OCTOBER 2022 Issue 481 FREE V OICE Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Bishop’,s Column I`m sure, like many families, when we gather as a family, we talk about people in the past, our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, people who we`ve known. That’,s when the old biscuit tin comes out, which contains all the photographs, all the memorabilia, all the things that help us remember those people who`ve gone before us, and we spend an hour or two going through them all. All of us like to be, somehow, put in contact with people that we`ve known. In Victorian times, for example, people used to wear lockets with a little piece of hair of someone that they loved very dearly. Relics help us come into contact with, if you like, and come closer to people that we admire and we love from the past. This is certainly true of St Bernadette`s relics as they come to our diocese. They will help to put us in touch with Bernadette and they will help us bring Bernadette closer to each one of us and through her intercession, closer to Our Lady and to the Lord. Bernadette was born in the town of Lourdes in the south of France in 1844 and she lived a very poor and very simple life, with her mother and father and eight siblings. But between February 11 and July 16 1858, she experienced 18 apparitions of Our Blessed Lady in a little cave down by the River Gave in Lourdes. And the basic message of the apparitions was to call people to conversion through penance, through penitence. Our Lady also told Bernadette to go to the local priest and to ask him to build a chapel and to encourage people to come in procession. During the course of the apparitions, she revealed her name to Bernadette. She said, `I am the Immaculate Conception`, a name that Bernadette really couldn`t have made up because she was very uneducated. Not long after the apparitions, Bernadette went from Lourdes and joined the Sisters of Charity at Nevers. She lived in the convent for the rest of her life, and she died in 1879. She was beatified in 1925 and canonised in 1933. We`re very blessed that the relics of St Bernadette are going to come to our diocese, in three places. They`ll come to the cathedral at Coulby Newham on October 2 from 1.30pm and right through until 12.30pm on October 3. Then they`ll go to Ampleforth, arrive there round about 1.30pm and will remain there until 5pm. And then they will come to Our Lady of Lourdes &, St Peter Chanel Church on Cottingham Road in Hull on October 5 from 7pm until 7am the next morning. Please take advantage of these opportunities, they don`t come very often and I`m very, very sure that you individually, your families and all the people that you`re praying for, will be blessed as a result of the coming of St Bernadette`s relics to our diocese. Yours in blessed hope, Bishop Terry praised Queen Elizabeth II’,s faithfulness, commitment and loyalty as he led the diocese in prayers and tribute. He said: “,It is with profound sadness that I heard the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. What a loss she will be to our countries, to so many countries and peoples of the Commonwealth. “,Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family as they mourn the loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. So many of us will find it hard to navigate our paths of life without the constant direction and foundation that the Queen provided. “,At the same time, I am filled with immense gratitude for her faithfulness and constant presence. In an age where commitment and loyalty are undervalued, she was the epitome of both. Her Christian faith informed every aspect of her life, and she brought those Christian values to bear in every encounter, be it with the great and the good or with the smallest and most humble. “,I pray that the Lord receives her into his loving arms and that she rests now peacefully joined with all her loved ones who have gone before her. “,I pray for the Royal Family, that they may find comfort and consolation at this difficult time, and I pray that His Majesty, King Charles III, will be given strength and wisdom as he now begins his reign. Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.”, Books of Condolence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II were opened at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough, St Wilfrid’,s, York, St Peter’,s, Scarborough and St Charles Borromeo, Hull. What’,s Inside Papal honour for Chris Page 8 New English cardinal Page 7 Bishop praises Queen’,s Christian values A Sacred Heart candle among the floral tributes outside Buckingham Palace –, Photo ©, Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

