Westminster Record October 2014 by RCWestminster

Westminster Record October 2014 | 20p

Bishop Nicholas on London’s Diversity

Lourdes Pilgrims ‘Tea Party’

Schools Celebrate Anniversaries

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Come, Holy Spirit

From 4 to 19 October the Extraordinary Synod on the Family will take place in Rome. In this article we take a look at what a synod is and some of the themes that may feature prominently at this one. In Pope Francis’ words, the Extraordinary Synod is ‘being convened to discuss the theme of “pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evanglisation”. Indeed, in our day the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel by confronting the new and urgent pastoral needs facing the family.’ In a recent press conference Cardinal Vincent emphasised this purpose when he said that this is about rediscovering the gift of God’s mercy, 'a return to that lived sense of the compassion and mercy of God' which balances it with the necessary response of forgiveness and conversion on the part of those who receive mercy. He also spoke about the need for refreshing and deepening the understanding of the sacrament of marriage: 'A marriage, in Catholic understanding, when embraced in the right frame, is an act of God where the husband and wife become ministers of God's mercy to each other.' The Cardinal explained, however, that this understanding must begin with the realities of the situation, when two people with their individual histories, gifts and wounds are called upon to come together to form a new reality.

‘Sometimes relationships break down,’ he went on to say, ‘we must then help the couple confront the pain and distress caused by that breakdown of the relationship.’ He went on to speak about the need for discernment in situations where new relationships are formed after a breakdown. This will be vital in formulating a pastoral response to those situations. Cardinal Vincent then spoke about marriage as the basis for the family; the support the Church offers to families should 'rightly take its shape around the children' and the Church should work in partnership with their parents. To that end, this Synod is about the family, its place in society and the challenges faced by the family in daily life. He said that there is a ‘strong invitation to focus on the children’. Breakdowns in relationships can cause families to live in isolation, so it is important to consider the role of grandparents in the support offered to these families. Continued on back page

Editorial

Westminster Record | October 2014

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We are so fortunate in our diocese to have so many parishes, over two hundred of them, each with their own series of Masses on Sundays and weekdays. We have over three hundred priests, both diocesan and religious, who are at the heart of each parish community, working hard to ensure that our spiritual needs are met. They will baptise, marry and bury members of their communities, providing pastoral care for

those most in need. They will do whatever they can to make sure that the young people of the parish are prepared for the sacraments and that engaged couples are prepared for marriage. They will spend long hours explaining and teaching the Faith to those coming to a sense of faith in their lives, and preparing their homilies. And at 75 years of age most, but not all, will retire. Even then, many priests will continue to help out, for as long as they are able, ‘supplying’ in parishes when the local priests are away or ill. Priesthood is a lifelong commitment to service. In a priestly ministry that may span 50 or more years, most priests will have never had the opportunity to save much from their stipends. We need to make sure that they are properly provided for in their retirement. Their needs are usually very few, but suitable accommodation needs to be found and, eventually, that may mean sheltered housing and

nursing care. The great generosity shown through Growing in Faith has gone a long way to securing the future for some 80 Westminster priests now in retirement, giving the diocese a real opportunity to develop accommodation projects. But once a year we have a Sunday when we remember in prayer and thanksgiving the priests now retired from ministry. This year it falls on 9 November, coincidentally also Remembrance Sunday. The retiring collection that day remains essential for the ongoing costs of providing for our retired priests’ welfare. Remembering the many times in our lives when we may have depended on the generosity and response of priests in their service to us, how generous can we now be to them in their need?

Vatican Cricket Team on tour By Chris O’Callaghan Cardinal Vincent welcomed the Vatican Cricket team to Archbishop’s House on 12 September as part of their ‘Light of Faith Tour’. The cricketers were accompanied by Mr John McCarthy, the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, whose idea it was to create a cricket team for the Vatican. Earlier in the week, the team had an audience with Pope Francis who signed a cricket bat for them which will be auctioned at a later date. The newly-assembled team, captained by Englishman Fr Tony Currer and managed by Irishman Fr Eamonn O’Higgins, is comprised of seminarians, deacons and priests based in Rome. They played four matches in the UK in September, the final one

being a religious showdown against the Church of England’s cricket team in Canterbury on Friday, 19 September. They lost a closely contested match by 6 wickets, the Anglican team scoring the winning runs with 5 balls to spare. The proceeds from the game were donated to the Global Freedom Network, an antitrafficking campaign which has the backing of Catholics, Anglicans and Muslims. After meeting all of the players and hearing about the inception of the team, Cardinal Vincent remembered fondly his own days playing cricket in Rome when he was a seminarian. He described the friendly rivalry on the pitch between the different international colleges and how

sport fostered a great sense of community and friendship among the seminarians who came to Rome from all over the world. The team hope this will be the first tour of many, with Ambassador McCarthy looking to the cricketing powerhouses in the East for the next tour.

News

Westminster Record | October 2014

Commemorating the ‘Cardinal’s Peace’

A Mass to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Great Dock Strike and to give thanks for the work of Cardinal Manning in helping to bring the strike to an end was celebrated on 14 September at St Mary and St Michael Catholic Church, Commercial Road in East London. Organised by Caritas Anchor House, the Mass and reception which followed were

a celebration of the legacy of Cardinal Henry Manning and his role in negotiating the ‘Cardinal’s Peace’, which was signed on 14 September 1889 in a local school in Poplar. In the homily, Cardinal Vincent referred to Cardinal Manning as ‘the one who set out the principles and values on which that settlement was achieved.’ Looking back to an earlier speech which Cardinal

Manning had made in 1874, and in which he anticipated all the arguments of Catholic Social Teaching, Cardinal Vincent said: ‘For a person's work, their labour, he claimed the same rights as those given to a person's property, calling that work “capital in the truest sense”. In addition he argued that it was the duty of every employer to recognise the crucial importance of a worker's family life and indeed their need for rest.’ Speaking about the dignity of work, Cardinal Vincent went on to say: ‘The ways in which we come together, in the activities which make up our life in society, are of course the testing grounds of the practical acknowledgment of this dignity and of how we work together for a common good that excludes nobody. What the Great Dock Strike helped to establish was that recognition of this dignity was shockingly lacking in the patterns of employment in force in the London docks at that time, and, I may add as a

person from Liverpool, not only in London.’ He went on to say, ‘Catholic Social Teaching continues to develop these fundamental principles of the priority of human dignity and the importance of the common good, across a wide spectrum of concerns.’ At the reception, several guests, including Labour Peer Baron Glasman, GMB President Kevin Flanagan, and Chief Executive of CitizensUK Neil Jameson, paid tribute Cardinal Manning and the legacy of Catholic Social Teaching.

Cardinal Manning’s connection to east end dockers.

Police Guild Mass Cardinal Vincent celebrated a Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 6 September marking the centenary of the foundation of the Catholic Police Guild. The Mass was attended by members of the Guild and their families, representing different parts of the country. Among those in attendance was Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester. In his homily Cardinal Vincent applauded the members for applying Christian principles to their work. Using the words of Pope St John Paul II in describing the calling of the Guild members, he said it was to ‘enthusiastically serve the cause of civic harmony and well-being, with sensitivity and Christian hope’. The Cardinal went on to speak about British values of tolerance and democracy and their roots in Christian values. ‘Tolerance is the fruit of

acknowledging the intrinsic value of every other person,’ he said, ‘and it grows best, to its fullness, in the good soil of our Catholic faith.’ At the end of Mass, assisted by CPG Chairman Andrew Nattrass and Secretary Chris Sloan, the Cardinal presented medals to Fellows of the Guild, members who have provided extensive and dedicated service. The CPG Emblem on the medal consists of a Cross within which the words Catholic Police Guild encircle the ancient Christian symbol of a fish, with the word for fish spelt out in Greek (IXθUS) underneath the emblem. Fr Barry Lomax, National Chaplain, also presented Cardinal Vincent with one of three medallions especially cast for the centenary year, one other having been presented to Pope Francis during the Guild’s centenary pilgrimage in May.

Fr Barry Lomax CPG Chaplain presents Cardinal Vincent with one of three commemorative medals especially cast for the centenary year.

The CPG is the the oldest vocational guild, founded in 1914 as the Metropolitan City Police Guild in Westminster to cater for the spiritual needs of police men and women.

In 1974 it became a national association for England and Wales and more recently membership has been extended to lay staff and community support officers.

Treasures of the Cathedral

by Anne Marie Micallef Another in our continuing series about the Treasures John Francis Bentley, the architect of Westminster Cathedral, died in 1902 before it was finished. His assistant, John Marshall, set up a partnership which continued Bentley's work and he became the second architect in charge of the Cathedral. At the time of Bentley’s death the structure was virtually complete but there was little internal decoration. Marshall thus oversaw the completion of mosaics and the carved medallions by the West entrance doors and then approached Eric Gill to carve the Stations of the Cross. In the Treasures of the Cathedral Exhibition we have a bronze Crucifix and Candlesticks made for the Chapel of the Holy Souls in 1909-1910. These were designed at the time when Marshall was senior partner of Bentley, Son and Marshall. We also have a copper gilt Monstrance designed by him at that time. The knop (a small decorative knob) on the stem has a cameo of Our Lady and the oval frame is made of sodalite set with red stones and foiled crystals. It was presented to the Cathedral by Elena and Anita O’Callaghan. If you would like to visit the Treasures of the Cathedral exhibition and see some of John Marshall’s work, tickets are available from the Cathedral bookshop. The Exhibition is free on Wednesdays in October. Page 3

News Bishop Nicholas on London’s Diversity

Bishop Nicholas recently spoke to Vatican Radio about the challenges and opportunities of his new ministry. Here we give some extracts from the interview: ‘I had the marvellous experience of celebrating seven Confirmations in my first 15 to 20 days, and I was struck by the diversity of young people and parishes overall. In the Isle of Dogs, the parish priest says it’s remarkable and exciting to see the number of Catholics among the many immigrants who come from different continents. They look for a parish and the right kind of school for their children and they’re looking to us to fulfil these needs.’

Westminster Record September Westminster Record | October2011 2014

‘Our Church, along with the other Churches in that area, needs to grasp this change in demographics as an ecumenical opportunity and we must also be respectful of the other faiths represented within our community. I need to find out who else has places of worship in that area, because I’m a bishop for them too and I want them to feel that we are part of the same community working out very similar needs and concerns.’ ‘One of the initiatives going on nationally is a pilot project called Crossing the Threshold, a very interesting and inspired process for inviting parishes to organise themselves to reach out to people who are Catholic and might want to take a second look at what it means to belong to the local Catholic community. I’m interested in discussing with parishes how they can be inviting and welcoming, always in the spirit of suggesting and proposing, because a parish has to want to take on that project for the process to work.’ The podcast of the interview with Bishop Nicholas can be accessed from: http://rcdow.org.uk/news/ bishop-nicholas-speaks-to-vaticanradio/ ©Vatican Information Service

St Monica’s, Hoxton celebrates 150 years

©Daniel Cichy

Mgr Henry Manning on a barrel By Fr Paul Graham OSA In his opening remarks during the homily at Hoxton’s 150th Anniversary Mass, the Cardinal mentioned that his predecessor, Henry Manning, had to stand on a barrel to preach at the laying of the foundation stone of St Monica’s, Hoxton, on 20 September 1864. The only obstacle for the Cardinal was scaffolding in the sanctuary, due to the restoration of the original Victorian stencilled scheme. ‘The scaffolding’, he said, ‘is a reminder that the life of a parish is always an unfinished business, and ever-changing’.

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In the case of St Monica’s, like many inner city parishes, it has changed from being a parish of largely Irish and Irish descent population to being multi-ethnic: about 50 nationalities, with a large West African component. This was reflected in a vibrant Mass, which featured an offertory procession with parishioners coming forward with their weekly collection and gifts to the sound of an African chant. The music at Mass was an eclectic mix of English chant from the Roman Missal, the Missa de Angelis Gloria, conventional hymns, and worship songs. People continued to sing and clap long after the celebrants had retired

to the sacristy. A party followed in the school hall. Not only was the parish celebrating 150 years, but the Augustinians, who founded and continue to administer the parish, were celebrating their return to London in 1864 after the expulsion in 1538 of the ‘Austin Friars’, as they were known in the Middle Ages. Hoxton priory and church thus became the first permanent revived foundation in England and the Cardinal paid homage to the important role played by the religious orders in establishing parishes in London after the restoration of the hierarchy in 1850. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

News

Westminster Record | October 2014

A witness to the Faith

The annual Two Cathedrals’ Procession of the Blessed Sacrament takes place on Saturday 18 October. The procession will begin at 1.30pm at Westminster Cathedral making its way across Westminster Bridge to

St George’s Cathedral in Southwark, where Benediction will be given at approximately 2.45pm. Now in its fifth year, this annual Procession was first observed as a direct result of the visit of Pope Emeritus Benedict

XVI to the UK in September 2010 as an act of thanksgiving for the graces received during the visit, including the beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman (whose Feast Day is commemorated on 9 October).

Lourdes Pilgrims Party One of the highlights of the summer is the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. In this, the Silver Jubilee year, a record 1,200 pilgrims from Westminster joined Cardinal Vincent and Cardinal Cormac for a memorable week at the Marian shrine. Throughout the year, several events take place around the diocese to give pilgrims and volunteers a chance to renew

their acquaintance and to raise much-needed funds to assist those who may not otherwise be able to afford to join the pilgrimage. On Saturday 6 September the first of these events, the tea party, was held in the grounds of Heythrop College. It was a memorable afternoon of music, games, fun, food and drink. Cardinal Vincent joined the guests, sampling wares from the

cake stall and awarding medals to the winners of the games. The next event is the Silver Jubilee concert on 21 November at Our Lady of Victories, Kensington. For further information about this and other fundraising events, contact Gerald Daly on 020 7798 9173 or geralddaly@rcdow.org.uk.

One of the intentions for this year will be to pray for peace in Iraq, Syria and throughout the Middle East. This year the procession will be led by Bishop Nicholas Hudson, who served as a priest of the Diocese of Southwark before being ordained this year

as Auxiliary Bishop for Westminster. In his own person Bishop Nicholas will therefore be a bridge between the dioceses on that day. All are invited to come and witness to the Faith and to honour the Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

Cardinal Defends Catholic Education Cardinal Vincent recently spoke out about the challenges facing Catholic education in the UK today. In his homily at the Mass celebrating the centenary of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, the Cardinal began by referring to the source of opposition to Catholic education in the previous century and Cardinal Bourne's response: 'Cardinal Bourne’s time was one of profound and widespread opposition to Catholic Education, not from a secularist standpoint, but from the dominant Protestant Liberalism of the day. Cardinal Bourne had a long battle, conducted very skilfully, to defend and establish the position of Catholic Education as a true and proper expression of parental choice and therefore having a true and proper place in a democratic society. Bourne won the day, and so your school exists, as a memorial to his illustrious predecessor.’ Cardinal Vincent then presented the contribution of Catholic education to society in our own age and the threat that Catholic schools face today. 'Our battles for Catholic Education today are less intense but real. We live in a very plural society in which cohesion and mutual understanding is so important. Catholic schools recognise this. Thus we put forward systematically the principles on which a good society can be based, drawing on the wealth of Catholic Social Teaching, a treasure that others are beginning to recognise. In the same vein, we have long recognised the importance of studying the beliefs and practices of other religions, doing so from the constructive basis of a living faith in God. If there is a problem with religious literacy today, with ignorance of other religions, as many are suggesting not least in light of the problems faced in Birmingham, the problem does not lie in faith schools, in Catholic schools. It lies elsewhere, wherever religious belief is treated in a minimal manner, or even disparaged. That is where the problem is to be tackled.' Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

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Education

Westminster Record | October 2014

Cardinal Vaughan Centenary Celebrated

The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School celebrated the centenary of its foundation with Mass in Westminster Cathedral on 19 September. Cardinal Vincent was the principal celebrant, along with Bishop John Sherrington and 22 diocesan priests, some of whom are former students of the school. The Mass was attended by students and staff past and present with music led by the school’s brass group and Schola Cantorum.

In his homily Cardinal Vincent congratulated the school on its centenary, saying: 'I congratulate and thank the School for the fine traditions it has fashioned and maintained over these 100 years since its modest founding on 21 September 1914. I thank the School, and all involved in it, for its fidelity to a founding vision, together with its development in response to constantly changing demands.' He went on to address the school community: 'Cardinal Vaughan School is both steadfast and innovative, a point of real strength in the diocesan network of schools and one willing to play its part, as called for by its motto, in loving and serving fellow Catholic schools in the Diocese.' On the same day, one of the school’s PE teachers, Chris Bailey, completed his ‘Vaughan to Run’ challenge. Between 14 and 19 September he ran the

193 miles from Cardinal Herbert Vaughan’s birthplace in Gloucester to his final resting place in the Cathedral which he founded. The funds raised will be donated to Aid to the Church in Need and the Good Shepherd Project which helps provide a place of safety and education for 990 local refugee children on the Sudanese/Eritrean border. He was joined along the route by a number of past and present students, staff and wellwishers, passing through five Catholic dioceses and over thirty parishes. For more information on the challenge, please see www.vaughantorun.com Donations can be made online through the Vaughan’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/ vaughantorun/

Members of the Vaughan Schola at the Mass

Sending your child to a Catholic secondary school will be one of the best decisions you will make

Students of St Ignatius College at their recent anniversary Mass

By J P Morrison, Director of Education As parents you are the first educators of your child and with that responsibility comes choice and decisions. In the coming weeks you will be making the very important decision as to what secondary school you will send your child to and what will help them succeed in the face of the Page 6

challenges of modern life and a fast-changing world. Coupled to that decision is whether or not to send them to a Catholic secondary school. It may have been the right decision for you at primary level, but perhaps secondary offers a different set of circumstances and options.

