Westminster Record - October 2015

Westminster Record

October 2015 | 20p

The Church’s Response to the Refugee Crisis

Diocese of Westminster: Annual Review Pages 10 - 14

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Building Missionary Parishes Page 17

Our Common Humanity

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Mgr Mark Langham ‘The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties … particularly of those who are poor or in any way afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.’

The opening words of the Vatican Council document on the Church in the modern world seem especially prophetic today, as we survey a world where sorrow and joy are mingled.

Anyone looking at the news in the last weeks cannot but be astonished and horrified to see refugees repelled with pepperspray and razor wire, and shunted from border to border like an unwanted disease. That Europe, above all, with its history of migration and refugees, should forget the lessons of its own history, seems especially distressing.

The images of men, women and children herded on to trains should shock us into

remembering the horrors inflicted upon others.

The Christian cannot stand aloof from such distress. Our Cardinal, and our Bishops have followed the Holy Father in speaking out about the crisis, urging a response both of prayer and of practical action. In this diocese Caritas is co-ordinating that response, and has made an appeal to parishes for their help. As the inter-faith prayer vigil at the Cathedral so powerfully

showed, all people of good will must come together to address this situation, in the name of our common humanity. A hungry, frightened refugee is not first an Arab, an African: he or she is first of all my brother and sister. Another Vatican Council document, Nostra Aetate, made it clear that all humanity shares a common origin and a common destiny in God, and in his name the Church must promote unity and love among

all peoples. For us who claim the name of Christ, the imperative is clear. There are those (and you will have heard them) who have warned that the influx of refugees threatens our Christian identity in Europe. They are wrong.

While we face undoubted challenges, it is in refusing to reach out the hand of friendship and in withholding assistance that we run the risk of denying Christ, and losing his presence among us.

Editorial Westminster Record – Contact us Editor Mgr Mark Langham Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ Managing Editor Marie Saba 020 7798 9031 Inhouse writers John Scott 020 7798 9030, and Hannah Woolley 020 7798 9178 Design Julian Game Proofing John Scott To order copies contact Andrea Black 0161 214 1216 or email andrea.black@thecatholicuniverse.com Print management and distribution by The Universe Media Group Ltd.

November publication dates Editorial deadline: 9 October 2015 Listings email: communications@rcdow.org.uk News and stories call 020 7798 9030 Email: communications@rcdow.org.uk Advertising deadline: 16 October 2015 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.

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Westminster Record | October 2015

Best of Times, Worst of Times above all these anniversaries and uniting them stands the gracious figure of Her Majesty the Queen, whose longest reign was marked with a loyal address from the Catholic community, presented

by Cardinal Vincent.

There are more causes for celebration: the Westminster Record celebrates with the Maltese, and with the parishioners at Corpus Christi Maiden Lane where a splendid As the prayer vigil at shrine to Our Lady of Westminster Cathedral last month movingly demonstrated, Walsingham has been created at what unites us as human beings the heart of our city.

But just to remind you that is fundamental: our origin and normal life continues as well, we destiny in God. Faced with the present the Annual Accounts. refugee crisis, we must stand These may not be attention together as brothers and sisters. grabbing (we hope they are not!), The theme of our common but they represent an essential humanity is a central motif of part of our diocesan life, and Nostra Aetate, the declaration on bear witness to the incredible non-Christian faiths, which is hard work and dedication of so fifty years old, an anniversary marked by a landmark visit from many, both centrally in Vaughan House Finance Department, and the Chief Rabbi and Cardinal in our parishes, schools and Vincent to the Holy Father. communities. Managing these This month’s Westminster daily tasks well is also a sign of Record marks other Golden God’s love: as St Therese of Jubilees in our diocese (they were very busy fifty years ago!): Lisieux, whom we feature this month, said, holiness is present of White City parish and St in ‘always doing the smallest Bernard’s Northolt, and at the right and doing it all for love.’

Thomas More School in Letchworth and Holy Family in Welwyn. However, towering

For more news from around the diocese throughout the month, please see

www.rcdow.org.uk where new stories are posted daily.

Birthday Message to Dalai Lama Cardinal Vincent, as President of the Bishops’ Conference, sent a message of good wishes from the Catholic community of England and Wales on the occasion of the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama and the 90th anniversary of the Buddhist Society.

‘It is a joy and a privilege to offer my greetings and good wishes to the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 80th birthday and, at the same time to congratulate the Buddhist Society on their 90th anniversary.

I do this on behalf of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

‘This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Church’s groundbreaking teaching document, Nostra Aetate which ushered in a new era of friendship and dialogue with members of other religions.

During that time the Dalai Lama has been a key partner in this dialogue.

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‘I would particularly mention His Holiness’s teaching on compassion and on the environment which has found a real resonance among all those people who seek to create a safer and a more forgiving world. This has also helped to create a situation in which good relations between Christians and Buddhists are being fostered and promoted so that they can make a common cause in the deeply troubled world we share. Pope Francis’s recent encyclical on the environment exemplifies this.

As he said in that document “A deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our heart lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings” (Laudato Si’, 91).

‘For many reasons, therefore, it is right that we congratulate the Dalai Lama today.

Ad multos annos!

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Westminster Record | October 2015

Bishops Welcome Defeat of Assisted Dying Bill Archbishop Peter Smith, speaking on behalf of the Bishops of England and Wales, welcomed the decision by Parliament to defeat the Assisted Dying Bill (No. 2) at Second Reading. In his statement, the Archbishop said: 'I welcome Parliament’s recognition of the grave risks that this bill posed to the lives of our society’s most vulnerable people. There is much excellent practice in palliative care which we need to celebrate and promote, and I hope now the debate on assisted suicide is behind us, that this will become a focus for political action. I am encouraged by the participation of so many Catholics throughout England and Wales in this important discussion and hope that everyone involved

will continue to support calls for better quality care as life nears its end.'

Cardinal Vincent added his appreciation: ‘I thank all Catholics in our parishes who took the time to write to or visit their Member of Parliament to express their concern about the bill. It was an important moment of witness to our Christian faith and the value it places on each and every human life. Now let's strengthen personal palliative care and see it developed in all our hospitals!’

On 11 September, Members of Parliament debated a Private Member's Bill to legalise assisted suicide. In the vote that followed, MPs soundly defeated the bill, with 118 voting in favour and 330 voting against it.

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Cardinal Sends Loyal Address to HM the Queen on Her Reign

On 9 September, Queen Elizabeth became the longest reigning monarch in British history, with her reign surpassing that of Queen Victoria. To mark the occasion, on behalf of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent has sent the following Loyal Address to Her Majesty: ‘Your Majesty, ‘It is an honour and a pleasure to express the great loyalty and gratitude felt by the Catholic community of England and Wales for the outstanding and unstinting service you give to our nation and to people throughout the world.

‘We express these sentiments with particular warmth and admiration as you celebrate the occasion of surpassing the length of reign of any other British Monarch.

‘Along with Catholics across the world, and especially in the Commonwealth, we join our prayers of thanksgiving to those of other Christians for the many blessings of your reign.

‘Your vocation as our Queen has been unstinting over these years. The burden of high office fell upon your shoulders at a young age, and yet through the many and varied circumstances of your reign, you have held integrity of service as a high standard and as an exemplar for other heads of state and leaders of nations. We give thanks too for the constant support that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has shown you in your time as our Queen, his role as Prince Consort being a source of strength and stay.

‘We thank you too, for your steadfast insistence on the great importance of our Christian faith, given in both word and example, alongside your appreciation of the contribution made by other religions in our

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rich and diverse society today.

Our hope is that, enriched by the presence of many beliefs and cultures, our country will always maintain respect for our Christian heritage and the sure foundations that it provides for a flourishing of true human fulfilment. The Gospel of Jesus, which we seek to serve, is a challenge to our society to think more deeply about the sanctity of life, the constant need for forgiveness and reconciliation, and the faithfulness required in love and the self-sacrifice which brings true satisfaction.

‘Your Majesty, it is my privilege to assure you of our prayers for you now and in the future and, most especially, on the day when you become our longest reigning Monarch. All the Catholic communities in England and Wales have been asked to offer special prayers for you and your family on this most special of days.

‘May Almighty God bless Your Majesty, preserve you in health of mind and body, and grant you every grace and blessing, now and in the years to come.’

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St Benedict’s Prize Giving

St Benedict’s School celebrated a wonderful academic year 2014/15 at the Senior School Prize Giving on 9 September.

Lord Patten of Barnes, the school’s most eminent alumnus, was the guest of honour. The national anthem was sung with perhaps more emotion on this particular day, when HM the Queen became the longestreigning monarch in British history. Continuing with the royalty theme, it was fitting that the choral presentation at the start was ‘Zadok the Priest’, that wonderful coronation march by GF Handel, which was played as the Queen walked up the aisle in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.

The Chair of Governors, Patrick Murphy-O’Connor, welcomed the assembled parents, staff, students and guests and then Chris Cleugh, Headmaster, gave his address, detailing the many successes of the past academic year and outlining plans for the future.

These focused on five major

priorities: a successful outcome to the impending ISI Inspection; to achieve our academic targets; to strengthen our links with other EBC Schools through the Centre of Benedictine Education and to fully implement our Chaplaincy development plan; to prepare the new ADT and sixth form centre for use by our sixth form from half-term and for the ADT department by January 2016; to ensure a smooth transition to the new Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, who will take over in September 2017.

Lord Patten gave the final address which included not only his memories of his ‘blissfully happy’ childhood at St Benedict’s but also how his time at St Benedict’s, more so even than his studies at Balliol, formed him for life. Considering his career, this was quite an endorsement of the Benedictine way of living. He gave advice to the assembled students: ‘Seize the opportunity to do good in small things as well as great.’

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Refugee Crisis The Church’s Response to the Refugee Crisis

WestminsterWestminster Record September 20112015 Record | October

As the refugee crisis unfolds and the scale of the crisis becomes increasingly clearer, the Church in this country, and across the world, has spoken about the need to be generous in welcoming refugees seeking safety from conflict in the Middle East and the ways in which we can support them.

Cardinal Vincent spoke to ITV News at the beginning of September saying that ‘it is a disgrace that we are letting people die and seeing bodies on the beaches when together Europe is such a wealthy place…what is screaming out is the human tragedy of this problem.’

He went on to say, ‘People are beginning to see the human

face of this suffering, so it’s no longer an abstract problem of people who are on the scrounge; it’s not. It’s people who are desperate for the sake of their families, their elderly, their youngsters, their children, and the more we see that the more the opportunity for a political response that’s a bit more generous is growing.’

During Sunday Angelus on 6 September, Pope Francis has called on every parish, religious community, monastery and sanctuary in Europe to take on one refugee family. He explained that to provide essential shelter to those in need is a ‘concrete act of preparation’ for the Jubilee Year of Mercy that begins in December.

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Cardinal Vincent and Archbishop Peter Smith released a statement following the Pope’s comments stating that the Catholic Church in England and Wales would support the Government in welcoming and supporting refugees and outlined ways in which we can contribute to the welcoming of refugees in our diocese. They said that we are all capable of providing assistance either through prayer, offering financial support, time and professional skills or by providing shelter and accommodation.

Following the call, a prayer vigil organised by CitizensUK was held in the piazza outside the Cathedral on 8 September and attended by Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders.

Bishop Nicholas spoke about his experience of visiting Iraq with the Cardinal earlier in the year, saying, ‘We call them not refugees but relatives. That was what Cardinal Vincent and I were told when we visited a refugee camp near Syria…Of all the words spoken to us, these were the most important.’ He went on to deliver a message from Cardinal Vincent to those assembled at the vigil, who described the refugee crisis as ‘the gravest crisis that any of us will have seen in our lifetimes’.

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In our diocese, Caritas Westminster is coordinating assistance for refugees and preparing to work in partnership with local authorities. As a Church we need to be prepared to welcome refugees into our communities and to support them with practical help. When refugees arrive in the UK, they will not only need accommodation, but a range of other services to help them to adjust to life in the UK, and to recover from the traumas of the Syrian war. The Catholic community in the diocese has the generosity and skills to contribute to the services that will be needed. These include, but are not limited to, help with

languages (interpreting and teaching English as a second language), legal advice, medical services, befriending, and basic necessities such as clothing, shoes toiletries and food parcels.

Caritas Westminster relies on the generosity of the Catholic community to be able to carry out their work with refugees and other vulnerable people in the diocese. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so by visiting www.rcdow.org.uk/donations/ donate.asp?dtype=single&id=46 or by sending a cheque payable to ‘WRCDT – Caritas’ to Caritas Westminster, Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QN.

