Westminster Record - February 2018 by RCWestminster

Westminster Record

February 2018 | 20p

St Mary Moorfields: ‘All are welcome’

Welcome New Youth Ministry Director

Caritas Ambassadors at Our Lady’s, Hackney

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Over a century of care

Cardinal Vincent blessing the Heritage Space

On Wednesday 17th January, Cardinal Vincent Nichols visited St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney to bless the newlybuilt Heritage Space, which commemorates those who have served, were cared for or have been a part of the hospice since its founding 113 years ago. The Heritage Space is a mural, comprising twelve colourful sections. Eleven sections each record a decade in the life of the hospice. Achievements, such as new buildings or visits from VIPs (among them, Her Majesty The Queen and Princess Diana) are included.

Also highlighted are pioneering palliative care experts who worked at St Joseph’s, most notably Dame Cecily Saunders, founder of St Christopher’s Hospice, London. The twelfth panel records the future aims of the hospice, which include plans to use existing empty office and staff accommodation space to house projects supporting those marginalised in society in the spirit of Venerable Mary Aikenhead, foundress of the Religious Sisters of Charity who established the hospice in 1905. Cardinal Vincent was welcomed by Nigel Harding,

CEO of the hospice and Fr Peter Scott, hospice chaplain. After celebrating Mass in the hospice chapel, the Cardinal Vincent blessed the Heritage Space. He met with Carolyne Barber & Sr Maria Coates RSc, the designers of this new project who have taken up the role of teaching the Catholic mission, rich history, ethos and core values of the hospice, pictorially displayed in each mural. During his visit, Cardinal Vincent met some of the sisters, trustees, senior management team, mission staff, and chaplains. Accompanied by Director of Care Ruth Bradley,

Cardinal Vincent with the chaplaincy team

Senior Nurse Debbie Pegram and Fr Peter, he also visited three of the wards, where he met and spoke with some of the patients. Opened on 15th January 1905, St Joseph’s Hospice was founded by the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity. The Congregation was founded by Venerable Mary Aikenhead in Ireland in 1815 to serve the poor initially by visiting the sick poor in their homes.

From the very beginning, the hospice welcomed patients of all faiths and none. In the first two years, 212 patients had been welcomed and, in 1907, the hospice had 12 beds. Today, St Joseph’s has 49 beds and serves the three boroughs of Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets. The hospice supports 700 patients a year with wonderful care as they are dying.

Editorial

Westminster Record | February 2018

Westminster Record – Contact us

A Month for Hope

Editor Mgr Mark Langham Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ Managing Editor Marie Saba 020 7798 9031 Inhouse writers Martha Behan 020 7798 9030, Sharon Pinto 020 7798 9178 Photos Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk Design Julian Game To order copies contact Andrea Black 0161 908 5327 or email andrea.black@thecatholicuniverse.com Print management and distribution by The Universe Media Group Ltd.

March publication dates Editorial deadline: 12th February 2018 Listings email: communications@rcdow.org.uk News and stories call 020 7798 9030 Email: communications@rcdow.org.uk Advertising deadline: 16th February 2018 To advertise contact Carol Malpass 0161 908 5301 or email carol.malpass@thecatholicuniverse.com Produced by the Communications Office of the Diocese of Westminster. News and articles published in the Westminster Record do not necessarily represent the views of the Diocese of Westminster, unless specifically stated otherwise. Appearance of advertisements does not imply editorial endorsement.

I have to confess that I hate January. And February. And most of March as well. It’s not the cold, especially: it’s the unremitting grey, that gets into one’s lungs, one’s eyes, one’s soul. Everyone looks grey at this time of year, deprived of sunshine and its rejuvenating beams. I find (perhaps this is just me) that people are less friendly, more short-tempered, more crabby. They have spent

all their energies on Christmas conviviality. Now, like their waistlines, they want to suck in, avoid excess. Yet the new year also brings promise of fresh hope, a new start, possibilities ahead. Where better to start than with our youth, who bear with them so much of our confidence in the future? We feature this month Andrzej Wdowiak, on his first outing as director of the Youth Service, ably supported by Fr Mark Walker, Youth Chaplain. Young people are contributing so much to our diocese, and we shine a spotlight on SPEC, and the Student Cross pilgrimage in Holy Week. We also report from Hackney, where sixth formers from Our Lady’s school have become Caritas Ambassadors. There is much more to brighten our winter days. The

well-publicised Lumière festival, bringing us dazzling experiences of light across London, included this year a gothic rose window, beautiful if incongruous outside our byzantine Cathedral. Light of a different kind was shed on one of our most venerable parishes, St Mary Moorfields, with an article in The Guardian. A significant milestone was reached at another remarkable parish, St Paul in Wood Green, as it marks its 135th anniversary of foundation. And don’t miss an article on an extraordinary modern martyr, John Bradburne, who in his remarkable and exotic career managed to fit in a stint as sacristan at Westminster Cathedral.

Lighting up London Despite the dreary weather, London has been a lot brighter lately. Lumière London, the light festival lit up places across the city from 18th to 21st January. Westminster Abbey, Carnaby Street and the Kings Cross area were all the sites of innovative light displays. For the first time this year, the piazza outside Westminster Cathedral was host to one of the installions. ‘The Rose’ was a display of thousands of recycled plastic bottles making up a beautiful illuminated window. Uniquely, the illumination was pedal powered, with members of the public pedalling fixed bikes to generate electricity. Cafod Lenten Family Fast Day is on Friday 23rd February. Cafod ask us to make a small sacrifice that day and use the money saved to support the collection that will take place on Sunday 25th February in parishes across the diocese.

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Westminster Record | February 2018

Call for Swift Implementation of Sandhurst Treaty Bishop Paul McAleenan, the Lead Bishop for Asylum and Migration for England and Wales and Bishop William Nolan, President of Justice and Peace Scotland have issued a joint statement welcoming the recent Sandhurst Treaty, which sees the UK agreeing to pay £44.5 million to improve border security in Calais and Dunkirk and France pledging to improve the processing of child refugees, saying it will ‘streamline the process of migration from France to the UK’. They added: ‘The Government and the Civil Service must be held to account in implementing this decision, especially in applying the Dublin III Regulations which will allow children to be reunited with their families in the UK.’ They also praised the governments of France and the UK for their efforts in the fight against organised crime in the Dunkirk and Calais areas, and called for ’greater cooperation’. The bishops also ask that greater care be taken of unaccompanied minors saying

Following the death of Peter Sutherland, Irish businessman, politician and international public figure, on 7th January, Cardinal Vincent, speaking on behalf of the Bishops of England and Wales, said: ‘Peter Sutherland was an immensely gifted and principled man who, in an extraordinarily wide ranging career, made an outstanding contribution to public life not only in his native Ireland but also in Europe and indeed globally: to the world of business and also to the Catholic Church whose faithful, if not uncritical, servant he always remained. ‘As Bishops in England and Wales we are greatly indebted to Peter. He was a close adviser to my predecessor, Cardinal Cormac, and gave generously of his time and money in support of the Church’s work both in Ireland and the UK. He was always willing to help the Church, whether in the local parish or assisting the Holy See more widely. His wisdom, shrewdness and passion for justice were a powerful combination, and he was a

fearless and courageous public witness, not least in his work as the UN Secretary General’s special envoy on international migration.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.’ Peter Sutherland was the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for International Migration from January 2006 to March 2017. In this role, he was responsible for the creation of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). He served as President of the International Catholic Migration Commission, as well as member of the Migration Advisory Board of the International Organisation for Migration. He had previously served as Attorney General of Ireland (1981–84), European Commissioner responsible for Competition Policy (1985–89), founding Director General of the World Trade Organisation, and former Chairman of Goldman Sachs International (1995–2015).

Cardinal Vincent Pays Tribute to Peter Sutherland

‘we strongly regret that this opportunity has not been used to commit to an increase in the number of unaccompanied minors that will be welcomed into this country. We call on

the Government to reconsider this position. The innate Godgiven dignity of all human life, especially that of innocent children, must not be ignored.’

