It is what it says on the box
Westminster Youth Ministry
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Page 15 April 2013
“Christ is the centre” Pope Francis
"Habemus Papam!" Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires took the name Francis on his election as the 266th Pope and Successor to St Peter on 13 March. In his homily at the Mass of Thanksgiving the next day, The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster said: “Once Pope Francis had appeared upon the balcony with that lovely smile, his simplicity and humility evident, the initial surprise soon gave way to the certainty that this is an inspired and inspiring choice. Yes, this is the work of the Holy Spirit.”
“Don’t forget the poor” Until now the new Pope has been living in a small flat, having given up the formal bishop’s residence, and travelling on public transport. What is most noticeable is his relaxed and jovial manner in which he communicates and engages with Cardinals, Heads of State, and the crowds that throng inside St Peter’s Square. One of his first audiences was with more than 5000 journalists in the Paul VI Hall where he explained how he felt inspired to take the name Francis following words of encouragement from his friend, Cardinal Claudio Hummes of San Paolo: “Don’t forget the poor”. “And that struck me ...The poor,” he said, “Immediately I thought of St Francis of Assisi. Francis was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected Creation.” Like Pope Benedict XVI before him, Francis places Christ at the very heart of his ministry: “Christ is the centre... he said, “Christ is the reference point at the heart of the Church, without Him, Peter and the Church would not exist.”
Pope Francis talking to the more than 5,000 journalists after his election, receiving them in audience in the Paul VI Hall
Westminster Record April 2013
Editorial
Keeping it Simple
Bishop John Arnold
Just a month ago we were reeling from the surprise announcement of Pope Benedict’s retirement. The pace has hardly slowed since then. The world’s media have been busy and it must be said that they handled coverage of the conclave with sensitivity and generosity. But so much was written, mainly inaccurately, about how the conclave would produce a new Pope. Even when the white smoke went up after the fifth ballot, there were those who were so sure that one of the “favourites” must have been elected, only to hear the name Bergoglio and
to be mystified about how such an “outsider” could have been elected. The story rolled on with accounts that Cardinal Bergoglio had been runner up in the 2007 conclave. Was he? Who will ever know for certain but the Cardinals of that conclave who witnessed the election? But the surprises continue. From his first appearance on the balcony, Pope Francis has been setting a new style which may well give a new energy and direction for the Church. He is to be a Pope for his own time. He is to have, it would seem, little regard for precedent: Referring to himself frequently as Bishop of Rome rather than Pope, standing at the back door of the parish church to greet the people after Mass like a parish priest, paying his own hotel bill and shunning the use of his limousine. And the key words and phrases that he chooses as foundations for all that he says are equally engaging: service of the poor, a poor church, protection of the weak and vulnerable. The momentum has been maintained, and even grows. It is said that a week is a long time in politics. It has certainly been a long time even in the Vatican”! What are we to expect in the coming months? Who knows? We can
Westminster Record – Contact us certainly expect the values of the Gospel to be the agenda, and priorities will arise that have been part of the Pope’s pastoral experience in Buenos Aires. We can probably expect that the simplicity of this man’s life will cascade down, which may bring a greater simplicity within the machinery of the Roman Curia. There are those who claim that Pope Francis is “Theologically conservative” and he will not discuss or tackle major theological questions. I think we should wait and see. I suspect that this will be a pontificate full of surprises. And then, there was that other theologically conservative archbishop from South America who had plenty of radical things to say to the Church: Archbishop Oscar Romero! One thing seems certain. This Pope is not one for missing an opportunity. We will do well to follow all that he says and see how his thinking will encourage and challenge us to be the peacemakers and members of a Church in service of the poor.
Bishop John Arnold Editor, Westminster Record
Editor Bishop John Arnold communications@rcdow.org.uk Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue, SW1P 1QJ Deputy Editor Jo Siedlecka 020 7267 3616 jsiedlecka@gmail.com Design Julian Game Proofing Michael Holmes Advertising Andrea Black 0161 214 1216 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.
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The View from Rome: A Momentous Week As we rejoice in the election of our new Pope, and become accustomed to his Papacy (although he seems quite capable of catching us by surprise!), it is good to record for posterity the important role played by a Westminster priest during the Sede Vacante. Monsignor Philip Whitmore, who works in the Secretariat of State, is one of only six Prelates of the Apostolic Camera. The Camera is not, despite its name, anything to do with the Vatican photo service, but is rather
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the ancient Finance Committee of the Papal States. Since the temporal power of the Papacy is long gone, the Committee now only functions during a Sede Vacante, when it takes over the running of the Holy See and all its operations. Headed by the Camerlingo, or Chamberlain (he was the one played by Ewan MacGregor in Angels and Demons, but is in reality Cardinal Bertone). The photograph shows Mgr Whitmore, in the middle, taking his oath of office on 1 March.
Another key player during the Sede Vacante was our own Cardinal Cormac. Although he could not vote in the Conclave, since he is over 80, he played an important part in the discussions beforehand. With considerable experience and many connections among the Cardinals, Cardinal Cormac participated in the formal Congresses and the less formal gatherings of Cardinals around Rome, as they shared opinions and formed an idea of the sort of person who should occupy the throne of Peter. In all, our Cardinal was here in Rome for three weeks, during which time he also did a huge number of television and radio interviews – and there was no shortage of requests! During the days of the Conclave, it was impossible to walk more than a few steps without having a microphone waved in your face. For the joyful celebration of the Pope’s Inaugural Mass, we were delighted to welcome Archbishop Vincent, and Bishop John Sherrington – who was in Rome for a meeting planned long ago with Westminster School Heads. They were able to join the other Bishops in the Sacrato, the raised area by the Papal altar. The torrential rain of the previous few days disappeared, and we were granted a pleasant, sunny day. The purple of the Bishops’ cassocks
made a colourful contrast to the gold of the Cardinals’ robes, the black robed Greek delegation, and the scarlet of Anglican Bishops. As the crowd waited for Mass, a cheer went up from the back of the Piazza, and behold, Pope Francis appeared in his Popemobile, driving back and forth among the crowds, and delighting them with the now familiar warmth of his personality. Flags were flying everywhere, from every country you could name and several you could not – even the Chinese flag was waved. Following the Mass, at a celebration lunch at the English College, Archbishop Vincent spoke of the momentous occasion, and the blessing we have received, and led us in a toast to our new Holy Father.
Mgr Mark Langham works for the Vatican Department for Christian Unity.
Westminster Record April 2013
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Archbishop’s Easter Message Jesus Christ is risen! Alleuia! Our celebration of the Resurrection is always full of joy and wonder. The observance of Lent helps make it so. United to the Lord during his forty days in the wilderness, we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, so always to follow the Father’s will. This Lent, because of Pope Benedict’s decision to resign as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, we experienced even more acutely the need to be one with our Lord, to be led by the Holy Spirit, to entrust ourselves to the Father. Initially, the news of Pope Benedict’s resignation shocked many. There was much speculation as to why he was stepping down. So too talk about the Church being in crisis and turmoil. Pope Benedict, however, at his last General Audience, assured us that God guides His Church, especially in difficult times. He asked that in the hearts of each one of us, “there always be the certainty that the Lord is near, that he does not abandon us…and that He surrounds us with His Love.” At his final meeting with the Cardinals, Pope Benedict promised to pray for them, that they would be fully docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in electing the new Pope according to the will of the Lord. We, too, were one with Holy Father Benedict in praying for the Cardinals. Our prayer erupted into joyful thanksgiving with the election of Pope Francis. Although many were taken by surprise, the warmth of Francis’ smile and his engagement with the Faithful soon convinced us that his election was indeed the work of the Holy Spirit. In his inspiring homily at the Inaugural Mass of his pontificate, celebrated on the Solemnity of St Joseph, Guardian of the Universal Church, Pope Francis spoke beautifully of our vocation of being “protectors”. The Holy Father said, “amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others. To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope!” Christ Risen is that light of hope we must bring to others. Let us protect the risen Christ in our lives, “so that” as Pope Francis explained, “we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!” Pope Francis prayed that Holy Spirit will guide his ministry. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us too, keeping alive within us the living presence of the Risen Lord who surrounds us with his love. With the Lord let us always follow the Father’s will. Let us be heralds of hope in our world. I wish all you and all of your families all the blessings of Eastertide.
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Papal Q & A What does the name Francis suggest about the new Holy Father? The Holy Father has explained that he took the name Francis in memory of St Francis of Assisi. St Francis is most popularly remembered for his love of the natural world and all of creation, something that Pope Francis made a prominent theme in his first homily on the Feast of St Joseph: ‘be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.’
What are we likely to see in the first six months of his Pontificate? This time will provide the opportunity for Pope Francis to set the tone of his ministry. An important feature will be selecting the key figures in the running of the Catholic Church worldwide. It will also provide a chance to see what he believes to be the contemporary issues the Church is facing, possibly with the publication of an encyclical. Practically we will gain an understanding of, as his diary is organised, how he intend to act out his pontificate such as how much travel he is planning to make in the role.
What can we expect from a Pope who was a Jesuit? The election of a Jesuit to the position of Pope is unprecedented in the history of the Catholic Church and one which is very exciting. He is likely, in the tradition of Ignatian spiritual exercises, to bring an emphasis on listening and dialogue in his ministry. The tradition of evangelisation is also strong in the history of the Jesuits, meaning that a clear emphasis on transmitting the faith is likely to be important to him. Finally he is likely to live simply, following from his vow of poverty, and seek the preferential option for the poor. Indeed, these are two aspects which have already become apparent.
Who are the key figures the Pope will appoint? The Pope appoints all heads of Vatican offices, most senior of all being the Cardinal Secretary of State, who is responsible for the political and diplomatic matters of the Holy See. However it is traditional for the former office holders to continue in their posts to give the new Holy Father time to make these decisions. This is a tradition which Pope Francis has continued, renewing all office holders in their posts on 16 March.
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Westminster Record April 2013
News
New Altar for Shepperton Parish
Bishop Alan Hopes and Father Peter Scott on the reordered sanctuary. Altar Committee with Bishop Alan Hopes and Fr Peter Scott (each holding the gift of carved piece of the Portland stone).
