Catholic Pic December 2022

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Congratulations Dame Jean Warm and cosy this winter

Welcome

We have already begun the season of Advent, a new year for the Church. As Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year we have a full four weeks to prepare for the great feast. It is a time of reflection, a time of stillness and calm in the midst of a chaotic world; a time for us to find peace. Let us pray for peace in our hearts and in our world as we wait in hope for the coming of the Prince of Peace.

Congratulations to Canons Kevin McLoughlin, John Gorman, David Heywood and Conor Stainton-Polland who were installed last month by Archbishop Malcolm as members of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter, and to Mrs Jean Jones and Dr Ed Morgan who have been invested with Papal Awards for their outstanding service to the Church.

We also welcome Bishop John Perumbalath, who has been appointed as Bishop of Liverpool to succeed Bishop Paul Bayes who retired earlier this year. Bishop John is currently the Bishop of Bradwell in the Diocese of Chelmsford – a warm Liverpool welcome awaits him.

May we all have a blessed, happy and peaceful Christmas.

From the Archbishop’s Desk

This year Christmas might not be a season of comfort and joy. The prospect of celebrating the wonderful feast of Christ’s birth is daunting against the background of rising food prices and energy costs. It looks as though we will all have to tighten our belts and put on an extra jumper. But for some even that will not help; they will go hungry, feel the cold and make do with meagre presents for the children. So, it is incumbent on everyone who has more than they need to share with those who have less, and not forget those who are on their own. Our parishes are responding to this in many ways locally. At an archdiocesan level we have launched the ‘warm and cosy’ project offering centres which provide warmth, light refreshments, and a cup of tea. Farther afield our support for the Ukraine continues with supply of basic needs as they face a dark, cold and hungry winter.

Into this world of misery which seems to have lost its purpose and direction comes the Christ-child once again to remind us that we are all God’s children and loved by him. It is Jesus, the Light of the World who will walk with us though the darkness of the months ahead showing us the way to better times. This year the Christmas message will not be drowned out by the noise of our consumer society, and we will be able to spend the feast with our families at home and in church rejoicing in the simple things that Christmas has to offer: the comfort of our families and the joy of having Christ in our heart.

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

Cover: l to r Canons Conor StaintonPolland, John Gorman, Kevin McLoughlin and David Heywood

The power of connection

by Simon Hart

‘There is a truth which most people find when they serve people that it is actually better to serve than to be served. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. This role of canon is basically an example of the fundamental service of the Church.’

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon offered this reflection on Tuesday 8 November as he celebrated Mass for the Installation of Canons at the Metropolitan Cathedral. The chapter of canons is a body which helps to connect the Archbishop and

the cathedral with the broader diocese and, fittingly, the four newcomers to this body came from different areas of the Archdiocese. The quartet were Canon John Gorman, parish priest of Our Lady’s, Bryn and St Oswald’s and St Wilfrid’s, Ashton-in-Makerfield; Canon Dave Heywood, parish priest of Blessed James Bell Parish in Warrington; Canon Kevin McLoughlin, parish priest of Holy Family, Southport; and Canon Conor StaintonPolland, parish priest of St Matthew’s, Clubmoor and St Cecilia’s, Tuebrook.

Canons have a highly significant role to play in the life of the diocese, as Archbishop Malcolm underlined when welcoming four new members to Liverpool’s chapter of canons in November.

“They provide to me their wisdom and their advice and that’s something I greatly value.”

Archbishop Malcolm

The last-named of the four, Canon Conor, admitted to being ‘speechless’ when he was offered the role by Archbishop Malcolm in September. Yet he was appreciative of the opportunity – and sought to convey the usefulness of the role of a canon. ‘Being a canon is reminding us all that rules and relationships are what make us part of the Church,’ he explained. ‘It’s their responsibility to gather and maintain that life of prayer in the mother Church of the diocese. As well as administrative responsibilities, the canons take this beyond the Cathedral to the parishes and areas of the diocese where they function normally as parish priests. There is a fundamental role of unity with the Archbishop across his diocese.’

Canon Conor’s reference to ‘a rule of prayer, a rule of unity, a rule of responsibility’ chimed with the words of the Archbishop during the homily he gave during the Mass of Installation. The day’s Gospel was Luke 17:7-10 which touches on service and includes the following line:

‘Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are useless servants: we have done no more than our duty”.’ Archbishop Malcolm mused on this point when he said: ‘’We can see that even Jesus wants to see a certain regularity and order. He doesn’t want the master to be so merciful and kind that he disrupts the general order of things; people have their jobs to do, everyone has their place. The name canon speaks of regularity … and the order of things in the life of the Church.’

It would be fair to say that the new canons of the diocese were not expecting to be offered this new role. Indeed their appointment was the cue to gain a clearer understanding of the importance of the work of the chapter of canons, a 16-strong body whose responsibilities include consulting the papal nuncio over the appointment of new bishops. Archbishop Malcolm put it succinctly when he affirmed: ‘They provide to me their wisdom and their advice and that’s something I greatly value.’

New canons’ reflections

Canon Dave Heywood came back to the Archbishop’s homily when he explained to the Pic the connection of the chapter of canons with the Metropolitan Cathedral. He said: ‘I have to admit that I’m not really a fan of titles and regalia, but the Archbishop addressed this in the Mass. In former times, canons would oversee the liturgy in cathedrals. While this now tends to be done by others, they still have a special connection with the Cathedral – meeting to pray the Divine Office and celebrate Mass there every other month. The chapter is also a body that the Archbishop can consult just as he can consult lay men and women in his new advisory body. So it’s helping us to embrace a new Synodal way of working in the Archdiocese.’

Canon John Gorman offered his own reflection on the connection with the Cathedral when he said: ‘I was very conscious of the historical background of what a chapter in a cathedral is. You can

go back to medieval times to a group of priests that provide the liturgy. We don’t do that in modern terms but it’s very much the case that we are there to provide the prayer for the community, if you like, where the Cathedral is concerned.’

He went on to discuss the additional layers of responsibility as he explained: ‘We have a responsibility for our parishes but it also means we have responsibility at a diocesan level as well. For us, it’s bringing through to the centre the experience and the outlook of the whole of the diocese from all parts. The four of us who were installed are from all different parts of the diocese which is bringing all of that together into the heart of the diocese, which is the Cathedral. You could say the chapter is there as a source of advice for the Archbishop. You have priests from other parts of the diocese bringing their experience and outlook to matters that cover the whole of the diocese.’

‘A moving moment’

Returning to the Mass of Installation, Canon Kevin McLoughlin said that while it was a significant occasion, it

was ‘more simple and homely’ than a Mass of Ordination. ‘Naturally being in the Metropolitan Cathedral it was just as grand as any other major celebration, but I welcomed the feel of a more intimate parish occasion,’ he remarked. And he went on to provide details of the ceremonial aspect of the occasion. ‘During the installation Mass each new canon, having made his commitment to the Archbishop and the chapter, was vested by the Archbishop in a tippet, a purple shoulder cape which identifies you as a member of the chapter. This was a moving moment which filled me with a sense of pride but not for myself as much as for my late parents and my deceased brother Thomas and all those whom I felt were sharing this lovely celebration with us in heaven.’

For Canon Kevin, like his fellow newcomers to the chapter, his appointment has brought a deeper appreciation of the role – and an eagerness to contribute fully. “To say that I was extremely surprised when I received a phone call from Archbishop Malcolm explaining that he’d like me to become a canon would be a huge understatement,’ he said. ‘Although I knew that canons were an integral part

of the Archdiocese, I must confess to not knowing very much about their role. I’ve since come to appreciate the contribution the canons make, not least in their commitment to the Cathedral chapter and also in their prayerful and practical support of the Archbishop. Following a 22-year career in retail management prior to my 25 years of priesthood, I hope to bring some valuable experience which will contribute in a positive way to our future deliberations and discussions within the Cathedral chapter.’ We wish him and his fellow new canons well in this new challenge.

“I was very conscious of the historical background of what a chapter in a cathedral is. You can go back to medieval times to a group of priests that provide the liturgy.”

Canon John Gorman

On a liturgical note

I recently noticed that Collins, the dictionary people, have chosen as their word for 2022 ‘permacrisis’ –which they define as ‘an extended period of instability and insecurity’.

When we look around us we can see that this word appears apt for our experience over these past months and years. Coronavirus is still with us, the climate is still (and increasingly) of concern, the war in Ukraine is causing human and financial tragedies, floods and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are bringing untold insecurity and danger in various parts of the world … the list seems endless, not to mention our own individual and family crises –all of which, if we are not careful, can appear to be overwhelming us.

And in the midst of all this comes Advent, a season which invites us to be quiet, to be reflective, to prepare not simply for the one-day celebration of the Lord’s birth on 25 December but rather to raise our eyes from the local and individual and to see the wider picture of the work of Christ in

Sunday thoughts

Fr John Gidlea was 10 years ahead of me at Upholland. With its acres of lawns and playing fields, summers were filled with the drone of motor mowing machines. Invariably the young John Gildea was at the helm, steering the mower round and round, backwards and forwards. After his death I was sent a video of him cutting the grass at St Peter’s, Woolston. It brought back memories of 60 years ago.