‘All May Be Free’ At an ecumenical service held at Underhill Baptist Church in Barnet on 18th January to commemorate Christian Unity Week, Bishop John Sherrington preached a sermon on the invitation to pray that ‘all may be free’. Speaking of the ‘fraternal dialogue’, he said: ‘Our persistent prayer and patient, sometimes difficult, fraternal dialogue together as Christians since the Second Vatican Council fifty years ago, means that we can say to one another in the words of the Apostle Paul: “you are no longer strangers” (cf. Eph 2:19). The dignity which we share because of our baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit means that indeed we are the adopted

children of God. Together as pilgrims we journey towards that day when we will share in the glory of the Lord. ‘This year our prayer for Christian unity invites us to pray that “all may be free”,’ he said. ‘We look around and are deeply aware of the effects of sin in our world.’ Among the effects he enumerated were exploitation, abuse of human rights, violence, conflict, human trafficking, modern slavery and addictions and lifestyles ‘which deny the dignity of the person and their body, destroy people and their lives’. ‘Faith leads to action, above all when it takes concrete form in love, particularly of the poor and the marginalized. We proclaim liberty and seek to Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

help people find their freedom by our work for justice and towards peace. When we respect the dignity of the human person, whether by gazing into the eyes of the stranger on the street or the prisoner, and help the oppressed and bent-over woman to stand upright, we do the Lord’s work. ‘As a call to life in communion with God, the call to holiness is necessarily a call to communion with others too. When, as Christians together, we join in assisting and comforting the weak and the vulnerable – those who in the midst of our societies feel distant, foreign and alienated – we are responding to the Lord’s summons.’ Page 3

Westminster Record | February 2018

New Chaplain for Whittington 135 years of worship

On Thursday 14th December 2017 Bishop Paul McAleenan officiated at the induction of Fr Oliver Ejike Ugwu CSSP as Catholic Chaplain of the Whittington Health NHS Trust. The small hospital chapel was overflowing with staff and volunteers as Philippa Davis, Director of Nursing and Patient Experience at the Whittington welcomed those present. After the readings and the Induction rite in which Fr Oliver confirmed he will serve

the patients and staff with diligence, he was presented by the bishop with a Bible and pyx brought up by Siobhan Harrington, the CEO of the Whittington Health Trust, as well as other symbols brought up by Holly Ball for the volunteers and Jane Laking, Midwife Specialist Practitioner for the staff. Sr Aideen Keaney LSU, for many years now the assistant Catholic chaplain, read the bidding prayers. The service closed with the Salve

Regina after Very Rev Fr Kenneth Okoli CSSP, the provincial of the Spiritans in Britain (they used to be known as the Holy Ghost Fathers) spoke of the support and pride of the order in Fr Oliver. Other guests included Fr Mark Elliott Smith, the previous Catholic chaplain, Pauline Forde DC, UCLH, Colette Lennon, Watford General, and Deacon Anthony Clark from the neighbouring Royal Free Hospital.

Stained-glass window of St Paul above the sanctuary

On Christmas Eve in 1882, the first Mass was celebrated at St Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in Wood Green and attended by 18 people. At Christmas, the parish, which is at the heart of the community in Wood Green, invited Bishop John Sherrington to celebrate

Success in fight against human trafficking Two residents of Caritas Bakhita House who had been rescued from modern slavery have given evidence which has led to the successful prosecution of their captors. Both women were trafficked from Romania and trapped in modern slavery in the UK. The first was a 41-year-old woman who was forced into prostitution once she was trafficked into the UK. In time, she managed to escape from her captors and, through the police, found refuge at Bakhita House where the staff supported her recovery. The woman overcame many difficulties and was eventually able to give evidence, leading to two of the men who brought her over from Romania being sentenced to 14 years each and another man being given two years and eight months. The second was a young woman who was trafficked from her home and forced into Page 4

prostitution. She alerted her mother in Romania who contacted the police who found her at an address in Kensington. The Metropolitan Police, working with authorities in Romania, apprehended the traffickers and, with support from Bakhita House staff, the young woman gave evidence which led to her two captors being sentenced to 12 years and four years respectively. Bakhita House Manager Karen Anstiss commended the courage of both women in testifying against their captors. She also paid tribute to the work of the staff and volunteers who supported the women through their recovery and helped them look forward to the future with hope. Caritas Bakhita House provides women escaping modern slavery and human trafficking with safety and support to allow them to begin the recovery process.

Midnight Mass to mark 135 years since that very first time parishioners gathered to worship together. The church was packed for Mass, which involved the participation of over 20 altar servers, both parish choirs and the youth choir. Before Mass 18 parishioners of all different ages, from six to 80, processed in with the parish registers, showing the diversity that is the foundation of parishes across London. The offertory procession was led by African parishioners, who in traditional thanksgiving, brought up to the altar a large variety of gifts, while the youth choir sang a hymn in the Nigerian Igbo language. At the end of Mass Parish Priest Fr Perry Sykes thanked all who had been involved in organising the celebration and remembered all those who had lived and worshipped in the parish for the past 135 years, in particular the 18 people present for the first Mass held at Christmas 1882. He also remembered the, at least, 36 priests produced by the parish. The church was built in 1904, 22 years after the first Midnight Mass bought the small parish community together to celebrate the birth of Christ and the birth of a thriving parish community.

Westminster Record | February 2018

St Mary Moorfields: ‘All are welcome’ by Fr Chris Vipers

The best thing about it – aside from the warmth and the lovely light from the chandeliers and the polished wood and the banks of burning candles – is that everyone here is equal. (Nicola Barker, quoted in The Guardian, Saturday 30 December 2017)

It’s not every day that a Cardinal emails you to say that your church has got a mention in the paper. But that is exactly

what happened just after Christmas. The journalist Nicola Barker, winner of The Goldsmiths Prize 2017, wrote a beautiful reflection on visiting St Mary Moorfields for The Guardian Review. Not being a Guardian reader myself I would have missed it but I’m so glad to have checked my inbox that day. The article is eloquent and gets our beautiful church to a tee, putting perfectly into words what so many others feel about this very special little space in the heart of the City: ‘I see each visit there,’ the writer says, ‘as a kind of metaphorical Thameside-amble for the soul.’ Telling the reader how she first passed through the doors, she relates ‘I actually walked past this church for many years and didn’t dare to enter. There is nothing to it from the outside just some glass doors inbetween a jewellers and a card shop a minute’s walk from the crazy bustle of Liverpool Street station. It’s unobtrusive – hardly there – almost Narniaesque. You have to walk down a few steps to enter, then pass through another couple of sets

of doors, each one taking you down further and further into the ecclesiastical womb.’ Her journey continues, ‘Once inside it’s a small but pretty space – not remotely claustrophobic – that feels as if it’s semi-submerged in the London sod and loam. It is a City church that effortlessly unites the well-heeled gent and the tragically destitute, the traveller and the local, the religious and the sceptic, with no palpable sense of conflict or unease. It is magnificently cosmopolitan. All are welcome.

Nobody seems or feels out of place. It is a profoundly dignified, proper, reverential, and, well, yes, loved space…. the air itself thickens, it seems to shimmer and glow. There is a sense of hush and excitement and reverence.’ I am so proud to be a priest here in this place, and so deeply humbled that so very many, Nicola included, get a little glimpse here of what heaven is like. Her final words made me smile and made me glad: ‘Just before lunchtime mass the rosary is recited – a

strange cacophony of mumbling voices conjoin to repeat the prayer; a delicious maelstrom of different accents working with and against each other. It’s haunting and unearthly and there is no pressure to participate. It doesn’t matter why you are here, there is no compulsion to say or to do, just simply to be, to sit, to exhale, to reflect.’ Fr Chris Vipers is Parish Priest of St Mary Moorfields and St Joseph’s, Bunhill Row and is the Director of the Agency for Evangelisation

Celebrating St Edmund’s Douai Foundation The oldest Catholic school in the country started its 450th anniversary celebrations with a Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 12 January. St Edmund’s College, based at Ware in Hertfordshire, was founded originally in Douai, France, by Cardinal William Allen in 1568. Pupils past and present, staff, governors and friends gave thanks for the history of the school and for its present success. The Mass reflected many of the strong ties between St Edmund’s and the diocese. As the original home of Allen Hall seminary, its importance in the history of Westminster Diocese cannot be underestimated: a fact embodied in the Douay Chalice, made about 1700, which was used for the Mass. The school choir performed a magnificent rendition of Vivaldi’s Gloria, while other music included a hymn written by Monsignor Ronald Knox, a former member of staff at the school, and another by Fr Francis Stanford, composed for the school pilgrimage to St Edmund’s shrine in France in 1874. Fr Peter Lyness, chaplain to the school, reminded us of its rich history, and the headteacher, Mr Paulo Duran, spoke of its present and future achievements. The witness of the past, and the hope for the future, were embodied in a moving gesture at the end of Mass, when wreaths were laid by pupils at the tomb of Bishop Richard Challoner in the Chapel of St Gregory and St Augustine, honouring one of the greatest figures of the College’s history.

