Catholic Pic July 2017

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Issue 154 July 2017

A Golden Celebration INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A floral tribute: memories and celebrations

Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving

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contents Issue 154 July 2017

Welcome This month we look back to the great weekend of celebrations for the Golden Jubilee of the Metropolitan Cathedral. They came in their thousands to share in the beauty of the Flower Festival, ‘Cathedral Life: A Floral Tribute’.

The Solemn Mass of Pentecost, a time of spiritual refreshment and celebration as Cardinal Vincent Nichols shared his memories of the Cathedral and the Two Cathedrals’ Ecumenical Service which recalled our shared journey on the road to unity. We look back at those celebrations but remember too that we live in a time of uncertainty, a time in need of prayer. Cardinal Vincent concluded his homily with these words: ‘In our thanksgiving and celebration in this Cathedral of Christ the King, we pray that God’s Holy Spirit, which transforms base material into divine substance, may fill us and work in our lives, transforming our humble humanity into a noble instrument of God's purpose in our world. In this we will be faithful to our great mission, so well symbolised in this cathedral, an icon of our endeavour and, more importantly, of our faith.’

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Cover: Display by the UCM in the Childrens’ Chapel of the Cathedral

From the Archbishop’s Desk The precarious political situation in our country and perhaps even in the world has been ascribed to the lack of leadership at this time. It is hard for us to see who are the strong leaders in the world. Without leaders we are like ‘sheep without a shepherd’ (Matt:9:36). Of course, others would say that strong leadership is not always the answer and the way forward lies in policies and ideas. That is an old debate about how our society develops.

In these uncertain times, Christians should not be afraid to bring their brand of leadership to the fore. Jesus was emphatic when he taught his disciples: The kings of the gentiles lord it over their subjects, but not so you. (cf Matt: 20:25). Leadership must always be based on service to each other and not on power and the accumulation of wealth. A Christian leader is one who reaches out to others and offers the hand of friendship, which seeks to help and support, and in so doing builds and discovers a true sense of community based on our common humanity. These two principles, subsidiarity and solidarity, are at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching. Now is not the time for Christians to step back from leadership in public life but rather it is the moment for us to share our wisdom with those who do not know the Lord or his teaching.

The victims of terrorism in Manchester and London, and those who died in and survived the horror of the Grenfell Tower fire are uppermost in my mind.

My prayer is that we will discover a sense of community out of these tragedies that will promise a better future based not on blame but on loving service of our neighbours.

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

4-15 Main Feature Celebrations for our Cathedral’s Golden Jubilee 16 News From around the Archdiocese 19 Nugent News Nugent’s Epsom Street Community Centre inspires us all 19 Cathedral Record A joyful and memorable celebration 21 Animate Youth Ministry A year of faith lived out at Animate 25 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC 28 Pic Life Right To Life walkers 'reach out in love' with Clitheroe trek 29 Join In Family Fun and More Mullarkey

Editor Peter Heneghan

Copy deadline August 2017 issue 10 July 2017

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Contents

30 Justice and Peace The Kingdom of God is here so let's get involved

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

Homily of Cardinal Vincent Nichols given at the Golden Jubilee of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool on the Solemnity of Pentecost, 4th June 2017 olden jubilees are a time for memories. And today is no exception as we celebrate this bold and magnificent Cathedral of Christ the King.

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This cathedral enjoys a one-hundred-andfifty-year history. Its first design was presented in 1853 by Edward Welby Pugin (1834-1875) and became Our Lady Immaculate Parish Church, in Everton.

Then came designs by Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) and by Adrian Gilbert Scott (1882-1963), the brother of the architect of the great Anglican cathedral, in Liverpool (Giles Gilbert Scott, 1880-1960).

Then we come to 1959, and the competition for ‘a cathedral in our time’ with 299 entries and the winning design

by Sir Frederick Gibberd. So today, we celebrate a history, which discloses much of the story of this city and its Catholic population, always wanting a cathedral landmark and proudly cherishing this cathedral, the largest place of Catholic worship in England and Wales.

But memories, if they are to warm the heart, have to be more personal. As I look around today so many memories come into my mind and heart: the presence here of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on 22 June 1977, and the chairs specially made for her visit, her first ever visit to a Catholic cathedral in this country; the gathering of the National Pastoral Congress in 1980; the visit of Pope St John Paul II, in 1982.

I remember too, so vividly, the atmosphere in this cathedral, filled to overflowing on the Sunday evening of 16 April 1989, as we waited for an hour, in total silence, for the arrival of Bishop David Sheppard so that we could begin our solemn prayer for all who had died at Hillsborough Football Stadium the previous day, that fateful Saturday. On that day, a bond was formed between the people of this city and this place in a story never forgotten.

In its short life, this cathedral has seen so many remarkable events.

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And not just events, but people too.

Archbishops and Bishops: the fiat of Archbishop Heenan, the joy of Bishop Augustine Harris who consecrated this cathedral, in the presence of Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret (14 May 1967), the dedicated service of Archbishop George Beck, followed by the most remarkable Archbishop Derek Worlock, keeping an eye on us from just over there. Then, of course, Archbishop Patrick Kelly, and Archbishop Malcolm who presides over this great church with such grace and perception.

Artists and musicians: John Piper, Patrick Reyntiens, Elizabeth Frink, Sean Rice, Sir James MacMillan, Roger McGough and the Duffy brothers, Terence and Philip.

There are others to recall: Sister Anthony and her transforming skills and workshop, the Cathedral Administrators who have

borne the burden of everyday effort, and their army of helpers. One other person, too. 1967 saw not only the opening of this cathedral but also the release of the record, Seargent Pepper.

