Catholic Pic June 2018 by Educate Magazine

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Issue 165 June 2018

FREE

Archdiocesan School Awards 2018 INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Ascension Day at St Edwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College

Kate Peaston Primary Headteacher of the Year

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contents Welcome With Easter being early this year, the Liturgical Calendar says that we are now once again in ‘Ordinary Time’, and yet the coming month looks anything but ordinary. We celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi today and the Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday. On Friday we have the annual Mass for our Jubilarians in the Metropolitan Cathedral at 7.00 pm, this year eleven of our archdiocesan priests will celebrate between them 540 years of service among us. We offer our prayers for them and thanks to them. Ad multos annos. Two days later on Sunday 10 June the Ordinations to the Diaconate will take place in the Cathedral and, looking ahead, on Saturday 7 July the Ordinations to the Priesthood will be celebrated at the Cathedral. We pray for Philip Carr, Anthony Kelly and Carl Mugan as they prepare for their priestly ministry. From the evening of Thursday 21 June to the morning of Saturday 23 June the Walsingham statue will be at the Metropolitan Cathedral and various Masses and devotions will take place during those days, more details are on our Whats On pages.

Contents

With such celebrations our month ahead is certainly not ordinary.

Main Feature Celebrating our finest The second Archdiocesan School Awards

News From around the Archdiocese

From the Archbishop’s Desk The Royal Wedding gave me a lot to think about last month. It was wonderful to see Harry and Meghan making their vows before God and the Church, and I was thrilled to see so many people having a most enjoyable day not just in Windsor but throughout the country. Festivities like this this do much to balance the sad news that we usually hear. There were two small connections that made me feel part of the action. Karen Gibson who led the Kingdom Gospel Choir also formed the Maria Fidelis gospel choir which sang for Pope Benedict when he visited Twickenham in 2010. I was chair of Governors for some years at Maria Fidelis Convent School in London which is an FCJ School like Bellerive here in Liverpool. Also, the marvellous cellist, Sheku Kanneh-Mason who played for the congregation while Harry and Meghan signed the marriage register was a pupil with his siblings at The Trinity School in Nottingham, my former diocese. I am a great believer in making connections. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is all about making connections. We are united by the Spirit in the one Christ. That is a serious idea that can be hard to grasp but we can get an inkling of what it means when we see an enormous crowd of people drawn together to celebrate the love of this young couple. May God bless Harry and Meghan, and may their marriage be a sign of God’s love to the world. Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool Editor Peter Heneghan

Copy deadline July 2018 8 June 2018

Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA Tel: 0151 522 1007 Email: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk

Publisher CPMM 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS

Advertising Sales team 0151 709 7567 Pictures Front cover and Main Feature: nickfairhurstphotographer.com Profile: Peter Heneghan

CPMM Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Catholic Pictorial Ltd. can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.

14 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 15 Profile Kate Peaston Primary Headteacher of the Year 16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese 19 Nugent News Continuing Father Nugent’s Legacy 21 Animate My year with Animate 25 Cathedral Record June at the Cathedral 26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC 28 Pic Life Why we should speak with care amid the clamour 30 Justice and Peace Following the Pope’s steps to sainthood 30 Letter from Rome Liturgical Dramas

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Celebrating our finest The second Archdiocesan School Awards highlighted the excellence of our Catholic schools ‘It is a lovely event which enables us to showcase some of the best practice in the schools that we’ve got.’ The words of Tim Warren, the director of schools and colleges for Liverpool Archdiocese, are a concise description of the event which took place at the Royal Liver Building last month, bringing together representatives from almost 30 schools across the diocese in a celebration of their endeavours over the past academic year. The Archdiocese of Liverpool School Awards 2018 comprises 12 categories of achievement – a broad range including prizes for best teacher and school alongside other areas of achievement such as inclusion, spirituality and sport. As Mr Warren added: ‘The awards are very special because they celebrate the full life of Catholic schools and the winners’ lunch, where all the shortlisted schools had three people each, featured a fantastic mix of pupils, teachers, teaching assistants and governors. It was all about mutual celebration. It describes how the school is a) contributing to its local community, but b) enabling its pupils to do some fantastic things.’ One pupil who has certainly done the latter is George Mathias from De La Salle, St Helens, who was recognised as Inspirational Young Entrepreneur of the Year for having raised £60,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. His fund-raising drive was inspired by the treatment his younger brother James received following his premature birth six years ago. He set up his own website (RunwithGeorge.com) and committed to running a mile for every month his brother has lived – an effort which won him the 2017 prize for Young Fundraiser 4

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of the Year in the Pride of Britain awards. Of this latest accolade, George joked: ‘I got Friday afternoon off school and missed a Spanish exam, which was a bonus!’ Growing appeal of awards This is the second year of the awards and the number of nominations doubled to 160 from 12 months earlier, underlining the appeal of the event which took place on 4 May, hosted by Radio City breakfast show presenter Leanne Campbell. The 2018 School of the Year was Our Lady and St Philomena’s Primary School in Sparrow Hall, which had been shortlisted alongside All Hallows High School in Penwortham and St Finbar’s Primary School in Liverpool’s Dingle district. The winning school had been put in ‘special measures’ by Ofsted in 2014 but executive head Anne Radford subsequently arrived to oversee an impressive turnaround in its fortunes. In July last year Ofsted deemed the school to be ‘good’ in all areas with ‘outstanding’ personal development, welfare and behaviour. ‘We’re absolutely thrilled, delighted and privileged with the award, which has had a very positive impact on the school staff, in recognition of their hard work, and has given the children a new lease of life – they now go to a “good” school,’ said Mrs Radford. ‘We put the children first. I’m not saying that wasn’t the case beforehand but what we wanted to do was give them a quality education,” she added. “We have come through some hard times, there were lots

‘The awards are very special because they celebrate the full life of Catholic schools ’

of inconsistencies in the school, so we built a team that was stronger and had a lot of support from School Improvement Liverpool and the Archdiocese. It’s been a very steep curve but we’ve worked together as a team and we’re all proud of our school. ‘When we submitted our nomination we submitted three children’s pieces of work, and also a video that showed how the school had been transformed – physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually – and that everything we do puts children first. There’s a real buzz about the place now. The curriculum has been enriched, our children are happy, we have parents more on board, and attendance has gone up.’ Headteachers recognised The Primary Headteacher of the Year award went to Kate Peaston from St Clare’s Primary School in Wavertree after she succeeded in steering it out of special measures in a time scale of under two years. ‘The inspirational leadership from the present headteacher has brought about a new energy among leaders and staff,’ said Ofsted’s report in November 2017 after inspectors encountered a wholly different environment under Mrs Peaston. Peter McGhee from St John Rigby Sixth Form College in Wigan received the Secondary Headteacher of the Year award. In 2017 the college was judged outstanding in every Ofsted category, making it one of only four sixth form colleges in the country to have received this judgement since the 2015 introduction of the Ofsted framework. In addition, Mr Rigby provides support to colleagues further afield in his function as a National Leader of Further Education. As Tim Warren underlined, the diverse categories featured are a laudable aspect of the Archiodesan awards – ‘the majority of the

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categories wouldn’t get any recognition from Ofsted,’ he suggested – and the other prize-winners included St Mary’s Primary School from Blackbrook in St Helens for Spirituality in our School. The school follows closely its mission statement of ‘Love of learning, love of one another, love of God and love of life itself.’

team, which provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties. They secured an £8,000 grant from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, in partnership with Veolia, the energy solutions company, and created a garden offering a safe space for students and community groups.

Another St Helens school, Carmel College, collected the award for Contribution to the Community for its efforts in designing and constructing a sensory garden made from recycled waste. This was a project driven by the college’s Foundation Learning

For their ‘Refugees Welcome’ initiative, meanwhile, St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth won the Creative Team Project of the Year. This was a week-long event during the school’s Mission Week last July when pupils stopped to consider different

problems affecting their local community and the world at large. The Inclusion award, meanwhile, went to Carolyn Lawler from Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Sefton whose efforts meant that the school became the first mainstream setting in Sefton, Merseyside and England to achieve the ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Friendly Schools quality mark. Joan Jenkins, head teacher, thanked Mrs Lawler, the school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), for acting as ‘a huge driving force in making changes’.

