The Sower – Advent 2018

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Advent 2018

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A time to rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas >> PAGE FIVE

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© Servizio Fotografico – Vatican Media

WELCOME

By A R C H B I S H O P

BERNARD LONGLEY

To our Diocesan family, THIS magazine is for you and I hope you will take the time to offer feedback on this issue to guide us towards the information and features which would most benefit you and help to strengthen your journey in faith (see form pages 13 and 14).

This September I joined the bishops of England and Wales in Rome for the visit Ad Limina Apostolorum: “Visiting the threshold of the Apostles”.

These visits take place approximately every five years and is our time to meet the Pope, to share our experiences and to present a thorough report on our Archdiocese.

At this meeting the bishops reflected, as they must, on the recent distressing reports of child abuse within the Catholic Church, which show evident failures of leadership.

You will no doubt be aware that this Archdiocese is participating in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) as a case study for the Catholic Church. We were present at a hearing on November 12-16 in London; this is covered further on page four of this publication.

The Archdiocese also commissioned its own reviews into safeguarding, made by independent experts. These have looked at historic abuse and our safeguarding policies and procedures.

We are immensely grateful to those of you who responded to our request for input in the parish bulletins. Your experiences are an important reflection on what has gone right and what should be improved upon.

The recommendations made by these reviews give us cause for serious reflection but also provide valuable insights which enable us to make safeguarding in the

Archbishop Bernard meets with the Pope in Rome.

A simple message: live the gift of our faith with joy

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Archdiocese as effective as possible.

Please pray with us for all victims of abuse and for those who are working so hard to ensure that safeguarding is always firmly at the heart of the Archdiocese.

At the end of the Ad Limina, the bishops asked the Holy Father for a message to bring back to our dioceses, our priests and our people.

His message was simple: we are to live the gift of our faith with joy. Joy was his great emphasis.

He explained that this joy is rooted firmly in our relationship with Jesus. It is a joy of knowing that he is with us; of knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, drawing and guiding us towards the will of God; a joy of knowing our Heavenly Father is waiting for us, longing to hold us in his embrace of loving mercy. This is the joy of the faith by which we are to live.

In this Archdiocese, as in many others, there is a need for the church to grow, looking outwards and delivering its mission.

We are all aware of the challenges we face living in a more secular individualistic

society. We know that many people do not engage with the Church and parish as they have in the past. We are aware that across the Archdiocese Mass attendance has been declining and a drop of vocations to the priesthood is being felt already in the number of priests being asked to look after more than one parish.

We see across the Archdiocese much good work being done as we reach out to those in need through various projects and we know that people are still searching and looking to make sense of their lives. So there is a hunger and we believe that the message in the Gospels can satisfy that hunger – bringing people to that encounter with the Living Christ.

Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel) is an exhortation on “the church’s primary mission of evangelisation in the modern world”.

In this the Holy Father states we need to move “from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry”.

“Mere administration” can no longer be enough. (21)

Throughout the world, let us be “permanently in a state of mission”. (22) These are words which encourage us to think about how we shape our future, and which lead us to create a plan for missionary pastoral ministry across the Archdiocese.

Through a dialogue involving us all we need to discern a way forward. In December I will begin to share my vision for our Archdiocese in the coming years.

This will begin with a series of meetings with the clergy and then widen out across all parishes and deaneries to involve all of us in formulating a way forward that will be focused on how we deliver the mission Christ gave us of making disciples of all nations.

Finally, I hope that this new publication will accompany you in your faith formation and help you to develop and nourish missionary parishes in your own community.

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Historic Adoremus filled thousands with renewed passion for witness T

HE high-profile celebratory event Adoremus made history this year – and filled thousands with enthusiasm and a renewed passion for witness.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress held in Liverpool featured the Blessed Sacrament being carried in procession through the streets for the first time on such an occasion in England and Wales since 1908.

In that year the Government intervened to cancel the Eucharistic procession due to an unfavourable religious climate.

Organised by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Byrne of Birmingham Archdiocese, Adoremus – “Let Us Adore” – was a special opportunity to reflect on the centrality of the Blessed Sacrament in the life of the church.

Around 30,000 people were touched by God during the three-day celebration of Adoration and Holy Mass which began with a Symposium Day attended by 2,500 teachers, catechists, laity and priests including 120 from the Archdiocese.

On Congress Day 7,000 people, of whom 480 were from the Birmingham Archdiocese, packed into the ACC Liverpool Echo Arena to listen to speakers including the renowned US bishop Robert Barron.

During the two-kilometre Eucharistic procession from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Adoremus Pilgrimage Day all the Christian leaders in the city took part in a

The congregation in the Cathedral on Day One of the Pilgrimage.

Bishop Robert Byrne leads Vespers and Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool on Day One of the Adoremus National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress.

Photos courtesy of Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

moment of ecumenical unity and solidarity.

Bishop Byrne was inspired to propose the national celebration following his attendance at the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City, Philippines, which featured a grand procession carrying the Blessed Sacrament.

“I saw it could be an opportunity

to renew our faith and our commitments in this country to the Eucharist,” he said.

“People went away from Adoremus in Liverpool deeply moved and wanting to spread the idea of Adoration which brings us back to Christ and the mystery of the Mass.

“We are now looking at ways of increasing our devotion in the Archdiocese and we are looking at having a celebration of the Blessed Sacrament in Birmingham at the time of Corpus Christi.”

In the wake of Adoremus Archbishop Bernard Longley, whose Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was specially live-streamed from his private chapel to Catholic primary schools, has inspired the Archdiocese to take up the

mission of supporting those in need.

