Cathpic march 2014 by Educate Magazine

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20p from each sale goes to your parish Issue 114 MARCH 2014

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ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL

Walking through Lent with Pope Francis Celebrating Marriage and Family Life Supporting Healthcare Honours for Archbishop Emeritus

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Catholic Pictorial

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contents Welcome The coming week brings us Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Season of Lent, so look ahead at the opportunities offered to prepare for Easter. ‘The Joy of the Gospel. Walking through Lent with Pope Francis’ gives an opportunity for discussion and reflection in every parish. Based on the Apostolic Exhortation ‘Evangeli Gaudium’ the series links in with the themes of the Lenten Gospels. This month’s ‘Whats On’ pages give an insight into what will be happening in the coming weeks in many of our parishes. From traditional and much loved devotions through to thought provoking discussion and quiet prayer, there is something there for everyone. We also take time to look back over the last few weeks and particularly reflect on the Mass celebrated for marriage and family life and the Mass with and for those who work in healthcare. Celebrations which touch deeply the human heart and opportunities to thank God for life itself. This month will see Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, the mother Church of his ‘home’ Diocese. Sunday 16 March will give us all a chance to join in prayer with him to thank him for his work and to offer support in the years to come. Congratulations and welcome home your eminence!

Contents 4

Main Feature Walking through Lent with Pope Francis Lent 2014 in the Archdiocese

From the Bishop’s desk

News From around the Archdiocese

‘Spring has sprung – the grass has ris I wonder where the birdies is’ Good poetry, bad English, but those first lines always come to mind at this time of the year, particularly for LENT, and that is just around the corner. The question asked of all of us is: how are you preparing for EASTER? It is a time for asking ourselves serious questions. Serious, because of who and what we are, and personal, because it asks us whether we really take our faith seriously. How does it relate to our personal opinions? (Often formed by popular culture and peer pressure and what comes easy) and does it really matter? We are judged by what we do, or don’t do, in many cases. Do we have control of our own destiny? or, to put it another way: ‘if it was against the law to follow the Teachings of Our Blessed Lord, would there be any evidence to convict us?’ Lent is about living simply, about controlling our appetites, about gaining control of who we are. We can either do without, or we can give more of ourselves. We receive Ashes to realise that ‘we are but dust’ and ‘to dust we will return’, sobering words for all mankind, but especially for the morally short-sighted, those who live just for the pleasure of today without thinking of the consequences of tomorrow. Let us make the Resurrection of Our Lord a personal experience which is part of the essence of who we are.

14 Spotlight Ralph Ferrigno Man of the Pic 15 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese 18 Animate Youth Ministry Sharing expertise with others 19 Profile Lizzie McManus School Chaplain 25 Justice and Peace Why risk is Archbishop Romero’s legacy 25 Cathedral Record Civic award for the Cathedral 26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC 28 Pic Life Turning to God in our hour of need

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 Pictures: Cover and main feature: Tom Murphy Advertising Andrew Rogers 0151 709 7567 Publisher 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS

Copy deadline April issue 10 March 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.

29 Join In Family Fun More Mullarkey

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Walking through Lent with Pope Francis Lent 2014 in the Archdiocese ext Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent begins a time for penance, for conversion and for preparation for the great Feast of Easter.

Each year across the Archdiocese there are many courses, reflections, services and devotions to help us along our Lenten journey, whether an early morning Mass or an evening reflection or vigil these are more than just events on a list, they are stepping stones to Easter. Pope Francis has published his message for Lent and his Apostolic Exhortation, ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ will provide for much reflection. In his message he speaks of Lent as ‘our path of conversion as individuals and as a community’. He speaks of ‘Christ’s grace’ and ‘our witness’ taking his theme from St Paul. He says: ‘These insights are inspired by the words of Saint Paul: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). ‘The Apostle was writing to the Christians of Corinth to encourage them to be generous in helping the faithful in Jerusalem who were in need. What do these words of Saint Paul mean for us Christians today? What does this invitation to poverty, a life of evangelical poverty, mean for us today?’ In speaking of ‘Christ’s grace’ the Pope says ‘Christ’s love is different’ and 4

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talks of Christ’s ‘poverty which is rich and his richness which is poor’. He says: ‘what gives us true freedom, true salvation and true happiness is the compassion, tenderness and solidarity of his love. Christ’s poverty which enriches us is his taking flesh and bearing our weaknesses and sins as an expression of God’s infinite mercy to us. Christ’s poverty is the greatest treasure of all: Jesus’ wealth is that of his boundless confidence in God the Father, his constant trust, his desire always and only to do the Father’s will and give glory to him.’ Pope Francis talks of ‘Our witness’ and the alleviation of poverty: ‘God’s wealth passes not through our wealth, but invariably and exclusively through our personal and communal poverty, enlivened by the Spirit of Christ...In imitation of our Master, we Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it.’ He then explains three types of destitution: material, moral and spiritual and addressing us all says: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, may this Lenten season find the whole Church ready to bear witness to all those who live in material, moral and spiritual destitution the Gospel message of the merciful love of God our Father, who is ready to embrace everyone in Christ. We can do this to the extent that we imitate Christ who became poor and enriched us by his poverty. ‘Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we

would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.’ He concludes, ‘I pray that each individual member of the faithful and every Church community will undertake a fruitful Lenten journey. I ask all of you to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and Our Lady keep you safe.’ Food for thought from Pope Francis and plenty of food for thought in the Archdiocese this Lent. Two months ago we reported on the Apostolic Exhortation ‘Evangelii Gaudium’; ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ and it is this which forms a major part of our Lenten journey for 2014. ‘The Joy of the Gospel. Walking through Lent with Pope Francis’ will be available in all parishes and can be downloaded from the Archdiocesan website. For Pope Francis, the way to recover a missionary spirit in the Church is to rediscover the joy of the Gospel, to experience a personal encounter with Jesus, through reflecting on his words and actions. This resource aims to help groups to reflect on some of the major themes of ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ in relation to the Gospel stories we receive on the Sundays of Lent. On the First Sunday of Lent, 9 March, we hear Matthew’s account of the temptation of Jesus. As Jesus is tempted to give up or distort his mission, we reflect on the temptations Pope Francis has described that could stop us from carrying out our mission to share the joy of the Gospel.

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feature ‘May this Lenten season find the whole Church ready to bear witness’

The Second Sunday of Lent, 16 March, we hear of the Transfiguration. As Peter, James and John see Jesus in a new way, we reflect on what Pope Francis writes about our personal encounter with Jesus and the effect it can have in our lives. John’s Gospel tells us of the conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well on the Third Sunday of Lent, 23 March. As we hear how Jesus welcomed the Samaritan woman at the well, we reflect on the Holy Father's words about how our parish communities are called to be welcoming and inclusive. On 30 March, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, we hear from John’s Gospel again and the healing of the man born blind. The story of the blind man cured by Jesus leads us to reflect on what Pope Francis says about our vocation as missionary disciples. The Fifth Sunday of Lent, 6 April, gives us the Raising of Lazarus. The raising of Lazarus prompts us to reflect on the Holy Father's challenge to fight against injustice, to set people free from everything that binds them.

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feature

Above: Lenten early morning Mass on Thursdays at St Joseph’s, Penketh.

Throughout Lent these resources are available to groups, large or small, for discussion and reflection and may be downloaded from the Archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk During Lent there will be services, reflections and devotions taking place throughout the Archdiocese. Early morning Masses will be celebrated including every Thursday at 6.30 am at St Joseph’s, Penketh and on Fridays, 7.00 am at St Matthew, Clubmoor and 7.15 am at St Edmund of Canterbury, Waterloo. Parish newsletters will carry details of many more early morning celebrations.

