Westminster Record - March 2016 by RCWestminster

Westminster Record

March 2016 | 20p

High Achievement at St Gregory’s Catholic Science College

Diocesan Shrine Dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary

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Journey Towards Easter

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622 people from 123 parishes gathered at Westminster Cathedral on 13 and 14 February to celebrate the Rite of Election and call to continuing conversion, a key milestone in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The liturgies were presided over by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Bishops John Sherrington, Nicholas Hudson, Paul McAleenan and John Wilson, along with many

Deans from the diocese. During the Rite of Election the Cardinal declared 269 catechumens to be ready and to have been chosen by the community, as the Elect, to go forward to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation of Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion at Easter. During the call to continuing conversion, 353 candidates who are already baptised Christians, were

affirmed by their sponsors and the assembly. The Church recognises their desire to complete their initiation in order to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Welcoming those assembled each day, Cardinal Vincent said, ‘Today is a day of great thanksgiving – thanksgiving for the gift of Faith and the generous response of our catechumens and candidates.’

In his homily, the Cardinal spoke of the Lord’s call to each person given in the Gospel reading, he encouraged all who were present to recall ‘the particular ways or moments in which that invitation has come to you’ and to give thanks for this ‘precious invitation’. The Cardinal also spoke of the burdens which the Lord tells us to give over to him, particularly ‘the weariness we feel with our own wrongdoing’. In this is the

invitation to confess, to ‘acknowledge our weakness, our need,’ and to ‘name and confess our sins’. The Cardinal explained that to confess is also to ‘proclaim our faith in Jesus’ and ‘this is what we do today’. He went on to say that ‘faith is a gift from Jesus’ and that ‘we are here because we have been chosen…to receive this gift of faith’ and ‘to help each other to live by faith and to be its messengers in our world’.

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Westminster Record | March 2016

New Life in the Lord

Editor Mgr Mark Langham Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ Managing Editor Marie Saba 020 7798 9031 Inhouse writers Hannah Woolley and John Scott 020 7798 9178, and Martha Behan 020 7798 9030 Design Julian Game 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.

April publication dates Editorial deadline: 17 March 2016 Listings email: communications@rcdow.org.uk News and stories call 020 7798 9030 Email: communications@rcdow.org.uk Advertising deadline: 24 March 2016 To advertise contact Carol Malpass 0161 214 1244 or email carol.malpass@thecatholicuniverse.com Produced by the Communications Office of the Diocese of Westminster. News and articles published in the Westminster Record do not necessarily represent the views of the Diocese of Westminster, unless specifically stated otherwise. Appearance of advertisements does not imply editorial endorsement.

The origins of the word ‘Lent’ refer to the lengthening of days and changing of the seasons; for us the appearance of new greenery and spring flowers in nature just now is accompanied by a real sense of healthy change and growth in our diocese. The psalms are full of images drawn from nature to describe a vital relation with God; the very first psalm compares the person who follows the law of the Lord to a ‘tree planted beside flowing waters’. The sign of a healthy community is the putting forth of new shoots, and nowhere is this epitomised better than by the members of the RCIA programme, whose enthusiasm, prayerfulness and diversity are sure signs of growth in our diocesan family.

Other changes remind us that we are always developing: there are new responsibilities for our bishops; we welcome the Chemin Neuf (already at work in Lambeth Palace) to Cockfosters; and bid a fond farewell to Fr Albert Ofere, under whose merry (and tuneful) guidance our Nigerian community has flourished. Also flourishing are the younger generations, with a wealth of activity in the diocese. The creativity and dedication of our schools gives great hope for our future, witnessed in this edition of the Westminster Record by a range of their activities: English lessons for parents, commemoration of the horrors of Holocaust and debating competitions. Throughout the diocese, from care of the terminally sick and help for the homeless, to artistic expression of our youth, there is a real sense of life springing forth to the glory of God. While Lent strikes a somber note in our hearts, there is a quiet joy also. There is much to warm the heart; the Lord calls us forth to new life. We face the future with joy!

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

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

Bishops’ Conference: Statement on Sunday Trading Following the publication of proposals for devolving the rules on Sunday Trading by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have published their submission to the Government Consultation in August 2015. A summary of the submission follows, with the full text available on the diocesan website: While Sunday Trading is already deregulated in many economic sectors, Sunday nevertheless retains a unique atmosphere that is positive for families and communities. Devolving the power of decision-making concerning regulation of Sunday Trading by large businesses would inevitably weaken this in some areas of England and Wales.

The government’s commitment that Christmas Day and Easter Sunday will not be affected by the proposals is extremely welcome as these Holy Days are observed by a very large number of people and are important opportunities for many extended families to spend time together. Under the proposals, shop workers will retain their right to opt out of working on Sunday in line with the Employment Rights Act 1996; however there are legitimate concerns that, where large business are permitted to open for longer on Sunday, some employees may face pressure to work extra hours. Economic growth and consumer choice are important but should never be the only criteria on which prosperity is measured. It is disappointing that other factors such as

community cohesion and family life are not addressed in the consultation document. During recent years there has been a widely recognised decline in the amount of quality time that families share and the number of joint activities that they partake in. Continuing to erode the special nature of Sunday as a ‘common day off’ will inevitably make it harder to address this trend.

Westminster Record | March 2016

Learning From St Josephine Bakhita

Bakhita House Nine Months On by Hannah Woolley Since Bakhita House first opened its doors in June 2015, it has hosted 30 women who have been victims of human trafficking. The house is an essential part of the Bakhita Initiative, the Church’s response to combatting human trafficking in England and Wales. Bakhita House offers care and rehabilitation to women who have been victims of what Pope Francis has described as a ‘crime against humanity’. Women escaping human trafficking are referred to Bakhita House through the police and other agencies, and they stay at the house for around three months. During this time, guests receive pastoral and spiritual care, therapy, and legal and employment advice. When necessary, staff at Bakhita House provide emergency and shortterm respite care for women in crisis. Activities that are available to guests include English lessons, IT lessons, and a course focusing on empowerment and building confidence to attend job interviews or other life skills. Art sessions and baking classes, although primarily therapeutic, teach valuable skills and reinforce a sense of achievement and value that is essential for their recovery. Guests are invited to cook a meal for the house if they wish to, and many take the opportunity to practise their

cooking and share their national dishes, resulting in an array of interesting and unusual meals for guests and staff. There is a strong sense of community and support amongst guests and staff of Bakhita House. Although guests come from diverse cultures and ages and many speak little English, they usually choose to spend meal times together and attend a voluntary weekly prayer meeting. In addition, women who have been at the house for longer often support newcomers in simple ways that help them settle in and make the most of their time there. After their time at Bakhita House guests move on to a variety of different futures. Some are repatriated to their home countries through coordination with agencies in those countries. Others move on within the UK, either to National Asylum Seekers accommodation or secondary housing provided by other specialised NGOs. Dedicated volunteers are an essential aspect of life at Bakhita House as they contribute valuable time and skills that enrich the care given and the opportunities on offer. Their generous contributions take many forms, whether it is providing pro-bono legal advice, translation, English lessons, accompanying guests on days out or maintaining the garden.

What is most striking about Bakhita House is its calm and welcoming atmosphere. It feels like a home, and it is a credit to the staff that guests feel safe and comfortable here. For Karen, the Bakhita House Manager, the progress made by guests is visible through the small steps they make which show their growing confidence and understanding of their inherent worth. Although seemingly small to the external eye, their progress is a major breakthrough and brings them closer to achieving independence and rebuilding their lives. This is made possible through the care and support of the staff and volunteers at Bakhita House who have created such a welcoming and safe environment for these women to begin their recovery. Reflecting on the first nine months, staff, volunteers and guests have achieved a great deal, and their work is having a positive effect on people’s lives. However, there is always room for improvement. Staff and volunteers are keen to continue developing and adapting the service that Bakhita House offers to meet the needs of women escaping human trafficking as effectively as possible.

On 8 February, the feast of St Josephine Bakhita, Cardinal Vincent visited Cardinal Pole School in Hackney for a special prayer service. In England and Wales, St Josephine Bakhita’s feast day is dedicated to prayer for victims of human trafficking and those who work to combat it. Cardinal Vincent, along with Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, leads the Santa Marta Group to combat human trafficking worldwide. This is an alliance

of international police chiefs and bishops from around the world working together with civil society to eradicate human trafficking and modern-day slavery, referred to by Pope Francis as ‘an open wound on the body of contemporary society’. Within the diocese, Bakhita House, a project of Caritas Westminster, supports victims of human trafficking throughout their recovery, providing long-term and emergency support.

How Do You Make Lunch Without Slavery?

On 8 February the Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery celebrated the feast of St Josephine Bakhita with a lunch highlighting the involvement of modern slavery in food supply chains. The Centre, which is based at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, hosted representatives from a number of organisations who work with victims of slavery and who work to eradicate it. This included representatives from the AntiSlavery Commissioners’ Office, the Human Trafficking Foundation and Bakhita House. Each course of the lunch was accompanied by a presentation by Dr Kim Salmon comparing the enjoyment of food with the knowledge of where it came from. The event closed with a speech from Professor Gary Craig who addressed the problem of modern slavery in UK supply chains. The Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery hosts many events throughout the year on a variety of different subjects. For more information please visit their website at http://www.stmarys.ac.uk/modern-slavery/ Page 3

Westminster Westminster Record September 20112016 Record | March

Honouring Our Lady of Lourdes Listening to the Witness of a Holocaust Survivor by Mrs Urquhart Head of History

Cardinal Vincent was joined by the four Auxiliary Bishops of Westminster to celebrate Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes at Westminster Cathedral on 6 February 2016. This was the first Mass celebrated by all five bishops since the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Paul McAleenan and Bishop John Wilson on 25 January 2016. Other concelebrants included Fr Dennis Touw, the Director of the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage and recently appointed President of the Conference of British Lourdes Pilgrimage Directors. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was conferred by the

celebrants during Mass. Bishop John Sherrington gave the homily in which he reflected on Lourdes as a place that ‘both restores and encourages faith’ as you witness the care and compassion with which young people and medical staff serve pilgrims. He went on to consider the gospel at Mass, the wedding at Cana, where Mary presents to Jesus ‘the needs of the embarrassed spouses when the wine had run out’. We are invited to ‘entrust ourselves to the merciful Jesus just as Mary did’, particularly in this Jubilee Year of Mercy when ‘the Lord comes to touch and heal our

hearts so that we may have the courage to walk more closely to him in the months ahead’. Returning to the theme of Our Lady of Lourdes, Bishop John reflected: ‘Every time a mother looks after a sick child or a child cares for a frail parent; every time the sick are tended and the tasks of caring completed; Mary watches over and desires to help by telling Jesus of our needs.’ At the end of Mass, Cardinal Vincent thanked all who make the Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes possible, particularly recognising Gerald Daly who recently retired as Pilgrimage Administrator after many years of tireless service.

