of Sudan and survivors of human trafficking. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the dignity inherent in every person and the power of faith and forgiveness to transform even the most broken lives.
Today, her story inspires millions, urging the world to combat modern slavery and cherish the freedom and humanity of every individual.
Rabbis for Human Rights write: Last Friday we began Planting Justice, our annual olive tree planting campaign with a planting day in asSawiya, south of Nablus, with 20 international activists including participants of our joint Winter Solidarity Program with Achvat Amim.
Over the Planting Justice season we will be planting 1,000 olive trees with 12 Palestinian communities across the West Bank. Our priority is to plant with communities who face settler violence and military restrictions to access their lands.
In As-sSawia we were warmly welcomed by the Head of the Village Council and planted some 50 saplings together across two locations and distributed another 20 to the village. Right as we were finishing up, the district commander of the IDF arrived with soldiers and presented us with a closed military zone order, with immediate effect. The reason: we were considered a security concern.
We were invited into the community to enjoy each other's company, but discovered that the army had set up checkpoints at the gates. The
military does not want to see Israelis and others working in solidarity with Palestinians. We refuse to accept this reality and we have scheduled planting justice days every Friday for the next two months. Already over 100 Rabbis, volunteers and activists have signed up to join us. If you are in the region please consider joining, or send to a friend who lives here.
Be messengers of hope
vatican.va
The day's Gospel “reminds us how powerful is God's love, which is not overcome by anything, and which continues to shine and illuminate our path, despite obstacles and rejections."
During a recent Angelus, Pope Francis told pilgrims gathered in a rain soaked St Peter's Square, Christmas reminds us God always find ways to reach everyone, wherever they are, "opening windows of light even in the darkest nights of humanity."
The day's Gospel "reminds us how powerful is God's love, which is not overcome by anything, and which continues to shine and illuminate our path, despite obstacles and rejections."
Jesus' Incarnation shows Him overcoming walls and divisions, confronting closed minds and hearts, sharing the humble life of Mary and Joseph despite the many hardships they face. In the face of the challenges we see in this world, "God never stops," the Pope said, but "finds a thousand ways to reach each and every one of us, wherever we are… opening even in the darkest nights of humanity windows of light that the darkness obscures."
In a world in desperate need of light, hope, and peace, human beings create difficult situations
from which it seems impossible to escape; but, the Pope said, the Scripture shows that it is not so. Instead, we are called "to imitate the God of love, opening up glimmers of light wherever we can, with whomever we meet, in any context."
Today, the Pope said, the Lord's invitation is "not to be afraid of taking the first step." This takes courage, adding that we are called to throw open "bright windows of proximity to those who are suffering, of forgiveness, of compassion and reconciliation… to make the journey clearer, safer and possible for all."
This call is particularly clear during the Jubilee, which urges us to be messengers of hope. This, Pope Francis said, "is the way of salvation."
In conclusion, Pope Francis invited everyone to ask themselves, "How can I open a window of light in my environment and in my relationships? Where can I be a glimmer of light that let's God's love pass through?"
'Fastest Nun in the West' on the way to sainthood
Once, Sister Blandina persuaded a dying young man to forgive his killer, whom she publicly escorted past an angry mob so he could beg forgiveness in person
A religious sister who befriended Billy the Kid, calmed a lynch mob, testified against human trafficking, opened hospitals and schools in New Mexico and gave refuge to immigrant children, is one step closer to canonization. Servant of God Sister Blandina Segale - an Italian immigrant who served during the days of the Wild West, is close to being named "Venerable," said Allen Sánchez, the petitioner of her cause, at a press conference on 3 January in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Maria Rosa Segale was born on 23 January, 1850, in Cicagna, Italy, and moved with her family to the United States in 1854. After leaving school, she joined the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, who trace their roots to St Elizabeth Ann Seton. Segale received the name Sister Blandina in honour of St Blandina, a martyr during the Roman persecution.
Throughout her life, Sister Blandina founded numerous institutions, including public and Catholic schools and hospitals in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. In Cincinnati, she and her biological sister, Sister Justina, founded a resettlement home for newly arrived Italian immigrants called the Santa Maria Institute.
Her life was filled with larger-than-life feats, many of them captured in her diary. The diary was meant to be an account for her sister. At the urging of New Mexico's governor, Sister Blandina's diary was published in 1932 as 'At the End of the Santa Fe Trail.'