Witnessing Conditions in the Calais ‘Jungle’ On 19 September, Archbishop Peter Smith and Bishop Trevor Wilmott of Dover visited the ‘Jungle’ in Calais to witness the scale and severity of the crisis there. They were joined by Barbara Kentish, from Westminster Justice and Peace, who writes: Under the flyover of the road leading from the exit of the Channel port were a huddle of lightweight tents, the portable kind you might put up on a beach or carry on a walking trip. These were the latest arrivals at the Jungle, the shanty town housing 3000+ refugees hoping to cross to England. I had arrived for a ‘Welcome to Refugees’ rally, where there would be an agreement of solidarity signed between English and French bishops to support and welcome these unwanted guests of Calais town.

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On this vast scrubland site, about 4 or 5 km out of Calais town centre, the first impression was of enthusiasm for the rally, with a large ‘Emmaus’ van pumping out energetic music, and hundreds of people, mostly men, assembling to walk to the rally site at the gates of the port.

The second impression was the dirt. There is no rubbish collection on this site. We picked our way through puddles, mud and old clothing to the precarious Eritrean church built by an inhabitant, and now the venue for a bible class with women and children. After the muddy ground outside, the clean or even new rugs inside spoke volumes. Here there was dignity and an oasis in the chaos.

Everyone aims to live as best they can in a lawless situation.

They carry huge containers of water in shopping trolleys to their tents, wash at the stand-

pipes in full view of the motorway, set up little ‘village’ shops, and devise compounds of their own nationalities. There is some tension and one man was killed recently, but police presence could only be described as ‘light’: I saw one lone officer, looking down on proceedings from the motorway above.

Still in the camp, we looked for the centre supposed to house women and children, but were misinformed, and saw the outside of the governmentfunded building, Centre Jules Ferry, where services such as showers (queue early), meals (one a day) and medical advice are offered. But the other 99% of the camp was open to the four winds. Shelters were constructed from ‘bache’, the kind of sheeting builders use to cover skips, timber frames, and nails.

But in between these ambitious structures there were dozens of

ordinary little light camping tents, some in a sort of compound formation with wind -breaks around them and a ‘concierge’ on a chair keeping guard.

More than clothes, food or blankets, what is currently lacking is overall good

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organisation and distribution systems. The NGOs admit they are not coping. A bigger player, such as the Red Cross, UNHCR or Medecins Sans Frontieres needs to address matters before winter sets in. And help from our government would be welcome too.

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Westminster Record | October 2015

Solidarity with Christians of the Holy Land

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An Audience with the Pope On 4 September, Cardinal Vincent and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis visited the Vatican for a private audience with Pope Francis to discuss faith relations ahead of the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the seminal declaration of how the Catholic Church regards other faiths.

During the visit, the Cardinal and Chief Rabbi spoke with the Holy Father about a wide range of topics. They told

him about 'the friendship and warmth' in Jewish and Catholic relationships in the UK, and how much more they can be enriched. Even after 50 years of Nostra Aetate, Rabbi Mirvis explained that more can be done to integrate the teachings of the document in both communities. Cardinal Vincent agreed, saying there is a 'seam of riches yet to be mined'.

They also discussed with Pope Francis their concerns

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about the refugee crisis and the persecution of people of faith, especially Christians, taking place today.

Ahead of their visit, the Cardinal and Chief Rabbi have written a joint article in the Telegraph reaffirming the 'urgent and profound need for collaboration, mutual understanding and empathy between our communities and beyond.'

In the article, they express their concern that expressing a belief in God 'no longer commands universal respect for a deep commitment to a lofty ideal, self-discipline and moral conviction' and instead people who express such a belief 'are more likely to be dismissed as naïve, unsophisticated and narrow-minded'.

They explain that 'it is more important than ever for faith communities like ours to cultivate close working relationships' and the shared objectives of the faiths 'will be the antidote for negative views of faith that have crept into the world, and they will make clear its limitless potential for achieving greatness'.

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minds of its people. The Christian communities, which were the special focus of our visit, are a tremendous resource for the future of the Holy Land.

Their communities are vibrant, their schools are among the top-performing in the area.’

'Both President Abbas and President Rivlin expressed their appreciation for the initiative and closeness of Pope Francis in their efforts to build peace.

We were heartened to hear them both speak to us of their desires for peace. We hope that they will redouble their efforts to find a solution to the problems in the region that fully respects the right of all its peoples, Jewish, Christian and Muslim, to live together in peace.'

'For our part we encourage the faithful in our countries to keep the Christian people of the Holy Land in their prayers and also support them through charitable outreach from parishes as pilgrims to the Holy Places. Pilgrimages are visible and concrete ways of showing solidarity and harmony with the Christian people of the land in which Jesus himself lived.'

A statement was also issued by the CCEE at the end of their Plenary. To read their statement, visit catholicnews.org.uk

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Cardinal Vincent and Archbishop Eamon Martin, Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, and Ireland, have called for solidarity with, and prayer for the Christian communities who live in the Holy Land. The Cardinal and Archbishop were returning from the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) which had been meeting in Galilee and Jerusalem at the invitation of His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The European bishops visited the Christian communities in Nazareth, Mil'ya (a town near the IsraeliLebanese border) and Bethlehem, to hear first-hand the experiences, joys and sufferings of Christian families living there. They also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Dr Reuven Rivlin.

Cardinal Vincent and Archbishop Eamon said they were deeply moved by their encounters with Christians in both Israel and Palestine and they both undertook to bring back to their faithful in England, Wales and Ireland the heartfelt wishes of Christians in the Holy Land to live in peace with a sustained hope for safety and a realistic long-term future for their families and children.

'It is important for all of us in Ireland, England and Wales to be fully aware and supportive of our brothers and sisters who live with such fear and uncertainty. We also have to recognise the threats faced by the State of Israel and the fear that is constantly in the

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Synod

Westminster Record | October 2015

Cardinal Reflects Ahead of the Synod on the Family

On 22 September, Cardinal Vincent gave a press conference to set the context for the forthcoming Synod on the Family and to reflect on the some of the responses he received to the consultation with the faithful. It was his feeling that the synod has received so much attention because ‘the family is the key to the relationship between the work of grace and our daily experience of faith. If you want to see faith in action, the first place to look is the family.’

He went on to say that the family is where we first learn about ‘relationships, humanity, struggle, fidelity, and working out the great venture of being fully human which is fundamentally at the heart of the Catholic project’.

The Cardinal explained that this synod is one stage in a three-phase process that began with last year’s Extraordinary Synod and is expected to conclude next year when Pope Francis publishes a document based on the propositions that will be agreed at the synod. It is significant, the Cardinal noted, that the document would be published during the Year of Mercy and it is in this context that the work of the synod should be viewed.

Prior to explaining the consultation process that took place and summarising the major themes, Cardinal Vincent wished to revisit the ‘remarkable speech’ which the Pope gave at the conclusion of Page 6

the last synod. In the speech, Pope Francis emphasised the importance of listening attentively and remaining open to the work of the Holy Spirit.

With a wide range of contributions and voices, it is ‘the role of the Holy Father to guarantee unity and fidelity to the mandate of Christ’.

The Pope had also warned against falling into various temptations which inhibit the work of the Holy Spirit. He listed the first as hostile inflexibility, closing oneself within the written word and law, rather than what we need to learn and achieve. His second warning was against a ‘destructive tendency to goodness’ in the name of a ‘deceptive mercy’. The danger of this is that we bind the wounds before curing and treating their causes.

Pope Francis also warned against transforming stones into bread to break the heavy fast, and equally against transforming bread into stone and casting it against sinners, the weak and the sick. The fourth temptation, he said, was to come down from the Cross in order to bow to a worldly spirit instead of purifying the will and bending it to the spirit of God. He warned that we must not neglect the deposit of faith.

The Pope asked that the interval between the two synods be spent in true spiritual discernment. Listening to the Holy Spirit is key to this process as he is the harmony of the

Church. ‘The Holy Spirit alone is the harmony of our unity and plurality. When we attempt to create diversity, we create schism. When we want to make unity, we create uniformity.’

Cardinal Vincent noted that, at the day spent reflecting on the responses with the clergy, ‘we spent as much time in silent prayer as in vigorous discussion to get the balance right’.

The Cardinal went on to discuss the reflections and responses he has received in this time. He explained that there were four sources of responses: from a formal consultation with those responsible for marriage and family life apostolates in dioceses, from responses from all 16 dioceses in England and Wales to a questionnaire circulated by the Bishops’ Conference, from discussion papers contributed by deaneries, and from many individuals who wrote to him personally from this country and from around the world.

He noted that it has never been easier for any individual or group of individuals to make their views known to their bishop than in this process.

He identified a number of underlying trends and patterns in the responses. There were contributions that attempted to read the Gospel through the ‘eyes of the reality of our world’ and to critique the gospel through the experience of people. On the other hand, some contributions read the reality of the world and our experiences through the lens of the Gospel, to critique our own reality.

The Cardinal remarked that the key themes of concern that were emerging in the West have focused predominantly on the pastoral care of those in complex circumstances such as divorce and remarriage, civil marriage, sexual orientation, social isolation and admission to the sacraments, and especially the Eucharist.

What is more, the responses demonstrate a wide variety of views. Many people expressed receiving great satisfaction and fulfilment from their married lives and believe that their daily life expresses their faith.

For others, they expressed strong feelings of anger and frustration towards the Church.

The Cardinal said that some of the letters he received left him feeling ‘dismayed and helpless’ at the situations of family breakdown and hardships that people experienced. He explained that there are some situations that the Church cannot solve, ‘they are the dilemmas of life and we have to live them and carry them’.

He explained that it’s important ‘to learn more about how we make everyone welcome’ in the places we share. However, he emphasised, with respect to the Eucharist, that ‘no one should receive Holy Communion or understand it as a badge of acceptance. It is always an invitation, a challenge to change. To receive Holy Communion is to be willing to change.’

‘This is where the relationship between the mercy of God and the justice of God is key,’ he continued. ‘The mercy of God is God’s passion that we change, that we become more like his Son. It’s the passionate, unending desire of God that we convert, that we should become what we should be.’

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He added, ‘One of our great issues is to see the pattern of conversion in the lives of people who have experienced failure in their marriage.’

‘Married and divorced people are not a category,’ he said. ‘They are people on a pilgrimage like the rest of us.’

The Cardinal emphasised that the synod is not a PR exercise and there would be no easy answers to people’s complex lived reality. He said: ‘This is a Church of sinners. We make a mess of things. We have a lively, passionate family and we have our arguments and different points of view. And that’s fine because we have a shared Lord.’

Cardinal Vincent has asked for the prayers of everyone in the diocese during the synod.

The synod takes place from 4 to 25 October.

The Cardinal’s reflections at the day for clergy and the press conference, the summary of responses from the diocese and from England and Wales, as well as regular updates throughout the synod can be found at rcdow.org.uk.

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Westminster Record | October 2015

Explaining Reform of Annulment Process

By Mgr John Conneely ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’ probably best describes the impetus leading to Pope Francis’ streamlining of the process by which Church Tribunals determine whether a marriage presumed to be valid was actually lacking an element essential to a valid marriage.

About a year ago Pope Francis set up a commission of canonical experts who were tasked to make proposals on how the annulment process could be made more efficient while preserving the principle of the indissolubility of marriage.

The commission did its work rapidly and the Holy Father has now promulgated legislation which will create a more efficient process. The legislation comes into effect on 8 December of this year, the very day when the Jubilee Year of Mercy officially opens. 8 December is also the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a feast which honours Our Lady. Many of us have heard of Pope Francis’ deep devotion to our Lady under the title ‘Mary, Undoer of Knots’ and the streamlining of the annulment process can be seen as a means of making the knot created through entry into an invalid marriage easier to untangle while preserving intact the true marriage bond which is indissoluble.

The most substantial change introduced to make the process more efficient is the removal of the requirement that every marriage must be studied by two Tribunals before an invalid marriage can be declared as

such. As of 8 December, dioceses will be trusted to make the decision locally. In our own diocese this will enable cases to be definitively decided about 4-6 months more quickly. In other places, where limited resources meant cases spent much longer waiting for their second scrutiny to be completed, the change introduced will have an even greater impact.

Another substantial change concerns where marriages can be considered for possible invalidity. Under the new rules individuals will be able to apply to their local Tribunal for an annulment. This is a significant change as previously cases had to be considered either where the wedding was celebrated or where the spouse not applying for the annulment lived. This made things particularly difficult for those whose marriages were celebrated abroad. In addition to presenting significant logistical difficulties it also placed considerable strain on the resources of Tribunals in less economically developed parts of the world.

The possibility of an abbreviated process whereby the Diocesan Bishop will personally judge the validity of a marriage has also been introduced.

However, this process is only available for cases where there are particularly evident arguments to establish invalidity of marriage and where neither spouse objects to the case being dealt with this way. Thought will be required as to how this new process will best be able to be

implemented for the limited number of cases for which it has been designed.

Finally, the question of the costs of the annulment process has been much discussed. The fact is that there are costs associated with processing annulment cases and consideration must be given as to how these can be met. Several years before Pope Francis called on Tribunals to provide their services free of charge our own Tribunal of Westminster decided that we would no longer attribute costs in cases. Instead, we have explained to people frankly that the process has costs and asked those applying for an annulment to contribute toward those costs if they can afford to do so. The overwhelmingly generous response of those using the Tribunal’s services has been most impressive and I am sure this will continue.

