Westminster Record - February 2014 by RCWestminster

St Joseph’s Primary School: Children growing in the Garden

A View from Jerusalem by former British Consul-General, Sir Vincent Fean

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February 2014

Human Trafficking:

Archbishop Vincent to become Cardinal

a disgrace for our societies By Chris O’Callaghan On 12 January the Diocese of Westminster became a focus for media attention when Pope Francis announced that our own Archbishop, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, would join the College of Cardinals. Archbishop Vincent’s Response Following the announcement, the Archbishop described his feelings about the appointment: “Today, I am deeply moved by the honour conferred upon the Catholic Church in England and Wales and on the Diocese of Westminster in my appointment as Cardinal by Pope Francis.”

“Human trafficking and its terrible effects are a blight on our society.” Cardinal-Designate Vincent Nichols

Over 50% of human traﬃcking in Britain comes through London. The Catholic Church has spoken out about the issue of modern slavery and Archbishop Vincent is a strong supporter of anti-slavery charities who are working to eradicate something that belongs, and needs to return to, the past. Catholics in England and Wales will be observing the Memorial of St Josephine Bakhita - 8 February - as a Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking and Those who Work to Combat It. It is an opportunity for people to remember and pray for the victims and survivors of trafficking throughout the world and those who work to end this form of modern slavery.

In this edition on page 10 we cover the multifaceted horrors of human trafficking. Pope Francis has spoken widely on the issue describing human trafficking as “a disgrace for our societies” and Archbishop Vincent has said that “Human trafficking and its terrible effects are a blight on our society. We need to learn more about the hidden way in which people are exploited dreadfully and left in need of great help.” The Diocese of Westminster endorses the anti-trafficking campaign of the Metropolitan Police ‘Stop traffickers controlling you. You make the call.’ Freephone 0800 783 2589

The image was shot by Leagas Delaney, a London advertising agency, on behalf of The Metropolitan Police and Stop the Traffik to raise awareness of human trafficking in the UK.

"The Catholic Church in our countries has always had a profound and loving loyalty to the Holy Father, the Successor of St Peter. This appointment enables me, on behalf of all, to serve the Pope in a direct and prolonged way.” "Personally, this is a humbling moment when I am asked to take a place in this service of the Holy See and in the line of much-loved Cardinal Archbishops of Westminster. I seek the blessing of Almighty God for these new responsibilities and I ask for the prayers of all people of faith that I may fulfil them with energy and devotion." Archbishop Vincent is the 11th Archbishop of Westminster to be created a Cardinal. He will join the College of Cardinals at the next Consistory in Rome on 22 February, the Feast of the Chair of St Peter. Continued on page 3

Editorial Westminster Record – Contact us

Westminster Record | February 2014

A simple and humble heart

Editor Bishop John Arnold

Deputy Editor Jo Siedlecka 020 7267 3616 jsiedlecka@gmail.com Managing Editor Barnaby Johns communications@rcdow.org.uk Inhouse writer Alexander Balzanella 020 7798 9178 Inhouse writer Chris O’Callaghan 020 7798 9030 Design Julian Game Proofing Michael Holmes, John Scott To order copies contact Andrea Black 0161 214 1216 or email andrea.black@thecatholicuniverse.com Print management and distribution by The Universe Media Group Ltd.

March publication dates Editorial Deadline: 10 February 2014 Listings email: communications@rcdow.org.uk News and stories call 020 7267 3616 jsiedlecka@gmail.com Advertising Deadline: To advertise call 0161 214 1200 Produced by the Diocesan Communications Office of the Diocese of Westminster. News and articles published in Westminster Record do not necessarily represent the views of the Diocese of Westminster, unless specifically stated. Appearance of advertisements does not imply editorial endorsement.

Centre Manager, St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre £35-38k per annum (negotiable) We are currently seeking to appoint a Centre Manager to oversee the management and development of St Joseph’s Activities Centre which as part of a project for Caritas DOW provides support to people with learning disabilities and their family and friends. The successful applicant will possess relevant experience in management, fundraising and budget planning and must have strong interpersonal and leadership skills with a proven track record of working with and supporting people with learning disabilities. An understanding and empathy with the Catholic Church’s teachings together with an appreciation of the mission values and spirituality of St Joseph’s would also be essential. Hours of work: 35 hours per week (Monday to Friday, including evening and weekend work as required) Closing date: 7 February 2014 The post is based in at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre in Hendon. For a full job description and application form please see http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/jobs/

e offer congratulations to Archbishop Vincent on being named among the new Cardinals. It is a sign for us of the importance that Pope Francis attaches to Archbishop Vincent and to the Catholic community in England and Wales and follows the announcement at the end of 2013 that Archbishop Vincent is also nominated to the Congregation for Bishops, which has the responsibility for advising the Holy Father in the selection and appointment of bishops throughout the world. Pope Francis has, however, made clear what such an appointment as cardinal means. He wrote an open letter to the new Cardinals in which he emphasised service: “The Cardinalate does not mean a promotion, nor an honour, nor a decoration, it is simply a service” that calls us to “widen our gaze and enlarge the heart.” And, “although it seems a paradox,” Pope Francis observes, “this ability to see farther into the distance and love more universally with greater intensity can only be achieved by following the same way as the Lord: the way of bowing down, and of humility, in the manner of a servant” (cf. Phil 2:5 -8). Pope Francis urged the freshly named Cardinals to accept their new role “with a simple and humble heart.

And, although you should do so with happiness and with joy, do it in such a way that this sentiment is far removed from any expression of worldliness, from any celebration alien to the evangelical spirit of austerity, simplicity and poverty.” It is highly significant, too, that three of the new Cardinals come from three of the poorest nations in the world, emphasising yet again the Pope’s priority to serve the poor and to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty. While we give thanks for Archbishop Vincent’s service to the Church in England and Wales, particularly through his presidency of the Bishops’ Conference, three Archdioceses have a particular place in his life and ordained ministry. It has been suggested that the Archdioceses of Liverpool, Birmingham and Westminster might together make a gift to him as a sign of our congratulations and affection for him, and in recognition of the honour now bestowed by Pope Francis.

Following a recent conversation I know that Archbishop Vincent would like this gift to be offered in his name to the suffering Church in the Holy Land through the charity that he helped to found, the Friends of the Holy Land. If you would like to contribute to this gift, please send your donation payable to Friends of the Holy Land, c/o The Editor, Westminster Record, Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QJ, or directly to the Friends whose details can be found on page 11 where we highlight their work alongside an article by the former Consul General in Jerusalem, Sir Vincent Fean. Archbishop Vincent will rely on our prayers and good wishes for all that he will now undertake in assisting Pope Francis in the governance of the Catholic Church. Let us make sure that he can rely on our daily prayer for him.

Bishop John Arnold Editor

Photo: ©Adrian Price

Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ

Archbishop Vincent greets Pope Benedict XVI at Westminster Abbey in 2010. Following his election to the College of Cardinals he said, “To serve the strength of the Apostolic See for me is a great privilege.”

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News

Westminster Record | February 2014

©Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

The Archbishop in his own words: What is a Cardinal? Now that the Holy Father has elevated Archbishop Vincent to the College of Cardinals we offer an explanation about what it means. By becoming a Cardinal, the Archbishop becomes part of the group of senior clergy who aid the Holy Father in guiding the Universal Church. Some Cardinals lead or work in Departments of the Holy See such as the Congregation for Divine Worship, whilst others serve in their dioceses worldwide. Does this give him new responsibilities? As well as being asked to serve in a Department of the Holy See, the Archbishop will have a major role in electing the next Pope at a conclave. He will be able to vote in a conclave should Pope Francis die before the year 2025. After he turns 80, he will no longer be able to vote for a new Pope. When does he actually become a Cardinal? He will become Cardinal Vincent Nichols when the Holy Father gives him the red biretta at the next Consistory, 22 February 2014, the Feast of the Chair of St Peter, in Rome. Following the announcement by the Holy Father that he will become a Cardinal, Archbishop Vincent spoke about what this means for him personally and for the Church.

“It is a summons, another step in my life as a priest and one which I willingly embrace and simply promise to do my best.” “The Cardinals historically are the senior parish priests of the Diocese of Rome, so I expect that on the Saturday (22 February) there will be an announcement about the titular church of each of the new Cardinals.” “There are practical ways I will be able to help (the Pope), as at meetings of the College and by being directly in his company to talk about some of the major issues facing the Church in the presentation of the Gospel in the world today.”

What does it mean for the Diocese? First and foremost, Archbishop Vincent will still continue to offer pastoral leadership in the diocese. It means that for the first time in the history of the diocese since the Restoration of the Hierarchy in 1850 there will be two Cardinals alive at the same time. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor retired when he reached 75 in 2009, whereas all previous Archbishops of Westminster have died in post.

Twitter reacts to the news

“It will mean more frequent trips to Rome, but luckily it isn’t too far away.” “Blessed Pope John Paul II used a lovely phrase consistently, he talked of himself as ‘a servant of the Apostolic See’ and I like that phrase because it is from Rome that the Apostolic character of the Church comes and to serve the strength of the Apostolic See is for me a great privilege.” “Thank you all for your greetings and good wishes and please, please remember me in your prayers.” The full interview can be viewed on the Bishops’ Conference website: www.cbcew.org.uk

Continued from page 1 The Diocese Reacts The news of Archbishop Vincent’s appointment to the College of Cardinals was publicised on social media just minutes after it was announced by Pope Francis at the Midday Angelus in Rome, with the BBC and other television stations running it as a lead feature in their lunchtime news. As a result many priests in the diocese heard whilst celebrating Mass in their parishes and broke the news to their congregations at the end of the service; following the announcement in Westminster

Cathedral at the 10.30am Mass the news was greeted with spontaneous applause. Reacting to the news Matt Tisi, from Newman House, the University Chaplaincy, said: “It’s wonderful news to hear as you leave Mass, definitely a cause for celebration!” Many in the Diocese also took to social media to express their excitement at the news, with schools, parishes and religious orders leaving messages of congratulation on the diocesan twitter and facebook accounts. Joining them were other prominent

figures including Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Baroness Warsi, the Government Minister for Faith and Communities. The Titular Church Archbishop Vincent will also be granted a Titular Church in Rome. This signifies the bond of unity between a particular local church and the Church of Rome. The patronal relationship of a Cardinal to his titular church includes the inscription of his name and coat of arms on a plaque within the church, as a sign of continuing relationship with the church and its parish.

