Catholic Pic March 2024

From the Archbishop’s Desk

At the end of January, I attended the biennial meeting between bishops of the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which took place in Norwich for 24 hours. I arrived late after a five-and-a-half-hour direct train journey from Liverpool. There were no changes, but the train changed direction twice! At Sheffield, the train backed out the station to resume its route, and the same thing happened again at Ely. Even with all that, the journey would have been quite relaxing except that the refreshment trolley was cancelled. By the time I got to Norwich I was tired, dehydrated and quite agitated; possibly even grumpy. For me, that train ride summed up my frustrations with our ecumenical journey: stop and start, backwards and forwards, and as dry as a desert.

As a young man, I really hoped that there would soon be visible church unity, at least with the Church of England. As the meeting began, I was not of that mind and wished I was miles away from Norwich. But my ecumenical heart was restored by the good company and a visit to the cell of Mother Julian. We prayed together, reflected on the religious meaning of the coronation, discussed the recent Roman Synod, and finally listened to an inspiring talk by Mgr. Roderick Strange on St John Henry Newman. When I got the train home to Liverpool, the ecumenical world looked a lot more hopeful. What’s more - the tea trolley had reappeared. As Mother Julian said, “All things will be well. All manner of things will be well”.

Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

The Holy Father’s prayer intentions entrusted to his worldwide prayer network for the year 2024:

Contents:

4 Main Feature Archdiocesan Synodal Council Results

7 Sunday Reflections

8 From the Archives Fads and Gadgets

9 News News from around the archdiocese

14 Pastoral Ponderings

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

16 Profile Gill Hamilton

17 Cathedral Record

27 Animate Youth Ministry

28 Pic Extras

29 Nugent News

30 Dialogue

“It’s upon your firm foundations of enduring presence, hospitality, faithful witness and service, of generosity — and of keeping your nerve when everyone around you may be losing theirs –that you’re now seeking to build.”

Progressing the Pastoral Plan –The Archdiocesan Synodal Council Report

The first meeting of the Archdiocesan Synodal Council marked another step forward in efforts to realise a Synodal vision for the archdiocese.

By Fr Philip Inch, Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Organisation and Synodal Implementation

It has been almost two years in the planning and has involved priests, deacons, bishops, religious and laypeople from across the archdiocese. It has been organised by a committed group who have formed an executive. It is the Archdiocesan Synodal Council (ASC) and its first meeting was a landmark moment for a body created to sustain the commitment made to be a Synodal Church.

At the heart of the ASC is this truth: that God speaks to the Church if we listen to the voices of all the baptised. This is what drives the Synodal vision of Pope Francis. The ASC got its mandate from the Pastoral Plan, which was itself the fruit of the Archdiocesan Synod of June 2021 – concluding four years of prayer, meeting, planning, listening and discerning. All of those steps led to our first ASC meeting on

25 November, a meeting attended by 120 people and presided over by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon.

Bishop Bev Mason, Anglican Bishop of Warrington, set a positive tone in the day’s opening reflection. ‘It’s upon your firm foundations of enduring presence, hospitality, faithful witness and service, of generosity — and of keeping your nerve when everyone around you may be losing theirs – that you’re now seeking to build ... and be more of a visible and proactive presence in the name of Christ,’ she said. ‘It’s our Lord’s own ministry that you’re seeking to intensify, and you couldn’t be doing this at a more crucial time.

‘Don’t be afraid,’ she added. ‘The biggest blockage to mission and outreach is us and our own selfconsciousness and confidence. Remember who it is who calls you. And remember He is with you.’

The meeting’s main purpose was to hear what had happened to implement the Pastoral Plan since its November 2021 publication and, under the six Pastoral Plan areas, to suggest priorities for the next 12 months. These priorities, and the discussion around them, have been collated, and are as follows:

Becoming a Church that honours the vocation of all the baptised

- Establish a continually developing plan to empower/enable all the baptised to develop confidence in living out and sharing their baptismal vocation.

- Gather models of good catechesis and create ways for good practice to be shared across parishes.

- Construct a plan and strategy to implement the employment of lay pastoral workers.

The responses hold firm the tension of doing things in the Church and of living out our baptismal calling in the daily living of our lives. The way we hold that tension forms the struggle of trying to suggest priorities. Do not limit ministry to things we do in the Church or for the Church. The vast majority of Church members are lay people! If we had a thorough audit of skills, we would be encouraged. The need for evangelisation and formation was stated often, as was the need to be committed to paid pastoral staff on the ground.

An invitation to a personal relationship with Christ must be at the heart of our understanding of responding to our baptismal calling.

Becoming a Church that accompanies people through life

- Clarify what is meant (and not meant) by accompaniment and how this relates to synodality and communicate this to all parishes, and create a structure and plan to implement accompaniment across the archdiocese.

- Develop programmes to identify the different accompaniment needs of specific groups (e.g. parents with young children, marriage preparation, the elderly, those in mixed-faith marriages, those freshly graduated, catechists, social-action groups, sick, disabled, divorced and separated, LGBTQ+, bereaved, single parents, those struggling with cost of living, prisoners and their families, families with children or adults with special needs, supporting Catholic children in special schools or in non-Catholic schools, teachers).

Many comments put at the heart of accompaniment a renewed encounter with Christ and a need to be formed in different areas of spirituality (spirituality network, etc.). The importance of

formation looms large, especially for those entrusted with ministries – catechists being just one example. The lack of a director in the pastoral department was felt to be a weakness. One comment raised a question for reflection: why would anyone want to be accompanied by us?

Becoming a Church where synodality is embedded

- Commit to looking at governance structures across the archdiocese, ensuring transparency at all levels.

- Ensure and develop support for effective working of the DSCs (Deanery Synodal Councils).

- Develop a strategy to better communicate the path the archdiocese is following in implementing the Pastoral Plan.

How do we ensure all parishes and archdiocesan structures are embracing our commitment to synodality? It was clear that some are worried about places where there is no engagement for varied reasons. There was a realisation that we had not clearly communicated the path on which we are walking. If we are to set up new structures, we must support those who give of their time and energy to enable these to work effectively. We must not be afraid of giving the time needed –but we must also not be afraid to move on!

Becoming a Church that renews its organisational structures and administers its property to serve its mission

- Equip all in the Families of Parishes to capture and share the vision involved in their development, particularly in relation to our use of resources and our environmental responsibilities.

- Review how we are operating in every level of archdiocesan life and work regarding the Synod.

Many people felt we were trying to talk the talk, without walking the walk! We are not being as bold and creative as we have been encouraged to be. Formation is required to enable this. Are buildings more important than people and mission? There is a commitment to making Families of Parishes work – but questions about the support needed to make this happen. What is our mission? What is the reason we do all we are doing? We are being called to make this clear for everyone.

Becoming a Church where the young flourish

- The Youth Synodal Council must be established as an urgent priority

- Support schools pastorally in developing chaplaincy with particular reference to the Catholic life of the school and links with local parishes and communities.

We must not leave the future to chance. What is the place of the parish in ministry to and with young people? An easy answer is Catholic Youth Workers –but in what way? Animate’s work is seen as important but we should re-focus on the links with parishes and young people and young adults.

Becoming a Church that cares for its priests

- Develop a system of mentoring and pastoral accompaniment for all priests in the archdiocese, taking special note of the way this is communicated.

- Find new ways of giving priests support in administration, finance, building management and maintenance in order to free them for their specifically priestly ministry.

There is both a realistic and unrealistic expectation regarding the ministry of priests. Well-being for ‘staff’ is key in all business, no less so for priests. There was concern for priests who are getting older with no reduction in workload and pastoral demands. Again, as in the Synod, it was made clear that there is great affection for and concern for the priests of the archdiocese whose work is valued and appreciated.

This ASC Report, as well as a supplementary document providing a record of all the points made in the submissions that were received, will be made available on the archdiocesan website.

The next ASC gathering is on Saturday 9 November 2024.

Catholic Pictorial

On a liturgical note

The whole of the month of March this year is taken up with the Lenten journey.

This is not merely a time to ‘give things up’, as if the season was no more than an assault course to be conquered, but rather a time of growth and development in our spiritual lives. This growth finds its external expression sometimes in selfdenial but also in the deliberate taking on of acts of kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion. These are the true ‘fruits’ of our Lenten journey.

Baptism is the first sacrament we receive – it roots and grounds us in the community of faith, even if sometimes its external effects can be slow to appear. It is because of baptism that we engage in our Lenten journey each year: we want to accompany those who are seeking to become members of the Family of Faith through the sacraments of Initiation at Easter, through baptism, confirmation and the sharing of the holy gift of the Eucharist – and because we want to accompany them, we know that the best inspiration and support we can give is by living a more authentically Christian life ourselves.

Sunday thoughts

A new book, ‘Christ’s Seven Words from the Cross’, was recently launched in our co-cathedral church of Saint Mary of the Isle. It took me back to my years in Peru. Holy Week was a special time. The climax came on Good Friday - and there it seemed to end. Capacity crowds showed up to venerate the cross, but Easter attracted very few.

I recall one lady weeping at the tomb of Jesus in a side chapel one Easter Sunday morning. I felt obliged to remind her that things had moved on; Jesus had risen and this was a happy occasion. I attempted to bring my superior theological insight to bear and introduce her to the reality of the resurrection. It took a few years for the penny to drop … and I was the one with much to learn. Their ’obsession’ with the crucified Christ, gruesomely depicted in graphic detail on their crucifixes, was far from an obsession. They identified with the suffering Christ in a way I never could. Their lives were full of poverty, pain and suffering.

The crucified Jesus was their friend in a way that He could never be to me. My desire to get over the crucifixion and get on with the resurrection was because I had never descended into hell as they did every day.

