Catholic South West May 2023

CONTACTS & DETAILS

Catholic South West is a monthly newspaper for Catholics in the Plymouth, Clifton and Portsmouth Dioceses It is published by Bellcourt Ltd

AIMS

To build community in the South West by sharing stories relating to Catholic life around the South West

To encourage readers to get more involved in - or start - projects and initiatives in the local area

To provide thought-provoking articles to help readers deepen their Faith

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Bishop Christopher Budd 1937-2023

Hugh Christopher Budd was born in Romford on the 27th May 1937 to John and Phyllis Mary Budd. He was one of six children of whom his sister Jean is his only surviving sibling. The relationship with his siblings was of great importance to him and this closeness continued even when the circumstances of his own training and post ordination responsibilities meant the family were not physically near to each other.

Having begun his education at Hornchurch and moving to the Salesian College at Chertsey in 1949 he then moved to Cotton College a junior seminary in 1953, moving on to St Thomas’s Seminary , Grove Park before moving finally to complete his studies at the Venerable English and Welsh College in 1956. Here he remained until his ordination in the Church of Our Lady of the Snows at Palazzola on the 8th July 1962.

After further studies to become a Doctor of Theology, he remained in post at the College as the tutor in Theology until 1971 during the massive changes which were happening in the Church and which, as a seminary professor, he was hugely

important in enabling to become a part of the priests formation at that time. From here he returned to England, not to parish life but to the role of Theology Lecturer at Newman College until 1976 at which time he was appointed as Head of Training for

the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, a role he continued until his appointment as Rector of St John’s Seminary, Wonersh in 1979.

This important role in the formation of men (who are now leading members of the Church both as clergy and laymen) he fulfilled with great integrity and understanding for 6 years. Finally, after so many years of working outside of parishes but helping others to work within them, it seemed like he might now be able to enjoy a more pastoral life as he was appointed as Administrator of Brentwood Cathedral, his home diocese in 1985 but, after a few short months, this was brought to an end when he was called by Pope John Paul II to become the eighth bishop of Plymouth succeeding Bishop Cyril Restieaux who had himself carried the crozier for many years previously.

Little did Bishop Christopher know that he was to be the Bishop of this very sprawling, rural diocese for some 28 years. In that time he proved himself to be a man of great compassion and understanding, one who sought to involve

EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

1) Think of the readers: If you are writing about an event, think about the readers that don’t know anything about it Outline what happened, but focus on why people go, why it is important to them, or some teaching that was given Make sure readers learn something from your

article - they don’t just want to know who was there and what snacks were available!

2) Keep it brief: Make sure you make your point - but keep it brief and punchy

3) Pictures: Send pictures as they are - even if they are very big to email Don’t reduce them in size or put them inside a Word document

They look fine on the screen but terrible in the paper!

LEGAL INFORMATION

Please note that opinions expressed in this paper and on any linked sites or publications are not necessarily those of the Publishers, Editor, any Diocese or the wider Roman Catholic Church

Every reasonable effort is

made to ensure that due acknowledgement, when appropriate, is made to the originator of any image submitted for publication It is understood that those submitting material for publication in CSW either hold the copyright or have arranged for publication with the appropriate authority

himself in the life of this very unique corner of the United Kingdom. His work with his fellow Christians can never be underestimated, forging links and relationships, which have stood the test of time. As recognition of this, the Anglican Diocese of Truro invited him to take up a chair as an honorary canon, which he was very happy to accept. It reinforced the vision he held of a Church bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel by working and praying together wherever it was possible without compromising the integrity of any of those involved.

This strong sense of empathy and integrity stood him in great stead in the many areas of the wider Church and world in which he was called to minister. He was a member of the Department for Social Justice of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and, between 2002 and 2010, a Director of the Catholic Agency for Social Concern, now a part of Caritas. He was also, for many years, the Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Joint Committee on Bio- Ethical issues for the whole of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

In his long and sincere ministry to the people of the Plymouth Diocese he had to steer through waters that were new and unchartered. The falling number of priests, dwindling congregations, the international clerical abuse scandal, all these Bishop Christopher had to encounter, as did all bishops of any diocese anywhere in the western world. These he faced with honesty and a genuine humility. He sought to inspire and enable his people and his clergy through opportunities to meet and reflect together. The RCIA summer school in 1991 was a highlight of liturgy, reflection

and learning which had a profound effect on parishes across the three counties and still does today. The Diocesan Assembly in 2004, though not of the same level of overall effect, gave people a real sense of being listened to and heard.