In summary, the changes introduced by Pope Francis will help the Church respond more rapidly when asked to determine the validity of a marriage that has broken down.

A prompt definitive answer will help people to know where they stand and enable them to move forward in their lives.

Please feel free to contact the Tribunal on tribunaldepartment@rcdow.org.uk for information on how to apply for an annulment and do ask our Lady, Undoer of Knots, to help those of us involved in Tribunal work to carry out our responsibilities faithfully.

Mgr John Conneely JCL is the Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Westminster

St Joseph’s: ‘Many Hearts Make a School’ As we were preparing this edition of the Record, we learned that a fire had broken out at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Willesden on 22 September. Head teacher, Mrs Titus and her team ensured that all pupils and staff were evacuated swiftly, safely and calmly.

In response, other Catholic schools, including Newman Catholic College and St Gregory’s Catholic Science College, have rallied round to offer to accommodate pupils on their sites. Pupils are expected to return to school on 5 October in temporary classrooms at Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

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Newman College, with the nursery occupying space nearby.

The school is working closely with the diocese and Brent Local Authority to look at options for the longer term.

The Catholic Children’s Society have generously offered help with replacing uniforms, coats, bags and other items lost by the pupils.

‘Our plan is to keep parents informed of developments as they occur,’ said Mrs Titus.

‘We’re grateful for their support and understanding throughout this time.’

Mrs Titus also wrote a letter to pupils to thank them for their

bravery and for evacuating the building quickly. She reminded them of the school prayer which says, ‘many hands build a house, but many hearts make a school.

This is what will make us stronger; our love of the school and our care for each other’.

At press time, emergency services were still assessing the extent of the damage to the building and the cause of the fire, which had destroyed the roof and the top floor of the school.

The diocese is working closely with contractors and loss adjusters to determine the right course of action to repair the school.

Page 7

Celebrations

Westminster Record | October 2015

St Bernard’s Northolt Marks 50th Anniversary On 20 September, a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at St Bernard’s Church Northolt in thanksgiving for 50 years of sacramental life at the church. Cardinal Vincent was the principal celebrant, along with Parish Priest Fr James Neal, previous Parish Priests Canon Vincent Berry, Fr Gerard Skinner and Fr Anthony Brunning. Concelebrating was also Fr Michael Holman SJ who had often celebrated Sunday Masses in the parish when he lived nearby. The Mass was one of the many Jubilee celebrations, which earlier in the week had included a Mission Week led by the Franciscans Friars of the Renewal. A parish profile of Harrow South and Northolt will feature in the November edition of the Westminster Record.

Malta Day Celebrations at the Cathedral

Blessing of Statue of Our Lady at Covent Garden On the evening of 3 September, Bishop Alan Hopes of East Anglia, formerly Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, celebrated Mass at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, along with Bishop Robert Byrne, Auxiliary in Birmingham, and Bishop Michael Barber of

Oakland California. A special highlight of the Mass was the blessing of the image of Our Lady of Walsingham and the newly restored Lady Chapel.

Mgr John Armitage, the Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, preached the homily, in which he

reminded the congregation of the importance of remaining close to Jesus and following his precepts. After Mass, there was an opportunity for individuals to join the Walsingham Association and to be a part of the branch of the Association at Corpus Christi.

On 12 September the Maltese community gathered at Westminster Cathedral for Mass and fireworks to commemorate 450 years since the Great Siege of Malta. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Richard Grech OFM, Minister Provincial of the Friars Minor in Malta and was attended by the High Commissioner for Malta in the UK.

White City Celebrates Jubilees On 19 September, White City celebrated multiple anniversaries. It was the Diamond Jubilee of the parish, as well as the Golden Jubilee of Our Lady of Fatima Church and St John XXIII Primary School. Cardinal Vincent was the principal celebrant of a Mass of Thanksgiving, along with current and past Parish Priests, Fr Richard Nesbitt and Fr Keith Stoakes, Fr Ephrem Andom of the Eritrean Chaplaincy and other priests of Page 8

the diocese. Parishioners past and present filled the church to overflowing as they gave thanks for blessings and sacraments received at the church. Among the returning parishioners was Sr Mary Kenefick of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God who served the parish and school during the early years.

The Cardinal blessed the newly refurbished sanctuary with a repositioned tabernacle.

After Mass, children, parents

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and staff from St John XXIII school were invited to follow the Cardinal in procession to the school where the Cardinal blessed the foundation stone of a new building. He then blessed the school’s peace garden. The celebrations continued with a magnificent buffet and party.

In the spring, as part of the year of Jubilee celebrations, the parish made a pilgrimage to Fatima to the shrine of their patron saint.

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Schools

Westminster Record | October 2015

Cardinal Vaughan School and Newman Catholic College Agree Partnership

New Head at Douay Martyrs The induction Mass of Mr Tony Corish, the new headteacher, took place on 10 September at the school. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop John and 10 of the Hillingdon deanery priests. Pupils, governors and staff represented the school with the Hillingdon Borough’s new Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr George Copper, and representatives from the Borough’s Education Department and Adviser for the Catholic Education Department, Amanda Crowley, in attendance The packed hall made it a very special occasion for the school as in enters an exciting new era.

Last month the headteachers of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and Newman Catholic College shook hands on a new partnership agreement with the diocese, which will see the two London Catholic schools working closely together over a twoyear period.

Following on from Cardinal Vaughan’s recent conversion to academy status, this structured partnership will have mutual benefits for both schools who will share good practice and offer reciprocal support in all areas of teaching and school life.

Collecting for Calais Rebecca Shoesmith, a pupil in Year 12 at St Augustine’s Priory, has spent September organising a collection for Calais Action, whose website says ‘Calais Action is a grass roots giving group to help refugees in Calais and Europe’.

Rebecca was asked by her sister if she had any clothes to give to Calais Action and this impelled Rebecca to think on a wider scale than just donating her own items.

As Rebecca says, ‘We need to do more to help refugees and I knew that if I asked the school they would donate.

So many donations have been brought in that it makes me proud to be a St Augustine’s Priory student.’

Collecting for Calais Action has also spread out from St Augustine’s Priory into the wider community. Rebecca tells us, ‘I would like to thank a parent at St Augustine’s Priory, Mrs Nnatu, who broadened the appeal out to another Ealing school, Durston House, and we have received many donations from them.’

St Augustine’s Priory Centenary Creative Competition

New Building Blessed On 21 September St Augustine’s Priory celebrated with a birthday cake to mark the school’s centenary of being located on Hillcrest Road and the launch of a creative competition in conjunction with The Pitshanger Bookshop, Ealing.

The theme is ‘The 100 Year Old School’ with a drawing On 17 September Cardinal Vincent celebrated Mass at St Francis de competition for 5-7 year olds and Sales School, Tottentham, to celebrate the start of the new academic a short story competition for 8-10 year and blessed their new school building. year olds (up to 500 words).

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The Pitshanger Bookshop has kindly donated the book token prizes with three for each category. The deadline is the end of the October half term holiday.

Please note that this competition is open to all children, not only those at St Augustine’s Priory, so do involve your whole family.

Details will appear on our website: www.sapriory.com Page 9

Annual Accounts Cardinal’s Introduction

Westminster Record | October 2015

Educating for the Common Good ‘An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it… All Christians are called to show concern for the building of a better world. This is essential, for the Church’s social thought is primarily positive: it offers proposals, it works for change and in this sense it constantly points to the hope born of the loving heart of Jesus Christ.’

‘Good education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life.’

Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ 213 The mission of the Church, by its very nature, is to share the good news of Jesus Christ and so to teach, in his name, successive generations. At the heart of this mission is our commitment to education at all stages.

The loving formation of a child in knowledge of Jesus and in service of others in his name takes place in different environments: in the home, parish and school. The diocese seeks to support parents in their calling to educate and nourish the faith of their children, a faith that demands an active love of neighbour. This education instils a sense of responsibility for the common good, leading to a desire to build a just society where varied gifts are appreciated and celebrated. Parish life meanwhile teaches children to become aware of the wider community and to develop respect for and learn to collaborate with others. Building on this, our schools strive to be beacons of excellence where children are encouraged to understand and develop their unique gifts, and to discover how to use them for the benefit of all.

The fruits of this formation are apparent when visiting schools in the diocese. Our children show concern for one another, respect for other cultural traditions and compassion for the poor and vulnerable in their community. Our schools serve children in some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country.

Nevertheless, students demonstrate an enthusiasm about their future, an eagerness to engage with the world, and a love for learning in its many different forms.

Pope Francis’ words tell us that education is integral to the Church’s identity since good teaching and responsive children enable the Church to hand on Christ’s teaching. Our mission today is made possible by the dedication of teachers, chaplains, support staff and those who volunteer their time to serve as school governors. Their efforts are reinforced by catechists, youth workers and parishioners in our churches, who contribute to the formation of our young people by the example of their Christian lives. It is most of all through the example of Catholic families living each day in answer to the Lord’s call to serve him that children learn to develop their unique vocation. It is through their generosity and selfless giving that Catholic education bears rich fruit for the Church and for society.

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 183

The Church exists to share the good news of the Gospel which is an encounter with the love of God, an active love that takes us out of ourselves to reach out in turn in love and service to others, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, and to work for the good of society. This mission of proclaiming the good news is handed down from one generation to the next through example and education. The primary educators of children are their parents, whose ‘natural vocation is to educate children so they may grow up to be responsible for themselves and for others’. (Pope Francis, General Audience 20 May 2015) ‘Christian communities are called to offer support to the educational mission of families, and they do this first of all with the light of the Word of God.’ (Gen Aud 20 May 2015).

Specifically, the Church fulfils this role by encouraging relationships between parish, home and school, and specifically through the provision of outstanding schools where children will receive an education that will develop their

individual gifts and talents.

Through an education that focuses on the whole child, developing the unique gifts of each one, children learn how to use their individual talents to serve the common good and to contribute to advancing a just society. In other words, they learn to use their encounter with the love of God to serve the good of society. The work of educating children takes many forms.

Primarily, it takes place within parishes, where learning and support are provided through the engagement of children in the life of the parish, youth activities and increasing awareness of the needs of the community where they live.

Together with parishes, Catholic schools play a vital role in helping children mature into thoughtful individuals who can make a positive contribution to society. A Catholic school is called upon to witness with joy to the goodness of each and every person, and to be a beacon of God’s gracious gift of mercy.

The school is called to have a heart for the poor, whether for the struggling or disadvantaged student, or by looking outwards

His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster Page 10

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to the needs of others beyond the school community. Indeed, one of the purposes of a Catholic school is to help students discern the values that ennoble humanity and enrich the life of society. Increasingly, with the stresses and strains of raising children in a fragmented society, a challenging economic environment, multiple influences competing for the attention of children and rising expectations, the Church has taken a greater role in the education of children across all dimensions, including the academic, artistic, musical, physical, spiritual and social.

As Pope Francis explains, ‘We are living in an informationdriven society which bombards us indiscriminately with data – all treated as being of equal importance – and which leads to remarkable superficiality in the area of moral discernment. In response, we need to provide an education which teaches critical thinking and encourages the development of mature moral values.’ (EG 64) In times past, it was the Church, through the work of religious orders, which ‘often laid the foundations of educational provision long before the State assumed a responsibility for this vital service to the individual and to society’. (Pope Benedict, Address to teachers and religious at St Mary’s College, Twickenham, September 2010) Today, the Diocese of Westminster and a number of religious orders working in the diocese take up this mission by providing schools which promote rigorous standards of excellence. There are currently 214 schools across the diocese, of which 41 are secondary schools, 154 primary Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Annual Accounts

Westminster Record | October 2015

The Education Commission

schools, two sixth form colleges, two non-maintained all-age schools, and 15 independent schools. Of this total, 191 schools are under the Trusteeship of the diocese.

There are close to 75,000 students currently educated in our Catholic schools. They promote learning which exposes each pupil to a wide range of subjects from maths and sciences to languages, sports, the arts, music and practical subjects. Children are encouraged to integrate the knowledge they acquire in these subjects so that they form a better understanding of the culture in which they live.

Through group endeavours, such as choirs or orchestras, children learn to put aside their individual differences and preferences, and instead work collaboratively towards a common goal. From this, they learn that a successful collaboration can and does produce a performance that transcends the efforts of any one person. Thereby they learn to become part of a culture of cooperation that demonstrates respect for others. Catholic teaching provides the foundation of our understanding and respect for other religions, and in particular for Islam and Judaism which share a common heritage with Christianity as the three Abrahamic faiths. Children are encouraged to broaden their horizons, to learn about and interact with people of all faiths and none in a spirit of mutual respect and appreciation for each other’s contribution to the good of society. Visits to places of worship form a natural part of school life, as does

participation in multi-faith events and conferences.

