The Sower – Advent 2019 & Finance Report

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the

Advent 2019

News from

Archdiocese rejoices at Saint John Henry Newman canonisation >> PAGES 16-17

Partnering in prayer gives mutual benefits >> PAGE 13

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WELCOME

Archbishop Bernard and Cardinal Vincent Nichols at the Vigil of Prayer in the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore during the canonisation of Saint John Henry in Rome.

By A R C H B I S H O P

BERNARD LONGLEY

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

To our Diocesan family, Hello and welcome to this Advent edition of The Sower.

As we prepare for, and await, the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, these weeks provide a wonderful opportunity to slow down and to reflect on the blessings we have felt this year.

This past year has proved to be an extremely busy one for our Archdiocese, with numerous special occasions taking place. It is wonderful to meet so many of you and to share these moments.

Our Review of the Year on page 10 captures just a few of the highlights of 2019, but there have been many more.

Most recently we celebrated the long-awaited Canonisation of St John Henry Newman. He is truly a saint for our time and it was a very moving experience to be present in Rome for this occasion.

I was delighted to concelebrate at the Canonisation Mass on Sunday 13th October, at which millions of people around the globe also took part thanks to the power of the internet.

For those who could not get to Rome the live-stream proved an invaluable connection to this most historic occasion.

We should be extremely proud of the connection St John Henry Newman has with our Archdiocese, and the impact his life continues to have on us today, not least through the witness and work of the Oratories in Birmingham and Oxford.

Please take a look at pages 16 and 17 for a reflection on the Canonisation.

In this edition I talk at length about our development of the Archdiocese over the next five to ten years.

It is imperative we not only take stock of where we are, but also consider where we are going.

Time to reflect on blessings we have felt during the year

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The Archdiocese as it is now is likely to look quite different in the future.

My wish is that you, the lay faithful, seize this opportunity to become involved in helping to map out the years ahead.

Help transform your parish from maintenance to mission, to spread the Good News and to evangelise as God intends.

Four priority areas have been earmarked for development over the coming years and working closely with your Parish Priest, and the area Dean, will be important as we move forward together. You can find more on pages eight and nine.

Next month (December) marks the 10th anniversary of my installation as Archbishop of Birmingham, a role I feel truly blessed and privileged to hold.

I will be marking this occasion with a Mass at noon at St Chad’s Cathedral on Monday 9th December to which all are

welcome. Again, this milestone offers an opportunity to reflect – this time on the last decade and all that has been achieved here in the Archdiocese.

As we welcome Advent it signals the official start of The God Who Speaks: The Year of the Word initiative, launched by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in partnership with Bible Society.

Running throughout 2020 this is an opportunity to reacquaint oneself with God’s own word.

As the campaign states: Scripture is at the centre of everything the Church does.

The word of God shapes our prayer and worship. The Bible shows us how to understand the world, how we are called to live and relate to each other.

Events to mark The God Who Speaks will be taking place across the Archdiocese over the next 12 months, and all parishes will receive resources to take part at a

local level. I will be launching this initiative at the 4.30pm Mass on Saturday 30th November and next summer’s Cathedral Flower Festival will have a strong focus on this theme.

Read more about this exciting campaign on page 23.

Finally, the Finance Report for 2018 is included in this edition of The Sower.

Please take the time to find out what the priorities are for the Archdiocese and how your time and donations help to deliver these.

As we prepare for the arrival of Our Lord may I wish you all a very happy, peaceful and blessed Christmas.

With my prayers and every kind wish.

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Strengthening advice, support and training is vital for good practice New Head of Safeguarding is well prepared for important challenge

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HE newly-appointed Head of Safeguarding is a registered social worker with wide experience of supporting safer culture within organisations.

Alan Hassall, who is based at Cathedral House, has been recruited to the new permanent role as part of the ongoing strengthening of safeguarding processes.

He takes up his post as the Archdiocese continues to absorb the lessons and implications of the report recently published by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

“We need to understand that there have been failings and learn from that fact – this will involve strengthening our advice, support and training to support good safeguarding,” said Alan. “There has always been a safeguarding co-ordinator in the Archdiocese in accordance with national guidelines but my role is now part of the senior management team and has a wider remit.

“My previous experience and my knowledge of the external safeguarding world are directly relevant to my job.”

As a young man Alan carried out voluntary work with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, and then worked with young homeless people and in children’s residential care, before completing an MA in Social Work at the University of Leicester.

After a time as a social worker with Leicester City Council he spent ten years with the NSPCC, initially working with the special investigation service undertaking complex abuse investigations.

He also undertook some work assessing sex offenders before becoming a consultant social worker, working alongside local authorities to improve social work and safeguarding practice.

Immediately prior to his appointment by the Archdiocese, Alan spent six years working as a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) at Walsall Council.

This external-facing statutory post involved managing allegations about people in positions of trust.

“I have spent most of my career developing skills around understanding and supporting safer cultures, but it was generally from the outside looking in,” said Alan.

“I took my new role with the Archdiocese because I wanted to go somewhere I could take responsibility for safeguarding within an

Alan Hassall pictured at Cathedral House, Birmingham, where he is based.

“

Communication is key and it’s about a sustainable delivery of safeguarding through good relationships and support of our safeguarding representatives.

Alan Hassall, Head of Safeguarding organisation. It’s good to support an organisation which both needs to and wants to make changes.”

Alan says he is “absolutely passionate” about making a difference while recognising that he is taking on an important and difficult challenge. “There’s a real need to develop the safeguarding team in terms of its ability to support safeguarding in the parishes,” he said.

“Communication is key and it’s about a

”

sustainable delivery of safeguarding through good relationships and support of our safeguarding representatives.”

Alan is getting “out and about” in the Archdiocese to meet people so that he can understand what works best with the aim of supporting best practice.

He is always available to speak with people about their experiences of safeguarding at parish level.

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My favourite

SAINT

In a regular feature, The Sower asks people to name their favourite saint and explain why the saint is so important to them. Here, Sandra Satchell, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenelm Youth Trust, tells how Saint Kenelm has a central meaning in her life.

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AINT Kenelm, one of the most important saints of medieval England, has a special place in my life for several reasons.

He was chosen for the name of the Kenelm Youth Trust when it was founded in 2011 because we wanted the charity to be accessible to people of all faiths and none.

The member of the Trustees who made the suggestion, John Farrell, felt that many people in the West Midlands would be familiar with the name.

We debated his proposal and there was general agreement – and before long people from Halesowen and beyond contacted us to say how delighted they were.

The story of the young man who was a boy king and martyr, murdered at the instigation of an ambitious older sister after a prophetic dream warning him of danger, has a widespread sympathetic hearing.

Details of his life – often shrouded in myth and legend – are certainly relevant to our work at the Kenelm Youth Trust.

Saint Kenelm was an adolescent – some accounts say he was as young as seven when he died, others in his early twenties – who knew considerable hardship.

He had family struggles, his father died and he encountered awful violence, being beheaded by a treacherous servant.

He was also a young man of faith who used to pray every morning and evening. He was saying his prayers when he was murdered.

The legend recorded by a monk at Worcester Abbey tells that the night before his hunting trip to the forest of Clent south of Birmingham where he was killed, Kenelm had a dream in which he climbed a large tree decorated with flowers and lanterns.

From the top of the tree he

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Sandra Satchell holds a copy of an icon of Saint Kenelm which was commissioned by the Kenelm Youth Trust.

saw all four quarters of his kingdom. Three bowed down before him but the fourth began to chop down the tree so that it fell. The dream was taken as a presage of his death by his maid – but Kenelm went ahead with his hunting and was murdered as he was singing the Te Deum.

It is said that a heavenly dove informed the Pope in Rome about his murder by dropping a scroll on the altar where he was saying Mass. It was through a divine intervention that his body came to light.

The legend is brought to life for us today by the detail that when his body was discovered by a search party in the Clent Hills a health-giving fountain

gushed out of the ground.

Whenever the cortege carrying his body back to the Mercian Palace of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire came to rest, it is said that a spring of pure water gushed forth.

In recognition of the saint’s healing powers pilgrimages have taken place since medieval times up to the present day from Clent to Saint Kenelm’s Well at Winchcombe. One of our members recently made such a pilgrimage.

We share the story of Saint Kenelm during our retreat programmes and we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Kenelm on 17th July. We are glad to think there is a young saint we can intercede to – and I am sure the

prayers to him have increased a hundred-fold since we adopted his name!

When we have specific needs at the Trust I use Saint Kenelm in intercessionary prayer as well as Saint Chad and – most recently – Saint John Henry. We also pray to St Kenelm in our liturgy.

In our day-to-day life at the Trust we are continuing to get to know more and more about our name saint.

We are always looking for new ways to bring him to life – for instance, we commissioned an icon of our saint as a leaving gift for Father Michael Dolman when he took up the office of Vocations Director.

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Volunteer Tom helps migrants find true justice

Humanitarian Tom Ciotkowski pictured in Birmingham city centre where has a weekly drop-in clinic to give advice to asylum seekers.

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OM Ciotkowski has strong credentials for helping destitute asylum seekers get a fair deal. The 30-year-old recently faced trial in France over an incident that occurred as he was documenting the alleged mistreatment of refugees and volunteers by riot police in Calais.

He was found not guilty of contempt and assault, charges that were brought after he challenged a policeman’s actions against another volunteer.

In the wake of international publicity for his case, during which he was supported by Amnesty International, Tom has returned to the UK determined to continue to help migrants find justice.

The Midlands-based humanitarian is now working as a volunteer in Birmingham, advocating on behalf of asylum seekers to ensure the Government meets its obligations of housing and financial support.

He guides them through the application process, from gathering the required evidence and completing the initial application, to liaising with the relevant departments and dealing with any issues once support has been granted.

“Where people are ineligible for support or

The Calais Jungle camp.

are refused it, we appeal the decision on their behalf and refer them to emergency accommodation providers and legal representatives, to ensure all pathways to support have been investigated,” he said.

“I also help with a weekly drop-in clinic where we give people on the spot advice, depending on their needs.”

Tom’s journey towards being a human rights activist began when he started doing fieldwork for his MA thesis on the rise of early Christianity in Roman Syria-Palestine.

The Syrian civil war was beginning and he followed the news in despair as temples and early churches he was researching were being destroyed on a daily basis.

