SEPtEmBEr 2026
www.CatholicPost.co.uk
Edition 57
When love needs first aid
page 2
God of Our Senses
page 6
Kindness is King
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St Hildegard of Bingen Feast day: 17 September
Fund Living Before Legalising Dying cbcew.org.uk
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its crunch vote and second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, 11 September. The following interview is part of the Catholic News podcast which features interviews with lay people, religious and clergy involved in the Church's work in England and Wales. A diverse range of people, not just Catholics, have raised their voices in opposition to this Private Members' Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide. Our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has said that now is not the time for this debate and it would be better to sort out the UK's palliative care and social care crisis. Dr Karen Groves MBE (Inset)
So what are the problems and what needs to be fixed? Dr Karen Groves MBE qualified as a doctor at a time when the modern hospice and palliative care movement was only just beginning. "Pain and other symptoms were really poorly managed, not due to lack of compassion or care, but just through a lack of knowledge," said Dr Groves. "There was a lot of fear among the public and health professionals about the use of morphine, and also of speaking to people about their illness and what to expect in the future. It just wasn't done in those days." To address this and to meet end-of-life care needs in West Lancashire, Formby, and Southport, Dr Groves founded Queenscourt Hospice in Southport in the late 1980s.
"We've moved on a lot in nearly 50 years, and now for this area, we've got integrated hospice and specialist palliative care services working out of Queenscourt, which is our local hospice, the specialist clinical and educational hub, seeing patients and families in Queenscourt itself, or an equal number in our local hospitals, and twice as many again in our local care homes and their own homes, which is where the vast majority of people really want to be living their lives, and living them to the full, to the end." Dr Groves advocates for a 'continuity of care' so that integrated services are provided consistently and appropriately for each person across a number of care settings.
“It's a huge challenge, but it's taken many years of work to build relationships with all other local services, and those are really important so that everything's knitted together, and that provides the continuity of care. "It's made a big difference to the number of people who are able to stay in their own homes. Some people accuse hospices of providing a gold standard service to the very few, and I would counter that to say that where hospices have the opportunity to develop integrated services across all settings, then actually they can provide a responsive, helpful, reliable, and consistent service in which patients and families have confidence, and they're much less likely to dial 999 because of fear or not knowing what to do in a situation. It makes a big difference."
How does a hospice achieve gold standard palliative care and end-of-life care? What are the key ingredients? “I think there are many," says Dr Groves. "But a few of the main ones, are: investment in selection, ongoing training, and real support of skilled clinical and non-clinical staff. Plus time and attention to detail for every patient and family - that's really important. A huge number of committed volunteers without whom the service can't provide the standard of care that it does. Then the financial support and goodwill of the community of this area - West Lancs, Southport and Formby - who've supported the building, the growth, and the development of their services. Continued on page 2
Page 2. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
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When love needs first aid rcdow.org.uk The summer can be a time of heightened stress for married couples. Pressures around work, family routines, finances, and expectations can quietly build, and if left unattended they often lead to emotional disconnection, resentment, and a noticeable rise in separation enquiries. When we face a physical emergency, we instinctively know where to turn for help. Yet when the hurt is within our relationship, many couples assume, incorrectly, that there is no “marital first�aid kit.” Feelings of failure, imagined social stigma, and what might be called a “crisis fog” can cloud judgement and prevent couples from seeking the support that is available. The Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola on 31 July offers a timely lens for understanding these experiences. Ignatius teaches that consolation and desolation are not simply private emotions but movements of the heart that draw us either toward or away from God. During his recovery at Loyola, he noticed that some thoughts left him restless and empty, while others brought lasting peace and hope. He named these movements clearly: Spiritual Consolation — an interior sense of being lifted, expanded, and drawn toward love, communion, and hope. Spiritual Desolation — a shrinking inward, marked by isolation, discouragement, and a turning away from God and others. These movements are morally neutral; what matters is how we respond to them.
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For those accompanying couples in crisis, this Ignatian insight is invaluable. Many couples arrive feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or emotionally numb. What they describe often mirrors desolation: withdrawing from one another, losing trust, and feeling cut off from God’s presence. As Kevin O’Brien SJ notes, desolation fosters isolation and self-absorption precisely what we see when communication breaks down or resentment takes root.
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Retrouvaille and Marriage Care offer spaces where couples can begin to notice these movements. When a spouse recognises, “I am closing in on myself,” or “I am resisting connection,” they are already taking a step out of desolation. Moments of unexpected tenderness, honesty, or shared vulnerability often signal consolation—movements toward love, communion, and the rediscovery of “we.”
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Ignatius’ wisdom is especially helpful in foggy periods. He cautions against making major decisions in desolation. Couples are invited instead to stay anchored, resist withdrawal, and wait for clarity to return. Retrouvaille’s daily dialogue and Marriage Care’s reflective tools echo the Ignatian Examen, helping couples notice what draws them toward life and what pulls them away. Ultimately, consolation expands the heart and restores the relational horizon. It moves couples from I to We. The “marital first-aid kit”
of Retrouvaille and Marriage Care differ but it is the shared commitment to help couples pause, breathe, and reconnect through practical tools that move them from isolation toward renewed communication, compassion, and hope. Marriage Care: A national relationship support charity offering counselling, marriage preparation and relationship education. Whether a relationship is under strain, in crisis, or one partner is seeking help alone, Marriage Care provides a safe, professional space to understand what is happening, improve communication, and explore constructive ways forward. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and open to people of all faiths and none, its professionally trained volunteer counsellors Continued from page 1 These services belong to them. There needs to be good working relationships and communication with other services hospitals, community, care homes - to ensure that no patient is left between services. Finally, on top of all of that, an education service which is there for all professionals, formal and informal carers, and the public, which helps to ensure a good standard of palliative and end-of-life care to be consistent across all settings. There are loads more, but those are the main ones."
So what are the challenges? “Finance for all hospices varies, but it has similarities. For Queenscourt, 24% of our funding comes from government sources, mainly via the NHS, but 76% of our £7 million annual running costs has to be raised from local people by a small fundraising team every year through donations, grants, legacies, events, coffee mornings, all the other sorts of things. “After 40 years of fundraising, this is getting more and more difficult as government funding has not risen with inflation. Increased employer National Insurance contributions and energy and supplies costs have been crippling. Annual average legacy income has reduced from £1.25 million a year to £250,000. Reduced high street footfall has affected retail income from hospice shops, and other very worthy
ensure that support is available regardless of a person’s ability to pay.‘ ‘Counselling improved the overall relationship and enabled us to have an open conversation‘ ‘I don’t think we would be together without the counselling. We had hit rock bottom and without an outside support we never would have got back up. My partner has a better understanding of his own life and himself which was vital for us’ Retrouvaille: Designed specifically for severely troubled marriages, couples on the brink of separation, or those already divorced who want to try again Roger Carr-Jones charitable fundraising in the town has had a huge impact. The government has made many tranches of money available over the years, indeed some recently, but this is always restricted to capital costs. They're one-off tranches - refurbishment, rebuilding, and those sorts of things. It's not allowed to be used for running costs, which is really what is most needed."
How do we go about 'fixing' palliative and social care as the Prime Minister puts it? “I mean, Andy Burnham's wish to fix palliative social care is music to my ears and the ears of all those who are struggling to get the care that they need, where they need it, and when they need it," says Dr Groves. "Some joined-up thinking, good organisation of services, continuity of care, excellent communication and a flow of sufficient finance to support it would allow those who actually have lots of good ideas [to improve things] to begin to work on it, and those who need the services then to benefit hugely. There's loads that needs to be done."
To listen to the interview scan the QR code.
The Catholic Post. September 2026. Page 3.
Hats to Spare?