Students are encouraged to look beyond their own school community to reach out in love and service to others, whether it is through fundraising for local charities, visiting the elderly in care homes, or getting involved in community action projects, usually in cooperation with people of all faiths or none. As students participate in outreach projects that promote the dignity and well-being of others, they also develop leadership skills that will help them grow into confident, mature citizens ready to serve society. This learning does not stop once young people leave secondary education. There is a recognition that they need to continue to discern and build on these values throughout their post-secondary education years, so that they are equipped to navigate the proliferation of choices they face and take their place in society as active and committed citizens. University chaplaincies play an important part in guiding young people who are often living independently for the first time to find their way. Every person is called to serve others and contribute to the good of society in some unique way. As Blessed John Henry Newman expressed it, ‘God has created me to do him a definite service’. It is the task of each baptised Christian to discover his or her unique vocation. A Catholic education helps each young person to discern the way in which he or she is called to serve.

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The Archbishop, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, is responsible for Catholic education in the Diocese of Westminster. The Education Commission, under the chairmanship of Bishop John Sherrington, assists the Archbishop in these responsibilities. Consisting of 12 members who have broad expertise in the area of primary, secondary and tertiary education, the commission is responsible for the strategic policy of Catholic education in the diocese in accord with the mission of the Church. It recommends to the trustees the foundation of new schools and the conversion of schools to academy status within multi-academy trusts organised across the diocese or locally. It seeks to ensure the expansion of Catholic places, so that as many children as

possible can receive a Catholic education. This year also saw the introduction of a new Capital Strategy Committee of the Education Commission to help meet its objectives to ensure adequate and appropriate provision of Catholic education in the diocese. The committee assesses financial requirements relating to building costs of schools and colleges, and safeguards the interests of Catholic education within national and local parameters.

It scrutinises carefully any proposed building works and the pupil place planning strategy. Its purpose is to ensure the diocese has prioritised carefully its asset management plan for the future, and seek opportunities to develop and expand pupil places where we can. With

available funding remaining constant while greater demands are placed on schools, careful planning and prioritisation become ever more vital. The commission approves the annual development plan presented by the Education Service and monitors its progress and use of resources. It appoints the officers of the Education Service who have the responsibility to carry out the policy of the commission.

Another important aspect of its work is to ensure the Catholicity of the schools in the diocese and monitor the standard of Catholic education. Foundation governors are appointed by the bishop to work on governing bodies which have oversight of the schools and are the employers of the staff.

The Education Service The Education Commission delegates the task of implementing strategic policy and overseeing the work of schools to the Education Service. It consists of the Director of Education and a team of 17 officers, who have a wide range of responsibilities in overseeing the work of diocesan Catholic schools. It also offers advice and support to the independent schools and schools run by religious orders. In 2014, the Education Service focused its attention on leadership and management, asset management, and school governance.

Leadership and Management Over the last year the diocese has dealt with an unprecedented level of head and deputy headship appointments, with 32 primary and secondary headship appointments, as well as 34 deputy headship appointments. Officers have offered assistance to governing bodies in making these appointments and often securing temporary arrangements until such time as the substantive post holder could be appointed. In addition to this, officers have provided advice and support in the appointment of other leadership roles, such as RE

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coordinators and heads of RE. More recently, officers have been working with professional recruitment agencies to develop a proactive approach to identifying suitable candidates for leadership positions and providing them with the coaching and support that will enable them to move into senior leadership positions. A significant part of the work of the Education Service relates to supporting governors in their key role of oversight of the school and as the employers of all staff who work in our schools. The diocese guides governors and head teachers in following correct employment procedures when dealing with the appointment of staff and the management of human resource issues which may occur from time to time. Such issues can be some of the most demanding challenges facing head teachers and governors, and the diocese devotes considerable time and resources to offering the necessary help and support.

Asset Management In 2014, the diocese was successful in securing £12.3m for Local Education Authority Coordinated Voluntary Programme identified projects.

The vast majority of this funding was spent on necessary maintenance work in schools and colleges, such as boiler and roof repairs, to ensure a safe, secure and comfortable environment that is conducive to learning. In the past year, the diocese opened a new school on time and on budget in Tower Hamlets. Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School is an amalgamated school on a new site in Poplar, which also houses the St Francis Family Centre. Funded by the diocese and costing £11m, it was built with the proceeds from the sale of land of two schools in Tower Hamlets, ensuring that the money was reinvested in school places for the benefit of children in the borough.

Developed in conjunction with the Catholic Children’s Service (CCS), a separate charity, the amalgamated school and family centre aims to offer a ‘whole family’ education and support programme designed to enable all children to reach their full potential. The school has a unique and exciting design which was the result of the close collaboration between the diocese, the CCS, the contractor and builders.

Page 11

Annual Accounts Governance Foundation governors play a vital role in overseeing the work of local schools, and providing advice and support to the head teacher and leadership of the school on a wide range of issues affecting the school and the quality of education it provides to its pupils. It is also the responsibility of a school’s governing body to hire staff, oversee budgets, make decisions about capital expenditure,

oversee admission policy, and support the head and staff in maintaining a Catholic ethos.

Foundation governors therefore take on immense responsibilities for the well-being of the school community, all on an unpaid, voluntary basis. It is critical, therefore, that they receive the necessary training and support to fulfil their mandate.

The Education Service has reviewed, developed and improved its management of

Westminster Record | October 2015

foundation governor appointments. Processes have been put in place to identify suitable candidates and encourage them to apply. Once their application has been received, checks are then carried out and training provided to equip them with the necessary understanding of the role and to instil in them a sense of confidence as they assume this important service.

Parish and Curia – Income

School Chaplaincies and the Catholic Identity of Our Schools The Catholic identity of a school permeates the whole being of that community, giving it cause for existence, purpose, identity, mission and way of life in Christ. Every Catholic school, like each individual Christian, is called to be a beacon of excellence in education. In any kind of community where students and staff place themselves open to the power of the Gospel, people are needed to direct and support the human, spiritual, and pastoral life of the community. The head teacher is called to be the first and foremost exemplar of Catholic faith in the school and is assisted by chaplains when they are priests specially appointed by the diocesan bishop. However, a great majority of this essential work in our schools today is directed by lay and religious chaplaincy coordinators, often supported by their local priests and deacons, and by others from the diocese involved in the work of the youth and education services. Our team of chaplains and chaplaincy coordinators work alongside each other, with their students and colleagues, and with their priests, deacons and fellow Christians, to bring to life a chaplaincy in each school

which is, in every way, at the heart of that Catholic school.

The chaplaincy in its work reflects the mission and way of life that the entire school aspires to follow. At their most effective, chaplains can become for the whole community a sign of the commitment and faithful dedication that is asked by Christ of all his followers. In many schools pupils themselves are being encouraged to participate in the work and ministry of the school

chaplaincy. Chaplaincy, like friendship, and like Christianity itself, is a form of ministry. That means it must transcend not only the whole school, but also the whole person who is called

by Christ to follow him and serve others in the community and beyond the school gates, enabling the Catholic nature of the school to shine forth before all and among all, giving identity and purpose to the entire organism.

Westminster Youth Ministry The disciples’ encounter with the Risen Lord on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24. 13-35) provides the inspiration for the Westminster Youth Ministry, whose mission is to ‘enable parishes to accompany young people in their journey towards Christian maturity, through the delivery of a focused and coordinated youth service’. The richness and diversity of the Page 12

young people of the diocese is a blessing and offers the youth team a unique opportunity to build and deliver a vibrant and exciting programme. The team’s mandate is to serve young people in the 214 parishes and 214 schools, as well as to work alongside the rich variety of Catholic movements who are represented throughout the

diocese. The team of five works with a very wide spectrum of young people, beginning with children in Year 3 through all school ages to young adults of university age and older. As is to be anticipated, these children and young people have diverse interests and expectations, and the team must be able to support their wide-ranging Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

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Annual Accounts

Westminster Record | October 2015

e and Expenditure Review

development needs. To that end, the work of the youth service falls into three streams of activity: parish, outreach and SPEC, with each stream providing a particular focus which come together to deliver a coordinated approach. Each stream has unique challenges, yet offers exciting opportunities to engage with children and young people, and to support their spiritual growth and personal development.

Parish Youth Ministry At the heart of our mission is supporting our young people where they are, most often in their home parish at a one-to-few level. This allows the team to engage with our young where they are most at ease and normally surrounded by family and friends. Parish youth ministry is a living challenge, one where the team must remain aware of the personal faith and spiritual growth journey of each young person in its widest context and consider how best to support their development sensitively within a sociallyengaging youth group setting.

It is in this less formal environment that the young have an opportunity to integrate what they learn at home and in school as they discover how to build community through a network of relationships and collaboration in group endeavours. Throughout the year the team has worked tirelessly with over 35 parishes and several deaneries to Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

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support their local youth strategies, which are set by the parish itself. In some parishes the activities take the form of regular social gatherings for young people in a safe environment where the focus is on building community cohesion. In other parishes, the gatherings have a more structured approach, which includes time for social activities, discussion about a relevant topic in the news and prayer. This structure allows young people to explore some of the challenges faced by the contemporary world, and learn how their faith might inform the way they are called to respond to these issues in charity towards their neighbours, the local community and wider society.

One key development this year has been the support of spotlight events where the youth team works with a particular parish or deanery to gather young people to celebrate Mass and enjoy social time together. Examples of these include the Young Adults of the West or Enfield Deanery’s Youth Alive series of events, which often act as the impetus for the creation of parish-based youth groups which then meet regularly. The Youth Ministry team will continue to focus intensely on this parish-centred work at the heart of its mission, and to extend this support to more parishes to help them to engage with their young people to help them grow and develop into mature,

responsible citizens ready to serve the common good.

Outreach We recognise that young people may be looking for opportunities for development outside the parish setting and we therefore need to be more creative in supporting them. In looking to serve the broadest possible range of young people, the team deploys a number of complementary engagement strategies. An increasing number of parishes in the diocese are appointing youth workers to work directly in the parish. Youth workers can be paid employees who work anywhere from four hours per week to a full week. Equally, they can be parishioners who may volunteer several hours of their time each week to organising youth activities.

The Youth Ministry team’s role is to support this growing youth worker community, which consists of approximately 20 paid youth workers and some dozen volunteers or catechetical coordinators who devote a portion of their week to youth work. They are invited to meet on a termly basis to share the joys and successes, as well stresses and strains of this ministry. The team also provides tangible practical support, which may begin with assisting with the recruitment process and continue with on-going provision of on-site support for the youth worker. As young people begin to take a Page 13

Annual Accounts more active role in their parishes, the team has introduced a young adults training programme to help them build their skills and selfconfidence. These training days are hosted at the Centre for Youth Ministry where a field specialist is invited to conduct the training. In the past year, events have included a public speaking day and a music ministry day. By participating in this training, young adults build proficiency that can help them contribute to other spheres, whether in a professional capacity or through public service. The team is increasingly engaged directly with schools, called to help build and deliver induction days at the start of the academic year and end-ofyear reflection days. These days typically have large audiences and provide a unique opportunity to engage with a demographically diverse range of young people and build a positive legacy message for youth ministry across the diocese. Each year the team organises at least one diocesan youth pilgrimage, as well as arranging a youth pilgrimage that runs concurrently with diocesan or national pilgrimages. These give young adults the opportunity to journey together both physically and spiritually, and provide the youth team with an opportunity to engage with individuals who may be able to assist in future parish youth ministry activities. Most recently the pilgrimage to Brazil for World Youth Day in 2013, and Santiago, Lourdes and the Holy Land in 2014 were all very well received.

Westminster is blessed to have close at hand a rich variety of Catholic youth movements which have their own particular charisms, such as Youth 2000, Catholic

Underground and Soul Food.

The youth team works closely with these movements to raise awareness and participation from the widest possible youth audience. The team also leads, supports, or positively participates in a range of national and local events, such as Spirit in the City and Celebrate.

SPEC SPEC is the diocesan youth retreat centre which has been running successfully for over 20 years. Based until recently at All Saints Pastoral Centre in London Colney, SPEC’s principal focus is on the development and delivery of a comprehensive faith-based programme of residential and day retreats for schools and parishes of the diocese. Each year several thousand young people spend time with the resident community understanding more about their Catholic faith, and how they are called to live out that faith in service to others and to the wider society. Recognising that the Pastoral Centre needed significant improvement to conform to current legal regulations and the high cost of maintenance, the diocese sold the property and reinvested the funds in the former Grail property at Waxwell Farm in Pinner. In April 2014, the project relocated to Pinner, which affords SPEC a truly dedicated facility in seven acres of land. The new site requires a substantial amount of work and consequently until September 2016 only day retreats can be offered. From September 2016 SPEC will become a dedicated Residential Retreat Centre, able to accommodate up to 64 students per retreat, with one- and twonight retreats becoming the principal offerings.

