December 2020/ January 2021 Fr Pat Cleary joins College of Canons – page 3 Priest’s praise for staff after five-week Covid hospital battle – page 11 Ignite team launch online show and youth Mass – page 13 Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia East Anglia Catholic www.rcdea.org.uk On the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham Bishop Alan Hopes inducted Mgr Philip Moger as the new Rector of the Walsingham National Shrine. Eldred Willey reports. n Mgr Moger most recently spent just over a year as Parish Priest of the St John Mary Vianney parish in the Dio - cese of Leeds. Before that he was Dean of Leeds Cathedral and oversaw a refurbishment of the building. He gained considerable experience in organising large-scale celebrations through having responsibility for litur - gies during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to England in 2010. Bishop Alan opened the celebration in Walsingham on September 24 by wel - coming ecumenical guests, including clergy from the Anglican Shrine. The message of Walsingham, he reminded the congregation, was an encourage - ment to build and to evangelise. In his homily, Mgr Moger recalled the saying that the best way to make God laugh was to tell Him your plans. “In the last few months, many of us have seen a complete overturning of our plans,” he said, “or at least a con - siderable change… Now we only see the tapestry from behind… a picture of confusion or incompleteness.” Commenting on Mary’s ‘yes’ in the Gospel reading, he added: “This ready acceptance of God’s invitation was not a one-off, but a high point in believing, living and loving. The words ‘What you have said be done to me’ came natu - rally to her lips… There would be dark moments on her journey through to Calvary… It was then that she would dig deep into what God had said to her through the angel.” Mgr Moger completed his inaugural message with a reflection on those words of the angel, do not be afraid. “This word is given to everyone when the waters of his soul are disturbed by the hand of God,” he said. “Do not be afraid: how much we all need to hear that word…Let’s never forget that Our Lady always stands besides us. Even if we don’t know what the future holds, we know who holds the future.” n See page 9 for a first full interview with Mgr Philip Moger. A Christmas message from Bishop Alan n Dear Friends, Christmas is a powerful season for us human beings. We celebrate in joy the birthday of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. For many of us, it will be a celebration with our family and friends as we appreciate the gifts that God has given. For many others, however, every Christmas will be tinged with sadness as we remember the death of a loved one with whom we can no longer share this special time. This year, Christmas will be a time of both joy and sorrow for so many. Hardship, sickness, iso - lation, fatigue, the possibility of unemployment, poverty, homelessness, fear of death – all the present challenges which the pandemic crisis has brought in its wake - these will tinge our celebration. It will not be perfect. But this is exactly why Jesus Christ was born in the first place. This Child, who is our Lord and God made flesh to be like us, to live and die like us, was born into poverty in a cave, rejected, unrecognised, and isolated with Mary his Mother and with Joseph. Indeed, those of us who follow this Child today, reflect on the shadow cast upon Bethlehem: the wood of the Crib is destined to become the wood of the Cross. The Almighty God, who created the cosmos, emptied himself of all glory, in order to feel what it is like to be us. He reaches down into our imperfect world, and then draws us up to him - self, to show us the destiny he intended for each one of us when he created us: life with himself in perfect happiness, eternally in heaven. A won - derful exchange of places. Jesus Christ is the Word of Hope from heaven: that all shall be well – all manner of things shall be well. For eternal happiness is not to be found here on earth. Our joys here are real joys, but they are fleeting. Life is fragile. Our material comfort and health is impermanent. Jesus Christ, the Child born in a manger in Bethlehem, is our gateway to this eternal happi - ness and he opens this gateway for each one of us at Christmas. That is what we are celebrat - ing. That is why, in any circumstance, we can rejoice at Christmas: the day when the sun - the Son of God - rises to bring an end to the dark winter. So, in whatever circumstance you find your - self right now, always try to remember that Jesus Christ was born for you. He comes to fill you with hope and confidence and to dispel your fears. His arms are wide open, beckoning you to welcome him into your home and into your heart - not just this Christmas, but every day of the year. I wish you all a truly hope-filled and happy Christmas! Bishop Alan Hopes New Rector for Walsingham Shrine Bishop Alan Hopes and Mgr Philip Moger at the induction of the new Rector at the Catholic National Shrine in Walsingham. FREE

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A webinar organised by Caritas East Anglia focused on the gifts which older people bring, and how we can stay together as a community of all ages. Eldred Willey reports. n Ged Edwards from the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) chaired the even - ing event on November 11, which was timed to coincide with the fourth World Day of the Poor. Pope Francis said recently that older people should not be seen as disposable, and the webinar set out to celebrate their value and their con - tribution. Ged recalled that older people were one of the three priorities which the Pope had listed, along with climate change and migration. In an introduction to the evening, Bishop Alan reminded participants of the way in which Pope Francis has encour - aged young people to go and talk to their grandparents. Present-day society, he said, had little time for older people, who were seen as having little economic impact. Parishes needed to find ways to support them, he said, especially those who felt isolated and afraid, or who lived in poverty. Jane Crone, Community Participation Coordinator at CAFOD, then took up the theme of how older people can play a lead - ing role in society. She took us to Brazil, where CAFOD’s work is headed up by Cecilia Iorio, who had examples of older people at the helm. These included Clovis Ambrosio, a 74- year-old leader from the Wapixana group of people, who was described as a walking library, and a guardian of indigenous knowledge about animals and plants, par - ticularly herbs. He has 37 grandchildren and is the person whom people consult when there is difficult relational problem. He is also leading the community response to Covid-19. Cecilia also highlighted Jose Fernandez Lima, a 72-year-old community activist with a passion for agroforestry. Carol Hill from Catholic Care in Leeds then took the microphone, speaking about the work of her charity, which formed a partnership with CSAN in 2015. It runs Happy Wednesdays and Friday Friendship Groups – places where partic - ipants can enjoy hot sausages and potatoes and a good chat. Catholic Care avoids using the term ‘older people’, pre - ferring to think of its clients as a group of friends. Finally, Jon Cornwall, Director of Mem - bership of the St Vincent de Paul Society then picked some examples of the move - ment’s work around the country. These included volunteering at a care home, where his own son had been filling up the bird-feeders. There had also been a vir - tual celebration of VE Day and a number of houses which had welcomed people in need across several generations. “Every time we tell people they can’t do some - thing because of Covid-19, we tell them four or five things they can,” said Jon. A break-out discussion brought to the fore Catholic residential and nursing homes, which are declining in numbers. Ged encouraged people to consider sup - porting these, including the one in East Anglia, in the same way as they might support a Catholic hospice. Jacinta Goode, Caritas Development Worker for East Anglia, rounded up the evening by speaking about social out - reach projects in the Diocese. If people have a project which needs funding, they can apply to the Alive in Fund by writing to Jacinta on caritas@rcdea.org.uk Find a Covid-19 toolkit for parishes at: www.csan.org.uk/news/covid-19-toolkit- for-catholic-parishes-and-groups/ book reviews Fr John shares Covid-19 reflections n Fr John Warrington, who has recently taken up a position as Parish Priest at St Felix in Haverhill, has contributed to a book entitled ‘God in the time of Covid-19.’ The Carmelites in Britain published this collection of articles and reflections as a way of nurturing the interior life. The writ - ings were originally online, but many are now in this book. There is a wide range of styles, content and approaches to suit the widest range of readers and all tastes. Alongside Fr John Warrington writers include Fr Kevin Alban, O.Carm, Fr Brendan Grady, O.Carm, Fr Nicholas King, SJ and many more. A former East Anglia Diocese resident, Mr Matthew Betts, has edited the book. Order a copy on 01795 539 214 or at https://tinyurl.com/GodintheTime . Medieval Suffolk tale n Fr Anthony Foreman, a retired diocesan priest, has published a book on the intrigu - ing medieval history of Lidgate, the Suffolk village where he lives. Lidgate boasts the remains of a Roman Villa, a Norman Castle and the birthplace of John de Lydgate, the famous medieval poet and monk of Bury Abbey. He pre - sented a copy of his life of St Edmund to King Henry V on his visit to the abbey. Fr Anthony’s book recounts an imagi - nary visit by John to his village in 1432. There the Spirit of Lidgate Hill leads him on a dream journey through the history of the village from prehistory to the Black Death and the Peasants` Revolt. The account is set against the wider story of the de Hastyngs family, lords of the manor and hereditary stewards of the Abbey. In this millennial year of the Abbey the book will be of interest for Catholics, as it covers the growth of Christianity in East Anglia during the Anglo-Saxon period with some of its forgotten saints. Each book costs £10, including p&p from `Wheelwrights`, Lidgate, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9PR or e-mail: humph.fore - man@btinternet.com . Cheques payable to A. H. Foreman. Page 2 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 East Anglia Catholic n Bishop Alan Hopes hosted Diocese of East Anglia seminarians at Our Lady of The Assumption and The English Martyrs, Cambridge, on August 31. Present for the lunch were both new seminarians and those returning to seminary to continue their formation for another year. Pictured L to R Back row: Benjamin Barnett (OLEM Cambridge), Fr Simon Leworthy, Fr Piotr Wygnanski (St Laurence, Cambridge), Canon Patrick Cleary (Voca - tions Director) and Anthony Asomugha (St George, Norwich). L to R Front row: Anthony Reilly (OLEM Cambridge) Mark Ashwood (St John’s Cathedral, Norwich), Bienn Carlo Manuntag (St Philip Howard, Cambridge), Bishop Alan Hopes, Fr Pádraig Hawkins (Assistant Vocations Director), Deacon Michael Smith (St Laurence, Cambridge) and Peter Ho (Sacred Heart and St Oswald, Peterborough). Webinar celebrates gifts of older people Bishop Alan hosts seminarians Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia EDITOR: Keith Morris tel: 07712 787762 Pear Tree Farmhouse, Wymondham Road, Wreningham, Norwich, NR16 1AT email: keith.morris@rcdea.org.uk Articles and photographs for the next edition are very welcome and should be sent to the editor, ideally via email. Diocese website: www.rcdea.org.uk Advertising: Contact Charlotte at Cathcom on tel 01440 730399 or email at charlotter@cathcom.org Publisher: Cathcom Ltd, 0207 112 6710 Inclusion of adverts is the responsibility of Cathcom and does not imply endorsement by the Diocese of East Anglia. Follow-up webinar n A follow-up webinar to help people move forward with ideas they have to support older people in their par - ishes will be held on January 13. More details and sign up at: caritas@rcdea.org.uk

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Three churches in the Diocese of East Anglia have received a total of nearly £600,000 for urgent repairs, out of £3m awarded to Catholic churches across England. n St John the Baptist Cathedral in Nor - wich has received grants for repairs to guttering over the north transept, improving security of rainwater goods, and replacement of old electrical supply cables and distribution panels. St Mary’s in Great Yarmouth received grants for re- roofing of the sanctuary side chapels and the old sacristy. St Peter’s in Gorleston received a grant for replacement of tower windows and transept windows. Historic England recently added this Grade II* listed church, which was designed in 1938-9 by sculptor Eric Gill, to its Heritage at Risk Register 2020. Historic England was con - cerned that decay, neglect or a lack of money for conservation could threaten the future of such churches. Director of Finance and Resources for the Diocese, Matthew Fernandez-Gra - ham, commented: “We are delighted at these three churches being granted this much needed funding. The success of these bids is testament to the hard work of our Diocesan Architect, Suzi Pendle - bury, and her team at Caroe Architects who put together the required infor - mation in a very short timeframe.” The Secretary of the Historic Churches Committee, Cedric Burton, said: ‘`This is great news! Restoring and safeguarding our important historic church heritage is a challenge for Parishes and for the Dio - cese, particularly in these difficult times. These grants will make a huge difference and help encourage all those volunteers who work hard to sustain our patrimony. We are immensely grateful to the Patri - mony Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Expert Panel and to His - toric England.” The grants are part of a £3m from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund for Grade I and Grade II listed churches and cathedrals throughout England. Applica - tions were presented to an Expert Panel comprising a range of national heritage specialists, and also reviewed by Historic England. This programme is part of the gov - ernment’s Heritage Stimulus Fund, administered by Historic England and aimed at supporting major repair projects which stalled because of Covid- 19, often because of lost income due to many months of closure. Architecturally outstanding Catholic churches and cathe - drals are being supported across England, many in areas of severe deprivation where funding for repairs is beyond the means of the local congregation. Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCEastAnglia Page 3 n At a Capitular Mass at St John the Baptist Cathedral, Bishop Alan installed Fr Pat Cleary as a Canon of the Diocese. Canon David Paul, Dean of St John’s Cathedral, said: “I would like to welcome Canon Pat Cleary into the Chapter of Canons. He brings with him wisdom and great experience of the Diocese. In addition, his tremen - dous work in encouraging vocations has been invaluable in the mission of the church in East Anglia. He will, I know, give great service to the Chapter of Canons and the Diocese as a whole.” The ceremony took place on Wed - nesday, October 21, and means that Fr Pat is now part of the College of Consultors and the Chapter of Canons for the Diocese. Canons fulfil the role of Consultors until they reach the 75, at which point they are to tender their resignations as Consul - tors and become Canons Emeriti. Fr Pat celebrated the 40th anniver - sary of his ordination in 2018. He initially studied at Campion House, run by the Jesuits, then spent two years at the seminary at Osterley and finally did a degree course in Theol - ogy All Hallows in Dublin. At the age of 40 he went to Santa Cruz in Bolivia for three years with the St James’ Missionary Society. He became the assistant director of the Society and spent five years in the USA in Boston, travelling to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia where the Society served. He is Parish Priest of St Thomas of Canterbury in Wymondham. Three parish churches receive £600k in grants news in brief East Anglia yearbook is out n The Diocese of East Anglia Yearbook and Calendar 2021 has been published and printed copies are available in all parishes from the end of November, priced just £2. The annual Yearbook contains a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to the Diocese of East Anglia. It carries all necessary contact infor - mation, curia, departments and commissions, parishes, Mass times, clergy and religious, schools, hospital, diary dates, societies and organisations and a new retreat centre guide. It also carries a pictorial review of 2020 and the authoritative Diocesan Calendar for 2021. Farewell to Rector n At a farewell Mass at the National Shrine in Walsingham in September, Bishop Alan Hopes recounted the achievements of departing Shrine Rector Mgr John Armitage over the last five years. He said: “When you arrived here just over five years ago, little did anyone sus - pect the amount of energy and generosity you would bring with you to the Shrine which I know you have loved from your early days. Rather than bringing with you a breath of fresh air, you came from the East and created a whirlwind which has captivated and inspired so many different people in so many different ways. These last five years have been a very signifi - cant ones in the life of the Shrine. “But by far your greatest undertaking has been the promotion of Our Lady’s Shrine and the Message of Walsingham. Here you have presided over the increas - ing popularity of the Shrine with a huge growth in the number of pilgrims.” Pictured above, a water damaged mural at St Mary’s in Yarmouth and, left, St Peter’s in Gorleston. Fr Pat joins College of Canons YEARBOOK & CALENDAR 2021 £2.00 DIOCESE OF EAST ANGLIA

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The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have issued a statement, following their plenary meeting in November, in which they accept the recommendations of the IICSA report on child sexual abuse and safeguarding and say they have begun work towards their implementation. n The CBCEW statement reads: The account given in the IICSA Report of abuse known to be inflicted on children in the Catholic Church in England and Wales in the past 50 years is shocking and overwhelming. At our meeting this week, we Bishops have stood together in profound shame. We express our sorrow and contrition before God. We have reflected on our need to reach out afresh to those who bear the wounds of per - manent damage caused by this abuse. We commit ourselves to listen more intently to those who have been abused so as to learn from them and benefit from their wisdom. It is through learning from their testimony that hearts are changed. We are grateful to those survivors who have come forward, not only to lay before us their experience of abuse, but to help us understand the depth of their pain. We invite anyone who has experienced abuse to come forward, no matter how long ago the abuse took place. We undertake to listen carefully to them with open heart and mind and support them on a journey of healing. We have carefully considered the rec - ommendations of the IICSA Report and formally accepted them. We have already begun work towards their implementation. The IICSA’s generic hearings into the Church began last October. Around that time we commissioned an Independent Review of our Safeguarding Structures and Arrange - ments in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. This was carried out by Mr Ian Elliott, an experienced safeguarding professional who has worked across the world in this area. This week, alongside the IICSA Report, we have also examined in depth the Final Report of the Elliott Review and fully accepted its rec - ommendations. It is a searching analysis of our safeguarding work, in its weaknesses and strengths. It proposes a number of remedial and forward-looking recommendations, which accord with the IICSA Report’s own rec - ommendations. The work of implementation will begin immediately. It will be carried out in close co-operation with the Religious Orders who play such an important part in the life of the Church. In all our activities, our desire and resolve is to be a Church in which every child and vul - nerable person is not only safe but nurtured into human flourishing. These recommenda - tions present us with steps towards this goal. Key to them is a standards-based approach to safeguarding together with a specially com - missioned national body with powers of effective audit and oversight of safeguarding in both Dioceses and Religious Orders. Everyone in the Church will be required to work to clear, published standards of behav - iour and action. Most significantly, the Elliott Report has been fashioned with the participa - tion of survivors of abuse. Their insight and wisdom has been crucial. We thank them for their great courage and generosity in working with us and we look forward to continuing this growing collaboration. The Elliott Report builds on all that has been achieved in our safeguarding ministry in the past 20 years, achievements also rec - ognised in the IICSA Report. Therefore we thank profoundly all who contribute to the work of safeguarding in the Church today: the thousands of Parish Safeguarding Represen - tatives, the professionals who work in our Safeguarding Offices in every Diocese, the Safeguarding Commissions who oversee this work and give objective and professional advice to guide our decisions, the staff of the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service and those who serve on the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission. These, and many others, have contributed greatly to the current work of safeguarding in the Church. Today, however, we acknowledge without hesitation, our failings, our mistakes, our lack of adequate cooperation. We express our deep sorrow and ask forgiveness, especially from victims and survivors. We affirm our resolve to effect the next step in our work of safeguarding and care for survivors. In prayer we turn to Christ the Good Shepherd, the fount of healing and compassion, asking that this moment of painful truth becomes a time of grace as we strive to fulfil the ministry entrusted to us as bishops in an unshakeable unity of purpose. www.iicsa.org.uk Page 4 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 Catholic Church accepts IICSA abuse report findings First Communions in King’s Lynn n King’s Lynn Parish celebrated first Holy Communions for 40 children over six separate Masses during the last two weekends in September, reports Fr Gordon Adam. The children should have made their First Holy Communions on Sunday April 26, the third Sunday of Easter, having begun their formation last September. When the children made their first confessions at the end of February, and even when they enjoyed a really good activity morning with the Ignite team on March 14, we did not realise what lay ahead. When the children came for a final class and rehearsal (in groups) on September 12, we decided that all the children were at least two inches taller than when we had last seen them. Free Sample Pack of Foam & fabrics sent by first class mail. When phoning please quote CEA101 The church needs religious sisters URGENTLY to bring Christ to others by a life of prayer and service lived in the community of Ignation spirituality. Daily Mass is the centre of community Our Lady of Fidelity Our Lady of Fidelity life. By wearing the religious habit we are witnesses to the consecrated way of life. If you are willing to risk a little love and would like to find out how, contact Sister Bernadette. Late vocations up to the age of 46 welcomed. COVENT OF OUR LADY OF FIDELITY Central Hill, Upper Norwood, LONDON SE19 1RS Telephone: 07973 6002563 or Fax: 0208 766 6579 Mobile: 07760 297001 Ministers of Religion Please remember my intention/s in prayer. …………......………....……........................................ ...........………………..…….………............................ ........................………………..….………................... ............................................................... ...................... I would like to help your Mission Foundations. My gift of £____ is enclosed (payable to Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). Thank you! Please send me vocations information. Name :…….…………............................….................. ...... Address:…..……….............................................................. ..……………………………………………………… …………….......……...........................……... Please print. REPLY TO: Mother General, Tyburn Convent, 8 Hyde Park Place, London, W2 2LJ Tel.: 020 7723 7262 Living in the heart of London, the Tyburn Benedictine Community has as its special mission, prayer for the people of England and Wales. Our monastery is built on the site of the Tyburn gallows where 105 Catholics were martyred during the reformation. Our life of prayer draws Sisters from many nations. Already We hold you in prayer. Already We hold you in prayer The Leaven Carmelite Secular Institute Single and widowed women Seeking to dedicate their life to God Through vows in secular society Contact: The Secretary, The Leaven, c/o The Friars, Aylesford ME20 7BX Tel: 01582 766580 Email: theleavensi@gmail.com Website: www.theleaven.org.uk CALLING ALL Read the latest Diocese of East Anglia news at www.rcdea.org.uk

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A former treasurer of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich, has been sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to 27 months in jail for defrauding the cathedral of almost £222,000. Keith Morris reports. n As soon as the Fraud by Abuse of Posi - tion, which spread over a two-year period from April 2016 to May 2018, came to light, the treasurer, Rene Mugenzi, was imme - diately told to resign from his position. The court prohibited details of the defendant’s name from being reported until the Crown Court sentencing on October 23. The cathedral authorities and the Dio - cese of East Anglia, of which the cathedral is a part, reported the matter to Norfolk Police and have co-operated fully with their subsequent investigation. The Charities Commission was also informed of a serious incident as soon as it became apparent and have been kept updated regularly. The Diocese has issued a wholehearted apology to the people of the Cathedral Parish over the failure of the parish finance committee and other organisa - tions to discover what was a sophisticated, deliberate and calculated fraud of cathedral funds. Canon David Paul, the Cathedral Dean, said: “We are extremely saddened that such a fraud was committed by someone whom we trusted and put in a position of responsibility. But we are also truly sorry that this has happened and want to offer our apologies to all of those people who have supported the cathedral over the period in question and whose money has not gone to the purposes for which it was intended. “The Diocese and the Cathedral Parish Finance Committee have now put more robust measures in place to ensure, as far as possible, it will not happen again. “We have fully reimbursed all third- party charities, where some of the money given to us in second collections was intended to go. All the losses are now against cathedral funds. Fortunately, we have been able to recover some of the funds from our insurers to help mitigate the losses.” A full investigation has been carried out by the Vicar for Finance, Deacon James Hurst. He has made far-reaching recommendations for every parish in the Diocese. Bishop Alan Hopes said: “I am very saddened that this has happened and understand how it could erode people’s trust in the Diocese’s stewardship of their generosity. However, I am confident that with the new structures that are being implemented with regard to finances across the Diocese it will make it more difficult for such an extensive fraud to occur again.” Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CatholicEastAnglia Page 5 Treasurer defrauded Cathedral of £222,000 A dusty unwanted statue in a garden centre has become the central feature of a Carmelite grotto. Fr Paul Vincent OCD from St Mark’s Ipswich tells the story. n It is our Carmelite tradition that wherever we go we encour - age the devotion to Our Lady. The Diocese of East Anglia gave us a beautiful presbytery with spacious gardens. When we saw people going to Walsingham and other shrines of Our Lady, we began to think about having a grotto of our own which would help people, where they could come daily and express their devotion through the rosary and novenas. Myself and Fr Bineesh began to think about having a grotto in the inner garden. There was a baptismal font which was abandoned years ago, and we thought that many people had been baptised in it. We could not throw it away, and decided to make it the foundation of the grotto. The next step was to get a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We ordered one from India through St Paul’s but we couldn’t succeed in bringing it from India and there was a great delay to the project. As we were searching locally, it was Dea - con Clive Brooks who said that there was a statue in one of the garden centres in Brantham. We went there and saw the marble statue, which was covered in dust and unwanted by customers. One of the workers said that it had been there for many years and nobody wanted to have it. We brought it home and cleaned it. We ended up with a beautiful, shining young Mary with a rosary in her hands. It is very similar to the statues of Our Lady of Lourdes. When I shared the idea about the grotto project with the parishioners, they came for - ward to help, and we were easily able to fin - ish the dream plan we had. All the work was done by our parishioners and the priests of St Mark’s. We decided to bless the statue on the Nativity of Our Lady. I invited Fr John Wil - liamson OCD from Gerrard’s cross, and we had a solemn Holy Mass in the Garden. After the Mass Canon Mathew George blessed and inaugurated the grotto. Pictured above are Fr Mathew George, a Carmelite priest and deacon Clive Brookes blessing the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Ipswich news in brief Lowestoft first Communions n First Holy Communion was celebrated in three Masses at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Lowestoft on Saturday September 26, reports Kathy Fallon. No more than 30 people attended each Mass and the children were not able to participate but they were amazing and patient since they should have made this in June. They have been doing their les - sons online and getting all their liturgy work online too. We have celebrated (apart) but together, Easter, Pentecost, Reconcili - ation and now their First Holy Communion. They have adapted well. They were truly blessed. We had three Priests saying a Mass each. Fr Stephen, Fr Neville and Fr Alvan. Deacon Stephen joined us as well. Each Mass was live-streamed so friends and family could join in as well as parishioners. Fr Paul was organising in the back - ground doing a fantastic job. The weather was bad but maybe it was symbolic! A great day had by all. Fr Paul completes philosophy degree n Fr Paul Vincent from St Mark’s Ipswich recently completed a Masters degree in Western philosophy at Birkbeck College in the University of London. “I came to the Kensington Carmelite monastery to help as a member of the religious order,” said Fr Paul. “I had some free time and I expressed to the Prior my desire to study in Birkbeck. He was happy to assist me finan - cially and my dream came true. “By the time I came to East Anglia I had almost fin - ished, but due to Covid-19 graduation was postponed until November 3. My dissertation was on Thomas Hobbes views on the State of Nature and on the State (Political philos - ophy). “The purpose behind pursuing philoso - phy is to make my life, activities and reflections more logical and meaningful. The Masters which I did in India, on Indian Philosophy and Sociology, helped me a lot to socialise with people, and it worked as a good background for my studies here. “I am much obliged to the Anglo-Irish province and to Manjummel Province for where I am now and finally to Bishop Alan for accepting us to work in the Diocese.” New Carmelite grotto in Ipswich

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Dear East Anglia reader, Five year old Mitchelle sees much less of the world than her two siblings. She was born in East Africa and has cataracts in both of her eyes, leaving her almost blind. Mitchelle attends school but is unable to see the blackboard clearly, causing her to fall behind the other students. “I want to be able to see like my sister. I want be a doctor when I grow up.” – Mitchelle Cataract surgery takes 45 minutes and costs just £95 but its impossible for families like Mitchelle’s who live in poverty to afford it. Her mother Barbra says: “If I do not get anyone to help right now, I think Mitchelle will soon become totally blind and remain dependent on others for her survival.” You can change for children like Mitchelle that by making a gift to CBM today. Every £1 donated before 17th December 2020 will be doubled by the UK government. You’ll fund cataract surgery for two children and follow-up care, including eye drops and glasses. Your support can also help provide protective equipment and medical supplies to help keep health workers safe from coronavirus. Thank you and God bless, Louise Shute CBM Programme Manager Please return this form to: Freepost Plus RSKK-HXAX-CYGZ, CBM, Munro House, 20 Mercers Row, Cambridge CB5 8HY You can help end avoidable blindness today Give before 17th December and every £1 you donate to our See the Way appeal will be doubled by the UK government UKAM20-11PR04 Public donations will support CBM’s work preventing blindness and transforming lives wherever the need is greatest. Match funding from the UK government will improve access to sight saving eye-health services in Malawi. If you are a UK taxpayer and if you tick the Gift Aid box when you make a donation, HMRC will add an extra 25p for every pound you donate. I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Christian Blind Mission. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax or Capitals Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. We will need your name and address to claim the additional 25% of your donation from Gift Aid. Increase the value of your gift by 25% Registered in England and Wales under 1058162 and Scotland under SC041101 £95 My choice amount of: ________ My contact details My payment details I will give I enclose a cheque/postal order/CAF voucher made out to CBM or Please debit my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro Card/CAF Card Title:______Full Name:______________________________ Address:_________________________________________ ________________________________________________ _________________________ Postcode:_______________ We like to contact our supporters with postal fundraising messages and updates from the projects we support. If you do NOT want to receive such messages from CBM UK in the future please contact us on 01223 484700 or email info@cbmuk.org. uk . You can update your contact preferences or unsubscribe at any time. You can view our privacy policy at www.cbmuk.org.uk/privacy . You can also call 0800 567 7000 to make your donation today, or visit our website seetheway.org. Card No. Expiry date: Cardholder’s signature: Date: 3-digit security No. We will send you an update on Mitchelle’s surgery. We’d love to keep you informed about our life changing work. If you would like to hear from us in future, please leave your details below. Phone: Email: Card holder’s name:________________________________ How it works Help people in the world’s poorest places See the Wa y to a brighter future. Give before 17th December 2020 and every £1 you donate will be doubled by the UK government. Yes, I want to donate to help twice as many blind children like Mitchelle.

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Churches and schools across the Diocese of East Anglia took part in Remembrance Day events in November. n Children from the Sacred Heart School in Swaffham once again took part in a Remembrance Day service, the only local school to do so. Amelia from Year 6 wrote: Years 5 and 6 walked to the war memorial in Swaff - ham to remember those who gave their lives for our country in World Wars 1 and 2, and all other wars around the world since then. We saw a large gathering of adults bow - ing down to the memorial. I read a poem called In Flanders Fields written by Lieu - tenant-Colonel John McCrae in 1915. He was inspired to write it after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier. Our form and vice-captain, Dexter and TJ, laid a wreath and made the sign of the cross and we all thought about those brave people. Our Lead Governor Flavio Vettese walked with us and Fr Mark Hackeson led the service and prayed for all those dead soldiers. All of Year 6 laid a cross from each class in school and then we observed the two-minute silence. n St Benet’s parish in Beccles created a Memory Tree to honour those who have died peacefully, alongside the more tradi - tional poppy field for the fallen, reports Terence O’Brien. Every November, St Benet’s makes a special effort to remember recently deceased parishioners, and to give sup - port to the bereaved. Our parish priest celebrates a special Requiem Mass in the middle of the month. Obviously, this has not been possible this year. However, Linda Last, Chair of our Parish Pastoral Council, came up with a suitable focus for private prayers during this month of remembrance dur - ing lockdown 2. Linda set up two displays in niches behind the tabernacle. She describes them like this: The Memory Tree is for those we remember as having died peacefully, being now at rest. People are invited to write the names of loved ones on the leaves – or on papers affixed to them. They are welcome to pin a picture, too. The Poppy Field display is in remem - brance of the fallen in all conflicts from 1914 to the present. Here people can inscribe the names of those they want to remember for the sacrifice they made. Both displays have proved popular with parishioners, and we are delighted that the children from St Benet’s Primary will be visiting them in the coming weeks and adding their own contributions. n St Mary`s in Thetford celebrated Remembrance Sunday by laying a wreath for those who had made the ulti - mate sacrifice in conflict. Mgr Peter Leeming, Parish Priest of Thetford, said: "We have a heart-felt duty to remember all those who have given their lives for what we have today. Our plans have changed, but with the support of the parish pastoral coun - cil, it was agreed that our wreath should still be laid at the 11th hour. We owe so much for our freedom. Our fallen should be remembered with dignity and respect on this most poignant of occa - sions." A representative from the parish went to the town’s war memorial and laid the wreath after that two minutes’ silence. The ceremony was socially distanced due to current guidelines but was mean - ingful and respectful. The Saturday night vigil Mass was offered for those who gave their lives in the theatre of war. Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCEastAnglia Page 7 Churches and schools remember Children from Sacred Heart School in Swaffham take part in a Remembrance service. Picture by Gloria Boulton. In East Anglia, we are looking for volunteer parish representatives who will help to promote the work of Stella Maris (formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea). That person will be the contact for Stella Maris in their own parish. They can help by collecting within the parish items such as toiletries, rosaries, religious resources, woolly hats, gloves, and thermal wear. These will be given to seafarers on my or the volunteer ship visitor’s visits to the vessels. They can also help by giving a brief presentation to the parishioners on Sea Sunday and with fund raising. We are also looking for volunteer ship visitors who will help to visit seafarers on their vessels. At the present time, because of Covid-19, they can visit seafarers at the bottom of the gangways, wearing full PPE. Volunteer ship visitors can provide valuable support to seafarers, simply by being there, befriending them, chatting to them, listening to them and providing support wherever needed. It may be practical support, like shopping for them and helping to supply mobile phone sim cards so they can communicate with their loved ones. They can provide valuable spiritual support and demonstrate what the scripture has taught us, to love one another as He has loved us. Volunteer ship visitors are needed for Felixstowe, Ipswich, Harwich, King’s Lynn, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. Ship visiting obviously will depend on whether there is any vessel at the port on the day. Volunteers are eligible to claim mileage for travelling to and from home to the ports. I am available to meet up with anyone interested, to have a chat and answer any other questions they may have. For volunteer ship visitors, I shall also be accompanying them on their visits to the vessels until they feel comfortable to visit on their own. They will be given mandatory online training regarding Health and Safety within the Ports by the Port Authority before they can be issued with the port pass. They will always have contact with myself 24/7 should they need help or support. By volunteering with us you can make a real difference to seafarers and fishers in need For more information, please contact Julian Wong, (Stella Maris Regional Port Chaplain for Felixstowe and the Haven Ports) on julian.wong@stellamarismail.org or call 07758356372, or visit: www.stellamaris.org.uk/take-action/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/ Notre Dame celebrates n At a Mass to celebrate the beginnings of Notre Dame High School, Fr Sean Connolly brought a timely message from the founding Sister. Alex Savage, Lay Chaplain at Notre Dame High School, reports. Students and staff at Notre Dame High School have an annual celebration to mark the arrival of the first Sisters of Notre Dame in Norwich in October 1864. Sadly, due to Covid-19, we were unable to come together for a whole school Mass and to go on our sponsored walk for charity. However, through the miracle of Zoom, we were still able to join all our classes together for a virtual celebration across the site. Fr Sean Connolly led a liturgy with readings and prayers said by students and staff. Fr Sean took a quote from St Julie, the Foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame as our theme: “We must always cast the seed in the soil and the good God will give the growth when it pleases Him.” Our students were then invited to partici - pate in activities to reflect on the importance of being an inclusive society. They also raised a total of £1,200 for St Martin’s Trust and CAFOD, to help people locally and globally who are struggling from the impact of Covid-19. news in brief Planting oaks to celebrate creation n As part of CAFOD’s Season of Creation celebration, Mgr Tony Rogers from the parishes of Aldeburgh and Leiston has helped to plant 120 oak trees. The Catholic community celebrated the Season of Creation from September 1 to October 4 in response to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, which was subtitled “on care for our common home”. During this time thousands of people on six continents united to take action for the planet. “Planting trees is one way to help sequester carbon emissions,” said Kath - leen Walker from the Aldeburgh and Leiston parishes.“By choosing trees that are native broadleaf species it is possible to preserve our local environment and biodiversity.” On Sunday October 4, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the parishes of All Saints, Leiston and Our Lady and St Peter’s, Aldeburgh took part in the bless - ing of the 120 trees. In the spirit of ecumenism, some of the trees were des - tined to be planted in the Yoxford and Darsham Anglican churchyards, as well as on the Westleton Village Common. Other trees are being planted in numer - ous private properties, including Hawsells Farm, which is owned by Glen Ogilvie. Glen has carefully planted a row of these English oak trees along the edge of a field.

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Permanent Deacon Fr Andrew Neate was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Alan Hopes at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich on Saturday September 19. Eldred Willey reports . n As he ordained Fr Andrew, Bishop Alan encouraged him to mould his life on the mys - tery of the Lord’s presence. Fr Andrew said: “I feel very lucky to be fit and active to take on further ministry as an ordained priest. So much of my past life has led me on to this. I greatly look forward to serving our Catholic Parish in Fakenham.” In his homily, Bishop Alan said: “Jesus chooses men and sets them apart to share in His priesthood… He says to us very clearly, ‘You did not choose me; I chose you.’ So with you, Andrew. He has called you for His own pur - poses.” Bishop Alan emphasised the importance of the people of God in supporting a priestly ministry. “No priest could continue his ministry if it were not for the people of God… which supports a priest through times of discourage - ment.” And he added: “The whole Church in heaven and on earth is wrapping you in a mantle of prayer.” He encouraged Fr Andrew to “imitate the mystery you celebrate – mould your life on the mystery of the Lord’s presence.” Fr Andrew has been serving as a Permanent Deacon in the parish of Cromer and Sheringham in Norfolk. He had left his banking career early and was able, when ordained in 1996, to offer a full-time commitment to the Diaconate ministry. Following a time in parish minis - try in Huntingdon, he served for 17 years as a chaplain at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, being attached to Our Lady and the English Martyrs. He was married for 50 years to Margaret and was widowed three years ago. Bishop Alan, after recog - nising his vocation to the priesthood, asked him to undertake some studies at Allen Hall to prepare for ordina - tion. His late wife’s family are descended from St Thomas More, and as the Seminary is on the site of More’s Chelsea House, it seemed fit - ting that he should study there. He had been was brought up in a Methodist household, living in south- east London. He left school at sixteen and worked for an American com - pany in central London, specialising in Personnel Relations. At the same time, he joined an Ecumenical Com - munity, The Bede House Association, founded by Clare Col - lege, Cambridge. Originally founded to help the deprived dockers of Ber - mondsey, it had come to focus on young people. There he was influenced by many Anglican and Catholic Clergy and subsequently decided to embrace the Catholic Faith. He was for ten years director of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, using hospital contacts to build up the nursing help for assisted pil - grims. Lourdes has always been a deeply enriching place for him and important for his spiritual journey. In Cromer, he has been active in the parish while also needing time for his wife’s care. In this he has been grateful for much support and prayer from the parish. Page 8 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 Fr Andrew is o Fertility is a gift from God Jess Beckett, the new Fertility Aware - ness Methods Co-ordinator for the Diocese, is inviting people to connect and contribute to her work . n Jess also works part-time as a GP in Thetford. As a Catholic doctor, she has had a growing interest in Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) through her medical training. This has brought into focus for her the contraceptive culture in the UK and the alter - native of the Church’s teaching on Fertility Awareness, also known as Natural Family Planning (NFP). “Sex is sacred, and fertility is a gift from God,” said Jess. She sees this as a very different perspective from the wider societal view of sex as a leisure activity and fertil - ity as something to be sup - pressed. “Learning the science of FAM was amazing,” she said. “FAM is highly effective, both for avoiding pregnancy and for achieving pregnancy. Sadly, it doesn’t get the same promo - tional or research funding from drug companies as contraceptives and assisted reproductive technologies. Few people have heard of FAMs and there is a lot of misinfor - mation out there. I hope that many more will have the opportunity to learn about them and use this knowledge to benefit their physical and spiritual health.” Fertility Awareness Methods involve observing signs of hormonal changes in a woman’s body that indicate whether she is at a fertile time or an infertile time of her cycle. Jess is currently training to teach the Marquette Model of NFP, which includes the optional use of the Clear Blue Fertility Monitor. However, she has trained to discuss all FAM methods with those want - ing to find out more. Jess has also trained in how to educate children in years 6-7 in age-appropriate, interactive ways about their fertility. “I still remember these fun anal - ogies and activities when thinking of the science side of FAM,” she said, “oestrogen friends and pro - gesterone party planners preparing for a special guest (baby). Celebrating that we are double cham - pions from the moment of our conception.” With teenagers, she would want to see the topic of fertility discussed in a wider context, exploring the physiological, social, emotional, intellectual and spir - itual aspects of love and relationships. Jess has lived in this Diocese for less than a year, over half of which has been during the Covid-19 pandemic. So her ability to get out there and net - work is a bit impaired. She would love to hear from anyone in the Diocese who has a passion for Fertil - ity Awareness and would like to contribute to this work – be that through an interest in teaching FAM (particularly in the Norwich area), being a link to their Parish or lay community, through an interest in education, or hosting an event with FAM input. She would also love to hear from anyone consid - ering using FAM themselves and would be able to direct people to some excellent teachers in this Dio - cese. Please have a look at the website: www.rcdea.org.uk/fertility-awareness-methods and get in touch with Jess by email at: famc.eastanglia@rcdea.org.uk .

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Seven weeks after his induction as Rector of the National Shrine at Walsingham, Mgr Philip Moger agreed to an interview, to help people in the diocese get to know him a little better. Eldred Willey reports . n “Thank you very much,” said the Pope. “Especially for the silence.” That was the parting tribute at Bir - mingham Airport from Pope Benedict XVI to Mgr Moger, who was Director of Liturgy for his visit to England. It says a lot about the priest. Although he is a master of liturgy, he is not a great blower of trum - pets. An interview with him, like a papal visit, is punctuated by silences in which God is present. Mgr Moger is devoting much of this first period in Walsingham to making friends with the locals, whom he has found to be friendly in return. “Not just at the Shrine,” he said. “But also in the shops in Fakenham and selling ice cream in Cromer.” And the scenery? “The hills are… not what you’d call hills in York - shire, but the coast is lovely.” Mgr Moger grew up in the more contoured land - scape of West Yorkshire, in the parish of St Mary in Halifax. After his mother sadly died when he was just five, his paternal grandmother, who was active in St Mary’s, stepped in to help with his upbringing. At the age of eight he first sensed the call to become a priest, and it returned powerfully in his late teens. Four years working at Nat West Bank were never likely to draw him into a secular career, and in his early twenties he arrived at Ushaw Seminary – at that time a heaving centre of learning with 180 stu - dents and more than 20 priests on the staff. After ordination in 1982 he was appointed assistant priest at St Urban’s parish, Headingley – a suburb of Leeds. So began a pattern of priesthood which always seemed to be offering the most diverse experiences and the widest insights into the mission of the Church. In the first parish there was school chap - laincy, a Sue Ryder home and a hospital for people with learning difficulties. After Vatican II the Diocese of Leeds began experi - menting with a pastoral centre – at that time a new concept. In 1985 it took over Myddleton Lodge, a recu - sant house in Ilkley, as a base for the project. Mgr Moger was one of two priests who moved in to run it. For seven years he had the opportunity for brief pastoral encounters with a huge number of visitors. In 1992 Mgr Moger took on his first role at Leeds Cathedral, as one of four priests responsible for lit - urgy. He returned in 2008, this time as Dean, a position he would hold for 11 years. Numbers had grown and the ethnic make-up had become more diverse. In this period music at the Cathedral thrived in an extraordinary way. There were 100 singers in various choirs, and an outreach to 2000 musicians in schools and choirs around the diocese. “There was a dynamism and richness in the music,” said Mgr Moger, “and especially a belief in the talents of children.” More networking came when he was appointed Vocations Director, a role which took him on termly visits to the seminaries around England and once a year to Rome. In 2001, the role of Bishop’s Secretary was added. There was more parish experience at St Cuthbert’s in Bradford, which delved into the rich - ness of Catholic history. The parish was founded by Mgr John O’Connor, the model for Fr Brown in the Chesterton stories, and both that church, and its mother parish, with which it merged in 2006, con - tained significant works by Eric Gill. It was two days before Christmas in 2009 when Mgr Moger received the call from Bishop Arthur Roche asking him to take charge of liturgy for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. “It was a wonderful experience,” he recalls. “The Pope depended utterly on the Holy Spirit and on other people to smooth the way for him. There was a calmness about his presence, and he did not go about checking microphones.” Like the Pope, he too remembers “the absolute silence in Hyde Park” which marked one of the key celebrations. An unexpected call on his talents was role-playing the Pope himself, dressed appropriately in white, dur - ing the rehearsal at Westminster Abbey. It was an opportunity to exercise his natural rapport with Ang - lican leaders. As he walked in with Archbishop Rowan Williams he remarked: “You’re wearing your Vatican II ring.” “Yes,” replied the Archbishop, “Car - dinal Murphy-O’Connor gave it to me, and tonight I’ll be wearing the ring which Pope Paul VI gave to Michael Ramsay.” Mgr Moger remembers Arch - bishop Williams as sympathetic and approachable. “He would have made a good parish priest,” he adds, which from him is probably the ultimate compliment. So what of Walsingham itself? “It’s about the pres - ence of Our Lady,” he said, “sharing her joy and meditating on her simplicity, and her openness to God’s grace. It’s something we’ll probably never get to the bottom of.” Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CatholicEastAnglia Page 9 rdained Meet Walsingham Shrine’s new Rector Fr Andrew Neate is ordained by Bishop Alan Hopes at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich in September. Pictures by Eldred Willey. Mgr Philip Moger inside the Slipper Chapel at Walsingham.

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01945 475 229 www.countrycourtcare.com 81 Clarkson Avenue, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 2EA At Lyncroft Care Home in Wisbech, our care is the kind we’d want all of our loved ones to receive. In these diﬀicult times the elderly population is particularly vulnerable at home. If you’re concerned about how your relative will cope and would like them to have more support, Lyncroft provides family-led care delivered by highly trained staﬀ in a warm homely environment. • Person-centred residential and dementia care • Short term respite care • Daily ﬁne dining • Café, pub and hair salon • Tailored meaningful activities • Secure landscaped gardens Lyncroft Care Home Bishop Alan recently celebrated Mass at Poringland for the three men in formation for the permanent diaconate. Professor John Morrill reports. n One of the three men in forma - tion is entering the third year and the others are in their second year. The course lasts four years, the first of which is a year of enquiry and prayerfulness known as the ‘propaedeutic’ year, while the sec - ond and third are taken up with a degree programme supported by St Mary’s University in Twicken - ham. The final year is advanced formation in Catholic social teach - ing together with hands-on liturgical formation, including singing lessons. The candidate entering his third year is Gianluca Savini, who is from St Laurence’s parish in Cam - bridge. During the Mass in Poringland he was appointed a ‘lector’ (reader), was handed a copy of the Bible by the Bishop and made a pledge to study it more deeply. The other two candidates who have just completed their year of enquiry and are beginning the full formation programme are Paul Raynes from the parish of St Etheldreda in Ely and Derek Williams, who lives and works at the Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham. They were formally admitted by Bishop Alan as ‘candidates’ for Holy Orders. Because of the current restrictions the three could not have as many people there to support them as they would have liked, but each was supported by their respect - ive wives Erminia, Sarah and Lynn and their twelve children (four each – that is not a precondition for becoming a dea - con). The experience of teaching and study - ing remotely since March has been found to be good but much less good than working together. And so huge efforts have been made to make it possible for all the candi - dates to study and learn together. Their formation would nor - mally take them every three weeks or so on a Saturday to St John’s Seminary in Wonersh, each day consisting of four lec - tures, three liturgies, an hour with their diocesan formation team (and a good lunch) but the seminary is currently closed to all but resident seminarians and staff. But undeterred by the current circumstances, and with a lot of social distancing and hand cleansing, the fifty or so candi - dates from across the dioceses of southern England are making their way to St Mary’s University at Strawberry Hill (Twicken - ham), for the same programme and with liturgies in its splendid chapel. There will be no let-up in the relentless series of essays to be written and meanwhile they will all be undergoing not only aca - demic but also personal, spiritual and pastoral formation, both in the diocese and at two long weekends at a conference centre in Hertfordshire and on retreat in Walsingham. So they need our prayers for stamina as well as discernment. Page 10 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 On the road to the diaconate Pictured are Bishop Alan Hopes and Professor John Morrill with the three men in formation to become Permanent Deacons, Derek Williams (second left), Paul Raynes (second right), Gianluca Savini (right). Picture by Zyg Rakowicz

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n Fr Michael Stack from Coventry “died” twice and was on a ventilator for three weeks and in critical care for five weeks before he miraculously pulled through, astonishing the medical team with his recovery. He is full of praise for the doctors and nurses – but he also drew strength from being visited and prayed for by Catholic priest Fr Gordon Adam and Baptist hospital chaplain Rev Lee Gilbert. Fr Michael himself has spent 25 years as a hospital chaplain so knows the vital role chaplains can play for many patients. As the author of a book entitled Lord When Did We See You Sick, about the healing power of prayerful companion - ship with the sick and dying, Fr Michael feels the experience has only strengthened his faith. Prayers were said around the world for him as he lay unconscious with the most severe form of the virus in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He fell ill at the start of a short break from his role at Christ the King in Coven - try where he had been supporting the parish and deanery in his semi-retire - ment. The 69-year-old, who during his church career was hospital chaplain at four high profile hospitals in Nuneaton, Wolver - hampton, Birmingham and Coventry working in critical care wards, was plan - ning to stay with his sister in Dereham. Within a short time of arriving in Nor - folk he had developed a bad cough and started hallucinating. He was admitted by ambulance to hospital. “I was on a ventilator for 21 days and 36 days in critical care,” said Fr Michael. “I don’t remember much because I was com - pletely medicated – a blessing in disguise. “When the priest came in, to give me the sacrament of anointing, it was quite strange because I had been independent for so long – but we all need other people. The knowledge of having the sacrament helped me, I felt better. It strengthens my faith to know that we are part of the heal - ing process of Jesus Christ.” Fr Michael had a tracheostomy to help his breathing and he had to learn to walk again after his 10-week hospital stay. Fr Gordon Adam, Assistant Priest at King`s Lynn Catholic Parish, saw Fr Michael at least twice and ministered the sacraments to him. He said: “In hospital during the pandemic, especially with rou - tine visiting in the hospital being prohibited, the work of chaplains to help people practice their faith while experi - encing serious health problems becomes more important than ever. In the most extreme cases it is spiritual “critical care” to help someone facing death know that their sins are absolved so that they can be at ease with God. “It also matters that while the medical staff are frequently having to work very hard and fast to get everything done, chaplains make sure that there is as much time as it takes, not just for spiri - tual care in the strict sense, but in the broader sense of helping the patient to feel like a whole person, not just a medi - cal case.” On Easter Sunday, Baptist hospital chaplain Rev Lee Gilbert received a call from critical care nurses asking him to say some prayers for a Catholic priest who was under their care. Lee used Face - time with the nurses holding an iPad near to Fr Michael. “Whilst I had no idea as to whether Fr Michael could hear me or not, I knew that God could hear me and afterwards I spoke to Fr Michael’s sister and told her what I had done and I believe it gave her a great deal of comfort when she herself could not come into the hospital. Subsequently Fr Michael got slowly better and as he was coming out of his induced coma, I was asked again by the staff to say some prayers and as I was praying (again via Facetime) I saw a little smile on his face. Again I had no knowledge as to whether he heard those prayers or not. “Slowly but surely Fr Michael’s health improved and he was transferred to a ward where I could go and have a face-to- face conversation and we reflected together on his journey through Covid-19 and through the hospital. “Covid-19 was horrible in many respects for chaplaincy and for the staff on critical care and the wider NHS, especially at the height of the first wave. But meeting Fr Michael, both through Facetime and face-to-face was one of my own highlights of the year.” Fr Michael is now back on form – with his sense of humour intact – and he has been back to visit the critical care ward at Queen Elizabeth’s where he met other survivors. He is also working on a new edition of his book and adding a chapter about his own experience. He is also the National Chaplain for the Association of Catholic Nurses of England and Wales. n Article extracts from The Sower maga - zine (Archdiocese of Birmingham) Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/RCEastAnglia Page 11 Priest’s praise for staff after five-week hospital Covid battle Fr Michael Stack. Picture by Con McHugh. A Catholic priest who spent more than five weeks in critical care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn due to Covid-19, has praised the efforts of doctors and nurses, as well as two church ministers, for helping him to pull through . Keith Morris reports. Our next Catholic Theology and Practice (a learning space for catholic women) modules continue with Catholic Morality: its ups and downs. Led by Dr Beth Phillips and Dr Anna Abram This course will offer historical perspective on the notion of ‘Catholic’ morality and focusing on key themes such as ‘conscience’, ‘sin’, ‘sources of moral knowledge’ and ‘moral discernment’ . It will introduce students to the work of contemporary moral theologians and theological ethicists as well as recent developments such as ‘ecclesial ethics’ . Students will be invited to bring their own questions and dilemmas and explore them together during the course. Thursdays online 2.00pm - 5.30pm 21st Jan - 11th Feb 2021. £180 to apply email mbitadm@hermes.cam.ac.uk Try out an MA module as a guest: (contact Dr Louise Nelstrop to register ln348@cam.ac.uk, Cost: £230) Christian Spirituality in Context - Led by Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ and Fr Dragos Herescu 18th Jan – 26th March. (online, asynchronous) Moral Development, Reasoning and Decision Making - Led by Dr Anna Abram and Dr Férdia Stone-Davis Mondays, 18th Jan – 22nd March, online - 5.30 – 8pm Secularisation in the Christian World- led by Fr Dragos Herescu Tuesdays 19th Jan – 9th March, online. MAs starting in Sept 2021: applications now open MA in Spirituality, MA in Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy, MA in Contemporary Faith and Beliefs, MA in Contemporary Ethics Contact Dr Louise Nelstrop on ln348@cam.ac.uk to discuss your options further. New year, New courses

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Primary RE Leaders from the diocese recently gathered online for two morning Zoom meetings. Jan Southgate and Margaret Stewart report. n The Religious Education (RE) leaders of diocesan primary schools normally meet three times a year. This October, instead of meeting at the Poringland Conference Cen - tre for a day, we carried out two morning Zoom meetings. During the year, leaders in our schools have had to implement many mandatory changes and adaptations to school life, due to the impact of Covid-19. They have shown great commitment to ensuring safety, well- being and continued learning opportunities for their pupils, whilst keeping the whole school community fully informed. In the primary RE leaders’ meetings, the agenda has a regular format. There is an opening prayer and reflection and an update from Hamish McQueen on the current ideas of the Ignite Team and how schools can access its wonderful and exhilarating support. There are national updates from NBRIA (National Board of Religious Inspectors and Advisers) and the Catholic Education Serv - ice (CES). These offer direction on Catholic life, the teaching of RE and Collective Wor - ship, as well as a comprehensive focus on the RE curriculum standards of attainment and progress for all pupils. The development of these areas plays a vital part in denominational inspection out - comes for each individual school. It is therefore imperative that the RE leaders are updated so that they can then provide con - tinuing professional development in their own schools. During the meetings, we also refer to the Department for Education (DfE)/Ofsted 5 updates, interim monitoring visits and RE curriculum development and expectations for pupils’ learning and progres - sion. Leaders work with immense dedication to ensure that the Catholic ethos is living and inclusive for the whole school community. National guidance in RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) is shared and leaders are able to plan training opportunities and the use of resources. The RE leaders’ meetings offer the opportunity for leaders to support each other and share good practice. Visiting speakers are also invited to the meetings to share quality resources and theological sup - port. This year, with the additional pressures of social distancing, constant sanitation, and pupil and staff ‘bubbles’ moving around schools, many aspects of school life have presented an enormous challenge. However, with the dedication and support from leaders, priests and chaplains, our pupils continue to have regular opportunities for prayer and lit - urgy within their class environments. Many pupils are able to experience virtual Masses with their parishes. The RE leaders’ Zoom meetings were very well attended and we would like to thank leaders for their contributions and for provid - ing valuable feedback. We did however miss being at the Poringland Conference Centre, which holds a special place in our hearts. It has provided spiritual, practical and culinary nourishment as we work together in faith and love. Page 12 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 Zoom inspiration for Primary RE leaders SCHOOLS IN FOCUS n St Mary’s RC Primary School in Lowestoft has welcome Mrs Ewa Parker as the new Head of School. Her predecessor, Imelda Cooper, retired in July. Mrs Parker said: “It has been very busy compiling risk assessments and preparing to re-open the school for all pupils, but every minute has been enjoyable.” Although it is a challenging time for all schools, she has lots of plans for the future. Mrs Parker from Oulton Broad, and was the SENCo and Deputy Head - teacher of St Mary’s Church of England Junior School in Long Stratton. Being a practicing Catholic, she was keen to be leading a Catholic School. “I knew when I came to look around the school in February that this was the school I was meant to lead,” she said. “After being in school for a few days, I feel like I have been here for years.” Mrs Parker will have the support of her Executive Headteacher Priscilla Crane and together they have begun to strate - gise key areas for school improvement. There have been several leadership changes in recent years and Mrs Parker wants to ensure that the pupils, parents, staff and governors of St Mary’s have a strong sense of stability, clear direction and ambition. Pictured above is Mrs Ewa Parker Ewa is new Lowestoft school head Amanda lifts national cup n The prizegiving by the Knights of St Columba for their Nativity and Easter Scene Competitions, which was delayed by the pandemic, has finally taken place. The Provincial Grand Knight of East Anglia, Brother Jason Wickard, presented Amanda Palabrica with the National Rouse Columba Cup. She also received £30 to share with her brother Lawrence for the best national entry of last year’s Nativity Scene competition. Christopher Brooks will be sending out details by email of the 2021 Easter Scene competition to all Primary and High Schools of the Diocese in January. If schools would further details they can contact him on 01502 563208. Pictured above is Amanda Palabica with her cup. Dressing up as children’s heroes n St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich celebrated All Saints with a special dressing up day, inviting children to come in as Saints and as their personal heroes. The school asked them to think about people they look up to or who have inspired them. The children dressed in a huge array of costumes: saints, NHS workers, superheroes, astronauts, and climate activists. Many came as their grandparents or parents. Teachers also got involved. Mr Grim - wood dressed as St George. It was a lovely day and a wonderful way to cele - brate inspirational people in the children’s lives. Pictured above are Mr Grimwood as St George and Grace as St Teresa of Calcutta.

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The Ignite Youth Mission Team has just celebrated its fifth birthday but this academic year, unsurprisingly, poses some unique challenges. Hamish MacQueen, Director of the Diocesan Youth Service, reflects on its ministry. n I remember when I was a child, I had a phase of wanting to be a film director. There were a few projects with my dad`s Super 8 camera, but that was about it. Lit - tle did I know over 35 years later, I`d be spending much of my time preparing shoots, filming and editing – and learning so much in the process. Most of our ministry before the pan - demic was face-to-face but like so many organisations we have had to adapt. St Paul talks about preaching the Gospel in and out of season, and that`s what we`re going to do! Back in the summer, we took a decision to not recruit a full Ignite Team for this year, as we didn`t how the year was going to pan out. Emily, who was on last year`s team went back home to America, and Ciaran agreed to stay on. So this year, the team consists of Fr Luke Goymour (Chaplain to the Youth Service and Parish Priest of Brandon and Mildenhall), Ciaran (Ignite Team Leader, who heads up our Ignite lite team of vol - unteers) and myself. We have turned a spare bedroom into a permanent studio where we are produc - ing content for schools and parish groups. Amongst other things, this includes our regular chat show First Fridays and pri - mary school assemblies Third Thursdays. We are also streaming a youth Mass once a month called Second Saturdays. Do check out our YouTube channel, tinyurl.com/igniteathome We continue to maintain a strong pres - ence on social media, posting several times a week, and are developing this further. While we are really excited about our online ministry, of course, we look forward to going back into schools and parishes in person, and very much hope to be doing this again in the near future. In terms of events, such as the Ignite Festival, we are aiming to run all our usual events albeit in a different way and with reduced numbers than before. It depends on Government guidelines at the time and it may be more appropriate for some events to only run online but we’re hopeful! Through all the challenges and uncer - tainty the pandemic has brought, Ciaran summed it up beautifully ‘One thing that certainly hasn`t changed is how our Catholic faith can transform the lives of young people. We still gets to share how great it is to have a relationship with God lived out in the arms of our mother, the Church. It`s the best message in the world! No virus can change that." If you would like to invite the Ignite Team to work with children and young people in your parish or school online (or when possible in person), then please contact Ciaran Losasso i gniteteam@rcdea.org.uk Youth team still ignited Online show and Mass Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CatholicEastAnglia Page 13 YOUTH MATTERS God calls to us constantly, longing to guide those who yearn for life and desire to see good days into the way of peace. The Rule of Saint Benedict helps us to hear God’s voice, in the Holy Scriptures, in the sacred liturgy and in our brothers in community. If you are a single man longing to live your Catholic faith in a way which brings great joy as it demands the best of you, consider whether God is calling you to be a Benedictine monk at Buckfast Abbey. Please reach out to us, and we will do all we can to help you. ‘Listen, my son’ Rule of St Benedict Buckfast Abbey Trust Registered Charity number 232497 www.buckfast.org.uk/vocation vocations@buckfast.org.uk ‘ L i s t e n , Rule of St Benedict m y s o n ’ Ciaran Losasso writes about the launch of an online chat show and youth Mass. n `Chat show host` and `video production` were not, as far as I remember, part of the job description when I joined the Ignite Team but in the era of lockdowns and social dis - tancing this has become an important part of my day-to-day work as we continue to try and share the Gospel with young people in new ways. Friday November 6 saw the launch of our new monthly chat show First Fridays. The show is streamed live on YouTube on the first Friday of each month and aims to bring interviews and music from quality Christian guests to young people across East Anglia. Our first guest was the lovely Sr Theresa Weight from the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham. She shared some of her voca - tion story and helped us all to consider how God might be speaking in our own lives. She was a joy to interview. The show also included a timely song performed by Catholic musician Matt Dean and concluded with prayer from our own Chaplain, Fr Luke Goymour. Although there were a few small technical glitches, the feedback from the first show has been encouraging and we are looking forward to making more in the months ahead. Our YouTube channel also played host to the first Ignite Mass for Young People. The plan is for this Mass to be streamed from a different part of the Diocese on the second Saturday of each month, allowing young people in each local area to gather together for the Eucharist and also to assist with aspects of the liturgy such as reading and music. The first Mass, however, fell during the November lockdown so Mass was celebrated from Fr Luke`s presbytery in Brandon instead of our planned venue of St. Mary`s, Ipswich. We plan to return to Ipswich when restrictions ease to allow young people in that part of the Diocese to gather together for Mass in person. We were, nev - ertheless, pleased to be joined by people from across the Diocese via YouTube and are especially grateful to members of the Travasso family for providing wonderful music to accompany the Holy Sacrifice. Any young people who would be interested in being a reader or assisting in another way at future Masses are welcome to get in touch ( igniteteam@rcdea.org.uk ). Watch the online shows and Masses at: tinyurl.com/igniteathome Ciaran Losasso hosts First Fridays. Hamish MacQueen at the studio control desk. n A streamed Christmastide Youth Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Alan on Sun - day January 3 at Church of the Annunci - ation, Poringland. More details to come.

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Anthony Rossi CBE, who designed the award-winning Church of the Annunciation in Little Walsingham, has died at the age of 88 . n Anthony, who had lived in Little Walsingham, died on October 9 at his Norwich home. His new building in Friday Mar - ket Place, Little Walsingham, was commissioned by the Dio - cese of East Anglia and replaced a temporary church which had been there since the 1950s. It won the Graham Allen Conservation Award from North Norfolk Council. "The thing the judging panel liked the most was the fact the building mixed local distinctiveness with innovation," said Chris Young, senior conservation and design officer with the council. "It was about re-interpreting tradition in a contemporary way – and it was about the quality of the materials and attention to detail in the build," he added. The church is carbon-neutral, using solar panels for electricity and the earth’s heat for heating. It has a modern Round Tower, and a light and airy interior, with a spec - tacular east window designed by Anthony and a crucifix by Mark Corith. A devout member of the Church, Anthony also under - took work for the Diocese and for the National Shrine at Walsingham. In 1998 he was awarded a Papal Knight - hood for his outstanding contribution to the Church, and in 2008 was awarded the CBE for Heritage and Conser - vation. Anthony was architect to the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich for 11 years and had been a server at the Cathedral to Canon McBride, at the time when the latter was Vicar General of the Diocese. Fr Denys Lloyd from Sheringham recalls: “When Canon McBride died, Anthony and Claire, as it were, adopted me - as a very inadequate replacement. I was then Parish Priest at St Joseph`s, Sheringham - Canon McBride`s last Parish. I used therefore to join Anthony and Claire for wedding anniversaries and birthdays, which we usually celebrated at the Blakeney Hotel; and with the meal, always a bottle of Canon McBride`s favourite wine - Montepulciano - to raise a glass in his honour.” Page 14 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 Anthony was award winning architect Bob was inspirational charity co-founder Tributes have been paid to Bob Maidment, the inspirational co-founder and treasurer of charity Support Cambodia, and a parishioner at Sacred Heart in Aylsham . n Bob, who died unexpectedly from cancer in April aged 73, was committed to helping some of the most disadvantaged com - munities in the world started with a Diocese of East Anglia trip to Cambodia in 2007. His wife Katie, who is now Chair of Support Cambodia, accompanied him on that trip. It was a life-changing decision which finally led to the founding of the independ - ent, non-faith charity in 2015. Many events in North Norfolk and beyond have provided clean water and toilets, for - mula milk and rice soup, community buildings and bicycles, all of which are checked on during annual visits at the Trust - ees’ own expense. Bob was born in Tredegar, South Wales, and brought up in Ebbw Vale. He excelled at a range of sports and later turned down an offer to play professional rugby league for Wakefield Trinity in favour of taking up a res - idential post as a teacher at England’s oldest Catholic public school, St Edmund`s College, Ware in Hertfordshire. Bob taught Maths, English and History, coached rugby and athletics with considerable success and was universally popular. It was during this time he met Katie and they were married in 1972. Fifteen years in the West Country working in special education were followed by a return to St Edmund’s in 1986 to become Head of the [then] Prep School. By then, Bob had been received into the Catholic Church. As a convert, his approach to faith was unfussy but deeply held and he was proud of his contribution to the life of Sacred Heart Parish, North Walsham. This included many years leading Journey in Faith and preparation for Confirmation which Bob par - ticularly enjoyed, becoming a very special mentor to so many young people. Early retirement in 1999 gave Bob time to play golf at Mundesley, make regular visits to France and enjoy the extensive garden he and Katie created in Wickmere. Both the church and Support Cambodia benefited hugely from the sale of Bob’s bedding plants, fruit and vegetables. A handsome man, he was a familiar figure in Aylsham, with his silver hair and mous - tache, trademark pipe and lilting Welsh accent. At his burial, mid-lockdown, over 50 local residents spontaneously accompanied his journey to Aylsham Cemetery and then, on a gloriously hot day in August, a ‘Cambo - dian-style’ Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Fathers David Bagstaff and Mark Hackeson in the garden at Wickmere. People came from all over the country to ‘Remember Bob’, offer incense in his mem - ory and enjoy socially distanced picnics in a wonderful setting. Father Mark’s beautiful homily on ‘Love’ in all its aspects captured the essence of Bob’s life, truly a ‘good man’ who died before his time, remembered for his kindness and patience, his wonderful, gentle smile and readiness to help others. A Mass in Svay Sisophon Parish, North Walsham’s twin parish in Cambodia, was timed to coincide with the occasion and their Support Cambodia community room has been renamed ‘Bob’s Room’ in memory of ‘Grandpa Bob’. What an honour! More than £2400 was raised in tribute to Bob, partly for Priscilla Bacon Lodge who cared for him so wonderfully well, but mostly for a new Cambodian project in his memory. Anthony Rossi. The Filipino community at St John’s Cathe - dral gathered in numbers at a Requiem Mass to honour and pray for Ermie Astorga, a much-loved leader of the community . n Ermie’s given name was Herminio Astorga but he preferred to be called Ermie `Pogs` Astorga. He was involved in the devel - opment of the Filipino civic group PINAS, which helps to serve the community. He was also a singer and guitarist, and was very active in serving the Church locally through the choir at St Wal - stan’s, Costessey, and through the Couples for Christ community. Ermie was part of the group which arranged the yearly Walsingham Pilgrimage for the Filipino community - something that he was incredibly proud of. He was a Marian devotee - especially to Our Lady of Penafran - cia, and he loved to serve on her feast day at Wrox - ham Broads every year. After the Requiem Mass, his fellow Filipinos remained in prayer through an all-night vigil at the Cathe - dral, and further tributes were made at the regular cathedral Mass and a special funeral Mass the following morning. Ermie had fallen ill unexpectedly while taking part in a Novena which the Filipino community was praying together on Zoom. His daughter Kate writes: “I would like to think that my dad passed away doing what he loved most, devoting himself in ser - vice to the Lord. He was a humble man and was seen as a pillar in the community - he was a truly cherished member. He will be sorely missed. His love for life, family, music and service will be the things that he will be remembered for most.” OBITUARIES Ermie Astorga. Bob Maidment.

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n Fr Dick Healey, who has been serving at Parish Priest in Fakenham, has retired after 40 years of ministry and moved to Montana in Great Barton, near Bury St Edmunds. Fr Dick will be the chaplain to the Community of the Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady of Grace and Compassion and the nursing home. He was brought up in Ipswich and was a regular altar server in St Mary’s and St Pancras parishes. He tried his vocation in 1973 and was sent to Campion House, Osterley. In 1974 he transferred to Oscott Seminary and was ordained as a priest in 1980. There followed 40 years of ordained ministry. He served in St George’s, Nor - wich, St Edmunds in Bury St Edmunds, as Parish Priest at St Mary’s, Ipswich, at Brandon and Mildenhall, at Woodbridge and then as part of the Clergy team at Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Cambridge. His final four years have been as Parish Priest at Fakenham. Over the past few years Fr Dick has had health setbacks, but ius now looking forward to his retirement at Montana. Renowed East Anglian Catholic historian Fr Dick’s retires after 40 years Dr Francis Young pays tribute to renowned East Anglian Catholic historian Joy Rowe who died on September 7, at the age of 93. n Joy was a key figure in the study of the religious history of early modern East Anglia, and especially in the history of East Anglian Catholicism. It would be no exaggeration to say that she revolution - ised our historical understanding of the place of Catholics and other religious minorities in early modern East Anglia, and she pioneered the study of East Anglian Catholicism as early as the 1950s – long before the recent expansion of interest in the study of the English Catholic community at a local level. The body of work she left behind remains indispensable to the study of Eliz - abethan Catholicism, and Joy ought to be considered a largely unsung hero of the ‘revisionist’ movement within the historiog - raphy of English Catholicism in the 1980s and ’90s. Every article she wrote was pio - neering and extraordinary. Joy taught History at Assumptionist con - vent school at Hengrave Hall in the 1950s, and her first major article, published in 1958, focussed on the medieval monastic hospitals of Bury St Edmunds. In 1962 the Rowe family moved into Ixworth Abbey, a house constructed from the ruins of Ixworth Priory, a priory of Augustinian canons founded in the 12th century. Joy published a brief pamphlet on Ixworth that remains to this day the most recent research on this little studied reli - gious house. In the 1990s Joy’s historical interests expanded beyond Catholicism to include other religious minorities in early modern Suffolk, while her researches into the Catholic community expanded beyond the reign of Elizabeth to include the 17th and 18th centuries. Sadly, Joy was not able to be present in person to deliver her paper on the 18th- century Bacton mission at the ‘Catholic East Anglia’ conference at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in May 2016, but in September I was able to help Fr David Finegan present Joy with a Diocesan Medal (in recognition of her contributions to Catholic history) at her 90th birthday party at Ixworth Abbey. Joy was an exceptionally gifted historian whose work, even today, has not yet been exploited to its fullest extent to transform our perceptions of Catholicism in post-Ref - ormation East Anglia and beyond. Joy’s work was characterised by her unfailing willingness to return to the primary sources, by her nuanced and insightful interpretation of the evidence, and by her boldness in advancing new approaches to material that others sometimes thought unworthy of attention. Above all, Joy Rowe was as faithful to historical truth as she was to the Catholic faith she professed. Joy Rowe. book reviews Tale of how to build bridges n A parishioner from St Mary’s in Ipswich has written a book about the friendship which has grown up with villages in Cambodia through the diocesan Building Bridges Scheme. Marie-Madeleine Kenning has named her book Then the Khmer Rouge Came. It charts the developing relationship between the Dio - cese of East Anglia and the Battambang Prefecture in Cambodia. As a memoir, it provides insights both into what it is like to visit people at once so differ - ent and yet so similar to ourselves, and it also includes first-hand accounts of life under Pol Pot and its aftermath. The first visit was in 2007, said Dr Ken - ning: “Like all our subsequent visits, it was very much a rollercoaster experience. But being the first, it was also a baptism of fire. The poverty we witnessed, the lack of sani - tation, the number of young people who had become disabled after inadvertently picking up or stepping on a landmine were pro - foundly shocking and distressing. We’ve been back every year since and thousands of pounds have been raised by St Mary’s Friends of Cambodia group, with sup - port from St Mary’s primary school, for projects ranging from education to new build - ings and irrigation work. The book is priced £14.99. For a copy email mariemadeleinekenning@gmail.com All profits will go towards those in need in Cambodia. Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CatholicEastAnglia Page 15 OBITUARY Fr Dick Healey. A Catholic independent diamond model school Boarding & Day Nursery Division (1-4 years) • Pre-Prep (4-7 years) • Preparatory Division (7-11 years) Girls’ & Boys’ Divisions (11-16 years) • Sixth Form (16-18 years) The Avenue, Boreham, Chelmsford, CM3 3HS www.newhallschool.co.uk

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News picture gallery from parishes around the Diocese Page 16 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia – December 2020/January 2021 n A group of CAFOD supporters in Cambridge marked the Sea - son of Creation with a walk in beautiful autumn sunshine. The event carefully followed Corona - virus guidelines, and was part of an annual series of events, in which Cambridge’s Catholic community comes together to mark the Season of Creation, from September 1 to October 4. Serga Collett from St Lau - rence’s CAFOD group who organised the event explained: “For us this was a pilgrimage to celebrate the glories of creation and an opportunity to pray for Our Common Home using the Novena to St Francis and other CAFOD prayers.” Pictured above are the CAFOD walkers at King’s College, Cambridge. n Bishop Alan recently made a special visitation to the Italian community of the Working Sisters of Nazareth in between two Confirmations in the par - ishes of All Souls and St Luke’s in Peterborough and enjoyed some Italian cooking from Sr Letizia. He also met Sr Raffaella and Sr Erika, who wrote: “Thank you for your kind words and your precious prayer for us. We have been so blessed in having you here and it`s been such a special day.” Bishop Alan replied: “Your kindness was much appreciated and gave me a breathing space in between Confirma - tions. I hope to see you all again soon – it is so good that we have your spe - cial presence in the middle of such a diverse city.” Pictured with Bishop Alan, left to right, are Sr Raffaella, Sr Letizia, Sr Erika. n Bishop Alan has visited Radio Maria England in Cambridge, and had kind words to share with volunteers and staff. He thanked them for spreading God’s word and teachings through the radio. His visit on October 13 then included a blessing of studio and office space. He had an opportunity to see the equipment and hear the enthusiasm of the Radio Maria England volunteers. Radio Maria England has been broadcasting since November 2019. Since starting, they have added live broadcasts of Masses from Blackfriars, Cambridge, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Nor - wich and the National Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham. There have been daily rosaries, as well as music, religious formation, and family programming. A group of Radio Maria staff and volunteers also undertook a five-day pilgrimage from Cambridge to Walsingham. You can listen online to Radio Maria England via the website www.radiomariaengland.uk through the Radio Maria World Family app, or alternatively via DAB+ in Greater London or DAB in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas. You can hear the latest news from the Diocese of East Anglia in reg - ular news bulletins on Radio Maria and East Anglia Port Chaplain, Julian Wong, presents a weekly programme, praying for seafarers. n Fr John Barnes, Parish Priest of Felixstowe, celebrated his silver jubilee of priesthood on October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. A Mass of Thanksgiving was held, which was attended by Bishop Alan Hopes. Two friends, both of whom Fr John has known for over fifty years, concelebrated with him. St Felix Church was filled to its distanced capacity, but the proposed lunch for the Parish could not be held, due to the cur - rent restrictions. Pictured above is Bishop Alan with Fr John Barnes.

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