‘The way to recover a missionary spirit in the Church is to rediscover the joy of the Gospel’ 6

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Reflections will be led during Mass by Father Tom Leigh on Monday evenings: 17, 24 and 31 March at 7.30 pm in Waterloo. His themes will be ‘Lent: a time of renewal’; ‘Our Lady’ and ‘Prayer’. Father Tom will also be preaching at a service of Reconciliation at St Edmund’s on Monday 14 April at 7.45 pm. St Bede’s, Widnes, provides the setting for a series of reflections by Father Andrew Robinson. ‘Pondering the Parables’ has a 7.45 pm start on

Wednesdays 12, 19, 26 March and April 2. Parables include the Good Samaritan, the Workers in the Vineyard and the Prodigal Son. There are reflections from Father Chris Thomas and the Irenaeus Team. ‘Baptised into Hope’ will take place on the Tuesdays of Lent at 7.30 pm at St Kentigern’s, Melling; on the Wednesdays of Lent at 7.30 pm at St Oswald’s, Old Swan and at 10.30 am on the Thursdays of Lent at Irenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo. In addition on Thursdays 13, 20 and 27 March at Irenaeus there will be ‘Pondering the Joy of the Gospel’ at 7.30 pm. Father Brendan Rice will also lead a Scripture Weekend: ‘Grace, a free gift from a loving God’ at Irenaeus from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 March. Further details from Irenaeus on 0151 949 1199 or email jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Details of Lenten events from throughout the Archdiocese can be found on the ‘Whats On’ pages and also on the Archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

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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: post@merseymirror.com

‘Let your light shine’

‘Let your light shine’ was a Children’s Liturgy afternoon at the Centre for Evangelisation writes Eleanor Lalley. A group of Children’s Liturgy of the Word catechists and musicians gathered to be inspired by Jo Boyce and Andrew Moss of CJM Music. Being a Catechist for Children’s Liturgy of the Word is often one the most agreeable roles in any parish, but that does not mean that inspiration and good ideas are not always welcome. With her inimitable energy and humour, Jo led everyone present to dream of new ways to use music and catechesis in Children’s Liturgy. We were led through new music, sign language and especially psalm refrains that could be used with children. Alongside her on the keyboard, Andrew recounted his experiences leading Sunday school in a large evangelical church, including working with scripture and video making. The vision of a high tech Children’s Liturgy of the Word was challenging and inspiring to those of us used to a corner supply cupboard. In the midst of music and new ideas, everyone talked and shared in groups, ready to return to Children’s Liturgy in the parish setting, ready to try out new music and approaches. Perhaps Children’s Liturgy of the Word will go high tech in a parish near you soon.

Supporting those in Healthcare Bishop Tom Williams celebrated Mass with and for those who work in healthcare. The celebration at Christ the King and Our Lady in Liverpool followed the message published by Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Sick which is kept on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, 11 February. In his homily Bishop Tom spoke of the dedication of those who work in healthcare and of how they put ‘love into practice, the real love of people who are there in times of necessity; who are there when things are difficult...trusting in the Lord’. He went on to say that the World Day of Prayer for the Sick is about the whole of humanity, the whole of the world in which we live. He stressed the importance of the

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Sacraments to Hospital Chaplains and for their yearning for understanding of the situations which they encounter and of the ‘unspoken support of the Lord’ being with them in times of greatest

need. He concluded by speaking of the Chaplain as being the person who offers ‘quiet support, gentle understanding and most important of all a listening ear’.

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news diary

Honorary Degrees for Archbishop Patrick and Bishop James

St Mary’s at the Phil

Talented young musicians from St Mary’s College in Crosby will perform at the region’s most prestigious classical music venue at the end of next month. The school is staging its annual Festival of Music at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall for the 16th year in a row at 7.30pm on Friday 14 March. More than 150 pupils will take part in the showcase event as part of a range of musical ensembles from the college and its preparatory school, The Mount. They will include the award-winning Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Band, Stage Band, Baroque Consort, Show Choir, Chamber Choir and Mount Concert Choir.

The University of Liverpool has honoured Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Kelly and the former Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, by admitting them to the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa. The oration at the Degree Ceremony stated: ‘Liverpool has been blessed by a long succession of Catholic and Anglican pastors. Today we honour and celebrate the work of two amongst the greatest of them, churchmen who have earned together the gratitude and the love of their parishioners. They are men of God, and of the people, who have enriched this great city’s experience, supported its trials and dreams, and nourished its soul.’

‘Living joyfully’ ‘Living Joyfully’ is a day about priesthood and the religious life which offers everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask. It will take place on Saturday 22 March from 1.00 pm to 6.30 pm at St Anne’s, Overbury Street, Liverpool, L7 3HJ. All are welcome as the day offers an opportunity to meet and share in discussion with members of different congregations (female and male) and diocesan priests through games, workshops, and liturgy preparation. The afternoon will help participants to gain a better understanding of the different forms

of religious and priestly consecration and to discover the joy that can come from answering God’s call.

There will also be a special guest appearance by the choir from English Martyrs Primary School in Litherland. The concert will take the audience on a musical journey from Haydn to Hollywood with highlights including JS Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 4, William Walton’s Crown Imperial March and the Gloria from Haydn’s Nelson Mass. Students will also be performing music from two cinematic blockbusters - ET composed by John Williams and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire written by Patrick Doyle. The concert will be compered by Roger Phillips from BBC Radio Merseyside and conducted by St. Mary’s Director of Music, Andrew Byers, assisted by Colin Johnston. Mr Byers commented: ‘Our annual Philharmonic Hall concert has become one of the most popular St. Mary’s traditions and performing at this prestigious venue is something our students really look forward to each year. Tickets priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children, are available from the Philharmonic Hall box office on 0151 709 3789 or direct from the college on 0151924 3926.

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news diary

A celebration of marriage and family life Bishop Tom Williams was the Celebrant at Mass to celebrate Marriage and Family Life in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The Mass gave thanks to God for the gift of family and was open to all and attended by those who are married, single, divorced, separated or bereaved. Bishop Tom said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We all need to belong, and to be needed. We don't choose our family, they choose us: for better and for worse. Our family is who we are and where we all belong. It's all about how we love and who we love.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Mass included the passing on of family Bibles which were entrusted to three families at last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebration. The first Bible was presented to Agnes and Jimmy Gee, who celebrated their Golden wedding in 2013, they passed it on to Kenny and Carolyn Lawler who will celebrate their first Anniversary this year. The second Bible had been held by James and Gina Vandenberg, who celebrated the birth of their first child in 2013, they passed it on to Deacon Paul and Mary Collins who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this year. The third family Bible held by Gareth and Kathryn Gillard, was given to Irene Kennedy and family. For the Offertory procession three family members brought forward gifts; and three generations of family: Grandmother, Mother, Son and Grandson carried items relating to family life. As they left the Cathedral each family was given a prayer card celebrating marriage and family life

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news diary

A trip to Texas A very lucky and talented group of young musicians took part in one of the most prestigious music conventions in the United States. The musicians who are all students at Archbishop Beck College, Liverpool, joined thousands of other musicians from America and across the world for the event, which was held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Centre in San Antonio, Texas. The annual Texas Music Educators Convention includes workshops in orchestra, band and vocal for music educators, as well as presenting performances from both college and professional groups. The Convention attracts over 25,000 people who attend the many clinics, concerts, research sessions and presentations by some of the most renowned music educators in the world.

‘Music education is so important to the students in our school,’ said Director of Music at Archbishop Beck, Bruce Hicks. ‘We must provide them

with the skills, knowledge and motivation to develop outstanding instrumental and vocal ensembles in our school.’