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News

Westminster Record September Westminster Record | February2011 2014

Heythrop hosts BBC’s Any Questions? By Jo Siedlecka

eythrop College in Kensington broadcast the first BBC Radio 4 programme Any Questions? of 2014 on 9 January. Chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby, the panel comprised Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP, Chris Grayling, Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Justice, Sadiq Khan, Labour MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Patrick O’Flynn, Daily Express journalist and Director of Communications for UKIP. Questions raised included: Should we trust the police? Should migrants be denied benefits for five years? and Should police be allowed to use water cannons? The final question was: “Do panel members do God?” Sarah Teather responded with a forthright “Yes”, going on to explain that it was her faith that had led her to work for social

justice and her career in politics. Sadiq Khan said his Muslim faith informed his work, alongside other concerns about family, being a Londoner. Chris Grayling said he has a faith, and that while we are a multicultural society he was concerned that Christian values should not be side-lined. Patrick O’Flynn said that although he came from an Irish Catholic background he has no religious faith. However, he said that he takes an ethical approach to politics. Jonathan Dimbleby noted that Heythrop had been founded by the Jesuits in Belgium 400 years ago “because it was too dangerous to be a Roman Catholic at the time in England.” He later said the College moved to France but had to leave again when it became too dangerous to be a priest or English there. Finally it moved to Britain when it was

Any Questions? at Heythrop: Patrick O’Flynn, Chris Grayling MP, Jonathan Dimbleby, Sarah Teather MP, Sadiq Khan MP

safe and where the College is now. Today it has 800 students and its mission is to offer an education “marked by intelligence, scholarship and generosity of spirit.” Dimbleby

Jean Vanier delivers message of compassion and friendship

concluded by saying: “I was about to say, ‘we end this programme with philosophy and theology - the purpose of Heythrop” - but instead we end with philosophy,

theology plus politics.” Heythrop College will be holding a number of events to celebrate its 400th anniversary. For more information see: www.heythrop.ac.uk

Peace Sunday marked in Tollington Park

By Jo Siedlecka

ean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche movement, gave a talk about his new book: Signs of the Times - Seven Paths of Hope for a Troubled World at Heythrop College on Sunday 5th January as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations. He was introduced by Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ, who pointed out that it was the Solemnity of the Epiphany, celebrating the Magi who followed the star in their quest for divine wisdom. Jean spoke about his work with L’Arche, which he set up in 1964. There are over 140 L’Arche communities worldwide, where disabled and able-bodied people live together as equals in companionship and friendship, not in a patientcarer relationship. He shared stories of three of the people he has worked with: a hemiplegic called Pauline, who had been angry for much of her life

because of what her disability had done to her, a former sex slave called Blessings from Nigeria and a man named Eric who is blind and deaf and could not walk. He spoke of the importance of compassion and tenderness, referring to Christ’s coming to save the poor and sick, not the rich and

virtuous. This compassion that Christ showed for those marginalised by society has remained the central inspiration for L’Arche since its inception. Jean Vanier’s book Signs of the Times - Seven Paths of Hope for a Troubled World is reviewed on page 20.

Peace Sunday on 19 January was marked by parishioners at St Mellitus Church in Tollington Park, with a huge banner calling for the government to spend money on health and education, instead of weapons of mass destruction. The Church begins every year with a World Peace message from the Pope. Pax Christi has promoted this message to the Church in England and Wales since this began in 1968. From left to right: Parish priest Fr David Ardagh-Walter, Catherine West, Tim Gallagher, Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North constituency), Bruce Kent from Pax Christi, Trudy, Sharon and Sean Carroll

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News

Westminster Record | February 2014

Migrants’ Plight highlighted by Bishops and MPs on Thames By Jo Siedlecka

wo bishops, three MPs, a nun, a priest and an artist sailed past the Houses of Parliament in a tiny boat on World Migrants’ Day, 18 December, to show their support for refugees around the world. The same boat had previously sailed from North Africa to the Italian island of Lampedusa, crammed with 36 passengers - among them children and a heavily pregnant woman – who had to be rescued by the Italian coast guard. . Earlier last year artist Lucy Wood sailed the boat from Lampedusa to London to draw attention to the plight of migrants. She said: “Apart from replacing the engine, I've kept the boat in the same condition it was when I got it. There were bits of food and clothing, and two lifejackets.” Lucy says she wants people to see the boat to help them understand the conditions in which the refugees travel. “Each person paid £1,000 to travel on this" she said. "It's a very unstable vessel with no washing or toilet facilities. The river authorities here wouldn't allow more than seven passengers”. Sister Margaret Baxter said: "It takes a desperate situation to make people risk their lives on a journey like this. These people

News in Brief Derek Hyett is the new Deacon Bishop John Sherrington ordained Derek Hyett to the diaconate on Saturday 11 January at Our Lady of Grace and St Edward Church in Chiswick. Reflecting on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Bishop John invited all present to find their share in continuing the saving mission of Jesus Christ – a calling given to us at our own baptism. Deacon Derek will serve in Homerton parish while preparing for ordination to the priesthood in the near future.

The small boat sails past Big Ben on a cold December day to show solidarity with migrants worldwide

are fleeing from horrendous situations, and yet they are treated so badly, with little attention paid to international laws meant to protect them”.

Bellarmine Institute: “A beacon of true humility”

Showing their support for refugees on World Migrants’ Day in December: Passengers on the small boat were Bishop John Arnold, Anglican Bishop Jonathan Clark, Sarah Teather MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, Simon Hughes MP, Rob Flello MP, Canon Pat Browne, Sr Margaret Baxter SSMN and artist Lucy Wood.

A Mass of Thanksgiving, celebrated by Archbishop Vincent Nichols, was held at Heythrop College to mark the forming of the Bellarmine Institute within the College on 20 January. The forming of the Institute comes after Heythrop College received ecclesiastical faculties by decree from the Congregation of Catholic Education. This means that Heythrop will be able to award ecclesiastical qualifications in conjunction with degrees of the University of London. In his homily Archbishop Vincent spoke of the missionary character of the college, which the ecclesiastical status strengthens and ended by saying: “I pray that the presence of this Institute within the University will be a great blessing for all the endeavours of the University, a beacon of true humanity and a light of divine grace.”

Mizens Recognised for Message of Peace

Barry and Margaret Mizen were awarded MBEs in the New Year Honours list

Congratulations to Barry and Margaret Mizen, parents of the late Jimmy Mizen, on the award of MBEs after setting up a Foundation in their son's name to increase young people's awareness of the consequences of violent crime. Jimmy was killed in May 2008, one day after his 16th birthday, by a knife attack in a south-east London bakery. Jake Fahri is serving a life sentence for his murder. Their CitySafe campaign, which encourages young people to provide places of safety for others who are fleeing violence, has been in operation across London and Liverpool. Mr Mizen said he was "absolutely overwhelmed" and humbled at the recognition. "It speaks just as much about everyone else in the family and hundreds of others who support us as well," he commented. Margaret Mizen said that the Foundation was "going from strength to strength, which we are really proud about."

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Education News

Westminster Record | February 2014

“Outstanding Street” SW3

Pupils of St Joseph’s in Cadogan Street, Chelsea

©Roseli Heinsius

By Canon Stuart Wilson

he end of last year witnessed celebrations at St Thomas More Language College and St Joseph’s School, both based in Cadogan Street, Chelsea after both received an ‘Outstanding’ in their Ofsted inspections. Only 18 months ago St Joseph’s was only rated by

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Inspectors as ‘Satisfactory’ and since then the staff have been focused on improvement, leading to every child making accelerated progress in learning. St Joseph’s is now in the top 1% of schools nationally for the amount of value we add to a child’s education year on year. It is good news all round. Both schools deserve our

grateful thanks. We must especially thank the staff teams who have put in so much work to ensure that we delivered outstanding results. Teaching, ethos and behaviour in both our schools are exemplary. We must also give special thanks to our leadership in both schools: Dr Papworth and Mrs Graham at St Thomas More; Miss Virginia Fraher (interim head) and Mrs Wyatt and Mr Stacey at St Joseph’s. Strong leadership – in partnership with exceptionally motivated staff – has brought benefits to our young people that is shown so many ways, not least in the amazing results we achieve at Key Stage 2 and GCSE. Finally I need to thank the Governing Bodies of both schools - that unsung group of volunteers who take on great responsibilities in order to support and encourage the schools in their journey to outstanding. It is a justifiably proud day for Cadogan Street, for “Outstanding Street!”

Well done, Douay Martyrs! The Diocesan Inspectors have judged the Douay Martyrs School, Ickenham, as ‘Outstanding’ in all areas of Catholic Life. The inspectors write: “the effectiveness of the leadership and management in promoting the Catholic life of the school is outstanding. Headteacher Martin Rainsford has high aspirations for the school, and with his team, is committed to making Douay Martyrs “the first choice Catholic school in the area”. He has a lucid vision of the Church’s mission in education which is encapsulated in the

school’s mission statement ‘to a create Christ-centre learning environment’. The leadership team and the staff are very good role models, living out the mission statement in their daily lives; the impact can be seen in the excellent behaviour of pupils in the school. It is noted, too, the School Chaplain makes an outstanding contribution to the Catholic life of the school. The Chaplain is very highly regarded by pupils and staff and is very effective in ensuring that the Catholic life of the school is at the forefront”.

Education News

Westminster Record | February 2014

The Teacher: Children Growing in the Garden Headteacher Helen Tyler talks about her life at St Joseph’s Primary School in Covent Garden and how she seeks to meet the needs of all pupils.

came to St Joseph’s just over six years ago. It is my second headship following a period working in School Improvement for Camden. Having qualified as a scientist I worked in the City before becoming a teacher. What attracted me initially and what drives me today is the possibility that my life’s work will change people’s lives. The most disadvantaged children in society need the very best schools and my vocation lies in making St Joseph’s an exceptional school and having a wider impact on schools nationally through outreach work. As a headteacher of a Catholic school I take very seriously the call to excellence; placing Christ at the centre of our education so that the children can grow in their understanding of God. It is a vocation and a very humbling and privileged position to be in. People ask me what distinguishes us as a Catholic school. It’s not something that is measurable in the way that attainment and progress are. We are committed to every member of our community flourishing and we embrace social justice because of our understanding of God from the Bible. You cannot love others until

you have understood that you are loved by God; this is reflected in all aspects of our school’s work.

