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Issue 169 October 2018
FREE
Adoremus INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Sisters of Mercy celebrate 175 years
Synod Sunday 21 October
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Inspiring excellence personal and academic
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contents Welcome The Adoremus National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress leaves us with very many happy memories and much to reflect on as we begin the month of October. The Symposium Day and the Congress Day at the Echo Arena; the Youth Congress and the many incredible events that made up the Parallel Programme. Then, of course, the Pilgrimage Masses and the great Eucharistic Procession at the Metropolitan Cathedral. The heavy rain came just as the procession began, but nobody seemed to mind; especially as the sun eventually shone for Benediction and the journey home. It would be impossible to cover everything that happened over those special days, but I hope we are able to give a sense of the occasion. It would also be impossible to publish all the pictures, but there are over 1,500 available online at the archdiocesan flickr site (www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolcatholic) and at the flickr site for the Bishops Conference (www.flickr.com/photos/catholicism) This month we also reflect on the World Meeting of Families and the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland, and we look forward to Synod Sunday which will take place on 21 October and which is an important milestone on our journey towards Synod 2020.
From the Archbishop’s Desk A wonderful thing happened in Liverpool in 1982 when Pope St John Paul II walked with Archbishop Derek Worlock, Bishop David Shepherd and Rev Dr John Newton along Hope Street from the Anglican Cathedral to the Metropolitan Cathedral. This was a sign of Christian unity that broke with past division and bigotry and set Christians throughout England and Wales on a new path towards real and visible unity. So, you can imagine the responsibility I felt on my shoulders during the recent Eucharistic Congress. One false move and years of building positive friendships and working relationships with fellow Christian leaders on Merseyside could have been wiped out. As it turned out Christian leaders, both national and local, attended Adoremus and contributed by listening and by prayer. In a spirit of receptive ecumenism, they listened to our Catholic tradition and in debate and discussion we heard how Anglicans, Methodists and the reformed churches understand Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. It was a mutually enriching aspect of the Eucharistic Congress which brought joy to my heart, even though it was tinged with the pain of separation. The highlight of the Congress for me was to walk shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Christian leaders in the Blessed Sacrament procession through the streets of Liverpool. It wasn’t triumphalist but a pilgrimage of penance. There were no protests from extreme groups; together we were simply humble pilgrims taking faltering steps on the path to unity. And we got soaked to the skin as God blessed us with a terrific downpour. Rorate caeli! Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool Editor Peter Heneghan
Copy deadline November 2018 12 October 2018
Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA Tel: 0151 522 1007 Email: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk
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Contents 4
Main Feature Adoremus: A spectacular weekend
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News From around the Archdiocese
14 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese 18 Profile Anne Merriman A Liverpool woman’s African Legacy 19 Nugent News Nugent at the Parallel Programme 21 Animate Introducing our new faces 25 Cathedral Record From the Archives Archbishop Worlock in South Africa 26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC 28 Pic Life Why the Cross is the greatest sign of all 30 Justice and Peace How our parallel programme highlighted the vibrant ‘Body of Christ’
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A reminder of the power of the Eucharist The Adoremus Conference brought over 20,000 Catholics to Liverpool last month – and provided a strong sense of reawakening By Simon Hart It came from one of the thousands of little conversations that took place among Catholics who travelled from far and wide to gather on the banks of the River Mersey last month. It was a reflection from a delegate in the ACC Liverpool Echo Arena, a Dominican sister, Karen Marguerite D’Artois, seeking to make sense of the overall meaning of the Adoremus Conference. ‘The timing of Adoremus was providential,’ she said. ‘The Church in England and Wales needed this kind of coming together to pray, to worship, to reflect, to be together and to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have been part of it.’ There have been so many positive words said in the aftermath of the first national Eucharistic Congress devoted to the Blessed Sacrament in this country since 1908. It is estimated that more than 20,000 Catholics came together in Liverpool for the three-day event, between Friday 7 and Sunday 9 September, and each will have taken home their own impressions, not only 4
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from the main Congress events in the ACC Convention Centre but also the Saturday Youth Congress for 13 to 20year-olds and the parallel events around the city, such as the well-attended screenings of Jimmy McGovern’s ‘Broken’ at St Francis Xavier’s church. For the Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, the hope is that Adoremus will act as a reawakening. ‘For the individuals who’ve been here and taken part in any of the events, Masses, presentations, I hope there’ll be a reawakening of the importance of the Eucharist in their daily lives,’ he said. ‘That has to be the fundamental thing.’ Archbishop Malcolm added: ‘When we receive the Eucharist in church, it’s imperative for us to be charitable, to be sharing, to give of ourselves to others. You can’t do one without the other. I’m hoping this renewal of our devotion to the Blessed Sacrament will make us more aware of social-justice issues, will make us more caring of each other and allow us to share what we have but also give of our time and ourselves to other people. ‘It also helps our parishes,’ he continued,
‘to know their worship of God in the Blessed Sacrament and Mass and in the adoration, the Eucharist, is really an expression of the way in which we’re united in the body of Christ and how that unity can actually sustain us in our daily lives. That will then make our parishes grow – they won’t just see themselves in terms of structure and organisation but truly as a Eucharistic community.’ The conference began on 7 September with a symposium on the Eucharist. After the welcome and opening prayer, Canon Mervyn Tower spoke about ‘The Scriptual Context’ in the first keynote speech. Then Canon David Oakley reflected on ‘The Eucharist in the life of the Church’ before Sister Margaret Atkins delivered the third keynote speech on ‘Teaching the Eucharist’. Katharine Mellor, a delegate from Nottingham Diocese, was appreciative of the flow of ideas. ‘The journey through the past, what goes on in present and how to instruct that was really good,’ she said, before highlighting a Scriptural reference made by Canon Tower. ‘It was when God goes into the Garden of Eden and says “Where are you?”, and he said that God will come looking and intends to find us because he can overcome sin. He went to find Adam and Eve because he was bigger than the sin they created. That was amazing thing to hear.’ Alfred Banya, a deacon from Southwark Archdiocese, identified another pivotal message from that opening day. ‘I like the way it has come across that Christ is present in different forms, obviously under the
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guise of bread and wine but also in the people that we come across. There are some people who as Catholics may not share with us in the Eucharist, but Christ is still present in them and by us engaging with them, they’re actually sharing in the presence of Christ.’ Day two of Adoremus was titled ‘The Adoremus Congress Day – Exploring the Place of Eucharistic Adoration’ and it drew over 5,000 delegates to the main hall of the convention centre, as well as the
1,000 young people next door. The highlight for many came in the form of two keynote speeches from the Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, Robert Barron. His insights included reflections on the deeper meaning of the Mass and on the roads we travel as Christians, which he defined as ‘find the centre, know you’re a sinner, realise your life is not about you.’ Cardinal Vincent Nichols said of Bishop Barron’s contribution: ‘He explored with us how we best participate in the Mass and
s n o i t p O PILGRIMAGE
understand the actions of the Mass as praise, adoration and sacrifice, and then he talked about walking the pathways of holiness. ‘It’s very difficult to put into words the experience of simply being present before the Lord. Robert Barron gave us a lovely image when he talked about the meaning of the word, Adoremus, adoratio. He said it literally means ‘mouth to mouth’ and in a way praying before the Blessed Sacrament is being face to face with the Lord.’
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Above: The Adoremus Youth Congress
‘the important message they are loved and don’t have to be any different than who they are’ 6
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The Cardinal gave his own reflection at the Exposition and Benediction that followed, and afterwards he said the event had underlined the ‘joy and richness of the Mass’.
of Liverpool in the driving wind and rain. It was wonderful to see all ages and from all over the country come together and celebrate and witness their faith in the gift of the Eucharist.’
For the young people present at the Youth Congress, they had their own crucial message to take home according to Sister Mary Ann Francalanza, an FCJ sister from Bellerive, namely ‘the important message they are loved and don’t have to be any different than who they are. It’s a really key message that quite a few of the speakers have come back to.’
As for Archbishop Malcolm, he said he was ‘humbled and honoured’ to take part in a walk involving leaders of Liverpool’s other churches, including the Anglican Bishop, Paul Bayes, and Sheryl Anderson, moderator of the Methodist Church. ‘Fifty years ago that would have been impossible,’ he noted, before evoking the ‘turning point’ walk of local church leaders down Hope Street with Pope John Paul II in 1982. Adoremus, he hopes, will prove another event of lasting resonance as the Archdiocese looks to the future.