Be confident that sending your child to a Catholic secondary school will be one of the best decisions you will ever make. A Catholic secondary school is far more than its acclaimed and recognised achievement of academic standards and reputation for excellence. It is about formation. In the light of government changes to education in recent years, Catholic education has maintained its extraordinary success and offers not an alternative, but the standard to which many aspire. At the heart of Catholic education is the opportunity for any child, regardless of ability, to grow in their understanding of themselves, their relationship with others and their relationship with God. They will be in an environment where they are actively encouraged to shape a community of faith and live

out their values and yours. We are preparing them not only to cope with life, but to shape their life and that of others. Community is central to Catholic education and the need to find meaning in the age of digital media and social networks that surround them is so important and prevalent. Your child will thrive in a community that finds that meaning through prayer, liturgy and celebration. They can bring to the modern world a value-based judgement that has at its heart Gospel values and the teaching and example of Christ. Catholic education is centred on Christ as its mentor and guide. All our schools celebrate their strengths through service to communities, inspiring achievement, being witnesses to faith and recognising the diversity and equality of each one of us. By choosing Catholic

secondary education you are allowing the high academic standards and attainment you seek for your child to be intertwined with a faith-based judgment system that both brings them closer to God and makes them eager to improve the world around them. Many of our schools are at the cutting edge of academic excellence and progress. Your child will flourish in that environment and bring them closer to knowing Christ and knowing themselves. That is indeed the Good News, and why Catholic schools exist.

Education

Westminster Record | October 2014

St Ignatius College Marks 120 Years On 10 September St Ignatius College marked 120 years since its foundation with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent at the school. Founded by the Society of Jesus in Stamford Hill in 1894, the school moved to its current site in Enfield in 1968 and continues to enjoy a strong relationship with Stamford Hill, with chaplains from the Jesuit community visiting the school regularly.

Cardinal Vincent, in his homily, spoke about the vision that founding Headmaster Fr Aloysius Cortie must have had when he first taught the 40 boys under his care. Referring to the day’s Gospel reading; ‘Fr Cortie would not have been able to gaze into the future or foresee future events; yet, he still had the courage to sow the seeds that would bear fruit, 30, 60 and 100-fold, over a century later.’ Today the school boasts a

student population of 1,200 boys, and four girls newly admitted to the sixth form this academic year. As Director of Education for the Diocese and former Headteacher JP Morrison explains: ‘The school continues to go from strength to strength. It has achieved its best-ever results in recent examinations.’ During the offertory procession, pupils brought forward a microscope, a guitar and a football as

Cardinal Vincent celebrates Mass and, below left, a new mosaic celebrating the 120th anniversary

symbols of their achievements and the achievements of their predecessors over the decades. The school’s illustrious alumni include Cardinal Heenan, film director Alfred Hitchcock, Beatles producer George Martin and journalist Brian Hanrahan, to name just a few. Showcasing some of this talent, a new mosaic celebrating the anniversary, designed by Assistant Head Catherine Goodwin and created with the help of some students and Art Start in Edmonton, was blessed by

Cardinal Vincent. The mosaic incorporates images of St Ignatius of Loyola, the Jesuit saints from whom each class takes its name, as well as references to Stamford Hill, the connection with St Ignatius Prep and Primary School in Tanzania, and the school badge. The culture of confidence, discipline and hospitality is evident in the welcome given to visitors. As the new Executive Head Michael Kelly explains, ‘It’s a special place with a sense of warmth and family, where all, students, staff and governors, serve one another.’

St Monica’s Catholic Primary School Turns 60 By Michael Ross, Deputy Headteacher On 17 September Cardinal Vincent visited St Monica’s Catholic Primary School, Southgate, to celebrate Mass as part of the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations. A special Mass to mark the occasion was concelebrated by Canon Shaun Lennard, Fr Paulo Bagini, Fr Andrew Gallagher, Fr Philip Dyer-Perry, Fr John O’Leary and Fr John Moffat SJ, who is a nephew of the school’s first Headteacher. As well as the current and fourth Headteacher Mrs Baptiste, the school's previous Head, Mr Ted Getley, was represented by his wife and son. Amongst invited guests, including governors and past staff, was Bernard Moger who was part of the Knights of St Columba committee which was instrumental in getting the Council to agree to build a school and Pat Bolger, the school’s first pupil. Children from Years 1 to 6 attended the Mass and heard from the Cardinal how important it was to continue to welcome Jesus into their hearts. After Mass, invited guests and staff were joined by the Cardinal for afternoon tea and representatives from the school’s past 60 years were able to share their experiences and memories of St Monica’s. The official 60th birthday for the school is on Thursday 13 November. Past pupils are invited to contact the school to share their memories during this anniversary year. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

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Westminster Record | October 2014

Director’s Spotlight ‘Let your glory shine out’

Heading home on the Underground a few days ago and flicking through the Evening Standard, my eye was caught by a good news story. The short piece entitled ‘No trouble with Young People’ was tucked away towards the bottom of the Comments Section on page 15 and easily overlooked; yet it was a testament to the hard work of countless people who support our young. New government figures suggest that our youth are becoming more ‘straightlaced’. Statistics covering drink, drugs, smoking and teenage pregnancies are ‘falling through the floor’, with religious background being suggested as one of the positive contributory factors. It seems to me that the more we put in, the more we get out, and whilst this is hardly revolutionary thinking, our young people do always respond when we give them time, offer support and guidance, and treat them as the maturing generation. So it is down to us to encourage their development, with training at the top of our priorities. I see that CAFOD is running a Young Leadership Training Course for Sixth Formers, to gain a Certificate in Leadership by covering a range of topics, including project management, communications, decisionmaking and presentation. The evidence of leadership development comes through involvement in social and justice projects, precisely the areas where young people thrive. More information can Page 8

be sourced by contacting youth@cafod.org.uk or by calling the CAFOD office on 020 7095 5309. I recently visited High Barnet Parish to spend an evening with Fr John McKenna, Mary Boland and their young people who had served as Redcaps at Lourdes. The evening was inspiring and I was there to see the Barnet Redcaps get their certificates as a part of the St Vincent de Paul Volunteering Programme. This is a wonderful way for our young people to get involved in activities that support their local community and for their efforts to be recognised. In a similar vein, we are hosting a Music Ministry Training Day at the Centre for Youth Ministry on 12 October as a part of our Young Adults Training Programme, having previously organised days covering Public Speaking and Media Management. We will continue to invest in these training days for our young people; if anyone has any ideas for future days, please do get in touch. I’m sure that there are countless other examples throughout the diocese of parishes and agencies supporting our youth and those young people working tirelessly to help those around them; the good news isn’t only in the Evening Standard.

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

On 20 September, Bishop John Sherrington celebrated the second annual Confirmation Pilgrimage to Walsingham. He was joined by 70 young people from across the Hertfordshire parishes who had received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the last year. Despite the cloudy weather, the day was a beautiful celebration of faith and growth. The day started with midday Mass in the Chapel of Reconciliation. Bishop John preached on the miracle of growth and on the call to be saints. Saturday was also the feast of the Korean martyrs, and Bishop John quoted from Pope Francis’ recent visit to South Korea, showing how just as the Lord made his glory shine forth in the heroic witness of the martyrs, so too he wants to make his glory shine in our lives. Young people from the diocese were

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

involved in all aspects of the Mass, from reading and serving to the excellent music provided by pupils at by John Henry Newman School in Stevenage. The day also included a time for catechesis, with three speakers bringing a new and different perspective on living lives of faith. Bishop John started with teaching on the Rosary, sharing the story of his Rosary and what it means to him; Michael and Anita, parish catechists from Welwyn Garden City, spoke about their family and how Jesus is an important member of it; and Fr Uchenna Odenigbo, School chaplain at St Michael’s in Garston, closed the catechesis by talking about missionary discipleship, calling us to live lives of witness. His advice was to ‘play, pray and serve’ in equal measure. Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Twitter at: twitter.com/dowym

After catechesis, all walked in silence the Holy Mile to the village of Walsingham. This was a time of reflection to think about all that had happened during the day. Finishing at the local parish church, John Henry Newman School led us into a short time of Adoration and Benediction, which brought the day to an end.

