The Follower in the Year of Faith (edition 2)

in the Year of Faith 2012-2013

Season Two: January to Easter 2013 cards Further prayer ction lle co r fo available

• Homilies and lesson plans on ‘The Sacraments’ and ‘Reconciliation’ • Ideas for and from parishes and schools • Plus much more including event listings and articles

Acknowledgments Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, London, SW1P 1QN Editor: Mark Nash © WRCDT, 2013. The Follower’s printing is arranged by Transform Management Ltd info@1025transform.co.uk Contributors: Bishop John Arnold (Moderator of the Curia), Bridget Brinkley (Catechetical Coordinator, Feltham) Mgr Martin Hayes (Edgware), Stephen Horsman (Assistant Director, Education Service), Barbara Kentish (Justice and Peace Co-ordinator), Diana Klein (Mill Hill and Heythrop College), Mark Nash (Team Member, Agency for Evangelisation), Fr Richard Nesbitt (Vocations), Fr Roger Taylor (Seminary), Office for Marriage and Family Life.

Images: 4-5 (The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew by Carravaggio), 6-7 (blue and yellow by berent), 8-9 (Misty Hills by rolve), 10 (stained glass window, Wadham College, Oxford), 10 (Floral 2 by pipp), 12-13 (Paper on Floral Background 1 by alifarid) 13 (Antique Typewriter Stock by Valeriana); 14 (Blu-Tiles by kikostyle) 15-16 (Map of London by davidryanrobinson.com) 18 (Return of the Prodigal Son

by Jan Steen) 19 (Green World Map from worldpaperdisk. com), 20-21 (Stained Glass at La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Further copies of the diocesan prayercard featuring the prayer specially written for the Year of Faith and Stephen Foster’s Christ the Sower are available for collection from Vaughan House. If you are coming for a meeting or a course and you need more cards let us know and we can put them to one side for you.

by ptogel), 26 (Allegory of Justice and Peace by Giaquinto Corrado), 30 (Argument by kd5ytx), Front Cover and 31 (Cathedral Rood by Marcin Mazur), Back Cover (Carved Angel Frame from pic2fly.com) This magazine is also available online at: issuu.com/exploringfaith/docs/thefollower_yof2 Once you have read The Follower and made a note of the events and publications that interest you, please think about passing it to a friend or recycling it responsibly.

The Diocese of Westminster is committed to a sustainable future for our planet. The booklet in your hands is made from paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Staying in contact Website: www.rcdow.org.uk Email: yearoffaith@rcdow.org.uk Follow the Diocese of Westminster on Twitter: @RCWestminster through the YOF

To supplement the homilies throughout the Year of Faith, downloadable handouts have been prepared and are available on the diocesan website: http://beta.rcdow.org. uk/year-of-faith/about/. The homilies that have passed can be found here too. Both the homilies and handouts are also emailed to parishes ahead of the relevant Sunday.

Intro

Dates & Events

Pages 4 & 5

Pages 22 to 24

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18

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27

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Celebrating Marriage

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15

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Homily III: Sacraments

Homily IV: Reconciliation

Foundation Degree in Pastoral Mission

Parish ideas for YOF

Lent Faith-sharing on reconciliation and love

Towards a Formation of the Human Heart

School ideas for YOF

Assembly III: Sacraments

Assembly IV: Reconciliation

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Celebrating our faith

by Bishop John Arnold

This second season in the Year of Faith in the Diocese of Westminster presents us with the invitation to consider the second pillar of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Celebration of the Sacraments, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation in particular. A deepened understanding of our faith leads us to a renewed enthusiasm to celebrate it through our understanding

of, and participation in, the sacraments.

For the vast majority of us the Sacrament of Baptism marks the start of our journey in faith.

In Baptism we experience not just the joining of a community, not just the joy of belonging, but something altogether more profound. In its essence baptism is about death and life, dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ.

If this Year of Faith is to be of real benefit to us, a fuller recognition of this reality is surely a worthy goal. Simply to see Sacraments as milestones, as markers and checkpoints, is a failure to see their profound importance and value. Baptism is an entrance into the paschal mystery, an avenue by which we encounter the person of Christ, indeed conforming ourselves to him. Our lives are

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Main image: The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew by Carravaggio (c.1603-6)

to be lived in him, through him, with him. This second season takes us through Lent, which in turn presents us with the perfect opportunity to engage with this new life and triumph with Christ over death; it is a chance for us as individuals, and in our parishes and schools, to experience metanoia, that daily conversion of heart and mind and body to the One who gives us life.

You will find in this booklet, the second of four for the Year of Faith, a calendar of events, some materials for the named Sundays which we will celebrate together as part of the Year of Faith and further resources and ideas that may help you to make your own plan. Once more, you are welcome to provide examples of what you are doing for publication in future editions.

Let us continue to recognise this Year of Faith as the great opportunity it is which can truly benefit us all. Thank you for all that you are doing to make it a success.

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Preaching in the Year of Faith: Homily III 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C)

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Sacraments Once delivered, this homily will appear on the diocesan website.

Readings Isaiah 62:1-5 I Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11

Going further?

Handouts for the two homilies in this booklet and the following six homilies in the year of faith will be available for download and printing from the diocesan website and will be emailed to each parish ahead of the given Sunday. These will include references to Scripture and the Catechism as well as talking points for individuals and groups.

These homilies are suggested as starting-points, feel free to adapt while maintaining the intended theme

Schools A version of this homily adapted for use in school assemblies can be found on page 28 along with additional materials for educational purposes.

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Preaching in the Year of Faith: Homily IV 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year C)

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Reconciliation Once delivered, this homily will appear on the diocesan website.

Readings Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 I Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9

Going further?

Handouts for the two homilies in this booklet and the following six homilies in the year of faith will be available for download and printing from the diocesan website and will be emailed to each parish ahead of the given Sunday. These will include references to Scripture and the Catechism as well as talking points for individuals and groups.