Communications The Youth Ministry team recognises that its primarily young audience are avid users of digital media on the go, which fit in with their active lifestyles. It is therefore vital that communications to this group reflect this trend. In 2014, a visually vibrant and engaging website was Page 14

developed. Social media channels also play a focal part in the communication strategy as they enable the team to get information to this constituency very quickly and to encourage feedback from them on a range of topics, including potential programmes and events.

Westminster Record | October 2015

University Chaplaincies: Guiding Young People in Discovering Their Calling

‘The task of a teacher is not simply to impart information or to provide training in skills intended to deliver some economic benefit to society; education is not and must never be considered as purely utilitarian.

It is about forming the human person, equipping him or her to live life to the full – in short it is about imparting wisdom.’

Pope Benedict XVI, Address to teachers and religious at St Mary’s College, Twickenham, September 2010

There are currently 270,000 people (including 34,000 Catholics) who are studying at higher education institutions in the Diocese of Westminster. The Church’s mission to the students and staff at our universities includes chaplaincy centres like Newman House and St Peter’s Parish in Hatfield; the work of chaplains and student Catholic societies on the various university campuses; Catholic halls of residence, like More House, Netherhall and Ashwell House; the many movements and associations that work with young people in the diocese; and not least the work of our parishes as they welcome students who live within their parish boundaries. Young adulthood is such an important time, when many people are thinking about their faith in an independent way for the first time, working out for themselves what they really believe and how (or whether) to live their faith. For Catholic students university is often a defining moment that sets the course for the rest of their life. The competing philosophies and world views in the university environment mean that it is hard to remain indifferent. This is why the work of university chaplaincy is so important and so exciting. One part of this

work involves welcoming students into communities where they can see the Catholic faith lived in its fullness, and where they can find a sense of Catholic identity and belonging.

At Newman House, for example, there is the rhythm of the liturgy, prayer, faith formation and community life that carries on each week. This rhythm is mirrored in each college, where its own student-led Catholic society, supported by a Catholic chaplain, forms a local faith community on campus.

Everyone is at a different stage of faith. For each person, whether a student or a member of the academic staff, the hope is that their faith can be nurtured, deepened, and questioned in a way that is informative, stimulating, intellectually credible and faithful to the teaching of the Church. But it’s not just about the learning or the praying; it’s also about the friendships that develop quite spontaneously when young people share their faith and live it in a way that is natural and joyful. It is also about opening the doors and stepping out into the streets, as Pope Francis never tires of reminding us. Social outreach and volunteering are such important parts of Catholic student life, ensuring that they don’t get caught in a self-

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regarding bubble. The chaplaincy coordinates with a number of social projects. As well as the experience of serving others and the gift of time, these projects provide a chance to reflect on the lay vocation, on Catholic social teaching, and issues of justice and peace in society. Students, almost by definition, are wondering where life will take them and, at least for Catholic students, what God is calling them to. The chaplaincy centres and the different Catholic societies offer plenty of opportunities to explore career options and vocation. Above all there is the example of committed lay people, religious sisters, and priests working in the chaplaincy. Many students are thinking about marriage and family life; and a good number are considering the priesthood or religious life. Even though a huge amount of chaplaincy work takes place across the universities and parishes of our diocese, Newman House is the symbolic centre of university chaplaincy. It is at once a thriving residential community for 65 Catholic students; a chapel and chaplaincy centre for students from all the colleges in central London; and a hub that supports the work of chaplains and Catholic societies throughout the diocese.

We are just beginning a feasibility study to explore how Newman House and the wider chaplaincy can develop over the next few years. What are the real needs of students today? How can the Church best support them? How can they best support the Church and each other? These are exciting times for university chaplaincy.

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Youth

Westminster Record | October 2015

Chaplain’s Corner Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain

Fifteen years ago, the Church celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000. In fact, the Church keeps a jubilee, known as a Holy Year, every 25 years.

Of course, in 2000 there was even greater significance as it marked the two-thousandth anniversary of Christ’s birth and the unfolding of the mystery of the incarnation. St John Paul II had dedicated his great pontificate to the jubilee and had a great sense that the world was crossing a threshold as it moved into the third millennium. Three important messages accompanied the jubilee: Tertio Millennio Adveniente prepared for its celebration; Incarnationis Mysterium was the Bull of Indiction, and Novo Millennio Ineunte was written at the end of the Holy Year.

Ordinarily, the next Holy Year would be celebrated in 2025 but Pope Francis has intervened as called for an extraordinary Holy Year to be celebrated between 2015 and 2016. The Pope has declared that this new Holy Year, the first since 2000, will be called a Jubilee of Mercy. Already, the Pope had officially convoked the Jubilee in the Papal Bull, Misericordiae Vultus and he will open the year-long celebration on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December, in Rome. It is a remarkable document that we should all read in the coming weeks.

One of the outstanding signs of a Jubilee is the opening of the Holy Door in Rome. For years, this door remains bricked up, but it is solemnly opened for jubilees so that pilgrims may cross its threshold of hope, obtaining the indulgence of God’s mercy.

Francis has asked for Doors of Mercy to be opened in cathedrals throughout the world. These doors call us to open our hearts to God’s mercy, but also to others around us. Perhaps we too in the coming time of grace, will become open doors of mercy to all in our lives.

Enlightening Ecumenism

By Callum Moore In August I had the pleasure of joining the Westminster Youth Ministry trip to Taizé. After a 14-hour journey by coach and ferry, we arrived on the Sunday and began to settle in by pitching our tents and enjoying some well needed hot chocolate and a light breakfast. From the start, Taizé brought many moments of joy and challenge for me and others. We entered into the relaxed flow of life and prayer time there and throughout the week really grew to appreciate the times for silence, the beauty and truth in the chants, and the calming atmosphere that the centre creates.

The biggest charism of Taizé is encouraging ecumenical conversation between people of different Christian denominations, as well as with those of other beliefs entirely.

They encourage this through Bible discussion groups, workshops and creating a village wide atmosphere of openness to faith-based conversation. I found all these areas were greatly enriching and I had wonderful conversations with many people about almost every area of Christian belief. In the future it would be lovely to return and try to engage in more of dialogue.

STOP PRESS World Youth Day: Lodz and Krakow 2016 We are excited about the prospect of journeying with a couple of hundred young pilgrims to World Youth Day next summer and we're sure that everyone in the Westminster group will have a blessed time.

Time presses on and we are acutely aware that much work is underway in schools and parishes as young people are gathered into groups ready to venture to Poland.

It would be useful to establish if we have sufficient provision in place, both in terms of transport and accommodation, or, if we need to request any expansion with our friends in Poland.

As everyone knows, we are able to accommodate teenagers aged 16+ on our full pilgrimage and have built a one week option for those over the age of 18, so there has never a better or easier time to celebrate your faith alongside millions of fellow Catholics than at Krakow 2016.

Whilst we'll hold booking deadlines open until the spring of 2016, I'd ask that those intending to journey with us either as an individual or as a group to drop us a line to indicate your intentions.

Don't miss out!

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

New SPEC Missionaries This year’s new SPEC missionaries were commissioned at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Nicholas and Youth Chaplain Fr David Reilly in the Cathedral Crypt on 18 September. We wish all the SPEC missionaries every success as they embark on another year of journeying with young people in the diocese.

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

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Westminster Record | October 2015

New Small Groups Faith Sharing Resource A new faith sharing resource, Love Divine, has been released by the Agency for Evangelisation that will explore Christ’s transforming grace which is gifted to each of us through the sacraments. The significance and role of grace is often overlooked, but it is vital to our faith.

In the book’s opening pages, Cardinal Vincent says, ‘By his gift of grace, God enables each one of us to enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ: to be united to him, to share in his very life – human and divine.’

He continues, ‘I am convinced that over the twenty-five seasons of faith-sharing that have taken place in the Diocese of Westminster there has been outpouring of grace. The faith of the participants has been nourished and nurtured.

Consequently their desire and capacity to witness to the Risen Christ to others has grown.’

The booklet contains six sessions, each containing prayers and a passage of Holy Scripture, a reflection and discussion questions.

As a visual reminder of God’s grace, every session also includes a relevant work of art with accompanying commentary.

Copies of Love Divine are available for small faith-sharing groups or personal meditation and can be purchased for £2 from the Catholic bookshops near the Cathedral or the Agency for Evangelisation (smallgroups@rcdow.org.uk).

Adult Faith Formation Events For all events, please book your place at livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk or call 0207 931 6078 and leave your name, contact phone and the date(s).

Leadership Formation Workshops Facilitator: Fr Malachy Keegan Location: The Niland Centre, 93 Elstree Rd, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 4EE 7 Nov - Communication, Listening Skills, Conflict Management (1) (10am - 2pm) 21 Nov - Reconciliation for Children (10am - 1pm) 5 Dec - Restorative Justice Retreat (10am - 2pm)

Faith Formation for Parish Readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Facilitators: Sr Anne Walsh OP and Karen Marguerite d’Artois OP Location: The Niland Centre Time: 7.00-8.30pm 5 Nov - Faith Formation for Eucharistic Ministers 19 Nov - Faith Formation for Readers

Scripture from Scratch: Biblical Models of Discipleship

Westminster Cathedral Choir to Perform Monteverdi’s Vespers

By Jenny Forsyth On 11 November the Choir of Westminster Cathedral will be joined by The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble to perform Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610. Published over 400 years ago, this choral landmark remains one of the composer's best-known and best-loved works.

Claudio Monteverdi's musical training began as a singer at the Cathedral of Cremona, and continued his studies at the city's University.

At the age of 43, Monteverdi was keen to move on from the court of the Gonzaga family in Mantua, where he had worked for many years, firstly as a vocalist and viol player, before rising to become Master of Music. Known primarily as a madrigalist, he wished to seek new employment, and aspired to a post in the Papal Chapel. In 1610 he travelled to Rome, arriving in secret, hoping to present his music to Pope Paul V; his colossalVespro della Beata Vergine (Vespers of the Blessed Virgin) was published the same year. Unfortunately for him, this meeting never came to pass, and his hopes of working at the Papal Chapel were dashed.

It has been suggested that the Vespers of 1610 was composed as a portfolio of the composer’s work, possibly as an audition piece for another court.

If this was Monteverdi's intention, it proved to be successful; he secured the prestigious post of Maestro di Cappella at St Mark's in Venice, and remained there until his death some thirty years later.

Today the work is seen as one of the great pillars of the Baroque repertoire, with its virtuosic solo movements and thrilling double-choir choruses.

It bridges the gap between the Renaissance and the Baroque eras, and can be seen as foreshadowing masterworks such as Bach’s Passions and Handel’s Messiah.

The forthcoming performance of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 showcases Westminster Cathedral Choir, one of the world's most famous Cathedral choirs, in the splendid Byzantine setting of Westminster Cathedral. Reminiscent of St Mark's in Venice, the Cathedral will be a fitting venue for the Vespers, as the Choir and orchestra make full use of the balconies and galleries around the building.

Westminster Cathedral Choir and The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, conducted by Martin Baker, will present Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 at Westminster Cathedral on Wednesday 11 November at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available from the Cathedral Gift Shop, priced £10 £50, or from www.ticketmaster .co.uk/0844 844 0444

Location: Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, SW1P 1QN Time: 7.00-8.30pm All talks are audio recorded and uploaded to rcdow.org.uk.

20 Oct - Overview of the Programme by Brian Purfield 9 Nov - Biblical Theology of Vocation by Fr John Hemer 2 Dec - Mary as Model Disciple

by Brian Purfield Scripture from Scratch: Making the Bible Come Alive ‘Our Heritage: the Hebrew Scriptures’ Facilitator: Sr Anne Walsh OP Location: The Niland Centre Time: 7-8.30pm All talks are audio recorded and uploaded to rcdow.org.uk.

22 Oct - Once Upon a Time: How the Scriptures came to be written 29 Oct - Act One: The Exodus.

Ups and downs in the Creation of God’s People 12 Nov - The Prequel: Creation 26 Nov - Putting out into the deep: Praying the Psalms

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Westminster Record | October 2015

Westminster Seminarians’ Gathering At the beginning of the academic year those men training for the priesthood from across England and Wales went on pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham. This year the pilgrimage was combined with the annual gathering of Westminster seminarians and deacons studying in Rome and Spain with the Allen Hall and Redemptoris Mater students from London.

The first stop on their journey was a visit to Catholic Evangelisation Services, better known as CaFE (Catholic Faith Exploration), in St Albans.

David Payne and his team produce materials to support the proclamation of the Gospel and people’s deepening of their Catholic faith, including ‘The Gift’ which has been successfully run in a number of parishes across our diocese.

Following this, the group travelled on to Cambridge

where they walked in the steps of St John Fisher. At Fisher House, the Catholic Chaplaincy, they gathered for Mass celebrated by Mgr Mark Langham, the University Chaplain. Mgr Mark spoke of how John Fisher had devoted much of his life to building up and forming the University of Cambridge, in ways that are still significant for the life of the modern University.

