Spring 2023 Diocesan Magazine

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"Here we prayed at Father Robert’s grave, and I concelebrated the morning Mass." - Page 40

"I AM A SEASON TICKET HOLDER

"I AM A SEASON TICKET HOLDER AAT T NOTTINGHAM FOREST NOTTINGHAM FOREST AAND ND HAVE SUPPORTED THE TEAM FOR HAVE SUPPORTED THE TEAM FOR OOVER VER FFOURTY OURTY YEARS. " YEARS. "

"With prayer and gratitude"

A message from Bishop Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham

Launch of a Diocesan Mission Enabling Team

The long talked about Mission Enabling Team (MET), a sub-committee of the Diocesan Board of Directors, is now established and has agreed its Terms of Reference. The team will provide a report to the Board of Trustees, at least annually, and will ensure good two-way communication with the Finance sub-committee of the Board of Trustees, and with the whole diocese through reports and an ongoing conversation

To begin with, there is a small interim membership of the MET who will serve for a 1 year term It is very deliberately a small group made up of a Dean (Fr Dominic O’Connor) a Lay Diocesan Trustee (Anne Morton) a Lay person (Ann Neale) a Deacon (Warren Peachey) the COO (David Lawes) and myself as Chair It is hoped that our new Director of Youth Services (Erin Doughty) will join the team once she has had a chance to settle in Several diocesan Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will provide input to the MET (such as, their expertise, best practice from elsewhere, insights on possible new initiatives, etc) They are Joe Hopkins (Director of Adult Formation for Mission), Tom Baptist (Director of Chaplaincy for the Our Lady of Lourdes CMAT, Paul Bodenham (Programme Leader for Social Action - Caritas), Karen Foong our Director for OGF and Naomi Roberts, our Director of Communications

The SMEs will offer insights on potential new initiatives, propose ideas, be consulted and provide updates on their work, its progress and impact; they will act as champions for the 3 diocesan themes: Encounter, discipleship and mission; they will encourage and support the cross fertilisation of ideas and best practice and support the underpinning of all our diocesan work in prayer and firm reliance upon the Holy Spirit.

In turn, these key people will receive direction from the MET whose purpose is three-fold:

To set direction and priorities for the diocese to help enable it to become more missionary and outwardfacing with the three themes of ENCOUNTER, DISCIPLESHIP and MISSION acting as guideposts for this work of evangelisation; the team will seek to foster a culture of mission and evangelisation that is grounded in prayer and openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and to help encourage a closer working together by diocesan agencies on the priorities that will be drawn up by the MET, in dialogue with these agencies, so that it becomes clearer what our mission priorities are at any given moment in the life of the diocese

To drive forward this culture of mission and evangelisation within the diocese by reviewing what’s bearing fruit and what isn’t; encouraging collaboration between diocesan teams, curia departments, and parishes and schools; and to help to create ways of measuring the impact of the various initiatives that are going on at any given time in the diocese.

It will agree criteria and make recommendations to the Finance sub-committee of the Diocesan Trustees with regard to the funding of bids for mission projects and initiatives.

The MET will meet at least nine times each year. For the first six months (beginning next month, June 2023) it will meet monthly, which may be in-person or on-line, so as to get it off to a good, focussed, start. The frequency of the meetings will then be reviewed.

The purpose of this Mission Enabling Team, as a sub-committee of the diocesan Board of Directors, is to support and advise the Board on the progress of the diocese towards becoming more missionary, and to receive feedback. In addition to giving a report to the Diocesan Board at least once a year, it will share updates with the Deans, the Council of Priests, Bishops’ Council, the whole diocese, at least annually and also seek input from each of those groups, so that there is a true dialogue going on within the diocese - a presenting and a listening.

We have reached this point thanks to the facilitation of Fiona O’Reilly, working in her capacity as a freelance facilitator with experience of supporting dioceses in many different countries.

Find out more about Erin in the next edition!

New Director of Youth Services – Erin Doughty

Erin Doughty, the new Director of Youth Services based at the Briars, the diocesan Youth Retreat Centre in Crich, Derbyshire, comes from the Archdiocese of Birmingham Erin brings a huge amount of experience of working in Soli House, a similar Retreat House to The Briars, and also of outreach into schools and into parishes (formation of Parish Youth Workers) She takes up her post next month on 1st June, but already has been meeting with the staff at The Briars and the Trustees The Diocesan Youth Services Trustees have also had a very fruitful meeting with Erin We look forward to welcoming Erin! I welcome this opportunity to thank Joe Farmer for the great work he has done as interim Director while awaiting the appointment of the new postholder

In the next issue I’ll share with you a few more aspects of what’s currently happening throughout the diocese in terms of becoming more outward looking and missionary We still face many challenges, but there’s some good things happening!

With prayer and gratitude,

Bishop Patrick and Erin Doughty, the newly appointed Director of Youth Services for the Diocese of Nottingham

"We look forward to welcoming Erin!"

LovetheStranger

PAUL BODENHAM FROM CARITAS ON A TIMELY CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE

Last month the Bishops’ Conference published a thought-provoking response to the increasingly polarised rhetoric surrounding migration into the UK. Here we introduce what the Bishops’ publication has to say. You’re invited to join fellow parishioners in an online workshop on 17 May to explore ways to put the Bishops’ teaching into practice.

The document introduces itself by saying, “In 2023, people making dangerous journeys across the Channel to reach the UK are called by various names: ‘refugees’, ‘asylum seekers’, ‘migrants’, and often by more derogatory terms.

“Love the Stranger … articulates our Christian duty to look beyond such labels and see the person who has left their homeland in search of a better life. The document places the human being at the heart of our pastoral outreach, looking beyond statistics and policies to the person – each with a name, a face and a story.”

One of the most useful aspects of Love the Stranger is its 24 principles drawn from Catholic social teaching Each one expresses succinctly why immigration policy cannot be a matter of indifference, and places the dignity of each individual at the heart of the choices we must make as citizens and as a country

The Illegal Migration Bill currently before Parliament is not mentioned directly Nor are plans to house large numbers of asylum seekers in isolated military bases including RAF Scampton near Lincoln However recent government policies are clearly in the Bishops’ sights The Bill would deny anyone who does not, or cannot, arrive by one of the few official routes the right to claim asylum It is incompatible with Catholic social teaching and the UN Refugee Convention

The document makes clear that migration is a right, not only for those fleeing danger but for anyone seeking a better life. As a receiving country the UK has rights and responsibilities too. Love the Stranger starts by calling on the government to address the factors that drive people from their homelands, including the arms trade and climate change The UK should respond with a just aid budget and support for human rights

According to Catholic social teaching it is only in the context of these obligations that the UK has a right to protect its borders – but it should do so for the common good and not only because of national interest It calls for more safe routes and resettlement programmes than those currently available (mainly to people fleeing Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Hong Kong).

We might also add that our global economic system is exacerbating the inequality which drives much migration. It would have been helpful if the document had called out the UK’s complicity in a system which seems to be incapable of an option for the poor.

The document takes a stand against nationalism which prevents us seeing humanity as a single family. In places where there are concerns about migration it urges Christians to resist attempts to manipulate anxieties and exploit them for xenophobic purposes And it encourages us to start at home, making clear that the contribution which migrants and refugees make to our parishes and to our country is to be cherished

Love the Stranger would benefit from some case studies to illustrate the principles being put into practice But that is where we come in Join us on 17 May to find ways to take action in your own parish and diocese.

Meanwhile Caritas Social Action Network has issued a call to action equipping you to reflect, pray, speak up and volunteer They offer a template letter which you can adapt and send to your MP asking them to resist proposals in the ‘cruel and unworkable’ Illegal Migration Bill I

Instead the letter asks them to:

Protect rather than punish refugees by defending their fundamental right to seek asylum.

Stand up for the UN Refugee Convention and this country’s proud history as a founding signatory.

Ensure the government provides alternatives to dangerous journeys, including safe routes.

Insist on an effective asylum system which is just and compassionate, gives people a fair hearing and reduces the backlog in a fair manner.

Download Love the Stranger from the Bishops’ Conference at cbcew.org.uk/love-the-stranger

To write to your MP about the Illegal Migration Bill visit csan.org.uk/news/csan-statement-on-the-illegalmigration-bill/.