Day three was Adoremus Pilgrimage Day and featured two morning Masses and then a Eucharistic Procession through the streets around the Metropolitan Cathedral. The pouring rain that fell did nothing to diminish the occasion for the Bishop of Hallam, Ralph Heskett. He said: ‘The participants of Adoremus could hardly be described as fair-weather Christians as we walked in procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets
‘In 2020 the Archdiocese of Liverpool is having a diocesan synod where we will be able to discern under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the next steps forward for our Archdiocese so having this Eucharistic Congress here is really a blessing as it is going to underpin and fuel our deliberations through devotion into the future.’
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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
St Cuthbert’s Diamond Jubilee Legacy commemorates those who died in the First World War In 2017/18 St Cuthbert’s High School in Sutton, St Helens celebrated its Diamond Jubilee and was keen to leave a legacy from those
celebrations. Using funds raised by the final community event of the year – StCuthFEST, the school has decided to
purchase and install its own Tommy silhouette as part of the ‘There But Not There’ centenary commemoration of the end of the 1914-1918 war. ‘There But Not There’ aims to place a representative figure for every name on local war memorials around the country, into their place of worship, their school, their workplace or wherever their absence was keenly felt. These transparent silhouettes will be back within their communities for Remembrance 2018, the centenary of the end of the 1914-1918 First World War. Commenting on the installation Mrs Catherine Twist, Headteacher, said, ‘Remembrance has always been an important annual event in our school calendar. As the centenary period draws to a close we wanted a real focus with which to educate younger generations on the level of sacrifice made by British and Commonwealth men and women in the First World War, and the impact this war had on our society and culture today. We hope by installing a Tommy at our front door we may symbolically be bringing a member of our community back home.’ Head of Humanities, Mrs Holly Brown said, ‘In the lead up to Armistice Day we will be exploring lots of different aspects of the end of the First World War including work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Events will include a week-long series of assemblies which will culminate with our annual Service of Remembrance for the community in our school grounds.’
50 Faces at the Metropolitan Cathedral ’50 Faces’ of the Holy Land is a photographic exhibition commissioned by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to highlight and promote the lives of the faithful in Israel, Gaza and the Occupied Territories. The pictures, taken by Marcin Mazur, show how the faces of people are marked with the history, the diversity, the joys and sufferings of the Holy Land. Each face tells a story. Each person, a memory. People viewing the exhibition are invited to look at the photographs and into the eyes of the people. For some of the
photographs it’s easy to see which part of the community they come from, but for some it’s more difficult to decide and this was done deliberately to show the common humanity in all the faces. The exhibition will be on display at the
Metropolitan Cathedral from Monday 1 October to Sunday 21 October 2018. On Wednesday 17 October, Archbishop Emeritus, Patrick Kelly, will celebrate the 5.15 pm Mass for the intention of the Holy Land.
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news diary
Sisters of Mercy celebrate 175 years in Liverpool Archdiocese
Picture credits: Starflame Photography
At the end of August the Sisters of Mercy, joined by Mercy Sisters from various parts of the country, celebrated the 175th anniversary of their arrival in Liverpool. A very joyful Mass marked such a wonderful landmark in the Mercy story and took place in the Life Health Centre, the Mother House for the Liverpool Sisters from 1969-93. Bishop John Rawsthorne presided at the Mass, with Bishop Vincent Malone preaching. The Sisters of Mercy established the first convent in Liverpool, at the request of Dr George Brown, Vicar Apostolic of the Lancashire Region, to the foundress, Mother Catherine McAuley. The founding party of six arrived from Dublin in August 1843 and were met at the Pier Head by crowds, who flocked there out of curiosity. Among the six was Sister M Liguori Gibson, who had made her Novitiate in Baggot Street and expressed a desire to serve in England. She later served as Mother Superior for a total of twenty-six years, and has always been considered the Liverpool foundress. She originated in West Derby and her family lived in Eaton House, a short distance from where Broughton Hall is now. She was an intelligent, well-educated young woman and came from a prosperous, Catholic family. Her father gave great support to the new convent in Mount 8
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Vernon Street, which was the Mother House from 1843 until 1969, when the Sisters moved to Yew Tree Lane, having built what is now the Life Health Centre. The Sisters carried out the works of Mercy through teaching, nursing, visitation of the poor, sick and dying, preparing candidates for the sacraments, and making altar breads. At the time of the Crimean War three Sisters
accompanied an Irish party to tend the wounded soldiers. Two died, one of cholera and the other of typhus fever. Following the Second Vatican Council the Liverpool community first became members of a Federation of Mercy Communities, from which the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy was formed in 1982. The Liverpool Sisters joined the Institute in 1986.
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Everton Valley Reunion Marking 20 Friendships made 60 years ago are still flourishing for a group of women who first met in 1958 on the first day of school. As 11 year-olds starting Notre Dame, Everton Valley they would never have imagined that they would still be in touch and sharing stories with each other so many years later. When they left school some friendships endured and others got lost along the way. But it was the website ‘Friends Reunited’ which brought many of them back together again 15 years ago. The women enjoy two reunions each year: one every summer to fit in with the annual visit to Liverpool of Kay Roney (nee Williams) from Arizona and Sheila Maddocks (nee Manley) from Canada and a Christmas get together for those closer to home. Christine Williams (nee Walsh) comes up from Shropshire and Rosemarie Marshall (nee Smith) from Cardiff. One of the group, Anne McCann, said: ‘We realised that this year it would be 60 years since we started school and so we made a particular effort to get as many of us as possible together. We had a big banner made, so everyone else eating at Ego restaurant in Hope Street was in no doubt about why there was such a large group of women there having a great time.’ When Anne and Rosemarie learnt that the school, on Everton Valley, was to be demolished, they made a special
journey to the building to witness for the last time some of its beautiful and historic features. Said Rosemarie: ‘We both remembered the huge sweeping staircase, wooden floors which shone and exquisite stainedglass windows. We raced down to catch a final glimpse but unfortunately it was too late.’ Instead, determined to keep a piece of history for their friends that they asked workmen on the site if they could take a brick. The pair, who are also first cousins and grew up in Norris Green, left that day with a brick and a plan to create souvenirs for themselves and their friends. Said Anne: ‘We managed to get someone to slice the brick into pieces and this summer those pieces found new homes in places as far away as Arizona and Canada’. And in an effort to accommodate as many of the group as possible there was even a second, and slightly smaller reunion a few days later. ‘Not all were able to come to Ego,’ said Rosemarie, ‘last minute calls to help with the grandchildren don't stop for reunions, so we held the mini reunion a couple of days later in the Bluecoat buildings.’ Currently planning the Christmas get together Anne said: ‘Let’s hope that we are all able to get together for our 65th and 70th reunions, and if there are others from Everton Valley’s class of ’58 who would like to join us please get in touch via Facebook.’
years of Pause for Hope “In no way is it gloomy and despondent, it’s very upbeat and full of hope.” So Professor Ray Donnelly describes the annual Pause for Hope service for people living with cancer and their families which takes place this year at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday 28 October at 3.00 pm. This year’s event holds particular significance as the 20th since Professor Donnelly, founder and president of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, established Pause for Hope. Reflecting on this milestone, he said: “The first service was held in St Francis Xavier’s church in 1999 and the church was packed so the following year we moved to the cathedral and since then we’ve had the service in one or other of the main cathedrals in Liverpool. “We’ve had some wonderful speakers,” he added. “Fiona Castle spoke at the very first service 20 years ago and she’ll be speaking again. The recently retired Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Lorna Muirhead, will also be speaking.” It is a service which brings together not only those affected directly by cancer but also doctors, nurses and cancer charities. “We now have services in England, Scotland and Wales,” added Professor Donnelly. “It’s growing so extensively we’ve appointed someone who can work on developing it further on a national scale.” That person is Kate Strickland, who was scheduled to begin her work this month from the Roy Castle Foundation offices in Liverpool. Bishop Tom Williams and the Anglican Rector of Liverpool, Crispin Pailing, will lead this year’s service and Professor Donnelly added: “There are no tickets required and anyone who’s been affected by cancer in any way is very welcome. The service consists of prayers and music and reflections. It obviously meets a need that people have when they’re faced with cancer, either themselves or in their family, regarding how to face up to the challenges that cancer brings by bringing God into the equation with prayer and seeing their life as God sees it. We also pray for the doctors and nurses, the people who have to manage resources, and for the scientists searching for the cure.” For more information, visit www.pauseforhope.org, or contact pauseforhope@gmail.com
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DofE funding helps ASFA students learn life-changing skills The Academy of St Francis of Assisi (ASFA) has received a grant from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Diamond fund to help more students take part in the programme. Through this funding, ASFA has been able to reach and support more disadvantaged young people who want to do their DofE Bronze Award at the Academy. The Diamond fund was established in 2016 to mark 60 years since the DofE was established and was a year-long fundraising initiative. The money raised has since been matched, thanks to the #iwill Fund – a joint investment from the Big Lottery Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. Thanks to this fantastic funding, ASFA has offered the Bronze Award to a greater number of participants, more than doubling the number of the previous five years and, most importantly, providing more young people the opportunity which may not otherwise have been open to them, to develop ‘soft’ skills and attributes for life and the workplace. The grant will also enable the Academy to build on the equipment it has bought and continue onto the Silver Award next year. Amongst the variety of soft skills chosen by this year’s participants were Debate Mate, mentoring, supporting afterschool activities and open days, learning a new language and litter picking. When asked what the best thing about the DofE was, ASFA students had a range of answers. Dorcas chose Debate Mate as her skill which was “helpful and interesting” and loved being in nature during the camping trip. While participant Michael said he loved “the whole experience”, from the challenge of walking and learning how to read a map. Olivia volunteered her time to a younger student and said it was “good to see their reading progress”. While student Liam relished learning outdoor survival skills, such as cooking. Headteacher Tracey Greenough said: “The 10
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Diamond fund has enabled us to encourage more students to enrol and participate in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE). “We really value the programme and the opportunities it gives our students, not just during their time at the Academy but by
developing skills to help them become independent, employable young people in the outside world. “Essentially this grant means finance is no longer a barrier to participation and we are extremely grateful to the DofE for this funding.”
