Westminster record August 2016

Westminster Record

August 2016 | 20p

Congratulations and Prayers

Date with History for Primary School

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Walsingham Pilgrimage

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Ordained to Service

Newly-ordained Fr Tony Thomas, Fr Chinedu Udo, Fr Tom Montgomery, Fr Christian de Lisle, Fr John Scott and Fr Damian Ryan with Cardinal Vincent

On Saturday 25 June, six men were ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Vincent at Westminster Cathedral. Concelebrating were Bishops John Sherrington, Nicholas Hudson and Mark Jabale, along with many priests of the diocese.

Ordained were Fr Christian de Lisle, Fr Tom Montgomery, Fr Damian Ryan, Fr John Scott, Fr Tony Thomas and Fr Chinedu Udo.

During the homily which preceded the Ordination Rite, Cardinal Vincent, echoing the words of St Paul, enjoined the men to ‘lead a life worthy of your vocation’. In turn, he promised them ‘our prayers and support as you set out to lead that life as priests of Jesus Christ.

To be his prisoner is to enjoy the most exquisite kind of freedom!’

The Cardinal explained that ‘a worthy life is marked by unfailing charity, offered to one

another’. He asked them to listen again to St Paul who tells them to ‘do all you can to preserve unity in the Spirit’, saying that this is the Spirit of Jesus ‘that lives in the Church, that holds us together as a Church’ and that this is the unity which priests are to serve.

He spoke of the examples of St John Southworth who lived his priestly life to the point of martyrdom and Bishop Richard Challoner whose vision of

priesthood is that of ‘missionary priests’.

‘Priesthood is something beyond us all,’ explained the Cardinal. ‘It is a gift beyond our imagining, beyond our doing.

And it is a gift which opens for us all the wonders of the Lord’s goodness and grace, transforming not only the lives of these six men, but through them, the lives of us all.’

Fr Christian de Lisle has been appointed Assistant Priest at

St Paul’s, Wood Green. Frs Tom Montgomery and Chinedu Udo have been appointed Assistant Priests at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George, Enfield, Fr Damian Ryan goes to St John Vianney, West Green, as Assistant Priest, Fr John Scott will serve as a Cathedral Chaplain. Fr Tony Thomas is appointed Assistant Priest at St George, Sudbury.

Please pray for these men as they begin their new ministry.

Editorial

Westminster Record | August 2016

Westminster Record – Contact us Strong Faith in Uncertain Times Editor Mgr Mark Langham Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ Managing Editor Marie Saba 020 7798 9031 Inhouse writers Hannah Woolley and Fr John Scott 020 7798 9178, and Martha Behan 020 7798 9030 Design Julian Game To order copies contact Andrea Black 0161 908 5301 or email andrea.black@thecatholicuniverse.com Print management and distribution by The Universe Media Group Ltd.

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As we go to Press the pilgrimages to Lourdes, and to World Youth Day in Krakow, are beginning. For pilgrims in both groups there will be sacrifice, a long journey, and crowds, yet the joy will be palpable. A pilgrimage is not merely a personal experience or achievement, but has also a wider significance and (as Pope Francis has said) helps spread the faith. The presence of so many, who are willing to endure so much to celebrate their faith, puts into practice the words of our Lord: ‘By this will everyone know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

At Lourdes the able-bodied stand back, allowing those who normally are placed on the margins to move to the centre.

It is a wonderful vision of love and care, of how our world might be, and is a message to be shared, for that reason the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes has at its theme the ‘Joy of Mission’. At World Youth Day, we see the Church of the future, confident, joyful, resilient, filling us with hope.

That same hope and joy are very much part of our diocesan life now as we celebrate six new priests, whose long training has been their own pilgrimage, and whose generous service will help our faith grow strong.

And we need strong faith in these times. The recent news has piled horror upon horror, and fresh atrocities have exhausted our vocabularies of pain and fear. We must not let Satan steal from us our hope, hope based on the promises of Christ and the resurrection that comes after the cross. Our belief is that somehow, in all of this, God holds us in his hands. Our conviction is that the battle between good and evil is not an equal one, and that goodness will prove victorious.

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

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

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Praying for Victims of Violence

The past weeks have been marked by acts of violence, particularly across the Middle East including South Sudan, Baghdad, Dhaka, Medina and Istanbul.

Following the terrorist attack in Istanbul airport on 28 June, Cardinal Vincent wrote to the Archbishop of Istanbul and the Turkish Ambassador to express his condolences saying, ‘This atrocity has shocked the world and all who hold that respect for human life is an essential foundation for every society.’

After 20 hostages were left dead at the Holey Artisanal Cafe in Dhaka on 1 July, the Cardinal said, 'The deliberate targeting of Page 2

innocent victims as they were breaking the fast during Ramadan is a shocking demonstration of the wanton disregard for human life.'

As Muslims prepared to celebrate Eid al-Fitr festival, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, suicide bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia, particularly Medina, left many dead. The Cardinal described the attacks as ‘a clear sign that the perpetrators lack all respect for human life and the sacred spaces of Islam.'

In the wake of severe violence in South Sudan, Cardinal Vincent and Bishop William Kenney expressed their sorrow at the return of violence to South Sudan. They also asked the international community to support efforts for peace and for Cafod, already present in the country, 'as a matter of urgency to determine what humanitarian action it can take'.

'May God grant strength and

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enduring faith to all who are bereaved, injured and traumatised. May God welcome into his merciful presence all who have died. May God turn the hearts of all who commit evil to a true understanding of his desire and intention for humanity.’

We pray for victims of all these attacks, their families and the wider society. We pray for the eternal repose of all who have died and for peace throughout the world.

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Westminster Record | August 2016

Responding to the EU Referendum

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Cardinal Vincent is pictured with Theresa May at the Santa Marta meeting held in Rome in 2014.

Cardinal Vincent Offers Prayers and Congratulations to Theresa May Cardinal Vincent has congratulated Theresa May on her appointment as prime minister. Recognising her judgement, resolve, sense of justice and integrity, Cardinal Nichols assured her of his prayers and those of the Catholic community in England and Wales. He also looked forward to working with her across a broad range of issues in the service of the common good.

Mrs May has worked closely with the Cardinal, especially on the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery.

She attended the first meeting of

the Santa Marta Group in the Vatican in 2014, where, in the presence of Pope Francis, police chiefs from over 20 countries committed to working with the Church in combatting human trafficking.

In his letter, the Cardinal said: ‘I am personally delighted at your appointment. I know from the work we have done together that you have so many qualities to bring to the service of our countries at this time. I appreciate the maturity of judgement, the steely resolve, the sense of justice and the personal integrity and warmth

you have always shown.

I thank you for the remarkable work you have accomplished for the victims of human trafficking, including your strong personal support for the establishment of the Santa Marta Group, demonstrated through your presence at its first meeting in Rome. This is a clear indication not only of your determination to use high political office for the protection of some of the world's most vulnerable people, but also of your willingness to work with the Catholic Church at its highest levels.’

Londoners Support Polish Community in the Wake of Xenophobic Abuse

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Following messages of hate and racial crime targeted at the Polish community in the wake of the vote to leave the EU, there has been an outpouring of positive messages and support from Londoners of all backgrounds. Politicians visited the Polish and Social Cultural Association in Hammersmith on 29 June after it was vandalised with offensive graffiti.

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Following the EU referendum vote to leave the EU on 24 June, Cardinal Vincent called on everyone ‘to respect the will of the people’. He went on to say that: ‘our prayer is that all will work in this task with respect and civility…we pray that in this process the most vulnerable will be supported and protected’.

'We now must work hard to show ourselves to be good neighbours and resolute contributors in joint international efforts to tackle the critical problems of our world today.'

In the days following the vote to leave the EU, as reports of hate crime increased, Cardinal Vincent warned that: ‘This upsurge of racism, of hatred towards others, is something we must not tolerate.

We have to say this is simply not acceptable in a humane society and it should never be provoked or promoted.’

Calling for a renewed sense of purpose, he said: ‘We need to grasp again our basic sense of purpose; in living together, creating together and fashioning a society. It is that sense of greater purpose that we may have lost; instead believing that the purpose of politics is to manipulate power, the purpose of business is simply to make profit for a few. This challenge of re-establishing a wider sense of purpose has been with us for a while now.’

‘The great challenge for those leading the nation now is to speak for everyone. If a victory in a

referendum remains a point of division, then we become weaker and weaker as a nation and fail to play our part in the international scene tackling the world’s problems, which are great and challenging.’

On the memoria of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16 July, Cardinal Vincent, accompanied by Bishop Peter Doyle of Northhampton, celebrated a Mass to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Catholic Women's League (CWL) at Westminster Cathedral.

Preaching the homily, Bishop Peter reflected on the EU referendum saying: 'Many members of our parishes and schools from other nations who bring so much vitality and faith to our communities are feeling uneasy and insecure, and have a sense of being unwanted or unwelcome'. He reminded those gathered that most Catholic communities in England and Wales are descended from immigrant stock and that it is therefore incumbent on all to 'remember our roots and welcome one another and embrace one another as sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ'.

Bishop Peter echoed these same words in a message to parishes and schools of his diocese, in which he also said: 'I want us to seek first the common good, the good of all with no one excluded. I want us all to be alert and have a care for people who are afraid or who feel unwanted or unwelcome.'

