Nottingham Diocesan E-Magazine • February 2024

Restoring Pugin: Star of Wonder, Star of Light

PILGRIMAGE DATE ANNOUNCEMENTS!

2024: YEAR OF PRAYER

EXPLORE SEVEN TRADITIONAL FORMS OF PRAYER THIS LENT

BIG LENT

WALK 2024

Photograph: A Retreat at The Briars Youth Retreat Centre, Crich

February 2024 (Ash Wednesday) - Vol 9

An opening message from Bishop Patrick McKinney Bishop of Nottingham

As you will read, it has been the season for visiting cathedrals! In Norwich, we gathered first at the Catholic Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, made our way to visit the little Shrine of Julian of Norwich and then walked together to the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity.

Both Cathedrals are architecturally stunning, with excellent meeting and catering facilities. The three topics we discussed were: the planning and issues involved in the Coronation of King Charles III; reflections on the experience of participating in the October 2023 Synod of Bishops on Synodality by some of the participants, Catholics and Anglican; and Saint John Henry Newman as a possible Doctor of the Church. It was a very full and interesting 24 hours. This Joint Meeting of Anglican and Catholic Bishops takes place every two years, close to the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Closer to home, for only the second time Saint Barnabas Cathedral participated in Nottingham’s ‘Night Light’ which was held on the evenings of Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd February. It’s a free initiative with over 30 interactive light-based activities and performances around the city-centre. On the basis of the Cathedral’s popularity last year as a newcomer to this initiative, it moved this year from No 27 to No 8 in the programme of local events. Approximately 4,200 people of all ages visited the Cathedral, which was very beautifully lit by extra lighting over the two evenings, which included 400 who also participated in the family activities of lantern-making which, by arrangement, took place in the nearby Nottingham Playhouse Theatre. These numbers are double those of last year!

I mention this work of the Cathedral because I believe it’s an imaginative exercise in pre-evangelisation: of welcoming and inviting people to walk around the Cathedral, ask questions, if they wish, from the Cathedral ushers and guides, soak up something of the beauty and prayerful atmosphere of the Cathedral, listen to the choir and the recently formed children’s choir, and with an opportunity also to light a candle. The current work on ‘Unveiling Pugin’, that is going on in the three chapels behind the main altar, had explanatory boards to help people understand the nature of this restoration work. Feedback from visitors as they left the Cathedral suggested that the overwhelming majority of them had never visited the Cathedral before. People commented favourably on its beauty and ‘calm and distinctive atmosphere’, on the quality of the choirs, the welcome they had received, the helpfulness of the explanatory boards as they walked around, and on the fact that many had not realised that Augustus Welby Pugin, who was involved alongside Charles Barry in the redesigning and construction of the Houses of Parliament, was also the architect of our gothic-style Cathedral. The result is that so many more people now know where the Cathedral is, something of our faith and mission as Catholics, and that they are always welcome to call in, to be still awhile there, and to light of candle for their own or someone else’s intentions. Over 2,500 candles were lit and left on the sanctuary steps. All of this is a potential entry point into people’s lives! It’s gentle outreach. I would like to thank the ‘Friends of the Cathedral’ for all their generous work in again planning and sponsoring this event, and for the support of Canon Malachy, the Cathedral staff, and volunteers. It would be wonderful to hear about other similar initiatives around our diocese and to see some featured in this publication. Please contact our Diocesan Communications Office using communcations@dioceseofnottingham.uk if you have a similar story.

Year of Prayer initiative for Lent: Our Father In your parishes and chaplaincies, you might like to make use of the national Year of Prayer resource on exploring the prayer Jesus gave us, the ‘Our Father’. It is a five-week faith-sharing resource, which is best used in small groups but which could also be followed on an individual basis. Each parish will receive some copies, and if demand dictates, more will be circulated.

If you’d like to find out more about the Year of Prayer and make use of some diocesan resources, including our Podcast and Monthly Reflection Pages, please see www.diocesofnottingham.uk/yearofprayer.

My prayer is that, in the midst of the increasing demands of life, this Season of Lent may be a blessed time for each of you. To help with this, I would recommend that now, we each begin to make space in our schedules, to ensure that our own personal prayer and well-being is a priority. If there is nothing left in our own spiritual tanks, what will be have to offer our families, colleagues, fellow students, and those whose paths we cross!