In time I came to appreciate that there was a victory in their suffering just as there was a victory in Christ’s death on the cross. The cross was familiar territory to them. I was an outsider when it came

Canon Philip Gillespie

There are the traditional and time-proven means of engaging fully and well in our Lenten period: rooting ourselves in our relationship with God (prayer), taking nothing for granted but recognising that all is gift (fasting), and giving of ourselves in loving support to others (almsgiving). All is done, however, not merely so we can tick a box and feel happy that we have ‘succeeded’ in keeping a good Lent, but so that when we arrive at the Triduum of the Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection, we will have been purified and drawn ever deeper into what Saint Paul refers to as having ‘the mind of Christ’ – His way of thinking, of loving, and of acting.

Lent – an invitation to trust

Many years ago, I came across a man called Ged who worked with people who had disabilities.

Like many Geordies, he was full of ‘joie de vivre’ and energy. However, I discovered that his life had been tragically marred by abuse. Much of his way of thinking, particularly about himself, was twisted and broken.

Three marriages and several other failed relationships hadn’t helped the situation. Each broken relationship added to his pain. From early on in his life, he had rejected God. He just couldn’t believe that God loved him, although he never doubted that God existed. Trust was the most difficult area for him to cope with.

By doing this – bit by bit, year by year, Lent by Lent – we become more authentically those ‘ambassadors for Christ’ of whom St Paul speaks and therefore also a real support, inspiration and travelling companion to those seeking the full Communion of the Church and its mission.

I wish you a fruitful and happy Lent.

Mgr John Devine OBE

to suffering and nothing in my comfortable existence would bring me as close to the Lord as they were. I relished the alleluias and candles and flowers of Easter as an escape from the sordid details of Christ’s death in a country where infant mortality for the under-fives ran at 50%.

Today we are confronted with industrialscale carnage in the Holy Land and Ukraine. In our own country, we witness the torment of the addicted and the homelessness that can accompany it. Mann encourages me to sit at the foot of the cross and not to run away from it. He reminds me that resurrection is impossible without suffering and that the risen Christ bears the scars of His crucifixion.

Then, he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and something – I think the action of the Spirit – happened within him. The healing he had always desired began to take place. He could never say why, just that he knew. He forgave people who’d damaged him so badly and he learned how to trust. He died, aged 54, as a healed, whole, free man who finally knew that God can be trusted.

One of the sicknesses within modern society is our inability to trust. The presumption is that everyone is on the make, always looking after number one. There is no-one to be trusted other than oneself. That makes society very individualistic and isolates people from one another. With that philosophy, it becomes very difficult to trust God in any real way. We might say our prayers and do religious things but trusting God is more than that. Trusting God is about opening ourselves up to the power of love, which shapes how we live our lives. It’s about knowing that God is the very source of all that we are and all that we do. It’s about falling in love with God, so that God motivates our every moment and everything else fades into insignificance.

I often think a huge conversion is needed within all of us if we’re to really know the living God. We have to be prepared to let go of our image of God and allow God to reveal Godself to us. It’s somehow in the letting go of these images and standing naked before the face of God that we discover the God who can be trusted above all things. We don’t do it, because it’s scary to let go and realise that we’re not in control of our own lives or our own destinies.

Lent is a time to ask this question: are we prepared to trust God’s love which is eternal, or are we going to put our trust in the material world? Do we think that our desire for power and wealth and immediate fulfilment is going to satisfy?

This Lent, let’s open ourselves to the transforming spirit which cuts through the games we play and faces us with the overwhelming love of God – and let’s place our trust in that, just as Jesus had to.

Father Chris Thomas

In his book ‘Christ’s Seven Words from the Cross’, John Mann – the one-time Dean at St Anne’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Belfast – is clearly influenced by his time in Ireland during the Troubles.

from the archives

“Enthroned, installed and inducted” in the Crypt

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist

60 years ago this month, the Cathedral Crypt held the only enthronement of an Archbishop in its existence.

George Andrew Beck was officially installed as the sixth Archbishop of Liverpool on 12 March 1964. Previous Archbishops had been enthroned at the Pro-Cathedral of St Nicholas on Copperas Hill, but when the Archbishop’s throne was transferred to the Crypt in 1959, that partially completed building became the cathedral of our archdiocese. When the new Metropolitan Cathedral, designed by Frederick Gibberd, opened in 1967, it became the venue for all of the following enthronements of Archbishops, and indeed our newest Auxiliary Bishop was ordained there in 2021.

Archbishop Beck was presumably no stranger to the ceremonies associated with his enthronement, having already been a Bishop three times over. Born in London in 1904 and ordained as a priest in 1927, he taught and was a headmaster for the next two decades.

When Bishop Doubleday of Brentwood became ill in 1947, Father Beck was appointed as Coadjutor to assist him in that diocese. His consecration took place on 21 September 1948. When Bishop Doubleday died in 1951, Bishop Beck automatically succeeded him as Bishop of Brentwood. In 1955, he moved north when he was appointed Bishop of Salford, his enthronement taking place in January 1956. His period in charge of Salford was a happy time for him. “I like the people up here tremendously”, he said. By the time he was announced as the sixth Archbishop of Liverpool, on 11

February 1964, the city was the focus of worldwide Beatlemania. The popularity of the Beatles meant that of course he would be asked about them. “I think they are a good influence”, he said diplomatically. “There is something straightforward about them that I like, but I don’t understand the reaction to them by youngsters.”

On a chilly day in March 1964, work on the building of the new cathedral paused as workmen engaged on the shell of the structure took in the procession 100 feet below them. Archbishop Beck arrived at the main entrance to the Crypt dressed in his purple cloak, preceded by the Metropolitan Cross and bearing his crozier, the staff of office symbolising the shepherd’s crook. He moved into the Pontifical Chapel accompanied by the Provost and Canons of the Cathedral Chapter. Among the 1,500 people in the congregation for the enthronement service were 3 Archbishops, 12 Bishops and 2 Abbots. Those who couldn’t get a direct view of proceedings were able to watch on television screens in the adjoining chapels, filled to overflowing, as a closed circuit relay was laid on for them. The service lasted for 2 hours, and its main purpose was fulfilled when the Papal Delegate led Archbishop Beck to his throne, offered prayers and recited the formula of enthronement, placing the Archbishop on his throne: “We leave you thus enthroned, installed and inducted in this sacred See”.

One of the priorities for the new Archbishop was to foster a spirit of ecumenism. “The age of religious animosities is vanishing rapidly”, he said. “If there is anything I can do to see that it goes completely, I will certainly try to do it.”

One thing he had done immediately was to invite representatives of the Church of England and the Free Churches to attend his enthronement. The presence of Bishop Laurence Brown and the Rev John Matson was the first time representatives of their respective churches had attended such a ceremony. In Liverpool at least, it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

Service booklet for Archbishop Beck’s enthronement, 1964

Some of the congregation watched the service via closed-circuit television

One newspaper profile of Archbishop Beck noted that “for all his wisdom, experience and scholarliness [he] is never without the most kindly twinkle in his eye.”

News diary

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Obituary of Monsignor George Mooney

Monsignor George Mooney, who has died aged 96 years, served the archdiocese with great distinction for very nearly 70 years. He was born in Liverpool on 5th August 1927, and he spent his early years in Aintree, attending Blessed Sacrament Primary School, before going on to St Mary’s College, Crosby. He trained for the priesthood at Upholland College and was ordained in the college chapel on 12th June 1954 by Archbishop Godfrey. The newly ordained Fr Mooney was sent immediately to Rome to study canon law at the Gregorian University.

In September 1956, he was appointed to the busy city parish of St Patrick’s, Park Place, conveniently situated for his other work in the Metropolitan Tribunal. He remained at St Patrick’s until January 1960, when he was appointed as a chaplain with the Apostleship of the Sea. He returned to parish life in October 1963, upon his appointment as curate in the fledgling parish of St Finbar in the Dingle area of the city. In January 1966, Archbishop Beck appointed Fr Mooney as Chancellor of the archdiocese and as chaplain at Park House, Waterloo. He was appointed to the Metropolitan Cathedral in 1967, and was made a Privy Chamberlain. Monsignor Mooney remained at the Cathedral until September 1975, when he was appointed as Pastoral Director for the archdiocese.

In 1977, Archbishop Worlock appointed Monsignor Mooney as Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Affairs and parish priest of Our Lady’s, Wavertree. At the same time, he relinquished office as Chancellor, an office in which he had served with great distinction for the previous 11 years. In June 1983, he was appointed as parish priest of Saints Peter and Paul, Crosby, a parish he continued to serve with great dedication until his retirement in 1997.

He enjoyed a long retirement at his home in Lydiate, supplying in parishes as needed. Once he became too frail to live independently, he moved into the presbytery at Our Lady’s, Lydiate, before spending his final months in a nursing home. He died peacefully on 27 January 2024.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Obituary of Sister Margaret Stocker SND

Margaret Stocker was born on 21 February 1936 and died on 16 January 2024. Her funeral was at the Notre Dame convent on Woolton Road in Childwall, and the celebrant was Father Patrick O’Brien. It was attended by fellow Sisters of Notre Dame, family, friends and former colleagues. She was buried at Our Lady and All Saints, Parbold.

Margaret grew up in St Helens and was educated at Notre Dame High School. She then trained as a teacher at Notre Dame College, Mount Pleasant, and read for a master’s degree in child development at the London Institute of Education.

In teaching, her great legacy would come as head of the Nursery School and Infants at St Anne’s, Overbury Street. She had had a brief spell there before moving on to Wigan Preparatory School and then Notre Dame Teacher Training College.

From the 1970s until retirement in the 90s, Sr Margaret excelled in her headship back at St Anne’s where, in the fond recollection of former colleagues, she created “a place of peace and tranquillity and learning for both children and parents”.

Her first act as head was to remove the notice at the gate saying ‘No parents beyond this point’. Indeed, many parents would progress from adult literacy classes set up at St Anne’s to college and university degrees. Her door was always open, and she championed parental involvement in the education of children and the whole family.

When one visitor to the school complimented her on the beautiful plants in the foyer, Sr Margaret remarked: ‘It’s nothing to do with me. They were hired for your visit! I’m afraid I always manage to kill plants – but I do grow children.’

