Westminster Record - November 2014 by RCWestminster

Westminster Record November 2014 | 20p

Papal Knights Annual Celebration

Towards 2015: Year of Consecrated Life

A Reflection on St Alphonsus

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Pages 14 &15

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Synod: ‘A Trumpet Call in Support of Marriage’

By Hannah Woolley The Extraordinary Synod on the Family closed on Saturday 19 October after two weeks of testimonies and discussions. Pope Francis said in his closing address that ‘we have truly lived the experience of “Synod,” a path of solidarity, a “journey together.”’ In a press conference held on 21 October, Cardinal Vincent remarked that this was an ‘astonishing and moving address’ and truly the highlight of the synod. Pope Francis thanked the synod fathers and lay observers for their ‘active and fruitful participation’. He recognised that there were moments of consolation, but also desolation and temptation. He discussed the role of the Pope in relation to the Bishops, reminding them not to be anxious because the Pope is the guarantee of the unity of the Church, he is the ‘servant of the servants of God’.

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The tone of the synod had been set by Pope Francis when he said at the opening session that he wished bishops to ‘speak fearlessly and listen humbly’. Cardinal Vincent said that this ‘remarkable and fresh’ spirit of openness and trust was maintained throughout, both within and outside of the synod hall. Cardinal Vincent said that ‘the leadership of the Pope gets us beyond argument and gets us to a profound acknowledgement of the genuineness and sincerity of every opinion expressed. One of the principles of Ignatian spirituality is that you always attribute to another person the best motive.’ Continued on page 3

Editorial

Westminster Record | November 2014

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Journeys and a Time of Reflection

Editor Bishop John Arnold Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ Managing Editor Marie Saba 020 7798 9031 Inhouse writers Chris O’Callaghan & John Scott 020 7798 9030, 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 Print management and distribution by The Universe Media Group Ltd.

December publication dates Editorial deadline: 10 November Listings email: communications@rcdow.org.uk News and stories call 020 7798 9030 Email: communications@rcdow.org.uk Advertising deadline: 14 November To advertise contact Carol Malpass 0161 214 1244 or email carol.malpass@thecatholicuniverse.com Produced by the Communications Office of the Diocese of Westminster. News and articles published in the Westminster Record do not necessarily represent the views of the Diocese of Westminster, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Speaking of life as a ‘journey’ has taken on a new and very literal meaning for me as I plan my move to Salford. Many things will change and there will be all-too-much needing to be learned as I get to know people and places and experience a different way in

which things are done. But experience is also to be valued and all that I have learned and received from others is not suddenly forgotten but can be used and adapted for new circumstances. Moving on also gives me an opportunity to take stock of all that I have received and I begin to realise just how much that is. I am grateful for the very different types of ministry that I enjoyed as a chaplain at the Cathedral and then as a Parish Priest, and the privilege of being an Auxiliary Bishop in such a cosmopolitan and busy diocese. People have taught me so much, particularly by their example of living their faith. And as I look back, I am

all too aware of mistakes and things that I have done badly or wrong - they offer opportunities to learn which I hope I have taken. Your ‘journey’ may not involve the same sort of physical removal as mine but I can recommend taking a moment to reflect and to value your experience from time to time. It may be that something of real value has been overlooked or an opportunity has not been realised. It is precisely in the experiences of everyday that God speaks to us, and teaches us, if we will only listen.

A Century of Guinness Marked By Jo Siedlecka

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The centenary of the birth of Sir Alec Guinness was celebrated on 16 October with a special Mass at Corpus Christi Church in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, followed by 'Two Halves of Guinness', a one-man show performed by Trevor Littledale telling the life story of the great actor. For many years Alec Guinness lead the Catholic Stage Guild (now the Catholic Association of Performing Arts - CAPA) and often popped into Corpus Christi. During the Mass, Fr Alan Robinson, Chaplain to the Association, said members of the acting profession have a vocation, to ‘show us ourselves.’ After the Mass, the party moved to the Club for Acts

and Actors nearby, where actor Trevor Littledale gave a superb performance of 'Two Halves of Guinness' - Mark Burgess’ funny and insightful one-man show. Fast moving and funny, the play opens in the late 1970s, as a whole new generation is getting to know the actor in a role he was less interested in Obi-Wan Kenobi - from the Star Wars blockbuster series. Sir Alec then takes us back to his strange, rather lonely childhood with a mystery hanging over the identity of his father. The acting profession seems the only one he is suited for. He reflects on his early struggles in the acting profession - encounters with Dame Edith Evans, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Laurence Olivier and many others - his war

Actor Trevor Littledale who performed the one-man show

service in the Navy, his family, his conversion to Catholicism, his thoughts on acting, and his shattering insecurity. Littledale gives a virtuoso performance as this complex, enigmatic person as well as giving us glimpses of many of the other characters in the great actor's life.

The Treasures of the Cathedral exhibition will be free on all Saturdays in November (8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th). Come and see the rare collection of vestments, chalices and sacred relics acquired by the Cathedral since its opening in 1903 and learn the story of how it was created and built to become one of the capital’s greatest architectural achievements and landmarks. For more information, see www.westminstercathedral.org.uk or visit the Cathedral Gift Shop. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

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Westminster Record | November 2014 Continued from front page

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Cardinal Vincent: Synod only First Movement in Threefold Journey

The first week was spent reflecting on the current situation in the Church as laid out in the working document. Testimonies were given by married couples and pastors covering a wide range of issues. Cardinal Vincent said that there was a clear challenge to the language that has been used to discuss these issues in the past, with a greater emphasis on how the Church can accompany individuals and families pastorally. In discussions there

was a clear understanding that society as a whole needs to be challenged on how it supports families. He also said that theological themes were also discussed, including the Eucharist as a reflection of the spousal relationship of Christ with the Church and baptism as the foundation for all Christian living. ‘It is important’, he said, ‘to recognise that marriage is a sanctuary of holiness, and is response to a call from God.’ The interim report of the

synod was released at the end of the first week and was intended to be strongly pastoral in tone. Cardinal Vincent drew attention to the final paragraph of the document which stated that: ‘These proposed reflections, the fruit of synodal discussion which took place in great freedom and a spirit of reciprocal listening, are intended to raise questions and indicate outlooks that will later be developed and clarified…’ The report, which is a matter of course for any synod, was intended to give a broad view of what had been discussed in the spirit of openness. The second week of the synod consisted of small group discussions. On the Thursday morning, a report was given from each of the ten groups summarising their discussions. Cardinal Vincent said that four similar themes were present in all the reports given. These included a desire that the synod give a ‘trumpet call’ in support of marriage and family life and that there should be a systematic presentation of the richness of Church teaching on marriage and the family in the synod document. Furthermore,

the role of the Church in the pastoral care of individuals needed to be intensified and complex situations should be addressed explicitly, whilst always seeking the positive in the life of every person. The Cardinal emphasised that these themes encourage the ‘art of accompanying’ people in their spiritual journey, to heal wounds rather than simply to dress them. He said that the ‘synod took fully to heart and has expressed in its report…the need and the rightness of the Church being more than ready to accompany people starting from a position of wanting to see what is good in their lives that can be built on and avoiding the language of condemnation totally.’ He said that he believed that synod report was a point of ‘new departure’, which corresponded to each of the four themes. The usual formulation of an Ordinary Synod final report would require a two-thirds majority vote to include each paragraph that was presented in the interim report. All paragraphs have been included in this document, since it is not a final

report. In the spirit of openness however, Pope Francis has made known to the public those three paragraphs which did not receive a majority vote. The Cardinal did stress however that it is important to remember that this document reflects the point that discussions have reached, rather than making any final or definitive statement. He was also keen to emphasise that this synod was only the first movement in a threefold journey which will continue into the Ordinary Synod next October which is likely to conclude with a papal document in 2016. At the end of Pope Francis’s concluding address he said: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, now we still have one year to mature, with true spiritual discernment, the proposed ideas and to find concrete solutions to so many difficulties and innumerable challenges that families must confront.’ We move on to the next chapter of this process, one of reflection and discernment within our parish communities.