Gold for the Brothers of Charity The Brothers of Charity Services Merseyside and Greater Manchester have been awarded Gold Status by Investors in People, the highest level of accreditation

available from the government administered organisation. The award of the Gold Status is only achieved by less 1% of over 40,000 employment

organisations in the United Kingdom. The assessor commended the Brothers of Charity Services for the quality of

their staff support, ethos, vision and values. The report said that the Services delivered the highest levels of quality and expertise possible, whilst fully respecting and celebrating work colleagues in doing so. ‘Gold Status is a tremendous achievement and clearly illustrates the Brothers of Charity Services’ continued commitment to maintaining and increasing service quality and performance,’ said the National Director of Brothers of Charity Services in England, Darron Grundy. ‘This creates a positive and supportive environment for all our staff to continually improve and grow as people and as colleagues. It’s a key performance driver for the Services to achieve their ongoing strategic objectives and delivery of the Brothers of Charity Mission Statement.’

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news diary

Great Crosby defeat New York The pupils of Great Crosby Primary School were celebrating recently, after they trounced rival pupils from a school in New York, during a transatlantic maths contest. The school took part in a competition run by learning website mangahigh.com, which saw 865 schools from across Britain compete against counterparts from the United States. The pupils sat through a series of online rounds over twenty-four hours, to solve maths questions and earn points for both school and country. Team GB was

finally victorious and defeated the Americans by a resounding 466 points to 399. ‘Our boys and girls really rose to the challenge,’ said Maths teacher, Adrian Cannell. ‘Manga High is leading the way in game-based learning. Our pupils love

Bellerive on the slopes A group of young skiers from Bellerive College, Liverpool thoroughly enjoyed a weeklong trip to the French Alps. The group spent their time in the Les Deux Alps resort in the South West of the country. With snow up to two metres deep on the slopes, together with low temperatures and under the expert tuition of instructors Euan and Eric, the students

succeeded in mastering the resort’s Blue slopes. The evenings were taken up with trips into town for games of tenpin bowling, pizza and quiz nights. ‘It was an amazing trip and such a fantastic experience for both students and staff,’ said teacher Mr Wareing. ‘We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and everyone has been asking to go back.’

it: it’s a great way of leaning, while having fun.’ The victory was even sweeter, when the 700 Crosby pupils discovered that they were amongst the highest ranking of the 1,730 schools taking part in the challenge.

Students’ letter writing success Year 11 pupils from Sacred Heart, Crosby played a part in the release of a human rights lawyer imprisoned in Iran for working ‘acting against national security’ by actively defending children facing the death penalty. Nasrin Sotoudeh was serving a six-year sentence in Evin when Amnesty International told the pupils about her; they launched a campaign of letter writing to the Iranian Government. ‘I think being involved with Amnesty International and writing letters to free innocent people who have been persecuted is very important,’ said Poppy Law. ‘We need to offer our help to those that truly need it and stand up for what is right.’

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REMEMBER...

WW1 Commemoration The Duke of Westminster will be the guest if honour at a unique and memorable event taking place at the Anglican Cathedral at 7.30pm on Friday 28th March. Liverpool Welsh Choral, the Band of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and Manchester Camerata Orchestra will join Veterans in an evening of popular Edwardian tunes, Regimental songs, music by Elgar, diary readings and the hauntingly beautiful Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughan Williams. The event will include a Remembrance ceremony. Tickets: £20, £15, £10 from mavis@lwcu.freeserve.co.uk <mailto:mavis@lwcu.freeserve.co.uk> , 0151 652 6374 or at the Anglican Cathedral shop.

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spotlight

Obituary of Ralph Ferrigno alph Ferrigno, whose career in advertising sales spanned over 20 years at the Catholic Pictorial died on 27 December 2013 aged 81.

Raffaele Gabriel Ferrigno was born in Kensington, Liverpool on 15 January 1932 to Italian parents, Gateano and Genevieve, and brother to Tony and Salvatore. He was brought up in Liverpool attending St Edwards School in Sandfield Park. He thrived in his school curriculum and his passion for sports and achieving the accolade of Victor Ludorum for numerous events. Ralph worked with his father and Tony in the family business in the fruit importing business as well as two fruit shops in Allerton and Childwall called Sturgeons. The family business not only provided him with the groundwork for managing a business but also plenty of opportunity to develop and integrate his love for his hobby: the use of cine camera. He captured footage of what was then the thriving port of Liverpool and the arrival of the Italian Tomato boats, the final days of the old Liverpool fruit market on the site of St Johns precinct, amongst lots of other historical changes to the city. In 1955, he married, Norma, and they had two children, Ralphie and Maria. At this time he was working in the fruit business with the family living in Edinburgh. They returned to Liverpool in 1958 and set up home in Crosby and later Blundellsands. Ralph's hobbies revolved around football. A season ticket holder for Liverpool FC he was given the opportunity to commentate for both Everton and Liverpool home games as part of the hospital service. He loved this with a passion: in those days team members did not wear their names on their shirts so he became adept in knowing the team members names for the home and away sides. Occasionally he

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played rugby for the fruit importers team, but as his knees took the toll from his sporting activities, his opportunities to actively participate in sports were curtailed. He was though a showman in his own right and took part in amateur dramatic work for a while, particularly in pantomime. For a short time in the early 80s, he worked in the insurance business. Nothing could have prepared him though for the work he took on with the team at the ‘Catholic Pictorial’. He sold advertising space for the paper and trained up the staff to maximise the editorial space that could make the paper what it needed to be. He had the natural ability not only to engage with potential clients but he always managed to get through to the people at the top of the organisation. He certainly knew how to engage and secure the needed adverts for the paper. The staff of the ‘Catholic Pic’ became a second family to him and he maintained very strong links with all

his work colleagues and the company regularly visiting the office right up until his death. He was a member of Serra and when he retired from the ‘Catholic Pic’ he began a new chapter in his life, working with the charity Aid to the Church in Need. He gave talks in churches around the North West and would schedule these talks for all the weekend masses at one designated church each week. He did this because he believed in the plight of Christians and Catholics in third world countries where people suffer and are tortured for their religious beliefs. The speeches he prepared were based on factual evidence bringing many touching accounts of the impact of the faith to families, children and clergy around the world. He will be remembered with affection for his humour, his anecdotes and his immense contribution to the life of the Church throughout the North West of England.

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sunday reflections On a liturgical note

Canon Philip Gillespie

This year we seem to have had quite a stretch of time in the green of the ‘Ordinary season’ but very soon we will find ourselves wearing the purple of Lent. It is all to do with the cycles of the moon – sometimes Easter is early, sometimes later – and of course the earlier Easter falls, the earlier the 40day preparation must begin. This year Easter Sunday, the first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox, falls on 20 April – quite late in the year! Of course, Lent does have a slightly different feel than Advent, slightly more sombre, more penitential. It is a time when we can all accompany those preparing to be received into the Church at Easter through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the celebration of the Eucharist. It is also a time for those of us already baptised to be reminded of the constant call to a change of heart – a whole-hearted living out of our relationship of love and trust with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. An advert for a new book arrived in the post last week – it is called Learning How To Listen. On the Second Sunday of Lent we hear these words in the Gospel: ‘This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.’ A practical programme for Lent might aim at better listening – to God, to others, to our inner selves. We might need to fast from compulsive radio or obsessive television, reading newspapers at meals, being too busy

for the family, living in the fast lane, chattering on the mobile – I am sure we can all personalise the list. To listen with attention is the first step of loving. Why don’t we give our mind the gift of silence? Time with the Bible, with the Scriptures, each day shows a desire to listen to God. Perhaps as a family, perhaps with Christian neighbours or perhaps with a parish group, you might set aside time each week to pray through the readings for the coming Sunday Mass. A good help in this is The Wednesday Word, a resource which may be available through your parish, and is readily available online at www.wednesdayword.org Time spent listening will always be fruitful – both in understanding and in living. Father of light, in you is found no shadow of change but only the fullness of life and limitless truth. Open our hearts to the voice of your Word and free us from the original darkness that shadows our vision. Restore our sight that we may look upon your Son who calls us to repentance and a change of heart. Amen.