With prayers for a blessed Lent,

+Patrick

Looking for an event, retreat or course? dioceseofnottingham.uk/events

dioceseofnottingham.uk/events/lourdes

PILGRIMS of hope

BY Father Simon Gillespie Diocesan Jubilee Co-Ordinator

FEBRUARY 2024 - PART III

Our Year of Prayer is in full swing now, preparing for the Jubilee Year 2025 by a renew focus on the ways in which we pray, and the power of recognising God at work in our lives and in our world. Prayer doesn’t always have to be formal and solemn, and takes different forms in our lives at different moments. When we chat with the people around us we do so in different ways, depending on what we’re communicating, how we’re feeling, whether we want an answer or are passing on some useful tit-bit. And so it is with our prayer life. Since prayer is essentially our conversation with God, we can have different types of prayer at different times in our day or week or life. Sometimes silence before the Blessed Sacrament is what we need just at that moment. At other times reading a passage of scripture from the Bible helps us to hear the Voice of the Lord. Daily praying the Rosary might give us a time of reflection in a familiar pattern of prayer, and the prayers we learn in childhood might be very comfortable words throughout our life. Whether in words, or in silence; whether with a bible in hand, or focusing on a piece of religious artwork, or using an app on a smart phone, we can find moments every day to pray in ways which help us to connect with God. Jesus’ disciples recognised that John the Baptist’s disciples had ways of praying, and so they asked Jesus: ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples’ (Luke 11:1). In response Jesus taught his disciples the prayer that we know as the Our Father, and instructed his disciples ‘you should pray like this’ (Matthew 6:9). The Our Father, or the Lord’s Prayer as we sometimes call it, is the only prayer which Jesus taught to his disciples, and the only prayer we regularly use which comes from Jesus’ own lips. It’s the prayer which is ‘common to all Christians’, and forms the basis for prayer in so many of our situations: we pray the Our Father during Mass, during Morning and Evening Prayer, during parish meetings, and the Rosary, and the Stations of the Cross, and teach it as one of the very first prayers to young children and to those wishing to become Catholics.

It’s probably the prayer that’s prayer more often than any other, in just about every time and place since Jesus first gave this to his disciples until now.

But there’s a danger wish such a commonly-used prayer: that we can become overly-familiar with it, and even recite it without really praying. In Lent, during this Year of prayer, we are being given a fresh opportunity to revisit the Our Father, and to study the words that Jesus gives us with fresh eyes and an open heart. A national study guide has been put together, in five sections, for parishes, communities, and individuals to use during Lent as a means of reflecting on the Our Father, and discovering new treasures in this most ancient, and more common, of prayers. Lent is a wonderful time for reinvigorating our Christian life, with the three traditional practices of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving. Every parish will have copies of the Our Father resources, and so if you want to form a group to meet in Lent; or prefer to contemplate on your own; or possibly gather an ecumenical crowd together, speak to your parish priest and ask him for the resource, or get in touch with me directly. Let us dare to say the Our Father afresh this Lent, and put into practice anew that invitation of Jesus, to ‘pray like this’.

The Our Father written in English, Aramaic, and Arabic

Around the Diocese Short stories and good news from across the Diocese of Nottingham

Do you have a story that could feature here? Get in touch! naomi.roberts@dioceseofnottingham.uk

An Evening to Remember - The Confirmation Mass at Saint Winefride's Shepshed Friday 3rd November 2023 was a profoundly significant and memorable day for our Catholic community here in Shepshed. On this feast day of Saint Winefride, our Patron Saint, we had the great joy to welcome to the Parish the Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham, for his very first visit to the Parish since 2018.

Bishop Patrick was the main celebrant at the 7pm Mass during which he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to eleven young parishioners. This long-awaited evening marked the culmination of a 2-months period of prayerful and spiritual preparation for the candidates, under the guidance of our catechists and Father Patrick Bassey, our Parish Priest. As they took this significant step in their spiritual journey, the candidates were also constantly kept in the daily prayers of our whole Parish community.

Bishop Patrick, Father Patrick and Deacon Keith processed into the Church as the congregation, led by the choir, sung the hymn ‘Holy Spirit we welcome you’ which was befitting for the occasion. The atmosphere inside the Church was charged with a palpable sense of joy and reverence. The pews were filled with families, friends and fellow parishioners who had gathered to support the candidates on this special day.

The candidates played significant roles during the Confirmation Mass; many of them serving on the altar, others leading us in the Mass readings and the bidding prayers and others bringing the gifts during the offertory procession. During his homily, Bishop Patrick reminded all present of the significance of the Sacrament of Confirmation and of the importance of supporting the eleven candidates with our prayers. Bishop Patrick also shared a prayer he prays daily “Holy Spirit walk with me this day and help me walk more closely with you.”

After a renewal of the baptism promises, the Bishop and the priests present implored the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the candidates. Finally each candidate was presented by their sponsor to Bishop Patrick who anointed them individually with the sacred Oil of Chrism as he said ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’. This was a truly moving moment in the ceremony, the outward sign of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of the candidates.

At the end of the ceremony, Bishop Patrick and Father Patrick expressed their congratulations to the newly confirmed, and their appreciation to all involved who contributed to making this a truly memorable day for our eleven young parishioners. This is truly an occasion which will be remembered for many years.

Retirements Having recently celebrated a ‘big’ birthday Canon Stephen Dye retired as parish priest of the parish of Saint Joseph, Oakham with Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Exton, and as Amicus Clero, with effect from 31st December.

We thank Canon Stephen very much for all his ministry in our diocese, and we keep him, and the parishioners of Rutland, in our prayers during this time.

Father Michael Kirkham, parish priest of the parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Belper with Saint Margaret Clitherow, Duffield, and Saint Joseph, Ripley, retired with effect from 11th February. Thank you, Father Michael for all that you have brought to the parishes in which you have served over a quarter of a century!