Archdiocese of Liverpool

SCHOOL of the YEAR 2018

OUR LADY & ST PHILOMENA’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY LIVERPOOL It’s the heart of a school that matters and at the heart of our school is everyone, because everyone matters. Congratulations to pupils, staff, parents and Governors!

“The love of Christ shines here” Catholic Pictorial

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feature That same billing would fit Ruth Partington, director of Maths at the Academy of St Nicholas in Garston, who collected the Inspirational Teacher prize. The school’s assistant head, Andrea St John, described her as a ‘rare gem’, adding: ‘The students love Ruth’s high standards and high expectations, mixed with her warmth and commitment to them. Ex-pupils regularly return to school to pick her brains.’ The same school provided the Inspirational School Support Staff winner in Linda Farrelly, who earned praise for her role as the bridge between the academy, its families and the wider community. Last but certainly not least, Stuart Elsworth, cricket coach at St Christopher’s Primary School in Speke – winners of 60 trophies since 2002 – took the Sports Achievement award while the strong leadership at Our Lady and St Swithin’s Primary School in Croxteth gained recognition with the Governing Body of the year award.

Winners and shortlisted Spirituality in our School: St Mary’s Primary School, Blackbrook, St Helens St Cecilia’s Junior School; St Julie’s High School Contribution to the Community: Carmel College, St Helens Holy Family Primary School; Blessed Sacrament Primary School Creative Team Project of the Year (Secondary): St John Bosco Art College, Croxteth (Refugees Mission Week) Academy of St Nicholas (Just Bee You; The Heroes Project) Sports Achievement: Stuart Elsworth, St Christopher’s Primary School, Liverpool Craig Mason, Academy of St Nicholas; Andy Ehlen, Blessed Sacrament Inspirational Young Entrepreneur of the Year: George Mathias, De La Salle, St Helens Daniel Hinnegan, St Francis Xavier’s College; Bethany Molyneux, St John Fisher High School Inclusion: Carolyn Lawler, Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Sefton Stephanie Lloyd-Green, St Bede’s Junior School; Alison Knight, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College Inspirational School Support Staff of the Year: Linda Farrelly, Academy of St Nicholas, Liverpool Michelle Goodwin, Hope Academy; Ann Ganley, St Joseph’s Primary School Inspirational Teacher of the Year: Ruth Partington, Academy of St Nicholas, Liverpool Rachel Chadwick, St Benedict’s Primary School; Sophie Gosney, St Joseph the Worker Primary School Governing Body of the Year: Our Lady and St Swithin’s Primary School, Liverpool St Catherine’s Primary School; St John Rigby Sixth Form College

‘The majority of the categories wouldn’t get any recognition from Ofsted’ 6

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Primary Headteacher of the Year: Kate Peaston, St Clare’s Primary School, Liverpool Pat Speed, Great Crosby Primary School; Janette Cook-Hannah, Holy Family Primary School Secondary Headteacher of the Year: Peter McGhee, St John Rigby Sixth Form College, Wigan Anne Pontifex, Academy of St Nicholas; Tony McGuinness, All Saints High School School of the Year: Our Lady and St Philomena’s Primary School, Liverpool All Hallows High School; St Finbar’s Primary School

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News diary If you’ve got any news from your parish that you’d like featured e-mail us with the details at: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk

Marie’s Mass of Consecration On 10 April Bishop Tom Williams celebrated Mass for Marie Grace, who was consecrated into the Order of Virgins. The celebration took place at St Patrick's, Clinkham Wood, St Helens, her home parish. Among the concelebrants were Father Godric Timney OSB, Episcopal Vicar for Religious; Canon Tom Neylon, Pastoral Area Dean; Father Kevan O'Brien, Parish Priest of St Parick’s, and Father Malcolm Prince, together with Deacons Mike

McGlynn and Kevin Duffy. Marie, pictured with Bishop Tom, had been discerning her vocation for several years and was delighted when Archbishop Malcolm McMahon accepted her request to become a Consecrated Virgin. The Order of Virgins goes back to the 3rd and 4th centuries in the early Church, since the Second Vatican Council it has experienced a revival and a steady gaining of popularity internationally. There

are currently about 3000 Consecrated Virgins worldwide, with over 200 in the United Kingdom and several in the Liverpool Archdiocese. Further information about this vocation, is available on the National Vocations website at www.uk.vocation.org

Passing on the Faith to our children by Maureen O’Brien ‘Will you teach me to pray’ is the title of a series of four books now available for children in reception classes. In some schools each child has a prayer partner in Year 6 who presents them with the book at a Welcome Mass. The books were produced following research into materials available to help parents pass on the faith to their children, during which five pilot schools asked parents of children in reception what help they needed in this area. Archbishop Malcolm said ‘the books are splendid, and I am sure they would appeal to young children. I hope the resource will be a great success and an encouragement to parents’. Kate Dooley from St Basil’s Catholic Primary School in Widnes has been using the resources in school where a Year 6 8

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pupil said, ‘at the Reception’s Welcome Mass, we all really enjoyed ourselves and meeting our prayer partners was an amazing experience. After Mass, we went back into class and read the book to them and got to know each other better. Reception and Year 6 had a great day and we can’t wait to do it again.’ Reception pupils too enjoyed the experience, ‘‘We’ve got some big year 6 friends and they are prayer partners. They say a prayer with us; they sing with us; they help us. The books are very precious because they’re about God’. Sonia Robinson’s twins, Fin and Mia, received their books in July last year, she says, ‘we thought this was a lovely gesture, and especially nice that it was given by their Year 6 prayer partner, who Fin and Mia looked up to and talked about frequently. As a non-Catholic family, we

thought this was a lovely way for us to start introducing the Catholic faith and God into our family, and a lovely opportunity for Fin and Mia to tell us all they had learned about God and Jesus in school’. Fin said, ‘my prayer partner was very kind and must have liked me lots to give me a present before he went to big school’. While Mia said ‘I really like reading the book because it has lots of colourful pictures and I like looking at all the different people in the world. I like the God story because he loves us and is a very clever’. The books can be ordered at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/admin/formati on-shop. Further information is available from Maureen O’Brien Co-ordinator for Marriage and Family Life. Tel 0151 522 1044 Email: m.obrien@rcaol.co.uk

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news diary Obituary of Kevin Heneghan

Food for the Journey In preparation for Adoremus, the National Eucharistic Congress and Pilgrimage, Father Joe Kendall is offering a series of reflections on Eucharistic themes. I have to watch my step at the back of church these days. If I’m not careful that odd bag of pasta or tin of beans that sits on the floor as the huge excess to the boxes used to collect food for a local foodbank will prove a dangerous trip hazard.

Jesus gave the multitudes all that they could eat and more from the very little that had been brought with them. These events we see as a foretaste of the food for the journey that we enjoy now in the Church: the Eucharist.

It all started a few months ago now. It was a simple idea, but a good idea, that originally went along the lines that people could take the opportunity to leave items at church and every few weeks one of our SVP volunteers would take them down to the local foodbank. Such has been the generosity of parishioners that those generous and hard-working SVP members, and others, have been making much more frequent trips and looking for other grateful recipients, such as the sisters in Seel Street.

We might do well to take a moment to thank God for all that we have received, materially and in prayer. All that we have faced in our lives we did not face alone. Always God’s strength and God’s love were at work in our hearts even when, and perhaps especially when, we did not know it at all. We can pray for those for whom the journey is hard. But we can pray too that God’s strength and love will be at work in our hearts to make us bread broken for others, bringing the nourishment of God’s love to the weary and downcast.

