Catholic Pic Nov 2018

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Issue 170 November 2018

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A time of Remembrance INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Ad Limina Apostolorum Visit

WW1 lessons for St Bede’s pupils

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contents Welcome This month marks 100 years since the end of the First World War. Next Sunday, 11 November, commemorations will take place throughout the country and beyond. Sadly, that war was not ‘the war to end all wars’ as was said at the time and as we pause to remember and pray for those who gave their lives let us also pray for peace in our troubled world of today.

This month we reproduce Archbishop Malcolm’s Pastoral Letter which was read on Synod Sunday. As the Archbishop says, ‘the word Synod means “together on the way”’ and the letter outlines the steps which we must take in preparation for Synod 2020. We also meet Matt Jeziorski, the Synod Coordinator, who will help so much with those preparations in the coming months.

Archbishop Malcolm also reflects on the Ad Limina Apostolorum visit by the Bishops of England and Wales to Rome last month. At the end of their time in Rome the Bishops had a two-hour audience with Pope Francis and we look at some of the issues which were discussed. The Bishops also speak of the welcome which they received from the officials in the Vatican. A visit which was a time of great joy and peace.

From the Archbishop’s Desk There is a new and very welcome mood in Rome. It seemed that every one of the cardinals and archbishops we met during the recent Ad Limina shared something of themselves which we had never seen before.

One cardinal filled up with emotion when the forthcoming canonisation of Pope St Paul VI was mentioned. Another shared something of his deep personal spirituality when talking about the celebration of Mass, and yet another revealed his powerful intellect when talking about moral and political situations that the church often finds itself in. No issues were avoided, and we were able to speak openly about the turmoil affecting the Church. There was a recognition that we can only overcome the present crisis in the Church if we leave ourselves open to each other and to the grace of the Holy Spirit. We asked for their help and they asked for ours. There was no sense of an ‘us’ and ‘them’ – we are all workers in the same vineyard, and a successful harvest depends on each of us pulling our weight.

A time of Remembrance

Contents 4

Main Feature Synod 2020

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News From around the Archdiocese

14 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 15-18 Summary of Annual Archdiocesan Report 2017 16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese 18 Profile Matt Jeziorski Synod Co-ordinator

When we met the Holy Father towards the end of our visit it became obvious that he was the source of this new way of working together. He likes to call it synodality. We were with Pope Francis for over two hours without an agenda. Conversation flowed to and fro, and he revealed his heart to us. What did we find? We encountered a man at peace. He said that this peace had been with him since his election as Pope, and it supported him through every moment of every day. It was always with him. May the Peace of Christ be with you too.

19 Nugent News CSAN in Rome

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC

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21 Animate How I ended up at Animate 25 Cathedral Record Priest in uniform

28 Pic Life Amid the noise, don’t ignore the voices that matter 30 Justice and Peace The new saint we should strive to emulate

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Synod 2020 The following Pastoral Letter was read on Synod Sunday, 21 October 2018.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Last month the Bishops of England and Wales went to Rome for a visit and pilgrimage known as the Ad Limina Apsotolorum (to the Threshold of the Apsotles). Every seven or eight years or so each national hierarchy is called to Rome to give an account of what they are doing. It is not just reporting to the Pope and the heads of Vatican departments, it is also an opportunity to listen to each other.

The different departments of the Vatican listened to us. Pope Francis listened to us too, and of course we listened to him.

This listening is at the heart of his authority. It is the way Pope Francis lives out one of the titles of the Pope – the servant of the servants of God. It is sometimes hard to imagine the Pope as a servant, even Pope Francis who has done away with much of the trappings that surround the Pope - but that is what he is - a servant. That is something of what Jesus was talking about in the Gospel today. He was saying that people in authority are to be servants of His people. True authority is lived out in service and that turns the way the world thinks on its head. Jesus saw authority as a way of service, to promote the good of others rather than to promote one's own honour and glory. This is at the very heart of all our Christian service, as we each try to imitate Jesus in our daily lives.

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The only way I can live out my calling to service as your Archbishop is by listening. I need to hear the hopes and fears of our people, the challenges facing our priests and deacons, our schools, and the reality our families have to deal with each day. I have decided to call a Synod to help us to meet some of the pressing issues that we face at this time in the life of the Archdiocese. How are we to witness to the Gospel message of God’s love in a culture that seems to have little room for faith? How can we better organise our resources of priests, deacons, people, buildings so that we can become the Church that God is calling us to be? How can we best support the work of Catholic education so we pass on our faith to the next generation? How can our Catholic lives be better supported by the ministries of the Church?

The word Synod means ‘Together on the Way’. The Synod is a moment when together we can choose a path to walk on, guided by the voice of the Holy Spirit who will speak to us. The Synod is not just another meeting. It is a journey. We have just had a year of prayer which reached its climax for us in the Eucharistic Congress. Over the next two years we will be trying to discover the will of God through listening and learning.

The voice of each one of us needs to be heard. Parishes and pastoral areas will be invited to choose members for the Synod. I hope that there will be many

different opportunities for all of our people to share their hopes, their fears and their dreams of the way the Holy Spirit is at work among us to bring fresh life into our Church.

In October 2020 our Archdiocese, priests and people together, will meet to reflect on what we have heard and vote on specific proposals that have arisen from the discussion and sharing in our parishes and pastoral areas. I have decided to work in this way because we believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in the bishops, priests and people of the Archdiocese. So, I need each one of you to play your part in our Synod process. Without you we will not hear the call of God guiding us and walking with us on our journey.

I will officially convene the Synod at a special service in the Cathedral on Sunday 3 February next year. All five hundred members of the Synod will be present at this service. From here they will be sent out to do their work of listening, reflecting and discerning, supported by the prayers of all of us.

I need your help so that we can truly be a Church that listens. We all have members of our families, neighbours and friends who are Catholics, but have little contact with our parishes.

Is it possible for us to listen to their experiences and their needs so that we can be a Church that serves them too? We are going to try to listen to our young people, to families with children, to those who work in our schools. What will our Church be like for them in twenty or thirty years time? We want to hear the experiences of those who may have made their home in our parishes only recently and to learn how we can welcome them in a

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feature

Pope Francis meets with the Bishops of England and Wales.

Credit: L’Osservatore Romano

better way. In all this listening and learning let’s pray that we might hear a call from God to change, to try to be His Church in a new way.

The letter to the Hebrews, our second reading today, speaks to us of God who walks with us; a High Priest who feels our

weaknesses with us. It speaks of the power of prayer, reminding us that we never approach the throne of God in vain.

As we prayed in the Psalm today: ‘May your love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in you’.

Today, with real enthusiasm in my heart, I

s n o i t Op PILGRIMAGE

invite you all to join in the journey which will enable us to become the Church that God is calling us to be, that is our Synod 2020 journey!

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

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Ad Limina

Ad Limina Apostolorum…

to the threshold of the Apostles n Friday 28 September at the conclusion of their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit, the Bishops of England and Wales met with Pope Francis for over two hours in what was described as ‘a most remarkable and intimate experience’.

The Bishops asked the Holy Father for a message to take back to their dioceses, it was simple: ‘we are to live the gift of our faith with joy’. Joy was his great emphasis. He explained that this joy is rooted firmly in our relationship with Jesus.

It is a joy of knowing that he is with us; of knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, drawing and guiding us towards the will of God; a joy of knowing our Heavenly Father is waiting for us, longing to hold us in his embrace of loving mercy. This is the joy of the faith by which we are to live. He added that this joy is the source of lasting peace in our hearts and lives, no matter what our circumstances.

Even in this time of turmoil, the Holy Father is so clearly rooted in God and blessed by God. His peace is secure.

His life is serene. He showed the Bishops his heart, it is the heart of a loving father.

The Bishops affirmed their deep communion with him and promised him their love, support and prayers, expressing confidently these sentiments on behalf of all the faithful Catholics of England and Wales.

The Bishops spoke with the Holy Father about the difficulties of fulfilling their role as bishops. In turn he reflected on the importance of prayer and preaching in our lives, and of paternal closeness to our priests and people, with care and with firm justice. He spoke of the encouragement he wishes to give to priests today, who can sometimes feel vulnerable in the face of difficult circumstances, in a critical environment. He spoke, movingly, of the wounds inflicted by abuse and neglect, wounds that wreak such harm in the lives of its victims and in the life of the Church.

