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Issue 121 OCTOBER 2014
ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL
FREE
Helping the Community INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Celebrating the Word of the Lord
Joint schools at the two Cathedrals
New life at St Marie’s
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contents Welcome As we begin the month of October we pause to contemplate the ‘Word of the Lord’. Archbishop Malcolm reflects on this in his column and our main feature looks back at an amazing week of ‘Faith Fest’ in the St Monica Pastoral Area, St Helens, which was immediately followed by the Diocesan ‘Word of the Lord’ Day at the Centre for Evangelisation. As one parishioner from St Helens put it: ‘Faith Fest has been amazing. Wherever we were on our journey of faith, something has been available for us during this week’. It is good to pause and reflect, but we must also put the ‘Word of the Lord’ into action in our daily lives. Today is Rosary Sunday, a day of special prayer for the work of Nugent Care. Our front cover shows the day they held last week reflecting on 133 years of care, a look back at their long history and also a reflection on the work they do today. The banner reflects their work saying ‘Helping the Community’, something we must all aspire to. This month they begin a regular column; an opportunity to find out more and to offer more.
Contents
From the Archbishop’s Desk Books play an important part in our lives. I used to bring a bag of books on holiday to keep me reading while I relaxed in the sun. Nowadays I just bring my Kindle and iPad with me. As well as plenty of novels these devices also contain all the prayers and readings I need for saying the Divine Office and Holy Mass. So I do wonder about the future of books. The new altar Missal was very welcome in most churches because our old missals were falling apart, and although I still have some difficulty with the new translation, especially when it comes to the phrasing of the prayers I am grateful for it because I have to prepare them more carefully. The liturgical books: the missal, the book of the gospels and the lectionary are special to us and should be treated with very great respect. An electronic device can never replace a beautifully bound book. But Christians, unlike members of other great faiths, are not followers of a ‘religion of the book’. For us it is not the words that make up the book that matter in the first place but God’s love revealed in his son Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. To put it another way, we are followers of the Word, not the words. May the Word of God continue to live and grow in your hearts.
Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool
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Main Feature Faith Fest and Word of the Lord A week of reflection and inspiration
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News From around the Archdiocese
14 Nugent News ‘Brain Wave’ at Clarence High School 15 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese 18 Animate Youth Ministry Your new Animate Team 19 Profile Corral Amusa On a mission to help children with Nugent Care 20 Justice and Peace Scotland’s debate: an example to all 25 Cathedral Record Comings, goings and congratulations 26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC
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: Sean Murphy Advertising Andrew Rogers 0151 709 7567 Publisher 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS
Copy deadline November issue 10 October 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 Don’t be afraid to say ‘I was wrong’ 29 Join In Family Fun More Mullarkey
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Celebrating and renewing ministry Faith Fest and Word of the Lord Day provide week of reflection and inspiration mong the fruits of the Second Vatican Council is the flourishing of lay people’s involvement in ministry. While there is still some way to go in terms of the development of genuine collaboration – among clergy, among lay people and between lay people and clergy – there is considerable involvement in a variety of ministries in evidence across our Archdiocese.
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It is good from time to time to pause and celebrate this involvement and also provide opportunities for renewal and nourishment. With this in mind two major events were planned for September – Faith Fest 2014 and the Diocesan Word of the Lord Day – and here participants from both events share what the week meant for them. Faith Fest 2014 Father Tom Neylon, Dean of St Monica’s pastoral area, explained: ‘The Pastoral Area Working Group in St Helens undertook “listening visits” to our 14 parishes in 2013. One of the priorities that emerged was a need for further understanding of the Catholic faith. Members of the PAWG and people in the parishes collaborating with the Pastoral Formation Team in the Archdiocese duly organised a Faith Fest in the town which began on Sunday 14 September and ended with the Diocesan Word of the Lord Day at LACE on Saturday 20 September. ‘Each morning began with prayer in one of the churches in the deanery and there were 10 well-attended workshops across nine parishes in the afternoons or evenings. People from across the town travelled to the different 4
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workshops and received friendly hospitality, food for thought and ideas for future action. There was something for all the baptised as well as those engaged in ministry with families, the young and the elderly, the bereaved and the needy. It was like being on a retreat which led us to move around the town, meet new people and receive nourishment by listening to God’s Word, the experience of fellow travellers and input from excellent speakers.’ As a member of the small planning team, Deacon Kevin Duffy invested much time and energy in the initiative. He said: ‘Although some doubted it could be achieved, encouraged by the Spirit, Faith Fest 2014 began to take shape. Now it’s over, I know that my faith has increased and with it my sense of hope that St Helens will continue to be a place with a strong Catholic identity and that the lives of everyone in the town will be enriched by how we, its Catholics, live out our faith in our everyday lives.’ One parishioner who participated in the week added: ‘Faith Fest has been amazing. Wherever we were on our journey of faith, something has been available for us. Each workshop has reaffirmed particular areas of my faith and opened up challenges and questions for me to take forward. I have been able to take a couple of issues from each workshop with a view to changing things in my life and my ministry.’ One of the deacons present said: ‘As a deacon, these talks have given me a chance to delve further into my understanding of God’s love for us all; the way I interact with people and
deepen my love for the Lord. Simplicity is the key word I would use of the way these different workshops were presented; open to all, no matter where they were on their faith journey.” One woman summarised the week as follows: 1) Inspiring speakers available in local parishes 2) Encouraging awareness of our gifts for ministry in and outside the parish 3) Meeting people from other parishes and sharing our faith journey 4) Wake-up call to us all to share our faith. Now is the important time. There is no reason why other pastoral areas cannot hold their own ‘Faith Fest’ and the Department of Pastoral Formation would be delighted to support you. Contact Veronica Murphy for more information: V.Murphy@rcaol.co.uk or 0151 522 1048. Word of the Lord Day In April 2013 a national conference on The Word of the Lord took place at Ushaw College. One of its recommendations was that dioceses organise their own Word of the Lord Conference, and this is what the Pastoral Formation team decided to do. With a focus on the Gospel of Mark, as the gospel for the next liturgical year, Fr Denis McBride was invited to provide the keynote talks in the morning. Jane Simpson, a parishioner of St Teresa’s, Upholland kindly offered this summary: ‘Fr Denis unravelled the Gospel of Mark in an insightful, illuminating
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feature ‘This was a wake-up call to all of us to share our faith’
way. We heard how Mark wrote about Jesus’s life not as a diary of events but as a drama in which there is a hero on a journey to achieve an ultimate mission, with challenges, opposition and conflict along the way. Conflict, Fr Denis suggested, is the driving force of the drama, which draws readers into the story to discover whether, despite being tested, the hero will endure to the end. ‘Fr Denis showed us that Mark, rather than describing the identity of Jesus as Messiah, describes the people who encountered him, both those who loved him and were changed by him and those who opposed him, and how each responded to him. Fr Denis said that the “best commentary of Jesus is those who have gained life in him”. ‘Fr Denis showed us that Mark the Evangelist displayed no celebrity status when painting his picture of the disciples. They are not portrayed as successful or privileged because they were specially chosen by Jesus to be his followers. On the contrary, they are depicted on occasions as being quite dull, often not grasping the message Jesus was giving them.