Why has this simple scheme grown out of all expectation when there are other, often much more convenient ways to give to foodbanks and other charities? I can only guess that people are making the link between what they receive in coming to church and what that is calling them to see round about them and doing something about it. At Mass we receive food for the journey. We know this as the journey of faith: that which began at Baptism and that which we pray will take us into God’s presence in heaven. God has always provided for his journeying and often weary people. He gave the ancient Israelites wandering the desert manna from heaven. While in a lonely place,

Kevin Heneghan, a well known figure in the town of St Helens and a frequent contributor to Catholic publications over many years, died on 14 May aged 92 following a short illness. He was born in St Helens on 3 June 1925 and attended the town’s Catholic Grammar School before studying at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill gaining a Teacher’s Certificate in 1944 and in 1968 a BSc (Econ) Hons degree from the University of London. He married Dorothy Crimp on 21 June 1950 and they had 11 children, 8 sons and 3 daughters. He served as Secretary of the Broughton Catholic Charitable Society from 1974 to 1988, and again from 1990 to 1994. He was made a Life Member of the Board of Management of the charity in 1988 and was President of the Society from 2000 to 2001, and Vice Chairman from 2002 to 2004. In 1990, at the request of the Passionist Fathers, he helped to found the Friends of Blessed Dominic Barberi and served as Joint Secretary. During this time, he gave talks to parishes and organisations and contributed many newspaper articles to further devotion to the cause for canonisation of Blessed Dominic, Father Ignatius Spencer and Mother Mary Joseph Prout who are buried in Sutton, St Helens. Kevin served with 95 Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps in French Indo-China from 1945 to 1946, and on his return taught at St Mary's RC Boys School, Blackbrook, St Helens from 1946 to 1959, before taking up the post of Head of English at St Anselm's RC Secondary Modern School St Helens from 1959 to 1969. From 1969 to 1985 he was Senior Lecturer in the Business and Administration Studies Department at St Helens College of Technology. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St Mary Immaculate, Blackbrook, St Helens on Tuesday 29 May.

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news diary

Voices in Faith Children from St Austin’s and Holy Trinity Primary Schools will be joining their choirs together with Catholic singer/songwriter, Joanne Wallace, to lift their ‘Voices in Faith’ for an evening of uplifting contemporary and traditional worship music, on Thursday 21st June at St Francis of Assisi Church, Garston. The idea for the ‘Voices in Faith’ concert initially came from Joanne Wallace, who leads the music ministry in the Parish of St Wilfrid, Liverpool, which comprises of the former parish communities of St Bernadette, St Francis of Assisi, St Austin’s and Holy Trinity. As both primary schools have lost their parish churches through closures, it is increasingly important for members of the new parish community to be a visible presence within the schools. Joanne is passionate about engaging children through Church music she loves (and writes herself) and is a familiar face within both schools as parish music ministry leader. The ‘Voices in Faith’ concert is an opportunity to develop links between the schools, engage children and their parents in church life and remind the children that they are members of a wider school and parish community with a shared voice. Joanne regularly sings with her musical

Joanne with Parish Priest Father Joe Kendall and children from the Choir.

partner, Martin Fletcher at Masses, funerals and weddings in the diocese and they look to develop more ‘Voices in Faith’ projects in future, with children and young adults or where other schools and

parishes are experiencing similar issues. For further information about the ‘Voices In Faith’ Project, Email jowallacemusic@gmail.com or visit www.joannewallace.co.uk

Ascension Day at St Edward’s On Thursday 10 May, Rt Rev Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool celebrated the Feast of the Ascension at St Edward's College, West Derby. The whole school was involved in the celebration of this Holy Day of Obligation beginning with Mass in the College Hall for the younger pupils and prefects who were joined by members of the Faith in Action and Edmund Rice Advocacy groups. Bishop Tom then led the procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the Hall out to where the rest of the school were waiting to join in the recitation of the Rosary. The decades of the Rosary were recited by pupils from the College’s Faith in Action group over a loudspeaker system to allow the prayers to accompany the procession. On arrival at the front of the school building, where the altar had been positioned, the College’s choir sang devotional hymns as pupils gathered on the lawn. The benediction of the Blessed Sacrament began while the school 10

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The whole school gather on the front lawn at the end of the procession in silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

community kept a silent adoration. Readings and prayers were led by the Head Boy and Head Girl with further music from the College choir finishing off what had been a very respectful and reverent marking of the Feast Day.

Afterwards a Barbeque was enjoyed by all pupils involved in preparation of the service and procession with beautiful sunny weather adding to the occasion. It was a reflective and enriching experience for the whole school community.

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May Crowning in Ramsey Obituary of Rev

Donald Gordon Father Don Gordon, who faithfully served the parish of Sacred Heart, Hndley Green, for over twenty-five years died on Tuesday 8 May at the age of 92 and in the 68th year of his priesthood. Donald Joseph Gordon was born on 16 March 1926 in Wigan. He received his early education at St John’s School, Wigan, before attending Thornleigh College, Bolton. Later he entered St Joseph’s College, Upholland, to begin training for the priesthood. He was ordained priest in the college chapel on 3 June 1950 by Bishop Joseph Halsall. Following ordination he was appointed as assistant priest at St Sebastian’s, Liverpool, in September 1950, moving to St Peter and St Paul, Crosby in 1954; St Anne’s, Liverpool in 1961 and Our Lady’s, Portico in 1971. In June 1976 he was appointed parish priest at Sacred Heart, Hindley Green, where he remained until his retirement in 2002. Between 1964 and 1971 he served as chairman of the music commission in the archdiocese, a significant period which included the opening of the Metropolitan Cathedral as well as the introduction of liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council. The large Filipino community on the Isle of Man organised ‘May Crowning’ at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Maughold in Ramsey. The outdoor crowning and procession, the traditional May devotions, were led by local schoolchildren.

Father Gordon’s Funeral Mass was celebrated at St Joseph’s, Wrightington on Friday 18 May by Bishop John Rawsthorne before burial in the parish cemetery.

Animal visitors bring rainforest to life Pupils from St John Bosco Arts College in Liverpool had a geography lesson with a difference recently – in the shape of a classroom visit from a collection of reptiles and creepy crawlies. Snakes, tree frogs and spiders were some of the creatures brought into the Croxteth school as it opened its doors to Animals Take Over, a company offering educational animalhandling workshops. For the Year 9 girls at St John Bosco, the informative session provided a hands-on rainforest experience and allowed them to look at, touch and hold a selection of creatures. Specialist handlers were on hand to talk about the animals, explain more about their natural habitat and hold a Q&A session, and over the course of the day, the pupils learned about concepts such as food chains and evolutionary adaption in the rainforest. The visit to the all-girls Catholic secondary school was organised by Geography subject leader Joseph Brennan and Geography teacher Amy Armstrong. The pair wanted a hands-on, engaging lesson to bring the topic of the rainforest to life. The day was also an opportunity to support the company’s charity work in conserving rainforest animals and to promote discussions about endangered species and deforestation. ‘We might not be able to take our students in to the rainforest, so we thought we would bring the rainforest to them,’ said Mr

Brennan. ‘Being able to touch and hear the animals really brought the topic to life and the girls absolutely loved the experience. ‘They met new animals such as Snuffles the African Pygmy Hedgehog and discovered more about the rich diversity of life in a real Amazon rainforest, so I’d like to say thank you to Animals Take Over for such an exciting visit.’

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news diary Students add 75 miles to around-theworld charity challenge A group of students joined thousands of others to help complete a 24,900mile walk around the world in solidarity with refugees. On 13 May, 10 members of the Liverpool Catholic Society – which comprises members from the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Hope University – showed their support for the Catholic international development charity Cafod by joining in the ‘Share the Journey’ challenge. This is a campaign launched by Pope Francis which aims to promote greater understanding of refugees and migrants and to call on governments to protect those forced to flee their homes due to poverty or war. It is being championed by

charities including Cafod, whose supporters are aiming to walk 24,900 miles – the distance around the world – by September in solidarity with refugees. The Liverpool students walked around Sefton Park to add a collective 75 miles to the combined total of 8,002 already walked by Catholics in England and Wales. Father Neil Ritchie, chaplain for the city’s universities, said: ‘Participating in the “Share the Journey” walk is a great way for us to show solidarity with the millions of people forced to undertake arduous and often dangerous journeys because of the instability of our world. ‘More than just hearing or reading about these people, it's a chance to do something specific to show unity with them. It helps us to open our minds to their plight, and more importantly, as Pope Francis invites us to do, to open our

hearts to them.’ Emily McIndoe, Cafod’s campaigns volunteer co-ordinator in Liverpool, added: ‘It was fantastic to see so many students take time out to join us in our walk. It was really thought-provoking to stop and listen to the refugee stories along the way, to remind us of why we were walking.’ The group hopes their walk will raise awareness before world leaders meet on 19 September at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to reach a new agreement on protecting refugees. Cafod has launched a petition to the Prime Minister to ensure the United Kingdom takes a prominent lead at the assembly.

When Doctor Who dropped into a Liverpool academy… He has played iconic characters and starred in classic films, but for the pupils of one Liverpool school, actor Paul McGann will forever be best known for the visit he paid to their classroom. The Liverpool-born actor was a special guest at the Academy of St Francis of Assisi (ASFA) in Kensington, his home district, at the end of April, meeting pupils and sharing tales from a career which included a role in the 1980s cult comedy ‘Withnail and I’ – and a turn as Doctor Who in a television film. The visit at the end of April was arranged by the school’s chaplain, Phil Johnson, after he met the actor at this year’s Comic Con Liverpool, and it began with a performance by the Academy’s samba band. McGann then had the opportunity to see ASFA’s award-winning drama group perform the play ‘Talkin’ about my Education’ as well as to watch the academy’s prize-winning film ‘Tar Noire’. Talented students from the music department, led by head of music Jay Bradley, performed for him the Jackson Five hit ‘I Want You Back’ – a song that McGann had fond memories of buying as a schoolboy in Liverpool. Pupils also got the chance to ask the 58year-old about his varied television, film 12

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and stage career. He appeared as the eighth incarnation of Doctor Who in 1996 and has since reprised the role in more than 70 audio dramas, including the 2013 mini-episode ‘The Night of the Doctor’. He is currently starring in BBC One’s medical drama series ‘Holby City’. Tracey Greenough, the head teacher at ASFA, a joint-faith Roman Catholic and Church of England academy, said: ‘We were delighted to welcome Paul McGann to the Academy and show him everything

that makes ASFA such a special, vibrant community. Our talented students couldn’t wait to perform and we enjoyed telling Paul all about our community and charity initiatives in the local community. ‘The students were so excited to meet a successful film and television star, especially Paul as he grew up in Kensington. It really shows what our students can achieve if they dream big, aim high and are self-motivated.’

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ADVERTORIAL

PERSONAL BEST AND NO EXCUSES AT THE ACADEMY OF ST NICHOLAS

When you walk in through reception and into the bright open heartspace of The Academy of St Nicholas the first thing that hits you is the atmosphere. Reverend Tom Williams, Bishop of Liverpool, who visited the Academy in April, described the ethos as special and unique. There is a calmness, a sense of family, belonging and culture where everyone feels valued and everyone knows everyone’s name. There is a warmth and a vibrancy enhanced by largescale colourful celebrations of students’ achievements, aspirations, hopes and dreams, which brighten every wall space reflecting the Academy’s Christian values. The bar has been set high by the new Head of School David Lancaster who has wasted no time in ensuring that everyone in the school’s community are aware of his simple philosophy that only the best will do. ‘Personal best and no excuses’ is his message and the school, already one which has already seen big changes is

now moving forward with a clear vision focusing relentlessly on results, routines, resilience, doing the simple things well every day, never giving up and building strong relationships at all levels. Mr Lancaster describes his ‘no excuses’ approach as one which instils strong learning habits ultimately helping students become better qualified, more successful and happier. He says “If students get ten percent better each time they attempt something and we reward them for trying their own personal best in everything they do then together we can create a truly aspirational culture with high expectations where good teachers can secure exceptional outcomes for all students.” His vision very much stems from his own experience. “I left school at sixteen. During my whole five years at secondary school I seldom received any guidance or inspiration for my future. Teaching was poor quality, I felt let down by the School and left underqualified at the age of sixteen. “I had always wanted to be a PE teacher

and determined to achieve this goal, I attended night school two nights a week for four years. Leaving my job at twenty years old, I was the first person in my family to go to University. My teaching career began in PE progressing to Executive Principal of two Academies which, having made rapid improvements, are now both rated as good. I was not ambitious but found that if I worked hard, behaved with integrity and treated people in the right way then they were keen and happy to for me to lead them. My simple view of education is that it is my job to ensure that staff and students are motivated try their ‘personal best’. The whole system can become very complicated. Here, our aim is to ensure our students arrive at the classroom door ready to learn and enthusiastic about learning. I was proud today to meet such a dignified, wise member of the community as Bishop Tom and even more proud to let him see for himself the fantastic things happening here and in All Saints Sixth Form College.”

51 Horrocks Avenue Liverpool Merseyside L19 5NY 0151 230 2570 www.theacademyofstnicholas.org.uk

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sunday reflections On a liturgical note In devotion, this month of June is associated with the Sacred Heart of Jesus – the Solemnity falling this year at the beginning of the month, on Friday 8th. It was Pope Pius IX who, in 1856, extended the liturgical celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the universal Church, but naturally its imagery and appeal goes back much further. It was in the Middle Ages that a devotion to the physical heart of Christ, the centre and seat of human emotion and love, became a common theme in the writings of saints such as Bonaventure and Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich and Gertrude – yet we need only read Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans, and especially the Gospel of St John, to see how close to the Christian mind and spirituality is the image of Christ’s loving heart, the sign and symbol of the Lord’s self-giving. We are invited to enter more deeply into the mystery which is the love of God. Love is the heart of the Mystery of the Trinity, love is the example and command of Christ in the Eucharist, love is the content and theme of the particular Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is always a love which is not content to be inward-looking or selfish but which, of its very nature, wants to be open to others, to be shared with

Canon Philip Gillespie

others: ‘My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another…’ (1 John 4:9) These themes are gathered together in the words of the Preface prayed on the feast; the wounded heart of Jesus is the fount of all graces and blessings in the sacramental life of the Church – because the sacraments are given to us that the life of God, and his love in us, may be strengthened and deepened day by day: For raised up on the Cross he have himself up for us with a wonderful love and poured out Blood and water from his pierced side, the wellspring of the Church’s Sacraments so that, won over to the open Heart of the Saviour, all might draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation. • On 13 June, the Memorial of St Anthony of Padua, 11 of our students will be ordained as deacons at a Mass at the Basilica of St Paul here in Rome. In the coming months 12 of our topyear students, including three for our own Archdiocese, will be ordained as priests for service in dioceses across England and indeed the Englishspeaking world. Please pray for them.

Sunday thoughts

Mgr John Devine OBE

‘There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.’ These words of Albert Einstein come to mind when considering Catholic belief in the Eucharist. The phrase hocus pocus mimics the Latin words of consecration, ‘Hoc est enim corpus meum’, likening them to a conjuring trick. But the greater miracle of the Mass is not merely that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ but that the whole world, ourselves included, is the Body of Christ. Corpus Christi knows no boundaries. That’s the real miracle. It was when studying in the seminary that Father John Gaine – our philosophy professor, who retired only recently as parish priest at St Teresa’s, Southport – introduced me to the work of the French Jesuit philosopher and palaeontologist, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. I became a Teilhard fan and

still treasure copies of his writings. On a scientific expedition Teilhard found himself unable to celebrate Mass. He said: ‘Since I have neither bread, nor wine, nor altar I will raise myself beyond these symbols … I will make the whole earth my altar and on it offer all the labours and sufferings of the world.’ He continued: ‘When through the mouth of the priest he says, “This is my body” these words extend beyond the morsel of bread over which they are said: they give birth to the whole mystical body of Christ. The effect of the priestly act extends beyond the consecrated host to the cosmos itself … the entire realm of matter is slowly but irresistibly affected by this great act of consecration.’ (The Mass on the World, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin S.J.)

Weekly Reflections are on the Archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/reflection

Catholic Pictorial

Pentecost is for living Just recently I was reading a book by an author called Rob Bell. In it he said, ‘I’m convinced being generous is a better way to live. I’m convinced forgiving people and not carrying around bitterness is a better way to live. I’m convinced having compassion is a better way to live. I’m convinced pursuing peace in every situation is a better way to live. I’m convinced listening to the wisdom of others is a better way to live. I’m convinced being honest with people is a better way to live.’ I think the gift of the spirit is all about the quality of life that we are invited to live here and now. The strength to live life as Rob Bell speaks of it is what the spirit is all about. Without the spirit we human beings can often be small-minded, petty, narrow, bitter and angry, which results in a world of turmoil and violence. Just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated the great feast of Pentecost. In Chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles we’re told the story of two men in white garments standing next to the Disciples. They say to them, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?’ It is almost a reminder to them that they don’t need to look into the sky for the power to be what the Lord has called them to be. They only have to look within themselves to find the power to live their lives. We don’t have to look outside ourselves for the power to live; rather we should look within for the spirit. I get very sad when I see people chasing from one devotion to another and from one visionary to another because I wonder what they’re looking for. The power to live is within. It is not outside ourselves. The spirit has been poured out and anything else can be a hindrance because it deflects us from the reality of that power within. Pentecost, therefore, is for living. Don’t let it be an empty ritual that we celebrate once a year. Open your hearts to the power and presence of God within you and find the source to live life to the full. Father Chris Thomas

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Continuing Father Nugent’s legacy A long history of care for mothers and babies

Not just helping a stranger Social media can be a helpful place to keep in touch with those with whom you care about. I find it quite helpful in keeping in touch with my friends and family in Canada.

