Catholic Pic November 2022

Welcome

November is a time of remembrance, a time of praying for those who have died, for those we have known and loved. This year Armistice Day is on Friday 11 November and Remembrance Sunday on 13 November when services and ceremonies will take place throughout the country as we keep silence to remember those who have lost their lives in war. It is a particularly poignant time for us this year as we look across Europe at the suffering of the people of Ukraine.

‘It is just good to know that we have friends who stand by us, even in the most difficult times…Please keep praying for us.’ The words of Bishop Gregory as he received the fourth consignment of aid from the #Liverpool4Ukraine appeal. The horror of war has not left us. As we recall past conflicts, we also pray for peace in our world today.

On Sunday 20 November we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King – the titular feast of our Metropolitan Cathedral –Christ the King, the Prince of Peace. The following week is the First Sunday of Advent when we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war’. Let us pray for that day.

From the Archbishop’s Desk

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

None of us could have failed to be impressed by the great wave of grief and mourning that flowed over our countries at the death of our beloved Queen Elizabeth. The funeral ceremonies were moving and on a grand scale. None of us could have failed to be touched by the pageantry, the sombre music and the millions of people who turned out to express their personal condolences.

Another funeral that touched me equally was very different. One evening many years ago, when I was a parish priest in London, I opened the church to receive the body of a person unknown to me. There was only the undertaker, the pall bearers and me; no mourners were present. When the pall bearers had left the church, the undertaker and I recited the psalms, sprinkled the coffin with water, and covered it in the white pall as a reminder that the deceased had been baptised into Christ. At the funeral Mass the following morning our prayer was that his baptism would be fulfilled, and we prayed that his soul would be received into paradise. A few parishioners kindly accompanied me to the cemetery. The contrast between these two funerals is stark, but the point I make is that funeral ceremonies are far more for the living than the dead. The dead need only our prayers to encourage them to step into the light of God.

Support for Ukraine goes on

by Simon Hart

The fourth aid consignment for Ukraine was delivered from the Archdiocese of Liverpool in October – and the message came back to remember Ukraine’s people in our prayers.

Anybody wondering about the impact and significance of the ongoing ‘#Liverpool4Ukraine’ appeal should seek out a video of Bishop Hryhoriy Komar on YouTube.

Bishop Gregory, as his name is pronounced in English, was among the party that gathered at a border crossing with neighbouring Poland in mid-October to receive the latest consignment of aid from the Archdiocese of Liverpool. In an interview recorded by Andrew Davis, one of the volunteer drivers from this diocese he thanked them for the six-day mission they had undertaken and underlined just what it meant to receive such aid.

‘It is very important for us that you come,’ he said in the interview, which can be seen on the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s Facebook page. ‘We are very, very grateful that you could come. Your presence means a great deal to us. It’s the material needs that we have and, at the same time, it’s the goodness that you bring with you, it’s the love and the charity that you bring from your Church to us along with the things that we need materially. It is just good to know that we have friends who stand by us, even in the most difficult times.’

Bishop Gregory, who is auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Sambir-Drohobych in the Lviv region of western Ukraine, recorded his message on Monday 17 October. That was the morning on which he and a band of seminarians met the small group of six volunteers who had driven the 1,400 miles from Liverpool.

The consignment, carried in a convoy of three trucks, contained dried food, building tools – to help repair damaged buildings – as well as thermal clothing and generators. The purchase of these items was made possible thanks to generous donations to the #Liverpool4Ukraine appeal which has so far raised over £145,000. As Bishop Gregory explained, they will help people both in his diocese and in the east of Ukraine. ‘We have a number of centres where there are refugees that the Church looks after and we will use

this aid for those people,’ he said. ‘We will also send what is necessary to the east of the country through our parish system.’

Jill Boggan, finance director of the Archdiocese, was one of the volunteers involved in this latest journey across Europe and she recalls the significance of the moment the three trucks crossed the border into Ukraine for the handover. ‘Seeing them and handing over the aid, helping unload the vans on to theirs, was the highlight of the whole trip,’ she said.

Professor Andrew Quinlan, Bishop Gregory and Andrew Davis

‘We can be sitting behind spreadsheets in the office and all of that is necessary to support the mission but this was an opportunity to be able to do something very tangible,’ added Jill. ‘It was a great honour to be able to take all those very generous donations from people right across the Archdiocese and deliver them personally into the hands of the Bishop and the people that were helping him.’

Aside from Jill, who was making the journey for the second time, there were two other Archdiocesan employees on the trip – Andrew Davis and Nicky Hegarty – along with Jill’s husband, Phil, and Molly Durkin and Megan McWhire from Greenmount Projects.

Greenmount Projects has played a significant part since the start of the diocesan appeal, and not just for the fact its employees have participated in each journey. The building tools and thermal clothing were bought accessing the supply chains of the construction company, which is based in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Similarly the food supplies were accessed with the

help of the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust which allowed the diocese to place an order with its suppliers. ‘Using their procurement arrangements meant we were able to get items for a really good deal,’ explained Jill.

In total this was fourth convoy to have left Liverpool since March and it departed the diocese on Friday 14 October and returned home on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 October. The day before the departure, a service for peace and for the blessing of the drivers and trucks was held at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Croxteth Drive. This was led by Canon Aidan Prescott, the chancellor of the archdiocese. Meanwhile, the drivers received good-luck cards from children connected with the Ukrainian Family Hub in Warrington – a volunteer-led support network which is helping over 280 families who have come to the northwest from Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion.

A total of 12 truckloads of aid have now been delivered to Ukraine from the diocese and the significance of this ongoing

support, more than eight months since the conflict’s escalation, cannot be overstated. October brought Russian missile and drone attacks against civilians and infrastructure, including in the capital Kyiv.

Jill Boggan underlined the message she had heard in person from Bishop Gregory when she said: ‘You could see it was a much more tense situation there. They are concerned about how they are going to be affected in the winter. There is uncertainty over the availability of fuel so the generators we took over will be able to help people certainly.’

The drivers with Father Taras Khomych and Canon Aidan Prescott at the blessing of the vans

‘It is just good to know that we have friends who stand by us, even in the most difficult times.’

Bishop Gregory himself highlighted these concerns when, speaking in the video, he touched on the difficulties that the Ukrainian people are facing –difficulties which will grow as autumn turns to winter. ‘The situation in Ukraine is getting worse,’ he said. ‘In the last weeks [Russian president Vladimir] Putin has been bombing Ukraine and trying to destroy our infrastructure. We have to fight in order to have enough electricity.

‘There is a big problem because there are so many people now who because of the war don’t have work and they don’t have any income. We are very concerned that winter will be very bad for our people – there will be no warmth and no heating and no water. That will be a problem, especially for the big cities.’

Bishop Gregory has a close association with the Archdiocese of Liverpool through his longstanding friendship with Father Francis Marsden, parish priest at St Mary’s, Chorley, whom he met while studying for the priesthood. ‘We hope there will be the opportunity to come to Liverpool and to personally thank those people that are helping us,’ he noted. In the meantime, he reiterated his gratitude for another form of aid – namely prayer. It is his belief that prayer and moral

support are also playing their part in sustaining the Ukrainian people.

‘We’re very, very grateful to all those people who work together to help us and to be with us during this time of war,’ he said. ‘We’d like to thank you for your prayers because they work miracles. The fact our army is making progress is miraculous.’ And his simple parting

message was that we continue to keep the people of Ukraine in our prayers. ‘Please keep praying for us.’

Donations for

still

to

For details of

visit:

The handover at the Polish/Ukrainian border

Good luck cards from the Ukrainian Warrington hub

On a liturgical note

‘And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I have loved long-since and lost awhile’

These words from a poem of John Henry Newman, which eventually came to be set to music and which we sing as the hymn ‘Lead, Kindly Light’, seem particularly well suited to the month of November. This, after all, is the month when, in our Catholic tradition, we pray in a particular way for the faithful departed, the angel faces which we have loved long since and lost – but only for a while because they have gone before us marked with the sign of Faith, the sign of the Lord’s Cross.

Newman’s words speak not only of the beloved dead but also of the desire for a true homecoming for us all – the coming home to the Father’s House, where there are indeed many rooms and where a place is prepared for us all (John, Chapter 14, Verses 1-6).