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

Youth

Westminster Record | October 2014

Chaplain’s Journal

Sixth Form Inductions

OCTOBER 2014 Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain

‘Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house’ (1 Peter 2:5). At the end of August we welcomed a new team of volunteer and core missionaries to our youth retreat centre at Spec. Many of you will know that Spec recently moved from the former Pastoral Centre at London Colney to new accommodation at Waxwell House in Pinner. It struck me when I met our new team of young missionaries that they had come not only to live in our new house, but that they were also being called to also form a kind of ‘spiritual house’ of which the New Testament speaks. These words of St Peter were probably part of an instruction to the baptised. He encourages them to form a house in the power of the Holy Spirit they have just received. It is the Holy Spirit who makes this family or community ‘spiritual’. Thus it is the Holy Spirit who creates the ‘real’ house, the house of God, which we call the living Church. Pope Benedict once described this work of the Spirit as a ‘creative power’

without which nothing can be ‘real’ at all. This is a beautiful, not to say daunting, task for our new missionaries. But what we endeavour to do at Spec is only a focus on what we are all called to do, wherever we find ourselves. Each one of us who bears the imprint of baptism is also called to co-operate in this creative force of the Spirit. Each one is called to be a trustworthy stone in the building of God’s house. Even if we are at times uncertain or see that our efforts alone seem insufficient, we can be certain that the house we form is made real by the Holy Spirit, and that it is built on the cornerstone which is Christ himself.

We want your News You can send us your latest news online, please email communications@ rcdow.org.uk To find out more about the Youth Ministry and experiences of our young people at: wym.rcdow.org.uk.

Last week, the Youth Ministry team went to St Charles’ and St Benedict’s colleges for their Sixth Form inductions. Both were fun-filled days, whilst contrasting in their content. At St Charles’, we provided team-building and participatory exercises for students, principally through the entertaining Dress-yourstudent-as-a-Mummy competition, which involved nominating a member of each of the teams to get wrapped up as an Egyptian mummy – in toilet paper, of course. The results were often quite funny to look at; though perhaps more entertaining were the ‘Mummy races’ afterwards, with students dressed head-to-toe in toilet paper hopping their way to the finish line. At St Benedict’s we organised more spiritual and contemplative activities. Fr Greg, a visiting Australian priest, gave an inspiring talk about the preciousness of time, finding the meaning of our lives and fulfilling our vocation. Beginning with a story from CS Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, he told the students that the most powerful weapon the Devil has is to make us think that we have plenty of time. On

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the contrary, Fr Greg charismatically articulated how time is precious and that rather than just following the secular narrative, we should aspire to live our lives with much greater purpose – because only when we root ourselves in God can we truly find happiness and meaning. The two school inductions

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were great occasions, and it was wonderful to be able to be present in supporting these students in their faith journey, wherever they are in that process. With another induction on the way this week, it is truly a blessing for the team to be able to support these young people in their spiritual maturity.

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

Page 9

CAFOD Young Leadership Training for Sixth Formers

CAFOD is running a leadership training programme for Sixth Form students from October 2014. The focus will be on gaining transferable leadership skills including communication, problem solving, team working and decision making. In order to gain the certificate, participants will have to demonstrate their leadership skills by working on local and global justice issues. CAFOD aims to inspire young leaders by giving them the opportunity to share the experiences of people working within our partner organisations across the globe. The skills gained will be invaluable when applying for jobs or higher education and it is also a great opportunity to meet other young people with an interest in social justice. The course will take place on four Saturdays at CAFOD’s head office, Romero House SE1 7JB, (25 October, 6 December, 7 February & 18 April); the certificate presentations will take place on Friday 10 July. There are only 50 places available and all completed applications should be received by Sunday 10 October. For an application form and more information, contact Sarah on youth@cafod.org.uk.

Westminster Record | October 2014

Pope Paul VI Lecture

Page 10

Peace-Building in the 21st Century Conference

By Barbara Kentish

By Cate Tuitt

By Jonathan Smith

Saturday, 24 January 2015 – Understanding CAFOD Day: for anyone wanting to learn more about CAFOD and how to get involved. Held in Amigo Hall SE1 7QE. Book online at ucd2015.eventbrite.co.uk. For more information or to book for this event, call 020 8449 6970 or email westminster@cafod.org.uk.

We want your News CAFOD partners Adan Pajeulo and Jessy Romero, of Partner Agency CEAS in Peru, will be sharing how climate change has been affecting their work. (© CAFOD)

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, in the rebuilt church severely damaged by the IRA’s 1993 Bishopsgate bomb, recently hosted a conference on peacebuilding in the 21st century attended by scholars, religious leaders, secularists, humanists and also wellsupported by Catholics. I spoke on the theme of grassroots communities and peace-building and their opportunities, challenges and limits. this challenge by asking, ‘Do we Relationships and building know our neighbours or do we trust are fundamental to just annoy them?’ peace. I was delighted that a The report also details the fellow panellist was the responses of participants on Secretary-General of the what attributes can contribute Muslim Council of Great to making community projects Britain, and I looked to find more effective, such as the quality of community encounter the common good in both our for example. traditions. Peace-building There are a wealth of means that as Abrahamic community services in Tower traditions we share much Hamlets and Wapping, but the more than what divides us. people we spoke with noted We must invest in tools and some important gaps, spaces practices now emerging, such where community could be as social and emotional valued more highly. Some gaps learning and life skills in are actual and some are only schools, which, with Catholic perceived. Yet perceptions do Social Teaching, teach the matter, because they reveal the dignity of the human being. extent of our awareness about Restorative justice is a community activities. All participants shared powerful and quickly growing inspiring stories of people and model and movement. It offers organisations working to make healing-oriented methods as the local community more an alternative to current welcoming. criminal justice approaches. These experiences, along These processes retain with suggestions for accountability, while also strengthening community, are creating conditions for conflict recorded in the report, entitled Welcome to Wapping: The value resolution to occur in the criminal justice system. of community in a Tower As people of all faiths, Hamlets village. While the cultures and traditions begin report details the experience of to share their stories of peace, one community in a single borough, its findings seem to love and connection in this suggest that this is an way, it may encourage others. experience that is shared by For every person who turns to other communities across the terrorism, bullying or violence capital. It is therefore of any kind, there are millions anticipated that the report will more who do not feel the hate be useful to organisations and or prejudice and who can be individuals looking for ways to encouraged along the path of strengthen local community. justice and peace.

The Value of Community

CAFOD Diary

Climate change is the single biggest threat to sustainable development around the world and CAFOD’s new campaign, One Climate, One World, calls on party leaders to act in offering protection to those most likely to be affected by the dangers of a changing climate, and to support the long-term transition from polluting fossil fuels to sustainable energy for all. At the same time, each of us will be challenged to live as sustainably as we can, to show politicians that we expect them to act too. The campaign will be launched on 18 October with a talk from two of CAFOD’s Peruvian partners speaking about how climate change has already started to affect their lives. Participants at the event will also have the opportunity to learn more about how they can take part in the campaign, with workshops including a Q&A session with Rob Elsworth, how to gain the livesimply parish reward and an introduction to the theology of climate change. Find out more and book places now at cafodclimatelaunch.eventbrite.co.uk, or contact CAFOD Westminster on 020 8449 6970 or westminster@cafod.org.uk

The Two World Wars – Lessons for Justice and Peace In the year when we mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, ‘Warnings from History’ was the title of the Hertfordshire Justice and Peace Day on 13 September in Welwyn Garden City. Next to the Peace Garden created by parishioner and activist Anne Stapleton, Fr Norbert Fernandes, Parish Priest of the three Welwyn parishes, welcomed Justice and Peace activists to a day which reflected on the two World Wars and the lessons that we can learn from them.

CAFOD is pleased to announce that Bishop Marcelo Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, will be the guest speaker for the annual Pope Paul VI Memorial Lecture for 2014. The evening will be chaired by television newsreader and journalist Julie Etchingham. Bishop Sorondo’s lecture will reflect on the two greatest challenges we face in a talk entitled ‘The Challenge of our Times: Climate and Poverty - An Agenda for Social Inclusion and Sustainable Development’. The Argentinian Bishop will share his reflections on the relationship between climate and poverty. The lecture will take place on Friday 7 November at 7pm in the Greenwood Theatre, Kings College, London SE1 3RA. Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance. To book, visit cafod.org.uk/lecture, or contact CAFOD Westminster: 020 8449 6970.