St Edmund’s students place wreaths at the tomb of Bishop Richard Challoner in the chapel of St Gregory and St Augustine

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Westminster Record | February 2018

Pope’s Message for the Twenty-sixth World Day of The Sick Mater Ecclesiae: ‘Behold, your son... Behold, your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.’ (Jn 19:26-27)

1. The Lord’s words brilliantly illuminate the mystery of the Cross, which does not represent a hopeless tragedy, but rather the place where Jesus manifests his glory and shows his love to the end. That love in turn was to become the basis and rule for the Christian community and the life of each disciple. Before all else, Jesus’ words are the source of Mary’s maternal vocation for all humanity. Mary was to be, in particular, the Mother of her Son’s disciples, caring for them and their journey through life. As we know, a mother’s care for her son or daughter includes both the material and spiritual dimensions of their upbringing. The unspeakable pain of the Cross pierces Mary’s soul (cf. Lk 2:35), but does not paralyze her. Quite the opposite. As the Lord’s Page 6

Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Church’s service to the sick and those who care for them must continue with renewed vigour, in fidelity to the Lord’s command (cf. Lk 9:2-6; Mt 10:1-8; Mk 6:713) and following the eloquent example of her Founder and Master. The theme for this year’s Day of the Sick is provided by the words that Jesus spoke from the Cross to Mary, his Mother, and to John: ‘Woman, behold your son ... Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home’ (Jn 19:26-27).

where every tear will be wiped away. Like Mary, the disciples are called to care for one another, but not only that. They know that Jesus’ heart is open to all and excludes no one. The Gospel of the Kingdom must be proclaimed to all, and the charity of Christians must be directed to all, simply because they are persons, children of God. 4. The Church’s maternal vocation to the needy and to the sick has found concrete expression throughout the two thousand years of her history in an impressive series of initiatives on behalf of the sick. This history of dedication must not be forgotten. It continues to the present day throughout the world. In countries where adequate public health care systems exist, the work of Catholic religious congregations and dioceses and their hospitals is aimed not only at providing quality medical care, but also at putting the human person at the centre of the healing process, while carrying out scientific research with full respect for life and for Christian moral values. In countries where health care systems are inadequate or nonexistent, the Church seeks to do what she can to improve health, eliminate infant mortality and combat widespread disease. Everywhere she tries to provide care, even when she is not in a position to offer a cure. The image of the Church as a ‘field hospital’ that welcomes all those wounded by life is a very concrete reality, for in some parts of the world, missionary and diocesan hospitals are the only institutions providing necessary care to the population. 5. The memory of this long history of service to the sick is cause for rejoicing on the part of the Christian community, and especially those presently engaged in this ministry. Yet we must look to the past above all to let it enrich us. We should learn the lesson it

Mother, a new path of selfgiving opens up before her. On the Cross, Jesus showed his concern for the Church and all humanity, and Mary is called to share in that same concern. In describing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Acts of the Apostles show that Mary began to carry out this role in the earliest community of the Church. A role that never ceases. 2. John, the beloved disciple, is a figure of the Church, the messianic people. He must acknowledge Mary as his Mother. In doing so, he is called to take her into his home, to see in her the model of all discipleship, and to contemplate the maternal vocation that Jesus entrusted to her, with all that it entails: a loving Mother who gives birth to children capable of loving as Jesus commands. That is why Mary’s maternal vocation to care for her children is entrusted to John and to the Church as a whole. The entire community of disciples is included in Mary’s maternal vocation. 3. John, as a disciple who shared everything with Jesus, knows that the Master wants to lead all people to an encounter with the Father. He can testify to the fact that Jesus met many people suffering from spiritual sickness due to pride (cf. Jn 8:31-39) and from physical ailments (cf. Jn 5:6). He bestowed mercy and forgiveness upon all, and healed the sick as a sign of the abundant life of the Kingdom,

teaches us about the selfsacrificing generosity of many founders of institutes in the service of the infirm, the creativity, prompted by charity, of many initiatives undertaken over the centuries, and the commitment to scientific research as a means of offering innovative and reliable treatments to the sick. This legacy of the past helps us to build a better future, for example, by shielding Catholic hospitals from the business mentality that is seeking worldwide to turn health care into a profit-making enterprise, which ends up discarding the poor. Wise organization and charity demand that the sick person be respected in his or her dignity, and constantly kept at the centre of the therapeutic process. This should likewise be the approach of Christians who work in public structures; through their service, they too are called to bear convincing witness to the Gospel. 6. Jesus bestowed upon the Church his healing power: ‘These signs will accompany those who believe... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover’ (Mk 16:17-18). In the Acts of the Apostles, we read accounts of the healings worked by Peter (cf. Acts3:4-8) and Paul (cf. Acts 14:8-11). The Church’s mission is a response to Jesus’ gift, for she knows that she must bring to the sick the Lord’s own gaze, full of tenderness and compassion. Health care ministry will always be a necessary and fundamental task, to be carried out with renewed enthusiasm by all, from parish communities to the largest healthcare institutions. We cannot forget the tender love and perseverance of many families in caring for their chronically sick or severely disabled children, parents and relatives. The care given within families is an extraordinary witness of love for the human person; it needs to be fittingly acknowledged and supported by suitable policies. Doctors and nurses, priests,

consecrated men and women, volunteers, families and all those who care for the sick, take part in this ecclesial mission. It is a shared responsibility that enriches the value of the daily service given by each. 7. To Mary, Mother of tender love, we wish to entrust all those who are ill in body and soul, that she may sustain them in hope. We ask her also to help us to be welcoming to our sick brothers and sisters. The Church knows that she requires a special grace to live up to her evangelical task of serving the sick. May our prayers to the Mother of God see us united in an incessant plea that every member of the Church may live with love the vocation to serve life and health. May the Virgin Mary intercede for this Twenty-sixth World Day of the Sick; may she help the sick to experience their suffering in communion with the Lord Jesus; and may she support all those who care for them. To all, the sick, to healthcare workers and to volunteers, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing. From the Vatican, 26th November 2017 Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Westminster Record | February 2018

Inside the Hospice

Recognising Jesus by Fr Peter-Michael Scott

The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes are asking for volunteers to lend medical and practical support to the sick, elderly and infirm pilgrims this summer from 21st to 27th July. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact: Diocesan pilgrimage office on 0207 798 9173 or email westminsterstfrai@gmail.com

A while ago, I came across Stan who loved Valentine’s Day. He had an album of photographs which recorded all the Februarys he had celebrated with Vera. The first page showed him as a young man standing next to his beautiful wife: he was in a suit with a trilby, and she was in a smart summer dress with a lace pillbox hat. When I met Stan he had endured a year of chemotherapy and looked quite dissimilar to the man in the album. His smile and eyes remained the same, but he had lost hair, weight, and his skin was pale. Over the next few weeks his appearance continued to change. He remained cheerful but more kilos vanished and the once-dapper proportioned man in the album now looked like a totally different person. Eventually, surrounded by his family, red hearts and Valentine cards, he died. Stan’s wife and children found the days following his death difficult and were unable to sleep. They did not want their last memory of him to be of the gaunt, tired man they had seen before his death, and they could not conjure up a memory of what he looked like when healthy. Recently when praying about the account of Jesus’s Resurrection, I thought of Stan and all those people I have accompanied as they have died. Mary Magdalene and those on the road to Emmaus must have been haunted by their last memory of Jesus as a tortured, beaten man dying on a cross. Perhaps that is why none of them recognised Jesus after his Resurrection. In their minds’ eye was the suffering Jesus, and yet before them was the Saviour returned and restored. Jesus had to tweak their good memories and they recognised him. The important detail is that Jesus recognised them, he didn’t mind if they did not know him. At the end of our lives, even if we are changed and different, the Lord will still know who we are and what we have achieved. He will welcome us as friend and disciple and we will greet him saying ‘my Lord and my God’. Please pray for the patients, staff and volunteers of St Joseph’s Hospice.