One track comes to mind: 'I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind from wandering......' The repairing of the roof and stabilising of this cathedral was a remarkable achievement, fruit of the determined partnership between Archbishop Derek and Monsignor Michael McKenna. It was a great effort, which I hope, is never forgotten.

In the Golden Book of the cathedral, which records the names of all who have contributed to it and promises them prayers, my name can be found, back in the early fifties. We thought that one day the great cathedral might rise. I

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remember being told that, with a typical Liverpool pride, it would be just a few feet shorter than St Peter's Basilica, in Rome, a gesture to due deference, you understand!

I also recall as a boy, singing with great gusto the hymn 'Hail Redeemer King Divine', without a doubt my boyhood favourite. It was, of course, written for the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the great cathedral in 1930. Its verses still express today our faith in Christ, who alone stands at the centre of all this great history and endeavour.

For us, however, the word memory has a far deeper and more remarkable meaning.

Here, in this cathedral as in every Catholic church, we not only remember, but we make real again. Our ‘remembering’ of the person of Jesus, makes him present to us in his words and actions, in a real and vivid way. At the focal point of every church, seen so vividly as in this cathedral, lies the altar, the place at which the sacrifice of Christ in his death on the Cross is not only remembered but made again a living reality. Here we gather at the foot of that Cross. Here we receive again its fruits: the Father's mercy, our forgiveness.

This living memorial, this memory which makes present, comes about only through the power of the Holy Spirit, whose coming upon the Apostles we celebrate on this day of Pentecost. We heard of that coming and its transforming power in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles and in the Gospel. This power of God first brought order to creation and still sustains all living beings.

This power of God changed fearful fishermen into powerful witnesses to the

Gospel of Jesus. This power of God which, though his gift, we invoke, changes the bread and wine we place on this altar into the Body and Blood of Christ, our food and drink for the forgiveness of our sins, for the sustaining of our lives as his disciples and for our eternal life. It is this power of God, his Holy Spirit, which is so wonderfully portrayed in that burning, red, stained glass window, whose light floods this altar of sacrifice.

This same Spirit, as St Paul tells us, is poured into our hearts so that the different gifts we have been given may be used for a good purpose and in a manner which is not only harmonious but for the benefit of all. The refracting of this light of the Holy Spirit, into the corona of light and colour of the great lantern here above us, speaks eloquently of how the Holy Spirit is to flood out from here to this city and this County of Lancashire in a spirit of service offered always in the name of our Beloved Lord Jesus.

At the end of this Mass, as at every Mass, we will be sent out to fulfil the task given to us by the Lord. Today as you leave, glancing back towards this great cathedral, please remember that it is built on the site of the Liverpool Workhouse, which stood here from 1771 to 1928. In 1900, for example, over 4,000 poor people were housed on this site, in conditions which were very harsh, even if not quite punitive.

Remember, too, that Catholic priests were often refused entry and could not fulfil their ministry to the poorest of their people.

These foundations can serve to remind us that our first mission is to those who today are poor and forgotten, who are on the margins, the very ones who are indeed

the most beloved of Christ our King. In fulfilling this mission no obstacle, misunderstanding or hostility should ever deflect us from our purpose.

In our thanksgiving and celebration in this Cathedral of Christ the King, we pray that God’s Holy Spirit, which transforms base material into divine substance, may fill us and work in our lives, transforming our humble humanity into a noble instrument of God's purpose in our world. In this we will be faithful to our great mission, so well symbolised in this cathedral, an icon of our endeavour and, more importantly, of our faith.

Amen.

‘Today so many memories come into my mind and heart’

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

Jubilee Mass of Celebration Sunday 4 June, the Feast of Pentecost, marked the Jubilee of the Cathedral which was consecrated and opened at Pentecost 1967. 50 years ago an Opening Mass was celebrated attended by Church and Civic dignitaries from throughout the country; on the Golden Jubilee Archbishop Malcom McMahon was the celebrant at a Solemn Mass at 11.00 am at which Cardinal Vincent Nichols preached.

Among the concelebrants were Archbishop Paul Gallagher, a Liverpool priest who serves as Secretary for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State at the Holy See; Bishop Thomas Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool; Archbishop Emeritus of Liverpool, Patrick Kelly; Bishop Emeritus of Hallam and former Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, John Rawsthorne and Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, Vincent Malone, together with many of the priests who had served at the Cathedral.

The music of the Mass reflected the history of the Cathedral. Philip Duffy who

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held the post of Master of the Music from 1966 to 1996 composed a ‘Jubilee Mass’ for the celebrations and the Sanctus, memorial Acclamation and Great Amen were sung as was the fanfare which he wrote for the visit of Pope St John Paul II to the Cathedral at Pentecost 1982. The Cathedral Choir Association

commissioned a setting of ‘Te Deum’ by composer Colin Mawby for the fiftieth anniversary which was sung at the Offertory of the Mass, at which the gifts were carried forward by officers and representatives of the Knights of St Columba who care for the Columba Chapel in the Cathedral.

After Communion the mediaeval ‘Laudes Regiae’ with its Latin refrain ‘Christus vincit’ was chanted as it was at the consecration of the cathedral in 1967, and at many of the special celebrations since, including annually on the titular feast of Christ the King.

The Recessional Hymn was ‘Hail Redeemer, King divine!’ The Cathedral’s own hymn which was written by Patrick Brennan on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone for the original Lutyens Cathedral on 5 June 1933.

After Mass the congregation took the opportunity to meet Cardinal Vincent, Archbishop Malcolm and the other Bishops outside the Cathedral on a truly golden occasion.

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

Two Cathedrals Celebration Liverpool’s ecumenical tradition was reflected in a Two Cathedrals’ Service on Pentecost Sunday when Merseyside’s Church Leaders gathered together with the Choirs of Liverpool Cathedral and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Archbishop Malcolm Mc Mahon led the service and Cardinal Vincent Nichols was the preacher.