One Climate, One World: Time to Act

Justice & Peace

Westminster Record | October 2014

You can send us your latest news online, please email: communications @rcdow.org.uk Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

A masterly lecture on the rise of National Socialism in Germany was delivered by Dr Cyprian Blamires, editor of the Encyclopaedia of World Fascism. He pointed out the trail of deadly relations between France and Germany since the FrancoPrussian war and the conditions set by the Versailles Treaty for French revenge and German humiliation. He explained that the Christian churches, while not directly targeted by Hitler, would certainly have been his next victims had Germany won the war, and he, along with many Jewish authorities, did not blame the Catholic Church for its role. Scott Allbrecht of the Catholic Worker Farm gave an excellent Scriptural critique of pacifism and the actions of Catholic Worker members in opposing war. While most of us, he said, did not have the courage to give up our lives in the face of tanks and other weapons, we should not assume the Gospels are wrong. We simply don’t want peace enough, he declared. Jesus demonstrated the way of peace, which is at least as costly as the cost of war. It was an excellent and thought-provoking day in this centenary year when Christians are challenged more than ever to seek ways to resolve our conflicts other than by resort to violence. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

After undertaking a six-month listening process, the Hurtado Jesuit Centre in Wapping has published the results of a report on the value of local community. The report shares the voices of its neighbours in the diverse and dynamic village of Wapping. A closeknit community in the heart of the London Docklands, its long tradition of social engagement by Christian agencies and political reformers is challenged by rising inequality and isolation. The community listening project grew out of a desire to refine priorities to better fulfil the Centre’s mission to be a place of welcome in East London. As Centre Manager Kate Monkhouse explains: ‘The Jesuit tradition is to “serve where the need is greatest”. That first of all means being willing to serve, not to promote what we have to offer, but to listen and learn, to be ready to help alongside others and to build relationships of trust. Then we can discern how, given our resources, faith and values, we can best be of service through practical projects or spiritual accompaniment to those already working in charities, schools, cafés or youth centres nearby.’ As part of the process, the Centre interviewed 24 people involved in local community projects as participants and organisers. Many spoke about the challenges they faced in restoring value to community in the days of making do with less, where being a good neighbour can be lost in the busy-ness of life. One participant described

The report is available to download free on the website of the Centre at hurtadocentre.org.uk.

Cate Tuitt of the Justice and Peace Commission is a Trustee of Tower Hamlets Law Centre and a Board Member of East London Community Land Trust. Page 11

CAFOD Young Leadership Training for Sixth Formers

Westminster Record | October 2014

Pope Paul VI Lecture

Page 10

Peace-Building in the 21st Century Conference

By Barbara Kentish

By Cate Tuitt

By Jonathan Smith

We want your News CAFOD partners Adan Pajeulo and Jessy Romero, of Partner Agency CEAS in Peru, will be sharing how climate change has been affecting their work. (© CAFOD)

The Value of Community

CAFOD Diary

One Climate, One World: Time to Act

Justice & Peace

Westminster Record | October 2014

You can send us your latest news online, please email: communications @rcdow.org.uk Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

The report is available to download free on the website of the Centre at hurtadocentre.org.uk.

Cate Tuitt of the Justice and Peace Commission is a Trustee of Tower Hamlets Law Centre and a Board Member of East London Community Land Trust. Page 11

Parish Profile

Westminster Record | October 2014

Our Lady of Dolours, Fulham Road By Chris O’Callaghan

Mention ‘The Fulham Road’ to a football fan and they will say one thing: Chelsea FC. The famous West London street has become synonymous with the club. We always see fans in prayer at times of great tension and drama. But if you are seeking some divine inspiration before entering the famous Stamford Bridge stadium, you might want to walk a bit further along the road to visit the Church of Our Lady of Dolours. The parish is administered by eight Servite Friars led by Fr Pat Ryall, an Irishman from County Cork, now in his third stint as Parish Priest at Our Lady’s – ‘third time lucky’, he tells parishioners. The Servites first came to this area of London in 1864, but it was another ten years before they began to build a church in the garden of their new priory. The foundation stone was blessed by Archbishop Manning in 1874 and opened the following year by the then-Cardinal. Walking along the Fulham Road, though, you would be forgiven for missing the church entirely. Although the entrance to the property is on the street, the church building itself is set back from the road and largely hidden. To find the church, you walk along a colonnade before entering the narthex.

The church is larger than you would assume from street level and is both large and high. Recent renovation of the stonework has made it bright and welcoming, but your eye will be drawn to the various pieces of artwork and sculpture which would be the envy of many parishes. Chief among these is a replica of Michelangelo’s famous Pieta which sits at the back of the church. It is almost the same size as the original in St Peter’s in Rome and Fr Pat explained how it captures the greatest aspect of the Order’s charism. He described how the Marian spirituality of the Order gives the Friars a great sense of compassion, like Mary at the foot of the Cross, which the sculpture captures perfectly. Although called Fulham Road, the parish is actually in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. These names naturally conjure images of wealth although Fr Pat is keen to point out the ‘cosmopolitan’ make-up of the parish today, in contrast to his first appointment here in the 1970s. There is a large Filipino and West African community and a large Spanish contingent also, which celebrates Mass in Spanish on a Sunday. As a reflection of the changing nature of the parish, Fr Pat says that in the 1970s this Mass

Interior of Our Lady of Dolours, Fulham Road Page 12

Parish Priest Fr Pat Ryall with the replica of Michelangelo’s famous Pieta statue at the back of the Church.

was principally for people from mainland Spain; however, there are now many South Americans present. Although there is a variety of financial circumstances among parishioners, he is keen to stress that in the parish everyone is treated equally and financial wealth is left at the door. Fr Pat is proud that the parish is deeply involved in the Servite Primary School, which is just a stone’s throw from the church. Students often serve on the altar or sing in the choir, with parents and teachers taking an active part in parish life. He commended the staff for their efforts in passing on the faith with such diligence and dedication, even to non-Catholics who are interested. In September the parish celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding and the arrival of the Servites. Cardinal Vincent led celebrations on Sunday 14 September with over 500 parishioners filling the church.

Concelebrating were the friars of Fulham Road and 24 other members of the Order from across the world who have leadership roles, including Priors Provincial. On Monday 15, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Prior General, Fr Gottfried Wolff OSM, celebrated a special Mass at the parish. Father Pat said he felt a great sense of pride that the leaders of the Order to which he has dedicated over 40 years of his life were present to mark the momentous anniversary in the parish he has served for over 20 years. I asked Fr Pat at the end of our conversation what he thought was the greatest challenge in the future. He paused for a long time and thought deeply before saying: ‘We must keep the flame of faith alive in an ever more secular city. We must constantly be connecting with those in our parish and re-connecting with those who have fallen away from it’.

Our Lady of Sorrows with a dagger in her heart. Representations of Our Lady of Sorrows normally have 7 daggers to represent Mary’s sorrows.

Founded: 1864 Consecrated: 1953 Mass Times: (Sat 6.30pm), 8.30, 10 (Family), 11.15 (Spanish), 12.15pm, 7pm Address: St Mary’s Priory, 264 Fulham Road, SW10 9EL Telephone: 020 7352 6965 Website: www.servitechurch.org

Diocese

Westminster Record | October 2014

Bishop John Appeals for Help with Retired Priests This year the diocese’s Sick & Retired Priests’ Fund keeps its 35th birthday. Set up in 1979, it supports sick and elderly priests of the diocese, ensuring that every retired priest has somewhere to live, frequently a vital issue as many priests do not have a home of their own. It also helps those who are struggling with disability and can arrange home help, nursing care or sheltered accommodation if that becomes necessary. The Fund is managed by a committee which includes both working and retired priests and a key part of its role is to visit sick and elderly priests on a regular basis to ensure that all is well. These visits also often lead to small but important initiatives, such as organising transport to the local church, doing a bit of shopping or sorting out a telephone for the hard of hearing. The Fund is a charity which depends on donations, but 35 years on it is struggling to make ends meet. This is both

because the number of retired priests has grown greatly since 1979 and because of the increased cost of providing key services, particularly accommodation and residential care. The annual parish collection for the Sick & Retired Priests’ Fund takes place on Sunday 9 November and Bishop John Arnold, who chairs the Fund’s committee, has appealed for widespread support. ‘Most of our priests work until their mid-seventies and, after a lifetime of service, our job is to ensure that they can live out their lives in comfort and with dignity. But we can only do this if we have the funds to do so. I know that many people are struggling to make ends meet and I can only ask everyone to give as much as they can reasonably afford.’ Donations to the Sick & Retired Priests’ Fund can be made online at www.rcdow.org.uk/ donations

Enabling a retired priest to join in celebrating the Liturgy

‘Growing in Faith’: Projecting into the Future

Hampstead’s catechist Brenden Thompson is employed through Growing in Faith funds

By now most parishioners have had a chance to learn about Growing in Faith. More than 160 parishes have already participated, 1,200 volunteers have reached out to 65,000 homes, and 17,000 families and individuals have responded with a gift or pledge. What started out as an initiative aimed at strengthening three pillars of the Church in the diocese has developed into a parish-centred effort. Clergy and parishioners have seized the opportunity to raise funds for local needs, identifying more than 250 projects which could not have been undertaken out of normal offertory income. In a little under three years more than £12 million has been pledged for a variety of projects. These include: a youth worker in Sudbury, a catechist in Hampstead, church

refurbishments in North Harrow and a new parish centre in Welwyn Garden City. Five parishes have also looked beyond their own needs and have committed £500,000 to help poorer parishes through the Trinity Fund.