Sunday thoughts

Mgr John Devine OBE

I came across a website announcing that Pope Francis is to retire at the end of the month. My heart sank. The mood music in the Church had changed in the last 12 months. I was proud to be a Catholic and a priest again. And it was coming to an end. Then I discovered that the item was a spoof. The change that Pope Francis has made has been remarkable. Not everyone is pleased. The financial sector is disturbed. Sarah Palin is alarmed. There are some within the Church equally disconcerted. They assure us that the new Pope is as robustly conservative as any of his predecessors; the optimism of those pleased at the election of Pope Francis is being manipulated by the liberal media; a hapless Pope Francis has allowed himself to be conned into hugging babies and washing the feet of a Muslim women by the enemies of the Church. Other popes hugged babies, too, but they were denied positive

publicity by a virulently secular press. It is true that the doctrines of the Church remain unchanged. But the atmosphere has changed. Those hanging on to their faith by a thread no longer feel condemned. The People of God are encouraged rather than judged. Those presenting themselves for the sacraments no longer face interrogation as stringent as those claiming job seekers’ allowance. Pope Francis tells us that the church is an ‘open door’. We are in the season of Lent, a time of repentance or ‘metanoia’. We are invited to look at ourselves and our world from a different perspective. Lent is a positive time, a season of renewal and encouragement. Pope Francis has modelled that process from the day of his election.

Not by power or might but by my spirit, says the Lord Years ago I took part in a seminar on team building. As part of the exercise we watched an episode of Dallas in which JR was moving in on a takeover bid. Psychologists tell us that one of the main drives within the human psyche is for power. All of us at the seminar realised our need to exercise power and control over others which could be damaging for people around us. For nations, the need to control other nations leads to catastrophic results. As a Church, burdened by the malaise of clericalism, we seem to be more into power structures than the empowering of people, albeit Pope Francis seems to be heralding a change in that area, thankfully. Power and manipulation are never the way of Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel, James and John completely misunderstood the Lord. It does not take Jesus long to tell them that the kingdom is not about power but about simple trusting relationship in which we grow and fulfil our potential. For those who follow Jesus, power over others is never an option. We are to be people who love and serve. In Luke's Gospel when the disciples are arguing about power and who is the greatest, Jesus takes a little child to show them what a kingdom person is like. In Jewish terms a child was outside the world of production, outside the power systems. Children were simply not adults and all that pulls us into. It is a very radical concept because it means letting go of the power that we think we have and becoming, in the world’s eyes, useless. If we want to experience the kingdom, we have to become like little children. We have to let go of our blindness. We have to let go of the cynicism and bitterness that we build up. It is an invitation to turn around and begin to see the world and people through five-year-old eyes. We need the Spirit as the only power that can transform us within and enable that process of letting go to take place. In this way the Church can present an alternative to the world’s power system, showing that fullness of life does not depend on controlling people or situations but on following the Jesus way of loving service. Fr Chris Thomas

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what’s on Saturday 1st March ‘Merseyside music evening 7.00 pm including St Julie's School Choir, guitarist Mark Pountney, and Hope University's Voices of Hope. Tickets £5 from ALM Overbury Street (cheques payable to ALM) or email: info@asylumlink.org.uk or mobile Sarah 07799 433397 or 0151709 1713 Ext 28.

Various dates

Tuesday 4 March to Wednesday 12 March Novena of Grace in honour of St Francis Xavier at St Francis Xavier church, Salisbury Street, Liverpool, L3 8DR. Daily talk at 12.00 noon Mass (10.15am on Sunday). Wednesday 5 March Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday Masses at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King at 8.00 am, 12.15 pm, 5.15 pm and 7.30 pm. Ash Wednesday Masses: 7.00 am at St Matthew, Queens Drive, Clubmoor, L13 9DL. 9.30 am at St Catherine Laboure, Stanifield Lane, Farington, PR25 4QG. 12.00 noon at Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph, Vicarage Place, Prescot, L34 1LE. 12.00 noon at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ. 7.00 pm (Extraordinary Form) at St Catherine Laboure, Stanifield Lane, Farington, PR25 4QG. 7.00 pm at St Cecilia, Green Lane, Tuebrook, L13 7DT. Embroidery for Pleasure Class 10.00 am-1.00 pm in the Art Studio at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. All welcome from beginners to experienced embroiderers who would like to learn new skills. Cost £5 per session including refreshments. Bookings and enquiries: enquiries@metcathedral.org.uk or Tel: 0151 709 9222.

Stations of the Cross followed by Exposition 7.00 pm at St Bernadette, Wigan Road, Shevington, WN6 8AP. Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Cecilia, Green Lane, Tuebrook, L13 7DT.

Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Catherine Laboure, Stanifield Lane, Farington, PR25 4QG.

Saturday 8 March ‘Goldwork for Beginners’ day course in the Art Studio at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. All welcome to an introduction to the art of metal thread embroidery, as used on church vestments, and which has its origins in medieval times. Cost £15 including tea and coffee. Bookings and enquiries: enquiries@metcathedral.org.uk or Tel: 0151 709 9222.

Stations of the Cross 7.30 pm at Sacred Heart, Throstlenest Avenue, Wigan, WN6 7AT.

Stations of the Cross 12.40 pm at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ.

Friday 7 March World Day of Prayer (formerly Women’s World Day of Prayer) with the theme: ‘Streams in the Desert’ prepared by the women of Egypt. Details: www.worlddayofprayer.net

Sunday 9 March Annual Civic Mass 11.00 am in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Bishop Tom Williams.

Thursday 6 March Lenten Early Morning Mass 6.30 am at St Joseph, Meeting Lane, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2BB.

Stations of the Cross 11.30 am at Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph, Vicarage Place, Prescot, L34 1LE.

Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.00 am at St Matthew, Queens Drive, Clubmoor, L13 9DL.

RCIA Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.15 am at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF.

Stations of the Cross 6.30 pm at St Mary, Standishgate, Wigan, WN1 1XL.

Catholic Pictorial

Monday 10 March Lenten Exposition 2.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Evangelii Gaudium Discussion 7.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation Hall, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Tuesday 11 March Stations of the Cross 6.30 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 7.30 pm at St Kentigern, Melling, Liverpool, L31 1BS. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Wednesday 12 March Embroidery for Pleasure Class 10.00 am-1.00 pm in the Art Studio at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. All welcome from beginners to experienced embroiderers who would like to learn new skills. Cost £5 per session including refreshments. Bookings and enquiries: enquiries@metcathedral.org.uk or Tel: 0151 709 9222. Stations of the Cross 12.40 pm at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 7.30 pm at St Oswald, Old Swan, Liverpool, L13 5SB. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk

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march UCM Bi-monthly Mass 7.30 pm at St Teresa of the Child Jesus, Utting Avenue East, Norris Green, L11 3BW. 'Pondering the Parables with Father Andrew Robinson'. A reflection taking an in-depth look at the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 7.45 pm at St Bede's Church, Appleton Village, Widnes, WA8 6EL ‘The Passover of Jesus: the Last week.’ Reflection by Father Tom Cullinan. 6.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR. Thursday 13 March Lenten Early Morning Mass 6.30 am at St Joseph, Meeting Lane, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2BB. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 10.30 am at 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Catherine Laboure, Stanifield Lane, Farington, PR25 4QG. Stations of the Cross 7.30 pm at Sacred Heart, Throstlenest Avenue, Wigan, WN6 7AT. ‘Pondering the Joy of the Gospel.’ A reflection on the Lenten Gospels in light of Pope Francis’ exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. 7.30 pm at 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Friday 14 March Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.00 am at St Matthew, Queens Drive, Clubmoor, L13 9DL. Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.15 am at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Stations of the Cross 11.30 am at Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph, Vicarage Place, Prescot, L34 1LE. Stations of the Cross followed by Exposition 7.00 pm at St Bernadette, Wigan Road, Shevington, WN6 8AP. Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Cecilia, Green Lane, Tuebrook, L13 7DT. Saturday 15 March Stations of the Cross 12.40 pm at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ. Northern Lights Concert 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk

Sunday 16 March Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Stations of the Cross 6.30 pm at St Mary, Standishgate, Wigan, WN1 1XL. Monday 17 March Lenten Exposition 2.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Evangelii Gaudium Discussion 7.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation Hall, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Lenten Mass 7.30 pm at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Preacher: Father Tom Leigh ‘Lent: a time of renewal’. Tuesday 18 March Stations of the Cross 6.30 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 7.30 pm at St Kentigern, Melling, Liverpool, L31 1BS. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Wednesday 19 March Embroidery for Pleasure Class 10.00 am-1.00 pm in the Art Studio at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. All welcome from beginners to experienced embroiderers who would like to learn new skills. Cost £5 per session including refreshments. Bookings and enquiries: enquiries@metcathedral.org.uk or Tel: 0151 709 9222. Stations of the Cross 12.40 pm at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 7.30 pm at St Oswald, Old Swan, Liverpool, L13 5SB. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk 'Pondering the Parables with Father Andrew Robinson'. A reflection taking an in-depth look at the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 7.45 pm at St Bede's Church, Appleton Village, Widnes, WA8 6EL ‘The Passover of Jesus: Supper and Garden.’ Reflection by Father Tom Cullinan. 6.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR. Thursday 20 March Lenten Early Morning Mass 6.30 am at St Joseph, Meeting Lane, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2BB. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team

10.30 am at 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Catherine Laboure, Stanifield Lane, Farington, PR25 4QG. ‘A poor church for the poor: Romero’s witness to the joy of the gospel’ by Martin Maier SJ 7.00 pm at Liverpool Hope University, L16 9JD. Details Tel: 0151 522 1080. Email: s.atherton@rcaol.co.uk Stations of the Cross 7.30 pm at Sacred Heart, Throstlenest Avenue, Wigan, WN6 7AT. ‘Pondering the Joy of the Gospel.’ A reflection on the Lenten Gospels in light of Pope Francis’ exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. 7.30 pm at 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Newman Circle Talk: ‘The Sunni Muslim Faith and the Spirit of Cordoba’ by Zia Chaudry. 7.30 pm at St Helen's Parish Centre, Alexandra Road, Crosby. L23 7TQ. Friday 21 March to Sunday 23 March Time to Reflect: ‘Great Christian Thinkers’. A Lenten weekend for lecturers in higher education. Boarbank Hall, Allithwaite, Grange over Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7NH. Details Tel: 01539 532288. Email: margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk. Web: www.boarbankhall.org.uk Friday 21 March Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.00 am at St Matthew, Queens Drive, Clubmoor, L13 9DL. Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.15 am at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Stations of the Cross 11.30 am at Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph, Vicarage Place, Prescot, L34 1LE. Stations of the Cross followed by Exposition 7.00 pm at St Bernadette, Wigan Road, Shevington, WN6 8AP. Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Cecilia, Green Lane, Tuebrook, L13 7DT. Saturday 22 March Stations of the Cross 12.40 pm at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ. ‘Living Joyfully.’ Everything you wanted to know about Religious Life and Priesthood but were afraid to ask. An opportunity to meet and share discussion with members of different congregations. 1.30 pm-6.30 pm at St

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what’s on Anne’s Parish Hall, Overbury Street, Liverpool, L7 3HJ. Sunday 23 March 34th Annual Romero Mass 10.30 am at St Anne and St Bernard, Overbury St, Liverpool L8 2TY. Speaker Steve Atherton. Details Tel: 0151 522 1080. Email: s.atherton@rcaol.co.uk Stations of the Cross 6.30 pm at St Mary, Standishgate, Wigan, WN1 1XL. Monday 24 March Lenten Exposition. 2.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Evangelii Gaudium Discussion 7.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation Hall, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Lenten Mass 7.30 pm at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Preacher: Father Tom Leigh ‘Our Lady’. Tuesday 25 March Stations of the Cross 6.30 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 7.30 pm at St Kentigern, Melling, Liverpool, L31 1BS. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Cursillo Ultreya 7.30 pm at St Michael and All Angels, Sydney Powell Avenue, Kirkby, L32 0TP. Wednesday 26 March Embroidery for Pleasure Class 10.00 am-1.00 pm in the Art Studio at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. All welcome from beginners to experienced embroiderers who would like to learn new skills. Cost £5 per session including refreshments. Bookings and enquiries: enquiries@metcathedral.org.uk or Tel: 0151 709 9222. Stations of the Cross 12.40 pm at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 7.30 pm at St Oswald, Old Swan, Liverpool, L13 5SB. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk 'Pondering the Parables with Father Andrew Robinson'. A reflection taking an in-depth look at the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. 7.45 pm at St Bede's Church, Appleton Village, Widnes, WA8 6EL ‘The Passover of Jesus: the Trials.’ Reflection by Father Tom Cullinan. 6.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR. Thursday 27 March

Catholic Pictorial

Divorced/Separated Support from the Archdiocesan Marriage and Family Life Department, (Pastoral Formation) ‘Recovering and moving on after divorce’. A series of six weekly meetings starts on Monday 10 March in Liverpool 17, from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm. A one-day meeting will be held on Saturday 8 March for those who cannot attend the six evenings. Meetings are free and confidential and groups are small. For more information or to make a booking (essential) contact Frances on 0151 727 2195.

Lenten Early Morning Mass 6.30 am at St Joseph, Meeting Lane, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2BB. Lenten Prayer and Reflection led by the Irenaeus Team 10.30 am at 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Catherine Laboure, Stanifield Lane, Farington, PR25 4QG. Stations of the Cross 7.30 pm at Sacred Heart, Throstlenest Avenue, Wigan, WN6 7AT. ‘Pondering the Joy of the Gospel.’ A reflection on the Lenten Gospels in light of Pope Francis’ exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. 7.30 pm at 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details from Irenaeus Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Friday 28 March Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.00 am at St Matthew, Queens Drive, Clubmoor, L13 9DL. Lenten Early Morning Mass 7.15 am at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Stations of the Cross 11.30 am at Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph, Vicarage Place, Prescot, L34 1LE. Stations of the Cross followed by Exposition 7.00 pm at St Bernadette, Wigan Road, Shevington, WN6 8AP.

12.40 pm at St Marie on the Sands, Seabank Road, Southport, PR9 0EJ. Handel: ‘Messiah’ 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk Sunday 30 March Stations of the Cross 6.30 pm at St Mary, Standishgate, Wigan, WN1 1XL. Monday 31 March Lenten Exposition 2.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Evangelii Gaudium Discussion 7.00 pm at St Marie of the Annunciation Hall, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 0TB. Lenten Mass 7.30 pm at St Thomas of Canterbury, Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD. Preacher: Father Tom Leigh ‘Prayer’. Wednesday 2 April ‘The Passover of Jesus: Crucifixion.’ Reflection by Father Tom Cullinan. 6.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR. Wednesday 9 April ‘The Passover of Jesus: I am Risen and with you.’ Reflection by Father Tom Cullinan. 6.00 pm at Pauline Books and Media, 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR.