‘Gilly’ was not just king of the motor mowers, he was also a motorcyclist. After his ordination, I recall him driving through the college gates on his bike. I was intrigued how such a large motorbike ran so silently. It was a BMW ‘boxer’. He appeared on it again at a pop festival at Bickershaw. As senior students, some of us were invited to join the chaplaincy team in which Fr John had a key role. He explained how BMWs were shaftdriven. And he could identify the

Canon Philip Gillespie

the whole of creation.

It invites us to have, alongside Isaiah on the first Sunday of Advent (27 November), a vision – a goal and a direction of travel for our daily living. Without such a vision, we run the risk of being battered and blown by the events and the permacrisis through which we are living.

For the first weeks of Advent there is, in fact, no mention of stars or stable or shepherds; the Scripture asks us to reflect rather on the coming of Christ which will be at the end of all things. How will He judge us? What criteria will be used? How do I/we understand our life in the light of such a great love which has been lavished upon us as Christ comes to us as a Redeemer, a Friend and a Brother?

Weighty questions – but in a time of crisis, weighty questions are appropriate.

I wish you a Blessed Advent and a joyful Christmastide

sunday reflections

Non-violence is the way of God

I have been working recently with a man who is so afraid of the anger that lies within him, afraid that it will burst out and do some real damage. He is afraid of the violence that lurks within him, threatening to break out. That struck a chord with me because I know there are times in my life when anger bubbles just below the surface and it frightens me. Yet to follow Jesus is to follow a path of non- violence.

The Bible, from beginning to end, is a progressive revelation – or maybe it is a progressive realisation on our part, of the loving non-violence of God. This is a revelation that ends in Jesus who shows a God of radical non-violence. Even His death on the cross is a teaching on non-violence. This blows our minds. We are so violent, not just in our actions but in our language, and in the way in which we treat one another.

make of a motorcycle from the sound of its engine. The police rode Triumphs and Nortons at the time. It was only later that they, too, graduated to BMW boxers.

I have ridden motorcycles all my life, even during my years in South America. But it was only on my return from Peru that I managed to get a BMW boxer. It was an ex-police model, all I could afford. It was in a poor state. I turned to Gilly. He introduced me to his friend Tom. Tom and Gilly spent many summers touring Europe on their BMWs. Tom is a gifted engineer. He has a perfect ear for tuning engines. Within 20 minutes Tom had my bike running sweetly. We have been close friends ever since.

I saw Gilly just a week before he died. He sadly told me that he’d had to sell his beloved bikes.

It was Ghandi who said that ‘non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our very being … if love or non-violence be not the law of our being, the whole of my argument falls to pieces ... belief in non-violence is based on the assumption that human nature in its essence is one and therefore unfailingly responds to the advances of love … if one does not practise non-violence in one’s personal relations with others and hopes to use it in bigger affairs, one is vastly mistaken.’

The God whom Jesus reveals is free of all violence, and so for those of us who follow Jesus, non-violence has to be one of the cornerstones for our lives. Thomas Merton wrote that ‘meekness’ is the Biblical word for non-violence. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, we find many passages which deal with nonviolence. It is one of the Evangelist’s major themes. Jesus’ death is itself a teaching on how to attack violence by taking it into himself and triumphing over it by love. In a few weeks we will celebrate the birth of a child who is vulnerable, innocent, non-violent. Could it be that non-violence is the gift of the Christ child? We, as his followers, are to live non-violently too. To live in his Kingdom demands nonviolence. The Kingdom of God, where compassion, love, mercy and forgiveness reigns, is not at the top of many people’s priorities. So to live in it is to be radically different than those around us. If we are honest, much of the world’s way of living is violent, as politically we attack one another or enter into wars with one another. Where does the Gospel point us? I think it invites us towards being transformed within, that we may spread the Gospel of non-violence, captured in the birth of a baby at Bethlehem.

Father Chris Thomas

Mgr John Devine OBE

from the archives

Morecambe and Wise men

television was before streaming services and a multiplicity of channels evolved.

In the olden days, as a weekly newspaper, the Catholic Pic published a TV guide for the Sunday on which it was sold. For those of us who remember the dot disappearing in the centre of the screen when you turned the telly off, looking through the programme listings is a real feast of nostalgia.

In 1977 Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, and the TV schedule in that year’s Pic shows why gathering round the box in the corner was such a family activity. There were only three channels on offer then, and you couldn’t record programmes to watch later. It was also, of course, a communal activity: what you were watching was probably what your neighbour was watching, and what you discussed in the playground or at work in the days following showed how much of a shared experience

Then as now, popular programmes produced ‘Christmas specials’, and on BBC1 there was a competition for a Grace Brothers’ department store Santa in Are You Being Served? Puppets featured strongly during the day, as Basil Brush, Emu and the Muppets all gave us something Christmassy. The Queen’s Christmas broadcast went out at the same time on BBC1 and ITV, with a later showing on BBC2 in case you’d missed it. There was no Bond film over which to fall asleep after a heavy lunch, so that must be a tradition that started later. If you were expecting The Wizard of Oz to feature, you can tick that box, though you’d have had to wait until Boxing Day for The Guns of Navarone, another holiday favourite.

As the evening wore on, Bruce Forsyth presented ‘a special Christmas edition’ of The Generation Game, which no doubt featured Anthea Redfern giving us a festive twirl. And the one we all remember was of course the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show. Not that you need to remember it, as there are still repeats over 40 years on. The 1977 edition was the one with Nothing Like a Dame, a Hollywood-style dance routine for acrobatic sailors, featuring a roster of BBC television presenters including Michael Aspel and Eddie Waring. With 28 million viewers, this holds the record as the most watched comedy programme on British television. It’s instructive to see how much religious content was available. Even with more channels now, I don’t think Christmas Day this year will have so much Christian celebration on offer. The day started just before 9.00 am (imagine!) with Christmas Carols on Granada and Christmas music on BBC1. Both channels had morning worship programmes, the BBC from an Anglican church in Surrey and Granada with a Christmas Day Mass from Our Lady and St Oswin’s Church in Tynemouth. BBC2 opened at lunchtime with carols from the chapel of St Mary’s College, Strawberry Hill, so the Catholic contribution seems quite balanced. If you stayed up late, Granada then ended the holy day with an hour of celebration of ‘The joys of Christmas in words and music’, followed by a Christmas message from the Archbishop of Canterbury. And then, as the programmes ended on all channels, you’d be back to watching the dot disappear…

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist

Christmas at St Augustine’s Primary School

All Saints Day at St Thomas of Canterbury, St Helens

In March 2020, as we were ordered to stay indoors and lockdown began, the church of St Thomas of Canterbury in St Helens closed its doors as every other church in the country did. However, the circumstances of the parish changed during lockdown and it has not been possible to reopen the church since. It has long been discussed whether the church would ever reopen again as the building had been left empty for such a long time and people worried if it was in a state of disrepair.

However, with the permission from Archbishop Malcolm to reopen the church, subject to review after one year, and the hard work of Father Michael Harwood, the parishioners and the staff and children of St Thomas of Canterbury School, the church finally reopened with a Mass to celebrate All Saints’ Day on Tuesday 1 November. The staff of the school have been instrumental in getting the church ready for reopening and have worked alongside Father Michael in preparing the building, attending meetings, washing and ironing vestments and albs and even polishing candlesticks. A genuine partnership between parish and school giving fresh foundations for strengthening the links between the school and the church even further.

During the Mass the children led the Liturgy with their brilliant reading; they sang beautifully and joined in with all the responses, making Father Michael’s first Mass there a truly memorable one. As one child succinctly put it; ‘It’s exciting because it is like having a new home with one big family all joining together.’

News diary

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

Congratulations Dr Morgan

Mass at St Clare’s Church, Arundel Avenue on Friday 4 November in thanksgiving for the work of Dr Edward Morgan KC, who was created a Knight Commander of the Order of Pope Saint Sylvester by Pope Francis. Canon Christopher Thomas, the general secretary of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales, travelled from London to be present at the celebration.

Universiteit Leuven for his licentiate and doctorates. In 2010 he was made a Fellow of the Centre for Law and Religion at the university of Cardiff. He has been a visiting professor of Canon Law at KU Leuven since 2016.

Archbishop Malcolm, with Bishop Tom Williams and Bishop Tom Neylon, several visiting bishops and abbots, together with priests from the archdiocese and beyond, celebrated

Dr Morgan started life in Huyton in St Aloysius parish. He studied at St Joseph’s College, Upholland and went on to read Law at university. He was called to the Bar and works as a barrister in England and Northern Ireland. He ‘took silk’ and was named Queens Counsel (now Kings Counsel ‘KC’) in 2021. He has worked in the ministry of canon law for 25 years and studied at Katholieke

A special award

On Monday 7 November at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre Archbishop Malcolm celebrated Mass to give thanks for Jean Jones who has served as personal secretary/executive assistant to five Archbishops of Liverpool.

The Archbishop was joined by Bishop Tom Williams and Bishop Tom Neylon, former Chaplain to Archbishop Derek Worlock, Monsignor John Furnival, and priests who had worked with Jean over many years.

Jean first began working at Archbishop’s House in the early 1960s with Archbishop John Carmel (later Cardinal) Heenan, and went on to serve Archbishop George Andrew Beck, Archbishop Derek Worlock, Archbishop Patrick Kelly and Archbishop Malcolm himself and some years ago received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal in recognition of her work.

