westminster record - august edition

After many months of preparationand planning, at the end of Julyhundreds of pilgrims from theDiocese are travelling to Rio deJaneiro, Brazil and to Lourdes.50 young people answered the callof the Holy Father to travel to Riofor the largest global youth event,World Youth Day. At the same timeover 700 people joined ArchbishopVincent Nichols in Lourdes.

At World Youth Day the pilgrims hadthe opportunity to participate inmusic, exhibitions, dance, theatre,cinema, hikes, church tours andlandmark visits to celebrate theirfaith and to connect with otheryoung Catholics from across the world.

This World Youth Day had aparticular energy as it was the firstoverseas visit of Pope Francis. Thereturn of the first Latin AmericanPope to the most Catholic continentin the world, with the joy andpassion it created, was seen globallyas a wonderful moment in the life ofthe Church.

The Diocese of Westminster wasparticularly honoured as one of itsown pilgrims, Kathryn Emmanuel,was selected to serve at a Masscelebrated by Pope Francis.

Central to the spirit of the event formany young Catholics is the way itinforms and enriches theirunderstanding of their faith. Throughthis experience it equips them withthe tools to spread the message ofChrist and – in the spirit of WorldYouth Day – to go and “makedisciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). Bishop John Sherrington, whotravelled as part of the Diocese’spilgrimage and led three catecheticalsessions with young people fromaround the world, stressed theimportance of communicating thefaith to others:“After the resurrection and theirencounter or meeting with the RisenLord, the apostles and disciples ofChrist were transformed from beingfearful to being courageous, and thensent out by the Holy Spirit atPentecost to go out and tell othersthat Christ is risen”“Like the first disciples, as we grow inour confidence as Catholics bycelebrating WYD, we are called tocommunicate the joy and enthusiasmof our faith and to be just, truthfuland serve others. Many of the youngpeople I spoke with at World YouthDay showed an eagerness toproclaim and serve Christ in theirparish and community on theirreturn.”

August 2013

To read about WYD from apilgrim’s perspective, as well asto see photographs and videofootage, visit: www.wym.rcdow.org.uk

“God is present in all the ordinary things ofdaily human life, loving and redeeming us.”

Bishop Alan Hopes’ Installation as Bishop of East Anglia: 6

The Pilgrim Diocese

Lourdes flood appealOver 700 pilgrims joinedArchbishop Vincent Nichols inLourdes from 21-27 July. Anemergency appeal was launchedjust before the diocesan pilgrimageto raise funds for the town, which

suffered millions of pounds worthof damage in the June floods.Gerald Daly, Assistant PilgrimageDirector, visited Lourdes ten daysafter the floods. He said: "It reallywas a scene of total devastation,much worse than last October. It'sincredible the damage water andmud can do. The Mediterranée, Albaand Notre Dame hotels were stillflooded. But the emergency servicesand volunteers have been marvellous- working round the clock to clearthings up."For the people of Lourdes who rely onvisitors for their livelihoods, as wellas for farmers and vineyard ownersin the surrounding region, the floodshave been a catastrophe which will

take years to recover from. Speakingafter the monthly Mass for Lourdespilgrims at Westminster cathedral,Pilgrimage Director Fr Denis Touwsaid: "The floods have been a massivedisaster for Lourdes. During our visit,we met Eric, manager of theMediterranée. He was reallydistraught. For the second time in afew months his hotel has beeninundated with mud and water. Wemust remember them all in ourprayers."

Donations can be made by chequepayable to WRCDT Lourdes FloodAppeal and sent to: Gerald Daly,Pilgrimage Office, Vaughan House,London, SW1P 1QN.

Editorial Westminster Record August 2013

the Pontifical Beda College havereached some of these significantmilestones. On 14 June, ShaunRichards was ordained deacon at theBasilica of St Paul Outside the Wallswith Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor presiding. A former Anglicanminister, Shaun has been studying atthe Beda for two years. He is nowlooking forward to serving in theparish of St George’s in Sudbury fromSeptember, and, God willing, hisordination to the priesthood in thenot-too-distant future.On 29 June, the Beda College’s MartinTate was one of the eight Westminstermen ordained to the priesthood inWestminster Cathedral. Martin spentfour years training at the Beda andnow welcomes priesthood’s“invitation to humbly and happilyaccept the Lord’s offer to serve Himunreservedly, wherever He may leadus”. Most recently, the diocesewelcomed another deacon whenArchbishop Arthur Roche ordainedStefan Kaminski in a ceremony held atVilla Palazzola, the VEC’s retreat housejust outside of Rome.Three more Westminster men reacheda milestone in their formation: AdamDora, Benjamin Woodley and yourstruly. We were instituted to theministry of lector on 30 June, awonderful way to end our second yearat the VEC. Adam, at 21, is currently

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priests will minister to the peopleplaced in their pastoral care in theparishes to which they are sent, sothey need the love of thecommunity to strengthen andsustain them in that ministry. Newpriests need encouragement. Let usbe very careful to recognise ourrole in assisting others in ourcommunity, be they priests,deacons, religious or lay people.Together we make up the Body ofChrist and none of us lives our faithin isolation.

That self-understanding of theplace that each one of us haswithin the life of our Church issomething that the millions ofyoung people gathering in Brazilfor World Youth Day will have beenexperiencing. Young people aregrowing up in a fast-changingworld and one where Faith iscertainly not taken for granted andeven struggles to find a place. Wecan celebrate all that has beengood for the young people in Rio deJaneiro, and in their meeting withPope Francis, but we must

The ordination of eight newpriests this year is a great giftto our Diocese. It is theculmination of our response torequests to pray for vocationsand to be aware of our needfor priests.

There may even be a little roomfor self-congratulation! But thematter does not end there. Apriest is not a person in isolation,just ‘set apart’ for ministry wherehe must just get on with whatneeds to be done. He needs tohave roots in the community andfeel welcome to take his place inthe wider context of the life ofthe Church. We all have our ownparticular role in the life of ourChurch. As St Paul so brilliantlyportrayed the Church as theBody of Christ he gave us theimage of the “human body,though it is made up of manyparts, all those parts, thoughmany, make up one body. So it iswith Christ.” We must all rely onone another to encourage and tosustain our faith. As these new

Bishop John Arnold Editor

Bishop John Arnold

remember that they are all part ofthe same one Body of Christ andthey need us, just as we need them,in the greater family of the Church.

In August, tourists flock to Romefor the city’s world renownedlandmarks. From St Peter’s Basilicato the Colosseum, the Eternal Cityoffers some of the most instantlyrecognisable sights that make it oneof the most popular touristdestinations in the world.For seminarians, however, there aredifferent landmarks – or milestones –that they strive to reach as theydiscern their calling. These includereceiving the ministries of lector andacolyte, or the rite of candidacy, andlater, becoming a deacon, andordination to the priesthood.Over the last couple of months,several of our seminarians in theVenerable English College (VEC) and

the diocese’s youngest seminarian. Hesaid: “The first two years of myformation have been filled withblessings as well as challenges, andreceiving the ministry of lector – to betasked to spread the Word of God – isdefinitely one of the biggestblessings.”These landmarks wrap up a wonderfulyear in Rome for the Diocese. Theyfollow the announcement in June thatMgr Philip Whitmore has beenappointed as the new Rector to theEnglish College. Mgr Whitmore, who

The View from Rome: Roman Landmarks

by Antonio Pineda, WestminsterSeminarian at the VenerableEnglish College, Rome

Deacon Shaun Richards with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Conner and Fr Richard Nesbitt

currently works at the Secretariat ofState for the Holy See in Rome, willtake over the important task ofoverseeing the formation of all theseminarians of the VEC when the newacademic year opens in September.Sadly, we have had to say goodbye toMgr Mark Langham who has returnedto England after many years in Rometo start a new ministry as CatholicChaplain at Cambridge University. MgrLangham worked for the VaticanDepartment of Christian Unity and he

has also been “Our Man in Rome” forseveral years as author of this popularmonthly article “The View fromRome”. I am sure that you would liketo join me in thanking him for all hisexcellent postings over these yearsand wishing him all the best for hisnew appointment. With the help ofmy fellow Westminster seminarianshere at the VEC and Beda, I will bedoing my best in the coming monthsto keep you posted with more “Viewsfrom Rome”.

Understanding Our Placein the Church

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Westminster Record August 2013

Pupils from a St Alban's schoolhave returned from a life-changing trip with CAFOD toKenya, where they saw how sportis offering many young Kenyans alifeline out of violence andpoverty. Dan Burke and SamGriffiths from St Columba’sCollege in St Albans,Hertfordshire, were involved intheir school’s fundraising forCAFOD, which supportsprogrammes in urban and ruralcommunities in Kenya.

The students joined a group fromOaklands School in Portsmouth ontheir visit St John’s Sports Society inKorogocho, a slum town in theKenyan capital Nairobi whichhouses 200,000 people in area ofless than a square mile. The societyoffers young people a safe havenwhere they can take part inactivities like netball, football, andboxing clubs. The students alsojoined in with classes at the local StJohn’s School, helping some of theyounger children with their work.

St Columba’s College struck up arelationship with St John’s SportsSociety in 2011 when four of theirstudents visited the project. Theschool has stayed in close contactwith the Society ever since, hostingvisits last year from Abdi Rauf Dima,one of their young Karate stars, andFr John Weebotsa, the local priestwho runs the club.

During their visit, Dan and Samhanded out awards to the Society’s

St Alban's pupilsreturn from life-changing trip toKenya with CAFOD

most promising students at theopening ceremony of a new gymand cultural centre which will beused by St John’s members as wellas other Korogocho residents,including a young group of buddingclassical musicians.

Dan said: “The people of Korogochoare so down to earth; they are someof the nicest people I have ever met.It’s both inspiring and encouragingto see that having a safe place toplay sport – something we oftentake for granted in the UK – ismaking such a big difference toyoung people in Korogocho. StJohn’s motto is ‘pamoja tunaweza’which means ‘together we can’.Organisations like CAFOD show that,if we put our minds together, if wework together, we really can make adifference to people’s lives.”

Fr John Weebotsa who runs StJohn’s Sports Society commented:“The support we’ve received fromOaklands and St Columba’s throughCAFOD means the world to thiscommunity. Because of this supportwe have been able to build the newSt John’s Sports and Cultural Centrewhich will offer a space whereyoung people can train, receivecounselling, and talk about thedifficulties they face in their lives.The whole community will benefitfrom this space. To CAFODsupporters in England and Wales Iwould like to say thank you – yourhelp really is changing lives, it reallyis making a difference.”

On the 29 June 2013 The MostRev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishopof Westminster, ordained eightmen to the Priesthood in a serviceat Westminster Cathedral. Theordination took place on the vigilof the solemnity of Ss Peter & Paul.In his homily Archbishop Nicholsreflected on the importance of thelove of God and its importance forthe Priesthood: “Such love inpractice is, of course, at the heart ofthe priest’s life, of these menordained today. Everything that you do for yourpeople, in all the years of yourPriesthood, will be an expression ofyour love for the Lord. If it is not,then it will soon become a burdenand immensely tiring. Stay rooted inthe Lord each day, then the workyou do will be your strength and joy.Two particular tasks will be at theheart of your priestly ministry: tohelp keep us all rooted in Christ; andto help keep us all united in Christ.”Archbishop Vincent also stressedthe importance of the Priesthoodfor the Catholic community and thegreatness of the commitmentwhich the new priests wereundertaking:“You are also to be visible signs ofour unity in the person of Christ.You come from such diversebackgrounds and circumstances.Yet today you express thatremarkable unity of mind and heart

which is such a gift of our faith. Youare as one in the life-longcommitment you are about to give: acommitment to the people inservice; a commitment to the Churchin obedience; a commitment to Jesusin love. In the light of thiscommitment and your service in theunity of the Church, you know thatthe imposition of personalpreferences has no part in yourministry, just as the fostering ofpersonal favouritism must beavoided. All is for Christ, not for self.All is within obedience to the mindof the Church.”

Mgr Mark O’Toole, Rector of Allen Hall,the Diocese of Westminster’sSeminary, said: “It is with great joy anda deep sense of the generosity of Godthat we celebrate the Ordination ofthese eight new priests of the Diocese.We give thanks to God for all those –family, friends and parishioners – whohave helped to bring them to thisimportant moment. I know that theywill be faithful servants of the Gospeland devoted Shepherds of the peopleto whom they are sent. May theirexample and witness encourage manymore to follow Christ more deeply andto give themselves whole-heartedly inHis service.”

News

Eight New Priests of the Diocese

Pictured left to right: Martin Tate, Oscar Ardila, Martin Plunkett, Mark Walker, Archbishop Vincent Nichols,Glies Pinnock, Jeffrey Steel, Jeffrey Downie and Fortunato Pantisano

Photo ©Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Carmelites originated from medievalhermits around Mount Carmel in theHoly Land and were known as thebrothers of Our Lady of MountCarmel. Their feast-day is celebratedon 16 July. Fr Kemsley noted thatCarmel is a garden and the firstcommunity of hermits lived aroundthe well of Elijah – a reminder of thewaters of Baptism. In making theirprofession promises he said that the

News Westminster Record August 2013

Three lay people made their firstProfessions in the Carmelite ThirdOrder at Carmel in the City, at St Joseph's, Bunhill Row on 6 July.May Sexton, Annie Taylor and JulieMarchant, a reader at WestminsterCathedral, were professed during avotive Mass of Our Lady of MountCarmel. The Mass was celebrated byCarmelite friar, Fr Francis Kemsleyfrom Aylesford Priory.

Carmel in the City CelebratesThree Lay Professions

CAAPA Summer Gathering in Covent Garden

Visit www.caapa.org.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION

by Jo Siedlecka

Further details can be obtainedfrom convenor Sylvia Lucas:[email protected]


three were deepening theirBaptismal commitment.

“Carmelites think of Mary as anelder sister in faith who gentlyleads us along our pilgrimage offaith to encounter her son, Jesus”he said. Commenting on thereading from the Book of Kings, hespoke about Elijah, important inCarmelite spirituality, climbingMount Carmel to pray for rainafter seven years of drought. Theensuing cloud was a sign of Maryand the drought’s end. “She was acloud of grace who bore Christ,source of life and redemption.”

Each individual was presentedwith a scapular as a sign ofcommitment and service. Theywere also provided with a copy ofthe Third Order Rule. The Ruleurges a life lived “in allegiance toJesus Christ” and to meditateupon the Word of God at all times.

Carmel in the City was establishedfive years ago as a place offellowship for those interested inCarmelite spirituality. Meetingsare held on the first Saturday ofeach month.

Members of the CatholicAssociation for Performing Arts(CAAPA), formerly the CatholicStage Guild, met for their annualsummer gathering in CoventGarden on the evening of 10 July.Mass at Corpus Christi's inMaiden Lane, was celebrated by Fr Alan Robinson, with soloistBreda McKinney accompanied by David Hoyland.

Afterwards there was a reception atthe Club for Acts and Actors.Several actors were in attendance,including Jonathan Coote, who hasrecently performed in the West Endshow ‘The Audience’ with HelenMirren. Michael Slater and Dutchactress Martha Van Der Bly readtwo scenes from the play 'And ThenThey Came for Me - Rememberingthe World of Anne Frank and EvaSchloss', then Martha gave a talkabout her recent tour of SouthAfrica with the play.

Produced by Nic Careem for theBlue Sky Network, 'And Then TheyCame For Me' tells the story of EvaSchloss, a Holocaust survivor andAnne Frank’s stepsister, both ofwhom had very similar childhoods.Martha described how Eva, now anenergetic 84 year-old, accompaniedthe tour and took questions afterthe show.

"Eva told me: 'When we came backwe wanted to talk but no onewanted to listen. Later when peoplewanted us to talk we couldn'tspeak" quoted the actress. Afterwitnessing so many others aroundthe world seeking refuge, Eva feltshe had to speak out so that nobodywould have to live through anexperience like hers at Auschwitz.

Eva has also recently published abook, called 'After Auschwitz',about these experiences.

Performing the play in front ofmulti-racial audiences in SouthAfrica felt particularly poignant,Martha said, because of the themesit deals with. Just a few yearsearlier, it would not have beenpossible. Nelson Mandela himselfread Anne Frank's diary when hewas in prison. Mandela has said thefact that a 13 year-old in suchcircumstances could write sopositively and with such couragehelped him to cope.

The play was performed in anumber of venues in Cape Town, inPort Elisabeth and in the ApartheidMuseum and in the Woman’s Gaolon Constitution Hill inJohannesburg. "We had hoped topeform it on Robbin Island” Marthasaid, “but it was too windy soinstead we performed it on the coast."

The show has been staged at theDulwich Prep Theatre with Martha in the lead role, winning excellent reviews.

Martha is now working on adocumentary film on religioustolerance entitled: 'The Secret ofSalone', produced by Rose RebelProductions Ltd. For moreinformation see: www.sos-thefilm.com

Jonathan Coote is now developing afilm project based on a PJWodehouse comedy, entitled ‘Ranny Gazoo'.

Sylvia Lucas, convener Carmel in the City, newly professed members ofCarmelite Third Order, May Sexton, Julie Marchant, Annie Taylor with Fr Francis Kemsley O.Carm; in front of icon of Our Lady of the City, St Joseph's, Bunhill Row

by Amanda C Dickie

Jonathan Coote and Martha Van Der Bly with Michael Slater

Westminster Record September 2011NewsWestminster Record August 2013

A competition aimed atencouraging innovation incommunicating the Christianfaith, and promoting new ways toreach people who don’t yet havecontact with Christianorganisations, was launched thisweek by Premier Christian Radioin association with the ChristianInitiative Trust.The second annual ‘Mustard SeedAwards’ programme offers £50,000in funding for Christian charities,groups and individuals, including aGold Award of £15,000, a SilverAward of £12,000, a Bronze Awardat £8,000 and three HighlyCommended prizes of £5,000 each.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday,27 August 2013 with judgingscheduled for October when allwinners will be notified. Theawards ceremony will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, 9 Novemberto coincide with the Premier NewMedia Conference at The Brewery,Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4SD.

Last year’s Gold Award winner wasventriloquist and puppeteer MarcGriffiths from Sheffield. His projectwas to develop a teaching tool tocommunicate identity and meaningto children, using puppets. He hassince auditioned for ‘Britain’s GotTalent’ TV show.

Peter Kerridge, CEO of PremierChristian Radio, said; “We havehigh hopes that the 2013 ‘MustardSeed Awards’ programme willproduce some truly life-changingideas, following the innovationspresented by last year’s amazinggroup of finalists. Our objective isto support grass roots efforts byChristians and Christian bodies toencourage engagement withChristianity.”

Sian Edwards, CIT director said:“We believe that great things cancome from small beginnings andthat, in the hands of ambitious anddetermined people, our prizemoney can help to make the worlda better place.”

Competition for innovationin CommunicatingChristian faith

“Please don’t just pray for us –come and pray with us” - thespirit of these words spoken byPalestinian Christian LailaAsfoura, who lives inBethlehem, inspired Friends ofthe Holy Land to host amidsummer garden party toraise funds for their charity. Inthe grounds of Our Lady ofVictories Church in Kensington,a string quartet played as wineand canapés were served and aprize raffle took place. Due to severe political andeconomic hardships, an estimated300 Christian families leave theHoly Land each year. Churchleaders predict that if this currentexodus continues, Christianitycould easily cease to exist in theHoly Land within 50 years.As Sir Swinton Thomas, whoattended the event, commented:“Friends of the Holy Land’s focusis to keep an Arab Christianpresence in the Holy Land. FHLachieves this by adopting a policyto work directly with local peoplebased in Bethlehem - to respondto the most vulnerable families byproviding financial support todifferent areas in the Holy Land”.

FHL has adopted a wide range ofprojects. In supporting education,they provide primary andsecondary educational financialassistance for economicallymarginalised families, andfunding for university tuition forindividual students.Other projects include St Martha’s House, which helpselderly women from theBethlehem area. An FHL factorymanufacturing candles for sale inBethlehem and Jerusalem helps asmall, but growing, number oflocal people.Mgr James Curry, Chairman ofFHL Kensington said: “Our work isvital to Christian people in theHoly Land – and it makes a veryreal difference. Our aim is to trainPalestinian Christians to aprofessional level and provide ameans by which they can earnenough to support their families,as well as restoring andsafeguarding part of Palestine’sChristian cultural inheritance”.The Midsummer Party raised morethan £3,000.

Garden Party to help Christians in Holy Landby Jo Siedlecka

The Harkov String Quartet serenades the Midsummer Party at Our Lady of Victories Parish in Kensington

Children from the Our Lady Help of Christians in Kentish Town were oneof the great acts that performed in the parish concert recently, to raisefunds for SANKTUS - the parish welfare work which provides dailysandwiches, Sunday lunches, clothing and a food bank for hundreds oflocal people. Altogether they raised almost £2,000.

Entry information can be obtainedfromwww.premier.org.uk/mustardseed.


On Sunday 22 September pilgrims from our diocese, joined by athousand others representing dioceses all over England, will gatherat Walsingham to pray for an end to abortion and in amends for themillions of abortions carried out already. Open to all who want tocome, this annual event will be led by Bishop John Sherrington fromthe Diocese of Westminster. Fr Jeremy Davies, who established thispilgrimage in 1984 and many other familiar committed defenders oflife will be there too, including the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. The pilgrimage begins on the journey to Walsingham with recitation ofthe Joyful and Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary on board thecoaches that pick up from various points in the diocese. To book a place on a coach travelling from your area, contact the localorganiser listed here:

Aylesbury/ H Hempstead Vilma Tavarro 01296 484 908Canning Town Doreen Bannister 020 7476 9438Central London Padre Pio Bookshop 020 7834 5363Hatfield, Welwyn and Stevenage Paul Vooght 01438 359 276

Celebrating theGospel of Life!

Marriage and Family Life Westminster Record August 2013

Ed Smith, Founder and Chairman of the Alliance of Pro-LifeStudents, recounts his visit to Rome to commemorate theencyclical Evangelium Vitae. All opinions expressed in this articleare his own and not necessarily, those of the Alliance of Pro-LifeStudents.14 – 15 June marked the commemoration of Pope John Paul II’sfamous 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae – the Gospel of Life – inwhich he affirms: “The Church declares that unconditional respect forthe right to life of every innocent person – from conception tonatural death – is one of the pillars on which every civil societystands”.Cardinal Burke highlighted that the fundamental witness to the truthis upholding the sacred right to life. In a utilitarian, hedonistic andmaterialistic society the first to be hurt are women, children and theelderly. John Paul II’s teaching is deep and rich. It calls for us torestore a culture of life against the culture of death and states thatunity is the key to building this culture.Therefore, through the common ground of moral law and the unity ofall human beings, the pro-life message can reach all in society. We must awaken our culture to the injustices it advances: state-sanctioned laws permitting the destruction of those whom PopeBenedict XVI called ‘the poorest of the poor’ – the unborn.Blessed John Paul II pointed out the profound contradiction thatwhilst there is laudable “growing moral sensitivity” to the “value anddignity of every individual in a human being without any distinctionof race, nationality, religion, political opinion or social class”, there iscontinual increase and wide-spread justification of attack on human life. During the Rome event, the Holy Father endorsed the One of Usinitiative. It is one of the very first European Citizens’ Initiatives andaims to promote legal protection of the human embryo from themoment of conception. One million signatures will provide theopportunity to present the initiative at a public hearing in theEuropean Parliament and will mandate a formal response from theEuropean Commission. So far the UK has only 18% of its 43,750target. If you do one thing after reading this article, please add yourname by going to www.oneofus.org.uk/signnow. We go forward in the hope that we will advance student societies intheir vital work to form the next generation of parents, doctors,lawyers, teachers and politicians who have the utmost respect for the dignity of human life from the moment of fertilisation to natural death. I am sincerely grateful to the Office for Marriage and Family Life forsponsoring my participation at the Evangelium Vitae events. If youwish to know more about the APS go towww.allianceofprolifestudents.org.uk

Annual Pilgrimage ofReparation and Prayerfor the Sanctity of Life A gathering of married couples

met on 29 and 30 June at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre totake part in a SmartLovingmarriage enrichment seminar.

Couples are drawn to theseminar for many reasons and atall stages of marriage. Couplesreported that SmartLoving is likeseeing their marriage and theirfuture in living colour. Theseminar draws on insights of thetheology of the body and helpfulsuggestions for a fulfillingrelationship. One key insighthighlighted the differencesbetween males and females. Theseminar aims to open the eyesand hearts of couples, in light ofthese differences, to empowerthem with a new sense of amission to love. “An inspirationalcourse,” said one couple,“teaching the value and sanctityof marriage; reminding us this isa gift from God to be respected,valued and cherished.” In theirwedding vows, a couple is calledto live with a love that is freelygiven, total and faithful.

Fundamentally, it is all about ourcapacity as spouses to loveauthentically.

Visit the websitewww.supergrandparentawards.co.uk/to find out how to nominateyour super grandparent. Closing date is 31 August 2013.


From 11am there is an opportunityfor the Sacrament of Reconciliationprior to he central part of the day’sprogramme, the Shrine Mass atmidday. As Fr Jeremy Davies explains:“The heart of the pilgrimage is not, ofcourse, simply a pro-life rally but theMass.”After a break for lunch (bring apicnic) there are Stations of theCross, Eucharistic Adoration andBenediction. Pilgrims then assemblefor the silent walk along the HolyMile to the Priory grounds in thevillage. Those unable to walk aretaken by coach.There is a small cost for each pilgrimto enter the Priory grounds. TheGlorious Mysteries of the Rosary arerecited during the journey home. For further enquiries (other thancoach bookings), contact Christopherand Margaret Langley, Luton GoodCounsel 01582 411155 or [email protected].

Although it is a Catholicexperience, couples of any faithare invited. Bookings are nowopen for the next seminar inHendon on 21 and 22September. Contact the Officefor Marriage and Family Life formore information.


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Westminster Record August 2013 Vocations

For more information on vocations please contact Fr RichardNesbitt [email protected] or 020 7349 5624

If you have a story or an event you would like to have featured onthis page, please contact [email protected] 020 7798 9030

How did the EritreanChaplaincy begin?During the 1980s manyrefugees fled to the UK becauseof the civil war back home.Cardinal Hume responded verygenerously to this need andinvited Fr Kidane Lebasi, whohad also arrived from Eritrea atthat time, to found thechaplaincy. He in turn foundwonderful support from FrOliver McTernan whose parishof St Francis of Assisi in PotteryLane became the home for thechaplaincy. It was really thesethree men who wereinstrumental in giving birth tothe community.

by Fr Richard Nesbitt

We want your NewsYou can send us your latest newsonline, just visit our website at:www.rcdow.org.uk/wrecord

How and when did youbecome involved in thechaplaincy?I visited London in 1999 for a shortsummer holiday while studying inRome and concelebrated one Masswith Fr Kidane. He was looking for apriest to take over the chaplaincyand so he asked me. I went back toRome to complete my studies andthen came back in July 2000. I wasincardinated into the diocese ofWestminster in 2002. For me thiswas also a journey of discernmentas I had been a Cistercian monkbefore this - a calling which I lovedand is still very much a part of me.But the need for priestly andpastoral support was so great here

that I felt that God was calling meto begin a new chapter in myvocation and leave the monasterybehind to serve the Eritreancommunity here.

How do you look back onthese last 13 years?We have all grown together! I lovethe community and thechaplaincy has become my newmonastery. I need them and theyneed me. I have a strong sense offatherhood for them - we journeyto the Lord together. There arechallenges of course - usingsomeone else’s building is not thesame as having your own parish.Back in the 1980s it was a veryyoung community - now we havemany different generations andour numbers have grownenormously. Indeed sinceSeptember 2010 we have left ourbeloved first home of St Francis ofAssisi parish and moved to St Aidan’s in East Acton simplybecause we needed a much biggerchurch. The priests at St Aidan’shave been very welcoming and itis a great gift for us that we cannow all fit into the same buildingand be as one community for ourSunday 1pm Mass.

What are some of thechallenges that you andyour community face?The biggest challenge is to getpriests as there is currently a lawin Eritrea which forbids anyonefrom leaving the country unlessthey are over 50 and havecompleted their military service.Before this law was passed, wehad many Eritrean priestsstudying in Rome who came tothe UK in the summer to improvetheir English and serve thecommunity. But now we can’t geta single priest to help out. So theprimary need is to find the priestlysupport needed for our growingcommunities. We have a verystrong pastoral chaplaincy councilwith wonderful lay support but at

the end of the day there are somethings which only a priest can do.My hope and prayer is that someof the men from our owncommunity here will offerthemselves for the priesthood. It is not easy but God will provide.Now we are also trying toorganise people into differentareas and deciding who can bethe leader figures to watch overand help the community in thatarea. We are developing adatabase so that we know who weare and what people’s needs are.We also have an excellentwebsite: www.catholicgheez.orgwhich really does help to uniteand instruct people.

Where do you feel you arenow in your ownvocational journey?My simple answer is that I amvery happy! The greatest thing tohappen to me in my life has beenbecoming a priest. My uncle is aCarthusian (he celebrated his 50thanniversary in June) and anotheruncle is a Cappuchin - they tell

me that they pray for me everyday and I feel their prayers verymuch. I love serving my peoplehere and I am very proud of mypeople. As well as serving theEritrean community here I amalso privileged to be theassistant priest at Our Lady ofFatima parish in White City.These are both extraordinarycommunities, deeply rooted inthe love of the Lord. It is Jesuswho inspires us always to wantmore, always to seek to bemore faithful and ferventdisciples.

A Father to His People

Fr Ephrem Andom, Chaplain to the Eritrean Catholic Gheez-Rite Chaplaincy in London, reflects on the life of hiscommunity and his own journey

WESTMINSTER PRIESTSTo explore if the Lord is calling YOU

to join us contact the Vocations DirectorFr Richard Nesbitt: Tel: 020 7349 5624

Email: [email protected]

Caring for the Capital

School News Westminster Record August 2013

Some 11 pupils at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School in St Albans proved they are not just top of the class but top in thecountry after being accepted into Mensa, the high IQ organisation.The students put themselves to the test by taking a one-hour mentalreasoning exam, set by Mensa.Results showed that 11 pupils, from Year 7 to Year 11, qualified to jointhe organisation by showing an IQ over 148, which puts them in thetop 2% of people in the country.

The pupils are: Rifat Choudhury, Callum Britton, Ewan Wilson, EilishSaunders, Aoife Cassidy, Kieran Mekota, Dominika Chmurzynska, AmishJethwa, George Singleton, Robert Hunter and Matthew Hearn.Mrs. Brown, maths teacher at the school, is a member of Mensa andsaid: “People who join Mensa don’t really wear badges, but they comefrom all walks of life and from very different backgrounds. I am thrilledthat so many of our students at Nicholas Breakspear have proved justhow clever they are even though I’m a bit jealous that a few of themgot higher scores than me. Well done to them all.”

St Thomas More Catholic Schoolwas found to be ‘Outstanding’ byOfsted following a ‘no notice’inspection of the Wood GreenSchool. Inspector Daniel Burtonnoted that teaching, behaviourand leadership were alsoexceptional.

Cllr Pat Egan, the Chairman ofGovernors, said: “I doubt there aremany schools that have seen such arapid improvement in such a shorttime period. This remarkable resultis a tribute to a great team effort ofall staff within the school as theycontinue to be passionate about theachievement of our pupils.”

To add, Headteacher Martin Tissot,said: “I am so pleased the Ofstedteam has endorsed our emphasis onhigh standards of pupil behaviourand noted how our strong Catholicethos underpins all aspects of ourwork. We want to continue ourimprovement and successfully adaptto a fast changing landscape.”

This is the latest piece ofencouraging news for the schoolafter being named as one of the topthree schools in the country forfactoring out educationaldisadvantage and in June wasawarded Investors in People Gold Award.

St. Gregory’s Catholic ScienceCollege opened a new Sixth FormCentre last September. It was officially opened by themost Reverend Archbishop VincentNichols on 4 October 2012 andnamed St Catherine of SienaCentre. The Sixth Form studentshave settled into St CatherineCentre and are enjoying beingtaught in the new learningfacilities. This month the schoolelected our new Senior PrefectTeam, Ekow Plange (Head Boy),

St Albans pupilsaccepted into ‘geniusorganisation’ Mensa

New Senior Prefect Team for St Gregory’sCatholic Science College

Sarah Wallis (Head Girl), IsaiahTing and Michael Magpuyo (DeputyHead Boys), Tamara Flynn andAnthonia Ademuyiwa (DeputyHead Girls). The team have someexciting ideas for the Sixth Formand how they will contribute tothe main school. We look forwardto their term of office and wouldlike to thank Matthew Ong andEmma Daly for their valuable work as Head Girl and Head Boythis year.

Registration for year 12 students ison Tuesday 3 September at 10am.

‘Outstanding’ forSt Thomas MoreCatholic School

St Francis of Assisicelerates 150 yearsSt Francis of Assisi Primary School in Notting Hill celebrated the150th Anniversary of the founding of the school on 11 June. Theschool and the Church was built by Fr Henry Augustus Rawes almostentirely using his own money.Edwin Dooley, Chair of governors, said: “We are very proud of theachievements from our pupils and staff, we have members of staff whohave gone from teaching assistants to teachers and on to actingassistant deputy head teacher, we have teacher who have gone on todeputy headships in other schools, we have pupils that have wonscholarships to top high schools, our pupils have gone on to university’sincluding Oxford. We celebrate with pride our international diversity, we have a largenumber of children who come to us with English as a second language,the SATS results in key stage 2 compared with key stage 1, show a vastimprovement.Last, but I believe the most important is our Catholic identity, this iswhat brings us together in a very unique way, brothers and sisters inChrist, this must always be at the for front of our thoughts.”


Kate Introna used to work inLondon as a nurse/live in carerlooking after disabled and elderlymainly in Kingston on Thames,Knightsbridge and East Finchley.For the past ten years she hasbeen working with childrenorphaned by HIV/AIDS at SarnelliHouse in Nongkai, northwestThailand. The centre offers acaring home, medical and personalsupport to children orphaned byHIV, many of them born HIVpositive themselves. Kate has beenon holiday in London recently andtalked with the WestminsterRecord about her faith and work. Kate writes: I grew up as one of aseven children in a Catholic family.We went to Mass as kids everySunday and practised all thetraditions of the Church, which as Iwas growing up, was something Ijust accepted as part of our familylife. My parent's faith was so mucha part of who they were as close,kind and loving people. They taughtus that their love as a marriedcouple reflected God's love for thechurch and for all of us. I saw intheir love the strength, humility, thegenerosity and the joy which hasalways been my guide on thisjourney. I know that, through them,I became closer to who I amsupposed to be.When I was 18 year old I left hometo study nursing, and as I got older Ifound that I needed to discover formyself what I believed in, and notjust to follow blindly in mychildhood faith. After much readingand thinking and travelling, I amproud to say my faith is the faith ofmy father and mother and theirfathers and mothers. I love the factthat I stand on the shoulders of thesaints and that I am part ofsomething larger than myself. Itbrings infinitely more meaning thanI could ever bring to my own life. When I had finished my first year at

Kate and three of the children at Sarnelli House

Profile

by Jo Siedlecka Sarnelli House in 2003, I reallyexperienced love in a most profoundway. There were 25 orphans fromtwo years old to 10 years old at theorphanage all with HIV/AIDS andnone of them had started on anytreatment for their disease. Theywere all expected to die. I was thefirst health professional to providecare for them in the orphanage.In that year, and really with thegrace of God, we managed to startthem on their AntiRetroViralmedicine which saved their lives. Inthose days, the local staff wasuntrained and there was the stigmaand fear of HIV/AIDS, so they didn'tprovide any physical affection to thechildren, they didn't seem to getemotionally attached to themprobably in part to protectthemselves against death and grief.But I fell in love with all 25 of them,little toddlers would respond to ahug or a smile with a desperationthat broke my heart. They werecraving to be loved, to be held andto respond to love with love.

I couldn't understand intellectuallyhow I could love 25 kids to burstingpoint, and how I could know each oftheir little personalities andrecognise each of their coughs andknow when they were in pain or sador joyous. Yet I still had room, somuch room to love the otherchildren that turned up on thedoorstep afraid, lonely and rejected.I guess I thought that love was finiteand that it could only encompass acertain amount.Now I really understood that lovehas no limits and is unconditional -it was a revelation to me, and itmeant that if God is love then thelove we have for each other is fromGod. God loves us all infinitely andunconditionally. I learnt this throughthe children and I discovered theabsolute naturalness of love – it is in

our nature to love and to be loved.When I reflect back on that year I seethe face of God in those children, I seeJesus rejected and alone, I see himthough their eyes and all I can do ispour out my love on them as he did forus on the cross, and follow his call -" ...whatever you did for one of the leastof these brothers and sisters of mine,you did for me." Matthew 25.40. Despite the love the children gaveand received it was a hard year - theimpossible language, the differentculture, missing my family and friendsand if I knew now how hard it wasgoing to be back then, I think mycourage would have failed me.Trusting in God’s plan encouraged meto try to carry on with love whereverI am and I try to spend quiet timewith God. Lucky for me when I don'tfeel God in my life, I peddle over tothe orphanage and then 10 childrenrun up to greet me, a teenager willgive me a big hug and then walkaway, or a five year old will wrap hisarms around my legs and smile up atme. Then I realise God never did leave,and love is everything.If you would like more informationabout Sarnelli House or would beinterested in sponsoring one the thechildren that Kate looks after see:http://www.thaichildrenstrust.org.uk/wha t -we-do / ch i l d r en-w i th-hivaids/sarnell i-house,-nong-khai.aspx )

Kate Introna - Rediscovering God amongthe orphans of Nongkai, Thailand

“As I got older I found that Ineeded todiscover formyself what I believed in, andnot just to followblindly in mychildhood faith”

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In Pictures Westminster Record August 2013

Follow us on Facebook at:www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster

Agency for Evangelisation’s ‘Year of Faith’

Archbishop Vincent explored the characteristics of faith as presented inthe Catechism of Catholic Church

‘Faith Matters’ TalksFaith Matters biannual talks started in spring 2009. The focus ofthese talks is Catholic faith in the contemporary world. For theYear of Faith there are 4 series of talks dedicated to the 4 parts ofthe Catechism. Archbishop Vincent Nichols gave a talk on What isFaith and How do we Believe? Rev Dr Andrew Pinsent spoke onFaith, Science and the Human Person, Prof Ian Linden spoke onFinding God in other Cultures and Religions, Bishop John Arnoldspoke on Reconciliation and many more prominent speakers wereinvited to give talks on important on life in faith topics. So farmore than 1300 participants attended the Year of Faith FM talks.All the talks are recorded and reach wide audiences via ChristianRadio. All video/audio recordings are available on line.

Faith Matters: Andrew Carwoodfocused on ‘A treasure ofinestimable value" - music asliturgy and prayer’ on 21 March

Faith Matters: Fr Michael Kirwan,SJ and explored "The TenCommandments: do they stillmatter?" on 30 May

The Lent 2013 series opened on 28 February with a lecture entitled “O worship the Lord in the beauty ofholiness: The language of sign and symbol in art and architecture, poetry and music at the service of the liturgyby Archbishop of Cardiff, George Stack.

The Heythrop College singers were at Faith Matters talk

Faith Matters: Mary Colwell gavea talk, ‘A Catholic Conversationwith the Earth’ on 9 May

Autumn Faith Matters lectureattendees

Photo by Wenson Oo.

Photo by Wenson Oo.

Westminster Record August 2013 In Pictures

Follow us on Twitter at:twitter.com/RCWestminster

Adult Faith FormationAdult Faith Formation is a distinct ministry in the Church. TheChurch teachers us about ‘ a particular need to form adults forlay leadership and additional responsible participation in theChurch of the future’ (The Priority of Adult Formation). One ofthe Agency’s roles is to support parishes in working towardsthis pastoral priority by forming lay pastoral ministers andoffering effective resources such as Catholicism, sessions forparents in sacramental preparation programmes, pastoralplanning, etc.

More than 160 parish adult faith formation leaders from allacross the diocese took part in the Adult Faith FormationConference in October 2012.

Attendees of the Adult Faith Formation Conference participate in groupdiscussions

AFF leaders and volunteersretreats are held twice per year.In November 2012 Prof RachelBlass gave a retreat ‘On theDevelopment of Faithrelationship: Psychological andreligious Perspectives’.

For new and exciting on-goingAFF leader formationopportunities and parishresources go torcdow.org.uk/faith/adult-formation/welcome/

Foundation Degree inPastoral MissionA partnership project of theDiocese of Westminster andHeythrop Coollege closes thisyear. In the past four years morethan 36 parish pastoralministers had graduated fromthe programme. They all hadinvolved in their parish pastoralwork under the guidance oftheir parish priest as a mentor.As a result new adult faithformation initiatives sprung upin a number of parishes andparishes will have a number ofwell-formed lay volunteers andemployees.

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Mass at the Grotto on Christmas day


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summer, so it’s not too late toorganise a card signing in yourparish. To order campaign cards,posters, and other resources,contact CAFOD Westminster: 0208 449 6970 [email protected].

CAFOD News Westminster Record August 2013

Dates for your diaryFriday 18 October – CAFOD Pope Paul VI Lecture - CAFOD’s annuallecture will be held at Kings College London at 6:30pm with guestspeaker Fr Orobator SJ, Provincial of Eastern Africa Jesuit Province.

Saturday 2 November – Campaign Conference – join us for an updateon CAFOD’s Hungry for Change campaign, featuring guest speaker Fr Ignatio Blasco from Guatemala - held at Amigo Hall (next to St George’s Cathedral, Southwark).

“CAFOD, what is that?”

“If it starts with Catholic, thenit’s only for Catholics?”

These were just few of thequestions we received during theSpirit in the City Festival inLeicester Square. CAFOD, alongwith other organisations, wereinvited to have a stall in theevent, which aims to engage withthe general public.

The event’s aim parallels CAFOD’sHungry for Change campaign,which asks people regardless ofnationality, gender and ethnicity totake action on their faith bysigning the campaign cards.Hungry for Change campaign isabout asking one’s self what itmeans to be a true Christian, to bea true person and to be anindividual making a differencethrough our actions.

The CAFOD team at the Spirit inthe City festival was composed ofsix individuals representingdifferent volunteer roles andopportunities. Patricia and Jamesvisit Confirmations groups acrossvarious parishes. Alberto is aSchool and Youth volunteer whileJack is an office volunteer andAnne is a student who supportsand volunteers for CAFOD

For registration forms and moreinformation, contact CAFODWestminster:[email protected] or0208 449 6970.

88 and Counting! CAFOD at Spirit in the City

specifically for the festival.Although each individual has adifferent role, we are allambassadors for CAFOD. It isthrough our faith, being happy andteam work that we were able topromote our Hungry for Changecampaign to the public, resultingin eighty-eight cards signed andstill counting.

Have you told the Prime Ministerthat you’re Hungry for Change?CAFOD’s campaign for a fairer foodsystem continues throughout the

CAFOD volunteers Alberto and Alana drum up support for CAFOD’s Hungry forChange Campaign at Spirit in the City

Pedalling against Poverty and Hunger!

CAFOD Events this AutumnBe sure to sign up for our Harvest Volunteers Day on Saturday 14 September. We’re happy to welcome Clare Dixon, head ofCAFOD’s Latin America team, who as part of the day will be sharingher experience and inspiring stories from CAFOD’s work in Nicaraguaand Guatemala.

The day will take place at the Benedictine Centre for Spirituality in theChurch of Christ the King, Cockfosters, N14 4HE. For further details andto book a place, contact CAFOD Westminster – 0208 449 6970 [email protected].

Don’t forget that Harvest Fast Day is Friday 4 October. Please make sureto add the dates for Harvest Fast Day in your and your parish’s diary. Itis hoped envelopes can be distributed and a short talk given at Massesduring the weekend of 29/30 September, and a retiring collection forCAFOD held during the weekend of 5/6 October. Perhaps you could alsoarrange to mark the day with a frugal lunch or event in your parish?

For more information on all events, contact CAFOD Westminster: 0208 449 6970 or [email protected].

A record-breaking 204 riders tookto the towpaths of Lee ValleyCountry Park in Hertfordshire aspart of the seventh annual PedalAgainst Poverty sponsored cycleride. Riders as young as eight andas old as 79 rode up to 19 miles toraise funds and awareness ofCAFOD’s work helping communitiesin the developing world toovercome poverty. Molly Warren of Welwyn GardenCity took part in the ride for thefirst time this year:“I’ve always been a keen cyclist,but I’m 76 now so it doesn’t getany easier! This is a lovely and funday out for everyone, raisingawareness, and is an active way toraise funds.” As of early July, riders who tookpart had raised over £3,300,enough to provide 11 rural health

clinics in Latin America with ateam of medical professionals. Inspired by the campaign,parishioners at Our Lady Queen ofall Creation, Hemel Hempsteadheld their own “junior” version ofPedal Against Poverty. They cycledto raise money for CAFOD’s workcombatting the scandal of global hunger. Stewarded by their parents andsiblings, more than 25 childrenaged between two and six yearsold rode bicycles, tricycles andscooters around a customisedcourse set up in the church carpark. “It was great to see lots ofyoung parents there and allthoroughly enjoyed the event” saidorganiser Andy McCarthy. “Theproblem I had in the end wastrying to get the children to stop!” So far the children have raised over

£300 through sponsorship, enoughto provide three cows and trainingin animal husbandry for farmers inTanzania. If you’re looking for a newchallenge, join Team CAFOD foranother sponsored event! We’realready accepting applications forthe 2014 London Marathon andBrighton Marathon. Get in touchon [email protected]!

Fr Raymond Legge (below) and event organiser Andy McCarthy (above) cheer on young cyclists in Hemel Hempstead

Riders of all ages from across the diocese got on theirbikes this June to help raise funds for CAFOD’s workfighting poverty and hunger in the developing world.

(For once we are not asking you to take on some weighty issue).

• Stop working so hard, if you can! Take a break, go for a walk, or find aspot where you can sit and gaze at water or greenery.

• Help children just to look and notice natural surroundings.

• Make a time, perhaps early in the morning, to pray outside, if you don’t do that already.Are there fewer birds than last year, because of the cold winter? Is there more traffic?Notice colour, sound and smell. Cherish the humble, but increasingly scarce sparrow!

• Do our Fun quiz: True or False?

1) Human dignity and care for God’s Creation are interrelated issues.

2) The way we use natural resources has a limited impact on whether Creation thrives or suffers.

3) Tropical rain forests contain 6 per cent of the world’s plant and animal species.

4) Many of our life-saving drugs come from complex chemicals found in rain forest animalsor plants.

5) The poor and the powerless most directly bear the burden of current environmentalcarelessness.

6) It is predicted that the earth’s temperatures will rise 2.5 degrees by 2100.

7) The United States has 21% of the world’s population and accordingly, emits 21% of theworld’s carbon dioxide.

8) The sinfulness of greed applies only to relationships between human beings but does notapply to a person’s relationship with the earth.

9) Focussing on the long-term benefits of consuming natural resources always harms theearth and people in the short run.

10) Companies resist the costs of environmental stewardship because such stewardshiprarely saves money in the long run.

ACT

Justice and PeaceWestminster Record August 2013

In May we wrote about the signs of climate changearound the world. Last month, Westminster Record

readers received our environment leaflet outlining why the diocese iscommitted to caring for Creation. There is no shortage of work to do.

But it’s August now, and time for a rest. Like the natural world, we needa change of rhythm. Most of us try to take time off to recharge ourbatteries. We laze around in the garden or the park, or if we are luckyenough to get away, we relax on a sunny beach, climb mountains, and‘get away from it all’. City children enjoy a taste of the outdoors. All ofthis helps us renew our connection with Nature, reminding us thatcontemplation of God’s world is vital for our peace of mind andwellbeing. The old quote from WH Davey: ‘What is this life, if full ofcare, we have no time to stand and stare?’ reminds us that our paceand busy life can squeeze God out. We cut back on our rest time at ourperil. Instead, let us try to incorporate these periods of calm and slowingdown into our calendar.

SEE

Notice nature and its diversity when you can

It matters enormously that ‘Nature’ should still be there when we havetime to notice it. Fr Sean McDonagh warns: ‘Our profound andwonderful sense of the divine comes to a great extent from the beautyand diversity of the natural world.’ (Ex 19:4). So when we extinguishspecies we destroy forever the possibilities that those species had forrepresenting in a unique way the mystery of God.’ (To Care for theEarth, Sean McDonagh) Not only do food chains depend on the survival of species, but our very soulsand our relationship with God also depend on the health of the naturalworld. The first interfaith gathering in Assisi convened by Pope John Paul IIdeclared:‘This earth, so touchingly looked upon in the Hindu view as the UniversalMother, has nurtured humanity up from the slime of the primeval ocean forbillions of years. Let us declare our determination to halt the presentslide towards destruction, to rediscover the ancient tradition ofreverence for all life, and even at this late hour, to reverse the suicidal courseupon which we have embarked. Let us recall the ancient Hindu dictum: ‘TheEarth is our mother, and we are all her children’.

Take a break and enjoy a walk on the beach!

JUDGE

And on the Seventh Day, God Restedby Barbara Kentish

Fairtrade UpdateWe are steadily moving forward towardsFairtrade status for the WestminsterDiocese. Ninety-two parishes have signedup so far. We need over half to do so,that is, around 110. Is your parish signedup? If so, are you still serving Fairtradetea and coffee? Keep up the good work.By February 2014 we should havesomething to celebrate.

Answers to Justice and Peace Environment Quiz 1t,2f, 3f,4t,5t, 6t,7f, 8f, 9f, 10f

Youth

You can find out more about theDiocesan Youth Service and theexperiences of our young peopleby going towww.rcdow.org.uk/youthThe site includes coverage ofevents, interviews and photos.

You can also keep intouch online with thelatest youth activities athttp://on.fb.me/15fzuXE

twitter.com/RCWestminster orWestminsterWYM

See photos of youth events athttp://tinyurl.com/5vqohvo

If you have a story for the blog orfor Westminster Record email usat: [email protected]

Get involved andkeep in touch!


The theme for last month’s WorldYouth Day in Rio was "Go andmake disciples of all nations!" Since arriving back from Rio, whichwas my first pilgrimage as Director ofYouth Ministry, I have spent timereflecting on those words and havehad various discussions with friends,family and colleagues about what itmeans to be a disciple and to go andmake disciples of all nations.

While at his first World Youth Day as

supreme pontiff of the CatholicChurch, Pope Francis spent a timehighlighting that if we want to begood witnesses to the world andgrow in our faith, it is important forus to focus on prayer, to always beopen to sharing our stories andtestimonies with those who are ‘lost’,and to spend time with the poor.Therefore, he wants us to makedisciples through the way we live ourlives, which reminds me of a quotefrom St. Francis of Assisi; "Preach the

Director’sSpotlight

The Centre for Youth Ministry, based at St Aloysius parish in Somers Town, is home to theDiocesan Youth Support Team. Our principal aim is to develop, facilitate and co-ordinate supportfor parish based youth ministry. We also aim to promote and develop young adult networks andco-ordinate diocesan youth events.

An exciting new role has arisen for a Communication, Resources and Events Co-ordinator to join the team.

The post holder will be responsible for the development and execution of the Westminster Youth Ministrycommunications resources and events strategy.

S/he will lead the development and execution of the Youth Ministry Communication and Events Strategy and beresponsible for the management of the Centre for Youth Ministry’s Resource Library.

Exciting position available at theCentre for Youth Ministry

DATE: AUGUST 2013

Hundreds of young people fromthe diocese have just taken partin pilgrimage experiences in Riode Janeiro, Lourdes and‘WYD@Home’ in Aylesford.

These have been amazing, lifechanging experiences and now, asPope Francis encouraged us, weare looking forward to sharing ourjoy and faith with everyone whohas supported us and prayer forus. Rio was a truly amazing event,a vast gathering of the universalChurch around Francis, theSuccessor of Peter, who came toconfirm and strengthen us in theCatholic faith. World Youth Daywas a vivid and living sign of theNew Evangelisation in action. Thewhole world needs the witness ofthe young people of World YouthDay. In these days since we gotback, I am praying that God,

Fr David Reilly,Diocesan YouthChaplain

through our young pilgrims,will point many people in theright direction and lead themtowards their future, renewedin faith.

‘Go make disciples of allnations’ (Matt 28:19). This isthe youth theme for 2013and the theme at the heart ofWorld Youth Day. But isn’t italways, the perennial themeof the Church of Christ? JohnPaul II, in his great encyclicalRedemptoris Missio,reminded us that announcingthe Gospel is the first andforemost task entrusted byJesus to the Church. He said,‘Faith is strengthened whenit is given to others!’ (RM, 2).However you spent yoursummer, let us begin thisgreat mission anew and beginit together! Let us spread andlive the Gospel everywhere,in the best, life giving andlife changing ways we can!

Fr David Reilly is DiocesanYouth Chaplain

The successful candidate will possess significant experiencein a similar role and will be an excellent communicator withthe ability to relate to people of all ages. Applicants shouldbe practising Catholics, committed to the faith formationand maturity of the young people that we seek to serve.

For further information about this position please seethe diocesan website - www.rcdow.org.uk/ or phoneWestminster Youth Ministry directly on 020 7387 1971

Gospel at all times, and whennecessary, use words."I experienced World Youth Day to bea joyful time. The setting of Braziladded to the carnival-likeatmosphere. I am sure that the manyyoung people who attended theevent have flown home with greatmemories, unforgettable experiencesand many new friends. Three of ourpilgrims were privileged enough to beon the stage alongside Pope Francisduring the Opening Ceremony, whichwill definitely be a moment they willremember for many years to come.This brings me back to the theme ofthis year’s World Youth Day and myinitial reflections of the event. Thesebig events with the great festivities,the big crowds, meeting new friendsand time spent in prayer with theHoly Father are all very good. Theproblem arises when pilgrims headhome to their small parishes andschools and not only realising that allthe excitement is over but also thatthey will have to wait another two -three years until the next WorldYouth Day. Having been surroundedby thousands of young people allfrom different parts of the world,

once they arrive home they couldfind themselves amongst only ahandful of young people in theirparish and have to learn to live outtheir faith alone.

I truly believe that big events such asWorld Youth Day and Flame Congresswhich took place in March 2012 aregreat ways of exposing young peopleto the universality of the CatholicChurch. Yet without effectivediscipleship programmes at parishlevel, one will notice many of theseenthusiastic young people drift awayfrom the Church and seek a ‘spiritualhome’ somewhere else.

We at Westminster Youth Ministryhope to harness the energy andexperiences of World Youth Day andour trip to Lourdes with the Red Capsby staying in contact with thepilgrims through follow up sessions.We also hope to continue building upour Westminster Youth LeadersNetwork. We have an abundance ofresources at the Centre for YouthMinistry which we hope to utiliseand promote amongst youth leadersand catechists so as to start localbased discipleship groups andcontinued formation for our diocesesyoung people. One must rememberthat our faith cannot be based on theamount of big events or pilgrimagesyou have attended, but rather shouldbe based on how you live out ourlives on a daily basis.

We look forward to seeing you at theCentre for Youth Ministry in thecoming months!

YouthWestminster Record August 2013

We at the Centre for Youth Ministry are very pleased to announce thatwe are organising coaches to attend the Youth 2000 summer prayerfestival in Walsingham. For those of you unfamiliar with Youth 2000, they are a lay led Catholic charitybased at St Mary and the Angels Catholic Church in the Archdiocese ofWestminster. Youth 2000 UK forms part of the Youth 2000 Internationalnetwork, which has regional offices in America, Ireland, Germany and Franceamong others. Whilst specific details vary from country to country in the Youth 2000International network, their main focus is increasing awareness and love ofJesus in the Eucharist, through Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. The retreatsupports a devotion to Mary as a way of coming closer to Christ, throughsaying the Rosary. Finally, Youth 2000 aims to encourage young people to readthe Bible and get to know Jesus through Scripture. They also promoteunderstanding of and fidelity to official Church teaching.

Youth 2000 UK organise and run a number of retreats for young adults fromvarious parts of England and Wales throughout the year. Their main retreat ofthe year is their annual summer prayer festival which takes place at the Shrineof our Lady of Walsingham in the Diocese of East Anglia.On average, their summer prayer festival in Walsingham attracts 1,000 youngadults, with some coming from as far afield as Germany. The young peoplesleep in tents or in big marquees. Catering as well as ablution facilities are provided.

The 2013 Youth 2000 summer prayer festival takes place from 22 - 26 August, this year’s theme being ‘Kingdom Come – Your Will be Done’. Therewill be Eucharistic Adoration throughout the festival, live Christian worshipmusic performed by the Youth 2000 band, engaging talks with some international speakers, thought provoking workshops, and various fun activities.For further information about this prayer festival and to secure your £20 returntrip, please contact [email protected]

We’re going to Walsingham

God speaks into our hearts; inlistening we understand and areinvited to respond. Learning tolisten, then, is paramount. That isone of the primary things we aretrying to learn and trying to teachhere at SPEC. Responding to thedeep calls made by God to thedepths of our heart.Young people are looking forChrist. They are looking for Christand desperately trying to swimagainst a tide that they findunpredictable and overpowering.We offer the young people thatcome here a chance to grow intheir relationship with God, and indoing so, discover themselves andtheir true calling.

So that we never become a placewhere the blind lead the blind,volunteer missionaries walk alongsidethe core community for a year or two.We recognise that a continuousevangelisation of our own hearts isnecessary to transform their lives.The missionaries in their turn play theirpart in transforming the lives of thethousands of young people that walkthrough our doors. We see the fruit –a change for the better. SPEC istransformational to young people andthe missionaries. You don’t have totake my word for it: read what one ofour second-year volunteermissionaries wrote:“I have experienced a lot of grace,growth, and fruit in my life over my

past two mission years. I’ve foundgreat joy in being able to talkabout the love I have experiencedand showing the young peoplethat come how they can have ittoo. This for me is a unique way offorming into the person Godcreated you to be. Through seeingothers live out a Christian life, itencourages me to seek and thendeepen my own relationship withGod and live through the samespirit God gives them. “What do we offer? “DynamicOrthodoxy”? UnashamedCatholicism? Adoration? TheRosary? Yes, all of these but it iseasier, and simpler, to say: Jesus.

Who are you listening to?

Bishop Alan Hopes – Installation Westminster Record August 2013

A packed St John theBaptist Cathedral inNorwich celebrated theinstillation of the Bishop ofEast Anglia on 16 July.Bishop Alan Hopes wasjoined by the Papal Nuncio,Cardinal Cormac Muphy-O’Connor, ArchbishopVincent Nichols and manyother Bishops from Englandand Wales. Severalecumenical and civicleaders also attended the Mass. Bishop Alan’s inauguralhomily, addressed the newbeginnings taking place aftera two-year vacancy in the

diocese. The new Bishop also gave courage to thecongregation in telling us not to be daunted as Christianitycomes under attack. We must exhibit obedience and,ultimately, persevere as Mary did to become a witness to ourfaith. He said; “Through our faith and witness, may the worldbe given a glimpse of the possibility of a different way ofliving, a world transformed by faith, hope and love – theworld of the one true God – who shares in our human so thatwe might one day share in his eternal life.” Our Lady is a strong symbol in East Anglia as the diocese ishome to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham,where thousands of pilgrims will be flocking later this month.

New Bishop for Diocese of East Anglia: “We need to encounter the One inwhom we believe – then our lives will be transformed”

Photos ©Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

ArtsWestminster Record August 2013

One of the surprise hits thissummer has been Michael Landy'sinteractive exhibition of kineticsculptures at the National Gallery.Inspired by Medieval andRenaissance images of martyredsaints, the Rootstein HopkinsAssociate Artist in residence atthe National Gallery has producedseven painted fiberglass

sculptures. As one of a group ofyoung British artists who rose toprominence for their use ofdiscarded material, Landy sourcedthe materials used for thesculptures from flea markets andrefuse dumps. Brought to life by aseries of pulleys and pedals, thesculptures highlight particularattributes of the Saints. The giantfigures of move dramatically whenvisitors press the pedals. Landy was inspired by depictions ofthe lives and deaths of the Saints. Hewas particularly fascinated with CarloCrivelli’s paintings of St Jerome andSt Michael, and Sasseta's‘Stigmatisation of St Francis’ to namea few.Crivelli’s alter panel of St Peter MaryClaver was the focus for his sculptureentitled; Multi Saint. The head of theDominican martyr, who was killed bya sword, surmounts this strikingcomposite, which also includes thegriddle on which St Lawrence wasroasted and St Lucy's eyes on aplatter. The armoured legs ofArchangel Michael trample afearsome devil while his hand holds abalance weighing the souls of thedead. The walls are hung with framed papercollages resembling fragments of areligious jigsaw. Many includeinstruments of martyrdom. St Jeromefeatures in many depictions alongsidehis symbols of an owl, signifyingwisdom as a Doctor of the Church,and a lion, his desert companion afterhe removed a thorn from its paw. A bust of St Francis holding a crucifixsurmounts a collecting box. Everytime a donation for the Gallery isplaced in the box the crucifix hits the

by Jo Siedlecka

saint on the forehead, signifyinghow the wounds of Christ wereimprinted on Francis through hislife of poverty and charity. Landysees Francis, who embraced LadyPoverty by giving away all hisgoods, as an antidote to modernconsumerism.Don't miss the video near theentrance explaining Landy'sconcept. The exhibition is on until 24November 2013 in the Sunley Room.Admission free.Catalogue £9.99

By Amanda C Dickie

Exhibitions

National Gallery: The Art of Love and Leisure and Saints Alive

Step into the Sainsbury's Wing of theNational Gallery this summer, andyou will be transported to a gentlertime, in an exhibition that exploresthe motif of music in 16th centuryDutch painting, with works byVermeer and his contemporaries,alongside musical instruments andsongbooks. For the first time in manyyears at the gallery, on three days aweek, visitors can also experience livemusic from the period withperformances by the Academy ofAncient Music.

Forming the centrepiece of Vermeerand Music: The Art of Love and Leisure,are three magnificent paintings byJohannes Vermeer portraying womenmusicians - brought together for thefirst time. The National Gallery's ownYoung Woman Standing at a Virginaland A Young Woman Seated at aVirginal are joined by his The GuitarPlayer, on loan from Kenwood House,and The Music Lesson, on loan fromthe Queen.

In the 1500s musical culture hadflourished in the Netherlands throughthe vibrant court of the Dukes ofBurgundy. The increasingly intricatecompositions influenced musicaldevelopment across Europe. Thisflowering ended with the Reformationas the new Dutch Republic convertedto Calvinism - which associated musicwith idolatry and Catholic excess. Asinstrumental music was banned fromchurches, Carel Fabritius painted A Viewof Delft with a Musical Instrument Stall,showing a man sitting thoughtfullybeside some silent instruments withDelft Cathedral in the background, toexpress his sadness.

The authorities may have suppressedmusic in church, but it blossomed in thepublic square, and even more so in theprivacy of people's homes. Music anddance lessons were an important partof education for well-to-do youngpeople. Musical competence, forwomen especially, was considered anattractive virtue.

In Jan Steen's 'A Young Woman Playinga Harpsichord to a Young Man' we seea prim young lady, with lowered gazeand upright posture playing a pieceentitled 'Solely for the Glory of God'while the gentleman slouching over theinstrument staring at her looks like hemight have something else on his mind.

Above left: Jan Molenaer (about 1610 - 1668) A Young Man playing a Theorboand a Young Woman playing a Cittern, probably 1630-2 Oil on canvas68 x 84 cm The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London

Above: Johannes Vermeer (1632 - 1675) The Music Lesson, about 1662-3Oil on canvas 73.3 x 64.5 cmRoyal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013

Long winter evenings also providedmany opportunities to build all kindsof social and professional ties. Thereare several convivial paintingsdepicting parties and scenes ofdomestic harmony.

Songbooks were all the rage duringthis time, and the exhibition has anumber on display. They were printedwith little spaces at the front forpersonal dedications, and smallenough to conceal in a pocket orhandbag. One handwritten notereads: "go hence lucky book, in thosesnow white hands/ And in that sweetlap the fairest in the land, Go hencemelodiously and let yourself be sungby the one/Who has my heart andsenses completely in her power.

My favourite painting in thecollection is Vermeer’s Guitar Player.The girl is placed far to the left of thepicture giving a sense of movementand impending change. With tippedhead and a sweet smile, she islistening intently at the same timefixing her gaze on someone justoutside of the image. She plays notfor us, but for an unseen visitor.

Vermeer and Music - The Art of Loveand Leisure is at the Sainsbury's Wingof the National Gallery until 8 September. There is anadmission charge.

Letters and Saints Westminster Record August 2013

Fr John Adam (1979)Fr Laurence Allan (1981)Fr Patrick Cassidy (2007)Fr Leslie Cole (1997)Mgr John Coonan (1979)Fr Roderick Cuming (1981)Canon George Davey (1986)Fr Philip Dwerryhouse (1986)Fr Percival Fielden (1990)Fr Joseph Finnegan (2002)Fr Edward Fowler (1973)Fr John Greene (1980)Cardinal Bernard Griffin (1956)Fr James Gunston (1972)Mgr Canon Herbert Haines (2004)Fr Guy Martin Heal (2009)Fr Edward Houghton (2009)Fr Richard Johnson (1992)Fr Peter Keenan (1984)Fr Thomas Kilcoyne (1972)Fr Peter Latham (2005)Fr William Lynagh (1977)Fr Michael Lynam (1984)Fr Joseph McVeigh (1977)Fr John Milne (2001)Fr Bernard Mortimore (1980)Mgr Canon John Mostyn (1981)Fr Desmond Mullin (1988)Canon Maurice O’Leary (1997)Canon Denis O’Sullivan (1983)Fr William Rees (1984)Fr Wilfrid Soggee (1990)Fr Thomas Stack (1984)Fr Ignatius Tonna (1993)

In Memoriam: AugustLiturgical Calendar

1 August St Alphonsus Liguori2 August St Eusebius of Vercelli & St Peter Julian Eymard6 August Transfiguration of The Lord8 August St Dominic, Priest9 August St Teresa Benedicta ofthe Cross, 10 August St Lawrence12 August St Jane Frances deChantal, Religious13 August SS Pontian, Pope & Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs 15 August Assumption of theBlessed Virgin Mary16 August St Stephen of Hungary19 August St John Eudes, Priest22 August Queenship of theBlessed Virgin Mary24 August St Bartholomew25 August St Louis & St JosephCalasanz26 August Blessed Dominic of theMother of God27 August St Monica29 August Beheading of St Johnthe Baptist30 August SS Margaret Clitherow,Anne Line & Margaret Ward31 August St Aidan & Sts ofLindisfarne

Dear Sir,I am a Catholic councillor, notthat unusual, I know of quite afew but the Church does not seemto. This is a shame as werepresent one of the best ways forthe Church to influence thepolices of political parties.I have been complaining aboutthis for a few years and so gotcaught by the usual response“Why don’t you do somethingabout it?” As a member of theCatholic Union I got put on theirexecutive and given the job ofcompiling a more exhaustive list.Many Catholic councillors willknow I already have their namesbut I would like to appeal to anywho have not been in touch withme to contact me [email protected] and alsoto encourage any fellow Catholiccouncillors to do likewise.I am composing this on the feastday of our patron Saint ThomasMore and so may his blessing beupon us all in striving toremember our faith amongst our politics.

Ian M. Potts

The newspapers continued, taking an independent line, critical ofHitler's regime.Maximilian was arrested as a'journalist, publisher andintellectual'. Together with fourcompanions, he was taken toAuszwitz in May 1941. He didforced labour. He continued hisministry, hearing confessions andsmuggling in bread and wine for theEucharist. He was noted for hiscompassion to those in an evenworse state than himself. One day,he swapped places with a mancalled Franci Gajnowiczek who wasgoing to be executed. He said: "I ama Catholic priest. I wish to die forthat man. I am old. He has a wifeand children."Maximilian was sent to cell 18 witha group to be starved to death. Heprayed with them and recitedpsalms. After two weeks only fourwere still alive and he was the onlyone conscious. He was executedwith an injection of phenol and diedon this day, aged 47.Maximilian Kolbe was beatified on1971 and canonised in 1982 by PopeJohn Paul II, former Archbishop ofKrakow, which is near Auschwitz.Francis Gajnowiczek attended the ceremony.

August Feast DaysCalling CatholicCouncillors

St Maximilian Kolbe 14 AugustFranciscan priest and martyr. A patron saint of journalists.Maximilian was born near Lodz inPoland, in 1894, He entered theFranciscans in 1910 and studied inRome. In 1919 he returned to Poland,where, in spite of suffering fromtuberculosis, he taught in a seminaryand set up a Catholic newspaper. Healso established a Franciscancommunity at Niepokalanow whichcombined a life of prayer,cheerfulness and poverty, withmodern technology. During the 1930s he started anothercommunity in Nagasaki, Japan, whichalso produced publications. He wasrecalled to Poland in 1936. When theNazis invaded, Niepokalanow becamea refugee camp, housing more than4,500 Jewish and Polish people.

DiaryWestminster Record August 2013

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

SUNDAYSTaizé at St James’s PiccadillyEvery third Sunday 5pm. Call 020 7503 5128 for details. Ceilidh at Camden Irish CentreReal Ceilidh dancing every Sundayfrom 8pm, with lessons for newcomersuntil 8.30pm then on with the dance!All are welcome. £4 per session withgreat music from Tony Kearny. Partnersnot needed. Contact 020 7272 5815 Tyburn Benedictines Monastic afternoonFirst Sunday of the month 2pm-5pmMartyrs’ Crypt, Tyburn Convent,Bayswater Road near Marble Arch. Westminster Cathedral YoungAdultsYoung adults meet socially after the5.30 and 7pm Masses on Sundays. on the steps of the Cathedral, then a pub.Deaf Community Mass - First Sunday of the month 4.30pm in Westminster Cathedral HallAmbrosden Ave. SW1P 1QW

Young Adults Mass - First Sunday ofthe monthAt Mount Street 7pm. Quiet prayer at 7.15pm, Mass at 7.30pm. Socialgathering afterward. Contact:organise@ fsplus.info or visitwww.fsplus.info.Young Adults Mass - Third Sundayof the monthAt Mount Street. A quieter version of First Sunday. [email protected] Francis of Assisi CatholicRamblers’ ClubEvery Sunday throughout the yearwalkers meet for a ramble in theHome Counties. Contact Antoinette020 8769 3643 or visitwww.stfrancisramblers.org.uk.

MONDAYSMothers’ Prayers at St Dominic’sPriory, Haverstock Hill EveryMonday 2.30-3.30pm in the Lourdeschapel. All are welcome.Prayer Event for people in the artsand media Third Monday of eachmonth 6.30pm. For more informationsee www.artisaninitiatives.org

TUESDAYSAdoration of the BlessedSacramentTuesdays 6-9pm concluding withBenediction at Newman House, 111Gower Street. Details 020 7731 3367 Mass at Canary WharfTuesdays 12.30pm at 2 ChurchillPlace E14. Organised by MgrVladimir Felzmann, Chaplain toCanary Wharf Communities. Details

REGULAR EVENTS If you have an event, please email us at [email protected] for London at the Shrineof Our Lady of WillesdenTuesdays 7.30pm Organised by theGuild of Our Lady of Willesden,Nicholl Road, London NW10 9AXVocations Prayer GroupSecond Tuesday of the month 8pmat 47C Gaisford Street, Kentish Town,NW5

WEDNESDAYSWednesdays on the Wall(WOTW)First Wednesday of the month6pm. At All Hallows on the Wall 83 London Wall, EC2M 5ND. Ashort service of prayer andreflection at 6pm, coffee at6.45pm followed by discussion.Youth 2000 prayer groupWednesdays 7.30pm at CorpusChristi Church, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.

THURSDAYSJesus Christ the Fullness of Life -JCFL First Thursday of the month.Young adults from all Christiandenominations pray and share ameal. Details www.jcfl.org.uk.Soul FoodA Catholic charismatic prayergroup for young adults meets from7 to 9pm at St Charles Borromeo,Ogle Street, W1W 6HS [email protected]

FRIDAYSAssociation of Divorced and Separated CatholicsThird Friday of the month. All divorced and separated

Catholics, are welcome. Call Frankor Christine 020 8422 1591Divine Mercy Prayers and MassFirst Fridays 2.30-4.30pm at theChurch of Our Lady, Mother of theChurch, 2 Windsor Road, Ealing. St AlbansFridays at 12 noon. Mass iscelebrated every week at St Alban’sAbbey, one of the oldest Christianchurches in England.Westminster CathedralCharismatic Prayer Group7.30pm Prayer, praise and teaching.First Friday is a healing Mass. Details 020 8748 2632 Vocations Discernment Group7pm, Hinsley Room, WestminsterCathedral. Meetings for youngadults aged 18-38. Visitwww.free2become.org or call 01277 373 848

SATURDAYSAylesford Friary - All night vigilsFirst Saturdays 10pm - 6am. Night vigils take place May-Octoberon the first Saturday of each month.Call Mrs Tugadi 020 7352 4478 orMiss Ogbeni 07847 532199 or01733 553762. Taizé at Notre Dame Church Leicester Square 7.15pm. Call 020 7437 9363

LATIN MASSSundaysLow Mass 9.30am, St James’s Spanish Place, W1Low Mass 9am, High Altar, theOratory, Brompton Road, SW7Sung Mass 10.45, St Bede,Thornton Road, SW12Low Mass 6pm St ThomasAquinas, Ham Common, TW3MondaysSung Mass 6.30pm CorpusChristi, Maiden Lane, WC2Low Mass 7am, St Bede, ThorntonRoad, SW12Low Mass 8am The Oratory,Brompton Rd SW7Tuesdays, Wednesdays andThursdays Low Mass 7am, St Bede, ThorntonRoad, SW12Low Mass 8am The Oratory,Brompton Rd SW7Low Mass 12.30pm, St Bede,Thornton Road, SW12FridaysLow Mass 6pm St Etheldreda, Ely Place EC1 FirstFridays only.Low Mass 7am, St Bede, ThorntonRoad, SW12Sung Mass 6.30pm St MaryMagdalen, East Hill, SW18Low Mass 8am The Oratory,Brompton Rd SW7Mass St John the Baptist Church,King Edward's Rd Hackney E9 at 6pm.Every Second FridayLow Mass 6.30pm, Corpus Christi,Maiden Lane, WC2SaturdaysSecond Saturdays at 4.30pm, Low Mass Side ChapelWestminster CathedralLow Mass 12.15 St Wilfrid’sChapel, The Oratory, Brompton Rd SW7

Please send a cheque made payable to 'The Universe Media Group Ltd.' to AndreaBlack, Westminster Record, The Universe Media Group Ltd. Alberton House, GroundFloor, St Mary's Parsonage, Manchester M3 2WJ. Alternatively please telephone 0161 214 1216 or email [email protected]

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Catholic toursin LondonQualified Catholic tour guideleads ‘Saints and Scholars’ walkevery Sunday including Mass.

Contact Peter on 07913904997or [email protected]

Catholic Under 35sCatholic Under 35s aims to help youngcatholic adults in London meet likeminded people via regular social events,such as meals and days out. For furtherinfo please email Elroy [email protected] or visit our Facebookgroup: http://catholicunder35s.com

Kolbe's Gift is a play which tellsthe story of two men, Fr Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscanpriest, and Franek Gajowniczec, aPolish soldier, whose lives crossedin Auschwitz concentration campin 1941. Spanning three decades, Kolbe'sGift will be performed at TheLeicester Square Theatre inCentral London for between 1-5 October 2013.

Tickets can be purchased athttp://tententheatre.co.uk/kolbe/

Stephen B Whatley at the Cathedral

Paintings FromPrayer - anexhibition ofinspirational art byexpressionistpainter Stephen BWhatley will runfrom 8 - 22 August in St Patrickand St Paul's Chapels. Openduring cathedral hours. The artist is generously donating30% of any paintings sold tocathedral funds.

SpotlightWestminster Record August 2013

Published by The Diocese of Westminster, Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QJ. Printed by NWN Media Limited, Mold, Flintshire. All rights reserved.

Marcin Mazur is fascinated by thepower of photographs. As a childin west Poland, Marcin grew uptaking photos of his dog, his houseand the people around him. Using“an old fashioned, film camera”,which he got for his firstcommunion, he became a hobbyphotographer. From these simplebeginnings, Marcin is now aprofessional photographer for theBishops’ Conference of Englandand Wales. His photographs arewidely used in the Catholic mediaon a daily basis. Originally a student of philosophy,photography began to play a largerrole in his life; “I started taking moreand more photographs. Afterfinishing my philosophy course, Ithought why not studyphotography? So I got a NationalDiploma and BA in photography.”When asked why he chose thiscareer, Marcin answered with ametaphor only a philosopher couldassemble; “A mountain climber wasasked a similar question: ‘Why doyou climb the mountain?’ Heanswered: ‘Because the mountain isthere’. I take photographs becauseit’s there, because I love it. Youcould write books answering that.”

Spreading the message across Marcin is especially interested in thestrength of photography as amedium. “It’s the best mediumbecause it shows the facts of asituation. It’s very good at spreadingthe message across. If you put up agood photograph on social media itwill catch more attention than just text.” Photographs enable the public toexperience an event honestly byshowing them the facts andallowing them to discover their owninterpretation of the situation.“That’s the power of photography. IfI take a photograph of something it

means that was the situation not aninterpretation. Photographs have amessage and everyone can readsomething different – there isn’t aspin on the event.A photographer captures a situationusing his knowledge, ability,experience and approach to thesubject. I try to be the eyes of thepeople unable to attend an event.”The reality of life Marcin has experienced so manypowerful moments from behind thelens. “I was shocked to take photosin the Holy Land, in east Jerusalem,and photos of the children. It wasvery powerful to see their suffering– I was a witness in the reality oftheir lives. Taking photos of the Holy Fatherwhen he visited Archbishop’s Housewas quite nice. We were in a small

room with just a few other peopleand Pope Benedict XVI said ‘Goodmorning gentlemen’. It was so surreal.”

Different celebrationsHowever, he finds it a challenge tochoose the most memorablemoment. “Every year brings differentcelebrations, different meetings anddifferent people to photograph.Maybe I’m still looking for this one.”

Any one of these events would top aperson’s list of ‘greatest experiences’but his involvement at an event isn’twhat you might imagine. “It’s acompletely different experiencebeing behind the camera. I can heareverything but I’m focusing on adifferent subject, so it’s quite toughfor me to say what was said at anevent afterwards. It’s strange to takephotographs of a person at an eventbut then have to read in the paperwhat they said.”

The younger sister of paintingIt requires a considerable focus totake such high quality photographsand Marcin looks for something outof the ordinary to photograph.Handshakes, says Marcin, are“boring stuff.” He prefers tophotograph action shots.“Everything has happened before.Photography is the younger sister ofpainting. All the best picturesremind us of masterpiece paintings.Photography is a repetition of whatalready exists, seen with a new eye.So I try to photograph somethingdifferent.”

To be a good photographer is a bigchallenge, according to Marcin. Itrequires looking at admirablephotographs and “not copying, butseeing the same event throughdifferent eyes.” Marcin finds itfascinating that severalphotographers can attend the sameevent and can all come away withdifferent photographs of the samepeople or situation. “You can nevercopy anyone. It’s amazing.”Everyone can do a similar thing butbecause of varying perceptions ofthe event, the outcomes are different.

By Carolyn Wickware

Marcin’s enthusiasm for his workin the Catholic media and themedium its self is evident in thevibrant photographs he produces.His next project was theInstallation of Bishop Alan Hopesas the Bishop of East Anglia. Hisdream, however, would be toproduce an award winningproject, “maybe a world’s bestphoto prize, but that’s a toughcompetition. It seems impossible.”

The Holy Father during a meeting with the media (left) and the colourful congregation in Westminster Cathedral for Mass for Migrants (right)

The Power and the Glory of Photography

Taken as prayers were said duringSede Vacante

Spirit in the City Eucharistic streetprocession


You can see more of Marcin’sphotos at: www.flickr.com/photos/catholicism

Photos ©Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

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