In his poem, Newman sees that the gloom and the difficulties of this life (the ‘crag and torrent’) are overcome and vanquished by the vision and hope of peace eternal. He also acknowledges that God’s providence and care has

Sunday thoughts

A few weeks ago I visited Stratford for the first time in over 50 years. I came as a pilgrim, one of many thronging the streets from all parts of the world. It felt like Lourdes.

The cafés were full. There were shops filled with Shakespeare memorabilia. Some was cheaply produced tat. I enjoyed a performance of Richard III at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The audience almost perfectly matched the age profile of those who attend Mass. (Lourdes, on the other hand, has a special appeal for our young people, drawn by the desire to support sick pilgrims.)

There were also books on sale – multiple editions of the Bard’s plays and sonnets and books of commentary for students. There were framed quotations from Shakespeare’s work and T-shirts in abundance. I was reminded of an article by Bernard Levin on how the words of Shakespeare are imbedded in everyday language. He wrote: ‘If you cannot understand my argument and declare “it’s Greek to me”, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow

Canon Philip Gillespie

always been with him – and therefore he can have no doubt but that God will continue to be faithful: ‘So long thy power hath blessed me, sure it still will lead me on.’

The Liturgy remembers our deceased brothers and sisters every day, not just on the Commemoration of All Souls (2 November) or indeed in the month of November. It is a wholesome custom to compile our November Lists (sometimes referred to as the Pious Lists) – those people for whom we pray daily in the month and for whom Masses are offered - but in the Eucharist each day the Church remembers those who have died and prays that, by the tender mercy of the heart of our God, they will share in the joys of the Blessed. And so we pray with the Liturgy of the Church:

Remember also, Lord, your servants (here names may be added) who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace.

sunday reflections

What can separate us from the love of God

Some months ago, a friend who has mental-health issues invited me to a concert at the Philharmonic Hall. It was hosted by an organisation called Life Rooms which provides a safe place for people to gather and do various courses to enhance their mental health.

My friend was taking part in this concert and wanted her mother, me and a few friends to go along. I was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that happened within me as I listened to these extraordinary people share deep reflections, not only about their issues, but also about their giftedness.

Mgr John Devine OBE

than in anger, if your wish is the father of thought, if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch, or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knotted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool’s paradise – why, be that as it may, the more fool you, for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare.’

Some of Shakespeare’s words would not be out of place on the lips of Jesus in the Gospels. One quotation on display struck me. It’s a mother’s advice to her young son as he leaves home to serve at court: ‘Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none’ (All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 1, Scene 1).

The second half of the concert left me an emotional wreck. Each of the participants shared why a particular song had had an impact on them. My friend used the song ‘Another Day in Paradise’. She told how she had wandered through life thinking everybody else was living in paradise and that she would never experience it. My heart broke as I listened to her talk about the amazing turnaround in her life; she now knows that she tastes paradise because of the drugs that control her mentalhealth issues and through the love of a God who had never left her. She knows that whatever has happened in her life –breakdown, depression, voices in her head, hospitalisation, suicide attempts – nothing can separate her from the love of God.

Psychologists tell us that deep within, all of us are either guilt-based or shame-based people; we carry the guilt of not being good enough. We have a deep sense of shame about who we are. Some of us live life hating ourselves and rejecting those things within us that we see as weak or immoral or bad. The problem is that we will not believe who we are: God’s beloved children. I think most of the journey in faith is about discovering who we truly are. We have to discover that God really does love us, that we are children of God despite what has happened in our lives. That is our true identity. Guilt and shame will not help us know that. Only Jesus can do that. Thank God that is what Jesus has done. It is when we realise that we are God’s beloved son or daughter that life takes on a new meaning, and we know that God will never abandon us, and that love is all around us and within us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Father Chris Thomas

the archives

Remembering civilian deaths in war

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist

Father Newsom and Father Keeffe were classmates at both St Edward’s College and at the Seminary at Upholland. They were killed in air raids within months of each other in 1940. This November might be a time to remember them and all other civilian deaths in wartime.

Percy Newsom was born on the Isle of Man in 1906 and crossed the Irish Sea in 1919 to continue his studies at St Edward’s College in Liverpool. Following his ordination in 1932 he became assistant priest at Sacred Heart in the city. He then served at the Pro-Cathedral of St Nicholas but had been there for barely a month when the presbytery received a direct hit from a German bomb during the night of 21/22 September. Father Newsom was killed, his colleague as curate, Father Martin Lydon, was seriously injured, and the Pro-Cathedral Dean, Canon James O’Connell, miraculously escaped uninjured.

Chance played a great part in surviving the bombs. Father Joseph Wareing recalled the time St Sebastian’s was hit when he was Parish Priest there, ‘On the evening of the 17th September 1940 very shortly after the conclusion of the Quarant’Ore an enemy plane in the course of two runs dropped in all seven bombs between the front of the church and the front of the Presbytery. One of these scored a direct hit on the Church falling immediately in front of the Sanctuary – tearing up one third of the floor – splitting the Chancel Arch – completely demolishing the altar rails and font pit. When this bomb fell the church had just been cleared of some twelve people who had remained after the Service to say the rosary and who were actually in church when the first bombs fell outside. No one was hurt.’

As the Luftwaffe turned towards night bombing raids following defeat in the Battle of Britain, the death toll of civilians mounted. Liverpool endured a number of attacks just before Christmas 1940. In one of these, on 21/22 December, Father Wilfrid Keeffe lost his life. He had started at St Edward’s College on the same day as Percy Newsom, they had transferred to Upholland together, and both were ordained on the same day. Father Keeffe had been at St Anthony’s on Scotland Road since then. Killed in the same raid were Father William Kavanagh and nine others, including Mr and Mrs Thompson and their three young children, all of them in the air raid shelter of the parish school when it received a direct hit.

Archbishop Downey acknowledged the strain his priests and their flock were under: in his Lenten Pastoral Letter issued in February 1941, he commended the devotion to

duty and spirit of self-sacrifice exhibited by ‘priests and many others’. ‘Some’, he said, ‘have seen their churches, schools and presbyteries wrecked and themselves rendered homeless; others bemoan the ruthless slaughter of faithful parishioners, including women and children.’ The heaviest toll of civilian casualties in Merseyside was yet to come.

In the May blitz of 1941 parts of the city centre were completely destroyed and, across Liverpool and Bootle, damage to housing made around 70,000 people homeless. Six churches, five presbyteries and four Catholic schools were completely destroyed. In just a week, 1900 people were killed. Mass burials took place in Anfield Cemetery. Our remembrance services should include those not in uniform.

News diary

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Mass in Spanish at St Vincent’s

Mass in Spanish is celebrated on the second Sunday of each month at 4.00 pm by Father Sergio Haro in St Vincent de Paul church, St James Street, Liverpool, L1 5JN.

Father Sergio is the Chaplain to the Spanish speaking community which includes people from all over Latin America and Spain; when Father Sergio is unavailable Father Joe Bibby, who served with LAMP in Latin America, helps out.

All are welcome at the Mass.

Mary’s Meals celebrates 20th anniversary

As school feeding charity Mary’s Meals marks its 20th anniversary this year, parishioners and pupils across the archdiocese joined the charity in celebration at a series of special events across the region.

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to those living in some of the world’s poorest, and often most difficult, locations. The promise of a good meal attracts desperately hungry children into the classroom, giving them the energy to learn their way to a better future.

Parishioners from St Joseph’s, Penketh and St Paul’s Church of England and Penketh Methodist church joined together for an ecumenical porridge breakfast, followed by prayer and worship to celebrate two decades of Mary’s Meals.

Prayers at Mass and coffee mornings were held at St Teresa’s, Upholland and Our Lady Help of Christians, Portico, while the congregation at St Benet’s in Netherton heard from Anna Houghton, supporter engagement officer for Mary’s Meals in Liverpool, about the charity’s work – with many enquiring about volunteering.

School pupils in the archdiocese also joined the celebrations. Classes at

Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Prescot had the opportunity to learn about many of the 20 countries where Mary’s Meals works, while students at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School in Liverpool held porridge parties. And religious education ambassador pupils at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Leyland helped share the message of hope to the school community through prayer and fundraising.

The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon, Archbishop of Liverpool, says: ‘My thanks and prayers go to everyone who has participated in all the wonderful celebrations to mark this special anniversary. The rise of Mary’s Meals is a truly inspiring story – one of love, trust and faith. The spirit of charity is motivated by generosity and sacrifice, and that’s something that both Mary’s Meals and the people of the archdiocese share in abundance.’