“There are regular knocks on my office door from children wanting to share their personal triumphs.” The work of the school can encompass anything from outstanding teaching and learning in the classrooms to lawyers reading with children 1:1 in the corridors; from Year 6 attending a debate on Malala day at the Economist offices to the choir singing Emelie Sande’s ‘Read all about it’. It certainly is varied and there are regular knocks on my office door from children wanting to share their personal triumphs. It is a privilege and pleasure to witness God in their happiness. In terms of our teaching staff, I see them swell with pride not only in the children’s successes and achievements, but also that of their colleagues. We don’t talk about national expectations, we talk about ‘necessary’ progress that a child needs to make to ensure that they leave us with at least a Level 4a in order to be able to

fully access the secondary curriculum. At St Joseph’s we have exceptionally high attainment and value added scores for all of our children, including the most disadvantaged or those with SEN/D. High quality teaching is critical to ensure this happens so consequently we invest heavily in highly effective staff training. We are unashamedly relentless in our ambition! St Joseph’s is in a great location in Covent Garden. Learning is closely linked to the world the children live in – starting with the community they inhabit in the very heart of London; a city that has been home to some of greatest writers, artists, musicians and architects the world has known. Great artefacts of world history are housed in the museums that surround us. The National Gallery and the British Museum are moments from our school, as are the Royal Courts of Justice and National Archives. All other London museums and resources are within the possibility of an easy day trip. Our school is also surrounded by universities, the offices of huge multi-

Helen Tyler is Headteacher of St Joseph’s Primary School, Covent Garden.

national corporations, law firms and the media world. These play a big part in the children’s learning. Children regularly access all levels of the world around them. We hope this stirs a belief among them that they can interact with this world, and that the door to it is very much wide open. As a Catholic School we are led by values of charity, peace and loving our neighbours. We have a very active school council which leads the whole school family in initiatives to improve school life, promote fundraising activities and participate in local debates. The school gives a significant amount of money, raised by the children, to a

range of charitable causes each year. As stewards of God’s creation, the children learn about their role as a global citizen and how they can protect endangered wildlife and environments, tackle climate change and promote sustainable use of resources through the school’s support of the World Wildlife Fund. I am a huge animal lover and this passion is reflected in our curriculum. Through their time at St Joseph’s a child will learn about the threats posed to the future of our earth by learning about endangered species. Each class is named after an animal which they have adopted and fundraise for annually.

News in Brief St Anne’s School in Enfield organised a Christmas Bazaar to support the Philippines Typhoon appeal. They raised £4,000 in the process to help rebuild the areas affected by the devastation brought by typhoon Haiyan last year.

A pupil from St Joseph’s Primary School in Covent Garden shows the fun side of learning

Cathy Corcoran OBE, Chief Executive of the Cardinal Hume Centre, was awarded an honorary doctorate from Heythrop College on 2 December, in recognition of her work on behalf of the Church for those most in need. Speaking of the award Cathy said: “I’m delighted to be associated with a great place of learning, both academic and human.” Page 7

News

Westminster Record | February 2014

A Different Kind of New Year’s Party By Kirsten Brown

In all walks of life decisions have to be made and you can't make them lightly. Having been a student for 5 months I have come to realise that the most important decision is "Where are we going out tonight?". And so the all-important date for the most celebrated night of the year crept up stealthily, and I found myself signing away my status as "normal" by opting to attend the Youth2000 New Year’s Eve Retreat. Having experienced the awesomeness of Walsingham in August, I invited non-Catholic friends to trade a night of double-shots, intense dancing and possible leg injury (will we ever be tall enough?) for an evening of prayer and worship to which one of them replied, "That sounds like my worst nightmare". So with a few housemates from the Chaplaincy I headed up the quietest and darkest street in London into the vibrancy within Maria Fidelis School

which had become Youth2000 NYE headquarters. The feeling of entering a holy place was immediate. Christ, seated on a throne of flames, transformed the ordinariness of the gym into an extraordinarily beautiful chapel for Mass that evening. At midnight, as fireworks exploded and the world toasted the New Year, Christ was revealed to us in the Eucharist. As the night went on we praised and worshipped, danced and ate, shared the love of Christ, our witness to salvation, with each other; and I realised I was at the true party. Youth2000 gave us an

encounter with Christ at the time our society demands we put Him aside most. Bishop John Sherrington led us in Mass and a Franciscan speaker described how he overcame the hardships of pilgrimage when he realised that walking was just "putting one foot in front of another". This is what it is to walk with Christ: taking small but powerful steps and for me Youth2000 will continue to be a sturdy stepping stone. And let’s be honest, no amount of money could ever buy the first-class entertainment of an MC'ing Nun.

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Justice and Peace

Westminster Record | February 2014

Britain isn’t eating: Food poverty in Britain

By Barbara Kentish

SEE Poverty and Homelessness Action Week will have passed (25 January to 2 February) by the time that most people read this. But Church Action on Poverty (CAP), an ecumenical charity, is running a ongoing campaign to highlight the effects of benefit changes on people in Britain. Called ‘Britain isn’t Eating’, it claims that half a million people are now dependent on food aid, the single biggest cause being problems with the benefits system:

‘People turn to food banks because they cannot get crisis loans, because benefits are delayed and because benefits sanctions have left them with nothing to live on.’ Pope Francis has condemned this state of affairs in his exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: ‘Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world.

This opinion expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralised workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile the excluded are still waiting.’ The Bishops’ Conference echoes this when they say: ‘The divisive nature of poverty threatens the fabric of our society. Widening economic inequality corrodes the common good and further steps are needed both to curb unjustifiably high pay, and to promote a living wage for all in work’.

JUDGE

content with the crumbs, but above all because it is a question of justice, equality and respect for every human being’. Many Justice & Peace groups and others are now involved in helping with food banks and soup runs for the homeless; and it is a disturbing phenomenon that many working people are now recipients of food aid. The job of Justice and Peace is not only to respond, but to ask why the problem exists. That can be harder than the direct

practical service, important though that is. Two parishes visited recently want to renew their commitment to running Justice and Peace groups, ‘not just to address overseas issues, because there is so much poverty here’. As well as direct action to ‘feed the hungry’, many are asking what else we can do to address this new poverty in our midst.

Christians can respond to this problem both by offering assistance and addressing the causes. As Pope Francis said in his 2014 Peace Message, our Christian vision is of solidarity: ‘We need to find ways by which all may benefit from the fruits of the earth, not only to avoid the widening gap between those who have more and those who must be

ACT • Where do you start?: There are many schemes up and running, and local enquiry will reveal a wealth of opportunity. Across the diocese there are shelters, lunch clubs and foodbanks, to name a few. • Doing something as a parish: One parish found that people all had a common concern for the welfare of the elderly, but had not shared this with one another! Discussion and reflection to discover the best way to serve is always helpful in discerning the specific contribution a community can make. •Raise awareness: A wealth of resources are available on the growth of food poverty. Justice and Peace has produced pamphlets on how parishes can respond and help in cases of poverty and benefit changes including: How benefit changes may affect people in your

community – information, advice and suggestions for parishes, schools and individuals and Truth and Lies about Poverty (available at justice@rcdow.org.uk). •The ‘Why’ of food poverty: The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on food poverty and hunger can be lobbied for an urgent enquiry into the relationship between benefit delay, error or sanctions, welfare reform changes, and the growth of food poverty. The CAP briefing produced in December 2013 is a useful aid to approaching MP’s. •The global dimension: Let’s not forget that hunger in the UK is almost certainly mirrored by increased hunger overseas. As Fairtrade Fortnight and the CAFOD Lent Fast Day approach, we can find opportunities to link in solidarity with the hungry in the wider world.

Finding the facts is a first step.

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Human Trafficking

Westminster Record | February 2014

The Reality of a Situation Modern Slavery in the 21st Century By Chris O’Callaghan With the release of the new Oscar-nominated film 12 Years a Slave this month (reviewed on page 20), filmgoers can look back with shock and horror at the way slaves were treated during the 19th century by their fellow men and congratulate themselves for moving past such barbaric acts. And yet, slavery still exists in our world today in a new, unseen way, described in the media and by anti-slavery campaigners as ‘modern slavery’. This exists in a variety of ways; forced labour, bonded labour, human trafficking, forced marriage, or forced criminal activities. International Labour Organisation estimates that there are around 21 million people in forced labour around the world today, with Mauritania, Haiti, Pakistan, and India the worst offenders on the international stage. An estimated 10% of India’s population is thought to have been affected, mainly through forced marriages.

Krzysztof’s story

The UK is also not free from modern slavery, and media bring new stories almost on a daily basis. In 2012 officially there was around 1100 cases referred officially to UK authorities as potential victims of trafficking. According to Walk Free’s Slavery Index, it is believed there are between 4,200-4,600 people in slavery in the UK so to think that the problem does not exist here would be wrong For further information on modern slavery in the UK please visit the website of

Anti-Slavery International www.antislavery.org. AntiSlavery is an organisation founded on the back of the campaign that abolished slavery in the 19th century. Today it works to eradicate all forms of modern day slavery around the world and campaigns on the issue in the UK.

Human slavery is not always in its most obvious form. This story about Krzysztof comes from homeless charity Barka UK: Krzysztof experienced two bouts of forced labour at the hands of gangs who recruited him while he was drinking and vulnerable. He was helped by the charity Barka, which supports east European homeless people in London, to quit drinking and now helps other homeless people. “I was recruited at a soup kitchen at a park near Holborn. They target people with drinking problems because they are easier to

manipulate they know they’ll make bad decisions by believing their lies. I was promised between £50 and £70 a day but instead was paid virtually nothing. I was tricked twice. The first time I worked for a month without pay, the second time for two months. I was transported to and from different jobs block-paving driveways. I wanted to leave but the gang who employed me were intimidating and I had heard that other men who had tried to leave were beaten up by the gang. Plus, we were in the middle of the countryside, miles from the nearest town.”

St Josephine Bakhita – 8 February

St Josephine was born in 1869 and sometime between the age of 7-9 was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The trauma of her abduction caused her to forget her own name; she took one given to her by the slavers, At the end of 2013 the Home Office began drafting legislation bakhita, Arabic for lucky. In regarding a bill on Modern Slavery which Home Secretary 1883 Bakhita was bought by Theresa May described as ‘an appalling crime’. In the light of the kindly Italian Vice Consul cases in the media of domestic slaves at home and abroad, the Callisto Legnani. When issue is very much at the forefront of human rights action groups’ agenda this year. The Modern Slavery Bill was presented Legnani had to return to Italy, Bakhita went with him and, in to the House of Commons in December 2013 and these are its 1885, was given to a Venetian provisions: family with whom she lived • To consolidate existing human trafficking and slavery offences with for three years. In 1890 to make the options available to law enforcement Bakhita was baptised with the administratively simpler and operationally clearer name Josephine Margaret and • To increase the maximum sentence for human trafficking to life was confirmed and received imprisonment Holy Communion from • To introduce an anti-slavery commissioner to galvanise efforts Archbishop Giuseppe Sarto, the future Pope Pius X. In 1893 in the UK to challenge modern slavery by working with she entered the novitiate of the government and law-enforcement agencies to realise more Canossian Sisters, taking her investigations, prosecutions and convictions of human vows in 1896. She died on 8 traffickers February 1947. In 1992, she • To introduce slavery and trafficking prevention orders and was declared Blessed and slavery and trafficking risk orders to restrict movements or given February 8 as her feast impose other prohibitions on convicted or suspected traffickers day and then canonised in • To create a new requirement for ‘first responders’ to report all 2000. She is venerated as a suspected cases of human trafficking to the national referral modern African saint and mechanism (NRM) to improve our understanding of the stands as a sign of the brutal nature and scale of this crime and help improve our response. history of slavery.

