CATHOLIC PIC JANUARY 2026

Issue 257 January 2026

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The Jubilee Year concluded in the Archdiocese of Liverpool on 28 December after 12 months of hope

A look back at a Year of Hope

In this issue:

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP celebrates Silver Jubilee Also: Priestly Jubilarians Mark Their Anniversaries with Visit to Rome

contents

From the Archbishop’s Desk The New Year is often a time when we review the past one and look forward to the next, and the hope of brighter, warmer and longer days. On the Feast of the Epiphany, 6 January, I always feel that the days are lengthening minute by minute. This brings new hope into my heart. It is also the day when Christ is revealed as the Light of the Nations.

On New Year’s Day, the Pope writes to the Church and the world about building greater peace between peoples. Each day on television we see the suffering caused by war and conflict in the world: in Ukraine and the Holy Land, and nearer to home, the battles between neighbours or the rejection of the stranger in our midst because of racism or fear. We live in a violent world. This year, Pope Leo XVI develops the theme “Peace be with you all: towards an unarmed and disarming peace”. He continues the message he proclaimed on the first day of his pontificate, inviting us to reject the logic of violence and war and to embrace an authentic peace based on love and justice. He calls us to place at the centre of our lives the dignity of every woman and man who is a gift of God. He writes, “This peace must be unarmed; that is, not based on fear, threats or weapons, and it must be disarming; capable of resolving conflicts, opening hearts and generating mutual trust, empathy and hope.”

Living in this way is hard and calls for the changing of hearts and minds as well as inviting us to live simply and tread gently upon the earth. Everything and everybody are gifts from God. The blessings of the earth are for all people.

It is easy to write of peace. It is difficult to live it. Notice what happens when someone cuts across you, barges into a queue, or cuts you up driving. We react, sometimes quite angrily and violently in word or gesture. Then we need to ask for God’s grace, confess our sins and pray that we will bring the gift of peace to others in a way of life that rejects every form of violence. This is our focus for Peace Sunday on 18 January.

Peace begins at home in the relationships we build and the way we listen, love, and care for one another. Peace across our archdiocese depends upon recognising the good and dignity of every woman and man, each created in the image of God. Late last year, Churches Together in the Merseyside Region marked the 40th anniversary of the report ‘Faith in the City’. We issued a manifesto calling for dignity for all people and exploring the ways we can build a common home built on truth and justice. Forty years on, the need is still great and urgent. I urge you in parishes and deaneries to always ask the question “how do I become a peacebuilder? How do we serve the poorest and weakest in our midst?” These questions will keep us focused and grounded in the reality of life and close to Christ.

Peace be with you all in this New Year of 2026.

Archbishop John Sherrington Archbishop of Liverpool

Monthly prayer intentions

JANUARY

Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine, St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Liverpool Archdiocesan Office, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA Tel: 0151 522 1007 Email: CatholicPic@rcaol.org.uk Advertising Sales team 0151 709 7567 sales@cpmmmedia.com Contributor Katie Parry Pictures Nick Fairhurst (www.nickfairhurstphotographer.com) Martin Cahill (cahill-photography.com) Website: www.catholicpic.co.uk Twitter: @PicCatholic Youtube: CPMM Media

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Main Feature A look back to a year of hope

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Sunday Reflections

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From the Archives The Millennium Jubilee

9 News

News from around the archdiocese 14 Pastoral Ponderings 15 Profile Mike Sharkey 16 What’s On

What’s happening in the archdiocese 17 Cathedral Record 18 Catholic Life

For prayer with the Word of God.

Editor Harriet Anwyl

Contents:

28 Pic Extras Mum’s the word News from the KSC 29 Animate Youth Ministry 30 Dialogue and Unity

Copy deadline February 2026 - Friday 9 January 2026 Subscriptions To take out a subscription please email Kim O’Brien at kim.obrien@cpmmmedia.com or call 0151 709 7567 Distribution Contact Barbara on 07714 814 662 Publisher CPMM Ltd Suite 4 Pacific Chambers, 11-13 Victoria Street, Liverpool L2 5QQ CPMM Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Catholic Pictorial Ltd. can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.

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feature

A look back at a Year of Hope Impact of the 2025 Jubilee Year • Encouraged people to return to the Sacraments; • Created opportunities for learning, reflection and spiritual growth; • Drew communities together; • Inspired people to consider entering the Church.

The Jubilee Year concluded in the Archdiocese of Liverpool on 28 December after 12 months in which thousands engaged with its theme of “Pilgrims of Hope” through prayer, community and pilgrimage.

by Simon Hart With the end of 2025 came the closing of the Jubilee Year celebrations in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

On Sunday 28 December, the Feast of the Holy Family, the Metropolitan Cathedral hosted an 11am archdiocesan Mass to conclude the Jubilee Year, while parishes around the archdiocese said their own farewells. The official ending for the Church worldwide would follow in Rome on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany.

It had been on the same Feast of the Holy Family in 2024, at both the Metropolitan Cathedral and the CoCathedral of St Mary of the Isle, that our archdiocese embarked on this special year marked by the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. What came next were 12 months filled with prayer, pilgrimage, mission, and renewed community life.

With special liturgies and talks, school celebrations and pilgrim walks, the Jubilee’s impact has been felt far and wide. People across the archdiocese have remarked on that impact, experienced in a variety of ways – be it through strengthening prayer, deepening understanding of the faith, or sparking renewed interest in the Church’s life, to name a few things.

Reflecting on the year just gone, and what lies ahead, Bishop Tom Neylon said: “The Jubilee Year has been an opportunity for us to reflect on what it is to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, to walk with those Christian virtues of faith, hope and

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charity, with God’s love in our hearts and living our faith on the horizon in the hope that Christ brings.

“Over this last year, we’ve seen the death of a beloved Pope and the election of the first American Pope as his successor; we’ve had the experience of the Jack Traynor miracle; and we’ve seen the retirement of our previous Archbishop and the gift of our new Archbishop.

“The Church is on the move; the Church is ever moving forward with Jesus as the focus. As we now look ahead to 2033, and the Jubilee of the Resurrection, we are filled with hope and continue on our journey of hope.”

The Metropolitan Cathedral was at the heart of many of the major Jubilee celebrations, and through the year it welcomed pilgrims, families, and communities for significant liturgical and devotional events. These included: • The Annual Marriage Mass on 9 February, celebrating and blessing married couples and families from across the archdiocese; • The visit of the Fatima relics on 2 June, which brought many pilgrims to pray for peace and renewal; • The second annual Adoremus, a special gathering on 8 November for Eucharistic prayer and devotion with workshops and discussions, as well as the opportunity to venerate the relics of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

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The Cathedral, moreover, was one of seven designated “Jubilee Churches”. In a year where many Catholics undertook pilgrimages to Rome, including several groups from Liverpool, the purpose of this initiative was to enable people to make a pilgrimage locally – to one of these churches – and obtain a plenary indulgence. A “Pilgrim’s Passport” was produced to encourage visits to the churches, which were: • The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King • The Co-Cathedral of St Mary of the Isle, Isle of Man • St Anne and Blessed Dominic, St Helens • St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith, Ashton-in-Makerfield • St Mary’s, Chorley • St Mary’s Shrine, Warrington • St Mary’s Oratory, Aughton Prison chapels were also included as designated Jubilee places, ensuring that those in custody also had the opportunity to take part in this Year of Grace.

What the “Jubilee Churches” did

The “Jubilee Churches” illustrate the breadth of activity that took place across the archdiocese throughout the Jubilee Year.

St Mary’s in Chorley, for instance, embraced the year with a strong focus

on Reconciliation, the Eucharist and the Rosary. The parish organised a Pilgrim Mass involving hundreds of primary school children from across Chorley and surrounding villages, and held talks on Eucharistic Miracles and the Turin Shroud in April and May by speaker Mike Pietrzyk.

August brought a parish pilgrim day, while Rev Dr Mark Drew gave a talk in November on the Council of Nicaea, followed by Adoration, Confession and Mass.

Over at St Oswald & St Edmund Arrowsmith, Ashton-in-Makerfield, parishioners staged a pilgrim walk on 24 August which began and ended at the church — home to the relic of St Edmund Arrowsmith. At the same time, visitors could view the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who together with Pier Giorgio Frassati became two of the Church’s newest saints in September.

Archbishop John Sherrington said hopefully of that double canonisation: “These two new saints can inspire young people to be more active in the mission of the Church as well as develop a life of prayer and adoration.”

Meanwhile, at St Anne & Blessed Dominic, St Helens, parishioners formed the “Friends of the Shrine of Blessed Dominic”, a group dedicated to welcoming pilgrims through the year.

At St Mary’s Public Oratory, Aughton, they held a pilgrimage walk on 20 September and later welcomed the CAFOD Jubilee Icon for an evening of reflection and prayer on 3 November. The icon, painted

by Ethiopian artist Mulugeta Araya, was taken around the archdiocese between 27 October and 10 November. Its calling points included: • St Anne’s, Overbury Street (with Nugent, and later CAFOD); • University of Liverpool Chaplaincy at St Philip Neri; • The Archdiocesan Synodal Council at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre; • St Oswald’s, Warrington; St Mary’s, Woolton; St Agnes and St Aidan, Huyton; • Christ the King, Childwall; • The Irenaeus Project in Waterloo; • The Justice and Peace ‘Exploring Hope’ event at All Saints, Warrington; • The Metropolitan Cathedral for Adoremus; • The Justice and Peace Youth Group at Bishop Eton, with local artist John Elcock speaking about the meaning of icons; • St Mary of the Isle, Douglas, Isle of Man, for its final stop.

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For those who have played an active part in this memorable year, there is the wish that it will have inspired a renewed commitment in people to continue as “Pilgrims of Hope”. As Archbishop John Sherrington has said: “The Jubilee Year ends, but the mission of Christ continues.”

Parishes and individuals alike are encouraged, therefore, to continue living its values by deepening prayer, strengthening community life, and engaging actively with the mission of the Church.

This includes linking the fruits of the Jubilee with ongoing diocesan priorities such as vocations; evangelisation and catechesis; Care for Creation (C4C) and other pastoral initiatives; and outreach to the marginalised.

Two new Deacons, Deacons Andrew Dell and Dennis Jones, were ordained this year

Finally, the archdiocese is gathering items for a time capsule of the Jubilee, to be opened in the next Jubilee Year. Any Pic readers wishing to propose an item should email communications@rcaol.org.uk.

Ss Carlo Acutis & Pier Giorgio Frassati Relics

Marriage and Family Life Mass

Jack Traynor became the 71st miracle declared at Lourdes

Pentecost two Cathedrals Walk

Archbishop John Sherrington was installed at both the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King and the Co-Cathedral of St Mary of the Isle

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This year, over 140 catechumens and candidates journeyed to become Catholic

Sunday reflections

On a liturgical note The Feast of Christmas Day last year (2025!) ushered in a whole season of Christmas feasts, and on 1 January this year we kept the Feast of the Mother of God, a day of particular prayer for world peace.

In the Mass each day, we pray for peace in that lovely prayer before the receiving of the Lord in Holy Communion: “Deliver us Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

Peace is not merely the absence of conflict or violence, but is a state of living where we acknowledge the source and origin of all things and entrust ourselves to the providence and care of God the Father knowing, as Saint Paul says, “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is, therefore, well suited that the first day of the new calendar year should be dedicated to the Blessed Virgin – she was the one who, embracing the

Sunday thoughts This year I was not responsible for leading any Christmas celebrations. In retirement I’ve experienced Christmas just for me; no longer performing the role I’ve been playing as a priest for more than half a century.

Pope Francis said the most important day of his life was not the day he became Pope, nor when he was ordained a priest.

It was the day he was baptised. Francis railed against clericalism; the assumption that priests are answerable to nobody but have power over other people’s lives.

In the seminary we took for granted that, when Jesus called the disciples, He was calling them to be priests. They left their boats behind, for a higher calling. I recently spoke with a Catholic lady whose two brothers went to the seminary. When home on holiday they ate in the dining room while their sisters ate in the kitchen. As priests, we can be blind to our growing sense of entitlement and control. It manifests itself in many ways and isn’t helped by an obsession with distinctive forms of dress, both on and off the altar.

In my years in South America, the brutal realities of poverty and death were unavoidable. My helplessness in the face of that reality hit me day after day. It shattered any illusion that I was in charge,

Canon Philip Gillespie

message of the Angel Gabriel, declared herself to be “the Handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your Word” (Luke 1:38).

When Pope Leo was leaving Lebanon a few weeks ago at the end of his Apostolic visit, he said: “In embracing all of you, I express my aspiration for peace, along with a heartfelt appeal: may the attacks and hostilities cease.

We must recognise that armed struggle brings no benefit. While weapons are lethal, negotiation, mediation and dialogue are constructive. Let us all choose peace as a way, and not just as a goal!”

What might our resolution be for this year which opens out before us? Well, to be peacebuilders, peacemakers perhaps, not on the worldwide stage of international politics but on the smaller, more homely but no less fundamental stage of our daily living. Peace goes hand in hand with justice, and justice needs to go hand in hand with mercy and compassion - good resolutions which can be applied to us all.

Mgr John Devine OBE or that being a priest privileged me with the power to change things, to know better and to sort other people out. South America cut me down to size. Yet I marvelled every day at the resilience of people who had nothing except the clothes they stood up in yet had a faith and vitality that put me to shame.

On my return from South America, after a decade failing to save the collapsing seminary building at Upholland – itself a lesson in humility – I was employed by the Christian denominations in the northwest to work with civil authorities on the role of the Churches in wider society.

I had a line manager whom I met every week. I presented written reports to my management committee four times a year. When I returned to being a parish priest, I could once again do as I pleased, accountable to no-one.

Like most things in life, you’re only aware of what you have when you no longer have it. At Christmas, Jesus comes to us as a powerless child, born into poverty in a country under military occupation.

In retirement I’m learning the lesson of living without power. It’s refreshing to be rid of it.

Jesus Christ, our hope and lasting peace I went to Rome for a few days in October. It was a great time; the weather was fantastic, as was the food. We saw the new Pope, visited the last Pope’s tomb, and watched hundreds of people wandering through the Holy Doors that had been opened to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope. I was a little cynical watching people walk through the doors and touch them, wondering what that was all about.

When I was a child, I loved Disney films. One of my favourites was Pinocchio, the story of the wooden puppet who becomes a little boy. It’s a lovely story about hopes and dreams. As I was reflecting, I began to realise that without hopes and dreams we die within. Without hopes and dreams the future becomes boring and mundane. Without hopes and dreams there is no potential, no possibility.

As this came to mind during that glorious sunshine in Rome, I realised that what people were doing going through the doors and touching them with reverence and awe was committing themselves to a rekindling of hope in their lives and, of course, a rekindling of hope in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the hope of the world.

God has a hope for humanity: a hope that we will discover again how much we are loved, that we will know freedom and peace deep within. God chose to do something to make that dream a reality; God became one of us so that we might know how much we’re loved and how much freedom and peace is offered to us.

Our God came in Jesus to fulfil our deepest hope, but God won’t always come in the way we expect. Our hope for deep peace won’t always be fulfilled in the way we want it to be or think we want it to be. But will you live with the uncertainty of a God who comes to fulfil your deepest hope that you probably can’t even name yourself? Will you live with a God who breaks into your life in ways so amazing that often we can’t recognise them? Can you live with a God who writes straight with crooked lines? Will you live with a God who responds to your needs in messy, uncertain ways?

We have just celebrated the season of Advent and Christmas and now we begin a new year.

We’ll all be filled with hopes and dreams for 2026. My plea is that we learn to open our hearts to the hope of the world and let God be God in our lives.

Father Chris Thomas

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from the archives

The Millennium Jubilee

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist

Archbishop Kelly opening a new IT room at Our Lady’s School, Liverpool, 12 January 2000 [photo: Tom Murphy]

Pope John Paul II usually spent his Christmas holidays at Castel Gandolfo, his retreat outside Rome, but for the first time he addressed the crowd in St Peter’s Square on New Year’s Eve 1999.

He gave thanks for the spiritual, cultural and scientific advances made in the previous Millennium, and sought God’s blessing for “the promising beginning of a new millennium filled with joy and peace.”

The Jubilee Year of 2000 thus marked the end of the second Millennium and looked forward to the start of the third.

In the light of the recent canonisation of St Carlo Acutis, who harnessed modern technology to an evangelising message, it’s interesting to see how the Archdiocese of Liverpool celebrated the year with a mixture of the old and the new, tradition and tech. Despite fears of the Millennium Bug destroying civilisation, computers were taking over even at primary schools. Whatever the future would hold, young people obviously had to be at the heart of the religious celebrations.

The Jubilee Year officially began on Christmas Eve 1999. The Cathedral Administrator, Mgr Peter Cookson, noted that “The Jubilee brought crowds to the Midnight Mass such as we haven’t seen in many a year.” They sat in silent reverence as “the Deacon brought the Millennium Candle in solemn procession from the Lady Chapel to the sanctuary.” Archbishop Kelly was there, of course. “The Jubilee Proclamation was beautifully sung and when the archbishop intoned the Gloria, lights sprang up everywhere and the new Millennium vestments, frontals and banners, over which the Art Department have laboured so long, gleamed and glittered.”

There were new banners elsewhere too. At St Aelred’s High School in Newton-le-Willows, for instance, staff and sixth formers spent two months creating an eye-catching design to be hung in the school foyer. The reverse of it was signed by every member of the school community.

In a sign of the times for Catholic youth, a rapping priest took centre stage. Fr Stan Fortuna was a Franciscan friar from the Bronx in New York City, and he was delighted to lead a Youth 2000 vigil at the Cathedral on New Year’s Eve. “The fact that it was possible for young people to gather in the cathedral on the Millennium to do something important for the Jubilee Year was a great attraction to me,” he said. The Pic reported that “Music plays a large part in Fr Stan’s ministry” – music with Catholic themes such as sexual morality and the family. “For the past 12 years he has focused on rap.” It isn’t clear whether he rapped in the Crypt.

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Fr Stan Fortuna, New York’s rapping priest, in the Cathedral Crypt [photo: Tom Murphy]

Another musical evangelist brought some modern ideas to the archdiocese at the end of January. Sal Solo had been the singer with ‘80s pop outfit Classix Nouveaux. Having reconnected with the faith of his childhood, he became a Catholic Youth Evangelist. He composed a multimedia Mass drawing on various forms of music, including classical, pop and Gregorian chant.

“Anno Domini”, as it was titled, was billed as “a Mass for the 21st century”, using “all the resources of the present day: music, video, art and dance, giant video screens and state of the art computer technology to bring the Word of God to a modern congregation.”

St Mary’s, Lowe House, in St Helens, was privileged to take part in this celebration of the Eucharist, its only presentation in the northwest. “When the Gloria is sung,” said Sal, “I look around and see people smiling, singing, dancing and clapping. They have had their hearts softened by Jesus.”

World Youth Day in August 2000 offered the opportunity for a more traditional pilgrimage. Forty young people from the archdiocese travelled to Rome to join “a long procession stretching all the way of the Via della Conciliazione to enter the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica.” They then joined some 2 million pilgrims at Tor Vergata outside Rome, for a Mass presided over by the Pope. “Thanks be to God for all young people”, he said, “you will carry the proclamation of Christ into the new millennium.”

At least in statistical terms the Vatican was able to judge the Jubilee Year a success. The Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica was opened on Christmas Eve 1999, and in the week following a million people walked across this “threshold of hope”. During the course of the Jubilee Year, according to the Roman Jubilee Agency, some 25 million pilgrims visited the Holy City, “the greatest in the city’s entire history.”

Statistics aside, in our own archdiocese, technology was being co-opted into worship, as it was in everyday life, in a line that would lead inexorably to live-streaming and Tik Tok videos. t Carlo Acutis would surely approve.

Multimedia Mass for the Millennium at Lowe House, St Helens [photo: Brian McAuley]

News diary

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

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP celebrates Silver Jubilee Archbishop Malcolm OP, the Archbishop Emeritus of Liverpool, recently celebrated Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King to mark his silver jubilee of Episcopal Ordination.

Since that day 25 years ago, Archbishop Malcolm served as Bishop of Nottingham from 2000 until 2013, and then as Archbishop of Liverpool from 2014 until 2025.

Priests and clergy from across the archdiocese came together to give thanks for Archbishop Malcolm’s Episcopal Ministry.

Archbishop John Sherrington, Malcolm’s successor, was also concelebrating, along with Vicars General Bishop Tom Neylon and Canon Aidan Prescott, as well as Bishop Tom Williams.

“Thank you all, I didn’t expect anyone to come today. It’s lovely to see all the different people from the different slices of my life.

Above all, today, my heart is filled with love and joy for you all, and thanksgiving to you and to Almighty God for the blessings I have received.”

Archbishop Sherrington then presented Archbishop Malcolm with a gift – an icon of St Michael.

After Mass, there was then a celebration back at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre.

In his homily, Archbishop Malcolm reflected on the moment he became a Bishop.

“I remember I was unblocking a drain at Blackfriars, where I was Friar. I got told there was a foreign Monsignor on the phone, and he wanted to talk to the Friar - that was me. He wanted me to go to the Nunciate the next day. I assumed it had to do with a report.

“I was quite taken aback when I was told the Holy Father had appointed me as the Bishop of Nottingham.

