Catholic Pic July 2022 by Alan Birkett

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Issue 214 July 2022

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Pray for the peace of Jerusalem INSIDE THIS MONTH

Pentecost Two Cathedrals Celebration

Annual Nugent Good Shepherd Mass

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contents Welcome

Issue 214 July 2022

Last month the Bishops’ Holy Land Coordination meeting took place, for the first time in over two years. As so many across the world have suffered from the pandemic so too has the Holy Land. In their closing statement the Bishops say, ‘We witnessed how many people of all backgrounds are living in poverty, which has been compounded by the pandemic. The absence of pilgrims during the past two years has devastated livelihoods, including among Jerusalem’s Christian community, leaving some families struggling to afford housing, food, or other essentials’. Canon Mark Madden, Parish Priest of Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Litherland serves as secretary to the coordination and provides us with an account of the situation in Jerusalem.

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Synod 2020 met a year ago last month and we provide a progress report on the implementation of the Pastoral Plan which resulted from their deliberations. We congratulate Bishop Tom Williams on his golden jubilee of ordination to the priesthood and Sr Lynne Baron, FCJ on her appointment as Archbishop Malcolm’s delegate for Catholic social action. Lourdes too has suffered because of the pandemic and later this month our pilgrims return after a two-year absence – our prayers go with them. May their journey be safe and their pilgrimage fruitful.

Cover: Mass for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord at the Mount of Olives

Contents

From the Archbishop’s Desk

Main Feature The ‘Mother Church’ needs our help

There has been a little bit of a furore regarding the Bishops’ restoration of the Sunday obligation to attend Mass if one possibly can. The row made me think about the meaning of the word obligation. We tend to see it as something that incurs a penalty if not carried out, but I think it is more accurate to see it as fulfilment of a debt. We used to say ‘I’m much obliged’ if someone did us a favour.

News From around the Archdiocese

Looking at the Sunday obligation as paying back a debt helps me understand the word better. Going to Mass on Sunday is a way of repaying our debt to God our creator for the many blessings we receive; it is a thanksgiving which is the meaning of the eucharist. But we also owe it to each other to celebrate Mass together. When we come together as the Body of Christ on a Sunday, we are incomplete if we choose to stay away for no good reason. But above all we owe it to ourselves to attend Mass in person to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, the source and summit of our being.

16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

Copy deadline August 2022 Tuesday 12 July 2022

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15 Pastoral Plan update

19 Profile Paul Kinsella Bowing out at the top 21 Animate Youth Ministry Signing off in style 25 Cathedral Record Thanksgiving and new beginnings

Editor Peter Heneghan

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14 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life

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26 Pic Extras Mums the Word News from the KSC 28 Pic Life How we live with the pain of bereavement 30 Dialogue and Unity Annual Josephine Butler Memorial Awards

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The ‘Mother Church’ needs our help The Bishops of the 2022 Holy Land Co-ordination saw a bleak situation for Jerusalem’s dwindling Christian community – but a beacon of light in the work of the Church. By Canon Mark Madden The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has been described over the centuries as the ‘centre of the world’. This fact is not geographic or scientific but it comes from a spiritual and religious perspective. Since the year 335 when the church was consecrated, pilgrims have flowed through its doors to visit the site of Calvary and the empty tomb of the Risen Lord. Jerusalem became the core of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa

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Christian faith, the birthplace of Christianity and from Jerusalem the Gospel message was taken to all four corners of the world. For this reason Jerusalem has always been a magnet for Christians. Jerusalem is the Mother Church who nurtures, feeds, educates and helps her children to grow closer to the Lord. Jerusalem is the place where heaven and earth meet. Jerusalem is used in Scripture as the image of the Church, the New Jerusalem (Rev 3:12) and ‘the place where God

‘Usually we talk, here in the Middle East, especially in the Holy Land, about the need to defend ourselves, our borders – identity borders, physical borders, political borders and so on’

dwells’ (Ps 46). Jerusalem is indeed the Holy City. For almost 2,000 years, the local Church and the Christian presence have always been actively present there. The Christian community are faithful witnesses to the life and preaching, the death and resurrection of Jesus and the numerous Holy Places are kept alive through their witness. Sadly we are now seeing a steep decline in the Christian population living in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is unique because two peoples and three religions share the city: Palestinian and Israeli; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Palestinians are Christians and Muslims. Local Christians are Palestinians; they belong to their people and are part of their hopes and sufferings. These two peoples and the three religions must have equal rights to the political, civil and religious aspects of the city, but the reality is very different as life for the local Christian community is getting worse. Surrounding the Old City are numerous gates reminding us that the city welcomes everyone, locals and pilgrims. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, speaking recently to the Bishops of the Holy Land Coordination, said: ‘Usually we talk, here in the Middle East, especially in the Holy Land, about the need to defend ourselves, our borders – identity borders, physical borders, political borders and so on. In our Christian tradition, the role of Jerusalem is to be open and the gates are there to "define” the identities but not to “defend” from the others. This is a completely different perspective. We have to let people know that we want to be inclusive without "cancelling”

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feature The Bishops meet the General Consul of the UK in Israel Diane Corner

different identities. Jerusalem is, by its nature, inclusive and not exclusive; no one group or religion can monopolise Jerusalem.’ At the end of their visit from 21-26 May, the Co-ordination Bishops reminded us that Jerusalem must ‘never become the exclusive monopoly of any one religion and that it’s our right and duty as Christians to uphold the city’s openness and universality.’ Restrictions on worship One major difficulty for the Jerusalemite Christians are the restrictions made on freedom of worship. We take for granted how easy it is to walk into any church in any place. We can visit our Metropolitan Cathedral any time we wish. We can step onto a plane and be in Jerusalem’s Holy Places within hours. But for the Christian community there this is often a dream.

freedom of religion but there is a clear difference in the way Jewish festivals are celebrated compared with Christian or Muslim festivals. During the Co-ordination meeting we witnessed how many people of all backgrounds are living in poverty, made worse by the pandemic. The absence of pilgrims for two years has devastated livelihoods, including among Jerusalem’s Christian community, leaving some families struggling to afford housing, food and other basic essentials. Among the Christian population, we found very high rates of unemployment, high taxes and the inability to pay bills.

Families in Jerusalem and across the Holy Land must pay for their children to receive a Christian education with the average cost for just one child approximately £2,500 a year. For many families, this equates to a full month’s household income. Following the 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem, Israel annexed it but did not grant citizenship to the Palestinian population there. Instead, Palestinian Jerusalemites were given ‘permanent residency’ status, which does not grant full citizenship rights and can be easily revoked – including for many Christians.

The Israeli authorities allowed thousands of Jewish pilgrims to enter the Holy City to celebrate Passover and yet only allowed 1,000 Christians to enter the same Holy City for Easter. Israel’s Supreme Court had ruled there were no restrictions on the number of pilgrims visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Orthodox Christian Easter Saturday, but Israeli police ignored that decision and divided local Christians from visitors. The Israeli government claims that it upholds

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feature Mass for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord at the Mount of Olives

Palestinian Christians have been threatened by policies and practices which aim to silently and forcibly displace them from the only city they call home, by rendering them stateless. The right to family is a basic human right and families are entitled to protection by society and the state. Since 1967, Israeli citizens and residents married to residents of the Palestinian Territories were able to obtain legal status in Israel for their spouse. In 2002, the Israeli government froze applications for family unification and it has since become very difficult for newly married couples to live together. The bishops heard many stories of Christian couples not allowed to live together, create a home and start a family. The Catholic Church in Jerusalem continues to support couples in their struggle for their right to be together.

‘We must encourage parishes and people to return on pilgrimage as a direct way of supporting the community and showing them that we stand in solidarity, love and friendship’ 6

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Support and solidarity All this seems bleak but we saw real signs of hope. We visited Christian organisations taking responsibility for the wellbeing of their community and wider society. They are working tirelessly to alleviate hardship and improve lives. We met many young people who, despite daily violations of their fundamental human rights, refuse to be the last generation of Christians living in Jerusalem.

The Church must support our brothers and sisters in the Holy City. We must encourage parishes and people to return on pilgrimage as a direct way of supporting the community and showing them that we stand in solidarity, love and friendship. It is essential that all pilgrims understand and engage with the reality of life for the Christian community and visit them in their parishes and institutions. A visit to the Holy Land makes no sense unless this is an essential part of the pilgrimage. Many charities and institutions in the UK and in the Holy Land support the local community by assisting them with school, medical fees, rent and utility bills. Parishes and schools across the Archdiocese could adopt a family by supporting them financially. All of us must help preserve Jerusalem’s sacred character as the Holy City for Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Latin Patriarch insists that all Christians must understand that in Jerusalem we have our roots because this is where we were born. Jerusalem is our home. Jerusalem is our Mother Church and we have a right to be there. • To learn more or to make a contribution to the Christian community in Jerusalem, contact Canon Mark Madden via englishmartyrs@rcaol.org.uk

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News diary If you’ve got any news from your parish that you’d like featured e-mail us with the details at: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk

Coming home to St Patrick’s

Father Andrew Unsworth returned to his home church of St Patrick’s, Wigan, on Tuesday 7 June to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Although three other serving priests have been baptised and raised in the parish - Monsignor Stephen Alker, Father Anthony Kelly and Father Keith Windsor OFM Cap - Father Andrew is the only priest to be ordained at the church itself. The Mass began with words of welcome from parish priest, Father Ian O’Shea, and was concelebrated by Father Philip Gregory and Father Paul Grady. During his homily, Father Andrew spoke of his happiness at returning home and offered a personal insight on what the priesthood means for him and the universal Church. Acknowledging the influence of St Patrick’s longest-serving Parish Priest, Father James Lappin, on his life, Father Andrew recalled how the seeds of his vocation were formed at the age of just eight and this was strengthened by his parents, Eddie and the late Kathleen, and members of the St Patrick’s family. At the end of the Mass, Father O’Shea presented Father Andrew with an Icon of St Patrick which he said, ‘will have pride of place’. Afterwards, there were refreshments in the Lappin Room organised by the St Patrick’s Ladies’ Group. It was a wonderful evening to celebrate and give thanks to God for the Ministry of one of St Patrick’s much-loved sons.

Peter Woods MBE Peter Woods, a former High Sheriff of Liverpool and a daily worshipper at the Metropolitan Cathedral has been appointed MBE in the Birthday Honours List for charitable and voluntary Services to the community in Liverpool. Peter has always been involved with voluntary work, in particular with the Simon Community, Sue Ryder, Lodge Lane Credit Union, the Little Sisters of the Poor Homes for the Elderly and has served as Chair of the Friends of the Tate and Chair of the Homebaked Community Land Trust in Anfield, alongside many other charitable roles. He has lived in the city for almost 50 years and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Merseyside in 2010. He also served as High Sheriff from 2018-2019. Peter was born in Carlingford, Ireland and educated to secondary level in Ireland. He then moved to Liverpool where both his parents were born and where they maintained family and business links. Peter spent time working with a bank and an accountancy firm in the city, and a year as a student teacher in Kirkby before, in 1970, establishing Ryan-Wood Antiques in Seel Street with his partner, Francis Ryan.

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news diary

Nugent raises over £18.5K at Phil Thompson Golf Classic

The Sixteenth Phil Thompson Golf Classic sponsored by David M Robinson, took place on Thursday 26 May at Hurlston Hall. The event has been an outstanding success having raised a gross total of £18,500 so far. This year’s focus was to raise much needed funds to create therapeutic environments for our young people who are vulnerable, traumatised and disadvantaged, and have been assessed as needing the highest level of safety and protection. Nugent is the only charity in the country which operates an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rated secure children’s home. The players were greeted with refreshments and breakfast rolls to start the day along with brand goodie bags which included a thank you message from Phil Thompson. After a tasty breakfast the players had a chance to warm up their skills at the short game clinic. The 80 players from 20 teams enjoyed a full game of golf after the shotgun start. The wet weather did nothing to dampen their spirits. The evening was hosted by comedian Willie Miller, who ran an amazing auction of some incredible prizes like signed football memorabilia, spa breaks and hotel getaways.

Celebrating the Jubilee 27 members of the UCM at St Gregory the Great in Lydiate, in the parish of St Catherine of Alexandria, celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in style when they held a party on Wednesday 1 June in St Gregory’s Parish Centre. With plenty of bunting, good food and a raffle a good time was had by all.

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The evening dinner was followed by speeches from Nugent’s CEO, Normandie Wragg, who introduced Dr Kate Herod. Dr Herod reminded the guests what the day was all about: the vital work Nugent does with children across the country. Dr Herod discussed the dire need for a refurbishment of the outdoor garden areas for the children and young people at the secure children’s home, as it is often the only area where they can experience the outside. The funds raised from this event will allow us to create the new space so that everyone can relax and unwind in the new gardens. The golf players were treated to guest speaker, LFC Legend, Mark ‘Larwo’ Lawrenson who recalled his illustrious career at Liverpool Football Club, entertaining the guests with memorable stories from his career. The evening finished on a high as Phil Thompson handed out the awards from the golf game with Hilton Liverpool winning the first place for the second year running. Nugent would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for supporting and making the Sixteenth Phil Thompson Classic a success. For more information about the event, please visit www.wearenugent.org

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news diary

Two Cathedrals Celebration There was a party atmosphere to this year’s Two Cathedrals Service, held at Pentecost also the weekend of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The afternoon began with a short service on the steps of the Metropolitan Cathedral followed by a walk along Hope Street for a short Act of Worship and then a ‘Big Picnic for the Platinum Jubilee’ held in the Anglican Cathedral with activities provided by ‘In Another Place’.

Good Shepherd Mass Over 800 students from twenty schools gathered in the Metropolitan Cathedral for the first of this year’s Nugent Good Shepherd Masses which was celebrated by Bishop Tom Neylon on Wednesday 15 June. At the Mass schools present the donations made during the annual Lenten Good Shepherd collection. Nugent Chief Executive Officer, Normandie Wragg said, ‘Through all the wonderful fundraising efforts during the Good Shepherd appeal that we celebrate today, we can thank God for all the love and service we can continue to give to the young children and adults who come to us each year, seeking help and Nugent’s support.’ The music of the Mass was led by the Archdiocese of Liverpool Choral Directors, Danny Townley and Joe Watson. The second of the Good Shepherd Masses was celebrated by Bishop Tom Williams at St Mary’s, Leyland on Wednesday 22 June.

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news diary Bishop Tom Williams celebrates his golden jubilee On Friday 27 May Bishop Tom Williams celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood by Archbishop George Andrew Beck in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in 1972. On the Friday evening he celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St Anthony of Egypt, Scotland Road, which was attended by people from the parishes and communities that he had served and by family and friends. Bishop Tom was parish priest at St Anthony’s from 1989 until his episcopal ordination in 2003. A second celebration followed on Sunday 29 May at the Metropolitan Cathedral where he celebrated the Solemn Mass. The Gospel reading was John 17:20-26 with the command to ‘love one another as I have loved you’. In his homily Bishop Tom reflected on his days as a hospital chaplain saying, ‘love is about dealing with difficult times and dealing with trauma. One of the gifts I’ve had over the last 50 years is to be involved in people’s lives at a very personal level. It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of that and the nicest thing that people have said to me in those 50

years has been “you were there when…”’ At the end of Mass Bishop Tom paid tribute to the support he has received from ecumenical partners, ‘the sense of ecumenism has matured and grown over the last 50 years, and I do regard communities of other Christians as good

friends and very much with us journeying through life. I would like to thank them on this day for their support and help, especially during my last 19 years as a Bishop.’ After Mass Bishop Tom greeted his guests as they left the Cathedral.

Prayer for Ukraine at St Oswald’s On Monday 9 May St Oswald's Church, Old Swan, hosted a prayer service, led by Father Taras Khomych, the Ukrainian Community Chaplain in Liverpool, to show solidarity for the Ukrainian Community, and to pray for all who have died in the ongoing Russian invasion and aggression. Fr Taras was joined by Archbishop Malcolm, Father Stephen Pritchard; Father Liam Collister, and Deacon Paul Rooney, along with other church leaders present in the congregation. Also in attendance were the LordLieutenant of Merseyside, Mr. Mark Blundell; Councillor Mary Rasmussen, Lord Mayor of Liverpool; and Mr Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region. At the end of the service Mr Blundell said, ‘What we observe today in Ukraine is the manifestation of the greatest love, accompanied with the bravery and the resilience, which one cannot but admire. At the same time, we express our sorrow over the loss of lives of thousands of innocent people and over all the devastation brought by Russian invasion of Ukraine. We pray for all the victims of this war: children, civilians and the military who defend their country and their 10

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people. Today, we commemorate all those who have lost their lives and express our sympathy with their relatives and loved ones…we would also like to extend our expressions of sympathy and support to the Ukrainian community in Merseyside and especially to all those who have recently arrived, fleeing the war. We would like to assure you that we stand with you, with the people of Ukraine. Slava Ukraini.’

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news diary

Archbishop Malcolm and Sister Lynne

Archdiocese of Liverpool appoints Sr Lynne Baron, FCJ as Archbishop’s Delegate for Catholic social action The Archdiocese of Liverpool has appointed Sr Lynne Baron, FCJ as Archbishop Malcolm McMahon’s delegate for Catholic social action. Sr Lynne will be a key member of the new Archbishop’s Advisory Body and will ensure that the voice of a woman will be heard as the archbishop makes important decisions. The appointment comes almost 12 months after the archdiocese met for Synod 2020 (20 June 2021). Since then, the pastoral plan has been written, promulgated and implementation is ongoing. A key call from the Synod was to renew our Church by reaching out, by being welcoming and inclusive. The Pastoral Plan called for a new role to ‘place at the forefront of the life of the Church inclusivity, justice and peace, the poor, marginalised and the environment, recognising that concern for the environment is a core dimension of our evangelising mission in the world.’ Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, said: ‘I truly believe that Sr Lynne is the best person to help develop this important area of our life as a Church and to guide us as we implement the call and direction set by the Synod. The Synod clearly called us to reach out to those who feel on the edges of both Church and society and it is clear to me that only if we look outward will we

renew ourselves.’ Sr Lynne said of the role: ‘I am delighted to be able to take up this appointment as Archbishop’s Delegate and to contribute to the mission of the archdiocese in this new way as the Church seeks to include the voice of women in its decision-making bodies. My area of responsibility, Catholic social action, is far reaching in these challenging times, but the archdiocese and its people have a strong history of social action, welcome and inclusion. I am excited to further enable this work to flourish, to ensure it is rooted in Catholic social teaching, and that it remains a significant aspect of the archdiocesan agenda.’ Sr Lynne’s appointment is the first step in changing the governance structures of the archdiocese. The Synod called for the voice of women to be heard and acknowledged – this appointment shows the commitment to what was asked. The Archbishop’s Council and College of Consultors has been revised. The Chapter of Canons has, from 6 June, taken on the role as College of Consultors and the Archbishop’s Council, from the same date, will become the Archbishop’s Advisory Body and so enable it to be made up of people who are not ordained.

Bingo! – Ukraine Fundraiser brings down the House By Emily – 4th Crosby and District Scout group. The 4th Crosby and District Scout Group held a Bingo night in support of Ukraine at a packed (or should we say Full House) St William of York Parish Centre on 31 May. The event was organised by the Scouts (with a little direction and help from the Scout Leaders) and was a great success, raising a brilliant £680.50 for the Ukraine Appeal. With members of the Scout group organising everything from the poster for the event, the prizes, welcoming people at the door, running the refreshment stand, selling raffle tickets and of course calling out the allimportant numbers. There were four hotly contested games of Bingo as well as Irish Bingo, Football Scratch cards and a raffle. It is safe to say that everyone went home with a prize or at the very least a big smile on their face, as the fun filled evening was enjoyed by all. None of this could have happened without help and donations from the community and supporters of the Scout Group and the Scouts and leaders would like to thank everyone for their help and support. With all the money raised going to those who need it most in the Ukraine, I’m sure we can all agree that the 4th Crosby and District Scout Group came up with the winning numbers.

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news diary Obituary of Rev James Moore Father James Moore, former parish priest of Our Lady’s, Lydiate, died on 18 June at the age of 92 and in the 54th year of his priesthood. James Gerard Moore, the son of Thomas and Anne Moore, was born in Liverpool on 25 November 1929. He attended St Edward’s School, Broadgreen, Liverpool, and St Dominic’s School, Huyton. After working in various jobs, he felt called to the priesthood and he began his ecclesiastical studies at Campion House, Osterley, before entering the English College, Lisbon. At Lisbon he eventually became the senior student and was noted for being the only student to stay in his bed during the large earthquake that struck Portugal in February 1969. He was quoted as saying that if he was going to die, he would rather die in his bed. Thankfully all was well and he was ordained to the priesthood in the college chapel at Lisbon on 31 May 1969. Following ordination, he served as assistant priest in several parishes across the archdiocese: Twelve Apostles, Leigh from July 1969; St Philomena, Liverpool from November 1971; St Sebastian,

Liverpool from September 1974; St Brendan, Liverpool from April 1979 and Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, Croxteth from January 1981. In 1985, he left parish ministry to become a full-time chaplain at Rainhill Hospital, providing invaluable pastoral care to patients and staff in what had once been a very large psychiatric hospital. His tenure as chaplain was marked by significant change in the hospital as many patients were moved to be cared for in the local community and others were moved to psychiatric facilities in other hospitals. The hospital eventually closed in 1992, a year after his departure as chaplain. In March 1991, he succeeded Father Joseph Holland as parish priest of Our Lady’s, Lydiate. This was to be his only appointment as parish priest, and he ministered happily there until his retirement in December 2004. Thereafter, he lived at Alston Court, Ainsdale, in one of the flats reserved for retired priests, until last year when failing health meant he could no longer live independently. For many years he was

an active member of the Marian Movement of Priests. His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday 27 June at Our Lady’s Church, Lydiate, followed by burial at Yew Tree Cemetery.

St Bernadette Relic Tour 2022 As our pilgrims leave for Lourdes this month preparations are underway for a national tour of the relics of St Bernadette in the autumn including visits to St Mary’s, Chorley, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. In September and October this year, the relics will journey on pilgrimage to England, Scotland, and Wales for the very first time. This very special once in a lifetime event will provide an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the special gifts and charisms of Lourdes. St Bernadette was born in 1844 in a small town in France. Bernadette Soubirous was one of eight children born into a very poor family. Although initially unremarkable, Bernadette’s life was to inspire generations of people to journey in faith on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Between 11 February and 16 July 1858, Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary eighteen times in a series of Apparitions that took

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place in cave on the outskirts of Lourdes, a place now known as the Grotto of Massabielle. In the course of these miraculous encounters, Bernadette, then aged just 14, became the friend and confidante of Our Lady, the mother of Jesus. The Apparitions of Lourdes were authenticated in 1866 by the Bishop of Tarbes. In that same year, Bernadette left Lourdes to live out her religious vocation within the community of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. She died in 1879, was proclaimed blessed in 1925, and became a saint in 1933. At the heart of the shrine today stands the Reconciliation Chapel, where pilgrims can find spiritual healing through the sacrament of Confession. In the past this building was used to house the sick who visited Lourdes. This building highlights the key charism of Lourdes being healing. On the 150th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady to St Bernadette Pope Benedict XVI said, ‘Mary, appearing to St. Bernadette, opened a privileged place to encounter the divine love which heals and saves.’ Lourdes is a place where we encounter God’s love and where we can find healing – but not just the physical healing of the miracles that have famously taken place there. It is also a place of spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing. The relics will visit our archdiocese from Thursday 15 September to Tuesday 20 September. They will arrive at St Mary’s, Mount Pleasant, Chorley, at 8:30 pm on Thursday 15 September and will remain there until 10:00 am on Saturday 17 September. They will then be brought to the Cathedral Church of the Risen Christ, St James’ Mount, Liverpool arriving at 11:00 am. On the afternoon of Saturday 17 September they will be taken to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King arriving at 3:30 pm and will remain there until 7:00 am on Tuesday 20 September. Further timings and booking details will be available nearer the time.

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Crossing the boundary for food support Almost five years ago with food poverty on the rise, the proposal for having a Trussell Trust Foodbank running from St Dominic’s Church in Huyton was put forward by Peter Mitchell and Colette Goulding, CEO and Assistant CEO of Big Help Project. Peter remembers the situation, ‘We knew that we needed to do more to support the wider community out of food poverty, further than Knowsley. At this point, Knowsley Foodbank had already been running for 5 years, and yet the number of people in crisis was growing, especially in Liverpool. ‘As Roman Catholics, myself and Colette were conscious that there was not yet foodbank support operating out of a Roman Catholic church, and we wanted to provide that provision.’ The link between St Dominic’s Church and Knowsley Foodbank was forged, an alliance that was deemed unusual – with the boundaries of Liverpool and Knowsley becoming connected in ways that would change the way people could find appropriate food support. St Dominic’s forms part of a wider triangle service, covering a core geographic location in Liverpool that is most in need. Peter said, ‘people don’t recognise boundaries, the boundaries between Liverpool and Knowsley do not matter when it comes to the hungry. We knew we had to recognise that Liverpool needed as much food provision on this side of the boundary, just as much as Knowsley needed their food provision.’ The day that the existence of foodbank is no more because they are not needed, is the day we long await. Until that day comes, we give thanks to St Dominic’s for being a key part in opening their doors to the hungry; for giving the community of Huyton the hope of food security. ‘Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches us. This is what I do, and I do it with my heart.’ – Pope Francis For more information about Big Help Project, visit: www.bighelpproject.com

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Paul Kinsella Bowing out at the top - by Simon Hart Paul Kinsella is pondering the changes he has witnessed in his quarter-century as a head teacher. ‘Computers that were once half the size of a room are now available on your phone!’ laughs Paul, the head at St Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Bootle. On a serious note, he highlights another change – namely, the significance now given to safeguarding in schools. ‘That awareness of our duty of care has become more formal, particularly with regards to children’s safety, and that can only be a good thing,’ he reflects. ‘The most important thing for us as a school is that we try our best to make sure children feel safe, happy and loved. If we get that right, we feel they’ll be in the right climate for learning and from there they’ll do their very best. It’s always been a mantra in our school.’ The 59-year-old is in reflective mood because this month brings his retirement after 35 years in teaching. Pupils’ leavers events will be ‘that little bit more poignant’ admits Paul, who will be the focus of a Mass and gathering at St Monica’s parish centre as the school says goodbye to its lodestar of the last 18 years. 14

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One colleague describes him as ‘wise, approachable, supportive, kind, caring and understanding’ and his impact has been considerable since his arrival in 2004 from his previous head-teacher post at Beach Road Primary School, Litherland. St Monica's had already earned one outstanding Ofsted rating. He guided it to four more, making it the first school among 23,000 nationwide to be placed five times in a row on Ofsted's list of outstanding providers. As a consequence, Paul became a national leader of education, meaning he and St Monica’s helped to support schools seeking better inspection results. ‘I hope to do some school improvement work,’ he says of his wish to put this experience to use in a consultancy role. And one lesson he will definitely pass on is to not lose sight of the wood for the trees. He explains: ‘Whatever the political philosophy of the government of the time, whatever the challenges offered by the bureaucracy of education with things like Ofsted and Education Acts, I’ve learned to never lose sight of the day-today job which is being the very best for your children and colleagues within the school.’ Thus, he continues, while all the

paperwork ‘can be quite imposing’ it is important to not ‘obsess about things that are imposed on us’ but rather ‘take a considered view and personalise it to the needs of children, families and staff and make it work for you.’ Above all, he stresses, making it work for St Monica’s has been a team effort. ‘I want to give all my thanks to the staff who are exceptional. My governors have given me great support and challenged me too, which is their role.’ If wary of straying into ‘Oscar speech’ territory he also cites Father Pat Sexton and Fr Ged Callacher, parish priests at St Monica’s during his time at the school along with ‘the families and children as without them we are nothing’. Last but not least there is his wife Jane and daughters Georgina and Philippa to thank for their support. With Jane retiring from her own teaching position at St Paschal Baylon, the Bishop Eton parishioner envisages more opportunities to travel as well as the challenge of continuing his regular run-outs on the seven-a-side football pitch. ‘We’re still running a bit – it’s not quite walking football!’ smiles the lifelong Evertonian. Retirement is one thing, but he won’t be slowing down altogether.

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july

what’s on Sunday 3 July LGBTQ+ Catholics - Mass and social gathering 2.00 pm at All Saints Church, Anfield, Liverpool L4 2QG. The LGBTQ+ Catholics Liverpool Archdiocese Prayer and Support Group regularly meets to celebrate Mass and to offer support to each other. For further information Tel: 0151 287 8787 or email frsmaloney@aol.com

Sunday 10 July Sea Sunday

Monday 4 July Irenaeus Summer Scripture Evenings on Zoom ‘Forgiveness is the only way.’ An exploration of forgiveness in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm. Bookings: email jenny@irenaeus.co.uk

Tuesday 12 July Time out on Tuesday – enjoy some personal quiet time to deepen your relationship with God 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com

Wednesday 6 July Scripture night - the Bible: living words for today?’ 7.00 pm at St Francis Xavier Church (The Shaw Room), Salisbury Street, Liverpool L3 8DR. Rev Henry Corbett will open up looking at Bible passages in their varying contexts and how they can speak to us today. Details Tel: 0151 298 1911 or email sfxchurch@rcaol.org.uk Thursday 7 July Agape Mass 7.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, L22 1RD or join by zoom. Details contact Jenny Tel: 0151 949 1199 Email jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Friday 8 July to Sunday 10 July Living Theology 2022 Summer School at Loreto Spirituality Centre, Abbey Road, Llandudno, Conwy, LL30 2EL An opportunity to deepen our knowledge of the Christian faith, learn new and helpful ways of looking at the Christian tradition, and develop a personal reflection on Christian living and belief. Key note speaker: Nicholas King SJ. Suggested Donation £170 including course fee. Details and bookings: Tel: 01492 878031 Email: loretocentre@yahoo.co.uk www.loretocentre.org.uk

Monday 11 July Irenaeus Summer Scripture Evenings on Zoom ‘Forgiveness is the only way.’ An exploration of forgiveness in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm. Bookings: email jenny@irenaeus.co.uk

Wednesday 13 July National Board of Catholic Women. We are hoping to begin a women’s discussion group and all women are very welcome to join us for our first get together on Wednesday 13 July at 7.30 pm in the Gild Hall Formby. Discussions will be centred around women within the Church, the obstacles they face and how we can move forward in the future to enable us to have an active role within the Church. All ideas can then be fed back to the Bishops of England and Wales via our archdiocesan representative for the National board of Catholic women, Pat Murphy. If you are interested but cannot attend you are welcome to e-mail Pat at mpmmurphy@aol.com or Clare McCarthy at claremccarthy488@gmail.com with any views or comments. Tuesday 26 July Cursillo Ultreya at St Michael and All Angels, Kirkby 7.30pm Mass followed by social. Further details at www.liverpool-cursillo.co.uk or Tel: 07947 271037. Friday 22 July to Sunday 24 July 44th Annual Justice and Peace Conference at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire Details and bookings: www.justice-andpeace.org.uk/conference/

Friday 22 July to Friday 29 July Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Saturday 23 July ‘Come apart and rest awhile’ Quiet Day 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com Sunday 31 July Northern Jesuit parishes picnic at Stonyhurst College All are welcome to participate in the northern Jesuit parishes picnic on the lawns of Stonyhurst College to celebrate the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, ending with Benediction. A coach will depart St Francis Xavier church, Salisbury Street, Liverpool L3 8DR at 12.00 noon and return at approximately 6.00 pm Details Tel: 0151 298 1911 or email sfxchurch@rcaol.org.uk Looking ahead: Thursday 4– Sunday 7 August Catholicism and Contemporary Culture at the Christian Heritage Centre, Stonyhurst Explore the themes of truth, sacramentality and the symbolic in Catholicism and the challenges from contemporary culture. The second in a Faith and Reason series, this course offers a practical approach to fundamental themes of the Catholic faith. Of particular interest to senior leaders, teachers and catechists seeking a deeper knowledge of the Catholic vision in today’s world. https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/ faith-and-reason-2/ Friday 26– Monday 29 August The Search for Happiness at the Christian Heritage Centre, Stonyhurst Explore the four pillars of the good life – the Cardinal virtues – and how they structure our search for happiness, through the philosophy and theology of St Thomas Aquinas. In partnership with CEPHAS, this course offers a fascinating engagement with this foundational theme for the Christian life through the thought of the Church’s greatest theologian. https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/ the-search-for-happiness/

Website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk Catholic Pictorial

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education news

Entry deadline extended for Educate Awards 2022 The Educate Awards has extended its deadline for entries until Sunday 10 July at midnight. The awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, is open to all primary and secondary schools, academies and colleges across the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Manchester and Lancashire. It is also open to independent private educational establishments, further education providers and special needs schools. Founded by Kim O’Brien in 2012, it is the largest education awards in the North West and celebrates every aspect of schools, their teaching and staff. From celebrating an innovative project a school has created to focusing on specific members of staff, the awards recognise the hard work of schools and colleges which are delivering exceptional education and are helping pupils to achieve their full potential. There are 21 categories in total and this year a brand-new category has been introduced - Business Manager of the Year. This award celebrates business managers who are delivering outstanding professional leadership and management of a school or college. It should also be noted that the School Governor of the Year has been incorporated within the School Support Star of the Year category.

The awards are free to enter and submissions should be no more than 750 words and include a brief summary of what the entry is about. Schools and colleges can submit entries for as many categories as they like, as long as they are different. Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said: “We understand schools and colleges are incredibly busy at the moment and so we have made the decision to extend the deadline for entries in order to give everyone more time to perfect their submissions and to get them in to us without too much panic. “This will be the 11th year of this incredible ceremony and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of schools and colleges from around the region. Best of luck to those who are entering - we look forward to seeing you in November!” For the seventh year running, Copyrite Systems and Ricoh are title sponsors of the Educate Awards. Associate sponsors include All About STEM, Angel Solutions, CER, CPMM Media Group, Evaluate-Ed, Hidden Strength, LCR Careers Hub, Liverpool John Moores University, LSSP, Progress Careers, SENDSCOPE and SupplyWell. A full list of categories can be found, here: educateawards.co.uk/educate-awards-categories/. To enter, visit: https://educateawards.co.uk/how-to-enter/.

St Vincent’s won the Outstanding Commitment to the Environment category at last year’s event

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education news

St Mary’s community welcomes Uliana, Solomiia and Stefaniia St Mary’s College in Crosby has welcomed three new pupils from Ukraine to the school community. Sisters Solomiia (aged 9) and Stefaniia (aged 4), and their cousin Uliana (aged 12) fled the war in Ukraine with their mothers, sisters Olha and Yuliia Protsenko, in March. Following a five-and-a-half week journey through Poland, Georgia and Hungary, the girls arrived safely in Crosby, where they are staying with Dr Colette McElroy, a former St Mary’s parent and governor, who welcomed the two families into her home as part of the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme. Dr McElroy contacted St Mary’s regarding the girls’ education and the school was honoured and delighted to be able to help, offering Uliana a place in Year 8 at St Mary’s College, Solomiia a place in Year 5 at St Mary’s Prep, and Stefaniia a place in Kindergarten at Bright Sparks. The girls have settled in well at St Mary’s and loved meeting Theodore, the Prep dog, when we got them together for photographs. Uliana said: “Everyone has

been very kind and I have made new friends. My dog Senia is still in Kyiv with my dad and I miss them both very much. It was nice to play with Theodore and my cousins really like him too.” Dr McElroy said: “The girls’ mums said they are so happy with St Mary’s. The children have made lots of new friends

and everyone has been really kind. They have noticed a lift in the children’s mood and they can see a great improvement in their English. They are proud to be part of the family of St Mary’s. It’s very important for the children to be in a safe caring environment with the support that the school staff and pupils have offered.”

ASFA celebrates Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month The Academy of St Francis Assisi, Kensington, recently commemorated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Through celebration, education and raising awareness, Gypsy,

Roma and Traveller History Month helps to tackle prejudice, challenge myths and to amplify the voices of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in wider society. Every year, there is a different theme and 2022’s theme was ‘What Makes a Home?'. The Academy of St Francis Assisi, which is part of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, boasts a wonderfully vibrant community, with students keen to share their own cultures with one another. A group of students from a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller background came together to cook some of their favourite dishes to share with the rest of the school, along with the support of Mrs Gamble, language acquisition co-ordinator, and Miss Thompson, head of food and nutrition at the academy. Some of the delectable treats cooked by the students included cherry bublanina cake, a tasty Czech dish and Romanian cheese pie. The awareness day allowed fellow students and members of staff to learn more the unique and diverse histories, cultures and languages of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Liverpool, the UK and beyond. The food was also shared at Let’s Celebrate L8 event at the FireFit Hub in Toxteth, which is part of the L8 A Better Place community group. Miss Thompson said: “This was a wonderful example of how people can be brought together through sharing food and recipe. This initiative is just one of the many ways we embrace the different cultures and backgrounds of all our students at The Academy of St Francis Assisi.”

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education news

Capital Investment across St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust The children and young people in all of the academies within St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust will benefit from exciting capital projects. The Trust has secured capital funding from a DfE grant, which is designed for pupil-facing projects that have an immediate impact. Andrew Truby, CEO of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “We are very excited to be able to provide much needed investment across our academies. I can’t wait to see the children’s faces when they return in September to see all of the improvements.”. Each of the academies has chosen a project that will have an impact on their community. At St Ambrose Catholic Academy, there will be new outdoor equipment to enhance the EYFS provision. At St Nicholas Catholic Academy, there is a new library area, a programme of redecoration and an attractive new entrance. At Holy Spirit Catholic Academy, there will be a full redecoration programme, a sensory room and nurture space. At St Chad’s Catholic and CofE Academy, a welcoming new student entrance will be created and a new library will be installed in the heart of the building. At St Augustine of Canterbury, we are finalising plans for improvements to the environment. One of the projects that will make a significant difference to the whole community will be the memorial garden at The Trinity Catholic Academy in Liverpool. Rebecca Flynn, headteacher at The Trinity Catholic Academy, said “After losing two former pupils in tragic circumstances within such a short time frame, it was important to the staff, children and wider community to have a lasting, and fitting memorial to them and their families. “We wanted the memorial to stand for something; something that the children could learn from, and to look to, as a powerful reminder of the challenges that face young people each day. So, with the help of our parent trust, The St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, we have decided to build a peace centre, which will be located in the school’s Faith Garden. “The centre will consist of three bespoke ‘huts’. The larger of the huts, to be named the Ark (as that represents salvation) will be used for whole class reflections on a number of topics. It will also be used as a quiet area where children can go to at lunch times to reflect, or to spend some time reading for pleasure. “The two smaller huts, ‘The Dove’, in memory of Ava White, and ‘The Olive Branch’, in memory of Michael Toohey, will be used for small group interventions, and therapy/counselling sessions. “It is hoped that by providing much needed spiritual and holistic approaches, that the children will continue to understand the need for peace and reconciliation to be part of a loving life.”

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education news

Wellbeing award for High School Maricourt Catholic High School are delighted to have achieved the Wellbeing Award for schools, awarded by Optimus Education in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau. Assistant headteacher and mental health leader Danielle Lawler said: “This emphaises our outstanding commitment to promoting emotional wellbeing and positive mental health. We are so proud at how all our stakeholders came together to help achieve the award.” The award has taken a year to prepare for, the requirements included the

creation of action plans, audits and mapping exercises, which involved all staff. The assessment day consisted of a tour and a presentation on how the school had met each of the eight objectives set out by the awarding body. This was followed by pupil, staff, parent and governor interviews. The validator was really impressed by her visit to the school and commented on how all the stakeholders could not speak any more highly of the wellbeing support and systems on offer at Maricourt.

Joe Mangan, headteacher said: “Pastoral care has always been the main bloodline at Maricourt Catholic High School, and we are proud to say that this has extended to a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. “We can not wait to continue to expand our wellbeing team and develop further relationships with our wide variety of partnerships and external agencies. This term we hope to see the expansion of the pupil wellbeing champions as well as create a team of staff wellbeing ambassadors.”

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cathedral The Mod Father by Neil Sayer Archdiocesan Archivist What to buy for a priest who’s moving on to pastures new? In 1967 the parishioners of St Benedict’s in Warrington clubbed together to get Father Mason a brand-new F-registration moped. He’d already been using a scooter to carry out his duties, but a new one would be something tremendously useful in his new parish as well as being a daily reminder of his old one. The parishioners were bighearted, and Father Mason must have been well-liked: the men’s group presented him with a record-player, and from the Women’s Confraternity came a suitcase. Father Mason belonged to the Order of St Benedict, which cannot accept gifts of money, so these presents must have been well-chosen for his needs and personality. He wasn’t going far, just to the neighbouring parish of St Alban as Parish Priest. The Benedictines of Ampleforth Abbey practically ran Warrington as their Catholic fiefdom for much of last century. They established St Alban’s in 1778, the current church dating from 1823; it will celebrate its bicentenary next year. From this mother church they then founded St Mary (1877) and St Benedict (1902). From these churches then arose St Oswald’s, Padgate and St Anselm’s chapel of ease. Father Mason had been ordained at Ampleforth on 23 July 1944. He lived for several years in the monastic community at Ampleforth before being sent to work in the parish of St Benedict, Warrington in the early 1960s. Parish work was quite different from the life of a monastic, and in some ways its demands were against the community vows of a monk. Nevertheless, over a third of the priests of the Ampleforth Community were engaged in parish work, mostly in south Wales and the north of England. One of Father Mason’s successors at St Alban’s, Father Philip Holdsworth, followed the same path, teaching at Ampleforth Abbey for several years after his ordination before being sent into a parish in Warrington. He was

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immediately aware of the ‘greater freedom’ for a priest in a parish: ‘I had been trained to a very ordered pattern of life. I knew exactly what I would be doing at any particular time, but you can’t live like that in a parish’, he said. Missing the discipline of Ampleforth, it could be hard to settle into parish life, thought Father Holdsworth. Father Mason was appointed Parish Priest of St Alban’s following 6 years settling in as a curate at St Benedict’s. He didn’t spent long in his new parish: in 1970 he was sent to Cardiff, where he ministered for the next 20 years. He returned to Warrington in 1992 (presumably without his moped), when he was appointed to St Mary’s, completing a hat-trick of service at Benedictine parishes in the town. By the 1990s the Benedictine influence in Warrington was on the wane. St Oswald’s had been taken over by the archdiocese in 1962, St Alban’s in 1981, and St Benedict’s in 1986, so by the time Father Mason came back St Mary’s was the only survivor of the town’s parishes to be staffed by monks from Ampleforth. In 2012 a shortage of priests in the community obliged them to withdraw from that parish too, and so ended their connection with Warrington that had endured for two and a half centuries.

Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean The last month has been a rather challenging time at the Cathedral with the organ works proceeding at a pace but also having a considerable impact on the normal running schedules of the Cathedral. On top of this the unwelcome malicious damage caused by a fire to the external East Door has also had a considerable impact. At present not only can we not use this east access but the main stairwell up to the Cathedral level from the sacristy area is out of use. It will take some considerable time before the doors will be back in use as the damage may be irreparable and may mean new doors. Hopefully the stairs will be back in use rather more speedily. As the holiday season approaches the various celebrations this month in the Cathedral focus on thanksgiving for the year that has passed or celebrating new beginnings. There are a number of school prize giving ceremonies and thanksgiving celebrations over the first few weeks of July prior to the end of term. The month begins with two inauguration celebrations for the newly formed St Joseph Multi Academy Trust. On Monday 4 July for the staff and governors and on Tuesday 5 July at 1.30 pm for the children of the participating schools. The Chapter of Canons will also be meeting at the Cathedral on 5 July – the Chapter Mass that day will be at 12.15 pm in the Crypt Chapel. On Sunday 17 July Bishop Tom Neylon will ordain two men to the Diaconate at an afternoon celebration of Mass. During the following week there will be a series of Graduation Ceremonies for students of Hope University.

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youth ministry

Signing off in style Tom from Animate Youth Ministries welcomes a busy end to the academic year ... with Lourdes still to come. This is my fifth year on the Animate team, but the first in some time where we have had a semblance of normality. Amid all the disruptions caused by the pandemic over the last two years, there were times when I thought it unlikely that things would ever be back to normal. However, as we come to the end of the 21/22 academic year, I am happy to say that this year has been a good one. Our work with schools has returned to its pre-pandemic level and for the last six weeks of this year, we have had a constant influx of schools, both primary and secondary, into Lowe House for retreat days. On coming back from half-term, we immediately had a week of retreat days here with the Year 8 lads from Cardinal Heenan. The theme was life as a journey: how throughout our lives we will be faced with challenges and difficulties, yet our faith can help provide us with the resilience to keep going. We reminded ourselves that we are created in God’s image, and how He is present on every step of our journey. It was a week with fun and games and, moreover, a chance for us to reflect on the blessings that

our faith provides us. On 14 June, Lowe House hosted 10 members of a Year 10 Cafod young leaders’ group from All Saints, Huddersfield and St John Fisher, Dewsbury. Here were two schools from outside our diocese who had made the long trip from West Yorkshire in order to celebrate how their young people had made a difference during the year and how they could continue to do so in the future. It was a very enjoyable day, and interesting to work with young people from further afield than we are used to. Additionally, we have been working with primary schools from across Liverpool Archdiocese – mostly with Year 6 pupils but occasionally with Year 5s as well. Our days have focused on three separate themes: social justice – reminding us that we have a duty to care for our brothers and sisters across the world, no matter who or where they are; community/gifts – allowing us to think about what it means to be a faith community and how each of us has a part to play within it and new

beginnings – appropriate for Year 6 pupils as they prepare for the step up to high school. As with the Cardinal Heenan pupils, we reminded ourselves that God is ever present in our lives and that when we feel anxious, or discouraged, we can always turn to Him. It has been a privilege to work with so many compassionate and enthusiastic young people this half-term. Of course, the work of Animate is not limited to running retreat days in Lowe House. We are also responsible for planning and organising the Faith in Action award, a scheme in which youngsters across the country are recognised for living out their faith and making a difference in their communities. This year’s archdiocesan award ceremony took place on 16 June at St Jude’s Church, Wigan, and was attended by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon along with pupils, parents and chaplains. It was a wonderful evening spent celebrating the achievements of so many of our young people. Finally, this summer brings the longawaited return of Liverpool’s Annual Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Preparations have been under way for a long time, and we are all very pleased and excited to finally be able to travel to Lourdes again. On 21 July, seven coaches will depart from around the archdiocese to take the Liverpool Youth for a week in Lourdes, assisting the sick and elderly, deepening their faith, and making lifelong memories. I ask that you keep in your prayers the young people, the staff, and all other pilgrims travelling to Lourdes this year.

Faith in Action award ceremony

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Pic extras

Mums the Word ‘Healing’ was the theme of Refugee Week 2022 which took place between 20 and 26 June, coinciding with World Refugee Day on the 20th.

A century of service News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

Pilgrims return to St Winefride’s Well

As a week-long celebration, it included nationwide educational events and media and creative campaigns – all designed to raise awareness about refugees. There were exhibitions, film screenings, sports tournaments, public talks and school activities. Moreover, there was an opportunity to learn more about refugees' contributions to art, culture, and society. The annual event is an opportunity to welcome refugees into our communities and form connections. Founded in 1998, Refugee Week enables people from different backgrounds to connect and it encourages open conversation about why people end up displaced. Plus it explains the challenges they face when seeking safety. A refugee is someone who has had to leave their home and country and seek refuge elsewhere. It may be due to persecution, war or natural disasters. Refugees are often unable to return to their home countries as it would not be safe for them to do so. It is down to unfortunate circumstances, and no fault of the person, and for this reason it is important to help those that have had to abandon their home and leave everything they know behind and start their lives again. Refugees want to build a new home and contribute to the community, and as this week in June highlighted, the least we can do is make sure we make any refugees in our own communities feel welcome. Maria Pimblett, media officer

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After a gap of two years, Wrexham Diocese has resumed its annual pilgrimage to Holywell – with the support of members of our order. The pilgrimage took place on Sunday 26 June and was supported by the Brothers of Province 37 (North Wales) of the Knights of St Columba. As well as acting as stewards, they carried the statue of St Winefride in the procession from the church to the well – for Mass followed by veneration of the relic of St Winefrede. They also processed with their provincial banner. This is the second event of the Well Pilgrimage Season which began on 5 June with the Blessing of the Waters. Further events will be the Polish Pilgrimage on 17 July and Rosary and Mass on the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August. Holywell will also be one of the stages for the tour of the Relics of St Bernadette on 15 September.

• It was the feast of St Columba, our patron, on 9 June and we celebrated it with Mass at St Coluba’s Church, Huyton, on Sunday 12 June. There were refreshments in the garden afterwards and we would like to thank the parish priest, Father Michael Fitzsimons, for his kind invitation and for arranging and saying the Mass. • The Divine Mercy Bus will be touring the country from 25-30 July with two priests aboard to hear confessions at various stops including Newcastle, Salford, Leeds, Birmingham and Liverpool. There will be a Mass at Hope University Chapel at 2pm on 30 July to mark the tour’s conclusion. • The KSC will be sponsoring a Young People’s Seminar at Hinsley Hall, Leeds, from 26-29 July which will include a visit to the Mercy Bus. Websites: www.ksc.org.uk www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com

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sunday reflections On a liturgical note ‘I will seek him whom my soul loves.’ Our proclamation of the Risen Christ must be rooted in first having encountered Him in our own lives, through prayer, through reflection on the scriptures and through the sacraments. On the 22nd of this month we keep the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, she who stood at the foot of the cross, who went to anoint the body in the tomb and to whom the Risen Lord appeared on the Easter Morning, sending her to ‘tell my brothers’ that He would meet them in Galilee. Pope Francis, in 2016, raised this day to the level of a feast day precisely to highlight Mary Magdalene’s vocation as ‘apostle to the apostles’ or, as Archbishop Arthur Roche put it, ‘an example of true and authentic evangelisation; she is an evangelist who announces the joyful central message of Easter.’ The scripture given to us in the liturgy of the feast is a beautiful text from the Song of Songs of the Old Testament which is all about searching and finding and meeting – and surely that lies at the heart of the story of The Magdalene. Her encounter with Jesus transforms her life in such a way that she becomes one who is sent to

Sunday thoughts When celebrating Baptisms and First Holy Communions I resist the temptation to weaponise the sacraments. I do not use the desire of Catholics for these sacraments as a stick to beat them with; nor do I make their reception conditional on attendance at Mass so many times, etc. That is not the way of Jesus in the Gospels. He fed, forgave and healed those whom the Pharisees dismissed as undeserving. It was in the least ‘deserving’ that he recognised a spark of faith. I am aware of this when presenting a burning Baptism candle to parents. The flame flickers and sometimes goes out. But it can be re-lit. That is the thing about faith, each of us is given just a little bit. But it is enough. When my candle has gone out at times in my life there has always been someone around to help me light it. The fragility of faith is what makes it powerful. It is not meant to

Canon Philip Gillespie

others, even to the apostles themselves, to be a herald of the Resurrection. We do not claim to yet have full and perfect knowledge (‘now we see in a glass darkly’ – 1 Corinthians 13:12), or indeed all the answers to all the questions, but what we do have is a certainty , founded in our personal experience, that the meeting with the Risen Christ, the Christ who has promised to be with us always, enriches our lives in so many ways and gives a depth and value to our days. In one of the parishes in which I have served over these past 30 years they sang a hymn at the end of the school term, the chorus of which was: ‘Unless you are a seeker, You'll never be a finder’ How very true! • Please remember in your prayers one of our students here at the Beda, Reverend Francis McKendry, who will be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Glasgow on the feast of Mary Magdalen, and also the abovementioned Archbishop Arthur Roche who will be created a cardinal at a consistory in Rome on 27 August.

Mgr John Devine OBE

be a permanent fix. The Holy Spirit has his own way of doing things. And it is not my way. Preaching the Gospel does not require manipulation or argument. That is the reassurance I take from the Gospel for the first Sunday in July: ‘I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be “Peace to this house!”. And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.’ No gimmicks are required. The faith of the preacher is more important than bemoaning a ‘lack of faith’ in the recipient. The preacher needs sufficient faith to get out of the way and trust the Holy Spirit to do the work.

Weekly Reflections are on the Archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholicresources.com

Can you see? Mabel was one of the people who often came into the chaplaincy to get warm and to see if there was any food available. She lived in her own little world, her mind addled by alcohol. Sometimes she would arrive with her partner who, at times, was violent towards her. She would sit in the corner of the main lounge crying. We would wash Mabel and clean her up with the help of the medical students who came into our building. Her partner would usually have to be put outside because of his unreasonable behaviour. One day she was bleeding heavily, with Anne Marie, one of the students, looking after her. Two ladies came into our midday Mass. They were horrified and one said: ‘You wouldn't think they'd let people like that in would you?’ Mabel looked at them and said something like, ‘Madam, you see this girl who's bathing my wounds? There's far more of Christ in her than some of you who go to Mass each day.’ I couldn’t help thinking how Mabel had cut through what we often call Christianity and challenged me at a very deep level to ask myself the question ‘Whose feet am I prepared to wash?’. It was for me a Gospel moment. I glimpsed the truth of the presence of God within us and I heard the call to serve the weakest and the most vulnerable. One of the major themes in John’s Gospel is that of blindness and sight. John invites us to look beyond what we see with our physical eyes and recognise the presence of God within us and among us. Everything is made holy by the presence of God. Look at everything and everybody with fresh eyes, seeing the presence of the living Lord, and then learn how to serve. There was a film made of the life of Dorothy Day and one scene in it has always moved me. Dorothy, having heard the call to serve, marches into her local church and screams at the crucifix, shouting: ‘You want me to serve you even when you smell and are abusive towards me?’ There are two things happening here. Firstly, Dorothy is beginning to recognise the presence of Christ in even the most unpalatable of people. Secondly, this recognition calls her to serve the Christ in them and she knows she cannot do it with just her own strength. Just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated the feast of Pentecost. This is not just an old story but a celebration of the gift of the spirit who helps us to see the presence of Christ in all people and who gives us the grace to serve if we want it. So call on the spirit to help you see and help you serve. Father Chris Thomas

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PIC Life How we live with the pain of bereavement By Moira Billinge No matter how advanced our society might be, when a loved one dies there is no flick of a switch or key on a computer which bypasses grief. We may be able to delay it a little while we are kept busy with all the necessary preparations for burial etc but, sooner or later, there is the inevitable sadness of knowing that we will not see that person again – at least in this life. Grief is a normal reaction to the death of a loved one. In reality, the gutwrenching emotions feel anything but ‘normal’. Nothing prepares us for the ferocious pain of loss and the stark realisation that nothing will ever again

be the same. The fact that the person who has died may have been ill for a while and that death is anticipated does not diminish our grief when it finally happens. Knowing that a person is living on borrowed time makes us savour more deeply the moments that we have left with them. When death happens suddenly, it brings with it the additional burden of our not having been able to say goodbye or patch up an argument, and we can feel cheated out of a final, precious opportunity to say, ‘I love you’. A popular prayer begins with the words ‘Death is nothing at all’. That is not true. It also shrugs off the significance of death as if it were nothing more than an inconvenient interruption to the daily

routine. Death is something which turns life upside down, inside out and back to front. With the best will in the world, to describe death as nothing at all stretches piety to its limits. The death of someone we dearly love is a massive event for those who are left behind. Jesus wept at the death of his good friend Lazarus. His compassionate understanding of the sorrow of Martha and Mary at the loss of their beloved brother was so great that, despite Lazarus having been buried for four days, Jesus brought him back to life. Our Christian belief in life after death does not spare us from the agony of loss. Neither is grief a sign of weakness. Instead, our faith gives us hope, which, in turn, helps to give our lives some balance. We know and accept that while we would like God to bring back a loved one from the dead, it is not going to happen. That person has moved from the here and now of this world into the timelessness of eternity. As Christians, we trust that, enfolded by our prayers, the one we love has merely stepped across the divide between the ups and downs of this life into the life and happiness with God which is beyond our imagining. God will lead us through the suffering of bereavement. The dead are only as far away as God… who is so close.

Worth a visit - Ripley Castle This month, take a trip to north Yorkshire’s picturesque Ripley Castle and village just three miles from Harrogate, writes Lucy Oliver. Dating from the 15th century, the castle has been home to the Ingilby family of baronets for 700 years. Enjoy the beautiful expansive parklands designed by Capability Brown, with their ornamental lakes and grazing deer, and take a guided tour to learn about the priest hole used for Mass during the Reformation, and the family’s support for the faith. In the 19th century, much of the original village was remodelled in the French-Alsatian style, including the town hall. Visitors to the cobbled streets can still admire rows of cottages and a quaint village school – and there is traditional English fayre at the tea rooms. Across from the castle entrance, Ripley’s ancient church of All Saints is a hidden gem. The unusual medieval Weeping Cross in the churchyard is a unique survivor among similar stones in England. It is believed that pilgrims knelt here or perhaps bowed their heads into the niches in the stone as a public atonement for sins.

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A 45-minute guided tour of the castle takes place three times daily and includes entry to the gardens and grounds. Concessions are available and children under 12 enter for free.

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McCallum & Tritton & Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

0151 931 2002

www.mccallumandtritton.co.uk Catholic Pictorial

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Dialogue and Unity Annual Josephine Butler Memorial Awards The Annual Josephine Butler Memorial Awards were held on Wednesday 18 May in the Lady Chapel of the Anglican Cathedral where the ‘Noble Women’ set of stained-glass windows are located including one to Josephine Butler. The Lady Chapel in its windows, statues and memorials depicts a range of Christian women who contributed to the life of the nation. Josephine Butler (1828-1906) was a great fighter for social justice concerned with gender equality, challenging oppressive attitudes to sex workers, and women’s access to education. She lived in Liverpool for many years where her husband was the Principal of Liverpool College – one wonders what a conversation between Monsignor James Nugent and Josephine Butler would have been like. Her feast day in the Church of England Lectionary is May 30 but the Platinum Jubilee meant an early celebration. The focus of the Trust is about Christian Faith and Education and operates by giving awards to organisations and individuals who have made a significant contribution notably in the ecumenical spirit of Better Together the motto of Archbishop Derek Worlock and Bishop David Sheppard which is our heritage. That heritage shone brightly in this year’s awards. A Josephine Butler Organisation Award of £5,000 went to Churches Together in the Merseyside Region’s Support for Asylum Seekers Project (CTMR SAS) received by its indefatigable Coordinator Neil Cunningham who was the 2021 Josephine Butler Volunteer of the Year. SAS began life in May 1996 when Merseyside Churches were concerned with opposing that year’s new Asylum and Immigration Bill then passing through Parliament which effectively deprived asylum seekers of their right to state benefits. Local authorities were not authorised to give any help to destitute asylum seekers, so SAS decided to give emergency weekly support grants which could be renewed if circumstances had not changed. One off grants could also be made to an asylum seeker for special needs. The Archdiocesan Lenten Alms have been awarded to SAS. This became the blueprint for SAS. More and more grants and donations have 30

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Chair of the Trust, Pauline Lewis with Sister Moira Meeghan been received each year from charitable foundations, churches, faith groups and individuals. In 2020 £53k was raised in grants and donations and £46k paid out for emergency accommodation and support grants. SAS currently has local partner agencies that deliver both humanitarian aid to destitute asylum seekers and refugees and/or provide meaningful activities to support their wellbeing. A Josephine Butler Organisation Award of £5,000 went to Faith Anglican/Catholic Primary School in Everton which does such wonderful work in an area of multiple deprivation with outstanding support from the local Churches namely Father Denis Blackledge SJ, Brother Ken Vance SJ and Debbie Reynolds at St Francis Xavier’s and Canon Henry Corbett at St Peter’s. The Award is £5,000 which will be of great use to the school. Cllr Jane Corbett, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool is an active governor at the school. The Josephine Butler Women of the Year Award went to Sister Moira Meeghan a member of the Order of Sisters of St Mary of Namur who does outstanding work on spiritual direction in the Archdiocese and Anglican Diocese, with creative training on dementia awareness and a real ecumenical commitment (she was the first Head of Faith Primary School). There was £1,000 to a charity of her choice which is the Irenaeus Project where she

works. Sister Moira serves on the Archdiocesan Commission for Dialogue and Unity. She was well supported by the Sisters at her convent and Father Chris Thomas from the Irenaeus Project. The Josephine Butler Scholarship of £1,000 went to Rebecca Richardson for international travel. She is the Huyton Anglican Deanery Youth Worker and the Chaplain at Hope Anglican/Catholic Primary School and significantly involved in the Anglican Diocese’s Triangle of Hope promoting Youth involvement. The Triangle links three Anglican Dioceses: Liverpool, Virginia, and Kumasi involved in the Slavery Triangle. Rebecca serves on the Archdiocesan Commission for Dialogue and Unity. The trust works closely with three key partners namely the Anglican Cathedral with its memorial to Josephine Butler, Liverpool Hope University and Liverpool Diocesan Mothers Union (working closely with the Union of Catholic Mothers in the archdiocese) by sponsoring events in connection with Human Trafficking and Domestic Abuse. The trust is currently sponsoring a competition for students at Liverpool Hope to undertake artwork on the theme of domestic abuse and will be developing educational materials on Josephine Butler devised by students for use in religious education.

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