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Westminster Record | August 2016

Copenhagen Street Celebrates Centenary

During his homily Cardinal Vincent thanked everyone who is involved with the parish and spoke of how it was founded by a Catholic businessman. John Crick was a glass blower by trade and funded the building of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. He specialised in scientific instruments and helped especially with the

creation of the Vatican Observatory, which required many specialist instruments.

He is an example, the Cardinal explained, of how we can be successful in public life as well as being dedicated to our faith.

He continued, acknowledging the importance of things that allow us to give permanent concrete expression to our faith.

© Marissa Jacobs

On 26 May Copenhagen Street Parish kept its centenary, which was marked with Mass

by Cardinal Vincent when current and former parishioners gathered to celebrate the life of the parish.

Concelebrating were several of the priests who had served there, including Mgr John Conneely who himself was baptised in the church.

Potters Bar Celebrates Church Anniversary

On Sunday 3 July Potters Bar parish celebrated the 10th anniversary of the new church building with a Mass celebrated by Bishop John Sherrington. Following the Mass, the parish celebrated with a BBQ and musical entertainment from young parishioners and the arrival of an ice-cream van was welcome refreshment on such a sunny day.

Remembering the Fallen of the Somme

On Saturday 2 July, Bishop Nicholas celebrated Mass in Westminster Cathedral which was offered for the Fallen of the Battle of the Somme, the centenary of which was marked on 1 July.

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In his homily, Bishop Nicholas reflected on what this day, 2 July, would have been like 100 years ago. 'Exactly one hundred years ago, politicians, generals and countless families were coming to terms with the casualties of that fateful first day of battle. Some 20,000 had been killed and another 40,000 were wounded or reported missing...it is shocking to think that each one was someone’s son or sweetheart, an absent presence among relatives and friends, in so many cases still spoken of today. The campaign has left an indelible mark on our national memory.'

Recalling some testimonies of

survivors of the Somme, he reminded those present that: 'the battle lasted four and a half months along a 25-mile front.

All in all there were around 420,000 British, 195,000 French and 650,000 German casualties.'

As the Mass was that of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday, Bishop Nicholas called on her intercession for those men: 'On this day, let us ask Mary for her maternal intercession, that all those brave, brave men of the Somme may now be at peace; and that we, who stand so much in their debt, never forget to honour their memory and learn from their legacy.'

Three Dioceses’ Jubilee for Priests On 23 June priests from the dioceses of Westminster, Southwark and Brentwood gathered at Westminster Cathedral for a Jubilee for Priests. Prior to Mass, Dr Judith Champ gave a talk entitled ‘Richard Challoner and the Transformation of the English Secular Priesthood’. The principal celebrant of the Mass was Cardinal Vincent and Bishop Alan Williams of the Diocese of Brentwood preached the homily.

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Mourning with, Praying for France

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A Small Light in the Darkness In London attention turned towards the Church of Notre Dame de France in Leicester Square where many gathered to mourn the dead and pray for the victims and for peace.

The sense of shock at yet another attack in France was felt by many including Parish Priest, Fr Pascal Boidin SM, who was moved to write a letter to his parishioners. In the letter, Fr Pascal writes:

‘Last night, the evening of our national holiday, Nice suffered a terrible attack. Our friendship and our prayers are with the victims of the attack and those closest to them.

Today, we feel sorrow.

‘My feelings are of shock and incomprehension. How is it possible that one man can kill in cold blood others who are like him? How has it come to that?

‘As Christians, we are called to turn our gaze towards Jesus.

On the cross, he suffered blind and beastly violence at the hands of his persecutors. His resurrection is a witness to the fact that life is stronger than the wickedness of these people.

Today this remains my hope, a small light in the darkness.’

Cardinal’s Condolences Cardinal Vincent also sent a condolence letter to Fr Pascal and the French congregation at Notre Dame de France, in which he said: ‘I write today to express my horror at the terrible massacre of innocent victims in Nice last night as they were celebrating

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Bastille Day. This senseless attack on life is to be utterly condemned as entirely contrary to the values of civilisation and of our faith.

‘My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and all who witnessed this brutal attack. I pray for those who were murdered, those who suffered terrible injuries, and all who were bereaved or traumatized by this atrocity. I pray too for the people of Nice and of all of France, of all faiths and none, as they come to terms with this tragedy. May God comfort them and strengthen their resolve to strive ever more for peace in this world.

‘Please be assured too of the prayers of the Catholic community in England and Wales. May God bless you and may he guide us always in the ways of peace.’

Condemning Violence On the same day, Cardinal Vincent joined Muslim leaders to issue a statement condemning the senseless attack:

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‘Last night a terrible massacre was committed in the South of France. Our condolences go out to all those who were murdered in the Nice attack, the survivors and their families.

‘We condemn this terrorism which thrives on hate and division. Together, as religious leaders, we pray that peace and not violence, compassion and not hate will triumph as the people of Nice try to rebuild their community.’

Praying for Peace During the days that followed the attack, many flocked to Notre Dame de

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On the evening of Thursday 14 July, as the people of Nice were out on the seafront watching the fireworks at the end of the Bastille Day celebrations, a lorry ploughed through the crowd. Killing at least 84 people and injuring over 300, some of whom still remain in critical condition at the time the Westminster Record went to press. The driver was eventually shot dead by police, but not before he had killed and injured so many innocent victims, some of whom were children and teenagers.

France to pray for the victims, mourning those who had died and standing in solidarity with the people of Nice. Bishop Nicholas Hudson visited the parish on Saturday to offer the Vigil Mass and be with the French community in this time of mourning.

He touched many hearts with the opening words of his homily when he said he had wept on Friday morning when he heard the news of the atrocity. Thinking specifically of the children who were killed, he likened the attack to the Massacre of the Innocents, and reassured the community that: ‘Jesus wept too’ and that: ‘God weeps with us’.

Referring to the first reading of the Mass, the visit of the three men to Abraham at the oak of Mamre, Bishop Nicholas said that ‘this beautiful story’ is a visit ‘not of three men but of God himself appearing to Abraham, our father in faith’.

This visit is, he continued, ‘memorably captured in that striking icon by Rublev with which we are all so familiar, of three angelic figures gathered round an altar, three figures whom we know to be the Trinity itself’. The Rublev icon was at the centre of a memorial display and the focus of prayer in the church over the weekend.

Bishop Nicholas remarked on the fact that: ‘it is to Abraham that we hear today of God appearing: Abraham to whom God promised to give descendants as many as the stars of heaven; Abraham from whom Jews, Moslems and Christians all rightly claim descent’.

‘This in itself should serve to make us all the more determined for peace among religions,’ he said.

Fr Pascal Boidin SM, Parish Priest of Notre Dame de France Page 5

Westminster Record | August 2016

St Thomas More Host Mock Referendum

Sailing World Cup Work Experience

On 21 June, St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green held its own mock EU Referendum for students and staff. As a culturally diverse school, the results of the EU Referendum may have a direct effect on many of the students.

The aim was to encourage them to take an active part in politics and to become more aware of the value and practice of democracy.

The school set up a polling station in their hall and all, from Year 7 to Sixth Form, were encouraged to have their say by placing a vote during break or lunch time. Students not only had a chance to vote, but were able to gain firsthand experience of the organisation and logistics required to hold a referendum or election. Form

representatives acted as electoral officers and the student council also played a varied and active part in holding the referendum.

The results of the school’s mock referendum mirrored the London vote in the national referendum with 86% of pupils voting to remain within the EU and only 14% voting to leave.

Lower Sixth students from St Benedict’s School in Ealing had the work experience of a lifetime, assisting with the management of the 2016 Sailing World Cup from 7 to 12 June in Weymouth.

Each St Benedict’s student was involved in one of three groups: IT, beach support and media. IT helped the race managers to track each boat’s GPS transmitter and the beach support made sure the athletes were looked after before and after racing. Finally, the media team helped the event’s own press team in promoting the

action on the water.

Miss Woodroffe, Director of Sport at St Benedict’s, commented: ‘I was delighted with how all the students embraced the challenge and showed their ability to work well in a team and hold responsibility, whilst working with different professionals.

Our thanks and appreciation must go to the Royal Yachting Association with enabled us to access this opportunity and play a part in a sporting event of such international significance.’

St Dominic’s Walk for Local Hospice Congratulations to all the students, staff and governors who took part in St Dominic's Sixth Form College’s walk for St Luke's Hospice during the Year of Mercy. £3,087.16 has been raised, which will support those who are dying and their families who need respite during the terminal illness of a loved one.

To give you an idea of how much this will help the patients at St Luke’s, £250 funds six visits from a Health Care Assistant to provide practical Page 6

support with washing, getting ready for bed, dressing, preparing meals, as well as friendly face and an opportunity to chat.

Please support St Luke’s and the great work it does to help people live out their final days with dignity. Next year St Dominic’s hope to have more walkers and raise over £5000, as well as awareness for this great charity and its work.

If you would like to visit the college its open day is Saturday 8 October 2016.

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Giving Thanks at Bishop Challoner On 14 July students from the Bishop Challoner Catholic Federation of Schools gathered for an outdoor Mass of Thanksgiving at the end of the school year and for the leadership of outgoing Executive Headteacher Nicholas Soar. Special guests present were the Sisters of Mercy, who founded the school, and many of whom had taught at it.