Once, Sister Blandina persuaded a dying young man to forgive his killer, whom she publicly escorted past an angry mob so he could beg forgiveness in person. Her courageous efforts prevented the mob from executing the man and allowed justice to take its course instead.
Another time, she provided medical care to a member of Billy the Kid's gang. Later, when the notorious outlaw attacked a stagecoach Sister Blandina was in, he recognized her and let the travellers go in peace.
She frequently was an advocate for people who were disadvantaged. She saved many young women that had been trafficked by criminal gangs for prostitution. They became the first women to testify in the United States Congress on human trafficking.
Since she died in 1941, stories of Sr Blandina's life have featured in books, magazines and TV programmes.
Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester told reporters Sister Blandina reached out to the peripheries. He said, this was the first time the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has petitioned for a person to be declared a saint. "Jesus was her everything," he said. "Human trafficking, saving girls from prostitution, building settlement houses for immigrants. "We're proud of her, and we're proud that she was here, and she loves us, and that she worked so hard in this part of the world."
The late Archbishop Michael Sheehan started the Cause of Sr Blandina in June 2014. Since the cause was opened, there have been 49 miracles attributed to her.
The news comes as President-elect Trump vows mass deportation of migrants when he moves into the White House on 20 January. It's been reported that many Catholic groups are preparing to assist immigrants going into hiding. Bishop Wester said that one day when she is declared a Saint, "as an immigrant child, she will be the patron saint of immigrant children."
Sr Blandina Segale
And he prayed that Mary, "the star that leads us to Jesus" might help us "to be shinging witnesses of the Father's love for everyone."
Following the Angelus, Pope Francis renewed once again his appeals for peace throughout the world.
"Let us continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Myanmar, in Sudan," the Holy Father pleaded. "May the international community act with determination to ensure that humanitarian law is respected in conflicts."
Could you help continue Barnardo’s 150 years of care?
barnardos.org.uk
“I know Noah will have a thriving life of his own, and I hope we’ve helped play a small part in his life.”
For 150 years, Barnardo’s has been transforming childhoods and changing lives.
The charity’s community of foster carers play a vital role in supporting children in care by opening their homes and hearts to children who need a safe and supportive place to grow and flourish.
Northern couple Louise and Ryan say their faith has supported them on their journey to changing childhoods through fostering.
For three years the couple have been fostering, but it was their faith that was the biggest part of their journey, giving them the courage to take that first crucial step.
“We agreed we would simply start the fostering process and then pray our way through it,” says Louise.
Since taking that leap of faith, Louise and Ryan have welcomed Noah into their lives.
Louise explains: “One of the joys we're finding with our role is the comments we're receiving from people around us about the changes they can see in Noah and how happy he is and how confident he's becoming. All these little affirmations of positivity are really reassuring that we're making a difference.”
Louise recalls the moment she started to notice a change in Noah.
“He was quite quiet when he first moved in. I had come through to the lounge, but I could hear him in the bath singing and it was that kind when a child sings freely because they feel safe in their space.
“I remember it’s the first time I'd heard him sing. I started to cry because I thought, ‘Oh gosh, you must feel really comfortable’ because he's singing at the top of his voice and I remember thinking, ‘Maybe feels like he's found a home, somewhere safe’.
“It’s not the big things. It’s the singing or going into a supermarket and saying what would you like for yourself and him not saying anything because he didn't dare ask, whereas now, if I'm going to the shop it’s, ‘Can you please get me this, this and this…’ in full teenager mode – how it should be with a parent or carer.
“It’s the small things like that make you think he has a voice, he feels seen, he's comfortable.”
Faith continues to play a large role in Louise and Ryan’s fostering journey and has helped them understand that where you start out in life doesn't have to determine where you end up.
“Faith is about connection. It's about sharing energy and love. So many young people need somewhere safe and someone that's got their back. In fact we all need that, don't we?
“I know Noah will have a thriving life of his own, and I hope we’ve helped play a small part in his life.”
Reflecting on why they took that first step, Louise said: “It was a moment of reflection about who we are, our values and purpose, and what do we actually wanted to do.
“We always said we wanted to make a difference to young people's lives. It was very much that really having an impact on a young person's life, hopefully for the better, and Barnardo’s has been transforming childhoods and changing lives for 150 years then we just went for it.”
