Westminster Record - March 2019 by RCWestminster

Westminster Record

March 2019 | 20p

Consecrated Life

Art & Faith

Throne of Mercy

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poverty, and homelessness, in a society as wealthy as ours. Much of this poverty is hidden. But it is real and present around us.’ In response, he said: ‘We need to increase our effort and do more not just to relieve this poverty but also to help people to become better able to eat well, even with less to spend. This is my hope, and I know that we have the will and determination to make a difference.’ The new initiative to be launched across the diocese has three aims: • Direct relief of food poverty by providing sufficient food to address the issue of hunger. Building on existing initiatives, it will provide additional locations for providing food to those in need. • Enabling food security and resilience through additional skills and resources, such as

signposting people towards services and training available, to help them move beyond foodbanks into independence. • Education and advocacy to generate greater awareness of the systemic causes of food poverty and how individuals and parishes can become involved in alleviating some of these causes at the local level and campaigning for change nationally. The initiative will be rolled out through schools and parishes, beginning around the seven existing Caritas hubs, and gradually expanded throughout the diocese. In addition to the many partner charities that work with our parishes, schools and Caritas, the Cardinal also welcomed The Felix Project who will look to get involved in the effort through the delivery of surplus

Just before the start of Lent, Cardinal Vincent launched his annual Lenten Appeal, which this year focuses on the problem of food poverty and food insecurity. At the same time, he announced the launch of a new food relief initiative across the Diocese of Westminster. The announcements were made at St Teresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church in Borehamwood, which hosts the twice-weekly Borehamwood Foodbank, at a packed gathering that included trustees and volunteers of the Foodbank, guests from local Christian Churches and Synagogues, Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Victor Eni, and staff and pupils from St Columba’s, Nicholas Breakspear and St Teresa’s Primary School. The initiative to tackle food poverty, launched by Caritas Westminster, the social action agency of the diocese, will look to expand the work already being done in a number of parishes and schools to alleviate food poverty and food insecurity. Food poverty and food insecurity are a reality for many across the Diocese. Teachers in diocesan schools are aware of children who attend each day with little or no food, many of whom are ashamed to enrol for free school meals. Twenty-four parishes in the Diocese already run foodbanks with partners in their local communities; another 30 parishes support direct food aid; and 56 parishes help other foodbanks in their areas. Commenting on the problem, the Cardinal said: ‘It is saddening and shocking that there are such levels of food

‘For I was hungry’

fresh food to supplement local donations of non-perishable items. Launching the initiative at Borehamwood was especially fitting as the foodbank has been developing and expanding over its six-year history. Recognising a local need, the Elstree and Borehamwood Council of Churches decided in 2012 to address food poverty by establishing a foodbank. Opened in 2013, with the involvement of the Trussell Trust, the Borehamwood Foodbank, which is based at St Teresa’s, has provided over 14,000 emergency food parcels through its twiceweekly sessions. The foodbank

has since expanded its services to include payments to alleviate fuel poverty, lunch clubs during school holidays, and, most recently, a dedicated individual from the Citizens Advice Bureau who provides advice and assistance to foodbank users. Fr Dominic McKenna, who spearheaded the launch of the Borehamwood Foodbank, praises the many volunteers and donors who represent a wide cross-section of the community, including local Catholics from the parish, as well as many from other Christian Churches, the two Synagogues, primary and secondary schools, and other local charities. He credits the effectiveness of the foodbank to their commitment and dedication. To find out more about the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal or to donate, please visit www.CardinalsLentenAppeal. org.uk

Editorial A special reason to rejoice

The spirit of two great Victorian Cardinals informs this edition. Our focus on the hardship faced by so many in our city recalls the great tradition in our diocese of campaigning for the poor. Cardinal Vincent follows his predecessor, Cardinal Henry Edward Manning, who was a champion of the disadvantaged and oppressed. It is notable that the diocese is still determined to maintain this struggle; it is regrettable that it should still have to. The other great Cardinal, Manning’s contemporary, is Cardinal John Henry Newman,

for whose canonisation we are now preparing. Speaking personally, I have mixed feelings about the great figure, since in September 2010 I stood in a rain-soaked field at Cofton Park for his beatification, and promptly caught pneumonia. That hardly disqualifies Cardinal Newman for the recognition of his heroic virtues, and we rejoice now in this singular honour for the Catholic Church in this land. It is sometimes said that as Cardinal Manning (with his strong views in favour of Papal authority) was the Father of Vatican I, Cardinal Newman was the Father of Vatican II. Certainly, Newman’s intellectual vision was one of the influences on the Council; his views on the role of the laity, the development of doctrine, and the role of religion in society (something especially appreciated by Pope Benedict) have helped shape the modern Church. It is also alleged that Cardinal Newman stayed in his study, while Cardinal Manning got out to minister to slumdwellers. But Cardinal Newman spent much time among the poor of

Birmingham, visiting prisons and comforting the bereaved. His theology was not something apart from his pastoral life; rather, it was at the heart of his ministry, it underpinned his love for the poor. And we have a special cause to rejoice. Birmingham may claim the Cardinal as its special son; but we in Westminster remember that it was here that he was born! WESTMINSTER RECORD: We are moving to a new pattern of production, more in line with the needs of the diocese. There will be five editions of the Westminster Record each year, each at key moments in the liturgical year: Lent (Feb/March), Eastertide (Apr/May/June), Sacraments (July/August), ordinations/Lourdes pilgrimage (Sept/Oct), Advent/Christmas/New Year (Dec/Jan). In this way, we aim to keep you up to date on the activities of the diocese, and help to strengthen a sense of the family of our diocese.

Westminster Record | March 2019

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Cardinal welcomes news that Cardinal Newman is to be declared a saint On Tuesday 12th February 2019 Pope Francis cleared the way for the canonisation of the much-loved Blessed John Henry Newman. The Pope received Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorised him to promulgate the decree confirming a miracle through the intercession of Blessed John Henry Newman. The miracle occurred in May 2013 in the USA. An expectant mother was suffering from unstoppable internal bleeding which threatened the life of her child in the womb. She had long been a devotee of Blessed John Henry, and in prayer she directly and explicitly invoked Newman’s intercession to stop the bleeding. The miraculous healing was immediate, complete, and permanent. Page 2

Cardinal Vincent has warmly welcomed the news that Cardinal Newman will be declared a saint: ‘This is wonderful news which will be greeted with thanks to God by people around the world.

‘Newman’s exploration of faith, depth of personal courage, intellectual clarity and cultural sensitivity make him a deeply admired follower of Christ. He brings together so many of the best of Catholic traditions shared well beyond the Catholic Church. His canonisation will be welcomed especially in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion. ‘For me the truly remarkable nature of this moment is that this is an English parish priest being declared a saint. During his life the people of Birmingham recognised his holiness and lined the streets at the time of his burial. I hope every parish priest in England will hold his head high today knowing Cardinal Newman is declared a saint.’ Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Westminster Record | March 2019

Cardinal Reflects on the Vatican Summit on the Protection of Minors Cardinal Vincent took part in the meeting on the protection of minors in the Vatican from 21st to 24th February. Here he shares his reflection on this meeting: It was an important meeting, attended by every president of a bishops’ conference from around the world, together with Religious leaders. There was something like 140-plus countries represented, considering this drama, this terrible tragedy of child abuse which takes place in every culture, in every country, and, shamefully, within the Church. The meeting had three main themes: Laying out our responsibilities; showing how we should be accountable; and explaining what transparency means. These are important themes. They were well considered. I think everyone participating in the meeting came around an agreed understanding of what is to be done, of how it is to be clear what we are doing, a need for a universal approach to this universal problem; and a clear understanding that there’s no place in public ministry for anyone who has been found guilty of the abuse of children. There was something else that happened in the meeting: a sea change, a change of perspective. Probably the most important things we heard during these three days were the eight testimonies given by those who had been abused in childhood. There were three women and five men from every continent of the world. That voice, to me, struck home very deeply. They talked about the life-long damage done by childhood abuse. They talked of the powerlessness they experienced in front of the strength of the abuser. That powerlessness, that helplessness was not just physical; it was psychological and emotional. It was that voice that struck home most deeply. It meant, in my mind and not just in my mind, that everything we considered, all the aspects of the procedures and the structures of the Church have to be looked at afresh, from the point of view of those who have suffered childhood abuse and are slowly willing to talk about its effects. Whether we talked about how bishops work together, collegiality; whether we talked about synodality, our cooperation with experts and

other lay people; whether we talked about administration in the Church and how it needs to be clear and traceable: all of those things I was looking at from the point of view of the survivor of childhood sexual abuse. That’s a sobering perspective to take, but it’s an important one because it puts what we’re accustomed to into a new light. In a way, this is another example of a principle of Pope Francis, that when you look at an issue from the periphery, as he likes to say, towards the centre, then you see its truths in greater clarity. This can be the case in economic activity, such as employment and work. You see its essential characteristics more clearly when you look at it from the point of view of those that have none. Here too, it was the voice of those on the margins because of childhood sexual abuse that were shaping and forming our understanding of things that are central in the life of the Church. That this is shared, that this is a step forward is a measure of the success of this meeting. At the end of the meeting, three things were announced: (i) there will be a new law put in place for the protection of children and vulnerable adults in Vatican City; (ii) the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will issue a new handbook with clear guidelines to be followed by every bishop in the Catholic Church; and (iii) the Holy See is going to create a taskforce, or taskforces, to move around the world and help bishops’ conferences and dioceses to get their act together and to respond to these tragedies, these monstrosities, as Pope Francis called them, in a correct, vigorous and uniform way. I thank you for the prayers that you offered for me for this meeting. It was not easy; it was demanding, but I’ve come home assured and deeply convinced that a real new step has been taken in this battle against the abuse of children which, shamefully, has found a home within the Catholic Church. This is a transcript of a video reflection. To view the video visit http://bit.ly/2T3Lqf8