Anna Houghton, from Mary’s Meals, added: ‘Mary’s Meals is a grassroots global movement and thanks to the contribution of people across the archdiocese, we can keep our promise to the 2,279,941 children who rely on our meals, while striving to reach the next hungry child.

‘We feed children in 20 of the world’s poorest countries – and the reason we’ve been able to reach so many little ones over the past 20 years is because of the kindness of those who believe in our mission.’

To find out more about other events or the work of Mary’s Meals, please visit marysmeals.org.uk/get-involved/20thanniversary-events

news

Father Malcolm’s 40th anniversary celebration

Thanking God for the gift of priesthood and ministry was the reason for a gathering at Nazareth House Crosby on Sunday, September 25.

Former parishioners from St Luke, Whiston and St Joseph, Penketh, brother priests and colleagues in ministry, together with close friends gathered with the usual congregation at Nazareth House, Crosby as Father Malcolm Prince celebrated his Ruby Jubilee of Ordination as a Priest. A fellow Jubilarian was on hand to preside at Mass; as Archbishop Malcolm together with Father John Cullen, also 40 years, and Father Bernard Higham celebrating sixty years joined in prayer at the altar. Father Francis Ferns, also a resident at Nazareth House, celebrated 54 years a priest this year and joined in the concelebration.

Archbishop Malcolm preached about the readings for the twenty-sixth Sunday of the year and considered how priesthood is, as the second reading commented, about ‘being’ a man dedicated to God, and how the Second Vatican Council described priesthood as ‘bringing the people of God into being and increasing them’.

The archbishop thanked Father Malcolm for his service as a De la Mennais Brother (a teaching order) and for following the promptings of the Holy Spirit to serve the people of God in ordained ministry in the Liverpool archdiocese since 1982.

Young people invited to meet Church Leaders

Young people between 18 and 35 are invited to an evening with Merseyside’s Church Leaders with an opportunity to meet other young Christians sharing in conversation, friendship and refreshments. Churches Together in the Merseyside Region (CTMR) brings together a gathering of young adults over 18 with different experiences from right across our traditions.

The open forum takes place on Monday 14 November from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Liverpool ONE, Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, L1 3BT. It will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and have a dialogue with all present. The event will be friendly and informal and will also include a prayerful reflection and refreshments.

To take part contact Elisabeth at the CTMR office Tel: 07394 075951 (WhatsApp is fine) or email office@ctmr.org.uk; to leave a voice message please call: 0151 709 0125

Father Malcolm has served as a university chaplain and in parishes in Gilmoss, Whiston, Widnes, and Penketh amongst others.

There were other good wishes from further afield as an Apostolic Blessing from the Holy Father was granted for the occasion arranged by the Archbishop and Nazareth House Chaplain, Monsignor Brian Murphy.

The gathering repaired to a reception to celebrate with Father Malcolm forty years of serving and being a priest, and to many more.

Follow the QR code to find more information on the Churches Together in the Merseyside Region website.

Cursillo at 50

On Saturday 24 September, the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, there was a day of celebrations at the Metropolitan Cathedral to mark 50 years of the Cursillo movement in England and Wales. The gathering was held over from 2020 due to the pandemic.

The Gibberd Room hosted an exhibition of Cursillo life through the years in Liverpool, across dioceses and in international events. Bishop Tom Williams led the day and was able to reflect on the first Cursillo weekend, held at Our Lady’s, Bishop Eton, which he attended. As a seminarian Bishop Tom was part of the group which brought Cursillo to England from Portugal.

The day was comprised of talks from old and new Cursillistas from across the country. These reflections were followed by sharing one’s own faith, witness and experiences of Cursillo in small groups. Bishop Tom celebrated Mass at midday when everyone sang waving different coloured flags, to represent the Cursillos international greeting ‘De Colores’ which is used globally to signify living life in colour and in the fullness of God’s grace.

Cursillo is a Catholic Lay Movement formed in Majorca in the early 1940’s and is fully aligned to the teachings of the Catholic Church and has Papal endorsements. It has spread worldwide to 63 countries, and has been adapted for different cultures and different denominations. The Spanish word Cursillo translates as ‘a short course’ in English, but more specifically, it could be seen as a course in Christian living – as it is not just an academic encounter but more importantly an encounter with Christ, others and oneself.

A Cursillo is run residentially over a 3-day period, usually from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon. At the heart of the weekend there is catechesis and sharing, with talks and spiritual reflections. The weekend is also structured around celebration of the Eucharist, opportunity for Reconciliation, times of adoration and prayer, meditation and gathering socially, sharing meals and exchanging experiences. Enabling a true feeling of Christian community. Cursillo is built on a Charism of friendship centred on Christ.

If you would like to attend the next Cursillo 3-days from Thursday 17 November to Sunday 20 November at Theodore House. Stonyhurst, please contact Jenny on 07947 271037 or email liverpool-cursillo@live.co.uk Please also get in touch if you would like more information or have lived a Cursillos 3-days in the past and would like to be added to the Cursillo mailing list.

The jewel of St Mary’s

Mass was celebrated on Friday 23 September to mark the official transfer of the parish of St Mary, Leyland from the Benedictine Order at Ampleforth Abbey to the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon thanked the Benedictine Order for their pastoral care of the parish since its foundation 177 years ago. On behalf of Ampleforth Abbey, Abbot Robert Igo said that the parish was like a jewel to be kept polished and shining for many generations to come.

The parishioners were joined by archdiocesan and Benedictine priests as well as representatives from other Christian Churches and Civic leaders from the area.

During the Rite of Induction, the new parish priest, Father Joseph Bibby, was presented with the Book of the Gospels by his predecessor, Father Jonathan Cotton OSB. Father Joe spoke of his commitment to keep ‘the jewel’ of St Mary’s, Leyland polished and shining for many years to come.

Mini Vinnies visit the Cathedral

St Vincent de Paul was known for providing relief to the poor and sick, a mission that inspired Frederic Ozanam to create the St Vincent de Paul charity. The work of the SVP is being replicated in primary schools where ‘Mini Vinnie’ teams have been established, meaning that the mission of St Vincent lives on.

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School in St. Helens is one such school where an active Mini Vinnie group work together to ‘turn concern into action’. To mark the Feast of St Vincent de Paul (27 September) the Mini Vinnies from St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, St Helens travelled to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, along with SVP members and parishioners to celebrate Mass with Archbishop Malcolm.

At the Cathedral, the children led Archbishop Malcolm in a procession towards the altar at the start of Mass, whilst carrying ‘helping hands’ crafted out of paper displaying words that represent the work of SVP (kindness, thoughtfulness, love, friendship, charity).

The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Cathedral and are already looking forward to next year’s Feast of St Vincent de Paul!

diary

St Patrick’s, Liverpool 1821-2021

A new history of St Patrick’s church, Park Place, Liverpool, by local historian, Michael O’Neill, has been published.

It was launched at the church on Sunday 2 October following Mass celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm to remember over 7,000 people who have been buried on the site since 1827, especially the priests and people who died during the Typhus epidemic of 1847 and those who were refugees from the Irish Famine.

The decision to build St Patrick’s was taken by a group of local businessmen in 1816. The foundation stone was laid in 1821 and the church was opened by Bishop Thomas Penswick in 1827.

St Patrick’s is the oldest Catholic church in Liverpool still in daily use, outside are the large statue of St Patrick given by James Brancker in 1827 and the Celtic cross commemorating the ten Liverpool Catholic priests who died in the 1847 Typhus epidemic. Inside at the front of the church is the painting of Christ’s crucifixion by Nicaise de Keyser, completed in 1834, and the gallery is dominated by the J.C Bishop pipe organ, now the oldest organ in Liverpool in playable condition, which has been leading worship since 1830.

Michael O’Neill is pictured at the book signing which took place after Mass.

‘St Patrick’s, Park Place, Liverpool – A Parish History – 18212021’ by Michael O’Neill is published by Gracewing priced £14.99. ISBN 978 085244 981 3.

On Saturday 12 November ‘Cryptic Crypts: New discoveries at St Patrick’s church and churchyard, Toxteth’ will take place at the church from 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm. An afternoon of talks on the results of a survey on the graveyard and crypt at St Patrick’s.