Pax Christi sends 100th birthday greetings to Franz Jaegerstaetter's widow
By Pat Gaffney Pax Christi sent birthday greetings and messages of solidarity to Franziska Jaegerstaetter, the widow of Franz Jaegerstaetter to mark her 100th birthday on 4 March. Franz was executed in Berlin in 1943 for his conscientious objection to serving in Hitler's army. Franziska gave him unstinting support for his decision. In 2007 Franz was recognised as a martyr and beatified by the Church. Page 4
In a letter read at a Mass in Linz Cathedral, Austria, on 3 March, Pax Christi said: We wish to express our love and admiration of Franziska. Many members of Pax Christi UK have met Franziska over the years and remember her warmth, her humour and her steadfast commitment to the life and witness of Franz. Indeed, this is a double witness and Franziska has been so brave and gracious in keeping this story alive when at times it must be painful and sad for her to do so. In this Year of Faith, Franz and Franziska are most important, credible and challenging witnesses to this faith. Be assured that we will continue to share their story with others, to encourage younger generations to learn from this remarkable faith and witness to the Gospel of peace and nonviolence. On 4 March in St Radegund, the home village of the Jaegerstaetter family, another Mass was celebrated with Bishop Ludwig Schwarz. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of Franz Jaegerstaetter's execution. Pax Christi will encourage members and churches to commemorate his feast day on 21 May.
The small Westminster diocesan parish of St John Fisher in Shepperton has finally completed the church building work initiated in 1964 by Father John O’Sullivan and the Shepperton Catholic community. Before the Mass of Consecration on 10 March, a new simple but striking white Portland stone altar was unveiled to gasps of delight and admiration from the packed church. “How beautiful that is” said a lady in the pew as the covering clothes were taken away. Bishop Alan Hopes said: “This church building has been sanctified by those who have come and worshipped here over the last 48 years and today marks a special time when we thank all those who have brought us to this point of being able to consecrate the church”. The sacred relics were cemented into the altar before Bishop Alan Hopes anointed both the altar and the walls of the church at a Mass concelebrated with parish priest Father Peter Scott. By the 1960s the congregation of St John Fisher had outgrown its original small church built in 1936 on land given by the Wilson family. That family’s further generosity provided more land on which Father John O’Sullivan and his parishioners were able to build a church more suited to
the needs of a growing community. The new church was built while the Second Vatican Council was in session. Only a temporary moveable altar was installed, until some clarity was available on the impact of the liturgical changes. Today that last piece of work is now done. On the completion of the “Change for the Church” project, Father Scott said: “I am just so graced by this experience, and also being the successor of Father O’Sullivan, to be able to cement this community into Shepperton. My heartfelt thanks go to all those who, in so many ways, have helped to bring us to this beautiful day.” The work of stone mason John Keegan, the new altar, lectern and tabernacle plinth with bronze engravings complete the sanctuary, and stand proudly against the simple brickwork of the church walls.
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New Statue Unveiled at Spanish Place At St James's Church, Spanish Place, a new statue of the Transfigured Christ was unveiled by John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall, on Shrove Tuesday. The statue was commissioned by Father Christopher Colven and was designed and produced by Geraint Davies from London Stonemasonry. The statue of the Transfigured Christ has been placed at the South Porch entrance. The initial drawing was completed in June 2011 but it took a year of presentations to various committees before it was finally approved. The statue was produced using one tonne of Portland stone and took 10 weeks carving it. The statue is best viewed from 6pm till 11pm in George St, W1 when it is most vividly illuminated.
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Westminster Record April 2013
Real Easter Eggs this year For the first time ever, the UK’s biggest supermarkets stocked a religious-themed Easter egg. For three years, customers have pestered stores and bishops have written letters of endorsement to senior management. This year leading supermarkets Sainsbury and Tesco stocked The Real Easter Egg. Launched in 2010, The Real Easter Egg is backed by church leaders. All the supermarkets turned down the idea at first so The Meaningful Chocolate Company, which manufactures the Real Easter Egg, sold more than 250,000 Real Easter Eggs through mail order. The leading supermarket turnaround is therefore a milestone.
David Marshall, from the Meaningful Chocolate Company, said: “The response from Tesco, Morrisons and the Coop has been particularly encouraging. I am sure Sainsbury and Waitrose will also discover real demand for an egg explaining the religious understanding of Easter on the box and which supports charitable projects.” “Our aim is to change the Easter egg market forever by making it more spiritual, more generous and more faithful. This is a great breakthrough – there are Real Easter Eggs available in some stores but quantities will vary. Tesco has the biggest supply across 450 of their largest stores. Morrisons and the Coop have
quantities available in selected outlets. Sainsbury and Waitrose have only about 12 eggs in a small number of stores. We have a Google map showing which stores are stocking the egg. It can be seen at www.realeasteregg.co.uk.” Out of 80 million eggs on sale in the UK, The Real Easter Egg is the first and only one to explain the religious significance of Easter on the box. This year it is also the only charity Easter egg with more than £60,000 donated to Traidcraft Exchange from sales by Easter 2013. It is also the only Fairtrade egg that will appeal to children and adults with its free Easter story activity pack in the box.
St Mary’s Charity receives £10,000 donation A generous donation of £10,000 has been given to the St Mary’s University College, Twickenham charity Strawberry Hill Overseas Community Concern (SHOCC) to help support one of its lifetime partners, Orkolili School in Tanzania. The anonymous donor’s generosity has extended even further with a promise for an additional £10,000 in an attempt to match every pound raised by the charity. The money will contribute to building a long awaited dining hall for the school. An essential part of any educational institution, the new dining hall will help the children learn essential life skills such as table etiquette and awareness of others.
Multi-faith rally remembers Shahbaz Bhatti
The Multi-faith delegation an Number 10
A joint call for religious freedom around the world was made by representatives of different faith groups at a rally in central London marking the second anniversary of the killing of Pakistan Cabinet Bhatti. Shahbaz minister Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian lay figures spoke out against human rights violations at an event climaxing in a protest march towards Trafalgar Square
where speakers told crowds of shoppers and tourists about the importance of religious freedom. The event on Saturday 2 March marked the second anniversary of the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities, the only Christian in the Pakistan government, who was gunned down on 2 March 2011. His killers have still to be brought to justice. Beginning with speeches and music
The head of Orkolili School Yohanna Mcha commented, “When children eat together they acquire a sense of respect for other people’s needs and it minimises selfishness.” SHOCC trustee Elizabeth Byrne Hill said: “This is terrific news. What an asset! The hall will not only make assemblies possible – which, of course, we take for granted in the UK – but it will become a community resource and generate funds for the school through lettings.” Work has already begun to construct the roof of the new hall which will see new life injected into the school and will be an inspiration to the children. For more information or to make a donation visit SHOCC’s Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/shocc outside the Pakistan High Commission, in Knightsbridge, the religious freedom campaigners walked to Downing Street. There, they submitted a petition calling for the release of Asia Bibi, a woman on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy, for whose cause Mr Bhatti had campaigned. Handing in the petition at Downing Street were Hindu human rights activist Ranbir Singh, Jewish holocaust survivor Dr Martin Stern, who studied medicine in Peshawar, Pakistan, Manoj Raithatha of the Evangelical Alliance’s South Asia Forum, event organiser Wilson Chowdhry, Chariman of the British Pakistani Christian Association and Dr John Newton from Aid to the Church in Need. Carrying a large wooden cross, they walked down Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square where Dr Newton read out a statement from Pakistan’s Bishop Sebastian Shaw, Apostolic Administrator of Lahore, praising the event and those taking part. Aid to the Church in Need UK head of press and information John Pontifex described encountering religious freedom violations during various visits to Pakistan where he met Mr Bhatti. Wilson Chowdhry introduced speakers including Dr Stern and Dr Newton as well as Julian Bond from
the Christian/Muslim Forum and Barrister Rubab Mehdi Rizba, former European spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of Human Rights. BPCA trustee and researcher Nathaniel Lewis gave an overview of the findings of an investigation into human rights abuses in Pakistan to be formally launched in Parliament this week. Also speaking were former mayoral candidate, Alan Craig, leader of the Christian People’s Alliance, a respected commentator of multiculturalism in the UK, and Matthew Jones for persecution charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Another speech was given by Isuru Perera, youth coordinator of the Redbridge Buddhist Centre, east London. Music was provided by Catholic pop band ooberfuse who performed tracks including Free Asia Bibi and Blood Cries Out, about Mr Bhatti. Mr Chowdhry said afterwards: “I am delighted that such a diverse representation of faith communities was not only present at this important event but also willing and able to articulate so clearly why religious freedom is so important in our world today and why Shahbaz Bhatti is such a shining example in this respect.”
Benemerenti Award At Mass on 2 March Bishop John Arnold presented Miss Ann McNamara with the Benemerenti award for her four decades of service to the parish of South Harrow and Northolt. Ann has overseen the sacristy at St Gabriel's South Harrow for many years, and every priest who has worked there will testify that she has been three steps ahead of them in preparing everything for the worship of the faithful. The altar linen is spotless, done to standards you would struggle to find from professional launderers. No details too small, and no shortcuts to providing the best for the worship of the faithful. In addition Ann looked after a mobile sacristy during the complete rebuilding of St Gabriel's, and for some years has also looked after the sacristy at St Bernard's Northolt. Alongside the sacristy there is her work of flower arranging. Ann goes out early in the morning with the others in the team, to get the best deals from the wholesalers. The church is always beautifully adorned. This was a happy day for the whole parish and a large number came to show their appreciation to a much admired fellow parishioner. Far from retiring, Ann carries on her work and is encouraging others to learn her craft. All done for love of the Lord and for the Glory of God. Page 5
Westminster Record April 2013 Westminster Record September 2011
School News
St Thomas More Catholic School
Daniel Carall-Green from Slaughter & May talking to students
On 27 February St Thomas More Catholic School, Wood Green, opened its doors to professionals from a wide range of inspiring careers. Doctors, artists, architects, lawyers, financial executives and scientists were invited to the school to talk to Year 11 and Sixth Form students about their career routes.
The school, which recently achieved the best state school GCSE exam results in its borough and is one of the most improved schools in the country, showed how determined it was to build on recent successes. Visitors, such as Matthew Gibson, an Associate from the law firm Slaughter and May commented on the “drive, determination and
ambition” demonstrated by the students he spoke to. Other participants included Deloitte, Accenture, the BBC, LSE and King’s College London. Accenture have already contacted the school wishing to secure closer links in the future. The event, driven by TeachFirst’s high flying Madeleine St Amour, was designed to raise the students’ awareness of career paths with Linda Mayisa Daniel (Year 11) commenting, “It was really good because I gained more confidence about what I want to do in the future.” Jorge Alvarez Hoyos (Year 11) commented, “It was amazing to meet such successful people and I now realise how hard I must work to gain my dream job”. This confidence was demonstrated on the evening with many students networking to secure work placements over the summer. The Governors of St Thomas More Catholic School were delighted to receive a letter from
the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, confirming the award of Academy status. Cllr Pat Egan, Chair of Governors, said that he is proud to be chair during a period of fast progress and transition. He added: “We now top the borough GCSE league tables and applications for entering Year 7 have more than doubled. Our recruitment success comes hot on the tail of the news that we have been commended by the Department for Education for being amongst the top 100 highest performing schools in the country, in terms of progress made for disadvantaged learners.”