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feature
Above: Archbishop Malcolm with Fr Denis McBride and Dr Marian Tolley
‘the best commentary of Jesus is those who have gained life in him’ 6
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‘Mark writes of their fear and anxiety, their hurt and fragility, and though providing a tough account, Fr Denis suggested that Mark therefore gives permission for future disciples – including ourselves 2,000 years on – not to have to be perfect or constantly successful in our discipleship. So even if we fail, or lose our identity as followers of Jesus, we can still come back to him with confidence. ‘Fr Denis also showed us how John the Baptist made God’s love and forgiveness available to people outside the sacred space of the temple in Jerusalem. He likened this to our Church today, where many people move away from the sacred spaces to search for answers to the big questions like “What shall I do with my life?”. We are challenged to help them hear God’s voice in the midst of secular life and culture. ‘Finally Fr Denis challenged that if we don’t share what we love, then when we die there will be two funerals: a funeral for us and a funeral for that
which we loved. He warned that Christianity is just one generation away from extinction… but added in his amusing yet thought-provoking way, that it has been so since the time of Jesus.’ In the afternoon there was a choice of workshops, either with Fr McBride looking at ways to dissect a Gospel story, or with Dr Marian Tolley offering readers the challenge ‘Does the Proclamation Challenge the Proclaimer?’. Dr Tolley emphasised the importance of readers preparing for their ministry by reading first the Gospel for the day in order to fully appreciate the First Reading and the Psalm. The day drew to a close with a plenary session and then a beautiful celebration of an Order of Blessing led by Archbishop McMahon. The whole event was recorded by Agape Ministries and CDs can be ordered from Archie Cameron at Agape Ministries (01704 224286).
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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
Earl of Wessex opens Enterprise South Liverpool Academy Enterprise South Liverpool Academy has been officially opened by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, to mark the culmination of a £23million building project. The south Liverpool school and 8.5 acre learning park is already an awardwinning building having picked up prizes
at the RIBA Regional Awards in April, before phase two of the scheme was completed this summer. His Royal Highness toured the school, meeting students and staff before unveiling a plaque and being handed a painting by Year 11 student Kabita Gurung.
Headteacher Jack Pendlebury said: ‘The Earl’s visit is an endorsement of the fact that we are providing a very special level of education to children in this area. One of our ambitions is to set very high expectations in all that we do, and the Royal visit is one very memorable way of demonstrating that anything can be achieved at ESLA. ‘The Earl was very impressed by the vision we have here and we hope that his visit and kind words inspires our students to greater heights.’ Tim Warren, Director of Schools and Colleges for the Archdiocese of Liverpool, one of the sponsors of the school, said: ‘We have seen the Academy emerge over the last seven years and can now see this wonderful building and the difference it is making to the Academy and the young people, and the learning park has completed that process. ‘The day has been a credit to the pupils and the staff and the school. It’s very clear His Royal Highness enjoyed his visit and you could see from the reception that the pupils gave him that his visit meant a lot to them.’ The school has five sponsors: Amey, the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the Diocese of Liverpool, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool City Council.
Obituary of Rev John Smith Father John Smith, Parish Priest of St Gregory’s, Lydiate for almost 27 years and more recently also of Our Lady’s, Lydiate, died suddenly at Ampleforth Abbey on Thursday 11 September aged 65 and in the forty-second year of his priestly ministry. John Philip Smith was born in Chorley on 17 December 1948, the son of Derek and June Smith. His attended St Joseph's and St Mary's Schools in Chorley, and studied for the priesthood at St Joseph’s College, Upholland. He was ordained by Archbishop George Andrew Beck in the Metropolitan Cathedral of
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Christ the King, Liverpool, on 16 June 1973. Following his ordination he had three appointments as assistant priest, at All Saints, Anfield in September 1973; Holy Angels, Kirkby in December 1978 and Christ the King, Liverpool in January 1982. In November 1987 he received his first appointment as parish priest at St Gregory's, Lydiate, in succession to Father Edward Godfrey. He was given the additional responsibility of administering the parish of Our Lady at Lydiate in
January 2005. For well over a quarter of a century he laboured tirelessly for his parishioners in Lydiate, where he will be sadly missed. For a number of years he was also one of the representatives of the archdiocese at the National Conference of Priests and he also served on the Standing Committee of the Archdiocesan Council of Priests. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St Gregory's, Lydiate, followed by burial at St Gregory's, Weldbank, Chorley.
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New life at St Marie’s The former church of St Marie, Widnes, which closed in January 2007, opened its doors to a new life last month with a dual role as office space for Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action and as a heritage centre paying tribute to the heritage of the building and the role it played in the lives of local people. The development which has seen the building restored has been achieved with support from the Achdiocese, Heritage Lottery Fund, Morbaine Limited, Halton Borough Council, Hill Dickinson, the St Marie’s Heritage Group, John Turner construction and the staff and trustees of Halton and St Helens VCA. The church was built between 1862 and 1865 to accommodate the large numbers of Irish immigrants who had come to work in the Widnes
chemical factories. It was designed by Edward Welby Pugin who by his death in 1876 had designed more than one hundred Catholic churches and cathedrals. More information can be found at the website: www.stmarieschurch.com where visitors are invited to add to a timeline of memories of the church. Roger Harrison of the St Marie’s Heritage Group says ‘We want people to bring us their old photos or stories. The more people that contribute, the better a job we’ll have done of keeping the memories alive and preserving them for future generations.’ Events are already planned with a heritage talk ‘E W Pugin and the North West’ to be given by Dr Gerard Hyland on Saturday 25 October and ‘A day of Discovery’ will take place on Saturday 22 November.
Church Leaders call to cancel Trident Archbishop Malcolm McMahon is one of seven Church leaders adding their voice to the growing call to cancel Trident and work for abolition of nuclear weapons. In a letter to ‘The Times’ on 20 September the Christian leaders stated that it is unacceptable that British citizens should be persuaded that their security depends on the credible threat to kill millions of innocent people. They went on to say that the Government should take a lead in current global initiatives to create a nuclear-weapons free world and that cancelling Trident would be a step in this direction. The other signatories were Right Rev Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Convener of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council; Rev Kenneth Howcroft, President of the Methodist Conference; the Most Rev Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Llandaff; Juliet Prager, Deputy Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain and Rev John Proctor, General Secretary of the United Reformed Church.
