CSW AUGUST 2025

AUGUST 2025

Serving the Church in the South West

Inside

Mass for Marriage Page 3

The Fool’s Pilgrimage Page 4

A Seminarian on Camino Page 6

Buying into Artificial Intelligence Page 9

Hope is source of joy no matter our age Page 5

2 August 2025 Catholic South West

CONTACTS & DETAILS

“You Are My Hope” Pope Leo XIV’s Message for 9th World Day of the Poor

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

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As the Church prepares to observe the Ninth World Day of the Poor on Sunday, 16 November 2025, Pope Leo XIV delivered a message focused on the theme: “You are my hope”. In his message, he expresses a deep hope that the Jubilee Year will inspire the development of policies aimed at addressing both enduring and emerging forms of poverty.

Drawing inspiration from the Psalms and the lived experiences of the impoverished, Pope Leo XIV calls on Christians to see

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the poor not as mere recipients of charity, but as active agents of hope. He also hopes that the Jubilee Year will serve as a catalyst for implementing “new initiatives to support and uplift the most destitute,” highlighting that “Labour, education, housing, and healthcare are the pillars of a security that cannot be achieved through the force of arms.”

response to the instability that marks much of today’s world. “Hope in God never disappoints,” Pope Leo XIV affirms, echoing Saint Paul’s words that “we have our hope set on the living God.” To read the full text scan the QR Code below

The Pope’s message, delivered on the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of the poor, invites the faithful to renew their Christian hope in

to know who was there and what snacks were available!

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Catholic South West

Jubilee of Families – Mass for Marriage This year we have had a Mass for Marriage in two parts of the Diocese, during the weekend of the Jubilee of Families, Grandparents and the Elderly – one in Dorchester and one at Plymouth Cathedral. Deborah Van Kroonenberg sent through a report on these lovely celebrations: “What a joyful Celebratory Mass! …This joy was taken up in our Gospel reading from Luke 1:39-56, as we heard how Elizabeth’s baby leapt in her womb when he heard the voice of Mary greeting his mother and then listened to Mary’s song of praise: the Magnificat. Deacon Tim took up these themes in his homily, emphasising the role of Mary as the bearer of Good News for all humankind.

This precious fruit, the only Son of God and the Son of Mary, was brought up within a human family, with a human mother and (foster) father. And this is his plan for all his people… In this regard, from the opening statements of his pontificate, our Holy Father Pope Leo has shown this commitment to Marriage and Family life, saying that: ‘Harmonious and peaceful civil societies…can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.’”

The Holy Father has also emphasized the family’s role in transmitting faith, declaring that “in the family, faith is handed on together with life, generation after generation. It is shared like food at the family table and like the love in our hearts.”

We look forward to celebrating our fifth Mass for Marriage next year and hope that more married couples and families will join this lovely celebration.

To read more about Mass for Marriage scan the QR Code below

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4 August 2025 Catholic South West

The Fool’s Pilgrimage – The Adventures of a Roaming Catholic in Berlin We’ve always loved a good weekend city break. Pre-Covid, we’d manage at least one or two a year—easy little getaways with big impact. Cramming in a few fullon days of foreign culture was always a real treat, and while we were never gone long, we always came back feeling somehow renewed.

Since Covid, we’ve still travelled—done longer trips abroad, had weekends away— but not a proper city break. This year, we felt the call to bring that ritual back. Lisa gifted me a Christmas trip—and top of the list was Berlin.

It felt timely. Even symbolic.

Just 10 days before we flew out, the UK marked 80 years since VE Day. And the week of May 12–18 was Mental Health Awareness Week, themed around community—how connection holds us together, and isolation breaks us down.

I’d actually been invited to deliver a presentation on exactly that—Community in the Workplace and its Impact on Mental Health—the day before we left.

So those threads—war, peace, mental health, community—were already weaving themselves through my thoughts as we touched down in Berlin.

Now, Plymouth doesn’t have its own airport, so we flew from Bristol—just a couple of hours up the road. With smooth parking, easy transfers, and the famously efficient German rail network, we were from tarmac to hotel in no time. So far, so smooth.

I’ve always considered myself a student of history—or at least, a curious reader. I’ve read plenty about Germany, about World War II, the Cold War. Our daughter recently won a school trip to Auschwitz as part of her A-level History course, which reignited discussions at home about “all that stuff.”

But being in Berlin shook me.

Because what I hadn’t really grasped— what hit me right in the chest—was what

came after. The psychological aftermath.

The division of a nation. The splitting of cities, communities, and even families.

The invisible scars on a generation’s mental health.

Everyone knows about East and West Berlin. The Wall. The USSR versus the Allies. But standing where that wall once cut through neighbourhoods like a scar, it becomes more than a political memory— it becomes personal. Lisa and I, usually laughing our way through every street and silly sign, both fell silent. There was a coldness. Not in the weather (but it was raining!)—but in the story. The history that haunted the air. I found my hand reaching for hers—some warmth, some grounding in the face of this stark reality.

One of the most impactful parts of our trip was visiting the BerlinHohenschönhausen Memorial, a former East German Stasi prison. Lisa had heard about it from someone in her fitness class—a Berliner now living in Plymouth—who recommended it as a place to really feel what life had been like under East German rule.

Our guide was a former inmate. That changes everything.

The stories weren’t just about physical confinement. They were about psychological warfare. Isolation.

Manipulation. Silence. The slow, methodical breaking down of people. No bruises needed—just separation from loved ones, the absence of time, the erasure of self. And even the guards were under constant surveillance. Orwell’s 1984 no longer felt like fiction—it felt like biography.

As someone who thrives in the open air— running thru the green spaces of Plymouth, paddling off of the Devon and Cornish coast, moving freely—the thought of being locked in that system twisted my gut. Every fibre of me ached to run. To breathe. To shout. And then… to be grateful. For freedom. For choice. For connection.

And it made me think—we still battle these forces today. Not with barbed wire, but in our minds. We still fall into isolation. Still feel watched, judged, trapped. We still cut ourselves off— through fear, shame, self-doubt. The modern version of the wall is often invisible… but no less real.

That’s why community matters. That’s why we need each other.

Because disconnection breaks us.

Community saves us.

In contrast to that darkness, I found a pocket of peace in the quiet grandeur of Berlin Cathedral, where I went to Mass. It was still, sacred, and soothing. A reminder that even in a city with a painful past, there are spaces carved out for hope, healing, and reflection. It felt important, as a Catholic, to pause in that space—to pray, to connect, to honour the peace within the storm.

As we wandered further, we stood before the Brandenburg Gate—Berlin’s iconic monument.

Its history is as turbulent as the city’s.

Built as a symbol of peace, it was later used for military parades and propaganda, then sealed off during the Cold War, trapped in the no-man’s land of division. The Quadriga—the statue atop the gate—was once seized by Napoleon and taken to Paris, then reclaimed and returned. Over time, it’s represented everything from imperial might to Nazi power to Soviet resistance.

But now?

Now, to my eyes, it represents something new. Something whole.

It stands as a beacon of unity. Of healing.

Of a city—and a people—stitched back together, embracing their diversity. The square around it buzzes with life. Locals, tourists, musicians, activists, lovers.

Different. Equal. Together.

It’s no longer a gateway of conquest. It’s a gateway of community.

And maybe that’s what the Fool carries forward.

Not naivety, but hope. Not perfection, but courage. A willingness to keep walking— to keep stepping forward, even when the road is heavy with history.

That’s what this trip felt like. A gentle reboot. A reawakening. A pilgrimage into adventure, reflection, and reconnection.

I may have gone as a tourist, but I came back as a pilgrim—with new eyes, a fuller heart, and a deeper reminder: Healing doesn’t happen in isolation.

It happens in community.

In shared stories. In silent prayers.

In brave conversations.

In weekends away that stir the soul.

Berlin reminded me that we all carry scars—some visible, some silent.

But we also carry hope.

And we carry each other.

So here’s to walking the Fool’s path with courage.

To rebuilding connection—within ourselves, with each other, and with something greater.

To the quiet places—cathedrals, coffee shops, candlelit corners—where the soul remembers it’s never truly alone.

Step by step, the pilgrimage continues.

Dan Sobey

Catholic South West August 2025 5

Hope is source of joy no matter our age Ahead of the Jubilee Year celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly - which this year falls on July 27 Pope Leo writes that "hope is a constant source of joy, whatever our age", adding, "when that hope has also been tempered by fire over the course of a long life, it proves a source of deep happiness."

In his Message for the Day, Pope Leo offers a scriptural meditation on old age, beginning with biblical figures such as Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah and Elizabeth, as well as Moses, all of whom were called in old age to be part of God's saving plan.

"The Jubilee we are now celebrating helps us to realize that hope is a constant source of joy, whatever our age. When that hope has also been tempered by fire over the course of a long life, it proves a source of deep happiness."

The history of salvation recounted in Scripture shows that, in God's eyes, "old age is a time of blessing and grace, and that the elderly are… the first witnesses of hope." Seeing the life of the Church and the world as the passing of generations, Pope Leo says the elderly, even if they need the support of the young, can serve as a witness to the inexperience of youth, helping them "to build the future with wisdom".

The "precious legacy" of the elderly as examples of faith, devotion, civic virtue, social commitment, and more, the Pope says, will always be "a source of gratitude and a summons to perseverance."

"God thus teaches us that, in his eyes, old age is a time of blessing and grace, and that the elderly are, for him, the first witnesses of hope."

At the same time, Pope Leo says the elderly also need hope. Recalling that the Jubilee is traditionally understood as a time of liberation, he says all are called to help the elderly "experience liberation, especially from loneliness and abandonment".

Too often in modern society, the Pope says, the elderly can become marginalized and forgotten. "Given this situation," he explains, "a change of pace is needed that would be readily seen in an assumption of responsibility on the part of the whole Church.

Every parish, he insists is called to support the elderly, "forging relationships that restore hope and dignity to those who feel forgotten". Especially with regard to the elderly, Christian hope "urges us to work for a change that can restore the esteem and affection to which [they] are entitled".

Image by Holly Landkammer on Unsplash In particular, he recalls Pope Francis' desire for elderly persons living alone to be sought out, and the opportunity created by him for those unable to come to Rome to obtain an indulgence for visiting the elderly during the Jubilee Year.

Pope Leo goes on to encourage the elderly to hope, affirming that even in old age, everyone is able to love and to pray.

"Our affection for our loved ones… does not fade when our strength wanes" but instead "revives our energy and brings us hope and comfort."

"We possess a freedom that no difficulty can rob us of: it is the freedom to love and to pray. Everyone, always, can love and pray."

These "signs of hope", he explains, "give us courage" and remind us that despite old age, "our inner self" is continually renewed.

"Especially as we grow older," the Pope says, "let us press forward with confidence in the Lord", renewed through prayer and daily Mass; and "let us lovingly pass on the faith we have lived for so many years", while continuously praising God and fostering union among people.

Pope Leo concludes: "In this way, we will be signs of hope, whatever our age."

To read the full text scan the QR Code below

6 August 2025 Catholic South West

A Seminarian on Camino As part of our Jubilee reflections, we asked Samuel Mapletoft, one of our diocesan seminarians, to share his experience of pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, a time-honoured penitential route and a demanding challenge requiring both mental and physical stamina.

“As I come to the end of the propaedeutic year,* I have been reflecting on the experience of this year of seminary formation. One of the highlights of the year was the opportunity to go together as a college on the Camino de Santiago.

On Monday 28th April, a group of 22 seminarians and six members of the formation team from the Royal English College, Valladolid, set out to Ferrol to begin the Camino Ingles – the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela which begins on the north coast of Galicia, and travels south through that beautiful part of Spain to the tomb of St James. The 116km route had been taken by many pilgrims before, and is the traditional route taken by English pilgrims.

Our pilgrimage started off precariously – we had no idea if we would even make the first day. Before we left Valladolid early on Monday morning, few of us had heard the word ‘apagón’ (blackout) before, but a national power outage put us in a peculiar

position. After some back and forth trips in the support van, we realised our hotel would host us, and our Camino could continue. From there, the journey was

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much easier. It was simply a case of putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, and watching the kilometres fall as we journeyed together through the lush countryside of Galicia. There is something freeing about walking the Camino. Being removed from the trappings of modern life opened us up to the beauty of our common home, and the restorative power of being in nature.

Feeling the breeze along the estuaries, smelling the eucalyptus forests, and watching the birds flying overhead was grounding.

The journey together also opened us up to each other. We had already spent several months together in our seminary, however the new context we were in would mean we were much more receptive to listen to each other. I learned much more on those few days about my seminarian brothers than I had for some time. All it took was to journey together on the road. As on any pilgrimage, much time was devoted to silence and to prayer.

Here, I carried with me prayer intentions from home and from people across the diocese. I kept you in prayer as I walked.

There was a sense of relief as we approached the venerable city of Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral towers

grew closer and we knew that we had reached our goal. From there, it was a simple matter of avoiding the thunderstorms to take a group picture, collect our Compostela (the certificate of completion), visiting the tomb of St James, and attending the Pilgrims Mass.

To be surrounded by thousands of pilgrims who had made similar journeys was a testament to the universality of our Church. It is a memory that will stick with me forever. And then it was time to return.

We set off in search of St James the Greater, an apostle. Through him, we were seeking Him who he knew – Jesus.

In finding St James, and therefore Jesus, we found ourselves in the communion of the Trinity, and in so doing, better know ourselves. This was also the purpose of the propaedeutic year. The year spent in Spain is one spent contemplating the Word of God, and to accept the call to discipleship as we prepare for the next stage of seminary formation. The Camino together was simply a part of this, and in a ‘way’, the propaedeutic year in miniature.” *The Propaedeutic year is a dedicated period of discernment and spiritual formation designed for men considering the priesthood.

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Catholic South West August 2025 7

We pray for all deacons serving in our diocese

Congratulations to Rafael Krasnodebski who was ordained a deacon last weekend at the Church of St Mary and St Petroc in Bodmin. We pray for all deacons serving in our diocese.

CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY - ANNUAL APPEAL 2025 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 The Catholic Children’s Society based in the Diocese of Plymouth is once again holding its Annual Appeal over the Bank Holiday weekend of Saturday, 23rd and Sunday, 24th August 2025. The theme of this year’s Annual Appeal is ‘Giving Hope to All – Putting All Children First’ and the charity is again asking for your support as so many families continue to struggle to provide the basic essentials for their children.

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

Thank you to Canon John Deeny in support of this year’s appeal who says, “As we continue our journey through this Jubilee Year with its theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, we are invited to reflect on how we respond to the Cry of the Poor with special attention to children, the most vulnerable and their families.

Pope Leo XIV has emphasised that “Jesus is our hope”, encouraging us to approach Him with trust, especially during hardships and suffering. He can heal us and revive us. The healing touch of Jesus extends to those in need, through tangible gestures of love and support.

The Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) is an effective means through which the grace of Jesus reaches out to children and their families. Week after week, the Society responds to those in serious need of support.

While they make every effort not to turn anyone away, there is always unmet demand.

The Society has benefitted enormously from your compassionate and generous giving for which they are truly grateful. The Annual Appeal is one important way in which we can continue to show solidarity and support for the work of the Society.

Together, let us answer Pope Leo XIV’s call: “Let us go to Jesus: He can heal us, He can revive us. Jesus is our hope.” By putting all children first, may we help extend that reviving grace of Jesus to those in need of it, and truly give hope to all.”

Feedback from the families they have supported has been overwhelming as the grants really make a massive difference to the lives of families living in our Diocese which includes Devon, Cornwall and parts of Dorset.

“The bed and mattresses have all come.

Honestly thank you so much. What a difference it's made to me and my kids already. All of them are over the moon and said it’s the best sleep they’ve had in ages as it was so comfy. So, thank you.”

“Please thank the Catholic Children’s Society for me, I honestly don’t know how I could have funded getting a tumble drier without them!

Having a child with neurodiversity is so challenging and with a very limited budget, I can’t buy lots of clothes. I need to wash and dry everything so frequently that I tended to run out. Please thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all the lovely clothing for the children. They are over the moon with it all they said it’s like Christmas. Thank you once again. This means so much to us right now.”

Alongside the Essential Grants programme, CCSP offer Pro-active Parenting courses for schools/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 & Loss training for staff in schools and other communities via our trained Rainbows GB Director.

CCSP could not continue to do what it does without the support of loyal supporters in the parishes. Please support this year’s Annual Appeal as much as you can over the weekend of 23rd and 24th August or alternatively, please consider helping in other ways, as a trustee, volunteer or fundraiser. Your thoughts and prayers for the families we support would also be much appreciated.

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 !!

GIVING HOPE TO ALL Putting All Children First

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August 2025

PLEASE DONATE TODAY

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

8 August 2025 Catholic South West

Scripture Focus

By Fr Jeremy Corley

A Puff of Smoke!

The world we live in is changing fast— many people say this today. Perhaps it was always like this. An ancient Greek philosopher called Heraclitus said that everything is in flux, constantly moving. Nothing stays the same.

In the first reading for the 18th Sunday of the Year (3rd August), the author of Ecclesiastes uses a different expression. Using the Hebrew word HEBEL, he says: “All is vanity!” When we hear the word vanity, we might think of someone admiring themselves in the mirror, but that is not the meaning of HEBEL here.

Instead, a famous professor in the past would illustrate the meaning by lighting a cigar in front of his class.

When he blew out the smoke from his mouth, he would explain that HEBEL was really equivalent to a puff of

smoke. So the scriptural text is saying that all life is like a puff of smoke—here one moment and gone the next.

This observation leads the biblical author to ask why we go to such efforts to build up our wealth, when at some point we have to leave it all behind. As they say: “You can’t take it with you.”

These reflections apply even to the richest person in the world. The biblical author impersonates Israel’s richest king (Solomon) to make his point. Someone who has worked wisely all his life will need to leave everything behind for others who may not be so wise. History tells us that King Solomon’s son squandered what his father had built up.

So too, in the gospel for the same Sunday, Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool.

This man has worked hard all his life and has plans to build bigger barns for all his

farm produce. Now he just wishes to enjoy his wealth in comfort.

But God’s verdict comes to him as a shock: “Fool! This night your soul is required of you! As for the material things you have prepared—whose will they be?”

To be sure, we need to work to earn a living and support our families, but this is not the entire goal of life. As the first reading says: “What does a person have from all the toil and strain with which he toils under the sun?”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to be anxious for material things: “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” If God cares for the birds of the air and the grass of the field, will he not also care for us?

Hopefully, for many of us, the holiday season can offer us breathing space to

step back from our preoccupation with our work and our worries, and can allow us to see the bigger picture.

The author of Ecclesiastes also tells us that there is nothing better for us than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in our toil. It is OK to enjoy our daily lives, provided we do not forget that we live in a passing world.

That is why St Paul in the second reading encourages the Colossians to look towards heavenly things. If through our baptism we have been raised with Christ and been given a share of eternal life, we are advised to seek the things that are above, where Christ is.

If we trust him and do his will, he will give us our eternal reward. Unlike earthly possessions, a heavenly reward will never perish.

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Catholic South West

August 2025 9

View from the Pew

By Dr Jay Kettle-Williams

Buying into Artificial Intelligence Caveat emptor (Lat. ‘Buyer beware’) are words of caution often bandied to and fro by way of alerting those exercising their free will to purchase. But, generally speaking, how free are we to exercise our will? The question can touch on many an area of social intercourse including that of religion.

Animal rights prevent me from throwing a cat amongst the pigeons, so let me gently place a feline among avians and ask: If God is omnipotent, He knows everything, including what I’m going to do. So how can I have free will?

Well, that question was so ably addressed by a priest some years ago that his answer has ever remained with me: ‘We only ever have free will within clearly defined parameters,’ he explained, ‘and within those parameters we are free to act, to develop’. To my mind that’s pretty much the human condition in a nutshell.

We have that God-given potential to act within human dimensions and to develop at will, as we see fit within a given scenario. There’ll probably be a parable to that effect somewhere.

But what if our free will is taken, surrendered or given away?

An interesting study has been carried out by academics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, USA (https://www.mit.edu) in which reduced brain activity was detected in students who used AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools for help with writing essays. The suggestion is that using AI tools such as ChatGPT may hurt your long-term ability to think, learn and remember.

The research, using electroencephalogram scans (EEGs), which measure electrical activity in the brain, tracked students who used large language models (LLMs) to help to them write essays. It revealed that the students registered reduced brain activity, poorer memory and weaker engagement than those who wrote essays using other methods.

So I decided to reduce my brain activity, to decommission my memory, to otherwise disengage from the fuller freedom of expression, of composition and to put a question to Copilot, an AI-powered tool.

Here is our exchange:

Q: How has Christianity benefitted human civilisation?

A: Christianity has had a profound and far-reaching influence on human civilisation, particularly in shaping the moral, cultural, and institutional foundations of the Western world. Here are some of the key ways it has contributed: 1. Moral and ethical frameworks: Christian teachings—especially those emphasizing love, compassion, forgiveness, and the inherent dignity of every person—have deeply influenced Western moral thought. Concepts like agape (selfless love) helped shape ideas of charity, justice, and human rights.

2. Education and literacy: Monasteries and cathedral schools were among the earliest centers of learning in medieval Europe. Over time, this evolved into the university system, with institutions like Oxford and Paris founded under Christian auspices. Missionaries also promoted literacy to help people read the Bible.

3. Healthcare and social welfare: The Christian emphasis on caring for the sick and poor led to the establishment of hospitals and charitable institutions. By the 4th century, it was common for churches to be built alongside hospitals, a tradition that continues today in many faith-based healthcare systems.

4. Abolition and social justice movements: Christian convictions played a central role in movements to abolish slavery, promote civil rights, and advocate for the poor and marginalized. Figures like William Wilberforce in the UK and Martin Luther King Jr. in the US were driven by their Christian faith.

5. Art, music, and architecture: Christianity inspired some of the world’s most iconic art and architecture—from Gothic cathedrals to Renaissance masterpieces. Sacred music, from Gregorian chant to Bach’s compositions, also flourished under Christian patronage.

6. Legal and political thought: Christian ideas about the sanctity of life, justice, and the moral responsibility of rulers helped shape Western legal systems. The notion of individual rights and the separation of church and state both have roots in Christian theological debates.

Of course, Christianity’s legacy is complex and not without controversy, but its contributions to civilisation - especially in

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Matthias Zomer

cbcew.org.uk

Archbishop Sherrington statement on the Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 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

happen, the future of many Catholic institutions could be under threat.

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.

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Interesting! But that then left me in a quandary: If I condemn AI, am I nothing but a latter-day Luddite? If I embrace AI, such as Copilot’s answer above, am I surrendering my creativity, my humanity and so dehumanising myself?

I turned to a recent article in The Times (June 2025) by Ann Francke, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute. She wrote about engaging with AI to best effect. I quote: ‘The best managers encourage people to use technology to enhance their productivity.

But there need to be safety rails. I call this “freedom within a framework”’.

Now, where have I heard something like that before?

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/; Photograph (Unsplash): Replaced by robot? by Andrea Da Santis.

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

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10 August 2025 Catholic South West

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a Mass for the Care of Creation on July 9 On July 9, 2025, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first “Mass for the Care of Creation”, with a new formulary of the Roman Missal, this private Mass during his holiday with the staff of the “Borgo Laudato Sì” (“Laudato Sì Village”), an educational center located in the Papal residence in Castel Gandolfo.

With this new formulary "the Church is offering liturgical, spiritual and communal support for the care we all need to exercise of nature, our common home.

Such service is indeed a great act of faith, hope and charity”, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said during the press conference. This Mass dedicated to taking care of creation “calls us to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us – not only in daily choices and public policies, but also in our prayer, our worship, and our way of living in the world”.

A way to promote an integral ecology In the Roman Missal there are 49 different Masses and prayers for various needs and occasions. Of these, 17 are dedicated to civil needs and this new liturgical text will now become a part of this category. An official decree by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, approved by Pope Leo XIV and dated June 8, was also released, marking the addition of the formulary to the Roman Missal.

This liturgical text was developed in collaboration with several Vatican dicasteries and was strongly inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which this year celebrates the 10th anniversary of its publication. The release of the formulary also falls on the year of

the 35th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s 1990 message for the World Day of Peace, titled “Peace with God the Creator, Peace with all of Creation”.

'The Mass for the Care for Creation' takes up some of the main positions contained in Laudato Si' and expresses them in the form of a prayer within the theological framework that the encyclical revives”, Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, explained during the press conference. The texts that make up the formulary for this Mass “are a good antidote” against reading Laudato Si’ as concerned with a “false or superficial ecology”, which is “far removed from that 'integral ecology' amply described and promoted in the encyclical". In fact, he described Francis’ encyclical as an “ecosocial” text, rather than just “ecological”.

Remembering those affected by climate change “Creation is not an added theme but is always already present in the Catholic

liturgy”, as the Eucharist “joins heaven and earth, it embraces and penetrates all creation” and in it “we bless God for the bread and wine we receive”, Cardinal Czerny said. This Mass can now “increase our gratitude” and also “invites us to respond with care and love” to the issues of today.

Quoting Pope Leo XIV’s message for this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, released on July 2, the Cardinal additionally highlighted that “in a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity”. He insisted, citing Laudato Si’, that “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are one and the danger of a superficial ecology” is to believe that the only “problems to be solved are ecological ones” and that this can be done “at the expense of the people”.

The readings and prayers featured in the Mass Archbishop Viola emphasized that the readings featured in this Mass are “very

rich and offer several insights”. From the Old Testament, for example, a reading from the Book of Wisdom (13,1-9) is included, which highlights the importance of seeing God through his creation. For the Responsorial Psalm, certain verses are listed from Psalm 18, which highlights how “the heavens declare the glory of God”, and Psalm 103, which states “Bless the Lord, all his creatures”. For the New Testament, a reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians (1,15-20) was selected that affirms that Christ “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth”. Lastly, two passages from the Gospel of Matthew are suggested. In the first (6,24-34) Christ invites to “look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, yet “your heavenly Father feeds them”. The second (8,23-27) features the moment when Jesus calms a storm while on a boat with his disciples.

The prayers in the Mass also reflect the importance of caring for creation, for example by stating “while we wait for new heavens and a new earth, let us learn to live in harmony with all creatures”.

Isabella H. de Carvalho

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August 2025 11

Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati to be canonized together Pope Leo XIV presided at an Ordinary Public Consistory for the Vote on Causes for Canonisation, which gave formal approval for the canonisations of eight Blesseds, and set the date for their canonisations.

The postponement of Blessed Carlo’s canonisation was announced on the day of Pope Francis’ death, 21 April, and it was widely assumed that Blessed Pier Giorgio’s canonisation would similarly be delayed.

During the ceremony, the Holy Father announced that Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis will be canonised together on 7 September.

The canonisations of the two young saints—one from the early twentieth century, the other the first twenty-firstcentury saint—have been greatly anticipated due to the great devotion among the faithful.

Doubts about the timing of the canonisations were finally resolved with the announcement by Pope Leo, who has made the choice to enroll among the number of the saints two young men from different eras who led completely different lives, but who are nonetheless united in their love for Christ and their ability to impart that love to those whose lives they touched.

Announcement by Pope Francis

Seven blessed to be canonised in October Pope Leo also set the date for the canonisation of seven other Blesseds, including martyred Armenian Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan, who died in 1915 during the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire; and Peter To Rot, a lay catechist who was martyred in 1945 for continuing his apostolate despite the ban imposed by the Japanese. Blessed Peter will be the first canonized saint from Papua New Guinea.

Three female religious are also among those who will be canonised in October:

Finally, two other laymen will be among those enrolled in the catalogue of the saints:

Bartolo Longo, founder of the famous Marian Shrine at Pompeii

Vincenza Maria Poloni, founder of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, a Venezuelan doctor and member of the Secular Franciscan Order, known as “the doctor of the poor” because he treated those in need and even paid for their medicines.

The late Pope himself had announced the canonisations of Blesseds Pier Giorgio and Carlo at the General Audience of 20 November 2024, prompting thunderous applause from the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Maria del Monte Carmelo Rendiles (née Carmen Elena Rendiles Martínez), from Venezuela, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus Blessed Ignatius Maloyan, Armenian Archbishop and martyr

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

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Edition 43

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No tolerance of abuse

The Quiet Revival

Called and Gifted

page 3

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Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 16th

Bishops Condemn Vote

Matthias Zomer

cbcew.org.uk

Archbishop Sherrington statement on the Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 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

happen, the future of many Catholic institutions could be under threat.

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.

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Blessed Carlo Acutis The canonisation of Acutis, who was beatified in Assisi on 10 October 2020, had originally been scheduled for 27 April, the Second Sunday of Easter, to coincide with the Jubilee of Teenagers, while Frassati’s canonisation had been set for 3 August, the culmination of the Jubilee for Youth.

By Salvatore Cernuzio and Christopher Wells

Blessed Peter To Rot, catechist and martyr

Maria Troncatti, a professed religious of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians

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12 August 2025 Catholic South West

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

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) 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)