ADULT FORMATION FOR MISSION A JOYOUS LENTjoyous

It can be very easy to think of Lent as a joy-free zone, with our focus on repentance, fasting, and almsgiving we can be quite long faced! The Gospel of Ash Wednesday reminds us to be in fact joy-filled, that people will not know we are fasting When we stop and think about it Lent is all about helping us grow in holiness, to grow closer to Jesus and be more Christ like that is something to be very happy about!

This year we had a very joyful, busy Lent, it was a delight to have four big events to offer the diocese The first was the Rite of Election, our second since lockdown though this year without the Papal Nuncio in attendance It was wonderful to see people gather from all across the diocese to meet the bishop and be presented as someone who wants to be a disciple of Christ in His Church Each new member on the journey is a wonderful celebration, so it was fantastic to have nearly 70 candidates and catechumens join us, bringing their families, friends, catechists and clergy with them Each person had a story of how they were drawn to our Church, they each bring their own personalities, skills, charisms to enrichen the Church just as much as being part of the Church enrichens them This year the theme of our focus was Look to Christ encourage all those present, and those who joined us online, to make Christ the focus of our lives, of our hearts, to trust Him Bishop Patrick spoke about this in his homily encouraging simple ways to help them grow closer to Christ and to grow in confidence in answering His call to share Him with others We also did something different in that we invited representatives from Leicester Deanery to help plan and lead the liturgy It was wonderful to have this new support and creativity, we had three groups provide music: St Mary’s and St John Bosco Choir, Sacred Heart CVA Choir and the Leicester Jesus Youth Music Ministry

We also hosted three day retreats! The first was our first young adult Lent retreat day Our diocesan young adult ministry Christus Vivit has been going from strength to strength since its launch 18 months ago It was our most recently formed group in Derby that hosted the retreat at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mickleover We were delighted to have Jack Valero, one of the founders of Catholic Voices and an international speaker and retreat leader, guiding us through the day Jack spoke about how we are called to live out our faith through our work –whatever that may be The day was split into three parts – sanctifying your work, your work sanctifying you and sanctifying others through your work These talks helped all present to see that God calls us to live out our faith in every moment of our week not just on Sundays, and in every place, not just in church activities That our work is an act of sharing in God’s creative and redemptive work We are very grateful to the Diocesan Vocations Team and the University of Derby Catholic Chaplaincy who funded the day so that it was free for all to attend, and to the Derby Catenians Circle for providing the lunch

Our next retreat was our second ever men ’ s retreat This year it was held at the Rosmini Centre and was given by Fr Julian Green, a priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham 20 men from all over the diocese gathered together to reflect on how what it means to be me a man of scripture The greatest example of manhood is that of Christ and Fr Julian’s talks focused on this; looking at how Jesus approached the Passion, the emptying of Himself, the devotion to His disciples and the steadfastness of His commitment to His Father The day was constructed to bring us closer to Christ by prolonged times of silent prayer to draw deeper into Jesus present in the scriptures and Blessed Sacrament The day concluded with a very damp Stations Of The Cross that was very personal, at each station we were invited to speak to Jesus personally about what was on our heart This was a profound and humbling experience to share together We are always looking to expand our men ’ s ministry so please do get in touch if you have ideas

"Lent is all about helping us grow in holiness, to grow closer to Jesus and be more Christ like, hat is something to be very happy about!"

Jack Valero, speaking to Young Adult retreatants

Finally at the end of March, on the solemnity of the Annunciation, we gathered together for our biggest day retreat, this time for the women of the diocese This had nearly 70 attendees and was also held at the Rosmini Centre We were privileged to have Sr Anne Swailes OP, a member of the Stone Congregation Dominican Sisters, based in Cambridge Sr Anne is one of the Catholic Chaplains at the University of Cambridge and has much experience leading retreats for women She spoke on what the feasts we celebrate in honour of Our Lady reveal to us about her faith and how we can imitate it She explored how we too can find great joy when we are able to discern and welcome Jesus will for us The afternoon gave time to explore different prayer stations, receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, explore Lectio Divina or pray the rosary together It was great to see women from different places, backgrounds and generations come together to support one another and grow in faith

With these four amazing events you can see how we had such a joyful Lent Our Eastertide is a little quieter as we come to the end of our Catechist Formation courses but look forward to a great celebration for families on the 24th June at Sacred Heart Parish in Leicester!

Joe Hopkins

Diocese of Nottingham

Annual Family Mass and Celebration

Following on from last year ' s World Meeting of Families the Diocese of Nottingham is once again organising a Mass and celebration for families across the diocese. This year we are delighted that our host parish will be Sacred Heart Leicester.

Bishop Patrick McKinney will celebrate Mass at 3.00PM in Sacred Heart Church for families in the Diocese of Nottingham The Mass will be followed by the opportunity to socialise with a BBQ, live music, family games and activities, and an ice cream van in the grounds of the parish and Sacred Heart School next door.

To help with catering numbers for the BBQ please book a free ticket at dioceseofnottingham.uk/events/diocesan-families-day

Who owns your food?

FOOD SECURITY IS NOT ONLY A THREAT IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH.

Paul Bodenham of Caritas Diocese of Nottingham explores how Catholic Social Teaching can help us tackle it here in the Diocese of Nottingham

Our friends at CAFOD have launched a new campaign to ‘Fix the Food System’. It highlights the threat to farmers worldwide from the growing monopoly of a small number of seed corporations. Instead of being able to choose their own seeds, small farmers are increasingly being forced to purchase commercial seeds - or face the risk of prosecution under new laws promoted by global financial institutions and agribusiness corporations.

The solution to this injustice is ‘seed sovereignty’ – safeguarding the age-old rights of farmers and consumers to self-determination And food sovereignty is not just a challenge for people abroad Let me tell you why it matters here, even in Nottingham Diocese This is the first of a number of articles over the coming year, thanks to support from CAFOD, exploring the wider vulnerabilities of our food system, and how Catholic social teaching can help us respond

The loss of crop diversity is a worldwide concern and is already threatening food security even in the UK According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation the world food supply now has only a quarter of the genetic diversity it had in 1900

That puts everyone at greater risk of food shocks What is more, climate change is causing increasingly frequent extreme weather, as we found this winter when the supermarket shelves were empty of salads from the western Mediterranean And monocrops are more vulnerable to pests and diseases, just as Ireland witnessed in the potato famine nearly 200 years ago Such pathogens are predicted to grow more widespread as the climate warms

Furthermore repeatedly planting the same crops on the same land depletes soil nutrients, in turn making us ever more reliant on artificial fertilisers Meanwhile the phosphate supplies on which chemical fertilisers rely are based are diminishing; according to some estimates, we could hit ‘peak phosphorus’ in current lifetimes

When it comes to food security, it is fair to say we’re in a pickle However Catholic social teaching gives us some valuable tools to understand the need for crop diversity and food sovereignty, and take action

“Economies of scale, especially in the agricultural sector, end up forcing smallholders to abandon their traditional crops"

PopeFrancis,LaudatoSi

Obviously diversifying our global seedbank is one way of safeguarding God’s Creation, which Pope Francis’ ‘green encyclical’ Laudato Si establishes as a crucial principle of Catholic social teaching. Seed sovereignty also represents the ‘option for the poor’, another key principle: the more diverse our crops, the more resilient our food supply, and the less risk to the livelihoods of the poorest households Given that the current system is storing up problems for the future, crop diversity is also important for the common good – a third tenet of the Church’s social teaching – not only for those currently alive, but also for future generations

Laudato Si returns time and again to the way our food choices affect the environment, and vice-versa In it Pope Francis urges that “political activity be directed to modifying consumption, developing an economy of waste disposal and recycling, protecting certain species and planning a diversified agriculture and the rotation of crops” (180) It’s said the personal is political, so what might that look like in our own choices?