Stations of the Cross 7.00 pm at St Cecilia, Green Lane, Tuebrook, L13 7DT. ‘Strictly Come Dancing...the Irish Way.’ Music provided by Michael Coyne. To raise funds to take the sick on pilgrimage to Our Lady's Shrine Banneux, Belgium. 7.30 pm at St Helens Parish Centre, Alexandra Road , Crosby, L23 7TQ. Tickets £10.00. Tel: 0151 924 0706 or 07703 769903 or from St Helen's Parish Office. Saturday 29 March Stations of the Cross

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profile

Lizzie McManus

School Chaplain by Simon Hart Lizzie McManus nods knowingly when it is put to her that she hardly fits the traditional image of a school chaplain. After all, it is something she has heard many times before. “I’d always had the stereotype that chaplains were either a nun or a priest and loosely attached to the school rather than employed full time,” explains Lizzie, who fills this very role at the Academy of St Francis of Assisi, a jointCatholic and Anglican faith school in the Kensington district of Liverpool. “When I’ve introduced myself and said ‘I’m a school chaplain’, people have been shocked.” Even her parents were surprised when Lizzie, previously a psychiatric nurse, announced her bold plan to change direction and step into the daily life of a school. “My mum and dad didn’t understand the role at first and it was only when I explained that I saw it as a development of what I was doing already that they understood it more,” she explains, adding: “It feels like more of what I was doing rather than less.” The 30-year-old Manchester University graduate had worked with troubled adolescents, first at Warneford Hospital

in Oxford and then The Priory Hospital in Altrincham. Yet she wanted something more. “A lot of my work with teenagers was about a lack of identity and the brokenness that comes through that,” she says. “In schools, young people are still under the same pressures and that lack of identity still exists. To be able to offer the skills I learned as a mental health nurse but also look at that relationship with God, for me it is a step beyond what I was able to do as a nurse.” Lizzie had just completed a postgraduate diploma in psychotherapy when she started at St Francis of Assisi in September 2012. It is not always easy – “God isn’t really something that is high on teenagers’ list of priorities” – but is undoubtedly rewarding. Apart from such duties as morning assemblies and one-to-one time with students, she has established afterschool chaplaincy groups. “We have different years on different days,” she says. “The nature of it is to allow students to be themselves. It feels a really important time for them to share and also develop their faith.” For sixth formers, there is a “relaxation group”, affording an opportunity simply

to stop and reflect. “That is the only space, perhaps in their whole day, where they will be able to be still.” The chaplaincy choir she has set up, meanwhile, is flourishing. Last March they were invited by Gary Millar, now Lord Mayor of Liverpool, to Parr Street Studios to record ‘O Holy Night’ for a charity CD. Further recognition arrived at the 2013 Educate Awards at the Anglican Cathedral in November with the prize for Outstanding Arts in a Secondary School. If Lizzie’s musical talent can be traced to her days playing guitar at Our Lady of Pity parish in Greasby on the Wirral where she grew up, her current calling has its roots in a post-university spell volunteering at a Christian youth centre run by the Carpathian Aid charity in rural Romania. “It was seven hours from Bucharest, near to Transylvania. It was a big inspiration to me.” Now her time has come to inspire others – and challenge a few perceptions along the way.

‘When I’ve introduced myself and said ‘I’m a school chaplain’, people have been shocked’ Catholic Pictorial

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justice & peace

Why risk is Archbishop Romero’s legacy By Steve Atherton, Justice and Peace fieldworker Archbishop Oscar Romero’s mission was one of hope, of Good News. He was appointed an Archbishop because he was ‘a safe pair of hands’ but they were wrong about him. He was gentle, so they thought him weak; he was traditional, so they thought him conservative; he was a friend of the rich, so they thought him an enemy of the poor. They did not reckon on the power of the Gospel. Romero was a deeply spiritual man who spent long hours in prayer. As archbishop he brought the social and political context of El Salvador into his prayer and was changed. Between 1975 and 1992, over 70,000 Salvadorans were killed in a brutal civil war; many were Church workers who died for their commitment to the Gospel and liberation. Most were Salvadoran campesinos or peasants. It was not a war about religion – at least not on the surface – but about land and political power, wealth and ideology. It was a war fuelled by the geopolitical interests at play in the Cold War, with the United States involved. To talk about Christ crucified in 20th-century El Salvador is not an exaggeration. Romero

encountered the Gospel in living colour as he visited impoverished and brutally violated communities. He was evangelised by these experiences. Two months before he was killed, he said: ‘The Word of God is not a reading of the past but a living Word, a Spirit that is being accomplished here and now.’ A Salvadoran community from that time described meeting the Living Word of God as: ‘Someone blows a few times on the coals that seemed dead and they begin to glow... That’s what happened in our lives. The breath came, and the wind brought us the light that broke the night. And our communities became a living Church.’ When Archbishop Romero arrived, his voice fanned the fire. He listened to the stories of the people, one after another, and held them sacred. The stories he heard were the foundation of his powerful homilies and the impetus for his prophetic witness. Romero chose sides in an extremely complex, violent socio-political reality. But his commitment to non-violence was impeccable. He positioned himself in a narrow space where he could speak truth publicly and privately based on the stories heard and the reality witnessed day after day – and where he could plead for an end to violence, for peace beyond the silence of cemeteries. Archbishop Romero – the depth and character of his spirituality, the finesse of his public positioning and powerful witness – offers an exceptional model for would-be disciples of Jesus. Despite his fear, he had the strength to defy death. He believed in resurrection and gave witness to that belief in the way he lived. ‘If they kill me,’ he said, ‘I will rise again in the people of El Salvador.’

Catholic Pictorial

To remember Romero is to embrace the fullness of life. This century has brought violent conflicts and brutal repression. We have seen the globalisation of social injustice, with a growing gap in almost every country between the extremely wealthy few and a majority who are increasingly poor. We have seen the emergence of a battlefield without borders with national governments using targeted assassinations as a political tool. We see the earth threatened, perhaps irrevocably. Archbishop Romero taught us to be in solidarity with the poor; to accompany people living precariously; to embrace the risks that come with being connected to suffering and marginalised people. Marie Dennis, the international chair of Pax Christ said: ‘The orchestration of fear and the response to orchestrated fear have become the primary occupation of too many people. Fear keeps people apart… and perpetuates war and violent conflict. I am increasingly convinced that such a willingness to risk – whatever that means in each of our lives – is essential to faithful discipleship. Life is risk. If I do not risk, I cannot be.’ Romero challenges us to risk acting on the Gospel.

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All at Bellerive were delighted to welcome Sr Claire Sykes FCJ to confirm the purchase of land for the college at the entrance to Sefton Park. Sr Claire and Sr Brenda work with the sisters at a national level and have been very active in supporting developments at Bellerive. The land in question will house a new state of the art building which will include new sixth form facilities. The new building will be funded by the Mayor, Joe Anderson, from the Mayor's capital investment fund for schools. Everyone associated with Bellerive is most grateful to Mayor Anderson. Sr Claire expressed delight, on behalf of the Trustees, that ambitious developments are now possible. She was also delighted to see the two new buildings recently completed. Sr Claire has since been elected to the position of General Superior of the FCJs and will be replaced in her role of Schools Officer by Sr Brenda Wallace.

Telephone: 0151 727 2064

Bishop Tom Williams, the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Liverpool was a former Chaplain to Bellerive from 1973 to 1980 in the days when it was a Grammar School: - days which he recalls as "the best school days of my life". He adds, "I made friends for life there. Now, in my role as Bishop, I am forever meeting former pupils and staff who now fill many important professional roles in our society, and nearly all of them in the caring professions, in hospitals, in senior management positions and in the teaching profession. Many of our present head teachers in both primary and secondary schools and colleges are former pupils. The school has a wonderful heritage, and these new developments can only help the children of the inner city and the young women of the future. This school is a gem in the crown of our Catholic Schools. My deepest thanks and gratitude to the FCJs".

Website: http://www.bellerivefcj.org/ Catholic Pictorial

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youth ministry

Animate sharing expertise with others By Sean Evans Another busy month has flashed by in the life of Animate Youth Ministries. We have been back working with schools and also offering a few other things for those older in years but still young at heart! In late January we held our second catechists’ evening. This was an opportunity for catechists from all around the diocese to come to us and share ideas and resources. There was a good response, with some 30 people turning up for the event – from chaplains to people running youth clubs in parishes to those interested in starting up youth groups in their own communities. We produced a handbook for distribution among these catechists, which featured a range of resources – from icebreakers to ideas for prayers and ways of structuring prayer. If you are interested in setting up a youth group or perhaps missed the evening, please get in contact with us about the resources shared.

