The Oﬃ,cial Newspaper to the Diocese of Lancaster Issue 257 + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk FREE p05 No Peace without Reconciliation p08 A closer look at St Alban’,s, St Annes p10 Live the Faith Courageously! INSIDE: ‘,He died so that we might be saved’, Make this Lent special by: •, Reﬂ,ecting for few moments each day on the ultimate sacriﬁ,ce Christ made for us •, Seeking his forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Be part of Reconciliation Wednesday 16th April from 6pm - 8pm) •, Fasting, almsgiving and good works Let Jesus into your life and see the diﬀ,erence He can make to it K&,M Maintenance Heating - Electrical - Building Telephone: 01772 704530 Fax 01722 798801 Heating, Electrical and Building services across the North West of England Gas •, Emergency Boiler Repairs for all makes •, Boiler Installations &, servicing •, Central Heating System repairs/upgrades/leaks •, New fitted Central Heating Systems •, Landlord Gas Safety Certificates (CP12) Electrical •, New consumer units supplied and fitted •, All emergency breakdowns •, Power tripping •, New lighting •, Additional sockets •, Faulty sockets •, Rewiring •, Outdoor lighting/sockets Building •, Extension work •, Alterations •, Driveways, paths and patios •, Conservatories •, Double glazing •, Fascias and Soffits , Prices Boiler Service - £,39 + VAT plus £,10 for every additional appliance. Tel No: 01772 704530 Mobile: 07941 554730 Fax No: 01772 798801 Address: K &, M Maintenance Services Ltd, U nit 9 Romay Way, Preston, Lancs PR2 5BB More information: wwwkmmaintenance.co.uk

Read in full

Page 2

St Francis sometimes scandalized his brothers because he always insisted on ﬁ,delity and obedience to the Holy Father and reverence for priests and bishops –, even the ones whose sins meant they didn`t really deserve it! What Francis heard from Jesus on the Cross of San Damiano was not “,replace my Church”, or “,reinvent my Church,”, but “,rebuild my Church.”, And he did that in the only way that lasts –, one stone at a time, w ith the ‘,living stones’, of his own life and the lives he changed through his powerful personal witness. Inspired by St Francis and our current Holy Father who bears his name the Catholic Voice of Lancaster believes that if we want to be disciples and make new disciples, if we want to rebuild the Lord`s Church in the shadow of our own limitations and sins, Church scandals and setbacks, we need to understand that new approaches, programmes and reforms in the Church will certainly be important. However, without saints, without our own radical conversion nothing we do will work. Without holy men and women on ﬁ,re with Jesus Christ, in love with His Church, and zealous in preaching the Catholic faith through their words and actions, nothing of our own hands alone will ever work. Finally, we can`t give what we don`t have. If Jesus Christ and an authentic Catholic identity don`t burn in the interior cathedral of our hearts, we can never possibly rebuild the external life of the Church in the world –, never mind transform the world! 2 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk Contact us The Catholic Voice of Lancaster is published on the last Sunday of the month previous to publication date. The Catholic Voice of Lancaster is published by its owners. The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster, a registered charity, (No. 234331), and is wholly independent of and separate from any previous newspaper published by or on behalf of the diocese. EDITOR: Edwina Gillett 01 253 736630 / 07969 967268 e dwinagillett@hotmail.co.uk www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk ADVERTISING: Caroline Gonella / CathCom Ltd. 01223 969506 carolineg@cathcom.org www.cathcom.org DESIGN &, LAYOUT: Rob Hotchkiss / Hot Creative 01253 730343 rob@hot-creative.co.uk www.hot-creative.co.uk PUBLISHED BY: CathCom Ltd. N2 Blois Meadow Business Centre, Blois Road, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suﬀ,olk CB9 7BN 020 7112 6710 / w ww.cathcom.org Articles to: voicenews@hotmail.co.uk Letters to: voiceletters@hotmail.co.uk VoiceXtra: voicextra@hotmail.co.uk Postal Address: FAO Edwina Gillett 99 Commonside, Ansdell, Lytham St. Annes FY8 4DJ Please send articles for publication on CD or by email, supplying any photos separate to the text (i.e. in jpeg format). Otherwise please type double spacing or write very clearly. Last date for copy is the LAST DAY of the month prior to publication. Photographs will be returned if you remember to put your name and address on the back of each and enclose suitable stamped and self-addressed packaging. EDITORIAL S t Francis of Assisi has received renewed attention since the arrival of Pope Francis to the See of Peter. Following his conversion St Francis lived the Gospel in a time, in fact, much like our own –, involving great political and social unrest, great confusion and yes, sinfulness in the Church. Francis lived the Gospel radically –, without gloss, without excuses, without interpretations to make disciple ship easier or more comfortable. Francis was a radical or revolutionary in the truest sense of the words. He wanted a radical commitment to holiness from his brothers. Remember holy doesn`t mean good, and it certainly doesn`t mean nice –, although holy people are always good, and they’,re also frequently nice. Holy means “, other than. ”, Francis was diﬀ,erent, as his Lord was diﬀ,erent. Francis wanted to live in the presence of God, as his Lord did. He wanted to live and act in ways “, other than ”, the ways of this world. What distinguished Francis from all the other reformers of his day was one simple thing. He understood that he could never live out his love for God alone, or even with a just a group of friends. He needed that larger family of faith –, the one that Jesus founded. He never allowed himself or his brothers to separate the Gospel from the Church, or indeed the Church from Jesus Christ. Francis was always a son of the Church –, just like the current Pope who bears his name has declared for himself. And as a son, True Reform in the Church