Clumber Care Manager: Sister Benedicte In 1937 Father Bennet carried on the wonderful work that Father Nugent had started and opened a muchneeded home for babies, young children and mothers with their babies in Holly Road, Liverpool. During the war in 1941 they moved to Clumber Lodge in Formby for safety. Since then demand for support grew dramatically for young mothers and their babies and by the 1990’s Nugent had three homes in the Formby area providing care, shelter and training to help young mums care for their young ones and to help them find their own future. With demand for mother and baby care tailing off in recent years, Clumber focussed on care for children and young people. But this year we are very pleased that we have been able to reinstate the Mother and Baby home and following a complete refurbishment instigated by Sister Benedicte and the care team, we have a new young mum and her baby staying with us.

‘Jane’ is really enjoying the support and care the team provide, as well as keeping both safe, the care team are teaching mum and baby-craft skills; independence skills; budgeting and preparing her to live successfully in the community. ‘Jane’ said she wasn’t nervous moving in to the mother and baby suite as the staff had been so kind to her when she had come to visit, saying how she liked the way the staff helped her unpack but then gave her some space. Both mum and baby are thriving and growing, Jane is settled and looking forward to being more independent, she is becoming a great Mum. It is heartening to know Clumber Care Home has made a great impact on so many young people across 77 years, and very humbling to think of our beginnings and that we have continued to uphold Father Nugent’s principles to this day. Find out more about Nugent at www.wearenugent.org

Recently I was sharing a picture taken of me by my friend, at a music concert back in the 90’s. I was reminiscing with others about what a great show it was and when we last spoke with those who we went to the concert with. There was one person, the photographer of that picture, who I had not seen in almost two decades. I remember her distinctly as she was a vivacious character with shiny thick curly hair and the most unusual and memorable voice. I also remember that she was particular about having her clothes neatly ironed. So well put together. Very tidy. Intelligent, and witty. A friend shared with me that our friend ‘Sarah’, had gone on to have challenges in her life and was living transient. Sometimes sleeping on the street, sometimes in a supported home, and sometimes on a stranger’s front porch. Sarah had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in her adult years and had also became involved in using drugs. I am not sure which came first. This was a close reminder about how the vulnerable people that we see on the streets of our cities every day are, of course, folks, with people who care about them, lose sleep worrying about them. Now, even more so than before, I am making a conscious effort to further ‘see’, the individual. And to know that the works that we do, in the giving of our time or resources to others is not just helping a stranger. It is helping a friend. Normandie Wragg Chief Executive Nugent

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what’s on Sunday 3 June Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Sunday 3 June to Tuesday 5 June Quarant’ore, continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, in preparation for the Adoremus Eucharistic Congress at St John the Evangelist, Fountains Road, Kirkdale, L4 1QL. Begins with 11.15 am Mass on Sunday 3 June continuing until 8.00 pm on Tuesday 5 June. Details Tel: 0151 922 3604. Wednesday 6 June Good Shepherd Mass 1.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Friday 8 June Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass with Jubilarians 7.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP Saturday 9 June ‘Fiesta’ Concert with the Metropolitan Cathedral Orchestra Conductor: Stephen Pratt and the Cathedral Cantata Choir, Director: James Luxton. 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt Concert Room. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or Email: bookings@cathedralconcerts.org.uk www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk Sunday 10 June Ordination of Deacons 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tuesday 12 June Time Out on Tuesdays 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. An opportunity for quiet time, away from the daily rush of life. Offering £10 per person (bring your own lunch). For further details contact: Sister Winifred. Tel: 0151 722 2271, Email: winniecenacle@mail.com

Visit of the Walsingham statue to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Thursday 21 June 5.00 pm Welcome Mass and reception of the statue followed by private prayer and devotions. Friday 22 June School visits arranged during the day. 7.00 pm Mass celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP. Saturday 23 June 9.00 am Mass and departure of the statue.

Animate Youth Ministries ‘Life and Soul’ An evening of praise and worship before the Blessed Sacrament with opportunity for the sacrament of Reconciliation. 7.00 pm at St Margaret Mary’s, Pilch Lane, Liverpool L14 0JG. Wednesday 13 June ‘Songs we Remember.’ Singing and enjoyment for anyone who likes to sing but particularly geared towards those living with dementia and their carers. 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm at St Thomas of Canterbury Parish Hall, Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details: Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk

Saturday 23 June Living Fully: Hands on catechesis supporting an inclusive Church Resources, workshops and ideas on how to work in partnership with people with disabilities in the parish. 10.00 am to 12.00 noon at St Teresa’s Church Hall, College Road, Upholland, WN8 0PY. Bookings Email: formation@rcaol.co.uk Tel: 0151 522 1040. Quiet Day 10.30 am to 4.00 pm at the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Time to be quiet, reflect and pray. Offering £10 per person (bring your own lunch). No booking required. For further details contact: Sister Winifred. Tel: 0151 722 2271, Email: winniecenacle@mail.com

UCM Annual Mass 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Bishop Tom Williams.

UCM Business Meeting 1.00-3.00 pm in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Saturday 16 June Cursillo National Ultreya 10.30 am to 4.00 pm at Ladyewell, Shrine. Details: Tel: 07947 271037 www.liverpoolcursillo.co.uk

Tuesday 26 June Cursillo Ultreya 7.30 pm Mass followed by a social at St Michael and All Angels church, Westvale, Kirkby, L32 0TP.

Annual APF Red Box Summer Mass 12.00 noon at St Helen’s Church, Alexandra Road, Crosby, l23 7TQ.

Wednesday 27 June ‘Songs we Remember.’ Singing and enjoyment for anyone who likes to sing but particularly geared towards those living with dementia and their carers. 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm at St Thomas of Canterbury Parish Hall, Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details: Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk

Sunday 17 June Liverpool Bach Collective Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 29: ‘Wir danken, dir, Gott, wir danken dir.’ (‘We thank you, God, we thank you.’) 6.30 pm at at Mossley Hill Parish Church, Rose Lane, Liverpool L18 8DB. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com

Friday 29 June Feast of St Peter and St Paul

website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk 16

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june Looking ahead:

More Mullarkey

July 2018

From Johnny Kennedy Father Mullarkey was having a cup of tea and a chocolate digestive in Mrs Donnelly’s kitchen. The old girl looks forward to his visits very much. ‘I had a lovely time yesterday at the senior citizens’ lunch in the Church of England hall. Was it alright for me to go, Father?’ ‘Of course it was,’ said Father Mullarkey. ‘I wasn't sure, with it being Church of England.’ ‘You can go to Church of England things as much as you like. The Holy Father wants us to embrace other faiths.’ ‘Oh, I didn't embrace any of them, Father.’ ‘He doesn’t mean you have to get hold of them,’ said the auld fella. ‘Just be friendly.’ ‘Did the Pope say that?’ asked Mrs Donnelly. ‘He did.’ ‘That’s good. The lunch was lovely and the Church of England made us very welcome. The vicar came over to talk to me and asked me if I liked scampi. And I said I liked all the Walt Disney films.’