Warm and Cosy

During the coming winter months the Archdiocese of Liverpool is opening its parish centres to provide somewhere comfortable and friendly for people to be warm and cosy as the weather gets colder and the costof-living crisis begins to bite.

Each of the centres will be open on different days of the week from 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm for people to drop in and enjoy free tea, coffee and biscuits along with access to TV and wi-fi and most important of all some friendly company.

Director of Finance for the archdiocese, Jill Boggan, has been instrumental in setting up the scheme and says, ‘warm and cosy truly reflects what our parish centres are about, and it is about giving people a warm welcome to help them through these difficult times. Many of our centres host activities during the day and during these times we have set aside an extra room to welcome people. In many areas we have liaised with other community groups to try and ensure that people have somewhere to go everyday during the winter months’.

A full list of parish centres and other archdiocesan churches and halls with opening times can be found on the archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

A concert to remember

by Dr Christopher McElroy Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Cathedral Record

Canon Anthony O’Brien –Cathedral Dean

The beginning of November is marked always with the joyful celebration of All Saints, then the quiet prayerful day of All Souls followed by the memorial to St Martin de Porres, one of our much loved patrons here at the Cathedral. The month of November is always a busy and joyful time within the Cathedral calendar with seasonal changes and lots of events taking place.

Upton Hall College on the Wirral fill the Cathedral to capacity for their Annual School Mass for students and parents here on Saturday 5 November at 11.00 am. Then on Tuesday 8 November Archbishop Malcolm will be installing four new Canons to the Diocesan Chapter. They are Fathers John Gorman, David Heywood, Kevin McLoughlin and Connor Stainton Polland. They will be installed at the public Mass at 12.15 pm that day which will be celebrated within the main Cathedral.

On Saturday 12th November the Cathedral Choir will sing their first full concert since before Covid. We are very much looking forward to it and are very encouraged by ticket sales thus far.

As the concert takes place the evening before Remembrance Sunday, we will be singing the moving setting of the Requiem Mass text by Gabriel Fauré. Written in the late 19th Century, it is probably Fauré’s best known choral work.

During this year we are celebrating the 150th birthday of the British composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and will present two of his works in this concert. Firstly, the Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, an early work for double string orchestra written for the 1910 Three Choirs Festival. We will also perform the Five Mystical Songs, a musical setting by Vaughan Williams of words by the seventeenthcentury Welsh poet and Anglican priest George Herbert.

The soloist in the concert is Damian O’Keeffe, who himself is no stranger to the Cathedral having been Head Chorister of the Cathedral Choir from 1981-1982. A former choral scholar at St John’s College

Cambridge, Damian has toured the world and performed with many leading choral groups. We very much look forward to welcoming him back to the Cathedral.

The concert will involve the boy and girl choristers of the Cathedral Choir, alongside the Youth Choir and adult Lay Clerks.

The singers will be accompanied by the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra. Founded in 1951 the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra is one of the UK’s leading amateur orchestras, whose members include experienced players from a wide range of occupational backgrounds, many of them professional music teachers and musicians.

Tickets for the concert are priced at £10 (£5 for under 18/NUS/over 65) and can be ordered from https://www. ticketsource.co.uk/metcathedral/ or by calling 0151 708 7283.

Come and join us for an evening of beautiful music in the awe-inspiring setting of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Remembrance Sunday falls on 13 November, the 33rd Sunday of the year. Our Cathedral Choirs along with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra will be holding a special Remembrance Concert in the Cathedral on Saturday 12 November at 7.00 pm.

We celebrate our Feast Day of Christ the King the following Sunday and mark the end of the Church’s liturgical year with thanksgiving, and hopefully by then joy that the organ refurbishment is finally complete and the instrument is back in action.

The Glyndebourne Opera Company will be rehearsing in the Crypt the following week preparing for performances of ‘La bohème’ at the Empire Theatre and they have even kindly invited me to one of the performances.

We conclude the month with the start of the Season of Advent. As well as the Masses for the First Sunday of Advent we have an evening Service of seasonal music and readings at our Advent Sequence at 5.00 pm.

Tuesday 1 November

Solemnity of All Saints - Holyday of Obligation

Wednesday 2 November

Commemoration of all the faithful departed – All Souls Day

Thursday 3 November

‘Matthew’s Gospel and the challenge of living in the modern word.’

Scripture morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD, also on zoom. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 Email: jenny@ irenaeus.co.uk

Agape Mass

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

Saturday 5 November

‘Come and See’ Day. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. ‘Called to be an ecumenical Church.’ Speaker Charles Whitehead. Bring a packed lunch – tea and coffee provided. Suggested donation £10. Details - email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk

your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com

Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter Mass and installation of new Canons 12.15 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP

Wednesday 9 November

‘Songs we remember’ Sing along. 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. (Dementia friendly.)

Thursday 10 November

‘Matthew’s Gospel and the challenge of living in the modern word.’ Scripture morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD, also on zoom. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk

Music at the Met with the choir of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra. The Cathedral Choir will perform Faure’s Requiem under the direction of Christopher McElroy. Baritone Damian O’Keeffe is the soloist in VaughanWilliam’s ‘Five Mystical Songs’ and the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra will perform the ‘Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.’ 7.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tickets: £10 (concessions £5) available from www. ticketsource.co.uk/metcathedral

Sunday 13 November

Tuesday 8 November

Time out on Tuesday

Enjoy some personal quiet time to deepen your relationship with God. 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring

Saturday 12 November

Cryptic Crypts

New discoveries at St Patrick’s church and churchyard, Toxteth.’ 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm at St Patrick’s Church, Park Place, Liverpool, L8 5RA. An afternoon of talks on the results of a survey on the graveyard and crypt at St Patrick’s where over 7,000 people have been buried since 1827.

Monday 14 November

Churches Together in the Merseyside Region (CTMR) invites young adults over 18 to meet regional Church leaders. 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Liverpool ONE, Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, L1 3BT. An opportunity to ask questions and have a dialogue with all present. The event will be friendly and informal and will also include a prayerful reflection and refreshments. To take part contact Elisabeth at the CTMR office Tel: 07394 075951 (WhatsApp is fine) or email office@ctmr.org.uk; to leave a voice message please call: 0151 709 0125

Wednesday 16 November

Cafod and Father Peter Morgan invite you to a cinema style screening of ‘The Letter - A Message for Our Earth’. 2.00 pm at St Anne’s, Overbury Street, Edge Hill, L7 3HJ. The film will be shown during COP27 taking place in Egypt. Registration: https://theletterliverpool.eventbrite.co.uk/ The Archdiocesan Pastoral Development team will be hosting follow up online conversations.

Thursday 17 November

‘Matthew’s Gospel and the challenge of living in the modern word.’ Scripture morning led by Father Chris Thomas. 10.30 am pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD, also on zoom. Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 Email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk

Newman Circle Talk – ‘The Socio-Political Context of “The Acts of the Apostles”’.

Speaker: Michael Tunnicliffe. 7.30 pm at St. Helen’s parish centre, Crosby, L23 7TQ. No charge for the talk and ample free parking. Tea and coffee will be available at the start of the meeting. Details from helen.flynn8@googlemail.com

Sunday 20 November

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King Youth Sunday

Solemn Mass for the Patronal Feast of the Metropolitan Cathedral. 11.00 am in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Friday 25 November

Candlelit Service of music and readings for Advent with the Voices of Hope Chamber Choir, followed by refreshments. 7.00 pm at St Francis Xavier church, Salisbury Street, L3 8DR.

Saturday 26 November

‘Come apart and rest awhile’ Quiet Day. 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com

Sunday 27 November

First Sunday of Advent

Liverpool Bach Collective Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 61 ‘Nun komm der Heiden Heiland’. (‘Come now, O Saviour of the Gentiles.’) 6.30 pm at St Columba’s Church, Pinehurst Road, Anfield, L4 7UQ. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www. liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@ icloud.com

Looking ahead:

Thursday 1 December

Agape Mass

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

Saturday 3 December Day of Prayer for migrants

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

Sunday 4 December Bible Sunday

Tuesday 6 December

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

Tuesday 22 November

Archbishop Blanch 25th anniversary Lecture

‘Understanding Scripture is necessary to understand the Kingdom of God’. Speaker Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York. 7.00pm at Liverpool Hope University, Taggart Avenue, L16 9JD. Register at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/archbishop-blanchlecture-tickets-155920776239 Further details at www.liverpool.anglican.org/ understanding-scripture-is-necessary-tounderstand-the-kingdom-of-god-.php

Wednesday 23 November

‘Songs we remember’ sing along. 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. (Dementia friendly.)