On Tuesday 2 February 27 students from Years 9, 10 and 11 at the Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School travelled to Northwood Synagogue to hear Lily Ebert speak about her experiences during the Holocaust. Before Lily spoke we took part in a workshop which highlighted the discriminatory laws that were passed to prevent Jews taking part in society. One of the most surprising things was that, at the time, Jews made up less than 1% of Germany’s population. Lily then spoke to us for about 45 minutes. She told us that she had enjoyed a happy life in Hungary until the Nazis invaded in 1944. She was sent to Auschwitz and described the journey on the train, where people were dying around her in the cattle trucks that were used to transport them. Her mother had hidden a gold pendant in the heel of her shoe and just before arriving at Auschwitz she had given her shoes to Lily. Unfortunately her mother was sent straight to the

gas chamber but Lily survived and managed to keep the pendant by hiding it in bread every day at the camp. Her story was extremely moving. She said that her message to us was that we should be tolerant of those who are different. She said that difference doesn’t make a person better or worse and we should celebrate the differences between people rather than be afraid of them. It was an incredible experience to meet a survivor; one that none of us will forget.

New Responsibilities for Auxiliary Bishops Since the episcopal ordination of Bishop Paul McAleenan and Bishop John Wilson, Cardinal Vincent has announced changes in responsibilities among all four Auxiliary Bishops for particular diocesan departments. Bishop John Sherrington will continue to be Chairman of the Diocesan Education Commission until the summer, when Bishop John Wilson will take over. He will also continue oversight of Allen Hall and the selection conferences. He has now taken up the responsibilities of Moderator of the Curia and continues as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Page 4

diocese. He will also have oversight of the University Chaplaincy and the Diocesan Archives. Bishop Nicholas Hudson continues with oversight of the Agency for Evangelisation, Marriage and Family Life, the Youth Ministry, and the Justice and Peace Commission. Bishop Paul McAleenan will take over as Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the work of Caritas in the diocese in succession to Canon Stuart Wilson. Bishop Paul will also assume oversight for all matters concerning Ethnic Chaplaincies

and will oversee the work of the Permanent Diaconate and be the episcopal contact for the diocese’s work with sick and retired priests. Bishop John Wilson will now join the Education Commission and become its Chairman in the summer. He will also have oversight of ecumenical work at diocesan level, and work in inter-religious dialogue. He will also exercise oversight in the areas of Liturgy, Art and Architecture and the Historic Churches Commission. The new bishops also join the Board of Trustees and the Finance Board.

Parish Priest Mgr Phelim Rowland with Bank of England Governor Mark Carney

Hampstead Bicentenary Dinner The historic church of St Mary’s in Hampstead in North West London celebrates its bicentenary this year. The church was founded by Abbé Jean Morel, a French émigré, who came to Hampstead in 1796 following the French Revolution. A series of lectures, concerts, a parish mission and various social events are taking place to commemorate this significant anniversary. A celebratory dinner was held at Highgate Golf Club last Friday night at which 140 parishioners sat down to dinner. Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England and a parishioner of St Mary’s, was the guest of honour. In his speech, he placed the building of the church within the economic setting of the first part of the nineteenth century. He went on to speak about the positive role of spiritual and moral values that underline and support good behaviour in the monetary world.

Westminster Record | March 2016

‘Common Heritage’ Remembered at Hampton Court Palace Virgin Mary. Speaking about the dialogue between the Catholic and Anglican Churches, Bishop Chartres said: ‘the way to enter into our common heritage is by humility and a diminution of egotism in the power of the Holy Spirit who initiates us into the love which passes eternally between the Father and the beloved Son. In other words we should follow the way of Our Lady herself.’ He continued, saying: ‘Much religious practice in every tradition by contrast is a busy matter of making God in our own image…Mary was quiet, aware and receptive; she was present enough to be found by the messenger of God and filled with the Holy Spirit.’ The recording will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Wednesday 30 March at 3.30pm and again on Sunday 3 April at 3pm.

On 9 February Cardinal Vincent celebrated Vespers in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace. This was the first Catholic ceremony held in the Royal Peculiar in 450 years, since the reign of Queen Mary I. The Bishop of London and Dean of the Chapel Royal, Bishop Richard Chartres, also presided at the service, which included music from world renowned choirs, the Sixteen and Genesis Sixteen. Before Vespers, there was a discussion between Cardinal Vincent and Bishop Chartres on the theme ‘Faith and Crown’. Both Bishop Chartres and Cardinal Vincent praised the increased dialogue between both communities, and stressed the need for continued cooperation in troubled times for the Christian faith. Bishop Chartres preached the sermon on the Blessed

Bishop Nicholas Blesses New Entrance to Our Lady Help of Christians

Bishop Moth Supports Proposed Prison Reforms The Right Rev Richard Moth, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton and Bishop for prisons, has responded to Prime Minister David Cameron's speech on prison reform: ‘I am very encouraged by the Prime Minister’s commitment to reforming our prison system and his recognition that prisoners should be treated as assets to our society rather than liabilities to be managed. How we treat prisoners is one of the most pressing moral challenges today and something that none of us should ignore. ‘Prison is a punishment itself, not somewhere people go to be punished further. The Prime Minister’s promises of better education and urgent improvements to mental health support are both important

steps towards creating the “good prison”, where people are treated with dignity and given a real chance to turn their lives around. ‘It is also promising that the Prime Minister discussed alternatives to custody and better community sentencing particularly for women with babies. However we must go further. It is immoral to continue imprisoning more than 85,000 people without the proper means to support them. ‘Ultimately an effective and humane prison system requires a significant reduction in the prison population. The Church is committed to working alongside government and using our expertise in reform and rehabilitation to help reach this goal.’

On 31 January Bishop Nicholas celebrated Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians in Kentish Town to bless the new gate and doors to the church. In his homily Bishop Nicholas spoke about the significance of doors in the life of the parish. They are the doors through which parents bring their children for their baptism and 'it's the doorway through which parishioners are carried out after their funeral'. He said that the 'church door reminds us, every time we

pass through it, of this certainty: that we shall one day pass through the door from this life into eternal life', saying that this is a narrow door and that 'we need to use this life to make sure we can fit'. During the homily, Bishop Nicholas also encouraged those present to visit one of the Holy Doors in the diocese explaining, 'Pope Francis wants us to believe that God waits to meet us at these Holy Doors like the Father waited for his prodigal Son. He waits to show us his mercy.'

He went on to explain that mercy 'isn’t so much a noun as a verb. That’s to say, it’s not just a thing; it’s an action; it’s something God does in us.' He invited everyone to consider the call to be merciful by contemplating the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: 'Reflecting on any of these will focus our hearts. It will open our hearts to God’s mercy by making us ask what more we could be doing to help people.' Referring to the diocesan Proclaim initiative, he encouraged parishioners to support their own parish evangelisation team: 'If the going is hard, as it may well be at times, then console yourselves with thinking about the long term, how it will be the ones whom we helped in this life who will be there to welcome each of us when we arrive at heaven’s door.' After Mass, Bishop Nicholas joined Fr Tom and the parish for a celebratory meal. Page 5

Westminster Record | March 2016

Student Experience: The Old Bailey

by Onesimus Kamombo Year 13 Law student

Parents of pupils at St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green have benefitted from an innovative new course based at the school. All parents wishing to learn English or improve their language skills were invited to participate in English classes. This learner-led, contextspecific approach has been an important factor in the success of the course, according to Simon Bent, Assistant Headteacher. ‘The education system is so full of specialised

vocabulary that it can be very intimidating for parents to engage with it,’ he said. ‘In these classes parents have the opportunity to improve their English and then practise it through school-based situations.’ Mical Nelken, a specialist teacher of English as an additional language, started the course last October in response to a growing need for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes following cuts in local provision. She has

been overwhelmed by the response: around 30 parents attend classes each week. They all report feeling more confident as a result of the classes and appreciate the relevance of topics. Mariola Tecza, one of the parents who attends the lessons regularly, added, ‘these classes are a very good idea; they really helped me improve my spelling and punctuation and now I feel more confident when I speak.’

On 22 January Law students from the Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School were privileged to go on a trip to the Old Bailey. It would prove to be a very educational and interesting day and enhanced our understanding of criminal procedure in operation. Upon arrival, the security team was reluctant to allow us entry as a number of key cases were closed to the public: these were particularly sensitive terrorist cases. However, after friendly persuasion by Mr Singh, our Law teacher, access was allowed, though we were under instructions to remain silent as family members of defendants were described as particularly ‘volatile’. We entered midway through a terrorist case just as the prosecutor (the person trying to prove the accused guilty) was examining the defendant (the

person being accused). What I saw was intriguing. The prosecutor would mention things said by the defendant on various social media such as Twitter, WhatsApp and even in Skype video chats. At one point the prosecutor gave several members of the court a ten page booklet containing various things said on Twitter by the defendant, stating ‘these are only some of the things we have gathered’. The whole process startled me, whilst also making me aware of the power the government has to achieve what they need to. The trip was both educational and enlightening. Not only did it allow me to enter a part of London I had never visited before, it also allowed me to learn more about the way a court operates: something a text book or video cannot offer. It also brought us to an understanding of the etiquette observed in the court room, for example, having to stand up whenever the judge enters or leaves. I also saw the mainstay of the criminal justice system: a diverse jury. © Lonpicman

Learning for Parents

Inaugural Catholic Sixth Form Debating Competition Students of Catholic Sixth Forms from across West London convened at City Hall on 2 February for the first ever meet of the London Catholic Sixth Form Debating Association. The competition was a quick-fire battle with teams given just minutes to prepare their speeches before taking to the floor. The winners were Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and involved competitors from London Oratory, St Dominic’s College and Sacred Heart, Hammersmith. The entire event was organised by Sixth Formers Anuwlika Elliott and Natalia Page 6