St Marie’s in 2011 (above) and as it is now (below).
At the same time the Rethink Trident project was launched in ‘The Guardian’ with support from the Churches including Archbishop Malcolm, Catholic Bishops: Terence Brain, Peter Doyle, Thomas McMahon, Philip Egan and William Kenney and Anglican Bishops Alan Clayton Smith and Stephen Cottrell. Among other things, Rethink Trident states that ‘Instead of wasting over one hundred billion pounds on new nuclear weapons, there are many forms of socially useful spending to which the funds could be put: combating child poverty and youth unemployment; providing affordable homes; investing in education and the NHS, as well as putting serious resources into renewable energy, to name just a few’.
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An ‘outstanding’ celebration Pupils and staff from Liverpool’s three joint Roman Catholic and Church of England Primary Schools celebrated gaining outstanding status in their Religious Education and collective worship inspections with a visit to Liverpool’s two Cathedrals and a walk along Hope Street. They were met at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King by Auxiliary Bishop Tom Williams before a tour of the building during which children from Hope School were delighted to find their namesake on the anchor of Hope which is in the Unity Chapel and is part of the school logo. The three schools: Emmaus, Croxteth Park; Faith, Everton and Hope, Huyton are completely different from each other but are places where the Christian ethos prevails and is celebrated. They offer vibrant learning environments and are great places to work and learn. Alan Williams, Headteacher of Emmaus says: ‘the support and guidance we have received from the Archdiocese and Diocese has been magnificent and helped our joint school to achieve outstanding judgements in their Christian life and Religious Education. It is very fitting that our children, staff and governors should celebrate this with a
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visit to both cathedrals, walking between the two, to represent the strong partnership forged between us.’ Paul Mackenzie, Head of Liverpool’s Faith School says: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our Joint Faith Schools, and demonstrates that more connects us than divides us: “We believe in one God” as our Creed tells everyone. It also shows the fantastic work that schools complete every day, hard working and high quality teaching is evident in our “outstanding” ratings’ Rev Andrew Stott, Chair of Governors at Hope Primary School, says: 'The children’s self pride in who they are is
evident to us all and is clearly testament to all at Hope Primary which aims to give children lifelong experiences, bringing learning alive, giving children memories they will cherish for years to come.' The day was summed up by a year 5 pupil from Hope, 'I didn't know that Hope Street was a real place. It's just between the two cathedrals and there are some fantastic and famous places on it. The Catholic cathedral was modern and full of colour whilst the Anglican cathedral was huge and it was like going back in time. I now know why we are Hope Primary and we are going to make sure that all our friends back at school do too’.
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133 years in the making Nugent Care held a special morning for all those they work with. ‘133 years in the making’ was the theme reflecting the history of the charity with a record of care stretching back to 1881. Community groups, Church groups and individuals helping to support their local communities came to learn more about the many and varied services offered by Nugent Care. There were opportunities to meet with Nugent Care staff and with people working in the community from throughout the Archdiocese and there was a chance to build on existing partnerships and establish new ones.
Are you ready for Embrace ‘It’s taken up the whole summer,’ says John Griffin, organiser of Embrace Liverpool, a conference for young adults which will take place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Saturday 1 November from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. LIPA student John says the inspiration for Embrace came from different places: the experience of big HCPT Masses in Lourdes’ underground basilica; the beauty of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King; and the scarcity of big Catholic youth events ‘up north’. Above all is his desire for others to see that ‘the Church is alive for young people. ‘Some people just go to Sunday Mass and don’t get to
see this side of it.’ The programme for the day will include addresses from Father Dermot Donnelly, Chair of the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFED); Sister Catherine Holum, Franciscan Sister of the Renewal from the USA, who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics as a member of the US Speed Skating Team, and John Pridmore. Workshops will be led by Lord Alton, Father Duncan McVicar, Dominican Sister of St Joseph Maria Natella, the Knights of St Columba and Prison Chaplain Ken McCabe. Mass will be celebrated at 4.00 pm by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon. To register for the day go to www.embrace-liverpool.org.uk
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All one family sharing together Archbishop Malcolm celebrated Mass for and with disabled people organised by Nugent Care in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. This annual Mass is now in its 45th year and the theme for 2014 was ‘all one family sharing together’. Mike Anderson and the group ‘Tongues of Fire’ took part in the music of the Mass and people from Nugent Care groups in the Archdiocese played a part in the celebration. John Paul McCarthy from Huyton Thursday group read the first
reading. Marnie Lane from St Vincent’s school for sensory impairment chanted the psalm and Jonathon Hurley read the second reading. After a dramatisation of the Gospel by the Monday night social group, Clubmoor, the bidding prayers were led by Lisieux Hall. The offertory procession was accompanied by a presentation from Electric Apple. Assistance and support was available from ten students of St Edward’s College and Rachel Irwin from the College provided the altar frontal with the theme of the Mass.
Joyful Celebration of 150 years of the Catholic Church in Ramsey, Isle of Man An entire weekend of events marked the 150th celebrations of the Catholic community of Ramsey, Isle of Man at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Maughold. It was a particularly memorable occasion as the parish priest, Father Brian O’Mahony (senior) was joined by his newly ordained nephew, Father Brian O'Mahony, as well as their honoured guest, Bishop Tom Williams. The festivities started with a Strawberry Fair on the Saturday with a large marquee in the back garden of the Church. Strawberry bunting hung from the roof and scrumptious strawberry teas were devoured by the wider Ramsey community. The Strawberry Princess competition was won by 1 1/2 year old Kyra Hughes. One of the parishioners even dressed up as a huge strawberry to advertise the Fair, walking up and down the streets of Ramsey handing out leaflets. There was a tea-tasting stall, bric-a-brac and ‘all things strawberry’ stall as well as a ‘StrawBEARy’ stall (full of
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reconditioned teddies). There were games for the children with a strawberry piñata, together with the popular bake stall with The Great Ramsey Bake-Off Strawberry Cake Competition, judged by our newly ordained priest. On Saturday evening a parish BBQ was enjoyed by all the parishioners. After Sunday Mass celebrated by Bishop Williams, Father Brian O’Mahony (senior) and by his newly-ordained nephew, a delicious buffet brunch was served by the Filipino community of Ramsey. Then followed the cake cutting, made by a member of the ever-supportive Filipino community to jointly celebrate the ordination of Father Brian and the church community's 150th Anniversary. The week-end of joyful celebration ended with the presentation of an ordination present
of a pen set from the parish to Father Brian.
