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Issue 123 DECEMBER 2014
Vatican appointment for Archbishop Paul ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL
Welcome Bishop Paul
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contents Welcome This month we reflect on two historic appointments: the appointment of Archbishop Paul Gallagher as Secretary for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, effectively Foreign Secretary for the Holy See, and the Installation of Bishop Paul Bayes as the eighth Bishop of Liverpool. The thoughts and prayers of people from across the Archdiocese will be with Archbishop Paul Gallagher as he prepares to take up his new post. He is one of our own priests who has served in the Vatican Diplomatic Service for many years and is currently Apostolic Nuncio in Australia. On the morning of the Installation of Bishop Paul Bayes prayers and good wishes were sent from the Archdiocese via social media. The response from the Anglican diocese read: ‘a new era starts for us both but the relationships remain as strong as ever. Prayers and blessings’. Indeed those relationships do remain as strong as ever witnessed by the role given to Archbishop Malcolm and the other Church Leaders in the Service. As we prepare for Christmas and move towards the end of the year there is much to look forward to. Bright signs of hope for dark winter days.
Contents
A very Happy and Blessed Christmas
From the Archbishop’s Desk
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Main Feature The Year of Consecrated Life begins
Dear Friends in Christ,
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News From around the Archdiocese
During this Season of Advent, our minds are focused on the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time, his first coming at Christmas, and his daily coming in the celebration of Mass.
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To help us focus on this, we display advent wreaths in our churches. The circle of the wreath reminds us of the all-encompassing love of God for us; the greenery on the wreath reminds us that God’s love is everlasting; the red berries remind us that Christ shed his Blood on the Cross to free us from our sins, so that we might live for him; and the five candles remind us that Christ is the light of the world. These symbols of evergreen leaves and candles remind us as we approach midwinter that the days will lengthen and the trees will bloom again as spring approaches. These are natural signs of hope amid the dark and gloomy days of winter. But Christians are waiting for more than better weather and longer days. We are waiting for Christ himself to come to us as a child in a manger. I hope and pray this Advent that we will be reminded of God’s love for us as we look at the Advent wreath and light its candles, one by one, as we prepare for Christmas. Let us thank God for the gift of life and love, and give something of ourselves to the poor and those who are on their own this Christmas. With my prayers and every good wish for you and your families for a blessed Christmas Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool
Editor Peter Heneghan Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA Tel: 0151 522 1007 Email: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk Advertising Andrew Rogers 0151 709 7567 Publisher 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS
15 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese 20 Animate Youth Ministry Variety is spice of life 19 Profile Archbishop Paul Gallagher Secretary for Relations with States 20 Justice and Peace Whose world is it? 25 Cathedral Record O Magnum Mysterium New Cathedral Choir CD 26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC
Copy deadline January issue 5 December 2014 CPMM Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Catholic Pictorial Ltd. can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.
28 Pic Life An angel at your side 29 Holy Land Pilgrimage
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Celebrations for the Year of Consecrated Life ‘A powerful thing that can actually change the world.’ This is how Archbishop Malcolm McMahon described religious life as he launched the Year of Consecrated Life at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 23 November. This 14-month celebration is a reminder of the ‘enormous contribution’ made by our Religious, as Father Godric Timney writes below – but also a call for them to light the road ahead for us. Father Godric Timney OSB, Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Liverpool writes: The first weekend of Advent marks the beginning of the Year of Consecrated Life which will continue until 2 February 2016. Perhaps it is not surprising that being a Jesuit himself Pope Francis announced a year ago that 2015 will be a year dedicated to the promotion of consecrated life, and is asking the Church's religious sisters, brothers and priests to ‘wake up the world’ with their testimony of faith, holiness and hope. This special year is set against the background of the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. One of the cardinals recently said of the Council that it was ‘a breath of the Spirit not only for the whole Church but, perhaps especially, for the consecrated life’. The cardinal in question, Braz de Aviz, continued: ‘In these 50 years, consecrated life has undertaken a fruitful journey of renewal – not free, certainly, of difficulties and hardships – in the commitment to follow what the Council asked of the consecrated: fidelity to the Lord, to the Church, to their own charism and to the people of today.’ In celebrating this year we not only remember the enormous contribution of vowed men and women to the life and 4
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well-being of our archdiocese over centuries, but we take the opportunity to recognise that Religious embrace the future with hope. Vowed Religious commit themselves - as Cardinal Braz de Aviz put it – ‘to living the present with passion so they can help others to realise the beauty of following Christ.’ The vocation to religious life is not just a personal calling but a commitment to mission in the Church and in the world. During this year, various events and celebrations will be taking place around the archdiocese, in the Metropolitan Cathedral and in religious houses and parishes. Time was when most Catholics were familiar with Religious men and women; the scene has changed markedly over recent years. Needs in the world and in the Church have changed over the centuries; jobs undertaken in the past by Religious in the fields of medical and social care, teaching and theological study, are now shared more widely. But religious life is still central to the life of the Church. What this year will do is to give everyone throughout the world a greater opportunity to discover anew the wonderful gift of consecrated life which God has given to His Church. I encourage you to visit some of the Religious men and women in your parishes and discover the vitality, the joy and sense of fulfilment which you will find in those who have committed themselves to God. Let us also pray that if the Lord calls others to commit themselves to His service in consecrated life they will listen attentively to God’s voice. The Year of Consecrated Life was launched in the archdiocese with a celebration of Evening Prayer in the Metropolitan Cathedral on the Feast of
Christ the King. Archbishop Malcolm presided and preached and representatives of religious orders from throughout Liverpool Archdiocese were in the congregation. A special banner created for the Year of Consecrated Life has the image of a tree, symbolising how we are rooted in Christ and thus enabled to bear fruit. The yellow and gold colours reflect the light through the Cathedral’s stained glass windows as a symbol of the Risen Christ whose light flows both from within us and from the world around us. During Evening Prayer, representatives from the religious congregations came forward to bless a tree which was later planted in the Cathedral grounds. The tree serves as a reminder of how God nourishes our lives and enables us to grow and find fullness of life. During the blessing, the names of the religious orders ministering in the archdiocese were read out. In his homily Archbishop Malcolm recalled Sister Maria, an Argentinian Dominican Sister who had visited London to prepare for ministry in Kenya. As a result of getting lost one day, she had come to know local people and through this contact, and without preaching or explicit teaching, she had brought the message of Christ to them. The local people later supported her in her work in Kenya and mourned her when she was killed in a robbery. Speaking of the Year of Consecrated Life, Archbishop Malcolm said: ‘Today is the beginning of a year of celebration... we wish to celebrate religious life because, just like Sister Maria from Argentina, we can do so much just by being who we are, where we are.’ He continued: ‘The gift of consecrated life which is really given by God to Religious and returned by them to Him is such a powerful thing that it can actually change the world. We need to show people that being a Religious is joyful, that it is a happy thing to be, that it is a way of being Christian that has a value in itself as well as being symbolic to other people.
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feature ‘It is a way of following Jesus that brings love and peace not just for ourselves but for others’
‘It is a way of following Jesus that brings love and peace not just for ourselves but for others with whom we come into contact. So this year should be for us a way of strengthening the unseen networks and the Spirit in the Church, it should be a year for us to rejoice in the fact that God has called us to dedicate our lives to Him in this particular way. ‘So let us thank God for the great gift He has given to us and for the many religious in this archdiocese who have done so much to build up the strength of the faith here; those who have taught people, those who have cared for people, those who have nursed the sick and fed those who are hungry; those who have opened the scriptures for others whether directly or through example and practice; and for those of us who have prayed and prayed that the Church here in the Archdiocese of Liverpool will be a place that truly represents the love and mercy of God through his people.’ Events to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life will be taking place in the Archdiocese throughout the coming year.