After communion and to Jean’s great surprise, Canon Aidan Prescott, Vicar General and Chancellor of the archdiocese, announced that Pope Francis had created her a Dame Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great. This is the highest-level papal award in the history of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

It was Archbishop Malcolm’s great pleasure to present Jean with the award on behalf of Pope Francis to the delight of her family and friends who had joined her for the celebration.

There was a drop of champagne and food and drink to continue the celebrations following the presentation of this richly deserved honour for a remarkable servant of the Church.

Congratulations Dame Commander Jones!

During the celebrations, Dr Morgan referred to Father Peter Fox RIP who was a priest in his home parish. He recalled how he, like several Liverpool priests, were spiritual fathers to him and helped him discern the path of travel to live his vocation as a husband, father and lawyer.

Following the presentation, the hymn ‘Maria, mater gratiae’ was sung. This is a hymn known to many students of St Joseph’s College, Upholland, asking for Our Blessed Lady’s help as ‘mother of grace’

A rich heritage

At a side altar of the church of St Francis of Assisi in Garston, there is a stone slab taken from the medieval chantry chapel of St Wilfrid, which stood less than a mile from the site of the present church. An inscription explains that this chapel used to serve the needs of Catholics throughout Garston, Allerton and Grassendale. Centuries later, St Francis’ church again caters for that wider area, after a period in which the territory was divided into four distinct parishes. And the new, larger parish has adopted the name of St Wilfrid. This is the community in which it was my privilege to be inducted as parish priest by Archbishop Malcolm on 12 October. It was a pleasure to see so many of my new parishioners gathered for the Mass, and I was equally grateful to those who made the journey from my previous parish of St Albert the Great, Stockbridge Village. I felt the prayers and support of all present as the Archbishop reminded me of the main responsibilities of a parish priest, which are best defined as to teach, to sanctify and to govern. The parish altar servers, who are notably proficient and well-trained, rose

to the occasion, and the blend of organ and viola made for some uplifting music and singing. Many people who attended stayed on for a packed and convivial reception in the Meeting Rooms, and the Induction Mass cake was big enough for slices to be offered to members of the Sunday congregation too several days later.

St Wilfrid was Bishop of York for fourteen years from 664 to 678. During that time, he twice appealed to the Pope to resolve disputes in the English Church. At the Synod of Whitby, he also argued that the date of Easter should be determined by the method favoured in Rome, and this was accepted by the Synod Fathers. Of all St Wilfrid’s achievements, this closer aligning of English Catholics with the Holy See was perhaps the most valuable and necessary. As I begin my ministry in the parish which bears Wilfrid’s name, and in a church whose name is shared by the current Pope, I hope that our communion with the Successor of St Peter will always be as deep and solid as our patron would expect it to be.

Cafod Christmas Run

This year’s Cafod Christmas run is returning once again on Bank Holiday Tuesday, 27 December, at the Mystery, Wavertree Athletics Centre, Wellington Road, L15 4LE.

The Cafod run raises vital funds used to support communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to fight poverty and injustice. Funds are used to support local experts who provide practical help in times of crisis and emergency, including helping communities to rebuild their lives after natural disasters, the Coronavirus pandemic and tackling issues associated with the climate crisis.

Run or walk 3K or 5K. Registration will be open from 10.00 am for an 11.00 am start - £5 child, £10 adult, £20 family (cash accepted, contactless available) - but you can also preregister and set up your own fundraising sponsorship page.

Visit: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/ CAFODChristmasFunRun or contact liverpool@cafod.org.uk for a sponsor form. Follow Cafod Liverpool on Twitter and Facebook to share social media posts.

by Father David Potter Parish Priest of St Wilfrid, Garston and Chaplain to the UCM

Archbishop Malcolm with Father David

Father David with members of the UCM

Warm and Cosy

During the last month the ‘Warm and Cosy’ scheme in the archdiocese has been getting underway providing help and comfort to those trying to cope with the costof-living crisis and the colder weather and things are expanding already.

Director of Finance for the archdiocese, Jill Boggan says, ‘One of the things that we’re doing at the moment is putting a rack in each parish centre, where if people wanted to donate a good quality winter coat that they no longer use, hats, gloves, scarves, it will be in that area. We’re calling it “complimentary winter warmers,” so that people can just take what they need if they want to, or they can donate something that they no longer need that might help someone else stay warm.’

Pat Nelson, assistant manager at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Centre in Liverpool says, ‘we’ve had a good response with people coming in to keep warm, have a hot drink, a chat and an opportunity to meet new friends. We’re open for everybody, not just the Catholic community and we’re going to be distributing flyers throughout our local community to encourage people to come and join us between 1.00 pm and 3.30 pm on a Wednesday.

‘In some cases, its about giving people the confidence to come in, but there’s always a great welcome and it’s definitely warm and cosy here.’

Marie, a visitor to Our Lady’s, was certainly happy with the welcome she received, ‘I love it here, all the people are lovely, and I talk to all of them – it’s always warm with a warm welcome.’

At St Jude’s Parish Centre in Wigan Manager, Suzanne Garswood, says, ‘We just want to bring out everybody who wants to come and have a chat and a cup of tea and a biscuit while enjoying good company. Everyone is welcome, people who may not have been out since covid, people who are generally on their own and people who need to keep warm –come down and join us and enjoy yourself.’

Jill Boggan says, ‘We can’t solve everything for everybody, but where we can do something in a practical way to help other people, it is hopefully fulfilling that, and it is an expression of us caring for others, especially during these very difficult times.’

A full list of opening times for the warm and cosy centres is available on the archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

News from the Spanish speaking community

At the monthly Spanish Speaking Mass in November, it was decided by the community to transfer the Mass to the Church of Our Lady of Victories, on Sandy Lane, Hightown. The church is just one minute walk from Hightown Train Station. Thanks were expressed to the Community of St Vincent’s who have hosted the Mass over the past few months. The Mass will now begin at 3.00 pm on the second Sunday of every month at Our Lady of Victories, Hightown.

The Christmas Mass in Spanish will be celebrated on Saturday 24 December at 3.00 pm in Our Lady of Victories. There will also be some prayer activities during Advent in preparation for Christmas. Further information, including activities in preparation for Christmas can be found on the website and Facebook as follows: https://catolicosenliverpool.org.uk https://www.facebook.com/people/Cat%C3%B3licos-enliverpool/100083727447797/

A structure fit for the future

Throughout the Church’s long history in England and the Isle of Man, there have been many changes in how the Church is structured, how it owns property and organises its affairs.

Unlike other nations which retained Catholicism as the state religion, in this country our ancestors Catholics often had to be much more creative to provide places where people could hear Mass. In the 17th and 18th centuries, when Catholics weren’t allowed to own property and Mass had to be offered in secrecy, properties were provided or owned by others. As catholic emancipation progressed, churches were able to be owned by priests or their benefactors, on trust for the Church. Eventually, following the restoration of the hierarchy and the return of bishops in this country, churches and schools could be owned by diocesan bishops. These properties were then transferred from incumbent priest to priest, or priest to bishop and so forth up to the twentieth century.

Each Catholic Diocese in the UK is completely separate from its neighbours, and can operate as its bishop chooses. This reflects the position at canon law, which is set in Rome. In canon law, the diocesan bishop enjoys a similar freedom, and he is limited only in those matters where canon law or a decree of the Pope reserves a matter either to the Pope himself or to another ecclesiastical authority. In the Archdiocese of Liverpool, a trust was created in the 1960s, whereby a group of priests together with the Archbishop were to own all the property of the church in the Archdiocese. The Archdiocesan trust is a charity and is subject to UK charity law and must operate within that as well as canon law. However, that trust is ultimately a group of individual people.

More recently we have included in amongst the trustees lay trustees, to support the Archbishop and priests in the operation of the trust with their skills and experience

from different professions such as accounting, surveying, safeguarding, education. This reflects best practice for any large charity. Following a review of our current operations the trustees took the decision to move from a trust model to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, or a ‘CIO’. A CIO is a charity version of a company, established and regulated by the Charity Commission.

The model agreed on in 1963 is no longer the best fit for us now, and many other dioceses and religious orders are going through similar reviews. This is very much a natural progression for organisations such as ours. It will be 60 years since a similar process was last undertaken and this is only the second time since the 1850s that the archdiocese is having such a restructure. The aim is to make the operations of the archdiocese fit for purpose for our mission in the contemporary world, and to secure its future for those who are called to carry out its mission in subsequent generations.

On 1 January 2023, the Archdiocese of Liverpool will begin operating as a CIO. The CIO is called ‘Archdiocese of Liverpool’ and has a new charity number, different from the current trust. All the assets and liabilities of the current trust will be transferred over to the CIO. The trustees of the CIO will be the same as those for the current trust. Our governance and operational procedures will all be transferred over. Our trust staff will move over to be employed by the CIO. Any money intended to be received by the old trust, such as any donations, will automatically belong to the CIO. It is a bit like a giant corporate house move.