Bishop Nicholas Celebrates Red Mass Bishop Nicholas Hudson celebrated the annual Mass for members of the legal profession at Westminster Cathedral on 1 October. Other concelebrants included canon lawyers and members of the Tribunal, including Mgr John Conneely, Judicial Vicar for the diocese. They were joined on the sanctuary by Anglican guests. In his homily, Bishop Nicholas spoke about the role of compassion in the justice system, which must retain the dignity and hope for those whom it serves: ‘As lawyers you are, of course, called to examine thoroughly the evidence, to gather all the relevant facts, to argue your case, to act always

with justice. But the Pope’s words remind us there is always a place for compassion within this process; compassion and that spirit of mercy which allows those who stand before you to retain their dignity and their hope.’ He also reflected on the immense mercy shown in the parable of the Prodigal Son: ‘Luke records for us the fantastically prodigal mercy bestowed by a father on a son who has squandered all; a father who goes out to the edges of his estate to look for the son who has spent all his inheritance on a life of debauchery. Mercy is all that the father expresses when the older son protests: “My son,” he says to him, “you are with

me always and all I have is yours. But it is only right that we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

Before the Reformation the judiciary and legal profession gathered at Westminster Abbey to call upon the Holy Spirit to guide their work for the coming legal year. The custom of the Red Mass was revived in

1891 and received full official recognition in 1898, in the presence of the Lord Chief Justice, and with Cardinal Vaughan presiding. It has been celebrated in Westminster Cathedral since 1904. Page 3

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Westminster Record Westminster RecordSeptember | November2011 2014

CEOs ‘Sleep Out’ to Raise Awareness of Homelessness

On 13 October some of the City’s high flyers gave up their beds for a night to take part in London’s first CEO Sleep Out at Wembley Stadium. About a hundred people braved heavy rain and strong winds to help increase awareness of the causes of homelessness, as well as to raise funds. Among those who bedded down on Wembley's 'Hallowed Turf' were Cathy Corcoran, Chief Executive of The Cardinal Hume Centre, Canon Pat Browne, Parish Priest of Holy Apostles Church in Pimlico and Catholic Chaplain to both Houses of Parliament, and Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey. There were also CEOs and Senior Managers from some of the UK's largest companies, including Aviva, Accenture, EE, Barclays and PWC. The Sleep Out was held in partnership with two charities that provide essential and lifechanging support to homeless people in London, the Cardinal Hume Centre and Depaul UK. One of the CEOs said: ‘It’s impossible, after one night, even to begin to imagine the loneliness and desperation so many homeless people face night after night. The hope is that by coming together, those taking part will help to throw a Page 4

spotlight on the issue and the support that is available for those affected.’ Cathy Corcoran added: ‘Giving up one night of comfort does not compare to the hard reality for those who experience homelessness on a nightly basis. But this event shows that people do care. We all know that homelessness and poverty should not exist in the modern world.’ Depaul UK’s chief executive, Martin HoughtonBrown, said: ‘Sleeping pitch side at Wembley is a unique way to come together and make a difference, getting business leaders away from their meetings and spreadsheets to raise money and awareness for homelessness.’ A few days after the Sleep Out, Canon Pat reflected on the experience and his three hours sleep: ‘It was a wet night but a large plastic bag over my sleeping bag kept me dry. I woke at about 4.15am feeling very cold and thought about those who have to do this every night, which was a real reminder to me of why I was doing this.’ The number of homeless people in London has increased at an alarming rate, with almost 6,500 reported to have slept rough in 2013.

Papal Knights Annual Celebration

The Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia in Lincoln’s Inn Fields hosted the Papal Knights and Dames on the evening of 3 October. They came together for the annual celebration of Mass in honour of St Gregory the Great, Blessed Pius IX and St Sylvester, the patrons of three of the Pontifical Orders. The principal celebrant of the Mass was the Rt Rev Richard Moth, Bishop of the

Forces, who was joined by Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, the Chaplain to the Papal Knights, Mgr John Conneely, Judicial Vicar for the Diocese, and Fr David Barnes, Parish Priest at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Music in the liturgy was led by the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School.

The Association of Papal Orders of Great Britain consists of members, mostly lay Catholics, who have been honoured by the Vatican State as either Knight or Dame ‘in recognition of an individual’s pre-eminent service to their faith, community, or the work of the Holy See on a local, national or international level.’

For all the photos from the Mass, please see https://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicwestminster

News

Westminster Record | November 2014

Two Cathedrals Procession Unites London Dioceses The annual Two Cathedrals’ Procession of the Blessed Sacrament took place on Saturday 18 October. It was led by Bishop Nicholas Hudson with Canon Christopher Tuckwell and Canon John O’Toole. The procession began with opening prayers at Westminster Cathedral as the Blessed Sacrament was brought to the altar. After leaving Westminster Cathedral, the procession crossed the Thames over Lambeth Bridge, passing Lambeth Palace and the Imperial War Museum to reach St George’s Cathedral in Southwark. Hymns were sung and the Rosary was said during the procession, and it was finished at St George’s with Benediction. Now in its fifth year, this annual event was first observed as a direct result of the visit of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to

Bishop Nicholas holding the Blessed Sacrament crosses Lambeth Bridge

the UK in September 2010. It is an act of thanksgiving for the graces received during the Papal visit, including the beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman, whose Feast Day is commemorated on 9 October. One of the intentions for this year’s walk was to pray for peace in Iraq, Syria and throughout the Middle East. Bishop Nicholas, who led the procession, served as a priest in Southwark and was ordained this year as Auxiliary Bishop for Westminster. At his ordination in June, Bishop Nicholas said ‘It’s often said, we’re a city “By the Thames Divided”. It occurs to me that there are many bridges between Southwark and Westminster; and I hope I can be another.’ In a visible way, Bishop Nicholas was therefore a bridge between both Dioceses on that day.

Farm Street Hosts Middle East Vigil Bishop John Rededicates Willesden Shrine An evening of song, poetry and prayer in Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic and English helped to raise more than £1,700 for the Jesuit Refugee Service’s Aid for Syrian refugees. The Call to Prayer with neighbours from the Middle East took place at Farm Street Church, Mayfair. It brought together poets, singers and musicians from a variety of traditions from the Eastern Rite and Western Churches, as well as friends from the Jewish and Muslim communities. Among the musicians who took part were Fr Aphram and the Choir from the Syrian Orthodox Church and Mr Abdul Salam Kheir (pictured), an oud player and singer of classical Arab songs. Singers from the Melkite, Maronite and Chaldean Churches also provided music, as did the Gospel choir, Soul Sanctuary. Speakers at the evening included Sarah Teather MP and Fr Dominic Robinson SJ who had recently returned from a visit to Lebanon where they had witnessed JRS

©Picture-u.net

projects aiding Syrian refugees. JRS wanted to show how some of the £26,000 raised so far by the parish community was being spent. ‘My most overriding impression is of the evergrowing tension hanging over the region which has created greater and greater immediate needs,’ he said. ‘The sheer number of Syrians trying to enter Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan is of staggering proportions. And reports of Lebanon closing its border to

Syrians and the violence ensuing has created even greater fears.’ JRS staff continue to provide emergency aid in the city centres of Damascus, Homs and Aleppo – field kitchens, clothing and bedding, basic healthcare support, hygiene kits. Thousands of families in wartorn Syria are still being provided these basic vital human needs. For more information, see www.jrsuk.net

60 years ago, a procession led by the statue of Our Lady of Willesden took place from Willesden to Wembley Stadium where 94,000 Catholics from the Dioceses of Westminster, Southwark and Brentwood gathered. At the end of a pageant which told the story of Christianity from the arrival of St Augustine in the sixth century to the present day, the statue was crowned and then processed back to Willesden in a great act of witness. On 4 October, Bishop John Sherrington was the principal celebrant of a Mass to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the event and to rededicate the sanctuary of the

newly-refurbished Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden. Of this special occasion, Bishop John said: ‘It is good to be here to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Cardinal Griffin’s crowning of the statue and the rededication of the shrine after works have been carried out to restore its beauty.’ Bishop John also recalled the many pilgrims who came to the Shrine through the centuries, including St Thomas More, St Jose Maria Escriva and Blessed Alvaro de Portillo, all of whom came out of love for Our Lady. At the end of Mass, Fr Stephen Willis paid tribute to all who had contributed to the rebuilding of the Shrine and the Church for this day of celebration. Three choirs performed together to provide music for the liturgy on the day, including the parish’s own adult choir and newly-formed children’s choir. They were joined by the schola from Allen Hall.

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News

Westminster Record | November 2014

Bishop Nicholas Meets his Flock

Bishop Nicholas Hudson celebrated a Mass of Welcome at the Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, on 7 October together with priests and parishioners from the Westminster deanery. It was one of a series of Masses that Bishop Nicholas has been celebrating in deaneries in east and central London where he has pastoral oversight.

In his homily, he said that he was deeply touched by the welcome he had received, and reflected on the importance of welcoming strangers into our community. ‘Pope Francis has taught us that we need to reach out to the poor and those that are suffering. In doing so, we reach out to Christ as well.’ Bishop Nicholas also expressed his desire to work together in the coming years to reach out to those ‘who were part of our flock but feel they no longer belong to it. I have been asked to be a bishop for you in this area’, he concluded, ‘and I hope I can be of some real service to you.’ Bishop Nicholas has also been meeting other people and visiting institutions in the diocese including a visit to St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney, where he recently celebrated Mass and met the staff and residents.