“I went off to Nottingham, and after 13 and a half years there, I was asked by the Holy Father Pope Francis to be the Archbishop of Liverpool.

Archdiocese of Liverpool holds annual Celebrating Priesthood event On Thursday 2 October, on the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, Archbishop John Sherrington welcomed 84 priests from across the archdiocese to the St Margaret Clitherow Centre for the annual Celebrating Priesthood Mass. The Mass is organised each year by Monsignor Phil Gregory, the episcopal vicar for clergy.

This year marked Archbishop John’s first Celebrating Priesthood Mass as principal celebrant, with Vicars General Bishop Tom Neylon and Canon Aidan Prescott concelebrating.

Also, in attendance were Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, the Archbishop Emeritus of Liverpool, and Emeritus Bishops, Tom Williams and John Rawsthorne.

The Diocese of Nottingham was well represented as Archbishop Malcolm began his ministry there as a Bishop, Archbishop John was a priest of the diocese, and the guest homilist Canon Christopher Thomas also hails from the county. During his homily, Canon Christopher joked that it was the beginning of a Nottingham takeover.

He “asked us to pray for each other that we may thank God for the gifts received, and also for our guardian angels, because to be honest, in today’s world, the battle for truth is real and fierce.”

Following the Mass there was a lunch during which the priests enjoyed the opportunity to share this moment of fraternity and fellowship, and moreover, to celebrate with this year’s jubilarians, who each received a papal blessing. Incidentally, the jubilarians combined years of priesthood comes to 585.

Those celebrating a Jubilee this year are as follows: • Fr Michael de Felice, Fr Austin Griffin, Fr Sean O’Connor (Diamond– 60 years) • Fr William Murphy (Golden – 50 years) • Fr Joseph Bibby, Fr Graeme Dunne, Fr Peter Hannah, Fr Peter McGrail, Fr Ian O’Shea, Fr Tony Slingo, Fr Christopher Thomas (Ruby – 40 years) • Fr Ron Johnson, Fr Matthew Nunes, Fr Gerard Tuite (Silver– 25 years)

He frequently referred to the vocation of priesthood, and its link to the Guardian Angels. He said: “Angels do not abandon their posts.

Priests too must remain steadfast, even in times of trial, loneliness or misunderstanding.

“To all who have gathered here today, to celebrate this Mass and to pray in thanksgiving for priests, we are all invited to see our priests with new eyes. Just as God entrusted to you the invisible care of your guardian angel, he has also entrusted to you the visible ministry of the priesthood.

“Both are expressions of his loving providence. Both are companions on your journey towards the fullness of life in God’s presence and the fruits of salvation.”

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News diary

Priestly Jubilarians Mark Their Anniversaries with Visit to Rome A group of 33 priests celebrating significant ministry anniversaries gathered in Rome for a special programme of prayer, fraternity and thanksgiving — including four jubilarians from the archdiocese, who travelled with Archbishop John Sherrington.

On Monday 24 November, the group was welcomed to the Beda College for Evening Prayer, followed by a celebratory dinner. On the Wednesday, the jubilarians attended the Papal Audience, where they received a personal greeting from the Holy Father.

• Fr Graeme Dunne EV VF (Parish Priest of St Oswald, Coppull, and St Gregory, Chorley; Episcopal Vicar for Finance) – Ruby Jubilee • Fr Joseph Bibby (Parish Priest of St Mary, Leyland) – Ruby Jubilee

During the visit, the priests also spent time at the Venerable English College, where they met archdiocesan priest Fr James Finnegan.

Describing the moment, Fr Joe Bibby said: “It’s been a great trip. Pope Leo mentioned the Jubilarians and congratulated us all. Then he came and greeted us, spoke to each one, and shook our hands… It was a wonderful occasion to meet the Holy Father as we celebrate our special anniversaries.”

Seminarian Dominic Redcliffe, who is currently studying in Rome, said: “It was a joy to welcome the priests to the Beda.”

The archdiocesan jubilarians taking part were: • •

Fr Bill Murphy – Golden Jubilee Fr Tony Slingo (Parish Priest of St Teresa of the Child Jesus) – Ruby Jubilee

Retreat day for retired priests Retired priests from across the archdiocese came together early last month for a special day of reflection and fraternity, led by Archbishop John Sherrington.

The day began with a talk on Advent from the Archbishop, followed by a celebration of Mass, which was also attended by staff at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre (SMCC).

The retreat was a reminder of the archdiocese’s commitment to honouring, supporting and accompanying its retired clergy — priests who have given so much, and who continue to inspire through the witness of their lives.

Afterwards, the priests enjoyed a warm and relaxed lunch — a chance to reconnect, reminisce about seminary days, and simply spend time in one another’s company. The afternoon concluded with a period of prayer during which the Archbishop celebrated the Sacrament of the Sick.

Fr Stephen Maloney, Episcopal Vicar for Sick and Retired Clergy, expressed his gratitude to the team at SMCC, who prepared the spaces for the liturgy and served a fantastic lunch. “It really was a wonderful day, and I know from the messages received how much our retired priests enjoyed the whole experience,” he said.

Restoration of the West Window at Bishop Eton After months of meticulous craftsmanship and care, the magnificent West Window of Our Lady of the Annunciation (Bishop Eton) has been fully restored to its former glory.

This historic stained-glass masterpiece, originally created by C.E. Kempe & Co. circa 1920, depicts The Last Judgement and serves as a poignant First World War Memorial.

The restoration involved the complete removal of the window to allow essential stone repairs and the replacement of corroded external saddle bars with durable blackened manganese bronze. Each of the 10

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five main lights and twenty tracery panels, crafted from hand-made, mouth-blown glass and adorned with delicate painting and silver stain, was carefully assessed and preserved. This work ensures that the artistry and spiritual symbolism of the window will continue to inspire generations to come.

Now that the restoration is complete, the church is open daily for private prayer from 8.30am to 7.00pm. Bishop Eton Church warmly invites parishioners and visitors to come and experience the renewed beauty of the space, reflecting on its message of hope and eternal life.

News diary

St William’s Welcomes the Peace Light from Bethlehem On Tuesday 9 December, St William of York, Crosby, welcomed the Peace Light from Bethlehem, marking the beginning of its journey around the Sefton Coast South deanery. The light, originally taken from the Nativity grotto in Bethlehem, is shared internationally each year as a symbol of hope, unity, and a commitment to peace.

The Beavers and Squirrels groups led the singing at the service of reception at St William’s with a beautifully sung and signed rendition of “Light a Candle for Peace”, and the Cubs and Scouts gave the readings. Parishioners gathered with visitors from across the Family of Parishes and beyond to witness the arrival of the light and to pray for peace in our homes, communities, and world.

Catherine Ashcroft, Group Scout Leader of the 4th Crosby (St William of York) Scouts, commented: “We hope that the light from Bethlehem will spread the message of peace in our communities.

It would be wonderful to share it across the whole of Liverpool.”

As part of its wider journey, the Peace Light was passed on to Scouts and Guides from the Isle of Man at St Benet’s carol service, and then to groups in Manchester.

The Peace Light from Bethlehem Campaign began in 1986. Each year, a child from Upper Austria known as the Friedenslichtkind or “Peace Child” travels to Bethlehem to collect the flame from 01-17_covers 02/09/2022 15:32 Page 11 the Nativity grotto. The light is flown back to Vienna for a service of dedication attended by Scout and Guide delegations from

across Europe. From there, the light is distributed to more than 30 countries, passed from community to community by Scouts and Guides as a sign of hope and international friendship.

News diary

Celebrating a century of serving our community What a wonderful year 2025 was for the parishioners of Christ the King Parish, Wavertree, as they celebrated their centenary - and even more special by taking place during a holy year!

The parish was formed in 1925, and to date there have been nine parish priests. Whilst the first church was being built, parishioners went to Mass in a house on Queens Drive, where the Shell Garage now stands. The parish moved from the original church to the present building in 1967, and in 2011 the parish amalgamated with the former parishes of Our Lady of Good Help and St Paschal Baylon, becoming Christ the King and Our Lady. During the last 100 years, the parish has been blessed by generations of people who have chosen this community to help build a vibrant community of faith, serving those in need both locally and internationally.

Today the parish is thriving, with over 100 people involved in almost 20 ministries. Throughout the centenary year, parishioners renewed their faith through prayer, pilgrimage, and acts of mercy.

The centenary year was full of parish activities, including an afternoon tea, a children’s party, a centenary meal and dance evening, a musical event, and, in November, 52 parishioners took their call to be Pilgrims of Hope literally, travelling on pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, and San Giovanni. During the pilgrimage, all participants walked through several Holy Doors, including the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica.

November was a particularly busy month as they welcomed Archbishop John Sherrington to the parish, who celebrated Mass for the feast of Christ the King, joined by former priests associated with the parish.

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In the final month of the centenary year, the parish held a crib event, displaying approximately 50 cribs. These ranged from those created by the youngest parishioners to those belonging to the most senior members of the community. A heritage display was also organised, where information, photographs and personal stories from parishioners brought the last 100 years of parish life vividly to life.

Fr Colin Fealey, Parish Priest, commented: “Our centenary year has given us the opportunity to live out our faith with renewed joy as we offered thanks to God for blessings received. So many parishioners took an active part in our centenary celebrations in this Jubilee Year Of Hope. I’m truly blessed to be part of this vibrant community of faith.”

Widnes 18-35’s in Walsingham Members of the St Wilfrid’s 18–35 Group in Widnes took part in a three-day pilgrimage to Walsingham at the end of November, deepening their faith and building community together.

The group walked the Holy Mile, celebrated Mass at the Slipper Chapel Shrine, and enjoyed time together in fellowship - including an evening at the pub. On their journey home, they stopped at Southwell Minster, where the group photo was taken.

For more on the pilgrimage and updates on future activities, follow @young_catholics_in_widnes on Instagram.

NOVENA to ST JUDE Holy St Jude, Apostle and Martyr great in virtue and rich in miracles, near Kinsmen of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke you, special patron in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg to you whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance.

Help me now in my urgent and present need and grant my earnest petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. For nine consecutive days say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys and three Glorias.

Publication must be promised. St Jude pray for us and all that invoke your aid.

Amen This novena is offered in thanksgiving, as my prayer has been answered for Dee. CY

A pilgrimage of faith and devotion to Fátima 4 day pilgrimage | 22 May 2026 Walk in the footsteps of the shepherd children, celebrate Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions and spend time in prayer and reflection at this world-famous Marian shrine.

A journey of faith, devotion and renewal.

For more information please call 01252 226133 or visit www.mccabe-travel.co.uk Please quote ‘CATHPIC’ when calling.