Upholding the dignity of victims of human trafficking In the keynote address at the Santa Marta Latin American conference in Buenos Aires on 9th February, Cardinal Vincent emphasised the centrality of upholding human dignity in the fight against human trafficking. 'Our commitment to the struggle against human trafficking, as we see developing here, lies in our commitment to those who need protection from becoming a victim,' he said, adding, 'we have to maintain at the centre of our motivation the person, the vulnerable person who is the target of the exploiter. The focus must be on the human lives and how we put an end to the suffering and marginalisation endured by 40 million people across our world.' This is key to the conviction that the dignity of every human person must be upheld: 'Human rights, then, are not bestowed by Cardinal Vincent with General Commissioner of Argentine Police Nestor Roncaglia and mothers of victims of human trafficking. states, nor by legislation, nor by family of origin, nor by wealth, status or power. Those rights The following day at Mass at victims of trafficking have been arise from that dignity and that the Shrine of Our Lady of Luján, criminalised, despite promises dignity, in the eyes of faith, the Cardinal preaching the to support victims of this comes from God alone.' homily said: 'I ask all of you to horrendous crime which sees so Victims of human trafficking, support us with your prayers, many kept in slavery. he said, 'fall into the nothingness with a growing awareness of the 'As the Santa Marta Group of dehumanising slavery, losing realty of human trafficking and we will pursue this issue and every shred of autonomy, every slavery in your midst and with a continue to push for the victim prospect or hope, enduring daily readiness to help in this work.' to be at the centre of all we do. I cruelty and the most demeaning Noting that Our Lady of have been inspired by the of work. Yet the breath of God Luján 'is known by countless testimony of those working with moves in them still and they people throughout this country, victims in Argentina, and the long for the light. It is our and this continent, as the leadership of Commissioner determination to work for that to "Mother of the humble and General Roncaglia head of the be restored to them. And to that poor, Mother of those who Argentinian federal police end we must work together. suffer and simply hope",' we whose commitment to fighting 'This vision, of the true nature 'commend to her those who are human trafficking shows the of human dignity and of the way suffering as victims of human way forward. in which we are to face the trafficking, those who have lost 'This is not about public reality of this evil in our midst, all hope and who are locked image, but about effective action has to be translated into practical into the darkness of their and while there is much work to steps.' captivity.' do, this conference inspires us He outlined several steps At the end of the Conference, on the way forward. This is an beginning with 'the person the Cardinal called upon international crime, one of the always remains at the centre of governments around the world most lucrative crimes in the our action and awareness'. to act on their commitment to world, and it requires an From this, the other steps assist victims of human international response as well as follow: prevention and the trafficking: 'Most countries in the local care of the victim.' pursuit of perpetrators, rescue the world have signed this The Latin American regional and rehabilitation of victims, protocol and ratified the conference of the Santa Marta educating communities to open measures to assist victims. Group took place from 9th to 11th their eyes to the 'invisible However, they have turned February in Buenos Aires. reality of huma trafficking and their backs on this responsibility Cardinal Vincent is the modern slavery in their midst', and are not acting upon this president of the Santa Marta and to work together to find agreed commitment. In the UK Group. He led a delegation from resources needed to fight this a hostile environment towards the UK to Buenos Aires for this evil. migrants has been created and latest conference.

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Westminster Record | March 2019

Sowing the SEIDs of change

New Patron for Passage The Passage, the homeless charity in Westminster which has helped over 130,000 people in crisis in almost 40 years, has announced the Duke of Cambridge as its newest patron. Since he and his brother Prince Harry were first taken to see the charity by their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1993, Prince William has visited The Passage on a number of occasions over the years. Welcoming the news, Cardinal Vincent said: ‘I know the Duke is deeply committed

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to working with those most in need, such as the thousands of people The Passage has helped off the streets. It is crucial that everyone in our society, especially the poorest, are treated with respect, dignity and kindness, and are given the opportunities to fulfil their potential in this life; this announcement is a tangible symbol of that commitment.’ On the day the announcement was made, the Duke joined volunteers and staff in preparing and serving lunch to its guests.

Cardinal Vincent has officially launched SEIDs (social, enterprise, idea, design), the latest initiative from Caritas Westminster which provides opportunity and dignified employment for those who cannot access them in conventional ways. Speaking at the SEIDs hub in Wembley, the Cardinal said that the heart of business should always be about people, not wealth. The Cardinal said how ‘thrilled’ he was to be at the launch of such an ambitious initiative, one that has the potential to change the way we think about work and employment. This building and wider strategy should be ‘part of the presence of the Catholic Church’. He echoed the words of Pope Francis, saying that things can be seen most clearly when we look at them from the periphery, somewhere far from the centre; it gives us a ‘refreshing vision’. Addressing the audience of supporters, donors, faith groups and community leaders Cardinal Vincent explained how often the relationship between business and society can become exploitative, and focused on wealth. The launch of SEIDs offers a different perspective, one from the periphery mentioned by Pope Francis, that reveals some truths about work: it should be decent and dignified, focused on people and in the service of the common good. The leader of Brent Council, Councillor Muhammed Butt also gave a short speech, expressing his delight that SEIDs has been made a reality,

and is ready to begin making a difference in the Borough of Brent. Both Cardinal Vincent and Councillor Butt praised the collaboration of the local authority and the diocese and indicated a desire that this should become an example of communities working together for the benefit of all. Also at the launch was Deputy Mayor of Brent, Councillor Ernest Ezeajughi, who, as well as backing the project in his civic role, has supported it as a parishioner of the local Catholic church. SEIDs consists of two separate initiatives. The first is the hub in Wembley which offers facilities and support for individuals who wish to develop their own ideas into a social enterprise, a business which trades for a social purpose. The second is the creation of social enterprises run by SEIDs to employ and train people who are at a disadvantage in the traditional job market. Decent and dignified work means a sustainable living wage in London, a supportive work environment, encouragement to make the most of work opportunities, and a clear career progression from apprentice through to manager. Started in 2017, SEIDs Property Services is the first of these social enterprises, offering painting and decorating, plumbing, and general repair and maintenance services. This business was chosen in particular because it meets an existing need. Caritas Westminster encourages major social

transformation through making small changes. Customers choosing to use SEIDs property services instead of another company are making a small decision with a big effect, by supporting the move to dignified and decent work for those normally locked out of a sustainable employment opportunity. In time SEIDs will be setting up additional businesses in a variety of different trades. The aim of the hubs, likewise, is not to make a profit but to encourage and grow social enterprise businesses in communities in London and Hertfordshire. The hub building was completely refurbished to meet the needs of the new initiative. It is fully accessible, with coworking areas, private meeting rooms and training rooms. It has been designed not only to be functional, but to encourage creativity and co-working. The service invites anyone with a credible social enterprise idea to get involved. The name SEIDs, in addition to being a useful acronym which describes what the initiative does (social enterprise, ideas, innovation, design, development), evokes the idea of organic growth. The Catholic faith is rich in metaphors of growing. SEIDs is an environment created for growth and development, where people are invited to plant their own seeds. This environment is rooted in Catholic social teaching which is the foundation of the concept of the dignity of work. For more information, visit www.seids.org.uk

Westminster Record | March 2019

Lourdes: Celebrating God’s love for the sick

A beacon of light in the dark On 2nd February, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Cardinal Vincent invited religious and consecrated men and woman to Mass at Westminster Cathedral to celebrate World Day of Consecrated Life, to pray for and honour the work that is done in service of the Church by those who have consecrated their life to God. As is customary on this feast, Mass began with a procession of candles as both celebrants and congregation held aloft lit candles. In his homily the Cardinal reflected on the symbolism of the lighthouse, with the light

at the centre representing Christ at the centre of his Church: ‘It is through Christ that we can come to see the face of the Father; it is in Christ that we seek to live; it is with Christ that we walk, each day of our lives.’ Like the mirrors that reflect the light, the purpose of the Church is to reflect the light of Christ: ‘When our faces are turned towards him, then we may just reflect his light more fully, despite the faults that mark us and distort his light,’ explained the Cardinal. Noting that the placement of a lighthouse is critical, the Cardinal said that, likewise, in

the Church, ‘it is so often Religious sisters and brothers who have the gift of knowing where that is. You often know the rocky places on which you must make your presence visible.’ He thanked the men and women Religious for all that they do, noting in particular, their role in fighting human trafficking in the UK. He invited them renew their commitment to consecrated life and in particular to prayer: ‘let us commit ourselves afresh to conform our lives, through prayer, to the “compassionate and trustworthy” Christ’.