Bishop Nicholas was the principal celebrant of the Mass, alongside parish priests from Tower Hamlets deanery, including Fr Michael Dunne and Co-ordinator of School Chaplains, Fr David Reilly. A joint band and choir from the girls’ and boys’ schools led the music.

After Mass representatives from staff and students, along with clergy and special guests attended a short service of blessing for the school’s Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy, honouring the work of the Sisters of Mercy. This chapel is an important part of reaffirming the Catholic faith which is at the heart of life at Bishop Challoner Schools.

After the blessing of the chapel, staff, governors and other guests gathered for a final toast to Nicholas Soar who has been Headteacher of Challoner Girls’ since 2010 and Executive Headteacher of both schools for the past year, but now leaves for pastures new. In his farewell speech, Bishop Nicholas described him as ‘always motivated by his discipleship of Christ’, and thanked him for his extraordinary ‘leadership in service’ to Bishop Challoner Schools.

Date with History for Rosary Polish Saturday School Celebrates 65 Years Primary School

On Friday 24 June Bishop John Wilson joined pupils from Rosary Primary Catholic School in Hampstead to bury a time capsule in a construction site next to the school. Bishop John donated the items for the capsule, which included an image of Pope Francis, a small copy of Pope Francis’ pectoral cross bearing the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, two coins from Westminster Cathedral and an image of the Year of Mercy.

Alongside these items was a manuscript recording the date andhistoric significance of the time capsule. It was buried on the Bartrams site, on which once stood the Convent of the Sisters of Providence and of the Immaculate Conception.

The capsule also includes contributions from pupils at the school, along with local maps of the area and a blueprint of the new development.

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The capsule replaces the original time capsule found on the site during excavation for new homes being built on the site. It was donated by the developer PegasusLife to Rosary Primary School.

The original capsule was planted in May 1957 during the rebuilding of the convent and chapel after the destruction of the previous buildings during the Second World War. It contained medallions and a manuscript deposited by Bishop George Craven, Auxliary Bishop of Westminster at the time.

After the ceremony which included Bishop John blessing the site, the new capsule was buried to a great cheer from the children.

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On Saturday 25 June Bishop John Wilson joined the Polish Saturday School for its 65th anniversary celebrations.

The day began in St Benedict’s Church, Ealing, where Bishop John bestowed a blessing on the gathered teachers, parents and children.

They in turn presented him with flowers and gifts with special significance for the school.

Later, at the school, Bishop John met with pupils and staff, took part in school activities and visited lessons.

Speaking of the occasion he said: ‘It was a great joy to be with the children and staff of the Polish Saturday School in Ealing as they celebrate their 65th anniversary this year. It is so important for all those involved to know, celebrate

and be proud of their Polish language, history and culture, all in the context of their Catholic Faith. I was so impressed to witness the dedication and commitment to passing this on to future generations.’

Bishop John’s visit was a welcome sign of solidarity and encouragement for the community.

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Westminster Record | August 2016

Sportswoman Inspires at Awards Ceremony St Augustine’s Priory welcomed former Mavericks and England Netballer Naida Hutchinson on 21 June as guest of honour and key-note speaker for the school’s annual Sports Awards event.

Parents, pupils and staff arrived to a dynamic performance by the cheerleading squad, before gathering to hear Miss Hutchinson speak of the challenges she faced as part of the England Netball Team.

Director of Sport at St Augustine’s Priory, Miss Lymburn, commented: ‘Naida spoke with passion of her experiences and was able to provide our aspiring athletes with advice unique to a sportswoman of her calibre. We are grateful for Naida’s contribution to the event and look forward to welcoming her back to St Augustine’s Priory.’

Afterwards there was an awards ceremony which saw girls across the age-range receive recognition for their

On Wednesday 29 June St Joseph’s Catholic School, Watford, celebrated its 60th anniversary with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent and a reception. achievements in school sporting activities. Pupils were commended for their support of each other, a great example of the community culture promoted by the school.

Fathers’ Story Week at St Augustine’s

During the week of Monday 13 June, fathers gathered at St Augustine’s Priory to take part in Fathers’ Story Week, an initiative that encourages fathers to read with their children both in and out of school. The Nursery and Prep Department invited fathers into the classroom to read to pupils aged 3 to 5.

Miss Slight, Lead Practitioner of Nursery, explains ‘We asked the fathers Page 8

to bring in their favourite story. Some brought in their child's favourite and others chose one from Nursery. The children loved having the fathers read the stories and at the end we asked questions and talked about our favourite page or character.; Miss Slight observes that: ‘The fathers did such a terrific job they were awarded a sticker each from the children!

We hope to see them again soon!’

Challoner Students Explore Holocaust History In June a group of 40 Bishop Challoner students visited Poland to focus on Jewish and Holocaust history. On arrival the group visited Oskar Schindler’s factory where they learned about the history of Krakow’s Nazi occupation and the story of Schindler, who protected over 1,000 Jewish people from being sent to the camps by fighting for their right to remain in his factory.

The second day began with a trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

This visit was a very difficult experience, and one that the students responded to intelligently and sensitively.

On the final day the group visited the Krakow Jewish museum, where they heard an incredible testimony from a woman who had lived through the holocaust. As a Catholic, she risked death and persecution by hiding Jews from the authorities. This was an incredible story and one that the students found very moving.

This trip came after a talk at Bishop Challoner on Wednesday from Renee Salt, a

Holocaust Survivor from Poland who survived a Ghetto, and then both Auschwitz and Bergen–Belsen Camps. She spoke for an hour about her experiences while a hall full of Year 10 students listened in rapt silence, incredibly lucky to be hearing from such an important and inspirational woman.

As a Holocaust Beacon School, Bishop Challoner seeks to lead the way in the way Holocaust education is taught

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in schools. It takes its position incredibly seriously and has a strong commitment to profound and constant Holocaust education.

Mr Handy (History department) said: ‘As historians we all want to empathise, but trips like this really poses the greatest challenge of historical empathy. You cannot put yourself in the shoes of someone who has been through the Holocaust.’

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Westminster Record | August 2016

Cardinal Receives Honorary Doctorate

Kensington Friends Fundraise The sun shone for Kensington’s ‘Friends of the Holy Land’s Midsummer Garden Party’ held recently on the forecourt of Our Lady of Victories Church in High Street Kensington.

Mgr James Curry, Parish Priest and Chairman of FHL Kensington, thanked the guests for their presence and support at the garden party, which raised £4,820. ‘Fundraising events such as these’, he said, ‘are an essential part of our work, which is to support one of the oldest communities in the Holy Land, the Christians of Palestine and Israel.

Circumstances have not been kind to this community. The FHL funds projects that seek to

help the young and elderly and those who strive to keep their fragile yet vibrant communities alive.’

Sir Vincent Fean, ex ConsulGeneral to Jerusalem, gave a short speech in which he asked: ‘Consider the future for young Palestinian Christians, and the choices facing their parents.

Today, and tomorrow, prospects in Palestine for young people are uncertain and precarious.

Parents naturally want their children to have as good a chance in life as they themselves had, or better. What would you do in their place?

Christians are leaving the Holy Land at an alarming rate. For young people to stay, the prospects in Palestine need to

be as good as those in Chile, or Canada, or California, places they can reach with relative ease, because the Palestinian diaspora is already there, so your cousin can find you a job.

And so they leave.’

Sir Vincent emphasised the strictly non-political stance of the charity and commended FHL for its work of striving to make it easier for Palestinian Christians, the Living Stones of Christianity in the Holy Land, to stay in the land of their birth.

He urged people to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land to ‘test what I have said against your own eye-witness experience’.

On 20 July Cardinal Vincent travelled to his home city of Liverpool, to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Liverpool. In his address at the graduation ceremony, Cardinal Vincent thanked the ViceChancellor saying: ‘I am truly grateful for the recognition that this honorary degree represents: recognition not just of some personal achievements, elegantly presented by the university’s orator, but also recognition of the important role and contribution made by the Catholic Church in our country and world today.’

He congratulated those who had also received their degrees during the ceremony. ‘I want to offer my warmest congratulations to all who have received their degrees and awards at this ceremony. You have worked hard for this moment; I have just turned up!’

Cardinal Vincent addressed the students present at the ceremony, asking them to reflect on their future, on what motivates them: ‘What is your horizon as you set out on what

can be stormy seas?’ He continued: ‘There is a strong and telling image that captures what I want to say. It is this: the human spirit soars on two wings, on the wings of both faith and reason. Yes, both faith and reason. Reason alone will not enable us to rise as we should, certainly not the reason that says everything can be reduced to external observation, measurement and conclusion. Faith alone is vulnerable to exploitation. It is faith and reason, working together, testing each other, each contributing to the fashioning of the pathway by which we walk that forms the best horizon for us in this stormy world.’

Cardinal Vincent Praises St Mary’s Tradition of Catholic Education In an address to graduates at St Mary’s University Degree Ceremony, Cardinal Vincent praised the university’s ‘long tradition of Catholic Higher Education’, explaining that there ‘is nothing narrow or insular in this Catholic vision of education. It is open to all truly human endeavour.’