Father Craig Szmidt of Our Lady of Fatima church in Quinton, the Diocesan Co-ordinator for Adoremus, said: “Those who attended were really buzzing with excitement after the event.

“A lot of wonderful work has been sown by Adoremus that we are now beginning to cultivate and nurture.”

There was an extra dimension to Adoremus for the Catholic pilgrims as they walked through the rain in the closing procession.

“There was a sense of penance in the face of the abuse scandals but there was also a sense of joy that this is our witness through thick and thin,” said Bishop Byrne. “It was a time of reparation and prayer.”

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Corporate career was preparation for new challenge A

FTER 30 years as a senior manager with BP and a spell with the National Trust, David Brooks was enjoying his retirement when Father Brian Doolan – his Parish Priest – showed him a job advertisement for the Diocese’s Chief Operating Officer on his parish noticeboard.

“Father Brian asked if I was interested,” said David, “and I told him I was finished working.”

But a few weeks later, when in a Saturday sermon, Father Brian said: “There is nothing better you can do with your time than to use it in service of the Lord.”

David said the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he knew he had to act.

His wife Catherine said if he thought all that time in the corporate world was an end in itself, it had, in fact, been preparing him for this new challenge… and an application was born.

David, the first lay COO employed by the diocese, leads a professional service team whose role is to support parishes and so release the clergy to concentrate on pastoral ministry.

It means, for instance, that when the country went GDPR

mad earlier this year, and everyone panicked about data protection procedures, Diocesan Solicitor Clare O’Brien ran advice sessions to make sure parishes were compliant.

The finance team helps with issues like banking, auditing, Gift Aid and running the OPAS accounting package as well as producing accounts the Diocese has to submit as a charity.

A team of property surveyors is now in place, allowing John Scanlan, who used to manage the estate single-handedly for many years, to retire. Now they help with the huge portfolio of churches, presbyteries, halls and other buildings owned by the diocese and parishes.

The team also includes Gerry Dryden, who looks after all HR matters and ensures parish staff are properly employed.

He is supported by Press Office colleagues Caroline Bletso and Faye Fawcett who maintain the diocesan website, write newsletters and deal with enquiries from the media. They support parishes dealing with the media too.

Many people are not aware that the Church has authority to grant listed building consent on

Chief Operating Officer David Brooks pictured at his desk in Cathedral House.

improvements to its historic buildings.

Deacon Paul O’Connor manages this system and helps parishes make applications.

He also looks forward and helps Area Bishops plan for longer term changes driven by demographics and housing growth.

David said his benchmark was whether or not the professional support teams made a difference across the Archdiocese.

He said: “We constantly ask ourselves if what we are doing is helping to support our parishes and their priests. If it isn’t then we shouldn’t be doing it.” ■

Independent reviews commissioned into safeguarding LAST month the Archdiocese of Birmingham attended a hearing as a case study in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

Five days of evidence was given by victims and by people connected to the Archdiocese. A further day of evidence will be heard in December.

IICSA was set up by the Government following a number of serious, high profile cases of historic child abuse within large organisations. IICSA seeks to understand “what went wrong, and why”.

The Archdiocese was asked to

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participate in IICSA’s investigations as one of the case studies for the Catholic Church. IICSA’s report on the Diocese will be compiled and presented next year.

The welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is a fundamental priority for the Archdiocese.

Fostering a culture with safeguarding at its heart remains a key part of our work.

As part of this commitment, the Archdiocese commissioned two reviews into safeguarding by independent experts, looking at historic abuse and

current safeguarding practices and culture. As a result, safeguarding records have been scoured and rectified and a new role has been created: Interim Director of Safeguarding Improvement.

Andrew Haley took this post last month.

The lessons and recommendations from these reviews, along with the IICSA report, are a vital part of continuing efforts to ensure that safeguarding lies at the heart of the Archdiocese. ● If you would like to speak to someone about safeguarding please call 0121 230 6240.

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Aldrin Thomas and Lottie Farmer set the nativity scene at their school, St George and St Martin Catholic Academy in Stoke-on-Trent. The cover picture features fellow pupil Tom Copeland with an Advent Wreath.

Church is recapturing festive season by traditional observing of Advent C

HRISTMAS is for children, says the cliché… and so it is – for the children of God. As the secular world’s celebration of Christmas starts ever earlier, and fades out by midnight on St Stephen’s Day, the Catholic Church continues its mission to recapture the festive season through observing Advent – preparation for the coming of Christ over four Sundays through December.

Our celebration of Christmas runs from December 25 to the Epiphany and then to the Baptism of Our Lord, and while it may not always seem fair for Father to refuse a carol service on December 10, there is good reason for his decision – so that Christmas joy may increase, not fizzle out.

Advent’s contemplative, spiritual element involves looking forward to the coming of Christ: celebrating His birth, His renewed coming into our lives this Christmas, especially through the Eucharist, and His second coming at the end of time.

Father Stephen Fawcett, a Black Country priest, points to it being a time of hope and anticipation – not like waiting for exam results, when uncertainty can be stressful – but a wait for something we know is going to happen… that Jesus will save us.

“It is an exciting and joyful wait,” he said, “and an opportunity to get in touch with the outcome of that wait by identifying what it is that we as individuals need to be saved from.”

Father Stephen said that Advent can be fruitful for older members of parishes, or those who actively practice the faith, to grieve for their children or family members who do not practice.

This is not about disappointment, but a genuine, deep spiritual wound that is not always easy to share... a feeling that one of our family does not know another loved one – Jesus – as they might.

In the knowledge that Jesus, once more, is coming to their loved one in his saving

power, Advent can be a time to pray for them, asking God that Christmas encounter might be generously received.

