Catholic Pic January 2025

Conference

2025

Calling all Headteachers and Governors – an opportunity to join us for this free event about wellbeing in Education.

Date: Saturday 1st Feb

Time: 10am - 2pm

Venue: St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Academy, Woolton Hill Road , Woolton, Liverpool, L25 6EG

Guest Speaker: Laura McInerney, well-known and award-winning journalist, teacher, author and co-founder of Teacher Tapp

Theme: Wellbeing in Education

office@stcharlesprimary.uk

Book now:

From the Archbishop’s Desk

Last month, I went over to Rome for the creation of the new cardinals as one of my confreres, Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, was on the list of those being honoured in this way by Pope Francis. Fr Timothy taught me Scripture for two years when I was preparing for priesthood. He was very patient and forgiving with me as I was not a good student and quite awkward at times. Later, I followed him as the provincial superior of the English Dominicans when he went to Rome to be Master of the Order. He was the first Englishman to hold this position, which is surprising considering the province was founded in 1221, the year St Dominic died. Father Timothy has inspired many people over the years with his preaching and writings. He has had the courage to face up to the new questions which the church encounters in the modern age and from his own deeply orthodox faith has offered hope and encouragement to many marginalised Catholics and others. It was an honour and very humbling for me to be present at the consistory when Fr Timothy received his red hat from Pope Francis.

However, the city of Rome was still in a certain degree of chaos as it finished the preparations for the Jubilee year, which began for us on the Feast of the Holy Family. Extensive road works have taken place to cope with the hundreds of thousands of extra pilgrims expected this year. As you must know by now, the theme is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. Look out for mini pilgrimages taking place in the archdiocese throughout the year and avoid the crush in the Eternal City.

Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

Monthly prayer intentions

The Holy Father’s prayer intentions entrusted to his worldwide prayer network for the year 2025:

January

For the right to an education

Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

www.popesprayer.va

Editor Harriet Anwyl

Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine, St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Liverpool Archdiocesan Office, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA

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Katie Parry

Pictures www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolcatholic

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Martin Cahill (cahill-photography.com)

Sue Mannings

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Contents:

4 Main Feature Liverpool celebrates a Lourdes miracle

7 Sunday Reflections

8 From the Archives “The glories of the past” The Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome 1900

8 News News from around the archdiocese

12 Pastoral Ponderings

14 What’s On What’s happening in the archdiocese

15 Cathedral Record

16 Pic Life

17 Profile Father Phil Crossey

28 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC

29 Animate Youth Ministry

30 Dialogue and Unity

“It was clear that there was now sufficient medical evidence to reconsider the possibility that the cure of John Traynor might be declared miraculous.”

Archbishop Malcolm

Liverpool celebrates a Lourdes miracle

The miraculous cure of Jack Traynor on the first official Liverpool pilgrimage to Lourdes earned official recognition on 8 December.

by Simon Hart

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is always a day of significance in the Church’s diary. For the Archdiocese of Liverpool, it had even greater significance than usual last month thanks to a declaration 101 years in the making.

It was during Sunday Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 8 December that Canon Aidan Prescott, vicar general of the Archdiocese, read a statement from Archbishop Malcolm McMahon officially declaring the case of John ‘Jack’ Traynor as a miracle.

Traynor was a pilgrim on the Archdiocese’s first official pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1923. There, he was cured dramatically of epilepsy, paralysis of the right arm and paraplegia – the legacy of injuries suffered during the First World War.

In his statement, Archbishop Malcolm said: ‘Given the weight of medical evidence, the testimony to the faith of John Traynor and his devotion to Our Blessed Lady, it is with great joy that I declare that the cure of John Traynor, from multiple serious medical conditions, is to be recognised as a miracle wrought by the power of God through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes.

‘I hope that in February 2025, during the Jubilee Year, we will have a fitting celebration at the Metropolitan Cathedral

to mark this significant moment in the history of our Archdiocese, helping us all to respond to the Jubilee call to be “Pilgrims of Hope”.’

Later that same Sunday in Lourdes, the rector of the sanctuary, Father Michel Daubanes, announced the declaration during the French Rosary at the Grotto. Traynor’s is the 71st official miracle to have happened in Lourdes. It is also the first recognised miracle involving a person from England.

Archbishop Malcolm’s statement had begun with an assertion from a previous Archbishop of Liverpool, Derek Worlock, who told the Pic in 1993: ‘There’s no question that people in Liverpool believe Jack Traynor was cured miraculously.’

That was during an earlier, unsuccessful, attempt to trace the documentation needed to have Traynor’s case reviewed, during Monsignor John Butchard’s time as pilgrimage director. The medics involved then were Dr Felicity Knight and Dr Kieran Moriarty –and the latter, as an English member of the International Medical Committee of Lourdes, had a pivotal role again now. During Liverpool’s 2023 centenary pilgrimage to Lourdes, the president of the Lourdes Office of Medical Observations (BdCM), Dr Alessandro de Franciscis, asked Dr Moriarty to conduct a review of Traynor’s file in the Lourdes archives. This followed a reorganisation

of the archives and sufficient medical evidence was now found.

As Archbishop Malcolm elaborated: ‘Dr Moriarty unearthed a reference in the file to a report by Dr Vallet, the then Acting President of the BdCM, which had been published in the Journal de la Grotte in December 1926. Dr Vallet examined John Traynor in July 1926, together with the three doctors [Drs Azurdia, Finn and Marley] who had examined John Traynor at Lourdes in 1923, both before and after his cure.

‘His report concluded that, “We recognise and proclaim, along with our Confreres, that the process of this prodigious healing is absolutely outside and above the forces of nature.” Dr Vallet’s report, which was published in French, appears never to have been sent to Liverpool, and indeed no potential miraculous cures were ever referred from Lourdes to diocesan bishops between 1913 and 1946.’ Dr Moriarty’s dossier was sent to the Archdiocese by Mgr Jean-Marc Micas, the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, last summer. ‘It was clear that there was now sufficient medical evidence to reconsider the possibility that the cure of John Traynor might be declared miraculous,’ Archbishop Malcolm added.

Hence the convening of a canonical commission at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre on 29 November. This included Archbishop Malcolm, Fr Sean Riley, and current and former pilgrimage directors in Fr Grant Maddock and Mgr Des Seddon respectively. Canon Aidan Prescott and Bishop Tom Neylon attended online while Fr John Poland sent a written statement. There were testimonies from Dr De Franciscis and Dr Moriarty.

According to Mgr Des: ‘At times Dr Moriarty was visibly moved giving us the evidence. It was always part of his family tradition because his grandparents were on the platform at Lime Street when Jack came home in 1923. It was always something he thought was a miracle.’ Dr Moriarty himself said of Traynor: ‘From having an arm that was held on by catgut and advised to be amputated, within three years he was a coal merchant and could lift bags of coal weighing 200 pounds, so that was clearly medically inexplicable.’

To celebrate the confirmation of this miracle, there will be a special Mass held at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 18 February. For Traynor’s descendants, the Mass on 8 December was already a moment of celebration. Five family members were present, including his great

granddaughter Kath Gavin, who, at 85, can recall meeting Jack as a child. Also there was Alex Taylor, a great-great grandson who has been investigating the story for a documentary film.

‘When I got beyond the family passme-down story and started looking at extensive records, we found some amazing photos and medical documents and I’d challenge anybody to be able to explain what happened,’ he says.

Traynor’s tale has previously been told in the CTS booklet ‘Liverpool’s Miracle Man’. It describes how he made nine visits to the baths during that 1923 pilgrimage and quotes him saying that, during the last one, ‘my legs began to kick about violently’.

Later that day, during the Blessed Sacrament Procession, he received a blessing from the Archbishop of Reims and ‘my right arm, which had been dead since 1915, suddenly shot out … and blessed myself – for the first time in eight years!’

Traynor returned to Lourdes on many subsequent Liverpool pilgrimages, helping as a brancardier. For Mgr Des, a final noteworthy detail comes from his train journey home from that first pilgrimage. It emerged from Dr Moriarty’s research into the diaries of Liverpool’s then

Jack Traynor (front centre) during the 1925 pilgrimage to Lourdes following his miraculous cure

archbishop, Frederick Keating. ‘One of the things Dr Moriarty was moved by was the description of when Archbishop Keating went to see Jack, who’d been given a firstclass compartment. The Archbishop went in and Jack went on his knees and asked for his blessing. The Archbishop said, “No, I should be asking for your blessing”.’

As for the potential impact of this news, 101 years on, Archbishop Malcolm says: ‘I hope the declaration of the miraculous cure of Jack Traynor will help those with doubts about their faith to come closer to the Lord and maybe even consider a pilgrimage to Lourdes.’

Fr Grant, director of the pilgrimage today, adds: ‘In the context of a world that’s very much dependent on fact and scientific evidence, we arrive at a moment where once all those medical reasons and facts are put into place, no other reason can be given for this man to have experienced this miraculous cure.

‘It means we must question again that gift of the presence and the power of God in our lives, and for the Catholic community in Liverpool it’s an opportunity for us to be renewed and to be able to tell the wonderful story of what God does in our lives through the specific case of Jack Traynor.’

Anybody wishing to contact Alex Taylor with information about Jack Traynor for his documentary film should email: shona.brown@cosmicjoke.co.uk

Jack Traynor is remembered during the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s centenary pilgrimage to Lourdes

The anniverary story featured in the August 1993 Catholic Pictorial

On a liturgical note

What will my future be, I wonder…

The question posed by Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’ lies at the heart of the idea of making a new year’s resolution.

We look into the future knowing that, in a very real way, we can help shape it because – for all the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the coming months – it is ultimately for each of us, by the grace of God and under His guidance, to respond to the challenges, seize the opportunities, and make the fullest use of the gifts and talents entrusted to us in this new year which opens before us.

There is a sense for us Catholics in which our New Year’s Day was not 1 January 2025 but 1 December 2024, the Sunday when the Liturgy began afresh with the Season of Advent, a season which came to a crescendo with the hopeful and trusting cry of the Church: ‘O come, O come Emmanuel’.

Christmas Day and the Christmas season celebrates and rejoices in the response of God to the heartfelt desire of His people: ‘O Come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.’

Sunday thoughts

The world is digesting the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator.

Horror stories about the treatment of those who expressed dissent are emerging. I’m reminded of the Chinese proverb that says, ‘If you wait on the riverbank long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.’ In fleeing to Moscow, Assad escaped the fate of another dictator, former Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu. On Christmas Day 1989, he and his wife Elena were hastily executed after being found guilty of several crimes, including genocide, in a show trial. I wonder at the fate of Vladimir Putin when his time comes.

That said, disillusionment with democracy is spreading. Countries are electing populist leaders across the globe. Dictators woo the lectorate but then take steps to consolidate their power. Mock trials are a feature of dictatorships. They supress dissent from rival political parties and subvert the judiciary to silence them, ‘the enemy within’. Convicted violent criminals are released in Russia to fight in Ukraine while politicians whose only ‘crime’ is dissent, are arrested, tortured, paraded in show trials, and left to rot in prison or worse. Democracy, for all its faults, allows those with

Canon Philip Gillespie

It is the coming of Jesus into the world and more specifically into our world, which, literally, makes all the difference in the world. Perhaps this is the real essence and foundation of all evangelisation: to share with others the fact that having Jesus in our lives makes all the difference in the world. Or as Saint Paul puts it: ‘Nothing surpasses the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.’ (Philippians 3:8)

Now that the tinsel and the wrapping paper of Christmas Day is all boxed up and tidied away, it is good to reflect on the challenge of the Letter to Titus which the Church received at the Mass on Christmas Night: ‘Jesus gave himself for us, to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good.’

(Titus 2:14)

It is a challenging text indeed, and a good examination of conscience at the end of each day: have I lived this day with no ambition except to do good? If we are still looking for a new year’s resolution then perhaps St Paul has just helped us out…

Mgr John Devine OBE

conflicting ideologies to live alongside each other in peace. If elected heads of state choose authoritarian policies, they pay the price at the next election. We don’t assassinate them; we just vote them out.

The Church over the ages does not have a great record of living with dissent. The barbaric suppression of heresy at the time of the Reformation is an extreme example but the silencing of opposing theological views continues. The agenda of the recent Synod of Bishops was carefully controlled. The involvement of laity in decision-making is a ‘work in progress’.

But how about you and me? How do we live with those with whom we disagree? We’d love to see those who ‘rub us up the wrong way’ move on, disappear, get sick, retire.

There is a wonderful scene in the first act of Shakespeare’s Richard II. A courtier reports: ‘Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my Lord, suddenly taken’. The King replies: ‘Now put it, God, in the physician’s mind to help him to his grave immediately… Let’s all go visit him. Pray God we may make haste, and come too late.’

Forgiveness flowing from the heart of God

I love the prophecy of Isaiah. It over a long period of time, before through Israel’s captivity and later return to the Promised Land.

There are three different people who wrote the Book of Isaiah. First Isaiah was written about 750 BC, before the exile to Babylon, and it spans chapters 1-39. During the exile, another person in the School of Isaiah came along. Some of the scholars say it might have been a woman. Whoever it was, they wrote Second Isaiah, covering chapters 40-44. Written in about 550 BC, this is a message of consolation, in the midst of exile. After the exile another writer came along and scholars called that book Third Isaiah. Covering chapters 45-66, this is a compilation from a number of authors in the School of Isaiah.

Isaiah is seen as the great prophet of faith. During his time there were a lot of wars and the great temptation was to form alliances with Egypt, or Syria, or Assyria. Each time the people are tempted to do that the prophet says, ‘No, trust in God’.

All of Third Isaiah is about hope and trust and believing that somehow in and through those who enter into the mystery of God, God’s purpose for life will be fulfilled. It is in Chapter 61, in Third Isaiah, that we find this written: ‘The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God.’

One of the understandings that develops in Isaiah is that of the perfect Israelite, the one who is coming to set God’s people free. We find traces of that imagery in the poems about the suffering servant that we find in Isaiah 41. From that understanding grew the notion of Messiahship

This perfect Israelite will enter into the pain of the world, bringing sight to the blind and freedom to captives. The commission to ‘proclaim liberty’ is language from the instructions for observing the Jubilee Year.

During the Jubilee, property and people held as payment for debt were returned to the families to which they originally belonged (Leviticus 25:10). The use of the Leviticus language in Isaiah 61 is a clear indication that the liberty proclaimed is intended to be made permanent in new social and economic relationships within the community. Though the Jubilee was a rare event – to be observed every 50th year – the perfect Israelite is sent to announce that liberation now. God’s anointed is also ‘to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’. This is the assurance that God has chosen to act with abundant ‘favour’ and mercy towards Israel. What fantastic good news for a people who had suffered and were broken by their suffering, that God had not abandoned them.

We have just celebrated Advent and Christmas. In the person of Jesus, the year of favour or jubilee finds its fulfilment. Let us pray that throughout this Jubilee year, it becomes a reality for us.

Father Chris Thomas

“The glories of the past” The Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome 1900

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist

“The outlook on the future is by no means free from anxiety”, the Pope said in the Holy Year of 1900. Pope Leo XIII may have been 92, but his voice was still strong. The Liverpool pilgrims to Rome in that year were avid to see as well as hear him, according to the anonymous chronicler of the pilgrimage. The Pope, in proclaiming the Jubilee, had pointed to ancient custom in “selecting Rome as the chief place for the solemn celebration of the Holy Year”, inviting people to visit “to find spiritual remedies for their souls.” The religious monuments, the majesty of Rome’s churches, and the Catacombs of the Martyrs, should all “impress those who visit in the spirit of faith.”

Despite which, our chronicler was distinctly unimpressed with Rome. He viewed the city, he said, with a mixture of “reverence, admiration, pity, and disgust.” The drains were terrible, and his own affluence led him to observe that “the poverty of the lower classes is abject.” Sewage was only part of the miasma of smells that clung to the city: “The stinks of Rome seem to hang about in layers that you might hack – now from a bad drain, now from a den where confections of oil and spices throw off their steam, and now from a shop where garlic is gathered in all its force!” Beggars, hawkers and haggling were other offences to the British tourist.

The modern architecture is monotonous, he finds, all rectangles and uniform windows. And the problem is that it exists side by side with the ancient wonders. “You cannot take a photograph of the vast Forum Romano without including the houses in which some of the lower classes dwell, and the Coliseum, vast as it is, rubs shoulders with a wineshop.”

Given the demands of the pilgrims’ itinerary, it is remarkable that they had any time at all to “wander around magnificent relics of two thousand years ago, great piles of bricks and mortar that tell silently, but eloquently, of the glories of the past.” The devotional visits began at St Peter’s Basilica. Here, the pilgrims formed into 3 groups, processing behind large black wooden crosses. They sang processional hymns, kissed the toe of the apostle’s bronze statue, and prayed over his tomb. They visited several chapels in the basilica: “Although quaint, it was a very beautiful experience.” They were almost 2000 strong, and they were constantly passing other groups of foreign pilgrims, so their songs and prayers were echoed in Spanish, in German, in Albanian and Hungarian. Among the other churches that were visited to allow the pilgrims the Papal indulgence for the Holy Year were the Basilicas of St Paul, St Lawrence, St John Lateran and St Mary Maggiore.

Tiring though each day was, there was still time for socialising in the evening, after dinner. Announcements would be made, and some of the clergy would offer words of encouragement. Foremost among them was our very own Bishop, Thomas Whiteside: “Few men are more likely than Dr Whiteside to win the hearts of a crowd. Every time he came to dine with us he spared time and trouble to pass along all the ranks, with a cheery greeting for everyone in the hall.”

The highlight of the programme was an audience with the Pope. This took place in St Peter’s Basilica on 13 October, the Feast of St Edward the Confessor. Our contingent may have been only a small part of the 30,000 people filling the cathedral, but they did have, according to the chronicler, “The place of honour, in the Gregorian Chapel.” Evening dress, lounge suits and colourful national dress could all be observed, along with the “soldiery of the Papal bodyguard.” Cheering greeted the Pope’s arrival, borne aloft for the crowd to see. He blessed them, said a few words, then received the various Cardinals and Bishops who were present. As Bishop Whiteside reported subsequently, he asked especially to see the English Bishops. He had been pleased and astonished at the cheers from the English pilgrims, and gave them a special blessing when he stood on the throne as he was being carried back through the throng.

Visits to the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel provided further memories for the “terrible railway journey home”, and our chronicler breathed a sigh of relief to be back at last in British air and with British food: “We found that a British gizzard needs the aid of use and experience before it can draw the utmost of the joys of a continual feast of spice and garlic and olives and wine.”

diary

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Obituary for Fr Joseph Robinson

The Archdiocese of Liverpool was saddened to learn of the death of Fr Joseph Robinson. He was 86 years old and in the 62nd year of the priesthood.

Joseph Anthony Robinson was born in Liverpool on 9 March 1938, the son of William and Jennie Robinson. He attended St Vincent’s Primary School in the city, before entering the junior seminary at Upholland.

After completing his philosophical and theological studies in the senior seminary, he was ordained in the college chapel at Upholland by Archbishop Heenan on 8 June 1963.

Following his ordination, he served as a curate in several parishes across the archdiocese: Sacred Heart, St Helens (1963-70); St Hugh of Lincoln, Wavertree (1970-71); St Sebastian, Liverpool (1971-74); St George, Maghull (1974-80), where he had chaplaincy responsibilities at Maricourt High School; and St Aidan, Huyton (1980-82).

In December 1982, he took up his first appointment as parish priest at St Peter and St Michael, Woolston. For the next decade, he ministered contentedly in this parish.