His involvement in Pilgrimage with his people took him to Taize, Lourdes, Landevennac, Oberammergau and Fulda in mainland Europe as well as journeying to the Holy Land. These pilgrimages often continued his ecumenical spirit and were signs of this commitment. His visiting of the diocesan priests working abroad most especially in Kenya but elsewhere in the world reinforced that sense of the universality of the Church. And his special concern for the poor informed his mission and ministry and from this developed a draft mission statement and covenant with the poor.

Bishop Christopher was, and continued to be into his retirement, a man of genuine goodness. A kind man, a man of gentle humour and humble gratitude for

whatever he received. His priests did not dread his visitations as perhaps some priests in other diocese and in other times may have done. His desire was always to encourage and enable. He knew his priests and sought to be a father and, as much as a bishop can be, a friend. He loved his people and they, in so many ways, reciprocated the sentiment.

When, after 2 years beyond his retirement age, he was finally able to lay down his crozier he stepped into retirement. He chose to retire on the 9th of October 2013, the Feast Day of St John Henry Newman. He then began to enjoy the quiet pastoral life that he had never been free to enjoy throughout his long and varied ministries spent enabling others to minister in the very places he was not free to. He was always ready to supply for priests in their parishes to enable them, that word again, to find time for relaxation and recuperation. He lived in peaceful retirement in the winter on St Mary’s in the Scillies or in the spring and summer at the Catholic Church In Lyme Regis. It was only in the last year that he withdrew from the winter residence when his health began to become more of an issue. His patience with the various treatments he underwent as he struggled with his cancer was an inspiration in itself. His lack of self pity, his good humour and humility to the last was a blessing to all those who cared for and loved him.

He will be greatly missed by so many, he was a true example of genuine faith, genuine hope and genuine love. He died in the early hours of Saturday April 1st aged 85. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

By Fr Mark Skelton Photos: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Around the South West Devotion to our Lady

Saturday 13 May, 2023

St Mary Immaculate, Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3PR

Preparation is underway now and am inviting everyone to once again observe our devotion to our Lady our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

50 Years an Altar Server at the same church

Patrick Showfield of the Parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Weymouth, was surprised at the Easter Vigil Mass as Fr Anthony O’Gorman presented him with the Gold Medal of the Guild of St Stephen for his services as an Altar Server for over 50 years at this church. In fact, Pat has served for over 60 years!

Esmee Nicholls

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Our Lady & St Neot, Liskeard Reach Out to Their Local Community

For the time being we have ended our successful Warm Space project. A tremendous thanks to all who have supported with food, donations and especially those who on behalf of the parish welcomed our guests - we can all pat ourselves on the back. Over 100 two course meals were served. We have made many new friends and have gained as much from the experience as hopefully they have.

We hope that as many as possible will be able to join us on Fridays during Lent for our ‘Lenten Lunch’ of Homemade Soup with a Roll and piece of Cheese. Donations will go towards St Petroc’s – a society helping the Homeless in Cornwall. Our sibling churches ‘Our Lady of the Angels’, Saltash – donations for CaFod’s Earthquake Appeal and ‘Church of Our Lady of Light’ Sclerder Abbey will also be doing their own Lenten Lunches.

A Certificate of Appreciation has been awarded to Our Lady and St Neot for

taking part in Heritage Open Days 2022. We are part of the Heritage Trail which opens each year to showcase our Cornish Heritage and welcomes visitors from far and wide. This year we will taking part on September 9th, but more about that in a later article.

Liskeard and Looe with Torpoint Foodbank have also sent us a Certificate of Appreciation thanking us for donating 300.93 kg of food last year. These foodbanks are being used much more than a year ago and we will continue with our support of their sterling work.

Annually on Mothering Sunday posies of daffodils were handed out at all four of our churches, and we are always grateful to all who help. We ask people to take a bunch to give to a neighbour or to someone who can’t or doesn’t come to church. This is part of our evangelisation and outreach to the communities. A label is attached to each posy containing a gospel message.

Scripture Focus

By Fr Jeremy Corley

A SUPPORTIVE FRIEND

All of us value good friends. We want someone who is caring and supportive, someone who stays with us in good times and bad. We want someone who will back us up, but also someone who will gently show us if we are wrong. We want someone who can inspire us and show us new possibilities in our lives.

The first disciples found that Jesus was a supportive friend who cared about them. He liked to spend time with them, and he did not walk away when they showed their faults and foibles. He opened up new possibilities for their lives, and he enabled them to develop new and unexpected potentialities.

But Jesus would not be with them for ever on earth. At the Last Supper, according to St John, he told them that when he was gone, he would send them another supportive helper like himself. In the gospel for Sunday 14th May (the Sixth Sunday of Eastertide), Jesus tells his disciples: “I shall ask the Father, and he will give you

another Advocate to be with you for ever, the Spirit of truth.”

