Catholic Pic April 2023

Welcome

Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week when we commemorate the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In these next seven days we will journey with the Lord in Jerusalem sharing his Last Supper with his disciples, the prayer and the agony in Gethsemane, his suffering and death on the cross and his triumph over death in his glorious resurrection on Easter morning. Let us pray that we may enter fully into this week that we will truly share the joy of Easter. Becoming a Church that cares for its priests was an important part of our Synod deliberations and we are sharing the journey so far with an update from our priests together with a Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Malcolm. On Wednesday evening this week priests and people will gather in the Metropolitan Cathedral for the Mass of Chrism – the perfect time for us to pray with and for our priests.

In accordance with Canon Law Bishop Tom Williams submitted his resignation from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, following his 75th birthday and will now concentrate on his pastoral ministry of being a priest and bishop among us. Thank you Bishop Tom, our prayers are with you.

From the Bishop’s Desk

am writing this in Faisalabad. The daytime temperature is touching 30 centigrade. I have spent the past week in Pakistan with Aid to the Church in Need. The journey began on 9 March at the international headquarters in Koenigstein, Germany. John Pontifex (Press and Information Officer ACN-UK) travelled with me to Frankfurt and we joined Reinhard Backes who has been to Pakistan on a number of occasions to gather information and design projects which enable the Church in Pakistan to consolidate and develop its presence in what can often be a discriminating environment.

Before the three of us travelled to Islamabad we had a tour of the busy office which oversees 5,000 projects in 140 countries where members of the Church suffer discrimination and persecution. In the museum there is a picture depicting Jesus washing the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. This image stayed with me during the week I spent in Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad. The people, religious, catechists, priests and bishops are very much servants of one another and the local community.

was nervous when heard that this trip was to Pakistan. Generally, any news we hear is not good. In Lahore the regional headquarters of the Federal Investigation Bureau was targeted when a vehicle containing a large quantity of explosive was detonated killing and injuring many personnel, blowing out the windows of the Cathedral across the road and rendering the Archbishop’s House and diocesan offices unfit for use.

We received garlands and gifts. Rose petals were strewn before us as we entered churches, parish halls and villages. The welcome was genuine and heartfelt. My experience in Pakistan has given me much to reflect on as we enter Holy Week and ponder Christ’s victory over sin and death.

Right Reverend Thomas Neylon Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool

Contents:

4 Pastoral Letter and Main Feature Sharing the journey so far of what the priests have done since the Synod

8 From the archives

The day they shut the ‘Prov’

10 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life

11 News News from around the Archdiocese

14 Caring for Creation Tree of Life

15 Cathedral Record

The beautiful services of Holy Week and Easter

16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese

27 Animate Youth Ministry Spring is in the air

28 Pic Extras

Mums the word News from the KSC

29 Nugent News

Celebrating our Nugent heroes

30 Dialogue and Unity

Rev Andrew Edwards

A passion for ecumenism

My dear friends in Jesus Christ,

As we move toward the end of Lent and are very aware of the difficult situations across our world and close at home, we receive a Gospel full of hope and encouragement.

St John gives us seven miracles in his Gospel – today’s miracle is the climax and the greatest of all the miracles of Jesus. Bread is all right, but we get hungry again. Wine is fine, but we get thirsty after a while. Healing the sick is marvellous, but we still die.

The astounding message of the Gospel today is that Jesus is not only master of hunger, thirst, and illness, but even of death itself.

And as the Gospel today points out to us, God’s care does not stop at death. All those who witnessed the raising of Lazarus could see that God’s care and love did not end with the stopping of the pulse, it was stronger than death. We are invited to believe that as well. That is why we use the words from the Gospel so often at funeral services: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, they will never die’.

We live in a world where death is talked about more than life, a world dominated by death. For us Christians there are still tears at death, but we have the message of hope as well. Jesus, we are told loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus - he cried on being told about the death of his friend. Tears at death are natural and right. But we must not stop there. Death would seem to be an end, final. But this idea is challenged and changed in the Gospel today. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus the finality of death has disappeared and something greater and grander is born.

These concerns found their place in the Synod recommendations. There was a clear affirmation of the need to assist priests, both personally and in their ministry as they work with one another and in collaboration with the people of God. A question that was asked was how can we better support our priests?

Jesus was promising another kind of lifefor which death was a preparation. Death is not an end, a finality, but the condition of passing into another kind of life, which is unbounded, has no limitations, eternal life with God.

Today, want to give you a few details of the progress of our Pastoral Plan since the Synod. Things are happening – they take time and often it takes longer than we imagine. But we do not lose hope. I am encouraged by the work that is being done in the Deanery Synodal Councils and in the development of families of parishes. This is a sign of hope. The constitution of our Archdiocesan Synodal Council has been agreed and it will now begin its progress towards its first meeting later this year. The new Advisory Body am in the process of setting up includes men and women. will get advice from a much wider group made up of people from across the Archdiocese. Because of the Pastoral Plan we are looking towards a new work forming young adults for leadership and lay ministry across the Archdiocese. But one area which I am delighted to report on is the work that has been done in ‘becoming a Church that cares for its priests’.

When the Synod met on 20 June 2021, the Apostolic Nuncio delivered a greeting from the Holy Father which included this:

“Please don’t forget your priests and bishops in your prayers, in your suggestions and in your practical support. Remember that they are human beings in one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Church. Take care of the pastor who has a responsibility for the local community. Accompany them with love, patience, friendship, and support.”

The Pastoral Plan envisaged an externally facilitated process which explored what needs to be developed to support priests to flourish in the ‘human, spiritual, liturgical, theological, intellectual and pastoral aspects of their lives’. At the core of this was a process of listening to the experiences of all the priests. What were early hopes and expectations of priesthood? How does this compare to now? What experiences have led the priests of the Archdiocese of Liverpool to live and work in the way they do today?

The process that the vast majority of priests took part in showed that they have a joy in serving in the Archdiocese. The reality is that some of the priests have low morale and face some unrealistic expectations from both within and outside the Church. In years to come the number of priests available for ministry will be greatly reduced. In the light of this, the process has begun to enable the priests to look at the possibilities of doing things differently.

In their confidential conversations and discussions five pathways have emerged for ongoing reflection covering the areas of fraternity, ways of working, safeguarding, wellbeing, and issues around the possibility of flexible retirement. The priests have agreed a summary of these conversations to be shared with all in the Archdiocese. This is available today.

My hope is that the first meeting of the Archdiocesan Synodal Council will reflect on the ongoing implementation of the Pastoral Plan including the work that has begun in the area of care for priests. There will be opportunities in the months to come for you to make your voice heard.

By his death and resurrection Jesus offered to those who believe the reality of new life. And the truth is that eternal life doesn’t just begin at death...it begins at the moment when we say: ‘Yes Lord I believe’.

With best wishes and prayers to you and your families.

Sharing the journey so far of what the priests have done since the Synod

In the heart of God is the desire that each one of us should flourish and be the best version of ourselves that we can be. This is the hope for all the People of God.

In the Synod of our archdiocese, we often heard ideas that could be summed up like this: ‘healthy parishes need healthy priests’ – or ‘healthy/happy priests lead to healthy/happy parishes’. We are all aware of the many demands made on each one of us (people and priests). In the Synod people spoke about their concerns for the wellbeing (and flourishing) of their priests. Priests spoke about how increased demands are particularly challenging.

When the Synod met on 20 June 2021, the Apostolic Nuncio delivered a greeting from the Holy Father which included this: ‘please do not forget your priests and bishops in your prayers, in your suggestions and in your practical support. Remember that they are human beings in one of the most difficult periods in the

history of the Church. Take care of the pastor who has a responsibility for the local community. Accompany them with love, patience, friendship and support’. These concerns found their place in the Synod affirmations and recommendations. There was a clear affirmation of the need to assist priests, both personally and in their ministry as they collaborate with the archbishop, with one another and in collaboration with the people of God.

A question that was asked was how can we better support our priests? How can the archdiocese offer them guidance, further training and formation? There was a real concern for the way future priests are formed and a desire to be an archdiocese that cares for its priests, as a result Synod Recommendation #3 asked that ‘a robust programme of ongoing formation be developed for the wellbeing of priests and deacons, that meets their spiritual, intellectual, practical and mental health needs.’

‘Learning to appreciate and value one another has been a strength of what we have done so far’

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

The following Pastoral Letter was read at all Masses on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, 26 March 2023.

A Pastoral Plan for the diocese was presented in Advent 2021, based on the Synod recommendations. Part of this plan was an externally facilitated process which explored what needs to be developed to support priests to flourish in the ‘human, spiritual, liturgical, theological, intellectual and pastoral aspects of their lives’.

At the core of this was a process of listening to the experiences of all the priests. During February and March 2022 out of 105 priests in post 99 took part in the 1-1 interviews lasting no less than an hour each. This gave the priests the chance to say what is really going on in their lives:

• What is it like being a priest in the archdiocese, and what has led to this? What were early hopes and expectations of priesthood?

nurture a positive culture – a way of working – with one another and with the people of the archdiocese.

All this was done in a way that respected the confidentiality of each individual, but we also wanted to share some of our thoughts on what emerged in collaborative service of our people as we live together the mission entrusted to us by the Lord.

On 30 May 2022, we heard a report of what we had said: it was a bit like having a mirror held up to us. This is something of what we saw:

Workload:

We experience real joy in the priesthood – but we are also aware of the burden and exhaustion that some feel.

Expectations

We feel valued and supported by our people – but we are aware of increasing demands on fewer of us.

Living in the world: We feel we have something to offer the world – but we sometimes feel illequipped for the changing realities.

Lifestyle:

There are those of us who dream of new ways of living and working – but some feel lonely, isolated and vulnerable.

Support:

We get good support in a time of crisis – but the pressures of day-to-day ministry and the lack of support makes us feel we have to be overly self-reliant.

Towards older age: We want to talk about life as an older priest – but there is anxiety of what it will be like if and when we ‘retire’.

Fraternity:

This is the context in which we live out our priesthood in the archdiocese and out of which these reflections have emerged.

The way forward

Reflecting on our experiences and our sharing together the priests want to focus on these five key areas - fraternity, ways of working, safeguarding, wellbeing and care of self, retirement.

Fraternity

1 We will ensure no priest needs to feel isolated. - We will pray and share faith together and enable access to support groups

2. We will give ourselves permission to care for and trust one another. - We will develop a renewed appreciation of our Bishop and our mutual care for one another.

3. We acknowledge and accept the diverse ways of being a priest in the archdiocese. - We will seek to have a structured programme of ongoing formation with real diversity.