Bishop Nicholas and priests of the Westminster Deanery celebrating Mass at Lincoln’s Inn Fields

St Teresa of Ávila 500th Anniversary

I am yours and born for you, What do you want of me? As a sign of the diversity of the Carmelite family, secular members, Carmelite Missionary Sisters and sisters from the Anglican community at Fairacres, Oxford, all participated in the liturgy. The Mass featured the premiere performance of music composed for the centenary celebrations, as Page 6

well as a new arrangement of the much loved Carmelite hymn, Flower of Carmel. Blessing an icon depicting Teresa at prayer, Fr Antony Lester, Prior Provincial of the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance, prayed that the year would be a time of special grace for Carmelites and the whole church. Teresa of Ávila was born in 1515. By the time of her death in 1582 she had founded seventeen monasteries of reformed or ‘discalced’ Carmelite nuns, and established, along with St John of the Cross, a new movement of Carmelite friars. Her writings were quickly translated into many languages and today are regarded as classics of Christian spirituality.

©SPARK Productions Ltd, 2014

Members of the Carmelite family from across Britain gathered in Kensington Priory on 15 October to open a year of celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of St Teresa of Ávila. More than 600 guests, including the Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, clergy, religious and seminarians, joined the Carmelites to celebrate the opening of the centenary year. Sr Shelagh Banks of the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham began the evening with a reflection on one of Teresa’s poems:

Throughout 2014–2015 the Carmelite Forum of Britain and Ireland will be organising events across the country to celebrate the centenary. An international conference will be held at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, in June 2015, and a touring exhibition will visit Westminster Cathedral in January. For more details, and to view highlights of the opening Mass, visit www.teresaofavila.org. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Parish Profile

Westminster Record | November 2014

Willesden Parish: A Fitting Shrine to Our Lady By Marie Saba

Although little is known about its origins, devotion to Our Lady of Willesden dates back many centuries, and certainly predates devotion to Our Lady at Walsingham by more than a century. King Athelstan was known to have made a request of prayer from the monks at Willesden, and then after victory in battle left a purse of gold which provided for the first church dedicated to the Mother of God. Willesden has long been associated with the presence of Our Lady and has attracted a steady stream of pilgrims. One of the most famous was St Thomas More, who mentioned Willesden specifically in his writings in defence of pilgrimage. So notorious was her influence deemed in the sixteenth century that Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s Vicar General, singled out the statue of Our Lady of Willesden, along with her statues at Walsingham and Ipswich, for destruction. All three statues were burned on the site of what was once the home of St Thomas More and is today Allen Hall, the diocesan seminary. To this day, a close tie exists as the parish continues to pray for vocations and for the men training for priesthood. This act of vandalism did not dampen devotion to Our Lady, which in Willesden continued to be expressed by visits to Our Lady’s Oak, a tree associated with her presence. The Victorians had the tree cut down thinking it would deter devotion, but were outwitted by a quick-thinking Catholic who salvaged a branch. In the 1880s, a new mission was established in Harlesden to minister to the growing population of Irish Catholics, many of whom had come to work on the building of the canals in that part of London. Soon after, devotion to Our Lady was revived with the encouragement of the sisters at

the Convent of Jesus and Mary, and a new statue was built from the oak branch which had been carefully preserved. When the new parish church was opened in 1931, it was built around the Shrine, and continues to this day to be both a national Shrine to Our Lady and a parish church. As devotion grew, pilgrims continued to make their way to the Shrine. Among the more famous were St Josemaria Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, and Blessed Álvaro Portillo who accompanied him. In 1954, a Marian Year was declared and in the encyclical Fulgens Corona Pope Pius XII asked that every diocese in the world have a shrine where homage could be paid to Our Lady. Willesden became that Shrine for the Diocese. To celebrate the Marian Year, 94,000 Catholics from Westminster, Southwark and Brentwood gathered in Wembley Stadium to watch a pageant enacting the history of Christianity in this country, culminating with the crowning of Our Lady of Willesden and of the Infant Jesus. The crowns were fashioned from wedding and engagement jewellery donated by parishioners and their friends. The statue led the procession to Wembley and back on a cart drawn by 200 seminarians, and was placed in the church for a week of continual vigil and prayer. Since then, the Shrine has continued to be a focus of devotion and, in the early part of this century, the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden was established to promote devotion to Our Lady. More recently, Fr John Taylor had initiated a renewal of the Shrine that was wellintentioned, but in some aspects, had not worked, and, recognising that, left a benefaction to restore the sanctuary of the Shrine. Building on this legacy, many small donations continued to

From L to R, Chris Fanning, Fr Stephen Willis, Bishop John Sherrington and Jim Gormley whose firm restored the marbles.

come in towards this work from parishioners and pilgrims. As Fr Stephen Willis explains, all this was accomplished without a single fundraising drive. The refurbishment has made the Shrine a brighter place and a more harmonious and fitting place of devotion. Most of the original marble that had been removed during the previous attempt at renewal was carefully restored, thanks to a prescient move by then-Bishop of the North London area of the Diocese, now Cardinal Vincent, who had advised the parish to store the marble for such an occasion. Fr Stephen credits Diocesan Surveyor, Chris Fanning, who is also secretary to the Art and Architecture Committee, with supervising a sensitive approach that restored the beauty of the Shrine. Fr Stephen explains that everyone in the parish, both life-long parishioners and more recent arrivals, have all been supportive of the restoration work, and have longed for it to happen. He says that the unanimous response was, ‘it’s about time, Father; we’ve been waiting for this for a long time.’

The enthusiasm and support was evident on the last day of works, when the last of the marble jigsaw was still being assembled by the professionals. Many parishioners arrived to work from early in the morning until late in the evening to clean the church and prepare it for the Diamond Jubilee celebration Mass and rededication of the Shrine the following day. On 4 October, parishioners arrived, some in traditional costumes of their country of origin, bearing large platters and large casseroles of food for the lunch that followed the Mass, and all with a look of pride and joy. The parish boasts a congregation of 1,400 at the Sunday Masses. Originally mainly composed of Irish immigrants, over the years, the changing nature of the parish has seen the arrival of parishioners from the West Indies in the 1950s, followed in the 1970s by Ghanaians and Nigerians, then by Filipinos and, more recently, Brazilians and Eastern Europeans. Such is the multicultural mix today that the parish is home to speakers of 62 major languages, not counting those who speak regional or dialect languages.

Willesden now boasts one of the largest populations of Brazilians outside Brazil, and attendance at the Brazilian Masses on Sunday numbers around 500. Looking to the future, Fr Stephen mentions the huge housing developments beginning to take shape next to Willesden Junction. ‘The next challenge for the parish is how we meet the needs, and indeed evangelise this group,’ he says. This is in addition to the vibrant sacramental life of the parish. As home to the Shrine, the church offers two daily Masses, daily Confessions and is open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm for prayer and devotion. Fr Stephen extends a warm invitation to all, especially parish, devotional, school and Confirmation groups to come and learn more about the Shrine and to pray with Our Lady. Founded: 1886 Consecrated: 1931 Mass Times: (Sat 6pm), 9, 11 (Sung) Address: The Presbytery, Nicoll Road, NW10 9AX Telephone: 020 8965 4935 Website: parish.rcdow.org.uk/willesden Page 7

Social Action

Westminster Record | November 2014

Missio Responds to Pope’s Call ‘to go forth’ On Sunday 19 October, the Church celebrated World Mission Sunday. We were encouraged to pray for the missionary work of the Church and share what we could to support faith communities overseas. Pope Francis in his message for World Mission Sunday declared: ‘All the members of the Church are called to participate in this mission, for the Church is missionary by her very nature: she was born “to go forth”. World Mission Sunday is a special moment when the faithful of various continents unite in prayer and concrete gestures of solidarity in support of the young Churches in mission lands.’ On 14 October, Bishop John Arnold was the principal celebrant at the Mass for Missio at the Cathedral. He was joined by Bishop Declan Lang and Mgr James Cronin, along with Fr Paul Lum Dau, a priest from Myanmar. The Mass was followed by a reception, with guests including Patricia Baroness Scotland, who is patron of Missio. The World Mission Conference was held at Heythrop College on 15 October hosted by Missio, together with the Catholic

Missionary Union and the Mill Hill Missionaries. The keynote speaker, Rev Professor Stephen Bevans SVD, spoke about the call of the entire Church to be missionary and how the apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, challenges our understanding of mission today. The Pope speaks of the Church as ‘a Church with open doors, a mother with an open heart, where there is a place for everyone’. It should never have a closed door, but be a place where our wounds can firstly be healed. Professor Bevans stressed how the Pope is trying to help us see God as he does: a loving, tender and merciful God who can transform humankind and all of creation through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Myanmar is the focus of the World Mission Sunday 2014 collection, and money raised in parishes across England and Wales will go to support the work of missionaries in northern Myanmar, and around the world. Fr Paul Lum Dau, who serves in the war-torn Kachin State in the north of Myanmar, met with Missio supporters on 18 October in

(L-R) Bishop John Arnold, Fr Paul Lum Dau, Baroness Scotland, Bishop Declan Lang and Mgr Canon James Cronin

Westminster Cathedral Hall and shed light on some of the difficulties that the Church is facing there while also sharing stories of the joys of a local Church that is hopeful despite struggling for decades under a military dictatorship. The Pope speaks a lot about evangelisation. Sometimes this word conjures up images of people speaking on street corners. What it actually means is sharing with people this amazing news that God is love and

tenderness. God can lead us to a life of joy and can lead the world to true peace. We need to show the world that life grows when we leave the security of our shores and communicate it to others. The more we give of ourselves, the more we will be missionary disciples. The more we are open to God and live by the values of the Gospel, the freer we become. Mgr Canon James Cronin, National Director of Missio in England and Wales, said: ‘The

legacy by British and Irish missionaries to the Church in Africa and Asia still requires ongoing support…On World Mission Sunday we have the opportunity to extend God’s kingdom on earth and be missionaries of God’s love, no matter who we are or where we live.’ For more information on the work of Missio see www.missio.org.uk, where you can also view Professor Bevans’s presentations from the day.