Tuesday 29 November

‘Could you be a deacon?’ Information evening for men interested in the diaconate. 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm (Refreshments from 7.00 pm) at Christ the King, Queen’s Drive, Wavertree, Liverpool L16 6YQ. Join Archbishop Malcolm and the diaconate team at our meetings for men who may be wondering if they are called to serve as deacons and what the formation involves. Wives and supporting priests or deacons are also welcome. For more information, please email p.rooney@rcaol.org.uk

2023

Thursday 1 June to Thursday 8 June Pilgrimage 2023 to Lourdes and Nevers. £645.00 half board sharing. Details: Chris Sykes Tel: 07587 046985.

Sister Elizabeth Kelly

Still serving her Huyton community

By Simon Hart

Next year brings the 50th anniversary of the first arrival in Huyton of Sister Elizabeth Kelly. Today she is such a fixture at her parish, St Agnes and St Aidan’s, that there is even a meeting room named after her. It wasn’t her choice – ‘If I’d been consulted, I wouldn’t have wanted it!’ – yet it is an acknowledgement of her deep engagement with her adopted community.

‘Father Anton often calls me Sister Google because I’ve known so many people,’ she jokes, referring to parish priest Fr Anton Fernandopulle. And an anecdote she tells suggests the moniker is well-earned, weaving as it does her efforts today with the parish’s newly bereaved with her founding of a mothers and toddlers’ group back in the 1970s.

She begins: ‘Yesterday Fr Anton phoned me and asked if I’d do a funeral. Someone’s husband had died and she’d asked for me. My first contact with that woman was when she came to the “pram club”, as I called it, with her first baby. This happens often – I’ll meet people and they’ll say, “Are you Sr Elizabeth? We came to the pram club”.

‘Before coming here I’d worked in Brent as a social worker and met mothers who were at home with their children and were so isolated. My thinking was “If the mothers are okay, the children are okay”.’

Back to the present and the work Elizabeth – a religious sister of the Helpers of the Holy Souls – has carried out for 12 years meeting bereaved families and arranging funeral services. ‘I meet the family and we prepare the service together. Very often the evening before I say a rosary or have a prayer vigil with the family.

‘It’s very much in keeping with our charism. We’re the Helpers of the Holy Souls, praying for the dead and meeting people in their bereavement. It’s about just being with people.’

Elizabeth joined the order aged 26 in 1960 and arrived in Huyton in 1973 when the Sisters established their novitiate house here. A native of the West of Scotland, she felt immediately at home in Liverpool. She recalls how on her first visit, a stranger guided her from Lime Street Station to the right bus stop for Huyton. ‘There’s just something about the people here – almost a natural community atmosphere.’

Her involvement with her local community has been varied: a spell working in a girls’ approved school; taking Holy Communion to the sick; running an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) programme; and organising First Communion and Confirmation preparation. The term ‘Ignatian spirituality’ crops up as she reflects on the ‘open-ended charism’ of her order. ‘Our foundress’ vision of purgatory wasn’t just after people died, it was with some of their experiences in life and it was accompanying people and working with people, whatever was needed.’

Today only she and Sister Mary Rose Fitzsimmons remain in the diocese, with another 12 elsewhere in the country. The order has a strong international community and she retains optimism about the future. ‘Although there are so few of us left in Britain, we know that our charism will not die. There are people throughout the country who live our charism. I don’t believe this is just given to a religious order.’

And she says something similar of St Agnes and St Aidan’s. ‘The atmosphere in our parish at present is conducive to community. I look at the amount of volunteers we have and the rotas for different things. I’m on rotas for welcoming on Sunday morning, for being a reader, and doing my turn at the Sacristy laundry.’ All this at 88. And she still wonders why that room is named after her.

Living Catholic Social Teaching and Refugee Support in Skelmersdale

by Pablo Guidi, Catholic Social Action Coordinator, Pastoral Development Department

‘Thank you’. These were the only words that Dara could say as he was admitted to hospital, shivering, emaciated and exhausted. Dara had arrived in the UK a few years before, escaping the war in Syria, as part of the resettlement programme. In the last few months, Dara had developed an illness that had gone unrecognised by health professionals. Without the support of Matthew, he may have died. That ‘thank you’ will stay with Matthew for many years to come.

Matthew leads the Ask Club at the ‘Eccy’, short for the Ecumenical Centre, and offers asylum seeker and refugee support services across Skelmersdale. ‘There are around 200 asylum seekers and resettled refugees in the area’ Matthew says, ‘people from the Middle East, Africa, and more recently Ukraine. They live without access to the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and infrastructure support available in larger metropolitan areas.

‘We have a small but dedicated and hardworking team’ he continues ‘with one part time caseworker, one part time Arabic interpreter, and several wonderful volunteers’.

Matthew is a parishioner of St Annes, Ormskirk and stands a good 6ft 3inches, and speaks with a warm, deep, and

confident voice. For this ex-IT salesman, making things happen for people like Dara comes naturally. His Catholic faith is what motivates him, and he feels passionately that as Catholics we are called to welcome the stranger.

This is a clear message from the Old Testament prophets (Exodus 22:2) and through to teachings of Jesus (Mattthew 25:35). Looking forward to Advent, we are reminded of Pope Pius XII who wrote in his apostolic constitution Exsul Familia, ‘The émigré Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family.’ Catholic Social Teaching invites us to welcome refugees, not dividing but building the family of God.

‘If we could get more parishes involved,’ says Matthew ‘we could support so many more people in dire need.’ His work at the Ask Club based in the Eccy centre works every week, coordinating English classes, a food pantry, legal signposting and social activities. It relies on food donations, and a pool of volunteers that come from parishes like St Annes. Can you help welcome the stranger? Could you collect food for people like Dara, for whom the only words that they can offer are thank you? Please contact Pablo (Archdiocesan Catholic Social Action Coordinator) for further details on 0151 522 1042 or p.guidi@rcaol.org.uk

Pastoral ponderings

by Hugh Donleavy

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

My name is Hugh Donleavy, I’m a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Liverpool, and I’ve just finished my studies at the English College in Rome. I arrived back home this summer and started my placement at the parish of St Charles and St Thomas More, Aigburth, a couple of weeks ago. The idea is that having completed the studies, this year I will be getting a bit of practical experience.

The move from seminary life to ‘the outside world’ is a big transition, if a welcome one. Whilst the studies have been very interesting, it is good to have a bit of a change and get a bit more experience of a new parish. Life in seminary is very structured, based around a timetable which is shared by a community who all live together. Living in a smaller community, of four people, is a very different experience; everyone has different things to be getting on with, and there’s a bit more freedom to set your own timetable.

So far I’ve just been starting to get to know the parish and the hospital (the Royal), where I will be spending a lot of my time. It’s always difficult to adapt to a completely new home, with new people, and new roles, but it has been surprisingly easy to move in here, there is a very jovial atmosphere in the presbytery, and the parishioners have been friendly and welcoming.

I’ve also been to Liverpool Hope University, where I will be getting involved in the chaplaincy. There was a very busy startserving fish and chips to about 100 students. During term time I’ll be at Hope a couple of evenings a week, for chaplaincy events and Mass, which will be a new experience for me as well since I’ve never been involved in university chaplaincy.

I’m looking forward to the next stage, now that things are starting to settle down, and routines are falling into place. It’ll be nice to be able to focus on the experience, without the distraction of all the novelty, and the clumsy mistakes that I tend to make when I have no idea what I’m doing in a new place.

Please pray for me, and for the communities which I’ll be working with this year.

The Academy of St Nicholas visit RICS HQ

This term, 12 female students from The Academy of St Nicholas in Garston were invited to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) HQ, to inspire the next generation of talent.

RICS is keen to attract the best talent to the surveying sector. Surveying faces a skills gap, like many industries.

Tim Smith from RICS’ Thought Leadership Directorate spoke to the students about sustainability and sought their views. The girls undertook a spaghetti and marshmallow building challenge to mimic construction using sustainable materials.