The team have also begun preparations for the Archdiocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes by hosting this year’s staff preparation evening. There were workshops run by staff members from Coach 7 and everyone who attended received a handbook full of resources including prayers, hymns and a catechesis session. You can keep up to date with the preparations of each coach by following them on Twitter: Coach 1, Liverpool: @C1Lourdes Coach 2, Knowsley: @knowsley_youth Coach 3, St Helens: @_Coach_3 Coach 4, Wigan and Leigh: @Coach4WiganLeig Coach 5, Lancashire: @LourdesCoach5 Coach 6, Warrington: @LourdesCoach6 Coach 7, Sefton: @SeftonPilgrim Coach 8, Lancashire: @LourdesCoach8 Coach 9, Widnes and Isle Of Man:

@TheMightyCoach9 St Frai team: @stfraiteam Our schools work this past month began with a day of prayer and reflection at St Augustine of Canterbury High School in St Helens in January, followed by the first school visit of 2014 to Lowe House as we hosted the Year 10s from St Mary’s, Crosby, exploring with them the theme of ‘Thanksgiving and the Eucharist’. Through various activities and group sessions of around 20 at a time we explained our belief in the Eucharist and why we should be thankful for the different blessings in our lives. It was a chance for the students to think about their faith and in the afternoon we offered them a platform for prayer in the form of prayer stations – individual prayers were placed around the house and the pupils could wander around and find their own place to pray. We also hosted the Year 7s from St Peter’s, Orrell and over an enjoyable and productive four-day period looked at the theme of ‘We are one Body’, using everything from an Avengers film clip to a scripture reading (Romans 12:4-8). The afternoon was spent, as usual, in prayer; this included a guided meditation led by one of our team members, which was a first for some of the youngsters. Since then we have been to Saints Peter and Paul in Widnes and also to Archbishop Beck to work with the Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils on the theme ‘Travelling together in Faith’. We are currently preparing for a mission at St Augustine’s, Billington and will report how that went in the next issue. For further information, please get in touch with us via Twitter, Facebook and our website, www.animateyouth.org.

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29th SEPT - 9th OCT 2014 £1375 per person Accompanied by Fr Richard Sloan of Liverpool Archdiocese they will lead you on an incredible journey to the Holy Land following in the footsteps of Jesus. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime experience. If you would like to know more about this wonderful offer, please call Barbara on:

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cathedral

Civic society Award for Cathedral Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean After nearly two years involving demolition and rebuilding work, the Everyman Theatre has its opening celebrations on Saturday 1 March. There will be evening events, fireworks and entertainment on the area of Hope Street outside the Theatre and our Cathedral Pizza will be the designated area for the public and invited guests to watch the proceedings. It will be good to have the theatre open again and it will bring more life activity back to the end of Hope Street nearest to the Cathedral.

Canon Anthony O’Brien (Metropolitan Cathedral), Peter Brown (chair of MCS), Dave Roscoe (Albert Dock), Chris Bliss (Liverpool ONE)) The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King received recognition as part of the Merseyside Civic society 75th Anniversary Awards. Together with the Albert Dock and Liverpool One Shopping Centre the Cathedral received the Quentin Hughes Award. Named after the Liverpool architect and academic the award is an accolade given to those developments that are recognised as being highly exemplary or representative of each of the three 25year periods since 1938: the year the Merseyside Civic Society (MCS) began. Canon Anthony O’Brien, Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral received the award from Dr Peter Brown, Chairman of the Merseyside Civic Society, who said, ‘The recipients of the Quentin Hughes Awards were determined by the Council of the MCS who deliberated long and hard to find the three most outstanding city developments we felt best represented Liverpool’s everchanging architectural landscape during our 75 year history - and with a city like Liverpool, this was no mean feat. ‘In the end we felt that our three winners were shining examples, and

deserve to be recognised as being exemplary for their specific time period’. Canon O’Brien said, ‘The award recognises the bravery of those who chose to abandon the traditional Cathedral plans and replace them with a very modern design, very much of its time. In spite of criticism back then it has become a timeless piece.’ In 1960 Archbishop John Carmel Heenan announced an architectural competition to produce a completely new building to seat 2,000, which would relate to the existing Crypt and be capable of construction within five years. Of 300 entries from all over the world Sir Frederick Gibberd's design was chosen and building began in October 1962. Less than five years later, on 13 May 1967, the new Cathedral building was consecrated by Bishop Augustine Harris, then Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool. The following day, the Feast of Pentecost, 14 May 1967, the completed Cathedral was opened with Mass being celebrated by Bishop Harris, and the altar consecrated.

The month of March ushers in the season of Lent and incorporates a number of special celebrations. We generally have large crowds of students attending masses on Ash Wednesday and it is a very uplifting experience celebrating the evening mass that day in the main Cathedral with so many young adults of different faiths attending in order to receive the ashes. In the morning of the First Sunday of Lent we celebrate the Annual Civic Mass at 11.00 am. Bishop Tom Williams will preside. This celebration is later than normal this year but with the recent announcement of cuts to local services such as day care centres, sports centres and libraries perhaps it is appropriate that the celebration has a more penitential feel to it. In these difficult times we need to pray for all who hold public office and have to make difficult decisions that affect us all. The Rite of Election for adults who are preparing to be received into the church at Easter is at 3.00 pm that afternoon. On the afternoon of 16 March at 3.00 pm, Cardinal Nichols, following the recent consistory at which he received the ‘red hat’, will celebrate Mass in his home Diocese in thanksgiving. All are welcome to join us and I estimate that we may have a full Cathedral for this celebration. There will be no reserved seating except for clergy and you may need to come early.

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Pic extras Mums the Word In my last column I included a prayer for peace which we had said at our January bi-monthly Mass. A number of foundations say this prayer at their meetings and we have now included it in our prayers at my own foundation as have the Archdiocesan committee. Peace in the world is something we all hope for but what is peace? It is not just the absence of war but is the work of justice. Isaiah (32:15-18) says: ‘In the wilderness justice will come to live and integrity in the fertile land; integrity will bring peace, justice give lasting security.’ Peace is the fruit of a designed order in human society by its divine founder and updated by all who aspire to even more perfect justice; it is not something achieved once and for all but a building process which never ends. We are all called to be peacemakers in the image of Jesus who taught ‘Do unto others what you would them do unto you’. This same ideal can be found in Judaism and in the Qur’an: ‘What you fear for yourself, do not do to your neighbours’ and ‘None of you truly believes until you wish for others what he loves for himself’. As mothers we strive to bring peace to our families, teaching our children to be tolerant when siblings disagree with each other. If our families are at peace it must surely help towards world peace. The Holy Father has asked that we say the Rosary each day for world peace, and perhaps this could be part of our Lenten devotions. Part of the above is taken from an article in ‘Women’s Voice’ the newsletter for the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations. Our next bi-monthly Mass is on 12 March at St Teresa’s, Norris Green. I hope to see you there. God Bless, Ann Hogg, Media Officer

