Westminster Record - September 2015

Westminster Record

September 2015 | 20p

Bishop Calls for Action over Migrant Crisis

Schools Buck National Trend to Excel in A Levels Page 6

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The Diversity of the Eastern Catholic Churches Page 20

Cherishing Life in Lourdes On the Day for Life on 26 July, we were reminded of Pope Francis’ words that 'it is a great lie to try and convince people that life lived with serious illness is not worth living'.

The Day for Life this year coincided with the arrival of Westminster pilgrims in Lourdes and it is here, perhaps most poignantly and visibly, that we are reminded of the value of human life in the face of suffering and illness. In his homily at the opening Mass, Cardinal Vincent said: ‘We ask God this evening for the grace to use the good things that pass so as to be prepared for those that last forever. The life we have in this world is this good, so good, but it will pass.

And then we will enter a life that lasts forever through the doorway of death’.

This ‘is why we oppose those who wish to pass laws assisting suicide, giving people the right to die when they want. One person's right to die is somebody else's duty to kill. We do not accept that.

We both cherish life until its end and we embrace death’.

Throughout the week in Lourdes, barriers that normally impede interaction back at home disappeared.

Young and old shared food and drink; social and cultural boundaries were transcended and the social norms of the busy metropolis of the capital were discarded for a brief, but powerful, experience of grace and love in the beautiful Marian shrine. The Redcaps saw beyond the illness of the malades and responded to the

person, not their illness.

In turn, the older pilgrims extended a hand of friendship to the Redcaps through their stories and good humour. The value of life, despite its various difficulties and suffering, was recognised as the sound of clinking glasses, laughter and song rang out through the Pyrenean hills.

Lourdes is a powerful reminder of the value of life.

Through service and

companionship, the malades witnessed the care of Christ working through the young adults and helpers who accompanied them throughout the week.

As Cardinal Vincent said in his opening homily: ‘We pray that we will always cherish life and defend life from its beginning to its natural end and we pray that we will be ready, when our moment comes, to go to the Lord and enter a life that lasts forever.’

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Westminster Record | September 2015

Healing and Our Church at the centre of the community, embodying Pope Francis’ call to ‘reinstate the marginalised’.

This message is central to the gospel, and was strongly reinforced by Cardinal Vincent in his powerful homily at Lourdes, saying that even in the face of serious illness we ‘cherish life until its end and we embrace death’. That is something for us all to proclaim ever louder, as this month sees Saints Cosmas and Damian, the debate and vote on the whom we celebrate towards Assisted Suicide Bill in the end of the month, are the Parliament. patron saints of physicians and There are also heavenly surgeons, and set a medical healers to look after us; tone for this edition of September concludes with the Westminster Record. feast of the Guardian Angels Most significantly, we report who protect us in general and on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to who, in the case of St Raphael, Lourdes and interview Dr Siân actually dispense medicine, Davies, the lead physician on unappealing as it may seem. the pilgrimage. One of the most The East Window of St Mary of life-giving aspects of that the Angels in Bayswater annual time in Lourdes is the contains one of the finest work and dedication of the depictions of these heavenly Redcaps, and the contributions guardians in the diocese, and from Gumley House in naturally the parish priest, Mgr Isleworth, St Mark’s School in Keith Barltrop, has written on Hounslow, and the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Willesden are the angels for us. May they continue to guard you all on well worth celebrating. your pilgrimage through life.

One of the most powerful aspects of Lourdes is the way that all life is held precious and, indeed, that the most vulnerable and sick are placed

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

www.rcdow.org.uk

where new stories are posted daily.

Pax Christi Marks Atom Bombings

Pax Christi marked the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 by Page 2

displaying its Icon of Peace in the Cathedral’s Chapel of St Patrick between 3 and 17 August.

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The Icon, written in the Monastery of St John in the Desert, near Jerusalem, was gifted to Pax Christi International in 1999. It illustrates a number of Biblical scenes, at the centre of which is the reconciliation between Esau and Jacob. This narrative illustrates both the harm we can do to one another and the new depth of understanding and peace that can be created through forgiveness.

Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi said: 'We are delighted that the Cathedral will host the Icon and have chosen this moment which marks the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the anniversary of the end of World War II. Both remind us of the constant need to challenge the causes of war and work for peace. The Icon and its message contribute deeply to this call for peacemaking.’

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News Cardinal Calls for Respect for Religious Freedom Westminster Record | September 2015

Cardinal Vincent called for religious belief to 'be respected and seen as a vital resource’ in a sermon delivered on 22 July at the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London.

The Cardinal said: ‘Whenever the state sees itself, or indeed is, under threat, the question of religious freedom surfaces.’ However, he noted that religious freedom is ‘fundamental to the raft of freedoms we so cherish’.

Cardinal Vincent said that religious freedom has a duty to ‘respect the human dignity of every person’ as flowing directly from the ‘duty of religion to the Creator’.

Speaking of the Prime Minister’s recent mention of extremism as an ‘ideology which glorifies violence and subjugates people’, the Cardinal added: ‘We must see this for what it is and work hard to defeat it in all its expressions’.

He suggested that religious belief, on the other hand, should be seen as a ‘vital

resource’ in public life.

Referring to ‘the remarkable achievements of this country’, he pointed to the foundation and nurturing of ‘British values’ as the ‘long effort to express in practice the treasures of our JudeoChristian heritage’.

Similarly ‘the religions now present in this country will find their place when they sense that they have a real contribution to make to our public and shared life, a positive contribution which goes beyond demonstrating their support for “British values”’.

In this vein, Cardinal Vincent called for a conversation that ‘appreciates and explores positively the place of religious faith in true citizenship’, as the building of a stable foundation for society ‘needs the best from everyone’. The sermon was delivered at Choral Evensong anticipating the Patronal Feast day of St Peter ad Vincula on 1 August.

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Bishop Lynch Urges Action over Migrant Crisis In response to the migrant crisis across Europe which has escalated during the summer, Bishop Patrick Lynch, the bishop with responsibility for migrants, released this statement on behalf of the Catholic Church in England and Wales on 8 August.

‘I am deeply concerned over the deepening humanitarian crisis involving thousands of migrants unfolding in Calais. The crisis has developed over a decade and challenges us all, both as Christians and as Europeans.

We must face up to this reality at various levels.

‘First, in solidarity with the most vulnerable migrants, we recognise the local pastoral, humanitarian, and compassionate response from the French Church and call on the French authorities to redouble their efforts in providing adequate reception facilities for migrants. We

acknowledge the work done by faith organisations in France and the UK, together with charities, agencies and the great generosity of families and individuals to the relief efforts.

The task is immense and their contributions are most valued.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales will be making a material contribution to those efforts.

‘Secondly, at an international level, we are aware that the answer to the current migrant crisis lies beyond Calais. Estimates from the UNCHR indicate that “in the first six months of this year, 137,000 refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea, travelling in terrible conditions in unsafe boats and dinghies”.

The 2014 estimate for the same period was 75,000. Therefore in addition to addressing the humanitarian needs of the increasing numbers of

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migrants undertaking this treacherous journey we must examine the root causes of current migration from North Africa and the Middle East across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

‘Thirdly, we must face up to the shared responsibility of making the world a better and safer environment to live in.

We must examine as a matter of urgency the arms trade that fuels armed conflict and civil war, climate change, unjust economic policies, poverty and corruption as some of the underlying causes of this fundamental global trend. The safety of vulnerable women and children who may fall prey to smugglers and human traffickers is paramount and must be addressed.

‘Finally, the current migration crisis is complex and there are no easy solutions for governments, non–governmental

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organisations, faith groups and charities working on the field. However, governments, charities and humanitarian aid agencies should be encouraged to work together for a collaborative international response to the challenge in partnership with the countries of origin.

Counries of origin must recognise that ‘the defence of migrants rights’ is viable and effective when based on a firm foundation of legal norms, and operates under the rule of law. (Caritas Europa 2009)’.

As we go to press, parishes in the Diocese are playing their part to help migrants.

There have been collections in the parishes of Pimlico, Kenton, Notre Dame de France, Tollington Park, Manor House and Hanwell and we expect more parishes will be prompted to help in the coming days and weeks.

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News

Westminster RecordRecord September 20112015 Westminster | September

Missionaries of St Paul Entrusted with Hatfield Parishes

L-R: Fr John Eze, Cardinal Vincent and Fr Eustace Durugbo, Missionary Superior

On 24 July the parishes of Marychurch with St Thomas More and St Peter in Hatfield were entrusted to the care of the Missionary Society of St Paul after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Cardinal Vincent, Mgr Martin Hayes, Vicar General, and priests from the Order.

The Missionary Society of St Paul originated in Nigeria and was formed to help heal the ethnic and cultural divisions that existed following the end of the civil war in 1970.

Speaking about the history of the order, Fr John Eze, the new

Parish Priest, said that this charism of unity and overcoming divisions appealed to many in Africa and meant that the Society’s seminary soon became popular with Bishops from dioceses outside Nigeria.

The missionary zeal of the Society has led to their ministry extending beyond Nigeria to 16 countries globally. On this subject Fr John said: ‘being a missionary is not about taking God to the people, God is already there’.

Speaking about the Hatfield parishes Fr John said that spending time listening to

parishioners and seeing how the Church can help them would be key. He has visited the school and churches and felt that it was a ‘great place with great people who I’m looking forward to getting to know better.’

Prior to his appointment Fr John served at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, until 2009; since then he has been Parish Priest of St Pius X Church in Norbiton in South London. Fr John will be assisted by Fr Livinus Onyebuchi, who will also serve as the Catholic Chaplain to the University of Hertfordshire.

Bridgettines Publish Syon Breviary in English

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Last month Cardinal Vincent attended celebrations at Syon House to mark the 600th anniversary of the founding of Syon Abbey by the Bridgettine order in 1415 under King Henry V. Throughout its history the Abbey was one of the most respected and virtuous religious communities in England and even had favour among King Henry VIII’s pre-Reformation advisers. It also survived the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I by going into exile, returning to a new Syon Abbey in Devon in the 19th century. This finally closed in 2011.