NOVENA to ST. MARTHA O St. MARTHA, I resort to thee and to thy petition and faith, I offer up to thee this light which I shall burn every Tuesday for nine Tuesdays. Comfort me in all my difficulties thro’ the great favour thou didst enjoy when Our Saviour lodged in thy house. I beseech thee to have definite pity in regard to the favour I ask thee St. Martha to overcome the dragon which thou didst cast at thy feet.

One Our Father and the three Hail Marys, and a lighted candle every Tuesday and the above prayer made known with the intentions of spreading devotion to St. Martha. This miraculous Saints grant every thing before the Tuesdays are ended. No matter how difficult.

This novena is offered in thanksgiving, as my prayer has been answered.

ME

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pastoral

Pastoral ponderings

by Dominic Redcliffe

Hello from Rome to all of you at home.

An Invitation Worth Saying Yes To Sarah McGeehan, Youth Ministry Coordinator

During my Christmas break, a few people have asked me about what life is like here in the seminary – or, unofficially, “priest school”!

Being at the Beda College is definitely different than, say, being at university, although academics is a major part of life. At times, it feels like a combination of being at a Catholic boarding school and sixth form college.

Our day is centred upon daily Mass which is either in the morning or evening. Depending upon the day, there is either early Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:00am followed

by Morning Prayer, or Adoration followed by Evening Prayer at 6:30pm. In between these times of prayer, we have our lessons from Monday to Friday. These start at 9 o’clock ‘til lunchtime - sometimes there are lessons in the afternoon and Saturday mornings.

Afternoon lessons can be quite difficult because they follow our main meal of the day, lunch, which is definitely filling with plenty of pasta! Not always helpful to keep alert when having to study.

The college was founded by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1852 for English clergymen from other Christian denominations who wished to become Catholic Priests, and was in “downtown” Rome.

Today’s college is similar to a 60’s high school and was opened by St Pope John XXIII in 1960 on some ‘swampy’ land not far from the River Tiber. It’s no longer swampy, but watch out for the hungry ‘mozzies’ in summer!

In a way, the college is a bit like a mini, diverse parish. With 26 seminarians from the UK and Ireland, Europe, Central America, Africa, Asia and Australia, we all share English as a common language but our backgrounds are interesting and varied. Just like in a parish, we follow the liturgical year of the Church and people have different roles: priests and deacons who lead the liturgies; sacristans; readers; and those who organise social events to bring our ‘parish’ community together. You see many different personalities in our students; some quieter, others chatty and more outgoing.

Within this college parish, we are also focused upon our own discernment in faith and overall formation – which is in a sense part of any parish life, be it back in the archdiocese or here in Rome. Whatever parish we find ourselves in, we have that opportunity to develop in faith and hope in the Lord.

Until next time… Buon capo d’anno! (Happy New Year) Dominic

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A recurring question in our Church is “what is happening for the young people?”

Judging by the Synodal voice, it was - and still is - one of the greatest concerns that we have as a community.

This is understandable, as what happens with our youth will ultimately shape the future of our Church.

But maybe the question we should be asking is “What are we doing for the young people?” – a less passive question, one that encourages us to take responsibility and looks for us to take action.

Pope Francis said that we must believe “wholeheartedly in young people’s ability to participate in the life of the Church.” But how are we inviting teenagers in?

It’s a challenge for us as older people to say “you belong!” because this requires young people to feel at home in our places of worship, and many of them don’t, as they are unfamiliar with regular worship and may see some of us as strangers. It’s going to take work on both sides to bridge this gap.

A recent survey of youth suggested they don’t trust institutions, and what they are really looking for is safety. In order to provide this for them, we need to develop relationships and build trust. We need to invite them in and make them feel a valued part of the community. But how?

On Youth Sunday, I witnessed two Masses where young people were

welcomed, valued, and participated fully.

In the morning, I visited Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Swithin’s and St Teresa’s Family of Parishes youth Mass. Pupils from St John Bosco dramatised the Gospel of the thieves next to Jesus on the cross, and pupils from Archbishop Beck delivered the readings and the bidding prayers.

There were young people in the music group and a number of altar servers.

Young people are not all the same!

They have different personalities and abilities, and it was lovely to see these young people had found their comfortable places to express themselves and their gifts.

After Mass, there was a quiz and an amazing feast. Parishioners had brought plenty of food and the atmosphere was one of real celebration.

In the evening, I attended the Youth Alive Mass at St Mary’s Lowe House.

Again, there was fantastic music from them, and lots of young people in the congregation. Harriet (18 years old) and Conor (16 years old) spoke openly and with passion about what their faith meant to them. It was particularly moving.

Afterwards, there were refreshments and a Christmas quiz put on by the team which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Food, fun, faith, and fellowship.

Sounds like an excellent invitation to me!

profile

Mike Sharkey A driving force

By Simon Hart

the way. “We’ve done walks, we’ve done the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, we’ve done raffles. We’ve raised approximately £30-40,000 through our staff, but also the community of Wigan and Leigh has got behind this. The council, the college, and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust – our biggest providers – have really assisted and a lot of businesses as well.”

For Mike Sharkey, Sunday 25 November last year brought an occasion he looks back on with pride but also poignancy.

During choral evening prayer at the Metropolitan Cathedral, he received the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great. It was one of three papal knighthoods conferred – with Claire Reilly and Michael Byrne the other recipients – and in Mike’s case, the reason was his support for numerous parish and community projects across the Archdiocese of Liverpool, especially in Wigan, as well as the #Liverpool4Ukraine aid project.

“It was an absolute honour to be recognised by Malcolm, our former Archbishop, and then obviously awarded it by our current Archbishop, John,” he reflects, adding that the poignancy was down to the presence of his mother, Maureen. For decades Maureen and Derek Sharkey, Mike’s father, ran two charity shops in Wigan which raised over £1m to send pilgrims to Lourdes, notably on Jumbulance trips. Derek received his medal posthumously after he passed away last March; Maureen, who is living with dementia, was wearing hers at the cathedral on 25 November. “To actually have Mum with me and for to have her medal on and me mine, that was a special moment,” says Mike.

The 57-year-old has followed his parents’ example admirably.

As CEO of Greenmount Projects, a Wigan-based construction company that does a range of jobs for the archdiocese, he plays a leading role in the Liverpool4Ukraine campaign.

He remembers recounting to his mother a Ukraine discussion with a colleague from the archdiocese and her reply: “Well, let’s send some stuff then.” Hence, as he explains, “I spoke to the archdiocese, including Father Sean Riley and the surveyors that I work with, and said, ‘We need to do something’.”

It was in March 2022 that the first aid convoy left Liverpool for the five-and-a-half day round trip to the Polish-Ukrainian border.

He estimates that Greenmount Projects have ‘donated £100,000 throughout this campaign’ and cites the fundraising efforts along

Mike drove a truck in the first six convoys. For safety reasons, the last three aid deliveries (including one in December) were made by a Polish contractor, though he hopes to lead the next convoy in the springtime – and reconnect with Dr Andrew Quinlan and others from the Holy Spirit Seminary in the Ukrainian diocese of Sambir-Drohobych.

A force of nature is one way to describe this one-time semiprofessional rugby league player, who captained Lancashire and played for Wigan St Patrick’s. His 2026 plans with Team Wigan & Leigh – a fundraising group he set up in 2021 – include a Hadrian’s Wall trek and another Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

It is no surprise to hear he has received a Heart of the Community award from Wigan Council given his company’s deep commitment to the town, illustrated, for example, by their sponsorship – visible on the sleeves and back respectively – of both Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic. They also sponsor grassroots sports teams.

Moreover, they work closely with local charities including The Brick (for homeless people) and Daffodil Dreams (for disadvantaged families), as well as with Wigan & Leigh Hospice.

On the day we are speaking, through a collaboration with charity partners, Mike has over 300 Christmas hampers in the Greenmount Project offices, waiting to be delivered to the disadvantaged.

“I always tell my staff we’re the lucky ones so let’s get out there and do something for people that are less fortunate,’ says Mike.

‘What we’ve done throughout the year, excluding the Christmas appeal, has come to approximately £283,000, supporting local schools, football clubs, charity events.”

One recent beneficiary was St John Fisher High School, his alma mater, which received £5,000 to send pupils to Lourdes.

He adds: “We’ve got probably 35 staff in the office, probably 20-30 out on site, and all these people are doing walks and putting their hands in their pockets for raffle tickets and events.

What I’d add about the papal medal, therefore, is that it was Mike Sharkey and also Greenmount Projects that received the award.”

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what’s on Tuesday 6 January

Close of the Jubilee Year in Rome The 2025 Jubilee Year, which concluded for our parishes on 28 December 2025, concludes globally on the Feast of the Epiphany with the solemn closing of the Holy Doors of the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, especially St Peter’s Basilica.

Tuesday 6 January

Archdiocesan Young Adult Group: Young Adult Mass 6:30pm – 8:00pm at Pauline Book Centre, Liverpool A Mass for young adults organised by the Archdiocesan Young Adult Group. All aged 18–35 are very welcome to attend.

Wednesday 28 January

Meet your Archbishop Metropolitan Cathedral, Blessed Sacrament Chapel 5.00pm The Friends of the Metropolitan Cathedral are delighted to start the New Year with an evening with Archbishop John Sherrington.

It will commence with Mass at 5.00pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Then we will adjourn to the Gibberd Room where we will enjoy a hot pot supper and a glass of wine. There will be an opportunity to meet Archbishop John and share with him his ambitions and plans for our archdiocese.

The cost is £30.00 per person which will include a hot pot supper, wine and a donation to the Friends. Anyone wishing to sign up should email Claire at c.hanlon@ metcathedral.org.uk in the first instance and details of how to pay will be shared.

Numbers are limited so sign up fast!

Looking Ahead to February…

Tuesday 3 February

Archdiocesan Young Adult Group: Faith-Based Talk with Fr Peter McGrail 6:30pm – 8:00pm at Pauline Book Centre, Liverpool A faith-based talk organised by the Archdiocesan Young Adult Group. All aged 18–35 are welcome to attend.

Saturday 7 February

Thursday 15 January

Online Alpha Course: Explore Life, Faith and Meaning 6:45pm – 8:00pm (online) The Archdiocese of Liverpool begins a new 11-week online Alpha Course, running weekly until 26 March. Alpha is an opportunity to explore life, faith and meaning in a friendly and open environment. All are welcome.

For more information, email pd@rcaol.org.uk.

To register, visit: archdioceseofliverpool.org/ Alpha26

Sunday 18 January

Epiphany Carol Service 3:00pm – 4:00pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, L3 5TQ A journey following the star in words and music, featuring works by Stopford, Whitacre and Britten.

January

Adventurous Accompaniment: First Workshop (Option One) 10:00am – 2:00pm at St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Liverpool, Croxteth Drive, L17 1AA Are you a DSC member, chaplain or catechist? Have you ever thought about how can you increase the awareness and confidence towards becoming an Adventurous Accompanier? This workshop forms part of a six-week programme exploring the principles and practice of accompaniment. All programme costs are covered by the archdiocese. Please register online if you are interested: archdioceseofliverpool.org/DSCAdventurous

Sunday 8 February

Marriage and Family Life Mass 11:00am at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, L3 5TQ Archbishop John Sherrington will celebrate the Marriage and Family Life Mass, including the renewal of marriage vows and a special blessing for couples celebrating significant anniversaries. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Gibberd Room.

For those couples who are celebrating a significant wedding anniversary, please register online here for a certificate which can be collected on the day: archdioceseofliverpool.org/MarriageMass

Sunday 8 February

Adventurous Accompaniment: First Workshop (Option Two) 12:00pm – 4:00pm at St Joseph’s Church, Penketh, Meeting Lane, WA5 2BB An alternative opportunity to attend the first workshop in the Adventurous Accompaniment programme, exploring accompaniment in theory and practice.

All programme costs are covered by the archdiocese. Please register online if you are interested: archdioceseofliverpool.org/ DSCAdventurous

Tuesday 17 February

Archdiocesan Young Adult Group: Faith-Based Talk with Fr Ron Johnson 6:30pm – 8:00pm at Pauline Book Centre, Liverpool A further faith-based talk hosted by the Archdiocesan Young Adult Group. All aged 18–35 are welcome.

Monday 23 February

Marriage Preparation Catechist Training 6:30pm – 8:00pm at St Monica’s Church, Bootle, Fernhill Road, L20 9GA The archdiocese is recruiting new marriage preparation catechists. Training consists of five sessions, after which catechists will be invited to help deliver marriage preparation courses for engaged couples twice a year.

Saturday 28 February

Adventurous Accompaniment: Second Workshop (Option One) 10:00am – 2:00pm at St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Liverpool, Croxteth Drive, L17 1AA The second workshop in the Adventurous Accompaniment programme, continuing the exploration of accompaniment and its practical application in parish and chaplaincy settings. Please register online if you are interested: archdioceseofliverpool.org/ DSCAdventurous

See more event details on our website: www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk 16

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Cathedral

Jottings of a Roman Pilgrimage

By Pat Murphy

A New Year dawns – 2026. How can it be over a quarter of a century since we were worried about Millennium bugs finding their way into our computers?

New Year is a time of making plans, new resolutions, and looking forward. I think it’s also a time to look back and reflect not just over the last year, but years gone by. Happy memories, memories of family and friends no longer with us, but also plans of going forward.

2025 was a pilgrimage year, a holy year, a Jubilee Year. I was privileged to make a couple of special pilgrimages. One in the summer to Lourdes with the Liverpool pilgrimage; to meet up with friends old and new, not just from our own archdiocese but around UK. It’s always a lovely week, travelling to the little town in France that our Blessed Lady chose to appear to the young Bernadette 18 times. Another busy week, mixing with pilgrims who visit Lourdes with their own private intentions, and come away fulfilled in their own spiritual way. We were once again blessed with lovely weather, and a good number of our clergy from Liverpool joined us, including two Archbishops. I think we impressed Archbishop John on his first pilgrimage with us, with a good Liverpool pilgrimage: prayerful, spiritual and enjoyable.

Once we returned from Lourdes, it was full steam ahead arranging our pilgrimage to Rome. 45 intrepid travellers left Crosby in the early hours of a November morning to travel to the airport. Timings all fell perfectly into place, and by 4pm the same day we were starting our pilgrimage celebrating Mass in the church of St Joachim, only 15 minutes from walk from St Peter’s.

Our group worked, prayed and socialised together for six days. It certainly was a pilgrimage - early mornings, lots of walking, visits to many churches - but we enjoyed many meals together, as well as late-night drinks and discussions. The highlights of our pilgrimage? Well too many to mention. Of course, we entered the four Basilicas through the Holy doors. As a group, we also made the special Jubilee walk, up the Via della Conciliazione carrying a Jubilee Cross. I felt privileged to carry the cross for part of our procession, although I was relieved to pass it on the next pilgrim as it was heavy! Once arriving in St Peter’s Square, we were fast tracked into the Basilica, and then to pray at the tomb of St Peter. We had about 45 minutes to visit and tour the Basilica. Again, I was delighted to take “first timers” to Rome on a quick walk around St Peter’s. Michelangelo’s Pieta, the Blessed Sacrament Altar, and the bronze St Peter. So little time and so much to see!

One reflection - a visit on our first day to the church of the 12 Apostles. A number of pilgrims had asked about visiting the Catacombs in Rome. We had a full itinerary, and making time would have been difficult. This church has a mini catacomb, and contain the relics of St Philip and St James. Some of our pilgrims suddenly realised that they were standing at the tomb of men who knew and walked with Jesus – food for reflection. Often, it takes others to remind you of our great wealth of Christianity.

I have vivid memories as a young student helping organise my parish pilgrimage to Rome for the 1970 Holy Year. 50 years on, it was an honour to do the same and visit and pray in a city I love.

Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean

Many of our Cathedral parishioners like to attend Mass on New Year’s Day to ask the Lord’s blessing on the year ahead and honour Mary, the Mother of God. We have one Mass at 10am on this day, and this year Archbishop John Sherrington will preside. You are welcome to join us to welcome the New Year with the celebration of the first Mass of 2026 at the Cathedral.

The Feast of the Epiphany on 6 January falls on a Tuesday this year, followed by the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday 11 January. Following these celebrations, we conclude the Christmas season with the taking down of our crib after a final late Epiphany Carol service on Sunday afternoon at 3pm on 18 January.

For most of the month of January, the Crypt Halls are booked out for John Moores University exams, and later in the month on Thursday 22, Liverpool Hope University hold their Winter Graduations within the Cathedral. This first month of the year, we get to see the highs and lows of university education from the stress of exams to the joy of graduation.

On the weekend of 24-25 January we welcome Bishop Tom Neylon, who will be making a formal episcopal visitation of the Cathedral parish as part of our Liverpool Central Deanery Visitations. We have many visits from Archbishop Sherrington and Bishop Neylon throughout the year, however formal parish visitations only take place every few years and are an opportunity for the Bishop to have a longer time in the parish and have more of an opportunity to chat about the life of the parish, particularly regarding the challenges and opportunities we face.

Bishop Tom will have a busy weekend; the Cathedral is busy enough in its own right, but there is also the hospital chaplaincy ministry to be included as well. We keep Bishop Tom, and all those he will meet during his visit, in our prayers as we begin the year together as a parish community.

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Catholic life

Walking Pilgrimage of the Month Sefton Coast South Central Family

JANUARY

Our next pilgrimage walk will see you take in some refreshing sea air, so wrap up warm as we take you to the Sefton Coast South Central Family.

Taking you towards the picturesque Crosby Beach, this walk is only a short one, so if you want an excuse to walk off your Christmas lunch and the festivities, then this is a good one for you.

Total Distance: 1.8 miles Time: 40 minutes

Deanery Diary Archdiocesan Synodal Council 2025 Summary report On 1 November 2025, Archbishop John Sherrington, at the opening of the Archdiocesan Synodal Council (ASC), expressed gratitude for the synodal process initiated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon and emphasised its alignment with the global Church’s mission of synodality.

Archbishop John’s address Archbishop John affirmed that synodality is integral to the Church’s mission, reminding us that we are called to bear witness to Christ and proclaim the Gospel. This mission requires a continual process of conversion and formation within the life of the Church. He strongly affirmed the practice of “Conversations in the Spirit” as a vital means of fostering deeper spiritual renewal, encouraging openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and enabling authentic discernment of God’s will. In his address, Archbishop John echoed a comment made earlier in the day that we must not forget the poor, and he also highlighted encouraging signs of hope and emerging seeds of renewal, pointing to the Spirit’s active presence in the Church today.

Feedback about the day The day was marked by strong participation and a positive reception of the Archbishop’s presentation. Mixed-group discussions proved valuable in fostering a broader understanding of the archdiocese and promoting crossdeanery awareness. Participants affirmed that “Conversations in the Spirit” provided a fruitful framework for sharing, listening, and learning together. The overall ethos reflected unity, shared purpose, hope, and mutual commitment to listening and learning. These conversations enabled the identification of areas of progress already achieved, as well as priorities that remain to be addressed.

Start at: St Edmund of Canterbury, Waterloo The closest church to Crosby Beach, St Edmund of Canterbury is in the parish of St Oscar Romero, a fairly new parish formed in 2020. Next year, the mission celebrates 120 years, with the current church built in 1933. If you want to do this on a Sunday, Mass is at 9:45am, or 5:30pm on a Saturday if you’d prefer your walking pilgrimage later in the day.

Stop 1: The Irenaeus Project Formerly St Thomas of Canterbury Church, the church building now houses the Irenaeus Project. The centre runs all kinds of activities and retreats from there, so stop in and have a look at their itinerary, see if any of their activities take your fancy or would be interesting to somebody you know. You can pray

Saint of the Month

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Blessed James Bell

for the people who make this possible, including Fr Chris Thomas, Sr Moira Meeghan and Jenny.

Distance: 0.7 miles Time: 15 minutes

Stop 2: Our Lady, Star of the Sea The second church in St Oscar Romero parish and the final stop of this Families of Parishes pilgrimage walk by the water is the aptly-named Our Lady, Star of the Sea. You could even start here, as it’s fairly close to Seaforth and Litherland train station. Last year, the church celebrated 140 years of its mission, with the building as it stands being built in 1901. Here, you can stop and pray for the people and reflect on your walk, and indeed your year, as you continue to walk on as Pilgrims of Hope.

Distance: 1.1 miles Time: 25 minutes

Born in Warrington, Blessed James Bell was educated at Oxford University.

He was then ordained a priest under Queen Mary I’s reign. After the Reformation, he continued as an Anglican Minister for 20 years, after which he sought reconciliation with the Catholic Church and continued priestly duties. He promoted the Sacrament of Penance, calling the faithful to receive the Lord’s forgiveness. His life is commemorated on 20 April.

Conversations in the Spirit Participants acknowledged both the opportunities and challenges inherent in fostering synodality across the archdiocese.

A recurring concern was the need to engage a wider range of voices, ensuring inclusivity and representation, particularly among young people both within and beyond school communities. There was a strong call to maintain focus on the Church’s vision and mission, prioritising relationships over structural or property-related issues. The discussions affirmed that the Holy Spirit is actively at work within diverse groups and highlighted the importance of promoting a deeper understanding of our baptismal calling and shared responsibility for the Church’s mission. Improved communication at every level—diocesan, parish, and local—was identified as essential. Participants stressed the need for the Church to adopt a more outward-facing posture, reaching out to those in need, listening to voices at the margins, and collaborating with other Christians and people of goodwill. Suggestions included enlisting young people to help develop a confident online presence and ensuring that the Church’s language remains relevant to everyday experience. Finally, prayer was recognised as a foundational source of guidance for discernment and a driving force for action, alongside a renewed commitment to serving the poor.