2024 Jubilarians Our Jubilarians in 2024 are: • Father Simon Giles IC, whose golden jubilee is celebrated on 1st May • Father Michael Tutcher, whose diamond jubilee is celebrated on 16th May • Father Slawomir Hermanowicz, whose silver jubilee is celebrated on 29th May • Father Michael Gallagher, whose diamond jubilee is celebrated on 21st June • Father John Joe Maloney, whose diamond jubilee is also celebrated on 21st June • Father Anthony Rattigan OP, whose silver jubilee is celebrated on 26th June • Father Gerry Murphy, whose golden jubilee is celebrated on 29th June • Father Peter Ingman, whose golden jubilee is celebrated on 6th July • Father Michael Kirkham, whose silver jubilee is celebrated on 17th July • Canon Michael Moore, whose golden jubilee is celebrated on 20th July • Father Raphael Imoni, whose silver jubilee is celebrated on 28th August • Father Anthony Pateman, whose diamond jubilee is celebrated on 25th October To each one of them we wish Ad multos annos! Vivant!

Farewell!

Appointments

On 17th November Father George Thomas left Mother of God parish, in Leicester, and was transferred by his Ordinary to a new pastoral appointment in Wolverhampton, within the Archdiocese of Birmingham. We take this opportunity to thank Father George most sincerely for his work in our diocese, both to his parishioners and to the Syro-Malabar faithful of the Saint Alphonsa Mission. May the Lord continue to bless Father George in his work.

Bishop Patrick welcomes Father Hans Puthiakulangara of the Syro-Malabar Church, to our diocese.

In early February Father Joseph Mugara, who was on sabbatical leave in the parish of Sacred Heart, Mere Road, completed his time in our diocese. Our gratitude and good wishes go with him.

With effect from 1st January Bishop Patrick appointed Canon Peter Vellacott as parish priest of the parish of Saint Joseph, Oakham with Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Exton, continuing as parish priest of Saint Mary and Saint Augustine, Stamford, and as Vicar Judicial in the diocese.

On 5th February we said Farewell to Father Marc Besana and Father Taz Lasola, both of whom will be returning to their home diocese of Capiz, Philippines, after their two years of working in our diocese. On behalf especially of the people of Mansfield, where Father Marc has been based, and the people of Derby, to whom Father Taz has been ministering, we take this opportunity to thank them most sincerely for the way in which they have settled into pastoral ministry, and brought the Good News of Jesus to their parishes and wider communities. We keep Fathers George, Joseph, Marc and Taz very much in our prayers as they return home.

Bishop Patrick appointed Father Hans as parish priest of the parish of Mother of God, New Parks, in Leicester, as well as Chaplain to the Syro-Malabar community in Leicester. Please keep Father Hans in your prayers as he settles into our diocese.

To submit an article contact Naomi Archer-Roberts in the Communications Department at naomi.roberts@dioceseofnottingham..uk

3 New Parishes in the Diocese of Nottingham!

7th January 2024

Parish of The Epiphany, Amber Valley taking the entire territory, and patrimony, and care of souls of the former parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Belper with Saint Margaret Clitherow, Duffield; and Saint Joseph, Ripley.

25th January 2024

Parish of Our Lady and the Beauvale Martyrs, Erewash Valley taking the entire territory, patrimony, and care of souls of the former parishes of Saint Thomas of Hereford, Ilkeston; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Eastwood; and St John the Evangelist, Stapleford. Canon Paul Newman has been appointed Parish Priest of this new parish, in succession to his previous appointments of Parish Priest of the three parishes extinctively unionised.

14th February 2024

Saint Charles Borromeo, National Forrest taking the entire territory, and patrimony, and care of souls of the former parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint John Boromeo, Ashby-de-laZouch; and Our Lady of Mercy and Saint Philip Neri, Melbourne, with Risen Lord, Castle Donington. Father Andrew Harding has been appointed Parish Priest of this new parish, in succession to his previous appointments of Parish Priest of the three parishes extinctively unionised.

FR LIMNYUY GAMSI • ORDAINED DECEMBER 2020

WHEN A PERSON IS

CONQUERED BY THE

FIRE OF HIS GAZE

NO SACRIFICE SEEMS TOO GREAT TO FOLLOW HIM

Diocese of Nottingham Vocations Vocations Director Assistant Director Fr Neil Peoples Fr Liam Carpenter For more information contact vocations@dioceseofnottingham.uk www.dioceseofnottingham.uk/vocations

EXPLORING SEVEN Traditional Forms of Prayer PRAYER IS AN ESSENTIAL PRACTICE OF THE FAITH, AND IS THE CORE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THROUGHOUT HISTORY, VARIOUS STYLES AND FORMS OF PRAYER HAVE EMERGED. THIS SHORT REFERENCE, NEITHER EXHAUSTIVE NOR COMPREHENSIVE, INTRODUCES SEVEN STYLES OF PRAYER, INTENDED TO AID ALL, TO DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, AND ENCOUNTER GOD, THROUGH NEW FORMS OF PRAYER.