Growing in Faith is bringing a new focus and energy to many parishes. It is ensuring that we can support our clergy and provide increased services to those in most need. Between now and Christmas it is hoped that this

momentum will spread even further. 30 parishes have joined last month, resulting in additional projects being planned and even more people expressing their love for the Church and their faith in a practical way. Page 13

Marriage & Family Life

Westminster Record | October 2014

EXPLORE: The Realities of Marriage In September the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales awarded the diocese, via the Office for Marriage and Family Life, a grant of £25,000 to expand the EXPLORE project in schools. This will enable the employment of a part-time development officer, who will help recruit volunteer married couples to discuss marriage with secondary school students and youth groups across the diocese. EXPLORE will be a major pillar in efforts to raise awareness and achieve effective ‘remote marriage preparation’. Edmund Adamus, the Director for Marriage and Family Life, explains how this grant will help:

Called to Discipleship The theme of the latest booklet for faith-sharing groups this autumn centres on what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Entitled Jesus, My Lord, the booklet contains six sessions for small groups, a scheme of daily prayer drawn from the Prayer of the Church and, new for this autumn, pages designed to help parents share the booklet’s theme with their children. There are also full-colour illustrations to aid meditation and prayer. In his foreword to the booklet Cardinal Vincent commends the resource saying: ‘We all became “missionary disciples” at our baptism.

However, each one of us lives out our missionary discipleship in our own particular way. As such we need to ask ourselves in a truly personal manner: Who am I as a disciple? As a missionary, what have I to do and say?’ Sessions with the new booklet will help us explore our understanding of discipleship as the basis of our Page 14

What do you hope this new development officer will accomplish? The Instrumentum Laboris produced for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family describes the importance of the EXPLORE project: ‘Long before young people present themselves for marriage, they need assistance in coming to know what the Church teaches and why she teaches it.’ It is a vital contribution to building the culture of vocation to matrimony in Catholic secondary schools and parishes. This is why we call it ‘remote marriage preparation.’ To have someone focused solely on this will enable a rapid start to expanding this work. How far do you hope to extend the programme? It is our aim to deliver EXPLORE events in at least 22 secondary schools over the next two years, which would be half of Catholic secondary schools in the diocese. Staff are interested in the programme as part of the PSHE and Catholic formation for students and now we need the couples to keep up with the demand. Persuading couples two or three times a year to talk with adolescents is more difficult, but once couples realise the difference it makes to the young people, and also the enrichment it brings to their own relationship, we are confident that the response rate will increase.

personal vocation and impel us to use our gifts to build the kingdom of God. Just as Simon Peter made a conscious decision to leave everything in order to follow Jesus, we are asked to do the same, consciously to decide that he is our Lord. Over six weeks faith sharing groups are invited to contemplate what this means in terms of our daily living. The season will start on Sunday 12 October and finish on Saturday 22 November. However, the booklets can be used at any time of year. If you would like to find out more about Jesus, My Lord or any of the other exploring faith booklets, order copies or wish to explore the possibilities of small groups in your parish please email smallgroups@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7798 9152.

What sort of couples are you looking to recruit for the programme? All couples who are validly married in the eyes of the Church are eligible to volunteer. There is no restriction on age or length of time married. Visits to schools happen during the week, so couples must be available then. At the moment the volunteers tend to be older or retired or couples whose work patterns are so flexible they can work around the school timetable. We will, however, be looking to bring couples to Confirmation and youth and young adult groups which gather in evenings and weekends, which will, we hope, open up the chance for more to volunteer. We also need people to come forward to fulfil the role of ‘Adviser Coach’, to work alongside the volunteer couple in the classroom to prepare the students beforehand with a simple exercise and gather feedback afterwards. Anyone can volunteer to be an Adviser Coach and they do not need to be married.

A couple speak to young people in a secondary school about marriage

Small Groups Small faith-groups in the diocese are welcome to invite Margaret Wickware to visit one of their sessions during the coming season. As a member of the writing team of the Faith-Sharing booklets since 2006, she has been visiting groups over the past couple of seasons and says: ‘Feedback on the materials helps me; and members of many groups are interested in hearing about additional resources that they may use between seasons. The challenge of transmitting the faith to grandchildren is often mentioned as well, so various ideas and resources can also be discussed.’ Mrs Wickware can be reached at smallgroups@rcdow.org.uk or through the Agency for Evangelisation offices. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Catechesis

Westminster Record | October 2014

Bishop commends Catechists for their Service On Saturday 13 September Bishop John Arnold blessed and commissioned 85 parish catechists for service in the parishes of the diocese. It was a great expression of the Bishops’ pledge of support and encouragement for over 5,000 catechists who work with sacramental preparation, co-ordinate parish religious education or volunteer as catechists, youth ministers, RCIA team members and adult education facilitators in our diocese. We must also remember the parents and families who accept their primary responsibility for the faith formation of their children in the home. Mary Crowley, the diocesan catechetical advisor, called the assembled catechists ‘instruments of God’. She added: ‘It is good, opportune and timely to recognise our catechists, who fulfil the sacred duty of handing on our

Catholic faith to the next generation.’ The Church sees catechesis as the responsibility of the entire faith community. As there are fewer priests and religious sisters and brothers, who for years carried the burden of the formal teaching of religion to young people, so opportunity has arisen for the laity. Not only are lay people doing a great deal of the work in their parishes, but some are even working as foreign missionary-catechists. That being said, the diocesan catechetical office has identified four particular challenges to its work as it goes forward: 1) The rise of an increasingly secular and materialistic society, which is often at odds with our Christian message and values. 2) An emphasis on individual rights, which

has eroded the concept of the common good of all peoples and our ability to call people to accept revealed teaching that cannot be changed by democratic process. 3) The disintegration of the community and social structures that once supported religious faith and encouraged family life, which has been hastened by a media- and technologydriven culture that makes catechesis especially difficult. 4) Religious instruction and catechesis are in competition with entertainment and sports for time in people’s lives. Moreover, catechists must work in a multicultural context, reach out to the unevangelised and undercatechised, and make

special provision for those with physical and mental disabilities. However, no one ever said it was going to be be easy. Good catechists can still turn these challenges into assets. They can embrace and make better use of media and technology in catechesis, even as they recognise that these tools, helpful and necessary as they may be in the modern world, can never completely replace the face-to-face contact between catechist and disciple that is at the heart of Christian teaching. To deal with the stresses of family life and time pressures, catechists themselves can serve as models of good priority setting, community involvement, time management and, above all, generosity of spirit. These ‘personal sacrifices that catechists make to teach in the

name of Christ and his Church’ were cited by Bishop John as particularly inspiring. The Diocesan Catechetical Office works in Vaughan House and offers opportunites for training and ongoing formation for catechists using a variety of resources. For more details, email catadmin@rcdow.org.uk or see www.rcdow.org.uk/faith

Page 15

Vocations

Westminster Record | October 2014

Taking up the Challenge

SJPs Welcome Four More Women to the Congregation The Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace (CSJP) joyfully celebrated four women taking vows on Saturday 6 September. Three of them, Srs Katrina Alton, Sheena George, and Juliana Ngozi Iwuagwu - made their First Profession whilst Dorothy Verna was welcomed into membership under Life Vows. All four professions took place as part of the 22nd General Chapter held in Seattle. The three Sisters making first vows have just completed their novitiate in Cricklewood. Novices are given a variety of opportunities to experience life and ministry as a Sister throughout the Congregation’s three regions in the United Kingdom and the east and west coasts of the United States. The three new Sisters come from different places and walks of life. Sr Katrina is from Belfast and worked in London on a variety of social action projects, from peace campaigns to work with the Irish traveller community. Sr Juliana from Nigeria undertook her novitiate working with Pax Christi here in the diocese. Sheena George was born in Kerala, India and worked as a computer and RE teacher before entering the Congregation. She also undertook social action projects during her novitiate. We wish all the new members of the Congregation a fruitful and fulfilled life in Christ’s service.