Ways of working

1. We will enable different models of priesthood and different gifts of priests to flourish. - We will find out the formation need of each priest and commit to deanery and regional structures

2. We will imagine new ways of working. - We will try to set up several different models of how priests can live and work

Wellbeing and care of self

1. We will care for ‘the parish of our own soul.’ - Committing to our ongoing formation – spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, liturgical and human

2. We will commit ourselves to those who are facing difficulties and to those who feel that they are not able to engage with offered support. - We will seek out non-threatening ways of recognising need and of offering support

3. We commit to a system of support from seminary onwards. - We will look to providing professional coaching, mentoring and supervision, as standard, from the beginning to the end of priests’ ministry and asking that early appointments are seen to be ‘training’ and formation appointments

‘Retirement’

1. We are committed to changing the culture which expects, ‘we will go on till we drop’ – to a culture which values all stages of priestly life. - We will look to setting up conversations about retirement, pensions, grants etc.

2. We will move beyond ‘retirement’ to models of ministry appropriate to various stages of life. - Explore the steps that need to be taken to have a flexible approach to retirement and age-appropriate ministry and seek to stop using the phrase ‘retired priests’ and find a different way of speaking about those who have set aside a fulltime appointment because of age or health reasons.

together. We are ready for this. Not all of us, of course, will respond in the same way. We are all different. Some will want to explore radical substantial change; others will take a more gradual approach. We all want to conserve what is good as we prepare for the future. We believe that we all have a part to play.

The archbishop has given his blessing for us to share these thoughts with you, the people we serve, because we are all on the road together. In conclusion let us make our own the words of St Paul, in his letter to the Church of Rome:

‘Do not let your love be a pretence. Love each other and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful.’

(Romans 12: 9-12)

• How does this compare to now?

What experiences have led the priests of the Archdiocese of Liverpool to living and working in the way they do today?

These interviews were followed up by a series of regional meeting with the priests.

This opportunity showed that the priests have a joy in serving as priests of the Archdiocese, but some of the priests have low morale, and face some unrealistic expectations, increasing burdens and growing challenges from both within and outside the Church. The process has also begun to enable the priests to look at the possibilities of doing things differently. We have asked what will enable us to grow in wellbeing and happiness, and to fully use the gifts we bring to the mission of the Church?

We hope that we will be enabled to

We desire to be together as priests in a more honest and trustful way – but we are not sure we have the time or the commitment to do this.

In years to come the numbers of priests available for ministry will be greatly reduced. Alongside of that is the reality of falling numbers who attend or volunteer in our parishes and all that this implies. We need a strategic look at how things will be in the future.

There are 105 diocesan priests in post at the time of writing. Of these 74 are under the age of 70. (24 are under 50, 15 are between 51 and 60 and 35 are 60 – 69) There are still 31 priests aged 70 – 75+ with a full-time appointment. This means that in 2030 we are likely to have 74 priests and in 2040 the figure is likely to be 39 priests. In the archdiocese we have 140 parishes (21 are looked after by religious orders or congregations.)

3. We will move from a parochial to a presbyteral way of working. - We will commit to thinking of the needs of the wider group, not just my own ministry

4. We will work collaboratively. - We will commit to work in a co-responsible way with bishops, deacons, religious and lay people. We will commit to working synodaly with the all the diocesan central services in a more open and collaborative way.

Safeguarding

1. We are committed to creating a culture of Safeguarding.Safeguarding is a priority in our mission and identity. This includes demanding appropriate support for victims and survivors.

Conclusion

The journey we have begun has already started to have a positive impact on how priests relate to one another. It will shape the way things are done in the future. In calling the diocesan synod the archbishop has enabled this process to take place. We also pay tribute to the ongoing work of the Vicariate for Clergy – not least in the unseen work that takes place in the moments of need or crisis.

Learning to appreciate and value one another has been a strength of what we have done so far. Coupled with our resolve and commitment to work as a Presbyterate, we will support and encourage one another in our ministry.

From all that has been said and shared, we recognise that the time is ripe for a shift in our culture and the way we do things

‘We all want to conserve what is good as we prepare for the future. We believe that we all have a part to play’

The day they shut the ‘Prov’

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist

free hospital became apparent. In 1882 the house in George Street rented by the Sisters was opened to provide free charitable nursing to the poor. At first it offered facilities to women and children only, but in 1883 a ward for men and boys was opened. In July 1884 Hardshaw Hall was acquired from the Walmsley-Cotham family and the hospital was transferred there, near the recently built Town Hall. On 15 September 1884 Cardinal Manning visited and named the hospital: he had been an early supporter of Mother Magdalen when he was a Parish Priest in the Diocese of Westminster.

The Providence Hospital in St Helens was a rare independent survivor of the creation of the welfare state, but its days were always numbered after the National Health Service was formed, 75 years ago in 1948.

Documents in the archdiocesan archives show that it dates back to 1882. Father Cardwell, one of the Jesuit priests at Holy Cross Church, had invited a recently formed order of religious sisters to establish themselves in the town. The Poor Servants of the Mother of God had been founded by Mother Magdalen (Frances Margaret Taylor, 1832-1900), whose work as a nurse in the Crimean War had brought her respect for Irish Catholic soldiers, a concern for the poor, and a desire to improve the quality of nursing in England.

St Helens was a typical industrial town, whose population had expanded too rapidly for its amenities to keep pace. In Victorian times it was dominated by the coal and glass industries. Though they, with brewing, brickmaking and the chemical industry, brought wealth and employment, they also ushered in poverty, pollution, disease and industrial accidents. Local government had reached St Helens when the Corporation was created in 1868. A Cottage Hospital, the predecessor of St Helens Hospital, opened in 1873. Horse-drawn trams began operating in the streets of St Helens in 1881. Only in 1885 did the town send its first MP to London.

Father Richard Cardwell, as Rector in charge at Holy Cross, had become aware of the work of the Poor Servants in the slums of London, and he recommended their services in a letter to Bishop O’Reilly: ‘I am so convinced of the immense good they would effect; the town is not large, there is little or no bigotry, and the effect of their work would be soon made apparent.’ Mother Magdalen and her Sisters came to the town initially to help improve the lives of poor women. Very soon the need for a

For the next 64 years Providence Hospital took in all who were in need of medical care and attention regardless of their creed or ability to pay. A Nurses’ Home opened in 1924 and this was later expanded to include teaching facilities. Until 1948 it was entirely a voluntary hospital depending for its upkeep on private donations, grants from the Mother House of the Poor Servants, and income from the laundry work undertaken. When the Ministry of Health proposed to transfer the hospital to the National Health Service, the management committee was provoked into an angry response to what it characterised as ‘an act of confiscation’ by the state. Whilst noting the ‘enthusiastic support’ of the hospital from the public of St Helens, without regard to religion, the committee suggested that it was the unremunerated devotion of the members of a Catholic religious order that gave the institution its particular ethos: ‘those who experience the care and attention provided by the Sisters are left with a profound impression of the unique character of the hospital’. The unique character was permitted to survive the creation of the NHS, as negotiations with government led to the granting of a contractual arrangement whereby the ‘Prov’ could continue its work as an independent hospital with assistance from the NHS. Essentially, the building and staffing remained the responsibility of the Sisters, and the maintenance of its patients was supported by the NHS.

Its importance for accident and emergency treatment may be judged by the local firms still contributing to its upkeep in the 1970s – Greenall Whitley, Rockware Glass, United Glass, Pilkingtons, Phythians, and the nearby Corporation Transport Department. The local churches had regular collections too, and there’s a long list of pubs and clubs that had bar collections for the ‘Prov’. Sadly, local voluntary contributions alone were not sufficient to keep the hospital going. Facilities were wound down during the 1970s: the children’s ward closed in 1976 and by 1979 there was no longer any nurse training there. Archbishop Worlock brought Cardinal Hume on a visit on 27 October 1979, when there were 22 nuns and 16 consultant staff members, but the writing was already on the wall. NHS financial support was withdrawn in 1981 and despite a ‘Save the Prov’ campaign that united St Helens in protest and support, signing petitions and holding events to raise cash, the funding shortfall of over half a million pounds a year could not be met. The Providence Hospital closed on 30 June 1982, a few weeks short of its centenary.

sunday reflections The Kingdom of Peace

In my sitting room, I have a footstall that was given to my mum by a French lady called Mrs Ganley who was well into her eighties when I was a child.

Married to an Englishman before the First World War, she had a heart that had been gentled through her life’s experience and was a warm, open person who had time for anyone.

After her marriage she had two children very quickly. Then her husband was tragically killed in a farming accident. Mrs Ganley rolled up her sleeves and got on with life. She took any job she could to make ends meet. It would have been so easy for her to become bitter and angry, but actually the opposite happened. She became more and more loving. Her door was always open and anyone was welcome, not just people who were part of her Catholic ghetto. She was suspicious of nobody and accepted everyone. Her son ran a farm in Lancashire, and she would often arrive with a couple of children and a tired mother, because they needed a break.

Every Palm Sunday am drawn to Chapter 12 of John’s Gospel where we have Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Why did people gather as Jesus entered Jerusalem? Maybe some of them felt that they were on the verge of liberation from the power of the Romans. Jesus does something powerful; he finds a young donkey to show that he does not enter Jerusalem triumphantly but peacefully.

The donkey is a symbol of peace, fulfilling a prophecy of Zechariah who says that the Messiah will banish all the instruments of war. Jesus, the humble king of peace, sits on a donkey and will bring peace to the whole world.

It is at this point in John’s story that some Greeks ask ‘to see’ Jesus. They represent the entire Gentile world who, along with the Jews, were being invited to allow the Kingdom of Peace to reign. That peace will begin when He is lifted up from the earth, through that self-giving love, which will give new life and bring people together.

We, too, are called to love as He did and to allow the violence within to die, in order to bear fruit and be messengers of peace, just as my old French friend did.

The challenge is to become counter-cultural so that love and peace will reign within us.

Do not ignore the challenge of this week that we call holy because it is a week that can lead us into a life of deep peace.

Father Chris Thomas

On a liturgical note Canon Philip Gillespie

And so we enter the Great Week, or as it is perhaps better known to us, Holy Week. The events of this week changed the course of the history of the world, and we are privileged to re-live them through our liturgies of Palm Sunday and of the Triduum. It demands stamina to engage fully and prayerfully with the Liturgies of Holy Week but the rewards are great as we are invited into the very heart of the Mystery of Love which is the love of God poured out for us in the person of Jesus and in his Passion, his Death and his Risen Life.