Rowczenio with support from Labour GLA member Navin Shah. Elliott, a pupil at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, said ‘We wanted to share our love of debating and felt there was a lack of state school competitions and chances to discuss moral issues. So we came up with our own event for Catholic Sixth Formers like ourselves who are passionate about voicing their opinions on the key issues.’ A variety of motions were discussed on topics such as: ‘This house would allow prisoners to vote’ and ‘This house would legalise polygamy’. The motion

debating size zero models proved to be one of the liveliest discussions with Orla Rafferty of Sacred Heart winning best speaker for her contribution. The judging panel was made up of a team of debating experts including Zak Wagman, the Harrow Youth Parliament representative, and UCL Student Jasmine Botchey. Explaining the reasons why Cardinal Vaughan were crowned champions, Botchey said: ‘A strong performance from all the teams made our decision really difficult but the Vaughan team stood out for their ability to clearly articulate their argument.’ Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Westminster Record | March 2016

Embracing Mercy to Mark 50th Anniversary of Divine Saviour On Tuesday 9 February, Cardinal Vincent visited Divine Saviour Catholic Primary School in Abbots Langley to celebrate Mass as part of their commemorations of their 50th Jubilee year. The school was opened in 1966 by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour, part of the Salvatorian order, who lived in the convent on whose land the school was built. For this celebration the school was joined by the Sisters of the Divine Saviour, Fr Paul Harris and Fr John Vallomprayil of the Salvatorian Order, previous head teachers of the school, and past and present members of the school community. During Mass the Cardinal spoke to the children about the importance of the Lenten season and linked the corporal and spiritual acts of mercy displayed on the school’s new Door of Mercy and Christ’s challenge to us in Lent to take up something

‘Find God in Beauty and Purpose’ Cardinal Encourages Students additional to help us on our journey of faith. He also taught the children a Pancake Day rhyme that he had learnt as a boy! At the end of Mass, Cardinal Vincent led the school in opening their Door of Mercy, through which the children and staff will now enter for every school Mass, assembly or liturgy as a reminder of the call for us all to be the face of Christ’s mercy to all we meet.

Speaking after the Mass, Mr Stephen Wheatley, Executive Headteacher, said: ‘It was an honour for the school to receive a visit from the Cardinal on this special occasion, showing the children and the school community just how important our Catholic schools are in the eyes of the Church. The school now looks forward to the next 50 years and beyond.’

Results Speak Volumes at St Gregory’s St Gregory’s Catholic Science College has received a letter from Nick Gibb MP, the Minister of State for Schools, congratulating them on their high achievement in the GCSE exams in 2015. The content of his letter, addressed to Headteacher Andrew Prindiville, reads as follows: ‘I am writing to convey my warmest congratulations to you, your staff and your pupils for your school’s very high standard of achievement in the GCSE exams in 2015. The percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C, including English and mathematics, shows that your school is one of the top 100 non-selective state-funded schools in England. In addition, your school is

one of the top 100 non-selective state-funded schools in England based on the percentage of pupils achieving the English Baccalaureate. Ensuring your pupils are achieving high standards of attainment at key stage 4 provides a strong basis for their further education and employment. Thank you for your work in

Cardinal Vincent blessed and formally opened the new Sixth Form and Art & Design Building at St Benedict’s School on 28 January, the feast day of St Thomas Aquinas. The building will provide a lasting memory of Headmaster Chris Cleugh, in whose honour it is named. Mass in the Abbey Church was concelebrated by the Cardinal, Fr Abbot Martin Shipperlee and 11 other Benedictine monks. In his homily, Cardinal Vincent reminded the congregation that St Thomas was always searching for the truth, asking questions and looking for God in the beauty (art) and purpose (design) of individual things. He exhorted St Benedict’s Sixth Form and art students to do the same. After Mass Cardinal Vincent performed the blessing ceremony and unveiled the

commemorative stone of the new building. He also blessed a newly planted tree in memory of Maria del Pilar Gomez Sanz (1958-2014), parent and member of the Society of Parents and Friends and a great supporter of St Benedict’s School. The official opening concluded with the blessing of the statue of Our Lady ‘Sedes Sapientiae.’ Headmaster Chris Cleugh thanked everyone who had enabled this wonderful day to come to fruition, especially the architects, van Heyningen & Haward and the contractors, Jerram Falkus. Above all, he thanked Richard Ferrett, the Estates Director at the school, who oversaw the whole project from start to finish. The new building will provide first class learning facilities for the Sixth Form and Art & Design departments, with separate entrances for both.

these important areas of a young person’s education and congratulations to you and your staff for your hard work and professionalism.’ Headteacher Andrew Prindiville said: ‘We are very proud to receive such recognition for the outstanding work of our pupils and staff, which is so ably supported by the parents.’

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Westminster Record | March 2016

Chaplain’s Corner

Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain During his extraordinary papacy, St John Paul II was famous for travelling the globe and reaching out to young people. Before he became a bishop in Poland, John Paul worked as a university lecturer and chaplain to the students in Krakow. He would take them away for retreats and trips into the mountains. On a much grander scale, after he became pope, he conceived of new and imaginative ways of calling young people to witness to their faith. At the end of the 1983 Holy Year he gave the young people of the world a

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cross to take the ends of the earth. This cross, which became known as the World Youth Day cross, became a witness to the experiences and the sufferings of young people all over the world. In 1986 the pope celebrated the first definitive World Youth Day in Rome, beginning the great pattern of international celebrations that will see us travel to Krakow, Poland, this summer. As he lay dying in 2005, the tumultuous events of the 20th century were consigned to history. John Paul II had been either a witness or a key figure in many of them. But even at the end of his remarkable life, the old pope continued to have the call for young people at the heart of his mission. It is said that, as his life ebbed away in the papal apartments, he could hear the young people singing and praying for him in the square outside. With great difficulty he gave a message to them, ‘I have searched for you. And now you have come to me.’ In 2016, 30 years after the first World Youth Day, we will hear his spiritual call once more as we prepare to go to Krakow, the city that brought forth the saint.

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

Director’s Youth Arts Day Spotlight by Diana Olaleye

Phil Ross As the nights start to shorten and the days lengthen, our thoughts turn to spring and summer with a far more positive outlook. Winter is certainly my least favourite season. Sun for me every time! This year I am somewhat overwhelmed, in an optimistic way, by the prospects of leading our pilgrimage to World Youth Day. The WYM team is already in an accelerated mode as we try to orchestrate all manner of other projects whilst still keeping some energy aside for the Polish journey. Our plans are at an advanced stage, and our trip to Łódź and Kraków gave us a better feel for the work underway with our friends in Poland. Hearing news is very encouraging but you can’t beat seeing progress for yourself! The programme in Łódź and Kraków has been completed and we have Masses arranged for the group in both cities. We are blessed that Bishop John Sherrington and Cardinal Vincent will celebrate Masses for the group which will be of great encouragement to us. I particularly look forward to our visit to Jasna Gora Monastery as we travel from Łódź to Kraków. We recognise that this is a rare opportunity for the group to visit one of Poland’s most revered sites. Mass in the basilica will close our time in Częstochowa, which should be a unique and blessed time of tranquillity amidst the colour and noise of World Youth Day. World Youth Day this year is on our doorstep and we will be very much amongst friends, so I would truly encourage you to join us: why not this time? Come along to our meeting on 14 April if you are still wavering or call me or one of the team for more information. The closing date is 27 May so you still have time. Love and prayers. Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/doywm

On 6 February, I and three other young parishioners from Palmers Green attended the Youth Ministry Arts Day at Wapping. It was an enjoyable day filled with discussions about mercy and moments of laughter and prayer. We began with a warm-up activity that involved squiggling; we closed our eyes and used pencils and crayons to draw lines on paper. We then looked closely at the lines to discover and develop pictures of people or objects. The aim wasn't perfection, but pure expression, the expression of thoughts and emotions, which is an important aspect of art.

After warming up we talked about mercy and colours we associate with mercy. One person chose green as it signified nature and the gift of life, most chose yellow ochre because it signified warmth and peace. It was interesting to see how everyone understood mercy. We discussed the Holy Door of Mercy and drew our own Doors of Mercy. One person drew a human heart as their door: having an open heart towards others, showing compassion and sharing precious moments of mercy. One thing I took away from the Arts Day is that our faith can be integrated into our creative lives. Art is a God-given means through which we can communicate with one another, and also console one another. We must continually use our creative talents to ensure that peace and love remain in our hearts and the world.

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

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

Westminster Record | March 2016

A Shelter from the Cold in Wood Green by Marie Saba On one of the coldest Monday evenings of the winter, entering the parish hall at St Paul’s Wood Green, host to a winter night shelter, all is quiet and empty. Soon after 6pm, an army of helpers arrives and the hive of activity begins. Joining the first shift who prepare the hall for the guests are the parish Confirmation group, who bring a youthful energy as they set to preparing the sleeping and dining areas for the 12 guests expected that evening. Going against the stereotype of the lethargic teenager, these young people cheerfully get busy with preparing individual sleeping spaces, inflating the air mattresses, dressing them with bed linen and creating an inviting space for each guest to occupy for the night. They work together and with the adult volunteers in teams, seemingly enjoying the work and finding in it a sense of purpose. The place is bustling with activity, as other volunteers arrive to help set the tables and prepare the evening meal. The air soon fills with the sounds of laughter and the delicious aromas of the evening’s meal. The cooking team have arrived and are preparing the dinner they had cooked earlier. ‘We make sure each guest has a hearty three-course meal,’ explains Fr Perry Sykes. ‘The

ladies of the cooking team provide a starter of soup or salad, a choice of a meat or vegetarian dish for the main, and a delicious dessert.’ Peering into the kitchen, it seems that the ladies have prepared a roast chicken dinner with potatoes and vegetables, and a ratatouille for a vegetarian option. Such is their concern that all have plenty to eat that one of them had gone out to the shops to purchase extra carrots. Meanwhile, as the preparations in the hall continue, Fr Perry, along with Melissa Cardoso who acts as volunteer coordinator, are making sure there is adequate space for each guest and that the partitions placed between the beds offer enough privacy. Melissa explains, ‘Since becoming involved with the night shelter, I have come to know a lot of people in the parish. Now, I’m likely to be at the back of church chatting with fellow parishioners for a good hour after Mass is over on Sunday.’ Around 120 parishioners take their turn on a rota each week to help provide a night’s respite from the cold for 12 homeless guests. Working with the charity All People All Places, St Paul’s is one of the locations that take it in turn to provide a night’s shelter and hospitality. The response from the parish has been so tremendous

that the group have taken over another night from another group which was struggling to cope, thus ensuring the shelter could continue for three more weeks. As the preparations for the evening near completion, the set up team is replaced with the next shift of helpers who have come to welcome the guests. They stay to share a meal with them and to provide company for the evening. Parishioners John and Sheila have arrived with a guitar, in anticipation of a sing-a-long. However, before the guests arrive and any of the evening’s entertainment begins, the group gathers round with Fr Perry to share a moment of prayer and recollection, placing their work in the Lord’s hands. Reflecting on Mother Teresa’s advice to her sisters to hold each person for whom they were caring with the same reverence as the priest holds the Eucharist during Mass, Fr Perry says, ‘Tonight let us remember to hold each of our guests with the same reverence, because they too are the Body of Christ in our midst.’ Several of the volunteers note how this participation in the shelter has enriched their lives and the life of the parish. John explains, ‘We meet a wonderful variety of people who come to the shelter, each one with an interesting story to