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Westminster Record | February 2018

Coummunity in Christ

Pilgrims prepare for Holy Week walk

Westminster Record | February 2018

Director’s Spotlight

Lea Ghanem is a volunteer missionary at SPEC, here she shares her testimony: ‘Community is a wonderful place, it is life-giving; but it is also a place of truth and of growth.’ by Jean Vanier Being a fresh graduate is not easy when you are figuring out what you are called to do next. It is even harder when you feel you are called to do something that has little or nothing to do with what you have spent years studying. Born and raised in a Catholic environment, I was always drawn to mission but it was only when I witnessed the dedication and authenticity of Monks and young Catholics I had met around several catholic groups in London and Sussex that I felt clarity in my calling to participate in youth ministry. I was thrilled when I found out about SPEC through a friend and delighted be so warmly welcomed by the team. Being a volunteer at SPEC is a yearlong spiritual retreat which I later found out is much how life should be. It is a journey that stretches you on every level, and a place where you keep learning how to face your own pain until you find peace. SPEC’s mission is to provide retreats on its beautiful grounds for young people to reflect on and experience the presence of God away from everyday worries and agitation. It is the best setting for people whose passion is youth ministry as it is a platform for learning to share personal experiences with the youth, find out about their daily burdens, their concerns with religion and their need for Christ. It also encourages practicing public speaking but most importantly to show that catholic teachings can be part of your personality no matter who you are as you slowly internalize virtues. We are so blessed to have a dreamy little chapel where we keep a constant rhythm of prayer and my favourite part; daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The team is so dedicated in maintaining our wellbeing that we have weekly spiritual formation to keep our souls fed! All those are necessary supplies to be in a true relationship with God, be supportive of our community and ready to minister His word to the youth that visit us.

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SPEC is not only limited to giving but also receiving; an opportunity for social and personal development. The community setting will shed some light on what motivates and interests you. I have discovered how passionate I was about self-expression through music as well as how much I was craving to acquire certain skills like counselling. As you progress through the year, you inevitably learn how to consider others in your actions. Not only are loneliness and isolation not an issue, but I have found people who console me through hard times, support me when I feel discouraged, accompany me to gigs, play music, and explore England with me! SPEC is truly the place I’d rather be in a world of unhealthy competition and marginalization as we live and strive in the hope that God will transform all brokenness into wholeness.

Andrzej Wdowiak Director of Youth Ministry

The Student Cross pilgrimage has taken place every year since 1948. The name reflects the origins of the pilgrimage, which now involves students, as well as many more experienced participants, from new-borns right through to pensioners.

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

This Easter pilgrims will once again embark on a Holy Week pilgrimage; eleven groups from different starting points will each carry a cross, arriving in Walsingham on Good Friday. Laura Mitcham from Student Cross explains how the Diocese of Westminster can get involved: ‘Each group collectively carries a large wooden cross as a witness to the people that they pass, crossing fens and gently rolling hills on the way to Walsingham, the London Leg sets off from Epping. The pilgrims are welcomed, accommodated and fed by kind-hearted churches and individuals along the route, as they live out their Christian witness in this special way. ‘ Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, archbishop of Liverpool, walked Student Cross in the 1980s; recently he spoke about his experiences of the pilgrimage: ‘You meet yourself, that’s the person you don’t expect to meet, and you meet Jesus in your fellow pilgrims and those you meet on the way. It was a wonderful thing to do and I recommend it to everybody.’ The physical journey culminates in the arrival in Walsingham on Good Friday, where the whole pilgrim body celebrates Easter together. José Pedro Vieira, who walked from Kettering in 2017, Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Twitter at: twitter.com/dowym

said: ‘Student cross is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Filled with moments of pure fun and of deep spiritual experiences, it is a most wonderful way to live the Holy Week!’ The pilgrimage is a chance to celebrate Easter in a unique way, by living Holy Week in community, celebrating liturgy and tangibly walking with Christ towards the joy of the Resurrection. Megan, who walked for the first time in 2017, said: ‘We talked, we laughed, we ate cake, we sang, we shared amazing moments together and became a family through the simple act of walking along winding lanes together.’ Those interested in joining the 2018 pilgrimage can find out more and register at studentcross.org.uk, or contact Laura on 07891464066

In the last Westminster Record Phil Ross has said his goodbyes to the regular readers of this column. He retired at the end of December after successfully leading the development of Westminster Youth Ministry and overseeing the transformation of SPEC, the Diocesan Retreat Centre in Pinner. From January this year it is now my role to continue all this good work and build on many years of prayer and discernment in order to help the young people of today to make their faith relevant and meaningful when facing life’s challenges in contemporary society. I guess it would be appropriate to say a few words of introduction. The spelling of my name presents many with a dilemma on how to pronounce the impossible combination of letters. The reality of it is not that complicated; Andrzej is Polish for Andrew but people generally refer to me as AJ. I have been studying and working in the UK since 1992 and most of my work has been with charities. For the last three years I have been working in the Diocese of Westminster at Caritas. This new role as Director of Youth combines my working experience and my determination to support and encourage young Catholics in living their faith in their daily life. My role involves overseeing development of the Westminster Youth Ministry and SPEC. In the Youth Ministry we are expanding our Summit programme, a free celebration for young Catholics, from confirmation age to sixth form. Until December last year this was held only in a Central Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/doywm

London location but just before the Christmas holiday we held our first deanery Summit, up at St Josephs in Stevenage. We had a fantastic turn out of around 60 people from across the deanery. The evening consists of a free shared meal, some icebreaker activities, contemporary worship music, personal testimony and Eucharistic adoration. We’ve had very positive feedback from participants and the aim is to hold the evening as an annual event in both Stevenage deanery and eventually all the deaneries of the diocese. Also in December we had our annual youth Mass at St Aloysius in Euston. At the end of the Mass Bishop John Sherrington presented awards for the young people who completed the 2017 Music Scholarship. The scheme is led by Edwin Fawcett, Catholic composer, recording artist and music minister and is designed to develop the skills of young people in providing music in the life of their parish and the wider Church. The 2018 programme starts in January. In the coming months, as well as offering parish support for youth groups, the Youth Ministry will also be assisting Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the Auxiliary Bishops in preparing for the 2018 Synod of Bishops due to be held in Rome in October 2018. The theme of the Synod is ‘Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment’ and we hope that many young people and young adults will be able to contribute to this preparation through the series of meetings and reflection groups throughout the Diocese of Westminster. Finally, although it feels quite far away, we are taking bookings for the World Youth Day in Panama due to take place at the end of January 2019. We hope that the Diocese will be well represented in Panama and we would like to speak to all who may be interested, regardless of their financial abilities. In SPEC we have finally reached the stage that we can offer residential retreats and this is very exciting for us. The last three and half years all we could do is day retreats that had to coexist with the building work going on alongside. The first residential retreat is taking place in the second half of January and we hope that there will be many more to come. For

those who are unfamiliar, SPEC is a Catholic children and young people retreat centre assisted by the young adult mission community serving the Diocese of Westminster. Its main mission is to provide youth retreats for the Catholic school children in London and surrounding areas. SPEC could not function properly without our volunteer missionaries. Every year a group of Catholic young adults aged 18-25 volunteer at SPEC in order to enter into a year of formation: intellectual, spiritual, communal, and pastoral. These young adults form our SPEC community are committed to living an authentically Catholic Christian life and helping to deliver retreats. We are currently recruiting volunteers for the 2018-19 academic year and very much look forward to receiving applications from those who will be the future faith leaders in the diocese. Westminster Youth Ministry and SPEC are amazing resources for the Catholic faith community in Diocese of Westminster. We hope to work with and welcome as many young people as possible in 2018 to support them in their journey of faith.

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

Chaplain’s Corner

Fr Mark Walker, Youth Chaplain As this is the first Westminster Record of the new year, allow me to wish you all a happy new year. Having said that, as this February edition goes to print, we’re only a few days away from the start of the holy season of Lent! Lent is, of course, the Church’s season of penance. Penance is a central characteristic of the Christian life. One need only think about Mark’s Gospel, which we are

hearing from this year in the liturgy, and how right at the beginning John the Baptist appears, preaching a baptism of repentance, of penance. Penance is the process of the conversion of our lives to ever-greater holiness. There can be dramatic moments of conversion in each of our lives (as well as setbacks) and the Sacrament of Penance itself (often called reconciliation or confession) provides vital moments of tangible conversion but these always take place in the context of a lifelong process of penance. Lent allows us to evaluate where each of is in that process, how God’s grace has enabled us to grow in holiness so far and what more we should be doing. We often adopt a few practices in Lent, such as giving something up, as signs of our ongoing desire for conversion, to do penance. In the youth service, we’re always trying to think of how we can help young people experience this important aspect of Christian life and how a commitment to becoming a holy person can give them meaning in life. We’re often good at helping young people to encounter Christ, in prayer, in the sacraments, in adoration. But then what? An authentic encounter with Jesus always leads to penance, to communion with others and to mission. All are linked and reinforce each other. In my experience, young people in particular have ambition for greatness. May this Lent be a further opportunity for us all to engage in that journey to Christian greatness, holiness, through the penance, the conversion of our lives, that Christ calls us to.