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2 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 NEWS BISHOP TERRY`S OCTOBER ENGAGEMENTS 2 Visit of the Relics of St Bernadette Arrival Service at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough 1.30pm Mass of Anointing 5pm 3 Visit of the Relics of St Bernadette Mass of Departure at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough 11.30am Attends meeting of Northern Church Leaders, Zoom 4pm 4 Attends meeting of Bishop’,s Council, Zoom 10.30am 5 Attends the Prison Chaplains meeting, Bishop’,s House, Middlesbrough 10.30am Visit of the Relics of St Bernadette Arrival and Service of Reception at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel, Hull 7pm 6 Morning Mass and Departure of the Relics of St Bernadette 6am 8-9 Attends Walsingham Pilgrimage 12 Attends the Trustee Sub Committee Safeguarding meeting, Middlesbrough 10am 16 Parish visitations at Sacred Heart, Hull All Day 17 Attends the CSSA Conference, Birmingham 1pm 18 Attends meeting of the Trustee Board, Middlesbrough 10.30am 20 Attends Annual Dinner of the RAF Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain, London 7.30pm 21 Attends Centenary Banquet Dinner of the Knights of St Columba, Middlesbrough 7pm 22 Celebrates Mass for the Centenary of the Knights of St Columba at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough 11am 26 Attends Safeguarding Conference for Priests, York All Day 27 Attends meeting of the Northern Province, Zoom 10.30am Pope Francis sent his condolences to King Charles III and the people of the United Kingdom, praising the Queen for her “,life of unstinting service to the good of the nation and the Commonwealth”,. Shortly after her death, Pope Francis sent a telegram to offer his condolences to King Charles III for the death of his mother, the UK’,s longest-serving monarch. It read: “,Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I offer heartfelt condolences to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, the People of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.”, The Pope said he joins everyone who mourns her loss “,in praying for the late Queen’,s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.”, Pope Francis also commended “,her noble soul”, to the mercy of God the Father. “,I assure Your Majesty of my prayers that Almighty God will sustain you with his unfailing grace as you now take up your high responsibilities as king. “,Upon you and all who cherish the memory of your late mother, I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord.”, Queen Elizabeth II reigned for over 70 years, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee on June 2 this year. She met four Popes on official visits during her reign –, Pope John XXIII (1961), Pope John Paul II (1980, 1982 and 2000), Pope Benedict XVI (2010) and Pope Francis (2014). In 1951, a year before she acceded to the throne, she met Pope Pius XII. Pope sends message expressing his sadness Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops’, Conference of England and Wales, said the Queen was a gift to the world…, On April 21 1947, on her 21st birthday, Princess Elizabeth said, “,I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”, Now, 75 years later, we are heartbroken in our loss at her death, and so full of admiration for the unfailing way in which she fulfilled that declaration. Cardinal Nichols: Queen was a shining light Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II. At this time, we pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty. We do so with confidence because the Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity. In her Millennium Christmas message, she said, ‘,To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’,s words and example.’, This faith, so often and so eloquently proclaimed in her public messages, has been an inspiration to me, and I am sure, to many. The wisdom, stability and service which she consistently embodied, often in circumstances of extreme difficulty, are a shining legacy and testament to her faith. Our prayer is that she is now received into the merciful presence of God, there to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip. This is the promise of our faith, and our deep consolation. Queen Elizabeth II will remain, always, a shining light in our history. May she now rest in peace. We pray for His Majesty the King, as he assumes his new office even as he mourns his mother. God save the King. Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrating a Requiem Mass for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Cathedral –, Photo ©, Mazur/cbcew.org.uk Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomes the relics of St Bernadette to Westminster Cathedral. The relics will visit St Mary’,s Cathedr al, Middlesbrough (Sunday October 2 and Monday October 3 2022), Ampleforth Abbey (October 3) and Our Lady of Lourdes &, St Peter Chanel Church, Hull (Wednesday October 5 overnight to Thursday October 6). See the diocesan website for full details of the programme. Photo ©, Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