Referring to the Holy Spirit, John’s Gospel uses the Greek word Paraclete, which can mean Advocate, Helper, or Consoler. In an ancient Greek lawcourt, the word could mean a defence lawyer, advocating for someone accused of a crime.

Whereas the devil’s work is to accuse (Rev 12:10), the Holy Spirit defends us from accusation. He is like Jesus, who defended the woman caught in adultery when facing her accusers. He does not say that sin is OK, but rather he wants to lead us to a better way of life.

From now on, Jesus is our Advocate in the heavenly court, pleading for us with his Father (1 John 2:1). But on earth, the Spirit remains with us to continue his advocacy for us in our present lives. By living in our hearts, he makes Jesus present within us.

The term Paraclete can also describe his role as helper and guide. When we are uncertain about what to do, the Holy Spirit

can show us the way and give us the strength to do what is right.

In addition, the word Paraclete can also mean the one who gives us encouragement and consolation, especially when we are feeling weak and depressed. When we need a spiritual friend, the Paraclete is there to lift us up, particularly if we turn to him.

As we move through Eastertide, we are invited to renew our prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. One of the most beautiful hymns is the Pentecost sequence: “Holy Spirit, Lord of light, from your clear celestial height, your pure beaming radiance give.”

The hymn acclaims the Paraclete as “the soul’s delightful guest” and “of all consolers best,” because he brings refreshing peace. “You in toil are comfort sweet, pleasant coolness in the heat, solace in the midst of woe.” Since all our activity needs the grace of the Holy Spirit, we pray to him as “Light immortal, Light divine,” asking that he may visit our hearts and fill our inmost being.

The next verse of the hymn speaks movingly of the Holy Spirit’s consoling activity: “Heal our wounds; our strength renew. On our dryness pour your dew. Wash the stains of guilt away.” The hymn also reminds us of how the Holy Spirit can soften hearts that have become hurt or hardened: “Bend the stubborn heart and will. Melt the frozen, warm the chill. Guide the steps that go astray.” Finally, the hymn’s concluding words point our attention to God’s promise of eternal life: “Give us comfort when we die, give us life with you on high, give us joys that never end.”

We do not need to wait until Pentecost to sing this hymn or use it as a prayer. In fact, we can say this prayer daily, particularly when we need the encouragement and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirt always points to Jesus, he is the hidden member of the Trinity, but his work is irreplaceable. So in this season, let us renew our prayer for his help: “Come, Holy Spirit.”

Refugee Week 2023 19-25 June – Join us for prayer and discussion

REFUGEE WEEK EVENT 6-7 PM VIA ZOOM

‘Every migrant has a name, a face and a story’. Pope Francis Refugee Week is approaching and the theme this year is Compassion. Caritas Diocese of Plymouth would like to invite parishes and schools to use ‘Love the Stranger’ - a new publication by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales – to discuss and reflect on the challenges facing those who have left their homeland in search of a better life. Our communities have been enriched by the presence of families from all over the world. Love the Stranger is a call to action – not only to help those who come here, but also to facilitate and rejoice in their service to our society.

There are many in our diocese who are responding to local needs and we want to bring parishes together to hear what is happening and to learn from each other. Parishes welcome those new to their community, reach out to asylum seekers, welcome families through community sponsorship, host Ukrainian families and much more. Come along to our online event to share your thoughts and hear from others on Wednesday 21st June from 6-7pm. Please register here or email caritas@prcdtr.org.uk

Caritas can offer advice and resources to parishes wishing to explore further how to reach out to refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and trafficked people. Just contact

caritas@prcdtr.org.uk and we will be happy to help.

St. Josephine Bakhita, pray for us.

Celebration for the Filipino Community in the Southwest

Now in its 11th year of celebration in the Diocese of Plymouth, the Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan event started in 2011 in Callington, Cornwall and since then has been celebrated in many different parishes - Cathedral in Plymouth, Sacred Heart in Exeter,

St.Piran in Truro, the Assumption church in Torquay, Holy Trinity in Dorchester and the 10th year last year, it was brought back to Plymouth Cathedral. This year’s event comes to Falmouth and all are welcome!

COME AND JOIN THE CELEBRATION OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY FROM SOUTHWEST ENGLAND

“FLORES DE MAYO AND SANTACRUZAN”

Date: May 13, 2023, Saturday

Venue: St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3PR

3:30pm Assembly at Prince of Wales Pier

4:30pm Crowning of the Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary

4:45pm Start of the Procession leading to the Church

5:30pm Arrival at the Church followed by Flower Offerings to the Blessed Virgin Mary

6:00pm Celebration of the Holy Mass

6:45pm Short Filipino Cultural Show, composed of traditional dances

7:15pm Salu-Salo (traditional food to share after the celebration)

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!