Wherever they are found, these are wounds in the Body of Christ and are painful to touch. He encouraged the Bishops, in their pastoral work, never to neglect even the tiny flames of faith that exist in so many communities and people.

During their visit the Bishops were given a warm welcome from all the departments of the Roman Curia. They were asked to

O

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Archbishop Malcolm with Pope Francis. Picture: L’Osservatore Romano

speak freely about their endeavours and problems, and in the officials of the Holy See found a spirit of true cooperation.

Everywhere they were encouraged and given helpful advice, ‘We have seen clear evidence that the life of the Catholic communities of England and Wales is generally well respected and even admired in Rome’. Their reports of the Eucharistic Congress ‘Adoremus' were well received, as was the strength of the compassionate outreach to those in need.

In encouraging this work of outreach, Pope Francis urged the Bishops always to walk with those engaged in its projects so as to draw them nearer to the Lord who is the source of compassion and mercy.

The Bishops celebrated Mass together in

Bishop Tom with Pope Francis.

Picture: L’Osservatore Romano

the four great Roman basilicas, at the tomb of St Peter and the tomb of St Paul and in a statement said, ‘Our pilgrimage has been richly blessed and we are glad to share this sense of the deep encouragement and powerful grace we have received.

‘Pope Francis commended us to our Blessed Lady, Mary our Mother, reflecting beautifully on her role as the “untier of knots”, a deep devotion in his own life.

May she always be at our side.

‘We pray that God will bless and strengthen our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

May God guide us in all our ways that we may share the joy of our faith and the ways of peace.’

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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

Thank you Sisters Father John McLoughlin along with clergy from Warrington celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass at St Bridget’s Church to bid a fond farewell to the Poor Servants of the Mother of God

who are leaving after twenty-seven years of service.

Sister Brenda and Sister Elizabeth were relocated in August when the convent closed. The Feast of our Lady of

Walsingham, was chosen for the celebration because it marked the anniversary of the founding of the Order in 1869 when Francs Taylor (Venerable Mother Magdalen) and a small number of like-minded women gathered round a statue of Our Lady to offer their lives to the service of the poor and the vulnerable.

Frances Taylor was the youngest daughter of the Rector of an Anglican Church in Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire. She became a volunteer nurse in the Crimean war, and it was there that she was baptised as a Catholic. She herself always attributed this to the courage and faith of the dying Irish soldiers, most of whom were little more than teenagers. But it was the influence of Father Manning, later Cardinal Manning, himself a convert from Anglicanism, that helped Frances to find her own vocation. He showed her the London behind the façade of power and wealth and encouraged her to visit the poor and the inmates of the workhouses.

The departure of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God marks yet another Religious Congregation leaving Warrington: Benedictines, Vincentians, Daughters of the Heart of Mary, Cross and Passion Sisters have all left in recent years; and the Sisters of Charity of St Paul, Apostle now have just one Sister still based in Warrington.

Left: Fr Peter Montgomery, Fr Gordon Abbs, Fr John McLoughlin, Fr David Heywood. Front: Sr Brenda and Sr Elizabeth joined by servers Lauren, Grace and Tom

Share the Journey

By Angela Pender As a Cafod volunteer I suggested a ‘share the journey’ walk and as a result a group of 20 people representing St Paul’s and St Timothy’s and St Sebastian’s and St Oswald’s parishes walked a combined distance of 59.2 miles helping to share the journey that our fellow brothers and sisters take every day. We wanted to rise to the call of Pope Francis, to be compassionate and share hope so that refugees will know we care.

Our journey started after Mass at St Timothy’s church where Father John gave us a blessing as we began our walk. We were joined by Brother David, who lives in the parish house, and shared his story on his work with refugees.

Along the journey, we stopped at five

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points to reflect on God’s creation, as we walked around Croxteth Country Hall and park. Our next mission is to pass on the message of the work that Cafod do, and to promote our annual fun run on 27 December. We will walk, talk and pray

that world leaders develop a united, global response which: respects human dignity, protects the vulnerable, supports host countries, keeps families together and tackles the reasons why people migrate.

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news diary Obituary of Rev Kevin Kelly Father Kevin Kelly, who died on Thursday 25 September aged 85, and in the 61st year of his priesthood, is probably best remembered for his work as a moral theologian.

For over fifty years he grappled, both as teacher and writer, with some of the major moral issues of our time. In 2007, in recognition of his contribution in the field of moral theology, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Liverpool Hope University.

Kevin Thomas Patrick Kelly was born in Crosby on 27 June 1933 the son of Patrick and Winifred Kelly. His early education took place at the parish schools in Crosby and Ainsdale, and then at St Mary’s College, Crosby, before he entered the junior seminary at St Joseph’s College, Upholland, where he was ordained on 31 May 1958. After ordination he completed his licentiate in canon law and a doctorate in moral theology, studying in Fribourg and Rome.

In 1963 he returned to the archdiocese to become assistant priest at St Clare’s, Liverpool. He returned to Upholland in 1965 to teach moral theology and in 1967 he published his doctoral dissertation ‘Conscience: Dictator or Guide? A Study in 17th Century English Protestant Moral Theology’.

In 1975, Kevin Kelly became the first director of the Upholland Northern Institute (UNI), which had been established as a centre for adult Christian education and to

provide in-service training for the clergy.

After five years, he took a sabbatical, a time that laid the foundations for his book ‘Divorce and Second Marriage’ which was published in 1982. He also spent two months visiting countries in the developing world, an experience that he said, ‘marked him for life’.

He then joined the team ministry in Skelmersdale as its leader and came to embrace the collaborative nature of the pastoral work done in that town. After four years, in September 1985 he took up a one-year Research Fellowship at Queen’s College, Birmingham, the fruits of which was ‘Life and Love: Towards a Christian Dialogue on Bioethical Questions’ published in 1987.

When he returned to the archdiocese in 1986 he combined working in the parish of Our Lady’s, Eldon Street, with teaching moral theology. Three more of his books were published in this period: ‘New Directions in Moral Theology: The Challenge of Being Human’ (1992); ‘New Directions in Sexual Ethics: Moral Theology and the Challenge of AIDS’ (1998) and ‘From a Parish Base: Essays in Moral and Pastoral Theology’ (1999).

In 1998 he was appointed parish priest at St Basil and All Saints, Hough Green, where the church was shared with the local Church of England parish. The experience of these years taught him ‘that the future is ecumenical.’

He retired from parochial ministry in June

Celebrating an end of an era

2008 and he returned to Liverpool to act as chaplain to the Sisters of Notre Dame at their Woolton Road convent until ill-health forced his move to Formby in the autumn of 2016. His final book ‘50 Years Receiving Vatican II: A Personal Odyssey’ (2012), charts his own journey as priest and moral theologian as the Church developed her theology in the light of Vatican II. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at Our lady of Compassion church, Formby, on Tuesday 9 October by Monsignor John Devine prior to burial at Ainsdale.

‘It is a huge responsibility to be a teacher and to be trusted to “shape” young lives and I hope that when you look back on your time here it will be with fondness and a real sense that we genuinely looked out for you and cared for you.’

This was Chris Riding’s parting message to the pupils of All Hallows Catholic High School, Penwortham when he stepped down as head teacher in the summer – a message that captured the essence of his 12 years’ service to the school.

During his time as head, All Hallows was graded ‘Outstanding’ in Ofsted inspections in 2007 and 2013 – and received the same accolade three times from Liverpool Archdiocese. Individual recognition came when he was named a ‘National Leader in Education’.

Mr Riding, who had previously been head at St Bede’s Catholic High School, Lytham, bequeathed an impressive legacy to his successor, Chris Horrocks, including a new sports hall and all-weather pitch, new science labs, and a flourishing Performing Arts Department.

He was a teacher, moreover, who never lost his enthusiasm for working with pupils, teaching a Year 11 English Language and Literature class each year. He lived out the Gospel in the school community through his words and actions, and the Thanksgiving Mass to mark his retirement, held in a packed school sports hall, highlighted his popularity as his wife Gayle and their three sons were joined by pupils, parents, staff, governors and friends of the school, past and present.

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news diary Catholics join Rosary rally in St Helens Catholics young and old kept a St Helens tradition alive by taking part in the 58th annual family Rosary procession on Sunday 7 October.

Led by the Emeritus Bishop of the Diocese of Hallam, the Rt Rev John Rawsthorne, and the Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, Councillor Patricia Ireland and Mrs Lynn Glover, together with other local clergy, the procession followed a route through the centre of the town which ended at the church of Holy Cross and St Helen.