The cooking team ensure everyone has enough to eat

The Confirmation group create welcoming sleeping spaces

share. It’s such a privilege to share this time with them during the evening.’ As the guests arrive, they are invited to enjoy a meal with the volunteer hosts. Later in the evening, this shift is replaced by four volunteers who will stay with the guests through the night. A table is set with pastries, fruit and soft drinks to ensure there are plenty of snacks through the late evening and night for the guests. In the morning, another shift of volunteers arrives to prepare and serve breakfast to the guests, ensuring they have a nourishing meal to carry on for the day. Later in the morning, a cleaning team will arrive to clean the parish hall and make it ready for other groups to use, and a laundry team will take away all the bed linens and towels to wash and prepare for the following week. Fr Perry explains that, such is the parish’s commitment to the care of their guests, they have chosen to use some of the funds from Growing in Faith to build a shower facility as one of thier Parish projects. Melissa echoes this sense: ‘Being involved with the shelter has brought us closer together as a parish. It has helped us to build an even

stronger bond as a community. Last time, after the last week of the shelter, many of the volunteers missed the weekly involvement.’ Adds Fr Perry: ‘As a result we take the opportunity to join together as a group to share a meal in this same space. It’s wonderful to see so many people coming together with a shared purpose enjoying a meal and time of friendship.’ Word is also spreading around the diocese as other parishes who are thinking of joining a winter night shelter scheme in their area come to visit and learn from the experience at St Paul’s. Although they may visit to learn about the tasks involved in hosting a night shelter, doubtless they leave impressed with the sense of joy that seems to fill everyone who enters this warm and inviting parish.

A moment of prayer and reflection Page 9

Year of Mercy

Westminster Record | March 2016

Inside the Hospice

by Fr Peter Michael Scott St Joseph’s hospice chapel was built in 1932. It was designed to serve as a bridge between the Convent of the Religious Sisters of Charity (who founded the establishment) and the hospice. It is a bright, peaceful place and many people wander in to find solace in prayer.

Since January, dotted around the chapel are seven reflective stopping points highlighting a different theme of the Year of Mercy. Visitors to the chapel are encouraged to stop at each of the seven steps and look at the pictures, quotations and statues, and

reflect on forgiveness. It is called the St Joseph’s Chapel Pilgrimage of Mercy, and each stopping point has been called a step. What is admirable and humbling is seeing the very infirm pray the pilgrimage. For most of them, a simple physical lifting of their legs and feet to walk and thus reach one of the seven steps can be a heroic movement. It takes them remarkable effort, but with amazing will power and determination they choose to follow the pilgrimage. Forgiveness for some people is a heroic movement. Our natural desire, when hurt, is to attack and be defensive. Forgiveness can be a remarkably difficult step; yet, when the effect of forgiveness is realised it frees and heals, it lifts burdens and restore us. The will power to forgive is

granted to us by the Father, and we must pray for that special grace. Most of us would not think about choosing to go to confession to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and ask for the grace to forgive, but it is in that special encounter that the gift to be merciful is often granted. It is in seven days that the whole of creation is made. For the hospice, those seven steps in the chapel may lead someone to let go of hurt and anger and to engage with God’s mercy and admiration, and to feel newly created. Please pray for the patients, staff and volunteers of St Joseph’s Hospice. Fr Peter Michael Scott, Chaplain to St Joseph’s Hospice & the Cardinal’s advisor for Healthcare Chaplaincy.

A New Diocesan Shrine Dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary

Cardinal Vincent has approved a new diocesan shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary at St Dominic’s Priory, Haverstock Hill. He will officially inaugurate the shrine with Mass on 22 October. The Rosary is evident in the very fabric of the church, which was designed and built with a side chapel representing each decade of the original 15 mysteries. In the Lady Chapel is a representation of Our Lady giving the Rosary to St Dominic. The church also houses a large replica of Our Lady of Lourdes, making it a pilgrimage destination, particularly for the faithful who might not otherwise be able to Page 10

visit the shrine at Lourdes. Fr Thomas Skeats OP, Prior and Parish Priest, explains: ‘This is a particularly Dominican contribution to the life of the diocese and especially felicitous during this year when we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Order.’ A programme of events will be planned for the coming year to encourage many of the faithful to visit. Further details will be available at a later date. Those wishing to attend the inauguration Mass with Cardinal Vincent on 22 October are kindly requested to contact the Prior at london@english.op.org to indicate their interest.

Prayer resources

This Lent the Bishops’ Conference has produced a multimedia resource called ‘Merciful Like The Father’, inspired by Pope Francis’ Jubilee of Mercy. In the introductory video, Fr Christopher Whitehead, a priest of Clifton Diocese, explains that this Lent in particular we are called into a time of conversion and renewal. This is a time for ‘clearing away what hinders us and holds us back’ and to ‘rest a while in the love of God…and allow God to renew in us the image of his Son’. The resources include participant sheets for each session, including prayer, scripture, reflection and discussion points. Each session also comes with the opening prayer, reading and final prayer as audio clips that can be downloaded. The reflections for the sessions come from the Benedictine Scripture scholar Fr Henry Wansbrough and can be downloaded as MP4 files (video) or individual MP3s (audio). Alongside these clips, there are podcasts available to download or subscribe to using RSS or iTunes, so you can use this Lenten series at your desk, en route to work, or wherever you are. It’s not too late to begin using this resource, particularly as we enter the final weeks of Lent and begin to look towards the Passion of Our Lord in Holy Week. To find out more, and download the resources, visit: http://www.catholicnews.org.u k/Home/Featured/Jubilee-ofMercy-Lenten-ScriptureResource Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Year of Mercy 53 Ways to be Merciful During The Year of Mercy

Westminster Record | March 2016

In this Year of Mercy we are called to embrace God’s mercy and forgiveness in our own lives, but also to be merciful to others. Here are some suggestions of ways to live out this call in our everyday lives: 1) Resist sarcasm; it is the antithesis of mercy: ‘Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth; keep watch, O Lord, at the door of my lips!’ (Psalm 141:3). 2) Reduce your possessions: share your things with the needy. 3) Call someone who you know is lonely, even if you understand why they’re lonely. Especially if you do. 4) Write a letter of forgiveness to someone. 5) Learn to say this prayer: ‘Dear Lord, bless [annoying person’s name] and have mercy on me!’ 6) Plan a mini pilgrimage to a local shrine; make an effort along the way to live the corporal work of mercy of ‘welcoming the stranger’ as Christ. 7) Do something kind and helpful for someone who you don’t get along with, or who has wronged you. 8) Be mindful of your behaviour online. Is that post designed to improve your image and leave others feeling bad? Are you hammering people in order to serve your anger and humiliate others? 9) Have Masses said for the living: friends and family members, even strangers you read or hear about, who are having a hard time. 10) Be generous enough to allow someone to help you; people need to feel needed. 11) If you didn’t mean to be a pain in the neck to someone, admit that you were and ask the person to forgive you. 12) Carry around gift cards for supermarkets and cafés to give to the homeless. 13) Take time in prayer to contemplate the good qualities of someone who is difficult for you. Do the same for each member of your family. 14) Send a card, flowers, gift or note to someone on the sixmonth anniversary of a loved one’s death. By then most people have stopped recognising their grief.

15) Offer to babysit for a busy mum and encourage her to go out and have a couple of hours to herself. 16) Make a meal (or buy a gift certificate) for a mum who’s just given birth or adopted a child, or for someone who’s just gone through a loss. 17) Hold your tongue. 18) Offer to run an errand (food shopping, dry cleaning pick up, dog-walking) for a busy parent or housebound person. 19) Sit down beside a homeless person to talk for a while today. 20) If you’re sharing a treat, take the smaller portion. 21) Memorise the 14 corporal and spiritual works of mercy. 22) Instead of losing patience with someone online or in person, try to hear their fear. Ask God for what Solomon asked for: ‘an understanding heart’. 23) Offer to drive or accompany an elderly person to Mass. 24) Recall a time you were not given the benefit of a doubt, and extend it to someone else. 25) Put down the smartphone and really listen to someone else. With eye contact. 26) Have alternative drinks, other than water, for times when those who have been struggling with alcohol, or who simply don’t drink alcohol, come to visit. 26) Take advantage of sales to buy small toothpastes, soaps, shampoos, socks and feminine products and toiletries; donate them to parish outreach, or make gift bags and have them ready to hand out where needed. 27) Choose the more ‘humble’ purchase. 28) Create a short end-of-day ritual to ask for (and extend) forgiveness with those you live with: ‘…do not let the sun set on your anger’ (Eph 4:26).

29) Make a list of your ‘enemies’. Then, every day, say a prayer for them. 30) Make a point to smile, greet or make conversation with someone who is not in your everyday circle. 31) Give away something of yours (that you really like) to someone you know who would enjoy it. 32) Pray every day for the souls in Purgatory. Pray for your dead. 33) Pay the parking or toll charge for the person behind you. 34) Make a gratitude journal for your spouse or best friend and jot down little things he or she does that you’re grateful for. Bite your tongue and write in it (or at least read it) the next time you want to criticize in a moment of frustration. 35) Learn to make an Ignatian Examination of Conscience every night. Remembering God’s mercy each night helps us to be merciful.