Marian Doyle from Sacred Heart and Gill Wickham, Head at Pope John Paul Primary School
Pope John Primary School and Sacred Heart High School, both in Hammersmith and Fulham have won their bid to become Teaching Schools making them the first Catholic Teaching Schools in the London boroughs.
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Teaching schools give outstanding schools a leading role in the training and professional development of teachers, support staff and head teachers, as well as contributing to the raising of standards through school-to-school support.
Eight sixth formers from St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth have been teaching literacy and numeracy in India to those suffering from leprosy. Anna-Marie Pinnell, Lucy Moran, Jemma Brown, Evie McMillan, Luke Allen, Stefan Kowalewski and Rachel Ashton, aged between 17 and 19, travelled to Calcutta in February for 10 days to Udayan, a home for more than 300 children suffering from leprosy and those whose parents have leprosy. Since March 2004, St Joan of Arc have held many fund raising events with the aim of supporting Udayan, and of spreading awareness in the local community about the work it carries out.
Nicolas Breakspear High School at Archbishop’s House
Pope John Primary and Sacred Heart High Schools become Teaching Schools The two schools are linked in their bid and this partnership was supported by the local authority who asked both Pope John Primary School and Sacred Heart High to become teaching schools. Gill Wickham, Head at Pope John Paul Primary School said:” We are very proud. A lot of hard work and preparation went into the bid and a lot of schools applied, so to have got it, is great news.” Marian Doyle from Sacred Heart High school said: “It is wonderful that we are the first Catholic Teaching School in the Diocese. There is just something about our Catholic schools which helps to promote learning. Based on Gospel values we prepare young people for the world today, but form them in their faith.” The Teaching Schools will give help and support to 13 other schools (Catholic and non-Catholic) in the area. Josephine Lewis, Deputy Director of Education for the Diocese of Westminster Education Service said: ”We are really pleased that these schools have become Teaching Schools. Over time they will become a hub which we can use for all of our 218 schools in the Diocese. The Teaching Schools will be key in helping to shape and implement the
Helping Children with Leprosy
diocesan vision of education. As well as raising standards throughout schools, the Teaching School will provide support and continuous professional development for teachers. Teachers value learning from each other and so this model and way of doing things is crucial for the future.””
TYBURN NUNS LIFE OF PRAYER • Contemplative • Monastic • Eucharistic • Ecclesial
Students came from Nicholas Breakspear School in St Albans to hear from Bishop John Sherrington about his work in the Diocese. Nicholas Breakspear, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014, has an active Catholic life. Chaplain Fr Mark Vickers runs a weekly voluntary group which has included a trip to Parliament as well as a pilgrimage to Walsingham coming up in the summer term.
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News
Westminster Record April 2013
Marriage and Family Life
Retrouvaille offers a lifeline to troubled marriages
The Family in a Culture of Relativism On 9 March His Excellency Bishop Jean Laffitte, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family, gave a lecture in Student Union Hall at St Mary's University College in Twickenham on “Marriage and the Family in a Culture of Relativism.” The day began with a prayer led by the Right Rev Alan Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, Bishop Laffitte then analyzed in great detail thepresent-day context of relativism, before developing more fully the theme of the family and marriage in today's world. A video of the talk can be found on the diocesan website: www.rcdow.org.uk Other contributions during the day came from Dr. Peter Kahn from the University of Liverpool who spoke on passing on moral values in the family. In the afternoon Ten Ten Theatre facilitated an excellent interactive session performing the moving drama “Healthy Heart” depicting the way an ailing grandparent is able to have a powerfully positive influence on a troubled adolescent grandchild. Then Fr. Tim Swinglehurst from Leeds Diocese and Dannie Firth spoke about the history, design and pastoral impact of The Wednesday Word – enabling families to share and explore the Sunday Gospel at home in anticipation of the Sunday Mass and to encourage more active participation in the worshipping community. Finally, Catherine Wiley – spoke about the vision and mission of the hugely successful Catholic Grandparents Association that she founded that encourages wider appreciation of the role and duty of grandparents to transmit Catholic values and faith and spirituality to the next generation. The day was organized by the Office for Marriage and Family Life of the Diocese of Westminster for all, especially catechists, teachers and clergy to help deepen appreciation that it is parents who are the primary agents of evangelisation.
Interested in helping in Lourdes?
The Diocesan Pilgrimage Office is looking for volunteers to help on this year’s Lourdes Pilgrimage. Each year we take a group of sick pilgrims to stay in the St Frai Hospital which we staff with a team of volunteer doctors, nurses and lay helpers. Over the week our sick pilgrims are cared for medically, spiritually and socially and fully integrated into the liturgies and events planned as part of the wider pilgrimage programme. The pilgrimage makes a positive difference to the quality of life of our sick pilgrims as well as giving their main carers a much needed rest. Most volunteers also find it a rewarding and enormously moving experience. We hope to take 40 sick pilgrims this year but we need enough helpers to be able to do so. This year’s pilgrimage is from 21 – 27 July. If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering in Lourdes as a lay helper please contact the Chief Brancardier, Nick Leonard at nickleonard507@gmail.com or 07872 182 821 (evenings only) or for nurses in current practice with a valid PIN number enquiries should be directed to the Chief Nurse, Veda Ryan at veda.ryan@email.com or 07914 945245 Please note that all Lourdes volunteers are required to be selffunding and to obtain Disclosure and Barring Service clearance for the Diocese (formerly known as CRB).
The word ‘Retrouvaille’ means ‘rediscovery’ and the aim is to help the couple rediscover each other and the loving relationship that led to their marrying. A world-wide apostolate working to bring healing to hurting marriages, Retrouvaille has been running programmes in the Greater London area for the past three years with the support of the Office for Marriage and Family Life. During this time, it has positively affected 69 couples with over 180 children. The next programme begins on 19 April, and couples in difficulty are urged to contact Clive and Kathy Jones on 07973 380443 in complete confidence or to enrol online at www.retrouvaille.org.uk.
SmartLoving helps to enrich marriages SmartLoving (formerly known as CelebrateLove) www.smartloving.org/marriage/ is a two-day nonresidential marriage enrichment seminar devised by the makers of the Engage marriage preparation resource. Drawing on insights from the Theology of the Body and presented by a team of trained married couples, the seminar is ideal for couples in solid marriages who are seeking to refresh and revitalise their relationship, and for couples interested in marriage preparation ministry. Feedback is always enthusiastic and this comment from last year is typical: “An opportunity to stop, and in a safe place covered by prayer, reflect on our marriage in a deep way. Hugely beneficial….given us energy and renewed appreciation of our togetherness.” Two seminars will be held during 2013, both at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre, Hendon NW4 4TY, on 29 & 30 June and 21 & 22 September. The fee of £90 per couple covers workbooks, refreshments and meals (but no couple is turned away because of inability to pay the full amount). Couples should contact cathmacgillivray@rcdow.org.uk 020 7931 6064 to register.
Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa arrives in Fatima On 3 March the replica Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, blessed and consecrated against the original at Jasna Góra, reached the end of her 65,000 kilometres pilgrimage From Ocean to Ocean when she was received with all honour at Fatima in Portugal. The Black Madonna now rests in the small Chapel of Apparitions in Fatima where it will be a focal point on 7 April, Divine Mercy Sunday. On 8 April 2013, the Feast of the Annunciation, she will touch the Atlantic Ocean, symbolising the end of her pilgrimage from Ocean to Ocean. The pilgrimage began in June 2012 in far-off Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean, passing through 24 countries and travelling 65,000 km, visiting Orthodox and Catholic churches in the joint custody of their members, a truly graced time of inter-church cooperation. Around 250,000 leaflets in 15 languages have been distributed. Wherever she went, Our Lady of Czestochowa in her glass ‘travelling altar’ gave open witness to
the sanctity of life to an estimated 4 million people and provided a powerful focus for prayer, most importantly the Act of Entrusting the Protection of the Civilization of Life and Love into the hands of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. It took a great leap of faith for the National Association of Catholic Families to ask for the Icon to make a detour through Britain in November 2012 and to undertake the cost and complicated logistics. Many prayers later, Our Mother provided volunteers who answered her call. The Knights of St Columba received and escorted her with due ceremony at each resting place, and when the GB tour ended,
all bills had been met and there was enough left over to give a generous donation to Mary’s Meals. The Office for Marriage and Family Life facilitated the Westminster Diocese stage of the GB pilgrimage. Pilgrims from every nation filled Westminster Cathedral to capacity to participate in a Mass in memory of the unborn and victims of abortion. The next stage was Chiswick Russian Orthodox Cathedral, with Catholics and Orthodox joining in a liturgy that was awesome and inspiring; truly worthy of the Holy Mother of God. You can follow the entire pilgrimage with pictures at www.fromoceantoocean.org/
Russian Orthodox prelates in Chiswick standing round the Icon when it visited them.
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Vocations A Call to Prayer On April 21, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we will celebrate the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. While the Second Vatican Council was still in session, Pope Paul VI instituted this worldwide prayer to God the Father, asking him to continue to send labourers so urgently needed for the harvest today. Such a day of prayer is not in any way intended to ignore the vocation of all the baptised to sanctify the world, but is meant to be a Sunday on which we pray specifically for those who have already made this particular commitment to the priestly or consecrated life, and to pray for those whom God is calling to follow them. On our page this month a young man preparing to be ordained to the priesthood this summer and a young sister preparing for her final vows write of their gratitude to those who have helped them to reach this important stage on their journey.
Westminster Record April 2013
We wouldn’t be here without you! Deacon Mark Walker My name is Mark Walker and I am due to be ordained priest in June this year. When I first began my time of formation or training for the priesthood, I remember thinking how six years seemed an awful long time! There have been some great highlights in those six years but also times of challenge. However, the time has enabled me to discern more clearly my call to the priesthood, to strengthen my relationship with Jesus Christ and to offer myself fully and freely in the service of God and His Church, as well as giving me the tools and skills required for the priesthood. It has been the support of family, friends, parishioners and all those who have anonymously offered their prayers which has enabled me to reach this stage. On behalf of those in formation for the priesthood, please accept my thanks for your support and prayers. Your continued help and prayers for all our seminarians are desperately needed. It is only with your continued support that those like me can receive the grace needed to wholeheartedly give ourselves in the service of the Church and live out this extraordinary vocation to which God has called us. To find out more about our life in the seminary, see the Allen Hall website: www.allenhall.org.uk
Sister Anouska
Four New Seminarians Archbishop Vincent congratulates the four latest men to be accepted for formation to the priesthood for Westminster diocese. They are (from left to right): Daniel Humphreys, Trevor Ferros, Andrew Bowden and John Warnaby. They come from very different backgrounds - a former Anglican clergyman, a civil servant, a tax lawyer and an actor. Please keep these men and the other 40 Westminster men in formation for the priesthood in your prayers for the journey ahead. If you think God may be calling you to the priesthood then contact me as below.