The Bridgettine Sisters have their own unique Daily Office of Our Lady, partly composed by St Bridget herself while she was living in Rome from 1349-1373. This Syon Breviary, formerly used only in Latin and within the churches of the Order, has finally been published in English.

The hardback edition, commemorating Syon Abbey’s 600th anniversary, is now available. The Syon Breviary costs £45 and the 'popular edition' is £29.95. Add £4 for post & packing. For full details and to order, visit www.syonbreviary.co.uk or call the distributors on 01752 202301.

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News

Westminster Record | September 2015

St James’ Celebrates 125th Anniversary

© Harry Smith

Harefield Parish Priest Wing Walks for New Pews

Archbishop Longley presides at Mass in Spanish Place’s magnificent sanctuary

On Saturday 25 July Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham and former Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass at St James’, Spanish Place, to mark the parish’s Patronal Feast day in the year of the present church’s 125th anniversary.

The parish’s renowned choir sang works by Elgar, Mozart and

Bach during the Mass.

Particularly striking was Elgar’s Ecce Sacerdos Magnus, sung as Archbishop Bernard was solemnly received into the church.

Speaking after the Mass, the Rector of the parish, Fr Christopher Colven, said: ‘We are very grateful for all those who travelled to visit us for our Feast of Title on Saturday and all who

made the occasion so joyful and grace-filled. It is always fun to meet new friends and reacquaint ourselves with old ones.

We hope to see everyone again on 29 September for our Anniversary Mass’.

The Anniversary Mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, His Excellency Julián Barrio Barrio.

Hendon Parishioner Recognised in Catholic Women of the Year Awards In August the four recipients of the Catholic Women of the Year Award for 2015 were announced. Among them was Monica Cleaver from the parish of Our Lady of Dolours, Hendon, who organises and leads youth work, including involvement in the nationwide ‘Flame’ project. She runs the First Holy Communion, Confirmation and RCIA classes and started a regular faith sharing group. A befriending scheme for lonely and housebound people and sick and handicapped parishioners travelling to Lourdes have also benefitted

from her help. Her nominating letter described her as a ‘well liked and loved parishioner, involved in everything. She is always approachable’.

Fr Dominic Byrne, Parish Priest of Hendon, commented that Monica makes a unique contribution to the parish and that her work is valued and appreciated by all members of the parish community.

In a tradition dating back over 40 years, Catholic women are chosen from among nominations sent in from across England and Wales.

The choice is made by secret ballot among a committee

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When seeking to raise funds for new seating in the church, Fr Jim Mulligan, Parish Priest of St Paul, Harefield, unsurprisingly looked to the heavens for inspiration. His method of fundraising, however, was far from typical, as he decided to wing walk the span of a World War Two Boeing Stearman biplane to help the parish reach its target.

The feat took place at Chiltern Park Aerodrome in Oxfordshire on 25 July, raising over £2,000 towards the £14,000 target.

After the flight Fr Jim spoke of how relieved he felt and said to his parishioners who had come along to the aerodrome to support him: ‘Wow! That would be hair-raising - if I had any hair!’

He has previously reached for the skies in his fundraising efforts, including a 12,000ft parachute jump to raise money for St Mary’s Hospital Chapel, Paddington.

If you would like to support his efforts, please email: harefield@rcdow.org.uk.

made up of representatives of various Catholic groups and organisations. The aim is to honour the ‘unsung heroines’ of the Church and to celebrate the service they give.

This year's Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon will be held on 23 October at the Thistle Hotel at London's Marble Arch, and the speaker will be Fr Alexander Sherbrooke, Parish Priest of St Patrick's Church in Soho.

Further more information on the 2015 Catholic Women of the Year and for tickets to the Luncheon, please contact Jan Woodford on 01920 420758.

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Schools News

Westminster Record | September 2015

Diocesan Students Celebrate ‘A’ Level Success

Successful students from Gumley House, Hounslow, waving their result sheets.

Students at diocesan schools are celebrating success after receiving their ‘A’ Level exam results on 13 August. Among the schools that the Record has heard from: • St Augustine’s Priory in Ealing is toasting a 100% pass rate.

There were also outstanding AS results with a high number of A grades in subjects including Drama, Economics, History, and Government and Politics.

Several students have achieved 100% in units in Mathematics, English Literature and Creative Writing.

• St Edmund's College in Ware is celebrating some of its best-ever grades, especially in the Sciences and Humanities. 41% of all grades were awarded at A*/A, up from last 32% last year and just shy of 70% A*-B. Headmaster Paulo Durán said: ‘No two students are alike, but I want each and every one at St Edmund's to feel that they can

have it all, that they can achieve excellent results and go on to exciting and challenging courses and careers, but do so always in the context of a Catholic, holistic view of education that always seeks to value each and every individual and enable him or her to find their particular talents.’

• Gumley House School in Hounslow also boasts a 100% pass rate. Students have achieved their desired universities to study a wide range of subjects: from languages to Economics, Politics and English.

Headteacher Ewa Kolczynska said: ‘These results, once again, are a tribute to our students’ focus, ambition and hard work led by the exceptional teaching expertise and support of our Sixth Form staff. I would like to congratulate all of our students on their successes’.

Bishop Challoner students celebrating success

Students at St Edmund’s College with Headmaster Paulo Durán Page 6

• Bishop Challoner School in Tower Hamlets reached record levels in another year of improvement with an overall A*-C rate of over 80% and a 100% rate of A*-E grades.

Heads of Sixth Form Andrew Warburton and Helen Livermore praised the effort of the 2015 students, saying: ‘We’re delighted that yet again so many of our students have performed so well.’ The BTEC students have also had an excellent year with another set of outstanding results, with places secured at Birmingham, Queen Mary, and Liverpool Universities.

• Bishop Douglass School in East Finchley achieved its best ever results with a 99% pass rate including 82% of the grades at A*-C and 65% at A*-B. The Chair of Governors, Mike Veal, said he was ‘over the moon.

The success of our Russell Group support programme, overseen by our new Head of Sixth Form, Ms Wilkhu, is evident. A quarter of our students got offers from top universities and more than four-fifths overall secured A*-C grades’.

• The Chair of Governors of St Thomas More School in Wood Green, John Meadows, expressed his delight at the results: ‘Our joint heads of Sixth Form, Messrs Saunders and Abdou, have overseen an increase in the overall pass rate with 99% of students securing pass grades this year. The A*-C pass rate was 82%, marginally down from last year but still very strong. I am confident that this will maintain our position as one of the highest achieving Sixth Forms in the area.’

• St Benedict’s School, Ealing, achieved a total pass rate of 99.4%, increasing the percentage of both A* (10%) and A*-A grades (37.6%).

Headmaster Chris Cleugh said: ‘I am delighted that our percentage of the top grades is up on last year. I congratulate our students who have worked hard to achieve these excellent results and I thank the teaching staff for their professionalism and dedication.’

As we went to press, schools from around the diocese were also reporting in with their GCSE successes.

Congratulations to students at all our schools for their achievements.

Happy students at St Thomas More School, Wood Green

Successful students at St Benedict’s School, Ealing

Results, relief and joy at St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing

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Schools News

Westminster Record | September 2015

Newman College Students on the Camino On Friday 10 July eight students and two teachers from Newman Catholic College left for Spain to walk the Camino, the Pilgrim Way to the city of Santiago de Compostela and the shrine of St James the Apostle. Here, they relate the story of their journey.

Our walk began in Sarria, where we collected our pilgrim passports and had the first of many fine meals before beginning the 112km walk to our final destination.

We began gently with just 4km to cover before we stopped at our first hostel in Brabadelo.

The second day was the first full day of walking. Our 17km walk to Portomarin was the first real taste of the difficulties of the Camino, but we embraced the walk and arrived in the early afternoon.

Our next hostel was different from the first, with nearly 100 beds in a single huge room, a far cry from the luxury of Brabadelo.

Day three was tough, with 27km covered towards Palas de Rei. All the boys managed to walk the full distance though. We arrived at the Albergue, ate enjoyably and slept very well.

Day four took us on to Melide with a 15km walk, and day five with even less, just 13km. These last two days were a real challenge, with tiredness and aching legs contributing to low morale. If we could just get to Pedrouzo, 18km from Santiago, we would

be okay. So we pressed on and, despite serious problems with one teacher’s knee, we arrived and had a good evening.

The last day of walking raised our spirits high, as we passed through an amazingly beautiful and calm eucalyptus forest. We arrived in Santiago, admired the scaffolding covering the cathedral and greeted the Apostle.

Overall the trip was a very memorable experience for students and staff and one that the boys will no doubt remember and, perhaps, repeat in the years to come.

CVMS Launches Digital Archive On Wednesday 19 August the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School launched a Digital Archive as part of its ongoing centenary commemorations.

The archive contains hundreds of original documents and photographs from the Vaughan’s history, including the school’s historic magazines, prayer books and event programmes. Punishment books and team photographs

are also included, as well as the WWII evacuation plans to Windsor during the Blitz.

A team of volunteer archivists has spent months sourcing items from the school’s collection and external archives such as the National Archives and the British Library.

The Digital Archive can be accessed through the School’s website: www.cvms.co.uk.

St Colomba’s Staff and Students Get on their Bikes St Columba’s College, St Albans, has been challenging students and teachers to take to their bikes for CAFOD annually for nine years. This year’s event took place on Saturday 27 June and was the biggest yet, with 30 students and a group of staff taking part and together raising £800.

Joe Tatham, the school’s charity co-ordinator, said: ‘It was a beautiful day in the Hertfordshire countryside for

our riders to tackle the off-road terrain, forest paths and fords over the 45 km route. Thank you to the staff who took part and to Brother Paul in the support vehicle who had to deal with a few punctures.’