The Archdiocesan Synodal Council this year will take place on Saturday 7 November 2026.

education news

Hundreds of students shine at Christmas carol service More than 300 young people from across Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust (HFCMAT) came together in December for an evening of festive celebration.

The ‘Joy to the World’ Christmas carol service, held at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, brought together all nine HFCMAT schools for an evening of joyful song and prayer, and showcased the talents of both primary pupils and secondary students.

Throughout the service, the 1,000 attendees, comprising families, staff and parish communities, were treated to renditions of traditional Christmas carols including ‘We Three Kings’ and ‘Gaudete’, as well as modern Christmas songs such as Lauren Dingle’s ‘Noel’.

The congregation also came together to sing ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, ‘While Shepherds Watched’, and the uplifting ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’. The service finished with all 300 HFCMAT pupils involved taking to the stage to perform a rousing rendition of ‘Joy To The World’.

HFCMAT’s director of music, Laurie Smith, said: “Our carol service is always a highlight of the year. To see our children, staff and families come together in one sacred space to celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ birth is truly moving. It reminds us of what Christmas is really about; love, light, and the importance of community.”

CEO of HFCMAT, Andy Moor, added: “Tuesday night’s ‘Joy to the World’ carol service perfectly reflected the strength and unity of our Trust family. I would like to thank all our pupils and staff for putting on a fantastic evening that celebrated the spirit of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust. Their hard work, creativity and talent shone through, making it a memorable and uplifting service for everyone who attended.”

Year 13 student at St John Plessington Catholic College, Harriet Wootten, said: “The carol service was such a wonderful opportunity to perform in the Metropolitan Cathedral. As one of the oldest students, it was especially lovely to perform alongside some of the younger children in the Trust.”

The service also included scripture readings by headteachers of all HFCMAT schools, providing the congregation with moments of reflection to honour the birth of Jesus Christ.

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education news

A year of growth, gratitude and great hope As I conclude my first year as headteacher of Broughton Hall Catholic High School, I am filled with gratitude for the warmth, resilience, and faith-filled spirit that defines our school community.

Over the past twelve months, we have introduced new systems that provide greater clarity and structure for students, staff, and families. A significant development has been the introduction of our new behaviour policy, designed to support students with consistency and compassion. Introducing phone pouches has further contributed to a calmer, more focused learning environment. The impact has been evident, with whole-school behaviour and attendance showing sustained improvement.

Alongside establishing high standards, we have placed equal importance on celebrating the achievements of our students.

This year saw the introduction of a reward trip to the cinema for those who demonstrated strong improvements in behaviour and attendance. It was a joyful reminder of the power of positive reinforcement and community celebration.

showcased our ever-improving post-16 provision, and the dedication of our sixth formers was especially evident during the successful Year 11 and Year 13 mock examinations.

Beyond academic life, our Enrichment provision continues to grow, with staff demonstrating their dedication to providing opportunities beyond the curriculum. Our charitable events, including our Christmas foodbank initiative, embody our Catholic mission to serve those in need within our community.

Reflecting on this first year, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. With our students at the centre of our vision, we look forward in faith and hope and love.

Mrs O'Rourke, headteacher, Broughton Hall Catholic High School

Welcoming our fantastic new Year 7 cohort began with a transition evening and full induction day in July. This was followed by a Year 7 form tutor evening in September to support families further. A standout moment was the Year 7 Mass, led entirely by the students themselves. It was a moving testament to their enthusiasm, faith, and sense of belonging.

At the other end of the school, we were delighted to welcome our new Year 12 cohort. Our recent sixth form open evening

A united celebration St Mary of the Apostles Church in Skelmersdale opened its doors to families, parishioners, and pupils early in December for a truly joyful service of carols and lessons.

The event brought together its Catholic community to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a spirit of faith, music, and togetherness.

This special occasion was a collaborative effort between Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School and its partner primary schools – St John’s, St James’, and St Edmund’s Catholic Primary Schools.

Pupils from each school played an important role in the service, reading lessons, singing carols, and joining their voices in worship.

Their enthusiasm and reverence created a warm and festive atmosphere that reflected the true meaning of Christmas.

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The service was thoughtfully organised by a dedicated team from Our Lady Queen of Peace, including chaplain Mr Baron, head of music Mr Peckham, and head of primary transition Miss Fox.

Staff from all schools worked together to ensure everyone had the opportunity to contribute, making this a celebration of unity and shared faith.

Representatives from the parish and Fr Kenny Hyde also attended, reminding everyone of the strong links between the schools and the wider Catholic community. The combination of scripture, music, and prayer provided a moment of reflection.

The faith-filled gathering was more than a service – it was a powerful expression of community spirit, hope, and the message of Christ’s birth. The Church gives thanks for the gift of its schools, its parish, and the shared mission that brings them together.

education news

Inspiring retreat at Castlerigg Manor Last month, nearly 40 Year 8 pupils and four staff from All Hallows Catholic High School set off for their first weekend retreat to Castlerigg Manor in the beautiful Lake District.

The group arrived at the impressive manor house on a Friday afternoon and were warmly welcomed by the Castlerigg retreat team.

The theme for the weekend was “The Wild Goose”, an ancient title for the Holy Spirit. Throughout the retreat, pupils were invited to reflect on who the Holy Spirit is and how His presence can transform our lives. They explored the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit and considered how these can guide us to make positive choices. Every activity across the weekend linked back to this central theme.

can’t believe how beautiful God’s creation is!” A visit to Keswick and a lively party night with musical chairs and karaoke brought the day to a joyful close.

On their final day, pupils took part in creative workshops, making prayer candles, prayer beads and reflective banners. They ended the retreat by sharing affirmations and looking ahead to their faith journey, including Confirmation preparation and opportunities such as Faith in Action and SVP.

The pupils returned to school full of enthusiasm and eager to sign up for their next retreat at Savio House in Year 9.

Each evening, the pupils took part in team-building challenges, social time and night prayer. A particular highlight was an energetic duck hunt, which had pupils searching the manor for hidden plastic ducks using teamwork and determination.

The Saturday was filled with prayer, learning and adventure. The day began with Lectio Divina and small-group discussions on the question, “Who is the Holy Spirit?” Fr Ian from St Teresa’s Parish joined the retreat to celebrate Mass in the Castlerigg Chapel, where pupils read and sang beautifully, including uplifting renditions of My Lighthouse and Build Your Kingdom Here.

In the afternoon, the group braved rain, wind and freezing temperatures to climb Castlehead, taking in stunning views over Derwent Water. One pupil, struck by the scenery, exclaimed, “I

Living the Mercy values The Gospel gives us a clear imperative to “Prepare the Way!” At Maricourt, students and staff embraced this call throughout Advent, finding meaningful ways to welcome Jesus into their hearts.

Head boy Daniel and head girl Lois led staff prayer every Tuesday morning in the Convent chapel. These moments of reflection on Scripture, both personal and communal, were warmly received and well attended.

Throughout Advent, prayer and liturgies focused on the joy of Christ’s birth. Students and staff reflected on how living the Mercy values year-round keeps Christ at the centre of all they do, proclaiming His Gospel through action and example.

The Faith in Action group worked tirelessly during Advent.

They organised a cake sale in aid of CAFOD World Gifts and visited form groups to encourage donations for family hampers. They also prepared the school crib, sharing how this tradition continues in their homes. A Christmas tree, donated by a member of staff, was beautifully decorated with baubles gifted by another staff member - an inspiring example of the Maricourt family coming together.

Students represented the school at the Archdiocesan Schools Advent Service, joining nearly 2,000 pupils from across the archdiocese. Those chosen reflected Maricourt’s commitment to living out the Mercy values through service and faith.

Beyond the school gates, Maricourt supported Sefton Food Bank, Maghull Food Bank, and the Kindness Coffee Project with donations of food, clothes, and toys. These acts of generosity reflect Catholic social teaching and St Paul’s reminder that we are all members of one body in Christ.

Daniel also organised a Santa Dash for Cash for Kids charity, helping ensure that children in the local area received a gift on Christmas Day.

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An interview with...

Leane Kinsella, school library manager at St John Bosco Arts College As library manager, Leane Kinsella’s role is all about creating a warm and welcoming space for students.

Each day, Leane supports students to choose books, complete research, or simply enjoy a quiet moment.

She also manages the library collection, organises displays, hosts a myriad of extra-curricular activities, celebrates literary events, and is always looking at ways to make the library vibrant and accessible for all.

“No day is ever the same,” Leane says. “The daily interactions with students are what I enjoy most - there’s always something to make you laugh. But the best part is seeing students fall in love with reading, especially those who never saw themselves as ‘readers’ before.”

Leane’s journey to becoming a library manager began with a lifelong love of books and a passion for helping young people connect with stories.

After studying education studies, and drama and theatre at Liverpool Hope University, she felt called to work in education while nurturing her love of literature. Over time, she developed a talent for curating collections, supporting learning, and building a space where every student feels welcome.

Leane hopes every student feels calm and valued in the library, noting: “I want it to be a place where they can be themselves - to read, study, imagine, and grow.”

When it comes to recommendations, Leane loves suggesting books that get students thinking and talking with new perspectives. She particularly enjoys sharing her love for fantasy novels that take you to other worlds, times, and places.

Leane lives out the school’s mission statement through her work in the library. She aims to “support students with kindness, encourage curiosity, and help them believe in their potential.”

She notices love in her work in small ways, whether that’s students helping one another with homework, sharing a book recommendation, or staff offering support when someone needs it. Leane acknowledges that “those everyday moments create a genuine sense of community.”

With 2026 marking the National Year of Reading, Leane has big plans: library lessons, reading challenges, competitions and expanded recommendation lists.

Her passion for literacy and learning now extends beyond the library as she takes on a new role as staff governor. Leane’s term begins in January 2026, and she looks forward to supporting the strategic leadership and governance of the school.

Pensioners’ party Students at St John Bosco Arts College Sixth Form hosted a pensioners’ party to spread Christmas cheer to local residents.

The party was attended by over 100 members of the community who were served a traditional three-course Christmas dinner by St John Bosco’s sixth formers, before enjoying an afternoon of entertainment arranged by students that included bingo and a raffle.

More than 18 prizes were handed out to the lucky winners which had kindly been donated by staff at St John Bosco and included hampers, candles, chocolates and biscuits.

Tesco in Old Swan also donated soft drinks which were gratefully received by guests.

During the afternoon, Merseybeat tribute band, Searchin’, also performed, recreating the iconic sounds of the swinging sixties that encouraged everyone to get up on their feet and dance.

