Catholic Pic June 2013

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 1

20p from each sale goes to your parish Issue 105 JUNE 2013

£1

ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL

Union of Catholic Mothers 100 not out INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Animate have got it covered Widnes Pilgrimage of a lifetime Pat Pope A stalwart of St Anne’s UCM

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 2

fatim

LOURDES, NEVERS & PARIS •BY COACH•

Departin g 11t

ir

h Octob

25th May, 27th July 10th Aug & 07th Sept

er

£495 PER PE

£495

RSON

Rome & A

PER PERSON

f

Liverpool Week in Lourdes

ssisi

& Assisi Rome from Manchester 16th June & 07th October

£695

Call now for details of coach & air Pilgrimages

6515

a by a

F ro m L iv e rp o o l

PER PERSON SHARING

4 star hotel in Rome

2013 Pilgrimages to Lourdes * Rome * Assisi * The Holy Land * Poland * Fatima CALL NOW FOR A FREE FULL COLOUR BROCHURE 768 Manchester Road | Castleton | Rochdale OL11 3AW

0844 8551844

www.options-travel.co.uk

Nugent Care launches the

Dignity in Care/Dignity in Dementia Pledge

Why not sign up to our pledge?

The ‘Daisy Chain One Million Supporters Pledge’, a campaign launched at our Dignity in Care awards evening, to gather one million signatures to submit to Government in support of our Double D Campaign - Dignity in Care - Dignity in Dementia. We will gather signatures during 2013 through our existing contacts in business, schools, community groups etc. and a team of volunteers will be coordinating new contacts to help us achieve our target.

Once collected, the daisy chain of signatures will be taken to the Houses of Parliament and presented to MP’s.

To sign the pledge or for further details on our campaign visit: www.nugentcare.org/articles/daisy-chain-one-million-supporters-pledge Head Office: 99 Edge Lane, Liverpool L7 2PE tel: 0151 261 2000 fax: 0151 261 2001 e-mail: info@nugentcare.org minicom: 0151 260 4366

www.nugentcare.org Charity number: 222930

2

Catholic Pictorial

Follow us on...

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 3

contents 20p from each sale goes to your parish Issue 105 JUNE 2013

Welcome Our June main feature pays tribute to the work of the Union of Catholic Mothers who are celebrating their centenary. The UCM are having a year of celebrations and this month our Liverpool mothers will hold a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Metropolitan Cathedral on Saturday 15 June. Liverpool was one of the original foundations and so has a full hundred years to celebrate.

Their work, devotion and dedication are an incredible, if often silent, manifestation of the Church in the world. Our front cover shows the Childrens Chapel in the Cathedral where their memorial to babies and the unborn victims of abortion is situated. A place of quiet prayer and reflection and a source of comfort to many. Long may they continue in their service to the Church and to family life.

£1

ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL

Union of Catholic Mothers 100 not out INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Animate have got it covered Widnes Pilgrimage of a lifetime Pat Pope A stalwart of St Anne’s UCM

Congratulations too to all our priests who celebrate Jubilees this year.

They will gather for their own Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral on 24 June, and there will be many local celebrations.

Ad multos annos

Contents 4

Main Feature UCM ‘family’ celebrates milestone 100 years of sharing joys and sorrows together

8

News From around the Archdiocese

From the Bishop’s desk “Getting to Know You” As a newly ordained Priest, and on my first day of Parish Life I was sent out with visiting list in hand. ‘Get to know the people’, said my Parish Priest and let them ‘get to know you’. He continued, ‘if you don’t make this Parish your home you’ll look for one somewhere else’. Wise words, and now, 41 years later, I see myself in exactly the same position: getting to know and getting known. It’s exciting and frightening at the same time, and not just for Priests and Bishops, but for every family within our Archdiocese.

I think, therefore, that we constantly need to remind ourselves of what binds us together: it’s our Baptism, the acceptance of Our Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Redeemer. Many homes, but one Church, and our Church is where we feel at home. Where relationships are forged and developed. Where we first of all accept that our Faith is part of who we are, part of the essence of our being, and we keep body and soul together with Holy Communion: the Bread of Life and our Spiritual Drink.

Bringing a child for Baptism is a Blessed and Sacred thing, it is a Sacrament, a coming together, an acceptance of the Gift of Faith and nurtured within our immediate family and the Family of Faith and, like every family, it’s for life and ‘for better and for worse’.

The Sacraments of Initiation are our invitation to share in the Life of Christ, but it is only our ‘visiting list’, it is only the beginning of getting to know one another and getting to know and share our Faith. Only then can we become a living and vibrant Church.

14 Spotlight Sister Mary and Sister Una 136 years of Religious Life 15 Sunday Reflections Liturgy and Life 16 What’s On Whats happening in the Archdiocese 19 Profile Pat Pope A stalwart of St Anne’s UCM 18 Animate Youth Ministry All in a month’s work at Animate 25 Cathedral Record Busy summer in store 25 Justice and Peace We must live out the message of the Cross 26 Pic Extras Mums the word News from the KSC

Editor Peter Heneghan Editorial Catholic Pictorial Magazine Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA Tel: 0151 522 1007 Email: catholicpictorial@rcaol.co.uk Pictures Cover: Peter Heneghan Main Feature and Profile: Tom Murphy Advertising Andrew Rogers 0151 709 7567 Publisher 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS

Copy deadline July issue 14 June 2013 CPMM Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Catholic Pictorial Ltd. can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.

28 Pic Life The vulnerable have a right to live without fear 29 Join In Family Fun More Mullarkey

Catholic Pictorial

3

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 4

UCM ‘family’ celebrates milestone 100 years of sharing joys and sorrows together

By Ann Todd o be in the Union of Catholic Mothers means, as its enthusiastic members will tell you, being part of a nationwide family which supports you through good times and bad.

The UCM celebrates its centenary this year and Margaret McDonald, deputy president of the Liverpool branch, sums it up perfectly: ‘It is a family, and everyone is always there to share joys and sorrows.’

Her friend and colleague Ann Hogg knows this all too well. Ann, the UCM media officer, says: ‘Without the UCM I don’t know how I would have coped for the last 10 years of my life.’

Ann had an operation in 2000 following diagnosis of cancer of the womb. ‘I said the UCM would get me through it and with all the prayers from members all over the country, I sailed through.

‘When the Macmillan nurses asked me if I wanted someone to talk to me, I said, ‘No thank you, I’ve got the UCM’.

Sadly, Ann’s troubles did not end there – in November 2009 her only child, Susan, who had alcohol-related problems, died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage, and five months later, her husband, Arthur, died of a heart attack. ‘Again, the UCM got me through it,’ Ann adds quietly.

As both women point out, the UCM’s close, caring network ensures that those in difficulty receive support from

T

4

Catholic Pictorial

fellow members across the country.

‘You get prayers and messages from all over the place, from Portsmouth to Cumbria,’ says Margaret. Ann adds: ‘I got hundreds of cards and emails when Susan and Arthur died. Masses were said in Rome and Dublin. It’s hard to put into words what support you get from the UCM.’ You could not talk to better people than these two doughty ladies about the UCM, which began in Liverpool in 1913 in Archbishop Thomas Whiteside’s day. Liverpool is one of the original member groups dating from that period, along with Bath, Birmingham, Boscombe, Brighton, Cambridge, Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Salford and Wolverhampton.

Margaret McDonald, a mother of five from West Derby, has been in the UCM for 41 years and she saw the membership in Liverpool Archdiocese grow to more than 2,500 in its heyday.

Interestingly, she is a former Church of England member who, at 20, decided to become a Catholic after reading Catholic Truth Society leaflets and going to a local priest to ask him to explain the faith. Born in Chester, she met her husband Brian in the police force and they transferred to Liverpool together.

She was in St Paul’s parish and quickly became involved in the local UCM. She recalls: ‘May Derbyshire, who was from West Derby and the national treasurer, roped me in at a time when Bishop

Kevin O’Connor was national chaplain and I ended up as vicepresident. I became president and now I am deputy president of Liverpool foundation.”

She explains that the UCM was originally affiliated to the Catholic Women’s League but soon established itself as an organisation for ‘ordinary, everyday women’. The first foundation in Liverpool was at St Peter and St Paul in Crosby. There are currently around 700 members in the Archdiocese.

Records show that in 1936 the Liverpool membership was 1,240 and there were 29 foundations (parish branches). Members paid two pence a year subscription, though one generous lady paid one shilling and another the grand sum of two guineas!

On the recent decline in membership, Margaret adds: ‘It’s a generation thing. In the early 90s, when there were over 2,500 members, women didn’t go to work as much as they do now and they enjoyed going out to meet people.

Now it’s a different scene and when they do go out after a busy week, it’s to something like a club.’ But, as Ann points out, the ethos of the UCM is unstinting: it is still there to support women, through caring companionship and prayer.

