Issue 231 November 2023
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St Mary of the Isle - A new cathedral for our Archdiocese INSIDE THIS MONTH
Letters from Joseph Quinn, A Liverpool Pal
St Joseph’s Centenary Mass
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contents From the Archbishop’s Desk The technological advances of modern life are truly amazing. We can travel to the other side of the world in just over twentyfour hours, and we can talk to and see our relatives in Australia with a couple of taps on our iPads. This desire to be connected, I believe, has deep roots in our makeup as human persons. A philosopher might argue that this is because, while we are all different and individual, we are also the same as part of one humanity. Christians believe that this concept of ‘the one and the many’ finds its true origin and end in Jesus Christ. We come from God as unique persons, but our fulfilment is in ultimately being one in Christ. As members of Christ’s body, the Church, we are united in him through baptism. In the month of November, we remember those who have died, and we pray for them and to them. Our belief that with death life is changed, not ended, means that our prayer is a real form of communication that is not falling on deaf ears or disappearing into a vacuum - and you don’t need a jet airliner or an iPad to make it happen. Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool
Monthly prayer intentions The Holy Father’s prayer intentions entrusted to his worldwide prayer network for the year 2023:
November
Contents: 4
Main Feature St Mary of the Isle - A new cathedral for our archdiocese
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Sunday Reflections
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From the archives “Mummy, what did you do in the Great War?”
9 News News from around the Archdiocese 14 Remembrance Letters from Joseph Quinn, a Liverpool pal
For the Pope Let us pray for the Pope that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he may continue to accompany in the faith the flock entrusted to him.
17 Cathedral Record
www.popesprayer.va/
19 What’s On What’s happening in the Archdiocese
18 Profile Faye Gaskin
27 Animate Youth Ministry Editor Harriet Anwyl Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine, St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Liverpool Archdiocesan Office, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA Tel: 0151 522 1007 Email: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk Advertising Sales team 0151 709 7567 sales@cpmmmedia.com Pictures Nick Fairhurst www.nickfairhurstphotographer.com Glen Whorrall Website: www.catholicpic.co.uk Twitter: @PicCatholic Youtube: CPMM Media
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28 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC 29 Nugent News Light Up A Life 30 Dialogue and Unity
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A new cathedral for our archdiocese The Isle of Man was going strong before Liverpool even existed. It was an independent country, its own kingdom
The awarding of co-cathedral status to St Mary of the Isle in Douglas is a source of great pride for Catholics on the Isle of Man. ‘An auspicious occasion in the life of the island,’ says Archbishop Malcolm McMahon as he looks forward to making a special visit to the Isle of Man on 3 November. The purpose of his visit is a service at Saint Mary of the Isle in Douglas, the island’s capital, where he will be installed in the new bishop’s chair following the decision by Pope Francis to confer cathedral status on St Mary’s.
This recognition makes St Mary’s the first Catholic co-cathedral in the British Isles. To borrow The Spinners’ old line about the city’s two cathedrals in ‘In My Liverpool Home’, the archdiocese really has got one to spare now with St Mary’s becoming a co-cathedral alongside the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. This means that, henceforth, St Mary’s will have a bishop’s seat for the Archbishop of Liverpool on its sanctuary.
To mark St Mary’s elevation to the status of a cathedral, the papal nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, will accompany Archbishop Malcolm as he knocks on the church door for admission at the start of the service. The nuncio will then read out the decree from the Holy See elevating 4
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St Mary’s to the status of a cathedral before leading Archbishop Malcolm to his seat. This will be the first time a papal nuncio has set foot on Manx soil. The chapter of canons of the Metropolitan Cathedral will be present too along with representatives of both Tynwald, the Manx Parliament which stands opposite St Mary’s, and Douglas city council. Monsignor John Devine, the parish priest at St Mary’s and area dean for the Isle of Man, says: ‘The idea of it being a co-cathedral means that for the people in Liverpool it’s a reminder that this is a significant part of the diocese, and for the people in the Isle of Man it’s a reminder that the Archbishop of Liverpool is their archbishop too – he will now have a permanent throne in Douglas as well.’
St Mary’s, which first opened for worship in 1859, is one of six Catholic churches in the Isle of Man where Christianity took root in the fifth century. Mgr John explains: ‘The Isle of Man is away in the middle of the Irish Sea and may be seen as a satellite of Liverpool but its history and heritage as a selfgoverning nation go back hundreds and hundreds of years. Christianity on the island goes back to the fifth century and
feature
St Patrick. St Maughold is the patron saint here and he was one of Patrick’s disciples.
‘There is a sense of great pride on the island both in civil, secular terms, but also in terms of the faith. The Isle of Man was going strong before Liverpool even existed. It was an independent country, its own kingdom, and then it was taken over by Norway and ruled from Norway for centuries and then it was ruled by the King of Scotland.’ Though the British crown acquired the lordship of the Isle of Man in 1764, it never incorporated the island into the United Kingdom. Therefore, the island is a selfgoverning crown dependency with its own parliament and laws. King Charles is head of state and known as the Lord of Man.
The idea of St Mary’s becoming a cathedral followed a request from the civic authorities in Douglas, which received city status as part of the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year. Recounting how the process unfolded, Mgr John says: ‘I was approached by the new city council and they said, “We are a city but we haven’t got a cathedral”. The Church of England Cathedral is in Peel on the other side of the island whereas we’re just over the road from the parliament building and they said, “Why can’t St Mary’s be
the cathedral?”. I said, “We can’t because we have got a cathedral already which is in Liverpool because we are part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool and that’s where the bishop has his seat.”’
When Mgr John looked more deeply into the matter, he discovered there were precedents for co-cathedrals elsewhere in the world. ‘Co-cathedrals are found where two existing dioceses, each with their own cathedral, amalgamate to form one new diocese but they retain their cathedrals, or where a diocese spans two separate civil jurisdictions or countries – and that was a lightbulb moment.’
After consulting canon lawyers in the diocese, an application was made by Archbishop Malcolm to the Vatican. This required the sending of a dossier of material from the diocese together with letters of support from the Manx Parliament and Douglas city council. As a sign of the strong ecumenical links on the island, there was a letter of support too from the Anglican Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Reverend Peter Eagles. Part of the diocese, yet distinctive
As noted by Archbishop Malcolm, the Isle of Man is actually closer geographically to Lancaster Diocese. However, when that was formed in 1924 – by taking tranches of
both the Archdiocese of Liverpool and the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle – the island remained with our diocese owing to the better communications from the port of Liverpool. ‘When you look at the actual land mass of the diocese, the island makes up one-third of it,’ notes the Archbishop. The Archbishop speaks of the committed and prayerful communities he has encountered in the churches that are spread across the island – St Mary of the Isle (Douglas), St Anthony (Onchan), St Mary and St Columba (Castletown and Port Erin), St Patrick (Peel), Our Lady and St Maughold (Ramsey). ‘There is a strong spirit among the churches on the island,’ says Archbishop Malcolm. ‘They do all sorts of activities to hold the community together. I did confirmations for the whole island recently and there were 50 young people being confirmed. There’s no actual Catholic secondary school on the island but the parents pass their faith on to the children. ‘There is a lively Filipino community on the island too,’ adds the Archbishop. ‘There is also a Sino-Malabar community who take part in our liturgies.’
Reflecting on the Isle of Man’s contribution to the life of Liverpool Archdiocese, Archbishop Malcolm continues: ‘They are
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fully part of the archdiocese. Their status is as a deanery and on a diocesan level they send representatives to all of our activities. For example, they took part in the Synod we’ve just had and they have a delegation that comes to Lourdes every year. The 80 miles of Irish Sea between the mainland and Isle of Man is not actually much of a barrier.’
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Back in Douglas, Mgr John reflects that for all the bonds with the diocese, there are differences. ‘The Isle of Man is different – and one obvious way it is distinctive is that we don’t have any Catholic secondary schools at all,’ he says. And this makes St Mary’s new cocathedral status a source of obvious pride. Relating the responses he has
witnessed, Mgr John concludes by saying: ‘The reaction has been really good. ‘I’ve heard people say, “I wish my mum and dad were still around as they’d be really proud”. I’m bumping into people saying, “It’s great you’re a cathedral” and these aren’t necessarily religious people. It means something to them too.’
On a liturgical note ‘And Masses on the earth and prayers in heaven shall aid thee at the Throne of the Most Highest.’ Some of you may be familiar with these words; they come from the great poem ‘Dream of Gerontius’ of John Henry Newman. Gerontius (and Gerontius could be each and every one of us) is seeking that purification, needed by all of us, which will enable him to experience and delight in the majestic presence of God and the fullness of God’s loving presence.
Canon Philip Gillespie
our faith and the human life we enjoy has been given as gift – gift first of all through God’s creative and generative goodness, but gift also because we are who we are because of the influence and nurturing of our family, our friends and loved ones, our fellow parishioners and those ‘oncein-a-lifetime’ encounters which have left a deep impression on our lives and on our souls.
We remember our dead because we are grateful and also because we recognise the connectedness of our living. So let Masses be celebrated for the happy repose of our loved one, let prayers be offered for those who have preceded us on the way to the fullness of life, and let our cemeteries and the graves of our loved ones be visited and cared for in such a way that we show our eucharistic attitude, the thanksgiving which is at the heart of our living.
It is a reminder to us of the unity in prayer and in love between the Church here on Earth and the community of the blessed in heaven. This month of November, with its shortening days and deepening darkness, is chosen by the Church to be a time when we particularly remember those who have died, those who in the beautiful words of the liturgy ‘have gone before us with the sign of Faith and rest in the sleep of peace’ (Eucharistic Prayer Number 1).
One of these days, we will be grateful that others remember us at the altar of God.
I say particularly because you will have noticed how every Mass contains in the Eucharistic Prayer a remembrance of the dead; that is because we, as the living community of faith, recognise that
Sunday thoughts
sunday reflections
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.