44) When conversations devolve into ‘the dark joy’ of gossip, help change the subject. 45) Can you play the piano, or any instrument? Can you recite poetry? Give free ‘concerts’ to people in nursing homes and sheltered accommodation. 46) Visit the graves of your ancestors, or visit a local cemetery and walk around praying a rosary for all the souls buried there. 47) Go on retreat. It’s a way to be merciful to yourself and also to the people around you, who know you need to go on retreat. If you cannot do that, at least try to make a day, or evening, of recollection. 48) Admit your jealousy, both to yourself and your confessor. 49) Offer to pray with someone, even someone you encounter on the street or public transport who looks like they could use it.

50) Engage in conversation with the person on the till at the supermarket; ask them how they are. 51) Offer hospitality in your home to someone or a group of people you would never normally invite over. 52) With a few other people, plan a party and invite all those from ‘the highways and byways’ to come. 53) If someone you know seems to lack faith, share some of yours; tell him or her how Christ has changed your life.

36) Respond to provocation with the respect you wish a person would show you. 37) Finish all the food on your plate. Don’t take too much. 38) Take a few minutes during the week to stop at a church and sit before the Tabernacle, simply to be with Christ, the Merciful. If you cannot do that, meditate upon the crucifix. 39) Pray a novena for the good of someone you dislike. 40) Dig out your most attractive stationery and hand-write an actual letter to someone, as a means of demonstrating their importance to you. 41) Offer to read to someone who is feeling ill or is just feeling blue. 42) Ask the Holy Spirit to groan for you when you cannot bring yourself to pray for someone who has done you an injury. 43) Lead with a kind comment to friends as well as strangers.

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Year of Mercy

Westminster Record | March 2016

Inside the Hospice

A New Diocesan Shrine Dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary

Prayer resources

Year of Mercy 53 Ways to be Merciful During The Year of Mercy

Westminster Record | March 2016

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Westminster Record | March 2016

Chemin Neuf: Starting with the Unity of the Person

On 12 February, Cardinal Vincent along with Chemin Neuf representatives Fr Laurent Fabre and Fr Sebastian Ostrynski, signed the official agreement between the diocese and the Chemin Neuf Community for responsibility of Cockfosters parish. The Chemin Neuf Community took over responsibility for Christ the King parish in Cockfosters on 1 September 2014. Fr Sebastian Ostrynski has been administrator for the parish since then.

Speaking to Fr Sebastian, he explained that parishioners were understandably unsure about the changes that were being made to the parish. Most parishioners weren’t aware who Chemin Neuf were and, in addition, were becoming a parish of the Diocese of Westminster for the first time. Fr Slawik Witon, Dean of Enfield Deanery, was instrumental in reassuring parishioners, and Fr Sebastian now feels that the community has settled and been accepted into the parish. Page 12

The Chemin Neuf Community was initially founded in 1973 by Fr Laurent Fabre SJ and gathers people from all walks of life: priests, religious sisters, celibate brothers and sisters, and families. Chemin Neuf is now present in 30 countries and works in 60 dioceses. The primary charism of the Chemin Neuf community is unity and reconciliation. Their favoured method of evangelising is through their community life which they share with others through parishes. They invite people to come and experience their life together, demonstrating how they try to live the Gospel in everyday life. Formation is another important activity for the community and is particularly focused on young people. It is for this reason that they are hosting the ‘Paradise in the City’ Festival in Łódź in the week prior to World Youth Day this summer. This festival, that the diocesan pilgrimage to Krakow will attend, is intended to be place of formation before the World Youth Day Pilgrimage with workshops, speakers, and social events. The spirituality of the Chemin Neuf is deeply Ignatian and draws on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola whilst also having a strong foundation in the charismatic renewal. This spirituality is shared with the parish community at Cockfosters through prayer with the Scriptures and courses on Ignatian prayer. Fr Sebastian stressed that they often use existing structures, such as preparation for the sacraments, as a way of continuing formation, particularly for

parents of children receiving the sacraments of initiation. Unity is at the heart of what the Chemin Neuf Community seeks to achieve. Fr Sebastian stresses that this must begin with the unity of the person which comes through reconciliation with God. Unity must then be achieved between the couple or family and within the Church as a whole. It is then that we can look to achieve unity with other nations, cultures and faiths.

To help foster this unity of the person and of the couple or family, the Chemin Neuf community at Cockfosters has introduced a number of pastoral ministries such as the ‘Cana Welcome’ groups where couples meet to share input and reflection together as a group. This is a concrete way for couples to make time for each other in their busy lives and an opportunity to reconnect and share difficulties with other couples.

Fr Sebastian has clear aims to increase the pastoral outreach, both within the parish, and to the wider local community, trying to engage people through evangelisation and ecumenical work. Equally, he recognises the parish at Cockfosters needs time to grow as a community and wants to continue to reach out to parishioners through different forms of pastoral support and engagement.

Westminster Record | March 2016

A History of Tottenham Parish

St Francis de Sales from the High Road, Tottenham

The parish of St Francis de Sales as we know it today is about two hundred and twenty years old. It is entirely different from its original form both in nature and diversity. The pioneers would have had no idea as to how the parish might have developed and become so rich in culture, tradition and customs. It is a parish that is catholic in every sense of the word. In 1789 the French Revolution effected great change in France away from the old order of things as well as influencing developments elsewhere. Here, the passing of the Catholic Relief Act in 1791 was seminal in that it allowed Catholic priests and schoolmasters once more to perform their functions more openly. This came at an opportune time for clergy fleeing from the consequences of the French Revolution. Fr Cheverus, along with other priests and some French emigres arrived in Tottenham in 1793 and established the parish. The number of Catholics was small, made up of French refugees and Irish workers. Mass was celebrated in a hired room and in 1796 there was an estimate of 100 people attending. Fr Cheverus, the first Parish Priest, left Tottenham in 1796 to

work in Maine among the North American Natives. He subsequently became the Bishop of Boston. After the fall of Napoleon he returned to France and became the Cardinal Archbishop of Bordeaux. He died in 1836 and his portrait can be seen in the sacristy. With the departure of Fr Cheverus the other French priests continued to develop the parish. In 1805 a tiny chapel was built in Queen Street but it was discontinued after 1818 as the parishioners who worked in the fields and market gardens around were unable to support the mission. Fortunately Baroness Montesque came to the rescue in 1826 when land was bought in Chapel Street and a small church was erected on the site. A school catering for a small number of children was opened on the site in 1827. Fr Ewart, the Parish Priest at the time, struggled to maintain the parish and school against the backdrop of poverty. From the 1860s onwards it appears that Cardinal Manning was a regular visitor to the chapel. From 1870 onwards the idea of building a new church was mooted. The old chapel was sold in 1882 and became a blouse factory. A decision was made under Fr Bayley to build a new

church. During his time in Tottenham from 1881 to 1899 when he died, the present church, presbytery and the other appendages of St Francis de Sales were erected or acquired as they now stand. The architects were Messrs J&B Sinnott of Liverpool and the church was to provide seated accommodation for seven hundred persons. In 1895 Cardinal Vaughan laid the foundation stone. After over a hundred years of waiting and saving and praying, the magnificent church was completed. The church today is more or less as it originally was with some adjustments made to the sanctuary and sacristy in 1967. The high altar and rails were removed and the Lady Chapel was constructed. The tabernacle was moved to its present location. In 1888 the Marist Sisters opened a convent next to the church. Some features of the parish included the St Francis Club which was active in the 1930s and continued into the more modern period before its demise. Another major event in the parish was the bomb which came through the convent roof at 727 High Road on Monday 6 October 1940. During the Blitz the German bombers followed

the railway tracks running north-south to home in on their targets. There was a long-standing Guild of St Stephen in the parish dating back to 1938. A gentleman called Mr Johnston remained the driving force for the Guild until he died in 2002. The modern period of the parish has been characterised by a substantial movement of people into the parish followed by a movement out to more affluent areas. Perhaps new demographic patterns will emerge in the years to come with the proposed regeneration of the area and which will have further implications for the parish. As it stands today the parish is characterised by a strong devotional practice, a reasonably active involvement, a sizeable number of organisations both social and spiritual in content, a large catechetical programme, and a number of baptisms. The parish draws its life and support from the many priests who have

served it over the period since its inception and the even larger number of parishioners who have graced it with their presence. We salute those who have gone before us as we endeavour to be faithful as they were. We invoke the prayers of St Francis de Sales as we continue on the journey. We come before you, Lord with gratitude in our hearts. We thank you for the people who built and looked after this church. We thank you for the faith, trust and hospitality of the people and priests who have celebrated here with you, the daily steps of their journey through life. Lord, be with us today, in our joys and in our sorrows. May we always be aware that you are with us to strengthen and support us. Grant that the love you share with us, we may share with others, so that they too may know of your nearness. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

St. Dominic’s R.C. Sixth Form College Mount Park Avenue, Harrow on the Hill London, HA1 3HX. Tel: 0208 422 8040. Fax: 0208 422 3759.