For more information:

Merlyn McGuire (organiser) 07962 875223 01579 383903

Luz Dobson (Falmouth) 07748 418937

Eve and Patrick O’Connor (Falmouth) 07504 243366

There will be a Mass in the Abbey Church at 12pm followed by a ticketed event with lunch and music from the Haldon Quartet who are performing instrumental arrangements based on John Bradburne’s poetry. Alongside this will feature the uplifting singing from the Zimbabwean Catholic Community. There will be talks by the French biographer, Didier Rance, Author, Professor David Crystal and the Italian postulator of John’s Cause, Dr Enrico Solinas.

Venue: Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0EE

Date: Saturday 10th June 2023 Mass: 12-1pm

Lunch & talks: 1-3.30pm

Ticket price: £25 Contact JBMS on: The John Bradburne Memorial Society, PO Box 32, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0YB Tel: 07979 187498 Email: info@johnbradburne.com Website: www.johnbradburne.com Registered Charity No: 1046483

The John Bradburne Memorial Society is

Restoration of the Ukrainian Madonna and Child

This story begins around 1890 in a small village in Western Ukraine, where the parish Priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Church Dioniziy Bilinski and wife Albina, were preparing for the forthcoming ordination of their son Joseph. They had a beautiful gift for him and his wife Halyna, a painting of Our Blessed Lady feeding the infant Jesus. Sadly there are no details of where it came from or the artist. Both Joseph and his father had studied in Vienna, so perhaps it came from there, but we will never know.

As Joseph and Halyna settled into their new life in the small village of Skowyatyn, they hung the painting in the village church where he was the new parish Priest.

They had three children, Roman, Stefania and Irena who was my mother. The village was rather isolated so they managed to survive both the first world war and the holodomor the enforced famine by Stalin of 1932-33.

Father Joseph died around 1930 but the family continued to live in the family house. Terror struck again with the outbreak of the WW2 in 1939. The family had been warned that the Soviet army was approaching and anyone with either religious connections or educated people were being killed or taken prisoners to Siberia. They decided to escape to Poland

and quickly packed a few possessions, and went into the church, removed the painting of Our Lady, rolled it up and stitched it into the hem of a winter coat.

As they were fleeing they were captured by the Nazis loaded onto cattle trucks and taken to a camp somewhere in Poland. By a miracle they managed to keep together and hold onto the coat. Mum recalled that they had to sew on blue patches saying Oster, meaning Oster arbeiten, East European slave labour, she refused to sew it on, but her mother told her to do it, saying was only a patch and what was on the outside of the coat was not important. What was important was inside the coat, the picture.

That would protect and strengthen them in days. So the guards did not take much notice, the three women took it in turns to wear the coat and used it as a blanket.

During their internment they were taken to various camps and it was in one of those camps that Halyna my grandmother died from starvation and exhaustion. In the morning a wooden barrow was wheeled round and any bodies were thrown onto the cart and either buried in a pit or burned. Sadly my grandmother has no grave, no marker.

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After the war mum did not want to stay in Germany so she came to England while my aunt stayed in Germany. They decided as Stefania was the eldest she should take the coat with the painting. Mum came to a camp in Nottinghamshire where eventually she met my Polish father, they married and settled down. Mum and her sister lost touch but mum would often recall the beautiful painting, she died in 1989. I managed to trace my aunt and we met in 1994. I visited her a few times,she told me after her death,I had to take the painting

Pope at Easter Urbi et Orbi: Christ is truly risen, hope is reborn for all

Following the Easter morning Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, the Pope presided over the Mass of Easter Day to give his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (from the Latin, to the city and the world) Easter message. Over 100 thousand pilgrims filled the Square and surrounding avenues. Close to thirty thousand flowers adorned the square and the balcony of the loggia,

recalling the theme of new life, hope, and joy at Easter.

In his Easter message, Pope Francis began by proclaiming the joyous message of this day, “Christ is risen; he is truly risen!”. The Pope declared that in Jesus, the passage of humanity from death to life, sin to grace, fear to confidence and desolation to communion has been made,

and look after it. So I became the custodian, it was very badly damaged and I was unsure what to do with it, as I felt it needed a true expert. After the sudden death of my husband, it was quite a while before I thought of the painting again. Eventually I applied to the TV programme, the Repair Shop, and was accepted. In 2022 I took the painting and met Lucia Scalisi the restorer, eventually the call came to return for the reveal. Lucia had left the damaged paint around the outside of the picture because we both felt that it told the story, but the central figures just took my breath away, it was very emotional, I was totally overwhelmed. She explained that not only had it been rolled but it had also been folded which had actually protected the faces. Lucia also recommended Derek Tanous in London to make the frame,which we all chose together to compliment the beautiful restoration. The journey now continues. I want to return the painting to Ukraine and I know the Madonna will guide me in what I have to do. I am merely the custodian.This painting and its story have touched very many people, because so many have asked, I will place it on display for a while so people may come to see it.