These homilies are suggested as starting-points, feel free to adapt while maintaining the intended theme

Schools A version of this homily adapted for use in school assemblies can be found on page 30 along with additional materials for educational purposes.

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A Gift for Others Each baptised person is called to a life of holiness. Each is to be priestly, prophetic and kingly in service of God. Some are called to the sacramental priesthood and here follows a brief reflection on this ministry.

2013 PROMISES to be a year of great blessing for our diocese with the ordination of at least eight new priests. There will also be ordinations to the diaconate and perhaps also a new auxiliary bishop ordained for Westminster. These three orders – the episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate – constitute the sacrament of holy orders. All three have at their heart the mission to lead the people of God through service, helping them to live out their own baptismal calling to holiness.

Each ordination, whether for a bishop, priest or deacon, begins with the ordinand (ie. the one

about to be ordained) standing in the congregation amongst family and friends, as a sign of all those, living and dead, who have inspired and supported his long journey to this moment.

Yes, his calling is a gift from God, but it is a gift for others.

As St John Vianney told his parishioners in Ars, ‘My good people, the priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself – he is a priest for you.’

The ordinand is then called forward to the sanctuary for the rite of ordination itself.

The essential mission of each order is expressed in the words which follow. For a bishop the prayer is that God may pour out upon him ‘the Spirit of governance’ as a true shepherd to his flock, symbolised by his crosier. For a priest, it is that he may be ‘a faithful steward

by Fr Richard Nesbitt

of your mysteries, so that your people may be renewed in the waters of rebirth and nourished from your altar; so that sinners may be reconciled and the sick raised up.’ The deacon is called forward to ‘assist the bishop and priests and to serve the people of Christ.’

Finally the laying on of hands by the bishop and the prayer of consecration asking God for the out-pouring of his Holy Spirit reveal this moment as a sacramental act, conferring on each man a sacred power which can only come from Christ himself through his Church. This is the essence of each order – to make Christ present to the world through service and sacrificial love.

Please pray for all those to be ordained to holy orders for our diocese this year and for all those whom God is calling to follow in their footsteps.

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New website for the Year of Faith WHEN VISITING the diocesan website www.rcdow.org.uk you may have noticed a few changes!

At the start of the Year of Faith, the new diocesan website was launched enabling departments greater flexibility in providing information and giving visitors carefully considered paths to the information they need.

Listings are less organised by department or agency and more by the type of thing that might be of interest.

Finding your way around Across the top of the page are the areas that have attracted the most visitors on the site over the previous five years: vocations, the Archbishop, general diocesan information, schools, faith (incorporating the Agency for Evangelisation and the Year of Faith pages) and Caritas.

Other departments and areas of work can be found at the foot of the page or via the diocese section. The Deaf Service can be accessed via the red bar running across the top of the page.

For people new to the diocese the Find a School and Find a Parish searches are much more prominent and the What’s On section on the home page provides an up to date calendar along with the option for ticketed booking for events.

The Virtual Diocese, introduced, three years ago has been updated to feature not

just parishes and schools but hospitals which are served by the healthcare chaplaincy in the Diocese of Westminster.

Year of Faith A new section has been created to serve as a one-stop-shop for the Year of Faith with information directed at schools, parishes and individuals. The homilies (once preached), parish handouts and suggestions for the Year can be found here.

Should schools or parishes wish to promote what is going on during the Year simply email yearoffaith@rcdow.org.uk and we can put up the information

to share with others. On this section you can also find various links to other organisations and an online version of this very magazine!

More to come Throughout the Year of Faith, additional content will appear on the new diocesan website but importantly a revamped Youth and Young Adults section will have appeared towards the end of 2012. This will feature information on the new Centre for Youth Ministry in Somers Town, SPEC, other organisations as well as materials for reflection and youth programmes.

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Fundamentals

by Diana Klein

The Foundation Degree in Pastoral Mission In his message on World Mission Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that faith is a gift that is given to us to be shared. During this Year of Faith, he has invited us to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the documents of Vatican II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church so that we can carry out our missionary mandate to proclaim the Gospel.

The Foundation Degree in Pastoral Mission at Heythrop College, which began three years ago, is driven by this mandate. It is a work-related degree, which means that the students must be actively involved in pastoral work in a parish, school or chaplaincy on a paid or voluntary basis.

In interviews with two new graduates, we learned more about the programme.

The students attend classes at Heythrop on Saturdays during term time. Their assignments aim to develop their pastoral skills by connecting faith with their daily activities. Each student is given a mentor and a personal tutor.

The mentor provides the student with information about various aspects of running the parish, school or chaplaincy, offering insights into the overall picture

and assists the students with strategies for finding pastoral experience. The tutor helps the student integrate their pastoral experience into their theological learning.

Margaret Harvey says she has found a richness in the Church that she was unaware of before; it has helped her reflect on what it means to be a Catholic.

Margaret is a catechist and is Chair of Governors in three Catholic primary schools. She says that the relationships with the mentors and tutors are one of the most positive aspects of the programme – as was the peer support she gained from the relationships that developed during the course with the other students.

Monika Cleaver wanted to become more involved in the Church as she prepared to retire from a demanding job as practice director in a busy NHS surgery and she thought she must have skills that could be used in the parish.

She found the course to be an excellent experience on her faith journey. She loved the way it was taught by a number of different people – each bringing their gifts to the programme and sharing

them with the students, each of them helping the students to see things from a new perspective, to think differently. As a result of doing the course, new areas of pastoral work have opened up for her in the parish and she is looking forward to getting more and more involved.