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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
Pope Francis appoints Liverpool priest to senior Vatican Post Pope Francis has appointed a Liverpool priest, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, to be Secretary for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. The position, effectively Foreign Secretary for the Holy See, involves the specific duty of attending to matters which involve civil governments. Archbishop Gallagher, who is currently Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, says of his appointment, ‘My appointment as Secretary for Relations with States comes at a time when the world is facing many serious challenges. I am convinced that diplomacy remains an indispensable tool in the pursuit of peace and harmony between nations. In making this nomination Pope Francis has done me a great honour, for which I humbly thank him. It will be a privilege to work with the Holy Father, who has established himself as an important voice at a critical moment. I am only too aware of the responsibility that comes
with this office. I will need prayerful support, which I recognise has never been lacking throughout my priestly ministry and diplomatic service of the Holy See.’ The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool, says, 'I welcome the news of the appointment of Archbishop Paul Gallagher as Secretary for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. It is a great honour for our archdiocese that a Liverpool priest has been chosen for this important international role and my thoughts and prayers, together with those of people throughout the archdiocese, will be with Archbishop Paul as he prepares to take up his new responsibilities.' Archbishop Gallagher will have responsibility for the Holy See’s diplomatic relations with States, including the establishment of Concordats or similar agreements; for the Holy See’s presence in international
Childwall’s Crib Festival Christ the King and Our Lady's parish, Queens Drive, Childwall, L15 6YQ will be holding a Crib Festival from Thursday 11 December to Saturday 13 December in Christ the King Church. On Thursday and Friday the Festival will be open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and from 6.00 pm 8.30pm and on Saturday it will be open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. This will be the third Crib Festival that the parish has held to raise funds for the Bethlehem Crèche in the Holy Land. Along with a large display of interesting and unusual cribs from all over the world there will be entertainment from local and school choirs, children's activities and refreshments.
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organisations and conferences; in special circumstances, by order of the Pope himself and in consultation with the Roman Curia, he will provide for appointments to particular Churches, and for their establishment or modification; in close collaboration with the Congregation for Bishops, he will also attend to the appointment of Bishops in countries which have entered into treaties or agreements with the Holy See in accordance with international law. 60 year old Archbishop Gallagher has spent the past thirty-one years in the Papal Diplomatic Service. He was ordained Archbishop by Cardinal Angelo Sodano on 13 March 2004 and was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi. In 2009 he was appointed to Guatemala and on 11 December 2012 he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to be Apostolic Nuncio to Australia.
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news diary
Welcome Bishop Paul Archbishop Malcolm was among the Church Leaders to welcome Bishop Paul Bayes as Anglican Bishop of Liverpool at his Installment in Liverpool Cathedral last month. Archbishop Malcolm read the Gospel at the service together with Free Church Moderator, Rev Phil Jump, before laying hands on Bishop Paul praying: ‘Enable him to proclaim the gospel of your Son, that his ministry among us may bring glory to your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.’ The Cathedral was full for the Service and the congregation included the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, the High Sheriff of Merseyside, the Mayor of Liverpool and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, together with Church leaders and Faith Representatives from throughout the country. Bishop Paul walked through the City to the Cathedral before knocking three times on the Great West Door with the ivory mallet used by King Edward VII when he laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral in 1904. In his homily Bishop Paul spoke of the ‘table of the Lord’ made by a carpenter and referred to the person of Jesus in the Gospel reading saying, ‘My brother Malcolm and my brother Phil read this earlier about Jesus: “I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles”. And then: “He will not wrangle or cry aloud... until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the peoples will hope”. And all this, the table and the poor man and justice brought to victory; all this is my vision of the church
of Jesus Christ.’ Bishop Paul quoted Pope Francis as he spoke of his vision for the Churches, ’Pope Francis says: "An evangelising community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in
others.” The Bishop of Rome's vision is my vision for the church among the churches, for all the churches, as we gather again on the edge.’ Born in Bradford Bishop Paul is the eighth Bishop of Liverpool having previously served as Bishop of Hertford in the Diocese of St Albans.
Welcome to the UCM At the UCM bi-monthly Mass celebrated at St Cecilia’s, Liverpool last month Father Mark Madden enrolled Liz North as a member. Liz, from St Margaret Mary's parish, Liverpool, is pictured with Father Mark and UCM Archdiocesan President, Angela Moore, after the Mass.
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news diary Embrace comes to Liverpool ‘Embrace what makes us different and special in God’s eyes’ this was the message from Archbishop Malcolm to the hundreds of young people from across the country who gathered in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King to celebrate the Embrace-Liverpool conference for young people.
Sister of the Renewal from the USA, who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics as a member of the US Speed Skating Team, who spoke of her commitment to service to God and the poor. Lord David Alton led a workshop on the theme of persecution of Christians around the world ‘Paying a price for Faith’.
The Archbishop said that the choice of the name ‘Embrace’ for the day had been inspired because we are called to ‘embrace each other, to embrace what we have in common’. He also encouraged delegates to get to know what God has intended for us as the purpose of our journey in faith is to discover.
The day had been the brainchild of LIPA student, John Griffin, who had spent most of his summer organising the event, bringing together impressive speakers and workshop leaders and, on the day, gathering young people from across the country for praise, worship and discussion. At the end of Mass Archbishop Malcolm called John to the front to thank him for all his hard work saying that he himself had been hugely uplifted by what he had seen and experienced. An exhausted John declared himself tired but very happy with the day.
Earlier in the day the speakers included Father Dermot Donnelly, Chair of the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation who spoke about the ‘adventure of evangelisation’ and Sister Catherine Holum, a Franciscan
Runners in the 1990s including Julian Filochowski, Vin McMullen and Peter Heneghan
Still running after all these years On Saturday 27 December Cafod will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its annual Fun Run at Wavertree Park. This year there will be added effort as the run will raise funds for the Cafod Ebola Appeal. To mark the anniversary the run will be started by Bishop John Rawsthorne, Bishop Emeritus of Hallam and a former trustee of the Charity. Mike Merriman from Crosby is a stalwart of the run starting as a car park attendant and then co-ordinator of the event for a number of years. He remembers, ‘I had a natural inclination to help the poor people of places like Africa and wanted to know what I could do. ‘We held the Fun Run at St Joseph’s, Upholland for the first fifteen years and it attracted people from a wide area because it was handy to the M6 and places like Manchester and Blackburn. We used to get as many as 1,000 runners, but we still get over 600 at Wavertree, some from as far as places like Stockport and Macclesfield’. This year’s run takes place at Wavertree Park, Liverpool, L15 4LE, on Saturday 27 December starting at 1.00 pm. For further information contact liverpool@cafod.org.uk or tel: 0151 228 4028
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news diary Archbishop Malcolm visits Carmel College Staff and students at Carmel College, St Helens, were delighted to welcome Archbishop Malcolm when he visited them last month.
Archbishop Malcolm for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit us. He is extremely interested in what we do here at Carmel and it was great to see how
well he got on with students. The young people themselves were delighted that he took the time to listen to their point of view’.
