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If you are between 18 and 35 you are invited to to an evening with Merseyside’s Church Leaders with an opportunity to meet other young Christians sharing in conversation, friendship and refreshments. Churches Together in the Merseyside Region (CTMR) brings together a gathering of young adults over 18 with different experiences from right across our traditions. They have invited their Church Leaders and would be delighted to welcome other young adults to this open forum. The meeting is on Monday 13 December from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Liverpool ONE, Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, L1 3BT. To take part in the event please contact Elisabeth at the CTMR office Tel 07394 075951 (WhatsApp is fine) or email office@ctmr.org.uk To leave a voice message please call: 0151 709 0125. It will be an opportunity to ask the Church Leaders any questions you may have and have a dialogue with all present in a friendly and informal atmosphere together with a prayerful reflection.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself - Jenny Maguire recently appointed as Liverpool Cursillo Lay Director and to welcome Bishop Tom Williams as our recently appointed Liverpool Spiritual Director. It’s been a busy first six months as we open up from the pandemic but as we approach 50 Years of Cursillo in England and Wales we would love to hear from anyone who has made their Cursillo. If you would like to know more about Cursillo or would be interested in sharing your experiences, you can email liverpool-Cursillo@live.co.uk or tel: 07947 271037.

Joseph Brendan Rice was born on 11 July 1942 in Liverpool, the son of John and Mary Rice (née Malone). He was baptised by Father Thomas Mangan at St Michael’s, West Derby Road, Liverpool, on 26 July 1942. He attended St Joseph’s School and St Anselm’s College, both in Birkenhead. When he was eight years old he wrote an essay entitled ‘What I want to be when I grow up’. His conclusion was that he wanted either to be a priest or a lion tamer. Upon leaving school he initially took neither option, but began work as a brewer’s clerk, eventually gaining promotion within the company at a new brewery in Runcorn. His journeys to work took him past a church that had Mass at a convenient time and he began to attend Mass daily. Not surprisingly thoughts about a priestly vocation began to surface and he approached Father Kevin O’Connor, the curate in his home parish of St Michael’s, who told him that he had often thought of that possibility himself. Brendan began training for the priesthood at Ushaw College in September 1976. He was ordained priest at St Michael’s, Liverpool, on 18 July 1981. Following ordination he was appointed as assistant priest at St Alban’s, Warrington, where he was to remain for seven years. He then served briefly in the North Liverpool Team ministry based at St Sylvester’s, Liverpool. In August 1989 he received his first appointment as parish priest as he moved to Saints Peter and Paul, Kirkby. After nine years he returned to the city in September 1998 to take up an appointment as parish priest at St Oswald’s, Old Swan. Four years later he took on additional responsibility for the parishes of St Brendan and St Cuthbert in Old Swan. In September 2007 he left parish ministry to become part of the Irenaeus Project – a project set up in the archdiocese to help people recognise the presence of God in their lives by providing opportunities for prayer and reflection. He spent eight happy years engaged in the work of parish missions and retreats, days of reflection, spiritual direction and many other activities promoting spiritual development. Following his retirement in 2015, due to ill health, he moved to Rockmount Close, Woolton. In the last few years he loved his chaplaincy role with the Notre Dame Sisters and being near to his family. He died suddenly on Friday 17 September 2021 aged 79 years and in the 41st year of his priesthood. Blessed with an extrovert personality, he loved people and was never happier than telling stories and laughing at his own jokes. He delighted in meeting new friends and keeping in touch with old ones. Brendan had a particular rapport with young people. His irreverent sense of humour and his willingness to listen to their stories without judgment or condemnation made him very special to them. Underlying his outgoing personality lay a deep wisdom and he was much sought after as a spiritual guide. He will be much missed by those who knew and loved him. Father Stephen Pritchard remembers his work with Animate Youth Ministries, ‘I first got to know Brendan as a young person of 16. He was a mentor, guide and friend. I lived with him in St Oswald’s and he came to live with me and the Animate Team at Lowe House. He had an amazing gift with young people, whether in Lourdes, at World Youth Day or through Animate. He would often say, “I don’t know why these young people keep in touch with me?” But was always delighted when they did. A group of young people in Cologne raised £100 in tribute to Brendan after learning that he had died. He continued today doing what he did for me decades before.’ Father Brendan’s body was received into St Michael’s Church, West Derby Road, on Monday 4 October with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm. His Funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Tom Neylon on Tuesday 5 October at St Oswald’s Church, Old Swan prior to burial at Yew Tree Cemetery, West Derby, Liverpool.

The following Pastoral Letter was read in all churches of the archdiocese on the Solemnity of All Saints, Sunday 31 October 2021.

Dear Friends,

‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.’ (Genesis 1.31)

Over the past few years, we have all been made aware of extreme weather events like the wildfires in California, Australia and even Siberia. In our own country we see increasing incidents of flooding and coastal erosion, and there has been very destructive flooding in countries such as Germany, China and India. Other events of concern have been the recent earthquake in Haiti and many parts of the world are suffering the effects of drought. Food shortages due to crop failures, like wheat in Canada, threaten all of us. The recent report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes it clear that we cannot deny the link of all these events to global warming and that the warming is due to human action. Records of temperature kept from 18802020 show that the seven highest yearly temperatures have all occurred since 2014. The concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, as of July 2021, is the highest it has been in human history. So what is happening to that beautiful world, celebrated so powerfully in the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis? In his powerful encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis suggests that ‘we have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth.’ He suggests that ‘we have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.’ There can be no doubt that in our modern world many have come to see ourselves as entitled to ever increasing consumption and satisfaction. Yet not only are we destroying God’s world by such actions, but others are paying the price. The global south is already experiencing the most intense impacts of climate change despite being the least responsible for it. Eleven percent of the world’s population is currently vulnerable to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, heat waves, extreme weather events and sealevel rise. There can be no doubt that as Christians we are called to act, to moderate our behaviour and to extend compassion to those in other parts of the world suffering because of our actions. On the final day of this month world leaders will gather in Glasgow for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference which will continue until 12 November. Among the key issues to be discussed at the conference will be worldwide deforestation, mounting carbon emissions, an immediate halt to all new fossil fuel projects and overall elimination of dependence on fossil fuels. Rich nations must give extra financial support to poorer countries to enable them to achieve these goals. For in the words of Pope Francis, in Fratelli Tutti, ‘We need to think of ourselves more and more as a single family dwelling in a common home’ There is no doubt that if governments, and particularly the governments of the wealthiest nations, could be persuaded to act, real progress could be made. For this to happen we need to put pressure on our own UK government, which has the role of chairing the conference. There are several ways to do this. These might include writing to your MPs and local politicians to make your views known or taking part in the Global Day of Action on Climate Change next Saturday. However, we all have a personal responsibility in these matters not just governments and the truth is that each and every one of us has some responsibility for the desecration of our beautiful earth and each and every one of us can do something about it. There are a whole range of actions which you might consider, for example:

• Using public transport, walking or cycling rather than car use • Cutting down on the amount of meat you eat • Avoiding single use plastic as much as you can • Buying locally produced food if possible • Recycling waste.

I would urge parishes and schools to work towards the Cafod Live Simply Award, which asks us to Live Simply, Sustainably and in Solidarity with the Poor and includes a number of these kinds of actions at both the individual and the parish or school level. Let us remember our responsibility: Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)

May God bless you and your families.

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP Archbishop of Liverpool

In October the Amal Puppet Walk visited the United Kingdom. The walk by ‘Little Amal’ a 3.5-metre-tall puppet of a young refugee girl began in July and since that time events have taken place from the Syria-Turkey border through to the UK. Amal (the Arabic word for ‘hope’) represented displaced children throughout the world, many separated from their families. Children who, just like Amal, have fled war and persecution and need access to education and essential support to rebuild their lives. Amir Nizar Zuabi, Artistic Director of The Walk said, ‘It is because the attention of the world is elsewhere right now that it is more important than ever to reignite the conversation about the refugee crisis and to change the narrative around it. Yes, refugees need food and blankets, but they also need dignity and a voice. The purpose of The Walk is to highlight the potential of the refugee, not just their dire circumstances. Little Amal is 3.5 metres tall because we want the world to grow big enough to greet her. We want her to inspire us to think big and to act bigger.’ Although Little Amal was not able to visit Liverpool her progress was followed by St Francis Xavier parishioners who gathered on Saturday 24 October for a bacon butty breakfast to share their understanding of the suggested changes to the Nationality and Borders Bill. Thanks to the Jesuit Fund for Social Justice they were able to ‘baptise’ their new Smart TV, and follow the footsteps of Little Amal. The Walk of this amazing public puppet project, a Handspring Puppet Company production for Good Chance, caused quite a stir all along the way from Syria. It helped to awaken conversation on the harrowing conditions undergone by children and adults as refugees, and the multiple reasons for their terrible ordeal. It also gave the Liverpool group the opportunity to share ideas on how they can welcome the stranger by recording them on ‘Orange Hearts’ –the symbol of ‘Together with Refugees’. Jesuit Refugee Service UK (JRS UK) informed parishioners how the proposed new Nationality and Borders Bill would overhaul the UK asylum system, to make it as difficult as possible to get asylum in the UK. The Bill would deny many refugees the chance to seek sanctuary here, criminalise many who try to do so, and isolate refugees in harmful out-of-town institutions. A letter of appeal was tabled to be sent to

SFX Parishioners Peter Reynolds, Judith Callaghan, Debbie Reynolds with parish priest Father Denis Blackledge SJ and Little Amal local MPs, outlining the key concerns involved with the proposed Bill. Copies of the appeal were printed out, to be distributed at the end of Sunday Mass. The group also highlighted the JRS UK publication ‘Being Human in the Asylum System’, a report laying out the principles for a just and person-centred system based on Catholic Social Teaching. Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomes Little Amal Picture © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

At the beginning of October, the Knights of St Columba held their Supreme Conference in Liverpool. The conference is normally held in Glasgow where the KSC was founded over 100 years ago, but this year came to Liverpool in honour of the fact that the city is the home of the first council and province in England. Saturday evening saw the Supreme Banquet attended by members of the Order nationwide, their families and guests. The conference concluded with Sunday Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, a former National Adviser to the Order. Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, also attended the meeting and concelebrated at the Mass. In his homily Archbishop Malcolm said that we should aim to ‘live in harmony with creation’; he went on to say, ‘the work which we do as Christians and you as Knights of St Columba is actually in line with this understanding of God’s will – He sent His Son to us to restore unity and harmony to creation’. After the homily of the Mass the Ceremony of Installation took place for the new

Knights outside St George’s Hall where the 1920 Catholic Congress was held Supreme Officers and Board of Directors of the Knights of St Columba. At the end of the Mass the new Supreme Knight, Harry Welsh, spoke to thank Archbishop Malcolm and Archbishop Bernard and to thank the Liverpool Province of the KSC for their work in organising and hosting the conference.

by Irene Slack (St Anne’s PPC)

To welcome everyone back to St Anne’s Church after the temporary closure due to the pandemic, parishioners, families, friends and neighbours were invited to a community event on Saturday 11 September. Held in the parish grounds, the day started at 12.00 noon with an open air Mass on the bowling green, attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of West Lancashire. We remembered the Golden and Silver Jubilees of Father Godric Timney OSB and Deacon Des Bill and many events it was not possible to celebrate during lockdown. We recalled too, the kindness of people during the recent lockdowns. The Mass was followed by a ‘bring your own picnic’ and then, from about 1.00 pm the fun events began. Decorated stalls were on the meadow and music from the Swivellers entertained. Five-a-side football coaching was available and those who fancied their skills on go-carts could try them out. There was a free tombola and the opportunity to roast marshmallows proved popular. The environment stall gave children the chance to build a bughouse and enter competitions including a quiz on the Tree Trail. The Church of St Anne is a lovely place and tours had been arranged. It gave an opportunity to see the church which had been decorated with special flower arrangements and to find out more of its history. Tea and coffee was available in the Parish Centre where there were exhibitions of photographs of times past in St Anne’s Church and Ormskirk and also flower arranging displays. The celebrations continued on Sunday 12 September with a Welcome Back Mass attended by the Deputy Mayor and Consort. This was followed by a lunch for parishioners in the Pastoral Centre and finally the Parish AGM. By 5.00 pm, the many helpers were able to put their feet up for a well-earned rest. The weekend was declared a great success and the priests and clergy would like to express their appreciation and thanks to those who helped with the planning and implementation of the event. After a year of lockdowns, lots of events are now planned for St Anne’s in the coming year. Parishioners and friends who enjoyed the weekend are looking forward to more celebrations in 2022.

by Katie Parry

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Liverpool, have been looking for volunteers for an upcoming project, which aims to teach primary students about empathy. The Roots of Empathy programme was founded in 1996 in Canada, and has since expanded globally. It launched in England in 2012. This month, it has been spreading to Merseyside. Now, St Patrick’s are looking to join the number of global schools who have partnered up with the organisation. Katie Cohen, UK manager at Roots of Empathy, said: “We are pleased to be working with the Youth Endowment Fund to bring the award winning Roots of Empathy programme to Merseyside. “Over the next three years we will be working with local schools, volunteer instructors and local families to support children with their emotional literacy. “At the heart of our programme is a local family with a young baby, our ‘Tiny Teachers’. “They help children gain a deeper understanding of emotions. Research on the programme shows that this raises levels of empathy, as well as kind, caring and sharing behaviours, plus reduces violent behaviour.” The programme is set to start in November, and will take place over the course of a school year. Year Five students at St Patrick’s will take part. A baby with one or both parents will visit a classroom every month with a Roots of Empathy instructor. The instructor will guide pupils as they observe the relationship between the baby and one or both parents. Each visit will last 30 minutes. A Roots of Empathy instructor will also visit classes before and after each family visit to reinforce teachings. Overall, there will be nine family visits. Along with the visits from the instructor before and after the sessions, this means there will be 27 classroom visits across the school year from Roots of Empathy. The aim of the project is to coach children into recognising and connecting with the vulnerability and humanity of a baby. Children will observe the loving relationship between a parent and infant to give them a model of responsible parenting. Emotional literacy will develop as children begin to identify and label the baby’s feelings, and reflect on and understand their own feelings. This will then help children begin to understand other people’s feelings and emotions.