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St Clare’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery Garmoyle Close, Liverpool L15 0DW
Email: clares-ao@st-clares.liverpool.sch.uk Telephone: 0151 733 4318 Fax: 0151 735 0172 Twitter: @stclareslpool ‘Pupils’ good behaviour, and their positive attitudes to their learning, reflect the warm, caring atmosphere within the school.’ - Ofsted 2017 ‘Let our Light Shine’
Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School and Nursery “Where everyone is a friend.” OFSTED 2014. ‘This is a good school.’ ‘The curriculum is rich in opportunities for pupils to widen their experience, practise key skills and develop their talents.’ Visits to the school are welcome please phone or email the school for an appointment:
View our education news online at ww.catholicpic.co.uk
0151 487 9301 Ourladyp-ao@ourlady-pri.liverpool.sch.uk www.ourladyoftheassumption.co.uk or you can follow our school on twitter @OLA_LIVERPOOL “Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School is a community based on the teachings of Jesus, where everyone is valued and encouraged to achieve their full potential.”
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The benefits of a Catholic primary school education Of the 45 Roman Catholic primaries in Liverpool with an obtainable Ofsted rating, 35 are graded ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’; but the benefits of RC schooling go far beyond impressive academic performance. They offer children a nurturing, spiritual environment to begin their educational career, rooted in the principles of the church. Catholic values For parents who want their child to have to a solid religious grounding at school, the benefits of a Catholic primary are obvious. A good Catholic school will be a place where the teachings of Christ are made as relevant to each child’s experience as possible. Christ’s example of love and compassion will be encouraged through every facet of school life and developed alongside the local parish, parents and the wider community.
‘Come and See’ religious education programme for Foundation and Key Stages 1 and 2, as recommended by the Archdiocese of Liverpool. The Bishops of England and Wales require that 10% of the total curriculum time is allocated to RE. This valuable teaching will enhance your child’s knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and his/her ability to engage in reflection upon religious belief and practice. Collective worship Whilst all local authority maintained schools are required to offer a Christian act of collective worship everyday, the practice goes far beyond merely a statutory requirement at any Catholic primary. Collective worship is central to a Catholic school’s ethos and is crucial to its spiritual life, and to the pupils’ personal development.
obvious benefits of sending their children to a Catholic primary school is the Sacrament of Initiation programme.
With strong links to their parish church, Catholic schools often have a community feel. Many children will go on to sing in the choir or serve during mass as well.
In addition, regular time spent at mass helps to instil a discipline within each child, and also a calmness that can aid their academic performance.
Year 4 pupils are invited to begin preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion through the school’s local parish.
A strong RE focus
Sacramental preparation
Catholic primaries in Liverpool follow the
For practicing Catholics, one of the
Undertaking these important acts with the support of their teachers and classmates can make the process a more comfortable and pleasant experience for your child. Picking a Catholic primary Choosing a Catholic primary school for your child can be difficult, especially with such an abundance of quality options across Liverpool. Following these five simple steps can make the process easier to navigate and mean you can rest assured you're making the right decision for your child. 1. Meet the headteacher - A good head should be able to easily explain the school’s philosophies and Catholic ethos. 2. Take a tour - Organise a trip around your prospective primary during a normal school day. 3. Ofsted ratings - Don’t discount a school which ‘requires improvement’. 4. Check social media - Twitter can give you a valuable insight into a Catholic school’s day-to-day and religious life. 5. Examine extra curricular - Any Catholic primary that offers a strong selection of after-school clubs is well worth a second look.
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St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Infant School Pilch Lane, Huyton L14 0JG Contact Details: 0151 228 4024 Email: Stmargaretmary@knowsley.gov.uk
Lordens Road, Huyton, Knowsley L14 8UD email: hope.primaryschool@knowsley.gov.uk Website: www.hopeprimary.com Twitter: @hopeprimaryblog Our visions and values are at the core of everything we do. They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils as confident, happy citizens.
Provision for children aged 2-11
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School Cedar Road, Aintree, Liverpool L9 9AF T: 0151 525 9600 F: 0151 525 2998
We offer: 30 hours free Nursery provision for 3 & 4 years 15 hours free Nursery provision AM & PM sessions for 3 & 4 years Breakfast Club from 8.00am After-School Club until 5.30am A warm, welcoming friendly environment We pride ourselves on being a family community
St Charles’ Catholic Primary School
Places available for Reception start date September 2019
We offer: • 2 year old provision • 30 hour offer • Extended Services including Holiday Club • Fantastic EYFS provision
If you wish to visit the school or have any further enquiries please contact the school office on 0151 525 9600 From our RE Inspection: “The extent to which the Religious Education Curriculum meets pupils’ needs is outstanding.” Open Day for EYFS children on 8th November 4pm-5.30pm
‘Aim High - Live Life to the full’ (John 10:10)
Love, Learn, Grow, Together
OPEN DAY
Wednesday 17th October 2018 1.30 - 2.30pm All children and parents who are interested in joining our welcoming and happy school in September 2019, or before, are welcome to visit to view our school. Mrs A Roberts Headteacher Tramway Road, Liverpool L17 7JA 0151 727 5830 Email: charles-ao@stcharlesliverpool .co.uk www.stcharlescatholicprimary.com Catholic Pictorial
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sunday reflections On a liturgical note For those of us fortunate enough to participate in September’s Adoremus celebrations, the task now is to apply ourselves to letting others glimpse something of the devotion and love of those days. I think particularly of the addresses by Bishop Robert Barron which helped us deepen our understanding and appreciation of the Mass and the way in which it is food for our journey, nourishing us by both Word and Sacrament. The journey on which we are travelling is the day-byday living out of the Gospel which brings us to a holiness which enriches not only our own family and parish communities but indeed our society in general. The talks and workshops at the Echo Arena, the Masses at the Cathedral, and the Eucharistic Procession (despite, or perhaps because of, the significant downpour of rain!) were powerful expressions of the vitality and variety of the Catholic community, and we owe a debt of gratitude to all who worked so generously and gave of their time and abilities to welcome delegates and to nourish and deepen our appreciation of the Blessed Eucharist both in its celebration (the Mass and the distribution of Holy Communion for the sick and housebound) and also in the acts of
Sunday thoughts When I was ordained in the early 70s, reception of the chalice by the congregation at Mass was limited. The priest received the Precious Blood on his own. One consequence was that he didn’t merely take a sip, but he drained the chalice, consuming the last drop; a powerful image. I write this in the aftermath of ‘Adoremus’, last month’s Eucharistic Congress. A group of 33 of us from the Isle of Man took part. The majority stayed at Liverpool Hope University and we were able to take advantage of the many events round the clock. It was a privilege to experience the ways in which some of our city parishes are living out the broken bread of the Eucharist in the welcome they give to the vulnerable, be they asylum seekers or those with learning disabilities. This ‘messy Church’, well depicted in the TV drama ‘Broken’, was an appropriate complement to the organisation and decorum of formal events in both the Echo Arena and the Metropolitan Cathedral. And then there was the procession of
Canon Philip Gillespie
adoration by which we sit in silence at the feet of the Lord to listen, to hear and to rediscover that peaceful centre of our lives, the relationship of love we have with Jesus, our Redeemer, Friend and Brother. This month of October marks the opening of a new academic year here at the Beda in Rome, as indeed at many universities and colleges at home. The idea of it being a beginning is, of course, not a beginning ‘from scratch’ but rather a building- upon all the experiences and learnings which have made us who we are at this present moment. Just as we respond to the call from Cafod to make a thanksgiving for the harvest on Friday 5 October, so let us also make a thanksgiving for the harvest our own lives – the gifts and talents , the plans and the growth in holiness which have borne fruit in our lives in these past months. Sow in our hearts the seeds of Thy dear love, That we may reap contentment, joy, and peace; Then, when at last our earthly labours cease, Grant us to join Thy harvest home above. Mgr John Devine OBE
the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of the city – made even more moving with the active participation of the Rt Revd Paul Bayes, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, and Rev Jacky Embrey, moderator of the URC Mersey Synod. Archbishop Malcolm made a point of both sitting alongside them at the Solemn Mass and walking beside them in the procession. When we think of the Blessed Sacrament we think of the consecrated host. It is the host in the monstrance that we venerate. I sometimes wonder why we don’t venerate the Precious Blood in the chalice in the same way. The Bread of Life is broken for us but the Blood of Christ is also shed daily in armed conflict and terrorist attacks. The Blood of Christ is poured out in accident and emergency units and in operating theatres. The Blood of Christ is given freely by blood donors. In the gospel for Sunday 21 October Jesus asks, ‘Can you drink the cup that I must drink?’ It’s a good question.