The Government’s Response

Page 10

The Holy Land

Westminster Record September 2011

Westminster Record | February 2014

A View from Jerusalem Sir Vincent Fean, former British Consul-General, reflects on four years’ living in the Holy City, Jerusalem Jerusalem is a beautiful, mystical, holy city. Archbishop Vincent organises an annual pilgrimage and if you have the chance, please go and see for yourself. Every inch of the Old City commands attention and respect. It is sacred to Jews, to Christians and to Muslims. For Jews, the focus is the Western Wall below the Temple Mount; for Christians the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and for Muslims the al Aqsa compound with the Dome of the Rock, with its exquisite golden roof visible from the Mount of Olives. In Jerusalem it is important but very hard to keep religion above politics. The legal status of the city has remained unresolved since 1948, when the

state of Israel came into being. Today, there is some hope of a lasting agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry – it is our best chance. The British Government and European Union view is that Jerusalem is the future capital of an Israeli and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace, with justice and security for both. Jerusalem and Justice are uneasy companions – before Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 war, the Jordanian authorities prevented Jews from praying at the Western Wall. Today, West Bank Muslims under the age of 50 are frequently forbidden to pray at the al Aqsa mosque. Christian Palestinian access to the holy sites can also be limited, as I learned when Greek Orthodox friends and I

were prevented from witnessing the 2013 Easter Saturday Holy Fire ceremony at the Holy Sepulchre. An Israeli permit regime controls West Bankers’ entry into Jerusalem. If a Jerusalemite – Muslim or Christian - marries a West Banker, the Israeli authorities insist that the newlyweds set up their home outside Jerusalem, forfeiting in time their Jerusalem identity card and the right to stay in the city of their birth. They face hard choices: taking court action to show the judge why Jerusalem should be their future home or living apart so that the Jerusalemite can retain his/her valuable residence status. There are at least 13 strands of Christianity represented in Jerusalem; most get on the majority of the time. All aim to serve God in their own ways, as do their Jewish and Muslim neighbours. Clamorous intra-Christian disputes have occurred down the centuries, resulting in the status quo, whereby two Muslim families hold the keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, opening and closing it daily. Disputes still erupt on occasion, draining energy away from more important spiritual issues than who should clean a step in the church. There need to be both hope of change and

work to effect change. Hope expressed through prayer and action. Hope for Palestinian Christians wishing to give their children a decent future in their homeland. The Anglican/Catholic charity Friends of the Holy Land is active and effective, though more help is sorely needed. Hope for greater Christian unity, embodied in the joint visit to Jerusalem by Pope Francis and His Beatitude, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, head of the Greek Orthodox Church, this coming May. Hope for Jewish/Christian/Muslim understanding, embodied in the tripartite Council for Religious

Friends of the Holy Land Here you can find out more about the amazing work that can help Christians in the birthplace of our Lord and of our faith

Diocese Holy Land Pilgrimage 2014 The 4th annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land will take place in November, led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Fr John Farrell O.P. At the same time a Young Adults Pilgrimage is being arranged, offering our young people the chance to experience the Holy Land and meet with local Christians. More details will be available very soon in your parishes, online and in the next Westminster Record.

The Friends of the Holy Land is a charity supporting the Christians of the Holy Land – the “Living Stones” of our faith. The Holy Land is the birthplace of Christianity where Jesus was born, crucified and rose to new life and therefore part of our fundamental identity. Bethlehem and Jerusalem were once bustling with local Christians, but many have now left to seek a new life elsewhere. Around 200,000 Christians live in Israel and the West Bank, about 1% of the population. Many of them suffer from restricted ability to travel, very high unemployment levels, poverty, lack of social services,

poor living conditions, lack of food and the stress of uncertainty, today and for the future. Fear and anguish pervade many lives. This is the price they are paying for continuing to live in the Holy Land. The purpose of the FHL is to support Christians, enabling them to stay and to improve their lot; to ensure that the Holy Land does not become a cultural museum, as the ‘living stones’ that represent Christianity in the land of Our Lord’s birth cease to exist. You can support the Friends by a donation, including them in your prayer, joining an FHL Parish Group or by considering a pilgrimage. The

Institutions in the Holy Land, promoting trust, dignity and mutual respect to the glory of our shared God, in His city. Hope of a fair and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, in and beyond Jerusalem. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby summed it up: ‘security for Israel, justice for Palestinians – peace for all’. In Isaiah, we read “I now create Jerusalem – Joy – and her people –Gladness. I will make justice the measure, integrity the plumbline… The wolf and the young lamb will feed together, the lion eat straw like the ox… They will do no hurt, no harm on all my holy mountain”. Jerusalem as a place of Joy for the believers in the three great Abrahamic faiths – that is what we need.

work is entirely non-political and is carried out with the backing and blessing of Anglican and Catholic Bishops in England and Wales.

Contact: Friends of the Holy Land 2 Station Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1JJ Tel. 01926 512980 friendsoftheholyland@ btconnect.com Website – www.friendsoftheholyland. org.uk Page 11

Parish Profile

Westminster Record | February 2014

Parish Profile

Westminster Record | February 2014

Hemel Hempstead: “We shouldn’t do separately what we can do together” The close of the Year of Faith Mass, when the three parishes came together for a joint Mass at John F Kennedy School

hen visiting a parish for a profile in The Record it is rare that the priest offers to pick me up in a car to go around the parish, as their ministry is typically centred on one parish church. Fr John Byrne, a priest whose energy for his ministry is infectious, had other ideas. Instead he was keen for me to see as much of his parishes as possible and speak to the people who make up the Catholic community in Hemel Hempstead, a shining example of 3 separate parishes working together..

“A Different Type of Ministry”

Good Shepherd Window commemorating Fr James Harvey Page 12

Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire’s largest town, has a lively and growing Catholic population served by four churches, three of which Fr John serves as Parish Priest along with Fr. Floribert and Deacon Simon. On our way to St Mark’s, Hemel Hempstead West, I asked him how he manages the responsibilities of his three churches, not to mention his work as chaplain and governor of John F Kennedy Secondary School, along with St. Rose’s and St. Cuthbert Mayne Schools and the celebration of Mass at HM Prison The Mount, Fr John’s response was an interesting take on modern ministry and how important technology is for it: “It’s a different type of ministry today. When I first came to the parish I put my

mobile number on the notice board and now I redirect my landline to it. With three parishes to serve it’s the best way to keep in touch with people and on top of everything.”

Three Distinctive Communities, Three Distinctive Churches The first church we visited was St Mark’s, the newest of the three parishes and – rather surprisingly – built in the heart of John F Kennedy School. Its location means that students pass it every day on their way to lessons and are able to celebrate Mass in their year groups, whilst the lightness of the building provides a wonderful environment for prayer and reflection. As well as being used by the school, St Mark’s also serves the Ordinariate community in Hertfordshire for Mass each Sunday. After being in the bustle of the school I expected that the next church we would visit, The Church of the Resurrection, would be far calmer. This was not the case, as the Church is part of a community centre which was hosting a parent and toddler group that day. Fr John explained to me that the Church is shared and a number of the families there belong to the Anglican and Free Churches. Fr John stressed to me that the Catholic and the other denominations, whilst worshipping separately, are based on a covenant of working

together whenever possible. This means that governance through a Joint Council, as well as activities like Fairtrade, are done in collaboration. Around harvest time each year there is a Pulpit exchange for one Sunday when Fr. John and the Anglican Vicar give the homily at each other’s services. The final parish on our visit was St. Mary & St. Joseph, Boxmoor, the original parish in Hemel Hempstead where the office for the three parishes is based. The Church’s simple design helps to highlight the stained glass windows in the church. One of these commemorates the founder of the parish, Fr Henry James Harvey, who also set up the parishes of Tring, Berkhamsted and Rickmansworth; so, as Fr John says, “there is a long tradition of serving parishes from Boxmoor.”

The youngest member of Hemel Initative for Young Adults (HIYA)

was the greatest challenge for their parishes, to which they instantly replied: “capturing the imagination of young people”. Whilst the Hemel Hempstead parishes have comparatively young congregations, the parishioners are aware that often when young people leave home either for studies or work they can lose contact with the Church and other young Catholics. To address this challenge the parishes, in partnership with Our Lady Queen of All Creation at Hemel Hempstead East, formed in 2007 HIYA (Hemel Initiative for Youth Action) to provide young people with a sense of

community in their parish and build relationships with other young Catholics to help them sustain and develop their faith. The group began with providing activities for 11-14 year olds but has recently grown to include a young adults group. Claire Pritchard, Youth Worker for HIYA, said that the new group “provides not just a social evening but a chance for young adults to discuss their faith and explore challenging issues. The young people have really taken ownership for the success of HIYA”. The group has also been involved in social action, with 12 young people taking part in a sleep out at St. Albans Abbey

“Capturing the Imagination of Young People” Following the tour of the churches I met members of the different parishes at the new presbytery, built in 2011 thanks to the contributions from all the congregations, which includes 2 flats for retired priests, Fr. Bernard Scholes and Fr. Brian Reynolds. This, one of the parishioners said, was “a catalyst for bringing them closer together”, a unity symbolised, most visibly, in their joint Mass held in a marquee for the close of the Year of Faith in November. I asked them what they felt

St Mary and St Joseph, Hemel Hempstead Boxmoor

to highlight the problem of homelessness and raise funds for the Dacorum Emergency Night Shelter (DENS). In total the young people raised over £2,000.

Social Action: Not Just About Money But Community A commitment to social action has not just been embraced by the young people but by everyone in the parishes. As part of their Growing in Faith project the people chose to enhance their charitable activities by forming a local Caritas body. This both provides activities for people in the parishes, in particular older members of the congregation, by hosting tea parties and picnics in local parks, and supports those in need through donations to groups including foodbanks, homeless shelters and community trusts. An unexpected outcome, one of the parishioners told me, was that the new projects brought more people into the life of the parish in the local area, fostering the sense of community. In recognition for its work Caritas received a certificate of appreciation from the local council, a testament to the success of the work which they are doing. Undoubtedly, with so much going on and planned for the future, the good work is likely to continue!

The Statue of the Evangelist in St Mark’s Church

“WYD has left me inspired, spiritually enlightened and I loved every second of it.”

Page 13

Parish Profile

Westminster Record | February 2014

Parish Profile

Westminster Record | February 2014

Hemel Hempstead: “We shouldn’t do separately what we can do together” The close of the Year of Faith Mass, when the three parishes came together for a joint Mass at John F Kennedy School

“A Different Type of Ministry”

Good Shepherd Window commemorating Fr James Harvey Page 12

mobile number on the notice board and now I redirect my landline to it. With three parishes to serve it’s the best way to keep in touch with people and on top of everything.”

The youngest member of Hemel Initative for Young Adults (HIYA)

St Mary and St Joseph, Hemel Hempstead Boxmoor

to highlight the problem of homelessness and raise funds for the Dacorum Emergency Night Shelter (DENS). In total the young people raised over £2,000.