I wonder how many of us have warm hats in store that we probably will never use? Could we consider providing these hats for those at sea? This could make such a difference. Often, men who find work on ships bringing goods from far countries, then spend months at sea, with no warm clothing for when they pass through colder climates. We are always grateful for donations of warm hats and gloves for these men. We will forward your items with the consignments of rosaries and rosary cards that we send to the chaplains who work in the ports on our shores, and who distribute these items to comfort those who are far from home. Parishioners at the Burn Hall Hotel, York, consultation gathering
three-diocese consultation process completed middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk
The consultation process across the dioceses of Hallam, Leeds and Middlesbrough has now been completed, marking an important milestone in the discernment surrounding the proposed unification of the three dioceses Over recent months, clergy, religious and lay faithful have come together to share their experiences, hopes, concerns and aspirations for the future of the Church in our region. The breadth and depth of engagement have been encouraging, reflecting a genuine commitment to the life and mission of the Church and a willingness to participate in this important process of discernment. Several common themes emerged consistently throughout the consultations. One of the strongest messages was the importance of effective communication. Participants recognised that clear, timely and transparent communication will be essential throughout the next stages of the process. Many expressed a desire to remain informed and involved as plans continue to develop, recognising that trust and confidence are built through openness and dialogue. Another significant area of discussion centred on the role of Bishop Marcus. Many respondents reflected on the increasing responsibilities placed upon bishops today and
the practical challenges that a larger unified diocese could present. Alongside these concerns, however, there was also a strong recognition of the opportunities to develop new models of leadership, collaboration and shared responsibility, ensuring that Bishop Marcus is supported by clergy and lay leaders alike in carrying forward the Church’s mission. The consultations also highlighted a spirit of hope and realism regarding the opportunities that unification could bring. While acknowledging that change can be challenging, many participants spoke positively about the possibility of working more closely together, sharing resources more effectively, strengthening ministries and reducing unnecessary duplication. There was a widespread sense that any future structure should enable the Church to become more responsive, more collaborative and better equipped for evangelisation and service. One theme that resonated particularly strongly was the importance of listening to young people. Across all three dioceses, respondents emphasised that the future of the Church depends upon engaging younger generations more intentionally. There was a shared conviction that young people should not simply be consulted occasionally but should be recognised as active participants in shaping the Church’s future, bringing their gifts, perspectives and faith to the heart of its mission. Although each diocese brought its own unique experiences and local priorities, the consultations revealed an interesting degree of shared vision. Respondents consistently expressed a desire for a Church that is outward-looking,
missionary in its outlook and rooted in collaboration, while remaining attentive to the pastoral needs of local communities. The completion of these consultations represents not the end of the process but the beginning of its next phase. The responses from across Hallam, Leeds and Middlesbrough are now being carefully reviewed and synthesised into a comprehensive report, which will be written by Bishop Marcus and then submitted to the Holy See. This report will faithfully reflect the contributions made throughout the consultation process and the key themes that have emerged. Alongside the preparation of this report, further work will now focus on exploring how any future unified diocese could best serve the mission of the Church. The guiding question is not simply how structures might change, but how those structures can better support evangelisation, pastoral care and the proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world. The consultation process has demonstrated the generosity, faith and commitment of the people of our three dioceses. Everyone who has taken part has made a valuable contribution to this important discernment and we thank you for your time and support. As the work continues, we remain grateful for the openness with which people have shared their views and ask for continued prayers as the next stage of this journey unfolds under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Monsignor Gerard Robinson VG
Could you knit a hat as a form of active and loving prayer? Our Lady, accept our offerings; Holy Mary Mother of God, Virgin Immaculate; You appeared eighteen times to Bernadette at the Grotto in Lourdes, to remind all Christians of what the truths of the Gospel require of them. You called them to prayer, penance, the Eucharist and life in the Church. To answer your call more fully, I consecrate myself through you to your Son, Jesus. Make me willing to accept what he said. By the fervour of my faith, by the conduct of my life in all its aspects, by my devotion to the sick, let me work with you in the comforting of those who suffer and in the reconciliation of people; that the Church may be one, and that there may be peace in the world. All this I ask, confident that you, Our Lady, will fully answer my prayer. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St Bernadette, pray for us. www.crownofthorns.org.uk email: office@crownofthorns.org.uk
Page 4. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
Stella maris joins call to strengthen protection for overseas fishers working in UK indcatholicnews.com
Stella Maris has joined the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and four other organisations in calling on the Home Secretary to strengthen protections for overseas fishers working in the UK fishing industry. In a letter coordinated by the ITF, the organisations raise concerns about the exploitation of overseas fishers and the systemic conditions that can leave them vulnerable to abuse. It sets out ten key reforms covering immigration status, employment rights, recruitment and enforcement. These include a dedicated Fishing Worker Visa, based on sector-wide sponsorship, which would allow fishers to change employer when necessary and give them stronger access to employment protections. Other recommendations include an urgent review of the continued misuse of the Transit Loophole and the publication of better data on how it is being used.
The Transit Loophole refers to the misuse of the UK transit visa by some UK companies to recruit overseas fishers to work on UK fishing vessels. Transit visas are designed for seafarers passing through the UK to reach their departing ship. UK transit visa holders do not get access to legal rights and protection; hence they are at increased risks of forced labour and modern slavery. The letter also calls for stronger enforcement across the fishing industry, better regulation of recruitment agencies, meaningful access to the new Fair Work Agency and a bridging visa for fishers pursuing a claim or helping with an investigation. Stella Maris said that there is a clear need to act now. Fishing occupations are due to lose access to the Skilled Worker visa route when the Immigration Salary List is abolished in December 2026. Without an appropriate alternative, the industry could become even more reliant on the Transit Loophole. The recent sentencing of Thomas Nicolson Junior in a court in Scotland where he admitted to failing to provide adequate food and rest for
Port Chaplain Peter Morgan - image Stella Maris foreign workers hired to work on board a scallop dredger has again drawn attention to the abuse overseas fishers can face. It is also a reminder of the need to address the wider conditions that allow exploitation to take place.
“With access to the Skilled Worker visa route due to close for fishing occupations in December, the Government must put a fair and lawful alternative in place before more fishers are pushed into insecure arrangements.
Tim Hill, Stella Maris CEO and National Director said: "Through our work with overseas fishers, Stella Maris has seen the lasting human cost when people are left vulnerable to exploitation.
"These reforms would protect workers while supporting a fishing industry in which responsible employers can recruit the people they need."
The Catholic Post. September 2026. Page 5.
the Longest Way! hallam-diocese.com
This September, a small band of pilgrims from Leeds and Hallam Dioceses will walk England’s Longest Way to Walsingham! Starting with Mass at Leeds Cathedral on 12 September, the group of ‘Perpetual Pilgrims’ will follow the St Mark’s Way route of last year’s Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope, via St Marie’s Cathedral in Sheffield and the Catholic Cathedral of St Barnabas in Nottingham – and then, striking out east through the Diocese of East Anglia, on the St Luke’s Way to Walsingham. Those walking the whole route will cover a total distance of at least 230 miles: that’s 50 miles longer even than the revived medieval route of the London to Walsingham Camino! ‘Day Pilgrims’ will be welcomed to walk a stage of the pilgrimage through their parish or deanery and may join for devotions or provide hospitality at the beginning or end of each day. In this Year of St Francis, this sustainable diocesan pilgrimage will pass through the English countryside on foot, and occasionally on public transport. Visiting the Padley Martyrs’ Shrine and other sacred sites along the way, this new Camino will celebrate our country as
the Dowry of Our Lady, as well as having the aim of closer collaborations between three linked-yet-distinct northern Catholic dioceses: Leeds, Hallam and Middlesbrough. The pilgrimage came about because late last year, the Holy Father appointed the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Marcus Stock, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough, and arrangements were made for the Bishop to lead the two dioceses’ annual day-pilgrimages to Walsingham as a joint event on Saturday 26 September. When, just a few months later in March of this year, Pope Leo added Hallam Diocese to the Bishop’s responsibilities, the idea was born of a Camino Walk to Walsingham, through Hallam, setting off two weeks in advance, and scheduled to reach the National Catholic Shrine in time to greet the Bishop and pilgrims who have travelled down for the day by coach from Leeds and Middlesbrough. ‘Perpetual Pilgrim’ Rowan Morton-Gledhill from the Diocese of Leeds said: ‘Taking ‘The Longest Way’ to Walsingham isn’t a record attempt or endurance test – and these events are not just “joint jaunts”! However the Way is travelled, and whatever the distance, the People of God from Leeds, Hallam and Middlesbrough Dioceses will be following in the footsteps of Catholic pilgrims throughout the ages, as we make our spiritual journey in praise of God and to honour Our Lady: walking together along the well-trodden paths of prayer and penitence, which are at the heart of every pilgrimage.’
Page 6. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
God of Our Senses: Sensing God in Daily Life God of Our Senses comes from the website godwhospeaks.uk - a Bishops' Conference and Bible Society initiative to encourage all Catholics to deepen their love of the Bible.
godwhospeaks.uk
Our Faith is full of sensory experiences. Christianity is lived through our mortal bodies. The Bible shows us how our senses are gifts from God connecting us in this embodied world. By paying more attention to our senses we can deepen prayer, worship and Christian living The inspiration to write a book about knowing God through our physical senses came as a Damascus moment. I was a neuroscientist and educator by day and a parish and diocesan catechist in my ‘free time’. I kept both activities separate as mentioning God in my scientific work at secular institutions would not have gone down well. Equally, talking about neuroscience in children’s catechism wouldn’t seem right. After a particularly busy period, I decided to escape both neuroscience and catechism and went on private retreat to a monastery. My plan was no reading or writing, no doing – only being and surrendering to the routine of the monastery. Little did I realise, it was Plan B. Plan A was awaiting me from the Holy Spirit. The phrase God of Our Senses sprang into my mind and with it, the idea that our physical, bodily senses are gateways to our spiritual senses and it is through both that we know God, His works and His mission for us. The prospect of bringing together two passions of mine, science and religion, was exciting. After borrowing a pen, asking for paper and access to the monastery’s library, I excitedly researched and wrote extensive notes for the book. However, when I returned to normal life, all the usual pressures re-entered the vacuum left by my mini-retreat. That was well over 30 years ago and the project remained fallow until I retired. My original notes were outdated so I rewrote everything but held to the title despite many suggestions to change it. The underlying principle of God of Our Senses is that our Faith is full of sensory experiences. Christianity is lived through our mortal bodies: eyes that see, ears that hear, hands that touch, mouths that taste and noses that smell. Our senses are gifts used by God to connect with us in this embodied world. By paying more attention to our senses we can deepen prayer, worship and daily Christian living. The book’s purpose is far-reaching: to help us recognise that God’s presence is not confined to explicitly “religious” moments but can be discerned through the ordinary sensations of life – light and sight, sound and hearing, taste and hunger, touch, movement and stillness. It invites us to see our bodies as God-given instruments sensitive and open to encounter.
