Synod Mass of Thanksgiving in pictures

Above: Kate Wilkinson, a parishioner of St Mary’s, Leyland and Lay Chaplain at All Hallows Catholic High School, Penwortham, with the Book of Synod Recommendations

‘Helping people through the discerning process was good because you could see the moment during the meeting when people got it. At first, they thought it was strange: “Oh, I have to have this time with a stone - what’s that about?” But then when they actually did it themselves, you could see how it worked, people felt they were being listened to. It wasn’t just the person who spoke all the time, with others sat in the background. Every single person had the same amount of time to be heard, or just for people to listen to their silence. That made a huge difference. Once people did that, the change came, and people were onboard and wanted to help.’

Kasia, Synod Member

by Helen Jones, Liverpool South Pastoral Associate

The peal of the Cathedral bells calling us to celebrate our Synod journey mingling with the sounds of a city emerging after months of Covid lockdown was a visible sign of future hope. As I climbed the steps I felt as if I was going to join a family I had got to know both physically and virtually over the last year - a family that was not limited to specific parishes or pastoral areas but also universal. I entered the Cathedral with a feeling of joy, anticipation, and gratitude. My own Synod journey had begun in January 2019 as the Liverpool South Pastoral Associate where I had been plunged into Synod across the Pastoral Area.

My Synod cornerstone has been the traditional Chinese character for deep listening which we were introduced to early on. Each element guided my own path: listening respectfully with ears, eyes, mind and heart; focussing on the person; being truly present.

Relationship has been everything– we listened together and shared our hopes, our visions, our fears and frustrations, our uncertainties and joys. These bindings will remain with us and despite Covid, those moments of deep sharing in this time of crisis allowed us to acknowledge and name our collective vulnerabilities. Just as the disciples recognised Christ on the road to Emmaus, we were learning to discern that quiet gentle voice of the spirit.

In many ways Covid has prevented the culmination of the Synod weekend as the explosive pinnacle of our journey’s ‘goal’. Synod is not just a moment in time. It is a way of being in time. Synod is not neat and tidy: I was reminded of a passage in ‘The Shack’ by William Paul Young with the garden symbolising souls.

At ground level it’s a mess - chaotic and unruly - but viewed from above it is part of a breath-taking fractal structure that has meaning and beauty beyond imagination. I was consistently drawn to this image, occasionally getting fleeting glances of a bigger picture, sometimes lost in the foliage at ground level, sometimes having to dig down to the roots. I am filled with the hope that we are all moving together however slowly and messily, sometimes taking parallel paths that suit our companions better but always travelling onwards and as the prayer composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw ends: ‘We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future that is not our own.’

Archdiocese of Liverpool J&P Commission: Assembly 2021- The World in Crisis: Hear the Cry of the Poor You are warmly invited to join us on Saturday July 10th from 10-12:30 and explore how through our actions, we can help to create a better world post COVID. We will be inspired by our two speakers ; Dr Sr Gemma Simmonds, Senior Research Fellow and Director at The Religious Life institute, Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge and Fr Dominic Curran, Parish Priest of Liverpool’s newest parish St Oscar Romero. The Assembly is free however you need to register for the Zoom link at https://jp.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

Maricourt Catholic High School Year 11 student, Abbi Green has celebrated her finished piece of artwork, which focuses on the mental health of young people. Abbi launched her finished artwork on social media during mental health awareness week and received many messages of praise from pupils, parents, community groups and many mental health organisations. Abbi said: “The story behind the image is to show how much people really face in their minds, and how conflicted it is. It also shows that not everything is bad and there’s still good in everyone. “The butterflies reference the good and beauty and warmth people generate, and the colours also help show this (pinks and reds). The pink also shows femininity and love. Then the Hydra Dragons (taken from Greek mythology) show the evil and bad feelings that are in people's heads, some larger than others. “They are depicted with sharp fangs and in the colour blue to show how not only dangerous these feelings can be, but how sad they can make you feel, and cold. I then have the contrasting of the red and blue which emphasises the contrasting of the mind, and finally the face is painted in a style of acrylic which is not the clearest, which helps pull the focus completely to the mind as this is what really matters. “I also have some colours added among the face, which depict the emotions that come from the head, which are chosen to be represented in everyday life - which in this case and most others not everything in their minds and only a snippet of what they are truly conflicting with.” Abbi’s fellow pupils are impressed by the scale of the work, which helps to make it a conversation piece. They often ask Abbi what it means, and it will prompt discussion on what the girl is feeling and why the creatures are above her. It also inspires some pupils to be more confident with scale and media and gives them a standard to aspire to. Abbi continued: “I believe it was important for me to try and highlight the mental issues faced by not only young people, but everyone, as especially a few years back it wasn't talked about as much, and sometimes a brushed away topic. “I believed showcasing these issues in the form of art helps people to eventually be able to speak about these issues and realise that things like this cannot be rubbed/brushed away (like acrylic paint) and that they are here and will always be, and it’s up to us to speak and help others about it. “Mental health is important, and I believe everyone should have the opportunity to talk to whomever they are comfortable with, as mental health affects every aspect in life.” Mrs Clair MacKinnon, teacher of art at Maricourt, said: “I am so proud of Abbi's journey towards this final piece. She put much thought into the concept behind it and there was a long process involving drawing, photography, experimentation, and improvements leading up to this point. “It is the beautiful and evocative conclusion to a dedicated project. Abbi's success is solely contributed to her commitment to selfimprovement and it was lovely to be witness to her pride in completion.” Mr Joe Mangan, headteacher, said: “We have a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing and stress that it is not an extracurricular activity. We place a great emphasis in considering young people's mental health. At Maricourt we aim to lay the foundation, which gives students confidence and an ability to live their future with a healthy heart and a healthy mind.”

Two pupils from English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Liverpool have been recognised for their act of kindness to a help a total stranger. Mai and Ollie have been recognised for their selfless act of kindness after a member of the school staff informed the school headteacher, Mr Dinsdale that they witnessed the two Year 6 pupils helping an elderly lady with her shopping in Hatton Hill Park. Mrs Dinsdale said: ‘The lady was clearly struggling with shopping in a trolley and they offered to help her by carrying the bags, helped her cross the road safely and helped to her front door. ‘The lady offered to give them money for their kindness which they refused. ‘Once they returned to the park, they took the trolley back to Tescos on the lady's behalf. All of this was unprompted and undertaken by themselves. ‘I also shared this wonderful kind act with the whole school Star of the Week assembly as it is such a wonderful act of kindness. ‘Mia and Ollie are wonderful ambassadors for our school and I wanted them both to know the gratitude, joy and immense pride they have brought to us all with this story. ‘Not only do they represent the very best of English Martyrs, but they are an absolute credit to themselves and their families.’

Talented young artists at St Mary’s College in Crosby have enjoyed success in this year’s Sefton Young Artist of the Year competition organised by The Atkinson in partnership with The Arts Society Southport. A number of St Mary’s pupils entered the competition, producing some truly amazing work across a variety of artistic practices. Grace Carey, aged 16 from Blundellsands, featured among the competition winners with her entry, simply called ‘Covid’, whilst Jamie Warne’s ‘Spider Man - Miles Morales’ and Ruby Garforth’s ‘Experience’ both achieved special commendations. Art is a key strength at St Mary’s College, which offers Art Scholarships to talented candidates at 11+ as well as for Sixth Form entry. The school aims to give all pupils a broad and varied experience of art and design, helping them to attain a wide range of specialist skills in drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, ceramics, photography and printmaking. A digital exhibition of all of the Sefton Young Artist of the Year competition entries, including several more from St Mary's pupils, is available on the Atkinson’s website: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/.../seftonyoung-artist/