Read in full

Page 3

March 2014 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 3 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk It is Finished Lord you said on the cross it is ﬁ,nished, it is ﬁ,nished, Finished, is it? I don’,t think so. Not until the funny little woman on the Friday bus means more to me than I do to myself, Not until I read aright the message of your pain ﬁ,lled eyes. That I must take the ones you loved and left behind to live with me as my responsibility. Not until I freely place my stock of cherished certainties like sad surrendered weapons at your injured feet. Not until the public and the private faces of my troubled Christianity can meet and know they recognised each other when they met. Not until I know half the names of the people in my street. Finished? No. I don’,t think so, not yet. Adrian Plass S t Joseph’,s primary school, Wesham, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Cate Gili-Ross as headteacher from January this year. Mrs Gili-Ross takes over from Mrs Margaret Wright who retired in December after 28 years at the school. Born in Lytham in 1970 Mrs Gili-Ross was educated at St Peter’,s primary school and St Bede’,s High School Lytham before moving to sixth form education at Newman College in Preston. She attended the Catholic Unive rsity of Trinity &, All Saints Leeds where she graduated with a BA Hons (English) and obtained her Qualiﬁ,ed Teacher Status. Her ﬁ,rst teaching post was at St Wilfrid’,s Preston and following a short spell in Australia where she taught at Pultney Grammar in Adelaide she returned to the UK in 2000 and a two day supply post at St Joseph’,s and never left! Mrs Gili-Ross was appointed assistant headteacher at the school six ye ars ago and feels it is a privilege to now succeed Mrs Wright as headteacher. “,St Joseph’,s is a fantastic school. It is small (96 children on the Roll) in comparison to some schools but there is a strong sense of Catholicity throughout that binds the children, families, staﬀ,, governors, parish and wider community together”, she said. “,The school is guided by the instruction of Jesus ‘,love one another’, which is communicated ﬁ,rstly by the example set by the teaching staﬀ, and by their articulation of the message which in turn sets the expectation for the children.”, Five years ago Mrs Gili-Ross was sponsored by the diocese to attend a Catholic Leadership Course which she said “,gave me time to reﬂ,ect on my own faith, a sort of time out which reignited my passion for the faith and in turn my role as someone who passes on the faith to others.”, She said “,There was a particular charismatic priest leading one of the sessions who said that ‘,time’, was something many people think is in short supply as they grapple with the pressures of everyday life. But if you think that you haven’,t got time to develop your faith, dedicate 20 minutes a day to build your relationship with God and you will soon ﬁ,nd that yo u have an hour to spare for the purpose.”, Mrs Gili-Ross is married to Ian (vice chair Governor’,s at St Peter’,s School Lytham) and they have two children Grace and Nathaniel. New Catholic Headteacher This hand-carved Altar was donated to school by Mrs Wright to mark her retirement in December.

Read in full

Page 4

4 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk Being a Young Catholic Today Take from our souls the strain and stress Julia, 22, Hyning Hall I am Julia from Germany and I’,m 22 years old. For the past one and a half years I have been a helper at Hyning Monastery. I grew up in a very Christian family with my parents and two sisters. In 2005 I was healed from a very diﬃ,cult and long-lasting illness after prayer. Through this experience my faith became very strong. I knew I could trust God and I neve r wanted to walk without Him. At Hyning I decided to become a member of the Catholic Church, having thought a lot about it over the last few years. To live and to work with the gentle and kind Bernardine Sisters at Hyning, with the daily spirituality of the community and many fruitful encounters with the guests and friends of the Monastery, has been very enriching for my life. I’,m very grateful about this. J on was a former member of the team at Castlerigg and met his wife through his work at Castlerigg. He is now working at Alton Castle, the youth centre for the Archdiocese of Birmingham. In this article he speaks of how a re-discovered love for art has taken on global proportions which he never expected. In 2010 I married my wife Sara and within weeks we discovered that we were pregnant and we would now be a family of three. Deep within me a change began: I would soon be a dad and that gave me permission to tell bad jokes, “,dad-dance”, at parties and, most of all, it opened up opportunities to do DIY! Some years ago I had worked as an artist with great success. Always wanting to sculpt I had never really found the opportunity and so I stuck to paint and canvass, but all that has changed since becoming a dad. Never one to start oﬀ, small, I decided to sculpt an 8 ft high cross made of 72 diﬀ,erent pieces of timber (cf. Luke 10) . It was a true Body of Christ cross, symbolizing Jesus’, historical form and humanity on the cross, representing the Church of the disciples called and chosen, and was made complete with the cross becoming a monstrance, and being able to hold the Eucharist for adoration. I n 2011 I was commissioned by ‘,More than Gold’, an ecumenical group of charities responsible for ministering to the London Olympics 2012. They asked me to create a symbol of faith for the summer of 2012. This creation would become a central focus for prayer and would provide a centre point for those involved with the Joshua Camp, the Catholic outreach project, ministering at the Olympic Games. This portable cross ran along similar lines to my earlier piece ‘,the Body of Christ’, cross as it was made of several timbers. I chose to use 12 diﬀ,erent timbers from across the world to create the cross so as to represent the 12 disciples who were commanded to ‘,go and make disciples of all nations’, (Matthew 28:19) . The Olympic Cross has the same purpose: while each individual part may be rich with character, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each timber was carefully selected for its colour, texture, history and for the part of the world it represents. These are as follows: Ash (North America) , London Plane (England) , Siberian Larch (Russia) , Tree of Heaven (China) , Olivewood (Holy Land) , Gimlet (Australia) , Rosewood (India) , Pink Ivory (South Africa) , Thuya Burr (North Africa) , Lignum Vitae (A rgentina) , Purpleheart (Brazil) , and Blue Mahoe (Jamaica). The timbers chosen to make up the three-step base into which the Cross stands are: Sycamore ( faith) , Spalted Beech (hope) and Paduk (love) , each one chosen deliberately to emulate something of each virtue. Whilst the Cross was designed speciﬁ,cally for the Olympic Games in London, it has taken on a life of its own and is now the property of the Va tican who are promoting it so as to bring a missionary dimension to the Olympic experience. Much to my surprise, I found that the cross was blessed by Pope Francis himself in the Town Hall of Rio de Janeiro last summer, and is now being paraded around Brazil as a focus for prayer in the run-up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio. Jo n Cornwall, 26 Olympic Cross

Read in full

Page 5

outh Sudan: no peace without reconciliation March 2014 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 5 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk I n the ﬁ,rst month of 2014, up to 10,000 people are estimated to have been killed and 500,000 others displaced from their homes as a result of violent clashes across the newest African state of South Sudan. Throughout this period, observers have recorded reports of extensive human rights violations, including mass killings, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and sexual violence. Over 60,000 civilians are currently sheltering in UN compounds, with 30,000 in camps in the capital, Juba, alone. In one particularly tragic incident earlier this month, over 200 women and children drowned as their boat capsized while crossing a river to ﬂ,ee ﬁ,ghting near the town of Malakal. The ongoing events have been referred to by the United Nations as a “,horrifying humanitarian and human rights disaster.”, Despite some degre e of stability following the nation’,s secession in 2011, it was an elite power struggle surrounding the President’,s sacking of his Vice President in July 2013 which prompted the latest outbreak of violence. This event exacerbated tensions that by December saw rival military groups ﬁ,ghting on the streets of Juba. Fear and confusion spread across the country, leading to alleged incidents of targete d killings on the basis of ethnicity, and consequently sparking cycles of retaliatory attacks. Amid growing global concern, the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) wrote in its Christmas message that this was “,a political problem [which] should not be turned into an ethnic problem.”, Ecumenical organisations such as the SSCC have played a key role in vocalising peace messages in recent weeks, and historically have played a central role in promoting national peace processes. Their message during the current humanitarian crisis has been that the diversity of religious and ethnic groups in South Sudan is a source of strength, and should not be exploited for political ends. I spent several weeks in South Sudan during August and September 2013 while conducting research into peace-building processes as part of my wo rk for the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA), based in Kenya. While undertaking ﬁ,eldwork in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, I met and interviewed representatives of the Caritas programme of the Catholic Diocese of Torit. We discussed the role of the Diocese in conﬂ,ict prevention and peace-building schemes across the region, organising many regional and cross-border peace conferences, and in particular focusing on bringing together young people from previously opposed communities, in order to foster conditions for peace among future generations. One of the most outstanding aspects of T he New Year opened with a national conference for young people working in youth ministry. In our diocese we are blessed to have our youth team at Castlerigg Manor. There are nine other youth centres around the country run by dioceses and by diﬀ,erent religious orders. They represent part of the Church’,s on- going support of youth ministry, but they also represent the great generosity of young people who give up a year of their lives to help to run retreats and mission work. About 110 of these gap years met together in January with Bishop Kieron Conry, it was a great experience for them all to know that they are part of something much greater, and to realise that there are other young people who are working hard, praying hard, and giving of themselves in this way. One of the team members from Castlerigg said, “,It was an amazing opportunity to meet other young Catholics working in youth ministry, to make new friends and to discover new experiences. At this time of the year when the days are so dark and cold and it is so hard to get out of bed, the time together gave me new hope and purpose”,. South Sudan: no peace without reconciliation the peace-building work of the Diocese of Torit is the ‘,Peace Village’, project, which has been celebrated as ‘,a resounding success story in mediation and reconciliation.’, Holy Trinity Peace Village, Kuron, founded in 2005, was the vision of Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban. Inspired by visits to inter-faith communities in Germany, Israel, and the United States, Bishop Ta ban dreamt of “,a community where people with diﬀ,erent ethnicities and diﬀ,erent religious backgrounds could live side by side in conﬁ,dence, harmony and fellowship.”, The Peace Village, located in Kapoeta East County, is an inter-faith and inter-ethnic community founded to encourage harmonious relationships between several pastoralist groups with a history of violent conﬂ,ict, traditionally concerning the raiding and theft of cattle. The project is based on a culture of inclusion and on the promotion of constructive relations between these groups. The Diocese has implemented a number of practical schemes for the community which have supported agriculture and food production, increased access to formal education, built schools and healthcare centres, and developed water, hygiene and sanitation provisions. What st arted out in 2005 as a group of 80 families has since grown to encompass over 3,000 people, including some who have left neighbouring countries to join the community. In such a space, there is the capacity for resolution of present and past disputes through mediation, rather than encouraging the use of violence driven by ideas of ethnic diﬀ,erence. “,We started the peace village because we wanted to break down tr ibalism”,, writes Bishop Taban. “,The communities no longer refer to each other as enemies but as friends.”, Bishop Taban’,s work has earnt him a reputation as an expert advisor on national peace issues, and was recently acknowledged by his receipt of a United Nations Peace Prize. As I write, a tentative ceaseﬁ,re agreement appears to have been reached between government and rebel representatives at talks held in Ad dis Ababa, Ethiopia. While diplomacy is critical in such situations, the example of Holy Trinity Peace Village demonstrates that it is through mediation, dialogue, and ultimately, reconciliation, that lasting peace is achieved. And, while political forces can easily manipulate diﬀ,erence into division, the project further highlights the truth that even after decades marred by conﬂ,ict, diverse groups in South S udan are still able to live side-by -side, to overcome past disputes, and to move forward together. For more information about the Holy Trinity Peace Village, visit: www.kuronvillage.net Daniel Cullen, 23, Grimsargh The Generosity of Our Young People - The Teams Conference

Read in full

Page 6

students in a series of dynamic drama workshops and presentations, RISE theatre will be taking to the stage in Blackpool once again. This time, for one night only and Holy Family Church will play host to “,Soldier to Saint”, . RISE are excited to be bringing this inspirational play straight to your doorstep, oﬀ,ering a unique way to explore the journey to faith. “,Soldier to Saint”, is coming to Holy Family Church, Blackpool on Tu esday 25th March 2014 at 7:30pm. Don’,t miss out, for tickets, visit: www.risetheatre.ticketsource.co.uk/ For more details please call St Mary`s Catholic College Chaplaincy on 01253 442591 or sst@st-mary.blackpool.sch.uk Rise Theatre will also be performing ‘,Soldier to Saint’, in Preston on Saturday 12th April 2014 at St Walburge’,s Parish Hall, PR2 2QE at 7.30pm (Doors at 7pm). For more information about this ve nue or to buy tickets please contact the Metanoia Project on 07957 566741, team@metanoiaproject.co.uk or www.metanoiaproject.co.uk where you can also buy tickets online. 6 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk A fter a successful London run in 2011, and following their 2013 Summer tour, RISE Theatre is reviving its ground-breaking one-act play “,Soldier to Saint”, , bringing this challenging &, thought-provoking drama to the very heart of Blackpool! The play is immersed in the gritty world of London 2020, where religious expression has been made illegal and a city is in crisis. As Christians are forced into hiding and rioting hits the streets, a soldier –, John Alban, strikes an unlikely friendship with a fugitive priest, a friendship that could cost him his life . For such a time as this, John Alban must now make a choice between his old way of life or following a new path –, a path that will change his life forever. Performed by RISE Theatre, “,Soldier to Saint”, brings to life the inspirational true story of Saint Alban, England’,s ﬁ,rst Christian martyr –, a compelling tale of courage, friendship and sacriﬁ,ce. Following the success of the Mission week last year at St Mary’,s Catholic College, where the theatre company led over 1200 Soldier to Saint RISE Theatre presents The Good Thief This day you will be with me in Paradise, My Father will set us free. Thank you for speaking out for me, My Father has made you see. He has not left me all alone. He has heard every groan. The Spirit has heard your every word. We’,ll be as free as a bird. You have testiﬁ,ed for me, on Earth. I will testify for you, before my Father and his angels in heaven. You will live forever with us. Your story i s writte n in Golgotha, and your future, in Paradise. T. Booth, Kirby Lonsdale