Tuesday 10 July Time Out on Tuesdays 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. An opportunity for quiet time, away from the daily rush of life. Offering £10 per person (bring your own lunch). For further details contact: Sister Winifred. Tel: 0151 722 2271, Email: winniecenacle@mail.com Wednesday 11 July ‘Songs we Remember.’ Singing and enjoyment for anyone who likes to sing but particularly geared towards those living with dementia and their carers. 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm at St Thomas of Canterbury Parish Hall, Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details: Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk UCM bi-monthly Mass 7.30 pm at St Bede’s church in the parish of St Wilfrid, Appleton Village, Widnes, WA8 6EL. Saturday 21 July to Saturday 28 July ‘Thinking Faith’ Study week and holiday for Catholics in their 20s to 40s at Boarbank Hall, Cumbria. A rich experience of community life, based on shared prayer, hospitality and friendship with a chance to think seriously about our faith. Speakers include: Father Luis Ruscillo, Diocese of Lancaster Director of Education; Joshua Dixon, Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Liverpool and Sarah Burrows, Cafod. Details and costs: Sister Margaret Atkins Email: margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk Tel: 015395 32288 Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7NH. Wednesday 25 July ‘Songs we Remember.’ Singing and enjoyment for anyone who likes to sing but particularly geared towards those living with dementia and their carers. 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm at St Thomas of Canterbury Parish Hall, Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details: Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk Saturday 28 July Quiet Day 10.30 am to 4.00 pm at the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Time to be quiet, reflect and pray. Offering £10 per person (bring your own lunch). No booking required. For further details contact: Sister Winifred. Tel: 0151 722 2271, Email: winniecenacle@mail.com

Red Box Celebration by Father Kevin Hughes MHM Back in the good old days, the Mill Hill Missionaries would have annual Summer Masses for our Zealators. We would hold these big events in one of our many centres in Britain, at St Peter’s College Freshfield, at St Joseph’s Burnhall, at our Brothers Training Centre in Cardinal Vaughan’s Family Home in Courtfield and, of course, at St Joseph’s College Mill Hill. But now all our main centres in Britain have gone, even our mother house St Joseph’s College Mill Hill has been sold. We still have a Mill Hill presence in England, in Weaste Salford Diocese; Tenter House, Durham; Herbert House in Freshfield and our main Society Centre in Maidenhead. Sadly, in Britain, we have no students in formation. While saddened that we appear to be in decline in Britain we are fully aware that the Spirit of God is blowing actively and vibrantly in our Society. All our formation centres are in East and West Africa, India, and the Philippines. Our main Mission Activity in England is Mission Animation which we do through our work with the Association for the Propagation of the Faith (APF). This year in the Archdiocese of Liverpool we will be celebrating the Annual Red Box Summer Mass for our supporters in St Helen’s Church, Crosby on Saturday 16th June at 12.00 noon and all are welcome. This year the Annual Red Box Summer Masses will be held in different places throughout England and Wales, as we try to get more people involved by going out to them, rather than expecting them to come to us.

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profile

Kate Peaston Award-winning teacher pushing for the best for her primary pupils By Simon Hart ‘I always look for the good and the positive in everything and everybody,’ says Kate Peaston when asked for the secret of her success as a head teacher. ‘Everyone says I’m an open person as well and my door’s always open. Staff know they can come and tell me things and we’ll work together to resolve any problems. There’s no point in having a blame culture – you’ve got to do things together.’ Kate is speaking to the Pic to reflect on the Primary Head Teacher of the Year prize that she received at last month’s School Awards for Liverpool Archdiocese – reward for her impressive impact on the fortunes of St Clare’s Catholic Primary School in Wavertree. Her arrival there as head, in September 2016, came eight months after the school went into special measures. By Christmas 2017, those measures had been lifted. ‘I couldn’t have done it by myself,’ she says. ‘It was having the staff supporting the decisions and changes – they didn’t say no to anything and we changed nearly every process. ‘It was definitely a team effort and I’m so lucky to have the deputy head and assistant head that I have here,’ she adds with a nod to her deputy, Vin Yates, and assistant head Gwen

Pilkington. A parishioner at St Paul’s and St Timothy’s in West Derby, Kate had previously been deputy head teacher St Anne’s Primary School on Overbury Street, having been fast-tracked for a leadership role on deciding, belatedly, to pursue her vocation as a teacher. ‘My background was marketing,’ she explains. ‘I came into teaching when I was 25. In my NQT year I was put on the government fast-track programme to accelerate potential leaders to headship. The rest is history really.’ Or, for St Clare’s, a brighter future. A former pupil at Broughton Hall and St Edward’s College, she believes her degree in Public Service Management has helped her meet the challenge of running a school. The changes effected at St Clare’s have been far-reaching. One important step was to strength the bond between school and community. ‘We started having parents involved a lot more. We’ve had a lot more assemblies and reintroduced sports days – things that made the parents feel welcome. I was holding coffee mornings with the parents and carers of the children, getting their feedback, and being visible around the grounds before school and at the end of the day.’ If this meant

doing paperwork after hours – ‘There’ve been times I’ve been emailing at midnight,’ she notes – it was worth it. ‘You do it because you want your best for the children. They just have one chance.’ She also changed the curriculum to ensure ‘real-life experiences’ for her pupils. ‘We have so many children that don’t speak English as their first language so we have to make sure the children are experiencing the real-life aspect of learning. We took early year children to the beach and for some, it was the first time they’d actually been to a beach.’ Reading has been another priority. ‘We’ve completely changed the curriculum for reading and you see the children all the time with a book.’ This has involved introducing DEAR time – children and staff, she elaborates, ‘drop everything and read’ for 15 minutes each day and ‘this has had huge impact on their writing as well’. Her own impact cannot be overstated, though she will not be resting on any laurels. ‘I’m always striving for better for the children. The job is not done in any way. We might have got “good” at early years but the next goal is to get “outstanding”. It never stops.’

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youth ministry

My year with Animate Molly from the Animate Youth Ministries team reflects on the lessons learned as a gap-year volunteer. Before I started on the team last September, I had never lived away from home and one of my principal worries was about living with people whom I had not met before in a place I did not know. I was very quiet and shy in social situations when we first started as I was still finding my feet, based in new surroundings with new colleagues, and trying to get to grips with a new job as well. If I am honest, all of this did overwhelm me at first, yet during the induction week I began to settle in. There were many different activities organised for us which helped to ease some of my nerves and shed more light on what this year was going to be like. People came in and spoke to us about classroom management; we were given a talk about prayer and how to plan it; the RISE Theatre company spent two days with us, showing us techniques for how to present ourselves on stage and deliver different materials, and

this really helped us to get to know each other and bond as a team. After the classroom management session, in particular, I felt more confident about going into schools. By the time we broke up for Christmas, we had worked with a good number of young people and, through this experience, many of my initial worries had gone. I had found my feet with regards to living in community and the structure of our days. For instance, I had never previously said morning and evening prayers daily but at Animate this is something we do and I really like the fact that in the middle of our busy schedule, we still make time to take a moment to be with God. By the time Easter came around, with two school mission weeks and many day retreats behind us, I was definitely comfortable with the work we were doing. I could feel myself growing in confidence and even got the chance to shape some of our

drama work by rewriting the scripts we performed during one mission week – it made me feel so proud of myself. That second term was a big turning point for me; I realised I had grown up not only in the way I act and present myself but in my faith as well. Now we are coming to the end of my gap year at Animate, I can see it was definitely the best thing for me to do. I have learned life lessons at Animate that I would never have learned in school or college, such as how to control big groups of young people and keep them on task; how to plan morning and night prayer, and to come up with different and more creative ways of prayer. Most importantly – or so my mum thinks – I have finally learned how to use a washing machine also. For anyone unsure of where they want to go after college or university, I would strongly recommend a gap year on the Animate team. For me, it has really opened up new doors and possible directions to where I could go, and helped me to see a side of myself that I didn’t know existed. • Dates for the diary Life & Soul – 12 June (7pm) at St Margaret Mary’s Church, Pilch Lane, Liverpool Lourdes departure Mass – 1 July (7.30pm) at St Mary’s, Lowe House

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cathedral

Interned, again Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean

The Cathedral and Nugent Care have jointly sponsored the concert by ‘The Priests’ at the Philharmonic Hall to be held on 1 June and we are hoping for a full house for what promises to be an enjoyable night’s entertainment.

by Neil Sayer Archdiocesan Archivist Having proved its worth as an internment camp for civilians in 1914-1918, the Isle of Man found itself being used for the same purpose during the Second World War. This time the Italians were the enemy, and those interned included a larger number of Catholics than in the previous conflict. The Holy See took a great interest in their welfare, and among Archbishop Downey’s papers available for research in the Archdiocesan Archives are reports and letters to the Vatican containing a great deal of information on how the camps operated. In its early days at least, the Italian camp consisted of requisitioned hotels and boarding houses, cordoned off behind barbed wire along the Promenade at Douglas. Within weeks of their country’s entry into the war, some 3,000 Italian men had been brought to the island. Most of them had led blameless existences in communities up and down the country, many in traditional Italian occupations as barbers, ice-cream makers and fish and chip shop owners. The vast majority were Catholic. They included 15 priests, all of them members of an Italian missionary order, the Verona Fathers. Throughout the existence of the Italian internment camps these priests celebrated mass daily and ministered to the spiritual welfare of their captive congregation. Archbishop Downey’s first visit to the island was accidental. In only his second flight in an aeroplane, bad weather over Dublin forced his party to abandon that destination and put down on the Isle of Man. He took the