I will always be grateful to everyone at the Repair Shop and the Tanous family for all their kindness and support, and especially to Lucia for her skill and faith.

If you would like to see the restoration episode, it is the first program in the new series and iis available on iPlayer.

Maria Kirk

Website: customstainedglass.co.uk

Email: w.ricketts.sg@gmail.com

Tel: 07703501019

ST NICHOLAS A WAYFARERS CHURCH Kilton, Somerset TA5 1ST

St Nicholas could have ended up as a “Friendless” church, like so many others dotted around the countryside, as well as in towns and cities. By now readers of CSW will be well aware that “Friends of Friendless Churches” has its own identity having been previously paired with the Ancient Monuments Society. St Nicholas’ Trustees take this opportunity to record their particular thanks for such memorable development, brought about by Matthew Saunders, and wish him well in retirement.

Only a brief overview is necessary to bring one to a conclusion that there are many aspects of church life, history and personal spiritual growth that present themselves as demanding of considerable research. Such pursuit will add to the wealth of our understanding not just within the field of architecture but of how The Church has responded to social needs over its life-time.

A glance through the pages of FFC’s recent issue, provide evidence of the development of architectural design; for example, between St Andrews (Wood Walton) in the November Issue, and that of St Nicholas (Kilton) in an earlier CSW issue. Reliably established that St Nicholas’ foundation dates from the 6th C, backed up by written evidence from the 16th C onwards, many topics will present themselves for further study, such opportunities do come quickly to mind.

Recent TV documentary have drawn attention to the hardship brought about by severe rising damp experienced by housing tenants and the effect this has had on health, particularly among children. How come that St Nicholas, and other ancient churches, rarely suffer from this problem? Are architects unaware of the traditional ‘French’ drain? Such a drain is established by inserting a narrow trench dug around a building to about 9 inches below the level of its foundation, then filled with rubble and topped with gravel or attractive stone. Rain has the opportunity to drain down the walls to below the foundations. We still have much to learn from other aspects of structure and design of our ancient churches.

The Trustees seek to welcome visitors from home and abroad; to come and enjoy the various aspects of its interior. It is an ideal site for a family picnic. Do drop in when the weather improves.

For information please call Annette on 01278 733 504

wishing everyone a Happy Easter. In particular, he greeted the sick, the poor, the elderly and all those suffering that they may experience the passage from affliction to consolation.

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I want to return the painting to Ukraine and I know the Madonna will guide me

The Reveal

Migrants and refugees are human beings not just statistics

In 2023, people making dangerous journeys across the Channel to reach the UK are called by various names: ‘refugees’, ‘asylum seekers’, ‘migrants’, and often by more derogatory terms.

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Love the Stranger is a new publication by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales' Department for International Affairs that articulates our Christian duty to look beyond such labels and see the person who has left their homeland in search of a better life.

Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees for the Bishops’ Conference, emphasises the need to uphold their innate human dignity: "Our starting point as a society must be to recognise migrants and refugees as people. We need to understand their stories, their reasons for leaving their homelands and hopes for building a future here.

“We should never view people arriving from elsewhere as a political problem to be solved, but rather as brothers and sisters who we have a responsibility towards, and who greatly enrich our communities.

“People are driven to leave their countries, sometimes making dangerous journeys or risking exploitation, because of conflict, poverty, oppression, or lack of opportunities. Looking beyond our own borders, we have a duty to help people flourish in their homelands, as well as welcoming those who leave in search of a better life.“

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’

Conference, welcomed the publication:

"Love the Stranger draws together more than one hundred years of Catholic teaching to guide our response to migration in England and Wales today. While it does not propose detailed solutions to complex problems, it clearly calls for procedures which permit safe and controlled access and a fair hearing to those seeking asylum. Present arrangements in this country are dramatically lacking in both of these requirements."

Vatican endorsement

Father Fabio Baggio CS, the Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, praised Love the Stranger’s rich review of, and reflection on, Catholic social teaching:

"The text promotes an authentic culture of encounter at all levels and among all the actors involved. As we live in times in which the defence of the dignity of each human person may seem under threat, Love the Stranger invites us to not give up on the opportunity to live our catholicity ever more fully, to build more just and equal societies for the benefit of each and every person, and to be open to the contribution that strangers can offer as we care for their integral human development and ours."