During the Procession, decades of the Holy Rosary were recited for the following intentions: the family, youth, sanctity of life from conception to natural death, relief from unemployment, relief from disease and famine, and the progression of the Sainthood causes for Passionists Blessed Dominic Barberi and Mother Elizabeth Prout. A particular intention was for peace in the Middle East, especially in Syria, Iraq

and the Holy Land, and for the refugees from these conflicts.

The Procession concluded with a sung Benediction service. During his short Homily, Bishop John talked about the

importance of offering Rosary prayers for the Pope. The organisers would like thank those who took part as well as St John Ambulance for their support.

WW1 lessons come to life for St Bede’s pupils For pupils at St Bede’s Catholic High School in Ormskirk, this month’s commemorations of the First World War armistice will hold a deeper meaning following a visit to the battlefields and war cemeteries in Belgium and France.

It was Mrs Roberts, the head of History, who led the trip which, in the words of one Year 11 boy, Liam, brought the history books to life. ‘From the little things like the bullets and shrapnel to the bigger things like the cemeteries, everything gets put into perspective when you get to see them yourself,’ he said.

St Bede’s pupils had already begun acts of remembrance, gathering the names of local soldiers and sailors killed in action and writing them on poppies, while Mrs Morris, the Creative Arts technician, created a striking ‘Tommy Atkins’ silhouette for the school entrance. On the day before departure, students and staff gathered there for a remembrance service led by school chaplain Clare Guidi, which included a poignant playing of the Last Post by a Year 9 pupil.

The trip began at the battlefield and cemeteries of Ypres Salient in Belgium, and the battlefield of the Somme. Pupils

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visited the Hooge Crater Museum and Sanctuary Wood Museum (Hill 62), which offered an exploration of the life in the trenches. They also saw the Langemark German cemetery and the Tyne Cot British cemetery and memorial to soldiers with no known grave, while there was the opportunity to explore the reconstructed trenches at the Passchendaele Memorial Museum.

Other highlights of the trip were Vimy Ridge, the Lochnagar Crater, and the Essex Farm Cemetery and Dressing Station. For one Year 10 pupil, Roksana, Vimy Ridge left a lasting impression. ‘The view was simply overpowering,’ she said.

‘Moreover, it helped me understand the terrain the soldiers were fighting in, with the small craters from the shells and artillery, and the trench locations.’

The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, where pupils laid a wreath to remember the thousands whose names are recorded there, was particularly poignant according to Rebecca, from Year 10. ‘The Menin Gate ceremony was very special and moving,’ she said.

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news diary

Hope for the future of the family

by Janet Baron I had agreed to attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin and I had no clue what it was. I did some research and found out it is a gathering of families from around the world held every three years and it meets to celebrate their faithfulness and commitment to each other, to the Church and to the world.

It sounded very grand and not really the place for me.

However not being one to turn down an opportunity to do something new off I went.

Wednesday dawned, everyone had been given their WMOF badges identifying them as ticketholders to a varied and eclectic mixture of families, clergy, religious and solo pilgrims.

We had our pilgrim packs containing all the information we would need for the next three days. Each day there were a collection of talks, testimonies and keynote speeches, the message being each one of us has a place in the universal family of the Church. A real message of inclusion for everyone regardless of marital status or sexuality, everyone has to be made welcome and accepted. The message which Pope Francis has given over and over again is forgiveness and love are the keys which open the hearts of everyone. The words which were heard constantly, ‘please’, ‘sorry’, ‘thank you’ a simple but effective message, reflecting the 2016 Post Synod Exhortation ‘Amoris Laetitia’, which opens with the words ‘The Joy of Love experienced by families is also the Joy of the Church.’

I decided to take a day off from the talks to follow a Pilgrim Walk in Dublin, visiting some of the oldest churches where generations of families have gathered to celebrate their faith and take hope for the future. Each had a theme, again taken

from ‘Amoris Laetitia’.

Although it turned out to be a long walk I saw parts of Dublin not on the tourist maps, but more importantly I met others from WMOF, giving an opportunity not only to talk to the church volunteers, but pilgrims from all over the world.

Everyone held a common faith in Christ as Saviour, but also a common belief that the answer to achieving world harmony if only politicians would listen, is to use ‘please’, ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’.

All I can say about the concert in Croke Park is, ‘it was amazing’ not only because it was a real celebration of Irish culture, but because of the testimonies given by families from all over the world. Listening to them was a real humbling experience and indeed gives hope for the future of the family.

The end to the trip was the celebration of the Eucharist in Phoenix Park celebrated by Pope Francis. This can only be described as a surreal experience. On the one hand there was the wholly spiritual experience of sharing the Eucharist with a worldwide family, whilst on the other there was a sensation of it being a ‘good day out’.

I am so glad I said ‘yes’. The World Meeting of Families has helped me to a greater understanding of ‘Amoris Laetitia’ and how its message reinforces family life in all its many guises.

We can move forward with hope and an undertaking to use, ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ in any combination as often as is necessary

St Joseph’s Hospice earns inspectors’ approval St Joseph’s Hospice in Merseyside has been hailed as ‘effective, caring, responsive and well-led’ by inspectors who applauded the compassion and emotional support it offers patients.

The inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave the Thornton hospice a ‘Good’ overall rating following their unannounced visit between 7 and 9 August this year. The hospice, which has now jumped up two ratings in the space of a year, was found to have ‘systematically improved in quality and performance’. Inspectors also praised the hospice, and its senior management team, for sustaining the improvements noted at the previous inspection in December 2017 and observed that it has ‘continued to improve how medicines are

given and recorded’.

The CQC team inspected five key areas – whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. In their report they wrote that staff ‘cared for their patients with compassion’ and ‘provided emotional support to patients and their relatives to minimise their distress’.

Patients and relatives also confirmed that the ‘staff treat them well and with kindness’ and that ‘the staff involved patients and those close to them in decisions about their care and treatment’.

There were also positive words about the fact the hospice ‘controlled infection risk well’ and ‘kept the premises and equipment clean’. According to inspectors, the hospice nursing and care staff have ‘the right qualifications, skill, training and

experience to keep people safe and provide the right care and treatment’.

Detailed records of patient care and treatment are also kept ‘clear and up to date’.

Mike Parr, chief executive of St Joseph’s Hospice, said: ‘I have never been in any doubt that St Joseph’s Hospice is a “Good” hospice and the majority of our patients and families would agree with that. However, it is wonderful and really important that the CQC has also recognised this.

‘We have built a fantastic team here and I am very proud of everyone who works at the hospice as this is a result of everyone’s hard work and dedication over the last two years. We should all feel incredibly privileged to work here.’

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SFX celebrates 175th anniversary

St Francis Xavier’s College (SFX) in Woolton has marked its 175th anniversary with a celebration Mass for students, parents, families and staff.

The Mass was celebrated at the College Chapel – and followed by a buffet and the opportunity to view an art and photography exhibition showcasing the creative talents of SFX pupils.

SFX’s history dates back to 1842 when it was established by the Society of Jesus. It was named after the patron saint of missionaries and one of the founders of the Jesuit order, St Francis Xavier.

Over the years, the college has occupied several sites in Liverpool including Soho Street, St Anne Street and Salisbury Street. In 1961, it took over its current site on Woolton Hill Road. In 1974 the trusteeship of SFX was transferred from the Jesuits to the Brothers of Christian Instruction.

The anniversary celebration, held prior to the summer holiday on 18 July, also marked the retirement of 12

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executive headteacher Les Rippon. He said: ‘It’s important that we celebrate the school’s heritage and that every student understands its vast history.

This really helps to create a sense of pride amongst the year groups. Our assistant headteacher, Peter Evans, even designed a dedicated 175-years tie which students have been proudly wearing.’

On his retirement, Mr Rippon added: ‘I’ve had a wonderful 37 years with SFX. Seeing thousands of students benefit from a strong and varied curriculum, over this period of time, is what makes this job so worthwhile.’

Grandson leads quest for Our Lady of Good Help memories Ex-pupils of Our Lady of Good Help primary school in Liverpool are being asked to take a trip down memory lane – to help a current student research its rich history.

Thousands of children have passed through the Wavertree school since it opened its doors in 1878 and Harry Yates, a Year 5 pupil, would like to help his grandmother, Veronica McLindon, compile the information needed to write a booklet about the development of Our Lady’s down the decades.