Weekly Reflections are on the Archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/reflection 14
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The keys of the Kingdom When I was a university chaplain many years ago I used to take groups of students to visit the Poor Clares. On one visit, the sisters began to introduce themselves. There was one ancient-looking lady who beamed at us and said, ‘I’m Sister Mary Francis.’ Almost as one, the other sisters turned around to her and said, ‘No you’re not. We’ve told you this before.’ Then one sister added, ‘But we love you anyway’. The old sister beamed. What struck me forcibly was the joy that exuded from those sisters. Their relationship with Christ filled them with gratitude. His revelation of love flowed from them in their simplicity. Is it our relationship with the Lord that matters to us more than anything else? Do we have a living personal relationship with Him? Is He the centre of life for us? For those sisters that is exactly who He was. Peter, in the Gospels, is the one who seems at times to know. When Jesus asks him, ‘Who do you say I am?’, he replies, ‘You are the Christ’. The Christ means the anointed one, the one set apart to give life real meaning. We are told it is on this sort of faith that Church can be built. It is to him that the keys of the Kingdom of heaven are given and what are those keys? Love, forgiveness, reconciliation, compassion, mercy. They are the foundations of Church. Ronald Rolheiser says: ‘Jesus gave us the keys to crack it. They can be named: vulnerability, the refusal out of love to protect ourselves, selfsacrifice, putting others before ourselves, refusing to give back in kind when someone hurts us, a willingness to die for others, the refusal to give ourselves over to cynicism and bitterness when things beset us, continued trust in God and goodness even when things look the opposite, and especially forgiveness, having our hearts remain warm and hospitable, even when we have just cause for hatred.’ Faith is always about being vulnerable with one another, seeking goodness, being open and warm and hospitable when it is the last thing you want to be. That is the reality of Church. The question for us is whether we want to give our lives to that reality or not? Do we want to build a Church based on relationship with the Lord and with one another, empowered by the spirit or do we want to maintain a structure weighed down by the scourge of clericalism, power and authoritarianism. My sense is that a Church built on those things will ultimately collapse. However, a Church built on the power of faith in Christ and one another can never be overcome. A Church that is a servant, seeking only to love, forgive and be compassionate will last until the end of time. Let’s have the courage to open ourselves to the Lord and build that Church Fr Chris Thomas
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Synod Sunday By Father Philip Inch and Father Matthew Nunes, Synod Moderators. The weekend of October 20th and 21st sees the first of our annual Synod Sundays. This marks an important milestone on our journey to Synod 2020. What to look out for: • The Archbishop is writing a Pastoral Letter • There will be a leaflet for everyone at Church giving you many details about the Synod • There will be special prayers and liturgy ideas for each parish to use on that day. The Synod Web site will go live that weekend: www.synod2020.co.uk The Synod Office and the Synod Coordinator, Matt Jeziorski, can be contacted on 0151 486 1206. Email: synod2020@rcaol.co.uk Matt will be
able to answer any questions about the Synod. There is an invitation to a series of open meetings across the archdiocese so that anyone who wishes can learn about the Synod and about how everyone has a vital role to play. These Open Meeting are: Monday 29th October 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm at St Joseph’s, Penketh, WA5 2BB Tuesday 30th October 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm at LACE, L17 1AA Saturday 3rd November 10.00 am – 12 noon at St John’s Mill, Isle of Man Wednesday 7th November 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm at Holy Rosary, Aintree, L10 2LG Thursday 8th November 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm at St Mary’s, Leyland. PR25 1PD There is no need to book for any of these open meetings, just come along.
The invitation to be part of Synod 2020 is made to each and every person in the Archdiocese of Liverpool. At the heart of the Synod process is this truth:’“The Spirit of God is at work in the bishops, priests, deacons, religious and lay people of the Archdiocese.’ If we listen to the voice of the Spirit on our Synod journey then we will truly become the Church that God is calling us to be. The Synod Sunday leaflet will also be going to every pupil in a Catholic School and College across the archdiocese. This is so that all the families of our Church community can feel part of this exciting journey. Please keep Synod 2020 in your prayers.
Nugent at the Parallel Programme By Mary Beatham and Marie Reynolds (Caritas in Nugent) The Eucharistic congress was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect as a Catholic and to reflect upon what it means to be a pilgrim on a journey with thousands of others renewing our Eucharistic faith together, which is at the heart of the mission of our Church. It was an occasion to meet many incredible people, at the arena and at the parallel programme events, as on any journey and pilgrimage, it is always wonderful to meet people along the way to talk, to share and to walk with them, even if it’s just for a short time at a different pace. On Saturday at St Anne’s and St Bernard’s church on Overbury Street, in the heart of the city, different workshops were led by Nugent. ‘In Our Liverpool Home’ was sung at a concert on the Friday night, along with ‘O Happy Day’ and many more catchy tunes as we celebrated the diversity of the people of our Archdiocese. Saturday morning catechists and volunteers brought alive the word of God in scripture, music, song, drama, BSL for people and parents living with learning disabilities. The day expressed how we are all one body living and strengthened in Christ, through the Eucharist, in a faith that recognises the presence of Christ in the Eucharist and in one another. On Saturday afternoon, we opened up
Epsom Street and worked in partnership with Justice and Peace as they led a session on making bread, later in the day we gave a talk at St Anthony’s Scotland Road about the Community Sponsorship Scheme. The Eucharistic Congress Mass on Sunday was an amazing, uplifting and beautiful experience. Nugent provided interpreters of the Mass for deaf, and supported servers on the altar with disabilities. It was followed by the Eucharistic procession and pilgrimage, led by the Cardinal and Archbishop Malcolm who called us to go out with courage, as we are all sinners, renewed and strengthened in faith and love in the Holy Eucharist. As the procession turned down Hope Street the torrential rain stopped, the sun appeared, the real presence of the Holy Spirit could be felt as the Cardinal, and all the clergy assembled at the top of the cathedral steps to conclude with exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It was a very sacred holy moment always to be remembered as the bells of the cathedral finally rang out in joy.
Many friendships were made over this week end, and memories shared. It was truly a wonderful experience and affirmation of all the work Nugent does in Christ’s name. We are the body of Christ, working together and strengthened by the Eucharist we continue to be challenged in our work as Nugent to make Christ’s love known to all. A special thank you to Father Peter Morgan and all at St Anne’s for their wonderful welcome and support.