“What affected me more though was the human suffering, as I watched people being killed or forced to seek refuge away from their homeland,” said Tom.

“I wondered what I could do to help and began donating to charities, signing petitions and writing to my MP. “As the refugee crisis came to a head in 2015, the horrendous conditions at the Jungle camp in Calais came to my attention. I could not look on whilst fellow humans were suffering so close by, so I took some time off work to volunteer there.”

Tom eventually quit his job to volunteer in Calais permanently, returning in 2017 to find that as many as 600 refugees were still sleeping rough despite the demolition of the Jungle camp.

He acted as a member of the Human Rights Observer team, monitoring, documenting and, where safe and applicable, intervening in incidents where refugees were in trouble.

It was while he was going to help some refugees who were apparently being confronted by the authorities on an area near the ring road in the northern area of Calais that he was arrested.

“In my time in Calais, I don't think I came across a single refugee who had not sustained some form of abuse,” he said.

“I myself was physically assaulted and violently detained, which led to me having to leave Calais, so I cannot imagine how my refugee friends have suffered.”

“I am grateful for the support I received from Father Garry of the church of St Joseph the Worker in Bidford-on-Avon who said prayers for me at Mass and wrote a character reference for use during my trial.”

Investigations into the actions of the French police during the Calais incident are ongoing.

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Wonderful ‘hidden gem’ holds a special place in Mary’s heart M

ARYVALE Institute has a special place in Mary Drozd’s heart – and it often draws her back. The healthcare specialist sings the praises of the Maryvale Certificate in Catechesis (MCC) course on which she studied from 2015-2017.

Mary, who lives in nearby Sutton Coldfield, enrolled at the Institute because she wanted to deepen her knowledge to help her with her catechetical work in her local church.

Since completing her studies she has returned regularly, going back for retreat days and participation in the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus each June.

“Maryvale is a hidden gem tucked away – it’s a wonderful place,” said Mary. “There is a very spiritual atmosphere, always welcoming and prayerful.”

Manchester-born Mary graduated in 1987 with a BA Hons in Healthcare Studies from Oxford Brookes University and became a ward manager when she moved to the West Midlands to be nearer her husband.

After completing a Masters of Science Degree in Health Sciences at the University of Birmingham she worked as an Advance Practitioner before joining a local university as a senior lecturer and is currently completing a Professorial Doctorate in Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton.

Alongside her role in Advanced

“

There is a very spiritual atmosphere, always welcoming and prayerful.

Mary Drozd

”

Mary Drozd pictured in the Drinkwater Library at the Maryvale Institute.

Clinical Practice she still finds time to play an important role at her local Catholic church in St Nicholas parish, Boldmere.

“I got involved with teaching the Children’s Liturgy of the Word but I felt I needed to increase my knowledge so that I could become more sure and confident with the children and parents,” she said.

“My two-year part time course with the Maryvale Institute was partly achieved through distance learning although I went in for study days on Saturdays, three times a year.

“I was taught by a variety of teachers, all of them inspirational, and the 12 modules also gave me really practical knowledge for the sessions with children. At the

Top international distance-learning college ESTABLISHED more than 35 years ago as the Archdiocesan Centre for Catechetics and Adult Education, Maryvale Institute has developed to become an international distance-learning college offering adult courses from further education to PhD level in a range of Catholic studies.

Successful Further Education students receive a Maryvale Certificate while Higher Education courses are offered through validation

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partnerships with Liverpool Hope University and the Open University.

The House at Maryvale can accommodate up to 150 on a day basis in its lecture, conference and seminar rooms and the integration of study and prayer is a feature of all courses.

To contact Maryvale about courses go to Maryvale.ac.uk/contact-us, phone 0121 360 8118 or write to Maryvale Institute, Maryvale House, Old Oscott Hill, Birmingham B44 9AG.

outset, when I was feeling some reticence about being able to combine the MCC course with my day job, I was given some valuable reassurance by the Course Director Dr Marie Cooke.”

Mary, who now delivers Sacramental Preparation for Children at her local church, has been able to put into practice the lesson plans and structured teaching which she learned about on the course.

She also benefits from an enhanced spiritual perspective thanks to the Institute.

“Maryvale has helped me to deepen my own faith and trust in the Lord to help me with what I do,” said Mary. “I have learned a huge amount – you are never on your own.”

Mary was part of the contingent from Maryvale who travelled to Rome for the canonisation of Blessed John Henry Newman.

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Hope for homeless in their darkest days and nights IVING hope to the homeless in their darkest days is the inspiring aim behind the Coventry Winter Night Shelter initiative.

Eight churches from different Christian denominations in the city are making space available to those in need at the harshest time of the year through the winter months.

Rough sleepers can find food and a bed for the night between December 1 and March 31 thanks to the project which is now in its seventh year.

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Bernardo sets up a bed in the church hall.

The heart-warming scheme is run by Hope Coventry, an ecumenical charity set up to bring together the churches of the city to work for those in need and bring the love of Christ to bless them.

“We specifically set up the Winter Night Shelter to provide accommodation to people who would otherwise be sleeping rough,” said Co-ordinator Bernardo Cañas.

“We bring hope to people who have difficult lives. Our approach is non-judgemental because it can happen to anybody to find themselves living rough – all you need is a combination of factors.

“We try to help guests move on by engaging with them, giving them advice and support. By looking after their wellbeing we make sure they do not have gaps in their support.” Addressing the needs of the homeless in Coventry, the Winter Night Shelter works with other services and agencies including the City Council to ensure low and medium risk people get a roof over their heads.

Anyone wishing to avail themselves of the Shelter should present themselves to the Steps for Change hub at 8 City Arcade in the city centre.

Would-be guests are interviewed and risk assessed and the service is offered to everyone no matter whatever their circumstances or

Project Co-ordinator Bernardo Cañas outside St Columbas United Reform Church, one of the venues for the Coventry night shelters this winter. Below Bernardo sets up a bed in the church hall.

local connection and benefits. More than 300 volunteers are expected to join the running of the scheme this year, helping to staff the three shifts which run through each night at the venues.

“We rely on the volunteers – without them we would not be able to run the project,” said Bernardo. “They help supervise and give companionship to the guests, providing a caring environment and a safe space where they can relax.”

Each hall provides 20 beds per night, though this number may increase in extreme conditions.

“We give the guests a light evening meal and breakfast and provide them with some table games,” Bernardo added. “Some of the venues have showers, areas for socialising or even pool tables.”

The project has been so successful that some erstwhile guests have returned to offer their services as volunteers.

The venues are: Monday: All Souls Catholic Church, Kingsland Avenue; Tuesday: Methodist Central Hall, Warwick Lane; Wednesday: St Osburg’s Catholic Church, Barras Lane; Thursday: Salvation Army, Upper Well Street; Friday: Limbrick Wood Baptist Church, Faseman Avenue; Saturday: St Columba’s United Reformed Church, St Columba’s Close; Sunday (December-January) St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Walsgrave Road (February-March) St Alban’s Anglican Church, Mercer Avenue. ● The Coventry Night Shelter is looking for volunteers to cover shifts, especially at night.

To contact the organisers go to: hopecoventry.org.uk/projects/cwns Advent 2019 The Sower

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Four priorities are crucial pillars of vision for future of Archdiocese

By A R C H B I S H O P

BERNARD LONGLEY

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OU may know that I have been Archbishop for nearly 10 years now. It seems a good time to reflect and then to look to the future.

We have a mandate given to us by Our Lord to spread the good news and serve and grow the faith for the coming decade and beyond.

Pope Francis is encouraging us to do something new to help us achieve this.

In Evangelii Gaudium he encourages us, the Christian faithful, “to embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation marked by this joy [of the Gospel] while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.”

Pope Francis urged the entire Church “to embark on a new chapter of evangelism”. The Church must understand itself as a “community of missionary disciples”, who are “permanently in a state of mission”.

He says that “mere administration can no longer be enough”.

I have started the process of engaging with the clergy, Religious and lay faithful – calling this process Towards a Diocesan Vision: Unfolding God’s Plan. When I look ahead, I envisage a Catholic diocese which is: ● Faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ ● Full of intentional disciples in vibrant communities of faith, joyful in their service of God and others ● Where many more lay people are engaged in collaborative ministry How can it happen and what will that look like given the challenges we face? I envisage parishes being grouped perhaps under fewer deaneries and fewer priests. Maybe in a deanery with 10 priests, there might be 100 lay people fully engaged in collaborative ministry. This means working in a different way, with far more people being personally involved in the ministry of our parishes.

Upon reflection, I am proposing four themes that are the pillars on which rests the core work of the Archdiocese and its parishes. As we undertake this work of renewal of the Church we need to ask: how do we plan for the future so that our parishes are flexible and capable of self-renewal in order to evangelise, form its parishioners and serve others in their local community? How can we work differently, more collaboratively with laity taking on more, and in greater depth? Looking at the four themes helps us see where we need to go:

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EVANGELISATION

CHARITY AND SOCIAL OUTREACH

This is an imperative that emerges from catholicity. The primary function of the Church is to be all-embracing with the truth of the Gospel, to evangelise.

Pope St Paul VI reminds us that this is the Church’s essential mission and the new evangelisation directs us especially to those groups of the baptised who have lost a living sense of the faith.

Caritas is in the very nature of what it is to be Church, as one (in solidarity), holy (God is Caritas) catholic (seeking the common good of all) and apostolic (sent to set captives free).

The catechism (1889) describes charity as the greatest social commandment. It is God’s work, a clear priority in the ministry of Jesus and therefore central to the life of all his disciples too. So how can we respond effectively to Jesus’s command to feed, clothe and visit ‘the least of these’?

This is also an important way to look at evangelisation. There must be a desire to invite people from within the church community to play a more active role and to do this we must ensure that the Gospel is something that is seen as compelling, not compulsory.

FORMATION Fidelity to the apostolic tradition leads to an emphasis on formation for the laity and for the clergy. In the Archdiocese we are very blessed to have the presence and work of the Maryvale Institute. How can our parishes help us to shape what Maryvale offers in the future?