“Know your audience” is the guiding principle for authors and presenters. When writing a scientific research paper or presenting at a medical conference, I knew the community it was intended for and how the paper needed to be written; objectively, evidenced statements, impersonal and factual. When writing religious books and programmes, I adhered to Catholic doctrine and tradition and if aimed at children and catechists, it needed to be practical and engaging. Attempting to combine science with religion, the mantra “knowing your audience” gets muffled. Technology dominates our modern life and the quantity and quality of our lives have been significantly improved by medical science, yet only a tiny proportion of the population identifies or works as scientists. Many people consider science beyond their grasp and interest. Yet science is part of God’s wonderful Creation. So, when creating a new genre, I use another mantra, “if you build it, they will come”. The concept of the senses and spirituality is not new. Perhaps the best-known exponent was St Ignatius of Loyola who created a prayer technique called application of the senses. When reading a piece of Scripture, you “imagine” it through your senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste as if you were there, making the events come alive. Building on St Ignatius and others, God of Our Senses offers a different perspective, that of a neuroscientist relating the science behind the senses to spirituality and aimed at a general audience. At the time of St Ignatius and indeed the people of the Bible, little was known about the science of the physical senses and what was known was erroneous. Nowadays, an enormous amount is known by specialists but not by the general population. How, for instance, the eye captures and processes light and how the brain processes electrical impulses and indeed what is the nature of light are areas we as scientists know much more about than any civilisation previously. But why is this knowledge important for Christians? There are numerous reasons. Our senses are underappreciated. When they work, they are totally ignored until we develop a problem; blurry eyesight, loss of taste or smell,
deafness etc. We should give praise for our senses and understand why they don’t work at times. Knowing how the senses work at a microscopic and sub-cellular level might be beyond most people’s understanding yet it’s all part of God’s creation. God is in the detail. Scientists should make their specialised knowledge accessible to all. Knowing how the senses work evokes wonder and awe at both the science and the One who produced the science. In combining Scripture with insights from neuroscience, God of Our Senses offers an accessible guide to integrating faith with a heightened appreciation of the senses. The Bible is full of sensory language. For instance, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Taste is a highly intimate sense. It’s highly personal as we have individual taste preferences. We can only taste something when it’s in the mouth. Taste is a gateway sensation. Food that is tasty is swallowed, enters the body and eventually becomes part of us. Anything distasteful is rejected. In the quotation, taste is used as a metaphor but one that is easily understood as we all have a concept of taste. An entire thesis could be written on this one verse alone. As you read through the Bible and if your antennae are raised to detect references to the senses, you will find one reference after another. Hearing the “still small voice” or “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12), walking in the light rather than the darkness (John 8:12), “So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17), and countless others for each of our five main senses. These are not just poetic images; they show that our senses are involved whenever God draws us into relationship with Him. Sight is a prominent sense in the Gospels. Jesus often uses images of light, darkness and blindness; Bartimaeus’ healing in Mark 10 is both physical and spiritual. He “sees” or senses who Jesus is and follows Him on the way. Our eyes receive light, but our brains interpret it – we concentrate, select and focus. A recurring theme in God of Our Senses is that sight, like the other sensations, is a construct of the brain. We may all look at the same scene, but the brain produces different perceptions for each of us depending on our attention. Learning to “see” God at work is not only devotional, but also a training of attention: a choice about what we notice and how we interpret events in our lives. Hearing is equally central to us and is the first sense the book explores. “Faith comes from hearing” (Romans 10:17), was a quote used earlier yet many of us struggle to distinguish God’s voice from the noise of daily life. Our auditory system filters background sounds so we can attend to what is most important. We know this in everyday terms – the way we can
pick out our name in a crowded room. Scripture invites us to cultivate the same selective listening for God’s Word: creating spaces of silence, resisting distraction, and rediscovering the joy of listening attentively. Smell and taste appear more subtly. The “pleasing aroma” of sacrifice (Genesis 8:21), the “fragrance” of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15), and the language of feasting and banquets all point to a God who delights in nourishing His people. Smell is closely linked to memory and emotion; a familiar scent can transport us in an instant. When Scripture speaks of the “aroma” of Christ-like love, it points to a way of living that leaves a lasting impression – a sensory metaphor for a spiritual reality. Touch and movement are fundamental in Jesus’ ministry. He reaches out to touch and be touched: by the sick, by children, by the woman who believes that touching his garment will bring healing (Mark 5:25–34). Our nervous system constantly reports contact, pressure, warmth and cold, giving us a sense of being held in the world. God of Our Senses invites us to see this not just as biology, but as sign and reminder of the God who “holds all things together” (Colossians 1:17), meeting us through human touch, solidarity and service. In our second article, we’ll look at the physical sense of hearing and how our physical senses link with our spiritual senses. And we’ll explore some more fascinating facts. Professor Stephen Gomez
Professor Stephen Gomez grew up in London and attended the O.M.I. Sacred Heart Church in Kilburn. After graduating from King’s College, he worked in neuropathology at the Institute of Neurology then lectured and researched in neuroscience in Bristol, his current home. Since his early 20s, he served as a parish catechist primarily in Confirmation and he authored The Survival Guide to Confirmation and In the Spirit. He is now retired but spends his time making neuroscience accessible in public talks and bringing together science and religion. His book, God of Our Senses, published in June 2026 explores the science behind five of our physical senses and links them to our spiritual senses.
The Catholic Post. September 2026. Page 7
Schools Back! Fr David OMalley One more day of school One more day of sorrow One more day in this old dump And holidays tomorrow! I remember singing that verse when I was in year eight at school along with an enthusiastic group of fellow pupils. But apparently, things have changed. At least according to the words of Frank Cottrell-Boyce in his recent book A British Childhood.1 On his tour of schools as children’s poet laureate many head teachers told him not to mention summer holidays. When he asked for the reason, most heads suggested that some pupils don’t like summer holidays and many of them miss school. Reflecting on the wider context for this change in children’s views on school Frank Cottrell Boyce turns to Covid and the experience of isolation that many children experienced. Then he takes a longer view and noticed that many of the Sure Start centres have closed, youth clubs have diminished in numbers, libraries are closing and church groups, scouting and sports clubs are finding volunteer recruitment more difficult. The whole community has become a victim of austerity, and families and now young people are more likely to be confined to home during holidays. Any escape activities are likely to be costly or demand a lot of parental time which may not be available. So, it may not be just parents that are looking forward to the September restart of school this year. Many pupils might be quietly relieved that their holidays are over. Many heads say that a significant group of pupils see school as their “happy place”.2 This may be hard for some families to hear but for some pupils the school is a richer environment relationally and a more stimulating environment intellectually. The capacity for a school to promote a sense of belonging has been increasing over recent years. Most schools run breakfast clubs, evening homework clubs and after school activities extending the school day and the opportunity to be with friends. In addition sports, drama, and trips just stop. During the holidays those structured spaces disappear, and families are thrown onto their own resources of ingenuity and imagination in isolation from their children’s friendship groups. When the September restart comes a whole range of resources come back on line for families and pupils. I am reasonably sure that these are especially available in Catholic schools where the care for the common good is written into the DNA of Catholic education. The word inclusion is built into the policies of many schools so that those most at risk are given particular attention. Catholic schools go
further, insisting that those at risk are placed at the centre of the school life. This approach is called the ‘preferential option’ for those at risk. It means that the needs of those pupils are put at the centre of planning and resourcing school life. This is not charity for those at risk but an act of justice. If pupils arrive in school not being able to go to the toilet independently, not able to tie their shoelaces or share a meal with others, it is not their fault. Then the school has to step in and make up for that early deficit in their lives. As school years progress different needs emerge: in academic readiness: literacy and oracy that families have not been able meet. The school community has stepped into the vacuum of care left by families struggling to survive and the absent institutions that used to support them. School has now become a social service. I say school community because this nurturing task in a Catholic school involves every pupil and adult. It’s the community village atmosphere in the school that heals and lifts the lives of everyone. It creates virtual circles of growth based on the Gospel. It raises hopes and aspirations in even the neediest pupils through loving kindness and honest encouragement.
This fact became dramatically clear to me as a chaplain in a secondary school many years ago. Dominic had lost his mother to a sudden illness and was distraught because she, of all the family was the one who had shown him consistent care. He told me the funeral would be the following day, and I offered to attend with him but he strenuously rejected that idea. So, I was surprised the next day to see Dominic in school, in his uniform. When I asked him why he was not with his family he simply said “they’re all drunk”. He looked so lost and angry and ashamed and I spent an hour or so with him talking and tidying cupboards in the chaplaincy. Later we agreed to run a memorial service for his mum in school with a few of his family and some friends from school. Dominic gathered pictures of his mum and memories of his times with her and wrote a short eulogy and played two of her favourite songs. The school was able to step in where the family struggled, and Dominic was allowed time to continue his grieving in school rather than in his family. These events become possible when schools see themselves as communities of young people with a whole range of needs beyond the passing of exams. Perhaps that focus on the pastoral dimension explains why
Catholic schools also outperform others by 7% at GCSE in Maths, English and RE and educate 50% more of the most deprived children than the state. The purpose of Catholic schools is to educate the whole person, not just the top three inches. Teachers do not see young people as brains but whole people with personalities, gifts and potential. Each one carries a divine spark that needs to be claimed by the young person themselves and liberated for the common good of others. Discovering those individual sparks is not a luxury in education because the future is changing rapidly and we have been slow to react. Our denial of climate change, the challenges of world migration and the advent of AI all point to an uncertain future where resilience, imagination, teamwork and adaptability will be essential. Those qualities are formed in communities of learning and not just through curriculum and rote learning and testing. Catholic schools have always seen themselves as nurturing spaces and not exam factories (important as those exams are) they need to be farms not factories. 1
A British Childhood Picador 2026
2
Ibid page 2
Page 8. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
(Left to right) Archbishop of Birmingham Bernard Longley, Executive Director of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Gregory Pope, Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg, Board of Deputies Interfaith and Social Action Officer Daniel Epstein O’Dowd and Archbishop of Westminster Richard Moth. Photograph courtesy of BoD:
Government funding for Catholic and Jewish organisations to produce new teaching tools on antisemitism birminghamdiocese.org.uk
Secondary school teachers in the Archdiocese of Birmingham are to deliver lessons to help pupils recognise and challenge antisemitism, as part of a government funded project. The Secondary schools across the Archdiocese took part in a scheme to give teachers the confidence to tackle the issue in class, and pupils the skills to identify antisemitism when they see it. Pupils will participate in focus groups to ascertain their exposure to antisemitic misinformation and conspiracies on online gaming platforms and social media such as TikTok and Instagram, and be taught how to recognise content as antisemitic in nature. Lessons will focused on building empathy through an accurate understanding of Jewish identities, diversity and lived experience. They will root anti-hatred in Catholic theology, respect for the other, fraternity and solidarity. Further aims include building resilience to antisemitic narratives and improving the ability
to discuss and disagree respectfully in classroom dialogue. The project was funded by the government’s Department for Education and will be delivered by the Archdiocese of Birmingham’s education service, the Catholic Education Service (CES) and the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD). It will feature resources for teachers including lesson guides and videos, for integration into Religious Education (RE), personal, social, health and economic (PSHE), and citizenship lessons. Of the 19 dioceses in England, Birmingham, which covers 13 local authorities stretching from Stoke to Reading, is home to the highest number (241) of Catholic schools and colleges, including serving both urban and rural communities. The ambition is that a successful pilot in a targeted area could be replicated at scale across the wider archdiocesan family of schools ahead of any potential national rollout. The Most Rev Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham and consultor to the Holy See’s Commission for Religious Relations with the
Jews and the Rt Rev Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds and Chairman of the CES, said in a joint statement: “One of the most fundamental Biblical teachings is that each one of us is made in the image and likeness of God. “In Catholic schools 10% of curriculum time is dedicated to Religious Education, meaning alongside Catholic Christianity other religions like Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and world views are given more study time than in most nondenominational schools, contributing to community cohesion. “The Catholic education sector within the Archdiocese of Birmingham therefore welcomes this opportunity to work in partnership with the Board of Deputies of British Jews on a pilot initiative to help benefit schools and communities at a time of heightened tensions across the country.” President of the Board of Deputies Phil Rosenberg said: “It is vital that schools teach young people to recognise and reject
antisemitism. The Board of Deputies is proud to work with the Archdiocese of Birmingham and the Catholic Education Service to develop resources for Catholic schools, that will also help teachers deliver accurate, empathetic education about Jewish identity. "We are grateful to the Department for Education for funding this important pilot, which has the potential to be scaled across the wider Catholic school community. I would also like to pay tribute to the commitment of the Catholic Church to taking real and meaningful steps to educate children against antisemitic hate.” Throughout England and Wales there are 2,129 Catholic schools and colleges, educating 824,397 pupils, and employing 50,381 teachers; there are also four Catholic universities. The Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD) represents 200+ synagogues and communal organisations, providing essential lived experience expertise on Jewish identity, diversity and antisemitism.
The Catholic Post. September 2026. Page 9.
refugee tales includes Catholic Churches in its summer walk itinerary for the first time abdiocese.org.uk Walkers, friends and supporters of Refugee Tales received a warm welcome at Arundel Cathedral and Our Lady of Sorrows in Bognor Regis recently, with the walking and storysharing project run by Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (GDWG), including Catholic churches in its summer walk programme for the very first time. The Catholic Church recognises the innate dignity of every human life. The Bishops of England and Wales have been vocal in their support for a just aid budget and the extension of safe routes for refugees and asylum seekers, such as resettlement programmes, visa schemes and humanitarian corridors, so that people can exercise their right to migrate in a dignified and humane manner. Volunteers and staff from Refugee Tales and GDWG promote the welfare of people held in immigration detention, offering friendship and practical support while calling for positive change - including an end to indefinite detention in immigration removal centres such as Tinsley Houseand Brook House near Gatwick Airport, which are run by Serco.
Arundel Cathedral welcomed Refugee Tales on the first day of the charity's five-day walk, hosting an evening of reflection, music and storytelling, with a keynote address from CAFOD Director Christine Allen, readings by actor Laura Hanna, Refugee Tales and immigration detention visitor John Barrett, and music from the Dovetail DaCapo Refugee Orchestra. According to the United Nations, more than 117 million people are forcibly displaced around the world, 38% of whom are children. Reflecting on the complex, often dangerous, factors that compel people to leave their homes, Christine Allen said: "In my day job [at CAFOD] I come across the reality of conflict, war, oppression, climate change and disasters that force people from their homes. The vast majority... do not cross borders. Very few actually come here to Britain. “The headlines and media stories about asylum seekers and immigration are so often negative. It is increasingly rare for us to hear from those who have sought asylum, and for them to have public opportunities to express their creative potential; their hopes and dreams. People who seek asylum are much
spoken about and often misrepresented, but are very rarely heard. That's what makes this evening so special." The Catholic Parish of Bognor Regis and Slindon welcomed 160 people to Our Lady of Sorrows on the second day of the walk, with the evening centred on hospitality, listening
September Saint
medieval Voice for Our Ecological Age: St Hildegard of Bingen This September, one of the most unexpected names in British cultural life is a 12th-century Benedictine abbess. Her chant is being performed at London's Wigmore Hall and praised in Gramophone magazine; St Paul's Cathedral has published a guide to her visions; and the Vatican's own pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale is built around art inspired by her. Nine centuries on, St Hildegard of Bingen is having a moment — and her feast day, 17 September, is a good excuse to find out why. Born in 1098 in the Rhineland, Hildegard entered religious life as a child and went on to found and lead two monasteries. From an early age she experienced vivid visions, which she described as being flooded by “a great flash of light”, and which she eventually recorded, at her spiritual director's urging, in the book Scivias. She was, by any measure, a polymath: a composer whose Symphonia and morality play Ordo Virtutum make her one of the
earliest identifiable composers in Western music; a working scientist and physician who wrote treatises on medicine and the natural world; and, remarkably for a woman in the 12th century, a public preacher who corresponded as an equal with popes, bishops and emperors. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named her a Doctor of the Church — one of only four women ever to hold that title. What makes her feel so present today is a word she coined: viriditas, or “greening power” — the vital, life-giving freshness of God she saw running through all creation, and whose loss she equated with sin and sickness. In an age preoccupied with ecological conversion and care for our common home, Hildegard's insistence that holiness and the health of the natural world are bound together reads less like medieval mysticism and more like a message written for us. This September, her feast day is worth marking properly: seek out a recording of her chant,
and shared humanity. Reflecting on the purpose of Refugee Tales, GDWG's Director Anna said: "Our message is one of imagining better. We don't march against anything, we don't rage at injustice, we simply listen to each other in conversation, try to learn from one another and walk, in the words of Refugee Tales Patron Ali Smith, for 'the better imagined'. We call for a future without immigration detention, with a time limit for detention as a first step." Speaking shortly after the celebration, Fr David Osborne highlighted how privileged the parish community felt to welcome Refugee Tales and GDWG walkers to their church: "Our hall became a place of food, refreshment and welcome, where tired legs and feet could rest before everyone gathered in the church for an evening of words and music,” he said. “The words came through letters written by former detainees whose lives had been touched by the friendship and solidarity of GDWG. They spoke of shared stories, shared suffering and, in the midst of it all, hope. "Interspersed with these powerful letters was music - songs of love and loss. Although many of us did not understand the language, the power of the music conveyed exactly what was being expressed. As Anna from GDWG remarked, it spoke directly to the heart."
read a page of Scivias, or simply pause on the word viriditas and consider where that greening power is at work — or absent — in your own life.
The parish has an active Justice & Peace network, with members of the group organising many of the practical arrangements for the visit and helping to provide hospitality throughout the evening. Reflecting on the Church's call to welcome the stranger, Fr David added: "We want people to find a welcome and a listening ear in our churches. The aims of GDWG and the Refugee Tales walkers coincide with the Gospel message of solidarity with the poorest, the marginalised and those with no voice. We were delighted to host everyone."
Page 10. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
“God really loves me, and he wants me to do this" dioceseofnottingham.uk
A question from a parish priest, a quiet evening at the seminary, and two ordinary men found their lives changed by saying yes Some months before he knelt in front of his Bishop, Colin Page lay on his bed one evening at the seminary and felt something he had never expected. “I just laid there and thought, ‘God really loves me, and he wants me to do this, and I want to do it,’” he said. He had been an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion in his parish, one of the people who help give out Communion at Mass, for more than twenty years. When his parish priest asked whether he might go further, Colin’s answer came from a simple conviction: “I always feel that when your parish priest asks you something, Jesus is asking you.” Even so, it had never occurred to him the road might lead here.
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Salford Diocese bids to make student first Gen Z saint
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Blessing of Tunnel Boring Machine
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Calls for National Consecration to the Sacred Heart
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Running Toward Freed
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Seafarers’ Sunday
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Building a dementia friendly parish
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Pope Leo presents 'Magn ifica calling for disarmamenthumanitas’ of AI
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Pope Leo XIV presents "Magnifica Humanitas" as the Church’s response to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, calling for AI to be “disarmed” from logics of domination, exclusion and war Drawing parallels with Rerum27th Novarum, when Monica - August Pope St Leo XIII highlighted the impact of the Industrial Revolution on people’s lives, the Pope urges the global community to place technological progress at the service of human dignity, solidarity and the common good.
Celebrating the Completion of a Transformative Cathedral Restoration
At the presentation of his first social encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV appealed for artificial intelligence to be placed firmly at the service of humanity, warning against technologies that foster domination, exclusion and war.
Image: HAMAD TQATQA
and steadfastness of that reflected the unity indcatholicnews.com the Palestinian people. Though separated the their footsteps carried many parts of the geographically, Usama Nicola writes: In and spirit. records, stay fit, or same message world, people run to break challenge. But in simply for fun and personal years of interruption, the a much deeper After more than two Palestine, running carries returned to the streets of freedom, for life, and Palestine Marathon meaning. Here, we run for Al-Rasheed Street, not despite everything Bethlehem and Gaza's to remind the world that but as a national still refuse to stop merely as a sporting event, this people endure, they that sport is a and human message declaring dreaming. and that even under right for every Palestinian, skies siege, destruction, and barriers, Palestinians the beneath In the streets of Bethlehem, carried the story of continue to hold onto life, joy, and hope. of a city that has long athletes from 75 resilience, more than 10,500 the 10th Palestine Gaza, which has endured unimaginable countries took part in the tell to Church the today at marathon Starting suffering, joined the International Marathon. forward." Every of Bethlehem’s world: "We will not stop moving of the Nativity, in the center of resistance and runners through the Old City, its route takes step there felt like an act (Aida and Dheisheh), Running in Gaza was town, two refugee camps affirmation of life itself. Wall. testimony to the and along the apartheid not just a race, it was a living of a people whose spirit cannot runners joined determination At the same time, over 2,000 moving scene be broken. from Gaza, creating a deeply
On Saturday morning, in a warm Cathedral on the feast of St Benedict, it did. Bishop Patrick McKinney laid his hands on Colin and on Chris Jones, ordaining both men to the permanent diaconate, a ministry most often carried by married men with jobs and families.
Pope Leo XIV promulgates the encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" He explained that Addressing participants Magnifica Humanitas gathered in the Synod emerged from extensive Hall for the presentation Technology and moral Image: Vatican Media listening to scientists, of the encyclical, the responsibility technologies, engineers, educators, Pope described the but also to build a political leaders and Recalling the Church’s longstanding support current technological more just future together. families concerned revolution as an “epochal for nuclear disarmament, about the future the Pope said every turning point” younger of great comparable to the generations. At the same technological power upheaval confronted time, he said must be by he had heard Pope Leo XIII during “No one rebuilds alone” accompanied by moral “very troubling voices” the Industrial Revolution. discernment and public Reflecting regarding autonomous weapons on his years as a missionary systems and algorithms accountability. in Peru, capable of denying Pope Leo XIV recalled “Artificial intelligence access to healthcare, the devastation caused already touches many employment or security areas of our lives and by torrential rains and based on unjust and “In a similar sense, artificial affects decisions that floods in 2017, saying intelligence now learned he prejudiced data. shape human coexistence, there that rebuilding demands to be ‘disarmed,’ he said, noting that involves far more freed from logics than restoring it is also “dramatically that turn it into an instrument physical structures. changing how war is From that process of of domination, waged.” discernment, the Pope exclusion or death,” he said. said, came a conviction “It means repairing bonds, expressed clearly in the restoring trust, and encyclical: “artificial A new “Rerum Novarum” reawakening hope intelligence needs to in the future,” he moment be Quoting Saint Paul’s exhortation disarmed.” said, Drawing a direct parallel to “keep adding that “no awake” (1 Thess 5:6), with Pope Leo XIII’s one rebuilds alone.” the Holy Father warned landmark 1891 encyclical that peace itself is Rerum Novarum, Acknowledging endangered whenever The Pope Leo XIV said the the forcefulness of the Pope then turned to Church today is likewise phrase, technology weakens humanity’s the biblical figure of Pope Leo XIV said the called to interpret the critical sense Nehemiah rebuilding gravity of the present and moral “new things” of the age the walls of Jerusalem, vigilance. moment requires in the light of the Gospel words capable presenting the image and the dignity of the of as a model for the “awakening consciences human person. and indicating paths Yet ethical construction the Pope stressed that of the digital age. forward for humanity.” the task before humanity is not merely to restrain dangerous Continued on Page 4
BETHLEHEM
dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Salford Cathedral has reopened its doors following a three-year programme of restoration, renewal and refurbishment that has transformed the cathedral The Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist welcomed worshippers and visitors back on Saturday 4 July, when a weekend of celebrations began to mark the completion of this significant project. Having served as the spiritual heart of the diocese for more than 175 years, the cathedral required extensive restoration to address
bringing renewed colour, vibrancy and beauty to this sacred space.
longstanding repairs to its stonework and infrastructure while ensuring it could continue to meet the needs of a growing community.
Alongside restoring the cathedral’s heritage, the project has also invested in its future. Improved facilities, increased flexibility, enhanced accessibility and a strong commitment to sustainability to help ensure the cathedral can continue to serve the people of the diocese for generations to come.
A key element of the project has been the restoration of many of the cathedral’s historic features, including the reinstatement of original decorative schemes and the conservation of stained-glass windows,
While much of the work focused on essential repairs to the fabric of the building, visitors will notice a remarkable transformation throughout the cathedral. Improvements include new energy-efficient exterior lighting
scheme, restored statues, renewed interior decoration, the repositioning of key liturgical features, and a new glass entrance on Chapel Street designed to offer a visible sense of welcome in the heart of the city. We are grateful to Purcell Architects and Simpsons of York for their expertise throughout the project. Their specialist knowledge of heritage conservation has enabled the careful restoration of the cathedral’s historic character while incorporating modern standards and technology to support its future mission. Continued on page 2
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Preaching at the Mass, Bishop Patrick told the congregation why the role matters. "The role of the deacon is so important because he reminds both the priest and the bishop with whom he ministers that the very heart of all ministry is indeed service," he said. Then he offered an image to hold onto. "Perhaps a good understanding of the service offered by the deacon is to think of him as an ambassador," he said. "The deacon is called to act and speak in the name of the one who sent him." The reward, he added, "is not therefore any personal glory or social recognition, but
rather the grace that comes from living a life of generous, joyful service to the glory of God." For Chris, Saturday’s ordination was the culmination of a journey that began with a question he could not shake off. Years ago, his parish priest asked, out of the blue, whether he had ever thought about the Diaconate. “Once that seed was planted in my mind, it was very difficult to forget it,” he said. “It kept coming back and kept coming back.” Saying yes changed him. “It’s changed my life. It’s changed me. It’s changed my faith,” he said. His wife, Susie, watched it happen. Colin’s wife, Christine, noticed too. “Do you know something? You’ve changed,” she said one night at home. “She didn’t say, ‘And for the better,’” he recalls. But he knew what she meant: a deeper understanding of the faith he thought he already had. Both men are quick to say the calling was never theirs alone. Five years of formation one day a month at Oscott, the seminary near
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Birmingham, and evenings of study at home asked a great deal of their families, too. “There’s things that we would’ve done in the past as a family that have been put on hold for a few years,” Chris said; his wife, Susie, gave him “real interest, real support” throughout. Colin’s wife, Christine, long active in their parish, and helping mind three grandchildren under five, knows home life will change again, but as he puts it, “it’s important to us that we give to Jesus.” Neither man is under any illusion about what comes next. Colin’s parish alone spreads across four churches, and much of a deacon’s week, he expects, will be spent visiting the sick and the elderly who can no longer get to Mass. Chris is less certain how his own days will map out, but he knows what he’s looking for. “I think one of the things that I’ve really enjoyed, and it’s really a privilege, is to serve and work with other parishioners,” he says. There were nerves on Saturday, both had admitted it before the ceremony. “I’ll be nervous. To say otherwise, I’d be lying,” Colin said. “But at the same time, I’m looking forward to it.” Chris hoped his own anxiety wouldn’t take over: “I just hope that doesn’t come to dominate... I’m hoping I’m going to enjoy it.” What stays with Colin is not the ceremony but what it means: “It’s what you receive on the day, the grace, and what you do with it afterwards, that God’s looking for.” Chris and Colin will take up their ministry in their parishes over the coming weeks Chris at the Parish of St Ralph Sherwin, Derby and Colin at the Parish of Our Lady and All Saints,Mansfield.
For all your advertising requirements please contact Nick on 01440 730399 nick@cathcom.org Deacon Chris and Colin with Bishop Patrick and their families.
If you’ve ever wondered whether God might be asking something of you, you can find out more by contacting the vocations team at your diocese.
The Catholic Post. September 2026. Page 11.
Kindness is King
Pupils at a Coventry primary school have received national recognition for their efforts to make kindness part of everyday life.
birminghamdiocese.org.uk
Pupils at a Coventry primary school have received national recognition for their efforts to make kindness part of everyday life St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, part of the Romero Catholic Academy, have been named runners-up in the Collective Kindness category at the National Kindness Awards. Judges recognised the school’s Kindness Ambassadors for working tirelessly to spread kindness across the school and wider community, leading a wide range of thoughtful projects designed to help people feel valued, supported and included. Their work has included assemblies, kindnessthemed story sharing, fundraising for 52 Lives, the charity behind the awards, introducing a Friendship Bench to tackle loneliness, a Kindness Notice Board which is regularly updated with uplifting messages and celebrations of kind acts, and special awards celebrating pupils who have gone above and beyond to help others. The ambassadors have also built a close relationship with Phil Mead House, regularly visiting residents to read, sing songs, take part in crafts and spend time together.
The visits have created meaningful connections across generations, while also helping pupils to develop confidence, empathy and a strong sense of responsibility towards others. Within school, the group has helped to make kindness visible in every part of the day. They introduced a Kindness Advent Calendar, supported positive and inclusive play during Children’s Mental Health Week and took part in Positive Noticing Day, as well as reading to younger children and helping pupils understand how small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Their creativity has also shone through in projects such as decorating kindness stones for staff and marking National Smile Day by giving every child and adult a smiley sticker. The National Kindness Awards celebrate inspiring individuals, groups and schools that are helping to make primary school communities kinder and more inclusive across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The free-to-enter awards are organised by the School of Kindness, a project of the 52 Lives charity, which delivers free workshops and assemblies to more than 280,000 children every year. Judges said St Greogry’s entry stood out because kindness had been woven through the entire school year, rather than being limited to a single event.
They were also impressed by the way the ambassadors’ work reached pupils, teachers, support staff and members of the local community. Charlene Ellis, Higher Level Teaching Assistant at St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, nominated the Kindness Ambassadors for the award. She said: “We are absolutely delighted that our Kindness Ambassadors have been recognised in this way. “They bring so much warmth, energy and compassion to everything they do, and their ideas have had a genuinely positive impact on children, staff and members of our wider community. “What makes them so special is that kindness is not just something they celebrate on one day of the year. They have helped make it part of everyday life at St Gregory’s, sprinkle kindness into everything they do, and we could not be prouder of them.
£1.80 provides a child with a meal every weekday for a month
“To be chosen as runners-up from so many nominations across the country is a wonderful achievement and a brilliant reflection of the difference they continue to make.” The ambassadors are now developing an annual kindness plan to build on their success and ensure their ideas continue to grow, helping kindness remain at the heart of school life for years to come.
Donate now at www.reachfoundationuk.org Your money goes a long way! Reach Foundation UK - charity no: 1171521
Page 12. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
‘How my Irish mother’s faith saved my life’ A book about mental Health, childhood trauma, and Faith Deacon Sean Loone
‘Her son took the hand she could no longer use and rubbed it gently down the side of his face, she smiled, and one tear left the corner of her eye and rolled gently down her cheek. The lines on her face told a story, but only he could read it. It was time to let go now, her strength was gone, and she had nothing more to give. She closed her eyes for the last time and would never open them again in this life. Now it was the turn of her own son to wipe the tears away from his face, but he knew her story, and one day, when the time was right, he would tell it.’ This is an extract from my new book called, ‘A Million Reasons to be Angry – only One to Love,’ and describes the death of my mother. She came from a small place called Kilbride near Swinford in county Mayo located in the West of Ireland. Bridget along with her parents, two sisters and four brothers lived on a small homestead at the end of a boreen surrounded by vast open countryside. They scratched a living out of the land but as the times changed such a life became unsustainable. So it was that she and her siblings eventually moved to England in search of work and a better life. Eventually I came along and the rest as they say is history. Or is it? If I had to summarise my new book in two words, they would be struggle and hope.
Struggle because that is the best way to describe my mother’s life from the moment she met and married my alcoholic father, and hope because it was her faith which eventually was to save us both. At times then there is a dark shadow which overhangs some of the things I felt compelled to describe in the book. For this reason, I reflect deeply on two issues which threatened to crush the very life out of me, and they are mental turmoil and childhood trauma. Yet, that is far from the end of the story. What I attempt to do through the themes I explore in the book is to take people on a heartfelt journey into the depths of my own soul. As a result, I refer to the project as a spiritual memoir whereby I share much of my own life story, from a broken childhood filled with emotional wounds to a life of renewed purpose rooted in faith and love. My aim is to combine honest memories and experiences with reflections on mental health, literature, and Christian belief by gently leading the reader through moments of darkness into the light of healing love. Along the way I draw inspiration from figures such as Don Quixote and Bilbo Baggins whilst at the same time anchoring everything in my mother’s faith in Jesus Christ. My great hope, therefore, is to offer insights into the struggle to discover the ‘authentic self.’
Pray with the Pope
At its heart, the book is about hope: the hope that comes when someone opens the door to your pain; the hope that arises from the kindness of a teacher; and the eternal hope found in God’s unconditional love. I would like to think that the book is characterised by courageous honesty which seeks to show that there may well be a million reasons to be angry at life, but God’s unconditional love is the only answer that heals. To achieve all of this I draw heavily not only on my mother’s faith but also on my own Irish identity. Hence there are constant references throughout the book to Ireland and the debt I owe to everything it has given to me. This led me to say with reference to my mother and grandmother, Kate, and Bridget Conry, ‘I stood on your shoulders and saw wonderful things.’ So, if you want to be taken on a ride from Kilbride to Swinford, resting for a while in Knock, all in county Mayo before being taken to Dublin and beyond with the music to ‘Riverdance’ as your soundtrack, then join me on a journey through a life. At times you might just find yourself laughing, and I have no doubt that there will be tears too but if you see it through to the end what emerges out of the darkness is the light of love. To finish, for anyone struggling with their own wounds, supporting someone going through
any kind of hardship, or seeking to deepen their own understanding of faith, mental health, or childhood trauma, I hope this book offers solace, guidance, and inspiration. 'A Million Reasons to be Angry - only one to Love' is available at Amazon and other booksellers.
Evangelisation of the City In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, You walk through our streets and squares, enter tall buildings and humble neighbourhoods, and silently accompany millions who seek meaning amid noise and haste. You know, Lord, the heart of the city: its lights and shadows, its noise and loneliness. We know that cities are called to be places of freedom and opportunity, but they can also become spaces of anonymity and isolation. That's why today we ask You for a renewed gaze, able to discover in urban life fertile ground for proclaiming your Gospel.
For resources on how to Pray with the Pope, either on your own or in groups, use this QR code.
Today's cities are filled with contrasts. They are places of freedom and opportunity, as well as anonymity and loneliness for many who live in them. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of urban life, millions of people seek deeper meaning for their lives, often without finding it. This reality is especially concerning for those living on the margins and for those who feel invisible in the midst of the multitude. In his latest prayer intention, Pope Leo invites us to pray for the evangelisation of the city so that the Church might know how to reach out to everyone, offering comfort, community, and the joy of the Gospel in every corner of the city. You are not alone. By praying, you join the millions of people who belong to the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network who, from every corner of the world, are praying for humanity's challenges and the Church's mission.
Give us a creative and deep faith, that doesn't remain in words, but becomes flesh through simple and loving gestures. Make us a Church that goes forth, able to reach out to the peripheries, to console those who are lonely, and to sow fraternity and connection instead of giving in to indifference. Lord, may our urban communities be open and welcoming homes, places where hope is shared, where no one feels invisible, and where the joy of your Gospel shines in the hidden lives of so many brothers and sisters. Make us your witnesses in the city, bold and creative missionaries, who proclaim your Love with their livesa Love capable of overcoming haste, noise, and anonymity. Amen.
“A sign of hope and renewal”
The Catholic Post. September 2026. Page 13.
dioceseofsalford.org.uk Yesterday, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and our diocesan patron, clergy, religious, parishioners, and invited guests from across the diocese gathered at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist for the Solemn Mass of Dedication and Consecration of the new Altar. This diocesan family celebration marks a major milestone in the restoration and renewal of our mother church. During the celebration, Bishop John solemnly dedicated and consecrated the altar in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, Bishops of England and Wales, clergy, religious, and representatives of parishes from across the diocese. He began by thanking Cardinal Nichols, the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Buendia, visiting Bishops of England and Wales and diocesan clergy and faithful for being part of such a special day. He also took time to thank the nearly 800 people that dedicated their time, gifts and expertise to make the project such a success. In his homily, Bishop John reflected on the significance of the cathedral’s restoration and the return of the High Altar to a place of honour, telling the congregation: “We have our mother church again.” He went on to describe the cathedral as a place of prayer, sacrament and encounter with God, with the Bishop reminding those present and the hundreds watching via the live stream that the Church is ultimately much more than stone and mortar. While recognising the importance of restoring the physical building, Bishop John emphasised that we as Christians are called to be the “living stones” of the Church, bringing Gospel values into the world and helping to build up the Body of Christ through their daily lives and witness. Echoing the words of St Paul, Bishop John reminded the congregation that each person is called to be an ambassador for Christ, delegated by Jesus to stand in his place and carry out his work in the world today. “What a privilege and what a challenge,” said Bishop John as he encouraged everyone present to consider the difference they can make in their own communities. He went on to stress that every person has a role to play in the mission of the Church, asking not simply what the Church can achieve collectively, but what impact everyone can have individually through their own gifts and talents. Returning to the three themes that have featured prominently in Pope Leo’s papacy, peace, unity and bridge-building, Bishop John stressed the importance of the role we can all play in becoming peacemakers in today’s world.
Concluding his homily, Bishop John said our diocesan prayer, “Stay with us Lord on our journey,” and reminded us all that Christ continues to walk alongside us as we seek to live out our faith. Following the Prayers of Dedication, Bishop John placed the relics of St Ambrose Barlow, St Polycarp and St Aurelius into a suitably prepared aperture, signifying that all those who have been baptised in the Death of Christ, especially those who have shed their blood for the Lord, share in Christ’s passion. The aperture containing the relic was closed within the Altar by James Elliott, the stonemason who built the altar. During the service the Altar was anointed and incensed before being prepared for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The four piers of the Altar symbolise the four Gospels, while the triple arch motif represents the Holy Trinity and, repeated across each face, recalls the twelve Apostles. The carved and gilded vine leaves point to Christ – the true vine – and to Saint John the Evangelist, the patron of the cathedral. The principal stone of the Altar is Derbyshire Fossil Stone, traditionally known as “Once a Week”. It was cut and carved, together with the Ambo and Font, by stonemason James Elliott. The new Altar forms part of a wider restoration and re-ordering of the cathedral, including repairs to the roof, spire and external stonework; the installation of energy-efficient lighting; conservation of interior stonework and stained glass; redecoration of the nave, chancel and chapels; restoration of key liturgical features including the Rood Cross and Blessed Sacrament Chapel; the creation of a new Chapel of Initiation; increased seating capacity; and a new glass entrance designed to extend a spirit of welcome.
The service also saw two new pieces of music specially commissioned for our Cathedral Choir performed for the first time ‘Vidi Aquam’ and ‘Adoro te Devote’ – these are two of the Cathedral Restoration Commissions with more
to be premiered throughout the remainder of the year. The service ended with Archbishop Buendia passing on a blessing from Pope Leo.
Page 14. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
the Fool’s Pilgrimage – Fr Jon Bielawski rIP Dan Sobey
It’s been a tough month here in merry old Plymouth, our good friend and parish priest, Fr Jon Bielawski, has been upgraded to Glory. Even writing those words feels strange. Like so many people whose lives he quietly touched, I’ve found myself reflecting on that curious mixture of sadness, gratitude and hope that follows the death of someone who genuinely made the world a better place simply by being themselves. Fr Jon had served the parishes of St Peter’s, Crownhill, St Thomas More, Southway, and later Holy Cross, Yelverton, since 2015. In many ways, it felt as though life had come full circle. Having been born and brought up in Plymouth, Fr Jon later returned to Crownhill as its parish priest. There’s something beautifully poetic about that. Pilgrimages often have a way of bringing us back to where we first began—not because we’ve gone backwards, but because we’ve grown enough to see familiar places with new eyes.
He understood that some of life’s deepest truths are discovered not in grand lectures but in everyday conversations between ordinary people trying to live good lives. That, to me, was Fr Jon, deeply spiritual, wonderfully down to earth. Comfortable talking about God and equally comfortable talking about football and laughing at himself. Take my granddaughter’s christening. We had a party afterwards with plenty of people who had never really set foot inside a church. To them, Fr Jon was something of a mystery. Yet he happily sat around chatting, answering questions and diving into honest conversations with anyone and everyone. He never seemed to wear faith like a uniform. He simply lived it. That was the style of evangelisation he promoted through the Genesis Mission— spreading the Gospel one conversation at a time.
Although I’d known Fr Jon for several years, I feel our friendship really began to deepen after my own pilgrimage along the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in 2018.
There was another chapter in our friendship that really cemented my admiration for him, and it came during one of the strangest periods most of us have ever lived through. COVID
Like many pilgrims, I returned home with tired feet but an awakened heart. Somewhere along that ancient road, thoughts I’d carried for years finally found their way from the depths of my mind onto paper. I wrote an article about my experience, and, to my surprise, it was published. In many ways, that was the beginning of The Fool’s Pilgrimage.
Whatever our individual views on lockdowns and restrictions, those months left many people isolated, anxious and lonely. Physical health understandably dominated the headlines, but Fr Jon instinctively recognised that people also needed hope, community and spiritual nourishment.
Fr Jon read what I’d written and, not long afterwards, invited me to speak at one of the parish men’s breakfasts. I remember thinking they’d invited the wrong person. Surely there were wiser people. Holier people. Better speakers. Men who knew far more about the faith—and about life—than I ever would. I’d been to previous breakfasts where seminarians and gifted speakers shared their stories. They had studied theology, travelled the world and done remarkable things. Who was going to want to listen to me? But that was one of Fr Jon’s greatest gifts. He had an ability to see something in ordinary people that they often couldn’t yet see in themselves. He wasn’t interested in putting priests on pedestals. He preferred putting people around tables, a cooked breakfast, a cup of tea, honest conversation, plenty of laughter. One of the things I loved most about St Peter’s—and many churches across the globe— was what I affectionately came to call “Evangelisation through Cake.” After Mass there would be coffee, conversation, biscuits, ideally cake and, if Fr Jon got there before you, probably one less Wagon Wheel on the plate.
So, on Sundays he would stand in the doorway of St Peter’s Church, sharing a short reflection and prayers into the church car park. People stood well apart or listened from their cars, but for a brief time they weren’t alone. Not everyone approved. There were concerns that gatherings like these might encourage vulnerable people to leave their homes. Knowing Fr Jon, though, I never believed he was trying to make a point or rebel against the rules. He was simply trying to care for people. He saw the bigger picture, he understood that we don’t simply need healthy bodies. We need healthy minds, healthy relationships, healthy souls, mental wellbeing mattered, spiritual wellbeing mattered, human connection mattered. If there was a safe way to remind people they hadn’t been forgotten, Fr Jon was going to find it, that was simply who he was.
This reflection was taken after the first Mass Fr Jon celebrated following his initial round of treatment. going and, almost without warning, say, “Let’s pray.” When Lisa first experienced this, she wasn’t quite sure what to do., not being Catholic, she’d politely smile whenever Fr Jon said, “I’ll pray for you.” Then, before she’d really had chance to think about it, he’d begin praying—often speaking directly into whatever challenge she happened to be facing at that moment. At first she felt a little awkward, after a while, it simply felt like Fr Jon. Prayer wasn’t something he performed, it was simply part of how he loved people. One of my favourite memories came after we’d finished building the SobeyFitness PT Studio. Fr Jon came round to bless it. Most people imagine a priest arriving with holy water, saying a few prayers and quietly disappearing, Fr Jon did all of that and then wandered over to the punch bag, “I used to box,” he said with a grin. Being a proud southpaw, he demonstrated a few combinations and assured me he was rather good. I can testify—he had a surprisingly heavy punch! Anyone walking through the door at that moment would probably have stopped in their tracks. A Catholic priest throwing punches in a gym, it seemed such an unlikely sight, yet somehow, with Fr Jon, it made perfect sense. He never compartmentalised life.
As life gradually returned to normal, he encouraged people back to church and continued building not simply a parish of parishioners, but a parish family. That was his philosophy.
Faith belonged in churches, but it also belonged in gyms, around breakfast tables, on paddleboards, in hospitals, in gardens, at family barbecues, over coffee after Mass. Everywhere people live, laugh, cry and love. He quietly dissolved the imaginary walls we so often build between the sacred and the ordinary.