Year of Consecrated Life The ‘Year of Consecrated Life’ announced by the Pope earlier this year will begin on 30 November and end on 2 February 2016, the annual World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. The Pope is asking the Church’s religious sisters, brothers and priests, together with those in other forms of

consecrated life, to ‘wake up the Church’ with their testimony of faith, holiness and hope. The year will be an opportunity for religious congregations to reflect on their particular charisms, the challenges they face today and on their continuing contribution to the mission of the Church.

Here in the diocese we are marking the Year by dedicating all of our monthly Vocations Discernment Group meetings for young adults to reflections and discussions with members of different religious congregations. We begin on Friday 24 October with Fr Matt Blake, a Discalced Carmelite, speaking on St Teresa of Avila, and a month later, on Friday 28 November, Fr Gianni Notarianni, an Augustinian, speaking on St Augustine. Both will reflect on why they have personally been inspired by the saint of their own congregation and what they

feel the saint and their congregation have to offer the Church and those discerning their vocation today. It promises to be an inspiring journey across the diverse and rich landscape of consecrated life, celebrating its continuing relevance and fertility for the world. The Westminster Vocations Discernment Group is for young adults (18-30’s) seeking to know God’s will for their lives. We meet from 7-9pm on the fourth Sunday of each month in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace, next to Westminster Cathedral.

For more information and a full programme of the group’s meetings, see www.rcdow.org.uk/vocations or contact Fr Richard at richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk

In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis outlined a challenging vision for evangelisation, arguing that ‘we need an evangelisation capable of shedding light on the new ways of relationship’ in the world around us and that ‘the Church is called to be at the service of a difficult dialogue’ (EG, 74). He invited us to rethink and develop our pastoral ministry and ‘to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelisation’ (EG, 33). The Agency for Evangelisation, together with the Office for Marriage and Family Life, invites all those involved in different ministries and other areas of service in parish life to a day conference looking at how to make our pastoral ministry more effective. Bishop Kieran Conry, head of the Bishops’ Conference’s Department for Evangelisation, will present a keynote address and workshops and discussion will follow, led by Mgr Malachy Keegan, Dr Birute Briliute and the HTB [ALPHA] Relationship Central. The conference will be held 25 October 2014 at St Aloysius Church NW1 1TA from 10am-4pm (lunch provided). Places are limited, so please register to attend by emailing livingfaith@rdow.org.uk or calling 020 7931 6078. Suggested donation is £15. The Agency for Evangelisation hosts a series of adult formation courses and talks throughout the year. To find out more visit rcdow.org.uk/faith. The Office for Marriage and Family Life promotes events and resources to support couples and families. For more information visit rcdow.org.uk/diocese/ marriage-and-family-life

For more information on vocations please contact Fr Richard Nesbitt richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7349 5624 If you have a story or an event you would like to have featured on this page, please contact communications@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7798 9030 Page 16

Vocations

Westminster Record September 2011

Westminster Record | October 2014

Stefan Kaminski Welcomed to the Priesthood By Mgr Jim Curry The ordination of Stefan Kaminski was a moment of great celebration for the parish of Our Lady of Victories in Kensington. Stefan was baptised, made his First Holy Communion, and was confirmed at OLOV Church. He went to local Catholic schools and served Mass at the parish until he went on to seminary formation, first in Valladolid and then at the Venerable English College in Rome. Cardinal Vincent celebrated the Ordination Mass, which was attended by 78 other priests, fellow seminarians and over 500 guests, including the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea. The London Oratory Schola provided the music for the Mass. Those present could think of no better way to mark the completion of major renovation of the church than by the ordination of a new priest for the diocese.

Liturgy Blog Nominated The Little Sisters with Big Hearts for Prize Sr Catherine Purdy, a Little Sister of Jesus, tells us about her order and ministry ‘Living Eucharist’, the blog written by Fr Allen Morris who chairs the Diocesan Liturgy Commission, has just been shortlisted in the ‘Up and Coming’ category of the Christian New Media Awards 2014. Fr Allen, who is also Parish Priest at Our Lady’s, St John’s Wood, started the daily blog a few months ago as a means of helping parishioners and other Catholics to deepen their participation in Sunday Mass. The blog uses a combination of text and images to allow visitors to engage on different levels and derive a deeper understanding. ‘Too much of our liturgy and catechesis is word-based, and too little is symbolic or makes use of images,’ he explains. The popularity of the blog has spread around the world. As Fr Allen says: ‘part of the joy comes from seeing where it

is being read. Technology has enabled the blog to reach people in 25 countries on five out of seven continents.’ Now in their eighth year, the Christian New Media Awards ‘celebrate and encourage excellence in Christian engagement online’. Winners will be announced on 1 November.

To read the blog, which is updated daily, go to http://livingeucharist. wordpress.com/

in the diocese. Madeleine Hutin, who took the name Little Sister Magdeleine of Jesus, founded our community 75 years ago. She felt called to live among poor nomadic Arabs in the Sahara to be a presence of God’s love. The Little Sisters are from over 65 nationalities, with communities in 50 countries, over a quarter of which are among Muslims. We choose especially to be in places of conflict and division, or where the human person is not respected. Following the example of Charles de Foucauld, Brother Charles of Jesus, the heart of our vocation as Little Sisters is to open up the treasures of the mystery of Bethlehem and Nazareth. Jesus, the image of the Father, comes to us as a child in a feeding trough for animals and spends his life ‘going down’ to Nazareth, and finally dying on the Cross as the Nazarene. We want to spend our life seeking to

contemplate God in the small events and decisions of everyday life in the footsteps of Jesus, who made everything in our ordinary life a meeting place with God. Our congregation lives as a small family at the heart of the local community. We are based in St Monica’s parish, Hoxton which has a strong West African presence and we live in a three-bedroom high-rise council flat. This, however, is not a hindrance to our mission; instead it is a privileged place to meet with people of every race and background. We take ordinary jobs to pay the rent and to share the questions and hopes of those whose life we share. Friday night Gospel sharing, which is open to all, is a special moment each week. Community prayer and Eucharistic Adoration are pivotal moments in the structure of each day for us, as well as meditation on the Gospels. But we want our

whole life to be a prayer which is handed over in union with Jesus’s gift of himself on the Cross, in intercession for the peace and reconciliation of all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. To find out more information about us, please see: www.jesuscaritas.info

An icon of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, whose example the Little Sisters follow. Page 17

Saints & Obituaries St Bruno, Priest St Bruno, now honoured as the Founder of the Carthusian Order, lived much of his life in what we would call a very nonmonastic setting. Born in about 1030 in Cologne, he apparently moved at a young age to Reims in France for his education, completed in 1055. His return to Cologne, however, lasted only a year before he was recalled to Reims to take over the supervision of the Episcopal School and other educational establishments of which he had so recently been a student. This certainly looks to have been a time of intellectual achievement, with many later funeral tributes recording both his learning and effective educational influence on many later leaders in the Church, both monastic and secular. Twenty years were spent in this way before his next appointment, as Chancellor of the diocese. This was less to his liking, involving wider administration and unedifying, even violent disputes. As it looked likely that a bishopric would soon be his, Bruno left with a couple of friends to fulfil a vow which he had already made to seek greater

Page 18

Westminster Record | October 2014

(Monday 6 October)

solitude. At first they joined a small group which would in time become the nucleus of the Cistercian Order. This did not work out, although Bruno had by now (1084) gathered a group of four priests and two lay brothers to be with him. Under the guidance of St Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble, the group settled in an isolated mountainous spot called the Chartreuse in the Lower Alps. Here St Hugh joined them in a life of prayer, study and evangelical poverty. Yet Bruno had only six years here before being summoned to Rome by his former student, now Pope Urban II, who felt himself in dire need of wise counsel and support. The role played by Bruno in Rome remains largely hidden from history. When not in the city itself he was able to be with his Carthusian brethren in Calabria, but always within summoning distance by Pope Urban. In this way our Saint spent the remaining 11 years of his life, from 1090 to 1101. Funerary rolls about him contain statements from no less than 178 witnesses who had known him and experienced his life and teaching. Pre-eminently they celebrate his prayer, mortification and devotion to

Our Lady, characteristics which have marked the Carthusian Order ever since, with all Charterhouses throughout the world being dedicated to her Annunciation. In the spirit of humble simplicity, St Bruno’s followers never sought his canonisation, hiddenness and humility being accounted of greater worth. Only in 1623 did Pope Gregory XV formally proclaim that sanctity which has given so much to the Church in the Carthusian way.