During his visit the Archbishop took a tour of the college where he had the opportunity to talk to staff and students in the Foundation Learning Department as well as visiting an Ethics and Values class, a Philosophy and Religion lesson and a Year Zero tutorial. He was very interested in what the students had to say and was extremely impressed with the positive attitudes and enthusiasm of everyone he met. After the tour, the Archbishop celebrated Mass in the Chaplaincy. This was followed by lunch and the opportunity to address all staff in Carmel’s Dalton Theatre. He said his visit had been extremely enjoyable and he thanked everyone for all that they do for students. Principal, Rob Peacock, said ‘We thank
Notre Dame Most Inspirational The winners of the prestigious Educate Awards have been announced, during a celebratory evening at Liverpool Cathedral. The Educate Awards, now in their third year, celebrated the innovative education in Merseyside, awarding the hard work, dedication and passion of the schools and teachers who work tirelessly to produce outstanding projects and extracurricular activities for their students. The Most Inspirational Secondary School was a competitive category with four worthy schools shortlisted. The winner was Notre Dame Catholic College, Liverpool. With nearly 83% of students saying they feel cared for, alongside its impressive new building with the latest technology and facilities, it is wonderful evidence of a truly inspirational school. Frances Harrison, head teacher of Notre Dame Catholic College said, ‘We are delighted to have not only been shortlisted but to win the award of Inspirational Secondary school. As a school we spend so much of our time and energies focusing upon raising the aspirations and hopes of our young people to ensure that they are not disadvantaged in life and that, regardless of their backgrounds, they are well prepared for happy and successful lives and the challenges they may face. This is a very welcome 'pat on the back' from a distinguished panel of judges against some very strong competition from other outstanding schools and one which we, the staff, governors, parents and students are very proud of.’ 10
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Pictured with the award are Headteacher Frances Harrison and Andy Rannard, deputy Head teacher.
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news diary
Cardinal Nichols calls on parliament to take a lead from Catholics Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) trustee, Bishop Tom Williams, attended the annual CSAN Parliamentary Reception last month at which Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Patron of CSAN called on parliament to learn from the Church’s hands-on approach to tackling the reality of poverty in the UK. Cardinal Nichols said, ‘A crucial part of serving society, whether through the calling of politics or through the Church, is to face the reality before us. This is where rhetoric ends, where philosophy gives way to reality, where dogmatism gets its hands dirty. For us this is what being a Church of the poor and for the poor really means. Our self-awareness is sharp; our sense of purpose is clear. Perhaps governments could take a lead from this too.’ Over 170 parliamentarians, representatives from leading Catholic charities and faithbased agencies gathered for the reception. Highlighting the issue of poverty in working households, the Cardinal stressed the impact of zero-hours contracts, the limitations of a minimum wage and the discrepancy between
incomes and basic living costs, stating that work must be properly paid if families are to find a way out of poverty. He thanked the CSAN network for ‘the extraordinary work’ of the charities who transform the lives of thousands of people across England and Wales: ‘you help to house the homeless. You help to keep families together through relationship
support. You act as a lifeline for those seeking asylum. Together, as a Church, we embody what it means to love our neighbour and work towards human flourishing’. Nugent Care is a member of the CSAN network and was represented by Chair of Trustees, Elisabeth Dodds and Chief Executive, Kathleen Pitt.
Memorial Sculpture at St Laurence
Bishop Tom Williams blessed a sculpture commissioned in memory of a much loved Deputy Headteacher from St Laurence RC Primary School, Kirkby; Deb Mottram Foster who tragically died two years ago.
Liverpool artist Phil Garrett was commissioned by school to produce a piece of sculpture representing the school and worked with children and staff over six months to create the piece. The creative ideas for the sculpture came from
his work with the school council children. The sculpture encapsulates how Mrs Mottram Foster inspired children to ‘be the best they could be’ and also the school mission to develop gifts and talents for the good of all.
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news diary A grand celebration with members and past members of the Catholic Metropolitan Club celebrated their 84th Anniversary at the club’s premises in Wavertree. The club was formed in 1934 and met at the Keizer Buildings Whitechapel, under the name of Liverpool Catholic Secondary School’s Club. Through the years it was renowned for the staging of Operatic and Drama productions including the ever popular Irish Playgoers. They have occupied several buildings from the Stork Hotel in 1946 to their present day premises in Olive Mount Club, Wavertree.
Catholic Metropolitan Club’s 84th Anniversary
The club has remained strong and the friendships even stronger. Today after 84 years that spirit is as strong as ever and we would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone wishing to apply for membership. Please contact the President: Joan Ashcroft by phone 0151 474 8316 or e-mail: joanashcroft@virginmedia.com
Welcoming committee President Joan Ashcroft with Mr and Mrs Hogan
President Joan Ashcroft with CMC Member Jim Brookwell
Worth a visit As the home town of William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon has much to offer visitors at any time of the year, writes Lucy Oliver. The Bard’s old home – Shakespeare’s Birthplace – is one of five houses with a connection to the great playwright whose final resting place, Holy Trinity Church on the banks of the River Avon, also warrants inclusion on a tourist itinerary. Yet as Christmas approaches, there is another good reason to consider a trip to this picturesque corner of Warwickshire. To mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, the Royal
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Vice President Tony Day and Maureen Day Shakespeare Company is putting on a Christmas show with a difference. ‘The Christmas Truce’ is a play recalling the famed events of December 1914 when the men of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment staged a truce with their German counterparts and even played a Christmas Day game of football in no man’s land. The play runs to 31 January at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, with 10 matinee performance scheduled for those tempted by a day trip (www.rsc.org.uk). To really get into the Christmas spirit, you could stop off in Birmingham on the way back north and visit the Frankfurt Christmas Market – supposedly the biggest of its kind in Britain.
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sunday reflections
Advent – a call to reality I was recently leading a retreat with a group of sisters in Manchester. There were about 30 of them gathered. Attached to the house was a care home where the elderly sisters who needed assistance lived, with a very dedicated group of people looking after them. While I was there the provincial came to visit with a councillor from the group’s international team who was on a visit to England. During lunch the provincial told me of an encounter she had had with one of the sisters in the nursing home some years earlier. Sister Josephine was suffering from dementia and had lost the power of speech but she had been and still was a very sweet person. On this particular day she was sitting by the window with a beautiful smile on her face. The provincial told me that she came into the room and saw Josephine sitting there smiling and wondered why. So she went and sat with her for a while. Eventually she looked into Josephine's eyes, smiled and said to her gently: ‘What is it? What’s going on in your mind?’ She said that Josephine continued to smile and then suddenly spoke. ‘It’s all love,’ she said. ‘All love.’ In a few weeks’ time we will celebrate Christmas, which really is the feast of love. God became flesh to shatter our illusions about what reality is and to show us the only true reality: love. It is love that makes us real. In the end, to quote both Saint Therese of Lisieux and Sr Josephine, it is all about love. The Advent journey is about preparing ourselves to see that love is at the core of what it means to be both human and divine, and because of love we can discover who we really are, beloved children of God. The challenge of Advent is to open ourselves up to the power of love. How do we do that? By taking the time and space to pray and reflect and allow God to show us love. The deep discovery of love that knows no end is what makes us real. It is what turns our futile, grey existence into vital, pulsating life. God became flesh to show us what love is. Dare we this Advent open our hearts and minds to love that transforms and make us real? Take time each day to open yourself to God. Meet love and become love whatever the cost and know the truth that Jesus came that ‘we might have life and have it to the full’. Fr Chris Thomas
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On a liturgical note A very Happy Advent to you! The season in which we find ourselves is far more than an extended runup to Christmas Day, despite what the shops and retail outlets would have us believe. Amid the talk of downturn or upturn, quantitative easing or green shoots of recovery, the pressure on us to attempt to ‘buy in’ the spirit of the season – along with the sprouts and bottle of sherry – is a very real one but we should not simply disparage the commercialisation of Christmas. After all ‘The Word was made flesh’ and flesh-and-blood people do eat and drink, give gifts and exchange good wishes – it is all about being human. Where it begins to go a little out of kilter, though, is when we are led to think that the cost of a thing is its true worth – spend a lot on Christmas and it will be a truly ‘happy’ one. It is worth remembering
Sunday thoughts The world is digesting the US mid-term election results. Republicans now dominate both houses of Congress. The visceral loathing for President Obama among Republicans meant that even Democrat candidates avoided reference to him by name. Polarisation is not confined to politics. A trawl of the internet reveals some Catholics distancing themselves from a perceived attempt by Pope Francis to water down the moral certainties of Catholicism. The Synod, in their view, got out of control and a malevolent secular press is misinterpreting what really happened. The faithful are now confused, they claim. Catholics with irregular lifestyles have been given the erroneous impression that it is OK to approach the sacraments. Some scurrilous blogs suggest that Pope Francis has brought his office into disrepute and is an anti-pope. In early October one Sunday gospel from Matthew told the story of guests rejecting a king’s invitation to
Canon Philip Gillespie
that the ‘must have’ purchase of Christmas 2014 is likely to be the ‘that old thing’ of the January sales, so all things are relative. Thus the season of Advent gives us the chance to put things back into their true perspective, and to reenforce the message that the true happiness of the feast of Christmas is not what we eat or drink, or buy or receive, but that gift offered us daily, the gift of Life. ‘I have come that they may have life’ says Jesus, ‘and have it to the full.’ (John, Chapter 10: 10) May that gift of life in its abundance and its fullness be yours and with those who are dear to you – not just for 25th of this month but every day of the year that lies ahead.
Mgr John Devine OBE
his son’s wedding. The king goes on to invite all comers, ‘good and bad alike’, but then expels one hapless guest who is not wearing a wedding garment. One interpretation of the story is that although God’s mercy is universal, it is provisional on an individual’s change of life. You cannot belong on your own terms. Early in November the weekday lectionary featured Luke’s account of the same story. He tells of a banquet rather than a wedding but the rejection of the host’s initial invitation is the same. Once again servants are dispatched to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. And there the story ends. Proving what? In Luke’s account the invitation is unconditional. Come as you are. Does compassion trump orthodoxy? The Bible does not require us to choose. The inspired Word of God allows both versions to exist side by side.
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nugent news Nugent Care AGM: ‘Faith, Hope and Politics’
Caritas in Nugent Care Volunteer and Community Team pictured at Liverpool Town Hall Nugent Care’s Annual General Meeting was held at Liverpool Town Hall on Friday 7 November. It was officially presided over by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool who welcomed guest speaker, Councillor Jane Corbett. Councillor Corbett’s presentation centred round, ‘Faith, Hope and Politics’ highlighting how life has become increasingly difficult for the vulnerable people supported on a daily basis due to cutbacks and changes to services across Merseyside.
services and establishments as far afield as St Helens, Bolton, Southport and Wigan, Nugent Care works to support individuals and communities across the Archdiocese of Liverpool and beyond.
On the day Nugent Care honoured all their volunteers who have achieved over 25 years of service volunteering for Nugent Care. Chair of Trustees, Elisabeth Dodds, presented thirty six people with a gift and certificate of thanks for their service.
Community Teams continue to provide a vital support service to hundreds of individuals across the North West who have learning disabilities, who are Deaf or hard of hearing, or who are older people in need of support or befriending. Other specialist services offered by the Community Teams include a welfare and material aid project, support for homeless people and supported living programmes for adults with learning disabilities.
Nugent Care is a charity that operates across the North West of England. Led by an extremely strong and proactive board of trustees and governors, chaired by Elisabeth Dodds, it is are committed to proactive equal opportunities and welcome diversity in service delivery and employment. The scope and breadth of the work is immense and constantly evolving as aiming to meet the needs of vulnerable and marginalised individuals across the region. With
In an average week the care homes and special schools provide support for hundreds of children, young people and adults. Over 300 volunteers across communities in Merseyside and beyond, clock up over 43,000 hours of voluntary activity each year.
Anyone wishing to volunteer with Nugent Care should download the Volunteer Application Form from the website www.nugentcare.org/volunteering and email it to volunteers@nugentcare.org or contact Volunteers, Nugent Care, 99 Edge Lane, Liverpool L7 2PE. Tel 0151 261 2000.
Christmas is a time of giving when we see incredible generosity and kindness. People give gifts to each other, to friends and family and to those in greatest need. Donations and practical gifts are given as is the precious gift of time. Time spent with relatives and friends and time spent volunteering helping those who may need a friend or who need practical help. This is highlighted every December but those who volunteer enrich many lives every day of the year. Faith communities have a rich tradition in volunteering, none more so than the Catholic Church. Only two weeks ago on the Feast of Christ the King, Matthew’s Gospel quotes the words of Jesus: ‘I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36) Gospel values all of which involve the giving of the gift of time. At Nugent Care we are very lucky to have approximately 300 volunteers who give on average four hours per week. We have over twenty volunteering opportunities from one to one befriending, to driving, administrative support, governance, fundraising, visiting, sorting bedding and food to give out to vulnerable people, and running community groups. Our Charity shop is also run by volunteers, where we have twenty-two volunteers and only one paid member of staff who is the manager. Nugent Care volunteers are the backbone of our community services and we would not be able to reach out to so many vulnerable people in our community without the hard work and commitment of our volunteers. Speaking at the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) reception at the Houses of Parliament last month Cardinal Vincent Nichols mentioned a number of projects including Nugent Care’s ‘New Beginnings’ Project. He said, ‘these, and so many other initiatives, give families the practical help and social consolation they need, especially in difficult periods. It is from this hands-on experience at the heart of our communities that our voice truly springs, with its authenticity and authority, offering insight and experience to public debate.’ This is true of all of our projects, many of which have paid staff like the ‘New Beginnings’ project, but also rely on the ‘hands-on experience’ of our volunteers who really are 'at the heart of our communities' I would like to thank each and every one of our volunteers for their hard work, commitment and dedication. I wish each of them, the people they serve and everyone a Happy Christmas. Kathleen Pitt Chief Executive Nugent Care
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what’s on Tuesday 2 December Dominican Spirituality A talk by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP. An evening, including dinner, organised by the Friends of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. 7.00 pm in the Gibberd Room. Tickets £16.50 from Cathedral House Tel:0151 709 9222. Wednesday 3 December Holy Hour to pray for the people of Iraq and Syria 12.00 noon at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF. Thursday 4 December ‘Exploring the Infancy Narratives.’ Scripture Morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am at Irenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Friday 5 December Advent Service 1.30 pm at Holy Cross and St Helen, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1EF. Saturday 6 December ‘Come and See’ Day ‘Becoming Fully Alive’ led by Father Jim McManus CSsR. 10.00 am to 5.00 pm at Faith Primary School , Prince Edwin Street, Liverpool, L5 3LW. Bookings Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk St Thérèse of Lisieux Pastoral Area Day of Reflection 10.00 am-4.00 pm at St Mark’s, Penman Crescent, Halewood, Liverpool, L26 0UG. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12.00 noon-3.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR. Two Cathedrals’ Messiah with the joint choirs of Liverpool Metropolitan and Liverpool Cathedrals and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Sinfonietta. Conductor: Christopher McElroy. 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk Sunday 7 December Toy Mass 11.30 am at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF. Christmas Fayre 1.30 pm at St Julie’s Parish Hall, Howards Lane, Eccleston, St Helens, WA10 5HJ. Advent Service and Benediction 3.00 pm at St Albert, Hollow Croft, Stockbridge Village, Liverpool, L28 4EA. Christingle Service 3.00 pm at St Anne and Blessed Dominic, Monastery Road, Sutton, WA9 3ZD. Christingle Service 3.00 pm at St Vincent de Paul, Derbyshire Hill Road, St Helens, WA9 2LS.