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Westminster Record | February 2018

Coummunity in Christ

Pilgrims prepare for Holy Week walk

Westminster Record | February 2018

Director’s Spotlight

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Andrzej Wdowiak Director of Youth Ministry

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

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

Chaplain’s Corner

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Westminster Record | February 2018

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Church of Conversions

The front view of the altar at Kensington church

by Sharon Pinto

As I make my way through the crowd at High Street Kensington tube station, the wealth and prosperity is evident as the exit to the station makes its way directly into a shopping arcade. The wide roads are immaculately clean with an air of affluence. From the humble Sainsbury to the mighty Wholefoods, all lined up the street. Amidst such consumerism as I cross at the junction I walk past the Kensington war memorial which evokes feelings of patriotism and sacrifice. I arrive at this quaint church away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Simon Stock, Kensington. Warmly welcomed by Rita McDonagh, an active volunteer, from the side door, at first sight it is hard to recognise the structure as a church. As I enter, what lay in front of me is a huge church with a beautiful altar adorned with Christmas wreaths, a Christmas tree at the altar and a stunningly beautiful crib assembled to perfection. Being a weekday afternoon, the pews are empty with a few people praying. The ambience was sort of divine, with dim lights that draw you in to the church’s peaceful presence. Page 10

The founder of the church was a Carmelite named Fr Hermann Cohen, a Jewish convert born in 1820, a first class musician and a member of a brilliant circle of artists and litterateurs. On beginning his priestly ministry in England, he was given a small house adjacent to the convent of Assumption Sisters, Kensington Square to live in. He managed to convert this house into a small sized chapel (a forerunner to the church) on 15th October 1862 with the help of two brothers and a few other religious. It was on 16th July 1865 that the foundation stone of the present day church was blessed by Cardinal Manning, second Archbishop of Westminster. As the name suggests, the church is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Simon Stock. The church was destroyed during WWII and extensively rebuilt in the 1960s by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. By divine providence and with the support of parishioners and generous patrons, the church was restored. On the second floor of the church, a wall holds a painting of the burning church, its title reads, ‘presented by the members of Kensington fire

station … at the cessation of the London fire brigade on 31st March, 1965.’ The friars have seen an increase in the number of Carmelites, clergy and lay, the parish boasts of six priests that serve the parish actively: Fr John Williamson, Parish Priest, Fr Christopher Clarke, Prior, Fr John McGowan, Fr Luke Onwe, Fr Paul Vincent and Fr Tijo Xavier who are is also undertaking further theological studies. Carmelites stand for a sense of family and community, which is evident from their routine of meeting five times a day to say the Office, a reflection of the importance of personal prayer as Fr Christopher explains. Having attended a Carmelite school as a young boy, he later became a Carmelite himself. He has only been serving for a few months in this parish. He has great technical acumen, I am told, when it comes to design and is already in a phase of planning minor enhancements to the layout of the church. The location of the church gives it an advantage in the work of evangelisation. The presence of a plethora of hotels due to Kensington’s proximity to Heathrow airport means a lot of tourist regularly visit. Fr Christopher recalls an incident where an American tourist missed his flight and was put up at a nearby hotel. With the help of his GPS, he discovered this church and attended a Sunday service one morning. It is the inner GPS of our soul that makes us search for Christ even in a foreign land. Fr John, Parish Priest, had a similar story to share. He received his calling to the priestly vocation when one Sunday morning in the late 60s while working shifts for the police, he was desperate to find a Catholic church to attend Mass. He chanced upon this very Carmelite church where he met Brother Alfred Clapham who encouraged him to return for a weekday Mass since he was not able to make it to church every Sunday. At the weekday Mass he was welcomed by Fr Ronan Murphy, the then-vocations director for the diocese, who made him consider a vocation to the priesthood.

The very land the church stands on was owned by a certain Mr Bird, who was renting it out to Fr Hermann Cohen, albeit quite reluctantly as it was a Catholic institution. Mr Bird experienced a change of heart when he read a translated article in The Times in 1865, written in a rather abusive tone, about Fr Hermann Cohen giving an account at a lecture in Belgium in the year 1864 of the last confessions he heard of five Catholic sailors who were condemned to the scaffold in London for piracy and murder. Mr Bird was impressed with Fr Hermann’s motivation of bringing more souls to Christ against all odds, even when they were close to death. Mr Bird willingly sold the land to Fr Hermann, more willing than Fr Hermann was to buy it. Truly, this parish can be rechristened ‘the church of conversions’. It is a multicultural parish with a mix of French, Italian and Spanish parishioners. The church is accessible from 7am to 7pm on any day, with three Masses on weekdays rising to five on Sundays. (For Mass times, please visit carmelitechurch.org.uk) There are various church groups such as the Legion of Mary, with the biggest programme of the parish being Sant’ Egidio, involved in communicating the gospel, sharing friendship with the poor, helping refugees, and other good works. The parish is continually evolving in serving the community and carrying out faith building activities, like encouraging parishioners to visit the Holy Land, Lourdes or Walsingham on pilgrimage.

I was informed of the various other Carmelites known for their zeal, service and love for God. Fr Simon Knapp was a Carmelite chaplain who served from (19151917) during WWII. In the words of the rifleman, ‘Our chaplain is a saint… he faced death at least forty times… with bullets in showers as hailstones, passing over the heads of penitents and confessor’. Another prominent Carmelite is Edith Stein better known as St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a Discalced Carmelite nun. The church has stood witness to many divine experiences of the multitude who visit. Fr John had many to speak of but he recalls one such distinct instance. The relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite, had been brought for veneration to the church. From the moment the relics were welcomed, he felt a divine aura and presence which seemed to fill the air. Senses could feel what words couldn’t explain. I would like to explain it as St Thérèse at work in spirit, as was her ardent desire to bring many more souls to Christ even when alive. The Lady Chapel to the right as one faces the altar had a devotee praying while the crib in front was simply soothing the soul. Not much extravagance had gone into it, but there lay the infant Jesus welcoming you on a bed of hay in simple yet stunning manner. It was as if an invitation to come and see how the divine can make its presence known in those empty pews and draw you closer to it.

Painting gifted by Kensington fire station on 31st March 1965

Westminster Record | February 2018

Pope’s Prayer Intention

by Fr David Stewart SJ February’s main Intention of Pope Francis, entrusted to the whole people of God through his personal Network of Prayer is expressed bluntly: ‘Say “No” to corruption. That those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption’. This is not the first time that Francis has been blunt about this matter; he has not been afraid to be outspoken on this ‘smog of corruption’, as he put it in a daily Mass homily last November. It is of sufficient concern for him to present it to the Church, and all people of good will, for our prayerful consideration this month. One of the fundamental bad outcomes of corruption is that some people are cheated out of something that is rightfully theirs. As so often is the case, the first to suffer are the poor, those who are least able to cope with being cheated. If a corrupt official, for example, in a town or city concocts a way of pocketing public funds, to the extent that those for whom the funds were destined, by way of

welfare or health programmes, are deprived. So this is not only theft but also an assault on someone else’s welfare and wellbeing. This is not the only form of corruption but it should be a powerful example of the evil that it is. When someone, who has the capability and desire to enrich himself or herself by illegal strategies, wilfully manipulates the system, she or he is not only doing wrong but also compounding the wrong by taking away from those who deserve the benefit. Pope Francis was careful, in his wording of this month’s Intention, to refer to the temptation to misuse power that can be ‘material, political and spiritual’. Probably, when most of us think of corruption we think of corrupt politicians, misusing public resources or lining their own pockets when they should be serving the common good; or we think of corrupt business leaders, going about their business in questionable ways to their own advantage. That’s misuse of political or material power but

the Pope reminds us of the possible misuse of spiritual power. That pernicious kind of corruption has been with us in the Church for centuries. To assert this is not to be unfaithful or disloyal; to deny it is to be foolish and purblind. Last month, on his visit to Peru and Chile, Francis was especially outspoken about corruption. Celebrating Mass for an estimated 1.3 million, he spoke of the ‘sickness’ of politics. Later, sitting beside Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, himself suspected of corrupt schemes, the Pope said that tackling corruption required ‘a greater culture of transparency among public entities, the private sector and civil society – and I don’t exclude Church communities,’ Our 2018 ‘Living Prayer’ booklet (copies still available) defines corruption as the ‘abuse of entrusted power for private gain’. One way of expressing our prayerful solidarity with the Pope, this month, is to pray that ‘those in power keep their eye on the Common Good’.