When the time came for him to move to his next appointment, Bishop Vincent Malone observed that, “All the signs had been of

a quietly happy parish getting on with its twentieth-century duties with some imagination and a lot of affection.”

His second appointment as parish priest was at St Julie’s, Eccleston (1992-96) and his letter from Bishop Malone encouraged him “to take particular care of your episcopal parishioner”.

This was, of course, alluding to the fact that Bishop Kevin O’Connor lived in the parish. Fr Robinson was blessed, too, by the presence of the Carmelite monastery within his parish, though he was never the designated chaplain to the nuns.

In October 1996, he moved to St John’s, Burscough, to take up what would become his final appointment as parish priest. He was clearly very happy and content in this more rural parish, as he stayed for the next twenty years until his retirement in 2016.

To the parish at Burscough, he brought his characteristic fidelity and kindliness, as well as overseeing a significant reordering of the church.

In retirement, he lived at St George’s Court in Maghull, joining a small community of retired priests living in the flats next to St George’s Church.

He died peacefully in the early evening of Thursday 21 November 2024, aged 86 years and in the 62nd year of the priesthood.

May he rest in peace.

CAFOD’s Message in The Year of Jubilee

2025 is a Year of Jubilee! Traditionally a time of renewal, freedom and celebration: Debts were cancelled, people and the land could rest, prisoners and slaves freed, and land redistributed fairly, a year of the Lord’s favour. In Luke, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Jesus makes clear his mission to bring the justice and freedom of the Jubilee, and we are called to share in it. This is at the heart of all CAFOD does.

Join us as Pilgrims of Hope

1. Join an Introduction to the Jubilee Year 18 Jan, 10:30am12pm online. With Fr Jan Nowotnik, from the Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Christine Allen and Kayode Akintola from CAFOD with music from Ooberfuse. Register now for free cafod.org.uk/jubilee

2. Use our reflection guide to explore the biblical meaning of Jubilee, and discover God’s call for you.

3. Currently we face the most acute global debt crisis in history. Pope Francis calls for action, saying it is a “matter of justice.” Sign the global petition cafod.org.uk/campaign

4. Give a regular gift and help those living in poverty across the world. Help our partners to reach wherever the need is greatest. cafod.org.uk/give

5. Lend a hand to help your parish/school get more involved and bring communities together to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. cafod.org.uk/volunteer

6. Celebrate the Jubilee in Schools. Join ‘Jubilee for Schools’ Launch on 24 January 2025 get resources for children and young people at: jubilee-schools.org.uk

Find resources for the Jubilee: cafod.org.uk/jubilee

St William of York Scouts receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

4th Crosby (St William of York) Scout Group, a group of volunteers based in Thornton, Merseyside, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

This award recognises the contribution of the leaders and adults working with their local community to provide a range of opportunities for young people to develop skills for life while enjoying the adventures of Scouting.

4th Crosby Scout Group is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and, was continued following the accession of the King. 2024 marks the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Recipients are announced annually on 14 November, The King’s Birthday. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a mental health and wellbeing support network for veterans and their families in Yorkshire; a group preserving a historic 12th century castle in south Wales; volunteers providing English lessons for refugees in Stirling and an organisation providing opportunities to engage in the arts for people with learning disabilities in County Fermanagh.

Representatives of 4th Crosby Scout Group will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mr Mark Blundell, Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside early next year. In addition, two volunteers will be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Group Scout Leader Catherine Ashcroft said:

“Receiving this award is tinged with great sadness at the unexpected death of our Parish Priest Fr Dunstan Harrington on Remembrance Sunday. Fr Dunstan was very proud of our young people and the work our volunteers undertake in our parish, he would have been delighted to hear this news and his support has been invaluable to us over the years. May he rest in peace.

“It is truly an incredible honour to be recognised in this way for the efforts made by our team. We have the most amazing group of adults you could dream of working with. They are committed to delivering the best opportunities to challenge our young people, teaching them skills that will raise aspirations and prepare them for the future. They consistently go above and beyond and are a credit to our organisation. This award will mean so much to our young people, volunteers, trustees and parents, we are delighted to receive it. Thank you to everyone who contributes to make the 4th such a special place to volunteer, we hope to continue to make a difference in our community.”

New Book Explores Stonyhurst’s Golden Era

Stonyhurst 1884–1914: Portrait of an English Catholic School by Henry Sire promises a rich exploration of the college during its zenith as England’s leading Catholic public school.

Sire’s book captures the vibrancy of Stonyhurst life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It highlights the school’s rigorous academic standards, influential figures, and notable alumni, who include an archduke, a son of Oscar Wilde, five Victoria Cross recipients, and MI5 officer Frank Foley—credited with saving 10,000 Jews from Nazi persecution.

Sire situates Stonyhurst’s history within the broader context of public school culture and societal changes of the time. He argues that the college not only excelled academically but also thrived as a centre of Jesuit education, shaping a flourishing Catholic mission in England.

Henry Sire, himself a Stonyhurst alumnus, brings personal insight and scholarly expertise to the work. Educated at Stonyhurst and Oxford, he has authored several acclaimed historical biographies.

Published by Gracewing Press, the hardcover is priced at £50 and will be available from January 2025.

A new book celebrating the history of Stonyhurst College, a prominent Jesuit school in the Liverpool Archdiocese, is set for release this month.

An Exciting New Era Dawns for Orrell St. James’

The parish of St. James’ in Orrell marked its 325th Anniversary with the completion of a stunning internal transformation.

As one of the oldest parishes in the archdiocese, it has had a long-standing presence in the Orrell area, starting way back in 1699.

The church has been extended many times and was enlarged to its present size in 1841 with the Bell Tower being built in 1882. Further developments and refurbishments have been carried out over the subsequent years including a memorial chapel to the war dead, a parish club, bowling green and a meeting room.

Having not been redecorated since 2008, the church was in need of some tender loving care. When Father Philip Kehoe arrived as parish priest in February 2023, he promised the parishioners he would bring the church back, as far as possible, to its previous splendour- a building to be proud of. Fr Philip also wanted the church renovation completed for the parish’s 325th anniversary on 1 December 2024.

With the assistance of the parish support group, the archdiocese appointed a project manager who worked closely with Fr Philip and the group to plan the restoration and refurbishment of the building and its fittings.

The church’s Grade II Listed Building status meant that extra regulatory steps were needed, such as meeting with the archdiocese’s Art and Architecture Committee, to agree on items such as colours of paint to be used, renovations to the Stations of the Cross and reviewing historical pictures of the church from the early 1900s to ensure that any redecoration was consistent with the church’s previous look. Another major step was to get agreement from the Catholic Historical Church Committee (HCC) for the project plan to go forward.

All permissions were finally granted at the end of September and the appointed contractor (Greenmount Projects) started the work.

Pleasingly, the project was completed on time and the first Mass in the newly opened church took place on Sunday 1 December with the Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon OP concelebrating alongside Father Philip and previous priests from the parish. A celebratory buffet at St’ James’ Social Centre for parishioners followed.

Chair of the parish support group, Paul Carey, said: “It has been a very timepressured process in order to complete the works in time for the 325th anniversary celebrations. A massive thank you to all at Greenmount Projects for ensuring this project was completed on time as well as to Richard Morris from the Liverpool Archdiocese Property Service for his outstanding Project Management.”

Father Philip and the parish support group wanted to involve the schools and colleges from the parish in the anniversary preparations in order to leave a legacy for the next generations.

St James’ Catholic Primary School, St Peter’s High School and St John Rigby College have all been involved and have produced fantastic artwork focusing on the history of St James and the parish’s 325 years’ existence. St. James’ Catholic Primary School pupils produced the artwork for a magnificent faux stained glass window reflecting the history of the Parish.

Paul remarked, “The artwork that has been produced is exceptional and I would like to thank all three organisations for their unwavering support of this project. parishioners will be impressed by the artwork- a true nod to the history and traditions of the parish.

“The inside of the church has undergone a stunning transformation, giving it a modern look whilst at the same time respecting the history and traditions of the church.

“Anyone attending Mass at this famous, historical church in the coming weeks and months will be very impressed.”

Jottings of a Lourdes Pilgrim

By Pat Murphy

I am writing this piece in the pre-Christmas frenzy, on the most appropriate date of Sunday 8 December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Although falling on a Sunday this year, meaning the feast is carried forward to the 9th, it is celebrated in France and possibly most of Europe on the said date. I believe up to 20,000 pilgrims descend on the small village of Lourdes on this great feast to pray, offer petitions and take part in the processions.

After this celebration, Lourdes will return to the quiet winter village until Christmas. Many visitors visit Lourdes for the festive season. It must seem very different from the busy summer pilgrim months, but very special to spend time at the grotto on the feast of the Nativity.

So as the New Year approaches, our thoughts are towards 2025 pilgrimages. A very special Jubilee year, and many folk from around the world will be planning a “Holy Year” pilgrimage to Rome. For those who cannot travel to the eternal city for whatever reason, there will be many “at home” pilgrimages to make. Maybe a visit to Walsingham, or even a pilgrimage within our own archdiocese. We have many parishes in our archdiocese dedicated to Our Blessed Lady; maybe a pilgrimage could be arranged around some of these churches. I personally love visiting churches. Every one of them has their own special features and designs.

This is the prime opportunity to thank everyone who has purchased Lourdes Pilgrimage Christmas cards during 2024. Again over 10,000 cards have been sent. Each pack that was bought has helped support the work of the pilgrimage – thank you so much.

May you all have a very happy New Year, and we ask Our Lady of Lourdes, our guide our protector in life, to guide us safely through our pilgrimage of life in 2025.

Pastoral ponderings

by Paul Pimblett

One of the questions I am often asked by people when they find out I am studying for the priesthood is often something along the lines of: “What made you want to become a priest?” I love being asked this question as it allows me to reflect on my vocation and formation journey thus far.