Matt McDermott, head of standards at RICS, talked to the girls about the lifecycle of a build schedule and how surveyors were involved in each and every stage. Two successful female surveyors, Yvonne from Knight Frank and Selina from JLL, came and spoke to the girls about their career journeys.

Later in the day, Angus Gull, historian and valuer, allowed the girls to handle and value artefacts – one was worth £200K and another £2 - and it was hard for the untrained St Nicholas valuers to tell the difference.

Mrs Katie Bell, head of design technology at The Academy of St Nicholas, commented: “Here at St Nicholas, we strongly believe that preparing our youngsters for the world beyond school is paramount to not only raising aspirations but to also increasing awareness of the opportunities out there, however, we are aware that we cannot do this alone.

“The day spent at RICS made us realise the unjust disconnect between a passion to instil change and ability, and the likelihood of accessing careers that will put us in a position to lead on this, can be overcome.”

Sarah Noble, head of early engagement at RICS, said: “The girls were a credit to your academy. Their input and ideas throughout the day leaves us in no doubt that the future pipeline of talent is safe.”

Mrs Jeniffer Sing, headteacher of The Academy of St Nicholas, added: “It is really exciting to know that one day our young people could lead the way in combatting climate change through sustainable and ethical builds.”

St Mary’s student reflects on Confirmation

A Year 8 pupil from St Mary’s College, Crosby, recently wrote a reflection about his Confirmation for the college’s weekly newsletter.

Jordan DiMatteo, 13, chose his confirmed name as ‘’Joseph’. Here is his reflection:

I chose to be confirmed because I had already been baptised and I wanted to move onto the Sacrament of Confirmation. To make it clear that I am a Catholic for myself, not just a member of a Catholic family. It is important for me that it is not just my mum or dad, but that I feel closer to God too.

After Baptism and Communion there is more to being a Catholic, the journey continues towards Confirmation.

When I go to church as a Confirmed Catholic I have made the choice to go; I might miss out on other activities like football, but it is my choice and it feels good to make that choice for myself to go to church. When you make your Confirmation you choose a new name.

I chose Joseph, inspired by my best friend in school Joe.

Lord, You send out Your Spirit to touch the hearts of all people, so that they may believe in You and in Jesus whom You sent.

Look kindly on all candidates for Confirmation as they listen to Your voice.

Open their hearts to Your Spirit and bring to fulfilment the good work that You have begun in them.

Help us all to appreciate what is holy in others, and to be patient with what we do not understand.

Deepen our faith in the Gospel and help us to pass it on by our example.

We pray that You will continue to guide us and sustain us.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Education Matters by Satis Education

Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration

Most people know there is a recruitment crisis across the education sector and now more than ever schools and trusts need to know they have someone they can turn to, to provide them genuine support, advice and guidance when trying to secure the best staff.

The Satis Education team have a strong track record of high-quality service delivery in education recruitment, consultancy and support services. This includes extensive first-hand experience of leading schools and trusts.

What makes the team different, is their direct commitment to, and involvement with, the education sector. As an ethical organisation all members of the team sign up to the core mission to support the delivery of a world class education for every child, regardless of background and ability. This is achieved by working collaboratively with partner schools and trusts.

The Satis Education partnership approach means for each assignment a team is deployed whose knowledge and experience complement and enhance the skills of an organisation, ensuring schools only commission the level of support they require. Packages of support are bespoke to meet the specific needs of each individual client.

Key members of the Satis team who are currently supporting schools and trusts across the Archdiocese include:

Founding Director – Laura McGunigle Laura has a background in education recruitment and consultancy, focusing on executive leadership roles nationally, but specifically within the Catholic sector. In her spare time, she is a school governor and has experience in both primary and secondary settings.

Associate Director – Jenna Everett Jenna has worked in the education sector across the North West for over 10 years. Her area of expertise is teacher recruitment: including permanent, interim and short-term supply. Jenna is committed to ensuring schools across the region have access to the best staff available.

Associate Director - Liz Hayden Liz is a fully qualified Chartered MCIPD, she has developed extensive first-hand knowledge and experience of both strategic and operational HR within the MAT sector, having effectively built, developed and led HR teams across two multi academy trusts.

The whole Satis Education team look forward to more genuine collaboration with Archdiocesan schools and trusts throughout the year.

The words from St Teresa seem so apt for all of us at this time of significant change. We have witnessed great political, economic, and social change in the past few months and for some of us we are managing to survive.

At time of writing our schools and colleges have worked under four Secretaries of State for Education in 2022 and who knows if there are more to come. For those of us who have worked in Catholic Education for many years we are used to having to deal with significant change and often with little warning. Change can be unsettling for us all and our responses to it can be varied. Our school and college leaders often find themselves managing demands of the political agenda while ensuring the needs of the pupils and staff are met. An unenviable task some might say.

For our Catholic Education leaders, it is important that they are effective in manging change they must never lose sight of the fact that God does not change. Leaders of Catholic Education must be inspired by the example of Christ, allowing themselves to be formed into people who serve their communities with courage, humility, and hope. Speaking to members of the Congregation for Education in 2011 Pope Benedict XVI said, ‘Always keep your gaze turned to Christ, the only Teacher, so that with his Spirit he will render your work effective.’

For many in our communities our schools may be the only source of constancy in their lives. At times of great conflict and change many families will turn to the staff in their schools for advice and support. This constancy comes from the deep-rooted faith and example that our leaders give in time of change.

I ask you to pray for our school leaders and their Governing Bodies this winter. Our leaders face unprecedented challenges with managing the financial demand. With heating and electricity at expected record levels and the need to ensure that our children are safe, warm and fed they have stark decision to make. I pray that they will have the courage for whatever lies ahead.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mrs Jan Harris, deputy headteacher, St Marie’s Catholic Primary School in Kirkby who died recently. I also ask you for prayers for Euan McNamara, Year 11 student at St Mary’s College Crosby, who also died in tragic circumstances. Please pray for the families, friends and school communities during this difficult time.

A new chapter at St Ambrose

St Ambrose Catholic Academy in Speke will have a new headteacher from January 2023.

The current head of school at St Ambrose, Tracy Moorcroft, will step into the role in the new year. She will lead the academy through the next phase of its journey. Mrs Moorcroft has worked at the academy since 2018.

With the academy being part of the St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Mrs Moorcroft embodies its ethos of ‘Christ at the centre’. She herself is a committed Catholic leader.

Mrs Moorcroft’s existing positive relationships with staff, children and the wider community will be key in supporting her aim of securing the best outcomes for all pupils.

Central to these relationships is mutual respect and the dignity of each person valued and loved by God.

As a strong role model for the school community, Mrs Moorcroft will place religious education at the heart of the curriculum. This is to enable that faith flows through all aspects of school life.

Mrs Moorcroft is passionate about implementing an enriched curriculum that provides children with a wealth of opportunities. She strives to ensure children achieve their personal best in all areas of their development.

As St Ambrose embarks on the next stage of its development with St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, she will lead the school and its community and continue to raise standards for all.

Find out more about St Ambrose Catholic Academy at stambroseprimary.co.uk

Joan McCarthy Director of Education Archdiocese of Liverpool

‘To have courage for whatever comes in life — everything lies in that.’ (St Teresa of Avila)

ASFA students, staff and parents celebrate Feast Day

On 4 October, The Academy of St Francis of Assisi (ASFA) community celebrated the Feast Day of their patron saint, St Francis of Assisi.

Patron of animals, merchants and ecology, St Francis of Assisi’s works and lessons are a source of inspiration for the students at the Kensington-based academy.

A variety of services were held on the day for students, staff and parents where they were able to reflect on the themes of ‘Talking to God’ and ‘One Another’. This provided a great reminder for all of how important it is to discuss one’s worries anxieties, to one another and to God in prayer.

The academy’s Year 11 student leadership team read poetry and scripture readings in order to further encourage the sharing of anxieties. One scripture included ‘Matthew 11:28-30’. Other students from Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 performed music, expertly directed by the school’s head of music, Ms Oztuna.

A welcome event for Year 7 students and parents also took place where the new Year 7 choir proudly performed the academy song, ‘Love and Learn’.

The students provided messages and readings linked to the academy’s values of happiness and respect. Year 7 parents and staff were delighted with how enthusiastic

students were and many commented on how well they conducted themselves throughout the afternoon. The academy’s chaplain, Phil Johnson, said: “It was great to come together for our patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi on his feast day with not only students and staff, but parents too.

