Bishops Condemn Vote
happen, the future of many Catholic institutions could be under threat.
The Bishops of England and Wales have been consistent and outspoken in their opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide, and we are shocked and disappointed that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. This Bill is flawed in principle with several provisions that give us great cause for concern.
The Catholic Church believes in promoting a culture of life and compassionate care.
Allowing the medical profession to help patients end their lives will change the culture of healthcare and cause legitimate fears amongst those with disabilities or who are especially vulnerable in other ways.
We are also concerned about the future of palliative care, not least because experience suggests that, unless there are explicit protections, hospices may be required to cooperate with assisted suicide. If this were to
This is not the end of the parliamentary process, and we should not lose hope. We ask the Catholic community to continue to pray for members of parliament whilst they consider this legislation and to pray that government will act to promote and protect life from conception until natural death.
We have expressed the view, during this debate, that genuine compassion involves accompanying those who need care, especially during sickness, disability and old age. The vocation to care is at the heart of the lives of so many people who look after their loved ones and is the sign of a truly compassionate
society. As we stated after the second reading, it is essential that we nurture and renew the innate call that many people have to compassionately care for others.
The Bishops of England and Wales believe that improving the quality and availability of palliative care offers the best pathway to reducing suffering at the end of life. We will continue to advocate for this, and we ask the Catholic community to support those who work tirelessly to care for the dying in our hospices, hospitals and care homes.
Archbishop John Sherrington Archbishop of Liverpool Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Bishops’ Conference.
Matthias Zomer
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We can’t dismiss prayer as fanciful when we pray for peace in the Holy Land, says Bishop Curry
cbcew.org.uk
Bishop Curry urges prayer, solidarity, and hope, highlighting Christian presence and desire for normal life in Palestine
Bishop Jim Curry, the Lead Bishop for the Holy Land for the Bishops’ Conference, has joined the former Middle East North Africa consultant, Dr Harry Hagopian, as a special guest on his monthly Middle East Analysis podcast. Contributing to a discussion on Gaza, the West Bank and the wider region of the Holy Land, Bishop Curry said that when Christians pray for peace, it can be both supplication and a cry of protest.
“Obviously, the Christian always wants to pray, and we can’t just dismiss prayer as fanciful. Prayer is a cry of protest as well as supplication,” says Bishop Curry. “The fact that we can pray in our churches publicly for the situation in Palestine and Gaza, in the West Bank, that we remember our Christian brothers and sisters and the wider community is important. So we can’t ever dismiss it.”
Bishop Curry also spoke about the Christian presence in the Holy Land as foundational and a vital part of the rich tapestry of the region:“One of our fundamental tenets is to go on pilgrimage, because these lands are holy to us, they are holy to the Jews, and to Muslims. Christians have been part of the mosaic of those lands for over 2,000 years, they belong there. They’re not interlopers. They’ve built schools, they’ve built churches, they’ve built
communities. So going to visit them is important for us. When we last visited (for the Holy Land Coordination), we were able to visit Bethlehem, Beit Jala, where the Latin Patriarch has a seminary, Aboud, and Taybeh. We were able to show that they are not forgotten. But I’m always conscious that afterwards, we walk away. We walk away and leave communities to struggle with lack of access to jobs, to security, to freedom of movement.”
The Bishop also shared his first impressions of the Palestinian city Ramallah, the administrative capital, that he visited in January 2025 as part of the Holy Land Coordination meeting, organised by the Bishops’ Conference: “I’d never been to Ramallah, and as I looked around as we entered the city I saw a peaceful, busy, bustling city with cafes and buses, restaurants and shops, and people about their business.“It was a warm day, with a blue sky, and I thought ‘that’s what normality looks like’. People don’t run away from normality. We were asking ourselves, ‘what would normality look like?’ And there we saw it. Someone whispered into my ear, ‘You should have seen Gaza. It was bigger and more well-organised’. Now all we see are these images of rubble and people being displaced – hungry and frightened. I’d seen a different reality in Ramallah, a place that worked. I’m
sure people complain about the services there, but I saw something different and it stayed with me.”
In the face of conflict, death, destruction and extreme hardship, Bishop Curry offers a suggestion to enable us to cling to a shard of hope: “What can we do? We can go on advocating that normality is possible, that people can live well together. People want to live well together… Everywhere we went, we heard this plea, ‘We just want to live normal lives. We want jobs, we want our kids to go to school, we want them to be able to play their part in this land when they come back after university’. It still comes back to me, that image of what normality is. People don’t run away from normality.”
He reserved special praise and heart-felt prayers for the small Catholic community of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza:“They are giving a witness to the possibility that our despair can’t be the final word about the human situation. That little community there, the Holy Family in Gaza, they are a living sign that human beings can live together, and they can work together for each other’s good.”
You can listen to the full June 2025 episode of Middle East Analysis by scanning the QR code below.
Pope urges Church to foster a culture that does not tolerate abuse
Vatican Media
In a message against all forms of abuse, Pope Leo XIV has called for a cultural transformation within the Catholic Church
"It is necessary to spread throughout the Church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse: abuse of power or authority, of conscience or spirituality, of sexual abuse," he writes.
His words were read at the performance of the theatrical production Proyecto Ugaz, currently running in Lima, Peru. The play honours investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, known for her reporting on the now-suppressed Sodalitium, and who has faced sustained harassment for her work.
Drawing on Ugaz's example, the Pope issued a firm defence of press freedom: "Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a nation is weakened."
The Pope's message centres on two key themes that underlie the theatrical production: the fight against abuse and the essential role of truthful, independent journalism. Proyecto Ugaz highlights Ugaz's years-long investigation into the Sodalitium Cristianae Vitae, a powerful lay movement in Latin America that Pope Francis formally suppressed on April 14 due to multiple allegations of abuse and corruption, including against its founder, Luis Figari. A Vatican investigation concluded the group lacked any foundational charism.
Paola Ugaz, together with journalist Pedro Salinas, co-authored a 2015 book exposing testimony from victims of the Sodalitium. Their work spurred investigations by Peruvian authorities and eventually led to Vatican intervention. However, Ugaz has since faced legal harassment and online attacks. In November 2022, she sought protection for herself and three other journalists from Pope Francis, who received them personally in December of that year and expressed his support.
Now, under Pope Leo XIV, that support continues and deepens. The Pope, wellinformed about the Sodalitium case and Ugaz's role, publicly embraced her during a May meeting with journalists who covered the conclave. A photo of Ugaz presenting the Pope with a traditional Andean scarf ("chalina") captured the moment. It is to this occasionheld four days after his election-that Pope Leo referred in his message, which was read aloud at the theatre by Mgr Jordi Bertomeu of the
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and apostolic commissioner for the Sodalitium case.
The Pope begins his message with three expressions of gratitude: To the creators of Proyecto Ugaz, calling the production "not just theatre, but memory, protest, and above all, an act of justice," giving voice to "a long-silenced pain."
"The victims of the former spiritual family of the Sodalitium, along with the journalists who supported them with courage, patience, and commitment to the truth, reflect the wounded yet hopeful face of the Church. Your fight for justice is also the Church's fight. A faith that does not touch the wounds of the human body and soul has not yet understood the Gospel," he writes.
To those who have persevered, even when ignored, discredited, or subjected to legal attacks. The Pope recalls the 2018 Letter to the People of God by Pope Francis, written after his difficult visit to Chile and meetings with abuse victims: "The pain of the victims and their families is our pain too, and it is urgent that we renew our commitment to protect minors and vulnerable adults."
Pope Leo emphasises that true ecclesial reform is not rhetoric but a concrete path of humility, truth, and reparation: "Prevention and care are not just pastoral strategies-they are the heart of the Gospel."
To Paola Ugaz herself, for her bravery in approaching Pope Francis on November 10, 2022, and speaking up for herself and fellow journalists Pedro Salinas, Daniel Yovera, and Patricia Lachira, who exposed abuses by a
Image Francisco Rodriguez Torres
religious group operating in multiple countries but originating in Peru.
The Pope also acknowledges the broader harm caused by the Sodalitium, including financial abuses affecting entire communities such as those in Catacaos and Castilla.
Referring again to his remarks to media professionals on May 12, Pope Leo underlines that this was not just a formal greeting, but a reaffirmation of the sacred role of journalism: "The truth does not belong to anyone-it is the responsibility of everyone to seek it, preserve it, and serve it," he says.
Through his written message, read in a public theatre, the Pope shares both his concern and hope for the people of Peru, "In this time of deep institutional and social tensions, defending free and ethical journalism is not only an act of justice, but a duty for all who aspire to a strong and participatory democracy."
He appeals to Peruvian authorities, civil society, and every citizen to protect those who report the truth with integrity, from community radio stations to mainstream media, from rural areas to the capital. "Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened," he writes.
The Pope concludes with a heartfelt message to all Peruvian communicators, "Do not be afraid. Through your work, you can be builders of peace, unity, and social dialogue. Be sowers of light in the shadows,"and he expresses his hope for a Church where no one must suffer in silence and where truth is not feared but embraced as a path to liberation.
The Good Shepherd
Late one early spring evening, a shepherdess sat in a field attending a lambing sheep. It was nearly dark, beginning to rain and her torchlight was beginning to fail. The ewe was in problems, her lamb impossibly wedged. The shepherdess, tired and weary, cried out for the only extra help available: “Jesus, Good Shepherd, help me to lamb this ewe!”
Peace descend. The shepherdess closed her eyes in meditation before she tried to free the lamb one last time. Within seconds, to her utter astonishment, the lamb was born.
What struck this experienced shepherdess was that her movement had not seemed her own, as if guided by a greater expert in a truly miraculous way.
If the Good Shepherd can assist so perfectly in the birth of a lamb, guiding and attending with the shepherdess, then how much more will he do for us when we cry out to him for our human needs? Or is the miracle actually in asking Jesus to work with us, rather than watch over us?
Long ago, when starting the work of ‘Crown of Thorns’, we offered the work to Our Lady. Many times, we complain that we can’t keep up with her. Even during Covid restrictions many chaplains still worked through use of provision of Crown of Thorns rosary cards, giving hope and peace wherever possible, allowing Our Lady to touch hearts and comfort souls, however she could, even though no human could enter.
Crown of Thorns is a small charity with a large outreach. Along with our rosary and prayer cards we send shipments to dioceses in need, including items donated through parishes and convents here at home.
Crown of Thorns is run through the goodwill of dedicated volunteers giving their time free of charge, enabling donations go direct to support the work of the charity.
Email: office@crownofthorns.org.uk www.crownofthorns.org.uk
"Proyecto Ugaz"
Archbishop John Sherrington installed as tenth Archbishop of Liverpool
liverpoolcatholic.org.uk
Archbishop Sherrington will become the tenth Archbishop of Liverpool in succession to Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, who has been Archbishop of Liverpool since 2014.
The Most Reverand John Sherrington has been installed as the tenth Archbishop of Liverpool during a Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.
It was announced in April, just a few weeks before his death, that Pope Francis had elected Archbishop Sherrington as the successor of Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP who is retiring after 11 years as Archbishop.
Thousands of Catholics of all ages from across the archdiocese gathered at the cathedral for the celebration which included Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, bishops and clergy from across England and Wales and civic leaders and representatives from other faiths.
Archbishop Sherrington said: “The Mass of Installation was a joyous occasion; it was wonderful to see so many people from across the diocese and beyond gather together in prayer as we continue to preach Christ to the people of our time.
“I give thanks to Archbishop Malcolm who has served the archdiocese with love and generosity, and I am honoured to succeed him.
“I look forward to serving as a shepherd to this historic and faith-filled archdiocese and to bring the hope and joy of Christ to all people.”
Archbishop John Sherrington
First ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Nottingham in 1987, Archbishop Sherrington has been Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta since 2011.
Archbishop John Sherrington was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta on 14th September 2011.
Archbishop Sherrington has responsibility for the pastoral care of the parishes and deaneries
of North London and is Moderator of the Curia and a Trustee of the Diocese. He is Chair of the Governing Body of Mater Ecclesiae College.
He served on the Methodist Roman Catholic International Commission (MERCIC) for ten years and was Co-Chair for five years. He was also for some years a Trustee of CAFOD which gave him further insight into the international mission of the Church.
Within the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, he is a member of the Department for Social Justice with responsibility for life issues since 2014, and a member of the Education Department since 2022. He is a member of the governing body of the Anscombe Centre,
Oxford, and a Trustee of the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth.
Internationally, he is a member of the Overseas Seminary Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Pontifical Beda College and Venerable English College in Rome, and a Trustee of the Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain.
Archbishop Sherrington was ordained as a bishop in 2011 by the then-Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the co-consecrators being Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and the thenBishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham.
Having been ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nottingham in 1987, before becoming a parish priest (2004-2011), he lectured in moral theology at All Hallows College, Dublin and St John’s Seminary, Wonersh where he was also a member of the formation staff.
Before entering the seminary he graduated with a BA in mathematics from Queens' College, Cambridge, where St John Fisher was once President. Upon graduation, he worked for a short period in management consultancy. He was ordained a priest in 1987 and after a short period in a parish, then completed an STL in Moral Theology at the Gregorian University, Rome.
Archbishop John Sherrington
Image CBCEW
The Paradoxical Saint
Alexandra S. Villers
Edith Stein:
Jewish philosopher turned nun, feminist martyr of Auschwitz, uniting faith, intellect, and compassion
In my ongoing research on the Shoah (Holocaust), undoubtably one of the most horrific crimes in human history, I kept encountering the name Edith Stein. Curious to know more about this woman, I finally took the time to explore her extraordinary life.
Her destiny was unique: a Jewish philosopher, feminist, and academic who converted to Christianity, became a Carmelite nun, and was ultimately murdered in Auschwitz. Her life influenced the position of women in the Church and in society. Her death changed how many Christians see the Holocaust and their history with the Jews.
Edith was born in 1891 in Breslau on Yom Kippur. Her mother Auguste, a devout Jewess, saw this as a sign of divine purpose. After her husband died of sunstroke, Auguste raised seven children alone and turned his failing lumber business into a success. This inspired Edith’s early feminism: a belief that imposed gender roles suppress women’s full potential.
Her feminism wasn’t anti-male but essentialist: like me, she believed women possess innate traits making them more inclined toward empathy and care.
As a young woman, she was an outsider: an unmarried, self-declared atheist who preferred books to domestic life. In 1911, just ten years after women were first admitted to German universities, she enrolled at the University of Breslau to study psychology—then a philosophical discipline, not a clinical science.
Unsatisfied, she turned to the work of Edmund Husserl and travelled to Göttingen to study phenomenology. Husserl described it as the reflective study of first-person experience.
As Jordan B. Peterson explains: a non-relativist sees an envelope as paper with ink; a phenomenologist sees it as a vessel of possible life-altering news. Reality is filtered through perception—one hundred people, one hundred realities.
Edith graduated summa cum laude with a thesis on empathy, suggesting it’s not just understanding someone, but feeling into their experience. Husserl hired her—unusual for a woman. Later, when she sought a faculty position, he hesitated to recommend her. Eventually, he did, but universities refused to hire a Jewish woman. Her protest led to a legal ruling: being female couldn’t disqualify someone from academic posts. A quiet feminist milestone.
During this time, Edith began to question her atheism. Husserl, along with several other German-Jewish intellectuals like Scheler and Reinach, had converted to Christianity—not out of fear, but belief. Husserl famously said: “If I read the New Testament, I shall have to give up philosophy.”
Edith’s own conversion came after reading the autobiography of Teresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic and Catholic reformer—also of Jewish descent. On January 1, 1922, Edith was baptised.
Still facing discrimination, she accepted a position teaching at a Catholic girls’ school. There, she began writing about women’s education and the role of women in religion. She criticised Nazi gender ideology and the Church’s refusal to ordain women, noting the shared roots of sexism in Roman law and Jewish orthodoxy. Both excluded women from sacred authority, she argued, while Jesus himself elevated them—especially Mary Magdalene, an unmarried woman whom Edith considered Christ’s most loyal follower.
Monasteries, however, allowed women to flourish intellectually. Hildegard von Bingen, Maria Agnesi, Maria Dalle Donne, Lucy Carter— many nuns became pioneers in science and the arts. Edith, too, found in monastic life the freedom and structure to develop her thoughts and deepen her faith.
In 1933, as Hitler rose to power, Edith’s mother died—the same year she took her Carmelite vows. Her sister Rosa joined her. Their family couldn’t understand their decision to remain in Germany under Jewish names. But Edith saw herself bound to her people’s fate: “God’s hand lay heavy on his people, and the destiny of this people was my own.”
That same year, Vatican Secretary Eugenio Pacelli (later Pope Pius XII) signed the Reichskonkordat, granting Church protection in exchange for political silence. Was this cowardice or strategy? Some call it complicity. Others, like historian Pinchas Lapide, credit Pacelli with saving over 700,000 Jews through discreet action.
Indeed, many clergy helped Jews by hiding them or forging papers. In Belgium, my homeland, Dom Bruno, Jean-Baptiste Janssens, and 48 nuns were named Righteous Among the Nations. In Poland, my great-grandmother protected a Jewish girl by dying her hair blond and pretending to be her mother—risking her life and her daughter’s.
Edith believed prayer wasn’t enough. She requested a private audience with the Pope to urge him to condemn Nazism. Invited to a group audience, she declined and wrote him a letter instead:
“Not just Jews, but thousands of Catholic faithful… have been waiting for Christ’s Church to speak out… Isn’t this extermination… a violation of our Saviour… who even prayed for his persecutors on the cross?”
His reply offered only a spiritual blessing, which greatly disappointed her.
In 1938, she was moved to the Carmelite convent in Echt, Netherlands. Two years later, Dutch Catholic priests publicly denounced the Nazis. Enraged, the Nazis retaliated. On August 2, 1942, SS officers arrived at the convent. As neighbours protested, Edith took Rosa’s hand and said: “Rosa, come, let us go, for our people.”
To some, this statement reveals a paradox: were her people Jews or Catholics? To Edith, there was no contradiction. Judaism and Christianity were part of the same divine continuum.
They were sent to Westerbork transit camp, then to Auschwitz. In her final letter, Edith requested warm underwear, a rosary, and her breviary. Days later, she and Rosa were murdered in the gas chambers.
Survivors recalled how Edith spent her last days washing children, comforting the weak, and showing serenity. She didn’t collapse in fear—she embraced her suffering as a way to care for others. She carried her cross with grace, just as Christ had.
Einstein once said: “Only a life lived in the service of others is worth living.” Edith believed that, too. “The science of the cross,” she wrote, “can only be obtained when you personally experience the Cross thoroughly.”
In 1987, Pope John Paul II beatified her, calling her death martyrdom. Later, after a miraculous healing was attributed to her, she was canonised—a decision that sparked controversy in the Jewish community. If she was killed for being Jewish, how could she be a Christian martyr?
But her final acts, shaped by her Christian faith, were undeniably sacred. Her murder was the crime of an anti-Semitic regime—but her response to that crime was a spiritual triumph.
May Edith Stein—who elevated philosophy, challenged injustice, and brought light to history’s darkest hour—rest in peace, by the hand of the God she so deeply loved.
“Living the concealed life and still experience the glory of the light. Being peaceful and nevertheless full of warmth.” - E.S.
Edith Stein
‘The Quiet Revival’ – survey finds marked increase in young people attending church
Bible Society
The results of the survey are in keeping with other anecdotal evidence from around the country
A recent Bible Society and YouGov survey shows a marked increase in the number of young people turning to Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular.
The survey, undertaken in December 2024 compared its results to a similar survey from 2018. The findings disrupt the largely accepted view that church attendance is universally in decline and is notable for two main reasons –the significant increase in young people, especially men, attending church and that in terms of young churchgoers, Catholics now
outnumber Anglicans by more than two to one.
The key findings of the report are that since 2018 when the study was last conducted, the percentage of 18-24 year olds attending church for reasons other than weddings/funerals etc, has risen from 4% to 16%. In every age category, men outnumber women in church attendance and for the first time, in the 18-34 age group, Catholics outnumber Anglicans.
The results of the survey are in keeping with other anecdotal evidence from around the country. The article on page 12 of this edition highlights the rise in Mass attendance in East
Key Findings
Anglia. Last month’s edition included an article on how Eucharistic adoration had transformed a university chaplaincy. So what is the reason for the change?
Continued from page 6
There are a number of reasons given by the Bible Society. There has been a cultural shift away from the hostility of “New Atheism” (common in the 2000s) to greater openness and even cultural attractiveness toward Christianity with high-profile figures across sport, music and media more openly expressing their faith, helping to normalise and de-stigmatise Christianity among young adults. Additionally many young people are looking for deeper meaning and community in the face of rising mental health challenges and social isolation. Church is increasingly perceived as a place offering healing, structure, and spiritual depth that stands in contrast to the individualistic and materialistic culture of modern life.
Church attendance is also linked to stronger feelings of connection to local communities.
For example, 68% of churchgoing men aged 18–34 said they feel close to people in their local area, compared to just 27% of nonchurchgoers in the same group. Young churchgoers seem to be highly engaged in spiritual practices. They are more likely to pray regularly, read the Bible weekly, and say their faith impacts their actions.
There is no doubt that the church is becoming more ethnically diverse, particularly among younger generations - 32% of churchgoers aged 18–54 are from ethnic minorities. This demographic shift includes strong growth in Catholic and Pentecostal traditions, especially among Black and mixed-ethnicity young adults. Additionally, 79% of churchgoers say it’s important to try to make a difference in the world, and many are involved in volunteering, food bank donations, and activism. This sense
of purpose may attract socially conscious young adults.
As in many other walks of life, young people today are less likely to identify as Christian “by default.” Those who do attend church are making an intentional commitment to faith, rather than following cultural tradition.
Fr David Stewart SJ was one of the founders of the now 20+ year old Young Adult Mass in Farm Street, London and also at St Joseph’s Jesuit Church, Edinburgh. He remembered the origins of the Mass in 2004: “I will never forget what one person, a highly qualified professional in her late 20s, said to me, just before we finally got started. With passion in her voice, she declared, "I'm fed up with people like you (meaning priests, religious older people) telling me that I'm the Church of tomorrow. Why can't I be the Church of today?"’.
Fr Stewart told Reuters that those coming to his Edinburgh group had no background in religion and about 60-80% of them were men, with many working in software and financial services. ‘They’re looking for something deeper’ said Fr Stewart.
These trends collectively show a Church that is not only growing but changing—more intentional, more diverse, and increasingly led by a spiritually engaged younger generation. One interviewee told Reuters ‘We’re probably the first generation to try and live without God, and I think we’re slowly just saying that doesn’t work’.
The Catholic Post is intertested to know what you are doing to encourage more young people to come to your churches. Email us at editor@catholicpost.co.uk
Eyewitness report from Jerusalem
indcatholicnews.com
Amid escalating
war with Iran, Jerusalem residents seek shelter and pray for peace, justice, and for an end
to the suffering in Gaza
The Very Rev'd Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St George's College, Jerusalem wrote on social media recently:
A wartime message:
I want to thank all those who have sent messages of concern for us all here and with assurances of prayer for us and for the Land of the Holy One. These have been so well received.
The situation has taken a serious turn for the worst with a full state of war with Iran. I won't go into the issues, causes and implications here. Suffice to say that everyone of every community is frightened or stressed, or both. The usually secure parts of Israel now feel vulnerable and that is a shock.
In the College we have the benefit of the security of the Cathedral Close and a very secure bomb shelter in the basement. We have had to take shelter here intermittently through the past twenty months. But we have been down there several times each day and night since last Friday. Before we get to the bunker we can see missiles in the sky being
intercepted by the defence system and we can feel/hear windows and sometimes the ground shake.
Most of the College staff live in parts of East Jerusalem and the West Bank where there are no accessible bomb shelters. They and their families can feel more vulnerable than we do in the College. We do all that we can to support them as needed. Everyone to some degree feels frightened and/or stressed. In reality, as far as we can tell, not a single missile has fallen in the Jerusalem area. The field of action is more in the coastal areas, around the airport and in the north.
This is all very concerning but (for the most part) we do not feel in direct danger. But we are aware that the situation could deteriorate further. We feel for everyone who has been impacted and is in a situation of real danger. We pray for an end and a commitment to a negotiated settlement. Violence and warfare is not the way. Iran is also part of our Anglican Province and Archbishop Hosam has
July Saint
Our Lady of Mount Carmel: A Symbol of Protection and Devotion
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a revered title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, honouring her role as the patroness of the Carmelite Order. This title originates from Mount Carmel, a biblical site in present-day Israel where the prophet Elijah is believed to have lived and where the Carmelite religious order was founded in the 12th century. The order was deeply devoted to Mary, eventually recognising her as their spiritual mother and protector.
The most significant symbol associated with Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the Brown Scapular. According to Carmelite tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, an English Carmelite, on July 16, 1251. She presented him with the scapular, a small piece of cloth worn as a sign of her protection. Mary’s promise to St. Simon was profound: “Whoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” While not a magical guarantee of salvation, the
jurisdiction, so we also feel great concern for civilians in Iran and especially for the vulnerable Christians there.
While all of this understandably fills the news agenda everywhere, for us a primary concern is still for the people of Gaza who are being starved and bombed with no shelters or defence systems. Attention must remain there too. Also on the West Bank which is being subjected to an almost total lockdown and suffers painfully in many diverse ways.
We pray for an end to this multi-dimensional war and its wanton destructions. We pray for
the establishment of justice and a pathway toward equality and peaceful co-existence for all people. War is not the answer and killing people is neither holy nor useful.
We take great comfort from the fellowship of the 'Community of the Close' in which the College exists. Both local and international staff, along with those who reside in the College, strengthen one another to face the challenges and rigours of these days of fire. We trust in the grace of God. We are sustained by Christian hope (not optimism). May the Lord have mercy on us all.
scapular represents a commitment to live a faithful Christian life under Mary’s guidance.
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated each year on July 16. It is a day of prayer, reflection, and celebration among Catholics worldwide, especially those with Carmelite affiliations. Devotees honour Mary for her maternal care and seek her intercession in their spiritual journeys.
Over the centuries, Our Lady of Mount Carmel has become a powerful symbol of divine protection, hope, and devotion. She is particularly venerated in countries such as Italy, Spain, and the Philippines, where processions, novenas, and festivals are held in her honour.
Through the Brown Scapular and centuries of devotion, Our Lady of Mount Carmel continues to inspire millions to deepen their relationship with Christ through the guidance and love of His mother.
The First Weeks of Pope Leo's Papacy
Pope Leo begins humble, peace-focused and pastoral papacy
The early days of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate have already begun to show a leader shaped by his years serving the poor in Latin America. Since his election, Pope Leo has stepped quietly but firmly into his role as the successor of St Peter.
His first public appearances were marked by a calm, pastoral tone, speaking of a Church called not to power but to service. In one of his earliest addresses, he said the Church must “listen more than it speaks,” and he described himself not as a ruler but as “a pilgrim with the people.”
Almost immediately, Pope Leo XIV turned his attention to the world’s most urgent crises. In the days following his election, he spoke by telephone with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, assuring him of the Church’s prayers and its ongoing diplomatic efforts for a just and lasting peace. Vatican sources confirmed that the Pope reiterated his desire for all parties to return to meaningful negotiations and avoid what he described as the “cycle of vengeance” that risks destroying generations.
His concern for conflict zones was not limited to Eastern Europe. During his first Angelus prayer from the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square, the new Pope spoke movingly about the suffering of civilians in Gaza and Israel, especially children caught in the crossfire. “The wounds of hatred,” he said, “must not become permanent scars on our shared humanity.” He asked Catholics around the world to fast and pray for peace.
Beyond international diplomacy, the Pope has begun outlining the kind of Church he hopes to lead. It is, in his words, “a Church close to the poor, to the margins, and to the wounded.”
Those who know him from his years as an Augustinian missionary bishop in Peru say this comes as no surprise. There, he lived among the people, travelled to remote parishes on foot or by donkey, and spent years navigating the tensions between local traditions and global Church teachings with remarkable patience. His episcopal motto, drawn from the Gospel of John—“That they may have life”— reflects a deep concern for those denied not only spiritual hope but also food, shelter, and dignity.
Inside the Vatican, Pope Leo has begun meeting with key Curial officials, ambassadors to the Holy See, and representatives of religious orders. While no major appointments or reforms have yet been announced, there is growing expectation that he will continue the synodal vision set in motion by his predecessor, Pope Francis. The new pontiff has expressed support for ongoing conversations about the role of women in the Church, the governance of dioceses, and the importance of listening to voices from the Global South.
He has also made early moves to reach out across faith lines. In one of his first official audiences, he welcomed representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as leaders from other Christian denominations.
Observers noted that the tone was warm and open, with a shared emphasis on working together to address global challenges,
especially climate change and forced migration.
In media interviews and official Vatican statements, Pope Leo has returned repeatedly to a phrase he used in his very first homily: “The Church must breathe with many lungs.” The metaphor, borrowed from Eastern Christianity, reflects his belief that no single culture, region, or tradition should dominate the Catholic Church. He has hinted at further decentralisation of Church authority, allowing local bishops’ conferences greater responsibility in addressing cultural and pastoral realities.
As he begins this new chapter in papal history, Pope Leo appears to be modelling a style of leadership rooted more in listening than in proclamation, more in encounter than in authority. His decision to keep living in the simple Vatican guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace—continuing the precedent set by Francis—signals a preference for humility over grandeur. Likewise, he has not rushed to publish major encyclicals or pronouncements,
choosing instead to spend his early weeks meeting people, celebrating Mass with ordinary Catholics, and reflecting quietly on the challenges ahead.
Already comparisons are being drawn between Popes Leo and Francis, with many seeing the former as a spiritual son of the latter. But there are subtle differences in tone and emphasis. Where Francis often provoked, Leo seems inclined to persuade. Where Francis spoke of “a field hospital for the wounded,” Leo speaks of “a table with space for everyone.” In his own way, however, both are committed to a Church that looks outward—not inward—and to a papacy that sees service, not status, as its defining role.
For now, Catholics around the world are watching closely, listening carefully, and praying for a pope who seems determined to walk with his people rather than ahead of them. Pope Leo’s pontificate is only just beginning, but the early signs suggest a papacy of compassion, courage, and quiet reform.
Pope Leo XIV at his first Mass Image Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blessing a child at his weekly General Audience
View from the Pew
Priest on a Mission
Dr Jay Kettle-Williams
people: Cosmo, Sitting Bull, Paris, Azalea, Heather, Black Hawk, Crazy Horse, Rose…
That practice of remembrance - ‘in the memory of’, ‘in the name of’ and then ‘handing on’ - is a rich vein of proselytisation running throughout our Christian faith.
The Jesuit missionaries rank foremost among the Europeans most immediately and extensively in contact with and working face to face with the Amerindians. The priest Marcos Villodas S.J. is a particular case in point.
Legend has it that the two brothers, Tupí and Guaraní, migrated southwards across Amazonia following the established northsouth migratory pattern adopted by the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The two brothers finally decided to go their separate ways: Guaraní staying in central, southern Amazonia, the area now identified as Paraguay and the immediate vicinity, where Guaraní’s ‘name’ is applied to the native language most extensively spoken; Tupí moving eastwards into what we now recognise as Brazil. They had reputedly migrated from the region far to the north which was under the control of the ‘Big Chief’, whose title in the native tongue (Karaí-ve) then became identifiable as ‘Carib’, ergo ‘Caribbean’ and ‘cannibal’.
Cannibalism, humankind eating of its fellows, is as interesting as it is repugnant to many. A notable fact in this regard is that Amerindians were never considered to have practised cannibalism to survive, just to eat – such as has been recorded among Europeans. It was practised under two kinds: exo-cannibalism, whereby the sacrifice was chosen from beyond one’s own community; endocannibalism whereby the target was selected from within one’s own unit. The point of either practice was to instil in the practitioners the qualities they admired in the person being sacrificed. So it is easy at this point to understand how readily Amerindians, being tutored by the Jesuit missionaries from Spain, could understand and even embrace the Christian message of communion.
Even today we have the tradition of recognising an individual’s qualities, that individual perhaps even being a family member, and then calling children by that person’s given name in order to instil the qualities admired: Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John ... But this practice of ‘naming after’ is not limited purely to the Christian tradition, not limited purely to the other Abrahamic faiths and not just limited to
The Jesuit missions among the Guaraní were like settlements-cum-reservations, mission stations where the native populations were gathered into communities called ‘Indian reductions’ (Spanish: reducciones de indios). These missions, covering an area touching on Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, had been established by the Jesuit Order early in the17th century and ended in the late 18th century with the expulsion of the Jesuit order from the Americas. The debate is ever ongoing as to whether those missions were an experiment in socialist theocracy, perhaps a rare example of benign colonialism, or a denial of the Indians' freedom, of their lifestyle, while subjecting them to physical abuse and exposing them to disease.
Fr Marcos - b. 1695 in Nanclares de Gamboa, Álava, Spain; d. 1739 or 1741 (reports vary) in Santa Fé, Argentina - had left his Basque homeland to help spread the Christian message. It took him to where the language of Guaraní is extensively recognised and practised to this day. Exactly three hundred years ago, in 1725, Fr Marcos published his 319page manuscript, POJHA ÑAÑA, Materia Médica Misionera o Herbario de las Reducciones Guaranies, a compilation in Guaraní (see extract) of the medicinal properties, as known to the indigenous people at the time, of herbs and plants native to the flora of the area. So extensive is such nomenclature in Guaraní that it reputedly exceeds those in Latin and Greek combined.
POJHA ÑAÑA Manuscript
Fr Marcos presumably acknowledged that for thousands of years herbs and plants would have been used by the Amerindians in various combinations to prevent and treat illness. We have probably only touched the tip of that iceberg. Cross-cultural awareness - the comparative and contrastive study of others’ cultures - is a 2-way street not only by which we can teach but by which we can also learn.
Acknowledgements and Attribution: Accompanying image (Statue with Blowing Horn) after the sculpture Exultate Jubilate by Philip Jackson.Texts/References adapted and/or adopted from http://en.wikipedia.org under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/4.0/
Dr J L Kettle-Williams is an experienced business communications consultant and wordsmith (tutor, writer, translator).
An autistic grandma’s adventures in Rome
dioceseofleeds.org.uk
First-time pilgrim overcomes challenges, experiences deep faith and peace during Jubilee trip and Pope’s funeral
I’m a 61-year-old practising, ‘Cradle’ Catholicand I’d never been on a pilgrimage. Not even to Walsingham or Lourdes!
Like most autistic people, I just can’t do organised group events. I hate crowds and I hate feeling out of control. I like to plan things and stick to my plans: I find change really difficult to cope with. Although I’m actually quite sociable and chatty, I can get overwhelmed with spending too long with people. So, I’d resigned myself to the fact that I’d never go on pilgrimage.
God, however, had other plans. I was at Mass on 28 February and struggling to concentrate, with things whirling round in my head. As the consecration approached, I made a conscious effort. Out of nowhere, the name: ‘Carlo Acutis’ came into my mind and I was filled with the urgent desire to go to his Canonisation. This was actually mad: I’d never get a flight and accommodation in the Jubilee Year. Also, my husband was working that weekend, so I’d have to go alone. It couldn’t actually happen … and yet, everything literally fell into place.
So I made all my plans. I decided that I would go through the Holy Doors in the four major basilicas: St Peter, St Mary Major, St Paul Outside the Walls and St John Lateran. I downloaded the Jubilee App, reserved a place for the Canonisation and a time slot to go through each of the Holy Doors. I felt very strongly that God wanted me to take prayer intentions with me, so I set up an email address and asked for a bulletin notice in my parish. So many people responded, I was really humbled by their trust in me. I wrote everything down in a little notebook. I was ready.
And then God called Pope Francis home and everything changed!
My first instinct was to give up. I knew the Canonisation wouldn’t happen as there are nine days of official mourning when a Pope dies. I had been so sure that God wanted me to be there, now I felt that I must have been mistaken. But I’d promised to take people’s prayers with me, so I took a deep breath and decided to trust that everything would work out. The next day, they announced that Pope
Francis’s funeral would be on the Saturday and I realised that was why I was meant to be there.
I arrived in Rome around 1pm on the Friday and went straight to St Mary Major. What a beautiful church, extremely ornate as all the basilicas are and yet also quite simple. I can understand why Pope Francis loved it. I spent a lovely, peaceful and prayerful couple of hours there.
And then … absolute chaos! Trying to get to my hotel, just behind St Peter’s turned into absolute purgatory. Every road around Vatican City was closed and my 22-minute walk from the metro turned into two and half hours of wandering around, trying to find alternative routes. Google maps didn’t know the roads were closed and refused to help at all! My 6kg backpack took on the weight of the cross and I genuinely thought of Christ on the road to Calvary. I ended up at the top of a slip road in the middle of nowhere, completely overwhelmed and at the end of my tether. An angel, disguised as a Namibian Seminarian called Liandro, took pity on me and led me into a parking garage and through underground tunnels (some sort of bus terminal), until we surfaced five minutes from my hotel. Deo Gratias,angels do walk among us!
On Saturday morning, I set off at 5am. It was already really busy and I queued for almost two hours just to get through the security onto the Via della Conciliazione, the main street leading to St Peter’s Square. By 7.10, I had a place in the Square, with a great view, although a long way back. Alas, no seat! Mass began at
10am and lasted two and half hours. In all, I was on my feet for eight hours, but it was worth every minute.
It was all supremely well organised and yet crazy, chaotic and wonderful. The atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, a tremendous sense of camaraderie and joy.
Hundreds of thousands of brothers and sisters, all there for the same reason. Many had come especially for the Canonisation of St Carlo, including thousands of teenagers, from all corners of the world. Despite this, all were grateful to have the opportunity to show their respect to our beloved Pope Francis.
As my carefully-made reservations for the Holy Doors of the three remaining basilicas were no longer valid, I joined the queues and went anyway.
Exhausted and elated at the same time, I have never prayed as deeply, nor felt so close to God.
My morning prayer is always, ‘Help me to get it right today, Lord’ and my evening prayer: ‘I’m sorry I got it wrong again, Lord.’ Life gets in the way, day to day worries take over. We need time just to be with God.
So, if like me you’ve never been on a pilgrimage, 2025 is the year to change that. If you too hate to be out of control, just trust that God is in control and simply go where He leads.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGES TO LOURDES FROM £749PP FROM JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2025
MIDDLESBROUGH DIOCESAN ROME PILGRIMAGE | 5 NIGHTS | £1495PP 6TH OCTOBER 2025 | FROM MANCHESTER
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13th July is Sea Sunday. Please pray for seafarers and fishers and support the Catholic charity ministering to them: Stella Maris (formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea). To donate, go to www.stellamaris.org.uk/donate
The first-time pilgrim herself!
Faith on the Rise: East Anglia
Reflects Wider Growth
rcdea.org.uk
Mass attendance in East Anglia rises, driven by international communities and youth, reflecting renewed faith, hope, and vibrant Church
In the Diocese of East Anglia, we’re witnessing a story of hope and growth – one that reflects a broader and quietly growing trend of increased Church attendance, particularly among younger and international communities.
Recent figures show that Mass attendance across our Diocese rose by an impressive 13% from 2023 to 2024 – a sign not only of local vitality but also of how East Anglia is very much part of a wider movement of renewed interest in faith and worship. This isn’t just about numbers – it’s about lives touched, communities strengthened, and a deepening relationship with God.
A Welcoming and Growing Family of Faith
A key part of this growth can be seen in the strength and devotion of our international
Catholic communities. In towns and cities across the Diocese – from Norwich to Cambridge and beyond – the Church is enriched by the presence of worshippers from the Philippines, Poland, East Timor, India, and many other parts of the world.
Their faith, culture, and sense of community are bringing new life to our parishes. In Norwich, the vibrant Filipino community is flourishing, while in Cambridge, increasing numbers of Cantonese-speaking Catholics are deepening the Church’s presence. Our Polish communities remain a steady and joyful part of parish life, and across the Diocese, the growing diversity of our congregations shows that Catholicism here is both universal and truly alive.
Signs
of
Renewal and Opportunity
This rising attendance mirrors findings from across the country, where interest in faith –especially among younger people – is showing signs of revival. The national trend may come as a surprise to some, but for us in East Anglia, it confirms what we already see every Sunday: the Church is still a home, a source of strength, and a place where people encounter God. Of course, challenges remain. We continue to discern how best to serve a growing and diverse flock, to support clergy and lay leaders, and to ensure our young people feel at home in the Church. But these are good challenges
– signs of a Church that is alive and looking to the future with confidence.
Looking Forward in Faith
This period of growth is a moment to give thanks – and to recommit ourselves to the mission ahead. In East Anglia, as across many parts of the country, there is renewed interest in what the Church has to offer: meaning,
community, hope, and a deep connection with God. We are part of a positive trend – and it’s one worth celebrating.
May we continue to be open to the Holy Spirit, ready to welcome all who seek Christ, and eager to share the Good News in every corner of our Diocese.
Canada celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day
The summer solstice, June 21, marked a day dedicated to celebrating the languages, cultures, and traditions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada
The summer solstice has deep cultural and spiritual significance for them as it signals a time of renewal, connection, and celebration. Across Canada, celebrations offer events to showcase and dive deeper into the history and traditions of the various First Nations and Indigenous Peoples.
The Child and Youth Advocate is observing the day with a special edition of the Young Artist Program, where young people are invited to send in artwork that reflects what being Indigenous means to them.
In Montreal, the Mohawk community of Kahnawake is hosting various activities and workshops, including a fish-filleting demonstration, a bookmark-making workshop, and a free concert with Indigenous artists.
This year, 2025, is the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's report exposing the devastating legacy of Canada's residential schools; and the sixth anniversary of the report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
When Pope Francis visited Canada in July 2022, his first public address included an apology to the representatives of Indigenous Peoples of the First Nations, the Métis, and the Inuit for the evils committed by many Christians against the Indigenous Peoples in Canada in the residential school system.
"I have come to your native lands to tell you in person of my sorrow, to implore God's forgiveness, healing and reconciliation, to express my closeness and to pray with you and for you."
Two days ahead of the National Day, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) released a statement in French and English, encouraging people to "remember and reflect on Pope Francis' legacy and give thanks for the progress made toward reconciliation over the years".
In their statement, the Bishops stress that "Indigenous Peoples are a blessing to the Church and Canadian society." They urge everyone to open their hearts and minds to their brothers and sisters and deepen their understanding of the Indigenous Peoples, reminding Catholics that, as "members of the Church, we are called to build relationships rooted in truth, justice, and compassion."
They close by inviting everyone to continue the journey of walking together "in a spirit of hope and solidarity toward reconciliation."
In 1996, the 25th Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc declared June 21 as "National Aboriginal Day" each year. This decision came after years of consultations and statements of support by various Indigenous groups for the creation of such a day.
In 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood, now called the Assembly of First Nations, called for the creation of National Aboriginal Solidarity Day. Thirteen years later, the Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people called for a national holiday to celebrate the work and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.
In 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples suggested the creation of a National First Peoples Day. In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision to rename the day 'National Indigenous Peoples Day.'
Vatican Media, CCCB
Image: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV: News media should foster peace and disarm words
vaticannews.va
Echos of Pope Francis' call to journalists are heard in Pope Leo's meeting with the media
Only four days had passed since his election to the papacy, and Pope Leo XIV made it a point to hold an audience with the men and women who were in Rome to report on the death of Pope Francis, the conclave, and the first days of his own ministry.
He met with media professionals in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, and thanked reporters in Italian for their tireless work over the intense few weeks.
Fostering peace
The newly-elected Pope began his remarks with a call for communication to foster peace by caring for how people and events are presented.
He invited media professionals to promote a different kind of communication, one that “does not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words, does not follow the culture of competition, and never separates the search for truth from the love with which we must humbly seek it.”
“The way we communicate is of fundamental importance,” he said. “We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images; we must reject the paradigm of war.”
with persecuted journalists
The Pope went on to reaffirm the Church’s solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for reporting the truth, and he called for their release.
He said their suffering reminds the world of the importance of the freedom of expression and the press, adding that “only informed individuals can make free choices.”
Service to
the truth
Pope Leo then thanked reporters for their service to the truth, especially their work to present the Church in the “beauty of Christ’s love” during the recent interregnum period. He commended their work to put aside stereotypes and clichés, in order to share with the world “the essence of who we are”.
Our times, he continued, present many issues that are difficult to recount and navigate, noting that they call each of us to overcome mediocrity.
Facing the challenges of our times
“The Church must face the challenges posed by the times,” he said. “In the same way, communication and journalism do not exist outside of time and history. Saint Augustine reminds of this when he said, ‘Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times’.”
Pope Leo said the modern world can leave us lost in a “confusion of loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.”
The media, he said, must take up the challenge to lead the world out of such a “Tower of Babel,” through the words we use and the style we adopt.
“Communication is not only the transmission of information,” he said, “but it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion.”
AI demands responsibility and discernment Pointing to the spread of artificial intelligence, the Pope said AI’s “immense potential” requires “responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity.”
Echoes of Pope Francis Pope Francis believed that communication should serve as a bridge—not a weapon. He described fake news as a “sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes” that “leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred.” Instead, he advocated for what he called “journalism for peace”—reporting that fosters understanding, rather than stoking division.
“Communicating means sharing,” Pope Francis said. “And sharing demands closeness and integrity.”
In the same vein, Pope Leo's message was: “Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred,” he said. “Let us disarm words, and we will help disarm the world.
Devin Watkins
Pope Leo XIV and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Wednesday afternoon, focusing especially on the war in Ukraine.
Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, told reporters that the Pope and the President discussed the humanitarian situation, s well as the need to facilitate aid where necessary.
“The Pope made an appeal for Russia to take a gesture that would favour peace, emphasising the importance of dialogue to create positive contacts between the parties and seek solutions to the conflict," said the statement.
Pope Leo XIV and President Putin also discussed the ongoing efforts for prisoner
exchanges and the value of the work that Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, is doing on this issue.
Mr Bruni said: “Pope Leo made reference to Patriarch Kirill, thanking him for the congratulations received at the beginning of his pontificate, and underlined how shared Christian values can be a light that helps to seek peace, defend life, and pursue genuine religious freedom."
President Putin met Pope Francis in person three times, in 2013, 2015 and 2019. They also spoke by phone, the last time was in December 2021.
He met with Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and with Pope John Paul II in 2000, and 2003.
Solidarity
Doing right by the Windrush Generation
board were 1,027 passengers, 802 of whom were from the Caribbean, including more than 100 serving and former Armed Forces personnel.
Leela Ramdeen, Consultant, Catholic Commission for Social Justice, Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago writes:
On Sunday, 22 June, the UK commemorated Windrush Day to "honour the contributions of migrants to the post-war economy. Specifically, it celebrated African-Caribbeans who began arriving on the HMT Empire Windrush in 1948" (Wiki). Windrush Day was launched by the UK government in 2018, as an annual national celebration of the Windrush Generation.
This decision was made as a result of many factors - the public outcry and petition to Downing Street and the apology by the then Home Secretary Amber Rudd for the "appalling" treatment of Windrush citizens by her own department, which had "become too concerned with policy and strategy and sometimes" lost "sight of the individual”.
Former PM Theresa May’s apology to the leaders of 12 Caribbean countries - at a summit of Commonwealth heads of government in London - for the "anxiety caused" by the treatment of British citizens, who arrived in the UK as children as far back as the 1940s was also a factor. The report of the Windrush Lessons Learned Independent Review by
Wendy Williams concluded that what happened to those affected by the Windrush scandal was "foreseeable and avoidable". The review made 30 recommendations.
The UK's National Archives reminds us that "Black people have lived in Britain for over two thousand years...We cannot tell the history of Britain without including their stories. " English Heritage website acknowledges that "Black histories are a vital part of England's story..."
During the First World War, many Caribbean men went to Britain to join the army. Thousands of men and women from the Caribbean volunteered in the Second World war to come to the aid of Britain. And in the post-war years the Windrush Generation played a key role in rebuilding the country and reshaping British culture and identity. Most of those who went to the UK from the Caribbean did so at the invitation of the British government-responding to job adverts in local papers in their respective countries. After World War II there was a labour shortage in the UK and people were needed to help with the rebuilding efforts.
On 22 June 1948 HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury Docks in Essex, England. On
People from the Caribbean and their descendants have made and continue to make significant contributions to British society. The scandal of Windrush has left a "bitter taste" in the mouths of many. It will take a while for healing to take place. When the then Home Secretary Amber Rudd stood down in 2018, the new UK Home Secretary Minister Sajid Javid pledged to "do right by the Windrush generation".
"The Windrush generation is a group of people who migrated to the UK from Caribbean Commonwealth countries between 1948 and 1973. Such people are entitled to live in the UK permanently but many of them did not have documentation to prove this.
Because they were unable to prove their right to live in the UK, some members of the Windrush generation and other long-standing UK residents were wrongly treated as illegal immigrants. They were consequently denied access to employment, healthcare and other services, and in some cases detained or removed from the country.
The Conservative government set up two programmes to support people affected...Under these schemes: 17,000 people have received documentation confirming their
status or British citizenship (up to the end of March 2024).
8,800 claims have been made for compensation, of which 2,600 have received payments (up to the end of July 2024).
Some have criticised the compensation scheme, saying that it has been too slow and bureaucratic, and that payments do not adequately reflect losses. The government has made several changes to the design and operation of the scheme since it was launched, including to make compensation payments more generous and increase the number of staff working on it.
£94 million has been paid in compensation, as of the end of July 2024. Total compensation scheme payments could exceed £165 million if Home Office estimates of future claims are correct."
The Labour government (Labour Party Manifesto) "made commitments to improve the response." The appointment of the first Windrush Commissioner, Reverend Clive Foster has just been announced - his role is to deliver justice for victims and ensure their voices remain at the heart of reform.
Let's celebrate the diversity of Britain's history. Leela Ramdeen
'Called & Gifted'
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish in Exeter have recently run the Called and Gifted Course with over 25 parishioners taking part. The process has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly the small group meetings. As a parish, we are already tasting the fruits of the charisms discovered, recognised and acknowledged and are looking forward to the different ways these charisms will be developed to serve our parish community, the wider Church and our world.
The Charism of Writing
As an attendee on the Called and Gifted Course, I have discovered that I have discovered that the charism of writing opens up different conversations: between writer and reader; reader and reader; reader and wider friends/family/strangers reader and God. Sometimes the writer is aware of these conversations, oftentimes not. The writer's role is simply to offer the writing and trust in the Spirit.
As a result of the course, I was inspired to write:
Online Information Evening, Monday 7 July 2025
About Called & Gifted
Each of us is created uniquely by God, in our time and place, for a purpose. When we understand and allow ourselves to be aligned with that purpose we are energised and fulfilled; and God’s love and provision is able to flow more freely exactly where it is needed, through our spiritual gifts (charisms). Called and Gifted is the discernment process that helps us unlock our story, understand our gifts (charisms) and discover our unique mission. Called and Gifted has a rich history stemming from the Catherine of Siena Institute and the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth.
The programme is now available nationally either in person or online. For parishes or groups, in person teaching days can be booked by contacting calledandgifted@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
A member of the team will respond to discuss your requirements and work with
I wonder if you have ever seen Christ unexpectedly?... I have.
I saw Christ last night. He was dining at a busy Italian restaurant with a family of three.
And what I saw, who I saw, was Love.
Love in the guise of a young daughter, chattering away and helping her mother sip a drink: supporting her head carefully and allowing the liquid to slowly slip through her open lips. Beauty in Brokenness.
And then I saw him again, Love, in the eyes of the husband; beautiful eyes, relaxed and full of mirth, eyes that smiled as he peacefully and easily took in the restaurant busy in full swing, proud of his family there in its midst: a birthday card and present on the table.
Love’s hands were tender as they rested on her shoulder, gently pushing a tendril of hair
you to plan the day, making it relevant to your local mission and plans. Full guidance notes for parishes and groups are available.
For individuals, Called and Gifted Teaching is available online, enabling you to work at your own pace through the professionally produced videos from the Catherine of Siena Institute. This is intended for anyone who may be interested in hearing more about discerning charisms and the spiritual and practical benefits this can bring for individuals and communities. Perhaps your parish has already had Called and Gifted but there are some people who missed out for various reasons. Or maybe your parish has not yet had Called and Gifted and you’d love to encourage your clergy and laity to hear more and consider it as part of the plan for your parish. Either way, please do share news of this event in your parish and with your friends and family.
There will be an introduction and overview to charisms, testimonies on the fruit of discerning
I SAW CHRIST LAST NIGHT
behind her ear, leaning in to listen, laughing and sharing a joke.
Christ moved around that table smoothly and effortlessly, seamlessly accommodating needs of wife and mother through the lives of husband and the daughter: sharing the caring.
I was enjoying my own meal and the love and companionship at our own table when I noticed Selfless Love againthis time preparing to depart: gently lifting her head forward to secure a fluffy headband; thoughtfully tucking the blanket more firmly around her torso and the frame of her chair: a smile always playing on his lips, eyes alight with love.
I didn’t expect to see Christ last night. He was so profound he took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes.
Sometimes Love surprises us and catches us unawares: the awe and wonder of recognising and naming Love is both startling and sweet.
and using charisms, a brief description of the Called and Gifted process and a time for Q&A.
If you sense that your experience of discerning and using your charisms could inspire others, do let us know as we would love to invite you to the evening to share how your charisms have made a difference to your life and the lives of others.
Finally, please pray that those who most need to discern their charisms will be open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and will register for the 7th July. Everyone is welcome so please do advertise in your parish, forward to friends and family.
Registration details can be found by scanning the QR Code
I do not know this familythe joys, the blessings, the struggles, the challenges and dare I say the tragedy that brought them to this moment.
But I do know I saw the Light of Christ shining in them. And I was changed by their witness.
I will hold this family, whom I have simply named ‘Love,’ in my prayers.
They know not the impression they left on me, but Christ does, and he winks at me, nods his head and gives me a knowing look.
He fills my heart with words: ‘God is love and all who live in love , live in God and God lives in them.’
Yes, I saw Christ last night dining in an Italian Restaurant and I thank God that he revealed his presence to me. Amen.
By a Called and Gifted Blessed Sacrament
Parishioner
Blessed Sacrament Parish, Exeter
You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same.
CRYPTIC Across
1 Samuel's crafty man, cursed sailor almost catches fish (7)
5 When in Paris I discover Ecclesiasticus' Ben Sira (5)
8 Paul's detailed letter describing the Empire (5)
9 'Papae Sixti nisi est' is translated in chapel (7)
10 Move against female martyr (7)
11 One of two helping David find themselves amongst rabbit tails (5)
13 American girl's written first 18 for the 8 Church (6)
15 Abram's Amorite ally, Chloe's opposite (6)
18 Microphone, small American contribution to St Cecilia's art (5)
20 Abram's servant high priest announced 'easy', being first to Rebekah (7)
22 Girl, old golfing type, attends Baptist chapels (7)
23 Savings account he's almost sacrificed (5)
24 Chaplain of Artillery's name is forgotten (5)
25 Morning, is he wrong in thinking there are no Gods? (7)
CRYPTIC Down
1 Parry's hymn from John's first letter includes line in dubious measure (9)
2 Some Old Testament volumes (7)
3 Had Ulster divided, all over Jacob's daughter (5)
4 Vehicle to get to old Number One: was it Ave Maria for him? (6)
5 Society of 5 business types follow the first person in speaking French (7)
6 Being second in the East End isn't one of the blessed dead (5)
7 View bishop's domain (3)
12 Sick with icy rum, plying, 8s said, this part Aegean coast (9)
14 One relative, the first maybe to describe lepers in the Bible (7)
16 Old footballer swapping cap? It's over for one writing 18 for the 8 Church (7)
17 Biblical country, to scupper Siamese, partly invaded (6) 19
Angel is originally sadistic, and threatening and nasty (5)
21 One quiet small US state imbibed whiskey (5)
22 Tooting, when passing over an abbey in France? (3)
QUICK Across
1 Friend of Amnon, 'a very shrewd man' (7)
5 Another name for Elymas: Bar ----- (5)
8 Empire which ruled Palestine and Asia Minor in NT times (5)
9 Chapel of the Vatican whose ceiling was famously painted by Michelangelo (7)
10 First Christian martyr (7)
11 Leader of the Gittites (5)
13 Orlande de ------, with Palestrina and Victoria, the three giants of late medieval Church 18 (6)
15 Vale where the Israelites cut a cluster of grapes as proof of the Promised Land's bounty (6)
18 Integral aspect of many church services (5)
20 Son of Moses and Zipporah (7)
22 Name applied for a group of 19th century nonconformist chapels (7)
23 The second patriarch; son of Abraham and Sarah (5)
24 Priest who is a member of a cathedral chapter (5)
25 Lack of belief in the existence of God or gods (7)
QUICK Down
1 Holy city for Jews and Christians and Muslims (9) 2 Fourth book of the Pentateuch (7)
eastern Adriatic and Balkan interior (9)
14 Having a physical or moral blemish so as to make impure (7)
16 Maurizio -------, important early 17th century composer and maestro di cappella at Bologna (7)
17 OT empire created by Cyrus the Great and destroyed by Alexander the Great (6)
19 Adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell (5)
21 Scots Gaelic (5)
22 Influential Benedictine abbey of Normandy at the time of the Conqueror (3)
SOLUTION
17 Persia, 19 Satan, 21 Irish, 22 Bec.
16
14
3 Daughter of Leah and Jacob (5) 4 Ferruccio ------, one of many to have composed a version of Ave Maria (1877) (6)
5 Followers of Ignatius of Loyola (7)
6 Holy person deemed worthy of canonization (5)
7 Bishopric (3) 12 8 province from 27 AD, covering much of the
3
Across: 1 Jonadab, 5 Jesus, 8 Roman, 9 Sistine, 10 Stephen,
11 Ittai, 13 Lassus, 15 Eshcol, 18 Music, 20 Eliezer, 22 Bethels,
23 Isaac, 24 Canon, 25 Atheism. Down: 1 Jerusalem, 2 Numbers,
Dinah, 4 Busoni, 5 Jesuits, 6 Saint, 7 See, 12 Illyricum,
Unclean,
Cazzati,