Following lunch served by students from the Chaplaincy, the seminarians visited St John's College, where Dr Peter Linehan explained the history of the college founded by St John Fisher, and showed them the famous statue of the saint that stands in the dining hall.

The group was also reminded of the other Cambridge martyrs especially connected with Westminster Diocese, including St John Hale, parish priest of Isleworth, and five of the Carthusians from the London Charterhouse.

© Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Later that day, the seminarians arrived at the Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham where they were greeted by the Rector Mgr John Armitage. The following day Cardinal Vincent joined them for the celebration of Mass. In his homily, he spoke about mercy and justice being equally important and necessary, using the examples of Jesus and Mary who demonstrated this throughout their lives. He said: 'Isn't it fascinating that, in the Gospels, those who truly encounter in

Jesus the mercy and forgiveness of God do not simply go away relieved, but actually become the Lord's disciples, his fervent followers and enthusiastic sharers in his mission of mercy?' This is the

challenge for seminarians and, indeed, all Christians called to serve in a world which the Cardinal described as ‘wrapped up in its demands for justice, yet rapidly losing any sense of mercy.’

If you are a young man thinking that God might be calling you to take on that very challenge and become, as a Catholic priest, a minister God’s mercy in the Diocese of Westminster or simply want to find out more then there is a vocations discernment event, ‘Ministering Mercy’ taking place at Allen Hall Seminary on 24 October. For more details and to enquire about booking a place please contact Fr Graham Stokes at grahamstokes@rcdow.org.uk or vocations@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7349 5624.

Proclaim Westminster: Building Missionary Parishes

Home Mission Sunday saw another significant moment in the whole Proclaim process with the Proclaim ’15 Legacy Resource going online. This resource sets out the eleven ways to evangelise presented in Birmingham last July.

It contains a pack for each theme, providing film and audio recordings of the workshops and a written guide which can be reproduced for parishioners. The Agency for Evangelisation and Formation are looking forward to presenting this material at the Proclaim Westminster conference which takes place on Saturday 14 November.

To this end, we hope to bring together two representatives from every parish in the diocese, over 400

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people. The conference will be held in the attractive halls of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Doors will open at 8.45am in time for a 9.30am start. At 3.45pm we shall make our way to the Cathedral for a Holy Hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, to end the day at 5pm.

Also present will be the 50 diocesan Proclaim representatives who joined 850 others in Birmingham from every diocese of England and Wales. Our 50 reps included the

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23 deanery reps and also representatives of several diocesan agencies and bodies, including: Allen Hall, Caritas, the Cathedral Chapter, the Council of Deans, the Council of Priests, Education Service, Evangelisation, Finance, Interfaith, Marriage and Family Life, and Youth Ministry, as well as Heythrop College and St Mary’s University.

The aim is that we come together for a whole day to reap the fruits of Proclaim ’15 and discuss what evangelising

initiatives it suggests for our parishes. By 14 November, we will be standing on the threshold of the Year of Mercy.

This comes as a great grace at this stage of the Proclaim process since reflection on God’s Mercy helps us focus our evangelising priorities all the more sharply. Consideration of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in particular will help parishes see more clearly what evangelising initiatives the Lord is calling them to develop.

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Westminster Record | October 2015

Language No Barrier to Sharing the Faith

FIDEOJOY offers the opportunity to build bridges between young Christians around the world, truly living out the universality of the Church, and to create real friendship between families based on a common faith and shared commitments. This programme was launched a few months ago by Ségolène de Tiliere for young Catholics between 13 and 18 years old.

The programme is a two to eight week linguistic exchange where young people will stay with another Catholic family in a different country, and will

participate in the local Catholic community. FIDEOJOY is also aimed at parishes, schools or charities, through international twinnings and partnerships.

Ségolène, 41, was born and lived much of her life abroad, in North Africa, Ireland, USA and Argentina. As a mother of four, including two teenagers, she is convinced that FIDEOJOY can help adolescents through this sensitive time in their life by living and meeting other young people who share their religious belief. In addition to the cultural experience, it is a fantastic opportunity for spiritual growth.

The first exchanges will take place this year and with the help of Aurélie de Boisfossé, who has just joined Ségolène, FIDEOJOY is looking for British Catholic families interested in welcoming a French Catholic teenager for an exchange in 2015-2016.

FIDEOJOY is supported by Cardinal Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, and Bishop Brouwet of Tarbes and Lourdes. Cardinal Barbarin said about FIDEOJOY, ‘In a period when it is not always easy for adolescents to live their faith, meeting with other young people who share their faith on the other side of the world is a grace to shape hearts to become really Catholic, that is to say open to Universal Church.’

Join us and call Aurélie in London at 07775599585 or email Ségolène at fideojoy@gmail.com.

For further information, please visit our website : http://www.fideojoy.com/.

Supporting Our Sick and Retired Priests Over the weekend of 31 October and 1 November, the annual collection for the Sick and Retired Priests Fund of the diocese will take place. The fund ensures that no retired, infirm or sick priest is alone or without care.

Sometimes it’s a friendly visit to check on a 93-year-old priest living independently; at other times it’s urgently needed medical care, or paying for support after surgery.

The diocese is committed to caring for its elderly and infirm priests who have devoted their lives to serving faithful of the Church.

Envelopes are available in all parishes of the diocese, or you may donate online at www.rcdow.org.uk/donations.

Much Hadham Parishioner Receives Diocesan Medal At a recent Sunday Mass, Mrs Angela Crosby was presented with the diocesan medal for her many years of outstanding service as the organist at St Elizabeth’s Centre, Much Hadham. Angela has always been most generous with her time, playing at choir practice, Sunday Mass and other events when asked. Her service is greatly appreciated by the sisters and all at St Elizabeth’s.

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Westminster Record | October 2015

Stanbrook Abbey Church: Enfolding Light

On 6 September, Cardinal Vincent celebrated the dedication of Stanbrook Abbey church in Wass, North Yorkshire. To mark this occasion, Dom Daniel McCarthy OSB, who was involved in the design of the church’s liturgical arrangement, has written this reflection on the art and architecture of the church.

An enfolding light fills the new church of Stanbrook Abbey, not with intensity and glare, but with enveloping gentleness. Light animates the whole space, although its source was not immediately apparent until I entered further and could see around the wide, laminated-wood beams reaching up to the ceiling and across. An entire wall is open to the midday light giving views of the sheep on the North Yorkshire Moor and across the valley to the Pennines.

The first time the sisters sang in their new Abbey church, after many months of celebrating liturgy in the lowceilinged chapter room, the sound was resonate and sustaining itself at length took on a life of its own. They gasped as their own sound freed them by its life, and returned its vitality to the sisters chanting. To sing out such a resonant sound while bathed in light is the prized reward of the sisters of Stanbrook Abbey after their long journey to this new home.

Enfolding sunlight and resonant sound are the most elusive elements to achieve in building a church, and the sisters, with their architect, have brought both light and sound to the level of preeminent quality in Stanbrook

Abbey church. The most gentle human actions set the vibrant place humming.

The clarity of light and resonance of sound give an effortless simplicity to the entire structure. All is light: the floor is paved in Purbeck limestone; the seating and organ case are made of Sycamore wood; the laminated-wood beams have been white-washed; the walls are covered in light plaster.

Even the apse affords no shadow, as its titanium white curve shimmers radiant. The liturgical furnishings stand out subtly in light grey York stone.

The simple unity of space, upon calm reflection, begins to reveal the complexity of a building at odds with itself. The sisters enter through a box end and process straight down the centre axis toward the altar, but the side walls begin to curve.

On the right side, the wall of windows terminates in a solid wall curving into a tight apse in one corner. The left wall makes a wide curve and disappears beyond the apse, leaving a narrow passageway between the two. At mid-morning, sunlight shines through this passage and glides across the wide curve of the luminous wall, until its full radiance gradually disappears. This Eucharistic axis continues to the luminous passageway beckoning us beyond.

Guests enter through a side door into a low apse with a statue of mother and child, Our Lady of Consolation, standing diagonally opposite the major apse; they establish a secondary axis, thirty degrees off-kilter from the first. The paving stones and ceiling beams correspond to this axis and

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direct the eye ever upward to the ceiling’s height in the apse, which frames a large crucifix of Christ the compassionate.

Monastic rituals occur on this axis, as the major apse has a semi-circular wall bench where the sisters may gather, and at the end of the day they gather with guests at the statue to sing the Marian antiphon.

Where this monastic axis intersects the Eucharistic axis, in the centre of the church Minton tiles from the former church have been inlaid into the stone flooring. There the sisters will prostrate and then stand to profess their vows in continuity with those who have gone before and will come thereafter.

This omphalos, ‘naval’, is where sisters are born. Standing on these tiles, the sister’s body becomes the third axis of the church extending upwards; the axis mundi, ‘pole of the earth’, where women transcend their former selves to become sisters in a new communion. The sisters share communion here, abbesses are blessed, the infirm anointed and in death a sister will lie once again here as she awaits being raised up to eternal life.

Illumination, here, is the pre-eminent meaning of baptism, personal enlightenment. Both the guests and sisters’ entrances converge on baptismal waters filling a sky blue crystal bowl set upon a stone plinth as a memorial of baptism when we went down and rose up from the waters to walk in the light of Christ. This contemplative community is called to be generative of new life in its members and guests in different ways at each stage of their lives.

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Allowing God’s Word proclaimed to resonate within as without prompts the assembly to respond in life as in prayer. The sisters have constructed the first ambo in the UK since that of Westminster Cathedral a century ago. A lectern holds a book, but an ambo narrates the resurrection accounts as the context for the proclamation of all scripture. Early in the morning on the third day, when all seemed lost, the myrrhbearing women came to anoint the body of Jesus, in a final act of compassion. The Angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away, sat on it and announced to the women, that he is risen, go and tell the disciples.

Illumination and the resonant word lead finally to consummation at the wedding feast of the lamb, where believers consume the body and blood of Christ and so are drawn into a nuptial consummation, an intimate sharing in divine life and union with one another. These liturgical arrangements draw upon early but overlooked Christian traditions as to appear fresh.

The Abbey motto Consolamini, consolamini ‘Be consoled, be consoled’, echoes thrice in the art-work. The Mother and child statue, Christ the compassionate, Mary Magdalene meeting the Risen Lord, these three encompass the entire mystery of Christ and the Church’s mission to tell the good news.

Illumination, resonant word, consummation enhance the divine encounter, our sharing in divine life by becoming more fully human. At the dedication of a church, St Augustine said this building is the house of our prayer: we ourselves are the house of God. © Daniel McCarthy, OSB

Here, the round stone lies flat on the pavement as a dais on which stands a pillar from which the Gospel is proclaimed.

On its front is engraved an image of Mary Magdalene encountering the Risen Lord.

She faces towards the door, enjoining us to go and proclaim the good news. As at Westminster Cathedral, this ambo stands in the midst of the nave, between the sisters’ choir stalls and seating for the guests.

The book of the Gospels is carried in procession from the altar, following the course of the sun to the place of its midday intensity. There the lector mounts the ambo and stands facing with the rays of the sun shining across the church to proclaim the Gospel, the fourth axis of this church.

Dom Daniel McCarthy, OSB is a monk of St Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kansas, guest professor of Liturgy and Latin at KU Leuven and recently appointed to serve as a professor at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Rome. www.liturgyinstitute.org www.architectureforliturgy.com

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CAFOD Visiting CAFOD Projects in Zambia and Zimbabwe Westminster Record | October 2015

In August, Bishop John Arnold, in his role as Chair of Cafod, travelled to Zambia and Zimbabwe with Director Chris Bain to visit the agency’s projects in the region. He writes about some of his experiences during the nineday journey.

Our journey began in Zambia, a landlocked country with a population of 15 million, concentrated mainly around the capital Lusaka, one of the fastest-developing cities in Southern Africa, in the south and in the Copperbelt Province to the northwest.

In Lusaka, we visited the Archbishop, who lives in a compound called Pope's Square.

A warm-hearted individual who was strong in his praise of CAFOD, the Archbishop and I spoke about the challenges of Lusaka being such a fastgrowing city. He must create 16 parishes in new areas which are mainly shanty towns. He has one parish which has 60,000 Catholics served by two priests.

There are several more with over 40,000.

Our next visit took us to a ‘home-based care project’ in Nangoma, about 100 kms west of Lusaka. We were greeted by Fr Paul Mwanga, who is assisted by a curate and a seminarian on pastoral placement. He has care of this home-based project as well as 40 mission stations in the parish. They range across an area larger than the Diocese of Salford and many of them are a distance from any road. Between him and his curate, they visit each station at least once every two months. The stations are managed by lay leaders with help from catechists.

The home-based care project serves HIV victims. It has grown from a purely medical treatment centre to providing various levels of response, including education, prevention, medical care, stigma and awareness training, home care for the sick, and care for orphans. The project works closely with the Church and other churches to make sure priests and ministers are aware of those who become ill and housebound. It has 356 patients and 400 orphans, and runs a hospital and an HIV clinic.