This trust in God’s power to save can bring peace and healing to themselves, also.

In turn, this helps any spiritual dialogue with them, that can emerge over Advent or Christmas, to be positive and sensitive.

While Advent is a solemn time, it is a joyous festival too and an opportunity to engage the very youngest members of parishes in the true mystery of Christmas, with Jesse Trees, Christingle services, expectant nativity scenes, candles, flowers and inspirational readings.

“We should never underestimate the smallest involvement of children,” said Father Stephen, “in helping them become part of the mystery. It is also an opportunity for us all: doing things for the very youngest can help us all regain our joy and sense of mystery. Advent reminds us that we are all children of God.” ■ Advent 2018 The Sower

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My favourite SAINT

T

HE Saints are inspirational treasures of the Church; they are our heavenly community. Saints walked on this earth, struggled in life and now they rejoice in eternal life.

As a long serving Catholic Teacher/Principal, the role of Saints has been significant in terms of guiding children through Sacramental programmes, enriching the Catholic life and collective worship through the Liturgical year.

Furthermore, as a Principal, I was very much inspired by Pope Benedict: “A good school provides a rounded education for the whole person. And a good Catholic school, over and above this, should help all its students to become saints.”

As a group of eight schools converting to a Multi-Academy Company, our first job was to identify from the plethora of incredible Saints, someone who would inspire generations of pupils and staff within our Company, as Patron. The schools are all nestled in the North East of Coventry, serving the most deprived postcodes in the city.

A Saint had to be chosen that would reach the very essence of our communities, speaking to the hearts of all those called in vocation to serve across the Company. The Patron was agreed unanimously. The chosen person of holiness, was Óscar Romero. Óscar, Archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated on March 24, 1980 and declared a martyr.

Pope Francis, addressing an audience marking the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Christian Education, specifically called on

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Catholic schools to “educate the poor and the marginalised” and in particular set us to think about how to fulfil the corporal and spiritual works of mercy through education. What better role model could we choose? Whilst academically, we want our students to aspire to be the very best, in today’s society is this enough?

At a time where materialism is rife, the words of Saint Óscar are a breath of fresh air: “Aspire not to have more but be more.”

These words speak to the very heart of our core being and our mission as a Catholic community of faith. We firmly believe our lives are to be of service and vocation and a “microphone for the poor”.

Saint Óscar’s life inspires us to reach out to society today. As a Saint within living memory, that gives a real connection for our children and a spark igniting the words of Pope Benedict.

My devotion to Saint Óscar has grown significantly. I am in awe of his ardent desire to seek peaceful solutions, the way he compassionately reached out to the lives of many, especially the marginalised and those with no voice. He stood tall against adversity and oppression and living a life of simplicity shining brightly as a beacon of faith.

Saint Óscar was canonised on October 14 this year and we were invited to host, at Cardinal Wiseman School, a Diocesan family celebration in which Mass was celebrated with Archbishop Bernard Longley. More than 200 people gathered to witness this beautiful, spiritual moment.

Our vision is to be a “beacon of excellence for Catholic education” so all members of our faith

Picture: Carlos Reyes Manzo, Andes Press Agency.

In a regular feature, The Sower asks people to name their favourite Saint and explain why the Saint is so important to them. Here, in the first of the series Helen Quinn, pictured, Senior Executive Leader of the Romero Catholic Academy in Coventry, tells how Saint Óscar Romero, the former Archbishop of San Salvador, is relevant to her daily life.

Saint Óscar Romero pictured in 1979, the year before his death.

community make Christ known in their life, fulfil their God-given potential and contribute wholeheartedly to our society in the way they live their life in service to others.

The influence of Saint Óscar can be seen in the fabric of our building through vibrant displays of devotion, the activities of our Chaplaincy team who provide outreach to our communities and the ongoing influence our Catholic life as a school.

One guiding steer throughout the many struggles and times of progress in our conversion process was a prayer attributed to Saint Óscar Romero.

This provided much needed strength at times of need and the words are so relevant to our mission; to be a Christ-centred community dedicated to faith formation, academic excellence and individual growth for all of our young people, all rooted in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

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Father Craig with the Development Team’s Laura Hines in the newly refurbished community hall at Bilston.

Team’s funding expertise helps to finance community hall project A

dilapidated Victorian building has been transformed into a modern community facility for the benefit of people in a West Midlands town – thanks to the support of the Archdiocese’s Development Team.

Located next to the Holy Trinity Church in Oxford Street, Bilston, the community hall – built in 1890 as a school – had fallen into disrepair over the years and was significantly under-used.

Parish Priest Father Craig Fullard wanted to give the hall a new lease of life – so he met up with Laura Hines, Senior Trust and Foundation Officer for the Development Team, to discuss the feasibility and potential funding streams.

A £142,000 refurbishment scheme was drawn up which included replacement flooring, new energy-efficient heating and lighting, insulation, renovation of the toilets and the creation of storage space.

The parish had £90,000 from the sale of another building but the balance of £52,000 had to be raised – and that is where the Development Team provided vital help and expertise.

Working closely with Father Craig and local parishioners, Laura made comprehensive applications for grants – and achieved pledges totalling £32,000 from four funding bodies which enabled work to go ahead.

They were Allchurches Trust Ltd, Enovert Community Trust, Ibstock Enovert and M&H Laing Charitable Trust. A further grant is

pending which would cover the shortfall. The Team appointed architects to oversee a professional tendering process for the building work and the delivery of the project.

Now, although the refurbishment was only completed in Autumn, the hall is being used for a wide range of activities including a toddler group, coffee mornings, a knitting club for all ages, a children’s get-together after Mass on Sundays and charity fundraising jumble sales. In January a much-needed youth group will be launched.

“We now have a hall fit for purpose and a facility we can use to reach out to the community,” said Father Craig. “We aim to continue to increase the activities at the hall until we reach capacity.”

Father Craig praised the “outstanding service” provided by the Development Team.

He said: “They guided me through the whole process and took on the vast majority of the work but kept me in touch with progress every step of the way.

“They even helped me with the wording and production of a questionnaire to consult people in the parish about the project. I certainly would recommend other parishes in the Archdiocese to take advantage of this excellent service. At the very least there is no harm in having a chat with them – it could lead to an exciting idea becoming a reality.”

Laura said the Bilston project – which was delivered from first meeting to finish in

around six months – was a prime example of what can be achieved with the support of the Development Team. She added: “We do the work to raise the funds which enables the priests to spend more time on their spiritual work and commitments.”

And it is not just Bilston parish which has benefitted from their expertise. In the three years the Development Team has been in place they have supported 136 projects raising a total of £3.2 million in grants from funding organisations.

Projects have included the creation of new facilities in parish centres, conservation and maintenance of church buildings and providing equipment for youth activities.

Steve Baylis, Head of the Development Team, said: “We want the parishes to know that there is support here. We have already worked with around half of the parishes in the Archdiocese – and are keen to help others with their fundraising needs.

“Of course, we cannot guarantee we will be able to achieve the funding in every case but we will always come out to parishes to talk, assess projects and do our utmost to bring about a successful outcome. It is a great opportunity for the parishes to maximise their building assets and make the most of them for the benefit of the church and local people.” ● The team comprises Steve (steve.baylis@rcbirmingham.org tel. 0121230 6241), Laura and Funding Officer Kevin Baugh.

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www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk

Ball set to be bigger and better THE 115th annual ball in aid of Father Hudson’s Care takes place on Saturday January 26 at the National Conference Centre in Solihull.

This year the ball raised more than £7,000 to support Father Hudson’s work with vulnerable children and adults across the Diocese – and it is hoped next year’s will be bigger and better.

Tickets cost £40 and can be bought by calling 01675 434015 or emailing fundraising@ fatherhudsons.org.uk.

Sharing hope A one-day seminar, entitled Sharing Hope in Crisis, is being held on Saturday March 16 at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham. Delivered by the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, the event is especially useful for counsellors, first responders and church leaders who serve suffering people regularly. It is a free seminar but donations can be made to help cover the cost of the host venue.

Move to Mission DIVINE Renovation Ministry UK are staging a two-day event entitled Equipping Your Parish to Move from Maintenance to Mission.

Ideal for both priests and laypeople the conference is being held at the Bethel Convention Centre, West Bromwich, on Thursday and Friday February 7-8.

The cost is £175 (early bird), then £200. The Diocesan promoters are Paul Northam, fieldevang@maryvale.ac.uk and Natalie Orefice, parishevang@maryvale.ac.uk.

Pilgrimages FORTHCOMING pilgrimages include National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, Norfolk, on Saturday May 12; Lourdes Pilgrimage May 24 to 31; Hednesford Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes on Sunday July 7; and Harvington Hall, Home of Martyrs, Worcestershire, on Sunday September 1. ● Further details for all pilgrimages are shared in parish bulletins and on the Diocesan website.

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Diocesan priest describes incredible privilege of ministry working so closely for His Holiness F

ATHER Paul Moss was seen by millions round the world in 2005 as the English deacon who proclaimed the Gospel at the Requiem Mass for Pope Saint John Paul II. At the time he was a seminarian training for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome, and in due course he went on to begin his priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

He never dreamed of returning to Italy – but 13 years later, after several years as Vocations Director of the Archdiocese and a member of the formation staff at St Mary’s College, Oscott, he is back in the Eternal City in the service of another Pontiff, His Holiness Pope Francis.

Father Paul could be described as “Our Man in the Vatican,” seconded from the Diocese to work in the Secretariat of State, one of the key organs within the Holy See. He describes his appointment to the English language section of the Secretariat’s General Affairs office as a “bolt from the blue,” all the more surprising because it came near the start of the autumn term at Oscott in 2016.

Beginning his ministry in the Secretariat six months later, he soon acclimatised – a process made easier because his residence is at the English College where he spent his student days.

He cycles daily through the cobbled streets of the “wonderful city” of Rome to his office in the Vatican.

Translating often from English into Italian and vice versa, he and his colleagues deal with the English language correspondence of the Holy Father. “We translate anything that the Pope wishes to write or say in English,” said Father Paul, who was until his current appointment teaching philosophy to students in seminary formation.

“This includes Papal documents such as the Holy Father’s Encyclical Letters. Our job is to enable the Pope’s voice to be heard and expressed to the English-speaking Catholic faithful.”

“

Many leaders round the world recognise in the office of Pope Francis something of the wisdom that he and the Church as a whole can offer the world

Father Paul Moss

Father Paul Moss pictured in Rome with St Peter’s Basilica in the background.

Father Paul has another vital role. Every Wednesday at the Pope’s General Audience in St Peter’s Square, he and his colleagues read out in English the scripture reading and a short summary of the Holy Father’s catechesis for that day. They welcome the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims on behalf of the Holy Father.

Father Paul describes it as an “incredible privilege” to work so closely for His Holiness in a place so close to St Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church building.

“It is also very humbling that I have been asked to have a small

role in serving not just my own Diocese, but directly serving the Universal Church,” he said.

“It is very calming to be close to His Holiness. At General Audience you can see the light of the Lord shining through him.