On Saturday 9th February, the annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes was celebrated by Bishop Paul McAleenan in Westminster Cathedral. Concelebrating were Cathedral Administrator Canon Christopher Tuckwell and the Cardinal’s Adviser for Healthcare Chaplains Fr Peter Michael Scott, as well as a number of priests from around the diocese. Taking place just ahead of the World Day of the Sick, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was administered by the celebrants during Mass. To begin the Mass, the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was processed in with the Oil of the Sick, led by young pilgrimage volunteers carrying the pilgrimage banners. The procession was accompanied by the lighting of candles and singing of Ave Maria by the congregation, which was made up of the disabled, the sick and those who care for them as well as people who feel a special connection to Our Lady of Lourdes. In his homily, Bishop Paul said it was a privilege to celebrate this Mass. He went on to remind the congregation that God does not step away from our wounds and our suffering, but speaks to them and seeks to transform them, just as he transformed the Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

water into wine at the wedding in Cana. ‘Often we do not see God’s hand in our life, because we are too full of everything else that is going on in the world’ he continued ‘we have to be like Mary, full of grace, not full of ourselves’; only then can God ‘speak to our burdens’. Addressing those in the congregation who came for healing, he said ‘Everyone has a dignity. We are here because of your dignity. We are here to remind ourselves of the dignity of the sick and the love God has for you.’ 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’. At the end of Mass, Bishop Paul invited the lay chaplains present to come forward for a special blessing, and to thank them for bringing the presence of God to people often when they need it most. The annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place this year from 20th to 26th July 2019. For information about joining the pilgrimage or assisting those less able, please email lourdes@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7798 9173. Page 5

Westminster Record | March 2019

Bishop Nicholas blesses St Anne’s Infant playground by Victoria Laxton Deputy Head, St Anne’s Catholic Primary School St Anne’s Catholic Primary School welcomed Bishop Nicholas Hudson on Tuesday 5th February. Many of the pupils remembered the Bishop from his previous visit a few years ago, when he blessed the Early Years playground, so they were very eager to celebrate the blessing of the Infant playground with him. Headteacher Sheila Mouna said: ‘We look forward to Bishop Nicholas’ visits as he always comes in with a great

story to share with the children. This time it was about a playground in Nazareth and he reminded all the children that when they are in the new playground, they should care for one another just like Jesus did.’ After the blessing Bishop Nicholas joined some of the parents for refreshments and spoke to some about starting a mothers’ prayer group which we hope to get under way very soon.

Beauty for Ashes: Stained glass art at St Joseph’s

On Wednesday 23rd January, St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Willesden enjoyed a very special Mass in which Bishop John Sherrington officially reopened the school following the devastating fire of September 2015. During Mass, Bishop John also blessed the new altar and the new stained glass window that had been commissioned through the generous fundraising of parents. The stained glass window depicts the presentation of the Infant Jesus at the temple, which was the focus of the Gospel passage read by Fr Stephen Willis. Bishop John spoke about the scene in the window Page 6

representing two important things. The first is that it reminds Christians about their baptism when their parents presented them to the Church. The second is, light comes streaming through the window and the school goes out carrying the light of their faith into the wider community. Special guests in attendance included Ms Tolley, Brent Strategic Director for Children and Young People and the Mayor of Brent Councillor Arshad Mahmood. The school also welcomed Daniel Coyle, Headteacher of Newman Catholic College, who provided learning areas at his school for six weeks so that the education of St Joseph’s children could

continue uninterrupted while temporary classrooms were being installed on their own site. St Joseph’s were also delighted to welcome representatives from the Catholic Children’s Society who provided a significant financial donation to the school just days after the fire. A special recognition was given to the governing board who were at this celebration. The Governors tirelessly support the school community by volunteering their time and wide range of skills to support the children and staff. St Joseph’s now looks forward to a bright and hopeful future for the whole school community.

Our Lady, Hitchin welcomes local MP Bim Afolami

On Friday 15th February, local MP Bim Afolami visited Our Lady Primary School in Hitchin. Mr Afolami met with Headteacher Ciara Nicholson, Assistant Headteachers Bryoney Davis and Sarah Snowball, and Vice Chairs of the governing body, Michelle Murray and Helen Bailey. During his visit, Mr Afolami visited each class and stayed to ask the pupils

questions about their learning and the topics they were studying. He was particularly impressed by the grammar work and writing from pupils in Year 6. He then met with staff and governors to discuss some of the wider issues facing education. Mr Afolami felt he had a very positive visit to the school and said that he was encouraged by what he saw and commented on the excellent behaviour of the pupils.

Westminster Record | March 2019

St Gregory’s Pupil Wins Regional Final at Brent pupils debate impact of Brexit on BBC news the Jack Petchey Speak Out! Challenge St Gregory’s to congratulate the school and Princilla on her achievement. ‘Each year over 19,000 students across London and Essex take part in Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! the world’s largest public speaking competition. There are 37 different Regional Champions and these speakers are among the top 0.2% of young speakers in London and Essex. We are always blown away by the talent and ability of these young speakers. On behalf of Speakers Trust and the Jack Petchey Foundation we congratulate you on this outstanding achievement.’

Mayor of Brent Cllr Arshad Mahmood presenting Princilla with her prize.

‘A pleasure to hear so many young people’ So said Solicitor Penny Carey, Dean of Law School, University of Hertfordshire, and Chair of judges for the fourth Province 14 Catenian Association Sixth Form Public Speaking Challenge. ‘The standard this year was even higher and with more schools taking part the Province 14 competition is clearly going from strength to strength.’ The competition was won by Daniel Moloney, of Finchley Catholic High School, London, who said, ‘I was delighted to win the competition, if a little shocked. I was especially happy as the standard of speakers was so high, and it was the first time my school had won. I picked the topic of Foreign Aid as it is something that is frequently criticised by people saying it would be better spent domestically, and I wanted to

highlight the success it has had in the past and how this can be applied to current problems.’ The school said they were delighted that Daniel had been able to showcase his considerable public speaking talents and that he chose such a relevant and current topic to speak about. ‘He continues to be an extremely positive role model for our community. His success is very well deserved, and we remain very proud of him.’ Abigial Kimpalu, of St Thomas More Catholic School, Wood Green whose subject was ‘Wake up, Work Hard’ was clearly surprised to be runnerup, judging by the look of astonishment and delight on her face when the results were announced. Catenian Provincial President of Province 14, John Mulligan, praised the students for making

this year’s event so competitive, the teachers of all the schools involved for coaching and encouraging their students to take part, the judges who had the extremely difficult job of selecting the winners and the University of Hertfordshire for hosting the event for the second year in succession. The winner will represent Province 14 in the National Final to be held in Manchester in September. Fr Mark Walker, Westminster Diocesan Youth Chaplain, and Catenian Denis Murphy, Director of Province 14, completed the judging panel. More information about the Sixth Form Catenian Public Speaking Competition can be found by visiting; www.thecatenians.com or by emailing Province 14 organiser Dennis Cooper, at dennis29@virginmedia.com

Pupils at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Willesden made the BBC evening news following their first Parliamentary style debate, where they discussed the impact of the EU Settlement Scheme on students, with local Labour MP Dawn Butler present on 18th January. Headmistress Louise McGowan said, ‘It is important to teach children about democracy in a fun and engaging way. Too many people do not understand the workings of our country’s political system; so using the framework of a mock Parliament has allowed our students to experience a parliamentary debate.’

The governing party ‘Katherine’ and school Prime Minister have started work delivering a manifesto that includes helping to find a new catering company to supply food to their canteen and providing sanitary products to all pupils free of charge. Joana Reis, Head of Katherine House and Prime Minister said, ‘I strongly believe this will be a great year for Convent history because students now have a real voice and our school wants to hear what we have to say.’ MP Dawn Butler who supported and heard the debate offered to host the girls’ next debate in Parliament.

Cardinal’s 2019 Lenten Appeal “For I was hungry and you gave me food.” Matthew 25:35 Across our Diocese, our brothers and sisters are facing food poverty. Please help: • Provide food through foodbanks, schools and parishes. • Support people who are struggling to get back on their feet. • Volunteer in projects in your own parish and beyond.

This Lent, please find out about and volunteering give generously www.CardinalsLentenAppeal.org.uk Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal

Registered Charity Number 233699 Photo: © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Princilla Agyemang, age 14, from St Gregory’s Catholic Science College in Kenton, Harrow, beat 740 pupils across Brent to win the regional final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out! Challenge on January 23rd. Princilla impressed a large and distinguished line-up of judges with her speech which tackled discrimination around the world. Asked about her success, Princilla said, ‘I’m changing the world one speech at a time.’ Frankie Rushton, Programme Director for the Speak Out! Challenge wrote to

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Westminster Record | March 2019

Holy Family Pilgrimage to Egypt

Archbishop Angaelos led an ecumenical group on pilgrimage to Egypt from 27th January to 1st February 2019. The group consisted of representatives from the Church of England, the Catholic Church (among them Fr Dominic Robinson from Farm Street), the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Church of Scotland, Churches together in Britain and Ireland and a number of Christian organisations. We visited many sites of historical and religious significance, including the Church of the Virgin Mary (elMuallaqa, the Hanging Church), which is possibly the oldest Coptic church and built on the gate towers of the old Roman walls of Cairo; the Convent of St George and the shrines of St George and St Philomena; and St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church at Maadi, where the Holy Family is believed to have rested for up to a month before embarking by papyrus boat to upper Egypt. In Alexandria, we visited St Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cathedral where we venerated the relics of St Mark. We then joined in prayer at the shrine of the Martyrs murdered by a suicide bomber on Palm Sunday 2017. During the trip we had a useful discussion on the persecution of Christian Churches and the seeming willingness of many governments to tolerate antiChristian prejudice, which would not be tolerated were it directed towards other religions. We noted the reluctance of governments and media to respond to persecution of Page 8

indigenous Christian groups and we considered how a term equivalent to anti-Semitism or Islamaphobia could be proposed to reflect anti-Christian bias. More work would be done on this. At the Health and Hope Oasis centre for children with cancer, we saw both Christians and Muslims working together to support children with cancer and their families through respite breaks. In Cairo we had an audience with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at which he spoke of the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church and the challenges facing it. Following the audience, we visited the Grand Cathedral of St Mark and the Church of St Peter and St Paul where we prayed at the place where 28 women and girls and one man were killed by a suicide bomber in December 2016. It was a very moving week and we were all struck by the resilience and determination of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. Coptic Christians make up about 15% of the population. Some of us may have expected to find a church in decline, but the resilient faith of the Church coping with the challenges and tragedies of martyrdom and persecution was a real inspiration to us all. Rather than going underground or seeking retribution or revenge it was clear that they are responding in faith and with love to those who seek to persecute them, taking quite literally the words of Jesus to love those who persecute the Church. The graciousness of the