Mgr John Devine OBE
I used to go camping. I was always saddened on leaving the campsite to see the patch of flattened grass on which my tent had been pitched. The grass would recover before the day was out. I would leave no trace. That image has more poignancy as I get older. I’m just passing through.
The people of Israel were a nation of hunter gatherers, tent dwellers, constantly on the move. The Ark of the Covenant came with them. It had its own tent, too. The Israelites were at their best on the move. Once settled in the promised land, the Lord who had guided them became redundant. They bought into the selfsufficiency of the pagan nations. They wanted a King and a temple, just like the pagans. The Lord warned them against both. A king would raise taxes, conscript their young men, and take their young women into slavery. A temple, rather than a tent, would lead to the solidity and permanence of idol worship. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was remote and yet so close that they dared not utter his name. The Lord was happy with their tent.
They got their king in the end. Saul was a disaster and David was a mixed blessing. He wanted to build a temple, but the Lord resisted. Solomon, the best of their kings, did so. Once he’d gone, the monarchy went downhill. Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC. The Persian King Cyrus supported the building of the second temple by those returning from exile. In later times, Herod refurbished and extended this same structure. This building that featured so much in the life of Jesus was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. This marked the end of temple sacrifice and priesthood and led to the synagogue worship still practised by Jews today. The church of Saint Mary of the Isle has been elevated by Pope Francis to the status of a co-cathedral. A temple? Do our sacred buildings lead us astray? What makes St Mary’s sacred for me are the generations of parishioners who have celebrated and grieved here since 1859. Their prayers have soaked into the walls.
Grace abounds Jo was a young woman I met many years ago. I was teaching a university course alongside an Anglican priest and Jo was on the course, which was designed around people’s experience of the transforming power of the Spirit.
Jo was the first to tell her story. She told us of her early life, when she was badly treated by her parents. There was some physical abuse from her father, but her mother’s silence on the matter was just as hard to bear. At school, she was difficult and obviously troubled, but few questions were asked about what was happening at home. She was just seen as a difficult child, and the more school complained about her behaviour, the more she was beaten at home. By the time she was 15, Jo was pregnant and was placed in a mother and baby home. The nuns who ran the home were, in the main, kind women who did their best. There was one in particular, Sister Frances, who was kindness itself. This nun used to pray each night with those girls who wanted to pray, but Jo never did. Her experiences had led her to not believe in God at all and certainly not a good God. One night, Sr Frances asked her if she would like some prayer and Jo, terrified at the impending prospect of giving birth, said yes. She smiled as she told us that when the prayer began, she felt herself flooded with a warmth of love that turned her life around. She was no longer afraid. Jo said she now wanted to help others find what she had discovered: that God is love and that love is enough.
It is that love that means you are welcome in the heart of God. You have a place there. God delights in you. Whoever you are and whatever you are, you are welcome. Whatever you may have done in your life, you are welcome. Whether you are black, white, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, believer or nonbeliever, bad guy, good guy, you have a place in the heart of God. Philip Yancey in his book’ “What’s So Amazing About Grace” says that “categories of worthiness simply don’t apply’”. Wonderful words that I know in my guts to be true, and which I hope are the bedrock of my life. The desire of my heart is that everyone should know that there is nothing you can be and nothing you can do that will stop God loving you. This is the scandal of grace: that love is freely poured out, does not condemn, and requires nothing in return. It is the reality of who God is - unconditionally loving and compassionate. The Bible is the most outrageous collection of books ever put together because it slices like the finest meat cleaver through all our attempts to be sanctimonious and respectable and worthy. It is a love that says you are precious in God’s eyes, so let go of the need you have to control God by your good works or your piety, and simply open yourself to love. Father Chris Thomas
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from the archives
“Mummy, what did you do in the Great War?” by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist
the entries in the autograph book may be the only record of a patient’s time in the institution.
Autograph books from the First World War are often deposited into military museums or archive repositories with large collections of wartime memorabilia. Occasionally, they crop up for sale in online auctions. One made a surprising appearance in some records recently brought into the Archdiocesan Archives from a church in north Liverpool. It’s an album that belonged to Hettie Halsall, a nurse at Highfield Military Hospital in Knotty Ash.
This institution was a former home for epileptics converted for military use in May 1915. After the war, it became a tuberculosis sanatorium, and the site is now occupied by Broadgreen Hospital. During the First World War, it specialised in treating soldiers with facial injuries, and late in 1917 it expanded to assist the nearby Alder Hey Hospital in providing orthopaedic treatment for wounded servicemen. It could accommodate almost 500 patients, and 4000 passed through its doors in its first two years of operation. In addition to an operating theatre and X-ray facilities, it also had a nurses’ home and even a large recreation hall. This was used for concerts and other entertainments aimed at helping patients to a swift recovery. George Formby Senior was among the music hall and variety artists who, according to one newspaper report, “made the soldiers rock with laughter”. Mortality was low – only 18 patients died by November 1917, and some at least have unmarked graves in Anfield Cemetery. Hettie Halsall worked at Highfield Military Hospital from 1915 to 1918, though it isn’t clear if she was a trained nurse or one of the enthusiastic volunteers eager to contribute something to the war effort by offering her services to minister to the injured. She was given a blank sketchbook by her friend and colleague at the hospital, Gwladys Davies, and she used it to collect photographs, sketches, jokes and rhymes from the patients in her care. The contributors signed their work – hence the description of such volumes as autograph books – and it is evident that Highfield was a hospital not for officers but for other ranks. Infantry regiments from all four of what are now known as the Home Nations are represented, as are the Corps of Royal Engineers, artillerymen, and members of service corps. Most records of military hospitals were destroyed after the war, and as no admissions registers for Highfield Military Hospital are known, 8
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The contributions include a couple of cartoons that gently send up officers, and some favourite quotations from Shakespeare or Kipling, but there’s very little that comments on individual wartime experiences. Surprisingly, there isn’t a great amount of anti-German sentiment, and given our current perceptions of the war, remarkably little cynicism is expressed, though one old sweat in February 1917 suggests that “A soldier is a brave man who joins the Army because he loves his country, or doesn’t like work, and ever afterwards tries to find a way out of it”. There doesn’t seem as much cheek or nurse-baiting as I’ve seen in similar volumes – perhaps Nurse Halsall didn’t invite it – but at least one patient was appreciative of the hospital staff. Private C F Brown of the Cheshire Regiment wrote a 4-page poem describing a day in the life of one of the wards: following breakfast and mail delivery,
“Come the nurses so sweet In their uniforms neat To perform the real work of the day With a touch that is light And a smile ever bright Charming pain and discomfort away”
One contribution is from Hettie’s brother, Private Joe Halsall, though presumably this was done at home rather than at the hospital. It’s one of very few clues that might help to identify the original owner of the autograph book. If anyone knows of a Halsall family that included siblings Joe and Hettie (her given name may have been Esther) then do let me know. And if any history student is looking for a brief essay identifying who the wounded patients were, what their military service was and what their lives were like, the autograph book might offer an interesting research project.
news diary
News diary
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St Joseph’s, Penketh celebrates centenary
St Joseph’s Church in Penketh celebrated its centenary Mass on Saturday 23 September.
The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon and concelebrated by Bishops Tom Neylon and Tom Williams. Members of the clergy from surrounding and neighbouring parishes, as well as students from nearby schools, were in attendance, including students from St Gregory’s High School, St Vincent’s Primary School and St Vincent’s High School, who read Prayers of the Faithful. Before the start of the Mass, the members of the clergy were welcomed in by local Scouts, who were led in by a bagpiper. New Parish Priest Raymond Anywanwu C.S.Sp was officially inducted into his role by Archbishop Malcolm. He was accepted by him and the parishioners in a formal ceremony.
On his appointment, the Chair of St Joseph’s Parish Council commented: “We were delighted to confirm Fr Raymond’s appointment as our Parish Priest on such a special Centenary Day in the presence of The Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritian Brothers), and past and present clergy. “Taking up a new Apostolate, Fr Raymond and Assistant Fr James Fasakin C.S.Sp and Spiritian Fathers will guide St Joseph’s to another chapter of growth in faith within our community of Warrington West Deanery.” Following the Mass, the Archbishop led a blessing of the holy stone outside of the church. After that, there was a family fun day with plenty of entertainment.
Celebrating Priesthood Mass at St Margaret Clitherow Centre Earlier this month, over 60 priests from our archdiocese, led by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, came together at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre (SMCC) to celebrate the Votive Mass of Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, a Mass to celebrate and honour the vocation of priesthood. During Mass, attendees were given a truly fitting Eucharistic reflection from Dr Edward Morgan KCSS. Following the Mass, the clergy were invited to enjoy a celebratory lunch together at the SMCC. Reflecting on the event, Father Phil Gregory expressed his satisfaction, stating, “This annual celebration has been very successful in past years, and it continues to be a significant occasion for our priests. It offers a precious chance for our clergy to come together, not only to celebrate their vocation but also to enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie that are vital to their spiritual and emotional wellbeing.”
Father Phil concluded: “The celebrating Priesthood Mass serves as a testament to the unity and devotion of the Catholic clergy in Liverpool. It is a reminder of the enduring bonds that tie them together in their shared commitment to guiding and nurturing the faith of the archdiocese’s parishioners.”
The Archdiocese of Liverpool extends its gratitude to Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, all the priests, and attendees for their dedication to the priesthood and their ongoing efforts to enrich the spiritual lives of the community.
Father Gregory further emphasised the event’s importance in acknowledging the significant jubilees in the priestly lives of some attendees, making the occasion even more poignant and meaningful.
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news diary Young Leaders Graduate from CAFOD’s Youth Leadership Program at Metropolitan Cathedral Ciara Biswas-Graham, CAFOD’s Advocacy Assistant, then shared her inspiring journey with CAFOD, which also started during her school days, and discussed the organisation’s role in shaping her passion for social justice. In her speech, she highlighted CAFOD’s efforts to implement UK policy and public opinion toward a fairer society, emphasising the importance of faith-based organisations in mobilising communities. Bishop Tom Neylon, leading the Graduation Service, guided the young leaders in an anointing ceremony, in which they were commissioned to, in the words of the prophet Micah, “act justly, be loving and compassionate, and walk humbly with their God”. A significant moment during the ceremony was when the young people, representing their school’s CAFOD Young Leader groups, brought symbols reflecting the central message of their groups to the altar. In a ceremony held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, the North West Graduation for CAFOD’s Young Leadership Programme celebrated the achievements of young leaders from seven schools and colleges, including Carmel College, Maricourt CHS, St John Bosco Arts College, and St Mary’s CHS.
The event marked the culmination of a year-long program where students in Year 13 demonstrated exceptional dedication to social justice and community service. The morning saw several key people speak to the young leaders. Ian Byrne, MP, shared his journey and encouraged the young audience to create change in their communities. “It was wonderful to be part of such an inspiring event with so many young people wanting to put something back into their respective communities,” he said afterwards.
Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, shared his experiences from his travels with CAFOD, highlighting the importance of longterm solutions and partnerships with communities for sustainable change. Quoting St. John Henry Newman, he reminded the audience that each person is created by God for a definite purpose.
The day also included feedback from the young leaders on the program. They shared how the experience had not only equipped them with essential leadership skills but also broadened their perspectives and deepened their understanding of social justice. One student reflected, “CAFOD really gave a platform in school where we were listened to, and it really amplified our voices. We were able to get involved in campaigns and raise money and talk about these things.”
In her speech, Kirstie Hutchinson, National Coordinator of the CAFOD Young Leadership Programme, commended the students for their proactive nature and ability to work effectively as a team. She acknowledged the challenges they faced and encouraged them to continue dreaming and building hope, quoting Pope Francis: “Don’t be scared! Dare to have fabulous plans.” The event concluded on a note of celebration and gratitude, and with a reminder that their journey as CAFOD young leaders is not just a milestone but a beginning, filled with endless possibilities to create positive change and make the world a better place for all. For more information about CAFOD’s Youth Leadership Program and how to get involved, please visit CAFOD’s official website cafod.org.uk
Wigan’s Rosary Sunday celebrations Saint Patrick’s Church, Wigan, was the venue for the Wigan and District Catholic Men’s Society’s Annual Rosary Sunday celebrations on Sunday 1 October. Bishop Tom Williams was the celebrant, and was joined by Parish Priest Father Ian O’Shea, as well as four visiting priests: Canon Pat MacNally, Fr Andrew Unsworth, Fr Paul Grady and Fr Phil Gregory. The service began with a procession of Our Lady’s Statue and banners from St Patrick’s Primary School into the church, followed by the praying of the rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Later, the congregation retreated to the school hall to enjoy delicious refreshments organised and served by some of the members of St Patrick’s Ladies’ Group.
There was a celebratory atmosphere as presentations were made: Canon MacNally retired after 33 years as chaplain to the Catholic Men’s Society and was succeeded by Fr O’Shea. Tom Walsh, MBE, retired as President of the CMS and handed his Chain of Office over to Josh Marshall, a St Patrick’s Parishioner, to signal a new era for the society in this part of the archdiocese.
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news diary
Honour for Merseyside Pax Christi At the AGM of Pax Christi England and Wales, Jan Harper was one of the four recipients given the Pax Christi Peace Award by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, President of Pax Christi England and Wales.
The Pax Christi Peace Award was created to honour people who faithfully, without reward or recognition, do the work that keeps peace issues alive in our Church and in the world today. Jan has been a member of Pax Christi for 40 years, working in the parish of St. Michael and Sacred Heart and in the wider city of Liverpool, and has also served as the National Executive. For over 10 years, Jan has co-ordinated the Pax Christi Merseyside Group in work for nuclear and conventional disarmament, and for peace in Palestine /Israel. Her work has taken many forms: inviting speakers, holding film nights, signing petitions, writing letters to MPs, holding stalls, and activities challenging injustices, to name just a few.
Jan has frequently protested outside Liverpool University where research and development is funded by arms companies. There she distributed leaflets and encouraged people to sign petitions to stop this funding in warfare. Much of Jan’s work with the group has been out on the streets of Liverpool. She coordinates the annual Ash Wednesday Walk of Witness through the city centre. This event attracts much attention and includes the distribution of ashes and prayers of repentance for the collective sin of nuclear weapons. This year, a letter was handed in to Liverpool City Council asking them to support the Treaty for the Prohibition of nuclear weapons, known as ‘The Nuclear Ban.’
Recent actions of Pax Christi Merseyside have included a commemoration for Conscientious Objectors’ Day and for the 78th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Jan said: “I was very touched to receive this peace award as my father was active in the trade unions and I was brought up to think that working for justice was a normal part of being a Catholic. As a teenager, I was an active member of Young Christian Workers and I learned the importance of ‘prayer, study and action,’ which is also integral to Pax Christi. Gospel Nonviolence is at the heart of all we do, whether supporting Conscientious Objectors, working for ethical investment in Palestine /Israel, or campaigning for Liverpool to support the Nuclear Ban.
“Over the years, I have come to realise that working and praying for peace is my vocation. I value being a member of Pax Christi - an international community of peacemakers, who work closely with people who share our values, whether Christian or not.”
Pax Christi Peace Award Committee member Arn Dekker, Pax Christi Peace Award Recipients Jan Harper and Martin Birdseye, Pax Christi President Archbishop Malcolm McMahon
Handcrafted Bible Exhibition “ Wonderful, wonderful exhibition… Moved me to tears… A work of the heart”
“ A brilliant display to help us to visualise the Bible stories, make them more real. A vision I will remember.” “ How wonderful to bring the Bible to life in such a marvellous way for children – and for all ages from birth to 100 and beyond! A special time of awe and wonder!” “ There are no words… it’s just awe inspiring! I’m speechless!”
These are just a few of the comments left by visitors to the Handcrafted Bible Exhibition held at the Irenaeus Project recently. Through the medium of knitting, Francesca Vause has depicted stories from the Old and New Testaments. Her amazing creative skills were clear for all to see as they made their way through the exhibition listening to the stories the models represented. On hand was Eileen, her mother, who expertly shared the stories and listened to those who came in to see what it was all about.
The exhibition was open to the public for a week and schools were invited to attend on the last day. People came throughout the week - the young and the old and were often blown away by their experience. Without doubt, the children thoroughly enjoyed their time there. They listened attentively to the stories including one told during a session of Godly Play about the parable of the Sower and the Seed. “Members of our Mini Vinnie group from Ursuline Catholic Primary School were welcomed to the community at Irenaeus Waterloo as we journeyed through scripture by visiting knitted scenes from the Bible.” Carmel Pritchard, Deputy Headteacher at 12
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Ursuline Catholic Primary School, commented. “We were able to appreciate the wonder and beauty of God’s love for each one of us.”
Francesca, a former teacher, is a volunteer at Irenaeus and an expert crafter. She is very modest about her talents and was persuaded to show the exhibition by her friend and another volunteer, Fran, who was also on hand to help out during the week. We all hope that this will be the start of a tour of the exhibition across the archdiocese. Don’t miss it if it comes to a centre near you!
The International Table by Deacon Justin Malewezi jr.
I am standing here behind the altar, looking out to the many faces, people from all walks of life, from different parts of the world, gathered around the table, the table of Christ.
I am a newly ordained permanent deacon of the Liverpool Diocese. My name is Justin Malewezi jr. I am originally from Malawi in Africa. I have now lived in England for twenty years. I have experienced the warmth and kindness of people in England. I have also experienced racism. At one point, it was an everyday occurrence. Those moments have always been confusing to me. As a people of the same human race, we ought to be kind to each other. Especially as Christians, since we are brothers and sisters, children of God. Standing here, looking out to the gathered children of God, I am convinced more than ever that I have seen the image of God, for we are created in his image. All of us as a human race, people from all ethnic backgrounds, all of us together form the image of God.
I am at the International Table Mass organised by the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ), at St. Agnes and St. Aidan’s Parish, with the parish priest Fr. Anton Fernandopulle, in Huyton. Ann Malone, the chairperson of CARJ Parish Group, commented that in the acronym CARJ, the letter C represents Catholic, which means universal, not just for Catholics, therefore all are welcome in the work
towards racial justice. After the Mass, there was plenty of food from various cultures as the people celebrated their diversity. This event was a good reminder of how we should be: one human race, the children of God, the body of Christ.
St Mary Magdalen’s Festival Mass St Mary Magdalen’s Church in Penwortham recently hosted a festival Mass in honour of the feast of St Vincent de Paul, the inspiration and namesake of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP). Parishioners and SVP members came together for this Mass, celebrated by parish priest Fr Ian McPartland, who was assisted by Deacon John Sargent.
Also in attendance was the National President of SVP, Elaine Heyworth, who gave an address. Tim O’Brien, President of St. Mary Magdalen’s and St. Teresa’s Conference, expressed his gratitude, saying, “Elaine Heyworth’s presence and words added a special significance to our celebration, emphasising the impact of our collective efforts.” A highlight of the Mass was the active participation of the students from All Hallows Catholic High School’s Youth SVP Conference. They not only read during the Mass but also gave a presentation on the rich history of the SVP, from its inception to its arrival in Penwortham in 1965. Their engaging storytelling and heartfelt involvement brought the legacy of the SVP to life for everyone present. Following the Mass, the celebration continued in the church hall, where parishioners enjoyed tea, coffee, cakes, and biscuits. The students from All Hallows, under the guidance of Headteacher Mrs. Allison Cooper and music teacher Mrs. Lavinia Colclough, took the stage to provide live music for guests to enjoy. Tim commented, “Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. A real community atmosphere prevailed throughout the day, which has promoted the thought of possibly making this an annual festival celebration!”