The Statue of the Evangelist in St Mark’s Church

“WYD has left me inspired, spiritually enlightened and I loved every second of it.”

Page 13

CAFOD News

Westminster Record | February 2014

A Time of Transformation: CAFOD’s Lent Fast Day

Mohammed takes a break from working in the family’s garden on former mining land (photo: Simon Rawles)

CAFOD’s Lent Fast Day this year is on Friday 14 March. Please continue to reflect and pray for the 842 million people who go to bed hungry each night, and on how, through our faith and actions, we can help to transform our world for the better. This year we focus on Sierra Leone, where the trauma of civil war is still being felt, especially by those displaced in the conflict. For Jatto’s family, these years were filled with fear. She was forced to flee from rebels with her newborn son, Mohammed, and struggled to feed him - often relying on handouts from strangers. Peace came in 2002, but Jatto and her family had neither money, food, nor home. With the help of CAFOD’s partners, though,

Volunteer with CAFOD in 2014 Update from Connect2 El Salvador:

CAFOD Westminster is searching for new education volunteers to help its work with schools and youth groups across the Diocese. Volunteers visit schools to work with students and staff about poverty and injustice, encouraging them to make a difference. They also work with young people preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation, running workshops and retreats aimed at inspiring young people to live out their faith. If you’re interested in working with young people, have great communication skills and are passionate about creating a more just and fair world, then we’d like to hear from you! Previous teaching experience is not required, as full training is provided by CAFOD. A full DBS clearance is required to volunteer in schools and with youth groups. For more information and an application form, contact CAFOD Westminster: 020 8449 6970 or westminster@cafod.org.uk.

Dates for your diary Saturday 12 April – CAFOD Day of Reflection – Join us for a special day of prayer and reflection led by a member of CAFOD’s theology team. Held at the Church of Christ the King, Cockfosters N14 4HE. Booking essential. Sunday 18 May – Pedal Against Poverty sponsored bike ride – Save the date! CAFOD’s annual sponsored bike ride in the Lee Valley Country Park in North London and Hertfordshire. Registration opens soon! For more information or to book on any of these events, contact CAFOD Westminster – 020 8449 6970 or westminster@cafod.org.uk

“A Miracle has Happened” A year ago CAFOD partner Erasmo Valiente visited the Diocese in a group from El Salvador. He spoke about his work with farmers’ and womens’ groups, enabling people in small, rural communities to provide for themselves and their families. He also visited community projects and farms here in the UK, including St Margaret’s parish garden in Twickenham, forming lasting bonds of friendship. This week we heard from Erasmo: “The beginning of the New Year hasn’t been the best for me, but things don’t happen without a reason. God has given me a second chance of life to understand how beautiful it is to be alive. On New Year’s Day I was painting five metres up and involuntarily someone moved the ladder and I fell backwards. As I fell, I got entangled in some sharp razor

she was able to transform her life. The church trained Jatto to farm on former diamond mining sites -previously thought to be unfertile. As the land, however, stays moist, the family can now reap several harvests in the year. CAFOD’s Fast Day appeals drive long term development work and help us to tackle the emergencies which don’t make headlines. Your support of CAFOD helps the world’s poorest communities in their quest to work their way out of poverty.

Erasmo (second from right) and Fidel (far left) from El Salvador visit the parish garden at St Margaret’s, Twickenham with CAFOD volunteers.

wire with a cement platform below. But a miracle happened; before falling, I turned through 90 degrees and I fell in a sitting position. I only remember the impact of the blow. I felt as if my waist reached my throat. I can’t help crying when I remember this, because I felt as if I had died. I fainted and was then taken to hospital. The days when I was hospitalised were critical because I was unable to move because of the impact on my spine. Now I am recovering with medicines and

physiotherapy to aid my movement. I will return to work soon, depending on an assessment, but God’s miracle is continuing, because my health is improving and now I can sit up and walk, even though it is difficult. Greetings to all of the dear people of CAFOD.” Please continue to pray for Erasmo and his family as he recovers. More information about Erasmo and CAFOD’s work in El Salvador can be found on the CAFOD Connect2 El Salvador blog: www.cafod.org.uk/connect2

Page 14

Evangelisation

Westminster Record | February 2014

The Joy of the Gospel Fr Christopher Colven, Parish Priest at St James, Spanish Place, writes about Pope Francis’s letter Evangelii Gaudium, the Joy of the Gospel.

ope Francis’s recent apostolic exhortation (letter) has as its theme the proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world. The Latin title “Evangelii Gaudium”, literally “the joy of the Gospel”, sums up the Holy Father’s message. The Church, particularly in Europe, has not been going through easy times but the Pope is concerned that Catholics should not give in to what he terms “sterile pessimism” which flies in the face of everything Christ has achieved: “There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter”! Focussing on the tenderness of God, we are reminded by the Holy Father that Christianity has always been “good news” and continues to be such in the lives of those open to receive its message. The apostolic exhortation is concerned with the “new evangelisation” of how to

communicate the Gospel of joy to the people of our own times: its mood is confident, but not triumphalist – the Church must always see itself as the servant of the societies in which it finds itself. Pope Francis does not want an introspective Church; rather he challenges Catholics to share their faith in an active dialogue with those beyond its walls: “The word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in Him to ‘go forth’”. This is not a theoretical document. It is essentially practical, addressing specific issues and encouraging the whole People of God to take their responsibilities more seriously. Only a Church which is truly honest within itself will be able to “go forth” offering a message of hope: “We incarnate the duty of hearing the cry of the poor when we are deeply moved by the suffering of others”. Teachers and preachers are urged to remain faithful to what has been handed down but to interpret the faith in a way that is attractive and compelling: “proclaiming Christ means showing that to believe in and to follow Him is not only something right and true but also something beautiful, capable of filling life with new splendour and profound joy”. Do read it for yourself and form your own opinion.

Discounted Joy! The Catholic Truth Society have found that a number of people now want to run study groups and give copies to their friends as part of their evangelisation efforts. To help facilitate this, they are offering a 25% discount and free delivery with a minimum order of 15 copies of the Exhortation. If you would like to take advantage of this fantastic offer please contact the CTS customer services team: orders@ctsbooks.org or 020 7640 0042. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Come Follow Me Dr Mark Nash writes how ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ inspired the new faith sharing booklet

This Lent, the Diocesan faithsharing booklet ‘Come Follow Me’ has been inspired by Pope Francis’s ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. It offers six sessions featuring a Scripture passage, a reflection and opportunities for prayer, with questions to encourage groups and individuals using it to ask themselves what they can do to further the mission of the Church. Small faith communities have been a part of diocesan life for over ten years now and thousands of people in that time have come to a greater appreciation of their faith and of one another. Many parishes have one or two groups (some have a dozen or so) feeding

into the life of the parish. Strengthened in faith, group members are asked to go beyond themselves to those in physical, emotional and spiritual need. As the Cardinal-designate writes in his foreword to the booklet: ‘From its very foundation, the Church has been impelled to proclaim the Good News of our redemption by Jesus’s birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. This is the truth that we profess in church. This is truth that must shine brilliantly in our lives. In bringing the gift of Christ to others we shall find our reward, “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down,

shaken together, running over.” (Luke 6:38)’. This Lent do try to join a group and explore the Holy Father’s letter. Copies of the booklet are available from the majority of parishes, Catholic bookshops and via the diocesan website: www.rcdow.org.uk/bookstore or by calling 020 7798 9152.

Pope Francis has made a dramatic impact since his election, not just on the Catholic world but the world at large. At a general audience in St Peter’s Square, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims enamoured of the Holy Father began to chant his name. ‘Francis, Francis,’ rang out the cry, but he held up his hand for quiet and gently suggested that they should be chanting ‘Jesus, Jesus’ instead! His role, which when you stop to think about it is the role of each of the baptised, is to remind people of the supreme importance of Jesus Christ. We need reminding of it ourselves, our personal encounter with Christ deepened, and then we shall be armed with all we need to spread the joy of the Gospel in the communities in which we live.

Page 15

Vocations

Westminster Record | February 2014

Responding to the Call

Congratulations Fr Shaun!

Vocations promoter, Fr Graham Stokes, writes how a Declan Donnelly of ‘Ant and Dec’ responded to the call towards Priesthood.

By Fr Richard Nesbitt

was surprised to hear the priesthood mentioned on a trailer for the appearance of TV’s ‘Ant and Dec’ on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs.’ It was refreshing to hear Declan Donnelly’s response to a question about him being on a ‘path to priesthood’ from a young age. He acknowledged that a possible vocation was something put to all the boys studying RE at his school and that he had thought seriously about it. Distractions and other callings may have moved him on, but the interview expressed an important question that all young Catholic men should consider – whether God is calling them to serve him in the ordained priesthood. To support those across our

Diocese exploring their own response to this we are arranging a series of ‘Come and See’ events around the diocese over the coming months. These evenings will help these men to discover more about priesthood in the context of the New Evangelisation and of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, as well as an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation, to talk to and hear from priests who have been ordained in recent years, and also a time for prayer and adoration. As Pope Francis writes, “Wherever there is life, fervour and a desire to bring Christ to others, genuine vocations will arise” (Evangelii Gaudium 107). The first event, which took place on 23 January at Our Lady of Mount Carmel & St George,

Enfield, was very powerful for all of the participants. Subsequent Spring gatherings are planned at SS Michael & Martin, Hounslow, on Thursday 13 February and the Centre for Youth Ministry in Somers Town on Thursday 20 March. Further events later in the year will be in other parts of the diocese. There will also be a retreat day for men discerning a possible calling to the priesthood on Saturday 10 May at Allen Hall Seminary (it is essential to book in advance for this day). For further information, please contact Fr Graham Stokes, Vocations Promoter for the Diocese of Westminster, at grahamstokes@rcdow.org.uk or 020 8747 5909. See also www.rcdow.org.uk/vocations

As we go to press, Rev Shaun Richards is preparing to be ordained to the priesthood on 25 January at Our Lady of Victories Church in Kensington. Father-to-be Shaun has been serving as a deacon for the last six months at St George’s parish in Sudbury, where he will now continue to serve as a priest. These were his thoughts a few days before his ordination: ‘As a young adult I thought I had everything in life mapped out, until I read somewhere: “Is God calling you to be a Priest?”. At the time I was dismissive about the idea, but even then family and friends could see the priest in me - long before I recognised it myself. I felt instead the call to be an actor – a career I successfully pursued for

a number of years. However, I gradually immersed myself in parish life, in an attempt to discern God’s plan’. ‘In 1997, as an Anglican, I was ordained at St Paul’s Cathedral, serving as a curate in Willesden Green for four years before moving to become Vicar at St. Silas, Pentonville, for nine years. Over time and with a good deal of prayer and soul searching, I came to understand that God was now calling me to the Catholic Church. After being received I spent a wonderful time as pastoral assistant at Our Lady of Victories, Kensington and was then sent to study in Rome at the Pontifical Beda College’. ‘To live out my faith as a Catholic fills me with deep joy and to have the opportunity to fulfill a call to service in the Diocese of Westminster is humbling. All I can say is that I feel more strongly than ever that God has called me by my name, and called me to be a priest, and now he has work for me to do and I can’t wait to get on with it! I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement of so many people who have helped me to this joyful moment and I pray that with God’s grace I may be a faithful and fruitful priest in the years to come’.