Frs Robert Gates & Alan Ashton RIP Fr Robert Howard Gates, known to many as Fr Bobby, died peacefully on the morning of 15 September at Laurel Dene Care Home in Hampton, west London. Born in August 1920, he was 94 years old at the time of his death. Fr Robert served as a Captain during the Second World War and was involved in the organisation of the D-Day landings in 1944. Following the war, he studied law at Oxford and it was there that he felt called to the priesthood. He studied at the Beda College in Rome and was ordained to the Priesthood for the diocese by Cardinal Clemente Micara in March 1955 in Rome. He served as Private Secretary to the Cardinal, assistant priest at Commercial Road and St Charles' Square, chaplain at Westminster Cathedral then chaplain at HMP Wormwood Scrubs before taking his final placement as parish priest at Parsons Green which was a long and fruitful ministry. He retired in 1995, but continued to remain active as a ‘supply’ Priest, giving assistance when needed in local parishes and in schools. May he rest in peace. Fr Alan Ashton died on 19 September. He was 69 years of age. Born in Wigan in 1945, he worked in retail before training as a teacher. He was

Head of R.E. in Bishop Ullathorne School in Coventry and St Mary's Catholic School in Sidcup. The vocation to the priesthood came later in life for Fr Alan and he was ordained to the priesthood at New Southgate parish in December 1993 by then-Bishop Vincent Nichols. Following ordination he served as Assistant Priest in Kenton, Parish Priest in Royston and Chaplain to the Cathedral before his final appointment as Parish Priest of Wembley Preston Road. He retired in June 2009. As a priest he loved the Sacrament of Confession and in his retirement spent regular sessions in Westminster Cathedral helping (as he saw it) to “lift other people’s burdens” He was always on the lookout for those (like himself) who were experiencing ill-health and offering them the comforts of the Sacrament of the Sick. May he rest in peace.

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

Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | October 2014

Liturgical Calendar - October

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

Prayer Groups S UNDAYS 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.

M ONDAYS Mothers’ Prayers at St Dominic’s Priory, Haverstock Hill NW5 4LB Mondays 2.303.30pm in the Lourdes chapel. All are welcome.

T UESDAYS Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Tuesdays 6-9pm concluding with Benediction at Newman House, 111 Gower Street WC1E 6AR. Details 020 7387 6370. Prayers for London at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden. Tuesdays 7.30pm. Organised by the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road NW10 9AX. Vocations Prayer Group Second Tuesday of the month 8pm at 47C Gaisford Street NW5 2EB. Taizé at St. James’, Spanish Place, W1U 3UY. Every 1st Tuesday of the month. Email: penny28hb@aol.com or just come along

W EDNESDAYS Wednesdays on the Wall (WOTW). Every first Wednesday 6pm at All Hallows on the Wall, 83 London Wall EC2M 5ND.

A short service of prayer and reflection at 6pm, coffee at 6.45pm followed by discussion. Corpus Christi Contemplative Prayer Group for Young Adults Wednesdays from 7pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. For further details please contact corpuschristipg@yahoogroups. co.uk. Evangelisation prayer group for young adults meets from 7pm on Wednesdays at Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX. For further details please contact Armel at apostles.jesus@yahoo.co.uk.

1 Wed

St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin & Doctor

2 Thu 3 Fri

The Holy Guardian Angels feria, 26th Week of Year 2; Harvest Fast Day; Friday abstinence

4 Sat

St Francis of Assisi

5 Sun

+ 27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

6 Mon

feria, 27th Week of Year 2 or St Bruno, Priest

7 Tue

Our Lady of the Rosary

8 Wed 9 Thu

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

10 Fri

feria or St Paulinus of York, Priest; Friday abstinence

11 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary

12 Sun

+ 28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

13 Mon

ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR, Patron of the

14 Tue

Diocese feria, 28th Week of Year 2 or St Callistus I, Pope & Martyr

T HURSDAYS 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.

F RIDAYS Association of Divorced and Separated Catholics Every third Friday of the month. All divorced and separated Catholics are welcome. Call Frank or Christine 020 8422 1591. 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 Every Friday 7.30pm Prayer, Praise and Teaching. First Friday is a healing Mass. Details: 020 8748 2632.

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

15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri

St Teresa of Jesus, Virgin & Doctor feria or St Hedwig, Religious or St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr; Friday abstinence

18 Sat

ST LUKE, Evangelist

19 Sun

+ 29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

20 Mon

feria, 29th Week of Year 2

21 Tue

feria

22 Wed

feria or St John Paul II, Pope

23 Thu

feria or St John of Capistrano, Priest

24 Fri

feria or St Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop; Friday abstinence

25 Sat

feria or Blessed Virgin Mary

26 Sun

+ 30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

27 Mon

feria, 30th Week of Year 2

28 Tue

STS SIMON AND JUDE, Apostles

29 Wed

Blessed Martyrs of Douai College

30 Thu

feria

31 Fri

feria; Friday abstinence

Praying with Pope Francis in October Universal Intention: That the Lord may grant peace to those parts of the world most battered by war and violence. For Evangelisation: That World Mission Day may rekindle in every believer zeal for carrying the Gospel into all the world. St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club meets on every Sunday of the year for walks around London and the Home Counties. Contact: antoinette_adkins2000@yahoo.co.uk 020 8769 3643 or see www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com. Free Catholic Tours. ‘Saints and Scholars’ walk first Sunday of the month, including Mass. Contact Peter on 07913904997 or circlingthesquaretours@hotmail.co.uk.

Other regular Masses Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm, Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QW. Young Adults Mass First & Third Sunday of the month, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. Quiet prayer 7.15pm, Mass 7.30pm. Social gathering afterwards. Contact: organise@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 Fridays at 12 noon. Mass in the Lady Chapel of St Albans Abbey AL1 1BY. 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 Fridays only. Low Mass 6pm St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Road E9 7SF. First Fridays only. Low Mass 6.30pm, Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Second Fridays 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.

Page 19

Spotlight

Westminster Record | October 2014

The Synod on the Family

Continued from front page Similarly, when preparing couples for marriage, the preparation should ‘include opening up and inviting the couple to see and understand marriage as a sacrament and each other as instruments of grace in that sacrament.’ He pointed out that marriage is ‘a witness to society’ and should be an ‘actor’ in that society for its good. As he takes his place in the Synod, the Cardinal will be addressing these themes. Synod: Ordinary and Extraordinary By definition, a synod of bishops gathers in general session to deal with matters which directly concern the good of the entire Church. According to Canon Law, it is Page 20

an extraordinary synod if it ‘deals with matters which require a speedy solution’. The Cardinal will take a direct part in the proceedings of the Synod as President of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. As Cardinal Vincent explained, this Extraordinary Synod is only one part of a process which began last autumn and will continue into a General Synod in autumn 2015, most likely concluding with the issue of a papal document, such as an Exhortation, for example, in 2016. In the first stage in autumn 2013 a questionnaire was presented to Catholics around the world to find out how they understood the teachings of the Church about the Sacrament of Matrimony and their lived experience of

marriage. By now, most of us are familiar with the concerns raised by respondents in the West about the pastoral needs of divorced and remarried Catholics. In other parts of the world, however, other themes and concerns, such as polygamy and the frequent situation of abandoned families emerged. These concerns, as well as the general themes around marriage and family life which emerged from the questionnaire, were summarised in a working document called the Instrumentum Laboris, which was widely distributed around the world. At the Consistory in February, when Cardinal Vincent was admitted to the College of Cardinals, some preliminary discussions took place among those who were

assembled as they began to think about the challenges to the family and themes presented in the working document. In addition to the Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences from around the world, the Synod in October will gather clergy, religious and some lay representatives, including married couples. Unlike previous assemblies, when presentations were made throughout the day and discussions then took place in the evening, there will be time set aside for discussion of each day’s theme in the afternoon. Also, for the first time, married couples will be invited to address the Synod each day, once the bishop entrusted with the day’s topic has opened the session with an explanation.

Patron Saints The Pope asked for a day of prayer ahead of the Synod, which took place on 28 September. He has also asked for the prayers of the two patron saints of the Synod: Pope St John XXIII, as the 'guided guide' inspired by the Holy Spirit, and Pope St John Paul II, known as the Pope and Teacher of the Family. The Instrumentum Laboris, other documents and coverage of the Synod can be found on the Vatican website Vatican.va/en, and the Bishops’ Conference website at cbcew.org.uk. Updates will also be available on the Diocese of Westminster website at rcdow.org.uk, where you can also view Cardinal Vincent’s press conference video. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster