Westminster Record February 2015 by RCWestminster

Westminster Record

February 2015 | 20p

Santa Marta Group Meets in London

Proclaim ‘15 Launched in Westminster

Lent Reflection by Fr Allen Morris

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All Gifts and All People The Church has always viewed education as vital to the formation and development of the whole person, so it’s not surprising that education, especially of the poor, was to be the Catholic community’s first priority when the hierarchy was restored in England and Wales in 1850. Building Catholic schools took precedence over building churches, and in those early days the schools often took on a second function as the place of worship for parishes. One might think that the Church would have prioritised the construction of churches so that worship could finally recommence after the 300-year break that followed the Reformation. But the formation of the person has always been central to the Church’s mission. In this edition of the Record, we have stories which illustrate this emphasis on education. As well as marking milestone anniversaries for Loreto College in St Albans and St Augustine’s Primary in Hoddesdon, we recognise the ongoing academic excellence of our schools, typified in the ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report achieved by St Michael’s Secondary School in Garston. Not overlooking other aspects of the formation of the person, Cardinal Vaughan students learned from firsthand experiences of a Holocaust survivor; St Mark’s in Hounslow opened a new sports hall and fitness suite; and students with intellectual disabilities from St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre in Hendon continued to develop their artistic gifts.

This month’s centre spread features a pastoral letter from Bishop John Sherrington, chair of the Diocesan Education Commission, for Education Sunday, as well as articles from JP Morrison, Director of Education, Fr David Reilly, coordinator of Schools’ Chaplains, and Martin Rainsford, head of Douai Martyrs School. All of the articles shed light on the different aspects of the strength of Catholic education at a time of growing secularisation in education.

These articles and stories all show one thing: that the formation of the person remains the central focus of Catholic education and it continues to embrace all gifts and all people.

Editorial Westminster Record – Contact Us Editor Mgr Mark Langham

Westminster Record | February 2015

Never Underestimate the Importance of Education

Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ Managing Editor Marie Saba 020 7798 9031 Inhouse writers Chris O’Callaghan, John Scott 020 7798 9030, and Hannah Woolley 020 7798 9178 Design Julian Game Proofing John Scott To order copies contact Andrea Black 0161 214 1216 or email andrea.black@thecatholicuniverse.com

On the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II, Golden Jubilees of Print management and distribution by The Universe Media Group Ltd. famous Conciliar documents come thick and fast. One that reaches the landmark this year is less well known than many others: Gravissimum Educationis, the Declaration Editorial deadline: 4 February 2015 on Christian Education. Listings email: communications@rcdow.org.uk It was in its way as News and stories call 020 7798 9030 revolutionary as other more famous documents. Catholic Email: communications@rcdow.org.uk education had been seen as a bulwark against philosophies Advertising deadline: 13 February 2015 hostile to Christianity. For To advertise contact Carol Malpass 0161 214 1244 Gravissimum Educationis, or email carol.malpass@thecatholicuniverse.com Christian education must indeed impart solid Catholic Produced by the Communications Office of the Diocese of values, but not in the first place Westminster. News and articles published in the Westminster Record as a defense against doctrinaire do not necessarily represent the views of the Diocese of Westminster, atheism, rather as a process of unless specifically stated otherwise. forming the Christian child to play an active part in promoting Appearance of advertisements does not imply editorial endorsement. the mission of the Church.

March publication dates

This theme has been developed by Pope Francis. For him, religious education is at the heart of the tension between unchanging values and the proclamation of the Faith in a rapidly changing cultural setting. Education should not isolate Catholics from the world, but instead prepare them ‘to enter, with courage, into the debating chamber of contemporary cultures and to initiate dialogue, aware of the gift they are able to offer to all.’ This issue of the Westminster Record takes Education as its special theme, following the Pastoral Letter on Education Sunday. It is of interest to all of us, most especially those with children and those who educate in our schools and institutions, and a key element in our commitment to evangelise. As the Bishops of England and Wales reminded us last year, ‘Catholic education is central to the mission of the Church.’

We want your News You can send us your latest news online, please email communications @rcdow.org.uk

Teresa of Avila at the Cathedral

“Prayer is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends.” 2015 marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of St Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite nun who lived in Spain between 1515 and 1582. She founded the Discalced Carmelite order with St John of the Cross and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Blessed Pope Paul VI in 1970. Page 2

As part of the celebrations for this milestone year, a touring exhibition about St Teresa is making its way around the country. From 12-20 January, the exhibition was housed in Westminster Cathedral. Designed to provide a powerful introduction to the life, times and teaching of St Teresa, the exhibition covers topics such as her teaching on

prayer, her understanding of the human person and her relevance for today. If you missed the exhibition in Westminster Cathedral, it will be visiting 17 other locations around the country in 2015. For more information on the anniversary events this year, please see www.teresaofavila.org

News

Westminster Record | February 2015

Santa Marta: Combating Human Trafficking

Cardinal Vincent, along with Home Office ministers, police chiefs, senior law enforcement officers, and government and Church representatives from nearly 30 countries from all continents gathered on 5 and 6 December for the second meeting of the

Santa Marta Group aimed at developing strategies to combat human trafficking. The Santa Marta Group, led by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and Cardinal Vincent, is an alliance of international police chiefs and

bishops from around the world working together with civil society to eradicate human trafficking and provide pastoral care to victims. The conference showcased and built upon the joint police and Church initiative in London that has been running for the

past three years, a collaboration that is to be copied and adapted around the world and strengthened by the ties formed within the Group. The conference was held at Lancaster House and included speeches on behalf of the Government from Home Secretary Theresa May and Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime Karen Bradley. Before the conference, the Holy Father extended his greetings to the delegates and expressed his deep gratitude for their ‘resolve in combating this evil and for your commitment to carry on the work begun at the conference held in the Vatican in April of this year’. Also speaking at the Conference were Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mr Ilias Chatzis from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Bishop Patrick Lynch, Chair of the Bishops' Conference Office for Migration Policy, Francis Campbell, the Vice-Chancellor of St Mary's University College, Twickenham and Diane Martin, a survivor of human trafficking. Opening the Conference, Cardinal Vincent thanked the

many delegates for their presence and ongoing hard work. He praised the ‘huge potential’ of the partnership formed between the Church, police and Religious Sisters and said that each partner has a vocation within the Group to ‘make a difference and be unstoppable.’ Karen Bradley explained there are an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 people living in slavery in the UK alone. She expressed her pride that the UK was leading the global fight against slavery and that the Government’s Anti-Slavery Bill, which will be passed in Spring 2015, is the first of its kind in Europe. Bishop Pat Lynch introduced a video about Bakhita House, a residence run by Caritas Westminster, which provides a safe haven for trafficked persons. At the concluding press conference, Cardinal Vincent described victims of trafficking as being ‘sold a dream’ to come and live in the UK, but said that the momentum against trafficking is growing. The next meeting of the Group will be held in Madrid later in 2015.

Amazing Grace: Slave Trader Turned Abolitionist The Saltmine Theatre Company has dramatized the life of John Newton, the 18th century former slave ship captain who became a prominent supporter of the abolition of the trade. His journey can now stir our consciences and pose questions about a presentday evil uncomfortably close at hand. In his message for World Peace Day, Pope Francis said: ‘Millions of people today are deprived of freedom and are forced to live in conditions akin to slavery… I urge you not to turn away from the sufferings of our brothers and sisters!’ With the Holy Father reminding us that slavery has

not disappeared, John Newton’s story reminds us of the impact that one individual can have, even when the odds are stacked against them. How can we respond to the Pope’s challenge? The first step is to educate ourselves about the grim reality of modern slavery and to appreciate the extent of it. That is why he reminds us of the story of St Josephine Bakhita, who was a slave before she was freed and who then devoted the rest of her life to those who were abused, despised and mistreated. Knowing of people like St Josephine can encourage us to become involved and to work to ensure that the freedoms we enjoy are shared by all.

The story of John Newton is one of conversion: an oppressor in the transatlantic slave trade who became a cleric and a prominent anti-slavery campaigner. He saw the hand of God at work in his conversion and rededicated his remaining years to the service of the Gospel. His experience of God’s gracious love for him, despite his life, inspired him to write many hymns, including one of the most famous in the English language: ‘Amazing Grace’. Amazing Grace – the Journey of John Newton will play for one night only on Tuesday 10 March 2015 at Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place London WC2H 7BX. Tickets: www.bit.ly/agtickets Tel: 020 7440 2663 Email: info@spiritinthecity.org

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News

Westminster Record September Westminster Record | February2011 2015

100 Years of Diplomatic Relations Celebrated

were briefly reinstated in 1553 when Queen Mary, a Catholic, was monarch, but during the reign of Elizabeth I relations were once again severed and thereafter English law prohibited any official relations with the Papal States. Although there had been British representatives in Rome since the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603,

formal relations between the United Kingdom, as it had become in 1707, and the Holy See were not re-established until December 1914, a move the British Government felt was necessary to ensure that the Vatican was not overinfluenced by German and Austrian policies. Originally called ‘Special Mission to the Vatican’ to reflect its temporary status, in 1923 the mission's title was changed to ‘His Majesty's Legation to the Holy See’. In 1962, the Queen made her first visit to the Vatican, when she was hosted by Pope St John XXIII. She has since made three further visits to the Vatican: in 1980 and 2000 when she was welcomed by Pope St John Paul II, and in 2014 when she was hosted by Pope Francis. Full diplomatic relations were confirmed in 1982 when the UK and the Vatican sent ambassadors to each other, in the same year as the visit of Pope St John Paul II to Britain. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI made the first state visit of a Pope to Great Britain, further strengthening relations.

In London, a prayer vigil was held at the French Church of Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square, on 9 January to pray for the victims of the Paris attacks,

with the figure rising to 17 people in total following the hostage situation in the kosher supermarket which had ended earlier that day.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin leads the celebration at St-Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls

Cardinal Vincent concelebrated Mass at the Basilica of St-Paul’s-Outsidethe-Walls in Rome on 3 December to mark the centenary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom. The principal celebrant for the Mass was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of

the Holy See, who described the occasion as ‘a very important anniversary’. The Queen was represented by The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns and the UK Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Nigel Baker. Following the break from Rome by Henry VIII, diplomatic relations between England and the Holy See were broken in 1536. They

Cardinal Expresses Solidarity with Paris Following Attacks Following the attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday 7 January in which 12 people were killed and 11 more were injured, Cardinal

Vincent wrote to Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, the Archbishop of Paris, on 9 January expressing his condolences and offering his prayers for the French community.