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nugent news ‘Brain Wave’ at Clarence High School Nugent Care’s Clarence High School offers both residential and day placements in a therapeutic setting for both boys and girls who experience social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and who may also experience more complex difficulties, including those on the autistic spectrum. Clarence High School has extensive grounds and is set in Freshfield, Formby, close to areas of natural beauty and conservation area. Manchester, Liverpool and Preston are within easy travelling distance enabling pupils to access a wide range of cultural experiences that vibrant city life can offer. The Nugent Care Fundraising Team applied to ‘Awards for All Big Lottery Fund’ on behalf of Clarence High School for the development of a new project called ‘Brain Wave’ resulting in a grant of £9,840 for the project which will improve emotional, mental and physical health by offering computer based programmes that relax and reduce stress to the students at school and in the children’s home. The programmes can be used for both adults and children who are at risk of and experiencing mental health problems, social and emotional problems and those who may have no obvious difficulties but do give rise to concern. The programmes are computer bio feedback programmes called Heartmath - emwave, and will enable individuals to learn new techniques for; managing stress, reducing anger, depression and anxiety and build resilience so individuals enjoy life more. Each programme will be individually tailored to meet the needs of each student. Heartmath emwave clinical studies have
dramatically demonstrated the critical link between emotion, heart function and cognitive performance. Within the school there are extensive specialist facilities including a design and technology workshop, theatre and drama suite and a beauty salon. During April the talent of some of the pupils at the school was highlighted in an exhibition of their artwork at the Domino Gallery in Liverpool City Centre. Another exhibition is to take place at The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport from 6 October to 29 November. The theme for the student’s artwork promoted Nugent Care’s Dignity in Care and Dignity in Dementia campaign that raised awareness of the challenges some people experience whilst living in care or living with dementia. The campaign gave a greater emphasis on improving the quality of care services for the most vulnerable people and the pupils work reflected this. The young people involved had never before had their work displayed in public, it had the added effect of promoting their confidence and raised their self-esteem, it helped them to develop creativity and invigorated their enthusiasm for learning. They were encouraged to work together, talk about their ideas and make decisions based on their developing understanding of materials, forms and genre as they understand the issues of dementia and dignity. More details can be found at: www.clarencehighschool.co.uk
It is a privilege for me to serve as Chief Executive of Nugent Care; a society is judged by the way in which it cares for vulnerable people and those in need and since the nineteenth century and the work of our Founder, Father James Nugent, Catholic care has been working for the good of others in this part of the north west of England and beyond. Visible proof of the gratitude for the pioneering work of Father Nugent can still be seen today in the statue in his memory in St John’s Gardens, a statue paid for by public subscription. At Nugent Care we always feel honoured to celebrate the life of Father Nugent, especially in continuing his work with and for people in the Archdiocese of Liverpool. It is now 168 years since Father Nugent began work with those who had come to Liverpool to escape the Irish famine. He opened his first ‘ragged school’ in Spitalfields in 1849, the first of many to help the ‘poorest of the poor’. In 1863 he became the first Catholic Chaplain at Walton prison where he showed great zeal for social reform. During the years that followed he was actively involved in the establishment of numerous institutions in Liverpool and in 1887 he resigned from parish work to devote himself exclusively to the care of the poor and became well travelled for his day with frequent visits to America and Europe; work which continued up to his death, aged 83, on 27 June 1905. With Bishop Bernard O’Reilly Father Nugent founded the ‘Liverpool Catholic Children’s Protection Society’ on 16 April 1881, today’s Nugent Care. To some our 21st century work would seem a world away from those early days, yet it remains exactly the same: caring and supporting others. Today Nugent Care operates over thirty different services and projects. We offer special education to over 115 children, residential care to over 75 children, 80 older people and 90 individuals with mental and physical difficulties; adoption and fostering services; community based support for over 470 individuals with learning disabilities; support programmes for homeless individuals, older people; Deaf people and people who are hard of hearing and support over 300 volunteers and their community groups. Like so many we rely on voluntary help and donations to continue our work. Today, Rosary Sunday – our special day of prayer, please remember our work and those we are privileged to serve. Kathleen Pitt Chief Executive Nugent Care
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sunday reflections On a liturgical note The call that Cafod makes at the beginning of this month for the Harvest Fast Day is echoed at the end of the month in One World Week. These are voices which remind us that – as it is in one world that we live and move and have our being – so it is to the one Father of all that we give thanks both for the fruits of the earth and the work of human hands. The gifts which enable us to be fed, to grow and to flourish in our living cannot be taken for granted, for we know that there are many today who lack even the bare necessities of daily living. It is our sensitivity towards them and our desire to see a more equitable usage of the resources of the world which lead us to work and pray together with all people of good will. In communities where harvest is not simply a word but a reality
Sunday thoughts When a couple enquire about getting married I am still surprised to be told that their preferred date is two years away. Forward planning is driven by the need to secure a booking at the reception venue. No detail of their perfect day is left to chance. Fairy-tale ambitions are fed by wedding fairs and reports of celebrity weddings. If you cannot hire a castle then a marquee is next best. Matthew’s gospel for Sunday 12 October is the story of the perfect wedding day gone wrong. A royal wedding, it is of Hello! magazine proportions: oxen and fattened cattle slaughtered; champagne on ice; waiters with trays of canapés at the ready. But those invited fail to show up. It is reminiscent of another wedding, at Cana, equally devastating, when they run out of wine. Fewer people are getting married. Expectations of a fairy-tale wedding
Canon Philip Gillespie
demanding the effort of the whole community, the sense of gratitude is perhaps all the stronger. Yet for each one of us, it is good to stop and reflect that it is by the work of someone else’s hands that food is put on our tables – the farmer, the fisherman, the shop worker, the one who cooks and prepares our ‘daily bread’. The Liturgy gives us a ready-made thanksgiving for the food we receive and for those who have supplied it and prepared it, words which need not only be spoken by our priests on a Sunday but which can be on the lips of each of us as a grace, a thanksgiving, before our meals: Blessed are you Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received...
Mgr John Devine OBE
have to be a factor. When people said they could not afford to get married it may have been a lame excuse in the past. Today it is a valid one. Ironically, those opting for a registry office ceremony followed by a trip to the local carvery may be closer to Gospel values. But neither of these stories are about weddings as such. These are stories of disappointment redeemed by something better. They are metaphors for the Kingdom of God. All are invited. The king derives more satisfaction, and fun, from a wedding hall filled with needy strangers than he could ever have imagined. And the wine served in the Kingdom of Heaven is of a different order to that served at the most exclusive society weddings.