Veronica, an OLGH old girl herself, says: “The history of this extraordinary school is a mystery to children now so if you previously went to Our Lady’s as a child, or if anyone in your family was a pupil there, please get in touch.” To contact Veronica and Harry, email: mclindon@blueyonder.co.uk.

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St John Fisher Catholic Primary School Tithebarn Road, Knowsley Village L34 0HA 0151 477 8590 Headteacher: Mrs M T Forrest

New Nursery!

We are delighted to announce that our school family is growing due to our new Nursery provision for 3-4 year olds, which will be opening in January 2019.

We are full for this year but are taking enquiries for September 2019 Please contact Lorraine Morris for more information on 0151 477 8590 “In every classroom that I visited during my inspection, pupils’ behaviour and respect for each other ensured that learning moved forward without interruption”.

Ofsted 2016

All Saints Catholic Primary School Chesnut Grove, Bootle L20 4LX 0151 288 6420 admin.allsaints@schools.sefton.gov.uk www.allsaintsprimaryschool.co.uk

Ofsted 2016 “This is a Good school and the behaviour of pupils is Outstanding.

Attitudes to learning are excellent. Pupils should be rightly proud of the quality and quantity of work in their books and on display around the school”.

What Parents say about us “You listen to them, you show happiness and joy in their achievements, you get upset when they are upset, you wipe their tears, you make them smile - you are like another mum/dad to each and every child in your care”.

MISSION STATEMENT “Each one of you is a child of God” Pope Francis A Catholic learning community that aspires to excel, celebrates achievement and values the uniqueness of everyone

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news diary

Prescot pupils support Synod Sunday From foodbanks to footprints, children from Our Lady’s Catholic Primary, Prescot helped make Synod Sunday a memorable occasion in two local parishes.

The Year 4 pupils created paper footprints which they used as a symbolic decoration in both parish churches with links to the school, Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph’s and Our Lady Help of Christians. They placed the footprints in a path leading up to the altar and then back towards the exit – representing the experience of receiving God’s word and then taking the Good News out into the world. Families of pupils donated food, meanwhile, to the foodbanks on display in each church and head teacher Haydn Boyle explained: ‘It was the children’s idea to arrange the food in the shape of the cross.

We sent out photos of their efforts to all of our parents on the Friday before Synod Sunday to encourage more families to attend their parish Masses.’

Great Fire is hot topic at Our Lady of Lourdes The Great Fire of London became a particularly hot topic for pupils at one Birkdale primary school last month – thanks to the local fire brigade.

The Year 2 children at Our Lady of Lourdes, who had been learning about the Great Fire of 1666, received a sudden demonstration of firefighting on their own playground on 12 October as a fire engine turned up and the crew proceeded to light a fire before showing the youngsters how to put it out. The children also had the opportunity to hold the hosepipes and climb on the rig.

It proved a colourful week overall at Our Lady’s, with pupils marking World Mental Health Awareness Day on 10 October by wearing a yellow item of clothing with their uniform. Two days later, Year 5 and 6 pupils were encouraged to come into school with brightly coloured hair, hats, socks and shoes and bring with them a donation for Cafod’s ‘Brighten Up’ project – an initiative which raised over £300.

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news diary

St Laurence’s celebrate space week Over the past week children at St Laurence’s Catholic Primary School, Kirkby have been taking part in World Space Week, an international observance of science and technology and its contribution to improve our society.

This year’s theme was “Space unites the world” to celebrate UNISPACE+50 a historic gathering of world leaders who came together to promote collaborative space exploration between nations across the globe.

St Laurence’s took this as an opportunity to unite our children in an inclusive space project that would capture their imaginations and inspire them to think about space.

Through assemblies and focused lessons, children across the school have learnt about the wonders of space through: poetry, art, maths and science.

School teacher, Peter Biggs said: “The most exciting part of our World Space Week focus however came in the form of our whole school design and technology competition. Children were given the opportunity to compete in two home learning projects.

“The first was to design and build a space rocket, the second, was to create a poster based on a space theme that interested them. There was no design brief to allow for maximum creativity.

“With over thirty prizes space themed prizes to be won, the response we have had from the children and families has been unbelievable. The buzz around the school from both children and staff as rockets and posters of all shapes and sizes have arrived each day has been nothing short of breathtaking.

“The best part of this whole project has been hearing the stories of children who have loved working with parents, grandparents, siblings or friends to create something from scratch that they are incredibly proud of.

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MP goes back to school to inspire pupils to aim high A Conservative MP has returned to school in Kirkby to help broaden primary pupils’ jobs horizons and boost their career aspirations for their future.

Gillian Keegan, who grew up in Knowsley and is now MP for Chichester, visited Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School in Moorfield, Tower Hill, Kirkby, to share her journey from a local girl to Westminster with Year 6 students and to discuss the pupils’ jobs aspirations and how they might achieve them.

She returned under the innovative programme run by the education charity Future First which is helping primary schools in Knowlsey establish communities of alumni and supporters who can share their experiences of the working world with current pupils.

The programme is the first of its kind in the country to work with primary schools in this way. It builds on Future First’s successful work in more than a thousand secondary schools and colleges across Britain and will help primary schools harness the time, talent and resource of their former students and local community supporters to show pupils the world of opportunities available to them after they leave school.

Sheila Murphy, Deputy Headteacher, said, ‘Our children loved the workshops and activities led by Future First staff. They were extremely lucky to have inspirational role models who returned to school to work alongside them in the workshops. They empowered the children to broaden their horizons in terms of careers they would like to pursue in the future and also gave them wonderful insights into the world of work.

Their confidence and self-esteem improved as a result of the Future First Project and school leaders are keen to build upon its success.’

Future First Chief Executive Matt Lent said, ‘It’s hard for young children to understand the connection between their school studies and the world of work. Our work in secondary schools has already shown that former students and local supporters are the perfect relatable role models, having an enormous positive influence on the confidence and motivation of young people. This new initiative will take these opportunities to primary schools and pupils for the first time ensuring all children have the chance to succeed regardless of their background.’

Gillian Keegan MP meets pupils from Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School in Kirkby

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Letter from Wonersh

By Peter Murphy

CSAN in Rome Through my work at Nugent I have the great privilege seeing great work being completed by our staff on behalf of the people we serve.

Occasionally, I have an opportunity to connect with other CEOs and Directors of other Caritas services across the country and recently both Father Mike Fitzsimons, and I, were able to meet with this great group of people in Rome. We were a group of around 50 leaders representing a range of Catholic Charities and Dioceses in England and Wales. We stayed in a 13th century monastery, on the Cliffside overlooking Lake Albano. From the terrace I could see the Pope’s summer residence, Castel Gandolfo.

The intent of the week was ‘the formation of leaders within the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) through personal development, developing relationships as a community of leaders and experiencing ourselves as part of the global Caritas family and universal church’. The main speaker was Kerry Robinson, who founded ‘Leadership Roundtable’ based in Washington DC. Kerry was particularly well spoken on the urgent need for the Catholic Church to involve the talent of women in lay leadership at all levels. I was reassured how welcoming my fellow leaders were in the acknowledgement and support of women in leadership positions.

I experienced a week of prayer and liturgy. Father Mike and other priests that were in attendance led the group in a daily celebration of Mass (morning and evening) – one of which was in the crypt of St Peters, in front of the tomb of St Peter.

The following day, Mass was with the Bishops of England and Wales at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. We even attended a lunch hosted by the UK Ambassador the Holy See. This was my first understanding of such an event and I had an experience that was truly inspirational. I believe we met the aims of the programme. It was the connecting with others and sharing in the same experience, that was a significant aspect of the week. It was joyful to see lively debates and experiencing the sense of being part of something greater than ourselves.

An experience that will resonate with me and the work of Caritas in Nugent for some time to come.

Normandie Wragg Chief Executive, Nugent

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At the end of this month there will be assignments due in for half of the courses, so there is real study to be done now. It is important, however, to keep the intellectual formation proportionate as only one part of the four key components of the formation process.

Even in the classroom, while everyone is aware of the demands of the BTh degree programme, there is time to spend discussing and understanding how what we are learning will relate to our lives as priests, and the lives of the people we are being called to serve. One of the subjects where this is especially true is eschatology – the study of ‘the four last things’: death, judgement, heaven, and hell.

