Westminster Record - March 2018 by RCWestminster

Westminster Record

March 2018 | 20p

Consecrated Life: A Singleness of Purpose

Votes for Women: The Catholic Contribution

A hearing of St John Passion

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Warm welcome to Rite of Election

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Nearly 500 people from around the diocese gathered at Westminster Cathedral on 17th and 18th February to celebrate the Rite of Election and call to continuing conversion, a key milestone in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Cardinal Vincent presided over the liturgy, along with Bishops John

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Sherrington, Nicholas Hudson, Paul McAleenan and John Wilson, and many Deans from the diocese. During the Rite of Election the Cardinal declared over 200 catechumens to be ready and to have been chosen by the community, as the Elect, to go forward to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation of Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion at Easter. During the call to continuing conversion, nearly 300 candidates who are already baptised Christians, were affirmed by their sponsors and the assembly. The Church recognises their desire to complete their initiation in order to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Addressing the catechumens and candidates, Cardinal Nichols said, ‘Today marks one of the largest gatherings of people from parishes across the diocese, who join me in giving thanks for the great work that God is carrying out in your lives.’ He added: ‘We give thanks to God for the ways in which our parishes and diocesan family will be enriched by you and we promise to continue to support you and your families with our prayers and the example of Christian life that you experience in our parish communities.’ The Cardinal acknowledged the ‘support which so many priests, deacons, religious, parish catechists, godparents and sponsors have provided’ to

these catechumens and candidates: ‘Please God, the journeying with those seeking full communion with the Church will have been a time of grace for you and all the members of our parish communities.’ During Lent, the Elect and candidates will continue their

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preparations to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter. They will be joined by other catechumens and candidates from around the diocese who are also continuing to discern the call and preparing to be received into the Church at Easter. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Editorial

Westminster Record | March 2018

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The Journey of Lent

Editor Mgr Mark Langham Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue SW1P 1QJ Managing Editor Marie Saba 020 7798 9031 Inhouse writers Martha Behan 020 7798 9030, Sharon Pinto 020 7798 9178 Photos Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk Design Julian Game To order copies contact Andrea Black 0161 908 5327 or email andrea.black@thecatholicuniverse.com Print management and distribution by The Universe Media Group Ltd.

April publication dates Editorial deadline: 12th March 2018 Listings email: communications@rcdow.org.uk News and stories call 020 7798 9030 Email: communications@rcdow.org.uk Advertising deadline: 16th March 2018 To advertise contact Carol Malpass 0161 908 5301 or email carol.malpass@thecatholicuniverse.com Produced by the Communications Office of the Diocese of Westminster. News and articles published in the Westminster Record do not necessarily represent the views of the Diocese of Westminster, unless specifically stated otherwise. Appearance of advertisements does not imply editorial endorsement.

In Lent, we journey with our Lord in the most intimate way, using our own sacrifices to draw close to him in the wilderness. Lent is often compared to a pilgrimage, and the sense of journey is accordingly strong in this month’s Westminster Record. We visit Lourdes, and see it through the eyes of Westminster Cathedral Choir School choristers, who took

part in the celebrations marking the anniversary of Our Lady’s apparition. We also hear from the Lourdes pilgrimage co-ordinator, and report on the annual Lourdes Mass at the cathedral. A vocation is a journey, a path of discovering where the Lord is calling us in life. In this, spiritual guidance is essential, and Fr Stuart Wilson (whose wide experience includes directing seminarians at Allen Hall), writes of the valuable role of spiritual accompaniment. We go willingly on pilgrimage; there are, of course, those whose journey is not voluntary, and whose enslavement and abuse is a still-present evil. We report on the Santa Marta conference in Rome, convened to continue the high-level collaboration between the government officials, police and the Church, to address the scourge of trafficking and modern slavery.

The Bishops of England and Wales have called us upon a national journey: geographically to Liverpool, and spiritually to the heart of the Eucharist. Adoremus is the title of the Eucharistic Congress to be held in September. In the first in an important series of articles, Fr Mark Vickers, our diocesan co-ordinator for Adoremus, explains what it is, who should go, and how we can participate even in our parishes. Finally, we celebrate with those beginning their Lenten journey towards full communion with the Church at Easter, reporting on the Rite of Election. There could be no more vivid reminder of the journey we are all called to make, this Lent and always, into holiness.

Designer Anya Hindmarch chose London to be her valentine this February. In response to last year’s atrocities across the capital, the designer conceived a project consisting of giant heart-shaped balloons suspended over (and sometimes squashed inside) famous landmarks around the city, from 14th February and throughout London Fashion Week. One of these ‘Chubby Hearts’ was suspended above the piazza outside Westminster Cathedral on 15th February, reminding Mass-goers and passers-by alike to #loveLondon

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Westminster Record | March 2018

Strengthening global response to human trafficking Senior law enforcement officers, bishops, and religious women from over 30 countries, as well as representatives from key international organisations met together for the fifth Santa Marta Group conference on 8th and 9th February in the Vatican to update and share best practice in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. Cardinal Vincent, who is Santa Marta Group President, explained: ‘Slavery continues to affect the most vulnerable in our communities and the latest UN figures suggests over 40 million people are now potential victims. This year’s conference built on the hard work produced by SMG partners since the group was established in 2014.The conference is an opportunity for law enforcement and the Church to share evidence of practical cooperation and effective responses driven by the importance of supporting survivors of human trafficking. ‘Slavery is an affront to human dignity and we all have a responsibility to fight against it. This conference is a unique opportunity to strengthen our global response as we move to specific and accountable actions.’ This year’s conference focused on regional realities with tailored solutions to human trafficking in each continent. With input from every continent, each region discussed their experiences, both the successes and challenges they face, with growing collaboration identified as a priority in neighbouring countries where the challenges are similar. Education and economic opportunity were identified as priorities for the home countries of trafficked people. The need for a strong legal framework, accountability and active citizenship were identified as priorities for countries of destination. While there are significant similarities in approaches to combating human trafficking across regions, the need for local action was emphasised,

Cardinal Vincent presenting ‘Slaves on our Streets’ reports to the Pope Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk

recognising the significant levels of internal trafficking taking place. This year the conference coincided with the feast day of St Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of human trafficking and who herself was a survivor of slavery. Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrated the feast with a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. The conference ended with a Papal Audience on Friday. In an address to the Holy Father, Cardinal Vincent explained that the conference 'has been a hard look at one of the dark faces of globalisation: the scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery'. In contrast, he said that Pope Francis reminds us that 'that the well-being of the human person must always be at the centre of every endeavour'. He thanked the Holy Father for his 'leadership and encouragement in the fight against human trafficking'. Cardinal Vincent presented the Pope with the report detailing the findings of the Evening Standard and Independent round table, chaired by the Cardinal, which undertook a three-month investigation into modern slavery in the UK, an example of collaboration with the media to raise public awareness. In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Vincent explained that, while a recent survey found that six

out of 10 people were aware of the problem in the UK, most of these did not believe that slavery was a problem that affects them. He said that the best way to raise awareness is 'to keep our eyes on the face of the victim'. It is only 'when we see and hear a story that we begin to think that this is a person that is being held in this way'. He also called upon local police authorities 'to step up their focus on human trafficking' but not to use this against the victims, but 'to use this information to track down the human traffickers'. He said that human trafficking is a 'hugely profitable business and, to break it, the profit has to be taken out of it' both at the very local level and through financial institutions and businesses. He saw hope in the number of young people who are now beginning to tell their parents that they do not wish to go to a particular shop where the products might have been made by enslaved labour. Launched in 2014 by Pope Francis and led by Cardinal Vincent the Santa Marta Group is a unique global partnership between law enforcement and the Catholic Church. Since 2014 the group has grown to become a worldwide network covering 35 countries.

Slaves on Our Streets As part of the The Evening Standard’s special investigation into the issue of modern slavery in autumn 2017, Cardinal Vincent convened a round table of experts from business, media, law, finance, philanthropy, and law enforcement and victim support. Following a series of meetings, the round table produced a report, which was presented first to key figures in Government and then in February to Pope Francis at the Santa Marta Conference in the Vatican. In the introduction to the report, the Cardinal writes: Human trafficking and modern slavery is an evil crying out to heaven, an open wound on the body of society. It strips people of their fundamental dignity, reducing each person to the status of a commodity. That there are more than 40 million people callously held in slavery in the world today is a mark of shame for us all. It demands our response. The challenge for all of us is to rescue, protect, assist and serve all of those held in slavery. It is essential that we see the human face of every victim of trafficking. Each one is a daughter or a son, a mother or a father. Each slave is a person with a story. It is our duty to remind ourselves constantly of this truth and not succumb to indifference. It is in our power to rid the world of slavery and human trafficking. We have the ability to do so, but do we have the will? Today, organised crime is winning. There are more slaves today than at the height of the Atlantic slave trade in the 18th century. And the number is growing as international criminal gangs increase their influence and reach. Remarkable work is being done by religious sisters and other groups in caring for survivors in trafficking: by some businesses who offer a pathway to work and reintegration for these survivors; and by some financial institutions in tracking ill-gotten profits. However, today we are losing the fight against trafficking as our collective response is uncoordinated and fragmented. Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

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In bringing together this expert panel, we have fashioned recommendations in the hope of shaping a coordinated response to defeat the criminals, rescue victims of trafficking and care for the survivors. Businesses must recognise the problem and clean up their supply chains, for no businesses are immune from slavery in their supply chains. Banks and the City must recognise the problem of money laundering and ensure organised crime is traced and halted. Local government must identify and crack down on those local businesses such as nail bars and car washes, which are often places of modern slavery. Your awareness of this outrageous abuse of our fellow human beings is essential. We can make modern slavery simply unacceptable. For with awareness comes a determination to act. As citizens, we must hold our elected officials and law enforcement agencies to account. We must use our consumer choices to reward businesses which offer goods and services free from the abuse of slavery and refuse those who do not. Businesses which put profit above human dignity should be punished, both by law enforcement and by consumer pressure. It is in our gift collectively to combat human trafficking and rid the world of slavery. For more information about the findings of the report, visit standard.co.uk/news/modernslavery

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Westminster Record | March 2018

St Augustine’s Altar: bridging heaven and earth A Mass of dedication of the new altar was celebrated by Cardinal Vincent at St Augustine’s Church, Hammersmith on Sunday 4th February. Among the concelebrants were Bishop Michael Campbell OSA, Parish Priest Fr Gianni Notarianni OSA, and Fr Provincial Prior Robert Marsh OSA. It marked the end of the first phase of the regeneration project of the church which establishes St Augustine’s as the new headquarters for the Augustinian Order in Britain. The first phase focused on the refurbishment of the church building. The church was packed, with the congregation waiting in anticipation for the unveiling of the new altar. The procession of altar servers and priests solemnly entered with the relics of Ss Secundus and Constance on a velvet cushion. During Mass, Cardinal Vincent blessed the new baptismal font built at the entrance of the church, a link between baptism and an admission to the church, symbolically and literally. The relics of the Ss Secundus and Constance from the old altar were replaced in a purposecreated cavity in the new altar stone which was then sealed. The altar was anointed by Cardinal Vincent with Chrism and blessed with incense in a

Cardinal Vincent anointing the new altar with Chrism (Inset: The new altar being blessed by Cardinal Vincent) large incense burner placed on the altar. The parish has sought to reclaim the original qualities of the church building and give new forms of expressions to the sacred. In Fr Gianni’s words from the parish newsletter, ‘Altars are a bridge between heaven and earth…Roz Barr, the architect has delivered a church of renewed beauty… Julian Stair, ceramicist and maker of the altar, has helped focus attention on the celebration of the Eucharist as an offering of sacrifice as well as a

communal meal.’ John Morgan, the typographer behind the texts around the church including the apse wall, has taken inspiration from St Augustine’s talk of Eucharist as the source of life. After Mass, a reception was hosted in the Augustinian centre where Cardinal Vincent met with parishioners. Fr Gianni sincerely thanked Cardinal Vincent, Bishop Michael, fellow Augustinians, priests, and parishioners, through whose prayers and support, the extensive work was possible.

Defending the Right to Peaceful Protest The Government has been holding a review (the Abortion Clinic Protest Review) into the right to hold peaceful protests or prayer vigils outside abortion clinics. The review, which could lead to the establishment of ‘buffer zones’ which prohibit protests or vigils near abortion clinics, concludes on 19th February. Bishop John Sherrington, the Bishop with responsibility for the Day for Life responded to the review saying: ‘There are members of the public, often associated with churches, who gather peacefully to pray outside abortion clinics and witness to the good of human life in a dignified way. They do so because of their fundamental Page 4

belief in the protection of unborn life and the good of the mother. ‘The offering of leaflets is part of helping to inform women who might not have had impartial information before. There are also those who offer practical alternatives and assistance if a woman wants to make a different choice. ‘In a democratic society the freedom to protest and express one’s opinion is always to be considered in relation to the common good. It should not be necessary to limit the freedom of individuals or groups to express opinions except when they could cause grave harm to others or a threat to public order. There are already

proportionate means in current legislation to deal with these situations. ‘A blanket introduction of “buffer zones” carries with it the danger of both denying freedom of expression and fostering intolerance towards legitimate opinions which promote the common good.’

Bishop John Sherrington presiding at Mass Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk

Cardinal Vincent blessing the new Baptismal font

Organ donation: a gift The Government has launched an open consultation, entitled ‘Introducing “opt-out” consent for organ and tissue donation in England’, which will run until 6th March. Commenting on the consultation on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Paul Mason, the bishop responsible for healthcare, said: ‘The Government’s plans to introduce “opt-out” consent for organ and tissue donation in England undermine the concept of donation as a gift, and cross the line of what is a reasonable action for the state

to take in relation to the individuals within it. ‘Moreover, the structure of ‘opt-out’ consent doesn’t necessarily succeed. This system was introduced in Wales in December 2015. Since then there has in fact been a slight decrease in organ transplants in Wales, compared with an increase in England over the same period. ‘When an “opt-out” system is implemented for organ donation, it is no longer a gift. Voluntary organ donation is an intrinsic good and something I’d encourage all people to consider.’

Westminster Record | March 2018

A Singleness of Purpose In anticipation of the World Day for Consecrated Life, on 2nd February all religious in the diocese were invited to a special Mass at Westminster Cathedral, celebrated by Cardinal Vincent on 1st February. The Cardinal welcomed representatives of the different orders and compared the different colours and charism of the orders in the diocese to the mosaics of the cathedral. He also thanked them for their prayers for the work of the diocese. During his homily he spoke about Pope Francis’ message for the Day for Consecrated Life from last year, which urges religious communities and orders not to become fearful or always to look to the past and

not the future. The Cardinal explained how they were a vital part of the diocese, and should not feel separate. The Cardinal went on to remind them of the bonds that exist between all religious and consecrated life ‘our affection for one another arises from our singleness of purpose! Because our hearts are focussed on a shared mission, a shared Lord, that we greet each other, always, with a warmth and trust that can only be sustained in him. It is fitting for us to be brothers and sisters, having one Father, united in one Holy Spirit, trying always to live in harmony under one roof.’ The Mass for Consecrated Life is held every year not only in celebration of the work of the

religious of the diocese but also for a renewal of their commitment to follow Christ. After his homily Cardinal Vincent invited all of the religious and consecrated persons present to stand and ‘commit ourselves anew to our mission of serving God’s kingdom the Church’. At a celebratory gathering in Cathedral Hall after Mass, Cardinal Vincent congratulated all those who have special anniversaries this year, including Sr Petronia who shared her experience of visiting the Holy Land on her anniversary in the December/January edition.

Jesuits Deacons Ordained Two Jesuit scholastics were ordained deacons by Bishop John Sherrington on Saturday 10th February at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Fam Street. Anuranjan Ekka from the Darjeeling Province, currently living in the Loyola House community in Wimbledon, and George Stephen Thayriam from Madurai, a member of the Hurtado Jesuit community in Wapping, are both thirdyear undergraduates studying for their Bachelor of Divinity at Heythrop College. Principal concelebrants were Fr Nick King SJ, Assistant for Formation, and Fr Provincial Damian Howard SJ, who presented the candidates to Bishop John. Addressing the ordinands in his homily, Bishop John reminded them that, as they ‘accept and enter into the order of deacon, you become more fully the servant of Christ to minister faithfully to those in your care’. He explained that ‘God’s call is not of our own making but dependent upon the grace of God who transforms those who are weak and lifts them up through his grace to witness faithfully to Christ the Servant’. ‘Sometimes your ministry as deacons will require the risk of what may seem absurd and

yet it is in the losing of life that you will find life,’ he added. He counseled them that ‘you will know in your ministry as deacons that you need God’s mercy and that you are sinful men. This is not a cause for despair or a reason for turning away but rather the moment of grace to have faith in the forgiveness of God.’ Bishop John also acknowledged the influence of the great Jesuit missionaries of India who inspired both men. George is inspired by St John De Britto, better known as John the Baptist of India, whose ‘work at the Madurai Mission was a bold attempt to establish an Indian Catholic Church that was relatively free of European cultural domination’, and Anuranjan is inspired by St Francis Xavier, who ‘reminds us of the missionary journey to the peripheries wherever people are marginalised, and live and die outside the gates of the town’. Like these saints, Bishop John encouraged the men: ‘Your service as deacons calls you to go beyond the gates and find the people who huddle there in their poverty. What you have received, you are called to hand onto others.’ It has been the custom in recent decades that Jesuits be

ordained to the diaconate during their final year of Theology studies in their place of study. Assistant for Formation, Fr Nick King SJ observed ‘it has been a great privilege to be responsible for the initial formation of so many young Jesuits from all over the world over the past decades, and an inspiration to witness the variety of work in which they are now engaged in their home provinces.’ Please keep both newlyordained deacons in your prayers.

New Priest for Diocese

On 27th January, Cardinal Vincent ordained Rev Patrick Allsop to the priesthood during a Mass at St Teresa of the Child Jesus, Borehamwood. Fr Patrick has been appointed Assistant Priest to the parishes of Borehamwood. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins his ministry.

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Westminster Record | March 2018

Healthy Bodies and Minds at St Anthony’s In preparation for Children’s Mental Health Week (5th to 11th February), St Anthony’s School for Girls participated in a series of ‘healthy practice activities for bodies and minds’ as part of its annual Health and Wellbeing Week.

This year’s theme, ‘Being Ourselves’, encouraged the pupils to think positively about themselves. Reception and KS1 pupils benefitted from classes on ‘positive self-talk’, and KS2 on developing the strategies to climb yourself out of the ‘Learning Pit’ when faced with challenging tasks.

Further time in the workshops was dedicated to practising mindfulness; younger pupils in the school learnt relaxing stretches, whilst the older girls participated in a short exercise involving moving while blindfolded to explore the concept of being only in the moment. Headteacher Lara Flannery commented: ‘At St Anthony’s we are committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment, helping our pupils to thrive academically whilst also focusing on their pastoral needs’. ‘Health and Wellbeing Week aims to promote lifelong habits to provide the girls with the tools to have success and happiness, and to prepare them for future careers and challenges.’

Memories of St Augustine’s Priory’s ‘own suffragette’ Marking the centenary of the passing of the Representation of the People Act granting some women the right to vote in 1918 brought back memories of our own suffragette at St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent day school for girls. Mother Mary Francis, a strong, intelligent woman, was a member of the community of

St Thomas More School plays host to ‘Speak Out’ Challenge On Tuesday 23rd January, St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green hosted the Haringey Regional finals of Jack Petchey’s ‘Speak Out’ Challenge 2017-18. The challenge, which is run by Speakers Trust and funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation, is a public speaking competition open to Year 10 pupils of state schools in London and Essex which focuses on developing students’ skills and confidence in public speaking. Eleven neighboring Haringey schools participated in the event. The Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Stephen Mann, led the presentation ceremony. The evening was opened by Executive Headteacher, Martin Tissot, and MC for the night was the current Regional Champion 2017 and St Thomas More Student, Lin Ly. Also present on the night were the 15 competition judges comprising local dignitaries. Students from St Thomas More also provided entertainment, including a guitar solo from pupil Jayden Malinzi, Page 6

and a closing act consisting of four singers from Year 7. St Thomas More pupil Souharda Chanda delivered his speech on ‘Unsocial Media’ with eloquence, whilst Ayarna WitterMorgan’s personal speech ‘Shapeless’ led her to win 2nd place on the night, making her runner up of the 2017-18 Haringey Regional Final. She was delighted to have won an award, ‘By doing this challenge, I have learned to be more confident in myself and now I know that you should take every opportunity you’re given’. Natasha Agostini, English teacher and organiser of the event at St Thomas More said, ’Having had the opportunity to work alongside Speakers Trust with the “Speak Out” Challenge for the last three years, I am extremely proud of the flair and growth in confidence of our Year 10 pupils year on year.’ Congratulations to all the finalists and the overall regional winner, Gemima Iseka-Bekano from Gladesmore Community School, who will go on to represent Haringey at the semifinals in May.

Augustinian Canonesses of the Lateran who ran the school until the mid-1990s. She was Headmistress for many years and teacher of Latin for even longer. A suffragette, she chained herself to railings and was arrested for window-breaking more than once. Not only a fighter for votes for women, she was one of a long line of strong women who fought for religious freedom and education for women. In 1634 Lettice Tredway, a nun in France, wanted to provide a place for English women to follow their vocation, the England of that time preventing them from doing so in their own country. Their community also founded a school which thrived in France until the early years of the twentieth century when they moved to England, and became St Augustine’s, Ealing.

Councillor Stephen Mann, Mayor of Haringey with St Thomas More pupil Souharda Chanda, Regional finalist of the ‘Speak-Out’ challenge Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Westminster Record | March 2018

Votes for Women! The Catholic Contribution by Fr Nicholas Schofield

It was a century ago this month that women, or at least some women, were granted the right to vote in this country. The Representation of the People Act gained the royal assent on 6th February 1918 and brought sweeping changes to our electoral system. It was not simply about women’s suffrage. Most property qualifications for men were abolished so that all males over 21 and resident in their constituencies were able to vote. Only women over the age of 30 who met the minimum property qualifications could vote but it was a significant change and the fruit both of wartime conditions and years of campaigning by suffragists and the more militant suffragettes. What, though, was the attitude of the Catholic Church to the suffrage movement? Normally it is cast in a negative light, although it could be argued that for many centuries the only example of women voting was provided by religious orders, where the female sisters gathered to elect their superior and have their say on other important decisions. Indeed, in the Holy Roman Empire such was the power of certain abbesses, including those of Quedlinburg, Gandersheim, Lindau, Buchau and Obermünster, that they ranked as princes and sat as voting members of the Diet (or parliament). In Victorian Britain, however, many Catholics, along with many of their fellow citizens, were suspicious of the arguments in favour of universal suffrage; some were outright opposed. Cardinal Manning told an audience at St Mary Moorfields in 1871 that he hoped English womanhood would ‘resist by a stern moral refusal, the immodesty which would thrust women from their private life of dignity and supremacy into the public conflicts of men.’ Such views might appear, in the words of one historian, as a curious mix of misogyny and chivalry. Misogyny because they denied women a voice; chivalry because they spoke of defending the home and keeping women out of the squalid world of male politics. There were fears, too, of

how the opening up of the electorate would affect politics. It was argued that votes for women would effectively mean that the husband had an extra vote. Some anti-Catholics even suggested that votes for women meant giving the power to their priest! Manning’s successor at Westminster, Cardinal Vaughan, had more progressive leanings: ‘I believe that the extension of the Parliamentary Franchise to women upon the same conditions as it is held by men would be a just and beneficial measure, tending to raise rather than to lower the course of national legislation.’ The debate raged on and voices in favour of women’s suffrage included The Tablet and the Catholic Times. By the 1910s prominent church figures were supporting the cause, including the Archbishops of Birmingham, Glasgow and Liverpool, the Bishop of Northampton, the Dominican Bede Jarrett and the Master of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom, Fr Philip Fletcher. Among the suffragettes were Catholic women. Alice Morrissey was one of the founders of the Liverpool branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and became that city’s first suffragette prisoner in 1907. Patricia Woodlock, another Liverpudlian, endured three prison terms. Bertha Quinn of Leeds was the first Catholic to use the tactic of the hunger strike in prison, like many other suffragettes, and endured the horrors of force feeding. Violet Bryant of Newcastle was handcuffed, forcibly fed and placed in a solitary punishment cell for seventeen days. She started to relent, though, ‘when she was forbidden to go to Mass unless she took some food.’ There were other examples too; to commemorate last month’s centenary St Augustine’s Priory, a Catholic girls’ school in Ealing, has been remembering Mother Mary Francis, a member of the Augustinian community that once ran the school. Acting at one stage as Headmistress and Latin teacher, she was known to chain herself to railings and arrested several times for breaking windows! Catholic churches themselves were sometimes the targets of

demonstrators. On 7th June 1914, just before the outbreak of war, a well-dressed woman stepped into the centre aisle of the London Oratory during Mass and shouted, ‘For Christ’s sake stop forcible feeding’. As she was being removed from the church, twelve other women chanted ‘O God, save Emeline Pankhurst and all our noble prisoners. Be with them in the hour of pain. O rouse this church and its priests to put an end to torture in the name of Blessed Joan of Arc’. That same day a woman ascended the pulpit of Westminster Cathedral and cried, ‘In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament I protest the forcible feeding of women’. None of these protestors seem to have been Catholics themselves. Not all those who campaigned for women’s votes used such tactics. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 1910 two Catholics, Gabrielle Jeffery and Mary Kendall, were among the crowd outside Holloway Gaol to celebrate the release of suffragettes. They discussed the suffrage movement among the Catholic community and decided that a society was needed to promote the cause. Appeals were made in the Catholic and suffragist press and the first meeting of the new Catholic Women’s Suffrage Society (CWSS) was held at Kensington Town hall on the Feast of the Annunciation 1911. It aimed ‘to band together

Catholics of both sexes, in order to secure for women the Parliamentary Vote on the same term as it is, or may be, granted to men.’ Its patron was Joan of Arc, who had only been beatified two years previously and was a popular icon of the suffragists. By June the CWSS was able to carry its banner in the ‘Coronation Procession’ involving twenty-eight suffrage organisations. The founding members of the Society included some remarkable individuals. Alice Meynell was a well-known poet; Elisabeth Christitch, who had been born of an Irish mother and Serbian father in Belgrade, wrote on Serbian affairs for The Times and, with her mother, had served as a nurse on the Serbian battlefields during the First World War; Leonora De Alberti, who served as editor for the Society’s publication, the Catholic Suffragist, was an archivist and published historian. The members were largely middle class and, despite the peaceful approach adopted by the Society, much of its leadership had previously been involved in the WSPU. Members, though, were forbidden to wear CWSS badges at militant rallies. Cardinal Bourne chose not to take sides in the on-going debate. Catholics, he said in a Pastoral Letter of 1913, were at liberty ‘to admit or deny the Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

expediency of allowing women to vote at Parliamentary elections’, though he warned against ‘the excess and possible moral faults’ of militant tactics. The Society never gained his full support, however, not because of the cause it campaigned for but because of a disagreement over its affiliation with nonCatholic groups and its refusal to take a spiritual advisor. It later dropped the word ‘Catholic’ and renamed itself as ‘St Joan’s Social and Political Alliance’, which still campaigns for the rights of women. One member of the Society, however, managed to get encouragement from the highest quarters. Elizabeth Christitch had a brief audience with Benedict XV at the Vatican in 1919, who told her ‘we should like to see women electors everywhere’. His words were reported widely. As the centenary of votes for women is commemorated, it is important to remember the Catholic contribution to the debate and to remember that the first Catholic organisation anywhere in the world dedicated to promoting women’s suffrage (CWSS) originated in England. This article originally appeared in The Catholic Times on 16th February 2016 as the ‘Nova et Vetera’ column. It is reproduced with kind permission of The Catholic Times.

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Westminster Record | March 2018

They Recognised Him

by Bishop Nicholas Hudson

The Sisters told us they found a poor woman with learning disabilities chained up and living in a cave at the end of the family garden. In her they recognised Christ, they said; and gave her a home. She was one of many whom they had discovered and to whom they had given refuge. This was in Emmaus, the place where Cleopas and the other disciple had recognised him in the breaking of the bread. I was visiting Al-Qubeibeh (Emmaus) as part of a group called the Holy Land Coordination. The Holy Land Coordination is a group of bishops from Europe, North America and South Africa which has been travelling to the Holy Land every year since the 1990s. We go to give solidarity to the beleaguered peoples of Palestine. The focus of our trip this year was youth and education. An additional dimension which we had not anticipated was to be given insight as well into the plight of people with disabilities. The Sisters’ discovery of many people abandoned on account of their learning disability brought home to us the reality that, in a society which is on its knees, those with learning disabilities are often the poorest of the poor. In the blockaded territory of Gaza we met Missionaries of Charity who have welcomed a large number of children with learning disabilities. All the children are Muslim, many with severe disabilities: in these children the Sisters will tell you they recognise Christ. Many of the children are severely disabled and yet we found among them a joy which

Bishop Nicholas presides at Mass at St Cleopas Church, Emmaus seemed to reflect the joy in the hearts of the Sisters who welcome them. The presence of these Catholic Sisters is prophetic in this enclave where the population is two million but the Christian population just 1,000 and the number of Catholics a mere 150. Something of the same prophetic witness and joy we found in L’Arche Bethlehem which welcomes young adults with learning disabilities in a house just yards from the birthplace of Jesus. This L’Arche community is named Ma’an lil-Hayat which means ‘Together for Life’. Ma’an lil-Hayat welcomes both Muslims and Christians; and the leadership is also both Muslim and Christian. This community witnesses deliberately and radically to the need for Christians and Muslims of the Holy Land to recognise God in their neighbour regardless of

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whether he or she is Christian or Muslim, and most especially in the poorest of the poor. This need to recognise our shared humanity turned out to be a recurring theme of our visit. For we had come to meet young people on either side of the Israeli/Palestinian divide to find out what they thought of one another and how they viewed the prospects for peace. We met Law undergraduates at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, older than British undergraduates since they had all undergone 30 months’ military service before embarking on their studies. We were welcomed to a Jewish secondary school in a Jerusalem suburb to sit at round-tables with Sixth Formers. We had lunch with Catholic seminarians in Bethlehem, all Palestinian/Jordanian. We met younger children in a Palestinian school. What struck us in these conversations was how little the young people knew about each other. Both Israeli and Palestinian youth would tell us repeatedly that they know hardly any young people belonging to ‘the other side’. They told us that, ‘Even when you go away on Israeli/Palestinian camps, you return and nothing has changed.’ They spoke often of

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another to learn about each other’s culture and faith and also about the Jewish faith and culture. They all speak Hebrew as well as German, English, French and other languages. Their yearning for peace was given poignant expression when the girls sang for us, Muslim and Christian 15-year-olds standing alongside one another in harmony, to sing with fervour Dona nobis pacem, ‘Give us peace’. There was scarcely a dry eye among the bishops. As we came away from the Schmidt School, the words of Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk one bishop in particular returned to me with force: ‘I just Yet we did discover oases of hope all these young people recognition. We met young we’re meeting,’ he had said, people from the Parents’ Circle ‘never experience any violence. Families Forum, a group of some 600 families, of whom 300 I pray God keeps them safe.’ He was speaking for every one of are Palestinian, 300 Israeli, who us. I left the Holy Land my heart have lost a close relative in the troubles which have plagued the filled with the recollection of so Holy Land in recent decades. We many rich encounters, the meeting with so many fine heard the testimony of two young people. My heart burned young men, one Israeli, one with the memory above all of Palestinian, each of whom had lost a teenage sister and yet were the young women who sang so ardently for peace. My prayer working for resolution not was that the One whom Cleopas escalation of the conflict. Here and the other disciple had met we met young people who did on the road to Al-Qubeibeh recognise the other as their would come to meet each one brother/their sister in God. of those young people on their Another oasis was the journey into adulthood and give Schmidt School close by the Damascus Gate, where the ethos them hearts which burn too for peace and truth and is radically intercultural, reconciliation in the land of his interfaith. Muslims and birth and dying and rising. Christians study alongside one their fear of the other. Fear and a lack of hope in the peace process punctuated all their conversations. They seemed far from recognising the other as their brother or sister, let alone recognising God in the other.

Westminster Record | March 2018

Adoremus: Let us Adore by Fr Mark Vickers

Christ entered the world that we might have life and have it to the full, that we might have communion with the very life and love of God himself. When he returned to the Father, that life and love was not withdrawn. Rather, it was made universal. ‘I shall remain with you always, even until the end of time.’ It is in the Eucharist above all that Christ fulfils his promise that his presence and his love would abide. From the beginning, the Church was conscious that the Eucharist is her most precious treasure, because it is Christ himself. Our English Martyrs died for the Mass. During Penal Times, it was this deprivation which persecuted Catholics felt most keenly. There was real joy and pride, therefore, when London hosted the 1908 International Eucharistic Congress. Archbishop Bourne hoped to awaken in Catholics a renewed faith and love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and to remind the English what had united them prior to the Reformation. Six cardinals, 120 bishops, 2000 priests and laity from across the world attended four days of liturgical conferences and celebrations. The climax was to have been a massive Blessed Sacrament procession around the streets of Westminster. At the last moment, however, the Government invoked arcane legislation to forbid this. Thousands of Catholics still processed through the streets – but without the Sacred Host. 110 years on we live, in some respects, in more tolerant times. The Bishops’ Conference has decided that the first ever National Eucharistic Congress will take place in Liverpool on 7th to 9th September 2018. It is expected to be the largest gathering of Catholics in this country since Pope Benedict’s visit in 2010. The Bishops have chosen Liverpool as the venue given its unique Catholic heritage, vibrant culture, and the availability of the Metropolitan Cathedral and excellent conference facilities. The Friday will comprise a symposium reflecting on the

place of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. There will be talks in the morning on the Scriptural basis of our faith and Eucharistic practice and teaching. In the afternoon delegates can opt to attend various workshops on a wide range of subjects including catechesis, prayer, music, liturgy, social justice, chaplaincy work, and historical and ecumenical reflections. On the Saturday 11,000 delegates will gather in the Echo Arena for two keynote addresses by Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, whom many of us know through his internet presence and catechetical resources. Having given a personal reflection on the Eucharist, Cardinal Nichols will lead everyone present in Adoration and Benediction. On the Sunday morning Archbishop McMahon and Cardinal Nichols will celebrate Masses in the Metropolitan Cathedral. In the afternoon there will be a Blessed Sacrament procession through the streets of Liverpool, concluding with Benediction. Mass will be celebrated and Confessions offered throughout the Congress. Outside the main programme there will be a wide range of activities informing and celebrating our Eucharistic faith. Each diocese is asked to make a contribution to the Congress by showcasing Eucharistic best practice. It is planned that Westminster’s contribution will be ‘Night Fever’ with the group from St Patrick’s, Soho Square facilitating Adoration and their characteristic street mission at Liverpool’s Blessed Sacrament Shrine. Who can attend? Everyone is welcome to the Blessed Sacrament procession on the Sunday. However, constraints of space mean the Friday and Saturday events are ticketed. Tickets have been offered to dioceses and parishes roughly in proportion to Mass attendance. Priests have been asked to give priority to those who can help perpetuate the legacy of the Congress locally, e.g., catechists, teachers and Ministers of Holy Communion. Currently, there are a few tickets remaining in

Westminster. If you are interested in attending, please speak to your parish priest to see whether your parish’s allocation has been taken up or could be increased. There will be opportunities for those unable to attend physically to participate remotely. The diocesan Lenten reflection booklets this year explore our Eucharistic faith. Material is being produced by Catholic publishers such as the CTS and Redemptorist Publications. The Education Service is providing resources for Catholic schools, to be introduced by podcasts from the Cardinal. The Cardinal has asked that every parish in Westminster has a public act of Eucharistic worship around the time of the Feast of Corpus Christi, 3rd June 2018. It is for the parish to decide what form this will take, but it might be a Blessed Sacrament procession or a prolonged period of Adoration. The objective is to offer as many as possible the opportunity to experience the presence and the love of Our Lord. We have our own recently-renovated diocesan shrine at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane in Covent Garden which welcomes pilgrimages from groups and individuals. The primary aim of Adoremus is to promote a personal encounter with Our

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Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist. Experiencing there his overwhelming love we are empowered to take that love to others, to become missionary disciples. It is hoped that this historic occasion will help foster devotion to the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, extend the practice of Eucharistic Adoration in parishes and develop a greater understanding of this central mystery of our faith. It is intended that there be practical benefits in better equipping our liturgical ministers, catechists and teachers to celebrate joyfully and transmit faithfully what we hold most dear. Please support initiatives being taken in your parish. Please pray for the success of this Congress that many graces

might flow from it. Finally, allow yourself the opportunity to experience the Lord’s love in Eucharistic Adoration. As St John Paul II wrote: ‘How can we not feel a renewed need to spend time in spiritual converse, in silent adoration, in heartfelt love before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament? How often, dear brothers and sisters, have I experienced this, and drawn from it strength, consolation and support!’ Further information will be provided in future issues of the Westminster Record. You can also visit the Bishops’ Conference Website pages dedicated to Adoremus: http://catholicnews.org.uk/Home/ Special-Events/AdoremusNational-Eucharistic-Pilgrimage

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Westminster Record | March 2018

Honouring Our Lady of Lourdes

Thinking about Lourdes by Elizabeth Uwalaka

The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes are asking for volunteers to lend medical and practical support to the sick, elderly and infirm pilgrims this summer from 21st to 27th July. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Diocesan pilgrimage office on 020 7798 9173 or email wesminsterstfrai@gmail.com

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One cannot help but always be overwhelmed by the deluge of pilgrims who descend on the Grotto in the small town in Massabielle. This year, I spent the Feast Day in Honour of Our Lady of Lourdes working in Lourdes participating in the planning days for all international Lourdes pilgrimage directors from around the world. I became Pilgrimage Administrator for the Diocese of Westminster in May 2016 and I felt that I had been granted this new direction after a long period of dark trials, despair and anxiety. I had left the teaching profession after 17 years, not with a heavy heart, but with one which was searching for a new level of joy in my life. As a child born in a Catholic family in West London, I followed my older siblings’ path in education and faith formation. My parents had no doubt about the value that a Catholic primary and secondary school education would add to our lives. Our late father was a head teacher, accountant and philanthropist, who liked to give us his take on stories from the Bible. I learned the story of St Bernadette at primary school in Pottery Lane where Parish Priest Fr Wilson, and later on Fr Fullerton, Fr McTernan, and then Fr Gabriel Zsidi, would instruct us on the lives of the saints. Bernadette captivated me. The photos illustrating stories of her life included images of crutches adorning the stone flanks of the Grotto where the sick were healed. I felt a strong affinity for Bernadette and the many pilgrims to Lourdes, as some of my siblings are medical doctors. The situations doctors face on a daily basis, caring for those who come to them, have a different hue in Lourdes. My sister volunteered as a doctor on the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and found the experience, especially in the care of St Frai pilgrims, a truly memorable one. She recalled an excursion to St Savin, where, during the journey there and the Mass that afternoon, she felt a tremendous peace to be a source of help and comfort to the assisted pilgrims. Some needed

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support for conditions that were invisible, and others with crippling life-altering conditions which they bore with great patience. Like our pilgrims’ lives in the UK, Bernadette’s life in Lourdes would most probably have been punctuated by frequent hospital admissions but poor Bernadette did not have a National Health Service to turn to. She must have felt so wretched at times though never had room for self-pity as it never usually helps. One prayerful intention is that, even if a miracle should not occur, Lourdes may offer all who come to those waters, a quietness of spirit, a stillness in God’s presence and the certainty of his endless care. And so I went on the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes for the first time as a praying pilgrim with my mother in 2014, as part of the group from the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima, White City. Seeing the selfless dedication with which the Redcaps and adult volunteers were helping the sick, I asked if I could lend a hand. I wanted to give something back in return for those who cared for and nurtured me so many years ago. I couldn’t of course, not without the relevant training and clearance. I eagerly asked one of the leaders what I needed to do to join, listened attentively, and then went away with a promise to return one day as a helper. That same night, I recall going to the Grotto very late to pray and, on entering the most sheltered part underneath the statue of Our Lady, the heavens opened and I had to stay put: a refreshing sign of the changes to come. I returned again on the diocesan pilgrimage in 2015, with my mother and my elder sister, three mothers together having the best of times in the company of Mary Our Mother. A career change occurred for me in the spring of 2016 when I was offered the role of Pilgrimage Administrator during my final teaching post.

Choristers on Pilgrimage by Fr Andrew Gallagher

As the Assistant Director for the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and as a Regional Chaplain to HCPT (the Pilgrimage Trust that takes children to Lourdes each Easter), it is perhaps no surprise to hear that I have a great love for the place where Mary appeared to the young Bernadette 160 years ago this year. Over the past 14 years I have travelled with thousands of pilgrims and seen the enrichment that everyone gets from visiting the shrine, whether that is spiritual nourishment, physical or mental healing, or just a renewed hope in humanity. And so, when I was appointed Chaplain to the Westminster Cathedral Choir School, it was my dream to take some of the boys to Lourdes to discover it for themselves. The opportunity came about 15 months ago, when two priests from the shrine came to stay in Clergy House, on their way to a Conference for National Pilgrimage Directors that I was also attending. They concelebrated at the Solemn weekday evening Mass and

were blown away by the music. So they asked whether the choir might sing at one of their liturgies; and the idea of the choristers’ pilgrimage to Lourdes was born. After much planning, with the support of some generous donors and some careful packing, we travelled to Lourdes for the weekend of the feast celebrating the 160th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady, on 11th February 1858. Our pilgrimage included the traditional visit to the Grotto where we lit candles, washed in the waters from the spring and said prayers. We also celebrated Masses in some special locations, sang a small concert for the people of Lourdes and were housed in HCPT’s spectacular Hosanna House, overlooking the Pyrenees in the nearby village of Bartres. The highlight of our pilgrimage was the opportunity for our choristers to sing a motet at the Torchlight Procession on the eve of the feast, and then several pieces, including Stanford’s A Song of

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In his homily, Cardinal Vincent spoke of the central role of prayer in the life of faith. He focused especially on intercessory prayer, which he explained is the highest form of prayer. As we pray for each other, we ‘join our humble prayers to Jesus’ great prayer of intercession’. Following the prayers of the faithful, the Liturgy of Anointing began with a prayer of thanksgiving over the Oil of the Sick, asking God to ‘ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servants whom the Church anoints with this holy oil’. The bishops and priests then spread throughout the cathedral to anoint all who

came forward to receive this healing sacrament. At the end of Mass, the Cardinal invited the lay chaplains present to come forward for a blessing, before the procession of banners left the sanctuary. Once the procession arrived at the West Door, the statue of Our Lady was turned around to face the congregation as all sang Salve Regina.

The annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place this year from 21st to 27th July. For information about joining the pilgrimage or assisting those less able, please email lourdes@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7798 9173.

A group of 22 from Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Church, Harpenden, led by Parish Priest Canon Anthony Dwyer visited Lourdes on the 8th to the 12th of February to join the celebrations of the 160th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to St Bernadette. The pilgrimage is an annual parish event.

In the next edition, Elizabeth will give us a glimpse into the life and work of the Pilgrimage Administrator. Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Twitter at: twitter.com/dowym

Wisdom and the Agnus Dei from the Missa in simplicitate by Langlais, at the Anniversary International Mass presided over by Cardinal Baldisseri in the packed Underground Basilica. As Chaplain I certainly had a wonderful pilgrimage and I hope the choristers did too! Here’s an account from one of them. ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed this trip. It made me more connected to God than I have ever been. It has been great fun and above all showed me multiple panoramas that blew my mind and made me realise how grateful I should be to God. The best part was when we sang in front of all the people in the Underground Basilica. This is because when I looked at them none of them were frowning. Every single person was happy. This showed me how much joy God and our singing gives to people and that I can finally help people and not be a super hero. Overall this pilgrimage has connected me to God and most of all opened my mind to the beauty of life.’

On Saturday 10th February, the annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes was celebrated by Cardinal Vincent in Westminster Cathedral. Concelebrating were Bishops Paul McAleenan and John Wilson, along with priests from the diocese, including a number of hospital chaplains. Taking place just ahead of the World Day of the Sick, the Mass gathers together the faithful from around the diocese, with pride of place being given to those who are sick and infirm. The Mass began with a procession of Redcaps (young Lourdes volunteers who assist sick pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage) bearing the Lourdes pilgrimage banners and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, ahead of the altar servers and clergy. During the procession, Fr Peter Scott, Chaplain to St Joseph’s Hospice and Cardinal’s Adviser for Healthcare Chaplains, carried the Oil of the Sick. The procession was accompanied by the congregation bearing candles as all sang ‘Immaculate Mary our hearts are on fire’, with the candles lifted high as they sang ‘Ave Maria’. The Lourdes choir led the congregation in the Lourdes setting of the Mass and the popular hymns that are usually sung on the annual diocesan pilgrimage.

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Westminster Record | March 2018

Honouring Our Lady of Lourdes

Thinking about Lourdes by Elizabeth Uwalaka

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Choristers on Pilgrimage by Fr Andrew Gallagher

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In the next edition, Elizabeth will give us a glimpse into the life and work of the Pilgrimage Administrator. Follow Westminster Youth Ministry on Twitter at: twitter.com/dowym

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Westminster Record | March 2018

Youth Director’s Spotlight

Andrzej Wdowiak Director of Youth Ministry In mid-January we were delighted to restart residential retreats at SPEC. Staff and volunteers were getting ready for this for a while and it was rewarding to see it coming to fruition at the new, purposebuilt retreat centre. Our first group of about 60 young people and their catechists came to prepare for their Confirmation and spent three days in Pinner. One of the participants at the end of the retreat enthused: ‘it really was a fantastic weekend probably the best Confirmation retreat I have ever experienced and I think they [confirmandi] will all have gone home tired, but having enjoyed their time there immensely’.

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The first residential retreat at SPEC and the current season of Lent have prompted me to reflect about the place of retreat in our lives. Although this term is used universally in many different faiths, it has a special meaning for us Catholics and Christians. According to a notso-religious source, Wikipedia, a retreat can be either a time of solitude or a community experience, held in silence or involve a great deal of conversation, depending on the understanding and accepted practices of the host facility and/or the participants. Spiritual retreats allow time for reflection, prayer, or meditation, spent away from one’s normal life for the purpose of reconnecting with God. In Lent we are preparing for the experience of the Paschal Mysteries of Holy Week and Easter celebrated throughout the year in the Eucharist. Perhaps as part of this preparation we can retreat from the busyness of everyday life and reflect upon our relationship with God and with the world around us, and reconnect with both. Here at SPEC one group of people who take this experience to quite another level are the retreat staff and volunteers who share with and guide others in

Youth Chaplain’s Corner their relationship towards God. For our young volunteermissionaries in particular this is also a time of personal reflection and discernment about their vocation and direction in life. They spend a year here at SPEC helping with the retreats but also taking time to listen to God’s calling. We are currently recruiting new volunteers to start in September and would be delighted to hear from young people who, as Catholics, are thinking about getting involved in the life of the Church and in the Catholic community. The stay at SPEC is free to volunteermissionaries and offers a great opportunity for personal formation and development. Similarly, the Centre for Youth Ministry is a great resource for parishes in supporting young people and young adults in their journey of faith. The CYM Team works closely with the SPEC community and can help organise retreats and events in and with parishes. We are eager to hear from parishes and young people who would like to make faith relevant to their lives and to the community they live in. Retreats and parish events run with the help of CYM normally involve groups or individuals thinking about starting a group. Just in case you missed it in the last Westminster Record, this year during Lent we are assisting Cardinal Vincent and Auxiliary Bishops in preparing for the 2018 Synod of Bishops due to be held in Rome in October this year. It is an opportunity for young people to retreat and reflect in a group on their personal relationship with God and the role of their faith in engaging with contemporary society. By the time this is published, there will still be some workshops planned, for further details visit our website dowym.com. Also, we have started taking bookings for an international, or should we say Catholic, group retreat at the World Youth Day in Panama due to take place 20-30 January 2019. We hope that the diocese will be well represented in Panama and we really would like to hear from all who may be interested, regardless of their financial abilities. Finally, as the next issue of Westminster Record will be in April, on behalf of us all at SPEC and at the Centre of Youth Ministry I wish you all a faithrefreshing Lent and blessed Easter.

Fr Mark Walker, Youth Chaplain I hope the holy season of Lent is proving fruitful for you thus far! It’s certainly a busy time in the diocesan youth service. The theme chosen by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the next Synod of Bishops in October is ‘Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment’. The synod’s preparatory document explains how the synod is going to reflect on the context of young people in the world today, how faith informs a young person’s understanding of their place in the world and the meaning of their life, and

how the Church can best accompany young people as they explore what life is about and what God’s plan for them might be. To that end, Cardinal Vincent and the Auxiliary Bishops of the diocese are meeting young adults from across the diocese to explore the synod theme with them. The youth service is organising eleven of these meetings during Lent. Details of the meetings can be found on the diocesan youth ministry website: dowym.com/events/. They take the form of guided discussion about the synod theme with an opportunity to present one’s perspective to a bishop. Although the meetings are already underway, if there are any young adults aged 18 to 30 who would still like to attend, please do feel free to do so and make your voice heard in shaping the Church’s future approach to young people. You can register on the youth ministry website. These meetings will hopefully be the start of a process as we lead up to the synod. We look forward to seeing how it will unfold.

Westminster Record | March 2018

Sharing Joy of Education

Ashes to Ashes

I was originally planning to go work in a school and orphanage in Darjeeling, India in 2017. I would have been working with young children and teaching them English. A few days before I planned to leave I was told by the people in Darjeeling that I would have to cancel my trip to India due to major political unrest: it was too dangerous. However, I really wanted to do more than just travel; I felt I had to give something back. Thanks to Fr Timothy Radcliff, friend and priest who married my parents, I managed to find a school in Thailand that would take me in at short notice to teach English. The school, Nuchanat Anusorn School (www.nas.ac.th) is run by a Catholic priest. It wasn't like the place I thought I was originally going to; it was more modern and had more facilities. (Thailand is wealthier compared to Darjeeling). However, compared to other schools in Thailand, it was one of the poorer, and gave children free dental and medical care, something I very much admired. It was also a boarding school so

An image of Catholics in the City waiting to enter St Mary Moorfields for Ash Wednesday Mass was the subject of a popular tweet.

by Bronia Greening

children from the different hill tribes or neighbouring cities could attend. The boarding house was run by nuns who also taught many of the lessons. During my time there, I spent a month teaching English to children aged three to 19. Although it was different from what I had originally planned, it turned out to be an amazing and humbling opportunity to teach and become part of a school in Thailand. I kept being reminded of the saying, ‘when God closes one door he opens another’. Throughout my time there I was really cared for and shown much hospitality from people

who didn't have that much to give. This experience has also given me an insight into the everyday lives of some of the young pupils, as well as some of the teachers who came from the Philippines. I have left this experience filled with gratitude and a hope to be able to do more work like this in the future. Bronia Greening of St Alban and St Stephen Parish in St Alban’s was awarded £500 from the Catenian Bursary Fund for her ‘last-minute’ trip to Thailand ahead of starting Lincoln University to read history. For more information about the Catenian Association, visit www.thecatenians.co.uk

Burning of last year’s palms in preparation for Ash Wednesday Mass

Let it Be: New Film on Mary by David Payne

Catholic Faith Exploration (CaFE) have produced a TVquality filmed course and book on Mary called ‘Let It Be’ for parishes, groups and individuals. Cardinal Vincent Nichols is one of the experts interviewed for the film about Mary's vital role in our journey of faith today. The journey through Mary's life past and present begins at our National Marian Shrine in Walsingham, where Monsignor

Bishop John Sherrington celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass at the Brunel University Chaplaincy. John Armitage sets the scene, before the film takes the viewers to the Holy Land where the film takes in all the key Marian sites. After that, the traditional place of Mary's older life in Ephesus is explored before visiting Rome, Montserrat near Barcelona, and Knock. One of the highlights is the beauty of Lourdes filmed during the Westminster pilgrimage and including an Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

extended interview with Fr Stephen Wang. Let It Be also features moving testimonies from Mary's Meals, exgangster John Pridmore and many others from around the UK plus an interview with Papal Preacher Fr Raniero Cantalamessa.

Full details of the five session film and book plus a short trailer are available at www.faithcafe.org or by calling CaFE on 0845 050 9429. Page 13

Westminster Record | March 2018

Origins of the English College

On September 29th 1568, Father, later Cardinal, William Allen and a small group of fellow exiles from the University of Oxford, took possession of a group of buildings that they had leased in the town of Douai in what were then the Spanish Netherlands. Allen and his fellow exiles knew very well the value of collegiate life. Having first settled at Mechelen they had moved to the nearby town of Douai where the King of Spain had opened a new Catholic University. Allen had been befriended by a local man, Jean Vendeville, who occupied the chair of Canon Law at the new university. Vendeville was particularly interested in establishing colleges for missionaries, both to the new world and to the now protestant parts of the old. It had been with Vendeville’s financial help that Allen had earlier taken the lease on a large house, close to the University’s theological schools. There was no doubt that Allen wanted to found an academic institution but specifically training priests for the English Mission came later. One of the first students, Lewis Barlow was ordained in 1574 and offered to return to England to assist his countrymen. Ten more did the same in 1575, 11 in 1576, 24 in 1577, and 20 in 1578. Most of them held English university degrees and had been disillusioned by events in England. The early years of the college were financially precarious, local benefactors including religious houses such as the Abbeys at Arras, Marchiennes and Anchin contributing what they could. But in due course these gifts, augmented by the salaries that Allen and others were paid for teaching at the University, were handsomely added to by Page 14

general education, not expecting to continue to studies for the priesthood. By the 18th century these ‘convictors’ formed an important part of the college and enabled many of the lay families still in England to obtain a solid foundation in the faith for their sons. A number of them left behind gifts of secular silver some of which still exists. As time went on there were rectors, ‘Presidents’, and professors of the college called to be ordained bishops, perhaps one of the best known today being the saintly Bishop Challoner. The town of Douai did not only give hospitality to the English secular clergy. There were also houses of English Benedictines and Franciscans (Recollects). There was an Irish college and a college run by the Scottish Jesuits, dedicated in turn to St Patrick and St Andrew. Douai became part of French territory in the 18th century, and the French revolution, and particularly the declaration of war on England in 1793, brought the closure of the colleges and their assets were seized and many of their collegians imprisoned. Returning to England the remaining students of the English college came together first at a Catholic preparatory school near Ware in Hertfordshire, but Bishop Douglas in London and Bishop William Gibson in the north could not agree on a single college and so the sister colleges of St Edmund’s and St Cuthbert’s came into being at Old Hall Green, Ware and Ushaw, Durham. To this day St Cuthbert’s, Ushaw continues its education mission through the work of the University of Durham, especially its Centre for Catholic Studies and St Edmund’s College as the oldest Catholic independent school in England. The work of the formation of priests continues in Allen Hall Seminary at Chelsea in London.

With the 450th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the English College in Douai, Fr Peter Harris relates the history of the institution which became a centre for training Catholic priests for service in Elizabethan England and the forerunner of our own seminaries today.

St Cuthbert Mayne, the protomartyr of the English seminary at Douai and Thomas Thwing, the college’s last martyr with the Douai College beneath them in Ushaw College, Durham.

annual pensions from Pope Gregory XIII and Philip II, King of Spain. Allen was to go on to found another college at Rome, and he played a vital part in Robert Persons SJ’s foundations in Spain at Valladolid, Seville and Madrid. The movement was continued later by another foundation at Lisbon. It is thought that 194 (62%) of the Elizabethan seminary priests were imprisoned at some time or other. One hundred and fifteen fell into government hands within a year of arrival, 35 while still in the ports where they had landed. One hundred and sixteen were executed, 91 were banished, of whom 24 returned. Douai (and also whilst in exile in Rheims) produced some remarkable scholars, for example those who produced the first Catholic translation of the bible into English, the Rheims Douai version (15821610). Allen himself died in Rome in 1594 but a succession of Rectors continued to steer the Douai college through sometimes troublesome waters through the last decades of the 16th and into the 17th century. A new college began to be built on the site from 1600, to be rebuilt again in the 18th century. As time went on young men were also sent to Douai for

We are indebted for much of the first half of the above to Rev Dr David Milburn’s 2011 publication Douai’s Day.

Westminster Record | March 2018

Being A ‘Soul Friend’ by Canon Stuart Wilson, Vocations Promoter Being a spiritual director (SD) is quite an unusual thing to do. It’s an awesome responsibility to be helping someone on ‘the way’. Helping someone to choose the path of holiness which will hopefully bring them closer to Christ in the heart of the Church. Many Christians consult a spiritual director - not just the religious minded and most certainly not just the holy joes! More people have a spiritual director than you might imagine. It seems to me that if you go regularly to confession to the same priest then he, in a way, gets to know you well. He gets to understand who you are and what you are. He has, over a period of time, grown to know you at the deepest level: the soul level. One of the older terms for a spiritual director was ‘soul friend’. He was a friend who walked with you on your journey through life, on your Way. There is a (renewed) popular pursuit at the moment of walking the Camino (the Way) to the great city of Compostela in Galicia in Spain. This walk dates from ancient times and many people begin the walk from various parts of Europe. Some people walk the route alone as they want to be alone with the Lord and find out more about his purpose in their life. I am told that it is not easy to be completely alone as so many people walk alongside you or catch up with you. You can ignore them but many recognise in those who walk with them a soul friend. Your companion is someone who listens, who walks alongside without saying much but who will make the odd comment and maybe even offer that inspired piece of spiritual advice. You might call your companion your soul friend. I think he represents the real Soul Friend, the Holy Spirit, who speaks to you and walks with you, the companion who joins you. In seminary, every seminarian needs a soul friend as he walks the pathway to priesthood. He needs someone who will listen. Maybe in the seminary context the soul friend whom we call the spiritual director does all of that and a

little more. A seminary spiritual director befriends, encourages, but also challenges, and hopefully points the seminarian forward towards a life lived by embracing the classical Christian virtues: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, humility. All this takes time and that is why the spiritual director is usually resident, to be available, to advise, to challenge, to befriend, and occasionally to persuade those for whom he is responsible to be a little easier on themselves. When I was young, I was told about that amazing quotation that was spoken by the Curé d’Ars. He said a ‘priest is someone who folds back the curtains of heaven but loses himself in the furls’. It has always been for me a good description of the work of a priest: to show someone the way forward but not to get in the way. I have been an SD for two and a half years at the seminary. There is no formal training for the work, but usually it is a priest with a long experience of being a man for others, and who can exercise total discretion. The

SD is asked to keep confidential what he hears so that he will be known as someone who can be trusted. He will be a man with good pastoral experience as well as a desire in his own life to grow in holiness and to want that for others. Occasionally the SDs from our English seminaries gather together to enjoy friendship, to listen to a speaker who will help them in their work, to pray together and to support each other. Recently we had one of our meetings at the seminary in Wonersh near Guildford, where spiritual directors from Oscott, Allen Hall and Wonersh met together. We had a really good day during which we gave thanks to God for our ministry and we prayed for the grace to continue to serve our future priests. We especially ask Mary, the Queen of the Clergy to pray for us and befriend us. Mary Queen of the Clergy pray for us, and, dear readers, a prayer from you for our seminarians at Allen Hall would be greatly appreciated. God bless you all.

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Westminster Record | March 2018

Inside the Hospice: Small Spaces Companions on the journey by Fr Peter Michael Scott

By the time you read this I will have come back from the Florida Keys. That is not to make you feel jealous, although I can quite understand why. Before last year, the Keys were a unique holiday destination offering unspoilt beaches, palm trees and blue skies. The local population is involved in the tourist industry or are retirees seeking escape from the American dream. Last September, Hurricane Irma destroyed or damaged 1200 Keys homes as its eye passed through the region before making its way up the west coast of Florida. I have been asked to fly out and lead a day of recollection on ‘small spaces’. ‘Small spaces’ is perhaps an unfair title, because the Catholic residents who endured the storm want to explore their awareness of God within their homes while Irma passed over. ‘Small sacred spaces’ might be better. Being in a small space is a familiar experience for hospice patients and when they arrive they quickly make their room or the bay they are sharing an extension of their house or apartment. They are encouraged to bring in photos and ornaments to make their time in the hospice less anxious and

more peaceful. My role as chaplain is to encourage them to acknowledge that God is in the hospice with them; that he either resides in the room or he is eager and delighted to visit them. Many prefer to acknowledge God as a room-mate, the perfect sort: one who makes no demands, enjoys their guests, understands their frustrations and is ready to listen whatever the time. I have often thought that we can do the same, remembering that God shares our car journey, or sits with us on the bus, or lives with us at home. Having God so close, and creating a boundary where we can talk to him, means that we can chatter and reflect with him about the day just lived, or the guest who has visited. When hospice patients open themselves to this immanent presence of the Lord, they want to keep him in, they don’t want him to leave. Of course, the next step, is to discover that he is not just in the room, but present within us and always has been; we are his best home and his most sacred small space. Please pray for the patients, staff, volunteers and Sisters of St Joseph’s Hospice.

Coordinator of Marriage and Family Life Ministry Vaughan House SW1P and across the Diocese

£40k per annum An exciting opportunity have arisen within the Diocese for the role of Coordinator of Marriage and Family Life Ministry. Working as part of the Agency for Evangelisation, and inspired by “Proclaim Westminster”, the Coordinator of Marriage and Family Life Ministry will help to nurture a culture of vocation to marriage and family life throughout the Diocese of Westminster. In encouraging and assisting parishes to develop and deepen their own family life ministry, helping to see themselves as a “family of families” (Pope Francis), the Coordinator will hold up family life as the primary agent of evangelisation in society. The successful candidate will be educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably in a theological or related discipline and have a good knowledge and understanding of the Church’s teaching in this area, as well as experience of forming couples for marriage and supporting marriage and family life. This role will require a confident individual with solid communication, organizational and co-ordination skills. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference to help the Diocese understand and embrace the vision of Pope Francis for Marriage and Family Life. Hours of work: Full-time 35 hours per week (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday, with occasional evening and weekend work) Closing date: 13 March 2018 Interview date: Wednesday, 21 March 2018 For a full job description and application form please see http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/jobs If interested in applying, please download our job application form and submit to humanresources@rcdow.org.uk. Please note we do not accept CV’s

Page 16

by Deacon Adrian Cullen Lent is a time of journey. Many will be accompanying those who are journeying their way to the Easter Vigil where they will be baptised as new Christians, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit through confirmation, and join the Catholic community in the celebration of the Eucharist, receiving Jesus Christ for the first time in Holy Communion. This is the fruit of our mission as evangelisers: to bring new disciples to Jesus. More than followers, these new disciples configure their lives to that of Christ. There may be many followers of Christ, who regard him as a friend, someone worth listening to, whose teachings make sense. Following is a good thing; but it is not enough. When the disciples first encounter Jesus, they ask him, ‘Where do you live?’ He replies, ‘Come and See’. Later on, along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus’ invitation becomes a calling, ‘Follow Me!’ In our readings in Holy Week, we hear how the calling becomes a command, ‘I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ If we are to be disciples then, we are to love others as Jesus loves us. The journey of Jesus in his mission from the Father took him to Calvary. Now, we may not be called to give up our lives, but each of us will have our challenges, whether small or great, when we are called, indeed we are commanded, to love as Jesus loves. In meeting those challenges, we are never alone. Jesus is always with us and he gives us a constant reminder of the great sacrifice that he made to love others, in the sacrifice of the Mass, the Holy Eucharist. During this Lent the resource for Faith-Sharing Small Groups, ‘We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You’:

The Gift of the Holy Eucharist, gives us an opportunity to learn and be reminded once again of the wonder of how Jesus Christ accompanies us in our daily lives through the Eucharist, this Blessed Sacrament, his very self. You may already be a member of a group, meditating on how in the Mass we are there with Christ on Calvary, and how through the Eucharist Jesus is a constant companion, feeding us with his body, strengthening us in our challenges. At times of sadness or joy, anxiety or celebration, we can turn to the Blessed Sacrament present in the tabernacle, and in quiet moments as we strive to configure our lives to become true disciples, we are there with Jesus. He gives us courage as he shares our journey, and invites

us constantly to be ever his companion as he is ours. Lent brings new disciples to the culmination of their journey to become Catholics. Let us remind ourselves during this period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that the journey of discipleship never ends; we continue our journey ever striving to be true disciples of Jesus Christ; and it is in the Eucharist that we join our evangelising mission to his, and Jesus joins his mission to ours. The six part study resource ‘We Adore You, O Christ, and We Praise You’: The Gift of the Holy Eucharist has been produced with September’s National Eucharistic Congress in mind and can be used throughout the year http://rcdow.org.uk/faith/smallgroups/

There is a healing weekend for men and women who find themselves single again following separation, divorce or the death of a partner from 20th to 22nd April 2018 at the Domus Mariae Centre, Chigwell, Essex. For more details please telephone Freda 01322-838415 or Sandra 01293-783965 or email johnabrotherton@hotmail.co.uk.

Westminster Record | March 2018

Pope’s Prayer Intention by Fr David Stewart SJ In March we, the whole people of God in each hemisphere, continue with our Lenten observance then move into the most solemn week of the year, Holy Week. We are taken to Palm Sunday, when we first hear proclaimed the Passion of the Lord just moments after his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem then we begin the solemn Paschal Triduum on Maundy Thursday. Each of us hears an invitation to ponder these awesome events. We conclude these holy days on the evening of the last day of the month at the Easter Vigil when the new light of the Risen Christ will spread and shine gloriously among us, gathered, after nightfall to receive this light that we know we need and desire. Those desires, that we believe are answered most fully in the life and ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, are spiritual movements in our hearts, our souls, that we can discern, if we know how to. We can learn to distinguish between that which is creative and life-giving and that which is negative and destructive. Pope Francis asks us all to pray with him, this month, about Formation in Spiritual Discernment. His intention is ‘that the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels’. By ‘the Church’ we mean all of us, not just bishops, priests, hierarchies; this intention therefore is a prayer for all of us to appreciate what the Pope sees as an urgent need. We need both as individual Christians and as communities, be they parishes, groups or movements, to provide and seek formation in this art. This formation has to be provided. Underlying this intention is the understanding that perhaps we don’t all appreciate as much as we could, that everyone can practice spiritual discernment. But most of us need some guidance, some accompaniment, for discernment is a much deeper reality, an art more than a science, a growing attitude of the heart rather than a technique to be taught. Rather like young Samuel, in the Old Testament story, who had the wise elder Eli to listen to him and interpret his experience of God’s call for him,

we can be guided by an Eli figure and such a person is worth looking for. Not everyone can perform that role. It is a delicate matter; the person providing such accompaniment must be specially trained and qualified, and should never try to lead or coach the person seeking to discern. There is a world of difference between spiritual accompaniment and the currently-fashionable lifecoaching! A good spiritual guide, or director as we sometimes call her or him, will do very little directing, will say very little indeed but will listen attentively and reverently to our experience, our story. St Ignatius of Loyola discovered the possibility of spiritual discernment in his own mystical experiences so it is no surprise that this Jesuit Pope foregrounds it as his monthly intention. Ignatius’s great legacy, the Spiritual Exercises, contains much wise guidance about discernment but, again, it must not be read as a how-to or a selfhelp book. Discernment is rooted in prayer and cannot be otherwise. Such prayer will gradually open us to that ‘slow work of God’ (Teilhard de Chardin SJ) which we cannot appreciate unless we give time and space to prayer. Therefore the Ignatian Prayer of Daily Awareness (sometimes known as Examen), balancing our Daily Offering prayer each morning, is an absolute prerequisite for discernment, for it opens us up to the mystery of God’s presence and action in us and in our world. That is what we discern! Spiritual discernment is sometimes presented as if it were a way of making decisions, and sometimes as the actual decision-making process. What has become known as Ignatian discernment of spirits is a tool for making good decisions, indeed the best there is for a Christian. A person may well set out to make a decision, the best they can. They will consider, prayerfully, what they are good at and how those gifts and skills can be applied to the greater common good. They will also ponder their dreams and desires, sifting what is creative from what is destructive, for God speaks there too. They will try to make an offering of themselves and their talents. They will

slowly learn that a clearly worked-out decision, permanently valid, is unlikely and, probably unrealistic. But they will have developed a discerning heart which they will now link to the Heart of Christ itself, in all that they decide and do. What a wonderful outcome that would be, both for us personally and for our parishes and communities! Prayer Moment: Ask the Spirit of God to lead you to a place of interior stillness; try to find a few moments and an exterior place where you can be peaceful and prayerful, even if only for a few minutes. Let God’s Spirit lead you there. Become conscious of God looking at you, now. Rest in God’s gaze for a few moments. Try to bring to mind a decision that you will have to make at some point. Begin to consider, in this prayerful space, different possible courses of action open to you. Notice what attracts and enlivens you about possible strategies; also notice when a possible outcome makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable. Ask the Spirit of God for a pure heart and for the gift of discernment. Take careful note of what feelings arise in your heart as you do so; do not judge or analyse them, but ask the Good Spirit to show you, inwardly, the deeper meaning and call to you they present.

Three Challenges for the month ahead: Throughout the whole month, make time to meditate, on a personal and community level, on current events and resolve to discern in them the ways in which God speaks to our hearts. Thank God for what goes well, what bears fruit. Evaluate what needs to change. Ask for the grace of inner freedom, questioning without fear types of statements that can block a true process of discernment, such as: ‘it’s always been done this way’ or ‘it’s no longer worth it’. Ask this for yourself and for the group, community or parish. Organise, in the community or parish, a moment of prayer and sharing about the benefits of discernment and how it can bring forth ideas for future action. What concrete steps need to be taken and how could the process be kept going and growing?

Prayer for discernment: Father of all Goodness, send on each of us your Holy Spirit, a spirit of understanding and wisdom, which helps us to look at the present with gratitude and the future with hope. Help us to free ourselves from discouragement and from all kinds of resistance, opening us with courage and creativity to what the Church and the world need most. Grow in us the desire of discernment, so that our communities can be places of sharing and dialogue, witnesses of your charity and able to respond with generosity to what you ask us in each moment. Our Father... A helpful leaflet, Making Good Decisions: some Jesuit wisdom on decision-making is available free of charge (but a contribution of a postage-stamp would help us!). Just ask at prayernetwork@jesuit.org.uk or leave a message, with your postal address, on 020 8442 5232. We have still a few copies of our popular Living Prayer 2018 booklets, giving each month’s intentions and suggestions for prayer, with a tear-off page for each month for your missal or diary; £1.70 + P&P. Offers are for dispatch to UK & ROI addresses only.

Page 17

Westminster Record | March 2018

St Cyril of Jerusalem: 18 March

Page 18

Born in Jerusalem in 315 A.D, Cyril is known to have been raised in strict Christian piety. He was knowledgeable on scripture from a young age, reflecting the godly parenting he received. It also comes to show the Spirit of God working in his life early on for he was to grow up and represent the Church as Bishop of Jerusalem in the years to come. St Cyril was known for his love for pastoral ministry and his staunch and courageous involvement in the controversies endangering the Eastern Orthodox Church. Not much is known of his early life. In the year 342 he was ordained priest by Bishop Maximus, the then-Bishop of Jerusalem, who died in 348. Two years later, St Cyril succeeded Maximus as the Bishop of Jerusalem, ordained by Acacius, the influential Metropolitan of Caesarea in Palestine, an adherent of the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. St Cyril belongs to the great champions of faith in the fight against Arianism, which was at its peak at the time. Acacius hoped St Cyril would be a new ally. To his astonishment, Cyril stood strongly for his faith and the teachings of the Church, opposing Acacius, resulting in Cyril being exiled three times

in a span of 20 years, the longest of which lasted for 11 years. He is an inspiration for those who stand for what is right despite the trials that it may bring. He is renowned for his catechetical lectures. Twentythree of these famous catecheses have been preserved, which he delivered as Bishop in about 350. The first 18 are addressed to catechumens (those who are preparing for Baptism). The last three catecheses, focus on the Chrism, the Body and Blood of Christ and the Eucharistic Liturgy with an explanation of the ‘Our Father’. Such rich teachings did he gift the Catholic Church, which are put to use even today. He is was thus declared a Doctor of the Universal Church by Pope Leo XIII. Pope Benedict XVI in his General Audience on 27th June 2007 spoke of Cyril as ‘emblematic for the catechetical formation of Christians today.’ Our RCIA catechists and many who evangelise follow in his footsteps as they strive for the common goal of making Christ known to the world, far and wide. St Cyril defended his faith and showed great devotion to the Holy Eucharist, teaching people that bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ during the Eucharistic Prayer. His defense: if Christ could convert water into wine at the wedding in Cana, what could prevent a miracle of conversion of bread and wine into Jesus himself during the Holy Eucharist. It was said that Christ was so pleased with Cyril’s devotion to preaching the word and Christ himself, that the saint’s holiness was made manifest by signs from heaven, among them the apparition of a cross, brighter than the sun, which was seen in the sky before him taking office as Bishop. Cyril died a holy death in Jerusalem in 387 A.D. His feast day is celebrated on 18th March. He is venerated in the

In Memoriam: March 6

Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion. He is particularly honoured among Christians of the Holy Land. We can easily see in St Cyril’s life the unshaken faith that brought many to conversion. We could invoke him during times when our faith is tested and needs divine reassurance, and pray for his intercession for those who lack faith.