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remembrance
“A little patch of God’s beauty, in contrast to the ghastliness of war” Letters from Joseph Quinn, a Liverpool Pal
In the spirit of Remembrance, our November issue pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of Joseph Quinn, a valiant member of the Liverpool Pals during the First World War. In this feature, we delve into the moving letters he wrote to his loved ones from the training camp in England and the battlefields of France. These letters, carefully preserved and published by his family, offer a glimpse into the life of a soldier, capturing both the trials of training and the harrowing experiences on the front lines. Joseph Quinn, affectionately known as Joe, was a devout Catholic whose faith played a pivotal role in shaping his character and actions on the battlefield. Born and raised in Liverpool, Joseph’s deep Catholic faith was evident throughout his life. His letters from the frontlines, filled with references to makeshift Masses, prayers, and the spiritual strength he drew from his faith, offer a unique insight into the life of a soldier finding solace amidst the chaos of war.
One of his earlier letters from the Infantry Base Depot in France, shortly before his departure to the Front, details the comfort he found in the Catholic Club amidst the turmoil. The club provided a sanctuary for soldiers of all denominations, allowing them to pray, find solace, and even attend Mass, a rare luxury in the midst of war.
Joseph’s faith became a guiding light during his time in the trenches. In his letters, he often reflected on nature’s beauty and the solace he found in the simplicity of a sunrise or the sight of wildflowers amidst the devastation. His profound appreciation for these moments of peace amidst the chaos reflected his unshakable faith and belief in a higher purpose. In a letter to his brother Charlie, he writes about seeing poppies and cornflowers grow on the edges of the trenches: “There is something peaceful about this little patch of God’s freshness and beauty, as it stands there in startling contrast to the din and ghastliness of war. It seems to stand for Peace.” On 1 July 1916, during the historic charge at Montauban, one of very few successes on a day when 19,240 British soldiers were killed in action, Joseph’s faith was put to the ultimate test. The Liverpool Pals displayed extraordinary bravery as they charged into the battlefield, facing enemy fire and the roar of shells. Amidst the chaos, Joseph’s unwavering faith gave him the strength to move forward, unharmed, through the line of fire. His survival, he believed, was nothing short of a “miracle”—a testament to the power of prayer and divine protection.
Joseph also encountered the Catholic faith of others, even those across no man’s land. Following the charge on Montauban, the soldiers searched a dugout and found a German soldier sleeping. Upon waking and finding the place in the allies’ possession, “he burst into tears, and was apparently hysterical. 14
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When some of our fellows were looking for souvenirs, he offered them everything he had, except a pair of Rosary Beads, which he would not part with on any consideration,” despite fearing for his life.
Those in his own regiment were also relying on their faith. In an environment where washing, eating, and having a shelter to sleep under were a struggle, the Catholics among them still found ways to celebrate Mass. Quinn comments “It was a most impressive sight to be present at Mass under such circumstances. An old table covered with a blanket was used for an altar. On each side of it was a candle stuck in the neck of an old bottle. One little white altar-cloth lying between the candles, together with a small wooden crucifix completed the picture! So that there was little pretension to a luxurious setting there! But nevertheless, it had the simple dignity which the Stable at Bethlehem must have had.” Joseph Quinn’s story is not just a historical account of a brave soldier but also a poignant reminder of the role faith can play amid hardship.
“If, by the help of your prayers at home, I am spared to see you all again soon, I’ll be able to tell you a good deal about both the light and the gruesome sides of war. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to keep diaries, but I’ve made a good many rough notes in the small red pocketbook which Jim gave me before leaving for the front. Of course, I cannot send it by post, but I hope to bring it back with me soon.”
Joseph unfortunately didn’t make it home. He was one of almost 500 Liverpool Pals killed in action at Guillemont on 30 July 1916, known as Liverpool’s blackest day. His body was not recovered, and his name is amongst over 73,000 recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. While his pocketbook is still with him on the battlefield, his letters were kept safe and published by his family, so that Joseph’s unyielding spirit and deep faith, which inspired his fellow soldiers, could continue to inspire generations to come. If you’d like to know more, you can read Joseph’s letters (courtesy of Gerard Burgess), as well as information about other Liverpool Pals, at LiverpoolPals.com.
McCallum & Tritton & Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors
0151 931 2002
www.mccallumandtritton.co.uk Catholic Pictorial 11 Catholic Pictorial
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pastoral Pastoral ponderings by Paul Pimblett
Marriage and Family Life by Elizabeth Parsons
I suppose the easiest way to begin would be by introducing myself and saying hello! My name is Paul, and I am one of the seminarians for the archdiocese. I am currently in my first year at Allen Hall Seminary, Chelsea, having completed my propaedeutic year at the Royal English College, Valladolid, Spain. I am joined here by my seminarian brother Rhys J who, like me, started studying here in September. I was raised in St Paul’s, West Derby, however when I turned five years old my family began attending the Metropolitan Cathedral for Mass as my brother had joined the choir. A few years later, I found myself feeling drawn into more active participation at the cathedral and became an altar server after my First Holy Communion. Ever since, I have served at the cathedral until last year when I was sent to Valladolid, and I am still incredibly privileged to serve there whenever I am back home.
I came to discerning a vocation to the priesthood, not by a blinding light or sudden epiphany, but rather a growing sense of being called by something that at the time felt indescribable yet unavoidable. I see now that it has been the Lord who has been gradually drawing me to discovering if He wants me for the priesthood. From about the age of 13, I had always entertained the idea of a vocation, and whilst at times the call seemed to come and go, by the time I reached university I felt I would be actively ignoring something if I did not acknowledge that discernment was a very real possibility.
In time and with God’s grace I was able to say yes! I contacted the Vocations Director, and although my application process was slightly affected by COVID, eventually Archbishop Malcolm informed me I was to begin my journey in Spain. It was an amazing year of community life and focusing more intently on who the Lord was calling me to be, and the Spanish weather was an added bonus! I am now moving through my next step of formation in London as I begin my studies in Philosophy and other areas, and I am delighted to be able to share some insights from my journey with you all. Please keep me, Rhys, and all our seminarians in your prayers, and please know you will always be in ours! 16
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A few weeks ago, I attended a Marriage and Family Life Conference. In attendance were representatives from all over the country whose priority is to help, support, and initiate activities in the diocese that will allow married couples and families to live out their faith more fully and manage relationships within the family.
Positive experiences of faith within our family unit can really help to form our relationship with God. Our parents have the opportunity to be our first catechists, and it is within our families that we learn the meaning of love. Our families are our first experience of community, and this is something that can be echoed and strengthened within our parishes and the wider church.
As Pope Francis reminds us, “Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place...” (Evangelii Gaudium #127). In this way, we can all be disciples, even inside our own homes and neighbourhoods. One of our speakers told us about the time she was making her First Holy Communion and how her mother asked her to go out in her communion dress and invite her neighbours to come to the service and to the party that followed. What a lovely simple way of witnessing our faith and providing an opportunity for an encounter with God.
The Bishop for Marriage and Family Life, David Evans, also reminded us during the conference that our humanity is discovered within and through our family. Our families are the relationships we don’t choose for ourselves. Our siblings may not always be our natural friends outside of the family unit, and yet it is important that we try and learn (for a time at least) to live side by side with each other. These skills and experiences travel with us through our life, and for many, it’s within our family that we can learn compromise, empathy, and to care for others unselfishly, which is why this ministry is so important to develop and support. “Thus, the family, in which the various generations come together and help one another grow wiser and harmonize personal rights with the other requirements of social life, is the foundation of society.” Gaudium et Spes #52 The children in our families are our communities of tomorrow and we must endeavour to provide them with the wonderful, spiritual opportunities that can be found within our church family. It is essential that we initiate activities and gatherings for formation within families and that as a community, we accompany them in good times and in bad times, sharing our witness of faith.
cathedral
November is a busy month for the cathedral choirs! by Dr Christopher McElroy Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean “If you want a cathedral, we’ve got one to spare” were the lyrics of a popular song about Liverpool. This can now refer also to the Isle of Man, and even the archdiocese! At the end of 2022, Douglas, Isle of Man received city status as part of her late Majesty’s Jubilee Celebrations. There is an Anglican Bishop resident on the Island and his cathedral, dedicated by an act of Tynwald in 1980, is located at Peel on the West Coast.
During early November, we have a particular focus on all those who have died. Much of the most beautiful choral music ever written is inspired, or in some way connected to, death and the afterlife.
The beautiful setting of the Requiem by Gabriel Faure will be sung by our Youth Choir at Mass in St Francis de Sales Church, Walton, on Friday 10 November (19.00) and by the Cathedral Choir at Mass in the cathedral on Remembrance Sunday (12 November, 11.00.) On Friday 17 November (18.30), the Cathedral Choir will continue our Parish Choral Offerings around this archdiocese by visiting Blessed Sacrament Church in Aintree. The choir will sing a variety of music, including compositions by Tallis, Palestrina, and Mozart.
On Sunday 19 November (15.00), the choir will lead a special performance of J S Bach’s cantata ‘Wachet auf’ (‘Sleepers Wake.’) Bach wrote these cantatas to illuminate the Gospel of the day, and to try to capture in music its message. The cantata, which lasts around 30 minutes,
features the choir, soloists, and a small orchestra.
On Wednesday 22 November (19.30), the Cathedral Choir join the musicians of our choir school, St Edward’s College, and the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra to present a special concert for the feast of St Cecilia (patron saint of musicians) in the Tung auditorium on the campus of Liverpool University.
November draws to a close with the cathedral’s own titular feast, that of Christ the King (26 November). On this day each year, we sing the hymn ‘Hail Redeemer, King Divine’ which the cathedral likes to call the ‘cathedral hymn.’ The hymn was composed and first used in 1933 at the laying of the foundation stone of the Lutyens Crypt here on the cathedral site. The text was written by Fr Patrick Brennan CSsR, a Redemptorist priest based at Bishop Eton, and the music was composed by Fr Charles Rigby. A seminary professor at an early age, Rigby was also a very accomplished pianist and was occasionally invited to play as principal at the Philharmonic Hall if the celebrity failed to appear.