Whose approval matters? When I was training to be a priest, the Liverpool students used to meet up with the Archbishop during the Christmas holidays. In 1980 our vocations director brought to the gathering a woman of forthright opinions about the Church, about priesthood and about the dignity of all the baptised. She spoke fearlessly about all these things and the need for a personal relationship with the Lord and for a new awareness of the spirit in our lives. I agreed with everything but many of the students found her hard to take so I decided that I would go and speak to her. I said that I felt it would be wise to pull back slightly and try and win people over with gentleness rather than a full frontal attack. She listened very graciously to what I had to say and then replied, ‘Go away, read Galatians 1:10. If you still feel the same, come back to me.’ When I read the quotation my jaw hit the floor. ‘So now whom am I trying to please – people, or God?’ The Gospel cannot be forced into the parameters that we want it to fit into. We have to take risks to proclaim the Good news but whose approval are we looking for? Jesus’s gathering of disciples was not unusual for a rabbi in his time but the kind of disciples Jesus gathers is unusual because they are not theological professionals. Fishermen, tax collectors, ex-revolutionaries and people who have messy lives make up Jesus’s followers. He reaches out to the unacceptable, allowing them to become bearers of the good news of a God who is comfortable with messy lives, a God who works in transforming us deep within, a God for whom no-one is irredeemable. The gathering of this unorthodox group heightens opposition to the Gospel. Jesus’s ways are not the ways of the Jewish leadership, nor are they the ways of a self-righteous elitism. He attracts those who know that they need God and he does not look for the approval of anyone, only for the approval of God The scribes and Pharisees could not see. It was too much for them. God could not possibly be at work in and through these people but God was – and is. We as Church have spent too long with a similar blindness. We have made the sacramental life of the Church into a reward for good living. We have excluded those considered unclean. We have failed to see forgiveness and merciful love as the heart of the kingdom. We are to follow Jesus into a kingdom of love, mercy, forgiveness and inclusion, a kingdom that will never be acceptable because it is radical. There are times when we will be misunderstood even by the Church but whose approval are we looking for anyway? Fr Chris Thomas
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what’s on Wednesday 1 October Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
7.15 pm at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Preacher: Father John Cullen.
Friday 10 October
Saturday 4 October Coffee Afternoon For the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Southport branch. 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm at St Patrick's Church Hall, Marshside Road, Southport. Cost £1 and includes a cream tea. Children are free. There will be various stalls including a tombola and a raffle. All are welcome. Sunday 5 October Rosary Sunday Day of Special Prayer for the work of Nugent Care. 54th St Helens Annual Family Rosary Procession Led by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP. Assemble at Church Square at 2.45 pm. Procession starts at 3.00 pm and will follow a route to the church of Holy Cross and St. Helen where it will conclude with Benediction.
Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Preacher: Father Tom Leigh. Friday 10 October to Sunday 12 October ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ A look at the letters to the Hebrews. Scripture Weekend led by Father Chris Thomas at Irenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Friday 10 October Jospice 40th Anniversary ‘Cassocks and Classics’ Concert 7.30 pm at St Faith’s church, Crosby. Guests artists; Chorister Jack Topping, Lesley Smith sopranoand Danielle Thomas mezzo soprano with St Edmund’s choir. Compere: Radio Merseyside’s Roger Phillips. Tickets from £14 (including interval drinks) enquiries@jospice.org.uk or www.jospice.org.uk Tel: 0151 924 3812 Saturday 11 October ‘Myths and Legends’ Concert 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt Concert Room. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk Thursday 16 October ‘Walk and talk amongst the treasures’ led by Monsignor Peter Cookson An evening organised by the Friends of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. 7.00 pm in the Pontifical Chapel of the
Friday 10 October
Lutyens Crypt. Tickets £8 on the door or from Cathedral House Tel:0151 709 9222. Newman Circle Talk Pastoral Care of the Divorced and Separated Speaker: Frances Trotman. 7.30 pm at St Helen's Parish Centre, Crosby, L23 7TQ. Sunday 19 October World Mission Day. Spiritual Accompaniment Course 12.00 noon at Irenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk
Monday 6 October to Thursday 9 October Freedom and Hope: ‘Repentance and Forgiveness’ A study week with prayer and relaxation for all who work with and for prisoners. Boarbank Hall, Allithwaite, Grange over Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7NH. Details Tel: 01539 532288. Email: margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk. Web: www.boarbankhall.org.uk Tuesday 7 October UCM Business Meeting 7.30 pm in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Wednesday 8 October Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour 7.15 pm at St Edmund of Canterbury,
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Thursday 16 October
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october Thursday 20 November Newman Circle Talk Medieval Sanctity Speaker: Casey Beaumont. 7.30 pm at St Helen's Parish Centre, Crosby, L23 7TQ.
Looking ahead: November 2014 Wednesday 5 November UCM Bi-monthly Mass 7.30 pm at St Cecilia, Green Lane, Tuebrook, L13 7DT.
‘Days that shook the world.’ The Christmas Truce A film about the day in 1914 when the guns were silenced, the fighting stopped and the football started. 7.30 pm at Marine FC, The Arriva Stadium, College Rd, Liverpool L23 3AS. Details: 0151 924 8674. Friday 21 November to Sunday 23 November ‘Go out into the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’Reflections on the Gospel of Mark Scripture Weekend led by Father Chris Thomas at Irenaeus, 32 Great Georges Road, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Bookings Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 or email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Friday 28 November to Sunday 30 November Hope in Health: ‘Communication’. A weekend for Catholic under-40s in healthcare. Boarbank Hall, Allithwaite, Grange over Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7NH. Details Tel: 01539 532288. Email: margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk. Web: www.boarbankhall.org.uk
Tuesday 11 November Tuesday 11 November Celebrating 50 years of Catholic Ecumenism Seminar on Ecumenism: ‘The last 50 years; the next 50 years’. Contributors include: Reverend Dr David Cornick (General Secretary of Churches Together in England); Reverend Dr Cally Hammond (Dean, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge); Reverend Ken Howcroft (President of the Methodist Conference 2014-2015); Professor Paul Murray (ARCIC III Commission; Editor,’Receptive Ecumenism and the Call to Catholic Learning’). 2.00 pm in Wheeler Hall, St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds. Celebrating 50 years of Catholic Ecumenism Ecumenical Vespers. 5.30 pm in St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds. Preacher: the Most Reverend Sir David Moxon (the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome).