A Sister of Notre Dame for 65 years, she was a much-loved, modest, caring and determined educator. She had a wonderfully bright personality, full of life, exuberance, and endless enthusiasm. She was a great communicator and an attentive listener. She touched the lives of generations of individuals, families and communities in Edge Hill, L7 and L8. May she rest in peace.

Benemerenti Medals Awarded at Sacred Heart Parish

Early this year, Mrs. Maureen Hoole and Miss Barbara Tyrer were honoured with Benemerenti Medals, recognising their exceptional contributions to the church community. Bishop Tom Neylon presided over the ceremony at Sacred Heart Parish, joined by parish priest Fr. Francis Ball, with family, friends, and fellow parishioners in attendance.

The post-Mass celebration featured their favourite hymns, a flautist performance, and a poem read by Maureen’s greatgranddaughter, Florence, followed by light refreshments.

Maureen was brought up in the neighbouring Parish of St Joseph’s, where she met her husband, Johnny. They moved to Sacred Heart’s parish shortly after marrying and raised their 3 children there.

Maureen was the first of two female readers and the first of three Eucharistic ministers in the Parish. She sang in the choir and was lead organist for over 40 years. Maureen also took on the role of organising rotas for the readers and special liturgical events.

Maureen was also very active with many of the social clubs and events in the Parish, including the Young Wives and the Bowling Team, and helped with the famous Donkey Derbies held here (including the famous appearance of Red Rum!)

Barbara was born in the parish and attended Bolton Mount St Joseph’s school with Maureen. The two travelled together, and Maureen, who was a few years older, helped Barara settle into the new school.

Barbara had a varied career, studying for a degree in Biological Sciences at Liverpool University followed by qualifying as a teacher. She taught at several schools, both in the archdiocese and abroad in Sierra Leone. Upon returning to England, she retrained as a nurse, and was later asked to be a Nurse Tutor at Manchester University on the first Nursing Degree Programme.

At Church, Barbara had several roles including Sacristan, reader, Eucharistic Minister, flower arranger, and organist. She was also Foundation Governor for many years at Sacred Heart Primary School.

Barbara was set an excellent example - her mother Mavis also gained the Benemerenti Medal in recognition of her work in the Parish. It is quite unusual for members of the same family to get this award!

Congratulations to both Maureen and Barbara, and thank you both for your hard work over the years.

Catholic Passion Play at Belle Vale Shopping Centre

This Easter, the parish of Our Lady of Assumption in Gateacre is staging a contemporary twist on the traditional passion play in Belle Vale Shopping Centre.

‘The Belle Vale Passion’ is a live reenactment of The Stations of the Cross, telling the story of the final stages of Jesus’ life, including his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Based on the moving musical drama ‘Born For This’ by the Catholic music ministry CJM Music, and staged by the award-winning Catholic educational organisation Ten Ten Resources, this moving reflection will be presented in the public space whilst local shoppers prepare for Easter.

Coming together to take part in the staging will be members of the local parishes, communities, and schools. It promises to be a unique event, presenting the story of Easter in a way many visitors and passers-by will have never seen before.

Clare O’Brien, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption in Gateacre who is leading the charge, said, “The inspiration for The Belle Vale Passion came following the Ignite Day held by our parish in 2023. One of the questions posed was how we reach the people on the outside of the church building. In 2013, I was involved in a similar event called ‘The Runcorn Passion’ which had a huge impact on the whole faith community. We decided to try something similar inside the local shopping centre which sits in the shadow of our parish church.”

The event takes place in the shopping centre on Holy Saturday at 12pm. All are welcome to attend the event and there is still an opportunity to take part. For more information visit visit bellevalepassion.co.uk

The Belle Vale Passion, Holy Saturday 30 March, 12pm at Belle Vale Shopping Centre.

Jottings of a Lourdes Pilgrim

It seems appropriate that I write this piece on 11 February, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. A day when, as a child, I remember us praying the rosary together, and if possible, going to Mass. It was a feast that was well celebrated at school, one year even performing a play (or more of a tableau) written by the late Father Carney from St William of York church, Thornton. If there is a copy of that tableau still around, I’d love to see it!

It is also the international day dedicated to remembering the sick – very apt, as Our Lady welcomes the sick to her shrine.

It was great to see a full church at Christ the King, Wavertree for our annual Lourdes Mass, celebrated by Bishop Neylon. Many of the helpers that return to Lourdes each year were there to catch up with friends, and to start preparing for this year’s Liverpool pilgrimage. Bookings have now opened –all are welcome! It was great to discuss with everyone the various modes of transport that we are planning to use to get to Lourdes this year. Flying, Eurostar, coach, and one pilgrim hoping to walk the arduous 1,000-mile journey - more about him later in the year.

Another gathering to support the work of the Lourdes pilgrimage is the Easter Bunny walk on bank holiday Monday 1 April. Again, all are welcome: the young, the not-so-young, and even well-behaved dogs. It’s an easy 5km stroll on the bank holiday Monday, to work off the Easter eggs from the day before, starting and finishing at St Gregory’s Church Lydiate at 11am. Do register and join us.

Registration is just £8 to include your bunny ears and chocolate treat. For further details and to register, contact Mpmmurphypat@aol.com

New Life in the Desert Outside Lima

It is not unusual for parishes in the archdiocese to be celebrating 100 years or 150 years since their foundation. There are not many who have a big celebration for their 20th anniversary. It is a bit different in Peru where Fr Simon Cadwallader, our LAMP priest, is parish priest of a newly formed parish in a shanty town in the desert at the edge of Lima. Last month, his parish, dedicated to Our Lady of Peace, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special Mass. The Mass was followed by traditional folk dancing and a meal for over 600 parishioners. He was joined by Fr Denis Parry and Fr Chris McCoy, who were both visiting for the parish anniversary.

Fr Chris McCoy writes: “Over 30 years ago I served in the neighbouring area. Our parish then consisted of rough shacks surrounded by miles of coastal desert. Now houses have sprung up, trees have been planted, roads have been built, and new parishes have been created. It was wonderful to see the life and vitality of Fr Simon’s new parish as they celebrated together. New life has come to the desert.

“Over the past 40 years, there have been 16 priests from the archdiocese who have served on LAMP. Fr Simon continues that good work in his parish thanks to the support of the people of the archdiocese.”

by Paul Pimblett

Rite of Election and the Call for Continual Conversion 2024

By Liz Parsons, Training Coordinator for Pastoral Development

Having recently celebrated the Nativity of the Lord it is not long now until we will once more remember and celebrate his Passion. I have previously written about the benefits of being a seminarian, and being able to focus and reflect on the build-up to Holy Week in seminary is certainly one of them.

I am currently studying at Allen Hall, Chelsea, alongside my diocesan brother Rhys J. The seminary is in a brilliant location, close to the River Thames and less than thirty minutes from Westminster. The contradiction of the hustle and bustle of the city compared to the quietness of the seminary is interesting. However, it also serves as a fitting reminder at this time of year of the importance of Lent.

In the same way we can escape the noise and distractions of London within the privacy of Allen Hall, Lent provides us with a chance to escape the noise and distractions of our world and return to the privacy of our hearts. In the forty days leading up to Holy Week, we are called to reflect once more on how we are currently serving the Lord in our lives and whether we can do more, are not doing enough, or have even done wrong and need His forgiveness.

In a seminary, most of our daily routine is centred around regular worship, from morning and evening prayer to daily Mass and periods of adoration. This consistency of communal prayer is vital in helping us to remain focused on why we are truly here. Studies, pastoral placements and even choir practice are all incredibly important in the life of a seminary community, however, it is growing in a deeper, intimate relationship with the Lord that we are called to. If, God willing, we are to be ordained, we will serve in persona Christi - that is, ‘in the person of Christ’. We must therefore, in all we do, conform our lives to Him and seek to imitate Him in every aspect of our ministry. It is in prayer and communication with God that we are able to do so.

However, this applies to us all, not just seminarians. God desires wholeheartedly for us all to unite ourselves with him through His Son’s example and the power of the Holy Spirit. Lent reminds and calls us through fasting, prayer and almsgiving to constantly seek, hear and love the Lord.

“I felt like I wanted to be part of something more,” Julie described her decision to become a Catholic at the end of the Rite of Election and Call for Continual Conversion service, during which over 70 people entered the final phase in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the presence of Archbishop Malcolm McMahon. An annual event in dioceses all around the world on the first Sunday of Lent, it connects us with our universal family to welcome these Catechumens and Candidates into our community. The Rite of Election initiates the final phase for people wanting to be baptised and receive the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church (known as Catechumens). The Call for Continual Conversion is for those already baptised in the Christian faith, who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church (called Candidates).

One of over 30 Candidates who came to the Cathedral accompanied by members of her parish community, Julie discussed her inspiration for beginning the RCIA process. “I’ve been Church of England all my life… and been going to Lourdes for the past six years helping with the assisted pilgrims. This last year I felt tearful in every Mass I went to, and I kept thinking, ‘What’s happening?’ ‘Why am I feeling like this?’ And then gradually through the week, it dawned on me (and I felt elated once I knew what was going on) I thought ‘I am being prompted here’… I wanted to be part of the whole Catholic church and community.”

Supported by Keith, a member of her parish community, and Kate who was one of her Catechists (both having gone through RCIA themselves), Julie told me “It just gets stronger and warmer and more caring as I go along. I’m enjoying it immensely.”

When I asked what made him choose to support RCIA, Keith said: “I didn’t choose, I was chosen. I came because I needed to serve…the more you do, the more you receive, and that’s the way I love it really… It just rejuvenates me.”

Kate, an RCIA Catechist, explains “It’s just such a wonderful gift that I can give to other people.” Completing her Journey of Faith 2 years ago, she describes RCIA as “a wonderful period of training, instruction, and reflection. It was so powerful, and it was transformative, for me, having received such a wonderful gift from Holy Spirit. I needed to pass that on to other people.”

Becoming part of a community, of a family, is one of the most wonderful gifts that can come from joining the RCIA. A sentiment echoed by Keith when he said: “It’s life-affirming… The people you meet and the friends are for life not just for Sunday... It’s beautiful.”