For the 50 days which flow from Easter Sunday we will keep the Easter season where the white of the vestments, the song of the Alleluia and the brightness of the Paschal candle will invite us to walk with those early followers of Jesus whose lives are recounted to us in the Acts of the Apostles. They sought each day not only to give thanks to the Father for the gift of Jesus, but also, in the

Sunday thoughts

As a 12-year-old boy at Upholland I was fortunate to be a member of the choir, the Schola Cantorum. Father Kevin Snape was the choirmaster. Apart from singing at High Mass every Sunday, we came into our own during Holy Week. In addition to the usual services of the Sacred Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil – we sang at Tenebrae, three successive days of Matins and Lauds.

One candle from a huge triangular candelabra was extinguished after each psalm until there was just one remaining. It left the church in darkness – hence the name Tenebrae.

We sang the responsories – verses from scripture that followed each reading, set to music by the 16thcentury Spanish composer Tomas Luis de Victoria for three or four unaccompanied voices. I was a boy treble – and we got to sing the top line. After rehearsing separately, it was only on the eve of Holy Week that trebles and altos joined with tenors and basses to experience their full magic.

In the early 1960s the liturgy was still in Latin. Even as a 12-year-old, found these Holy Week responsories achingly beautiful. We studied Latin in class, but those responsories conveyed a haunting melancholy and sadness even if the literal meaning of the words escaped us. Some were phrases from the Old Testament, repeated in

enthusiasm and joy of his Holy Spirit, to be a people whose love and care for each other in all things mirrored that of their Lord Jesus.

The liturgies of the Easter season, through the sprinkling of the newly blessed Baptismal water, the carrying of lighted candles in procession, the Word proclaimed and the sacraments celebrated, invite us to be in their company; we may be separated by nearly 2,000 years in history but we are one in faith, in hope and in the love that we bear to all. Perhaps that is one aspect of synodality which can easily be forgotten or overlooked.

So as we enter this Great Week I encourage you to be as generous as you can in giving your time to the celebration of the Holy Week and Triduum Liturgies – God loves a cheerful giver and is never outdone in His own generosity!

News diary Bishop Tom Williams retires from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop

If you’ve got any news from your parish that you’d like featured e-mail us with the details at: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk

Mgr John Devine OBE

the mouth of Jesus; poignant phrases that captured his abandonment and betrayal. still hear those words in my head: ‘Amicus meus osculi mei’ (My friend [betrayed] me with a kiss); ‘Melius illi erat si natus non fuisset‘ (It would have been better if he had not been born); ‘Cum gladiis et fustibus exierunt tamquam ad latronem’ (They went out with swords and clubs as to a thief’); ‘Attendite, et videte, si est dolor similis sicut dolor meus’ (Attend and see if there be sorrow like my sorrow).

Late afternoon on Wednesday in Holy Week, the Upholland choir sang Tenebrae at the Metropolitan Cathedral, a service repeated the following morning back at the college. The present-day cathedral had yet to be built. We sang in the crypt. Archbishop John Carmel Heenan processed down the aisle in his Capa Magna, the long train that prelates wore in the days before Vatican II. Afterwards we were treated to tea at Reece’s in Clayton Square. That building is now occupied by Tesco.

Imagine my delight when I discovered that the choir of Westminster Cathedral had recorded a full set of the responsories. I take it out each year and play it in my car. It is good to immerse ourselves in the tragedy of Holy Week. Easter Sunday makes no sense without it.

In accordance with Canon Law Bishop Tom Williams submitted his resignation from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop to the Holy Father following his 75th birthday.

At 12.00 noon, Rome time, on Saturday 25 March, it was published by the Holy See that the Holy Father Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Tom Williams from the office of Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool upon reaching the age of 75 years. Bishop Williams will now be known as Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus.

Commenting on this milestone for Bishop Tom, Archbishop Malcolm said, ‘20 years ago to the day, the then Canon Tom Williams of St Anthony of Egypt, Scotland Road was called by Pope St John Paul II to be an auxiliary bishop. Two decades on, we give thanks for so much accomplished and for God’s blessing on the years ahead.

‘Today is an opportunity for the entire archdiocese to thank God for the long, dedicated ministry of one of its own as deacon, priest, and bishop. Bishop

Tom, very much a son of the city of Liverpool, and granted the freedom of the City recently, is well known and loved by many and has made valuable contributions to the civil and ecclesial life of the city and region. Today marks a point in his ministry when, freed from the administrative burdens of being a vicar general and civil trustee, he can focus more on what he enjoys so much; that is the pastoral ministry of being a priest and bishop. I look forward to his continued help as the Auxiliary Emeritus.’

Bishop Tom’s pastoral ministry spans more than 50 years since his ordination in the Metropolitan Cathedral on 27 May 1972. He has served in the parishes of St Francis of Assisi, Garston; Sacred Heart, Liverpool; Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Liverpool and St Anthony, Scotland Road. It was while serving at St Anthony’s that he became Chair of Project Jennifer – a local initiative to re-generate the North end of Liverpool which resulted in a £160M new-build housing and retail park which opened in 2017 and is still progressing.

Bishop Tom said, ‘I give thanks for the many blessings of my ministry as Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool. The happiest days of my life have been spent in Chaplaincy work in hospitals, schools and prisons and now look forward to focussing on and continuing that pastoral ministry.’

Mass in Cantonese celebrated at the Metropolitan Cathedral

On Saturday 18 February Father Bruno Lepeu, visiting the archdiocese from Hong Kong, celebrated Mass in Cantonese for the Liverpool Chinese community in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Before Mass Father Bruno celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also in Cantonese.

The next Cantonese Mass will be celebrated by Father Vince To on Easter Sunday 9 April at St Anne’s church, Overbury Street, L7 3HJ, at 12.30 pm. There will again be an opportunity for confessions from 11.45 am. All are welcome to invite friends from the Chinese community to join in the Mass and for light refreshments afterwards.

FEAST OF DIVINE MERCY

Sunday 16th April 2023

Our Lord asked Saint Faustina to promote the Devotion to His mercy- saying

“The soul that will go to Confession (within the octave of the feast) and receive Holy Communion on the Feast day, shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment”

St Faustina confirms Our Lord’s command to her ‘If I cannot show mercy, by deeds or words, I can always do so, by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there, where I cannot reach out physically.’

Archdiocese venues celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy - start time

For people using sat-navs the postcode relates to the priest’s house

Holy Family Cronton WA8 5DP

1.30pm Exposition, Rosary, Confession, Devotions, Mass 4 pm

(Peter who previously ran the Divine Mercy shop in London Rd)

St John’s Fountains Rd, Kirkdale Liverpool L4 1QL

2pm Rosary Confession Exposition Devotions

Benediction 4pm Mass

St Clares, Arundel Avenue, Liverpool L17 2AU

3.00pm Devotions, Exposition, Confessions

St Francis of Assisi Earp St Garston Liverpool L19 1RT

4.00pm Holy Hour and Divine Mercy Devotions

Sacred Heart Brooks St Chorley PR6 0NG

3.00pm Chaplet, Talk, Confessions followed by Mass

St Mary's, Standishgate, Wigan WN1 1XL

3.00pm Devotions, Confessions 4.30pm Mass at St John’s Church

Our Lady Star of the Sea, Ramsey, Isle of Man 1M8 1BH

2.00pm Confessions, Devotions

For peop e who e ther cannot go to a D v ne Mercy service or would l ke to know more about the devotion watch the Amer can EWTN Catholic TV Channel programs on Divine Mercy Sunday

On computer

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For Live stream ng www ewtn com/ tv/ extra-watchl ve/ europe

For TV watch ng Sky TV ( subscr pt on and Sky Freesat ( non-subscription)

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A very special Pilgrimage for Merseyside

by Angela O’Brien

Civic Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral

On the last Sunday before Lent Archbishop Malcolm celebrated the annual Civic Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

The Archbishop welcomed civic dignitaries together with representatives from the judiciary, the armed forces, ecumenical guests, Catholic associations and Catholic schools saying, ‘We welcome you to celebrate together the vital role that this Cathedral and you all play in the life of our city’.

Among those attending were the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Roy Gladden with the Lady Mayoress, Councillor Roz Gladden; the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Robert Owen JP DL; the High Sheriff of Merseyside, Ms Lesley Martin-Wright JP DL; the Recorder of Liverpool, His Honour Judge Andrew Menary KC; Mayors from the City Region, and ecumenical guests – Dean of Liverpool, the Very Reverend Dr Sue Jones, and Rector of Liverpool, Reverend Dr Crispin Pailing.

The annual Civic Mass is a time for renewal and before the final blessing Archbishop Malcolm looked to the future saying, ‘we look forward with renewed commitment to serving, supporting and celebrating the people of Liverpool through faith, worship and action’.

HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust takes around 1,000 disabled and disadvantaged children from the UK on the annual Easter pilgrimage to Lourdes, with groups from all over the world. They are supported by around 4,000 unpaid helpers, including young adults, volunteers, nurses, doctors and chaplains during the week and Group 133 have been travelling to Lourdes as part of the Merseyside region for over 40 years.

In 2019, the Merseyside region was chosen to lead the liturgies and music for the Lourdes Easter Pilgrimage 2020 and began preparations. We chose ‘The Good Shepherd’ as the theme because it embodies the spirit of Merseyside and the children we take to Lourdes - everyone is welcome and even if you are lost, you can be found.

Then Covid hit and everything was put on hold, until it was agreed that Merseyside would be able to lead all the liturgies and music this year, so a lot of work began to prepare for all the Merseyside groups travelling with HCPT and the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

The pinnacle of the week is the Trust Mass which takes place on Thursday 13 April bringing together all 5,000 pilgrims, with local Merseyside children at the centre of the celebration. Two volunteers dressed as Liver birds will lead the procession for the Mass celebrated by Archbishop Malcom McMahon OP with Bishop Tom Williams and many priests. ‘The Good Shepherd’ will be at the forefront of the Mass with Merseyside children dressed as shepherds and sheep and a Gospel animation bringing to life the story of the ‘lost sheep’ using the famous scouse sense of humour. The offertory gifts will be brought up by four generations of Merseysiders and after Communion there will be a reflection performed by children and adults from Merseyside.

To watch the Mass online tune in to Lourdes TV on YouTube/ HCPT and Facebook page at 9.00 am on Thursday 13 April.

The most important part of going to Lourdes with HCPT is making sure the local Merseyside children have the best week of their lives and we can’t wait to see all their smiling faces, having a fantastic time and hearing not only the Merseyside musicians, but the voices of many from around the world, joining in and celebrating the pilgrimage.

For more details about the HCPT pilgrimage contact Paul O’Brien (Merseyside Regional Chair) email: Merseyside@hcpt.org.uk

Jottings of a Lourdes Pilgrim

Whilst the UK was basking in unusually mild weather for February this year, Lourdes was having snow and temperatures dropping below zero for a number of nights.

suppose we imagine the more southern parts of France to have much milder winters than we do, but it can certainly be very cold, and indeed during the winter months the airport in Tarbes so heavily used by Lourdes pilgrims during the summer season, is used by the skiers enjoying the slopes and après ski life.

It made me think maybe Lourdes has had a similar winter in February to the one of 1858. The month our Blessed Lady appeared to Bernadette on no fewer than18 occasions. Imagine a young, impoverished girl of just 14, dressed in hand me down clothes, possibly bare footed, collecting wood with her sister for the fire in the little two roomed accommodation she was living in with her parents.

Her family had fallen on ‘hard times’ and were living in a miserable two roomed former prison. No windows, no lights, no heating. The prison, or the Cachot is always on my list to visit when am in Lourdes each year. walk through the two small rooms, and look at Bernadette’s clock and shoes, the smallness of the rooms and the fireplace that the wood

that Bernadette collected would have burnt. This is the young girl Our Blessed Lady chose to carry the message of faith and prayer to the Bishop.

Build a chapel, pray, bring the sick to drink and take the waters. I also like to stand on one of the bridges and look into the river. The river Gave is a shallow but fast flowing river. Are they the stones that Bernadette crossed when she saw the Lady? These are questions ask myself as wander around the narrow streets of Lourdes filled with pilgrims from all parts of Europe and beyond.

Lourdes is a place of prayer, of contemplation, of fun, of laughter. A place of physical and spiritual healing. There is a week in late July when the little village in the foothills of the Pyrenees becomes ‘Little Liverpool’ It’s like going home. This year is a very special year as it’s the centenary year of a Pilgrimage being organised from Liverpool in 1923. People from all walks of life visit Lourdes and for all sorts of reasons.

Why not join us this year, in such a special year – experience a week of the year like no other. For more information and booking e mail info@joewalshtours.ie - or come along and take part in the Liverpool Pilgrimage Easter Bunny walk/run on Bank Holiday Monday. Further details from Mpmmurphypat@aol.com

by Pat Murphy

To mark the centenary pilgrimage, we would love people to share their memories of Lourdes and any photographs or video clips you may have taken on any trips there over the years. We will collate these memories and use them on the archdiocesan website, social media channels and in the Pic.

It could be that generations of your family have travelled to Lourdes, that you met your spouse there, you could have photos from decades ago or even that a member of your family went on our very first pilgrimage in 1923.

If you have anything you are happy for us to share publicly or if you would even like to record a video message for us, then please email any details to communications@rcaol. org.uk and lourdespilgrimage@rcaol.org.uk and include your name, parish and year(s) you travelled to Lourdes.

We cannot guarantee that we will use them all depending on the volume of information we receive, but we will read and respond to all correspondence.

Archbishop Malcolm greets the Lord Mayor of Liverpool

caring for creation Tree of Life

by Dr Jennifer Jones, Scientist and nature writer

As a scientist and nature writer I love visiting woods and forests. They inspire me. Last year two encounters caused me to pause and think about trees. Of the incidents I mention, one left me in awe while the other saddened me.

To walk into a rainforest is to enter a world of wonder. That was my experience last summer. The impact was visceral: I gasped. I found myself in an arena of such richness it was difficult to assimilate. I was in a sea of green, with vegetation at every level. But this was not an Amazonian rainforest; it was just one of many wonderful temperate ancient rainforests we have here in Britain. This was Coed Felenrhyd, in North Wales, one of the Snowdonian temperate rainforests and what a treat it was.

The second incident occurred as I passed a man in Liverpool sweeping up small twigs dislodged by recent gales. It was clear he was very annoyed. ‘Trees only belong in forests’, he bemoaned angrily.

We seem to have lost our relationship with trees. Even worse, they are often seen as dispensable despite being essential for our survival. My encounter with the man who believed trees only belong in forests bore witness to that. To him, urban trees are a nuisance.

Through the amazing process of photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon and release oxygen, keeping us alive and mitigating climate change. Their leaves help to filter particulate pollution. They provide shade and shelter, something that will become even more significant as climate change takes effect.

Trees are also a habitat in their own right. Recent research has shown oak trees can harbour 2,300 species including 38 bird species, 108 fungi, and 1,178 invertebrates. The author, Peter Wohlleben, calls trees the ‘mother ships of biodiversity’. When trees die and rot, their nutrients return to the soil. Trees can help to regulate water, especially important in areas at risk of flooding. Of course, woodlands are also a crop in their own right, as we need wood for buildings and furniture.

Dr Suzanne Simard is a Canadian forest scientist who has shed light on an amazing

Looking forward to the Chrism Mass

by Dr Christopher McElroy Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Holy Week 2023 will be the first full scale Holy Week here at the Metropolitan Cathedral since 2019. With the return of the chalice to the congregation, and congregational participation in the rituals of Good Friday we will once again be able to fully enter into the liturgical drama of the sacred triduum.

Cathedral Record

consider coming this year (Wednesday 5 April, 7.30 pm). It is at this celebration that the holy oils are blessed by the Archbishop that are used in parishes throughout the archdiocese in celebrations of the sacraments, and which typifies (particularly due to the circular shape of the Cathedral) the statement of the liturgical constitution of Vatican II which says:

Canon Anthony O’Brien –Cathedral Dean

capacity of forest trees to communicate with each other. Her research showed soil fungi and tree roots provided a complex below-ground alliance allowing exchange of nutrients and carbon. This has become known as the ‘Wood Wide Web’.

Lockdown demonstrated trees can engender a sense of peace and spiritual nourishment. A survey by Natural England showed 89% of respondents believed green places are good for mental health and wellbeing.

Many religions use trees as metaphors. In the Christian Bible we find reference to the Tree of Life, the Tree of Good and Evil and, of course, the tree from which Christ’s cross was hewn. Different trees are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. The Jewish Torah is often referred to as the Tree of Life; many Torah stories feature trees. In Islam, tree planting is seen as an act of charity. Similarly, Buddhism recognises the roles of trees as providing shelter, food and enlightenment. Trees, in Hinduism, are seen as givers of knowledge and enlightenment.

In the UK and worldwide trees face many threats including climate change, wildfires, invasive pests and land development. Thankfully, there is good news. Globally, faith-based groups are helping to restore forests. There are more woods and trees in the UK than at any time in the last 100 years. However, we are still one of the least wooded countries in Europe.

In his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ Pope Francis writes of the impact of forest and woodland loss: ‘The loss of forests and woodlands entails the loss of species which may constitute extremely important resources in the future, not only for food production but also for curing disease and other uses’ [para. 32]. In a recent report, the Woodland Trust remarked: ‘We need to at least quadruple the current rate of woodland creation and increase the proportion of UK-grown native species to help tackle the effects of climate change and give nature a fighting chance of recovery.’ The good news is that much tree planting is taking place but we must plant the right trees in the right place. One way we can help is to become more tree aware. At this Easter season, as we reflect on resurrection, it is worth spending time close to a tree or collection of trees, getting to know them like you might encounter a new friend. We can use all our senses: what does it look like, smell like, feel like, what sounds can we hear when we stand near a tree? It is worth looking up to see if any birds are roosting there, then to look down to the soil to imagine that huge network of chemical activity beneath our feet. We can imagine those chemical messages passing from tree to tree. Close encounters with trees may inspire us to prayer, to express gratitude for all a tree gives us, or to pray for their protection.

Trees are not our enemies; we need them. Let’s rejoice in them.

Much has changed during the intervening years. One important thing that we have learnt is how sensual our liturgical journey through Holy Week is. From the smelling of the sacred oils at the Chrism Mass, to the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, to the kissing of the cross on Good Friday and the sharing of the Easter light at the Easter Vigil. All of these actions invoke our senses and help us to enter more deeply into the ritual action. The necessity of live streaming during lockdown did not allow for these actions. One of the great positives of the liturgical renewal of Vatican II is the centrality of the congregation fully participating through the invocation of the senses in the liturgical ritual.

Singing is another primary ritual action which was disrupted during the Covid pandemic. Having now been in post as Director of Music here at the Metropolitan Cathedral for over 10 years, can tell you that there can be few better sounds on this earth than a congregation of over 2000 people lustily singing together with our Grand Organ. With the return of our organ from its recent restoration, and the normality of congregational singing having fully returned, am very much looking forward to this year’s Chrism Mass!

For the first time since 2019, we will be singing the Gloria from the ‘Liverpool Mass’ by composer Colin Mawby KSG. Commissioned by the Cathedral during Archbishop Worlock’s time the Mass is scored for congregation, cantor, choir, organ and optional brass and timpani. This Mass was subsequently re-written in 2012 to match the words of the new translation and first used in this format at the Mass to celebrate the golden jubilee of Archbishop Patrick Kelly and was used regularly at large diocesan celebrations prior to the pandemic.

If you have never experienced the Chrism Mass here at the Metropolitan Cathedral, do

‘..all should hold in great esteem the liturgical life of the diocese centred around the bishop, especially in his cathedral church; they must be convinced that the pre-eminent manifestation of the Church consists in the full active participation of all God’s holy people in these liturgical celebrations, especially in the same eucharist, in a single prayer, at one altar, at which there presides the bishop surrounded by his college of priests and by his ministers.’

The liturgies of Holy Week and Easter take precedence for the first two weeks of April. It is such a privilege being at the Cathedral and taking part in the beautiful services over this period but by the end of Easter Sunday evening everyone needs a well-earned rest.

The times of the main liturgies are advertised elsewhere in this edition but can also be found on the Cathedral Website. There is also a sung service of Tenebrae on Palm Sunday, and the Sung Office of Readings and Morning Prayer on the Triduum Days in Holy Week as well as two services of the Stations of the Cross in the main Cathedral. Archbishop Malcolm will preside at the Easter Vigil at 9.00 pm and as well as the normal Mass times on Easter Sunday we have Sung Evening Prayer beginning in the Baptistry of the Cathedral. If you can, please come and join us for some of these beautiful and moving services.

Later in the month on Wednesday 26 April, Liverpool Hope University will be holding a Ceremony of Inauguration at our Cathedral at 3.00 pm to welcome their new Vice Chancellor Professor Claire Ozanne as she takes on her new role in leading the University.

By the end of the month we start to welcome events leading up to the Coronation of King Charles and the Eurovision Song contest. Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, of the Ukrainian Eparchy, will be at the Cathedral on Sunday 30 April to celebrate a Pontifical Ukrainian Divine Liturgy at 3.00 pm. We are also hoping to host a sculpture by the Ukrainian artist Dmitry Iv ‘The need for freedom’ which is a very impressive image of a figure made from chains.

Looking ahead there will be a Mass on the Vigil of the Coronation in the Cathedral at 5.00 pm on Friday 5 May.

Ancient rainforest in Wales

what’s on April

Saturday 1 April

‘Come and See’ Day.

10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. ‘Called to be a prophetic Church.’ Speaker: Archie Cameron. Bring a packed lunch – tea and coffee provided. Suggested donation £10. Details - email: jenny@irenaeus. co.uk Tel: 0151 949 1199.

Walk of Witness and Carrying of the Cross with the Missionaries of Charity. Meet at 2.00 pm at the junction of Church Street and Lord Street in Liverpool City Centre walking to St Luke’s church at the top of Bold Street.

‘Give and Take Concert with the Early Music Youth Orchestra.

7.00 pm at St Vincent de Paul church, 13 Hardy Street, Liverpool, L1 5JN. Admission free with a retiring collection for St Vincent de Paul church. The EMYO will play music by Handel and Telemann under the direction of Alberto Sanna, with oboist Fabio Bagnoli performing with the orchestra. Free ticket reservations at Eventbrite (search Early Music Youth Orchestra).

Monday 3 April

Service of Reconciliation.

7.00 pm in St Bede’s church, Appleton Village, Widnes, WA8 6EL.

Tuesday 4 April

Holy Week Celebration of Reconciliation.

7.00 pm in Holy Family Church, Lily Lane, Platt Bridge, Wigan, WN2 5LL.

Easter Sunday 9 April

Mass celebrated in Cantonese by Father Vince To (visiting from Hong Kong).

12.30 pm at St Anne’s Church, 7 Overbury Street, L7 3HJ (for parking, please enter from Harbord Street.) Confessions from 11.45 am. Details: Flora Tel: 074034 89931. All are welcome to invite friends from the Chinese community to join in the Mass and for light refreshments afterwards.

Monday 10 April

Easter Monday 5K Bunny Run.

Start: 11.00 am at St Gregory’s, Lydiate, L31 2NA walking and running to Our Lady’s, Lydiate and back. Entry fee: £7 per person or £20 per family (up to 5 members). Money raised will go towards the 2023 Archdiocesan Centenary Lourdes Pilgrimage. Entry fee includes bunny ears, a bottle of water and an Easter egg.

Sunday 16 April Day of Divine Mercy.

Thursday 20 April

North Merseyside Newman Circle Talk

– Spirituality: Art and Poetry.’

Speaker: Lawrence Quigley. There is no charge and ample free parking. Tea and coffee will be available before the talk, which begins at 7.30 pm in St Helen’s Parish Centre, Crosby, L23 7TQ Details: helen.flynn8@googlemail.com

Praying with St John of the Cross led by Father Matthew Blake OCD. Details: https://christianheritagecentre.com/ events/praying-with-the-saints/

Saturday 22 April

‘Come apart and be still.’

Quiet Saturdays at the Cenacle from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. Suggested offering for the day - £10, bring your own lunch; tea/coffee provided. No booking required.

Details: Sister Winifred Morley, Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com

Sunday 23 April

Liverpool Bach Collective.

Johann Sebastian Bach Easter Oratorio ‘Kommt, eilet und laufet’. (‘Come, hasten and show us the way to the tomb’)

6.30 pm at St Monica’s church, Fernhill Road, Bootle, L20 9GA. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www. liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@ icloud.com

Saturday 29 April

Welcoming people with autism in our parishes - Susan Hartley will lead a Zoom session for the archdiocese between 10.00 am-12.00 noon. Details email: pd@ rcaol.org.uk

Sunday 30 April

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Looking ahead:

May 2023

Friday 5 May

Mass to Commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III. 5.00 pm in the Metropolitan cathedral of Christ the King.

Tuesday 9 May

Day of Prayer for survivors of sexual abuse

‘Time out on Tuesday’ The Cenacle from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. Suggested offering for the day - £10,

bring your own lunch; tea/coffee provided. No booking required. Take a break from your daily routine and have some space to reflect and be still and be refreshed.

Details: Sister Winifred Morley, Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com

Saturday 13 May

56th anniversary of the Dedication of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Wednesday 17 May

Faiths and Dementia – an ecumenical conference during National Dementia Action Week. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool, L17 1AA. Admission £15.00, free to people with dementia and family carers. Registration via Eventbrite.

Thursday 18 May

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – Holyday of Obligation

Sunday 21 May

World Communications Day

Saturday 27 May

‘Come apart and be still.’ Quiet Saturdays at the Cenacle from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. Suggested offering for the day - £10, bring your own lunch; tea/ coffee provided. No booking required.

Details: Sister Winifred Morley, Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com

Sunday 28 May

Pentecost Sunday Ecumenical Celebration Two Cathedrals Walk. 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm.

Holy Week and Easter at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord 2 April

9.00 am Mass (Cathedral)

10.00 am Family Mass (Crypt)

11.00 am Procession of Palms and Solemn Mass

Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP

7.00 pm Mass (Crypt)

Monday 24 April

Solemnity of St George – Patron of England (transferred from Sunday 23 April)

Tuesday 25 April

Cursillo Ultreya at St Michael and All Angels

Sydney Powell Avenue, Kirkby, L32 0TP. 7.30 pm Mass followed by social. Details www.liverpool-cursillo.co.uk Tel: 07947 271037.

Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May

7.30 pm Tenebrae (Cathedral)

Monday of Holy Week 3 April

7.45 am Morning Prayer (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

8.00 am Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

12.15 pm Mass (Crypt)

5.00 pm Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

Tuesday of Holy Week 4 April

7.45 am Morning Prayer (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

8.00 am Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

12.15 pm Mass (Crypt)

5.00 pm Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

Wednesday of Holy Week 5 April

7.45 am Morning Prayer (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

Saturday 8 April

Holy Saturday Ecumenical Walk of Witness. 2.00 pm from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral through the city centre to Liverpool Parish Church.

Friday 21 April to Sunday 23 April

Praying with the Saints weekend retreat at the Christian Heritage Centre, at Stonyhurst.

Cursillo 3 day weekend at Theodore House Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, BB7 9PZ. Cursillo is a Catholic residential short course in Christianity. Details www.liverpoolcursillo.co.uk Tel: 07947 271037.

8.00 am Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)

12.15 pm Mass (Crypt)

7.30 pm Mass of Chrism

Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP

THE EASTER TRIDUUM

Maundy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper 6 April

10.00 am Sung Office of Readings and Morning Prayer

7.30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP followed by Watching concluding with Night Prayer at 10.00 pm

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion 7 April

10.00 am Sung Office of Readings and Morning Prayer

11.30 am Stations of the Cross (Cathedral) Led by Bishop Tom Williams

3.00 pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP presides

Holy Saturday 8 April

10.00 am Sung Office of Readings and Morning Prayer

9.00 pm The Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter

Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP

Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection 9 April

9.30 am Mass (Cathedral)

10.00 am Family Mass (Crypt)

11.00 am Solemn Mass of Easter Day

3.00 pm Choral Evening Prayer (Cathedral)

7.00 pm Mass (Crypt)

Pastoral ponderings

by Hugh Donleavy

To be honest, one Lenten devotion that I’ve never really appreciated is the Stations of the Cross. I have vague memories of being taken to the Stations as a very young child, and not really knowing what was going on, but being a bit interested by the fact that we got to walk around church instead of just staying still.

Well, as an adult, I’ve always found it a bit of a necessary evil. But I’ve been trying to learn to appreciate it a bit more this Lent. I think this aversion is partly due to some experiences of long, and not particularly helpful, meditations on the Stations which I’ve endured on occasion. But I’m discovering that it doesn’t have to be a bad experience after all.

In any case, this month we finish Lent and move into Easter. If Lent is a time of preparation, then I think had a bit of a rough start, but it’s been going well since. Just one more final stretch. I’m looking forward to Easter this month, it seems a lot more joyful when you’ve prepared well in Lent.

Talking of preparations, it has been my privilege this year to help prepare one of the students at Liverpool Hope University for reception into the Church. We’ve been having weekly sessions since autumn, talking about the Catholic faith. It’s been nice to get to know him, and to hear how he arrived at the point of asking to become Catholic. He’s very keen to learn more, and to finally be able to receive the sacraments. Our talks have also helped me realise how much I’ve learned over the last few years - as well as a few things I need to keep reading up on. He will have just been received into the Church by the time you read this, so please keep him in your prayers as he begins this new chapter of his life. This year I’ve come across a lot of people with interesting questions, and who want to learn more about the Catholic faith, which is always very refreshing.

Wishing you all a prayerful Holy Week, and a very happy Easter.

A beautiful experience of sharing the journey with others

Elizabeth Parsons, Training Coordinator – Pastoral Development Department

Congratulations to the 37 participants who recently graduated after completing their Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University.

It was our privilege to host the ceremony at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre, joined by representatives across our partnering dioceses as far afield as Clifton and the northeast, as well as several graduates attending with their family and friends.

Starting their first module in January 2021, this group made their commitment to Pastoral Ministry before Covid lockdowns had even begun. Many of them described how their studies acted as a lifeline, giving them contact with each other, as well as having something to focus their attention.

When asked to describe some of the benefits of their course, they commented it had given them ‘knowledge, so we have a roadmap to put faith into action’ and that it had been a ‘beautiful experience of sharing the journey with others.’ At the graduation we had an inspiring wall fully filled with benefits.

Joined by a representative of Loyola University, Mariana Miller, who spoke about how the course can act very much as an Emmaus Walk. It is purposefully set up to encourage people to interact and participate in discussions, learning from others’ experiences and insights, as well as their own.

Bishop Tom Williams celebrated Mass, during which the certificates were presented to the graduates. The pride in the room was overflowing and there were even one or two who enquired afterwards about when the next course would be starting – clearly a positive recommendation.

Following lunch, I asked the group to think about their next steps now that they had gained this knowledge. Some had a clear idea of the path ahead, for others the path was more unsure, but one thing was certain – the group wanted to keep in touch with each other and maintain the support they have gained and benefited from over the last two years. They wrote some advice for future groups undertaking this course. Here is a small excerpt from it:

‘Expect to change –perspectives and attitudes.’

‘Wisdom can be found just as much in other’s posts as within the course material.’

‘Don’t worry, it’s a journey which will put you in a better place with your faith.’

Please keep these graduates in your prayers as they venture forward in their ministry. If reading this, you feel inspired to enquire about the Loyola Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, please email e.parsons@rcaol.org.uk

Elizabeth Parsons, Les Page, Margaret Campbell and Bill McMahon - members of the Liverpool group

Bishop Tom Williams and Canon Chris Fallon

‘The great gift of Easter is Hope’

Cardinal Basil Hume

The Lenten journey has now reached its climax with the arrival of Holy Week and the Easter season. Cardinal Basil Hume once said, ‘The great gift of Easter is Hope’.

Throughout Lent our young people in our archdiocesan schools and colleges have been building up to Easter with their prayers and actions through Lent. They have prayed together, meditated on the Word of God, and taken part in fasting and almsgiving. My thanks to all the leaders and teachers who have helped the children plan and lead these activities.

Sadly, throughout Lent there have been tragedies such as the terrible earthquake in Turkey and many families of children in our schools are experiencing poverty. There seems to be more disruption and division in our society. Displaced strangers from other lands are not welcome by some.

In our schools and colleges, see great examples of hope for our world. see young people of all backgrounds working together to build a better society inspired by the teachings of Christ. If you are fortunate to visit our schools and colleges you will see messages about loving each other, being kind and taking the time to truly listen to one another. Our young people are praying and working for a better and compassionate world. If you have access to social media, please follow some of our schools and colleges and witness this for yourselves.

The followers of Jesus thought all was lost on Good Friday. Their hopes and dreams had been destroyed by an act of great violence, hatred and barbarism. It appeared that there was no hope left. On Easter Sunday Jesus rose from the dead and brought eternal life to his followers.

There is always hope. Pope Francis said in a homily to the people of Naples ‘don’t let anyone steal your hope’. Our schools and colleges are witness to Hope. We should rejoice.

I wish you and your families a happy and joyous Easter. He is risen.

Alleluia

Joan McCarthy Director of Education Archdiocese of Liverpool

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust: Inspirational Curriculum Visit

Shortly after half-term, a group of over twenty school leaders from across the St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust (SJCMAT) embarked on a two-day curriculum visit to ARK schools in London.

ARK schools, and their commercial arm, ARK Curriculum Plus, supply all the SJCMAT schools with its fully resourced, high-quality curriculum in English, maths, science and humanities, in both primary and secondary schools. During day one, school leaders attended workshops across the strands of mathematics mastery, english mastery, science mastery and SLT Expertise. These workshops were combined with opportunities to network and discuss best practice with leading schools from across the country.

SJCMAT was extremely proud of CEO Andrew Truby, who was invited to speak to the whole conference as part of the key note panel alongside other national leaders in the educational sector, including Emma McCrea, curriculum design leader at Oak Academy and Oliver Caviglioli, famous for the Walk-Thru series of books popular in schools across the world.

Following the successful conference, school leaders visited two secondary schools and two primary schools to understand how the curriculum was enacted. With multiple lesson visits, presentations from senior leaders and pupil discussions, leaders left with a full appreciation of how these schools, in challenging circumstances, achieved the very best outcomes for the young people they serve.

In feeding back on the two days of workshops and visits, one colleague commented, that it was the best professional development they have received in over sixteen years of teaching; and the impact is already being seen in the improved implementation of the ARK curriculum across the SJCMAT family.

National Tutoring Programme benefits ASFA students

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi (ASFA) is successfully supporting students who require extra tutoring in English and maths thanks to the Government’s catch-up funding, following COVID-19.

Teachers at the academy identified 15 students in each year group, from Years 7 to 10, to embark on a 15-week programme which involves external tutors coming into the school for one hour per week and working with students in small groups to help improve their reading or numeracy skills.

Now in its second year of the National Tutoring Programme, the Kensington school has seen tangible results with 80% of students now making expected, or better, progress in English or maths.

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, which is proudly part of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, has been commended by the Department for Education for its utilisation of the catch-up funding and is set to be used as a case study demonstrating best practice.

Mr Ian Hepke, assistant headteacher at the academy, has led the programme since it was introduced in 2021. He said: “We are overjoyed with how the National Tutoring Programme has benefited our students and it is wonderful to see how engaged they are during the sessions. The feedback has been brilliant, and every student looks forward to their tutor coming in and working with them.”

One Year 8 student commented: “I am really enjoying the sessions. The tutors are helpful, and I feel like it has really helped my confidence.”

Headteacher, Ms Jo Leech, said: “The funding has been a great addition in helping us address any gaps in learning for students who require extra support outside of the classroom. Our vision here at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi is ‘success for all’ and being part of this programmes ensures we achieve this for students of all ages and that no one gets left behind.”

Maricourt take audience to ‘a whole new world’

The production of Aladdin at Maricourt Catholic High School in Maghull was a rousing evening of song and dance. Pupils had worked on the show since the end of September 2022. Four performances were put on, and one show was to the local primary schools.

Mrs Liptrot, curriculum leader for drama at Maricourt, said, “We love performing to the primary schools, as the pupils who come are the performers of the future. Many have told me that it was because of seeing a show, that they wanted to be part of one when they came to our school.

“The children are very supportive of our cast and this year; they especially liked the chocolate coins which Aladdin threw into the audience!”

The show was produced by an amazing performing arts team, Mrs Rimmer, Miss O’Connor, Miss Ryan, Mr and Mrs Liptrot, and approximately 60 pupils.

The older pupils involved were later invited to a backstage tour of Mother Goose at the Liverpool Empire theatre, where they got to see how the professionals rehearse. They toured a show and talked about career paths.

Students learned about the theatre from creative learning director, Natalie Flynn, and spoke with comedian John Bishop about what it is like to perform in such a big venue. The deputy stage manager (DSM) even invited one of the pupils who had been doing the job of DSM on Aladdin, to shadow her for a matinee performance.

Mrs Liptrot said: “This was an amazing opportunity not to be missed. One pupil had socks thrown at her by Sir Ian McKellen and John Bishop kept coming over for a chat! She wants to have a career in the theatre, and she has worked on our little shows for years. It was lovely for her to have this opportunity.”

Sophie Forster, Head of Care and Safeguarding at St John Bosco Arts College

From Hartlepool to Liverpool – Geography teacher, Sophie Forster upped sticks and moved from one coast to another in 2019 having had a soft spot for the city of Liverpool for many years. Whilst she may have decided to move here without much of a plan, she soon found a role within a school that perfectly matched her Northeast warmth and ambition.

Sophie said: “Initially I came in as a supply geography teacher for a day and, well, have been here ever since! taught the subject for two years and a head of year recognised that a lot of my strengths were in the pastoral side things.

“I then became a pastoral and safeguarding officer for Year 11 and sixth form, and at the start of this academic year I became acting head of care and safeguarding for the whole of school.”

As the lead, Sophie’s position covers many important areas, both inside and outside of school.

Speaking about her role in more detail, she explained: “There tends to be three key elements. Safeguarding, of course, takes up a lot of my time as there are lots of disclosures and processes to go through and monitor. I’m also deputy LAC (looked-after children) teacher and that is a part of my role that really enjoy. Finally, there is the mental health side of things which is all interlinked.

“But there is also so much more that comes with working in a school such as attendance and pastoral.”

With the school’s new mission statement: ‘Together we inspire each other to flourish in faith, hope and love’, Sophie feels like this underpins her role and helps her support students in a way that isn’t always seen.

Sophie said: “A lot of what I do in my role is behind-the-scenes and not everyone knows what I do day-to-day as I can’t talk about it openly. We want all our students to flourish, but the students can’t do that if the foundations aren’t right. For example, if one student is predicted 9s but there is a whole host of things going on at home, how are they ever going to reach those 9s? So, my colleagues and I are working in the background so these students can go on and achieve their full potential.

“When things are happening at home, students will bring that into school and if they can’t share what they are going through with a member of staff, then students won’t be able to focus and engage in lessons for the rest of their day.

Sophie added: “Having been a teacher in the past, understand how important the academic side of school is, as well as the pastoral side, as want them to go on and achieve amazing things but if the behind-the-scenes things aren’t right then they aren’t going to be able to flourish in the way that our Salesian values would like them too.”

Wirral students inspired by visit from Mandela’s former bodyguard

Students at St John Plessington Catholic College, Bebington, Wirral, were visited by Chris Lubbe, the former bodyguard of South African activist and politician, Nelson Mandela.

The school invited Chris to speak to all year groups following their work in personal development sessions regarding the theme ‘Show Racism the Red Card’. He discussed his personal life, including what it was like growing up in South Africa during apartheid, his time working as Nelson Mandela’s bodyguard and everything following.

Having witnessed such brutality and discrimination firsthand through these experiences, Chris used storytelling to demonstrate the importance of speaking up.

Students then had the opportunity to speak to Chris on a more personal basis and ask further questions about his life and career and take photos together.

All year groups left the talks feeling both very inspired and encouraged to make a positive impact in society.

Throughout the curriculum at SJP, students are participating in ongoing work which explores what racism, prejudice and discrimination are, what forms exist and why it is wrong. It is the school’s mission to be a Catholic College where every individual is highly valued and where care and concern for others is central to its work.

Matthew Jones, personal development coordinator at St John Plessington Catholic College, said: “As a school, we are passionate about anti-discrimination education and know that our pupils felt that this experience was greatly beneficial.”

Acting headteacher at the school, Peadar McLoughlin, commented: “It was a delight to welcome Chris to our school. Everything we do at SJP is guided by Gospel values of love, justice, faith, service and integrity, and he embodied just that.

“It’s important for our students to have discussions about these issues and for them to learn about it first-hand from guest speakers brings a whole new level of understanding.”

St Edward’s College students perform in ‘Night at the Musicals’

On 15 and 16 March, the music department at St Edward’s College in Liverpool hosted the annual spring concert called ‘Night at the Musicals’. The concert featured all the talented musicians from the Show Choir, Show Band, Show Orchestra, Junior Ensemble, Senior Ensemble and The Six. It also featured notable solo pieces from students Hannah F, Cole B, Mia M, Patrick R, James C and Zakariya R. The spring concert is so popular that it is performed for two nights. The hard work, dedication and talent were on full display on both nights.

It was a true joy to witness the high standard of music making in the college as well as the choreography included in some of the pieces. Music performed was from various musicals such as Matilda, The Lion King, Les Misérables, Oliver, Hamilton and much more.

The concert would not have been possible without the guidance and direction of Mr M O’Keeffe, Dr R Howard and Mr J Luxton who have been running rehearsals after school. St Edward’s College stated: “A big thank you to the tech team, including Old Edwardian, Class of 2022, Isabella O’Hanlon who came back to help as a sound mixer/engineer. Along with the current Sixth Form Senior Prefects operating the lighting equipment.”

Over 250 Crosby students take to the Liverpool Philharmonic

Over 250 pupils from St Mary’s College and Preparatory School in Crosby took part in the school’s annual Festival of Music at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool.

The concert featured a wide range of musical ensembles including St Mary’s award-winning Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Band, Stage Band, and a range of choirs. The compere for the event was former BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips, and the ensembles were conducted by St. Mary’s director of music Andrew Byers, and his colleagues Colin Johnston and Joanne Booth.

As usual the concert featured an ambitious and eclectic repertoire from different periods and around the globe which took the audience on a musical journey.

Audience members also enjoyed diverse musical treats like the finale to Beethoven’s Symphony No 5 and Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture.

The soloists at this year’s concert were Victoria McKinleySmith who performed the Molto Allegro from the Clarinet Sonata by Saint-Saens, and pianist Juliette Duncan.

Speaking after the concert, Andrew Byers said: “This is the 23rd time that we have staged our Festival of Music at the Phil, and I can pay this year’s performers no higher tribute than to say they maintained the exceptional standards set by their predecessors.

“This reflects both their musical skills and the incredible amount of effort they all put in to preparing for the concert, and they rightly received a wonderful ovation from the audience at the end of the evening.”

St. Mary’s College principal, Mike Kennedy, added: “Tonight’s concert was the product of many months of dedication and hard work by our pupils, and the teachers and parents who support them.

“At St. Mary’s we believe that music is a wonderful vehicle for developing students beyond the purely academic and shaping their characters and personalities in new and often surprising ways.”

St William of York officially open new school library

St William of York Catholic Primary School in Thornton, Crosby, welcomed author Frank Cottrell-Boyce into school to officially open its new library after years of not having one.

In 2008, the school removed its library at the time to make way for an IT Suite, moving a lot of the books to each class to create a small class library.

Over recent years it became evident that due to iPads, computers and tablets, many children are no longer reading books like they used to. Research has shown that children read less than what they did compared to ten years ago.

To tackle this issue, St William of York Catholic Primary School looked at ways to encourage a love of reading. Staff considered several options on installing

St Mary Magdalen pupils attend annual Commonwealth Service

Pupils from St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School in Penwortham, South Ribble, travelled to London for the UK’s annual Commonwealth Service.

Mrs Edmondson and headteacher Mrs McKinnon joined the Year 5 and 6 pupils. It was the first time for some of the children on a mainline train and for many, the first time they had visited London.

At Westminster, the group was met by Katherine Fletcher MP’s team, who led an engaging walking tour of the Houses of Parliament, starting in Westminster Hall and then moving into the lobby, House of Commons and House of Lords.

Katherine Fletcher, who is MP for South Ribble, then joined the group and told them some of her stories from inside the walls of parliament.

Following lunch, the group moved to the nearby Westminster Abbey where they were led into their seats for the Commonwealth Service.

Representatives from 56 nations spanning five geographical regions, including some of the largest economies on earth as well as the smallest of islands, celebrated their unity of vision and common commitment to peace and justice.

The group had a front row view as the flags of the Commonwealth paraded past, followed by dignitaries and the Royal family – King Charles III, The Queen Consort, Prince William, Princess Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence. The programme also featured entertainment and a special reflection by young Samoan environmental advocate Brianna Fruean.

Education Matters by

Satis Education

THE Month of Holy Days and Holidays

Three of the world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam will be celebrating the festivals of Passover, Easter and Eid al-Fitr this month, providing a fantastic opportunity for our schools to celebrate the diversity of our communities.

As well as sharing details of the religious aspects of a particular Holy Day or festival with the children, schools look for creative ways to mark a particular celebration. But with resources being tight this isn’t always easy. So maybe there’s something we can all do to help children experience a bit of the magic we experienced at school – we all remember those special occasions when we did something outside of ‘normal lessons’.

Lots of schools will welcome volunteers who can support activities to enrich day to day lessons. What you may think of as an every day skill, could be invaluable to a school:

Food

Maybe you are a whizz in the kitchen, and have a particular holiday-linked speciality (sweet treats are always favourites in schools). Why not see if you can share your special recipe with a group of children. If you’re lucky they might even invite you to sample their wares!

Arts and Crafts

a new school library although there was no spare space in school.

In the end, the school reconfigured its IT suite to incorporate a library area while still keeping the IT suite. The dualpurpose area ensures the most is being made out of the space.

Staff said that while the area is not huge, it will be enjoyed by all the children and will be a fantastic area for small groups to enjoy reading.

To celebrate this milestone, Frank Cottrell-Boyce attended the launch of the school’s new library. The children had a fantastic day listening to stories and having their books signed.

Mr Murphy, headteacher of St William of York Catholic Primary School, said: “We were honoured to welcome Mr CottrellBoyce into our school.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed his assemblies which promoted the joy of reading. We would also like to thank Cargill’s for their kind donation towards the cost of our new library and all the fundraising support from parents.”

During the Commonwealth Day Service, His Majesty King Charles III addressed the gathering as Head of the Commonwealth for the first time. Delivering his Commonwealth Day Message from the Great Pulpit, he hailed the “extraordinary potential” of the Commonwealth. Following the service, the group had a walking tour visiting St James Park, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.

Music, arts and crafts are always a great way to share stories about other ways of life. Younger children in particular enjoy learning fun songs and rhymes, this is a great way to pass on your childhood songs. Hearing about artists and art styles from other cultures can really inspire young people. Schools benefit two-fold when the amazing art work created can be displayed throughout the building.

Story Telling

Never underestimate the power of the spoken word, and particularly your own story. Children can read extensively about another culture, religion or historical era but nothing tops getting information directly from the source. You only need to tell the average teenager that phones were connected to the wall thirty years ago to see how easy it is to astound young people!

So at this special time of year, why not make contact with your local school to see if there is anything you can do to help.

Happy Holidays!

St Bernard’s RC Primary School make a difference by taking on the #BigBagChallenge

Living Lent at Animate

Spring is finally in the air. I would have to say that this is my favourite time of year with everything finally coming back to life after the dark winter days. And, of course, with spring comes new life … Easter. After the slow start of settling back into the new year, we at Animate have tried to use our days as best we can. Even though this tends to be our quietest term for day retreats and missions, we do a lot of things to catch up.

We have been blessed to be able to visit seven school sixth forms to deliver assemblies focused on young people’s possibilities and chances for the future, talking about choices, decisions and how valuable a gap year can be for some of these students. It is the first time we have done this, and the experience has been great. It has also allowed us to see past students with whom we have worked over the years. Secondly, our Confirmation programme is up and running.

We have visited 10 high schools around the Archdiocese, working with Year 8 students to introduce the Sacrament of Confirmation. This has involved reminding them how valuable the call to Confirmation can be in their lives and how through the gifts of the Holy Spirit the Lord can help guide them through their day-to-day challenges.

In addition, we have been booked with high schools leading retreat days and last week had our first primary school of the year. Amid all of our activities with young people, we have also had our journey through Lent. As a team, we pray together as a community, both in the morning and evening, and we continuously remind ourselves of the time we are in.

He did all of this for us, so we were able to be saved from our sins. When we are working with schools we are able to teach them about the reason He did this. One pupil we worked with this term, when asked why Jesus died for us, responded: ‘Because He said on the cross, “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” and this shows how much He loves us”.’

I couldn’t have summed it up better myself, and hopefully this response from a young student can remind you of the journey we all go on at this time to step back, pray, fast and give to others.

Pupils and staff at St Bernard’s RC Primary School, Ellesmere Port, proudly participated in the Great Big School Clean recently.

The Great Big School Clean is an initiative created by the charity Keep Britain Tidy which encourages school children across the UK to get involved and come together to litter pick. This spring, schools are taking part in the #BigBagChallenge to make a difference and improve the environment.

Conservation is at the heart of the school curriculum and pupils at St Bernard’s are always inspired to find ways to protect the environment. As part of the Great Spring Clean Challenge, the school pledged to collect twenty bags of litter and have been focusing on their local area and discussing the pride they have for where they live.

Equipped with their own pickers, on Monday 20 March, each year group excitedly explored the school grounds and surrounding areas to fill many bags with all kinds of litter. Amazingly, the students not only met their target, but surpassed it by collecting twenty-six bags instead. In addition to this, an astounding eight shopping trolleys, tires, and more were accumulated!

Throughout the day, photos and videos were taken to create a four-minute video that was then shared online to spread awareness of the school’s involvement in the initiative in hopes of more schools and individuals supporting the cause.

Mrs Julie Le Feuvre, head of the school, said: “It was an honour for our school to participate in Keep Britain Tidy’s The Great Big School Clean. At St Bernard’s, we place an emphasis on the pride we have for Ellesmere Port; we want to support our local community the best we can, and taking care of the environment is a key factor in doing so.

“Our students’ commitment to this project is highly admirable and we’re so proud to have surpassed the target that was initially set out. They’ve learnt a lot from this experience, and it will further assist with their understanding of themes like conservation which are explored inside and outside of the classroom.”

St Bernard’s firmly believes that ‘we have a responsibility to contribute to the world’ and ‘positive partnerships enhance change’.

The school is proud to be part of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust where the importance of developing individual excellence and building strong communities with Gospel values at the heart is realised in all that the academies do.

On a more personal note, I sometimes forget how much He did for us and cannot begin to imagine the amount of pain and suffering He went through to save us – from the start of His journey up to the cross. Starting with the guards mocking and beating Him, having to wear the crown of thorns, then having to carry the cross.

Ellie Leatherbarrow from Animate Youth Ministries reflects on the team’s activities in the lead-up to Easter.

Mums the Word

This Easter we celebrate with joy and thanksgiving the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As He has been raised from the dead, so our mortal lives also may be crowned by the ultimate joy of rising from sin and death with him for ever.

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

In praise of our Southport Knights

Sleep Out with Nugent: helping to give new beginnings to people in crisis

A huge thank you to our incredible supporters and friends who joined us on a chilly March evening to take part in the annual ‘Sleep Out with Nugent’ event, sponsored by Krol Corlett Construction, at the iconic Strawberry Field site.