This year, 2018, we’re going to focus more on the monthly challenges presented by the Pope’s Prayer Intentions, circulated by us as his personal network of prayer. Monthly challenges, linked to the Intentions, were a staple of the Apostleship of Prayer for many years and we feel that it’s time to revive them. We’re still in the early part of the year so there’s still time to make another resolution for the year. New Year’s resolutions have often faded away by February even though they really are about our desire to develop better habits, healthier in many ways. As our friend and colleague Philip, in the Pope’s Prayer Network USA reminds us, ‘The most important part of establishing new habits, such as more time for prayer or serving the community, is to be intentional about it. We can’t say to ourselves that we will pray every day and then expect it to happen. We need to be deliberate and make it a priority, putting pen to paper.’ (see more on our blog at popesglobalprayer.net and clicktopray.org). Our challenges, shared with so many Apostles of Prayer around the world, offer a practical way of being intentional and deliberate. How about developing some good habits that will change yourself and the world in 2018? Here, then are our three challenges for February. Can I be confident in the grace of God that touches the hearts of all who turn to him? If so, then I could decide to pray, individually or in a group, for all those who have civil, political or religious power, so that they do not allow themselves to be dominated by corruption but always remember the Common Good. I could think about my responsibility as a citizen of my country. Am I aware that there is a social good for which I am also responsible? I could reflect on my interactions with other people, asking myself: do I take advantage of some situation of Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

superiority for my own benefit, or do I use responsibly whatever power that has been given me, as parent, superior, boss, to serve those entrusted to me, seeking, above all, their good? February Daily Prayer suggestion (from our Click-toPray website and App): Gracious Father, you are the source of all truth. Your Son Jesus came to show us that true power is in a service that is humble and disinterested, putting other people’s interests before of your own. This month, I want to ask you to send your Holy Spirit on all those who have government responsibilities in society, in institutions, in the Church, so that, following Jesus’ example, they may live your mission with freedom and truth, staying away from all corruption, and always protecting the most vulnerable. Our Father... The Pope’s Prayer Network is now based in our diocese, at St Ignatius, Stamford Hill. We offer our Daily Prayer Pathway that incorporates the traditional Morning Offering to the Heart of Christ, united with the Holy Father’s intention. We’ve our new App, Click-to-Pray (www.clicktopray.org), that gives you a new set of brief prayers every day – together, we can make each day different! And we offer our Living Prayer 2018 booklet, with a tear-off page for each month for your missal or diary, and our wall calendar. The 2018 editions carry lovely pictures of churches around the world dedicated to the Heart of Jesus. A few special-price multipacks containing a calendar, a booklet and several prayer-cards are available for delivery now at £3 plus P&P (£2, UK only). Send order to prayernetwork@jesuit.org.uk or 020 8442 5232. Page 11

Westminster Record | February 2018

Helping People Get out of Debt

From January, Caritas Westminster has begun working with StepChange, one of the UK’s leading debt charities. Millions of people struggle with debt, whether it’s credit cards, loans, council tax, utility bills, or even court fines. It might be because they’ve lost their job, are struggling with a reduced income, or suffering an illness. It’s important people are able to get debt advice when they need it, so Caritas Westminster has committed to ensuring that as many people as possible in the Diocese of Westminster are aware they can seek help from StepChange if they are struggling with their finances. Caritas has chosen StepChange because • they’re offer free, impartial and confidential debt advice • their advice is tailored to the individual’s situation • they offer practical help and support for as long as it’s needed

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As part of Caritas’ mission to ensure that everyone lives a life of dignity and worth, we have acknowledged that debt is often seen as an insurmountable problem, which prevents people from fully engaging in community, family and parish life. Working with StepChange means showing people who are struggling with their finances that there is a way forward, there is no shame attached to seeking debt advice and Caritas and StepChange are there to accompany them. Caritas Director John Coleby said: ‘We are pleased that Caritas and StepChange will be working together to help people in the Diocese of Westminster access debt support. At Caritas we recognise that debt can be one of the reasons that people are trapped in poverty. This partnership is one of the ways we are seeking to change that.’ If you’re struggling with debt and need support, we recommend you get in touch with StepChange Debt Charity for free online debt advice or call their helpline on 0800 138 1111, which is open Monday to Friday (8am-8pm) and Saturday (8am4pm)

Caritas visiting the sixth former students at Our Lady’s

Caritas Ambassadors in Hackney In September Our Lady’s Catholic High School in Hackney (OLH) formally teamed up with Caritas Westminster to help promote and develop their new Caritas Ambassadors Scheme, to explore potential ways to increase youth engagement at parish level in the diocese. The scheme will fit into a wider framework of faith in action at the school called the Servite Community Service. Sixth Form Religious Education involves the exploration of the Christian belief that faith cannot exist without the implementation of the Gospel. The RE Department at the school has therefore been developing an approach that offers community service underpinned by Servite Values as an integral part of the SCS. The Caritas Ambassadors have been learning about the various aspects of Caritas’ work in their community and have connected with the parish of St Francis de Sales in Tottenham, where they baked for the night shelter held there. Caritas Volunteer Coodinator Verity Sykes said: ‘It was great to see the ambassadors’ passion for volunteering and making a difference in their community. It’s inspiring to see how well they represent the spirit of Caritas through the work they are doing. This pilot scheme has been a real success so far, and we look forward to working with more Caritas Ambassadors in the future.’ One of the students, Jackie Yeboah commented: ‘I couldn’t have imagined that this experience would have had such an impact on me and the people

we support. It’s quite awe inspiring’. As well as working with Caritas, OLH Sixth Formers have also been supporting other community projects. For the third year running, Stamford Hill Morrisons plc have provided flowers and floristry training for Sixth Form teams. This enables students to go into care homes and sheltered accommodation across Hackney and Haringey to work with residents to create floral arrangements. The school now

has 20 trained students who continue to build compassionate intergenerational relationships. The school is also trying to become one of the first dementia friendly schools in Hackney. The SCS programme involves working with the T3 Ping Pong Foundation to induct students in the many health benefits of playing this game with people living with early-onset dementia. A team of eight students received specialist training to be able to facilitate 50-minute sessions in care homes.

Westminster Record | February 2018

God Calls

A Sign of Hope by Deacon Adrian Cullen Evangelisation Coordinator Walking along the road, you may be fortunate to see a snowdrop pushing up through the cold, wintry ground. These small but sturdy flowers are a sign that winter will soon come to an end. The snowdrop reaches out with new life, a sign of hope when all else seems lifeless. Sometimes a small sign of hope is all that is needed to keep us going when times are difficult and the world seems dark, like a dreary, winter’s day. Of course, the snowdrops return each winter, but they are always a surprise. We forget that the snowdrop is quietly waiting for the right moment to show its encouraging flower. Likewise we often forget that Jesus is always close to us, ready to bring us hope and encouragement when those difficult moments arise. If we forget how close Jesus is to us, then we can be sure that there are many others whom we know, who also forget that God is always with them. So as ‘Proclaimers of the Good News’, let us remind them, let us show them how, through our daily lives faith in Jesus Christ gives hope and joy. And when the moment is right maybe we can share some quiet words of encouragement, such as those from Pope Francis who reminds us that: ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.’ These moments that give new hope are opportunities to refresh our faith; even

evangelisers need encouragement. To renew the faith of those whose faith has been forgotten or discarded, or lies dormant like the trees in winter, which stand bare and lifeless, gives a new hope. There is always so much more for us to discover about Jesus, and for us to share with others so that they too can rediscover him, bringing their faith to life once again. Many parishes were fortunate over Christmas to be able to give out free copies of Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly. This easy-to-read book leads us on a journey of rediscovery. It can help us to consider where Jesus fits into our life, and can give us confidence in leading others to a fulfilling life through Jesus. If your parish has distributed Rediscover Jesus, then perhaps set aside few minutes each day to read it. Maybe talk about it with your friends or in a small group. Knowing Jesus is a journey of constant discovery, and we will each be at a different stage of that journey, but wherever we are we are never alone, others will be journeying with us too; and, even if we sometimes forget him, we can be sure that Jesus is also always close by. Like the snowdrop which encourages us to look towards spring, there are moments when we need signs of hope, and need to be a sign of hope. Through the coming year let us make the most of those moments that enable to us to grow in our faith and to share it, so that we and others can rediscover Jesus as if for the first time.