In the Apostolic Letter issued by His Holiness which initiated the Year of Faith, he said he wants ‘this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope.’ The Foundation Degree in Pastoral Mission is one way to do this.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION and how to apply for the degree, please visit: http://www. heythrop.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/undergraduate-study/ foundation-degree-in-pastoralmission.html

HYMN FOR THE YEAR Alex Heath of the Northampton Diocese has composed a song especially written for use during the Year of Faith which is now available for free. The song is entitled ‘This is the Year of Faith’ and it is hoped that school and parish choirs may take it up. http://www.nores. org.uk/YearofFaith/ tabid/166/Default.aspx CATECHISM EACH DAY On free subscription to the following site: www.flocknote.com/ catechism you will receive an emailed CCC snippet each day.

PROPOSITIONS The final list of the propositions of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith has been released by the Holy See Press Office and an English translation can be found on Zenit: http://www.zenit.org/ article-35831?l=english They might serve as a starting point for parish discussion and sharing.

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CELEBRATING MARRIAGE During the Year of Faith the Matrimony Mass will take place in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 18 May 2013 at 3pm

THE ARCHBISHOP’S THANKSGIVING MASS for Marriage has been an annual event since its inception in 2008, and is as popular as ever – in fact, so popular that the Archbishop’s invitation has to be restricted to the named couple only (with special exception for the frail or elderly who require an escort). As a celebration of marriage rather than a family gathering, this special Mass offers a unique occasion for husband and wife to concentrate wholly upon each other as they renew their life-long commitment in a most moving and sacred setting.

Invitations are sent out a few weeks before the Mass, to couples in the diocese who will be celebrating significant wedding anniversaries during the year, namely 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and every anniversary beyond the 60th.

Names and contact details of eligible couples are gathered in response to a letter from the Archbishop to parish

priests early in the year, and the Mass is usually the Saturday Vigil Mass for Pentecost.

Why is this Mass such an important event in the diocesan calendar and what message does it give to the couples and to the world outside the Church? The answer is given by the couples themselves in their messages of thanks after the occasion.

They tell us how overwhelmed they often feel when all they hear are stories of infidelity and betrayal, lack of trust and cynicism.

Seeing so many couples at different stages in their marriages celebrating together gives great encouragement and affirms them in their efforts to persevere in their love for each other – they want to be eligible to be invited again in another 10 or 15 years. There is exhilaration in being part of a positive good news story in today’s world. One couple said ‘It was a beautiful and moving service, and a most fitting way to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary - in Church, where

it all began.’

Marriage is not easy. Each milestone takes its toll in difficulties and obstacles, suffering, sorrows and compromises.

Yet every year the Archbishop’s Thanksgiving Mass is a witness to the fact that marriage can work, with God’s grace. ‘Where 60 years have gone we do not know,’ one couple said, ‘But now was the right time to thank God for our family and all blessings received.’

Many told us their special anniversary felt more of an achievement when giving thanks alongside so many other celebrating couples, attesting to the awesomeness of publicly reaffirming the institution and sacrament of marriage. As one couple puts it: ‘an afternoon of truly spiritual happiness in being able to celebrate with our fellow Catholics the great privilege that Almighty God has allowed us to share for so long the truly wonderful Sacrament of Marriage’.

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Parishes in the Year of Faith The Year of Faith is a real opportunity for parishes and schools as a time of growth and change. Here are some ideas that you may wish to explore in your own parish (see pages 20-21 in the first edition of The Follower in the Year of Faith for more ideas).

Sacraments

Welcoming as a Parish

• Consider inviting all those who have been married in the parish over the past year to a special celebration. This could be on St Valentine’s and could either be Mass or a simple liturgy and social event. You could also extend the invitation to those in preparation for marriage.

• Have Meeters and Greeters if you don’t have them already. Important that they are friendly and gregarious. A smile from the heart is essential. A name tag is also a good idea. It can be a sticky-back one that says ‘Welcome’ with a space for the name.

• Similarly to the event above you could have an anniversary service and social for those confirmed in the past year (Pentecost?); who have received the Blessed Sacrament for the first time (Corpus Christi?) or families of those baptised (The Presentation of the Lord?).

‘Let me see your face, O Lord’ • Create a collage of different faces from magazines with the theme written on it. This project could be done by the whole parish community, where each family brings a face to be added. Or as a project for school, First Communion class or Children’s Liturgy.

• To be able to see the Lord in others, we need to be able to see the Lord in ourselves.

So a mirror hung up with the theme adhered to it. This is also a stark reminder that we are here to present the face of our Lord to others—how are we doing that?

More ideas will follow in the next booklet.

Don’t forget you can contribute too.

Send an email: yearoffaith@rcdow.org.uk or tweet us: @yofwestminster

• Offer hospitality of coffee and tea after Mass if you aren’t already doing it. (Be sure and use FairTrade products so we are walking our J&P talk.) Extend your Meeters and Greeters to Hospitality, so no one is sitting alone.

• Have ‘fluid’ leaflets about your parish— ones that can easily change a picture and text to match the season or occasion, while maintaining stable parish info. These are excellent for Christmas, Easter, First Communion, Confirmation, Baptisms etc.

• Have a small committee that regularly looks around the church and its functions with the ‘eyes of a stranger’ to help ensure inclusiveness. We often become a bit ‘cliquish’ about with whom we sit and where, who gets to do what jobs, etc.

Parish Pilgrimage • There are many places of Catholic interest both locally and further afield. Perhaps as a parish, or as small groups of friends and families, you might consider visiting these sites on a Sunday afternoon. The map overleaf may provide you with some ideas.

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Mapping Catholic London!