Earlier this year, there was an enquiry made by the Island authorities to ask whether the archdiocese would consider making St Mary of the Isle in Douglas a Catholic Cathedral for the Island, to go hand in hand with the rise to city status. This was considered by the Diocesan authorities, with a clear understanding that, as we already have a cathedral, there would only be support for applying to make St Mary’s a co-cathedral with ourselves here on the mainland. This would mean that there would be one Diocesan Archbishop with a seat within both buildings, and one Diocesan Chapter of Canons for both cathedrals. This application was sent off to the relevant Dicastery in Rome, and within the last few weeks, approval has been given for this to happen. Consequently, St Mary’s in Douglas will be formally dedicated as a cocathedral on Friday 3 November when Archbishop Malcolm will formally take his seat on the Island. The Canons will have to make the trip, dress up in full regalia, and see the Archbishop take the seat with appropriate ceremony! In due time, we will need to have a photograph of our co-cathedral and a symbol of the Island within our own cathedral, as will St Mary’s of the senior cathedral on the mainland.
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profile
Faye Gaskin: Lourdes, Rugby and Wembley by Steven Hughes
Back in 2021, Faye Gaskin’s rugby league career and life looked in a much different place compared to now.
The 31-year-old fractured her knee in three places in freak circumstances during the Challenge Cup Final. But fastforward a few years, and not only is she back playing rugby, but she has also helped St Helens win the first-ever Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
Behind that, Faye is a strong Catholic, who was able to find her faith on the Archdiocese of Liverpool pilgrimage to Lourdes. On her comeback, Faye said: “I think looking back now, it really is a fairy tale come true. “I never thought I would come back to playing rugby ever. The break was bad. They did tell me I wouldn’t come back. I think of all the sleepless nights, the tears, the struggles, the dark days, and there’s a little bit of sunshine and a rainbow at the end of it.”
Faye sat out of the rest of the 2021 season and the whole of the 2022 season. It was nearly two years before she set foot on a rugby pitch again. On her recovery, she said: “It was difficult through my injury because you look for a reason why. I used to think ‘I don’t do anything wrong. I pray quite a lot’. I thought ‘why did this happen to me? You always have that in your head. There was a three-month period of my rehab where things weren’t going great at all, it was a big mental battle. “I had a journal from Lourdes, every night when you got back to your room, you wrote something positive about the day, what you’ve done, what’s impacted you. I just sat flicking through my journal and looking at my pictures and it made me
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realise that even in the toughest struggles, there is someone who will listen to you, and I think I just found a bit of peace every night. I started my own journal, and every night I said a little prayer or had a little sing. I couldn’t physically get to church so I just had to pray from my bedside.”
After the semi-final victory over York, Faye spoke about her mum being in Lourdes as part of the archdiocese’s centenary pilgrimage. Despite being in another country, her family were still able to support her from Lourdes.
“I was sad that I couldn’t be there with my mum because that would have been special,” she added. “But I would never have missed a semi-final - my mum would never have let me, and they were watching it in Lourdes. They’d found a bar with it on TV and my cousin texted me saying: ‘We’re crying, everyone’s crying. The whole of Lourdes is cheering, the woman who owns the bar is cheering, they’re hugging your mum.’
“Lourdes had a really big influence on my life and without that, I probably wouldn’t have fallen back in love with my religion.” Faye first went to Lourdes as a 16-year-old along with her cousin Stuart. They travelled on the coach that served Widnes and the Isle of Man. On her Lourdes experience, she said: “My cousin was a coach leader and had been asking me for years to come to Lourdes. “I didn’t really understand what it was. And then when I hit 16, I promised him I would go. I feel like as a sports player, you live a very selfish lifestyle. Everyone does stuff for you. And when I went to Lourdes, I felt like it was my time to give back. “There was a guy called John, he was 97. He had a big influence on my life, and I learned how to properly love and care for someone. John was grateful that I took him for a coffee and took him out on my downtime. We went to the baths, and we went to the Grotto. John was nonverbal. He couldn’t speak. He just made a few noises; I could sort of understand a sentence from him and he just sat with the biggest smile on his face.
“Giving up seven days of a year to go and help someone, and equally, fall back in love with your faith and find yourself again and support someone, had a massive change in my life. “Volunteering for a week and making friends really did impact my life in a positive way. I’m always thankful that my cousin took me to Lourdes, and I got to experience it. That was quite special.”
what’s on Friday 3 November The Inauguration Ceremony of St Mary of the Isle, Douglas, will take place at 12 noon on Friday 3 November. You can watch this event live online via livestream at: https:// manxcatholic.org.uk/#livestream Saturday 4, Tuesday 7, Wednesday 8 November Families of Parishes Roadshow 4 Nov - 10:00AM - 12:00PM, St Margaret Clitherow Centre 7 Nov – 7:00PM - 9:00PM, St Anne’s Pastoral Centre, Ormskirk 8 Nov - 7:00PM - 9:00PM, St Julie’s, Eccleston Our Family of Parishes informative roadshow will be taking place across the archdiocese in November. It is open to attend for everybody interested in the future of the Church. If you have any questions, or seek clarity about this emerging strategy, please come along!
Tuesday 7 November Cathedral Friends Chinese Food & Wine Pairing Menu 7PM The Cathedral Friends invite you and your friends to a Chinese Food & Wine Pairing Menu at £55 per head with complimentary wines to accompany each course. Join us for a unique style of Northern Chinese cuisine with a welcome drink on arrival at the Yuet Ben on 1 Upper Duke Street. Please register your interest for what will be a wonderful evening by emailing c.hanlon@metcathedral.org.uk and details of how to make payment will be sent to you. Thursday 9 - Sunday 12 November Cursillo 3 Day Weekend – Cursillo is a catholic residential short course in Christianity, held at Theodore House, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe. For further details, visit www.cursillouk.org or telephone 07947271037
Friday 10 November Requiem by Gabriel Faure The beautiful setting of the Requiem by Gabriel Faure will be sung by the Cathedral Youth Choir at Mass in St Francis de Sales Church, Walton, at 7.00 pm.
Saturday 11 November The Power of the Spirit The second Come and See day held by the Irenaeus Project. The day will be led by Marie Byrne. For more information, please contact jenny@irenaeus.co.uk or phone 0151 949 1199 The Irenaeus Project, Liverpool, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, L22 1RD
Sunday 12 November Remembrance Mass at the Cathedral The Requiem by Gabriel Faure will be sung by the Cathedral Choir at Mass in the cathedral on Remembrance Sunday at 11.00 am. All are welcome. Tuesday 14 November ‘Time out on Tuesday’ at the Cenacle from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. Suggested offering for the day - £10, bring your own lunch; tea/coffee provided. No booking required. Take a break from your daily routine and have some space to reflect and be still and be refreshed. Details: Sister Winifred Morley, Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com Thursday 16 November Newman Association Talk “The Coronation: what did it mean for Catholics, Anglicans and contemporary Britain?” Speaker: Fr. Tom Carpenter. Join us at St. Helen’s Parish Centre, Crosby L23 7TQ. Tea & coffee will be available from 7.15pm for a 7.30 pm start. The event is free to attend and everyone is welcome. For more details contact the Secretary at helen.flynn8@googlemail.com
Sunday 19 November Wachet auf, led by Cathedral Choir The Cathedral Choir will lead a special performance of J S Bach’s cantata ‘Wachet auf’ (‘Sleepers Wake.’) at 3.00 pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Saturday 25 November ‘Come apart and be still.’ Quiet Saturdays at the Cenacle from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. Suggested offering for the day - £10, bring your own lunch; tea/coffee provided. No booking required. Details: Sister Winifred Morley, Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com Coming in December:
Saturday 2 December The Power of the Word The third and final Come and See day held by the Irenaeus Project in 2023. The day will be led by Michael Winstanley. For more information, please contact jenny@ irenaeus.co.uk or phone 0151 949 1199
Wednesday 6 December Vatican II Constitutions Lecture & Seminar Series Event 2 3:00PM - 7:00PM The second event of the Vatican II Constitutions Lecture and Seminar Series
November will take place in December at Liverpool Hope University. This can also be viewed online. The speaker will be Paul McPartlan, who will be giving a talk on Lumen Gentium. The day starts with a seminar, then refreshments, before ending with a lecture. Please book your place online at http://bit. ly/3Ql4e5R Sunday 10 December Animate Youth’s Training for new Eucharistic ministers will take place on 10 December at St Mary’s, Lowe House in St Helens. It is a day course that will start at 10am and will finish with the commissioning of the participants during Mass at 4pm. Any young people interested should contact Animate’s office in advance: admin@animateyouth.co.uk Tuesday 12 December ‘Time out on Tuesday’ at the Cenacle from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. Suggested offering for the day - £10, bring your own lunch; tea/coffee provided. No booking required. Take a break from your daily routine and have some space to reflect and be still and be refreshed. Details: Sister Winifred Morley, Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane, Liverpool L15 6TW. Tel: 0151 722 2271 Email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com Friday 15 December MerseyWave Community Choir Christmas Concert at St Ambrose RC Church, Heathgate Avenue, L24 7RS. Special guest: Joe McNabb (Saxophone). Musical Director: Jason Ellis. Piano/Organ Accompanist: Andrew Wileman. Light refreshments will be available, as well as a raffle. Admission is free, but we ask that you provide a donation upon entrance.
Tuesday 19 December Cursillo Christmas Ultreya – Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Mass will be celebrated at 7.30pm followed by a social in the Gibbard Room. All are welcome. For further details visit www.cursillouk.org
Wednesday 27 December CAFOD Christmas Fun Run at The Mystery, Wavertree Athletics Centre, Wellington Road, Liverpool, L15 4LE. Registration opens at 10am, the fun run starts at 11am. Contact events@cafod.org.uk for a sponsor form. Please sign up and gather sponsorship to raise much-needed funds by visiting cafod.org.uk/christmasfunrun. Can’t make it on the day? Don’t miss out, join in virtually wherever you are!
Website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk Catholic Pictorial
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education news Education Policy Institute invites Liverpool head to discuss and empower asylum-seeking pupils A headteacher of a Liverpool secondary school was invited to participate in a roundtable, as part of this year’s Labour Party Conference, to discuss improving refugee and asylum-seeking pupils’ wellbeing and outcomes. Ms Jo Leech, headteacher of The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, was contacted by the Education Policy Institute to sit on a roundtable which brought together policymakers and third sector organisations to consider the current challenges faced by this pupil group. The Education Policy Institute is an independent, impartial and evidence-based research institute that aims to promote high quality education outcomes for all children and young people, regardless of social background.
There are 60 different languages spoken here and we celebrate each and every one.”
During the discussion, Ms Leech shared the ways in which the academy has created a whole school culture of inclusion for refugee and asylum-seeking pupils. She also explained how this has been extended across the trust and into the other schools. Ms Leech added: “I hope by drawing upon my own experience and knowledge during the roundtable, we can work towards achieving better outcomes for refugee and migrant students around the UK.”
The Kensington-based academy, which is part of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, is very proud of its diverse community. As a ‘School of Sanctuary’, it welcomes a number of children who are new to the country, some of whom are asylum seekers or refugees. The private roundtable discussed practical solutions on how to share best practice, generate collective action and develop education policy within the framework of ‘safety, belonging, success and celebration’.
Ms Leech said: “The Academy of St Francis Assisi is a wonderfully vibrant school, and we are pleased to welcome students from all over the world, particularly those who are seeking sanctuary.
The Academy St Nicholas partners with the Palm House on community project The Academy of St Nicholas has come together with the Palm House in Sefton Park to create bespoke bird tables for care homes around the city.
The Garston academy successfully applied to be part of the project when head of design and technology, Miss Katie Bell, saw the opportunity on X (formerly Twitter). She offered her expertise and skill set of her talented students. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Academy of St Nicholas will be able to produce 10 bird tables for 10 residential care homes in Liverpool. The tables will be donated alongside a wooden gift box.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund helps support projects of all sizes that connect people and communities to the UK’s heritage.
Kate Martinez, head of external relations at the Palm House, said: “We selected the proposal to fulfil the brief as we loved the 20
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idea of local children being part of this funded project. It is a wonderful chance to bring generations together.” During a recent visit to the academy, Kate Martinez was able to see for herself how the bird tables will look after Year 9 student and budding carpenter, Cody, showcased his own creations.
Miss Bell said: “I am so pleased with how the project has developed and it is great that the art department is now involved.” The 10 residential care homes and the academy will be invited to the Palm House on 6 March 2024. Two of these include Waverly Care Home and Moss View Care Home in Huyton.
Mr Gary Lloyd, headteacher of The Academy of St Nicholas, said: “As a school with strong Christian values, working within the local community is something that is very important to us and building these relationships ensures our students are always thinking about others.”
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Monday 20th November 2023, 6pm 0151 924 6302 www.stmarys.ac/prep The independent Catholic school for boys and girls of all faiths aged 0–18 Catholic Pictorial
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education news
Teachers and leaders empowered at C Change Conference in Wirral The pioneering C Change Conference, held in the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton, Wirral, invited almost 200 individuals to hear from notable figures and keynote speakers across the education sector and participate in unique workshops for its second year.
Part of the national Creativity Collaboratives research programme, C Change is the only North West collaborator, proudly formed by Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust and based in St Bernard’s RC Primary and Nursery School. Alongside ten other educational institutions, C Change works to push the boundaries of teaching innovation, focusing on creativity and system-wide change. Throughout the day, keynote speeches and workshops encouraged attendees to think about how they can help students feel more excited and inspired in the classroom. Amongst those welcomed to the 2023 event were Sir Nick Serota, chair of Arts Council England and BBC Board member;
Professor Bill Lucas, professor of learning and director of the Centre for RealWorld Learning (CRL) and Dr Debra Kidd and Hywel Roberts, teachers, authors, storytellers and speakers.
The event began with an impactful opening by poet and writer, Ashleigh Nugent, followed by Sir Nicholas Serota’s discussion on transforming the education system through creativity and Professor Bill Lucas’ encouraging keynote about the work happening across the world to make creativity a reality in schools.
The afternoon consisted of round table conversations facilitated by students from St Mary’s and St John Plessington Catholic Colleges, led by Professor Louise Stoll.
who joined us for our 2023 conference. It was a pleasure to connect with so many like-minded individuals and share important conversations and experiences about education.” Andy Moor, CEO of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, added: “It was fantastic to hear from different voices in the sector, particularly those of our young people. The conference was all about doing things differently and giving our young people a genuine voice to shape the future.”
Businesses and organisations were also present on the day, and everyone had the chance to network. Emily Reid, C Change project lead, commented: “On behalf of everyone at C Change and Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, I would like to thank all
Everton striker encourages teamwork in local school Striker for Everton Football Club, Beto, has spoken about the warm welcome he received from Evertonians as he took part in his first fan engagement since arriving at Merseyside. Beto recently visited Much Woolton Catholic Primary School, one of the club’s official ‘School Supports’ Clubs’, to take part in activities highlighting the importance of teamwork.
The schoolchildren, who were all Everton locals aged seven to 11, then enjoyed the chance to quiz Beto in a Q&A session before receiving an Everton gift bag from the Portuguese striker. Many of the youngsters took the opportunity to get their gifts signed and take photos as a keepsake from the special day. Speaking after the visit, Beto said: “I enjoyed it a lot. Since I joined the club, everybody’s treated me well and looked after me in the best way possible.
“This was my first time in my career that I’ve visited children at a school and they were all very welcoming. To be able to meet so many young Everton fans and take the time to play games with them was a privilege.”
Clare Wilson, assistant headteacher at Much Woolton Catholic Primary School, added: “When Beto arrived he was greeted by a hall full of very surprised children! 22
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“Teamwork is one of our school values so it was great to get an insight on the topic and how it works at Everton. The children quickly included Beto in their games to make him feel at home on what was a thoroughly enjoyable day.”
Everton’s School Supporters’ Club programme launched in 2016 and provides young Evertonians with the chance to meet up with fellow Blues and enjoy Everton-themed activities at their school. Participating schools have access to a range of exclusive benefits and run their club as they wish.
CTK6 prepares its sixth formers for success CTK6 is the post 16 branch of Christ the King Catholic High School in Southport. Since September 2020, the sixth form has seen a significant development of both its personal and academic curriculum and as an organisation.
CTK6 has been dedicated to developing a modern sixth form that meets the changing needs of the young people in Southport and the wider Sefton area, with Ofsted (2023) recognising a personal development programme where students receive “important life lessons…access to a range of enrichment activities” and “ensures students are well informed about their next steps”.
Staff ensure students are developing a skill set that will prepare them for life after sixth form. The pathway from GCSE to higher education or employment is challenging, exciting and at times very demanding.
CTK6 had a successful 2022 and 2023 exam period and saw students progressing onto some fantastic destinations.
Amy Wright, who achieved A*A*AB in business, law, maths and history is the sixth form’s first student to go onto a degree apprenticeship. Amy has an extraordinary academic profile and would normally have followed the traditional route into law starting with university.
CTK’s latest plans to develop the academy offer include launching, for September 2024, SFC’s 16-19 Women’s Academy (subject to demand). The women’s team will have full access to the academic programme and will have a bespoke training and matchday schedule to cater for their development needs.
This year, almost 10% of students are putting forward an application to Oxford and Cambridge universities or to study medicine. CTK6 will guide students through the interview and selection process.
CTK6 is also home to Southport Football Club’s 16-19 Academy. The academy was established in September 2022 and is going from strength to strength, creating community links and developing the youth sport offer in the area.
New beginnings for St Chad’s Catholic & Church of England Academy St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England Academy, Runcorn, will rebrand following a consultation, reopening after half term as Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy with the blessing of the Bishop of Chester and Bishop of Shrewsbury. St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England Academy has served the community of Runcorn as its only faith school since 1976, experiencing many highs and lows. In March 2022, the academy joined the St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust and, in January 2023, a new head, Miss Alicia Freeman, joined the team.
Since then, the school has strengthened in all areas with a clearer vision and direction. A new uniform was announced in September, which marked the next phase of the improvement
journey. This came after the academy saw its best GCSE results in eight years.
Blessed Carlo Acutis died young, at the age of 15, of leukaemia. He was born in London and came from a modern family with roots all over the globe. This, along with the fact that he was passionate about computing and gaming, was the reason for the staff and students to select him to become the beacon of the future for the community of Runcorn.
to welcoming the Bishop of Chester and the Bishop of Shrewsbury to officially mark the change in name and our next chapter”.
Miss Freeman, head of Blessed Carlo Acutis, said: “I am proud to be part of the exciting journey we have ahead of us. Since January, we have made huge strides in our culture, belonging and educational standards.
“In October we will open our new library, which is another stride towards giving our students the tools to be the best versions of themselves. We look forward
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education news
Focusing on wellbeing and mental health at Maricourt Mental Health Week was a very busy week at Maricourt Catholic High School. As well as the usual mental health initiatives and programmes at the school, Maricourt used the week to celebrate all of the work that the wellbeing team and wellbeing champions do.
Maricourt launched the week with its collective act of worship, being centred around connecting, talking and caring for one another. The school Chaplain gave all form tutors reflective pieces to deliver each day, which gave students and staff a chance to revisit its mercy values. LFC Foundation started its social action project with a cohort of boys and the learning mentors continued with the delivery of the Blooms Programme, which focuses on self- esteem and empowerment amongst females.