Fostering can positively change yours and a child’s life, from the small everyday things that make fostering rewarding, to the changes that can change a life.
Louise says: “Noah talks about his future now and what he's going to do when he gets older. For a young person who’s had to survive from day to day, to be able to start to think about the long term is quite a big achievement.
“I would say there isn’t a right time, but if you are the slightest bit curious about fostering and whether you could do it, just make the initial call.”
*Names have been changed
Taize in Paris
The next European meeting held by the Taizé community will take place in Paris and throughout the Île-de-France region from 28 December 2025 to 1 January 2026.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to come to Paris for the five day event, dedicated to prayer, workshops, discussions and cultural exchange, and concluding with a prayer for peace and a celebration to welcome the New Year.
Brother Matthew, prior of Taize, made the announcement last Monday, in Tallinn,
Estonia, where the most recent European meeting took place.
The Paris meeting is being organised at the invitation of Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, together with all the Catholic bishops of the Paris province, as well as Protestant and Orthodox leaders of the region.
Archbishop Laurent was present at the gathering in Tallinn. Following the announcement he addressed the crowds of young people saying: "Notre Dame will welcome you".
Notre Dame Cathedral
Barnardo’s has been transforming childhoods and changing lives for 150 years
CRYPTIC Across
5 German heretic Diaspora hit badly (11)
7 Arkwright: name of American hospital at first (4)
ß Its English, eccentric, retro style introduces these biblical people (8)
9 Barker's part of this universal UK institution (6)
11 Persian god, legend says, is meeting with one in Egypt (6)
12 Turkeys lord it in the oven? (3)
13 Aramaean maybe investing a Welsh girl with a little time (6)
14 Horse or pig meat that's served up in a Canaan town (6)
15 Distress bearings found in the sea off Dover (8)
17 Women's headgear, providing it's firm at the front (4)
18 Into pit come the sporting opposition (11)
CRYPTIC Down
1 One from India to look out for, they say (4)
2 This recipient of a letter is a kind of record: he's a Scot (8)
3 Part of Malta's no-go 'zombie' sector (4)
4 Religious type – one to find in York, for example (8)
5 One Coptic play that turns out to be prophetic... (11)
6 ...notice Earth in turmoil? (3,8)
You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same. SOLUTION
10 Fuming after Ulster's reversal over weapons (2,2,4)
11 Place in Gilead's a goal for leading actor's comeback (8)
16 What you used to be is there – just get rid of the radical element (4)
17 There's a tiny number in jail, brother, for murder (4)
QUICK Across
5 Member of a 16th Century German protestant sect condemned as heretics by Luther (11)
7 Along with Daniel and Job, one of Israel's three righteous men (4)
8 Bible people from southern Dead Sea area (8)
9 Domestic dog, aka Persian greyhound (6)
11 Ancient Persian god of light and truth (6)
12 --- Khan, spiritual head of Ismaili Muslims (3)
13 Native of a middle eastern Arabic republic (6)
4 Clergyman, as usually called in Protestant churches (8)
5 Significantly prophetic (11)
6 Part of Genesis featured in Haydn's landmark oratorio of 1798 (3,8)
14 Town in Canaan which after the Conquest was given to the tribe of Judah (6)
15 Restrict; impoverish (8)
17 Cap worn by fundamentalist Mormon women (4)
18 Formal sporting event, tournament (11)
QUICK Down
1 Adherent of a monotheistic religion established in the 15th century by former Hindus (4)
2 Recipient of one of Paul's epistles (8)
3 Mediterranean home of the Giant's Tower, the world's oldest man-made religious structure (4)
10 Strongly protesting; actively rebelling (2,2,4)
11 Where Jacob saw angels before reuniting with Esau (8)
16 Biblical pronoun (4)
17 First child of Adam and Eve (4)
10 Up in arms, 11
5 Apocalyptic, 6 The
Across: 5 Adiaphorist, 7 Noah, 8 Edomites, 9 Saluki,
11 Mithra, 12 Aga, 13 Syrian, 14 Hormah, 15 Straiten, 17 Coif,
18 Competition. Down: 1 Sikh, 2 Ephesian, 3 Gozo, 4 Minister,
Creation,
Mahanaim,
16 Thee, 17 Cain.