Ann Hogg grew up in Garston, in St Francis of Assisi parish. Her mother helped clean the church; she herself sang in the choir. Ann met her husband, Arthur, a cinema projectionist, through her office job with the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees. As for the UCM, she ‘was persuaded to

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 5

feature ‘It’s hard to put into words what support you get from the UCM’

join by one of our church members at St Thomas of Canterbury in Waterloo.

For 12 years I didn’t take on any role because my husband worked evenings and I had to look after Susan. But when she got older I was asked to run a quiz for them and I don’t know how it happened but a year later I became parish president!’

That was just the start. At a bimonthly Mass one of the diocesan officers asked Ann to put herself forward as Liverpool vice-president; then she was voted diocesan secretary, a post she kept for seven years. As study officer for the Archdiocese’s UCM, meanwhile, she organised wide-ranging talks – one month, a surgeon came to discuss breast cancer, another month Muslim women gave reflections on their faith.

She went on to serve as Liverpool Archdiocese president for three years, then three years as deputy.

Now she is the media officer, writing a monthly Catholic Pic column. ‘In January I did something very silly. I went to the loo in the middle of a committee meeting and when I came

Catholic Pictorial

5

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 6

feature

‘The ethos of the UCM is unstinting: it is still there to support women, through caring companionship and prayer’ 6

Catholic Pictorial

back I was told I was study officer again!’ she laughs.

The Liverpool UCM holds bimonthly Masses in different parishes and has built up relationships with the C of E Mothers’ Union, Jewish Ladies and the Salvation Army, attending each other’s events. It should be added that the UCM is something of a misnomer as not all members are mothers; indeed some are neither married nor Catholic in an organisation open to any women who uphold UCM ideals. The organisation believes in having fun – be it talks or demonstrations, social outings or bingo – but also meets regularly for prayer, and seeks to help families and others in difficulty.

This month will bring a special milestone as the Liverpool centenary celebrations take place with a Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 15 June, followed by a reception at the Adelphi Hotel with buffet and entertainment (tickets £17.50 each).

There will also be a national celebration at Westminster Cathedral on 21 September. For further details, contact Margaret McDonald on 0151 228 8228.

Where it began The UCM owes its existence to Mrs Ethelreda Chichester of Tiverton, Devon, who with her sister Miss Berkeley created a plan for the fledgling organisation.

At a meeting in Leeds in 1913, Cardinal Bourne subsequently gave the Catholic Women’s League a mandate to develop the UCM. He felt it had something to contribute: the insistence of the sacramental character and permanence of marriage, a Catholic education for children, the training of members as ‘publicspirited citizens’ and ‘their active share of good works […] combined with a deep spiritual culture’.

Some years later, Martha Thornley, UCM president from 1930-33, wrote in her notes of: ‘Our mothers who have always given me their unfailing loyalty and devotion. When I was glad they rejoiced with me, when I was ill or sorry they prayed with me.’ That tradition is as strong as ever.

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 7

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 8

News diary If you’ve got any news from your parish that you’d like featured e-mail us with the details at: post@merseymirror.com

Green Bus for Bellerive

The pupils and parents of Bellerive College, Liverpool will soon benefit from new bus routes, specifically tailored for their school community, as the College becomes the first school in the North of England to join a specialist transport scheme. The Green Bus specialises in school transport and is already in operation in Birmingham, Berkshire and Surrey, and provides a safer environment for travel to and from school.

‘We want to offer our pupils a safe, reliable service, which operates in an environmentally conscious way,’ said Assistant Head Teacher, Paul Taylor.

‘Some of our pupils will save up to an hour of travelling each day, while others will no longer have to rely on their parents driving them, so the benefits are substantial.’

The services will operate daily from next September and have the backing of Louise Ellman, MP for Riverside and Chair of the Transport Select Committee. She visited the school in Sefton Park to help launch the new service and said: ‘This is an imaginative way to help pupils get to school, get cars off the road and support the environment. The school has shown tremendous initiative to get The Green Bus scheme off the ground and I am sure it will be a great success which other schools will want to look at; all credit to Bellerive.’

The service is to be introduced after parents voted overwhelmingly to adopt the initiative following a survey, which was conducted last autumn and the routes have been carefully chosen to match the areas in which pupils live.

National Board of Catholic Women to meet in Liverpool The National Board of Catholic Women (NBCW) is to hold its Annual General Meeting in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King at on Saturday 22 June. The meeting begins at 10.30 am and runs through to 4.30 pm with the theme ‘A woman of Faith today’. Bishop Vincent Malone will celebrate Mass at 12.15 pm.

Liverpool born Pearl Clarke, a former pupil of Notre Dame, Mount Pleasant, and President of the National Board says: ‘all Catholic women are welcome to come along for the day to find out about the work of the Board and to hear guest speaker Christine Allen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Christian Aid’.

Christine, who will speak during the afternoon session, is no stranger to Liverpool having in the past worked with the Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission. Before joining

8

Catholic Pictorial

Christian Aid she was Chief Executive of Progressio for over ten years and has also worked with Cafod and the Catholic Housing Aid Society.

In addition to the main presentations NBCW, Grail and Pauline publications will be on sale together with information about Cafod projects.

The cost of the day is £5 and while drinks will be provided at lunchtime those taking part are asked to bring their own packed lunch. Attendance is by ticket only available from: Pearl Clarke, NBCW President, 6 College Road, Cranwell Village, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8DJ. Please apply by Monday 10 June enclosing a cheque for £5 made payable to NBCW.

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 9

news diary

Pilgrimage of a lifetime

At the weekly General Audience on Wednesday 10 April Pope Francis greeted two pilgrims from Widnes: Mrs Patricia Conlon from St. Michael's, and Mrs Betty White of Our Lady's, and asked them to pray for him. The two were part of a group on pilgrimage with Father Joseph Bibby who writes: ‘We had a very enjoyable and uplifting pilgrimage to Rome for the Year of Faith. We were a group of fifteen pilgrims in total from Widnes and were able to celebrate Mass in the catacombs of St Calixtus, the Lateran Basilica (Rome's cathedral), the church of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, where the original icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is kept, the Venerable English College, and St. Peter's Basilica where we professed our faith together near the tomb of St. Peter. We also had a day visit to Subiaco where St. Benedict founded the Benedictines.

‘We were delighted to be able to attend the General Audience on Wednesday, 10 April and to be close enough to the front to be able to see Pope Francis as he passed by in the popemobile. Our two pilgrims who were in wheelchairs were overwhelmed to be greeted by the Pope, especially as he personally asked them to pray for him.

‘Although a lot of sightseeing was done and a lot of Italian ice cream and tiramisu consumed, we had a wonderful pilgrimage with many profound spiritual experiences.’

Northern Catholic Conference in the Year of Faith The Northern Catholic Conference will take place at Liverpool Hope University from Friday next, 7 June through to Sunday 9 June. The theme this year is Celebrating the Year of Faith: ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ (John 6:28) This year’s speakers include Lord Alton speaking about the significance of Vatican II - 50 years on. In his talk on ‘Scripture in the Church today’, Charles Whitehead will break open the ‘Word’ whilst Sister Seraphim will delve into the Creed and the Catholic Catechism looking at the richness of our Faith.

Other speakers include Sister Catherine Hollum, a former US speed skater and Fr. Pat Deegan. Paschal Uche, who welcomed Pope Benedict on the steps of Westminster Cathedral in September 2010, will also speak on Saturday.

The weekend will include Healing and Reconciliation Services, Benediction and a Marian Procession celebrating the feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

On Saturday, there will also be separate Children and Youth Ministries and an evening concert with the comedian Mickey Finn.

For further information visit www.northerncatholic.co.uk Tel: 07543 800812 or write to: ‘Regina Coeli’, 6 Warner Drive, Liverpool L4 8US.

Catholic Pictorial

9

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 10

Prescot Crowning Ceremony The first Sunday of May saw the traditional crowning of the statue of Our Lady in the Church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph, Prescot.

Nathan Adekoye and Lucy Burke, both pupils at Our Lady’s Primary School, took part in the ceremony at the 11.00 am Sunday Mass and are pictured with Parish Priest, Monsignor Anthony Dennick.

Victory over MCC The St. Mary’s College cricket team has recorded a remarkable victory over the MCC in the school’s latest annual fixture against the Londonbased club which was played at the Northern Club’s Moor Park ground and was particularly memorable for one of the youngest team members, year 10 pupil Paddy Travers.

With a fantastic knock of 94 not out, Paddy led the run chase that resulted in a four-wicket victory for the Crosby school.

The MCC, batting first, seemed well in control of the game as they cruised to a total of 216 for 2 declared. In reply, despite a promising start by St. Mary’s openers Joe Campbell and Harry Howat and skipper Ben Sloan, a batting collapse followed and the college slumped to 48 for 5.

However, this brought Paddy Travers to the crease alongside Tom Alman. As is the tradition with MCC fixtures, Tom was invited to play in the match as the captain of last year’s St Mary’s 1st XI. The pair proceeded to dispatch the MCC

10

Catholic Pictorial

bowling to all parts of the ground as they put on 136 quick runs before Alman was out for a fine 53.

It was left to new batsman Scott Snaylam to score the winning runs and see St Mary’s home with four wickets to spare.

Commenting on the game St. Mary’s Principal, Mike Kennedy, said: ‘Winning this game was a terrific achievement by our young 1st XI this year. I was particularly impressed that they fought back to win from what looked like a hopeless position.’

MCC Captain, Michael Taylor, commented: ‘I would like to congratulate the St. Mary’s team on their victory, in particular Paddy Travers for a truly remarkable effort from one so young.’

Celebrate the Child

Bishop Tom Williams will be the Celebrant at the tenth annual ‘Celebrate the Child’ Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The celebration will be on Sunday 30 June, the Feast of St Peter and St Paul at 2.30 pm. It is a chance for children and their families, and all the people who work with them in parish life, to gather together and celebrate the important part which children play in the life of the parishes of the Archdiocese.

Deacon Des Bill, Safeguarding Coordinator says: ‘the Mass enables the people of the Archdiocese to rejoice in the gift of our children, their place in the Church, and all the good work that goes on to support them in our parishes’.

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:29 Page 11

news diary orld Youth Day pilgrims Sarah Beatty, Sarah Brooks and Mike Meadows have got Rio covered for their visit next month as together they make up Animate’s media team for the event which is expected to draw millions, including Pope Francis, to Brazil.

W

They will be working with both social and traditional media to get the message back to the Archdiocese and beyond. In the build up to the day they have been tweeting, blogging and contacting press and media outlets with the story of their pilgrimage. When in Rio they will have formal press accreditation giving them access to the news as it happens.

Sarah Beatty has been to the last two World Youth Days and says, ‘I’m really looking forward to World Youth Day in Rio. I had a great time in Sydney and Madrid as I was able to share my faith with other young Catholics from around the world, and experience how those cultures celebrate their faith. I am excited for Rio so I can experience this once again and I also get to share with people back home what World Youth Day is all about.’

Sarah Brooks who has a degree in media says, ‘I’m really looking forward to sharing and celebrating my faith with young people from all over the world.

Experiencing the Brazilian culture is a great bonus, too.’

Animate’s top team for Rio Meanwhile Mike Meadows looks forward to the Papal Mass, ‘World Youth Day is a unique opportunity to make new friends around the world through sharing something we have in common faith. I'm really looking forward to experiencing the Catholic life of Latin Americans and sharing Mass with Pope Francis.'

The theme of this year’s World Youth Day is ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’ (cf Matthew 28:19) and it will take place from 23-28 July with young people working in local dioceses during the preceding week. On the evening of Friday 26 July Pope Francis will take part in the Via Crucis with the young people on Copacabana beach and on Saturday evening, 27 July, he will take part in a

prayer vigil with them. The Papal Mass will be celebrated on the last morning of the pilgrimage, Sunday 28 July.

To follow the pilgrims in the build up to their journey and then from Wednesday 17 July in Brazil through to their return on Tuesday 30 July go to the Animate Youth Ministries website: www.animateyouth.org.uk or the Archdiocese of Liverpool website: www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk where there will be news and links.

Catholic Pictorial

11

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:30 Page 12

news diary Area Secretary sought Following the retirement of Ralph Ferrigno Aid to the Church in Need are looking for a new Area Secretary for the Archdiocese of Liverpool. The new Secretary will be expected to give twelve weekend appeals in parishes and up to three talks in schools, colleges and/or universities. There is remuneration for this part time role and the appointment is subject to a satisfactory CRB disclosure.

Directly under the Holy See, Aid to the Church in Need supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. ACN is a Catholic charity helping to bring Christ to the world through prayer, information and action. Founded in 1947 by Father Werenfried van Straaten, whom Pope John Paul II named ‘an outstanding Apostle of Charity’, the organisation is now at work in about 130 countries throughout the world. ACN undertakes thousands of projects every year including providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since 1979 almost 50 million copies of Aid to the Church in Need Child’s Bibles have been printed in 172 languages and have been distributed worldwide.

For further details about the role of Area Secretary visit www.acnuk.org/jobs or contact Portia Borrett at: portia.borrett@acnuk.org Tel: 0208 661 5173. The deadline for applications is 28 June 2013 and interviews will be held during the week beginning 8 July 2013.

A Call to Faith in Action The 2013 National Justice & Peace Network conference will take place from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 July at the Hayes Centre, Swanwick.. The theme is ‘Breaking Open the Word: a call to faith in action’. The Keynote Speaker will be Megan McKenna and the gathering will be chaired by former MP John Battle.

Further details can be found at http://www.justice_and_peace.org.uk/ documents/conf2013bookingformpdf.pdf

12

Catholic Pictorial

Mass for Elizabeth Prout

Father John Sherrington CP, Provincial of the Passionist Order, was the Celebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving for the life of Elizabeth Prout, (Mother Mary Joseph CP) the Foundress of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion. The Mass was at the church of St Anne and Blessed Dominic in Sutton, St Helens where Elizabeth Prout is buried in the Shrine.

A reflection was given by Sister Marie O’Sullivan CP, who spoke of the life of Elizabeth Prout and of her relevance to the present day.

At the end of the celebration Father Sherrington congratulated Concelebrant Father John Kearns CP, a former Parish Priest at Sutton, who had just been named as the new Father Provincial of the Passionist Order.

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:30 Page 13

Having built our new school we’re well equipped to construct your child’s education

New School Building - Opening September 2013 For more information please visit www.notredameliverpool.com or call us on 0151263 3104

T

ES A H QU'IL

BON

LE BON DIE U

Everton Valley L4 4EZ Telephone: 0151 263 3104 ao@notredame.liverpool.sch.uk www.notredameliverpool.com Headteacher: Mrs F Harrison BSc (Hons) NPQH

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:30 Page 14

spotlight Tribute to Sisters e pay tribute to Sister Mary Magdalen Branwood FCJ, former Head of St Patrick’s School, Liverpool and Sister Una Mary Conran FCJ former Head of Bellerive FCJ, both of whom died on Monday 15 April. This is an abridged version of the Eulogy given

by Sister Mary Campion McCarren at the joint Requiem Mass celebrated for them:

W

Mags, as she was affectionately known in the Society by many friends, had already gone to God as I sat by Una’s bedside, and found myself reflecting on R.S.Thomas’ image of life:

‘the point of travelling is not to arrive, but to return home laden with pollen you shall work up into the honey the mind feeds on’ (Somewhere: Laboratories of the spirit 1975) For the past ten days those lines have stayed with me. They seem so apt for these two women: sent to companion joyfully, faithfully, fruitfully among the people of God and then to return home bearing the fruit of their companionship.

It is true to say they were alike in many ways: joyful, free spirits both of them; deeply spiritual each of them; Liverpool 8 headmistresses both of them; formators of faith each of them; both with two other FCJs in their family, one two sisters, one two aunts; both Local Superiors at various times, each of them to know diminishment, but no way clones!

One intensely Irish, one intensely English (which is perhaps why the Welsh Thomas appeals to me in this context!)

They were formed in the pre-Vatican II world and when the time came embraced renewal enthusiastically.

Una, first time round BSc graduate UCD, 1943, left Bellerive in 1968 after ten years as Head and went to study at Lumen Vitae; she then spent four years in the field of Catechetics in Salford Diocese RE Centre before going to lecture in

14

Catholic Pictorial

Sister Mary Magdalen Branwood FCJ 1929-2013 Divinity at Notre Dame College, Liverpool. Whilst there, she produced ‘New Life in Christ Jesus’ a two year course in RE for pupils in the 4th and 5th forms. After 13 years as Head of St Patrick’s Mags went to study in Rome. She loved that time, and revelled in the subsequent summers spent in the Holy Land with the same group. Her artistic ability was great, she had her ARCM, she painted well and her needlework was superb. Her second career took her to St Wilfrid’s High School, Litherland as Chaplain. Her third took her into retreat work and work with CLC which she loved.

Una’s next career change took her to Canada, listen to her own account: ‘I was asked to coordinate a programme of formation for ministry for lay people who wished to deepen their understanding of the faith, and prepare themselves to participate more actively in the life of the Church. Previously, I had been told that I might give my time to working with people who have AIDS. In Calgary I combined both ministries.’

What she had learned in Canada Una continued to practise for 15 years when she returned to London.

Both Una and Mags believed that ‘to do a religious thing is to do a very human thing’. They were nothing if

Sister Una Mary Conran 1918-2013

not holistic in their approach.

‘An alive vibrant role model’ one calls Mags; many remember her humour and capacity for telling a true and funny story in a broad Liverpool accent. She could make you laugh till you cried. Una suffered great, great pain in the days leading to her death. Possibly no-one will ever know how great her pain was. She was exquisitely courteous to the end, careful to offend no-one by physical handicaps or medical necessities... I think I shall always remember her being woken by the priest at the Sign of Peace or at Communion time: the instant glorious smile, the graceful outstretched hand and the personalised ‘Oh thank you, the peace of Christ to you too...’ As G.K.Chesterton said: ‘the grace of God is in courtesy’.

These two, Una and Mags, have gone to God with 136 years of apostolic religious life between them, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, ‘contemplative even in action’. And while we rejoice with them that their pain is over, whilst we pray for them as they would wish, we give thanks for ourselves, that we were privileged to have two such companions, two such women who each in her own unique and wonderful way, have been sparks of bright God-given light and joy in our lives.

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:30 Page 15

sunday reflections On a liturgical note May is the month of Mary, June the month of the Sacred Heart. The tradition of ascribing a particular devotion to months of the year means that those months stay in our memory from childhood; be it the Marian procession of May-time or the strawberries and ice cream with which our primary school marked the feast of the Sacred Heart, these rituals and customs are important to our celebration of a Catholicism deeply rooted in our culture and popular devotions.

A few weeks ago, Pope Francis addressed a gathering in Rome of Confraternities and Sodalities and asked them to keep in their hearts and minds three important concepts (he seems to like making three points or using three significant words or ideas in his homilies). He asked them – and, thereby, us – to remember to carry with us a spirit which is evangelical, ecclesial and missionary.

We are to be evangelical, to have a love for the Holy Gospels and the person of Jesus to whom they all bear loving witness – and a desire to communicate and spread the

Sunday thoughts This month I celebrate 40 years as a priest. I have spent time in parishes in Skelmersdale, Peru, Huyton and Warrington. As a young priest I was disappointed if the doorbell never chimed. I longed to be disturbed. Now I pray to be left in peace.

A constant thread running through these years has been whether I should allow compassion to override orthodoxy and church discipline, or a sense of my own importance. And now, old and cross, I am convinced that the priest should incline towards Mr Nice Guy. Non-practising parents present a child for Baptism; a couple wish to marry. It is the wrong day, the wrong time, the wrong paperwork, the wrong parish. I insist they make an appointment, so that I can repeat why their request is problematic. I make it harder for them than if they wished to change their mobile phone network.

Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospels, drives a coach and horses through

Canon Philip Gillespie

richness of God’s word to others.

We are to be ecclesial because we remember always and delight in the fact that we belong to a household of faith that is truly Catholic, universal not just in its geographical spread but in affecting every part of our lives. There is, he says, no such thing as a ‘part-time Christian’!

We are to be missionary because we all have a particular vocation but the fundamental mission uniting us all is the task of letting people know, as Saint Paul puts it, the ‘supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord’ (Philippians 3:8).

The Liturgy which we celebrate each day is also marked by these three virtues: we are rooted in the Gospel, rooted in love of the Church, and nourished for the mission which is ours in the world.

As the Pope would say, ‘E cosi sia’ – May it be so!

Mgr John Devine OBE

religious discipline in a way that leaves the Pharisees spluttering with indignation. The priest is the custodian of the sacraments and I control them as if they were my own property. The grace of God is reckless and wasteful but I, like a jobsworth official at the benefits office, means-test every enquirer to ensure that only the most deserving receive their entitlement of God’s goodness. If brownie points are earned by giving people a hard time I have been awarded my share.

Jesus, moved by compassion, disregards orthodoxy, religious tradition and even being tired and hungry at the end of a long day to respond to the needs of the people.

What is it about the love of God that I, as a religious professional, find so challenging?

Let the Spirit loose A few weeks ago I was on a minibus travelling with six Palestinians and an evangelical American to a funeral on the Mount of Olives. A conversation took place about the rights and wrongs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I felt it was right to keep quiet and listen.

The conversation was fascinating and one of the Palestinians was quite vociferous about the wrongs that his people had suffered.

He kept talking about what ‘they’ had done. My friend George, who is also Palestinian, suddenly interjected and said: ‘Who is this faceless ‘they’? There are as many good Israelis as there are bad Palestinians.’ I have thought since about how easy it is to scapegoat and blame rather than to stand in love.

I often think as a Church we have to learn the lessons of acceptance and inclusion. I still yearn for the openness and excitement of the years after Vatican II when we opened the windows of the Church and let the fresh air in.

They were wonderful days when we understood that we were to enter into dialogue with those who thought and lived differently. They were days when we realised that we as a Church were to serve the world. We have seeds of hope planted since the election of Pope Francis. Maybe the essence and the spirit of Vatican II will re-emerge. Only time will tell.

On a personal level we all judge others and condemn them usually on the most superficial criteria. I have often wondered why that is and have concluded that it is easier to judge someone else than face our own need for healing. Richard Rohr in his book ‘The Spiral of Violence’ says: ‘Until we can experience the reconciling of the seeming opposites and the mass of contradictions that we are, we will continue to live a split life and we will inevitably be accusers. The negative energy inside of us has to go somewhere. You will tend to hate another race, reject another religion, or fear another country. You will be a blamer, you will be a fearer, and you will be a hater.’

Pentecost is a wonderful time for focusing on that within us which makes us divide and separate and point the finger. Recognising the power of the Spirit within us, we can allow it the space to work and lead us into the mystery of transformation. It is also a time for decision, for choosing that the way of separation and blame is not the way to follow. This might mean some hard work as we face the criticism that will always come when we refuse to judge or blame others. However, it will bring life to us and the world so let us allow the Spirit to work within us so that we will look at every brother and sister, and learn to love.

Fr Chris Thomas

Catholic Pictorial

15

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:30 Page 16

what’s on Tuesday 11 June Ministry Day 10.00 am-4.00 pm at Loyola Hall, Warrington Road, Rainhill, L35 6NZ. A day for people in full-time or part-time ministry with input and sharing and time for quiet prayer and reflection.

Details from Loyola Hall Tel: 0151 426 4137. Email: mail@loyolahall.co.uk Website: www.loyolahall.co.uk Wednesday 12 June Clergy Day 10.30 am-3.30 pm at Loyola Hall, Warrington Road, Rainhill, L35 6NZ. A short presentation, prayer and discussion including Exposition and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Details from Loyola Hall Tel: 0151 426 4137. Email: mail@loyolahall.co.uk Website: www.loyolahall.co.uk Saturday 15 June Saturday 1 June Soul Food Monthly evening for over 18s. 6.00 pm at Animate Youth Ministries Life and Soul Cafe, Crab Street, St Helens, WA10 2BE. Speaker followed by discussion and Mass at 7.00 pm.

Sunday 2 June Super Sunday For those in High School and beyond.

12.00 noon retreat at Animate Youth Ministries Life and Soul Cafe, Crab Street, St Helens, WA10 2BE. 2.00 pm preparation for Mass. 3.00 pm Mass.

Choral Evening Prayer Exposition and Benediction on the Feast of Corpus Christi. 4.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Monday 3 June ‘Bringing Catechetical Resources to Life.’

Skills Workshop led by Sister Catherine Darby SND. 6.30 pm at Our Lady’s Parish Centre, Bryn, WN4 0LZ. Cost: £10.00.

Tuesday 4 June UCM Business Meeting 7.30 pm in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, L3 5TQ. Friday 7 June Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday 7 June to Sunday 9 June Northern Catholic Conference at

16

Catholic Pictorial

Liverpool Hope University.

Speakers include Lord Alton, Charles Whitehead, Sister Seraphim, Sister Catherine Hollum (former US speed skater), Father Pat Deegan and Paschal Uche. The weekend will also include Healing and Reconciliation Services, Benediction and a Marian Procession. Further information: www.northerncatholic.co.uk Tel: 07543 800812 or write to ‘Regina Coeli’, 6 Warner Drive, Liverpool L4 8US. Saturday 8 June Car Boot Sale 8.00 am onwards in the Cathedral Car Park. Pitches £10. Details from Claire Hanlon 0151 709 9222.

Mass of Thanksgiving for Golden Jubilarians of St Joseph’s College, Upholland 12.00 noon in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Celebrant: Bishop John Rawsthorne.

Sunday 9 June Loyola Day 10.00 am-4.00 pm at Loyola Hall, Warrington Road, Rainhill, L35 6NZ. A day of quiet with input including guidance in prayer and sharing on a theme, ending with Mass. Details from Loyola Hall Tel: 0151 426 4137.

Email: mail@loyolahall.co.uk Website: www.loyolahall.co.uk Mass for the Ordination of Deacons 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Bishop Tom Williams.

Thursday 13 June Music for a Summer Evening With the St Helens Gilbert and Sullivan Society, supported by Warrington Light Opera. 7.30 pm in St Helens Town Hall. Programme includes a performance of ‘Trial by Jury’. Tickets: £8 available by calling 01744 612485 or 01744 25089 or on the door.

Saturday 15 June ‘The Priesthood of the Faithful.’

A day for Clergy and Laity led by Father Paul Philibert OP. 10.00 am-3.00 pm at the Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation. Cost, including buffet lunch, £10. To reserve a place contact Julie Cassidy, Pastoral Formation Department, LACE, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool, L17 1AA. Tel: 0151 522 1040.

UCM Centenary Mass of Thanksgiving 12.00 noon in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Celebrant: Bishop Vincent Malone.

Lovesongs, Strawberries and Wine Concert 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt Concert Room. Tickets and details Tel: 0151 707 3525 or www.cathedralconcerts.org.uk Tuesday 18 June Chapter Mass 12.15 pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Saturday 22 June National Board of Catholic Women Annual General Meeting and Reflection 10.30 am in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral. 12.15 pm

p01-17_covers 24/05/2013 13:30 Page 17

june Mass Celebrant: Bishop Vincent Malone. 2.30 pm Speaker: Christine Allen (Christian Aid). Cost £5 Please bring own lunch, drinks provided.

Access by ticket only. Bookings: Pearl Clarke NBCW President, 6 College Road, Cranwell Village, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8DJ. By Monday 10 June 2013. Cheque payable to NBCW. Sunday 23 June Missio APF-Mill Hill Mission Mass 2.00 pm at Herbert House, Liverpool, L37 1LW. Monday 24 June Mass of Thanksgiving for Jubilarians 7.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Tuesday 25 June Cursillo Ultrya 7.30 pm at St Michael and All Angels, Kirkby, L32 0TP. Saturday 29 June Archdiocesan Pilgrimage To the Shrine of Our Lady of Fernyhalgh and the English Martyrs, Ladyewell, led

by Bishop Vincent Malone. Details: Father James Preston Tel: 0151 727 2493.

Sunday 30 June Feast of St Peter and St Paul Annual Celebrate the Child Mass Organised by the Archdiocese of Liverpool Safeguarding Office. 2.30 pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Bishop Tom Williams. Further details from the Safeguarding Office, LACE, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool, L17 1AA. Tel: 0151 522 1043 Email: celebratethechild@tesco.net

Looking ahead: July 2013 Wednesday 10 July UCM Bi-monthly Mass 7.30 pm at St. Richard's, Liverpool Road, Skelmersdale, WN8 8BX. Sunday 14 July Sea Sunday Mass of Thanksgiving For the ministry of the Salesians of St John Bosco.

10.45 am at St Dominic, Southdean Road, Huyton, L14 8UL. Celebrant: Bishop Tom Williams.

‘Songs from the Silver Screen.’

A concert by St Edmund's Choir to support the Jospice 40th anniversary appeal. 7.30 pm at the Plaza Cinema, Waterloo. Presenter: Angela Heslop (BBC Radio Merseyside). Guest Soloists: Danielle Thomas and Anna Corcoran. Conductor: Martin O’Boyle. Tickets £10 or £8 from Tel: 0151 924 3812. Email: enquiries@jospice.org.uk or from the Plaza Box Office and Choir members.

Friday 26 July to Friday 2 August Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes led by Bishop Tom Williams.

August 2013 Monday 26 August Thanksgiving Mass In honour of Blessed Dominic Barberi CP. 12.00 noon at St Anne and Blessed Dominic, Sutton, St Helens, WA9 3ZD. Celebrant: Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham.

World of Atherton

Sunday 30 June

Catholic Pictorial

17

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:58 Page 18

Photo: Tom Murphy

profile

Pat Pope A stalwart of St Anne’s UCM By Ann Todd t is over 40 years ago since Pat Pope began her long involvement with the Union of Catholic Mothers, but her memories of joining aged 24 are still vivid today. ‘I felt very young at the time because the women seemed older than me. But I enjoyed it right away,’ says Pat, now president of the UCM foundation at St Anne’s, Ormskirk.

I

‘Our social centre at St Anne’s wasn’t built then, so we met at St Anne’s school and I just took to it. I remember there was a talk on embroidery silks which I liked because I used to do embroidery. My husband’s cousin had asked me to go along, and I’m very glad she did!’

Pat was not yet a mother herself – her policeman son, John, arrived 10 years later – but she felt at home right away.

Today, as a 69-year-old grandmother of three, she remains as enthusiastic about the UCM as ever. ‘It’s like being in an extended family,’ she explains.

‘They see you through the good times and the bad and we all support each other.’

Like many members, she has reason to value these close bonds of friendship.

18

Catholic Pictorial

‘I lost my husband Jim suddenly and unexpectedly,’ she says. ‘I cried every day for three years but I was helped through it by the UCM, which means so much to me. I have a wonderful committee and couldn’t do the job of president without them.’

Pat, who grew up in Melling and went to Seafield Convent in Crosby, has many happy memories of her life in the UCM. ‘In those early days we could only afford two balls of wool at a time when we did our knitting,’ she says. ‘We had more than 100 members but now times have changed – with so many women going to work, we don’t get as many, and our youngest member is 50. But we are as strong as ever and will always be here.’

Now living in Aughton, Pat has been St Anne’s president for 10 years, before which she served as welfare officer – a role she has also fulfilled for the Archdiocesan committee. ‘I used to go round to different parishes and talk about how the UCM took on things, such as supporting Nugent Care.

‘I remember one old lady had two friends on a stall at Wigan Market and they gave us some material so we

could sew bed covers by hand for Nugent Care.

‘I have met lots of kind people through the UCM. We used to have parties for the elderly at St Dominic’s in Huyton, with dinner and bingo and lovely raffle prizes, and Sadie, (writer and producer) Phil Redmond’s mum, donated a big hamper. She would give me garments and different things for Nugent Care.’

St Anne’s foundation will mark their 60th anniversary next year with a celebratory Mass and dinner and hope that Monsignor John Butchard, now at Holy Rosary, Aintree, will attend. It was his mother Joan who established the foundation with Margaret McGinn, and Pat is determined to sustain their legacy.

‘The UCM has been such a big part of my life, and it still is. Our numbers may have decreased but we are still going and we will do our utmost to keep it going here at St Anne’s.’

“They see you through the good times and the bad and we all support each other”

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:58 Page 19

youth ministry

All in a month’s work at Animate

worked with the school, and it was great to spend time with the Year 9 pupils.

There were additional school visits, finally, to Holy Cross, Chorley and Hope Academy in Newton-le-Willows where we met staff to discuss future Mission Weeks there.

By Sarah Beatty May’s Youth Alive weekend began with Stephen Hoyland from Loyola Hall speaking to us at the Soul Food evening – and reflecting on our image of God, the different images that we all have, and perhaps where we see God in the world.

Super Sunday was themed around Our Lady and her willingness to do God’s work.

Between working with young people on day retreats, painting rooms in the house and preparing ourselves for World Youth Day and Lourdes, May was another busy month here at Animate.

Straight after Mission Week at St Peter’s, we were back into the Life and Soul Café to work with Year 8s from St Mary’s, Crosby, focusing on the theme of prayer. We explored different ways of praying and looked at how prayer unites us with the whole Catholic Church. Inspired by the school’s art department, we had the young people make prayer sticks, on which they wrote intentions and which were gathered together to make a cross.

Later in the month we also worked with Year 9s from the school, looking at social justice. We used the Cafod values auction to consider how unfair the world can be and how we have a responsibility as Christians to stand up for those being unjustly treated. We gave the young people candles that each placed on a country on the world map in need of our prayers.

May also brought visits to Hugh Baird College and St Edmund Arrowsmith in Ashton-in-Makerfield.

At Hugh Baird, our volunteers spoke to pupils and staff about Animate’s work, about how faith is an important part of this work and about the experience here at Lowe House. St Edmund Arrowsmith held an IMPACT day, meanwhile, where the team discussed how Animate

helps to evangelise young people and how pupils themselves, through their IMPACT group, can do the same. We got the chance to work with another St Edmund Arrowsmith, this time in Prescot where our theme was ‘Living life to the full’, taken from John’s Gospel. We focused on how the Holy Spirit allows us to live our lives to the full with all the gifts the Spirit gives to us. It was the first time Animate had

After our Youth Alive Mass, we had a meeting about World Youth Day, which is approaching fast. ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’ is this year’s theme and Father Simon spoke about how we are called, like the disciples, to evangelise others around us, which is a scary thought for a group aged between 17 and 35! He set us all a challenge before we left – to evangelise through the media. We were encouraged to get in touch with the local press and inform them about what is happening in Rio 2013, so keep an eye out in your newspapers for one of our press releases!

Dates for the diary: 1 June –Soul Food at 6pm, followed

by Mass at 7pm. Open to over-18s.

2 June – Super Sunday at 12pm followed by Youth Alive at 3pm. Open to over-11s.

7 July – Lourdes and World Youth Day Departure Mass (Youth Alive) at St Mary’s, Lowe House at 3pm.

For more information, go to: Facebook: Ani Mate Twitter: @AnimateYouth Web: www.animateyouth.org

Catholic Pictorial

19

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:58 Page 20

come & see

Introducing Christine Dodd…

We are always delighted when Christine Dodd agrees to join us at Come and See. Seats at her workshops are always highly sought after and she is challenging, comforting and informative.

A former director of adult education for the Diocese of Hallam she finds more time these days to indulge in her hobbies of gardening and painting but she is still in great demand around the country, leading parish and diocesan courses, workshops, retreats and study days. Sometimes the gardening and painting just have to take second place!

Christine is a member of the Bishops’

Notre Dame Catholic College and St Julie’s Catholic High School have been celebrating the anniversary of the Notre Dame community coming to Liverpool by holding their annual Foundation Day. This year, the Performing Arts Department at Notre Dame Catholic College organised the day with a focus on the long-standing link that the Notre Dame order has with education.

On 25 March, both schools gathered at the chapel in Hope University for a day of festivities that included dance, community singing and a musical interlude.

20

Catholic Pictorial

Conference Committee for Christian Unity and is also chairperson of the Creative Arts Retreat movement. She is author of a number of books on scripture, spirituality, mission and collaborative ministry. At the conference

Christine will lead two workshops to help participants reflect on the Scriptures. They are called ‘The spiritual journal – the why and how of keeping a spiritual journal’ and ‘Discovering your personal vocation. To help participants develop the calling to live in relationship with God’. So far both workshops are proving very popular and they promise to be both creative and inspiring.

If you have not booked in for the conference yet then contact us at Irenaeus either by phone (0151 924 5127), email (jenny@irenaeus.co.uk) or by visiting our website, which is: www.irenaeus.co.uk.

Schools come together for Foundation Day In 1851, 162 years ago, Father Nugent invited four sisters of the Notre Dame order to the city and charged them with helping to educate the poor girls of the city.

This was to become the foundation of the two schools we know today, and two years ago the decision was made to celebrate the anniversary with an annual event co-ordinated by

each of the schools in turn.

Head teachers Mr Anderson and Mrs Harrison were in attendance along with governors, form teachers, pupils and representatives from the Notre Dame order. The day has been widely hailed as a success by all involved, and the participants are looking forward to taking part again next year.

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:59 Page 21

justice & peace

We must live out the message of the Cross

By Steve Atherton, Justice and Peace fieldworker am still in euphoria at the election of Pope Francis, who seems to have brought a different understanding of what it means to be Church.

I

He reminds us that the values that should inspire and motivate us are not the ones that are used to run a successful business. He shows a sublime innocence and cheerfulness in the face of the difficulties of our century. It is easy to love Pope Francis but his teaching has a hard edge. He warns that a worldly Church, with the spirit of the world within it, becomes weak – ‘a defeated Church, unable to transmit the Gospel, the message of the Cross, the scandal of the Cross.’

So what is this ‘message of the Cross’, this ‘scandal of the Cross’ which is so hard to accept? Surely, it is that Jesus gave himself for others, giving priority to the weak and the poor, to the marginalised and the oppressed, to the outcast and the unloved?

He did not put himself first. He

kept nothing just for himself. He lived as though he meant what He said.

The scandal is that this is not a sensible way to behave.

The world assumes that we look after ourselves and our own, gathering to ourselves as much money and as many possessions as possible, while at the same time looking young and beautiful. Jesus’s vision of the Kingdom is that everyone has enough to eat and drink, has somewhere to live and sleep, has good health and is secure in the knowledge that they are loved by God. We are called to join in making this happen.

Is it possible for us who are not saints to do this? We do not have to be like the rich young man who walked sadly away because he could not live up to the call for total commitment.

Our journey of faith will be made up of many steps. We move gradually towards saintly self-abandonment, taking heart from the fact that we are not on our own in this struggle to live up to the call of discipleship. We have our Church to help us. We have prayer and the sacraments. We have our organisations of Cafod and Progressio to help us do the best we can.

The latest campaign, ‘IF’, reminds us that everybody in the world could have food, drink and shelter if we shared it out better. There is enough to go round but some of us have got more than our share.

The campaign is timed to coincide with the meeting of the G8 in Enniskillen. The last time the G8 met in the UK, our diocese took a coach load of people up to Edinburgh in the hope that we would ‘make poverty history’.

Some hope! Poverty is still a reality.

In fact, it has come closer to home.

Our faith calls us to be part of the solution both at home and overseas.

As we see increasing evidence of people struggling here in our neighbourhoods, we can take a step towards following our master by simply filling in and posting the Cafod ‘Hungry for Change’ campaign card.

If only sainthood were so easy!

Catholic Pictorial

21

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:59 Page 22

EDUCATION NEWS Fashion leaders at St John Bosco Arts College St John Bosco Student Rebecca Lambert in Year 10 made a fabulous mock leather tasselled bag for her GCSE Textiles course. She made such a fantastic bag she entered the 'Get creative with Abakhan' competition run by the fabric superstore in Liverpool. Rebecca won the 12-14 year age group and received £50 of high street vouchers and a great accolade from this very prominent local store! Rebecca was delighted and hopes to make more exciting fashion items in the future maybe even be the next big name at Fashion week!

Pictured right: Rebecca with fellow Y10 Textiles student Joanna Sichivula modelling her bag.

Speak and be heard!

StCatholic Vincent de Paul Primary School Pitt Street Liverpool L1 5BY “Serving With Love … Striving For Excellence”

❤

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

OFSTED Oct 2007 - ‘St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School is an outstanding school.’

Convenient City Centre Location Places Available Breakfast Club: open from 7.30am Range of After-School Extra-Curricular Activities

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Two Computer Suites Educational Visits in our Private Minibus Healthy Schools Award Activemark Gold Basic Skills Quality Mark Liverpool Hope University Articled School Status Archdiocesan Religious Education Inspection “an outstanding school”

For further details, contact the Headteacher: Mr P Stewart on

0151 709 2572

Fax 0151 707 8942 email: stvincentdepaul@merseymail.com 22

Catholic Pictorial

For the third successive time students from Archbishop Beck Catholic College have triumphed at the English Speaking Union competition in public speaking after winning the north west regional final. “Public speaking at the College has certainly taken off, said Headteacher Paul Dickinson. He added: “We are immensely proud of our team”.

The competition, which tests the verbal prowess of students, aims to promote the use of English among secondary students to nurture their confidence in public speaking. The English Speaking Union is an independent, non-political, educational charity with members throughout the United Kingdom, the United States and branches in 50 countries worldwide. Its purpose is to promote international understanding and human achievement through the widening use of the English language.

Ellis Howard the chairperson of the team was voted ‘personality’ of the event and also won the ‘Best Chairperson’ award. Ellis speaking after the event said: “It was fantastic and a very interesting and wonderful experience. Everybody was very good and I was really impressed by all of them.

“This has been a hard fought road, where we have had to win the local final, then the branch final and now we have won the regional final thus taking us to London. We certainly can now say we have the ‘gift of the gab’!

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:59 Page 23

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:59 Page 24

Celebrating outstanding achievement Award Categories: Most Inspirational Primary School

Career Aspiration Award

Most Inspirational Secondary School

Spirit of Enterprise Award

Community Partnership Award

Innovative and Creative Literacy Award

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary Schools

SEN Provision Award

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary Schools

Outstanding Arts in Primary Schools

Eco Project of the Year The Communication Award

Outstanding Arts in Secondary Schools

Teacher of the Year

WOW Recognition Award

Science Project of the Year

Entries open to all schools throughout Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens & Halton

Closing date for entries Monday 30 September 2013 For more information and to receive an entry pack email educateawards@merseymirror.com Follow us on Twitter @EducateAwards Associate Sponsors

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:59 Page 25

cathedral

Busy Summer in store Cathedral Record

By Christopher McElroy 2013 is turning out to be a busy year for the Choir of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Aside from singing the usual seven choral services a week there is a lot else going on. In May the senior boy and girl choristers travelled across to Durham to take part in the Choir Schools Association sports day, competing against other cathedral choirs in football and rounders. The day was rounded off with some 180 choristers singing choral evensong together in Durham Cathedral. Sadly, like our two local premier league sides, we failed to bring a trophy home, but plans are afoot for a winning streak next year.

A week before the sports day the Cathedral hosted the Conference of Catholic Directors of Music which comprises many of the Catholic Cathedral musical directors. The Directors enjoyed a stimulating day of lectures and discussions including hearing from Philip Duffy (Master of the Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral, 1966-1996) Fr Paul Gunter OSB (Director of the Liturgy Office for the Bishops’ Conference) and Andrew Reid (Director of the Royal School of Church Music.) The day was rounded off with the Cathedral choir leading first vespers of the Ascension featuring music by Peter Philips, an English composer who fled to the continent during the reformation.

After the success of the Boys’ be a chorister for a day in February, we are holding a similar event for girls on Sunday 23rd June. Girls will have the opportunity to sing with the choir, take a tour of the Cathedral, learn more about how their voice works and have fun playing games. If you know of a girl currently in year 5 who might like to take part, please contact the music office to register: places are available on a first come first served basis

(music@metcathedral.org.uk) The Summer months provide an opportunity for the glorious Walker organ in the Cathedral to heard in a recital context. On Saturday’s from July 20th through to 7th September there will be an organ recital at 2.15 pm. The organ will be put through its paces by a variety of organists. For further details see the Cathedral website.

The Summer holidays will no doubt be welcome after a busy time, but the Autumn is already shaping up to be a very busy time as well. 2013 sees the centenary of the birth of Benjamin Britten, one of the most widely respected English composers of the twentieth century. Britten had a genius for writing for voices, and some of his church music is amongst the most exciting and original in the choral repertoire. On Saturday 28th September, the Cathedral Choir will give a Britten Centenary Concert featuring many of his best loved works for choirs including ‘A Hymn to the Virgin’ and the Missa Brevis written for Westminster Cathedral.

Three days after this concert the choir will begin recording a new CD of Lenten music for Aid to the Church in need, followed a few weeks later by a concert to celebrate another composer celebrating an anniversary this year, Francis Poulenc. In this concert the choir will be accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia, and directed by Stephen Layton: one of the foremost choral directors in the world today.

2013 will close with a host of Christmas concert and liturgies, including a joint performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Anglican Cathedral choir in December.

For up to date happenings in the Cathedral music department, follow us on twitter @LpoolMetMusic and facebook www.facebook.com/LpoolMetMusic

Canon Anthony O’Brien – Cathedral Dean The month of June is the busiest month of the year at the Cathedral for Diocesan Celebrations and there is an enjoyable buzz each weekend as we welcome and host so many different gatherings. Our Cathedral is at its best when it is busy hosting important Diocesan Occasions.

On Saturday 1 June the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel organised a Marian Day at the Cathedral with Rosary, Mass and Devotions which concluded with Benediction. Today, Sunday, the Feast of Corpus Christi, there will be a Holy Hour at 4.00 pm with Evening Prayer, Exposition and Benediction to coincide with the Holy Hour in Rome led by Pope Francis as part of the Year of Faith.

There are a considerable number of our priests this year celebrating their Golden Jubilee of Ordination. Nine of them were ordained together on 8 June 1963 at St Joseph’s College, Upholland. They will be coming together with parishioners and friends to celebrate Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday 8 June at 12.00 noon and Bishop John Rawsthorne will preside.

The next day, Sunday 9 June, four candidates will be ordained Deacon at Mass at 3.00 pm.

The Union of Catholic Mothers are holding their Annual Mass this year on Saturday 15 June at 12.00 noon which will celebrate their centenary. The following Saturday there is an all day gathering and meeting of the National Board of Catholic Women.

On Monday 24 June at 7.00 pm there is a Mass of Thanksgiving with all the priests celebrating Jubilees this year.

There is one platinum, three diamond, eleven golden, two ruby and one silver.

On the final Sunday of the month there is the Annual Children’s Mass at 2.30 pm celebrated by Bishop Williams.

Catholic Pictorial

25

p18-26_covers 24/05/2013 12:59 Page 26

Pic extras Mums the Word I have said before in this column that our bi-monthly Masses are special. Our May Mass at St Philomena's was special in affording us a reunion with Father Kevin McLoughlin, the parish priest there and our chaplain prior to Fr Mark Madden. It was lovely to see him again.

As outlined in Fr Mark’s homily, 1 May is the feast of St Joseph the worker. Ver y little is known of Joseph yet he is honoured with two feast days and given the title ‘Protector of the Holy Church, Protector of the Family’.

Pope Pius IX in 1870 named Joseph as Protector of the Universal Church because of his dignity, holiness and glor y as husband of Mar y and foster father of Jesus. Many countries worldwide set aside one day a year to honour workers and in 1955 Pope Pius XII proclaimed that 1 May should be celebrated as the feast of St Joseph the worker.

Jesus was ridiculed in Nazareth as ‘the carpenter’s son’ with jumped-up ambitions. But it is this ‘carpenter’ who by his life and example showed absolute love and concern for those in his care; how can this be ridiculed?

We see exemplified by his life and work the primar y obligation of parents, which is to defend, care, love and suppor t their children.

Joseph was a tireless defender of his family and thus seems the ideal person to call upon to defend us, our families and our faith. St Joseph, protector of the family and patron of workers, pray for us.

• I look for ward to seeing you all at our Centenar y Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral on 15 June at 12 noon. We would par ticularly like to see any women who are no longer, for whatever reason, par t of our UCM family, yet remain par t of our histor y.

There are still some tickets left for the reception, buffet and enter tainment at the Adelphi; please contact Margaret on 0151 474 5274 (price £17.50).

God Bless, Ann Hogg, media officer

26

Catholic Pictorial

News from the Liverpool Province of the Knights of St Columba

Knights and families celebrate patron’s feast day The Patron of our Order is St Columba who was born in County Donegal, Ireland on 7 January 521. He died on the island of Iona on 9 June 597 having spent much of his life taking the Christian message to the people of Scotland.

On 9 June we celebrate St Columba’s feast day and to mark the occasion Mass will be celebrated at St Columba’s parish church in Huyton at 11am.

The KSC are grateful to Father Christopher McCoy, the parish priest, for allowing us to use his church for this important occasion for the knights and their families. As usual, Mass will conclude with the anthem of the order, Floreat Columba.

• A new recruitment drive has been launched in south Liverpool with the first of several planned pulpit appeals coming at St Charles and St Thomas More churches in Aigburth on 4 and 5 May. We are seeking Catholic men over 16 to join us in our work for the Church. If you would like to know more, contact grand knight Danny Grimes (email: andannygrimes@aol.com) or Aiden Carney (email: carney@jamescarney.orangehome.co.uk).

• The knights are honoured to have been asked to assist once more in the stewarding of the Annual Northern Catholic Conference at Liverpool Hope University, Childwall from 7-9 June.

• It was the very pleasant duty of Bro Ray Pealing, grand knight of council 9, to make a presentation of a special birthday cake to a longstanding supporter of the council, Gerard Bernard (pictured), who was 100-years-old on 27 March. He is seen here receiving his birthday cake from Ray. • The quarterly Provincial Council Meeting will be held St Austin’s, Chaloner Hall, Aigburth Road on Sunday 2 June at 2pm.

Websites: www.ksc.org.uk or www.ksc.org.uk/province2/ Email: DPOKeane@aol.com

p27-32_covers 24/05/2013 13:03 Page 27

Catholic Pictorial

27

p27-32_covers 24/05/2013 13:03 Page 28

PIC Life The vulnerable have a right to live without fear

By Moira Billinge Years ago, many people with learning disabilities or mental health problems were looked after in institutions.

Although some establishments left much to be desired, the staff, on the whole, did their best to protect and care for their charges, who rarely, if ever, ventured out in public.

This attitude began to change at the start of the 1970s. Institutions were closed and their former residents were sent out to be cared for in sheltered housing. It was intended that they should live, as far as possible, a more independent and normal life in the community to which they belong.

In my student days I was seconded to a large psychiatric hospital and I remember my consternation at seeing individuals whom I had ministered to during my training wander around the streets, looking very lost and bewildered.

Understandably so because institutional care had been all some had ever known and the ‘institutional neuroses’ and dependencies they had acquired made their transition into the community extremely difficult.

Now, decades later, independent living is the norm, yet I was profoundly shocked recently to read, in articles written by Lord David Alton, that each year 60,000 assaults take place against people with disabilities. These figures were compiled by the British Crime Survey. Jane Jessop, founding director of the Blue Apple Theatre Company, believes that this is probably an underestimate. Her company consists primarily, but not exclusively, of actors with learning disabilities such as Down’s Syndrome and was developed in partnership with Hampshire Police. It presents the real story of what is happening in the lives of people with learning disability today and tackles difficult issues around disability hate crime such as bullying, fear and problems being understood. We are challenged by 28

Catholic Pictorial

its work to think about our collective and individual responsibilities to these very vulnerable members of our community.

Lord Alton, describing a performance by the Blue Apple Theatre Company in the House of Commons, said that the hourlong play, Living Without Fear, had ‘achieved more in raising awareness about disability hate crime than any number of speeches delivered in Parliament’. His full report, and information about the company, can be found on www.davidalton.com.

A recent radio programme invited listeners to phone in with their theories as to why such hate crimes were happening and I heard a caller say it was simply because people with disability were now more visible and available, and hence an easy target for bullies. This is such a sad indictment of society’s lack of compassion and humanity.

Lord Alton has invited the Blue Apple Theatre Company to come and perform in the north of England and is trying to raise money to cover the actors’ accommodation and travel costs.

Cheques should be made payable to the Epiphany Trust, St David’s, Park Road South, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 8EY. Please write on the back of the cheque what it is for; for Gift Aid, include your address with a pre-paid envelope. For a direct bank transaction, the address is Epiphany Trust, Co-operative Bank, Bold Street Liverpool branch; account number 65006735 and sort code 08-90-86. If depositing funds in this way, please inform Bill Hampson at the Trust (bill@epiphany.org.uk) or instruct the bank to do so, in order that your gift can be acknowledged. Parishes, schools or organisations wishing to see the production when it comes north in the autumn, should also contact Bill. And remember, the bigger the audiences, the bigger the chances for these precious but very vulnerable people to live among us safely and – crucially – without fear.

Ordination wishes Love, congratulations and thanks to all our priests who are celebrating special anniversaries of ordination this year.

For the glory of your name Lord I have joyfully celebrated the Mystery of Faith.

To mark the anniversary of my priestly ordination - so that I may be in truth what I have handled mystically in this sacrifice through Christ Our Lord.

Amen Ad Multos Annos Send your favourite prayer to: Catholic Pictorial, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS

Worth a visit Discover one of the Peak District’s most picturesque settings with a visit to Matlock Bath, writes Lucy Oliver.

Nestled alongside the River Derwent, this Derbyshire village earned renown as an inland ‘seaside’ resort with the 1831 visit of the then Princess Victoria. It attracted the rich and famous with Lord Byron and Mary Shelley among the many 19th century visitors drawn by its natural splendour and its waters. Sir John Betjeman was later inspired to write a poem about it.

The medicinal springs, which established the town’s fame, were first discovered in the late 1600s, and the first ‘bath’ devised soon after. Today, the town retains a large number of beautiful Victorian and Georgian buildings; one is used as a museum of local heritage above the Victorian Teashop café.

The original railway station, built in 1849 to resemble a Swiss chalet, remains an attraction while just across the River Derwent lies the impressive gorge, with a cable car running between the village and the Heights of Abraham. At the summit, you can explore the local lead mining history in Grand Masson cavern and Great Rutland cavern, and enjoy panoramic views of five counties. Call 01629 582 365 or visit http://www.heightsofabraham.com/

p27-32_covers 24/05/2013 13:03 Page 29

join in Eating Out

Children’s word search The Feast of St Anthony of Padua is celebrated on June 13. Try to check our clues to find out more about this great saint.

ANTHONY

P

O

F

C

C

R

P

H

L

E

I

R

ASSISI

Z

R

Y

J

A

F

U

L

S

I

F

E

H

I

E

I

Z

M

P

E

A

S

E

T

T

F

R

A

T

H

U

N

H

I

R

S

R

F

B

J

C

G

T

F

P

S

N

A

FERNANDO FRANCISCAN FRIAR

L

B

X

O

U

H

Q

L

B

S

A

M

GUESTMASTER

K

T

N

T

O

W

E

D

G

A

N

T

PADUA

D

V

R

N

G

F

M

R

I

H

D

S

PORTUGUESE

R

O

Y

T

S

E

I

R

P

T

O

E

P

A

D

U

A

X

M

I

A

N

Y

U

F

R

A

N

C

I

S

C

A

N

R

G

H

Z

R

Z

B

D

K

V

T

M

B W

PREACHER PRIEST

The weather is still changeable - but a drive out and a nice meal is always welcome Cottage Loaf Telegraph Road, Thurstaston 0151 648 2837 The Wayfarer Alder Lane, Parbold 01257 464600 Rigbye Arms Whittle Lane, Wrightington 01257 462354 Mount Pleasant Manchester Road, Southport 01704 542421 Hop Vine Liverpool Road North, Burscough 01704 893799 Eagle & Child Maltkiln Lane, Bispham Green 01257 462297

Recipe from the Monastery Kitchen

More Mullarkey From Johnny Kennedy The auld fella and the young curate were watching a film on the telly.

‘I can’t understand how some of these films ever get made,’ said the YC. ‘Don’t the people who make them ever give any thought to the effect they might have on the minds of young people? I don’t know how they can sleep at night when they are responsible for such awful films.’

‘Shocking films are nothing new,’ replied Father Mullarkey.

‘But surely not as bad as that one we’ve just seen,’ said the young curate.

‘Don’t you believe it,’ said the auld fella, ‘when I was young in Galway I remember seeing the leering, raving, sex-mad monster. And that was just the manager!’

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, Helen Molyneux, at All Hallows RC High School, Penwortham Anyone interested in receiving the audio copy should contact Kevin Lonergan Tel: 01772 744148 or 01772 655433 (home).

Strawberry Cake 2 Pre-baked sponges 10’ size 1 Packet Strawberry Delight - made with slightly less milk and whisked longer to make it thickish Pot of strawberry jam 300ml Fresh cream - stiffly whipped Fresh strawberries 1 Packet strawberry jelly Creme fraiche Clean and halve the strawberries and place flat in a shallow dish. Pour some slightly setting strawberry jelly over to coat - place rest of jelly in fridge.

Take some strawberries and chop with jelly into enough strawberry jam to cover the top of one sponge - jelly jam and strawberries nicely mixed.

Place bottom sponge into the centre of a large board and apply jam mixture generously on top of the first sponge, drop spoonfuls of creme fraiche on top and swirl about. Take to the edge so that the pink white and red shows when the top sponge is placed over it.

Be careful filling does not ooze out.

Swirl Strawberry Delight over the top of second sponge in drifts - place rest of strawberries and small pieces of jelly on top of sponge and decorate with whipped cream as in picture

Catholic Pictorial

29

p27-32_covers 24/05/2013 13:04 Page 30

CATHOLIC PICTORIAL DIRECTORY Mail order in memoriam

Blooming Affordable Memorials 304 Park Road, Toxteth L8 4QY

£496 or fitted and anchored with up to 100 letters £650

T: 07804 286165 or 0151-7278333 Evenings

Your Local Catholic Business We specialise in all Memorials • Headstones (at trade prices) • Flower Arrangements • Ornaments • Flower Pots

Visit us at our Website www.graveneeds-memorials.co.uk

Wanted for the Missions Large Statues (Even damaged ones), old vestments, pictures, church fittings, rosaries, prayer books, etc.

Please ring Mr. B. Ferris KSC, 102 Moor St, Earlsdon, Coventry CV5 6EY Tel: 02476 676986

cards & bookmarks TOWARDS THE THIRD SECRET distinction ByofIain Colquhoun

Acknowledgement IS IT ABOUT PAST EVENTS...

Cards also available Funeral ServiceSTILL SheetsTO alsoCOME? available OR THINGS In response to this booklet Bishop Burns of Menevia wrote: ‘I commend your thoroughness of research and efforts to clarify the dangers involved in this very complex matter’. For the very first time I follow ‘pointers’ given by both the present Pope available and by Sister Lucia herself.

Samples from 26 Holm Hey Road, Birkenhead CH43 0TP

Available for £2.OO inc p+p from author at Phone: 0151 608 9370 45 St Nicholas Court, Killay, Swansea SA2 7AG

Visit our website www.mortonpress.co.uk

Jesuits Jesuits

The The

For information about a life as a priest or brother

For information about life asplease a priest or brother in the Society of Jesus contact in the Society of Jesus please contact

Vocations Promoter 114 Mount Street Vocations Promoter London W1K 3AH 114 Mount Street email: voc@gbsj.org London W1K 3AH www.jesuitvocations.org.uk

email: vocations@jesuit.org.uk www.jesuit.org.uk

Fitted Bedroom Furniture

JOHN W. GRIFFITH & SONS INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS

(Incorporating Gibbons) PRESCOT

WILL WRITING SERVICE

GRANGE BANK FUNERAL HOME GRANGE ROAD,WEST KIRBY, WIRRAL 0151-625 7606 (Opp. Post Office) MILL BANK FUNERAL HOME, MILL LANE, WALLASEY, WIRRAL 0151-638 5528/5563

£45 per Will £50 per Will

(2 Wills £80)

Have your Will Written for you in the comfort of your own home

No extra charges Fast, friendly service

We are available 24 Hours, 7 days a Week.

As near as you telephone. our service extends throughout Merseyside

0151 292 1868

Fine fitted bedrooms at a fraction of the cost of other manufacturers

Free Design & Quote 20 years building beautiful bedrooms.

Every bedroom guaranteed

Tel: 01744 821390

To advertise on this page please contact Andy. Tel 0151 709 7567 or email andy@merseymirror.com 30

Catholic Pictorial

p27-32_covers 24/05/2013 13:04 Page 31

s, ience c S e in th lisms Computing a i c e Sp & aths and M

r nin d Lea e i l p p A

g

!%# $ ! ' %% "! ( !&

! % " $ ! ! ! " ! ! "" % ! # # % " " & ' # " % !"$ " ! " A taster day will also be held on 24th June: To apply email tasterday@bellerivefcj.org

Bellerive Open Evenings "$ !&$* &" $ !

Tuesday 9th July & Tuesday 1st October

#

% !& $ ( & % & "! & "

“

Bellerive FCJ is an outstanding Catholic College committed to its vision of ‘personal and academic excellence.’ # " # $

Behaviour in classes and around the school building is first rate. # " # $

Windermere Terrace Sefton Park Liverpool L8 3SB

))) $ ( "$

�

p27-32_covers 24/05/2013 13:04 Page 32