Crop diversity is one of the guiding principles of organic farming Of course it is theoretically possible for conventional chemically-enhanced agriculture to restore variety to our food supply, but that is not happening: agribusiness corporations and the profit motive for shareholders are biased towards standardisation As Pope Francis says, “Economies of scale, especially in the agricultural sector, end up forcing smallholders [and, we can add, bigger farmers too] to abandon their traditional crops”

(LS 129)

One movement which demonstrates Catholic social teaching in practice is called Community Supported Agriculture CSA schemes are like cooperatives in which consumers and farmers join to share the responsibilities, risks and rewards of farming, cutting out the ‘middlemen’

In Nottingham Diocese there are several such schemes Leicestershire has three: Community Harvest at Whetstone, CLOGs near Desford, and Stanford Hall near Lutterworth In Lincolnshire there are Ropsley Market Garden near Grantham Middle World Farms at Washingborough

There are other ways you can bring your food choices into closer conformity with Catholic social teaching and the Gospel values it represents Look out for rare cultivars in your local shops and add some variety to your cooking Farmer's markets often have a bigger selection

All of these schemes offer ways to reduce the miles your food has travelled from farm to fork With them you can help to restore food sovereignty here in the East Midlands, just as CAFOD is pressing for it to be restored worldwide

Find out more about CAFOD’s Fix the Food System campaign at cafod.org.uk

Find out more about Community Supported Agriculture at communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/find-a-csa

Thank You from CAFOD!

William Cruddace, CAFOD Community Participation Coordinator for Nottingham Diocese.

CAFOD is The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, and the official charity of The Bishops Conference for England and Wales. We work through the Caritas network to provide support to our brothers and sisters most in need around the world.

In May last year I began my role as the CAFOD worker for Nottingham Diocese, and in the time since, it has been such a blessing to witness the support our Diocese gives to our global family It has been particularly special to see how our parishes, schools and volunteers bring support for CAFOD to life: whether that be in sponsored walks, community lunches, repair cafes, or many other creative ways

Some highlights of CAFOD’ s work in the last 12 months have included offering shelter, food and counselling to those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine and delivering Eco-Village training in Bangladesh. We have provided blankets to those left with no homes after the Earthquake in Syria and Turkey, and given food vouchers to those affected by the drought in the Horn of Africa. We are thankful for the opportunity to do all this and so much more, because none of it would be possible without your generous support, and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you!

Over the last year, parishes in the Diocese of Nottingham have donated over £145,000 to support our work overseas, funding a variety of these life changing projects. Of this money £43,000 gave critical help in emergencies, allowing us to help fast. You have responded to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor worldwide with compassion and love, and we particularly appreciate your continued support given our own challenging financial times Thank you also to our volunteers, who make all this fundraising possible in their local Parishes, Schools, and our office - you are invaluable and the back bone of everything we do!

If you would like to learn more about our work or volunteering with CAFOD, please send me an email (nottingham@cafod.org.uk) or WhatsApp (077100 94455)

Many of the articles in this publication are also available to read individually at dioceseofnottingham.uk/news

We outline the must-haves for Summer 2023 and 'missionary discipleship' The Diocese of Nottingham has three pastoral themes which help us set a rhythm and pace to our year, directing the way we pray, worship and live. The current focus being Missionary Discipleship, so here's what's on offer in and out of the Diocese of Nottingham, and beyond!

Are you a young person considering how to grow in Missionary Discipleship and holiness?

Contact Nottingham Diocesan Catholic Youth Service to find out more about opportunities in Youth Ministry and formation, including Gap Years and retreats

Years 10-12! Look into applying to be part of theAscent, a three-year discipleship process for Catholic young people who want to embrace their faith in Jesus Christ at a whole new level and learn how to share it with others. At our heart, we seek to disciple the few for the sake of the many so that the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth

NET Ministries have bases in Scotland, Ireland, and across the world! The mission of NET is to encourage young people to love Jesus and embrace the life of the Church. Every year we send out a team of missionaries to witness their faith and share hope with young people.

Catholic Student Network is a great hub for Catholic Students in the UK, connecting, equipping and empowering students to be leaders in their local student communities

Aged 18-35? Diocesan Young Adults' groups meet regularly in Nottingham, Derby and Scunthorpe. See dioceseofnottingham.uk/events or contact adult.formation@dioceseofnottingham.uk for more information

dioceseofnottingham.uk/news

Events for all!

Retreats, Pilgrimages and more...

Pentecost

Sunday 28th May

Walsingham Pilgrimage

Saturday 17th June

Young Adults in Walsingham

16th - 18th June

Families' Day, Leicester

Saturday 24th June

Rodsley Pilgrimage

Sunday 25th June

Padley Pilgrimage

The Briars Open Day

Sunday 9th July

Lourdes Pilgrimage

15th - 20th July

Read, watch or listen to Bishop Patrick's astoral Letter for the Feast of Pentecost

ALIVE YOUNG CATHOLICS!

By Fr. Jonathan Cotton

In preparation for World Youth Day this year in Lisbon, Portugal, during the first week of August, the Pope urges young people to thirst for horizons in their lives rather than put up walls that turn us in on ourselves. The Pope urges young people to expand their horizons and look beyond because horizons help us grow. With this in mind, there was no better response to Pope Francis’ words than Joel’s Bar 2023, a retreat for young people with the theme of 'The Heart of the King', held at Worth Abbey during Easter Week in April.

I joined 150 young people from across the UK who took time out to enter into an environment of encouragement, friendship and faith. Participants were urged to delve into their own hearts so as to be open to the heart of our King, the risen Lord Jesus. To facilitate this, there were inspiring talks and workshops, adoration and worship both powerful and reflective, daily Mass and Reconciliation, personal prayer ministry and spiritual direction. We were welcomed by the Monks to join them for Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church, and the extensive grounds provided a beautiful, even though rain-sodden, environment. Sporting activities, team games, and karaoke added to the relaxation. Excellent food was provided three times a day.

Joel’s Bar was part of the Celebrate Family Conference held in Ilfracombe every Easter Week for over 20 years and is now continuing as a separate Conference with its own skilled and experienced young Catholic Leaders, some of whom happen to be from the Diocese of Nottingham! With the help of excellent speakers and workshop leaders, they provided an opportunity for the participants to encounter afresh the risen Jesus of Easter, to understand more and go deeper into Jesus’ open and aching heart for each one of us Out of this encounter, we cannot help but want to share with others what is awaiting them And so, says Pope Francis, like Mary, the Mother of Jesus, we arise and go in haste [Luke 1:39], with renewed minds and hearts, to fulfil our vocation in life and welcome others into the heart of our King, Jesus

Speakers Ashly Johny, a echocardiographer from Sheffield who loves to share details of Eucharistic Miracles and their links to Cardiology; Javier Campos, a member of the Cor et Lumen Christi Community who ministers in evangelisation, healing and supernatural prophecy; Lauren Windle, an author and powerful public speaker, now freed from addictions, with qualifications in Neuroscience & Addiction Studies; Paul Kidd, the Director of the Craig Lodge Mission House in Scotland, where young people are equipped to share the Gospel; Pippa Baker, a full-time missionary and part on One Hope Project; and Dr Johannes Hartl, founder of the House of Prayer in Augsburg, Germany, and a Catholic philosopher, theologian and author of many books on prayer and the spiritual life, including 'Simply Pray', 'God Untamed' and 'Heart Fire'

The week was so attractive that young people who had booked in for a day or two extended their stay for the week A-level revision and dissertations were put on one side for the week and many young people spoke of their inner spiritual lives renewed and an eagerness to get involved in church life and anxious to find opportunities

It seems to me that through events like Joel’s Bar and the experience of World Youth Day, with over 400,000 young people already booked, we have a secret army of alive Catholic young people, blessed with the fire of the Holy Spirit. 'theAscent', 'Youth2000' and 'Net Ministries Scotland' are further examples. I see a growing army longing to be accepted, listened to and allowed to exercise their leadership skills in ministry. A useful resource here is: www.catholicyouthwork.com. As well as the umbrella body: cymfed.org.uk. I pray that the small number of opportunities for our young people increases, filling all of us full of hope for the future.

Find out more about Joel's Bar: Instagram.com/joelsbar / joelsbar.co.uk / celebratetrust.org

Alex Shelton Bourke School Lay Chaplain from Clifton, Nottingham Alex also served on the Joel's Bar Team, heading up the Liturgy Team

Charles Archer School Lay Chaplain from Oakham Charles also served on the Joel's Bar Team as part of the Liturgy Team

Luke Potter School Lay Chaplain from Mansfield Luke also served on the Joel's Bar Team as part of the Communications Team

Will Cruddace

Diocesan CAFOD Engagement Officer from Ashbourne

More than thirteen young adults from the diocese of Nottingham attended Joel's Bar this year, including:

Joel's Bar was a wonderful opportunity to encounter the Holy Spirit and explore my faith like I never had before.

I found the speakers and prayer opportunities particularly special, and a refreshing reminder of Christ's love for me! W I

Derin Dominic Student, from Scunthorpe Derin also served on the Joel's Bar Team as part of the MC Team

Joe Martin School Lay Chaplain from Measham Joe also served on the Joel's Bar Team as part of the Communications Team

Naomi Roberts Diocesan Communications Officer from Ilkeston Naomi also served on the Joel's Bar Team as part of the Core Team

Meet the department Safeguarding

Both my positions, previously in the Anglican church and now the Catholic church were the first safeguarding jobs I saw advertised at the time of looking and the only ones I applied for, so a part of me feels that I am here for a reason.

Q: What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

The Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse, observed on the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter in England and Wales was this year followed by Safeguarding Sunday, on May 14th 2023, when as a diocese we took a moment to reflect on the importance of safeguarding. We were thrilled to be able to chat with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, based at Saint Hugh's House in Nottingham. The small team of three - Rachael, Jane, and Alan - work tirelessly, assisting and leading in all things 'Safeguarding' in the Diocese of Nottingham.

Q: What drew you to this work and how did you get into it?

Alan: I have worked most of my adult life as a Police Officer with Nottinghamshire Police I have always wanted to help people with problems, and as I went through my policing career, I was drawn to specialisms, like public protection and counter terrorism, that focussed on managing risk and trying to prevent people becoming a victim of crime or abuse I have also always had a strong sense of fairness and I don’t like to see people being taken advantage of

Rachael: I’ve always seemed to have been drawn to jobs where I have supported or helped others, initially starting out in the care sector where I remained for 6 years working with different people needing support due to a range of vulnerabilities, before joining the police The police role was varied with the latter 8 years working in public protection Once I left the police I was determined to work in a different sector, such as hospitality or entertainment, to experience the nicer sides to life I suppose, however I quickly found myself drawn to safeguarding roles. Safeguarding in a faith setting has been evolving in the last 10 years and is interesting to me, the support and a good work the church offers to communities, it is important we get it right particularly as it has been so harmful historically.

Alan: I am a season ticket holder at Nottingham Forest and have supported the team for over 40 years. I am also a single figure golfer and like to spoil a good walk as often as possible. Outside of that, I have a wife, 3 adult children, 4 dogs, 2 pigs and 2 horses to keep me busy.

Q: What or who inspires you?

Alan: My inspiration to do the things I do is underpinned be a desire to be able to positively influence someone else’s life, either through love, protection, loyalty or guidance

Q: Why is it important and special to mark Safeguarding Sunday as a diocese?

Rachael: Safeguarding Sunday gives us all the opportunity to reflect on the good work those involved in safeguarding in the church do It has been a challenging part of church life and culture but the more we can address safeguarding in the church community, promote safeguarding practice and communicate the message we will continue to move forward and evolve

Volunteers give up their time and commitment to ensuring the church is safe and encourage others to take responsibility and this is an opportunity to thank them. It also creates a time to reflect on the changes, promote safeguarding culture, and celebrate change Nationally, amongst all denominations, there has been a steer to widen Safeguarding Sunday’s agenda to move with the evolvement of its importance and requirements in the church, to encourage everyone to become involved Good safeguarding practice, to protecting each other is important; we know this, but safeguarding is also about trust, encouragement, the empowerment of others and creating healthy and welcoming churches.

Alan: If we love somebody, we want the best for them That involves the ability for that person to grow, trust and feel safe. It also means that we would also do all that we can to prevent that person from being harmed in any way or being prevented from growing to their fullest potential because of a damaging encounter or experience/s For me, safeguarding is the way we prevent people from being exposed to harm, and it allows people to grow.

As parents, we safeguard our children every day because we love them As people, we safeguard our friends and family because we love and care for them. Why wouldn’t we want to treat our church community in the same way?

Bishop Patrick McKinney

A Prayer for Healing & Reconciliation

Praise to you Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the source of all consolation and hope Be the refuge and guardian of all who suffer from abuse and violence.

Comfort them and send healing for their wounds of the body, soul and spirit Help us all and make us one with you in your love for justice as we deepen our respect for the dignity of every human life

Giver of peace, make us one in celebrating your praise, both now and forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen

“Jesus made the crowds welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.”

cf Matthew 4: 123

I would also like to express my gratitude to the parish Safeguarding Representatives for their hard work and commitment. Through them we are now embedding excellent Safeguarding practice across our parishes and chaplaincies to make our churches safe and welcoming.

I welcome this opportunity to thank our central Safeguarding team, Rachael, Alan and Jane, for all their good work.

A Letter for Safeguarding Sunday from Bishop Patrick

Today is Safeguarding Sunday, an opportunity to reflect a little on our ongoing journey as a diocese to build a safer environment for every person. You will recall that the Elliott review in 2020 recommended that the Catholic Church in England and Wales put in place a national Safeguarding body In July 2021 the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency was formed Its task is to ensure that all dioceses are regulated to meet the national standards in Safeguarding

As a diocese, we have worked well to develop clear structures and guidance for our Safeguarding practices so as to help ensure safe environments through the promotion of best practice. This has included, regular training in Safeguarding for the clergy, diocesan staff and parish volunteers; ensuring that everyone is safely recruited; that victims and survivors are carefully listened to and supported, and that we are always transparent and accountable in the way that allegations and concerns are managed effectively. I welcome this opportunity to thank our central Safeguarding team, Rachael Campion, Alan Booth and Jane Black, for all their good work. I would also like to express my gratitude to the parish Safeguarding Representatives for their hard work and commitment Through them we are now embedding excellent Safeguarding practice across our parishes and chaplaincies to make our churches safe and welcoming The diocesan website has all our Safeguarding information and the support that is offered to our parishes and chaplaincies.

Finally, thank you for all that you each do to help ensure that our churches are safe and welcoming I say this because we cannot simply delegate this duty to parish Safeguarding Representatives or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Keeping everyone safe is part and parcel of the DNA of every Christian; an essential characteristic of our identity as Christ’s followers, and so it must be reflected in the way we respect, protect, and treat each other with care Only if each one of us is engaged in this way of thinking and acting can we continue to embed a culture of safeguarding throughout our diocese

Your parish has someone who has generously volunteered** to help support the parish community in making your church a safe place to be, particularly for children, young people and vulnerable adults But building this safe culture in our parishes can’t just be left to them – it is the responsibility of all of us

Today, I urge everyone to give your parish rep your full support. Please join with them in fostering a deeper and more evident culture of safeguarding, care and protection for everyone in your parish We can all play our part in ensuring that every single individual feels respected, safe, and loved, just as Our Lord asked of us:

“as long as we love one another God will live in us and his love will be complete in us.” (John 4:12)

With prayer and good wishes, Rt Rev Patrick

McKinney Bishop of Nottingham

Timetable for the day:

11.00am

Arrivals at the Catholic Shrine

12.00pm

Pilgrimage Mass celebrated by Bishop Patrick in the Chapel of Reconciliation

Followed by picnics, visits to the Slipper Chapel, opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

3.00pm

Holy Mile Procession departs

Coach provided for those who cannot walk the Holy Mile Concluding with Benediction in the Abbey Grounds

5.00pm

Depart for home

Buses will be at the Village Coach Park

Walsingham: A Pilgrim's Journey

by Alexandra Shelton-Bourke

On Friday 10th June 2022, some young adults from Nottingham Diocese travelled down to Walsingham ahead of the Diocesan Pilgrimage on Saturday 11th June 2022! What a treat it was, with many faces; old and new!

We began the weekend with Mass followed by Evening Prayer at Dowry House chapel and then made our way to Elmham House for some dinner (fish and chips!) Once we were all filled to the brim with fish and chips, we then made our way back to Dowry House where one of the sisters, Sr Teresa, gave an inspirational talk on Our Lady of Walsingham and her own testimony! The young adults got to ask questions about Walsingham and vocations which was so fruitful! We then had an opportunity to spend time with Our Lord during adoration in the Dowry House Chapel: a well-needed evening with Jesus We finished our evening with night prayer with the Sisters in the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham and then off to the local pub we went; such fellowship and fun!

Saturday brought sunshine and laughter as we started off our day with a yummy cooked English breakfast: baked beans and bacon, sizzling sausages and toast! Next on our agenda was morning prayer in the Dowry House Chapel with the Sisters, with the sunshine seeping through the Chapel window This transitioned into Praise and Worship led by talented young adults: James Morris and Charles Archer. The entire Chapel erupted with praise for Jesus, along with an opportunity to receive reconciliation in the beautiful convent gardens

The young adults made their way to the Catholic shrine ready for the arrival of the pilgrims from Nottingham Diocese Coaches arrived ready for Holy Mass with Bishop Patrick at 12 noon in the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham which was full to the brim with both religious and lay people! Wow, what a sight! Two of the young adults said the bidding prayers during Mass: James Morris and Naomi Roberts. Such an inspiration to see.

Once Mass had ended, the young adults had a picnic lunch on the Catholic Shrine grounds The sun beaming down on us (sun cream was essential!) The young adults had an opportunity to talk with Bishop Patrick about the pilgrimage and what we got up to on the Friday before! They told Bishop Patrick about the time they had spent on Friday getting to know one another and spending time in each other’s company; how incredible it is to meet other young Catholics journeying towards God and holiness!

At 300pm, the young adults took part in the Marian Holy Mile Procession to the ruins of Walsingham Abbey alongside the pilgrims that joined them Saturday morning! Seeing everyone singing, dancing, and praying all together was so inspiring! Some of the young adult group walked the Holy Mile barefoot! The procession came to an end on the Walsingham Abbey grounds where all pilgrims said the Benediction in the sun!

All the young adults congregated and walked back to Elmham House to collect our bags and depart Those who didn’t have to rush back to Nottingham went with Cromer (the seaside) with Father Liam, after walking along the seafront, the young adults had fish and chips (wow, two days in a row!). This concluded the young adults' Walsingham retreat until next year!

JointheYoungAdults

When?

Friday 16th - Sunday 18th June

Cost?

£150 including full board and accommodation

Formoreinformationandto bookyourplaceplease clickhere or email adultformation@dioceseofnottinghamuk

“As a first-timer, it was an amazing experience to be surrounded by other followers of Christ and to come together to worship Our Lord, especially loved having adoration outside on the Abbey grounds.”

- Kieran Bottoms

“I really enjoyed it, a good pilgrimage to pray and grow in closeness to God with some lovely people.” - Cameron Macadam

From Ukraine, to Eastwood, to BBC One. The journey of a very special painting

When The Repair Shop began the new series on TV a few months ago, Maria Kirk, a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Eastwood, arrived at "the barn" with a painting in a very damaged state; as the story unfolded, the damage was explained

The Madonna and Child dates back to the 1890s and belonged to a Ukrainian Catholic priest, Father Joseph Bilinski, who was Maria's grandfather. The painting had been given to Fr Joseph by his father, who was also a priest, on the occasion of his ordination. It hung in Fr Joseph’s parish Church, located in a small village in western Ukraine. Fr Joseph, his wife Halyna, and their children (Stefania, Roman, and Irena, who was Maria’s mother), managed to survive the first world war and enforced famine. Fr Joseph died before the start of WWII, and as the war came closer the family decided to flee to Poland in order to escape the Russian army; before they left their home they took one special item with them.

Shop

They removed the canvas from its frame, rolled it up, and stitched it inside a winter coat Apart from a few photographs, this was the only item they took with them

The family were captured by the Nazis and taken to a labour camp in Poland where they were forced to wear blue patches on their clothing marked "Ost", short for "Oster arbeiten", meaning "East European Slave Labour" They were moved to various camps and eventually taken to Germany, where Halyna, Maria's grandmother, tragically died of exhaustion and starvation.

Image source: instagram @tanousfineartframes Tanous Fine Art Frames

Roman (Uncle), Irena (Mother), Stefania, (Aunt), Halyna (Grandmother)

As seen on BBC One's The Repair

Stefania and Irena managed to survive and keep the coat with the painting inside it They took turns wearing it and somehow the guards never suspected anything

When the war ended and the camps were liberated, Stefania decided to stay in Germany, and as she was the eldest she kept the painting Irena did not want to stay and decided to come to England Sadly they never met again, and Irena never saw the painting again

On reaching England Irena was sent to a transit camp in Nottinghamshire The camp became home for many displaced persons, especially Polish soldiers who had fought alongside the British army It was in the camp that she met Roman Wyrobek and they married and had one child, Maria Irena died in 1989 Eventually after the fall of communism and the Berlin Wall, Maria managed to trace her aunt Stefania in Germany, and visited her quite a few times The last time they met was just before Stefania died in 1994 but before she died she gave the painting to her and told her she was the custodian of it

"With the faith and bravery to hide it in a coat and carry it through a war"

Maria Kirk, parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Eastwood

After many years of being unsure what to do with the very damaged painting, Maria applied to The Repair Shop, a TV programme in which follows the story of special items in need of repair and restoration, and was accepted. Last year she took the painting to the barn to be repaired by Lucia Scalisi the art restorer, who explained that it had not just been rolled up but flattened and folded and that it was nothing short of a miracle that it had survived. The repair and restoration work left many viewers very emotional as they saw the picture returned to life and Maria's reaction. So many viewers said that the painting of the Madonna and Child just seemed to draw them in, it radiated such peace, hope and love.

The picture has now been framed by specialist framer in London, Derek Tanous and Maria is looking forward to being reunited with it for a while, but hopes eventually to return it to Ukraine, as she explained, very simply the painting needs to go home, she is only the custodian Because of the great interest in the painting and its story, so many people have asked if they may see the painting so it will be available for people to see, and the details will be on Our Lady of Good Counsel (Eastwood) parish website

With thanks and image credit to Maria Kirk, BBC and Tanous Fine Art Frames

MY MOTHER DIDN'T WANT TO PUT IT [THE 'OST' PATCH] ON THE COAT, BUT MY GRANDMOTHER SAID TO HER: "PUT IT ON, IT'S NOT WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR COAT THAT MATTERS... it's

what's on the inside that keeps us together"

"I'd love, one day, to take it back to Ukraine"

Maria, visiting her grandfather's church with her late husband

Father Joseph, with Maria's grandmother, uncle and aunt

Fr Joseph Bilinski, to whom the painting was gifted on the occasion of his ordination

Celebrating the Coronation at Our Cathedral

, hundreds of people gathered at t in honour of His Majesty King evening brought together civic, ss the city, county and diocesethe County Sir John Peace This arolean reign, drew many people to enjoy vibrant community, all nt Barnabas and with a dollop of ure!

‘Eternal Source of Light Divine’ edral Choir performing Handel’s ble ‘Zadok the Priest’- beautifully Massed choirs, including our own te and children from St Teresa’s using, light-hearted and patriotic L’Estrange

weekend, the rain miraculously pp , g g ests to enjoy a glass of fizz in the beautiful cathedral gardens It also gave an opportunity for those present to learn more about the important work of Emmanuel House and the Friends of Nottingham Cathedral

The second half began with Stanford’s Coronation Gloria in Bb, before the audience was invited to join in with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Old Hundredth Psalm The combined children’s choirs then wowed the audience with two songs in French before a sweet rendition of ‘Charlie is My Darling’ in honour of the new King The Cathedral’s new International Choir made its debut, dressed in Ghanaian fabrics, singing a hymn of praise entitled ‘Odomankoma’ Parry’s ‘Jerusalem’, complete with lively audience participation and ‘The Mountains Shall Bring Peace’ by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange then brought the formal part of the concert towards its close

Mindful that the Coronation is an act of prayerful dedication before God, the evening concluded with prayers for His Majesty the King, the Queen Consort, the Royal Family and the Nation, led by Bishop Patrick McKinney Those gathered then sang the National Anthem, followed by Auld Lang Syne, which spoke both to new beginnings and the importance of friendship, as this new chapter in our nation’s history begins

The evening was enjoyed by all, with many commenting it was a wonderful way to kickstart the Coronation Weekend!

Christ the King celebrates HM King Charles III!

From face painting to Pierogi, Christ the King Parish in Alfreton hosted a Saturday fit for a King!

Beginning with Holy Mass, Fr Paul Nellikulam Pius (find out more about Fr Paul here) welcomed the large congregation, who were understandably keen and in a state of excited anticipation, to a day ahead, full of face painting, raffles, tea and coffee and live music!

Followed by a coronation celebration party at the Parish Hall The event was organized by Parish Priest Fr Paul Nellikulam Pius, Rob Farrell, Manu John and Ewa Wasielewska, and was attended by around 200 parishioners The attendees enjoyed a gig by Mr Haword, and the food was donated by both parishioners and the Polish community.

Across the diocese, parishes and communities set up their parish halls with beautiful displays, ready for royal celebrations...

Odomankoma and more!

The International Choir, was recently founded thanks to a prompt from Bishop Patrick to find ways of making our music more representative of our diverse congregation here at the Cathedral. This enthusiastic group of singers first met in March and have been growing in size and confidence since then. They regularly sing at the Sunday evening Mass but have been preparing specially for this concert under Emmanuel’s direction.

The international choir also performed Odomankoma by Newlove Kojo Annan (b 1973) at the Coronation Concert on Friday 5th May Newlove Kojo Annan was born in Ghana and is active as a minister of religion in the United States 'Odomankoma' is a lively hymn of praise, which was conducted beautifully by Emmanuel Anyanwu!

If you would like find out more, or wish to join the International Choir, please contact Greg at gregory treloar@dioceseofnottingham uk

500th Circle Meeting

Lincoln Catenian Circle recently celebrated their 500th Meeting with Mass at Lincoln Cathedral, celebrated by Bishop Patrick, followed with dinner at The Lincoln Hotel The Dinner, opened by the Mayor of Lincoln, was a perfect continuation of the connections and unity sensed in Mass, with members, family and friends present to mark the special moment in history Bishop Patrick, with Father Simon and Deacon Warren Peachy (as seen below) were delighted to be there for the occasion

The 500th Circle Meeting itself was held at 6pm in the historic Chapter House, with Mass then celebrated in St Hugh's Choir, also attended by Her Worship the Mayor of Lincoln and Civic Party, with beautiful music provided by the Deanery Choir

Polish Guides in Britain Gathering en masse, for Mass!

Over the early May bank holiday weekend, Polish Guides in Great Britain came together for the first national gathering in over 4 years You may remember that the Scouts and Guides assisted beautifully in the visit of the Relics of Saint Bernadette back in October 2022.

Their leader (Hufcowa), Kasia Migda, who accomanied ther troop to the Cathedral in the Autumn, invited us along to join them for Mass, as part of their programme of activities based at Walesby Forest Campsite, near Newark

Father Simon Gillespie, a scout himself, celebrated Mass with the 300+ strong congregation of guides (plus a few Scouts!), preaching on the life of Saint Catherine of Sienna, whose feast it was that Saturday, sharing that she was a powerful young woman, with many trials and tribulation, but whom ultimately made it her mission to make the world a holier place

The weekend was joined by both the national and international commissioner (Martyna Kowacka) who travelled from Canada for the occasion!

Renae, a parishioner from St Philip Neri, Mansfield, had baked and decorated some wonderfully creative 'campfire cakes' in celebration of the weekend, complete with to-scale toasted marshmallows!

What is Polish Scouting?

ZHP mission is to educate young people, that is to support them in their full development and character formation by posing challenges.

The Polish Scouting Association UK Region is a social and educational scouting organisation for children, teenagers and adults of Polish heritage It incorporates Rainbows and Beavers (ages 4 to 7), Brownies and Cubs (ages 7 to 11), Scouts and Guides (ages 11 to 15), Explorers and Rangers (15 +), and leaders and instructors (adults). We have a varied programme and great adventures and experiences await everyone.

When Baden Powell’s idea of scouting first reached Polish youth in 1909, Poland wasn’t even on the map having been under Russian, Prussian and Austrian occupation for over 100 years When Poland was reborn as a nation in 1918 after World War I, scouts and guides formed Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (ZHP) - the Polish Scouting Association

Our history outside Poland continued when the Chief Scout Dr Michał Grażynski managed to reach Paris after Poland was invaded and occupied by the Germans and Soviets in 1939. With other pre-war leaders, he continued the work of the organisation wherever there were leaders to offer Polish children the scouting tradition

After the war, as the Communist system was established in Poland, thousands of Poles in the West opted to renounce their homeland rather than support the Communist regime Scouting and guiding units were first established in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow in 1943 and more units were formed in Polish resettlement camps, then in towns and cities around the UK as Polish people found work and settled here For many of the young people, who had been through deportations and atrocious conditions, often losing their families, Polish Scouting became like a substitute family helping them to find their feet in foreign lands Our organisation continued the work of ZHP, maintaining its independence but working abroad and was formally re-constituted in 1946 It has a presence in Australia, Argentina, Canada, France, Ireland, the USA and the UK

Meanwhile in Poland, the communist government created a youth organisation with communist ideals under the auspices of ZHP It was therefore expelled from the world scout organisations WAGGGS and WOSM, only to be re-accepted when it returned to the scouting promise after Poland regained its independence in 1989 Other independent scouting organisations were established in Poland at the same time and continue to thrive but are not allied within a federation

Through the dedicated, hard work of hundreds of volunteer scout and guide leaders, generations of brownies, cubs, guides and scouts have benefited from our scouting programmes which continue to help young people to develop their personal skills and reach their full potential in society.

It is part of the independent organisation ZHP abroad, which is a continuation of the pre-war ZHP and is known in English as the Polish Scouting Association (International)

Good Shepherd Sunday: where coincidences coincidentally aligned.

By Gerry Molumby

The Fourth Sunday of Easter (30th April 2023) is traditionally celebrated as Good Shepherd or Vocations Sunday. This is because in the Gospel of the day (from St. John’s Gospel) Jesus speaks of himself as the Shepherd who is prepared to lay down his life for his sheep Two shepherds who laid down their lives for their faith, namely St John Houghton and St Robert Lawrence are remembered yearly at their priory ruin site near Eastwood, Nottinghamshire The two monks from the Beauvale Priory became martyrs by being cruelly killed at Tyburn, London in 1535; for not accepting Henry V111 over the Pope as head of the Church and were canonised in 1970 Beauvale Priory (beautiful valley) was founded in 1343 by Sir Nicholas de Cantilupe The monks at Beauvale were Carthusians, enclosed religious order of the Catholic Church The community survived peacefully living a life of worship and work for nearly two centuries until the disruption of the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries

Staying with the theme of ‘good shepherd’ our shepherd, Bishop Patrick led the annual memorial Mass, and homily preached by Rev Deacon Anthony Sullivan

The coincidentally is complete as Good Shepherd Sunday coincided as being the birthday of our own Good Shepherd, Bishop Patrick, who is pictured in this pastural scene with sheep and lambs surrounding the ruins of the priory

Clergy Conference 2023

Joe Hopkins meets with Fr Martin and the parishioners in Glossop to discuss parish meetings looking at "becoming a missionary parish"

"becoming a missionary parish"

Pro-Life Matters

Catholics believe that all life is God-given, and must be protected from harm This is why the church encourages us to oppose anything which undermines the value of life, such as abortion or euthanasia, and instead to see all life as having value, whether unborn, old or disabled

There are many groups working in our diocese to promote this ‘pro-life’ view. Here are news items from some of them.

Nottingham Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC)

"Abortion kills babies – and it hurts women too" That was the message of SPUC’s annual pro-life chain held on Trent Bridge, Nottingham in April, marking the date when the 1967 Abortion Act was implemented The witness is in the form of a ’chain’ of supporters, who hold placards with pro-life slogans so that the passing motorists can read them This year’s event was well supported, with nearly 50 pro-lifers turning out – including this young mum and her daughter

There are several SPUC groups around our diocese (Melton, Oakham, Lincoln, Market Harborough, and Nottingham) SPUC’s aim is to make abortion unthinkable and unnecessary If you would like to know more about the work of SPUC, go to spuc org uk, or contact John on spucnottingham@gmail com

Ending Abortion Through Prayer : 40 DAYS FOR LIFE

During Lent, pro-lifers from many parishes in Nottingham, Derby and beyond took part in a prayer vigil outside the main abortion clinic in Nottinghamshire, which is in Stapleford

Each day, for 40 consecutive days, members of the campaign stood in prayer opposite the clinic for 12 hours each day – from 6am until 6pm They were praying for an end to abortion They were also offering practical help to women who might be in need, to enable them to keep their unborn child; and support for women who have had an abortion, and are in need of healing Vigils like this one get an unfair press. Abortion advocates claim that vigil members obstruct access to the abortion clinic, shout abuse, and attempt to shame women. This simply isn’t the case. Instead, vigils are always peaceful, prayerful, and compassionate. To find out more about this rapidly growing global movement, go to 40daysforlife.com.

If you would like to help the centre in any way – by making a donation of good quality used baby clothes – please ring Carol To make a financial donation, the details of our bank account are as follows: St Colette's PSC, Natwest Beeston, 51-70-06 83740716 On behalf of women in difficult circumstances, and their babies, thank you for your support

St Colette’s Pregnancy Support Centre

SUPPORTING WOMEN IN UNEXPECTED PREGNANCIES

Based in St Paul’s, Lenton, Nottingham the centre offers support for women across the Diocese of Nottingham, which covers most of the East Midlands.

Help available includes:

pregnancy testing kits

baby supplies

nappies

toiletries

clothes

cots

pushchairs

baby baths

help with finances

emotional support

The centre also offers help to new or single mums who may be struggling financially.

If you know someone who is unexpectedly pregnant and in need of support, please contact:

Carol, the centre coordinator

07547 795315 or scpscuk@gmail.com

The

As World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon gets closer, we ' re thrilled to introduce and follow the stories of our twenty six pilgrims!

Introducing our pilgrims...

Lisa, Daisy, Hazel, Sophiya, Amy, David, Hugh, Will, Joel and Daniel from Derby Deanery

Nicosia and Christopher from Leicester Deanery

Josepha from Loughborough Deanery

Andreia from North Lincolnshire Deanery

Kyla, Alex and Chidiogo from Nottingham Deanery

Jean from Sherwood Deanery

Daniel and Luke from South Lincolnshire Deanery

Accompanied by... Father Neil Peoples, Father Liam Carpenter, Father Lim Gamsi, Michael Furey (Seminarian), Sister Dorothy, and Bishop Patrick McKinney

pilgrimage has already begun!

The group gathered in Cathedral Hall on Saturday April 29th, for a morning of prayer and preparation

I have always loved the wild western areas of our islands where high hills and sheer cliffs meet the everchanging sea. I was born and bred in Devon and delighted in walking the 630 miles from Minehead to Poole harbour along the SW Coast Path Snowdonia and the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland have drawn me many times. Until 2023, however, I had only visited Ireland twice: once to Co Kerry for a walking holiday, and once to Dublin for Sr Briege McKenna’s Intercession for Priests. Last year, I ministered to Father Robert Rutledge at the end of his life and preached at his Requiem I was sorry I couldn’t get to Ballina, Co Mayo, for his burial. However, this spurred me to travel to the west of Ireland this May.

We avoided the fast A55 and drove to Holyhead along Telford’s A5, winding across rivers, past lakes, and through dramatic mountains A mercifully calm crossing, charging the EV, courtesy of Irish Ferries, landed us in Dublin for an overnight stay near the airport

FÁILTE

AN IRISH WELCOME

Next morning, we drove along surprisingly empty and fast roads for a pleasant lunchtime break with a cruise along the Shannon from Lough Ree to Athlone Then it was on to our first main destination, and our first pilgrimage to Knock

I fell in love with the shrine immediately. Here is the presence of Jesus and Mary, and the absence of queue and rush After so many miles, it was good to find time and space to pause and pray Visiting the gable wall of the apparition, Mass, Adoration, Reconciliation, Stations, and Rosary, gently filled the day We had wonderful board and lodging with a landlady who knew and loved the local devotion, and indeed many of the Marian and other shrines of Europe, though not yet Walsingham! She told us that one of the visionaries at Medjugorje had asked our Lady which was her preferred shrine

A arently Knock came out top use of its strong Eucha ent, with the Lamb enthrone altar Make of that what you wil k is very special, and we felt s moving on so soon

Next morning, we made the first of a number of visits across the River Moy to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina Here we prayed at Father Robert’s grave, and I concelebrated the morning Mass

We were invited to lunch with friends of Father Robert in Cloghans Fáilte, one of the only two Irish words I know, was on the doormat, and was the theme tune of our time in Co Mayo The local people were wonderfully generous with their time and hospitality After a delicious lunch we were shown the house where Father Robert was born and grew up, St Teresa’s, Rathduff, where he was baptised and made his first Holy Communion, the bungalow where he lived from 1988 when he retired until 2014 when he returned to Ashby, and Lough Conn where he fished, not always successfully, for brown trout.

short journey to Ballina, and our mmodation near Belleek Woods ample opportunity for a scenic in the woods from Pontoon where h Conn joins Lough Cullin

I concelebrated the Saturday evening Mass at St Teresa’s and met more of his neighbours and friends, who were fascinated to hear about his last years in Ashby.

"Here we prayed at Father Robert’s grave, and I concelebrated the morning Mass."

Prayer at Father Robert's grave

Apparition Chapel

We made a final visit to Cloghans to meet Mgr Sea eighties still Vicar General of the diocese of Killala Fat neighbour of Father Robert in his childhood and retir many memories to share He took us out to lunch at F Mill, founded by Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard in 1 training and livelihood for the local population

We had time to enjoy the beauties of the scenery to when much of the UK was watching scenes of a wet we strolled around a sunny Downpatrick Head and its enthralled by the cry of nesting seabirds From ther the fascinating neolithic field system at Céide

We could not leave Co Mayo without visiting Cro sunny, scenic drive brought us to the car park on views upwards and out to sea were stunning They g as we puffed up the unrelenting slope past the statu and on to the main ridge at just short of 1500 feet met by a lovely new view, the descent of wet cloud, a made it difficult to stand. Ten years ago, we’d have top, but discretion is the better part of valour, so w below the cloud and feasted our eyes on the island during the descent We visited a lovely park ac containing the National Famine Memorial, and then h Ballina

Belleek Woods provided plenty of opportunities for l walking, and a stroll through the woods along the M was very enjoyable

All too soon, it was time to head back to Dublin, the fe home The visit was over, but the happy and thankfu endure

Father Colin Patey

PS. The other Irish word I know is Sláinte.

St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina

Downpatrick Head

Croagh Patrick

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE 57th WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Speaking with the heart

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

After having reflected in past years on the verbs “to go and see” and “to listen” as conditions for good communication, with this Message for the LVII World Day of Social Communications, I would like to focus on “speaking with the heart” It is the heart that spurred us to go, to see and to listen, and it is the heart that moves us towards an open and welcoming way of communicating Once we have practised listening, which demands waiting and patience, as well as foregoing the assertion of our point of view in a prejudicial way, we can enter into the dynamic of dialogue and sharing, which is precisely that of communicating in a cordial way After listening to the other with a pure heart, we will also be able to speak following the truth in love (cf Eph 4:15) We should not be afraid of proclaiming the truth, even if it is at times uncomfortable, but of doing so without charity, without heart Because “the Christian’s programme” as Benedict XVI wrote “is ‘a heart which sees’” [1] A heart that reveals the truth of our being with its beat and that, for this reason, should be listened to This leads those who listen to attune themselves to the same wave length, to the point of being able to hear within their heart also the heartbeat of the other Then the miracle of encounter can take place, which makes us look at one another with compassion, welcoming our mutual frailties with respect rather than judging by hearsay and sowing discord and division

Jesus warns us that every tree is known by its fruit (cf Lk 6:44): “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (v 45) This is why, in order to communicate truth with charity, it is necessary to purify one’s heart Only by listening and speaking with a pure heart can we see beyond appearances and overcome the vague din which, also in the field of information, does not help us discern in the complicated world in which we live The call to speak with the heart radically challenges the times in which we are living, which are so inclined towards indifference and indignation, at times even on the basis of disinformation which falsifies and exploits the truth

Communicating cordially

Communicating in a cordial manner means that those who read or listen to us are led to welcome our participation in the joys, fears, hopes and suffering of the women and men of our time Those who speak in this way love the other because they care and protect their freedom without violating it We can see this style in the mysterious wayfarer who dialogues with the disciples headed to Emmaus, after the tragedy that took place at Golgotha The Risen Jesus speaks to them with the heart, accompanying the journey of their suffering with respect, proposing himself and not imposing himself, lovingly opening their minds to understand the profound meaning of what had happened Indeed, they can joyfully exclaim that their hearts burned within them as he spoke to them on the road and explained the Scriptures to them (cf Lk 24:32)

In a historical period marked by polarizations and contrasts to which unfortunately not even the ecclesial community is immune the commitment to communicating “with open heart and arms” does not pertain exclusively to those in the field of communications; it is everyone’s responsibility We are all called to seek and to speak the truth and to do so with charity. We Christians in particular are continually urged to keep our tongue from evil (cf Ps 34:13), because as Scripture teaches us, with the same tongue we can bless the Lord and curse men and women who were made in the likeness of God (cf Jas 3:9) No evil word should come from our mouths, but rather “only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear” (Eph 4:29)

Sometimes friendly conversations can open a breach even in the most hardened of hearts We also have evidence of this in literature I am thinking of that memorable page in Chapter XXI of The Betrothed in which Lucia speaks with the heart to the Innominato [the Unnamed] until he, disarmed and afflicted by a healthy inner crisis, gives in to the gentle strength of love We experience this in society, where kindness is not only a question of “etiquette” but a genuine antidote to cruelty, which unfortunately can poison hearts and make relationships toxic We need it in the field of media, so that communication does not foment acrimony that exasperates, creates rage and leads to clashes, but helps people peacefully reflect and interpret with a critical yet always respectful spirit, the reality in which they live

“The truth in love” (Eph 4:15)

One of the brightest and still fascinating examples of “speaking with the heart” is offered by Saint Francis de Sales, a Doctor of the Church, whom I wrote about in the Apostolic Letter, Totum Amoris Est, 400 years after his death In addition to this important anniversary, I would like to mention another anniversary that takes place in 2023: the centenary of his proclamation as patron of Catholic journalists by Pius XI with the Encyclical, Rerum Omnium Perturbationem A brilliant intellectual, fruitful writer and profound theologian, Francis de Sales was Bishop of Geneva at the beginning of the XVII century during difficult years marked by heated disputes with Calvinists His meek attitude, humanity and willingness to dialogue patiently with everyone, especially with those who disagreed with him, made him an extraordinary witness of God’s merciful love One could say about him: “A pleasant voice multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies” ( Sir 6:5) After all, one of his most famous statements, “heart speaks to heart”, inspired generations of faithful, among them Saint John Henry Newman, who chose it as his motto, Cor ad cor loquitur One of his convictions was, “In order to speak well, it is enough to love well” It shows that for him communication should never be reduced to something artificial, to a marketing strategy, as we might say nowadays, but is rather a reflection of the soul, the visible surface of a nucleus of love that is invisible to the eye For Saint Francis de Sales, precisely “in the heart and through the heart, there comes about a subtle, intense and unifying process in which we come to know God” [2] By “loving well”, Saint Francis succeeded in communicating with Martin, the deafmute, becoming his friend. This is why he is also known as the protector of people with impairments in communicating

It is from this “criterion of love” that, through his writings and witness of life, the saintly Bishop of Geneva reminds us that “we are what we communicate” This goes against the grain today, at a time when as we experience especially on social media communication is often exploited so that the world may see us as we would like to be and not as we are Saint Francis de Sales disseminated many copies of his writings among the Geneva community This “journalistic” intuition earned him a reputation that quickly went beyond the confines of his diocese and still endures to this day His writings, Saint Paul VI observed, provide for a “highly enjoyable, instructive and moving” reading [3] If we look today at the field of communications, are these not precisely the characteristics that an article, a report, a television or radio programme or a social media post should include? May people who work in communications feel inspired by this saint of tenderness, seeking and telling the truth with courage and freedom and rejecting the temptation to use sensational and combative expressions

It is from this “criterion of love” that, through his writings and witness of life, the saintly Bishop of Geneva reminds us that “we are what we communicate” This goes against the grain today, at a time when as we experience especially on social media communication is often exploited so that the world may see us as we would like to be and not as we are Saint Francis de Sales disseminated many copies of his writings among the Geneva community This “journalistic” intuition earned him a reputation that quickly went beyond the confines of his diocese and still endures to this day His writings, Saint Paul VI observed, provide for a “highly enjoyable, instructive and moving” reading [3] If we look today at the field of communications, are these not precisely the characteristics that an article, a report, a television or radio programme or a social media post should include? May people who work in communications feel inspired by this saint of tenderness, seeking and telling the truth with courage and freedom and rejecting the temptation to use sensational and combative expressions

Speaking with the heart in the synodal process

As I have emphasised, “In the Church, too, there is a great need to listen to and to hear one another It is the most precious and life-giving gift we can offer each other” [4] Listening without prejudice, attentively and openly, gives rise to speaking according to God’s style, nurtured by closeness, compassion and tenderness We have a pressing need in the Church for communication that kindles hearts, that is balm on wounds and that shines light on the journey of our brothers and sisters I dream of an ecclesial communication that knows how to let itself be guided by the Holy Spirit, gentle and at the same time, prophetic, that knows how to find new ways and means for the wonderful proclamation it is called to deliver in the third millennium A communication which puts the relationship with God and one’s neighbour, especially the neediest, at the centre and which knows how to light the fire of faith rather than preserve the ashes of a self-referential identity A form of communication founded on humility in listening and parrhesia in speaking, which never separates truth from charity

Communicating heart to heart: “In order to speak well, it is enough to love well”

Disarming souls by promoting a language of peace

“A soft tongue will break a bone”, says the book of Proverbs (25:15) Today more than ever, speaking with the heart is essential to foster a culture of peace in places where there is war; to open paths that allow for dialogue and reconciliation in places where hatred and enmity rage In the dramatic context of the global conflict we are experiencing, it is urgent to maintain a form of communication that is not hostile It is necessary to overcome the tendency to “discredit and insult opponents from the outset [rather] than to open a respectful dialogue” [5] We need communicators who are open to dialogue, engaged in promoting integral disarmament and committed to undoing the belligerent psychosis that nests in our hearts, as Saint John XXIII prophetically urged in the Encyclical Pacem In Terris: “True peace can only be built in mutual trust” (No 113) A trust which has no need of sheltered or closed communicators but bold and creative ones who are ready to take risks to find common ground on which to meet. As was the case sixty years ago, we are now also living in a dark hour in which humanity fears an escalation of war that must be stopped as soon as possible, also at the level of communication It is terrifying to hear how easily words calling for the destruction of people and territories are spoken Words, unfortunately, that often turn into warlike actions of heinous violence. This is why all belligerent rhetoric must be rejected, as well as every form of propaganda that manipulates the truth, disfiguring it for ideological ends Instead, what must be promoted is a form of communication that helps create the conditions to resolve controversies between peoples

As Christians, we know that the destiny of peace is decided by conversion of hearts, since the virus of war comes from within the human heart [6] From the heart come the right words to dispel the shadows of a closed and divided world and to build a civilization which is better than the one we have received Each of us is asked to engage in this effort, but it is one that especially appeals to the sense of responsibility of those working in the field of communications so that they may carry out their profession as a mission

May the Lord Jesus, the pure Word poured out from the heart of the Father, help us to make our communication clear, open and heartfelt.

May the Lord Jesus, the Word made flesh, help us listen to the beating of hearts, to rediscover ourselves as brothers and sisters, and to disarm the hostility that divides.

May the Lord Jesus, the Word of truth and love, help us speak the truth in charity, so that we may feel like protectors of one another

[1] Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est (25 December 2005) 31

[2] Apostolic Letter Totum Amoris Est (28 December 2022)

[3] Cf Apostolic Epistle Sabaudiae Gemma on the IV Centennial of the Birth of Saint Francis de Sales Doctor of the Church (29 January 1967)

[4] Message for the LVI World Day of Social Communications (24 January 2022)

[5] Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti (3 October 2020), 201

[6] Cf Message for the 56th World Day of Peace (1 January 2023)

The call to speak with the heart, radically challenges the times in which we are living, which are so inclined towards indifference and indignation, at times even on the basis of disinformation which falsifies and exploits the truth.

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