“Many leaders round the world recognise in the office of Pope Francis something of the wisdom that he and the Church as a whole can offer the world.

“He expresses care and concern for our common home, and concern for the poor.”

Father Paul also met Pope Benedict during his time as a student in Rome. ■

”

Digital world is chance to share PEOPLE are being encouraged to not only access the new-look Archdiocese website but participate in keeping it and other social media outlets rich with content and photography.

A grant from the Transform Foundation, a body which helps organisations develop and enhance their digital presence, was used to create the new-look website, which can be found at www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk.

The website is broken down into easy-to-navigate sections such as Churches and Parishes, Schools and Youth Services, Living As a Catholic and Supporting Our Work. There is also a comprehensive News section providing the latest up-to-date stories from around the Archdiocese as well as details on key events such as pilgrimages.

There is also an interactive Pray With Us section offering the chance to watch the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer network videos at any time.

The home page carries a message from Archbishop Bernard Longley, reflecting on the importance of the digital world to the church.

He said: “Speaking on the importance of communications, Pope Francis reminded us recently that the digital world is a vital place of meeting and encounter which he describes as a gift from God. As a gift, our website offers a unique window into the life of the local church as well as an opportunity to share our Catholic faith more widely.”

There is also the opportunity to follow on Facebook (@BirminghamArchdiocese), Twitter (@RCBirmingham) and also on Instagram (birminghamarchdiocese) and Flickr (Archdiocese of Birmingham).

Here, followers are encouraged to upload their photos or share personal stories and experiences about the church to give everyone within the Archdiocese a broader sense of the community they are part of.

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www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk

Ball set to be bigger and better THE 115th annual ball in aid of Father Hudson’s Care takes place on Saturday January 26 at the National Conference Centre in Solihull.

This year the ball raised more than £7,000 to support Father Hudson’s work with vulnerable children and adults across the Diocese – and it is hoped next year’s will be bigger and better.

Tickets cost £40 and can be bought by calling 01675 434015 or emailing fundraising@ fatherhudsons.org.uk.

Sharing hope A one-day seminar, entitled Sharing Hope in Crisis, is being held on Saturday March 16 at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham. Delivered by the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, the event is especially useful for counsellors, first responders and church leaders who serve suffering people regularly. It is a free seminar but donations can be made to help cover the cost of the host venue.

Move to Mission DIVINE Renovation Ministry UK are staging a two-day event entitled Equipping Your Parish to Move from Maintenance to Mission.

Ideal for both priests and laypeople the conference is being held at the Bethel Convention Centre, West Bromwich, on Thursday and Friday February 7-8.

The cost is £175 (early bird), then £200. The Diocesan promoters are Paul Northam, fieldevang@maryvale.ac.uk and Natalie Orefice, parishevang@maryvale.ac.uk.

Pilgrimages FORTHCOMING pilgrimages include National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, Norfolk, on Saturday May 12; Lourdes Pilgrimage May 24 to 31; Hednesford Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes on Sunday July 7; and Harvington Hall, Home of Martyrs, Worcestershire, on Sunday September 1. ● Further details for all pilgrimages are shared in parish bulletins and on the Diocesan website.

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Diocesan priest describes incredible privilege of ministry working so closely for His Holiness F

ATHER Paul Moss was seen by millions round the world in 2005 as the English deacon who proclaimed the Gospel at the Requiem Mass for Pope Saint John Paul II. At the time he was a seminarian training for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome, and in due course he went on to begin his priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

He never dreamed of returning to Italy – but 13 years later, after several years as Vocations Director of the Archdiocese and a member of the formation staff at St Mary’s College, Oscott, he is back in the Eternal City in the service of another Pontiff, His Holiness Pope Francis.

Father Paul could be described as “Our Man in the Vatican,” seconded from the Diocese to work in the Secretariat of State, one of the key organs within the Holy See. He describes his appointment to the English language section of the Secretariat’s General Affairs office as a “bolt from the blue,” all the more surprising because it came near the start of the autumn term at Oscott in 2016.

Beginning his ministry in the Secretariat six months later, he soon acclimatised – a process made easier because his residence is at the English College where he spent his student days.

He cycles daily through the cobbled streets of the “wonderful city” of Rome to his office in the Vatican.

Translating often from English into Italian and vice versa, he and his colleagues deal with the English language correspondence of the Holy Father. “We translate anything that the Pope wishes to write or say in English,” said Father Paul, who was until his current appointment teaching philosophy to students in seminary formation.

“This includes Papal documents such as the Holy Father’s Encyclical Letters. Our job is to enable the Pope’s voice to be heard and expressed to the English-speaking Catholic faithful.”

“

Many leaders round the world recognise in the office of Pope Francis something of the wisdom that he and the Church as a whole can offer the world

Father Paul Moss

Father Paul Moss pictured in Rome with St Peter’s Basilica in the background.

Father Paul has another vital role. Every Wednesday at the Pope’s General Audience in St Peter’s Square, he and his colleagues read out in English the scripture reading and a short summary of the Holy Father’s catechesis for that day. They welcome the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims on behalf of the Holy Father.

Father Paul describes it as an “incredible privilege” to work so closely for His Holiness in a place so close to St Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church building.

“It is also very humbling that I have been asked to have a small

role in serving not just my own Diocese, but directly serving the Universal Church,” he said.

“It is very calming to be close to His Holiness. At General Audience you can see the light of the Lord shining through him.

“Many leaders round the world recognise in the office of Pope Francis something of the wisdom that he and the Church as a whole can offer the world.

“He expresses care and concern for our common home, and concern for the poor.”