Coptic Christians and the daily living out of their faith was an inspiration to all of us; this needs to be better known by Christians outside Egypt. Christians in other countries need to support and encourage our Coptic Christian brothers and sisters through prayer and other means. Archbishop Angaelos noted the importance of the twin pillars of monasticism and martyrdom, which were in evidence everywhere we went. While monastic life seems in many places in the West to be in sharp decline, we were all deeply impressed that at St Bishoy there are 200 monks with an average age of mid-40s. That the Church is having difficulty coping with the number of people seeking the monastic life and having to plan further provision is a wonderful example. The Coptic Orthodox Church is alive and going through renewal as it rises out of persecution. Visiting the churches and cathedrals where ordinary Christian worshippers lost their lives at the hands of a small minority of extremists gave evidence of the sheer Godgiven courage of Christians who are determined to worship in an open multi-faith society. Christianity goes right back to St Mark, who came to Alexandria in AD58 and who was himself dragged through the streets to witness to his faith through martyrdom. Coptic Orthodox Christians show a deep faith and hope in the face of adversity. They are truly a light shining out in the darkness. Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

Westminster Record | March 2019

Finding God in moments of twilight

by Deacon Roger Carr-Jones, Marriage and Family Life Coordinator

It is always something of a relief when the dark nights begin to fade into memory, and we get to enjoy that great speciality of England: the joy of twilight. Twilight is that in-between time when our perception of the things around us is different. It can be great fun sitting outside enjoying the gradual move from light into darkness, watching the light fade, the shadows lengthen and to glimpse a world not visible in the day or night.

Growing together as a married couple or a family, we enter a new landscape where the colours are different, and we experience times of twilight as we learn a new language of love and a new way of being. In this new landscape, which often has hues of grey, we need to remember that God is always with us: when we allow ourselves, God can transform the hurts and share the joys. As I get older, I understand more fully that greyness is an important

feature in cultivating a healthy marriage and a happy family life. That is often because I have learnt that my perception of the truth of a situation is not always right! A Jesuit friend once advised me that if we want to transform the everyday happenings of life, especially within marriage and the family, it would be best to start learning the phrase ‘it would have been better if’. It is not a case of ignoring something that has happened, but seeking better ways to communicate what we think, feel or experience. We might think that these are simple words and yet, how often do we cling onto negative words and experiences that leave our relationships in a cul-de-sac? We all need God’s grace to flood into and change the dynamics of our marriage and family life. We often forget that how we behave is learnt behaviour, which means we have the freedom to walk a different path and to see our own impulses and reactions in a new light. The joy of Christian marriage and family life is that we can allow ourselves to be liberated by the action of the Holy Spirit to guide us through the twilight. Sometimes we need the courage to ‘just ask’ for that extra insight to explore our relationship to achieve clarity and healing. If so, there are lots of Catholic organisations offering different levels of support and encouragement: SmartLoving, with their excellent Breakthrough workshops; or Retrouvaille, with their indepth weekends and follow-up sessions for couples needing healing; or Marriage Care, who offer a professional relationship counselling service if you prefer a more individual approach and many other providers. So, why not take a peek at our resources page on https://rcdow.org.uk/dioc ese/marriage-and-familylife/resources/.

Proclaim in Lent by Deacon Adrian Cullen, Evangelisation Coordinator Through Lent, there are many opportunities to help others to encounter Jesus Christ as he leads us to the mercy of our heavenly Father, which is at the heart of Evangelisation. Ash Wednesday of course, that sign of our humility, when the ashes on our forehead remind us not only that without God we are nothing but dust, but that it is through his Son, Jesus Christ, we gain eternal life with God, is something we can share with the curious as we walk out onto the street. The Stations of the Cross, that local pilgrimage which takes us to that eternal pilgrimage of Jesus as he staggers towards Calvary, is an opportunity to invite others to join us on that journey, inviting them, and especially our children, to place our sorrows with the sorrows of Mary as with her we accompany Christ in his Passion. Such a moving encounter that reveals Christ’s love for us, which in turn brings a resounding sense of hope needed by so many in our world, as we journey beyond that final station at the tomb, to the Resurrection and Easter. Through Lent we take more time to pray, to encounter Christ anew. We make more of an effort to fast, joining Christ in an ever so modest way, in his trials. We offer more of what we have to the poor, sharing God’s

goodness that he offers to us, following the example of Christ. Maybe much of what happens is hidden from others, but as we deepen our encounters with Christ through Lent, we can be sure that, whether we are aware or not, others will see, and through us will encounter Jesus. Some of our Lenten activities can be very visible, and deliberately so. The six-week Faith Sharing discussion programme ‘Rejoice and Be Glad’, produced by the Agency for Evangelisation, draws us into the mission of Jesus, which through our baptism, we are called to carry on so that others can encounter Jesus and, as Pope Francis tells us, be filled with the joy of the Gospel to be ‘set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness’. In Holy Week, many parishes will join other churches, in a spirit of ecumenism, to hold a procession of the Cross along the high street. This witness to the Crucifixion is a sign of Christian unity as well as an opportunity for evangelisation, perhaps encouraging some in a fresh interest in their faith, and for others, an invitation to them to find out more. During Lent, through a range of simple actions, we reach out with a sign of hope, leading others through his passion to a renewed and a new encounter with the Risen Lord.

Beginning Experience Weekend There is a healing weekend for men and women who find themselves single again following separation, divorce or the death of a partner from 12th to 14th April at the Domus Mariae Centre, Chigwell, Essex. For more details please contact Freda 01322-838415 or Sandra 01293-783965 or email johnabrotherton@hotmail.co.uk.

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Westminster Record | March 2019

A tiny recognition for astronomical generosity by Elke Springett when they retired, Maureen in 1998 and Liz in 2003. Thanks to the comprehensive knowledge of the parish acquired over the years, they have been a tremendous help to several Parish Priests, especially while these were still new or to those covering over the summer. Maureen reminisces: ‘We’ve seen a lot of them come and go. You look upon them really like family and try to help in any way you can.’ That readiness to help is clearly second nature to them, an inevitable part of living out their faith. ‘I’ve always been in a helping role,’ remarks Liz matter-of-factly and Maureen agrees: ‘it’s just part of your day. You don’t think of it as anything exceptional, I certainly don’t!’ There are challenges, too. ‘People can be quite difficult, for instance when they cannot book a Mass on the day they want, and it can be upsetting when there’s a funeral. But we have also made many friends. I think I would miss it if I stopped.’ To anyone thinking about getting involved in their parish Liz recommends: ‘Just start with something in a small way and see if it suits you. If you don’t try, you don’t know. And don’t give up! Different roles suit different people.

Fr Michael Dunne, Maureen Kehoe, Bishop John Wilson, Liz Fenwick and Fr Mike Maguire Page 10

by Sr Marian Ward

by Fr Brian McMahon Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s Church, Stevenage

In recognition of Fr Bernard Boylan’s dedication and commitment of nearly twentyfour years as Parish Priest, a farewell party was organised by the parishioners of St Theodore of Canterbury Church, Hampton-onThames, a wonderful and extremely well attended event.

Fr Bernard formed a great bond of affection for his congregation and embraced people from all walks of life, as attested by the Vietnamese Community at St Theodore’s. He now moves on to become Chaplain at St Vincent’s Nursing Home in Pinner. Fr Bernard concelebrated his last Mass on Saturday 26th

January with his brother Monsignor Anthony Boylan, Fr Dominic Byrne, Fr John Perrotta SDP, Fr Carlo SDP, Fr Simon Nguyen, Deacon Paul Song Trong and Deacon Duncan MacPherson. Parishioners gave a warm welcome to Fr Dominic Byrne who takes over from Fr Bernard as the new Parish Priest.

