Northern Cross History

Catholic Newspaper in the Newscastle and Hexham Area

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Apr 2020 edition of the Northern Cross

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2 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk I N C O N J U N C T I O N w i t h t h e d e d i c a t i o n o f 2 0 2 0 a s T h e Y e a r o f t h e W o r d b y t h e C a t h o l i c B i s h o p s C o n f e r e n c e o f E n g l a n d a n d W a l e s , t h e d i o c e s e o f H e x h a m a n d N e w c a s t l e o r g a n i s e d a r e t r e a t t o S t a n b r o o k A b b e y , a B e n e d i c t i n e m o n a s t e r y i n W ass, Y orkshir e. T h e t h e m e o f t h e r e t r e a t w a s L i s t e n a n d i t s a i m w a s t o h e l p y o u n g a d u l t s e s t a b l i s h a d e e p e r r e l a - t i o n s h i p w i t h C h r i s t t h r o u g h g r e a t e r r e f l e c t i o n o f his word in the sacred scriptures. S i s t e r L a u r e n t i a , o n e o f t h e B e n e d i c t i n e n u n s from Stanbrook Abbey , served as our spiritual di- rector throughout the retreat. W e were taught the traditional monastic practice o f t h e L e c t i o D i v i n a , a t e c h n i q u e o f r e f l e c t i v e r e a d - i n g o f a p a s s a g e o f s c r i p t u r e , a n d w e r e t o l d t h a t t h i s simple practice could be used to perceive the mes- sage God intended for us to receive from his word. C r u c i a l l y , w e h a d l e a r n e d t h a t t h e r e w a s a p r o - found dif ference between an empty reading of the passages of the bible and a deep and reflective en- g a g e m e n t w i t h t h e p a s s a g e s t o t r u l y l i s t e n t o G o d ’ s voice in our lives. A s p a r t o f o u r s t a y i n S t a n b r o o k A b b e y w e h a d the privilege of joining the Benedictine Sisters in their daily praying of the Divine Of fice. T h e s e a r e a s e t o f p r a y e r s o r i g i n a l l y d e v e l o p e d b y S t B e n e d i c t o f N u r s i a a n d e v o l v e d o v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s , h e e d i n g t h e c a l l o f P s a l m 1 1 9 t o p r a i s e G o d s e v e n t i m e s a d a y . T h e r e c i t a t i o n o f t h e p r a y e r s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e c h a n t i n g o f t h e p s a l m s , w a s a v e r y m e a n - i n g f u l e x p e r i e n c e f o r a l l o f u s i n b r i n g i n g u s t o c l o s e r u n i o n w i t h G o d a n d w i t h o u r C a t h o l i c b r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s w h o h a d l i v e d t h r o u g h a g e s p a s t . P a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e a l s o t r e a t e d t o a v i e w i n g o f m a s t e r f u l l y - c r a f t e d t a p e s t r i e s d e p i c t i n g t h e s t a t i o n s of the cross. T h e w o r k w a s o r i g i n a l l y c o m m i s s i o n e d t o b e given to a church in Molo Kenya using designs by O N T H E f i r s t S u n d a y i n L e n t – M a r c h 1 – t h e R i t e o f E l e c t i o n t o o k p l ace i n St Mary’ s Cath ed ral , New - castle. T h e c a n d i d a t e s a n d c a t e c h u m e n s w h o h a v e b e e n o n t h e i r J o u r n e y o f Faith course since September – the R i t e o f C h r i s t i a n I n i t i a t i o n o f A d u l t s p r o g r a m m e – w e r e p r e s e n t e d t o B i s h o p R o b e r t B y r n e b y t h e i r s p o n - sors and godparents and were sup- ported by their families and friends. Fr Adrian Dixon preached the hom- i l y a n d s p o k e o f t h e m a n y c h o i c e s made throughout life. H e t o l d t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n t h a t t h e people who had decided to become m e m b e r s o f t h e C h u r c h a t E a s t e r , through the Sacraments of Initiation – b a p t i s m , c o n f i r m a t i o n a n d e u - c h a r i s t – h a d b e e n c h o s e n b y G o d , w h o h a d c a l l e d t h e m , a n d w e r e t o b e known as the Elect. A f t e r p r o c e s s i n g t o m e e t t h e b i s h o p a n d s h a k e h a n d s w i t h h i m , 1 4 3 o f t h e Elect wrote their names in the Book of the Elect. They were then photographed with him at the end of a joyful and grace- filled ceremony . q Getting together for a photo with the Sisters outside the abbey on a blustery day , above, and the striking abbey , left, which can just be seen, nestled in the Y orkshire countryside. D i v i n e M e r c y 1 8 x 4 L i s t e n ! O u r Y e a r o f t h e W o r d r e t r e a t by Shawn Miranda and Nina McAninly D a m e W e r b u r g W e l c h . O w i n g t o i l l n e s s , t h e a r t i s t was unable to complete the work and the tapes- t r i e s l a n g u i s h e d i n t h e i r u n f i n i s h e d f o r m f o r many years until the project was revived and fi- nally completed last year . This gave us a unique o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i e w t h e w o r k s b e f o r e t h e y w o u l d eventually be shipped to Kenya. Some of the part icipants also took the opportu- nity to engage the nuns in one-to-one conversa- tion which gave them a unique window into the r e l i g i o u s l i f e t h a t i s n o t o f t e n k n o w n t o t h e Catholic laity . A s i d e f r o m o u r e n g a g e m e n t i n p r a y e r a n d s t u d y , w e h a d n u m e r o u s o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o h a v e g r e a t f u n t h r o u g h t h e s h a r i n g o f f o o d a n d s o n g and playing games. S o m e o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s e n j o y e d a l e i s u r e l y w a l k i n t h e w o o d l a n d a r e a s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e a b b e y w h i l s t o t h e r s v i s i t e d t h e r u i n s o f B y l a n d A b b e y , a C i s t e r c i a n m o n a s t e r y o r i g i n a l l y founded in 1 135. T h e r e t r e a t p r o v e d a w o r t h w h i l e e x p e r i e n c e f o r a l l t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n h e l p i n g d e v e l o p a d e e p e r relationship with Christ through the scriptures. W e l e a r n t t h a t e v e n i n t h o s e m o m e n t s w h e r e w e n o l o n g e r f e e l c l o s e t o G o d , w e c a n r e c o n n e c t w i t h H i m t h r o u g h r e a d i n g a n d l i s t e n i n g t o H i s word. E q u a l l y , b y s h a r i n g H i s w o r d w i t h o t h e r s w e a r e h e l p i n g G o d ’ s s p i r i t r e a c h m o r e p e o p l e a n d s p r e a d H i s l o v e . A s G o d b r e a t h e d l i f e i n t o A d a m , h e d o e s t h e s a m e t o u s t h r o u g h H i s w o r d , a n d w e should let His word stay with us, reflect upon it a n d l e t i t g u i d e o u r t h o u g h t s . B y d o i n g t h i s w e c a n b e c o m e c l o s e r t o G o d a n d g i v e h i m t h e power to direct our lives. W e take this opportunity to thank the Sisters of S t a n b r o o k A b b e y f o r t h e i r g r a c i o u s h o s p i t a l i t y and spiritual direction. It is our hope that this retreat will be the first of many activities or ganised by the diocese for the s p i r i t u a l r e n e w a l a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f y o u n g adult Catholics of Hexham and Newcastle. Rite of Election 2020 q Some of the Elect with Bishop Robert after the service. Photo: Iain Gelston. rcdhn.org.uk

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3 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk Buckfast Abbey 18x4 D U R I N G t h i s d i f f i c u l t t i m e m a n y a r e o f - f e r i n g t h e i r t i m e a n d e n e r g y t o h e l p o u r m o r e v u l n e r a b l e p a r i s h i o n e r s . P a r i s h e s should compile a list of these offers of help a n d l i n k t h e m , w i t h p e r m i s s i o n , t o t h o s e i n t h e c o m m u n i t y w h o a r e i n n e e d . S o m e o f o u r p a r i s h e s h a v e o u t r e a c h g r o u p s , S V P , Legion of Mary and others offering help. C O V I D M u t u a l A i d g r o u p s c o n s i s t i n g o f p e o p l e w h o w a n t t o d o a l l t h e y c a n t o s u p p o r t t h e i r o w n l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s a r e s p r i n g i n g u p across the country . Find out more at covidmutualaid.or g. They a r e h a p p y t o r e c e i v e o f f e r s o f h e l p a n d t o h e l p o u t p e o p l e i n n e e d . M o s t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l groups use Facebook, so you would need to be signed up to gain access. I f y o u h a v e a n y u p d a t e s a b o u t t h i n g s h a p - p e n i n g l o c a l l y , p l e a s e c o n t a c t m e a t e v c a r i t a s @ d i o c e s e h n . o r g . u k . U p d a t e s w i l l b e posted at r cdhn.or g.uk. Mass online l Private Masses will continue to be of fered w i t h s e v e r a l c h u r c h e s i n t h e d i o c e s e l i v e streaming them. The full list can be found at rcdhn.or g.uk; l V a t i c a n N e w s l i v e s t r e a m s P o p e F r a n c i s ’ 6am Mass at Casa Santa Marta every day on Facebook and Y ouT ube; l T h e S h r i n e o f O u r L a d y o f W a l s i n g h a m l i v e streams its 12 noon Mass; l T h e D o m i n i c a n f r i a r s o f G o d z D o g z a t B l a c k f r i a r s , O x f o r d , a r e s t r e a m i n g M a s s e v e r y d a y a t 7 . 3 0 a m a n d o n S a t u r d a y s a t 8.30am on their Y ouT ube Channel. Other resources to explore online l C a r d i n a l N i c h o l s h a s s h a r e d h i s t h o u g h t s on what it means for our spiritual well-being a n d s a l v a t i o n i f w e c a n ’ t f u l f i l o u r ‘ E a s t e r D u - t i e s ’ . Y o u c a n v i e w t h e v i d e o a t r c d h n . o r g . u k ; l Ma gnifi ca t i s providi ng com pli m ent ary ac- c e s s t o i t s r e s o u r c e s d u r i n g t h i s t i m e . F i n d them at us.magnificat.net/free; l C l i c k t o p r a y . o r g i s t h e h o m e o f t h e P o p e ’ s W orldwide Prayer Network; l T h e B e n e d i c t i n e M o n k s o f A m p l e f o r t h A b b e y l i v e s t r e a m t h e i r d a i l y M o n a s t i c O f f i c e a n d C o n v e n t u a l M a s s .  T h i s c a n b e f o u n d a t ampleforth.or g.uk/abbey/; l T o r c h o f f e r s a n e w h o m i l y e a c h w e e k , w r i t - ten by the Dominican friars; l C h r i s t i a n A r t T o d a y g i v e s a r e f l e c t i o n o f each day’ s gospel, told through art. It is run by a seminarian of the diocese; l Lent in Isolation is releasing a daily reflec- tion for the remainder of Lent. They include the readings from Holy Mass, spiritual guid- ance from a priest and a lead act of spiritual communion; l Sr Catherine W ybourne, a Benedictine nun of Holy T rinity Monastery in Herefordshire, continues to share reflections on her blog; l T h i n k i n g F a i t h , t h e o n l i n e J o u r n a l o f t h e British Jesuits; l Heaven’ s Road Catholic online radio; l Fr Lawrence Lew OP uploads daily reflec- tive photos to his Flickr account; l C a t h o l i c V o i c e s i s r u n n i n g w e e k l y w e b i n a r s each Monday to share inspiring wisdom and stories; l The Casting Fire blog by Fr Rajiv Michael, a priest at W estminster Cathedral. Local organisations l A l l P A C E g r o u p s a r e s u s p e n d e d a t S t C u t h - bert’ s Care to allow the or ganisation to con- centrate on residential services; l S V P B l a c k f r i a r s a n d D e a f C e n t r e , N e w c a s - tle, have closed, but of fer a telephone service to help people as best they can. Y ou can con- tact them on 0191 2616027; l T h e d i o c e s a n J u s t i c e a n d P e a c e R e f u g e e P roject has clos ed temporarily . N o food do- n a t i o n s c a n b e r e c e i v e d , b u t t h e p r o j e c t i s s e a r c h i n g f o r w a y s t o h e l p i t s d e s t i t u t e c l i e n t s . If you would like to make a donation, the de- t a i l s a r e : H S B C D H N D E S T I T U T E A S Y - LUM FU ND . Sort code: 40-34-18. Account number: 52854058. It is truly grateful for the kind support you have of fered and looks for - ward to the day when it can reopen. A prayer for when Mass cannot be celebrated publicly , prepared by the Bishops’ Conference A c t o f s p i r i t u a l c o m m u n i o n : M y J e s u s , I b e - lieve that you are present in this Holy Sacra- ment of the altar . I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into m y s o u l . S i n c e I c a n n o t n o w r e c e i v e y o u sacramentally , come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly t o you now and forever . Amen. A prayer for health from the Liturgy Office C h r i s t b e w i t h m e , C h r i s t w i t h i n m e , C h r i s t b e h i n d m e , C h r i s t b e f o r e m e , C h r i s t b e s i d e me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger , Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger . Amen. T W O w e e k s a g o w e r e a d o n t h e diocesan website that live Masses f r o m m a n y l o c a t i o n s w e r e streamed on Churchservices.tv Since then we have ‘attended’ Mass in Ireland and throughout England. The list of venues is quite long, but h o p e f u l l y o u r o w n c h u r c h e s w i l l b e open again before it is exhausted. E a r l y i n o u r t r a v e l s w e v i s i t e d a l a r g e c h u r c h w i t h a n u m b e r o f c a m e r a p o s i - tions. It was fine, but lacked ‘warmth’. It was very surprising that when we were expecting to be invited to make a s p i r i t u a l c o m m u n i o n , t h e r e w a s a v o i c e o v e r r e q u e s t i n g t h a t a s i t w a s n o t possible to take a collection perhaps v i e w e r s w o u l d l i k e t o m a k e a d o n a t i o n using a link on the parish website. W e c h a n g e d o u r a l l e g i a n c e a n d found another church – this one cho- sen as it was close to the London flat rented by one of our family . What a dif ference. It has a beautiful i n t e r i o r , a s i n g l e f i x e d c a m e r a s p a n - ning the altar and great sound trans- mission. The parish priest, his curate and the r e a d e r a l l h a v e g o o d v o i c e s , a n d F r e x p l a i n e d t h e r e w e r e t h r e e c e l e b r a t - i n g t h e M a s s a s t h e y l i v e d i n t h e s a m e house. W e did note, however , that that they w e r e k e e p i n g t o a t l e a s t t h e r e c o m - mended distance apart. A w a r m i n v i t a t i o n w a s e x t e n d e d t o all who shared in the Mass to make a s p i r i t u a l c o m m u n i o n . I t i s a n e x p e r i - e n c e w e a r e h a p p y t o s h a r e d u r i n g this time of lockdown. D E A R N o r t h e r n C r o s s r e a d e r s , I a m appealing for your support. Y o u m a y k n o w t h a t a t S t C u t h b e r t ’ s Care we provide frontline registered care provision for the most vulnerable people in our region. Almost all of our services a re re si de nt i a l hom e s whe re our re si de nt s l i v e w i t h u s p e r m a n e n t l y , w i t h 2 4 - h o u r support from our staf f team s. W e m u s t r e m a i n o p e n a n d o u r t e a m s a r e u n a b l e t o w o r k f r o m h o m e . D u e t o t h e coronavirus outbreak we may experience unprecedented numbers of staf f unable to work for weeks at a time. I a m c a l l i n g u p o n a n y p e r s o n w h o r e - m a i n s w e l l a n d h e a l t h y t o c o n s i d e r v o l u n - teering for us, or possibly even becoming e m p l o y e d o n a s h o r t - t e r m b a s i s , s h o u l d this be a preference. Support may be required across all dis- cipl ines of care within all functions: care, nursing, food preparation, cooking, laun- d r y w o r k , h o u s e k e e p i n g a n d c l e a n i n g , a d - m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d I T s u p p o r t , i n d o o r a c t i v i t i e s w i t h r e s i d e n t s a n d g a r d e n i n g a n d m a i n t e n a n c e . T h e l i s t o f s u p p o r t i s wide-ranging. COVID-19 is a very real threat which is causing many organisations many dif ficulties. It is also a developing situation which means constant change. Here Fr Adrian T uckwell, Episcopal V icar for Caritas, provides a summary of support available... P as toral and spiritual suppor t is at hand q Bishop Robert celebrates Mass at St Mary’ s Cathedral, Newcastle. Discovering churchservices.tv by T om and Maureen Hoban C a n y o u h e l p S t C u t h b e r t ’ s C a r e ? I f y o u f e e l y o u m a y b e a b l e t o h e l p , i n a n y w a y p o s s i b l e , p l e a s e m a y I a s k t h a t y o u c o n t a c t m y c o l l e a g u e , N i c o l a M i l n e , a t N i c o l a . m i l n e @ s t c u t h b e r t s c a r e . o r g . u k t o r e g i s t e r y o u r i n t e r e s t . Y o u c a n a l s o r i n g h e r on 0191 2424809 or 07824 452885. These are the most challenging of times for us all. A n y o f f e r s o f s u p p o r t w o u l d b e m o s t deeply appreciated. Thank you and stay safe. Moira Ashman CEO, St Cuthbert’ s Car e q Moira Ashman. God cal ls to us constantl y , long ing to gu ide those who yearn for li fe and des ire to see good da ys into the w a y o f pea ce. The R ule o f Saint Bened ict helps us to hear God’ s voice, in the Hol y Scr iptures, in the sa cred li turgy and in our bro thers in communi t y. If you are a s ingle man long ing to li ve your C a tholic fai th in a w a y which br ings grea t jo y as i t demands the best o f you, cons ider whether Go d is cal ling you to be a Bened ict ine monk a t Buckfast Abbe y. Please rea ch out to us, and we w il l do al l we can to help you. ‘List e n, ‘Listen, my s o n ’ Rul e o f S t B en edict Buckfast Abbe y T rust Reg istered Char i ty n umber 232497 www.buckfast.org.uk/voca t ion voca t ions@ buckfast.org.uk ‘ L i s t e n , R u l e o f S t B e n e d i c t m y s o n ’

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10 x 1 Fr Christopher W arren 4 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk THE Eagle has flown, but the Lion has landed! T h i s i s n o t a s e c r e t p h r a s e t o b e f o u n d i n a C o l d W a r n o v e l , b u t a parishioner ’ s summary of a big event a t S t C o l u m b a ’ s , W a l l s e n d , l a s t month. F o r m a n y y e a r s w e h a v e b e n e f i t e d from the use of a parish minibus. S a d l y , a f t e r 1 1 y e a r s o f s t a l w a r t s e r v i c e , t h e E a g l e – o u r t o u g h o l d I v e c o – r e a c h e d a p o i n t w h e r e i t needed to be replaced. O v e r t h e y e a r s i t p r o v e d t o b e a valuable asset in parish work and pri- m a r y s c h o o l e v e n t s , p r o v i d i n g m o r e t h a n 5 , 0 0 0 p a s s e n g e r j o u r n e y s t o M a s s a n d m a k i n g h u n d r e d s o f a d v e n - t u r e j o u r n e y s f o r y o u n g p e o p l e , i n - cluding family groups, beavers/cubs/ s c o u t s , c o n f i r m a t i o n a n d r e t r e a t g r o u p s and those going to the youth camp. O n o t h e r o c c a s i o n s i t h e l p e d u s t o m o v e f u r n i t u r e f o r p a r i s h i o n e r s a n d g o o d s f o r f u n d r a i s i n g e v e n t s . I t a l s o t r a n s p o r t e d r e f u g e e a n d a s y l u m s e e k e r s o n c u l t u r a l / f a m i l i a r i s a t i o n t r i p s ; a l l o w e d t h e l o c a l p r i m a r y s c h o o l p u p i l s a n d t h e i r t e a c h e r s t o t r a v e l t o e v e n t s t h a t w o u l d h a v e b e e n e c o - n o m i c a l l y i m p o s s i b l e t o g e t t o , a n d t o o k p a r i s h i o n e r s t o m a n y s p e c i a l events around the diocese. I t e v e n c a r r i e d o u r p a r i s h p i l g r i m a g e g r o u p a l l t h e w a y t o I o n a – w h a t a n adventure that was! H o w e v e r , t h a n k s t o g e n e r o u s b e - q u e s t s a n d d o n a t i o n s f r o m f o r m e r p a s s e n g e r s a n d p a r i s h i o n e r s o v e r t h e y e a r s , t h e p a r i s h t o o k d e l i v e r y o f a new minibus – the Lion – on March 6. F r D a v i d S m i t h b l e s s e d o u r n e w b u s a f t e r M a s s o n S u n d a y , a n d w e p r a y e d i n h i s b l e s s i n g t h a t o u r n e w b u s w i l l c o n t i n u e t h e o u t r e a c h a n d s u p p o r t w o r k o f i t s p r e d e c e s s o r s a n d b e e n - j o y e d b y a l l s o r t s o f g r o u p s i n t h e parish. Our thanks go to all our kind bene- f a c t o r s a n d t o t h e v o l u n t e e r d r i v e r s a n d s u p p o r t t e a m w h o k e e p t h e b u s running and available. M O R E t h a n 2 7 0 p e o p l e o f a l l a g e s g a t h e r e d a t S t P e t e r ’ s C h u r c h , G a t e s h e a d , f o r t h e N o r t h E a s t ’ s C h u r c h A c t i o n o n P o v e r t y S u n d a y held on February 23. T h e t h e m e o f t h e d a y w a s S p e a k i n g T ruth to Power . M a n y o f t h o s e i n a t t e n d a n c e r e p r e - sented local churches and communities or were from charities doing vital work in our region – including the Be nsham F o o d C o - o p , J o e ’ s P l a c e a n d O a s i s Community Housing. W e w e r e a l s o v e r y p l e a s e d t o w e l - c o m e G a t e s h e a d m e m b e r o f P a r l i a m e n t I a n M e a r n s , a n d m e m b e r s o f G a t e s h e a d Council. T h e o p e n i n g a d d r e s s w a s m a d e b y R e v H u g h S p e r r i n g f r o m t h e W e s l e y Memorial Methodist Church. H e i n s p i r e d t h e g a t h e r i n g w i t h t h e p r a y e r t h a t G o d w o u l d b l e s s u s w i t h “enough foolishness to believe that we c a n m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e w o r l d ” a n d “ t o d o w h a t o t h e r s c l a i m c a n n o t b e done”. P a t D e v l i n , f r o m C h u r c h A c t i o n o n P o v e r t y N o r t h E a s t ( C A P N E ) , e x - plained the group’ s aims and activities, t h e n L u c y Z w o l i n s k a f r o m t h e G a t e s h e a d P o v e r t y T r u t h C o m m i s s i o n s p o k e a b o u t t h e c o m m i s s i o n ’ s w o r k . L u c y a l s o s h a r e d a v i d e o f e a t u r i n g some real-life stories. H a n n a h D a v i s o n f r o m S t P e t e r ’ s C h u r c h c o n c l u d e d t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e p r o g r a m m e b y r e a d i n g t h e p o e m Refugees by Brian Bilston which clev- erly invites us to turn our thoughts up- s i d e d o w n a n d t h i n k a b o u t t h i n g s dif ferently! A r a n g e o f s p e a k e r s f r o m t h e l o c a l a r e a h i g h l i g h t e d t h e r e a l c r i s i s o f p o v e r t y t h a t i s a l l a r o u n d u s a n d , b y u s i n g t h e i r a u t h e n t i c v o i c e s , c a l l e d those listening to action. The work of two local initiatives was s h a r e d b y t h o s e e n g a g e d i n r u n n i n g t h e m . J o e ’ s P l a c e , o n e o f t h e s e , i s a drop-in community café which of fers a w e l c o m e f o r t h e h o m e l e s s a n d f o r t h o s e w h o a r e s t r u g g l i n g i n a v a r i e t y o f w a y s .  T h e o t h e r i s t h e B e n s h a m F o o d C o - o p , a n o r g a n i s a t i o n w h i c h p r o v i d e s f o o d , s u p p o r t a n d f r i e n d s h i p f o r a s y l u m seekers, refugees and local people liv- ing in poverty . I n e a c h c a s e s o m e o n e w i t h e x p e r i e n c e o f p o v e r t y s h a r e d t h e i r s t o r y a n d t h e t r u t h o f t h e i r s i t u a t i o n i n a p o w e r f u l way . O a s i s C o m m u n i t y H o u s i n g a l s o s h a r e d t h e r e a l i t y o f h o m e l e s s n e s s i n G a t e s h e a d a n d h o w t h e y a r e h e l p i n g t h e situation. They have recently been able to open a 2 4 - h o u r f a c i l i t y f o r t h o s e l i v i n g o n t h e streets. A shor t l i t ur gy i nt ro du c e d by Fr Ke i t h W a l k e r , a n d l e d b y y o u n g p e o p l e p a r t i c - ipating in the Pope John Paul II A ward, gave a much-needed opportunity to re- flect and bring the light of God’ s power i n t o o u r s i t u a t i o n s o a l l o f u s m i g h t r a i s e our voices to ‘speak truth’. During the final part of the afternoon w e i n v i t e d t h o s e w h o r e p r e s e n t e d ‘ p o w e r ’ a n d ‘ i n f l u e n c e ’ – I a n M e a r n s M P , I a n S t e v e n s o n f r o m G a t e s h e a d Council and Fr Adrian T uckwell, vicar f o r C a r i t a s a n d r e p r e s e n t i n g B i s h o p R o b e r t B y r n e f o r o u r d i o c e s e – t o r e - spond to what they had heard. It was absolutely appropriate that the event took place in Ga teshead ahead of the launch of Gateshead Poverty T ruth Commission on March 5. CAPNE had hosted a meeting focus- i n g o n p o v e r t y i n G a t e s h e a d o v e r a y e a r e a r l i e r a n d t h i s h a d t u r n e d o u t t o b e a h u g e c a t a l y s t i n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a n O u t r e a c h G r o u p i n t w o G a t e s h e a d c h u r c h e s : C o r p u s C h r i s t i a n d S t P e t e r ’ s . T h e g r o u p w a s d e l i g h t e d t o h o s t t h i s year ’ s Church Action on Poverty Sun- day , especially since it was an opportu- nity to raise awareness and to establish c onne c t i ons i n orde r t o bri ng pe opl e t o- gether to work for change. CAPNE meets at 2pm on the last Fri- d a y o f e a c h m o n t h a t t h e M e r c y H u b , S t M a r y ’ s C a t h e d r a l , o p p o s i t e C e n t r a l S t a - tion. A l l a r e w e l c o m e t o c o m e a l o n g a n d f i n d o u t m o r e – a l t h o u g h t h e s e m e e t i n g s will not be held while the current coro- n a v i r u s s e l f i s l o a t i n g m e a s u r e s a r e i n place. q The Lion has landed – or , in other words, our new minibus has arrived, above! Fr Smith blesses the bus, surrounded by altar servers from St Columba’ s church, W allsend, left. by Colin Finlay A marvellous new minibus for St C o l u m b a ’ s church q T op to bottom: Ollie Batchelor and a guest from the Bensham Food Co-op. Lucy Zwolinska tells those in attendance about the work of the Gateshead Poverty T ruth C o m m i s s i o n . Ian Mearns MP with young people who are completing the Pope John Paul II A ward. by Mary Hughes C APNE e v ent teac hes us to speak up for t h o s e w h o d o n ’ t ha v e a v oice COULD GOD BE CALLING YOU TO SERVE AS A PRIEST? Diocesan Director of Vocations: Fr Andrew Downie ( 01207 502196 vocations@rcdhn.org.uk Fr CH rISTOPHEr WArrEN 0191 273 3903

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5 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk 10 x 2 Joan Marsh Chiropodist 10 x 2 Joe W alsh Bistro Romano 5x1 LIVING Theology 2020 with The New- man Association invites you to join us at The Bar Convent, Y ork, for our The W ord of God – hearing and responding conference on July 1 1 and 12. Highlights will include the following speakers: l Fr Philip Harrison SJ – Reading the Scriptures; l Dr George Herring – Authority in the Early Church; l Fr Martin Poulsom SDB – Catholic Social T eaching; l Fr Henry W ansbrough OSB – The Dead Sea Scrolls; l Dr Ally Kateusz – W omen in the Early Church. The cost of the conference is £70 for the weekend or £40 for one day (students half price) including lunches and refreshments. For further details about the conference and to book call 01642 645732, email tpj.egerton@virgin.net or visit jesuit.org.uk/living-theology-york-2020. Under the auspices of the Jesuits. Registered Charity No. 230165 q T h e M i n i V i n n i e s g r o u p f r o m O u r L a d y o f t h e M o s t H o l y R o s a r y P r i m a r y S c h o o l , B i l l i n g h a m , a t t e n d e d a c o f f e e m o r n i n g a t H o l y R o s a r y C h u r c h i n F e b r u a r y a n d e n j o y e d m e e t i n g a n d t a l k i n g t o t h e p a r i s h i o n e r s . M e m b e r s o f t h e g r o u p w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k e v e r y o n e f o r m a k i n g t h e m f e e l s o w e l c o m e . “ W e ’ r e l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o o u r n e x t v i s i t , ” s a i d M r s L o w e . M A N Y t h a n k s a r e d u e t o B i s h o p Robert for arranging a papal b less- i n g f o r J e n G r e e n , a p a r i s h i o n e r o f The Sacr ed Heart and St Cuthbert’ s parish, Amble. J e n h a s b e e n c o m i n g i n t o w h a t i s n o w H M P N o r t h u m b e r l a n d a t A c k l i n g t o n , n e a r M o r p e t h , f o r m o r e t h a n 2 0 y e a r s t o p r o v i d e m u s i c a l a c c o m p a n i m e n t t o t h e S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g M a s s e s a s w e l l as services of word and communion. Over this incredible period of service J e n h a s n ’ t j u s t b r o u g h t h e r t a l e n t b u t a l s o b i s c u i t s a n d c a k e s , E a s t e r a n d Christmas cards and a constant source of support and good cheer to the resi- d e n t s w h o v e r y m u c h a p p r e c i a t e h e r presence. T h e p a p a l b l e s s i n g w a s p r e s e n t e d t o J e n b y S a m a n t h a P a r i s e r , d i r e c t o r o f HMP Northumberland in the presence o f F r P a u l D o u t h w a i t e , n a t i o n a l C a t h o l i c c h a p l a i n f o r p r i s o n s ; P h i l L o n g h u r s t , m a n a g i n g c h a p l a i n , a n d D e a c o n D a v i d S m i t h , C a t h o l i c c h a p - lain at HMP Northumberland. D u r i n g h e r p r e s e n t a t i o n M s P a r i s e r thanked Jen and the volunteers within t h e c h a p l a i n c y a n d p r i s o n e s t a b l i s h - m e n t w h o s e p r e s e n c e s h e a c k n o w l - Mini V innies are forging friendships The W ord of God conference DO YOU have a partnership story you’d like to share? I f s o , p l e a s e e m a i l y o u r s t o r y t o editor .norcross@ btconnect.com, including a good quality picture, if you have one. Please include a contact number so we can call you if necessary . q Jen Green with Fr Paul Douthwaite, and Deacon David. by Deacon David Smith Jen’s dedicated ser vice is recognised with a papal blessing e d g e d m a k e s a s e r i o u s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e d a y - t o - d a y r u n n i n g o f t h e p r i s o n and towards the wellbeing and rehabil- itation of the residents. Deacon David would also like to take t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o t h a n k t h e p r i e s t s , deacons and musicians of the area who g i v e u p t h e i r t i m e o n S a t u r d a y m o r n - ings for this most worthwhile ministry t o t h o s e w h o a r e o f t e n o v e r l o o k e d b y society . I f a n y o n e w o u l d l i k e t o b e i n v o l v e d , i n a n y w a y , p l e a s e c o n t a c t D e a c o n David at HMP Northumberland. q Samantha Pariser presents Jen Green with the papal blessing. • Corn and Callus removal / reduction • Nail cut & filed • T reatment of verruca • Nail and skin infections • W ax therapy and all conditions af fecting the foot. • Biomechanical examinations also carried out. 1 s t f l o o r M i d - Ty n e A c t i v i t y C e n t r e J a r r o w N E 3 2 3 Q W ( N e x t t o J a r r o w C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e ) T e l e p h o n e : 0 1 9 1 4 8 9 0 6 9 0 M o b i l e / H o m e V i s i t s T e l : 0 7 8 0 4 7 9 3 8 6 9 E m a i l : j o a n m a r s h p o d i a t r y @ l i v e . c o . u k w w w . j o a n m a r s h p o d i a t r y . c o . u k Joan Marsh Chiropo dist Podiatrist B.Sc. (Hons) Pod., M.Ch.S., HPC Registered, P .O. M.S Cert., LA Enhanced DBB disclosure. JoanMarsh:Layout 1 18/10/2017 09:15 AM Page 1 63 Front Street, Cleadon Village, Sunderland  0191-519 1747 Romano’s Ristorant é Italiano Mediterranean Village, Metro Centre  0191-460 7146 JOE WALSH TOURS PILGRIMAGES 2020 MEDJUGORJE 12 & 19 MAY & 2 JUNE | 7 NIGHTS From Manchester » Direct return flights to Croatia » Breakfast & evening meal served daily » Staying near St. James’s church » Full religious programme » Guided tour of the Shrine, Hill of Apparitions and climb to Mt. Krizevac £ £ 645 pps ORGANISE YOUR GROUP PILGRIMAGE! » Direct flights from various airports in the UK » Special incentive s for group bookings based on group numbers » Free promotional materials to assist your tours » Fully licenced and bonded Tour Operator for your full financial protection GLASGOW: 0141 530 5060 | LIVERPOOL: 0151 909 2871 www.joewalshtours.co.uk | info@joewalshtours.co.uk Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 and TA 0689 in compliance with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Package Regulation 2018.

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6 N or thern Cross April 2020 LE TTE RS N O R T H E R N C R O S S welcomes letters for publication. In order to allow as many letters as possible to be used, p l e a s e t r y t o r e s t r i c t t h e l e n g t h t o 3 0 0 w o r d s . T h e e d i t o r r e s e r v e s t h e r i g h t t o e d i t c o n t r i b u t i o n s w i t h o u t r e f e r e n c e in order to reduce their length or to correct grammatical or punctuation errors. Please send to: Northern Cross Letters, St Anne’ s Presbytery , 43 W elbeck A venue, Darlington DL1 2DR or editor .norcross@btconnect.com Editor: Emma Little Advertising enquiries: 07446 128433 or editor .norcross@btconnect.com W ebsite: northerncross.org.uk Registered Office: St Anne’ s Presbytery , 43 W elbeck A venue, Darlington DL1 2DR. Office: (9am-2pm): 01325 464008 Head of Admin & Finance: Claire Robson Please email your admin & finance enquiries to: norcross@btconnect.com Subscriptions: 01325 464008 Nor ther n Cr oss Boar d Board Chairman: Fr Denni s T indall V ice Chairman: Paul Baker Company Secretary: T om Atkinson Directors: Fr Dennis T indall, Thomas Mackin, T om Atkinson,T om Hoban, David Relton, Philip Smith Finance: T om Atkinson. Operations: T om Hoban Subscriptions Secretary: Claire Robson The Northern Cross is the Catholic newspaper for the d i o c e s e o f H e x h a m a n d N e w c a s t l e & w a s g r a n t e d a Papal Blessing on September 1 1, 1965. It is a not-for-profit co mpany & registered charity . Registered at Companies House No. 6067775. Charity Commission No. 1 1 18066. V A T Reg No. 472 0189 55. Circulation: 5,000.

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7 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk T H E Y o u n g C h r i s t i a n W o r k - e r s m o v e m e n t e x i s t s t o s u p p o r t y o u n g p e o p l e a n d t o b e t o b e led by young people. W e believe that there is a terri- b l e c o n t r a d i c t i o n b e t w e e n w h a t w e b e l i e v e t o b e t h e v a l u e a n d p o t e n t i a l o f y o u n g p e o p l e a n d w h a t m a n y y o u n g p e o p l e e x p e - r i e n c e i n so c i e t y wh i c h o f t e n e x - ploits or disregards their dignity , purpose and value. T h e Y C W i s o r g a n i s e d b y y o u n g p e o p l e , f o r y o u n g p e o p l e a n d a m o n g s t y o u n g p e o p l e , m e a n - i n g t h e w h o l e o r g a n i s a t i o n – r a n g - i n g f r o m g o v e r n a n c e t o g r a s s r o o t s – i s d o n e b y y o u n g p e o p l e . T h e o r g a n i s a t i o n f o s t e r s a b e - l i e f t h a t y o u n g p e o p l e a r e t h e best to serve, educate and repre- sent other young people by call- i n g t h e m i n t o g r o u p s , f o r m i n g a n d t r a i n i n g t h e m a s l e a d e r s o f their own reality . YCW founder Cardinal Joseph C a r d i j n s a i d : “ E a c h y o u n g w o r k e r i s w o r t h m o r e t h a n a l l t h e g o l d i n t h e w o r l d b e c a u s e t h e y are sons and daughters of God.” W h a t h e m e a n s b y t h i s i s t h a t e a c h y o u n g p e r s o n i s p r e c i o u s because they belong to God. He also said: “Give me leaders and I will raise the world.” BISHOP Robert Byrne CO was delighted to in- troduce Professor Eamon Duffy , Emeritus Pro- f e s s o r o f t h e H i s t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n i t y a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a m b r i d g e , a t a s p e c i a l g u e s t l e c - turer hosted by Holy Name Church, Jesmond, o n S a t u r d a y , F e b r u a r y 2 9 , w r i t e s C a t h e r i n e Hearne. The lecture, titled John Henry Newman – A V ery B r i e f H i s t o r y , e x p l o r e d t h e c o m p l e x i t y o f N e w m a n ’ s t h i n k i n g o n a u t h o r i t y a n d f r e e d o m a n d i t s r e l e v a n c e for the Church today . Professor Duf fy signed copies of his book of the s a m e n a m e a t a s p e c i a l r e c e p t i o n i n H o l y N a m e parish hall after the lec ture. T h e o r g a n i s e r s o f t h e e v e n t w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k P r o f e s s o r D u f f y , B i s h o p R o b e r t , P a u l i n e B o o k s a n d M e d i a , N e w c a s t l e , a n d D u r h a m U n i v e r s i t y ’ s C e n t r e for Catholic Studies for their support. L O C A L p r i m a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s j o i n e d S t M i c h a e l ’ s C a t h o l i c A c a d e m y , B i l l i n g h a m , t o m a r k Holocaust Memorial W eek with events organised by assistant head teacher Mar c Scott, chaplain Rebecca L e i g h t o n a n d t h e R E d e p a r t m e n t o n b e h a l f o f t h e diocese. Embracing the theme Stand T ogether , Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary , St Joseph’ s, St Gregory’ s and High C l a r e n c e p r i m a r y s c h o o l s e x p e r i e n c e d t h e A n n e F r a n k w o r k s h o p a n d v i s i t e d t h e a c a d e m y ’ s c h a p e l c r e a t i n g b u t - terflies containing their own prayers. Diane T aylor , a teaching assistant from St Gregory’ s, S t o c k t o n , s a i d : “ T h e v i s i t a l l o w e d e v e r y o n e t o r e f l e c t o n how one human can treat another and created a thought- p r o v o k i n g d i s c u s s i o n d u r i n g o u r j o u r n e y b a c k t o school.” S e c o n d a r y s t u d e n t s f r o m C a r m e l C o l l e g e , O u r L a d y a n d S t B e d e ’ s , I n g l e b y M a n o r a n d N o r t h f i e l d s c h o o l s e n j o y e d t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e s t u d e n t - p e n n e d s o n g T o - gether W e Stand by the academy’ s choir and musicians. T a r a h G o w , t h e v i s i t i n g h e a d o f g e o g r a p h y f r o m I n - g l e b y M a n o r , s a i d : “ I t w a s a w o n d e r f u l m o r n i n g a n d h a s had a huge impact on our students.” P R I E S T S f r o m a c r o s s t h e d i o c e s e , p a r i s h i o n e r s p a s t a n d p r e s e n t , p l u s f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s g a t h e r e d a t S t Peter ’ s Chur ch, Low Fell, for a special Mass to mark 50 years since the ordi- nation of Fr Dave T anner , JCL. T h e r e w a s a j o y f u l a t m o s p h e r e a s a l l w h o a t t e n d e d g a v e t h a n k s f o r a p r i e s t w h o h a s b e e n a r e a l h e l p t o s o m a n y f a c i n g d i f - ficulty , and who has move d in and out of the diocese but always returned home to the North East. F r D a v e w a s b o r n i n t o a l o v i n g f a m i l y i n B e n w e l l , N e w c a s t l e , i n 1 9 4 6 , o n e o f f i v e c h i l d r e n . H e a t t e n d e d t h e J u n i o r S e m - i n a r y a t U s h a w f r o m t h e a g e o f j u s t 1 1 a n d w a s o r d a i n e d a p r i e s t o n F e b r u a r y 2 1 , 1 9 7 0 a t U s h a w C o l l e g e , b e f o r e g o i n g o n to the English College in Rome to study C a n o n L a w f o r t w o y e a r s , w h e r e h e g a i n e d h i s l i c e n c e . H e r e t u r n e d t o E n g - land, and spent a period in Gateshead. At t h a t t i m e , s o c i a l i n j u s t i c e w a s r i f e a n d “ s l u m c l e a r a n c e s ” w e r e b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t . Then Fr Dave was called back to Rome, as the V atican had requested him for their D i p l o m a t i c C o r p s . T h i s s e r v i c e t o t h e Church was a great honour , but Fr Dave f e l t t h e c a l l i n g t o r e t u r n t o E n g l a n d , w h e r e he became a Cistercian brother and spent t w o y e a r s a t C a l d e y I s l a n d – a p l a c e w h e r e m o n k s h a v e l i v e d s i n c e C e l t i c times. H e l e f t j u s t b e f o r e t a k i n g h i s s i m p l e vows, coming back to our diocese under t h e w i n g o f B i s h o p H u g h L i n d s a y .  H e s p e n t t i m e c o v e r i n g f o r a v a r i e t y o f p a r i s h priests when they were on holiday before being moved to North Shields. F r D a v e s p e n t t h e n e x t 1 1 y e a r s a s a l o d g e r a t S t C u t h b e r t ’ s s c h o o l , N e w c a s t l e . In that time, he practised Canon Law for the Mar riage T ribunal, and assisted those enduring often painful, dif ficult times. He then moved to Northumberland and spent more than a decade there, and after s o m e t i m e b e c a m e a p a r i s h p r i e s t a g a i n , supporting the rural community . I n 2 0 1 8 , F r D a v e r e t i r e d t o S t P e t e r ’ s L o w F e l l i n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 8 . T h a n k s w e r e g i v e n f o r t h e s u p p o r t g i v e n t o F r Dave from Fr Keith W alker , parish priest at St Peter ’ s church. P r a y e r s a n d t h a n k s a r e d u e f o r t h e nurses, doctors and carers who helped Fr Dave through illness. C h r i s t i n e F r a z e r w r o t e a m o v i n g , h u - m o r o u s a n d l o v i n g p o e m a s a t r i b u t e t o F r D a v e , w h i c h w a s s h a r e d a t t h e c e l e b r a - tion. It ended: “Dave, you’ve been in our l i v e s f o r s o m a n y y e a r s , y o u ’ v e b e e n a F a - ther in so many senses of the word – only those you have touched know . “W e celebrate now , your 50 years – Ad Multos A nnos.” W ith thanks to Christine Frazer . S O L U T I O N F O R S U D O K U F R O M P A G E 2 8 8 9 3 7 5 4 2 1 6 1 2 7 3 6 9 8 5 4 4 6 5 1 8 2 3 9 7 6 1 9 8 4 5 7 3 2 5 3 2 9 7 6 1 4 8 7 4 8 2 1 3 9 6 5 9 5 1 4 2 7 6 8 3 2 8 4 6 3 1 5 7 9 3 7 6 5 9 8 4 2 1 Students get together t o reflect on the Holocaus t Leader ship in toda y’s society q M a r c a d d r e s s e s a Y o u t h L e a d e r s h i p D a y g r o u p i n W e s t m i n s t e r . by Marc Besford YCW national president W a r m w e l c o m e f o r a special guest F r Da v e celebrates his golden jubilee and 50 remark able y ear s q Frs Dennis T indall and Dave T anner . W orld Book Day with a difference at St John’ s A POWERFUL message was s e n t t o s t u d e n t s o n W o r l d Book Day when every mem- b e r o f s t a f f a t S t J o h n ’ s S c h o o l a n d S i x t h F o r m C o l - l e g e w o r e b l a c k T - s h i r t s s p o r t i n g t h e w o r d s : “ I n a world where you can be any- thing…be kind”. L e a r n i n g R e s o u r c e C e n t r e M a n a g e r L i n z i H e a d s s a i d : “ W o r l d B o o k D a y c e l e b r a t e s r e a d i n g f o r p l e a s u r e a n d t h e m a n y b e n e f i t s o f r e a d i n g , n o t j u s t t o h e l p w i t h a c a d e m i c p r o g r e s s b u t t h e p o s i t i v e i m - p a c t r e a d i n g h a s o n m e n t a l health and wellbeing. “ W e w a n t e d t e a c h i n g a n d n o n - t e a c h i n g s t a f f t o s h a r e t h i s p o s i t i v e m e s s a g e w i t h a l l o f o u r s t u d e n t s a n d I t h o u g h t W o r l d B o o k D a y w a s a p e r f e c t o p p o r - tunity to do this. “ R e a d i n g i s a n a m a z i n g a d - v e n t u r e b e c a u s e y o u c a n g o a n y w h e r e y o u w a n t t o g o a n d q Everyone at St John’ s wore special T -shirts on W orld Book Day . by Ian Lamming be anything you want to be! “ I n a w o r l d w h e r e p e o p l e a r e s o m e t i m e s u n k i n d t o o n e a n o t h e r , o f t e n t h r o u g h s o c i a l media, the message to be kind i s a s a l u t a r y r e m i n d e r t o u s all – and it’ s also one which our s t u d e n t s c a n t a k e o u t i n t o t h e community around them.” H e a d t e a c h e r L i s a B y r o n a d d e d : “ I t i s o u r L e n t e n m e s - s a g e t o b e k i n d i n a w o r l d w h e r e e v e r y o n e i s v e r y b u s y and often self-absorbed.” T h e C a t h o l i c a c a d e m y a l s o j o i n e d t h e W o r l d B o o k D a y Share a Story initiative. T h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y , l e s s o n s began with an extract of Roald D a h l ’ s L a m b t o t h e S l a u g h t e r . B y t h e e n d o f t h e d a y t h e s c h o o l h a d s h a r e d 1 , 4 0 0 s t o - r i e s a n d e v e r y o n e i n t h e s c h o o l had listened to the entire story .

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8 N or thern Cross April 2020 COMME NT A personal view by GERR Y LOUGHRAN q Gerry Loughran. l Newcastle-born Gerry is a r etir ed for eign corr espondent. Y ou can contact him at Gerryo69@hotmail.com The views in this article do not neces- sarily r eflect those of Northern Cr oss o r o f t h e d i o c e s e o f H e x h a m & N e w - castle. www .nor therncross.org.uk M O S T f o r e i g n c o r r e s p o n d e n t s , a t s o m e p o i n t i n t h e i r c a r e e r s , e x p e r i - ence a period of involuntary inactiv- i t y w h e n t h e y a r e u n a b l e t o r e p o r t events, write stories or file their dis- p a t c h e s . T h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e y a r e being detained by men with guns. A s I w r i t e t h i s n o b o d y i s p o i n t i n g a firearm at me, but looking wistfully at p e o p l e o u t s i d e j o g g i n g , h e a d i n g f o r t h e shops or exercising their dogs, I feel a d i s t i n c t c o n n e c t i o n w i t h u n h a p p y , l o n g - a g o e x p e r i e n c e s i n J o r d a n a n d Y emen. I am again under arrest, but my cap- t o r t h i s t i m e i s c o r o n a v i r u s o r r a t h e r t h e threat of it. I am bored, uneasy , distracted, miss- i n g m y d a i l y N o n a g r a m a n d c r o s s - w o r d , s l e e p i n g b a d l y , e m b a r r a s s e d b e c a u s e f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y a r e o f f e r i n g to shop for me and desperate to stretch my legs and breathe fresh air . L i s t l e s s l y l e a f i n g t h r o u g h a n o l d m i s - s i o n a r y m a g a z i n e , I c o m e a c r o s s a n a r - t i c l e t h a t b e g i n s : “ S e v e r a l y e a r s a g o a n elderly woman was found dead in her ap ar tmen t. S tu ck o n th e s cr een o f h er t e l e v i s i o n w a s a n o t e : ‘ G o o d b y e , m y f r i e n d ! Y o u a r e t h e o n l y o n e w h o t a l k e d t o m e . ’ I t w a s h e r f i n a l a c t b e - fore she committed suicide.” T h a t o l d l a d y d i e d o f l o n e l i n e s s , a s a d and painful condition which I suspect is endured by many more people than w e e v e r i m a g i n e . F o l k s j u s t u p t h e street and round the corner . A f r i e n d o f m i n e , a s e l f - e m p l o y e d c l e a n e r , t o l d m e h o w s h e w o r k e d o n e d a y a w e e k f o r a n e l d e r l y m a n l i v i n g alone. Last week he asked if she could c o m e e v e r y d a y , o f f e r i n g t o m a t c h whatever earnings she would lose. She w o u l d n o t h a v e t o w o r k , h e s a i d , j u s t have a cof fee. They could sit two me- tres apart and chat. M y f r i e n d e x p l a i n e d t h i s w a s r e a l l y not possible as she had family , respon- s i b i l i t i e s . W h e n s h e l e f t , t h e r e w e r e tears in the old man’ s eyes. S o w h y a m I w h i n g e i n g w h e n I r e - c e i v e s t r e a m s o f e m a i l s , f r e q u e n t p h o n e c a l l s , f r i e n d l y i n q u i r i e s f r o m n e i g h b o u r s ? W h e n t h e r e a r e m i l l i o n s i n t h e s a m e p r e d i c a m e n t a s m y s e l f ( a n d odds-on not half so grumpy)? When I know that eventually this interregnum will come to an end? R e a l i m p r i s o n m e n t i s a d i f f e r e n t m a t - ter , a solitariness with no end in sight, c o m b i n e d w i t h c o n t e m p t f r o m c a p t o r s , abuse or plain torture. Priests in the Soviet Gulag knew all about that, often s uf fering the horrors o f M o s c o w ’ s L u b y a n k a p r i s o n ( “ N e v e r raise your eyes,” they were told) then t r a n s f e r r e d t o w o r k c a m p s i n S i b e r i a for terms of ten, 15, 20-plus years. W e had our own jailed heroes when t h e C h u r c h w a s p e r s e c u t e d u n d e r H e n r y a n d E l i z a b e t h , m a n y s u f f e r i n g dreadful deaths after time behind bars … F i s h e r a n d M o r e , t w o M a r g a r e t s – C l i t h e r o w a n d W a r d , E d m u n d C a m - T r ying to see things in propor tion w h i l e u n d e r h o u s e a r r e s t b y c o r o n a v i r u s pion, John Gerard, northerners, south- e r n e r s , W e l s h m e n . H e r o e s b y t h e score. C l o s e r t o o u r o w n t i m e , h o w m a n y y e a r s w e r e s u f f e r e d i n t o t a l b y t h o s e i m p r i s o n e d d u r i n g W o r l d W a r I I ? T h e y i n c l u d e d F a t h e r T i t u s B r a n d s m a , t h e D u t c h C a r m e l i t e i n D a c h a u I m e n - tioned last month, and in another Nazi c a m p , R a v e n s b r u c k , s i s t e r s C o r r i e a n d B e t s y t e n B o o m e , c o m m i t t e d C h r i s - t i a n s b o t h , a n d , l i k e B r a n d s m a , f r o m H o l l a n d . C o r r i e s u r v i v e d b u t B e t s y d i d n o t . B e f o r e s h e d i e d , B e t s y t o l d h e r s i s t e r : “ T h e r e i s n o p i t s o d e e p t h a t God is not deeper still.” H o w c o m f o r t i n g t h o s e w o r d s m u s t h a v e s o u n d e d t o C o r r i e . H o w F a t h e r X would have loved to hear them. I r e a d h i s s t o r y r e c e n t l y . I h a v e f o r - g o t t e n h i s n a m e b u t h e w a s a r r e s t e d b y t e r r o r i s t s i n A f r i c a a n d h e l d a g a i n s t h i s will before eventually being released. A s y m p a t h e t i c r e p o r t e r a s k e d i f h e h a d felt comforted by his faith. The priest r e p l i e d t h a t h e h a d n o t f e l t t h e p r e s e n c e of God during his ordeal. H o w a w f u l t h a t m u s t h a v e b e e n . Saint Mother T eresa confessed to fee l- ing no presence of God during the last h a l f o f h e r l i f e , j u s t “ s i l e n c e a n d e m p t i - ness.” Who knows why a loyal priest a n d a s a i n t l y n u n s h o u l d s u f f e r t h i s way . But that surely is imprisonment of a k i n d t h a t m a k e s o u r p r e s e n t t r i b u l a - t i o n s a p p e a r o f v e r y l i t t l e c o n s e q u e n c e . A T H O U G H T F O R L E N T . C h r i s t ’ s P a s s i o n i n r e l i g i o u s d r a m a i s n e a r l y a l - ways narrated from the point of view o f h i s b l e s s e d m o t h e r , P e t e r , J o h n , Joseph of Arimathea or Mary Magda- lene. H o w e v e r , t h e C z e c h c o m p o s e r , J a n D i s m a s Z e l e n k a ( 1 6 7 0 - 1 7 4 5 ) , w r o t e an oratorio, Gesu al Calvaria, from the perspective of Jesus himself. It repre- sents Christ’ s final desire to believe in humanity . He can die with joy if men c a n s h e d a s i n g l e t e a r o f r e p e n t a n c e f o r their sins: If every penitent heart w o u l d r e n d e r m e b u t o n e r e p e n t a n t tear , how contented would I die! If every loving soul in man contrite would render me one sign of love, t h e n a l l t h e h e a v y g r i e f t h a t g r i p s m y heart would melt away . A L I T T L E B O Y g o e s u p t o g e t a b l e s s - ing and as the priest raises his hand to b l e s s h i m , t h e b o y g i v e s h i m a h i g h - five. A n o t h e r l i t t l e b o y g o e s u p f o r a b l e s s - i n g . H e i s w e a r i n g d e v i l ’ s h o r n s . O h dear! Fire, smoke, brimstone, screams f r o m o u t r a g e d d e m o n s ? N o t s o . T h e p r i e s t s m i l e s a n d i m p a r t s a b l e s s i n g and the child of God races back to his mum. B e y o n d H e x h a m a n d N e w c a s t l e … L I K E n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t s w o r l d w i d e , t h e C a t h o l i c Church has instituted seri- o u s m e a s u r e s t o c o u n t e r coronavirus. C h u r c h e s h a v e b e e n c l o s e d i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s a n d M a s s e s s u s p e n d e d . B a p - t i s m s a n d w e d d i n g s a r e w i d e l y b a n n e d , b u t f u n e r a l s h a v e b e e n a l l o w e d b y s o m e hierarchies for congregations of fewer than 10 0. H o l y W e e k l i t u r g i c a l c e l e - b r a t i o n s a t t h e V a t i c a n w i l l t a k e p l a c e w i t h o u t t h e p r e s - e n c e o f t h e p u b l i c , u s u a l l y n u m b e r e d i n t e n s o f t h o u - s a n d s . T h e c e r e m o n i e s w i l l be live streamed and carried on radio and television. S p a i n ’ s b i s h o p s , t o o , c a n - c e l l e d t r a d i t i o n a l H o l y W e e k processions. T h e C a t h o l i c a n d O r t h o d o x C h u r c h e s i n G r e e c e i n - s t r u c t e d w o r s h i p p e r s n o t t o k i s s d o o r w a y i c o n s a n d t h e C h u r c h i n S l o v a k i a s a i d t h e s a c r a m e n t o f r e c o n c i l i a t i o n s h o u l d b e a d m i n i s t e r e d o n l y i f t r a n s p a r e n t f i l m i s f i x e d a c r o s s t h e c o n f e s s i o n a l g r i l l e . M a n y p i l g r i m a g e s t o L o u r - d e s h a v e b e e n c a n c e l l e d a n d a l l p u b l i c m a s s e s a t t h e shrine called of f. In Italy , several priests have d i e d f r o m t h e v i r u s a n d a t h i r d o f F r a n c e ’ s b i s h o p s a r e i n isolation. T h e a u x i l i a r y B i s h o p o f C h u r i n S w i t z e r l a n d , M a r i a n E l e - ganti, said in a video that the v i r u s w a s “ G o d ’ s p u n i s h m e n t ” for a faithless world. He was criticised sharply by his Swiss colleagues. S E P A R A T E s u r v e y s o n a t t i - t u d e s t o w a r d s P o p e F r a n - c i s a n d P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d T r u m p h a v e s h o w n t h a t most British Catholics love t h e p o p e w h i l e A m e r i c a n C a t h o l i c s a r e d i v i d e d a b o u t T rump. A s o u n d i n g o f 2 , 0 0 0 Catholics – part of the project c a l l e d R o m a n C a t h o l i c s i n B r i t a i n – d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e P o p e w a s p o p u l a r w i t h b o t h p r a c t i s i n g a n d n o n - p r a c - t i s i n g C a t h o l i c s , p a r t i c u l a r l y young people. More than three-quarters of young, Mass-going Catholics g a v e t h e p o p e a “ g o o d ” o r “ e x c e l l e n t ” r a t i n g o n t e n i s - sues ranging from upholding C h u r c h t e a c h i n g t o a d d r e s s - ing the needs of the poor . The T rump poll showed that 6 0 p e r c e n t - p l u s o f w h i t e A m e r i c a n C a t h o l i c s c o n s i d - e r e d t h e i r p r e s i d e n t i n t e l l i g e n t a n d a g r e e d w i t h h i m o n m a n y i s s u e s , w h i l e f e w e r t h a n 3 0 the news in brief p e r c e n t o f L a t i n o C a t h o l i c s believed T rump was “honest” or “morally upstanding.” T H E b e l l a t S h r e w s b u r y C a t h e d r a l h a s b e e n r e - s t o r e d a n d n a m e d J o h n H e n r y i n t r i b u t e t o J o h n H e n r y N e w m a n , E n g l a n d ’ s newest saint. B i s h o p M a r k D a v i e s o f S h r e w s b u r y e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e w a s p r o m p t e d t o n a m e t h e b e l l a f t e r N e w m a n b e - c a u s e i t w a s i n s t a l l e d i n t h e 1850s, the decade when the C h u r c h ’ s o u t s t a n d i n g c o n v e r t f r o m A n g l i c a n i s m p r e a c h e d h i s f a m o u s s e r m o n o n “ t h e s e c o n d s p r i n g , t h e r e b i r t h o f English Catholicism.” T H E A r c h d i o c e s e o f K r a k - o w , P o l a n d , h a s o p e n e d the cause for the beatifica- tion of the parents of Pope S t J o h n P a u l I I , K a r o l a n d Emilia W ojtyla. H a v i n g r e c e i v e d V a t i c a n a p - p r o v a l , A r c h b i s h o p M a r e k J e - d r a s z e w k s i s i g n e d a n e d i c t a p p r o v i n g t h e c a u s e o n March 2. T h i s f o l l o w e d e n d o r s e m e n t of the proposal by the Polish bishops’ conference in Octo- ber 2019. WHEN it comes to abuse in r e l i g i o u s s e t t i n g s , “ s e l f - regulation does not work,” a r g u e d l a w y e r R i c h a r d S c o r e r b e f o r e t h e I n d e - p e n d e n t I n q u i r y i n t o C h i l d Sexual Abuse in UK. M r S c o r e r s a i d t h a t t h e C a t h o l i c a n d A n g l i c a n Churches had been forced to a d m i t t h e r e w a s a p r o b l e m . T h e M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h h a d b e e n a s k e d t o t a k e p a r t i n t h e inquiry , alo ng with Jehovah’ s W i t n e s s e s , B a p t i s t s , r e p r e - sentatives of Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Bud- d h i s m . T h e i n q u i r y ’ s l a t e s t hearing was postponed after o n e d a y b e c a u s e o f c o r o n - avirus. A N  A N O N Y M O U S s u r v e y o f 1 , 5 0 0 C a t h o l i c s i n t h e D i o c e s e o f K i l l a l a , I r e l a n d , s h o w e d t h a t 8 5 p e r c e n t s u p p o r t t h e i d e a o f m a r r i e d priests. A s k e d i f m e n w h o l e f t t h e p r i e s t h o o d t o m a r r y s h o u l d be allowed to return to active m i n i s t r y , 8 1 p e r c e n t s a i d y e s . S u p p o r t f o r w o m e n d e a - c o n s r e g i s t e r e d a t 8 0 p e r c e n t , w h i l e 6 9 p e r c e n t backed women priests. T h e c o n s u l t a t i o n w a s p a r t o f a t h r e e - y e a r ‘ l i s t e n i n g p r o c e s s ’ d e s i g n e d t o p r e p a r e K i l l a l a , i n t h e w e s t o f I r e l a n d , f o r a f u - ture without priests. A CENTURIES-OLD human s k e l e t o n h a s b e e n f o u n d h i d d e n i n s i d e t h e w a l l o f a c h u r c h i n F o l k e s t o n e , K e n t . C a r b o n - d a ti n g o f te e th a n d bone samples sug gested the p e r s o n l i v e d a n d d i e d i n t h e seventh century . Researchers and historians judged it highly probable that t h e r e m a i n s a r e t h o s e o f S a i n t E a n s w y t h e , a K e n t i s h p r i n c e s s w h o b e c a m e a n u n in her teens. E R N E S T O C a r d e n a l , a N i c a - r a g u a n p r i e s t , p o e t a n d r e v - o l u t i o n a r y p o l i t i c i a n , d i e d o n M a r c h 1 i n M a n a g u a , aged 95. Cardenal became world fa- m o u s i n 1 9 8 3 w h e n t e l e v i s i o n p i c t u r e s s h o w e d P o p e J o h n P a u l I I w a g g i n g h i s f i n g e r a t t h e k n e e l i n g p r i e s t a n d t e l l i n g him to quit his post as a min- i s t e r i n t h e r e b e l S a n d i n i s t a government. T h e p o p e , t h e n o n a n o f f i - c i a l v i s i t t o N i c a r a g u a , s u s - p e n d e d C a r d e n a l f r o m t h e p r i e s t h o o d , b u t h e w a s r e - c e n t l y r e i n s t a t e d b y P o p e Francis. C o n t r o v e r s i a l t o t h e e n d , C a r d e n a l ’ s R e q u i e m M a s s was barracked by Sandinista a c t i v i s t s s h o u t i n g “ T r a i t o r ” i n reference to the priest’ s later r e j e c t i o n o f t h e S a n d i n i s t a leadership. T W O p o t e n t i a l l o o t e r s w e r e c a u g h t i n N o t r e D a m e C a t h e d r a l i n P a r i s h o u r s after the coronavirus lock- down in France began. P o l i c e s a i d t h e p a i r w a s f o u n d d r u n k a n d h i d i n g u n d e r t a r p a u l i n s w i t h a s m a l l s t o c k o f s t o n e s w h i c h c o u l d b e s o l d on the black market. T h e c a t h e d r a l i s u n d e r g o i n g restoration after a disastrous fire last April. T W O n u r s e s d e n i e d j o b s a s m i d w i v e s i n S w e d e n b e - c a u s e o f t h e i r r e f u s a l t o p e r f o r m a b o r t i o n s h a v e b e e n r e f u s e d a l e g a l a p p e a l t o t h e E u r o p e a n C o u r t o f Human Rights. Elinor Grimmark from Swe- den and Linda Steen, a Nor- w e g i a n , a r g u e d t h a t t h e d e n i a l o f e m p l o y m e n t b e - c a u s e o f t h e i r a n t i - a b o r t i o n stance was an illegal breach of their human rights. T h e E u r o p e a n C o u r t r e - f u s e d t o t a k e u p t h e n u r s e s ’ c a s e a n d f o u n d i n s t e a d t h a t t h e S w e d i s h a u t h o r i t i e s h a d acted law fully .

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9 N o r th e r n C ro s s A p ri l 2 02 0 N E W S w w w .n o r th e rn c ro s s. o rg .u k A rc h 4 x 3 P e te r D u n n S o lic it o rs 5 x 2 J u s tic e &  P e a c e 1 0 x 2 DO YOU have a partnership story you’d like to share? I f y o u d o , p l e a s e e m a i l y o u r s t o r y t o editor .norcross@btconnect.com, including a good-quality picture, if you have one. Please include a contact n u m b e r s o w e c a n c a l l y o u i f n e c e s s a r y . THE Jesuits in Britain have an- n o u n c e d t h e y a r e d i v e s t i n g f r o m c o m p a n i e s w h i c h e x t r a c t fossil fuels. T h e a n n o u n c e m e n t i s l i n k e d t o their £400 million worth of invest- m e n t w h i c h i s u s e d t o f i n a n c e g o o d w o r k s a n d p r o j e c t s i n t h e U K a n d w o r l d w i d e a n d m a k e s t h e m the country’ s largest Catholic reli- g i o u s o r d e r t o j o i n t h e g l o b a l d i - vestment movement. F r D a m i a n H o w a r d S J , t h e p r o v i n c i a l s u p e r i o r o f t h e B r i t i s h J e s u i t s , s a i d : “ C l i m a t e c h a n g e i s t h e m o s t p r e s s i n g c h a l l e n g e t h e w o r l d f a c e s a s c l i m a t e d i s a s t e r s w r e a k m o r e a n d m o r e d e s t r u c t i o n , h i t t i n g p o o r e r c o u n t r i e s t h e h a r d - e s t – d e s p i t e t h e m h a v i n g d o n e the least to cause them. “The decision to divest is princi- p a l l y a r e s p o n s e t o t h e c l e a r m o r a l i m p e r a t i v e o f a c t i n g t o s a f e g u a r d o u r p l a n e t f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s at a time when scientific evidence i s m o u n t i n g t h a t w e a r e f a c i n g a grave climate emergency . “ W h a t h a p p e n s t o t h e c l i m a t e and the environment will have im- plications for us all. That’ s why we need to act together to protect the c o n d i t i o n s f o r h u m a n l i f e . I a m g l a d t h a t t h e J e s u i t s c a n c o n - tribute to that joint ef fort. “ A l l o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s n e e d t o r e - spond to this ecological crisis and take bold action to reduce energy u s e a n d s w i t c h t o r e n e w a b l e sources . “ L a r g e - s c a l e i n v e s t o r s s h o u l d b e doing everything possible to help a v e r t t h e s e v e r e c o n s e q u e n c e s t h a t c o u l d r e s u l t i f a d e q u a t e measures are not taken.” T h e d e c i s i o n a l i g n s t h e J e s u i t s i n Britain with a global movement of d i v e s t i n g i n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h a c o m - bined value of more than $14 tril- lion in as s et s under m anagem ent , up from a starting point of $50 bil- lion just five years ago. E f a R a v e l o n a n t o a n d r o , p r o - grammes of ficer of the Centre So- ciale Arrupe in Madagascar which i s s u p p o r t e d b y J e s u i t M i s s i o n s , s a i d : “ S o u t h e r n M a d a g a s c a r i s now too hot so we’re seeing more i n t e r n a l m i g r a t i o n a n d w i t h i t a r i s e in crime and a lack of jobs. More f r e q u e n t a n d s e v e r e f l o o d i n g across the country has increased diseases among the population. “ T h e C e n t r e A r r u p e i s d i r e c t l y a f - fected because the medical clinic h a s b e e n f l o o d e d . W e d o h a v e l o t s o f r i v e r s i n M a d a g a s c a r , b u t we are not generating enough re- n e w a b l e e n e r g y . W e n e e d m o r e i n v e s t m e n t i n c l e a n e r , r e n e w a b l e energy and a shift away from fos- sil fuel sources.” Jesuit Missions is calling on the UK government to take urgent ac- t i o n t o r e d u c e e m i s s i o n s a n d t o encourage other nations to follow i ts l e a d , e sp e ci a l l y i n th e l e a d u p t o t h e c r u c i a l U N c l i m a t e t a l k s (COP26) scheduled to take place in Glasgow in November . J a m e s B u c h a n a n , d i v e s t m e n t c a m p a i g n e r a t C h r i s t i a n c l i m a t e c h a n g e c h a r i t y O p e r a t i o n N o a h , s a i d : “ T h i s s i g n i f i c a n t d e c i s i o n t a k e n b y t h e J e s u i t s i n B r i t a i n t o d i v e s t f r o m f o s s i l f u e l c o m p a n i e s is the latest in a growing trend of r e l i g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s l e a d i n g t h e way in shifting investments out of f o s s i l f u e l s a n d i n v e s t i n g i n t h e c l e a n t e c h n o l o g i e s o f t h e f u t u r e . Of the total of more than 1,100 or- g a n i s a t i o n s c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e global divestment movement, 352 are faith-based institutions.” O p e r a t i o n N o a h i s w o r k i n g w i t h t h e W o r l d C o u n c i l o f C h u r c h e s , t h e G l o b a l C a t h o l i c C l i m a t e M o v e m e n t a n d o t h e r s t o i n v i t e C h u r c h e s , r e l i - g i o u s o r d e r s a n d f a i t h o r g a n i s a - t i o n s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a m a j o r g l o b a l d i v e s t m e n t a n - n o u n c e m e n t d u e l a s t m o n t h , b u t p o s t p o n e d t o N o v e m b e r d u e t o t h e C O V I D - 1 9 pandemic. R E N O W N E D h y m n w r i t e r s K e i t h a n d K r i s t y n G e t t y h a v e c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h musicians Matt Boswell, Jordan Kau- f l i n , M a t t M e r k e r a n d M a t t P a p a t o c o m p o s e a n e w w o r k – C h r i s t o u r h o p e in life and death. The hymn reminds Christians through- o u t t h e w o r l d o f t h e h o p e t h a t c a n b e found in Christ’ s death and resurrection. K e i t h a n d K r i s t y n a r e e n c o u r a g i n g p e o - p l e t o s i n g i t a t h o m e t o p r o m o t e a f e e l i n g of belonging during these dif ficult times. Keith – who is best known for writing t h e h y m n I n C h r i s t A l o n e w i t h S t u a r t T o w n e n d – s a i d : “ T h e r e a l i t y o f J e s u s ’ r e s u r r e c t i o n f r o m t h e d e a d i s c e n t r a l t o C h r i s t i a n f a i t h . B y h i s r e s u r r e c t i o n C h r i s t conquered sin and death and now of fers f o r g i v e n e s s a n d e t e r n a l l i f e t o a l l w h o turn from sin and trust in Him. “Therefore, we want to equip churches to sing about the resurrection. “ T h e r e s u r r e c t i o n t r a n s f o r m s t h e w a y we live every day and provides unshak- able hope in Jesus.” l N o r t h e r n C r o s s r e p r o d u c e s t h e l y r i c s b e l o w w i t h k i n d p e r m i s s i o n o f K e i t h G e t t y , M a t t B o s w e l l , J o r d a n K a u f l i n , Matt Merker and Matt Papa. q F r o m l e f t , M a t t P a p a , J o r d a n K a u f l i n , K e i t h G e t t y , M a t t B o s w e l l a n d Matt Merker . N e w h y m n o f f e r s comfor t to all in these dark da y s What is our hope in life and death? Christ alone, Christ alone. What is our only confidence? That our souls to him belong. Who holds our days within his hand? What comes, apart from his command? And what will keep us to the end? T h e l o v e o f C h r i s t , i n w h i c h w e s t a n d . O sing hallelu jah! Our hope springs eternal; O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess Christ our hope in life and death. What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good. Where is his grace and goodness known? In our great Redeemer ’ s blood. Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial? W h o s e n d s t h e w a v e s t h a t b r i n g u s nigh Unto the shore, the rock of Christ? Unto the grave, what shal l we sing? “Christ, he lives; Christ, he lives!” Christ our hope in life and death Jesuits divest from fossil fuels q Fr Dominic Robinson and Fr Dushan Croos with some of the young adult activists who had planned to go to the climate conference in Assisi. And what reward will heaven bring? Everlasting life with him. There we will rise to meet the Lord, T h e n s i n a n d d e a t h w i l l b e d e s t r o y e d , And we will feast in endless joy , When Christ is ours forevermore. ©2020 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns / Jordan Kaufl in Music / Matthew Merker Music / Getty Music Hymns and Songs (ASCAP) / Love Y our Enemies Publishing/ adm at MusicServices.org. Justice & Peace Refugee Project Cha rity Number 1143450 2 SUMMERHILL GROVE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE4 6EE THANKS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS. PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING - WE NEED YOU Temporary closure of the Refugee Project - no food donations can now be received. If you would like to make a financial donation, please make a bank transfer to HSBC DHN DESTITUTE ASYLUM FUND Sort code: 40-34-18 Account no: 52854058 Residential and Commercial Conveyancing l Family and Matrimonial l All Business Transactions l Employment l Wills and Probate l Civil Litigation 20 Athenaeum Street Sunderland SR1 1DH 16 North Terrace Seaham SR7 7EU Tel: (0191) 568 9000 Email: enquiries @peterdunn.co.uk A Friendly Family Service A R C H A b o r t i o n R e c o v e r y C a r e a n d H e l p l i n e BVA New Logo:8708 BVA Letterheads 2 Abortion Recovery Care Helpline 0845 603 8501 Free Confidential Counselling ( Formerly B.V.A. Foundation)

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10 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk Marriage and Family Life 18x4 T ony Atkinson 6x2 L I N D A L o n g s t a f f i s w e l l k n o w n – a n d l o v e d – a c r o s s S u n d e r l a n d a n d t h e M o n k w e a r m o u t h p a r t n e r s h i p t h a n k s to her work as a hospital chaplain for South T yneside and Sunderland NHS F o u n d a t i o n T r u s t a n d w i t h v a r i o u s other community pr ojects. L i n d a h a s a l s o w o r k e d i n c h u r c h e s a n d s c h o o l s a c r o s s t h e c i t y , t e a c h i n g s i g n language with music and dance as part of the group she founded – Signed with Love. I had the abso lute pleasure of meeting L i n d a a n d h e r h u s b a n d D i c k w h o j o i n e d m e f o r a c o f f e e a n d a c h a t a b o u t h e r MBE for outstanding community serv- ice. Linda said: “Receiving an MBE from Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace is s o m e t h i n g I n e v e r h a v e e v e n d r e a m e d of. “ S i n c e I ’ v e r e t u r n e d t o w o r k I ’ v e b e e n a m a z e d b y h o w h a p p y e v e r y o n e i s f o r me. As I left the hospital the other day a m a n u p a l a d d e r s h o u t e d c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s down to me! “ I t ’ s r e a l l y b e e n w o n d e r f u l t o s h a r e t h e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h c o l l e a g u e s , p a t i e n t s , f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y w h o a r e s o e x c i t e d t o hear about it. “I’d like to thank everyone at Sunder - l a n d R o y a l H o s p i t a l a n d a l l t h e s t a f f who’ve supported all of the chaplaincy work and therapies we of fer , as well as everyone in all the parishes across Sun- derland. “ I t w a s a s u r r e a l e x p e r i e n c e – w o n d e r - ful, but humbling. “ W e a r r i v e d a t B u c k i n g h a m P a l a c e and, after passing through all the secu- r i t y i n c l u d i n g g u a r d s , s o l d i e r s a n d b e e f e a t e r s , f o u n d o u r s e l v e s o n t h i s g r e a t big red carpet. “ T h e r e d c a r p e t r a n u p t h e s e f a b u l o u s s t a i r s w i t h s h i n i n g b r a s s – t h e b i g g e s t s t a i r s y o u ’ v e e v e r s e e n i n y o u r l i f e . I t w a s h e r e t h a t m y f a m i l y w a s b e c k o n e d o n e w a y a n d I w a s t a k e n a n o t h e r b y m y s e l f . ” Before the ceremony Linda and the 65 o t h e r a w a r d r e c i p i e n t s h a d p l e n t y o f t i m e t o c h a t t o o n e a n o t h e r . L i n d a m e t others being awarded for their services to midwifery , nursing, medical research and music. T h e y a l s o r e c e i v e d i n s t r u c t i o n o n greeting a member of the royal family . L i n d a e x p l a i n e d : “ T h e y t o l d u s n o t t o w o r r y , a s w e w o u l d b e m e e t i n g P r i n c e s s Anne – and she always does her home- w o r k ! A l t h o u g h t h e y ’ d s a i d t h i s , I w a s s o i m p r e s s e d w i t h h o w m u c h P r i n c e s s Anne knew . “She said: ‘T ell me, Linda, about your work with people with Alzheimer ’ s and how your work with sign language fits i n t o t h i s . ’ I w a s a m a z e d s h e w o u l d r e - m e m b e r t h e s e t h i n g s a b o u t m e , a n d every single recipient.” L i n d a a l s o r u n s g r o u p t h e r a p y s e s - s i o n s , i n c l u d i n g f o r t h o s e w i t h d e m e n t i a and Alzheimer ’ s. L i n d a l e a r n t m a k a t o n a n d s i g n l a n - g u a g e a s a w a y t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h h e r daughter , Charlotte, who was also well- loved in Sunderland. C h a r l o t t e h a d s e v e r e l e a r n i n g d i s a b i l i - t i e s a f t e r c o n t r a c t i n g m e n i n g i t i s a s a b a b y , b u t l i v e d a f u l l a n d h a p p y l i f e , l o n g e r t h a n d o c t o r s p r e d i c t e d l a r g e l y d u e t o t h e l o v e a n d s u p p o r t o f h e r f a m i l y . L i nda a nd Di c k sha re d fon d m e m ori e s of the joy and love of life that Charlotte had – and shared with the whole family . L i n d a a d d e d : “ I t w a s C h a r l o t t e t h a t taug ht me how to love.” The couple have two other daughters, who accompanied them to the palace. D i c k s a i d : “ F r o m w h e r e w e s a t , w e could see that Princess Anne’ s face was s o a n i m a t e d a n d i n t e r e s t e d w h e n s h e was talking to Linda. W e couldn’ t wait t o f i n d o u t w h a t t h e y w e r e t a l k i n g a b o u t ! W e h a v e r e c e i v e d s o m e o f f i c i a l p h o t o - g r a p h s f r o m o u t s i d e t h e p a l a c e , a n d l o o k f o r w a r d t o t h e o t h e r s o f L i n d a a n d Princess Anne . “ L i n d a ’ s a w a r d h a s g i v e n j o y t o e v e r y - one who knows her , but also friends of f r i e n d s o f f r i e n d s , t o o ! E v e r y o n e i s s o e x c i t e d a n d s o p r o u d . E v e r y o n e e l s e c a n see how deserving Linda is, but for her i t ’ s t o t a l l y p u z z l i n g a s t o w h y s h e w o u l d b e n o m i n a t e d f o r d o i n g s o m e t h i n g s h e ’ s always just done.” C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s L i n d a – a n d m a n y prayers for your continued ministry! O U R  d i o c e s e h a d p l a n n e d t o h o l d a special Mass celebrated by Bishop R o b e r t i n S t M a r y ’ s C a t h e d r a l o n S a t u r d a y , M a y 1 6 , t o g i v e t h a n k s f o r marriage and family life. Its theme was to be Love in the fam- ily – a reference to Pope Francis’ Ex- h o r t a t i o n , A m o r i s L æ t i t i a , T h e J o y o f Love. W e w e w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y k e e n t o h e a r f r o m m a r r i e d c o u p l e s c e l e b r a t i n g a n a n n i v e r s a r y i n 2 0 2 0 – f r o m o n e y e a r t o 7 0 y e a r s a n d b e y o n d . W e h a d a s k e d t h a t t h e y , o r t h e i r f a m i l i e s , e m a i l me at rob.wareing@diocesehn.org.uk o r p h o n e o r t e x t m e o n 0 7 8 4 1 5 3 0 9 9 1 , so that a certificate of appreciation of their married life could be made avail- a b l e a t t h e e n t r a n c e o f t h e c a t h e d r a l before Mass. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it i s l i k e l y t h a t t h i s M a s s w i l l b e c a n - celled, sadly . B u t i f y o u w o u l d h a v e l i k e d t o a t t e n d , I would encourage you to contact me in one of the ways listed above. Future Focus – the North T yneside SEND Careers Fair – which was to have been held on W ednesday , April 29, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrating marriage and love in the family by Deacon Rob W areing O u r d i o c e s e , i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h M a r r i a g e C a r e , i s a l s o v e r y k e e n t o r e - c r u i t m o r e m a r r i e d c o u p l e s – e i t h e r n e w l y m a r r i e d o r t h o s e w h o h a v e been married for some years – to be- come volunteer facilitators to provide o u r v i t a l , i n t e r e s t i n g a n d i n t e r a c t i v e marriage preparation days. I f y o u w o u l d b e i n t e r e s t e d i n d o i n g t h i s , p l e a s e g e t i n t o u c h w i t h m e f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n – a n d t o f i n d o u t what would be inv olved. q Deacon Rob W areing. by Mary Palmer q Linda and her husband Dick proudly hold her MBE. Linda’s dedication is re w arded wit h an MBE TONY ATKINSON CHURCH SOUND Free Advice - Help - Leaflets - Quotes CONTACT US NOW For Sound System Service and Upgrades Radio Mic re-tunes – Loop Systems Free AdviCe - Free Q UOTATiONS Established 1983 riNG US NOW! MOBiLe: 07831 275511 : OFFiCe: 01325 374790 or e-mail: ta.pasound@gmail.com TONY ATK iNSON ASSOCi ATe S LTd. LIMEKILN HOUSE, NR. PIERCEBRIDGE, DARLINGTON, COUNTY DURHAM DL2 3UJ Celebration of Marriage L o v e i n t h e F a m i l y St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle Saturday 16 May 20 20 11.00am Everyone is welcome P r i n c i p a l C e l e b r a n t : B i s h o p R o b e r t B y r n e C O This event may be postponed due to the COVID - 19 pandemic. Please check rcdhn.org.uk for updates

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1 1 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk T H E C a m i n o d e S a n t i a g o l o o k e d t o be a gr eat adventur e and a challenge for celebrities on a r ecent TV series. It certainly was for me this Lent. M y j o u r n e y b e g a n a t a n i n f o r m a t i o n evening at St Cuthbert’ s Church, North S h i e l d s , w h i c h w a s l e d b y K e v i n a n d Heather of Explore4All. I signed up on the spot, hoping to re- t u r n h o m e a t p e a c e , h a v i n g c o m p l e t e d a physi c a l l y c ha l l e ngi ng a nd spi ri t ua l l y u p l i f t i n g e x p e r i e n c e – a n d p e r h a p s s t r o n g e r a n d l e s s u n c e r t a i n a b o u t t h e f u - ture. M y t r a i n i n g w a l k s b e g a n i n D e c e m b e r and lasted for 12 weeks, often for three t o f o u r h o u r s w a l k i n g i n h e a v y r a i n , h a i l showers and strong winds. I had never done this type of activity before. I am a reasonably fit and healthy 67- y e a r - o l d m a n w i t h n o m a j o r h e a l t h i s - s u e s , b u t I f o u n d t h e C a m i n o ’ s u p h i l l w a l k s c h a l l e n g i n g . I d i d n ’ t e x p e c t t h e m to be easy and they certainly weren’ t! O u r g r o u p o f 1 4 p i l g r i m s l e f t N e w c a s - tle for Spain on March 1. W e were very fortunate that Fr Michael Hickey came a l o n g w i t h u s t o p r o v i d e d a i l y p r a y e r , evening Mass and spiritual guidance – a s w e l l a s g o o d c o m p a n i o n s h i p a n d friendship. A f t e r t h r e e f l i g h t s a n d a c o a c h t r i p from Coruna, we arrived at our hotel in Ferrol. The next da y we were given a warm w e l c o m e b y t h e l o c a l m a y o r a t t h e q u a y s i d e n e a r t h e C a m i n o s t o n e s t a r t i n g point. Fortunately Kevin, a very good Span- ish speaker , translated for us, as did our Spanish guide, Cristina, who regularly met with us along the way . T h e f i r s t o f m a n y g r o u p p h o t o s w a s taken by local of ficials. W e a l s o m e t C r i s t o b a l , a j o u r n a l i s t f r i e n d o f K e v i n ’ s , w h o w r o t e r e g u l a r u p d a t e s a b o u t o u r p r o g r e s s f o r h i s newspaper column. Our journey was significant to us and the welcoming Spanish dignitaries. W e w e r e a w a r e t h a t w e – a s a n o r g a n i s e d group – were the first English pilgrims t o w a l k t h e C a m i n o f r o m D u r h a m ( F i n - c h a l e P r i o r y ) s i n c e t h e t i m e o f H e n r y VIII. W e wa l ked t he 131km – or 81.4 m i l es – f r o m F e r r o l t o S a n t i a g o d e C o m - postela over six days, averaging almost 22km daily through rain, some hail and war m and sunny spells. I enjoyed the tasty , hearty fresh food a l o n g t h e w a y – b r e a d , c h e e s e , t o m a - t o e s , t w o t y p e s o f t o r t i l l a , p r a w n s a n d m a c k e r e l . O n e o f o u r p i l g r i m s a t e o c t o - pus and razor clams. S o m e o f t h e s o u p s a n d m e a l s s e r v e d i n t h e h o t e l s a n d t h e l o c a l c a f é s w e r e d e l i c i o u s – a s w e r e t h e p a s t r i e s a n d cakes. T h e S p a n i s h p e o p l e w e m e t o n t h e r o u t e w e r e w e l c o m i n g , r e s p o n d i n g t o our “Hola!” with “Buen Cam ino” or a smile and a wave. W e followed hand-painted yellow ar - r o w s a n d s a w a v a r i e t y o f H o r r e o s – s m a l l w i n d o w l e s s b a r n s t h a t s t o r e c o r n , r a i s e d o f f t h e f l o o r t o p r o t e c t t h e c o b s from damp and mice. A s a n a r t i s t I e n j o y e d s e e i n g t h e a n - cient, traditional and contemporary art- works on the journey . I u s e g e o m e t r i c f o r m s a n d p r i m a r y colours in my own art practice and was struck by the use of similar designs and c o l o u r s – s u c h a s t h e s t r i k i n g m o d e r n s h e l l d e s i g n o f t h e b l u e a n d y e l l o w Camino tile on stone roadside markers, walls, telephone posts and paths. Cristobal met us on the medieval trail a n d g a v e a k n o w l e d g e a b l e a n d p a s s i o n - ate talk on the importance of the path- w a y s t o S p a n i s h h i s t o r y , t r a d i t i o n a n d culture. It was inspiring to know we followed in the foo ts tep s of medieval and mo d - ern pilgrims, trudgi ng on each pathway with forests and fields on both sides. T H I S b e a u t i f u l c r u c i f i x s t o o d i n s i d e t h e c h u r c h o f S t J o h n t h e B a p t i s t , A n n i t s f o r d , f r o m the 1900s to the 1980s, when it w a s r e p o s i t i o n e d i n t h e p o r c h b y F r A u s t i n T o m a n e y , w r i t e s Monica Mills. Thanks to Fr Richard Harriott, it has now been resited once again – this time to the cemetery where i t i s o n v i e w t o a l l e n t e r i n g t h e c h u r c h a n d a c t s a s a w o n d e r f u l s i g n o f w i t n e s s t o p a s s i n g m o - torists and those on buses. The crucifix was made and do- n a t e d b y p a r i s h i o n e r J o s e p h S i m - m o n s , w h o s e w i f e , A b i g a i l , t a u g h t in the village school. There were four Simmons chil- d r e n – J a c k , w h o w a s h e a d t e a c h e r a t O u r L a d y a n d S t E d - m u n d s c h o o l , B a c k w o r t h ; T h o m a s , w h o w a s k i l l e d i n a W orld W ar T wo bomber raid; Bill, who served on the altar for many years and Molly , who s ang in the choir . T h a n k s t o l i f e l o n g p a r i s h i o n e r Austin T odd, 86, for providing the parish history . A L A N N i x o n , a p a r i s h i o n e r o f S t J o h n t h e B a p t i s t , A n n i t s f o r d , u s e d h i s a r t i s t i c t a l e n t r e c e n t l y t o p a i n t p a r i s h p r i e s t F r R i c h a r d H a r r i o t t , w r i t e s M o n i c a M i l l s . For Alan – who served in the RAF p o l i c e f o r 2 2 y e a r s – p a i n t i n g i s a hobby , often done in the evening. H e a n d h i s w i f e , K a t h , h a v e t w o s o n s .  T h e i r m u c h - l o v e d d i s a b l e d daughter died last year . T h e c o u p l e a l s o c a r e f o r t h e i r d i s - abled foster children and run a char- ity for disabled children. q Fr Michael Hickey and the pilgrims. Hugging a saint, firm faith and friendship: the diar y of a fir s t-time Camino pilgrim I r e f l e c t e d o n w h a t l i f e m u s t h a v e been like for medieval pilgrims facing h a r d s h i p s a n d d a n g e r s i n c l u d i n g f o o d a n d w a t e r s h o r t a g e s a s w e l l a s d a n g e r from thieves and bandits. M o d e r n p i l g r i m s f a c e f e w e r t r i a l s . I experienced physical problems includ- i n g l o w e r b a c k p a i n , b l i s t e r s , s o r e n e s s from a corn, and a swollen ankle. I h a d a r e a l s e n s e o f r e l i e f a n d a c h i e v e m e n t w h e n w e r e a c h e d S a n t i a g o on Saturday , March 7. M y b a c k a n d l e f t f o o t h u r t , b u t m y spirits were high. T h e c a t h e d r a l i s a m a g n i f i c e n t R o - m a n e s q u e s t r u c t u r e w h i c h i s u n d e r g o - i n g m a j o r r e f u r b i s h m e n t a n d w a s covered in scaf folding and sheets. W e entered through a side door and I g l i m p s e d o n e o f t h e a w e s o m e t w i s t e d golden columns of the nave, then lined u p b e h i n d p i l g r i m s t o f o l l o w t h e c u s t o m of ‘hugging’ a saint. I w a l k e d u p s t o n e s t e p s t o a s m a l l opening then went into a room that sits b e h i n d t h e h e a d a n d s h o u l d e r s o f t h e giant figure of St James. I p a u s e d f o r a s h o r t t i m e , s a i d a p r a y e r and ‘hugged’ the saint. T h e c a t h e d r a l h a s a h o l y d o o r w h i c h p i l g r i m s c a n o n l y e n t e r d u r i n g a h o l y y e a r , l i k e 2 0 2 1 , w h e n t h e F e a s t o f S t James – July 25 – falls on a Sunday . I c a n i m a g i n e h o w s p e c t a c u l a r n e x t year will be! T h e g i a n t s w i n g i n g i n c e n s e h o l d e r will be a sight to behold. W e s h a r e d p r a y e r , M a s s , f e l l o w s h i p , f r i e n d s h i p a n d l a u g h t e r a n d I f e l t a c - cepted. I made a lot of new friends, returning home joyful and peaceful with my trust and faith in God much stronger . I w i l l a l s o t r e a s u r e t h e m e m e n t o s o f the walk to Santiago de Compostela – a stamped Catedral de Santiago passport a n d o f f i c i a l c e r t i f i c a t e . T h e c e r t i f i c a t e i s i n L a t i n a n d r e f e r s t o m e a s D o u g l a s i u m Lamb. l Douglas Lamb is a parishioner at St T er esa’ s, Heaton, Newcastle. by Douglas Lamb Another new home for church’ s cruxifix Here’ s looking at you, Fr Richard

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12 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk THE jubilee laws pr efigur e many of t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f C a t h o l i c S o c i a l T e a c h i n g , i n c l u d i n g h u m a n d i g n i t y , c a r e f o r t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , u n i v e r s a l destination of cr eated goods and the o p t i o n f o r t h e p o o r . T h e y m a k e i t v e r y c l e a r t h a t w h e n G o d d e s i g n s a s o c i e t y , i t d o e s n ’ t l o o k a n y t h i n g l i k e ours! Recall of debts E v e r y s e v e n t h y e a r – a n d i n t h e j u - bilee year – all debts were to be remit - t e d ( D e u t . 1 5 : 1 - 6 , 7 - 1 1 ) . T h e r e a s o n g i v e n w a s s o t h a t “ t h e r e w i l l b e n o p o o r among you” (Deut. 15:4). I n b i b l i c a l t i m e s , d e b t b o n d a g e w a s common because when people fell into p o v e r t y , t h e o n l y w a y o f g e t t i n g b a c k o n t h e i r f e e t w a s o f t e n t o s e l l t h e m s e l v e s into slavery . T h i s w a s t o l a s t s e v e n y e a r s ( E x . 2 1 : 2 - 6). The poor could also become hired or b o u n d l a b o u r e r s , t o b e f r e e d i n t h e j u - bilee year (Lev . 25 :39). B u t G o d m a k e s i t v e r y p l a i n t h a t h e d o e s n o t w i l l e i t h e r s l a v e r y o r o t h e r forms of bondage because of debt. G o d a l s o t e l l s h i s p e o p l e t h a t t h e y should not view the needy and those in debt with hostility (Deut. 15:9). He re- p e a t e d l y r e m i n d s u s t h a t w e s h o u l d g i v e to those in need out of the bounty that h e h a s g i v e n t o u s : “ I t h e r e f o r e c o m - mand you, open your hand to the poor a n d n e e d y n e i g h b o u r i n y o u r l a n d ” (Deut. 15:1 1). R e s t o r a t i o n o f l a n d , h o u s e s a n d p r o p - erty T h e j u b i l e e r e g u l a t i o n s a l s o l i m i t e d the sale of land and ensured its contin- u i n g f a i r d i s t r i b u t i o n a m o n g a l l t h e f a m - ilies of Israel (Lev . 25:13, 25-38). Land was not to be owned in perpetu- ity . G o d r e m i n d e d h i s p e o p l e t h a t i n h i s e y e s , a l l o f u s a r e a l i e n s a n d t e n a n t s ( L e v . 2 5 : 2 3 ) ; t h e L o r d i s t h e t r u e landowner . T h e j u b i l e e l a w s a l s o p r o v i d e d t h a t e v e r y 5 0 y e a r s l a n d a n d h o u s e s t h a t h a d b e e n l o s t b y t h e i r o r i g i n a l o w n e r s through poverty or debt were to be re- stored to them or their descendants. T h e s e l a w s e n s u r e d t h a t s u c c e e d i n g generations did not suf fer forever from t h e m i s f o r t u n e s o f t h e i r p a r e n t s o r grandparents. They were also designed t o m i n i m i s e t h e i m p a c t o f d e b t bondage. The spirit of the jubilee W h y s h o u l d t h e j u b i l e e a n d i t s l a w s matter to us today? C o n t r a s t i n g i t s r u l e s w i t h t o d a y ’ s l i f e s t y l e s i s q u i t e s o b e r i n g , b u t t h e r e a r e a n i m m e n s e n u m b e r o f t h i n g s w e c a n do to live by its spirit. A t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f h i s p u b l i c l i f e ( L u k e 4 : 1 8 - 2 1 ) , J e s u s t o l d t h e p e o p l e i n his local synagogue that Isaiah’ s words ( 6 1 : 1 - 2 ) a b o u t t h e “ y e a r o f t h e L o r d ’ s f a v o u r ” w e r e b e i n g f u l f i l l e d i n t h e i r presence. W h a t J e s u s m e a n t i s t h a t f r o m t h e n o n , e v e r y d a y w a s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d i n jubilee terms. F o l l o w e r s o f J e s u s a r e c a l l e d o n t o “ b r i n g g o o d n e w s t o t h e p o o r , … p r o - claim release of captives,…recovery of s i g h t t o t h e b l i n d , a n d … l e t t h e o p - p r e s s e d g o f r e e ” – t o c o m b a t e v i l a n d w o r k f o r t h e c o m m o n g o o d i n e v e r y way they can. Or: “Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation” as St Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2. Fr Chris Hughes notes that when t he f o u r m a j o r t h e m e s o f t h e j u b i l e e a r e t a k e n a s a w h o l e , t h e i r m e a n i n g b e - comes obvious. They were intended to c h a l l e n g e u n j u s t s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s a n d periodically level the playing field. T o d a y , s a d l y , w e l a c k a n y f o r m a l mechanisms to tackle huge inequalities among citizens or nations. The gr eat debt disaster The global debt crisis reminds us we n e e d t o a c h i e v e a m o r e l e v e l p l a y i n g f i e l d a s w h o l e c o u n t r i e s a r e c a u g h t u p in a vicious cycle of unpayable debt. T r a g i c a l l y , t h e a m o u n t s t h a t p o o r e r c o u n t r i e s m u s t p u t a s i d e f o r d e b t r e p a y - ment exceeds what is allocated for ed- u c a t i o n , h o u s i n g a n d s o c i a l s e r v i c e s . They never escape poverty . A s M i c h a e l N o r t h c o t t s t a t e s i n h i s book Life After Debt: “The human and e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o s t s o f t h e g r e a t d e b t d i s a s t e r h a v e b e e n i n c a l c u l a b l e … T h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s C h i l d r e n ’ s F u n d e s t i - m a t e s t h a t i n o n e y e a r h a l f a m i l l i o n children died because of the burden of d e b t i n t e r e s t a n d r e p a y m e n t . . . t e n s o f m i l l i o n s d i e d f r o m p r e v e n t a b l e d i s - e a s e s , m a l n u t r i t i o n o r d r i n k i n g c o n t a m - inated water .” The theories of the British economist J o h n M a y n a r d K e y n e s a r e a t t h e h e a r t of this unacceptable situation. K e y n e s a r g u e d t h a t p u b l i c d e b t w a s g o o d f o r t h e e c o n o m y a n d s o c i e t y . L a s t m o n t h ’ s a r t i c l e o n G o d ’ s ‘ y e a r o f f a v o u r ’ – t h e j u b i l e e – d e s c r i b e d t h e r e l e a s e o f s l a v e s a n d r e s t f o r t h e l a n d . H e r e C a t h y M a r s h a l l c o n s i d e r s t h e c a n c e l l a t i o n o f d e b t s a n d r e s t o r a t i o n o f l a n d , h o u s e s a n d p r o p e r t y q Children in the Muthari V alley , Nairobi hungrily await lunch – the money poorer countries put aside for debt repayment exceeds what is allocated for social services and disaster relief. Photo: Ray Buchanan The Spirit of Jubilee – what can w e do? N o r t h c o t t c a l l s t h i s t h e o r y d e e p l y flawed. T oday many countries have crippling d e b t s w h i c h w e r e i n c u r r e d t h r o u g h c o l o n i a l e x p l o i t a t i o n , s e l f i s h a c t s b y dictators, embezzlement of loan money i n t e n d e d f o r d e v e l o p m e n t , o r a c t i o n s carried out by private companies with- o u t t h e k n o w l e d g e o r c o n s e n t o f t h e people. I n 1 9 2 3 t h e c o n c e p t o f ‘ o d i o u s d e b t ’ was first broached. T h i s l e g a l t h e o r y h o l d s t h a t n a t i o n a l d e b t s i n c u r r e d b y d e s p o t i c g o v e r n m e n t s s h o u l d n o t b e a c c e p t e d a s v a l i d . I n s t e a d , t h e i n d e b t e d n e s s s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d a p e r s o n a l o n e b y t h e d e s p o t i n q u e s t i o n – a p o s i t i o n a n a l o g o u s t o c o n t r a c t s signed under coercion. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , d e s p i t e a l o n g h i s t o r y and widespread support, this concept is not recognised in international law . Most developed nations have mecha- n i s m s w h e r e b y i n d i v i d u a l s c a n h a v e d e b t s c a n c e l l e d b y d e c l a r i n g b a n k - r u p t c y . H o w e v e r , a s i m i l a r l i f e l i n e h a s n o t b e e n e x t e n d e d t o t h e p o o r e s t n a - tions. This is particularly troubling because m a n y E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e United Kingdom, were only able to re- c o v e r a n d r e c o n s t r u c t t h e i r s o c i e t i e s after W orld W ar II because hundreds of m i l l i o n s o f p o u n d s o f u n p a y a b l e d e b t w e r e c a n c e l l e d b y N o r t h A m e r i c a n bankers. W e now have obscene situation s such as billionaire Donald T rump’ s claiming b a n k r u p t c y s i x t i m e s o n s o m e o f h i s b u s i n e s s v e n t u r e s a n d h a v i n g t h o s e d e b t s w r i t t e n o f f , w h i l e t h e p o o r e s t o f the poor are held accountable for every penny . T o make matters worse, as Carlos H. Abesamis points out in A Primer of the B i b l i c a l J u b i l e e , t h e i n t e r e s t r a t e s o n b o r r o w e d f u n d s a r e s o h i g h t h a t t h e a m o u n t s p o o r e r n a t i o n s h a v e r e p a i d a d d u p t o m a n y t i m e s m o r e t h a n t h e o r i g i n a l c a p i t a l – w i t h n o e n d o f t h e i r d e b t i n sight. In richer nations many people are liv- i n g c l o s e t o p o v e r t y a n d d e p e n d o n p a y - day loan companies like W onga, which char ge exceedingly high rates of inter - est. W o n g a h a s g o n e i n t o a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , b u t n u m e r o u s o t h e r s i m i l a r c o m p a n i e s still exist. Jubilee 2000 and beyond The Catholic Church also celebrates a j u b i l e e e v e r y 2 5 y e a r s , a l t h o u g h t h i s often has a spiritual focus. T h e C h u r c h ’ s G r e a t J u b i l e e o f 2 0 0 0 was the main inspiration for an interna- t i o n a l c o a l i t i o n o f m o r e t h a n 4 0 c o u n - tries. T h e a i m o f t h i s m o v e m e n t w a s t h e c a n c e l l a t i o n o f a l l t h i r d w o r l d d e b t . I t d i d n o t m e e t i t s g o a l , b u t d i d h a v e a n i m p a c t o n p o v e r t y a n d e c o n o m i c p o l i c y . S u s t a i n e d s u p p o r t f r o m C h r i s t i a n s a n d o t h e r s l e d t o t h e c a n c e l l a t i o n o f m o r e t h a n $ 1 0 0 b i l l i o n o f d e b t i n 3 5 o f t h e world’ s poorest countries. Its success was helped by the actions o f n u m e r o u s w e l l - k n o w n m u s i c i a n s a n d e n t e r t a i n e r s i n c l u d i n g U 2 , Q u i n c y J o n e s a n d B o b G e l d o r f , w h o g a v e c o n c e r t s a n d p u b l i c i s e d t h e m o v e m e n t w o r l d - wide. S o m e o f f s h o o t s a r e s t i l l i n e x i s t e n c e around the world. These include The Jubilee Debt Cam- p a i g n – j u b i l e e d e b t . o r g . u k , M a k e Poverty History and Christians Against P o v e r t y , a l l o f w h i c h a r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h the cancellation of debt. T h e l a t t e r o f f e r s d e b t c o u n s e l l i n g through local churches – find out more at capuk.or g. I t i s n o t t o o e a r l y t o s t a r t p l a n n i n g a similar movement for the next ordinary Church jubilee in 2025. Christians and others can get in touch with the or ganisations listed right now to help with grassroots planning. Other examples of what we can do to l i v e t h e s p i r i t o f t h e j u b i l e e , i n a n a t - t e m p t t o a c h i e v e a m o r e l e v e l p l a y i n g field, include the following: l Campaign for justice and equality; l Raise awareness of social problems; l Develop increased vigilance; l Support existing programmes; l Be willing to act when we see some- thing that needs righting; l E n c o u r a g e o u r g o v e r n m e n t s t o s u p - port the option for the poor . An interesting question arises: W ould we view our own debts dif ferently if, in p r a y i n g t h e O u r F a t h e r , w e u s e d t h e v e r - s i o n i n M a t t h e w 6 : 9 : “ F o r g i v e u s o u r debts as we for give our debtors?” l F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n C a t h o l i c Social T eaching, please contact Louise H a r r i s o n a t m a r y a l i c e l o u i s e @ o u t l o o k . com. q Thousands of Catholics joined protests organised by the Make Poverty History movement in its 2005 launch year .

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13 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk F A I T H t o o k c e n t r e s t a g e a s 8 3 youngsters aged between nine and 16 took part in the four-day S c h o o l o f E v a n g e l i s a t i o n r e - treat held at Emmaus Y outh V il- l a g e , C o n s e t t , d u r i n g F e b r u a r y half-term. T h e r e t r e a t – w h i c h w a s o r g a n - i s e d b y A n o i n t i n g F i r e C a t h o l i c M i n i s t r i e s , N e w c a s t l e – w e l c o m e d children from our diocese as well a s t h o s e f r o m B i r m i n g h a m , H u l l , Manchester , Middlesbrough, Dar- l i n g t o n , N o r t h a l l e r t o n , E a s t Y o r k - shire and Chesterfield. A n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s s a i d they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit during the retreat and gave testimony to this. D u r i n g t h e r e t r e a t p a r t i c i p a n t s f o - c u s s e d o n p r a y e r l i f e , p u r i t y , t h e import ance of sacrament s, how t o f o l l o w C h r i s t , t h e s a c r a m e n t o f r e c o n c i l i a t i o n a n d s o c i a l m e d i a management. A l l r e t r e a t a n t s w e r e g i v e n g u i d - a n c e o n h o w t o m a k e d e t a i l e d c o n f e s s i o n a n d p r e p a r e t h e m - s e l v e s f o r h o w t o o v e r c o m e s i n f u l - ness and lead holier lives. D a i l y a d o r a t i o n a l s o f o r m e d p a r t o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e , w h i c h h e l p e d m a n y c h i l d r e n t o g e t c l o s e r t o G o d . P r i e s t s f r o m o u r d i o c e s e c e l e - b r a t e d M a s s e s f o r t h e c h i l d r e n and the organisers. C e l e b r a t i n g t h e o p e n i n g d a y H o l y M a s s F r S a j i T h o t t a t h i l a s k e d t h e c h i l d r e n t o b e a b e a c o n o f l i g h t as the visible sign of Christ in our communities. F r C h r i s H u g h e s c e l e b r a t e d t h e Mass on the second day , encour- a g i n g r e t r e a t a n t s t o f o l l o w C h r i s t a n d p r a i s i n g t h e o r g a n i s e r s f o r this initiative. O n t h e p e n u l t i m a t e d a y , F r A l e x a n d e r L i g o r i c e l e b r a t e d t h e H o l y M a s s , d u r i n g w h i c h h e shared stories of hope and stead- f a s t l o v e i n C h r i s t , w h i l e F r M i c h a e l H i c k e y ’ s S u n d a y M a s s a s k e d t h e c h i l d r e n t o r e m a i n grounded in Jesus. F r J o h n U l a g a n a t h a n , F r L i g o r i and Fr Hughes made themselves a v a i l a b l e t o l i s t e n t o c o n f e s s i o n and were moved by the prepared- ness of the children. D u r i n g t h e f o u r d a y s a t e a m o f 13 y oung s peak ers s har ed s t ories o f h o w G o d c a n w o r k i f w e w e l - come him into our hearts. T h e t e e n a g e g r o u p w a s l e d b y A m y S a l e s a n d t h e y o u n g e r g r o u p was led by Silbi Kuriakose. Ethan Binu from English Martyrs C h u r c h , N e w c a s t l e , w a s d e e p l y t o u c h e d b y t h e H o l y S p i r i t a n d shared that joy in a testimony dur- i n g F r S h a u n O ’ N e i l l ’ s f a r e w e l l Mass the day after the retreat. A special adoration for the inten- tions of the retreat was organised b y A F C M N e w c a s t l e . P a r e n t s o f retreatants took turns to pray be- fore the blessed sacrament at the chapel in the Y outh V illage for 12 hours each on the first three days a n d t w o h o u r s o n t h e f i n a l d a y . T h e y a l s o a t t e n d e d a o n e - h o u r r e - t r e a t o n h o w t o h e l p t h e c h i l d r e n c o n t i n u e d a i l y p r a y e r t o g e t h e r a t home. As a follow up, the children have b e e n d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e S k y p e p r a y e r g r o u p s a n d w i l l p r a y t o - gether on Sundays. L A S T y e a r I m e t F r M a r t i n W a m b e o , a U g a n d a n p r i e s t w h o s e p a r i s h w a s i n K y e r e , a couple of hours drive fr om Kumi in eastern Uganda. H e w a s s t a n d i n g i n f o r F r T o n y C o r n f o r t h a t S t M a r y ’ s R C C h u r c h i n N e w t o n A y c l i f f e a n d h e almost fell backwards when I greeted him with “ Y o g a N o i ” w h i c h i s “ G r e e t i n g s ” i n t h e A t e s o language. W e h a v e s i n c e f o r m e d a s t r o n g l i n k a n d , a l - t h o u g h h e h a s b e e n m o v e d t o a n e w p a r i s h i n Amuria, which is quite far north, we have man- Y o u t h V i l l a g e w e l c o m e s S c h o o l o f E v a n g e l i s a t i o n r e t r e a t q Silbi Kuriakose talks to one of the groups. by Alison Rebello q A mother carries her child to the clinic, above, while many – like the boy , left – travelled miles to receive help and waited patiently until they were seen. Northern Cross readers have generously supported the Kumi Community Foundation, Uganda, set up by medic Elspeth Robinson, from Darlington. In late March, Elspeth returned from Africa and here reports on her work as well as of fers thanks for your message s of goodwill and donations K umi’s great w ork continues aged to hold outreach clinics for his people on two occasions. L a s t y e a r , w e m a n a g e d t o s c r e e n a b o u t 3 0 0 p e o p l e f o r d i s a b i l i t y , e y e a n d d e n t a l p r o b l e m s in one day . T h i s y e a r , o n F e b r u a r y 2 0 , w e r e t u r n e d t o h e l p those with eye problems and disabilities. O n a r r i v a l w e s a t d o w n f o r b r e a k f a s t i n F r M a r t i n ’ s n e w h o u s e t h e n s t a r t e d t h e c l i n i c s i n his chur ch. E v e r y o n e w h o q u e u e d u p – f r o m m o t h e r s w i t h t h e i r c h i l d r e n t o t h e e l d e r l y w i t h t h e i r a g i n g bodies – was assessed. A n e i g h t - y e a r - o l d b o y c a l l e d S h a d r a k , w h o was born with osteogenesis imperfecta – brittle bones – had been given a wheelchair from the Wheels for the W orld team. He looked glum but, on seeing a balloon, he soon interacted with other children, and before t o o l o n g w a s p u s h i n g h i s w h e e l c h a i r w i t h h i s arms. W h e e l s f o r t h e W o r l d h a d d i s t r i b u t e d m o r e t h a n 1 4 0 w h e e l c h a i r s i n K u m i H o s p i t a l t w o weeks earlier . I n t o t a l w e s a w 2 4 7 p e o p l e a n d a l l w e r e h e l p e d in some way . P e o p l e w e r e c a r r i e d i n h a v i n g t r a v e l l e d f o r many hours on the back of trucks. Many arrived by motorcycle taxi while moth- e r s w i t h o u t t r a n s p o r t c a r r i e d t h e i r c h i l d r e n o n their backs. B y t h e e n d o f t h e d a y w e w i t n e s s e d v e r y m a n y w i t h s m i l i n g f a c e s w h e e l i n g t h e m s e l v e s o u t w h i l e o t h e r s w a l k e d o u t w i t h t h e i r n e w l y - a c - quired crutches or sticks. Mothers no longer had to carry their children a n d w e w a t c h e d s o m e r e t u r n h o m e w i t h t h e w h e e l c h a i r s t r a p p e d t o t h e b a c k o f t h e m o t o r - b i k e a n d m o t h e r a n d c h i l d s i t t i n g b e t w e e n t h e chair and the driver . C h r i s t i n e , a g i r l w i t h s p i n a b i f i d a , a n d a 2 0 - y e a r - o l d y o u n g m a n c a l l e d W i l s o n w h o h a d f a l l e n f r o m a m a n g o t r e e a n d w a s p a r a l y s e d f r o m t h e w a i s t d o w n , w e r e a d m i t t e d t o t h e w a r d with severe pressure sores. Their hospital bills w o u l d b e s e t t l e d b y t h e W h e e l s f o r t h e W o r l d team and the Kumi Community Foundation. Once the team had left the Kumi team contin- ued with our fieldwork, during which time we were joined by Dutch and German medical stu- dents who are based in Kumi Hospital for their internship. Babies with malnutrition needed hospital ad- m i s s i o n f o r t r e a t m e n t , a m p u t e e s w o u l d b e g i v e n artificial legs, paraplegics would benefit from a t r i c y c l e a n d b r a i n d a m a g e d c h i l d r e n c o u l d a t - tend rehabilitation in Kumi Hospital with spe- cial seating made in the orthopaedic workshop. P a r e n t s l i v i n g i n e x t r e m e p o v e r t y c o u l d r e s t a s s u r e d t h a t t h e i r c h i l d r e n i n n e e d o f o r - thopaedic sur gery would not have hosp ital bills to settle. The KCF would cover the costs for all these families who show great gratitude for our support. W e v i s i t e d s c h o o l s w h e r e w e h a v e c h i l d r e n r e - c e i v i n g e d u c a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h r e e b l i n d c h i l - d r e n – B e t t y , G r a c e a n d L a z a r u s ; A g n e s w h o suf fers from arthrogryposis and also received a w h e e l c h a i r ; F a i t h , w h o w a s b o r n w i t h b r i t t l e b o n e s a n d f r a c t u r e d h e r a r m s a n d l e g s d u r i n g b i r t h , a n d M o s e s , w h o h a s a s y n d r o m e w h i c h has stunted his growth and who is incontinent, an issue which he manages by using a sur gical glove instead of a catheter . F u n d r a i s i n g c o n t i n u e s .  W e h o p e t o r a i s e e n o u g h f u n d s t o r e d u c e t h e w a i t i n g l i s t s f o r a m - p u t e e s a n d p o s t - p o l i o p a r a p l e g i c s , t o f u n d o r - thopaedic and plastic sur geries for children and generally to help others to help themselves. COVID-19 has reached Uganda, a fact which has caused the hospital extreme concern – as it has to all others, I’m sure – due to the complete lack of facilities to control infection. I have asked our team to buy soap to be dis- tributed to the patients but this may not be pos- sible because all markets have been closed, as have the schools. T h e h o s p i t a l h a s r e q u e s t e d i n f r a r e d t h e r m o m e - t e r s , b u t t h e y a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e i n U g a n d a a n d D H L i s n o t d e l i v e r i n g d u e t o a n a b s e n c e o f flights. P l e a s e p r a y f o r t h e m , a n d f o r a l l t h o s e throughout the world who have no appropriate m e d i c a l f a c i l i t i e s s u c h a s o u r N H S , w h i c h g i v e s us such a wonderful service. l For mor e information please visit:Facebook @ k u m i c o m m u n i t y f o u n d a t i o n u g a n d a ; thr oughther oof.or g/international-mission/ w h e e l s - f o r - t h e - w o r l d o r k u m i c o m m u n i t y f o u n d a t i o n . co.uk. If you would like to make a donation to our fundraising efforts please contact me at kumicomfound@yahoo.co.uk, or call the Northern Cr oss office and leave a contact number . W e ar e r egister ed with the Charity Commission and can claim 25 per cent Gift Aid fr om tax-paying donors. q A g o o d - humoured plea from Ugandan priest Fr Martin, above. Y oung patient Shadrack in his new wheelchair , right.

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14 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS 15 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk A H O M E g a m e f o r S u n d e r l a n d A F C m e a n s m a n y s u p p o r t e r s w a l k d i r e c t l y p a s t S t M a r y ’ s fr om the city centr e to the Stadium of Light. How many of these people have walked past a t e v e r y h o m e g a m e , b u t n e v e r s t e p p e d f o o t in the chur ch? MatchFever was a great opportunity for us to s h a r e o u r f a i t h , i n a s i m p l e b u t a c t i v e w a y b y inviting them to do so. Just like NightFever , ReachOut or other sim- i l a r e v e n t s , t h e i d e a b e h i n d M a t c h F e v e r w a s simple. Although the church is always open and wel- c o m e s a n y o n e , a t M a t c h F e v e r w e m a d e a n e x t r a e f f o r t t o r e a c h o u t a n d i n v i t e p a s s e r s b y i n t o c h u r c h t o l i g h t a c a n d l e f o r t h e i r o w n i n t e n t i o n s b e f o r e t h e B l e s s e d S a c r a m e n t , a n d s t a y f o r a moment of peace if they wished. A team of around 20 volunteers was made up of Sunderland University students, members of th e Y o u th M in is tr y T eam an d h elp er s f r o m all over our diocese, including Whitley Bay in the north and Hartlepool in the south. V olunteers gathered for Mass with St Mary’ s p a r i s h b e f o r e s h a r i n g l u n c h a n d a t e a m b r i e f i n g . B e t w e e n 1 2 p m a n d 3 p m , w h e n t h e S u n d e r - l a n d m a t c h s t a r t e d , p a i r s o f v o l u n t e e r s w a i t e d outside the church and in the city centre, of fer - ing people a tea light, prayer card and a warm welcome to light the candle in church for their own intention. S o m e p e o p l e w e r e a b i t w a r y , p r e s u m i n g i t w a s a s a l e s p i t c h o r c o l l e c t i o n , a n d d i d a d o u b l e take when they realised there was no catch – it was just a simple welcome. S o m e p e o p l e c a m e i n t o c h u r c h f o r t h e f i r s t time or after a long time away . Some didn’ t hesitate and had an intention on their hearts – a loved one or specific situation – w h i l e o t h e r s t o o k t h e c a n d l e a n d p r a y e r c a r d home to light there. P e o p l e w h o c a m e i n w e r e w e l c o m e d i n t o a w a r m c h u r c h w i t h t h e B l e s s e d S a c r a m e n t e x - posed on the altar and a growing collection of candles at the foot of the altar . R e b e c c a L e i g h t o n a n d M i c h a e l T h o m p s o n b o t h p r o v i d e d b e a u t i f u l r e f l e c t i v e b a c k g r o u n d m u s i c , s o t h a t v i s i t o r s c o u l d f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e t o take a moment to sit and just “be”. V olunteers and parishioners also took the o p- p o r t u n i t y t o s p e n d s o m e t i m e i n a d o r a t i o n t o pray in particular for all we met in the city . By the end of the afternoon there were more than 60 tealights lit before the altar , and plenty m o r e h a d b e e n t a k e n h o m e b y p a s s e r s b y . W e may never know the ef fect of the invitation to pray or the simple smile and hello we of fered. M a r y P a l m e r , a s s i s t a n t c h a p l a i n a t S u n d e r l a n d C a t h o l i c C h a p l a i n c y , s a i d : “ O n e t h i n g t h a t s t u c k me and gave me great hope was the number of y o u n g e r p e o p l e w h o c a m e i n , i n t r i g u e d t o s e e i n s i d e a n d a s k i n g t h e u n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s w h o the saints in the windows were. “ O n e y o u n g g i r l a s k e d h e r f a m i l y t o g o i n , a n d once inside they lit a candle for someone they k n e w w h o h a d d i e d r e c e n t l y . I t h i n k i t s h o w s that there is still a great desire and inquisitive- n e s s , e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g s t y o u n g p e o p l e , a b o u t the divine and a simple act of faith.” Regular churchgoers also found it encourag- ing to see the church in action. M a r y a d d e d : “ O n e m a n , w h o ’ d s e e n t h e v o l u n - t e e r s i n t h e c i t y c e n t r e , s a i d t o u s w h e n h e r e a c h e d t h e c h u r c h : “ Y o u ’ r e a l l d o i n g a g r e a t j o b ! ” “ I h a v e t o a g r e e ! W e c o u l d n ’ t h a v e d o n e i t without such a great team of volunteers giving up their Saturday . “ I t w a s a l s o a g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y f o r p e o p l e f r o m a c r o s s t h e d i o c e s e t o g e t t o g e t h e r . W e l o o k forward to similar events in other cities, too.” A B O V E : T h e t e a m o f v o l u n t e e r s f r o m t h e c h a p l a i n c y a n d a c r o s s t h e d i o c e s e o f H e x h a m a n d N e w c a s t l e p i c t u r e d i n S t M a r y ’ s c h u r c h . B E L O W : F r M a r c L y d e n - S m i t h a n d M a r y P a l m e r f r o m S u n d e r l a n d University Chaplaincy . BOTT OM: Rebecca Leighton and Michael Thompson led music throughout the time of Adoratio n. Photos: Frank Sverha. M a t c h F e v e r i n M a r c h h e l p e d f o o t b a l l f a n s a n d m a n y other s e xperience a moment of peace and pra y er q RIGHT : Prayer cards and tea lights were offered to passersby . LEFT : The group gathered before the Blessed Sacrament to say prayers for everyone they had met during the day . q ABOVE: Ingelise McNulty and Fr Stephen W atson joined us for the event. LEFT , BELOW and BELOW LEFT : Pairs of students took to the streets to share their faith and invite passersby into the church.

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16 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS SMILES OF THE MONTH www .nor therncross.org.uk If you’re in need of cheering up this month, make sure to read the paper from cover to cover and you’ll find reasons to be optimistic. The smiling faces in our pictures have, so why not find their photos to read the stories behind their smiles... T a k e o u t a n a n n u a l £ 1 4 . 4 0 s u b s c r i p t i o n f o r t h e N o r t h e r n C r o s s o n l i n e - a n d g e t t w o e x t r a m o n t h s f r e e - p l u s a c c e s s t o o u r o n l i n e a r c h i v e ! N E V E R m i s s a n i s s u e o f t h e N o r t h e r n Cross – as an online subscriber! Online members can access the digital edi- tion, to be read on their PC, mobile or tablet. A n o n l i n e s u b s c r i p t i o n c o s t s j u s t £ 1 4 . 4 0 a year . T h i s m o n t h , w e a r e o f f e r i n g o u r r e a d e r s a s p e c i a l d i s c o u n t - s i g n u p f o r a n a n n u a l o n l i n e subscription and you will receive two extra is- sues for free - that is 15 months for the price of 12 months . T o become a subscriber , all you have to do is visit our websit e nort herncross. org. uk and click on Subscriptions for further information. Or you can email us at editor .norcross@btconnect.com. ADVERTISING CONDITIONS OF ACCEPT ANCE n o r t h e r n c r o s s . o r g . u k Conditions of Acceptance of Advertisements 1. Northern Cross reserves the right to refuse, amend and classify any advertisement offered for publication, or any copy for any advertisement for which an order has been accepted. 2. Reception of an order or copy for an advertisement at the Northern Cross office is not deemed acceptance of that order. 3. The Publisher shall not be liable for any loss or damage occasioned by any total or partial failure (however caused) of publication or distribution in which any advertisement is scheduled to appear. In the event of any error, misprint or omission in the printing of an advertisement, the publisher will either re-insert the advertisement or relevant part of the advertisement as the case may be, or make a reasonable refund or adjustment to the cost. 4 It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check the accuracy of each advertisement, as the publisher will not accept responsibility for any uncorrected error in subsequent insertions of the same advertisement. 5. To avoid dispute, the advertiser must obtain the full name of the person to whom any correction was given. 6. No re-insertion, refund or adjustment will be made where the error, misprint or omission does not materially detract from the advertisement. 7. In no circumstances shall the total liability of the publisher for any error, misprint or omission exceed the amount of a full refund of any price paid to the publisher for the particular advertisement in connection with which liability arose. 8. The description of goods for sale or services offered in advertisements must comply in all respects to statutory regulations. 9. Northern Cross operates on a thirty-day credit limit from the Invoice Date. 10. Northern Cross reserves the right at its sole discretion to carry out any credit checks and to demand cash in advance or personal guarantees from Directors or Principals. 11. Northern Cross reserves the right to apply an interest surcharge on all OVERDUE accounts, at the rate of 3% per month above Bank Clearing House rates. 12. In any dispute the decision of the Chairman of the Northern Cross Board will be final. 13 It is the responsibility of the Advertiser to bring to the Northern Cross’s attention at the time of booking any discount, allowance or exemption from Value Added Tax (Declaration of eligibility) to which entitlement is claimed. 14. All rates and prices quoted by the Northern Cross are exclusive of Value Added Tax. 15. The Advertiser authorises the Northern Cross to record, reproduce, publish, distribute and broadcast (or to permit the same) all advertisements (including but not limited to text, artwork and photographs) and to include and make them available in any information service, electronic or otherwise.

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17 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk N O R T H T y n e s i d e M a y o r N o r m a R e d - fearn OBE joined 50 women – and a few m e n – f r o m t h e B e n t o n C h u r c h e s T o g e t h e r gr oup at St Aidan’ s RC Chur ch, Benton, t o m a r k t h e W o r l d D a y o f P r a y e r , a f e - male-led global ecumenical movement. Every year the service is written by a dif - ferent country . This year it was prepared by the Christian w o m e n o f Z i m b a b w e , w h o c a l l e d o n u s a l l to: “Rise! T a ke your mat and walk”. A song of the same name – with inspiring l y r i c s a n d u p l i f t i n g m u s i c – w a s c o m p o s e d by Sylvia Marowa. T h e B e n t o n C h u r c h e s T o g e t h e r g r o u p w h i c h p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e s p e c i a l d a y i n - c l u d e d p a r i s h i o n e r s f r o m t h e C h u r c h o f E n g - l a n d ’ s S t B a r t h o l o m e w ’ s C h u r c h ; S t M a r y o f t h e R o s a r y R C C h u r c h , F o r e s t H a l l ; t h e C h u r c h o f E n g l a n d ’ s S t J o h n ’ s C h u r c h i n K i l l i n g w o r t h ; S t A n d r e w ’ s U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h , L o n g b e n t o n ; L o n g b e n t o n M e t h o d i s t Church, and W est Moore Methodist Church – a l o n g w i t h t h e h o s t s f r o m S t A i d a n ’ s R C Church in Benton. M o r e t h a n 1 2 0 c o u n t r i e s t o o k p a r t i n t h i s year ’ s W orld Day of Prayer service, praying i n u n i s o n f o r t h e c h a l l e n g e s t h e p e o p l e o f Zimbabwe face in their everyday lives. T h e c h u r c h w a s d e c o r a t e d t o r e p r e s e n t Zimbabwe, which means ‘house of stones.’ At the entrance t o the church was a display of musical instruments from Zimbabwe, in- c l u d i n g a m a r i m b a , d r u m s , t a m b o u r i n e a n d h a n d r a t t l e s , w h i l e a t t h e a l t a r t h e l a d i e s f r o m the Churches T ogether group had arranged a table with fabrics in the colours of the Zim- babwean flag (green, yellow , red, black and white) to symbolise unity . I t e m s i n c l u d i n g b e a d w o r k , a r e e d b a s k e t , s w e e t p o t a t o e s , w h e a t a n d r i c e w e r e d i s - played i n a separate table near the altar . T h e W o r l d D a y o f P r a y e r Z i m b a b w e a r t - work specially designed by renowned Zim- b a b w e a n a r t i s t N o n h l a n h l a M a t h e w a s displayed around the church. T h r e e l a d i e s f r o m d i f f e r e n t c h u r c h e s t o o k t u r n t o l i g h t t h e r e d ( r e p r e s e n t i n g l o v e ) , w h i t e (representing peace) and yellow (represent- i n g r e c o n c i l i a t i o n ) c a n d l e s , a s t h e s e r v i c e commenced. Prayer of praise, a hymn, a prayer of con- fession and a letter from the women of Zim- b a b w e w e r e r e a d b y l a d i e s f r o m d i f f e r e n t churches. T h e b i b l e r e a d i n g , w h i c h f o l l o w e d t h e r e - after , was taken from John 5:2-9. Everyone present was asked to silently re- f l e c t a n d w r i t e d o w n c o m m i t m e n t s t o s u p p o r t l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s w i t h a c t i o n s o f l o v e , peace and reconciliation. The theme song: Rise! T ake Y our Mat and W a l k w a s s u n g a n d e v e r y o n e w a s a s k e d t o mo ve on the spot. T h r e e l a d i e s w e a r i n g r e d , w h i t e a n d y e l l o w s c a r v e s c a m e f o r w a r d a n d r e a d t h r e e s t a t e - ments, then asked the gathered congregation f o r w o r d s o f c o m m i t m e n t . T h i s w a s f o l l o w e d b y a n o f f e r i n g d u r i n g w h i c h t h e n o t e s p e o p l e had written were placed alongside the of fer - ings made. T h e s e r v i c e c o n c l u d e d w i t h a p r a y e r o f t h a n k s g i v i n g a n d i n t e r c e s s i o n , b e n e d i c t i o n and a closing song. A l l p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e g i v e n a s i s a l p l a i t made specially by Carole Lee from the host church. T e a a n d r e f r e s h m e n t s w e r e s e r v e d a t t h e church hall, giving people time to make new friends. N e x t y e a r ’ s t h e m e – B u i l d o n a S t r o n g F o u n d a t i o n – f o c u s s e s o n V a n u a t u , t h e n i n 2 0 2 2 E n g l a n d , W a l e s a n d N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d w i l l b e l e a d i n g t h e W o r l d D a y o f P r a y e r w i t h the theme: I know the plans I have for you. q A display of Zimbabwean musical instruments, traditional fabrics and a map of the country , above. Ecumenical leaders from various churches leading part of the service, right. Do not be afraid t o act on God’s w ord q A view of the participating ladies in the W orld Day of Prayer , above. Gifts displayed at the altar during the W orld Day of Prayer service, right. The coloured sisal plaits given to participants to be used as bookmarks in remembrance of the day . Photos: Alison Rebello. by Alison Rebello q Carole Lee from St Aidan’ s Church, who led the prayer service.

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N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk 18 T H E b i g t a l k i n g p o i n t t o d a y i s C O V I D - 1 9 a n d t h e r e a c t i o n s w o r l d - w i d e t o t h e p a n d e m i c . T h i r t y y e a r s a g o , t h e B i s h o p s o f E n g l a n d a n d W a l e s w e r e r e s p o n d i n g t o e m e r - g e n c i e s i n E t h i o p i a a n d t h e S u d a n . C a r d i n a l B a s i l H u m e h a d l a u n c h e d a j o i n t D i s a s t e r s E m e r g e n c y C o m m i t - t e e a p p e a l t o g e t f o o d a n d m e d i c i n e u r g e n t l y i n t o t h e f a m i n e - h i t T i g r a y r e - g i o n o f E t h i o p i a a n d t h e b i s h o p s w e r e r e n e w i n g t h e a p p e a l f o r m o n e y t o a v o i d “ h u g e l o s s o f l i f e a n d v e r y m u c h m o r e s u f f e r i n g ” . I n J u b a , a t o w n c u t o f f f r o m f o o d s u p - p l i e s , r i n g e d b y m i n e f i e l d s a n d s u b j e c t t o r e p e a t e d s h e l l i n g , l i f e h a d b e c o m e “ a c r u c i b l e o f d e s p a i r ” f o r 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e . I t t r i g g e r e d a n o t h e r B i s h o p s ’ a p p e a l t o t h e U N a n d W o r l d C o u n c i l o f C h u r c h e s t h r o u g h C a f o d t o a v o i d t h e l o s s o f 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 l i v e s i n S u d a n . DANIEL Moore, wearing t he green f o r S t P a t r i c k ’ s D a y , w a s l e a d i n g t h e c h e e r i n g f o r I r e l a n d ’ s h o p e s i n the W orld Cup 30 years ago. His striking picture on page one in A p r i l ’ s N o r t h e r n C r o s s d i r e c t e d t h e re a d e r to a St Pa tri ck’ s D a y sp e ci a l a s w e l l a s t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l f o o t b a l l t o c o m e t h a t s u m m e r . D a n i e l m u s t b e i n h i s e a r l y 3 0 s n o w . W e w o n d e r h o w he spent St Patrick’ s Day this year? I T W A S a c a s e o f t h e s o a r a w a y C r o s s c o u n t r y r a c e c o m p l e t i n g i t s second year in 1990. U p , u p a n d u p , r e p o r t e d f o r m e r Sunderland St Aidan’ s teacher Mike W i n t e r , c h i e f m a r s h a l o f t h e N o r t h e r n Cross Paper Chase. T h e n u m b e r o f c o m p l e t e t e a m s w h o t o o k p a r t ( 3 9 ) w a s u p . T h e n u m - ber of runners taking part was up at 328, and the number of schools (16) supporting the event was also up. F i r s t h o m e a m o n g 6 0 g i r l s i n t h e under-13 race was Karen Riley from S t J o s e p h ’ s , H e b b u r n . F i r s t i n t h e b o y s u n d e r - 1 3 w a s K e i r o n R o u t - l e d g e f r o m S t A i d a n ’ s , S u n d e r l a n d , who led home 84 runners. Are these 40-somethings still running? A D E L I G H T F U L s t o r y f r o m 3 0 y e a r s a g o i s t h e p e r f e c t w a y t o sign out this month. I t r e m i n d s u s o f l a t e c o l l e a g u e Bernadette Lawson. S h e w a s s t r i v i n g t o g i v e u p s m o k - ing to help husband Gerry , also now d e c e a s e d , a n d w a s e n c o u r a g e d b y a No Smoking Day , report ed Cuthbert Bede. That W ednesday , on her way h o m e f r o m p r o o f r e a d i n g t h e N o r t h - e r n C r o s s , B e r n a d e t t e s p o t t e d a t r a m p . S h e s t o p p e d h i m , e m p t i e d h e r h a n d b a g o f c i g a r e t t e s a n d p r e s e n t e d t h e m a n w i t h h e r l i g h t e r . T h e m a n t h o u g h t t h a t C h r i s t m a s h a d a r r i v e d early! B A C K   N U M B E R S – A p r i l 1 9 9 0 A L O O K b a c k a t i s s u e s o f N o r t h e r n C r o s s f r o m 30 years ago. T h i s m o n t h , s o m e i t e m s o f n e w s i n t h e d i o c e s e i n A p r i l 1 9 9 0 . Corona speak: get ting a handle on the pandemic per spectiv es Where were you when you heard it first? That could be the Church quiz question in years to come as we remember the year the nation got a dispensation from attending Mass on Sunday without asking for one. Sitting at the computer screen typing would be the answer from JOHN BAILEY , looking at historical comparisons as he ponders what it all means for us now – then ends with a quotation from 6th Century BC China... T H E R E i s o n l y o n e t o p i c o n e v e r y - o n e ’ s l i p s : t h e v i r u s – a n d f o r Catholics the astounding decision to s u s p e n d a l l p u b l i c M a s s e s a n d r e - m o v e t h e o b l i g a t i o n f o r t h e f a i t h f u l t o attend Mass on Sunday or Holy day of Obligation “until further notice”. W e ’ r e a s k e d a s g o o d , o b e d i e n t l a y p e o p l e t o a c c e p t t h i s u n r e q u e s t e d d i s - p e n s a t i o n f r o m a n o b l i g a t i o n m a n y h a v e f u l f i l l e d , o f t e n a g a i n s t t h e o d d s , a l l t h e i r l i v e s f o r a s l o n g a s m e m o r y serves. It doesn’ t come easy . Nor any easier to accept the rationale b e i n g e x p l a i n e d i n d a i l y g o v e r n m e n t press conferences. F i r s t q u e s t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , f o r T h a t W a s T h e n – h a s i t e v e r h a p p e n e d b e f o r e ? N o t i n l i v i n g m e m o r y i s a n e a s y f i r s t r e - s p o n s e . . . b u t w h a t i s t h e C h u r c h p e r - spective? U N P R E C E D E N T E D – t h a t w a s t h e w o r d t h e s p o k e s m a n f o r S c o t t i s h B i s h o p s c h o s e t o d e s c r i b e t h e d e c i - s i o n t o c e a s e a l l p u b l i c c e l e b r a t i o n s o f M a s s u n t i l f u r t h e r n o t i c e . N e x t d a y t h e B i s h o p s o f E n g l a n d a n d W a l e s took a similar decision. They were following government ad- vice and guidelines on lar ge groups of people meeting together . E x t r a o r d i n a r y a d v i c e , e x t r a o r d i n a r y times. C h a n c e l l o r R i s h i S u n a k u s e d a s i m i l a r p h r a s e r e p e a t e d l y w h e n r e v e a l i n g t h a t the state would step in to cover work- ers’ wages because of the health crisis. “Unprecedented measures for unprece- dented times” he said. L o u r d e s c l o s e d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e s i n c e the apparitions in 1858. St Peter ’ s Square, normally crowded with 60,000 people, is now empty . M i l l i o n s o f p e o p l e n o w f o l l o w t h e p o p e ’ s p r i v a t e c h a p e l M a s s o n T V o r o n l i n e a t 7 a m e a c h d a y , o r l i s t e n t o i t o n the radio. P o p e F r a n c i s ’ d e c i s i o n t o l i v e s t r e a m t h e l i t u r g y w a s a l s o d e s c r i b e d b y t h e V atican as “unprecedented”. T H E C H U R C H o f E n g l a n d a n - n o u n c e d i t s r e s t r i c t i o n s b e f o r e t h e Catholic Bishops. The Column liked the honesty of this s t a t e m e n t f r o m D u r h a m C a t h e d r a l ’ s p r e c e n t o r , C a n o n M i c h a e l H a m p e l , commenting on the decision of the An- g l i c a n a r c h b i s h o p s o f C a n t e r b u r y a n d Y ork to suspend public worship: “This i s v e r y s a d n e w s a n d w e f e e l g r e a t l y c o n f l i c t e d , b u t w e k n o w t h a t , b y f o l - l o w i n g t h i s c l e a r i n s t r u c t i o n , w e w i l l p l a y o u r p a r t i n s t e m m i n g t h e f l o w o f coronavirus.” E A C H  d a y t h e C o l u m n h a s p a u s e d to r eflect on any sensible conclusion about the way to pr oceed with ordi- nary life. T h e a b i l i t y t o c o m m e n t a n d o f f e r s o m e p e r s p e c t i v e w o r t h r e a d i n g i s p u s h e d f u r t h e r o u t o f r e a c h b y e a c h n e w m e a s u r e . Y e t , e v e r y o n e n e e d s s o m e y a r d s t i c k t o m e a s u r e a l l t h a t h a s b e e n happening in our nam e and interest. Perspectives from history? T h e C o l u m n l o o k e d u p a c c o u n t s o f t h e S p a n i s h ’ f l u t h a t r e p o r t e d l y i n f e c t e d 5 0 0 m i l l i o n p e o p l e w o r l d w i d e f r o m 1 9 1 8 - 1 9 2 0 – a t t h e e n d o f t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r – a n d p o s s i b l y l e f t 5 0 t o 1 0 0 million people dead. T h e r e i s a l s o t h e p o i g n a n t 1 7 t h c e n - t u r y s t o r y o f E y a m i n D e r b y s h i r e , whose population heroically agreed to q u a r a n t i n e t h e e n t i r e v i l l a g e f o r 1 4 months in order to save the rest of the nation from the plague. It started with a flea-invested bundle o f c l o t h a n d e s t i m a t e s v a r y f r o m h a l f t o three-quarters of the village dying. But 2 7 3 d e a t h s b y p l a g u e a r e r e c o r d e d i n E y a m ’ s p a r i s h c h u r c h , w h o s e r e c t o r – t h e R e v d W i l l i a m M o m p e s s o n – l e d t h e s e l f - i m p o s e d q u a r a n t i n e w i t h P u r i t a n leader Thomas Stanley . T h e L o n d o n B l i t z a n d w i d e s p r e a d bombing of British cities during WW2 d i d n ’ t s t o p p u b l i c M a s s o r c h u r c h g o i n g . T H E C o l u m n w o u l d l o v e t o k n o w w h a t y o u t h i n k – w e s e n s e a s e a - c h a n g e u n d e r w a y , n o t j u s t i n B r i t a i n but the world. Perhaps the most profound reflection may be to acknowledge that each of us w i l l s e e t h i s s t r a n g e s i t u a t i o n i n a d i f - f e r e n t a n d i n d i v i d u a l w a y , b u t w e ’ r e b e i n g a s k e d t o r e s p e c t e a c h o t h e r ’ s t a k e on it. I s i t t o o b i g a h o p e t h a t c a p i t a l i s m a n d s o c i a l i s m c o m e t o g e t h e r f o r t h e c o m - mon good? I s t h a t w h a t c h a n c e l l o r R i s h i S u n a k was signalling with that unprecedented m o v e f o r s t a t e f u n d s t o m e e t 8 0 p e r c e n t of the nation’ s wage bill? N o w t h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g t o h o p e f o r , perhaps. If you need an illustration on why the way we live needs to change, call up a b r il li a n t T E D ta lk b y C a th o li c b i ll io n - aire Bill Gates. He made a compelling case for germ- g a m e s t o r e p l a c e n u c l e a r w a r g a m e s a n d p u t m e d i c i n e o n a w a r - f o o t i n g t o b e a t t h e E b o l a e p i d e m i c . P a r t o f h i s e v i - dence was the same WW1 Spanish ’flu we quote above. A TRUE T oon fan might recog- nise the era of this team strip. T h e p h o t o g r a p h , m o u n t e d o n c a r d , w a s d o n a t e d t o a n O x f a m s h o p i n N e w c a s t l e w h e r e w r i t e r A l - i s o n R e b e l l o r e g u l a r l y h e l p s o u t . T h e r e i s o n l y t h e c a p t i o n : “ N U F C t e a m 1 9 6 9 , F a i r s C u p ” , w i t h n o p h o t o g r a p h e r ’ s n a m e o r studio title to credit the copyright. C a n a n y r e a d e r h e l p w i t h a n a m e c h e c k o n t h e s q u a d o f 1 7 p l a y e r s a n d m a n a g e r o r t e a m coach? B e f o r e t h e l o c k d o w n .   T h e s e d a y s m i l l i o n s l i s t e n t o o r w a t c h P o p e F r a n c i s c e l e b r a t e M a s s i n h i s p r i v a t e c h a p e l . P h o t o : M a z u r / c a t h o l i c n e w s . o r g . u k For sale: someone’ s football treasure! That talk was given on April 3, 2015. F i v e y e a r s l a t e r , w e ’ r e n o t c l o s e r t o a c h i e v i n g t h e g l o b a l c o - o p e r a t i o n needed to defeat coronavirus. C H U C K L E C O R N E R t o d a y t u r n s t o t h e l e t t e r s p a g e o f T h e G u a r d i a n o n Mar ch 18 and r eader Margar et Har - ris fr om Isleworth, London. M a r g a r e t w r i t e s : “ I f I k n e w h o w t o g e t t h e r e , I ’ d m o v e t o A m b r i d g e . N o s i g n o r m e n t i o n i n T h e A r c h e r s o f a n y c o r o n - avirus yet.” S O , w h e r e t o e n d ? W i t h h o p e , o f course. W e c h o o s e a t h o u g h t f o r t h e d a y favourite called Lao Tzu, a 6th century B C C h i n e s e p h i l o s o p h e r a n d w r i t e r w h o crops up regularly in Sister Stan’ s Gar - dening the Soul. A recent of fering ran: “ H o p e i s a b o u t a t t e n d i n g f u l l y , t o b e without cleverness. T o b e o p e n t o a l l t h i n g s a n d t o d o nothing.” T h e C o l u m n o p e n l y c o n f e s s e s t o b e i n g g u i l t y o f f a i l i n g t h e f i r s t t w o o f t h o s e n o t i o n s , a n d h a s a r e a d y d e f a u l t for the others, particularly the last. P l e n t y t h e r e t h e n t o m u l l o v e r w h i l e c o p i n g w i t h c a b i n f e v e r b e f o r e w e ’ r e back in May . l I f y o u w o u l d l i k e t o c o n t r i b u t e t o T W T o r c o n t a c t J o h n B a i l e y , p l e a s e email thesloopjohnb@dsl.pipex.com or call 01429 264577.

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19 N or thern Cross April 2020 Y OUTH www .nor therncross.org.uk O N S U N D A Y , M a r c h 1 , t h e d i o c e s e c e l - e b r a t e d t h e f o u r t h p r e s e n t a t i o n c e r e - m o n y f o r t h e P o p e J o h n P a u l I I A wards. D u r i n g a n a f t e r n o o n w h i c h r e c o g n i s e d a n d c e l e b r a t e d t h e w o r k a n d c o m m i t m e n t o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s , 8 3 y o u n g p e o p l e r e - c e i v e d m e d a l s f r o m B i s h o p R o b e r t a n d c e r t i f i c a t e s f r o m T o n y L a w l e s s , d i r e c t o r of Y outh Ministry . A s w e l l a s g i v i n g o u t g o l d , s i l v e r a n d b r o n z e a w a r d s , a P a p a l C r o s s w a s awarded to Bethany Dobson. T h r e e a w a r d r e c i p i e n t s – P r a n e e t h D ’ S i l v a , J h e t e r D a g d a g a n d C h l o e G a l - l a g h e r – w e r e i n t e r v i e w e d b y G a p Y e a r t e a m m e m b e r J o s i e S h i l c o c k . T h e y s p o k e about their experiences of taking part in t h e a w a r d a s w e l l a s t h e i m p a c t t h e i r w o r k h a d h a d o n t h e m , t h e i r p a r i s h a n d t h e local community . S o m e 3 5 0 p e o p l e a t t e n d e d t h e c e r e - mony to s upport thos e receiving aw ards a n d c e l e b r a t e t h e h o p e f o r t h e f u t u r e o f the diocese. B i s h o p R o b e r t s a i d : “ T h e g r e a t t h i n g s the youth of our diocese are doing, their g r e a t c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e i r f a i t h a n d t o h u - manity is a clear sign of hope for us all.” T wo musical, prayerful highlights were provided by the worship choir from Our L a d y a n d S t B e d e ’ s , S t o c k t o n , w h i c h w a s l e d b y M e g a n D a i l y . T h e q u a l i t y o f t h e s i n g i n g a n d p a s s i o n w i t h w h i c h i t w a s d e - livered was inspira tional. This was the first time the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead was the venue for the cere- m o n y a n d i t s e e m s t o h a v e g o n e d o w n w e l l . T h e s t a f f i n t h e H i l t o n c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n m o r e a c c o m m o d a t i n g – w e plan to use it again next year . All of those participating in the awards c o m p l e t e a r e f l e c t i o n / p r e s e n t a t i o n a b o u t t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e a n d h o w t h e w o r k r e l a t e s t o b e i n g p a r t o f a w o r s h i p p i n g c o m m u - nity . W h a t f o l l o w s i s a s m a l l s a m p l e o f t h e h o n e s t a n d i n s p i r a t i o n a l w o r d s f o u n d i n the reflections: “ I h a v e e n j o y e d p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h i s a w a r d b e c a u s e i t h a s m a d e a l i n k b e t w e e n n o r m a l l i f e a n d m y f a i t h , w h i c h I h a d p r e - viously kept quite separate.” “ I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r y o u t h t o b e i n v o l v e d i n h e l p i n g w i t h M a s s a n d b e i n g a v o i c e for the bishop to let him know what hap- pens at a local level.” “ M y f a i t h i s s u b m i t t i n g t o G o d i n t h e m o s t c o n s c i o u s l y s i n c e r e m a n n e r a n d v i e w i n g t h e s u b l i m e u n i v e r s e s u r r o u n d - ing me as the masterpiece of a transcen- dent artist.” “ D u r i n g m y 2 0 w e e k s I f e l t l i k e I w a s f i n a l l y a m e m b e r o f t h e C h u r c h , n o l o n g e r made to feel like I was just another per - son to warm a seat – moving in and out of church as if I was never really there.” “ I n s o m e w a y s i t h a s s h a p e d m e t o b e less judgemental because stand ing at the doorway and greeting people into church you find many walks of life come to seek the face of God.” q Bishop Robert presents Bethany Dobson with a Papal Cross, right. Our Lady and St Bede’ s School choir , left. P r o u d m o m e n t s a t P o p e J o h n P a u l I I A w a r d s c e r e m o n y q B i s h o p R o b e r t w i t h s o m e o f t h e Y o u t h M i n i s t r y T e a m , a w a r d r e c i p i e n t s a n d g u e s t s , t o p . A b o v e , f r o m l e f t , J o s i e S h i l c o c k w i t h P r a n e e t h D ’ S i l v a , J h e t e r D a g d a g a n d C h l o e G a l l a g h e r .

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O N A S H W e d n e s d a y , f o u r o f t h e Y e a r 6 M i n i V i n n i e s a t O u r L a d y o f t h e M o s t H o l y R o s a r y School, Billingham, led a whole school assem- b l y d u r i n g w h i c h t h e y i n t r o d u c e d C A F O D ’ s L e n t Appeal, writes Mrs Lowe. T h e y d i d a f a n t a s t i c j o b o f e x p l a i n i n g h o w t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o t u r n c o n - c e r n i n t o a c t i o n b y h o l d - i n g a s p o r t ’ s t h e m e d n o n - u n i f o r m d a y t o r a i s e m o n e y f o r t h i s a p p e a l a n d h e l p t o t u r n t h e t i d e o f e n - v i r o n m e n t a l d e v a s t a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g d e f o r e s t a t i o n i n S o u t h America. S T U D E N T S f r o m S t C u t h b e r t ’ s C a t h o l i c H i g h S c h o o l , N e w c a s - t l e , l i n e d u p o n t h e i r a n n u a l a w a r d s e v e n i n g t o s p e a k t o t h e g u e s t o f h o n o u r , P r o f e s s o r C h r i s D a y , v i c e - c h a n c e l l o r a n d p r e s i d e n t o f N e w c a s t l e U n i v e r s i t y , w r i t e s D a v i d S w i n d e l l s . P r o f D a y i n s p i r e d t h e y o u n g m e n w i t h a s u p e r b s p e e c h a n d c o n - g r a t u l a t e d t h e m o n t h e i r a c h i e v e m e n t s o v e r t h e p r e v i o u s a c a - d e m i c y e a r . T h e a u d i e n c e w a s t r e a t e d t o m u s i c p e r f o r m e d b y students. S T C u t h b e r t ’ s C a t h o l i c H i g h S c h o o l s t u d e n t M i c h a e l Ndiweni was r ecently awarded the Chr onicle Champi- ons Y oung Role Model award for 2019 T h e n o m i n a t i o n w a s c o m p l e t e d b y M i c h a e l ’ s h e a d o f house, form tutor and sports leader coach. C h r o n i c l e C h a m p i o n s a w a r d s r e c o g n i s e t h o s e w h o m a k e the region great, with readers nominating the selfles s peo- ple in their community who make a dif ference. Michael, 16, from Throckley , was nominated due to his e x c e p t i o n a l a t t i t u d e b o t h i n a n d o u t o f s c h o o l , a n d w a s commended for showing incredible dignity and compas- sion. A l w a y s l e a d i n g b y e x a m p l e a n d c o n s i s t e n t l y h e l p i n g o t h - ers, Michael embodies the ethos of St Cuthbert’ s Catholic High School: Faith. Leadership. Learning. Y o u n g e r s t u d e n t s l o o k u p t o M i c h a e l f o r a d v i c e a n d g u i d - ance and everyone agrees he is a perfect example of what y o u n g m e n a t S t C u t h b e r t ’ s H i g h S c h o o l i n N e w c a s t l e should aim to become. D e s p i t e b a l a n c i n g a h e c t i c t r a i n i n g s c h e d u l e f o r N e w c a s - t l e U n i t e d F o o t b a l l C l u b ’ s U 1 6 a c a d e m y a n d h i s s c h o o l work, Michael continues to find time to help others. His self-confidence has grown through his work as form c a p t a i n w h e r e h e o f t e n l e a d s a s s e m b l i e s a n d d i s c u s s i o n s among his peers. Congratulations, Michael! S T U D E N T S a n d t e a c h e r s h a v e b e e n h a i l e d a s o u t s t a n d i n g a f t e r c o m i n g u n d e r t h e s c r u t i n y o f d i o c e - san inspectors. S t J o h n ’ s S c h o o l a n d S i x t h F o r m College, Bishop Auckland, has been given grade ones across the board in a n o u t s t a n d i n g r e p o r t b y i n s p e c t o r s f r o m t h e d i o c e s e o f H e x h a m a n d Newcastle. I n s p e c t o r s r e v i e w e d a l l a s p e c t s o f life in the sch ool, from the warm and w e l c o m i n g a t m o s p h e r e o f i t s r e c e p - tion to the high standards and expec- tations in lessons. T h e c h a r i t a b l e w o r k o f s t u d e n t s a n d s t a f f w a s r e c o g n i s e d a s o n e o f t h e s c h o o l ’ s m a n y s t r e n g t h s , f o r g i n g a s i t d o e s p o s i t i v e w o r k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h p r i m a r i e s , p a r i s h e s a n d t h e wider community . T h e i n s p e c t o r s a s s e s s e d t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h s t u d e n t s c o n t r i b u t e d t o s c h o o l l i f e , h o w w e l l l e a d e r s p e r - formed and the academy’ s overall ef - f e c t i v e n e s s . A l l c a t e g o r i e s w e r e g r a d e d o n e , l e a d i n g t o a n o v e r a l l judgement of outstanding. The inspection team highlighted St John’ s strong Catholic ethos and out- standing levels of teaching. T h e r e p o r t s a i d : “ S t J o h n ’ s i s a n a l l - e m b r a c i n g c o m m u n i t y . S u p p o r t f o r e a c h o t h e r i s t a n g i b l e . S t a f f a r e s u - p e r b r o l e m o d e l s f o r s t u d e n t s . T h e school promotes the Bishop’ s vi sion f o r e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h p o l i c y , p r a c t i c e and initiatives.” H e a d t e a c h e r L i s a B y r o n a d d e d : “W e are thrilled and delighted the in- s p e c t o r s h a v e r e c o g n i s e d h o w s p e c i a l our learning community is. “ I t i s a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e h a r d w o r k and commitment of our students, the expertise and dedication of our staf f a n d t h e c o n t i n u o u s s u p p o r t o f o u r parents and carers that we have been able to create a learning environme nt in which everyone can flourish. “Praise and recognition are always m o s t w e l c o m e a n d i n s p i r e u s a l l i n o u r r e l e n t l e s s p u r s u i t t o p r o v i d e t h e very best education we can for all of our students.” A w a r d s e v e n i n g p u t s t h e spotlight on a y ear’s w or th of ac hie v ements M i n i V i n n i e s l e a d s c h o o l ’ s f u n d r a i s i n g f o r C A F O D Mic hael is a role model for us all by David Swindells St John’s is sim ply out s t anding q Celebrating success – head teacher Lisa Byron, left, and RE department KS3 co-ordinator Eileen Urwin, right, with students. by Ian Lamming N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk 20

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21 N or thern Cross April 2020 OBITU ARIES www .nor therncross.org.uk 7x3 Jacob Conroy 5x2 TP Bardgett 3x4 Joel Kerr 3x4 V ictoria House Obituar y : G E N T L E a n d s e n s i t i v e , F r J o h n S h e r r i n g t o n w a s a d e - s i g n e r , P a s s i o n i s t p r i e s t - w o r k e r , s t r e e t s w e e p e r , t r a d e u n i o n i s t , a n t i - a p a r t h e i d a c - t i v i s t a n d d o m e s t i c c a r e r , f r i e n d o f C a t h o l i c s a n d o t h e r C h r i s t i a n s l i v i n g w i t h H I V a n d A I D S , P a s s i o n i s t P r o v i n c i a l – a n d f i n a l l y , a g o o d n e i g h b o u r to all in Byker , Newcastle. H e w a s a l s o a p a s s i o n a t e , d e t e r - m i n e d a n d r a d i c a l l y p r o p h e t i c presence who inspired and chal- l e n g e d m a n y o f t h o s e h e e n c o u n - tered. F r J o h n ’ s f a i t h f i r e d i n h i m a t o t a l c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e G o d o f justice, present for , with, among and in the poor . B a p t i s e d P e t e r J o h n , h e w a s b o r n i n t o a C a t h o l i c f a m i l y i n Blyth. J o h n ’ s f a t h e r w a s a m i n e r , b u t h e f o l l o w e d a d i f f e r e n t p a t h t o a r t s c h o o l , w o r k i n g a s a d e s i g n e r b e - f o r e j o i n i n g t h e P a s s i o n i s t s i n h i s 20s. J o h n w a s i n f l u e n c e d b y P a s - sionist Fr Austin Smith CP , who responded to the call for an ‘op- t i o n f o r t h e p o o r ’ e m a n a t i n g f r o m the Second V atican Council, lib- e r a t i o n t h e o l o g y a n d t h e F r e n c h worker -priest movement. A u s t i n a n d F r N i c h o l a s P o s t l e t h w a i t e C P f o u n d e d t h e P a s s i o n i s t I n n e r C i t y M i s s i o n – I C M – a n d i n 1 9 7 1 t h e y m o v e d to T oxteth, Liverpool. John and Michael Bold started a n I C M c o u n t e r p a r t i n L o n d o n , f o l l o w i n g t h e l e a d o f t h e w o r k e r - p r i e s t s i n t o t h e w o r l d o f l o w p a i d manual work. J o h n f o u n d a j o b a s a s t r e e t s w e e p e r f o r I s l i n g t o n C o u n c i l a n d r a n a p r o j e c t p r o v i d i n g a c - c o m m o d a t i o n , s u p p o r t a n d l i f e s k i l l s f o r y o u n g h o m e l e s s p e o p l e . In the 1980s his home was the t o p s e c r e t d r o p a d d r e s s f o r m a i l f o r t h e S o u t h A f r i c a D e f e n c e a n d Aid Fund. J o h n b e c a m e a l o c a l u n i o n o r - ganiser , negotiating on behalf of h i s c o l l e a g u e s w i t h l o c a l m a n - a g e m e n t , a n d w a s i n v o l v e d i n t h e m i n e r s ’ y e a r - l o n g c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e g o v e r n - ment. He moved to work as a carer in a n I s l i n g t o n C o u n c i l r e s i d e n t i a l h o m e , t h e n a s a h o m e c a r e r f o r p e o p l e w i t h H I V a n d A I D S , u n t i l the local authority made him re- dundant. John was involved with LGBT Catholics and on the rota for cel- e b r a t i n g t h e S o h o M a s s e s . H e a l s o w o r k e d w i t h t h e c h a r i t y C a t h o l i c A i d s P r e v e n t i o n a n d Support. J o h n m o v e d t o B y k e r t o b e n e a r h i s m o t h e r i n h e r f i n a l y e a r s a t S t Joseph’ s care home and, against his own inclination, was elected Passionist Provincial in 2009. H e i n i t i a t e d w h a t c a n b e d e - s c r i b e d a s a n e w w a y – a g r o u p open to all who share the desire to keep alive the memory of the P a s s i o n b y t h e i r c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e c r u c i f i e d o n e s o f t o d a y , a s well as the Crucified One. Four years later John was diag- A L I T T L E b i t o f S o u t h S h i e l d s appear ed at a funeral in Single- t o n , N e w S o u t h W a l e s , o n T h u r s - d a y , M a r c h 1 9 , w h e n w e h e a r d Oh, the love of my Lord towards the end of Mass. T h e M a s s w a s l i v e s t r e a m e d f r o m S t P a t r i c k ’ s c h u r c h , S i n g e l - t o n , t h e t o w n w h e r e A n n e a n d Phillip Boyd had raised their sons, T om and Damian. A n n e a n d I h a d m e t i n t h e c h i l - d r e n ’ s h o m e r u n b y M o t h e r T eresa’ s nuns in Kolkata in 1972. S h e h a d a l r e a d y r u n a R y d e r - C h e s h i r e h o m e c a l l e d R a p h a e l i n Dehra Dun. J u s t b e f o r e A n n e , a t r a i n e d n u r s e , arrived we had had to deal with an A u s t r a l i a n d r u g a d d i c t , s o w h e n I h e a r d A n n e ’ s v o i c e I w o n d e r e d i f we had another one on our hands: mercifully not. Anne came to London that sum- mer to do a TB course. My parents had a pub in the same road so we got to know each other well. S h e w e n t b a c k t o I n d i a t o r u n a m o b i l e T B c l i n i c t h e n r e t u r n e d t o A u s t r a l i a t o m a r r y P h i l l i p , a f e l l o w A u s t r a l i a n w h o m s h e h a d m e t o n Australia Day in London. O v e r t h e y e a r s w e m e t m o r e often than I expected. Last year I went to see her when she was diagnosed with pancreatic c a n c e r . S h e f a c e d h e r d e a t h serenely . As Anne’ s funeral Mass came to a n e n d w e h e a r d E s t e l l e W h i t e ’ s hymn. I h a d s e n t h e r m y b i o g r a p h y o f E s t e l l e a n d s h e w o u l d t e l l m e w h e n e v e r s h e h e a r d t h a t h y m n i n Australia. A n n e c a m e t o t h e N o r t h E a s t s e v - eral times. She and Phillip partic- u l a r l y e n j o y e d t h e c o m p a n y o f F r Colin Carr , who had been born not far from Dehra Dun. May she rest in peace. V er onica Whitty F r John Sherrington Marc h 194 7 – F ebruar y 2020 Anne Rignold Bo yd Januar y 1939 – Marc h 2020 Obituar y : Celebrate your loved one’ s life with an obituary tribute in the Northern Cross. W rite to the editor , enclosing a good quality photograph where possible. A d d r e s s e s o n P a g e 6 . n o s e d w i t h P a r k i n s o n ’ s d i s e a s e a t the age of 66. H e c o n t i n u e d t o b e a f a i t h f u l p r e s e n c e a n d a g o o d f r i e n d t o members of the diocesan refugee and asylum drop-in centre. John found himself the benefi- c i a r y o f t h e s a m e h o m e c a r e h e had given others in their hour of need, then spent some time in the R VI in Newcastle. H e w a s l a t e r c a r e d f o r a t S t J o s e p h ’ s , w h e r e h e h a d p r e v i o u s l y g i v e n c h a p l a i n c y s u p p o r t , a n d d i e d t h e r e a f t e r a r a p i d d e c l i n e . H i s r e q u i e m M a s s w a s h e l d a t M i n s t e r a c r e s o n F e b r u a r y 1 9 . May he rest in peace. q Fr John Sherrington. q W estminster Cathedral’ s altar during Lent. St Alphonsus’ pra y er M Y  J E S U S , I b e l i e v e t h a t y o u a r e p r e s e n t i n t h i s h o l y sacrament of the altar . I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally , come s p i r i t u a l l y i n t o m y s o u l , s o t h a t I m a y u n i t e m y s e l f w h o l l y to you now and forever . Amen. FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS HARTLEPOOL 191 YORK ROAD • 01429 269000 www.joelkerrfunerals.co.uk Your families are the heart of our business Hartlepool business Awards Winner 2006 Golden Charter Regional Funeral Planner of The Year 2011 Faithfully Serving the Catholic Community “They look ed after m y father lik e one of their o wn. I can`t recommend them highl y enough. ” Jacob Conroy & Son Independent Family Funeral Directors offering a complete and caring Funeral Service PRIVATE CHAPEL OF REST – ALL DENOMINATIONS CARED FOR – MEMORIAL STONES ARRANGED MORPETH: 01670 515521 : info@jacobconroy.co.uk Fenwick House, 8 Manchester Street, Morpeth NE61 1BH GUIDEPOST: Telephone 01670 821 281 Epworth House, 2 High Street, Guide Post, Choppington NE62 5QY PRE-PAYMENT FUNERAL PLANS AVAILABLE �� � �� ����� ��� �� ����� � � ���� ���� ��������� �� �� �� � � � �������� ������ � �� ���� ��� ��� ���� ���� �������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��� ��� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ����� ��� ��������� �� ����� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��� ��� ��� ��� ���� �� � �� ��� ���� �� �������� ����� ���� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ���� ��� � ��� �������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ������� � ���� ��� ���� �� ������� ���� ������ �� ��� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ���� �� ��� ���� ��� ������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ������ ���� � �� ��� ��� ���� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ���� � ����� ������� ���� ��� ����� ���� ��� ��� � ��� ���� ��� ���� ��� ����� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ������ � ������ ������� �� �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ������� � �� ������ ��� � ��� ��� ���� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 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� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��� ��������� ������� ������ � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ������� �� ��� ������� �� ��� ����� ���� ���� ������ � ���� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �������� �� �� �������� � ��� �� ������ �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ����� ���� ������ � ��� �� ��� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��� ��������� ���� �� �������� ���� ��� ���� ��� ���� �� ����� ����� �� ������ �� ��� ��� ��� ��� ����� ������ ������ ���������� �� ���� ���� ���� �� ���� �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ���� �������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 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� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��� �� ��� ����� ���� ��������� � ���� ��� ���� ����� �� �� ��������� ��� ���� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��� �������� ���� ��� � �� ������� �� ��������� ��� ������ ��� ���� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��������� � ��������� ��� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ������ �������� ��� ������ � ��������� ���� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �������� ���� ��� ��� ���� ���� �� �� ���� ��� ��� ���� ���� ���� �� ������ �� �� ����� ��������� �� ���� ����� ��� ��������� ������������ ����� ��� ����� �������� 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22 N or thern Cross April 2020 PRA YE RS www .nor therncross.org.uk 10x4 W atsons 10x2 John G. Hogg Celebrate your loved one’ s life with an obituary tribute in the Northern Cross. W rite to the Editor , enclosing a good-quality photograph where possible. Y ou’ll find our contact details on page 6. W E P R A Y w i t h t h e p o p e e a c h m o n t h , s h a r i n g h i s s p e c i f i c i n t e n - t i o n f o r t h e c h a l l e n g e s t h a t f a c e h u - m a n i t y a n d t h e c h u r c h ’ s m i s s i o n , writes David Stewart SJ. D u r i n g H o l y W e e k a n d t h e E a s t e r triduum, our prayer will be focussed on the coronavirus epidemic. T h e p o p e h a d a l r e a d y s e l e c t e d a n i n t e n t i o n f o r t h i s m o n t h : “ t h a t t h o s e s u f f e r i n g f r o m a d d i c t i o n m a y b e helped and accompanied”. W h e n o u r h e a r t s a r e o p e n t o t h e possibility of prayer , then we can be o p e n t o a l l t h a t h u m a n i t y e x p e r i - ences. W e can all be apostles of prayer . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g i n h u m a n e x p e r i - ence that cannot be the topic or sub- s t a n c e o f o u r p r a y e r . N o t h i n g i s strange or alien to God. Praying with the unexpected Sometimes we have to adapt. A r e w e a n n o y e d b e c a u s e a n e n - forced change is inconvenient? A r e w e o p e n t o r e m e m b e r i n g t h a t others, too, are af fected? Do we hear the call to look out for others, for the common good? M o s t o f u s – i f w e a r e t r u t h f u l – p r o b a b l y e x p e r i e n c e a m i x o f b o t h r e - actions in ourselves. As we look over each day , towards t h e e n d o f e a c h d a y , a s k i n g G o d ’ s Holy Spirit to shed its gentle light on our day , we will recognise when we have been closed in on ourselves. W e s h o u l d t a k e a f e w m o m e n t s o f r e f l e c t i o n , i n t h e I g n a t i a n t r a d i t i o n , i n w h a t i s s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d t h e D a i l y Examen. A s w i t h e v e r y t r a g i c s i t u a t i o n , w e m u s t r e m e m b e r t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f discerning well and praying well, so that the bad spirit has fewer opportu- n i t i e s t o l e a d u s d o w n a p a t h w a y o f despair and hopeless. T h e r e h a s b e e n a l o t o f f e a r – b u t fear is not from God. T h e d a r k n e s s t h a t w e ’ r e l i v i n g through will make us hesitate – what use is prayer or religion? Churches closing down, events and even Masses cancelled. But Christian love, prayer , laughter a n d f r i e n d s h i p h a v e n o t b e e n c a n - celled. T h e c o m p a s s i o n o f t h e h e a r t o f Christ for all of creation – that’ s not cancelled. S o l i d a r i t y , a p i l l a r o f C a t h o l i c S o - cial T eaching, is not cancelled. W e are concerned for the most vul- nerable, who are also often the least able to speak up. W e are not separate – we ARE ea ch other . A s t h i s s i t u a t i o n h a s u n f o l d e d , w e have seen and heard of extraordinary a c t s o f h u m a n k i n d n e s s . E a c h o f these speaks of hope. S t I g n a t i u s i n v i t e s u s i n t o t h e e x - t r e m e s o f t h e P a s s i o n i n s o l i d a r i t y w i t h C h r i s t . H o l y W e e k . G o o d F r i - day . The Stations of the Cross. Some of us will hesitate. S t I g n a t i u s k n e w t h i s , a n d s o s u g - gested that we pray for this grace: to pray to be sorrowful with Christ so r - r o w f u l , f o r a n g u i s h w i t h C h r i s t i n a n - g u i s h , f o r t e a r s a n d d e e p g r i e f b e c a u s e o f w h a t C h r i s t e n d u r e s f o r me, for us. Un i f y y o u r p r a y e r wi t h C h r i st ’ s, f o r he unifies his with yours. K e e p l o o k i n g f o r t h e f a c e o f J e s u s i n a l l o f t h i s ; t u r n t o H i s b l e s s e d m o t h e r w i t h o u r h e a r t f e l t p r a y e r s , f o r her prayers are heartfelt too. I n o u r h e a r t s , o u r s o u l s , w i l l w e l l u p t h a t s p r i n g o f l i v i n g w a t e r , w e l l i n g u p to res urrection and eternal life. Prayer to Our Lady Pope Francis composed this prayer t o M a r y , r e f e r r i n g t o h e r b y t h e R o m a n t i t l e o f M o t h e r o f D i v i n e Love. L e t ’ s p r a y i t w i t h h i m a n d s h a r e i t with anyone who would like to pray it too. O M a r y , y o u s h i n e c o n t i n u o u s l y along our journey as a sign of salva- tion and hope. W e entrust ourselves to you, health o f t h e s i c k , w h o a t t h e c r o s s w e r e n e a r t o t h e p a i n o f J e s u s , k e e p i n g your faith firm. q Catholics watched the extraordinary Urbi et orbi papal address, above, online last month. At W estminster Cathedral, top, one woman prays near the pietà while another lights a candle during the last public Mass. Photos: Mazur/ cbcew .org.uk. Corona virus – one of the greates t c hallenges humanity has faced Y o u , s a l v a t i o n o f t h e R o m a n p e o - p l e , k n o w w h a t w e n e e d a n d w e t r u s t that you will provide for those nee ds s o t h a t , a s a t C a n a i n G a l i l e e , j o y a n d celebration may return after this mo- ment of trial. H e l p u s , M o t h e r o f D i v i n e L o v e , t o conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us. H e t o o k o u r s u f f e r i n g s o n h i m s e l f and took up our sorrows to bring us, t h r o u g h t h e c r o s s , t o t h e j o y o f t h e resurrection. W e seek refuge under your protec- tion, O Holy Mother of God. Amen. l T h e P o p e V i d e o i s a n o f f i c i a l g l o b a l i n i t i a t i v e t o d i s s e m i n a t e t h e Holy Father ’ s monthly intentions. It i s c a r r i e d o u t b y t h e P o p e ’ s W o r l d - w i d e P r a y e r N e t w o r k ( A p o s t l e s h i p o f P r a y e r ) .  T o f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t i t , log on to thepopevideo.or g. W hic kh a m 0191 488 7700 D uns t o n 0191 460 8629 G a t e s h e a d 0191 477 1484 N e w c a s tle 0191 281 3903 0191 477 1484 AÊTraditionÊ ofÊTrust Chapels of Rest at... Pallion 0191 514 2744 Hendon 0191 514 7012 Farringdon 0191 511 0028 Dedicated 24 Hour Service to all areas www.johnghogg.co.uk OF SUNDERLAND

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23 N or thern Cross April 2020 PE TITIONS www .nor therncross.org.uk WELCOME to Prayers and Petitions – a Northern Cross free service to readers. Please feel able to participate in our open prayers, published here in the hope that our readers will peruse them and add their prayers to yours and ours for the improvement asked for in the published petition. W rite out your prayers or petitions and send them to: Prayers and Petitions, Northern Cross, St Anne’ s Presbytery , 43 W e lbeck A venue, Darlington DL1 2DR. No payment is required, but please add your name and address to show your good intent. Names and addresses need not be published (unless you wish them to be), but initials are generally a requirement. A petition may be continued for more than one month, but you will need to indicate if it should continue and supply a telephone number so the topicality of the prayer can be checked. Pra y er s & P etit ions A little reminder H O L Y F A T H E R ’ S P R A Y - E R I N T E N T I O N F O R A P R I L : U n i v e r s a l p r a y e r i n t e n t i o n – f r e e d o m f r o m addiction. W e pray that those suf fer - ing from addiction may be helped and accompanied. W E P R A Y f o r B i s h o p R o b e r t B y r n e , t h e 1 4 t h B i s h o p o f t h e d i o c e s e o f H e x h a m a n d N e w c a s t l e . M a y t h e L o r d g u i d e h i m a n d m a y o u r p e o p l e s u p p o r t h i m a n d c o n t i n u e t o m a k e him feel welcome. WE PRA Y for all of those a f f e c t e d b y c o r o n a v i r u s . W e p r a y t h a t t h e y w i l l r e - cover from their illness and also for the continued care provided by NHS workers, f a m i l y m e m b e r s a n d o t h e r s . P L E A S E P R A Y f o r t h e health and wellbeing of all of the priests in our diocese for the month ahead. P L E A S E P R A Y f o r R o b e r t , B r i a n , J o h n , M i c h a e l , A l a n a n d D a v i d . M a y t h e i r h e a r t s c o n t i n u e to be healed. W E P R A Y f o r t h e p o o r a n d t h e l o n e l y i n o u r d i o - cese, who have few people to turn to for comfort. P R A Y E R S P L E A S E f o r T e r e s a , h e r f a m i l y a n d a l l those who care for her . W E P R A Y f o r t h e c o n t i n - uing work of the Little Sis- t e r s o f t h e P o o r i n Newcastle. P L E A S E P R A Y f o r t h e sick and the elderly , partic- ularly those who are parted f r o m t h e i r f a m i l i e s o r friends at this time. WE PRA Y for all of those w o r k i n g i n t h e h o s p i c e s i n o u r d i o c e s e , w h o s e l o v e a n d t e n d e r n e s s c o u n t e r t h e suf fering of so many . W E P R A Y f o r a l l t h o s e being helped by the St V in- cent de Paul Society in our d i o c e s e a n d a r o u n d t h e world. W E P R A Y f o r t h e d e d i - c a t e d s e r v i c e o f t h o s e i n o u r diocese who are helping to run food banks for those in n e e d . W e p r a y t h a t p e o p l e c o n t i n u e t o k i n d l y d o n a t e t o these good causes and give t h e i r t i m e t o h e l p w h e n t h e y can. F A T H E R , t h a n k y o u f o r a l l those men and women who h a v e g i v e n t h e i r t a l e n t s t o e d u c a t i n g o u r y o u n g p e o - ple. T h r o u g h t h e c h a l l e n g e s t h e y e n c o u n t e r e a c h d a y , lead them to an ever deeper a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e s a c r e d d u t y t o w h i c h y o u h a v e called them. W e g i v e t h a n k s f o r t h e i n - v a l u a b l e w o r k o f a l l t h o s e w h o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e e f f i - c i e n t r u n n i n g o f o u r s c h o o l s ; s u p p o r t s t a f f , k i t c h e n s t a f f , m a i n t e n a n c e s t a f f , g o v e r n o r s a n d c h a p - lains. W e t h a n k t h e m f o r t h e i r h a r d w o r k a n d d e d i c a t i o n and we pray that they may c o n t i n u e t o w o r k i n s u p p o r t of our schools. T h a n k y o u f o r a l l t h o s e w h o l e a d o u r C a t h o l i c s c h o o l s . M a y t h e y b e p e o - ple of integrity so that they can be witnesses as well as teachers. W e p r a y t h a t t h e s c h o o l s t h e y l e a d w i l l b e c o m e p l a c e s w h e r e o u r y o u n g p e o p l e c a n e x p e r i e n c e y o u r love in their lives. T h a n k y o u f o r o u r C a t h o l i c s c h o o l s . H e l p u s to pray without cea sing, to w o r k w i t h o u t w a v e r i n g a n d to give without grudging in o r d e r t o e n s u r e t h e f u t u r e o f C a t h o l i c e d u c a t i o n f o r a l l of our children. W e m a k e t h i s p r a y e r t h r o u g h y o u r S o n , J e s u s Christ, our teacher and our Lord. Amen. W E P R A Y f o r t h e w o r k o f a l l t h o s e a t T h e R o a d C e n t r e a n d f o r t h o s e w h o a r e s t r u g - g l i n g w i t h m e n t a l h e a l t h p r o b l e m s i n o u r d i o c e s e . W E P R A Y f o r y o u n g M i c h a e l , w h o i s g r o w i n g s t r o n g e r e v e r y d a y . F o r t h a t we give thanks. WE PRA Y for the soul of M a r y , a g o o d f r i e n d t o a l l . M a y s h e r e s t i n p e a c e a n d m a y p e r p e t u a l l i g h t s h i n e upon her . W E P R A Y f o r p e a c e f u l and thriving diocesan part- n e r s h i p s f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e year . P L E A S E P R A Y f o r t h e s o u l s o f o u r d e a r l y d e - parted. May perpetual light shine upon them. P R A Y E R S P L E A S E f o r a l l o f t h e p a t i e n t s i n h o s p i - t a l s a n d c a r e h o m e s i n t h e d i o c e s e o f H e x h a m a n d N e w c a s t l e . W e p r a y f o r t h o s e w h o h a v e n o - o n e t o v i s i t t h e m a n d f o r t h o s e w h o h a v e n o - o n e t o t a l k t o d u r i n g t h e l o n g d a y s a n d n i g h t s . W e a l s o p r a y f o r a l l o f t h e n u r s e s , d o c t o r s a n d h e a l t h c a r e w o r k e r s w h o g i v e t h e m c a r e a n d l o v e . W e p r a y f o r t h e i r c o n t i n u e d g o o d h e a l t h a n d t h a n k t h e m f o r t h e d i f f i c u l t w o r k t h e y d o . WE PRA Y for the soul of Jimmy Crook. May he rest i n p e a c e a n d p e r p e t u a l l i g h t shine upon him. 10x3 Northern Cross Of fice 10x1 ASA April 2: St Francis of Paola, hermit April 4: St Isidore, bishop and doctor of the Church April 5: P ALM SUNDA Y OF THE P ASSION OF THE LORD April 6: MONDA Y OF HOL Y WEEK April 7: TUESDA Y OF HOL Y WEEK April 8: WEDNESDA Y OF HOL Y WEEK April 9: MAUNDY THURSDA Y April 10: GOOD FRIDA Y April 1 1: HOL Y SA TURDA Y April 12: EASTER SUNDA Y April 13: EASTER MONDA Y April 14: EASTER TUESDA Y April 15: EASTER WEDNES- DA Y April 16: EASTER  THURSDA Y April 17: EASTER FRIDA Y April 18: EASTER SA TURDA Y April 19 SECOND SUNDA Y OF EASTER April 20-April 22: WEEKDA YS OF EASTER April 23: St George, martyr and patron of England – solemnity April 24: St Adalbert, bishop and martyr April 25: St Mark, evangelist – feast April 26: THIRD SUNDA Y OF EASTER April 28: St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, priest April 29: St Catherine of Siena, virgin, doctor of the Church a nd patron of Europe – feast April 30: St Pius V , pope, religious W E P R A Y f o r t h e s o u l o f F r a n c a W a r r i n g t o n . M a y s h e r e s t i n p e a c e a n d p e r - petual light shine upon her . P L E A S E P R A Y F O R T H E P R I S O N E R S w h o a r e a l o n e a n d h a v e n o - o n e to talk to. W e pray that the H o l y S p i r i t w i l l h e a l t h e m and comfort them. God, in H i s d i v i n e m e r c y , l o v e s e a c h o n e o f t h e m a s H i s c h i l d r e n . M a k e t h e m a w a r e , t o o , o f t h e i r o w n p e r s o n a l d i g n i t y w h o s e p u r p o s e i n l i f e i s t o l o v e a n d b e l o v e d b y G o d a n d others. P R A Y f o r t h e g o o d h e a l t h o f r e t i r e d B i s h o p S e a m u s Cunningham. W E T H A N K G O D f o r t h o s e r e t i r e d p r i e s t s o f o u r d i o c e s e w h o f o r g o t h e i r w e l l - e a r n e d r e s t t o c o m e a n d s a y M a s s i n m a n y p a r i s h e s . L o r d , g i v e t h e m s t r e n g t h a n d s t a m i n a t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r v a l u a b l e m i n i s t r y t o y o u r p e o p l e . J S . P L E A S E P R A Y f o r t h e s o u l o f A n d r e w L o n g w o r t h , 1978-2018. May he rest in pe ace. Amen. P L E A S E P R A Y f o r h e l p f o r a l l w h o a r e l o n e l y , u n - w e l l o r a r e a f r a i d o r t r o u - bled in mind. Pray too that we will be aware of people who need help and do what we can for them. P R A Y E R S P L E A S E f o r t h o s e a t s e a a n d f o r t h e g o o d w o r k s o f t h e A p o s t l e s h i p o f t h e S e a a n d i t s c h a p l a i n s . H E X H A M A N D N E W - C A S T L E D I O C E S A N P A R T N E R S H I P P R A Y E R : G o d o f a l l c r e - a t i o n , y o u h a v e c o n s t a n t l y p o u r e d o u t y o u r S p i r i t u p o n o u r d i o c e s e a n d k i n d l e d a l i g h t w h i c h h a s s p r e a d throughout the world. Lo r d J es u s , y o u g ath er ed d i s c i p l e s t o y o u r s e l f t o l e a r n f r o m y o u a n d t o m o d e l t h e i r l i v e s o n y o u . Y o u r H o l y S p i r i t e m p o w - ered them to continue your work in the world. C o m e u p o n u s , H o l y Spirit, deepen the faith you i n v i t e u s t o s h a r e a n d i n - spire us to become faithful witnesses. H e l p e a c h o n e o f u s t o u s e the gifts you give us to nur - t u r e o n e a n o t h e r , t o s e r v e t h e w o r l d a n d t o l i v e i n h a r - m o n y w i t h t h e w h o l e o f creation. A l l o f t h i s w e a s k i n t h e n a m e o f O u r L o r d J e s u s Christ. Amen. A LITTLE reminder of feasts and days of special prayer during April. Celebrate your loved one’ s life with an obituary tribute in the Northern Cross. W rite to the editor , enclosing a good-quality photograph where possible. Our contact details are on page 6. T alking buses wheeled out across the North East B L I N D a n d p a r t i a l l y - s i g h t e d p e o p l e i n t h e reg i o n h ave w el co med a n ew fleet of 18 talking buses. B us c ompany S t agec oach has been w o r k i n g w i t h c h a r i t i e s t h e R o y a l N a - tional Institute of Blind People, Guide D o g s a n d N e w c a s t l e V i s i o n S u p p o r t t o i m p r o v e t h e a c c e s s i b i l i t y o f t h e i r services. T ogether they created plans to intro- duce buses with audio systems which ann ounce the next stops for passen- ger s s o t hat people wit h v is ion im pair - m e n t d o n ’ t h a v e t o r e l y o n a s k i n g o t h e r p e o p l e o r t h e d r i v e r f o r g u i d - ance. L e w i s W i n t o n , t h e R N I B ’ s r e g i o n a l c a m p a i g n s o f f i c e r , s a i d : “ F o r p e o p l e who can’t drive, including those regis- tered sight impaired, public buses re- ally are a lifeline. “They enable people to get to work, m e e t f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s , t a k e p a r t i n e v e r y d a y l e i s u r e a c t i v i t i e s a n d r e m a i n independent. “ H o w e v e r , t h e u n c e r t a i n t y o f w h e t h e r y o u ’ v e g o t t h e r i g h t b u s , w h e r e y o u a r e o n y o u r j o u r n e y o r w h e n y o u r s t o p is coming up makes bus travel need- l e s s l y d i f f i c u l t f o r b l i n d a n d p a r t i a l l y - s i g h t e d p e o p l e u s i n g t h i s e s s e n t i a l form of transport. “ A u d i o a n n o u n c e m e n t s o n b u s s e s m a k e a r e a l d i f f e r e n c e t o t r a v e l l e r s w i t h v i s i o n i m p a i r m e n t , e n a b l i n g t h e m t o t r a v e l i n d e p e n d e n t l y w i t h c o n f i d e n c e . “ W e ’ r e t h r i l l e d S t a g e c o a c h h a s i n t r o - d u c e d t h e s e n e w t a l k i n g b u s e s t o t h e i r f l e e t a n d h o p e o t h e r b u s p r o v i d e r s take the opportunity to follow suit.” D a v i d S h a r p , c o m m e r c i a l m a n a g e r f o r S t a g e c o a c h N o r t h E a s t , s a i d : “ I a m d e l i g h t e d t h a t o u r l a t e s t b u s a r r i v a l s f e a t u r e s u c h s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t t e c h n o l - o g y , i n c l u d i n g l o w e m i s s i o n E u r o V I e n g i n e s , l a r g e r e a r d e s t i n a t i o n s c r e e n s a n d a u d i o v i s u a l n e x t s t o p a n n o u n c e m e n t s w i t h s c r o l l i n g L E D displays. “A great deal of work has gone into making the next stop announcements as clear and as informative as possi- ble, and we are extremely grateful to t he RNI B f or t ak ing t he t ime and ef f or t to experience them in a live environ- m e n t a n d o f f e r i n g v a l u a b l e f e e d b a c k a s t o h o w t h e y m a y b e i m p r o v e d going forward.” q Blind and partially-sighted passengers prepare to board one of the new buses in Newcastle. Keeping advertising standards high OK, so we’re better at removing bad ads than making good ones. Q14 5x2 Classified Ad mono The Advertising Standards Authority Telephone 020 7492 2222 www.asa.org.uk Q14 5x2 Classified Ad mono 13/9/05 11: OK, so we’re better at removing bad ads than making good ones. The Advertising Standards Authority Telephone 0207402222 www.asa.org.uk What’s happening each month at your school? COMING SOON Let our readers know of key events such as fundraisers, concerts and sports days, plus term dates Contact Claire Robson on 01325 464 008 or norcross@ btconnect.com to book your space

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Northern Cross April 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 24 www.northerncross.org.uk EMERGENCY APPEAL TO SUPPORT CARE HOME STAFF AND RESIDENTS The Little Sisters of the Poor have launched a vital fundraising appeal, in response to the increasing pressures faced by St Joseph’s Care Home during the current COVID - 19 pandemic. The Little Sisters of the Poor are a charity committed to providing safe accommodation and professional care for vulnerable older people, and in these unprecedented times, our staff and volunteers are going above and beyond to make sure that this high qual ity care continues. However, due to the recent Government restrictions, St Joseph’s Care Home in Newcastle has been forced to implement emergency measures to aid efforts to fight the Coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, along with residential visitatio ns, this also includes cancelling charity events and collections which has had a massive impact on the donations we rely on to help with our increasing running costs. We are appealing for your crucial support at this uncertain time, to help us safeguard our Homes and meet the ever - evolving needs of our Sisters, staff and residents. Your crucial donations will enable us to purchase extra essential Personal Protective Equipment such as gloves, sanitising gel, eye protection, face masks, safety clothing and chemical cleaning products to ensure we can continue to comply with all health and safety regulations. All donations, no matter what size, will be very gratefully received and will make a real difference to the lives of our vulnerable elderly resident s. Cheques made payable to ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’ or PPE supplies can be sent to; St Joseph’s Home, Westmoreland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7QA. Alternatively, you can make a secure, online donation, by visiting; littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk/dona te - here/. Thank you so much

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25 N or thern Cross April 2020 CL UBS www .nor therncross.org.uk Benedictine Catholic Club 6x3 Hebburn Iona Club 7x3 T yneside Irish Club 7x3 MEETINGS of the National asso- c i a t i o n o f C a t h o l i c c l u b s a l w a y s open and close with a prayer . N o d o u b t d e l e g a t e s t o t h e M a r c h g a t h e r i n g a t N o r t h S h i e l d s w o u l d h a v e p r a y e d f o r t h e s a f e k e e p i n g o f a l l c l u b g o e r s f r o m t h e a p p r o a c h i n g virus infection. T h e y h a d n o i d e a , h o w e v e r , t h e virus threat would cancel the spring m e e t i n g o r t h a t t h e p r a y e r w o u l d widen to include the safekeeping of clubs themselves. T h e v i r u s p o s e s p r o b a b l y t h e g r e a t - est threat ever faced by clubland. T h e n o t i c e p o s t e d o n W a l l s e n d ’ s L i n d i s f a r n e S o c i a l C l u b ’ s w e b s i t e succinctly sums up the general state o f p l a y . I t r e a d s : “ I m p o r t a n t m e s s a g e to all members. Due to the unprece- d e n t e d s i t u a t i o n w e n o w f a c e w i t h t h e C O V I D - 1 9 v i r u s a n d t h e g o v e r n - m e n t ’ s r e c e n t g u i d e l i n e s , t h e c o m - m i t t e e h a s t a k e n t h e d e c i s i o n t o c l o s e the club until further notice. Signed: Secretary N J Huscroft.” H e b b u r n I o n a S o c i a l C l u b s a i d : “ D u e t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s a n n o u n c e - m e n t t h i s e v e n i n g , t h e c l u b w i l l b e s h u t f r o m t o m o r r o w u n t i l f u r t h e r n o - t i c e . “ A n y b o o k i n g s m a d e f o r t h e c o n - cert room over the next few weeks, and for however long this lasts, will o b v i o u s l y n o t b e a b l e t o g o a h e a d . W e w i s h a l l o u r m e m b e r s a n d g u e s t s t h e b e s t o f h e a l t h t h r o u g h t h i s i n - c r e d i b l y d i f f i c u l t p e r i o d a n d w e l o o k f o r w a r d t o w e l c o m i n g e v e r y o n e back when we are able to do so.” A t S o u t h S h i e l d s C a t h o l i c C l u b s e c r e t a r y M i c h a e l S l e i g h t h o l m e o u t - l i n e d t h e s c e n e f o r C l u b s C r o s s a t t h e start of the second day of shutdown. H e s a i d : “ W e w i l l b e h o l d i n g w e e k l y c o m m i t t e e a n d s t a f f m e e t - i n g s t o l e t s t a f f k n o w a b o u t t h e i r p a y . W e h a v e h a d n o c o n t a c t f r o m H M R C o r t h e l o c a l a u t h o r i t y a b o u t h o w t o a p p l y f o r o r i m p l e m e n t t h e f i - nancial help measures mentioned in the press. “Our concert room, normally well s u p p o r t e d b y p e o p l e w h o w o u l d b e classed in the vulnerable age group, w a s v e r y q u i e t b y c o m p a r i s o n t o other weeks.” A t N o r t h S h i e l d s , s e c r e t a r y T o m T urner said the shutdown meant 12 or 14 parties had to be disappointed a s w e l l a s a m o n t h l y p e n s i o n e r s ’ T u e s d a y e n t e r t a i n m e n t , w e e k l y T h u r s d a y b i n g o n i g h t s , a V E D a y anniversary party in April and even a c h i l d r e n ’ s E a s t e r e g g p a r t y o n Easter Sunday . “All the eggs are bought,” T om re- p o r t e d … w i t h t h e a f t e r t h o u g h t : “ T h e y a l l h a v e a J u l y b e s t - b e f o r e date on them!” T h e c l u b ’ s c o m m i t t e e w i l l r e v i e w t h e s i t u a t i o n m o n t h l y b u t h a d a l - r e a d y d e c i d e d t o s u p p o r t s t a f f throughout the closedown – a deci- s i o n m a d e e a s i e r b y t h e C h a n c e l l o r ’ s l a t e r a n n o u n c e m e n t t o m e e t 8 0 p e r cent of all staf f wag es. B e e r a n d d r i n k s s t o c k s h a d b e e n a n o t h e r c o n c e r n , b u t s e c r e t a r y T o m ’ s p r e d e c e s s o r J o e C a r t w r i g h t c o n - f i r m e d N o r t h S h i e l d s c o m m i t t e e ’ s immediate reaction to Prime Minis- t e r J o h n s o n ’ s c l o s u r e o r d e r . A f r e e - d r i n k s n i g h t w a s d e c l a r e d , w o r d spread rapidly , and it became a very busy night. Said Joe: “It was like an old-style New Y ear ’ s Eve!” B r i a n M a r s h , s p o r t s a n d s o c i a l s e c - r e t a r y a t L i n d i s f a r n e S o c i a l C l u b said he was upset that the funeral re- c e p t i o n o f a c l u b m e m b e r o f m o r e than 40 years’ standing was thrown i n t o c o n f u s i o n f o r t h e M o n d a y f o l - lowing the closedown. M o t h e r s ’ D a y m e a l s i n L i n d i s - farne’ s restaurant – “stowed out last y e a r a n d f u l l y b o o k e d t h i s t i m e ” – had taken a crushing blow , Brian re- ported, but the kitchen team had had t h e f o r e t h o u g h t t h e p r e v i o u s S u n d a y t o a n n o u n c e a h o m e d e l i v e r y s e r v i c e f o r S u n d a y d i n n e r s i f r e s t r i c t i o n s closed the restaurant. President Docherty didn’ t want to s o u n d a g l o o m y n o t e a b o u t t h e f u - t u r e . H e s a i d : “ I w a n t t o w i s h a l l clubs the best of luck and ask them t o k e e p s a f e a n d h e a l t h y – w e ’ l l come through this. It’ s going to be a l o n g a n d h a r d t i m e . L e t ’ s h o p e t h i s is not the end of clubland. W e need the revenue coming in at some point to survive.” S e c r e t a r y - t r e a s u r e r L i v e t t w a s s a n - guine about the future: “T o me, this n o w e n f o r c e d c l o s u r e c o u l d b e t h e death knell for some of the smaller , s t r u g g l i n g C a t h o l i c C l u b s , a l o n g with other outlets, companies in the s u p p l y c h a i n , m i c r o - p u b s a n d m i c r o - breweries. “ T h a t i s t h e s a m e f o r a l l N A C C delegates, club members and family a n d f r i e n d s . I t i s a m a j o r u p h e a v a l a n d l i f e - c h a n g i n g s i t u a t i o n , b u t w e a l l m u s t b e s t r o n g , s t a y s a f e a n d l o o k after each other . “ I a l w a y s s a y a p r a y e r f o r t h e a s s o - c i a t i o n a n d t h e c l u b s a t M a s s e a c h w e e k e n d , b u t n o w w i t h n o m o r e M a s s e s , t h e y w i l l s t i l l b e i n m y t h o u g h t s w h e n I s p e n d s o m e q u i e t reflection time sitting at home.” I t w a s l e f t t o H e a t o n S t T e r e s a ’ s C a t h o l i c C l u b i n N e w c a s t l e t o s o u n d the ray of hope in a depressing sto- ryline. Secretary Brian Dale revealed the club was on the ver ge on closing its d o o r s f o r g o o d a f e w m o n t h s a g o w h e n t h e m a n a g e m e n t c o m m i t t e e decided to sell the space upstairs to be developed as two apartments. That provided homes for two fam- ilies and funds to enable the club to refurbish the ground floor . B r i a n s a i d a d o p t i n g p u b - s t y l e d é c o r a n d f i t t i n g c l e a r - g l a s s w i n - d o w s – d o i n g a w a y w i t h t h e o l d f r o s t e d g l a s s – h a d t r a n s f o r m e d t h e club, its revenue and its fortunes. T h e s t u d e n t p o p u l a t i o n a n d l o c a l r e s i d e n t s s u d d e n l y b e g a n u s i n g t h e c l u b , l e a d i n g t o B r i a n ’ s t h o u g h t s t h a t t h i s m i g h t b e t h e w a y f o r w a r d f o r clubland to re-invent itself. Brian said the fortunes of the club w e r e r e a l l y i m p r o v i n g o v e r f o u r o r f i v e m o n t h s , i n c l u d i n g e m p l o y i n g t w o m o r e s t a f f d u r i n g t h e s t e w - ardess’ illness – but that was before the national shutdown. “ I t ’ s a h a m m e r b l o w r e a l l y , ” h e s a i d , b e f o r e a d d i n g h e h o p e d t h e c l u b w o u l d b e a b l e t o o f f e r a t a k e - out service of two-pint jugs of beer like in the old days. T o h e l p s t o c k c o n t r o l , t h e f i n a l n i g h t ’ s b a r o f f e r e d b e e r a t £ 1 a p i n t . THE March meeting of the National A s s o c i a t i o n o f C a t h o l i c C l u b s w a s cancelled due to the COVID-19 out- b r e a k – a n d O c t o b e r ’ s n a t i o n a l i n - door games in Rochdale will not go ahead. N a t i o n a l s e c r e t a r y G a r y L i v e t t s a i d h e h a d l i t t l e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e t o r e p o r t , b u t h a d i n t e n d e d t o d i s c u s s t h e f u t u r e o f Chester-le-Street Catholic Club which h a d a p p e a r e d i n a r e c e n t F a c e b o o k post. “ F i n a n c i a l l y t h e r e h a v e b e e n n o m a j o r changes,” said the secretary who dou- b l e s a s t r e a s u r e r , o t h e r t h a n t h e r e c e i p t of £1 , 0 0 0 f r o m L W C T e e s s i d e , t h e b e e r a n d d r i n k s s u p p l i e r w h i c h s p o n s o r e d t h e 2 0 1 8 i n d o o r g a m e s a t H a r t l e p o o l . G a r y a l s o h o l d s a s u p p l y o f t h e J a n u - a r y A B C b u l l e t i n f r o m t h e A l l i a n c e o f B r i t i s h C l u b s . A n y c l u b w h i c h w o u l d l i k e a c o p y c a n e m a i l n a c c 8 5 9 @ a o l . c o m t o r e q u e s t o n e . A B C c h a i r m a n E d d i e C h a r n l e y f r o m Manchester had mailed his report but it hadn’t reached the secretary . “ O n s p e a k i n g t o h i m a b o u t t h e c a n - celling of our meeting, he advised that t h e A B C h a s a l s o s u s p e n d e d t h e i r meetings,” Gary reported. R o c h d a l e C a t h o l i c C l u b a l s o h a d t o p o s t p o n e i t s M a r c h A G M , b u t m o s t c l u b c o n s t i t u t i o n s p r o v i d e f o r a n 1 8 - month period to stage AGMs. H e a l s o f e l t t h e g o v e r n m e n t d e c i s i o n s o n t h e d e f e r m e n t o f V A T p a y m e n t s a n d h e l p w i t h w a g e b i l l s w o u l d h e l p c l u b s t o s u r v i v e . M a n y m i g h t u s e t h e d o w n t i m e t o w o r k o n D I Y p r o j e c t s t o c l u b premises. L I N D I S F A R N E S o c i a l C l u b h a s a n - n o u n c e d i t s s e c r e t a r y , B o b T r a i n , h a s h a d t o s t e p d o w n b e c a u s e o f i l l - ness. Elected in his place i s Nigel Huscroft, a L i b - D e m c o u n c i l l o r o n N o r t h T y n e - side Council. Bob has agreed to remain a member o f t h e c l u b ’ s m a n a g e m e n t c o m m i t t e e w h i l e t h e h a n d o v e r t o N i g e l t a k e s place. The club also has a new chair- man after Joe T aylor resigned to cope with an urgent family illness. Club delegates and officers play catch-up on cancelled meeting Corona virus closures are a ‘hammer blo w’ to clubs – but there’s a r a y o f h o p e f r o m Heaton Happier days – club delegates outside North Shields Catholic Club two years ago. The March clubs association meeting had to be cancelled to comply with coronavirus isolation rules. by Clubs Editor Tyneside Irish Centre 43 GALLOWGATE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE1 4SG www.tynesideirishcentre.com Closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please call the club or check northerncross.org.uk or Facebook for updates BENEDICTINE CATHOLIC SOCIAL CENTRE GLENLUCE DRIVE, CRAMLINGTON. TEL. 01670 - 714694 Station Road, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear NE31 1PN www.hebburniona.co.uk - e mail hebburn.iona.club@gmail.com (0191 483 2773 Hebburn Iona Club Closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please call the club or check northerncross.org.uk or Facebook for updates CONCERT ROOM CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

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Roll of Honour In Memoriam 26 Northern Cross April 2020 CLASSIFIED Family announcements are always welcome in your Classified Cross PERSONAL messages and announcements are welcomed from readers. These will be listed under classified headings each month. Pre-payment at the rate of 28p a word, inclusive of VAT, is requested. But an invoice can be sent to advertisers if requested in advance. Particularly welcome will be any acknowledgements, announcements of births, deaths and marriages, public notices, thanksgivings and intercessions. Birthdays Wedding anniversary HERE’S your own easy-to-complete form to write out your CROSS CLASSIFIED advertisements. WRITE one word in each box then send it to CROSS CLASSIFIED, Northern Cross Office, St Anne’s Presbytery, 43 Welbeck Avenue, Darlington DL1 2DR. Tel: 01325 464008. Please make cheques/PO payable to NORTHERN CROSS and put your address on the back 1st line 2nd line 3rd line 4th line 5th line 6th line 7th line Items for Sale www.northerncross.org.uk £1.40 £2.80 £4.20 £5.60 £7.00 £8.40 £9.80 BAILEY: sounds like it will be a lockdown birthday, Colette, on April 13, but still a happy one. We’ll share in your virtual cake and hope to have the video conference set up by then. You could christen it the Corona Suite! Love, Mum and Dad BAILEY: a very happy birthday on April 23, Thea. Loves you lots and we hope it will be a memorable day for you in the present lockdown alert. Fifteen ways to celebrate at home alone with Mum and Dad maybe! Love from Nana and Poppa BUTLER  Catherine Margaret. Grateful memories of Cath, of Hartlepool and Jersey. On April 17, her birthday, and on April 23, her fourth anniversary. Love bears, believes, hopes and endures. Love never ends. Cath’s Mum and Family PLEASE RE - MEMBER the following in your prayers MARCH 1958 Bishop Joseph McCormack 1997 Frank Brennan 2004 Fr Adrian Dowling 2008 Bishop Kevin Dunn MCCABE, Joe and Valerie – congratulations on your 22nd anniversary on April 18. It will certainly be a little different this year and memorable for the way you coped with the coronavirus alert. We gather you still have the video recording of the wedding in St Cuthbert’s at Chester-le-Street. Will there be a screening when life returns to normal after Covid-19? Love, Maureen and JohnB BUTLER, Cath, on April 23, 2016 – first management board secretary in the 1980s revival of Northern Cross and still a treasured memory among friends and colleagues at the paper. RIP – Maureen and JohnB KELLY, Rosaline, on April 11 – remembered fondly by all your surviving pals at Northern Cross who still benefit from your past generosity to the paper. The crossword competition isn’t quite the same without that faithful Irish entry. RIP – Maureen and JohnB NEENAN , Marjorie Dorema on April 6, 2009, aged 92. The head of our family for so many years, your grace and dignity live on, along with happy memories of family and church life in Burntwood, Chasetown and later Chase Terrace in Clergy of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese Please pray for the repose of the souls of the priests of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese whose anniversaries occur this month.  REMEMBER in your prayers those priests of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese whose anniversaries are this month April 1: Rev Francis Duffy; April 2: Rev John Duggan, Rev Joseph Connolly; April 6: Rev Francis McKenna; April 8: Canon Thomas Murray, Rev Henry Higgins; April 9: Rev Richard Crawford; April 10: Rev Henry Mackin, Canon John Bell; April 11: Rev Joseph McLeary; April 15: Rev Paul Harrison; April 16: Rev William Meagher; April 17: Rev James Keyy, Rev Arthur Wills, Rev James McKenny, Rev Thomas McCormack; April 19: Rev Christopher Rice; April 21: Rev Francis Rice; April 23: Rev Daniel Keane, Rev Osmund Curry; April 24: Rev Austin Pickering: April 26: Rev Martin McBrien; April 27: Canon Thomas Gaughan, Rev Denis O’Kane, Rev Lawrence Jones; April 29: Rev Michael O’Herlihy; April 30: Mgr Martin Campbell. May they rest in peace. l Northern Cross accepts no liability for the reliability of goods offered for sale. E L E C T R I C MASSAGE CUSHION unused £15. Blackhall 0191 5871552 ELECTRIC STEAM CLEANER with attachements, floor, kitchen, bathroom etc. £20. Blackhall 0191 5871552 NATHAN coffee table. Good condition. £25. Blackhall 0191 5871552 ANTLER shopping/ travel trolley bag, black/ red. Good condition. £10. Blackhall 0191 5871552 PORTMERION . 6 cups, 6 saucers, teapot, milk jug, sugar basin. Pomona Fruit salad design. As new. £50. Blackhall 0191 5871552 Staffordshire. – Maureen, Patrick, John, Dorothy (Dot) and Catherine (Kate) 2011 Leo Dillon APRIL 1982 Lily Mirley 2002 George Heron 2008 Bill Allinson 2011 Betty Wilcox 2011 Kath Monaghan 2012 Pauline Mahoney 2014 Kevin Rowntree 2016 Cath Butler MAY 1986 Len Woodley 2003 Sheila Crowther 2009 Joan Wilson 2011 Terence Wynn 2016 Gloria Hughes 2016 Pat Stott 2017 Barbara Gray 2018 Brian Nicholls Latest Roll of Honour is available from the Northern Cross office on 01325 464008 AIR COMPRESOR. Stanley 24ltr Air Compressor 1.5HP electric. Brand new with lots of tools. Light and compact, oil free lubrication. £60. Boldon 0191 5194952 WEDDING OUTFIT. Pink wedding outfit, as new. Size 18. Beautiful ¾ Jacket embroidered lapels. Straight dress, short sleeves, length 44”. £40. Wallsend. 0191 2629087. SINGLE REMOTE CONTROL BED. Remote control rising bed, approx. 95cm x 195cm. Very little use. £195 ono. Hartlepool collection. Contact 01642 647425 RISE AND RECLINE CHAIR. Good condition. Brown fabric. Hartlepool Collection. Contact 01642 647425 COLLECTION of brass objects. Kettle, small milk can, 2 small plates, 4 candlesticks (2 large 2 small ) £40. Willington 01388746412 ERCOL occasional table. Dark wood. Excellent condition. £45. Willington 01388746412 3 CAMERA TRIPODS. £25.00 each or all 3 for £60.00 ono Blackhall 0191 5864173 C E L E S T R O N BINOCULARS 25x70. £60.00 ono Blackhall 0191 5864173 ACUTER GRAND VISTA spotting scopy, Brand new. 22-67 x 100m, includes carry case. £120.00 ono. Blackhall 0191 5864173 CITROEN SPACE SAVER spare wheel & tyre. T125/85 R16. Never used. £25.00 ono. Blackhall 0191 5864173 AFTERNOON TEA SET. 6 cups & saucers, 6 tea plates, Teapot, sugar basin, milk jug. White with pink rosebud design. New Condition. £35 Blackhall 01915871552 SLEEPING BAG. Adult size, thick comfort range 21.7c, protects against freezing with thermal collar & hood. New Condition. £15 Blackhall 0191 5871552 KITCHEN CHAIRS . Four Kitchen Chairs, Black Chrome. Collection only. £60. Whickham 0191 4885062 R A L E I G H ELECTRIC BIKE . Nine months old. Offers nearest £400. Tel 07557006987 LLADRO porcelain, 2 pieces, with box, as new. £75 Gateshead 01914693473 CREAM RUG, never used. £10 Gateshead 01914693473 BROWN LEATHER high back Georgian chair. Good condition. £95. Blackhall 01915181341 DINING CHAIRS. 6 folding dining chairs with upholstered seats. Will separate. Hartlepool 01429 295261 HEADBOARD , double size, ranch style solid light wood, as new £20. Blackhall 0191 5871552 INDESIT washer, good working order. Collection only £45. Peterlee 07510992013 WICKER CHAIRS. 3 wicker chairs, cushions with loose zipped covers. Suitable for conservatory. Excellent condition, £30 each, willing to separate. Bishop Auckland 01388 309350. MASSAGER, Infra- red hand held massager, ideal for Aches and pains. As new £ 5. Blackhall 191 5871552 MICRO electronic fitness belt. Boxed as new £5. Blackhall 0191 5871552 SLIM SHAPE face and body toner. Boxed as new £5. Blackhall 0191 5871552 LADIES GOLF SHOES Etonic Lite , size 5 , never used. £40. Whitley Bay 0191 2529915. A C O U S T I C S GUITAR . Fender 60/nat. Excellent condition, rarely used. £60. Whitley Bay 0191 2529915. KIPLING BAG. Black bag with monkey cross body. Many storage features. Very good condition. Blyth 07548595157 D I A M O N I Q U E EARRINGS . Sparkling diamonique ½ ct each stud earrings, sterling silver, boxed. Very good condition. Blyth 07548595157 BIBLE . New with Hebrew, Greek and English translations. Blyth 07548595157 PEARL EARRINGS . Genuine 9ct gold pearl earrings with butterfly studs. Very good condition. Blyth 07548595157 WILLOW TREE. Angels of Miracles ornament. 3 angels holding hands with te lite centre. Boxed, very good condition. Blyth 07548595157 PEARL NECKLACE . Jaqueline Kennedy single rope made by Camrose & Kross to Kennedy family exact specifications, blue & white stone fastening in metal box, flocked as all her jewellery was. Very good condition with certification. Blyth 07548595157 LADIES’ SHEEPSKIN Coat. Three quarter length, leather trim, size 12. As new. £25. 0191 565 7144. OLD COUNTRY ROSES. 6 Dinner Plates 26cm diameter, excellent condition. £60. Durham 0191 3832165 M A S O N S IRONSTONE. Green Chartreuse Jug. Excellent Condition £10. Durham 0191 3832165 M A S O N S IRONSTONE. Mandalay Red oval dish. Excellent condition £10. Durham 0191 3832165 VINTAGE UKULELE, green with cover. Excellent condition, cost £35 will accept £25. Tel Hartlepool 01429 273876 TECHNICS GN3 organ spares or repair, £75 – Blackhall 0191 5863970 LARGE JUICER never been used, £10 – Blackhall 0191 5863970 FISH KNIVES and forks in a gift box. £10 Sunderland 0191 5657144 ORGAN: Technics EN4 manual organ. Excellent condition. £195, Collection only, Peterlee 0191 5866250 COFFEE TABLE. G plan coffee table, 4ft6in with glass top. £40, collection only, Peterlee 01915866250 SINGLE DIVAN with teak headboard. £45, collection only, Peterlee 0191 5866250 FILING CABINET , 4 drawer metal grey. £60, collection only, Peterlee 0191 5866250 LAMPS: Standing lamp and 2 matching table lamps, brass stands with cream and pinkfringe. Excellent condition. £70.00, collection only, Peterlee 0191 5866250 CLOCK RADIO/ ipod/iphone dock system. Excellent condition from John Lewis £20. Consett 01207502950 COPPER Indirect Cylinder water tank, 117ltrs. Nearly New £100. Collection Only. Esh 0191 3730699 KIRBY CLEANER full set of tools, including The handy butler set, the spray unit etc. Brand New, still boxed, never used Free for collection. Blackhall 0191 5863970. EDWARDIAN SETTEE, drop end settee in need of upholstery, £100, collection only. 07530 755659. B O O K S H E L V E S . Polished solid wood bookshelves, 46” x 12” x 11/4” Now down to £10. Blackhall 07788456740 DINNER SERVICE, Tea & Breakfast with serving dishes. Over 40 pieces some still boxed. New condition. £25. Blackhall 0191 5871552 SLIDING MIRROR DOORS x3. Size 90” x 30” wide. £80. Hetton 01915269774 CLARKE TOOLS, Bandsaw, drillstand, bench grinder, woodwork vice, angle grinder stand £70. 01207 290297 ROCKING HORSE , full size £500. 01207 290297 PINE DRESSING TABLE 6 drawers. £60. Stockton 07930471519 CANE conservatory suite. Light coloured cane two seater settee and two chairs. Lovely cream upholstery, very good condition £100. Newcastle 0191 2651980 BUTLERS LIVES OF THE SAINTS Vol. 1-6. FREE. Must collect. Shildon 01388 775237 BABY SWING: as new, £10 ono, Hartlepool 01429-280392 BAG: Nike shoulder- bag, black, suitable for student, unwanted gift, half price £10 – Chapel Park 0191-267 1061 BOOKS on film stars and television personalitiies. 50 hardback books in dust covers and in very good condition, All different biographies. £10. Boldon – 0191 5361746 CHILD’S BED: light wood bed for a small child, purchased at Ikea, includes mattress, £35 – Jarrow 0191-421 5261 C O M M U N I O N - 1 : full length dresses, white with delicate detail on both, sizes age 7 and 10. Purchase price £130 each will accept £50 each – Rothbury 01669- 622903 C O M M U N I O N - 2 : first Holy Communion dress, worn twice, also head dress and veil, excellent condition, cost over £100, will accept £50 – New Silksworth 0191- 523 5847 CYCLE PARTS: large box of assorted cycle parts, £25. Stanley. 0770- 897 1757 D E C O R A T I N G LADDERS £35 - 01207 231566 DINING ROOM: mahogany suite, six chairs, good condition. £25 – Gateshead. 0191- 492 2833 or 0798-327 9086 ELECTRIC WOK: new £17 01388-815271 EXERCISE BIKE: racing cycle type, assembled, excellent condition, never used. Complete with instructions. £80. Gosforth. – 0191-213 2065 or 0795-667 4928. F I R E P L A C E : surround, solid wood, £50 ono – Felling 0191-441 2064 FRAME-TENT: four- berth, including inner tent, good quality £95 – Sunderland 0191-528 6675 GARDEN: wood and iron furniture, large table, four chairs and umbrella. Jarrow. 0191-421 5261 LADY’S JACKET: brand new Mountain Range purple jacket, size 12/14, chest 40-42in, £20. Hetton-le-Hole. 0191-526 1769 LIGHT LADDERS £ 20 - 01207 231566 MASSAGER : Shiatsu electric massager, fits in chair or on bed, ideal for back and neck problems, etc. Boxed as new, £10 – Blackhall Colliery 0191- 587 1552 ORGAN: Yamaha Portatone PSR-340 with floppy disc, excellent condition £90 – Newcastle 0191-273 1600 ORGAN MUSIC: organ music available, various classical and modern, 8 books. Kenneth Baker Plus, 3 Stave Baroque & Romantic Sorts. Available to view. £30 – Alnwick 01665-602884

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27 N or thern Cross April 2020 NEWS www .nor therncross.org.uk I H A V E w r i t t e n m a n y e n c o u r a g e - ments – and I hope too that I have e n c o u r a g e d m a n y t h r o u g h t h e G r a c e o f G o d – b u t n o w I f i n d I need encouragement myself. Y et I must write what is in my heart, b e c a u s e i f w e w r i t e o n l y w h e n t h e s u n i s s h i n i n g , h o w w i l l w e c o p e w h e n t h e sun is dimmed and diminished? W e are in a time of increasing strug- g l e . A l l o v e r t h e w o r l d p e o p l e a r e d e a l i n g w i t h e i t h e r p o v e r t y , w a r s , domination or conflict. People are being killed all over the globe with little redress – and yes, we have another danger: coronavirus. W e a r e t o l d t h a t i t s e f f e c t s a r e m i l d f o r m o s t , s a v e t h o s e w h o a r e o l d e r a n d / o r h a v e u n d e r l y i n g h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s . W e a r e t o l d i t w i l l p a s s – e v e n t u a l l y . Y e t c o u n t r y a f t e r c o u n t r y i s e i t h e r c l o s i n g i t s b o r d e r s o r m a k i n g e m e r g e n c y p r o - v i s i o n t o c o m b a t t h i s t h r e a t . Fear has been growing and there is a g e n e r a l f e e l i n g o f b o t h a p p r e h e n s i o n and of being overwhelmed. Stockpil- i n g a b o u n d s , w h i l e g e n e r o s i t y s t i l l e x - i s t s , b u t t h e r e i s m u c h s e l f - i n t e r e s t being manifested. O f c o u r s e t h e r e a r e r e a l d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d d a n g e r s , b u t t h e r e a r e o t h e r f o r m s o f i l l n e s s i n f i n i t e l y m o r e d a n g e r o u s for us. O n a n e a r l y m o r n i n g t e l e v i s i o n n e w s c a s t a d o c t o r g a v e a d v i c e o n h o w to sustain people for a few months of isolation or short-term illness. H e s a i d t h a t a s w e l l a s o u r b o d i e s w e m u s t t a k e c a r e o f o u r m i n d s a n d hearts. H e h a d s o m e p r a c t i c a l t i p s , b u t t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s a i d , a c t u a l l y u n e x p e c t - e d l y , “ a n d o u r s o u l s … t h e r e i s h e l p there”. In these times words from the Lord come from unexpected sources. T o d a y t h e u n t h i n k a b l e w a s a n - nounced. N o s e r v i c e s i n c h u r c h e s … y e s , u n - thinkable, yet it is happening. M a n y y e a r s a g o I r e c e i v e d a w o r d from the Lord which was: “What will you do when the churches are closed and the tabernacles empty?” It was meant as a forewarning and a challenge. Others have had similar words. O v e r t h e y e a r s I h a v e r e c e i v e d m a n y s u c h m e s s a g e s a n d a l w a y s f o u n d a n - o t h e r w a y t o e x p l a i n t h e m – s h o r t a g e s o f p r i e s t s , a l o s s o f f a i t h . . . b u t n e v e r d i d I i m a g i n e i t w o u l d b e a v i r u s a n d a n e e d t o p r o t e c t t h a t w o u l d h a v e t h e f a i t h f u l d e p r i v e d o f t h e e u c h a r i s t a n d M a s s . I a l s o c o u l d n o t e n v i s a g e t h a t t h e leaders of the Church would comply w i t h s u c h a r e q u e s t , s e e m i n g l y t o p r o - tect us from a virus. T h e w o r d s t h a t c o m e t o m e n o w a r e : “ A n d w h a t d o e s i t g a i n a m a n i f h e g a i n s t h e w h o l e w o r l d b u t s u f f e r s t h e l o s s o f h i s o w n s o u l ? ” ( M a r k 8 : 3 5 - 3 7 ) . I h a v e f o u n d i t d i f f i c u l t e n o u g h t o com ply with the already imposed re- strictions – no handshakes, isolation, no receiving the Precious Blood from the chalice, and the manner of receiv- i n g H o l y C o m m u n i o n – b u t n e v e r w o u l d I h a v e b e l i e v e d t h a t M a s s f o r the people would be stopped. M a n y h a v e d i e d o v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n f a i t h – m a r t y r s , of this and other lands. W e know that once people leave the fold, for whatever reason, it is hard to bring them back. Many have already l e f t a n d o t h e r s a r e l e a v i n g i n f e a r , leaving a remnant. J e s u s c a m e t o h e a l . ( M a t t . 1 5 : 2 9 - 3 1 ) . T h e g o s p e l a b o u n d s w i t h h i s t o - ries of healing – of miracles of grace, o f h e a l i n g o f m i n d s a n d h e a r t s a s w e l l as bodies. H e s h o w e d t h a t H e c a n h e a l e i t h e r s i n o r i l l n e s s o r f a i l u r e a n d b r i n g about transformation. W e a r e n o w i n L e n t , l e a d i n g t o t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f a r i s i n g , a c o n q u e r i n g of death and a rising to new life. S u r e l y t h i s i s a t i m e w h e n h o p e m u s t b e t h e h a l l m a r k o f a n y f a i t h - filled Christian. W e should t urn to scripture for e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t by Halina Holman q Sign of our times – a woman wearing protective gloves lights a candle at W estminster Cathedral, above. Photo: Mazur/cbcew .org.uk Christ healing the sick – a detail from the 5th century mosaic in the Church of Saint Apollinare Nuovo, in Ravenna, right. Photo: Fr Lawrence Lew O.P . T oday the unthinkable was announced. No services in churches…yes, unthinkable, yet it is happening. Many years ago I received a word from the Lord which was: “What will you do when the churches are closed and the tabernacles empty?” Over the years I have received many such messages and always found another way to explain them – shortages of priests, a loss of faith...but never did I imagine it would be a vi rus and a need to protect that would have the faithful deprived of the eucharist and Mass. W e either believe that the Lord is a redeemer or that He is not. W e e i t h e r b e l i e v e t h a t H e c a n h e a l us and the nation or that He can’ t. W e e i t h e r b e l i e v e i n t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n and eternal life – or we do not. For those who do not believe, they h a v e m a d e t h e i r c h o i c e . B u t s u r e l y , for those who profess to believe and h a v e n o t y e t a f f i r m e d t h i s i n t h e i r h e a r t s , t h i s i s a t i m e o f c h o i c e a n d commitment. A s w e a p p r o a c h t h e d e e p e n i n g o f this darkness we must depend on the W ord of the Lord. This is the Y ear of the W ord – The God who speaks. W e m u s t l i s t e n t o t h o s e p r e c i o u s w o r d s and let them sink into our hearts and spirits to give us fresh hope. W e m u s t n o t l e t t h e f o r c e s o f t h e world defeat us with fear and gloom. I t i s i n m o m e n t s s u c h a s t h e s e t h a t o u r faith is tested and grace abounds. Let us look at some of these words w h i c h w e m u s t l i v e o u t , a n d p r o c l a i m to others who feel alone and lost. “ D o n o t l e t y o u r h e a r t s b e t r o u b l e d ” Matt 1 1: 28-30. “ T h e y c r i e d t o t h e L o r d a n d H e s a v e d t h e m f r o m t h e i r d i s t r e s s a n d s e n t o u t H i s w o r d a n d h e a l e d t h e m . H e r e s c u e d t h e m f r o m t h e g r a v e . L e t t h e m g i v e t h a n k s t o t h e L o r d f o r H i s u n f a i l i n g l o v e a n d H i s w o n d e r f u l d e e d s f o r m a n k i n d ” . P s a l m 1 0 7 : 1 9 - 2 1 . This is a time not for hiding but for p r a y e r a n d s u p p l i c a t i o n . I t i s a t i m e for us to be able to pray together…if necessary , six feet apart and smiling. I t i s a t i m e t o p r o c l a i m t h a t t h e L o r d will release us from our misery . O u r s h e p h e r d s , t o o , n e e d o u r prayers so that they may continue to witness to God’ s love for us and our love of Him. W e m u s t p r a y t h a t t h e y h a v e t h e c o u r a g e t o l e a d u s a n d n o t b o w merely to temporal needs. I s n ’ t i t s t r a n g e h o w w e a d m i r e t h o s e who have made a sacrifice for others yet somehow do not think it ever ap- p l i e s t o u s ? W e a r e t h e l i g h t s i n a b r o - ken world, or we should be. A martyr is no more than a wit ne ss to the trut h. N o t o n l y m u s t w e w i t n e s s , b u t w e m u s t t r u s t t h a t w e w i l l d e f e a t t h e sources of darkness and despair . In all that is happening in the world around us we must remember charity and joy . W e c a n a l l d o s o m e t h i n g f o r o u r neighbour in whatever way – practi- cally or spiritually . “ I a s s u r e y o u t h a t a n y o n e w h o g i v e s you a drink of water because you be- long to me will certainly receive his reward.” Mark 9:41. L e t u s g i v e o t h e r s r e a l w a t e r , t h e water of life. I recall too, the words of S t P i o : “ P r a y , p r a y , p r a y – h o p e a n d do not worry .” As we approach Easter and we suf - f e r t h e l o s s o f c o m m u n a l i t y , w h i c h w e t a k e f o r g r a n t e d , m a y b e t h e L o r d ’ s Prayer will come to our rescue. W e must remember the loving heart of Our Mother who will intercede for u s i f w e b u t a l l o w h e r t o d o s o w i t h o u r t r u s t i n h e r m a t e r n a l p r o t e c t i o n . S h e w a s , a f t e r a l l , a t t h e f o o t o f t h e cross and held her beloved son in her arms. I conclude with a psalm many of us know , as it is deeply consoling: T h e L o r d ’ s m y S h e p h e r d , I ’ l l n o t want He makes me down to lie In pastures green. He leadeth me the quiet waters by . My soul He doth restore again And me to walk doth make W ithin the paths of righteousness E’en for His own name’ s sake. Y e a , t h o u g h I w a l k i n d e a t h ’ s d a r k vale, Y et will I fear no ill. For thou art with me, A n d t h y r o d a n d s t a f f m e c o m f o r t still. My table th ou hast furnished In presence of my foes, My head Thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup overflows Goodness and Mercy all of my life, Shall surely follow me, And in God’ s house for evermore, My dwelling place shall be. l Halina Holman is a member of The H o s t A p o s t o l a t e , a n a s s o c i a t i o n o f l a y f a i t h f u l l e d b y m a r r i e d a n d s i n g l e p e o - ple who wish to lead a life of prayer , e v a n g e l i s a t i o n a n d f o r m a t i o n i n t h e pursuit of a life of holiness, faithful to t h e G o s p e l a n d t e a c h i n g o f t h e Chur ch. Y ou can find out mor e about the as- sociation at thehostapostolate.or g.

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28 N or thern Cross April 2020 LE ISURE www .nor therncross.org.uk Northern Cr oss-W ord Northern Cross-word 448 It costs only £12.50 (+V A T) to sponsor the DOODLE BOX. Charities, companies and individuals may sponsor . T elephone 01325 464008 for details. Doodle Box The cr ossw or d is com p iled b y P e t er Be w of Elwic k Name ...................................................................... Address .................................................................. ..................................................... ......................... ......................................... Postcode ....................... Y O U a r e i n v i t e d t o c o m p l e t e t h e N o r t h e r n C r o s s - W o r d number 448 for the chance of a cash prize for an all-correct entry . The £10 prize will be awarded to the sender of the first all-correct entry opened after the post delivery on Friday , April 24, 2020. Prize Cross-W ord entries should be clearly marked Nor thern Cross-W ord 448 and sent to: Northern Cross, St Anne’ s Presbytery , 43 W elbeck A venue, Darlington, DL1 2 DR. Cross-W ord solution number 447 T H E £ 1 0 p r i z e f o r t h e f i r s t c o r r e c t s o l u t i o n g o e s t o K a t i e T a l b o t o f P r u d h o e . W e l l d o n e , y o u r p r i z e i s o n i t s w a y . A N S W E R S A C R O S S : 4 . A c c u s e d . 8 . A r o u n d . 9 . I n s t a l l . 1 0 . T e n d e r . 1 2 . K i s s . 1 3 . A c c o m p l i c e . 1 7 . E n t h u s i a s m . 1 8 . F l e x . 1 9 . E r a s e s . 2 1 . F a n t a i l . 2 2 . F l a g o n . 2 3 . R e n d i n g . D O W N : 1 . P a r t i a l . 2 . C o r n i c e . 3 . K n e e . 5 . C o n t r i b u t e . 6 . U p t a k e . 7 . E n l i s t . 1 1 . R e p u t a t i o n . 1 4 . P a s s a g e . 1 5 . A m u s i n g . 1 6 . C l e a v e . 1 7 . E x i t e d . 2 0 . R o l e . Cr oss Su Doku F O R  S u D o k u , e a c h g r i d c a n b e s o l v e d f r o m t h e n u m b e r c l u e s i n t h e g r i d s . Once you have got a logi- c a l s e q u e n c e g o i n g , i t g e t s easier . B u t t h e r e a r e v a r i o u s t i p s to get you going. T o c o m p l e t e t h e p u z z l e g r i d , y o u n e e d t o f i t e v e r y d i g i t f r o m 1 t o 9 – i n a n y o r d e r – i n e a c h r o w ( r e a d i n g left to right) and in each col- u m n ( t o p - t o - b o t t o m ) a n d i n each box of nine squares. S t a r t b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n t h e b o x e s , a f t e r t h a t t r y t o work out what is missing in e a c h r o w o r c o l u m n . L o o k f o r p a i r s o f n u m b e r s w h i c h might point you to a third. F o r s t r a t e g i e s , h i n t s a n d tips,visit sudokuwiki.org. Solution on page 7. C h i l d r e n ’ s C l u b 8 4 6 2 7 6 8 5 1 2 6 4 3 2 1 4 1 5 4 7 6 4 3 5 7 3 5 1 © 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

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