MIND! The Gap Young people across England and Wales are being asked their thoughts about the current state of mental health in our country. The Young Christian Workers, a Catholic charity based in England and Wales, have said that an overwhelming amount of their membership have expressed their deep concerns about the current help available to young people with mental health problems, as well as the stigma attached to it.

Because of this concern the YCW has launched a National Action Campaign on mental health among young people, called MIND! The Gap. The first stage being run is focused around exploring the issue more deeply and finding out the opinions and experiences of young people. There is a short survey covering a variety of aspects around mental health, which can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ycwmental-health-survey. ’

by Oliver Delargy The God Calls app is a new initiative given to the Church in England and Wales by the National Office for Vocation. Users are encouraged to use the app in order to allow the grace of God to lead them on a journey of spiritual adventure and discovery. The twofold focus of the app in helping to foster a living and authentic relationship with God and others is its genius. Many leading Catholic figures have pointed to the practice of daily Mass as indispensable for growing in relationship with the Lord and discovering His will. The app has taken this on board and users can tune in more deeply to the daily life of the Church through it, with the readings for Mass and some prayers for different times of the day available for personal reflection. Also available are short biographies of saints of the day, with some questions for thought and room in the journal for jotting down any reflections. God Calls can also be commended for showing users that the discernment of God’s voice takes time and that the journey needs to be shared with others, with news and events where Catholics can meet and worship together being a prominent focus of the app. Altogether, the God Calls app is a welcome resource to help those of us who want to grow in our discipleship of Jesus and share that journey with others.

Celebrating Families Initiated by Pope St John Paul II and held every three years, the World Meeting of Families is a major international event bringing together families from across the world to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the central importance of marriage and the family as the cornerstone of our lives, of society and of the Church. This year, it takes place in Dublin from 21st to 26th August. In choosing ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’, as the theme for this year’s World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis invites us to reflect on a theme that was central to the synodal process that led to the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Thousands of families and individuals from all over Ireland and the world are expected to attend. Adults, youth and children are all invited and all will be able to take part in their own way. During the five days, there will be time to meet and share, pray and reflect, grow in faith and love, celebrate, as well as gather strength to continue the journey of life. One of the most significant and beautiful events during every World Meeting of Families is the Festival of Families. This concert-type event will take place in a large venue in Dublin Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

on the evening of the 25th August 2018. It is a celebration of family life around the world that will feature musical and dance performances, as well as testimonies of faith from five selected families from around the world. As the Diocese of Westminster we are looking to take a big group of participants from across our parishes and communities. To find out registration details and general information on the WMOF 2018 please email family@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7931 6064 and speak with Charlotte. Please visit www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/ Tickets/Tickets-Registration to register. Please advise us once you have completed your online registration with WMOF 2018 so that your names can be included in our diocesan group. In preparation for WMOF 2018, the diocese has developed a programme on parish renewal which offers a range of resources called Practical Activities for Popular Moments, including an icon card of the Holy Family with booklet, a prayer card and a World Meeting of Families information leaflet. These resources will be available in all parishes soon. Page 13

Westminster Record | February 2018

Saint of the Month: Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady’s grotto bulit at the site of the apparition in Lourdes, France

We celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Sunday 11th February, the day on which the Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to a young shepherdess, Bernadette Soubirous, in the south of France. On this day, then 14 years old, Bernadette left to collect firewood with her sister Marie-Toinette and a friend, Jeanne Abadie, at the foot of a hill called Massabielle, meaning old rock. Just as her sister and friend got into the water, Bernadette was in the process of removing her socks and shoes to avoid getting wet. She heard a gust of wind, as she looked toward a little cave in the hill and noticed the vegetation growing in there tossing, though nothing else moved. She saw a lady dressed

in white with a blue sash and a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary of white beads on a golden chain was on her right arm. The lady signalled Bernadette to approach her but Bernadette was scared. Bernadette took her own rosary out of her pocket but was unable to make the sign of the Cross. When the lady made the sign of the Cross, Bernadette’s fear began to disappear and she was able to pray. By the time Bernadette had finished saying the Rosary, the lady had disappeared. This was the very first of the eighteen apparitions. At the ninth apparition, the Lady asked Bernadette to drink the water from the fountain and wash herself, pointing to the rock near the cave. As there was no water there, Bernadette started to scratch the ground and at the fourth attempt was able to drink. A day later a spring began to flow there. A number of people were healed of their sickness and infirmities from drinking this water at the spring and even bathing in it. The Lady instructed Bernadette to ask pilgrims to come to Lourdes and to pray the Rosary repeatedly asking penitence for sinners. The Lady appeared to Bernadette on 16 more occasions and, at the sixteenth apparition, she made herself known to Bernadette, saying, ‘I am the Immaculate

Conception’. The eighteenth and last apparition took place on 16th July, 1858. With opposition from government authorities and Church elders of the time, Bernadette was scrutinised by all. Eventually, however, the Bishop of Tarbes declared the apparitions genuine and thus began the story of Lourdes, the pilgrim place with the spring of healing water as we know it today. This is also the story of St Bernadette, who journeyed from being a simple shepherdess to a saint who continues to bring so many closer to the Blessed Virgin. Our Lady knew of the impending suffering that Bernadette was to face in her lifetime of physical ailments including asthma, lung tuberculosis, cholera and, close to the end of her life, a knee tumour, as well as constant judgement from people and government authorities. But in her third apparition to Bernadette, Our Lady promised her a better life in the next world. Bernadette, who from an early age showed signs of having immense faith in God, withdrew to the hospital run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers after the apparitions. It was here that she discovered her vocation and entered the order in 1866. On 30th October, 1867, Bernadette made her commitment to religious life.

As her health worsened, she was given the duty of assistantnurse and the mission of prayer. She was known to have a joyful character and always available for whatever was required of her. She died on 16th April, 1879, at the age of 35. On 8th December 1933, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Bernadette was canonised.

St Bernadette Soubirous, her picture above the baptismal font in the church where she was baptised

On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Church observes the World Day for the Sick. On the closest Saturday, a Mass is celebrated in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes with anointing of the sick at Westminster Cathedral. This year, the Mass takes place at 2pm on 10th February. Our 30th annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place from 21st to 27th July. For details please contact Elizabeth Uwalaka on 0207 798 9173 or lourdes@rcdow.org.uk Weekend of Renewal Seminar will be held on 17th and18th Feb at St Matthew's, Northwood, Middx HA6 1DW. Speaker: Ros Powell. Topic: Signs of the Times Enquiries: Pat 07918128248/ Jenny: 07966529703 Email: northwoodcharismaticgroup @hotmail.com

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In Memoriam: February 1 Fr Harold Gadsden (1972) Mgr Edward Dunderdale (2001) 2 Fr Charles Lowe (1978) Bishop Philip Harvey (2003) Fr James McCormick (2009) 3 Fr Hugh Bishop (1984) 6 Fr Patrick McEvoy (1974) Canon William Ward (1993) Canon Daniel Kay (2003) Fr Kenneth McCabe (2013) 7 Fr Bernard Ferry (1970) Fr George Haines (2000) Fr Michael John Groarke (2008) 9 Canon George Groves (1997) 11 Fr Alan Body (1988) 12 Fr Joseph Francis (1984) Canon Edward Armitage (1987) Mgr Canon Francis Bartlett (1992) 13 Fr Patrick O’Callaghan (1970) Mgr Canon Maurice Kelleher (1994) 15 Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman (1865) Fr Richard Wakeling (1988) Fr Leo Straub (2000) Mgr Canon Adrian Arrowsmith (2014) 16 Mgr Bernard Chapman (1999) Fr John Kirwin (2003) Canon Patrick Davies (2010) 19 Fr Ronald Aylward (2010) 20 Fr Joseph Scholles (1983) 21 Fr Michael Hollings (1997) Canon Peter Bourne (2001) Fr Cathal McGonagle (2010) 22 Deacon James Richards (2014) 23 Canon John O’Callaghan (1981) 24 Canon Thomas FitzGerald (1968) Mgr Canon Arthur Rivers (1978) 25 Fr Charles McMenemy (1976) Fr Archibald Bardney (1985) Fr Andrew Clancy (1986) 26 Fr Brian Heaney (2013) 27 Fr Nicholas Lambert (1976) Canon Michael Richards (1997) Canon Charles McGowan (2006) Canon Peter Moore (2006) 28 Fr Joseph Gilligan (1990) Fr John Taylor (2005) 29 Fr Frank Rochla (1992) Fr John McCoy (2012)

Events & Calendar

REGULAR EVENTS Westminster Record | February 2018

Liturgical Calendar - February

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. Our Lady of Walsingham Prayer Group First Tuesday of the month 2.30pm to 4.15pm in the Chapel of St George and the English Martyrs in Westminster Cathedral. Details: antonia@walsingham.org.uk

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

Corpus Christi Contemplative Prayer Group for Young Adults Wednesdays from 7pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Contact corpuschristipg@yahoogroups. co.uk Our Lady, Untier of Knots, Prayer Group of Intercession every third Wednesday at St Anselm & St Cecilia, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Mass at 6pm followed by Prayer Group. Rosary, Adoration, silent prayer and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Email Antonia antonia4161@gmail.com.