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 16

Marriage and Family Life

Westminster Record | February 2014

“Fertility Awareness; Naturally Serving the Communion of Persons” Freda McMahon (pictured right), a Creighton Model FertilityCare practitioner, reflects on how awareness of Natural Fertility Practice can bring about a greater intimacy and love between married couples Over 40 delegates representing a range of Christian traditions and from different branches of medicine recently met in Manchester for their 2nd annual conference. NFP is the use of a method for avoiding and achieving pregnancy naturally. A couple that uses a NFP method learns their natural fertile and infertile times together and uses these windows for achieving and avoiding pregnancy respectively, based on their intention. Yet in the Christian traditions NFP is more than just a method that allows couples to achieve pregnancy or to space out their families. Edmund

Adamus, of the Diocese’s Office for Marriage and Family Life, examined natural fertility from a theological perspective in a keynote speech. Inspired by Blessed John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, he emphasized the sacredness of marital love and the importance of marriage reflecting Christ’s own total gift of self which is so fruitful for all humanity. In their intimacy couples can share in Christ’s own ministry of love, mercy and compassion, whilst in parenthood they can witness to fertility and pregnancy as a divine gift rather than as a pathology to be feared. The NFP community believes strongly in educating our youth in true Christian love through the teaching and promotion of natural fertility awareness. Dr Angela McCallum, from Fertility Care Scotland, gave an overview from her 20 year+ experience in providing the “Love and Fertility” programme in secondary schools, the goal

“The NFP community believes strongly in educating our youth in true Christian love through the teaching and promotion of natural fertility awareness.” being to promote self-respect and to foster a positive view of sexuality and to give real credibility to natural fertility awareness methods. Similarly Louise Kirk, UK coordinator for Alive to the World (a programme on personal social health and citizenship education for all Key Stages) explained why parents are best placed to start educating their children from a young age (late primary school years) in the importance of marriage and family virtues, as well as respect for fertility and persons. Parents can use her well-reviewed book, “Sexuality Explained: A Guide for Parents

Events To attend any of these events it is essential to register in advance with the MFL office.

and Children”, in an ageappropriate way to hold those all-important discussions with their children. In “Good News for Relationships - Psychological Aspects of NFP” Dr David Kingsley, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, celebrated the relational benefits of rejecting contraception and embracing natural fertility awareness through results from researches that examined consecutive generations. Next year’s Annual Conference will be on 15 November 2014 in London. It is aimed at people actively

involved in the field: teachers, researchers, promoters and those with a professional interest. http://www.uknfpconference. org.uk/ For further details contact Edmund Adamus at the Diocese of Westminster Office for Marriage and Family Life edmundadamus@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7798 9363

15 & 16 February SmartLoving Catholic marriage enrichment – nonresidential weekend at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre, Hendon NW4 4TY for couples in stable marriages seeking to refresh and revitalise their relationship. £90 per couple.

4 March 10th Annual Theology of the Body Lecture – speaker Jonathan Doyle addresses issues of pornography and its effect on our young people. 7pm at Vaughan House, Francis Street SW1P 1QN. £5 on the door. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Page 17

Youth

Westminster Record | February 2014

Director’s Spotlight

e congratulate Archbishop Vincent on becoming a Cardinal – a wonderful start to the year for all of us. The Youth Team is looking forward to a very busy year as we forge ahead on our mission and I’d ask that you pray for us, to provide much- needed spiritual foundation, sustain our determination, enable hard work and bring great joy.

Re-SPEC-Full Our SPEC retreat team is moving from its current home in London Colney to Pinner, with relocation starting in March. Jon and his team have much to do and the move will be hugely disruptive, but they are determined to keep the young people of the Diocese supported during the transition, so we’ll offer day retreats at the new site from early May. The Centre for Youth Ministry will also be used for day retreats for a short while. SPEC team members should be proud of what they achieve and I take great pleasure in reading the glowing retreater exit

surveys – a testament to their commitment and skill. Please pray for a smooth transition. Youth-Full Working with volunteers teams in parishes to support the young people in our communities is a key activity where we can truly make a difference. This work can be transformational – by building youth groups the Church is sending a clear signal to young people that we are welcoming and that we want to be where they are. Offering a sanctuary to these young people – a place to meet, chat, share food and life experiences in a relatively unstructured environment – is a blessing for

them. If this space is also safe, secure and warm and involves supportive, kind and interested leaders / volunteers, you have a winning formula. These youth group evenings will stay with these young people for the rest of their lives and they’ll reflect on the positive impact they make – especially as the transition to adulthood is a tough road and a welcoming and friendly face can only help. We continue to work very closely with a number of parishes and I hope this number will grow. Event-Full We develop and manage and often host events at the

Centre for Youth Ministry. Coming soon is a Youth Worker Retreat Day, Safeguarding and First Aid courses for Youth Volunteers and Leaders and, later in the year, a Music Ministry Training Day. Pilgrimages to Lourdes and the Holy Land in 2014 will be announced quite soon and we’ll continue to support the Youth Movements who work in our Diocese, notably Catholic Underground and Youth2000. We’ll be at Glastonbury in the Summer; and, believe it or not, we’ve started planning for World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow. 2014 looks to be fun!

The Comeback Kids

Young Adults in the West will make a comeback at St James parish in Twickenham on Saturday 22 March. Diocesan Youth Chaplain Fr David Reilly explains: “Now that we have finished the You Believe talks in the Year of Faith we want to bring something different to our parishes. We’re at the beginning of a New Evangelisation and what better way to start than by gathering young adults of our Diocese together, to share faith and prepare ourselves for that mission.” Young Adults in the West was started by Bishop Alan Hopes, former Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and now Bishop of East Anglia. This popular event had been hosted across an area that stretched from Kensington, Hammersmith and Chiswick,

to Hillingdon, Feltham and Hounslow. Fr Chris Vipers, who has pastoral responsibility for the programme, is excited about the work that lies ahead: “We want to explore and celebrate just what our faith means to us, what it means to be a young Catholic in London and how we can rise to the challenge from Pope Francis to be missionary disciples.” The event includes the celebration of Mass in the host

parish, followed by food, socialising and faith-sharing. There are opportunities to meet other young Catholics informally and also to give a witness or feel encouraged by others. Fr David says: “So many people have found it really positive having a joyful and relaxed opportunity to meet others, to chat and share their experiences, and to make new friends in a faith-filled environment.” Fr Chris sees this ministry as central to his new role: “Exciting things are happening in Twickenham, both at St James parish and at St Mary's College just around the corner. There are some really enthusiastic young people there, and this event has the potential to take that enthusiasm to a new level. We’re really keen to do anything we can to encourage our young adults.” Young Adults in the West will take place at St James’ Church, Twickenham, on Saturday 22 March, beginning with Mass at 6.00pm. All 1635 year olds are welcome and no registration is required. For more details please contact Fr David on davidreilly@rcdow.org.uk

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

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

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

See photos of youth events at http://tinyurl.com/5vqohvo

Youth

Westminster Record | February 2014

Chaplain’s Journal

FEBRUARY 2014 Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain

Similar Minded Missionaries

I One of my rules in life is ‘Never read the comments section on the internet’. In the online world, and increasingly in other media, it seems that everyone must have the opportunity to ‘have their say.’ Of course, it is actually a good thing that we become more interactive in the real, human sense. It is also good that we engage with one another and express ourselves in a healthy, considered way. But are we becoming obsessed with our own opinions? So often I hear people say, ‘I can’t help what I say, I’m entitled to my opinion!’ It is true, to a certain extent, but it does matter how that opinion is formed and expressed. We know that many people feel like this about faith too. But are we becoming less able really to hear and listen to the wisdom of others? In a spiritual sense, we can be good at speaking to God and telling him what we think or want. But how often do we find the space to be quiet in his presence and listen? Jesus says: ‘And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words’ (Matt 6:7). The capacity to listen to and learn from others is essential, perhaps even more so for the Christian. There is a challenge for each of us to overcome the self, to learn from the Lord, to make ‘our mind the same as Christ Jesus’ (Phil 2:5). In this way, we can hear and respond to the Lord who speaks and calls. ‘Let Christ speak to us,’ said Blessed John Paul II. Can we let God ‘have his say’?

n January SPEC missionary volunteers and some of the core community attended the annual gathering of volunteers from all the youth and children’s retreat centres in Britain. The conference felt like a breath of fresh air. There was a palpable buzz around the place as we had the chance to meet a bunch of other people doing the same kind of crazy things that we are doing. It’s so easy to fall into the ‘We’re the only Catholics left’ mentality, whereas the reality is very, very different.

Bishop Kieran Conry gave us some down to earth practical advice about being Catholic and spoke about listening to our own negativity as well: if we as Catholics are blogging, we should be blogging about the ‘evangelion’ – the good news that Christ has conquered - and not write blogs that are cynical or overly critical. The conference re-energised all of those present; we should be building up the good and celebrating the better. In our commercial world, the love of Christ cannot be bought: our job is to give it away freely, and we have that opportunity every time we share the ‘evangelion’ with others.

A new PerSPECtive SPEC’s planned move to new premises at Waxwell Farm, Pinner is now becoming a reality. The last retreat at London Colney will be a Confirmation retreat on the weekend of 7-9 March, with our programme restarting in May at Waxwell Farm and, for an interim period, at the Centre for Youth Ministry near Euston. Although there will be some sadness at leaving the place where SPEC was born and grew up, we are blessed by the diocese’s commitment to an ongoing residential retreat ministry for young people and by the provision of a wonderful new home set in beautiful grounds. The

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

existing buildings at Waxwell date from Tudor and Victorian times, with a more modern extension including a chapel which will become the praying heart of the Centre. The SPEC community is made up of resident retreat staff (including two families) and a team of volunteer missionaries who share in the life and ministry of the community for a year or two. As we pack up our bags – and homes – there are anxieties that come with a move but also much excitement and optimism for the future. As usual at this time of year we are looking for young adults aged 18-25 – especially

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

from the diocese - who may feel called to join us in our ministry as volunteer missionaries. It is a great opportunity for a time of service and formation in faith at a unique period in the life and mission of SPEC. For more information visit our website at www.spec.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @SPEC_Community or Facebook/speccentre for regular updates.