College Chaplain – maternity cover Term time only – 30 hours per week Salary – Paid on the Sixth Form College nonteaching staff salary scale Responsible to the Vice Principal Start date: August 30th 2016 till March 31st 2017 St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College is seeking to appoint a practising Catholic as an interim Chaplain whilst the current post holder is on maternity leave. The successful applicant will have responsibility for all aspects of Chaplaincy life and be involved in the delivery of some General RE lessons. St. Dominic’s is a Catholic College within a multifaith setting and the Chaplain works across the whole institution supporting all our students and staff on their faith and spiritual journeys. It is an important role and involves working collaboratively with a wide range of students, staff and external stakeholders. You will have responsibility for leading the Collective Worship Programme and liaise with local clergy for our weekly Friday lunchtime Mass. You will take a lead in the St. Dominic’s social justice programme arranging and sourcing speakers accordingly. For further information on this position please contact our Chaplain, Mrs. Angela O’Brien of 0208 422 8084, ext. 211. To apply, please download the application form from the website. Deadline for applications: 12noon Monday 7th March 2016. Interviews week commencing March 14th 2016.

www.stdoms.ac.uk Page 13

Westminster Record | March 2016

CAFOD: Educating on the Importance of Clean Water A team of dedicated volunteers have been busy visiting over 40 primary and secondary schools presenting to students the difference clean water can make to communities around the world. Right now, 783 million people are living without access to clean water. 2.5 billion people lack basic hygiene facilities and sewage systems. It is also estimated that women and girls spend 140 million hours a day

collecting water, which means time away from work, school or playing with friends. CAFOD partners are able to repair water pumps, provide a portable sinks and soap for handwashing, and train teachers to help pupils learn good hygiene routines. This has meant fewer pupils miss school due to illness and some girls are taking high-school exams that only boys took before. Volunteer Anne Nugent

said,’ I used buckets with 2 litre bottles of water to show pupils in primary schools how heavy and difficult they are to carry long distances and some of the older students tried to carry them on their head, it was an excellent way to show how important it is to have water pumps in villages providing safe and clean water’ Schools across the diocese have been busy fundraising, St Joseph’s primary school in

Hendon, held a ‘Mufti day’ and all students wore blue. St Edmunds in Ware held a number of events run by students such as a book sale and swimathon. Plus students at Gunnersbury High were given collection boxes to have in their homes and have so far counted over £600 with more to come. In an added boost, all fundraising was doubled by the UK government’s Department for International Development and continues

until the end of May. During the summer term volunteers will be offering assemblies on the Year of Mercy and Laudato Si’ showing how students can take action through CAFOD’s One Climate One World campaign. To book an assembly or workshop or to find out more about becoming a schools volunteer email westminster@cafod.org.uk or call 0208 449 6970.

Fr Pacho: A Brave Peace Advocate of Columbia

The guest speaker for the Romero Week events in March 2016 is Fr Francisco de Roux (known as Fr Pacho), a member of the Jesuit province of Colombia. He will give the address at the ecumenical service at St Martin-in-theFields in Trafalgar Square on 19 March on the theme: ‘The Violence of Peacemaking: Archbishop Romero and the Search for Peace’. Since the 1980s Fr Pacho has been a leading voice in the efforts to negotiate a settlement Page 14

In his work with Colombian Jesuits' Centre for Social Research and Education (CINEP), he helped broker the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the M-19 guerrilla movement. He was the founder of the Jesuit Province's Programme for Peace and for 15 years he led the Programme for Development and Peace in Magdalena Medio (the EEC's first recognised ‘peace laboratory’). He is currently working in supporting the peace talks taking place in Havana between the to Colombia's decades-long Colombian government and the armed conflict. He has received FARC guerrillas through numerous awards recognising accompaniment and support of his contribution to human victims and survivors of the rights and peace-building: conflict. among them the French Légion Fr Pacho is truly inspiring: d’Honneur, Colombia's a pastor who has walked side National Peace Prize and the by side with communities that Chirac Foundation's 2012 prize have experienced horrifying for Peace and Conflict violence from all sides of armed Prevention. He studied for his conflict. He is never afraid to Masters’ degree in Economics at uncover the truth and is an the London School of outspoken advocate for human Economics in the 1970s and rights even when this has often later his doctorate at the put him at great personal Sorbonne. danger. At the heart of his

message is the need for dialogue and a peaceful solution to the armed conflict. He is a real visionary who has tried to find and build alternative pathways to live peacefully and with justice. ‘I have been in the struggle for social justice, but I have always rejected the armed struggle. First, because I believe in Jesus Christ and cannot accept any reason to kill anyone: second, because since I

was a child I heard from my parents that war always turned into uncontrolled violence which made bad things worse, and third, because I learned from my brother Jesuits involved in the struggle for justice, and from many others, that the right way was through politics and human rights, making the best of all spaces available to take forward gradually those changes to build the society that we dream of.’

Westminster Record | March 2016

Fr Michael Lambert Celebrates Golden Jubilee

The start of March will see the golden anniversary for Fr Michael Lambert of the Our Lady Immaculate and St Andrew Church in Hitchin as he celebrates his 50th year as an ordained priest. Parishioners will be gathering for a weekend of celebrations on 5 and 6 March to mark the occasion with activities including a bring-andshare community lunch. Fr Michael was aware from an early age that he might have a religious calling in life when at the age of seven he was asked by a convent sister what he might become and promptly retorted that he intended to

become a 'bishop'. The son of a Ward Sister and hospital supplies manager, Fr Michael was born in 1939 and grew up in Sherwood near Nottingham. His father was on active duty for the entirety of WWII and only came into Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life on his return in 1945. Training to become an Assumptionist priest saw Fr Michael spend time as a young man studying in France from where he was very unlucky to return having contracted typhoid, whilst simultaneously suffering from appendicitis and anaemia. After a period of convalescence at Foxholes, Hitchin, Fr Michael completed his training in Belgium and was ordained sub-deacon and then deacon in 1965. Returning to England, Fr Michael was ordained a priest on 5 March 1966 in his home town parish in Sherwood. Shortly afterwards he studied for four years on a teacher training course at the Liverpool Hope University. Under his stewardship as a volunteer returning officer for the student

union, the university allowed mixed visiting for the first time. Fr Michael has served as a priest in a number of parishes in Rickmansworth, Brockley, Bethnal Green and Charlton. In all communities he has played an active role in youth work, local schools and chaplaincy support for district hospitals. He has also led parishioners from his various parishes on a series of pilgrimages to the Holy Land and helped to orchestrate a celebration of unity between churches and religions on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. During a three-year term in Rhodesia in the late 1970s, he taught in local schools,

provided tireless support to the main hospital and in the midst of a liberation struggle, provided counsel and strength to families of political prisoners. Fr Michael became a parish priest at the Our Lady Church in Hitchin in 2000. Since that time he has maintained a meticulous notebook of every couple he has ever joined in marriage, presided over hundreds of baptisms and embraced life in the wider community. Playing an active role in Hitchin life has seen him serve as governor for both the John Henry Newman School and Our Lady RC Primary School, and Chaplain to the Lister

Hospital for 14 years. Fr Michael has provided support to the sick and kindness to those recently bereaved. He was Dean of Stevenage for 10 years and is proud of having developed a successful partnership between Catholic schools and churches in the North Hertfordshire district. Fr Michael retires in July 2016 and plans to spend some time enjoying his hobbies of walking and enjoying local heritage sites. However, he hopes to continue to have a hand in counselling and remaining a source of support for his local community...the community he loves.

Celebrating Consecrated Life On the Feast of the Presentation, 2 February 2016, Cardinal Vincent celebrated the annual Mass for Consecrated Life. Coming at the closing of the Year of Consecrated Life, it was an opportunity to celebrate the role of all consecrated men and women in the diocese, in the context of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Joining Cardinal Vincent were Bishop John Sherrington and Bishop John Wilson, as well as Emeritus Bishop of Menevia, Bishop Mark Jabale OSB, a former abbot of Belmont Abbey. At the start of Mass, Cardinal Vincent paid tribute to Sr Amadeus Bulger, who recently retired as Vicar for Women Religious, for her many years of dedication and service. He thanked Fr Robert Marsh OSA, for his ministry as Vicar for Religious for the diocese. The Cardinal also acknowledged all religious who were celebrating silver, golden and diamond jubilees. In his homily, he spoke about Fr Engelmar Unzeitig, a Czech

priest who was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict and a martyr for the faith by Pope Francis. From his fearless defense of the faith in the face of Nazi atrocities to his selfless service of his fellow inmates in Dachau, Fr Unzeitig's life is 'a marvellous picture of mercy in action,' said the Cardinal. 'As we continue to explore the greatness of God's mercy we do well to remember that the most eloquent account of mercy is to be found not in words but in actions.' He went on to explain: 'I

wanted to share this narrative with you today because it speaks so eloquently of the beauty and generosity which lies at the heart of consecrated life.' The Cardinal then thanked 'God for the mercy filling the lives of so many religious men and women, who today rededicate their lives to God'. He thanked them for their faithfulness for radiating the light of the Lord and invited them to 'pass [God's mercy] on to others, being consecrated messengers of mercy, in our world today.'

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 Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Page 15

Westminster Record | March 2016

Forthcoming Faith Learning Events

Scripture from Scratch series of talks in Hertfordshire. Making the Bible come alive There is a suggested donation of £5.00. Our heritage: the Hebrew Scriptures

For all events, please book your place by emailing livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk. If you do not have access to the internet, please call 0207 931 6078 and leave your name, contact phone number and the date(s). Unless specified otherwise, all events are held at The Niland Centre, 93 Elstree Rd, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 4EE.

Faith and Development in Later Life This workshop is open to anyone who would like to learn more about their faith, themselves and how to be more effective in their parish ministries, particularly Parish Adult Faith Formation/Small Communities leaders and members, catechists, Parish Pastoral Council members, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, volunteers and parents in sacramental preparation programmes. There is a suggested donation of £12.00. Tea and coffee will be provided, but please bring your own lunch. It will be facilitated by Mgr Malachy Keegan and will be held on 5 March from 10am to 2pm.

Mindfulness in the Christian Tradition (Retreat) This is a retreat open to anyone who would like to learn more about their faith, themselves and how to be more effective in their parish ministries, particularly Parish Adult Faith Formation/Small Communities leaders and members, catechists, Parish Pastoral Council members, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, volunteers and parents in sacramental preparation programmes. It will be facilitated by Mgr Malachy Keegan. There is a suggested donation £14.00. Tea and coffee will be provided, but please bring your own lunch. It will be held on 27 April from 10am to 2pm.

Communication, Listening Skills, Conflict Management This workshop is open to anyone who would like to learn more about their faith, themselves and how to be more effective in their parish ministries, particularly Parish Adult Faith Formation/Small Communities leaders and members, catechists, Parish Pastoral Council members, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, volunteers and parents in sacramental preparation programmes. There is a suggested donation of £14.00. Tea and coffee will be provided, but please bring your own lunch. It will be held on 14 May at 10am to 2pm and will be facilitated by Mgr Malachy Keegan.

3 March – The Gospel of Matthew 17 March – The Gospel of Luke 31 March – The Gospel of John To All God’s Saints: New Testament Epistles 14 April – Is the End Nigh? 1 Thessalonians 28 Apr – You stupid people! Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 12 May – Philippians: A Love Letter to a Christian Community The following events are all held at: Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street SW1P 1QN

Scripture from Scratch series of talks in Central London: Biblical Models of Discipleship There is a suggested donation of £4.00. All talks are audio recorded and uploaded on the rcdow.org.uk website. All talks run from 7 to 8.30pm. 14 March – How does Jesus’ teaching in the parables help us live our vocation? by Fr John Hemer 12 April – Mary Magdalen: The Witnessing Disciple by Brian Purfield 9 May – Paul: The Missionary Disciple, How Paul helps people live out their Christian vocation in differing circumstances by Fr John Hemer Faith Matters: Lent 2016 YEAR OF MERCY The last in the series of talks will run 7 to 8.30pm. There is a suggested donation of £4.50 per talk. 8 March – Fr Nicholas Crowe OP: The Peace of Christ: Corporal and Spiritual works of Mercy

Qualified Teacher (Permanent post, full or part time) for outstanding practitioner (primary or secondary, special or mainstream experience), to start September 2016. The post holder must be a practising Catholic, confident and comfortable in their own faith. Job Location: St Elizabeth’s RC Special School and College. Excellent teaching career development opportunity within a larger Catholic charitable organisation based at Much Hadham on the Herts/Essex border, (20 minutes from M11 or A10). Additional Responsibilities: Help nurture and celebrate the distinctive Catholic nature and values of St Elizabeth’s educational and other services, (initially 1-2 days per week additional non-contact time allowed for these special responsibilities). St Elizabeth’s Centre: A caring and supportive community employing over 650 staff, in a residential special School (ages 5-19); a specialist FE College and an Adult residential Care Home, helping people of all ages with complex medical needs and learning disabilities to fulfil their potential and live life to the full. Teachers’ Pay and Conditions: Scale within a range c £38-45k p.a. inclusive, dependent upon skills, qualifications and experience, (pro-rata if part-time), plus Teachers’ Pension scheme. Relocation allowance where applicable and additional attractive range of employee benefits. Excellent CPD and advancement opportunities. St Elizabeth’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services and expects all staff to share this commitment. All posts are subject to enhanced DBS clearance. An equal opportunities employer committed to equality and diversity. St Elizabeth’s is administered by the English Province of the Daughters of the Cross of Liège. A registered charity 1068661 and a company limited by guarantee 3492921. The Registered Office is at 29 Tite Street, London, SW3 4JX. “The Daughters of the Cross, a compassionate heartbeat in the world”

To find out more or to apply for this post, please visit www.stelizabeths.org.uk. Closing Date: 27 April 2016. Page 16

Westminster Record | March 2016

Embracing the Gospel More Deeply ©Mazur/catholic news.org.uk

by Bishop Nicholas Hudson People often ask me what we mean by evangelisation. I tell them it is about bringing others to Christ. This came home to me powerfully at the Rite of Election. Catechumens and candidates streamed forward to meet the Cardinal and the Auxiliary Bishops to be welcomed formally into the Church. They were made up of three distinct groups: catechumens who are going to be baptised at Easter, candidates who are already baptised but seeking now to become Catholic, and candidates who are already baptised Catholics but are now asking for Confirmation at Easter. None of them was alone. Each was accompanied by someone who had brought them. I could not resist asking these catechumens and candidates what was leading them to become Catholics! And what struck me is that, almost to a man/woman, they said it was not a ‘what’ but a ‘who’. It was someone who had brought them, and s/he was standing right next to them as their sponsor. I told them we should not be at all surprised because that is how it happened in the Gospels too: people who had met Jesus and discovered him for who he was went and told

called to do the same: to scrutinise our lives in the light of the Gospel. Enlightenment, letting the light of the Gospel shine on our lives: this captures the heart of what Lent is about. For Lent is short for the word lengthening; Lent marks the lengthening of days as we approach the spring equinox and we enjoy the increase of sunlight. Lent is given to us to prepare our hearts to greet the Light, the true Light whom we welcome, risen out of the darkness, on Easter night. This is a special Lent for us in the Diocese of Westminster because parishes are busy choosing evangelising initiatives for the next months and years. Proclaim Westminster was the beginning of a process whereby parishes were to ask themselves their friends, ‘we have found the what more they might be called Messiah’ and urged their friends to do in the light of Pope to come and meet him for Francis’s appeal, in Evangelii themselves. Gaudium, to each of us to I say evangelisation is about bringing others to Christ. When become missionary disciples. In we were preparing for Proclaim this Year of Mercy, the corporal Westminster in different groups and spiritual works of mercy around the diocese, a number of give us a particularly rich parishioners asked what else we measure against which to assess our evangelising activity. The could say about evangelisation. Scriptures of Lent remind us it is They seemed to find it helpful not only as parishes but as when we suggested that individuals too that we need to evangelisation is, at heart, the communication of a relationship: scrutinise our lives in the light of these works of mercy. the communication of a Divine Mercy Sunday, the relationship with Christ, in Octave day of Easter, coming as word and deed and in such a it does eight days after Easter, way that leads people to ask, will see hopefully an ‘Who is this Jesus whom you outpouring of evangelising love and worship?’ It is about energy (in intent at least if not bringing others to Christ by yet in fact) as every parish of the bringing them the Gospel. diocese announces three new Lent is a time to reflect on evangelising initiatives. They how well we are doing this. will also announce which of I think of Lent as a forty-day their three initiatives they are retreat when we ask ourselves going to be embarking upon how the Lord might be calling us to embrace that Gospel more first. The Rite of Election reminds us very forcibly that we deeply. For catechumens, it is called the period of Purification must engage in these new initiatives all the new Catholics and Enlightenment. They are who were called to the Easter invited, with the help of sacraments; and harness their beautiful liturgies called new-found fervour to the allScrutinies to scrutinise their important work of the Gospel. lives in the light of the Gospel. Since the time of Christ, it has One of the joys of celebrating the Scrutinies in the parish with often been those most recently converted who bring others to catechumens is that we realise Christ: the evangelised rapidly we are all of us, regardless of become evangelisers! when we ‘found the Messiah’,

Ealing Abbey Events Virtus Lectures Magnus McFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary's Meals, will speak at Ealing Abbey in the Abbey Hall on the 16 March at 7.30pm. The talk will be followed by a reception and the launch of Magnus’ new book: ‘The Shed that Fed a Million Children’. For more information, visit: http://virtuslectures.weebly.com/about.html or follow @Virtus_Lectures on Twitter.

Monastic Vocation Weekend: Paschal Triduum Men aged 18-45 years old who are considering a vocation to the monastic life are invited to a monastic vocation weekend at Ealing Abbey over the Paschal Triduum. The weekend will begin on Maundy Thursday, 24 March, and end on Easter Sunday, 27 March. For more information, visit: http://ealingmonks.org.uk/vocation/monastic-experienceweekends/. To book a place, contact Dom Dominic Taylor on 020 8862 2100 or email ddominic@ealingabbey.org.uk.

Summer Term at the Liturgy Institute During July and August the Liturgy Institute will give 10 day courses in Liturgy and Latin, accredited by KU Leuven and in collaboration with Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Rome. For more information, visit: http://liturgyinstitute.org/coursessummer-2016/

Ealing Abbey Lay Plainchant Choir New members are always welcome. Workshops take place on Wednesdays from 6.40pm to 8pm. Contact Dom Peter on 07474515365 for more details.

Page 17

Westminster Record | March 2016

St Frances of Rome: 9 March St Frances is likely unknown to many of us, as her feast is only an optional memorial in the Church’s calendar and also falls in Lent, when the memorials of saints receive less liturgical notice. However, in this Jubilee Year of Mercy she deserves our attention through the constant witness of her charity. Born in Rome in 1384, she came from a wealthy family and experienced the conflict felt by many saints of earlier centuries between the personal desire to embrace the religious life and the family’s desire that they marry well. In Frances’ case she had to give in to that familial pressure, aged 12, and marry Lorenzo Ponziani, also from a wealthy background, and commander of the papal troops. The accounts of her life record this arranged marriage as happy on account of Lorenzo’s admiration for her and, they also note, his frequent absences on military duty. But Frances was far from idle; we hear of six children being born to the couple, of whom two died in an outbreak of plague; of her undertaking regular visits to the sick and needy, and inspiring other women to do the same; and of her suffering serious illness herself. The years of her life included times of flood and famine; at one point she turned her family’s country estate into

Page 18

In Memoriam: March 6 Mgr Frederick Row (1974) Mgr Canon Clement Parsons (1980) Fr Geoffrey Webb (2014) 7 Fr Henry Dodd (1992) Fr Harold Riley (2003) 8 Fr Thomas Nobbs (1977) Fr Paul Lenihan (1992) 13 Fr Patrick English (1971) 14 Bishop David Cashman (1971) Canon Jeremiah Galvin (1973) Fr Reginald Watt (1975) 15 Bishop George Craven (1967) Fr Walter Donovan (1981) 17 Cardinal Arthur Hinsley (1943) Fr Michael Buckley (1993) Fr Lionel Keane (1997) Fr Charles Connor (2005) 18 Fr John Nelson-Turner (2015) 20 Canon Desmond Swan (1995) Fr Edward Bushey (1996) 21 Fr James de Felice (1978) 22 Fr Edward Higgs (1988) 23 Fr Peter Day (2006) 24 Fr John Gill (1985) Fr Pat Heekin (2006) 25 Mgr Richard Kenefeck (1982) 27 Fr Cormac Rigby (2007) Fr James Brand (2013) 30 Fr William Hutchinson (1984)

a hospital and centre for the distribution of supplies. Yet this was not all that she faced. The Church was faced with conflict between several claimants to the papal throne, Rome itself was in a state of acute decay and Lorenzo himself, in the early years of the fifteenth century, was seriously injured in fighting, requiring nursing for the rest of his life. In the midst of all this discouragement Frances persisted, personally collecting firewood and medicines for the poor and opening her house again for those in trouble, despite much of her family’s wealth having been lost in the fighting that was endemic across the region at this time. Such a way of life could only be sustained by a depth of prayer. Apart from her charity, she was noted for spiritual healing, with over 60 cases reported at her canonization proceedings. And it is not surprising that as she grew older, the religious life drew her again. In 1425 she founded the Olivetan Oblates of Mary for women who would live lives of charity and prayer in mutual support, although without vows or common life. Eight years later, though, she founded a monastery for those women who were free to live communally and it was to this house that she herself retired for the last years of her life after Lorenzo’s death, dying herself in 1440. The Church owes much to saints who have managed to combine in their lives both the joys and demands of marriage with the witness of self-giving in the religious life. In St Frances the combination of prayer and practical charity exercised in times of great confusion for the Church point to the light of Christ shining out in the darkness and not being overcome. Fun fact: St Frances is said often to have perceived the presence of her guardian angel lighting her way. Perhaps on account of this, Pope Pius XI proclaimed her to be the patron saint of motorists. Those seeking parking spaces and avoiding speeding fines should ask her help.