I also enjoy being asked because I am then able to give the equally frustrating answer of “I can’t describe it”. Unlike my namesake, I have not experienced a blinding light on the road to Damascus. I have never been privileged to have an epiphany or the kind of conversion experience many have had. Rather, I have always had a solid, unchanging and constant awareness of God’s presence in my life. I have never taken my faith for granted; it is essentially who I am. It has been in that part of my life, throughout the years, that I have felt the still small voice of calm. I, unlike Samuel, never heard the Lord directly calling me by name. What I did experience was an inexplicable, growing sense of comfort and peace in the Lord and His Church which, through His grace, I was able to admit was an invitation to discernment.

This has not been without its challenges. I do not know why the Lord placed a call to discernment in my heart of all people. There have also been difficulties along the way. Doubts, anxieties and worries have persisted, as they do for us all in our faith journeys. There is great cause for despair in our world with so much violence, disregard for the dignity and sanctity of human life and a general lack of faith. I have also lost count of the times people have told me “The Church is doomed, it needs to change”, or “No one bothers or comes anymore”. However, just as I have always found strength in my faith, I find indescribable strength in the Church, the Lord’s presence in the Eucharist and Our Lady’s intercession. The Lord told St Peter he was the rock on which He would build His Church and I firmly believe I am being called to be formed as one of His priests.

As always, it is a great joy to be able to share my journey with you all. Pray for me and be assured I always pray for you!

Focus on Jubilee: A Mother’s Forgiveness

Pablo Guidi Catholic Social Action Coordinator

“Anthony was walking with his nephew in the buggy. I passed him on the way, we waved, and that was one of the last times I would see him”. Only hours after this innocent greeting between mother and son, Anthony Walker was killed in a racially motivated attack in Huyton, Liverpool. From this moment in 2005, things would profoundly change for Anthony’s mother Gee and his whole family.

In a remarkable story of tragedy, forgiveness and peace, Gee has become a beacon of hope. She has spoken of how God’s love is a constant source of strength, that enabled her to forgive her son’s killers. She has shown how out of darkness, God’s love can transform suffering and transform lives.

Part of this transformation has been the setting up of the Anthony Walker Foundation. This charity aims to tackle racism, support those experiencing hate crime and build safer, stronger, thriving places for all to live in.

To mark Peace Sunday, Gee will be talking on the theme of “Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace”. This is the subject Pope Francis has chosen for Peace Sunday, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm prior to Gee’s talk on the 19 January 2025.

Forgiveness is at the core of the Gospel message, and what Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer. This is reflected in Church teaching. “Forgiveness”, wrote Pope John Paul II in 1980, “demonstrates the presence in the world of the love which is more powerful than sin. Forgiveness is also the fundamental condition for reconciliation, not only in the relationship of God with man, but also in relationships between people.”

If you would like to hear Gee’s story, you are welcome to attend the Metropolitan Cathedral for the Pax Christi Peace Sunday Mass at 11am on 19 January 2025. This will be followed by a talk from Gee as part of the Justice and Peace Memorial lecture in the Cathedral’s Gibberd Room from 1pm. Join Gee Walker and Pax Christi President Archbishop Malcolm for what should be a very good afternoon. Please contact Pablo for further details about the talk p.guidi@rcaol.org.uk and visit www.anthonywalkerfoundation.com for information on its work.

02/09/2022 15:32 Page 11

what’s on January

Saturday 11 January

Come and See 10:30AM - 4:00PM at The Irenaeus Project, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD

The first Come and See of 2025 at the Irenaeus Project will feature a talk from Eamonn Mulcahy CSSp on The Wonder of God. All are welcome to attend. You are asked to bring a packed lunch, and a suggested donation is £10. For more information, contact jenny@irenaeus. co.uk or 0151 949 1199.

Sunday 12 January

The Jubilee Year 2025 begins in parishes on the Mass of the Baptism of the Lord.

Tuesday 14 January

Time Out on Tuesdays 10:30AM - 4:00PM at Sisters of Our Lady of the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Wavertree, L15 6TW

Wanting time for yourself? Time to stop and reflect? Time to step aside for a while from the daily round of life? Then why not join The Sisters of Our Lady of the Cenacle on a Tuesday to get away for a few hours to stop and ponder the important things of life? No need to book, just come along and maybe bring a friend. Suggested offering for the day is £10; bring your own lunch, tea/ coffee provided. For further information, contact Sr Winnie at 0151 722 2271.

Wednesday 15 January

The Upside Down Gospel: Reflections on the Gospel of Luke. Session 1 10:30AM - 12:00PM at The Irenaeus Project, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD

The Irenaeus Project will be running sessions throughout January on the Gospel of Luke. All are welcome to attend.

Thursday 16 January

An Invite to a Unique Opportunity 7:00PM - 9:30PM at St Mary’s, Leyland, PR25 1PD

The Vatican Synod states that in the appointment of bishops, the voice of synodal bodies must be heard. As you know, the process is underway for the appointment of a new Archbishop of Liverpool. You are invited to contribute to this process to have your voice heard. Each gathering will have two parts:

Looking at where we are as a diocese and our future development, and considering the qualities needed in our future Archbishop. This is open to all members of our community here in the Archdiocese. To reserve a place at one of the meetings, please fill in the online form: bit.ly/ ASCMeetingAOL

If you are unable to take part in person but would like to take part in the Saturday meeting by Zoom, please follow the link below on Saturday 18 January at 10.30am: bit.ly/ ASCMeetingZoom

Saturday 18 January

An Invite to a Unique Opportunity 10:30AM – 1:00PM at St Margaret Clitherow Centre, L17 1AA

The Vatican Synod states that in the appointment of bishops, the voice of synodal bodies must be heard. As you know, the process is underway for the appointment of a new Archbishop of Liverpool. You are invited to contribute to this process to have your voice heard. This is open to all members of our community here in the Archdiocese. To reserve a place at one of the meetings, please fill in the online form: bit.ly/ ASCMeetingAOL

If you are unable to take part in person but would like to take part in the Saturday meeting by Zoom, please follow the link below on Saturday 18 January at 10.30am: bit.ly/ ASCMeetingZoom

Saturday 18 January

Eucharistic Ministry Training Day

At The Irenaeus Project, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD

The Irenaeus Project will be hosting a Eucharistic Ministry Training Day. Parishes are invited to book their place by emailing jenny@irenaeus.co.uk or calling 0151 949 1199.

Sunday 19 January 2025, 11am: Peace Sunday Mass followed by Gee Walker talk: Metropolitan Cathedral. After Mass at 1:15 join Gee Walker who will talk about the murder of her son Anthony, forgiveness, reconciliation and justice. This is a partnership event by Pax Christi and the Liverpool Justice and Peace Commission. For more details contact p.guidi@rcaol.org.uk

Wednesday 22 January

The Upside-Down Gospel: Reflections on the Gospel of Luke. Session 2 10:30AM - 12:00PM at The Irenaeus Project, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD

The second of the sessions running throughout January on the Gospel of Luke. All are welcome to attend.

Saturday 25 January

Quiet Days at The Cenacle

10:30AM - 4:00PM at Sisters of Our Lady of the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Wavertree, L15 6TW

We all need time to stop, ponder, and be still but often find it hard to make the time. Why not come for a few hours, with like-minded people, and just stop and be away from the daily round of life? Bring your own lunch; tea/coffee provided. Suggested offering is £10. No need to book, just come along and maybe bring a friend. For further information, contact Sr Winnie at 0151 722 2271.

Monday 27 January

Marriage Preparation Team Volunteer Training: Session 1

7:00PM - 8:30PM at St Helen, Alexandra Road, Crosby, L23 7TG

The Archdiocese is now recruiting and training volunteer facilitators to join the marriage preparation team. This new team will offer two marriage preparation courses for couples in 2025. If you are interested, please contact Moses Mui, Training Coordinator, at m.mui@rcaol.org.uk or sign up using the online enrolment form.

Wednesday 29 January

The Upside-Down Gospel: Reflections on the Gospel of Luke. Session 3

At The Irenaeus Project, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD

The third session on the Gospel of Luke, run by The Irenaeus Project. All are welcome to attend.

29 December

JUBILEE 2025

OF LIVERPOOL in the 13 - 20 April Holy Week and Easter Tridium

Jubilee will be welcomed at the Cathedral and Co-Cathedral at the Feast of the Holy Family

12 January

Jubilee begins on a local levelannouncement at Mass of the Baptism of the Lord

9 February

Marriage Mass –celebrating for those married in a Jubilee year (9 February) 15 March

2025 Throughout March We Dare To Hope” Lenten Resources 17 May Pilgrimage Walk

28 July - 3 August Jubilee of Youth 13 September Pilgrimage Walk

Cathedral Record

8 June

“Pilgrims of Hope” Pentecost Walk Date TBC Mass for New Catholics

Date TBC Praying with Our Lady for Jubilee

Date TBC Adoremus - this year’s theme is “Pilgrims of Hope” All Month Season of Creation

7 to 13 November Archdiocese Trip to Rome

November Youth Sunday All Month Advent Prayers Resources – with Jubilee theme

28 December

Feast of the Holy Familyclosing of the Jubilee @LiverpoolArchdiocese

To follow this calendar for more updates,

Canon Anthony O’Brien –Cathedral Dean officially archdiocese the Mass December, Year as ask the Lord’s year, may we Hope for our and ourselves journey

The Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated on the weekend of 4/5 January this year. To emphasise the importance of the Feast and the fact that for a large part of the Christian world it is their Christmas Day, we have an afternoon Carol Service of readings and hymns at 3pm to add to the joyful

Archbishop Malcolm will preside at 11am Mass on 19 January for Peace Sunday followed by a talk organised by Pax Christi given by Gee Walker. With the various conflicts and instability around the world at present, it is important that prayers and efforts to build peace will be a significant part of our journey through this Jubilee Year. This is also the Sunday in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and we will have a Joint Choral Evening Prayer at Liverpool Cathedral to come together in prayer as we do each year. Later in the week, Hope University stage their Winter Graduations on Thursday 23 January, bringing a dash of colour and joyful celebration in the midst of what is normally a gloomy and

The Chapter of Canons meet and celebrate Mass at the end of the month and we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation, which marks the end of Christmastide, on Sunday 2 February.

Walking Pilgrimage of the Month

East Warrington JANUARY

Our first walking pilgrimage of 2025 takes us to east Warrington, which comes out of the town centre and out towards the old University of Chester campus.

Start at St Stephen, First Martyr

The starting point for this pilgrimage is in the suburb of Orford, just outside Warrington town centre. St Stephen’s is a fairly new church, only around 50 years old, meaning many parishioners remember its consecration and early years. It’s well worth finding out more about its short but fascinating history.

If you would like to start here, you can attend Mass at 10.45am on a Sunday, Saturday at 5.30pm, or early in the morning on a weekday.

Walk 27 minutes (1.2 miles) to St Benedict’s

From the first stop in the Blessed James Bell parish, it’s only a short walk to St Benedict’s. It is a fairly straight walk too, down Fisher Avenue, past the aptly named Orford Jubilee, onto Alder Lane and down Central Avenue to the church. Founded by Benedictine monks in 1915, this huge, beautiful building is a sight to behold both inside and out, with some beautiful artwork inside.

Walk 19 minutes (0.8 miles) to St Mary’s Shrine

Stop two on this trip splits the parish of Blessed James Bell and heads to St Mary’s Shrine, which is just the other side of Warrington Central train station. You can head straight down Battersby Lane, and past the Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of rugby league Super League team, Warrington Wolves. Go across the first roundabout (under the railway bridge) onto Brick Street and then take a left onto Dial

Street, and you will see the Grade II listed building at the end of the street.

If you want to stop and take a rest, now would be the perfect moment to stop and pray to Our Lady at The Shrine. This church is also a unique one in our archdiocese, as it also contains Latin Mass.

Walk 34 minutes (1.5 miles) to St Oswald, King and Martyr

We are now heading out of the town centre, and towards Padgate, where the campus for the University of Chester used to be before they moved into the town centre. This walk will take you along Manchester Road and Padgate Lane, along to the church, where you will also find the school and parish centre on the same site. It’s well worth popping into the parish centre if you want a quick sit down and some refreshments ahead of the longest leg of the walking pilgrimage this month.

Walk 51 minutes (2.4 miles) to SS Peter and Paul, Woolston

The longest walk of this pilgrimage, but worth it. There are two routes to this you can take. You can either take the New Cut Heritage and Ecology Trail as shown in the map, which is very popular with ramblers, or if you would rather take the main road, then there is the option to carry on down Manchester Road. You can reach the church on Weir Lane and admire the beautiful stained glass windows, designed by Edward Statham. If you time it right, the church bell may welcome you to the final stop on your journey.

Reader’s Prayer Corner

Loving Father,

As we begin the new year, please fill our hearts with hope and courage. Bless our parish with unity and faith and help us share Your joy and peace with all we meet.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen

Send us a prayer (one you’ve heard, or one you wrote yourself), along with your name and your parish, at CatholicPic@rcaol.org.uk to be featured in next month’s issue!

Saint of the Month

St Kentigern

The secondary patron of our archdiocese, we celebrate St Kentigern’s feast day on 13 January. St Kentigern, or St Mungo as he is known in Scotland, founded the city of Glasgow. As an abbot and missionary, he is remembered for his deep spiritual insight and his compassion in service.

Puzzle Time!

When Father Phil Crossey, a Liverpool-born priest, passed away in Budapest late last September, his death was felt deeply in his adopted country. Indeed, among those who wrote words of gratitude for his ministry as an Opus Dei priest were Hungary’s secretary of state and deputy prime minister, respectively Miklos Soltesz and Dr Zsolt Semjen.

‘During his decades of ministry in Hungary, he has been a spiritual guide and confessor to countless people,’ they said in a joint letter. ‘We thank God for his priestly ministry,’ they added, citing his work at Peter Pazmany Catholic University and St Anne’s Church in the city centre, where his Requiem Mass was celebrated. ‘Father Philip’s personality and serenity will be missed by all of us.’

Here in Liverpool, 74-year-old Fr Phil is missed dearly too – not least by his sister Louise, who was present in Budapest for the funeral of ‘Our Phil’ on 10 October and his burial the next day in the famous, hillside Farkasret Cemetery. She says: ‘So many people approached us there and said how much he’d helped them in their lives with his spiritual direction and faith support, particularly through leading them on retreats.’

She explains that her brother also regularly helped Cardinal Peter Erdo, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate of Hungary, with English translations and pronunciation whenever he had to give speeches in English. This led to a meeting with Pope Francis, arranged by the Cardinal during the Pontiff’s visit to Hungary last June, in recognition of Fr Phil’s service to the Church there.

Rubbing shoulders with popes and cardinals was a far cry from the young Phil’s early life in Anfield, where he attended All Saints Infant School, Runnymede St Edward’s Junior School and Cardinal Allen High School. One of three children of Bill and Vera Crossey, he was shy and unassuming but had a dry wit and a flair for languages and he went on to study French, German and Philosophy at Bangor University. Overall, he would master seven different languages – and with his ear for accents came a gift for mimicry. ‘He was a great mimic,’ says Louise. ‘He taught his students in Hungary that “tara” was goodbye in English!’

Father Phil Crossey

Liverpool priest who won hearts in Hungary

By Simon Hart profile

And while he became a Doctor of Philosophy – with a PhD on St Thomas Aquinas – Fr Phil was also a disciple of the School of Science, a.k.a. Everton FC. ‘He was a big Evertonian and a good footballer, who played with the students until he was over 60,’ explains Louise. ‘I always got a smiley picture on my mobile when Everton won and “Hard luck” with a smirk when Liverpool lost!’ He was a keen gardener too, evidenced by the lemon tree he grew in his garden.

As for his connection to Opus Dei, this sprang from a meeting with a priest of the order at the university chaplaincy in Bangor. On graduation, he spent two years with Opus Dei in Japan before working with students at their centres in London, Manchester and Glasgow before then embarking on his training for the priesthood in Rome.

For his ordination on 30 August 1981 in Torreciudad in northern Spain, eight family members embarked on a long mini-bus journey down France and through the Pyrenees. Louise remembers: ‘In Torreciudad, Phil got us a workers’ chalet in the local village. We were a celebrity family as the only ones not to fly out there or stay in the local posh hotel. And I also remember how everyone wanted to cuddle our older brother Mick’s then baby son Liam!’

Fr Phil’s own grounded nature never left him. ‘He’d never let me pick him up when he came home,’ says Louise. ‘He wanted to get the bus for the laughs and banter.’ His faith had taken him far and wide, but his Liverpool humour remained intact. Indeed, it was present even when meeting the Pope last year. Though he was suffering from ill health, the encounter featured in the image below (right/left) of him being introduced to the Pontiff by the Apostolic Nuncio, Michael W. Banach, had a lovely moment of levity, as Louise explains. ‘The reason Phil and the Pope are laughing is because Phil had said to him, “Sorry, Holy Father, I have to sit down” and the Pope replied, “So do I!”.’

All Saints Multi Academy Trust launches new initiative to eliminate single-use plastic bottles

All Saints Multi Academy Trust has introduced an exciting new sustainability initiative, taking a bold step to eliminate singleuse plastic bottles within its schools.

The initiative is currently being piloted at Hope Academy in Newton-le-Willows, where every member of the school community has received a reusable water bottle.

These bottles are refilled using water dispensers or are used to purchase flavoured drinks from new vending machines that have been installed.

If a student loses their bottle, they can rent one for 50p or purchase a replacement for £1.80, which includes two free tokens for the vending machines.

To further encourage adherence to this programme, singleuse plastic bottles – such as water, energy drinks, or fizzy drink containers – are no longer permitted on school grounds.

By transitioning to reusable bottles, the academy is reducing litter in the local area while contributing to a greener planet.

As part of its sustainability agenda, All Saints Multi Academy Trust recognises the urgent need to take action against the global plastic crisis. Single-use plastic bottles are among the largest contributors to plastic waste in its growing community.

Miss Heather Duggan, CEO of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, said: “Eliminating single-use plastics is a critical step toward reducing waste and creating a culture of sustainability across our schools.”

Principal, Mrs Marie Adams, shared her excitement, saying: “Our students have embraced this challenge wholeheartedly.

“The introduction of reusable drink bottles and the Generation Juice machines has already made a noticeable impact, significantly reducing the waste and recycling demands around the academy.”

Following a full evaluation of the trial, the trust plans to roll out the initiative across the rest of its academies in Liverpool and St Helens in 2025.

De La Salle joins Laetare Catholic Multi Academy Trust

De La Salle School, St Helens, is pleased to announce that it has joined the Laetare Catholic Multi Academy Trust (Laetare CMAT), marking an exciting new chapter for the school community. This decision reflects the school’s commitment to providing an outstanding, faith-based education and offering new opportunities for both students and staff.

De La Salle School is proud to be the first of many that will join the Laetare family of Religious Order schools in the coming months, which shares De La Salle’s core values of faith, academic excellence, and community.

With a focus on delivering high-quality education rooted in Catholic teachings, the trust provides a strong foundation for collaboration and growth. By joining Laetare CMAT, De La Salle School will enhance its educational offerings, benefit from shared resources, and contribute to a wider network of schools working together to serve young people.

Andy Rannard, headteacher of De La Salle School, said: “Together with the trust, we are excited to embrace new opportunities and continue our journey of growth.”

As part of the Laetare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, De La Salle School will have access to a wide range of collaborative opportunities, professional development for staff, and shared resources designed to benefit all members of the school community.

For families, this transition means that De La Salle School will continue to uphold its strong Lasallian identity while benefiting from the enhanced support and resources available through the trust.

The focus on faith, personal development, and community will remain central to the school’s mission, with students receiving the best possible care and education.

Samantha Murray, chair of governors, said: “We are proud of our strong De La Salle community and excited to work with the Trust to provide the very best education for our students.”

C Change wins prestigious Global Creativity in Schools Award

C Change, Arts Council England’s Creativity Collaborative in the North West, has been awarded the ‘Creative Thinking in Education for Climate Action Award’, part of the Creativity in Schools Award by the Global Institute of Creative Thinking.

Part of the national Creativity Collaboratives research programme, C Change is the only collaborator in the North West. Proudly formed by Wirral’s Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust (HFCMAT) and based at St Bernard’s RC Primary and Nursery School in Ellesmere Port.

The international accolade highlights the remarkable achievements of the Changemakers Project, which empowers students to be ‘agents of change’ in their communities through creativity, sustainability, and climate action.

The Changemakers Project integrates ‘creative habits of mind’ into the classroom, equipping students with vital skills in collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving to address sustainability challenges. In partnership with Chester Zoo, the project provides students with immersive experiences that amplify their learning.

One standout initiative includes the ‘Chester Zoo Takeover Days’, which allows students to step into the role of zoo rangers for a day, educating the public about conservation issues.

Beyond the zoo, C Change’s commitment to sustainability and creativity is evident, with events such as COP-style conferences, where students present their climate solutions.

Emily Reid, C Change project lead, said: “Creativity and sustainability are at the heart of what we do, and this recognition reflects the incredible work happening across our schools. Our partnership with Chester Zoo has been a cornerstone of our efforts to prevent extinction, and we’re thrilled to see our impact celebrated internationally.”

Andy Moor, CEO of HFCMAT, commented: “At Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, we are incredibly proud to be part of a movement that not only nurtures creative thinking but also empowers young people to become changemakers in their communities and beyond.”

Little Green Fingers: Eco Club Blooms at St Nicholas Catholic Academy

An Eco Club has been set up at St Nicholas Catholic Academy. The children have been so pro-active in wanting to look after the school and the local environment that they have started their eco journey by focusing on areas including litter, biodiversity and energy.

In collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University Forest School, the children have enjoyed activities including litter picking on both sites, learning which items are recyclable and non-recyclable. They have also taken great pride in keeping their own school environment free from litter and are also planning for the Eco Club to join in litter picking days in the local community.

The children have also embraced the subject of biodiversity and have learnt how to make bird feeders to entice wildlife back to the Forest School site. They were also delighted to toast marshmallows, with halal and vegetarian marshmallows offered, on the forest school fire pit. This was an excellent exercise to encourage teamwork with the pupils, socialising and helping their peers. The activity ended with a rapturous ‘Thank you’ to the Liverpool John Moores University students who helped out. It was a great experience for all.

The Club also took great delight in hanging feeders up and around the trees in the school itself. Following this, it has been wonderful to see robins and blue tits back on the school site, enjoying the bird food that the children have provided.

Plans are underway for the Eco Club to help to plant bulbs for flowering in spring to invite butterflies into the school grounds and to discuss energy usage at school and sustainability.

(L-R) Frankie Lowe, founder and CEO of the Global Institute of Creative Thinking, with Emily Reid, C Change project lead

New Year: A Time for Pilgrims of Hope

As we step into the new year, the Jubilee theme of Pilgrims of Hope feels like a warm invitation to pause and reflect on our shared journey. Life, after all, is a pilgrimage—a path of discovery, growth, and deepening trust in God’s presence.

This journey is never walked alone. It’s shaped by the people who walk beside us, the communities that lift us up, and the institutions that guide and inspire us. Among these, our Catholic schools hold a unique and cherished role. They are not just places of learning but sanctuaries where faith, hope, and love take root and flourish. As educators and leaders, we have the privilege of walking alongside our young people, helping them discover the beauty of God’s love in their lives.

The Jubilee Year calls us to renew this sacred mission with open hearts. It invites us to create school environments where every child feels encouraged to grow academically, explore their faith, and uncover their unique purpose. Through prayer, worship, acts of service, and living out Gospel values each day, our schools become spaces where God’s love is experienced and shared. Here, children find not just knowledge but also the assurance that they are deeply loved and called by name.

As we look ahead, let us remind ourselves that we are all pilgrims on this path. Each step we take, whether in our personal lives or within our school communities, draws us closer to God and to one another. The message of hope is not just something we carry for ourselves; it’s a gift we are called to share with the world around us.

This new year brings countless opportunities to walk hand in hand with our children, colleagues, and families as we journey together in faith. Let us treasure these moments, big and small, where we can be instruments of God’s hope and love. In doing so, we embrace our role as pilgrims of hope, creating a future anchored in God’s endless grace and wisdom.

Joan McCarthy Director of Education Archdiocese of Liverpool

Holy Spirit Catholic Academy achieves impressive ‘good’ Ofsted rating

Holy Spirit Catholic Academy, part of the St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust (SJCMAT), is celebrating a significant milestone after achieving a ‘good’ rating in its recent Ofsted inspection. This remarkable improvement highlights the school’s dedication to fostering both academic success and personal growth.

Inspectors praised the ‘dynamic school’ where pupils ‘relish their time’ and take pride in the Holy Spirit way, an ethos that emphasises respect, kindness, and doing one’s best. The report also commended the ‘strong relationships’ between staff and pupils, noting that pupils feel cared for and safe in a nurturing environment.

Since joining SJCMAT, the school has undergone a rapid transformation, supported by ‘unmistakable ambition’ from trustees and local governors who provide ‘insightful support and challenge’.

A key success has been the well-crafted curriculum, designed to meet the diverse needs of pupils. Teachers, equipped with excellent training and resources, use their strong subject knowledge to ensure pupils make meaningful connections in their learning, helping them achieve well across most subjects. Thanks to the world-class professional development opportunities that the trust offers, teachers are equipped with excellent training.

Holy Spirit is also dedicated to developing pupils’ character and resilience. The report highlighted enrichment opportunities, including a recent residential trip where older pupils overcame challenges in outdoor activities, building confidence and teamwork.

High expectations for behaviour contribute to the school’s “happy place” atmosphere, where children of all ages act as positive role models. With its focus on continuous improvement, Holy Spirit Catholic Academy is providing a foundation for pupils to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

SJCMAT congratulated the entire school community on this well-deserved recognition, labelling it an inspiring testament to the ‘Holy Spirit way’.

St John Bosco Arts College students take once-in-a-lifetime trip to Las Vegas

Four students from St John Bosco Arts College headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, to showcase their dance talent on an international stage.

Emmy Clarke, Ruby Hawkes, and Ava Johnson from Year 12 and Taylor Ellis from Year 11, were invited on the week-long trip of a lifetime to get real-world experience of the professional dance world.

The trip was organised by Empire Street Dance Company, which is owned by St John Bosco Arts College’s transition coordinator, Claire Wharmby and her husband.

The four girls, alongside fellow Empire Street students, performed at The Saxe Theatre, located in the iconic Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas boulevard. The high-energy dance routine featured striking moves and jaw-dropping combinations that left the audience in awe.

Students spent months preparing, refining their techniques, and building their confidence before they performed.

The dancers were also given the unique opportunity to collaborate with a local Las Vegas dance company to further enrich their experience and learn some new skills.

Claire Wharmby, transitions coordinator at St John Bosco Arts College and owner of Empire Street Dance Company, said: “We are all about providing young people with opportunities to develop and grow and this performance was a testament to what can be achieved when talent and hard work come together. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Bosco student, Taylor Ellis, said: “The energy from the crowd was amazing. Seeing all their smiles and hearing the applause – it is a moment I will never forget.”

Students also visited iconic landmarks and spent time on the performing arts scene.

Headteacher of St John Bosco Arts College, Mr Darren Gidman, remarked how proud the school was of the students, saying: “Your hard work, dedication and passion are truly remarkable, and you should be so proud of what you have achieved.”

Maricourt’s Mass of Leadership

Maricourt Catholic High School students recently held a Mass of Leadership to celebrate the various student leadership roles they hold within school. The school was delighted that Mgr Phil Inch, from Holy Rosary parish, Aintree, celebrated the Mass for the school - which was attended not only by pupils and staff, but parents and carers too.

With the Sisters of Mercy no longer being at the school, Maricourt believes it is its duty to continue and maintain the school’s distinct Mercy Charism. Through the leadership roles, Maricourt students pledge to serve the community upholding the mercy values of respect, justice, compassion, courage and hospitality. In doing so, they live out the Gospel message and Maricourt’s mission founded in faith and service.

Mr Loughlin, musicians and the choir enhanced the Mass with beautiful music and singing and everyone there commented on what a beautiful Mass it was. It was concluded with all leaders standing and making a pledge, on how collectively they plan to live out the mission of Maricourt.

Headteacher of Maricourt, Mrs Hatton, and deputy headteacher, Mrs Lawler, presented students with their badges, which was very special in the presence of their families.

Mrs Hatton addressed the students in her speech and said: “You are really lucky to recognise your leadership talents early so you can contribute to the school community and develop others around the school by spreading our mercy values”.

Student sleepover at St John Bosco raises money for The Whitechapel Centre

60 St John Bosco Arts College students in Year 7 took part in a sleepover to raise money for The Whitechapel Centre, a prominent homeless and housing charity in Liverpool.

To help students gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by homeless people, they were tasked with building dens out of cardboard boxes, a tough reality homeless people face to keep sheltered and warm in the cold months.

An on-site soup kitchen was set up so students could experience the type of meals homeless people have access to.

Throughout the sleepover, pupils and staff spoke widely about homelessness, including the struggles, the dangers, and the ways to support those who do not have a home or the resources to escape unfortunate living situations.