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

See photos of youth events at http://tinyurl.com/5vqohvo

Page 19

The Arts

Westminster Record September Westminster Record | February2011 2014

Film review

Book review

12 Years a Slave

Signs of the Times By the Thames Divided - Cardinal Bourne in Southwark and Westminster - Jean Vanier

By Jo Siedlecka

ebruary is Anti-Slavery month, marked by the release of a graphic new film: the Oscar-nominated 12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen which film reviewers have already been celebrating as a triumph of film making. It is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a black man kidnapped and forced into slavery. One of the few to escape bondage in the United States, he published his memoirs in 1853 and became a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement. The beginning sees Northup, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, with his wife and children in prosperous upstate New York, earning a good living as a carpenter and violinist. Befriended by two strangers, he is persuaded to take a short trip to Washington to perform there. The nightmare begins. Wakening from a drunken evening in chains, Northup has been sold by his new 'friends' into slavery. His cell window is within view of Capitol Hill. Stripped of his identity and now called 'Platt', he is shipped to New Orleans on a paddle steamer, with a group of other black men, women and children, all sold off to the highest bidder. We see Platt's sense of disbelief and horror as he endures beatings and whippings and every possible abuse, witnessing too the torture of his fellow prisoners. A woman separated from her children weeps inconsolably and the plantation owner's wife looks on sympathetically,

Book review

By Chris O’Callaghan saying: "Poor woman - she'll soon forget them." Platt's first owner, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is relatively kind, using him as an engineer and musician. But his overseer, played by Paul Dano, becomes very resentful about this and, after a bloody fight, Platt is sold on to a sadist, powerfully portrayed by Michael Fassbender, who quotes scripture as justification for beating his slaves and raping the women among them. What follows is a relentless assault on the senses, with scenes of rape, savage beatings, torture, hangings - sometimes set against beautiful pink skies, or scenes with the plantation owner's wife and sisters calmly strolling about on the veranda of their house - oblivious of the atrocities taking place in their front garden, whilst owners lead prayer services outdoors each Sunday. Platt is forced to play music for dances at neighbours’ parties or for the slaves’ minimal recreation. As the harrowing years pass, the future seems hopeless, until one day, very near the end of the film, Platt meets a Canadian stranger played by Brad Pitt, whom he learns to trust. 12 Years a Slave has a 15 certificate but I asked myself if an 18 would be more appropriate? It is hard to watch, yet worth seeing and also a salutary reminder that there are many more slaves in the world now than when these events took place. And they are not all in faraway places - as recent police investigations in the UK have shown.

at Wonersh, of which he was the first Rector. Around two thirds of the 656 pages are dedicated to his Westminster ministry and the difficulties Bourne faced in a world coming to grips with modernity, war and its aftermath in the 1920s and early 1930s. It also details his tumultuous relationship with Bishop Amigo of Southwark, a former friend who became foe and thorn in his side once Bourne had moved north of the River Thames. Fr Mark has produced an unrivalled piece of work on Cardinal Bourne. Both in detail and length, the book covers all aspects of his life and career and it is founded on significant research. The volume’s greater appeal may be to academics rather than everyday readers because it assumes a knowledge of theology and Church teaching many may not have. Nevertheless, it is a triumph of Church history and will become an invaluable resource for students and others interested in the first half of the Church’s twentieth- century history.

The back cover of this biography lists the array of important national and international issues that Cardinal Bourne faced in his long term as Archbishop of Westminster – Modernism, the First World War, the Education Question, Irish Troubles and Treaty, the emergence of the Labour Party, the General Strike – and contrasts this with the neglect of the man in the history of the Church, despite 32 years in the role. Fr Mark Vickers’ book redresses this. He has produced a fine piece of By The Thames Divided is work, telling the story of the published by Gracewing. fourth Archbishop of Westminster and calling on archives at home and abroad. He details Bourne’s somewhat difficult childhood and adolescence through to equally difficult first years as You can send us your a priest before he found his latest news online, feet, playing a key role in please email establishing the Southwark communications@rcdow. diocesan seminary of St John org.uk

We want your News

By Barnaby Johns In this book the great Jean Vanier grasps you with hands of love and shakes you. He wants to wake you to an extraordinary reality through the transformative ‘sacrament of encounter’. Calling us to read the signs of the world around us he draws on the 2010 film Of Gods and Men, Etty Hillesum who died in Auschwitz, psychoanalyst and social philosopher Julia Kristeva and St Francis of Assisi. There is a tension between the values of society and those of the Gospel. Achievement, success and independence exercise a tyranny of normality. These values in wealthy modern society are tied up with humiliation, conformity, exclusion, power, isolation – all of which prevent us from becoming truly ourselves and developing what God has placed in our heart. Yet the Christian life is not about presenting the ‘achievement of the Christian ideal’ as some may perceive Jean to be living. Nor is it about converting or changing others. The encounter with Jesus invites us to live our encounters with others in reality and humility. Our mission is to recognize our faults, and encounter one another with respect and love, as Jesus did. And this of course means looking to the poor. More than 140 L’Arche communities are schools of love where profoundly disabled men and women expand and become more and more aware of themselves as valuable individuals, gaining inner peace. This is the simple reality of encounter that Jesus commands and Pope Francis so powerfully commends.

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Obituary

Westminster Record | February 2014

Paul Goggins MP

ributes have been paid across the political spectrum for prominent Catholic Labour MP Paul Goggins who died on 7th January 2014. He collapsed while out running with his son on 30th December with a suspected brain haemorrhage and died in Salford Royal hospital a week later. Born in Manchester in 1953, he was educated at St Bede’s College. He began his career in public life as a child care worker in Liverpool in 1974 and continued to work in children’s welfare into the 1980s. He became the national director for Church Action on Poverty, a national churchbased campaigning organisation, in 1989, continuing until his election to Westminster. He was elected Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East in the 1997 election, retaining the seat in the subsequent general

elections. He served as Private Secretary to the Minister of State John Denham and to David Blunkett during the latter’s time as Home Secretary. In 2003 he was made Under Secretary of State at the Home Office. During his time as an MP he was a keen promoter of social welfare and poverty action and the cofounder of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of CAFOD and Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on poverty. Paul was also Chairman of the Boards of Trustees at the Cardinal Hume Centre and had been a long time friend of the charity before that. He was described by them as ‘a man with a passion for justice and a champion of all those living in poverty and homelessness’. Both sides of the House of Commons paid tribute during a subdued Prime Minister’s Questions on 8th January,

Mgr Ralph Brown A man who loved people and enjoyed their company, Mgr Ralph Brown put his sharp mind and warm heart at the service of family, friends, colleagues and the Church. He was truly ‘a son of the Church’. Ralph was born on 30 June 1931 in The Netherlands and completed national service in the Korean War where he was wounded and hospitalised. He entered Allen Hall in 1953 and was ordained in 1959 by Cardinal Godfrey. After studying for a doctorate in Rome, he began serving as Vice Chancellor in 1964 and Vice Officialis of the Diocese, then as Officialis between 1971-77. When Basil Hume came to Westminster, he appointed Mgr Ralph Vicar General, a role he occupied until 2001. He continued to serve as Judicial Vicar until his retirement in 2006. He was prominent in the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland which played an important role in the revision of the Code of Canon Law when it advised the Bishops’ Conference and was recognised for outstanding service with the honour of Commander of the Order of Merit of Poland in 2008. Even up to his death he was still editing the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland Newsletter. He was appointed national coordinator for the Papal Visit of Pope John Paul II to our countries in 1982 and worked with numerous people, mainly volunteers, inspiring them with his energy, enthusiasm and attention to detail. He was also an active member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, having joined in 1984 and becoming a Commander in 1991. A giving and honest man, a faithful and devoted priest and an indefatigable worker, he will be mourned by many lay and clerical friends, and his enthusiasm and compassion will be missed too. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

with the Prime Minister describing him as “a kind and brilliant man” and Ed Miliband saying “The Labour Party has lost one of its own, and one of its best.” Bishop John Arnold, chairman of CAFOD, was deeply shocked by the news and paid tribute to him: “Every day of his career, Paul was driven to help the most disadvantaged in society, and to ensure that poverty was tackled wherever it existed. His commitment to helping others, anchored in his strong Catholic faith, served as an inspiration to us all during his lifetime, and that inspiration will live on in the years to come.” The Right Reverend Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, whose diocese includes Paul’s constituency, said he was “deeply saddened” by his death, a sadness which he “shared with his constituents”. May he rest in peace.

Paul Goggins was a tireless campaigner for social justice and is pictured here with Helen O’Brien, Chief Executive of CSAN, at the CSAN Parliamentary Reception in November last year.

Fr Mark Coningsby Fr Mark died peacefully on 11 January 2014 at Ash Court Nursing Home, Kentish Town. He was born on 8 January 1936 and had served as a priest of the Diocese for 25 years. Ordained by Cardinal Hume in 1989, his appointments included the parishes of Laxton Place, Cricklewood, Paddington and Rickmansworth as well as being chaplain to Hammersmith Hospital. May he rest in peace.

Fr Pat Nolan Fr Pat died peacefully at his retirement flat in Camden Town on 10th January 2014. Born on 30th March 1929, he was 84 years old. Ordained by Cardinal James Knox in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome on 31st March 1975, he served for 27 years before retiring in 2002. His appointments included being assistant priest at Hendon and Harrow parishes and parish priest of Camden, Holy Redeemer, Chelsea and Spanish Place. He also served as chaplain to Finchley Catholic High School in the late 1970s. May he rest in peace.

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Saints & Events

Westminster Record | February 2014

Have an event you want to publicise? Get in touch with our editorial team at communications@rcdow. org.uk or call 020 7798 9031 An interactive study evening for Parish Readers and everyone interested to learn more about the Bible. Facilitator: Brian Purfield. 11th Feb, 2014, 7.00pm – 8.30pm, Vaughan House, 46 Francis St, SW1P 1QN. Suggested donation £5. Tea/coffee will be provided. Please register at http://rcdow.org.uk/events or livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 79316078

An interactive study evening on conscience and moral formation in early years and how this formation can be carried into adulthood. Also we will look at the development of parenting skills. This evening especially will be helpful for everyone involved in the First Communion/Reconciliation preparation and adult faith formation programmes: adult faith formation leaders, catechists, parents and everyone who work with children, adolescence and their parents. Facilitators: Mgr Malachy Keegan and Ausra Karaliute S.T.L. 4th Feb, 2014, 7.00pm – 8.30pm, Vaughan House, 46 Francis St, SW1P 1QN. Suggested donation £5. Tea/coffee will be provided. Please register at http://rcdow.org.uk/events or livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk or call 02079316078.

