Jesuits & Friends 116, Winter 2023

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A faith that does justice

& friends

Encouraged by God, encouraging each other Prayer and fraternity sustain us in our lives of service Issue 116 • Winter 2023 • Jesuit.org.uk

Choose Refugee Gifts this Christmas Beautifully illustrated gift cards for your loved ones that support refugees

Gifts range from £5 - £150 www.jrsuk.net/refugeegifts

In the month of November, we pray for • Mrs Eileen Child • Mr Tony Green the souls of all the dearly departed.

• Mr Simon Travers We remember especially those who have • Mr Nick Weeks • Mrs Sarah Wehrle died recently. May they rest in peace.

FREE: please take a copy

A faith that does justice

On the cover: Fr Peter Gallagher SJ

Editor: John McManus Assistant Editor: Frances Murphy

& friends

Editorial group: Denis Blackledge SJ, Eileen Cole, John Paul de Quay, John Green, Megan Knowles and Lynn McWilliams.

Encouraged by God, encouraging each other Prayer and fraternity sustain us in our lives of service Issue 116 • Winter 2023 • Jesuit.org.uk

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2 Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

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Address for correspondence: 11 Edge Hill, London SW19 4LR T: 020 8946 0466 E: info@jesuitmissions.org.uk

CONTENTS

From Fr Provincial Pope Francis, at an ecumenical and interreligious meeting which took place in Ulaanbaatar during his visit to Mongolia in September, expressed the wish that ‘the prayers we raise to heaven and the fraternity we experience here on earth spread seeds of hope’. Praying and working well together are not in competition for our time and energy but are the buildingblocks of the right kind of progress.

When we pray, we allow our attention to be directed towards God, listening to him and expressing ourselves to him.

However, that focus on the divine does not imply that all the other things we think about are distractions from that central concern. We worry about the world: our prayer makes us hopeful.

Our thought and action find an energy and a helpful self-criticism in spirituality.

The ‘seeds of hope’ of which the pope speaks are the impact of our attention

to God on us and on everything else that he has created. Hope is more than optimism or whistling in the dark. Living the spiritual life, we find good reasons for our efforts to make things better.

Failure, thought about in this way, is not a disaster but a staging-post. Allowing ourselves to be encouraged by God, and encouraging each other, we cope with whatever happens with serenity and confidence.

Praying and working well together are not in competition for our time and energy.

The fraternity which Pope Francis has in mind is an interreligious one.

Human beings have in common our attention to the transcendent and

our love of community. In harmony with people of all sorts, we build new structures and repair old ones.

Our harmonious efforts spring from a love of peace but they are not unprincipled. Solutions to our problems emerge from the sharing of insights and from the seriousness of our search for truth.

Is the contrast between our spiritual aspirations and the needs of the world too great? Are prayers raised to heaven distraction from hard work to cope with crises and worthwhile, long-term projects? For Christians, harmony between these two parts of our life is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Getting to know him better, we discover a way of being fully at the service of the needs of the world and properly attentive to God. He listens and saves.

Peter Gallagher SJ

In this issue...

04 Meet our new provincial, Peter Gallagher SJ.

05 Kensy Joseph SJ is grateful for the fruits of July’s province retreat.

06 World Youth Day and the

Magis programme left a lasting impression on pilgrims Matthew O’Dowd and Allena Andress.

08 JRS UK’s refugee friends have

shared joyful experiences with their local community, as Mark Dunn tells us.

10 Paul Chitnis unveils Jesuit Missions’

new look, and David Harold-Barry SJ reflects on what ‘mission’ means.

12 What is discernment of spirits all about? John Paul de Quay gives us a visual guide.

14 Patrick Kenny helps us get to know a World War I chaplain whose

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cause for canonisation opened last year: Fr Willie Doyle SJ.

16 Life at St Aloysius’ College, Glasgow,

is shaped by the retreat programme that Tony McBride describes.

17 Euan McArthur describes how the

UK was encircled in a ring of prayer during a sailing voyage this spring.

18 A pilgrimage in honour of Bl.

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14

Edward Olcorne SJ brought Frank Tota much encouragement; and Phil McCarthy points any would-be pilgrims in the right direction.

21 Postcard from Guyana: what did Rebecca Somerset uncover in Georgetown?

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22 Praying with the pope: Eddy Bermingham SJ.

23 Obituaries.

22 jesuit.org.uk

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PROVINCE NEWS

‘A WORK

only just beginning’

The British Jesuit Province welcomed a new provincial superior, Fr Peter Gallagher SJ, on 1 September 2023. At the start of his term, Fr Provincial reflects on how he and the Jesuits in Britain will continue their journey together. and the whole team at Mount Street (who see provincials come and go with philosophy) have made me welcome and have helped me to settle.

Fr Peter Gallagher SJ (left) with Paul Chitnis, director of Jesuit Missions

T

he philosopher Montaigne said, ‘I know that from which I am fleeing but not that for which I search’. This remark is very encouraging to me arriving in the provincial’s office after a number of years in the classroom. The narrowness of my experience prompts humility, and a willingness to ask for help. There is plenty to learn. The goals, of course, are not completely uncertain or unknown – the gospel, Saint Ignatius’s Constitutions, the decrees of recent General Congregations are all to hand.

However, discovering the right way to do what is expected is a work only just beginning.

The Society of Jesus expects quite a lot from its superiors but is also very kind to them. Arriving in London from Paris, I find everything in good order and many people eager to assist me. Father General has made his wishes known but with many a glimpse of his patience and good humour. Father Damian Howard (to whom sincere thanks for his fine service) has shown me the ropes and been very modest about his many achievements. Father Paul Nicholson, the pillar of the province,

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Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

Yes, a flight from the past. However, in the spirit of the examen, there is also appreciation of graces received.

The lecture hall can be dusty. It is limited and limiting. But there were blessings in boot-camp. The young people met there entrust their future to God. Their faith, hope and charity are infectious. The formation centres are very good places to live and work.

The Church and the Society have plenty of tested wisdom about how to initiate newcomers to religious life.

Some of this understanding has a more general application.

Is it misleading to speak of the way forward as a search? Plenty is laid down for provincials to do. A province which is more than 400 years old knows what to expect. The good example of distinguished predecessors is there to be followed dutifully. Yet there is a search.

And not just for a style. The pilgrim is looking for something more than to make peace with his own idiosyncrasies.

There are plenty of challenges and not a few situations where it seems that the solution is to do something different from what we have always done.

Philosophers are notoriously better at analysing problems and framing questions than at finding answers and solutions. However, Montaigne was on to something. Genuine progress is favoured by an awareness that some of the good that was previously done must now be left to flourish on its own. The horizon inspires and retreats at the same time. The flight confers already some momentum.

JOIN TEAM JRS! Have you been contemplating running your first ever marathon?

Or are you a seasoned longdistance runner who’s ready to enjoy the thrill of another mass event? Perhaps you missed the official London Marathon ballot and are still looking for a place?

The good news is that Jesuit Refugee Service UK has places in the 2024 London Marathon.

In the months leading up to the event, you will get fundraising support from a dedicated staff alongside training help from a large team of JRS runners. You’ll be part of the JRS UK community – this means personalised JRS goodies, invitations to JRS events, and other opportunities to get to know our work up-close!

All the money you help to raise will directly support JRS UK’s work in accompanying, serving and advocating alongside and for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. This could mean funding baby essentials or toiletry bags that we provide to destitute refugees, or sponsoring legal advice, interpreting services, hardship grants and phone credit.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information and to apply by 15 November 2023, visit: jrsuk.net/london-marathon/

Eileen Co

le runnin

g the 20

23 Mara t

hon

PROVINCE NEWS

PROTECTORS OF

God’s handiwork

A special meeting of Jesuits and coworkers at St Beuno’s this summer was a response to Pope Francis’ call to ecological conversion.

Kensy Joseph SJ tells us about a fruitful week.

[The] ecological crisis is also a summons to profound interior conversion... an ‘ecological conversion’, whereby the effects of [Christians’] encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them.

Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.

(Pope Francis, Laudato si’, §217)

of group discussions then fed into the continuing prayer and discernment for the whole body the following day. The retreat proceeded in two phases: the first five days roughly corresponded to the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola up to the Second Week; the last three days paralleled the Third and Fourth Weeks. Those who could not commit to eight days were, therefore, able to leave on the fifth day.

Social problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds…

The ecological conversion needed to bring about lasting change is also a community conversion. (Laudato si’, §219)

Everyone who participated grew in their awareness of the presence of God in creation.

P

ope Francis’ call to ecological conversion in Laudato si’ was taken up by the Society of Jesus as part of its discernment process leading to the formulation of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs), particularly the fourth one, ‘caring for our common home’. Reception of the UAPs, and so ecological conversion, is an ongoing process for each province.

From 5-14 July 2023, fifty Jesuits and coworkers gathered at St Beuno’s for a special province retreat at the invitation of then-provincial, Fr Damian Howard SJ. The aim of the retreat was to discern how the Lord was calling us, as the apostolic body of the Jesuits in Britain, to move forward on the path of ecological conversion. The retreat was preached by Fr Dushan Croos SJ, inspired by the book Parcours spirituel pour une conversion écologique by Br Jérôme Gué SJ and Fr Éric Charmetant SJ. As well as having individual spiritual direction, retreatants were also divided into groups where we shared the fruits of our prayer following the ‘spiritual conversation’ methodology for communal discernment. Summaries

Fr Dushan’s talks were rich with images and facts about the wonderful world we live in. I was struck, in particular, by the fragility of life on earth. The atmosphere that insulates and protects us, for instance, is only about as thick as the skin of an orange, in relative terms.

Another participant found the image

of mushrooms, with their mycelial (root) networks interconnected and constantly communicating with each other, deeply meaningful. Many found the ‘ecological examination of conscience’, helping them ‘acknowledge [their] sins against creation’ (Laudato si’, §8), eye-opening.

Almost everyone who participated grew in their awareness of the presence of God in creation and trust in God’s providential action: ‘And for all this, nature is never spent’ (Gerard Manley Hopkins, ‘God’s Grandeur’).

The retreat did not produce a programme or strategy for the province.

Like the ongoing Synod in Rome, that is not the main goal of discernment.

Rather, the fruits of the province retreat will be seen in the sensitivity to ecological concerns that continues to permeate our community and apostolic lives. They will also be seen in the friendships that were made and built up over these days spent contemplating creation, and our role in it. The main grace is the one for which Pope Francis prays at the end of Laudato si’ (§246): God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth, for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.

One participant’s creative response to the retreat

jesuit.org.uk

5

MAGIS & WORLD YOUTH DAY

World Youth Day takes over the streets of Lisbon

MORE, MORE,

more!

In the days before World Youth Day, young people from all over the world came together for the Magis programme, in which they participated in ‘experiences’ that opened their eyes to the presence of God in different ways. Two pilgrims reflect on their time in Portugal this summer.

MATTHEW O’DOWD I had long aspired to go to World Youth Day, partially driven by friends who had previously attended, but also out of appreciation for its founder, Pope St John Paul II. I was also offered the opportunity to attend Magis, an Ignatian spirituality programme preceding World Youth Day. At a taster day in London, I was moved by how very simple exercises could have such a profound impact. I went home that day feeling truly at peace and inspired by the idea of ‘more’.

A delayed flight meant that I didn’t arrive at the ‘Magis villa’ until 1am, yet the welcoming smile of the 6

Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

organisers was a demonstration that the Holy Spirit was working, even at unsociable hours! I was touched by the atmosphere of joy, with laughter, song and dance accompanying the whole experience, even in the 45-minute dinner queue!

I was sent on a ‘Magis experiment’ with around twenty others to Baleal Island, a beautiful opportunity to experience God through waves and sunsets. We gathered after breakfast each day for morning prayer and to hear where we would be sent for the day’s ‘challenge’; it was like being on a spiritual reality TV show! The experience consisted of a surf lesson,

beach-cleaning, a pilgrimage and service in a local community centre.

We ended each day with a ‘Magis circle’, an opportunity to meditate and reflect on the presence of God in the day’s activity. It was encouraging to be able to talk openly about my faith with a group of like-minded believers. I was among a diverse group with a range of ages and languages, yet I was inspired by the openness and depth with which others shared and, in particular, by how inhibitions about discussing faith were released as the week went on.

Even after just a few days, the relationships formed among our group were extremely strong. The final Mass of Magis was an emotional experience.

Receiving the eucharist felt ever more special, reminding us that even as we went our separate ways, we would still be bound together in communion. That feeling remains with me today and has inspired me to prepare myself better each time I receive communion.

MAGIS & WORLD YOUTH DAY Upon completion of Magis, we were sent forward to World Youth Day. It’s hard to imagine the scale of the event: 1.5 million pilgrims practically quadrupling the population of Lisbon and creating the most joyful chaos that I have ever experienced! There was an immense variety of events; from catechesis sessions and talks, to plays and concerts, and opportunities for Mass and adoration.

One of the most powerful experiences for me was being able to find peace amid the noise. I attended Nightfever one evening, an opportunity to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament with music in the background. It was a wonderful realisation that the millions who had travelled were not just there to be part of a huge social event, but to be present with Jesus.

On the penultimate day, we embarked on a four-hour pilgrimage to the Parque Tejo for the evening vigil and closing Mass said by the pope. We arrived to a crowd full of excitement, yet as the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, the feeling of 1.5 million people suddenly falling silent was memorable. I’m usually nervous among crowds, yet World Youth Day actually gave me a feeling of comfort and belonging.

I expected to go home tired, but was actually buzzing! Having reflected on my experience, I feel a stronger desire to pursue a closer personal relationship with Jesus. I have been inspired by the new means of prayer that I discovered, helping me to reflect on the presence of God in my everyday life. The

The MAGIS-UK group in Lisbon

friendships that I made also showed me how God can manifest himself through others, inspiring me to try to transmit that same spirit of generosity and kindness to those I meet.

ALLENA ANDRESS Magis was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. To be amid a community of nearly 2,000 young Catholics, with the freedom to express and resonate with one another’s faith, was a true gift. Welcoming each day in prayer and community taught me to realise God’s presence, and find it in all beings and things around me.

It was like being on a spiritual reality TV show!

My Magis experience was one of ‘service and solidarity’, and was based primarily in Cruz de Pau, Matosinhos, Porto with an organisation called Centro Incentivar a Partilha (CIAP).

They work in partnership with various other non-profit organisations and universities for the development and advancement of low-income neighbourhoods. I was in a group of twenty individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and the sense of family and belonging that I got from working together with them and the CIAP members was powerful and unforgettable.

The Ignatian spirit was at the heart of all the activities we participated in while in Matosinhos. Our group’s cultural diversity enriched activities such as making waste bins for children from reusable tyres in collaboration with ArkiPlay; we sensed the presence of God within our hearts while creating music; and we painted with the Espiral organisation, who work tirelessly to bring ‘more’, the true spirit of Magis, to children with learning difficulties. We also interacted with organisations that support refugees and immigrants to have control of their own future.

While engaging with the elderly I was reminded of my own grandparents, and felt like I was recalling old memories and making them more precious with this new Magis family.

My time at Magis helped me to rebuild my relationship with God and invoked in me the desire to live with love and joy as a child of God. The morning prayers, Magis circles for reflection, glorious music, Mass and communion with this wonderful community from across the world brightened my soul and made me feel hope.

I found God’s love in each member of my Magis group – in their smiles and their laughter, in their times of sorrow and in their joyous moments, while breaking bread together as one family, and in supporting each other through each day. I found God in strangers on a tram, in children playing and in the nature around me.

The World Youth Day events that followed the Magis programme provided a truly phenomenal opportunity for a woman like me, born in an unknown part of India, to stand with 1.5 million Christians and participate in the eucharist with Pope Francis. It was the single most powerful moment of my life.

I’m truly humbled by the grace bestowed upon me through Magis and World Youth Day, and the sense of community and profound faith I discovered in each person I encountered. I will be forever thankful for the friendships I formed, the learning and healing I experienced, and to have found Jesus in me, once again. jesuit.org.uk

7

JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE UK

JRS UK

IN THE COMMUNITY

Through new initiatives in their local area, JRS UK continues to nurture the joy and friendships that arise when refugee friends and the communities in which they live come together with a common purpose, says Mark Dunn.

T

his year, JRS UK has been more active than ever in our community in east London to bring local residents and refugee friends into encounter with one another, through new projects that fulfil our mission of reconciliation. We hope that creating meaningful encounters between refugee friends and local residents will build greater understanding, empathy, trust and solidarity.

This work is so important in a context in which the far-right has increasingly mobilised against migration and asylum-seeking, weaponising fears and concerns in local communities in order to spread hatred. There have been over fifty demonstrations across the UK against asylum seekers in 2023.

This has doubled compared to last year, and hasn’t happened in isolation.

Alongside hostile and anti-refugee law and policy made by recent governments, there has been an ever-increasing dehumanising rhetoric around asylum seekers and migrants in the media and public discourse. A ‘HOPE Not Hate’ report found that far-right activity online spikes around key government announcements and associated media coverage. Public opinion on asylum and migration is increasingly polarised, and 40% of people – more than at any time in the last five years – now consider it to be the most important issue facing the country.

Part of our mission at JRS UK is to cut through this narrative of division.

We want communities to be inclusive, welcoming and hospitable to refugees so that all community members –

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Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

refugees and non-refugees – can have a sense of belonging, with mutual respect and care for one another. Our vision for reconciliation is of a society in which compassion and a shared sense of humanity can flourish, even when there are differences or disagreements between people in identity, beliefs and opinions. The new projects reflect the understanding that work with and for refugees must connect to wider efforts to enable a more compassionate and just world. Our work should contribute to building this kind of society and not undermine it by contributing to greater levels of division or distrust.

We strongly believe in the power of hope and joy as a way to bridge gaps and build connection.

Connecting through food For our first activity, we welcomed a gardening group from Mencap (a charity supporting people with disabilities) to our gardens at the Hurtado Centre. Together with our refugee friends, they learnt how to pot pansies and herbs, and sow beans, squash, carrots and lettuce.

It was wonderful seeing everyone working together and helping each other out. Being outside and working with nature ensured a calming, relaxing atmosphere, and having a shared task brought everyone together. At the end of the session, we enjoyed coffee and cake together.

To mark the coronation of King Charles III, JRS held a special ‘Coronation Community Kitchen’ programme, through which refugee friends and local volunteers were invited to cook up a feast for a street party. Recipes were shared and participants were taught how to cook baklava, pizza and Nigerian puff puff. In the words of one participant: ‘The Coronation Community Kitchen makes me feel connected with different people, different cultures, and with different foods.’ The kitchen and hall had a palpable energy and buzz, with music and laughter as participants split off into groups to prepare and cook each type of food. Once cooking was completed, the JRS centre transformed into a café-esque social space to which everyone was invited to spend time together enjoying the fruits of our labours.

The following day, the food was served at a coronation street party on Wapping Green. Refugee friends were invited to join the festivities with music, dancing and activity stalls. JRS UK held a stall which served the community kitchen food, and had conversations with local residents about our work and answered their questions about refugees. Many were happy to hear about the work to support refugees happening on their doorsteps, with people offering their time and donations. Some knew about the centre as they had been there when it was their primary school many years ago!

Connecting with nature We have joined with a local litter-pick group in Wapping, which meets monthly to collect rubbish around Wapping and its waterways. It’s fantastic to give our friends the opportunity to participate in the local community in such a visible and tangible way. Our friend Abdul puts it best: ‘I was born at the edge of the Himalayas. Our house was encompassed by a vast forest.

Until the age of ten, I used to wander

JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE UK through never-ending maize and corn fields, and flowing streams. Those distant memories keep connecting me to nature and the environment. During the summer in the UK, I spent most of my spare time in parks. So when Mark from JRS asked me to participate in a programme to preserve the local area, I accepted this offer. The other volunteers on this project greeted me with a warm welcome, and we began picking litter at the local park and kept going through the waterways, streets, parking bays, ponds and housing estates.

At the end of the event, all volunteers gathered at Wapping Green and we had a wonderful chat about almost everything. I truly enjoyed that experience of conserving nature and am looking forward to participating further in these ventures! I also want to say thank you very much to JRS for providing me with this opportunity to connect with volunteers from the local community.’

Connecting through sport In July, JRS participated in the fourth ever ‘London Unity Cup’ and the JRS UK football team was born! It was a day for bringing people together, meeting other charities similar to us and encouraging all who took part to have a good time. Our refugee friends were excited to be playing in a tournament and it was filled with joy, laughter and fun. We won our first match but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the other games. It wasn’t meant to be, but it really didn’t matter. We had played with such joy and the memories from the tournament are still fondly spoken about!

Top to bottom: the JRS UK football team; making baklava in the Coronation Community Kitchen; the coronation street party on Wapping Green (Photos: JRS UK)

Whatever the method – whether it is gardening, food, sport or volunteering – we are seeing the joy and spirit of our friends reach new people through our community activities. We strongly believe in the power of hope and joy as a way to bridge gaps and build connections. We will continue to be active in our local community and create opportunities for connection, understanding and hope. Soon we will begin conversations in another area of London and in North West England to listen to local residents in other communities, to see how we may create further opportunities for encounter, community and reconciliation. jesuit.org.uk

9

JESUIT MISSIONS

A NEW BRAND

for new horizons Schoolgirls in Zimbabwe

Jesuit Missions has a new look! Director Paul Chitnis brings us along on the evolutionary journey of their work.

F

or over sixty years, Jesuit Missions has been supporting Jesuits serving communities overseas. As Fr Peter Gallagher SJ, the provincial, said at the launch of our new brand, Jesuit Missions is at the heart of the British Province.

Being a ‘missionary’ is not something unique to Jesuits or priests. Pope Francis reminds us that we are all ‘asked to obey [the Lord’s] call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the “peripheries” in need of the light of the Gospel.’ Indeed, every Mass ends with a co-mission: to ‘go and announce the gospel of the Lord’.

Announcing the Kingdom of God has been a life’s work for countless British Jesuits ‘on the missions’. In 1966, there were over 200 working in countries

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Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

including Guyana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Today, that number is in single figures.

This partly reflects the huge changes in these countries. Colonial ties have been shed, often at great cost, creating different relationships with former colonial powers.

The Church and the Society of Jesus have also changed. For example, the Southern African province is now comprised of nearly 90% local Jesuits.

These demographic, cultural and ecclesial changes inevitably affect the work of Jesuit Missions. Our traditional role in supporting missionaries by procuring missals, spare parts for jeeps and football strips has ended.

Today we encourage and promote the local communities largely in low-income countries. Above all, we seek to amplify their voices in our advocacy work.

The horizons of our work have changed from supporting British Jesuits on the missions to supporting the universal mission of the Jesuits globally.

Perhaps not everywhere, in practice, but certainly in over twenty countries, Jesuit Missions is accompanying a wide range of partners implementing a diverse array of projects.

At its heart, our mission remains unchanged: ‘the service of faith of which the promotion of justice is an absolute requirement.’ (General Congregation 32, 1974) Less prosaically, we share the mission of Jesus: ‘to bring the good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives,

JESUIT MISSIONS to the blind new sight and to set the downtrodden free.’

As our work has evolved, so has our branding. You can see several iterations of it at the bottom of this page.

This rebrand will make it easier to communicate our work digitally, especially to a younger audience. The colours, including ‘Jesuit yellow’ (not its real name!), are bold and distinctive, something which was part of the brief.

In the design process, the nails in the traditional Jesuit logo were drawn out and reshaped around the words, ‘Jesuit Missions’. They serve to remind us of the crucified people who endure hunger, disease, human rights abuses and the degradation of their environment in many of the poorest parts of the world.

The brand is more than the logo. We also identified three core values for Jesuit Missions: generosity, passion and hope.

Generosity is a characteristically Ignatian value: an invitation to respond, in gratitude, to God’s own love and generosity by loving and serving God in all things, especially where people are marginalised in any way.

Our generosity invites from us a passion – a desire – to work in a discerning way for systemic change and not just be content with alleviating the symptoms of injustice. Only then can we hope to end the evils of poverty and injustice.

To be hopeful is something rooted in every human heart, says Pope Francis.

‘Hope speaks to us of a thirst … a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, goodness and beauty, justice and love … Hope is bold’.

Being bold requires of us the same courage and resilience shown by the people in the communities in which we serve as they confront huge challenges.

The Jesuit mission in the 21st century The word ‘mission’ has traditionally been tagged on to the ‘main’ work of the Church, something extra to the normal business of running parishes, schools, hospitals, children’s homes and the like.

It has now recovered its original meaning. Jesus sent out his disciples to announce to the people: ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you’ – that mission was the work of the early Church. There was no other.

The Second Vatican Council proclaimed this in her first document, Lumen gentium: ‘this Council wishes to set forth more precisely to the faithful and to the entire world the nature and encompassing mission of the Church.’ This mission is to announce, ‘the eternal Father’s plan to dignify men [and women] with a participation in the divine life.’

But the phase in the Church’s history which was devoted to going out to new lands where people had never heard of Christ, is now largely over. The mission today is to build on what is there: to lead people into a deeper understanding and living of the faith.

Paradoxically, this is being done at the very time when many people no longer hold to their first evangelisation and have left the Church, in the sense that they no longer participate in the eucharist and the other sacraments. There has been a surge of individualism and people now make up their own minds about what they believe and how they behave. They see the Church as being out of touch with their own experience. They see political leaders shifting their ground in response to popular changes of mood.

At the same time, the laity have stepped forward and are seeking ways of providing a leadership of their own.

Not all are happy, but Pope Francis encourages this development, having called us all to a process of conversion, of ‘walking together’, in the Synod on synodality, the latest phase of which has just taken place in Rome.

An example of ‘walking together’ is already evident in the Society of Jesus through the collaboration that has been defined by the present Jesuit Father General, Arturo Sosa, as ‘a convergence of different vocations in a shared mission’. And so in the past five years, our Jesuit leadership has called us to understand that: ‘We do not have collaborators; we are collaborators.’

It means that the Church has one apostolic mission, and we all cooperate in promoting this.

Where does this leave the vocation of a sister, brother or priest? Are they just the same as lay people?

In answering this, we must be clear about our different callings – all serving the one mission. The whole history of Israel and the subsequent Church shows how God chose some people to embody the covenant on behalf of all people. They may not always succeed and, indeed, we may sometimes have to call them to account.

Again, we can pause and wonder at the courage of Francis. He has called a meeting where there is no agenda and no projected outcome. He keeps reminding us it is the process that counts – not the results.

David Harold-Barry SJ

The Jesuit Missions logo through the years

jesuit.org.uk

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IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY

Our spirituality is how we navigate life so that our relationship with God is felt in all our actions.

However, there are evil spirits that seek to lead you away from God.

By John Paul de Quay

D

iscernment of spirits is one of the key pillars of Ignatian spirituality. In his Spiritual Exercises, which have been helping souls for nearly 500 years, St Ignatius sets out ‘rules to aid us toward perceiving and then understanding, at least to some extent, the various motions which are caused in the soul, the good motions that they may be received, and the bad that they may be rejected’. What might these motions look like in your life...?

There is a lot going on in our bodies, minds and hearts, and in the world around us. Making sense of it, and making good decisions, can be hard.

You mean I am only a metaphor?

We need to learn to tell the difference between the prompts of the good and bad spirit.

Discernment of spirits helps us notice thoughts, feelings, moods, desires and actions. Reflecting on our experience, and what we believe God wants for us, we can begin to recognise the movements of the good and bad spirits within us.

A movement towards God brings us out of ourselves and towards what God is like.

No, it means you take advantage of people’s weakness.

We call this, ‘spiritual consolation’.

Peace and gentleness

Love and generosity

Forgiveness and patience Tell her how sorry you are

Just sit and pay attention to the good things around you

It’s nice to share Forgive him again

Self-control

Courage, hope and strength

I could go on but I think you get the picture. Spiritual consolation is an increase in faith, hope and love.

Don’t follow the crowd.

Cold showers are characterbuilding

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St Ignatius

IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY Conversely, there are counter-movements

Self-centredness

Extreme emotions (excitement/sadness)

Show the world how beautiful you are

He always has more fun than you

Give in to your feelings

These are moving away from what God is like. This could look like....

Anxiety What will people think of you?

There’s a lot to go wrong.

These can lead to spiritual desolation, an inward-looking paralysis.

Lack of self-control

Endless snags

But what if this happens?

Go on, just one more episode...

STOP IT! Concentrate!

The bad spirit is more seductive and easier to follow, but stronger?

Do not allow these thoughts to take centrestage, no matter . how engrossing

NO! Hopeless

You are rubbish

Move in the other direction.

It looks like a lack of hope or that God seems to be missing.

Discernment of spirits is tricky if you are not treating your body well. Get some good sleep. Make sure you eat well and get regular exercise.

See it, say it, sort it.

Most importantly, take time for prayer and quiet. Do not fill your life with endless noise to distract yourself from discerning where God is at work in your life, and where real freedom lies.

jesuit.org.uk

13

FR WILLIE DOYLE SJ

‘They speak his name with tears’ An Irish Jesuit First World War chaplain who was born 150 years ago had his cause for canonisation opened last year. President of the Father Willie Doyle Association, Dr Patrick Kenny, introduces the priest from whom ‘virtue went forth’.

A certain Roman Catholic chaplain... lies in a soldier’s grave in that sinister plain beyond Ypres. He went forward and back over the battle field with bullets whining about him, seeking out the dying and kneeling in the mud beside them to give them Absolution, walking with death with a smile on his face, watched by his men with reverence and a kind of awe until a shell burst near him and he was killed... They remember him as a saint – they speak his name with tears.

Fr Willie Doyle SJ (Photo: Irish Jesuit Archives)

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FR WILLIE DOYLE SJ

A

ppearing in the Daily Express on 22 August 1917, these words describe the life and death of the World War I chaplain Fr Willie Doyle SJ, who was killed six days previously while attempting to assist two officers stranded in ‘no man’s land’.

William Doyle was born on 3 March 1873 in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland.

He was the youngest of seven children born into comfortable circumstances.

While the family enjoyed the assistance of servants in the home, young Willie was known to go out of his way to help them, getting up before they were awake to wash the dishes or light the fire. As he grew, he also sought out the local poor, often giving food and money to them or even decorating and painting their houses for free.

Educated at Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire from the age of eleven to seventeen, he entered the Jesuits when he turned eighteen. His sixteen years in formation included time teaching and working with students in both Belvedere College and Clongowes Wood College in Ireland, as well as a period of study in Stonyhurst. His time as a novice was marked by a fire in the novitiate which resulted in what is recorded as a ‘complete nervous breakdown’. His story is one of remarkable transformation – accepted back to the novitiate, he never again suffered mental health problems, and twenty years later he was awarded medals for his heroism in the trenches of World War 1.

He was ordained a priest on 28 July 1907 alongside Fr John Sullivan SJ, who was beatified in 2013. Most of his priesthood was spent on the Jesuit mission team, preaching missions across Ireland, England and Scotland. He often went to the ‘peripheries’ to seek those distanced from the Church. He was known to wait on the docks for sailors arriving into port late at night or to go out to meet factory workers on their way to work at dawn. He seems to have had a powerful effect on all he met. One nun described him as ‘more like an angel than a man’, whilst another said that, ‘it was as if, like his master, virtue went forth from him.’

He was particularly devoted to helping ordinary working men and was

a pioneer in the effort to establish a retreat house for workers in Ireland.

He was a renowned retreat master and spiritual director as well as a promoter of vocations whose pamphlets on the topic sold in the tens of thousands.

He also applied his great organisational and fundraising skills to the task of raising money for the African missions, and was instrumental in founding the Poor Clare convent in Cork City.

But it was his ministry as a chaplain in World War I that made Fr Doyle famous.

Fr Doyle often went to the ‘peripheries’ to seek those distanced from the Church. He seems to have had a powerful effect on all he met.

Fr Doyle was always to be found with his men, suffering along with them. Living in cold and mud, or suffering from searing heat, surrounded by death and with rats crawling over him at night, Fr Doyle seems always to have remained cheerful in the midst of extreme deprivation.

As one officer noted: ‘Fr Doyle never rests. Night and day he is with us. He finds a dying or dead man, does all, comes back smiling, makes a little cross and goes out to bury him and then begins all over again.’

Fr Doyle’s pastoral care was universal.

He assisted wounded German prisoners, as well as those of any religion or none. On one occasion a wounded Protestant soldier told him: ‘Father, I don’t belong to your flock’, to which Fr Doyle responded: ‘No, but you belong to my God.’ His care for others cost him dearly at times. On one occasion, the medical doctor with whom he worked was sick, and there was no dry or warm spot for him to him to sleep in the dugout.

Fr Doyle lay face down on the ground to allow the doctor to sleep on his back so that at least one of them had a dry spot on which to rest.

Fr Doyle repeatedly risked his life, heading into no man’s land to aid the wounded and dying. Eventually his own time came. On 16 August 1917, while rushing to assist two wounded soldiers, he was struck by a shell and killed. The soldiers were Anglicans from Ulster: Fr Doyle died as an ecumenical martyr of charity.

Fr Doyle’s death was a stunning loss to his men and, when the details of his heroism and holiness were made known, devotion to him spread rapidly around the world. By the early 1930s the Irish Jesuit Province had received reports of over 6,000 alleged healings and over 50,000 letters enquiring about the possibility of a canonisation cause.

At the time priority was given to the cause of Fr John Sullivan, and the possibility of a cause for Fr Doyle was left in the hands of providence.

In 2020, following several years of study and discernment, the Father Willie Doyle Association was formed in Ireland with a view to promoting a cause for Fr Doyle. Recognised as a private association of the faithful, and with the support of the Irish Jesuit Province, it is now the official actor for Fr Doyle’s canonisation cause which was formally opened in the Diocese of Meath in November 2022. It was the first cause to be opened in Ireland in over 25 years, and the first time a lay association has been formed in Ireland to sponsor a canonisation cause formally.

The association maintains an active website that is updated daily with quotations from Fr Doyle’s writings, distributes prayer cards and brochures globally, and provides speakers for parishes, prayer groups or conferences that are interested in learning more about the attractive spirit and life of Fr Willie Doyle.

FIND OUT MORE Read To Raise the Fallen, a collection of Fr Doyle’s war letters and spiritual writings, edited by Dr Patrick Kenny and published by Veritas (Ireland) and Ignatius Press (United States); and visit www.williedoyle.org.

Meet more Jesuit First World War chaplains at jesuitarchives.co.uk/ ww1-chaplains jesuit.org.uk

15

ST ALOYSIUS’ COLLEGE

A SPIRITUAL

oasis

Tony McBride describes the thriving retreat programme that is at the core of every pupil’s experience at St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow.

A

t the heart of St Aloysius’ College, there is a spiritual oasis that nurtures the minds and souls of its young people – the retreat programme. Organised by the college’s Christian Formation Team and a plethora of enthusiastic staff and senior pupils, the yearly retreats are a cornerstone of the college’s commitment to the Ignatian principle of cura personalis.

First year: a pilgrimage to Carfin Grotto Carfin Grotto in Motherwell is a site rooted in devotion to Our Lady and the saints. Here, students learn about the rich history of the Catholic faith in Scotland, while reflecting on the lives of the saints who have inspired countless people. As they begin to understand the significance of these figures, they foster a sense of connection to the broader Catholic tradition of which they are a part.

Second year: embracing the message of Laudato si’ In the beautiful surroundings of Chatelherault Park in Hamilton, students immerse themselves in the teachings of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato si’. The retreat encourages contemplation of humanity’s relationship with nature and the responsibility to care for our common home. Through guided walks and activities, students learn to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation, and embrace their vocation to preserve it.

Third year: exploring God’s forgiveness The third-year retreat delves into the profound concept of God’s forgiveness.

Through reflections, discussions and personal stories from staff and senior pupils, students grapple with the idea of redemption and the transformative 16

Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

share their personal stories, struggles and joys, fostering deep connections and a profound sense of unity. Guided by their peers and mentors, students emerge from Kairos with a heightened appreciation for authenticity, friendship and the transformative power of personal faith.

Sixth year: reflecting on the journey

Pupils on the third-year retreat

Pupils are equipped with virtues that will guide them in their adult lives as children of God. power of God’s mercy. This retreat fosters self-acceptance and encourages students to extend forgiveness to themselves and others, nurturing emotional healing and spiritual growth.

Fourth year: discovering God in others As the focus shifts to the theme of ‘finding God in others’, students explore God’s presence within human connections, emphasising compassion and understanding. This retreat nurtures a sense of community and reminds students of the inherent dignity within each individual, encouraging them to see the divine spark in everyone they encounter.

Fifth year: the Kairos retreat Undoubtedly, the pinnacle of the retreat programme is the fifth-year Kairos retreat. Often described as a life-changing journey, Kairos invites students to delve into self-discovery and spiritual reflection. Participants

As students approach the culmination of their time at St Aloysius’ College, they are offered a space for reflection on their educational and spiritual journey.

As graduation approaches, students contemplate their personal growth, using the Jesuit Pupil Profile as their standard.

Pupils consider the impact they will have on the wider world beyond life in their green blazers, living as men and women for others with the virtues gifted to them during their time at the college.

Crucial to the retreat programme’s success is the college’s strong tie with the Jesuit community on Hill Street.

They support the young people’s training in the Jesuit principles of reflection, discernment and action, and the sacramental dimension of the retreat could not be experienced without them.

The lively interaction between senior pupils and their younger counterparts, too, infuses the retreats with authenticity and relatability.

Witnessing their sons and daughters flourish in an environment that nurtures spiritual growth, compassion and generosity brings an immense sense of gratitude to parents, who see their children not only excel academically but also mature into well-rounded individuals, equipped with the virtues that will guide them in their adult lives as children of God.

WATCH AND LISTEN Third-year students reflect on their retreat at: youtube.com/ watch?v=LeuSMapoDvU

STARS

of the sea

Euan McArthur describes how a Southampton sailor has been raising funds and awareness for the work of Stella Maris, the leading global maritime charity which supports seafarers and fishers.

R

uss Fairman’s 2,136-nauticalmile journey, which began on 29 April 2023 in Southampton, took him around the UK with stops at fifty ports before its conclusion in Portsmouth on 9 July, Sea Sunday.

Those stops included Gravesend, Harwich and Grimsby, before arriving in Scotland to take in Leith, Tayport, Stonehaven, Peterhead, Stornoway, Lochboisdale in the Outer Hebrides, Oban, Campbeltown and then Glasgow – the charity’s birthplace in 1920.

Stella Maris, formerly known as the Apostleship of the Sea, was founded on the banks of the River Clyde when Glasgow was the world’s largest shipbuilding centre.

Russ, who led the pilgrimage on board the ‘Mintaka’, a 34ft sailboat, docked in Yorkhill Pontoon on 10 June before joining up with supporters of the charity the next day for a service of celebration in the Jesuit church of St Aloysius, Glasgow, led by Fr John Twist SJ.

a leg of the journey in mid-June from Glasgow down to Stranraer.

Derek is a parish contact for the charity in St Cadoc’s, Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, where he faithfully carries out the annual Sea Sunday appeal. ‘I have volunteered for Stella Maris for a few years’, says Derek. ‘When I heard about the sailing pilgrimage, I immediately thought I would like to take part.

Glasgow was a highlight of this pilgrimage. It was great being back where it all began, especially in St Aloysius.

‘I have sailed on and off for a few years and it sounded like a wonderful opportunity, for the sailing and spiritual aspects. I thought it was a fantastic way to mark the centenary of Stella Maris.

‘It was amazing setting off from the centre of Glasgow at the Riverside

STELLA MARIS

Museum and travelling all the way down the Clyde. It was like a journey through time, passing by the historic shipyards, then seeing the Clyde slowly open up to the sea as we passed towns where Stella Maris has always had a strong presence, such as Greenock.

‘Russ wanted to encircle Britain with a ring of prayer and took time to send out thoughts and prayers for the people of these towns as we sailed past.’

Derek was driven by his father’s seafaring background and admits the experience is likely to remain with him forever. ‘My dad was a merchant seaman and travelled all over the world.

I was fortunate enough to travel on a couple of voyages on cargo ships as a child with him and my mum.

‘I would love to do another trip with Russ, who was a constant source of inspiration and positive presence, because to help Stella Maris and the seafarers is just a brilliant thing to do.’

GET ON BOARD! Stella Maris provides a range of services, including welfare, practical, and emotional support, pastoral care and chaplaincy services. Find out more at stellamaris.org.uk

Russ reflected: ‘Glasgow was the major highlight for this pilgrimage.

It was great just being back where it all began, especially in St Aloysius.

‘The charity has a special connection with this wonderful city. It’s easy to see why it was founded here when you witness how supportive people are towards the mission and consider the shipbuilding heritage.’

The initiative was originally planned to take place in 2020 to mark the charity’s centenary, but three years later it still captured the imaginations of people across the country, none more so than Glaswegian Derek Wright, who joined

Russ Fairman next to ‘Mintaka’

jesuit.org.uk

17

PILGRIMAGES

REMEMBERING THE

Apostle of Worcester B Frank Tota’s own faith was strengthened by his encounter with the story of Blessed Edward Oldcorne SJ, and so he was delighted to be able to witness to the martyr’s faith and life through a pilgrimage to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Worcestershire school of which the Jesuit is patron.

lessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College was opened in 1963 under the patronage of the Jesuit priest who ministered in Worcestershire from 1589-1606 and was known by his contemporaries as ‘the Apostle of Worcester’.

Parents, staff and students from the college joined parishioners from Catholic Worcester for a pilgrimage in his footsteps on Saturday 8 July 2023, in order to celebrate this Jesuit martyr’s life and faith. The pilgrimage was six miles long and along the way we visited five stations to reflect, pray, sing and celebrate Blessed Edward’s life, ending with Mass at St George’s, Worcester.

Station 1: Edgar Tower, Worcester Blessed Edward was brought to this prison from the Tower of London in April 1606. He had already been sentenced to death and was now preparing himself to meet the Lord Jesus. Canon Brian McGinley led prayers and hymns in honour of Blessed Edward.

Bl. Edward Oldcorne SJ

Hearts

IN SEARCH OF GOD

Views from the Middlesbrough Pilgrim Way (Photos: Phil McCarthy)

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Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

PILGRIMAGES Statue of Blessed Edward

Station 2: Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College The current headteacher, Mr Greg McClarey, gave a powerful reflection on the life and witness of Blessed Edward, who inspires the students of today to live lives of service and devotion to others.

Mr Sean Devlin, headteacher from 2001-2017, spoke passionately about the importance and significance of providing a Catholic education for the children of Worcestershire.

For sixty years, the college has been a beacon of Catholic faith in Worcester. Moreover, it has a very strong multi-faith dimension today, welcoming students of all faiths.

Worcester Cathedral

Station 3: The shrine of Blessed Edward Oldcorne SJ at Red Hill, Worcester Blessed Edward was martyred here on 7 April 1606. He told the waiting crowd that he was dying for his Catholic faith, and prayed for the king and royal family whilst on the scaffold before he was hung, drawn and quartered.

Br Ken Vance SJ, who travelled from Preston to celebrate this occasion with us, spoke about the enormous significance of Blessed Edward’s mission to Worcestershire, and how he played such a meaningful part in preserving and nourishing the Catholic faith while also witnessing to it by his martyr’s death. We were also blessed to be able to hold the only relic in existence of Blessed Edward.

Station 4: Fort Royal Hill, Worcester From the top of this hill, we had a magnificent view of Worcester Cathedral, which has stood for over a thousand years. It was here that Canon Brian led prayers for Christian unity. It is a great blessing that today the Christian churches of Worcester are committed to the greater unity of Christ’s Church, and denominations work in close partnership to witness to the gospel.

Edward Oldcorne’s eye relic (Photo: Jesuit Collections)

If the word ‘pilgrimage’ conjures up ideas of far-flung destinations, think again! Phil McCarthy introduces a new project that supports walking pilgrimages in England and Wales.

S

t Ignatius Loyola referred to himself as ‘the pilgrim’ and undertook an arduous journey to Jerusalem. Today, pilgrimage is a key part of Jesuit formation. In 1986, Gerard W. Hughes SJ published In Search of a Way, his classic book about his inner and outer journeys walking to Rome. I was inspired, and a copy was in my rucksack when I set off to walk from Canterbury to Rome in 2008. After I published my own book, Rome Alone, I sent Fr Gerry a copy. He was frail by then but wrote a generous note and we chatted on the phone.

In 2021, I retired as CEO of Caritas Social Action Network and started to reflect on what to do next. Ignatian discernment led me to realise that the ‘walking pilgrimage’ was what gave me energy, joy and peace. A walking

pilgrimage is a good way of directly experiencing our physical environment, exercising, making social contacts and promoting local tourism, all much needed after the Covid-19 pandemic.

And in an age when many of us are keen to avoid air travel, a walking pilgrimage in our home nations can be a greener option.

My next question was what I could do practically to promote these benefits to others. I came up with a three-year project to promote walking pilgrimage in England and Wales by developing

There is a distinctive spirituality associated with walking pilgrimage.

‘Pilgrim Ways’ between each Catholic cathedral and one or more shrines within the same diocese. The intention is that these Ways will be an opportunity for Catholics and other Christians to deepen their faith, and for people of all faiths and none to share the experience of walking a pilgrimage in a Catholic context.

Our Jesuit pope has said of pilgrims: ‘Whoever they may be — young or old, rich or poor, sick and troubled or curious tourists — let them find due welcome, because in every person there is a heart in search of God, at times without being fully aware of it.’

The phrase ‘heart in search of God’ gave me the title of my project.

The Pilgrim Ways take in the Catholic parish churches and places of historical interest. They are off-road as much as possible and incorporate existing pilgrim routes and long-distance footpaths. The cathedrals, shrines and churches along each Way will be encouraged to provide jesuit.org.uk

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PILGRIMAGES

Station 5: St George’s Catholic Church, Worcester Fr James Ipinlaye, assistant priest at St George’s, celebrated Mass in honour of Blessed Edward in this beautiful church, which was served

by Jesuit priests from its foundation in 1829 until 1990.

Mr Frank Doran, the first headteacher of Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College from 1960-1985, attended the Mass with his family. This year, Frank is 100 years old, and is still keenly involved in promoting the college.

Our pilgrimage ended in the parish hall with a lovely spread of food and drink. St George’s parish is very blessed to have the volunteers who helped with the refreshments.

a simple welcome, for example by keeping the church porch open during some daytime hours and providing a stamp for pilgrims to mark their pilgrim passports. Jesuit sites include Farm Street church on the Westminster Pilgrim Way, and Stonyhurst College, the final destination of the Salford Pilgrim Way.

My wife and I came to Worcester in 2005 and I was appointed to teach RE at the college. I had never heard of its patron, but since taking up the post this blessed martyr has become very special to me.

I was fortunate to be at the college when, in 2006, we celebrated the 400th anniversary of Blessed Edward’s martyrdom. Mr Devlin organised a pilgrimage to Holywell in Wales in order to visit the shrine of St Winifred, where our patron was healed of throat cancer in 1605. The whole college also celebrated with a Mass presided over by Archbishop Vincent Nichols and a host of Jesuits from the British Province.

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Jesuits & Friends Winter 2023

Fr Damian Howard, former provincial superior of the British Jesuits, was kind enough to add a foreword to our liturgy booklet for the walk.

He described Blessed Edward as, ‘one of a generation of astonishingly gifted Jesuits. Blessed Edward was a quiet man whose spiritual counsel was sought after by many in need of support. We can think of Blessed Edward as the patron of all those whose witness to Christ in Ordinary Time, as it were, away from the headlines and spotlight.’

From this time onwards, Blessed Edward became a central figure in my life. Every year, on the anniversary of his beatification, I took students to the shrine on Red Hill to give thanks for his life and mission. Following my retirement, because I live only a few

I endorse fully what Fr Damian has written. Since researching the life and witness of our patron, I feel that he has touched my life and given my faith more strength and meaning.

other practical resources: for example, there are downloadable pilgrim ‘passports’ and certificates for pilgrims who complete the Ways. There is also a distinctive spirituality associated with walking pilgrimage because of its closeness to the earth, the slowness of travel, and the blend of solitude, fellowship and encounter with strangers it involves, and as such, spiritual

resources are an essential part of the website. I am grateful for the collaboration of Pray As You Go, a project of the Jesuits in Britain, and so there are links to Pray As You Go daily meditations, as well as Stations of the Cross and walking reflections.

In most dioceses there is no existing Way, but the Diocese of Leeds has the two-day St Wilfrid’s Way and the Diocese of Lancaster has the six-day St Mary’s Way. In Southwark, there is the Augustine Camino; in Arundel & Brighton there is an annual ecumenical walking pilgrimage, Pilgrims Live!; and nationally there is the Pilgrim Cross (formerly Student Cross) pilgrimage to Walsingham in Holy Week. These walks provide models and inspiration for this project.

A key feature of the Hearts in Search of God project is a new website, pilgrimways.org.uk. The website is the platform for the walking guides and

miles away from the shrine, I make it my duty to visit it often in order to pray for the college community and for the people of Worcester.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne, pray for us.

The Hearts in Search of God project is volunteer-run and I act as project lead.

I have recruited an expert advisory panel to support the project. Financial support has come via a generous grant from the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

The 2025 Jubilee Year has the motto ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, so the project is timely, but there is no need to fly to Rome to enter a holy door. Why not walk to one in a local diocese?

Buen camino!

GET IN TOUCH The ‘Homeless Jesus’ sculpture in Farm Street church (Photo: Phil McCarthy)

I welcome your feedback on the project and the routes. Please contact me at: pilgrimwaysew@gmail.com

ARCHIVES

UNPACKING

history

On 31 July 2023, Guyana joined the new Jesuit Caribbean Province, having been a part of the British Province since 1857. British Jesuit Archivist, Rebecca Somerset, visited Georgetown to assess the Jesuit Guyana Archives, and tells us what she discovered.

T

his was my first visit to Guyana, and indeed South America.

I was lucky that in the few weeks prior to my trip, Oliver Rafferty, a Jesuit historian, was a visitor to the British Jesuit Archives, and having conducted research in Guyana, he was able to provide some advice on what to expect.

I was not surprised, therefore, to discover a warm and humid storage room cluttered with a variety of mostly unsuitable packaging, and a thick layer of dust on all visible surfaces. I also was greeted by a dead cockroach! And so insect traps and an environmental logger were set up on day one. To my relief, the traps did not catch anything significant during my stay, though there was plenty of evidence of historic insect damage in the collection.

day work. There were also a significant number of sacramental registers, though it was suggested that ideally these should be transferred to the Georgetown Diocesan Archives.

It was extremely useful to discuss what I was discovering with Paul Martin SJ, as he has been in Guyana for over thirty years and could provide clarifications and context. For example, I noticed that there were a lot of photographs, and Paul shared that, historically, the priests in the interior of Guyana would also be the photographer when celebrating weddings and, on some occasions, would also supply the wedding dress and rings!

I spent the remainder of a rather hot and dirty week sorting through the papers, assessing their archival value and, as far as possible, repackaging some of the collection into acid-free folders and envelopes, wrapping larger volumes in Tyvek (a non-woven material that is inert and PH neutral, and is breathable, waterproof and dustproof).

Most of the records I saw were the personal papers of British Jesuits who had served on the mission in Guyana.

I came across little to do with communities in Guyana or indeed regional administrative documents.

It may be that more of the latter material was retained locally, or even in the filing cabinets which I ran out of time to assess, and/or that less priority was given to record-keeping by Jesuits already overstretched in their day-to-

Such local knowledge demonstrates why conversations with, and indeed recording oral histories of, those who experienced the daily life of Jesuits in Guyana are important. I recorded an interview with Paul, and although this focused more on his personal journey, given the length of his service in Guyana it naturally encompassed the role of Jesuits in the country.

Owing to current external research interest in the linguistic material already held in the British Jesuit Archives, mostly among Fr Cuthbert Cary-Elwes SJ’s personal papers, it was particularly interesting to see that there are more such linguistic records created by Jesuits stored in the archives in Guyana. It was also surprising to see a copy of CaryElwes’ autobiography with differing annotations to those in the set held in the British Jesuit Archives. At the time, the discovery of these records excited me the most, but as I have learnt more about Guyana’s Jesuit history I am becoming increasingly interested in the Catholic Standard: founded by the Jesuits in 1905, it was the only independent newspaper in Guyana during the turbulent period of President Burnham’s rule, playing a role in the Guyanese struggle for democracy.

The personal papers of Frs Bernard Darke SJ and Malcolm Rodrigues SJ also contained fascinating material, and I am sure more will be discovered as the collection is further studied.

My hope is that the storage conditions of this fascinating collection can be improved so that its long-term preservation is assured and that access to it can be facilitated, whether in person or remotely through digitisation.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Top: cleaning an insect-damaged cover.

Bottom: damaged records (Photos: Rebecca Somerset)

Visit jesuitarchives.co.uk to discover more about the British Jesuit Archives and the material they hold relating to Guyana. jesuit.org.uk

21

PRAYING WITH THE POPE

WHO

cares?

Eddy Bermingham SJ welcomes the different and difficult questions that the pope’s forthcoming prayer intentions pose.

I

n May, our confirmation candidates at St Anselm in Southall participated in a series of workshops in which a variety of church agencies such as Jesuit Missions and CAFOD showed the caring face of the Church. Our parish pastoral coordinator and I had been talking for two years about the importance of letting our candidates know that the Church cared about the same issues as many of them did. However, it took the energy of a teenager (Karen) to make these workshops happen.

In the coming months we are invited to ‘care about’ specific intentions and, led by the Spirit, to go beyond ‘caring about’ to ‘caring for’ those singled out by these intentions. I feel challenged by the November and January intentions to ponder whether I ‘care about’ the Church. Do I really believe it matters what kind of a Church we are? Does it matter to the world that we are a Church characterised by a diversity of charisms unified in mission in the person of the pope? These are not rhetorical questions for me. I could comfortably inhabit my own little corner of the Church, without caring about, much less caring for, parts of the Church that are not to my taste.

As I reflect on the intentions for December and February, a different set of questions present themselves. Faced with an individual who has to cope with

the disadvantages imposed on them because of their disability, I can respond positively. Equally, I find I am at ease in the presence of someone who is terminally ill and therefore able to care for them. However, it can be a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

Do I care enough about changing the social attitudes that lead persons with disabilities or who are terminally ill to be disadvantaged in our society?

These four months invite me to allow the Spirit to grow in me a caring disposition.

I suppose I see that one of the most important things about praying with the pope for his intentions each month is that I allow the Spirit to work in me in particular ways to develop a certain disposition. These four months invite me to allow the Spirit to grow in me a caring disposition (both caring about and caring for). Others have called this ‘having the heart of Jesus’. Perhaps we might see this growth as our learning to care as God cares.

In November, when we pray for the pope and his mission to tend ‘his flock’, let us pray that we, too, care for the needs of ‘the flock’ that God has chosen to give to each one of us.

INTENTIONS FOR THIS PERIOD NOVEMBER For the pope We pray for the Holy Father; as he fulfils his mission, may he continue to accompany the flock entrusted to him, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

DECEMBER For persons with disabilities We pray that people living with disabilities may be at the centre of attention in society, and that institutions may offer inclusive programmes which value their active participation.

JANUARY For the gift of diversity in the Church Let us pray that the Spirit helps us recognise the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

FEBRUARY For the terminally ill Let us pray that the sick who are in the final stages of life, and their families, receive the necessary medical and human care and accompaniment.

In December, let us pray that those who are differently abled may be empowered to play their rightful role in society; moreover, that we may be freed from every attitude that disables another person.

Celebrating the diversity within our Church, for which we pray in January, can give the world a glimpse of the awesome nature of our God, in the full and certain knowledge that no matter how diverse we become we will never exhaust the nature of God. Finally, in February, as we pray for the terminally ill let us also pray that we become people who can care for and graciously accompany those who are dying.

OBITUARIES

Fr Philip Endean SJ Philip Endean SJ died at the Vanves Jesuit Community healthcare facility in Paris on Monday 18 September.

He was 68 years old, in the 47th year of religious life.

Philip was born in Grove Park, London, on 26 December 1954. After primary school he was educated at St John’s, Beaumont, and at Stonyhurst. Between 1974 and 1977 he studied for a BA in English at Merton College in Oxford, and then joined the novitiate at Manresa House, Birmingham. After first vows he took an MA in philosophy at Heythrop in London, followed by regency in social ministry in Mexico City.

Infirmary. After a few months’ study break in the USA and Germany, he moved to Campion Hall for a DPhil, his thesis later being published as Karl Rahner and Ignatian Spirituality (2001). In 1991/92 he made his tertianship in Berlin.

In 1992 Philip rejoined the Campion Hall community, teaching theology in Oxford and at Heythrop. He was appointed editor of The Way in 1994,

a position he held for two years initially, returning to it between 2001 and 2007.

Also, in 1994 he took his final vows in Sunderland, and the next year moved to London to become superior of the Harlesden formation community, while continuing to teach at Heythrop.

In early 2001 he enjoyed a sabbatical in Rome, and then returned to Oxford, where he was at different times Campion Hall’s tutor for graduates and dean of degrees, as well as continuing to teach theology.

He was also a visiting professor at Boston College during this time.

In 2013 he moved to Paris as professor of theology at the Jesuits’ Centre Sèvres, and Director of the Second Cycle Masters’ programmes. During the Covid pandemic he was diagnosed with cancer but continued to live and work at Centre Sèvres until this summer, moving to the healthcare facility at Vanves a few weeks before his death.

For theology he returned to Heythrop between 1981 and 1984, and then did a fourth year at the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He was ordained on 6 July 1985 at the Holy Name church in Manchester, staying on there for eighteen months as chaplain in the Manchester Royal

Fr Michael Campbell-Johnston SJ Michael Campbell-Johnston SJ died at the Corpus Christi Jesuit Community in Boscombe on Thursday 12 October.

He was 92 years old, in the 75th year of religious life.

Michael, usually known as C-J, was born in London on 27 September 1931. He was educated first at the Holy Family Convent in Cavendish Square and later at Beaumont College. In 1949, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Jesuit novitiate at Manresa in Roehampton, transferring to Harlaxton before his first vows two years later. After a further year at Manresa as juniorate, he moved to Chantilly for philosophy, returning to Roehampton for a licentiate programme in the subject, followed by a one-year certificate in education. Between 1956 and 1960 he took a BSc in economics at the University of London while living at Stamford Hill, except for one year when he combined these studies with living and teaching at Beaumont. Regency at Stonyhurst was followed by theology,

Fr Michael Campbell-Johnston SJ (right) with Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ

first at Heythrop in Oxfordshire and then in Mexico. He was ordained in Mexico City in 1964 and, after gaining a licentiate in theology, made his tertianship in Brazil.

Post-tertianship, C-J worked in a student house in Barbados, and in 1968 transferred to Guyana, as director of the national social institute, GISRA. At the end of 1975 he was called to Rome by Pedro Arrupe to be secretary of the Jesuit Socio-Economic Development

Secretariat. In this capacity he founded Promotio Justitiae, and was closely involved in the establishment of JRS in 1980. He took part in GC33 and in 1984 was appointed regional co-ordinator of JRS in Central America. While there he learnt via a fax message of his appointment as provincial of the British province, starting in September 1987.

After serving six years as provincial he returned to the Caribbean, initially to Barbados and then to El Salvador where he held various roles in the Fe y Alegría schools movement. From 1996 he combined this work with being parish priest of San Antonio Abad church in San Salvador. An operation in 2000 left him permanently deaf in one ear, and two years later he moved back to Barbados as parish priest and guest master at St Francis of Assisi church. In 2010 he returned to Britain, living as a writer in Farm Street, and published his memoirs, entitled Just Faith: A Jesuit Striving for Social Justice. In 2017 he moved to Boscombe, where he was cared for until his death. jesuit.org.uk

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JRS Hardship Fund Building bridges and community

Connection with community activities brings joy and hope to refugee friends and communities alike – be it through sport, gardening, food or volunteering.

Refugee friends supported by JRS have no recourse to public funds, nor the right to work or earn an income, as they navigate a hostile asylum system.

“I truly enjoyed the experience of the conservation of nature. I also want to say thank you very much JRS for providing me with this opportunity to connect with volunteers from the local community.”

Abdul, refugee friend

✂

Each year, JRS UK distributes at least £140,000 in direct hardship grants to over 250 refugee friends, enabling them to participate in community, travel to activities and to volunteer, as well as to access critical legal and medical appointments.

I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Jesuit Refugee Service UK I confirm I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference. I will notify the Jesuit Refugee Service UK if I: want to cancel this declaration; change my name or home address; or no longer pay sufficient tax on my income and/or capital gains.

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JRS UK sends out regular newsletters and e-mails keeping you up to date with our work and sharing the experiences of the refugees we work with.

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Ways to donate: online at jrsuk.net/donate, call us on 020 7488 7310 or return this form with the pre-paid envelope included in with this issue.

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A faith that does justice

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JRS UK is a work of the Jesuits in Britain, charity numbers: 230165; SCO40490.

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