Your Excellency, dear André I write with great sadness to offer my condolences to the people of France for the massacre carried out at the office of the Charlie Hebdo magazine. This dreadful and merciless attack has caused anguish throughout the civilised world and I add my prayers to those of many others from all faiths for the victims and their loved ones. I know that the Church will continue its witness to reconciliation and peace-building during this terrible time for France and I assure you of my support and solidarity as you exercise your pastoral leadership to help heal a city wounded by violence and hatred. Yours sincerely, +Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster Page 4

Churches Together Offer Syrian Refugees Second Chance at a New Life West London Citizens has secured an agreement with Westminster City Council to resettle 50 Syrian refugees in central London. The announcement was made by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ at the end of a carol service before Christmas at the Immaculate Conception Church in Mayfair. It was held to support the suffering Church in Syria and Iraq and helped to raise more than £2,000 for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

The places for refugees will be provided with assistance from private landlords in the Christian congregations of Churches Together in Westminster and Citizens UK with full funding from the European Union. The Liberal Jewish Synagogue and the London Central Mosque are also offering their support. Citizens UK will be holding an assembly in Birmingham on 26 March on the issue, which Archbishop Bernard Longley will address. Farm Street's Aid for Syria project not only raises funds for the Jesuit Refugee Service and ACN for use in their respective work with refugees, it also aims to raise awareness and provide opportunities for prayer for the people affected by the current conflicts. A shrine in the church is dedicated to Fr Paolo dall'Oglio SJ who was kidnapped in July 2013 and Fr Francis van der Lugt SJ, who was murdered in Homs in April 2014. ‘The response from the congregation was exceedingly generous, donating £2,067.68 towards ACN’s work supporting Christian refugees in Iraq,’ said Patricia Hatton from the charity. ‘The testimonies of courage and faith from Syria and Iraq were a reminder of the hardships that many Christians today are enduring for their faith. Our gratitude and thanks go to everyone who joined us for this very special evening of solidarity.’

News Willesden Green Organ Given Prestigious Listing Westminster Record | February 2015

An historic 19th century organ at St Mary Magdalen’s Church, Willesden Green, has been recognised with a prestigious Grade II listing from the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS). The organ, which has faithfully served the congregation of Willesden Green for 75 years, was presented with the official accolade by Paul Joslin of BIOS at a ceremony after Midday Mass on New Year’s Day. The Historic Organ Certificate recognises the importance of the instrument to the national heritage and secures its preservation for future

Parish Priest of Willesden Green Fr Kevin Jordan with the prestigious organ

generations in a time when more and more organs are being phased out of churches. The organ was built in 1872 by the renowned London-based firm Bishop and Starr. It was installed in St Mary Magdalen’s in 1939 and has been in continual use in divine worship ever since, remarkably never undergoing modification or refit. Organist John Gallagher said: ‘The fact that the organ still performs so beautifully today is a testament to the great Victorian craftsmen who built it, and with this award we hope to have the organ restored to its pristine condition within the next few years.’

Prince Charles Visits Chaldean Catholics in Acton

HRH Prince Charles visited the Church of the Holy Family, Acton West, on Tuesday 9 December 2014 and gave an impassioned plea on behalf of the persecuted Church in Iraq. The Prince was meeting Chaldean Catholics at the home of the Chaldean chaplaincy in London. The event was hosted by Aid to the Church in Need UK, the charity which supports the Catholic faithful and other Christians where they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. In his speech, the Prince described how he felt ‘extraordinarily inadequate in trying to express how much I feel for what all of you are forced to go through.’ As Christmas approached, he wanted the assembled to know that ‘my heart goes out to all Christians who are being persecuted on account of their faith’ and referenced his own work in appealing for greater understanding between people of different faiths. The Prince also warned of the ‘serious danger’ of

‘descending into the dark ages of public executions’ following recent videos posted on the Internet of IS militants killing British and American hostages. He concluded by thanking God for the persecuted Christians’ ‘astonishing courage, faithfulness and perseverance’ and reminded the congregation that they could be encouraged by the example of St Paul’s steadfastness in faith, as he was a persecutor and then suffered persecution on account of his conversion to Christianity. The Prince met members of the Chaldean community following the Mass, some of them with first-hand experience of persecution in their homeland. The Chaldean choir sang in Aramaic, and addresses were given by Fr Nadheer Dako, parish priest for the Chaldean Catholic mission in London, and Archbishop Habib Bacha of Basra, who read a letter from Patriarch Louis Sako, calling for a safe haven for minorities in northern Iraq. John Pontifex, ACN’s head of press, also spoke about his recent experience in Iraq where he visited emergency displacement camps in Kurdistan, northern Iraq, to which 120,000 people had fled after a spate of attacks in the summer carried out by Islamic State.

Bishop John Arnold Translated to Salford Bishop John Arnold, formerly Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese and editor of the Westminster Record, was installed as the 11th Bishop of Salford on 8 December 2014, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist. Bishop John had served this Diocese for 30 years prior to his move north, as parish priest, hospital chaplain, Sub-administrator of the Cathedral, Vicar General, Auxiliary Bishop and Chancellor.

In his address at the installation Mass and with reference to the footballing heritage of the city of Manchester, he compared Pope Francis to a football manager and the bishops as the players on his team: ‘The Pope says to us “You’re selected for the team. I need you. But you’ve got to go out there and perform to your best if we’re going to win the match today.” I think that Pope Francis is saying that to the bishops and the priests: you’ve been selected, called by God, ordained to

ministry, and now you must be at your best for the people in your pastoral care.’ We wish Bishop John all the best in his new ministry and continue to pray for him and the people of Salford.

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Schools

Westminster Record | February 2015

Cardinal Blesses Loreto Chapel Loreto College in St Albans recently marked its 90th anniversary and, as part of the celebrations, Cardinal Vincent visited the school to offer Mass and to bless the refurbished chapel on 10 December. The school community gathered in St Alban and St Stephen Church where the Cardinal, along with Parish Priest Fr Charles Sweeney MSC, celebrated Mass. He explained to the students that on that day Pope Francis had remotely turned on the lights on the largest Christmas tree in the world, which stands in Gubbio, the town most famous for St Francis of Assisi's intervention to effect a change of heart in the wolf terrorising the town. The Cardinal reflected that St Francis accomplished this transformation by sharing the love of Christ with the wolf and encouraged the students to follow the saint's example. At the end of Mass, a candle was lit and carried

Cardinal Vincent places the candle into the refurbished chapel

across to the school chapel, where Cardinal Vincent placed it as a symbol of the light of Christ illuminating all those who come to pray there. In a brief reflection, he noted that the chapel is the 'centre, the beating heart of the school' and

Vaughan Students Welcome Holocaust Survivor Fourth Form students of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School recently hosted Lady Zahava Kohn (pictured right with her daugher), a survivor of the Holocaust, who spoke to them at their assembly. Vincent Renders and Amelia Storey write: It was a privilege to listen to Lady Zahava Kohn and her daughter, Hephzibah Rudofsky. Their story is one of survival after trauma and was incredibly thought-provoking since it was only recovered by chance. After her mother died in 2009, Lady Zahava’s family discovered a box of artefacts from their time in Westerbork and BergenBelsen, precious documents and photographs without which the story would have been lost. The most emotional part was when Lady Zahava spoke of being separated from her Page 6

18-month old brother, who was given to the Dutch Resistance for protection. They were not reunited for three years, by which time he did not recognise his family. We may never have the opportunity to hear from a Holocaust survivor again and will ensure that we retell this story so that we, and others, will never forget.

urged staff and students to continue to keep Christ at the heart of all they do, according to the example of their patroness Mary Ward, the foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sister).

Headteacher Maura Lynch paid tribute to the work and example of the Loreto Sisters who had founded the school and taught its students for generations. The Sisters were represented on the day by Sr Anne McEvoy IBVM, Provincial of the English Province.

We want your News You can send us your latest news online, please email communications @rcdow.org.uk

St Michael’s Rated ‘Outstanding’ Congratulations to St Michael’s Catholic High School in Garston, which has been graded as ‘Outstanding’ following an Ofsted inspection held in November 2014. The grade was particularly welcomed by the school, as it was inspected under the new rigorous Ofsted framework which, commentators agree, has much higher expectations and demands greater standards. It is, therefore, a significant endorsement that the inspectors concluded that St Michael’s is ‘Outstanding’ in all categories. The inspectors praised the academic progress of children, their ‘mature, impeccably courteous, polite and friendly’ behaviour and their attitude to learning. Teachers were also Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

praised for their excellent knowledge and thoughtful and stimulating lessons. Headteacher Edward Conway commented: ‘It is our belief that the report accurately reflects the school that St Michael’s is and exemplifies what excellent students and staff we have. It is testimony to the

hard work and commitment of the staff and the students at the school and confirms that the standards achieved here represent a huge professional and personal commitment to the education of young people. We continue to strive to live out our mission statement of ‘bringing all to Christ and Christ to all.’

Schools

Westminster Record | February 2015

St Joseph’s Visit Sadler’s Wells Students from Caritas St Joseph’s Activities Centre were invited to Sadler’s Wells Theatre on 13 January to see The Drama Group, a stage adaptation of a book written by Hugh Grant, Baroness Sheila Hollins and her son Nigel. They then had the chance to meet the famous actor. The Drama Group is loosely based on Romeo & Juliet, and the cast included Hugh Grant himself with the rest of the actors made up of people with intellectual disabilities from the Baked Bean Theatre Company. The students from St Joseph’s are all people with intellectual disabilities and members of the Book Club which uses Books Beyond Words picture stories in order

to understand their world. The publishing house, headed by the Baroness, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and has produced 45 titles during this time. They aim to equip people with the knowledge and choice to access quality relationships, services and opportunities. ‘People with learning disabilities live rich and diverse lives, and we aim to present as many of life’s facets as possible in our books,’ says Lady Hollins. After the play the students learned more About the Boy than they had anticipated, when Grant milled about meeting and greeting the audience, and posed for selfies with them.

Hugh Grant rehearses lines with an actor from the Baked Bean Theatre Company

New Sports Hall for St Mark’s It was a very positive finish to the autumn term at St Mark’s Catholic School in Hounslow. In November the Sunday Times identified it as the 15th best comprehensive school in the country. In December Ofsted’s RAISE online Report placed the School in the top 4% in the country for adding value at GCSE and on 10 December a new Sports Hall was officially opened. The school welcomed back former Headteacher David Sheath as guest of honour at the ceremony. Mr Sheath was Head from 1986-2001 and in

recognition of the great contribution he made to the school the new Sports Hall has been named after him. The David Sheath Sports Hall was blessed by Father Derek McGuire, Parish Priest at Ss Michael and Martin’s, Hounslow. Also present were former Deputy Head Mike Meredith, Governors, senior staff and the PE Department. At the opening ceremony a special plaque was unveiled (pictured left) and current Headteacher Paul Enright thanked all those who had contributed towards the project,

including former student Ed McCann, whose company designed and co-ordinated the construction of the new buildings. The hall’s functionality was demonstrated with students playing basketball and netball, and taking part in rowing training which was linked to an interactive smartboard in the new Activities Studio. The school now has superb sporting facilities which will further enhance the health, fitness and wellbeing of students.

St Augustine’s Celebrates Oak Anniversary Bishop John Sherrington joined celebrations in Hoddesdon on 11 December to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening of St Augustine’s Primary School. He celebrated Mass in St Augustine’s Church with staff and pupils of the school and blessed two new classrooms for Years 3 and 6, and the new music room. Opened in 1934, the

school is one of two Catholic primary schools in Hoddesdon, the other being St Cross. In his homily Bishop John spoke of the strong foundations that the school is built upon, with Jesus as the cornerstone which gives the school its strength. He reminded pupils and staff that a school is much more than the physical building; it is a

loving community which is enabled by God’s love for us. Hayley Francis, Headteacher, said: ‘Today has been a memorable occasion for our school community. It was an honour to welcome Bishop John to celebrate Mass and bless our newly refurbished classrooms. What a wonderful way to celebrate this significant milestone.’ Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

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Westminster Record | February 2015

Director’s Spotlight

It shows how fast time flies when you realise that Rio was 18 months ago and we are now only 18 months from Krakow 2016. Memories from Brazil live on and especially with my colleague James, but that’s another story entirely! No sooner had the festive season ended than I hopped on a plane for a whistle-stop 24hour trip to Krakow to see how things are progressing, and in particular, to put the final touches to our pilgrim package. I arrived on 6 January, a public holiday in Poland,

unprepared for a temperature of minus eight degrees in Krakow. A hat and gloves certainly would have helped! The city had a light covering of snow and there was ice everywhere, but this is typical for the country at this time of year. Everyone was prepared and just pressed on regardless, unlike me as I skated across town and shivered. Despite this, it was wonderful to meet one of our WYD travel partners on-site and see the pilgrim accommodation. I was truly impressed with the quality of the rooms and the wider site infrastructure that has been made available for us. Bring a football as there’s an all-weather pitch that we can use! The walk from the accommodation to the old city is about 25 minutes and just

another few minutes to Błonia Park, two areas at the epicentre of the celebrations in 2016. We don’t know the finer details yet, but rest assured that we are well-positioned to access all areas with ease. We have confirmed that the total cost for the Pilgrimage will be £750 and we have a basic itinerary in place, so that we can fully participate in WYD’s Mission Week as we spend a few days in the Diocese of Łódź ahead of WYD proper. This will be a wonderful time to engage with the people of Poland and to share time alongside millions of people from around the world, and of course, to worship with our Holy Father. Here’s the first phrase that you might find useful in Krakow; and I certainly would have: Jaka jest prognoza pogody?

FEBRUARY 2015 Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain

The letter to the Ephesians tells us that God ‘has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time’ (Ephesians 1:9-10). Through Advent we journey to the heart of this ‘fullness of time’, when the eternity of God reaches into our world of time and history. At Christmas we celebrated the Word made flesh; at the Epiphany, His revelation; His spiritual anointing on the Feast of the Baptism, and now His Presentation as a light for the nations at Candlemas. At the Presentation, the prophets Simeon and Anna represent all those who had longed for the fullness of time. These events mark the mystical ‘today’ Page 8

when God acts and is revealed in history through the presence of His only-begotten Son. When Mass is celebrated in Latin, the Gospel often begins with the words, In illo tempore, ‘At that time…’ These words don’t merely tell us what Jesus did next, or what He said one sentence after another. They symbolise profoundly that through the Gospel, the God-Man acts in the world of time in a way that reshapes, recreates and heals it. God speaks in the world; He heals the sick, preaches the Good News, plants the seeds of the kingdom and establishes the Church today. In the liturgy, each of us is able to step into the ‘eternal today’ of God, into the ‘fullness of time’, so that we too can be converted, healed and saved. Let us open a friendship with God that allows Him to act in our lives. How can we live in such a way that our time and our lives become time for God? How can we also, like St Paul, say we have seen the depths in the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4)? We need to recognise with eyes of faith, like the old man Simeon, that God can and does act in our lives even today.

To find out more about the Youth Ministry and experiences of our young people at: wym.rcdow.org.uk.

Youth Revival meets every third Saturday from 2 to 5pm at the Centre for Youth Ministry in Euston. We are a dynamic, enthusiastic group of young Catholics who gather together to share faith, food and humour. Udokama, one of the group’s members, described the sessions, saying: ‘They’re fun and relaxed but at the same time we learn so much about ourselves and others around us. I particularly like the fact that everyone is always positive and friendly, so that there is a comfortable atmosphere.’ Each session we have a different topic to explore. Last year we looked at a real range of subjects such as ‘relationships and purity’, ‘how to pray’ and ‘being the person God created you to be’. In the next session we will be exploring vocations with a married couple who will talk

Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/doywm

about their call to marriage and they’ll be under the spotlight as we quiz them later. The sessions are fun-filled; it’s the members that make it so.

Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Twitter at: twitter.com/dowym

We begin with a ridiculous game or challenge, and there is often food available. On special occasions we like to go out for a meal together; Nando’s is certainly one of our favourites If you’re aged between 12 and 23 years of age, then come and join us. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share and grow in your faith with other friendly, encouraging young Catholics. For more info contact Christine at christinesterlini@rcdow.org.uk .

See photos of youth events at: http://flickr.com/ photos/catholicwestminster

Parish Profile

Westminster Record | February 2015

Kerala Comes to North London By Chris O’Callaghan

Since 1962, the order has spread across the world and In the shadow of the great continues to grow. Currently arch over the new Wembley there are nine CMI Bishops, Stadium sits the Church of St over 1,750 priests and nearly a Joseph. The parish of thousand more in formation. Wembley 1 is under the pastoral care of the Carmelites The Order serves 12 parishes in England and Wales, and also of Mary Immaculate (CMI), works in hospitals, children’s whose founder, St Kuriakose Elias Chavara, was canonised homes, institutes for the mentally and physically in November. I met Fr John challenged, homes for the aged Menonkari CMI, Parish and universities. It seems Priest, and two ‘elders’, Pat ironic that at one time the McLoughlin and Victor Western Orders of old would Gabriel, to talk about the send missionaries to the parish just a stone’s throw sub-continent but now the subaway from the national continent is sending stadium. missionaries back to the West Founded in 1831 by to reinvigorate a continent that St Kuriakose in Kerala, India, Pope Francis recently called the CMI’s growth since then ‘somewhat elderly and has been impressive. Interestingly, St Kuriakose is haggard’. widely acknowledged in India It is because of the Asian today for his work to reform character of the Order that its the caste system, education and partnership with Wembley social care, and so his seems perfect. An area once reputation extended beyond the dominated by Irish migrants Church. The order was both the has given way to a new wave first Syro-Malabar Catholic to of migrants from Asia. My be founded and the first in hosts estimated around 85 to India, although it did not 90% of parishioners come from expand beyond Kerala’s Asian communities: Goa, Sri borders until 1962. And why Lanka, India and the Kerala you may ask? According Philippines especially. to legend and tradition it was Although liturgies are in visited by St Thomas the English, the parish also hosts Apostle who sailed to India in ethnic chaplains who say Mass 52 AD and brought Christianity for the Tamil, Konkani and to the sub-continent. Thus a Malayalam communities as strong tradition and devotion to well. Victor and Pat reported him grew in India; his remains that since the CMI priests are buried in Chennai in the arrived in Wembley in 2006, San Thome Basilica. Mass attendance has doubled, with around 2,000 people each weekend in the pews. At Christmas they estimated 4,000 people attended Mass. Even during the week, it is not uncommon to see 350 people for Mass. And to what did they attribute this? They told me that in the last 10 years the parish has become so welcoming to all peoples and a great place to support families, something which St Kuriakose stressed and wrote extensively about in his lifetime. Families are a large part of the congregation and are ‘very devout worshippers’. Victor reported that around five new families a week are registering Statue of St Kuriakose gifted to as parishioners, such is the the parish from the CMI love for the Faith and community in Kerala, India community. What Fr John has

The interior of the church with its low domed ceiling and green interior. created, they said, was a ‘prosperous environment’, which is reaping benefits for the life of the parish. The Church itself is deceptive. It was built in 1957 to replace the 1901 original which had become too small for the growing number of Irish migrant parishioners. The current building has a capacity of 850, nearly three times more than the original. It has a tall, rectangular front which gives a false impression that it will be long and tall inside. Instead the nave is low and domed, making the building feel much more intimate. The walls are a dark shade of green, with side chapels and arches with statues of the saints. There is one statue which my hosts were keen to highlight for me. It was donated by the CMI community from Kerala and is an 80kg solid teak wood statue of St Kuriakose. It took a central place at the recent Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent on the occasion of the saint’s canonisation, but needs a new plinth because of its weight. Connected to the parish are a pastoral centre, which serves

as a place for catechetical activities and as a meeting place for many groups in the parish, and St Joseph’s Primary School, shared between Wembley 1 and Wembley 3, St Erconwald’s parish. The school’s playground was where Pope St John Paul II’s helicopter landed in 1982 when he said Mass in the old Wembley Stadium. Looking to the future, the parish is building a new catechetical centre from ‘Growing in Faith’ money on a lawn in front of the church because they are running out of space in the current pastoral centre. It is certainly a parish where the Faith is alive and well for the next generation. I always thought that one of the mysteries of the diocese was the need for three parishes in Wembley; surely you could consolidate them all into one? But after visiting St Joseph’s and hearing about the number of people that come through the doors each week, putting all those parishes together would be impossible. Unless, of course, they used the nearby Wembley Arena for Mass. But

how refreshing it was to leave the parish knowing it is full to bursting point. Maybe the combined prayers of 2,000 people might improve the fortunes of the England national team next time they play at Wembley though?

The exterior of the church Founded: 1901, 1957 Mass Times: (Sat 6.30pm), 9, 12noon, 7.30pm Address: 339 High Road, Wembley HA9 6AG Telephone: 020 8902 0081 Website: parish.rcdow.org.uk/ wembley

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Education Sunday

Westminster Record | February 2015

Pastoral Letter: Celebrating Catholic Education

Witness to Catholic Values in Society

Outreach: Generosity of Heart and Spirit

For Education Sunday, Bishop John has written Pastoral Letter on behalf of Cardinal Vincent, which is being distributed to parishes and schools across the diocese.

By JP Morrison

By Martin Rainsford

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, On Education Sunday and as Chairman of the Diocesan Education Commission, I am glad to have this opportunity to thank God for the gift of Catholic education in the Diocese; the schools, the staff, the governors, parents who entrust their children to the schools and all the pupils who contribute to this important aspect of the mission of the Church. I also thank the Diocesan Education Commission and Service for their work. The mission of the Church is to proclaim the good news given to us by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the promise of eternal life and an invitation to live life to the full as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Catholic school makes a vital contribution to this mission by enabling each child to develop his or her God-given gifts to their fullest potential, to know the abundant love of God and to become friends of Jesus Christ. A foundation in prayer and friendship with Christ will serve them in later life so that they make their unique contribution to the world around them and foster the values of God’s kingdom and the common good – justice, peace, love and joy. As Pope Francis wrote, ‘Catholic schools, which always strive to join their work of education with the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, are a most valuable resource for the evangelization of culture…’ (The Joy of the Gospel 134) Page 10

What do we mean by the ‘evangelisation of culture’? Pope Francis answered this question in the following way, ‘To give witness with joy and simplicity to what we are and what we believe in.’ Such witness is infectious and attracts others to the life-giving message of Christ and his Church. The Catholic school is called to witness with joy and simplicity to the goodness of each and every person, especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged. The school is called to be a beacon and witness to God’s gracious gift of mercy shown us by the actions and words of Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Christ is at the centre of the Catholic school. On walking through the doors of a Catholic primary school, joy is palpable in the faces of the children who smile, laugh and clearly enjoy the experience of school. Sometimes with teenagers the joy is less obvious; but as one head said to me, they ‘like being at school because it is safe and there is plenty to do and learn’. When I ask children what is good about their school, their replies include: ‘it is a safe place’, ‘I have many friends’, ‘I am helped to learn’, ‘the staff support me’ and ‘Jesus is love’. To have a strong Catholic identity is not something mysterious or difficult. It is demonstrated in familiarity with daily prayer, symbols such as the crucifix and statues, a chapel and place of prayer, relationships of respect and understanding, developing one’s gifts and recognising a wide range of achievement and success. Each student is centrestage and the focus of care and learning. Leadership is modelled on Jesus who served all and sacrificed his life for others. Catholic education is an education in mercy. Mercy, from the Latin word misericordia means having a heart for the poor. The school community is called to have a heart for the poor, whether for the student who is struggling, the one who

is disadvantaged or by looking outwards to the needs of others; for example through link partnerships and overseas projects, by supporting CAFOD,CARITAS, the Catholic Children’s Society and other charities. Our schools reveal this attitude of mercy when they provide good pastoral care and support staff and students through times of illness, bereavement and crisis. The schools in our diocese have been built up through the sacrifice of parents, the commitment of staff and governors who so often go the extra mile because they love their work and see it as a call from God or a vocation, and the students who bring their energy and vitality to build a school community that looks out to serve others. What are some of the challenges that our schools face today? First, we need more young people to become teachers who see their profession as a calling from God and are prepared later to take on the responsibility of senior leadership. Secondly, we need more foundation governors who are committed to the values of Catholic education and willing to sacrifice time and energy for the good of the school and serve others with their expertise and gifts. In particular, we need governors who have the right skills to serve schools in the more challenging situations in our diocese where governors can be hard to find. Thirdly, there is the challenge of resources and finance as state funding becomes increasingly difficult to access. Together with the Cardinal, I thank you all for your dedication and service to the call of Catholic education. We pray that God will answer our prayers and provide for our needs. With every blessing,

As the new school term begins, our staff and students face a challenging and rewarding year ahead. One of the many challenges is the expectation that our schools uphold British values. It is both encouraging and reassuring that so many of our schools are being judged as highly successful in upholding and promoting these. Yet one of the purposes of our schools is to discern the values that ennoble mankind. Our faith community is both counter-cultural and sacramental. Christ is at the centre of what we do, and if the classroom is about the acquisition of learning, it is also about the acquisition of skills for right living. The best Catholic school offers a story to enter, a language to speak, a group to which we belong, a work to do, a face of God to see. Catholic education has become the outreach of the Church within and to the secular world: a Church in, but not of the world. So many of our schools in the diocese can

be defined by the values they add to the lives of those they serve. They constantly seek to serve others and to articulate the Gospel values and what it means to be human. Catholic schools have a triptych identity: our past story is shaped by our identity which gives rise to a question of meaning; our future story is shaped by our mission which gives rise to a question of purpose. Between the two, we live in the context of a living community, which copes with every success and difficulty in equal measure and equal grace. The year ahead will see our schools have a capacity to receive, interpret, give of themselves, appreciate difference, to be grateful, to worship, to be sensitive to others, to collaborate, to give witness to Faith, to commit to the long term, to enjoy, celebrate, relax and have fun; to study and learn about the truth. JP Morrison is the Director of Education

Education Sunday

Westminster Record | February 2015

Our Catholic schools are justifiably proud of their outreach to the community. This takes many forms locally, nationally and internationally. We know how important our faith is to us and so understand how important belief is to people of other faiths. Visits to places of worship form a natural part of school life, as does participation in multifaith conferences and taking part in events such as those organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Our schools have long been generous in their fundraising for Catholic charities such as CAFOD and the Catholic Children’s Society. Students’ imaginations know no bounds when it comes to ideas for fundraising. Many students also express their faith through events such as distributing Christmas hampers, visiting elderly people in care homes, putting on music and drama concerts, acting as Red Caps on the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and so on. What is less well known is how active our schools are working outside the Catholic community. Look at the membership of Citizens UK and London Citizens to see how

many Catholic schools are involved in leading and supporting action within this campaigning organisation. Catholic students and teachers join with people of all faiths and none to campaign for good government, improved social care, a healthy start for every child, more permanently affordable housing, dignity for families seeking sanctuary, better employment and training opportunities, fair loans through credit unions and a fair living wage for all. Catholic schools excel at this because it is in the DNA of Catholic Social Teaching. Many Catholic schools have links with schools abroad through religious order connections or links they have established themselves. Teachers and students collaborate on educational development across international boundaries and such links are one of the joys of membership of the Universal Church. Getting involved in community action projects is often the way in which many of our young people grow deeper in their faith. This sort of outreach taps into their hearts and minds giving them

Students of our schools make up all of the Westminster Red Caps who serve in of Lourdes every summer

confidence. Our schools are very good at developing leadership potential in our young people and our outreach programmes form a crucial part of this experience. We now benefit in this diocese from the work of Caritas, our social action agency,

which identifies poverty and exclusion and finds parishbased solutions to offer practical help. Is now the time for there to be a school-based Caritas network to complement the parish network? Our schools do so much individually, but much more could be possible

within a network for sharing and developing our school outreach programmes. There is so much to celebrate and to thank God for. Martin Rainsford is Headteacher of the The Douay Martyrs School, Ickenham and a Member of the Diocesan Education Commission

Chaplains: A Sign of Christ at the Heart of our Schools By Fr David Reilly Pope St John Paul II taught that: ‘the purpose of the Catholic school is the advancement of the human person; each individual in their material and spiritual needs is personally at the centre of Jesus’ teaching.’ A Catholic school is a very special kind of community, part of a parish, where children and adults are personally, and together, at the centre of Jesus’ teaching. In such a context it is vital that there are those who can support the spiritual, pastoral and human mission of the school and so we really need and value the role of our chaplains just as in many other

settings where human life is experienced. In many primary schools, the chaplain is the Parish Priest. There are also many priests who either work as chaplains or have strong links with their local secondary schools. Our schools are places where the priest belongs. He is never simply a ‘visitor’, but is an integral part and important figure in the life of the community. Many schools, particularly in the secondary sector, benefit from the presence of a lay chaplain or chaplaincy coordinator. In the diocese we are fortunate to have a team of such chaplains who work full-time in schools. Their presence and ministry are so important for the life of the school and

especially of the young people whose lives they touch. The chaplaincy is an enterprise at the heart of every school and ought to be a kind of ‘icon’ or image of what the entire school is called to become. Luisa Foley is a chaplaincy co-ordinator at The Douay Martyrs School in Ickenham. Reflecting on the breadth of her role recently, Luisa said, ‘At the heart of my chaplaincy work is building a community by being a presence, a friend, someone who accompanies and supports people on their faith journey: all members of staff, parents and young people. One needs to be a great listener. And, equally importantly, one needs to have a good sense of humour!’ Gerard Lohan works at St Ignatius College in Enfield. He

reflects on the essentially sacred mission of the chaplain and the privilege of bringing Christ into the school: ‘As a chaplain I am here to walk alongside each boy on his spiritual journey at St Ignatius. I’m here to help him to know that God loves and understands him, cares about him and wants what is best for him. Each day I must remember that I may be the only person that he will meet today who tells him of Christ.’ However, the role of the chaplain, like any form of ministry among God’s people, comes with challenges, too. ‘As a School Chaplain one of the many stumbling blocks is to feel that one has all the answers wrapped in a neat package ready for distribution to the questioners,’ says Luisa. ‘I find

the best way is to show these people love and compassion amongst all their struggles and confusion, and hopefully these two characteristics of God will bring them to see the God I witness to in me.’ In the diocese we work to encourage and support our chaplains and co-ordinators, and give them opportunities to reflect on and grow through their experiences and challenges. We also salute them for their essential ministry among young people in all of our diocesan schools, and continue as always to keep them all in our prayers. Fr David Reilly is the Diocesan Co-ordinator for School Chaplaincies.

Page 11

Education Sunday

Westminster Record | February 2015

Pastoral Letter: Celebrating Catholic Education

Witness to Catholic Values in Society

Outreach: Generosity of Heart and Spirit

For Education Sunday, Bishop John has written Pastoral Letter on behalf of Cardinal Vincent, which is being distributed to parishes and schools across the diocese.

By JP Morrison

By Martin Rainsford

Education Sunday

Westminster Record | February 2015

Students of our schools make up all of the Westminster Red Caps who serve in of Lourdes every summer

Page 11

Vocations

Westminster Record | February 2015

World Day of Prayer for the Sick

Fr Richard Nesbitt anoints a member of the congregation at the Mass in honour of Lady of Lourdes in 2014

By Fr Peter Michael Scott On 11 February 1858, in the French village of Lourdes, the Virgin Mary appeared to an asthmatic girl called Bernadette. As February led into March, the frail Bernadette, accompanied by the sick and infirm, received more visions of Our Lady. The Blessed Virgin would ask Bernadette to ‘pray for sinners’ and to ‘come in procession’. Her request made the asthmatic girl aware of her vocation to pray. February 11 is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of Prayer for the Sick. It reminds those who are

sick and infirm that in the perplexity of their suffering they can ‘come in procession’ to God the Father and ‘pray for sinners’. Often infirmity and suffering leave the sick feeling useless, but the Church is keen to remind them that they can be powerhouses of prayer. The Diocese will mark the Day of Prayer for the Sick on Saturday 7 February at 2pm with a beautiful Mass in the Cathedral. During this celebration the Cardinal, Auxiliary Bishops and Priests will anoint those who are infirm. One of the important

aspects of anointing is to mark out those who are sick as special in God’s eyes. February is a time when parishes can acknowledge the special apostolate of the sick and housebound. One way is to ask the housebound or sick to pray particularly for those approaching sacramental milestones, e.g., those being received into the Church at Easter, First Holy Communion and Confirmation candidates, and those preparing for marriage. Such prayer and reminders of parish life link the sick and housebound with the Church community and acknowledge them as prayerful parishioners. We must also remember to pray for the sick. A church noticeboard with the names or pictures of the infirm (provided with their consent) or a regular bidding prayer dedicated to their needs would connect them into the conscious life of the parish. Our Lady allowed the sick and frail Bernadette to see her vocation to pray; the Church is keen to remind us that those who are ill can serve us by their prayers just as we serve them by our regular visits. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St Bernadette, pray for us.

Jumbulance Reunion Just before Christmas, all those involved with the Westminster Jumbulance (JCT) met for a special Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Michael, Uxbridge. The Parish Priest, Fr Nicholas Schofield, has acted as Jumbulance chaplain for the last two years. At the Reunion Mass, prayers were offered for all those connected with the Jumbulance, especially those who had died over the past year. The Deputy Director of the Diocesan Pilgrimage, Fr Andrew Gallagher, preached and Rev David Wakefield (one of the Jumbulance drivers from ACROSS) acted as deacon. During the reception that followed, St Nicholas made a surprise visit to greet the guests and give out presents. Page 12

The Jumbulance team has become an important part of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in recent years. A Jumbulance is a coach with hospital beds and staffed by a team of doctors, nurses and helpers, which provides a safe and comfortable means of bringing some of the frailest ‘VIPs’ on the pilgrimage.

The journey takes about 24 hours, with several stops en route, and the group is normally among the first to arrive at Lourdes for the pilgrimage. This allows them to settle in at their hotel, recover from the journey and celebrate several Masses before the rest of the pilgrims arrive.

Celebrating Easter A day for discovering more about liturgy will be held on Saturday 28 February at the Poor Clare Monastery in Arkley, Barnet. Speakers include Juliette Day, Kevin McGinnell, Peter McGrail, Thomas O’Loughlin and Patricia Rumsey. All are welcome but pre-booking is essential. For details or to book a place, please email stclaresarkley@yahoo.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Vocations

Westminster Record | February 2015

Three Ordained to the Diaconate at Allen Hall Saturday 17 January was a day of celebration at Allen Hall, the diocesan seminary, as three new deacons in formation were ordained by Bishop Nicholas. William Bowder and Daniel Humphreys were ordained for service in the Diocese and Lawrence Mduduzi Ndlovu was ordained for the Diocese of Johannesburg. Concelebrating were several priests from Westminster Diocese, as well as Fr Thabo Motshegoa, the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Johannesburg. At the start of the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Nicholas addressed the words of his

homily to the three men, reassuring them that, ‘none of us feels worthy of ordination. The many priests and deacons here present will testify to that, I guarantee. And yet we trust; trust that He will give us the graces we lack.’ Reminding them of St Paul’s advice to the Ephesians, he encouraged the men ‘to rely on the Lord to make us strong. “You must rely on God’s armour,” he says, “or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens.” He reminds us that the key is prayer: “Pray all the time,” he tells us. “Never get tired of staying awake praying.” (6: 18-19)’

Bishop Nicholas enjoined them to follow the example of Pope St John Paul II of praying constantly: ‘We need, each of us, especially those who present ourselves for the Sacred Ministry, to pray deep and hard for many graces, not least the grace to persevere in our commitment.’ Addressing the men directly, Bishop Nicholas said, ‘Dear William, Daniel and Lawrence, I would urge you to remember this. Remember, when the going is rough, to

return to the Lord in prayer; recall the still small voice which spoke all those years ago to your heart, saying, “I want you to be a priest”; renew in your heart the promises you make this day.’ Referring to the day’s Gospel reading about the rich young man who asks Jesus what more he must do, Bishop Nicholas encouraged the men to ‘stay with that question and the Lord will reveal to you where you should go to find the graces he waits to bestow

upon you, not least the grace to persevere. Go there and he will surprise you with joy.’ Rev William Bowder is ministering in Highbury and Rev Daniel Humphreys is ministering in Poplar. They join the other deacons in formation; Rev David Burke continues formation at the Beda College in Rome, Rev Cyril Chiaha is at Allen Hall and is ministering in Hounslow and Rev David Lucuy is ministering at Pimlico. Please keep all the men in your prayers.

L-R: Fr Roger Taylor, Rector of Allen Hall Seminary, Rev William, Bishop Nicholas, Rev Lawrence, Rev Daniel and Fr Thabo

Vocations Notices Come and Wash Up On the evening of Friday 20 February there will be a ‘Come and See’ weekend with a difference for men discerning a calling to the priesthood. Allen Hall Seminary will open its doors to twelve men (aged 18+) who will be invited to experience seminary life for 24 hours, including community prayer time and lessons on Scripture and Liturgy, cleaning the chapel and taking their turn on the washing up rota! As St Teresa of Avila famously wrote, ‘Know that even when you are in the kitchen, Our Lord is moving among the pots and pans’. As one of our Westminster seminarians currently in formation at Allen Hall recently reflected,

‘Seminary life is all about conforming us to the heart of Christ, who entered into the reality of people’s everyday lives, whether that was through prayer, teaching, healing or just walking with others or sharing a meal together. We experience all of this in our daily lives together at seminary and so it is in this everyday reality that we learn what it means to serve as Christ serves.’ There is no charge for this retreat but there are only twelve places available, so to reserve a place please contact Fr Richard as soon as possible at richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk

On Tuesday 17 February at 5pm and 8.15pm in New Chapel Fr Abbot will speak on 'The Benedictine Way of Leadership'. Further events and information can be found at: http://ealingmonks.org.uk/development/events/

Vocations Discernment Group for Young Adults The group for young adults (18-30s) meets on Friday 27 February from 7 to 9pm in the Hinsley Room next to Westminster Cathedral. Continuing the reflection on the Year of Consecrated Life, the group will be looking at the life and work of the Order of Preachers, known to many as the Dominicans. For information or to register, please contact Fr Richard Nesbitt. Come and See Days for the Permanent Diaconate Come and See days are offered for men who want more information about serving the Church as Permanent Deacons. Starting at 10am, the days will be held on: • 7 March at St Edward the Confessor, Golders Green • 18 April at Ealing Abbey, Ealing • 16 May at Sacred Heart and St Joseph, Ware Wives are welcome. For further information, please contact Deacon Anthony Clark 020 8455 9822, Deacon Adrian Cullen 01920 462140 or Deacon Gordon Nunn 020 8862 2162. Monastic Experience Weekend This weekend is an opportunity to experience the Benedictine way of life in the Solesmes tradition, participating in monastic work, attending the worship and sharing the silence, with talks from monks and a chance to ask questions. It will be held at Quarr Abbey on the Isle of Wight PO33 4ES from the evening of Friday 13 March to the afternoon of Sunday 15 March. Those interested should be single Catholic men aged 18-35. For more information and to book, please contact Brother Duncan Smith on novicemaster@quarr.org.

For more information on vocations please contact Fr Richard Nesbitt richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7349 5624 If you have a story or an event you would like to have featured on this page, please contact communications@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7798 9030 Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Page 13

Evangelisation

Westminster Record | February 2015

Bishop Nicholas Announces Evangelisation Initiative

Bishop Nicholas set out his vision for evangelisation in the diocese in a series of meetings held with the clergy between 9 and 11 December in Cathedral Hall, St Albans and Ealing. As bishop with oversight for the National Catholic Evangelisation Conference, he introduced Proclaim ’15, ‘a new initiative being launched by the Bishops’ Conference to support, enthuse and equip parish evangelisation for 2015’. The initiative is inspired by Pope Francis’ first Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and is comprised of five parts:

The highlight of the initiative is the National Catholic Evangelisation Conference to be held at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in Birmingham on 11 July 2015. Speakers will include Cardinal Vincent, Archbishop Bernard Longley, former Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and now Archbishop of Birmingham, Rev Nicky Gumbel from the Alpha Course and Mrs Michelle Moran from the

Pontifical Council for the Laity. 850 people are expected to attend, representing each of the 22 dioceses in England and Wales. Cardinal Vincent says of the new initiative: ‘This is for all clergy, religious and lay people. Why? Because we all share the one mission: to proclaim the joy of the Gospel. The wide range of practical ideas offered for planning and carrying out fruitful parish evangelisation

• Provision of free parish small group materials. • The National Catholic Evangelisation Conference in Birmingham in July 2015. • An invitation to join in prayer on the eve of the Conference. • An invitation for parishes to host their own Proclaim events throughout the year. • The publication of new resources as a fruit of the Conference to equip local evangelisation. Page 14

will help us all to be better missionary disciples. Please don’t let this opportunity pass you by.’ Bishop Mark O’Toole, Bishop of Plymouth and Chair of the Bishops’ National Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis, comments: ‘Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium offers us a blueprint for Catholic evangelisation. We are invited to give our encounter with Jesus Christ

simple, but radical and creative, expression in our local communities. Proclaim ’15 aims to support and encourage as many parishes as possible to take new steps in service of this mission. Please do get involved in the variety of ways that are being proposed.’ For more information on Proclaim ‘15, see www.rcdow.org.uk/faith/ proclaim-westminster/

Evangelisation

Westminster Record | February 2015

Diocean Archives Receive Cardinal Manning Papers By Fr Nicholas Schofield

Cardinal Henry Manning’s portrait in Archbishop’s House

2015 sees an array of anniversaries, of iconic moments in history such as the Magna Carta in 1215 and decisive battles such as Agincourt in 1415 and Waterloo in 1815. Closer to home, 150 years ago saw the death of Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman (15 February 1865) and the appointment of Henry Manning as his successor (6 May). He was consecrated bishop at the pro-cathedral of St Mary Moorfields on 8 June. Cardinal Wiseman, a noted man of letters and the first Archbishop of Westminster, had presided over an English Catholic community growing in self-confidence. After his death, one commentator wrote: ‘he found them a persecuted sect, he left them a church’. Cardinal Manning, a prominent convert, continued this work and showed much empathy with the working classes by proclaiming the Church’s social teaching in Victorian London. The bodies of these two great men were eventually moved from St Mary’s Cemetery,

Kensal Rise, to the Cathedral crypt, so that they now rest at the very heart of the diocese. Various events are being organised to commemorate this important anniversary. The Diocesan Archives, in conjunction with Our Lady of Victories, Kensington (which served as Manning’s procathedral), is organising a day conference at the parish centre on Saturday 9 May (10.30am to 4pm, £5 per person), with a series of talks on these two Archbishops. The event also ties in with a major new deposit of papers relating to Cardinal Manning, which the Archives recently received. These include his autobiographical notebooks and his correspondence with Blessed John Henry Newman and many other leading figures of the day. These papers will allow a more complete assessment of the life and work of this eminent Victorian. For a conference booking form, please contact the Diocesan Archives: archivist@rcdow.org.uk All are welcome! Fr Nicholas Schofield is the Diocesan Archivist.

Forthcoming Adult Faith Formation Events Events in London All of the events held in London will take place at Vaughan House, 46 Francis St SW1P 1QN. Scripture from Scratch: A Journey Through the Bible Lectures in the ‘Scripture from Scratch’ series are given by well-known biblical scholars speaking on a particular theme of interest to them. No prior knowledge of this field of study is required to attend. Beginning at 7pm until 8.30pm. The dates for the remaining talks are Tuesday 17 February: ‘Pauline Themes’ with Fr John Hemer MHM and Saturday 14 March: Retreat with Brian Purfield. All sessions are recorded and available on the diocesan website at a later date. Canon Law for Effective Parish Ministry A study evening on canon law will take place for Parish Pastoral Council and Parish

Pastoral Team Members and everyone involved or interested in pastoral work. Facilitated by Sr Helen Costigane SHCH, the evening will be held on 5 March from 7 to 8.30pm.

Nichols OP, Richard Ounsworth OP, and John Farrell OP and will take place on 24 February, 3, 10 and 17 March from 7 to 8.30pm. Booking is required as places are limited.

Testament). Speaker TBC. 20 March: Suffering (with reference to the New Testament) by Rev Jeffrey John. 25 March: Reconciliation by Mgr Malachy Keegan.

Talks on ‘Proclaiming the Word’ and ‘This is My Body’ Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and anyone else who may be interested, are invited to an evening on the theme of ‘This is My Body’ on Thursday 5 February. The following week, Thursday 12 February, parish readers are invited to an evening focusing on the ‘Privilege of Proclaiming the Word’. Both evenings will be led by Sr Anne Walsh OP and Sr Karen Marguerite d’Artois OP. Beginning at 7 pm until 8.30pm. Tea/coffee will be provided.

Events in Hertfordshire

The talks begin at 8pm with tea and coffee from 7.30pm in parish centre at Ss Alban and Stephen Church, 14-16 Beaconsfield Rd, St Albans, AL1 3RB.

Lent Faith Matters Talks This is a joint project of the Agency for Evangelisation and the Dominican Priory. The talks will be given by Frs Timothy Radcliffe OP, Aidan

Lenten Talks Programme 4 March: Science and Christianity by Peter Berners-Lee. 11 March: Suffering (with reference to the Old

Some Great Heroines of the Bible This series of talks will be given by Fr Peter Burrows at Ss Mary and Joseph Church, 186 St John’s Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1NR from 7.30 to 9pm. 3 March: Women of Extraordinary Faith and Love (such as Sarah and Ruth) 10 March: Women of Hope in the Face of Hopelessness 17 March: Heroines of Humility

To attend any of the events listed above, please register at rcdow.org.uk/events/or livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk or call at 020 7931 6078. All events have a suggested donation of £3. RCIA Seminars for RCIA Parish Teams These sessions are open to all RCIA catechists, clergy and helpers. Please register by calling 0207 798 9150 or emailing: catadmin@ rcdow.org.uk. The dates are: 5 February, 7.30 to 9.30pm at Edgware, and 7 February, 10.30am to 12.30pm at St Albans.

New Lent faith sharing resource The Lent booklet for faithsharing groups, Anointed!, explores what it means for all Catholics to share in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet and king in the course of daily living. It contains six sessions for small groups or personal meditation, daily prayer and children’s pages designed to help parents and grandparents share with children. Each session is illustrated to aid meditation. In Evangelli Gaudium, Pope Francis tells us: ‘In all the baptized, the sanctifying power of the Spirit is at work, impelling us to evangelization. The people of God is holy thanks to this anointing…’ (119) In Anointed! we will reflect on how our conscious decision to be a disciple calls us to be missionary. To order Anointed! booklets, email smallgroups@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7798 9152.

We want your News You can send us your latest news online, please email communications @rcdow.org.uk

Page 15

Marriage & Family Life

Westminster Record | February 2015

Forthcoming Events ‘The Impact of the Death of a Parent on Children’ Conference The 19th annual conference takes place on Wednesday 18 February at Sacred Heart Language College in Harrow, featuring keynote speaker Liz Koole from Winston’s Wish, workshops and information from bereavement support groups and other networks. Cost is £52. For further information and to book: bereavementandloss@gmail.co m or 020 8907 1610.

Bishops Ask for Reflection ahead of Synod In October 2014 bishops and other delegates from around the world met with Pope Francis in Rome for the extraordinary synod on the Family. The theme for discussion was ‘The Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelisation’. An ordinary synod will take place in October 2015 and will focus on the theme of ‘The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in

the Contemporary World’. In the time between these two synods, Pope Francis has asked us to spend time reflecting on these themes with ‘true spiritual discernment.’ In response to the Holy Father’s request, the National Marriage and Family Life Office published a document for reflection ahead of next October’s Synod called ‘The Call, the Journey, the Mission’, which is available at:

http://rcdow.org.uk/att/files /the+call+journey+mission+o f+the+family.pdf This is intended to encourage clergy and laity alike to consider the gift of marriage and family life. The Bishops of England and Wales have produced surveys for both clergy and the laity as one means of gathering responses. The deadline for survey responses is 17 April. The survey for clergy can be found at:

https://www.surveymonkey. com/s/ClergyEW2015; whilst the survey for the laity can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey. com/s/LaityEW2015 Alternatively, you can write directly to Edmund Adamus, Director for Marriage and Family Life, by 24 May at Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, SW1P 1QN or online at edmundadamus@ rcdow.org.uk

Courses at Caritas St Joseph’s Caritas St Joseph’s offers a safe place for adults with intellectual disabilities to come and learn, meet other people, and enjoy social events, and even sit on their Student Committee and form part of their Governance. Activities on offer range from Arts & Crafts to Social Enterprise: make soap to sell; learn how to garden and put yourself on the path to employment; take part in a drama course and see yourself on film at the end of it. The list of innovative courses is endless. For more information contact Gail Williams, Centre Manager, on 0208 202 3999, or download their brochure at http://www.stjoseph.org.uk/activitycentre/pdfs/FULL%20BROCHURE%202015.pdf Page 16

Theology of the Body Lecture The 12th Annual Theology of the Body lecture, entitled ‘Facing Difficulties in Christian Family Life: Insights from Theology of the Body,’ will be given by Dr Peter Kahn, Director of Studies of the Liverpool University Higher Education Programme. It will take place on 20 March at 6:45pm, Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street SW1P 1QN. Please register your interest at family@rcdow.org.uk Tickets, to be sold on the door, will be £10 or £5 concessions (OAP, students/unemployed). Beginning Experience There will be a healing weekend for those who find themselves single again following divorce, separation or the death of a partner from 20 to 22 March at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham, Kent. For more details please contact Freda on 01322 401243 or Sandra on 01293 783965. Mass for Marriages The annual Mass in thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Marriage, celebrated by Cardinal Vincent, takes place on 23 May at Westminster Cathedral. Cardinal Vincent would like to extend a personal invitation to all couples who are celebrating 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th and higher anniversaries. If you would like to receive an invitation, please provide your names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number) to your Parish Priest.

Social Action

Westminster Record | February 2015

Caritas Launch Partnership with JustEnough Charity As part of the ongoing fight against human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK and within the Diocese, Caritas Westminster has joined JustEnough, an educational charity working to educate children about the problems associated with modern-day slavery by leading workshops in schools with Year 6 students to raise awareness of these evils. The pilot interactive awareness-raising workshop is ‘gentle’, but nevertheless makes the point that human trafficking and slavery are not things of the past and that we as Christians can make a difference to people who have been trafficked or who are enslaved. Just Enough provide a 45-minute workshop tailored for a Catholic school audience on this theme. To make the reality of modern slavery accessible to younger children, stories of slavery with which they will be familiar will be used, including Harry Potter and Cinderella. John Coleby, Director of Caritas Westminster, says of the partnership: ‘Combating human trafficking is important, because it goes to

the heart of who we are as Catholics. The dignity of the person is an essential part of our identity and so it is important to reach out, with the blessing and encouragement of the Holy Father, to those on the margins of society to help rehabilitate them and restore their lives. This fight is one which we all must take responsibility for and if we can arm young people with the knowledge and awareness at a young age, they will enter their teenage years and adult life with the same conviction that human trafficking must be stopped’. In this issue of the Record, there is a report about how Cardinal Vincent, along with the Metropolitan Police, is leading the campaign to meet the needs of victims of trafficking in the UK and globally. The Santa Marta group, formed in April 2014, is an alliance of international police chiefs and bishops from around the world working together with civil society to eradicate human trafficking and provide pastoral care to victims. The Group has the full support of Pope Francis and the British Government.

Justice and Peace Hold Vigil to Bring in New Year Westminster Justice and Peace write: We began the year with not so much of a bang as a clarion call for the climate. In awareness of the environment we celebrated a midnight Mass and afterwards we watched two films, The Age of Stupid, and Conflict and Climate, to mark our climate initiative. We have joined up with a wider movement called ‘Pray and Fast for the Climate’, which requires us to mark the first day of every month by praying and fasting, leading up to the UN talks, COP 21, in Paris in December 2015.

Among the work carried out so far by Caritas Westminster is the creation of a safe house for victims known as Caritas Bakhita House and ongoing work

with many Catholic and nonCatholic NGOs and police to coordinate efforts in the identification and support of victims. In the near future a centre for research and international networking will

be established in partnership with St Mary’s University, Strawberry Hill, with the latter also undertaking further academic study into the issue to support evidence-based policymaking.

Journeying with Refugees Prayer in Lent

The movement was inspired by a passionate speech from Yeb Sano, the leader of the Filipino delegation to the UN Climate talks in Warsaw in 2013. He pleaded with the other delegates to reach a definitive, effective decision on carbon reduction binding on all countries to slow down global warming. He told delegates that his own region of the Philippines was currently devastated and recovering from Typhoon Haiyan, and that his own brother was picking through the rubble for bodies of family and friends, and had not eaten for days. He resolved to

On the World Day for Refugees and Migrants, Pope Francis challenged us to open our hearts to welcome and respect those who are denied sanctuary. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) offers one way that we can accompany fast until the UN had arrived at refugees and migrants a meaningful agreement on through prayer during the carbon reduction. Lenten season. ‘Pray and Fast for the Opening our door to a Climate’, which is both stranger is a daring and very interfaith and ecumenical, has radical way of being human grown from this inspiration. but at the same time, it can be The Justice and Peace incredibly rewarding and Commission is not only enriching. Louise Zanré, carrying out this witness on the Director of JRS UK, says: first day of every month in 2015, ‘Many of the people we but is planning a cycling accompany at JRS derive great pilgrimage to Paris at the strength and hope from their beginning of December to arrive faith. They are always pleased there for the UN talks. when I tell them that others are For more information about praying for them. I hope that ‘Pray and Fast’ or the cycling those who use this prayer pilgrimage, contact Justice and resource will be able to enter Peace at justice@rcdow.org.uk. into the experience of the Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

through

people we accompany and those who host them in their homes.’ The ‘At Home’ prayer resource invites us to take a journey of hospitality alongside hosts and guests with the Jesuit Refugee Service to see the courage and dignity of asylum seekers and migrants who experience destitution and homelessness, and to reflect with them on the themes of Home, Welcome, Encounter, Around the Table, Sharing, Journey and Courage. Stories or passages of scripture are suggested alongside questions and prayers in the Ignatian tradition. To download a pack, go to www.jrsuk.net. An online version with spoken reflections and music is available at www.pray-as-you-go.org. To order a pack, please contact uk@jrs.net or call 020 7488 7310.

Page 17

Saints & Obituaries

Westminster Record | February 2015

St Blaise: 3 February In this diocese we are unlikely to find the Mass of St Blaise being celebrated, because on 3 February we keep the feast of three Archbishops of Canterbury, Ss Laurence, Dunstan and Theodore, carved stone roundels of whom can be seen by the west doors of the Cathedral. But the rest of the Church honours him and we can join in by asking to receive the blessing of St Blaise on his day. It is normally given at the end of Mass, when two (unlit!) candles tied together are held against the throat and a blessing given with the words ‘May Almighty God at the intercession of St Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, preserve you from infections of the throat and from all other afflictions. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’. So where does this come from? The historical facts are rather few, but St Blaise is reported to have been the Bishop of Sebastea in modern Armenia at the beginning of the 4th century. Under the Roman Emperor Licinius a persecution of Christians began and the bishop took to the hills to escape it. Living rough there he seems to have developed an ability to attract, control and heal wild animals and, indeed, was found in their company when finally discovered by pursuing soldiers. Accounts of his life tell of his being dragged to prison and meeting on the way a woman whose son was choking on a fishbone. The saint cured the boy and so became the patron of all suffering from diseases of the throat. A further legend tells of his meeting en route to prison a poor woman whose pig had been seized by a wolf. Employing his empathy with creatures, St Blaise persuaded the wolf to release the pig. The woman showed her gratitude by visiting him in prison before his execution, bringing food and two candles to illuminate the Page 18

In Memoriam: February 1 Fr Harold Gadsden (1972) Mgr Edward Dunderdale (2001) 2 Fr Charles Lowe (1978) Bishop Philip Harvey (2003) Fr James McCormick (2009) 3 Fr Hugh Bishop (1984) 6 Fr Patrick McEvoy (1974) Canon William Ward (1993) Canon Daniel Kay (2003) Fr Kenneth McCabe (2013) 7 Fr Bernard Ferry (1970) Fr George Haines (2000) Fr Michael John Groarke (2008) 9 Canon George Groves (1997) 11 Fr Alan Body (1984) 12 Fr Joseph Francis (1984) Canon Edward Armitage (1987) Mgr Canon Francis Barlett (1992) 13 Fr Patrick O’Callaghan (1970) Mgr Canon Maurice Kelleher (1994) 15 Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman (1865) Fr Richard Wakeling (1988) Fr Leo Straub (2000) Mgr Canon Adrian Arrowsmith (2014) 16 Mgr Bernard Chapman (1999) Fr John Kirwin (2003) Canon Patrick Davies (2010) 19 Fr Ronald Aylward (2010) 20 Fr Joseph Scholles (1983) 21 Fr Michael Hollings (1997) Canon Peter Bourne (2001) Fr Cathal McGonagle (2010) 22 Deacon James Richards (2014)

darkness of his cell. And so we see how the modern-day blessing of St Blaise develops and has incorporated stories from his life. But that is not all. The saint suffered torture before his execution and one of the means used was the scraping of his flesh with steel combs. It happens that these are similar to the combs traditionally used in woolmaking and so St Blaise gains an extra role, as the patron saint of wool combers and the wool trade. Thus a Catholic Secondary School in Bradford was named in his honour, that city being, formerly, a great centre for the trade. Such are the imaginative links which cross continents and centuries and tie us together with the saints in the Body of the Universal Church.

23 Canon John O’Callaghan (1981) 24 Canon Thomas FitzGerald (1968) Mgr Canon Arthur Rivers (1978) 25 Fr Charles McMenemy (1976) Fr Archibald Bardney (1985) Fr Andrew Clancy (1986) 26 Fr Brian Heaney(2013) 27 Fr Nicholas Lambert (1976) Canon Michael Richards (1997) Canon Charles McGowan (2006) Canon Peter Moore (2006) 28 Fr Joseph Gilligan (1990) Fr John Taylor (2005) 29 Fr Frank Rochla (1992) Fr John McCoy (2012)

90th Anniversary of Catholic Scouting The National Catholic Scout Fellowship (NCSF) is having a special Mass to celebrate 90 years at St George’s Cathedral Southwark on Sunday 1 March at 3pm. All Scouts, Guides, Beavers and Cubs are invited to join them. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Richard Moth, the Bishop for Scouting and Fr John Seddon, National Catholic Scout Chaplain. There will be refreshments and a display of merchandise from the NCSF in Amigo Hall afterwards. If you would like to bring your group, please contact Margaret McDowall, Vice President, by email: mcdowall45@blueyonder.co.ukc all 01634 307335 or write to Kilpheder, 4 Copperhouse Road, Rochester, ME2 2TQ.

Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | February 2015

REGULAR EVENTS If you have an event, please email: communications@rcdow.org.uk

Prayer Groups S UNDAYS Taizé at St James, Piccadilly W1J 9LL every third Sunday 5pm. Call 020 7503 5128 for details. Tyburn Benedictines Monastic afternoon Every first Sunday 2-5pm Martyrs’ Crypt, Tyburn Convent, 8 Hyde Park Place W2 2LJ. Westminster Cathedral Young Adults meet socially after the 7pm Mass on Sundays and then at the nearby Windsor Castle pub. For further details please contact: westminsteryoungadults@gmail. com.

M ONDAYS Mothers’ Prayers at St Dominic’s Priory, Haverstock Hill NW5 4LB Mondays 2.30-3.30pm in the Lourdes Chapel. All are welcome.

T UESDAYS Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesdays 6-9pm concluding with Benediction at Newman House, 111 Gower Street WC1E 6AR. Details 020 7387 6370. Prayers for London at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden Tuesdays 7.30pm. Organised by the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road NW10 9AX. Vocations Prayer Group Second Tuesday of the month 8pm at 47C Gaisford Street NW5 2EB. Taizé at St. James’, Spanish Place, W1U 3UY. Every 1st Tuesday of the month. Email: penny28hb@aol.com or just come along.

W EDNESDAYS Wednesdays on the Wall (WOTW) Every first Wednesday 6pm at All Hallows on the Wall, 83 London Wall EC2M 5ND.

A short service of prayer and reflection at 6pm, coffee at 6.45pm followed by discussion. Corpus Christi Contemplative Prayer Group for Young Adults Wednesdays from 7pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. For further details please contact corpuschristipg@yahoogroups. co.uk. Evangelisation Prayer Group for young adults meets from 7pm on Wednesdays at Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX. For further details please contact Armel at apostles.jesus@yahoo.co.uk.

T HURSDAYS Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life Every first Thursday of the month. Young adults from all Christian denominations pray and share a meal. Details www.jcfl.org.uk. Soul Food A Catholic charismatic prayer group for young adults meets Thursdays 7-9pm at St Charles Borromeo, Ogle Street W1W 6HS. Details at www.soulfoodgroup.org. St John Paul II Prayer Group Every second Thursday of the month 7-8pm, Mass, Adoration and Prayer at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB.

F RIDAYS Association of Divorced and Separated Catholics Every third Friday of the month. All divorced and separated Catholics are welcome. Call Frank or Christine 020 8422 1591. Divine Mercy Prayers and Mass Every first Friday 2.304.30pm at Our Lady, Mother of the Church, 2 Windsor Road W5 5PD. Westminster Cathedral Charismatic Prayer Group Every Friday 7.30pm Prayer, Praise and Teaching. First Friday is a healing Mass. Details: 020 8748 2632.

S ATURDAYS Taizé at Notre Dame de France 5 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX at 7.15pm. Call 020 7437 9363

Liturgical Calendar - February 1 Sun

Other regular Masses

+ 4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME; Education Sunday, Collection for Catholic Education Service

2 Mon

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

3 Tue

Ss Laurence, Dunstan and Theodore, Archbishops of Canterbury; the blessing of St Blaise on throats may be given on this day

4 Wed

feria, Fourth Week of Year 1

5 Thu

St Agatha, Virgin & Martyr

6 Fri

St Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs; Friday abstinence

7 Sat feria or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday 8 Sun

+ 5th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME; Day for Victims of Trafficking and Those who Work to Combat It

9 Mon

feria, Fifth Week of Year 1

10 Tue

St Scholastica, Virgin

11 Wed

feria or Our Lady of Lourdes; World Day of Prayer for the Sick

12 Thu

feria

13 Fri

feria, Friday abstinence

14 Sat

St CYRIL, Monk, and St METHODIUS, Bishop, Patrons of Europe

15 Sun

+ 6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME; Day for the Unemployed; Announce Ash Wednesday, Day of Fast and

Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm at Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QW. Young Adults Mass Held every Sunday at Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. Quiet prayer 7.15pm, Mass 7.30pm. Social gathering afterwards. Contact: team@fsplus.info or visit www.fsplus.info Mass at Canary Wharf Held on Tuesdays at 12.30pm at 2 Churchill Place E14 5RB. Organised by Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, Chaplain to Canary Wharf Communities. Details www.cwcc.org.uk St Albans Abbey Fridays at 12 noon. Mass in the Lady Chapel of St Albans Abbey AL1 1BY. LGBT Catholics Westminster Mass 2nd & 4th Sundays 6.15pm, Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street, W1K 3AH. Contact: lgbtcatholicswestminster @gmail.com

Abstinence 16 Mon

feria, Sixth Week of Year 1

17 Tue

feria or Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order

18 Wed

ASH WEDNESDAY

19 Thu

Lent feria

20 Fri

Lent feria

21 Sat

Lent feria (St Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor)

22 Sun

+ 1st SUNDAY OF LENT; Candidates for the Sacraments; Announce Lent Fast Day

23 Mon

Lent feria (St Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr)

24 Tue

Lent feria

25 Wed

Lent feria

26 Thu

Lent feria

27 Fri

Lent feria; Lent Fast Day; Friday abstinence

28 Sat

Lent feria

A Day for the Lord - St Patrick’s Church, Soho, will be hosting 24-hour Vigils of Eucharistic Adoration throughout the year with priests available for confessions all night. The next one will take place from 12noon Friday 20 to 12noon Saturday 21 February. All are invited to take time to pray before the Lord. Praying with Pope Francis - February 2015 Universal Intention: Prisoners - That prisoners, especially the young, may be able to rebuild lives of dignity. For Evangelisation: Separated spouses - That married people who are separated may find welcome and support in the Christian community. Free Catholic Tours. ‘Saints and Scholars’ walk first Sunday of the month, including Mass. Contact Peter on 07913904997 or circlingthesquaretours@hotmail.co.uk

EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASSES Sundays: Low Mass 9.30am, St James Spanish Place W1U 3QY. Low Mass 9am, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 5pm, St Bartholomew, St Albans AL1 2PE. Low Mass 5.30pm, Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, NW10 9AX. Mondays: Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NB. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Low Mass, 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Fridays: Low Mass 7.45am St Mary Moorfields, 4/5 Eldon Street EC2N 7LS. Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1N 6RY. First Friday. Low Mass 6pm St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Road E9 7SF. First Friday only. Low Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Second Friday only. Saturdays: Low Mass 12.15pm, St Wilfrid’s Chapel, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 4.30pm, Side Chapel, Westminster Cathedral SW1P 1QW. Second Saturday only.

Catholic Life is available from the first Sunday bi-monthly. The magazine is designed to be read by Catholics of all ages who want to immerse themselves into the history and present culture of their religion. A4 - 64 pages.

The digital edition has an exclusive early release and a special online price, so why not subscribe today?

The February/March 2015 edition is now on sale in your parish church or telephone 0161 214 1215 to order your copy. You can also order back issues at discounted prices.

One year subsciption (6 issues) £11.99 or search for Catholic Life on iTunes, single issue £1.99.

Print subscription (six issues) Price: £21.00 includes P&P. Single issue price £3.50 + £1 P&P. @Catholic_LifeUK

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Page 19

Lent Reflection

Westminster Record | February 2015

Journeying to Easter their baptismal promises.’ (Ceremonial of Bishops 249) Notice that this quotation does not mention giving up chocolate, or cutting back on the drinking, but it does mention catechesis, listening to the word of God, prayer, and the spirit of repentance. If the world often trivialises Christmas, maybe we sometimes trivialise Lent by focussing on what we give up rather than doing more to prepare well for Easter, and doing differently, that we might live more evidently and fully like Jesus. The Prefaces of Lent, the introductory sections of the Eucharistic Prayers, provide words that evoke and express the work of God’s grace in us during Lent. They are heard at Mass, but are lovely texts and deserve our further use too. There are two sequences of Prefaces for Lent.

By Fr Allen Morris The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. On that day the faithful (aware that they are not always so faithful) gather for the imposition of ashes. The words said as ashes are smeared on our foreheads, sound the themes of mortality and death, repentance and resurrection that are key to the season. ‘Repent, and believe in the Gospel’ or ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’ Thus encouraged, and by the grace of God, the faithful begin to keep the Lenten season of conversion and renewal. There are two principal aspects to Lent. The first is this process of renewal for the faithful, the baptised. The second, in which Lent is likely to have its original and ancient origins, is the final stage of the journey towards Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, the sacraments of Initiation. It is a journey made by those who have heard the Gospel preached by the Church and have been helped to learn to Page 20

walk as disciples of the crucified and risen Lord. They may have joined their community in the prayers of Ash Wednesday, but for them in the year of their initiation more important will be the celebration the following weekend, the Rite of Election held at Westminster Cathedral. Here they are formally welcomed by Cardinal Vincent and enjoined to use the season of Lent well for the final weeks of preparation for their being re-born in Baptism, being made anew in the image of Christ to share in his life and continue his mission. Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter. It helps us become fit to celebrate Easter. Following Ash Wednesday and the Rite of Election ‘catechumens are led to the sacraments of Initiation by means of the rite of election, the scrutinies, and catechesis, and the faithful, listening more intently to the word of God and devoting themselves to prayer, are prepared through a spirit of repentance to renew

The first are specific to celebrations which follow the readings provided for Year A of the Lectionary cycle. This Year we are in Year B, so although the Year A readings for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent, may be used in any parish every year, it is likely they will be heard only in those parishes which have catechumens preparing for Baptism at Easter, when they should be used. The Gospel readings for those Sundays in Cycle A all come from John’s Gospel, and they tell of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well, Jesus’ healing of the Man Born Blind, and the raising from the dead of Lazarus. They have a rich tradition of being interpreted in terms of the renewal that is effected through the process of conversion, of being turned to God, and growing in faith. So on the third Sunday: For when (Christ our Lord) asked the Samaritan woman for water to drink, he had already created the gift of faith within her and so ardently did he thirst for her faith, that he kindled in her the fire of divine love.

On the fourth Sunday, when the Gospel of the healing of the Man Born Blind is read: By the mystery of the Incarnation, (Christ our Lord) has led the human race that walked in darkness into the radiance of the faith and has brought those born in slavery to ancient sin through the waters of regeneration to make them your adopted children. And on the fifth Sunday: As true man (Christ our Lord) wept for Lazarus his friend and as eternal God raised him from the tomb, just as, taking pity on the human race, he leads us by sacred mysteries to new life. These phrases from the Year A Prefaces give insights into the working of grace, and might well feed times of meditation remembering and giving thanks for God’s work in our lives, and seeking to open ourselves up still more to his continuing work in and for us. The regular Lenten prefaces lack the initiatory emphasis, but outline the more generally applicable spiritual emphases of Lent: For by your gracious gift each year your faithful await the sacred paschal feasts with the joy of minds made pure, so that, more eagerly intent on prayer and on the works of charity, and participating in the mysteries by which they have been reborn, they may be led to the fullness of grace that you bestow on your sons and daughters. That for the second highlights the place of the disciplines of penance during Lent: For you have given your children a sacred time for the renewing and purifying of their hearts, that, freed from disordered affections, they may so deal with the things of this passing world as to hold rather to the things that eternally endure.

The third emphasises the importance of abstinence: For you will that our self-denial should give you thanks, humble our sinful pride, contribute to the feeding of the poor, and so help us imitate you in your kindness. The fourth considers fasting: For through bodily fasting you restrain our faults, raise up our minds, and bestow both virtue and its rewards, through Christ our Lord. That of the fifth Sunday focuses us on the saving Cross and Passion of Jesus Christ: For through the saving Passion of your Son the whole world has received a heart to confess the infinite power of your majesty, since by the wondrous power of the Cross your judgment on the world is now revealed and the authority of Christ crucified. As does that for the first days of Holy Week: For the days of his saving Passion and glorious Resurrection are approaching, by which the pride of the ancient foe is vanquished and the mystery of our redemption in Christ is celebrated. Again these are wonderful texts for holding before us in prayer, and for gently meditating on the saving mysteries they express.

Fr Allen Morris’ blog Living Eucharist offers daily reflections to deepen our participation in Sunday Mass: https://livingeucharist.wordpress. com/