1 2 3

Lectio Divina – Praying with Scripture.

The phrase ‘lectio divina’ means ‘divine reading’, the practice of listening to Scripture ‘with the ear of the heart’, to form us in the image of Christ.

The four movements within ‘lectio’ are Reading; Meditation; Prayer; Contemplation.

The Examen – Praying your Experiences.

Developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Examen helps us to identify, and pay closer attention to God’s presence, in everyday life, using five steps: Express Gratitude; Review the Day – were there any invitations to grow in Faith, Hope and Charity?; Name your Sorrows (actions and regrets); Seek Forgiveness; Ask for Grace for tomorrow.

Centering Prayer – Praying and Being with God. We make space for God, and invite God into it. This Prayer emerges from our natural desire to be with God, and enacts the Lord’s instruction to “Go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6), cultivating a disposition of interior silence.

Steps of centering Prayer: Choose a Sacred Word (that can draw you into Prayer); Sit Comfortably with eyes closed (a sign of letting go of the world around you, and making yourself available to God); Introduce you Sacred Word; Withdraw from Prayer (let your mind, spirit and body reacclimate to your surroundings); Trust in God and your Prayer. The fruits of centering Prayer rarely come in the moment of prayer itself, but instead manifest in other areas of life.

4

Walking Meditation – Praying with a Labyrinth.

Where we pray affects how we pray. Most of the time, we seek to pray in places of quiet and stillness.

A labyrinth, is a physical expression of the interior journey towards Christ.

Steps to praying with a Labyrinth: Name your Intention; Walk the Path (knowing that God is with you); Give Thanks; Reflect (on your thoughts and feelings).

“Meditation is above all a quest.

The mind seeks to understand the why, and how of the Christian life, in order to hear, and respond to what the Lord is asking” CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2705

5 6

Taize – Praying with Music.

A prayerful form of music, known for its simple, yet rich and meditative character, a simple melody that repeats over and over, a kind of musical centering prayer.

Taize (pronounced tay-zay) can help us to leave behind our many distractions, and concentrate on the Lord, moving our prayer from the head to the heart.

Fasting – Praying through Self-denial.

A voluntary abstinence from something good. Our motivation should always be love of God and love of neighbour.

Starting small helps build habit and momentum; Keep it simple; Use good Judgement; Keep it between you and God; Picking an intention, will give you particular motivation and strengthen your resolve; Don’t quit if you break the fast – God calls us to faithfulness in prayer, not perfection.

“Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, makes the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust and kindles the true light of chastity” ST. AUGUSTINE

7

Works of Mercy – Integrating Prayer and Action.

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY FEED THE HUNGRY GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY CLOTHE THE NAKED VISIT THE IMPRISONED

The works of Mercy are both the fruit and nourishment of the life of prayer. The works of mercy are loving acts of service and compassion, directed towards the spiritual and material needs of our neighbour.

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: you shall love your neighbour as yourself” MATTHEW 22:37-39

SHELTER THE HOMELESS VISIT THE SICK BURY THE DEAD

Pope Francis has reminded us, that the works of Mercy are not so much a particular rubric of actions, as they are a way of life, that cares for and shows mercy towards our brothers and sisters, in all aspects of their existence, and their need.

Once we learn to enact the works of Mercy in our daily activities, our service will become a deeper unfolding of an already merciful existence, rather than sporadic exercises in philanthropy.

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

An integrated life of prayer and mercy, should propel us into the world, and inflame our desire to enact God’s mercy.

ADMONISH THE SINNER INSTRUCT THE IGNORANT COUNSEL THE DOUBTFUL

Fuelled by prayer and a genuine love of God and neighbour, we will grow in our capacity to see the needs of the poor and marginalised, and find the courage to act on their behalf.

COMFORT THE SORROWFUL BEAR WRONGS PATIENTLY FORGIVE ALL INJURIES PRAY FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

[Adapted from an article by University of Notre Dame]

Lent Family Fast Day Lent begins early this year with Ash Wednesday falling on 14th February and CAFOD’s Family Fast day is on Friday 23rd February. Our focus story is on a young man called James Pyne, who is a fisherman in Liberia.

His father taught him how to fish at the age of 12.

James said, “I didn’t want to fish but my father told me that when you are a man, you can’t depend on one thing, you have to learn many things because you do not know where you will find yourself tomorrow.” He says, “Fishing means a lot to me.

Sending my children to school is because of fishing.

Everything that I do, that I live on is fishing. God first, then fishing is my life.”

In 2005, James rowed 200 kilometres from his home in River Cess to start a new life in New Kru Town. He spent five years establishing himself before his family came to join him but despite all his work, life was difficult.

He said, “Before I joined the CAFOD project I was using my traditional methods in my fishing activities. I was not going too far. If I went further, I would not be able to see the shore and I could lose my way back home. It wasn’t through choice that we were fishing around the shore side but based on the equipment that we used, it wouldn’t allow us to go to a far distance. So it was difficult but we had to do it because it was all that we could afford to do.”

“Sometimes I got no catch at all because I was not going far out. That was one of the reasons why I had to send my children home, out of school. Sometimes there would be no food for that day. I would tell them, bear with daddy, things will get better and we are going to hold on together.”

James was risking everything to put food on his family’s table. Five fishermen a month in James’ community were losing their lives at sea, people James called brothers.

CAFOD funded on-land and at-sea safety training for fishermen in James’ community and provided equipment to help them navigate and stay safe. He told us, “The CAFOD project introduced many things in our village. We were able to get life-jackets, we have a signal mirror and we were able to get the fish finder with the GPS. The CAFOD training made me more brave at sea and I’m not using the traditional methods like before.”

When he was in the paddle canoe, he could only go 6 or 7 nautical miles but with the GPS he can now go above 70 nautical miles and using the fish finder he is able to catch more fish because he can travel at sea any time he chooses, even at night.

James says, “I got more food. I feel good because I used to buy rice by the cup but now I can buy it in 25kg bags. And when I go fishing, I’ve got my fridge, I’ve got fresh fish.”

James used the money he made from catching more fish to buy a bigger boat with an engine. He now hires and trains young fishermen, passing on his knowledge to the next generation. “It is my prayer that I want the project to continue and the fishermen with the GPS will go further and bring more fish and the community will be developed.”

Your donations this Fast Day will help hardworking people like James to get the tools they need to feed their families. Please give what you can and remember to pray for our work. For whatever you are able to do, thank you!

An appeal for your help!

Since the pandemic, many of our dedicated volunteers in parishes around the diocese have stepped back from their activities. Those volunteers were our life-blood, they helped to share our work in our parish and school communities.

We recognise their value and appreciate their dedication and generosity and without them we simply cannot function.

We are looking for people to give some time and join us in our mission of building up the church and working to bring about a better world for everyone.

Could you help in your parish, inspiring our church to help build a better world or by visiting our local schools? Or raise a voice and campaign for justice or perhaps speak for CAFOD throughout the area? Could you support local volunteers or share your admin or people skills to help CAFOD keep costs low?

Training and support is provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information about how you can help or get in touch with me by email: nottingham@cafod.org.uk or phone/WhatsApp: 077100 94455 William Cruddace, CAFOD Community Participation Coordinator for Nottingham Diocese

Symphony of Prayer and Praise:

A Prayer for this Year of Prayer God of blessings, in this year ahead, give us a spirit of listening, of openness to your word and longing for your kingdom.

As we journey toward the Jubilee, a time of new beginnings, we pray for help and strength, to heal our relationships with each other and all creation.

Sing your song of love over us, renewing our faith and courage, so we may join our voices together, discovering new harmonies of hope, new melodies of reconciliation.

Attentive to the Spirit, and awake to the needs of the world, may we seek your life-giving presence, as we join as one global family, in a great symphony of prayer and praise.

Amen.

Linda Jones/CAFOD

The Big Lent Walk is now in its 2nd year, and CAFOD are excited to see the challenge grow. This year the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in England and Wales are partnering with SCIAF (Caritas Scotland), to bring The Big Lent Walk to the whole of Great Britain!

Walk when and where you choose over 40 days, alone or with friends, have fun or take time to pray and reflect. As a Lent commitment, it’s an inspiring way to actively commit to bringing our faith physically into every day of Lent, and support people as they overcome poverty.

Last year, many individuals from the Nottingham Diocese took part. Austin Bryan from Corpus Christi Parish, Clifton, Nottingham, shares his experience of taking part in The Big Lent Walk...

"When I first learned of the 2023 Big Lent Walk I thought 200km in Lent was beyond my capabilities. I had done little walking in the previous three years because of the pandemic and caring for my wife who had a terminal illness. After she died in August 2022 walking anywhere was the last thing on my mind. But the thought of taking up the Lent Challenge was itself just that – a challenge to get out and about in the fresh air at a time when nature gives us the gift of new life. I decided to do at least one long walk (at least, long for me) and a number of short walks each week. The walks stirred memories of walks done with my wife and were the foundation of a number of poems I wrote in her memory, which later developed into a book that was published recently.* “Most of the longer walks were done with wonderfully supportive friends and the distance melted away in the constant chat. One walk was undertaken with one of our parish schools, St Patrick’s. The shorter walks I did on my own. This gave me time and space for reflection.

“It was a win–win situation. By Easter I had passed the 200 km mark and raised far more in sponsorship for CAFOD than I’d ever expected. It also helped me through what was a very tough time for me and cemented my friendships with those I walked with.”

Walk when and where you choose over 40 days, alone or with friends, have fun or take time to pray and reflect. As a Lent commitment, it’s an inspiring way to actively commit to bringing our faith physically into every day of Lent, and support people as they overcome poverty.

Will you take on the challenge? If so, get in touch with Will at our local CAFOD office, who would love to join you for a walk!