Protection of migrants and refugees a shared goal

Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto, the Secretary General of COMECE (Commission of Catholic Episcopal Conferences of the European Union) welcomes the publication as an important step forward towards the promotion and protection of migrants:

"This advocacy document on the Catholic response to migrants and refugees is a timely reference and guidance in our polarised European societies. It offers sound orientations on migration and asylum not only for Catholics, but for any person of good who considers human dignity as the basis for a harmonious social coexistence. It is not a mere compilation of principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church on the matter, but a reflection on how these principles should be applied to the current challenges faced by our states and societies."

Christine Allen, Director of CAFOD, the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, stresses that people have a right to flourish in their homelands:

"People around the world continue to be tormented by conflict, which drives them from their homes as they seek safety. Communities are also losing their homes and their livelihoods to a climate crisis they did not cause.

"Working toward peace and tackling the climate crisis are the defining challenges of our time and we must show solidarity to those in need. The UK government can rise to these shared global challenges by reversing the counter-productive cuts to the aid budget, and prioritising countries impacted by conflict and climate change.

"Failure to act will mean people around the world continue to see their lives turned upside down and their homes destroyed by conflict and climate change."

You can download the document here: cbcew.org.uk/love-the-stranger

Our starting point as a society must be to recognise migrants and refugees as people

View from the Pew

‘I’d burn The Bible, every single copy. That’s if I had my way’. Everyone looked round to where he was standing, pointing at the religious section of the second-hand bookshop which I’d only just discovered. He was determined to push his point home: ‘Just think how many wars have been waged over religion. Burn it, I say! I’m an atheist just like so many others in this country.’ He was talking to nobody in particular, getting it off his chest while throwing his comments in my direction.

I suppose I should have taken him on, pointing out that the freedom to speak as he did, offensive as it would be to so many, was born of Christian principles arduously fought for and won over millennia. Why bite the hand that feeds you? I suppose I could have said that. I could even have come back with ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’. But I’m no Voltaire. I shuffled off, passing the ranks of ageing books and moving from R to P. I stopped at pisciculture, perhaps symbolically, hoping to God that he didn’t have anything against fish.

But his words continued to haunt me, prompting a numbers search: so about 2% of the UK’s population claim no religious affiliation, about 12% claim to be Catholic. So, on representational grounds that’s 6:1 in our favour. A lot of ignorance is vincible.

The holy books of the world’s greatest theocracies should not be so readily dismissed, such as by my bibliophile acquaintance. Who on earth would blame The Highway Code for a motorway pile-up? But The Bible and, by extension the message and value of Christianity, continue to be watered down, disregarded or even ridiculed in the name of liberalism and

Dei Gratia Rex

progressiveness. I would have thought that Jesus Christ would have been liberal and progressive enough for anyone.

So, moving on, I’ve no idea at the time of my writing this, as to what’ll be happening at this year’s St George’s Day dinner at Magdalen College, Oxford. Will it, as has been proposed, be celebrating Eid instead? What’s more, I’ve no idea how far the Coronation will veer from its intrinsic Christian ethos, as established over a thousand years, towards what I fear could be more of a Royal Variety Show. But by the time you read this, you will surely know.

But we need to cast our minds back way beyond 1000 years, to when St Augustin visited our shores on a Pope-sanctioned mission to convert the pagans. 597 AD is the date we most commonly associate with the arrival of Christianity in Britain and the eventual conversion of AngloSaxons: some 1000 years before England’s political decision in 1534 to break from Rome and so to challenge yet feed off the nation’s Christian heritage hitherto.

Catholicism has now been practised for 1500 years and more in these islands, Protestantism for a little over 500.

It was the Christian kings of EuropeHenry VIII among them – who believed they were answerable to no one except the Christian God. The conviction became known as the divine right of kings, a concept dating back to the Middle Ages. Monarchs, claiming their absolute power as being handed down from God, expected and demanded total obedience from the people and institutions over which they reigned.

Come the late 1700s we see the populations challenging the divine rite of kings, and where that rite was challenged – France, the Americas by

By Dr Jay Kettle-Williams

way of examples – it was defeated. The people took control and, in the case of Britain, a constitutional monarchy was established, based on the Christian ethos and which it was entrusted to defend, presumably forsaking all other.

Dr J L Kettle-Williams is an experienced business consultant and wordsmith (tutor, writer, translator).

Photo (courtesy of Unsplash) by Oliver Sjoberg: Madgalen College, Oxford.

Book Reviews

Looking Ahead: A Catholic Handbook for School Students

Catholic Truth Society, The Association of Catholic Women

£14.95

https://www.ctsbooks.org

Looking Ahead answers big questions about life, God, and the world. Full of useful information, quirky facts, assorted prayers, stories of saints and heroes, and beautiful illustrations, this is a book to help you make sense of your amazing calling to follow Jesus Christ.

Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life

Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life

£6.95

https://www.ctsbooks.org

By providing pastoral guidelines for clergy, couples, and those involved in marriage preparation or family ministry, this document is intended to offer support to the local Churches “in thinking about or rethinking their pathways to marriage preparation and pastoral accompaniment during the first years of married life.”

John Bradburne

Fr Gerard Skinner

£6.95

https://www.ctsbooks.org

A Secular Franciscan from Cumbria, Servant of God John Bradburne poured himself out in love for the lepers he served, unwilling to abandon them even to save his life. His legacy offers a striking example of authentic holiness in the modern, conflict-stricken world.

Reimagining Religion: A Jesuit Vision by Jim Maher SJ 19.95/£18.95

published in Ireland and the UK by Messenger Publications

‘Proactive, engaged, reflective yet outwardlooking’ – one could be forgiven for assuming that this describes a social enterprise of some sort and not a spirituality and religiosity founded on Ignatian principles. In a new book, Jim Maher SJ sets the bar high for himself in the task of reversing the contemporary perception of Christianity as irrelevant, useless and an heirloom from the past. He highlights the value of spirituality and religion, how they complement one another and their role in providing purpose and meaning to life.

In Reimagining Religion: A Jesuit Vision Maher starts from the premise that to be human is to be in relationship. However, he

notes that the prevailing norm in our society has become individualism rather than community and as a result we have become distanced from each other, from our environment, from our responsibilities and from our own true identities.

Maher offers four guiding principles or ‘apostolic preferences’ identified by the Jesuits as a way of reconsidering the religious and spiritual quest so that it has relevance and traction in our twenty-first century. The foundations of reflective living, social and climate justice and creating a hope-filled world for our young people can influence values, attitudes and beliefs and guide our behaviour and actions so we can both fully live our potential as ‘persons in relationship’ and rediscover the Christianity we need.

Jim Maher SJ is a Jesuit priest, born in Limerick. He has spent most of his Jesuit life ministering and teaching at Crescent College Comprehensive SJ. He managed the Fifth Year social outreach programmes and led Sixth Year pilgrimage retreats and continues to provide pastoral support at the school. This is his second book with Messenger Publications.

A Day of Reflection at Sclerder Abbey – Wednesday 17 May

This year, 21-28 May, marks the eighth anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical –Laudato Si’. The degradation of our Common Home has had a disproportionate impact on everyone, especially on those who already face disadvantage, marginalisation and multiple forms of vulnerability but there is still time to act. This year’s theme is Hope for the Earth, Hope for Humanity. We will be inspired in our reflections by the Prayer For Our Earth (Laudato Si) All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution

and destruction.

Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,

to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.

Thanks to Tanya Trevena for the photograph.

On Wednesday 17 May, Caritas Diocese of Plymouth is organising a day of reflection at Sclerder Abbey to pray and discuss how we as a diocese can care for our common home. In 2021, the diocesan Trustees agreed our first Environmental Policy.

We are now in the process of developing a strategy which will set out in more detail our plans for local action to reduce our impact on the environment and increase our care for creation. We want to hear

2-in-1 Crossword

by Axe

You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same.

CRYPTIC

Across

7 Dead set, if else fails, to make 18 when in Rome (6,7)

8 I am the Spanish waiter in Messiah! (8)

9 Mountain in Joshua can be seen in section of Horeb, altitudinally (4)

10 Friend from Troy, one leaving an ecclesiastic band (7)

12 Drama queen's back to support the lead in Dallas – the Dynasty chap? (5)

14 Youngster gets sophisticated in front of the king... (5)

16 ... one in Judah has Henry bound by kinky Joe to tree (7)

19 It's the first name in jeans for Matthew! (4)

20 Early Christian sect which barely made it out of 21? (8)

22 To which place did Jesus ride a girl's horse? (5,2,6)

CRYPTIC

Down

1 Esau's people's place, where style's in ascendant (4)

2 First of Issachar's successors really annexed extra land here (6)

3 Exist, being raised in African surroundings, to name brother of 2 (7)

4 Passage from article is on the Spanish uprising (5)

5 Missionary's desirable little home in Darjeeling? (6)

6 Drugs prisoner detained by the Pope is ascetic (8)

11 Get trees from 11 or 16 by the thousand, to rebuild lone Philistine city... (8)

13 ... and cedars from here to build Jerusalem, the French and British find later (7)