If you’re a Candidate, Catechumen or Catechist, please join us for our RCIA retreat on Saturday 16 March at St John Fisher’s Church in Widnes. To book your place, email rcia@rcaol.org.uk

what’s on March

Tuesdays 5, 12, 19, 26 March

Lenten Evenings at the Irenaeus Centre 32 Great Georges Road, L22 1RD 7pm – 8:30pm, or on Zoom (Contact Jenny for Zoom link)

For more information, contact Jenny@ irenaeus.co.uk or call 0151 949 1199

Thursday 7, 14, 21 March

“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”

3 sessions in Lent & 3 sessions in Easter: St Teresa’s, Norris Green, L11 3BW 7.00pm

“Learn to see yourself as God sees you”

- this is the teaching of St Eugene de Mazenod, the founder of the Oblates. Hugh Stradling will guide us with the Enneagram: a spiritual awareness to discover more about our personal psychology, conscious and unconscious.

“Why do I do that?” “why can’t I stop this?”

“What’s he like?”!

No charge, donations welcome, please sign up now at st.teresasng@rcaol.org.uk with your email or phone number

Saturday 9 March

Rt. Rev. Bishop Arnold to celebrate Mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Wigan 9:15am

Mass will be held at St Patricks, ahead of the Archdiocese of Liverpool Environment Conference Rt. Rev. Bishop John Arnold will be Principal Celebrant with Archbishop Malcom, Fr O’Shea and other celebrating clergy. Everyone is welcome, in particular those attending the conference.

Care for Creation: Commitments, Actions and Participation

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Hardybutts, Wigan, WN1 3RZ 10:00AM - 3:30PM

Providing input on the latest environmental initiatives across the archdiocese, and Care for Creation leadership training. Speakers on the day include: Bishop John Arnold, the current Environmental Lead for the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales. To book, visit: archdioceseofliverpool. churchsuite.com/events/vr8p9ggi

Monday 11th March

“Walking With Jesus Through the First Holy Week” A talk by David McLoughlin St. Anne’s Pastoral Centre, Ormskirk 7.00pm

Join David McLoughlin, Emeritus Fellow of Christian Theology at Newman University, as he explores the key events, clashes, and challenges that led to Jesus’ death in St Mark’s Gospel and re-examine

with him the meaning of that death. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Tuesday 12 March

Time Out on Tuesdays

Sisters of Our Lady of the Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Wavertree, L15 6TW 10:30am - 4pm

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

Wednesday 13 March

Becoming a Welcoming Parish 7:00pm-8:30pm Online

Find out how we include people of all cultures and backgrounds in our parishes, as part of this series. Guest speakers include: Jennie Taylor, Racial Justice Officer, Liverpool Diocese and; Emily Shepherd of Welcome Churches. To sign up for this online event, visit: archdioceseofliverpool.churchsuite.com/ events/he8uloch

Friday 15 March

Patronal Feast Day Procession, Mass and Celebrations

St Patrick’s Church, Wigan (WN1 3RZ) 1:45pm

Procession of St Patrick’s Statue, Banners and Children’s Artwork (from St Patrick’s Primary School into Church). Holy Mass at 2pm, celebrated by Father Ian O’Shea, Parish Priest, and Concelebrating Clergy. At 7pm, there will be a ticket-only Irish Night in Whelley Ex-Servicemen’s Club, with music from Michael Coyne and Traditional Irish Dancing. Tickets for the Evening Celebrations are priced at £10 and can be purchased from the Church directly.

Thursday 21 March

St Patrick’s Spring Concert

St Patrick’s, Toxteth, L8 5RA 4:30pm

In association with the University of Liverpool, St Patrick’s will host the first of two concerts featuring students from the University of Liverpool performing a range of classical music in a wide variety of styles. All are welcome.

Website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

Romero Mass

St Oswald & St Edmund Arrowsmith, Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 9NP 7:00PM

Ahead of the Feast Day of St Oscar Romero, there will be a special Mass at St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith, with an opportunity to venerate the relics of St Romero. All are welcome.

Drawing us close to Christ and the Saints: Relics and their meaning for us today

St Oswald & St Edmund Arrowsmith, Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 9NP 8:00pm - 9:00pm

Following the Romero Mass, Dr Jan Graffius will speak about relics and their significance for Catholics. This will include the opportunity to learn more about relics, such as those of St Edmund, and of St Oscar Romero, whose relic was gifted to the archdiocese by the Romero Trust. Dr Graffius is the Curator of Collections for the College Museum, Library and Archives at Stonyhurst College, and Trustee of the Romero Trust.

North Merseyside Newman Circle Talk: “Walking in the Winter of Life.”

Speaker: Dr. Karen Groves.

St. Helen’s Parish Centre, Crosby, L23 7TQ 7.30pm

This talk will look broadly at what it means to be approaching the end of our lives, what preparations and changes we might want to make to live life to the full to the end, and how we assess and meet the spiritual needs of those who are dying. Ample parking in the church car park and no admission charge.

Saturday 23 March

The Carrying of the Cross St Luke’s Church 2pm

The Missionaries of Charity will be undertaking the Carrying of the Cross from the junction of Church Street and Lord Street at 2pm and finishing at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church. All are welcome to attend.

Saturday 30 March

Belle Vale Passion

Belle Vale Shopping Centre, Childwall Valley Road, Liverpool, L25 2RF 12pm

Based on the moving musical drama, Born For This, the Belle Vale Passion tells the story of the final stages of Jesus’ life to his crucifixion and death. This is an unmissable performance, held in the middle of Belle Vale Shopping Centre. For more info, visit: bellevalepassion.co.uk

Gill Hamilton Expressing her faith through art

By Simon Hart

‘It has all come about because of my faith deepening and spending more time going to Mass and doing more spiritual reading.’ Artist Gill Hamilton is reflecting on the source of inspiration for her Stations of the Cross sketches – a personal project which has led to an exhibition over Lent and Easter at Manchester Cathedral.

Gill’s 14 sketches, titled ‘Behold’ and to be exhibited in the cathedral’s Chapter House from 18 March until 6 April, are the culmination of a whirlwind period for the parishioner at Saint Lewis, Croft, in Warrington.

‘Last Lent I began it as an experiment for myself,’ explains Gill, a former primary school teacher who is better known for her still-life work. Moved by an interest ‘to express my faith in my artwork’, she began with a visit to the art society in Altrincham, where she is a member, to see a life model there.

‘I managed to get him to do some posing for me, just brief poses that I sketched, and I also took some photos,’ she explains. ‘He didn’t look anything like Jesus at all! He was bald with no beard. But it gave me the angles of the face to work on.’

By the end of Lent last year she had done seven sketches. It was the inclusion of one of them in an exhibition on the ‘Meditation of Drawing’ – organised by the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts –which led the project to accelerate. ‘The director of development at Manchester Cathedral saw it there and contacted me,’ she says. Cue a hurry to get the other half done.

Gill’s approach has been to focus on the face of Jesus. ‘Although the Stations of the Cross are quite meditative, I didn’t think they were personal enough somehow,’ she reflects. ‘You see the scene there and what is happening but my idea was to get to the expression on his face, to be more personal, to be more intimate and vulnerable.’

While completing the sketches, she contacted the Vatican for permission to use the prayers that Pope Saint John Paul II had written for his ‘Via Crucis’ in the Colosseum on Good Friday

in 2000. These feature in an accompanying catalogue of the sketches. ‘I produced a booklet which is for sale and will hopefully raise some money for the SVP at my parish,’ says Gill, whose plan, in time, is to ‘turn each sketch into a painting’.

Gill, who did an Art foundation degree at Burnley College of Art, actually trained as an art teacher before moving into the early years sector. It was on taking early retirement to care for her mother that she began to properly devote time to her painting. ‘That was 20 years ago,’ explains the mother of four.

‘My kids were in their teens by then and while my mum didn’t need 24-hour care, she needed someone at home all the time, and it gave me time at home with her. I started to paint again and concentrated mainly on still-life paintings.’

Her early work included portraits of sportsmen – rugby league players from Warrington Wolves and footballers for the Stoke City former players’ foundation. ‘I painted a few of their players and got to meet Asmir Begovic, the goalkeeper, who was lovely. He actually kept my painting as he liked it so much.’

Today, while her husband, Gerry, is busy in the garden, she will happily spend up to six hours a day in her home studio. A member of the Society of Catholic Artists, she has paintings hanging in five galleries around the country. ‘It gives you a thrill,’ she says. ‘To think somebody will part with their money to buy something you’ve created is a great feeling that never fades.’

That is mostly from her still-life work, yet what fascinates her most is the human face – hence the personal focus on Jesus in her ‘Behold’ sketches.

‘I go to a lot of life drawing sessions and that is something I really enjoy. I enjoy getting character into people’s faces, which I suppose is going away from what I normally do. You can lose yourself in painting. It is a meditative process really.’

Visit Gill’s website to read more about ‘Behold’ and order copies of her sketches: www.hamiltonoriginalart.co.uk

Music at the Met for Lent

by Dr Christopher McElroy Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

For the season of Lent this year, we are offering musical reflections on various aspects of the passion narrative on Sunday afternoons in place of Choral Evening Prayer.

On the Second Sunday of Lent (25 February), the Cathedral Choir will sing movements from the Lenten portion of Handel’s Messiah. The text of Handel’s most famous oratorio was written by Charles Jennens and is an extended reflection in three parts on Jesus’ life, spanning his birth, death and resurrection. The movements contained in the second part focus on the passion and death of the Messiah, and include some of the famous choruses such as ‘All we like sheep’ and ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’

On the Third Sunday of Lent (3 March) our boy choristers and lay clerks will sing The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross by César Franck. The composer is best known in Catholic parishes today for his Panis Angelicus. The Seven Last Words is a devotional work written in 1859, but never performed until the work was discovered in 1977. Franck was not the only composer to set the seven last words of Jesus (actually, sentences not words!) but Franck was unusual in that he sought to expand on the brief text by supplementing other biblical and liturgical texts, reflecting the fact that Franck was a parish church organist steeped in the Catholic liturgical tradition. Of interest to Franck was not so much the suffering of Christ on the Cross, but what lay beneath and what the crucifixion symbolised.