THURSDAYS

1 Thu

Feria

2 Fri

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD; Friday abstinence

Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life (JCFL) provides a space for Christians of different traditions to join together 4 Sun in prayer and friendship. For further details please visit www.jcfl.org.uk. 5 Mon NFG Prayer Group meet weekly at 6 Tue 8pm for praise & worship followed by a social. Held in St Mark’s Room, 7 Wed Christ the King Church N14 4HE. 8 Thu Contact Fr Christophe: christophe.brunet@chemin-neuf.org. 9 Fri 3 Sat

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.

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.

Queen of Peace Prayer Group at Our Lady of Lourdes, Acton. After 7pm Mass, Exposition, a homily, Holy Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Friday prayer meeting 1:30pm to 3pm with Adoration in St Matthew's Hall, Northwood, Middx HA6 1DW except 1st Friday. Summer breakAugust. Contact Patricia 07918128248

+ 5th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME St Agatha, Virgin & Martyr St Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Feria, Fifth Week of Year 2 Feria or St Jerome Emiliani or St Josephine Bakhita Feria; Friday abstinence

10 Sat

St Scholastica, Virgin

11 Sun

+ 6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

12 Mon

Feria, Sixth Week of Year 1

13 Tue

Feria

14 Wed St John Paul II Prayer Group Every second Thursday of the month 15 Thu 7-8pm, Mass, Adoration and prayer at 16 Fri Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane

FRIDAYS

Ss Laurence, Dunstan and Theodore, Archbishops of Canterbury;

ASH WEDNESDAY Lent feria Lent feria ;Friday abstinence

17 Sat

Lent feria (Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order)

18 Sun

+ 1st SUNDAY OF LENT

19 Mon

Lent feria, First Week of Lent

20 Tue

Lent feria

21 Wed

Lent feria (St Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor)

22 Thu

THE CHAIR OF ST PETER THE APOSTLE

23 Fri

Lent feria (St Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr)

Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm at Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QW. Young Adults Mass with an Ignatian twist

Every Sunday at 7pm. Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. Contact: yam@mountstreet.info or visit www.pathwaystogood.org 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. Members of the Westminster LGBT Catholic Community are specially welcomed at the following Sunday Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, and invited to our parish hall afterwards for tea/coffee, when there is also an opportunity to learn of pastoral help available: 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, 5.30pm. EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASSES

Friday abstinence

Sundays: Low Mass 9.30am, St James Spanish Place W1U 3QY.

24 Sat

Lent feria

Low Mass 9am, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP.

25 Sun

+ 2ND SUNDAY IN LENT

26 Mon

Lent feria, Second Week of Lent

27 Tue

Lent feria

28 Wed

Lent feria

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.

SATURDAYS

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Low Mass, 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP.

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

Love heals Body, Mind & Spirit One-day retreat on last Saturday of every month (except December) at Church of Our Lady of Assumption & St Gregory, Warwick Street. Contact Eileen 0208 542 2476.

Fridays:

Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1N 6RY. First Friday only.

Carmelite Spirituality Group meet first Saturday at St Joseph’s Church, Bunhill Row, EC1Y 8LE 11.30-15.30 for prayer and reflection. Enquiries: Sylvia Lucas 07889436165

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.

Pope’s Intentions for February That those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption

Other regular Masses

Low Mass 4pm, Side Chapel, Westminster Cathedral SW1P 1QW. Second Saturday only.

Page 15

Westminster Record | February 2018

John Bradburne: The Vagabond of God by Didier Rance John Bradburne’s life and work had a powerful impact on me, after I had been working for more than 30 years studying the Catholic martyrs of our time. Bradburne’s story stood out. For three years I devoted my time to reading and rereading Bradburne’s poems and letters, scouring the archives made available to me by the John Bradburne Memorial Society archives, and following his footsteps in Britain, Europe and Africa. Born in 1921 in Skirwith, Cumbria, son of an Anglican clergyman, Bradburne spent a good part of his youth climbing the Lakeland Fells. It was when he was drafted into the British army in 1940 that religion became an influence in his life. He found faith when death was all around him with the Chindits, a special operations unit of the British Army in Burma. He returned to Europe a reluctant hero and went through a succession of jobs, including forester, schoolmaster, stoker on a fishing trawler, gravedigger, street musician, garbage collector - but in time he came to realise that his real vocation lay with God. In 1947 he joined the Catholic Church, experimenting first with both Benedictine and Carthusian spirituality, before deciding to follow the spiritual path of St Francis of Assisi. Bradburne described himself variously as a ‘Buffoon of Christ’, ‘a fool skilled in fiasco’,

As a younger man Page 16

pilgrim, hermit, mystic, drifter and a ‘rolling stone’. In 1961, Bradburne asked his wartime friend John Dove, who had become a Jesuit in what is now Zimbabwe, to find him a suitable retreat where he could retire from the world. He left the following year for Africa, where he started a new round of odd jobs, as handyman in a Franciscan mission, then warden of a Jesuit residence. In 1969, he went with a friend to visit Mutemwa Leprosy Centre, where hundreds of lepers were awaiting death in appalling conditions. Bradburne decided to live among them, soon making himself a friend of one and all. He acted as the lepers’ caretaker, nurse, cook and confidante. He even formed a Gregorian and Shona choir. Mutemwa quickly became a special place of prayer, peace, laughter and joy; yet, sadly this awoke jealousy and suspicion, and he was expelled from the Centre. Bradburne’s expulsion from Mutemwa lasted six months, a time he spent living on Chigona Mountain overlooking the centre, coming at night to visit the lepers, and writing some of his most profound Trinitarian poems. When he was allowed to return to live near the settlement, Mutemwa had become caught up in the turmoil of civil war and the atrocities perpetrated by both sides in the conflict. It was suggested that he leave for his

own safety as guerilla warfare surrounded Mutemwa. Bradburne stoutly replied, ‘Would they waste a bullet on a clown?’ He stayed on to care as best he could for the lepers as the situation grew desperate, but in 1979, abducted by guerillas, Bradburne was put on trial and summarily shot dead. Bradburne’s legacy includes Mutemwa itself, which is now a place of pilgrimage, and there is a growing movement in support of his cause for sainthood. And there is also the rich legacy of his poetry: To those who, loving little, live life not I make for death no deep apology; To those who look upon it as the cot Of rest in Christ till rising, I reply Duly with Alleluia; but, to die Wait not till death: die to the deadly seven, Put on in time sublime eternity, Think immortality, link up with Heaven.

Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche, said, ‘The story of John’s life has touched me, heart and soul, and brought me closer to God. It has revealed to me a God wonderfully full of surprises, better, more intelligent, more creative than we could imagine. An extraordinary God who cannot be confined in rational concepts or in an ordinary religious life.’ Our diocese retains an extraordinary link with John Bradburne, for in 1957 he worked for a year as sacristan at Westminster Cathedral, a place he described affectionately in a letter as peopled with ‘cranks and wise men, holy women and scrupulous crackpots, and publicans and sinners and saints.’ The UK edition of John Bradburne: The Vagabond of God, by Didier Rance is sold by The John Bradburne Memorial Society, PO Box 32, Leominster, HR6 0YB, priced at £15 inclusive of postage. www.johnbradburne.com The book received the prestigious Grand Prix Catholique de Littérature in 2013.