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The cost of food and the cost of living continues to bite. Things are increasingly difficult. All around the world –, including here in the UK –, ordinary families are finding it harder than ever to put food on the table. It’,s a crisis that’,s been created by other disasters. Climate change, coronavirus and the conflict in Ukraine are causing food prices to skyrocket. It`s affecting people around the world in different ways and to different extents. In northern Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, four years of unbearable drought mean that up to 20m people are fighting for their very survival. It’,s so severe that schools are closed, and people are forced to keep moving to find places where food is available. People like Galgallo. Despite all his efforts, the drought is now life-threatening in his village of Marsabit, Kenya. He had to make a distress call to Isacko, our local expert, who’,s well known to Galgallo’,s village. He said: “,When I made that call, I said, ‘,Today I am going to die. And not alone. I am going to die with all the people of this village. Save that life.’, “,To be honest, I was just staggering for help. I was surrounded by a mass of children almost fainting, elders who could not wake up. Not a drop of water.”, Isacko quickly sent four water trucks and vital aid. Galgallo said: “,If those trucks hadn’,t got here, you’,d have come here and there would be no one left. There would be no one left at all. Or if there was anyone, they wouldn’,t be able to wake up to talk to you.”, Galgallo’,s story shows that together, as one global family, we have the power to help. Across the world, CAFOD works with local experts who know how best to respond. CAFOD’,s Harvest Fast Day is on Friday October 7. It is a day when we eat sparingly, pray for people struggling in poverty and donate to CAFOD’,s work. Churches will hold collections or you can donate at cafod.org.uk Your donations, prayer and solidarity is powerful. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to support CAFOD’,s work –, both with your donations and through your prayers. As Pope Francis says, “,In God, no act of love, no matter how small, will ever be lost.”, October 2022 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + 3 CAFOD World food crisis overshadows harvest time Drought in Marsabit, Kenya –, photo CAFOD/Thom Flint Last month, I was expecting to host my colleague Kayode Akintola, CAFOD’,s country representative for Sierra Leone and Liberia, together with his family. Unfortunately, passport problems prevented him from making the visit. I had to make some quick adjustments, as I was reluctant to cancel the meeting I’,d arranged with volunteers at short notice. So, with the helpful support of Father Tony Lester at Our Lady’,s in York, and the technical expertise of Dr Johan Bergströ,m-Allen, we were able to arrange for Kayode to speak to the volunteers live from Sierra Leone, much to the delight of those who had come hoping to meet him. Kayode outlined the work that’,s being enabled thanks to the generosity of our supporters. After his talk there was a question-and-answer session, followed by a delicious shared lunch, while the talking continued. It was good to bring people together in a culture of encounter, even if only in a virtual space. I am grateful to all who came along and showed such interest in hearing what he had to say. Kayode finally made it to the UK and visited York’,s St Aelred’,s and Our Lady’,s parishes to speak at Mass. It was good for those who “,met”, him online to meet him in person. Technology rescues Africa talk Kayode Akintola, CAFOD’,s country representative for Sierra Leone and Liberia –, Photo by CAFOD/Kayode This year’,s CAFOD Pilgrimage to Holy Island allowed us to come together in prayer and reflect on the global food crisis. My colleague in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, Mark Maughan, usually leads the event, but unfortunately, he was taken into hospital suffering from malaria, having recently returned from South Sudan. I quickly had to take on responsibility for the day’,s proceedings. Fortunately, two of my other colleagues, Maggie and Helen, were also there, and between us, we quickly got the resources we would need and then meet and support the pilgrims who planned to walk across the causeway. Some parish volunteers contacted me to offer their help and Father Chris Hughes offered to collect the keys for St Aidan’,s Catholic Church from the deacon in Seahouses, meaning we could hold a service for those who were not walking across the sands. One of his parishioners, Linda, had prepared a beautiful liturgy for the feast of St Cuthbert. The day came together beautifully and culminated in a wonderful, joyful celebration of Mass in St Mary’,s Church, through the hospitality and kindness of Canon Sarah Hills, vicar of Holy Island. Looking at the congregation gathered in the church, I was so grateful to have witnessed such an outpouring of kindness and generosity from all the people who had contributed to making it such a memorable occasion. We are especially grateful to Kevin Haigh and the group from St Joseph’,s in Birtley for all their help, to Father Chris and Father Paul Wilkinson, who concelebrated our Mass, and to all who made the journey to join us. Next year’,s pilgrimage will be on Saturday July 8 –, I hope you will join us! Carol Cross, Community Participation Coordinator Holy Island pilgrimage focuses on food This year’,s CAFOD pilgrimage to Holy Island reflected on the global food crisis –, Photo by CAFOD/Carol Cross

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4 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 NEWS £,1.80 provides a child with a meal every weekday for a month Donate Now at www.reachfoundationuk.org THE REACH FOUNDATION UK Pupils at St Francis Xavier School have produced an exceptional set of results. Headteacher Stuart McGhee said: “,We are delighted with the brilliant results our young people have achieved. “,Ninety per cent of students received a grade 4 or above in Maths and English. This is testament to the hard work, commitment and resilience shown by our students throughout the last two years and the support they have received from their parents and teachers. We are proud of all of them.”, Just under 11 per cent of grades were at grade 9, almost twice the national average, with provisional progress figures indicating a progress of +0.83, or nearly one grade higher than expected for every student in every subject. “,We are proud to be celebrating the outstanding performance of our GCSE students, including Anjita, who achieved Grade 9 in all ten subjects,”, Mr McGhee said. “,Anjita is delighted with her results and is planning to attend Queen Elizabeth College, studying biology, chemistry and maths.”, Exceptional GCSE results in Richmond Bishop Terry delegated Father David Standen to confirm 13 younger parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Market Weighton. “,It was a joy to be able to celebrate the confirmation and to see them grow in faith and understanding,”, said Father David. Father David thanked Muriel Marsdin for helping them in their studies and in their prayer. Confirmations at Market Weighton The travelling Shroud of Turin Exhibition, which takes life-sized replicas of what is said to be Christ’,s burial cloth around the world, is coming to Scarborough. The actual shroud is housed in the cathedral of the Italian city of Turin. This exhibition, featuring life-sized photographic replicas of the shroud, was created in 2008 using photographs taken by Barrie Schwortz in 1978. It aims to use the replica of the shroud as a visual aid to tell the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and to examine the mystery of the cloth. The exhibition takes the journey of Jesus from his trial through the events of Good Friday to the empty tomb, using passages from the four gospels. It tries to show what the flogging, the whip, the piercings, the nails and spear were really like, using the shroud as a teaching aid. The exhibition gives visitors a chance to understand more about the mysteries of the shroud, and through it, come to a deeper understanding of the great sacrifice Christ made for us for our own redemption. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the diocese. The exhibition comes to St Peter’,s Church, Castle Road, Scarborough YO11 1TH from Saturday October 8 to Sunday October 16. A programme is available on the parish website –, scarboroughcatholicparishes.org.uk –, or by calling St Peter’,s on 01723 360358 or emailing scarboroughcatholicparishes@gmail.com. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) Elizabeth White Turin shroud exhibition comes to Scarborough Photo by Dianelos Georgoudis –, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license If you would like to advertise please contact Charlotte Rosbrooke on 07932 248225 or email charlotter@cathcom.org

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October 2022 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + 5 SCHOOLS Pupils from Catholic schools throughout Teesside have begun their studies at T6 –, Trinity Catholic College Sixth Form in Middlesbrough after achieving outstanding results in their GCSEs. This year, the intake includes the first cohort of scholars at the T6 Football Academy, where they will enjoy elite soccer training alongside their academic studies. The scholars will include talented Floyd Shobo who achieved a grade 9, five grade 8s, a distinction* and two grade 7s at Trinity Catholic College and hopes to study Mechanical Engineering at university. Floyd said: “,I’,m ecstatic. I worked really hard in Year 11 and it’,s paid off. I must thank all my teachers, who have been brilliant to me.”, Head girl Sophie Rashid achieved seven grade 9s and one grade 8 and will continue her education at T6 with the aim of becoming a doctor. “,This is just so pleasing,”, she said. “,I’,m really excited about starting at T6.”, Paige Heseltine achieved four grade 9s, four grade 8s and a distinction* and will study Maths, Chemistry, Physics and History at T6. St Patrick’,s Catholic College in Thornaby’,s excellent GCSE results affirmed Ofsted’,s recent “,Good”, judgement of the school. “,We are extremely proud of all their individual progress and achievements,”, said headteacher, Deborah Law. “,A significant