I first ‘met’ the Sisters, the Faithful Companions of Jesus, through the internet in 2002 and made my first vows in 2007. As a sister in temporary profession I know I have so much to be grateful for. My journeying with Jesus has led me not only into a more loving right-relationship with God but also with myself and as a result I feel more and more called to reach out to all of creation with this love. I am so grateful to all those who have accompanied me on this journey in the various stages, to my community who walk with me day by day and to God who showed me where I needed to be in order to become the best version of myself. I also owe a debt of gratitude to the developers of the internet and the website I found in 2002 (www.godknowswhere.org.uk) through which I met the FCJs (www.fcjsisters.org). Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Caring for the Capital 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 8
WESTMINSTER PRIESTS To explore if the Lord is calling YOU to join us contact the Vocations Director Fr Richard Nesbitt: Tel: 020 7349 5624 Email: richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk
Westminster Record April 2013
Parish Profile - Palmers Green St Monica’s: A Diocesan Pioneer
By Alex Balzanella When first entering St Monica’s church you cannot help but be hit by both the calmness and warmth of the place. The combination of ornate stained glass, candles and mosaic decoration in the Sacred Heart chapel contrasts wonderfully with the spacious and well-lit nave, helping to create a prayerful and spiritual atmosphere. For the parish priest of St Monica’s, Canon Shaun Lennard, Palmers Green was a drastic change as he had spent the six months prior to becoming parish priest on sabbatical, working with the Sisters of Mercy in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Whilst such a move presented challenges Canon Shaun said what had really been helpful in making the adjustment was “the combination of competent, committed, well-formed parishioners and great priests to work with.” In regard to the parishioners, one cannot question their level of engagement. The parish celebrates seven Sunday Masses, including a Polish Mass. The award-winning parish magazine is filled with a whole host of social activities, including quiz nights, walking groups and keep-fit classes. The editor of the magazine, Monica Maxted Jones, said: “The broad news in it is a reflection of life in St Monica’s parish, both in Palmers Green and the work of parishioners more widely.”
Stained glass and Mosaic in Sacred Heart Chapel
There is also a strong commitment in the parish to include all people, young and old, in parish life. In the last year St Monica’s has sought to bring young people into the heart of the parish through creating the new role of Youth Work Co-ordinator, appointing Anna McMullan, who facilitates activities for young people. Although this, in Canon Shaun’s own words, was “new territory”, it has provided greater opportunities for the catechesis and formation of young people. The Year of Faith has given even more impetus for St Monica’s to reach out even wider to help people develop their faith. Canon Shaun spoke of the outstanding popularity
The Contact the Elderly tea party, held on Sunday 17 March
of faith-sharing groups, with over 150 parishioners regularly involved. As well as a parish mission, there have also been a number of short courses, such as ‘Life to the Full’ and one directed especially for parents, entitled ‘What can parents do?’ The formation of young people is something which Canon Shaun clearly feels passionately about, as he began his career as a science teacher before deciding to look further at his vocation. He was ordained at Our Lady of Hal, Camden in 1994 and went on to be a Chaplain of Westminster Cathedral and later parish priest of St John’s, Islington. It was after ten years at St John’s that Canon Shaun was granted his sabbatical in South Africa. With all that happens at St Monica’s one shouldn’t be surprised to hear that it is involved in a pioneering project in the diocese. Indeed, such an occasion happened on 17 March when parishioners from St Monica’s became the first in the diocese to hold, in collaboration with Contact the Elderly and Caritas Diocese of Westminster, a tea party for housebound members of their community. Canon Shaun spoke of how the parish, which also offers senior lunch clubs and coffee mornings in the parish centre, was keen to get involved in the initiative and quickly gained enough volunteers for the running of the parties. The tea parties are hosted by parishioners in their own homes, with volunteers acting as drivers for those who would otherwise be unable to attend. The first tea party was hosted by Mrs Breeda Bourke, who provided a wonderful selection of sandwiches and cakes, and had six older people, their drivers and Sr Joyce Dionne - parish sister of St Monica’s – in attendance. Speaking at the event Helen, one of the older guests said: “it was a wonderful day, getting out to meet all these nice people, I’ve really enjoyed myself”. A further 10 parishes over the next year who will set up similar groups to St Monica’s providing a host and drivers for a monthly tea party available open to all housebound people in their community. The next parish to launch a Contact the Elderly is Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George, Enfield on Sunday 14 April. The initiative
Main entrance to St Monica’s Catholic Church, opened in 1914
between the parishes and Contact the Elderly is being coordinated and funded by Caritas Diocese of Westminster, the diocesan agency to identify and address poverty and social exclusion. Canon Paschal Ryan, the Chair of Caritas, Diocese of Westminster Advisory Board spoke of how the initiative with Contact the Elderly “is a fitting example of the expression of love through charitable works; such love is not an optional extra to the Catholic faith but part of its very nature.” Clearly such expressions of love through charity are available in ample supply at St Monica’s!
Did you know? As the part of “Moral Living and Generous Giving”, the theme of the third season in the Year of Faith, on 28 April 2013, all homilies will focus on caritas (Love in action). For more information and to get involved with the work of Caritas Diocese of Westminster, email: jackietominey@rcdow.org.uk
Mass Times Sunday: (Vigil Saturday 6pm) 7.45am, 9.00am, 10.30am, 12noon, 3.30pm (Polish) & 5.30pm Monday – Saturday 9.30am. Morning Prayer 9.10am. Confessions Saturday : 10am – 11am and 5.15pm – 5.45pm. Signed for Deaf people by appointment
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In Pictures
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Westminster Record April 2013
RCIA
On the weekend of 16 & 17 February, 675 people from 115 parishes underwent the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults’ (RCIA) Rite of Election, at a ceremony in Westminster Cathedral. Presiding over the ceremony was Bishop Alan Hopes, along with Bishops John Arnold and John Sherrington. At Easter, of those adults undergoing RCIA, 335 will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist, and 340 adults will be baptised, making them full members of the Catholic Church.
Womens Day of Prayer
Tim Stevens, Maureen Evans, Michelle Moran. Kristina Cooper
Catholic Charismatic Renewal Centre Our Lady of Dolours Church on the Fulham Road, west London, was packed on 4 March for a joyful Mass celebrated by Archbishop Kevin McDonald to mark the opening of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Centre housed in the crypt of the church. The Women's World Day of Prayer was held on 1 March at Our Most Holy Redeemer and St. Thomas More in Chelsea. The day is a global, ecumenical movement of informed prayer and prayerful action, organised and led by Christian women. Above from left to right: Bishop Alan Hopes, Mrs Anne Hobson, Mayoress of Kensington and Chelsea, Christopher Buckmaster, the Mayor of Kensington and the Anglican Bishop of Kensington, Paul Williams. Below: those attending the day in prayer and celebration.
As well as administering the CCR, the centre will be used for prayer ministry, healing ministry, Christian counselling and spiritual guidance. After the blessing of the Centre everyone enjoyed delicious treats on offer including a huge cake decorated by Sonya Tissera with golden rays and white doves - the motif of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Kristina Cooper, editor of Good News magazine, said: "It is lovely to be here. This parish was the location for the first Catholic Charismatic Renewal office in the 1970s.
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Westminster Record April 2013
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Bishop Alan being interviewed Eden and Hannah, Year 9 students from Greycoat Hospital school in Westminster, came to interview Bishop Alan Hopes for their BBC School Report project on the election of the new Pope. They asked questions about the Conclave and Bishop Alan’s expectations for Pope Francis. Their reports have been uploaded onto the BBC School Report website.
Pope Francis Thanksgiving Mass A Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving for the election of Pope Francis was celebrated by the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, on 14 March. He began his homily by saying, “"What great joy we all felt when, not long after 6 pm yesterday evening, the white smoke swirled into the night air, ascending high above the huge crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square. We have a new pope! We have a father!” The Archbishop was also much in demand for interviews from the media.
Faith Matters in Lent A four part ‘Faith Matters’ lecture series took place in Westminster Cathedral Hall during Lent focusing on the Sacraments. Speakers included Archbishop George Stack who spoke on the Art, Architecture and Poetry in the Liturgy; Fr Andrew Cameron-Mowat SJ spoke on the Eucharist as the Sacrament of Life; Bishop John Arnold presented on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Finally Andrew Carwood, Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral spoke on the inestimable value of music as Liturgy and Prayer. Recorded video and text is posted on the Diocese of Westminster’s website www.rcdow.org.uk Clockwise from top left: Fr Andrew CameronMowat, delegates at the talks, music provided by JFK Catholic High School
We want your News You can send us your latest news online, just visit our website at: www.rcdow.org.uk/wrecord Page 11
CAFOD News
Westminster Record April 2013
Archbishop Oscar Romero’s life and thoughts
Westminster is Hungry for Change this Lent!
CAFOD volunteers and supporters have been taking action all over the Westminster Diocese to make a difference for the one in eight people in the world who go to bed hungry each night. The confirmation group at SS Michael and Martin in Hounslow cooked to make a difference by baking cakes in their parish and selling them after Masses, raising a total of £265 for CAFOD. In Eastcote, the confirmation group at St Thomas More put in a day’s hard work to raise support for CAFOD’s campaign for a fairer food system. In
addition to their cake sale, the group took advantage of the nice weather by running a car wash to support CAFOD. In Cranford, parishioners at Our Lady and St Christopher marked Lent Fast Day with a wonderfully prepared community meal, and a fun afternoon of raffles, bingo, and other activities. This fun and enjoyable community event raised £600 for CAFOD’s Lent Fast Day appeal. Thank you! And in Bethnal Green, Claudia Elliot, a CAFOD Campaigner has been living on leftovers from friends, colleagues, even the local supermarket if
necessary, for a week to highlight how much food is wasted in the UK. “We throw away so much food. We don’t value it enough or understand what has been sacrificed to get food to our table,” said Claudia. “With millions hungry in the world, that isn’t right.” It’s not too late to take action to urge world leaders to act for a fairer global food system! You can take action right now at cafod.org.uk/hungry and send a message to David Cameron. Why not also get your school, parish, or workplace involved and organise a campaign card in your parish? Call 0208 449 6970 to order campaign cards.
