Catholic South West August 2024

AUGUST 2024

Inside

Liskeard Retreat Page 3

Grandparents' Day Page 4

Celebrating Volunteers Page 8

Hope Away from Home Page 6 A new Catholic podcast Page 11

2 August 2024 Catholic South West

CONTACTS & DETAILS Catholic South West is a monthly newspaper for Catholics in the Plymouth, Clifton and Portsmouth Dioceses. It is published by Bellcourt Ltd AIMS

To build community in the South West by sharing stories relating to Catholic life around the South West.

To encourage readers to get more involved in - or start - projects and initiatives in the local area.

To provide thought-provoking articles to help readers deepen their Faith.

GET INVOLVED We need your help!

Articles: We need your local articles we can only include what we get. So if you have an article or just a photo with a short description - please send it in.

Ideas: We need your ideas for the paper and we need your ideas in the paper. If you have any thoughts on what we should include - or if you are thinking about starting a new initiative - get in touch - we’d love to support it!

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DATES Catholic South West goes to parishes on the last full weekend of the month.

It is printed around the middle of the month - so if you would like to advertise or send in editorial please do it as early as possible.

SEASON OF CREATION 2024

‘Hope and Act with Creation’ “Humanity’s abuse of nature requires a true conversion and invites us to change our lifestyles.”

Pope Francis made this appeal in his Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to be held on Sunday September 1. All parishes are encouraged to celebrate a Mass for Creation on this day and consider other actions to foster stewardship of creation.

The theme this year is “Hope and Act with Creation,” drawn from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:19-25), which focuses on

EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

1) Think of the readers: If you are writing about an event, think about the readers that don’t know anything about it. Outline what happened, but focus on why people go, why it is important to them, or some teaching that was given. Make sure readers learn something from your

the hope of salvation that is born of faith, namely, the newness of life in Christ.

The message is in nine sections, which all highlight our responsibility to take care of our Common Home. It stresses that, as Christians called to live in faith and charity, caring for the environment is “a task to be undertaken freely, in obedience to Jesus’ commandment of love.” The Catholic Bishops Conference have shared a more in depth analysis of the message.

The Pope encourages the faithful to remember their identity as “children of the Father,” suggesting that we are empowered to effectuate concrete change

article - they don’t just want to know who was there and what snacks were available!

2) Keep it brief: Make sure you make your point - but keep it brief and punchy.

3) Pictures: Send pictures as they are - even if they are very big to email. Don’t reduce them in size or put them inside a Word document.

They look fine on the screen but terrible in the paper!

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amid living holy lives. In this way, the message concludes, “our lives can become a song of love for God, for humanity, with and for creation, and find their fullness in holiness.”

If you would like more information or suggestions for parish action, please contact caritas@prcdtr.org.uk

Please note that opinions expressed in this paper and on any linked sites or publications are not necessarily those of the Publishers, Editor, any Diocese or the wider Roman Catholic Church Every reasonable effort is

made to ensure that due acknowledgement, when appropriate, is made to the originator of any image submitted for publication. It is understood that those submitting material for publication in CSW either hold the copyright or have arranged for publication with the appropriate authority.

Catholic South West

August 2024 3

Our Lady & St Neot, Liskeard Go on Retreat “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’!” {Isaiah 52:7}

Some sobering statistics from the Global Peace index were discussed. Of 197 countries in the world, 92 are in conflict beyond their borders and 97 have deteriorated in peacefulness. Gaza and Ukraine are the main drivers with battle deaths in 2023 as 162,000. 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict. 16 countries host more than ½ million refugees. In Lebanon 1 in 4 people are refugees, Germany have taken 2. 5 million refugees, while United Kingdom have taken 0.25 million. Among the most peaceful countries are Iceland, Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and Singapore. The least being Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, the Middle East, and North Africa. Sobering facts, then thirty peace verses from the bible were contemplated.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. {John 16:33} Participants wandered around the grounds in solitude to meditate or to pray in the beautiful tiny chapel, some chose to stay in the summer house by the tranquil pond to enjoy the gentle sound of water observe the fish and fleeting dragonflies.

Tea, sandwiches, cream and jam scones and fruit were shared, and people enjoyed a time to chat and reflect. Father David was thanked for hosting the afternoon.

The closing prayer, St Francis of Assisi’s peace prayer ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace’ was read by a participant followed by a blessing from Father David.

On the first Saturday of every month, at Our Lady & St Neot Liskeard, from

10:30am until 14:00 we have Open Church.

Come to light a candle, say a prayer, find out about the history of our church and look around, meet new people and come and have a chat. Everyone is welcome!

Tea/Coffee, biscuits and cake are available.

“What even you have learned or received or heard from me or see in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. {Philippians 4:9} Every Thursday at Liskeard at 18:00 we live stream on our Parish website via YouTube our Holy Hour – Exposition and Divine Mercy Litany. Please join us for a quiet hour of contemplation and reflection; “Could you not watch one hour with Me” {Matthew 26:40} This is very much at the heart of our Evangelisation in Liskeard. Just as Elijah encountered God in the still small voice, we can develop the habit of listening to God in quiet prayer and reflection. This is not easy in our noisy world, where we are often bombarded with messages from TV and social media.

But by following Elijah’s example, we can be brought to a place of tranquillity and peace, where we may be ready for an encounter with God.

Article & Photos by Rosemarie de Boyer

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Buckfast Abbey is a registered Charity No. 232497

Our Lady & St Neot’s Bethany group for their end of year celebration, visited Father David Mead’s retreat near Bugle, Cornwall. The theme for the afternoon was ‘PEACE’. We brought with us our ‘peace dove’ which had been brought back from The Holy Land by some of our parishioners in May 2019. Ten people shared a wonderfully peaceful and tranquil afternoon in the fabulously secluded grounds. The sun shone for us, and the weather was perfect. A candle was lit in our peace dove during the opening prayers said by Father David.

TOURS

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Explore Devon’s Hidden Gem The monks welcome you to their home and hope you find peace and rest here. Explore our beautiful Abbey and gardens. Enjoy lunch with loved ones or take some time for yourself.

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4 August 2024 Catholic South West

Caritas In Action Award At a Torbay Deanery volunteer celebration event on 29 June, Caritas Diocese of Plymouth was pleased to present a Caritas in Action Award to Oliver Fajga for his outstanding commitment to volunteering.

Oliver volunteers in his school, parish and also supports the Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth). Andrea Rodgers, Acting Chair of CCSP, nominated Oliver and presented the award. She said “Oliver is a fantastic teenager, just ending his year 11 at St Cuthbert Mayne School. He is dedicated to so many aspects of volunteering at the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, Torquay. He is always there to help with church fundraising and other events, altar serving, helping and encouraging the younger servers, always putting others before himself. He never minds what the task is, he just steps up. Well done Oliver, a very well deserved award.”

Caritas Diocese of Plymouth loves to celebrate the great work of volunteers across the Diocese. If you would like to nominate someone for a Caritas in Action Award please contact Fran – caritas@prcdtr.org.uk.

Upcoming World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly This year we will celebrate the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis in 2021 declared that this special day celebrating Grandparents and the Elderly is to be held on the fourth Sunday of July. This is close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

This year the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly falls on Sunday 28th July.

Ways to celebrate: Sunday Mass: Invite your grandchildren and family to attend with you, a wonderful way to start the day’s celebration.

Prayer: Take time to pray as a family and individually, giving thanks for our grandparents and elderly that we know of.

Family Dinner: Make time for a family dinner over the weekend where every member and generation of the family are invited.

Parish Picnic: After the Mass on the Sunday, bring the families and elderly parishioners together for a picnic in the parish garden or in the local park if there is one close by. Maybe the young people can help serve.

Visit the elderly: Visit one of your elderly relatives or someone in the parish who doesn’t have family nearby. You could encourage children to make cards for the elderly on your street.

For more information visit the Catholic Grandparents Associate for England: www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org

Dear Lord, We thank you for grandparents and elderly relatives throughout the world, their lives and their vocation. We are grateful for their love, care and the advice that they give to each of us. Protect them dear Lord, in all that they do, as we continue to be blessed by their wisdom in our communities. Guide them in their earthly pilgrimage and always keep them close to your heart, so that they continue to generously respond to your call. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

Catholic South West August 2024 5

Scripture Focus

By Fr Jeremy Corley

Nuggets of Wisdom Today many websites offer nuggets of wisdom from various philosophers from east and west, ancient and modern. The Bible also offers many nuggets of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. This collection of wise sayings is linked to King Solomon, regarded as the wisest of Israel’s rulers.

After the death of King David, his son Solomon recognized his lack of experience and his need of wisdom, so he prayed for an understanding heart and the ability to govern his people wisely (1 Kings 3:3-15). God abundantly granted his request.

When two women came to him, disputing over a lost baby and a surviving baby, surprisingly he called for a sword to cut the surviving baby in half (1 Kings 3:16-28). When one of the women was willing to give up the child so that it would live, Solomon knew that this was the real mother.

Traditionally it was King Solomon who began the collection of wise sayings

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preserved in the Book of Proverbs. But doubtless other sayings were added by later scribes, gathering the wisdom of the people of Israel for posterity.

One of the most famous sayings teaches: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9:10). In other words, wisdom is more than an intellectual exercise or a sign of cleverness.

True wisdom means recognizing that everything comes from God, who created the whole world. It means following God’s laws in our behaviour, because only in this way can we find our true happiness.

The Book of Proverbs encourages us to learn from the creatures in the natural world. If we are tempted to laziness, we are told: “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise” (Prov 6:6).

In a world where thoughtless words can so often hurt people, we are encouraged to reflect on how we speak: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov 15:1).

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We have probably heard the saying: “Pride goes before a fall.” This wise advice is a shortened form of the adage: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov 16:18).

Whereas many people like to be considered strong, the Book of Proverbs reflects on a wise use of strength for anger management: “One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one who rules his spirit is better than someone who conquers a city” (Prov 16:32).

Sometimes we are jolted into thinking by an apparent contradiction: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes” (Prov 26:4-5).

This advice is contradictory. Do we answer a fool in a foolish way, or not? Perhaps it depends on circumstances, or perhaps there is no good way to answer a fool. We can descend to the level of the fool to respond to him, but then we are being just

as foolish. Or we can refuse to descend to the fool’s level, and then he will think himself clever.

The last poem in the book is the beautiful praise of the capable wife: “A woman of worth—who can find her?

She is far more precious than jewels” (Prov 31:10). Such a woman fulfils her daily tasks diligently, and her husband’s heart trusts in her. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Prov 31:26).

While a woman’s physical beauty is important, her beautiful personality is more important: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Prov 31:30). This emphasis on the Godfearing attitude of the woman of worth brings us back to the opening of the book: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov 1:7).

6 August 2024 Catholic South West

Hope Away From Home – Refugee Week 2024

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Never Again.

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St John Wall July 12th

Bl Carlo Acutis to be declared a Saint Vatican Media/CBCEW/ICN

"A joyful, courageous, generous, faith-filled teenager.

A saint for our day and everyday.

And a Londoner! A star!"

Blessed Carlo Acutis is among a group of people who going to be declared Saints. The Vatican announced the news recently, after Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, met with Pope Francis, who approved the promulgation of several decrees related to the causes of canonisation of several men and women.

Carlo was born on 3 May, 1991, in London, England, and died on October 12, 2006, in Monza, Italy, of leukaemia at the age of 15.

Pope Francis beatified Carlo in 2020 in Assisi, where he had had made multiple pilgrimages and where he was buried.

The miracle recognised on Thursday is related to a woman from Costa Rica.

The next day, she began to move and partially regain her speech.

On 18 July, a CAT scan showed that all bleeding had disappeared, and on August 11 Valeria was moved to rehabilitation therapy. She made quick progress, and on September 2 Valeria and Liliana made another pilgrimage to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo for his intercession.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols commented: "This is the fast-track to sainthood! Carlo Acutis, born in London, baptised in the Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Fulham Road, died at the age of 15 in 2006, computer savvy and sometimes bullied at school, he is now held before the world as an inspiration for all.

"Why?

On 8 July 2022, Liliana prayed at Blessed Carlo's tomb in Assisi, leaving a letter describing her plea. Six days earlier, on 2 July, her daughter Valeria had fallen from her bicycle in Florence, where she was attending university.

She had suffered severe head trauma, and required craniotomy surgery and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, with what her doctors said was a very low chance of survival.

Liliana's secretary began praying immediately to Blessed Carlo Acutis, and on July 8, Liliana made her pilgrimage to his tomb in Assisi.

That same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had begun to breath spontaneously.

"He understood the purpose of life. He said that he was not afraid to die because he had not wasted a minute of his life on things that didn't please God. He had a pathway to follow.

He said "The Eucharist is the highway to heaven". He lived each day cheerfully, 'always united with Jesus'.

"A joyful, courageous, generous, faith-filled teenager. A saint for our day and everyday. And a Londoner! A star!"

In the decree, Pope Francis announced he will convene a Consistory of Cardinals to deliberate the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, as well as Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, MarieLéonie Paradis, and Elena Guerra.

Carlo Acutis Image: carloacutis.com The decrees also recognised a miracle attributed to Blessed Giuseppe Allamano (18511926), an Italian-born priest who founded the Consolata Missionaries.

Streich (1902-1938)- and a Hungarian-born laywoman - Servant of God Mária Magdolna Bódi (1921-1945) - both of whom were killed in hatred of the faith by communists.

The miracle regarded the healing of an indigenous man in Cape Verde named Sorino Yanomami, who was attacked by a jaguar on February 7, 1996, in the Amazonian forest.

The decrees also recognized the heroic virtues of the Servants of God Guglielmo Gattiani (Italian Capuchin priest, 1914-1999), Ismaele Molinero Novillo (Spanish layman, 1917-1938), and Ismaele Molinero Novillo (Italian layman, 1911-1974).

Even though his brain was left partially exposed, Sorino survived the ordeal thanks to surgery in Boa Vista and the intercession of Blessed Allamano after several members of his congregation prayed a novena for Sorino.

Pope Francis also recognized a miracle attibuted to the intercession of Venerable Giovanni Merlini (1795-1873), an Italian-born priest of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood.

The Pope recognized the martyrdom of a Polish priest - Servant of God Stanislav Kostka

The Pope also approved the "favourable votes of the Ordinary Session of the Cardinals and Bishops for the canonization of Blessed Emanuele Ruiz and 7 Companions, of the Order of Friars Minor, and Francesco, Abdel Mooti, and Raffaele Massabki, Lay Faithful, killed in hatred of the Faith in Damascus (Syria) between July 9 and 10, 1860."

For more information about Carlo Acutis, visit his website at carloacutis-en.org

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In last year’s Annual Report, we featured news of the creation of a Refugee Sanctuary Hub at St Peter’s Church, Winchester. The Hub was born out of parishioner response to the War in Ukraine and a determination to show the best of humanity to those who have experienced war, persecution, violence and terror and who have been forced to flee their home countries.

With the War in Ukraine now raging for over two years, demand for the service sees no signs of abating. Recent hostilities in the Middle East, together with an influx of refugees from Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran and many other countries continue to make the Hub a vital lifeline for asylum-seekers and refugees in transition and a supportive stepping stone onto the next stage of their lives.

Whilst it is easy to think that when refugees arrive in the UK their journey to safety is over, most still must contend with discrimination, isolation and destitution. More than 40 parishioners have volunteered their time over the course of the past year to welcome and support displaced refugees, which in 2023 included 50 men being temporarily accommodated in a nearby hotel while their asylum cases were being assessed.

Each volunteer receives a bespoke programme of training which covers areas including working in a trauma-informed way, communicating sensitively, active listening and befriending.

Among the services provided in the past year by the Hub have been equine therapy sessions (in conjunction with Winchester City of Sanctuary), a befriending service

(in conjunction with the St Vincent De Paul Society), Ukraine Independence Day and Christmas celebrations, football matches and regular fortnightly briefings for refuges and their host families. Tetiana Volkohon, a Ukrainian refugee who has been using the Hub since it first opened in May 2022, started volunteering last year to help welcome and support others who have found themselves in a similar situation to her own. Tetiana writes: “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all at St. Peter’s Sanctuary Refugee Hub. The team has done tremendous work in integrating the Ukrainian community and continues to provide ongoing support. It is a safe space where you can make friends, find a listening ear and resolve settling-in issues. I have found purpose in volunteering myself – helping others has ultimately had a profoundly positive effect on me. The support offered, from arranging medical appointments to horse therapy, painting sessions, poetry days, and conversation classes, has been

invaluable. However, above all, it’s the warmth and welcome of the British people that stands out the most. A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved!”

Parish Priest of St Peter’s Winchester, Father Mark Hogan, is especially proud of this volunteer-led service. “In the words of Pope Francis”, he says, “Having doubts and fears is not a sin…the sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection. The sin is to refuse to encounter the other, the different, the neighbour, when it is in fact a privileged opportunity to encounter the Lord, to overcome our fears so as to encounter the other, to welcome, and to know him or her. The Sanctuary Hub has been a place of great blessing, not just for those whom we’ve welcomed into our “parish home” but for those of us who’ve encountered Christ standing at the door and knocking.”

Catholic South West August 2024 7

View from the Pew

Established in 1998

By Dr Jay Kettle-Williams

The Eleventh Commandment

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The Eleventh Commandment is a novel by Jeffrey Archer, first published in 1998, the title of which refers to the rule ‘Thou Shalt Not Get Caught’. Be that as it may, I wonder what might have been the eleventh commandment Moses would have brought down from Mount Sinai.

Mount Sinai (pictured) – variously referred to as Moses’ Mountain, Mount Moses, Mount/Gebel Horeb or Mount/Gebel Musa - on the Sinai peninsula in Egypt is traditionally accepted as the site according to the Torah, Bible and Quran at which Moses received the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 20:317). The mount, made of granite, stands 2285 metres (7497 ft.) above sea level with 4,000 steps constituting the Path of Moses, oft trodden these days by pilgrims and tourists.

According to traditional teachings, The Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18) on the two stone Tablets of the Law. The biblical narrative continues with mention of the stones then being smashed by Moses, enraged at the sight of the Children of Israel worshipping a golden calf (Exodus 32:19). Moses then chiselled out a second set to be rewritten by God (Exodus 34:1).

The Talmud, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish law and theology, tells us that the stones were made of blue sapphire – or perhaps lapis lazuli - symbolising the sky, the heavens and the throne of God. Popularly described and often depicted as round-topped rectangles, the tablets were most likely rough-hewn rectangles with sharp edges, as reflected in Christian art throughout the first millennium CE. So I can’t help but wonder what might have been the eleventh commandment had one been forthcoming from the hand of God, to what eleventh commandment might have Jesus been aluding when he drew a line in the sand? Several suggestions cross my mind.

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Mount Sinai (Aerial view) by Vlad Kiselov CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY (PLYMOUTH) NEEDS YOU !

‘Do not judge …’ (‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged.’ Matthew 7:1) strikes me as particularly apposite these days when intolerance casts an ever-increasing shadow across social mores and society at large.

We continue our work with an empty chair at the table.

Could you be the person to fill it? We need enthusiastic trustees who can commit to serving on the board. Your skill set might be just what we need.

We need people with professional skills in areas such as business/finance, HR and social care. This is a voluntary position, both rewarding and challenging.

We are also looking for youth trustees to bring the views of young people to our work. Maybe you are at university or have just completed your studies and think you would enjoy making a difference to some of the most deprived families in our Diocese ? This volunteering role would give you good business experience, an ability to find out how a small charity works, knowledge of safeguarding, as well valuable experience working as part of a diverse team and much more. You will need to be aged 18+.

‘Live and let live’ is a wise proverb, not that others are not. To my mind, it prompts personal, individual responsibility yet breathes tolerance of one’s fellows.

Alternatively there is what has been pithily referred to as ‘The Golden Rule’: ‘Do unto others as you would them do unto you’ (Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12).

But for my first choice of a hypothetical eleventh commandment, I draw on instruction I once received from a highly acclaimed cleric and Bishop of the Catholic faith. He explained that there is one commandment, one instruction, one exhortation which serves as the keystone holding all others in place, that being the words attributed to St Augustine in a sermon on 1 John 4:4-12: ‘Love God and do thy will’.

Mount Sinai (Ground view)

by Artem Labunsky.

Acknowledgements and Attribution: 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/by-sa/4.0/; Photographs © on Unsplash: Mount Sinai (Aerial view) by Vlad Kiselov; Mount Sinai (Ground view)

by Artem Labunsky.

Dr J L Kettle-Williams is an experienced business communications consultant and wordsmith (tutor, writer,

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8 August 2024 Catholic South West

Volunteer celebration event Torbay Deanery

“Love one another just as I have Loved You” John 13:34 On 29 June, 38 people came together from parishes across Torbay Deanery to pray and reflect on the wonderful work undertaken by volunteers in our parishes.

Fr Mark Skelton, the Dean of Torbay, kindly hosted the event at his parish in Teignmouth. The event was organised by Carole Bryant, Caritas Development Worker.

At the event we reflected on Catholic Social Teaching and the message of Pope Benedict XVI that the Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility of proclaiming the Word of God, celebrating the Sacraments and the Ministry of Charity. Our guest speaker, Raymond Twohig, invited people to think about the future of their parish.

In his recent message for World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis reminds us that this is a Jubilee preparation year when we are

called to go out into the world as pilgrims of hope at a time when hope can sometimes be hard to find. He asks us to recognize and support the many volunteers who dedicate themselves passionately to those most in need. “We must thank the Lord for the people who make themselves available to listen to and support the poorest among us. They are priests, consecrated persons, lay men and women who, by their testimony, give voice to God’s response to the prayer of those who turn to him. This silence, therefore, is

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Catholic news and stories from across the nation and beyond to build the Catholic community and deepen Faith

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Edition 31 Please donate £1 to support your parish See below for details

Catholic Walking Pilgrimages in Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

A new way to mark your first Holy Communion

Never Again.

Nagasaki survivors visit Britain

page 3

page 12

page 14

Vatican Media/CBCEW/ICN

"A joyful, courageous, generous, faith-filled teenager.

A saint for our day and everyday.

And a Londoner! A star!"

Carlo was born on 3 May, 1991, in London, England, and died on October 12, 2006, in Monza, Italy, of leukaemia at the age of 15.

Pope Francis beatified Carlo in 2020 in Assisi, where he had had made multiple pilgrimages and where he was buried.

The miracle recognised on Thursday is related to a woman from Costa Rica.

The next day, she began to move and partially regain her speech.

On 18 July, a CAT scan showed that all bleeding had disappeared, and on August 11 Valeria was moved to rehabilitation therapy. She made quick progress, and on September 2 Valeria and Liliana made another pilgrimage to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo for his intercession.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols commented: "This is the fast-track to sainthood! Carlo Acutis, born in London, baptised in the Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Fulham Road, died at the age of 15 in 2006, computer savvy and sometimes bullied at school, he is now held before the world as an inspiration for all.

"Why?

On 8 July 2022, Liliana prayed at Blessed Carlo's tomb in Assisi, leaving a letter describing her plea. Six days earlier, on 2 July, her daughter Valeria had fallen from her bicycle in Florence, where she was attending university.

She had suffered severe head trauma, and required craniotomy surgery and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, with what her doctors said was a very low chance of survival.

Liliana's secretary began praying immediately to Blessed Carlo Acutis, and on July 8, Liliana made her pilgrimage to his tomb in Assisi.

That same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had begun to breath spontaneously.

"He understood the purpose of life. He said that he was not afraid to die because he had not wasted a minute of his life on things that didn't please God. He had a pathway to follow.

He said "The Eucharist is the highway to heaven". He lived each day cheerfully, 'always united with Jesus'.

"A joyful, courageous, generous, faith-filled teenager. A saint for our day and everyday. And a Londoner! A star!"

In the decree, Pope Francis announced he will convene a Consistory of Cardinals to deliberate the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, as well as Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, MarieLéonie Paradis, and Elena Guerra.

Carlo Acutis Image: carloacutis.com The decrees also recognised a miracle attributed to Blessed Giuseppe Allamano (18511926), an Italian-born priest who founded the Consolata Missionaries.

Streich (1902-1938)- and a Hungarian-born laywoman - Servant of God Mária Magdolna Bódi (1921-1945) - both of whom were killed in hatred of the faith by communists.

The miracle regarded the healing of an indigenous man in Cape Verde named Sorino Yanomami, who was attacked by a jaguar on February 7, 1996, in the Amazonian forest.

The decrees also recognized the heroic virtues of the Servants of God Guglielmo Gattiani (Italian Capuchin priest, 1914-1999), Ismaele Molinero Novillo (Spanish layman, 1917-1938), and Ismaele Molinero Novillo (Italian layman, 1911-1974).

Even though his brain was left partially exposed, Sorino survived the ordeal thanks to surgery in Boa Vista and the intercession of Blessed Allamano after several members of his congregation prayed a novena for Sorino.

Pope Francis also recognized a miracle attibuted to the intercession of Venerable Giovanni Merlini (1795-1873), an Italian-born priest of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood.

The Pope recognized the martyrdom of a Polish priest - Servant of God Stanislav Kostka

The Pope also approved the "favourable votes of the Ordinary Session of the Cardinals and Bishops for the canonization of Blessed Emanuele Ruiz and 7 Companions, of the Order of Friars Minor, and Francesco, Abdel Mooti, and Raffaele Massabki, Lay Faithful, killed in hatred of the Faith in Damascus (Syria) between July 9 and 10, 1860."

For more information about Carlo Acutis, visit his website at carloacutis-en.org

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The event celebrated the amazing volunteers and their work. We also asked participants about the benefits of volunteering and hear are a few of the great responses: “A feeling of being part of something bigger” “A way of living out and expressing our faith” “I believe that to show others the love of God, I should give my time and skills for the benefits of others. I think if we all did a little to help others, the world would be a better place.”

“Companionship, love and Warmth” “To make a difference”.

“To help those in need” “It is what God wants us to do – to help and love others.

St John Wall July 12th

Bl Carlo Acutis to be declared a Saint

Blessed Carlo Acutis is among a group of people who going to be declared Saints. The Vatican announced the news recently, after Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, met with Pope Francis, who approved the promulgation of several decrees related to the causes of canonisation of several men and women.

broken every time a person in need is welcomed and embraced.”

We heard from Catholic Charities working in the Diocese – Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth), SVP and Stella Maris about the importance of volunteers in enabling them to reach those in need and the opportunities they can offer us to live our faith through action.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering opportunities in the Diocese of Plymouth, please get in touch with caritas@prcdtr.org.uk and we can help to find opportunities to suit you.

Catholic South West August 2024 9

EMMAUS PARTNERSHIP PROJECT An update

The Emmaus Partnership Project has worked hard to alleviate water and sanitation problems in the hard-pressed Masaka district of South-West Uganda. The Emmaus Partnership comprises the Masaka and District Land Care Chapter (MADLACC), an agro-forestry group in Uganda, WaterHarvest, a waterharvesting charity in Winchester who have provided a large percentage of all funds allocated thus far and 33 Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Clifton, UK led by St Edward’s Roman Catholic SEMH School in Hampshire.

“As teachers in Catholic schools we believe passionately in the collective integrity and power of young people: a power that can be harnessed and be brought to bear on some of our planet’s most pressing challenges,” said Stephen Whelan, Mission and Ethos Lead at St Edward’s.

“The work we are doing in Uganda is far greater than a charitable venture. It is about living out the values of Fratelli Tutti; it’s about empowering children themselves to break the cycle of poverty and to tackle some of the effects of climate change; it’s about inviting Catholic communities to work together with a UK not for profit charity. on something that lives out in a practical way the very principles of Catholic Social Teaching. In short, it’s about Faith in Action.”

In a clear commitment to a preferential option for the poor, the Partnership is committed to empowering children in 22 primary and secondary schools in the Masaka area, a few miles north of the equator. MADLACC provide saplings and then train these young people to plant, nurture and sustain trees in their school nurseries. The provision of ‘amenity’ trees, trees that address medicinal and dietary needs, are intended to address two primary concerns: firstly, the need to supplement a poor diet and give communities a chance to develop sustainable economies. Secondly, to tackle head-on some of the worst excesses of climate change which has been exacerbated by the proliferation of palm-oil trees. The new trees will build climate resilience by eradicating nonnative species in favour of those which have an environmental symmetry with that district.

To date, the Emmaus Partnership has already completed the first 5 of 9 phases of building projects in schools in Masaka, fitting a total of 47 x 20,000 litre waterharvesting tanks plus guttering and appropriate filters. These tanks cater for the varied needs of over 4,600 children and adults.

The Partnership’s engineer in Uganda, Mr Dan Kilimani and the NGO, Mr Mathias Wakulira of MADLACC have recorded evidence of significant social, cultural and health related changes. Nominal rolls have risen in all schools with new staff being employed to cater for the higher numbers. Most significantly, the evidence shows that girls are now receiving education for 5 days a week instead of being forced every month to stay at home because of a lack of sanitation. The transformation wrought by simple access to clean water is profound and augurs well for the future.

The Catholic community of St Maria Gorreth Catholic Primary celebrate receiving their 5 water tanks during their Commissioning Day on Wednesday 20th March 2024 We are not a charity: we are about empowering brothers and sisters in Uganda to achieve financial security in a Developmental Partnership of equals.

We are presenting to our Catholic communities, and all who wish to work with us, a practical model of how we

might work in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in other countries to bring about environmental and social justice.

‘How can I love a God I cannot see, if I do not love my brothers and sisters whom I can see.’”

Children and staff from the Lubanda Moslem Primary School draw water from one of their 4 x 20,000 litre tanks.

Our project reaches out to everyone regardless of their faith, or none.

All are our brothers and sisters We believe our work has real significance for every Catholic School and Catholic organisation in the UK that seeks to live out their mission for social justice. We would like to invite any school, any individual or any organisation that might be inspired to help us to get in touch with Emmaus.

Girls at St Ann’s Kiziba celebrate the commissioning of their 7 water tanks

10 August 2024 Catholic South West

Book Reviews Psalms for all Seasons (For Voice)

Matthew J.C. Ward £14.95 CTS Product Code: MU02 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784697976 Available for pre-ordering This item will be released 14th October 2024. www.ctsbooks.org This volume of newly composed Gregorian-style Mass psalmody, using the same Abbey Psalter translation as the new Lectionary, closely ties the music of the psalms to the liturgical cycle.

Voice edition.

This volume of Mass psalmody for the whole Church year takes a novel approach rooted in the Church's liturgical seasons and ancient musical tradition. In order to tie the music of the psalms more closely to the liturgical cycle, each season – Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time – has distinct and contrasting melodies. This not only helps musicians and congregations to learn the melodies quickly and easily, but also functions in the same way as liturgical colours to lend a particular character to each season. Psalms for All Seasons offers a new way to 'sing the Mass' that complements other aspects of the liturgy and contributes to the beauty and unity of the celebration.

Artificial Intelligence

Fr Andrew Pinsent, Robert Seed, Sean Biggens £3.95 CTS Product Code: EX68 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784697631 www.ctsbooks.org What do the advances in Artificial Intelligence mean for the Church and the world? Fr Andrew Pinsent recounts the history of “intelligent machines”, evaluates the impact of AI at present, and offers informed speculation about the future relationship between humans and AI.

We all use Artificial Intelligence, or AI, online. It determines our search engine results, curates our social media feed, and guides how we click through websites. Recent refinements in AI mean that it can compose text and produce images faster, and sometimes better, than humans.

Chatbots are used for customer service and online diagnostic tools, and as social surrogates. The better AI mimics human activity, the more questions it raises: Is AI smarter than humans? Could it ever become human? Could it replace us?

What do the advances in Artificial Intelligence mean for society, the Church, and the world?

In this book, Fr Andrew Pinsent answers these questions and many more as he recounts the history of “intelligent machines”, evaluates the nature and impact of the present capabilities of AI, and offers some informed speculation about the future relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

Deliver Us From Evil

Bishops' Conference of England and Wales £9.95 CTS Product Code: DO968 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784697693 www.ctsbooks.org This attractive volume is a treasury of prayers and supplications from Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition that can be used by the faithful in spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness, in any time of fear, distress or temptation.

CTS Missals beautifully present the new texts of the Lectionary along with Mass texts in side-by-side Latin and English and short introductions to the main feasts by recent Popes.

All hardback and leather-bound missals have a durable, attractive binding, a clear layout, and include: • Order of Mass with all Eucharistic prayers, prefaces, concluding rites and blessings • Prayers and devotions • Masses for special occasions and needs • Comprehensive appendix of prayers and devotions for all occasions

• Inspiring introductions for major feasts and seasons This gilt-edged, burgundy bonded leather missal with two ribbons and a slipcase makes an inspiring gift for any Confirmation candidate, recent convert or life-long Catholic.

Dignitas Infinita Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith £4.95 CTS Product Code: DO974 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784698171 www.ctsbooks.org The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reiterates and strengthens the Church’s perennial teaching on the universal and infinite dignity of every human person, emphasising its origin in God, the loving creator who formed us in His own image.

In this declaration, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reiterates and strengthens the Church’s perennial teaching on the universal and infinite dignity of every human person, emphasising its origin in God, the loving creator who formed us in His own image.

In light of this, the DDF condemns the grave violations of human dignity that arise in today’s world from a number of contemporary evils including: violence against women, abortion, surrogacy, euthanasia, gender theory, sex change operations, and digital violence.

People of the New Testament

By Caroline Fletcher £10.95 Product Code: 1980 ISBN NO: 9780852316412 www.rpbooks.co.uk Many centuries have come and gone since the books of the New Testament were written and the world they portray can be hard to relate to. Yet within its pages are the fascinating stories of real-life characters who, though mentioned only briefly, were impacted by the life of Jesus, some through knowing and spending time with him, and others through the witness of Peter and Paul and the other apostles.

Drawing on scholarly research, Caroline Fletcher revisits the stories of characters such as Priscilla, Barnabas and Onesimus, among others. Setting them in their historical and cultural context, she brings them vividly to life, and opens a window on the New Testament.

“An insightful and user-friendly study guide written with warmth and thoughtfulness. A useful tool for individuals and study groups which should prompt conversation and debate.” The Revd Canon Kate Bottley

Holy Habits from the Sacred Heart

By Emily Jaminet £12.95 Product Code: 11760 ISBN NO:9781646802180 www.rpbooks.co.uk Jesus invites you to experience his love through devotion to his Sacred Heart, a powerful source of spiritual and personal healing that can also transform your relationships with family, friends, and others around you.

In Holy Habits from the Sacred Heart, Emily Jaminet—executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network— identifies ten habits and virtues that come from the Sacred Heart. She also shows how you can intentionally practice these virtues in order to get closer to Jesus and strengthen the relationships that are most important to you.

Having Jesus at the center of family life isn’t reserved for the pious; it’s a form of practical spirituality that is open to everyone. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been a cornerstone of Jaminet’s life bolstering the faith of four generations of her family members. In this book she shares her own story as well as the real-life experiences of regular Catholics whose families have been changed for the better by the love and virtue that came from devotion to the Sacred Heart.

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Catholic South West August 2024 11

Deep listening through a new podcast A new podcast for Catholic audiences has launched this week. The All Kinds of Catholic podcast has been created by Theresa Alessandro who hosts the weekly episodes. A new conversation with a different Catholic guest will be released on Wednesdays. The dialogue focusses on how each person is living their faith in the world today – with all the hopes, joys and disappointments that any of us might experience.

Fresh from working at two different Catholic organisations and with her own lifelong experience of being a Catholic, Theresa felt called to develop this project in which she is joined by Catholic people who are often not in the public eye. She reports, ‘I have talked to so many ‘ordinary’ Catholic people in my work and in my life, whose journeys in faith have resonated and given me such encouragement and affirmation – and sometimes challenge. It has been hard work learning how to produce and distribute a podcast but it is a privilege to host the conversation with my guests.

Each one is somehow beautiful, far from ‘ordinary’, and certainly spiritually nourishing.’

The All Kinds of Catholic podcast is especially timely during the current synodal process when we are asked to listen deeply to one another. In the first episode, Peter shares how his faith has been shaped by growing up in a Catholic family, serving the church from a young age, starting a new chapter in another country, and using his skills and experience to build community and to advocate for climate change: ‘You brought me here, so what do You want me to do?’

In the second episode, Maggie shares how she and her sister used to ‘race Jesus up the stairs’ to the third-floor flat they grew up in.

Taken together, these stories illustrate the image Pope Francis uses in Evangelii Gaudium, of a ‘chaotic…genuine experience of fraternity, a caravan of solidarity, a sacred pilgrimage’ experienced by Catholic people ‘stepping into this floodtide’ of life.

Tune in, wherever you get your podcasts, and listen to Catholic people sharing their faith journey with you.

To listen to the podcast go to www.kindsofcatholic.buzzsprout.com

CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY ANNUAL APPEAL 2024 “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 The Catholic Children’s Society based in which includes Devon, Cornwall and parts the Diocese of Plymouth is once again of Dorset. holding its Annual Appeal over the Bank “I just wanted to say thank you with all of Holiday weekend of 24th and 25th August my heart for the cot and pram for my 2024. client. It makes my day to find out that The theme of this year’s Annual Appeal is ‘Believe, Love, Share – Transforming Lives’ and the charity continues to need your support as so many families are really struggling to provide the basic essentials for their children.

CCSP, the only children’s charity in the Diocese, aims to help vulnerable families through their Essential Grants programme by providing vital items such as children’s beds, school uniform and shoes as well as white goods including cookers, fridge/freezers and washing machines.

They continue to receive many requests for their financial support and envisage that the number of families turning to them for help will only continue to rise as the costs of living are becoming too much for so many families. It’s hard to imagine that there are children who do not have a proper bed to sleep in, or suitable shoes to wear to school and that there are families who can not afford to purchase a cooker to prepare healthy nutritious home cooked meals.

Feedback from the families that they have supported has been overwhelming as the grants really do make a massive difference to the lives of families living in our Diocese

we can make such a difference to my client’s life, it has really helped to reduce the stress for her upcoming birth date.

Thank you for such a swift response also, we are both so incredibly grateful.”

BELIEVE, LOVE, SHARE TRANSFORMING LIVES

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August 2024

Alongside the Essential Grants programme, CCSP offer Pro-active Parenting courses for schools and parishes, which run over two sessions each 3.5 hours long where themes and strategies within the home are explored to support everyday family life. They also offer high quality Bereavement and Loss training for staff in schools and other communities via their trained Rainbows GB director.

CCSP could not continue to do what it does without the support of their loyal supporters in the parishes. Please support this year’s Annual Appeal as much as you can over the weekend of 24th and 25th August or alternatively, please consider helping in other ways, as they are always looking for help. Please call 01364 645420 for more details or visit www.ccsplymouth.org.uk for alternative ways to get involved or donate throughout the year.

THANK YOU !!

PLEASE DONATE TODAY

to the only registered Catholic Children’s charity in the Diocese

Thank You

Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) St Boniface House, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7JL Telephone: 01364 645420 Website: www.ccsplymouth.org.uk Email: ccs@ccsplymouth.org.uk Registered Charity No: 282803 Limited by guarantee. Registered in England No: 1546053

12 August 2024 Catholic South West

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C R O S S WO R D

2-in-1 Crossw

ord

by Axe

You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same.

CRYPTIC Down 1 Stories he tells sending up type of transport (4) 2 Road on which social climber turned up displaying ornamental shrub (6) 3 A boy king, son of Eliiphaz (6) 4 Native American's upset losing ring, one coming from Indonesia (5) 5 Clergyman's study down under is being curtailed (6) 6 Record at a pub, one New York's supporting, being a January fixture (8) 12 'Birth of a Nation's only half on – at six on telly, either side – at Christmas (8) 13 Top South Australian carnivore's kind of pouch (3) 16 Report Viking retreat in a valley near Jerusalem (6) 18 One killed in Susa is a boy found upset within Ionia's bounds

(6) 19 Guard hurled the first of lances to be commandeered... (6) 20 ...Lance earl used to break up joust (5) 23 Biblical country's macho overthrow (4)

QUICK Across 7 Underground pool; once a major water source for Jerusalem (6) 8 Second city of Syria (6) 9 Wife of procurator Felix who heard Paul's case (8) 10 Member of a Christian sect; one descended from the ancient Egyptians (4) 11 Pulls apart; works out (7) 14 UN Secretary General 1997-2006; Scottish town (5) 15 Add fuel to: keep (a fire) going (5) 17 Middle-of-the-road illumination (4-3) 21 Roman poet remembered for his elegiac verses on love (43 BC - AD 17) (4) 22 Member of a strict sect of Judaism (8) 24 Genus of the family commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade (6) 25 Town of Canaan where Jehu killed Ahaziah (6) QUICK Down 1 Fabricator of the truth; perjurer (4) 2 Japanese dwarf trees and shrubs (6) 3 Grandson of Esau and son of Eliphaz (6) 4 Son of Japheth, father of people who lived in Greece and Asia Minor (5) 5 Position of an ordinand on successful completion of training (6)

6 Day after Twelfth Night (8) 12 Theological doctrine that Jesus Christ had no human father (8) 13 Fluid container; bag (3) 16 Valley separating Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives (6) 18 Notable among the enemies killed by the Jews at Ahasuerus' citadel in Susa (6) 19 Protect; ward off (6) 20 Assegai, for example (5) 23 Biblical country in south-west Asia to the east of the Tigris River (4) SOLUTION

Across: 7 Siloam, 8 Aleppo, 9 Drusilla, 10 Copt, 11 Unpicks, 14 Annan, 15 Stoke, 17 Cat's-eye, 21 Ovid, 22 Pharisee, 24 Atropa, 25 Ibleam. Down: 1 Liar, 2 Bonsai, 3 Amalek, 4 Javan, 5 Deacon, 6 Epiphany, 12 Nativity, 13 Sac, 16 Kidron, 18 Adalia, 19 Shield, 20 Spear, 23 Elam.

CRYPTIC Across 7 Pool, outside Jerusalem, is a store of grain by morning (6) 8 Quiet after drink by the river in the Syrian city (6) 9 Felix's wife needs a doctor, getting sick in America (8) 10 Police officer close to Egypt reportedly finds a Christian sect member (4) 11 Pulls apart sick pun? (7) 14 Biblical prophetess's name for a Scottish town (5) 15 Midlands city cricket captain loses toss in the end (5) 17 One's reflective after transposing Yeats into the church (4-3) 21 Short recording following the appearance of old poet (4) 22 In Persia he, curiously, becomes a Jew (8) 24 Dangerous plant genus, dock, making a comeback in the borders of Asia (6) 25 Partly responsible, ambushing Canaan town (6)