Liturgical Calendar - February 1 Sat feria or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday 2 Sun + THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD 3 Mon Sts Laurence, Dunstan & Theodore, Archbishops of Canterbury 4 Tues feria 5 Wed St Agatha, Virgin & Martyr 6 Thurs St Paul Miki & Companions, Martyrs 7 Fri feria, Friday abstinence 8 Sat feria or St Jerome Emiliani or St Josephine Bakhita, Virgin or Blessed Mary Virgin on Saturday 9 Sun + 5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 10 Mon St Scholastica, Virgin 11 Tues feria or Our Lady of Lourdes 12 Wed feria 13 Thurs feria 14 Fri Sts Cyril, Monk, & Methodius, Bishop, Patrons of Europe, Friday abstinence 15 Sat feria or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday 16 Sun + 6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 17 Mon feria or Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order 18 Tues feria 19 Wed feria 20 Thurs feria 21 Fri feria or St Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor, Friday abstinence 22 Sat THE CHAIR OF ST PETER THE APOSTLE 23 Sun + 7TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 24 Mon feria 25 Tues feria 26 Wed feria 27 Thurs feria 28 Fri feria, Friday abstinence Page 22

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) 7 Fr Bernard Ferry (1970) Fr George Haines (2000) Fr Michael John Groarke (2008) 9 Canon George Groves (1997) 11 Fr Alan Body (1984) 12 Fr Joseph Francis (1984) Canon Edward Armitage (1987) Mgr Canon Francis Barlett (1992) 13 Fr Patrick O’Callaghan (1970) Mgr Canon Maurice Kelleher (1994) 15 Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman (1865) Fr Richard Wakeling (1988) Fr Leo Straub (2000) 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) 23 Canon John O’Callaghan (1981) 24 Mgr Canon Arthur Rivers (1978) 25 Fr Charles McMenemy (1976) Fr Archibald Bardney (1985) Fr Andrew Clancy (1986) 26 Fr Brian Heaney 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)

An interactive study evening for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and everyone interested to learn more about Eucharist. Facilitators: Birute Briliute Ph.D. and Ausra Karaliute S.T.L. 18th Mar, 2014, 7.00pm – 8.30pm, Vaughan House, 46 Francis St, SW1P 1QN. Suggested donation £5. Tea/coffee will be provided. Please register at http://rcdow.org.uk/events or livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk or call 02079316078

Diary and Events

Westminster Record | February 2014

REGULAR EVENTS If you have an event, please email communications@rcdow.org.uk SUNDAYS Taizé at St James Piccadilly Every third Sunday 5pm. Call 020 7503 5128 for details. Lectio Young Adults Group Lectio Divinia for young adults with time for reflection and discussion afterwards. Every first and third Sunday in term time at 6.45pm. Contact davidreilly@rcdow.org.uk. Ceilidh at Camden Irish Centre Real Ceilidh dancing every Sunday from 8pm, with lessons for newcomers until 8.30pm then on with the dance! All are welcome. £4 per session with great music from Tony Kearny. Partners not needed. Contact 020 7272 5815 Tyburn Benedictines Monastic afternoon First Sunday of the month 2pm-5pm Martyrs’ Crypt, Tyburn Convent, Bayswater Road near Marble Arch. 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@googlemail.com

Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm in Westminster Cathedral Hall Ambrosden Ave. SW1P 1QW Young Adults Mass - First & Third Sunday of the month At Mount Street 7pm. Quiet prayer at 7.15pm, Mass at 7.30pm. Social gathering afterward. Contact: organise@fsplus.info or visit www.fsplus.info. St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club Every Sunday throughout the year walkers meet for a ramble in the Home Counties. Contact Antoinette 020 8769 3643 or visit www.stfrancisramblers.org.uk.

MONDAYS Mothers’ Prayers at St Dominic’s Priory, Haverstock Hill Every Monday 2.30-3.30pm in the Lourdes chapel. All are welcome. Prayer Event for people in the arts and media Third Monday of each month 6.30pm. For more information see www.artisaninitiatives.org

TUESDAYS Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesdays 6-9pm concluding with Benediction at Newman House, 111 Gower Street. Details 020 7731 3367 Mass at Canary Wharf Tuesdays 12.30pm at 2 Churchill Place E14. Organised by Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, Chaplain to Canary Wharf Communities. Details www.cwcc.org.uk 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, London NW10 9AX Vocations Prayer Group Second Tuesday of the month 8pm at 47C Gaisford Street, Kentish Town, NW5

WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays on the Wall (WOTW) First Wednesday of the month 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, Covent Garden. For further details please contact corpuschristipg@yahoogroups.co.uk

THURSDAYS Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life JCFL 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 from 7pm to 9pm at St Charles Borromeo, Ogle Street, W1W 6HS Details www.soulfoodgroup.org info@soulfoodgroup.org Blessed Pope John Paul II Prayer Group Every second Thursday of the month at 7-8pm, Mass, Adoration and Prayer at Corpus Christi Church. Maiden Lane London WC2E 7NB.

FRIDAYS Association of Divorced and Separated Catholics Third Friday of the month. All divorced and separated Catholics are welcome. Call Frank or Christine 020 8422 1591 Divine Mercy Prayers and Mass First Fridays 2.30-4.30pm at the Church of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, 2 Windsor Road, Ealing. St Albans Fridays at 12 noon. Mass is celebrated every week at St Alban’s Abbey, one of the oldest Christian churches in England. Westminster Cathedral Charismatic Prayer Group 7.30pm prayer, praise and teaching. First Friday is a healing Mass. Details: 020 8748 2632 Vocations Discernment Group 7pm, Hinsley Room, Westminster Cathedral. Meetings for young adults aged 18-38. Visit www.free2become.org or call 01277 373 848

SATURDAYS Taizé at Notre Dame Church Leicester Square 7.15pm. Call 020 7437 9363 Catholic Under 35s Catholic Under 35s aims to help young Catholic adults in London meet likeminded people via regular social events, such as meals and days out. For further info please email Elroy at elroyf@gmail.com or visit our Facebook group: http://catholicunder35s.com

EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASSES Sundays Low Mass 9.30am, St James’s Spanish Place, W1 Low Mass 9am, High Altar, the Oratory, Brompton Road, SW7. Mondays Sung Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2. Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7 Fridays Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1 First Fridays only. Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7. Mass 6pm St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Rd Hackney E9. Every Second Friday Low Mass 6.30pm, Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2 Saturdays Second Saturdays at 4.30pm, Low Mass Side Chapel Westminster Cathedral Low Mass 12.15pm St Wilfrid’s Chapel, The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7 Sundays Monthly afternoon classical piano recitals presented by the Chopin Society UK. Westminster Cathedral Hall. Prices £12, £10 (OAP), £6 (students). For more information contact 020 8960 4027 or go to www.chopinsociety.org.uk

Family Apostles 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

FORTHCOMING EVENTS The Beginning Experience There will be a healing weekend for those who find themselves single again through separation, divorce or death of a partner on 14 to 16 March at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham, Kent. For details please contact Freda on 01322-401243 or Sandra on 01293-783965.

Forum on Religion public lecture Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast (Ghana) will be speaking on: Towards Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems Date: Thursday 6 February Time: 6.30-8pm Venue: LSE campus, venue TBC, free for ticketholders. events@lse.ac.uk or call 020 7955 6043. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Page 23

Spotlight

Westminster Record | February 2014

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir Barnaby Johns talks to the founder of Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir Miko Giedroyc, about the joy and beauty of the music at Mass

consider myself fairly wellinformed on music, but sitting in Miko Giedroyc’s flat just south of the river, with instruments all around and scattered sheet music beneath groaning bookshelves, I was to learn something new through our conversation about the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir (SSGC) that sings at the Jesuit Church at Farm Street on the last Sunday of every month. “Gospel divides into two broad categories: traditional and contemporary. When you mention Gospel to the man on the street he would tend to think of the traditional form. But we sing Contemporary Gospel (CG) which has its roots in the 1960s.” The 1967 arrangement of the 18th century hymn, O Happy Day, perhaps marks the beginnings of CG, which is a universal synthesis of the best of everything in popular music – principally soul, R’n’B, funk, pop, rock, country, urban, jazz and Latin as well as trad gospel and classical. “What sets it apart from secular and popular genres is obviously its Christian context, but also that it is sung by choirs as well as soloists. And while its sibling, Contemporary Christian Music, is chiefly participatory (“praise and worship”), much CG is not, like a Byrd motet. One goes to church to worship actively, but in some mysterious way one’s prayer is wrapped up in this.”

CG and Catholic Liturgy The appeal of the music in Catholic churches is apparent as congregations at which the group sing have built up over time, mainly with young

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people. But CG is in no way exclusive to them – “we were surprised by how much it appealed to all ages.” “Gospel music needs to be tamed for the Mass. Its natural exuberance attracts attention. Added to this, CG requires some movement amongst its singers, however slight; the singers have to be part dancer. In a Catholic Church it is fundamental that the choir doesn’t become the centre of attention, but is subservient to the liturgy with the infinitely greater things going on there. That is both the challenge and a wonderful journey. We have had to struggle to be subtle.

unusually blessed: UK Gospel maestro Tracey Campbell was the founder director, followed by Marie Benton, the founder of Choir with No Name. In addition to “covering” CG classics, SSGC has had to generate a great deal of repertoire by itself. It now has seven original Mass settings, some of which are gospel adaptations of widely-used ones, and some twenty gospel psalm tones. To cope with the liturgical cycle, many traditional hymns and well-loved prayers and texts have been set in gospel style. Edwin Fawcett, for example, has made a major contribution to the choir’s repertoire list of about 300 pieces, as have Miko himself and other choir members. Farm Street priests may sometimes be heard using Alison Beck’s haunting bluesy Cantillation Tone for the Eucharistic Prayer.

The Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir sings and plays at the 6.15pm Mass at Farm Street Church, Mayfair, on the last Sunday of every month. See their website: www.soulsanctuarygospel.com Founded in September 2005 as the St Patrick’s Gospel Choir, they played and sang every Sunday at St Patrick’s Church, Soho Square for over five years, until that church was closed for its (now completed) restoration.

“Its natural exuberance attracts attention” Thus we are so privileged to sing at Farm Street, where the clergy are supportive, musical and imaginative but also determined to mould our music to the needs of their Mass goers.”

The Sound and the Repertoire SSGC’s gorgeous and heartfelt sound is partly down to its individual members. Half of the choir’s 25 singers are professional and there are tough auditions. Players are drawn from London’s deep pool of talent. But as with any choir the key to the music of SSGC is the choir director. SSGC have been

Finally, the sound engineer is an absolute sine qua non. Finding the best acoustic in a traditional church is a musical labour of love: “As soon as your music has a percussive pulse then a big echo works against you. At St Patrick’s, Soho Square, where we began, it took five years and a sophisticated sound system to discover that the ideal spot was the choir loft. At Farm Street it has taken us two years to find the sweet acoustic spots and our engineer Lincoln Ramus is still working on it.”

Gospel and the new Evangelisation “I think there is richness, beauty and perfection in the music. But it is also powerful and Spirit-filled - ideal for evangelization. We grab any opportunity for performing in appropriate non-church settings and try to get our message out there more. I think our music can become very relevant indeed, because it speaks to the iPod generation and could support real growth in and of the Church.” Church growth now that’s up to the Holy Spirit. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster