Issue 30 - The Pilgrim - August 2014 - The newspaper of the Archdiocese of Southwark

Issue 30 August 2014
Medway's only
Catholic
secondary school
Pages 6&7
How to pray
What is the
through
ordinariate?
paintings
Page 10 Page 11
Photo credit: Sheepdog Rex
St George’s Cathedral to
receive £385,000 grant
by Greg Watts
St George’s Cathedral has been awarded a
Government grant of £385,000 to carry out
essential repairs.
It is one of only 22 cathedrals across
Britain selected to receive grants from the
First World War Centenary Cathedral
Repairs Fund. The award is administered on
behalf of Department of Culture, Media and
Sport by ChurchCare, the buildings division
of the Church of England.
The fund was set up in April this year in
recognition of the powerful symbol our
cathedrals are of Britain’s shared history as
well as the significant role they will play
when the nation comes together to
commemorate the centenary of the First
World War.
Canon John O’Toole, dean of St George’s
Cathedral, said he was delighted by the
award. “The amount we have been allotted
covers our estimated costs of the work,
excluding VAT, and so it was an especial
surprise to be awarded the full amount –
especially as I think the guidelines
suggested that grants were likely to be up
to a maximum of £250,000.
“The grant will be used to replace the
35-year-old boilers – with only four of the
twelve still working – and to renew the
unreliable electrics at St George’s.
“This will be a great help to us in keeping
St George’s safe and secure as well as warm
and welcoming for all who come to visit us
as worshippers or as tourists.
“In the next round of applications we will
be focusing on the cathedral parapets
which need serious attention as the mortar
is crumbling and will need to be attended
to fairly urgently.”
He added that this is the first time in five
years that a Catholic cathedral has been
given a Government grant. “I am sincerely
grateful to the Government for such
practical help and support in maintaining St
George’s so that it may continue its mission
of worship, welcome and witness which it
has been living out since it opened, 166
years ago, in 1848.”
A Mass to mark the anniversary of the
start of World War 1 will be celebrated at
St George’s on Sunday, 3 August at 11.30
am. On Sunday, 5 October, a Mass will be
celebrated for those who had family
members who were killed or injured in
World War 1.
Schools in the boroughs of Southwark and
Lambeth will take part in a service of
remembrance at the cathedral on Tuesday,
11 November at 10.30 am. This will be
followed by a football tournament in the
grounds of the Imperial War Museum to
recall the cessation of hostilities between
opposing sides during the first Christmas of
the war.
Fr Joseph Owusu-Ansah gives a blessing to
Archbishop Peter following his ordination
at St George’s Cathedral on July 19

Editorial The Pilgrim August 2014
Doctor Who challenges us by asking
some important questions on life
by Bishop Paul Hendricks
Doctor Who is the first television
programme I can remember. I was
seven years old and we had just got
our first TV. I’m fairly sure that my
younger sister and I were among
those who, in the phrase that has
now become famous, were ready to
hide behind the sofa during the
scary bits, when the daleks came
on.
This came to mind when I heard
that this year’s series would be
starting up in the second half of
August. The programme has
attracted many younger viewers,
but people like me have also
remained keen viewers. In a way,
the programme has grown and
matured, along with us.
I’m not thinking here of the
famous deficiencies of the earlier
programmes – the wobbly scenery
and the special effects that looked
rather home-made. Over the years
I’ve seen so many films where more
attention was given to the special
effects than to story and
characterisation – the tail wagging
the
2012Pilgrim
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The Archdiocese of Southwark
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Page 2
the dog, so to speak.
It was nice to have something
like Doctor Who, where lack of
funds meant they had to rely more
on creative ideas, good stories and
interesting characters.
In fact, I think it’s in those areas,
where the programme was already
strong, that it has continued to
In the July issue of The Pilgrim,
Bishop Paul Hendricks wrote about
his plan to undertake a walk around
the hills of Rome to raise money for
the Christian-Muslim Forum. Here is
his account of it.
develop most noticeably. The
character and feelings of the
Doctor himself have come
increasingly into focus, particularly
since the revival of the series in
2005.
His own planet had long ago been
destroyed, leaving him and his
enemy, “the Master”, as the only
Well, I completed the walk successfully.
Since it’s about 36 miles, it might sound
strange to say I enjoyed it, but I did.
Realising that I needed more time than I did
when I was a student, I set my alarm for
three o’clock and was off by half past.
This also meant that I could get a good
distance while it was still fairly cool. As I
started out, I looked across the lake towards
the Pope’s palace at Castelgandolfo and I
saw the land stretched out before me, down
to Rome and to the sea — beautiful and
clear, lit up by the street lamps fading into
the distance.
As I walked towards the second town,
Rocca Priora, I saw the rising sun lighting up
the clouds with a deep rosy glow. On my left
I could see the hill of Tusculum, that ancient
site (older than Rome) where in modern
times the English College students used to
celebrate Mass on the feast of the
Transfiguration.
Now that the students go back to England
in the summer, they still celebrate the Mass,
but on a different day. I used to enjoy that
walk (about an hour-and-a-half each way) as
well as the Mass itself and the meal we’d
have afterwards.
At the furthest point from where I started,
is the town of Colonna. Looking across the
surrounding plain I could see mountains in
the distance: Palestrina – home to the
composer of the same name – and Subiaco
(site of St Benedict’s first monastery).
survivors. Being very long-lived,
though not immortal, he knows
that he must suffer the pain of loss
and separation again and again,
every time he becomes emotionally
attached to another person.
In the earlier programmes he
therefore remained fairly
detached, but in the post-2005
series he has become more
attached to his travelling
companions — and the dilemmas
arising from this have become
important parts of the story.
In some ways this reminds me of
what Tolkien said about fairy
stories. Issues that apply to us all
can be seen more clearly by being
represented in the form of fantasy.
Another personal issue, unique
(as far as I know) to the Doctor,
arises from what they call
“regeneration”. By the time the
programme had been running a few
years, they got to the point where
the actor representing the Doctor
himself could not continue.
In order to bring in a new actor
they invented the idea that the
Doctor had the ability to be (so to
This was followed by a long, gruelling
walk up to Monteporzio, a rise of nearly 580
feet — but I knew that this was the last
really steep climb of the walk. There would
be others, but not so long or steep. The
total range of heights during my walk, from
the lowest to the highest point, was nearly
1,500 feet — and quite a few ups and downs
in between!
My early start had meant that I was able
to get to Frascati shortly before midday. This
is rather more than halfway round, and I felt
that the most difficult part was now behind
me. I allowed myself a longer stop than
usual, and bought myself a slice of pizza for
lunch.
The next section took me to
Grottaferrata, where the Scots College
students used to have a summer house.
What still remains is a much older building,
the Eastern Orthodox monastery of St Nilo,
looking out across some very beautiful
speak) reborn, when old age or
injury meant that his body could
not continue. The Doctor’s
appearance would change, but so
would his personality – and over the
years we did have some quite
distinctive Doctors.
The Doctor can remember what
he did in his earlier forms, but to
what extent is he really the same
person? How much is he responsible
for what his earlier self did?
Again, this highlights a question
that applies to us all. To what
extent am I the same person I was
as a child? What is it that makes
me, me?
These are not entirely irrelevant
questions, for those who see a
loved one suffering from dementia
and appearing less and less the
person they used to be.
Doctor Who does not resolve all
these questions, but it does touch
on some deep and important
issues – and perhaps challenges us
to find our own answers. That may
help explain why it remains so
popular, more than 50 years after
the first episode.
Bishop Paul rolls back the years
with marathon Roman hike
The hilltop town of Nemi
rolling countryside.
At Castelgandolfo I stopped for a while to
admire the Papal Palace and to look back
across the lake at Palazzola, where I’d
started from. After that came a long slog
through a series of small towns until I came
to the last stop: Nemi.
I was very pleased, because it was still
light enough for me to see my path through
the woods and back to Palazzola, without
having to use my torch.
I was tired, of course, and my feet were
pretty sore, but really I wasn’t feeling too
bad at all — though it did take a couple
of days for the stiffness in my legs to wear
off!
Thanks very much to those who helped me
prepare and to those who donated to the
Christian-Muslim Forum.
If you would be willing to make a donation
(and it’s not too late!) please visit
www.virginmoneygiving.com/PaulHendricks

The Pilgrim August 2014
Clergy boosted by
safeguarding with
confidence event
The first ‘Safeguarding with Confidence’ information
day for clergy has been held.
Amigo Hall was the venue for the day, which was
attended by 90 clergy. It included talks from Helen
Sheppard, the diocese’s safeguarding co-ordinator,
and Fr Graham Preston, the episcopal vicar for
safeguarding.
The day finished with a panel session which gave
participants the opportunity to ask questions.
The safeguarding team will be organising four other
events.
23 September - The Friars, Aylesford.
15 October - St Teresa’s, Ashford.
14 November - Our Lady of the Rosary, Hayes (fully
booked).
27 November - St Joseph’s, New Malden.
For more details or to reserve a place please email
rachel.stephens@sgo-rcdsouthwark.org
Margate ordination
Ambrose Tuckell has been ordained a permanent
deacon by Bishop John at the Church of Saints
Austin and Gregory with St Anne in Margate,
where he will serve.
News
Nigerian celebrations at Aylesford Priory
Nigerians
from
across
the diocese
are
pictured
left at
Aylesford
Priory,
which was
the venue
for their
annual
pilgrimage.
The day
was
organised
by the
Nigerian
Chaplaincy
and
included
Mass
celebrated
by
Archbishop
Peter,
rosary,
Benediction
and
adoration.
Mongeham
church dedicated
Archbishop Peter joined
parishioners in Mongeham and
Sandwich to celebrate the
dedication of the church and altar
of St John the Baptist in Mongeham.
Although the church was built 80
years ago, it had not been formally
dedicated. The Rite of Dedication
takes place in Mass, during which
relics are placed in the altar and
the walls of the church are anointed
by the bishop.
Correction
On page 9 in the July issue of The
Pilgrim John Pridmore should have
said in his column, “I’d tried my
best to help him see that God was
not waiting for him to be perfect
before loving him, that he loved
him no matter what sins he might
commit.”
Thanks to those readers who
pointed out this error.
Roehampton nun is
on road to sainthood
A nun who is buried in
Roehampton has taken a
step closer to sainthood.
Pope Francis has
formally recognised the
heroic virtues of Frances
Taylor, a nurse who
tended dying soldiers in
the Crimean War and
founded the Poor
Servants of the Mother of
God.
The daughter of an
Anglican vicar in
Lincolnshire, she became
a Catholic while working
alongside Florence
Nightingale in Turkey in
1855. The faith of the
Irish soldiers she saw and
the dedication of the
Sisters of Mercy made a
deep impression on her.
Returning to England,
she established the Poor
Servants of the Mother of
God, which opened
refuges for prostitutes
and homeless women and
children in London before
spreading throughout
Europe.
Mother Taylor died in
1900 and, after being
interred in Mortlake
Cemetery, was buried at
Mayfield convent in
Roehampton.
Canterbury funeral for
founder of L’Arche
The funeral of Thérèse Vanier, founder of L’Arche in
the UK, has been held at Canterbury Cathedral.
Her brother Jean Vanier spoke at her requiem Mass
about her listening to God during a pilgrimage to
Lourdes and starting the first L’Arche UK community
in Kent, at the invitation of Archbishop Michael
Ramsey.
Thérèse, who qualified as a doctor at St Thomas’s
Hospital, also spent 18 years working with terminally
ill patients at St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham.
She died at St Peter’s Care Home in Vauxhall, aged
91.
Deacon Jim
retires to
his garden
Deacon Jim Sheahan has
said goodbye to St
George’s Cathedral after
40 years of involvement
with it.
Following a Mass of
thanksgiving led by
Archbishop Peter, he was
presented with a cheque
for £5,000 and three
items of garden
equipment for his house
in Ireland, where he will
spend his well-deserved
retirement.
Parish stories
Contribute to The
Pilgrim: send your parish
stories to Greg Watts at
pilgrim@rcsouthwark.
co.uk
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News The Pilgrim August 2014
Ursuline High
School students
are London’s
quiz champions
Students from Ursuline High School in
Wimbledon have won The London
Knowledge Quiz.
Nearly 200 schools took part in the
competition, which was organised by the
Mayor of London’s volunteering
programme Team London.
The winning year 9 students received
their awards from Mayor of London Boris
Johnson and TV presenter Michael
Absalom at The Museum of London.
Ursuline head teacher Julia Waters
said, “We are very proud of our students
who have been very dedicated and
worked so hard to become the winning
team at the London Knowledge Quiz.
“We have supported them every step of
the way and we are delighted with the
win. Our motto is Serviam – meaning
I will serve – which our students have
shown and put into practise, representing
our school so successfully in this
competition.”
NCT grant
boost for
Clapham
church
St Mary’s Church in Clapham is to receive a £40,000 grant
from the National Churches Trust to help fund urgent
repairs to its 170-feet spire.
Parish priest Fr Dominic O’Toole said: “We are extremely
grateful to the National Churches Trust for supporting our
spire restoration appeal with a grant of £40,000.
“This money will help us to carry out extensive structural
repairs to the spire, replacing severely corroded iron bands,
damaged and missing stones and the spire light windows.
“St Mary’s has been the centre of Catholic life in the
Clapham Common area for over 160 years,” Fr Dominic
added. “A Grade II* listed building, it is one of the major
Victorian churches of South London.
“What we believe is more important than our building,
but our beautiful Church helps us in our faith. It is for us a
place of prayer, a place where we experience the presence
of God.
“Over the next two years, we will need to spend
£690,000 to secure the fabric of St Mary’s.”
Catenians support seafarers
Dover Catenians have presented Apostleship of the
Sea and a priest working in Liberia each with a
cheque for £500. The group raised the money by
holding various social events and in February
organised a banquet ball with an Egyptian theme.
Cash saviour: The NCT grant will allow vital work to go ahead on
restoring the spire
Archbishop leads Kent schools’ celebrations
Archbishop Peter celebrated Mass of thanksgiving
at Aylesford Priory to celebrate the success of
Catholic education across the Kent area of the
diocese.
He was joined at the service by many clergy,
chairs of governors, headteachers, and a range of
national and local dignitaries.
A collective tribute was paid to the work of
school staff, pupils, parents, and many others in
producing the good and increasingly outstanding
learning and faith outcomes in Catholic schools in
Kent.
Parishioners at Ss Peter and Paul in Mitcham
were blessed with sunshine for their annual
outdoor Mass on the cricket green.
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Page 4

The Pilgrim August 2014
Features
Why do we have
so much scripture
reading at Mass?
The third in a series of
answers to questions about
the Mass, by Fr David
Gibbons, director of the
diocesan Centre for
Catholic Formation.
One of the major changes to the
order of Mass made after the
Second Vatican Council was the
restoration of an adequate Word of
God, as the Liturgy of the Word.
Moreover, this was a popular
change: there is a deep thirst for
understanding the sacred
scriptures, which provide
substantial – indeed, essential –
nourishment for our spiritual
pilgrimage.
Another fundamental reason for
having scripture readings at our
liturgy is that this is what Jesus
himself did in the synagogue, as a
devout Jew and a rabbi (Luke 4:
16-20), as did St Paul (Acts 13: 13-
43). The ambo – the place from
which the scriptures are read in
church – is modelled on the place
from which the scriptures were
read in the synagogue.
The mystery of God’s actions in
the world and of our redemption
and salvation through Christ are
revealed in the readings. But the
readings are not merely a retelling
of what God did in the past for his
people.
They are also a present
encounter: they are God
communicating with us here and
now. This is especially true of the
Gospel, in which “Christ is present
and is speaking to us … as we listen
to the reading,” as the general
Instruction in the Missal says.
This is why there should be a
short period of silence, a pause for
us to ruminate on the Word of God,
on the message God is giving us at
this Mass.
The Gospel is the most sacred
moment in the Liturgy of the
Word. Hence it is proclaimed by
the deacon, with a procession to
the ambo, often reading from a
special Book of Gospels, using
candles and incense, while we
stand and make the sign of the
Cross on forehead, lips and breast
(to show our hope that the words
of the Gospel should receive a
home in our minds, mouths, and
hearts).
When he says “The Gospel of the
Lord” at the end, the deacon does
not raise the book. This is because
God’s Word is not so much in the
printed text as in the proclamation
aloud in the midst of the
congregation.
We are familiar with the threeyear
cycle of Gospel readings – the
years of Matthew (A), Mark (B), and
Luke (C), with readings from John
in Eastertide and in year B (as
Mark’s Gospel is short). This
enables us to read through each
Gospel as it was written, and make
connections between individual
episodes we would otherwise miss.
It also means that the
evangelist’s own emphases are
brought out.
Before the Gospel at Sunday Mass
there is a first reading, from the
Old Testament (or Acts in
Eastertide), which is selected to
shed light on the Gospel, and a
second reading from the New
Testament. In between there are
chants: a psalm which is a response
to the first reading and an Alleluia
(or equivalent in Lent). These
should be sung if at all possible, at
least on Sundays.
Above all, the readings focus on
Christ. But they are not always
easily comprehended when we are
listening to them at Mass: the
Centre for Catholic Formation
provides a summary of the Sunday
readings in its newsletter inserts,
‘Today’s Mass’, which you can find
on the downloads page at
www.ccftootingbec.org.uk.
Sometimes the readings are not
read as well as they ought to be,
and it is a good idea for parishes to
have sessions for readers from time
to time to address this.
Page 5

Behind the scenes The Pilgrim August 2014
Providing a Catholic education
to the Medway towns
St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School in
Chatham is the only Catholic secondary school in
the Medway unitary authority. Lucy Crouch,
part of the leadership team and line manager
of spirituality, provides an insight into it.
St John Fisher is based on two sites.
Years 9 through to 13 attend the
upper site, which is located on
Ordnance Street, and Years 7 and 8
attend the lower site, on Maidstone
Road.
The headteacher, Catherine
Burnett, took up her post in
September 2011 and as such, moved
the school from “requiring
improvement” to a very secure
“good” in March 2013.
Ofsted is quoted as saying “the
headteacher and the leadership
team are passionate about driving up
standards at the school. They work
hard to bring about rapid and
sustainable improvements that
benefit students.
They have high expectations of
themselves and others and lead by
example”.
The school’s GCSE results have
improved each year since 2010.
With nearly half of our students
coming from minority ethnic groups,
the largest being Eastern European
and Black African heritages, the
proportion is double the national
average.
Having above the national average
for those who speak English as an
additional language and students
with special educational needs, St
John Fisher has had to address these
varied learning abilities with a rich
and personalised curriculum which
equips all individuals with the skills,
knowledge and attributes that will
be needed in the workplace.
As such, our curriculum provides
an appropriate balance of academic,
practical and vocational subjects,
thus allowing for all groups to make
progress in and out of the classroom.
Our comprehensive system of
tracking achievement and
assessment was recognised by Ofsted
for its effectiveness: it allows for
quick identification of groups or
individuals who are not making
appropriate levels of progress,
allowing for intervention and
strategies to be implemented very
early on.
St John Fisher is also noted for
actively promoting the
development of students’
spiritual, moral, social and
cultural awareness through the
numerous enrichment activities
offered at the start and end of
each school day and the ethos
that underpins the whole school.
The school promotes
opportunities for students to take
on leadership responsibilities.
One example of this in action
is the way students take the lead
in school assemblies. Another
was when the Year 11 prom
committee organised a cultural
diversity evening of song, food
and fashion, not only for
students and parents but also the
local mayor.
The event raised funds for
their prom, but also gave half
the proceeds to charity.
Older students have the
opportunity to support younger
year groups both emotionally and
academically through various
mentoring programmes.
St John Fisher, pictured below, was rated as a solid ‘Good’ in its
most recent Ofsted inspection, has seen GCSE results improve
every year since 2010
Education Sunday
On Education Sunday this
year Fr Paul Mason, episcopal
vicar for Kent, celebrated
Mass for the Chatham
deanery at St Thomas of
Canterbury Church in
Rainham. Staff and students
of St John Fisher prepared
and led the Mass and were
joined by the infants and
juniors from St Thomas of
Canterbury Primary School
and liturgy group. The
ecumenical theme was
‘Above and Beyond’.
The pupils and students
presented their work and
achievements alongside
their faith pledge from the
Year of Faith.
Page 6

The Pilgrim August 2014
Behind the scenes
Supporting
charities
St John Fisher students continue to raise
thousands of pounds for various charities
such as Macmillan and Cafod.
Cafod visited the school this January, giving
students the opportunity to determine how
emergency aid would be used during a
natural disaster.
The activity led onto discussions about how
religious bodies and organisations influence
and support emergency aid.
The school also continues to support two
local charities, Demelza Hospice and the
Wisdom Hospice, and this year in particular
students have helped to raise enough money
for a school to be built in Kurdistan for Syrian
refugees.
Activities for raising funds this year have
included: cake sales; male leg waxing;
cycling; designing and selling St John Fisher’s
own Christmas cards; and recycling material
so it can be made into St John Fisher school
bags.
In addition, the English department dressed
up as characters from their favourite book for
World Book Day.
Our lives: Students organised a cultural evening which celebrated the
ethnic diversity and multi-faith backgrounds of the school
Annual day retreat
at Aylesford Priory
Each year, Year 7 have their annual
day retreat to Aylesford Priory. Set in
the heart of Kent, The Friars of
Aylesford Priory are an ancient
religious house of the Order of
Carmelites, dating back to the 13th
century.
While there, the students learn
about the history of the priory, and
they are encouraged to write about
the priory and participate in artistic
opportunities. Throughout the day
students are encouraged to try their
hand at poetry and have the
opportunity to view a pottery
exhibition.
With its tranquil atmosphere, the
peace garden is always a particular
favourite for everyone as it allows a
period of time for the students to
reflect.
One student commented after
visiting the peace garden, “I really
liked the peace garden because it was
really peaceful and the flowers were
very pretty.”
Another student said she liked the
rosary way best because she was able
to have personal time to enjoy nature
and the outdoor artwork.
St John Fisher
caters for all
kinds of
pupils, from
the studious
to the sporty
School hosts annual deanery Mass
St John Fisher hosted the annual deanery Mass in October 2013. This
special Mass was attended by our dean Fr Stephen Wymer, Deacon Jim
Coleman, our sixth form, and the vice chair of Governors.
The main celebrant was Fr Baker, our year seven chaplain, governor
and parish priest for St Michael’s.
Many of our local primary school head teachers and their staff
attended the Mass, which was enriched by the voices of our student
choir.
A small gift of a wooden picture crucifix was blessed and presented to
each school to commemorate the evening. Following Mass, a buffet was
provided for our guests, where everyone was able to chat and catch up
with one another.
A SPECIAL
PUBLICATION FROM
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Ever since Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario
Bergoglio stepped onto the Vatican balcony last
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pay his own hotel bill, he’s raised eyebrows. The
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non-stop. There he is washing the feet of
inmates, spending his birthday breakfast with the
homeless and posing for selfies with teens at St
Peter’s Basilica. He was named TIME
Magazine’s Person of the Year last year, a
decision that drew cheers from Catholics and
non-Catholics alike across the globe.
But while many progressives have
championed the current Pope for his relatively
liberal statements on issues such as
homosexuality and income inequality, some
argue that his accomplishments thus far have
been more about tone than substance. Sure,
he’s said some promising things, but what has
the Pope actually done so far?
Granted, Francis has been in power for only a year, a short amount of time
for any high-level office, much less one that oversees a billions-strong
institution that is notorious for being agonisingly slow to change. Yet the Pope
has actually already enacted several substantive reforms, many of which fall
in line with progressive values and stand to better the lives of millions.
This magazine reviews how Pope Francis has already brought a shift in
substance to the Vatican and to Church policy.
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Page 7

Features The Pilgrim August 2014
Helping to grow in faith
Christine Edwards, a primary schools’ religious
education adviser at the Education
Commission, explains how parents can help
children to grow in their faith
The Summer Residential
Conference for diocesan religious
education teachers and coordinators,
held at the Emmaus
Retreat and Conference Centre,
West Wickham in June, was, for
many people present, the highlight
of the year.
Edwin Fawcett, a recording
artist who has worked on events
such as World Youth Day and the
Flame Congress, shared his
creative resources and passion for
the Mass and liturgy, providing the
teachers with many ideas and
tools, in particular the Blessed
John Paul 11 (St John Paul) Mass
and Nativity and Passion plays.
The Blessed John Paul 11 Mass
setting is so easy to learn. Schools
and parishes learn to sing the
words of the new translation in a
beautiful way. It has been used in
churches and cathedrals
throughout the UK and beyond.
Further information can be
obtained at www.edwinfawcett.
com
Sister Angela Grant DSP and
Sister Mary Louise Winter DSP
spent the second day exploring the
use of scripture and prayer
resources to enhance religious
education as well as the ethos of
our schools.
This included placing the new
evangelisation in the context of
the home, school and parish. They
spoke of how the media is a great
means of evangelisation, and one
question posed was why “ ‘new’
evangelisation?”, for there is
nothing new in scripture.
The point was made that is it is
the medium which has changed,
not the message. We all need to
find ways of engaging children,
young people and adults.
Therefore, we need to look at the
medium we use and then relate
this to the evangelisation. It was
thought that if St Paul were alive
today, he would be using social
media to engage us with the
scriptures!
As educators, we reflected upon
the fact that our biggest gift is
being able to pass onto our
children a life of prayer, a
relationship with God. We
recognised that Jesus often used
stories – parables – which came
straight from his heart. Therefore,
scripture is our gift, the ‘living
Word’ and prayer is the tool which
opens up the soul and helps us to
engage with scripture.
Delegates participated in prayer
workshops using resources created
by the Pauline Media, which were
then presented to the group as
ideas to take back to their schools.
The conference closed with an
affirming liturgy celebrating our
gifts as religious educators.
Among such a full and enriching
programme, colleagues also shared
their good practice and Education
Commission staff updated those
present in respect of current issues
and areas of development in
religious education. Colleagues
went away with a variety of
practical ideas to enrich their
religious education curriculum.
Attendees took a lot away from
the weekend. Some comments
from those attending the
conference included:
“Excellent: I look forward to this
New thinking: The conference highlighted new and innovative ways educators could encourage children
to pray and get more out of the scriptures
conference every year and I am
never disappointed!”
“Inspirational speakers and
relevant material covered that can
be brought back to schools. A good
balance between music, art,
prayer and creativity.”
“A valuable two days to absorb
and reflect personally but also rich
in ideas. Resources that can be
effectively used in schools and
shared with staff.”
Families at home can also share
in some of the good ideas to
encourage children to pray. One
way of supporting such a
relationship with Jesus in your
children at home is to encourage
them to create their own simple
prayer areas, similar to those
found in their primary classroom.
Ask your children about them.
These tables are simple to create
and with a little creative
imagination such an area can
easily be created at home by your
children, or you can create it with
your child. It will become their
special area.
All you need to do is to select
from items such as: a little statue,
a holy picture, a rosary, a votive
candle with a battery, a small
cloth/drape, (a scarf will do),
small prayer book, Children’s
Bible, and a photo of the family to
be placed on the top.
Avoid putting out everything all
at once. Adding just a few items at
a time and changing items every so
often keeps the area alive and
awakens new prayer inspirations.
Children enjoy making these
special areas and placing their
special possessions upon them.
All they need is to be
encouraged to set about the task,
to create one and use it.
An ideal time to use these new
resources would be just before
bedtime, reflecting on the day
that has passed by expressing
simple prayers of thanks, sorrow,
praise and petition.
This is a special time for your
children to discover and develop a
simple pattern of prayer.
Food is more than about eating
by Nana Anto-Awuakye
The children of St Mary Magdalen’s
primary school in Brockley had barely got
their six weeks’ summer holiday into full
swing before some of them were back in
the school grounds.
They had come with their parents to
attend the St Mary Magdalen parish lunch.
Fr Phil had been reminding us from the
lectern for some weeks that the parish
lunch, organised by the newly formed
parish council social committee, would be
taking place on that day, and people
should bring food to share and get to
know each other.
The wonderful afternoon sun held off
the threatening rain. We all got dressed
up, some of us in our traditional outfits,
and we shared our food and drink with
each other.
We were all spoilt for choice with the
range of salads, chicken, fish, several
large pots of jollof rice on offer, plus
sausages and burgers sizzling away
on a barbecue in the corner of the
playground. It was a wonderful
occasion.
I’ve recently returned from Darfur in
Sudan, with Cafod. While I was there I
saw a wedding in one of the camps for
people made homeless because of the
continued conflict in the region.
In the camps people have very little. I
learned that among the wedding party
was a group of local women who had
gathered what food they had or could
afford and were cooking it up for the
bride and guests.
The solidarity of the womenfolk was
overwhelming. I was asked to help stir
one of the large pots. It looked easy, but
my wrist action barely got a swirl going.
The women laughed at my feeble efforts.
We all understand how food is so
essential to our daily lives. Apart from
keeping us all ticking over, food is the
thing that has an impact on our emotions.
We eat when we’re happy, when we’re
sad, and, some of us, when we are
stressed.
I find that cooking for others, either by
carefully following a recipe or deciding to
be experimental, releases those good
feeling endorphins of solidarity and
belonging. It’s not surprising that TV
programmes like Master Chef and The
Great British Bake Off are so popular.
I have my battles with my nine-year old
son regarding eating his vegetables. But I
always have a warm smile inside when he
says, “Thanks, Mummy, just so you know,
I’ll still be hungry after I’ve eaten my tea,
so can I have a snack as well?”
Feeding family and friends, and even
strangers, gladdens the heart. Every
saucepan full of jollof rice, bowl of salad
or a Tupperware dish filled with chicken
or fish brought to the parish summer
lunch table was a tasty symbol of how we
as a parish had made room at our table
for familiar and unfamiliar faces.
With gladdened hearts we had come
together at St Mary Magdalen to celebrate
being a thriving parish and a faith
community that reaches out on to the
people of Brockley.
Page 8

The Pilgrim August 2014
Features
A Jewish saint for
our times
God’s love can
heal the
wounded child
by John Pridmore
We can never get away from the fact that
what happens in our childhood shapes the
rest of our life, for good or for bad.
Psychologists say that if we’ve had a happy
childhood, then we are more likely to feel
happier as adults. But if we’ve had an
unhappy or painful childhood, then as adults
we are more likely to experience
unhappiness and depression.
I believe this is true, even for people who
on the outside might appear successful,
happy or strong.
Even after all these years I can still
remember the day when my childhood was
shattered. I’d come home one evening after
attending Sea Scouts to find my mum and dad
arguing. I’d never seen my dad looking so
angry.
He immediately ordered me upstairs. When
I reached the landing, I could hear my
brother sobbing. I went into the bedroom and
asked him what Mum and Dad were arguing
about. He wouldn’t tell me, but mentioned a
word I hadn’t heard before: divorce.
Later on, Mum and Dad came upstairs and
sat down on either side of the bed. “Boys,
you are going to have to choose who you
want to live with,” said Dad slowly and
deliberately.
“Why, Dad?” I asked. “Is this a game?”
“We’re getting divorced,” replied my mum
with tears in her eyes. This news blew my
childhood apart. I was devastated.
That event shattered my world. I quickly
lost interest at school and drifted into petty
crime. By my late teens, I’d already served
time in a detention centre and a youth
prison. But they failed to change me.
In my experience, many adults fail to live
really fulfilled lives because they haven’t
dealt with pain and anger from their
childhood. Instead, they bury these feelings.
It seems easier to block them out.
But it’s only by facing up to that hurt in
your childhood that you can grow and
“
achieve you full potential.
If we are hurt, we can become very angry.
When my parents decided to get divorced
and my world fell apart, I felt full of anger.
That’s why I got into crime.
And I think I made an unconscious decision
back then not to love any more, because
then, I figured, I wouldn’t get hurt. Later in
my life, a priest told me that I was angry
with God; I denied it and said that I loved
God.
He shook his head and said, “No, there’s an
anger in you against God because you wonder
where he was in your childhood when you
suffered.”
“Yes, where was God when I was getting
beaten and being rejected?” I asked.
The priest replied, “He was you. He
suffered because you suffered. He was there
in all your pain. So if you were hurt a lot
know that God also hurt a lot.”
On my travels, I meet many people who
open up to me about what’s going on in their
life. And often they reveal how depressed or
empty they sometimes feel.
When I hear these stories, I can easily
empathise, because for many years I too felt
an emptiness and lack of peace inside of me.
The cause of these sorts of feelings can
usually be found deep in our childhood.
Often we’re not aware of this, because we
have buried the hurt or abuse we went
through.
But I believe that it’s possible to
experience healing even after harrowing
experiences. I’ve seen this happen in my own
life.
Over the years, I’ve been helped by several
priests to explore the dark corners of my
childhood and start to come to terms with
the pain I experienced back then. This
process is a bit like putting pieces of your life
back together again.
It can take time, but gradually these
wounds begin to heal and you start to
become more whole and you become more
the person God desires you to be.
“
I think I made an unconscious decision
back then not to love any more, because
then, I figured, I wouldn’t get hurt...
Fr Ashley Beck, assistant
priest at St Edmund of
Canterbury, Beckenham,
Beckenham, and lecturer
in pastoral ministry at St
Mary’s University,
Twickenham, continues his
series looking at Catholic
saints and major thinkers.
In this series of articles we have already
looked at two of the three female
patron saints of Europe, St Catherine of
Siena and St Bridget of Sweden; the
feast day of the third falls on the 9th of
this month, St Teresa Benedicta of the
Cross.
She’s particularly important since all
the other patron saints of Europe were
either medieval or earlier, and she’s the
only one remotely from the modern
period, and our own time.
Edith Stein was born of Jewish
parents in 1891 in what was then the
German city of Breslau (now the Polish
city of Wroclaw), the setting for the
brilliant recent novel by Lucy Beckett, A
Postcard from the Volcano.
She became an important academic
philosopher, no easy task for someone
who was both a woman and Jewish. In
1922 she was converted to Christianity
and in 1933, the year the Nazis came to
power, she became a Carmelite nun,
taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the
Cross (‘blessed by the Cross’) and
becoming part of the Carmelite
community in Cologne.
In 1938, as conditions for the Jews of
Germany became progressively worse,
even for those who were Christians, she
was transferred to a convent in the
Netherlands, in Echt. After the Germans
invaded the Low countries in 1940 this
ceased to be safe and in the summer of
1942, with her sister Rosa who was
living in the community, she was
arrested and sent straight to Auschwitz
where with countless others she was
murdered.
When St John Paul II named new
female patron saints for Europe in 1999,
he made it clear that they had a
specific message. In this case there was
also a strong personal link.
As a philosopher, Edith Stein was part
of the intellectual tradition known as
phenomenology, dominated by two
figures in particular, Edmund Husserl
(for whom she worked) and Max Scheler.
These two, after the war, were major
intellectual influences on the young
Polish priest Karol Woytyla, so his
recognition of her sanctity and
importance tells us a lot about his own
outlook.
Many of her writings remain, although
not in English; while much is not easy,
there are three things about her in
particular which make her important.
The first is that her devotion to
philosophy speaks to us of a search for
truth about our lives. The Pope links this
search for truth to her devotion to love:
we can know what the truth is by being
loving, it’s not something decided by
majority vote.
Truth has an objective value.
Democracies can no more redefine what
truth is than can dictatorships such as
Hitler’s. In a culture increasingly
dominated by relativism the importance
of serious philosophical study cannot be
overestimated.
Second, Edith Stein wrote extensively
about the role and special vocation of
women in society. We may feel we know
all about this, but much of what she
wrote in the ’20s and ’30s was groundbreaking,
and it’s important for the
Church as well.
Finally, she is a witness against the
racism and hatred which led to her
death, with millions of her fellow Jews
and others.
Pope Emeritus Benedict said this eight
years ago at Auschwitz: “I felt a deep
urge to pause in particular before the
inscription in German. It evokes the
face of Edith Stein, Teresa Benedicta of
the Cross: a woman, Jewish and
German, who disappeared along with
her sister into the black night of the
Nazi-German concentration camp; as a
Christian and a Jew, she accepted death
with her people and for them. The
Germans who had been brought to
Auschwitz-Birkenau and met their death
here were considered as Abschaum der
Nation – the refuse of the nation.
“Today we gratefully hail them as
witnesses to the truth and goodness
which even among our people were not
eclipsed. We are grateful to them,
because they did not submit to the
power of evil, and now they stand
before us lie like lights shining in a dark
night.’”
We have seen in the recent European
elections, and elsewhere, that racism
and xenophobia have not disappeared
from Europe: we need the prayers and
example of Edith Stein, St Teresa
Benedicta of the Cross, more then ever.
• Fr Ashley Beck is author of
Europe’s Soul and Her Patron Saints
(CTS 2005).
To advertise in this newspaper contact Carol Malpass.
Tel: 0161 214 1244 or
email: carol.malpass@thecatholicuniverse.com
Page 9

Features The Pilgrim August 2014
How to pray
with paintings
Mgr Matthew Dickens, vicar general and chancellor of
the Archdiocese of Southwark, reflects on the
relationship between art and spirituality.
Some years ago I spent a holiday in
the Dordogne area of south-west
France. Near the village of
Montignac are the world-famous
Lascaux caves, decorated with
paintings from the Upper
Paleolithic period, created some
17,000 years ago.
Anyone visiting Lascaux would, I
am sure, be astonished by the
beauty of the paintings and the
outstanding skills of the people
who made them, so long ago.
Yet beyond their artistic merit,
the Lascaux cave paintings speak
to us of the fundamental need of
human beings to express
themselves in art. There is
something greater than technical
skill here: it is the yearning of the
human spirit to express what lies
at the root of our being.
It is in this sacred place that art
and spirituality meet. The spiritual
lies at the core of our being as
men and women created in the
image and likeness of God. By our
very nature, we partake in the
divine mystery of God and need to
find means to express that
mystery. Art, music and literature
are just some of the means by
which we explore and express our
deepest reality.
Diary – August
If you have an event,
please e-mail details
to us at pilgrim@
rcsouthwark.co.uk
3: A Mass to mark the anniversary of
the start of the First World War, St
George’s Cathedral, 11.30 am.
22 – 29: Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes,
led by Archbishop Peter.
Regular meetings
Every Wednesday, the active retirement
group, St Andrew’s Church Hall, Quadrant
Road, Thornton Heath, 2 pm – 4 pm.
Further details from Philip Chapman on
020 8679 2010 or 07450 145071
For Christians, great art inspired
by the Scriptures is a never-ending
source of reflection and a means to
deepen our relationship with God.
The Church has been, for
centuries, a great patron of the
arts and through her sponsorship
we have some of the jewels of
Western art: Michelangelo’s Sistine
Chapel frescoes and his Pieta in St
Peter’s Basilica, to name just two
obvious examples.
Such masterpieces have inspired
generations of believers and drawn
them more deeply into the
spiritual narrative of our faith:
Creation, the Fall, the Incarnation,
Redemption won through the
passion and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
Speaking personally, I have
always found the religious works of
Rembrandt (1606 – 1669) deeply
moving. Rembrandt used young
Jewish men living in Amsterdam as
models for his paintings of Jesus.
He captures the Lord’s
compassion and profound love
simply through the expression
caught on his model’s face. There
is, in these portrayals of Jesus, no
need for drama or action:
everything Jesus was is expressed
by the human face as it were
looking out at the viewer.
One of Rembrandt’s most
famous paintings is his Return of
the Prodigal Son. I was very
fortunate, some years ago, to see
the painting in the Hermitage
Museum in St Petersburg.
The painting depicts the
moment when, in the parable
(Luke 15:11-32), the father
welcomes his son back to his
home. His hands lie gently on his
younger son and he nestles his
son’s head on his chest. It is a
moment of intimacy, of love, of
forgiveness that speaks of the
overwhelming mercy of God
when the sinner returns to him
asking forgiveness.
Significantly, Rembrandt places
the elder son at a distance from
the father and younger son. The
space between them speaks
volumes of the elder son’s
incapacity to forgive, of his
isolation and the choice he has
made to place himself outside this
scene of loving compassion.
The elder son literally ‘looks
down on’ his father and brother,
too bound by his resentment to
share in his father’s joy.
Using a painting such as
Rembrandt’s Return of the
Prodigal Son in our prayer opens up
the meaning of Jesus’ parable by
engaging our visual sense. Of
course, there is great feeling in the
words of the scriptural passage,
Artistic wonder: Anyone visiting Lascaux would, I am sure,
be astonished by the beauty of the paintings and the
outstanding skills of the people who made them, so long
ago.
Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son depicts the moment when, in
the parable (Luke 15:11-32), the father welcomes his son back to his
home... it is a moment of intimacy, of love... but not the distance of
the elder son from the younger and his father
but the work of a master artist can
help us to encounter even more
personally the meaning of the
Lord’s teaching.
We can, for example, place
ourselves in the position of the
three main characters of the
painting. Have I, at times in my
own life, felt myself to be beaten
and bruised by my own mistakes,
my own sins?
Have I really understood that
God embraces me when I return to
him? Or, perhaps, is there someone
whom I need to embrace in
forgiveness and compassion? Am I
ready to open my arms to someone
who asks my forgiveness?
Or perhaps am I, like the elder
brother, so caught up in my own
anger that I cut myself of from
others and deny myself the joy of
reconciliation?
Such thoughts as these can come
simply from gazing at Rembrandt’s
painting and opening ourselves to
the Lord’s teaching through our
visual sense.
If you have never prayed using a
work of art, why not give it a try?
Simply take the picture of your
choice and set it up in a quiet
space. If it illustrates a passage of
scripture, have your Bible with you
so that you can read the text.
But before reading the text, just
allow your eyes gently to explore
the work of art in front of you. This
is not an analytical exercise but,
rather, the process of allowing the
image before you to speak to your
heart.
You might ask yourself ‘where am
I in this scene? Is there a character
that I identify with personally?
What is the Lord saying to me
through this painting?’
Don’t be put off if you have not
tried this type of prayer before.
There are no rights or wrongs – only
the desire to come closer to the
Lord through the visual medium of
art. Art is itself God’s gift, and He
wants us to use every means
available to draw us closer to Him.
Ever since our ancient ancestors
decorated the walls of caves with
paintings, human beings have
sought to express their hopes,
desires, joys and fears through art.
Christianity has a wonderful
heritage of fine art and this is one
of the Church’s great contributions
to civilisation.
And it can be, for all of us, a
means to encounter the mystery of
God and to deepen our relationship
with the living Lord.
As always I’m impressed and humbled by the diversity of individuals who find their way into this book; people whose Catholic faith clearly
conditions their lives and their interaction with others, whatever their place in society. In that respect this directory of notables differs
from others in that it records not only those of public stature, but also those who’ve dedicated their lives to others in a more private –
though no less significant – way. My intention each year in compiling it has been to present something that a census or statistical study
cannot do – a profile of the Catholic population of these islands that not only reveals who we were, but what we were, and from which
future generations might better understand the extent and influence of the Catholic faith in the UK and Ireland. Joseph Kelly - Editor
The Who’s Who in Catholic Life is produced in a luxury hard-bound format, reflecting both the importance of the publication,
and of its entrants. To order your copy call the number below.
THE ‘WHO’S WHO IN
CATHOLIC LIFE’
2014
HARDBACK EDITION
ONLY £25.00 (inc. P&P) TO ORDER TEL: 0161 214 1213
Page 10

The Pilgrim August 2014
Feature
A parish mission in Anerley
by Cristina Gangemi
In 2013, our parish of St Anthony of Padua
in Anerley decided to run a year-long
mission for the Year of Faith.
Fr Sunith Nonis, our parish priest who has
an onset disability, wanted to do something
that would build the community. “I would
like to support my parishioners so that we
can be a Eucharistic presence and make a
difference to their lives,” he said.
His vision was to run a year-long mission,
which would strengthen the church
community and ensure that the Gospel was
not only shared, but lived out within the
local community.
Faith-based and social activities took
place in which people of all ages and
abilities participated.
For those who had stopped attending
church there was a special outreach so that
they might know of the church’s relevance
to their lives.
We sought to live out our parish mission
statement for the year, which was “Through
unity and diversity we will have power,
courage and love and the gift of being one
in Christ.”
Towards the end of the year, 32
parishioners went on pilgrimage to Rome
where we were welcomed by Sister Vanda
into the house named ‘Signora Nostra
Madonna di Lourdes’.
For the pilgrims from St Anthony’s, this
journey, both physically and spiritually,
reminded us of the Road to Emmaus
because we were all searching to deepen
our understanding of our faith.
We all, somehow, met Christ along the
road. The pinnacle of our pilgrimage was
Sunday morning in St Peter’s Square where
we were both witnesses to, and
participants in, the Holy Father’s praying of
the Angelus.
Standing in the square we each felt the
spirit of this most holy city in which our
Holy Father, Pope Francis and his
predecessors, have walked, prayed and led
our mother Church.
We also participated in a unique event,
the Believers in Sport event, where a 100-
metre running track welcomed young and
old of all abilities, tourists and locals,
athletes and non-athletes, to run a hundred
metres for faith.
It was a remarkable occasion which our
group had the pleasure of attending as
organiser team, official volunteers and
fellow pilgrims. The afternoon ended when
Fr Sunith and I met Pope Francis in person.
The most spiritual and humbling part of
our pilgrimage was our visit to Scala Santa,
the Holy Stairs. These were the steps that
led up to the praetorian of Pontius Pilate in
Jerusalem on which Jesus Christ stood
during his Passion on his way to trial.
In complete silence, and with many of us
on our knees, we ascended the stairs
conscious of the events of Good Friday.
At the end of our pilgrimage we all
shared how important the Year of Faith had
been and how grateful we must be to our
ancestors in the faith who made it possible
for us to practise ours.
We each returned to our parish, much
like the disciples on the road to Emmaus,
amazed and enlightened by the presence of
Christ in our lives.
In June we shared our story at the
Catholic Social Action Network (CSAN)
roadshow at St Peter’s church in Woolwich.
St Anthony’s ran one of the practical
workshops, designed to inspire people to
get involved in social action, support poor
and build communities.
It was great to give some ideas of how
parishes can set up projects like our
mission in their own parishes.
School days: Shani Johnson
Home? London and Brighton.
Job? Assistant head, teacher of English, Notre Dame R.C. School, SE1.
What secondary school did you attend? Portslade Community College - a
long time ago.
Favourite subject? English and drama.
Worst subject? Maths.
Favourite teacher? Mr Steer, Ms Lane and Ms Brotherstone - all English
teachers
Favourite school dinner? None! They used to make me cry...
Guilty secret? One afternoon I bunked double maths with my best friend.
We went to her house and watched Purple Rain instead. Much more
enjoyable!
What lessons about life did you learn? People can be cruel, but you should
remain true to what you believe.
What do you wish you had been told? Life hurts. Do not give in and keep faith that it will get
better.
What did you do immediately after school? Went to sixth form for a year and then worked until I
was 25. I realised I was not using my brain so went to university. I’ve never looked back.
What career advice would you give to a young person? Do not rush your decisions. Take time out of
education if you need to. Education continues for life.
If you would like any more information about our mission
please contact c.gangemi@abdn.ac.uk at The Kairos Forum,
who planned and lead our mission.
In focus: Sharing stories
of the mission, at CSAN
roadshow at St Peter’s
church, Woolwich
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Page 11

The Pilgrim August 2014
Focus on faith
Called to be One
Fr Christopher Lindlar, pastor of
the Deal Ordinariate Group, explains
what the Ordinariate is and why it
is hosting a series of exploration days
in Southwark archdiocese next month.
To advertise in this newspaper contact Carol Malpass.
Tel: 0161 214 1244 or email: carol.malpass@thecatholicuniverse.com
Archdiocese of Southwark
Centre for Catholic Formation
Evangelization and catechesis in the mission of the Church
The CCF is a resource agency for the
Diocese. The focus of our work is the
promotion and provision of adult faith
formation.
Your diocesan advisers are equipped to support Parish
and Deanery initiatives in Catechesis and Sacramental
Preparation, Discipleship and Stewardship, Inclusion
and Accessibility, Liturgy, Lay Ministries, RCIA, Mission
For details of our courses or other information contact
us or visit our website at: www.ccftootingbec.org.uk
Tel: 020 8672 7684 Email: office@ccftootingbec.org.uk
Courses for New Catechists
These courses are intended for potential and new catechists
though they are open to all who wish to learn how to pass
on the faith
South-east area: Hartley Hall, Catford SE6 2LD
Thursdays – 25 Sept; 2 Oct; 9 Oct; 23 Oct
Kent area: St Teresa’s Church, Ashford TN24 8TX
Tuesdays – 30 Sept; 7 Oct; 14 Oct; 21 Oct
South-west area: CCF, Tooting Bec
Thursdays – 30 Oct; 6 Nov; 13 Nov; 20 Nov
7pm (light refreshment) for a 7:30pm start, finishing at 9pm.
The course is comprised of four sessions which feature
themes including:
First Holy Communion, Baptism, Confirmation,
Reconciliation, Liturgy, the RCIA and practical work with
children and adults.
Cost: £5- per session or £15- for the whole course.
The CCF is closed throughout August. Please book via our website
or contact us once we have reopened in September – thank you.
Centre for Catholic Formation Bookshop
Catechesis, Church Documents, Religious Education,
Disability and Inclusion & Music and Liturgy.
Open: Mon-Fri 1.30pm - 4.30pm
or by appointment.
Visit our website:
www.ccftootingbec.org.uk
Phone orders welcome.
Email: bookshop@ccftootingbec.org.uk
21 Tooting Bec Road, London SW17 8BS
(100m from Tooting Bec Underground Station. Parking available)
The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is
holding a nationwide evangelisation initiative on
Saturday, 6th September, when Ordinariate groups will
organise Called to be One exploration days.
The days are for people who are not currently part
of the Ordinariate, but who wish to learn more about
it.
Among those welcomed to the events, will be
Anglicans – lapsed and practising – who might be
interested in the vision for truth and unity in
communion with the successor of Peter which the
Ordinariate offers.
The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
was created on the 15th January 2011, following Pope
Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum
Coetibus which makes it possible for groups of former
Anglicans to be received into the full communion of
the Catholic Church, bringing with them aspects of
their Anglican patrimony as a “treasure to be shared”.
At the end of his 2010 state visit to the United
Kingdom, Pope Benedict said the Ordinariate “should
be seen as a prophetic gesture that can contribute
positively to the developing relations between
Anglicans and Catholics.
“It helps us to set our sights on the ultimate goal of
all ecumenical activity: the restoration of full
ecclesial communion in the context of which the
mutual exchange of gifts from our respective spiritual
patrimonies serves as an enrichment to us all”.
Recently, Mgr Keith Newton, the Ordinary (or
leader) of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham,
said that people like him who became Catholics in the
Ordinariate did so “not because we wanted to escape
the Church of England, but because of the more
important call to unity - a priority which Christ
himself prayed for. We want to encourage others to do
the same”.
There are seven Ordinariate Groups and 12 priests
of the Ordinariate living, worshipping and serving the
Church in the Archdiocese of Southwark. Archbishop
Peter has appointed five of those priests to care for
parishes in the Archdiocese, giving one parish fully
into the care of the Ordinariate.
Priests of the Ordinariate work with their brother
priests of the Diocese in serving the needs of Catholics
in Southwark, offering Mass, working in schools,
hospitals, in prison chaplaincy.
Lay members of the Ordinariate worship with and
join the life of their local parishes, as well as seeking
to fulfil their special apostolate.
Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, Prefect of the
Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, said of the
Ordinariate, “Building this culture of communion
[which] begins with advancing a narrative to explain
to Catholics and non-Catholics alike the abiding value
of unity, integrity of the faith, and loyalty to the Holy
Father and to the Church’s magisterium. You must
propose ever anew the raison d’etre of the
Ordinariates or, in the words of St Peter himself,
‘Always be prepared to give anyone who asks a reason
for the hope that is in you’ (I Peter 3:15)’.
“Building a culture of communion will give an
eloquent witness to the Church and the world,
underscoring the keen insight of Pope Benedict XVI in
establishing this new figure for the unity of Christians”.
Readers of The Pilgrim will be very welcome at any
one of our Called to be One exploration days. More
importantly we ask for your help in encouraging
people you might know and who long for unity in the
Catholic Church to come along too.
For more information visit www.ordinariate.org.uk.
Exploration days in the Archdiocese of Southwark
Saturday September 6
Beckenham - St Edmund’s Church Hall: 4.30 pm
Borough - Church of the Most Precious Blood: 2.30 pm
Croydon - St. Mary’s Catholic Church: 2 pm
Deal - St John’s Church: 3 pm
Folkestone - Our Lady Help of Christians: 3 pm
Westerham - St John the Baptist Catholic Church: 3 pm
Sunday September 7
Pembury - Saint Anselms: 6.30 pm.
Saturday September 13
Canterbury - Franciscan International Study Centre:
11 am.
Ramsgate - Shrine of St Augustine, Ramsgate: 4 pm
Reaching out:
Ordinary of the
Ordinariate, Mgr
Keith Newton,
said that people
like him who
became
Catholics in the
Ordinariate did
so “not because
we wanted to
escape the
Church of
England, but
because of the
more important
call to unity”
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