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Sung Evening Prayer and Benediction 3.30 pm at St Joseph, Saxon Road, Birkdale, PR8 2AY. Advent Devotions and Benediction 3.30 pm at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF. Advent Holy Hour 4.00 pm at Holy Rosary, Altway, Aintree, Liverpool, L10 2LG. ‘Ave Maria: Music for the Blessed Virgin Mary’ with the Choirs of St Mary’s church 4.00 pm at St Mary’s church, Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NS. Admission free. Monday 8 December St Thérèse of Lisieux Pastoral Area Service of Reconciliation 7.00 pm - 8.30 pm at Christ the King and Our Lady church, Queen's Drive, Childwall, L15 6YQ. Service of Reconciliation 7.00 pm at St Anne and Blessed Dominic, Monastery Road, Sutton, WA9 3ZD. ‘Christmas Lights’ for Willowbrook Hospice. 7.00 pm at St Mary’s Parish Church, Church Street, Prescot, L34 3LA. Tuesday 9 December Christmas Concert by the Pilkington Choir 7.30 pm at St Peter and St Paul, Woodlands Road, Haresfinch, St Helens, WA11 9AQ. Tickets £4 from Jacqueline Monnelly Tel: 01744 21909 or pay at the door. Wednesday 10 December Holy Hour to pray for the people of Iraq and Syria 12.00 noon at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF. Schools’ Advent Service 2.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Led e by All Hallows High School, Penwortham, Preston Service of Reconciliation 7.00 pm at St Vincent de Paul, Derbyshire Hill Road, St Helens, WA9 2LS. Thursday 11 December to Saturday 13 December Crib Festival Christ the King and Our Lady's church, Queens Drive, Childwall, L15 6YQ Open: Thursday and Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and from 6.00 pm 8.30pm; Saturday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. To raise funds for the Bethlehem Crèche in the Holy Land.
Christ the King. In aid of Children in Need. Tickets £5.00 from the BBC Shop in Hanover Street. (The Carol Service will be recorded for broadcast on Christmas Eve at 5.30pm.) Saturday 13 December Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12.00 noon-3.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR. Christmas Celebration Concert With the Cathedral Cantata Choir, Carleton House School Choir and Cathedral Orchestra. 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk Sunday 14 December Shorter Evening Prayer and Britten’s ‘Ceremony of Carols’ 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Service of Reconciliation 3.00 pm at St Austin, Heath Street, Thatto Heath, St Helens, WA9 5NN. Sung Evening Prayer and Benediction 3.30 pm at St Joseph, Saxon Road, Birkdale, PR8 2AY. Advent Devotions and Benediction 3.30 pm at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF. Jospice Light up a Life Service led by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon Celebrating 40 years of care at the Liverpool Hospice. Carols begin at 4.00 pm followed by a short service of remembrance and switching on of the lights at 4.30pm. Open air Service at St Joseph’s Hospice, Ince Road, Thornton, Liverpool, L23 4UE. Carol Service 7.00 pm at St Bartholomew, Warrington Road, Rainhill, Prescot, L35 6NY. Monday 15 December Service of Reconciliation 7.30 pm at the Most Holy Redeemer and St Kentigern, Waddicar Lane, Melling, L31 1BS. Service of Reconciliation for children and young families 6.30 pm at St Bartholomew, Warrington Road, Rainhill, Prescot, L35 6NY. Penitential Service 7.30 pm at St Mary, Church Road, Woolton, Liverpool, L25 5JF.
Thursday 11 December Schools’ Advent Service 2.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Led e by All Hallows High School, Penwortham, Preston
Tuesday 16 December Bethlehem Peace Light Service 6.30 pm at St Anne and Blessed Dominic, Monastery Road, Sutton, WA9 3ZD.
Friday 12 December BBC Radio Merseyside Christmas Carol Service 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of
Ecumenical Carol Service 7.30 pm at Holy Family, Hall Lane, Cronton, WA8 5DP.
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december Penitential Service 7.30 pm at Our Lady of the Annunciation, Bishop Eton, Woolton Road, Liverpool Penitential Service 7.30 pm at St Anne, Prescot Road, Ormskirk, L39 4TG. Mass of Reconciliation 7.30 pm at St Bartholomew, Warrington Road, Rainhill, Prescot, L35 6NY.
Sunday 21 December Children’s Nativity 3.00 pm at St Thomas More, Rundle Road, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 0AG. Sung Evening Prayer and Benediction 3.30 pm at St Joseph, Saxon Road, Birkdale, PR8 2AY. Advent Devotions and Benediction 3.30 pm at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF. Christingle Celebration of Christmas 4.00 pm at St Elizabeth, Hall Road, Scarisbrick, Ormskirk, L40 9QE.
Healing Mass 7.30 pm at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF.
Joint Carol Service for Our Lady’s and St Mary’s Parish Church, Prescot 6.30 pm in St Mary’s Parish Church, Church Street, Prescot, L34 3LA.
Friday 19 December St Charles Borromeo Pastoral Area Service of Reconciliation 7.30 pm at St Bede, Appleton Village, Widnes, WA8 6EL.
Local Schools Joint Carol Service 6.30pm in Holy Family church, Platt Bridge, Wigan, WN2 5LL. Mass of Reconciliation 7.00 pm at Saint Benedict’s Church, Market Street, Hindley, Wigan, WN2 3AA.
Monday 22 December Service of Reconciliation 7.00 pm at Our Lady and All Saints, Lancaster Lane, Parbold, Wigan, WN8 7HS.
Saturday 20 December Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12.00 noon-3.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR.
Penitential Service 7.00 pm at St Joseph, Saxon Road, Birkdale, PR8 2AY. St Charles Borromeo Pastoral Area Carol Service 7.00 pm at St Michael’s, St Michael’s Road, Ditton, Widnes, WA8 8TF.
Penance Service 7.30 pm at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF.
Service of Reconciliation 7.30 pm at St Mary, Prescot Road, Aughton, Ormskirk, L39 6TA.
Thursday 18 December Mass of Reconciliation 7.00 pm at St Luke the Evangelist, Shaw Lane, Whiston, Prescot, L35 5AT.
‘Light up a Life Service.’ 12.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, organised by Nugent Care. Why not dedicate a light on the ‘Tree of Light’ to celebrate the life of a loved one, past or present. Details Tel: 0151 261 4498.
Service of Lessons and Carols 7.30 pm at St Charles Borromeo, Aigburth Road, Liverpool, L17 9PG.
or Tel: 0151 928 3629 (9.00 am - 5.00 pm weekdays.) Proceeds to: Autism Initiatives, Lifeline Sefton and Woodlands Hospice.
Mass of Reconciliation 7.30 pm at St Theresa of the Child Jesus, Gartons Lane, Sutton Manor, St Helens, WA9 4RR.
Wednesday 17 December Holy Hour to pray for the people of Iraq and Syria 12.00 noon at St George, Station Road, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 3DF.
Advent Penitential Service 7.30 pm at St Albert, Hollow Croft, Stockbridge Village, Liverpool, L28 4EA.
Service of Reconciliation 7.30 pm at St John the Evangelist, Chapel Lane, Lathom, Burscough, L40 7RA.
Carol Service 7.00 pm at Our Lady of the Annunciation, Bishop Eton, Woolton Road, Liverpool.
