Catholic Pic October 2022

Issue 217 October 2022

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contents Welcome In these last weeks our country has witnessed unprecedented scenes following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It is true to say that the life of our longest reigning Monarch had a profound effect on people worldwide during her reign of over 70 years. Her sense of duty and her service to her people, our country and the nations of the Commonwealth have been remembered with gratitude.

Above all she has been remembered for her Christian faith. In his sermon for her state funeral the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said ‘In 1953 the Queen began her Coronation with silent prayer, just there at the High Altar. Her allegiance to God was given before any person gave allegiance to her. Her service to so many people in this nation, the Commonwealth and the world, had its foundation in her following Christ – God himself – who said that he “came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”’ We give thanks for Her Majesty and pray that she may be in a place of light, happiness and peace. We also remember in prayer King Charles III and the Royal Family who mourn her loss. May she rest in peace.

Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022

From the Archbishop’s Desk

Contents

It was a great blessing to ordain two men to the priesthood in July and for three men to begin their formation for the priesthood. This means that we now have seven seminarians who will be ordained in the next few years. I am full of admiration for those who follow the path to priesthood these days because it is so obviously counter cultural and challenging. Not so long ago, priests were greatly respected in society and had support from their numerous fellow priests as well as their parishioners, family, and friends. Nowadays this is not always the case.

You don’t have to be a prophet to realise that in ten to twenty years’ time there will be fewer than fifty diocesan priests under the usual retirement age of seventy-five years. So now is the time to pray for more vocations to the priesthood. Please encourage men who have been putting things off to talk to their parish priest or the vocations’ director.

Our archdiocesan synod has helped us see new ways of being the Church that God has called us to be, but without Holy Mass and the Eucharist our vision for the future is extremely deficient. But I am not disillusioned by this prospect. The future of our beloved Church is in God’s hands. It is his Church after all. A deep trust in the providence of God will see us through future difficulties, after all God’s ways are not our ways. We can help by remembering our seminarians in our daily prayers that they may persevere in their calling.

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

Editor Peter Heneghan

Copy deadline November 2022 Tuesday 11 October 2022

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Main Feature Goodbye to a beloved Queen

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Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life

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What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese

10 News From around the Archdiocese 20 Profile Ann Kirby - 30 years with the SVP 27 Animate Youth Ministry Why being ready matters 28 Dialogue and Unity Networking the Ecumenical 29 Cathedral Record The Relics of St Bernadette 30 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC

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Goodbye to a beloved Queen

by Simon Hart

Church leaders, including Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, marked the passing of our longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, by expressing their gratitude for her long service and recognition of her deep Christian faith.

‘We all knew that Queen Elizabeth would one day die, as we all will in God’s good time, but there is always a distance between knowledge and feeling.

We didn’t know how bereaved, how devastated, we’d feel. In times like this we need to be together to gain strength – that is the root meaning of the word “comfort” – being strong together.’

With these words, delivered at a Requiem Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon captured something of the sense of loss felt by so many on the death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle on 8 September.

This country’s longest-serving monarch, a woman who, over 70 years, had provided such a feeling of permanence, was with us no more.

In the immediate wake of her passing at 96, Archbishop Malcolm issued a statement in which he cited a speech given three-quarters of a century before

by Queen Elizabeth. The Archbishop said: ‘On 21 April 1947, her 21st birthday, in a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, the then Princess Elizabeth dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth saying, “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong”.

‘Today we give thanks for that lifetime of service to our country and for her leadership of the Church of England during her 70-year reign.’

On 9 September, the day after her death, a Book of Remembrance was placed in the Metropolitan Cathedral. At Westminster Cathedral at 5.30 pm that day, Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrated a Requiem Mass. Liverpool followed suit with a Requiem Mass on 13

Queen Elizabeth II lies in state in Westminster Hall

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September, celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm, at which the Cathedral choir sang Faure’s Requiem.

From the Vatican, Pope Francis sent ‘heartfelt condolences’ in a telegram to King Charles III, the new monarch.

The Pontiff said in a statement that he joined those mourning her loss in ‘praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.’

Over Queen Elizabeth’s long reign, Pope Francis, in 2014, was one of four Popes she met on official visits, the others being Pope John XXIII (1961), Pope John Paul II (1980, 1982, 2000) and Pope Benedict XVI (2010). In 1951, a year before becoming Queen, she met Pope Pius XII.

feature

Archbishop Derek Worlock with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral in 1977

‘Elizabeth the Faithful’ In the homily that Archbishop Malcolm gave during the Requiem for The Queen at the Metropolitan Cathedral he reflected on her Christian faith, saying: ‘One MP has described our late Queen as Queen Elizabeth the Faithful – and I think this is a wonderfully fitting title for her to be remembered by. She was certainly full of faith, deeply prayerful and had a close relationship with Jesus whose teachings she followed.’

Archbishop Malcolm cited that ‘deeply religious’ moment of anointing during her long-ago coronation, when – beneath a canopy – the Archbishop of Canterbury ‘put oil on the monarch’s breast, head and hands’, as pivotal to ‘why she took her duties so seriously’.

1977 it was a great encouragement for the Catholic community led by Archbishop Worlock who was working with Bishop David Sheppard in bringing Christians together in the city,’ he said.

‘Her 1984 visit to open the International Garden Festival was to let Liverpool know it was not forgotten in difficult political times. Personally, I remember her visit in 2016 where, among other things, the choir of St Vincent’s School for the visually impaired sang so beautifully for her at lunch in the Town Hall. Yes, Elizabeth, our anointed Queen, was full of God’s spirit and it showed in her loving care and fidelity to her people.’

At the earlier Requiem Mass at Westminster Cathedral, Cardinal Nichols had offered a personal memory of Queen Elizabeth. He said: ‘I can recall standing next to her when the priest who was with me wanted to tell her of his memories, as a 10-year-old, of playing a recorder for her in his Welsh school. She listened with total attention and entered into the pleasure of that memory in a way that the narrator, the young priest, will never forget.’

The Cardinal cited some of The Queen’s virtues – ‘faithfulness, kindness, steadfastness in adversity, and a delight in life’ – and remarked that their source was

He added: ‘She was faithful to her calling, first as princess and then for 70 years as monarch. How many of us can say the same? Queen Elizabeth never took her hand from the plough but carried out her responsibilities with a good heart and a smile. She was sensitive to the impact her presence had on people, institutions and organisations and she never let them down.’

The Archbishop recalled the occasions when Queen Elizabeth visited Liverpool, notably the one time she stepped inside the Metropolitan Cathedral during the 1977 Silver Jubilee celebrations. ‘When she visited this Metropolitan Cathedral in

Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Mark Blundell, at the Requiem Mass for Her Majesty the Queen

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Archbishop Malcolm at the Requiem Mass for Her Majesty the Queen

her faith as ‘they do not come naturally and endure naturally. They need to be fed from a well spring. They need to have an inner life that renews them constantly. In fact, we cannot have those strengths and virtues without there being an origin and source.

‘Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth told us so often what the source of her life truly was. She told us what guided and shaped her life. She said these words, for example: “To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance.

For me, the teachings of Christ, and my own personal accountability before God, provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, took great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”’

New King’s pledge As well as inheriting the throne, King Charles III is the new head of the Church of England and he held a meeting with faith leaders, including Cardinal Nichols, at Buckingham Palace on 16 September. In his remarks afterwards he highlighted his wish to defend people of faith in Britain.

The King spoke of his ‘additional duty’ to ‘protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.

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‘This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith. As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By my most profound convictions, therefore – as well as by my position as Sovereign – I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.

‘The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for others which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood. I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.’

Cardinal Vincent Nichols said after the meeting, ‘In my personal conversation with the King, I assured him that the Catholic community had continued, during these days of mourning, in heartfelt prayer for his mother.

‘He expressed his gratitude for this.

And then, turning back to me, he asked me to ensure that the Catholics of England and Wales knew of his thanks and gratitude for these prayers.’

Prayer for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Father, Creator of all, You fashion all people in your likeness and shower them with your grace and manifold gifts. We give you thanks for the long reign of your servant Queen Elizabeth II who, steadfast in your love, faithfully served the nation for over seventy years. May her faith in you and her loyal service never be forgotten. May she enjoy the light of your glory in all eternity.

Compassionate Christ, Bless the family and friends of the Queen, for whom this loss is a moment of great sadness. Help them shoulder their private grief in the midst of their public lives. We pray that your yoke will be easy and your burden light for our new Monarch, Charles III. Give him the grace to reign wisely, always faithful to your name.

Spirit, Comforter, We pray for ourselves and all people who mourn the passing of our Queen.

Like her, may we all draw strength from your love and face each new day with hope. Pour your consolation into every grieving heart so that doubt may turn into certainty and sadness give birth to gratitude.

Amen.

On a liturgical note ‘From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.’ So says the Catechism of the Catholic Church about the ministry of the angels of God (art. 336) and this month of October opens with a great feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. As Saint Basil the Great says: ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading them to life.’

It is lovely to hold the thought that uniquely and individually we are protected and shepherded – you could almost say ‘nudged towards’ the fullness of life which God desires for us.

That there is in the heart of God the desire and the love which will enable this to take place is a reminder that although we echo and put our trust in the words of St John – ‘God so loved the world that he gave His only Son’ (John 3:16) – we should never lose ourselves in the crowd, that idea of ‘the world’, to the extent that we think that applies to everyone else, but not to me!

You and I are uniquely and particularly lovable and loved by the Holy Trinity.

Sunday thoughts In recent weeks at Saint Mary of the Isle we have celebrated a succession of funerals for well-known parishioners.

Each funeral has been a time of sadness. But, in a surprising way, these days have also seen the parish at its best. Parishioners have come together in support of grieving families.

The funeral ceremonies have been inspiring occasions where both the faith of those who have died has been celebrated and the faith of those who grieve their loss has also been apparent. It has been a privilege as a parish priest to accompany these families at this time.

And now we have been confronted with the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann. Her death has been mourned here on the island. On Friday 16 September a special session of Tynwald, our ancient parliament, was called for the Proclamation of Charles III as the new Lord of Mann. His Excellency Sir John Lorimer presided. All aspects of public life on the island were represented, including the churches. I was asked to read a prayer on behalf of the Roman Catholic community.

Each of us has reacted to the death of Queen Elizabeth in our own way. I remember clearly the day her father, George VI, died. A solemn voice emerged from the radio: ‘The King is dead.’ And

sunday reflections Canon Philip Gillespie

This does not mean we are yet perfect; to use the image of St Paul in his letter to the Church of Corinth we are running the race, seeking and searching always for the perfection to which Christ Jesus calls us (I Corinthians 9:24).

In the Liturgy each day we unite ourselves to the angels as they praise the Holy Trinity (in the ‘Holy, Holy’ at Mass) and on many of the Sundays of the year we echo the words of the angels as they give thanks for the birth of Jesus (‘Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to those of goodwill’).

It is good to reflect that the angels in their turn unite themselves to us as they protect and shepherd us through the difficulties and twists and turns of everyday, if only we remain attentive to their presence.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom God’s love commits me here, Ever this day be at my side, To light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

Mgr John Devine OBE

then all broadcasts were cancelled, including Daphne Oxenford who presented Listen with Mother. (I was four at the time but I think she was the first woman I fell in love with.) When my father came home from the office I told him with great excitement that The King was dead. I remember being deflated when he said he’d already hear the news. And I remember the coronation. Our family gathered to watch it on Uncle Arthur’s TV. I remember heavy rain and a sea of umbrellas.

I woke on 9 September, the morning after The Queen’s death, to the realisation that the world had changed.

The Queen was comfortable with her faith. She didn’t push it but she didn’t hide it either. It wasn’t oversentimental.

She made no secret of the fact that her faith that inspired her sense of duty. She made no attempt to convert the nation or suggest that her faith made her better than those who didn’t share it. She was a voice of integrity and stability at a time when politicians seek popularity in dividing and scapegoating. Her death has challenged us to rise above tribal differences.

Whatever your views on a hereditary monarchy, Queen Elizabeth has been an exemplary Head of State. May she rest in peace.

I will sing of the goodness of God I was recently in a local prison and met a long-term offender who both sold and took drugs. His story was typical of many of the prisoners as he shared details of the inadequate parenting that he had received. He began to believe the lie that he was no good and gave up on himself.

Every week our team would go to the prison and share something of the love of God. I watched as this man began to respond to what he heard, so much so that by the end of the month his heart had been softened. He had begun to hear the Good News of God’s love for him. He began to read the Scriptures and prayed each day. He discovered that God is good, and it changed his life.

Some while back I heard a song the chorus of which repeats: ‘You’re a good, good father. It’s who you are. It’s who you are and I’m loved by you.’ If only we knew that truth in the depths of our hearts then we would give thanks because of the goodness of God. Do you really know the truth that God desires you with all the desire of a lover for the beloved? Do you know that you are the apple of God’s eye? Do you know that God is good? The Scriptures want to take you to that place where you know it’s true and all the suffering and the shame that dogs our hearts and minds can finally be put to rest as we let the essence of God fill our soul, our mind, our being.

God is good and if we take time to reflect and pray and look at the Scriptures, we will discover that goodness and know that it is always present, sustaining us and guiding us. Take time to look back in your rear-view mirror and see how good God is.

So give thanks for the goodness of God poured out upon us. Give thanks for the desire of God to be with us always. Give thanks with a heart full of gratitude that God is not distant and scary or capricious and nasty, as some would have us believe.

Give thanks that God is good and has chosen to let that goodness overflow into this magnificent, wonderful world.

Father Chris Thomas

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October

what’s on Sunday 2 October Rosary Sunday ‘Pause for Hope’ for all those affected in any way by cancer. 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. A service led by Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool; Canon Crispin Pailing, Rector of Liverpool and Major David Taylor, Salvation Army.

Speaker: Maria Breslin, Editor Liverpool Echo. Homily Canon Crispin Pailing.

Music by SingMeMerseyside choir.

‘History of St Patrick’s.’ Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP will visit St Patrick’s, Park Place, Liverpool, L8 5RA at 4.00 pm for the press launch of Michael O’Neill’s new ‘History of St Patrick’s, 18212021’. Over 7,000 people have been buried below and beside St Patrick’s since 1827 and are commemorated in the book. They will be remembered at Mass celebrated before the book launch.

Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Wednesday 5 October ‘Do not be afraid’ A fresh look at the Book of Revelation led by Father Chris Thomas. 7.00 pm on zoom. Details: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Thursday 6 October Agape Mass 7.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Friday 7 October Cafod Harvest Fast Day Saturday 8 October ‘Come and See’ Day 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Keynote Speaker Father Eamon Mulcahy. Bring a packed lunch – tea and coffee provided.

Suggested donation £10. Details - email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Sunday 9 October Day of Prayer for prisoners and their dependants Details from the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT). www.prisonadvice.org.uk Email: parish.action@prisonadvice.org.uk

Tuesday 11 October Time out on Tuesday Enjoy some personal quiet time to deepen your relationship with God. 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided.

Suggested offering for the day is £10.00.

No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com Film Night Belfast – a chance to discuss the challenges of the film Belfast. 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 1RD. Hot pot supper available at 6.00 pm.

Details Tel: 0151 949 1199 email: jenny@ irenaeus.co.uk Wednesday 12 October ‘Do not be afraid.’

A fresh look at the Book of Revelation led

by Father Chris Thomas. 7.00 pm on zoom.

Details - email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Saturday 15 October Exploring Gospel Non-Violence A Pax Christi day of prayer, reflection and sharing, to explore how we might 'live in the Light of Christ's peace' in these troubled times. There will be information about developments in the Catholic understanding of nonviolence and justpeace. 9.45 am for 10.00 am at the Irenaeus Centre , 32 Great Georges Rd L22 1RD. Please bring your own lunch; tea and coffee are provided. Suggested offering £10 or £5 unwaged. Information and booking: Jan Harper Tel: 07591 082195. Email : janharper1@yahoo.co.uk Wednesday 19 October ‘Do not be afraid.’

A fresh look at the Book of Revelation led

by Father Chris Thomas. 7.00 pm on zoom.

Details - email: jenny@irenaeus.co.uk Thursday 20 October Newman Circle Talk ‘It’s God’s Will’. Speaker: Monsignor Peter Fleetwood. 7.30 pm at St Helen’s Parish Centre, Crosby, L23 7TQ. Tea and coffee will be available at the start of the meeting. Details from Secretary, John Potts Tel: 07889 841096.

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Saturday 22 October ‘Come apart and rest awhile’ Quiet Day 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com Sunday 23 October World Mission Day Liverpool Bach Collective. Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 179 ‘Sieh zu, dass deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei’. (‘Take care that your fear of God is not hypocrisy.’) 6.30 pm at St Edmund of Canterbury, Oxford Road, Waterloo, L22 8QF. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com Saturday 29 October Book launch of ‘Lights for the Path’ (Veritas, 2022) and public lecture ‘Credible Christian Communication Today’ by John Sullivan, Emeritus Professor of Christian Education, Liverpool Hope University and author of nine books and more than 100 articles and chapters in the field of religion and education. The book provides an introduction to the Catholic intellectual and spiritual tradition for teachers in Catholic schools and universities. Each chapter brings out how the life and work of key men and women across the centuries has continuing relevance for teachers in the 21st century, but also for all adult Christians who want to know more about their faith tradition. 2.00 pm at St John Stone church hall, Sandbrook Way, Woodvale, Aindsale, Southport PR8 3RN. Sunday 30 October Newman Circle Celebration Lunch West Lancs Golf Club,Hall Road West, Blundellsands. L23 8SZ at 12.30 pm for 1.00 pm. Details from Secretary, John Potts Tel: 07889 841096.

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News diary

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

Faith Primary School pledge to fix the food system The Churches Together Friendship Group at Faith Primary School reflected on the information given by Cafod outlining the global food system and its waste and lack of sharing.

The group shared the prayer of gratitude with the community at St Francis Xavier’s church and sent a ’Fix the Food System’ letter to the then Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss...reply awaited.

The group agreed that they are ready to make their own changes especially with food waste.

The opening of the Irenaeus Centre Over the two and a half years of lockdown things haven’t been quiet at Irenaeus. As well as teaching sessions and spiritual accompaniment taking place via Zoom, we have been preparing for the opening of the Irenaeus centre in the building of the now closed parish of St Thomas of Canterbury. We have worked with contractors, decorators, plumbers and surveyors until finally on Sunday 11 September we were ready to open our doors. It was wonderful to see people coming into our building with their mouths open and eyes wide with delight as they looked around.

We listened as people shared words like ‘beautiful’ and ‘breathtaking.’ One woman said ‘this should be a model for what can be done with church buildings.’

The afternoon began with Mass and a letter from the Archbishop, who was unable to be with us, was read out. He immediately showed his support and encouragement for Irenaeus when he wrote; ‘At the time of much change in the Church and in society at large the need for the Irenaeus project becomes more necessary’.

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In his homily at the Mass Father Chris Thomas the director of the project for the last twenty years said ‘I think Pope Francis is trying to free us from being a

stale bureaucratic institution obsessed with power and control and numbers, and property, rules, regulations, and move us towards being a spirit led church that talks more about mercy than sin, a church that is as Pope Francis says: a field hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints’.

That’s what we hope this place will become. Yes, a place where people who want to, can come and pray and reflect and discover a God of ultimate mercy and compassion, but also a place where those who have experienced alienation and those to whom life has dealt a rough hand can come and be met with that same mercy and compassion.’

So we begin this stage of our work.

Our doors open from 10 till 4 every day to anyone from 12 September.

There is space to pray in our oratory.

There is space to sit and be and have conversations and there is space to meet and have courses and experiences so please feel free to come along and spend some time with us.

news diary

Walking the North Wales Pilgrim Walk for the SVP and Ukraine.

Deacon Dave Lawson from St Austin’s and St Teresa of Avila and the St Helens Deanery has recently completed the North Wales Pilgrim Walk for charity namely the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and also for Ukraine. Starting in March Deacon Dave walked mainly on Saturdays and completed 145 miles over twelve days recording his walk every day and uploading onto the give star webpage to record the event.

Centuries ago, pilgrims in their thousands were finding their way to Bardsey Island, drawn there by stories of the special peace to be found at the edge of the western world and to the place of the setting sun, with only the vast ocean between them and the unknown. 1,500 years ago, St Cadfan had founded a Christian community there. In the Middle Ages, two pilgrimages to Bardsey were considered as good as one to Rome, and that sense of a sacred place draws pilgrims there still.

Basingwerk Abbey, which served as a hospital to pilgrims going to Holywell in medieval times, marks the start of the Pilgrim’s Way. The route leads through woodland and over rivers, up mountains and along coast paths, through wilderness and into villages. The Pilgrim’s Way is a walking route of over 130 miles with tiny stone churches nestled into the hills providing shelter and rest along the way, much as they would have done in the past. Now the tradition of pilgrimage is being rediscovered and reinvented for a new age. Present day pilgrims have described the experience as ‘resetting the defaults’ as ‘time out’ and ‘a time to wander and wonder’.

Joined by his 14 year-old son Matthew, and with the support of his wife Paula and his daughter Maddison in their back up car, Dave and Matthew finally completed the walk and arrived at Aberdaron at the beginning of July and were met by Sue Roberts from the Wrexham branch of the SVP. Dave said, ‘It has been incredibly humbling to walk and meet so many wonderful people as we have crossed Wales. I cannot thank the parishioners and so many people we met that gave their time and money towards the charity If you would like to donate or would like to watch the videos that we recorded then please email Dave at DaveL831@aol.com for further details.

St Francis Xavier church Ignatian picnic and tour The Northern Jesuit churches, including St Francis Xavier’s church in Everton gathered at Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, for a picnic and a tour of the ‘Hot Holy Ladies’ Exhibition on Sunday, 31 July 2022, the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola. This day was to conclude the Ignatian Year (500 years ago when St Ignatius from soldier to pilgrim was seriously injured by a cannonball and his recovery led him to founding the Society of Jesus – Jesuits) The phrase ‘Hot, Holy Ladies’ was first used as a sarcastic insult in 1602, aimed at an impressive and effective group of strong-minded female supporters of the Jesuit Catholic mission. The colourful exhibition at Stonyhurst College shared the lives, circles and works of a selection of influential, educated Catholic women who carried out remarkable acts of creativity and subversion spanning the early Tudor pre-Reformation period into the George IV era

of Catholic Emancipation. It featured a range of women from high-profile historical figures who shaped policy and national events to less well-known individuals who achieved extraordinary acts of religious defiance and cultural creativity in the shadows imposed by state-imposed religious intolerance and persecution.

The online exhibition is presented by curator, Dr Jan Graffius and concludes with a 20 minute video allowing you to discover the remarkable story of Helena Wintour. Helena Wintour was a recusant Roman Catholic and a talented seamstress. https://www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/about-us/stonyhurst-collegehistoric-collections/exhibitions/hot-holy-ladies

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news diary

‘Olivia’s beauty was there for all to see…’

‘Olivia’s beauty was there for all to see in her happiness, her kind nature, and the way she lived – she was loved and lovable.’ Words of Archbishop Malcolm McMahon preaching at the Funeral Mass for Olivia Pratt-Korbel at St Margaret Mary’s, Knotty Ash, on Thursday 15 September.

He was paying tribute to the nine year old, who so tragically died in a shooting incident on 22 August.

At the beginning of the Mass, celebrated by parish priest, Father Roy Cooper, Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel said, ‘Olivia touched so many people’s hearts and was loved and adored by everyone…I will never say goodbye but what I will say is goodnight, love you, see you in the morning’.

Also present at the Mass were Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, and Bishop Beverley Mason, Bishop of Warrington.

In his homily Archbishop Malcolm said, ‘We may ask ourselves why God has taken his beautiful gift back to himself – we

may never know the answer to that question but in our lack of understanding we must give thanks for the joy of having her and knowing her for the years she was with us. And there is a very real sense in which she will continue her life deep in our hearts where she will be a daily presence to her parents and those who loved her.’

He concluded with an appeal for peace and justice, ‘So, in St Paul’s words let us comfort one another with words of faith - faith in each other, faith in God and faith in the belief that Olivia’s untimely death will lead to a community here in Liverpool without violence that it will become a place of peace and justice’.

People also gathered outside the church as mourners were asked to wear ‘a splash of pink’ in Olivia’s memory while at Olivia’s school, St Margaret Mary’s Junior School, all 480 pupils made flowers in her memory.

Picture; Liverpool Echo

Congratulations Sister Zita On 13 August, St Oswald’s Catholic Church, Old Swan, was host to Sister Zita’s celebration of 60 years as a professed Sister of Mercy. Bishop Tom Williams was the main celebrant, assisted by Father Liam Collister, parish priest of St Oswald’s and St Sebastian’s parishes.

Sister Zita was joined by parishioners, family members, friends, well-wishers, colleagues, and Sisters from her Order, 12

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who all helped to make her jubilee special. During Mass, she stood in front of Bishop Tom, and renewed her promises to serve God, and the Order, faithfully. After Mass, Sister Zita was joined by her family and friends in a celebration buffet in the parish house.

Father Liam said, ‘Sister Zita’s 60 years of dedication to the Church, her various ministries, and the Order of Mercy, is a real example of faith in the modern world’.

news diary

Nugent Celebrates over 140 years of care in the community This year we are launching our annual Gala. Kicking off with celebrating over 140 years of educating, protecting and caring for the most vulnerable in our communities.

The origins of Nugent date back to Victorian Liverpool and the pioneering work of our founder Father James Nugent (1822-1905), who witnessed first-hand the suffering caused by poverty and the poor welfare of children and took action to remedy the situation.

By the time of his death, Father Nugent had given homes and valuable skills to thousands of children and laid the foundations for the work currently undertaken by everyone in Nugent today.

As a charity we aren’t beholden to investors or shareholders, meaning we can focus on what really matters:

serving the most vulnerable and at risk in our community. At the heart of the organisation is a mission to improve quality of life, health, life chances, and levels of achievement; reducing poverty and increasing safety for all.

Although we have now been serving our communities for 141 years, we are launching the Nugent Gala with a celebration of our 140th milestone.

Due to disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic, our plans for Nugent’s 140th birthday have been postponed, making the inaugural Gala celebration a year later than intended.

On Thursday 3 November we will be celebrating this momentous milestone whilst raising funds to continue Father Nugent’s good work. The evening will feature a short presentation and thank you by Nugent CEO, Normandie

Wragg, followed by music and entertainment that promises to provide an unforgettable evening for all, and raise much needed funds to aid our continuing mission.

If you would like to join us in celebrating, you can purchase your tickets and find out more about the event at: www.wearenugent.org/ fundraising/gala

The life-changing role for big-hearted people that needs no experience In 1978 flares were the height of fashion; the Bee Gees were playing on the radio, and here at PSS, we were busy creating one of the fastest-growing models of care in the UK: Shared Lives.

Shared Lives is a little bit like fostering, but with the big difference that it’s for adults who need some support to live as independently as possible. It’s about providing warmth and guidance whilst giving someone the choice to live life how they choose to. Shared Lives

carers like ex-firefighter Darren, who lives in Liverpool, support people to live their best lives, while the people they support live at home with them.

‘Having the person you support living with you sounds like such an unusual concept at first,’ says Darren. ‘But actually, it feels like Jim, the guy I support, has been part of my family forever. He’s got a learning disability and needs a bit of support to feel confident making decisions and getting to grips with a few life skills, but since he’s been here with my family his confidence is growing by the day.’

Our PSS Shared Lives carers support people from all different backgrounds with all different goals. Someone might need support with the daily bits and bobs like personal care and taking medication, through to baking, gardening, and applying for their dream job - the possibilities are as unique as the people we support.

‘I didn’t know how much Shared Lives would help me’, says Jim. ‘I love living with Darren and Clare. ‘I’ve learned how to count my money for the bus, how to cook and how to iron my shirts for work. I’ve got a job in the supermarket and have made lots of friends there. I’m so happy.’

Being a Shared Lives carer is about doing something truly amazing for another person. It’s about offering your heart, as well as your home to support someone to live life independently. Our carers are self-employed (but we’re with them every step of the way) and can choose the type of support they want to give to people, and the hours they work.

It fits around family life perfectly.

Our carers don’t need experience – at PSS we train big-hearted, professional, genuine, determined and open-minded people to be the best carer they can be.

If you’d like to know more head to www.sharedlivescarers.com for more information.

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news diary

That Majestic Assembly

by Neil Sayer, Archdiocesan Archivist

This month marks 60 years since the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, on 11 October 1962. This was noted in the pages of the then recentlyestablished Catholic Pictorial as an ‘Epoch-making event’, and as ‘One of the greatest moments in modern history’.

Among the first acts of his papacy, Pope John XXIII had announced the convening of the council in 1959, so the event was three years in the planning. Some 2500 cardinals, bishops and heads of religious orders made their way to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Among those attending the opening sessions were four Archbishops of Liverpool: Archbishop Heenan had been involved in the preparations for the Council; Cardinal Godfrey had been at Liverpool until his appointment as Archbishop of Westminster in 1956; Bishop Beck, who succeeded Archbishop Heenan in 1964, was at this point Bishop of Salford; and Derek Worlock, who followed Archbishop Beck at Liverpool, was a lowly Monsignor, attending the council as Cardinal Godfrey’s secretary.

Archbishop Heenan’s involvement in the planning does not seem to have given him much of an insight into the Council’s likely debates, at least not that he could tell parishioners in his Pastoral Letter issued just before his departure from Liverpool Airport. ‘What will the Vatican Council decide?’ he asks. ‘That we cannot say. We have been told some of the things which the Council will discuss. But nobody knows more than that.’

Some of the problems facing the bishops, as reported by the Pic, seem relevant today. The Catholic Church is a worldwide church in which the influence of the west is diminishing: in

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1962, as today, issues included ‘the de-Christianisation of the West, the just needs of the people who are starving, the peace of nations, the role of lay people in the Church, the unity of Christians’. Archbishop Heenan was very well aware that the church wasn’t just about the Pope and the bishops meeting at the Council. ‘Not everyone’, he wrote, ‘can attend the Council but everyone can enter into the spirit of the Council. It is as if the Catholics of the world were beginning a retreat.’ The Pic, reporting the opening session of the Council, sensed ‘a most impressive feeling of joy and hope’.

The Council was expected to finish around Easter 1963, but it seems that progress was slow. Pope John, reviewing ‘that majestic assembly of bishops which impressed us so deeply’, noted that, ‘In those first weeks, by means of exchanges of doctrinal explanation and pastoral experience, and also by means of open and respectful discussion, we worked out a definite “modus procedendi”, which will help our future business to be dealt with more quickly and easily’. Sadly, Pope John XXIII, ‘Il Papa Buono’, died in June 1963. It was left to his successor, Pope Paul VI, to oversee the continuation of the council until its final session in December 1965.

In addition to the papers of our Archbishops in the Archdiocesan Archives, a memento of the opening of Vatican II can be found in a local church. At the time of the opening of the Council, a mural was commissioned for St Anthony of Padua in Mossley Hill. The painting by Father Giovanni Lerario OFM (Conv) features Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception surrounded by members of the Council.

PIC Life Minding your own business

By Moira Billinge It is impossible to listen to the radio without being aware of what seems to be a constant diet of traffic and travel reports warning of long queues and advising drivers to use a different route to avoid being caught up in them.

without much evidence of work actually in progress. But, more often than not, the queues of static vehicles are the result of collisions caused by dangerous or careless driving.

Unfortunately the bulletins all too often confirm what we already know as we sit in our cars, resigned to being rooted to the same spot for the next few hours surrounded by a sea of vehicles whose occupants are destined to share the same fate. The faces of the trapped drivers wear those pained expressions reserved for just such occasions.

To make matters infinitely worse, the traffic on the opposite road or carriageway invariably slows down as drivers attempt to get a really good look at the aftermath of a crash. It is called ‘rubbernecking’, a term dating back to the early 20th century when tourists riding in custom-made carriages around New York craned their heads to absorb the views along 44th Street in Midtown.

(Locals even referred to that area of Manhattan as ‘Rubberneck Row’.)

It is very frustrating to be in a traffic jam caused by road works, with rows of mocking cones stretching to the horizon

Curiosity – or nosiness – is a natural human instinct and it is understandable to want to find out what is going on

Worth a visit

when we spot something different or unusual happening. A television programme, however, revealed that drivers are not only slowing down to gawp at a collision; some are actually taking photographs of the carnage with their mobile phones to post them on social media.

Surely this is taking nosiness to a new low, even by today’s standards. We have gone from being the occasional ‘curtain-twitchers’, whose activities in the past were largely restricted to the confines of their local community, to an unashamed and unfettered voyeuristic society, obsessed with examining the minutiae of the lives of others.

Newspapers, magazines and reality TV programmes like ‘Big Brother’ or ‘I’m A Celebrity…’ encourage us to feel that we have an innate right or entitlement to focus on banalities. They blur our boundaries as we happily – and with a sense of impunity – feed off people’s mistakes and misery, caring little about whether or not we have their permission.

Pope Francis had wise words to say about our preoccupation with prying into other people’s affairs, saying that ‘gossip is a sin and a slap in the face of Jesus, and those who claim to be followers of the faith should stop being nosey and mind their own business.’

Perhaps, as we pick over the detritus of people’s lives, we can add: ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’

Saint Leonard and Saint Mary’s Church

This month, take a trip to Yorkshire and visit one of very few medieval churches with a worshipping community, writes Lucy Oliver.

on Yorkersgate. This local history trove is run by volunteers and boasts unique collections dating from the Roman occupation. Call 01653 691262 to check visiting hours.

Saint Leonard and Saint Mary’s Church in Malton, is a real hidden gem. Founded in 1190 by the Gilbertine canons, the church is situated just over a mile away from Malton Priory, in Old Malton, where the monastery of the Gilbertine order was founded. Parishioners of Saint Leonard and Saint Mary’s believe theirs is probably the oldest Roman Catholic church still in use in England, with features such as the font dating from the 1100s.

Lucy Oliver

In 1972, the 12th century church was restored to Catholic use, although the parish is also a lead in ecumenical worship. It has stood for over 800 years as a testament to the glory of God and as a witness to the faith of many generations of Christians from a wide parish including over 40 villages and hamlets. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9.00 am. Don’t leave Malton without visiting Malton Museum,

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feature St Mary’s, Chorley – Friday 16 September

A visit to St Bernadette Among the many schools visiting the relics was St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Shevington, Headteacher, Mrs Helen Crowder and School Governor, Mrs Chris Mason, write: The St Bernadette Relic Tour this autumn has allowed the children, staff and parishioners from St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School in Wigan, the unique opportunity to put their faith into action and experience the special gifts of Lourdes.

The beautiful church of St Mary’s, Chorley was a perfect stopping place for the relics of St Bernadette and so on Friday 16 September, the school community from St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School in Shevington, Wigan, took the opportunity to make a pilgrimage, to visit the relics of their special school saint. The Key Stage 2 pupils together with staff, governors and parishioners travelled together, to pay witness, to reflect and to pray together.

It was a privilege and honour for the school to sit directly in front of St Bernadette’s reliquary, at the very front of the church. Here, the children saw, the richly decorated reliquary, illuminated in the glow of candles. They observed, with quiet reverence, as members of the congregation made personal visits to the shrine. They watched, with respect as prayers were made and waited patiently for their turn.

Mass was celebrated by Father Peter Crowther, whose homily spoke directly to the children. They listened carefully, as he told the story of St Bernadette and the Immaculate Conception. Father Crowther helped everyone to understand the meaning and relevance of the relics. He explained that

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a relic is, ‘like a keep sake - we have kept St Bernadette close, because she was close to Our Lady’. To share in the Eucharist and to receive a blessing, with the sprinkling of holy water from Lourdes, were indeed great gifts to receive, in the presence of St Bernadette.

After the Mass, pupils processed, slowly past, each one touching the relic case with wide-eyes and amazement at the beauty of the gold reliquary. There was a shared appreciation of the importance of the moment and the enormity of the opportunity to be close to their school saint. It was a spiritual and moving experience, which will be remembered, re-lived and shared again as St Bernadette’s school community follow their Mission to: ‘Grow together in faith, love and learning’.

feature Mass and Torchlight Procession – St Mary’s, Chorley

Torchlight Procession in Chorley

Torchlight Procession in Chorley

Archbishop Malcolm celebrates Mass with the relics

Metropolitan Cathedral Torchlight Procession – Saturday 17 September

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feature Sunday Mass – 18 September

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feature Mass with the Anointing of the Sick – Sunday 18 September

Bishop John Rawsthorne celebrated the Mass with the Anointing of the Sick

The relics leave the Cathedral Early in the morning on Tuesday 20 September there was a final opportunity to venerate the relics of St Bernadette before they left the Metropolitan Cathedral to continue their journey across the country.

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profile A friend to those in need

By Simon Hart ‘It’s knowing somebody is there that can help, someone we know we can talk to confidentially.’ Ann Kirby is trying to define the value of the home visit, a longstanding feature of the work of the St Vincent de Paul society in her home parish of St James’s, Bootle.

Ann Kirby

President of the SVP at St James’s, Ann offers an example of a local person she and her colleagues have assisted recently.

‘We’ve helped a lady from Iran who came over here on her own,’ she explains. ‘She had no family, she had no-one. We helped her with some curtains.’ A small but significant show of support. ‘She told us, “Thank you, it’s lovely knowing somebody”,’ adds Ann. ‘It’s going as a friend first and foremost and being able to sit and let them tell you what they need, or what their problems are.’

On their visits to the sick and lonely, the religious dimension can be important too. SVP work is rooted in prayer and the Eucharist and a recent venture led by Ann involves saying the Rosary. ‘We want to try to bring Our Lady back into the community for peace in the world and so we started taking an Our Lady statue and asking people if they’d like us to come and say the Rosary.’

The SVP’s layers of engagement extend far beyond these visits and include financial help given to families – at Christmas this can mean ‘going to a family and saying “we’ve got a hamper for you”’ – and practical assistance such as teaching cooking skills and providing clothes for refugees.

Her own group has a close involvement with the nearby Brunswick Youth and Community Centre. ‘Two of our members got involved in packing hampers in the Brunswick and giving them out to people during the pandemic. From there they’ve begun doing a community dinner once a month there.’

Ann, 70, has known difficult times herself. As a young mother of four, she experienced uncertainty and insecurity after her husband Billy lost his job. If unemployment was not unusual then, the challenges she sees in her local community have changed in the 35 years since Father John Kavanagh, her then parish priest, persuaded her to become an SVP member. ‘We never came across homeless people or refugees or asylum seekers. That’s all changed. We used to help people on the dole but now we help people who are working too. We distribute food vouchers and vouchers for school uniforms.’

The group at St James’s currently numbers six and Ann is seeking extra recruits – ‘We’d welcome anybody who wants to come and help’ – yet she is also keen to voice her gratitude to the many people already assisting in other ways. ‘We have to thank all the people who support us with donations, who give to us for raffles, without them we couldn’t do half the work.’

There is also gratitude to Billy, her husband of 50 years. ‘He has been very helpful and supportive. Sometimes my house is packed with food or clothes or toys!” The giving that follows is one of her favourite aspects of the SVP’s work and vital, she notes, for the meaning behind it: ‘It’s a way of saying, “We remember you”.’

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A celebration of the SVP’s work in the diocese took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 27 September. Along with parish groups, the SVP has ‘Mini Vinnies’ in primary schools and the Liverpool University students’ 1833 group. To learn more about the SVP or find out how to become a member, contact Kath Riley, the membership support officer, on 07917 303 155 or kathyr@svp.org.uk.

McCallum & Tritton & Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

0151 931 2002

www.mccallumandtritton.co.uk Catholic Pictorial 11 Catholic Pictorial

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education news

Opportunity Awaits at Cardinal Heenan Sixth Form An article written by Year 13 student, Daniel McAvoy, who reflects on his experience at Cardinal Heenan Sixth Form.

Cardinal Heenan Sixth Form is a mixed, purpose-built sixth form that operates in West Derby, Liverpool and is consistently rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted. Students have access to first-class learning facilities including science labs, ICT suites, an extensive quiet study area and a large canteen.

Cardinal Heenan offers a friendly, safe and supportive environment where all students enjoy an excellent standard of teaching, access to a wide variety of courses and the guidance needed to ensure their success. In addition, the sixth form also provides a programme of exciting and engaging enrichment activities. This is why almost all students go on to either university - including Russell Group universities, or higher-level apprenticeships.

During my time at Cardinal Heenan, I, along with my fellow students, have been presented with a multitude of opportunities. This includes a year 12 work experience week, where students are immersed in a career aligned to their interests and aspirations. Students also have the opportunity to join a subject specific association such as medicine, engineering and law, strengthening their knowledge, skills

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and passion. Support with university admission exams is also provided, including the UCAT and BMAT required to study medicine or dentistry and the LNAT to study law, amongst others for specific courses. There is also the possibility to mentor students in lower school, developing self-confidence, leadership skills and the chance to pass on any wisdom to the younger members of our school community.

For those interested in sport, there is also access to the Lifestyles gym free of charge, sports leaders level 3 qualifications and my personal highlight - the sixth form football team. As a current sixth form student, I can say that the opportunities afforded to me have been incredibly rewarding and each student is able to find something that suits them.

Ultimately, Cardinal Heenan sixth form provides a nurturing and aspirational environment. It is therefore, I believe, a great option for anyone who is looking for a post 16 provider.

Cardinal Heenan will be hosting an open evening on Thursday 24th November 6.30 – 8.30 pm for those interested in finding out more about joining Cardinal Heenan sixth form in September 2023.

I’ve Got a Golden Ticket!

Every year, on the 13 September, Roald Dahl’s birthday is celebrated through Roald Dahl Day. Roald Dahl published 17 children’s books, two rhyme books, plus two autobiographies, two adult books, 51 adult short stories and more.

To celebrate Roald Dahl Day, exclusive limited-edition bookmarks were available for St John Bosco students in the school’s library as well as ‘Golden Tickets’ hidden around the college. Lucky finders of the Golden Tickets presented them to Miss Kinsella in the library for some scrumdiddlyumptious prizes!

Congratulations to the lucky finders of the Golden Tickets - Lexie-Ann Geraghty, Lacey Doyle Lily Brown , Savanna Fisher-Jones and Skyla Dempsey Winners received goodie bags with a copy of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, sweets and some bookish goodies.

Education Matters

by Satis Education

When is a school not a school… …when it’s the perfect ‘home from home’ for your child.

At this time of year many parents start to look at potential schools for their child. However, for most of us our only real knowledge and experience of schools are hazy memories of our own schools days.

So how do we know if the schools we are visiting are the right “fit” for our child?

It’s often said that the culture of any organisation comes from the top. And schools are no different. When visiting prospective schools it’s really important that parents take advantage of any opportunity to engage with the headteacher – be that through one-to-one meetings or in a wider group presentation context.

Ideally during any meetings the headteacher will talk in detail about the school’s values. However, more importantly they will explain how these values are lived out in practice on a daily basis. Values need to be more than just words on pretty displays in corridors.

To test this out, during visits parents should try to speak to as many staff and governors as possible, as well as pupils if available. They should explore with staff, governors and pupils what their experiences of the school are, but importantly whether or not they feel the school’s values positively impact on school life, every day.

Ideally parents need to find a school whose values accord with their own so that the daily transition between home life and school life is seamless for their child. The closer parents feel able to work in partnership with their child’s school, the better the child’s chances are of settling in well and being successful.

The benefits of a Catholic education for a child brought up in a Catholic family is that hopefully the constant influence on their lives will be the Gospel values, with these values being evident in all of their experiences both at home and at school. This means school life becomes an extension of home life – their educational home from home, a place where they feel loved, valued, respected and able to flourish.

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At the start of a new academic year A new academic year begun, and I wish all those in our schools and colleges every success for the year ahead. It was wonderful to see all the celebrations of success on the exam results days during the Summer. I wish all the young people every happiness in the future.

The academic year got off to a sad start for two of our school communities. The school communities of St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior and Infant Schools were shocked with the tragic death of Olivia Pratt-Korbel. A few days later the school community of Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School in Aintree lost their inspirational Headteacher Catherine Morris.

St John Bosco Arts College celebrate International Literacy Day

In times of sorrow and loss there are always people who come forward to support and encourage us during times of grief. I know that the staff and students of these great schools have worked tirelessly to support the school and local community in the past few weeks.

In the book ‘Christ at the Centre’ Bishop Marcus Stock states that there are four main reasons why the Catholic Church Provides schools. He states that they are to:

Assist in its mission of making Christ known to all people.

Assist parents, who are the primary educators of their children, in the education and religious formation of their children.

Be at the service of the local Church - the diocese, the parish and the Christian home.

Be ‘a service to society’.

In the past few weeks these school communities have demonstrated their mission as Catholic schools in demonstrating God’s love in time of sorrow. I thank them for their service and ask that you keep the staff and students of these schools in your prayers.

The Education Department welcome new personnel to its team - Gill Donohoe , Jenny Truddiau, Micheal Boland, Richard Coakley, Michelle Ravey, Hannah Blabey and Gemma Wilton and wish them every success in their roles.

Joan McCarthy Director of Education Archdiocese of Liverpool

Literacy is all about being able to read, write and understand. If you are literate, you know what written or printed text or numbers mean.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015, approximately 757 million adults around the world were illiterate and two-thirds of them (504 million) were women. In 1965, UNESCO declared 8 September as International Literacy Day, which has now been celebrated across the world for over 50 years.

The theme for this year’s International Literacy Day was ‘Transforming literacy learning spaces’. UNESCO aims for this day to remind people everywhere that literacy is a human right and is the key to a basic education for everyone.

To celebrate International Literacy Day at St John Bosco Arts College, a special book review competition was held.

Students completed a review about a book they had read to enter the prize draw, and the winning entry received a goody bag including a book and some bookish goodies.

The school were delighted by the number of students that took the time to write a review and congratulations went to the very worthy winner, Gabriella Devine.

Gabriella’s winning review of Enola Holmes - The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer here; “5 stars. I would recommend it to people who like books to do with unconventional women. My favourite part was when Enola’s mum taught her how to fight. I liked it because at the time that the book is set in it was unconventional for women to fight.”

To find out more about St Bosco College visit: https://www.stjohnboscoartscollege.com/

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education news

Uplifting paws In September Maricourt Catholic High School launched its new mission statement with staff and pupils: “Our Maricourt family, with Christ at the centre, is a community of welcome, compassion and respect in which we are encouraged to discover our true purpose and empowered to achieve the extraordinary so as to be the change we want to see in our world.”

An intrinsic part of the school’s mission is in discovering vocation. Sometimes when challenges are faced in life that path can be unclear as we have so much to deal with in the here and now, we cannot begin to imagine what the future may hold.

To this end, the school’s wellbeing team have been keen to establish a chaplaincy team in which volunteers, staff and pupils are engaged in driving the mission forward in the school community and deanery.

The team have also been delighted to have recently welcomed on board Dougal and Barnie. They are therapy dogs that visit Maricourt High School every week for a twohour session. Dougal is a Cockerpoo, who is a fully trained therapy dog. Medical science has shown that a therapy dog can reduce blood pressure, promote physical healing,

Therapy dogs support Maricourt students

reduce anxiety, fatigue and depression as well as provide emotional support.

Barney, the ‘brother’ of Dougal is in training to become a therapy dog.

Both dogs are part of the Open Paws Animal Assisted Therapy organisation run by Melanie Brown. Melanie visits primary schools and hospitals with Dougal and Barney as part of its pet therapy programmes.

Many of Maricourt’s pupils have expressed that prior to seeing Dougal and Barney they feel anxious or low but after a time with the therapy dogs they feel calmer and happier. The team keep a record of interventions with pupils to identify how they are making progress and are always humbled to see what a powerful impact these beautiful therapy dogs are making in the lives of the school’s young people.

New language ambassadors announced at ASFA Four Year 11 students from The Academy of St Francis of Assisi (ASFA) have been selected to become language ambassadors this new academic year.

The students will offer students in Years 7 and 8, whose first language isn’t English, any additional support they may need when it comes to speaking, reading and writing in English.

The initiative first started in 2019 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Over 40 different languages are spoken in the academy and staff work tirelessly to ensure everyone’s native tongue is represented in the school community.

This year’s language ambassadors include Jakub who speaks Polish, Nicole who speaks Portuguese, David who speaks Italian, and Mohamed who is originally from Ethiopia and speaks Afar, Swedish and also understands Amharic.

With the help of the academy’s language acquisition coordinator, Amanda Gamble, the language ambassadors will

work closely with students to overcome language barriers by hosting fortnightly reading clubs, translating school work and also attending events that their fellow peers may require assistance with.

The ambassadors will also offer additional support to prospective students and families at the academy’s open evening on Monday 26 September. They will wear badges with the languages they can each speak so visitors can approach them for help.

Amanda Gamble said: “We are very fortunate to have another group of confident and proactive language ambassadors this year. It is important that EAL (English as an additional language) students have other students they can go to for support in school.

“This programme is just one of many ways we create an inclusive community for students.”

Headteacher, Jo Leech, who joined The Academy of St Francis of Assisi at the start of September, is proud to see an initiative such as this in a school. She said: “The language ambassadors are a key part of school life here at the academy and the support they offer to both staff and students is remarkable.

“I look forward to working with them over the next year.”

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi is proud to be part of All Saints Multi Academy Trust.

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education news

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust welcomes new school into its ever-growing family.

The 8th September was a momentous day for St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust who welcomed Holy Family Catholic Academy into its already exciting family of schools. The ribbon was officially cut by the CEO marking a new relationship for the Trust and Wigan community.

curriculum programme. The staff were joined by teachers, support staff and leaders from across the Trust to collaborate and work together in implementing one of many new initiatives introduced by the pioneering organisation.

Janice Taberner, Executive Headteacher said, “All the staff St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, which works in and the community are looking forward to this new chapter partnership with the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the Diocese in the school’s growth and development. We are delighted of Shrewsbury and Chester, already has six schools withinp01-17_covers 02/09/2022 15:32 Page 7 to be part of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust and its family and now proudly partners with a seventh. Holy look forward to many more opportunities for collaboration Family, based in Platt Bridge, has an ethos and belief system and investment to secure the best possible chances for our that fits with the Trust’s values perfectly – their emphasis on children and staff.” giving their children the best education possible. The Trust has exciting plans to transform the learning environment across the academy to ensure that the children have the best possible facilities. Not only this but being part of the Trust means that the staff have access to excellent professional Your will(s) prepared in the comfort development opportunities, including shared best practice of your own home for £90 per will* between like-minded schools. *Guaranteed fixed fee. Absolutely NO HIDDEN CHARGES

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Andrew Truby, CEO of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust said, “We are delighted to welcome Holy Family Catholic Academy in Platt Bridge to the St Joseph Family.

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youth ministry

Why being ready matters

They weren’t prepared because they had got so caught up in whatever else was happening that they missed the massive thing that was there in front of them.

By Father Simon Gore​ Animate Youth Ministries It does not seem so long ago that I wrote about using the summer to plan ahead and get ready for the new year – even if that meant chopping down dangerous, overhanging trees!

Now that new year is here and 2022-23 stretches ahead of us. We began the year with a Mass which served both as a Lourdes reunion and a marker for the new academic year. It is always nice to end one particular year and look ahead to the next in this Mass that we celebrate each year. And it gave me, as the celebrating priest, a chance to reflect on what it means to be a disciple and a follower of Christ.

Although not all readers of the Pic will be thinking about September as a new beginning I thought it might be good, no matter where we are in life, to take a moment to think about the call that we all have to lives of holiness. And to start to do that, I would like you to take a look at these Tripadvisor reviews reproduced here.

And we need to be prepared to think about what is important to us. If we get so caught up in ‘stuff’ – whatever that might be – it can be hard to see what is most important. If you look at these reviews again, maybe those writing them just couldn’t see what was important about what was in front of them.

When you see these reviews you get the feeling that the type of people that might write them are possibly the ones who might struggle with the idea of discipleship. These people just don’t know what they are seeing or why what they are seeing is important.

If you went on holiday over the summer I imagine you would have got your stuff ready in advance, known where your passport was and got checked in. If we don’t get ourselves ready we might end up in the same position as these unhappy reviewers – writing reviews that don’t make much sense because the issue is probably more with us than the thing or the place itself. We simply aren’t prepared.

I think it is this sense of being prepared that is part of being a disciple in the modern world. Jesus reminds us there will be difficulties along the way – and that’s why we need to be prepared.

For us, the following questions might be worth considering: have we allowed ‘stuff’ around us to cloud seeing God in the world around us?

Have we thought about what God might have been asking of us this year? Are there any changes we want to make with our lives?

I suppose the question ultimately is ‘am I seeing the bigger picture or am I caught up in things that might not be as important as I think?’.

It would be sad if any of us were to write a Tripadvisor review of where we are at the moment and make the mistake of these reviewers, missing what can be staring us in the face because we haven’t taken the time to just stop, look and listen to our ongoing call to be disciples.

God bless.

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Dialogue and Unity

Networking the Ecumenical

Elisabeth Hachmoeller is from Lower Saxony in Germany but has lived outside Germany longer than she lived there. She is a member of the Focolare, a movement founded by Chiara Lubich in 1943 in war torn Italy focusing on faith, peace, and unity.

The Focolare is recognised by the Vatican under the Official name of the ‘Works of Mary’. It operates in 180 nations and has over 140,000 members but the Vatican estimates that 4.5 million people are actively associated with his work.

Elisabeth and one of her brothers were quite disaffected by the Church in their teens but met the Focolare and were renewed and enriched in their faith joining as full members. A family affair now, Elisabeth’s brother lives in a Focolare House in Munich, her late parents were also very active members. The word ‘Focolare’ is Italian for ‘hearth’ or ‘family fireside.’

Firmly ecumenical Elisabeth is the ideal person to juggle the complex network of initiatives, people and organisations that relate to Churches Together in the Merseyside Region (CTMR) the interchurch body covering most of the archdiocese, but we also have Churches Alive in Man, Churches Together in Lancashire and Greater Manchester Churches Together.

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Elisabeth has a degree in theology from the University of Muenster which came as a surprise when she moved to the Focolare House in Glasgow as she was better qualified than many of the priests who worked with her in the Pastoral Department of Motherwell Diocese (she had also lived in Italy and Switzerland and the exotic climes of Welwyn Garden City where the Focolare have a Conference Centre).

Elisabeth has worked for CTMR since 2005 and in her current role as Ecumenical Coordinator since 2015. She relishes the work and speaks warmly of her privilege in being Secretary to the Church Leaders Group and of their commitment to collaboration and honest sharing – she spoke of Bishop Paul Bayes who was a pastoral caring person and a valued member of the group.

Elisabeth was instrumental in establishing the CTMR 18-30 Group which brings together a broad spectrum of young people from different denominations and has been given national coverage by Churches Together in England. Elisabeth made a presentation to Catholic and Anglican Bishops meeting in Liverpool earlier in the year.

Elisabeth is a great networker sharing insights and ideas with colleagues in bodies like CTMR notably in the Northwest, the Ecumenical Officers,

Safeguarding Officers, and Trustees.