WORSHIP & SACRAMENTAL LIFE The Sacraments are given to us by God, not invented by us. In the Eucharist we have a Sacrament that is both “source and summit of the Christian life” (LG 11) and its importance should be revealed by the manner in which we celebrate it. That these Sacraments are celebrated with joy and reverence is vital.

These are signs that we are welcoming God’s grace, responding to it and willing to be sent, to bring it to others.

CHARITY AND SOCIAL OUTREACH: Volunteers from the Saint Vincent de Paul Society at Redditch serve free food to the needy in Birmingham city centre.

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Prayer for the Diocesan Vision Lord God, Creator of the world and author of all that is good, we seek your guidance and inspiration as a Diocesan family.

YOUNG PEOPLE: Members of the Kenelm Youth Trust are creating important links with communities in the Archdiocese.

In our work on the four themes it is important that young people and families are a particular area of focus for all that we do. The universal call to holiness finds its first expression within families and its first recruits among young people. Catholic education and our diocesan youth services play an important role in serving families and young people. The links between the family, the parish and the school are vital to ensure that the faith is handed on.

Schools, for instance, have an important role in engaging with families and encouraging them to be involved in their parishes more. Equally though, we must look at ways to reach out to people outside the church community. Good examples of this include working with other people of goodwill to provide night shelter or support for refugees, where we can influence people in an unspoken way.

Or through initiatives such as Nightfever, which is being run in places like Oxford and Stourbridge, and through the youth service based at Alton Castle.

We have created a resource group, comprising of lay people and some clergy, to look at the resources we can pool for you and your parishes, to support the conversations you have in your parishes as we move from maintenance to mission, as Christ compels us.

The next step is to engage with the parishes. I ask you now: do you recognise these as the priorities for your parish and deanery? Is there something that is missing?

Reflect on these four pillars – what challenge does God give you personally? We are all called to be missionary disciples. I invite you to consider what you

EVANGELISATION: A divine renovation discussion group is led

by Evangelisation Field Worker Paul Northam at the home of Maureen O’Leary, left, along with group participant Maria Northam.

could do differently, no matter how small a difference it would make.

What would make you engage in a way you haven’t before? What could we do as an Archdiocese? What could you do to keep faith alive in you and in others?

We will keep having conversations with parishes but this will not be a quick process – this is a large and wonderfully diverse Archdiocese. We must get it right and know that we can move forward confidently on our new paths. We are starting, with a small number of deaneries, to explore the ways we can fulfil those four priorities and build stronger missionary communities.

Please join us in prayer as we all discern our part in unfolding God’s plan.

You may also find it useful to review some texts and resources which aim to strengthen and renew our faith community: Evangelii Gaudium: Apostolic Exhortation on the church’s primary mission of evangelisation in the modern world – Pope Francis Divine Renovation: From a Maintenance to a Missional Parish – Fr James Mallon Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter – Michael White Forming Intentional Disciples: The path to knowing and loving Jesus – Sherry Weddell Becoming a Parish of Intentional Disciples – Sherry Weddell Fruitful Discipleship: Living the Mission of Jesus in the Church and in the world – Sherry Weddell

Give us missionary zeal in the renewal of our parish communities.

May the gifts of your Holy Spirit be the source of all formation.

May our closeness to your Son Jesus, in prayer, in Scripture and in the Sacraments make us convincing heralds of the Good News.

Bless our homes, families and schools with knowledge of your constant and compassionate presence.

As you shape our lives from the moment of our baptism, keep before our eyes the needs of our neighbour, and encourage us to know that your Kingdom is promised first to those who know their need for you, the ones Whom your Son chooses and calls by name.

We make our prayer through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception: Pray for us St Chad: Pray for us St John Henry Newman: Pray for us Blessed Dominic Barberi: Pray for us.

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REVIEW of the YEAR

MARRIAGE MASS: Over 6,500 years of marriage were celebrated at St Chad’s Cathedral in February. The Cathedral was packed as almost 200 couples and their families gathered to take part in the Archdiocese’s first Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage.

WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE: Around 300 pilgrims made their way to Walsingham in May for the annual Diocesan pilgrimage, with Bishop David McGough observing: “The brightest light shining is the faith that brings us here.”

ORDINATIONS: The Archdiocese rejoiced this summer as three new priests were ordained by Archbishop Bernard Longley at St Chad’s Cathedral. Friends, family, clergy and well-wishers filled the Cathedral to witness this momentous day for Frs Marco Egawhary, Ryan Service and John Waters, who have spent several years studying at the Venerable English College, Rome.

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

ROSARY LIVE: In October thousands of children from the schools of the Archdiocese spent time praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary with Archbishop Bernard. A live-stream from St Chad’s Cathedral enabled schools to pray together virtually to celebrate October as an Extraordinary Missionary Month.

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WOMEN OF THE ARCHDIOCESE: The second dedicated Day of Recollection took place in July as dozens of women gathered together. The focus was ‘Beloved child of God – Discipleship’ and featured guest speakers Marie Fahy and Bridie Spicer.

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Tributes paid to Pat by her office colleagues T

RIBUTES are being paid to Patricia Flanagan of the Archdiocese’s Property Department who sadly died aged 62 after a short illness.

Birmingham-born Pat (as she was known to her colleagues) was unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumour in early April and passed away peacefully on 26th August.

Colleagues at Cathedral House say “she is missed every day” both for the way she provided outstanding administrative support and for her friendship.

Pat worked as a Property Assistant for Birmingham City Council for many years before moving to take up her role within the Archdiocese.

She was responsible for providing organisational, secretarial and property management support to the surveyors within the Property Team.

“She was extremely helpful and kept us all ship-shape on a daily basis fielding telephone calls and continually updating the cases on which we were working,” said Senior Surveyor Joan Diamond.

“She fitted into her role perfectly and was always a positive and cheery presence in the office.

“She introduced a very efficient filing system for all of the properties owned by the Archdiocese and assisted parishes on a daily basis with property enquiries.

“One of the things I remember fondly about Pat is the caring and thoughtful way she dealt with all the clergy especially retired priests.”

Described as being “highly organised, funny, intelligent, hard working, patient and kind,” Pat had a deep faith and despite her illness managed to attend two Masses in May during the annual Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.

Throughout her illness, work colleagues gathered together

Pat Flanagan whose colleagues are fundraising in recognition of the care she received at St Giles Hospice.

What’s On A packed programme of events is taking place in the months ahead.

SPECIAL Christmas services are being held across the Archdiocese during Advent.

Full details of dates and times can be found at churches or by visiting their websites.

To find a local church website go to www.birminghamdiocese. org.uk

ST Mary’s College at Oscott, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, is throwing its doors open to the public in the New Year.

Tours of the college, a residential facility for young men who entered into the vocation of training to be part of the Catholic Priesthood, are being held on Wednesdays at a cost of £10 for an adult.

The tours, which begin at 1pm and last approximately two hours, include a cup of tea and a slice (or two) of home baked cake.

Dates for the tours are 29th January; 5th, 12th and 19th February; 11th, 18th and 25th March.

daily to say the Angelus prayer for her and her family.

Her funeral was held at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Great Barr, Birmingham, with around 250 people in attendance including a large number of staff from the Archdiocese.

A coffee morning in Pat’s memory, held by clergy and staff, subsequently raised around £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Pat spent the last five weeks of her life at St Giles Hospice in Walsall, where she and her family received wonderful support.

In recognition of the care she was given, the Property Department is organising

fundraising activities and events over the forthcoming year to raise money for this hospice.

Anyone wishing to help with the fundraising or make a donation in memory of Pat should contact Joan Diamond or Heidi Davies in the Property Department on 0121 230 6221 or at joan.diamond@ rc-birmingham.org and heidi. davies@rc-birmingham.org.

Pat is survived by husband Terry, sons Mark and Andrew, and grandchildren Conor and Thomas.

“They were all greatly cherished by Patricia,” said her sister, Marian. “We will miss her kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit.”

THE 116th annual ball in aid of Father Hudson’s Care takes place on Saturday 1st February at St John’s Hotel, Solihull, starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £45 and fundraising proceeds will go to St Joseph’s Care Home, Erdington, to build a “living wall” for residents with dementia.

For tickets please email Ginny at Father Hudson’s – ginnycullen@fatherhudsons.org.uk – or call 01675 434015.

Preferential rates have been secured at the hotel on double/twin rooms, which includes breakfast and use of all hotel facilities including the spa and the gym.

● For more details about upcoming events visit the Archdiocese’s website: www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk

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Textiles Tutor Margaret Richards, left, teaches felt-making as part of her “sew amazing” classes at Anawim Women’s Centre.

Also pictured, left to right, are service users Lei Liu, Summera Salam and Aklima Rahman.

Volunteers give crucial support and practical help to vulnerable women A

voluntary sector organisation supporting women vulnerable to prostitution has ever-growing links with the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

Anawim began 33 years ago when two sisters of Our Lady of Charity took their mission to work with vulnerable women to the streets of Balsall Heath.

Supported over the years by Father Hudson’s Care, the Archdiocese’s social care body, the group has a strong partnership with its local Catholic church.

Anawin’s headquarters is on the site of the Church of St John the Evangelist and St Martin de Porres in Balsall Heath and the charity is now entering into a mutually beneficial working arrangement with the church hall.

The church has received National Lottery and other funding for a full refurbishment of its hall to re-establish it as the B12 Urban Village Hall, open to all the local community.

The refurbished hall will include a commercial kitchen equipped for full catering training and the residents at Dawn House – who had input into the design – are being enlisted to help with the janitorial duties.

“The church is asking us to provide

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“

Our women will develop practical skills which eliminate their reliance on others, particularly on men.

Joy Doal, Anawim CEO

”

cleaning, opening up, checking and locking up with a catering option added in,” said Joy Doal, Anawim Chief Executive Officer.

“These volunteering opportunities will increase self-worth and lead to employment and financial independence. We are also providing women with the tools to move out of the self-blame mindset which, historically, society has imposed on women.

“Our women will develop practical skills which eliminate their reliance on others, particularly on men, such as household maintenance, empowering them to live independently.”

It’s the latest example of the way Anawim (an Aramaic word meaning those with no

voice) works with partners to help women achieve their goals and reach their full potential as part of the wider community.

Anawim helps women over 18 who are involved in and around prostitution, offending behaviour, drug abuse and sexual exploitation. As well as counselling services it provides a full timetable of courses and activities which raise confidence, self-esteem, skills and social responsibility.