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what’s on Monday 1 October to Sunday 21 October ‘50 Faces’ of the Holy Land photographic exhibition at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The exhibition has been commissioned by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to highlight and promote the lives of the faithful in Israel, Gaza and the Occupied Territories. The pictures taken by Marcin Mazur show how the faces of people are marked with the history, the diversity, the joys and sufferings of the Holy Land. Each face tells a story: each person, a memory. Wednesday 3 October ‘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 Friday 5 October and Saturday 6 October The Living Christ Retreat Delivered by parishioners of St Wilfrid's Parish, Garston, (Friday 7.30 pm-9.30pm; Saturday 9.45am-5.30pm in Holy Trinity School Hall, Banks Road Garston L19 8JY. Details: Sue Faulkner Tel: 07962 040253/0151 427 6518, Email: isue_4@hotmail.com or Stella/Maurus O'Donnell Tel: 0151 427 3386, Email: prospctvale@outlook.com Friday 5 October Harvest Fast Day. Saturday 6 October Concert: the responses of composers to war and peace, with the Metropolitan Cathedral Orchestra, Conductor: Stephen Pratt and the Cathedral Cantata Choir, Director: James Luxton. 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral. Tickets available from the Piazza Gift Shop or at: www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk
‘Creative at Christmas’ Workshops with Muir Simpson Week Week Week Week Week Week
1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6:
‘Get it Framed ‘Heavenly Angels’ ‘Can be Altered’ ‘Woolley Wreath’ ‘Three Kings’ ‘Christmas Wreath’
Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday
6 November 13 November 20 November 27 November 4 December 11 December
Muir Simpson is the President of the North West Area of NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies) and has over 25 years’ experience of working with flowers and foliage. The workshops will enable you to make unique and beautiful arrangements. The workshops begin on Tuesday 6 November 2018 from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Mount Pleasant. The cost for the six workshops is £60 per person (no refunds are available for any missed sessions) and includes parking and refreshments. Advance booking for the full course is essential and no places are available on the day. After booking participants will be sent a list of ‘ingredients’ needed for Week 1, and then each week will be given a list for the following week. Bookings: Email c.hanlon@metcathedral.org.uk Tel: 0151 709 9222, Ext: 201. Cheques payable to ‘Friends of the Metropolitan Cathedral’. Sunday 7 October Rosary Sunday Day of Prayer for the work of Nugent.
Salisbury Street, Liverpool, L3 8DR. Details Tel: 0151 709 1328 Email: liverpool@pauline-uk.org
‘Rosary under the Cross.’ A national prayer event in the British Isles for faith, life and peace. Meet at Burbo Bank (near Crosby Coastguard station) at 2.30 pm. Refreshments afterwards at Sandymount, 16 Burbo Bank Road, Blundellsands, L23 6TH.
Tuesday 9 October 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
58th Annual St Helens Family Rosary Procession led by Bishop John Rawsthorne. Assemble at 2.45 pm in Church Square to process through the town centre to Holy Cross and St Helens church concluding with Benediction. Redemptorist Youth Ministry Monthly 18-40 Mass 6.00 pm at Our Lady of the Annunciation, Bishop Eton, Woolton Road, L16 8NQ, followed by food and drinks at the Childwall Abbey pub. Liverpool Bach Collective Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 139: ‘Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott.’ (‘Blessed is he who surrenders himself unto God.’) 6.30 pm at Christ Church, Crosby Road South, Waterloo L22 1RQ. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com ‘Romero: a true story’ starring Raul Julia and Richard Jordan 6.30 pm refreshments, film starts at 7.00 pm in St Francis Xavier church,
Sunday 14 October Day of Prayer for prisoners and their families. St Edward’s College Mass 11.00 am at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tuesday 16 October Redemptorist Youth Ministry 18-40 Homeless mission Meet at the bottom of the Metropolitan Cathedral steps at 7:30 pm. Wednesday 17 October ‘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
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october Saturday 27 October ‘Come and See’ Day 10.00 am to 5.00 pm at Maricourt High School, Hall Lane, Maghull, L31 3DZ. Speaker: Father Eamonn Mulcahy. Workshops led by Father Chris Thomas, Eileen T Snow, Dr Karen Groves and others. Tea and coffee provided, bring a packed lunch. Suggested donation £10. Bookings email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk or sae to: Iraneaus Project, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Wednesday 17 October Bereavement Team Training Course A basic training course to help parishes set up bereavement care teams. In two sessions (17 and 24 October) the course covers the stages of grief, listening skills and how to get started, and teams will be offered continuing support. 1.30 pm-4.30 pm at LACE, Croxteth Drive, L17 1AA. Cost £10 per person. Details: Maureen Knight Tel: 0151 522 1046 Email: m.knight@rcaol.co.uk Friday 19 October to Sunday 21 October ‘Surrender and accept Jesus – 12 steps with Biblical teaching’ Led by Jim Browne at Sandymount, 16 Burbo Bank Road, Blundellsands, L23 6TH. Details (including costs): Tel: 0151 924 4850 Text: 07564 882006 Email sandymountcrosby@montfort.org.uk Saturday 20 October UCM Business Meeting 1.00-3.00 pm in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral. Sunday 21 October World Mission Day. Sunday 21 October to Saturday 27 October Week of Accompanied Prayer Are you wanting to deepen your relationship with God? Would like someone to talk to? Why not join the week of accompanied prayer at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, L15 6TW. Details: Sister Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: winniecenacle@mail.com Friday 26 October Night of Testimony with John Courtney Talking about his son, James, who although blind from birth has run over 50 marathons. 7.00 pm at Sandymount, 16 Burbo Bank Road, Blundellsands, L23 6TH. Details: Tel: 0151 924 4850 Text: 07564 882006 Email sandymountcrosby@montfort.org.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 Sunday 28 October Mass to celebrate the canonisation of Archbishop Oscar Romero 11.00 am in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. 20th Annual ‘Pause for Hope’ Service 3.00 pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Sevice led by Bishop Tom Williams, Rev Dr Crispin Pailing (Rector of Liverpool) and a Free Church
leader. Speakers: Fiona Castle and Dame Lorna Muirhead. Music led by Billy Hui and the SingMeMerseyside Choir and Dave Flynn and daughters Danielle and Emily. Tuesday 30 October Redemptorist Youth Ministry 18-40 young adult group 7.30 pm at Our Lady of the Annunciation, Bishop Eton, Woolton Road, L16 8NQ. Exploring scripture, followed by social time. Wednesday 31 October ‘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.)
Looking ahead: November 2018 Friday 2 November to Sunday 4 November ‘Women stand tall’ Weekend retreat at Iraneaus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Bookings email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk. Wednesday 7 November UCM bi-monthly Mass 7.30 pm at St Oswald, St Oswald Street, old Swan, Liverpool, L13 5SB. 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 Race Night in aid of Assin Fosso Ghana 7.00 pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Centre, L8 8DX. Admission £2. 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
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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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NEW INDEPENDENT FAMILY RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS Debbie Bennett are a fair priced Independent Funeral Directors now open in Prescot, offering a professional quality and caring service. I have worked in the funeral industry for many years, having gained a National Diploma in Funeral Directing, and am an experienced dedicated Funeral Director who you can depend on. Losing a loved one can be a harrowing experience. We not only take care of your loved one with the utmost dignity and respect but also ensure you receive the highest level of guidance, care and support during this most difficult time. I have considerable experience in working in Knowsley and the surrounding areas and have decided to open my own Independent Funeral Directors in the heart of this community, so I can continue to provide a professional caring service. We are not part of a chain but have all the resources to ensure that everything is safely taken care of. We sincerely believe that offering a personal service is so important at this difficult time.