Father Paul also met Pope Benedict during his time as a student in Rome. ■

”

Digital world is chance to share PEOPLE are being encouraged to not only access the new-look Archdiocese website but participate in keeping it and other social media outlets rich with content and photography.

A grant from the Transform Foundation, a body which helps organisations develop and enhance their digital presence, was used to create the new-look website, which can be found at www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk.

The website is broken down into easy-to-navigate sections such as Churches and Parishes, Schools and Youth Services, Living As a Catholic and Supporting Our Work. There is also a comprehensive News section providing the latest up-to-date stories from around the Archdiocese as well as details on key events such as pilgrimages.

There is also an interactive Pray With Us section offering the chance to watch the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer network videos at any time.

The home page carries a message from Archbishop Bernard Longley, reflecting on the importance of the digital world to the church.

He said: “Speaking on the importance of communications, Pope Francis reminded us recently that the digital world is a vital place of meeting and encounter which he describes as a gift from God. As a gift, our website offers a unique window into the life of the local church as well as an opportunity to share our Catholic faith more widely.”

There is also the opportunity to follow on Facebook (@BirminghamArchdiocese), Twitter (@RCBirmingham) and also on Instagram (birminghamarchdiocese) and Flickr (Archdiocese of Birmingham).

Here, followers are encouraged to upload their photos or share personal stories and experiences about the church to give everyone within the Archdiocese a broader sense of the community they are part of.

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Deacon thriving in his calling to be a beacon for Christ N

EWLY-ORDAINED Deacon Owen Gresty describes his role as being a shining light in his community for Christ. He recounts an anecdote from his recent time as a primary school teacher to illustrate his calling.

“I was talking to a class of Year One pupils when one of the six-year-olds said: ‘Mr Gresty is going to become a beacon.’

“It was a lucky slip of the tongue because the phrase illustrates exactly what being a Deacon and a Christian should be all about.

“It’s not a job – it’s who you are, an icon of Christ the Servant who is known to the people in your community.”

A lifelong Catholic with a Theology Degree from the University of Birmingham, Deacon Owen was ordained alongside four others in July this year at the unusually young age of 35, the minimum for a married Permanent Deacon.

After receiving his calling he had contacted his parish priest and been accepted into the Diaconate after a complex application process including a psychological assessment and a series of formal interviews led by Auxiliary Bishop William Kenney. “My wife Vicki was very supportive,” said the father-of-two.

“She has since converted to Catholicism partly due to learning more about the faith and feeling really welcomed while accompanying me as part of my Formation Programme.”

Deacon Owen studied one Saturday every month for four years at St Mary’s College, Oscott, where he was inspired by the sense of history and by learning alongside the seminarians.

Since his ordination he has performed his deacon’s role at Holy Trinity Church in Sutton Coldfield and Sacred Heart Church in Four Oaks in parallel with his full-time job.

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“

It’s not a job – it’s who you are, an icon of Christ and a servant who is known to the people in your community.

”

Deacon Owen Gresty

Deacon Owen pictured in the Holy Trinity Church at Sutton Coldfield wearing liturgical vestments.

As assistants to the parish priest, deacons can witness marriages, perform baptisms, preside over funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute the Holy Communion and preach the homily.

“Some aspects of my first few weeks as a deacon were actually quite surreal,” he remembered. “I was wearing a collar for the first time and a number of people came up to me calling me Father as if I was a priest.

“Taking my first baptism was really memorable – and I gave my first sermon at Mass the weekend after I was ordained!”

During the week the deacon – who is about to take up a new day job working for the Diocesan Vocations Office – is involved with an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)

group which he helps to run and a young adults’ prayer group which he supports every other week. He is also preparing to take communion to the sick in Good Hope Hospital.

Deacon Owen has never looked back since – in his own words – he “stepped out of his comfort zone” to join the clergy.

He thrives on the demands on his time – and nothing gives him more satisfaction than simply being a Deacon-at-large, shining the light for Christ.

“I was walking to mass the other day when a parishioner came up to me and said they had a problem, asking me to say a prayer for them,” he said. “It was only a two-minute encounter but I am sure it made a difference.”

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Father Jeremy Howard at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hednesford where he is the parish priest.

Pilgrimage is a journey which mirrors progress through life F

OR Father Jeremy Howard, undertaking a pilgrimage is very much a metaphor for life as a Christian. “It is all about a journey which mirrors the way in which we make progress through life,” said the former hospital chaplain, who is now parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Hednesford.

“And, just as in our every day lives, when we go on a pilgrimage we have the opportunity to meet like-minded people who reinforce our beliefs and help us realise that there are many people around us who share our faith.

“It creates a real sense of spiritual togetherness in the same way as going to Rome and listening to the words of the Holy Father alongside thousands of other people does.”

Father Jeremy’s own life journey has seen him undertake several pilgrimages as well as reach a significant spiritual crossroads.

After starting out as an Anglican, he converted to the Catholic faith in 1993 after searching for, and finding, a more “coherent

and universal church”. His experiences have certainly helped him come to the conclusion that multi-faith and ecumenical pilgrimages are essential – again mirroring the way in which different cultures and beliefs cross over into our lives.

He said: “As a convert myself, I really get the ecumenical dimension to pilgrimages.

Certainly the journeys I have undertaken with people of other denominations have helped to break down barriers with fellow Christians.

“In addition, I have been on two pilgrimages to the Holy Land – the second was with an interfaith group consisting of people of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths. A strong relationship grew up between us all and we were able to get a real insight of the holy sites for all religions in places like Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

“Being able to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall in the old city of Jersualem were incredible experiences for me and, again, helped to break down barriers.”

Of course, he does not have to travel too far for his closest pilgrimage – the Diocesan

Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is located at Hednesford and attracts thousands of people each year for the annual gathering in July.

Father Jeremy, who spent 15 years as a hospital chaplain and remains a Bishop’s Healthcare Advisor in the Archdiocese, added: “Pilgrimage to shrines of Our Lady enable us to get a great sense of Our Blessed Mother’s maternal intercession.

“This is why so many people will travel to places such as Lourdes in France or the National Shrine in Walsingham in times of need and healing and take great comfort in doing so.

“In terms of the pilgrimage to the Hednesford shrine I am very much in favour of expanding what we do to reach out to more people. So from next year as well as the annual pilgrimage I will be looking to run events for smaller groups at weekends. I also want to encourage more speakers of different languages to attend as well as young people too.

“I feel the more people can be encouraged to go on a pilgrimage, there will be more people benefitting from the experience.”

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Sanctuaries provide compassion for refugees and homeless people EOPLE who have been living on the streets or are seeking refuge from serious problems affecting their lives are being supported by a number of Archdiocese-backed projects which offer them shelter and a helping hand.

Based on Christian values of compassion and mutual respect, and utilising the help of a team of volunteers, several sanctuaries and homes have thrown open their doors providing practical and welfare assistance.

They include St Chad’s Sanctuary in Birmingham, a drop-in centre specifically aimed at newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers.

At least 120 nationalities – most of whom do not speak English – have been welcomed to the building which is located adjacent to the mother cathedral

P

of the Archdiocese. The centre completely relies on donations and over the last eight years a whole array of items have been handed out to people using the facility.

They include nearly 12,000 pairs of jeans, more than 10,000 pairs of shoes, 34,000 tins of fish, 5,500 bottles of shampoo and over 6,000 toothbrushes.

Sister Margaret Walsh IJS, who runs the drop-in centre, said: “I had a very strong feeling that there needed to be a place in Birmingham offering hospitality to asylum seekers, especially those who no longer had recourse to public funds.

“These people have struggled for months or even years to get here. When you first meet them, they’re so relieved and excited, but gradually they get worn down by the system.

Volunteer Benedict Plowden enjoys a cuppa with service user Gnenabo Marie Antoinette. In the background is a display showing the locations throughout the world where migrants who have been helped by St Chad’s Sanctuary have come from.

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“Many are asylum seekers who have recently arrived from situations of great violence and persecution. The majority are from Sudan, Iran and Eritrea.

Some are still wearing the clothes they wore during their long and often dangerous journey to Britain.

“Yet we are constantly humbled by their graciousness and their strong faith and trust in a loving God. ‘Inshallah’ (God willing) is a word we have come to know very well at St Chad’s Sanctuary.”

Nearby Tabor House opened its doors to welcome guests for the first time in 2017. On doing so, it became Birmingham's only permanent night shelter, offering safety, support, warmth and encouragement to people without the basics and necessities of life.

The project provides a bed, a shower, food, warm clothes, dignity, respect and the hand of friendship. More than this, it works with local experts, partners and trained volunteers to support people to move on.

The facility is a collaborative project between Father Hudson’s Care, Midland Heart, Housing Justice, Irish in Birmingham, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Archdiocese, corporate philanthropists and local homelessness specialists.

Christy Acton, Tabor House Co-ordinator, said: “We also offer a volunteer-led mentoring and befriending programme to provide hospitality as well as support.

“We work with local agencies to ensure those staying at Tabor House can access the additional support required to bring a person out of the lifestyle of the street, back into living independently and being able to manage their own lives.

“A unique part of the support is offering a step-up to guests and ensuring they have somewhere to go at the end of their stay – no-one will be moved on or made homeless.”

Fatima House offers a different

kind of shelter – providing a refuge for destitute female asylum seekers. The project came about in 2015 when the Archdiocese was considering how it could respond to the continuing refugee crisis.

It was then opened 12 months later to provide safe shelter for destitute female asylum seekers for up to six months. The facility is run by Columban Missionaries who work alongside volunteers to ensure women from all nationalities receive vital assistance.

Volunteers, including those from the parish, and the St Vincent de Paul Society, offer befriending and support to the women staying there.

To find out more about the wide-reaching charitable work the Archdiocese is engaged in visit www.caritas-aob.co.uk/

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the

Reader Survey We’d like to know your thoughts on The Sower to help us expand and improve the magazine in the future. Please answer the following questions, cut out the form and return by Friday January 11 to: The Sower, c/o Communications Team, Cathedral House, St Chad’s Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6EU. You can also complete the survey online at www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk

1. What do you like about the magazine? .................................. .................................. ..................................

Volunteer Catherine Bridgwood helps Mohammed Anwar, originally from Yemen, select clothes for himself from a range of items donated to St Chad’s Sanctuary.

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English for Speakers of Other Languages Co-ordinator Stephanie Neville, centre, tutors migrants Ahmed Al-Saffar who originates from Iraq and Asma Omer who came from Sudan, in a class at St Chad’s Sanctuary.

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2. Is there anything you don’t like? .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. ..................................

Continued overleaf

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Reader Survey

3. Is there anything we haven’t covered that you would like to see? .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. ..................................

Martin and Val Scully pictured at their home in the West Midlands.

4. I would like to see more: (tick where appropriate)

Analysis of the Catholic faith

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News and events

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Human interest stories from the parishes

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News for young people

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Stories from Catholic schools

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5. Any other comments? .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. ..................................

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A Mass to celebrate milestone marriages T

HE search is on to find the longest married couple in the Archdiocese and celebrate their commitment. A special Thanksgiving Mass for milestone marriages will be held at St Chad’s Cathedral, led by Archbishop Bernard Longley, at 11am on Sunday February 3.

Dozens of families across the region are already putting forward their loved ones, and as The Sower went to press Martin and Val Scully, both 80, of Walsall, were among the longest married nominations, at 60 years.

Their and others’ observance of the sacrament of marriage is being hailed as an inspiration to all, and they and many others will be guests of honour at the Mass. Beryl explained how their faith had been a constant throughout their long marriage, and the guidance of the Church and clergy at St Mary’s The Mount in Walsall had helped them through any difficult times.

She said: “Our faith is tremendously important and we are still active in the Church. Martin was baptised at The Mount and we were married there, as were his parents.

“Of course life can be difficult, but the priest will say to me, ‘Look at all you do for each other’. When you sign up for marriage and respect the sacrament it is a lifelong commitment.”

Diocesan Family Ministry Worker Lianne Pap is organising the event – the first time it has been staged in the Archdiocese.

Lianne said: “The Mass is an invitation to all married couples, and their families, with those celebrating milestone marriages being given special mention during the Mass. Those preparing to marry in 2019 are also encouraged to come to the Mass and will have the opportunity, after Mass, to speak with the ‘milestone’ couples and ask them questions about the reality of married life.”

Organisations involved with marriage preparation, marriage enrichment and those who provide support in times of difficulty will be invited and have the opportunity after Mass to provide information to couples of their services. ● To nominate a couple please email Lianne on lianne.pap@rcbirmingham.org

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Young people will travel to Panama for huge rally T

WENTY young people from around the Archdiocese will travel to Latin America in the new year to take part in World Youth Day. They will jet off to Panama for the five-day international youth rally, organised by the Catholic Church, which takes place from January 23 to 27.

And following the announcement that Pope Francis will be attending, they will also have the chance to see and hear His Holiness in person when he delivers the Papal Mass.

The huge youth rally was first initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and has been held every few years since then. It is celebrated at the diocesan level annually and at the international level every two or three years in a different country.

Last time was in Cracow, Poland, in 2016, which saw more than a million young people representing every continent attend. The group from the Archdiocese consisted of 121 young people, leaders, sisters and priests.

One of the young people attending next January’s event is Maisie Berry, who is part of the Mission Team at the Alton Castle Retreat.

The 20-year-old is in her second year leading outdoor, educational activities for young people aged 9 to 13 at the North Staffordshire venue.

Maisie, who is originally from Oxford, said: “It is going to be an incredible experience. I’ve never been further than Europe before so from that point of view it will hugely broaden my horizons.

“As a Catholic it will help me grow in my faith and get a bigger insight into a young person’s role in the Church.

“

Maisie pictured at the Alton Castle Retreat where she leads outdoor educational activities.

“I am also very much looking forward to meeting so many people of my own age who share my faith. It will really demonstrate the worldwide appeal of the Church and hopefully I will make some new friends along the way.

“There will be many fantastic moments and experiences, I’m sure, but the highlight of the trip for me will be the celebration of the Papal Mass – I am really excited that I will have this opportunity to take part in it first hand.”

The highlight of the trip for me will be the celebration of the Papal Mass.

Maisie Berry

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Uplifting memories of World Meeting of Families experience P

ARISHIONERS from all 18 deaneries travelled to Ireland to represent the Archdiocese at the ninth World Meeting of Families.

The event, which was first introduced by Saint John Paul II in 1992, takes place in a different country every three years and seeks to strengthen the bonds of family life, while giving people the opportunity to meet and celebrate together.

This year’s meeting was in Dublin in August and saw thousands of people gather together. The theme was The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World, which was based on Pope Francis’ 2016 apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.

Families were able to celebrate mass together and participated in a variety of activities

The Katatumba family – Gloria with her sons Domenico, left, and Giorgio.

including catechesis with distinguished speakers and discussion groups focussing on critical questions affecting family life today.

It all culminated with a Festival of Families, which saw the arrival of His Holiness – as part of his summer visit to Ireland – to deliver the Papal Mass.

Among those attending were the Howard Family who represented the North Staffordshire Deanery.

Primary School Teacher Edward and Lay Chaplain Anna Howard, live in Cheadle with their three children, Joanna, 14, Rebekah, 12 and James, 11, and all made the journey to Dublin.

Anna said: “We didn’t really know what to expect. We have never attended a congress or Diocesan pilgrimage before, but we had asked our children – especially our reluctant teenager – to be open minded

and to be ready to make the best of every opportunity.

“Sometimes it can be difficult for older children and young people to understand the universality of the Catholic Church, and their value as its future.

“Dublin was a city alive with anticipation for the visit of Pope Francis. As pilgrims arrived at the congress there was a growing sense of community and celebration.

“At the end of the Papal Mass Pope Francis announced that the next World Meeting of Families will take place at Rome in 2021.

Joanna, Rebekah and James all turned to my husband, Ed, and asked, ‘can we go?’.

“It’s not always easy to excite young people in their faith, but Dublin has left them wanting more.”

Gloria Katatumba and her sons Domenico Malara, 14, and Giorgio Malara, 12, attended on behalf of the Kidderminster Deanery.

Gloria, who is part-time social carer who works with young adults with autism, and is also a fashion designer and artist, said: “It was a lovely, amazing, eye-opening experience.

We met so many like-minded people and it really gave us a sense of what the church can offer to us as a family.

“We were surprised to be asked to represent the Deanery but it was a real honour and now we have great memories too.”

The Howard family – dad and mum, Edward and Anna, with their children, left to right, Rebekah, Joanna and James. They are pictured with a Papal flag they bought at the World Meeting of Families.

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