Over the years the Archdiocese of Birmingham and the Parish have supported Anawim’s vital work by agreeing to new leases and new builds on their land.

The Women’s Centre is a “one stop shop” for women with complex needs. It runs in collaboration with the National Probation Service and NHS England as well as numerous agencies.

Anawim was commended in the Robin Corbett Award in 2018 for prison in-reach and “through the gate” services provided to women at HMP Foston Hall. ● The charity is looking for volunteers and mentors to work in the Centre and with women in the local community. Anyone interested should phone 0121 440 5296.

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Partnership working is paying dividends at Lumen Christi A

N inspiring prayer partner initiative is just one of the ways in which pupils at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School are interacting with their younger counterparts at primary level.

Partnership working between schools is paramount at the Lumen Christi Catholic Multi Academy Company which comprises the mixed secondary St Thomas Aquinas and six primaries.

Primary pupils attend the secondary school for science lessons, PE events and accelerated reading while a number of St Thomas Aquinas students volunteer to help out in the “feeder” schools which are St Joseph’s, King’s Norton, St Columba’s, Rednal, St Brigid’s, Northfield, St Paul’s, Birmingham, St Thomas More’s, Sheldon, and St James’, Rednal.

The prayer partner scheme was introduced by Anna O’Driscoll, the Lay Chaplain at St Thomas Aquinas which is located in King’s Norton, Birmingham.

“By linking a Year 3 student with one of our Year 7 students we can enable them to pray for each other and get to know more about each other’s school,” she said.

“Prayer is one of the most powerful things a human can experience. By calling each other prayer partners they talk about prayer and how to pray for each other as well as other people.

“The younger students come to understand that faith is something that continues and grows and supports them at different stages in their lives.”

The Year 7 students meet their prayer partner for the first time in the primary school and attend Mass with them.

The following year they attend a prayer service in the St Thomas Aquinas School chapel, usually based around the theme of Trinity.

“A common theme of all our schools is that Christ is the centre of all that they do, not only in their own school but in all the Lumen Christi schools,” said Anna.

Primary pupils also attend the Evening of Carols and Readings at the secondary school in Advent, a series of Science Masterclasses are planned for Year 5 pupils and children are taught songs in their primary schools by music teachers from St Thomas Aquinas.

The Lumen Christi Multi Academy Company, formed in 2015, was launched in response to the Diocesan Academy strategy. It began as a journey of increased dialogue and discovery as Principals met

PRAYER PARTNERS: Reece, aged 8, from St Brigid’s Primary with 13-year-old Elsa from St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School. Our cover photo features Prayer Partners Martha, aged 8, from St James’ Primary and 12-year-old Siyanda from St Thomas Aquinas.

to share good practice and establish an effective programme of co-working.

“Our approach of collaboration and alignment has led more and more to common systems for curriculum, teaching and learning and faith formation,” said Senior Executive Leader Clare Madden.

“A huge initiative for collaborative working began with the development of our own knowledge curriculum in history, geography and music.

“This has helped to improve the quality of education, reduce teacher workload and build professional relationships with Lumen Christi schools and with other local primary schools also.” Lumen Christi is planning an Academy-wide Mission for July 2020 with the theme “Let His Light Shine Through Our Service” exploring during the year and throughout a week-long programme how people can show their love of Christ through their daily actions and demonstrate how their lives can reflect the “Light of Christ”.

PRAYER PARTNERS: Lucas, aged 9, from St Columnba’s Primary and 12-year-old Beatrice of St Thomas Aquinas.

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A Parable

for our time

Continuing the series where The Sower highlights how the parables of Jesus are strongly relevant in modern-day life, Andrew Quinn, Chief Executive Officer of Father Hudson’s Care, explains how the parable of the rich man and Lazarus relates to the vital and extensive work carried out by the charitable agency.

Father Hudson’s services are the riches it shares with ‘Lazarus’ today There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table…

Luke Chapter 16: 9-31

T

ONIGHT I will eat a meal with my family, sitting around a table.

I am the rich man.

My parents loved me, provided a stable home, sacrificed much to ensure I received a good education.

I am the rich man.

I have a job and a job that I actually love.

I am clearly the rich man.

Over the weekend I have shared three wonderful meals – to celebrate my brother-in-law’s 60th, with some friends to talk about their son’s wedding, and after seeing a game at Twickenham for the first time in my life.

I am without doubt the rich man.

I belong to a worshipping community and am nourished regularly with His word and His body.

I am unquestionably the rich man.

I live in a country that respects most of my civil rights.

I am most certainly the rich man.

This list could go on and on.

And who is Lazarus? He, she is at my door. I don’t have to walk far to find him, to find her.

Walking through the streets of Birmingham all I would have to do is open my eyes, if I wanted to, if I dared to.

At Father Hudson’s we dare to,

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Volunteer Deborah Doherty hands fresh towels to Tabor House homeless shelter guest Antal Bujnoczki. The shelter in Birmingham city centre is run by Father Hudson’s Care with support from partners including the Archdiocese.

we want to and as a result of this opening of our eyes, of our ears and I hope of our hearts, we provide 17 different services – to people with dementia, young people who are not able to live with their birth parents, people who experience disabilities, those who are homeless, refugees, asylum seeking women, vulnerable older people, adults who had been separated in childhood from their parents and siblings, families and young people living in poverty… if you want to know more please look at our website.

These services are our riches; these are our treasures. We are not

burying our wealth in the ground.

We are not pulling down our barns and building bigger ones, sitting back and relaxing.

We know today is the day to do good or not do good. The rich man left it too late. He was a good family man – he cared for his five brothers – but that’s not enough.

He knew Lazarus’s name, but when he looked at him he saw a slave – even in the afterlife – not a brother or a sister. Christ expects more; much, much more.

I can see the wry smile on Jesus’s lips – “even if somebody should come back from the dead they would not be convinced”.

His coming back from the dead was to support the disciples, to be with them as they carried on his work and mission. It was not to convince the unbelievers.

He’s with us at Father Hudson’s as we continue to carry out this essential, not additional or optional, part of the Church’s work and mission.

We hope the Archdiocese and individuals and families in the Archdiocese continue to value and want to be part of this great work and mission.

■ For more information please visit the website www.fatherhudsons.org.uk

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The Archdiocese in partnership with the Medaille Trust is running a six-year Look Up campaign to raise awareness of the problem of modern slavery in the UK. Young women are often victims – and the Trust has a number of safe houses where they are provided with a safe haven. Here MIRELLA, who was forced into prostitution, tells how she was helped to regain her independence and find a secure life with her child.

A story of criminal exploitation but one of

HOPE AND A NEW LIFE “ I

sought asylum in the UK after encountering difficulties in Albania where I was born and grew up.

After an unsuccessful attempt through official channels my boyfriend and I agreed to pay money to some people smugglers if they could help us enter the UK. We travelled to meet them in Dublin and they put us on a flight to the UK. Once there, we met two Albanian men so we could make the payment of 8,000 euros which they had asked for.

But when we joined them in their small black car they demanded 12,000 euros. My boyfriend could not pay this so one of them dragged him out of the car and the other drove off with me in the back seat.

The driver told me that if I screamed, asked for help or made an attempt to escape I would be killed. I was driven for an hour and a half and taken to a house where I was imprisoned.

I was forced to work as a prostitute against my will, two or three times every evening with

men that I did not know.

Shortly afterwards I became pregnant. One morning a fire alarm was set off inside the premises and I was asked to leave.

As soon as I left the building I ran off and then walked for about an hour to a phone shop where I bought a mobile phone.

Then I walked to a nearby supermarket where I heard a woman talking in Albanian so I asked her for help. She took me to people who could assist me and eventually I was enrolled at a safe

Vital support to help overcome trauma ZOE SMITH, Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Medaille Trust, said: “Mirella’s story is very common and Albania is the second largest source country for modern slavery in the UK. We run nine safe houses of which six are for women.

“A lot of women are trafficked into the sex industry in the UK and a number fall pregnant through that abuse. Our experienced staff at the

safe houses are able to support them through the trauma and psychological ramifications.

“We offer not just a safe environment but a place where the women can rebuild their self-esteem and we work with other agencies to support them as they regain their independence and re-enter society.”

For more information about the Medaille Trust visit www.medaille-trust.org.uk

Thanks to the Trust I received wonderful support throughout childbirth. My baby is now healthy and thriving.

Mirella

”

house belonging to the Medaille Trust. I was 36 weeks pregnant and I had received no ante-natal care.

Thanks to the Trust I received wonderful support throughout childbirth. My baby is now healthy and thriving. I am still being supported to access healthcare services and I attend groups with plenty of activities.

I arrived with nothing for my baby – but through the Trust I received donations of new bedding, clothes, toys, essentials like nappies, a Moses basket and a pushchair. I am so grateful for their help. ● Mirella is not her real name.

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Oratory Preparatory School Head Boy Oliver Merritt and Head Girl Grace l’Anson take bread and wine to the altar at the Thanksgiving Mass at the Lateran Basilica.

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Pope Francis waves to the crowds at the canonisation.

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the canonisation.

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

P

Prince Charles, future head of the Church of England, pictured at the canonisation.

He later met with Pope Francis.

ILGRIMS from Birmingham Archdiocese were among the tens of thousands who gathered in St Peter’s Square for the canonisation of Saint John Henry Newman.

The Oratorian, Cardinal and scholar, who spent the second half of his life in Birmingham, was declared a saint by Pope Francis alongside four women who were also being canonised.

His Holiness read the decree of canonisation during an open-air Mass before 50,000 worshippers at the Vatican and prayed in his homily that Christians be “kindly lights amid the encircling gloom,” a reference to Saint John Henry’s famous hymn Lead Kindly Light.

Among the many prominent church figures who journeyed to Rome was

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Pilgrims from the Archdiocese attend the Vigil of Prayer and Celebratory Concert at Basilica Papale Santa Maria Maggiore.

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The Sower Advent 2019

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Saint John Henry canonisation brings everyone together in warm rejoicing Archbishop Bernard Longley who played a leading role in the beatification of John Henry Newman and presented the petition for canonisation to Pope Benedict XV1.