The pensioners’ party would not have been made possible without the support from St John Bosco’s kitchen, IT and caretaker teams, as well as its performing arts department who orchestrated the choir to sing carols for the guests on their arrival.

Mrs Lesley Hughes, food technology technician at St John Bosco Arts College who supported sixth formers to host the party, said: “We were thrilled to welcome so many new and returning faces from local churches, community groups and friendship circles to our annual pensioners’ party.

“It proved, as always, to be a lot of fun for both our attendees and sixth formers. Thank you to all the local businesses who supported this special event.”

Headteacher, Mr Darren Gidman, added: “It’s moments like these that truly capture the spirit of Christmas. It was wonderful to see our sixth form students volunteering their time to create special memories for those within our community and living out our Salesian values of support, care, and warmth.”

education news

School leader’s dedication recognised in King’s Honours Mr Jack Caine, a senior assistant principal at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School, has been awarded an MBE for services to children in the King’s Birthday Honours List. He accepted his MBE from Princess Anne at Saint James’ Palace on 4 December 2025.

Jack has worked at Saints Peter and Paul for over three years and provides essential support to Year 7 staff and students.

He oversees the work of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion teams.

The school’s principal, Mrs Scott, added: “I am absolutely delighted that Mr Caine has been awarded an MBE in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List. We are extremely proud of him and this achievement is deserved recognition of his dedication and commitment to his profession and to the learning and wellbeing of our students.”

He is also Scouts Section Team Member for 1st Tarporley as well as UK Lead Volunteer for People for the Scouts.

The school applauds Jack for the crucial role he has played in a range of initiatives to support the teaching and learning of students with SEND.

These include the co-ordination of the curriculum for The Oratory, a one-of-a-kind specialist secondary-age ASD resource unit in Halton and the reintroduction of the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme accessible to children of all backgrounds.

Reflecting on his achievement, Jack said: “The challenges for students, particularly those from the most vulnerable backgrounds, have been on the increase since we emerged from the pandemic, so it feels especially meaningful for the important work of teaching and support staff to be recognised with an award held in such high regard.

“I really enjoy my work and volunteering, but I genuinely couldn’t do it without such wonderful and caring colleagues who work so hard to provide outstanding teaching and pastoral care to the children we serve and I accept this award with full appreciation and gratitude for their support.

“I get great satisfaction out of teaching, but also being able to give back to the community through my voluntary work is just as rewarding. I feel incredibly proud, yet humbled, to receive this honour.”

Training the next generation Across St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, one thing is clear: great teaching transforms lives.

That belief is at the heart of its highly successful School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme – a hands-on, research-led route designed for people ready to make a difference from day one.

This one-year course offers an immersive teacher-training experience built around real classrooms, real pupils, and real professional growth. Trainees spend most of each week working as part of a school team in Liverpool, St Helens, Runcorn, or Wigan, gaining the confidence that only genuine classroom experience can provide.

From early September, trainees begin their journey supported by expert mentors who guide, challenge, and champion them throughout the year.

What sets the programme apart is its blend of practical experience and high-quality academic training. Before stepping into the classroom, trainees complete two weeks of intensive preparation focused on essentials such as behaviour management, lesson planning, and effective teaching strategies.

Once placements begin, weekly training sessions, designed by Teach First curriculum specialists, build knowledge in a carefully sequenced way. Six half-termly modules deepen understanding of assessment, subject pedagogy, inclusivity, and curriculum design.

Collaboration is key, with live seminars, full-day conferences, and the Brightspace digital platform creating a vibrant learning community across the Trust.

SCITT trainees also benefit from placements in at least two contrasting schools, including a six-week alternative setting, ensuring they qualify with broad, adaptable experience.

By the end of the programme, trainees graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a PGCE, equipped with classroom fluency and Master’s-level academic insight.

If you’re ready to inspire, ready to grow, and ready to shape the lives of young people in our region, the Trust would love to hear from you.

Apply now at gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training and select St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust as the provider.

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education news

A New Year: Resolutions of Hope in the Archdiocese of Liverpool

Students bring joy to local seniors with community celebration

The start of a New Year often invites us to think about resolutions small but meaningful commitments that help us grow. As Catholic schools and colleges across the Archdiocese of Liverpool begin this New Year, we are invited to reflect on our shared resolution: to continue offering an education rooted in faith, hope, and love. As Drawing New Maps of Hope reminds us, “education is an act of hope,” grounded in the belief that every child and young person is created in the image of God and called to fullness of life.

The Academy of St Nicholas, part of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, recently hosted a special Christmas party for senior citizens in the local area, organised and run by the school’s student councillors and leaders.

Catholic education does not exist without challenges. Increasing secularisation, pressures on religious education, staff recruitment, and growing wellbeing needs are realities for our schools and colleges. Yet there is much to be thankful for. Across the Archdiocese of Liverpool, our schools and colleges remain places where faith is lived daily, where each person is known and valued, and where the Gospel is clearly witnessed. They are truly “communities of faith where the Gospel is lived, taught, and witnessed.”

As we look ahead, our New Year’s resolutions might be simple but powerful: to deepen our Catholic identity, to strengthen partnerships with families and parishes, to continue supporting wellbeing, and to commit ourselves more intentionally to prayer. In this New Year, we resolve to pray for all who are part of our schools and colleges - our students, staff, leaders, governors, families, and parish communities - entrusting them to God’s loving care. These commitments echo the words of the prophet Micah: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

The New Year calls us to “courageously draw new maps,” remaining faithful to who we are while responding creatively to the needs of today’s young people. With gratitude for all that is already strong and trust in God’s guidance, Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Liverpool continues to be a sign of hope for our communities.

May this New Year be shaped by faith, strengthened by hope, and guided by love.

Joan McCarthy Director of Education, Archdiocese of Liverpool

The event was designed to bring together members of the local community for an afternoon of music, food, and friendship.

Guests from nearby care homes were treated to an afternoon tea, prepared by the school’s catering team with support from hospitality students. The menu included a selection of sandwiches, pastries, and an array of traditional treats, all served with tea and coffee.

The school choir also performed a selection of Christmas songs and carols, which filled the room with festive cheer.

Students took great pride in hosting the party, welcoming guests, serving food, and ensuring everyone felt included and comfortable. Visitors were full of praise for the students’ professionalism, noting how seamlessly they managed the event from start to finish.

Year 7 student, Anthony, said: “I really enjoyed spending time chatting to our guests at the party. I found out lots of interesting things and told them about what it is like to be a student here. We laughed a lot together, and I have even been invited to visit them all at their care home!”

Mrs Lindsey Bainbridge, associate assistant headteacher at The Academy of St Nicholas, said: “We place great emphasis on student leadership and community partnerships here at the academy.

Organising events such as this allows our students to develop practical skills in teamwork, communication, and event management while making a positive contribution to the local community.”

Headteacher, Mr Gary Lloyd, added: “A huge congratulations to our student councillors and leaders, who planned and managed our annual senior citizens Christmas party. It was inspiring to see their dedication and attention to detail, which ensured the afternoon was a resounding success and a very special day for all our guests.”

education news

St Cuthbert’s celebrates national ARC Award for outstanding support of children who are looked after St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School has been officially presented with the Alex Timpson ARC Award, recognising the school’s long-standing commitment to supporting, guiding and inspiring children who are looked after.

St Cuthbert’s won the award at the end of 2024, but the formal presentation took place only recently at the national conference in Birmingham.

As a new year approaches, the award stands as a reminder of the school’s mission and the strength of its community. The spring term brings its own important milestones, including Year 11 mock exams and the run-up to the summer series. St Cuthbert’s looks forward to continuing to walk alongside its young people, aiming to help students grow in confidence, courage and hope as they prepare for the future.

It was nominated by the Virtual School, praising the depth of care that sits at the heart of St Cuthbert’s work: “St Cuthbert’s is a beacon for the community. Its values are inspiring, and staff continuously show a commitment to the whole community.

“Its reputation is renowned with local authority officers, social workers (both in and outside of St Helens) and most importantly, with children and their families. St Cuthbert’s were trauma informed before the phrase became common place. It is just what it does, and it is an example to others.”

Reflecting on the award headteacher, Mr Holland.said: “We are a school that does everything within its power to enable every single one of our children to live life in all its fulness regardless of circumstance.

“At St Cuthbert’s, we commit ourselves fully to give all of our children, particularly the most vulnerable, the tools to be bold and courageous in understanding their immense worth, a worth that we recognise them to have every day.

“I am grateful to our staff who work tirelessly in the best interests of our children, and to our parents and carers who support us. It is wonderful to have been recognised with the ARC Award.”

St. Mary’s College presents seasonal music feast Last month, St. Mary’s College in Crosby presented its annual feast of Christmas music.

students who took part for their hard work and commitment in preparing for the event.

Amidst the surroundings of the stunning 130-year-old church, the concert featured a wide-ranging selection of readings, carols and instrumental and choral performances. It was coordinated by the college’s director of music Andrew Byers with assistance from music teacher Colin Johnston and school chaplain Ann Marie Engelbrecht.

College principal, Mike Kennedy, added: “The carol concert is one of our most popular events with families so it was no surprise to see that the church was once again packed to the rafters for this year’s service.

Students, staff and their families gathered at a packed SS Peter and Paul Church on Liverpool Road. They enjoyed the traditional carol service which has long been a highlight of the school’s Yuletide calendar.

The evening included both traditional carols and more modern festive favourites. There were contributions from the school’s Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir and Lower School Choir plus enthusiastic involvement from audience members.

“Our pupils are always willing and ready to take on a musical challenge like this one, and in doing so very successfully they have once again proved to be outstanding ambassadors for St. Mary’s.”

“Audience members were treated to a string of excellent performances during the course of an evening which was, as always, a fabulous way to start the festive season and to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.”

Highlights of this year’s programme included a modern arrangement of the medieval festive song Sir Christemas by William Mathias. Popular carols like Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Once in Royal David’s City, and singalong favourites like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Winter Wonderland were also crowd pleasers.

The final item was a rousing rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas which everyone in the church took part in. The evening continued in festive fashion with mulled wine, soft drinks and mince pies served back at the school.

Commenting on the concert, music director, Andrew Byers, said: “Once again the standard of musicianship at the carol concert was incredibly high and I would like to thank all the

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education news

Young Pilgrims of Hope Guided by Pope Francis’ call to action in the encyclicals Laudato Si and Laudate Deum and the leadership of Pope Leo IV, young people came together to share their voices at two Mock UN Climate Conferences in November 2025.

Carmel College and 22 secondary schools from across the archdiocese collaborated to tackle climate change through a series of collaborative conferences, initiating action campaigns to reduce carbon footprints and supporting behaviour change in schools and local communities.