In this year when we celebrate the centenary of the end of the Great War, St John’s Seminary, like many other places, is preparing to open its doors to people who want to commemorate the lives of those who died. On the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday, there will be an exhibition looking at the role of the seminary and the seminarians during the war years. It will also be an opportunity for fans of the ITV drama ‘Foyle’s War’ to visit the location where a few episodes were shot.

During this month of November, the Church encourages us to pray especially for those who have died: we remember in prayer those who we have known – our family members and friends. It is also good, and possibly even more important, for us to pray too for those who have been forgotten.

As well as praying for those who have died, November gives us the opportunity to pray for ourselves and all those who suffer grief. We can also take this opportunity to pray – as has been the habit of Christians for many centuries – for our own happy death.

The words of Blessed John Henry Newman may help us to make this prayer regularly: ‘O my Lord and Saviour, support me in my last hour in the strong arms of Your Sacraments, and by the fresh fragrance of Your consolations. Let the absolving words be said over me, and the holy oil sign and seal me, and Your own Body be my food, and Your Blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me, and my Angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious patrons smile upon me; that in them all, and through them all, I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die, as I desire to live: in Your faith; in Your Church; in Your service; and, in Your love.

Amen.’

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news diary Everton school’s recycling champions Pupils at a Liverpool primary school have been rewarded for their efforts spreading the message about the importance of recycling.

Children at Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School in Everton have been working with Liverpool City Council’s recycling team to drive up the rate at their school, and also in the local community. Recognition of their achievements came at the end of National Recycling Week when they were presented with a School Recycling Champion certificate by members of the council’s Recycling Improvement team.

Each class at Our Lady Immaculate has a reusable bag for recyclable waste and the initiative proved so successful that the school had to get more Eurobins to take their rubbish.

The school also ran its own recycle week in June and is now looking at further options to reduce nonrecyclable waste.

Widnes celebrations The Parish of St Wilfrid, Widnes recently celebrated two special Wedding Anniversaries. Barbara and Mal Jordan celebrated 25 years of marriage on Sunday, 23 September, and Pat and Mike Naughton celebrated 50 years of marriage on Friday, 28 September.

Pat and Mike Naughton

Barbara and Mal Jordan

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what’s on Sunday 4 November Redemptorist Youth Ministry Monthly 18-40 Mass 6.00 pm at Our Lady of the Annunciation, Bishop Eton, Woolton Road, L16 8NQ, followed by refreshments.

Liverpool Bach Collective Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 77: ‘Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben.’ (‘You shall love God, your Lord, with all your heart.’) 6.30 pm at All Saints’ Church (Childwall Parish Church), Childwall Abbey Road, Liverpool L16 5EY. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com Wednesday 7 November UCM bi-monthly Mass 7.30 pm at At Albert the Great, 31 Hollow Croft, Stockbridge Village, L28 4EA. Thursday 8 November ‘Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus.’

Exploring the Letter to the Philippians.

Scripture Morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am at lrenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk Friday 9 November to Sunday 11 November ‘St Michael the Archangel and the Divine Mercy.’

A retreat led by Father Peter Prusakiewicz at Sandymount, 16 Burbo Bank Road, Blundellsands, L23 6TH. Details (including costs): Tel: 0151 924 4850 Text: 07564 882006 Email sandymountcrosby@montfort.org.uk

Friday 9 November Race Night in aid of Assin Fosso Ghana 7.00 pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Centre, L8 8DX. Admission £2.

Saturday 10 November In Remembrance 1918 Concert A heartfelt tribute to all those who have fallen in war focussing on the 100th anniversary with the Metropolitan Cathedral Cantata Choir, Director: James Luxton.

Reader: Adam smith. 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Tickets available from the Piazza Gift Shop or at: www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk Sunday 11 November Remembrance Day Tuesday 13 November ‘Welcoming the Stranger.’

10.00 am-3.30 pm ALM (Asylum Link Merseyside) conference at LACE to launch the new language support toolkit produced by the Council of Europe.

Details: Sarah Tel: 0151 709 1713 Email sarah.asylumlink@gmail.com 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 Redemptorist Youth Ministry 18-40 Young Adult Pizza and Pub Quiz The Elephant, Woolton. Booking essential Email: redemptoristyouth@hotmail.com Wednesday 14 November ‘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 3.30 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 11 November

Thursday 15 November ‘Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus.’

Exploring the Letter to the Philippians.

Scripture Morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am at lrenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk Saturday 17 November ‘The Sacred Heart and the Holy Face.’

Workshop and meditation with John Hesketh at Sandymount, 16 Burbo Bank Road, Blundellsands, L23 6TH. Cost £10. Details: Tel: 0151 924 4850 Text: 07564 882006 Email sandymountcrosby@montfort.org.uk ‘Destiny’ Concert with the Metropolitan Cathedral Orchestra Conductor: Stephen Pratt and the Cathedral Cantata Choir, Director: James Luxton. Soloist Barbara Ruszics. 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 Thursday 22 November ‘Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus.’

Exploring the Letter to the Philippians.

Scripture Morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am at lrenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD.

website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

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october Details Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk Saturday 24 November ‘Women, Peace and the Church.’

To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with guests from Cologne Churches with whom Merseyside’s churches have linked through Churches Together in the Merseyside Region for nearly four decades. Organised by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies, Liverpool-Cologne Link Group and the Josephine Butler Memorial Trust.

9.30 am to 4.00 pm at Liverpool Hope University, Creative Campus, Cornerstone Building, Shaw Street, Liverpool, L6 1HP. Registration: www.store.hope.ac.uk 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

Young Adult group Reflection followed by social time. 7.30 pm at Our Lady of the Annunciation, Bishop Eton, Woolton Road, L16 8NQ. Wednesday 28 November ‘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 3.30 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 Taizé 18–35 A time of prayer, Scripture reading, singing, silence and discussion for young people 18 -35. 7.30 pm at St Margaret Mary’s Parish House, Pilch Lane, Liverpool, L14 0JG. Details: Father Ian: ipmcparland@gmail.com (the 15 bus stops outside the church/house.)

Thursday 29 November ‘Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus.’

Exploring the Letter to the Philippians.

Scripture Morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am at lrenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk Friday 30 November to Sunday 2 December Scripture weekend: ‘They shall come from the east and the west.’

Exploring the Advent scriptures led by Father Chris Thomas, at lrenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199. Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Website: www.irenaeus.co.uk

Sunday 25 November Solemn Mass on the Feast of Christ the King 11.00 am in the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP. Women, Peace and the Church Ecumenical Service 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King attended by Church leaders from Liverpool and Cologne.

Monday 26 November Time out for Advent: Waiting in Hope An opportunity to open our hearts for Christmas. led by members of Christian Life Community. 7.15 pm at the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool, L15 6TW, followed by refreshments.

Details: Sister Winifred Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: winniecenacle@mail.com No charge, donations welcome Tuesday 27 November Redemptorist Youth Ministry 18-40

Sunday 25 November

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Homecare Service Helping you to maintain your independence The Homecare Service offers high quality personalised care as well as practical domestic support such as cleaning, shopping and help with escorted outings

To find out more, call 0151 330 5678 or visit our website www.ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk

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profile

Matt Jeziorski Back home and embracing a big challenge By Simon Hart Matt Jeziorski is happy to be home. ‘I wanted to come back to the northwest in search of cheap beer and affordable housing and also wanted a new challenge, something a bit different, and this job ticked those boxes,’ says the 39-year-old, who embarked in September on his new role as the Archdiocesan co-ordinator of the 2020 Synod.

It is a challenge, he acknowledges, that will intensify in the coming weeks. Synod Sunday on 21 October and the open meetings taking place across the Archdiocese until 8 November are only the beginning of a significant phase of planning for 2020. ‘Those meetings are about inviting people along to hear a vision – this is why the Archdiocese feels we need this Synod and this is what the process is going to look like,’ he says.

‘There’s been a year of prayer that ended with the Eucharistic Congress. And now, the next stage is characterised by two things – the first part up to Christmas, is sharing a vision, trying to enthuse as many people as possible about why it’s important that they get involved and their voices should be heard. Alongside that is

the selection of the 500 people who will be Synod members. Going to the Synod in October 2020 and voting on things is part of that but actually theirs is a role of two years of meetings in their local areas to listen, to hear people’s concerns and their hopes and dreams and fears and anxieties about the Church and the world. Through that listening we can begin as an Archdiocese to discern the way God calls our Church to develop in the future.’