My experience of Zambians is of courtesy and smiles, even from strangers. I hope that will not suffer too much in the race Page 20

for wealth and prosperity. I also heard a lot about the economic decline of Zimbabwe. The rains, which have disrupted Zambia, have also failed in Zimbabwe and the ‘bread basket of Africa’ is facing considerable agricultural decline. The poverty here in Zambia is all too evident.

Can Zambia's development include everyone in a way that it has failed to do elsewhere?

We journeyed to Livingstone where we met Bishop Raymond.

His diocese is enormous even though the majority of it was taken away to form a new diocese some 15 years ago. His furthest parish is 350 miles away. He has just 18 parishes in this wilderness, but many have between 30 and 50 mission stations. He has less than 40 priests and two of his parishes have no resident priests.

We are soon on the way to St Francis CICP, another homebased care project, run by Irish sisters. The Centre has a young and dedicated staff and group of volunteers. They serve various needs of HIV victims: prevention, treatment, psychiatric care, care of orphans, and offer credit loans. The organisation is meticulous; the office is full of charts explaining the work and recording results, with plans for future development.

The HIV crisis is changing. In the mid-1990s this place was handling up to five deaths per day and people were refusing to be tested and diagnosed because of the stigma attached.

Gradually the numbers of deaths have declined. The number of orphans is alarming

and, while they need care and schooling, they will later need apprenticeships and training.

The Centre has all the work projected and planned.

The staff showed us the kitchen gardens, where members, local youth and friends of the Centre have plots which they commit to till. The whole place is overseen by a professional market-gardener, who also acts as caretaker and security man. The crops were looking very good with careful irrigation from bore holes.

If there was a distressing part to the day, it was the evident poverty and squalor of the many places we saw. Most houses, made of brick, were tiny and without doors and windows.

The climate may be very favourable but the places were squalid, without sewerage, electricity or running water.

The worst workplace that we saw was a quarry, where hundreds of men, women and children were carrying rocks they had hacked off the quarry walls. They were sorting the stone into sizes, ranging from stone slabs, probably too heavy for one person, down to fine gravel used for cement. It is hard work in the intense heat of the Zambezi River valley.

The following day we met three local evangelical pastors.

There are some 15 different denominations in Livingstone and they are all part of a forum to discuss public health, and specifically education and treatment of HIV. They were aware of the need to marry prayer with good medical practice and to educate people

about testing and early diagnosis. They were also aware of the growing number of nonChristians who need to be drawn in to the discussion.

I am appalled by the poverty that traps so many people, but people have beaming smiles despite the conditions in which they live. Few have formal employment and most people earn just enough for the next meal, yet there is such kindness everywhere.

We cross into Zimbabwe where our guide, Super, is the director of Caritas Mwange.

The first project we visit is Macha Nutrition Garden, a kitchen garden comprising 45 members, 42 of whom are women. There were sunken beds, all full of fast-growing vegetables.

The next project, Lungwaiala Irrigation Scheme, came as a surprise. We simply stopped by the side of the road to see a single field of 110 hectares of highly organised crops: beans, maize, cabbage and several other vegetables. They are using a new method of irrigation and are pleased to have found a buyer for their entire surplus crop.

It was on to Lake Kariba, the largest man-lake and reservoir at 250 kms long and 40 kms wide at its widest point. The question remains as to why we are visiting water projects when there is so much water here.

We travelled to a CAFOD partner in Binga District in the arid Zambezi Encampment, which has created an artesian well. It was thought to be a bore hole but it obviously connected

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with water at a higher level in the hills and has been gushing out unceasingly for months. The people believe it to be a miracle!

It has allowed for a fine kitchen garden and certainly transformed the lives of some 2,000 people.

The next stop was just a few miles away in Silamuloba. We were back at the lakeside, inspecting a solar panel that powers a 7km pipeline from the lake, carrying water to reservoir tanks with taps in different villages and a local school. The effect has been enormous. The women had been walking as far as the seven kms every day for water. The lake has crocodiles and on more than one occasion in the last two years a child has been killed. The pipeline provides drinking water and new kitchen gardens and means villagers can feed their families and have surplus to sell. One village now has six fenced gardens and is prospering.

It’s on to Bulawayo where we met the Archbishop, Bishop Alex Thomas. The Church is very young here in Zimbabwe and he has just 89 priests, looking after 26 parishes in the city and 21 in the rural areas, each with its several mission stations. He spoke about the economic difficulties facing the people and was not too optimistic that there is a change for the better in the air. It was important that we met him, as he is the Chair of Caritas Zimbabwe, with whom CAFOD has had a long and fruitful partnership here and in Zambia.

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Social Action

Westminster Record | October 2015

Volunteering with CAFOD

Cycling for the Environment

On the August bank holiday weekend, fourteen cyclists set out from Westminster Cathedral to complete the first leg of the London to Paris Cycle Ride. They cycled from London to Newhaven, and were welcomed by parishes and communities during this three day trip. Phase Two will begin in late November, from Dieppe to Paris, to be present for the Paris Summit on Climate Change.

Cardinal Vincent sent a message of good wishes to all concerned. The organisers, Westminster Justice and Peace

Rachel Goldsmith

Commission, would like to thank all the groups and individuals who supported the venture.

This cycle ride is part of a worldwide effort to raise awareness of the importance of the Paris Summit. It is imperative that world leaders agree binding targets to reduce carbon emissions and seriously take on board the impacts of climate change. It is up to each individual and nation to act now and continue the work that many have been doing and the task of ensuring that we are responsible carers of God's creation.

Visiting CAFOD Projects (continued)

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I’ve spent the summer working with CAFOD as a media volunteer in the diocese and in the Campaigns and Media teams in CAFOD’s head office, Romero House in Lambeth. I study geography at university and I’ve always been interested in how humans interact with the environment, how we shape and are shaped by the world around us. The current CAFOD campaign, One Climate, One World, looks at just this; how the poorest people in our society are affected by climate change.

All the teams I’ve been working with have been really welcoming and there was never a shortage of things to do. I spent a lot of time writing blog posts, articles, and press releases; as well as getting some insight into how organisations interact with the media. This also gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about what CAFOD does around the world and the amazing things that UK supporters do to show their support.

As well as working in the offices, I’ve been able to attend On Sunday in Harare, it was very noticeable that Zimbabweans are church-goers.

There are so many churches and evangelical chapels and people often seem to have a religious uniform, with many women in the uniforms of their sodalities and associations.

Part of the journey in Chinoyi Diocese was through steep volcanic hills. The views were very impressive, with picturesque villages of round huts, a stark contrast to the tiny mud huts and high-density houses we had seen elsewhere.

The land has been much better for farming and, despite the hills, there were many more people settled here.

At St Aloysius Centre mission station at Mahuhwe we met Fr Goodluck Simoko, whose parish measures 145 kms by 85 kms and contains 65 mission stations.

He has just been given a curate and eight more mission stations over the border in Mozambique.

I wonder how a priest can even begin to handle marriages and

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a few CAFOD events. Fr Edu Gariguez, the executive secretary of Caritas Philippines and an inspiring environmental activist, visited in July and I was lucky enough to hear him speak at Romero House about the Philippines’ recovery after Typhoon Haiyan, and on other environmental projects and campaigns. A group of us took the current CAFOD Climate Petition to V-Festival where we spent the day talking to people about the links between climate change and poverty, and adding 560 signatures to

the total!

I feel so blessed to have spent my summer with CAFOD. I’ve been able to be a part of something meaningful and exciting while getting some much needed work experience.

I would really encourage anyone who’s interested in volunteering for CAFOD to give it a go; volunteers are vital and everyone can bring something new to the table.

If you’re interested, contact the Westminster team on 020 8449 6970 or at westminster@cafod.org.uk

funerals over such a distance, apart from providing monthly and pastoral oversight.

My abiding memories of this trip will be of the smiles of people who have clean water in their villages for the first time and are growing more than enough food for their families.

Poverty remains a painful reality, affecting so many. I also enjoyed meeting the bishops and priests who are so immersed in the social concerns of their communities. They are certainly hard working and so appreciated by their people.

And, as always, the most difficult part of any CAFOD trip is the return to a very materialistic world from witnessing extremes of poverty.

The annual Westminster Justice and Peace study day will take place on Saturday 17 October from 10.30am to 4pm at St John Vianney Parish Centre, 386 West Green Road, N15 3QL. The theme will be ‘Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home’ and the keynote speaker is Fr Sean McDonagh, an Irish Columban eco-theologian. Admission is free, donations are welcome. Bring lunch to share.

Page 21

Saints & Obituaries St Thérèse of Lisieux: 1 October There were remarkable crowd scenes around this country in 2009 when St Thérèse’s relics came here on tour. The chronology of her life hardly suggests that she had time to master the spiritual life, yet she did more than that, effecting a revolution in spirituality.

Born in 1873, she died in the Carmelite convent of Lisieux, just 24 years later. As a sensitive and much indulged child, her life might have gone horribly wrong. However, at a family Christmas celebration Thérèse, then 14 years old, experienced a moment of internal challenge which marked a conversion for her, both a turning away from self and a new self-giving to others. It was the first manifestation of that willpower which took her into the convent and then kept her there through dryness in prayer, her beloved father’s descent into insanity, her own deep desire for apostolic mission and, finally, a painful and drawn-out death.

This combination in Thérèse of willpower and self-giving is seen in her position within the community. As two of her sisters were already professed nuns there, it was decided that she should remain as a permanent novice, to allay concerns of a family takeover.

This was a sacrifice, but with a particular burden, since she was given the role of novice mistress, whilst lacking the outward authority that final profession and seniority would give. It says everything for Thérèse that she was able to fulfill the task and guide her charges in the novitiate effectively without encroaching in any way on the obvious authority of the Prioress and other Sisters.

Spiritually, she grew up in a generation when duty and the fear of God were much stressed. But, early in her religious life, a retreat given by a Franciscan encouraged her into a different perspective, a

Fr Joseph Gabiola RIP Fr Joseph Gabiola died on 10 September aged 87. Fr Joseph was a priest of Opus Dei who served in Britain for almost 40 years, 27 of them living in the Diocese of Westminster. For a number of years he acted as a judge on the diocesan tribunal.

Born in Bilbao, Spain, he helped to start Opus Dei in Nigeria and

Kenya, where he was involved in starting the country’s first ever multi-racial school, Strathmore College. He also served as the Prelature’s Regional Vicar in India. His life was marked by fidelity to his vocation and readiness to go wherever he was sent.

May he rest in peace.

Fr Raymond Legge RIP Fr Raymond Legge died peacefully on 25 August in the local hospital in Hillcrest, South Africa.

Born in November 1942 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Fr Raymond offered himself for service to the diocese as a priest having had a successful career in banking.

He was ordained to the priesthood on 30 June 1995 by Cardinal Basil Hume. Fr Raymond’s first appointment was as assistant priest at St John Fisher, North Harrow. In 1996 he was appointed to St Mary Magdalen, Willesden Green, and in 1999 to St Joseph’s, Wembley. Fr Raymond remained there until 2001 before being appointed Page 22

parish priest at Our Lady, Queen of All Creation in Hemel Hempstead East.

Fr Raymond’s health began to deteriorate and he needed surgery in April 2002. His commitment to the priesthood and to service of God and the people entrusted to his care sustained Fr Raymond for several years until failing health caused him to seek early retirement from active ministry.

He was given permission to leave the diocese to return to South Africa in October 2014 to live alongside his brother Ken and Rose, Ken’s wife, in Hillcrest, Kwazulu, Natal in South Africa.

May he rest in peace.

discernment of the overwhelming love of God expressed in Jesus’ incarnate life. Thus, as she struggled to find the meaning of her vocation in Carmel, St Paul’s hymn to love in I Corinthians 13 expressed everything for her. It was not a question of choosing this, rather than that, for there is only one choice to be made. As she puts it: ‘I’ve found my vocation; my vocation is love’. The simplicity of Thérèse’s Little Way is the doing of every act in love. That in itself is quite sufficient, for then God is present in every moment of our lives.

The working out of this, of course, is not easy and it was only with her death that it really became clear to her Sisters in Carmel how Thérèse had lived this out, in the acts of unseen kindness, in the complete willingness to undertake whatever was asked of her, in the willpower that

Westminster Record | October 2015

restrained every temptation to criticise. Another saint of Carmel, John of the Cross, tells us that where there is not love we must put love and then we shall find love. St Thérèse so filled the Carmel of Lisieux with love that it continues to flow out from there into all the world.

Fr Norman Wrigley RIP Fr Norman died on 27 August at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow.

Norman Wrigley was born in Prestwich, Manchester in April 1936. In 1960 he began studies in theology at King’s College, London and then Warminster Theological College to train for ministry in the Church of England. He ministered as an Anglican Clergyman from 1964 to 1972 in Manchester, Oldham and Ruislip.