“It was joyous to celebrate as a community through readings and musical performances.”

Jo Leech, headteacher at the academy, said “I am very proud of our performers, both students and staff, our wonderful choir and student leadership team who did an excellent job. It is great to see so much talent on show.”

Gowns & Badges at Maricourt

Maricourt Catholic High School recently celebrated a Mass of Leadership Service traditionally known to staff and students as the ‘Gowns and Badges’ Mass.

Form captains who had been nominated by their teachers were presented with their badges. Meanwhile, sixth form prefects were given a traditional Maricourt gown to wear for the ceremony. This year, the school added more roles to the ceremony. These roles included: anti-bullying ambassadors, careers champions, sports leaders, chaplaincy captains and wellbeing champions.

Staff wellbeing ambassadors also collected their badges to demonstrate their commitment to promoting mental health and wellbeing with staff throughout the school.

Father Andrew Unsworth celebrated the mass. He was accompanied by music teacher Mrs Rimmer and the choir, who sang the Suscipe of Sister Catherine Macauley. School chaplain, Julia Ashes, spoke about Jesus being with us every day and how we should respond with courage and humility to his call to serve others.

Mr Varey and Mrs Lawler, headteacher and deputy headteacher at Maricourt, were both proud and delighted to welcome this year’s recipients into their new roles.

The service was also accompanied by two Sisters of Mercy, who were staying over at Broughton Hall.

Catholic schools included in the Educate Awards 2022 shortlist!

Eight inspiring Catholic schools and colleges from the Archdiocese of Liverpool have been named in the highly anticipated Educate Awards shortlist.

• Christ the King Catholic Primary School has been shortlisted in the Most Inspirational Primary School category

• Great Crosby Catholic Primary School has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Commitment to STEM category

• Maricourt Catholic High School has been shortlisted for The Communication Award and the Community Partnership Award

• Notre Dame Catholic College has been shortlisted for the SEND Provision Award

• St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Commitment to Physical Education in Primary School category

• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School has been shortlisted for the Mental Health & Wellbeing Award and business manager, Sue McMullen, has been shortlisted for Business Manager of the Year

• The Academy of St Francis of Assisi’s chaplain, Phil Johnson, has been shortlisted for School Support Star of the Year

• The Academy of St Nicholas has been shortlisted for the WOW Recognition Award

Catholic schools from other dioceses have also been shortlisted. These include St Mary’s Catholic College in Wallasey (Wirral), St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Wallasey, Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust on the Wirral, The Barlow RC High School in Manchester and Cardinal Langley RC High School in Rochdale.

For over a decade, the Educate Awards has shined a spotlight on the education sector, showcasing the work of schools and colleges that are continuing to deliver an outstanding education for children and helping achieve their full potential.

With over 20 categories, the shortlist recognises inspiring teachers, dedicated support staff, efficient business managers and strategic leadership teams. The awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, is the largest education awards in the region and will take place at the iconic Liverpool Cathedral on Friday 18 November.

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said: “A massive congratulations to all the Catholic schools and colleges that have made this year’s shortlist. Entries get stronger every year which makes the judges job a lot more difficult and so it is really crucial that submissions meet the stringent criteria of each category. It is no mean feat making it this far!”

Kim added: “Plans are well under way to make the Educate Awards 2022 ceremony another standout event in the education calendar. Together with our incredible sponsors, we look forward to celebrating with everyone on the night.”

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

For the full shortlist please visit www.educateawards.co.uk/2022-shortlist/

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi at the 2021 ceremony

education news

Happy Birthday St Cuthbert’s

St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, St Helens, recently celebrated its 65th birthday.

To celebrate the special day, the school welcomed its community for its annual opening.

Mrs Twist, headteacher at St Cuthbert’s, held ‘Headteacher’s Talks’ to a busy and packed drama theatre. There, she expressed how proud she was to lead the St Cuthbert’s family.

Mrs Twist said: “I am immensely proud to be the headteacher of this school. In our recent Ofsted report in July, they stated what we already knew, that we are a GOOD school.

“We were blown away by some of the comments in the report, in particular, that ‘pupils feel happy, safe and well cared for at St Cuthbert’s.”

Prospective students and their guardians were guided around the building by the school’s 2022-23 Senior Team. There was a range of subjects and activities on display for the community to get involved with.

A very special art exhibition showcased the fantastic work created by the St Cuthbert’s GCSE classes of 2022. Meanwhile, in the food room, people had the opportunity to decorate their own cupcake in the St Cuthbert’s colours to celebrate the school’s anniversary.

‘Chaotic, but in the best possible way’

Ellie Leatherbarrow, retreat co-ordinator at Animate Youth Ministries, reflects on a busy start to 2022/23 – and the satisfaction of helping guide young people with their faith.

I am writing this as we come to the end of the first half-term of this academic year. As usual, it has been filled with chaos, but the better part of chaos – being able to meet so many young people who have taken the step to high school as well as reuniting with those whom we had previously encountered when they were in primary school.

The first high school we worked with was St John Fisher from Wigan. We explored the theme of community and how we all have a part to play. It was great to see again so many pupils we had worked with before and to see how far they have come and how they well they have settled into their new school.

More recently, we worked with St Joseph’s High School in Horwich and looked at the theme of stepping out of the boat. We considered how life can throw so many challenges at us but how we have people around us to help us have the courage to overcome the difficult hurdles.

Ultimately and crucially, we also have God. On the last day we were able to work with the school’s mission team and think about servant leadership – how they can step out of the boat, just like Peter did – and they were able to come up with many ideas on the lead-up to Christmas.

This year I have taken over the role of Animate’s retreat co-ordinator. This has meant the opportunity to lead some day retreats and while I was

quite nervous about this, there has been a sense of fulfilment gained from being able to speak to young people and spread the good news. One of the retreats I have led was with the Year 10 pupils from St Mary’s College in Crosby with whom we considered the theme of reconciliation, exploring both ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’ reconciliation. This involved focusing on how we can reconcile with ourselves, our friends and families and other people around the world, and it ended with looking at how we are then able to reconcile with God.

By the time you read this, we will be into the next half-term and working on the build-up to Christmas – we have retreats booked with different schools, our first mission week of the year, and Youth Alive. In addition, we are all looking forward to spending some time on our own Advent retreat which will enable us to reflect and renew our beliefs.

In this period, we will celebrate the feast of Christ the King which is also known as Youth Sunday, a celebration of all the young people in the Church. If you are wondering how to support young people, we have been recently selected to be part of the community grants scheme to support local school pupils who are completing their Faith in Action award this year. If you shop at Tesco in St Helens, therefore, we would really appreciate it if you could take a blue token and place it in the box for Faith in Action. Thank you.

God bless.

Mums the Word

I was gathering information for the Mum’s the word column and spoke to a few that went to the Marian shrine of OurLady of Banneux in Belgium with Margaret McDonald. This story is from Maria Bruns who went on the pilgrimage.

Maria Pimblett Media Officer

On Monday 26 September, 25 pilgrims joined our deputy national president, Margaret McDonald, in departing for a Union of Catholic Mothers pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Banneux in Belgium.

After a journey via coach and ferry, we arrived at our hotel in Charleroi in time for dinner and, the next morning, we headed to Banneux. The shrine there, visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year, marks the site where Our Lady appeared to Mariette Beco, an 11-year-old girl, eight times between 15 January and 2 March 1933.

On our arrival, we followed a prayer path and visited the Chapel of the Apparitions as well as the spring into which we put our hands, just as Our Lady had instructed when telling Mariette to ‘push your hands into the water’. Our Lady told the girl, ‘I am the Virgin of the poor, this spring is reserved for all nations’ and, in another apparition, said that ‘I come to relieve suffering’. Our Lady also asked for a ‘little chapel’ to be built on the site and, on her final visit, told Mariette that she was ‘the Mother of the Saviour’.

In the grounds we saw the chapel to Our Lady of Walsingham while Father David Potter, our chaplain, celebrated Mass for us in the Chapelle Marie Mediatrice. There was also a blessing of the sick and Benediction in the Chapelle du Message, relayed in four languages. It was raining heavily when we arrived at the shrine, but we left in beautiful sunshine. A very special day.