Throughout the month there are a number of annual Cathedral services beginning with the Schools Good Shepherd Mass at 1.00 pm on 6 June. There are eleven diocesan priests celebrating jubilees this year ranging from platinum to ruby (but no silver!) the most senior priest Father Gerry Britt is celebrating 70 years of priesthood. There will be a joint Mass to celebrate the Jubilees at the Cathedral on 8 June at 7.00 pm. Following this on Sunday 10 June at 3.00 pm three candidates are to be ordained for the permanent diaconate. The Union of Catholic Mothers have their annual Mass on 13 June at 7.30 pm and the Knights of St Columba have their mass on Saturday 16 June at 2.00 pm. opportunity to visit the camps and meet many of those interned. By this time, some 8,000 internees remained on the island. Most, of course, were German, and though there were fewer Catholics there was more difficulty in finding priests to work among them. One of the early German internees, Rev Dr Aloysius Thiessen, was a professor of Scripture at Ushaw College. He served at the Ramsey camp but was soon allowed to return to his employment. On a later visit, Archbishop Downey arranged for one of the Italian priests to visit the German camps to minister to their needs. Most of the internees were released by the end of 1942, though some were repatriated when Italy changed sides to join the Allies in the following year. Liverpool’s own “Little Italy” communities quietly reabsorbed their own.

Hope University are having a week-long series of events and conference talks for young people of faith from across the globe entitled ‘The Big Hope’. They will be marking the start of this at Liverpool Cathedral on 13 June and ending with a closing ceremony at our Cathedral on 19 June at 2.00 pm. We have been requested by the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham to be the first Cathedral to host a visit of the Walsingham statue. It will arrive at 5.00 pm on Thursday 21 June and there will be a welcome Mass and reception of the statue followed by a time for private prayer and devotions in the Cathedral. On Friday there will be arranged school visits during the day and then in the evening Archbishop Malcolm will celebrate Mass at 7pm. The statue will leave after mass on Saturday morning.

Catholic Pictorial

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Pic extras

Mums the Word St Anne’s church in Rock Ferry welcomed around 250 members of the Union of Catholic Mothers on Saturday 28 April. They had come together for our retiring national president Val Ward’s Triennial Mass, with almost 80 of those present travelling over to the Wirral from Liverpool Archdiocese to thank Val for her inspired leadership of the UCM over the past three years. Traditionally each retiring president holds a Mass in her own diocese before her term of office comes to an end at the AGM in May. The whole congregation, including three bishops – Mark Davies Bishop of Shrewsbury; Alan Williams, Bishop of Brentwood (and UCM ecclesiastical adviser); and Bishop Terence Brain – along with priests, family and friends, joined in the prayers and joyfully sang the hymns. Everyone wanted to wish Val well after her time in office. Her work is not over yet, though, as she automatically becomes a deputy president. • Mary Piper, one of our UCM vicepresidents, has related a lovely fund-raising effort for Cafod by two young brothers from Middlesbrough, Benedict aged six and Patrick aged four. They sent out birthday invitations to their classmates with a tube of Smarties, asking them to eat the sweets and then put coins in the tubes before returning them – this instead of bringing presents. It raised £200 and maybe we could plant a similar idea in the minds of our children and grandchildren. • Four new members were enrolled at the bi-monthly Mass at St Richard’s, Skelmersdale on Wednesday 9 May. The church was packed to overflowing, with some members perched up in the organ loft, and we all enjoyed the beautiful Mass and the homily given by Father David Potter, our diocesan chaplain. • Our Annual Mass takes place at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Wednesday 13 June at 7.30pm. The business meeting will follow on Saturday 23rd at 1pm. Madelaine McDonald Media Officer

Catholic Pictorial

News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

A Century of Service – Knights of St Columba, Liverpool province

A packed agenda for June The feast of our patron, St Columba, is just one of the dates circled in the diary in a busy-looking month ahead for the Order. The most notable event in June is the National Biennial Memorial Mass for deceased members, which will take place at 3pm on Saturday 16th at the Metropolitan Cathedral, where KSC members, their families and friends from across the country will gather to participate in this most solemn occasion. Earlier, on 10 June, there will be the Annual Mass to celebrate the feast day of St Columba – to be celebrated, fittingly, at St Columba’s parish church in Huyton. The Wirral Knights will be marking the feast on 9 June with an 11am Mass at the Columba Chapel in the cathedral, where the memorial books of our deceased members are kept. The Knights will also be out in force at Liverpool Hope University on 22-24 June to support the

Northern Catholic Conference. • We welcomed three new members to the Order on Sunday 29 April with the installation ceremony for Chaldrine Ekobe, Christopher Hunt and Terence McGough during Mass at St Oswald’s, Old Swan. We extend a very warm welcome to them, and thank Father Mark Beattie for saying the Mass in the historic surroundings of the beautiful St Oswald’s parish church. • In last month’s edition we reported the election of the new provincial council to serve the Order in Liverpool over the next three years. The photo (above) shows the newly elected officers (wearing blue collarettes) together with fellow members following the installation ceremony at St Mary’s parish church, Little Crosby on Sunday 22 April. Websites: www.ksc.org.uk and www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com

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PIC Life

Greeting Cards from Carmel

Why we should speak with care amid the clamour By Moira Billinge You may remember the television programme in which a famous person would be going about their usual routine oblivious to the fact that at any moment Eamonn Andrews, the presenter, would leap forward and announce: ‘This is your life!’ The startled guest would then be escorted in a bemused state into a studio, to be greeted by a packed audience. Eamonn, and in later years Michael Aspel, would proceed to highlight the notable stages of the guest’s life, bringing in the key players. Family members and friends and many who had been out of contact for years would be wheeled out to recount their memories of the individual, amid the inevitable tears and laughter at each recollection. Participants would be sworn to secrecy but occasionally an entire programme had to be scrapped when someone inadvertently let the cat out of the bag and spoiled the surprise. At the peak of its popularity, there were over 20 million viewers. The anecdotes revealed about the individual were usually entertaining and of interest because most people would be hearing them for the first time. I doubt very much whether the same formula could be as successful today because nothing is secret or private any more. The minutiae of the lives of public figures and ‘celebrities’ saturate the media in its many forms. To compile such a programme today, when the odds are that the life of anyone in the public eye – or at least the media version of it – is likely to be common knowledge already, would be a bit pointless. After all, we can uncover anything about most people, simply by the flick of a button – and, tragically, destroy reputations just as quickly from the relative anonymity of a keyboard. Maybe the Eighth Commandment, ‘You shall not bear false witness against your 28

Catholic Pictorial

neighbour’ should be emblazoned across our computer and phone screens. The authors of the World War Two slogans that formed part of an antigossip campaign which the British Government ran throughout that conflict – slogans such as ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ – reminded British citizens of the importance of not leaking secrets to the enemy through carelessness or lack of thought. They would be appalled by the many avenues of possibilities for leaking them now. What used to be known as village gossip was nothing in comparison with the global gossip that is generated with the help of today’s technology. Very little of the information to which we have access is accurate, kind, wholesome or truthful. Much of it is malicious, mischievous, exaggerated, invented and distorted to suit the agenda of whoever is disseminating it. A story can change beyond all recognition as it travels the universe, bearing no resemblance to the original and becoming instead an unfiltered, unmonitored version of whatever anybody chooses to portray. Social media, in particular, gives a mouthpiece or platform to those who would use it to their own ends to promote civic unrest and dissent with impunity. The ease of access to the medium has diluted the sense of responsibility to fully consider the consequences of its indiscriminate use. It occurred to me recently how fortunate it is that when we go before God on Judgement Day, He won’t be relying on any rubbish information gleaned from (anti-)social media to determine our eternal destination. Laura Ingalls Wilder, born in 1867, was way ahead of her time when she wrote in ‘Little House on the Prairie’ that: ‘If wisdom’s ways you wisely seek, Five things observe with care. To whom you speak, of whom you speak And how, and when, and where.’

