Way ’ s m i r Pilg Journal of the Society of Our Lady of Lourdes
Issue 38 Winter/SPRInG 2022
Contents P. 1
Blessed Charles de Foucauld
P. 4
Why pray the Rosary by Bishop Cozzens
P. 6
Learning to model Mary’s fiat by Fr Quan Tran
P. 9
Lourdes is ready by Lisa Dodd
P. 12
Testimony on Lourdes
P. 13
A Young Doctor dying on Duty
P. 14
Caravaggio’s Emmaus Supper
P. 17
Reflections on Lent
P. 18
Pope Francis’s Easter Prayer
P. 19
St Irenaeus
P. 20
SOLL Chairman’s Address
P. 21
Our next Pilgrimage to Lourdes
P. 22
St Bernadette’s Relics
P. 23
2021 SOLL Finance Report
P. 24
SOLL ‘Responsables’
P. 25
Centenary Club and Bonus Ball Winners
P. 26
Application Form
Front Page: Mountains of Assekrem, Tamanrasset, Hoggar (Ahaggar) mountains, Algeria. from his hermitage in Tamanrasset, Charles de Foulcauld could see them in the distance .
Poorest amoung the Poor
On 15 May 2022, Charles de Foucauld will be canonised by the Pope. Often unknown, this humble saint has struck those who approached him by his kindness and selfabnegation.
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harles Eugène de Foucauld, Viscount Foucauld, was born into a French noble family, in Strasbourg, 15 September 1858, with an apparently easy life ahead. Sadly, at the age of six, having lost both his parents, he and his threeyearold sister were sent to Viscountess Clothilde de Foucauld, their grandmother, who also died soon after. Finally, the children were put in the loving care of Colonel de Morlet and his wife, their maternal grandparents. In 1878, after two years of study at the Military School, he became an officer, a rich officer, since his grandfather had just died and left him a huge inheritance. He was just 20. For several years, he found his pleasure in debauchery. “I eat a lot,” he admitted, “and don’t think much.” In October 1880 he was appointed to Algeria, a country which he found interesting; but, because of an affair with a woman and insubordination, he lost his post and was back to France. In 1882, he resigned from the Army, and went to Algeria again. He was also fascinated by Morocco, which, at the time, was closed to Europeans; however, determined as he was to enter the country, he disguised himself as a Jewish
Rabbi and lived there like one. He watched and noted all his observations, collecting treasures of information on the culture, the geography, the economy and the people. He was discreet, but managed to create bonds with Jewish families who asked him to bless their children – which he did with no scruples. On 23 May 1884, he returned to Algeria, a poor Jewish beggar, but rich with his discoveries as an explorer. These enthused the scientists of the time: he had travelled 3000 kms in an unknown country. He had suddenly become a hero! Interestingly, he was not carried away by his fame and went back to France: he was 28 years old. While he had his work published, he met Christian people who inspired him to go to Church. Then God accomplished what seemed impossible: Charles’s conversion. “As soon as I came to believe there was a God, I understood that I could not do otherwise than live only for him.” In January 1890, he joined the Cistercian 1
Trappists. Still, he longed to live among the poor, saying he didn’t like to travel through life in 1st class while his Lord and Master had travelled in 3rd. In response to this desire, his Superior General sent him to Nazareth, where he served as a domestic in the Poor Clares’ Convent. Finally, in 1900, he was ordained priest in Saumur (France) and started nourishing the dream of founding a little Community: The Little Brothers of Jesus, based on Prayer, the Eucharist and imitation of the life of Jesus in Nazareth. He went back to Algeria, where he lived in a hermitage helping the Tuaregs, whose language he had learned in order to understand them and their needs. He built up real friendships with them and with black slaves. “I want all the people here, Christians, Muslims, Jews, nonbelievers, to look on me as their brother, the universal brother. They begin to call my house ‘the
fraternity’ and this makes me happy.” Poor among the poor, he did not try to convert, but only to love: “My apostolate must be an apostolate of kindness”. In 1916, his assassination made him a Martyr, respected and revered, although, at the time of his death, he had no real followers, only many, many friends. Charles’s writings, letters, notes, meditations have now been widely spread and the Congregation of the Little Brothers of Jesus, founded in 1933, is based on his spirituality. Started in Algeria, the Congregation has now reached 33 countries. “Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.” John 12:24. MarieHelene Cook
Charles de Foucauld’s Hermitage in Tamanrasset 2
A Miracle The miracle, leading to the announcement of Charles’s Canonisation, was due to his intercession in 2016, when a young roofer, 23, had fallen 15 metres from a school chapel in Saumur. Part of a wooden pew, as he landed, had pierced his abdomen. Doctors state that, from such a height, this impact should have caused all abdomen organs to burst.
hospital. François, who was a practising Catholic, was much distressed and phoned Fr Artarit, the parish priest of the Blessed CharlesdeFoucauld church in Saumur; the latter encouraged him to pray. In both despair and hope, François spent the night in prayer. The next morning, he managed to contact Charle’s mother, who told him the young man was safe.
The incident occurred on the eve of the hundredth anniversary of the death of Charles de Foucauld, on December 1, 1916. The roofer, also called Charle (with no ‘s’ at the end), was working for a small building company. The manager, François Asselin, who was away in Paris when he heard about the accident, tried in vain to get in touch with Charle’s family and the
Three days later, François visited Charle in hospital and found the young man sitting in his bed. He learned that, after his fall, Charles had got himself up and walked about 50 metres, impaled by the big piece of wood. After medical investigation, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome unanimously recognised the validity of the miracle.
Lycée St Louis’s Chapel from where the young worker fell.
“In a time of great sorrow, not knowing where to take refuge, fearing to be misled by the evil one, I remembered the heart of the Mother of Perpetual Help, and I placed myself in her care, like her child, like her property. I begged her, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, to carry me, as she carried Jesus when he was a child, and to make me become, not what I would like to become, but what she herself would like for the greater glory of her Son, according to his will, according to what she read in his heart.” Charles de Foucauld 3
Why Pray the Rosary? by Bishop Andrew Cozzens
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he rosary is a mysterious prayer because of its simplicity, but also because of its depth. It has been prayed and loved consistently by faithful Catholics since the beginning of the second millennium. It is a prayer beginners can learn, and it can lead us into the depth of the Christian life. It is loved by the simplest souls and some of the greatest mystics of the Church. Our Lady herself, most especially in her appearance at Fatima, but also in other apparitions, has begged us to pray the rosary daily. She said that it was essential to bring peace to our families and to our world, and she asked us to pray the rosary to bring an end to war. Those who start to pray the rosary regularly find in it eventually a mysterious attraction and incredible power. Many find their lives begin to change through the strength of this prayer. They are drawn to deeper conversion; they experience more peace and their desire for holiness grows. Its simplicity is found in the repetition of the prayers from memory that are 4
intended to allow us to enter the mysteries of the life of Jesus and Mary. Some find it helpful to combine Scripture reading and even some silence with the prayers to aid in meditation on the mysteries. Some have accused Catholics of violating the command of Jesus with the rosary, when Jesus said, “When you pray, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words” (Mt 6:7). It is possible to recite the rosary in this false way, treating it as a magic formula that effects things by saying meaningless words. But this is not the way the rosary was meant to be prayed. The repetition of the Hail Mary, rather, is often compared to a child speaking words of love over and over again. As St. John Paul II said in his important encyclical on the rosary, which he wrote in 2002, “If this repetition is considered superficially, there could be a temptation to see the rosary as a dry and boring exercise. It is quite another thing, however, when the rosary is thought of as an outpouring of that love which tirelessly returns to
the person loved with expressions similar in their content but ever fresh in terms of the feeling pervading them” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae 26). In this way the repetition of prayers in the rosary actually works with our
human psychology and can allow calm and focus as we enter more deeply into love. Bishop Andrew Cozzens September 30, 2021 1
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Bishop Andrew Harmon Cozzens (b. 1968) has been Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) since 2013.
The Rosary is a prayer so humble and simple and theologically rich in biblical content. I beg you to pray it. Pope St. John Paul II
The word rosary comes from the Latin rosarius, which means “garland”: a bouquet of prayers offered to God. The term bead is an Old English word that originally meant “a prayer.” According to some traditions, the Holy Rosary dates back to the 13th Century, when St Dominic had received the Rosary from our Lady herself as a means of converting the Albigensians*. The Church recommended it as the Breviary or Psalter of the Poor at a time when many people were illiterate and welcomed this simple prayer tool. * Albigensians, the heretics — especially the Catharist heretics — of 12th/13thcentury southern France.
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Learning to model Mary’s fiat Interview with Fr Quan Tran After obtaining all the outward signs of success, Orange County (California) Deputy District Attorney Quan Tran felt something was missing. Raised in what he acknowledges as a “lukewarm Catholic family,” his girlfriend at the time suggested he come to Sunday Mass with her. Through praying the rosary, going to daily Mass, and attending eucharistic adoration, he grew into a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His entire life changed, his faith blossomed, and he recognised his call to the priesthood.
KRIS MCGREGOR: Don’t we need to take to heart the last words of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Scriptures, “Do whatever he tells you”? Fr QUAN TRAN: Yes. That’s the secret of sanctity. So many of the saints speak about conforming our will to God’s. Mary did that perfectly. Jesus did that perfectly. Many of the saints did that perfectly. And yet, it’s so difficult for us to do that. MCGREGOR: So many are extremely anxious and fearful, including many Catholics, because of their concern for the world today. Many are asking “What can we do?” And the answer, of course, is that you have to pray and listen, but you also have to love. Fr TRAN: Right. I think our culture doesn’t really know what love means, because we hear that word thrown around and misused. And so it’s understandable why people roll their eyes when it is offered as a solution. But if you really understand the definition of love, you’ll have a better appreciation for it. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us, “To love is to will the good of the other.” […] MCGREGOR: We’re called to learn this from Our Lady because she was able to do what many of us find almost impossible — to freely love and give. Fr TRAN: She lived in our world, she was a human being just like us. She had to deal with annoyances, sin, disappointments, challenges, suffering. She wasn’t immune to any of that. In fact, she probably suffered more than all of us ever 6
will. Mary had complete free will, but she chose to respond in love and sacrifice. She is our perfect model. Jesus is God and man, and of course he is the most perfect, but Mary is the closest to him. And in a way, some of us may be able to relate more to Mary. I know I did when I was going through my conversion. I felt her motherly care and her closeness. Jesus can be a little intimidating because he is God and man, but Mary is just human. She is a blessed human, but human nonetheless. Mary can help us to be less intimidated, in trying to imitate her. I see so many people striving for holiness, but they miss a lot of things. They have these obstacles that they don’t realise. I know some people who are constantly checking their phones, it’s just become a habit, browsing the internet, getting on social media. That constant distraction is preventing them from growing in holiness, from achieving this fullness of grace and entering into a deeper relationship with Jesus. And then so many people struggle with lust. In our society now, there are so many images everywhere. Many of us are so careful about what we eat, but we just expose ourselves to these horrific, damaging images and videos, and we don’t think much about it. We have to take custody of our eyes and ears. We need to eliminate these obstacles, close the doors to evil and sin that seeps into our lives and prevents us from growing in perfection. MCGREGOR: We have to learn how to model Mary’s fiat, her yes. Fr TRAN: It all goes back to free will. God gave us free will, and it’s how we use it that’s going to direct our life, our spiritual life. […] Jesus gave us Mary as a bridge to him, to help us get closer to him, and we need all the help we can get. Mary is a powerful help. Why not take advantage of it? Why reject it? That’s why God gave us Mary, to be our mother and our model. Extract from an article by Kris McGregor in Angelus News, January 27, 2021.
“I didn’t want to become a Priest, but God wanted me to. So I wanted to become a Priest, because God wanted me to become a Priest. Not for any other reason: It was out of love for God.” Fr Quan Tran 7
Quan Tran was born in Vietnam, but fled the country at age six with his family after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Encouraged by his father, he became a lawyer and spent nearly a decade as a deputy district attorney in Orange County. Unfulfilled in his profession, he rediscovered his faith and realised God was calling him. He was ordained a priest in 2011. He is now a parochial vicar at St. Bonaventure Parish in Huntington Beach, California, in the Diocese of Orange. In 2017, he launched a weekly radio program, “Fullness of Grace,” on Spirit Filled Radio. In 2020, he released a book, The Imitation of Mary: Keys to Growth in Virtue and Grace. To hear his story in his own words, watch this inspiring video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFGeaErqxkA
“I had an inspiration to help people
grow in holiness. It is a universal vocation. But Grace requires a proper disposition and response to bear fruit.”
“When we look at the Blessed Mother, who is full of grace, we can see and imitate her qualities.” Fr Quan Tran
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Lourdes is Ready By Lisa Dodd, This article was written a year ago. Since then, Lourdes has been welcoming many visitors.
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have been living in Lourdes and working for Tangney Tours for over 15 years. Yes, we have COVID19 in Lourdes too. It has meant having to adhere to protocols and restrictions in order to keep everyone safe, and this has led to a good deal of changes to daily life. For me, like many, looking back over the last 12 months, life is certainly not the same as it was. There are, of course, the more obvious alterations – a reduction in working hours, an increase in time to tackle activities we had never previously tried, the wearing of masks, home schooling – and the discovery of a fantastic community spirit for those in need of help. Nestled alongside these, are the more subtle changes which are more specific to Lourdes. The Sanctuary authorities have connected thousands of pilgrims online. The grotto area is very quiet, yet still wonderfully prayerful. The absence of crowds is notable, but the candles go on
burning, the rock is still standing and the water continues to flow. As I write, spring seems to be in full bloom and the domain is bright and beautiful. An outing to the town, once incredibly cosmopolitan, now meets with only familiar local faces on everyday business. For the moment we do not mistakenly overhear an Irish accent negotiating for cheese at the market, or get caught in the middle of Italians conversing from opposite sides of the street. We are spared from having to seek out the solitary available parking space amid a sea of cars with faraway registration plates. There is one thing that these familiar local ‘Lourdais’ all seem to have in common – HOPE. All in Lourdes are looking to the future, all are preparing, all are planning. We are missing the pilgrims and the vibrancy and colour they bring. We are doing all we can to be ready for the day when the bustle returns, when you can feel God’s work being carried out in the air all around. We will be delighted to hear groups singing their way down to the grotto, to see the carefully crafted 9
magnificent banners winding down the road showing the way to the trail of pilgrims behind. We will be delighted to watch the professional photographers weave their way through Mass silently and expertly to capture their best shot, and to wave at a busload of strangers as they pass on their way for a day out.
We will be delighted, and we will be ready. Lourdes, like the rest of the world, has changed. However, Lourdes has not changed beyond recognition and Lourdes will be delighted and ready when the time comes to welcome the world again. Lisa Dodd Operations Manager,
On 11 February when many pilgrims gathered to celebrate the World Day of the Sick. Lourdes 11 February 2022
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The pastoral theme chosen for 2022 is contained in the words that Our Lady spoke to Bernadette Soubirous on 2nd March 1858: “Go tell the priests to build a chapel here and that people should come in procession.” As this message offers so much to ponder, it will be spread over three years: • In 2022: “Go and tell the priests …” •
In 2023: “… to build a chapel here…”
•
In 2024: “… and that people should come in procession.”
Let’s travel into the past. Below is a slide featuring the first pilgrimage organised by the Society of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1923. You are welcome to send your comments. The Society has a store of slides from that date onwards. In future issues we will share with you more pictures of these early pilgrimages.
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Testimony from Kathy in Devon
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am registered disabled by mental illness and epilepsy. I have been on Pilgrimage with you two or three times. My father, a committed atheist, had heard that "people get healed there", and paid for my pilgrimages out of his own pocket. He passed away in October 2020, having, as he put it himself, "got me back", after medication changes and improvement in my condition restored me to some kind of life. On Pilgrimage I was still at risk of tonic clonic seizures (convulsions), so went everywhere with one of your escorts, and stayed in the Accueil. For Masses, picnic, etc, you escorted me in a wheelchair in case I were to convulse in tight quarters. My mental state was also very poor. I was not allowed out of the Accueil without an escort, which included my roommate, who kept in touch during the year. You always put us together. I have very happy memories of the closing Mass by the late great Cardinal MurphyO'Connor in 2013, and his fatherly care during the Pilgrimage; also that of Archbishop MacDonald another time. Fr Watkins heard my confession and gave me Absolution. I remember many times going to the Grotto, to the Rosary and Eucharistic Processions, to the wonderful Rosary Basilica, and the picnics, and Mass under the trees. My best memories are of the row of taps of water from the Grotto spring, and each year sticking my head under the running water, as it was my head which was the seat of my illnesses. My father lived to see the convulsions subside – I have had two in the last 57 years – and my being able to attend daily Mass, and serve in the Sacristy. Whilst still unwell enough to qualify for benefits, and having partial seizures daily, so still being unable to drive, I have a quality of life, which I did not have for 20 years. I believe his simple faith in the power of a Pilgrimage to Lourdes was rewarded. Please pray for his soul. God Bless you
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Dying on Duty A surgeon doctor died in the fight against Covid19 after getting infected doing his job in a hospital in Brazil. Before dying, he left a last message that moved social network users, by illustrating the risks to health personnel during the pandemic.
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octor Lucas Augusto Pires, 32 year old, had contracted Covid19 in the performance of his medical work, after having treated a patient who did not know that he was positive for the virus and who ended up transmitting it to him during hospital care. On his Facebook account, on July 27, 2021, he reported that his health condition had worsened so he was going to the hospital for his care: “I’m heading to the ICU right now since my condition due to COVID 19 has worsened. I will be in solitary confinement, but I thank my friends for their prayers. I caught this disease doing what I love, taking care of my patients. I would do it again. ‘I know that my God is above all things, that his ways and plans are always just and perfect and that, in the end, all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.’ Romans 8:28. Amen.” On 8 August, he died of complications from Covid19, leaving his two little daughters without a father. His sister Gabriela declared that they had been optimistic about his state of health since he had no previous health issues. “This virus is very treacherous, he had never been hospitalized, he had no associated disease. He fought for life until the last minute.” This is just one example of how many health workers have devoted themselves to help saving others putting their own lives at risk. Often unknown to the public, these heroes deserve our gratitude. Sources: Facebook https://pledgetimes.com 13
Meditation on Caravaggio’s Emmaus Supper By MarieHelene Cook
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aravaggio painted two scenes of the Emmaus Supper, one in 1601 and the second in 1606. It is surprising to see how he could paint, on the same subject with the same characters, such different pictures. The first painting is striking in its vitality and joy, which convey the disciples’ astonishment as they recognise Jesus through the blessing of the bread.
The movements seem to have been stopped in midcourse, as though frozen in a camera shot, which immortalises the scene and the intensity of action. One disciple seems to be ready to get up having his right hand on the arm of his chair, while the other stretches his arms in exaltation. So, too, is Jesus in the middle of a gesture: his right hand is lifted in a blessing and his left is preparing to grasp the bread. He is looking young and healthy; his face is relaxed in a halfsmile. His vivid red tunic contrasts with his white overgarment. The fourth figure, perhaps the inn keeper, has an interested look in his eyes, but doesn’t seem to share the enthusiasm of the disciples, having possibly not been close to Jesus before. All three characters have their eyes fixed on Jesus who is looking down at the bread. The disciples’ eager eyes and faces express what the Gospel of Luke recounts: “Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him.” (Chapter 24:31) The scene is bright and colourful: the light, enhanced by some dark shadows in the background, shines out from the little group, especially from their faces and the white tablecloth. 14
As in many of Caravaggio’s paintings, the scene is open to the viewers; the table is almost inviting us in. We can see the symbols of the last supper clearly: the bread, the wine, but also the grapes and a leaf recalling the Vine (cf. “I am the Vine; you are the branches” John 15:5). The other fruits are not very recognisable; one seems to be a bit rotten; some may say it alludes to the forbidden fruit, but the interpretation is not obvious. The shadow of the basket is strange as well, like the tail of a fish, another deliberate symbol or just a casual stroke of the brush? We can also notice, sitting on a dish, an appetising bird. The second painting is much darker and more sober with no bright colours. Grey, brown and beige are the hues used in this grave picture. The characters look
different, but they are stereotypes, they represent the same people as in the previous scene. This second painting, in some ways, presents itself as a mirror image: the innkeeper is now on the other side; the disciples have swapped places: the one with open arms is on the left here, his face hidden, whereas the other disciple, now on the right, looks intently at Jesus and his hands are prepared to help him get up but in a more discreet manner. We may wonder why their gestures are less emphatic and their movements much less obvious and more controlled. Is it to give Jesus more prominence? Let’s look at Him: He looks more solemn, older and thinner, and his dark grey clothes contrast with the light coming from half his face and his two hands. One hand is still lifted in blessing, but more restrained, while the 15
other hand rests on the table, its fingers withdrawing from those of his disciple, as if avoiding them; we can’t help recalling Jesus’s words to Mary Magdalen in John 20:17 "Do not touch me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.” The other reason for the soberness of the picture is the scarcity of objects: on the table only two loaves of bread and a jug, no glass to drink the wine, no basket of fruits, and no dish on the table. However, an additional person has appeared on the scene, a woman holding a dish. She is elderly and doesn’t look at Jesus but at what she is holding. Speculations are open on what the dish may be containing; it seems hot like a roast, maybe lamb? There are still lots of questions we can ask about these pictures, such as: Why does the first innkeeper’s right arm wear a bandage? Why the bird on the dish in the first painting? Why is Jesus young in one picture and older in the other? Why the presence of the woman? etc. Some say that nothing in Caravaggio’s painting is accidental... The simplification and solemnity of the second picture probably reflect the maturation of his thoughts. It seems that, in five years, the painter had had time to ponder the passage of St Luke Gospel and his meditation had become more internalised as it focused on the Risen Christ. MarieHelene Cook
To those who criticise Caravaggio for being to realistic, here is an answer by Jacques Maritain1: “There are, it seems to me, in the technical order, two requisite conditions for religious art as such, granted its special object and the purpose for which it is intended. 1. It must be legible. For it is there above all for the instruction of the people, it is a theology in figures. An illegible, obscure and Mallarméan2 religious art is as absurd as a house without a staircase or a cathedral without a portal. 2. The work must be finished. I do not mean finished in the academic sense, but in the most material and humble meaning of this word. It is supremely fitting that nothing enter the house of God but work that is well made, complete, proper, durable, honest.” 1
Jacques Maritain (1882 –1973) was a French philosopher who converted to Catholicism in 1906 . 1. Mallarmé,18421898, a French poet and art critic, believed that painting should not be too precise or defined, in order to leave it to the imagination of the viewer.
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Journeying towards Light
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ent, in our minds, often means a period for fasting, alms giving and praying, which are very important indeed, but we all know that there is more to it. By concentrating on these three aspects we often limit Lent to our personal achievements. If one finds fasting difficult and dwells on it in a contrived manner, the Pharisee, who dozes inside, will wake up very happy and proud of his success. The other temptation is to withdraw into oneself in an effort to make sacrifices for sacrifice’s sake and forget about the spiritual reason for doing so. This is not what Lent is about. Lent is about helping us grow in God’s love. How do we do it then? There is no recipe obviously. This may be disappointing, but this is also a challenge. It is up to each Christian to find his (or her) way of living and loving Lent. What about focusing on the end of the journey, the Light of Easter? Conscious that Lent is not an aim in itself, let us walk along with a more open mind, exercising our spirit to become more aware of Christ’s presence. Let us take a bit more of our time here and there during the day to talk to Him. It is not pain that is redemptive, it is Love. Therefore what matters is not how much we suffer but how we suffer. Redemption is the victory of Love over evil. There are so many pains and worries that come as obstacles to our peace. Let us not be crushed by sufferings! Let us not be made gloomy by our sacrifices! Why not unburden ourselves and gather all these little crosses in a virtual basket that we can mentally deposit lovingly at the altar or in the hands of Our Lady. Mary is the one who can help us best. She was there on the way of the Cross; she is there with us at all times. Let us turn to her, the loving Mother of Our Lord, our Mother, to guide us on the Way of Love to the Light of Easter. MarieHelene Cook
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his Easter, may the light of the risen Christ illumine the consciences of all political and military leaders, so that a swift end may be brought to the carnage in course, that humanitarian law may be respected and that provisions be made to facilitate access to the aid so urgently needed by our brothers and sisters, while also ensuring fitting conditions for the return of the displaced. [...] May the risen Christ bring fruits of new life to those children who, as a result of wars and hunger, grow up without hope, lacking education and health care; and to those elderly persons who are cast off by a selfish culture that ostracizes those who are not “productive”. We also implore fruits of wisdom for those who have political responsibilities in our world, that they may always respect human dignity, devote themselves actively to the pursuit of the common good, and ensure the development and security of their own citizens. Pope Francis Easter 2018
This prayer of Pope Francis for Easter 2018 is all the more relevant today, and we would like to remember, at this time, the brave Ukranians who died for their country and for all the others, whether refugees or sheltering from bombardments. May God’s Grace fortify them and help them to survive these atrocities. Let us include in our prayer the Russians who have been arrested or persecuted for expressing their support for the Ukranian brothers.
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St Irenaeus
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n Friday 21 January 2022, St Irenaeus, theologian and second Bishop of the Lyon Church, was officially declared by Pope Francis a Doctor of the Universal Church, with the title Doctor of Unity. He is now the 37th Doctor of the Universal Church.
St Irenaeus devoted serious effort and energy to overcome their individual differences and unify the Church against divisive teachings, making him, in Pope Francis’ words, “a great spiritual and theological bridge between Eastern and Western Christians”.
St Irenaeus came from the East, born between 130 and 140, probably in Smyrna, (in modern Turkey), where he was instructed in the faith by St. Polycarp of Smyrna, disciple of St. John the Evangelist. He was a fervent listener to his teaching, as he testified: “I listened eagerly even then to these things [Polycarp’s words] … and made notes of them, not on paper but in my heart, and ever by the grace of God do I truly ruminate on them.”
But he was also one of the first Church Fathers in the West to achieve a systematic theology, work that would bring unity inside the Church, inside the teachings of the Church.
Later, he moved to the other side of the Roman Empire to Gaul (France) to serve as Bishop of Lugdunum (Lyon), where he continued his work as pastor and theologian. Why ‘Doctor of unity’? His title « doctor unitatis » refers first to his service to the churches in both Western and Eastern traditions.
He fought against Gnosticism, affirming that both material and spiritual reality had been created by God and that both were rooted in God’s loving goodness. His teaching was highly praised by later theologians, who recognised that his work had strengthened the doctrine of the Church. In addition, he worked on the recognition of the Old Testament, the relevance of which was doubted at the time, and we owe him the first part of the Creed with its references to the Creation. MarieHelene Cook
“Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself..” St Irenaeus
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Chairman’s Address AGM December 2021
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n reflection, another extraordinary year, for everyone, everywhere. And, for our Society, one saddened by the passing of 21 friends and members, including Ray Harrison – our office manager and so much more. Our pilgrimage is the oldest established in England – 110 next year and historically led by clergy and with its own traditions which sometimes appear dated – yet we have evolved and perhaps faster than others. Within just two years, churches have embraced technology and for the first time in over one thousand years people have been encouraged to attend Mass from their homes – an echo of the origins of Christianity. And for years the church has appealed for the laity to do more, to evangelize and work for the common good and care for others. Our Society is run by laity – including those not steeped in Catholic tradition, it seeks to appeal to all irrespective of religious beliefs, or even their absence and it’s needed many people to help with its work. We were already managing pilgrimage applications on a distributed basis by individuals who were ‘WFH’ (Working and updating records From Home) prior to Covid and a rostered ‘Virtual Office’ was up and running the week following Ray’s death. This was achieved rapidly – a testament to the goodwill within the Society. I am truly grateful to those who 20
stepped in immediately. This year’s Virtual Pilgrimage led by Sacha Blanchard was a mission of outreach across multiple media, unprecedented for SOLL. But the Society can only go so far in encouraging more to join us. We, as individuals, have to “tell others” and your families and friends are the obvious and easiest people to tell. • SOLL provides a reassuring and supportive environment for those with medical needs. • We are joined by those who provide spiritual support. • We offer a safe environment for young people, who visibly mature in confidence and empathy during the week as their interest, awareness and care for others grows – something for some that opens a gateway to Christianity in a practical sense. • There is a balance between, medical people, those that need care, those that come to help and those who support our pilgrimage with prayer. The more who know about us in all categories, the more can swell our numbers. The more who contribute, the lighter that load. If you can help, with ideas, and deeds, the easier it becomes. That is the future of the Society of Our Lady of Lourdes. Dave Farrow Chairman of SOLL
PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES IN 2022
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ourdes is such a special place in so many of our hearts and this has been the most challenging of years to arrange our Pilgrimage. It will be a little different, as you can imagine! We will all fly together on a plane chartered from Stansted, directly to Lourdes on the morning of Friday 27th May, returning Friday 3rd June. SOLL is heavily subsidising, for 2022, the price for travel and accommodation. The flightonly price is £396. You may select your preferred accommodation on the application form. The prices this year are inclusive of travel insurance, which covers quarantine, repatriation, the Sanctuary levies, transfers in France, taxes and, of course, a full guided programme of events and plenty of Yorkshire Tea! “All nurses will be subsidized to a total of £750 if they work the full week in Lourdes”. Due to the complications of the pandemic, we are unfortunately unable to accept any independent travel this year. Nor can we accept anyone who is not fully vaccinated.
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A
Relics of St Bernadette
relic from Saint Bernadette will be arriving in the UK on 2nd September and will tour every Catholic Cathedral in the UK before returning to Lourdes on 28th October. Expectations in relation to the numbers of pilgrims they might attract are high. When relics of Ste Thérèse of Lisieux visited Britain in 2009, more than 500,000 people came to venerate them. The difficulties that Covid has presented for pilgrims wishing to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Bernadette in Lourdes, with the usual numbers averaging in the millions, meant that these numbers have been greatly reduced by travel restrictions and health concerns. British Catholics who were unable to make the trip during a pandemic will now have the chance to venerate Saint Bernadette’s relic as it makes its way around the country. As a Charity which has been organising pilgrimages for the sick to Lourdes for well over 100 years, the Society is working actively with the tour organisers to support their efforts. Amongst the many places the relics will be visiting are: Westminster Cathedral 3rd – 5th September Ealing Abbey 5th – 6th September Plymouth 9th – 10th September Leeds 3rd – 4th October Brentwood 16th – 17th October Southwark Cathedral 19th – 20th October Aylesford Priory 25th – 28th October N.B. These are provisional dates (subject to change) Watch out for updates and further news on our website www.solllourdes.com.
They have arrived: 17/01/2022 01/01/2022 07/12/2021 10/11/2021 29/10/2021 09/10/2021 01/10/2021 28/09/2021 15/09/2021 27/08/2021 22
Peter Doris Mary Michael J. Paulina Mary Maureen Trevor Marie Mark William
Butler Ashurst Kerrigan Esheyigba Wiltshire Marsh Lee Yow Wright Jenkins Morgan 22
Finance Report 2021 The information below allows all Members and Friends of SOLL to understand the financial standing of the Society. It is only through the great support and generosity of Members and Friends that we find ourselves in this current favourable position. The total charity fund at the end of accounting period July 2021 was £1,345,138 made up of: • Investments and tangible assets £1,055,853 • Cash at bank and debtors £295,465 Creditors falling due £6,180 During the period the total income received was £101,408 With a total expenditure of £45,184 (reduced expenditure as we were unable to run a Lourdes pilgrimage). Leaving an operating surplus of £56,244. If you would like to contribute to SOLL, or pay your membership for the coming year, the easiest way to pay the Society is by Telephone/Internet banking. You’ll need to tell your bank: 1. Our bank sort code: 400113 2. Our bank account number: 10769509 3. Our bank: HSBC 4. Payee “Society of Our Lady of Lourdes” Thank you to all for your continued support.
Unanswered prayer? There was a preacher who fell in the ocean and he couldn’t swim. When a boat came by, the captain yelled: “Do you need help, sir?” The preacher calmly said: “No, God will save me.” A little later, another boat came by and a fisherman asked: “Hey, do you need help?” The preacher replied again: “No God will save me.” Eventually the preacher drowned and went to heaven. The preacher asked God: “Why didn’t you save me?” God replied: “Fool, I sent you two boats!” 23
Society of Our Lady of Lourdes Responsables 2021 President His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
Officers of the Council Chairman – John Mitchell Vice Chairman (Pilgrimage) Danny Murphy Hon. Secretary – Phil Unwin Hon. Treasurer – John Perkins Other Members of the Council Simon Chandler, Sacha Blanchard, Liam Judge, Steve Kelly, Ruth Rockey, Katrina Roberts, Shobna Rajalingham, Tom Casey, Christine Kelly (coopted) Spiritual Leader The Most Reverend Archbishop Kevin McDonald Appointments Youth Chaplain TBA Chief Medical Officer – Dr Rudy Appadoo Chief Nurse – Maryann Farrow, Deputy Chief Nurse TBA Senior Helpers: – Sacha Blanchard Special Responsibilities: COPCA Liaison Officers – Mary Fincham, Sheelah GardnerThorpe Friendship Recruitment Manager – Mark Blathwayt Fundraising Organisers – Kiran Rajalingham, Simon Chandler Data Protection Adviser – Allan Cook Liturgy Group Leader – Michael Chute Massabielle Groups Steve Kelly Newsletter Editor – MarieHélène Cook Schools Liaison & Safeguarding Danny Murphy Music Ministry Ruth Rockey, Janet Curwen, Fieke van den Berg Website Consultant Ciaran Gilligan Press Officer / Website Coordinator John Mitchell
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Centenary Club Winners November 2021 1. No 46 2. No 19 3. No 13 4. No 2
Ken Hay Simon Chandler Sheila GardnerThorpe Elisabeth Price
December 2021 1. No 14 2. No 3 3. No 24 4. No 46
Clare Barnwell Paddy Phelan Laurie Burns Ken Hay
January 2022 1. No 30 2. No 9 3. No 6 4. No 21
Clare Barnwell Ann Mann Philomenia Hibbert Pauline Collie
Bonus Ball Winners 30/10/2021 06/11/2021 13/11/2021 20/11/2021 27/11/2021 04/12/2021 11/12/2021 18/12/2021 25/12/2021
Paul & Bernadette Crossey Brian Bunting Michael Hennesey Mrs P Hibbert Michael Chute, Eileen Mahon Fieke van de Berg VM Mcgregor W David Davidson
01/01/2022 08/01/2022 15/01/2022 22/01/2022 29/01/2022 05/02/2022 12/02/2022 19/02/2022
Mary Barnard Daniel Hinton Alex Hinton V Wilson Katrina Howell Dr Sheelah GardnerThorpe Colleen NeathbySmith Brian Bunting
The Society of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. Company Reg. No. 4156243 Charity Reg. No.1086419
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