Archbishop Bernard, who concelebrated at the Canonisation Mass, praised the canonisation for bringing different churches together.

In a mark of Christian unity, Anglican representatives were blessed at the subsequent Thanksgiving Mass and Prince Charles, future head of the Church of England, met Pope Francis.

Pilgrims at the canonisation included pupils from the linked Oratory School and Oratory Preparatory School at Woodcote near Reading which were founded by Saint John Henry.

The boys were invited to serve in the sanctuary for the other services surrounding the main Papal Mass.

Two of the pupils found themselves sitting next to the American recipients of the two miracles which led to the canonisation.

“To be present was an astonishing, overwhelming experience,” said Father Kenneth Macnab, Chaplain of both schools.

The universality of the multi-cultural audience impressed many and Father Macnab found the sense of being part of a world-wide Oratory movement intense.

“Oratories tend to be small, flexible communities and this brought us all

Pictured at the Ecumenical Vespers at St Chad’s Cathedral to celebrate the canonisation of Saint John Henry are, left to right, Bishop of Lichfield Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Rt Revd David McGough, Dean of St Philip’s Cathedral Very Revd Matt Thompson, Dean of St Chad’s Cathedral Mgr Timothy Menezes, iconographer Noreen Thornhill, Archbishop of Birmingham Most Revd Bernard Longley, Bishop of Aston Rt Revd Anne Hollinghurst, Bishop of Coventry Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth and Bishop of Birmingham Rt Revd David Urquhart. At the front, is the newly unveiled icon of Saint John Henry written by Noreen Thornhill. Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

together from all over the world,” he said.

Around eight pilgrimages to Rome – some of them by individuals – were made by people from the Archdiocese including a group of 30 from St Chad’s Cathedral and Maryvale Institute and another from Newman University.

The canonisation ceremony was viewed live in the Upper Cloister Hall of the Birmingham Oratory and it was shown on a big screen to hundreds of people at Holy Trinity Church, Bilston, one of the St Newman cluster of parishes

in Wolverhampton where Cardinal Newman ministered to the sick. In the run-up to the canonisation a number of schools and churches in the Archdiocese staged celebrations.

Cardinal Newman School at Coventry held a Mission Week on the theme of “Journey to Sainthood” with students taking part in activities and workshops.

A sixth former at St Gregory the Great Catholic School in Banbury created a large portrait of Newman for the sixth-form centre

which was officially re-named after the Saint.

On the Friday following the canonisation a Pontifical High Mass (Latin) was held with Archbishop Bernard at Birmingham Oratory.

On Sunday 20th October Ecumenical Vespers were held at St Chad’s Cathedral with Monsignor Roderick Strange in the presence of the Archbishop, the Anglican Bishops of Birmingham, Aston, Coventry and Lichfield, civic guests and representatives of other faith communities.

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Oratory Preparatory School Head Boy Oliver Merritt and Head Girl Grace l’Anson take bread and wine to the altar at the Thanksgiving Mass at the Lateran Basilica.

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Pope Francis waves to the crowds at the canonisation.

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the canonisation.

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

P

Prince Charles, future head of the Church of England, pictured at the canonisation.

He later met with Pope Francis.

ILGRIMS from Birmingham Archdiocese were among the tens of thousands who gathered in St Peter’s Square for the canonisation of Saint John Henry Newman.

The Oratorian, Cardinal and scholar, who spent the second half of his life in Birmingham, was declared a saint by Pope Francis alongside four women who were also being canonised.

His Holiness read the decree of canonisation during an open-air Mass before 50,000 worshippers at the Vatican and prayed in his homily that Christians be “kindly lights amid the encircling gloom,” a reference to Saint John Henry’s famous hymn Lead Kindly Light.

Among the many prominent church figures who journeyed to Rome was

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Pilgrims from the Archdiocese attend the Vigil of Prayer and Celebratory Concert at Basilica Papale Santa Maria Maggiore.

16

The Sower Advent 2019

Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Saint John Henry canonisation brings everyone together in warm rejoicing Archbishop Bernard Longley who played a leading role in the beatification of John Henry Newman and presented the petition for canonisation to Pope Benedict XV1.

Archbishop Bernard, who concelebrated at the Canonisation Mass, praised the canonisation for bringing different churches together.

In a mark of Christian unity, Anglican representatives were blessed at the subsequent Thanksgiving Mass and Prince Charles, future head of the Church of England, met Pope Francis.

Pilgrims at the canonisation included pupils from the linked Oratory School and Oratory Preparatory School at Woodcote near Reading which were founded by Saint John Henry.

The boys were invited to serve in the sanctuary for the other services surrounding the main Papal Mass.

Two of the pupils found themselves sitting next to the American recipients of the two miracles which led to the canonisation.

“To be present was an astonishing, overwhelming experience,” said Father Kenneth Macnab, Chaplain of both schools.

The universality of the multi-cultural audience impressed many and Father Macnab found the sense of being part of a world-wide Oratory movement intense.

“Oratories tend to be small, flexible communities and this brought us all

Pictured at the Ecumenical Vespers at St Chad’s Cathedral to celebrate the canonisation of Saint John Henry are, left to right, Bishop of Lichfield Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Rt Revd David McGough, Dean of St Philip’s Cathedral Very Revd Matt Thompson, Dean of St Chad’s Cathedral Mgr Timothy Menezes, iconographer Noreen Thornhill, Archbishop of Birmingham Most Revd Bernard Longley, Bishop of Aston Rt Revd Anne Hollinghurst, Bishop of Coventry Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth and Bishop of Birmingham Rt Revd David Urquhart. At the front, is the newly unveiled icon of Saint John Henry written by Noreen Thornhill. Photo courtesy of c.Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

together from all over the world,” he said.

Around eight pilgrimages to Rome – some of them by individuals – were made by people from the Archdiocese including a group of 30 from St Chad’s Cathedral and Maryvale Institute and another from Newman University.

The canonisation ceremony was viewed live in the Upper Cloister Hall of the Birmingham Oratory and it was shown on a big screen to hundreds of people at Holy Trinity Church, Bilston, one of the St Newman cluster of parishes

in Wolverhampton where Cardinal Newman ministered to the sick. In the run-up to the canonisation a number of schools and churches in the Archdiocese staged celebrations.

Cardinal Newman School at Coventry held a Mission Week on the theme of “Journey to Sainthood” with students taking part in activities and workshops.

A sixth former at St Gregory the Great Catholic School in Banbury created a large portrait of Newman for the sixth-form centre

which was officially re-named after the Saint.

On the Friday following the canonisation a Pontifical High Mass (Latin) was held with Archbishop Bernard at Birmingham Oratory.

On Sunday 20th October Ecumenical Vespers were held at St Chad’s Cathedral with Monsignor Roderick Strange in the presence of the Archbishop, the Anglican Bishops of Birmingham, Aston, Coventry and Lichfield, civic guests and representatives of other faith communities.

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FOUR

of a kind

In a regular feature, The Sower asks the same four questions of four people carrying out similar service. Here the answers are from Contemplative Religious Sisters.

Sister Elizabeth Walters is the Mother Prioress at the Carmelite Monastery in Wolverhampton What is the most rewarding thing about being a member of a Contemplative Religious Order?

There is deep joy in being a member of a such an Order. How could there fail to be?

He who is the Creator of the Universe, the author of all goodness and beauty is the centre of my life. There is joy because a contemplative vocation is a love story.

It is following a call. As a Carmelite Sister I have a rule of enclosure which gives me the silence and solitude I need for prayer and communion with God, but life in Carmel is not selfish, our prayer is offered for the world in union with Christ.

Work can vary from housework and gardening and laundry, making things for sale etc. Gardening especially is an important part of our life.

How do you make the journey through Advent?

Advent begins a new year for us. The season of hope and joy begins as we prepare the Advent wreath and the candles are lit during Lauds and Vespers as well as Mass. We are able to enter deeply into the spirit of Advent through our daily recital of the Divine Office which is very rich in scriptural references to the coming of the Lord.

What are the main aspects of your daily life?

What do you do to relax?

Put simply they are Prayer, Work and Community. We rise at 5.30am for an hour of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

We have a second hour of silent prayer at the end of the day’s work. We sing or recite the Divine Office together seven times a day.

The centre of this life of prayer is Holy Mass.

At the end of the day there is an hour for free time. Some who are artistically gifted will paint and design cards for printing, others do embroidery or practice musical instruments.

I like doing cross stitch (it is a help to follow a pattern!) but others may walk in the garden, read or pray in chapel.

Sister Elizabeth Walters.

Sister Barbara Claire Kelly is one of the Ordinariate Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Maryvale, Birmingham.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a member of a Contemplative Religious Order?

Contemplative life is for all the baptised, not just for a few… but, for me, belonging to an Order gives the journey focus, and the opportunity and privilege of making that journey with others. As St Benedict said, ‘May He bring us all together to everlasting life’. So it’s not so much about what’s rewarding, but about gift, lived out not just in prayer but in all the daily activities of monastic life, however trivial they may seem.

The recently canonised St John Henry Newman’s motto, ‘Heart speaks unto Heart’, is a wonderful expression of this way of life.

What are the main aspects of your daily life?

Sister Barbara Claire Kelly.

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Benedictine life revolves around the Liturgy, which is at the centre of contemplative life. First of all the Mass, celebrated daily in the Chapel, and then the Divine Office, to which we give our best care and attention.

We also have Adoration every evening. Our lives are shaped by the Psalms, through which we speak to God and He speaks to us.

Our personal prayer, ‘short and pure’ according to St Benedict, grounds all our interior life in encounter with the Lord.

Then, our common life, our service of one another, our hospitality to those who come, together with the Liturgy, give wholeness and balance to our life.

How do you make the journey through Advent?

The season of Advent is particularly a monastic season! Its themes of watching, of journeying in hope, of joy, are intrinsic to monastic life.

The Liturgy is particularly rich, especially the second part when the ‘Great O’ Antiphons begin. Everything is there in the Liturgy, and can be plumbed at ever greater depth. It’s a time of stillness, of waiting in the dark of the year, of preparing spiritually for the Coming of the Lord.

What do you do to relax?

Prayer, work, common life, recreation and rest are carefully structured and balanced in monastic life. There is also opportunity for creativity – for me, photography provides this as well as enabling a contemplative ‘seeing’ of what is around me. The Benedictine tradition understands individual needs, and how they are worked into the total picture, ‘so that in all things God may be glorified’ (1 Peter 4:11).

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Sister Benedict Rowell is a nun in the Order of Benedictines at St Mary’s Abbey, Colwich, Staffordshire.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a member of a Contemplative Religious Order?

I know that whatever happens, each day can be a day of prayer and praise. I have given everything to God, and each moment I can turn anything to his glory.

During the day, I can go to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. On Sundays and Thursdays we have a Holy Hour with Vespers and Compline. In the night, if I am wakeful, I can make a “virtual visit” to the Abbey church, the heart of our home.

What are the main aspects of your daily life?

St Benedict’s Rule builds our life round times of prayer, with work, reading and recreation fitted in. We have daily Mass and two half hours of mental prayer.

The monastic Divine Office of Psalms, hymns and readings brings us together in choir four times a day. I spend time in meditative reading of Scripture and other spiritual books.

My work as bursar keeps me busy in the service of the community, paying bills and getting repairs done. I sometimes welcome the guests. And I

also make our clothes: habits, wimples.

We have shared community meals, when we listen to reading, and times for recreation when we can talk and relax.

How do you make the journey through Advent?

This year we will have a three day silent Advent retreat given by a Benedictine monk. As Advent progresses there is increasing emphasis on special antiphons in the Mass and Divine Office, words drawn from a mingling of Scripture passages.

The climax is in the last week of Advent at Vespers, when we sing each day a centuries-old O Antiphon to introduce the Magnificat, Mary’s Canticle. The last, on 23rd December is: O Emmanuel, come to save us, our Lord God. Advent for me is a very joyful time of expectant waiting and longing: As 23rd December is my birthday, this has always been the start of my family’s Christmas. Come Lord Jesus!

What do you do to relax?

I knit hats for the Apostleship of the Sea to give to seafarers, and I walk in our enclosure garden.

Sister Benedict Rowell.

Sister Carolyne Joseph Preston is one of the Ordinariate Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Maryvale, Birmingham.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a member of a Contemplative Religious Order?

The most rewarding thing about being a member of a contemplative religious order are the many blessings that this life brings; the opportunity of daily Mass, the Choral Office, the experience of Community; all overlaid by the silence and space which aids, not only our prayers but our growth and well being.

There is a tangible sense of the contemplative life being at the heart – although hidden – of the Church; partly through our work of intercession and hospitality; but also on our hilltop here in Maryvale it’s possible to be aware that with our daily round of Mass and Office, we’re praying for and over the city and beyond.

What are the main aspects of your daily life?

Sister Carolyne Joseph Preston with her wire strung lyre.

The daily Mass is the main pivot of the entire day and everything else revolves around that. The Divine Office provides the spokes, and our life of personal prayer

(an hour and a half each day), work and community recreation flows in between, aiming for the Benedictine balance of work and prayer.

How do you make the journey through Advent?

Advent – ‘Little Lent’ – is my favourite of all the seasons. In the headlong rush to Christmas it is so easy to speed through this very beautiful time, barely taking in the ‘scenery.’

An ideal Advent would be where I’m able to step aside to be still and reflect on the passing of an old year with all its grief and joys and hold that in juxtaposition with the expectation of the Incarnation, and facing the future with renewed hope and vigour.

Sometimes I will use Advent themed meditations as part of my Lectio Divina, but normally I simply try to immerse myself in the liturgy, with its music.

What do you do to relax?

My main relaxation is music (playing the alto recorder and wire strung lyre) and cloud watching!

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Monsignor Daniel McHugh, Co-ordinator of the Ethnic Chaplaincies, left, is pictured with Father Terin Mullakkara, a priest of the Keralan Syro-Malabar faith, with the Marthoma cross in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Therese of Lisieux in Saltley, which is the Mass Centre for the St Benedict Mission.

Ethnic chaplains have vital role in supporting migrants moving to UK M

ORE than 20 ethnic chaplains play a vital role in making migrants feel at home in their new surroundings within the Archdiocese.

By providing spiritual and sacramental support to the ethnic communities they allow them to experience the form of worship they enjoyed before moving to the UK. So it was fitting that Bishop Paul McAleenan, Chair of the Office for Migration Policy at the Bishops’ Conference, highlighted the theme of welcoming people of different backgrounds when he spoke at the inaugural meeting of ethnic chaplaincies held at Maryvale Institute.

He said: “While integration is our aim, it’s not the same as assimilation; we have to make people feel at home and that their customs, language, rites and culture are valued. That’s where the Chaplaincy has a vital role to play as well as the Parish.”

The newly-instigated meetings of the ethnic chaplains will give them a chance to share their experiences of ministering to migrant communities.

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In the first session they shared information on themes such as the practical needs of people coming into the country, including issues over work visas, and the ways in which ethnic children can access education and faith learning.

The Catholic chaplains – some of whom are appointed by the Archbishop, others by ethnic Bishops based here or in their country of origin – have a dual role of serving the Catholic faithful in their parish while also ministering to the ethnic groups with the relevant Liturgical Rites.

“We aim to encourage the further integration of ethnic groups into the church community,” said Monsignor Daniel McHugh, the recently – appointed Co-ordinator of Ethnic Chaplaincies, who proposed the Inaugural Meeting. The ethnic communities are to be welcomed – they are full of life and they bring new energy and skills to this country.

“They are raising young families and they have a great potential to play a bigger part in the church community.

“Our next meeting of the chaplains will focus on the aim of achieving a balance between the groups’ own forms of worship and the ways they can be part of the wider church community.”

Around 15 of the ethnic groups came together at the annual Intercultural Mass at St Catherine of Siena in Birmingham on 26 October. They shared their faith, culture and language in a celebration that focused on their key role in the Mission of the Church in the Archdiocese.

Entitled “One in Service to All,” the event was a central element of One World Week as well as Baptised and Sent, the October Month of Mission. ● Communities invited to the Inaugural Meeting included: Eritrean, Congolese (Francophone), Keralan (Syro-Malabar Rite), Chaldean Iraq, Zimbabwean, Keralan (Syrian-Malankara Rite), Korean, Polish, Punjabi, Ukrainian, Nigerian, Lithuanian, Vietnamese, West Indian, Cameroonian, Irish, the Travelling Community, Italian, Brazilian, Portuguese, Filipino and Chinese.

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New Pilgrimage secretary ready to build on previous good works T

HE Lourdes Pilgrimage has been part of Kath White’s life for 25 years – so it’s fitting she should become its new Organising Secretary.

Her previous career as a teacher in a Catholic setting meant she came into contact with many participants in the annual event and she is a founder member of the Birmingham TOBY (The Older Birmingham Youth) group which encourages young adults to support the pilgrimage.

Kath sees her recent appointment as a “natural development” of her Catholic faith journey in which she aims to be “the kind of evangelist Pope Francis encourages”.

As Organising Secretary (or Administrator) her role is to co-ordinate the generosity of the Archdiocese’s volunteers working across all areas of its pilgrimage.

“I am conscious that I have to continue to build on the work that has gone before in encouraging others to be part of the diocesan family on our pilgrimage to Lourdes,” she said.

“This includes finding people to support all areas of our pilgrimage including volunteers for our medical section such as a doctor, nurse or care assistant.

“The posts are vital because our assisted pilgrims are central to our pilgrimage and they are cared for in the Accueil Notre Dame by our medical team and members of the

Kath White pictured in St Chad’s Cathedral.

Birmingham Lourdes Hospitalité.”

Working closely with the Executive and Committee Kath is already holding a number of meetings for school and parish groups in preparation for Lourdes 2020.

“I also have to collaborate with our tour operator Tangney Tours with regard to the logistics of travel and accommodation when we are in Lourdes,” she added.

“

Every pilgrimage is filled with what we call Lourdes Moments, those times when we feel so utterly close to God and one another, which we often refer to as one of the many miracles of Lourdes.

In addition to travelling to Lourdes with the annual pilgrimage, Kath attends the National Conference of Pilgrimage Directors of Great Britain and the International Conference of Pilgrimage Directors which meets in Lourdes in February each year.

The strong sense of vocation which she experienced while she was Head of Secondary Initial Teacher Education at Newman University will be paramount for Kath as she meets the complex challenges of her new job.

She will also be inspired by Lourdes itself which she regards as a formative encounter in her own life: “I remember one year when Cardinal Vincent, as our Archbishop at the time, said ‘In Lourdes the veil between heaven and earth parts briefly’.

“Every pilgrimage is filled with what we call Lourdes Moments, those times when we feel so utterly close to God and one another, which we often refer to as one of the many miracles of Lourdes.

“I have yet to meet any young person who has never benefited from their experience of travelling to Lourdes, where they have encountered who they are and discovered where God may want to lead their futures.”

”

Kath White, Lourdes Organising Secretary

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“

We are trying to reach out to all sorts of people who may have not yet made definite decisions about their faith.

Co-ordinator Matthew Neville

”

FaithJustice Co-ordinator Matthew Neville, left, leads a meet up in Birmingham city centre to discuss how faith can inspire the struggle for justice and peace. He is pictured with, left to right, Peter Doubtfire, Berlind Fellermeier and Orla Breslin.

Harnessing power of faith and the Bible to combat causes of injustice A

new Christian network has been launched to inspire young adults to put their faith into action in response to global justice issues.

FaithJustice, rooted within the Catholic Church, aims to help young adults between the ages of 20 and 35 to reflect on their response to the causes of injustice.

Archbishop Bernard has described the network as “a way of bringing together that wonderful energy which is there for the good of others.”

Through events, which include prayer, reflection and community, the network is seeking to help young adults discover the deep connection between Christian faith and the struggle for justice.

FaithJustice organises a series of days or weekends through the year on different themes of justice or compassion.

The work is supported by five Catholic organisations – the Passionists UK, the Columbans, Pax Christi, the Sisters of

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St Joseph of Peace and the Presentation Sisters.

“We are reaching out to young adults who are interested in exploring issues of justice at the heart of their faith,” said Co-ordinator Matthew Neville. “There are many inspirational young adults out there ready to be leaders in all sorts of ways.

“We hope to give them support and encouragement to grow and develop. Many young adults are working out what is their vocation and how they might serve the world and the Church – we wish to accompany them on this journey of discernment.”

In May an event focusing on welcoming migrants brought together a diverse group including asylum seekers and EU migrants.

Together they challenged each other to look more deeply and they discussed how to make a difference, writing to their MPs about the “Lift The Ban” and “End Detention” campaigns.

These sessions took place alongside several times of prayer through the weekend.

In June the network gathered again at the

Catholic Worker Farm in Hertfordshire to reflect on the arms trade. Aisling Griffin from Pax Christi led a session on the global arms trade, Sister Theodora Hawksley spoke about reconciliation in St Paul, and stories of resistance to the trade in weapons were shared by experienced campaigners.

This weekend was followed up in September by a group of young adults taking part in the “No Faith in War” day of protest against an arms fair in London.

FaithJustice offers a safe space for sharing experiences, encouraging others and asking difficult questions.

It is not just for those who are already working with the homeless, opposing the arms trade or in another way campaigning for change – anyone seeking an experience of faith which is more rooted in the needs of the world is welcome. ● To find out more, learn about forthcoming events and sign up to the mailing list go to faithjustice.org.uk

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Celebration of Word of God to nurture faith and worship A

celebration of the Word of God is set to bloom and flourish in Birmingham Archdiocese in 2020.

Among many events observing the year of “The God Who Speaks” the annual flower festival at St Chad’s Cathedral will have a Biblical theme.

Each floral arrangement will be linked to a passage in the Scriptures so that visitors will be prompted towards greater appreciation of the text.

At the same time an invitation will go out to schools to create a small Bible Garden on their campus with a prize on offer for the most inspiring.

The floral exhibition is just one of the imaginative activities and resources being lined up by a special diocesan committee that has been set up to prepare for the 2020 initiative entitled The God Who Speaks: The Year of the Word.

Celebrating, living and sharing God’s word are the key themes of the celebration which marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV1’s Apostolic Exhortation on the Word of the Lord.

Birmingham Archdiocese’s committee, made of representatives of the youth service, schools, the diocesan training programme and Cathedral dignitaries is working alongside David McLoughlin, Emeritus Fellow of Christian Theology at Newman University, who is the Bible Champion for the initiative.

“The aim is to encourage Catholics in our Archdiocese to engage more actively with the

David McLoughlin with Gentileschi’s Rest on the Flight Into Egypt which he reads as an interpretation of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Word Made Flesh. He is pictured in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Word of God both in personal prayer, the celebration of the Liturgy and then in living out the implications in their own lives and sharing it with others,” said David.

Bible scholars will give talks at a number of key venues including Newman University where an open conference of national and international experts will reflect on contemporary interpretations of the Word of

God. Archbishop Bernard will celebrate the event in St Chad’s Cathedral while Auxiliary Bishops in the North and South of the Archdiocese are set to follow suit, with Deaneries, schools and parishes all becoming involved in Bible-based services.

Resources will be made available to schools including – thanks to generous funding from the Bible Society – thousands of copies of St Matthew’s Gospel

Invite to have Baby Jesus figures blessed SCHOOLCHILDREN throughout the Archdiocese are being invited to take figures of Baby Jesus to church on Gaudete Sunday – the third Sunday of Advent – to be blessed by the Parish Priest.

The figures are blessed with Holy Water and the children take them home so that “the image of Christ is present in their home during the Christmas

season”. Alternatively, the figures could be blessed at the last school Mass before the holiday.

The initiative follows a tradition in Italy known as Bambinelli Sunday when children take their figure of Baby Jesus (known in Italy as Bambinelli) from their Nativity scenes to St Peter’s Square to be blessed by the Pope.

together with paperback Bibles.

“The aim of the Year of the Word is to enrich our current practice of our faith by enabling greater access to the Scriptures and exploring new ways of responding to the God Who Speaks,” said David.

“Through the variety of events and opportunities, spiritual, cultural and liturgical, we hope to enhance our worship and faith practice.

“New artwork has been commissioned and will be shown, and there will be opportunities for more immersive experiences of the Bible and Biblical history.

“During the year there will also be opportunities to engage with the way different religious traditions have prayed and lived out the Scriptures. The beauty is, there are so many different ways of understanding God’s Word.”

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finance

2018 from

Wide range of activities A BERNARD LONGLEY S I reflect on the work of the Archdiocese during 2018, I am struck by the great diversity of activities and initiatives carried out by so many people – clergy, employees, volunteers and others – working within the 217 parishes and the many other religious orders, organisations and societies which make up the Archdiocesan family.

I am heartened that so much has been achieved in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to so many people – through what we say and by the witness we give.

As well as our ongoing work,

By A R C H B I S H O P

there were several important events in 2018 – our participation in Adoremus and the World Meeting of Families in the summer; and the work involved in preparing for, and presenting to, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

In 2019 we have also responded to the Charity Commission Statutory Inquiry into Safeguarding procedures.

I am grateful to all who contributed over the year.

The objectives of the Archdiocese may be summarised as follows:

We support:

We provide:

The provision of religious services.

Maintenance and support of clergy during their active service and in retirement.

Maintenance and upkeep of churches, presbyteries and parish buildings.

Relief of the poor and those in need.

Generally, for any such charitable purpose or purposes as in the opinion of the Archbishop may be conducive to the advancement or maintenance of the Roman Catholic Religion in the Archdiocese.

Education and youth services for children attending Diocesan schools, and young members of the Church.

■ Evangelisation and Catechesis.

■ Working with those struggling financially to supply basic needs for their families such as clothing and food, by providing support through the activities of organisations such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul and food and clothing banks.

■ Outreach work with disadvantaged and vulnerable members of society.

■ Family and Marriage guidance, and family support.

VARIOUS teams within the Archdiocese undertake work to benefit the public at large and the communities served by the parishes.

These include:

■ Provision of support to the elderly, particularly at parish level by providing essential community gathering places, organised activities, support and advice.

■ Assisting with mental health and other health issues through our hospital and prison chaplains.

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These objectives are achieved primarily through the parishes and schools working together with the many Catholic societies and organisations based in the Archdiocese.

Education and training for clergy and those wishing to be ordained.

It has been estimated that volunteers contributed £10m worth of time to the Archdiocese in 2018, which does not feature in the financial statements.

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FINANCIAL SUMMARY THESE summarised financial results for the year ended 31st December 2018 have been extracted from the complete set of annual financial statements on which the auditors have expressed an unqualified audit opinion.

The full financial statements are available on the Diocesan website and on the Charity Commission website under our charity reference number 234216.

The Statement of Financial Activities of the Archdiocese for the year ended 31 December 2018 shows income of £22.58m (2017: £22.65m) analysed as follows:

2018 £0.37m

£3.27m

£2m

■ Donations and legacies – £15.32m offertories, donations, legacies, Gift Aid, etc.

■ Income from charitable activities – £1.62m votive candles, repository and fees, etc.

£15.32m £1.62m

■ Income from other activities – £2m bazaars, etc.

■ Investment income, including interest – £3.27m ■ Other income – £0.37m including net gains on disposals of tangible fixed assets

Expenditure amounted to £26.59m (2017: £25.55m) analysed as follows:

2017

£1.42m

£3.41m

£1.99m

2018

£2.36m

£0.36m £14.21m

£1.62m

£0.81m

£0.45m

£0.36m £3.05m

EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS: ■ Fundraising operations – £0.36m

£6.7m

■ Investment management costs – £0.45m £9.46m £3.04m

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES: ■ Liturgical, Chaplaincies, grants made etc. – £3.05m ■ Curial, Parish and Chaplaincies* etc. general and administrative costs – £9.46m ■ Clergy costs – £3.04m

£0.29m

2017

£0.63m £0.39m

£0.44m £0.57m £4.34m

■ Votive candles, newspapers and repositories costs – £0.36m ■ Schools costs – £0.81m ■ Legal and professional fees – £2.36m including auditor’s remuneration**

£6.87m

£8.95m £3.07m

■ Property – £6.7m including depreciation and impairment

**Chaplaincy etc. general costs include Diocesan activities relating to university and other chaplaincies catering for specific communities and groups within the Archdiocese, also included in this line are bank charges of £0.1m (2017: £0.05m). **Legal and professional fees include auditor’s remuneration of £58k (2017: £57k), costs relating to IICSA are also included here, amounting to £2m (2017: £94k), with the balance being spent on other professional fees relating to HR, pensions, etc and on legal fees mainly relating to building works.

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2018

Evangelisation and communication have been key to reaching out I

N 2018, Evangelisation focused on several key events which embraced people of all ages from the parishes at locations around the world. They included: ■ World Meeting of Families (WMoF) – every deanery sponsored a family to attend the congress, Festival of Families and Papal Mass at WMoF in Dublin. For many of the families this was their first pilgrimage. More than 100 Diocesan pilgrims attended. The pilgrimage resulted in wide coverage including Songs of Praise, Catholic press and local radio stations.

■ Adoremus: the Eucharistic Congress in Liverpool – 500 pilgrims from the Archdiocese attended this historic event and took part in a Eucharistic procession of thousands through the streets.

■ Eucharist and the Family Days were held at six locations around the Archdiocese to provide formation about family and the Eucharist.

■ The catechesis programme Amoris: Let’s Talk Family, Let’s Be Family was run in a number of parishes and schools.

■ A session, developed to answer the questions ‘How do we reach Catholics, especially families who don’t come to church?’ was delivered in a number of schools.

■ Primary schools participated in live Adoration with the Archbishop. The live stream had

more than 800 views and several primary schools held special assemblies. Feedback was very positive and we hope to use more live streaming as a way to connect with schools.

■ A Diocesan celebration day which marked the significant events in the Archdiocese in 2018 was held for more than 300 people at Cardinal Wiseman School in Coventry. This included live streaming of the Canonizations of Pope Paul VI, Oscar Romero and others.

Additionally, the Evangelisation team supports parish evangelisation teams and with parish Alpha training. Two initiatives to increase communications reach have also been launched: The Sower The new official Diocesan publication was launched for Advent 2018. Printed copies are delivered to every parish for distribution.

Vocations – Clergy Training Fund (CTF) The principal purpose of the Clergy Training fund is to finance the costs of formation of students preparing for the priesthood and permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese. The fund also finances the cost of clergy who are doing further studies and events organised for the ongoing formation of clergy.

At the start of the academic year in September 2018 there were five students for the priesthood at St Mary’s College, Oscott, five students at the Venerable English College, Rome, and one student at the Venerable English College in Valladolid, Spain. In 2018, there were also 12 students in formation for the permanent diaconate.

E-newsletter A new e-newsletter takes information previously supplied only to clergy via the Ad Clerum, and shares it more widely to clergy and parishioners, increasing the chances of events being adopted and shared in parishes as well as reducing the burden on clergy.

In addition to the above, a new website was launched in April 2018, using a grant from the Transform Foundation. The website aims to increase clarity and improve relevance to all users.

Head of Development Steve Baylis looks at the Diocesan website.

The Diocesan annual pilgrimage to Lourdes was a wonderful success:

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pilgrims. affiliated pilgrims who made their own travel arrangements. sick pilgrims accommodated in hospital.

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Sunday mid-morning Mass at the Church of Immaculate Conception and St Dominic at Stone.

Above, Sister Betty Larkin with Brid Regan during the Sisters of Mercy annual celebration meal at the Holy Trinity Church, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Below, at the same event, Sister Bridie Stephens talks with Ify Anakwenze.

Parishioners attend the World Meeting of Families in Dublin.

Below, the Pope addresses the huge international congregation at the event.

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2018

Weekly average Mass attendance was approximately

55,700 (2017: 58,300) During the year there were:

4,971 baptisms and receptions (2017: 5,396) The Maryvale Institute in Old Oscott, Birmingham.

705 marriages (2017: 743)

Maryvale’s work absorbed into Archdiocese 3,440 funerals (2017: 3,423)

Parish offertories and other collections (excluding tax reclaims) decreased to

THE work of the Maryvale Institute has been absorbed into the Archdiocese. The assets and liabilities of Maryvale were transferred to the Archdiocese in July 2019.

The aim of the merger was to give financial stability to Maryvale and integrate its activities into the Archdiocese.

Work is progressing on the integration of Maryvale’s work into the Archdiocese with the

£7.8m (2017: £7.9m) The average offertory giving amount per head (including children) increased by

6p to £2.45 per week (2017: £2.39)

Monsignor Mark Crisp and Building Manager Colin Mcloughlin outside the modernised hall at St Bernadette’s Church in Wombourne, which has had new disabled access, kitchen and toilets amongst other improvements.

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creation of a sub-committee to oversee its activities on behalf of the Trustees.

The Institute provides the chance for the lay faithful, clergy and other members of the religious community to achieve a deeper understanding of the Church through learning.

It has a well-equipped library and IT suite and can accommodate up to 150 people for lectures on a daily basis.

During 2018, 10 projects of in excess of £50,000 each in parishes were assisted with grant funding and project management assistance through the Development team.

The total cost of these projects amounted to some £2.6m. There are a larger number of smaller projects with which the team has assisted parishes and obtained grant funding from both private and public bodies.

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SCHOOLS

240

maintained Catholic schools in the Archdiocese Diocesan Education Service

£11.47 million allocated for capital works in our schools from the grant assisted capital programme.

237

schools operating under the charity’s trust deed

OF WHICH: schools for children aged four-11.

203 schools for those aged 34 11-16/19, operate under the charity’s trust.

■ 90 different projects.

■ 20 projects cost over £100,000.

■ 8 were over £200,000.

3 2 2 95

operate under separate trust deeds. maintained schools converted to Academy Status.

Multi-Academies merged.

Academy schools operate under 18 Multi-Academy trusts.

Pupils at Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Coventry, – one of 240 maintained in the Archdiocese. Special workshops were held at the school on the theme of “Journey to Sainthood” to celebrate the canonisation of Saint John Henry Newman.

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2018

Playing full role in parishes T

HIS (2018) was my first year with the Archdiocese in the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer.

This role is part of the transformation of the Curial Office team so that it is better able to offer a higher level of support to parishes and to professionalise the services delivered.

During 2018 we continued the work of earlier years in ensuring that parishes were supported and compliant with regard to the vitally important areas of Safeguarding, Health and Safety and the more recently introduced GDPR requirements.

Work on these areas will continue in 2019 and beyond, particularly with regard to ensuring that Safeguarding processes and procedures are fully implemented, appropriate training is in place and we respond in full to the findings of the various external reviews

By C H I E F O P E R A T I N G O F F I C E R

DAVID BROOKS that have taken place. Looking forward I expect the Curial Office team to play a full role in supporting parishes and deaneries in the unfolding of God’s plan for their communities.

The Archbishop has set out his vision for the Archdiocese and has given us four themes as a framework to support the development of the vision.

We will strive to ensure that the support we provide recognises and responds to the changes to be delivered and allows parishes to focus on our shared Mission of taking the Good News of the Gospel to all parts of our Archdiocese.

Supporting activities of clergy

Archivist Naomi Johnson looks at proposal drawings for a new hall at St Austin’s Church, Stafford, dating from 1953, which are stored in the Archives at Cathedral House.

THE Diocesan Curia continues to support the activities of the clergy in the parishes as well as providing financial support for various activities relating to pastoral care and help such as youth formation and activities, religious education, area catechists, marriage guidance and poor parishes.

Financial support is also given to Catholic national organisations together with chaplaincies and commissions

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Finance Report 2018

within the Archdiocese – for example, prisons, hospitals, universities, ethnic and disabled groups, ecumenism, interfaith, justice and peace, and overseas development.

The Archdiocese maintains the offices of the Vicar General, the Safeguarding Team, Matrimonial Tribunal and Treasury functions together with the Communications Office, Diocesan Archives, Historic

Churches Committee, and also supports the Bishops’ houses together with the Liturgy Commission and the Art and Architecture Committee.

The Archdiocese continues to work closely with and support its associated charities, Maryvale Institute, Father Hudson’s Care, St Mary’s College – Oscott, The Kenelm Youth Trust and Barberi Newman Academy Trust via the services of common trustees.

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FUTURE PLANS

Working closely with young people is one of the key themes of the Diocesan Vision.

Identifying key themes and objectives T

HE intention for the future is to continue to meet the objectives of the Archdiocese – ensuring that it continues to meet its statutory obligations, and in particular, the findings of the report from IICSA. Work is also underway to produce a comprehensive vision to ensure that resources are focused on four key themes

which have been identified. These are: Evangelisation, Formation, Worship and Sacramental Life and Charity and Social Outreach. It is also important that young people and families are a particular area of focus for all that we do.

Work is being done to develop discussions with clergy, religious and laity in parishes to involve as many people as

possible in the process of identifying and delivering our objectives for the Archdiocese.

As part of the strategy to increase funding streams for parishes for capital and charitable purposes, further work is planned to increase the use of online giving through internet use, and to continue to identify projects for grant funding.

For the full financial report, please visit www.bit.ly/bd_annual_report_2018

This is YOUR Church – how you can help 1 Encourage others to join your parish – invite someone to Mass, such as a young family from school.

2 Pray for the spread of good news across our Archdiocese.

How useful did you find this report?

4 Help your local parish on a finance or fundraising committee.

If you have any suggestions on how this document could be improved in the future, please write, email or telephone Sue Simkiss at the Treasurer’s Department:

5 Increase your regular offertory donation.

email: sue.simkiss@rc-birmingham.org

6 Make a Gift Aid declaration.

tel. 0121 230 6283

3 Remember the Church in a will or bequest.

2018 Finance Report

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For editorial enquiries about The Sower, please contact our publisher on 01782 829850 or email thesower@smith-davis.co.uk – the next issue is at Easter. The Sower is produced in conjunction with the Archdiocese Communications Team.

Vocationists Fathers, left to right, Vitalis Barik, Biju Chittuparamban and Andrew Martinez pictured in the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church at Stechford.

Missionaries encourage people to take wondrous path to holiness T

HE three members of the Vocationist community in Stechford, Birmingham, are examples of the wide global reach of their Religious Congregation. The Society of Divine Vocations (SDV) serves God’s people in a wide range of countries including Italy, Brazil, USA, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, France, Madagascar, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia.

The Vocationist Fathers see themselves as missionaries and the Stechford community comprises Father Andrew Martinez, originally from the Philippines, Father Vitalis Barik, from Indonesia and Father Biju Chittuparamban, from India.

Based in the Presbytery alongside Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church they observe community life and take the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience with the Charism to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially among the underprivileged, promoting Universal Sanctification and Divine Union.

“Our order is missionary and we carry out missionary work in any country or community to which we are sent,” said Father Martinez,

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whose first mission was in Indonesia.

“We all came from different cultures to the UK and at first it was challenging but everyone has been very welcoming and supporting so that we don’t feel like strangers or foreigners here.”

The Society of Divine Vocations is a Religious Congregation founded by Blessed Father Justin Russolillo in Naples in 1920, and next year marks the centenary of their Foundation.

In England and Wales there are four communities – Stechford (looking after two parishes), Walsall (three parishes), Holywell, North Wales and Heston, London.

Stechford Community recently welcomed the Vocationists from the three other locations when they hosted their annual regional meeting with their Superior General Father Antonio Nascimento present.

Father Andrew, Superior of the Stechford Community, and Father Vitalis, Vice Superior, carry out their ministry in the parishes of Corpus Christi and St Wilfrid’s while Father Biju, the Treasurer of the Community, serves four days a week at St Mary’s College, the seminary at Oscott.

Fathers Andrew and Vitalis celebrate Mass in the Churches of Corpus Christi and St Wilfrid and deliver frequent homilies on the theme of vocation.

“We try to encourage an awareness of one’s vocation as the path to holiness, whether people are called to priesthood, religious life, married state or to single blessedness,” said Father Martinez.

“To live the vocation to holiness and striving for eternal life is something that has to be nurtured.”

Parish pastoral work includes celebrating the Sacraments, visiting Catholic primary schools of the Parish, giving talks about vocation and their missionary work, supporting the children in their sacramental preparation and visiting the sick and housebound of the Parish working alongside with the Parish Sisters, Sisters of Mercy and Carmelite in Corpus Christi and Holy Spirit Sisters and Sisters of the Infant Jesus in St Wilfrid’s.

The Vocationists in Stechford also act as Chaplains to Heartlands and Solihull Hospitals in an on-call capacity.