Where there are practical implications for those who deal with the Archdiocese we will be in touch to let you know. However, if you have any queries about this transition, please email cioqueries@rcaol.org.uk and we will endeavour to respond to you as soon as we can. We look forward to starting this next chapter in our story.

by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP

Early barn churches were discreet, so they didn’t attract attention

A century later with more confidence architecture was more bold and ornate and Catholics were allowed to have steeples and bells again

Obituary of Rev John Gildea

Father John Gildea, former parish priest of St Charles, Aigburth and St Peter and St Michael, Woolston, died suddenly after a very brief illness on Monday 17 October 2022, aged 84 and in the 60th year of his priesthood.

John Alfred Gildea, the son of John and Janet Gildea, was born in Liverpool on 25 November 1937, and he was baptised a few days later at St Hugh of Lincoln, Wavertree. By the time he was of school age the family had moved from Liverpool, so he attended St Luke’s School, Whiston, before entering St Joseph’s College, Upholland, to begin studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by Archbishop Heenan in the college chapel at Upholland on 8 June 1963.

Following ordination, he served as assistant priest in several parishes across the archdiocese: St Agnes, Huyton from August 1963; St Matthew, Liverpool from August 1967; St Thomas of Canterbury, Waterloo from August 1972; Holy Angels, Kirkby from September 1974 and St Mark, Halewood from February 1978. His pastoral ministry in these years, and indeed throughout his priestly life, was marked by a wonderful rapport with young people. Many of these skills were honed

through his work as a chaplain to young people on the archdiocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes year by year. Whichever parish he served in, he was always an enthusiastic and committed supporter of young people travelling to Lourdes.

In March 1982 he moved to St Charles, Aigburth, Liverpool, to assist Father Thomas Mangan with a view to succeeding him as parish priest, which he did later that year. Over the next several years he built on the foundations laid by his predecessors, allowing the parish to flourish and grow.

After sixteen fruitful years in Aigburth, he moved to St Peter and St Michael, Woolston, in September 1998. Here the people benefited from his tireless commitment to their pastoral care right up until the end of his life. In recent years, despite suffering a debilitating stroke, he showed great determination and tenacity in carrying on in active ministry and fulfilling his duties as parish priest.

His body was received into St Peter’s Church, Woolston on the evening of Wednesday 2 November when Evening Prayer for All Souls’ Day was led by the Canons of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter followed by a Vigil Mass. His Funeral Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP at St Oswald’s Church, Padgate, on Thursday 3 November followed by committal at Walton Lea Crematorium.

Obituary of Rev Bernard Jackson

Father Bernard Jackson former parish priest of All Saints, Golborne and St Mary’s, Birchley died on the afternoon of Tuesday 8 November aged 82 and in the 58th year of his priesthood.

Bernard Jackson was born in Warrington on 29 August 1940, the son of James and Monica Jackson. A few days later he was baptised at Blessed English Martyrs’ Church, Haydock, where he spent his formative years, attending the parish primary school before going on to study at the Thomas Linacre Technical School in Wigan. Subsequently, he was accepted as an ecclesiastical student and entered St Joseph’s College, Upholland. He was ordained in the college chapel by Archbishop George Andrew Beck on 12 June 1965.

Following ordination, he was appointed to St Clare’s, Liverpool, as one of the assistant priests to the then Vicar General, Monsignor Thomas Adamson. In addition to his parochial duties, he spent much of his time in hospital chaplaincy at both Sefton General and the Lourdes Hospital. At Sefton General Hospital he was chaplain to the Catholic Nurses Guild and, on occasion, played in the staff cricket team. In February 1973, he was appointed as assistant priest at Sacred Heart, Liverpool, and spent much of his time ministering to patients in the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

He left Sacred Heart, Liverpool, in January 1979 moving to Sacred Heart, Chorley and then in 1982 to St Aloysius, Roby.

His first appointment as parish priest came in March 1984, when he was asked to go to All Saints, Golborne. A major highlight of his tenure was the consecration of the new church, designed by R.T. Edge, in 1992. It was also at Golborne that he celebrated his Silver Jubilee of ordination.

In October 1995, he was asked to succeed Father Kevin Ashton as parish priest of St Mary’s, Birchley. Overnight, he moved from one of the newest churches to one of the oldest churches in the archdiocese. He soon settled into this area steeped in Catholic history, where Catholics in earlier generations had been served from the nearby Birchley Hall. This was the parish to which he devoted himself zealously for the second half of his active priestly ministry, and where he celebrated his Golden Jubilee of ordination in 2015. As well as tending to the needs of his flock, he was also noted for tending to the grounds around the church. His tenure at Birchley was cut short by a very serious illness in April 2019 and he retired that summer. He spent his remaining years at a care home in Aughton.

His body was received into St Mary’s Church, Birchley on Friday 18 November with a Vigil Mass, celebrated by Bishop Tom Neylon. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP on Saturday 19 November, followed by burial in St Mary’s churchyard.

Bishop John Perumbalath to be Bishop of Liverpool

Bishop John comes from the ancient Christian community in Kerala, South India, and was ordained into the Church of North India in 1994. He moved to the UK in 2001 taking up positions in the Diocese of Rochester. Bishop John then served as Archdeacon of Barking before becoming the Bishop of Bradwell in 2018.

Amongst other roles, Bishop John is the Chair of Churches Refugee Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. He is the Church of England’s Lead Bishop on Churches Together in Britain and Ireland relations and a trustee of CTBI. He chairs Christians Aware, an educational charity, and serves on the Anglican Communion-wide Advisory Group of USPG, an Anglican mission society. He also lectures widely on faith and social engagement and in Biblical theology.

Bishop John is married with one adult daughter. He is a keen walker and enjoys reading poetry and novels from various parts of the world.

He says, ‘I am delighted and humbled to have received this call to be the next

Bishop of Liverpool. I have come to love Liverpool through my numerous visits when my daughter was in university here for six years. I look forward to becoming part of the vibrant and diverse communities served by the Diocese of Liverpool and I want to proclaim and live out a message of hope, peace, and justice. I pray that I will lead a church that is faithful in offering our communities the hope that we have in God, serving the communities by working together well and in partnership with others.’

Welcoming the appointment Bishop Bev Mason, Bishop of Warrington, said ‘Bishop John is an excellent appointment to our diocese and his wisdom and grace will help guide us as we continue to seek to be fit for mission asking God for a bigger church to make a bigger difference. I look forward to welcoming him and Jessy and working alongside him in our diocese.’

Bishop John is expected to be installed in Liverpool Cathedral in a special service early next year.

Cathedral Record

Canon Anthony O’Brien –Cathedral Dean

This year Advent began on the earliest date that it can be with Christmas falling on a Sunday. This means that the Advent season extends over the full 28 days and will be well underway once we begin the month of December. Throughout the month there are a considerable number of charity concerts and seasonal events, too many to list here, so I have just highlighted our main services throughout the month.

On Sunday 4 December, the choir will sing one of J S Bach’s famous Advent Cantatas ’Wachet Auf’ (‘Sleepers Awake’) instead of the usual evening prayer. Then on the following Sunday afternoon the boy choristers will perform Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.

The Schools Advent Service will be at 1.30 pm on Wednesday 7 December. With the Schools singing programme now well underway there will be a chorus of several hundred children singing the music for this service.

We have our own Christmas Concert, ‘A Celebration of Christmas’ on Saturday 10 December at 7.00 pm – a night of seasonal favourites and Christmas Carols featuring a range of different choirs and musicians. Tickets are available for this on ‘ticketsource.co.uk/metcathedral’. Then as usual we have our Festival Carol Service at 5.00 pm on the final Sunday of Advent, 18 December. Throughout Advent we collect for the Women’s Refuge and the Micah foodbank and this year the contributions will be needed more than ever.

Our Christmas Services begin with First Vespers of Christmas and Blessing of the Crib at 3.00 pm on Saturday 24 December. We have a Christmas Vigil Mass at 6.00 pm and Midnight Mass at 12.00 am that evening. Then on Christmas morning at 9.00 am and 11.00 am in the Cathedral and 10.00 am in the Crypt Chapel. There will be no evening Mass on Christmas Day.

I hope you are able to join us for some of the services over the next few weeks and on behalf of the whole Cathedral community I wish you all a Joyful and Blessed Christmas.

On Tuesday 18 October it was announced from Downing Street that the current Bishop of Bradwell in the Diocese of Chelmsford, Bishop John Perumbalath, is to be the ninth Bishop of Liverpool following Bishop Paul Bayes who retired last February.

Bishop John Perumbalath with Bishop Bev Mason

what’s on

Thursday 1 December

Agape Mass

7.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD.

Friday 2 December

Christmas wreath making. 10.30 am to 12.00 noon at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. £15 for the wreath that you make. Bookings: email: jenny@irenaeus. co.uk Tel: 0151 949 1199.

Mersey Wave Christmas Concert. 7.30 pm at St Ambrose Church, Heathgate Avenue, Speke, L24 7RS. Featuring performances by the Mersey Wave Choir, Mersey Wave Young Singers, and Kathryn Rudge (mezzo- soprano). Musical Director Jason Ellis. Light refreshments available. Tickets on the door: adults £5 (suggested donation) children free.

Saturday 3 December

Day of Prayer for migrants ‘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 an evangelising Church.’ Speaker Michelle Moran. Bring a packed lunch – tea and coffee provided. Suggested donation £10. Details - email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Tel: 0151 949 1199.