On the Fourth Sunday of Lent (10 March) the focus shifts to Mary, appropriately so, as we celebrate Mothering Sunday. As is traditional at the cathedral, our girl choristers will sing Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater Dolorosa. The text of the Stabat Mater is a 13th-century hymn reflecting on Mary’s suffering during the crucifixion of her son. The powerful words have inspired many composers to set the text to music, including the 18th-century

Italian composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. Pergolesi’s musical setting alternates movements sung by the full choir, and sections sung by soloists. The singing will be accompanied by two violins and a chamber organ.

On the Fifth Sunday of Lent (17 March) our Lay Clerks will sing a setting of the Lamentations of Jeremiah by Thomas Tallis. The biblical text (drawn from the first five verses of the book of Lamentations) was originally set for the holy week office of Tenebrae. Tallis’ composition is extraordinarily impassioned music written during the turbulent Tudor period, capturing the longing of the text alongside the hope inspired by its concluding statement: ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord your God.’

Our Lenten series finishes on Palm Sunday (24 March) with the sung office of Tenebrae at 19.30 with the responsories sung to a musical setting by Tomás Luis de Victoria, and Psalm 50, Miserere Mei, being sung to the famous setting by Gregorio Allegri.

All of these Lenten offerings take place at 15.00 on Sunday afternoons (with the exception of Palm Sunday) in Lent and are free to attend.

Cathedral Record

Canon Anthony O’Brien –Cathedral Dean

Holy Week and Easter is the summit liturgical period of our year here at the cathedral, so this month’s record is focused entirely on the services and events related to this.

We normally begin Palm Sunday in the Cathedral Garden, but this is out of use due to building work at present, so we will begin our Solemn Blessing and Procession of Palm up on the Cathedral Plateau this year on 24 March. This is one of the two days in the year when the passion narrative is sung (the other being Good Friday) and this heightens the drama and meaning of the narrative. On Palm Sunday evening at 7.30pm, there is a special Holy Week Tenebrae Service.

On Wednesday evening we gather as an archdiocesan family to take part in the Mass of Chrism. At this service, the priests renew their commitment and the oils that are used in parishes across the archdiocese for the celebration of the sacraments are blessed. It is one of the few times in the year when the Cathedral is full to capacity for the celebration of Mass.

The three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday all begin with a Choral Office of Readings and Morning Prayer at 10am. They help to define a structure of prayer throughout these days focusing on the suffering, death and resurrection of the Lord. The Evening celebration of the Lord’s Supper is both a thanksgiving for the gift of the Eucharist and a renewal of dedication to follow Christ through lives of service, and this concludes with watching until 10pm. On Good Friday, Bishop Tom Williams will lead a service of Stations of the Cross after the sung office and Archbishop Malcolm will preside in the afternoon at the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion.

On the Final weekend of March, we begin our celebrations of Easter with the Vigil, which will be at 8pm this year. The Easter Fire is blessed outside and we welcome the light of the Risen Christ, and then process in to celebrate the First Mass of Easter and celebrate the baptism and reception of new adult members of the church. Our Easter Sunday Mass times are as a normal Sunday, and we have a special Easter Choral Evening Prayer at 3pm for Easter Day.

I wish you all a very happy Easter.

ASMAT shortlisted in the MAT Excellence Awards

All Saints Multi Academy Trust (ASMAT) is thrilled to announce it has been shortlisted for ‘MAT (Multi Academy Trust) of the year’ in this year’s MAT Excellence Awards.

This recognition highlights the trust’s commitment to delivering high-quality education across its academies, promoting inclusivity, and achieving remarkable outcomes for both students and staff.

The Liverpool-based trust, jointly sponsored by the Diocese and the Archdiocese of Liverpool, is made up of four secondary schools, one primary school and two sixth form colleges. A further two primary schools are set to join in March.

Under the guidance of a strong and visionary leadership team, ASMAT is consistent in demonstrating best practice with innovative strategies, collaborative approaches and a dedication to fostering a positive learning environment.

The trust is inspired by the ecumenical vision of Liverpool’s former Bishops’ Sheppard and Worlock that societies are ‘stronger and better together’. Its values of ‘Aspiration, Inclusion and Service’ underpin everything it does.

The MAT Excellence Awards are all about celebrating excellence and impact within trusts, and making the shortlist

is a testament to the exceptional work and commitment of everyone within ASMAT.

Heather Duggan, CEO of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, said: “Being shortlisted for the ‘MAT of the year’ award is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the collective effort of our talented educators, committed staff, and the supportive communities within our academies.

“We are very proud to have been shortlisted alongside some incredible trusts from around the country and we look forward to the official awards ceremony later this year.”

Members of All Saints Multi Academy Trust include; The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, The Academy of St Nicholas, St Margaret’s Church of England Academy, Hope Academy, All Saints Sixth Form College, St Margaret’s Church of England Sixth Form and Faith Primary Academy.

Maricourt’s magical Matilda production

The pupils of Maricourt Catholic High School in Maghull have exceeded expectations of what a school show should be, with their recent production of Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda Jnr’, by Musical Theatre Interantional (MTI).

The huge role of Matilda was performed by the school’s youngest ever lead. Sienna, who is only in Year 8, wowed audiences with her take on the troubled but empowered heroine, while her nemesis, Miss Trunchbull, was expertly and hilariously played by Hannah in Year 11.

Loveable and put-upon Miss Honey was played brilliantly by Aimee in Year 10. The entire 60+ cast and crew ranged from Years 7-12 and the tech team who ran the show each night was made entirely of pupils.

The Mayor of Sefton, who was invited to the show on opening night, expressed how fantastic the cast were and how professional they appeared on stage, something the school always strives to achieve.

Mrs Louise Liptrot, head of drama, said: “Once again I am unbelievably proud of our pupils and how hard they have worked to create such an amazing production.

“They willingly gave up so much of their own time to rehearse, they really made us see how important and relevant the arts are in schools and how they can help transform our perception of pupils’ talents and abilities.

“It’s a great platform for finding and showcasing talent and we are privileged to be able to work with such remarkable young people”.

Schoolchildren have their say in Giving Back to Garston

Eleven organisations have been given thousands of pounds in funding to deliver youth engagement projects in Garston.

At an event at The Academy of St Nicholas, schoolchildren from the academy and five local primary schools (St Austin’s, Garston CE, Banks Road, Gilmour Juniors and Holy Trinity) decided who should win the share of £31,000, made available using money seized from criminals.

The children rated each group’s pitch on a scale of 1 to 5 points. The top five organisations winning £5,000 were:

• Everton in the Community – A programme of activities, trips, and tournaments for young people during the Easter halfterm, to build relationships and break down barriers.

• KMC Community Projects Ltd – KMC’s sports and fitness camp will promote a healthier lifestyle and encourage young people to learn new skills and meet new friends, and even get involved in volunteering and apprenticeships.

• GAP Detached Team – The youth workers at GAP will deliver a bespoke programme to the area’s young people, focused on topics such as drugs, alcohol, ASB and exploitation. It will culminate in a residential trip.

• Apollo Sports Club CIC – ‘Sports in the Park’ will offer young people the chance to try American football with the Jacksonville Jaguars, take part in an athletics programme with Katarina Johnson-Thompson and play football with Apollo JFC.

• Strictly Boxing Fitness Studio – The Studio’s boxing and Ju Jitsu courses will introduce young people to this sport in a fun, structured way. The sessions will also focus on topics such as anxiety, peer pressure and fitting in.

Inspector Nicola Hamilton from the local policing team said:

“Thank you to all the bidding groups who took part, The Academy of St Nicholas for all their support in making the event happen, and the schoolchildren themselves for their brilliant job as judges.”

Mr Gary Lloyd, headteacher of The Academy of St Nicholas, said: “The students loved learning about the incredible work of these local community groups and deciding who should benefit from this funding, which in turn, will directly impact the young people of Garston.”

The event was featured on the BBC One Show on 20 February.

Students encouraged to ‘Be Who You Are Called to Be’ at St Gregory’s

Recently, St Gregory’s Catholic High School chaplain, Suzie Whitlow, delivered frames to all the schools and communities that took part in the school’s Anti-Bullying Week community campaign. The frame was a piece of album artwork, designed by a Year 7 student at the school.

The high school, which is based in Warrington, marked the week in November with community campaign ‘Be Who You Are Called to Be’.

There was a focus on exploring gifts and talents given by God and how to use them for good. The end result was a music video featuring students from St Gregory’s alongside Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and St Vincent’s

Catholic Primary School and residents from Woodleigh Care Home.

During Anti-Bullying week, St Gregory’s then held a premier night where they raised over £70 for The Diana Award - a charity that specialises in anti-bullying resources. Rachel, a parent whose son appears in the video, said: “We were delighted to be invited to attend the St Gregory’s evening for their Anti-Bullying Week. It was great to see so many of our amazing children celebrating and sharing their gifts and talents.

“I was so proud of my son for his Irish dancing clip in the lovely video. A big well done to all involved and especially to the children for showcasing their achievements.”

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust staff share curriculum expertise

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust’s most recent staff conference took place on 9 February 2024, with a focus on curriculum.

For the first time, staff across all phases, from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Key Stage 4, got together to explore the trust curriculum progression model. Subject teachers, pastoral leads, business and operations staff and teaching assistants took part in bespoke conference strands, allowing them to delve deeper into their specialist areas and develop their practice.

Adele Quarless, deputy headteacher of St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy, said: “As teachers, we very rarely get chance to just share ideas about our curriculum. I think it’s really important that we see the journey from Early Years right through to Key Stage 4.”

Michael Gun-Why, director of school improvement (secondary), added: “The networks that are being formed around subject expertise and curriculum knowledge ultimately lead to higher quality teaching and better outcomes for our pupils.”

Staff professional development is a real strength across St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust. It invests in its colleagues so that they can ‘deliver a world-class Catholic education’.