Find out more and sign up online at: walk.cafod.org.uk William Cruddace and Austin Bryan CAFOD Nottingham CAFOD Volunteer Centre, Brooklyn Road, Bulwell, Nottingham, NG6 9ES Email: nottingham@cafod.org.uk Phone/WhatsApp:077100 94455

*“Don’t look back – you’re not going that way”, is a collection of 40 poems. Maggie Mairura of CAFOD planted the idea of producing the book. The price of the book is £7.00 plus postage. If you are interested in buying a copy, please email liberanos03@gmail.com and Include your name and address, referring to CAFOD. Any profit from orders received as a result of this will go to CAFOD.

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:

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

07547 795315 scpscuk@gmail.com

Ask for Carol, the centre coordinator 07547 795315 or scpscuk@gmail.com

N O T T I N G H A M

D I O C E S A N

C A T H O L I C

YOUTH SERVICE SPRING 2024

NDCYS.COM

As the Spring term gets underway, we are delighted to have served nearly 2000 young people through NDCYS this academic year. We are looking forward to serving many more in the months ahead, through welcoming young people on retreat at the Briars, to meeting them across the Diocese through outreach and through our greater involvement in the life and mission of the Diocese. Our work to develop and deepen our retreat offering continues and we are pleased to have debuted five brand new retreat programmes this academic year. Each programme is tailored to a different age group and their needs, but all programmes are aimed at helping young people have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, to grow as his disciples and to become more missionary, giving them the confidence to witness to their faith in their home, school and parish settings. We are also pleased to see our Easter Retreat ‘Search’ back up and running and to begin providing opportunities for young adults to serve the young people of our diocese. Here’s a roundup of our latest news and events:

1. To The Highest: New Retreat Programme for Year 10s.

Our work to revamp and develop our retreat programme offering continues apace. This last month, as we welcomed our first year 10 group of the academic year to the Briars, we had the opportunity to debut our new To The Highest retreat programme. Named after Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s motto – Verso L’Alto or To The Heights- it is an invitation for young people to step back from the pressure of GCSE years and expand their vision of God’s unique plan for their life and respond to his call to live every day in pursuit of his goodness. The activities focus on team building, exploring the importance of perseverance and striving for goals, sharing where they recognise God’s presence in their lives and looking at how they might become more missionary as they head back into their school environments.

As with all Briars’ retreats there was plenty of time for fun, games and fellowship and everything was rooted in prayer, adoration, times of worship and the Sacraments. As a team it was a privilege to lead this amazing group of year 10s and it was great to see their confidence grow and the ways in which they left inspired to continue to develop their faith and serve others.

To the Highest is our latest addition to our retreat programme, our fifth new programme this year. Here’s a recap of latest programme offering at the Briars: Agents of Love (Year 6), Defined (Year 7), To the Highest (Year 10), Gifted (Confirmation) and Cornerstone (Day Retreat). As we continue to work towards being able to offer a unique retreat for every school year (from year 6-13), our existing programmes can be adapted for other year groups and can be delivered in 3-5 day variants. If you are interested in learning more about these retreats or what we might be able to offer your school or youth group please contact us on: bookings@ndcys.com

2. Cornerstone: Our Outreach Programme Begins Again We were thrilled to be able to get back on the road last December for some school outreach at St Philip Howard School in Glossop. Here we got to work with 120 wonderful young people, who enjoyed Cornerstone, our new day retreat programme. Packed with activities and times for prayerful reflection, Cornerstone focuses on what it means to be the Body of Christ, the importance of community and of working together. This new programme is something that can be delivered or adapted for your school, year group or parish youth group setting. If you would like to learn more please get in touch booking@ndcys.com

3. Search for the Light: Easter Retreat 28th-31st March, at the Briars, £55 per young person* After a short break following the pandemic, we are thrilled to announce that Search for the Light Easter Retreat is back! It is an amazing opportunity to dive deeper into the Sacred Triduum- the high point of the Christian year- by remembering and celebrating the Last Supper, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday through prayer, liturgies, activities and community at the Briars.

This retreat is open to all young people in years 10-13 and you can come on your own or with friends, no parents or teachers needed. It promises to be an amazing weekend and 70 young people have already registered their interest in joining us. Celebrate an Easter weekend like no other and book your place now at www.ndcys.com/search *Additional financial support is available through our St Francis of Assisi Fund and lifts to the Briars will be available from our local train station: Ambergate.

4. Young Adult Service Opportunities at NDCYS One of our ambitions for the years ahead is to develop opportunities for young adults to become part of our Briars Community, engaging in ad-hoc or year-long opportunities. We hope that this will enable young adults to grow in faith, to develop skills and to put their gifts at the service of young people in our diocese. We have two fantastic opportunities on offer at the moment: ‘Search’ Core Team Member As we look to develop our annual Easter retreat, and others, we are looking for volunteers to be part of the core team that helps to shape and serve the weekend. Perhaps, you think you could help us welcome, lead worship, create moments of encounter, lead talks, capture and share the event through digital media/traditional communications, bring creative ideas to help shape the programme or even offer something which isn’t listed here but you think would be a good fit for this retreat at the Briars. Regardless of whether you have experience or need training, we would love to hear from you! Help us to create something special this Easter for our young people as we walk with Jesus through his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Interested? Email Erin at director@ndcys.com Briars Mission Team 23/25 If you are aged 18-25 and looking to serve young people on a much longer basis, then maybe a year on the Briars Team is for you. Our applications for team 24/25 are also now open! It’s a year where you join other young adults in living in community at the Briars and it enables you to grow deeper in your faith, learn about yourself and your gifts, be supported in putting these at the service of young people, develop youth ministry skills and joyfully serve the thousands of young people in our diocese who visit the Briars or through other opportunities such as outreach, pilgrimage, diocesan events and more. Find out more here: www.ndcys.com/team-gap-year or email Erin at director@ndcys.com