Service of Reconciliation 3.00 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. A Dickensian Christmas Concert with the choirs of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Liverpool Suzuki Violin Group 7.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk ‘An Evening of Christmas Music and Carols’ With Waterloo-based St. Edmund's Choir and the Skelmersdale Prize Band. 7.45 pm in the Concert Room, St. George's Hall. Tickets, £12 from www.stedmundschoir.com
Christmas at the Metropolitan cathedral of Christ the King Sunday 21 December 5.00 pm Cathedral Festival Carol Service A mix of seasonal music and readings as well as congregational carols that will have something for the whole family. Refreshments will be served after the Service. Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24 December 3.00 pm First Vespers of Christmas Sung by the Cathedral Girls’ Choir. During the Service the Christmas Crib, situated in the Unity Chapel, will be blessed.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Advent Meditation 7.00 pm at Holy Family church, Mackets Lane, Liverpool, L25 8TG. Service of Reconciliation 7.30 pm at Holy Rosary, Altway, Aintree, Liverpool, L10 2LG. Tuesday 23 December Service of Reconciliation 7.00 pm at St Mark’s, Penman Crescent, Halewood, Liverpool, L26 0UG. Details of Services and Christmas Mass times will be available on the Archdiocesan website during December. www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk
Christmas Day: Thursday 25 December MidnightMidnight Mass of Christmas Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP 8.30 am Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel) 10.00 am Family Mass (Crypt) 11.00 am Solemn Mass (Cathedral) NB There will be no 7.00 pm Mass in the Crypt on Christmas Day. St Stephen’s Day: Friday 26 December 9.45 am Morning Prayer (Blessed Sacrament Chapel) 10.00 am Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
More details at :www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk or www.catholicpic.co.uk Catholic Pictorial
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profile From Fazakerly to the Vatican’s foreign ministry by Simon Hart E began his life as a priest at Holy Name parish in Fazakerley where he was also a chaplain to the local hospital. Today, almost four decades on, Archbishop Paul Gallagher is one of the Vatican’s leading diplomats, following his appointment as Secretary for Relations with States.
H
It sounds like an almighty leap, yet for Archbishop Gallagher there is a strong thread linking his old life in Liverpool Archdiocese, where he was ordained by Archbishop Derek Worlock in the Metropolitan Cathedral in 1977, with his new one as, effectively, Foreign Minister for the Holy See. ‘I have never done anything in my life as a papal diplomat that I felt was not strengthening and deepening the communion that exists between my work, my Archbishop here in Liverpool and the Catholic community of the city,’ said the 60-year-old. ‘I see it as an extension – simply a continuation of the work that I’ve always done as a priest, first in Liverpool and then throughout the world.’ The one-time St Francis Xavier’s College pupil left Liverpool to study at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, where he graduated in 1984 with a Doctorate in Canon Law. Recalling his entry into the diplomatic world, he said: ‘Vocation to the priesthood is a vocation to working for the Church and therefore of responding in whatever way to what the Church asks of you. In the late 70s when I was invited to go to Rome to study for the diplomacy there was nobody at that time from the British Isles involved in the Papal Diplomatic Service and it was seen as a gap which needed to be filled. Therefore I said, ‘I’ll give it a try’. I went and did the studies and survived the academy.’ He has done rather more than just survive in what he describes as ‘one of the most ancient diplomatic agencies in the world’. After postings to Tanzania, Uruguay and the Philippines, he became the representative of the Holy See at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. In 2004, he was ordained Archbishop and appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi. He filled the same role
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Archbishop Paul Gallagher subsequently in Guatemala (2009-12) and then Australia (from 2012) before the confirmation of his new position on 10 November. Archbishop Gallagher believes that ‘everywhere you go in the world, the Catholic Church and in particular the Pope enjoys a moral authority that is unparalleled’, yet he acknowledged on his appointment that the present political climate is particularly testing. ‘My appointment as Secretary for Relations with States comes at a time when the world is facing many serious challenges,’ he said. ‘I am convinced that diplomacy remains an indispensable tool in the pursuit of peace and harmony between nations.’ His duties in this new role include responsibility for the Holy See’s
diplomatic relations with states, and its presence in international organisations and conferences. Archishop Malcolm McMahon described it as ‘a great honour for our archdiocese that a Liverpool priest has been chosen for this important international role.’ Archbishop Gallagher himself concurred: ‘In making this nomination Pope Francis has done me a great honour, for which I humbly thank him. It will be a privilege to work with the Holy Father, who has established himself as an important voice at a critical moment.’
‘I am convinced that diplomacy remains an indispensable tool in the pursuit of peace and harmony between nations’
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youth ministry
Variety is spice of life for Animate team From the Crystal Maze to the Blackpool Illuminations via dinner with the Archishop, Chris Jones reports on another lively month at Lowe House… Before the countdown to Christmas began in earnest, we had a busy November at Animate Youth Ministries. The month started with the team going to the Metropolitan Cathedral for the Embrace Youth Conference, where we enjoyed the workshops and talks and testimonies from guest speakers – and caught up with many old friends. Our work with schools then continued with pupils from St Augustine’s, St Helens and St
Edmund Arrowsmith, Whiston. With St Augustine’s, we had two mission days in the school with Year 7-10 pupils and explored the theme of ‘Living our mission’ through workshops and assemblies. With St Edmund Arrowsmith, we ran a series of day retreats over a threeweek period here at Lowe House. The pupils involved were from Years 7-9 and we looked at a varied assortment of themes from ‘Entering in a new community’ to ‘The call to discipleship’. Working with three different year groups over three weeks was a special opportunity – and it was also special because we
rolled out something new, the Crystal Maze! Yes, that much-loved TV show became a reality for the Year 7 pupils as they raced round Lowe House finding crystals to win the game… and sparking debates between team members about who was winning. Some things never change! We also had the opportunity last month to invite Archbishop Malcolm McMahon over for prayer and an evening meal. This was a welcome opportunity for the new team to get to know our Archbishop and for him to get to know us. I think he enjoyed himself, and thankfully he survived Father Simon’s cooking… phew! The team certainly enjoyed our evening and we look forward to working with Archbishop Malcolm in the coming year and beyond. November would not be complete without Animate’s annual trip to Blackpool, and so we all jumped into the minibus to head to see the lights, followed by the customary fish and chips (including an ice cream sundae in Tom’s case). Then it was on to the arcades for some games and even a ghost ride where, I am happy to report, no Animate team members were harmed! Another important event for us in November was the arrival of the first application forms for the Lourdes pilgrimage. With a constant stream of visitors calling at Lowe House the place gets very busy for those first few days after the forms go online. Some sources say that the first form through the door was at 9.23 – precisely 23 minutes after the forms went online – and we look forward to a very blessed pilgrimage next July as the preparations begin in earnest. Upcoming events • Application forms for both World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland and the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land are online and available to download. If you are interested in either, please feel free to email or call us on admin@animateyouth.co.uk or 01744 740462. • If you are interested in sharing your faith with other young people you may be interested in joining the Animate Team. Get in touch on the above number for more details.