News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

Our 2014 recruitment campaign begins Council 9 Liverpool West embarked on its 2014 recruitment campaign for new members at Christ the King and Our Lady parish, Childwall with a pulpit appeal at all Masses over the weekend of 25 and 26 January. We are very grateful to Father Grant Maddock, the parish priest, for the warm welcome we received and for the glowing tributes on the work of the Knights of St Columba that Fr Maddock paid both before and after our speakers’ pulpit address. We received an enthusiastic reception from the congregation who showed interest in our work and we are hoping for a fruitful response. We also had our new pop-up stand (pictured) as a further aid to the recruitment effort. Pulpit appeals will continue in other churches during the coming months. • The KSC wish to congratulate the Most Rev Vincent Nichols on his appointment as Cardinal at the consistory convened by Pope Francis on 22 February. Born in Crosby, he attended St Mary’s College and in 1963 went to the English College in Rome to study for the priesthood. He was ordained priest to the Archdiocese of Liverpool in December 1969 and spent 14 years here. At just 46, he became Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster in November 1991, before subsequent appointments as Archbishop of Birmingham (2000) and Archbishop of Westminster (2009). Among many notable achievements he led opposition to the last government’s proposals to introduce a quota system to allow non-Catholics to attend Catholic schools, which resulted in the proposals being withdrawn. He was also highly commended for his handling of Pope Benedict’s

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successful visit in 2010, an event in which the KSC played a prominent part. Another cause strongly supported by the KSC was the opposition to the introduction of same-sex marriage, which Archbishop Vincent also vigorously opposed. The people of Liverpool are very pleased and proud that Archbishop Vincent has now attained the highest ecclesiastical office and it is obvious from press comment that this is a popular appointment not only within the Catholic Church but also among prominent members of other denominations. We pray that he will receive the blessings and guidance of the Holy Spirit to help him carry out the heavy responsibilities of the office of Cardinal. Websites: www.ksc.org.uk and www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com

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PIC Life Turning to God in our hour of need By Moira Billinge t had been a hectic, upside-down week; the house looked like a refuse centre and although it was very late in the evening, I decided that I would bring the vacuum cleaner out of its hibernation.

Despite the challenge, the machine laboured its way noisily through the detritus of my post-Christmas neglect of all things to do with housework. Alone in the darkened house, except for the company of the vacuum cleaner, to my horror the door of one of the unlit bedrooms slowly star ted to close. Paralysed with fear, I watched as, silently, the door shut with no hand visible to turn the handle, and no sign of human inter vention. Heroic deeds will not rank high in my obituar y, but, with one hand still firmly glued to the machine, I tried to push the door open. However, an unseen and seemingly determined counter- force pushed against me, and during that time the worst moments of ever y ghost stor y and murder myster y which I had ever read or seen replayed their gruesome scenarios in my mind. I feared the worst, not knowing what ‘the worst’ might be. According to the exper ts, fear triggers a surge of adrenalin through the blood stream, its purpose being, supposedly, to prepare us for ‘fight or flight’. It did neither for me; glued to the spot and scared witless, not knowing who or what was in there,

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Our Lenten Prayer Dear Jesus You gave your life at Calvary for us Help us to make our Lenten devotions and sacrifices as you would want us to so that we may rejoice in your resurrection with love in our hearts this Easter Please send your favourite prayer to: Barbara, Catholic Pictorial, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS Please include your contact number (not for publication) and which parish you are from.

Worth a visit

the words ‘Jesus, help me’ repeated themselves again and again in my brain. How many terrified seconds passed? They seemed like an eternity. For some reason, I looked down and saw the looped coils of flex jammed between the carpet and the door frame. In reality, as I had pulled the vacuum cleaner along the floor, its cable had quietly and invisibly been the villain that closed the door. My own hard work had, as it turned out, been the sole cause of the evening’s scar y events. Plucking up courage, I switched on the light and flung open the door with such force (the adrenalin must have kicked in at last) that it is actually a good thing that there was nothing behind it, human, or other wise! Being a Christian does not exclude us from fear, or necessarily lessen the gut-wrenching terror which can unexpectedly confront us. It does not create an automatic immunity from the ver y real worries about pain, illness, family and financial problems, or concerns relating to global conflict or environmental disasters. Being a Christian, however, does provide us with a loving God to call upon in the depths of that distress and ‘connects’ us to the One whom we believe will rescue us, and will be there for us no matter how seemingly hopeless or desperate the situation. Or as St Peter asked: ‘Lord, to whom would we go?’

Take a trip to Calderdale in West Yorkshire to welcome in the springtime at Hebden Bridge, writes Lucy Oliver. The market town takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon for bramble or wild rose valley, and it retains its beauty and charms for visitors and locals alike. The medieval bridge dates from 1510 and was built as the town became an important staging post on the old packhorse routes from Halifax to Heptonstall, Burnley and Rochdale. Hebden Bridge is famously linked to the textile industries and the growth of the canal and railway during the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the ‘double decker’ buildings along the sides of the valley gave the town the sense of character it retains today. These old buildings serve a variety of purposes – there is a lively arts community and some thriving independent shops and businesses, with Hebden Bridge Mill in St George’s Square worth visiting for the shops and restaurant housed within. Rail travellers should note that the next station along from Hebden Bridge is Mytholmroyd and a stone’s throw away is the Good Shepherd Catholic Church with its brightly illuminated stained glass and beautifully evocative altar backdrop, of Christ with his arms open in welcome.

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join in Eating Out

Children’s word search Our word search for March is in honour of St David whose feast is celebrated on March 1.

SAINT DAVID

EXAMPLE

B M M

BISHOP FRIENDSHIP FAITH STRENGTH

M W

PERFECTION

M M

PROTECTION

N M

Q M

HONOUR TESTIMONY

More Mullarkey From Johnny Kennedy Father Mullarkey and the young curate were having a cup of tea in the kitchen, the auld fella, as usual, dipping in his chocolate biscuit. ‘We’ve been invited to a charity concert by the Methodists,’ said the YC. ‘What kind of concert?’ asked Fr Mullarkey. ‘A musical evening,’ said the YC. ‘Well, if the Methodists are organising it, there won't be many Elvis songs on the bill,’ Fr Mullarkey replied. ‘It’s a concert of classical music,’ said the YC. ‘I’m not going,’ said the auld fella. ‘You’d enjoy it,’ the YC insisted. ‘It's lovely music – William Tell, The Planets and Belshazzar’s Feast.’ ‘I like the sound of the last one,’ said Fr Mullarkey. ‘Will there be any chocolate biscuits?’

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).

Mothers Day is 30 March this year, hopefully the day will be nice enough to go for a drive before maybe going to eat at one of our listed restaurants. The Windmill 3 Mill Lane, Parbold WN8 7NW 01257 462935 51 Trattoria 51 The Promanade, Southport PR9 0DX 01704 510051 Corner House Wood Lane, Wrightington WN6 9SE 01257 451400 Matou Pier Head, Liverpool L3 0151 236 2928 The Wheatsheaf Town Road, Croston 01772 600370 Number 60 Bistro 60 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 0151 707 6060

Greeting Cards from the Carmelite Monastery

Beautiful cards for: First Holy Communion Confirmation Easter Ordination Anniversary of Ordination and all occasions are on sale at: The Carmelite Monastery Maryton Grange Allerton Road Liverpool L18 3NU Please contact the Monastery card office on 0151 724 7102. Email: marytoncards@outlook.com

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ÂŁ50 per Will

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Tower College Because if your child is happy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy too! Imagine waving your child off to school knowing the care and love you give them at home is also given there. Where class sizes are small enough to ensure they get the individual attention they deserve. An independent school with a real home from home feeling that welcomes all faiths and where everyone is part of the Tower College family. Where fees are easily affordable and top results are easily achievable so you know you are giving your child the best possible start in life.

And where children lear n the Tower College ABCs: Achievement, Belonging, Compassion If you would like to book a visit or attend our

OPEN DAY 6th March Talks and Tours: 10am, 11am and 12pm email: janehunt@towercollege.com

Mill Lane, Rainhill, Merseyside Tel: 0151 426 4333 www.towercollege.com

For Girls and Boys aged up to16. Extensive coach service. Member of ISA Christian Schools Ltd. Registered Charity No 526611 Catholic Pictorial

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