Saints Meadow is a range of affordable, accessible and attractive cabins situated in the grounds of the Briars. There are six en suite cabins with a kitchen/living area, perfectly placed for exploring all the Peak District has to offer.

There’s also the option to bring you four-legged friend with some of our cabins being pet-friendly.

The profit from every booking goes directly back into the NDCYS, supporting our work with young people and enabling us to grow our capacity to work with even more young people across our diocese.

So if you want to make a relaxing country escape in the Peak District in 2024 and support young people on their faith journey, then Saints Meadow is for you!

We are offering a special 5% discount for the first ten holidays booked in February, book directly by emailing bookings@ndcys.com

5. Supporting The Briars

Canon Elect Paul Newman was installed as an Honorary Canon on the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.

Submitted by Nottingham Cathedral

On Thursday 7th December, the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Fr Paul Newman was installed as an Honorary Canon of the Diocese. The Bishop presided over Sung Vespers, with a good number of the Chapter present and the Cathedral Choir Choir singing.

Amongst those gathered in the congregation were Canon Paul’s family, friends and parishioners from his current and former parishes, present to celebrate with him.

In his brief sermon, the Bishop commented on how it was fitting that Canon Paul should be installed as an Honorary Canon on the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception, as Our Lady Immaculate, along with St Hugh of Lincoln, is a co-patroness of the Diocese. He spoke of Our Lady as being a very powerful model of Christian discipleship, evidenced by the way in which she did not hesitate in her response at The Annunciation. He said, ‘Mary did not hesitate…she simply looked for clarification, how can this be?

She hadn't time to think everything through, what the consequences of her decision would be. She did what she could do in such circumstancesshe made an act of faith and trust in God and said yes to what He asked of her.’

Bishop Patrick also outlined the primary tasks of the Cathedral Chapter are to pray for the work and ministry of the Cathedral as the Mother Church of the Diocese, to assist in the liturgies of the Cathedral and to provide wise counsel to the Bishop on matters of governance of the Diocese. As such, he said, those nominated to the Cathedral Chapter have a wealth of rich pastoral experience and ministry. The Bishop thanked Canon Michael Moore, who stepped down from his role as an Honorary Canon in September, for the service he had given. He then sought the intercession of Our Blessed Lady Immaculately Conceived and St Hugh of Lincoln to pray for Canon Paul, the Cathedral Chapter, the Cathedral and for all the parishes, chaplaincies, schools, religious houses and organisations in the Diocese of Nottingham.

Following Canon Paul’s installation, those gathered enjoyed refreshments in the Cathedral Hall, courtesy of the Friends of Nottingham Cathedral.

See the photographs of the evening here.

Stars of Wonder, Stars of Night Two distinct schemes of stars have been discovered in the Unity Chapel as part of our Restoring Pugin Project.

As we celebrate the Epiphany and the arrival of the Magi bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn Jesus, we are reminded of the guiding Star of Bethlehem.

The symbolic motif of the star has long been associated with ecclesiastical architecture, a pictorial reference to the skies and heaven above which were recreated across the vaulted ceilings of Gothic chapels and cathedrals during the late medieval period. Returning to these traditions during the late 18th and 19th centuries, English architects led by A. W. N. Pugin looked to recreate the sumptuous decorative schemes seen within these earlier buildings.

Pugin used contrasting materials to introduce decorative elements to the exterior elevations of the buildings which he designed, returning to traditional craft techniques to adorn every interior surface with rich colour and pattern.

At St Barnabas’, many of the earliest decorative schemes have now been lost, either removed when new schemes were added, or covered over during successive phases of redecoration. Thanks to generous funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund however, work is now underway to research and record any remaining fragments of the earliest wall paintings within the chapels of the Cathedral’s east end and adjacent ambulatories.

A team of specialist conservators from Cliveden Conservation are first focusing on the elevations of the Unity Chapel, where the meticulous removal of modern paint layers is starting to reveal fragments of the treasures which lie beneath. An initial set of trials undertaken in 2023 allowed the team to develop the methodology and techniques required to carefully remove layers of paint, with each necessitating a different approach. Moving onto the next phase of the project, a more extensive schedule of trials is currently taking place and we look forward to sharing updates over the coming weeks as we discover the earliest phases of decoration.