Michael Gun-Why said: “As a trust, we really pride ourselves on the quality of our professional development. We have more inset days and professional development days than the majority of other schools and trusts nationwide.”

The trust has recently become a Teach First training partner, providing high-quality Initial Teacher Training through The SJCMAT Teacher Training Hub. Through this work, St Joseph Catholic MAT will provide expert support and world-class professional development to teaching professionals from the very beginning of their teaching careers.

St John Rigby students get front-row tickets to see Pope Francis in Italy

Religious studies students at St John Rigby College in Wigan enjoyed an inspiring and uplifting trip to Rome at the beginning of February.

The four-day pilgrimage included both historic and religious visits including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.

Students particularly enjoyed their time at Tre Fontane, a historic Cistercian monastery, built on the site of St Paul’s martyrdom. When the saint was beheaded, three springs or fountains are said to have sprung up in the three spots where his head bounced on the ground, and the religious foundation commemorates this miracle.

The students were able to celebrate Mass at St Paul’s Basilica. St Paul’s is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas. The group also visited St Peter’s Basilica and Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. The highlight of the trip was the Papal audience on Wednesday 7 February. Students were granted tickets at the front of the auditorium, providing them with an excellent view of His Holiness. Pope Francis spoke about sadness and invited everyone to take comfort in Jesus’ Resurrection, saying ‘He can comfort our despair and sense of loss if we respond with faith in God’s goodness.’

Michelle McGlown, head of religious education at the college, said: “The visit to Rome was a deeply spiritual experience that renewed the faith of both students and staff.”

St Mary’s students shine in Bugsy Malone production

Students from St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey, recently took to the Floral Pavilion Theatre stage to perform the comedic musical, Bugsy Malone, across three very wellreceived shows.

With more tickets and even an extra performance added due to high demand, each show had multiple standing ovations. Set in 1929, the slapstick mobster musical follows a group of children part of two rival gangs, who engage in business, love, and war, also fighting using the brand-new ‘splurge’ guns. It explores the battle for power between the gangs and their leaders, as well as the story of onetime boxer Bugsy himself.

The St Mary’s cast was led by head of performing arts at the school, Miss Ally Keen, and consisted of over 130 young people, who used their talent and creativity to fantastically portray the roles of the young and ambitious American mobsters.

Other students supported with the preproduction, taking on cast and crew roles to help with set design, prop creation, costumes and assisting with the running of the show.

Local primary school pupils were also involved in the musical, including those from St Paul’s RC Primary, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, and St Alban’s Catholic Primary.

Leading up to the shows, the children took part in a range of workshops and rehearsals to practice their dancing, gymnastic and singing skills before

coming together with the older St Mary’s students to perfect the scenes.

Headteacher of St Mary’s Catholic College, Mr Kevin Maddocks, commented: “It’s so important that our young people engage in the arts and perform in front of large, live audiences, supporting them to develop their skills and confidence. Being able to do this in a theatre is a wonderful experience for the pupils.”

The 8-year-old raising money for local food banks

8-year-old Ted Reader will be doing a walk from St Andrew’s Church in May to raise money for North Liverpool Foodbank and St Andrew’s Community Network.

Ted, who is a pupil at Runnymede St Edward’s, raised £1775 last year for doing a charity walk for the same cause.

During the COVID-19 national lockdown, Ted’s dad, Simon, began helping Ted’s mum at the North Liverpool Food Bank outlet she runs at All Saints Church, Stoneycroft. As Ted was only three, he tagged along.

Now, Ted helps at the food bank when he can during the school holidays; bringing in deliveries, filling shelves and packing bags.

Ted was inspired last year after watching rugby coach Kevin Sinfield do a fundraising run for his friend. He and his dad settled on a walk rather than a run and set a target of £300 for the food bank, which was exceeded massively.

Shortly after Christmas, Ted asked his dad if he could do another walk ‘because last year’s had raised so much money that will have helped lots of people, and it would be good to help more.’

The aim is to collect food donations as well as cash for the food banks, and to spread the word about what the food banks do and also what other services St Andrew’s Community Network and other similar organisations have to offer. People are welcome to tag along on the walk.

Beginning from St Andrew’s Church on Queen’s Drive, Ted will head north towards Bootle, and pass through areas like Pier Head, Sefton Park, and the Childwall Fiveways. The walk will finish at St Andrew’s Church, where it all started.

For more information, check out Ted’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/ted-reader-1707140338369

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”

Saint Catherine of Siena

Lent is the season we find ourselves exploring our relationship with God and others. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

In our schools and colleges, there are many different activities during this Lent season. Many pupils/students will be taking part in the CAFOD Big Lent Walk and CAFOD Family Fast Day. Archbishop Malcolm has requested that schools also raise money for one of his two chosen charities: Asylum Link Merseyside and the Children of Gaza and the Holy Land. The traditional routines of prayer and liturgy will continue and many of our priests will say Mass and offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There will be Lenten services and our young people will be reminded of the significance of the Lenten season as we move towards the celebrations at Easter.

In Pope Francis’ Lenten message: “Through the desert, God leads us to freedom”, he emphasises the importance of listening to the cries of the oppressed and confronting personal and societal idols. This is a key mission for all of us in Catholic education. How do we present to the young people the messages of peace and love in a time of conflict and hardship throughout the world? Our young people every day are bombarded with messages that are in direct opposition to our Gospel values. It is important that we, as educators, encourage our young people to confront these personal and societal idols.

One of the biggest lessons our schools/colleges are having to teach is that of resilience and the acceptance that failure occurs in one’s life. Many of our young people put themselves under pressure to be perfect and successful. They feel that success depends on being perfect. This is a theme that I have referred to before and will do in the future.

St Catherine wrote: “Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” Her message shows us that there will always be hardships that we endure to achieve something great, like a relationship with God. As children of God, we must persevere through these doubts and pursue a life in complete faith in God. Our young people are called to serve God and be role models for others. It is no easy task to do this. We may have to endure this Lent, through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. There is a chance that we may fail, but we can always start again. The Resurrection is the story of hope and freedom.

My request is that in your prayers this Lent, please pray for all in our schools and colleges. We pray that our young people be guided by God through the desert this Lent.

Joan McCarthy Director of Education Archdiocese of Liverpool

St John Plessington deliver a spellbinding performance of The Addams Family

Students from St John Plessington Catholic College took to the Gladstone Theatre stage, Port Sunlight, to perform a spooky and comical ‘boy meets girl’ adaptation of The Addams Family.

A tale of love, acceptance and friendship, the production had something for everyone. The unique story was told by a cast and team of 80 students, including actors, dancers, musicians, and backstage crew.

Students from across all year groups took to the professional stage at the Gladstone Theatre. Laughter, cheering and applause echoed throughout the theatre walls.

The audience consisted of St John Plessington students, staff members, and the wider community, with a total of 800 attendees across two shows.

St John Plessington enlisted the help of Church Drive Primary School, who performed a fantastic retro dance routine at the start of the second act.

Students at the school also collaborated with staff from across different departments.

The technical team at the Gladstone Theatre were on hand to offer their invaluable tech skills and support.

Annabelle Hughes Ikpoh, who took on the role of Morticia Addams, shared how delighted she was to perform alongside her castmates. She said: “Doing the show in a week was challenging but a truly gratifying experience I’ll never forget. Being part of the performing arts and music department at St John Plessington has helped me pave the way for my future.”

Headteacher at St John Plessington Catholic College, Mr Peadar McLoughlin, commented: “From everyone at St John Plessington, we would like to congratulate the cast, crew and staff for producing such an incredible show.

“Our school’s mission is to empower an inclusive community founded on Gospel values. It has been fantastic to witness the incredible work in partnership with the wider school community, the Gladstone Theatre and Church Drive Primary School to create something amazing.”

Runcorn school supports local community with incredible foodbank donation

St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery, located on Conwy Court, Runcorn, recently ran a remarkable foodbank campaign that will help hundreds of local people access essential food parcels.

Staff, pupils, parents, and carers came together to support their community and were encouraged to contribute anything they could for the Runcorn and District Foodbank.

In total, the school collected an astonishing 185.65kg of food for the worthy cause. As a result of this generosity, over 530 meals can be provided to those in need.

With the increasing costs of food, household items, energy and more, many people have unfortunately been impacted by the rising cost of living and now rely on foodbanks.

The Runcorn and District Foodbank has experienced an influx in demand, so the donation comes at the perfect time.

St Augustine’s, part of the Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, prides itself on its Christian values and mission statement of serving families within the wider community, offering a welcoming and loving environment.

The primary school has ambitious plans to support other local charities throughout the academic year.

Mr John Marciniak, interim headteacher of St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery, said: “We are so proud that our foodbank campaign was such a huge success. Our pupils have really enjoyed getting involved, and we’re extremely grateful for the contributions made by our staff, parents, carers and the wider school community.

“Giving back and looking after one another is an important aspect of school life at St Augustine’s, and we are keen to continue working with charitable organisations to show our love and support to those around us, whether that be through gathering much-needed donations, raising funds, or other charitable activities.”

CEO of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Andy Moor, commented: “It is part of our Trust’s mission to build strong communities with Gospel values at the heart, and the work that takes place at St Augustine’s goes towards reaching this. A huge well done to the whole school community for their dedication; the effect that this will have on local families is incredible.”

St John Bosco Arts College plan a jam-packed Lent itinerary for students

Situated in the heart of Croxteth, St John Bosco Arts College has planned a variety of events and activities throughout Lent to help pupils celebrate in faith, hope and love.

Throughout Lent, St John Bosco will continue its weekly rosary enabling students to pray for their own intentions.

A Lenten service will be hosted for pupils in the prayer room and will focus on Jesus as someone to follow.

The activities will conclude during Holy Week when students present The Passion, a play written by the school’s chaplain, Anne Quirk. The Passion will be a reflective and creative performance chronicling the last days of Jesus’ life, using contemporary music to bring the show to life.

The school is opening its doors on Tuesday, 26 March, and inviting members of the local community to come and watch the performance.