St Patrick’s Wapping Grows for CAFOD The kitchen garden at St Patrick’s, Wapping, is something of a miracle: on a plot of former wasteland, enthusiasts who knew nothing about growing vegetables have managed to create a bountiful garden which continues to flourish. The garden was started by volunteer Lance Lawlor-Smith based on a suggestion from the parish. He recalls how little he
Patricia Negus-Fancey with head of the garden volunteers, Lance Lawlor-Smith, in the kitchen garden at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Wapping. Photo ©Ged Naughton
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knew of gardening, and of the challenge ahead, when he began the garden in 2005: “I bought a bucket of 100 earthworms, put them in a plastic kettle and sowed them like seeds. We didn’t know what we were doing.” One local legend states that St Patrick’s is the site of the workhouse mentioned by Dickens in The Uncommercial Traveller. Dickensian certainly proved an accurate description of the soil on which the garden began: once the rubble was cleared from the site, volunteers discovered soil high in acid and virtually without nutrients. It took the volunteers nearly a year to work out how to proceed. Fortunately, they weren’t short of support. Lance explains: “We got a grant of £500 from Tower Hamlets because it’s a community programme…so we brought in 15 tonnes of topsoil. It’s taken five years to improve the soil. But the change in yields and quality of produce is noticeable. You can see the difference.” Eight years on, the garden now produces an abundance of fresh produce—including its own brand of honey—which is sold after Masses in the parish to raise money for CAFOD. Parishioners have raised more than £1000 each year on average simply by
buying local from their garden. Choosing to buy local or Fairtrade goods are two ways in which we can all work to help create a fairer global food system. To learn more about acting for a fairer global system, visit cafod.org.uk/hungry.
Over 60 volunteers gathered together in Cockfosters to explore the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. Julian Filochowski, Chair of the Archbishop Romero Trust, spoke of the dramatic moments of Romero’s martyrdom and then of his work for peace and preferential option for the poor. Two guests from El Salvador who are members of CAFOD’s Connect2 community explained how Romero’s teachings continue to live in the country’s people. Fidel, a farmer who set up a farmer’s cooperative in the community, and Erasmo, a CAFOD partner with the Jesuit Development Service (JDS) who set up fair trade shops and small businesses, spoke
Register now for Pedal Against Poverty – Sunday, 23 June Registration is now open for Pedal Against Poverty, CAFOD’s annual sponsored bike ride through the Lee Valley Country Park in North London and Hertfordshire. Riders can choose between a 10 mile family-friendly route or a longer 19 mile route, both of which follow the smooth, wide towpaths alongside the River Lea. Why not invite your friends and family to ride with you, or form a team with your parish or school community? For more details and an application form, contact CAFOD Westminster – 0208 449 6970 or westminster@cafod.org.uk.
Dates for your diary strongly about the connection they feel with CAFOD supporters in the UK, and how this solidarity keeps them going through hurricanes, earthquakes, and civil war. They shared how, by working with CAFOD, they have been able to improve the lives of everyone in their community by implementing seed banks, nutrition projects, and fair trade initiatives. The Connect2 programme (Blog: cafod.org.uk/connect2elsalvador) is an excellent way to build worldwide solidarity by growing a connection between your community and a community overseas. To join the Connect2 programme, contact the CAFOD Westminster office, or visit cafod.org.uk/connect2.
Sun, 5 May - Harlow Charity Abseil – Descend over 100 feet from a water tower to help make a difference for many of the world’s poorest communities. Contact CAFOD Westminster for more information. Sat, 8 June - Enough Food for Everyone IF – Join CAFOD as we join nearly 100 other aid agencies in calling for world leaders to act and end the scandal of global hunger. To be held in central London, further details to be announced. Sun, 23 June – Pedal Against Poverty – Sat, 14 September – CAFOD Volunteer Day –Hear a guest speaker with firsthand experience of CAFOD’s work in Nicaragua and Guatemala speak at the Benedictine Centre for Spirituality. To book a place, contact CAFOD Westminster.
Young People Make a Difference in Parliament
Young People from all over the UK deliver Hungry for Change action cards directly to Parliament.
Two sixth form students from Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College, Harlesden, have travelled to Parliament to give MPs some food for thought on the issue of world hunger. Rebecca Lopez and Bless Villasenor spent a day in Westminster with 28 other Sixth Formers from Catholic
schools and colleges across the country as part of CAFOD’s Hungry for Change Campaign. The students toured the Houses of Parliament, watched Prime Minister’s Questions and took part in a discussion with MPs including Nigel Evans, Deputy Speaker and MP for Ribble Valley, and Rt Hon Tom Clarke CBE MP, Chair of
CAFOD’s Parliamentary Group and MP for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, about why hunger still exists in the modern world. “When I learnt the facts about how many people go to bed hungry every night I couldn’t believe it,” said Bless. “I’ve always been inspired by CAFOD’s mission to end poverty and injustice and knowing that MPs care as well has spurred me on to do even more.” You too can help to link the poor to the powerful. By writing to their MPs, CAFOD supporters have helped to change government policy on everything from climate change to bribery. Why not write to your MP and ask them to stand up for a fairer global food system? For more information, and tips on how to write to your MP, visit cafod.org.uk/mpc.
Justice and Peace
Westminster Record April 2013
‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me …’ Practical outreach to people seeking ‘sanctuary’ In Justice and Peace we examine a problem (SEE), we see what Scripture and the Church says about it (JUDGE), and we plan our actions accordingly (ACT).
SEE
Destitute Asylum Seekers – What are the facts?
Last month I accompanied the Confirmation group from St Thomas More, Manor House to visit the London Catholic Worker (LCW) Night Shelter in Haringey, to tell them about the plight of destitute asylum seekers and to give them a chance to help. This was one of their service projects. What did ‘destitute’ mean, they asked. The 20-30 men that the LCW team house every night have mostly had their asylum claims turned down, and therefore have no recourse to public funds. They are seeking asylum or ‘sanctuary’ from persecution, torture or threats to their lives in their country of origin. Their entire existence is dependent on friends or the charity of volunteers. In theory, they are to be deported, but often the country they should go back to is still at war, (such as Afghanistan), or they would still be in danger from the very people who had persecuted them in the first place (such as Iran, Somalia, and so on), so some choose to stay, illegally, despite the precarious existence that this imposes. Some appeal the decision, while others again wait for their papers to be traced the backlog means that files inevitably go missing. Many voluntary organisations support these asylum seekers: the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Refugee Council, the London Churches Refugee Network, the British Red Cross, and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, to name a few. There is an informal network of help across all the big cities. The London Catholic Worker is one of these bodies. These are the 2009 figures for asylum seekers in the UK: The number of asylum applications was 24,485 excluding dependants (30,675 including dependants)* Of this 24,485 the initial decisions were as follows: - 4190 (17%) were granted asylum and were recognised as a refugee - 95 (<1%) were granted humanitarian protection - 2460 (10%) were granted Discretionary Leave to remain - 17,545 (72%) were refusals *(19865 in 2011, with 33% applications accepted and granted either refugee status, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave to Remain) No-one is sure how many of the refused asylum/sanctuary seekers are still in the UK. Because these refused persons choose to ‘disappear’ rather than be deported to the places they have found dangerous or even life-threatening, many prefer to live life ‘in the shadows’ – with no recourse to benefits and no right to work. Those granted leave to remain are the lucky ones.
ACT
JUDGE
So what is there to do?
The St Thomas More Confirmation group of 12 did an hour of cleaning: sweeping, mopping and washing up, or preparing the evening meal, and then were given a talk by a London Catholic Worker team member. What you can do depends on initiatives in the local area, but might include any one of these suggestions: • Contact one of the refugee organisations such as Jesuit Refugee Service, and contribute toiletries, or stationery. www.jrsuk.net
Sudanese refugees
What do the Scriptures and Catholic Social Teaching say? We read in Leviticus, ‘The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’ Lev 19, 3436. Many of us can remember being strangers in one or other situation, and the importance of a welcome, but the Catholic Bishops’ Conference excellent pamphlet, Mission of the Church to Migrants, reminds us if the following: “It is important to remember that welcoming migrants* means much more than saying ‘hello’. It means reaching out across the boundaries of language and culture, … walking with and listening to people – to their struggles, to their hopes and aspirations, to their worries and anxieties… their sense of loss and loneliness, their sense of isolation and marginalization, their culture and their community”. With strangers in need, we welcome more than another citizen, however. The theme for Women’s World Day of Prayer proclaimed this year, ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’, a quote from the famous story of the Last Judgment described in Matthew Chapter 25. Jesus reminds his listeners that He is the person we welcome or clothe or feed. When we welcome and care for the asylum seeker we care for Christ, perhaps hard to envisage as we meet the Iranian refugee, or the Somalian child. A mystery of faith! *This includes asylum seekers
Giuseppe Conlon House in Haringey
• Letter-writing and visiting detention centres (2000-3000 asylum seekers held in removal centres in the UK) www.jrsuk.net • Contribute to the Catholic Worker Farm at Rickmansworth, where they support women asylum seekers and their children. www.londoncatholicworker.org.uk • Volunteer for the rota at the Haringey Giuseppe Conlon Night Shelter. www.londoncatholicworker.org.uk
English classes at St Mellitus, Tollington Park
• Volunteer for English teaching at the Cardinal Hume Centre (certificate needed) • Find a local drop in centre which needs volunteers for English teaching or simply making tea • Prepare an activity for Refugee week beginning 20 June (gives plenty of time!) • Fundraise for travel expenses – asylum seekers need help to move around. The Catholic Worker has a bicycle scheme: maybe you could contribute a bicycle!
St Peter’s Community Cafe run by Catholic Workers in Dalston.
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Westminster Record April 2013
Youth
Director’s Spotlight
DATE: APRIL 2013 Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain
2013 is the Year of Faith, and at the heart of this year we discover an ‘invitation’. This call invites us to what we are doing for a moment, to pause, and think about our faith and what it really means. Perhaps our faith is something which is just ‘there’ – if we go to a Catholic school, we have prayers and assemblies. At church, we turn up and attend Mass. But what else does faith mean to us? Does it have any effect other than these daily activities? Of course, it certainly does!
How? First, our faith has made us who we are; it has formed us since we were baptised and it has shaped us, our relationships, the way we see things and the kind of love we manifest in our hearts and lives. How different would your life have been without this goodness? Second, our faith invites us to continue growing. Even in our faith, we have to grow up from childhood into men and women of integrity, strong faith and values, who are conscious of the meaning and content of Jesus’s saving Gospel. Third, our faith points towards the future. What does that mean for you, for our communities and country, for our world? These places are badly in need of people of goodness and faith. You and I are those people. Let’s pause and ask God to renew and strengthen our faith, for the benefit of us all. Fr David Reilly is Diocesan Youth Chaplain
I can’t begin any other way than mentioning the election of Pope Francis I. It had been fascinating listening to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor discussing the Papal election process when he spoke to us at the YOU BELIEVE talk at The Centre for Youth Ministry on 5 February; it almost seems prophetic now looking back. I was with all my family at home as the white smoke billowed from the famous chimney; we were totally engrossed with the live TV coverage and we had one of those intrafamily debates as we tried to guess who had become the Holy Father. No amount of surfing on Facebook and Twitter gave us the slightest clue yet that didn't stop us formulating our own back-story to 'our' choice! My daughter Frances was elated at the decision for obvious reasons and
The Passage HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE FOR OVER 30 YEARS
the formation of our young people in our parishes. Very soon we’ll be able to let everyone know what Catholic youth ministry resources are available on-site for paid and Of course, World Youth Day is a volunteer youth leaders to browse great opportunity for the world’s and potentially use in their parishes youth to welcome Pope Francis and for young people. probably in the loudest and most Our diocesan website section vibrant way possible. The Vigil is continues to develop and I likely to be attended by over 2.5 encourage you to send us details of million pilgrims, so it will be a real your events and photos to celebrate baptism of fire for him! If you can’t youth ministry across our diocese. get to Rio then don’t forget Brightlights 2013 at Aylesford (aka The next YOU BELIEVE is on 30 April WYD @ Home) which runs over the on Finding Happiness and I’m sure it WYD weekend. This would be a will prove just as interesting. Doors great gathering to attend and, open from about 6.30pm and why technology permitting, there will be not stay with us until after the evening has formally ended to share a live link to WYD Rio! a coffee? Our Centre is looking great as pictures go up - all of which can be Phil Ross is Director of Youth seen on our website. Next stop is Ministry for the Diocese of the youth resource library to aid in Westminster. with our upcoming Pilgrimage to Rio for World Youth Day it's just wonderful that we can join our South American friends and celebrate with them very soon.
HELP NOW By calling us on 0845 880 0689
Life goes on Some people walk on. Others look away. At The Passage we just get on with doing all we can to help vulnerable and marginalised people who are homeless. To that end, our Day Centre opens its doors to over 200 people everyday, whilst our hostel, Passage House, has beds for 48 people and is open every night of the year. In addition, Monfort House provides 16 studio flats preparing people for independent living. Our aim is to support individuals back into a settled way of life, as well as meeting basic needs. If you are interested in being a volunteer, would like to make a donation or would simply like more information, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call on 0845 880 0689, email info@passage.org.uk or visit
www.passage.org.uk Please send donations to The Passage, St Vincent’s Centre, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL.
Reg. Charity No. 1079764 Page 14
Westminster Record April 2013
Youth
Westminster Youth Ministry Fr Michael O’Boy In May of this year Archbishop Vincent will formally open the Diocese’s Centre for Youth Ministry at St Aloysius, Somers Town. This opening of the Centre is a new beginning in the Diocese’s provision for young people and marks a major step forward in the implementation of the Diocese’s vision for youth ministry. The principal aim of the Centre for Youth Ministry is to be a resource for the growth and development of parish based youth ministry. In particular it seeks to support the paid and volunteer youth ministers at work in our parishes and to facilitate young people’s involvement in the life and mission of their parishes. At first sight the establishment of a Centre for Youth Ministry aimed at supporting parishes in their ministry to young people may appear counter-intuitive. Once confirmed, many of our young people stop coming to church. They are in our schools, but not in our churches. So why invest time and resources in this way? In part the establishment of the Centre and its emphasis on the support and development of parish based youth ministry is the fruit of a Diocesewide consultation and a response to the often voiced concern about young people ‘dropping out’ of their parishes. Yet, there is a more fundamental reason for devoting time, energy and resources to the development of parish based youth ministry, and it stems from our Christian Catholic understanding of what human maturity looks like and consists in. At the heart of our Catholic life stands the celebration of the Eucharist and in particular the Sunday Eucharist. It is in the Eucharist, where Christ in Word and Sacrament is present to us, that we find the pattern of what it is to be a truly human person, just as Christ was. He is the means and the nourishment for being so. It follows therefore, if our goal is to bring young people to human maturity, that we must also set ourselves the task of drawing them into the Eucharist where Christ Himself offers to each of us – young and old – the key to being fully alive and fully ourselves. If we are to serve young people, if we are to serve anyone, it is this understanding of maturity – this intimacy with Christ and the centrality of the Eucharistic Community- that we must set before them.
Westminster Pilgrim to World Youth Day 2013
In supporting the growth and development of parish based youth ministry, my hope is that our young people will discover in their parishes an experience of church that they will hold onto for the future; a church, which accompanies them, as Christ accompanied the disciples on the road to Emmaus, illuminating their struggles and making His presence known. Yes, the presence of young people in our parishes may enliven
our parishes, but in seeking to accompany our young people, we must never forget that each and every parish community, in its walking with them, in its fidelity to prayer, teaching and the Eucharist, offers a greater treasure. Fr Michael O’Boy is parish priest of Somers Town and has had oversight of the development and restructuring of Westminster’s Youth Ministry since 2007.
As a young Catholic I have already been privileged to have had some life changing faith experiences and it is my prayer now that WYD will also prove to be a truly spiritual time. My story of conversion to Catholicism began in 1997 in Angola when my tgodmother first took me to a Catholic parish for a catechetical programme. My Mum was not a Catholic and at the time I felt that I belonged to many churches but also paradoxically not to any of them! Initially catechesis didn’t really mean anything to me and I wasn’t that keen on going to Holy Mass either, since it meant missing out on morning sleep and watching cartoons on TV! As time went by however I began to warm to my catechist in how she presented the Catholic faith and that helped me stay for the catechetical programme. In 2000, the year of the Great Jubilee, I was baptised and immediately after that I joined the Eucharistic Youth Movement; this was the second best decision I took as a young Catholic, second to receiving the Sacraments of Initiation. This movement helped me to develop as a Catholic and a person as a whole. I grew from strength to strength and went on to become a leader in the movement and a catechist myself. As a member of the movement and catechist, I participated in a number of retreats, vigils, Bible studies and various other youth gatherings. Although the phrase “I have done it all” doesn’t apply when it comes to God, I think WYD is the one missing in my list of Christian youth events. I first properly tried to go to WYD in 2008 in Sydney, but I was unable to raise funds on time. As for Madrid 2011, it came at the wrong time for
me, I was graduating that summer from Newcastle University and had to prepare to return home immediately after. So 2013 is the year for me and it is amazing that the WYD is taking place in the biggest Catholic nation on earth! I’m really looking forward to sharing this great experience with my fellow Catholics from Westminster Diocese and all over the world and of course with our newly elected Pope!
Get involved and keep in touch! You can find out more about the Diocesan Youth Service and the experiences of our young people by going to www.rcdow.org.uk/youth The site includes coverage of events, interviews and photos. You can also keep in touch online with the latest youth activities at www.facebook.com/ WestminsterDioceseYAYA twitter.com/ RCWestminster or WestminsterYAYA See photos of youth events at http://tinyurl.com/5vqohvo If you have a story for the blog or for Westminster Record email us at: communications@rcdow.org.uk
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Westminster Record April 2013
Evangelisation
A series of debates under the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral starting next month, will look at the financial heart of the UK and ask: ‘The City and the Common Good: What kind of City do we want?’. Following a widely discussed 2011 report ‘Value and Values: Perceptions of Ethics in the City Today’ which surveyed over 500 financial sector professionals, the three debates in April, May and June will explore the theme under the headings: Good People, Good Money and Good Banks. Organised by St Paul’s Institute with CCLA, the debates will be chaired by BBC Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders.
Good People – Thursday 11 April – 6.30pm Archbishop Vincent Nichols with Bishop Peter Selby; Polly Toynbee; Tracey McDermott. In our relations with friends and family we reckon to know what goodness is and how it informs our lives. In the context of the 21st century market place, what does it mean to be a good person and contribute to the common good?
Good Money – Tuesday 7 May – 6.30pm
Faith Matters talks for the Year of Faith Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God:
16 May
Catholic moral & social teaching
‘Credo but not credulous! Christians’ conditional loyalty’.
9, 16, 23 and 30 May
Dr Patrick Riordan SJ
7 - 8:30pm – Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street SW1P 1QN Faith Matters - the Catholic Lecture Series - returns on Thursday evenings. This series is the third of four dedicated to the Year of Faith and focusses on Part III of the Catechism of the Catholic Church - 'Life in Christ'. 9 May ‘A Catholic Conversation with the Earth’ by Mary Colwell. Mary Colwell is, amongst other roles, a TV producer who worked all over the world from the Arctic to the Amazon on a variety of programmes for the BBC Natural History Unit. Her talk will bring her in depth knowledge of the natural world to the world of faith: How the two can inspire each other. The audience will be invited to reflect on the ecological theologian Thomas Berry who said we have "broken the conversation with the earth" as demands for an ever higher standard of living mean the earth cannot supply all our wants and still maintain an integrity of its own. This talk will look at questions such as: What can Catholic teaching tell us about this crisis? How can we unwrap the layers of Catholic teachings over generations to find the wisdom that is needed to bring balance back to a planet? What can the Catholic Church, as a powerful presence in some of the most stressed areas on earth, do to help the earth recover and to begin again a meaningful, joyful conversation with the planet? Page 16
was listed in the Independent on Sunday’s Happy List of people who make useful contributions to society. Her lecture will focus on themes including whether or not the world is a more secure, more just place to live fifty years after Pacem in Terris. How do we continue to measure up to the demands of Pacem in Terris as a country and as a church? What role has the peace movement Pax Christi played in this?
Dr Patrick Riordan SJ is a Jesuit priest who teaches political philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London. His research interests are Religion in 30 May Public Life, the Philosophy of Justice, and the "The Ten Commandments: do they still matter?" Common Good. The talk will Fr Michael Kirwan, SJ explore the following questions: What does our Fr Michael is head of the Theology faith commitment as Christians department at Heythrop College, require of us in relation to politics? University of What resources from our faith can we London. He is a draw on to meet those obligations as regular guest responsible citizens? Dr Patrick argues lecturer at the our loyalty to our countries, our Institute of political parties and our politicians is Ecumenical conditional and qualified, even those Studies in Prague ‘democratically’ arrived at. Being true and is engaged in to our Christian vocation, we are an a project bringing irritation to many, but perhaps that political theology makes us more truly responsible from Europe and Latin America into citizens? more explicit dialogue with the experience of Christians in former communist countries. 23 May
In keeping with Fr Michael Kirwan’s studies the final talk in the series on "The Ten Commandments: do they still matter?" will look at this theological topic, and other relevant topics, By Pat Gaffney through the lens of culture and literature, rather than philosophical As General Secretary of Pax Christi, approaches. the International Catholic Movement for Peace since 1990, Pat Gaffney has These are public lectures and all are engaged in lobbying the Church and welcome. Registration is required as political networks on peace and places will be limited. Please register security-related at http://rcdow.org.uk/faith/faithmatters or email to issues. faithmatters@rcdow.org.uk or She was no- telephone 020 7931 6078. Suggested minated for the donation per lecture is £3. 2005 Nobel Peace Prize in the 1000 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they Women for Peace shall be called children of God: Project and in 2012 Catholic moral & social teaching. “Revisiting the peace message of Pacem in Terris: have we put the words into action?"
Lord Robert Skidelsky with Andrew Bailey; Ann Pettifor; Tarek El Diwany. If the influence of money over us is unavoidable, how can we ensure that the results are positive? Does the issue go beyond our attitude to money to the nature of money itself? Is there such a thing as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ money? Is it just the ‘love of money’ we must guard against, or has something happened to money itself?
Good Banks – Wednesday 12 June – 6pm Archbishop Justin Welby with Baroness Shirley Williams; Antony Jenkins The relationship between banks and society has been described in the aftermath of the financial crisis as a ‘social contract’, but what is the objective of the contract? What is the purpose of banking and how do we foster a culture that helps that purpose be realised? The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, said: “After four years of discussion about what has gone wrong and who might be responsible, there is now a call for changes that will reinforce a culture of integrity and prudence and ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the recent past. But if we are to discuss the individual steps, do we not first need to ask: what kind of ‘City’ do we want?” Entry to all three events is free and open to all. Please note that each event requires a separate registration to attend. To register for tickets visit: http://goodpeoplestpauls.eventbrite.com
Westminster Record April 2013
Arts FILM REVIEW
EXHIBITION REVIEW
Silver Linings Playbook
Brilliance and Grace
Entombment of Christ 1579 - 82 Credit Line: Diocesi di Senigallia Chiesa della Croce, Senigallia © 2013. Photo Scala, Florence7322
By Amanda C Dickie A breathtaking exhibition at the National Gallery profiles this master of the late Renaissance and early Baroque. Devotional paintings and large scale altarpieces are displayed alongside many detailed preparatory drawings, mostly in colour. Federico Barocci from Urbino was one of the highest paid artists of his time. His depictions of religious themes radiate joy, uniting
the transcendent and the human in dazzling colour. The Entombment is full of movement incorporating several scenarios. On the left of the picture are the tools of Christ's passion. Centre stage Christ's dead body is carried in a shroud by Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea and youthful Evangelist. The gold and rose-tinted robes of St John and Mary Magdalen mirror each other. Kneeling, she partially masks the waiting tomb Behind the burial party is Mary, supported by women, on a rocky promontory above are the two thieves beside Christ's empty cross. The Last Supper, a dramatic depiction from Urbino Cathedral took nine years to complete. Theological symbolism emanate from this dramatic narrative. The individual characteristics of the Apostles are clearly defined. Twelve attendants, including young boys are at the fore of the scene in attitudes of humble service, intended to represent preparation for Communion. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor exerted his influence to release a complimentary picture, The Institution of the Eucharist from his titular church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. The altarpiece was commissioned by Clement VIII for his parents’ burial vault. The focus here is on the centrality of Christ holding
aloft a communion wafer instead of blessing a loaf of bread as in the earlier depiction. Other wafers rest on a silver paten, highlighting central tenets of the Catholic Reformation. In the foreground attendants are washing pewter plates whilst a dog looks on, adding homely touches to the theological theme. A wonderful portrayal of The Visitation, from St Philip Neri's Church in Rome, that the saint would view in near ecstasy for hours is another masterpiece displayed. Charming depictions of the Holy Family in The Nativity, Rest on the Return from Egypt, and Madonna del Gatto exude light and warmth. Dr Penny, Director of the National Gallery says: “Barocci has never been surpassed. He rendered the sacred both divinely beautiful and irresistibly human” Supported by the Joseph McCrindle Foundation this major exhibition is not to be missed. FOR MORE INFORMATION Until 19 May Daily 10 - 6pm (Tuesday 2.30pm - 6pm, Friday 10 - 9pm) Admission £12/£11 Seniors/concessions £6 Family tickets £24
By Jo Siedlecka This is a very funny and compassionate film, with a fine script and beautiful performances. It won eight Oscar nominations and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Jennifer Lawrence. Bradley Cooper gives a powerful and convincing performance as Pat, a teacher who has just spent eight months in a psychiatric institution in Baltimore after getting into a ballistic rage on discovering his wife is having an affair. His mother agrees to bring him home early as long as he continues therapy sessions. He begins by refusing to take his medication and obsesses about seeing his wife and mending his marriage - even though he has a restraining order to keep away from her. Dolores, his mother (Jackie Weaver) is kind and practical. Pat senior, his father (Robert de Niro at his best), decides that his son is a lucky key to his betting plans and winning money to establish a restaurant. The other central character is a young policeman’s widow, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) herself on medication with a very disturbed past, who cautiously becomes Pat's friend. She lives in a small house at the back of her parents' property.
It’s interesting that both these adult characters living with mental illness have moved back in with their parents. Without family support neither would probably have been able to survive so well. Both also wear crosses, and while religion isn't mentioned, there is an underlying message of hope and faith in this film. The authorities in this film - the police officer, and psychiatrist are portrayed sympathetically. Dr Patel always urges Pat to 'have a strategy' for dealing with life - and the one he works out for himself is the idea of 'silver linings'. When Pat first meets Tiffany it is no foregone conclusion that they will end up with each other and there is real tension in the story as she persuades him to enter a dance competition with him - in exchange for delivering a letter to his wife. Despite the differences, their bluntness and lack of social skills, Pat and Tiffany do get to the dance floor – and their (moderate) success is a key for silver linings for the whole family.
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Westminster Record April 2013
Obituaries Fr Brian Heaney Fr Brian Heaney died on Tuesday 26 February 2013 at Barnet Hospital. He was 85 years of age and had been a priest for 59 of them. May he rest in peace. Brian John Heaney was born in Hunslet, Leeds on 29 April 1927 – one of five children of James and Helen Heaney. The family moved south and settled in Ashford, Middlesex, where Brian attended the County School. After serving in the Army at the end of the war, Brian was accepted as a candidate for the Diocese and entered Allen Hall at Ware. He was ordained to the priesthood in Westminster Cathedral on 30 May 1953 by Cardinal Bernard Griffin. After ordination Fr Brian had the following appointments: 1953-1957 Chiswick (Curate) 1957-1964 Sudbury (Curate) 1964-1967 Carpenders Park (Curate) 1967-1972 Stoke Newington (Curate) 19721981 West Hendon (Parish Priest) 1981-1994 Feltham (Parish Priest) 1994 – 2002 Gunnersbury (Parish Priest). He retired in September 2002 to Nazareth House, East Finchley, where he at first acted as Chaplain and spent the remainder of his years.
Page 18
Fr Brian’s remains were received into St Dunstan’s, Gunnersbury on Thursday 14 March at 7pm followed by Mass. The Funeral Mass was at Our Lady of Grace and St Edward, Chiswick, on Friday 15 March at 11am. The Archbishop was the main celebrant. The Archbishop, the Cardinal, Auxiliary Bishops, Priests and Deacons of the Diocese offer their condolences and prayers to Fr Brian’s nieces and nephews and other family members and friends at this sad time. Fr Brian was a member of the Deceased Clergy Association.
Liturgical Calendar April 1-7 Easter Week 7 Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy) 8 The Annunciation 11 St Stanislaus 13 St Martin 1 14 Third Sunday of Easter 19 St Alphege 21 Fourth Sunday of Easter 23 St George 24 Sts Erkenwald and Mellitus 25 St Mark 28 Fifth Sunday of Easter 29 St Catherine of Siena
In Memoriam: April 3 Fr Francis Kenney (1987) 4 Fr Peter Dunn (1974) Fr Robert Holmes-Walker (2010) 5 Fr Albert Parisotti (1970) Fr David Evans (1989) 7 Fr John Keep (2002) 9 Fr Thomas Hookham (1998) Fr Ronald Cox (1994) Fr James Wooloughan (2003) Fr Gerard Meaney (2010) 10 Mgr Canon John M T Barton (1977) Fr Brian Laycock (2004) 11 Fr John Bebb (1975) Bishop James O’Brien (2007) 12 Fr John Mills (1975) 13 Fr Albert Davey (1987) 14 Fr Michael Hendry (1994) 16 Mgr Canon Lancelot Long (1978) Fr Clement Tigar (1976) Fr Bernard McGuinness (1978) 17 Canon Lionel Dove (1971) 19 Fr Joseph McEntee (1978) Canon Harold Winstone (1987) 20 Fr Patrick Smyth (1978) 21 Canon Reginald Fuller (2011) 22 Fr Herbert Crees (1974) Fr Robert Tollemach (1998) Fr John Robson (2000) 23 Canon Frank Martin (2002) 24 Canon Clement Rochford (1978) Fr Derek McClughen (1991) 25 Canon Francis Hegarty (2004) 27 Fr Stanley Harrison (1973) Mgr John F. McDonald (1992) 28 Canon John Longstaff (1986) 29 Fr Michael Moriarty (1996)
April Feast Days: Sts Erkenwald and Mellitus, Bishops 24 April St Erkenwald was Bishop of London. This seventh century saint was London's most important religious figure for many centuries. His diocese extended over Essex and Middlesex. Reputed to be of royal blood, he founded the monasteries of Chertsey in Surrey and Barking in Essex. He ruled Chertsey while his sister, St Ethleburga was abbess of Barking. During his lifetime he had a great reputation for holiness. He helped to bring about reconciliation between Wilfred and Theodore. He died at Barking on this day in 693 and was buried in St Paul's Cathedral. His relics survived the fire of 1087. His shrine became more ornate each century as it was endowed by London canons and merchants. It was a popular place of pilgrimage until it was destroyed during the Reformation. Saint Mellitus was a Bishop and one of the second band of missionaries sent from Rome to England by Pope Gregory I. He took with him a letter advising Augustine not to destroy the temples of the Saxons, but only their idols. The temples he was told, should be turned into churches, and the pagan feasts adapted to Christian purposes. In 604 he was consecrated the first bishop of the East Saxons, with his see in London. He converted the King Sabert, but not his sons. When the king died they drove Mellitus out, after he refused their demand to give them the 'white bread' (the Eucharist). Mellitus withdrew to Gaul for a year with St Justus of Rochester. When he returned to England he was made Archbishop of Canterbury. He built St Mary's Church there. Mellitus died on this day in 624 and was buried near St Augustine in the abbey church of St Peter and St Paul. Bede said that he was 'noble by birth but yet nobler in mind'.
Westminster Record April 2013
Diary
REGULAR EVENTS If you have an event, please email us at communications@rcdow.org.uk SUNDAYS
Taizé at St James’s Piccadilly Every third Sunday 5pm. Call 020 7503 5128 for details.
Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm in Westminster Cathedral Hall Ambrosden Ave. SW1P 1QW
Ceilidh at Camden Irish Centre Real Ceilidh dancing every Sunday from 8pm, with lessons for newcomers until 8.30pm then on with the dance! All are welcome. £4 per session with great music from Tony Kearny. Partners not needed. Contact 020 7272 5815
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club
Tyburn Benedictines Monastic afternoon First Sunday of the month 2pm-5pm Martyrs’ Crypt, Tyburn Convent, Bayswater Road near Marble Arch. Westminster Cathedral Young Adults Young adults meet socially after the 5.30 and 7pm Masses on Sundays. on the steps of the Cathedral, then a pub.
MONDAYS
Catholic tours in London Qualified Catholic tour guide leads ‘Saints and Scholars’ walk every Sunday including Mass. Contact Peter on 07913904997 or circlingthesquaretours@ hotmail.co.uk
Every Sunday throughout the year walkers meet for a ramble in the Home Counties. Contact Antoinette 020 8769 3643 or visit www.stfrancisramblers.org.uk.
Prayers for London at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden Tuesdays 7.30pm Organised by the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicholl Road, London NW10 9AX Vocations Prayer Group Second Tuesday of the month 8pm at 47C Gaisford Street, Kentish Town, NW5
WEDNESDAYS
Prayer Event for people in the arts and media Third Monday of each month 6.30pm. For more information see www.artisaninitiatives.org
Wednesdays on the Wall (WOTW) First Wednesday of the month 6pm. At All Hallows on the Wall 83 London Wall, EC2M 5ND. A short service of prayer and reflection at 6pm, coffee at 6.45pm followed by discussion. Youth 2000 prayer group Wednesdays 7.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.
TUESDAYS
THURSDAYS
Mothers’ Prayers at St Dominic’s Priory, Haverstock Hill Every Monday 2.30-3.30pm in the Lourdes chapel. All are welcome.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesdays 6-9pm concluding with Benediction at Newman House, 111 Gower Street. Details 020 7731 3367 Mass at Canary Wharf Tuesdays 12.30pm at 2 Churchill Place E14. Organised by Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, Chaplain to Canary Wharf Communities. Details www.cwcc.org.uk
Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life JCFL First Thursday of the month. Young adults from all Christian denominations pray and share a meal. Details www.jcfl.org.uk. Soul Food A Catholic charismatic prayer group for young adults meets from 7 to 9pm at St Charles Borromeo, Ogle Street, W1W 6HS Details www.soulfoodgroup.org info@soulfoodgroup.org
FRIDAYS
Association of Divorced and Separated Catholics Third Friday of the month. All divorced and separated Catholics, are welcome. Call Frank or Christine 020 8422 1591 Divine Mercy Prayers and Mass First Fridays 2.30-4.30pm at the Church of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, 2 Windsor Road, Ealing. St Albans Fridays at 12 noon. Mass is celebrated every week at St Alban’s Abbey, one of the oldest Christian churches in England. Westminster Cathedral Charismatic Prayer Group 7.30pm Prayer, praise and teaching. First Friday is a healing Mass. Details 020 8748 2632 Vocations Discernment Group 7pm, Hinsley Room, Westminster Cathedral. Meetings for young adults aged 18-38. Visit www.free2become.org or call 01277 373 848
SATURDAYS Aylesford Friary - All night vigils First Saturdays 10pm - 6am. Night vigils take place May-October on the first Saturday of each month. Call Mrs Tugadi 020 7352 4478 or Miss Ogbeni 07847 532199 or 01733 553762. Taizé at Notre Dame Church Leicester Square 7.15pm. Call 020 7437 9363
EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS
Sundays Low Mass 9.30am, St James’s Spanish Place, W1 Low Mass 9am, High Altar, the Oratory, Brompton Road, SW7 Sung Mass 10.45, St Bede, Thornton Road, SW12 Low Mass 6pm St Thomas Aquinas, Ham Common, TW3 Mondays Sung Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2 Low Mass 7am, St Bede, Thornton Road, SW12 Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Low Mass 7am, St Bede, Thornton Road, SW12 Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7 Low Mass 12.30pm, St Bede, Thornton Road, SW12 Fridays Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1 First Fridays only. Low Mass 7am, St Bede, Thornton Road, SW12 Sung Mass 6.30pm St Mary Magdalen, East Hill, SW18 Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7 Mass St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Rd Hackney E9 at 6pm. Every Second Friday Low Mass 6.30pm, Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2 Saturdays Second Saturdays at 4.30pm, Low Mass Side Chapel Westminster Cathedral Low Mass 12.15 St Wilfrid’s Chapel, The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7
FORTHCOMING EVENTS 16
April
The next Quiz and Fish and Chip Supper will be held on 16 April in the Cathedral Hall at 6.45pm. Tickets £15. Please contact The Friends’ office on 020 7798 9059 or Clergy House Reception for tickets.
19-21
April
Retrouvaille - a lifeline for troubled marriages - begins its next programme with a weekend in the Greater London area. website. Contact Clive and Kathy Jones on 07973 380443 or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk
27
April
Mass at 6:00pm at Westminster Cathedral for New Catholics their Godparents and Sponsors and parish representatives, relatives and friends of the New Catholics
Registrater at www.rcdow.org.uk/events
11
18
May
Day of Prayer & Catechesis (The Catechists and the Catechism): With Bishop John Sherrington from 9.30-2.30pm.
May
The Carmelite Tradition of Prayer and Spirituality: With Fr Damien Cassidy O.Carm at Vaughan House, Victoria from 9.30-2.30pm
Our Lady & St Vincent Parish Centre, 234 Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 2AT
Spring Concert
Individual subsription costs include postage and packing and are valid for one year. £10 per annum. Europe - £12 per annum. You can subscribe online at http://bit.ly/cePGGE Otherwise please fill in the coupon below.
Saturday 20 April 7.30pm London: Classical Spring Concert Our Lady Help of Christians 4 Lady Margaret Rd, Kentish Town NW5 2XT London Repertoire Orchestra Leader: Conductor: Cello: Tina Bowles David Cutts Chiara Enderle Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis Saint-Saens, Cello Concerto No 1 Beethoven, Symphony No 7 FREE ENTRANCE - donations gratefully appreciated In aid of The Bridge School Islington Sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers Supported by Cubertou Please call Annette on 0207 619 1000 Extension 2237 for more information
Please send a cheque made payable to 'The Universe Media Group Ltd.' to Andrea Black, Westminster Record, The Universe Media Group Ltd. Alberton House, Ground Floor, St Mary's Parsonage, Manchester M3 2WJ. Alternatively please telephone 0161 214 1216 or email andrea.black@thecatholicuniverse.com
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Spotlight Ooberfuse: Their Music, inspiration & World Youth Day Westminster Record April 2013
Alex Balzanella Between 23 and 28 July 2013 young people from throughout the world will travel to World Youth Day (WYD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to meet Pope Francis, and join their contemporaries to celebrate their faith. World Youth Day typically draws huge numbers of pilgrims eager to share the experience. Rio is predicted to be even more popular than Madrid in 2011, with three million pilgrims expected. The Diocese of Westminster will be joining in the celebrations of World Youth Day with 40 young people undertaking a pilgrimage to Brazil, organised by the Westminster Youth Ministry. The pilgrimage will be a wonderful opportunity for young people to explore their faith. Prior to travelling to Brazil, they will attend a number of pilgrim preparation days where they will prepare both practically and spiritually for the journey. Phil Ross, Director for Youth Ministry, said: “There is a tremendous excitement building amongst the pilgrims, especially with the announcement of ‘Habemus Papam.’ The pilgrimage will be a wonderful opportunity for pilgrims to strengthen their relation with Christ and to discern how they can use their experience in their parish communities on their return.” As part of the excitement of WYD an official anthem is produced to transmit the meaning and hopes of the event. We have been lucky enough to speak to Ooberfuse, the artist of the official English WYD anthem “Hope of the Dawn”. The band members, Hal, Cherrie, Nico & Jon, produce Electropop music which also portrays their Catholic faith. Other hit songs of theirs have included “Call My Name” and “Love Is The Seventh Wave”. They have previously performed at WYD 2011 and venues including Camden Rock, Trafalgar Square and Nottingham Trent University. They spoke to us about their music, the inspiration behind it and their experiences of the crowds at WYD 2011:
Fuse means interpenetrative comingling of (for us) East and West / Heaven and Earth. That’s exceedingly all-encompassing. To denote the idea of abundance we inserted the prefix über but again the internet couldn’t handle the umlaut so we swapped the u for two o’s
Will you be entering the next WYD competition? Every WYD is different. In 2011 they launched a global song contest in search of the best 7 songs from the 1000s entered to represent the various nations and languages of the world. The organisers of the Rio event did not launch a global song contest as such. It was done more through word-ofmouth. Who knows which country will be hosting WYD 2015 and what method they will adopt to find suitable music for the soundtrack? It could possibly be the UK!!!
What was the process that led to you putting yourselves forward for the English language version of the WYD song? How is the song selected? We had been reflecting on the theme “Go make disciples of all nations” since it was announced by Pope Benedict in 2011, so we produced a scratchy demo of some musical ideas for the organisers in Rio. They liked it so much they asked us whether we would do a version of the official anthem for English-speaking pilgrims, our take on the anthem was so well received they have now adopted it as the official English-speaking version.
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©Ooberfuse
How did you find it performing at WYD 2011? Are you excited for Rio 2013? Performing at WYD 2011 was an amazing experience standing on the stage at Cibeles square in front of the sea of pilgrims gathered in excited expectation of the Holy Father’s arrival. There were people stretching out and cramming every street leading to the square. They monitored what was happening on the stage through a monstrously large sound-system and video playback screens. It was great to be part of such a vibrant festival. Yes we are very excited for Rio 2013!!!
Why did you choose the name Ooberfuse? We used to be called FUSE but when you searched the internet under that name weird stuff popped up like a residential conference for Australian electricians. We wanted to be named after more than just a useful electronics component. Page 20 Published by The Diocese of Westminster, Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QJ. Printed by NWN Media Limited, Mold, Flintshire. All rights reserved.