He also lauded the university for representing ‘a most important point of contact, of engagement, between the world of Higher Education in this country and the Catholic Church’, saying that this requires a ‘wonderful combination of openness and faithfulness’.

The Cardinal explained that the same dimensions which are

at the heart of Catholic education ‘are fundamental to a sound and healthy life, both of the human person and of our society’. Addressing the graduates, he said: ‘I hope that these are some of the echoes that you take from your time and life at St Mary’s’, elaborating that they are the ‘signposts’ to help the graduates to ‘shape and develop’ their young adult lives.

He advised the graduates: ‘In the years ahead, steer a good course, be generous, compassionate, determined to make a difference and keep your mind and heart open to all that God wants to achieve in you. For in God’s will lies your deepest satisfaction.’

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Page 9

Westminster Record | August 2016

Westminster Record | August 2016

Walsingham: A Jubilee Pilgrimage to the Mother of Mercy

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

ashes thrown into the Thames.

This historic pilgrimage was the first time these statues have been reunited since then, and a remarkable witness to the strength of the Catholic faith in the UK and devotion to Our Lady across the centuries.

After lunch, when the rain finally stopped, the procession along the Holy Mile began, accompanied by hymns and recitation of the rosary. The statues of Our Lady of Willesden and Our Lady of Walsingham were carried on the shoulders of pilgrims, which was no mean feat, given the weight of the former in particular.

Reaching the village, Cardinal Vincent was shown round the new building for Catholic American broadcaster EWTN which is its first centre in England and will enable better coverage of events at the shrine.

He also visited the Pilgrim Centre, currently undergoing

Page 10

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major building work. This will be a renewed facility for people to stay and come on retreat, and will cater for the needs of Catholics in Walsingham more generally. The centre is opposite the entrance to the ruins of the Priory, where our pilgrimage was to conclude.

Entering the ancient Priory grounds offered not only a chance to rest and take a breath after the walk, but also an opportunity to reflect, pray and venerate the two images. People gathered in parish groups to bring their intentions to Our Lady and to give thanks for the day. Benediction followed, led

by Bishop John Sherrington and accompanied by more beautiful music led by Giovanni and Liz. Benediction always asks us to be quiet, to reflect and listen and so it was, with many people kneeling on the grass in solitary adoration. The Gospel reading at Benediction was proclaimed by newly-ordained Fr Chinedu Udo, a reminder of the future of our diocese.

Throughout the day Mgr John Armitage reminded pilgrims that they must suffer in some way whilst on pilgrimage.

The rain, he said, should be seen as a blessing. Days like these remind us of the strength of our faith. Not only had the diocese gathered in unprecedented numbers to come to Walsingham, organised by many volunteers Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

by Robert Ewan

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

and given to his people.

In his homily the Cardinal emphasised the importance of journeying to Walsingham in this Year, to Mary who is ‘our Mother of Mercy’ and ‘brings us into the tender embrace of God’s mercy’. He recounted the history of the statues of Our Lady of Walsingham and Our Lady of Willesden, which were brought together for the day.

The two images were burned during the Reformation at the site on which Allen Hall Seminary now stands, and their

and parish priests, but they had not been put off by the weather.

‘Offer it up’ Mgr John chided, ‘just like your Granny used to tell you!’

You only had to look around at lunchtime to see people talking, laughing and sharing food with their parish communities under the maternal eye of Our Lady of Walsingham to know that this pilgrimage was undoubtedly a success.

Our Lady of Walsingham, Our Lady of Willesden, pray for us.

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

was provided by Giovanni Marseglia and Liz Simpson who are well-known to those who make the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. Inspired by a previous journey to Walsingham in preparation, Giovanni had written a four-part madrigal entitled ‘Walsingham Lament’.

The church was packed with people, due to the typically British wet weather.

Communion was also administered to the crowds outside, an image of Christ being taken out into the world

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Iraqi Catholics Journey to ‘England’s Nazareth’

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

On 9 July an estimated 4,500 pilgrims from the diocese travelled on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk for the first time in 30 years. Early in the morning 72 coaches left London to experience a full day at ‘England’s Nazareth’, led by Cardinal Vincent.

In Misericordiae Vultus Pope Francis calls on Catholics to make a pilgrimage in this Year of Mercy, explaining that ‘the practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the Holy Year, because it represents the journey each of us makes in this life’.

We were warmly welcomed to the shrine by its Rector, Mgr John Armitage, and pilgrims were given time to visit the Holy Ghost chapel and the Slipper Chapel. The Slipper Chapel was restored for use as a Catholic church in 1896 and reconsecrated in 1938 after being used as a cow shed during and after the Reformation. Whilst at the shrine pilgrims also had the opportunity to pass through the Holy Door, to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Mass and then walk the Holy Mile.

Pilgrims gathered for Mass at the shrine church, celebrated

by Cardinal Vincent and with many diocesan priests. Music

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The Chaldean Catholic mission in the UK began its 30th anniversary celebration with its first pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. On 2 July more than 200 Iraqi Chaldean pilgrims were joined by parishioners of the Lebanese Melkite church. They were led

by Fr Nadheer Dako and Fr Shafiq Abouzayd.

The pilgrims visited several sacred sites in the village and then carried the statue of Our Lady in procession along the Holy Mile which extends from the village and the Priory grounds to the Slipper Chapel.

Mgr John Armitage, Rector of the Shrine, greeted the pilgrims and gave an interesting and informative talk about the basilica. A Solemn Mass was celebrated in Arabic and Aramaic, the latter being the language of Jesus Christ. The congregation commended the needs of their suffering brethren in Iraq and Syria to Our Lady of Walsingham.

Fr Nadheer was very pleased with the pilgrimage, saying: ‘This was a wonderful day where our parishioners shared their faith, their kindness and time with each other. This was a highly spiritually-charged and joyous event.’ He added: ‘We have laid our spiritual cornerstone in order to buy our

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own church in the UK.’ The event attracted a wide range of ages, with the youngest pilgrim being under two and the oldest being more than 80 years

old. The Chaldean and the Melkite churches are among the Oriental Catholic Churches that are in full communion with Rome.

Page 11

Westminster Record | August 2016

Westminster Record | August 2016

Walsingham: A Jubilee Pilgrimage to the Mother of Mercy

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

ashes thrown into the Thames.

This historic pilgrimage was the first time these statues have been reunited since then, and a remarkable witness to the strength of the Catholic faith in the UK and devotion to Our Lady across the centuries.

After lunch, when the rain finally stopped, the procession along the Holy Mile began, accompanied by hymns and recitation of the rosary. The statues of Our Lady of Willesden and Our Lady of Walsingham were carried on the shoulders of pilgrims, which was no mean feat, given the weight of the former in particular.

Reaching the village, Cardinal Vincent was shown round the new building for Catholic American broadcaster EWTN which is its first centre in England and will enable better coverage of events at the shrine.

He also visited the Pilgrim Centre, currently undergoing

Page 10

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major building work. This will be a renewed facility for people to stay and come on retreat, and will cater for the needs of Catholics in Walsingham more generally. The centre is opposite the entrance to the ruins of the Priory, where our pilgrimage was to conclude.

Entering the ancient Priory grounds offered not only a chance to rest and take a breath after the walk, but also an opportunity to reflect, pray and venerate the two images. People gathered in parish groups to bring their intentions to Our Lady and to give thanks for the day. Benediction followed, led

by Bishop John Sherrington and accompanied by more beautiful music led by Giovanni and Liz. Benediction always asks us to be quiet, to reflect and listen and so it was, with many people kneeling on the grass in solitary adoration. The Gospel reading at Benediction was proclaimed by newly-ordained Fr Chinedu Udo, a reminder of the future of our diocese.

Throughout the day Mgr John Armitage reminded pilgrims that they must suffer in some way whilst on pilgrimage.

The rain, he said, should be seen as a blessing. Days like these remind us of the strength of our faith. Not only had the diocese gathered in unprecedented numbers to come to Walsingham, organised by many volunteers Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

by Robert Ewan

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

and given to his people.

In his homily the Cardinal emphasised the importance of journeying to Walsingham in this Year, to Mary who is ‘our Mother of Mercy’ and ‘brings us into the tender embrace of God’s mercy’. He recounted the history of the statues of Our Lady of Walsingham and Our Lady of Willesden, which were brought together for the day.

The two images were burned during the Reformation at the site on which Allen Hall Seminary now stands, and their

and parish priests, but they had not been put off by the weather.

‘Offer it up’ Mgr John chided, ‘just like your Granny used to tell you!’

You only had to look around at lunchtime to see people talking, laughing and sharing food with their parish communities under the maternal eye of Our Lady of Walsingham to know that this pilgrimage was undoubtedly a success.

Our Lady of Walsingham, Our Lady of Willesden, pray for us.

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

was provided by Giovanni Marseglia and Liz Simpson who are well-known to those who make the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. Inspired by a previous journey to Walsingham in preparation, Giovanni had written a four-part madrigal entitled ‘Walsingham Lament’.

The church was packed with people, due to the typically British wet weather.

Communion was also administered to the crowds outside, an image of Christ being taken out into the world

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Iraqi Catholics Journey to ‘England’s Nazareth’

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

On 9 July an estimated 4,500 pilgrims from the diocese travelled on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk for the first time in 30 years. Early in the morning 72 coaches left London to experience a full day at ‘England’s Nazareth’, led by Cardinal Vincent.

In Misericordiae Vultus Pope Francis calls on Catholics to make a pilgrimage in this Year of Mercy, explaining that ‘the practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the Holy Year, because it represents the journey each of us makes in this life’.

We were warmly welcomed to the shrine by its Rector, Mgr John Armitage, and pilgrims were given time to visit the Holy Ghost chapel and the Slipper Chapel. The Slipper Chapel was restored for use as a Catholic church in 1896 and reconsecrated in 1938 after being used as a cow shed during and after the Reformation. Whilst at the shrine pilgrims also had the opportunity to pass through the Holy Door, to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Mass and then walk the Holy Mile.

Pilgrims gathered for Mass at the shrine church, celebrated

by Cardinal Vincent and with many diocesan priests. Music

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The Chaldean Catholic mission in the UK began its 30th anniversary celebration with its first pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. On 2 July more than 200 Iraqi Chaldean pilgrims were joined by parishioners of the Lebanese Melkite church. They were led

by Fr Nadheer Dako and Fr Shafiq Abouzayd.

The pilgrims visited several sacred sites in the village and then carried the statue of Our Lady in procession along the Holy Mile which extends from the village and the Priory grounds to the Slipper Chapel.

Mgr John Armitage, Rector of the Shrine, greeted the pilgrims and gave an interesting and informative talk about the basilica. A Solemn Mass was celebrated in Arabic and Aramaic, the latter being the language of Jesus Christ. The congregation commended the needs of their suffering brethren in Iraq and Syria to Our Lady of Walsingham.

Fr Nadheer was very pleased with the pilgrimage, saying: ‘This was a wonderful day where our parishioners shared their faith, their kindness and time with each other. This was a highly spiritually-charged and joyous event.’ He added: ‘We have laid our spiritual cornerstone in order to buy our

Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

own church in the UK.’ The event attracted a wide range of ages, with the youngest pilgrim being under two and the oldest being more than 80 years

old. The Chaldean and the Melkite churches are among the Oriental Catholic Churches that are in full communion with Rome.

Page 11

Westminster Record | August 2016

Chaplain’s Corner Preparing for World Youth Day

Fr David Reilly, Diocesan Youth Chaplain One of the lasting images of any Jubilee is that of the Pope opening and walking through the Holy Door in St Peter’s. The Holy Door is only open in Jubilee years and spends the rest of its life bricked shut. I remember the seemingly apocalyptic images of the frail old pope, St John Paul II, kneeling at the steps of the Holy Door on Christmas Eve 1999, poised to lead the human race over its threshold into the Third Christian Millennium.

There was a sense that night that his whole life had been directed towards that powerful moment of human history. John Paul II described the steps from one millennium to the next as, ‘crossing the threshold of hope’.

More recently, as we began the Jubilee of Mercy, there were extraordinary scenes of Pope Francis opening the Holy Door once again. This time, as he crossed its grace-filled threshold, he was followed immediately by his predecessor, Benedict XVI. Noone had ever witnessed a pope and his predecessor walking almost simultaneously through the Holy Door. The truth is that both Pope Francis and Benedict XVI were the first of many pilgrims to walk through that door, which is rich in meaning.

Whether or not we can go to Rome, or maybe just visit the Doors of Mercy closer to home, we are also pilgrims called to cross that threshold.

In any Jubilee, the Holy Door is a symbol of the ‘threshold of mercy’. We are pilgrims who are welcomed at the house and the banquet of the Lord who chose to visit and dine with tax collectors, sinners and outcasts. We should not let this time pass by without going in through that door of great welcome, a merciful place to which God invites us all.

with Chemin Neuf

by Roseanne Armstrong

After many years of planning, we’re finally in Poland for World Youth Day! On 19 July we arrived in the city of Łódź for our first week, the Paradise in the City festival organised by the Chemin Neuf community.

My first impressions of Łódź and Paradise in the City can be described only by an inner

Communications Office Vocations Mile Stones

Communications Office colleagues came together at Palazzola, the Venerable English College’s villa outside Rome on Sunday 3 July, when the newly-ordained Year Book editor, Fr John Scott, concelebrated the Mass for the Page 12

institution of new Lectors, among them former Communications Intern and Assistant Alex Balzanella. Both were discerning their vocations in the Office at the same time, Fr John receiving two years of formation at Allen Hall

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feeling of happiness! The message which Jesus brought to the world is still very much alive in the 5,000 people who have come to this event in preparation for World Youth Day next week in Krakow, where well over one million people will be in attendance.

In total, people from 79 countries around the world have descended upon Łódź. These people are proud to say that they are Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. For me, it’s important to be a witness to your faith and it’s inspirational that, despite speaking in a variety of

languages and having cultural differences, the message that Jesus gave resonates throughout Paradise in the City.

Each day is packed with events, such as a spiritual hour, workshops, Mass and other activities. There are lots of opportunities to chat and socialise with other people from around the world too, such as in the main square and a place called Kawaco.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens in the coming days and experiencing the Catholic faith in a profound and deep way.

Seminary, and Alex going to Rome for the full course of formation. Fr John takes up an appointment as a Cathedral Chaplain at the beginning of September, whilst Alex retains a parochial base in the diocese at Somers Town parish.

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Westminster Record | August 2016

What Does Your Faith Mean to You? Youth 2000 Summer Retreat

‘Is my parents’ faith my faith?’

At some point every young Catholic asks this question and the same is true for many young people coming to a Youth 2000 retreat for the first time.

Last year Richard Asomugha, a 20 year-old from London, was persuaded by his brother to come to the Walsingham Summer Prayer Festival. At first he admits that he was reluctant to go, but

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decided that he needed to invest more in his spiritual life.

When he caught the bus leaving from London to Walsingham he was amazed at how happy all the young people were.

When the bus pulled into the campsite in the Shrine at Walsingham he was a bit dismayed to see only tents and portaloos. He still couldn’t work out why everyone was so happy and friendly, given that they were sleeping in a field in

the middle of nowhere. Still bemused, he decided to go to Adoration in the main tent. This was the moment when everything began to make sense for him. ‘While praying in Adoration I felt this huge surge of relief and gratitude. It was such a pure feeling. I felt at peace with myself and with the world. It was beautiful, something I’ll never forget.’

For many young people it is at a Youth 2000 retreat that they

THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ACROSS THE UK

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

Shrine and is attended by over a thousand young people from around the UK. The retreats are led by young people and supported by priests and religious brothers and sisters.

Through talks, workshops, praise and worship, Mass, Confession, adoration, discussion, personal prayer and social time young Catholics have the opportunity to set aside time to dig deep into their faith and be open to encountering God in a personal and profound way. If you are a young person looking for answers to the big questions then this is the retreat for you.

You will not regret it!

To those of you who know God’s love and would like to help young people to experience it for themselves we ask if you would consider sponsoring a young person to attend Walsingham?

We ask that you keep the mission of Youth 2000 and this year’s festival in your prayers.

The Youth 2000 Summer Prayer Festival for Young Adults (16-35), ‘Conquerors’, will take place this year at the Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham on 25-29 August 2016.

To register visit: http://www.youth2000.org

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realise that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a life-changing moment. Others have powerful and healing experiences in Confession which free them from anxiety and fear. Last year at the same Walsingham retreat a young girl shared with us this testimony: ‘This festival 2015 has helped me to struggle through the bonds of insecurities that have been chaining me down for so long I stopped noticing they were there. Now I see I’m yet another step closer to him…the power of confession is awesome!’

Since it was established in 1989 Youth 2000 has been running retreats for 16-35 year olds up and down the country.

The biggest retreat is the Walsingham Summer Prayer Festival in August which takes place in the Roman Catholic

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Page 13

Westminster Record | August 2016

Inside the Hospice: Crowdsurfing

by Fr Peter-Michael Scott This year I have been celebrating 25 years of priesthood. At the end of my Silver Jubilee Mass, my brother gave a thank-you speech at which he told the congregation that they were the joy of my priesthood. He was quite right.

His comment reminded me of my younger days when I attended the odd rock concert.

I am not very tall, and if I could not see the band I would ask people if they would lift me up and carry me to the front of the stalls. The technical term for this is ‘crowdsurfing’. My priesthood has been about crowdsurfing, being lifted, supported and carried by lots of people.

I mentioned rock concerts and crowdsurfing to one of the hospice patients. They listened and quickly said that being in the hospice was the same: they felt lifted, carried and supported.

To crowdsurf, everyone must know what they are doing and have the same intention; otherwise those carried could be passed backwards and sideways, rather than forwards.

St Joseph’s Hospice is unique in that it is governed by and equates itself to five

Dedicated Watford Parishioner Receives Papal Blessing

core values: respect for the uniqueness of every person who is created in the image and likeness of God, to bring to each the love and tenderness of Christ, in every act of service to do so with integrity, to excel in all aspects of care, and finally to strive to create a community based on the gospel values of collaboration and harmony.

These standards have been simplified into five headings: Human dignity, Compassion,

Justice, Quality and Advocacy.

These core values of St Joseph’s Hospice provide the compass and direction which enables staff to ‘crowdsurf’ effectively and to lift and carry patients forward into the presence of God the Father, who as Pope Francis states is ‘waiting for us with open arms’ (Evangelii Gaudium) Please pray for the staff, patients and volunteers of St Joseph’s Hospice.

Marie Sarah Figueiredo, for 50 years a parishioner of Holy Rood, Watford, was privileged to be anointed with the oil of the sick by Pope Francis at his private residence prior to the Jubilee Mass for Priests and Seminarians on 3 June. At the Mass itself she brought up the gifts at the offertory. In addition to being a faithful parishioner at Watford, Marie

worked as a secretary and bursar at St Michael’s School, Garston, and Holy Rood School, Watford.

Marie’s son, Mgr Anthony Figueiredo, received the call directly from the Pope asking to meet Marie at his home.

Mgr Figueiredo is a Spiritual Director at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Diocese Joins Green Electricity Alliance The costs of lighting and heating parishes are being reduced, thanks to a new deal between two Catholic organisations to provide electricity from renewable sources to churches across the country.

Interdiocesan Fuel Management Ltd (IFM) has entered into an alliance with Churchmarketplace (CMP) to bring renewable energy to 16 of the 23 Catholic dioceses of England and Wales, including Westminster. Their collaboration allows more than 3,200 parishes to purchase electricity from green suppliers.

Page 14

The new relationship was formed some six months after the exemption from Climate Change levy was withdrawn from renewable electricity bills, a development which meant that all dioceses were facing an increase in their electricity costs.

There was also a premium cost attached to purchasing renewable electricity, which meant that the dioceses previously outside of IFM could face significant costs in transferring to renewable energy.

The buying power of all 16 dioceses together effects significant savings that offset the impact of Climate Change Levy as well as making renewable

energy available to all at a manageable price. The premium for purchasing renewable energy through IFM is about £5 per meter per year compared to £49 per meter per year outside the contract, a total saving of more than £180,000 across the dioceses.

CMP and IFM are now exploring how their new partnership can extend the same benefits to Catholic schools, academies and universities.

By working together, renewable energy can become an affordable option for all Catholic organisations in England and Wales.

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Westminster Record | August 2016

Finding a Deeper Appreciation of Marriage

Loving4Life was originally known as ‘Celebrate Love’ and was introduced to the diocese

by Edmund Adamus as Director for Pastoral Affairs in May 2006. The first weekend seminar was led by internationally renowned marriage educators Byron and Francine Pirola and hosted 36 couples from across the diocese. Since then 20 weekends have been facilitated, assisting 434 spouses to enrich and strengthen their marriage. In 2013 the Australian founders and collaborators changed the name to ‘SmartLoving’ and here in the diocese we followed their lead, introducing the well-known marriage preparation resource Smart Loving ‘Engage’ into many parishes.

In the last three years the enrichment seminar leadership team in the UK have introduced various changes and amendments to the original Australian programme, so that its content, tone and delivery is better suited to Catholics living in Britain. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the enrichment experience in the diocese and we have re-named the UK version ‘Loving4Life’ to show the heart of what we offer.

Why Loving4Life?

When marriage vows are taken, the couple solemnly promise to love their spouse for the whole of their lives, ‘for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do us part’. It is true love that makes that possible, a love that comes from God and the grace of the sacrament, that turns the water of our limited human love into the wine of God’s unlimited unconditional divine love. His is a love that makes all things possible. Marital love is not only a couple’s lifetime’s mission, but a journey to the fulfilment of the promise ‘I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10).

Why the colours purple and gold in the logo?

Purple is the liturgical colour of Lent, Passiontide and Advent. It is the colour for the anticipation of the coming of Christ both at the end of time in the Parousia (the Second Coming), and in his birth at Christmas. Purple signifies the passion and agony that is so much a part of daily marital commitment, aligned with Christ’s passion and suffering.

But that pain and sacrifice and suffering for another also become the gold. The wise men foretelling of Christ’s glory and his resurrection, which is also

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symbolic of the joys and glories of married life and love in Christ. This golden thread underpins the logo, creating a representation of a truly Christian marriage.

The ‘4’ in the logo is deliberately depicted in the shape of the Cross and coloured in gold to remind us that no sin in marriage is greater than God’s grace of healing love and forgiveness. The strapline ‘Human Love in the Divine Plan’ is the title for the body of teaching in marital love and human sexuality by the great ‘pope of the family’, St John Paul II. This teaching is also known as the ‘Theology of the body’. It is the rich and profound insights of this recent teaching that informs, underpins and magnifies all of the programmes of activities and talks over the weekend. Enrichment weekends provide couples with an opportunity to reflect on and enrich their marriage through the teaching developed by St John Paul II. It is presented in an accessible form by couples who explain it in the context of their own experience and then ask participants to reflect on it together and apply it to their own marriages.

Participants work through the material as a couple, with no group work. The venues are

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comfortable and chosen as places which have something of a ‘retreat’ atmosphere, with the seclusion appropriate to both prayer and marital intimacy at the same time as providing a sense of romance and celebration. The presenting couples approach their task with openness and integrity and it is the personal witness as well as the lived experience of these facilitators which moves participants to a deeper understanding of the spirituality of sacramental marriage.

The seminar is effective because it is supported by prayer and founded on scripture and liturgy, which is present in a gentle and authentic form. After couples have come to a place of mutual understanding and forgiveness, individuals are offered an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Following Mass celebrated on the Saturday evening, couples are offered wine and a candlelit meal where they share their

stories. As the weekend progresses, it is hoped that each person develops a deeper appreciation of their spouse and of the place of their marriage in God’s plan.

The following comments illustrate how effective the renewal experience can be: ‘We were able to unpack and deal with past issues, painful areas in our marriage which have lain for many years undealt with. It has given us the confidence in the true place of sexuality in our marriage. It has set us free from long-carried burdens. It has played a part (an invaluable part) in restoring lost innocence.’

‘Our marriage was in a crisis and I was looking for radical support. We have found new avenues of communication. We have had space to share some really deep problems and discovered wonderful values that we have. God has answered my prayers and I feel his love and hand holding us.

Thank you.’

Page 15

Westminster Record | August 2016

Lampedusa Cross Service: ‘All are Welcome’ On Saturday 25 June people came from all corners of the diocese for an inspiring prayer vigil to mark Refugee Week.

This year’s theme was ‘All are Welcome’. Over 100 people took part in the event, including Bishop Paul McAleenan.

We were welcomed by Fr Pascal Boidin, of Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square, to his church which is home of the Notre Dame Refugee Centre, offering daily help and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees.

Barbara Kentish, Justice and Peace fieldworker for the diocese, introduced the Lampedusa Cross and the Year of Mercy Liturgy: ‘You may have heard the story of Sicilian carpenter Francesco Tuccio. He made rough crosses from the wreckage of a boat carrying refugees which sank near his home on the island of Lampedusa. He offered these

crosses to survivors as a symbol of their rescue and a sign of hope. One of his crosses was recently carried through the great Door of Mercy at St Peter’s Basilica.’

The liturgy was led by representatives of Justice and

Peace, CAFOD, Jesuit Refugee Service, Pax Christi and the Catholic Worker. This was a very moving and inspiring service. It was a celebration of the refugees in our community as well as those who work with them.

Inspired by the Lampedusa cross, and during this Year of Mercy, parishes might consider holding a similar service or send messages of hope to refugees through CAFOD, Caritas Social Action Network and

Jesuit Refugee Service who will then be sharing these with refugees from around the world. Contact Barbara Kentish at Justice and Peace or Tony Sheen at CAFOD Westminster for further information.

Fr Joe Ryan Sky Dives for a Good Cause

Refugee Fundraising Four parishioners of St Theodore’s Church in Hampton have raised more than £3,000 for Syrian refugees by cycling 170 miles across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela earlier this year.

Pictured outside the cathedral are Brian Studdert, Dan Taylor, Mike Frisby and Niall Boyle. Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Niall-Boyle1 Page 16

On 9 July Fr Joe Ryan, Parish Priest of West Green and Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, did a tandem sky dive to raise funds for his parish, in order to clear the parish debt and install a much-needed boiler, but also for Justice and Peace’s support migrants and combatting climate change.

His original jump, scheduled to take place in June, was postponed due to bad weather, but undeterred, Fr Joe returned and completed the dive, raising over £4,000.

‘It was a little bit frightening but a fascinating experience…Once the parachute opened we just floated and we could see the

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beautiful landscapes below.

The chute was quite easy to control, almost like a steering wheel. You could land on a postage stamp, and we did land very gently, like a swan.’

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Westminster Record | August 2016

A Special CAFOD Connection The Holy Family Group in Welwyn Garden City has been supporting CAFOD for 50 years. Recently, as part of the Connect2 initiative, volunteers from Holy Family Church have formed connections with two different CAFOD partner communities. The group is currently linked with a farming community in the Sebeya region of northern Ethiopia.

Thanks to the support of parishes like this, CAFOD’s partner in Sebeya, Adigrat Diocese Catholic Secretariat (ADCS), has been working with the Sebeya community to combat drought through building irrigation systems. This is especially vital work as northern Ethiopia are currently experiencing severe drought.

This year the group is organising a charity car park, a barbecue and a concert given by the Hertfordshire Constabulary Choir to raise funds for CAFOD’s work.

Bridie Nash who co-ordinates the Holy Family Group says: ‘Our group holds several fundraising events each year. We like to set ourselves a target each year, and we have met our

annual target of £3,500 for the last seven years. Connect2 is a more personal way of supporting our brothers and sisters in need.

Knowing that our support makes a difference, and for whom, drives us in our endeavours.’

As well as Ethiopia, the Connect2 initiative allows parish and school groups to form special connections with communities in four other countries: Brazil, Cambodia, El Salvador and Peru.

CAFOD’s work with each community has a different focus.

In Brazil it is on supporting a community in São Paulo to campaign for homeless and

vulnerable families to have safe, dignified housing and better living conditions.

The money raised through Connect2 will support CAFOD’s work in the partner community and in other communities like theirs throughout their country.

If you and your parish would like to find out more, and choose one of these communities to form a special connection with, please call CAFOD’s Westminster Volunteer Centre on 0208 449 6970, or go to: www.cafod.org.uk/Fundrais e/Parish-fundraising/Connect2sign-up

Walking the Big Mile for National Charities

On 26 June CSAN, St Vincent de Paul Society and Caritas Westminster joined together to walk the Big Mile. The walk, which started at Westminster Cathedral and finished outside the Houses of Parliament, was to raise money for the three organisations and to increase awareness of their work.

The walk was led by Bishop Paul McAleenan who explained to the walkers how the money would help the ‘Vinnie Packs’ for the homeless, and led the group in prayer before they set out.

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Child Refugees: Learning From the Past ‘Sadly the word “refugee” has become a dirty word in many places today.’ So said Lord Dubs at a breakfast hosted by the Cardinal Hume Centre this week. The briefing gathered together parliamentarians, donors, supporters and other organisations working on the front line with refugees, to discuss how best to support unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Against the backdrop of increasing hate crime and racist attacks, the debate shone a beacon of light given the heartwarmingly positive attitude within the room, with guests determined that more both should and could be done.

All came to hear from two people in their 80s who were brought to the UK as children on the Kindertransporten at the outbreak of World War II: Alf Dubs himself and Ruth Barnett.

Both speakers have worked tirelessly throughout their lives to combat prejudice and xenophobia, asking people to see refugees as human beings who would never have left their homes if they had a choice.

Earlier this year Lord Dubs proposed an amendment to the Immigration Bill, calling on the government to relocate and support 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children from Europe.

Eventually the amendment was accepted, although for an unspecified number of children.

At the briefing both Lord Dubs and Lord Alton, who supported the amendment, spoke of their concern for the thousands and thousands of unaccompanied children across Europe who

Interpol says have ‘disappeared’ and about whom very little is being done internationally.

The Cardinal Hume Centre currently has nine unaccompanied asylum seeking children in its hostel for homeless young people, who come from Syria, Eritrea, Albania and Afghanistan.

Cathy Corcoran, the Centre’s CEO, shared the reality of what the Centre is facing: ‘We know it is difficult for everyone, and to a certain extent it’s new territory for us, but we are experiencing some very distressing situations in the hostel. We have scared, traumatised young people arriving with nothing, no papers and, crucially, no English, with the fear hanging over them that they may be deported at the age of 18. We will work with them to help them stabilise and begin to engage with us, but we also want to ensure that the systems are in place across the board to support them properly.’

The underlying purpose of the briefing was the Centre’s determination to contribute to influencing the public discourse around immigration, echoed by Ruth Barnett who commented that: ‘we need to get more people respectfully thinking together’.

As Lord Dubs left the briefing he pleaded with all present not to give up on the democratic process but to lobby their local councils, and their MP, telling them they care and asking how they can be practically involved in welcoming and supporting refugees.

Page 17

Westminster Record | August 2016

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross: 9 August

Page 18

Pope Pius XI, in a letter which asked: ‘Isn't the effort to destroy Jewish blood an abuse of the holiest humanity of our Saviour, of the most blessed Virgin and the apostles?’

In her own life, however, Edith now entered into the commitment which had attracted her over a decade earlier, joining Cologne’s Discalced Carmelite Community of Our Lady of Peace in 1933, where she was joined by her sister Rosa, another convert to the Faith. As the Nazi threat increased, the Community judged it wise to send the two of them to what was perceived to be a safer location, the Convent at Echt in Holland. Here experience repeated itself, as she was forbidden to teach publicly, concentrating rather on instructing the other sisters in community. It seems that already she was anticipating death before the German occupation of the Netherlands, writing her will and seeking her Prioress’s permission to offer herself as a sacrifice for peace. By 1940 she was preparing mentally and physically for the likely trials of concentration camp life.

When the end came, it was nonetheless swift. The Dutch bishops issued a protest against Nazi racism on 20 July 1942; on 26 July an order was issued for the arrest of baptized Jews; on 2 August Edith and Rosa were arrested and transported to Auschwitz, where they are believed to have been gassed on 9 August. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, to use her full name in religion, was beatified in 1987 and canonized 11 years later. As a martyr she stands both against the full horror and dehumanization inflicted by the ideals of the Nazi regime and as a witness to St Paul’s teaching in the Letter to the Romans, that God does not forget his promises to and covenant with the Jewish people. As a philosopher, too, she reminds us of the necessity of approaching God not only through the movement of the heart but also in the exercise of the mind. Finally, however, we honour her for embracing the way of her religious dedication: the way of the Cross.

1 Fr Richard Johnson (1992) Fr Ignatius Tonna (1993) 2 Fr Thomas Stack (1984) Fr Michael Archer (2014) 3 Mgr Canon John Mostyn (1981) 5 Fr William Lynagh (1977) Fr Alan Fudge (2011) 9 Fr John Greene (1980) 11 Fr Laurence Allan (1981) Fr Guy Martin Heal (2009) 12 Fr Roderick Cuming (1981) Fr Wilfrid Soggee (1990) Fr Joseph Finnegan (2002) Fr John Milne (2001) Fr John D’Arcy Dutton (2013) 14 Fr Philip Dwerryhouse (1986) 15 Fr John Adam (1979) Fr Bernard Mortimore (1980) 16 Canon Denis O’Sullivan (1983) Fr Peter Latham (2005) 17 Mgr Walter Drumm (2015) 19 Canon George Davey (1986) Fr Leslie Cole (1997) 20 Cardinal Bernard Griffin (1956) Fr Joseph McVeigh (1977) Fr Desmond Mullin (1988) 21 Fr Percival Fielden (1990) Fr Edward Houghton (2009) 24 Fr Patrick Cassidy (2007) 25 Fr James Gunston (1972) Mgr Canon Herbert Haines (2004) Fr Raymond Legge (2015) 26 Fr Thomas Kilcoyne (1972) Fr Peter Keenan (1984) 27 Mgr John Coonan (1979) Fr Norman Wrigley (2015) 29 Fr Edward Fowler (1973) Fr Michael Lynam (1984) 31 Fr William Rees (1984) Canon Maurice O’Leary (1997)

© Fr Gaurav Shroff

St Teresa Benedicta was born as Edith Stein, the youngest of 11 children in a Jewish family of Breslau in Poland, and much favoured by her birthday falling on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Although her family was observant, Edith had fallen into atheism by her teenage years. However, her mother encouraged her natural intellectual ability and sent her to university. Here she studied Philosophy, and completed her doctorate in 1916, supervised by Edmund Husserl, whose own work was later studied in depth

by St John Paul II. Her charitable instincts, meanwhile, had been aroused by the suffering which she saw in the First World War and led to her volunteering in 1915 as a Red Cross nurse. In the subsequent years she continued her academic career, but had a lifechanging experience when, in the summer of 1921, she read the autobiography of St Teresa of Avila. This led to her receiving baptism on 1 January 1922. Even then she sought to join the Religious life, but was dissuaded by her spiritual advisors and became a teacher at a school run

by Dominican sisters. Finally, in 1932, she obtained a post at a Catholic Institute in Münster, but only briefly, since Nazi legislation debarred her from continuing to teach. Her awareness of and revulsion at what was happening in Germany led her to appeal to

In Memoriam: August

Beginning Experience There is a healing weekend for men and women who find themselves single again following divorce, separation or the death of a partner from 7 to 9 October 2016 at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham, Kent.

For details please contact Sandra 01293 783965, Freda 01322 838415 or John 01992 642443, johnabrotherton@hotmail.co.uk

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

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Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | August 2016

REGULAR EVENTS

Liturgical Calendar - August

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

Prayer Groups SUNDAYS Taizé at St James, Piccadilly W1J 9LL every third Sunday 5pm.

Call 020 7503 5128 for details.

Tyburn Benedictines Monastic afternoon Every first Sunday 2-5pm Martyrs’ Crypt, Tyburn Convent, 8 Hyde Park Place W2 2LJ.

Our Lady, Untier of Knots, Prayer Group of Intercession meets every third Wednesday at St Anselm & St Cecilia, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Parish Mass at 6pm followed by Prayer Group until 8.45pm. Rosary, Adoration, Silent prayer and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Email: Antonia antonia4161@gmail.com.

Westminster Cathedral Young Adults meet socially after the 7pm Mass on Sundays and then at the nearby Windsor Castle pub.

For further details please contact: westminsteryoungadults@gmail.com

THURSDAYS

MONDAYS

Soul Food A Catholic charismatic prayer group for young adults meets Thursdays 7-9pm at St Charles Borromeo, Ogle Street W1W 6HS. Details at www.soulfoodgroup.org.

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

All are welcome.

TUESDAYS Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesdays 6-9pm concluding with Benediction at Newman House, 111 Gower Street WC1E 6AR. Details 020 7387 6370.

Prayers for London at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden Tuesdays 7.30pm. Organised by the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road NW10 9AX. Vocations Prayer Group Second Tuesday of the month 8pm at 47C Gaisford Street NW5 2EB. Taizé at St James’, Spanish Place, W1U 3UY every first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Email: penny28hb@aol.com or just come along.

WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays on the Wall (WOTW) Every first Wednesday of the month. 6pm at All Hallows on the Wall, 83 London Wall EC2M 5ND. A short service of prayer and reflection at 6pm, coffee at 6.45pm followed by discussion.

Corpus Christi Contemplative Prayer Group for Young Adults Wednesdays from 7pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. For further details please contact corpuschristipg@yahoogroups. co.uk.

Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life Every first Thursday of the month.

Young adults from all Christian denominations pray and share a meal. Details www.jcfl.org.uk.

St John Paul II Prayer Group Every second Thursday of the month 7-8pm, Mass, Adoration and Prayer at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB.

1 Mon

St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop & Doctor

2 Tue

Feria, Eighteenth Week of Year 2 or St Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop or St Peter Julian Eymard, Priest

3 Wed 4 Thu

Feria St John Vianney, Priest

5 Fri

Feria or the Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major; Friday abstinence

6 Sat

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

7 Sun 8 Mon 9 Tue

+19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME St Dominic, Priest ST TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS, Virgin & Martyr, Patron of Europe

10 Wed 11 Thu

ST LAWRENCE, Deacon & Martyr St Clare, Virgin

12 Fri

Feria, Nineteenth Week of Year 2 or St Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious; Friday abstinence

13 Sat

Feria or Sts Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs or Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

14 Sun 15 Mon

+THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Feria, Twentieth Week of Year 2

16 Tue

Feria or St Stephen of Hungary

17 Wed

Feria

18 Thu 19 Fri 20 Sat

Feria Feria or St John Eudes, Priest; Friday abstinence St Bernard, Abbot & Doctor

21 Sun

+21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

22 Mon 23 Tue

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feria, Twenty-First Week of Year 2 or St Rose of Lima, Virgin

Divine Mercy Prayers and Mass Every first Friday 2.30-4.30pm at Our Lady, Mother of the Church, 2 Windsor Road W5 5PD.

24 Wed

ST BARTHOLOMEW, Apostle

25 Thu

Feria or St Louis or St Joseph Calasanz, Priest

26 Fri

Feria or Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, Priest; Friday abstinence

Westminster Cathedral Charismatic Prayer Group meet every Friday 7.30pm Prayer, Praise and Teaching.

First Friday is a healing Mass. For details, please call 020 8748 2632.

27 Sat

St Monica

28 Sun

+22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

29 Mon

The Passion of St John the Baptist

30 Tue

Feria, Twenty-Second Week of Year 2 or Sts Margaret Clitherow, Anne Line and Margaret Ward, Martyrs

31 Wed

Feria or St Aidan, Bishop, and the Saints of Lindisfarne

FRIDAYS

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

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club meets every Sunday for walks around London and the Home Counties.

Contact by email: antoinette_adkins2000@yahoo .co.uk, call 020 8769 3643 or check out the website: www.stfrancisramblers. ukwalkers.com

At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Acton, the Queen of Peace prayer group meets every Friday evening after 7pm Mass.

The evening consists of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a homily, recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. All welcome.

Praying with Pope Francis - August 2016 Universal Intention: Sports: That sports may be an opportunity for friendly encounters between peoples and may contribute to peace in the world.

For Evangelisation: Living the Gospel: That Christians may live the Gospel, giving witness to faith, honest and love of neighbour.

Ealing Abbey Events Summer Term at the Liturgy Institute During July and August the Liturgy Institute will give 10 day courses in Liturgy and Latin, accredited by KU Leuven and in collaboration with Pontifical Institute of Litrugy, Rome.

For more information, visit: http://liturgyinstitute.org/ courses-summer-2016/ Ealing Abbey Lay Plainchant Choir New members are always welcome.

Workshops take place on Wednesdays from 6.40pm to 8pm.

Contact Dom Peter on 07474 515 365 for more details.

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Other regular Masses Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm at Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QW. Young Adults Mass Held every Sunday at Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. Mass at 7pm. Social gathering afterwards.

Contact: team@fsplus.info or visit www.fsplus.info.

Mass at Canary Wharf Held on Tuesdays at 12.30pm at 2 Churchill Place E14 5RB. Organised by Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, Chaplain to Canary Wharf Communities. Details www.cwcc.org.uk.

St Albans Abbey Fridays at 12 noon. Mass in the Lady Chapel of St Albans Abbey AL1 1BY. Members of the Westminster LGBT Catholic Community are specially welcomed at the following Sunday Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, and invited to our parish hall afterwards for tea/coffee, when there is also an opportunity to learn of pastoral help available: 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, 5.30pm.

EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASSES Sundays: Low Mass 9.30am, St James Spanish Place W1U 3QY. Low Mass 9am, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 5pm, St Bartholomew, St Albans AL1 2PE. Low Mass 5.30pm, Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, NW10 9AX. Mondays: Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Low Mass, 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Fridays: Low Mass 7.45am St Mary Moorfields, 4/5 Eldon Street EC2N 7LS. Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1N 6RY. First Friday only.

Low Mass 6pm St John the Baptist Church, King Edward's Road E9 7SF. First Friday only.

Low Mass 6.30pm Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Second Friday only.

Saturdays: Low Mass 12.15pm, St Wilfrid’s Chapel, The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP. Low Mass 4.30pm, Side Chapel, Westminster Cathedral SW1P 1QW. Second Saturday only.

St Michael’s Past Pupils Association The Association will be holding a reunion to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the school. The reunion will take place on Saturday 24 September at 7pm at St Michael’s School, High Elms Lane, Garston, Herts., WD25 0SS. The reunion is open to all years.

For more information visit stmichaelsppa.co.uk or email stmichaelsppa@outlook.com.

Page 19

Westminster Record | August 2016

Grade II Listing for St Edward the Confessor, Golders Green Earlier this year St Edward the Confessor Church, Golders Green, was added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest at Grade II under the recommendation of Historic England.

In 1908 Fr William Bendon arrived in Golders Green to serve as chaplain to the Carmelite Sisters in Bridge Lane. His arrival coincided with the development of Hampstead Garden Suburb, marking a significant population expansion in the area. A chapel within the monastery of the Carmelite Sisters served as an interim Mass centre for the local Catholic congregation until the acquisition of the site for a new church in July 1909. As the site was part of lands given by St Edward to the Benedictines for religious purposes, a dedication to St Edward the Confessor was deemed appropriate.

The church was built in 1914 to designs by the architect and

Catholic convert Arthur Young (1853-1925). Although not a particularly well-known architect, Young had an extensive London practice which operated from 1877 until his death, and was responsible for a number of Catholic churches, some of which are listed. Our Lady of Canterbury, Harrow-on-the-Hill (1894, Middlesex, listed at Grade II), was one of the first buildings in which Young explored the English Gothic style; similar characteristics can also be seen at the Church of St Richard of Chichester, Buntingford (1914, Hertfordshire, listed at Grade II).

Young was highly competent in the handling of English medieval styles and was adept at exploring the textural and decorative possibilities of contrasting materials. The church of St Edward is a notable example of his work, somewhat unusual in that it occupies an urban setting, and is considerably more muscular than his rural

churches. The original review notes a clear influence from Bentley’s Holy Rood at Watford (1889, Hertfordshire, listed at Grade I), acknowledged to be one of the finest Victorian churches in Britain.

Externally the church is well proportioned and robust, dominated by a powerful embattled central tower which sits above the crossing.

Economically built in brick, the church is emboldened by battlements, echoed in the flanking towers which clasp the west front.

Internally, the church is distinguished by several notable high-quality furnishings. Of particular note is the fine stone reredos, Page 20

Published by The Diocese of Westminster, Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QJ. Printed by Trinity Mirror, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EP. All rights reserved.

designed by Young and completed with finely-crafted statuary following his death by noted English sculptor Philip Lindsey Clarke. The figures represent English saints, consistent with the style of the church and its dedication to St Edward the Confessor, who was patron saint of England until 1348. The work of sculptor Joseph Armitage is also represented, and there is also come good carved timber detailing. Despite some reordering following Vatican II, the church, along with its principal fittings and fixtures, remains generally intact.

Cardinal Bourne laid the foundation stone on 25 March 1914. As the building of the

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church was carried out during the First World War, construction was carried out by older labourers. The opening of the church was scheduled for 8 September 1915, but the ceremony was postponed due to a Zeppelin raid over Golders Green on that evening; the church was finally opened by the Cardinal on 13 October 1915, the feast day of St Edward the Confessor. Fr Bendon died in 1920 and was buried in Finchley cemetery, but was later reinterred outside the south wall of the church, over which was placed an inscribed stone, erected by the parishioners. The church was then consecrated by Bishop Butt on the feast of St Edward the Confessor in 1930.

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