Bishop John Wilson with Jim Cullen

CAFOD praises ‘tireless champion’

old, who hasn’t a clue what they’re doing, and then see the difference when they’re 18’, he laughs. His greatest challenge? ‘Finding enough servers during the holidays.’ Maureen Kehoe’s and Liz Fenwick’s outstanding commitment to the parish over several decades was recognised at the following mass. Bishop John presented them with the Diocesan Medal on behalf of Cardinal Vincent. The Diocesan Medal was introduced by the late Cardinal Cormac MurphyO’Connor to honour those who make an outstanding contribution to either their parish or the diocese and requires a minimum of 10 years of volunteering. Fr Michael recommended Liz and Maureen for this special honour ‘because the amount of hours they dedicate is outstanding by anybody’s standards! The medals are intended to be just a little tiny recognition of an astronomical generosity’. These two dedicated ladies spend more than 60 hours per week at the parish office between them, carrying out all kinds of office duties. While Maureen takes care of of various money related tasks, the administration of Mass cards and CTS booklets, and Liz works in the sacristy. Both started ‘serious’ volunteering

Stevenage sings ‘And I will raise him up’

Harpenden Parish achieves the Live Simply Award by Ellen Teague Parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Harpenden received the CAFOD Livesimply award on 2nd February for championing sustainable living. Their efforts focused on promoting a simpler, greener lifestyle in solidarity with the world’s poorest communities. Our Lady of Lourdes is the sixth church to earn the award in the diocese and the 52nd in England and Wales. Receiving the award on behalf of the parish, Canon

by Ellen Teague Sheila Gallagher of the parish of Mary Immaculate and St Peter, New Barnet was given a Papal Blessing at Mass on Sunday 3rd February for three decades of volunteer work with CAFOD and for being a ‘tireless champion’ of Justice and Peace initiatives. The presentation was made by Tony Sheen, CAFOD worker in Westminster, who thanked Sheila ‘for her inspiration and witness to the Gospel over so many years.’ In the 1980s, Sheila was instrumental in setting up the Justice and Peace network in north London. A great networker, she helped organise more than 20 annual area days. Sheila is now a supporter of the diocesan Follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCWestminster

commission. In the 1990s she helped put together ‘A Taste for Peace’, a Pax Christi reflection and cookery book, which Pax Christi still promotes. Since the millennium she has an active member of the national Justice and Peace network environmental group, which meets regularly to ensure faith and ecology feature in J&P work and the causes of environmental crises are highlighted. More recently, New Barnet parish achieved the Livesimply award after years of work by Sheila and a committed team. She and husband Don truly live the spirit of Laudato Si’, to hear ‘the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.’ Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

Anthony Dwyer was delighted with the commitment of so many parishioners to the programme. Suggestions on living a simpler life are posted twice a month in the parish newsletter. A Fairtrade stall at the recent Christmas fair encouraged parishioners to buy Fairtrade goods. Several pedal bikes have been recycled and given to refugee families living locally. An environmental audit of the parish buildings has been

undertaken and steps to reduce energy consumption planned. A Livesimply plaque will be officially presented at a celebratory Mass on 10th March and a memorial tree planted at the front of the church. There is still plenty to do. Graham Ryan, parish Livesimply coordinator adds, ‘It is essential to keep the momentum going in the spirit of Laudato Si’, and that is just what the Livesimply group intends to do!’

‘I started when I was nine, and I just carried on,’ says Jim Cullen, Parish Master of Ceremonies at Our Lady of Grace and St Edward the Confessor, Chiswick, when asked what has kept him serving for 64 years. Jim was awarded the highest honour of the Archconfraternity of St Stephen, their Gold Medal, presented to him by Bishop John Wilson on 27th January as part of an Episcopal Visitation to the parish. Having served since his enrolment in the Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers in the same parish in 1955 and, for the last 26 years having been the Parish Master of Ceremonies responsible for the Guild and the training of generations of servers under five Parish Priests, Fr Michael Dunne thought it was high-time for Jim to be awarded that honour and happily the Central Council agreed. ‘From such a young age faith motivated Jim to serve at Mass, and the richness he has found in this service not only sustained him in the faith but led him to help others, currently some forty or so boys and girls as well as young adults and older, in their growing in the faith as well,’ observes Fr Michael. Jim enjoys watching the servers grow as they join him in serving at Mass: ‘You see an eight-year-

In recognition of priestly service at St Theodore’s

On Friday 26th of January, children of St Vincent de Paul Primary School in Stevenage, gathered outside the Church of St Joseph’s along with Headteacher Jon White, school staff, and parishioners to celebrate a historic event. The occasion was the raising of a new statue of the Risen Christ and its attachment to the front of the church building. This was part of the finishing works for St Joseph’s, which had reopened in 2017, following its closure whilst it was rebuilt. Earlier in the week each class had written a special prayer for the Church’s celebration of Adoremus: Eucharistic Congress, held in 2018 at Liverpool. These prayers were included on a long scroll which also contained a personal drawing of each pupil’s face, placed inside a sealed tube and then securely attached to the inside of the statue. Effectively this acts as a time capsule for future generations to enjoy. The children sang ‘We will raise him up’ and ‘On this church your blessing Lord’ as the statue was raised slowly and carefully into place, against the background of many ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs!’ A short prayer service was held just before the statue was raised when it was blessed by Frs Michael Doherty and Brian McMahon, assisted by seminarian, Mike Guthrie.

This statue, with the work to be done to additional spotlighting at the front of the church, will make St Joseph’s one of the most visible landmarks in this part of Stevenage for many years to come and make Christ the centre of the community as the parish continues to thrive.

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Westminster Record | March 2019

Fr Michael Dunne, Maureen Kehoe, Bishop John Wilson, Liz Fenwick and Fr Mike Maguire Page 10

by Sr Marian Ward

by Fr Brian McMahon Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s Church, Stevenage

Bishop John Wilson with Jim Cullen

CAFOD praises ‘tireless champion’

Stevenage sings ‘And I will raise him up’

In recognition of priestly service at St Theodore’s

Page 11

Westminster Record | March 2019

A glimpse into World Youth Day Panama 2019

Bishop Nicholas Hudson met with young Catholics and fellow pilgrims from World Youth Day, Panama at the Post- Synod youth reflections on Tuesday 5th February held at Archbishop’s House. While reflecting on what the Holy Father wanted young people to take away from World Youth Day and sharing his experience, Bishop Nicholas said: ‘Youth is a time for dreams which gather momentum. The call to holiness is about God’s dream gathering momentum inside of you.’ Melvon D’Costa shares his experience of World Youth Day Panama 2019, a pilgrimage seven years in the making. Ever since I heard about World Youth Day about seven years ago I wanted to attend it. However, I missed the one in Rio de Janeiro and the one in Krakow. In these years, a lot had changed and I moved to the UK, but one of my focuses had always been to attend a WYD event. During this time I met my girlfriend who attended the WYD at Krakow 2016 and would tell me stories about it. This was my calling

Page 12

now and I knew I had to go for the next one. I asked my parish priest and he got me in touch with Westminster Youth Ministry. They were offering a bursary for the event and I got accepted. January 2019, we arrived with a group of 25 youths from Westminster in Panama City; I was eagerly anticipating what was ahead. We started off by collecting our pilgrim packs and food vouchers. The first day began with an inaugural Mass celebrated by Bishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta OSA, Bishop of Panama. This in itself was an

experience. I met Catholics from over 120 countries, all waving their country flags. Five of us in the group were from India and so we kept running towards an Indian flag whenever we spotted one. We even bumped into couple of volunteers from the state of Gujarat. The next four days we attended catechesis in the morning, followed by various events in the evening. On the third day our Holy Father, Pope Francis arrived. On the fourth day we had the Stations of the Cross with Pope Francis. On the fifth day we attended the night

vigil followed by the Closing Mass the next morning by the Pope. In these days we had talks from Bishops, newlywed couples, youth who had their lives turned around after attending the previous WYDs, celebrated Mass in a field in the middle of nowhere, exchanged stuff with youth from around the world, attended Confession

(which was more like a discussion with a friend rather than just telling your sins to a priest), and danced with priests and nuns from all around the world. And in the midst of all this a young boy from seven years ago, hailing from Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Mumbai, got to fulfill his dream and attend the greatest youth event on Earth.

Westminster Record | March 2019

Director’s Spotlight

Andrzej Wdowiak Director of Youth Ministry On my recent travel overseas to a non-Christian country for a funeral I experienced first hand the difference in perception of life and death. Our belief as Christians in the resurrection and life in the presence of God was very real and clear to the congregation made up of Catholics and non-Catholics alike but was only possible because of the witness given by the local Catholic community. This is something we continue reflecting on during our journey of faith and perhaps more so as we enter into Lent in preparation for the most important season in the Church’s calendar, Easter. We take it for granted that people we interact with on a daily basis have some

understanding of Lent and Easter; after all everyone knows about Easter eggs and Easter bunnies. From a layman’s perspective, as explained on the BBC website, ‘Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Whereas Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross, Lent recalls the events leading up to and including Jesus’ crucifixion by Rome.’ Although factually and historically this is true, one important part is missing, that of our faith and belief in the resurrection and life in the presence of God; and during Lent we particularly take time to reflect upon our earthly lives in preparation for our own Easter. Perhaps we can consider Lent as an invitation to take a step back and consider what is most important to each of us and decide the importance of the many usual events that encompass our busy lives. SPEC, our Retreat Centre in Pinner, is a perfect setting to assist children and young people in this reflection. We have been

busy and continue offering Chaplain’s Corner residential and day retreats for schools and parish confirmation groups. In particular our residential retreats, although not quite lasting 40 days in the wilderness, offer a glimpse of what it means to be away from busyness of every day life at school or in the family. We are taking bookings for the 2019/20 academic year but there are limited spaces still available for the current year. For those young people over 18 who want to take it further there is an opportunity to become a SPEC Fr Mark Walker, Youth Chaplain volunteer missionary for a year of reflection, learning about ‘You, dear young people, are retreats and sharing faith with not the future. We like to say, their peers. We are recruiting “you are the future”. No, you now. are the present. You are not The centre for Youth the future of God, you young Ministry, now also based in people are the now of God.’ Pinner, has been busy These were the words at the supporting the diocesan heart of the Holy Father’s pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Panama. A group of 25 young homily to the 600,000 or so young people gathered with adults with Bishop Nicholas him in the celebration of Hudson and Fr Mark Walker, Mass for the 34th World Youth our Diocesan Youth Chaplain, Day in Panama. Helping represented the Diocese of young people to put their Westminster. They all returned safely and were encouraged by a faith into practice in the here and now is, in a way, the truly Catholic (universal) experience of being part of the mission of the diocesan youth Body of Christ, the Church. This service and our recent World was also the continuation of the Youth Day experience was a teachings of the Synod on Youth great source of which took place in October encouragement and 2018 in Rome. Many of the inspiration in that regard. pilgrims on their return will be Not only were the words of trying to get involved in Pope Francis poignant and working with children and moving but, in particular, the young people in their own welcome of the people of parishes and communities to put Panama was extraordinary. in practice the message of the Whereas on some World Youth Synod and World Youth Day. Days you can get a sense of Please keep them in your being viewed as an prayers and support them in this inconvenience by the local work. population, the people of Post-Synod and now also Panama clearly embraced the post-World Youth Day opportunity to show off their reflections continue at Archbishop’s House. The one in February with Bishop Nicholas Hudson was well attended and rekindled the atmosphere and enthusiasm experienced at World Youth Day. The next post-Synod reflection with Bishop John Sherrington will take place on 2nd April and we strongly encourage young adults from our parishes to come and join in the prayer, reflection and discussion. The next World Youth Day will be in Portugal in 2022 and we have already started our preparations for it. At the start of Lent my wish for all of us is to take time out and find an inner peace in the presence of God, a good start in preparation for our own Easter.