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profile
Anne Merriman
A Liverpool woman’s African legacy By Simon Hart Anne Merriman has a tale to tell about an encounter with a scientist from Finland. “I was at a conference in London and this lady came to me and said, “Would you mind if we nominated you for the Nobel Peace Prize?” When they picked me up off the floor and dusted me down, she talked to other people there who thought it’d be a great idea.’ That nomination, in 2014, was for the contribution that the Liverpool-born Dr Anne Merriman MBE (to use her full title) and her team have made to palliative care. It is an exceptional contribution and one celebrated closer to home last month with an ecumenical thanksgiving service at Christ the King parish church in Liverpool to mark the 25th anniversary of Hospice Africa, the charity that Anne established in 1993. ‘We saw the first registered patients on 23 September 1993,’ she elaborates and in the quarter-century since, Hospice Africa has provided care to 32,000 cancer sufferers in Uganda, as well as supporting initiatives in 32 other countries. Anne, now 83, had first travelled to Africa as a Medical Missionary of Mary, before working back in Liverpool as a consultant and senior lecturer in geriatric medicine on returning to secular life. It was on
taking up an academic post in Singapore in the 1980s that her work in palliative care began. ‘We commenced the Hospice Care Association from my flat,’ she says. It was there too that she created a formula for the affordable oral morphine so pivotal to her work in Africa. On her subsequent appointment as medical director of Kenya’s newly opened Nairobi hospice in 1990, she insisted she ‘wouldn’t go there without the morphine’. She adds: ‘This formula changed the face of palliative care in Africa because the low economies cannot afford oral morphine manufactured and imported from abroad.’ Today Hospice Africa has 70 people working across three sites in Uganda. She adds: ‘Our oral morphine in Uganda has four ingredients, including cake dye to differentiate the strengths. It’s now used in 21 African countries.’ And made by Hospice Africa staff. ‘We made it at the kitchen sink for 17 years and then the American Cancer Association came in to help us manufacture it with a contract with the Ministry of Health for the whole country.’ It is on a long list of success stories. Hospice Africa established the Palliative Care Association of Uganda. It has trained thousands of health-care professionals, having created an institute
which confers degrees and diplomas on nursing staff. ‘We have a diploma they can do – it’s a year and allows them to prescribe morphine. That has helped a lot as 90 per cent of districts have at least one person who can prescribe it.’ Yet a year’s training costs $2,500 and Hospice Africa requires fresh funds. Its volunteer-run shops in Old Swan and Ainsdale contribute around £4,000 per month but a ten-year partnership with international development agency USAID has now ended. ‘Donors are now in recession and have reprioritised what they do with their money,’ says Anne. ‘Palliative care is their lowest priority. For this coming year we’re short of £300,000.’ Anne missed last month’s 25th anniversary celebrations, including a ball at West Lancs Golf Club, owing to ill health, yet her first two Ugandan nurses, Rose and Martha, flew in to attend – a measure of what her efforts have meant and why she is so determined that they will carry on. ‘But,’ as she adds, ‘the oil to keep it going is the funding and without your help, it cannot continue.’ To contribute, write to Pat Linnell, Honorary Treasurer Hospice Africa, 41 Harrison Hey, Liverpool L36 5YR, or visit: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/hospic eafrica
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youth ministry
Introducing our new faces Another year has begun at Animate Youth Ministries and at the end of August we welcomed three new members to the community based here at Lowe House in St Helens. These three additions to the Gap Year team are Kate, from St Charles & St Thomas More, Liverpool; Izzy from St Oswald’s, Preston; and Luke from St James’ Parish, Bootle. Together they raise to nine the number of young adults living and working together in our community, and here they provide a brief introduction: Kate My favourite piece of scripture: Proverbs 31:25, Psalm 139:14 An interesting fact about me: I am a twin. Why I joined the Animate team: I want to work with young people and thought Animate provided the best opportunity to gain experience as well as inspire others to explore their faith, and strengthen my own.
Of our other members, Molly and Ciara have returning to the Gap Year team for a second year and are looking forward to starting new projects, such as Alpha, as well as meeting new young people and seeing a few familiar faces from the school missions and retreat days undertaken last year. New to the Leadership team this year, meanwhile, is Tom, who was a member of the Gap Year team last
year. He will work alongside Father Simon Gore, director; Sarah, team leader; and Lauren, team coordinator, who are also returning. Please keep the team and the young people we will work with in your prayers as we begin this new year together. Dates for the diary: 1 October – Lourdes 2019 Youth Application forms available online at www.animateyouth.org. 2 October – Life and Soul: An evening of Praise and Worship and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at St John Stone, Southport, from 7-8pm. 13 November – Life and Soul at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Seaforth, from 7-8pm. 24 November – Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion training for young people. Open to Year 10 pupils upwards. Download application forms from www.animateyouth.org. 11 December - Life and Soul at St Joseph & St Lawrence, Kirkby, from 7-8pm. 16 December – Youth Alive Mass at St Oswald’s, Padgate Lane, Warrington WA1 3LB
Izzy My favourite piece of scripture: Philippians 4:13 An interesting fact about me: I have sailed over 1,000 miles this year. Why joined the Animate team: I decided it was time for a new challenge and after going to Lourdes this year, Animate seemed like the perfect option. Luke My favourite piece of scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 An interesting fact about me: I have once performed with a Lollapalooza Festival act. Why I joined the Animate team: I wanted to grow and share my faith in the Lord.
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news diary
Dancing to the future with hope by Tony and Pat Banks With great excitement, we flew into Dublin to take part in the ‘World Meeting of Families’. From Tuesday’s opening ceremony, and throughout the next three days, themes taken from ‘Amoris Laetitia’ looked at love, faith and hope in the family. The weekend, of the Pope’s visit, expressed the family celebrating with joy and giving joy to the world. And so, we joined families from 134 countries for a joyful, informative and prayerful week. We were offered, an outstanding array of subjects and speakers from around the world, there were seven or eight choices in each of the morning and evening sessions and a full programme for children, teenagers and young adults in separate villages. Apart from the themes explored in ‘Amoris Laetitia’, there were added talks on bioethics, caring for our common home (‘Laudato Si’), and even genealogy. During afternoons in ‘The Family Arena’ we heard talks, testimonies, music and dramas from the speakers and the children and teenagers present, each afternoon ended with a celebration of the Eucharist with thousands of families. There were many highlights but the very first talk we attended on ‘celebrating family in the Judeo-Christian tradition’, included the Chief Rabbi of Dublin. As he talked of the Friday night dinner, welcoming in the Sabbath, we felt challenged to witness a revival of the family lunch or dinner after celebrating Mass on a Sunday. On Thursday, we listened to Cardinal Vincent Nichols speak on ‘Support and preparation for Marriage in the light of ‘Amoris Laetitia’. Friday evening concluded with a special launch of the ‘Alliance of Catholic Marriage Organisations in England’,
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supported by the Cardinal. But the Pope’s challenge to seek out those marginalised in our society was not forgotten. We listened to a heart-warming talk from a young gay man who was part of the LGBT community welcomed and integrated into the Jesuit Parish in Farm Street, London. On Saturday, we joined a crowd of nearly 70,000 people at Croke Park for the Festival of Families. It was a magnificent twohour extravaganza of music, song and dance with intervals of heart-warming testimonies from families who had supported one another and their faith through the most difficult of times. On Sunday, as the rain fell, and the wind blew, nothing could dampen the spirits of those who waited many hours for the Pope’s arrival in Phoenix Park. We were entertained by artists on the large screens, along with views of Pope Francis in Knock. Our early arrival meant we were standing by the barrier, only feet from the ‘Popemobile’, cheering and waving as Pope Francis went by. It was a beautiful Mass made very moving by the Pope’s Penitential Rite, as he expressed the church’s sorrow and shame for the failing of its people in Ireland. Our thoughts joined his in prayer for the many abused children and mothers. His voice was especially stern as he prayed for those young mothers who had been told that to seek out their children was a mortal sin. ‘This was not a mortal sin’, said the Pope. Too soon, the day and WMOF came to an end, but the place of the next meeting was announced: Rome 2021. We hope we will be there.
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‘Broken’: its all about the Eucharist by Father Denis Blackledge SJ I was privileged to be Religious Adviser to the BBC1 six-episode series of ‘Broken, screened last year, written by Jimmy McGovern, and starring Sean Bean as Father Michael Kerrigan. The series was produced over 14 weeks in late 2016 in Liverpool. When we were filming the very final scene of the series I was chatting to Jimmy off camera, and he said: ‘Denis, it's all about the Eucharist’. So, when Eleanor Lalley came along in the early days of preparing the Parallel Programme for the National Eucharistic Congress and asked St Francis Xavier [SFX] church to take an active role in it, the obvious suggestion I made was to ask Jimmy McGovern if he would kindly come along on the Friday and Saturday of the Congress, and be available for a Q and A session each day, after showing an episode of ‘Broken’. Jimmy readily agreed, and so SFX had two days of celebrations, centred on the Eucharist in the Sodality Chapel in the late morning, with a quiet Holy Hour, followed by Mass at midday, for which about 100 people turned up each day. After lunch at 1.30 pm on Friday we showed Episode One of ‘Broken’, and Episode Five on Saturday. Audiences were 175 and 150 respectively and the Q and A sessions lasted about 45 minutes each day. The whole event was deeply touching, and many positive comments came from folk from as far away as the Isle
of Wight and the Isle of Man. What Jimmy provided was a positive outlook on the modern-day Catholic parish priest, ministering in a tough urban parish situation. We priests and people owe him a deep debt of gratitude. As parish priest of the parish where most of the Eucharist was filmed for the ‘Broken’ series, I felt doublydelighted and privileged to be a living part of the National Congress, as ‘Broken’ has touched hearts and minds of folk not just nationally, but internationally.