Each year during Lent, the school places a huge emphasis on supporting the local community and charities. This year, the

theme is ‘home and away’, and St John Bosco plans to host fundraising activities and events in aid of CAFOD as well as local Liverpool charities.

The sponsored ‘Big Walk’ campaign, which invites students and staff to get involved, will help raise money towards the construction of a school in Malawi.

The school’s home charity focuses on raising funds for families within the local community, helping them access food, household items and other essentials.

Headteacher at St John Bosco Arts College, Darren Gidman, said: “Lent is an important time in the Catholic calendar, and we want to ensure our pupils have the opportunity to experience faith in different ways.

“Through our values of faith, hope and love, respect and community, we can foster an environment and create experiences for our students to flourish.”

Entries for the Educate Awards 2024 are now open!

The prestigious Educate Awards has announced that entries for 2024 are now officially open.

Founded by Kim O’Brien in 2012, the Educate Awards is the largest education awards in the North West and celebrates the achievements of schools, colleges, academies, and their teaching and non-teaching staff.

The awards, in partnership with ASL, is open to all primary and secondary schools, colleges, academies and multi academy trusts across the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire. It is also open to independent private educational establishments, further education providers, special schools and specialist provisions.

In January, Educate Awards revealed the launch of a brand-new category for 2024, ‘Most Inspirational Multi Academy Trust’. Sponsoring the Most Inspirational Multi Academy Trust award is sector-leading recruitment and bespoke consultancy organisation, Satis Education.

The new category will recognise a multi academy trust (MAT) which is committed to delivering outstanding educational outcomes for students across all its academies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in learning and teaching.

Educate Awards also announced that another exciting new sponsor will join the established list of loyal partners, innovative edtech and award-winning business, EdenFiftyOne™, which will sponsor the Innovative & Creative Literacy Award.

With the addition of the brand-new category, there are a total of 21 categories at the Educate Awards, all of which are completely free to enter.

There is something to suit every type of school, college, academy and MAT, whether you have an outstanding leadership team, excel in mental health and wellbeing support, or have the very best community partnerships.

There is no limit as to how many categories are entered and submissions should be no more than 750 words and include a brief entry summary. The deadline for entries is Sunday 14 July.

Kim O’Brien, Educate Awards founder, said: “The Educate Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible achievements of schools, colleges, academies and multi academy trusts across the North West.

“In 2023, there was an extremely high standard of entries, with some truly inspirational submissions.

“The awards are completely free to enter, so we encourage schools and colleges to enter, even if they haven’t entered before – there is a first time for everything. We love learning about the fantastic work across the region and want to showcase these wonderful achievements at our prestigious awards ceremony.”

Now in its thirteenth year, the Educate Awards 2024 will be in partnership with ASL. Associate sponsors include All About STEM, Angel Solutions, CER Education, CPMM Media Group, EdenFiftyOne™, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Careers Hub, Liverpool John Moore’s University, LSSP, Satis Education, SENDSCOPE, and SupplyWell.

The Educate Awards will return to the iconic Liverpool Cathedral in November 2024 with a jam-packed programme, including special performances from schools across the region.

A full list of categories can be found here: educateawards.co.uk/categories/

The Educate Awards team, together with the esteemed judging panel, have shared some valuable advice when it comes to crafting an award-winning entry. Find out more: educateawards.co.uk/advice-on-crafting-an-educateawards-entry/

The entry form is available here: educateawards.co.uk/how-to-enter/

St Mary’s Catholic College delighted to receive ‘good’ in the Catholic Schools Inspectorate

St Mary’s Catholic College in Wallasey is thrilled after receiving a ‘good’ rating from the Catholic Schools Inspectorate following its recent school inspection.

The Catholic Inspectorate assesses schools across three categories: Catholic life and mission, religious education and collective worship.

According to the report, the school motto of ‘Christ is within us all’ is ‘central to everything that takes place at St Mary’s, and underpins the inclusive and welcoming nature of the school community’.

The report also praised The Arc and Hub provisions at St Mary’s, labelling them as ‘beacons of hope’. The school’s continued commitment to inclusion and supporting those who most need it was a featured discussion throughout the inspection.

St Mary’s prides itself on fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment where students feel supported academically, emotionally, behaviourally and socially.

Inspectors highlighted the many ways in which groups of ‘students engage in the Catholic life and mission of St Mary’s, including the youth SVP group, the diversity group, the school council and the sixth form leadership team’.

Students spoke passionately about opportunities available to them throughout their time at the College.

The commitment to Catholic life and the school values at St Mary’s is highlighted throughout the report, with particular reference to the school governors and staff who model the values and who foster a welcoming and inclusive culture grounded in Catholicism.

St Mary’s was applauded for developing a ‘well-structured curriculum programme across all key stages’, where ‘students are growing in confidence in their religious literacy’.

Students at the school demonstrated a real appreciation for the religious education curriculum and described it as ‘thoughtprovoking’. The report went on to detail how the St Mary’s curriculum for religious education is ‘well-led, planned and resourced’ and outlined how student feedback demonstrates the impact of Catholic values that are developed across the school.

Inspectors also noted how, in partnership with the wider Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, ‘there are training opportunities for staff to enhance pedagogy and practice in the classroom’.

Staff at the school were applauded for ‘going the extra mile for their students to provide extra learning opportunities beyond timetabled lessons for examination classes’.

St Mary’s was awarded an ‘outstanding’ grade for pupil outcomes in the area of collective worship, with the report detailing the school’s exceptional commitment in facilitating prayer and thoughtful reflection time for the whole school community.

The report said: “There is a clear sense of rhythm and routine to the prayer life at St Mary’s with the opportunity for a variety of liturgical experiences for students across the whole school year including retreats and reconciliation.”

Partnerships with local parishes were described as ‘a real strength’ and it was recognised that ‘St Mary’s is blessed by the opportunities this brings’. The involvement of local clergy in training has been appreciated and as a result, staff have ‘grown in confidence in their delivery of prayer and liturgy’.

Commenting on the report, headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic College, Mr Kevin Maddocks, said: “We are elated that we have received an overall ‘good’ rating from the archdiocesan inspectors.

“St Mary’s Catholic College is committed to fostering a learning environment where students are supported to achieve and flourish in faith. Our deep-rooted values are reflected in every aspect of school life.

“We are delighted that the report recognised our commitment to ensuring students are excited and engaged in Catholic life and religious education.”

The full report from the Catholic Inspectorate can be found at: stmaryswallasey.com/wp-content/ uploads/2023/11/20231102_143554_St-Marys-CatholicCollege-Wallasey.pdf

From bread-making to ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’

Ellie Leatherbarrow explains some of the ways that Animate Youth Ministries get young people to reflect on life and faith.

So far this academic year it has been great to work with so many young people, and to come up with brand-new ideas for how to improve the different things we get up to here at Animate Youth Ministries. I thought in this article I would tell you some of the highlights of the year up until now.

One of my highlights was with St Cecilia’s High School from Preston. Back in November we welcomed a group of Year 11s from St Cecilia’s to our base at Lowe House, St Helens. It was great to be working with pupils from that school for the first time. The theme we were looking at on the day was selfdevelopment and self-worth with the idea of looking forward to the future. The first activity we did was some bread-making. This was to show how we need to put all our ingredients together, and with the right quantities, to make the bread – and how once the dough is made and has the right consistency, it can be shaped and used in whatever way we see fit.

In our own lives we have a lot of people who have helped shape and develop us to be the individuals we are. We have all been given different things in our lives to be the best versions of ourselves. This idea helped to open up the day and allow these Year 11 pupils to understand the theme better. (Though I will say not all the bread turned out quite right!)

Another more recent highlight came when we welcomed youngsters from St Mary’s Catholic Academy in Blackpool. The theme for this day was based on how we can care for other people. With this session, we do an activity which we like to call ‘crystal maze’. We allow the group to run around the house to complete different challenges against other groups. The point of the activity is that we all have something to offer in society – and can all work together to make the community the best place it can be.

At the moment we are currently going around different schools in the archdiocese to deliver a presentation about the Sacrament of Confirmation. It has been great to visit so many schools that we potentially might not otherwise work with during the academic year.

One of the activities we do is a game of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’. Obviously we don’t offer them £1million (!) but one person does have the opportunity to win £10. It is always fun to see the different answers they come up with. Moreover, I act as a lifeline in the game, meaning that each participant can ask me for the answer to one of their questions. And whether they do this or not can be seen as representing faith – how it can be there for us when we need it the most.

In short, it has been amazing working with so many different young people so far in 2023/24 and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for us at Animate.

Mums the Word

Commencing on Ash Wednesday and culminating with evening Mass on Holy Thursday, this year’s Lenten season spans from February 14 to March 28, coincidentally beginning on Valentine’s Day. Christians use this time to pray and do penance ahead of the Easter holidays, and many abstain from luxuries and commit themselves to fasting as a way to replicate Jesus’s sacrifice and his avoidance of temptation during those 40 days.

Lent is a period of self-discipline that is still honoured by Christians all over the world as a way to prepare them for Easter, which is considered the holiest day of the year as it commemorates Jesus’s resurrection.

This is why rich foods such as pancakes were historically eaten on this day, as a way for households to use up sugar, fats, and eggs in their cupboards before the fasting season began.

The three main things people focus on in Lent are prayer, fasting, and giving to charity.

Fasting or giving something up is a very common practice during Lent. Millions of Christians do this to symbolise Jesus’ sacrifice before he was crucified. It is also becoming increasingly common for people to give up other things in order to refocus their faith during this time, such as watching TV, and even social media.

And, of course, more and more Christians are turning to the 40acts challenge as a way of doing Lent differently; rather than giving something up, many Christians are opting to add something to their lives during Lent, using simple daily reflections and acts of generosity as a way of putting others first.

Sundays during Lent are very important to Christians around the world. Where the Monday to Saturday of each of the six weeks are based on fasting and abstinence, the Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The fourth and sixth Sundays are particularly important in the UK – the fourth because it is Mothering Sunday (Mother’s Day) and the sixth because it is Palm Sunday - offering occasions to honour maternal love and welcome the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

As Lent unfolds, communities gather for worship, fellowship, and communal acts of devotion. Our next bi-monthly Mass is at St Francis of Assisi in Garston on Wednesday 13 March - we hope to see you there during this special time. Together, let us embrace the transformative journey of Lent, as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the resurrection and the promise of new life.