And so, to the stars. We are excited to share the first pictures of the completed trial areas within the Unity Chapel, where two distinct schemes of decoration have been uncovered on the ceiling. The first featuring a pale blue hue decorated with a range of stencilled stars in differing sizes and shapes, and the second utilising a deeper blue ground with a repeating pattern of golden stars. In low light, the starry sky recreated here would have been spectacular, with each glittering star gilded in metal leaf.

Nicola Collins MA, MSc Project Manager, Decorative Arts Section Cliveden Conservation

4000+ Photos • 20+ Albums COUNTLESS MEMORIES flickr.com/photos/dioceseofnottingham/albums

The 2024 Year of Prayer with Caritas Diocese of Nottingham "I would very much like to encourage you to be people of hope. ...Why? Because our society and our world need, more than ever, people of hope.

If we are each to be people of hope, we each need to be people of prayer."

- Bishop Patrick Once a month, on a Monday or Tuesday between February and June, we will help each other reconnect our prayer, hope and action in society. And why 'Hope and Anchor'? Because this will be an online open house, a contemplative but convivial space - like no pub you've been to before.

Hope and Anchor is a place to which we can return from mission to: rediscover contemplation as the ground of our action be nourished by spiritual conversation for our work in the world test out a sense of call with people we can trust experiment with ways to support each other in mission find a 'mooring' even when the seas are rough.

We will learn ways to pray together with Scripture using 'lectio divina', and we'll have the type of spiritual conversation which was used at the recent Synod meeting in Rome - all with the aim or returning to the world as agents of change in our neighbourhoods and the wider world.

We'll meet for five sessions on Zoom each at 7.00 p.m. for an hour or so: Monday 12 February Monday 11 March Tuesday 16 April Tuesday 14 May Monday 10 June You don't need to come to every session - come when you can, and come as you are.

Register here (bit.ly/caritashopeandanchor) and we'll send you the Zoom link as a reminder before each session. Just log on when you can make it - we look forward to meeting you at Hope and Anchor.

Preparing a welcome for the stranger: curry and conversation at Lincoln Mosque Paul Bodenham reports on plans to reach out to asylum-seekers

Lincoln Central Mosque (credit: The Islamic Association of Lincoln)

On 31 January Lincoln Catholic parishioners shared curry with friends from the city’s Mosque and other Christian churches to plan a welcome for asylum seekers at nearby RAF Scampton. With help from the 80 who attended, foundations are now being laid for a compassionate response to the pastoral and practical needs of the city’s new neighbours.

The Home Office plans to house 2,000 men at RAF Scampton, just north of Lincoln, for up to 9 months while their asylum claims are processed.

It will be the biggest asylum accommodation centre ever anywhere in the UK. There are serious concerns about their welfare.

Residents at similar sites elsewhere in the country attest to ‘prison-like’ conditions which put already vulnerable people at risk of further trauma. The site will be largely self-contained with a checkpoint at the gate. Residents will in theory be free to come and go, but will receive a cash allowance of only £8.86 a week to spend.

The former airbase lies in an isolated location seven miles north of Lincoln off the A15, one of Lincolnshire’s most dangerous roads for pedestrians. The only immediate neighbours are families on an estate of former RAF housing, many of whom are anxious about how their own lives will be changed.

There are many different views on migration, but wide agreement locally that Scampton is ‘the wrong plan in the wrong place’. Nonetheless the Gospel calls us to uphold the human dignity of those who will now be housed there, whilst also seeking policy change to safeguard the dignity of every individual.

Catholic social teaching unpacks what that could look like in practice. The Bishops of England and Wales last year published an invaluable teaching document, Love the Stranger, which sheds a compassionate light in the migration debate. The publication encouraged Catholic Outreach Lincoln, the new social action group of the three city parishes, to convene the first open meeting in the city on the proposals back in August 2023.

Our diocesan Caritas department is now working with Lincolnshire YMCA and other faith and community leaders to convene a countywide alliance committed to supporting the asylumseekers – and that’s what the Mosque’s hospitality helped to nourish.

We want to create a culture of welcome, perhaps reviving an earlier ‘Lincoln City of Sanctuary’ initiative, and counter any attempts to stoke hatred, agitation and division. We are setting up an operation to collect and distribute essentials, such as clothing and toiletries; to help people learn English and access support from local services; to enjoy recreation and even volunteer their time and skills in the city. Those who are granted refugee status will then need move-on accommodation to avoid homelessness.

The heart of our offer from the Diocese is support for a chaplaincy service. Most of the asylum seekers are likely to be from majority-Muslim countries, but some will be Christians, even some fleeing persecution. With friends from other faiths we are developing pastoral care, religious worship for many traditions, befriending and counselling, and all the safeguarding they will require. The work of chaplaincy staff and volunteers could be crucial in monitoring living conditions and human rights, since religious representatives could be among the few ‘outsiders’ allowed in to the accommodation.

The task is immense and will call on the goodwill of folk across the county and beyond. Please get in touch at caritas@dioceseofnottingham.uk if you would like to help develop the Church’s response.

NOTTINGHAM Diocesan News