Thursday 20 November ‘Days that shook the world.’ The Christmas Truce
Daughters of St Paul The Daughters of St Paul are an international Catholic community of religious women dedicated to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, using all forms of communication. They are well known in Liverpool having run St Paul’s Bookshop, now Pauline Books and Media, in Bold Street for many years. They are currently looking for someone
who has an involvement and interest in the Christian faith and in particular in the vision and ministry of the Catholic Church to take up the position of Sales Assistant, initially for 25 hours a week but looking to become full time. If you have an open and friendly
personality, basic computer skills, flexibility, initiative, good communication and organisational skills and feel you would be able to work with a well established and competent team of women committed to the ministry of Pauline Books and Media contact Sister Laliane Lillo at 82 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR before 20 October 2014, or email liverpool@pauline-uk.org for details.
More details at :www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk or www.catholicpic.co.uk Catholic Pictorial
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profile
Corral Amusa
On a mission to help children with Nugent Care by Simon Hart ‘YOU see the advert ‘Can you give a child a good home?’ but that’s not what it is about.’ Corral Amusa is discussing the challenges of establishing a fostering service and the importance, above all, of providing the right carers for troubled children. For Corral, this is the task she faces as fostering service manager at Nugent Care, the northwest-based charity, and she explains what they are seeking from prospective parents in their newly registered scheme. ‘We want to attract applicants who are committed to providing a positive foster care experience for children and young people, and are committed to learning new skills and ways to manage children who have been affected by severe neglect,’ she says. ‘They can be people who have already fostered but primarily we want people who haven’t fostered because what we are offering is extensive training in therapeutic parenting.’ Corral arrived at Nugent Care earlier this year, charged with completing the job of setting up the fostering service at the charity. On 16 September, the service
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was officially registered and now for the next steps. ‘We want to have connections across the region – in Liverpool and the surrounding areas, and Manchester and the surrounding areas,’ she says. ‘We’ve prepared the adverts to go out. We are putting on recruitment events in Liverpool city centre – in Church Street on 11 October and Paradise Street on 25 October’ ‘In a year’s time I hope to have at least 20 foster carers, but I don’t like to put a number on it – for us it’s going to be about quality rather than quantity and it has to be. If we say we’re offering a service especially for those children often left out of the fostering loop because they are the more challenging children, then we want to have a trained foster carer who will work with that specific group.’ Corral, who qualified from Manchester University in 1994, had previously worked as a locum social worker within fostering services at Rochdale borough council. Working for Nugent Care, she explains, brings an important sense of purpose. This is not a profit-making private service
and, unlike at a local council, there is no danger of getting ‘swamped in the politics and money’. She adds: ‘I saw the role for Nugent Care and saw it was a charity and not for profit. I understand we are going to charge for the service – we have to sustain ourselves – but I know the importance isn’t about ‘bums in beds’, which is a common theme for fostering. That is not what Nugent Care is about. The ethos behind it is much more appealing. ‘And because it is a new fostering service you can almost put your stamp on it. You know what is going to be in best interests of the child and it affords you the opportunity to select applicants you know can be trained to that high standard where the child will get an exceptional service. ‘What excites me is when you find appropriate matches for children and when those matches are successful and that child is able to have a productive life, that has got to be the reward.’ For more information, email Fostering@nugentcare.org or call 0151 229 5280.
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youth ministry
Introducing your new Animate team The Animate team have reassembled for another year of spreading the Good News to the young people of the Archdiocese of Liverpool and beyond. The new team for 2014/15 have already been busy working with Year 7 pupils from Hope Academy in Newton-le-Willows, exploring the theme of ‘We are Family’, and with Year 7s from St John Fisher in Wigan looking at their mission statement of ‘Hold fast to that which is good’. This year’s group contains a mixture of new and old faces. Father Simon Gore remains as Director of Youth Ministry, Sarah Beatty has changed roles to Team Leader, and Sean Evans has returned for a second gap year before heading to university to study music. For the lowdown on our new arrivals, read on… Chris Jones – Team Coordinator I am from: Greenock (Paisley Diocese! We have the youngest Bishop in the UK!) My favourite piece of scripture is: 1
Corinthians 10:13 An interesting fact about me: In the past 10 years I have been to Lourdes eight times, Walsingham three times and Medjugorje once. Meaning that over the decade, there has not been a year when I have not been to a Marian shrine... I joined the Animate Team because: It is a fantastic opportunity to come back into the community where I started my youth work mission during my first spell with Animate as a volunteer in 2008-10. The time was right to give something back. I also love working with young people and seeing them build a relationship with God! Amen. James Lawry – Team Coordinator I am from: Portsmouth My favourite piece of scripture is: Romans 12:2 An interesting fact about me: I'm afraid of loud
noises... I joined the Animate Team because: I align myself wholeheartedly with the spiritual growth of young people and Animate strive to welcome all people into communion with God. Charlotte Walmsley – Volunteer I am from: Chorley My favourite piece of scripture is: Matthew 5:1416 An interesting fact about me: I played rugby for five years while in high school. I joined the Animate Team because: I want to help younger people realise that maybe it isn't so bad to have a faith and talk about God. Tom Hallsworth – Volunteer I am from: Southport My favourite piece of scripture is: Exodus 14:14 An interesting fact about me: I am a soldier in the Salvation Army. I joined the Animate Team because: I enjoy working with young people and sharing the Gospel. Caroline Rigby – Volunteer I am from: Chorley My favourite piece of scripture is: Matthew 6: 2534 An interesting fact about me: I used to live in France. I joined the Animate Team because: After four years at university I wanted to try something completely different and Animate fits the bill! Please remember these people in your prayers as they begin spending a year living in community, sharing their lives with each other and offering themselves in service to the young people of our Diocese.
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justice & peace
Why Scotland’s debate was an example to all By Steve Atherton, Justice and Peace fieldworker am writing this on the historic day when Scotland ended its uncertainty over national identity by voting to stay as part of the United Kingdom.
I
As well as being a boost for the United Kingdom, I was struck by how wholesome the whole process was. At a time when political solutions seem to be receding across the world, I can even say that I saw this process as a sign of the presence of the Kingdom of God. The principles behind the debate matched some key principles of Catholic Social Teaching, in particular, human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, the right to participate, and equality. Respect for human dignity marked both the campaigns and the postelection commentary; there was certainly animosity and heated debate but throughout the process the Scots were able to respect each other and express deeply opposing views in public without any physical violence. The overriding concern throughout the debates was that the decision
had to be for the common good and not the just the benefit of one group. The argument was not about protecting the interests of any one group but about what was actually best for everyone. In fact, the debate was triggered by longstanding concerns over inherent structural imbalances in the union among the member countries. (That is code for: England is in charge and Scotland does what it is told.) The promise from Westminster is that these imbalances and injustices will be put right. The principle of subsidiarity – that those who are affected by decisions should be involved in making them – was clearly happening. Scotland has a measure of self-governance and only people resident in Scotland were allowed to vote. As for participation, we can only be astonished at the level of turnout in the election. We are more used to 20% than 87%. Clearly, the electorate thought not only that the issue mattered but also that the decision would be binding.