Tuesday 6 December

NSPCC Carols by Candlelight. 7.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The service is sponsored by Home Bargains and has an array of performers from across Merseyside including the PopVox Choir, Metropolitan Cathedral Youth Choir, Connected Voices Choir and Wirral Schools’ Concert Band. All are welcome to come along with every penny raised supporting the NSPCC in Merseyside. Tickets - £10 each. Children under 16 free when accompanied by an adult. Bookings: https://bit.ly/ CarolsByCandleLight61222

Nugent ‘Light up a Life’ Service. 3.00pm at St Teresa’s Church, Upholland, followed by refreshments in the Parish Centre. Remember a loved one in the Light up a Life Appeal for a suggested donation of £5.00 per dedication.

Tuesday 13 December

Time out on Tuesday –enjoy some personal quiet time to deepen your relationship with God. 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com

Wednesday 14 December

Carols by Candlelight. 7.30 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Bookings: email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Tel: 0151 949 1199.

Friday 16 December

Wednesday 7 December 2022 to Friday 6 January 2023

‘No Room at the Inn’ a cavalcade of Nativity scenes at St Francis Xavier church, Salisbury Street, L3 8DR. Scenes will be displayed throughout the church in aid of the Whitechapel Homeless Centre Christmas Appeal. The church will be open daily from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm (until noon on Sundays).

Wednesday 7 December

Feast of St Francis Xavier and launch of church’s 175th anniversary year. 12.00 noon Mass at St Francis Xavier church, Salisbury Street, L3 8DR. Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm Mc Mahon OP with SFX College Choir taking part in the music of the Mass - followed by refreshments.

Sunday 4 December Bible Sunday

Lancashire Memories with Jimmy O’Donnell – sharing precious memories, a resource for parish communities. 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Bookings - email: jenny@ irenaeus.co.uk Tel: 0151 949 1199.

Sunday 11 December

LGBTQ+ Catholics Archdiocese of Liverpool. 2.00 pm Mass at All Saints, Oakfield, Anfield, L4 2QG. Social gathering after Mass

Website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

Nugent ‘Light up a Life’ Service. 12.30 pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, led by Bishop Tom Williams, followed by refreshments. Remember a loved one in the Light up a Life Appeal for a suggested donation of £5.00 per dedication.

Christmas Carol Concert in aid of the Whitechapel Homeless Centre Christmas Appeal. 7.00 pm at St Francis Xavier church, Salisbury Street, L3 8DR. The SingMe Merseyside Choir, Danielle Thomas, SFX Handbell ringers plus many others. Admission £5 including refreshments. Tickets available from SFX church.

Sunday 18 December

Liverpool Bach Collective. Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 36 ‘Schwingt freudig euch empor’. (‘Sing joyfully aloft, ye voices.’) 6.30 pm at Our Lady of Compassion, School Lane, Formby L37 3LW. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com

Tuesday 27 December

Cafod Christmas fun run at The Mystery, Wavertree Athletics Centre, Wellington Road, L15 4LE. Run or walk 3K or 5K. Registration will be open from 10.00 am for an 11.00 am start - £5 child, £10 adult, £20 family (cash accepted, contactless available) - but you can also pre-register and set up your own fundraising sponsorship page. visit: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/ event/CAFODChristmasFunRun or contact liverpool@cafod.org.uk for a sponsor form. Follow Cafod Liverpool on Twitter and Facebook to share social media posts.

Advent and Christmas at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

Christmas Eve: Saturday 24 December

3.00 pm First Vespers of Christmas and Blessing of the Crib 12.00 am Midnight Mass of Christmas Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP

Christmas Day: Sunday 25 December 9.00 am Mass (Cathedral) 10.00 am Family Mass (Crypt) 11.00 am Solemn Mass (Cathedral)

Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral for December by Dr Christopher McElroy

Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

The beginning of a new liturgical year is perhaps the most beautiful time of year in the Cathedral. The liturgical season of Advent, one of expectation for the coming of the Christ child, is intertwined with the many carol services and concerts that take place in the Cathedral.

Listed below are some of the main musical performances during December:

Sunday 4 December

3.00 pm - Bach Cantata 140: Wachet Auf Enjoy one of Bach’s most loved Cantatas, performed by the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir and soloists, accompanied by a baroque orchestra.

Saturday 10 December

7.00 pm - A Celebration of Christmas

The Cafod fun run raises vital funds used to support communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to fight poverty and injustice. Funds are used to support local experts who provide practical help in times of crisis and emergency, including helping communities to rebuild their lives after natural disasters, the Coronavirus pandemic and tackling issues associated with the climate crisis.

Looking ahead: 2023

Thursday 1 June to Thursday 8 June

Pilgrimage 2023 to Lourdes and Nevers. £645.00 half board sharing. Details: Chris Sykes Tel: 07587 046985.

A magical night of Christmas carols and seasonal favourites featuring the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir, the Rock Choir and Knowsley Catholic Children’s Choir.

Tickets: £8 each/£15 family. www.ticketsource.co.uk/metcathedral

Sunday 11 December

3.00 pm - Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Britten’s famous carol sequence will be sung by the Boy Choristers following a shorter Evening Prayer.

Sunday 18 December

5.00 pm - Festival Carol Service

A mix of seasonal music, readings and congregational carols.

Do come along, as we would love to see you. May I wish you all a blessed Advent and a Holy Christmas when the time comes.

Pastoral Letter

My dear friends, The Advent season begins with words of invitation. We are invited to ‘come up to the mountain of the Lord’; we are encouraged to be ‘filled with joy as we go to God’s house’ in the psalm. St Paul writing to the Romans invites us to live as ‘people of the light’ and in the Gospel Jesus asks us to ‘stay awake’ – be ready.

These words set the theme until our celebration of the birth of the Lord at Christmas. So, I invite you to enter this time with joy. How can we do that amid so much hardship and turmoil? We can do it because of our confidence that our incarnate God walks with us. We are not on our own.

This weekend marks the first anniversary of our Pastoral Plan which was the fruit of our Synod journey. As we have come to understand that a Synod is not a one-off event so neither is a pastoral plan. It is an invitation to discover what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church – an invitation to become the Church that God is calling us to be.

This fact is echoed in the document published last month for the Vatican Synod of Bishops. It is the continental stage of the worldwide Synod, and the title of the document is: ‘enlarge the space of your tent.’ This quote from the prophet Isaiah is a reminder to us that our Synod asked us to look outward – to be welcoming – to be inclusive, to enlarge our tent. This is not easy. One of the great gifts of the Vatican document is that it does not shy from difficult conversations and issues. If it were easy, we would have implemented everything from our Synod by now – we haven’t. We are learning what it means to be a synodal Church, a synodal diocese. The Vatican document says that we must learn to allow synodality to change the way we work at every level. This is not easy for any of us.

In the twelve months since the Pastoral Plan was launched, we have taken some important steps. Deanery Synodal Councils are meeting. Their main task is to set up Families of Parishes, where we can work together to share the mission of Christ. In the Autumn next year, we hope to have the first meeting of our Diocesan Synodal Council. We are learning new ways of listening. I have changed my main advisory body so that it can now include the voice of women and lay men. I have been delighted in the way we as a Diocese have reached out to the local church in Ukraine and how we are now responding to the need for people to be warm and safe this winter. Our priests have been reflecting together on what it means to be a priest now and, in the years, to come. This has been done because you said in the Synod that you wanted us to find new ways of supporting our priests and deacons. We are exploring new ways of working and formation that will help us face a very challenging future. Next month we hope to employ a youth and young adult minister to help us shape our work with young people and young adults into the future.

On Monday I will be meeting with members of our Deanery Synodal Councils so that we can reflect together on the Vatican document. I want to listen to them before I make the response asked of me as your bishop. This way of working fills me with great hope – a Church of co-responsibility, where the baptismal vocation of everyone is recognised and valued, where the voice of everyone is heard as we discern the way ahead.

In the weeks to come, as you prepare for Christmas, allow John the Baptist to re-ignite the flame of your baptism, to reflect on what it means for you to be a disciple of Christ. As you accompany your family, friends, colleagues, and parishioners towards the feast be aware of the needs of those around you and of our sisters and brothers across the world.

Thank you for hearing again the words of invitation – take them with you today, share them with others; then our hearts, our Diocese, will be more ready than ever to welcome the Christ child, the God who lives amongst us.

May God bless you and your families,

The following Pastoral Letter was read at all Masses on the First Sunday of Advent, 28 November 2002.

The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

Pastoral ponderings Our Journey in Faith

By Elizabeth Parsons, Pastoral Development Training Coordinator

I can’t help but consider Mary and Joseph during the period of Advent; planning for the arrival of their new baby, while at the same time having to make a difficult journey through uncertain territory.

For many of us, 2023 can feel like uncertain territory and the way ahead may feel unsure. Mary and Joseph’s faith in God is awe inspiring; trusting that the promises he has made will be fulfilled and being only too aware of the huge responsibility of the promises they had in-turn made to him. Believe that they can be our guides, as we say goodbye to the old year and look to the new.

If we re-read those key passages of the Annunciation in Luke’s Gospel, how God called Mary, we can hear how she also felt fear over the future. It was a life and a mission she didn’t expect, nor did she ask for and yet in trusting God so completely, she found the strength and the faith to answer ‘yes’, when God called. (Luke 1:26 – 31)

As the Training Coordinator for the Liverpool Archdiocese, it is a privilege to support and facilitate adult faith formation. It is wonderful to observe changes occurring in people’s lives, thanks to the space they allow themselves during the learning process. Since October, a new cohort has begun a new journey on the Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University. In just a few weeks, it is already clear many of them are asking questions relating to how they can follow God more closely. They are also asking how they can support others on the course; providing courage to continue deepening their relationship with God by exploring their vocation.

As Edward Hahnenberg says in his book ‘Theology for Ministry’, ‘God called Mary. And in that call were all the features of a genuine vocation. The call came from God. It deepened a relationship. It led to transformation. It gave a mission’. As the Church enters a new Liturgical Year this Advent, maybe we could prepare ourselves for the coming year by discerning how we are also being called into a closer relationship with God. Joseph and Mary were given courage and sustained through their difficult journey to Bethlehem and beyond. Although we can’t predict what 2023 will bring, let us trust that our deepening relationship with God will also sustain us and guide us through the year ahead.

by Hugh Donleavy

In the coming months Hugh Donleavy, one of our students for the priesthood, will be sharing his experiences while on pastoral placement at St Charles and St Thomas More, Aigburth.

In my last article I mentioned that I was spending quite a bit of time every week visiting patients in hospital.

I have found that one of the big challenges which quickly came to the surface was suffering. There is, unsurprisingly, a lot of suffering in hospitals. It can be very painful to come face to face with suffering, either your own suffering, or someone else’s. One of the most difficult things is the sense of helplessness. Sometimes, even doctors and nurses are unable to do much to help, in spite of a great desire to do so - and I, of course, feel completely useless, being incapable of providing any physical relief.

This helplessness, as horrible as it is, can also be an opportunity to turn to God. It is a reminder that we are not in control, and that we live in an imperfect world. We want to be in control, and we feel comfortable when we are, but the reality is that we never really have been, and never will be completely. To accept our limitations can be very difficult, especially in a world which often tries to sell us ‘the perfect life’ - whether in adverts for products which will magically make us happy, or social media personalities who make a show of how fun-filled and exciting their lives are, whilst conveniently leaving out the boring, unpleasant parts.

The fact is, we all have things we can’t control. These can be massive, life-changing disasters, or minor inconveniences, but they leave us with an opportunity: we can struggle for control and wear ourselves out, or we can try and grow in faith and trust in God. We may not know what God is doing in every single situation, but if we truly believe that he loves us and wants the best for us, which he does, then it makes no sense for us to worry. That doesn’t make it easy to rid ourselves of anxiety, or to face suffering, but it can be helpful to remember.

Often, prayer can be seen as a last resort, but it should also be a first resort. Prayer reminds us of our place, and of God’s. It reminds us that we aren’t in control, but also that this doesn’t matter, because we know that God is. As St Paul says: ‘Do not worry about anything but present your needs to God in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.’

education news

Catholic schools and colleges honoured at the Educate Awards

Four inspiring Catholic schools and colleges won at the Educate Awards on Friday 18 November.

In partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, the Educate Awards took place at the Liverpool Cathedral and welcomed over 600 guests. The evening was hosted by broadcaster, Simon ‘Rossie’ Ross.

Notre Dame Catholic College won the fourth category of the night, the SEND Provision Award. Speaking about the win, Ant McVerry, assistant head and SENCO commented: “It’s absolutely amazing. As a secondary school to get that achievement and recognition...it’s really, really good.”

Now in its eleventh year, the Educate Awards showcases the hard work and creativity that takes place in the education sector, from STEM and performing arts to sport and literacy.

The awards also recognise the individuals who bring schools and colleges to life, from inspiring teachers and dedicated support staff to efficient business managers and strategic leadership teams.

Alongside the awards ceremony was a delicious three course gala dinner and glittering entertainment from St Bede’s Catholic High School’s very own saxophonist and chamber choir, a dance performance from Archbishop Beck Catholic College and a Legally Blonde The Musical medley by St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey.

St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School won the Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary School category. A teacher from St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School, Hannah Kneale, commented on the night: “We’re really overwhelmed and really proud of our whole school community and the effort that all the teachers and staff have put in towards the award.”

St Michael’s Catholic Primary School won the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award and business manager, Sue McMullen, was crowned Business Manager of the Year Miss Barrow from St Michael’s Catholic Primary School said: “It’s amazing to have won the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award. Thank you so much!”

Sue McMullen added said: “I’m delighted - thank you very much. It’s a team effort though with everyone’s hard work!”

The Academy of St Nicholas took home the last award of the evening the WOW Recognition Award. Headteacher of The Academy of St Nicholas, Mrs Jeniffer Sing, said: “We are over the moon to have won the WOW Recognition Award. Welcoming Afghan students into our community was an honour for our school, not only did we ensure they had access to our inspiring curriculum but we also wanted them to feel at home in the wonderful city of Liverpool. I would like to say a big thank you to my amazing team for all their hard work for ‘Operation Warm Welcome’.”

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said: “Congratulations to all the schools and colleges that won at this year’s Educate Awards! A big well done to the runners up and finalists too. Results this year were incredibly close, and judges had a difficult time deciding not only the shortlist but also overall the winners.”

Kim added: “The Educate Awards team is proud to champion the innovation, diversity and dedication that is taking place in educational establishments around the region. Entries will open again in February 2023 and we encourage all types of schools and colleges to submit as many entries as they like, for free.”

Associate sponsors of the Educate Awards 2022 include: All About STEM, Angel Solutions, CER, CPMM Media Group, Evaluate-Ed, Hidden Strength, LCR Careers Hub, Liverpool John Moores University, LSSP, Progress Careers, SENDSCOPE, SupplyWell and Winstanley College.

The Educate Awards 2022 winners and runners up:

1. The Communication Award

Winner: Litherland High School, Sefton

Runner up: Maricourt Catholic High School, Sefton

2. Outstanding Commitment to the Environment

Winner: Neston High School, Cheshire

Runner up: Netherton Moss Primary School, Sefton

3. Careers & Enterprise Award

Winner: Wirral Grammar School for Boys

Runner up: Ridgeway High School, Wirral

4. SEND Provision Award

Winner: Notre Dame Catholic College, Liverpool

Runner up: Rainford High, St Helens

5. Innovative & Creative Literacy Award

Winner: Eldon Primary School, Preston Runner up: Cowley International College, St Helens

6. Outstanding Commitment to STEM

Winner: Maghull High School, Sefton

Runner up: Great Crosby Catholic Primary School, Sefton

7. Outstanding Arts in School

Winner: The Hollins, Accrington

Runner up: Stockport Academy, Greater Manchester

8. Community Partnership Award

Winner: Archbishop Blanch School, Liverpool

Runner up: Chorlton High School, Manchester

9. Mental Health & Wellbeing Award

Winner: St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Widnes

Runner up: Wright Robinson College, Manchester

10. Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary School

Winner: St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School, Sefton Runner up: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Wallasey, Wirral

education news

Event gallery:

1. St Michael’s Catholic Primary School

2. Notre Dame Catholic College

3. The Academy of Nicholas

4. St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School

11. Outstanding Commitment to Sport in

Secondary School

Winner: Wright Robinson College, Manchester Runner up: Rainford High, St Helens

12. Leadership Team of the Year Winner: St Wilfrid’s Church of England Primary Academy, Wigan Runner up: Wright Robinson College, Manchester

13. Business Manager of the Year Winner: Sue McMullen, St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Widnes Runner up: Stuart Davidson, Myerscough College, Preston

14. Teacher of the Year Winner: Kira Redmond, St Peter’s CE Primary School, Bolton Runner up: Stephanie Wardale, Hillside High School, Sefton

15. School Support Star of the Year Winner: Mike Smith, Cardinal Langley RC High School, Rochdale Runner up: Mark Costello, Launchpad Centre KS4, St Helens

16. Most Inspirational Alternative Provision Winner: Endeavour-Darwen Vale High School, Blackburn Runner up: Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Wirral

17. Most Inspirational 16-18 Education Provider Winner: Wargrave House School and College, Newton-le-Willows Runner up: Everton Football College, Liverpool

18. Most Inspirational Secondary School Winner: Rainford High, St Helens Runner up: The Hollins, Accrington

19. Most Inspirational Primary School Winner: Parish CE Primary School, St Helens Runner up: St Peter’s CE Primary School, Bolton

20. WOW Recognition Award

Winner: The Academy of St Nicholas, Liverpool Runner up: Beech Hall School, Cheshire

The only UK-based Catholic charity providing essential transport for those who work on outreach programmes in the developing world.

Thanks to the generosity of Mass-goers across the land, we have been able to fund over 7,000 vehicles in our 49 year history.

From Ecuador to Bangladesh, and from Kenya to Haiti, your support is vital to the healthcare and pastoral work of the Church worldwide.

The Association wishes all our friends and benefactors a Happy Christmas, and a peaceful New Year 2023.

Wallasey students promote antibullying at school

Students at St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey, have come together to promote equality, diversity, inclusion and kindness within the school.