Liverpool World Centre charity facilitated a mock UN style Climate Conference to coincide with COP30 in Brazil, giving pupils the opportunity to represent different countries facing the climate emergency. Teams debated the impact of climate emissions and what needs to be done to mitigate and adapt to the challenges ahead.

Michael from Holy Family Catholic High School said: “Today was fun yet informative. The debate segment was my favourite as I enjoyed the questioning and arguments.”

Students also engaged in practical workshops, including developing school climate action plans, sustainable clothing projects, biodiversity mapping, and horticultural activities. These sessions empowered pupils to think critically and creatively about environmental solutions.

The two events were generously hosted by St Margaret Clitherow Centre and Hope Academy in Newton-le-Willows, with coordination from the Archdiocesan Education Department.

Archbishop Sherrington attended the event at Hope Academy, opening with a thought-provoking address and prayer from Laudato Si.

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The experience gave students a platform to debate in true UN style, fostering empathy, negotiation, and collaboration skills.

It was a powerful way to show young people that their voices matter and that they can influence change within their schools and communities.

Evie from Maricourt Catholic High School reflected: “I now have a much deeper understanding of what is happening to our planet and how even young people like me can take part in attempting to stop climate change.”

Jaya and Brooke from Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School shared: “We have learnt how different countries have and are adapting to help climate change and simple ways we can help at home and school, such as recycling old materials.”

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Over a century of service News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

Mums the Word Happy New Year, everyone. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.

Sadly, last year we said goodbye to several of our dear members. May they rest in peace.

Celebrating with Archbishop Emeritus Malcolm Knights from Liverpool, led by Supreme Knight Micheal Akinrele and his predecessor Harry Welch, joined the congregation at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Saturday 6 December to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Archbishop Emeritus Malcolm McMahon’s ordination as a bishop.

In recognition of his longstanding support for the Knight of Saint Columba, Phil Woods, the Provincial Grand Knight, presented him with a Mass card and a token of our appreciation.

Just before Christmas, we received the heartbreaking news that Angela Batey had died. Angela was a truly lovely lady—a devout, dedicated, and hard-working member of the Union of Catholic Mothers for over 50 years.

She served as foundation president at Saint Margaret Mary’s in Liverpool, later as archdiocesan president for Liverpool, and eventually as national secretary.

Because of her exceptional commitment and service to the UCM, Angela was invited to Westminster Cathedral, where she received the Benemerenti Medal, an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for outstanding service to the Catholic Church. We were all immensely proud of her.

Angela was also fun-loving and full of energy. She produced countless shows and pantomimes, encouraging all of us to take part—whether we intended to or not! These productions brought joy and laughter, strengthened community spirit, and raised significant funds for many charities. She truly inspired us all.

Rest in peace, Angela. You will be sadly missed.

Dates for the diary Masses: • St Anne’s • St Wilfrid’s • Annual Mass • St Gregory the Great

11 March 3 May 20 June 1 July

AGM:

11 April

Business Meetings: 14 February, 11 July, 17 October

Kathy Buck, Liverpool UCM President 28

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Reflection on the Jubilee Year

The 2025 Jubilee Year called on the global Catholic community to renew faith, foster unity, and embrace hope in a world often marked by uncertainty. For the KSC, we sought to play a practical role, embodying the spirit of pilgrimage through prayer and fraternity.

Our initiative was to host a weekly online Rosary by Zoom. With this, the Knights ensured that physical distance did not hinder communal prayer, creating a virtual pilgrimage that reflected the Jubilee’s essence: journeying together toward Christ with hope.

This commitment demonstrated three key values: • Faith in action: The Knights transformed a traditional devotion into a modern outreach, showing adaptability while remaining rooted in Catholic tradition.

• Unity and inclusion: By opening the Rosary to all, we extended the Jubilee invitation beyond our own membership, fostering a sense of shared mission.

• Hope through community: At a time when isolation can erode spiritual life, this consistent presence reminded participants that hope thrives in togetherness.

This contribution stands as a testament to the KSC’s enduring mission: serving God by serving others, and offering a strong example of how faith organisations can inspire resilience and renewal in the modern age.

National Action Project

The Alma Mater fund, our national action project (2024–2026), continues to support pregnant students in higher education, offering financial aid and guidance to help them continue their studies.

To apply for support, contact Alma Mater via 07849 088244 (phone/WhatsApp) or info@almamaterfund.org.uk. For social media channels, search for @almamaterfund.

To learn more about how you can be involved, or to donate, please visit: www.ksc.org.uk/almamater

News from around the councils

Members from Council 146 (Southport), supported by Father Christmas, went carolsinging on Saturday 13 December on Lord Street as part of their annual fund-raising campaign.

Meanwhile, our Nativity Painting Competition is open for entries, with cash prizes for winners and their schools. The closing date for entries to be received at KSC HQ is Friday 16 January.

I hope you have found this information interesting. If you are interested in finding out more about The Knights of St Columba 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 Grand Knight - Province 2

youth ministry

And what have you done?

Father Simon Gore looks back on how the Animate Youth Ministries team spent the Jubilee Year of 2025.

To paraphrase John Lennon in his “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” song – “The Jubilee Year is over and what have you done? … I hope you had fun.”

Well, I don’t know about fun, but we have had an interesting year here in Lowe House. It does not seem like a year ago that we were at the start of the Jubilee Year, and now here we are at the end, looking back on it all.

We had two plans for the year – one was work-related and one was more personal/community-related.

On the work side, we wanted to offer new and different things from what we might do in a “normal” year, while also not changing things too radically and ending up not doing what we already had up and running and working quite successfully.

One thing we kept coming back to was that the Jubilee Year was partly about debt reduction, so we wanted to offer some retreats to people and schools that might not usually be able to come along.

So we created two specific retreats, one for young people interested in ‘Servant Leadership’ and one for those older young people thinking more deeply about their call to ‘Discipleship’ as they leave school or enter a new stage in their life. We offered each retreat twice during the Jubilee Year and anyone could sign up free of charge.

As mentioned a few times in the Pic, we also started our new archdiocesan Music Ministry Group. We are pleased with how the group are working together and we hope it will continue to grow and be a blessing to the arch diocese as the years pass.

In a break with convention, we offered primary schools the opportunity to come here on retreats for Year 5 pupils. A large number of schools had asked for this over the years, but we had always kept to a minimum age of Year 6.

However, we thought the Jubilee Year might be the time to offer something new and different.

Maybe just as important as what we did in work was the time we gave ourselves to think more about the Jubilee Year. I have vague memories of the Jubilee in 2000, but for Lauren and Ellie this has been the first one they remember, so we wanted to do a few things as a community to mark the occasion. Arguably the highlight was a few days in Rome in the early part of the year (before the crowds became too big!).

We did some research before and downloaded the special Jubilee app and pre-booked all our entrances through the Holy Doors. And we had a special moment walking down the Via della Conciliazione with pilgrims from other parts of the world, all saying the Jubilee prayers together.

We also got over to Assisi for a day to say hello to Saints Francis and Clare, and to see Blessed (as he was at the time) Carlo Acutis.

I remember in the lead-up being at meetings and sitting in the house asking what makes the difference in a Jubilee Year. Why is it a different year? I suppose I never got a defined and specific answer in the way my brain would have liked to have it. But maybe that is the point. I suppose the year might be more about what you make of it.

It is there for us, and we are given guidelines for how to use it. But then, as with so much in life and faith, it is up to us what we do and how we use the time we have.

To go back to the question the song asks – “And what have you done?” – I just hope that the Jubilee Year was a blessed one for you, whatever you did.

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Dialogue and Unity

Jubilee, hope and unity

By Ultan Russell, Archdiocesan ecumenical officer

It is not normal to write this page with direct references to me, or even a picture, so this is a first! But I am sharing the joys of this “Pilgrimage of Hope”.

The Year of Jubilee has been a busy and indeed tumultuous one – a new Pope, our new Archbishop, Bishop Ruth Worsley as the new leader of Liverpool’s Anglican diocese. Mission and restructuring have been significant not only in our archdiocese but for the Methodists in the region and the three Anglican dioceses.

Despite local enthusiasm, Unity Week in January can often be dull and dreary due to our weather, but back in January, Churches Together in the Merseyside Region held a major forum on young people. The forum also reflected on the 1,700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. This has resonated throughout the whole of the year, culminating in Pope Leo’s visit to Turkiye and Lebanon, and the symbolic joint events, notably with the very varied Christian communities in Turkiye.

We have had interfaith work promoted locally by the Missionaries of Africa as Father Moses and Father Terry forge links with other faiths as well as reaching out to the varied Christian communities in central Liverpool. A sad aspect of intolerance was the October attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester. Archbishop John Sherrington was quick to contact the Merseyside Jewish Representative Council who received his message with gratitude. Archbishop Sherrington comes to us like his predecessors with a firm commitment to interfaith and ecumenical work.

As the year continued, thoughts turned to the 40th anniversary of the “Faith in the City” report, whose trenchant critique challenged not only the government but also the internal workings of the churches on racial justice, sharing between rich and poor churches and robust commitment to social action. In November, Churches Together in the Merseyside Region hosted a major conference and produced a manifesto titled Hope in Liverpool City Region, with the Church leaders signing this in the presence of our city region mayor, Steve Rotherham. The Jubilee, the poor, and Better Together were again at the fore. Another Jubilee challenge! Lucy Raeur was pivotal in this initiative.

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Catholic Pictorial

Indeed, the whole Pastoral Development team were pivotal, meanwhile, in giving the well-established Two Cathedrals Pentecost walk a creative flavour with music, stalls and drama.

The team related the event to the Jubilee themes – an initiative welcomed by our ecumenical partners.

In November, I was privileged as a member of the executive of the archdiocesan council to attend the Jubilee consultation on synodality in Rome. The photo above shows (from left to right) Chris Loughlin, Shirley Green, myself and Jill Williams. By a wonderful coincidence, we were there at the same time as the visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla, with its symbolic placing of the chair adorned with the King’s coat of arms at the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls. This was a major talking point, and all the more so for me as an ecumenical officer married to an Anglican woman priest.

The Most Revd Ian Ernest (former Anglican Archbishop of the Indian Ocean), who had just completed a term running the Anglican Centre of Rome, addressed the conference and spoke joyfully of discussions on synodality between Anglican and Catholic Bishops, citing many fruitful examples of partnership.

Finally, I will end with a prayer for the new year from the Coptic Orthodox Church: Lord, make it a blessed year…

A pure year to please You… A year in which Your Spirit prevails…

And joins in working with us…

Hold our hands and guide our thoughts from the beginning of the year till its end…

Let this year be Yours, to please You… It is a New Year, spotless; let us not tarnish it with our sins or impurities…

Lord, be with us in every work we intend to do this year…

Silent we will be, and you will do everything…

Let us rejoice in all Your deeds, and say with John the Evangelist: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:3) Amen.

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