This discussion was amplified by the visit of a guest speaker from The Whitechapel Centre, who informed students about homelessness in Liverpool.

The Whitechapel Centre provides support to rough sleepers, people living in temporary accommodation and those at risk of becoming homeless, 365 days a year.

Students were encouraged to bring a monetary donation to the sleepover, with over £180 raised so far. Fundraising is ongoing.

Mrs Tomkins, head of RE and Catholic life and organiser of the event, said: “The sleepover was a wonderful opportunity for our students to put their faith into action.

“As a Catholic college, everything we do is rooted in gospel values and Catholic teachings. We are called to serve the poorest within our community and to ‘Love our Neighbour’.”

Headteacher of St John Bosco, Mr Darren Gidman, said: “At St John Bosco Arts College, we value love and hope, and we believe that it is important to show this not only in our school community but the wider community too; we must take care of one another.”

Live life in all its fullness

John 10:10

The proudest time of my career to date has been the past sixteen weeks as the new Headteacher of St. Cuthbert’s.

We are a school that puts the nurturing of our students’ faith at the centre of all we do. We are a school that challenges all to live out the Gospel values of Commitment, Compassion, Courage and Community every day. To have the privilege of becoming the Headteacher of a school recognised across our town and Archdiocese for its rich tradition of being at the heart of the community; for being a place that refuses to give up on children and for being a place of high academic standards providing the best opportunities for our students is a joy.

St. Cuthbert’s is an exciting place. We are constantly improving and are at a time of embarking on an even broader curriculum offer by introducing new and exciting option choices at Key stage 4, and increasing curriculum time for our younger students in subjects like Spanish and Music. We are continuing to improve our facilities to give our students the very best deal, and we are providing the very best continuous professional development for our staff.

We are a school where wonderful things are happening every day. We are a school where we encourage all to ‘live life in all its fullness (John 10:10). We are a school of great opportunity, and I am proud to be its new Headteacher. Our Vision is clear, and my task as the new Headteacher of St. Cuthbert’s is to make it a reality.

Our vision:

“A vibrant community uniquely created by God, which embraces everyone, especially those in need and celebrate difference. Enabled by a staff dedicated to our Catholic ethos and a culture of excellence, our young people will be inspired to know more, and be more.”

Stuart Holland Headteacher

To arrange a visit please call the school on 01744 678123 or visit our website.

Lasallian schools gather for international celebration of St Cassian’s Centre’s 50th anniversary

Seven students from De La Salle School St Helens took part in a special 50th anniversary schools retreat at St Cassian’s Centre in Kintbury.

Over 100 students and teachers celebrated the anniversary of the centre altogether, with schools from Great Britain, Ireland, and as far as Malta gathering for this special moment. Retreatants went to the village for four days, just as they have done since the centre opened in 1975.

Visitors took part in prayer, small group discussions and outdoor activities, such as low-rope team building and an Emmaus Walk, as part of the programme first established by De La Salle Brothers Dominic Green, Joe Hendron and Damian Lundy.

During this service, young people shared their ‘good news’ reflections on the retreat and what they would take back to their communities and schools. They also created a tree blossoming with their gifts and sang songs including ‘Laudato Sii’ – written by Damian, one of the founders of the community.

Joining the celebration were those who had worked at the centre over the past four decades; living in community and working with and for young people to help them build their awareness of God, each other and their world.

Andrew Rannard, headteacher of De La Salle St Helens, said:

“This special event marked a significant milestone for the Lasallian community and provided our students with a meaningful opportunity to deepen their faith, reflect on their shared values, and build connections with others who share the Lasallian spirit of service, fellowship, and dedication to education.

“This was a special moment that touched the hearts of all involved and one which the students will never forget.”

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School transforms unused spaces into sanctuary for wellbeing

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, part of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, has proudly unveiled two innovative spaces designed to support children with additional needs and promote wellbeing.

Spearheaded by Mrs Maria Langan, the school’s dedicated emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA), alongside several teaching assistants and the school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), Mrs Clare Dyas-Ward, the project has transformed areas of the school into a vibrant sensory corridor and a welcoming wellbeing room, named the Rainbow Room.

The initiative began with a vision to repurpose parts of the school’s 1950s-era building which is located on Woodchurch Road, Oxton.

Through hard work and creativity, the team has created safe and nurturing environments for children needing emotional support. The Rainbow Room provides a haven for mental health, social, and emotional support needs, while the sensory corridor offers a calming and stimulating space for children with additional needs.

Mrs Maria Langan said: “The Rainbow Room and sensory corridor are already helping us provide a listening ear and meaningful interventions for those who need it most.”

The project has been a true community effort. The school has raised over £350 through a toy sale and received additional support from the parent teacher association. Local business, Reprocity, generously contributed donations, while Maria and Julie dedicated countless hours of their own time to painting, decorating, and fundraising.

The school is still seeking support to purchase sensory equipment, including lights, lamps, a weighted blanket, and

other enhancements to create an even more engaging environment.

Headteacher of St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Mr Alex Turner, said: “This project highlights the power of community and the impact we can have when we work together for the wellbeing of our children.”

If you would like to make a donation to the school, please contact: schooloffice@stjosephs-birkenhead.wirral.sch.uk.

St Mary’s College celebrates the ‘most wonderful time of the year’

St Mary’s College in Crosby marked the start of the Christmas season in traditional fashion with its annual carol concert at a local church.

Students, staff and their families gathered at a packed SS Peter and Paul Church on Liverpool Road to enjoy the service which has long been a highlight of the school’s festive calendar.

The atmospheric concert in the 130-year-old building featured a wide-ranging selection of readings, carols and instrumental and choral performances coordinated by the college’s director of music, Andrew Byers, assisted by music teacher, Colin Johnston, and school chaplain, Anne-Marie Engelbrecht.

The evening included both traditional carols and more modern festive favourites, with contributions from the school’s symphony orchestra, chamber choir and lower school choir.

Highlights of this year’s programme ranged from Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers (from the Nutcracker Suite) and Torches by John Joubert, to Star of Bethlehem by John Williams and It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, made famous in the 1960s by Andy Williams.

At the end of the service, the evening continued in festive fashion with mulled wine, soft drinks and mince pies being served back at the school.

Looking back at the concert, Andrew Byers said: “I’d like to say a special ‘thank you’ to all the students who took part for their unstinting and enthusiastic commitment this term.

“They are always willing and ready to take on each new challenge and in doing so have proved themselves to be outstanding ambassadors for St Mary’s.”

College Principal, Mike Kennedy, added: “The carol concert has always been one of our most popular events with families and it was very gratifying to see that once again the church was full to the rafters for this year’s event.”

St Mary’s Catholic Infant and Junior Academies celebrate diversity and kindness

St Mary’s Catholic Infant and Junior Academies proudly participated in this year’s Anti-Bullying Week and Kindness Week with a series of activities that promoted respect, kindness, and diversity.

As part of the initiatives, pupils and staff of both schools took part in Odd Socks Day, a national awareness campaign that encourages individuals to celebrate their differences.

Children and adults are encouraged to wear their favourite odd socks to school, work or wherever they are going that day.

Anti-Bullying Week is organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, a group of organisations, charities and individuals who work together to put a stop to bullying.

The school also put together a ‘respect playlist,’ featuring songs that emphasise themes of friendship, kindness, and inclusivity. Each morning as pupils came into school, different songs were played on the playground to inspire the children and set a positive tone for the day. During some lessons, positive and uplifting songs were played to give children time to reflect and think about their choices within school.

Special assemblies took place, where children explored themes of being kind, respectful, and inclusive through stories and discussions. In class, teachers made it a priority to shine a spotlight on children’s work and say something kind to every member of the class. Some classes held competitions and awarded prizes for every kind choice or comment made by the pupils.

Pupils also created excellent pieces of work in their ‘We Are One Family’ workbooks to reflect on how they demonstrated kindness.

Executive headteacher, Mrs Samantha Birchall, commented:

“At St Mary’s, we believe that teaching children the importance of empathy, respect, kindness, and celebrating individuality is fundamental to building a positive school environment.

“Awareness days and weeks such as these are great ways of instilling these positive values in future generations.”

All Saints Multi Academy Trust hosts Advent Service at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

All Saints Multi Academy Trust gathered at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral for a special Advent Service, bringing together children, staff, and key stakeholders from across its academies to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The service was full of festivities, including reflective readings, heartfelt prayers, joyful hymns, and a captivating dramatisation of the nativity story.

The trust choir, comprised of children from each academy, also came together to perform ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Star Carol’ to the congregation.

The Advent Service was led by Monsignor Fr Anthony O’Brien and welcomed involvement from Reverend Canon Stuart Haynes, demonstrating unity and a shared vision of faith.

All Saints Multi Academy Trust is proudly sponsored by the Diocese of Liverpool and Archdiocese of Liverpool. It is guided by the ecumenical vision of Bishop David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock, as they considered communities to be ‘stronger and better together’.

Children and staff from the trust’s five primary schools, four secondary schools and two sixth forms were all in attendance, filling the cathedral’s pews. Trinity St Peter’s C of E Primary School, which will officially become part of the trust in February 2025, was also part of the service.

Miss Heather Duggan, CEO of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, said: “The Advent Service was a truly special moment for our Trust, bringing together children, staff, and esteemed stakeholders to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, reminding

us of the hope, love, and light that the birth of Jesus brings to the world.

“The performances and readings from our academies were deeply moving, reminding us of the importance of coming together at this time of year. This service captured the essence of what Christmas is truly about – love, compassion, and togetherness – and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who contributed to making it such a memorable occasion.”

One student said: “I loved performing as part of the trust choir. My favourite hymn was ‘Star Carol’.