He also had a wonderful habit of turning up. He’d pop round for a coffee, ask how life was
Looking back now, I realise that invitation to speak at the men’s breakfast wasn’t really
about the Camino at all, it was an invitation to keep walking, because the Camino doesn’t end when you arrive in Santiago. If anything, that’s where the real pilgrimage begins, the pilgrimage of coming home, the pilgrimage of choosing kindness when irritation feels easier, the pilgrimage of remaining hopeful when life hurts, the pilgrimage of loving people who don’t always make themselves easy to love, the pilgrimage of discovering that holiness isn’t somewhere “out there.” It’s found in kitchens, workplaces, hospitals, churches, gyms, paddleboards, garden fences and breakfast tables. Fr Jon understood this instinctively, he simply kept showing up, Mass after Mass, conversation after conversation, wedding after wedding, funeral after funeral, visit after visit, smile after smile. When cancer entered his life around eighteen months before his death, it would have been understandable for fear or bitterness to take centre stage. Instead, courage quietly took the lead. Not loud courage, not dramatic courage, just the quiet, faithful courage of someone who accepted each day as it came, continued to care for others and trusted that, whatever happened, he was held by something greater than himself. That may have been the greatest sermon he ever preached. Not one delivered from the pulpit, one that he lived. Earlier this year, a few days before Good Friday, I received a phone call. “Dan,” the voice said, “we need your help. Fr Jon wants to do the Walk of Witness. We need someone to push him in a wheelchair.” I was drafted in. The Walk of Witness is a beautiful public expression of our faith. It’s an outdoor version of the Stations of the Cross—a series of prayers and reflections following Christ’s final journey to the Cross. The walk leaves St Peter’s Church, circles through the shopping area of Crownhill and returns to the church. Continued on next page
The Catholic Post. September 2026. Page 15.
Private requiem mass for Ann Widdecombe indcatholicnews.com A private Requiem Mass was held at Buckfast Abbey, Wednesday 12 August, for Ann Widdecombe. Around 100 family members, friends and colleagues, including former Tory ministers and broadcasters gathered to pay their last respects. Miss Widdecombe was a regular member of the congregation there. The homily was given by the Abbot of Buckfast, David Charlesworth OSB. He said: “In the midst of the shock, clamour and sometimes unwarranted comment surrounding her death, our response is to pray for the repose of her soul, to give thanks for her fortitude, and offer Holy Mass in this Abbey Church which Ann called her safe haven.
Even though we had the wheelchair… Fr Jon walked it. Looking back now, that moment feels even more poignant. Watching him battle through obvious discomfort, yet determined to complete that walk, was deeply humbling. Sharing those steps with him was an honour I’ll never forget. I honestly couldn’t tell you what Sunday it was or even remember a word of his homily, but I remember exactly how it made me feel, it made sense of suffering, it made sense of hope, it made sense of his life and somehow, it made a little more sense of mine too. Looking around the church after his funeral, there were so many sad faces. One of my young kickboxers, who attends Mass and knew Fr Jon through Notre Dame School, took one look at his photograph pinned to the wall and ran from the church in tears, her dad following close behind. She wasn’t the only one. People of every age were visibly stunned by his passing. As I’ve lit my weekly candle over these past few days, I’ve found myself thinking about the little light each of us carries. Some lights burn brightly for many decades, some flicker, some are hidden behind pain, some seem to go out altogether. But perhaps they never really do, perhaps they simply return to the Light from which they first came.
“Here we pray that she has finally been enfolded in the arms of the Risen Lord, where true love and peace reign, and where she will hear the Lord's words, 'well done, my good and faithful servant'." The Abbot said: “There is no doubt that Ann fearlessly upheld the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church. Her voice regarding these issues certainly upset some. Tributes were given by Miss Widdecombe's nephew, and Sir Christian Sweeting, a close personal friend. Donations made in her memory will be split between the Leprosy Mission and Abound, in support of the Christian Endeavour Hostel's projects in India. A public memorial service is expected to take place later this year.
Buckfast Abbey
Fr Jon’s earthly candle has gone out. But I have every hope that his light now burns more brightly than ever as he joins the Communion of Saints, praying for us still. As I continue this Fool’s Pilgrimage, I’ve realised that every pilgrim needs companions along the road. Some walk beside us for only a few miles. Others leave footprints on our hearts that remain long after they’ve disappeared around the next bend, Fr Jon was one of those companions. People often say that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. Looking back, I realise Fr Jon appeared at exactly the right time in my own pilgrimage. And perhaps, when the lesson has truly been learned, the teacher entrusts us to keep walking the road ourselves. Thank you for the breakfasts, thank you for the coffees, Wagon Wheels, prayers, conversations, laughter and for seeing something in me before I could see it myself. Also thank you for reminding me that God is just as present beside a punch bag as He is beside an altar. Rest in Glory, my friend. Until we meet again, may the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, and may the Light you helped so many of us recognise now shine upon you in all its fullness. Namaste.
For all your advertising requirements please contact Nick on 01440 730399 nick@cathcom.org
Page 16. The Catholic Post. September 2026.
16 Old footballer swapping cap? It's over for one writing 18 for the 8 Church (7) 17 Biblical country, to scupper Siamese, partly invaded (6) 19 Angel is originally sadistic, and threatening and nasty (5) 21 One quiet small US state imbibed whiskey (5) 22 Tooting, when passing over an abbey in France? (3) QUICK Across 1 Friend of Amnon, 'a very shrewd man' (7) 5 Another name for Elymas: Bar ----- (5) 8 Empire which ruled Palestine and Asia Minor in NT times (5) 9 Chapel of the Vatican whose ceiling was famously painted by Michelangelo (7) 10 First Christian martyr (7) 11 Leader of the Gittites (5) 13 Orlande de ------, with Palestrina and Victoria, the three giants of late medieval Church 18 (6) 15 Vale where the Israelites cut a cluster of grapes as proof of the Promised Land's bounty (6) 18 Integral aspect of many church services (5) 20 Son of Moses and Zipporah (7) 22 Name applied for a group of 19th century noncon formist chapels (7) 23 The second patriarch; son of Abraham and Sarah (5) 24 Priest who is a member of a cathedral chapter (5) 25 Lack of belief in the existence of God or gods (7) QUICK Down 1 Holy city for Jews and Christians and Muslims (9) 2 Fourth book of the Pentateuch (7) 3 Daughter of Leah and Jacob (5) 4 Ferruccio ------, one of many to have composed a version of Ave Maria (1877) (6)
5 6 7 14 16 17 19 21 22
Followers of Ignatius of Loyola (7) Holy person deemed worthy of canonization (5) Bishopric (3) 12 8 province from 27 AD, covering much of the eastern Adriatic and Balkan interior (9) Having a physical or moral blemish so as to make impure (7) Maurizio -------, important early 17th century composer and maestro di cappella at Bologna (7) OT empire created by Cyrus the Great and destroyed by Alexander the Great (6) Adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell (5) Scots Gaelic (5) Influential Benedictine abbey of Normandy at the time of the Conqueror (3)
Solution Across: 1 Jonadab, 5 Jesus, 8 Roman, 9 Sistine, 10 Stephen, 11 Ittai, 13 Lassus, 15 Eshcol, 18 Music, 20 Eliezer, 22 Bethels, 23 Isaac, 24 Canon, 25 Atheism. Down: 1 Jerusalem, 2 Numbers, 3 Dinah, 4 Busoni, 5 Jesuits, 6 Saint, 7 See, 12 Illyricum, 14 Unclean, 16 Cazzati, 17 Persia, 19 Satan, 21 Irish, 22 Bec.
CRYPTIC Across 1 Samuel's crafty man, cursed sailor almost catches fish (7) 5 When in Paris I discover Ecclesiasticus' Ben Sira (5) 8 Paul's detailed letter describing the Empire (5) 9 'Papae Sixti nisi est' is translated in chapel (7) 10 Move against female martyr (7) 11 One of two helping David find themselves amongst rab bit tails (5) 13 American girl's written first 18 for the 8 Church (6) 15 Abram's Amorite ally, Chloe's opposite (6) 18 Microphone, small American contribution to St Cecilia’s art (5) 20 Abram's servant high priest announced 'easy', being first to Rebekah (7) 22 Girl, old golfing type, attends Baptist chapels (7) 23 Savings account he's almost sacrificed (5) 24 Chaplain of Artillery's name is forgotten (5) 25 Morning, is he wrong in thinking there are no Gods? (7) CRYPTIC Down 1 Parry's hymn from John's first letter includes line in dubious measure (9) 2 Some Old Testament volumes (7) 3 Had Ulster divided, all over Jacob's daughter (5) 4 Vehicle to get to old Number One: was it Ave Maria for him? (6) 5 Society of 5 business types follow the first person in speaking French (7) 6 Being second in the East End isn't one of the blessed dead (5) 7 View bishop's domain (3) 12 Sick with icy rum, plying, 8s said, this part Aegean coast (9) 14 One relative, the first maybe to describe lepers in the Bible (7)