Archbishop Malcolm introduced the service saying, ‘let us enjoy this afternoon; let the Spirit of joy, the Spirit of love and the Spirit of peace come into our hearts so that we may go forward in a Spirit of oneness as we declare the reign of Christ to the world’.

Among the Church Leaders taking part were Rev Jacky Embrey, Moderator of the URC Mersey Synod; Rev Phil Jump, Northwest Baptist Union President; Rev Dr Sheryl Anderson, Chair of the

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Liverpool Methodist District; Rt Rev Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool, and Very Rev Dr Pete Wilcox in one of his last engagements as Dean of Liverpool Cathedral before his consecration as Bishop of Sheffield.

In his homily Cardinal Nichols said, ‘'Thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!'

This prayer has inspired so much Christian endeavour across the centuries and continues to do so.

Surely, it has sustained the long and costly effort of the construction of these two great cathedrals, built to the glory of God and as a sign and place of his realm and the peace it gives. At the Metropolitan Cathedral, we celebrate our 50th birthday. May this occasion and this prayer reinforce our commitment to each other and our deep desire to work side by side, in a profound unity of spirit.’

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

A celebration of Evening Prayer After a celebration of Evening Prayer on Saturday 3 June more than 300 people enjoyed a celebration dinner held in the Lutyens Crypt of the Cathedral.

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

Cathedral Life: A Floral Tribute Thousands flock to Golden Festival Thousands of people flocked to Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King to celebrate its Golden Jubilee from 2 to 5 June 2017. The festivities began with the opening ceremony of a spectacular Flower Festival: ‘Cathedral Life: A Floral Tribute’ on Friday morning, 2 June. Throughout the next four days people travelled from throughout the country to see displays by more than twenty parish groups and flower clubs.

The official opening was at 10.00 am on Friday 2 June with Archbishop Malcolm offering a prayer of blessing before Cathedral Dean, Canon Anthony O’Brien, welcomed the visitors and thanked his Executive Assistant, Claire Hanlon, for her months of hard work in organising the festival, and appropriately enough, presented her with a bouquet of flowers.

The ribbon was cut by Muriel Simpson, President of the North West Area of NAFAS, the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies.

From that moment on visitors streamed through the doors of the Cathedral to enjoy and be inspired by the magnificent displays.

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

1,200 sing at Good Shepherd Masses This year’s Good Shepherd Masses in the Metropolitan Cathedral and Leyland celebrated by Bishop Tom Williams involved over 1,200 children singing in the choir. A 1,000 strong choir led a packed Cathedral in song, with 200 children lifting the roof off St Mary’s church, Leyland. The 1,000 strong choir in the Cathedral was possibly the largest choir to lead a liturgy in the Cathedral during its first 50 years, and a worthy highpoint of the golden jubilee celebrations.

It was truly a diocesan celebration with Catholic schools from right across the archdiocese participating in both Masses: from Anderton, Euxton and Leyland in the North down to Wigan, Widnes and Warrington and the greater Liverpool area. The children worked hard in their schools to prepare the music before coming together to form a massed choir for the Masses.

Music sung at the Masses ranged from the Cathedral’s own hymn ‘Hail Redeemer!’ to Bernadette Farrell’s modern classic ‘Christ be our light’ to the 8th century chant Christus Vincit. To tie in with the theme of this year’s Mass, ‘Live out Love,’ a special new song was written Lisa Mhagrh, a pupil at the Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool, which the choir sang with great gusto.

Feedback from the children and teachers has been very positive, with children saying what a great thrill it was to sing in the Cathedral with the grand organ and the experience of learning and singing music in multiple languages.

The Cathedral Director of Music, Dr Christopher McElroy, laid down a challenge to all the children singing in the 1,000 strong choir at the Cathedral for them to come and visit the Cathedral in 2067, when the Cathedral will be celebrating its centenary, and to tell people about their wonderful experience at 2017 Golden Jubilee year Good Shepherd Mass.

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

Celebrating 50 years They were both ordained in the Metropolitan Cathedral fifty years ago and, like the Cathedral itself, Canon Christopher Cunningham and Father John Johnson are celebrating their Golden Jubilees. Archbishop Malcolm joined parishioners of Sacred Heart and St Alban, Warrington to celebrate with Canon Christopher and a few days later joined Father John with his parishioners from St Mary and St John, Wigan.

Noye’s Fludde comes to the Cathedral ‘Noye’s Fludde’, a one-act opera by Benjamin Britten will be performed as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Thursday 13 July.

It was first performed in the Cathedral in the Jubilee year of 2000 and is based on the 15th century Chester ‘mystery’ or ‘miracle’ play which recounts the Old Testament story of Noah’s Ark. The production will be presented by musicians from the Cathedral and schools from across the Archdiocese of Liverpool, under the baton of the Cathedral Director of Music, Dr Chris McElroy.

The large children’s chorus will represent the pairs of animals who march into and out of the ark, and proceedings are directed by the spoken voice of God, played on this occasion

by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP. Noye will be played by Stuart M O’Hara and local mezzo-soprano Stephanie Guidera will be the irascible Mrs Noye. A magnificent performance is in prospect including audience participation.

‘Noye’s Fludde’ will begin at 7.00 pm and tickets (£7.50) are available from the Cathedral Gift Shop or www.ticketsource.co.uk/lpoolmetmusic

Mass of Thanksgiving

Canon Christopher Cunningham and Father John Johnson with Archbishop Malcolm

Faith for Life Awards In June, Father Matthew Nunes, Episcopal Vicar for Formation, presented certificates to twelve participants in the ‘Faith for Life’ course which ran over four weekends from October to April at St Joseph’s parish centre in Wrightington.