The Advent Service took place at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral The All Saints Multi Academy Trust Choir performing at the Advent Service

The Advent Service was led by Monsignor Fr Anthony O’Brien

A student lights the candles of Advent

As part of the service, each academy presented a gift for CAFOD

Mums the Word

Happy new year everyone. Within the Union of Catholic Mothers, we have much to look forward to in the coming 12 months but for this first column of 2025, I would like to reflect on the old year just concluded.

As we said goodbye to 2024, I stopped and thought about all we had done as the UCM in Liverpool over the preceding year. Our members organised a range of activities and events over the year, including bring-and-buy sales, Macmillan coffee mornings, raffles, quiz nights and days out for our members.

One of my favourite days was when the Metropolitan Cathedral hosted the Ordination Mass of four seminarians in July. We had a UCM contingent present at the cathedral and it was truly a wonderful occasion to be part of.

Hopefully 2025 will bring more memorable occasions on which we will come together, including for our annual summer pilgrimage to Walsingham. In the meantime, I would like to remind you all that there is no bi-monthly Mass this month. Instead, our first Mass of the year will be celebrated at Saint Margaret Mary’s on 12 March. As mentioned in the previous issue, this will be our Charity Mass when we will present cheques to our nominated charities. I hope to see you there!

Maria Pimblett, UCM Media Officer

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

A Century of Service Looking forward – but also back

There is much to look forward to in this new year, not least the opportunity to join in the celebration of Jubilee 2025. Yet while we will hope for a better and brighter year ahead, let us first take a moment to reflect on 2024.

The past year presented us with moments of joy, several challenges, many opportunities and moments of great sadness. All of which we faced together, taking strength from the KSC’s three fundamental virtues: charity, fraternity and unity.

The moments of joy included welcoming new brothers to the order in a March Mass at St Mary’s in Little Crosby; celebrating several 50 years of service awards with knights across the province; supporting the annual Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in July; and celebrating our annual Mass in the woodland at the Harkirk Chapel in August.

Challenges included our continuing efforts to raise money at council, provincial and national levels during the current period of financial hardship as we support new projects like the Alma Mater Fund – our action project for the coming year. The annual Grand National prize draw, 2025 calendars and Keep Christ in Christmas posters all helped to generate much-needed funds.

Opportunities included creating new friendships and reaching out across the seas when we welcomed brothers from the order of the Knights of St Columbanus (from Ireland) who shared ideas for retaining and expanding our numbers during their visit to the Supreme Council Meeting in October, connecting with other Catholic organisations within our parishes and the wider Archdiocese.

Our moments of great sadness, finally, included the passing of brothers across the province and our provincial chaplain, Father Dunstan Harrington. All are remembered for their contributions to our councils and province, and for the example many of them set to those of us left behind.

News from the councils

Council 146: Annual Christmas Carol collection

A small but enthusiastic bunch of knights belted out carols both traditional and modern while collecting for the hungry and needy in Southport, raising almost £200 in the process.

Council 9: Formal dinner and Mass of Remembrance

A dinner on 15 November was well attended by knights and members of their local parish communities and it was followed on Sunday 17 November by a Mass to remember knights and their families who had gone to their heavenly reward, celebrated by Father David Potter at St Francis of Assisi, Garston.

If you are interested in finding out more about the KSC or arranging a visit to your local council meeting, then please don’t hesitate to contact me by email: Philonline2@btinternet.com Phil Woods, Provincial Publicity Officer

New year, new goals

By Lauren Lynch, Animate Youth Ministries

I can imagine many blessings have been received over this Christmas season, whether it be reuniting with family members, receiving gifts from loved ones, watching Christmas specials on TV – or, for some, eating and drinking too much!

Amid all the blessings, the most significant one for us all is Christ. During Advent, one question was constantly at the back of my mind: ‘How can I be better?’ And from that: ‘How can we be better as a Youth Ministry team?’ When sitting down together as a team, we could see the great work done in 2024 in our Archdiocese: 2,000 young people completing the Faith in Action Award; 1,500 young people confirmed; 250 on the annual Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes. And we, as a youth ministry team, working with over 10,000 youngsters on retreats and other initiatives. Good work has happened and will continue to happen.

Yet we can always do better. Youth Sunday, the Synodal Council and other meetings allowed us to think about what more we can offer to the young people of the diocese. Here were some of the ideas discussed:

Where are our young people? What are they doing? How can we be more involved in their lives? And what does Animate do? These questions are a big part of the Synodal Council meetings. We had the answers but recognised that others didn’t, and so we have decided to do a termly newsletter giving an update on events in youth ministry and information on how to get involved. We have asked for emails to create a mailing list. To be included on it, contact admin@animateyouth.co.uk.

Website update

We are aware that our website can be difficult to navigate and hope in this new year to update our software so that all the team can easily update and edit information and make it user-friendly for anyone wishing to access it.

Faith in Action – Platinum Award

During our Youth Sunday event, one young person mentioned how great it would be to have an extension to the award, and he called it the Platinum Award. (We like to give credit where it is due– so thank you, Vin!) The award itself has been a huge success and we had already discussed what more we might be able to offer our young people to help them in roles as leaders in our communities, so this extension falls into line with that.

youth ministry

Faith in Action – Archdiocesan Youth Pilgrimage reward

Anyone participating as a Gold candidate this year will receive – on completion of the award – a £100 voucher for the 2026 Lourdes pilgrimage. We hope this will allow a progression for those candidates wishing to put their faith further into action.

Music ministry

As part of that award, but also standing alone, we plan to start a diocesan music ministry for young people. Supported by adults, this initiative would be an opportunity for youngsters to gather to learn new hymns and how to lead worship in our schools and parishes. We are still working out the practical details but hope to start something early in the new year. If you are interested, or know someone who may be, please contact us.

For more information or to be part of any of the activities mentioned above, email admin@ animateyouth.co.uk. We will add you to our mailing system and keep you updated on all events throughout 2025.

In the meantime…

We are still continuing our standard work, which includes the following:

Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage 2025

Application forms are now available and we have 200 young people already signed up! We have managed to keep the cost down to only £10 more than in 2024 and this includes travel, sevennight hotel stay with full board, insurance and pilgrimage t-shirts. Please encourage youngsters in Years 10 and 11 (and above) to consider applying via www.liverpoollourdesyouth.co.uk.

Faith in Action 2025

• Register by 6 January.

• Deadline for final pieces: 21 May

Last year we had 2,078 participants. We hope to have more schools involved this year and ask that any school yet to run the award join an online meeting to learn more. Contact me via l.lynch@ animateyouth.co.uk or 01744 740461 if you need more support.

Confirmation

Registration for those in Year 8 (or above) will open on 13 January and end on 17 March. If you would like us to visit your school to promote the sacrament, please get in touch.

Gap-year team members

Animate is seeking team members (aged 18-22) to assist with our work both this year and in the coming academic year. We are offering three options:

• A full gap year living in community (September 2025-July 2026)

• A half-year living in community (with a JanuaryJuly 2025 option available)

• Assisting at certain points in the year in your own time.

Dialogue and Unity Churches join UN campaign against domestic abuse

By Ultan Russell, Archdiocesan Ecumenical Officer

The UN’s ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women through raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human-rights issue.

The dates for this campaign are deliberately chosen to link violence against women with human rights and to emphasise that such violence is a violation of human rights. The campaign starts each year on 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and it ends on 10 December, which is International Human Rights Day. Our own National Board of Catholic Women urges its members to be active in this initiative as does CAFOD.

Globally, a third of women have been subjected to physical or sexual abuse. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable in times of war and conflict; sexual violence is used as a weapon of war. In Gaza, disproportionate numbers of women have been killed, while pregnant women face malnourishment and lack of access to essential healthcare. An estimated eight million women and girls in Ukraine need humanitarian aid. The ever-escalating restrictions on women living under the Taliban in Afghanistan include rules forbidding them from speaking in public to other women, singing, travel, study, or work.

We must challenge deeply rooted cultural attitudes. In the words of Gisele Pelicot, speaking recently in court in France about the horrific violations orchestrated by her husband, ‘shame must change sides’. This is a challenge which lies deeply at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching.

Pope Francis has spoken about violence against women and girls on many occasions, issuing a call to all Catholics to use our power to bring about this cultural change. ‘It is our duty, the responsibility of each person, to give a voice to our voiceless sisters … It is necessary to act immediately, at all levels with determination, urgency, and courage … As Catholics, we are preparing for the Jubilee year as Pilgrims of Hope. Let us enter these 16 days with that hope, so that we can indeed act with determination, urgency and create a world that is safe for all women and girls.’

For this year’s 16 Days campaign, Methodist Women in Britain suggested lighting a candle every day at 7pm to honour women who have been murdered and offered a series of actions to deepen our knowledge and advocate against gender-based violence.

Meanwhile, the Anglican Mothers’ Union in Liverpool – sponsored by the Josephine Butler Memorial Trust –arranged an annual Eucharist to mark the 16 Days and followed this with lunch and a talk. This year’s speaker was Neil Frackleton, the Chief Executive of SWACA (Sefton

Women and Children’s Aid.) The prayers and meditation at the Eucharist, attended by ecumenical guests, were led by members of the Wigan deanery.

As a suggestion for next year, perhaps your parish could have information on how to access local domestic abuse advice organisations. Why not in 2025 mark the campaign using material from CAFOD, the National Board of Catholic Women or our ecumenical partner, the Mothers’ Union? Perhaps you could use local resources from your local Women’s Aid charity or consider supporting them (the Metropolitan Cathedral collects gifts for Liverpool Women’s Aid every Christmas)?

A prayer from ‘Restore Church’

Merciful and loving God, We confess our wrongdoing, our wrong thinking and our hurtful words.

We recognise that abuse imprisons and oppresses people. We recognise that silence, in the face of abuse, is not an acceptable option.

Stir us with a resolve not to be silent.

To speak out against the abuse of power, especially in our homes.

To speak up

for those who have been pushed down in any way.

To speak to the needs of those who are suffering. at the hands of another.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who extended his forgiveness. Amen.