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The principle of equality was in play because the main reason for the independence question was that England has been a dominant partner since the relationship began. Furthermore, younger people from 16-18 were allowed to vote, a pattern we can expect to see happen across the UK. As well as a huge sense of relief, I felt sadness for those who, having taken part in a magnificent democratic process of trying to change people’s minds and influence politics by talking rather than fighting, have ended up on the losing side of the argument. We need to pray that reconciliation will follow and that ‘victory’ and ‘defeat’ will not become a permanent part of the language. Reconciliation will require opponents to accept that it is OK to differ as long as they can work together to improve the common good and find a new language of cooperation and hope. Proud to be British? Certainly, though I never expected to become a Unionist!
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John the Joiner CRB checked For all the small and larger jobs Doors, Skirtings, Architraves, Shelving, Flat Packs Plus All the other jobs that you have put off doing Mobile - 07807486008 Phone or text Email jj4cko52@yahoo.co.uk 22
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cathedral
Comings, goings and congratulations! After a hectic Summer term, with the Cathedral Choir singing for the Pope in Rome and trips to London and the Isle of Man, the Cathedral music department is settling back into a new academic year.
Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean With the Philharmonic Hall being closed for refurbishment at present the Cathedral are hosting two of their scheduled concerts.
The beginning of a new year always means welcoming new people and bidding farewell to others. We are particularly proud that two former choristers will shortly begin university studies at Oxford and Cambridge respectively after achieving excellent Alevel grades at St Edward’s College, the Cathedral Choir school. Charlotte Rowan, a former head chorister of the girls’ choir has won a choral scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge where she will read music. James Orrell, a former head chorister of the boys’ choir is going up to St Catherine's College, Oxford to read Music. He has also been awarded the Repetiteur Scholarship by the college which involves him working with an opera company based in Oxford called New Chamber Opera. Both Charlotte and James have kept in touch with the Cathedral since they left as choristers: in Charlotte’s case as organ scholar (the Cathedral’s first ever female holder of the scholarship) and James has sung regularly as a deputy lay clerk. The Cathedral is very proud of both Charlotte and James and all our former choristers who have gone on to higher education. September has seen the arrival of James Luxton as our new Assistant Director of Music. James hails from Birmingham and comes to us from Worcester Cathedral where he was the SubAssistant Organist. James graduated
from the Birmingham conservatoire in 2011 with a first class honours degree, holding the organ scholarship at St Chad’s Cathedral. A lifelong Roman Catholic, James played for many liturgies as a teenager in his hometown, a particular highlight was playing for Benedict XVI’s address to the Catholic Bishops during the Papal Visit of 2010, which took place in Oscott College Chapel. We are delighted to welcome James and look forward to the contribution he will make to the musical life of the Cathedral. Finally, congratulations are due to the Cathedral Director of Music, who in July was awarded the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy by Liverpool University on behalf of Liverpool Hope University. Dr Christopher McElroy was awarded the degree for his thesis: ‘The ‘‘Treasury of Sacred Music”: A Hermeneutical Investigation into the Reception of Chapter Six of Sacrosanctum Concilium in England.’ The thesis investigates how the musical teachings of Vatican II were received and interpreted here in England in the years after the council.
Both are settings of the Requiem Mass but very different in style and performance. The first on 9 October is a Flamenco setting composed by the celebrated Flamenco and classical guitarist Paco Pena. He will be performing along with other musicians, choir and a flamenco dancer. Sadly I am on a Diocesan in service course that week so I’m not sure I will be able to sneak home to hear this. The second concert is a performance of Faure’s Requiem with orchestra and choirs on 8 November. With the box office being closed tickets are only available online or in the Cathedral Gift Shop. On 16 October the Cathedral Friends have arranged an evening talk on the artefacts within the Cathedral treasury telling something of their history and provenance and how they relate the survival and development of the Catholic faith in the north of England since the Reformation. This will be given by Monsignor Cookson who was largely responsible for collecting and cataloguing this collection from across the Archdiocese. St Edwards College staff, parents and pupils will be joining us on Sunday 19 October at 11.00 am for their Founders Day Mass. Bishop Tom will be presiding at this Mass this year. Archbishop Malcolm will be attending the Annual Judges Service at the same time in Liverpool Cathedral and giving the address. The Archbishop will also be joining the Chapter of Canons for their meeting and Chapter Mass on 21 October.
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Pic extras Mums the Word The UCM pilgrimage to Canterbury took place last month and provided a real highlight of the year. A party of 27 Liverpool branch members set out for Kent on Monday 8 September, departing after 9.30am Mass at St Joseph’s, Penketh. Our destination was Aylesford Priary, where we met our chaplain, Father Mark Madden, on arrival. The Friars was a Carmelite priory before the Reformation, and the Carmelites were able to buy it back in 1949. I can honestly say I have never been in such a peaceful, tranquil place. The Friars is on the banks of the River Medway and a lot of the buildings are original; it is a place I would recommend highly to everybody.