Maria Pimblett, media officer

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

Knights raise £4,500 for Woolton hospice

As we have reported over the last few months, Council 9 in South Liverpool have raised £4,500 for Marie Curie through the proceeds of their annual Steve Dooley and Pat McGann Memorial Sponsored Walk. The walk took place last September and, with all donations now gathered, arrangements were made to present the cheque at a social evening at Liverpool Cricket Club on Friday 26 January.

The presentation was made to Jen Corrigan, Marie Curie’s community fundraiser for Merseyside, by Brother Kevin Jones, the grand knight of Council 9. They are pictured here along with council treasurer Sean Morgan (far right) and Barbara Dooley (far left). Barbara, the widow of Brother Steve Dooley, is one of the founding members of this annual event which has raised thousands of pounds for worthy causes.

We wish to thank the parishioners of those South Liverpool churches which contributed so generously by returning sponsorship envelopes distributed at Masses, as well as the priests of those parishes who gave us permission to distribute and subsequently collect the returned envelopes. We also wish to pay tribute to the work of the Marie Curie Hospice and the specialist care it provides in Woolton. Our donation will pay for 196 hours of expert nursing care which will make a difference to so many people.

- Our ‘Let Life Flourish’ spiritual bouquet, in cooperation with the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC), has continued with several Zoom transmissions of the National Recitation of the Rosary. For each month there has been a special intention: January’s was ‘For families that they will remain supported and remain open to the gift of new life’; in February, it was ‘For those seeking healing after an experience of abortion’; while March’s intention was ‘For medical staff, that they will always act to protect the dignity of human life at every stage’.

This was the final column by longstanding Pic contributor David Keane, who will now pass the reins to Philip Woods. We thank David for all of his work reporting on the KSC’s activities.

Websites: www.ksc.org.uk

www.kscprov02.weebly.com

Email: dpokeane@aol.com

Nugent’s Impact: A Presentation at St Basil’s Catholic Primary School

Keith Wilde, Nugent’s Head of Communities, recently visited staff and students at St Basil’s Catholic Primary School in Widnes to tell them all about Nugent’s work within our local communities – work which has been made possible by their fundraising efforts.

St Basil’s has been on a fundraising mission for Nugent over the years, offering unwavering support for our various appeals. Keen to understand the direct impact of their efforts, the school eagerly welcomed Keith to deliver a presentation to the school. The presentation served as a comprehensive overview of Nugent’s extensive range of services, including care homes catering to vulnerable children and adults, as well as our adoption service. Keith navigated through the multitude of initiatives, ensuring the students gained insight into the diverse ways Nugent contributes to the wellbeing of individuals in need.

Keith also presented about our various challenge events, such as the Sahara Desert Trek and Sleep Out with Nugent. Students

were especially eager to take part, with one eager participant asking, ‘What date do we do the Sleep Out?’.

The enthusiastic pupils actively participated by asking thought-provoking questions, like ‘How do you care for people?’ and ‘If someone doesn’t want your help, what do you do?’ showcasing their genuine curiosity and empathy.

Keith Wilde, visibly pleased by the engagement and interest, described his time at St Basil’s as a fantastic opportunity to connect with a school that invests considerable effort in fundraising for Nugent. Reflecting on the visit, Keith emphasised the significance of such interactions, commenting, “It was a fantastic opportunity to meet a school who put in so much hard work to fundraise on behalf of Nugent and promote the work we carry out every day. The impact was made even more profound by the way the pupils engaged and demonstrated a genuine interest in our work. Thank you to the staff and students of St Basil’s Catholic Primary School for welcoming us!”

Normandie Wragg Chief Executive Nugent

Jo Henney Chief Executive Officer Nugent

Now, more than ever, Nugent requires your support. As a charity, we operate continuously throughout the year, not just during the festive season. We need your support to help us continue our vital work.

At Nugent, our commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those in need is a year-round endeavour. Whether it’s through our emergency Crisis Fund, our food and hygiene hubs, or the compassionate care we extend to individuals in our various care homes, every day is an opportunity for us to make a difference.

As a charity with over 140 years of experience, we understand the profound impact of continuous support. We rely on the generosity of donors and supporters to help us raise the funds necessary to assist those who truly depend on us.

Throughout the year, we host several events designed to engage our community and garner support. From the camaraderie of our Sleep Out with Nugent event to the Phil Thompson Golf Classic and the glamour of our annual gala, there are numerous ways for you to actively participate and contribute. These events not only serve as vital fundraisers but also foster a sense of unity within our community.

For those seeking a more personal touch, we encourage you to embark on your own fundraising journey. Whether it’s a daring parachute jump, an exhilarating abseil, or any creative idea you have in mind, our dedicated fundraising team is here to support you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to make a lasting impact on your community, we invite you to get in touch with our fundraising team at fundraising@wearenugent.org or by calling 0151 261 2000.

Your support ensures that Nugent can continue its mission of improving health, life chances, and overall quality of life, while reducing poverty and increasing safety for all.

Together, let’s make every day an opportunity to uplift and empower those in need.

Dialogue and Unity Reflections on the warmest of Unity weeks

By Ultan Russell, Archdiocesan ecumenical officer

The first event in Unity Week began with a really warm welcome in a really warm building! Joking aside, we were able to enjoy a unique gathering for Churches Together in the Merseyside Region (CTMR) to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January.

Church leaders gathered with colleagues involved in ecumenical work for a lunch at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre on Monday 22 January – an opportunity for prayer, networking, and the sharing of key examples of practical church engagement in the community.

Bishop Tom Neylon led the delegation from the archdiocese, which included:

- Father Philip Inch, Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Organisation and Synod Implementation, who has been involved in creative work with colleagues from other denominations, notably over the use of church buildings.

- Sister Lynne Baron FCJ, the Archbishop’s delegate on Social Action, who oversees our ever-expanding work in this area, which is undertaken by Pablo Guidi as the Catholic Social Action coordinator and our Justice and Peace Commission.

- Sr Moira Meeghan, outreach worker at the Irenaeus Centre, who has been instrumental in joint initiatives with the Church of England diocese on faith and spirituality and previously was head of the Faith Anglican/Catholic Primary School in Everton.

- Harriet Anwyl, our communications officer who does amazing work editing the Pic, working with the press and keeping us updated on news from around the archdiocese.

- Ultan Russell, the archdiocesan ecumenical officer and chair of the Commission for Dialogue and Unity.

This was a gathering arranged with customary enthusiasm and efficiency by Elisabeth Hachmoeller, CTMR ecumenical co-ordinator (and member of the Focolare), and chaired by Rev Phil Jump, the NW Baptist Association’s regional minister, and it featured insights into various aspects of work by the Churches on justice and inclusion.

Rev Canon Ellen Loudon, Director of Social Justice and Canon Chancellor at Liverpool Cathedral, focused on asylum seekers and the sterling work by many in the Churches, notably through organisations like Asylum Link. She spoke of her work with the C of E Bishop of Liverpool, who chairs Churches Together in Britain and Ireland’s Church Refugee Network. She highlighted the problems faced when asylum seekers are given leave to stay and suddenly lose their home and suffer delays in recalibrating their benefits.

Rev Tani Omideyi, Senior pastor and chair of Love and Joy Ministries UK and one of the leaders of Together for the Harvest (our regional network affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance), spoke of the importance of forging links with civic society. She cited the strong links between Churches and the Greater Manchester Metropolitan Mayor as something to replicate here on Merseyside.

Rev Zacchaeus Adeleye, a Wirral-based Nigerian Baptist minister, noted the number of Nigerian Baptists living here – which served as a reminder to the Catholics present that we have Ukrainian (Greek rite) Catholics, Syro-Malabar rite Catholics and other congregations and friends worshipping in Polish, Cantonese and more!

Rev Phil Jump spoke of the rebirth of ‘The Eccy’, the iconic Ecumenical Centre in Skelmersdale, which no longer has a regular Sunday congregation but has been reinvigorated and transformed into a community centre. Community users have asked questions about faith and worship at ‘The Eccy’, so the possibility of a chaplain sponsored by the United Reformed Church (URC) was being considered.

Rev James Green, executive director of Together Liverpool, spoke of the work of Together Liverpool and the ‘Network of Kindness’. While it was started with churches in the Liverpool Anglican diocese, he urged others to join this network so that good practice (and resources) could be shared. For more information, contact james. green@ogetherliverpool.org.uk.

Phil Dickson, secretary of Wirral Together and the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and Faith Sector Community Faith Forum, spoke of the strong links between Borough council officers and Churches initially spearheaded by the previous Bishop of Birkenhead (Bishop Keith Sinclair) and enthusiastically supported by his successor, Bishop Julie Conalty.

The meeting ended with a period of reflection led by Bishop John Perumbalath, the Bishop of Liverpool, and it included this prayer: ‘Triune God, give us the grace to accept the great danger we are in due to our unhappy divisions. Remove from us all the hatred and prejudices that keep us from union and concord. May we together glorify you, united in one holy bond of truth, peace, faith, and charity, Being of one heart and of one soul through Christ Our Lord. Amen.’

The joy of Unity Week continued with a beautiful service on Sunday 28 January where our two cathedral choirs joined together in song and prayer, reflecting the history of collaboration between the cathedrals, as demonstrated in the close co-operation between Dean Sue Jones and Provost Tony O’Brien. The Met was not so warm temperature-wise, but the joy of being together was certainly apparent!

Lord, I know how much you love me, It’s hard for me to feel it sometimes, But I know your love is always with me, Help me to use your love as a way, To persevere in my father’s intentions, I am weak, but I know with your help, I can use these small sacrifices in my life, To draw closer to you.

Amen

From St John Bosco Arts College, may we wish that this time is filled with Faith, Hope and Love.

stjohnboscoartscollege.com