During our time in Belgium, we took a tour of the Hospital of Our Lady with the Rose, a conventhospital dating back to the 13th century. We went also to Ghent and explored St Bavo’s Cathedral, a magnificent Gothic edifice which houses an impressive collection of art and architectural treasures. We visited Waterloo to see the museum commemorating Napoleon’s last battle. Those who were able climbed the 226 steps leading to The Lion’s Mound – the most famous landmark of the battlefield site. We ended our day with a visit to a Belgian chocolate village.

Maria Bruns

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

Knights attend special Masses – in the woods and on the bus!

Now that Covid restrictions have eased, an annual event back on the KSC’s agenda is the Harkirk Mass. This takes place in an historic chapel deep in the woods of the Ince Blundell Estate.

Served by St Mary’s, Little Crosby, the Harkirk Chapel is a hidden gem, a monument to the courage and tenacity of Catholics in south Lancashire who refused to abandon their faith during the Reformation. The chapel was provided by the Blundell family on their estate in Little Crosby as a burial ground for those Catholics in the area who were denied this unless they conformed to the requirements of the Established Church.

The Blundell family included Nicholas Blundell, an MP and member of the order, who was instrumental in the repeal of legislation in 1926 preventing Catholics from taking part in public displays of their faith such as May processions. The Knights have traditionally attended the chapel’s annual memorial Mass each summer and this year it was celebrated on 7 August by Father Dustan Harrington, the parish priest at St Mary’s and our Liverpool province chaplain who, we are pleased to report, is slowly returning to good health after the severe and prolonged effects of Covid.

Our photo shows Brother Liam McNeilis, a new council 9 member, receiving his collarette from provincial grand knight Alf Swain.

• Province 2 recently hosted the Divine Mercy Bus at St Helen’s church in Crosby on the last leg of its national journey. Our national board of directors travelled from far and wide to join local knights, their families and other worshippers on board the bus where confessions were heard by Fr John Cullen and a Mass was celebrated by our national spiritual adviser, Bishop Tom Neylon. It was a highly unusual yet very spiritually uplifting occasion enjoyed by all – and bus passes were not needed! We wish to offer our thanks to Anne Fearon who facilitated the event on behalf of Fr Martin Caddell, the parish priest at St Helen’s.

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

Light up a Life

Dedicate a light on our tree as a gift for someone who may be away from home this Christmas, or in memory of a loved one.

Christmas is a frantic time for most of us. Between shopping, planning, cooking and visiting loved ones there is often no time to pause and reflect. The loss of a loved one is a time of tremendous grief as well as a time of intense hope. While our loved ones will no longer walk this earth with us, as a people of faith we seek the day when we will walk with them in the joy of God’s kingdom. In the words of St John Chrysostom, ‘Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before. They are now wherever we are’.

‘Light up a Life’ is a time for families, friends and colleagues to come together to celebrate and remember someone special to them. Each year, hundreds of people dedicate a light on our Trees of Light, which stand in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, and at St Teresa’s Church in Upholland, in memory of a loved one. This imitative supports the work of Nugent and the services we provide. Without this support, we would not be able to continue to provide essential work across the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Light up a Life Services 2022

A warm welcome awaits you at our special Light up a Life services taking place across the archdiocese during December. Join us to pay tribute to those who hold a special place in our hearts, to remember how they lit up our lives and to give thanks for the memories we carry with us. Our services consist of readings, prayers, reflections and music and are supported by a number of schools and parish groups across the archdiocese.

They take place on Friday 16 December at 12.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, led by Bishop Tom Williams, followed by refreshments and on Sunday 11 December at 3.00 pm in St Teresa’s Church, Upholland, followed by refreshments in the Parish Centre.

You can remember a loved one in our Light up a Life Appeal for a suggested donation of £5.00 per dedication and we will enter the name(s) provided into our Book of Remembrance; add a light to Nugent’s Tree of Light in memory of a loved one and send a Christmas card to you or to a chosen family member or friend, confirming that a light on the tree has been dedicated to their loved one, whose name will also appear on the card. Everyone who dedicates a light will receive a star at the service to write a personal message. The lights on the trees will remain lit continuously until Friday 6 January 2023.

Nugent Charity Shop Donations

Our charity shop on Allerton Road is in desperate need of donations of clothes, shoes, books and bric-a-brac. To those attending our special Light up a Life services, we would be grateful if you are able to bring any unwanted goods and our volunteers will be present to collect them, thank you.

For more information please contact Nugent’s Fundraising team at fundraising@wearenugent.org or tel: 0151 261 2000.

To find out other ways you can help, please visit wearenugent.org/ fundraising

Normandie Wragg Chief Executive Nugent

800 Group Volunteer Awards celebrates volunteers across Merseyside

In September Nugent were given the honour of hosting this year’s 800 Group Volunteer Awards at the Titanic Hotel. We saw volunteers from charities across the north west join us for an evening of celebration to recognise their invaluable contribution to our local communities.

A consortium of 8 charities, the 800 Group has a combined history spanning over 800 years of providing health and social care for children, young people and adults across the north west.

This special event highlighted the hard work and dedication of volunteers across the 8 charities as well as volunteers from external charities within the north west who were nominated for Volunteer of the Year.

The night’s celebrations did not stop at the awards, as nominees were treated to beautiful live music from local acoustic singer, Sadie Law, an exclusive drinks reception sponsored by the Pentone Family and a three-course dinner during the evening. Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell, and LFC Legend Phil Thompson, also joined us to celebrate and thank the volunteers for their hard work.

Thank you to all volunteers across Merseyside for your hard work and dedication to your charities. Without you, none of what the charities do would be possible.

Thank you to all the sponsors and supporters who made the celebration a possibility. Thank you to Howdens for sponsoring the main award, Pentone Family for sponsoring the drinks reception, and award sponsors Towergate Insurance, Borland Insurance, BWM and Gallagher.

Dialogue and Unity Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfil together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the WCC which groups together churches, denominations, and church fellowships in more than 120 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 580 million Christians in 352 member churches and including most of the world’s Orthodox churches, together with Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches. In addition, national and continental ecumenical bodies attend assemblies and other WCC meetings.

It can be seen as a sadness that the Roman Catholics are not members but there are close links between the WCC and the Vatican.

Principally there is also a Joint Working Group between the Vatican and WCC which has produced a series of ten reports, the latest focuses on two themes which are relevant at the present time namely:

‘Peace is a treasure for all: An ecumenical reflection on peacebuilding in situations of conflict and violence’ and ‘Migrants and refugees: ecumenical challenges and opportunities responding to the challenges and opportunities of migration’.

Of great significance to us is that the Joint Working Group identifies each year an area to prepare material for the week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18th to 25th January 2023).

In 2023 this is the Minnesota Council of Churches on the theme of racial justice based around Isaiah 1:17: learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. The title is ‘Do good; seek justice’. The material can be accessed at the Commission for Dialogue and Unity’s section of the archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/ dialogue-unity and can be used for other ecumenical events, parish meetings, UCM meetings or school assemblies.

Catholics are members of the many national interchurch bodies (Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and Churches Together in England) and, of course, close to home Churches Together in the Merseyside Region, Churches Alive in Man and Churches Together in Lancashire. We can rejoice here in the archdiocese with many local Churches

Together groups and the diversity of ecumenical initiatives in which Catholics and other Churches engage – Liverpool Hope University, Joint Anglican/Catholic schools, Feeding Liverpool, food banks, Street Pastors, Micah, Mission in the Economy, the Association of Interchurch families, Wigan Family Welfare, links between the Union of Catholic Mothers and the Anglican Mothers Union plus many more.

Pope Francis visited the Offices of the WCC in June 2018 as it celebrated the seventieth anniversary of its creation. He applauded the joint initiatives on formation, faith and order, world development interchurch relations and interchurch dialogue. He said: the need for ‘unity for peace’ between Churches has been among the issues discussed with WCC leaders, since the world is facing a ‘crisis of hope, crisis of human rights, crisis of mediation, [and] crisis of peace, for me, to be a peace church is the mandate of God. I believe that all the churches that have this spirit of peace must come together and work together, as we said in our speeches today. Today, “peace is a necessity, because there is risk of a war.”’ A challenge which as we consider the situation in Ukraine, Somalia and Afghanistan sadly seems even more significant today.

St John

College Sixth Form