Joe explained how else the school offers support: ‘We dedicate a week in our pastoral programme, usually at the end of September in preparation for the CAFOD Fast Day. If we aren’t fund-raising, then we

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are either campaigning or at least showing solidarity through prayer.’

As well as using CAFOD resources in lessons, students and staff run their own events and initiatives ranging from cake sales and a bucket brigade for Nepal to a group of Sixth Form students heading into London to take part in the 17 June #fortheloveof climate change lobby.

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News

Westminster Record | September 2015

On 15 August, the 98th anniversary of Blessed Oscar Romero's birth, hundreds of people from across Britain gathered in St George's Cathedral, Southwark, for the National Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the life, martyrdom and beatification of the former Archbishop of San Salvador.

The Mass was concelebrated

by Cardinal Cormac MurphyO'Connor with three bishops and 14 other priests. The Cardinal wore a red chasuble brought back from the beatification in San Salvador which had been specially designed for that occasion.

During his homily Bishop John Rawsthorne, Bishop Emeritus of Hallam who represented the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales at Romero's beatification, inspired and challenged us to

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keep alive his legacy: 'In Blessed Oscar Romero we see the hand of God, the work of God and a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Romero's way was that of listening and listening and listening, and then praying and praying and praying about what was happening, and only then leading to action. He is an inspirational figure of our time who points the way for us.

Ours is still a world of civil war, of asylum seekers and refugees, and of food banks in our own countries.’

After Mass, the congregation gathered to hear from Bishop John, Clare Dixon and Julian Filochowski of the Romero Trust, who were all privileged to attend the beatification.

There is now great hope that the canonisation of Blessed Oscar will be completed in time for the centenary of his birth in August 2017.

© Carlos Reyes Manzo

Blessed Oscar Romero’s Legacy Celebrated in Southwark

The Trust is delighted to be welcoming Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa in Honduras and Head of the ‘C9’ Council of Cardinals, who will deliver the 2015 Archbishop Romero Lecture on: ‘From Romero to Francis: The Joy and the Tensions of Becoming a Poor Church with the Poor.’ The lecture will be given at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, at 7pm on Thursday 1 October. All are welcome to attend.

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Parish Profile

Westminster Record | September 2015

White City: A Very Prayerful Parish

By Alex Balzanella When referring to the Olympic Village most Londoners today will think of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on the eastern edges of London. However, the original Olympic stadium of 1908 was in West London, in the area now known as White City. After the Olympics the White City Estate was built, with street names from countries that had featured in the exhibitions held at the stadium following the Games.

Our Lady of Fatima Church sits at the heart of the estate, with Our Lady herself looking out from above the west doors.

Although I visited on a weekday the church had around 20 people gathered for Morning Prayer, with more joining them for Mass.

Afterwards I spoke with Fr Richard Nesbitt, Parish Priest of White City for two years, and Pat, a long-standing parishioner and volunteer at the Church.

Sleeping in the Confessional Although at the heart of the estate, the Parish was only formed in 1955, with just five Parish Priests in its 60 years. In spite of its recent foundation the parish has plenty of history and each of the priests, Fr Richard tells me, has left his mark. Fr Thomas Daniel was the first, and oversaw the building of the school and

Our Lady of Fatima

parish church. Indeed he did so quite literally, as he slept in the confessional in the parish hall for three years whilst the church and presbytery were being built.

It was he who sought the dedication of the new church in White City to Our Lady of Fatima, since he had a strong personal devotion to her. Pat told me about the first pilgrimage the parish made to Fatima in 1967, a 15-day coach trip that went via Lourdes and was far from a comfortable ride. Nevertheless it was a huge success, and since then the parish has repeated it each decade, most recently earlier this year to mark the parish’s Jubilee celebrations.

Celebrations Coming Together The 60th anniversary of the parish and the 50th of Our Lady of Fatima Church and Pope John XXIII Primary School have been marked in numerous ways. These have included a parish renewal campaign, which gave people the chance to grow in their understanding of the faith using CaFE faith resources and Catholic Alpha, and the mostrecent pilgrimage to Fatima.

This year of festivity and thanksgiving concludes with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent on 19 September.

Fr Richard tells me that the anniversary has brought a lot of people back to the parish who had moved away: ‘Although their lives and the area have changed, it’s home for them,’ he said. Within the White City estate, Pope John XXIII School, in particular, has acted as a real source of stability and unity for the whole community. From September 2016 the school will be two-form entry to provide the extra places that are much in demand in the local area. It will also be renamed St John XXIII Primary, acknowledging the late Pontiff’s Canonisation in 2013.

A Real Hunger for Faith The school may have been an anchor in the community but the area around it has seen much change in its history. Of late this corner of West

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Fr Richard Nesbitt and Fr Ephrem Andom, the Eritrean chaplain, with parishioners at weekday Mass

London has undergone a degree of gentrification, most notably with the building of the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush. In spite of such developments the parish, in parallel with the school’s work, has retained its identity and integrity through the dedication of its prayer life.

For example, Fr John Hemer MHM, a Formation Advisor at Allen Hall Seminary, has given reflections in the parish for 20 years. Parishioners also come together every day to say the Rosary and there are regular Christian meditation meetings in the church. As Fr Richard notes, ‘there is a real hunger for faith here.’

Our Lady of Fatima remains a bedrock for its people and a witness to the constant truth of the Catholic Church.

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The Annual Procession in honour of Our Lady of Willesden will be held on Sunday 11 October. Beginning at 7pm from Our Lady of Willesden Church, the candlelit procession will witness to our faith as we walk through the streets and pray for Our Lady’s protection of our city. It will end at around 8.30pm with a time of Adoration and Benediction.

For more information, please contact Fr Stephen Willis, Rector of the Willesden Shrine: willesden@rcdow.org.uk.

Founded: 1951 Mass Times: (Sat 7pm), 11, 6pm (Sign interpreted on 3rd Sunday) Address: Commonwealth Avenue, White City, W12 7QR Telephone: 020 8743 8334 Website: www.ourladyoffatima.biz Page 9

Lourdes

Westminster Record | September 2015

Lourdes

Westminster Record | September 2015

‘Salve Regina, Mater misericordiæ... O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria’ The first full day of our pilgrimage began where the story of Lourdes began, with Mass in the Grotto. We were joined by the Welsh National Pilgrimage, with Cardinal Vincent as principal celebrant and Cardiff’s Archbishop George Stack preaching.

Speaking of how the faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary was tested by the events of her life, he reminded us that we too must expect to be challenged and tested if we are to come to the fullness of the faith.

Later, Bishop Nicholas gave the first catechesis of the pilgrimage for the young people about mission, inviting them to let Jesus into their lives and to become close friends with Him (see page 17).

On Tuesday the pilgrims moved to St Bernadette's parish church of Sacré-Coeur for Mass. The principal celebrant was Bishop Nicholas, with Cardinal Vincent as homilist. He reminded us that Bernadette was baptised in the font here and went on to speak about the importance of the parish in Bernadette's life.

The afternoon included the Low Stations of the Cross for one group of pilgrims, whilst the Redcaps, led by the Youth Ministry team, spent part of the afternoon being catechised.

Tim Mangatal, a seminarian, spoke about his experience of Lourdes and how he had felt called to priesthood. Later on pilgrims took part in a service of the Anointing of the Sick, always a very moving liturgy.

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In the evening, we joined in the Marian torchlight procession, again with the Welsh. It is always a grand spectacle, with banners of dioceses from around the world leading large groups, with prayers and hymns sung in different languages, but all united in love and service of the Lord.

The following morning began with the International Mass, which took place in the Underground Basilica of St Pius X and was attended by about 10,000 people. In his homily Cardinal Vincent reminded the pilgrims that we are called to go out and 'proclaim the name of Jesus; this is our mission and we accept it with joy!'

Taking place simultaneously in St Joseph's Chapel was the Mass for Caritas St Joseph's Pastoral Centre, L'Arche, JCT and the Reds. Pilgrims from St Joseph's acted out the Gospel story of Martha and Mary, bringing the events to life for us in a very special way. At the end of Mass, the pilgrims from St Joseph's distributed handmade ceramic badges to members of the congregation, so that everyone had their own piece of original St Joseph's art.

As there was nothing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, pilgrims had the opportunity to pray, relax, visit the baths or spend time in the shrine. Several groups went to the Lac de Lourdes and others

took the opportunity to go up into the mountains for a change of scenery. A small group from St Anne's Nursing Home meanwhile took a walking tour to visit the places where Bernadette lived.

Thursday began with Mass at the Cité St Pierre, which has for decades given shelter and respite to pilgrims who are in need of help.

Canon Shaun Lennard preached the homily, in which he compared the events of the Visitation to what happens in Lourdes. Just as Elizabeth recognised Mary as Mother of the Lord, we too come to Lourdes in recognition of her role as Mother.

The afternoon included catechesis for the young people of the diocese, while Cardinal Vincent visited the Accueil St Frai for afternoon tea with the malades, helpers and staff. Later on, rain took us back to the Underground Basilica for the Blessed Sacrament Procession with its time of Adoration and concluding with Benediction.

Following custom, evening entertainment was provided for pilgrims around the town.

At the St Frai, the malades,

CJM Students ‘Rejuvenated’ by Lourdes

by Louise Gordon and AnnMarie Sylvester-Charles

medical staff and helpers gathered for an evening of song and sketches. The staff talents weren't limited to the medical field but extend to comedy and entertainment too.

On our final afternoon, we gathered for the closing Mass of the pilgrimage. Bishop Nicholas preached the homily in which he pointed out that 'we would be taking Lourdes back with us when we return home'.

After Mass, we proceeded to the Grotto to light the

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Diocesan candle accompanied by the rain which had followed us all week. Parishioners from Our Lady of Willesden, the Marian shrine in our own diocese, also brought a candle, which Cardinal Vincent and Fr Stephen Willis lit.

With that the Lourdes pilgrimage came to a close.

Pilgrims returned to their hotels to begin the journey back to London filled with the grace and joy of the diocese’s time together in honour of Mary and her Divine Son. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

At the Convent of Jesus and Mary College (CJM), the pilgrimage to Lourdes is a long-standing tradition reaching back to the 1960s.