Read in full

Page 7

March 2014 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 7 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk Your letters How to send us your letters: Write to: The Editor, 99, Commonside, Ansdell, Lytham St. Annes, FY8 4DJ. Email to: voiceletters@hotmail.co.uk •, Please keep your letters concise (max 300 words), •, Include your full name and address •, Letters should not include any personal criticism or attacks •, The editor reserves the right to: - amend or shorten letters or to refuse to publish them (no correspondence to di sc uss decisions taken will be entered into) - publish a response if deemed appropriate B ill Adams, Preston, has celebrated 63 years as a serving member of the St Vincent de Paul society. His years of service were recognized at a festival evening held at St Wilfrid’,s, in January . As a member of the society, Bill has worked extensively in local prisons, hospitals, hospices and the old St Vincent’,s orphanage, in Pre ston. Following Mass a hot pot supper was served in the parish centre and Raymond Daly, the Diocesan SVP central council president, travelled down from Kendal to present Bill with a commemoration plaque and a special long service medal. (The medal was issued from the SVP headquarters in Paris, where the 63 years service for the SVP SVP was founded by Frederic Ozanam). Bill was the ﬁ,rst Deacon to be ordained in the Diocese of Lancaster, over 31 years ago and in addition to serving as Deacon at St Wilfrid’,s, Bill acts as spiritual advisor to their SVP conference and to the Preston and District council. The St Vincent DePaul Society recently gained national recognition, when Prime Minister, David Cameron gave the organization the Big Society award, he said: “,I am delighted to recognise all 10,000 SVP volunteers and staﬀ, who support them in their vital work, turning concerns into action.”, “,I want to embrace the world in a network of charity”, (Bl. Frederic Ozanam) DIOCESAN SUPPLIERS SERVING CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, COMMERCIAL AND THE DOMESTIC SECTOR The Catholic Voice is very grateful to all the Diocesan Suppliers that regularly advertise with us and support the paper. If you have worked for the Diocese and would like to be included in this section, please contact Caroline on 01223 969506 or email carolineg@cathcom.org Complete pest control solutions •, Mice, Birds and Insect control •, Free advice •, Environmental Health Inspections •, CRB checked Serving the Churches, Schools, Commercial and Domestic Sectors. For a friendly and confidential service call us on Church Pews Uncomfortable? Why not try top quality upholstered foam pew cushions? Safefoam, Green Lane, Riley Green, Hoghton, Preston PR5 0SN www.safefoam.co.uk Freephone 0800 015 44 33 Free Sample Pack of foam &, fabrics sent by first clss mail When phoning please quote MV101 51 Nicol Road, Ashton-in Makerfield, Wigan WN4 8LU Projects Undertaken in the Local Area: Re-Roofing of Lancaster Town Hall, which we completed in 2012 under our heritage works: Re-Roofing of St Bede’,s Catholic High School &, St Peters Catholic Primary School works completed 2013 Other Projects we specialise in: Churches, Museum works, Public &, Private Sector works, Schools, Universities, Town Halls &, Indu stries works. F or more information contact: admin@frsroofingservices.co.uk Builders Yard, 66 Marsden Street, Kirkham, Preston PR4 2TH Tel: (01772) 684489 Fax: (01772) 671486 email: admin@jeharrison.co.uk www.jeharrisonbuilders.co.uk School building work and refurbishment/ conversion, building and joinery work, extensions, alterations &, repairs, loft conversions, replacement doors and windows Consultants to Lancaster RC Diocese Through a committed and highly experienced team we provide professional consultancy in: Project Management Architecture Quantity Surveying Building Surveying CDM Co-Ordination Public Sector Commercial Education Retail Industrial Health Leisure Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements: Michael McKevitt / Christopher Bell JYM Partnership LLP, Oak House, 28 Sceptre Way Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6AW t: 01772 323666 f: 01772 338611 e: mbm@jympartnership.co.uk or chrisb@jympartnership.co.uk Visit our website: www.jympartnership.co.uk Based in Kirkby Lonsdale, garden contractor throughout South Lakeland, including Lancaster Kendal and Morecambe For all your Grass Cutting, Weeding, Hedge Cutting, Dry Stone walling and Patio laying whether Residential or Property Developer Landscaping. Contract grass cutting for Schools, Sports Fields, Churches, Parish Councils and more. 7 Lonsdale Rise, Kirkby Lonsdale, Near Lancaster, LA6 2BF Telephon e: 01524 271 312 M obile: 07774 250 018 E-mail: Tennantmk2@hotmail.com

Read in full

Page 8

8 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk T hree voices reﬂ,ect a little on Parish life from the Choir, the SVP and Parish Council. A voice from the Choir Those of us with the responsibility and privilege of being in parish choirs will be familiar with the words attributed to St. Augustine “,he who sings prays twice.”, Although, sacramentally, all Masses are the same, I’,m sure many of us will agree that music in the liturgy has a very important part to play. It must aid prayerfulness, concentration, participation and reverence and add illumination to the theme of the Readings and the Church’,s year. Mostly, the choir should lead the congregation and not be seen to be “,performing”, too often (oops!) Here at St. Alban’,s we are fortunate to have ﬁ,fteen loyal members who generously g ive hundreds of hours a year as “,ministers of music.”, As most of us are retired, we are able to lead music at all parish funerals and weddings as well as Sunday Mass and Holy days. We all know how deeply supportive it can be to the family and friends at a Requiem Mass or funeral to be supported and carried in this way. We are “,generously rewarded”, with an annual choir “,do”, or party. Our congregation is very wa rmly supportive of the choir, and knowing your congregation is important for those of us choosing music for the liturgy. We make use of a very wide range of music from new compositions through to the familiar and nostalgic sounds of Latin hymns like Pange Lingua and Salve Regina and the Missa de Angelis which we sing throughout Advent and Lent. We have built up a tradition in the parish, (if a ‘,little bird ie’, lets us know ) of marking birthdays, wedding anniversaries, special celebrations, by singing to them at the end of Mass. You might guess that the younger members of the parish really enjoy it. However you might be surprised to know that parishioners at the other end of the age range secretly love it too, especially if they live alone. One parishioner commented “,I’,m sure I’,ve never had so many people sing happy birthday to me ever before!”, After all we are a parish family, the family of God. We choristers all hope that singing truly is double praying, it certainly is rewarding. Here at St. Alban’,s we are fortunate to have two “,Godse nds”, a parishioner who is always ready to play the organ for all occasions, and a button on the organ to change the key, up or down. Gone are the angelic screeches in “,Hark the Herald!”,. Lowering the key encourages the men to join in, and I don’,t just mean us tenors and basses! So I say thank you Lord for the music, for giving it to us. Or as Peter Dimuantes puts it: So help me God to keep in mind The give r of my gift of song, That I may never be inclined To selﬁ,sh boasts, when praise belongs, My Lord to Thee, and Thee alone. A voice from the SVP The St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Alban’,s is small, with eight members, but we would like to think that it is eﬀ,ective in what it tries to do, since it is helped in its work by a very generous and caring community. Since 2006 we have raised £,12,099 for the baby feeding stations in the Sudan, helping to keep them open when they were faced with closure, thus putting the lives of vulnerable babies and toddlers at risk. This is an ongoing project for the SVP nationally and we continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. We also provide tea and home-made cakes and a nice chat once a month to the local community around us. Blessed Frederic Ozanam saw a need to help his fe llow students in the 1830s by meeting together to discuss their A closer look at:

Read in full

Page 9

March 2014 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 9 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk St. Alban’,s St. Annes on Sea problems and the social injustices of the day and to act. We have boxes in the entrance Hall for parishioners and friends to donate food and clothing for the food bank run by the SVP at St. Cuthbert’,s Blackpool, a very great need which is growing week by week. We have arranged a few socials which have raised funds to help this work and in Lent we will have our ‘,Hunger’, lunches once again, soup and b read, to raise funds for home and abroad. Other activities include visits to the sick and housebound, the lonely, those in hospital and care homes, some of the duties undertaken by the SVP throughout this country. Every year we entertain around 70 to 80 parishioners, neighbours and friends from other churches to a Christmas party. We start by celebrating Mass, we sing carols with our famous choir, party food is served in the Hall, then we have a sing-a-long to all the old Christmas favourites. Father Christmas arrives with presents for everyone, it is a jolly good way to celebrate Christmas. There is a hymn called “,The Servant King”, which I think sums up the ideals of the SVP: This is our God, the Servant King, He calls us now to follow Him, to live our lives as a daily oﬀ,ering, of worship to th e Servant King. Blessed Frederick Ozanam started the St. Vincent de Paul Society to address the needs of the people around him. Parishes throughout the country, and indeed throughout the whole world, have emulated him in the care of their communities. What better way to serve the Servant King! The hymn goes on poetically: Hands that ﬂ,ung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered. We are his hands, We are his stars, We are called to serve. A voice from the Parish Council Welcome to St. Alban’,s. As we enter we are greeted by a detail from the ‘,Return of the Prodigal’, by Rembrandt. Some people tell us that we are a warm, inviting and friendly community –, and so we are - but isn’,t that the way all churches are? We are just people living by what we believe and building on the foundations left by those who have gone befo re. We have inherited great facilities left to us by the forward thinking fathers of this parish. So we have all we need –,a presbytery, a modern low cost church building, and plenty of car parking. We have a very practical and well placed church hall and we are even blessed with a ﬁ,eld for outdoor events and potentially for expansion if ever needed. In this our 50th Anniversary year of the Parish we have just started to celebrate that inheritance. 50 years ago our Sunday Mass was in the local Inn, and on weekdays when there was “,no room at the Inn”, it was in the local farm cottage. Of course a parish is not about buildings, no matter how necessary –, it’,s about the people –, and it’,s about our mission. We are just a group of people called to love God and our neighbours –, just as we should. In fact, being the only place where people can gather in this part of town, the neighbours often drop in for some tea and chat. Isn’,t that the heart of our mission, to present the warm, inviting, and friendly face of God to an otherwise cold and unfriendly world? Our down to earth attitude means we have a high proportion of the congregation who roll up their sleeves and do work for the parish. When you visit us you may notice that the place is well cared for, well loved, and of course you are welcome. So why not join us for our 50th Anniversary Barbecue in July this year, and take a share in the treasure that is St. Alban’,s.

Read in full

Page 10

10 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk F rom time to time people will ask me, “,How’,s recruitment going?”, I always try to gently correct their question, because vocations work is never about recruitment. We always start from the basic truth that God has created each of us with a purpose, and it is the work of both the individual and the Church to discern what that purpose is. So the wo rk of a Vocations Director is never to persuade or arm-twist someone into going forward for the priesthood, instead, it is to help them to ask the question: “,What is God calling me to?”, –, and then, of course, to work with them to ﬁ,nd the answer, always with a genuine openness to God’,s will, whatever it may be. The falling number of priests in our diocese, and across much of t he ‘,developed’, world, is a symptom of our times, and of the wider challenges the Church faces. The main reason that vocations have fallen is that Mass attendance has fallen. We all therefore need to work together to encourage people back to Mass, and, amongst the Mass-going community, we need to encourage one another to live our faith more fully and more courageously. The ‘,vocations crisis’, is really a crisis of faith. The ﬁ,rst step to reversing it is to renew our own faith in the Lord. Nothing short of this will help. We need to recommit ourselves to prayer, to trusting in God, to allowing Him to work in us and in our parishes. It takes six or seven years to train a priest, so even if we had a surge in vocations tomorrow, we face several more years of painful decisions about how best our priests can serve the diocese. But this is not a reason to despair. Without doubt, the Lord is teaching us to renew our trust in Him. Once, when I was expressing my frustration at not being able to do all the things I thought I should be doing, a wise priest said to me, “,The Church has only one Saviour –, and it’,s not you”, . How Live the Faith quickly we can forget that. If we believe that the Lord is with us, we know that He too shares our problems, He is with us in the midst of our anxieties about the future of the Church, and He knows how much we value the sacraments He has given us. It is God who provides for His Church –, He asks only that we are generous in giving of ourselves, and that we pray that He will send labourers to His harvest. Fr Andrew Allman, Vocations Director The Catholic Voice urges every individual, family and parish community to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. Last Easter Pope Francis said: “, Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or to the consecrated life there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community…, This is why Jesus said: “,Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest,”, that is, God the Father, “,to send out labourers into his harvest”, (Mt 9:38). Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer, and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. ”, Prayer for Vocations Lord Jesus, the ministry of priests is a sign of your unfailing care. Call from among us the priests needed for the Church of today and tomorrow. Bless all students for the priesthood. Grant them joy, wisdom, courage and a generous spirit. Sustain priests with a real sense of your love and the support of those they are called to serve. Keep them faithful to their calling. Amen. Courageously! Mention this ad for £,20 OFF any annual policy purchased this month UK Based arranged for Catholic Voice of Lancaster Readers Boarbank Hall Contact: Sr Anne Donockley Boarbank Hall, Grange over Sands Cumbria LA11 7NH Telephone: 015395 32288 Website: www.boarbankhall.org.uk Canonesses of St Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus “,You desire to be builders of peace, possess it yourselves first”, , St Augustine A Warm Welcome to Everyone Prayer •, Community •, Hospitality •, Care of the poor and sick Don`t forget we can also sell... SINGLE-TRIP COVER Any duration up to one year max. age 85. 86+ maximum duration 31 days Authorised and regulated by the FCA March 2014 Saturday March 1st at 10.00 am St David Our Lady &, St Wilfrid,Warwick Bridge, Carlisle Sunday March 2nd at 6.00 pm Quinquagesima Sunday Christ the King, Harraby, Carlisle Saturday March 15th at 10.00 am Ember Saturday Our Lady &, St Wilfrid,Warwick Bridge, Carlisle Sunday March 16th at 3.00 pm Second Sunday in Lent St Peter`s Cathedral, Lancaster Mass is also celebrated every Sunday at 9.00 am at St Mary Magdalene, Leyland Road, Penwortham. Local Representatives: Bob &, Jane Latin Telephone: 01524 412987 Email: lancasterlms@gmail.com Website: latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com

Read in full

Page 11

March 2014 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 11 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk T he ﬁ,nal Mass at St Francis of Assisi Chapel of Ease was cel- ebrated by Father Bryan Irving, Sunday 5th January, 2014, on the eve of his retirement after 43 years` service as a priest both in Lancashire and Cumbria. We wish Father Bryan a long and fulﬁ,lling retirement at St Winifrede`s, (home for retired priests, Bispham) . Father Bryan and the parishioners met in the chapel the following S aturday for a “,farewell”, meal accompanied by Father Anthony Keefe and Father Bernard Partington prior to closing the doors for the last time. The initiative to re-establish Catholic worship in Hambleton, can be dated back to Sunday, July 9th, 1967, when 21 Catholic residents of Hambleton attended a Mass celebrated by Father Gaﬀ,ney, Pilling, at the home of the Bolangaro family in Market Street –, the ﬁ,rst celebration of a Catholic Mass in Hambleton in over 400 years. The need for a larger venue for future Masses led to the use of the Supper Room at the Village Hall, then the Main Hall itself. Weekday Masses were celebrated in the homes of members of the congregation. Father Gaﬀ,ney was succeeded by Father Bilsborrow and priests from the seminary at Underley. This arrangement continued till St Francis of Assisi Hambleton 1979-2014 1973 when Father Mitchell, the Parish Priest of Little Thornton, assumed the duties. The rural Catholics of Hambleton identiﬁ,ed themselves with the nature-loving St Francis of Assisi and, in 1975, money was raised, and land was purchased, for the erec- tion of a chapel dedicated to him. By 1978, following a huge, 3-year, fund-raising eﬀ,ort by the whole Christian community, suﬃ,cient money had been raised for the construction of a new chapel. Early the following year the chapel was completed. On Saturday, 31st March, 1979, The Rt Rev Brian Foley, Bishop of Lancaster, celebrated Mass and blessed the new chapel. In the 35 years of its existence, the chapel of St Francis, has been a Chapel of Ease attached to various parishes, latterly of St Mary`s, Great Eccleston, and has seen many Parish Priests come and go: - Father George Pennington - Father Peter Groody - Father Anthony Keefe - Father Stephen Ashton - Father Jim Burns - Father Bryan Irving The congregation are indebted to the pioneering work of the ﬁ,rst `committee` which, prior to 1979, was instrumental in creating the chapel of St Francis, and to all committee members whose eﬀ,orts, since then, sustained the chapel ove r the years. Gerald O’,Donoghue The “,farewell”, meal, Saturday, 11th January, 2014. Photo courtesy of G O’,Donoghue. Inside the Bolangaro home, 1967. Photo courtesy of M and D Dowling. Outside the Bolangaros, 1967. Photo courtesy of Mr J Daresbury Hatton. SELF STORAGE Secure Units Available Sizes To Suit All Needs Competitive Rates From as little as £,5 per week Open 7 Days Also Caravan/Car/Boat Storage Curly Tail Storage, Park Lane, Forton Tel: 01524 791837 www.curlytailstorage.co.uk Able Wills Professional Will Writers &, Estate Planners Have you been meaning to make a Will but never got round to it? Do you own property? Are your children under 18? Are you worried about nursing home fees? Might your estate be liable to Inheritance Tax? If the answer to any of the above is “,Yes”, then we can help. Specialists for: Wills and Probate, Lasting Power of Attorney, Property &, Discretionary Trust s, Funeral Plans Call Malcolm Nightingale For a FREE home visit. 01539 737400 7, Windermere Road, Kendal Diocese Of Lancaster SICK &, RETIRED PRIESTS’, FUND YOU CAN HELP BY ... Sending Donations Direct &, Legacies Secretary: Rev. Peter Draper, St Anthony of Padua, Cadley Causeway, Fulwood, Preston PR2 3RX Martin`s The Funeral Directors 188, Tulketh Brow, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston 1, Stonebridge Parade, Preston Road, Longridge Tel. 01772-733007 or 01772-782121 Proprietor W. Martin Wootton Dedicated and Blessed Chapels of Rest Golden Charter Pre-Paid Funeral Plans The complete funeral service from a private family owned and run firm •, Memorials •, Renovations •, Lettering •, Marble •, Granite •, Slate •, Stone of all kinds, colour &, designs •, Wray Brothers are long established monumental masons highly regarded for quality of their workmanship and personal service. Traditional Hand Cut Letters Proprietors: S. A. Edwards, M. A. Edwards, G. Edwards 51a Layton Road, Layton, Blackpool FY3 8EB Tel/Fax: 01253 392620 Established 1839

Read in full

Page 12

12 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk T he declining number of priests, to serve the faithful, as well as declining congregations has caused dioceses throughout the western world to undergo restructuring. Reality tells us that there will be no quick ﬁ,x answer to the issue of an ageing and numerically reduced clerical presence but our generation owes it to the next g eneration to form and shape them in such a way that our congregations start to grow rather than continue to decline in the years ahead. The Diocese of Lancaster, like many other dioceses, has and continues to face the reality of linking and merging parishes, and in some cases the closure of some church buildings. These practical and necessary steps, while a source of sadness and loss for many parishioners a t the time of change do however present fresh opportunities for new beginnings. Several years ago, the Parish Priest at The Willows in Kirkham, found himself in charge of St Anne’,s parish in nearby Westby. He had the beneﬁ,t of inheriting a small, though dedicated congregation at Westby, while we, at The Willows, had the joy of getting to know fellow Catholics –, not least the late Deacon David Done –, who serve d both parishes and enriched the lives of both communities. Two years later St Anne’,s Westby has become linked with Holy Family in Freckleton while The Willows in Kirkham has merged with St The Way Forward - A personal view The church of St John the Evangelist, Kirkham and the church of St Joseph, Wesham. Joseph’,s in Wesham and is now known as the Parish of the Holy Cross (the church building names remain however) . You would need to reside in Kirkham or Wesham to realise the signiﬁ,cance of this monumental merger! Suﬃ,ce to say that the train station provides the deﬁ,nitive border between the two small towns. Following the Relief Act of 1791 when the building of Catholic Churches was permitted, a chapel and presbytery dedicated to The Holy Cross was built on the existing land where the Willows Church now stands. It became known as The Willow Chapel after the Willow trees which grew around it and the existing church of St John the Evangelist, is still better known as The Willows. The Parish of the Holy Cross seems a ﬁ,tting name for the new parish as both communities are inextricably linked in the past and the area is steeped in Catholic history. The merger of the two communities into the Parish of the Holy Cross has seen new friendships forged and many positive practical outcomes not least a growth in SVP membership. It is evident that the workload of our priests’, is increasing all the time as a re sult of these changes. The welfare of our parish priests should be a prime concern for us all and we should continually pray for them and strive to help and support them as much as possible. It is so easy to be critical of change but thinking more in terms of what we can do for the Church is far more positive than simply thinking what the Church can do for me. The future is challenging but there is a lot to be positive about and continued dialogue, prayer, imagination and the ability to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit will make for the beginnings of a worthy legacy to those who come after us. But we need to also recognise that each one must share the responsibility of handing on the faith - along with our ordained clergy. As Pope Francis recently said “,Through Baptism, each of us becomes ‘,missio nary disciples’,, called to bring the Gospel to the world. Each of the baptized, whatever their role in the Church or the educational level of their faith, is an active agent of evangelization. …, The new evangelization should involve …, a new central role for each of the baptized. The People of God is a People of disciples –, because we receive the faith –, and a missionary People –, because we pass on the faith. Th is is what makes Baptism in us: it gives us Grace and transmits the faith. All of us in the Church are disciples, always and for our entire lives, and we are all missionaries, each in the place that the Lord has assigned us.”, Jenny Phillips

Read in full

Page 13

March 2014 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 13 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk Does God guide the world and my life? Yes, but in a mysterious way, God guides everything along paths that only he knows, leading it to its perfection. At no point in time does something that he has created fall out of his hands. God inﬂ,uences both the great events of history and also the little events of our personal life, without reducing our freedom or making us mere marionettes in his eternal plans. In God “,we live and move and have our being”, (Acts 17:28). God is in everything we meet in all the changes in our life, even in the painful events and the seemingly meaningless coincidences. God wants to write straight even with the crooked lines of our life. What he takes away from us and what he gives us, the ways in which he strengthens us and the ways in which he tests us all these are arrangements and signs of his will. (YOUCAT question 49) If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, why does he not prevent evil? “,God allows evil only so as to make something better result from it.”, (St. Thomas Aquinas) Evil in the world is an obscure and painful mystery. Even the Cruciﬁ,ed asked his Father, “,My God, why have you forsaken me?”, (Mt 27:46) . Much about it is incomprehensible. One thing, though, we know for sure: God is 100 perce nt good. He can never be the originator of something evil. God created the world to be good, but it is not yet complete. In violent upheavals and painful processes it is being shaped and moved toward its ﬁ,nal perfection. That may be a better way to classify what the Church calls physical evil, for example, a birth defect, or a natural catastrophe. Moral evils, in contrast, come about through the misu se of freedom in the world. “,Hell on earth”, child soldiers, suicide bombings, concentration camps is usually man-made. The decisive question is therefore not, “,How can anyone believe in a good God when there is so much evil? ”, but rather, “,How could a person with a heart and understanding endure life in this world if God did not exist?”, Christ`s death and Resurrection show us that evil did not have the ﬁ,r st word, nor does it have the last. God made absolute good result from the worst evil. We believe that in the Last Judgment God will put an end to all injustice. In the life of the world to come, evil no longer has any place and suﬀ,ering ends. (YOUCAT question 51) What is heaven? Heaven is God`s milieu, the dwelling place of the angels and saints, and the goal of creation. With the words “,heaven and earth”, we designate the whole of created reality. Heaven is not a place in the universe. It is a condition in the next life. Heaven is where God`s will is done without any resistance. Heaven happens when life is present in its greatest intensity and blessedness a kind of life that we do not ﬁ,nd on earth. If with God`s help we arrive someday in heaven, then waiting for us will be “,what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”, (1 Cor 2:9). (YOUCAT question 52) What is hell? Our faith calls “,hell”, the condition of ﬁ,nal separation from God. Anyone who sees love clearly in the face of God and, nevertheless, does not want it decides freely to have this condition instead. Jesus, who knows what hell is like, speaks about it as the “,outer darkness”, (Mt 8:12). Expre ssed in our terms, it is cold rather than hot. It is horrible to contemplate a condition of complete rigidity and hopeless isolation from everything that could bring aid, relief, joy, and consolation into one`s life. (YOUCAT question 53) Our Faith + May 2013 www.catholicvoiceoancaster.co.uk •, Statutory Audits •, Accounts Preparation •, Tax Planning •, Advice and Compliance •, Payroll •, VAT and Book,keeping Services •, Management Accounts •, Business Planning &, Financial Projections •, Family Tax Planning •, Retirement Planning •, Inheritance Tax advice We are not just accountants , we are here to help you with all family &, business matters. The Old Surgery 43 Derbe Road Lytham St Annes Lancashire FY8 1NJ (T) 01253 789809 (F) 01253 728939 (E) awk@keenanca.co.uk (W): www.keenancharteredaccountants.co.uk Accounts Preparation Retirement Planning Business Planning Tax Planning Family Tax Planning If it’,s on your mind …, it’,s our business

Read in full

Page 14

14 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk I t takes a disciplined spirit to endure the monastery on Montserrat in Spain. One of the fundamental requirements of a particular religious order is that the young men must maintain silence. Opportunities to speak are scheduled once every two years, at which time they are allowed to speak only two words. One young initiate in this religious order, who had completed his ﬁ,rst two years of training, was invited by his superior to make his ﬁ,rst two-word presentation. “,Food terrible,”, he said. Two years later the invitation was once again extended. The young man used this forum to exclaim, “,Bed lumpy.”, Arriving at his superior`s oﬃ,ce two years later he proclaimed, “,I quit.”, The superior looked at this young monk and said, “, You know, it doesn`t surprise me a bit. All you`ve done since you arrived is complain, complain and complain.”, Exaggerated? Maybe! What if you were asked to share two words that describe your Life? Would your focus be the lumps, bumps, and unfairness, or are you committed to dwell on those things that are good, right, and lovely? Think about it! L armenier Retirement Village in Blackburn is able to put a little bit of that summer sunshine back into these dreary winter days with the second phase of purpose built retire- ment apartments and bungalows known as Whitaker Gardens. Residents choose to retire to the Village for many reasons. One such resident, Mrs Barbara Donavan was born in Jamaica and arrived in Britain in 1950 with her family to complete her education, Barbara attended Secretarial College. A ke en lover of languages, she also studied Spanish, spending nine months in Spain. She found work at the BBC as a junior in sound radio, where she met her future husband who was an engineer. Mr and Mrs Donavan were happily married for 33 years and their Catholic faith was very important to them both. After the death of her husband, Barbara eventually sought an appropriate retirement home. She noticed an article in the Catholic Universe about Larmenier Village and was very impressed with what it had to oﬀ,er. Apart from it being closer to her daughter and family, it also oﬀ,ered a village with a strong Catholic ethic and the opportunity to attend Mass regularly in the chapel on site. This together with the opportunity to ADVERTORIAL Warm Winter undertake a trial in a fully furnished apartment and rent until her existing property was sold inﬂ,uenced Barbara heavily and she felt that the village would be perfect for her needs. Barbara continues to be happy with her choice and said “,Larmenier provides me with a very good life. I particularly like the choice and quality of the meals available and the various types of help oﬀ,ered, with a ccess to carers and other support such as cleaning, laundry and handyman services.”, Another key attraction is that Larmenier is not like a nursing home but combines independence with support in a safe, secure environment. “,I am free to come and go”, said Barbara “,and I have no regrets moving here from Kent.”, All our residents enjoy the cosy warmth of energy eﬃ,cient central heating, double glazing and a high st andard of thermal insulation, enabling them to relax without having to worry about high energy costs. There is a 24hour emergency response service a regular doctor’,s surgery and much, much more including a cinema and a library. To arrange a village tour or to ﬁ,nd out more about their ‘,trial in style’, option call Larmenier on 01254 677926. Welcome Thought for Lent What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. Saint Augustine To busy complaining to see good?

Read in full

Page 15

March 2014 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 15 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk K een GCSE Geographers from Corpus Christi High School, Preston, headed to the Trough of Bowland for four days to complete their ﬁ,eld study for their Controlled Assessment task. Pupils collected primary data on the formation and development of rivers. Completing a mix of ﬁ,eld work and classroom work throughout the visit, the gro up began their ﬁ,eldwork at St Michaels on Wyre, where the river is joined by a second major tributary, the River Brock where they were able to see how the river becomes tidal below the weir at St Michael’,s. Later they headed to the top of the Trough of Bowland to view the source of the river. The pupils analysed six diﬀ,erent sites at various diﬀ,erent stages of the river before it reached the river re ached its widest part at the mouth. Data was gathered including: the river depth, the channel width, the wetted perimeter and the velocity of the river. And the students used this information to test their own hypothesis about how a river ﬂ,ow can vary. As well as working towards their GCSE, improving team building skills was also a major aim. As well as working together to collect data they were given the chance to partake in thrilling outdoor activities. Venturing onto the water in canoes, heading up the indoor climbing wall and getting their adrenaline pumping as they travelled down the zip line were all activities that helped to promote the importance of teamwork and communication. Year 11 pupil, Abby Howarth thoroughly enjoyed the ﬁ,eldtrip. She said: “,The whole group had a fantastic time. It was grea t being able to work together outside of the classroom, and learn about Geography while out in the ﬁ,eld just like professional Geographers would do. The experience was invaluable to my studies and I now feel fully prepared for my upcoming controlled assessment.”, Sarah Johnson Out into the Field! Lancaster/Morecambe 01524 402340 South Cumbria , Kendal 01539 740955 Lytham St Annes/Blackpool/ Freckleton 01253 344368 Accompanied Mobility Vehicle Service You don’,t need to feel stuck in the house, this service is for when you are struggling to get to a hospital appointment or just want an accompanied ride out. The vehicle is wheelchair adapted and comes with a carer/ driver who stays with you for the duration. Simple hourly and mileage rates apply to this popular service, available to our carewatch clients (not a taxi service).

Read in full

Page 16

16 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + March 2014 www.catholicvoiceoﬂ,ancaster.co.uk C anon Luiz Ruscillo, Diocesen Head of Education, watches Bill Arnold, Catenian, present two cheques, value £,400, to Ruth Lowe Head of the Sixth Form at Our Lady’,s Catholic College. Ruth is the team leader for eight sixth form students and four teachers who in July this year will ﬂ,y to Bukinda, Uganda where they will spend time w ith St Paul’,s RC school and other schools in the Kanungo District. Whilst there, the Our Lady`s Catholic College, Lancaster team will share their expertise as Science teachers and students with the Ugandan pupils. The team is raising money, by various functions, to support the students costs and to take additional resources asked for by the Ugandans. This will be Ruth’,s second visit to Uganda as she travelled there last year with supplies for the area provided by the Hornby parishioners. Bill Arnold Lancaster students raise thousands S tudents from Our Lady’,s Catholic College raised over £,2,500 for communities in the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan –, the largest school donation for the Philippines in the Diocese of Lancaster. They were responding to an urgent appeal by CAFOD The children held a variety of fundraising events, including a hot dog day, cake sales and a non-uniform day. “,Our students are always anxious to help other people wherever they can and when they saw the scenes of terrible devastation they were immediately clamouring to be allowed to fund raise”, said Brendan Conboy, Headteacher. CAFOD’,s Patrick Gardner said, “,This is an amazing amount of money the College has raised and a real show of solidarity and compassion. CAFOD is overwhelmed at the eﬀ,orts they made to raise this money and so grateful to all those who have contributed to the appeal, there’,s been an exceptional response throughout Lancashire. People’,s livelihoods and communities have been devastated in the Philippines, and the churches there are playing a vital part in providing emergency relief and starting the rebuilding process. It’,s extremely heart-warming to know local people want to help. Their support is hugely appreciated.”, Ty phoon Haiyan struck the Philippines on the 8th November last year and aﬀ,ected over 13 million people by severely damaging power, transport and water systems as well as destroying thousands of families’, homes. THE SISTERS OF NAZARETH Do you believe there is more to Life? Looking for a Challenge in ......... PRAYER? COMMUNITY? MINISTRY? IF SO CONTACT... SISTER FRANCES 07906372786 vocinfo@sistersofnazareth.com for entry to year 7 in 2015 Tuesday, July 8th &, Tuesday 30th September 6.00 to 8.30pm Taster Day Monday 23rd June Please enter via the Elmfield site on Ullet Road

Read in full

Find your local Catholic Historical Church newspaper. Scroll to find yours.