country. As usual, there was a great sense of joy and communion as the young people gathered from all over the world in celebration, exchanging items brought from home and taking selfies galore with each other. Nevertheless, it was the love displayed by the young people for Jesus Christ and the Church which was most inspiring and served as a reminder of how the Church is ever young and marked by much joy and enthusiasm, no matter how gloomy things can sometimes seem. On one afternoon I spent four hours in the youth festival park celebrating the Sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation or Confession, whatever you prefer!) with young people, which, even as I was being gradually cooked in the over thirty degree heat, amply illustrated the thirst present in their lives for the message of the Gospel and Jesus’ unconditional love as the necessary pathway to finding meaning, direction and hope. At the end of the World Youth Day Mass, Pope Francis said ‘I ask you not to let the fervour of these days grow cold. Go back to your parishes and communities, to your families and your friends, and share what you have lived, so that others can resonate with the strength and concrete enthusiasm that is yours. And with Mary, keep saying “yes” to the dream that God has sown in you.’ May the young people who attended World Youth Day 2019 keep the fervour they rediscovered in Panama alive in their hearts, and roll on Portugal 2022!

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Westminster Record | March 2019

Inside the Hospice: Long live Change

Where art and faith meet

by Fr Peter-Michael Scott

On 21st February, Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery and a committed Catholic, addressed the inaugural event of Catholic Creators, a new initiative dedicated to supporting and connecting Catholic artists from across the UK, on ‘Art and Faith’ at Farm Street Church. Dr Finaldi wove an exciting path through the ages, showing how the image of Christ, in a secular age, can transcend set beliefs and capture the imagination of the viewer, demonstrating the perpetual relevance and fascination with the life and resonance of Christ today. Works from the National Gallery’s collection from around world were presented with enthusiasm and sensitivity, as Dr Finaldi guided the audience through the symbolic and pictorial aspects of Christian painting, showing the significance of art in the Catholic and Christian faith, and the significance of faith in shaping the art and symbols of human suffering today. Jusepe di Ribera’s tender depiction of the ‘Lamentation of Christ’, in its silence and reverence, was compared to Page 14

Greogrio Fernandez’s stark and visceral polychromatic painted sculpture of the ‘Dead Christ’ from the same period, its brutal realism evoking both compassion and devotion from the viewer. Dr Finaldi described works of art as ‘carriers and emblems of faith’, encouraging those present to integrate their art with their beliefs positively and confidently. April marks the 20th anniversary of Pope St John Paul II’s Letter to Artists, rendering it entirely fitting that 2019 has begun with such a bold celebration of the work of Catholic creatives in the world today. Dr Finaldi quoted from the letter: ‘In Christ, God has reconciled the world to himself. All believers are called to bear witness to this; but it is up to you, men and women who have given your lives to art, to declare with all the wealth of your ingenuity that in Christ the world is redeemed: the human person is redeemed, the human body is redeemed, and the whole creation.’ Dr Finaldi observed: ‘Image, liturgy, and sacrament come together in a perfect theatrical and theological concord. Christian writers

often quote the words of Dostoevsky that “beauty will save the world”. There is surely something profoundly insightful in this phrase. Beauty can cut across a thousand arguments, it can speak directly to the heart, it can be persuasive in many mysterious ways.’ Addressing the gathering, Chair of Catholic Creators UK Eve Farren said: ‘Your presence is evidence of a hunger from Catholic artists to connect, to meet people who are orthodox in their faith yet simultaneously deeply curious and open-minded. People who occupy the boundaries, who need to ask questions but always from a place of trust in, and fidelity to, the Church. Led by artists for artists, the group will provide spiritual formation, social gatherings and opportunities for creatives to showcase their work. Going forward, the group will hold regular networking opportunities, a tour around Parliament and a workshop at the ‘More Than Words’ conference on Tolkien in Oxford in May. For further information on Catholic Creators, email info@catholiccreators.org

I cannot lay claim to the following observation, it was made by a great priest, and I am sure people reading this will instantly recognise him: ‘sensitive people tend to be insensitive to themselves’. As the years roll on, this piece of advice is one I often use because we can be remarkably cruel to ourselves. If someone is in the throes of being selfcritical or unjustly selfdeprecating, then I advise that they try to change. God never creates us as failures or mistakes; he rejoices because everyone is a gemstone he has put into the world. To learn to see ourselves as God does often requires a healthy interior change. Hospice, it may surprise you, is also about change. There is another beautiful quote, but this one was made by an alumna of St Joseph’s called Dame Cicely Saunders. She famously wrote: ‘You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can

not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.’ It is a wonderful insight into an aspect of hospice care that is very important, but is so often under reported: ‘symptom control’, whereby a tired or exhausted patient with a life limiting illness is admitted and the hospice attempts to help them to live their lives to the best of their ability. This involves a gallery of expert staff from different disciplines advising the patient to change their lifestyle so that they can cope better with their illness. It could be an alteration in diet, or getting used to a mobility aid, or rebalancing medications. There is a beautiful sensitivity to this facet of hospice care: with kind supervision it empowers patients to make their changes, so that, like all of us, as a gemstone, they can totally attempt to ‘live until they die’. I say, long live ‘change’. Please pray for the patients, staff, volunteers and sisters of St Joseph’s Hospice.

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Westminster Record | March 2019

Prayer: New home for sculpture in Chiswick by Fr Michael Dunne, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Grace, Chiswick Prayer is normally an activity, the raising of the heart and mind to God, or it can be, more contemplatively, a resting in the Lord, more a state of being. But in our church it is now also something else: it’s the name given to the Carrara marble sculpture by the renowned sculptor Thomas Mewburn Crook, 1869-1949, which has just been left to the parish by the sculptor’s family. Who the model might have been is not the question of course, but what she evokes. As an image of what prayer is she is most communicative: her poise is indicative of that interior recollection essential for the activity of prayer but at the same time, her demeanour and her composure, the tilt of her head and the expression on her face, communicate that she is indeed resting in her conception of the Lord’s presence to her. And then

of course, being a child, a girl at prayer, she is herself the very image of innocence: ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Mt 5:8). Furthermore, she’s Chiswick through and through, having been sculpted in the artist’s studio in Gainsborough Road in 1904 around the time the artist moved from Manchester to become a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace and St Edward’s, where he remained for the rest of his life. The sculpture has the distinction of being Mewburn Crook’s first work to be exhibited at the Royal Academy. Many more were to follow and he went on to become an establishment sculptor, being both a Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors and Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, among his distinctions.

The artist married his wife Winifred in 1929 and their five children were subsequently baptised in our church, two of them later marrying here. With the bomb falling on Duke’s Avenue on 19th February 1944 shattering much of the eastern wall of the church, it was Mewburn Crook who took it upon himself to restore the almost irreparably damaged Stations of the Cross, the work of a nineteenth century Belgian artist, Charles Bayaert. However, his deteriorating health did now allow him to work on the restoration. After his death in 1949, his widow Winifred fulfilled his intention as she painstakingly worked for several years to restore the Stations to their former glory. We are profoundly grateful to both of them. One of their daughters, Cecilia, joined religious life at seventeen, becoming

Mewburn Crook family members with Prayer sculpture Sr Bernadette Crook of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. An internationally renowned painter of icons, some outstanding examples of her work most locally are in St Vincent de Paul’s Church in Osterley. Sr Bernadette died last May, and her father’s sculpture, Prayer, was in her house. To fulfil her late mother’s wishes,

the sculpture was to come to us. We are privileged to receive it. May parents and children rest in peace. In January, Bishop John Wilson blessed the statue while on a visitation to the parish (see p10). For further information about Thomas Mewburn Crook, visit www.tmewburncrook.com.