Louise Zanré RIP Louise Zanré, former Director of Jesuit Refugee Service UK, died on 15 February aged 47. Louise’s death was unexpected, but she had been unwell for some time. Louise stepped down from the post of Director of JRS at the beginning of the year, a post that she held for 14 years. However, she continued to work with them and contribute her great experience. Pat Gaffney said of her: ‘there is a sense of awe inspired by Louise’s spirit and courage while living with the many difficulties and demands she faced. She remained engaged, available and professional to the end.’ May she rest in peace.

Beginning Experience. There will be a healing weekend for men and women who find themselves single again following divorce, separation or the death of a partner from 15 to 17 April 2016 at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham, Kent. For details please call Sandra 01293 783965, Freda 01322 838415 or John 01992 642443 or email johnabrotherton@hotmail.co.uk Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | March 2016

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

1 Tue

Taizé at St James, Piccadilly W1J 9LL every third Sunday 5pm. Call 020 7503 5128 for details. Tyburn Benedictines Monastic afternoon Every first Sunday 2-5pm Martyrs’ Crypt, Tyburn Convent, 8 Hyde Park Place W2 2LJ. Westminster Cathedral Young Adults meet socially after the 7pm Mass on Sundays and then at the nearby Windsor Castle pub. For further details please contact: westminsteryoungadults@gmail.com

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

TUESDAYS Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesdays 6-9pm concluding with Benediction at Newman House, 111 Gower Street WC1E 6AR. Details 020 7387 6370. Prayers for London at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden Tuesdays 7.30pm. Organised by the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road NW10 9AX.

Lent feria

3 Thu

Lent feria

Evangelisation Prayer Group for young adults meets from 7pm on Wednesdays at Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX. For further details please contact Armel at apostles.jesus@yahoo.co.uk. Our Lady, Untier of Knots, Prayer Group of Intercession meets every third Wednesday at St Anselm & St Cecilia, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Parish Mass at 6pm followed by Prayer Group until 8.45pm. Rosary, Adoration, Silent prayer and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Email: Antonia antonia4161@gmail.com.

4 Fri

Lent feria (St Casimir); Friday abstinence

5 Sat

Lent feria

6 Sun

+ 4th SUNDAY OF LENT (Laetare Sunday)

7 Mon

Lent feria (Sts Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs)

8 Tue

Lent feria (St John of God, Religious)

Vocations Prayer Group Second Tuesday of the month 8pm at 47C Gaisford Street NW5 2EB. Taizé at St James’, Spanish Place, W1U 3UY every first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Email: penny28hb@aol.com or just come along.

WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays on the Wall (WOTW) Every first Wednesday 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 WC2E 7NB. For further details please contact corpuschristipg@yahoogroups. co.uk.

9 Wed

Lent feria (St Frances of Rome, Religious)

10 Thu

Lent feria

11 Fri

Lent feria; Friday abstinence

12 Sat

Lent feria

13 Sun

+ 5th SUNDAY OF LENT

THURSDAYS

14 Mon

Lent feria

Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life Every first Thursday of the month. Young adults from all Christian denominations pray and share a meal. Details www.jcfl.org.uk. Soul Food A Catholic charismatic prayer group for young adults meets Thursdays 7-9pm at St Charles Borromeo, Ogle Street W1W 6HS. Details at www.soulfoodgroup.org. St John Paul II Prayer Group Every second Thursday of the month 7-8pm, Mass, Adoration and Prayer at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB.

15 Tue

Lent feria

16 Wed

Lent feria

17 Thu

ST PATRICK, Bishop, Patron of Ireland

18 Fri

Lent feria (St Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop & Doctor); Friday abstinence

19 Sat

ST JOSEPH, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patron of the Diocese

20 Sun

+ PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

21 Mon

MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK

22 Tue

TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

23 Wed

WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

FRIDAYS

24 Thu

MAUNDY THURSDAY

25 Fri

GOOD FRIDAY; Fast and Abstinence

26 Sat

HOLY SATURDAY; Fast as desired

27 Sun

+ EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION

28 Mon

MONDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

29 Tue

TUESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

30 Wed

WEDNESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

31 Thu

THURSDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

Divine Mercy Prayers and Mass Every first Friday 2.30-4.30pm at Our Lady, Mother of the Church, 2 Windsor Road W5 5PD. Westminster Cathedral Charismatic Prayer Group meet every Friday 7.30pm Prayer, Praise and Teaching. First Friday is a healing Mass. For details, please call 020 8748 2632.

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

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club meets every Sunday for walks around London and the Home Counties. Contact by email: antoinette_adkins2000@yahoo .co.uk, call 020 8769 3643 or check out the website: www.stfrancisramblers. ukwalkers.com

Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm at Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QW. Young Adults Mass Held every Sunday at Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. Quiet prayer 7.15pm, Mass 7.30pm. Social gathering afterwards. Contact: team@fsplus.info or visit www.fsplus.info. Mass at Canary Wharf Held on Tuesdays at 12.30pm at 2 Churchill Place E14 5RB. Organised by Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, Chaplain to Canary Wharf Communities. Details www.cwcc.org.uk. St Albans Abbey Fridays at 12 noon. Mass in the Lady Chapel of St Albans Abbey AL1 1BY. LGBT Catholics Westminster Mass 2nd & 4th Sundays 6.15pm, Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street, W1K 3AH. Contact: lgbtcatholicswestminster@gmail. com

ST DAVID, Bishop, Patron of Wales

2 Wed

Prayer Groups SUNDAYS

Other regular Masses

Liturgical Calendar - March

At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Acton, the Queen of Peace prayer group meets every Friday evening after 7pm Mass. The evening consists of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a homily, recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. All welcome. Praying with Pope Francis - March 2016 Universal Intention: Families in difficulty: That families in need may receive the necessary support and that children may grow up in healthy and peaceful environments. For Evangelisation: Persecuted Christians: That those Christians who, on account of their faith, are discriminated against or are being persecuted, may remain strong and faithful to the gospel, thanks to the incessant prayer of the Church.

EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASSES Sundays: Low Mass 9.30am, St James Spanish Place W1U 3QY. Low Mass 9am, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 5pm, St Bartholomew, St Albans AL1 2PE. Low Mass 5.30pm, Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, NW10 9AX. Mondays: Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Low Mass, 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Fridays: Low Mass 7.45am St Mary Moorfields, 4/5 Eldon Street EC2N 7LS. Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1N 6RY. First Friday only. Low Mass 6pm St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Road E9 7SF. First Friday only. Low Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Second Friday only. Saturdays: Low Mass 12.15pm, St Wilfrid’s Chapel, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 4.30pm, Side Chapel, Westminster Cathedral SW1P 1QW. Second Saturday only.

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Westminster Record | March 2016

With God on My Side by Martha Behan Some of you might know Fr Albert Ofere, the cheery Nigerian priest who practises his ministry in East and West London. You may not know however, that he has released an album of worship songs. For many years Fr Albert has been singing sermons and praising God through music and song. His album enables him to bring this unique way of prayer to a wider group of people. His songs broadly fit into the genre of afro beats, which he tells me is a secular genre where people do not often sing about God. Fr Albert wanted to bring God into popular music, saying: ‘Why should church music be boring? God is not boring!’

A clip from Fr Albert’s video for ‘God dey my Side’

The principal song on his album, ‘God dey my side’, has made Fr Albert quite well known in Nigerian circles. This is partly due to the appearance of Nigerian actor and celebrity, Osoufia, who proclaims that ‘God is good’ as the finale of his music video. I joke that he has become a celebrity in his own right, as he tells me about some young boys who came up to him in the street and asked him to perform the rap from that song. It is clear from talking to him that he is not just pursuing a music career while being a priest but wants to combine the popularity of afro beats with the joy of praising God. When I ask him why he wrote and released a song, he has a very clear answer, that he wants to show people ‘that it is wonderful to know God, it is wonderful to love God’. He wants to show people the joy that God brings, ‘he is not a coercive God’. He goes on to Page 20

quote Romans 8.31: ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ This attitude accounts for the happy atmosphere of the song. It is about God being on our side, that truly knowing and understanding this means that we should have confidence and be happy. The official video for the song ‘God dey my Side’ begins on a tube carriage. Fr Albert is listening to loud music through his headphones as the other passengers become increasingly irritated. As the central riff of the song gets louder, more passengers join in with Fr Albert, singing ‘dance dance God dey my side Oh’. Fr Albert leads the dancing commuters (clearly not the Victoria line) into the church where exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is taking place. It is an extremely wellproduced video; Fr Albert worked with a music producer (an existing friend of Fr Albert’s), who flew over from Nigeria especially when he heard the song. He said ‘wow, I’m getting on the first plane’, Fr Albert tells me. ‘He didn’t want to hear my church music initially but when he heard that it was happy and upbeat he agreed to produce the

video.’ Partly filmed on the tube and partly in St Mary and St Joseph’s Church in Dalston, Kingsland, the video features some of Fr Albert’s actual parishioners as well as some friends of the producer. The video itself has a party atmosphere, but it has an important message. ‘It’s about bringing people into the church, but also about bringing God out into the world’. The thing that strikes me most about talking to Fr Albert is his joy and enthusiasm. He wants you to dance to the songs, and he wants you to know that God loves you. So maybe next time you are on the tube, think about Fr Albert and consider sharing your faith. Although maybe not in song! If you are interested in hearing Fr Albert’s work, you can listen to God Dey my Side on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=faXhkjb_X2Q You can also download his album from itunes, or from CD baby. You can find links for these on his YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/rJ8MrZ