Participants from Southport and Upholland were joined by their parish priests for the entire course and there were some participants form Orrell and Wrightington too.

Two new ‘Faith for Life’ courses will be running in the autumn in Southport and in Liverpool. If you would like further details please contact Jonathan Mercer Tel: 0151 522 1040 or email j.mercer@rcaol.co.uk 16

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A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at the Cathedral for Sr Brigid, retiring headteacher of Bellerive FCJ Catholic College on Thursday 20 July at 2pm.

Students past and present are invited to attend and help celebrate her many years of outstanding service to Bellerive.

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news diary Visit of Scripture Professor Ian Boxall

The Living Fully Charter in the Archdiocese of Liverpool

Dr Ian Boxall is Associate Professor of New Testament Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He recently visited the Archdiocese for two days as part of his two-week tour of the north of England.

‘The Way Jesus Looked at People’ was the title for a study day for clergy from Liverpool, Wrexham and Salford Dioceses and was attended by Archbishop McMahon and Bishop Peter Brignell. On the following day Ian led readers and those interested in working with scripture at local level in an exploration of the Gospel According to John. He is pictured with members of the Pastoral Formation team who organised the visit.

The Living Fully Day with Cristina Gangemi, Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Disability Advisor and Kairos Forum Director, will take place on Saturday 23 September at LACE. The day includes study, worship and workshops exploring how we can enable every child and adult with a disability to encounter Jesus in the life of the church today.

Fresh from the ‘Living Fully’ conference in Rome, Cristina will inspire us in Liverpool through a day of input and training before she heads back to Rome for an October conference called by Pope Francis. The Holy Father has called a conference ‘Disability: a necessary attention’ to be held by the Department of Catechesis and the New Evangelisation.

The Living Fully Charter is a document produced in Rome in 2016. Studying it in depth and discussing it is a focal point of the day in order to understand how to be a truly inclusive church. The statements in the Charter challenge the Church and individuals to understand what it means that we are created in the image of God, what it means that we are called to love all people, and what it means to be a Church where persons with disabilities are present in a true culture of belonging.

Cristina explains ‘In my work as a disability advisor and Christian theologian I have encountered many parishes where this gift of diversity is not always celebrated as much as it should be and where people, of many differing abilities, are disabled in their faith through lack of access and understanding.’ The work of the Kairos forum resources the church and helps people explore creative ways to ensure that people are empowered and not disabled in their churches. The Living Fully Day will enable people to communicate their hopes and visions for a truly inclusive Church.

The day includes support, resources and networking for specialists and nonspecialists alike: parish catechists, deacons, priests, school staff, volunteers, as well as specialist workers in the field.

Parents and grandparents are also welcome. A highlight of the day will be creative liturgy with the participation of L’Arche, Nugent, and the Faith and Light community. Archbishop Malcolm McMahon will be present on the day. For more information please contact formation@rcaol.co.uk or Tel: 0151 522 1040.

Llibre Vermell at St Albert’s A summer concert will be held at St Albert the Great, Stockbridge Village on Saturday 22 July at 7.00 pm.

Roberto Tardito, an Italian singer and musician will be coming to St Albert's as part of a Europe-wide tour. He will be singing (to the sound of acoustic instruments) a range of medieval devotional songs.

The manuscripts of these songs were discovered at the famous monastery of Montserrat in Spain, and the collection is known as Llibre Vermell.

Tickets, £10 each, are available from St Albert's Tel: 0151 228 7126, or email: stalberts@rcaolp.co.uk The Parish Centre will be open after the concert.

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Catholic Pictorial

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Cathedral Record The main Golden Jubilee weekend at the Cathedral was a joyful and memorable celebration of fifty years of Cathedral life.

The Pentecost morning Mass and the afternoon Ecumenical Service were, in their different ways fitting and glorious occasions of prayer and thanksgiving.

The Flower Festival created a wonderful and inspiring tribute to the sacramental and seasonal life of the church and was admired and enjoyed by the many thousands who visited the Cathedral.

Our celebrations continue in various ways throughout the rest of the year with another final Thanksgiving Mass on the Feast of Christ the King but I would like to thank all the participating flower arranging groups throughout the Diocese and beyond who put so much time, effort and skill into their displays and also to the catholic associations and individuals who sponsored many of the chapel arrangements.

Archbishop Malcolm will be presiding at the Annual Mass arranged by the Guild of Saint Stephen for altar servers throughout the Archdiocese.

This will be in the main Cathedral at

11.00 am on 1 July, it is both a thank you to them for their service and an opportunity to renew their ministry of service at the altar. On Thursday 13 July at 7.00 pm in the Cathedral there is a production of Benjamin Brittens’ Noyes Fludde – one of our series of Jubilee events – with children from more than 15 of our schools performing along with professional adult musicians from the Cathedral and elsewhere and with Archbishop Malcolm starring as the voice of God. (thankfully not a singing part). One not to miss.

In preparation for the Annual Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage the Departure Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral on Sunday 16 July at 5.00 pm. Later that week on 20 July we have two whole school masses on the same day: St Bede’s High School in the morning and Bellerive FCJ in the afternoon who will be saying a fond farewell to Sister Brigid who is retiring after many years service to that school and catholic education within the city. The gin festival in the Crypt the following week may bring a welcome opportunity for a drink for the Cathedral staff after a busy few months as we move into a quieter few weeks during the summer holidays.

Nugent’s Epsom Street Community Centre inspires us all.

Recently we had a launch event at our Epsom Street Community Centre in Kirkdale when we opened the brand new kitchen kindly donated by the John Lewis Liverpool Store.

The ‘Epsy’ is a vital project based in an area where over 50% of children live in poverty and 20% live ‘on the bread line. The centre acts as a hub for the community, providing a safe space, a place to meet, and find support, there are free play sessions and children can come along an enjoy a free breakfast and lunch which is prepared by the children with support from the volunteers.

Last summer the team at Epsom Street made over 3,000 meals, for families who struggle to feed their children, in a tiny kitchen on one stove. The staff at John Lewis put in a bid to their Community Support Fund on behalf of the ‘Epsy’, and a fund of £12,000 was approved.

Since this fabulous support was announced, the partnership has grown and John Lewis staff have become ‘part of the Epsy family’, the amount of work they have put in is amazing.

We have all been overwhelmed with the support we have received for the centre from John Lewis and the teams that have been part of the project, but more so have been inspired by the impact this has on the community, on the families, children and young people who are the ‘Epsy’. Thank you to all of the companies, organisations, parishes, schools, and communities that support this centre.

The ownership they have of the centre, and the pride they have for their community, the strong relationship they have with the staff team, their welcoming attitude and their optimism in the face of adversity teaches us all to have faith in each other.

Normandie Wragg Chief Executive Nugent Care

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youth ministry

A year of faith lived out at Animate

By Sarah Beatty It has been another busy year here at Animate Youth Ministries.

Retreat days at Lowe House have proved as popular as ever with our Archdiocesan schools. In fact, over the course of the academic year we have welcomed most of our high schools, with each bringing between 25 and 60 pupils a day for the team to work with.

The purpose of these retreat days is for young people to have a positive experience of faith, and to enable them to explore different themes such as community, self-worth and social justice in a faith-based context.

Not only have we offered retreat days at Lowe House, we have also run retreat days in schools which has given the team more opportunities to spread the Good News to those around the Archdiocese and beyond.

We were also welcomed into four school communities for mission weeks. These are special weeks that present pupils and staff with the chance to delve deeper into their faith and to celebrate that faith throughout

the week. We would like to thank the following schools for allowing us to live our Catholic faith with you all: All Hallows, Penwortham; Our Lady Queen of Peace, Skelmersdale; St Mary's, Leyland; and St Peter's, Orrell.

We have also been blessed to work with 31 of our Catholic Primary schools during 2016/17. These days have been hugely enjoyable, not just for the youngsters but for us too! It is a real blessing and joy to work with so many of our Primary schools, to share our faith and to see them take on board the message imparted throughout the day.

Once again the Archdiocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes is full this year, meaning 500 young people will travel from across the Archdiocese to Lourdes on Thursday 20 July. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin their week of pilgrimage and service.

The Faith in Action award was officially launched throughout the Archdiocese this year. There has been a fantastic uptake by the young people in our schools and parishes, as a result of which, over 400 young people will be rewarded for their acts of service and faith in awards ceremonies in September.

Life & Soul+, an evening of prayer and song before the Blessed Sacrament, has also had great support over the past few months. We would like to thank everyone who joined us at these events, as well as the parishes that hosted us.

This initiative is something we are continuing next year – watch this space for details!

In summary, the community here at Animate has worked extremely hard in developing new resources for our retreat days and mission weeks, working with young people, leading groups and sharing our faith with young people and with each other. We have also had many laughs in our community time and learned from one another.

So it has been a great team to be part of. To Father Simon, Jan, Lauren, Tom, Mike and Ben – thank you for everything you have done!

Upcoming events: 2 July – Lourdes Departure Mass: 6.30pm, St Mary's, Lowe House All are welcome to attend.

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sunday reflections On a liturgical note 'For raised up high on the Cross, he gave himself up for us with a wonderful love and poured out blood and water from his pierced side, the wellspring of the Church's Sacraments, so that, won over to the open heart of the Saviour, all might draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.' Preface of the Sacred Heart This month of July is, in tradition, dedicated to the Precious Blood.

Pope Pius IX established a Feast of the Precious Blood in 1849, but that of course was building on a tradition dating back to Scriptural times. The shedding of blood in the Old Testament is seen as a 'sealing' of the Covenants made between God and his people, and indeed between the people themselves. So it follows that the blood poured out by Jesus seals the 'new and eternal covenant' which, in his life, death and resurrection, is the expression and the revelation of God the Father's love for each one of us.

In the middle of last month we kept the Solemnity of Corpus Christi which, although we often translate it as 'The Body of Christ', is actually the Body and BLOOD of Christ (Sollemnitas

Sunday thoughts There is nothing worse than trying to explain a joke. If they don't get it first time, chances are that the penny won't drop even when you try to explain it.

In Matthew's Gospel for Sunday 9 July, Jesus gives vent to his own frustration when the religious leaders don't 'get' what he is talking about.

Ever positive, he does his best to make a prayer of it: 'I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes Father, for that is what it pleased you to do.'

Which is why the Gospel for the following Sunday, 16 July, is so reassuring: 'Imagine a sower going out to sow …' Jesus goes on to describe how most of the seed is wasted; only a small percentage produces a crop; yet when it does, it does so many times over.

People flocked to Jesus. But who were they? The excluded, the sinners, the sick, the hungry, the lepers, the

Canon Philip Gillespie

Ss.mi Corporis et Sanguinis Christi) and it is a reminder that the blood of Christ is the sign of love 'poured out for YOU and for many'. In that sense, to receive from the Chalice at Mass is yet a further personal moment of Communion with the Lord.

To eat and drink at the Lord's table, to have Communion with Christ in his self-giving, is at the heart of what it is to be a follower of the way of Christ.

We have to have a personal and individual life of prayer and devotion but this is to underpin our common life, our communal following of the way of Christ. To be part of a community, and of a Communion of Faith, is a reminder that on both a spiritual level and a practical level, I can never live as an island 'entire of itself' because I never know all the answers (or indeed all the questions).

I never have all the abilities or skills needed to live life to the full and in all its perfection and potential. I need others – and others need me. That is the essence of Communion.

Mgr John Devine OBE

powerless, the failures – even the Roman soldiers. They connected with his parables. They saw their own reflection in his stories. The religious leaders were rarely in the crowd, though.

If jokes don't really benefit from analysis, then neither do parables.

'My yoke is easy and my burden light' – if you have to work at it, you are missing the point. 'You will listen and listen again but not understand, see and see again but not perceive.' We only connect with the Word of God when we are ready, and for that to happen we have some unlearning to do. The poor have a head start. The hard shell of our spiritual selfsufficiency (and superiority) needs to be broken or at least bypassed. Yet the events of life will do that for us – and in the meantime, the Lord never gives up on us. He keeps on sowing.

Weekly Reflections are on the Archdiocesan website at www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/reflection

When the Spirit comes One thing is clear the gift of the spirit is never just about ourselves. When we open ourselves to the spirit we are propelled beyond ourselves, to become the reflection of that mystery for the world.

Nice words, until we realise that where the spirit is calling us to involves transformation, personally, socially, politically economically. In fact transformation in every way possible and particularly in the way we respond to that which is other. We are called to be Christ in the world who was always welcoming and inclusive.

The question is can we love what is different to ourselves without judgement or condemnation? I think otherness frightens us and often brings out the worst in us. That’s one reason why we need the spirit.

Welcoming what is different is a key biblical challenge. In the Scriptures God is defined as holy because of otherness and difference from us. So in the Scriptures we have the great truth that revelation from God comes mostly through the stranger, the unfamiliar, in what’s different, in the surprise. The Scriptures insist on the importance of welcoming strangers. If God is Other, then strangers are the most likely to be carrying God’s revelation.

I think today we’re being stretched to move beyond what’s familiar. We live in multicultural societies. How do we encounter God in that which is different? I think that the clamour in our country over the border issue has a lot to do with not wanting to be stretched and be open to otherness and I personally think that's sad and the cause of many of the world’s problems.

It's true that to be open can be difficult. It’s not easy to have our boundaries, values, and ideas under constant redefinition, especially when we believe in eternal truths that others don't understand. That’s why we need the spirit. If we can learn to be open to the spirit, we will learn to love the other and to rejoice in what the other brings.

That openness can transform the world.

Mature religion is about transforming history and individuals. It's about letting the spirit of God loose in our lives so that we can learn to love otherness. Then, as Richard Rohr says, ‘we can build something new, good, and forever original, while neither playing the victim nor making victims of others. We can be free conduits of grace into the world’ Father Chris Thomas

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Pic extras Mums the Word TThis is a busy time of year for Liverpool’s Union of Catholic Mothers.

The Flower Festival at the Metropolitan cathedral last month saw five members from the archdiocese decorating the Children’s Chapel on the theme of ‘First Holy Communion’. They were Muriel McCahy from St Jerome’s; Cathy Holden from St Richard’s; Cathy Moran from St Thomas of Canterbury and Angela Batey and Cathy Simpson from St Margaret Mary’s. Congratulations ladies, what wonderful talent you all displayed.

News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

KSC members privileged to contribute to Jubilee celebrations

We also held our annual Mass at the Cathedral on 14 June. This was celebrated

by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP. Members of the Anglican Mothers’ Union, the Jewish Representative Council and very many members from Liverpool Archdiocesan Foundations took part in this joyful occasion.

Ten members of Liverpool UCM travelled to ‘The Hayes’ Conference Centre at Swanwick in Derbyshire for the National Council and AGM. We heard an inspiring address from our National President, Mrs Val Ward, urging us to get out and tell people of our good works and objectives and not to be hiding our lights under bushels, but to also tell people of the companionship, fun and joy to be found in our organisation. At the conference our own Margaret Kerbey, former Liverpool Treasurer, was voted in as National Treasurer. What a feather in her cap; well done Margaret. Former Liverpool President, Joan Jenkins, was given a surprise 95th birthday party which everyone enjoyed.

This Monday, 3 July, 125 members, one Bishop (Bishop Tom Williams), five priests and one deacon will travel to Walsingham for our annual Pilgrimage. This is a wonderful turnout from our archdiocese.

The theme for this year is, ‘The Joy of the Annunciation’. Liverpool is the lead diocese this year so you can be assured that all of your intentions will be prayed for.

May we all enjoy a happy and holy pilgrimage and may God bless us in our devotions, and give us good weather.

Madelaine McDonald, media officer

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As has been well documented in these pages, the Golden Jubilee celebrations for our Cathedral have been a historic and exciting time – with the Solemn Mass of Pentecost on Sunday 4 June and the Flower Festival which sandwiched that fabulous weekend being exceptional highlights – and the Order has been privileged to take part in the programme of events. At the Mass on Pentecost Sunday, the gifts of bread and wine were brought forward to the sanctuary by Charlie McCluskey (Supreme Knight), Joe Rodriguez (Deputy Supreme Knight), Pat Foley (Provincial Grand Knight), John Hamilton (Past Provincial Grand Knight), Pat McGann (Past Provincial Grand Knight) and Bernard McGuigan (Past Provincial Grand Knight). These men and other members were also involved in the main processions at the beginning and end of Mass.

Using flowers as a means of celebration was an inspired choice.

The creativity of the exhibits covering many aspects of the Church's mission was admired and appreciated by all who saw them.

Our Order's own multi-exhibit in the

Columba Chapel was on the theme of 'The Universal Church' and we wish to thank the Wirral Flower Club for such inspirational productions.

• At present we are also celebrating the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima. The Knights have embarked on a tour of the British Cathedrals which are exhibiting the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima together with Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco, two of the three children to whom Our Lady appeared between May and October 1917. The Statue and Relics will be at our Cathedral in Liverpool on 6/7 October.

In honour of this anniversary, KSC members participated in the Sisters of Charity's May procession from Seel Street through Liverpool city centre to the Blessed Sacrament Shrine on Saturday 13 May. Our photo shows a section of the procession on Church Street, with Fr Barrie O’Toole, Pat Foley and other Knights on their way to the Shrine.

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

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PIC Life Right To Life walkers 'reach out in love' with Clitheroe trek

By Moira Billinge The annual Right To Life sponsored walk took place on Bank Holiday Monday, 29 May, in Clitheroe, Lancashire, with the prayers and good wishes of absent friends and supporters accompanying all who participated on the day.

For a seventh consecutive year, Saint Michael and Saint John's Church, in Our Lady of the Valley parish, hosted the walk – and once again Monsignor John Corcoran and his parishioners acted as stewards and refreshment-bearers, while the ladies of the parish excelled themselves in providing a delicious buffet to close a memorable event.

This time 117 people took part in the walk, among them special guests Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Kelly of Liverpool, Bishop John Arnold of Salford and Lord David Alton.

Archbishop Patrick had with him the exquisite crosier he had received from the Archdiocese for his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood in 2012. He described the crosier – normally kept in the Metropolitan Cathedral – as reflecting the glorious golden and blue light, the colours of our beginnings and of eternity, which shine through a Cross.

The Archbishop Emeritus, who paid tribute to the victims of the previous week's Manchester bombing, continued with the theme of light when he said: 'Everyone who accompanies the labour of Right To Life reaches out in love to lives touched by the darkest of storm clouds. Their love, their seeing and their acting out of love means that they know, they are light; and their light creates space in which each one of us can live and move and have our being.'

Lord David Alton told the Right To Life walkers that this year marked the 50th anniversary of the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act, which has resulted in the deaths of 8.5 million unborn babies – almost 600 every single day in this

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country.

He also spoke about the scientific experiments that are permitted on the human embryo, explaining how even animals have a greater protection in law.

Lord Alton recounted how Saint Teresa of Calcutta had herself visited Westminster 30 years ago to support his efforts in Parliament to try to change the abortion law. When asked what she would do with the unwanted children, Mother Teresa had replied, 'Give them to me; give them to me,' before quoting the rabbi who had said, 'The man who saves a single life, saves the world.'

Lord Alton remembered, too, his farewell conversation with the future saint in which he had said: 'It's hard for those of us – people like you and me [i.e. the Clitheroe walkers] – who battle on year after year, wondering if people are listening.' However, Mother Teresa retorted: 'David, you are not called upon to be successful, you are called upon to be faithful.' Which prompted Lord Alton to tell the gathering: 'This is what this walk is about. It's a walk of witness and a walk of reparation, but it's also about being faithful to the very cause of life itself.'

Bishop John Arnold began his address with a prayer he said would be familiar to those present from Salford Diocese – 'Lord, stay with us on our journey' – and which, he added, could apply to just about every aspect of our lives.

Moreover, with the Clitheroe walk being a journey in which participants were promoting something they held to be fundamentally important – namely, the right to life from conception to natural end – Bishop John emphasised that: 'By our witness there is no doubt at all that people's ideas, knowledge and understanding are being changed, and gradually, perhaps only too gradually, there is a sense of the value of life being reincarnated in our general thinking.'

Quote from Pope Francis “Let us consider the damage caused in our century of global communication, by the escalation of unkept promises. Honouring one’s word, fidelity to ones promises: these are things that cannot be bought and sold. They cannot be compelled by force or maintained without sacrifice”.

Worth a visit

This month why not visit a Georgian country house that played a special part in Britain's history, writes Lucy Oliver.

Dunham Massey Hall is a National Trust property near Altrincham, Cheshire, with immense gardens, groves of centuries-old trees and a medieval deer park. The historic site has housed a castle and medieval manor before today's hall was initially constructed for Sir George Booth in 1616 and subsequently remodelled by various generations, most notably during the 18th century. Visitors are welcome to admire the Grade I-listed Hall, stables and carriage buildings.

However, Dunham Massey may be best known for operating as Stamford Military Hospital during World War One – Lady Stamford having offered the Red Cross the property to give comfort and support to injured soldiers.

Surviving letters reveal how the soldiers enjoyed recuperating in the gardens and fresh air, and also relished home-grown produce from the walled garden and exotic fruits from the hothouse. Today's Victory Garden displays heritage varieties of the produce that was available 100 years ago, and if you build an appetite exploring the grounds and gardens, visit the Stables restaurant afterwards.

Throughout August, meanwhile, spectacular theatrical and circus performances take place in the gardens. Ask about these events when buying your admission to the house and/or gardens.

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join in Children’s word search

Eating Out

The Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Check our clues for more about him.

Where to eat in July - enjoy.

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PREACHER

Old Stables Allerton Road, L18 0151 428 7490 The Pheasant Mosss Lane, Hightown 0151 929 2106

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BELIEF MY LORD MY GOD

More Mullarkey From Johnny Kennedy The young curate had his head in a book.

‘This is a very interesting book.’

‘Is it about football?’ said Father Mullarkey.

‘No it’s not about football. It's called New Secular Philosophy.’

‘So it's about cricket is it?’

‘You know perfectly well it's not about cricket’ said the YC. ‘And the author says we should organise parish philosophy groups and discuss such matters as is God Dead.’

‘I'll tell old Mrs.Donnelly’ said the auld fella ‘she'll bring all her mates from the bingo.’

‘Be serious, Father. There must be some philosophical questions to which you'd like the answer.’

‘Well there is one’ said Father Mullarkey. ‘If you've had a packet of polo mints for ten years, are the polo mints still in mint condition?’

Audio copy of the Pic out now An audio version of the ‘Catholic Pictorial’ is available free of charge, compiled by students, technicians and Chaplain, Dan Antonio, at All Hallows RC High School, Penwortham Anyone interested in receiving the audio copy should contact Dan Antonio on 01772 746121

The Windmill Mill Lane, Parbold 01257 462935 Freshfield Hotel Massams Lane, Formby 01704 874871 Royal Oak Liverpool Road, Aughton 01695 422121 Church Green Higher Lane, Lymm 01925 752068

Greeting Cards from Carmel

Our picture gives just a very small example of the range of greeting cards on sale in the shop at Maryton Carmel, so try to visit when you can.

You can contact the Sisters at the Monastery: Maryton Grange, Allerton Road, L18 3NU. Telephone the card office on 0151 724 7102 or Email the Sisters at marytoncards@outlook.com

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justice & peace Postcard from Valladolid Joseph Champion-Williams' final days at the Royal English College in Valladolid have been illuminated by visits to Santiago de Compostela and Fatima Dear friends, I am writing to you in my last week here at San Albano, Valladolid. Naturally I am entering a period of reflection as my year in Spain draws to a close. It has been a wonderful time of spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral growth, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have followed my journey and held me in prayer during this year.

In the first week of June, the English College undertook a pilgrimage to Fatima, a truly prayerful sanctuary which is very close to my heart. We travelled to Fatima via Santiago de Compostela – the great finish line of the Camino or Way of Saint James. It was so inspiring to walk the streets of Santiago in the evening and to see all the pilgrims, young and old, celebrate as they reached the relics of St James in the Cathedral and embrace the statue seated within the high altar. I hope one day to return to Santiago, perhaps having walked some of the Camino myself, but we will see what the Lord has in store.

As mentioned above, Fatima is a shrine I have a great love for; the faith both of the newly canonised Saints Francisco and Jacinta, and of the pilgrims at Fatima today, is a simple and pure one that I have the highest admiration for. It was noted that throughout and even after the apparitions in 1917, the three shepherd children (the third being Sister Lúcia) remained 'normal children', children who were simply responding to that invitation from Our Lady and Our Blessed Lord to share in the divine life, to enter into greater relationship with the Lord. They were ready to put aside their own personal desires in order to please God and serve their neighbour – and with such a childlike joy! This calling from God, to the children, is a calling to each and every one of us to enter into relationship with the Blessed Trinity. The deepest Truth about the Lord is that He is a communion of love: a mutual participation, a sharing in love.

Speaking on the eve of the 13 May canonisations of Francisco and Jacinta (who were brother and sister), the Holy Father said this to Portuguese seminarians: 'The encounter with the Madonna was for them an experience of grace that caused them to love Jesus.

As a tender and brave teacher, Mary introduced the young seers into the intimate knowledge of the Trinitarian love and led them to feel God as the most beautiful reality of human existence.'

Omnes cum Petro, ad Iesum per Mariam – All with Peter, to Jesus through Mary. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

In Domino, Joseph

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Catholic Pictorial

The Kingdom of God IS here so let's get involved

By Steve Atherton, Justice & Peace fieldworker.

The Justice & Peace Commission was established in this Archdiocese in the wake of the Second Vatican Council's restatement of the truth that salvation involves practical things: liberation from the bondage of slavery and debt, freedom from the pangs of hunger, release from the captivity of poverty, and entry into the promised land of freedom and prosperity.

In fact, Gaudium et spes – the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, which was one of the four constitutions resulting from the Council – begins as follows: 'Solidarity of the Church with the whole human family: The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well. Nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in their hearts. For theirs is a community of people united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit in their pilgrimage towards the Father's kingdom, bearers of a message of salvation for all of humanity. That is why they cherish a feeling of deep solidarity with the human race and its history.'

That is precisely what the J&P Commission works to do through its year-long programme of activities.

Indeed, planning our recent annual assembly proved a more difficult task than ever because of the prevailing mood of 'grief and anxiety'. Whether it's Brexit, changes in benefits, zerohours contracts, concern over social care, terror attacks, refugees and asylum seekers, climate change or the general election, no single issue stands out above the rest.

Eventually we settled for asking the question: What are the signs of our times? And we began by inviting people to depict the situation in which they live in order to develop a picture of what life is like in our part of the world, especially for those on the margins of society. The middle part of

the day was a reflection by Father Tom Cullinan on the sort of world Jesus was describing when he talked about the Kingdom of God. Towards the end of the day, Jenny Sinclair from Together for the Common Good and Father Nicholas Postlethwaite CP helped us look for positive ways forward, especially by speaking and listening to all sectors of society, particularly those we normally ignore.

We realised that as a church group our concern must be how we integrate our lives into the life of God. This sounds pious but what we are called to do is to live as if the Kingdom of God is here. And it is not really an 'as if', because we believe the Kingdom IS here so we must find ways to get involved. The programme of the Kingdom is clear: 'I have come to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind and to let the oppressed go free.' (Luke 4: 18–24) The J&P Commission's role therefore is to keep this vision alive within the Archdiocese, to counteract the view that religion is an otherworldly, spiritual activity mainly related to private behaviour. We believe that our bodies, our families, and the whole material world are gifts from God and that, if we are to be in tune with God's purpose for humanity, we must acknowledge the material and social dimensions of our lives. Religion is not some self-help therapy, all about our mental and spiritual well-being, a mere lifestyle choice. Rather, our starting point is not personal sin management but 'Where is the suffering?'.

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