There is a lovely sellection of greeting cards for all occasions on sale at Maryton Carmel, call to the shop or contact the Sisters at Maryton Grange, Allerton Road, L18 3NU. Telephone the card office on 0151 724 7102 or Email the Sisters at marytoncards@outlook.com

Worth a visit

The capital of Andalusia, Seville is a city that warrants a place on every traveller’s wish-list, writes Lucy Oliver. Its delights range from the wonderful Holy Week processions or ‘pasos’ to its vibrant culture and incredible architecture. In the heat of summer, the cool interiors of Seville’s Cathedral provide a welcome place for reflection. The third largest church in the world after St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and St Paul’s in London, this gothic cathedral occupies the site of a 12th century mosque. Construction began in 1401 and lasted 100 years and some of the Moorish features remain, including the courtyard of the orange trees and the magnificent Giralda. Don’t worry if you’re not feeling adventurous – it is a fairly easy climb up this famous bell tower, originally built as a minaret, to look out over the city. Another highlight included in the city pass available from the Tourist Information office is the Alcazar, the Moorish Royal Palace with its splendidly lush gardens. There is a plethora of tapas bars in the surrounding Barrio Santa Cruz, as well as local craft shops, and no visit would be complete without a walk along the Guadalquivir river. You can fly directly to Seville from Liverpool.

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Something new from Catholic Pic

PIC AWAY DAYS 2018 Carnforth Departing 6th June 10am from St George’s Hall, Lime Street (also Burtonwood pick-up) The journey will take approximately 2 hours. You will be able to take in the scenery and promenade and maybe take a boat ride, do some walking and have a lovely lunch in one of the many eating places.

Clitheroe Departing 26th June 10am from St George’s Hall, Lime Street (also Burtonwood pick-up) The journey will take approximately 2 hours, there are some wonderful family owned shops in Clitheroe with exciting things to buy.

Grasmere Departing 10th July 10am from St George’s Hall, Lime Street (also Burtonwood pick-up) We arrive in Grasmere around 12ish. You will be able to take in the beautiful lakes and mountains of the Lake District along with Beatrix Potter’s house or do some easy walking or visit the bookshop and relax in the beautiful surroundings.

Ness Gardens Departing 17th July 10am from St George’s Hall, Lime Street Enjoy a leisurely walk around the beautiful gardens, visit the shop and garden store and treat yourself to a lovely lunch in the restaurant.

Llandudno Departing 31st July 10am from St George’s Hall, Lime Street There is always plenty to do in Llandudno. Take a ride between the two beaches - be transported to the top of the Great Orme, walk along the pier, explore the shops and enjoy some nice food in one of the many eateries.

ALL PLACES

£15

Please call 0151 733 5492 to request your booking form

DON’T MISS:

Story and pictures from our retreat to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, York and Durham Cathedral will appear in the July issue of the Catholic PIC

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Letter from Rome By Joshua Dixon This month’s piece stands in stark contrast to the last. Then I wrote of the need to let the Spirit guide us in the mundanity of life, to let Christ transform us through love in the ordinary. This past month, however, has been fairly extraordinary for us here in Rome. This year, the English College is celebrating three significant anniversaries. Nine hundred years ago, the martyrdom of St Thomas of Canterbury – popularly known as Thomas Becket – appalled the Christian world, leading to a renewed zeal for the rights of the Church and many dedications to Thomas’ heavenly patronage. Our own church here is dedicated to him. Secondly, it is 450 years since the first English Seminary was founded in Douai, Belgium, initiating the ongoing tradition of sending men abroad for priestly formation. Finally, it is 200 years since the English College returned to its current location after the invading Napoleonic forces rather rudely forced a temporary hiatus. Our college archivist, Maurice Whitehead, has organised a superb exhibition to mark the rich history of English Catholicism. On display are sumptuous monstrances, ancient manuscripts and embellished reliquaries, to say nothing of the ‘wings’ (the traditional Jesuitical priestly garb) of the Superior General of the Jesuits, Lorenzo Ricci, who was imprisoned at the English College in 1773 before his transfer to Castel Sant’Angelo, where he later died. The strong connection between the English College and the Jesuit-founded Stonyhurst College, where the English seminarians were graciously hosted during World War II (1940-1946), have been duly acknowledged. Yet, the icing on the cake to commemorate this dramatically rich past has been an equally inspirational private audience with the current Holy Father, Pope Francis. The entire community had an intimate gathering with the Pontiff in the Sala del Concistoro on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace. Having passed through the finely tuned Swiss Guard security, our little band traversed the ornate surroundings of the Vatican. Expectant and excited, we noticed that the room and papal chair were the same ones used by Pope Benedict XVI when he announced his historic decision to resign in 2013. The Holy Father encouraged us all to seek friendship with Christ, to open the ‘inner chamber of our hearts’ to His voice as we prepare for our ministries in England and Wales. He also encouraged us to avoid rigidity and to cultivate life-giving and true friendships as sources of loving support and grace given by the Lord. No one travels alone in the Christian pilgrimage of lifelong sanctification, love and service, and the same is true for priests and religious. It was an immense privilege to meet the Holy Father, whose warmth and joy was evident when he greeted us all individually after his speech. May God bless him and sustain him, and us all, in our journeys of faith. 30

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justice & peace Following the Pope’s steps to sainthood By Steve Atherton, Justice and Peace fieldworker Pope Francis’ latest letter was written to help us become holy. His message in ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’ gives clear directions on how to achieve this. In the central chapter, ‘Going against the flow’, he takes the reader through the Sermon on the Mount, and shows what the Beatitudes tell us about holiness in our lives. These steps are simple but not easy. 1. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ The Pope warns us that becoming obsessed with money and possessions makes us ‘so self-satisfied that we leave no room for God’s word, for the love of our brothers and sisters, or for the enjoyment of the most important things in life.’ This is a difficult teaching: ‘to live a plain and austere life … to share in the life of those most in need.’ Being poor of heart: that is holiness 2. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.’ He tells us to be patient, to put up with other people’s faults, to stop feeling superior, to avoid labelling, and making hasty judgements. He acknowledges that ‘if I am that meek, they will think that I am an idiot, a fool or a weakling’ but we should still put our hope and trust in God. Reacting with meekness and humility: that is holiness. 3. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ This is very different advice than the constant stream of messages to seek ‘entertainment, pleasure, diversion’ and to ‘disregard painful situations’. Rather we should come ‘to the aid of those who suffer, understanding their anguish and bringing relief’. Knowing how to mourn with others: that is holiness. 4. ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ The Pope points out that ‘many people suffer injustice, standing by powerlessly while others divvy up the good things of this life. Some give up fighting for real justice and opt to follow in the train of the winners.’ He reminds us that we should cultivate right relationships with everybody but pay special attention to ‘those who are most vulnerable’. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness: that is holiness. 5. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will

receive mercy.’ Forgiveness is easy until our feelings get involved. Pope Francis says we should reproduce ‘in our lives some small measure of God’s perfection, which gives and forgives superabundantly’ and he reminds us that ‘Jesus does not say, “Blessed are those who plot revenge”. He calls “blessed” those who forgive and do so “seventy times seven”.’ Seeing and acting with mercy: that is holiness. 6. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.’ The Pope says: ‘Certainly there can be no love without works of love, but this Beatitude reminds us that the Lord expects a commitment to our brothers and sisters that comes from the heart… what proceeds from the heart is what defiles a person, for from the heart come murder, theft, false witness, and other evil deeds. From the heart’s intentions come the desires and the deepest decisions that determine our actions.’ Keeping a heart free of all that tarnishes love: that is holiness. 7. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’ Pope Francis begins this teaching with warnings about the dangers of gossip. He calls us to make peace with everyone, ‘even those who are a bit odd, troublesome or difficult, demanding, different, beaten down by life or simply uninterested. It is hard work; it calls for great openness of mind and heart … it must “face conflict head on, resolve it and make it a link in the chain of a new process.” Building peace is a craft that demands serenity, creativity, sensitivity and skill.’ Sowing peace all around us: that is holiness. 8. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Pope Francis reminds us ‘how many people have been, and still are, persecuted simply because they struggle for justice, because they take seriously their commitment to God and to others. Unless we wish to sink into an obscure mediocrity, let us not long for an easy life, for “whoever would save his life will lose it”.’ He goes on to say, ‘Whatever weariness and pain we may experience in living the commandment of love and following the way of justice, the cross remains the source of our growth and sanctification.’ Accepting daily the path of the Gospel, even though it may cause us problems: that is holiness.

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