Father Denis with Jimmy McGovern and fellow writer Shaun Duggan
Archdiocesan Diploma in Pastoral Ministry and Leadership Awards Celebration
The Awards Celebration for the Archdiocesan Diploma in Pastoral Ministry and Leadership in Association with Liverpool Hope University took place on Wednesday 12 September when six students from parishes across the diocese received their Diplomas at a special celebration Mass in LACE. Archbishop McMahon, who presided at the Mass, thanked the students for their three year’s commitment to the course and spoke of the importance of using our gifts and talents in service of our communities and our world. In addition, four students were awarded Certificates of Continuing Professional Development by Hope University for particular modules. This was the last cohort of students for the current form of the Diploma although it is continuing with a new partnership with the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago who are delivering the ten taught modules through on-line learning. Liverpool Hope University will continue to provide Certificates for the ten Leadership Workshops which form an important part of the Diploma award. The course covers foundational aspects of scripture, catechesis and the Christian Life in the context of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and developments since. It offers an opportunity to plan, implement and evaluate a project within their own local context and provides opportunities for participants to acquire new skills in pastoral ministry and leadership. Recruitment for the January 2019 cohort has begun. For further details please contact Veronica Murphy Tel: 0151 522 1048 Email V.Murphy@rcaol.co.uk
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cathedral
Archbishop Worlock in South Africa
by Neil Sayer Archdiocesan Archivist To celebrate this year’s Black History Month, our trawl through the archives takes us to South Africa when it was on the verge of great change. Archbishop Derek Worlock visited that country in 1989, shortly before the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and the end of the racist apartheid system. The Archbishop’s papers include a number of files on this visit. He went together with the Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, David Sheppard. The two had struck up a great friendship and offered a media-friendly public face for the city during a time of social and economic turmoil and regeneration. It seems to have been this public profile that led to an invitation from Christian leaders in South Africa to visit their country to discover what living conditions were really like. Sheppard and Worlock – always together, as in their memorial between the two Cathedrals on Hope Street – did not want to go unprepared, so they attended several briefings and conferences on South Africa. A significant part of the archive consists of printed pamphlets, reports and propaganda absorbed by Archbishop Worlock during his research. On their visit they saw many of the principal cities and were taken to several townships, which the
Archbishop described as ‘not small impoverished suburbs but vast sprawls of inadequately housed black men, women and children’. The poverty and sense of oppression experienced by disenfranchised black people was inescapable. However, the momentum for change was already gathering pace, so, in this sense, the visit of the two bishops did little to hasten the end of apartheid. Yet the purpose of their mission was achieved, as they were able to report back on what they had seen: ‘Everywhere we came up against the evil of apartheid causing fundamental blocks in people’s lives.’ Indeed the Archbishop promoted a resolution of the Bishops’ Conference to offer support for change in South Africa and solidarity with Christians there. The archives show how the Church in South Africa played a significant role in resisting apartheid, which does not seem to have been fully acknowledged yet. The variety of organisations in correspondence with the Archbishop also illustrates that Merseyside’s support for the anti-apartheid movement was vocal and widespread, and seems worthy of further research. The archives will be on display at the Cathedral during October, with the reading room open from Monday-Friday. To avoid disappointment, please book your visit by contacting me at n.sayer@metcathedral.org.uk
Mass to celebrate the canonisation of Archbishop Oscar Romero On Sunday 28 October Archbishop Malcolm will celebrate the 11.00 am Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral to celebrate the canonisation of Archbishop Oscar Romero which will have taken place in Rome on Sunday 14 October. Oscar Romero was the Archbishop of San Salvador in El Salvador, in standing up for the poor he spoke out against social injustice and oppression. He was assassinated while saying Mass on 24 March 1980. A specially commissioned bust of Blessed Oscar Romero (pictured), created by Rory Young, was installed in the Metropolitan Cathedral last year and is now on permanent display. All are welcome to attend the celebration at 11.00 am on Sunday 28 October.
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Pic extras
Mums the Word
A century of service News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba
Large numbers support Eucharistic Congress
In September we had a wonderful celebration of the Eucharist here in Liverpool and the thanks of all of us should go to the many people who were involved with the organisation of this event, which brought joy to everyone who attended. I was lucky enough to help look after the archive exhibition which took place on the Friday and Saturday in the Metropolitan Cathedral. It contained items from the Eucharistic Congress in London in 1908, and many other articles connected with the Eucharist in general. I was particularly touched by one simple object, a flat stone covered in white cotton material with a small cross embroidered on it. It turned out to be an altar stone carried by priests-in-hiding in the 17th and 18th centuries in Lancashire. They would celebrate Mass on it in the houses of those brave people who hid them. The stone could well have been carried by our local martyrs, St Edmund Arrowsmith and St Ambrose Barlow. How amazing to be able to see such a relic. There were a number of vestments on display too. One was a very heavily embroidered cope from 16th-century Italy, which had been worn at different times by three priests who all had gone on to become Pope. I met some lovely people, including a lady from Goa who showed me pictures on her phone of the embroideries that she had done for her church at home; there was also a family from Mexico, who were on holiday in Liverpool, and a fellow UCM member from London. I will be looking out for you all at our diocesan study evening at St Margaret Mary’s, Pilch Lane on Wednesday 10 October at 7.30pm, and at the business meeting on Saturday 20 October at 1pm in the Gibberd Room at the Cathedral. God bless. Madelaine McDonald Media Officer 26
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W
hat a momentous weekend it was for the Cathedral and Liverpool with the holding of a National Eucharistic Congress in this country for the first time since 1908. The only comparable event was probably the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1982. The Archdiocese and all who contributed to what was obviously a tremendous success must feel immensely proud of the outcome of their meticulous planning and hard work over many previous months. The Knights of St Columba, nationally and locally, were very honoured and privileged to have been invited to assist, notably within the Cathedral where they helped with stewarding and took part in the closing procession. On the Sunday the Cathedral was almost full for the earlier Mass and completely full for the Mass at 11.30am and such numbers called for diligent and discrete crowd marshalling, with which the Knights assisted. The vastness of the crowd was also a feature of the Blessed Sacrament
Procession through the streets around the Cathedral. Our photo, reproduced with the kind permission of Paul Burnell from BBC News Online, provides a good indication of the extent of the numbers who took part. • The Knights of St Columba in south Liverpool did their annual sponsored walk from Albert Dock to Liverpool Cricket Club on 30 September. This year’s beneficiary will be the Whitechapel Centre, which provides ‘real solutions to housing and homelessness’. We are grateful to all the parishes in south Liverpool for allowing us to distribute sponsorship envelopes and would again appeal to parishioners to support this worthy cause as generously as you have our past appeals. Envelopes were distributed in the week ending 22/23 September and will be collected in the week ending 6/7 October. Thank you in anticipation of your support in assisting us to help the homeless in Liverpool. Websites: www.ksc.org.uk and www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com
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PIC Life Why the Cross is the greatest sign of all By Moira Billinge When I passed my driving test – at the third attempt – I didn’t feel ready to face sitting behind the wheel without an instructor to grab the controls should my confidence fail. It was years before the ‘P’ plates were introduced, and, with necessity being the proverbial mother of invention, I made two white cardboard triangles and marked them with ‘Just passed!’ in huge red letters. Covered in stickybacked-plastic and protected against the elements, they remained strapped to the front and back of my car. On the whole, other drivers reacted positively. Some beeped to congratulate my success (I hope). All kept a safe distance. After some time, though feeling much braver, I still wasn’t ready to drive on my own without a prop. And so, the more truthful tag of ‘New driver’ appeared on my car. More time ticked by. If I wanted my driving to progress or mature, I needed to remove the protective warning signs and to enter the real driving world without my homemade safety net. The immediate difference was pretty scary as I encountered impatience, tailgating, aggression and the senseless antics of those miscreants who, intent on proving their ‘superior’ driving prowess, terrify the living daylights out of other road users. I felt very tempted to invent – and I’ve not yet ruled it out – some more elaborate, electric signs which could be operated from inside my car to warn other drivers that ‘I’m lost’ (as I often am) or tell them to ‘Back off’ when they are driving too close to me for comfort . On Palm Sunday a few years ago, I placed the palm cross on my windscreen. I figured that I would keep it there just for Holy Week, but it is still in situ. Unexpectedly, having the cross permanently in view makes my own driving more disciplined and courteous. 28
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It is difficult to refuse to give way to a fellow motorist or prevent them from slipping in front of you in a queue, with the cross in your full view – and theirs. If pushed, most drivers would confess to their devious moments behind the wheel. Have you never taken a short cut of questionable safety or legality? In log-jammed traffic when you can neither go forward nor reverse, have you never felt frustrated and tired, and tempted to take foolish risks? Frayed tempers can easily become more ragged as the challenges seem to pile on top of each other: red lights, road works, level crossings, cyclists and pedestrians taking unnecessary risks . . . but the symbol of the cross demands a very basic level of good behaviour. When my own car was recently the paying guest of the local garage, I realised that, behind the wheel of a borrowed car and without the palm cross, my driving and my patience both fell below their usual standard. Signs play an important part in all our lives: directing, guiding, reminding or warning us, giving us clues about something that we wouldn’t otherwise have been aware of, or, simply, that we have stopped noticing. A few weeks ago I saw a youth make the sign of the cross prior to having a cup of tea and a sandwich in a crowded cafe. In front of many others, he witnessed to his belief that what he was about to consume came from God’s goodness. The cross is a powerful reminder of God’s love. Could making the sign of the cross before we eat and drink – the Grace before meals – be brought back into practice and widely cultivated in our society? Through this public declaration of faith, this simple sign would bring Jesus into our streets, restaurants, cafes, workplace and homes. “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Heavenly Father.” (Matthew 10: 32)
Greeting Cards from Carmel
The Christmas range of beautiful cards are now on sale at Maryton Carmel together with a range of cards for all occasions. They are selling quickly so do make sure you choose yours soon to avoid disappointment. 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 a trip to the French Riviera and find a hidden gem, writes Lucy Oliver. The city of Nice on the Côte d’Azur is well known for its pebbly beaches on the Baie des Anges, its blue waters and seaside charm but it is also worth taking the short train ride across to Monaco and scratching beneath the surface of a place synonymous with glamour and wealth. Just below the train-station escalator, nestled among the rocks, you will find the Sainte-Dévote Chapel. It stands on the first corner of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit and, more significantly, commemorates the site where the body of the martyred Saint Devota – Monaco’s patron saint – arrived by boat on the French coast. Imprisoned and tortured for her faith, Devota had been martyred in 303AD and condemned to be burnt. However, her body was saved by Christians who put her on a ship setting sail for Africa for a Christian burial. During a storm that ensued, a dove appeared and guided the boat towards Monaco. The monument of the young martyr, gazing on the dove, marks this miracle and the church welcomes visitors to reflect and listen for the quiet voice that guides us through the storms to safety.