The Throne of Mercy: Devotional art in Parsons Green by Fr Michael Daley, Parish Priest of Holy Cross, Parsons Green Lowry to commemorate the Year of Mercy instituted by Pope Francis in 2015-2016 and depicts the Most Blessed Trinity as a view through an open door, in keeping with the theme of the year. By passing through the door we are invited by the Father to enter into a state of grace and mercy. God the Father is Pope Leo XIII revealed seated on a throne, holding the crucified God the On Sunday 3rd February 2019, Son, Jesus Christ, with God the a new piece of art by the Holy Spirit, who appears in the renowned religious form of a dove. The image is iconographer and sculptor framed by six angels, four of Stephen Foster, entitled the whose Communion chalices ‘Throne of Mercy’ was capture the Blood of Jesus solemnly blessed and dedicated Christ, the Saviour. The two by Bishop John Wilson, during angels above incense the vision. a celebration of Mass with a The water flowing from the packed congregation. Joining us wound in the side of Jesus for the blessing were Stephen Christ represents being washed Foster, Vicar General by the waters of baptism. Monsignor Martin Hayes, Fr Through baptism into the Mehall Lowry, and Fr Antony Church we are invited to enter Homer. through the door. The images of The image provides an the water of life flowing inspirational focus for prayer, through Christ and the living contemplation and devotion. streams flowing from the It was commissioned by the temple described in Ezekiel 47 former Parish Priest, Fr Mehall are also evoked.

‘The path of all graces come from God the Father through the sacred humanity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Blessed Virgin Mary, through the church to us (the world).’

The angels Gabriel and Michael are depicted at Christ’s feet. The depiction of Gabriel is a memorial to the departed and much loved child of a family in Holy Cross parish. The image of God the Father inspires reflection on the concept of fatherhood as it applies in our lives today. The foot of the Father at Gabriel’s head evokes the vision in Revelation 1:13-15 of ‘feet like burnished bronze’ and also the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream in Daniel 2:31-45. The stars at the top of the image can be seen as symbols guiding the children of God as they navigate their way to the doors of Heaven, echoing the ancient practice of mariners using stars to navigate their way home. The stars can also be seen as symbols of the Creation. The piece of art was inspired by alabaster images representing the ‘Throne of Mercy’ created in the 15th century in Nottinghamshire. In medieval times these images were brought out on feast days,

carried on the shoulders of the faithful in processions and venerated. The Throne of Mercy has been carved in wood from poplar trees. The Artist Stephen Foster’s deep faith is reflected in his work. The creation of each piece is an act of devotion, inspired by profound prayer and meditation. Many admirers of his work suggest that his images draw us into contemplation of the mystery of God’s beauty. His work can be seen in numerous churches, cathedrals, schools and religious houses including Allen Hall Seminary, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Northampton Cathedral, Our Lady of Victories, Kensington High Street and the Carmelite Monastery in Ware. He comes from a family of religious artists inspired by their Catholic faith. Since completing his first commissions in the 1970s, Stephen has explored and developed a range of novel Follow us on Instagram at: @rcwestminster

techniques. The artwork in Holy Cross was created using a combination of ancient and modern methods. He starts by creating a drawing of his subject and then uses computerised tools to create an image that is carved onto wooden panels by a machine. He then returns to traditional methods, continuing the carving process by hand and adopting ancient fresco and guilding techniques used by the Greeks and Romans to complete the image. He uses venetian plaster, a mixture of lime and marble dust to which traditional pigments, such as the Amalfi blue which can be seen in this artwork. Page 15

Westminster Record | March 2019

Diaconate: ‘an opportunity to serve’

Julian Davies was ordained to the diaconate at the Five Precious Wounds Catholic Church, Stonebridge Park, by Bishop John Sherrington on 26th January, the Feast of Ss Timothy and Titus, ‘an auspicious day to be ordained a deacon’. In the presence of priests, deacons, seminarians, family, friends and parishioners praying for him, Julian prostrated himself in a sign of humility. Addressing Julian in his homily, Bishop John explained: ‘You are called to foster the call to holiness in God’s holy people so that they may rejoice in the life of the kingdom of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and show forth the virtues in their lives of charity and service. As a deacon, you are to witness to this life and are called to model it for others.’ Acknowledging that Julian continues his formation towards priesthood, Bishop

John encouraged him to ‘treasure these months as a deacon as an opportunity to serve and grow in love for your people. Continue to ask the assistance of the Holy Spirit so

that you can serve with generosity and gratitude.’ Please pray for Deacon Julian as he begins his ministry and prepares for ordination to the priesthood.

In late February, Bishop John Sherrington, along with Fr John Hemer and Fr Gerard Skinner, led a group of our recentlyordained priests (in the past five years) on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The pilgrims walked in the footsteps of the Lord, visiting sites associated with his life, ministry, Passion,

Death and Resurrection. On a visit to a local seminary, they learnt about the significance of vocations to Christians in the Holy Land.

A group of seminarians from Redemptoris Mater visited Cambridge at the end of January. They were shown around by the University Chaplain Fr Mark Langham, a Westminster priest, although the cold weather forestalled any thoughts of punting! Page 16

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Westminster Record | March 2019

Fr Adrian Walker RIP In Memoriam: March

Saint of the Month: St Turibius of Mogrovejo

Turibius was the second son of the Lord of Mogrovejo, born in Spain on 16th November 1538. From childhood he had a strong inclination to prayer. In his playtime he was known to adorn altars. He always strove to serve the poor, often giving away his dinner to the less fortunate. Turibius frequently fasted and prayed, eventually developing the habit of praying the Rosary along with the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was raised in a religious household but never felt a calling to the religious life. Instead, he studied law and became a professor at the distinguished University of Salamanca. He was brought to the notice of King Philip II of Spain, who honoured him with several dignities and appointed him as chief judge of the ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition at Granada, Spain. Turibius held office for five years with much integrity, prudence and virtue. People of the kingdom were impressed with his intellect and the manner in which he admirably conducted the affairs of the court. At this time, the Church in Peru was in its infancy and required an Archbishop with the seat having fallen vacant. The Church faced a challenge to find an honest man who could fill the position, remain above corruption, reprimand sinners Page 18

and evangelise the natives. The arrangement for centuries between Spain and the Holy See was that the Spanish Crown chose bishops while the Pope approved, or rejected them. King Philip II appointed Turibius as Archbishop of Lima. Turibius tried to convince the king that he was not fit for this role: he was a layperson and not a priest, he had never asked for the appointment, and had never travelled to South America. He cast himself at the foot of the Crucifix, praying with tears for God to take away this burden which he thought was beyond his capability. After the Pope approved the appointment, Turibius received the four minor orders on four successive weeks, was ordained a deacon and then a priest. He said his first Mass when he was over 40 years old. In 1581, Turibius was ordained as Archbishop of Lima. Turibius sailed to a new world to a diocese that spanned over 400 miles along the coast. He visited every parish in his diocese which took seven years. He stayed two to three days at each place, many a times going without proper food and sleeping on dirty floors. At every parish, he gathered people to celebrate the sacraments. He preached on God’s love and how to follow Jesus. His journeys were dangerous as he passed through areas inhabited by wild animals and diseases. In his travel he was met with corruption, greed and inhumane treatment. The natives were being exploited by Spanish colonists who were squandering the land and priests that were filling their own pockets. In some cases, priests had joined Spanish leaders in oppressing the people. Locals were baptised but had no idea of Christianity as there was no catechism or Bible available in local languages. St Turibius started learning different languages spoken by the natives so that he could teach them in words they could understand. He gathered Bishops for the Third Council of Lima. They decided to print the catechism in native languages, setting up classes for those in need,

regulating sacraments and reforming priests. He spent his life baptising and confirming people, building hospitals, schools and roads. His efforts in baptising which was central to his mission bore good fruit with a higher number of conversions taking place in Peru. It is said that in his lifetime, Turibius baptised close to half a million people. Nine years into his episcopacy, with the support of his fellow priests and local community, St Turibius opened the first seminary in Peru, the seminary of Lima Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo on 7th December 1590. He said the Holy Mass every day with great fervour and confessed every morning to his chaplain. Among those to whom he gave the Sacrament of Confirmation were St Rose of Lima, St Martin de Porres, and St John Massias. Although poor, people were sensitive to alms being given openly. St Turibius raised funds privately, donating it anonymously to avoid hurting the sensibilities of the poor. St Turibius worked unceasingly to bring people out of their poverty. He changed the landscape of Lima, from a place of oppression to a more just society. At the age of 68, he fell sick during one of his missionary travels. He ordered that all his belongings be given away to the poor of Lima. He asked to be taken to the nearest church to receive the Eucharist and was given the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. He died on 23rd March 1606. St Turibius was canonised on 10th December 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII and is the patron saint of native people’s rights, Latin American bishops and the country of Peru.

Fr Adrian Walker was born on 6th August 1931. After completing his education at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire he served in the Navy for a short while. He was accepted as a student for the priesthood by Cardinal Griffin and sent to Allen Hall at St Edmund’s College, Ware. He was ordained to the priesthood on 11th June 1960 by Cardinal Godfrey. He went on to study philosophy at the Angelicum University and lived at the Beda College. Fr Adrian’s first appointment in the diocese was as Assistant Priest at the Most Precious Blood of Jesus and St Edmund, Edmonton from 1964-1971, when he was appointed to work as a Chaplain to London University, living at Newman House, Gower Street. In 1973, he moved on to be Assistant Priest at St Mary of the Angels, Bayswater. In 1976, he was appointed Parish Priest at Stevenage, Pin Green. In 1981 he was appointed to have oversight of the four Stevenage parishes. He then went on to serve as Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Staines from 1987 until his appointment at St Edmund’s Church, Millwall in 1994. St Edmund’s was a parish without a church as the old church had been closed in 1994 and demolished in the summer of 1995 having been declared structurally unsafe. Cardinal Hume encouraged Fr Adrian to take up the challenge to rebuild the church which needed Fr Adrian’s vision and wellsuited energy. The newly built

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18 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 30

Mgr Frederick Row (1974) Mgr Canon Clement Parsons (1980) Fr Geoffrey Webb (2014) Fr Timothy McCarthy (2018) 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) Canon Digby Samuels (2018) 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)

church was open for use in September 2000. After retirement, Fr Adrian kept busy with supply ministry in parishes close to his home in Maidenhead. He will be remembered for giving support to the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, a cause that was close to his heart. Fr Adrian died on 24th January 2019, aged 88. May he rest in peace.