The ‘Anti-bullying Ambassadors’ are made up of 12 students from Years 9, 11, 12 and 13.

Earlier this term, the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors led a staff training session to raise awareness of their action plan. The plan includes activities such as setting up an online system for students to report bullying to the ambassadors. The ambassadors will then support the student and inform staff, holding parent/carer information evenings on how to spot bullying, and working with local primary schools to discuss with pupils about the impact of bullying and the importance of standing up against it.

‘The Open Door’ space at the school enables students to receive support from the ambassadors. ‘Feel Good Fridays’ have also been implemented, where wellbeing will be promoted throughout the day. The first Feel-Good Friday took place at the end of Anti-Bullying Week, and included sessions like mindfulness and Zumba.

The ambassadors are hoping to achieve more accolades, awarded by The Diana Award, such as the Community Action Award, Respect Award and Wellbeing Award. Leading the initiative alongside the students is head of Year 7, Mrs Charlotte Willis. She said: “They [the ambassadors] are incredibly passionate about the initiative and are keen to make a real difference in school.”

Headteacher of St Mary’s Catholic College, Mr Kevin Maddocks, said: “The ambassadors have been working hard to promote anti-bullying throughout the school in a range of ways. Students from all year groups are able to benefit from the activities and support services that are provided. We...are looking forward to seeing the plans that this year’s members have created being executed.”

Education Matters by Satis Education

Understanding Academisation

In terms of the education landscape, academies are no longer a new phenomenon. However, there are still lots of people who don’t fully understand their purpose or how they operate.

Academies are state-funded schools but they’re independent from local authorities. They have significant freedoms including the opportunity to decide their own curriculums, term dates and school hours.

However, these freedoms do not mean academies are not regulated. The Department for Education together with the Education and Skills Funding Agency, provide robust educational and financial oversight of all academies. Individual academies are still subject to Ofsted inspections and ratings in exactly the same way as local authority maintained schools.

Over half of pupils are already educated in academies, as primary, secondary, middle, all-through, 16-19, alternative provision and special schools can all be academies. Most academies are part of a multi academy trust (MAT). A MAT is a charity that has responsibility for running a number of academies. MATs cannot be operated for financial profit and any surplus must be reinvested in the trust.

By working in partnership with each other, the schools within a trust can share staff, curriculum expertise and effective teaching practices, and work together to deliver the best outcomes for all pupils. This idea of working together for the common good fits well with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

While other types of school partnerships can be effective, the key difference with academy trusts is that there is shared accountability for standards across the trust; all schools within the trust support each other and the trust is accountable for them all.

Acknowledging that no system is perfect, joining a MAT can be a positive move for any school. When we speak to governors from academies they tell us that being part of an effective MAT allows school leaders and staff at all levels to focus on what really matters – developing a curriculum that suits the specific needs of their community and delivering high quality teaching and learning, ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential.

The team at Satis Education are experts is academy conversions, having worked with a range of MATs including those within Dioceses. To find out more about academisation and how it might benefit your school or child contact admin@satiseducation.co.uk

Maricourt students partake in law and medicine activities

A group of students from Maricourt Catholic High School attended a meeting introducing the Madison Internship.

The internship was set up in conjunction with charities Everton in the Community, Liverpool Crown and Anthony Walker Foundation. It gives students an insight into the roles and entry routes into the legal profession.

The application process involved workshops, challenges and an essay to determine which students gained the internship. Maricourt students Charlotte Gallagher and Lottie Coughlin were successful in the scheme and enjoyed their experience in the courts during October half term.

Danielle Lawler, assistant headteacher of the school said: “The girls’ achievement is outstanding to get through each of the rounds and be chosen to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.”

In addition, a cohort of Year 10 pupils from Maricourt attended a project at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. The project was called ‘Antibiotic Apocalypse’. Students were given a scenario where they found themselves in 2040, a time where there are only 100,000 stocks of effective antibiotics left.

The students had to decide who would access the remaining stocks. They were split into groups - community groups to represent farmers/veterinarians, patient groups, healthy individuals, and politicians.

Professor Dame Sally Davies (former Chief Medical Officer) and Dr Adam Roberts, an expert in AMR (Antimicrobial Research), assisted the discussions.

By the end, students recognised the global health challenge facing us and the need for effective planning and astute decision making.

Head of PSHE at Maricourt, Sarah Bradley, said: ‘I am so proud of the way in which the girls equipped themselves in terms of their engagement to the task. “They articulated their ideas with confidence and we were privileged to have the expertise of Dame Sally and Dr Adam guiding them.”

One trust’s personal Advent journey

For Advent, academies across St Joseph Multi Academy Trust are coming together virtually for a daily act of worship.

On each school day during Advent, the trust is releasing a short video produced by its children with an animated Advent calendar. The doors of the Advent calendar will open with pupils singing St Joseph Multi Academy Trust’s Advent hymn, the lighting of the Advent candles, a short reading and a message.

The trust’s daily videos are available to parents and the wider community on the trust’s website. Everybody is invited to join them in prayer as we all prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Find out more: https://www.stjosephmat.org.uk/news/advent/

education news

St Joseph MAT’s Cultural Quest

I was reminded, recently, of the story of the three bricklayers which I had not heard for quite some time. There are any many versions of this story, but it comes from a true story concerning Christopher Wren. He was commissioned with the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral following the Great fire of 1666.

One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, ‘What are you doing?’ to which the bricklayer replied, ‘I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.’ The second bricklayer, responded, ‘I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.’ But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, ‘What are you doing?’ replied with a gleam in his eye, ‘I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.’

All of us who work in Catholic Education are bricklayers involved in building something greater for the future. In these difficult times some of us may feel like at times that it is a slog and that we are going through the motions such as the first bricklayer in the story. Some may feel like the second bricklayer that they are merely doing their jobs.

However, it is important for those of us in Catholic education that we are focused on having the viewpoint of the third brick layer. Our roles are our calling and we are working towards building something so great for the Lord. We are uniquely created by God for a specific purpose at a particular time in history that no one else can fulfil but us.

In some cases many cathedrals were not finished in the lifetime of the people involved in the construction. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona and the Mallorca Cathedral La Seu took many hundreds of years to be completed. Here in our own Archdiocese the construction of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King was one that took many turns before its completion.

The work that we do in our schools and colleges may not be fully realised until many years in the future. Yet we must strive to continue to be bricklayers for the future.

Joan McCarthy Director of Education

St Joseph Multi Academy Trust has embarked on a ‘Cultural Quest’ that aims to provide pupils with a wealth of engaging opportunities to develop their cultural capital and general life experiences.

An ambassador from each academy of the trust has been nominated by the headteacher and asked to join a ‘cultural capital working party’.

The ambassadors discussed, reviewed and created a framework to build the ‘SJCMAT Cultural Quest’. The creation of the Cultural Quest covers both primary and secondary phases, embodies the values of SJCMAT, and aims to develop cultural capital for all.

Cultural capital is defined as the “essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for their future success”.

The ambassadors have created three overarching principles where cultural capital will be developed:

Each year, there will be 12 opportunities with the trust. Examples include ‘helping a child in need through a charity’, ‘creating a masterpiece’ and ‘exploring local history’. Within each idea there will be a trust “pledge” or “commitment” attached, with room for bespoke school offers as well.

The challenge will be for each student to complete each section of the quest within their key stage. A strategy will be developed for each academy by the ambassadors and the Cultural Quest is due to launch January 2023.

Archdiocese of Liverpool

‘I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.’

youth ministry

My favourite time of the year

By Ellie Leatherbarrow, Animate Youth Ministries’ retreat co-ordinator

It is December, the month of preparation, of looking forward to the birth of Our Saviour. Christmas is one of my favourite times of year, especially this year without any restrictions and being able to enjoy all of my family’s traditions.

Christmas truly starts for me when I get to see the Coca-Cola advert on TV. The build-up is always so magical, making sure we have everything ready. Luckily this year I have made a head start on my Christmas shopping, starting to buy the gifts for my loved ones in August. I have been trying to get ahead of the game and so have not had the stress of running around trying to figure out what people would like. So, I can truly embrace the real meaning of Christmas this year.

So many times I have forgotten what this true meaning is. But this year, being prepared has allowed me to

focus on the love and joy; on the fact that it is not about having the best gift but being around family and making more time for prayer and reflection.

My Advent this year has started with the Baptism of my cousin – something to celebrate as we welcomed him into the Church community. Starting the season with such an important sacrament has allowed me to open my heart and eyes to the Lord as it made me realise how we are all children of God and how amazing this time of year is. With the third week of Advent touching on John the Baptist, it shows how important a Baptism is.

When Jesus was baptised, it showed his complete humility. In both Jesus’ Baptism and His birth, He clearly displayed the desire to become one with us, so that He can raise us up with him.

On the first Sunday of Advent at Animate, we were able to celebrate by having a Service of Light, listening to testimonies, hymns and having time to reflect on the journey ahead – followed by a Christmas quiz. It was great to see people from all around the Archdiocese coming together to celebrate this time of year and even more great to see everyone’s best Christmas jumper!

There are so many more traditions I am looking forward to this year, one of them being putting all the Christmas decorations up at Lowe House even though it does take a long time.