News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba
Liverpool members retrace St Columba’s steps on Iona
Members of the KSC’s Liverpool Province along with their wives, friends and family enjoyed a short trip to the Western Highlands and Islands in September. The highlight of the holiday was a visit to the Isle of Iona, the place where our patron, St Columba, arrived from Ireland in 563, establishing a monastery before taking Christianity to the Scottish mainland. We attended evening prayer with the community there each day and Mass on the Tuesday. We visited Rochester Cathedral – where there is a statue of St John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester until he was martyred by Henry VIII – and on Wednesday 10th, we had Mass in Faversham at the shrine of St Jude, which is also a Carmelite community. Thursday took us to Canterbury and the central purpose of the pilgrimage as far as I was concerned. Fr Mark had arranged for us to attend Mass in the Cathedral and the East Crypt was closed for our use. I was disappointed that the site of St Thomas Becket’s martyrdom was not marked in a special way and hope that we can go to Canterbury again to explore the Cathedral and the city with more time. It was a spiritually uplifting occasion and you were all remembered in our prayers. And, being a UCM pilgrimage, it was a sociable trip too with some enjoyable evenings. I hope to see you all at our business meeting on 7 October and our study evening at St Thomas of Canterbury, Waterloo on 18 October. God bless, Ann Hogg, media officer
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He died on Iona in 597 and the magnificent abbey there stands as a testimonial to his memory, though it was to a less significant building nearby – Cnoc a’ Chalmain, or the Hill of the Dove – that our party made its way. This was established as a House of Prayer under the auspices of the Catholic Church and officially opened in 1997 on the 1,400th anniversary of St Columba’s death. It has been managed from its conception by Sister Jean Lawson who received considerable help and encouragement in its establishment from the late Frances Shand Kydd, mother of Princess Diana. The project is supported financially by providing guesthouse accommodation
with one of the rooms also used as a chapel. It was in this room that our party attended a special Mass concelebrated by our chaplain, Father Tom Wood, and Fr Atli Jonsson, chaplain of council 146, Southport. We are extremely grateful to Fr Tom for making the prior arrangement for the Mass, to Sister Lawson for providing the use of her House of Prayer and to Fr Atli for assisting. Anyone wishing to know more about this wonderful place can visit the website www.catholiciona.com. The other highlights of the holiday were visits to Oban, Inverary and the Isle of Seil and our thanks go to the staff of the Loch Awe Hotel, to Lochs and Glens Holidays, and to our coach driver and guide John Davey who acted beyond the call of duty to cater for all our requirements. Above all, we thank our deputy provincial grand knight, Pat Foley, who planned the trip and created an excellent spirit of togetherness for the entire duration of our Scottish stay. Websites: www.ksc.org.uk www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com
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PIC Life Don’t be afraid to say ‘I was wrong’ By Moira Billinge The scheduled fire practice had gone well. Our very stern form teacher had instructed her class of eight-year-olds in the drill we were to follow upon hearing the alarm and we had practised – with military precision – lining up between the three rows of desks ready to walk calmly towards the door when ordered to do so. My desk was in the row furthest from the door and at the back of the class. This fact worried me greatly as if there were to be a real fire I would, of course, be the last one out. The following morning, in the middle of listening to a school’s programme on the radio, the fire alarm suddenly rang. My teacher, in a voice nearly as loud as the alarm, shouted: ‘Children, everything is going to be all right but you must remember your fire drill! Get in to your lines now just like you did yesterday. Leave all your things on your desk!’ If she did issue any further instructions, I did not hear them in my all-consuming terror. In a split second I had decided that I was absolutely not going to be the last out of that room under any circumstances. I took flight, and, despite having asthma, sped swiftly past the rows of children – and my teacher. Then, with a frantic tug I flung the door open, raced through the length of two adjoining classrooms and easily passed two more teachers who were preparing their children for a quick exit. With speed, determination – and at considerable risk – I ran down the long flight of stairs which led to the safety of the playground where people were already starting to gather. Once there, a new, imminent and possibly worse threat replaced my fear
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of being burnt alive by gigantic flames: somebody said that we had just taken part in an unannounced fire practice, obviously to test our proficiency and to see if we had taken anything in from the day before. Calling the register, the teacher reached my name and glared at me with justifiable menace. I knew at that moment that I was about to regret my act of self-preservation and I started to cry. Actually, it was probably more like a loud, sobbing wail which accompanied me back to the classroom. Given my gross act of cowardice, it should have been obvious to her why I was crying. All the signs indicated a terrified child. Sadly, this same teacher was not renowned for sensitive insight. ‘Are you crying because you were worried in case I got burnt?’ she asked, helpfully. I could not believe my luck. The totally unexpected lifeline offered a most perfect escape even though her personal safety had been the very last thing on my mind. Nodding, very gratefully, through my tears, I escaped punishment. How often in life do we do the wrong thing yet try to dodge the consequences of our actions? It is easier to look for extenuating circumstances rather than to admit our blatant disregard for what is expected of us as children of God. We can fool ourselves and we can fool others, but in the end we answer to God – who might not be a pushover, but perhaps recognises a scared child and makes allowances. As Pope Francis remarked recently: ‘Never forget this: the Lord never gets tired of forgiving us. It is we who get tired of asking for forgiveness.’
Favourite Prayer Mary Our Mother Give peace to the world In truth in justice in liberty And in love
From Pat Sharp, parishioner of Christ the King and Our Ladys Church, Liverpool 15 Please send your favourite prayer to: Barbara, Catholic Pictorial, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS When sending your favourite prayer please let us have your name and which parish you attend, also your home telephone number which will not be published, without the details we are unable to publish.
Worth a visit
This month, visit a basilica born out of an ambitious vision, writes Lucy Oliver. The Sagrada Familia is synonymous with the city of Barcelona and is a work on a truly grand scale, famous for its unique appearance and ongoing construction. Begun in 1882 using money donated by the people, the architect Antoni Gaudi took over its direction a year later and remained absorbed in the project until his death in 1926. Gaudi was aware of the complex nature of a project featuring an awe-inspiring combination of the imagination and spiritual devotion. A succession of architects have continued his work, using advances in technology to speed up the project, though Gaudi’s words resonate today: ‘My client is in no hurry.’ The millions who visit each year enjoy both the architectural and religious significance of this building, which as a work in progress provides a testimony to the ongoing faith of its supporters and benefactors. The image of the basilica most readily identified across the globe is the Nativity façade, telling the Gospel story of Christ’s birth. The apse façade, built on top of the crypt, is consecrated to Our Lady, to whom Gaudi was particularly devoted. For more information, visit www.sagradafamilia.cat.
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join in Eating Out
Children’s word search October 25 is when we celebrate the Feast of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. See if you can find our clues about them
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FAITH CONQUERED HEROES
SACRIFICE EXAMPLE
Make the most of what is left of the lovely days and drive over to one of our listed lunch places Cottage Loaf Telegraph Road, Thurstaston, Wirral 0151 648 2837 Bull & Dog Liverpool Road South, Burscough 01704 895798 Plough Inn Spa Lane, Lathom 01695 722322 Town Green Inn Town Green Lane, Aughton 01695 424370 Wellington Hotel Town Lane, Liverpool 24 0151 425 2178 Claudes of Churchtown Botanic Road, Churchtown 01704 228334
More Mullarkey From Johnny Kennedy Tommy Riley is seven years old, and always in trouble at the primary school. Father Mullarkey has a soft spot for the little fella, no doubt remembering that he was no model pupil himself. ‘What’s the problem today, Tom?’ said Fr Mullarkey. ‘The teacher said me dad did me homework, Father.’ ‘What makes her think that, Tom?’ ‘She said it’s in me dad’s handwritin’.’ ‘And is it, Tom?’ ‘It looks like his writin’, Father.’ ‘And why do you think might be, Tom?’ ‘Cos I used me dad’s pen, Father.’
Christmas Cards from the Carmelite Monastery
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).
Beautiful designed cards for Christmas now available 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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