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RETREATS AND AWAY DAYS 2018
Pantasaph Franciscan Friary Father Peter Morgan, Parish Priest of St Anne & St Bernard Church, Overbury Street, Liverpool L7 will lead our retreat day to
St Winefred’s Shrine at Holywell and Pantasaph Franciscan Friary on
Wednesday November 14th, 2018
Our Lady & St Robert’s Church, Harrogate
HARROGATE The lovely Victorian Spa Town in the heart of Yorkshire is where we will enjoy our next Away Day on
Wednesday October 31st, 2018
Father Peter will celebrate Mass and talk to us about St Winefred and her shrine and also about the history of Pantasaph Monastery. If you would like to join us on this very special pre-Christmas Retreat please call
Harrogate is a small town with plenty to see and do with lots of great places to visit, places to eat lunch, including the famous “Bettys” and much more.
0151 733 5492 (Office Hours)
0151 733 5492 (Office Hours)
to request a Booking Form
to request a Booking Form
Cost of Coach
Cost of Coach
£15 return
£15 return
St Winefred’s Shrine at Holywell
Harrogate
If you would like to join us please call
Please call 0151 733 5492 to book Catholic Pictorial
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Letter from Wonersh By Peter Murphy Having only been back at the seminary for four days, I found myself on a train heading home to Liverpool. Like many thousands of Catholics from across England and Wales (and in some cases even further afield), I was travelling to our Archdiocese to participate in Adoremus, the National Eucharistic Congress. However, unlike most I was actually heading to the Youth Congress which was taking place on the Saturday in the auditorium next to the main arena. The Youth Congress brought 1,000 young people and chaplains together and, like the rest of the Congress events taking place elsewhere in the city, it put the Eucharistic Lord at the centre of all that was happening. I will leave the young people who were present to speak for themselves of the graces that flowed on the day and have, I am sure, continued to flow since. For me, one of the things that I felt especially strongly during the events of the wonderful weekend – whether it was in the comfortable and dry auditorium, or soaked through during the Eucharistic Procession – was the sense of unity in faith and belief of those present. Each representing our individual parishes and dioceses, we were afforded the opportunity to come together – aware of our individual joys or sorrows which we have as individuals – and celebrate our faith in Jesus, the Bread of Life, who prays ‘that they may be one’. In the seminary during the month of October there is a daily optional Rosary. ‘Optional’ has a slightly different meaning here than it does in normal life; in a seminary ‘optional’ should be read as: ‘politely compulsory’. Each day after lunch all of the seminarians, along with the priests and any visitors present, will gather before the shrine to Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, to begin to recite the rosary. These 15 minutes of prayer, spent walking around the outside of the seminary buildings, is often the best prayer that I experience, because despite the mild irritations of people’s inability to walk in a straight line (usually me) or keep up with the common rhythm of the prayer, we come to Our Lady seeking her intercession as a united chorus with our common conviction and love of Her and Her Son. This October, the month of the Rosary, even if we find ourselves alone with our beads, let us be united in our prayers: for the Church in this country as we begin to realise the graces which have come from the Congress, and especially our local Church of Liverpool as we travel together towards ‘Synod 2020 ‘; and for the world too, and for each other. 30
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justice & peace How our parallel programme highlighted the vibrant ‘Body of Christ’ By Steve Atherton, Justice and Peace fieldworker The Eucharistic Congress was a massive event in our diocese. The more involved I became, the more I reflected that when we talk about the Body of Christ, we mean both the Blessed Sacrament and the People of God. Many of us in Liverpool were concerned that both aspects should be easy to see at the Eucharistic Congress, which led us to prepare a parallel programme that would celebrate the rich and warm diversity of Catholic life and so reflect the two experiences of communion. Often, when we approach the altar and say ‘Amen’ to the minister’s ‘The Body of Christ’, we just mean ‘It is’ but we wanted to emphasise that we also mean ‘We are’. It was this ‘We are’ aspect that was explored and emphasised in the parallel programme. Now it is over, the question is, how do we judge its success? In terms of content, the topics included welcome, conversation, reconciliation, scripture, the sacred, community, mission, asylum and refugees, the environment, music, miracles, poverty, food, ecumenism, outreach, the diaconate, children, schools, and parish organisation. Quite a list! In terms of numbers, most impressively there were over 400 people involved in planning and delivering the events and over 600 people attended. The best-attended event was at St Francis Xavier parish church for the screenings of episodes of the TV series ‘Broken’ and discussion with the screenwriter Jimmy McGovern. Yet there were many other highlights such as the ecumenical conversation on Eucharist that the regional church leaders shared in the Anglican church on the
waterfront, and a stimulating and reflective day at St Philip Neri with a wide grouping of northern dioceses, the National Justice and Peace Network, and other national organisations. Elsewhere, the singalong of Beatles songs went down a storm; the exploration of the diaconate received some interest; more people than predicted went to the event about Welcoming the Stranger; and I had a great experience of church at the Nugent kitchen, making bread, eating curry and chatting to people. In terms of witness, the events showed the wide range of activities that are part of Catholic life. They were prayerful, thoughtful, sociallyengaged and active. Above all, they happened. In terms of organisation, the programme was devised, coordinated and delivered by laity, with some help from clergy. It showed us a glimpse of our dynamic Church: active, enthused, engaged with society and not restricted to the sanctuary. The next event on the J&P calendar takes place on 28 October when we will celebrate the canonisation of Oscar Romero during 11am Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Then on Tuesday 13 November, Asylum Link Merseyside will be holding a ‘Welcoming the Stranger’ event at LACE conference centre. ALM is one of only five organisations from across Europe chosen to launch the new language support toolkit produced by the Council of Europe. If you are interested in learning about this resource and would like to get involved in working with asylum seekers and refugees, please contact Sarah on 0151 709 1713 or via email on sarah.asylumlink@gmail.com. As we head towards Synod 2020, we can rejoice that the Body of Christ is alive and well.
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APPLEBY COURT CARE HOME
Next Issue November 2018 PICK UP YOUR COPY FROM YOUR CHURCH FROM SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER
Appleby Court is situated in the heart of Kirkby set in its own grounds in wellmaintained gardens. The home is purpose-built to offer the highest standards of care and the care is given to its residents by a first class team of trained Nurses and Care Staff
Please contact Irene McLaughlin on 0151 548 6267 who will discuss your personal needs with you and arrange a visit to the home if you require. Short stays can be arranged on request.
Roughwood Drive, Northwood Telephone: 0151 548 6267
Issue 163 April 2018
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READ ONLINE www.catholicpic.co.uk
Easter Joy INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Peter Woods appointed High Sheriff
Celebrating marriage and family life
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