Summer Liturgy Programme at Ealing Abbey The following are offered as part of the summer Liturgy Programme at Ealing Abbey, validated by KU Leuven: 2nd-13th July: Liturgical Research Seminar: Rev Dr Daniel McCarthy OSB Liturgy: History & Context: Rev Dr Ephrem Carr OSB Theology of the Liturgy: Prof Joris Geldhof 16th-27th July: Pastoral Liturgy: Rev Dr James Leachman OSB Western Liturgical Books: Rev Dr Daniel McCarthy OSB Liturgies of the Early Church: Rev Dr Ephrem Carr OSB

7 8 9 13 14 15 17

18 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 30

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

Permanent Deacon Come and See: Men wanting to know more about the permanent diaconate are invited to come to a two-hour meeting from 10am to 12pm at St Edward the Confessor, Golders Green on 10th March, at Ealing Abbey on 14th April, or Our Lady and St Vincent, Potters Bar on 12th May. No booking needed. Wives welcome. For details contact Deacon Adrian Cullen 07961 594725 or Deacon Anthony Clark 07545 373548.

6th-17th August: Research Seminar: Christian Initiation Proficient Latin for Liturgists (and Canonists) To register, contact 020 8862 2156, email il@liturgyinstitute.org. All are welcome

Events & Calendar

REGULAR EVENTS Westminster Record | March 2018

Liturgical Calendar - March

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. Westminster Cathedral Young Adults meet socially after the 7pm Mass on Sundays and then at the nearby Windsor Castle pub. For further details please contact: westminsteryoungadults@gmail.com

MONDAYS

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

TUESDAYS

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesdays 6-9pm concluding with Benediction at Newman House, 111 Gower Street WC1E 6AR. Details 020 7387 6370. Prayers for London at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden Tuesdays 7.30pm. Organised by the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road NW10 9AX. Our Lady of Walsingham Prayer Group First Tuesday of the month 2.30pm to 4.15pm in the Chapel of St George and the English Martyrs in Westminster Cathedral. Details: antonia@walsingham.org.uk Vocations Prayer Group Second Tuesday of the month 8pm at 47C Gaisford Street NW5 2EB. Taizé at St James’, Spanish Place every first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Email: penny28hb@aol.com or just come along.

WEDNESDAYS

Corpus Christi Contemplative Prayer Group for Young Adults Wednesdays from 7pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane. Contact corpuschristipg@yahoogroups. co.uk Our Lady, Untier of Knots, Prayer Group of Intercession every third Wednesday at St Anselm & St Cecilia, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Mass at 6pm followed by Prayer Group. Rosary, Adoration, silent prayer and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Email Antonia antonia4161@gmail.com.

THURSDAYS

Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament first Thursday of the month, Mass 6:30pm at Corpus Christie, Maiden Lane, followed by Adoration and Benediction. www.sodality.co.uk

Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life (JCFL) provides a space for Christians of different traditions to join together in prayer and friendship. For further details please visit www.jcfl.org.uk.

NFG Prayer Group weekly at 8pm for praise & worship followed by a social. Held in St Mark’s Room, Christ the King Church. Contact Fr Christophe: christophe.brunet@chemin-neuf.org. Soul Food A Catholic charismatic prayer group for young adults Thursdays 7-9pm at St Charles Borromeo, Ogle Street. Details www.soulfoodgroup.org. St John Paul II Prayer Group Every second Thursday of the month 7-8pm, Mass, Adoration and prayer at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane

FRIDAYS

Divine Mercy Prayers and Mass Every first Friday 2.30-4.30pm at Our Lady, Mother of the Church, 2 Windsor Road. Westminster Cathedral Charismatic Prayer Group every Friday 7.30pm Prayer, Praise and Teaching. First Friday is a healing Mass. For details, call 020 8748 2632. Queen of Peace Prayer Group at Our Lady of Lourdes, Acton. After 7pm Mass, Exposition, a homily, Holy Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Friday prayer meeting 1:30pm to 3pm with Adoration in St Matthew's Hall, Northwood, Middx HA6 1DW except 1st Friday. Summer break- August. Contact Patricia 07918128248

SATURDAYS

Taizé at Notre Dame de France 5 Leicester Place at 7.15pm. Call 020 7437 9363. Love heals Body, Mind & Spirit One-day retreat on last Saturday of every month (except December) at Church of Our Lady of Assumption & St Gregory, Warwick Street. Contact Eileen 0208 542 2476. Carmelite Spirituality Group meet first Saturday at St Joseph’s Church, Bunhill Row, 11.30-15.30 for prayer and reflection. Enquiries: Sylvia Lucas 07889436165

1 Thu

ST DAVID, Bishop Patron of Wales

2 Fri

Lent feria; Friday abstinence

3 Sat

Lent feria

4 Sun

Lent feria, Third Week of Lent

6 Tue

Lent feria

7 Wed

Lent feria (Ss Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs)

8 Thu

Lent feria (St John of God, Religious)

9 Fri

Lent feria (St Frances of Rome, Religious) Friday abstinence

10 Sat

Lent feria

11 Sun

+ 4th SUNDAY OF LENT (Laetare Sunday)

12 Mon

Lent feria, Fourth Week of Lent

13 Tue

Lent feria

14 Wed

Lent feria

15 Thu

Lent feria

16 Fri

Lent feria; Friday abstinence

17 Sat

ST PATRICK, Bishop, Patron of Ireland

18 Sun

+ 5th SUNDAY OF LENT

19 Mon

ST JOSEPH, Patron of the diocese

20 Tue

Lent feria

21 Wed

Lent feria

22 Thu

Lent feria

23 Fri

Lent feria (St Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop); Friday abstinence

24 Sat

Lent feria

25 Sun

+ PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

26 Mon

MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK

27 Tue

TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

28 Wed

WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

29 Thu

MAUNDY THURSDAY

30 Fri

GOOD FRIDAY; fast and abstinence HOLY SATURDAY

Pope’s Prayer Intention for March: Formation in Spiritual Discernment That the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels.

Mass at Canary Wharf Held 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 anopportunity 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.

Fridays:

Low Mass 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP.

10th - 16th May 2018

Low Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1N 6RY. First Friday only.

Pilgrimage Retreat at the Mem Soares, Castelo De Vide Retreat House, Portugal.

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

Led by Eileen and David Brum and the UK Team. Celebrant Priest Fr Bill Keogh (Former Spiritual Director of Westminster Charismatic Prayer Group)

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.

To book a place contact 020 8542 2476 or email lovehealsbodymindspir it@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Every Sunday at 7pm. Church of the Immaculate Conception, 114 Mount Street Contact: yam@mountstreet.info or visit www.pathwaystogood.org

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Low Mass, 8am The Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP.

Love heals Body, Mind & Spirit Ministry - Seven Day Retreat to Portugal

Deaf Community Mass First Sunday of the month 4.30pm at Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue Young Adults Mass with an Ignatian twist

+ 3rd SUNDAY OF LENT

5 Mon

31 Sat

Other regular Masses

Low Mass 4pm, Side Chapel, Westminster Cathedral SW1P 1QW. Second Saturday only.

Page 19

Westminster Record | March 2018

A hearing of St John Passion

Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk

by Peter Stevens

On Wednesday 21st March, Westminster Cathedral Choir and Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Martin Baker, will perform the St John Passion of Johann Sebastian Bach. One of the seminal works of the entire choral repertoire, and a milestone in the history of music. By happy coincidence, Bach was born into a great musical family exactly 333 years earlier on 21st March 1685, in Eisenach, and lived his entire life in a small corner of present-day Germany. His work as Kantor (Director of Music) of St Thomas’s Church, Leipzig, involved the composition of liturgical cantatas for every Sunday of the Church’s year, and it was Page 20

during his time in Leipzig that the St John Passion was composed. It received its first performance on Good Friday 1724, a year after his appointment, although a lastminute change of venue meant that the work was first heard in St Nicholas’s Church; Bach made a number of requests including the repair of the church’s harpsichord and the printing of a new booklet, and the authorities agreed to rectify the problems in time for the premiere. However, whilst the work is heard around the world in concert, the St John Passion was originally intended for liturgical performance. The piece is divided into two parts, and in the original

context of the Lutheran Good Friday liturgy, a sermon of considerable length, perhaps several hours, would have been delivered in between them. Bach takes as his text chapters 18 and 19 of the Gospel of St John, using the translation from the Luther Bible of 1534. Interestingly, two moments in Bach’s setting are actually drawn from the Gospel according to St Matthew: the weeping of St Peter after his denial, and the tearing of the veil of the Temple. Interspersed between the Gospel narrative, sung by the tenor Evangelist, a bass Christus, and a few other minor characters, are arias sung by soloists. These arias are settings of poetry that meditate on the action just heard in the story. As with the St Matthew Passion, written three years later, the work is structured around chorales: hymns, whose melodies and words would have been familiar to Bach’s contemporaries, and which put the story in a more familiar context. The dramatic opening chorus, Herr unser Herrscher, provides a striking, vivid beginning to the Passion. After a brooding orchestral introduction, the choir makes its first appearance by declaiming three times the word ‘Herr’ (Lord), as a solemn hymn of praise unfolds in music of extraordinary gravity. Thereafter the chorus is used to play the part of the crowd, with sudden outbursts and more extended passages, notably the crowd calling for Christ to be crucified, where relentless rhythmic energy propels the music forward through intense, venomous harmony. The story is narrated by the Evangelist in sections of recitative, where the text is sung in near-speech rhythms, accompanied by solo cello and organ. Bach’s recitative is full of subtle harmonic colour, passionate lyricism and moments of gripping drama. We are very fortunate that the

tenor James Gilchrist, one of the most renowned Passion evangelists of our time, will be joining the Cathedral Choir for this performance. This will be the third time that he has joined us in the role of the evangelist: in 2013 he was evangelist for the St John Passion, and the following year he returned to sing the same role in the St Matthew Passion. This year, the part of Christus will be sung by the bass David Shipley, in his first performance at Westminster Cathedral. As well as being a notable soloist with many of the world’s great orchestras, he has made numerous appearances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The solo arias will be sung by members of the Cathedral Choir. Highlights include the passionate tenor aria, Ach, mein Sinn, depicting St

Peter’s grief after his denial; Eilt, ihr angefochtnen Seelen, a bass aria which reflects on Christ being handed over for crucifixion; Es ist vollbracht for alto, as Christ hangs on the Cross; and Zerfließe, mein Herze, a meditation after the death of Christ. As a mirror to the work’s opening, a substantial chorus forms the penultimate item in the St John Passion: Ruht wohl (Rest well) is an affecting lament as Christ is laid in the tomb. However, unlike Bach’s St Matthew Passion, the work does not end in darkness but with a note of optimism. The text of the final chorale looks forward to the vision of Christ’s glory, and to praising him forever. Peter Stevens is Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral.