Catholic Pic May 2022

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Issue 212 My 2022

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Our Synod presented in Rome INSIDE THIS MONTH

Aid arrives in Ukraine

Welcome Father John

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contents Welcome

Issue 212 My 2022

Last month we paid tribute to the incredible generosity of people throughout the archdiocese in responding to the ‘#liverpool4ukraine’ appeal. As we went to press the first two consignments had just left for the Polish border, this month we report on their safe delivery into the care of Bishop Gregory Komar. As we celebrated Easter Bishop Gregory wrote, ‘I am asking you, dear brothers and sisters, to be alongside us in this Way of the Cross, in these dramatic days, when the future of Europe and of the whole world is being decided. Share with us your material blessings and your support, and we in our turn will share with you our love, our gratitude, our faith and our hope.’

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This month, again as I write, more aid is leaving the archdiocese, this time four consignments – sent with love, faith and hope for the people of Ukraine.

On Saturday 2 April Bishop Tom Williams ordained Rev John Goddard to the priesthood. Father John is the former Anglican Bishop of Burnley and was received into the Church last year. In our profile this month he shares his journey with us. Welcome Father John you have our prayers and support in your ministry.

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Main Feature Liverpool shows its support for Ukraine

What does holiness look like? The gift of the Holy Spirit which we receive in our sacramental life challenges us to be holy ourselves and to make the world around us holy and bring us closer to other people who we will meet on the road.

Sometimes it takes a disaster for this to be clear to us and the invasion of Ukraine is undoubtedly a tragedy and a disaster not only for the people of the Ukraine themselves but also for the world in which we live.

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News From around the Archdiocese

The way in which this archdiocese has come together to support the people of Ukraine with humanitarian aid through our friend Bishop Gregory Komar of Sambir–Drohobych and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church here in England have shown that the Spirit of the Lord is alive within us. From all over the archdiocese people have given goods, money, and their time in sorting the donations and driving trucks across Europe, to help our fellow Christians and human beings in the Ukraine. This amazing upsurge of energy within the people of the Archdiocese of Liverpool from one end of it to the other is undoubtedly a clear sign of the Holy Spirit and the true holiness of our people.

16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese

From the Archbishop’s Desk

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

Editor Peter Heneghan Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine, St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Liverpool Archdiocesan Office, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA Tel: 0151 522 1007 Email: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk Pictures Profile, Holy Week and Easter Services www.nickfairhurstphotographer.com Advertising Sales team 0151 709 7567 sales@cpmmmedia.com Website: www.catholicpic.co.uk Twitter: @PicCatholic Youtube: CPMM Media

14 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 15 Nugent Every child deserves a future

19 Profile Father John Goddard 21 Animate Youth Ministry My favourite time of year 25 Cathedral Record Be a Chorister for a day 26 Pic Extras Mums the Word News from the KSC

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28 Pic Life Why the time comes to stop making excuses 30 Dialogue and Unity Abbé Paul Couturier

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Archdiocese underlines commitment to Ukraine The Archdiocese of Liverpool has redoubled its efforts to provide support for Ukraine with the delivery of four more consignments of aid.

By Simon Hart Mike Starkey is describing an encounter he will never forget. It came on Tuesday 29 March when he reached the Polish/Ukrainian border driving one of the two lorries carrying the initial aid consignments gathered through the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s ‘#liverpool4ukraine’ appeal.

There the 53-year-old company director from Wigan met Bishop Hryhoriy (Gregory) Komar, and students from the Holy Spirit Seminary in the Ukrainian diocese of Sambir-Drohobych. Andrew Quinlan, an Australian lecturer at the seminary, was there too. The seminarians had driven to the border in their cars to help ferry back the contents of the two large seven and a half tonne wagons which had journeyed the 1,400 miles from Liverpool.

Recalling that moment, Mike says, ‘The bishop was there and a couple of priests were with them and some students and they were hugging us and tearful. To be honest, we were quite tearful. You hear about this on the news and it touches you and to actually make a difference and take these well-needed supplies out there and speak to people over there made us feel the Archdiocese had 4

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achieved something.’

That experience strengthened his conviction to make a return journey with more of the donations that had been coming into the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s Margaret Clitherow Centre on Croxteth Drive. ‘Being there gave you the feeling, ‘Let’s support them again,’ he affirms. He was not alone in that view.

Hence at 6.30am on Sunday 24 April two more lorries departed for the Ukrainian border followed, at 6.30am the next morning, by another two.

Along with Mike and Chris Joynt, who both took part in the first trip, four members of staff from the Archdiocese were part of the team of drivers for this second 2,800-mile round trip through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland: Jill Boggan, Nicky Hegarty, John McMahon and Aaron Kiely.

Speaking ahead of their departure, Jill Boggan, Director of Finance for the Archdiocese, said: ‘I’ve volunteered to go on this trip because I want to do something direct and useful to help people in Ukraine who urgently need the supplies we’re taking to them. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to go on this journey and hopeful that taking the generous donations from across the Archdiocese to Bishop Gregory will

‘The bishop was there and a couple of priests were with them and some students and they were hugging us and tearful’

provide both practical support and comfort that they are not alone.’

The staggered departure of the fourvehicle convoy was planned to allow the seminarians time to unload the contents of the first two vehicles, and ferry them back to the seminary, before then returning the next day to repeat the task.

‘No-one is safe from the bombing’ A reminder of the Ukrainian people’s desperate situation, amid the ongoing war with Russia’s invading forces, came a week earlier in a message to the Archdiocese from Bishop Gregory sent on Monday 18 April.

He wrote: ‘I am in Lviv to conduct a spiritual retreat for 180 seminarians.

Russian troops have launched another missile strike here – six dead and eight injured. A tyre shop was destroyed, including 40 cars. A nearby hotel was also damaged where refugees had lived.’

There was also a fresh message from Andrew Quinlan, who offered a sad Easter reflection. ‘During the Covid crisis, many Christians were forbidden to go to Church,’ he began.

‘In most places in Europe, restrictions have been lightened or even completely lifted. During the time of bans on gatherings, I thought that it could not get any worse. I remember our bishop wept when he celebrated Good Friday in an empty church. It has got worse.

‘Every night a black pall falls over Drohobych – the streetlights are put out and no one is allowed to leave their homes. We have a strict curfew from 10pm to 6am. This means for us that this year we will not be able to celebrate the all-night Easter Vigil.

Not even the bells will ring at midnight. No-one is safe from the

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Canon Aidan Prescott and Father Taras Khomych bless the vans before departure bombing anywhere. The cloud of evil that has been covering us now for months has seeped into our churches. But the darkness cannot overcome the light.’

Amid the darkness, the ‘#liverpool4ukraine’ appeal is focused as best possible on meeting the specific needs outlined by our friends in Ukraine.

As Mike Sharkey explains, this means ‘medical aid, generators, food, sanitary products, baby food, toiletries, camp

beds’. Chillingly, he adds, another item requested for the second aid convoy was ‘50 body bags’.

Medical aid from the first consignments was transferred to hospitals in Drohobych and Boryslav and some taken further east to the capital Kyiv.

He goes on: ‘They’ve been ferrying across the small amount of aid they’ve got and taken it directly into the war zone. The seminary is a place of rest and shelter,

with people coming in who’ve lost everything – people with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing, be they young, middle-aged or elderly.’

The total raised for the appeal is currently £101,000. This includes a sum of £12,000 raised by charities and organisations in the Wigan area of the archdiocese, including Wigan and Leigh College, Wigan Council and the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.

Mike explains that through the local NHS trust it has been possible to access ‘£5,000 worth of medical aid direct from the procurement department’. Meanwhile, a local van hire business, PSD Vehicle Rental, has donated the vehicles for the journeys. And, he concludes, the second April convoy may well not be the last. ‘We are looking at more supplies coming in so don’t rule out a third trip … … but don’t tell my wife!”

‘Thank you for your love, care and charity’ Andrew J Quinlan, lecturer at the Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv, responds to the support showed by the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Bishop Gregory helps to transfer the boxes

I am writing this from the Eparchy of Sambir–Drohobych here in Western Ukraine. On 29 March we received from Liverpool two van-loads of donations.

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Bishop Gregory and the drivers More are due to arrive soon. The vans were unloaded in a sort of ‘no man’s land’ between the Polish and Ukrainian border and then transported to our seminary named after the Priest-monkmartyrs Severyn, Yakym and Vitaliy in Drohobych.

At the seminary, the gifts were again unloaded and sorted into shipments to respond to the daily requests that the Eparchy receives through its network of contacts all over Ukraine. Our people cannot express how grateful they are for the love, care and practical charity that the Archdiocese of Liverpool has shown them. Our Bishops Yaroslav Pryriz and Hryhoriy [Gregory] Komar wish to give their thanks to the Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon, your Archbishop, and to his auxiliaries, to all the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese who worked so hard to make this delivery possible and to all those who remember us in their prayers.

The whole world has now seen the unbelievable tragedy of Ukraine unfold before their eyes. People everywhere have expressed their admiration for the courage of the Ukrainian people in the

‘No-one is safe from the bombing anywhere. The cloud of evil that has been covering us now for months has seeped into our churches’ 6

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face of an unjust invasion and an implacable enemy. The survival of the nation for such a long time under this relentless aggression is literally miraculous. Here in Western Ukraine we have had missile attacks and the day and night are punctuated by airraid sirens. The sirens are still something that I cannot take in – I always thought that that sound belonged to old black-and-white films about World War Two – and now they are a constant part of my life.

Thank God, this part of Ukraine is not under direct fire or worse occupation – but in the back of everyone’s mind are the questions ‘Will it come to us?’ and ‘What will we do when it does?’. The invasion of evil started in the early days of Lent. This time has been an uninterrupted ‘Way of the Cross’ for Ukraine. Sadly, rather tragically as I write this, the struggle is about to intensify to a level of fighting not seen in Europe since the days of the Second World War. The Russian invaders are massing to crush the Eastern part of the nation. Everyone has seen what carnage they leave behind.

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feature We know that God is merciful and therefore we know that his enemy is not. Nothing can stop this monstrous wave of evil except prayer. The Archdiocese continues to give us its material aid. It is now more important than ever that they continue to give us their spiritual aid as well.

Dmytro Holyk

A seminarian’s view My name is Dmytro Holyk, and I am a seminarian of the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church at the Drohobych Seminary of the Priest-Martyrs Severin, Yoakim and Vitaly.

The night of 24 February interrupted the flow of seminary life and changed everyone forever. We were all subconsciously aware that a war could start at any moment, but no-one could really believe it. When I went out on the balcony that morning, I heard a noise and saw a military fighter plane. Then I had the real feeling that war had come.

This meant that we seminarians could no longer be together and study and pray as a community, because the seminary is a crowded place and it would be a dangerous location.

At home, I felt separated from common prayer life. Thank God that in Drohobych, where I live, there is a monastery of the Basilian Fathers, where I could pray Vespers and the Divine Liturgy together with the monks.

However, this required a testimony of my faith, as I often heard air-raid sirens when I was walking to the monastery or while we were praying together. Our academic life continued with online lessons, and after lectures we often helped in the seminary with humanitarian aid.

During this time, I often remembered the words of Saint Cyprian of Carthage, that we must not despair but rather ‘rejoice and embrace the gift of the occasion … while we are firmly expressing our faith, and having endured sufferings, are advancing to Christ by the narrow way of Christ’ (De mortalitate, 14).

In the light of Divine Providence, it is possible to single out a positive moment from all of this, because through our presence at home we seminarians were able to support our relatives and friends. Everyone experienced different feelings about the war. Some succumbed to fear but others were full of self-confidence saying that we would win and destroy

our enemies. We tried to keep a balance and instil in others faith in God's Providence, which can turn any evil into good because it is only with Him that there will be victory.

In this difficult time, all the seminarians help with their good deeds: they direct humanitarian aid to the victims of the war, they help to settle refugees, and support people spiritually in the occupied territories.

Already, before the war began, twice in the year – for Christmas and Easter – we went on a mission to the eastern part of Ukraine. We met with people from Kharkiv and Tokmak, and prayed with them and did our best to support them in their Church life. I am still in contact with the people we met there.

In these ways, our seminary has become a source of help for the needy, both materially and spiritually. It is only through these sorts of activity that we will be able to defeat this personification of evil that has invaded our territory and which encroaches on our national integrity and the freedom of our people.

We all pray that Almighty God, through the prayers and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, will lead our people and give victory over this evil and help us to join the celebration of Lord's Resurrection at Easter, with the resurrection of Ukraine and its victory.

‘I often remembered the words of Saint Cyprian of Carthage, that we must not despair but rather ‘rejoice and embrace the gift of the occasion ’ Catholic Pictorial

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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

Concern for the other Churches

by Bishop Tom Neylon One of the tasks of a bishop is to have a concern for the people, the religious, the priests and his brother bishops in other dioceses. In the New Testament there is evidence from the early years of the Church that there was both a spiritual and a practical concern for the wider Church, as the number of Christian communities grew during the first missionary impulse. If one part of the body is hurting the other parts come to its assistance.

During the past couple of months, I have had my experience and understanding of this reality deepened by the generous outreach of the people and priests of our Archdiocese towards those who are suffering in the Ukraine. I was aware that

Bishop Tom Neylon is a member of the Department for International Affairs of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

Bishop Tom will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Tuesday 31 May. He was ordained by Pope St John Paul II in Heaton Park, Manchester and on his anniversary he will concelebrate Mass with those ordained alongside him at Our Lady of Grace church, Prestwich – the nearest church to Heaton Park. We send our good wishes to him.

Father Francis Marsden and the parishioners in Chorley had long established links with the Ukraine. They were able to respond quickly to the needs that were emerging after the invasion.

Across the Archdiocese people were asking the question: ‘What can we do?’

All of us have found ways to respond through prayer, fasting and a practical charity. The Archdiocese of Liverpool, you and me, put our hands in our pockets, donated much needed medical supplies, and other items that will be needed in the longer term, to those who are suffering.

As a brother bishop I was able to contact Bishop Gregory Komar auxiliary bishop of Drohobych, via WhatsApp, to express our solidarity with him and those who have sought refuge in his diocese from other parts of the Ukraine.

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Carrying the Cross

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The annual ‘Carrying the Cross’ procession organised by the Missionaries of Charity from Seel Street returned to Liverpool City Centre on Saturday 9 April after a break of two years due to the pandemic.

The weather was fine for the walk which began in Church Street, passed through Bold Street and finished at St Luke’s church – the bombed-out church. During the walk the pilgrims paused for the 14 stations of the cross led by Father Terry Madden MAfr from St Vincent de Paul in St James Street. The devotions were well received by shoppers who joined in with prayers at each station.

On arrival at St Luke’s Father Terry led a short prayer service and thanked all who had taken part.

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In the coming weeks and months may we continue to support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

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news diary Obituary of Rev Anthony Reynolds Father Tony Reynolds, a much loved parish priest, hospital chaplain and a tireless worker for Christians in the Holy Land died peacefully on the evening of Tuesday 15 February, aged 83 years and in the 67th year of his priesthood.

Anthony Reynolds, the son of William and Mary Reynolds, was born in Liverpool on 12 June 1938. He attended Much Woolton Primary School, Liverpool, and Campion House, Osterley, completing his seminary formation at St Joseph’s College, Upholland. He was ordained to the priesthood in the college chapel on his 27th birthday, 12 June 1965.

Following ordination, he was appointed as assistant priest at Our Lady’s, Parr.

Thereafter he served in several parishes as assistant priest: St Joan, Bootle from January 1971; St Margaret Mary, Liverpool from February 1975; St Francis

de Sales, Liverpool from September 1980 and St Luke, Whiston from September 1981. During his final curacy hospital chaplaincy became a stable feature of his priestly ministry, an aspect of his ministry that would continue over many years.

In May 1983, he was appointed as parish priest at St Anne’s, Overbury Street, Liverpool. As well as administering a busy city parish, he was

Sue Symons RIP

Sue at work at her home in Peasedown St John The death has been announced of Sue Symons, wife of Christopher Symons, the first Master of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral (1960-66). Sue died on 16 March, aged 79, only days after moving into a care home in Somerset, together with Christopher who is now in his nineties.

Sue was an artist, and she worked in various media. She had created several sets of woven and painted panels, mainly based on Bible events, and her diptychs on the life and miracles of Jesus are on permanent display at Bath Abbey (see https://www.bathabbey.org/bath-abbey-diptychs-the-life-and-miracles-of-jesus/ ).

She published a book illustrating her set of 40 panels based on the seven days of creation, ‘Creation: a Celebration’ a few years ago. The actual panels were also exhibited at Bath Abbey.

also a chaplain at Liverpool Maternity Hospital on Oxford Street and the Children’s Hospital on Myrtle Street.

He blessed the chapel in the latter and a plaque there still bears his name. A few months after his arrival, in November 1983, the maternity hospital was the focus of intense media attention after the birth of the Walton sextuplets. Father Tony always remained very proud that he had baptised them and he remained in contact with the family for many years afterwards. During his time at St Anne’s, he benefitted from the presence of a community of Christian Brothers with whom he shared the very large presbytery. He oversaw a reordering of the sanctuary at St Anne’s and a refurbishment of the church.

In August 1989, he moved to St Paschal Baylon, Liverpool, as parish priest, and combined his parochial duties with his role as chaplain at Alder Hey Hospital. Whilst there he celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a priest.

He returned to St Luke’s, Whiston, in November 1991, this time as parish priest, resuming his duties as chaplain at Whiston Hospital. In September 1997, after nearly six years at St Luke’s, he moved to Our Lady Immaculate, Bryn, for his final appointment as parish priest. Just as he had done at Overbury Street, so at Bryn he oversaw the reordering of the sanctuary and a refurbishment of the church.

In 1999, he was invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by Archbishop Michael Bowen in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark. Already a veteran of many Holy Land pilgrimages by that point, he continued faithfully supporting the Order’s activities in favour of the Christians in the Holy Land for the rest of his life.

After twelve years at Bryn, by which time Father Tony was in his early seventies, he relinquished his responsibilities as a parish priest and moved to Widnes to assist the parish priests of the deanery. Freed from the administrative burden of being a parish priest, Father Tony relished being able to focus entirely on his pastoral duties. Shortly after celebrating his Golden Jubilee he retired, in September 2015, to live happily with his sister, Ursula, in the family home in Woolton Village where four generations of his family had lived.

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news diary Cafod walking against hunger during Lent During Lent, schools and parishes up and down the country walked within their communities raising funds to support the 200 million children whose lives are threatened by malnutrition.

Our Lady of Compassion in Formby held their walk on Saturday 26 March setting off from St Jerome’s church and completing a 6k circular route taking in the churches of the parish.

33 parishioners participated as well as 2 four legged friends. Walker, Clare Henderson said, ‘It was a great afternoon of witness and support for the poorest of the poor’.

As well as parishes, there were also a great number of individuals taking part and collecting sponsorship.

Moira Devlin, a parishioner at Our

Lady Help of Christians, Prescot went out on her walks locally in Sherdley Park and in Sefton Park, and has now ventured out as far as Malaga in the beautiful sunshine of Spain.

She said, ‘We have had some bad weather with some mud blown in from the Sahara but the sun has come out now. Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me, especially Father David Melly and the parishioners at Our Lady’s who have been so supportive. I’ve massively exceeded my £200 target, raising £1,185 so far. I’m flabbergasted and incredibly grateful.’

Cafod would like to say a big thank you to all Walk Against Hunger participants. This summer Cafod will be launching their new campaign ‘Fix

Thrilled to be Scouting Throughout Covid, Scouting has played a vital role in continuing to give young people an opportunity to enjoy the Scouting experience. From running zoom meetings at the height of Covid, to socially distanced indoor and outdoor activities whilst always following the relevant safety criteria, Scouting has worked hard to maintain some normality for our young people. Young peoples’ lives have been so sorely disrupted by the restrictions placed on them during the Covid pandemic.

So as we return to more normal times and after a break of three years, West Lancs Scouts were thrilled to be able to restart their annual Bowlander Competition which has been run for many years. A test of the core scouting skills of team work, hiking, navigation, camping and cooking. The Scouts, all aged between 10 and 14 years, in small groups of 4 and without any adult, had to walk and navigate 20km on Saturday 26 March, cook their evening meal, camp overnight, cook their breakfast and then walk and navigate a further 10km on Sunday 27 March. This year 25 teams took part, who were all a credit to Scouting. An invaluable experience in preparing young people with Skills for Life. Pride of place though went to 8th Penwortham St Teresa’s Scouts of South Ribble, who finished 1st, 2nd and 4th in the competition to win the coveted award.

All the Scouts are pupils at St Teresa`s Catholic Primary School or All Hallows Catholic High School.

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the Food System’, and would love to see every parish in the archdiocese involved.

For more information on how to volunteer for Cafod or help get your parish involved in our campaigns and activities, please contact liverpool@cafod.org.uk or call 07779 804241/2 to speak to Siobhan or Colette, your local Cafod workers, who are always looking for new people to join the growing network of Cafod parish volunteers.

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Synod 2020 In the week beginning March 27th Archbishop Malcolm went to Rome. He travelled with Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Canon Chris Thomas (General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference.)

Cardinal Nichols was in Rome for the 40th anniversary of the restored diplomatic relations between the Holy See (The Vatican) and the UK Government. Archbishop Malcolm was in Rome to do what he had promised to do when he first called for a Synod in the Archdiocese. He handed the final Synod Report to the Congregation for Bishops and to the Synod Office – and he also took to the dicasteries the issues that were raised that could not form part of the Synod report (issues outside the remit of a Diocesan synod.)

At the Synod Office, Cardinal Mario Grech and Sister Natalie Becquart, were delighted to receive the report of the Liverpool Synod. In the days prior to the visit of Archbishop Malcolm, Cardinal Grech has been a guest speaker at a symposium in Oxford on the emerging synodal Church. At this symposium, held at Campion Hall, Cardinal Grech heard all about the Liverpool Synod from Father Philip Inch and from Father Matthew Nunes. Cardinal Grech told us that when we talk about Synods in Rome we often refer to what has happened in Liverpool. He told us that we were a light shining for the whole Church.

In handing over the final synod report, the result of all the listening and the Pastoral Plan, Archbishop Malcolm was entrusting the work that has taken place over almost five years to the universal Church. In many ways it was the Vatican Synod logo made real.

The Bishop journeying with his people, in the midst of them, and as Pope Francis often says sometimes in the front, sometimes in the midst but also sometimes walking with those who are struggling to keep on the journey.

This handing over is not the final stage of the synod journey because our Pastoral Plan has been so developed that it is an organic, developing reality. So our 6 areas of development: 1. Becoming a Church that accompanies people through life.

2. Becoming a Church that honours the vocation of all the baptised 3. Becoming a Church where synodality is embedded.

4. Becoming a Church that renews its organisational structures and administers its property to serve its mission.

5. Becoming a Church where young people and young adults flourish.

6. Becoming a Church that cares for its priests. are on-going, the Synod journey continues.

The pastoral plan is not just a document, it

represents the hopes and dreams of our local Church. Guided by the Holy Spirit It is the way we have discerned our way forward, journeying together, taking an active part in our evangelising mission.

Matters outside the remit of a Diocesan Synod: Of the 3,500 proposals received only 88 were found to raise questions that lay beyond the remit of a diocesan Synod. This is just over 2.5% of all the proposals made. These proposals, therefore, were omitted from the list upon which delegates were invited to vote. Nonetheless, in keeping with the commitment made at the outset these have been included in the formal Synod Report as this completes the fulfilment of the commitment to listen and not to disregard anything that we heard.

These issues raised by these proposals touch on four areas of the life of the Church: The Ordained Ministry – an end to compulsory celibacy, the ordination of women to the Diaconate, and 22 proposals about the ordination of women as priests.

Liturgical issue: questions about the translation of liturgical tests and the request for widespread celebrations of general absolution were the main issues raised.

Ecumenism: about the Catholic Church becoming a full member of the World Council of Churches and the question of intercommunion.

Governance: a number of proposals invited prayerful reflection on the way the Church is governed and asked the Archbishop to communicate their concerns to the Holy See – particularly a request that decision making in the Church need not be restricted to the ordained.

The Vatican Synod 2021 -2023 The Diocesan Report for the Vatican Synod (which can be read at www.liverpoolcatholicresources.com/synod2023) has been written using the listening report that was the first part of our own Synod process, the issues outside the remit of a diocesan synod and the contribution of the 80 participants who responded to the invitation to make further comments as part of the Vatican Synod.

Canon Chris Thomas, Archbishop Malcolm, Sister Natalie Becquart, Cardinal Mario Grech, Cardinal Vincent Nichols

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what’s on Sunday 1 May Liverpool Bach Collective Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 6 ‘Bleib bei uns, den es will Abend werden.’ (‘Stay with us, for Evening falls.’) 6.30 pm at St Joseph’s Church, Warren Road, Blundellsands, L23 6UE. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com

fahret auf mit Jauchzen.’ (‘God goes up with Shouts of Joy.’) 6.30 pm at St George’s Church, Northumberland Terrace, Everton, L5 3QG. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com Mondays 9,16, 23 May Life in the Spirit Seminar with the

Prince of Peace community each Monday 7.00 pm at Holy Family, Hall Lane, Cronton, Widnes, WA8 5DP. Themes include: God’s Love, Salvation, the New Life, Receiving God’s Gift, Praying for Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Growth and Transformation in Christ. Refreshments available. Donations to over costs.

Sunday 8 May World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Tuesday 10 May 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 Friday 13 May 55th anniversary of the dedication of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Tuesday 17 May Day of Prayer for survivors of sexual abuse.

Thursday 19 May Newman Circle Talk ‘Science and Faith: Life’s Work, Life’s Calling.’ Speaker: Canon Mike Kirby, Canon Scientist, Diocese of Liverpool.

7.30 pm at St Helen’s Parish Centre, Alexandra Road, Crosby, L23 7TQ. Saturday 21 May ‘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 Thursday 26 May Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Newman Circle Annual General Meeting 7.30 pm at St Helen’s Parish Centre, Alexandra Road, Crosby, L23 7TQ. Sunday 29 May World Communications Day Liverpool Bach Collective Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 43 ‘Gott 12

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Sunday 5 June Pentecost Sunday Pentecost Walk 2022/ Platinum Jubilee Pentecost Party in Liverpool The big emphasis of the jubilee weekend on Sunday will be community street parties which will be held throughout the country. The main event at the Pentecost Walk 2022 is a Platinum street party type celebration for all generations in the Anglican Cathedral, with long trestle tables, space for family picnics, rugs on the floor and lots of bunting. This is to join in with the Queens' Platinum Jubilee as well as celebrating the joy of Pentecost. Please bring your families and church communities along!

Pentecost Sunday 5th June 3.00 pm 10 minute open air service at the Metropolitan Cathedral 3.15 pm Please note that the walk down Hope Street which is scheduled to take place at 3:15 pm is awaiting confirmation. Updates will be posted on the CTMR website at https://www.ctmr.org.uk/Groups/341586/Pentecost.aspx If it is possible there will be a mass community choir – children may be waving flags or banners 3.45 pm 5 minute all age service in the Anglican Cathedral - maybe with some action songs and readings 4.00 - 4.45 pm Picnic time and activities 5.00 pm Pack up time and finish Would you consider getting involved in the Platinum Jubilee Pentecost Party?

Would you be interested in bringing some families, church communities and friends along?

Would you be willing to lead an activity e.g. craft table / face painting / circus skills / percussion workshop? Whatever you enjoy and find easy.

Please contact ‘In Another Place’ directly admin@inanotherplace.com if you would like to lead an activity.

For more information visit www.ctmr.org.uk

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profile “It’s an eccentric pastime,” admits Father John Goddard as he interrupts the pleasures of a trip on his canal boat to speak to the Pic. Not your usual hobby perhaps, but then this is not your usual priest. The 74-year-old is the diocese’s newest priest – and certainly the first to have once been an Anglican Bishop.

His ordination by Bishop Tom Williams in the Metropolitan Cathedral crypt on Saturday 2 April came 51 years after he was ordained as an Anglican priest.

‘There is the whole different approach to life but both were in their particular ways very exciting,’ he reflects of two moments half-a-century apart. Then he had his parents with him; now the congregation included his sons, Michael and Gareth, and his grandson, Jimmy.

The presence of Bishop Tom – ‘someone who has helped me no end’ – was significant too. His wife of 51 years, Vivienne, had urged him to speak to Bishop Tom amid a period of soulsearching. ‘She suggested I have a conversation with him and from that everything flowed wonderfully,’ he explains. There were also supportive conversations with Archbishop Malcolm McMahon and Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Kelly before he was received into the Catholic Church last year at Pentecost. Having received a dispensation from Rome, he was ordained deacon on Tuesday 29 March – four days before his ordination as a priest.

As Father John explains, he had long considered this path now taken. He resigned as Bishop of Burnley in 2014, shortly after the Church of England’s synod voted to allow women bishops. He elaborates on why: ‘I had always believed myself to be a Catholic within the Church of England, working for the reunification of the two churches. That sounds very grand but it was a commitment I made early on.’ With the vote for women bishops, he saw the two Churches moving further apart. ‘In my mind it has called off the whole development of ARCIC, the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, which I felt was one of the most positive things we were given.

‘As I put in my press release,’ he adds, ‘I am a Christian by baptism, I am a Catholic by conviction and I was a member of the Church of England while I thought I could still be all of those three things together. Increasingly I thought they couldn’t be held together. I now know that I'm called to the fullness of the Catholic faith, within the Catholic Church.'

He cites the principles of Tractarianism – the Oxford Movement which led St John

Father John Goddard A new priest with a lifetime’s experience to draw on - by Simon Hart Henry Newman from the Anglican Church to the Catholic Church. There was also the influence of his father, William, an Anglican priest who was Anglo-Catholic in his thinking.

Fr John’s road to religious life began on leaving Wells Cathedral School in his home county of Somerset at 18. He spent a year in Ghana with the White Fathers before studying Theology at Durham University. There, on his first day, he met Vivienne, a student on the same course; Mugwump, their canal boat is named after the shop they frequented for coffees.

As an Anglican priest he had a series of placings in and around Middlesbrough before being appointed dean there and, subsequently, honorary canon of York Minster. After four years as vice-principal at Edinburgh’s Episcopalian Dalian Theological College, he moved to Ribbleton in Lancashire before being named Bishop of Burnley in 2000.

‘It has largely been a mixture of urban, deprived areas and they’ve been wonderful parishes and people to work

with,’ he says. ‘I was very blessed in my ministry. There’s something wonderful you receive as a person who’s involved in areas of poverty and difficulty where people do not cloak what they want to say to you – it’s not all wrapped up in politeness.’

Now for his new life as a Catholic priest in this diocese. He is grateful for ‘the generosity of so many of the clergy’, explaining how he felt ‘so welcome at the Chrism Mass’ at the Cathedral in Holy week. And he highlights the support of Fr Gerald Anders, priest of the nearest parish to his home – Our Lady, Help of Christians in Tarleton – where he said his first Mass the day after his ordination. It is at nearby St Oswald’s, Longton, where he now serves as assistant to Fr Michael Barrett, the parish priest, while assisting in the diocese as requested. ‘It is lovely how in both these churches I’ve been made to feel so welcome,’ he says. ‘I celebrated Mass on Easter morning at Longton and it was a great joy to be able to do that. I felt a completion, a fullness. I felt at home.’

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news diary

Celebrating St Oscar Romero

by Father Dominic Curran Saint Oscar Romero Parish, Seaforth and Waterloo, celebrated a week of prayer honouring its Patron and reflecting on how his example can inspire us to follow Christ more closely as a new parish. Last year the parish was honoured to be able to host the Archdiocesan Romero Mass. However, due to restrictions we were unable to come together and celebrate properly our new Parish community.

The week began with Mass on 16 March, in Saint Edmund of Canterbury church, celebrated by Bishop Thomas Neylon. The concluding Vigil Mass for Saint Oscar Romero’s feast, on 23 March, in Our Lady Star of the Sea church, was celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon.

Mass began with representatives of the different ministries and groups that make up our parish bringing forward symbols of their ministry. From liturgical ministries to groups who engage in outreach locally such as the SVP, as well as nationally and globally with the Justice and Peace group, Cafod and Missio.

One of the most recognisable symbols of El Salvador where Romero was Archbishop are ‘Romero Crosses’. These are incarnational in design, having Christ in the centre, while around him are images representing salvation history and the community who created them.

Prior to our ‘Romero week’, supported by the ‘Romero Trust’ we held a competition, in our parish Primaries and Sacred Heart Catholic College, to design parish ‘Romero Crosses’. The winning designs of the primary school competition are being combined into a parish Children’s Liturgy of the Word cross. Whilst the winning designs from Sacred Heart were merged into a large parish Romero Cross, which was blessed by Archbishop Malcolm during our Mass. The winning design from Sacred Heart College combined two/three students’ designs, and incorporates images of Crosby beach, the ‘Lambanana’ and both the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals.

During his homily Archbishop Malcolm challenged us to be inspired by our new Patron, saying, ‘You know: Pope Francis tells us that if we want to save our Church, to find Jesus Christ, to live fulfilled lives as Christians, what do we do? He says we go to the poor, because it is there, in them, through a meaningful engagement that we

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discover Jesus Christ.

‘There are so many issues which confront us, but we have as Christians to stand up for what we believe, and that is not always going to be popular… we find ourselves in a place that is not quite how we’d like it to be, to be open, warm and welcoming, to be someone who stands up for justice, someone who stands by the poor, and those who are dispossessed, to stand up for peace: it all takes guts. We all do this

in the way we can, in whatever situation we find ourselves. But whoever we are … there is something that every one of us can do to be like Jesus, to be outward going, to look outwards towards people, to give them a glimpse of the love of Jesus Christ. So we thank God for this Patron of our Parish, Oscar Romero, and for everyone in this Parish of Saint Oscar Romero who will continue to be a witness to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.’

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Great colleagues are priceless Normandie Wragg Chief Executive Nugent

Every child deserves a future

Nugent’s Head of People Hetal Mainwaring (centre) receiving the CEO Award from Vicky Knight, (awards sponsors Unison, left) and Normandie Wragg (Nugent CEO, right) Nugent’s internal staff awards, the iACCORD Awards, returned this year after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time the iACCORD Awards was hosted as a standalone event with the aim to entirely focus and celebrate colleagues who have embodied our values.

It was heart-warming to see so many of our colleagues nominate their fellow peers in the different categories for a plethora of wonderful and deserving reasons.

The shortlisted colleagues were treated to a three-course dinner at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool as part of the celebrations.

The iACCORD Awards guests were welcomed by a drinks reception hosted by the Pentone Family - a family of innovative alcoholic beverages.

The event was opened by CEO, Normandie Wragg, who showed her appreciation to all Nugent colleagues for continuously upholding Nugent’s values and working throughout uncertain times during the Covid-19 pandemic,

noting how much important work Nugent has accomplished.

The awards sponsored this year by Aabyss - a North West based IT company offering IT leadership, management and support - gets its name from our organisation values: integrity, ambition, courage, compassion, optimism, respect and dignity. As is our tradition, the awards celebrate colleagues by offering a winner in eight different categories, one for each of the aforementioned values and a special CEO Award, handpicked by Normandie Wragg. Long Service Awards were also handed out at the glamorous event and this year 39 of Nugent’s heroes were celebrated for their many years of dedication.

The wonderful, celebratory afternoon drew to a close with a thank you from Normandie Wragg to all Nugent’s colleagues and event sponsors, without whom this event would not be able to take place.

For more information, and to see who won which award, visit our website at wearenugent.org.

It is hard not to be constantly thinking and be overwhelmed by the political landscape that often dominates the news coverage, especially with war and a lingering pandemic topping the bill.

However, as a social welfare charity that supports children, young people, families and adults who are vulnerable and at risk, we cannot lose our focus away from those who need us the most.

This month sees us acknowledge National Children’s Day in the UK on Sunday 15 May. National Children's Day UK (NCDUK) is all about the importance of a healthy childhood, and how we need to protect the rights and freedoms of children and young people. It's a day of celebration, but it's also a great opportunity for anyone involved with children to raise awareness about projects they are running or things they care about.

We are strong believers and advocates of the importance of every child deserving a future and the services we offer our children and young people are of the upmost importance to us. We have had great success recently with and Outstanding rating at Marydale Lodge, our secure children’s home in St Helens and the only secure home in the country run by a charity. The home was visited by Josh MacAlister, Chair of the Independent Review of Children's Social Care and Will Quince, the Government’s Children and Families Minister.

We are also pleased to be opening a new facility for young people with the addition of the Willows, a warm, welcoming and safe family environment, where dedicated, experienced and qualified staff provide the best care for vulnerable, traumatised and disadvantaged children and young people aged 13 – 18 of all abilities, who have been assessed as needing the positive experiences and emotional support that a residential setting can provide.

Additionally, we are delighted that our trustees have also achieved their commitment to be a Real Living Wage Employer, with all staff salaries starting from a minimum of £10 per hour. This will aid in ensuring that local families who work for Nugent will have an increase in their disposable income and therefore will contribute to the lessening of child poverty.

We’re confident that with the skill, experience and unwavering compassion of our incredibly dedicated colleagues, we can provide care, education, protection and inspiration for more children and young people in need.

With the right guidance, care and support network, our leaders of the future can come from any background.

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Holy Week and Easter at the Metropolitan Cathedral Mass of Chrism

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

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Pictures www.nickfairhurstphotographer.com

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

The Easter Vigil

There are more pictures from the Holy Week and Easter Services at: www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolcatholic/albums

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youth ministry

My favourite time of year

By Father Simon Gore I suppose, as in many walks of life, the working year here at Animate has peaks and troughs.

The first term is always a busy one as we have lots of schools wanting to book in Year 7 retreats.

The middle term tends to be quieter. There is enough to keep us occupied but we tend to get asked to do fewer retreats between January and Easter.

In the final term, by contrast, we have different projects reaching a conclusion. We get the usual retreats booked in by groups that want something for their young people to end the year with. And we quite often have whole school missions as a way for a school to bring the year to an end.

For us at Animate, there are also year-long projects that now reach a completion. This year will see the Sacrament of Confirmation take place in our churches in the summer term. As we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, and we can hope that the sun is shining, it will be a nice

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reminder for all of us of the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit that guides us through life.

We also have a full Faith in Action award programme and – for the first time in three years – the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes to plan for and look forward to.

I may well have mentioned it here before but I recall at our Lenten Youth Alive Mass in Crosby in 2020 saying that there was no way the Lourdes pilgrimage would be cancelled in the summer. HCPT had just cancelled their pilgrimage, but that was to take place at Easter. We would be fine in the summer. As incorrect statements go, it may be up there with the guy that rejected the Beatles!

Lourdes 2020 was more or less all virtual for us. And Lourdes 2021 combined the virtual with different events each day. I actually quite

enjoyed the 2021 version with its events that tried to replicate the ‘Lourdes experience’. But it was not the same as being on the full pilgrimage.

Similarly, in 2020 we distributed certificates to schools and parishes that had managed to complete, as best as they could, the FIA award. And in 2021 as individuals could do more with the scheme, schools and parishes asked for certificates and badges so they could hold local award ceremonies.

Again, though, it is not quite the same as having schools and parishes from all over the diocese gather together as one with the bishop to affirm those young people for their accomplishments. Fortunately, this year we are able once more to plan these bigger, diocese-wide celebrations.

That said, Covid has had an odd effect.

There has been a drop in numbers for the Liverpool Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes. This year we are only taking seven coaches rather than the nine we were used to. Although sad to be taking fewer young people, it may be for the best this year when we would probably expect there to be fewer assisted pilgrims to work with as well as the possibility of extra administration for travel.

On a more positive note, the numbers for the FIA award have risen dramatically with over 2,000 signed up, compared with 1,200 in 2020. Who knows how these things work but whatever the reason, it makes for a busy final term – but a much more preferable way of working than the previous two years of virtual work and pared-down interaction.

For me, this period is always a high point. You get to see so much of what you have been doing come to fruition.

It can be great to see how the retreats have evolved over the year as the team get more confident in their work and how the plans for the FIA awards and the Lourdes pilgrimage all come together.

It is also a privilege to be at these events and see so many young people gathered together to share and celebrate their faith. I guess I am in a fairly significant minority that does get to see all of this. And so I write this in the hope that if you do not know too much about these end-of-year events, or are not able to be part of them, that you can at least keep in your prayers those young people who will be concluding their academic year with any one or more of these activities – be it a retreat, the Sacrament of Confirmation, an FIA award from the bishop or a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

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Golden Jubilee celebrations for Bishop Tom Williams

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On Friday 27 May Bishop Tom Williams will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. He was ordained by Archbishop Beck on 27 May 1972 in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

To celebrate his jubilee Bishop Tom has two invitations, he says, ‘the first, is to St Anthony’s, Scotland Road at 7.00 pm on the Friday evening (27 May) and is open to everyone, particularly people from the parishes and communities that I’ve served and family and friends - those who are still alive to remember me, of course - and the other Mass, in the Metropolitan Cathedral at 11.00 am on Sunday, 29 May, is open for anyone who wishes to come along’.

READ ONLINE

Easter !

Joy

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Peter Woods appointed High Sheriff

Celebrating marriage and family life

You can make a GL΋HUHQFH We have been caring, educating, protecting and inspiring those in need for over 140 years.

Since 1881, we have served children, young people, families and adults who are vulnerable and at risk across the North West.

If you’re looking for a career ZKHUH \RX FDQ PDNH D GL΍HUHQFH

then check out our current opportunities on our website.

We’ll be a Re al Living Wage employer fr om 1 April 2022 .

Minimum ra te of £9.90 per ho ur.

Your new, rewarding career is just a few clicks away.

N126.

N126. Corporate Trustee: Nugent Care 2019 Ltd (Company No: 12227571), Registered Charity 1187072. Nugent Care Registered Charity: 1187072-1.

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education news

Liverpool City Region schools join new Five more Liverpool City Region schools have joined a new Catholic multi-academy trust set up to provide the very best educational opportunities for children and young people in the North West of England.

Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Sefton, St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic High School in St Helens, and St Ambrose Primary School, St Nicholas’s Catholic Primary School and The Trinity Catholic Primary School, all in Liverpool, are now part of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust. St Joseph is run in partnership with the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the Diocese of Shrewsbury and the Diocese of Chester.

St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England High School in Halton became the first school to join St Joseph when it transferred from being a local authority-run school last month. More schools are due to transfer in the summer term and then in the next academic year.

All the schools which join St Joseph will benefit from being part of both an academy trust and the wider Diocesan education family, which together will bring opportunities for staff to share, learn from and introduce best practice, as well as access continuing professional development from external providers. The model will mean that students in the schools will receive great teaching and learning, helping ensure high standards in all areas of school life. It is expected that the schools which join St Joseph will leave the trust in two or three years to join other Catholic

academy trusts as their permanent home.

Giselle Lynch, Headteacher of St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic High School, said: “This is a momentous day for St Augustine’s. The opportunities afforded through being part of a wider network of schools will help us to build on the tremendous progress we have made over the past two years. This can only be of benefit to our school community and the future prospects of our young people.”

Martin Davies, Headteacher of St Nicholas’s Catholic Primary School, said: “This begins a brand new chapter for our fabulous school which was judged Good by Ofsted earlier this term and we all hope to see the benefits from us entering into the St Joseph Trust as soon as possible.”

Michelle Forrest, Headteacher of Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Sefton, said: “We at Holy Spirit are pleased to be joining this innovative trust and are looking forward to the opportunities, collaboration and progress which we are sure will have a positive impact on our whole school community.”

Matthew White, Executive Headteacher of St Ambrose Primary School, said: “The school community of St Ambrose is very much looking forward to being part of the St Joseph MAT and the opportunity to further collaborate with schools and colleagues across the Trust to help us achieve our aims and ambitions for our children.”

Rebecca Flynn, Headteacher of The Trinity Catholic Primary

Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Sefton

St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic High School, St Helens

St Nicholas’s Catholic Primary School, Liverpool

The Trinity Catholic Primary School, Liverpool

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education news

Catholic academy trust School, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for our whole school community and we are really looking forward to working collaboratively with the other schools in the Trust.”

Andrew Truby, the first substantive Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, said: “I am very excited that a further five schools have joined St Joseph, creating real scale. This provides excellent opportunities for staff across the six schools to collaborate, share best practice and learn from one another to offer our children an even better education.”

“In my career I have been committed to transforming children’s lives through a world-class education and this underpins all my work. This aligns perfectly with St Joseph’s mission. We are providing a Catholic home for schools whose children and young people are nurtured and challenged to reach their potential.”

“I am looking forward to seeing all six of the St Joseph academies flourish as part of the trust.”

For more information about St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, please visit: https://www.stjosephmat.org.uk/.

St Cuthbert’s students celebrate Earth Day by planting a tree for the Jubilee Students at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, in St Helens, have planted a very special tree as part of a national initiative from the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC).

As part of their 2022’s Earth Day celebrations on 22nd April, St Cuthbert’s Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) student volunteers planted a Norwegian Maple, to mark 70 years since the Queen came to the throne.

Emma Hepworth, Geography teacher and DoE Lead at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, said: “We feel very privileged that St Cuthbert’s is taking part to create a legacy, in honour of the Queen’s leadership of the Nation.”

“Our children are very environmentally aware and wholeheartedly support this important initiative which promotes the planting of trees across the country.”

St Cuthbert’s Jubilee tree will be added to the QGC Map, which will create a digital record of the green canopy of tree planting projects across the country.

Adem, a Year 10 student and Duke of Edinburgh volunteer, said: “It’s amazing to be a part of something like this, as a community we will be part of history.”

On the weeks leading up to Earth Day, St Cuthbert’s also worked closely with St Helens Borough Council to offer a special menu for the day.

The menu used ingredients that are currently in season, across the UK, as the core ingredients of the dishes. They also asked suppliers if the fresh produce could be sourced from farms as local as the Borough of St Helens.

Catherine Twist, Headteacher at St Cuthbert’s, said: "Events like these highlight the importance we all play, in helping with the climate crisis and the future of our young people.

"By working together and doing our bit, as a community, we will continue to preserve and protect our health, our families and our livelihoods."

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education news

Maricourt celebrate fantastic event

By Michelle Wood and Danielle Lawler Maricourt Catholic High School have had a fantastic term celebrating and engaging in the career’s curriculum with a variety of events such as; national careers week where all students in all year groups 7 to 13 celebrated this national event and got involved in a variety of both team work and solo activities in which they identified links between jobs and individual subjects whilst looking at how the labour market is constantly evolving.

A fantastic trip was organized for Year 10 students who went to Hugh Baird College for the levelling up event. The careers advisor Mrs Gresham said: “The students were enthralled with the robotics and opportunities on offer, making links with future job opportunities and engaging with employers”.

A selection of students from Year 8 also attended Edge Hill University for an aspirational event in which they explored opportunities for the future, university life and they enjoyed a full campus tour. It was such a great day they are returning with more students next term. Year 8 also engaged in a ‘World of Work’ day hosted by their partners ‘Everton in the Community’.

Careers Leader Michelle Wood said: “It was great to see the younger students engaging in career skills development and raising aspirations for the future, engaging with a wide variety of employers and asking confident questions”.

A highlight of the term was the mock interviews for Year 13 students which have also taken place, which was a great opportunity for them to prepare for future interviews in their next steps towards their destinations. We are so grateful to have such supportive employers who give up their time regularly to support aspirations of our students.

It was fantastic to see so many of Maricourt alumni return to do face to face practice interviews with Year 13 students.

Danielle Lawler the Careers SLT link stated that: “We have always known how important employer interactions are, so it has been a challenge to continue organising the interviews virtually.

Although we did rise to the challenge it has been amazing to have so many employers back in school”. Year 13 students get to choose the industry sector they would like to receive an interview

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Maricourt alumni attended the careers day Key stage 4 students all had the from. Josh Kane inspired students interested in electrical engineering, he has opportunity to attend an apprenticeship talk by Jake Croxton of ‘Be More’ which supported the careers programme for a was very engaging and supported number of years and is set to return students making links about various during the summer term, to promote career options and opportunities. Key electrical engineering to females and stage 5 students attended a talk by Chris other students interested in STEM related Prescott of LJMU who gave an insight into subjects. Vicki Markham has supported university life, courses on offer and how to the school for around ten years and plan the financial side of university. A inspires students annually about taking a number of Year 11 and Year 12 students career in fashion, merchandising and attended the Madison law internship in buying. She is a Senior Lecturer at collaboration with the EITC partners. They Manchester Met University, and every year had a great day and got to meet they see at least one student follow in professionals from the law industry and Vicki’s foot steps to study a degree on ask questions about such careers and the one of her courses. Jeffery Edward who qualifications and pathways to careers in not only went to Maricourt, he also has the law industry. They got to speak to both two sons currently at the school. He inspires students who are interested in the the youngest and oldest serving judges across the city. Michelle Wood Careers IT and software industry. Ben Gilbertson Leader stated: “We are proud of our has always wanted to be a police officer and often spoke about this during his time students and their achievements as we strive to offer and expose them to as at the Maricourt Sixth Form Centre. He many career development opportunities as was able to return as PC Gilbertson and possible. It is fantastic to have the support give some amazing advice to students. of our external partners, senior leadership Martin Halliday Progress Leader for team (SLT), staff and parents who sixthform said: “One thing for sure, is that encourage the students to engage and being ex Maricourt pupils, gives students plan for their next steps and career the ability to visualise their career dreams destinations. We continue to raise and know they are within reach”. Mr aspirations and inspire them all in their Mangan head teacher said: “Employers education and careers journeys to believe, giving up their time after such a achieve and become successful”. If you challenging two years shows, resilience and commitment, and to us, demonstrates would like to support the school with their careers programme feel free to get in that they will always be part of the touch via their social media platforms.

Maricourt family”.

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education news Local secondary schools come together for a night of live music St John Plessington Catholic College and St Mary’s Catholic College hosted a night of live music in New Brighton on Friday 8 April.

The schools, which are part of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, took over Hope Anti-Supermarket, New Brighton, with a number of student bands and singers playing in the venue.

The event ‘Friday Night Live’ celebrated the music abilities of students from across the Trust and gave emerging local talent the chance to play in a professional environment.

Over 60 students from across both schools performed in a range of fantastic bands covering folk, rock and some old classics.

Year 13 students from St Mary’’s headlined the event with their band ‘Kikyo’. ‘The Awakened’ from St John Plessington and the ‘Fedoras’ from St Mary’s also performed for the first ever time and blew the audience away with their fantastic sets.

It wasn’t just students who had the spotlight shining on them, staff from both schools reformed their band ‘The Staffroom’ after last year’s successful performance. They played some classic covers and were even able to pick up some tips from their own students.

Laurie Smith, director of music at Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “Friday Night Live was a great opportunity for the Trust to showcase the amazing talent within its secondary schools.

“Music is such an important aspect of school life for both St John Plessington and St Mary’s and by giving students the platform to sing and play instruments on a large scale was great experience for them.”

Laurie added: “It was wonderful to welcome the local community on the night and see them supporting up and coming local musicians. A huge thank you to Rockpoint Leisure for providing us with this brilliant opportunity.”

Andy Moor, CEO of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “Friday Night Live was an outstanding event which supports our curriculum and ongoing Creativity Collaborative work. This is the C-Change we are working towards with creativity, culture and community under one roof.”

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education news Mini Vinnies help Mary’s Meals The Mini Vinnies, a group of children aged seven to nine at St Bartholomew’s Catholic Primary School, are raising money for Mary’s Meals which provides a daily meal in class to hungry children around the world.

After learning about the work of the charity at school, the pupils filled mugs with coins from people in their local area and raised enough money to support eight children with daily school meals for an entire year. Joanne Harrison, who leads the Mini Vinnies group, said: ‘the children were taken aback when they learnt that just eight pence could pay for a meal for a child and at the same time encourage that child to come to school and to learn.

‘One little girl from our school even bravely stood up at her church and told the congregation all about the work of Mary’s Meals. The people there have continued to donate spare change which has helped make a life-changing difference for children the same age as our Mini Vinnies.’

Emma Hutton, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, said: ‘We are so thankful to these young supporters for all their amazing efforts, which will help us give more hungry children the gift of food and joy and hope. Thanks to the kindness of those who donate or fundraise, children who might otherwise be working in fields, or begging on street corners for their next meal,

can instead be sitting in classrooms learning how to read and write.”

For more information about how you can get involved with Mary’s Meals as a volunteer or supporter, please contact anna.houghton@marysmeals org or visit www.marysmeals.org.uk

Carmel student receives tennis scholarship in America!

Carmel College Upper Sixth student, Lucy Cunliffe, has received a tennis scholarship at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) and will be majoring in exercise science, which is a four-year course, due to start this summer.

Lucy recently had the opportunity to experience college life as she stayed on campus at UVA Wise and spent a few nights off campus too with some of the girls off the tennis team. She received a full campus tour and was able to go on team outings and get to know her team mates, whilst taking in the picturesque views of the town.

Lucy has completed the first stage of orientation to university and will move there in August this year. Since she was a child Lucy’s dream has always been to play tennis at University in America. When she was younger she had known other players who had got scholarships, and it has inspired her to look into the opportunities available and decided this would become her goal.

Lucy said: “Being able to play the sport I love every day whilst getting a degree was exactly what I wanted- so I made that my goal and I have been striving for it since as long as I can remember, so I am really proud of myself for being able to achieve it!”

At the young age of four is when Lucy found her love for tennis and her passion for the sport has continued. She currently plays for Lancashire and trains many times a week on and off court, always striving to improve her game.

Lucy mainly trains at South Ribble with the Lancashire Under 18’s County Squad, and has individual lessons with her coach at Holcombe Brook.

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Lucy said: “I also go to the gym and use circuit training as a form of strength and conditioning to aid my performance when I am on court.”

Lucy is currently studying, PE, maths and biology at Carmel and is part of the TASS programme. This is a programme that provides our high performing athletes with 1-1 mentor meetings, guidance, advice and encouragement. The programme also includes workshops with sports professionals and other elite performers.

Lucy said: “The staff at Carmel have been really supportive with helping me get time off for tournaments, training, my visit to the University and even for my SAT entrance exam for the USA. “Firstly, I would like to try and take my tennis career to as far as it can go. I would love to try and get onto the professional circuit someday. After tennis, I would either like to do sport and exercise research or become a teacher, teaching either PE or maths.

“When I received the scholarship news it was one of the best and proudest moments of my life. I remember me and my parents jumping for joy- because I knew that all my hard work had finally paid off and I have proved to myself that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.”

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cathedral ‘Be a Chorister for a day’

by Dr Christopher McElroy Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean

It was wonderful to celebrate Holy Week in-person this year for the first time since 2019. Preparation for the choristers was quite a lot more intensive than usual as very few of them remembered singing at Holy Week before, and indeed most had not been full choristers in 2019.

Easter symbolises new life, and it is in the summer term that our thoughts turn towards recruitment. The life cycle of a boy or girl chorister is usually around six years: the first two spent learning the ropes, the middle two getting a grip on the repertoire, the final two leading everyone else and singing solos. As boys and girls move on (boys usually around 12/13 as their voice changes, girls at 15 to focus on GCSEs) they need to be replaced at the bottom to ensure that the cycle continues!

There are three main elements to our chorister recruitment. Firstly, our ‘Be a Chorister for a Day’ event (Sunday 22 May) which gives boys and girls and their parents the opportunity to come and experience chorister life ‘from the inside.’

During the morning they get to sing with the choristers, rehearse with them, try on cassocks and attend the Solemn Mass.

Singing is for both boys and girls. In reality, there tend to be more girls wanting to audition for places in the Cathedral Choir. In order to promote boys singing,

we are running a series of ‘Boys Make Noise’ singing sessions in May, which are designed to offer an opportunity to boys in year 2/3 to sing together with other boys. These taster sessions are designed to see if a boy enjoys group singing and are an excellent way to refine the skills required to audition for the Cathedral Choir.

The third element of our recruitment is the ‘Voice Trials’ which take place in early June. These are the auditions (think of X Factor, but without Simon Cowell) where individual aspirants are put through their paces in singing songs, tests etc. At this stage we look for potential, rather than fully formed musicians. As we are fortunate to get good numbers applying each year, entry to the choirs is competitive, but for those that are successful, the chance of a lifetime awaits.

All our choristers are educated at our two choir schools: Runnymede St Edward’s Catholic Primary School (Boys, age 7-11) and St Edward’s College (Boys and Girls, age 11-15).

If you know of a boy (in year 2/3) or a girl (in year 5) who might be interested, please encourage them to find out more.

Further details can be found on the Cathedral website: http://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/ music/joining-the-choirs/

From the week following Easter Sunday there will be extensive building work taking place within the Cathedral.

This will begin with the erection of a large scaffolding build in front of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

Once this is complete, we begin the final stage of the renovation works on the magnificent Cathedral Organ. Most of the instrument was dismantled and taken away for refurbishment in 2021 – which meant the cleaning and refurbishment of its 4,565 pipes and the re-design of the organ console. All of these various parts will now slowly be returned and the instrument rebuilt over a period of 4 months from 9 May. This has been a major project to manage and the total cost will be in the region of £1.2 million. The organ is one of the great and necessary features of the life of our Cathedral and the work has been vital to enable us to enjoy it for the next fifty years.

Apologies for the inconvenience that this may cause during this period of rebuild. We are encouraging people if possible to make a donation towards this landmark project which will benefit future congregations and the wider community for the next fifty years and beyond.

At the end of May Bishop Tom Williams will be celebrating fifty years of ordination to the priesthood. He will celebrate Mass at 11.00 am in the Cathedral on Sunday 29 May to mark this Golden Jubilee Anniversary. We extend our congratulations to him – he is one of a number of our Diocesan Bishops celebrating important anniversaries this year.

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Mums the Word May is the month of Mary, the month when we honour Our Lady as ‘Queen of the May’.

May crowning is a traditional Roman Catholic ritual held during this month. It is a solemn procession in which a statue of the Blessed Virgin is crowned with a garland or crown of flowers. The queen symbol was attributed to Mary because she was a perfect follower of Christ, who is the absolute ‘crown’ of creation. She is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the King. As the Angel Gabriel tells her in Saint Luke’s Gospel: ‘He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.’

Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with Jesus, as ‘the mother of my Lord’. The maid of Nazareth consented to God’s plan; she journeyed on the pilgrimage of faith; she listened to God’s Word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son, all the way to the foot of the Cross; she persevered in prayer with the Church. Thus, in a way she won the ‘crown of righteousness’, the ‘crown of life’, the ‘crown of glory' that is promised to those who follow Christ.

During May, encourage your children and families to show special devotion to the Blessed Mother. Daily recitation of the Rosary is one way of doing so; keeping fresh flowers before a painting of the Mother and Child in your home may be another. The Litany to the Blessed Virgin may be recited in addition.

Maria Pimblett, media officer

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

Knights name new ecclesiastical adviser

Bishop Thomas Neylon, the Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, has been confirmed in a new role as ecclesiastical adviser to the Knights of St Columba. He becomes the KSC’s 12th ecclesiastical adviser.

Making the announcement, Brother Harry Welsh, the supreme knight, said that Bishop Thomas would ‘give us all a spiritual uplift’. He added that both he and the board of directors looked forward to working with Bishop Thomas for many years to come.

Bishop Thomas succeeds the late Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, who only served for a short period prior to his untimely death last year, having succeeded our own Archbishop Malcolm McMahon.

Archbishop Malcolm had held the role for 15 years.

Born in 1958, Bishop Thomas is the oldest of three children of Irish parents who met in Warrington and were married at Sacred Heart Church.

His family lived in St Oswald’s parish,

and he attended the local primary school and then English Martyrs’ Secondary School, Orford. He trained for the priesthood at St Joseph’s College, Upholland, and at St Cuthbert’s College, Ushaw.

He was ordained on 31 May 1982 in Heaton Park, Manchester, by Pope Saint John Paul II. His first appointment was as assistant priest at St Cuthbert’s, Wigan, and four years later he joined the team ministry serving Skelmersdale.

Subsequently he was appointed parish priest of St Julie’s, Eccleston, in St Helens where he served for 24 years during which time he also took responsibility for St Teresa’s, Devon Street, and English Martyrs, Haydock.

In September 2020 he became parish priest of St Wilfrid’s, Widnes.

He was appointed on 6 July 2021 as the ninth Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in the history of the Archdiocese.

Websites: www.ksc.org.uk www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com

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PIC Life Why the time comes to stop making excuses

By Moira Billinge A 1962 hit single by Bernard Cribbins tells the tale of a group of unenthusiastic workmen moving a piece of furniture. In ‘Right Said Fred’, a cup of tea quickly becomes the solution to every problem, the platform for every thought and for yet another daft suggestion. In the end, the song tells us: ‘So Charlie and me had another cup of tea and then we went home.’ As the saying goes, it is a poor workman who blames his own tools!

When I was a student nurse, my late submission of an assignment generated a rapid response from my Sister Tutor, a

lovely SMG nun, despite my giving – what I thought to be – a perfectly plausible explanation. ‘If excuses could get us into heaven, nurse, you would be there in a flash!’ she said. My selfjustification had obviously failed to impress.

Happy are those who have a ‘good’ excuse conveniently to hand, one that is genuine and watertight when it is suddenly and unexpectedly required. Yet often, the more bizarre the justification, the more likely it is to be accurate.

Last year I was very late for a meeting because I could not find my car keys despite having turned the house upside down, only to find them in the murky depths of the vegetable box in the

fridge. My shoelace once somehow managed to wrap itself around the clutch as I tried to change gears and with one foot tied to the pedal I had to make a precarious and undignified stop; that excuse would have looked decidedly dubious as a written statement on an insurance form had there been an accident.

Sometimes excuses can become so much part of our lives that they actually prevent us living to our full potential.

We can come to believe our selfcreated explanations and fail to see what lies beyond such habitual, unproductive and spirit-draining thinking. It can be so much easier to blame others or blame our past for the psychological traffic jam which stops us from moving forward. The trouble is that the ‘tried and tested’ is so much less complicated than risk-taking and making changes. It is a comfortable crutch providing a good excuse to not even try.

An old Chinese proverb declares that: ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.’ Rather than trying to envisage the possible joy, fulfilment and sense of achievement which could be realised through embarking on something new, we fret over the imagined obstacles. Making excuses for the past and for historical injuries can stop us from seeing that something could be done about them in the present. Past wrongs only make us prisoners – effectively binding us to their negative aftermath – if we allow them to do so. True freedom can be realised if we can instead ‘let go and let God’.

Worth a visit - Dunsop Bridge This month, visit the natural beauty of the Ribble Valley and take a stroll through the village of Dunsop Bridge, writes Lucy Oliver. Located at the entrance to the Trough of Bowland, and geographically marking the very centre of the British Isles, this spot is extremely popular with fell walkers.

The Parish of Our Lady of the Valley, located in the 19thcentury church of St Hubert, is aptly named to witness to the faith of the local people and a treat to visit in May, the month of Our Lady.

Designed by Edward Pugin, this small church is said to have been funded with the Towneley family’s winnings in the 1861 Derby, when their racehorse, Kettledrum, took first place. Head past the medieval font to admire the horse’s painting in the apse of the church and be sure to look out for small carvings of a horse’s head on the side pillars of the high altar. Currently, Mass is celebrated at 12pm on Saturdays, but call the parish office for updates on 01200 423307.

Enjoy a stroll through the village where ducks wander

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between local rivers or plan a longer route before sampling sandwiches and cakes at PuddleDucks Tearoom.

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sunday reflections On a liturgical note Because we celebrated Easter relatively late this year, this whole month of May is spent in Eastertide and so we will be getting used to the return of the Alleluia, the singing of the Praise of the Lord for His good gifts.

We continue in this season to read from the Acts of the Apostles, which is almost the ‘what happened next’ after the events of that momentous Passover weekend in Jerusalem.

The proclamation of the Risen Christ – ‘Why look among the dead for one who is alive? (Luke 24:5) – leads to the various ways in which individuals and communities translate that proclamation into their everyday living.

What difference does it make to proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus for the way in which we live our lives? Or – to bring it even closer to home – for how I live my life.

On 25 May we in the seminary keep the feast of the Venerable Bede, our patronal feast. It is a case of seeing how this Benedictine Monk of Northumbria, who lived some 1,400 years ago, can both inspire and guide us today in our Christian living.

Bede lived all his life in the confines of a monastery and so there is a sense in which we can say, ‘I don’t

Sunday thoughts During lockdown last year I took part in an individually directed online retreat via Zoom. The word ‘retreat’ suggests withdrawal, a stepping back from the routines and distractions of daily life.

There is an obvious association with Jesus being led by the Spirit to spend 40 days in the wilderness.

Retreats in traditional retreat houses have now resumed. However, when a similar online retreat was offered again this year, I opted to repeat the experience.

The extra hours of prayer required some juggling of my daily routine.

Ignatius of Loyola places a premium on ‘finding God in all things’. His spiritual exercises focus on ‘consolation’ and ‘desolation’, requiring the retreatant to identify where the ‘Good Spirit’ and the ‘Bad Spirit’ are at play. This forms the basis of the recommended daily ‘Examen’, and is especially important during a retreat. We review not only our prayer times but also our

Canon Philip Gillespie

live in a monastery so Bede has nothing to say to me’. That would be a mistake, I think.

The experience of Christian disciples in all generations and in all periods of our tradition and history can and will teach us if we ask the question: ‘Why did he or she live so generously in service of their Lord and His people?’

The answer is simple – yet oh so difficult. Bede lived in this way because he thought that this was a good and fruitful and life-enhancing way of making use of the gifts with which he had been graced by God. He understood that his gifts – which, for Bede, meant a great intellect and a skill in languages – were not given simply for himself, but for the glory of God and the good of others. Bede translated this deep-seated gratitude for God’s goodness into a living witness, day in and day out, in the life of his monastic community.

If that was Bede, what about me?

What about you? How can we translate our gratitude to God into whole-hearted and generous living in the service of the communities in which we live?

Mgr John Devine OBE

feelings in the activity in between.

In an Ignatian retreat we use our imagination to bring alive passages of scripture suggested by the director, but also to monitor how we are feeling in the time after prayer. Where is the good spirit at work? Which habitual feelings can I attribute to the bad spirit who seeks to undermine my peace of mind?

Once recognised, I can choose between them.

Ignatius himself made provision for a form of the spiritual exercises for lay people whose responsibility to earn a living did not allow them to take time out to do a traditional retreat. It is known as the ‘19th annotation’ (not to be confused with the 19th hole of a golf course). Having now experienced both forms of retreat, I’m inclined to believe that a version of this 19th annotation is just as good, if not more effective, than the Full Monty.

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

Preparing for Pentecost My mum’s dad was called Robert French. Born in Dublin, Grandad Bob appeared in England just after the Easter Rising. There were tales of a shooting and a desperate escape from Dublin. Whatever the truth, Bob never returned to, or spoke about, Ireland. He was a complex man who had many foibles. He controlled my grandmother. Every night at 10pm he would stand up, wind the clock and say to her, ‘Come on Kate, up the stairs, time for bed’, whether she was ready or not.

He was given to fits of melancholy and occasionally would lose his temper. At other times, his Irish wit and charm would come to the fore and he would laugh and chat, the life and soul of any gathering. I only have one or two pictures of him, and he looks a difficult man, unhappy with himself, his face set in a permanent frown. Whatever happened to Bob French, he was a man who was difficult to fathom and who, it seems, always had an edge to him.

I think it would be fair to say that most of us are complicated individuals. It is definitely not a simple reality to be a human being. Our motivations and intentions are often subtle and varied and sometimes dependent on the circumstances of our lives. Our complex minds mean we often find ourselves doing what we do not want to do – or not doing what we do want to do. Being a follower of Jesus makes it all the more difficult, as we try to follow His example and give of ourselves beyond what comes naturally to us either physically, morally or spiritually.

Part of our complexity lies in our make-up.

Within all of us is the ego desperately crying out to be fulfilled, the ego that makes me and my desires the centre of the universe.

We are products of what has happened within our lives, so the little child who experienced great joy at the gift of nature and great pain at the crushing of dreams is still there and often governs our adult reactions. It really is quite wonderfully extraordinary and complicated to be a human being.

It is into these lives that the word of God is spoken, calling us to discover what it means to be truly human. One thing I am sure about is that it is only the word, and the power of the spirit that lies behind it, that can enable us to be transformed into a human being filled with love, compassion and mercy despite our uniqueness and peculiarities.

Preparing for Pentecost, during these weeks of Eastertide, is a chance to face ourselves and entrust ourselves into the hands of God who will shape us and mould us into the image of His son, the icon of humanity.

Father Chris Thomas

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Dialogue and Unity Abbé Paul Couturier, 1881-1953 Easter is a time when many churches undertake Witness Walks or Joint Services. Our thirst for Unity today owes much to a French priest: Paul Irénée Couturier. He was the key driver in developing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and indeed instrumental in many of the commitments of the Catholic Church to Christian Unity demonstrated in the Second Vatican Council.

Couturier was born and educated at Lyon, France. The family moved to Algeria and its majority Muslim population had a great and positive effect on him. He was ordained a priest in 1906. After training to teach science he taught until 1946 at a Catholic School (Institution des Chartreux) in Lyon.

In the 1920s Father Couturier actively worked with projects supporting Russian refugees. This gave him a love and deep appreciation of Russian Orthodox spirituality. In 1932, he became aware of the work of Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier (Archbishop of Malines-Brussels) who had tried hard to establish dialogue with the Church of England – with little support from the Catholic Church here.

This made the search for Christian Unity his lifelong passion. In 1933, he established a Triduum for Christian Unity at Lyon, this became an Octave in 1934, (the Octave being the 18th to 25th January beginning with the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter and ending with the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul).

Couturier’s work built on the Octave for Church Unity initiated by Anglicans in 1908. In 1939, the name was changed to the ‘Universal Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’.

He forged close ties between the various Christian denominations and was also a prolific letter writer not just to fellow Christians but also Jews, Muslims and Hindus.

In 1936, Couturier organised in Switzerland the first inter-denominational spiritual meeting, chiefly of Catholic clergy and Reformed pastors, which was a catalyst for the World Council of Churches. He visited England in 1937 and 1938 valuing the links that he established with Anglicans. Some

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Cardinal Walter Kasper with Archbishop Patrick Kelly and Bishop James Jones during a visit to Liverpool. Pentecost Sunday, 23 May 2010 Catholic critics in England dubbed him that Father Dressmaker.

His international contacts meant that the Gestapo arrested him during the Occupation of France which had a very serious effect on his health, and he was imprisoned. He died in Lyon in 1953 and a major ecumenical project (Centre Unite Chretienne) was established in his memory.

Cardinal Walter Kasper (former President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) said : ‘Paul Couturier's 1944 spiritual testament is very important, profound, and moving; it is one of the most inspired ecumenical texts, still worth reading and meditating on today. The author speaks of an "invisible monastery", "built of all those souls whom, because of their sincere efforts to open themselves to his fire and his light, the Holy Spirit has enabled to have a deep understanding of the painful division among Christians; an awareness of this in these souls has given rise to continuous suffering and as a result, regular recourse to prayer and penance".

‘Paul Couturier can be considered the

father of spiritual ecumenism. His influence was felt by the Dombes Group and by Roger Schutz and the Taizé Community. Today, his invisible monastery is, at last, taking shape through the growing number of prayer networks between Catholic monasteries and non-Catholics, spiritual movements and communities, centres of male and female religious, bishops, priests, and lay people.’

Cardinal Gerlier (Archbishop of Lyon who was a great source of strength to France during the War) called Couturier the ‘Apostle of Christian Unity’. In the eulogy at his funeral the Cardinal said: ‘There is no sterner commandment in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose prayer it was that they may all be one. It is the great scandal of the world that Christians are divided. All those who love Jesus Christ, those also who for love of Jesus Christ love their brethren, are homesick for the unity of Christians. It was to this task of unity that dear Père Couturier dedicated his life, with devotion and charity that were truly wonderful.’

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