15 Queensland site's stop-start finish confused CIA and the Navy (6)

17 God's pupil is confronted by a very large introduction (6)

18 Is she, looking up, last one raising any cash at Christmas? (5)

21 First family's home study is situated below, note (4)

QUICK Across

7 Latin hymn translated into a popular carol by a canon of Westminster Cathedral (6,7)

8 Christ or the Messiah, as named from a reference in Isaiah (8)

9 Where Moses commanded Joshua to build an altar (4)

10 White vestment like a double-Y embroidered with crosses, worn by the Pope (7)

12 Dynast and hymnodist from humble origins, integral to both Testaments (5)

14 Young bird, especially of domestic fowl (5)

16 Kings of Israel and Judah sharing the same name (7)

19 Son of Jacob cursed by his father for attacking Shechem (4)

20 Early Christians who aimed to return to man's primitive innocence (8)

22 Hill overlooking Jerusalem where Solomon built an altar (5,2,6)

QUICK

Down

1 Mountainous region south of the Dead Sea in OT times, also called Seir (4)

2 Name God gave to Jacob... (6)

3 ... and one of Jacob's twelve sons (7)

4 Extension of the nave in a church (5)

5 Nun and missionary dedicated to helping the poor in

from parishioners about local priorities and concerns and how the Church might respond.

All are welcome to join us in prayer, reflection and discussion on 17 May from 10.30-15.00. A simple lunch will be included. We hope this event will give us an opportunity to pause, celebrate, and consider new local initiatives to help preserve and care for our common home. Please register your interest in attending or email caritas@prcdtr.org.uk.

India (1910-1997) (6)

6 Ascetic 5th century British theologian (8)

11 One of the five Philistine cities (8)

13 Area north of biblical Israel famous for its cedar trees (7)

15 Queensland resort city facing the Great Barrier Reef (6)

17 Greatest of all the gods of ancient Egypt (6)

18 Joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ (5)

21 Land west of Nod (4)

SOLUTION

The sacristy at Plymouth's Grade II Listed Roman Catholic Cathedral has just had a long overdue make-over. The main sacristy is where the celebrants put on their vestments before processing into the Cathedral itself. It is here too, in adjoining rooms, where the altar servers and the Cathedral Sisters get everything ready for the services. That's not just the beautiful vestments but also the sacred vessels such as the pattens, chalices and ciboria (right) as well as candlesticks, thurible, processional cross and monstrances when needed.

Here also, our dedicated team of flower arrangers prepare the excellent floral displays for which we are renowned. These are a prominent feature of the major liturgies of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost as well as Civic and Naval services, funerals and weddings.

Old, worn and damaged fittings have been removed, revealing cracked plaster and poor flooring as well as a charming Victorian fireplace which has been carefully restored. The main sacristy is the first of three such rooms 'behind the scenes' at the cathedral.

The others are for the use of the altar servers of the Guild of St Stephen and the third is where the Cathedral Sisters, of the Order of the Daughters of St Francis de Sales, care for all the altar fabrics and vestments.

The Dean of Plymouth Cathedral, Canon Mark O'Keeffe, together with his House Manager Andrew Black, have put together a programme of works to bring these three

sacristies up to a standard that will provide attractive, modern, safe and manageable workspaces for the clergy, altar servers, nuns and volunteers who use them.

The works included replacement of plaster work, restoration of flooring, electrical fitments and lighting. The design, manufacture and installation of cupboards, cabinets, chests of drawers, shelving and the like for storage of all the vestments, fabrics and vessels detailed above: all culminating in the painting and decoration required to complete the job.

Cullen Contracting were responsible for the design, construction and installation of the fitted oak furniture. Steve Smith did the floor sanding and sealing and the painting and decorating was carried out by Jon Spicer.

BEFORE: Ancient robe chests were removed and (inset) water damage.

The cathedral itself would never have been built had not Bishop William Vaughan (1855 - 1902) not secured generous donations and

loans from local landowners like Edmund Bastard of Kitley. The bishop launched an appeal for more funds and was able to engage Bristol architects Charles and Joseph Hansom to draw the plans. (Joseph was later famous as the designer of the Hansom Cab). They envisioned a simple but wellproportioned design in the English Gothic style, able to seat about 700.

Canon Mark has taken this opportunity to thank those benefactors who have so kindly

donated the money for the first part of this project: “In particular,” he said, “I would like to thank Tozers Solicitors of Exeter who were the first to respond to our appeal with a generous donation. It is Tozers who, for many years, were the solicitors for our Diocese of Plymouth.”

Solicitor Vernon Clarke is a partner of Tozers. He explained: “The Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese which we served for over 150 years. As one of the leading law firms in the South West, we have been delighted to support the Cathedral appeal.” Vernon is also a Trustee of a number of charitably-minded organisations and it was one of these who put up all the remaining funds for this project, anonymously. “This is why,” Canon O'Keeffe explained, “we wanted to show our appreciation in this fashion, publicly, to thank all our kind benefactors.”

AFTER: (Left & below) Attractive new oak furnishings and decoration complete the works.

Plymouth Cathedral hosts many major liturgical ceremonies and civic events.