The Archdiocesan clergy will provide a portion of Synod members, but more than 350 places will be filled from elsewhere. ‘Every parish will select one Synod member and every pastoral area will select another eight,’ says Matt, whose own home parish is Sacred Heart and St Alban parish in Warrington. ‘The idea is that they reflect the diversity of that area, so if there’s a massive hospital in your pastoral area, you probably want people in healthcare involved.’

A Maths graduate, Matt has two MAs (one in ‘community and youth work’, the other in ‘pastoral theology’) and was previously based in north London working for Pax Christi, spending nine

years ‘managing a national education project’. Overall, he has been ‘in Church youth work for the best part of two decades’ but now for his new assignment: Synod 2020.

He offers a reflection on the Synod’s strapline ‘Together on the road, becoming the Church we are called to be’, saying: ‘Actually, Pope Francis talks about Synodality being the path that God wants of his Church in the third millennium and he seems to me to be talking about every level of the Church – our parishes, our deaneries, our pastoral areas – being much more inclined to listen to one another and to discern carefully together and acknowledge the spirit of God working in everybody.

‘That possibility of transforming the grassroots and inspiring different ways of being Church really excites me.’

And it is, we must add, not the only thing that excites him about being back up north. ‘It’s great to be back nearer the mighty Warrington Wolves rugby league team,’ he grins. ‘Plus I’m 83 grounds through doing the 92 football league grounds and it’s mostly northern clubs I’ve got left!’

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To continue to help support sup pport over 6,000 vulnerable children children and adults across the North West, Nugent’s charity shop is in urgent urgen nt need of donations.

You can donate any items items at the following locations:

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Charity Shop 73 Allerton Road, Liverpool, Liverp pool, L18 2DH (Monday - Saturday, 9am 9a am - 5pm)

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&HQWUDO 2É?FH &HQWUDO 2É?FH 99 Edge Lane, Liverpool, Liverpoo ol, L7 2PE (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm)

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0151 737 2951 info@nugentcare.org wearenugent.org 73 Allerton Road, Liverpool, L18 2DH Registered Register red Charity: 222930

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youth ministry

How I ended up at Animate Gap year team member Kate explains why she has embraced the challenge of working with young people in our diocese.

Before I started on the Animate Youth Ministries team in September I had completed my degree studying Early Childhood and Special Educational Needs at Liverpool Hope University, as working with young people has always been a passion of mine.

I was brought up in St Austin’s parish in Garston, where my faith journey began. I used to be involved in the youth group at St Austin’s, where we would go on retreats to Ampleforth Abbey and have pizza and prayer evenings. The other young people I met during this time continue to be some of my closest friends and, looking back, I realise how much these small events had such a big impact on my journey towards Animate and the exploring of my faith.

During my time at St Edward’s College I heard about the Liverpool to Lourdes pilgrimage and decided that once I had finished my GCSEs I would sign up and go. I had no idea how much I was going to love it and it was on this pilgrimage – helping elderly and sick pilgrims get around to daily Masses and the shops and cafes – that my love for serving others originated. Giving up a week of my summer that year to serve others was the best thing I ever did. I continue to travel to Lourdes every year with the Archdiocese and this, in turn, is where I fell in love with Animate! Every year I heard more and more about the work that they do and so decided that a year of working with over 10,000 school pupils could be the best preparation should I pursue a career working with young people. So here I am!

comfortable with – but I think life needs to have these healthy challenges in order for us to develop and gain strength within ourselves.

After only six days on the team I was faced with one of my biggest challenges: Adoremus. Having heard so much about it, I was anxious about being up on stage working with an auditorium full of young people so early on, but it was so much fun. I told myself if I could get through that event, then I would be fine for the rest of the year. Working with young people has always been a passion of mine, and inspiring at least one person every day to live a more fruitful life makes the whole job worthwhile.

The past few weeks have been very hectic with settling into community life and learning the ropes, but I have enjoyed working with the many different schools who have all been so keen to get to know us and what

we do, and this makes the rewards so much greater on both sides.

One thing I enjoyed particularly during my first month was visiting the Blessed Sacrament shrine for the first time, spending time in the Lord’s presence with Adoration and Praise music. Seeing the shrine so full yet so peaceful, packed with all walks of life, was truly moving, and made me realise that I have made the right decision in choosing this pathway to work at Animate. I am looking forward to growing in confidence and gaining new experiences with the rest of the team this year, and I ask you to keep myself and the whole Animate team in your prayers as we work with other young people in our Archdiocese throughout this academic year.

Liverpool is an amazing city and I am a massive ‘home bird’ so I thought moving to sunny St Helens would be difficult but I am loving every minute of it. I was very nervous initially as it is something completely different for me – standing in front of a group of people and speaking is not something I was previously

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sunday reflections On a liturgical note My first parish priest after Ordination was Father EK Taylor at Holy Family Parish in Southport. He had a particular fondness for the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours which we keep, by date, on 11 November. As this date is a Sunday this year, the Saint’s Memoria naturally gives way to the ‘weekly Easter’ which is the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection – but I think Father Taylor would still have managed to insert Martin’s name into the Eucharistic Prayer that day!

We read in the Office of Readings for St Martin that, even in his advanced years (he was over 80 when he died), he undertook an arduous journey to part of his diocese to bring resolution to a dispute which had arisen and, in this way, to cement unity among the people of his diocese. Martin was a man of deep-rooted charity, often depicted as a soldier on horseback cutting his cloak in half in order to share it with a poor man, and this charity extended not only to giving of himself and his own possessions for the good of others, but to actively

Sunday thoughts The Beatles sang ‘All you need is love’. Simple, I thought; none of those negative ‘thou shalt not’ commandments. Loving God and loving neighbour sounds a lot easier.

As I look back on my life, I realise it hasn’t been simple, and certainly not easy. My personal performance graph levelled out some time ago and often takes a dive. My school reports included the comment ‘could do better’. That sums me up sixty years later.

So what is the Christian life project about? If it involves the pursuit of perfection then I’ve had it. Does this sound hopeless? It needn’t be. Once we have attempted the treadmill of compliance and perfection, and failed, the real journey begins. The missing ingredient is the grace of God. And the grace of God works best in desperation. The Jesus of the Gospels was the friend of sinners, of those who couldn’t make it. His

Canon Philip Gillespie

working to bring peace, understanding and reconciliation where there was unrest and uncertainty.

This too is charity and love of others – to bring peace into their lives.

On 11 November this year we will also keep the 100th anniversary of the cessation of hostilities at the end of the First World War – a conflict which sadly did not live up to its name as the ‘war to end all wars’. To turn our minds to peace, to an end to that mistrust and fear which can so easily not only justify but also condone violence and hatred between communities, peoples and nations, this too is active charity and rightly deserves the beatitude, ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’.

At our celebration of Mass each day we pray: ‘Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress.’

Amen to that.

Mgr John Devine OBE

message resonated with their failure. And that’s why the Institution – be it religious or civic – not only failed to understand him but saw him as a threat.

I return frequently to the words of Father Jock Dalrymple in his book Longest Journey: ‘I can remember that the most important discovery was to know that my mediocrity and sins were no obstacle, but an advantage to receiving the gracious mercy of God; that pursuing perfection and pleasing God were two quite different aims, and that I could do the latter without achieving the former.’

So we come full circle. It’s all about the love of God. It’s simple, after all.

But as John tells us, it’s not our love for God but God’s love for us. Once we accept this, the bonus is that we’ve no justification for judging others.

Mirrors of love Just the other day I was with a woman I know who lives with schizophrenia. The drugs she’s on control her condition really well but she still suffers from anxiety and at times is haunted by her past. She was describing what it was like when she was young and would become psychotic.

She talked about the fear that overwhelmed her and the panic that engulfed her so much that she would shake from head to foot and try to harm herself just to get relief.

She talked of her mum who would come and wrap her arms around her and hold her till the shaking subsided.

I have thought about the mother a lot since then. She was prepared to put herself in danger for the sake of her daughter. It was a mirror image for me of the reality of God. This God who is pure unconditional love is not into punishment and revenge, not into that tit-for-tat mentality that we have, but just pure love.

We seem to have got ourselves caught up with so much that Jesus didn’t even seem remotely interested in, and moved so far away from what He was interested in. The truth is that it’s all about reflecting love for the world.

To really let the message of Jesus touch our hearts involves a lot of letting go and most of us find it difficult to let go. We’d rather keep control. We’d rather build up our own little kingdoms of power and authority rather than become servants and mirrors for love.

Much of the criticism of Pope Francis is caught up with this need for power rather than the willingness to love. The more he tries to rid the Church of the scourge of power-seeking, the more he is pilloried by those who live in fear of losing power and authority for the sake of love.

I don’t know why we should be surprised by how far we’ve moved. The same thing had happened to the Disciples. They’d misunderstood Jesus. They’d moved a million miles from what was important to Him. They argued about power and who was the greatest, when the truth is that the kingdom of God is not about power and status.

It’s very easy to get seduced by the power games that we play in society and in the Church. Don’t be fooled. The call of the Gospel is to stand apart from the power struggles, to serve and to love.

Fr Chris Thomas

Weekly Reflections are on the Archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/reflection 30

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Issue 163 April 2018

FREE

READ ONLINE www.catholicpic.co.uk

Easter Joy INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Peter Woods appointed High Sheriff

Celebrating marriage and family life

Woodlands Hospice is committed to delivering Specialist Palliative Care for people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses in North Liverpool, South Sefton and Kirkby in Knowsley.

We honour people’s rights to dignity and respect at whatever stage of their illness by our aim to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

At Christmas we know this can be a very difficult time if you have lost a loved one, or if you cannot be with someone you love. Our Light up a Life appeal gives you the opportunity to celebrate a loved one by dedicating a light on our Christmas trees – each one dedicated to someone special. By dedicating a light to a loved one, you will not only be celebrating their life, you will be helping us to support our patients and their families at a time they need it most.

To dedicate a light please complete the form online at: www.woodlandshospice.org/lightupalife or call Carole Riley on 0151 529 4143.

You will receive a dedication card with the name of the person you have dedicated a light to in the post.

Woodlands Hospice Charitable Trust, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool L9 7LA. www.woodlandshospice.org Registered Charity No. 1048934. Tel: 0151 529 4143

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cathedral

Clergy in khaki

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan archivist The centenary of the Armistice that halted the First World War occurs in November. Services of remembrance are likely to be especially poignant, and anyone attending them might like to offer a prayer for those priests who served, and especially those who died, in the ‘War to end wars’.

There was no conscription for clergymen, but nevertheless by 1917 at least 21 secular priests of our Archdiocese were serving as Chaplains to the Forces. One of the earliest to join up was Rev Fred Gillett, who went from Sacred Heart, Liverpool, to the Army Service Corps in 1915. He served for two years at the front in France and Belgium, and wrote to Archbishop Whiteside in 1918 describing some of his experiences. Near Arras, he said, ‘one is struck by the contrast of the untouched crucifixes standing out over ruined and demolished villages’.

He praised the devotion of Catholic troops from Lancashire, Ireland and Canada, and added: ‘I have rubbed up against the Americans and they are an excellent lot – good Catholics, regular with their duties, and full of keenness to get at the Hun and finish things.’

Rev James Lonergan went from a curacy at St Sylvester’s, Liverpool, to serve in France as chaplain to a battalion of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, where, he reported to the Archbishop, ‘Nearly all the men are from Barrow, Ulverston, Lancaster and Manchester’. More exotically, Rev Thomas Kenny ministered to Greeks and Indians when he went from Sacred Heart in Wigan to Salonika, as Chaplain to the Middlesex

Regiment. His letters, written in pencil as ink was hard to come by at the front, tell of the many practical difficulties of working with troops in a war zone, including ‘tramping two or three miles over very heavy ground carrying my altar kit to say Mass for some isolated troops, to find that they are unable to attend owing to sudden and important duties.’

Four Liverpool priests are known have died during the war. Rev James Leeson, formerly a student and a teacher at St Edward’s College, and the Tipperaryborn Rev Patrick Looby were both killed in action in France in 1917. Rev Thomas Baines died on 31 May 1918, killed by a bomb during an air raid on a camp behind the lines in France. The Jesuit mission at St Francis Xavier in Liverpool also lost a priest when Rev Robert Monteith died of wounds received during an artillery barrage on 27 November 1917.

Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean Our journey through the increasing darkness of November is marked by the glowing light of the lives of the saints, the gentle light of remembrance and the eternal light of Christ our Shepherd King.

The 100th anniversary of Armistice Day will be celebrated nationally on 11 November. It is a day of giving thanks for the end of the end of the war 100 years ago, recalling the outpouring of national relief marking the end of the conflict, of remembrance of those who died and of giving thanks for a time of peace.

The Cathedral choir will sing Mozart’s setting for the Requiem Mass at the Solemn Mass that day for Remembrance and from 12.30 pm the bells of both Cathedrals will be rung for an hour as a mark of thanksgiving. It was famously quoted that the advent of the war meant ‘that the lights went out across Europe’ but it wasn’t just the lights but also the sound of bells were silenced, only to be heard again as a sign of peace, celebration and a symbol of everything returning to normality.

With this armistice anniversary in mind we want to make the weekend of Christ the King at the end of the month a time of prayer for peace. Hope University have organised a special day conference on peace and reconciliation on Saturday 24 November and linked with this on Sunday the Feast of Christ the King there will be a special Ecumenical Evening Prayer at our Cathedral at 3.00 pm for peace involving the Church leaders on Merseyside, both Cathedral choirs and representatives from the Cologne churches link group.

Come along and join us on our Patronal Feast Day either for Mass or for this special afternoon service.

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Pic extras

Mums the Word

A century of service News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

KSC raises funds for Whitechapel Centre

On Wednesday 10 October, 70 members of the UCM from across the Diocese gathered at St Margaret Mary’s parish for a study evening. Our theme was Pope Francis’ encyclical Amoris Laetitiae (the Joy of Love), focusing on Chapter Four, Love in Marriage.

The Study was delivered by the two vicepresidents of the Diocese, Kathy Buck of St George’s Foundation and Caroline McMahon of St Richard’s. After the introduction outlining Pope Francis’ view that ‘Joy and Love are at the heart of family life, a love that is passionate, builds friendship, shows affection, and is sacrificial in caring for the needs of others’, we were split up into groups to discuss one of three topics: 1) Love is patient; 2) Love is kind; 3) Love bears all.

The reports back from each group were insightful and considered, covering all aspects of love and caring in family life.

Listening was considered very important, as was spending time with people; being nonjudgemental, putting the needs of those you love above your own were among the most prominent.

These views were delivered with wisdom, confidence and humour by women who have years of experience in many walks of life.

Thanks go to our two vice-presidents for a very successful evening; let us be proud of our organisation for giving us the opportunity for such discussions. The Holy Father states that ‘each of us by our love and care leaves a mark on the lives of others. He invites us all to renew our love of the family, and in the family to find the joy of love.’

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances the 7 November Bi-Monthly Mass will not be held at St Oswald’s, but at St Albert the Great, 31 Hollow Croft, Stockbridge Village, L28 4EA, starting at 7.30pm. We have been invited there by our diocesan chaplain, Fr David Potter, who’s parish it is.

God bless Madelaine McDonald media officer

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A highlight of the KSC’s activities in South Liverpool each autumn is the annual Steve Dooley Memorial Sponsored Charity Walk, which follows a route from the Albert Dock to Liverpool Cricket Club.

This year the beneficiary was the Whitechapel Centre and we were privileged to have the High Sheriff of Merseyside, Peter Woods, take time out of his busy schedule to start the walk. For this, and his sponsorship contribution, we thank him.

The walk got under way in a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere with a good number of KSC members, their friends and families, and parishioners, and we proceeded in breezy conditions along the waterfront to Aigburth, where refreshments were provided by the cricket club, for which we are grateful. Sponsorship envelopes were collected at all Masses in South Liverpool parishes on 6-7 October and we take this opportunity to thank all parishioners who returned their envelopes as well as the parish priests who allowed us to conduct this fundraising project in their churches.

Last year we raised around £10,000 for Nugent and we hope

this year will be just as successful through the continued generosity of parishioners who have supported us year after year in raising muchneeded funds for deserving causes. We will let you know the amount in the next edition and in parish newsletters. Pictured are a group of walkers with the High Sheriff at the entrance to Albert Dock.

• The KSC in the Southport area held a family Bingo evening at St Patrick’s parish club on 21 September which raised over £500 towards the funds which were donated to its nominated charities at the Centenary Presentation Evening at St John Stone’s parish centre on 13 October. Grand knight John McCarthy thanked everyone for coming along to support the needy of Southport.

• KSC Council 9 will be holding a charity social evening at Our Lady of Mount Carmel social club on Saturday 10 November with music

by Freddie Lloyd, and also Bingo and Raffle. Tickets cost £5 and are available from Pat McGann on 07825 236 064 or at the door.

Websites: www.ksc.org.uk and www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com

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join in

PIC Life Amid the noise, don’t ignore the voices that matter

By Moira Billinge Anna (not her real name) was just 10 years old when she asked: ‘Daddy, what’s a virgin?’ This unexpected question, from a child who still believed in fairies and Father Christmas, obviously needed to be handled very carefully indeed.

In the midst of negotiating heavy rushhour traffic, her father took a deep breath and asked: ‘Anna, where have you heard that word used?’

‘Well, Our Lady is called ‘The Virgin Mary’, it’s in some Christmas carols and I heard it in our Nativity play,’ she replied. Playing for extra thinking time to decide how best he could respond, he answered: ‘Correct, and we also talk of Our Lady as being the Blessed Virgin Mary, don’t we!’

‘Yes,’ Anna agreed and added, ‘We have some virgins at my school – some of my friends and I were talking about them!’ Thankfully, before the conversation became even more complicated, she asked another question: ‘Daddy, what does a virgin eat?’ He breathed a huge sigh of relief on hearing this as it dawned on him that she and her friends had actually been talking about vegans!

On another occasion, as Anna climbed into the car along with another passenger, she asked if there was enough room for everyone’s guardian angel to fit inside the vehicle. Reassured that there would not be a problem, she then asked if everyone had a guardian angel. When told that they do, Anna had another query: ‘Did Jesus have a guardian angel?’ After all, she reasoned, ‘as he was “God made man”, he must have had one, just like everyone else.’

A few months later, Anna was still believing in fairies – and her ability to ask amazing questions was undiminished. ‘You know how we shorten names, like, Becky is short for Rebecca, Cathy is short for Catherine,

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and Pat is short for Patricia – well, what is God short for?’ She was appalled to discover that God’s name wasn’t shortened from anything. ‘That really doesn’t make any sense at all. How can someone so great, just be called God?’ she asked, shaking her head.

Children say the most incredible and original things, especially when they have a captive audience. It only goes to show how important it is to give them the full attention that they deserve, and need. How intensely frustrating it must be for children who, eager to chat about a million different things at once, find that they are ignored while their parent or carer chooses instead to incessantly converse and interact with their mobile phone. How many wonderful ideas, comments and important questions remain unheard or unasked, because they are unaired through lack of opportunity?

I recently heard a little boy unsuccessfully trying to attract his mother’s attention. She wasn’t responding to him because the person to whom she was talking on the phone was clearly more important than his conversation. He made numerous attempts to talk to her, his efforts falling on otherwise occupied ears.

The child then used a tactic that he must have believed would trigger the desired response: ‘Mummy, I love you,’ he shouted. After a few more attempts he stood in front of her trolley and wailed, ‘Mummy! I’m trying to talk to you but you’re not listening to me!’

Reluctantly, she came off the phone.

How the little boy retained the incentive – or energy - to continue trying to talk to her in the absence of any co-operation, was remarkable.

May our wonderful Mother Mary watch over that child, and others like him, who live in such a communication-distracted world and whose potential to come up with such brilliant observations are thwarted by technology overload.

Greeting Cards from Carmel

There is a lovely selection 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

This month plan your visit to a small coastal city in Massachusetts, New England, writes Lucy Oliver. Salem has made history as a seaport and for its 1692 witch trials, which saw the persecution of 200 local people accused of witchcraft by a group of young girls, and 19 hangings as a result.

Today, visitors can explore the trial judge’s home, preserved in the colonial style, and authentic documents from the trials. The Salem Witch Museum is also an informative venue, where you can enjoy a live performance from actors, based on statements given in court.

In contrast, the modern-glass exterior of the Peabody Essex Museum houses a huge collection of art, from maritime scenes to art from across Asia. The organisation has overseen the preservation of the town’s many building styles from post-medieval to Georgian, including the John Ward House, built for a leather worker in 1685.

Condemned as unfit to live in, it was purchased by the museum in 1910, split into two and rolled on ox-drawn logs to its present site, becoming part of the first outdoor architecture museum in the country.

Fly direct from Manchester to Boston , then take the train to Salem or the ferry from Boston harbour.

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catholic pic retreat

Pilgrims Retreat Day Looking ahead at future trips we have planned We are all looking forward to our day retreat at St Winefreds Shrine, Holywell and the Franciscan Friary at Pantasaph led by Father Peter Morgan on Wednesday 14 November.

We will tell you about it along with our away day to Harrogate in our December issue of the Catholic Pic. Our retreat and away days are very popular - it is so lovely to get away for a few hours to a lovely venue and relax and enjoy the day with like-minded people

Pantasaph Franciscan Friary

St Winefredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shrine at Holywell

Harrogate

Many happy returns Fr Peter Parishioners and friends of Father Peter Morgan of St Anne and St Bernard Liverpool, surprised their much loved priest with a presentation and an Everton themed birthday cake specially made by one of the parishioners at a gathering after Mass to celebrate a special birthday.

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justice & peace

The new saint we should strive to emulate

By Steve Atherton, Justice and Peace fieldworker On 14 October in Rome, Pope Francis declared Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Oscar Romero to be saints, together with five other lesser-known Blesseds: Francesco Spinelli, Vincenzo Romano, Maria Caterina Kasper, Nazaria Ignazia of Saint Teresa of Jesus, and Nunzio Sulprizio.

Romero is the patron saint of Cafod and on 3 November the national celebration will take place at St George’s Cathedral Southwark, near to the charity’s head office. Here in Liverpool, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon presided at a special Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 28 October to honour the canonisation of St Oscar Romero. The connection between Romero and Liverpool goes back to his assassination on 24 March 1980 when he was shot through the heart while celebrating Mass at the Hospitalito where he lived in San Salvador. The sisters who run the Hospitalito (hospice) had moved him out of his little house in their grounds to live in the sacristy behind the altar so that he would be safe from the constant threat of violence that he was living under.

The gunman came to get him a few weeks later.

A few days afterwards a Mass was celebrated in our cathedral to honour his memory and we have kept up the tradition every year since. We proudly point out that only two places have remembered Romero every year: San Salvador and Liverpool. There are many reasons for our devotion to him.

• He lived a life of prayer. He linked traditional devotions with social concerns. All his actions were based on prayerful reflection.

• He demonstrates that faith Christian discipleship is more than remembering to pray. Romero dedicated his life to the service of his people, constantly showing concern about poverty and increasingly denouncing injustice.

• He gave priority to the poor. His pastoral strategy was to visit local communities and encourage them.

• He worked collaboratively. His sermons

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were prepared by lengthy meetings with the team of lay people he had gathered.

Discussions were sometimes heated.

• He publicly denounced injustice but insisted on non-violence.

• He showed that change is possible. His appointment as bishop was based on his reputation as a conservative friend of the rich and powerful. He changed because he was capable of facing facts and acknowledging his mistakes.

• He put faith above his personal safety.

He lived in fear of his life but didn’t back down to threats.

He’s been a saint for us since 1980 because he reminds us to integrate our faith into our daily lives. All aspects of our daily lives come together in our following of Jesus. We don’t live in two worlds. The call to be whole-hearted is perhaps the most difficult discernment we have to make: how does our life impact on others? Does our level of comfort and luxury come at the expense of others? If so, what are we going to do about it? This is the tension that cannot be relaxed. This is the tension that led to Romero’s martyrdom … and eventual canonisation.

We have a bust of Romero in our cathedral. It is the identical twin of the one

in the Hospitalito in El Salvador, the site of his martyrdom. Please come and visit it to join your prayers with those of countless others across the world who are beseeching our new saint to intercede for God’s justice here on earth, the justice that prioritises the poor and the oppressed.

The Gospel at the Canonisation Mass was of the rich young man whose wealth prevented him from following Jesus. The Holy Father said that the saints who were being canonised ‘in different contexts, put today's Word into practice in their lives, without lukewarmness, without calculation, with the passion to risk everything and to leave it all behind. May the Lord help us to imitate their example.’

‘The connection between Romero and Liverpool goes back to his assassination on 24 March 1980’

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