Events & Calendar

Westminster Record | March 2019

REGuLAR EVENTS

Liturgical Calendar – March

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

1 Fri

ST DAVID, Bishop, Patron of Wales

2 Sat

Feria

3 Sun

+8th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

4 Mon

Eighth Week of Year 1 or St Casimir

5 Tue

Feria

6 Wed

ASH WEDNESDAY

7 Thu

Lent feria (Ss Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs)

8 Fri

Lent feria (St John of God, Religious)

9 Sat

Lent feria (St Frances of Rome, Religious)

10 Sun

+1st SUNDAY OF LENT

11 Mon

Lent Feria

12 Tue

Lent feria

13 Wed

Lent feria

14 Thu

Lent feria

15 Fri

Lent feria

16 Sat

Lent feria

17 Sun

+2nd SUNDAY OF LENT

18 Mon

Lent feria (St Cyril of Jerusalem)

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

19 Tue

ST JOSEPH, Patron of the Diocese

20 Wed

Lent feria, Second Week of Lent

21 Thu

Lent feria

22 Fri

Lent feria

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

23 Sat

Lent feria (St Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop)

24 Sun

+3rd SUNDAY OF LENT

25 Mon

THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

FRIDAYS

26 Tue

Lent Feria, Third Week of Lent

27 Wed

Lent Feria

28 Thu

Lent Feria

29 Fri

Lent feria

30 Sat

Lent feria

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 W1V 3QY every first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Email: penny28hb@aol.com or just come along. NFG Prayer Group weekly at 8pm for praise & worship followed by a social. Held in St Mark’s Room, Christ the King Church, Cockfosters N14 4HE. Contact Fr Christophe: christophe.brunet@cheminneuf.org.

WEDNESDAYS Corpus Christi Contemplative Prayer Group for Young Adults Wednesdays from 7pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB. Contact ccpguk@gmail.com Our Lady, Untier of Knots, Prayer Group of Intercession every third Wednesday at St Anselm & St Cecilia, Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3JA. Mass at 6pm followed by Prayer Group. Rosary, Adoration, silent prayer and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Email Antonia antonia4161@gmail.com. Gregorian Chant Explore the riches of the Gregorian chant tradition

every Wednesday 6.30pm to 8pm, Bulbeck room, Ealing Abbey parish centre. New members welcome. For details, email gregorianchantealing@gmail.com

ThuRSDAYS Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for young professionals at St Thomas More, Swiss Cottage. Begins at 7.30pm, with Confession from 7pm to 8.30pm. The next date is 24th January. Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament first Thursday of the month, Mass 6:30pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane WC2E 7NB 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.

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

31 Sun

Friday abstinence

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

Fast & abstinence

Friday abstinence

Every Sunday at 7pm. Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street Contact: yam@mountstreet.info or visit www.pathwaystogood.org 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 at www.cwcc.org.uk. St Alban’s 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 on 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month for Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church, Farm Street at 5.30pm, and invited to the parish hall afterwards for tea/coffee, where there is anopportunity to learn of pastoral help available. 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.

Friday abstinence

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.

+4th SUNDAY OF LENT

Queen of Peace Prayer Group at Our Lady of Lourdes, Acton W3 8AA. After 7pm Mass, Exposition, a homily, Holy Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

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

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

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

SATuRDAYS

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

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

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

Carmelite Spirituality Group meet first Saturday at St Joseph’s Church, Bunhill Row EC1Y 8LE. 11.30-15.30 for prayer and reflection. Enquiries: Sylvia Lucas 07889436165.

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.

holy Cross, Parsons Green first Saturday of every month. Mass at 9.30am followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for one hour concluding with Benediction.

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

Page 19

Westminster Record | March 2019

Pope’s Prayer Intention by Fr David Stewart SJ Once again the Holy Father invites us to join our hearts to his, and together to Christ’s, praying about the concerns that face humanity and church. The purpose of this, his personal network of prayer, is to mobilise ourselves and each other, through prayer and action, to engage with those challenges that face all of humanity. We’re invited to connect our prayer and the Church’s mission to those realities, which are expressed primarily in the Pope’s monthly Intentions. This month, Pope Francis directs our attention to the persecuted Church, asking that we pray ‘that Christian communities, especially those who are persecuted, feel that they are close to Christ and have their rights respected’. Persecution of Christian communities, and other religious minorities, is one of the topics of the Pope’s own prayer this month but not only now, because it is a constant concern in our time. Indeed, it is often clear that any minority could face opposition at any time, so hate-filled has our society become. We’re asked to take all this into our prayer this month. This Evangelisation Intention is, of course, for all Christian communities, that each one might feel close to Christ, with a particular care for those who are maltreated on account of their faith. Each one, every Christian, would want to feel close to Jesus and the rest would want to pray for that closeness, that grace! All should have their rights respected and that’s an urgent matter because, despite humanity’s great advances in identifying and promoting human rights, there remains much to be done. Vigilance, united with deep care for those who are suffering, even if they do not look or sound like us, is more necessary than ever. It is particularly tragic that the cradle of humanity’s three great Abrahamic religions has been, in our time, the site of some of the worst atrocities. Yet even amid the awful persecutions in those ancient biblical lands such as Syria and Page 20

Iraq, there are clear signs of hope. ‘Our brothers and sisters there,’ says Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, of London’s Farm Street Jesuit Church, ‘inspire us to turn to the Cross as the symbol of the power of good over evil, of humanity over inhumanity, of hope over despair.’ Writing in this month’s Prayer Network “Living Prayer” booklet (a few copies still available), he reports that, even in those blood-soaked lands, Christians ‘are returning and are crucial to the work of reconciliation, bridge-building between faiths’. In this month of March, when our thoughts and prayers turn towards Lent, Holy Week and the Cross, our prayer and our fasting is enlivened by the promise of Easter renewal to come. The closeness to Christ, for which we pray with the Pope this month, will be real in our Lenten and Easter observances. Where else are the rights of Christian communities not respected? You don’t need to go to faraway lands to find rights denied to Christians. Secularism, in its aggressive, intolerant form, places many of the rest of us, here, in an analogous position. We are not asked to shed our blood or give our lives or lose our heritage by threat of violence. There is another persecution, closer to home. People of faith are frequently sneered at and belittled, mocked for being unsophisticated or for clinging to outdated beliefs. Often, those who oppose faith and who mock believers make no effort to understand Christian faith. They refuse to see beyond narrow sectarian expressions of religion, failing to accept that our belief is that God’s love is inclusive. Our Catholic Church honours society’s autonomy and esteems diversity. We need to ask why secularism cannot abide pluralism. It’s as big a question as that which enquires why some versions of religious faith cannot accept pluralism. Starting instead with toleration could lead us to celebration of diversity, if we let it. Last month, Pope Francis broke down yet another barrier when he became the first Pontiff

to visit the Arabian Peninsula and there to celebrate Mass with over 100,000 people. His visit, and his dialogue with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad AlTayyeb, was a direct rebuttal of religious extremism and intolerance. He did not fail to condemn the devastating war in Yemen, in which his hosts are deeply implicated. In signing a historic document committing both Pope and Imam to working to build ‘Human Fraternity’, they each witnessed powerfully that the good of their own communities cannot be separated from how each views and treats the other. Pope Francis’ warm personal friendship with the Argentinian Rabbi Abraham Skorka, is wellknown. The Rabbi often says that Pope Francis is the best friend the Jewish people have ever had in the Vatican. When Pope Francis went to the Holy Land in 2015, he took his friend the rabbi and a Muslim leader in the official party. With whom do we want to travel on the journey that ends persecution and leads to peace?

but also their persecutors. Present them all to the Heart of Christ. Ask that your own heart be opened and your prayer connected to the world. Note any unease or anxiety in your heart; present that to God’s Holy Spirit for healing. DOWNLOAD: Log on to our website www.click-to-pray.org or download the latest version of the app (on App Store, iTunes and Google Play) to pray with the Pope, and hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world. This app connects you with all who pray with the Pope in a quick, easy and

creative way. Each day, the app offers a different set of short and accessible prayers including a fresh Morning Offering for each day. There’s a Prayer Wall on which you can post intentions, anonymously if you wish, for others to pray with you. PURCHASE: A few of our Living Prayer 2019 booklets are still available to order (U.K. nations only) for £1.75 + £1.20 P&P from our London office. Order with your delivery details from prayernetwork@jesuit.org.uk or by text/voicemail to 074 3259 1117.

PROPOSALS for this MONTH: Challenge 1: Take time to familiarise yourself with the realities faced by persecuted Christian communities, particularly in the Biblical lands; read about their sufferings in recent years and the destruction of church buildings and heritage, but also about their rebirth and resurrection. Challenge 2: Investigate, in your parish or community, ways of supporting the organisation Aid to the Church in Need (www.acnuk.org) and the various ways that they propose for getting involved. Challenge 3: Find some time, on your own or in your worshipping community, to pray about the issues raised by this Intention; hold the persecuted before Christ but pray for the persecutors, too, that their hearts may be changed. PRAYER MOMENT: As in the third Challenge for the month, include in your own prayers the persecuted fellowChristians of the Biblical lands