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12 2

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During the Year of Faith you or your parish may wish to visit places of Catholic interest in London, Hertfordshire and beyond. Here are just a few examples. You may also wish to read Simon Caldwell’s (Catholic News Service) article on London’s Catholic History at http://goo.gl/XXYZv:

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Tyburn Convent

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Willesden Shrine

2 Allen Hall Seminary

8 Westminster Abbey

3 Tower of London

9 St George’s Cathedral

4 Temple Church

10 Ship Tavern, Kingsway

5 National Gallery

11 St Etheldreda’s

6 St Bartholemew’s

12 Westminster Cathedral map by davidryanrobinson.com

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Main image: Return of the Prodigal Son by Jan Steen (c.1668-70)

Reconciliation & Grace

by Mark Nash

IN THE RECENT SYNOD of Bishops a rather pointed intervention was made

by Cardinal Dolan of New York. He confirmed to the gathered assembly that the sacraments of initiation Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist – ‘charge, challenge, and equip the agents of evangelisation,’ but it is the sacrament of reconciliation which ‘evangelises the evangelisers, as it brings us sacramentally into contact

with Jesus, who calls us to conversion of heart, and inspires us to answer His invitation to repentance.’

So often neglected, so often considered hard to talk about, the sacrament of reconciliation has a privileged place in the new evangelisation.

Our witness will be most fruitful if it comes from a place of personal holiness and intimate knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ. Naturally, the language used can be

intimidating – sin, grace, mercy and justice – but it is the challenge for each of us to discover ways of communicating their reality to others. It may be that the world has lost touch with such language, however, these are concepts ingrained on the heart of each one made in the image and likeness of God. Following on from Radiating Christ our booklet on faith and mission in the diocesan ‘season’ on faith, the Agency for Evangelisation will publish Amazing Grace, the Lent 2013 faith-sharing booklet on these important themes (which also feature in one of our homily Sundays – the relevant specimen homily can be found on pages 8-9 of this magazine). These strands aim to help us join with the Holy Father’s wishes for the year as a summons to an ‘authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the one Saviour of the world. [Who] in the mystery of his death and resurrection, God has revealed in its fullness the Love that saves and calls us to conversion of life through the forgiveness of sins’ (cf.

Acts 5:31; Porta Fidei, 6).

Season Preparation dates can be found on page 23 and on the diocesan website.

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1. The Philippines Opening the Year of Faith, Cardinal-delegate Tagle warns against ‘practical atheism,’ where people profess belief in God, attend Mass but don’t live according to Christ’s teachings, instead cheating people and caring nothing about justice.

2. Poland In Czestochowa, a series of ‘missionary workshops’ were held to open the Year of Faith with the theme of ‘Faith is strengthened when it is announced’.

3. America The Bishops’ Conference offer 10 saints for the Year of Faith meant to strengthen the faith of Catholics and draw the world to faith by their example.

The list includes the first native American saint, Kateri Tekakwitha.

4. Venezuela The Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, opened the Year of Faith with an appeal for an amnesty for political prisoners. The Diocese of San Cristobal celebrates its 90th anniversary having been est. on 12 October 1922.

5. Australia The Australian bishops announced a Year of Grace starting Pentecost 2012 thus overlapping the Year of Faith though with the same goal of strengthening faith in Jesus Christ. An encouragement to the use of social media was made.

6. South Africa Cardinal Napier of Durban talked of the mission ‘to proclaim the Gospel anew by living and professing our faith.’

A ‘Credo Domine’ wristband with a fish image has been commissioned in various languages as a visible sign.

7. India More than 150 delegates from 14 dioceses took part in a synod for the laity in Mangalore.

Similarly the Conference of Religious India (CRI) held study days on Porta Fidei and the Catechism for priests and religious.

8. South Sudan In the world’s newest country, the bishops of Sudan met to discuss the Year of Faith in plenary while thousands of South Sudanese are repatriated from Khartoum. They hope the Year will allow for clarification on certain aspects of the faith.

Around the World

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How can we really know our parish’s needs?

by Bridget Brinkley

T

here is much talked and written about the many crises that have beset the Catholic Church over the last 50 years. There appears to be less of a crisis, if in fact any crisis exists at all, in the Catholic school educational system. Some would suggest that the only crisis that exists is a shortage of Catholic school places.

What is it that makes a Catholic school education so desirable to parents when Sunday Mass attendance can appear seasonal or even neglected altogether by this group? Perhaps the Catholic school is seen as the best place for the faith formation of their children.

Clearly, the Catholic Church is not in a position to offer a Catholic education to every Catholic child so is there a danger that a two-tier system of Catholics is emerging in our parishes?

I live and work in St. Lawrence’s Parish, Feltham, a large multicultural parish in West London where the average weekly Mass attendance is over one thousand three hundred people. The parish school has four hundred and seventy Catholic children on the roll, is very oversubscribed, and many families have been unable to obtain a place for their child there or indeed in any Catholic school. The parish is very aware of the parental anxiety that exists as a result. It takes very seriously its responsibility to help all parents lay firm foundations of faith in the lives of their children. The parish is aware that it has an additional responsibility to support the

parents and children who have been unable (often thought no fault of their own) to obtain a place at a Catholic school.

In order to try to offer the best possible support to all parents and children it was decided to survey the parish to discern its needs.

The survey addressed parents who lived in the parish and had children preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in May 2012.

A qualitative research method was used in order to identify parents’ feelings, concerns and needs regarding the sacramental preparation their children received.

We also hoped that such a method would generate new ideas for improvement in our sacramental preparation and show what other formation the children may have received. Such a ‘baseline’ is important to help plan an appropriate programme.

As anticipated, the survey showed that children in a Catholic school received additional faith formation and that there is the possibility that the children attending a non-Catholic school are being unfairly disadvantaged in their faith formation. The survey showed that the majority of Catholic parents would choose a Catholic education for their children. The responses to the survey also indicated that the curriculum in the Catholic school, while not having a major influence directly on sacramental preparation in the parish, gives pupils arriving in the preparation session a good knowledge of the

teachings of Jesus. This learning positively affected the pupils’ behaviour and their attitude to life and to other people. Other interesting facts emerged from the survey. It appears that those in a Catholic school appear to have a great awareness of how to live the Gospel message in their daily lives; however much they may appear to be uninterested in participating in the celebration of weekly Mass in the parish. On the other hand, those who attended a nonCatholic school indicated a great love and willingness to participate in weekly worship in the parish.

Nevertheless an awareness of how to live the gospel message was not apparent from their answers.

A number of other things became evident as a result of the survey; the first is that the sacramental programme in the parish appears to meet the overall needs and expectations of those being prepared. However, there is always a need to keep sacramental preparation under review and to be aware of the various needs different groups may have.

Secondly it indicates that children not in Catholic schools may need some help in connecting what they learn in the religious classes in the parish with how they live their everyday life. It is important to ensure that children understand the Catholic faith not just as an academic subject to be studied, it is a reality to be lived in the everyday life of all Catholics. It appears that involving young people from an early age in the celebration of the

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Mass is important. The respondents indicated that those asked to help during the celebration of Mass liked coming to Mass, whereas for others it was on their parents’ instruction that they attended.

While family tradition can play a role in the faith formation of young people, St. Lawrence’s parish would like to give young people a positive experience of being included in the celebration of the Mass.

If we are serious about meeting the pastoral need of our parishioners and building these needs into our parish pastoral plan then we must consult those directly affected.

While surveys can be seen as waste of time, careful consideration of the situation, direct questioning help ensure the best possible outcome. It is important to take time to analyse the survey results and then put together a coherent response.

Gathering information and assessing the present state of parish ministries is part of the process for developing and sustaining adult faith formation ‘Towards a Formation of the Human Heart’.

More information about the process and participating parishes as well as survey examples can be found at www. rcdow.org.uk/faith/ adult-formation/aff-process/ or contact livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk

Image: Stained Glass at La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona by ptogel

Events Calendar for the Year of Faith When?

What?

Where?

Vatican Official Calendar of Events Fri 25 Jan 13

Great Event: Ecumenical Celebration

St Paul Outside the Walls

Sat 2 Feb 13

Great Event: Day for Religious

St Peter’s Basilica

Thu 7 Feb - Wed 1 May 13

Exhibition on the Year of Faith

Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome

Sun 24 Mar 13

Great Event: Day for Young People

St Peter’s Square

Sun 2 Jun 13

Adoration on the Feast of Corpus Christi

Every Cathedral and Church

Further events can be found on the Vatican website: www.annusfidei.va

National Events Tue 22 - Wed 23 Jan 13

Home Mission Forum for Priests and Deacons

Sion Community, Brentwood, CM15 9BX

Sat 26 - Sun 27 Jan 13

Home Mission Forum for Lay People

Sion Community, Brentwood, CM15 9BX

Sat 16 Mar 13 (10.30am-3.30)

National Catholic Youth Ministry Congress

The Sage, Gateshead

Wed 24 Apr - Fri 26 Apr 13

Rediscovering Scripture Conference

TBC

Further events can be found on the CBCEW website: www.yearoffaith.org.uk

Diocesan Events Sat 16 - Sun 17 Feb 13

Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion

Westminster Cathedral, SW1P

Sat 23 Feb 13 (9.30am-2.30)

Day for Catechists with Bishop Alan Hopes

Holy Apostles, Pimlico, SW1V 4LY

Sat 27 Apr 13 (6pm)

Mass for New Catholics

Westminster Cathedral, SW1P

Sat 11 May 13 (9.30am-2.30)

Day for Catechists with Bishop John Sherrington

TBC

Sat 1 Jun 13 (10am-3pm)

Adult faith formation retreat with Rachel Blass

Nazareth House (Hammersmith), W6 8DB

Further events can be found on the diocesan website: www.rcdow.org.uk/yearoffaith

‘Named Sundays’ for preaching in the Westminster diocese Date

Theme and Readings

20 Jan 13 (2nd of OT)

III: The Sacraments in General – Isaiah 62:1-5; I Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11

3 Mar 13 (3rd of Lent)

IV: Reconciliation – Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; I Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

28 Apr 13 (5th of OT)

V: Caritas – Isaiah 6:1-8; I Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

23 June 13 (12th of OT)

VI: Moral Life – Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1; Galatians 3:26-29; Luke 9:18-24

8 Sep 13 (23rd of OT)

VII: Prayer – Wisdom 9:13-18; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33

20 Oct 13 (29th of OT)

VIII: Prayer – Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8

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For the most up-to-date information and additional events see www.rcdow.org.uk When?

What?

Where?

Justice and Peace (see also page 26) Thu 10 Jan 13 (6.30pm)

Haiti+3: Building Back Better?

St Joseph’s Hall, Brompton Rd, SW7 2RP

Wed 16 Jan 13 (6.30pm-9pm)

Justice and Peace Open Meeting

St John Vianney, West Green, N15 3QH

Sun 20 Jan 13

Peace Sunday - Blessed are the peacemakers

see paxchristi.org/uk/peace_sunday1.php

Sun 27 Jan 13

Holocaust Memorial Day

see www.hmd.org.uk

Sat 26 Jan - Sun 3 Feb 13

Poverty and Homeless Action Week

see www.actionweek.org.uk

Sat 16 Feb 13 (2.30pm)

Year of Faith talk 3: Lumen Gentium and Justice

St John Vianney, West Green, N15 3QH

Fri 22 Feb 13

CAFOD Fast Day

see www.cafod.org.uk

Mon 25 Feb - Sun 10 Mar 13

Fairtrade Fortnight

see www.fairtradefoundation.org.uk

Faith Matters: Celebration of Faith - Sacraments (Lent 2013) Thu 28 Feb 13 (7pm)

First in a series of four lectures on the sacraments

Westminster Cathedral Hall, SW1P

Thu 7 Mar 13 (7pm)

Second lecture on the Sacraments

Westminster Cathedral Hall, SW1P

Thu 14 Mar 13 (7pm)

Third lecture on the Sacraments

Westminster Cathedral Hall, SW1P

Thu 21 Mar 13 (7pm)

Fourth lecture on the Sacraments

Westminster Cathedral Hall, SW1P

Small Groups: Reconciliation (see also page 28) Tue 22 Jan 13 (7.30-9pm)

Season Preparation for Small Groups (Lent)

St Joseph’s, Wembley, HA9 6AG

Thu 24 Jan 13 (7.30-9pm)

Season Preparation for Small Groups (Lent)

Mary, Mother of God, Ponders End, EN3 7AR

Tue 29 Jan 13 (7.30-9pm)

Season Preparation for Small Groups (Lent)

St Aloysius, Somers Town, NW1 1TA

Thu 31 Jan 13 (7.30-9pm)

Season Preparation for Small Groups (Lent)

St Anselm, Southall, UB2 4BE

Sat 2 Feb 13 (10.30am-noon)

Season Preparation for Small Groups (Lent)

The Good Shepherd, Shenley, WD7 9DH

Tue 5 Feb 13 (7.30-9pm)

Season Preparation for Small Groups (Lent)

SS Mary & Michael, Commercial Rd, E1 0AA

Thu 7 Feb 13 (7.30-9pm)

Season Preparation for Small Groups (Lent)

Vaughan House, Victoria, SW1P 1QN

Sun 17 Feb 13

Start of the Lent faith-sharing season

Across the diocese

Marriage and Family Life (see also page 14) Tue 8 Jan 13

Annual Theology of the Body lecture (see p.24)

Vaughan House, Victoria, SW1P 1QN

Sat 9 Mar 13

Marriage: The next generation - day conference

Westminster Cathedral Hall, SW1P

Sat 18 May 13 (3pm)

Annual Thanksgiving Mass for Matrimony

Westminster Cathedral, SW1P

24

When?

What?

Where?

Sat 12 Jan 13

RCIA Seminar: Frequently Asked Questions

Vaughan House, Victoria, SW1P 1QN

Wed 16 Jan 13

RCIA Seminar: Frequently Asked Questions

Our Lady & St. Joseph, Hanwell, W7 3SU

Thu 24 Jan 13

RCIA Seminar: Frequently Asked Questions

St Anthony of Padua, Edgware, HA8 9AN

Wed 30 Jan 13

RCIA Seminar: Frequently Asked Questions

St Mary & St Michael, E1 0AA

Sat 9 Mar 13 (10am-1pm)

Engaging Children pre and post First Communion

Vaughan House, Victoria, SW1P 1QN

Sat 16 Mar 13 (10am-1pm)

Using and Applying the Catechism in Catechesis

St Thomas More. Eastcote, HA5 2QT

Catechesis & RCIA

St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre (see also pages 18-19 in the previous edition of The Follower) Fri 4 Jan 13

St Joseph’s monthly Mass (First Friday)

St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre, NW4 4TY

Sun 6 Jan 13

Faith-sharing group

St Mary’s, East Finchley, N2 8HG

Sat 12 Jan 13

Faith and Light group

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hayes, UB3 2AB

Sat 19 Jan 13

Quiz night

St Joseph’s, Highgate, N19 5NE

Wed 23 Jan 13

Enrichment evening

TBC (call 020 8202 3999)

Fri 1 Feb & Fri 1 Mar 13

St Joseph’s monthly Mass (First Friday)

St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre, NW4 4TY

Sun 3 Feb & Sun 3 Mar 13

Faith-sharing group

St Mary’s, East Finchley, N2 8HG

Sat 9 Feb & Sat 9 Mar 13

Faith and Light group

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hayes, UB3 2AB

Sat 9 Feb & Sat 9 Mar 13

Saturday Club

SS Mary & Michael, Commercial Rd, E1 0AA

Sat 16 Feb 13

Symbols of Faith Workshop

TBC (West London)

Sat 16 Mar - Sun 17 Mar 13

Parish Weekend

Edgware

Featured Event Every year the Office for Marriage and Family Life hosts the annual theology of the body lecture in honour of Blessed John Paul II’s great catechesis on human love and sexuality. In the course of the series, since its inception in 2004, we have explored various pastoral issues such as fertility, contraception, fatherhood, human physiology and even the arts. In the Year of Faith we decided to draw on the wisdom and insights of Dawn Eden, a speaker and author who is opening up new ways to view the virtue of chastity and sexual healing as key components of living fully in Christ.

Dawn Eden is an American author and journalist who was formerly a rock historian and tabloid-newspaper headline writer with the New York Post. Received into the Catholic Church in 2006, Dawn is a internationally renowned speaker. Her books are The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On and My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints.

25

Twitter in the Year of F@ith In partnership with the Bible Society the Home Mission Desk has prepared over 400 tweets for the ‘Year of Faith’.

These tweets will introduce followers to the inspiring documents of the Second Vatican Council looking at them in the light of Sacred Scripture and through quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and from some of our great Saints.

Where possible the year of tweets has been arranged to complement the liturgical seasons. Quotes in Lent, for example, help followers to prepare for Easter. We would really recommend followers read the documents for themselves and in particular the four ‘Constitutions’ which are the ‘pillars of the Council.’

These are: I. Lumen Gentium - on the Church II. Sacrosanctum Concilium - on the Sacred Liturgy III. Dei Verbum - on Divine Revelation IV. Gaudium et Spes - on the Church in the Modern World When one of documents above is tweeted, readers will be able to click on the link, see an introduction to it and discover the context of the quotes.

Notes Each week has been given a theme taken from the chapter headings. This should help to give the quotes’ context.

Quotes will appear with abbreviated document names (after their first full use) and their paragraph number (For example, UR:4 is Unitatis Redintegratio: Paragraph 4) The names of books of the Bible will also appear in abbreviated form – if in doubt have a look at the contents page of any Bible.

The order of the documents through this year and the length of time given to them in terms of tweeting is not reflective of their relative importance or the order in which they were published.

To view the tweets go to: twitter.com/yoftweets The Pope has also announced he will tweet as: @pontifex

Twitter explained Twitter is an online social networking service and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based messages of up to 140 characters, known as ‘tweets’.

It was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July. The service rapidly gained worldwide popularity, with over 500 million active users as of 2012, generating over 340 million tweets daily. Since its launch, Twitter has become one of the top 10 most visited websites on the Internet, and has been described as ‘the SMS of the Internet.’ Unregistered users can read tweets, while registered users can post tweets through the website interface, SMS, or a range of apps for mobile devices such as phones or tablet computers.

Thinking about putting a Twitter feed on your parish or school website?

Here are five easy steps to do exactly this - http:// www.bemosu.com/en/ social-media-a-onlinemarketing/99-put-yourtwitter-feed-on-your-websitein-5-steps.html

26

Image: Allegory of Justice and Peace by Giaquinto Corrado (1753)

Bearing Fruit Justice and Peace in the Year of Faith

A

ll our inspiration for Justice and Peace work comes from the person of Jesus Christ. We are reminded in Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict’s introductory document, that everything finds fulfilment in the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation: ‘the joy of love, the answer to the drama of suffering …, the power of forgiveness … and the victory of life over the emptiness of death’. Without this assurance, we could not make sense of the terrible tragedies we meet in Justice and Peace work: the horror of wars, and the industry that enables war, the vast amount of suffering In poorer countries, and the pain of

poor people disproportionately afflicted by natural disasters. It is faith, above all, that enables us to set out in hope on the impossible journey to justice and peace.

Faith and good works are part of an inextricable process, continues Benedict, quoting St James: ‘Faith without charity bears no fruit, while charity without faith would be a sentiment constantly at the mercy of doubt. Faith and Charity require each other’. In reaching out to others, our faith increases. The Jesuits describe it as Faith Doing Justice. In this Year of Faith, let us draw inspiration from all those who ‘do’ justice.

by Barbara Kentish

Westminster Justice & Peace Open Meeting Following last January’s successful gathering the J&P Commission invite supporters to another networking evening on Wednesday 16 January 2013 from 7 to 9pm. Light refreshments (soup, bread, cheese) from 6.30pm. More events can be found on p.23 St John Vianney Parish Centre, West Green Road, N15 3QH 020 8888 4222

27

Schools in the Year of Faith The Year of Faith is a real opportunity for parishes and schools as a time of growth and change. Here are some ideas that you may wish to explore in your own school (see pages 36-37 in the first edition of The Follower in the Year of Faith for more ideas).

‘Let me see your face, O Lord’

Celebrating the Year

• Collage of all different faces from magazines with theme written on it. Project could be done by school community, where each child brings a face to be added.

• Decorate the doors in the school as ‘doors of faith’ - make the doors in the school signs of faith - perhaps linked with title of Jesus, the name of saints or the Sacraments.

• Collage of what inspires us to ‘see the face of our Lord’. Examples: peace rally, an action for Living Wage, multi-faith gathering for most any cause etc.

• Share Sunday’s Gospel with school families through The Wednesday Word.

• Same as above but with scenes that need to see the face of our Lord. Examples: Pictures of war, poverty, crime, neglect, abuse etc. These in turn could be targeted in collective worship or assemblies that week/month.

• Classes or Year groups could take turns each week mounting their picture that best depicts the face of the Lord in a designated area, like on the front of the lectern.

• To be able to see the Lord in others, we need to be able to see the Lord in ourselves.

So a mirror hung up with the theme adhered to it. This is also a stark reminder that we are here to present the face of our Lord to others—how are we doing that?

Perhaps a good exercise for Lent where we add something instead of deny ourselves something.

More ideas will follow in the next booklet.

Don’t forget you can contribute too.

Send an email: yearoffaith@rcdow.org.uk or tweet us: @yofwestminster

• Take part in Taizé schools’ weeks & outreach. Visit the Taizé website or contact Jane Shields on jane@laloge.co.uk about a visit by volunteers from Taizé to your school.

• Emphasise the school’s place in the worldwide Church - display a map for people to identify their Catholic roots in the world or where they have Catholic connections.

• Identify a school project for the Year of Faith - What might benefit the school? What might be done for those in need in the local community? How can the school reach out and serve?

Pilgrimage • There are many places of Catholic interest both locally and further afield. Perhaps, as a class, you might consider visiting these sites one afternoon. The map on pp.16-17 may provide you with some ideas.

• Think about organising a whole school or year group trip to Lourdes, Walsingham, Knock or to other major sites of pilgrimage.

28

For schools

Act of Worship/Assembly Set the scene: ‘Let us remember that, in all we do, say and think, we are in the Holy presence of God.’

• Come, Holy Ghost Creator, come • Shine, Jesus shine

Class Reflection 1 Reading: John 2:1-11

Introduction: Consider the sacraments: Outward signs of inward grace. Through Baptism we are called by God to live a life of service to others: a vocation. Wherever the journey of life takes us that vocation is real and should be lived out.

Our Confirmation strengthens us and confirms us in our calling by God; by participating in and receiving the Eucharist we receive the food for eternal life- and eternal life is now. Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick brings us healing and helps us in on our journey of faith and, those who choose to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage or Holy Orders, live out their calling by God by responding to his call to serve others. There are also those who choose to live out their vocation through a single celibate life.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ‘The many gifts of the Holy Spirit’ God gives each one of us gifts to help us as we journey through life. These gifts we use to help make the Kingdom of God a reality in our world.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are Wisdom, Courage, Wonder and Awe, Understanding, Reverence, Right Judgement and Knowledge.

Suggestions for hymns: • Holy Spirit, we welcome you • Let your living water flow over my soul • The Spirit lives to set us free • Abba Father, send your Spirit • Breathe on me breath of God

Activity: Role play the text; recount it as if one of the guests at the wedding, subsequently telling of the event to a friend.

Points to note from the text: • Jewish weddings were great community affairs and were celebrated for seven days. To run short of wine would have been regarded as an embarrassment to the hosts and the bride and groom.

• Mary’s comment, ‘They have no wine,’ to Jesus is that of a parent to her son.

• Jesus’ response is a recognising that it is now time for the parent-child relationship to become subordinate to the relationship Jesus has with his Father in heaven.

• Mary’s direction to the servants: ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Echoes that the author is raising the importance of women.

• The six stone water jars would have been used for the purification rituals of the guests - an opportunity for the guests to make themselves worthy to take part in the solemnities of the wedding. They are now filled again with water by the servants.

• When the water is drawn and taken to the host it has become wine, the best wine and there seems to be about 120-180 gallons of it! This is a sign of the love of God full and overflowing.

In the passage Jesus is the new bridegroom the bridegroom of Israel present at the marriage

29

Sacraments

by Stephen Horsman

Ideas for using the Homily Notes in Schools

feast. Around him he has his disciples – this shows that God is among his people as he had been throughout the Old Testament; but now as ‘the Word made flesh’. With regard to the Mother of Jesus, who by this time was a widow, it is worth noting that in first century Jewish society women were regarded as having a lower status to men and widows even more so. Here the author turns this idea on its head: Jesus’ Mother directs the servants and recognising that Jesus’ mission on earth is beginning, she steps back becoming a disciple.

Ask the pupils to consider how they relate to their own parents, carers. An opportunity to write class prayers on the theme of family .

Relate to Christian Marriage: • Christian marriage is a vocation because it calls two people to unselfish living and a life of service.

• Christian marriage is a sacrament because God’s grace is given in a special way in Marriage.

• This means the grace enables the couple to live out their vows faithfully and their faithful love is a mirror of Christ’s love for his Church.

What is love?

Philia

Eros

Closeness between friends

Desire one person has for

Agape Selfless love

Storge

Companionship and warmth

The ancient Greeks had four words to describe ‘love’

Selfless love is about total giving. In marriage couple’s love for each other is totally self-giving and mirrors God’s love for us – a love that is so absolute that he gave his only Son so that we might have life.

Marriage is not about gazing continually at each other but about looking outward in the same direction.

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For schools

Act of Worship/Assembly

Class Reflection

Set the scene: ‘Let us remember that, in all we do, say and think, we are in the Holy presence of God.’

Reading: Genesis 3:1-21

Introduction: Consider what it means to be reconciled. Sin has the letter ‘I’ in its centre and the word ‘live’ reversed spells ‘evil.’ Sin is being self-centred and making oneself the centre of life, excluding and rejecting others. This can lead to the reverse of what it means to live. The effects of sin are like a stone thrown into the middle of a still pond – the waves radiate outward until all the water has been disturbed.

Activity: Role play a situation where a pupil does something wrong and then blames another.

Discuss what are the effects of they have just seen. One could suggest: friendships are broken, trust is challenged, fear is created, communities begin to be undermined and could be destroyed.

Reading: Luke 13:1-9 ‘All people need to repent’ Jesus is saying that we need to repent, to change the way we live our lives and return to God and God’s mercy is limitless, whatever we have done that is sinful, if we truly repent and return to God with all our hearts, God will accept us. As we journey through Lent perhaps it is an opportune moment to be with Jesus in the desert; take time out and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Suggestions for hymns: • Lead me Lord.

• Be not afraid • Come back to me • From heaven you came • Lord Jesus think on me • God forgave my sin • Oh the love of my Lord

Points to note from the text: • Eve is persuaded to disobey God’s command by contradicting God’s words.

• Eve then gives some to Adam who also disobeys God’s command.

• Their eyes are opened, but not in wisdom but in shame.

• When God appears Adam and Eve hide, highlighting their sense of guilt.

• When Adam is questioned, he blames Eve, when Eve is questioned, she blames the serpent.

• Through disobeying God, Adam and Eve have rejected God, become imperfect and must leave that which is perfect.

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Reconciliation

by Stephen Horsman

Ideas for using the Homily Notes in Schools

In the passage we are told the story of the consequences of rejecting God. The first time that Mankind rejected God’s love.

But it was not ‘the end’ because God would, in the fullness of time send his Son, Jesus, as Mankind’s Redeemer. The One who would through his life of total obedience to the Will of God reverse the sin of Adam and open the way back to perfection.

Referring back to the activity and discussion: In what way can such situations be resolved?

Lead to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Reconciliation is about being reconciled with God and with those whom have been hurt by the sin. o The whole power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation consists in restoring us to God’s grace, and joining us with him in an intimate friendship. o This Sacrament reconciles us with the Church – repairing and restoring fraternal communion. o In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgement of God, and changes (repents) converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life (CCC, 1468-1470).

I asked the Lord, ‘How much do you love me?’ and he stretched out his arms and, though he had done no wrong, suffered and gave his life for me.

‘Let me see your face, O Lord,’ says the psalmist, ‘hope in the Lord’ he continues. The Year of Faith (October 2012 to November 2013) is a time of great grace, hope and opportunity. This is the second edition of The Follower in the Year of Faith providing parishes and schools with information on events and resources. You are welcome to contribute ideas and suggestions to future editions which may prove useful to other parishes and schools - contact details are inside on pages 2, 15 and 27.

Lord, Let me see your face, Know your heart and experience your love in my life.

Strengthen in me the precious Gift of faith.

I believe Lord; Help my unbelief.

Amen.

Prayer for the Year of Faith

For the latest information go to our website: www.rcdow.org.uk/yearoffaith