(Acts

What a wonderful reward for us. After a long Lent, it is with great joy that we celebrate this wonderful feast on Easter Sunday. Easter, with the joy of the Resurrection, did not occur simply to console those who mourned the death of Jesus but to open hearts to the extraordinary message of God’s triumph over evil and death.

The women set out for the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. When they got there, they discovered that the tomb was empty. They saw two figures who told them that Jesus was risen. The light of the Resurrection was not meant to let the women bask in a transport of joy, but to generate missionary disciples who ‘return from the tomb’ in order to bring to all the Gospel of the risen Christ. That is why, after seeing and hearing, the women ran to proclaim to the disciples the joy of the Resurrection. They knew that the others might think they were mad. Indeed, the Gospel says that the women’s words ‘seemed to them an idle tale’.

Yet those women were not concerned for their reputation, for preserving their image. They did not contain their emotions or measure their words. Their hearts were enflamed only with the desire to convey the news, the proclamation that ‘The Lord has risen’.

As women and mothers, it is our duty to proclaim the good news to everyone we meet.

Jesus has risen – Alleluia, Alleluia.

Maureen Finnegan, Liverpool UCM president

From sponsored bike rides to singing Christmas carols, KSC members in Southport have engaged in a range of fundraising activities over recent years – an effort rewarded by the harvesting of almost £15,000 for good causes.

Following the restriction of activities due to Covid, members of Southport council 146 have since made up for lost time by vigorously raising funds in support of local charities which, when added to existing council funds, has meant a sum of £14,740 becoming available for distribution to charities in the Southport and Sefton areas.

2021

The Knights raised over £3,772 including receipts from a sponsored bike ride (with £500 given by one generous supporter), a collection outside Morrisons, and a sponsored walk. With the addition of council funds already in place, £9,960 was available and donated to the following beneficiaries:

• Ainsdale Lunch and Leisure, Southport Soup Kitchen, Individual Acts of Compassion, Live to Learn, Southport Talking Newspaper, Nugent Care, Sefton Women and Children’s Aid, Southport SVP, Christmas vouchers. In addition, donations were made to the widows of deceased brothers and to a seminarian studying for the priesthood.

2022

The Knights raised £1,250 and, during the eight months from April to December 2022, a similar list of charities received £3,530 in donations. Our photo shows a group of council members with friends singing Christmas carols on Lord Street.

Southport council comprises 16 local Catholic men and they meet on the second Tuesday of the month at St Patrick’s at 7.30pm for the Rosary, with the meeting ending no later than 9pm. New members are always welcome, and anyone interested in finding out more about the order can come along to the monthly meeting or email the address below.

The fundraising of the Southport Knights is a tremendous achievement and another strong example of the kind of support that the KSC gives to local communities in addition to helping, where required, in parishes.

Websites: www.ksc.org.uk

www.kscprov02.weebly.com

Email: dpokeane@aol.com

The event, organised by our fundraising team, gave participants the opportunity to experience a small part of what vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and families go through daily. The generous donations received from this event will help Nugent’s New Beginnings service, which supports individuals to transition out of homelessness across the region.

Notable positive impact since Sleep Out 2022

Since last year’s ‘Sleep Out with Nugent’, the New Beginnings team have witnessed the positive impact made from the fantastic amount raised from the event. Within the last year, 12 People who were using the service have successfully moved on to their own independent tenancies, and 13 people have moved in to receive support in gaining independence and control over their lives.

The funds raised have also helped to provide additional items to the starter packs that New Beginnings offer to individuals transitioning out of homelessness across the region. Whilst the team always provided basics such as bedding, pots and pans, kitchen utensils and towels, there has never been enough funds to be able to provide those things that make a flat a home. Thanks to last year’s donations, toiletries and other items are included as part of their starter pack. This may seem like a small thing that only costs a few pounds, but to a person who lives with the insecurity of being homeless and who does not know when or where they will be accommodated next and, is existing month-to-month on a low income - this is a huge difference.

How the funds raised can provide lifechanging support

John received support from New Beginnings for a year and a half. He was made homeless due to drinking, drug use and a chaotic lifestyle that led to anti-social behaviour and some low-level

offences. When he first started to receive support from the team, he was often in crisis, which affected his mental health. John was still relapsing with alcohol and drugs and would often contact the team saying he was feeling suicidal.

During the time he was with the service, John began to feel that he had been misdiagnosed with bi-polar. He had struggled since a child with what he thought may be ADHD and that it could be the basis for all his problems. With staff support, John gradually began to progress, re-engaging with alcohol and drug services, he took up meditation, yoga and exercise, and joined alternative groups that staff resourced for him. John realised the ADHD assessment waiting list could take years, so he decided to give up smoking cigarettes, drinking and drug use to pay for a private consultation. He succeeded, received a diagnosis and started taking medication.

John’s life began to drastically improve, and he became a lead on drug and alcohol support service meetings, often hosting them across the UK and in other countries. He also decided to pursue a mental health nursing degree and now has his own accommodation, which he is delighted about as it is close to his support networks.

When leaving the service, John said, ‘I am very grateful for all the support I received and had the most growth throughout my whole life being with Nugent and the staff. It really touched me when staff noticed the change and growth in me, and it helped me to progress and don’t think would be where I am now without their support’.

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of our beneficiary.

You can donate to our Sleep Out appeal by visiting: localgiving.org/ appeal/SleepOutWithNugent2023.

To find out more about our upcoming fundraising events, Visit wearenugent.org

Celebrating our Nugent heroes

Easter is now upon us and we look forward to spending quality time with our friends, family and loved ones. With the end of the season of Lent, we must remember to continue the good work carried out during the Lenten period throughout the rest of the year, as we have a mission to make Christ known by our love.

We have recently had our own celebrations to recognise the good work carried out within Nugent at our annual iACCORD colleague awards. The event was held to show appreciation to our employees who work tirelessly across our homes, communities, education and family services. It is vital that we celebrate our Nugent Heroes, who have gone above-and-beyond for our beneficiaries, whilst embodying our iACCORD values to show integrity, ambition, courage, compassion, optimism, respect and dignity, in everything they do.

Throughout March we have also seen the generosity and good work carried out by primary and secondary schools across the Archdiocese of Liverpool who have supported the Nugent Good Shepherd Appeal. The schools who have taken part have had a lot of fun coming up with creative ways to fundraise, from setting up ‘market days’ for children to sell their own homemade goodies, to discos and talent shows; we have enjoyed seeing everyone’s fundraising efforts on social media. Thank you to all the schools who have dedicated their time and donated to this year’s appeal, your kindness will make a real difference.

As we see the spring days get longer and lighter, we look towards a positive and productive month ahead at Nugent where we continue to provide the vital work we carry out for our beneficiaries who are vulnerable and at-risk.

Normandie Wragg Chief Executive Nugent

Jo Henney Interim Chief Executive Nugent

‘We believe that having died with Christ we shall be raised to life with him’

(Rom 6:8)

‘All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved’

2:21)

Dialogue and Unity Rev Andrew Edwards – A passion for ecumenism

Ultan Russell, Archdiocesan Ecumenical Officer

was a major centre of community activitya Local Ecumenical Partnership of Anglican, Methodist, United Reformed and Baptist. There was close collaboration with the Catholic parish which in those days had four priests. It was a time of great partnerships, sharing and friendships. Of particular significance was the involvement of Religious in ecumenical and community work – the convents welcomed ministers of all denominations – the ecumenical hospitality of the sisters left a profound impression on Andrew.

married in 2008 to Helen (the Revd Canon Helen Edwards) who was Vicar of Christ Church in Norris Green.

Rev Andrew Edwards is the Chaplain to the Bishop of Liverpool for ecumenism and currently one of the Trustees of Churches Together in the Merseyside Region and a member of the Archdiocesan Commission for Dialogue and Unity

Andrew moved to Liverpool 35 years ago having been ordained in 1980 previously serving in two parishes in Kent in the Rochester Diocese. He moved here because he was influenced by Bishop David Sheppard’s commitment to urban priority areas and his passion for ecumenism. He was concerned that too many clergy chose to minister in middle class areas and not to recognise the needs of the inner city and the outer estates.

Andrew moved to Skelmerdale in 1987; the new town had been inaugurated about twenty years earlier. Andrew was based at the Ecumenical Centre (the ‘Eccy’) which

Andrew’s ecumenical experience led to his appointment as Diocesan Ecumenical Officer in 1992, a post he continued to hold until 2009. This involved working with what is now Churches Together in the Merseyside Region and he valued working with his equivalent Ecumenical Officers in other denominations.

In 1994 Andrew moved to Netherton as vicar. There the ecumenical links he relished continued and he was particularly heartened by the robust links between the lay people from the different local churches who worked, prayed, and met together sometimes in spite of their ministers.

In 2002 Andrew moved to Southport with responsibility for two churches All Saints and St Philips and St Paul with Wesley (this was a recently established joint Anglican-Methodist Church where Andrew’s immense experience assisted in its development). While in Southport he

In 2011 Andrew moved to the Good Shepherd West Derby much nearer to his wife’s parish of Christ Church Norris Green. Andrew was delighted to move to an area where interchurch relations were so vibrant – links between the clergy and laity, regular joint events and a major focus on community action and social justice. St Teresa of the Child Jesus and Canon Chris Fallon were very involved in these initiatives – indeed the work in Norris Green was pivotal in the creation of ‘Feeding Liverpool’ of which Canon Chris is Joint Chair. Two major community projects existed. The churches’ charity Triple C focusses work with older people, and with children and families, and in offering debt advice, a food bank, and a food pantry through partnering with the ground-breaking work spearheaded by St Andrew’s Clubmoor staffed by expertly trained volunteers and paid workers from all the local churches. Andrew is now retired but relishes the ecumenical opportunities: so not believing that anyone in the Church retires Bishop Paul Bayes in 2019 invited Andrew to be his Chaplain for Ecumenism.

Andrew spoke movingly of the honour of being an Ecumenical Consultant in Synod 2020. ‘I was deeply impressed by the energy devoted to developing the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan’, said Andrew, ‘it resonates well with the process within the Anglican Diocese entitled “Fit for Mission”. There are many areas where we can work together and one area has been working closely with Father Philip Inch on buildings (which is a challenge to all denominations as we take difficult decisions on refurbishment, closure and sharing of our Church Buildings). Another area is encouraging joint work at a deanery level notably as many of our Catholic and Anglican deaneries have a good geographic match to local authorities’.