Annually Year 12 students follow in the footsteps of numerous former students and staff, with seven students representing the school as Redcaps this year.

Before the pilgrimage the girls held a number of fundraising events towards the cost of journeying to Lourdes, including cake sales at the school and their local parishes.

They were also helped by the Jack Petchey Bursary and the generosity of Hoodies-4-School, through which they received a special Lourdes hoodie and two t-shirts.

In undertaking the responsibility of supporting an assisted pilgrim, the girls not only learnt more about themselves, but also about other people. ‘Being responsible for a pilgrim helps you learn a lot about safety and about your pilgrim. I became close to my

assisted pilgrim and she told me many stories about her life’, said Sandali. Carmel also established a relationship with her pilgrim who was travelling with her husband: ‘She was such a lovely person, and made my trip really enjoyable. It was such a pleasure to help her with whatever she needed. She was travelling with her husband so the Redcap who was assisting him and I stayed alongside each other so we could ensure that they enjoyed the experience together.’

The CJM ambassadors were also privileged to lead the Pilgrimage Rosary Service with the Youth SVP from High Barnet Parish. Preparations for this started in June and continued in Lourdes with late night rehearsals and planning.

This was a highlight of the pilgrimage and all seven girls were involved in leading the prayers, acting, playing music, filming and editing.

Nicole said of her week: ‘Lourdes is a place that you just can’t describe and there are no

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words to explain what you experience there’. Erica added, ‘What really changed me was being immersed in the baths.

The feeling when I got out is difficult to put into words but I felt changed, like a new person’.

Headteacher Mrs Geraldine Freear stated: ‘We are especially proud of the girls. They have been excellent ambassadors for our school, our diocese and our faith. They worked really hard in the months leading up to Lourdes and juggled their commitment with the demands

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of their studies. It must not be forgotten that they also work extremely hard whilst in Lourdes with long days and constant demands, although we do know they also get to relax and have fun in the evenings. A huge thank you is also due to Ms Gordon and Ms SylvesterCharles who have supported the girls every step of the way. It is hard to believe that in a few weeks we will be beginning the journey all over again within the school community.’

Since October, Sandali, Erica-

Mae, Nicole, Audrey, Carmel, Anabel and Shakeira have blossomed; they have grown and developed in their faith and as young women. What is even more encouraging is that their personal growth doesn’t stop after they leave Lourdes.

Instead the pilgrimage has cultivated those seeds of change and since our return they have spoken of feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. That is what Lourdes does; it changes people and it has changed all of us for the better.

Page 11

Lourdes

Westminster Record | September 2015

Lourdes

Westminster Record | September 2015

‘Salve Regina, Mater misericordiæ... O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria’ The first full day of our pilgrimage began where the story of Lourdes began, with Mass in the Grotto. We were joined by the Welsh National Pilgrimage, with Cardinal Vincent as principal celebrant and Cardiff’s Archbishop George Stack preaching.

Speaking of how the faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary was tested by the events of her life, he reminded us that we too must expect to be challenged and tested if we are to come to the fullness of the faith.

Later, Bishop Nicholas gave the first catechesis of the pilgrimage for the young people about mission, inviting them to let Jesus into their lives and to become close friends with Him (see page 17).

On Tuesday the pilgrims moved to St Bernadette's parish church of Sacré-Coeur for Mass. The principal celebrant was Bishop Nicholas, with Cardinal Vincent as homilist. He reminded us that Bernadette was baptised in the font here and went on to speak about the importance of the parish in Bernadette's life.

The afternoon included the Low Stations of the Cross for one group of pilgrims, whilst the Redcaps, led by the Youth Ministry team, spent part of the afternoon being catechised.

Tim Mangatal, a seminarian, spoke about his experience of Lourdes and how he had felt called to priesthood. Later on pilgrims took part in a service of the Anointing of the Sick, always a very moving liturgy.

Page 10

In the evening, we joined in the Marian torchlight procession, again with the Welsh. It is always a grand spectacle, with banners of dioceses from around the world leading large groups, with prayers and hymns sung in different languages, but all united in love and service of the Lord.

The following morning began with the International Mass, which took place in the Underground Basilica of St Pius X and was attended by about 10,000 people. In his homily Cardinal Vincent reminded the pilgrims that we are called to go out and 'proclaim the name of Jesus; this is our mission and we accept it with joy!'

Taking place simultaneously in St Joseph's Chapel was the Mass for Caritas St Joseph's Pastoral Centre, L'Arche, JCT and the Reds. Pilgrims from St Joseph's acted out the Gospel story of Martha and Mary, bringing the events to life for us in a very special way. At the end of Mass, the pilgrims from St Joseph's distributed handmade ceramic badges to members of the congregation, so that everyone had their own piece of original St Joseph's art.

As there was nothing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, pilgrims had the opportunity to pray, relax, visit the baths or spend time in the shrine. Several groups went to the Lac de Lourdes and others

took the opportunity to go up into the mountains for a change of scenery. A small group from St Anne's Nursing Home meanwhile took a walking tour to visit the places where Bernadette lived.

Thursday began with Mass at the Cité St Pierre, which has for decades given shelter and respite to pilgrims who are in need of help.

Canon Shaun Lennard preached the homily, in which he compared the events of the Visitation to what happens in Lourdes. Just as Elizabeth recognised Mary as Mother of the Lord, we too come to Lourdes in recognition of her role as Mother.

The afternoon included catechesis for the young people of the diocese, while Cardinal Vincent visited the Accueil St Frai for afternoon tea with the malades, helpers and staff. Later on, rain took us back to the Underground Basilica for the Blessed Sacrament Procession with its time of Adoration and concluding with Benediction.

Following custom, evening entertainment was provided for pilgrims around the town.

At the St Frai, the malades,

CJM Students ‘Rejuvenated’ by Lourdes

by Louise Gordon and AnnMarie Sylvester-Charles

medical staff and helpers gathered for an evening of song and sketches. The staff talents weren't limited to the medical field but extend to comedy and entertainment too.

On our final afternoon, we gathered for the closing Mass of the pilgrimage. Bishop Nicholas preached the homily in which he pointed out that 'we would be taking Lourdes back with us when we return home'.

After Mass, we proceeded to the Grotto to light the

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Diocesan candle accompanied by the rain which had followed us all week. Parishioners from Our Lady of Willesden, the Marian shrine in our own diocese, also brought a candle, which Cardinal Vincent and Fr Stephen Willis lit.

With that the Lourdes pilgrimage came to a close.

Pilgrims returned to their hotels to begin the journey back to London filled with the grace and joy of the diocese’s time together in honour of Mary and her Divine Son. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

At the Convent of Jesus and Mary College (CJM), the pilgrimage to Lourdes is a long-standing tradition reaching back to the 1960s.

Annually Year 12 students follow in the footsteps of numerous former students and staff, with seven students representing the school as Redcaps this year.

Before the pilgrimage the girls held a number of fundraising events towards the cost of journeying to Lourdes, including cake sales at the school and their local parishes.

They were also helped by the Jack Petchey Bursary and the generosity of Hoodies-4-School, through which they received a special Lourdes hoodie and two t-shirts.

In undertaking the responsibility of supporting an assisted pilgrim, the girls not only learnt more about themselves, but also about other people. ‘Being responsible for a pilgrim helps you learn a lot about safety and about your pilgrim. I became close to my

assisted pilgrim and she told me many stories about her life’, said Sandali. Carmel also established a relationship with her pilgrim who was travelling with her husband: ‘She was such a lovely person, and made my trip really enjoyable. It was such a pleasure to help her with whatever she needed. She was travelling with her husband so the Redcap who was assisting him and I stayed alongside each other so we could ensure that they enjoyed the experience together.’

The CJM ambassadors were also privileged to lead the Pilgrimage Rosary Service with the Youth SVP from High Barnet Parish. Preparations for this started in June and continued in Lourdes with late night rehearsals and planning.

This was a highlight of the pilgrimage and all seven girls were involved in leading the prayers, acting, playing music, filming and editing.

Nicole said of her week: ‘Lourdes is a place that you just can’t describe and there are no

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words to explain what you experience there’. Erica added, ‘What really changed me was being immersed in the baths.

The feeling when I got out is difficult to put into words but I felt changed, like a new person’.

Headteacher Mrs Geraldine Freear stated: ‘We are especially proud of the girls. They have been excellent ambassadors for our school, our diocese and our faith. They worked really hard in the months leading up to Lourdes and juggled their commitment with the demands

Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

of their studies. It must not be forgotten that they also work extremely hard whilst in Lourdes with long days and constant demands, although we do know they also get to relax and have fun in the evenings. A huge thank you is also due to Ms Gordon and Ms SylvesterCharles who have supported the girls every step of the way. It is hard to believe that in a few weeks we will be beginning the journey all over again within the school community.’

Since October, Sandali, Erica-

Mae, Nicole, Audrey, Carmel, Anabel and Shakeira have blossomed; they have grown and developed in their faith and as young women. What is even more encouraging is that their personal growth doesn’t stop after they leave Lourdes.

Instead the pilgrimage has cultivated those seeds of change and since our return they have spoken of feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. That is what Lourdes does; it changes people and it has changed all of us for the better.

Page 11

Lourdes

Westminster Record | September 2015

Gumley House and St Mark’s in Lourdes A group of students from Gumley House Convent School and St Mark’s Catholic School in Hounslow joined the diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage again this year as Redcaps. Led by their teachers and chaplains, for many of the Year 12 and 13 students it was their first encounter with older people outside their own immediate families.

As one of the students explained: ‘It’s an eye-opening experience. You don’t really get to talk to many older people otherwise. Spending time with an older person and hearing all about their life stories and experiences is very interesting.’

For the students the week spent helping another person is hard work but rewarding. When asked what their expectations of the week were, another student said: ‘You knew you were going to help people without realising how much it would mean to them. Even if they’ve been coming on the pilgrimage for several years, they’re still

amazed by every part of it. You see how much it impacts on their lives and realise that you’re part of that experience for them.’

‘You feel as if you’ve made a difference,’ she continued, ‘just by pushing someone around.

You’re getting them to their destination, to where they want to be.’

Another student expressed her amazement at how easily friendships were formed with older pilgrims: ‘They are more approachable than I had realised.

I felt that we were speaking on the same level.’ Often these new friendships continue long after the pilgrimage has finished.

Several of the students spoke of feeling blessed. As one explained: ‘It makes you reflect on how lucky you are compared to other people.’

Nor is it just the events and relationships of the pilgrimage that affected them. Several remarked on the number of homeless people begging in the town and wondered about their situation.

As Shelly Victor, Head of RE at Gumley House, explained, ‘Lourdes for the students is a very humbling experience. It puts things in perspective and they realise how fortunate they are. It makes them think about developing their own spirituality on some level.’

Frances Soiza, Chaplain at St Mark’s, agreed: ‘You see them change a lot during the week. They’re moved in a way that takes them completely by surprise.’

She mentions a past student from St Mark’s, Tim Mangatal, who had come as a helper on a previous pilgrimage: ‘He is now training for the priesthood. And this week he spoke to the Redcaps about the influence of Lourdes on his decision to offer himself.’

‘We don’t know how Lourdes will affect them ultimately,’ she concluded, ‘but we can be sure that it will be in some profound way.’

A NEW AND UNIQUE POSITION FOR AN EDUCATION OR SOCIAL CARE PROFESSIONAL Exceptional career opportunity - permanent post excellent pay and benefits Based in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, just 20 minutes from M11 or A10 St Elizabeth's Centre provides a Catholic residential special School, an FE College and an Adult Residential Care Home for people who have complex medical needs and associated learning disabilities, often caused or complicated by severe epilepsy and/or autism. We are situated in Hertfordshire, (the Diocese of Westminster), but due to our specialist expertise attract client referrals from all over the country.

The Centre, established over 100 years ago by the Daughters of the Cross of Liège, takes its mission from the words of the gospel:

Cardinal Vincent on a recent visit to St Elizabeth’s Centre

“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”.

Irrespective of background or belief, we treat everyone as unique individuals who should be valued and supported to realise their full potential in all areas of life.

We are creating a new post to further support, strengthen and champion our mission going forward, working alongside the Trustees and Senior Managers to safeguard, encourage and promote the Catholic ethos, values, charism and identity of St Elizabeth's within its School, College and Adult Care Home.

Accountable directly to the CEO, we seek an experienced manager who is confident and comfortable in their faith and who can lead in facilitating the understanding and application of our enduring gospel values into day-to-day policies, practices and the delivery of education and care services in accordance with the distinctive Catholic ethos of a large charity employing over 650 staff. We are advertising our mission champion position through September 2015 with a view to commencement in post from January 2016.

For further information visit www.stelizabeths.org.uk, telephone 01279 843451 or email recruitment@stelizabeths.org.uk Page 12

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Lourdes

Westminster Record | September 2015

A Third Way: Medical Care of Lourdes Pilgrims Dr Siân Davies, chief doctor for the diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage, provides a glimpse into the medical care of pilgrims.

The diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage aims to support people who wish to join but who may be otherwise prevented by frailty or ill health, and we do this by having as comprehensive a medical team as we can manage. In this modern world we take travel for granted, forgetting that for some people travel is still unfamiliar and that even the relatively short journey to the south of France can be quite a challenge for one’s human physiology. The team of clinicians helps pilgrims travel well, so that they can have as good an experience in Lourdes as possible.

Lourdes is unique in that it’s not like any healthcare setting in the UK: it’s not hospital care or primary care in the community.

It’s a third way of doing things.

As clinicians, we are ‘guests’ in Lourdes; we have no standing in the French healthcare system.

Our probity and our qualifications are monitored by the medical bureau in Lourdes, which undertakes to check that we are registered appropriately within our own healthcare setting. It allows us certain positions and privileges within the town.

In theory, our responsibilities are to the people of our own pilgrimage, although clearly we have a Good Samaritan responsibility to anyone who may become unwell.

Enabling a good pilgrimage Although we use the skills from our home setting and work within a composite team where we benefit from each other’s expertise, we’re dealing with people who are travelling for a very spiritual purpose. We

are there to enable; we are not there in any way to intrude with our healthcare observations.

Where it becomes relevant and appropriate, we work to understand what’s happening with the pilgrims’ care, particularly if they’re currently undergoing a programme of intervention or treatment. We undertake this responsibility as diligently and responsibly as possible, so that pilgrims will go home better than when we left, and certainly not worse. Sadly, sometimes people are less well, but it’s certainly not something to which we would contribute.

And it’s also important to remember that we are there as pilgrims ourselves.

Although not a Catholic, I was first invited to join the HCPT pilgrimage with a friend at Easter whilst still at medical college. More visits followed in the years to come. And then in 1996, when Dr Julia Reily, the chief doctor for the pilgrimage wasn’t able to join, a colleague asked if I’d like to join as they had a gap in the team.

I subsequently worked with Julia for several more pilgrimages and have been coming ever since.

Warmth of a Family Although of a Protestant, Welsh-speaking background, I have always felt welcomed by the warmth of a family that shares a fundamentally common faith basis, and a family for whom the practical expression of that faith is in so many ways familiar and comfortable.

Life is about the choices that we make, either in the practical sense or a deeper, emotional, spiritual sense. During the week in Lourdes so many people make choices, both big and small, that are based on a good foundation. The result is a world that, even if only for that week, works in the way that it could if those choices were made more commonly.

There is a sense of hope, trust, faith and sharing which demonstrate the teaching of the Gospel. It’s also very real, without any pretence that it’s all candy floss and sugar. There are times of tremendous sadness.

There’s space and support for this sadness. And yet there’s hope, joy and tremendous love.

Last year we took Justin, a 21-year-old young man, on the

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pilgrimage who for a number of years had a very aggressive type of cancer that affected his bones. He’d had all sorts of treatments but he’d reached a place where it was probably known that not much else would be helpful. On a visit to his home to help him with pain management, the ‘Lourdes factor’ was very visible all round the living room. He had wished to travel to Lourdes with his mother a couple of years earlier, but wasn’t well enough to make the journey.

She travelled on her own and carried him in her prayers on that occasion.

I asked him if he would like to join the pilgrimage, which he was eager to do with his parents and girlfriend. The journey was not easy, and his experience of the pain was fearful and overwhelming. Yet, he was absolutely determined that the world would see his courageous

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face. He attended Mass, carried banners, visited the baths, and participated in every possible way in the spiritual side of the pilgrimage.

He also enjoyed the social side of the pilgrimage, sharing pizzas and other treats such as the confection that became known as the ‘Moses Mocha’.

On the return home his condition deteriorated and, in the peace of the following Monday morning, he slipped away.

Leaving a Legacy He left a legacy for those of us who had the privilege of caring for him and fellow pilgrims of someone extraordinary and quite courageous. We talk about ‘brave’ people who do triathalons and extreme sports.

But often we forget or fail to notice the quiet courage of otherwise unremarkable people who would never call

themselves brave. I meet with people who understand that life is coming to an end and they meet that with such good humour. They meet it so often with loving concern for the people around them and a resolve to try and leave a legacy for the good.

This year, we were in Lourdes on the anniversary of Justin’s death. On the Tuesday evening, those who knew him, remembered him and acknowledged the gift and contribution he made. We lit seven lanterns and sent them up. They went up as high as the Pic du Jer. They chose not to move away and came straight back down. To us it seemed to be a sign that Justin was walking with us.

To me, this sums up what Lourdes is all about: a combination of sadness and hope and at its heart peace.

Page 13

Vocations

Westminster Record | September 2015

The Consecrated Way

By Ira Winter This year was a very special visit to Lourdes for me.

The only way I have ever been able to leave Lourdes at the end of each pilgrimage has been with a promise to Mary that I will be back. The place has drawn me towards a deeper relationship with Jesus, not perhaps in any overly dramatic way, but steadily and consistently year by year. This year I returned to the UK early to be consecrated a virgin in my parish of Leamington Spa

by Archbishop Bernard Longley. This builds on six years ago when I took private vows in a beautiful ceremony in the Sacred Heart chapel of the Accueil St Frai.

There is much in common among the ways of consecrated life, yet God calls each individual uniquely. Perhaps three ideas are specific to the charism of the consecrated virgin’s witness.

First there is the idea of virginity itself being a gift from God to be used for a purpose. Instead of an earthly husband, the consecrated virgin offers herself to the eternal husband for the spiritual benefit of the Church.

Of course this highlights the point that in future the whole of the Church, the Bride of Christ, will be eternally espoused to Christ. The very term draws attention to the body; and what one does with the body has spiritual significance, a living sign of the unity between body and soul. In this way in Lourdes

the sick share in their body the suffering of Christ and the able-bodied tend to those who are suffering.

A second aspect of the vocation is in highlighting the complementarity of the sexes, with equality in dignity but difference in roles. Unlike most religious vocations the order of consecrated virgins is only open to women, in parallel with how the priesthood is only open to men. Here is a sign to the world that God had a reason and purpose when he created His image in the world as male and female. It is a very Marian vocation.

Thirdly, an aspect which we share with consecrated widows is that the primary relationship for all of us is the one we have with Christ.

While the majority of people live their primary relationship through a spouse or a community, consecrated virgins and widows live their life as a sign to the world that it is possible to live a worthy and holy life in aloneness. As such this is a sign in empathy with the many people who through no choice of their own find themselves in a life of loneliness.

In many ways consecrated virginity is a hidden life. We have a ring as a symbol of our marriage to Jesus and serve those with whom we come into contact through our ordinary lives. Consecrated virgins do not make the promise of poverty, as they must earn their own living. In

Ealing Abbey Events Monastic Vocation Weekend Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November. http://ealingmonks.org.uk/vocation/monastic-experienceweekends/ College4Life: Opens 1 September.

College for Life is a new initiative in Ealing. We intend to build a community of learners, based on the value of embracing diversity. We want to create an on-going conversation between people of all cultures. To live a shared future right now. http://college4life.org The Benedictine Institute provides evening and Saturday morning courses in Latin, Greek, Hebrew and other short courses http://benedictine-institute.org Ealing Abbey Lay Plainchant Choir welcomes new members to workshops on Wednesdays from 6.40 to 8pm. Phone Dom Peter for details: 07474 515365

Ira at the Torchlight Procession in Lourdes

my case I work in human fertility, both in making known God’s plan for it as well as managing a clinic offering a humane alternative to IVF which enables couples to achieve natural conception even when it was thought impossible.

Why did I open myself to this pathway among the many ways of consecrated life? I had heard about this as a teenager, yet it wasn’t until I realised the perfect fit from a theological perspective with my work at Life FertilityCare that it all made sense and fell into place for me as my vocation.

The monthly Vocations Discernment Group for young adults (20s and 30s) begins again on Friday 25 September with a reflection on the Benedictine charism led by Dom Dominic Taylor of Ealing Abbey. This is a continuation of the series of monthly meetings during the Year of Consecrated Life exploring how we can all be nourished by different forms of consecrated life and their spirituality.

The group meets in the Hinsley Room in Morpeth Terrace next to Westminster Cathedral from 7-9pm. For further information, contact Fr Richard.

For more information on vocations please contact Fr Richard Nesbitt richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7349 5624 If you have a story or an event you would like to have featured on this page, please contact communications@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7798 9030 Page 14

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Youth

Westminster Record | September 2015

Chaplain’s Corner

Director’s Spotlight

The joy of Lourdes in July already seems a distant memory and before we get chance to breathe after a fulfilling 12 months, we turn towards the new academic year. Interesting projects and more opportunities to spread the word and support our young people keep on presenting themselves to us.

As I write this column in early August we are just about to lead a pilgrimage to Taizé and at the end of the month two coaches will take 100 young adults to Youth2000’s Promised Land festival at Walsingham.

As we press on into September we’ll again be working with a number of Sixth Form colleges on their induction programmes, reminding the new students that they have a world of opportunity ahead of them.

These are always great fun and help schools to build a sense of community amongst the students.

Also in September we welcome an Italian Christian Radio Station to the Centre for Youth Ministry for a Media Day,

which will be a fantastic opportunity for young people in our diocese to get onto the airwaves. Our website has all the information for those who’d like to be involved.

Before Christmas we have our Performing Arts Weekend.

For this event we have partnered with Focolare, and in particular their performing arts team, Gen Verde. It is an opportunity for our young to participate actively in a diocesan event that could help them support local parish initiatives. (For details see the poster on the left and the article below.)

For spring 2016 we have two huge Open Confirmation Retreat Days at Maria Fidelis School in Euston and St Edmund’s College in Ware. These days will bring several parishes together and we’ll be working with our good friends the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal to ensure a vibrant programme. By the autumn the residential complex at SPEC in Pinner will be finished and we look forward to welcoming young people for one- and twonight residential retreats.

Of course, the centrepiece for 2016 is World Youth Day. August’s Record provided so much information and as it’s still available on line do have a look or visit our website.

Finally, we welcome Fr David Burke and Callum Moore into our team; it is wonderful to have their experience to help us build our profile and support more and more initiatives.

Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain

Listening to the Word in Lourdes

By James Kelliher Lourdes is always a special experience, one that keeps giving to us long after we have returned home. Reflecting on the journey back, many pilgrims spoke of the richness of the talks and conversations from the pilgrimage.

A special highlight was a joint event organised by Westminster and Brentwood Youth Services. It was a great idea for the youth ministries to unite for a couple of hours of youthful catechesis, with humorous and inspiring videos, live music and talks. Bishop Nicholas gave a great catechesis early in the week (see page 17).

In particular, he spoke about the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man, just 24 when he died, whose life and background was similar to those around them. By contrast his life was one of kindness and sacrifice, a demonstration to all the Redcaps and all young people that you can be a devout Catholic and still live in the world.

Cardinal Vincent also gave a great talk, in his homily at the beautiful Sacré-Coeur Church. He talked about the importance of being an active member of one’s local parish. Pointing to the life of Bernadette, the Cardinal talked about how, despite the drama of the apparitions happening at the same time, the young saint still managed to serve actively in her parish, which should be an inspiration for all of us.

I mention these talks because, when we stop and really listen to what is being said, there’s so much wisdom and truth in their words. Yes, the Lourdes pilgrimage rightly has a big focus on helping the elderly and disabled, but it’s also about our own formation in our faith journey.

Each of us is at a different stage in this journey, and in order for that journey to make progress we need quiet time, away from everyone else and our gadgets.

Lourdes gives us this opportunity, and with the benefit of great talks and chats it truly is a blessed experience.

Calling All Young Performers!

The international music group Gen Verde invites young people aged 14 to 25 to a Performing Arts Weekend at the Focolare Centre for Unity in Welwyn Garden City over the weekend of 16 to 18 October.

Through a series of workshops and a collaborative concert, they will share their resources and expertise in order to give an experience of art as a universal language which transcends barriers caused by race, religion or gender.

Workshops on the weekend include: dance (pop-rock, hiphop and musical style); singing and drama; body percussion; street percussion; and theatrical percussion.

Violinist Mil Zomack toured

with Gen Verde for 12 months a few years ago and comments: ‘Music has always played an important role in my life, particularly when I have been touched spiritually by a piece of music or a song. So I welcomed the great opportunity to tour with Gen Verde for a year. I met the group in Luxembourg and we toured in Germany, Austria, Italy and later in South Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macao. After the initial excitement of travelling and performing died down, what remained were two quite overwhelming impressions.’

‘First, it is hard work. Every three days we set and rigged up a new venue, performed and de-rigged, making a 19-hour working day in total.’

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

‘Secondly, it was well worth it! In whatever country we performed, to whatever sort of audience, the feedback was always the same. People were touched by “a presence”, a joy, a hope. For many the concert had been an encounter with God. I think the main reason for this is that within the group, we strive continuously to live out love.

For us, Jesus’ promise then becomes a reality: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

(Matt 18:20). And His presence is what convinces more than musical style or anything else.’

‘These experiences continue to inspire me whether in my job as a German teacher or in the Focolare community in Welwyn Garden City. The main aim is the

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same as before: to keep this presence of Jesus among us alive, so that people who meet us can be touched by a sense of joy and unity, which Jesus prayed for when he asked: “Father, that all may be one” (John 17:21).’

‘I am really looking forward to welcoming Gen Verde to the UK and my hope is that many people will be touched by God’s presence through their music.

Hopefully many young people will take up this chance not only to work with a music group, but to have an unforgettable and maybe life-changing experience.’

For more information see http://dowym.com/events/per forming-arts-weekend or: www.focolare.org/gb.

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Recently I gave a talk about freedom and how we hear God’s call. A young person with a keen sense of justice talked to me afterwards. We all sense the tension between doing what we want and doing what others ask, even what God asks. ‘Many people aren’t free,’ she said, ‘they spend their whole time doing what others tell them.’ As a priest, I added, I too do what others tell me. In fact, many of us spend our days doing the will of others and we don’t perceive this as an injustice. In a very real way, married people, families and religious also renounce something of themselves to live for others, in a life-long partnership, in a family home with all its ‘restrictions’, or in a special consecration to service.

Of course, there are people in the world who are not ‘free’ and live in appalling circumstances.

But even here, amidst great suffering, some find a path to interior freedom. Despite terrible injustices, many of those who have spent their lives deprived of liberty testify to the inner strength of discovering the One who calls us to be free on the inside.

Doing God’s will, not our own desire, is the way to freedom. As Christians we begin to live this when we go beyond our own plans. Everyone has ideas about their future, but only God knows what it holds for us. Even in small ways, when we help others we begin to get over ourselves. In greater ways too, we can discover freedom on the inside when we spend our time doing the good and wholesome things others ask of us. This is what we call obedience and it is the beginning of being genuinely free. After all, the greatest people who ever lived are not remembered for being selfish, but for spreading a message of freedom by living for the good of others.

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

Page 15

Social Action

Westminster Record | September 2015

CAFOD Calls for Action This Harvest Fast Day Sr Carmel Ring is a Sister of Marie Auxiliatrice from the North London Parish of Our Lady of Muswell, a retired teacher and missionary, and currently a volunteer in the CAFOD Westminster office.

She reflects here on preparing for this year’s Harvest Fast day in support of Niger: ‘I was reciting Psalm 62 during Morning Prayer recently and came across the lines “my soul is thirsting for you, my God, like a dry, weary land without water”. I was reminded of Southern Niger, that dry, weary land for which this year’s Harvest Fast Day appeal is being made. Niger is once again in the throes of a terrible drought with crop failure, lack

of food and starvation for thousands. In collaboration with our partner, Caritas Niger, we are trying to offer aid. We hear of one 74-year-old farmer who for years now has been struggling with pride and perseverance to grow enough to feed his family, share with his neighbours and save enough seed to sow for the following year’s harvest. Farmers like him are not looking for hand-outs; CAFOD’s way is to provide tools and training to find ways of growing more heat-resistant crops and learn improved methods of animal husbandry.’

‘In Laudato Si’ our Holy Father invites us to become more conscious of our global humanity, to put ourselves in

someone else’s shoes and understand how it is for them (Matthew 23:3). If we take to heart the words of Jesus, “for I was hungry you gave me food”, we are assured that we are at the centre of God’s plan for our earth and rejoice in this.’

Harvest Fast Day is on 2 October. CAFOD asks that a notice be put in parish bulletins the weekend before (26/27 September) and that a parishioner gives a talk or notice during Mass introducing this year’s campaign. Collections should be held at Masses on 4 October. A prayer card will be provided for parishioners to take away and use at home, and any creative fundraising is welcome.

Prayers for Prisoners’ Sunday Stella Maris Mass for Seafarers Apostleship of the Sea has organised a Mass on Thursday 24 September at 12:30pm to pray for seafarers and for the work of AoS which supports their faith and welfare needs. It will be celebrated by Bishop Tom Burns SM at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark. All are invited to join in. For more details please contact johngreen@apostleship ofthesea.org.uk

Page 16

Prisoners’ Sunday falls this year on Sunday 11 October. To mark the day, Pact, the Prison Advice and Care Trust, has interviewed several current and past beneficiaries of its services. Below, Sheila writes of her experience of the charity.

I got to know Pact over 15 years ago. At the time my son was only 16 years old and in prison for the first time. I was in pieces and didn’t know what to do. Someone from Social Services suggested that I go to Pact’s office and I did, with much trepidation, but I was welcomed with a non-judgmental listening ear to pour my heart out.

People think that when someone goes to prison it is because they are ‘bad’ and they deserve it. It is true that my son had made mistakes, committed crime, and therefore been sentenced to prison: he deserved to be in prison. However the situation is more complex than that. My children grew with an anger inside that they simply didn’t know how to manage. My older son was able to go beyond the pain and now has a beautiful healthy family. My other son was not so fortunate and was overwhelmed by it.

During the 13 years that my son was in prison Pact helped me with both big and little things. I regularly called the helpline to get me through things I could not face alone. They organised meetings with other people who had a family member in prison. That was very important because I knew that people would understand and know what I was going through.

When someone goes to prison their families are often forgotten.

We are sentenced too, but there is little understanding or sympathy for us. I don’t know how I would’ve coped without Pact’s help and that is why I decided to become a helpline volunteer myself.

There are many ways you can show your support for people affected by imprisonment this Prisoners’ Sunday. You can pray, you can donate money or you can volunteer your time. No matter what you do, please remember the families, the children, the offenders, the victims and everyone who has been sucked into the whirlwind that follows crime.

For more information on Pact and Prisoners’ Sunday, please see its website: www.prisonadvice.org.uk

Catholic Mission in Today’s World On Wednesday 21 October the Catholic Missionary Union, Mill Hill Missionaries and Missio, along with Heythrop College, are holding their second conference looking at ‘Catholic Mission in Today’s World’. Professor Lamin Sanneh from Yale University will give the keynote speech on ‘Dialogue between North and South: What we can learn about inter-faith and mission’. There will also be input from Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Committee for Other Faiths and the Committee for CatholicJewish Relations, and Fr Paul Richardson, who spent many years in Papua New Guinea.

The conference is free and open to all interested in ‘mission’, whether they are missionaries, lay people, priests and religious, academics or students. Advance registration is required at www.cmu.org.uk/conference.

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Catechesis

Westminster Record | September 2015

29 September: A Day for Archangels

by Mgr Keith Barltrop The feast of the Archangels is very important to us as our parish in Bayswater is dedicated to St Mary of the Angels. It is a very beautiful dedication, but also something of a mystery.

It evokes, of course, the famous Church at the foot of the hill in Assisi, Santa Maria deli Angeli, which encloses the little Chapel, known as the Portiuncula, so important in the vocation of St Francis and the place of his death. So far I have been unable to discover why this particular dedication, with its Franciscan overtones, was given to our church, so if any readers of the Record can suggest the answer, I would be very grateful.

Angels are a subject of great fascination for people today and have become something of a symbol in the contentious issue of whether religion and spirituality should be closely connected or separated. Many people who regard themselves as spiritual scorn any connection with organised religion. They are happy to think that angels may appear to them, as William Blake claimed they frequently did to him, but would heartily reject any suggestion that God might address a word to them that carries authority, especially a God associated with a body such as the Catholic Church which claims to speak in His name.

Maybe part of this fascination lies in the artistic depictions of angels as often neither obviously male nor female, whereas the Christian God is usually addressed as Father, even if theologically we stress He is above gender.

Maybe angels allow people to flirt with the idea of polytheism, so much less threatening than a belief in one God. After all, if there are many gods, or many angels, you can choose which of them you deal with if you don’t like what one of the others says to you.

So a devotion to angels can be a point of contact between Catholics and unbelievers today, provided Our Lady gets a look in too. Where better to start than the story of the Annunciation, which is known in the Eastern Church as the ‘Evangelisation of the Mother of God’? God does not give her the good news directly, but through an angel.

Now angels, as St Thomas Aquinas tells us, have a quite different way of knowing things than we humans do: they have direct and immediate knowledge of everything God wants them to know.

We humans, by contrast, have to work things out. Hence Mary has to stop and ask a question:

‘How can this be?’ It is not a question coming from doubt or resistance, but the childlike curiosity of one who wants to carry out God’s will with all her heart but does not yet understand how.

God’s desires for us are not a burden, but a liberation. We don’t need to replace God with angels to find a joyful spiritual

‘Generosity is the key to happiness’

by Bishop Nicholas Hudson For all of us the key to happiness is generosity, both towards God and each other.

We all do have our own particular gifts that we are able to offer each other and employ in our mission as Christians in the world. But how do we know what these are?

To talk about offering our gifts in service to God is to talk

about mission, which is at the heart of the Christian life.

Indeed our God, in the person of Christ, gave himself a mission: to experience everything we experience in our humanity, to understand both the good and bad times in life.

From Christ’s example we see that mission, being in the world to serve in our own particular way, is at the heart of the Christian life. St Teresa of Avila reminds us that now that Christ has returned to the Father, He has no body on this earth but ours. It is only through us that He can visit the sick, reach out to the poor and comfort the dying. Many of you will be thinking: 'What can I do to be of service?'

Anyone uncertain of the shape of their mission can take comfort from the experience of

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St Bernadette. Although we see in Lourdes the fruit of Bernadette’s particular calling, after the apparitions she didn’t know what to do with her life.

She became a novice in central France.

However, even then Bernadette’s mission was far from clear. At the end of her novitiate, when her fellow sisters were given their mission from the Bishop, he turned to her and told her she was good for nothing. Can you imagine what a shattering feeling that would have been for her, said just as she was trying to work out her Christian calling? The Bishop instead sent her to be the assistant to the infirmarian.

It is interesting that her mission was to be with the sick and I’m sure that she was praying her heart out for the

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sick who had begun to travel to Lourdes.

Prayer, for all of us, is the key if we are to discover our mission and calling. It is only through prayer that we are able to have a daily encounter with the Lord, and discover how we are to be members of the Body of Christ. Prayer is the key to joy and to finding truth, our truth.

It is the kind of joy that we begin to glimpse in Lourdes and in other situations of serving others. It is a reminder that generosity is the key to happiness.

This article is excerpt from the catechesis given by Bishop Nicholas in Lourdes. To watch the video of the catechesis, please visit www.rcdow.org.uk/ diocese/lourdes

path in the world of today, but angels are sent by God’s design to help us, as Gabriel helped Mary, to understand better what his loving plan is and to say yes to it.

St Mary of the Angels, pray for us.

Mgr Keith is Parish Priest of St Mary of the Angels, Bayswater. The feast of Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael is celebrated on 29 September.

The Divine Mercy Day of Prayer of Intercession on 26 September will invoke the powerful intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham for the needs of the Church, our nation and world with special solidarity and union of prayer with the persecuted and suffering Christians and those affected by war. There will also be time of intercession for the Synod on the Family. It will be led by Mgr Keith Barltrop, Fr Shafiq Abouzayd (Melkite Chaplain) and Fr Paul Sigl of the Family of Mary, who will speak on ‘God wants to give peace to the world through Mary’. The day will begin at 9.30am, with Mass celebrated at 10.30am, and will conclude at 4.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

For more details, email Antonia on antonia4161@gmail.com Page 17

Saints & Obituaries Sts Cosmas and Damian: 26 September Next time you need to visit the chemist, ask the prayers of these twin brothers and saints, since they are the patrons of pharmacists.

Born in Arabia in the third century AD they are reported to have developed great skill in medicine and to have practiced in the Syrian city of Cilicia, where they were widely venerated for their ability. No less a cause for admiration was their willingness to treat the sick without demanding any fees. Thus they are sometimes referred to as the ‘Holy Unmercenaries’.

It is unclear for how long they were able to serve in this way, but around 287 a persecution of Christians began under the Roman Emperor Diocletian and the twins were arrested and subjected to a variety of tortures in the hope that they would recant their faith. Having remained steadfast through these trials, they were finally executed by beheading, reputedly accompanied in dying by their three younger brothers.

Examples of their work include unusual achievements.

In particular they are said to have grafted the leg of a recently deceased Ethiopian onto the body of a patient whose own leg had been lost to cancer. Artistic representations of the feat frequently highlight this by depicting the leg as black and the patient’s body as white (pictured right).

Whatever we make of this, Cosmas and Damian rapidly grew in veneration across the Church. In the Roman Canon of

the Mass, what we now term Eucharistic Prayer I, whose formulae of prayer go back to the early Christian centuries, they are listed among the saints named immediately after the Twelve Apostles. By the 4th century churches were already being dedicated in their honour, whilst portions of their relics were being widely sought.

Amongst those who benefited from healing at their intercession was the 6th century Emperor Justinian, who, in gratitude, built and adorned a church for them in Constantinople. Meanwhile, in Rome, Pope Felix IV busied himself with converting a former library, the Bibliotheca Pacis, into a basilica bearing their names. This church has, as with so many historic Roman churches, gone through a number of reconstructions, but still retains its famous original mosaics depicting the two saints being presented to Christ

by St Peter and St Paul.

In the older form of the Roman Calendar the twins occupied 27 September as their feast, but were moved to the previous day to accommodate a more recent, but equally charitable saint, Vincent de Paul. Nonetheless we can give thanks that they remain as an optional celebration for us, since healing, generosity in giving and faithfulness unto death are gifts and virtues which Christ offers to and asks of us, and these twins show us what we can do.

Fr Anthony Sacré RIP Fr Anthony Sacré died on 6 August aged 85 at the Redemptorist Mater House of Formation, St John’s Wood.

Born in the Wirral in July 1931 and ordained to the priesthood in June 1955 by Cardinal Griffin after training at St Edmund’s, Ware, Fr Tony served at St John’s, Islington, St James’, Spanish Place, the Cathedral and Guardian Angels, Mile End, where he enjoyed a long and fruitful ministry. He resigned as parish priest of Mile End in October 2010 aged 79 after 37 years of service to the parish.

In July 2011 he moved to the Redemptorist Mater House of Formation, where he was later appointed Spiritual Director.

Page 18

His strong sense of paternity won him immediately a place in the hearts of the seminarians.

He remained active in retirement, journeying in 2013 to Sibu, in the interior of Sarawak, Malaysia for missionary work with families and becoming more involved in missionary work ad gentes. He was still able to celebrate Mass, although terminally ill with cancer, until the final week of his life. The Neo-Catecumenate Community took great care of him following his discharge from hospital.

Fr Tony’s Requiem Mass was held on Monday 24 August and he was buried in Leytonstone.

May he rest in peace.

Westminster Record | September 2015

Pilgrimage of Reparation and Prayer for the Sanctity of Life Bishop Philip Egan will lead the pilgrimage in Walsingham on Sunday 27 September, commencing at 12 noon with Pilgrim Mass in the Chapel of Reconciliation celebrated by Fr Jeremy Davies. For more information please visit www.prolifepilgrimage.org or call 01858 571242.

Mgr Walter Drumm RIP Mgr Walter Drumm died suddenly at Nazareth House on 17 August. He was 75 years old and had been a priest for 45 years.

Born in March 1940 in London and educated at St Joseph’s and St Aloysius’ College in Highgate, he studied English Language and Literature at Balliol College, Oxford from 1959 to 1962.

Following this he became a Senior Tutor at the Grange, Warlingham in Surrey. His vocation to the priesthood was realised in 1966 when he began his formation at the Beda College in Rome. He was ordained at the Basilica of St Paul-Outside-The-Walls by Cardinal John Wright, the American Prefect of the

Congregation for the Clergy, in March 1970.

Upon his return to the diocese, Mgr Walter served as assistant priest at St Paul the Apostle, Wood Green, as the senior chaplain to Oxford University and as parish priest at Our Lady of Victories, Kensington. In 1987 he returned to his alma mater and become Rector of the Beda College, a post he held until 1991.

He retired in 1992.

May he rest in peace.

In Memoriam: September 2 Fr Gerard Strain (1980) 3 Deacon Timothy Marsh (2013) 6 Canon Michael Roberts (2004) 7 Canon John F Marriott (1977) 11 Mgr Cuthbert Collingwood (1980) Fr William Erby (1974) Fr James Whitehead (1983) 12 Fr Leslie Wood (1984) 14 Fr William Ruhman (1978) Fr Leonard Collingwood (1985) 15 Fr Brian Connaughton (1979) Fr Robert Gates (2014) 16 Canon Nicholas Kelly (1988) 17 Fr Frederick Thomas (1986) Fr John Pakenham (1987) 18 Canon John L Wright (1978) 19 Fr Alan Ashton (2014) 20 Fr Des O’Neill (2008) Fr Austin Hart (2013) 21 Fr George Ingram (1992) 23 Fr Godfrey Wilson (1998) 26 Fr James Loughnane (1993) Fr Bernard Lang (2005) Fr Lance Joseph Boward (2011) 28 Fr Robert Newbery (1981) Fr Gerard Barry (1998) 30 Fr Michael O’Dwyer (1977) Fr Joseph Murray (1989)

Two Cathedrals Procession The Two Cathedrals Blessed Sacrament Procession will take place on Saturday 3 October beginning at 1.30pm from Westminster Cathedral. It will then cross the Thames at Lambeth Bridge and conclude at around 3pm at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, with Benediction. This is a wonderful opportunity to witness to the Faith in the heart of central London. This year’s procession will be the fourth of its kind. It was begun in 2011 to mark the anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's successful visit to Britain in September 2010.

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

Fr Raymond Legge RIP As the Record was going to press, we heard the sad news of the death of Fr Raymond Legge on 25 August. His obituary will be in the next edition.

May he rest in peace.

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Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | September 2015

REGULAR EVENTS

Liturgical Calendar - September

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

Prayer Groups 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.

1 Tue

feria

2 Wed

feria

3 Thu

ST GREGORY THE GREAT, Pope & Doctor

4 Fri

feria or St Cuthbert, Bishop; Friday abstinence

5 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

6 Sun

+ 23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

7 Mon

feria, Twenty-Third Week of Year 1

8 Tue

THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

9 Wed

feria or St Peter Claver, Priest

10 Thu

feria

11 Fri

feria; Friday abstinence

12 Sat

feria or The Most Holy Name of Mary or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

13 Sun

+ 24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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.

14 Mon

THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

15 Tue

Our Lady of Sorrows

16 Wed

Sts Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

17 Thu

feria, Twenty-Fourth Week of Year 1 or St Robert Bellarmine,

THURSDAYS

Bishop & Doctor 18 Fri

feria; Friday abstinence

19 Sat

feria or St Januarius, Bishop & Martyr or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

20 Sun

+ 25th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

21 Mon

ST MATTHEW, Apostle & Evangelist

22 Tue

feria, Twenty-Fifth Week of Year 1

FRIDAYS

23 Wed

St Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

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.

24 Thu

Our Lady of Walsingham

25 Fri

feria; Friday abstinence

26 Sat

feria or Sts Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

27 Sun

+ 26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

28 Mon

feria, Twenty-Sixth Week of Year 1 or St Wenceslaus, Martyr, or St Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs

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

If you’re having debt problems, Debtors Anonymous meets for a 12-step programme on Monday evenings at Blessed Sacrament Church, N1 0SR, from 7.45 to 8.45pm. All are welcome.

For more events from around the diocese throughout the month, please see www.rcdow.org.uk

29 Tue

STS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, Archangels

30 Wed

St Jerome, Priest & Doctor

Beginning Experience There will be a healing weekend for men and women who find themselves alone again following divorce, separation or the death of a partner from 2 to 4 October at the Emmaus Centre in Kent. For details please contact Freda Bacon on 01322 838 415, Sandra Maishman on 01293 783965, or John Brotherton on 01992 642443 or email: johnabrotherton@hotmail.co.uk Praying with Pope Francis - September 2015 Universal Intention: Opportunities for the young - That opportunities for education and employment may increase for all young people.

For Evangelisation: Catechists - That catechists may give witness by living in a consistent with the faith they proclaim.

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.

Available from the first Sunday bi-monthly, the magazine is designed to be read by Catholics of all ages who want to immerse themselves into the history and present culture of their religion.

The August/September edition is now on sale in your parish church.

Price: £3.50 + £1 P&P. Follow on Twitter @Catholic_LifeUK

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To subscribe or to order single issues telephone 0161 908 5301.

You can also order back issues at discounted prices.

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Page 19

Spotlight

Westminster Record | September 2015

Eastern Catholic Churches Celebrated

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Mass at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Duke Street, celebrated in the Syro-Malabar Rite.

On Saturday 1 August the Diocese was host to the Festival of Eastern Catholic Churches, held at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral and organised by the Society of St John Chrysostom.

The festival, the first for decades, brought together 70 clergy and faithful of the Catholic Church in both East and West, all sharing in full communion with Rome.

The day provided a unique opportunity to experience a broad range of the Church’s liturgical riches, including the celebration of the Holy Qurbana in English, led by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, whose direct origins are in the apostolic Church founded

by St Thomas. Fr Joseph Palackal, who had devised a new setting in English, presided over the liturgy.

Afterwards he presented two films to show how the Christians of India still use the language of Christ brought to them in the first century, along with the Syriac music tradition from the Holy Land and Persia. The day concluded with Byzantine Vespers, served by Fr Mark

Woodruff, Vice Chairman of the Society of St John Chrysostom and a priest of the Diocese of Westminster.

Commenting generally, Fr Mark said: ‘Fr Joseph has shown us that just as the Latin Church has spread throughout the world in history, now the Eastern Churches likewise are found everywhere. This shows not only the diversity of Catholic communion, but also that the Eastern Churches are integral to the Catholic Church’s life here, its faith and increasingly its identity.

As they grow, too, they are part of a richer presentation to wider society of the Kingdom. Uniting the patrimony in art, language,

liturgy and music from an historic Church with English for the future in a new environment, is vital and teaches us much about how to be the Church in the world.’

As well as being liturgically rewarding the afternoon included reflection on the challenges facing our brothers and sisters elsewhere.

John Newton spoke about the presence of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in the Middle East, helping the local Churches to survive and care for those in need and destitution because of atrocities in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon and persecution of Christians. A total of £1,500 for ACN’s work was collected on the day.

Syriac Rite procession on Palm Sunday in Holy Trinity, Brook Green

Cardinal Vincent concelebrating at the Lebanese Maronite Catholic Church

Eastern Rite Catholics are full members of the Catholic Church in communion with Rome, although they do not use the Western liturgical rites of the Latin Church, what we commonly, but not accurately, call the Roman Rite. There are a number of Eastern Rite Churches with traditions of worship that go back in some cases to the early centuries of the Church and in others follow the traditions of the various Orthodox Churches in the East. Together they remind us of the richness of Christian history and devotion whilst pointing to the Holy See’s vocation to be the centre of unity for all Christians.

All Catholics are welcome to attend the liturgies of these Churches, which can be a spiritually rewarding experience.

Sunday services will fulfil the Mass obligation and Catholics are able to receive Holy Communion.

For more information visit the Society of Saint John Chrysostom, which works to promote appreciation of the spiritual, theological and liturgical traditions of Eastern Christendom, and offers a full list of Eastern Rite Catholic Churches: www.orientalelumen.org.uk Page 20

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.

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