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justice & peace
Whose world is it? By Steve Atherton, Justice and Peace fieldworker Our TVs and newspapers are a strange mix at the moment: heavy with adverts encouraging us to have a magical Christmas, advising us on what gifts to buy and yet also slamming us with pictures and reports on the horrors happening across the world – from IS in Syria to Ebola in Liberia. The season of Advent is neither Lent – so there is no need to fast – nor Christmas, so it is too early to feast. It is a time of waiting. We can easily lose the focus of waiting in hopeful expectation for the coming of our Lord and instead get caught up in the commercial Christmas based on waiting for expensive presents and a feast of food. Of course, people show great generosity at Christmas too. The coming of Jesus should be a cause for joy and it is a wonderful thing to give joy to family and friends. But how do we wait for the coming of the Kingdom of God? How can we prepare for a time when there will be loving kindness, compassion, harmony, inclusiveness and justice? According to Catholic Social Teaching all human beings are of equal dignity and worth. CST says the world is for everyone – for poor and rich, sick and healthy, old and young, weak and strong; for the stranger as well as the family member. It is awful that as we prepare for Christmas our government has decided that it cannot give any money to save the lives of some of the world’s most desperate people. We
have withdrawn support from Mare Nostrum, the Italian government’s search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean that has rescued thousands of people whose boats had capsized or were drifting aimlessly across the sea. This year has seen more than 2,500 refugees – many fleeing IS – drown in the Mediterranean. Sarah Teather MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, said: ‘This decision is deeply depressing. We would rather let people drown for nothing other than baseless political motives. It shows that when it comes to immigration, the Government has plumbed new depths of inhumanity.
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The only outcome of withdrawing help will be to witness more people needlessly and shamefully dying on Europe’s doorstep. The answer isn’t to build the walls of fortress Europe higher, it’s to provide more safe and legal channels for people to access protection.’
We cannot pretend this problem has nothing to do with us. It is the policies we are pursuing, attempting to turn Europe into a fortress with no safe routes in, that are forcing migrants into risking their lives. We are forcing people to choose between dying in their own war-torn country and drowning in the sea.
Louise Zanre, director of Jesuit Refugee Services said: ‘People are being forced to flee across the Mediterranean in unseaworthy boats and in overcrowded conditions. No one makes that choice if he or she does not have to. We should not make this a tragedy worse by refusing to rescue them.’
While we agree to bomb IS and dish out weapons to other groups in the Middle East, we offer no protection to those fleeing the conflict. Instead we have to listen as ministers claim that UK towns are ‘under siege’ from migrants.’
It is surely possible to accept that anxiety about immigration is real and has to be addressed without denying people’s human dignity. It is not acceptable to speak of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers as a kind of infection. Advent calls us to live in the Kingdom of peace, compassion, justice and joy.
The British Refugee Council chief executive, Maurice Wren, said: ‘The
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British government seems oblivious to the fact that the world is in the grip of the greatest refugee crisis since the Second World War. People fleeing atrocities will not stop coming if we stop throwing them life-rings; boarding a rickety boat in Libya will remain a seemingly rational decision if you’re running for your life and your country is in flames.
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cathedral
O Magnum Mysterium: New Cathedral Choir CD
Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean
by Christopher McElroy
We begin the month of December at the Cathedral by hosting a few days of Winter Graduation Ceremonies for Liverpool University.
Wondering what to buy your relatives for Christmas? Look no further than the new Christmas CD recorded by Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir. The disc opens with the full cathedral choir singing the traditional entrance hymn of Midnight Mass ‘O Come, All ye Faithful’ with a special new fanfare played by the brass quartet. The stage having been set, the choir then sings the 19th Century carol ‘Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day’ set to music by the English composer John Gardner. The familiar ‘Lourdes Hymn’ beloved by Catholics is sung on the CD to a setting of words by the Venerable Bede tracing the story of Mary’s call, assent and birth of her Son, Jesus Christ. The title track of the CD ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ is here set to music by Los Angeles based composer, Morten Laurisden. The story of the birth of the Christ child is expressed in beautifully exquisite harmony which matched to the acoustic of our Cathedral cannot fail to send a shiver down your spine. The Cathedral acoustic again comes into its own with Anton Bruckner’s setting of ‘Virga Jesse’ which ranges in dynamic level from the full choir fortissimo though to the hushed pianissimo. Early twentieth century English composers are well represented on the disc: from William Walton comes ‘All this time’ a macaronic poem (alternating between English and Latin) and Herbert Howells the luscious ‘A Spotless Rose.’ James MacMillan is today one of the foremost Catholic
Cathedral Record
I’m not sure whether these were booked here following the success of the Summer events or out of fear that the Philharmonic Hall refurbishment wouldn’t be finished in time. Anyway it means that the first week of Advent will be free of the diet of Carol concerts and services that take place daily throughout the month with the week ending with a Grand Two Cathedrals performance of Handel’s Messiah at our Cathedral on Saturday 7 December at 7.30 pm. composers, equally at home composing for the church or the concert hall. The disc features his striking setting of the one of the O antiphons (from the liturgy in the days leading up to Christmas) ‘O Radiant Dawn.’ Other well known carols featured include (some in brand new arrangements!) ‘Ding Dong! Merrily on High’, ‘Joy to the World’, ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ and ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’. Slightly off the beaten track arrangements include ‘The Darkest Midnight’ a haunting Irish melody and ‘When a child is born’ made famous in the 1970’s by Johnny Mathis. The disc features the boy and girl choristers, lay clerks, brass quartet and the Cathedral organ played by Richard Lea all directed by Cathedral Director of Music, Dr Christopher McElroy. To purchase copies of the new CD (£12.50 inc P&P) simply head to the Cathedral website www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk and follow the link. Alternatively CD’s can be bought by phoning the music office on 0151 708 7283.
The Schools Advent Services are to be held at 2.00 pm on 10 and 11 December. All Hallows School, Penwortham, volunteered to co-ordinate these two services, so thankfully I can keep my kings costume and camel locked away for this year. The following evening BBC Radio Merseyside have their Carol Service here at 7.30 pm involving all their presenters. This is then broadcast over the Christmas period so we all have to pretend on the night that it is Christmas Eve. With so much happening each day at the Cathedral in the lead up to Christmas it is impossible to refer to all the services and events so I will highlight only a few . We have our Advent Reconciliation Service on Saturday 21 at 3.00 pm, there is the Dickensian Carol Concert that evening at 7.00 pm and our Festival Carol Service at 5.00 pm on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Our Celebration of the Feast of Christmas begins with First Vespers of Christmas and Blessing of the Crib at 3.00 pm on Christmas Eve. Archbishop Malcolm will preside at Midnight Mass and there are a number of Masses on Christmas morning finishing with Solemn Mass incorporating the Christmas daytime readings and full choir at 11.00 am.
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Pic extras
Mums the Word
News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba
Knights show strong support for Embrace
Dear Mums, Another year is almost over and the shops are in full swing with gifts and special foods for us to celebrate Christmas. The weeks of Advent are so important for us to reflect and pray on the true meaning of what we are celebrating, the birth of our saviour, Jesus Christ. Reflecting on the year gone by, it was wonderful to welcome our new Archbishop Malcolm McMahon in May, and also to receive a visit to our Cathedral from Cardinal Vincent Nichols. Meanwhile, our national ecclesiastical adviser, Bishop Terence Brain, celebrated his golden jubilee and retired, we will miss his support. Further afield, Pope Francis has canonised two popes whom we have known – St John XXIII and St John Paul II. Also, Pope Paul VI was made a Blessed in October at the closing of the Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family Life. In September, 26 of our members went on pilgrimage to Aylesford, staying at The Friars, such a peaceful and lovely setting. We were very privileged to have a private Mass in Canterbury Cathedral, thanks to Father Mark Madden. I would like to thank all our spiritual advisers for all the guidance and help given to us throughout the year. Thank you also to all our foundations for the invaluable help given to your priests and parishes, especially at Christmas; thanks also for your generous gifts and food parcels to families in need and to those living alone to show them they are not forgotten.