Norman knew that his true calling was to be a Catholic, and to minister as a Catholic Priest. He was Received in 1972 and, having trained at Allen Hall, was ordained as a Catholic priest at St Joan of Arc, Highbury on 11 July 1981.

Fr Norman’s first appointment was to St Mary’s,

East Finchley. After two years he was appointed assistant priest at Chiswick. In 1985 Fr Norman became parish priest at Royston where he served until 1996. Following this he served as chaplain to the Carmelites in Wolverhampton and returned to the diocese in 2003 as parish priest at Baldock.

After a couple of years his health began to decline and he asked for permission to retire from the responsibilities of full time parish ministry. He was cared for by the Sisters of Providence, Baldock until he moved to the parish flat in North Harrow, and was able to give assistance with Mass and Confessions. In 2014 he moved to St Vincent’s Nursing Home, Pinner.

May he rest in peace.

In Memoriam: October 2 Canon Des Sheehan (2004) 5 Fr John Fleming (1974) Fr Walter Meyjes (1987) 6 Fr Denis Murphy (1999) 7 Fr Thomas Daniel (1984) Canon Peter Phillips (2014) 8 Fr Thomas Allan (1982) 10 Fr Norman Fergusson (1986) Fr Arthur Moraes (2008) 11 Fr Joseph Davey (1970) 12 Fr James Finn (1977) Canon John P Murphy (1989) 14 Fr Henry Bryant (1972) Fr John Woods (2002) Fr Barry Carpenter (2012) 16 Mgr Canon Terence Keenan (1984) 18 Fr John Eveleigh Woodruff (1976) Fr John Murphy (2005) 19 Fr John Farrell (1983) 21 Fr Richard Berry (1989) 22 Fr David Cullen (1974) Fr Herbert Keldany (1988) Fr Ben Morgan (2005) 23 Fr Joseph O’Hear (1970) Fr Joe Gibbons (2002) Fr Dermot McGrath (2012) 24 Fr John Halvey (1990) Fr Ken Dain (2010) 25 Fr Andrew Moore (1994) Fr John Kearney (2007) 26 Fr John Clayton (1992) Fr George Talbot (2004) 27 Fr Colin Kilby (1985) 29 Canon Leo Ward (1970) Fr Joseph Eldridge (1993) 30 Canon William Gordon (1976) 31 Fr William Dempsey (2008) St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club meets on every Sunday for walks around London and the Home Counties.

Contact by email: antoinette_adkins2000@yahoo .co.uk, call 020 8769 3643 or check out the website: www.stfrancisramblers. ukwalkers.com

Free Catholic Tours ‘Saints and Scholars’ walk first Sunday of the month,

Fr Pat Lyons RIP As the Record was going to press, we heard the sad news of the death of Fr Pat Lyons on 19 September. His obituary will be in the next edition.

May he rest in peace.

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including Mass.

Contact Peter on 07913 904997 or circlingthesquaretours@ hotmail.co.uk.

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Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | October 2015

REGULAR EVENTS

Liturgical Calendar - October

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

1 Thu

St Thérèse of the Child of Jesus, Virgin & Doctor

2 Fri

The Holy Guardian Angels; Friday Abstinence

Prayer Groups

3 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

SUNDAYS 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.

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

All are welcome.

TUESDAYS 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 first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Email: penny28hb@aol.com or just come along.

WEDNESDAYS 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.

Our Lady, Untier of Knots, Prayer Group of Intercession meets every third Wednesday at St Anselm & St Cecilia, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Parish Mass at 6pm followed by Prayer Group until 8.45pm. Rosary, Adoration, Silent prayer and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Email: Antonia antonia4161@gmail.com.

THURSDAYS

4 Sun

+ 27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

5 Mon

feria, Twenty-Seventh Week of Year 1

6 Tue

feria or St Bruno, Priest

7 Wed

Our Lady of the Rosary

8 Thu

feria

9 Fri

feria or Blessed John Henry Newman, Priest or St Denis, Bishop and Companions, Martyrs or St John Leonardi, Priest; Friday Abstinence

10 Sat

feria or St Paulinus of York, Bishop or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

11 Sun

+ 28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

12 Mon

feria, Twenty-Eight Week of Year 1 or St Wilfrid, Bishop

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.

13 Tue

ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR, Patron of the Diocese

14 Wed

feria or St Callistus I, Pope & Martyr

15 Thu 16 Fri

St Teresa of Jesus, Virgin & Doctor

FRIDAYS

22 Thu

feria or St John Paul II, Pope

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 meet every Friday 7.30pm Prayer, Praise and Teaching.

First Friday is a healing Mass. For details, please call 020 8748 2632.

23 Fri

feria or St John of Capistrano, Priest; Friday Abstinence

24 Sat

feria or St Antony Mary Claret, Bishop or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

25 Sun

+ 30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

26 Mon

feria, Thirtieth Week of Year 1, or Sts Chad and Cedd, Bishops

27 Tue

feria

28 Wed

STS SIMON and JUDE, Apostles

29 Thu

Blessed Martyrs of Douai College

30 Fri

feria; Friday Abstinence

31 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

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

An all-night prayer vigil for peace for Iraq and Syria will take place on 16 October at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church. The vigil is organised

by Churches Together in Westminster and will be an opportunity to raise prayers, awareness and funds for those affected by the situation in the Middle East. The vigil will begin at 10pm, but there will be music and discovery beforehand from 7.30pm.

A candlelit procession in honour of Our Lady of Willesden will take place on 11 October at 7pm beginning at the Shrine of Our Lady, 1 Nicoll Road, Willesden NW10 9AX. Come and witness to the faith and pray for the protection of London. There will be time for Adoration and Benediction will take place at 8.30pm. For more information, please contact Fr Stephen Willis, Rector of the Shrine at willesden@rcdow.org.uk.

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17 Sat

feria or St Hedwig, Religious or St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin, Friday Abstinence St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr

18 Sun

+ 29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

19 Mon

feria, Twenty-Ninth Week of Year 1, or Sts John de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs or St Paul of the Cross, Priest

20 Tue

feria

21 Wed

feria

A Lourdes reunion Mass for all pilgrims and volunteers is held on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:35pm in the Cathedral crypt chapel (entrance via Choir School Gate on Ambrosden Avenue) with a social gathering after Mass at the Windsor Castle.

For further details contact Gerald Daly at the Pilgrimage Office on 020 7798 9173.

Praying with Pope Francis - October 2015 Universal Intention: Human trafficking - That human trafficking, the modern form of slavery, may be eradicated.

For Evangelisation: Mission in Asia - That with a missionary spirit the Christian communities of Asia may announce the Gospel to those who are still awaiting it.

The third annual Guild of Our Lady of Ransom lecture will be held at the social centre of St James’s Church, Spanish Place at 7pm on Wednesday 21 October.

Gerard Kilroy of University College London will speak on ‘St Edmund Campion: A Saint for Our Time’.

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Other regular Masses Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm at Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QW. Young Adults Mass Held every Sunday at Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. Quiet prayer 7.15pm, Mass 7.30pm.

Social gathering afterwards.

Contact: team@fsplus.info or visit www.fsplus.info.

Mass at Canary Wharf Held on Tuesdays at 12.30pm at 2 Churchill Place E14 5RB. Organised by Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, Chaplain to Canary Wharf Communities. Details www.cwcc.org.uk.

St Albans Abbey Fridays at 12 noon. Mass in the Lady Chapel of St Albans Abbey AL1 1BY. LGBT Catholics Westminster Mass 2nd & 4th Sundays 6.15pm, Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street, W1K 3AH. Contact: lgbtcatholicswestminster@gmail. com EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASSES Sundays: Low Mass 9.30am, St James Spanish Place W1U 3QY. Low Mass 9am, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 5pm, St Bartholomew, St Albans AL1 2PE. Low Mass 5.30pm, Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, NW10 9AX. Mondays: Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Low Mass, 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Fridays: Low Mass 7.45am St Mary Moorfields, 4/5 Eldon Street EC2N 7LS. Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1N 6RY. First Friday only.

Low Mass 6pm St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Road E9 7SF. First Friday only.

Low Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Second Friday only.

Saturdays: Low Mass 12.15pm, St Wilfrid’s Chapel, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 4.30pm, Side Chapel, Westminster Cathedral SW1P 1QW. Second Saturday only.

Faith Matters Question Time will consider the question, ‘The Refugee Crisis: How Does Britain Respond?’ at Farm Street Church Hall (114 Mount Street, W1K 3AH) on 20 October from 6.30 to 8.30pm. On the panel will be: Isobel Owen (International Development, Anglican Alliance), Rob Flello (MP for Stoke South), Prof Lamin Sanneh (Professor of Interreligious Dialogue, Yale University), Julia Wickham (Middle East consultant), and Revd Lucy Winkett (Rector, St James’, Piccadilly).

All are welcome to an evening of lively panel debate on this important matter of faith and life today. Recommended donation is £7. Booking is essential via www.mountstreet.info Page 23

Tradition

Westminster Record | October 2015

Nostra Aetate: Transforming Our Understanding of Other Faiths © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

This is an abridged version of a paper presented by Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Chairman of the Bishops’ Conference Committee for Relations with the Jews and Director of the Office for Interreligious Relations.

‘Big things often come in small packages, and revolutions can come about from the smallest of beginnings. Nostra Aetate is not a long document, nor a complicated one, but it transformed the Church’s understanding of other religions.

In judging how great a transformation, it is important to remember what went before; the Catholic Church had seen itself as the sole repository of truth, a fortress against a sinful and godless world, summed up in the terrifying and absolute sentence: ‘There is no salvation outside the Church.’

Nostra Aetate simply, but comprehensively, rewrites Catholicism’s relation to other faiths. It begins by pointing out, very matter-of-factly, that humanity is drawing closer together, and as part of this the Church needs to consider itself in relation to other faiths. What unites us, at base, is anthropology – that is, what we are in relation to God. All people are created by God, and he is their ultimate goal.

Within this dynamic, religions of whatever sort are seeking to answer basic questions as to who we are, how we should behave, what meaning (if any) suffering has, and what is going to happen to us when we die.

But people want more than this. Nostra Aetate argues that certain religions have developed sophisticated answers to these timeless questions. It gives two examples: Hinduism makes abundant use of myth and philosophy to explain our place in the world, and invokes asceticism and meditation to rise above worldly suffering; Buddhism recognises that this world is conditional and imperfect, and directs its followers to liberation, or illumination. Basically, says the declaration, these and other Page 24

religions seek to quell the restlessness of the human heart (cue St Augustine). Then Nostra Aetate drops its bombshell, which needs to be quoted in full: ‘The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions.’ Far from dismissing them, as in the past, the Church sees what is good in them as reflecting God’s truth: although, of course, it can never compromise or downplay the unique role of Christ. But the point is that the good aspects of other religions are to be encouraged, and Catholics are urged to engage with their adherents with the aim of fostering these good elements, which are reflections of Christ’s truth.

Having made its general points, Nostra Aetate singles out two faith groups. Muslims are mentioned first, as worshippers with us of the one true God (a point of contemporary relevance in arguments about the use of the name ‘Allah’). Islam recognises the covenant with Abraham, and although they do not acknowledge the divine personhood of Christ, they hold him in esteem as a prophet, and particularly reverence Mary. Islam, moreover, shares many moral elements in common with the Church. Of course, our relationship has been fraught for centuries, with Crusades, jihads, persecutions, and expulsions. The declaration urges Christians and Muslims to consider what they have in common, and look rather to the future.

The heart of Nostra Aetate concerns the Jewish people. Here in a few paragraphs, the declaration puts to rest years of condemnation, persecution and anti-semitism.

Firstly, it stresses our common origin in the covenant with Abraham, and notes that through the centuries, this covenant as set forth in the Old Testament foreshadowed and pointed towards the Church of the New Covenant. Thus, the Jewish people are revered as the transmitters of the God’s promise to us, and the stock onto which we the people of the New Covenant (what are called strikingly the ‘wild shoots’!) are grafted. The document reminds us that Christ, not to mention the Virgin Mary and the apostles, were

all of Jewish stock. Of course, most of the Jewish people did not accept Christ and his message, but God holds them dear and (in a lovely phrase based in St Paul) does not repent of the gifts he makes to them. Continuing to re-write centuries of negative judgement, Nostra Aetate states importantly that the Jews as a whole are not responsible for the death of Christ,

Published by The Diocese of Westminster, Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QJ. Printed by Trinity Mirror, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EP. All rights reserved.

and the existence of the Church does not mean that they are rejected or accursed. Anti-semitism, especially, is forbidden by the law of love in Christ himself, and our teaching about Christ’s death must correctly emphasise not the actions of some of the Jewish people, but rather his infinite love that overcomes human sin.

Nostra Aetate sums up its

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message: since we believe that all men and women are brothers and sisters in virtue of our likeness to God, our very faith excludes discrimination, particularly because of race, colour or religion. It is by living in peace with all men and women that we truly show ourselves to be sons and daughters of God.

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