Professor Bevans addresses the Conference at Heythrop College Page 8

Social Action

Westminster Record | November 2014

CAFOD Appeal for Support to Fight Ebola Outbreak

CAFOD is asking for your prayers and support in response to the deadliest outbreak of the Ebola virus in recorded history, which has infected more than 8,000 people and killed over 4,000 in Sierra Leone, Liberia and

Guinea. Some estimates suggest that without rapid action in the next 90 days, 1.4 million people could be infected by Christmas. They are working with our partners to ensure that the right messages get to the most

vulnerable people through community leaders they trust. This will help people to protect themselves and prevent the disease from spreading. Their Church partners are urgently scaling up their

response to the crisis, and aim to reach two million people over the coming weeks. They are hoping to meet their needs for £1.3m to do this. Their work includes: • Raising awareness: Many communities do not have access to accurate information on Ebola or hygiene facilities to protect themselves. CAFOD’s partners are working with priests and imams to spread the word about handwashing and safe sanitation, and to distribute hygiene kits. Religious leaders are in a unique position to dispel myths and ensure that communities take the right action to prevent the spread of the disease. • Providing safe burials: Ebola can spread through contact with the bodies of people who have died from the disease, so their partners are

Caritas Launch Pilot Social Action Hub in Hertfordshire in need, those who have nothing but their own poverty.’ Caritas Westminster was established to support parishes to identify and respond to such needs. Areas of priority are debt, food poverty, social isolation, youth inclusion, people with intellectual disabilities, the deaf community and human trafficking. Through the hubs initiative Caritas will develop an overview of the richness of Catholic social action in the

diocese and will also be able to help identify gaps in support which require action. It is working increasingly with a number of partner organisations to bring their expertise to the work of Catholic outreach in Westminster. Among them are the SVP, Contact the Elderly, the Trussel Trust, Housing Justice, Caritas Social Action Network, Justice and Peace and the Cardinal Hume Centre.

The Contact the Elderly tea party held in Hemel Hempstead last Christmas

Caritas Westminster has launched a pilot social action hub based in Hemel Hempstead to serve the 26 parishes of the Watford and St Albans Deaneries. The initiative forms part of the continued response to the hardships faced by people in our diocese as a result of welfare reform, cuts to services, low pay and unemployment. The hub is

the first of its kind, with up to five more strategically placed hubs planned across the diocese over time. Development Workers will be on hand to support parishes in managing existing projects as well as new ones which help people in need. Pope Francis reminds us that ‘the measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most

For further information on Caritas Westminster, please contact: caritaswestminster@rcdow.org.uk, or visit http://rcdow.org.uk/caritas

training priests and communities to carry out safe burials. They are also providing care and emotional support to families who have lost loved ones. • Supplying food: As the spread of Ebola widens, the day-to-day task of buying or stocking food is becoming more challenging. Farmers have been unable to work together to harvest their crops, prices have risen, and food is becoming scarce in districts that have been quarantined. They plan to work in Sierra Leone and Liberia to make sure vulnerable families have enough food. If you would like to find out more about the work of our partners and how to support it, please visit cafod.org.uk/ebola

New Growing in Faith Videos Show How Your Money is Being Invested In a new video produced as we come to the end of our successful initiative to ensure the place of our Church in the world today, Cardinal Vincent has encouraged us all to 'let the momentum that Growing in Faith is creating spread across the diocese'. The impact that the initiative is having can be seen in each of the five new videos now available on the Growing in Faith website. The featured video explains how funds raised are enabling us to plan confidently for the future, while four 90-second sub-films highlight key pillars of our Church in Westminster: investing in vocations and seminarians, care for our sick and retired clergy, continued social action and outreach through our Diocesan Caritas organisation and investing in the future of our parishes. To learn more, visit: http://rcdow.org.uk/ growing-in-faith/ Page 9

Schools

Westminster Record | November 2014

Bishop Douglass Turns 50 By Silé Milligan Bishop Douglass School in Finchley this year celebrated the 50th anniversary of its opening. New Headteacher, Martin Tissot, a former student of the school, and Governors were delighted to welcome Cardinal Vincent to the school to celebrate Mass with Vice-Rector of Allen Hall and former student of the school Fr Michael O’Boy and Fr Kevin Ryan. Students and staff past and present were in attendance for the celebration including the first Head Girl, Mrs Maureen Glencross (née Farrell) and Ms Iride Villa, one of the founder members of staff and Deputy Head for 35 years. Cardinal

Vincent made reference in his homily to the first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes, pointing out that God makes time for every occupation under heaven. A high-point of the service was a drama performed by Year 9 pupils celebrating the unchanging values of Bishop Douglass School. In a speech, Mr Tissot paid tribute to the former students, staff, headteachers and governors who had played their part in shaping the values and ethos of the school. He also said the school was still in the first flush of its youth and had the energy to continue its recent notable improvement.

Sion-Manning Hosts Kensington Deanery Mass

An Oak Anniversary for St James’

By Tony O’Halloran

By Niamh Arnull

On 22 September SionManning Girls' School was privileged and delighted to host the Deanery Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent with nearly 200 guests. Most represented the seven Diocesan Primary Schools and four Secondary Schools in the two Deaneries of North Kensington and Kensington and Chelsea, as well as the Royal Borough's Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education, and some nearby schools in neighbouring Deaneries.

We were particularly pleased to have among local Religious in attendance some of the Sisters of Sion, who have had such a long connection with the school. Several of our Deanery Priests concelebrated with the Cardinal, and we were happy to have the choir of St Charles Primary School sing for us. In his homily the Cardinal spoke of the importance of leadership for our Catholic Schools and of a solid grounding in our faith and sound common sense, and of a life of kindness and optimism.

Afterwards we gathered in the Cardinal Hume Learning Resources Centre for celebratory refreshments and some lively chat. It greatly encourages us all to come together at such meaningful events and exchange experiences. We are all very grateful to His Eminence for spending so much time with us. when he has so many demands on his time, and leading us in enjoyment of our liturgy and the unity that should mark our work as educators in Catholic Schools.

The Cardinal delivers his homily at the Deanery Mass

Bishop Nicholas Blesses New Library at St Anne's Bishop Nicholas Hudson blessed and officially opened the new library at St Anne’s Primary School, Whitechapel, on 30 September. The blessing ceremony was attended by pupils, staff and parents of the school, Chair of Governors, Mrs Vicki Spencer and Fr Tulio Wavginiak from St Anne’s parish in Underwood Road. The children led the singing and readings during the service and in a short homily, Bishop Nicholas spoke about the importance of books and reading and impressed the gathered pupils by showing them a book that has been in his family for 400 years, a Greek New Testament published in 1628. It is no bigger than a cigarette box Page 10

Schools

Westminster Record | November 2014

and the children were amazed by both its size and age. Bishop Nicholas thanked all those who had helped with the construction of the library and the diocese for helping to fund the project together with staff and parents who supported the school’s efforts. He then blessed the new library and all those who will use it now and in the future. The space on which the library has been built was previously an unused tarmac quad in the middle of the school grounds. As well as housing books, there is floor space for additional units and space to expand the library’s collection in future, with computers to help pupils develop IT skills.

This year St James’ Catholic High School in Colindale is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its founding by the Dominican Sisters. The celebrations have been a wonderful opportunity to mark this anniversary, celebrate our rich heritage and history, whilst at the same time we have considered the contribution our school community is making today. As part of our anniversary, each year group undertook a project aimed at making a positive contribution to the school and wider community. Year 7, for example, designed and project-managed a Peace Garden for the school. This was officially blessed and opened by Cardinal Vincent when he celebrated the anniversary Mass with the whole school community on 17 July. He also blessed two oak benches, which Year 10 construction students had made, the oak representing an 80th anniversary. One of these benches will stay in our Peace Garden and the other was presented to the Dominican Sisters at Rosary Priory in recognition of the remarkable contribution they have made to education and to St James’ in particular.

Students of St James’ make the number 80 on the school field as part of the anniversary events

Another project was to raise funds for three charities this year: CAFOD, The Catholic Children’s Society and the Teenage Cancer Trust (as two students from St James’ are currently receiving

treatment for cancer). Year 12 students wrote their own song, which was recorded, produced in CD format and is now on sale. This song, Veritas, which is our school’s motto, has also been adopted as our new

school song and used at school events. To date, the school has managed to raise £2,500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust from its various initiatives. Members of our community have enjoyed

working together this year to commemorate this significant milestone in our history, and have been inspired by this to undertake activities which clearly show their faith in action.

St Benedict’s Revel in Language Week Modern Languages Week took over St Benedict’s School in Ealing with a programme of events to celebrate different languages and cultures. Year 7 parents and pupils enjoyed the French Family Evening with some traditional French cuisine. Year 10 pupils studying Spanish and German visited the Europa Centre on two separate days, while the Year 8 embarked on their French Languages trip. The week finished with the annual Year 6 v Year 7 Languages Quiz held in the Junior School Hall and European Languages Day in the Cloisters, festooned with national flags. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Kira Depal and Amy Vaughan enjoyed the French Family Evening: ‘We did some learning of French role plays on different topics and, in the Cloisters, we had a quiz and enjoyed some delicious French food and drink.’ Students studying Spanish were given the task of producing a radio broadcast and two Spanish dictionaries and went to a professional studio to record their broadcast (pictured right). They also visited the shops in the Europa Centre, an indoor, mock European town in Hornchurch, Essex, where they had the opportunity to

practise their conversational language skills by buying and selling various items of Spanish produce. George Charlesworth went on the German trip: ‘I felt that this was a good opportunity to practise our speaking and listening skills in a real life situation rather than just a class room. My favourite part about the trip was the tour around the mock German town because it gave me a small glimpse of what life in Germany may really be like.’ The Year 7s rounded off the week with a narrow victory in the quiz by 14 to 12.

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Schools

Westminster Record | November 2014

Sion-Manning Hosts Kensington Deanery Mass

An Oak Anniversary for St James’

By Tony O’Halloran

By Niamh Arnull

The Cardinal delivers his homily at the Deanery Mass

Schools

Westminster Record | November 2014

Students of St James’ make the number 80 on the school field as part of the anniversary events

Another project was to raise funds for three charities this year: CAFOD, The Catholic Children’s Society and the Teenage Cancer Trust (as two students from St James’ are currently receiving

school song and used at school events. To date, the school has managed to raise £2,500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust from its various initiatives. Members of our community have enjoyed

working together this year to commemorate this significant milestone in our history, and have been inspired by this to undertake activities which clearly show their faith in action.

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Westminster Record | November 2014

Director’s Spotlight

It’s amazing how many adults, probably of my age, seem to reflect regularly that life was so much better when the wheel hadn’t been invented, or that’s how it sounds to me at times. ‘Nowadays, everyone is in a rush’ and ‘there’s too much noise and with all the modern stuff like the Internet and smartphone technology, there is never any time to escape the 24/7

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world’. Life was so much better 20 years ago. Come on Granddad, be brave and embrace the positive benefits of connectivity and the online community. The irony is that 30 minutes later, the self-same mature and intelligent people go on Facebook to tell us all about upcoming bridge tournaments and next door’s cat who keeps ripping the black bags. These are the ones who have generally never even considered their online privacy settings in their eagerness to be connected. The bizarreness of it all is compounded when you look at our digital natives: the young people who need the guidance of us oldies. We have limitless advice on tap about the Internet and all things social media, we are your go-to experts. No, we’re not. In the trade we’re known as ‘Digital Immigrants’, people born before the existence of digital technology who adopted it to

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

some extent later in life. Marc Prensky coined the terms in his work Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants published in 2001. It’s a fascinating read. I mention this as it’s our young people who are acutely conscious of their online digital profile and instinctively use social media to work for them, using tagging and other online tools with great care and generally tending to post with more subtlety than we give them credit for. They know what they are doing and the audience they’re talking to. Yes, they make errors of judgement, but they’re smart on the whole. ‘The Internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity,’ Pope Francis has said. These are words of wisdom and positive signposting for us all. Together the young/old team can learn a lot from each other. The complimentary and collegiate approach always works.

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

Young Adults in the West

Young Adults in the West journeyed from Twickenham to Ealing for the latest in our series of Young Adults events. Held in the beautiful surroundings of Ealing Abbey, the evening started with Mass led by Episcopal Vicar Fr Chris Vipers who spoke inspiringly about St Thérèse of Lisieux and how she wanted to ‘change the world and set it ablaze with God's love.’ Afterwards, the main youth part of the evening took place in the hall. Fr David Reilly gave a short

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introduction, followed by a testimony of faith by a young Catholic called Emily. We then had small group sessions, where we talked over the Gospel reading. Fr Chris concluded with a Q&A session impressing upon us the words: ‘Welcome everyone as you would welcome Christ, because Christ is within all of us.’ The event was wellattended, with 60 young people coming. Stay tuned for news on our next Young Adults event.

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

Youth

Westminster Record | November 2014

Exploring Music Ministry

NOVEMBER 2014 Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain

This November we will lead the first Young Adults Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from the diocese, joining the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage led by Cardinal Nichols. This promises to be a very special experience and a significant event for both the pilgrims and the youth service. As well as supporting our Christian brothers and sisters with our solidarity, friendship and prayers, we will also visit the Holocaust Memorial at Yad Vashem. This site stands as a testament in everlasting memory of the horror of the Shoah. Each of us must find at that place a moment of prayer and remembrance for those who suffered in that great tragedy and for all the Jewish people. Every one of us is on pilgrimage towards the heavenly Jerusalem, where God and the Lamb dwell in the midst of their people. It will surely be a great aid for our faith to stand at the place of the Lord’s Cross and to enter, as Mary Magdalene did, the empty tomb of the Risen One. These mysteries of the Lord’s own ‘Passover’ from death to life are at the heart of our faith. We will visit these

places on behalf of the whole diocese, keeping this great family of faith in our prayers everywhere we go. As the pilgrims of old walked up to Jerusalem, they would pray the Psalms of Ascent: ‘I rejoiced when I heard them say: let us go to the House of the Lord; and now our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem’ (Psalm 122). Jerusalem means ‘vision of peace’. As we visit the holy sites connected with the Gospel, with the Lord Jesus, Mary and the apostles, may all of us, young and old alike, keep the vision and prayer for peace before our eyes. ‘I lift up my eyes to the mountains, from where shall come my help; my help shall come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth’ (Psalm 121).

We want your News You can send us your latest news online, please email communications @rcdow.org.uk To find out more about the Youth Ministry and experiences of our young people at: wym.rcdow.org.uk

Music has a way of connecting with people in a unique way. Through it we can experience the full spectrum of human emotions. It inspires us to do great things, and comforts us in our sorrows; it can also lead us closer to God. On Sunday 12 October we launched WYM Music Ministry with Edwin Fawcett. This is a joint initiative in collaboration with singer/songwriter Edwin to reach out and inspire young people to explore their musical talents. Starting with icebreakers, Edwin went on to talk about how music in the liturgy can be used to good effect; and he involved the audience throughout, which helped vary the pace of the talk. After a 15 pizza lunch, our four workshop leaders introduced themselves: Dominic, who led the sessions on scripture and liturgy through music; Roberto, whose sessions were on drumming; Joe, who led the guitar sessions; and Magda, who focused on parish choirs. Everyone who came along to the event had the opportunity to attend two 50 minute workshops. Once these were over, there was a short break before everyone went up to St Aloysius Church for rehearsals, putting into practice what we had learnt in the talks and workshops to lead the music at Mass that evening. With Edwin leading and orchestrating the team, our

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Music Ministry group enlivened the normally quiet 6pm Sunday Mass, raising the roof with our passionate witness to Christ through music. It was a great day, and a tremendous success. And it certainly won’t be our last Music Ministry day. Music unites us and excites us in our faith, and with inspiring leaders like Edwin Fawcett, this is only the start of something great.

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Scholarship programme In collaboration with Edwin Fawcett, Westminster Youth Ministry also launched its Music Ministry scholarship programme for young people interested in developing their musical talents. If you’re interested in learning more about this, contact us by email: youth@rcdow.org.uk.

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

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Vocations

Westminster Record | November 2014

From Clay Tablets to Tablet Devices – The Daughters of St Paul By Sr Anne Joan Flanagan FSP It seems to be hard-wired into human nature: from papyrus scrolls and scratchings on clay tablets to posts on Facebook, people keep creating new and ingenious ways to communicate. At the heart of communication is not the transmission of a message or an idea, but a giving of self that involves the whole person. This is where the mission of the Daughters of St Paul finds its greatest expression. 50 years before the Second Vatican Council declared that the media were ‘gifts of God’ intimately linked with preaching, Blessed James Alberione had already gathered

a group of aspiring religious, along with energetic lay collaborators, for what was then called ‘the Good Press.’ 100 years later, Paulines continue to proclaim from the housetops the unthinkable newness that Jesus has brought into the world. On the high streets of major cities, a bookshop would not appear to be a sacred space. Our media ministry, with its stress on outreach, puts us on the ‘peripheries’, to use a term dear to Pope Francis. The peaceful atmosphere may be the first hint that this is not a typical retail location, but a place of encounter.

It is not enough to bring the Gospel to this world of ours; we want to reach the same degree of communion with Christ that Paul did, a transformation of mind, will, heart and relationships by which ‘it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me’ (Gal 2:20). In our daily Hour of Eucharistic Adoration, we receive in a contemplative spirit the Word we hope to pass on to others, and we commit ourselves to pray for all who work in the media; journalists, TV and film producers and directors, actors, radio broadcasters and all those who live in the new culture that is being created by the simple fact that there are new forms of communication.

‘I have called you friends’ - Seminarians Receive Ministry of Acolyte Fr Graham Stokes

At a recent secondary school retreat day one of the students asked me whether it was difficult as a priest having nobody close to talk to. Whatever vocation we are called to we need to have close friends, priesthood being no exception. I went on to add in my response that I have a number of close friends whom I have valued especially these last few months. This November, when we remember especially those that have died, will be particularly poignant for me as my father passed away in April. He had not been well and was in his late eighties so amidst the pain of bereavement there was much to thank God for. As a priest you may think that this would be an especially difficult time, Page 14

yet his Requiem Mass was celebrated together with a large number of concelebrating priests; parishioners even commented on never having seen so many priests at a funeral! One of the rocks that underpins my vocation is close friendships including amongst brother priests. In the following months I have had the opportunity to support two of my close friends in a similar way. Whatever way of life God is calling us to live out we need the support of close friendships. Indeed Jesus refers to his disciples as his friends during the discourse at the Last Supper in John’s Gospel when he says, ‘no longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends.’ (John 15:15)

On the Feast of St Luke, 18 October, Bishop John Sherrington conferred the ministry of acolyte on three seminarians, Joseph Okoro, Damian Ryan, and Tony Thomas, during Mass at Allen Hall, the Diocesan seminary. The ministry of acolyte is one of the milestones along the journey of a seminarian in formation for the priesthood. Dating back to ancient times, this ministry is ‘among the particular offices to be preserved and adapted to contemporary needs’. The acolyte is appointed to attend to the service of the altar and to assist deacons and priests in liturgical celebrations. In addressing the candidates for the ministry in his homily, Bishop John

explained, ‘As you enter into the ministry of acolyte, your sharing at the altar with the priest and deacon means that you are called to conform yourselves more closely to Christ’s mystery on the Cross and to seek to know more deeply his love for you.’ The acolyte is also entrusted with distributing Communion as a special minister, especially to the weak, sick and dying. Bishop John went on to emphasise the significance of this duty: ‘The ministry to the sick and the dying is a great gift which you must love and savour. As you bring the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood to those who are sick and housebound, to the elderly and the frail, you will see the sacredness of these moments.’

He also spoke of those, who like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, are downcast: ‘They are walking into the night and do not see any hope as they struggle to grasp the meaning of Good Friday. You too will meet people in their ‘night of the soul’, perhaps in illness, loneliness, in tragedy or in confusion. Just as the two disciples recognised Jesus in the breaking of the Bread, your ministry at the altar and in bringing to the hungry the Bread of Life will help the Lord to reveal himself to them and deepen his life within them.’ At the end of Mass, Bishop John blessed the pyxes which the acolytes will use to take Holy Communion to the sick and dying. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Vocations

Westminster Record | November 2014

‘Tyburn Tree’ Memorial Renewed

A Decade of Service

On Saturday 11 October two Mercy Sisters were honoured with a special Mass and party by the Church of Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Kensal New Town, to celebrate their 50 years of ministry within the parish. Sr Margarita Cunningham and Sr Angela Moroney both arrived in Kensal New Town in 1964, working as teachers in the parish primary school. They retired as head teachers of the same school in the mid1990s. While working at St Mary’s Primary School and since retiring the two sisters have worked alongside numerous priests in the parish. ‘They have been the golden thread of this parish in the last

50 years’, said Fr Peter Scott, the Parish Priest. ‘They have provided and co-ordinated excellent catechesis, as well as pastorally supported many parish families. They have worked in the parish so long that they have taught some of the grandparents of the present children attending the School.’ Mass was celebrated by Mgr Phelim Rowland and concelebrated by four previous parish priests. At the end of Mass, the Sisters were led out of the packed church by pupils of St Mary’s, through a walkway of honour made up of expupils to the school hall for a special party.

For more than 200 years the huge three-sided gallows known as the ‘Tyburn Tree’ stood near the present-day Marble Arch. It was a notorious instrument of mass execution, upon which more than 1,000 people met their deaths, including 105 beatified and canonised Catholic martyrs of the Reformation, such as Jesuits St Edmund Campion and St Robert Southwell. The gallows were pulled down at the end of the 18th century but in October three young oak trees were planted on the site of the original gallows, arranged around a restored stone roundel declaring that this is ‘The site of the Tyburn Tree.’ As the trees grow, the likeness to the gallows will become ever more pronounced, offering a visible reminder of a dark period of British history. The tree planting and restoration of the damaged roundel was a joint project between the Edgware Road Partnership, Tyburn Convent,

Westminster City Council and Transport for London. It was marked by a ceremony in which Fr Christopher Pedley, a Jesuit priest from Farm Street parish, Mayfair, blessed the roundel with holy water. He and fellow Jesuit Fr Dominic Robinson, nuns of Tyburn Convent, and other Catholics then honoured the martyrs by kneeling down to kiss the roundel in the centre of the traffic island. Afterwards Fr Pedley said: ‘They have arranged the trees triangularly in a way which resembles the gallows used for executions. It is very significant, because it is the place where Catholic martyrs died and particularly a number of Jesuit martyrs between 1571 and 1679.’ The site is so significant for the Society of Jesus that when the Order’s Superior General came to London he was brought to visit this spot. At a reception in Tyburn Convent after the ceremony, Councillor Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster

City Council, said the event was a ‘hugely important commemoration of one of the most poignant aspects of Westminster’s, London’s and the nation’s history.’ Tyburn, which means ‘boundary stream’ and refers to a tributary of the Thames, first became a place of public execution in the 12th century. By the 16th century it had become the ‘King’s Gallows’ and on 4 May 1535 Charterhouse prior St John Houghton and four others became the first martyrs of the Reformation when they were hanged, drawn and quartered for refusing to take the oath attached to the Act of Succession. Queen Elizabeth I rebuilt the gallows into the infamous three-sided Tyburn Tree in 1571 and frequently used them to execute Catholics in the religious persecution in the years afterwards. The last hanging there was in November 1783.

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

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Catechesis

Westminster Record | November 2014

The Roots of Teaching the Faith

©Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P

Modern day religious instruction (catechesis) can be traced to early Judaism in which the head of the Jewish household taught his family about the ancient prophets and their prophecies. Much later, when Christ said: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28:19-20), He was speaking not only to His apostles in the first century, but to everyone from each successive Pope to the most humble lay person. These word-of-mouth forms of teaching the message of Christ were soon followed by hand-written forms. The evangelists began with the Gospels.

Later, the catechisms of St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386) and St Augustine (354-430) were handwritten links between the Gospels and the invention of printing in the fifteenth century. The first printed catechisms were John Gerson's ABC of Simple Folk, followed by three successive catechisms written by St Peter Canisius. But the catechism which was to become a standard by which future catechetical development took place was the Catechism of the Council of Trent (1545-1563). This detailed analysis of the official teachings of the Church was originally meant for the clergy to use for religious instruction

Diocesan Training Courses for Parish Catechists:

of the faithful. Its four parts were structured on the Creed, the Sacraments, the Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. This basic form has been implemented in the new Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as in many important intervening catechisms, namely the Penny Catechism and the Pius X Catechism. After Vatican II, two forms of teaching the Catholic Faith were identified: evangelisation or the teaching of the Faith to the unbaptised, and catechesis, which is directed towards those who have received the first sacrament of initiation, Baptism.

• Archbishop’s Certificate in Catechesis - Parish catechists are encouraged to obtain this certificate. • Maryvale Certificate in Catechesis - approved by the Congregation for the Clergy, and is also offered with the authority of bishops from dioceses in England and around the world for the training of catechists for their dioceses. • Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies • Our Lady’s Catechists Course For full details of these and other approved training courses and conferences for catechists in the diocese please contact: The Agency for Evangelisation – Email: catadmin@rcdow.org.uk or Tel: 0207 7989150 or visit the diocesan website.

Pinner Rejoices in Sacrament of Marriage By Norah O'Hare Four years ago St Luke’s Parish in Pinner started planning events for our Centenary. We wanted to give thanks for the past 100 years, rejoice in the present and look towards the future, and in so doing we decided to do this through a celebration of all the Sacraments. Sunday 28 September saw a Celebration for the Sacrament of Marriage led by Parish

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Priest, Canon Robert Plourde. Married couples, engaged couples, widows and widowers came together with their families and the wider parish community to rejoice with them. The day in Love Lane (the road where the Church is located) reflected the mood, which was warm and bright; we were delighted that over 250 people attended. Married couples renewed their vows, 6 engaged couples had their rings solemnly blessed

and widows and widowers gave thanks for their marriage. Cardinal Vincent wrote to us expressing his gratitude to our parishioners for the abundant grace of marriage and Edmund Adamus, Director of the Office for Marriage and Family Life joined us. He spoke of love on Love Lane and the wonderful testimony our celebration was to the community. We processed out of church to the sounds of the Wedding March and the clicking of many cameras for group photos on the church steps. The afternoon ended with the cutting of a large wedding cake and tea for all in the hall surrounded by a display of nearly 100 wedding photographs from across the generations, from 67 years ago up to last year. The photos that couples had brought in represented not just weddings held at St Luke’s but from whenever and wherever couples had celebrated the Sacrament of Marriage. It was fun to guess who was who and compare then to now.

The Faith Matters series resumes in Advent and asks the question ‘Does God Exist?’ In the first lecture, Fr Peter Hunter OP will ask do we need reasons to believe at all? In the second talk he will ponder whether the traditional arguments that claim God exists work or not and if suffering and wickedness provides there is no God. In the third lecture, Fr Nicholas Crower OP asks if obedience to the will of God means abandoning our human freedom. In the fourth and final lecture in the series he was ask what the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross tells us about the connection between suffering and love in a fallen world?

Catechesis

Westminster Record | November 2014

A Reflection on St Alphonsus By Bishop John Sherrington

On 2 October Cardinal Vincent took possession of his titular church in Rome, Santissimo Redentore e Sant’Alfonso in Via Merulana. The Church is home to the famous icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour which has been widely reproduced. The icon was gifted to the Redemptorist Order, who look after and maintain the Church, by Pope Pius IX in 1866. Here Bishop John Sherrington writes about St Alphonsus Liguori, whom the Church is dedicated to, and the relevance of his pastoral mission.

The feeling of joy was palpable during the celebration of Mass as Cardinal Vincent was received and ‘took possession’ of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer and St Alphonsus on 2 October. Situated on the Via Merulana, the Church, designed by the English architect George Wigley who was one of the laymen who helped Frederick Ozanam to found the St Vincent de Paul Society, is a rich meeting place of many nations and provides an outreach to people from Latin America and Poland. Who was St Alphonsus? Many people will be familiar with the hymns of St Alphonsus which include, O Bread of Heaven, O Mother blest, and From starry heights descending. He wrote a wellknown version of the Stations of the Cross and many works and prayers on the Eucharist and to Our Blessed Lady. St Alphonsus desired that people learnt to pray more deeply and provided means to help them do so. He focused on the birth of Christ, his Passion and the Eucharist. He wanted to help people who were often illiterate to

understand the person of Christ, his love for them and the richness of the scriptures. As a bright and highlytalented lawyer, he also devoted himself to the care of the poor having joined the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy with whom he cared for the sick at the hospital for ‘incurables’. He devoted himself to works of mercy and compassion. The young Alphonsus experienced harsh confessors which made him very scrupulous. It took him many years to overcome his scrupulosity and to trust in God’s love. As a priest he realised that many people were also scrupulous, fearful of God and avoided going to confession. In preparing priests to hear confessions, he emphasised the mercy of God. His approach can be summed up in Psalm 130: ‘With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption’. His devotions to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary helped to deepen the spiritual life of the people to whom he ministered so that they might know God’s love and mercy. St Alphonsus helped the poor people of the region

Cardinal Vincent celebrates Mass in his Titular Church

around Naples to find hope in Christ and begin to approach the Sacraments after years of neglect. In contrast to overly harsh confessors, he emphasised a step-by-step approach to moral growth and a here-and-now desire for amendment of heart and conversion. Whilst weak sinners might fall again, it was important to receive God’s Grace in the Sacraments to be healed and strengthened. His priestly and episcopal ministry was marked by a deep pastoral concern for the people to whom he preached. In the eighteenth century, teaching about the moral life focused on God’s Law and had become very legalistic, rather like a book of rules. His approach in moral theology concerning ‘doubt about whether a particular law obliges in a particular situation’ sought to find a via media between the rigourism of many confessors which led people to despair and the laxity of others who did not lead people into the truth and the desire for conversion. He examined and summarised the opinions of theologians and allowed freedom when he

judged it was appropriate. This was a more humane approach which respected the weakness of people and avoided imposing heavy burdens on people who could not carry them. St Alphonsus is important because of the focus of his teaching: his concern for the spiritual welfare of the people, his recognition of human weakness, his teaching that God is abundant in mercy and his desire to help the struggling sinner to respond and do the best he can here-and-now. His thought is reflected later in the words of Pope St John Paul II: ‘[the Church] must always be careful not to break the bruised reed or to quench the dimly burning wick (cf. Is 42:3)’ and the words of Blessed Paul VI: ‘Having come not to judge the world but to save it, he [Jesus] was uncompromisingly stern towards sin, but patient and rich in mercy towards sinners’. Like Pope Francis, St Alphonsus taught about the mercy of God and the need for step-by-step growth towards the truth as a disciple of Jesus. Page 17

Saints & Obituaries

Westminster Record | November 2014

St Charles Borromeo: 4 November

In Memoriam: November 1 Fr Horace Tennant (2000)

St Charles Borromeo could either have been a very bad person, or a very good one. By the grace of God he turned out to be a saint, something not achieved by all those born as nephews of Popes. Born as the third of six children in 1538, he belonged to a noble family that had made its mark both in Church and State over several generations and had prospered in the process. We hear of the young Charles that a slight speech impediment caused him to be regarded as a slow learner; yet by the age of 22 he had a doctorate in both Civil and Canon Law. These testify to his administrative ability, for at the age of 16, when his father died, the family asked him to take over the management of their affairs. His Medici uncle became Pope Pius IV at Christmas 1559 and appointed Charles as a Cardinal a month later. Now his jobs started to multiply. Not only was he in charge of the Papal States, but was named Administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan and entrusted with the supervision of some Religious Orders. As if that were not enough, he made time to found a college at Pavia and a learned society (the Vatican Nights) in Rome itself. Meanwhile the Third Session of the Council of Trent was in prospect and the Cardinal undertook much of its organisation, also contributing to the writing of its Catechism. Page 18

None of this suggests an easy-going life, yet the death of his elder brother late in 1562 moved Charles deeply. His family urged him to marry and have children to maintain their name and lineage. Instead he adopted a more austere way of life and decided to be ordained, becoming a priest in September 1563 and bishop three months later. Appointed as Archbishop of Milan he was not allowed by the Pope to leave Rome for over a year; we can suspect that he was simply too useful to lose. His formal entry into Milan must have come as a shock to the Milanese, who had not had a resident Archbishop for 80 years. St Charles’ reputation may have preceded him; a noble had remarked that Rome was no longer a place to enjoy oneself or make a fortune, having been ‘remade from top to bottom’. Milan may have had 3,000 clergy for 800,000 people, but ignorance, idleness and debauchery had taken their toll. St Charles’ style may be judged from his work in the Cathedral. Monuments (including those of his relatives) were cleared out and the nave divided so that the sexes should sit separately, whilst dignity was restored to the performance of the liturgy. He saw the education of the clergy as crucial for reform and therefore worked to establish seminaries and other institutes to serve the young. Such reforming zeal and activity had good effect, but quickly alienated some. The Brothers of Humility were particularly incensed and a conspiracy was formed to shoot the Archbishop. His surviving the attack in his own chapel was taken as miraculous. The year 1576 saw a famine and then plague hit Milan. The civil authorities fled, but St Charles stayed at his post, caring for the sick and dying. From his own and the Church’s resources he fed tens of thousands of people, going into debt in the process. Then finally he succeeded in shaming Milan’s Governor

into returning to the city. In all this activity we know that he made many enemies; complaints about him were made to the courts of Rome and Madrid and to the Pope (his uncle Pius IV had died). Yet none of this dissuaded St Charles in any way from his work; indeed he attacked his own Jesuit confessor when the latter was found guilty of offence. In this country we owe some gratitude to St Charles. He was welcoming and hospitable to English Catholics who had been forced abroad by the Reformation and we read of him entertaining Sts Edmund Campion and Ralph Sherwin for a week. Indeed, his Canon Theologian was a Welshman and his Vicar General an Englishman. And he himself drew inspiration from this country; the Archbishop always carried with him a small picture of St John Fisher. None of St Charles’ life work had been easy and travel around his vast diocese weakened his strength. On annual retreat in 1584 he developed a fever which rapidly worsened and so he died; he was just 46 years old.

2 Mgr Canon George Tomlinson (1985)

Canon Peter Phillips, Fr Peter Rolph and Sr Consilio O’Regan RSHM RIP

Canon Peter Phillips died peacefully on 7 October. Born 5 Fr Eric Chadwick (1993) in 1922, he was 92 years old. 6 Fr Peter Geraerts (1980) Ordained to the priesthood in 1946 by Cardinal Griffin in the 7 Cardinal John Heenan (1975) Cathedral following studies at Canon Charles Carr (1985) St Edmund’s in Ware, his Fr Raymond Geraerts (1995) appointments included teaching at St Edmund's 8 Fr Jeremiah Ryan (2001) College in Ware, being 9 Fr George Barringer (1978) Assistant then Parish Priest at Fr James Ethrington (1981) Perivale between 1967 and 1975, and 21 years as Parish 10 Fr John Spencer (1980) Priest of Kingsbury Green 12 Fr Peter Johnson (2000) from 1976 until his retirement 14 Fr Maurice Ryan (1983) in 1997. He lived out his days in the Swiss Cottage and East Canon Louis Marteau (2002) Finchley presbyteries. His 16 Fr Ian Dommerson (1996) funeral was celebrated on 17 Fr Samuel Steer (1996) 29 October. Fr Peter Rolph died on 22 Mgr Reginald Butcher (1976) 26 September 2014, and his Fr Christoper Fullerton (1980) Funeral Mass was held on 24 Canon Edmund Hadfield (1982) 16 October in Folkestone. He studied at Allen Hall and was 25 Fr Joseph Doyle (1978) Ordained to the Priesthood for Canon Joseph Geraerts (1979) service in the diocese in May Fr John Galvin (2010) 1958. He served in the parishes of Wapping, Fulham, Watford 26 Fr James Woodward (1976) and Chelsea. He then took Fr William Wood (1986) time out, for several years, Fr Anthony John Cooke (2007) before approaching the Diocese of Southwark and was 27 Fr Joseph Scally (1995) incardinated in December Fr Peter O’Reilly (2005) 2007. He resumed priestly 29 Fr Christopher Hamilton-Gray ministry and served in (2012) Folkestone. He lived to be 80 years of age and died in the 30 Canon Arthur Welland (1978) 57th year of Priesthood. Sr Consilio O’Regan RSHM died on 2 October. She was Pastoral Director at Allen Hall from 1982-89. Fr Terence Brady (1989)

Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | November 2014

Liturgical Calendar - November

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

1 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary

2 Sun

+ ALL SAINTS

3 Mon

THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED (ALL SOULS’ DAY)

4 Tue

St Charles Borromeo, Bishop

5 Wed

feria, 31st Week of Year 2

6 Thu

feria

7 Fri

feria or St Willibrord, Bishop; Friday abstinence

8 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary

9 Sun

+ THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA (REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY)

10 Mon

St Leo the Great, Pope & Doctor

11 Tue

St Martin of Tours, Bishop

12 Wed

St Josaphat, Bishop & Martyr

13 Thu

feria, 32nd Week of Year 2

14 Fri

feria; Friday abstinence

15 Sat

feria or St Albert the Great, Bishop & Doctor or Blessed Virgin Mary

16 Sun

+33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

17 Mon

feria, 33rd Week of Year 2 or St Hilda, Abbess, or St Hugh of Lincoln, Bishop or St Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

18 Tue

feria or The Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles

19 Wed

feria

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 2.303.30pm 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.

20 Thu

feria

21 Fri

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Friday abstinence

22 Sat

St Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr

23 Sun

+ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE

24 Mon

St Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

25 Tue

feria, 34th Week of Year 2 or St Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin & Martyr

26 Wed

feria

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 2.30-4.30pm 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 7.15pm Call 020 7437 9363

27 Thu

feria

28 Fri

feria; Friday abstinence

29 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary

30 Sun

+ 1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Praying with Pope Francis in November Universal Intention: That all who suffer loneliness may experience the closeness of God and the support of others. For Evangelisation: That young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors. St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club meets on every Sunday of the year for walks around London and the Home Counties. Contact: antoinette_adkins2000@yahoo.co.uk 020 8769 3643 or see www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com Free Catholic Tours. ‘Saints and Scholars’ walk first Sunday of the month, including Mass. Contact Peter on 07913904997 or circlingthesquaretours@hotmail.co.uk

Other regular Masses Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm, Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QW. Young Adults Mass First & Third Sunday of the month, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. Quiet prayer 7.15pm, Mass 7.30pm. Social gathering afterwards. Contact: organise@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 Fridays at 12 noon. Mass in the Lady Chapel of St Albans Abbey AL1 1BY. 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 Fridays only. Low Mass 6pm St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Road E9 7SF. First Fridays only. Low Mass 6.30pm, Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Second Fridays 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.

Page 19

Spotlight

Westminster Record | November 2014

Bishop John: ‘It’s been a privilege’ On 30 September it was announced that Pope Francis had appointed Bishop John Arnold as the eleventh Bishop of Salford, succeeding Bishop Terence Brain who was appointed in 1997. By Chris O’Callaghan

Page 20

fter serving under three CardinalArchbishops, working with or under 13 auxiliary bishops, hundreds of priests and ministering the Sacraments to many thousands of the faithful in the diocese, Bishop John will be leaving us at the start of December, with his installation in Salford taking place on 8 December, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Before he leaves us for Mancunian pastures new, I sat down with him to discuss 31 years of service in the diocese. It was only by chance that Bishop John came to the diocese. After studying as a lawyer, he took simple vows with the Institute of Charity, known as the Rosminians. Once his simple vows expired on 19 March 1981, there was still some doubt about what he wanted to do. At the same time, Mgr Ralph Brown was in the Eternal City. It was suggested that Bishop John meet with the ‘distinguished’ former Vicar General of the diocese and the rest, as they say, is history. A transfer to the Venerable English College followed and Bishop John was ordained for the Diocese in 1983. Upon returning to England and a diocese where he knew no one, his first appointment was as a hospital chaplain based in the Cathedral serving the local Westminster Hospital. Despite potentially being an intimidating environment for a young priest, Bishop John reflects that he felt confident in the role. ‘When I was with

the Rosminians I had done some pastoral work in a care home and there was a wonderful sister who told me how to nurse in the final days of life. I had also done hospital work in Rome with the Blue Nuns. The ministry (in London) was a great privilege’, he reflects. Its proximity to the Cathedral and the size of it meant that he got to know the people well during the four years spent ministering there. It was during this time in the late 1980s that HIV infections appeared for the first time, the new and unknown disease ‘frightening’ people. Bishop John was at the forefront of care for sufferers, following Cardinal Hume’s role in ministering to sufferers which is well documented. Bishop John took that example of the ‘works of mercy’ into his ministry. From 1989 to 1993, Bishop John was Sub-Administrator of the Cathedral. His next posting, his only experience as a parish priest, was at the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George in Enfield, a place he describes as ‘home’, from 1993 until

2001. It is with great fondness that he remembers these years, instantly smiling and relaxing back into his chair at the mention of his old stomping ground. ‘When I was in seminary, I just had this notion that when I was ordained I would be in a parish and that would be my ministry and it really was. My time there really was a high point for me; it was a big, busy parish but the people were so helpful. Quite often we were in between appointments of priests so we were down to two priests and sometimes just me but the people gathered round and took away the responsibilities and handled it themselves.’ When I asked him later what his proudest achievement is in 31 years here in the diocese, after much contemplation he answered that it was rebuilding the church during the 1990s to make it a ‘beautiful church in which the parishioners took real delight when it was completed’. The affection and passion he still holds for the parish is evident. In 2001, Bishop John was made Vicar General and Chancellor and moved into

the office in Archbishop’s House which, in just over a month’s time, he will have to vacate. Thus when he was made an auxiliary bishop for the diocese in 2006, ‘the impact of ordination was minimised; I didn’t have to move home or office and I already knew the people I was working with.’ He does however recognise the ‘lifechanging’ impact that being promoted to the episcopate had on him. But it was not until he went on retreat in Rome for new bishops that the meaning of his new ministry really sank in. ‘When I was on retreat a little text came up from Mark’s Gospel which really turned out to be of fundamental importance to me. It’s “no one puts new wine into old skins. If he does the wine will burst the skins and the wine is lost” (Mark 2:22), so new wine, new skins. And that made me think this was not just a development of priesthood into a new form of priesthood; it was something quite different.’ Looking back on three decades in London, two of them in the Cathedral, I asked him what was the greatest

change that he had seen in the diocese. After a long and considered pause, he replied: ‘I think the diversity of the diocese and its cosmopolitan feel in every parish I know… And I think that’s a great quality we’ve got in the Church; this ability to have multi-national parish communities which get on so well together.’ And what will he miss about the city that he has made his home? ‘I suppose the energy of the city itself. It is an extraordinary world centre. I think I’m going to miss the focal point of the diocese here in the Cathedral and the extraordinary number of people who come here from all over the world to make it a place of prayer.’ As he leaves for Salford and the ‘daunting’ future which lies ahead of him, I will let him have the last word. ‘I am very grateful for the sense of journeying with this changing church and it’s been a privilege to know so many people who in so many different ways build the church and make it so vibrant and from whom I’ve learnt so much.’