Our order was one of the main sponsors and Brother Danny Grimes, the grand knight of council 9, addressed an audience of young visitors at the event, with Bro John Hamilton, the provincial grand knight, taking questions afterwards.
Peace and joy to you and your families. See you on 7 January at St Mary’s, Woolton.
We used the occasion to launch our new Provincial pop-up banner which is featured here in the photo. Also in the picture are (L-R) Bro Mike Nolan, our provincial action and youth officer, who played a major part in the KSC’s contribution; Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, who was celebrant at the closing ceremony Mass; Bro John Hamilton; Bro Pat McCole, council 9’s action and youth officer; and Bro Jim Murphy, council 9 member.
God Bless, Angela Moore, Archdiocesan president
In his foreword in the conference programme booklet, Archbishop Malcolm wrote that Embrace-
I will conclude with an extract from Pope Francis’s Christmas message in 2013: ‘Christmas isn’t just a temporal celebration, or a memory of a beautiful event, Christmas is something more; Christmas is an encounter with the Lord.’
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The KSC played an active role in the Embrace-Liverpool Youth Conference at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 1 November.
Catholic Pictorial
Liverpool had been organised by young people for young people to show that the Church is very much alive and cares for them. The conference provided them with an opportunity to get involved with the many charities and societies in the Archdiocese and he asked all to ‘embrace’ the opportunity. • Congratulations to our five new members – Phil Woods, Tony Hogan, John Boyle, Charles Williams and Rob Jardine – admitted to the KSC at a Mass at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St Swithin’s on 2 November. We thank Father Kenny Hyde and his parishioners for the warm welcome received. • Council 9’s September sponsored walk raised the magnificent amount of £4,540 for HCPT, so many thanks to all parishioners in south Liverpool for their overwhelming support. Websites: www.ksc.org.uk and www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: DPOKeane@aol.com
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Assent Liverpool Building Control Unit 5 Deacon Park Moorgate Road, Knowsley Merseyside L33 7RX Tel: 0151 548 6330 Fax: 0151 548 6360 Email: adminliverpool@assentbc.co.uk
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Makerfield Systems would like to wish everyone a Happy and Holy Christmas For Quality and Reliability Call: Tel: 01942 726890 Mobile: 07768573099 www.makerfieldsystems.co.uk E-Mail:info@makerfieldsound.co.uk Catholic Pictorial
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join in Christmas Cards from Carmel
PIC Life An angel at your side By Moira Billinge
If you are about to buy your Christmas cards do consider the lovely ones on sale at Carmel. Contact the card office on 0151 724 7102 or email: marytoncards@outlook.com or visit the monastery. Monday-Friday 10.00am-3.00pm. Maryton Grange, Allerton Road, Liverpool L18 3NU
More Mullarkey From Johnny Kennedy The young curate’s latest craze is a motorbike. It cost him £45 and breaks down every week. Father Mullarkey was relaxing in the kitchen with his paper, a cup of tea and a packet of chocolate digestives, when the door opened to reveal a glum-looking YC. ‘Has your motorbike bit the dust again?’ he asked. ‘No,’ said the YC. ‘So what's up?’ ‘I left it outside Aldi and when I came out, it had gone.’ ‘You mean somebody actually pinched it?’ said the auld fella in amazement. ‘Yes,’ said the YC. ‘And they left an envelope with two pound coins in and a note saying ‘I’ve moved the scrap metal from outside the shop. Please accept the two quid’.’ Fr Mullarkey hid behind his paper. 28
Catholic Pictorial
IN THE last two years of Canon Francis Ripley’s life, when his hands were no longer sufficiently agile or free of pain to use his beloved typewriter, I had the enormous privilege of typing for him. He would dictate into a tape recorder in the peace of his Lourdes Hospital room and I would then type it all up at home. Canon Ripley, who was once the parish priest of St Edmund Arrowsmith in Ashton-in-Makerfield, had been a prolific writer throughout his life, one of his most famous books being ‘This Is The Faith’. He was a wonderful priest with a profound love of God and his Church. There were many converts to the Catholic Church as a result of his catechesis and example. He had a deep devotion to Our Lady, and was a personal friend of Frank Duff who founded the Legion of Mary in 1921. Their handbook on which he based many of his talks (Allocutios) was never out of his sight, though I think he probably knew it off by heart. Despite being confined to a wheelchair as his health deteriorated, he continued to deliver the Allocutios to Legion of Mary groups – or Praesidia – until not long before he died. Canon Ripley loved angels and never tired of speaking about them. They played a considerable part in his life. He talked about them easily and with passion. He used to say: ‘Whenever we go to visit a sick person, our guardian angel meets theirs.’ He also said: ‘After the consecration at each Mass, legions of angels prostrate themselves before almighty God.’ Angels are always referred to as ‘he’ and they have figured in some of the major events in Scripture. The New Testament
mentions them frequently; for instance, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Our Lady at the Annunciation and angels carried messages to St Joseph and the shepherds. They foretold the birth and ministry of John the Baptist to Zachary. They also ministered to Jesus after His temptation in the wilderness and in the Garden of Gethsemane. On Easter Sunday morning, when the women came to the tomb in which they had laid the body of the crucified Jesus, they found not Jesus, but angels. Angels also liberated Saints Peter and Paul from prison. Canon Francis Ripley would have been delighted by the devotion of his namesake, Pope Francis, to the angels. The Pope said on the feast of the Guardian Angels on 2 October that they ‘do indeed exist and they help believers make good decisions’. He added that the doctrine on angels is not fantasist, but reality and that ‘according to Church tradition we all have an angel with us, who protects us and helps us understand things.’ Or as Psalm 91:10-12 puts it: ‘A heavenly spirit assigned by God to watch over each of us during our lives.’ The Pope has also encouraged people to examine their relationship with these angels, to say good morning to them and ask for protection at night. Years ago a prayer to our guardian angels was included in the prayers at the beginning and end of every school day. I hope that we will, one day, return to that beautiful practice. Prayer to our Guardian Angel Angel of God my guardian dear, To whom God’s love, commits me here. Ever this day (or night) be at my side, To light, to guard, to rule and to guide. Amen.
Audio copy of the Pic out now An audio version of the ‘Catholic Pictorial’ is available free of charge, compiled by students, technicians and Chaplain, Helen Molyneux, at All Hallows RC High School, Penwortham Anyone interested in receiving the audio copy should contact Kevin Lonergan Tel: 01772 744148 or 01772 655433 (home).
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Cath Pic/Options Travel Pilgrimage to the Holy Land From Frank Silcock, Our Lady Star of The Sea Parish On September 29 we left Liverpool for Manchester Airport where we met up with the rest of our party for our flight to Tel Aviv. We were led on our journey by Father Peter Morgan and Father Richard Sloan. Our flight was smooth and enjoyable and we were met at Tel Aviv by our guide Usama, who helped us in every way and amazed us with his knowledge. Our first two nights were spent in Bethlehem before we went onto Jerusalem. We visited the Church of the Nativity, the Grotto of the Holy Manger and the Chapel of Saint Catherine. Then onto the Shepherds Fields and the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of the Agony as well as the Cenacle Room. We traveled along the Dead Sea to Masada, Samaria and Tayben and of course the Sea of Galilee, as well as many other Holy Places. Our visit to the Holy Land was a never to be forgotten experience much enjoyed by everyone who made the pilgrimage.
Above: Time to relax Below: Elijahs Cave
Stephen Reeds, Frank Silcock and Ron Smith on the Guiding Star coach
Our boat awaits
Basilica of the Annunciation
Float in the Dead Sea
Grotto of the Holy Manger
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We would like to wish you all a Peaceful and Holy Christmas 30
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