Others include going to the Christmas markets, spending time with friends and family, and eating my Christmas dinner. Yet my favourite tradition is going to Midnight Mass on the 24th with my Grandma, when we are able to celebrate the birth of Jesus, to say thank you, and to sing all of our favourite Christmas carols.

I would like to wish you all the best this Christmas. I hope this season will be filled with Hope, Joy, Peace and Love.

Mums the Word A century of service

News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

What a year it has been. It started with the war in Ukraine, which is still ongoing. We were devastated by the death of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II. We have a new monarch, King Charles III, and we have had three Prime Ministers up to the time of writing.

We were all surprised by the grief shown for her Majesty. She was like our own mother, Queen but also mother/matriarch. She promised her whole life to her people, just as a mother dedicates her life to her family.

We look to the Queen as a model of a life of service which was rooted in her faith. Queen and country, mother and child.

From the moment of the incarnation ‘The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us’ (Jn 1:14). For our sake, He came down from heaven as Emmanuel, God-with-us. Our Lady also gave her whole life over to service of her Son and to us, her children.

How wonderful for us that this happened all those years ago in a tiny stable in Bethlehem. Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year. A time for families and loved ones to be together. A time for caring and sharing and bringing peace to each and everyone we meet. This Christmas, inspired by our Lady and the late Queen, let us ask God for the grace to be ever more conscious of our duties to our families. Lord, this Christmas may we too experience the comfort and joy of your amazing love that you share with us. May your peace abide in our homes and hearts this Christmas.

I wish you and your families a happy and holy Christmas and every blessing in 2023.

Maureen Finnegan Archdiocesan president

Knights raise funds for Asylum Link Merseyside

The Knights of St Columba, Council 9, in South Liverpool conducted their Annual Steve Dooley and Pat McGann memorial sponsored walk for charity on Sunday 2 October, taking the route along the River Mersey from the Albert Dock to St Charles’ social club in Aigburth. This year the beneficiary is Asylum Link Merseyside, based at St Anne’s, Overbury Street.

We wish to thank all who participated in the walk and the parish priests of churches in South Liverpool who gave us kind permission to distribute sponsored walk envelopes in their churches. Most of all we thank those who gave so generously in support of this worthy cause which, with contributions still coming in, has – at the time of writing –exceeded £4,500.

Our photo shows a group of walkers at the Albert Dock starting point before setting out on their route to St Charles’, where refreshments were served.

• It is a pleasure to welcome Father David Potter as the new parish priest of St Wilfred’s Parish where Council 9 holds its meetings. Fr David was inducted by His Grace Archbishop Malcolm McMahon on 12 October at St Francis of Assisi Church. Two days later Fr David was guest speaker at the Council 9 annual dinner where he was awarded a certificate as a Member of Honour of the Order.

• It is with great sadness we report the death of esteemed Brother Jim Holland, a member for 41 years and a stalwart of Council 51, Ormskirk. A Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of his soul at St Anne’s Parish Church, Ormskirk, on Monday 3 October where a Guard of Honour by attending brothers was provided. We extend our deepest sympathy to Brother Jim’s family and friends. May he rest in peace.

Websites: www.ksc.org.uk www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com

Nugent Christmas Appeal

Hamper Appeal

Leave no one behind this Christmas and help spread some festive joy by donating to Nugent’s Christmas Hamper Appeal.

We’re collecting donations to support children, young people, adults and families who are vulnerable and at-risk. To enable us to give them something extra special this Christmas, we need your help.

We are in need of gifts and tasty treats to deliver festive cheer to our beneficiaries as well as to our Food Pantry to help feed families this Christmas time.

Donations can be dropped off at reception at our Edge Lane site until Tuesday 13 December. The address is 99 Edge Lane, Liverpool. L7 2PE, open Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

We are in need of the following items (must be new):

• Toiletries

• Craft items

• Puzzles

• Jigsaws

• Chocolates

• Sweets

• Mince pies

• Christmas pudding (non-alcoholic)

• Christmas cake (non-alcoholic)

• Crisps

Christmas Cards

• Crackers for cheese

• Jam

• Pasta

• Tinned vegetables

We are delighted to bring you a superb selection of Christmas cards, now available to purchase from our Allerton Road Charity Shop as well as at 99 Edge Lane, L7 2PE. You can also purchase the cards via phone by contacting our fundraising team - details below.

We have a range of 15 designs available to purchase, offering something for everyone. The cards come in packs of 10 with the verse: ‘May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you today and always’.

Your purchase will make a real difference in the lives of people who most need our support. All proceeds from the sales of our Christmas cards go directly towards supporting our work with children, young people and adults who are vulnerable and at risk.

To view the choice of cards we have available head to: wearenugent.org/ fundraising/christmas-cards-2022

To make a difference this Christmas, please get in touch with Fundraising on 07833 091 852 or email fundraising@wearenugent.org to get involved, find more information or to purchase your Christmas Cards.

Normandie Wragg Chief Executive Nugent

We continue to reach more people in need

As we are fast approaching the Christmas holidays, a time for reflection as well as joy and celebration, I would like to take this time to look back at 2022 and the fantastic accomplishments our colleagues and volunteers at Nugent have achieved.

During 2022, a number of our services and our school had their Ofsted inspections; all of our services are rated good, and I couldn’t be prouder of our staff who give so much of themselves for the people and communities that we serve.

Throughout the year, we have also held a number of fundraising events that all proved to be successful, including Sleep Out with Nugent, the 16th Phil Thompson’s Golf Classic, and more recently, our inaugural Nugent Gala. All of the funds raised from our challenges and events support the most vulnerable in our communities, as we continue to reach more people in need across Merseyside and beyond.

At Nugent, we love our beneficiaries fiercely and we remain united by a common culture of integrity, ambition, courage, compassion, optimism, respect and dignity. It is these values in combination with our dedication to the children, young people, adults and families we serve that holds us together.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends and supporters, a most wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year; 2023 will see Nugent continue to care, educate, protect and inspire those in need.

Dialogue and Unity Liverpool Hope – the Church in and for the World

The message of God is very simple: love one another, take care of one another take care of creation, and while you are at it, love me - love God. Do that and you will find your way, that is the core of the Gospel, that is the only sermon that matters.’

This quote from Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, typifies the breadth of the activities of Liverpool Hope with its partnership with schools, international partners and links with key Christian and secular organisations.

The Chapel and the Chaplaincy are both central features of the University’s Campus at Hope Park, Childwall. The week from Monday 7 November was a busy one for the Chaplains and the University. On Monday there was the famous Pound Lunch often attended by 50 people and a great opportunity to share and network overseen by the senior Catholic Chaplain Marie Therese Lacey. The same evening the outgoing senior Anglican Chaplain, Reverend Canon Cynthia Dowdle OBE welcomed the Anglican Diocesan Mothers’ Union (MU) for a Council Meeting – the MU has adopted Liverpool Hope as its Christmas Charity for students who will remain on campus over Christmas.

Tuesday 8 November saw Canon Cynthia attending a challenging Conference hosted

by the University arranged by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and the Churches Refugee Network. It was chaired by Bishop John Perumbalath currently Bishop of Bradwell and soon to be our new Anglican Bishop of Liverpool (pictured extreme left). The day was challenging, one memorable phrase from the Reverend Dr Inderjit Bhogal OBE, former President of the Methodist Conference, was that the Churches turned the negative image and hostility to asylum seekers and refugees into an atmosphere of hospitality. Liverpool Churches and Liverpool Hope have taken commitment to asylum seekers and refugees very seriously and tried to change hostility into hospitality.

Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 November saw the launch of the Hope Ecumenical Network reflecting the commitment to building on its broad links with Universities throughout the world. Taking part were Higher Education Institutes from USA, Romania, Hungary, India, France, the Philippines as well as those nearby like Winchester, London, and Canterbury. Of particular significance was the presence of Professor Bart McKittrick Regent for the (De La Salle) University of Bethlehem which has been a major focus for Liverpool Hope’s commitment to justice and inclusion. Vice Chancellor, Professor Gerald Pillay underlined the need for Liverpool Hope and all Christian Universities to be open institutions stressing the respect with which people of other faiths regard the pastoral care and support they receive at universities with a specifically Christian ethos.

The University Chaplaincy team took part:

The Hope Ecumenical Network is the brainchild of two staff members: Dr Wendy Bignold and Dr Anthony Ridge Newman who have started something that will grow and play a part in developing and sharing on Christian Universities in our world. Conference delegates visited our two Cathedrals and made a pilgrimage along Hope Street.

Armistice Day was marked with a moving ceremony in which staff and students participated with the Liverpool Universities Association of Change Ringers tolling a moving hour long half muffled peel. Canon Cynthia was there with Father Denis Blackledge, SJ and students presented a wreath made from recycled material. The importance of the churches in creativity and culture was an inspiration to all who attended.

These events in the one week echo the words of Pope Francis: ‘Instead of being just a Church that welcomes and receives by keeping the doors open, let us try also to be a Church that finds new roads, which is able to step outside itself and go to those who do not attend the Eucharist, to those who have quit or are indifferent. I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.’

‘The way of love – the love and power of God – is the key to our hope and to our future.

Marie Therese Lacey and Father Stephen Pritchard from the archdiocese and Reverend Dr Canon Rod Garner and Canon Cynthia from the diocese.