The school’s wellbeing champions had an amazing celebration service in the school chapel, where they received badges and pledged their promise to be great leaders.
Students shared their thoughts, sought advice and talked through some of their problems. The learning mentors had arranged for some hot chocolate, which set the tone and created a homely vibe. A great foundation for love and friendship was made over lunch. The wellbeing champions also had a cake sale with all donations going to mental health charity Young Minds. Year 11 prefects enjoyed afternoon tea together, which was organised by their progress leader Miss Orr. Many got to join in some therapy dog fun. The PE department focused on all their after-
school clubs around physical wellbeing and even got some of Maricourt’s local primary feeder schools involved.
The school’s social media was continuously filled with mental health support signposting for pupils, parents and staff. The school raises mental health support year-round, and the week was an opportunity to highlight the good work and raise awareness about the importance of caring for one another.
Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust invests in mental health first aid training for staff Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust has launched a trust-wide initiative to support the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff. Staff from across the trust’s schools, St John Plessington Catholic College, St Mary’s Catholic College, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, St Bernard’s RC Primary and Nursery School, St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School and Our Lady of Pity Catholic Primary School, completed a two-day mental health first aid training course with Mental Health First Aid England.
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary on the Wirral, three staff members, Clare Ward, teacher and SENDCo coordinator; Maria Langan, emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA); and Angie Finnegan, part of the school’s office team, all completed the training.
During the two-day course, staff developed a deeper understanding of mental health and gained the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues and offer first aid support in a crisis.
In mental health, early interventions can help speed up a young person’s recovery and even prevent a mental health issue from reaching a critical point. 24
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Headteacher at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Mr Alex Turner, said: “For us to best support our pupils and staff, we must first be able to recognise the signs of mental health issues and understand how best to support them. “According to Mental Health England, one in ten young people experience a mental health issue at any one time. Mental health and wellbeing is something we take very seriously, and we want to ensure we have the measures in place to best support our pupils.” After completing the course, all colleagues received a nationally recognised qualification from Mental Health England. The training forms part of a wider initiative to promote mental health and wellbeing.
Mr Turner noted that to best support pupils, staff must also feel supported with mental health issues. He said: “For staff to be the best possible versions of themselves, they also need support. We hope that our mental health first aiders will be more equipped to spot the early signs, offer first aid, and signpost pupils and staff to services that can offer more bespoke support.”
CEO of the Holy Family Multi Academy Trust, Andy Moor, echoed the importance of supporting students and staff with mental health issues. He said: “In the last three years, the likelihood of young people having a mental health problem has increased by 50%. “Broken down, that equals around five children in a classroom of 30 experience mental health issues.
“Across the Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, we have taken huge strides to ensure we have the skills, tools, and knowledge to best support our students and staff with mental health issues, going beyond signposting students to other services, but instead being able to provide safe and relevant support during a crisis.”
Catholic schools included in the Educate Awards 2023 shortlist! 10 inspiring Catholic schools and colleges from the Archdiocese of Liverpool have been named in the highly anticipated Educate Awards shortlist.
For over a decade, the Educate Awards has shone a spotlight on the education sector, showcasing the fantastic work of schools and colleges. The schools and colleges shortlisted are as follows:
· All Saints Catholic Primary School has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Arts in a Primary School Award · Great Crosby Catholic Primary School has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Commitment to STEM Award
· Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School’s Philip McGowan has been shortlisted for the School Support Star of the Year Award
· Maricourt Catholic High School has been shortlisted for the Communication Award, the Community Partnership Award and the Most Inspirational Secondary School Award · Notre Dame Catholic College has been shortlisted for the Most Inspirational Alternative Provision Award
· St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School has been shortlisted for the Mental Health & Wellbeing Award and the Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Primary School Award
· St John Bosco Arts College has been shortlisted for the Most Inspirational Sixth Form & College Award
· Hope Academy has been shortlisted for the Careers and Enterprise Award · St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School has been shortlisted for the Community Partnership Award
· St Peter’s Catholic High School has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Secondary School Award Catholic schools from the Diocese of Salford were also named in the shortlist, including Cardinal Langley RC High School in Rochdale, St Joseph’s Primary School in Oldham and St Damian’s Roman Catholic Science College in Ashton-under-Lyne,
From the Diocese of Shrewsbury, St James’ Catholic High School in Cheadle, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Wallasey and St Mary’s Catholic College in Wallasey (Wirral) were named in the shortlist.
The awards, in partnership with ASL and Ricoh, are the largest education awards in the region and will return to the iconic Liverpool Cathedral on Friday, 17 November. Associate sponsors of the Educate Awards 2023 include: All About STEM, Angel Solutions, CER, CPMM Media Group, LCR Careers Hub, Liverpool John Moores University, LSSP, SENDSCOPE, and SupplyWell.
St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, winners at the 2022 Educate Awards
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education news
Local MP visits St John Bosco Arts College Pupils at St John Bosco Arts College, Croxteth, welcomed MP for Liverpool West Derby, Ian Byrne, to the school.
Ian spoke to pupils about several topics. The visit was arranged by Bosco’s history teacher, Karen McDonnell, following a Year 12 visit to the Houses of Parliament in June 2023.
Ian was keen to discuss his work on the ‘Right to Food Campaign’, which aims to make access to food a legal right for all. Just two weeks ago, Ian tabled a motion in Parliament in support of Right to Food Week 2023, which began 18 September. The national week of action aims to increase awareness of food poverty in the UK and ensure the collective demand for a Right to Food is heard. The campaign also emphasises providing free school meals for all children up to age 19.
Ian Byrne said: “It is extremely important that young people are educated on the issues facing communities across the UK. “The students at St John Bosco Arts College were very inquisitive and asked some fantastic questions. It is wonderful to see so many young minds excited and inspired to take action.”
Through opportunities with local figures, organisations, and more, we can support our students to explore new topics and issues, ultimately helping them gain a deeper understanding of the world. “We appreciate Ian taking time out of his busy schedule to visit our school.”
During a Q&A session with students, Ian also discussed his ongoing involvement in Hillsborough and his role in supporting the fight for justice for the 97 victims and their families. Staff and students felt inspired and driven to be active members of their community from the visit.
Headteacher of St John Bosco Arts College, Darren Gidman, said: “At St John Bosco, community is one of our core values.
Exploring gender equality and human rights at St Mary’s College St Mary’s College, Crosby, welcomed representatives of Justice Desk Africa (JDA), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering people and helping them to understand and defend their human rights. They were joined by members of Pratyek, which fulfils a similar function in India.
Both young women say that their aim is to help everyone they work with to live healthier and happier lives, and to ensure that all members of the community are treated with kindness and respect.
St Mary’s humanities teacher Ray Lee, who co-ordinates the school’s Edmund Rice International Group, commented: “We were delighted to welcome our visitors from Africa, India and The visit - part of a UK tour - was organised by the Edmund Rice Edmund Rice England. Network, an international network of schools, congregational communities and justice organisations that St Mary’s College is “Their thought-provoking training sessions highlighted the proud to be part of. fact that human rights are still being regularly violated in Africa and India, and little is being done about the problem in many Guest speakers included JDA founder and chief executive quarters including South Africa, where violence remains Jessica Dewhurst, a proud South African and well-known depressingly common.” professional in the field of human rights and anti-human trafficking. She was supported by two young members of JDA who say they are ‘on a mission to blaze a trail for young women everywhere’.
19-year-old Mieshane Roberts is a campaigner against genderbased violence from Bonteheuwel, a South African community that has high levels of violence and crime. She is part of the Mbokodo Project which helps girl survivors of rape and violence to overcome their experiences. Talisha Mpoyiya, also 19, is another key member of the Mbokodo Project, this time in the township of Nyanga. 26
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youth ministry
Put your faith into action! By Lauren Lynch, Animate team leader and Faith in Action co-ordinator Our main role at Animate Youth Ministries is to work with young people aged between 11 and 16. Over a year, we work with around 10,000 young people, leading day or week-long retreats, yet there are many other things we do as well. Some days we might be planning next summer’s Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes, and we are currently planning a Eucharistic Ministers’ training session which will take place on Sunday 10 December. We also play a part in the Confirmation programme of the archdiocese, leading introductory sessions in schools and Zoom meetings. Another key aspect of our work is running the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation’s (CYMFed) Faith in Action Award. We are hoping for around 1,000
young people to receive it this year and a couple of weeks ago we held a relaunch meeting for the award, which is run across the archdiocese. Over 40 new and old co-ordinators attended the meeting, and it was a great success. For those readers who may be unfamiliar with this award, let me explain what it involves. The Faith in Action Award was created in 2016. It is a national award that was established to allow young people to be recognised for their good works of faith and service within their school, parish, and local community. There are four levels
to the award – pin, bronze, silver, and gold – and the higher the level, the more hours the participants are asked to do within their school and parish. As well as this, the young people need to consider why they have done the work and its impact on their own faith journey through the year, by reflecting on Scripture and the Church’s story. At the end of the year, they must complete a final piece, which is moderated by volunteers within the archdiocese. These adult volunteers offer feedback to each young person on the work they have done. From our experience, moderators have found this role insightful and rewarding as they are able to witness young people involved in something that brings good works and faith together. If the role of moderator is something you might be interested in, please contact Father Simon Gore here at Animate: s.gore@animateyouth.co.uk. Over the years we have seen a continuous increase in the number of young people participating in the award and I think this is a great opportunity to thank all past/new co-ordinators, affirmers, and young people who have been involved. We anticipate another successful year in 2023/24 and it will conclude on Wednesday 19 June when Archbishop Malcolm McMahon will present certificates and badges to the latest participants. If you would like to know more or have your school or parish involved, please contact me for more information: l.lynch@animateyouth.co.uk.
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Pic extras Mums the Word
A century of service News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba
October has been a busy but exciting month.
Wirral Knights welcome new member
I am sure you have all been baking cakes to sell at coffee mornings/evenings to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, which is such a worthy cause. Of course, it was also the month of the Holy Rosary, so we made a special effort to recite the rosary daily. The Liverpool Archdiocese UCM had our business meeting in mid-October and elected a new secretary, Susan Hurlock, and treasurer, Margaret Kerberos. Also at the meeting, the nominated charities were voted on for our January distribution. These are Claire House, Creating Adventures, and the Priests’ Training Fund. Additionally, some of the committee members attended a one-day national council course in Birmingham. Pope Francis has also been busy. On 4 October, he published a follow-up to Laudato Si’, which was addressed to the whole world and whose title comes from the first words of a Saint Francis of Assisi prayer, ‘Praise be to brother sun and sister moon’. This also happened to be the feast day of St Francis. Pope Francis said that ‘Praise God’ is the title of this letter for when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies. In a pastoral letter read at all Sunday Masses at the beginning of October, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon said that we should all care for creation by our commitments, actions, and participation. He spoke of the archdiocese recommitting itself to creating a more sustainable world and he has chosen to bring this under the banner of Care for Creation. This phrase captures our Christian call to love each other and care for God’s Earth. Now is the time for us mothers to underline to our young ones the importance of caring for our planet before it is too late. Our next bi-monthly Mass is on 15 November at St George’s, Maghull. I look forward to seeing you all there. Maria Pimblett Media Officer
The Knights of Saint Columba welcomed a new member at 11am Mass on Sunday 8 October at Saint Michael and All Angels Parish Church in Woodchurch, Birkenhead. Alex Weedon was admitted to the Order on an occasion enhanced by the presence of brothers from both Wirral and Liverpool – with the parish clergy and members of Brother Alex’s family also present, as seen in the photo above.
In the photo, Alex is in the centre wearing the purple collarette with members of his family on either side of him. Father Samuel Thotamala and Deacons Les Arch and John Birch are also in the photo together with the provincial grand knight, Alf Swain, standing at the end of the front row with other members of the Order in the rows behind. • From its foundation, the KSC has always encouraged devotion to Our Lady and, in that tradition, the rosary has been recited on Zoom each Monday throughout October for all members to join together in this devotion.
• As mentioned in last month’s issue, the relics of Saints Columba, Margaret, and Andrew were on display for veneration in the Metropolitan Cathedral over several days starting on 18 September, with the Order assisting by providing stewards. The visit concluded on 21 September with Mass at the cathedral at 12.15pm. The relics were subsequently moved to Edinburgh for display during the Supreme Conference of the Order on 22 October. • The Steve Dooley/Pat McGann Memorial Annual Sponsored Walk took place on Sunday 24 September in aid of Marie Curie Liverpool Hospice. Contributions are still coming in as we write, and we hope to give you a final update next month and to thank again all who participated in this worthy fund-raising event.
As mentioned in the first item above, it is always most pleasing to welcome new members to the Order and anyone interested in joining us or learning more about the KSC and our work should contact us via the email address below. We would be delighted to hear from you.
Websites: www.ksc.org.uk www.kscprov02.weebly.com Email: dpokeane@aol.com 28
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Light Up a Life Jo HenneyWragg Normandie ChiefExecutive Executive Officer Chief Nugent Nugent I am delighted to share with you some exciting updates from our recent activities at Nugent.
We’re excited to announce the fantastic news that Lime Grove Cottage has received an overall rating of ‘Good’ in its first Ofsted inspection since its registration earlier this year. The service has been operating since July 2023, so to receive such great feedback so early in our journey demonstrates the hard work and commitment made by colleagues to making a positive impact.
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. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, when our days are filled with shopping, planning, cooking, and visits, we often find ourselves with little time to pause and reflect. The holiday season is both a time of frantic activity and, for many, a period of profound reflection. It’s during these moments of reflection that the loss of a loved one can weigh most heavily on our hearts, while also kindling a deep sense of hope. As people of faith, we hold onto the belief that, though our loved ones may no longer walk this earthly path beside us, a day will come when we shall reunite with them in the boundless joy of God’s kingdom. “Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before. They are now wherever we are.” - St John Chrysostom
In the spirit of celebrating and remembering those dear to our hearts, we invite families, friends, and colleagues to unite in a cherished tradition – Light up a Life. Each year, this heartfelt initiative brings together hundreds of individuals who dedicate a radiant light on our Trees of Light, standing tall at The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool and St Teresa’s Church in Upholland. This initiative supports the work of Nugent and the services we provide. Without this support, we would not be able to continue to provide our essential work across the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Light up a Life Services 2023
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 of Liverpool.
Friday 15 December, 12:30pm
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. Led by Bishop Tom Williams, followed by refreshments.
Sunday 10 December, 3:00pm St Teresa’s Church, Upholland. Led by Fr Philip Kehoe, Followed by refreshments in the Parish Club.
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. • Send a dedication 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 throughout the festive season until Friday 5 January 2024.
In September, Nugent colleagues and the people we care for celebrated National Inclusion Week, with this year’s theme, “Take Action, Make Impact.” Nugent’s EDI Strategic Framework and the work we have been carrying out to become culturally competent have been having an empowering effect across Nugent. We take pride in the strides taken to bring about real change within Nugent and our broader community. At our Nugent Pantry, we have recently launched Eco Stations for refillable laundry detergent and washing-up liquid. Members can now bring their bottles and refill them as part of their weekly shop. This eco-friendly initiative will be incredibly beneficial during the winter months. Thank you to St. Andrew’s for their invaluable assistance in making this initiative a reality. The success of this project will further support our Hygiene Hub, a new service offering essential hygiene products to families and individuals who would otherwise go without. One of the highlights of my recent activities was my visit to Liverpool Hope University. Along with other partners of Hope University, I had the privilege of meeting the new Vice Chancellor, who discussed the university’s new strategic plan. Working with Liverpool Hope University, Nugent is dedicated to creating lasting positive change in our community, with the help of research and the development of our future workforce. I also recently had the pleasure of attending the prestigious BQF UK Excellence Awards 2023 with our 2023 iACCORD winners. It was truly exciting to see Nugent nominated in the Patron’s Award: Excellence Organisations category. We’re extremely proud to have reached the finals, and while we didn’t secure the victory, being nominated and selected as finalists by the panel of judges was a significant honour. Nugent remains dedicated to providing vital support and assistance to those who are vulnerable and at risk in our society. Our mission is only possible through the unwavering support of our community, partners, and friends like you. Together, we can create a community where no one is left behind, where dignity, respect, and care are accessible to all.
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Dialogue and Unity
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 2024 Ultan Russell, Archdiocesan Ecumenical Officer
‘Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one, we pray to you for the unity of Christians, according to your will, according to your means. May your Spirit enable us, to experience the suffering caused by division, to see our sin, and to hope beyond all hope. Amen.’ This is a prayer adapted from that written by Abbe Paul Couturier, the inspiration for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Each year, many local areas have a united service during this week, which runs from 18-25 January. Since 1971, the Vatican and the World Council of Churches have invited a different country or Christian organisation to design the prayer materials for the week. Scotland, England and Ireland have done this in the past. While in the northern hemisphere, the week is commemorated in January, in the southern hemisphere it is normally celebrated between Ascension and Pentecost. Here in Liverpool, we partly follow both traditions as Churches Together in the Merseyside Region (CTMR) hold the Annual Two Cathedrals Walk and Service on the afternoon of Whitsunday (put the date in your diary now for Sunday 19 May 2024).
The materials produced have detailed background information, a model order of service (reflecting the country preparing them), and prayers and reflection for each of the eight days. This daily material could be used by a prayer group, a Churches Together Meeting, school assemblies, or groups like the Union of Catholic Mothers. It can be readily adapted to your local situation. For the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the materials have been prepared by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso, facilitated by the local Chemin Neuf community. Burkina Faso has 21 million inhabitants of about 60 ethnicities and is approximately 64% Muslim and 26% Christian (20% Catholic, 6% Protestant) with others adhering to traditional African religions. These three religious groups are present in every region.
Burkina Faso is currently experiencing a serious security crisis, which affects all faith communities. After a major Jihadist attack from outside the country in 2016, the security situation – and, consequently, social cohesion – deteriorated dramatically, leading to several thousand deaths and almost two million internally displaced persons. 30
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Priests, pastors, and catechists have been killed during worship and the fate of others who were kidnapped remains unknown. Over 20% of the country is outside government control and Christians can no longer openly practise their faith in these areas. Because of terrorism, the majority of Christian churches in large areas are closed, and elsewhere, worship requires police protection. Despite the efforts of both the state and religious communities, the country is becoming increasingly unstable as extremist groups become more widespread. However, close collaboration is developing between groups from the Christian, Muslim, and traditional religions.
Preparation of the texts for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity during such a precarious period has helped the ecumenical drafting group to recognise that the love of Christ unites all Christians and is stronger than their divisions. They recognised that working together in this way had been a real experience of ecumenical conversion for them. Two prayers from the 2024 Week of Prayer:
‘As we journey with you towards unity, may our eyes not look away, but be wide open to the world. As we travel through life, may we stop and reach out, bind up the wounded. and in so doing experience your presence in them: you who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.’ ‘Father of love, in Jesus, you showed us the meaning of hospitality, by caring for our fragile humanity. Help us to become a community. that welcomes those who feel abandoned and lost, building a house where all are welcome. May we come closer to one another as we offer the world your unconditional love. This we pray in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.’
he material can be accessed online at: T www.ctbi.org.uk/weekofprayer
Keeping you uptodate with all the news from around the Archdiocese online at:
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Sixth Form
Open Evening Our Sixth Form open evening is about more than exploring our state-of-the-art facilities. It’s a chance to reach your potential in an environment built on Faith, Hope, and Love.
Thursday 9th November 5pm -7pm Grow. Achieve. Belong. stjohnboscoartscollege.com