Current agenda items include emergency planning, publicity for Christian fringe events at the Labour party conference and meeting the priest of the Indian Orthodox Church in Liverpool. An important task is the Bulletin which is emailed to 800 people about once a month and a larger version is also sent by email and snail mail to 965 people once a year.

Elisabeth lives in the Women’s Focolare House in Roby, where they are renowned for their hospitality, and has various tasks and roles as a member of the Focolare one of which she relishes using her bilingual skills (although she now thinks in English) is to translate for meetings of the Focolare Network of supporting Bishops including Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran. Not only does she work parttime for CTMR but also works in another ecumenical context for one day a week at Liverpool Hope University at Hope Park, Childwall in the International Department.

A big task for Elisabeth in the coming months is sorting out the office at the Friends Meeting House in the City Centre and moving to the St Margaret Clitherow Centre – there are a lot of files for what is after all the area of the UK most famous for being ‘Better Together’.

cathedral ‘The beginning of the choir year’

by Dr Christopher McElroy Director of Music, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Cathedral Record Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean

September marks the beginning of the new academic year when children return to school after the summer break. It also marks the beginning of the choir year when the choristers begin rehearsing and singing in the cathedral once again. September is often a quiet time, giving opportunities for the choir to re-establish routines.

September this year didn’t quite happen that way. We knew it was going to be busy with the visit of the relics of St Bernadette and a visit to St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham, but the death of HM Queen Elizabeth meant previously laid plans had to be hastily rewritten.

On the Tuesday after the Queen’s death, a special Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul was offered at the Metropolitan Cathedral by Archbishop Malcolm. As is traditional on these occasions, the choir sang a choral setting of the Latin requiem text, on this occasion, the one by Gabriel Fauré. On special occasions such as this we join together our boy and girls choristers (who usually sing and rehearse separately) to sing with the adult singers, known as Lay Clerks.

The girl choristers sang the Fauré last year at All Souls so remembered it well. The boys had never sung it before, so in three days worked very hard to learn around 50 pages of new music (also singing the usual Sunday services in between.) The Requiem Mass went very well, and it was very moving and a worthy tribute to our late Sovereign.

The ability to put together music for special occasions such as this at short

notice is possible because our choristers work day in day out through the school year. Their work ethic and concentration allows them to adapt at short notice (and even very short notice as in this case) to the requirements of the Cathedrals liturgy, and ensure that we can provide the very best music that is required.

The visit of the relics of St Bernadette was a wonderful occasion for the cathedral community. Despite being nearly blown away by strong winds, the Torchlight Procession on the Cathedral Piazza was a very successful and moving occasion.

The boy choristers enjoyed learning more about the life of St Bernadette from the cathedral’s new priest, Father Derek, and subsequently having the opportunity to venerate the relics themselves.

On the same day our girl choristers travelled to Birmingham to join Archbishop Longley for the celebration of Mass at St Chad’s Cathedral. The Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty the Queen. After Mass the girls partook of lunch in a local restaurant before hitting the shops for an afternoon of leisure.

Over the next few weeks the cathedral choir will be around the archdiocese singing at •● St Oswalds, Ashton in Makerfield (30th September, 6.30 pm) •● St Mary’s, Leyland (9th October, 10.30 am) •● St Cecilia’s, Tuebrook (14th October, 6.30 pm) Do come and hear us if you can.

Grateful thanks to all those who helped during the visit of the Relics of St Bernadette. Without the teamwork of so many volunteers we would not have been able to welcome the 15,000 people who came to venerate the relics over the three days and enable the various celebrations to run so smoothly. For those who took part from the sections of the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage it was obviously a special opportunity for them to mark the start of the celebrations of the centenary year of the Official Diocesan Pilgrimage to the shrine.

Within the archives based at the Cathedral we have various correspondence related to the pilgrimage over the course of the last hundred years. We also have an interesting collection of the pilgrimage badges for many of the early years and also the swaps that some of the pilgrims made with fellow pilgrims from Salford and Lancaster. Sometime later in the year we will try and set up a small display within the Cathedral of these badges to mark the centenary year.

The Pause for Hope Service, for all who have been affected by cancer will take place at 3.00 pm on Sunday 2 October.

Bishop Tom Williams will preside at the service with Maria Breslin, Editor of the ‘Liverpool Echo’ and Rev Crispin Pailling, Rector of Liverpool Parish Church, giving reflections. Representatives of St Edwards College will join the Cathedral Congregation on Sunday 16 October to celebrate the Feast of St Edward the Confessor.

By the end of October the final work and voicing of the refurbished Cathedral organ should be completed and we hope to have a few celebratory events in the following months to mark the completion of the restoration. It will also leave the way open for the enabling works to begin in the spring for the extensive repairs and rebuilding needed on the Cathedral Shop and Piazza.

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Pic extras Mums the Word

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

Helping hungry children in Malawi There was a wonderful surprise for Margaret McDonald, our former national president, at the September bi-monthly Mass for the Union of Catholic Mothers at St George’s, Maghull.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon was there to present Margaret with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross.

This is the highest award that a lay person can receive from the Pope and, in Margaret’s case, she was honoured by Pope Francis for her many years’ service to the UCM and her charitable works.

Margaret has been a UCM member for 48 years and during that time has served her foundation – which prior to its closure was at St Paul’s, West Derby – as president, secretary and treasurer.

She became Archdiocesan secretary in 1998 and went on to become Archdiocesan president, during which time she worked on the women’s desk at LACE. After a spell as UCM representative on the National Board of Catholic Women, in 2018 Margaret was appointed as national president and has just completed her term of office, which included an extra year because of Covid-19. She is now serving as deputy national president while playing an active role in St Margaret Mary’s foundation.

Margaret has also been active in her parish, St Paul’s, as a catechist, Eucharistic minister, reader and a Gift Aid co-ordinator for over 20 years. As Brown Owl, she started up a Rainbow group. A mother of five (and now great grandmother), she has been a school governor at Cardinal Allen Grammar School (now Cardinal Heenan) and St Cecilia’s Primary School, as well as a member of the PTA at Mary Help of Christians High School.

Margaret worked in the Police force and Civil Service and after retirement became a volunteer at the Linda McCartney Centre at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where she had been successfully treated for breast cancer.

Those of us present at last month’s Mass shared in Margaret’s delight at this special recognition from the Holy See – it the highest award conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church and we couldn’t be more proud.

Congratulations, Margaret, from all of your UCM family.

Maria Pimblett, media officer 30

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Council 9 held a fundraising evening at Our Lady of Mount Carmel social club recently in aid of the ‘Feeding of the 500’ project supporting children in Malawi. This project is overseen by Changing Lives Malawi, a charity whose efforts include helping hundreds of vulnerable and malnourished children to receive a weekly meal at its centre in Ibuluma in northern Malawi – sometimes the only substantial meal these children get each week.

A large team of helpers is needed to achieve the objects of the foundation not only to provide nourishment but also clothes, fresh drinking water and education for these children, many of them orphans. To learn more about the foundation or make a donation, please visit changinglivesmalawi.com, or email contact_us@changinglivesmalawi.com.

Brother Kevin Jones, the council grand knight, is pictured together with Brother Justin Malewezi whose family live in Malawi. Bro Justin will personally present a cheque for £250 from the KSC to the charity on his next visit to the southeastern African nation.

• I t is with great sadness we report the death of esteemed Brother Bernard McGuigan of Wirral council 51 on 16 July. Brother Bernard held many offices in his long membership of the order, including provincial grand knight. His funeral Mass was held at St John’s Church, New Ferry, on 8 August. We extend our deepest sympathy to his children Fiona, Brian, and Michael and to all other members of his family. May he rest in peace.

• I t has been a busy period for the KSC with other recent activities including the visit of the Divine Mercy Bus to Liverpool and the resumption of the Annual Harkirk Mass outside the memorial chapel in the woods of the Ince Blundell estate, commemorating those who suffered because of their adherence to their faith in penal times. We will report fully on these events in the next issue.

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

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