proportion of our pupils have been awarded the highest grades 8 and 9 across the board and we want to congratulate them on such outstanding outcomes. With such fantastic results, our pupils have bright and successful futures ahead of them.”, Phillipa Newton achieved grade 8s in Maths, French, Religious Education and English Literature. She will study A-levels in Maths, Physics and Business at T6 and would like to be an accountant. “,I have achieved higher than I ever imagined and am overjoyed,”, Phillipa said. Alice Hodgers will study Maths, Chemistry and Physics at T6 after being awarded a grade 9 in Maths and a Distinction* in Music, with grade 7s in all other subjects. St Peter’,s Catholic College in South Bank achieved record-breaking results, with English and Maths results improving by 20% since the last published GCSE results in 2019. An impressive 78% of pupils achieved a grade 4 in English with 66.7% achieving a grade 5. Just over 70% of pupils achieved a grade 4 in Maths and 56.2% achieved a grade 5. Headteacher Stephanie Garthwaite said: “,I am beyond proud of every single one of our Year 11 pupils. They have shown great strength, resilience and determination in extremely challenging circumstances. “,I would like to thank parents and carers for their ongoing support and our staff for always going above and beyond to achieve success with our Year 11 pupils. I wish them all the very best in their next steps.”, Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary School, Redcar, recorded their best set of GCSE results in five years. There were improvements across all key measures, including results in English and Maths being significantly above the national average. An impressive 81% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or higher in English and maths and 63% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or higher in English and Maths. Sixth form welcomes pupils after exam success Talent and brains –, Floyd Shobo is one of the first T6 Football Academy scholars

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6 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 NEWS The 10th World Meeting of Families (WMOF) took place in Rome this summer. This year’,s theme was “,Family Love: A Vocation and a Path to Holiness”,, with a focus on reaching out to families all over the world by celebrating WMOF in every diocese, linking these local events to those happening in Rome. In recent editions of the Voice, we have been publishing personal stories from people in our diocese who have different experiences of family. This month, in our final article, we hear from the Nestor family, from Middlesbrough…, Our family life began 2010, when Peter and I were married, having first got together in 2004. We had met through our volunteer work in Lourdes and with the Middlesbrough Catholic Fellowship. Serving others through these Catholic organisations helped shape the way we best lived our faith together and also taught us early doors of what brought out the best in each other. We welcomed our first child in 2013: Anisia (now nine), followed by Nathaniel, five, and Joachim, who has recently had his first birthday. We delighted in sharing opportunities to serve with our children and, before the pandemic, they especially looked forward to their annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. Despite so many of these experiences being hazy in their memories, some key aspects have managed to break through, including the music, processions, candles and Grotto, as well as the times shared with family and friends. Now, all of this begins to paint a very rosy view of a Walton-like family but be assured we are far from it. When asking the children how we best show each other we love each other, they immediately talked about forgiveness and saying sorry. Don’,t get me wrong, I’,m delighted that such sentiments trip off their tongue so readily when talking about how we love each other, but let’,s not gloss over the fact that the reason they are so well-versed is that before apologies and forgiveness comes conflict! Nathaniel is more like his mother, quick-tempered and loud in his complaints, whereas Anisia takes after her dad and deals with conflict with a quiet brooding –, some might say sulking…, Our house is busy –, school, work, ballet lessons, football matches, family events, parties, church, etc. Modern family life is crammed full and we often feel the stress of trying to fit everything in. It is these times we are often fraught with each other and from the outside, one might wonder where the love is. But the children articulate it best: “,When Daddy cooks for us”, (to be fair, he is an excellent cook), “,When we curl up on the sofa and have a hug”,, “,You work hard to allow us to have and do things”,. Unintentionally, they echo the words of Mother Teresa: “,Do small things with great love.”, Upon being asked, the children didn’,t say they know they are loved because we take them on holiday or to lessons or buy them expensive gifts –, instead, they know it is the love behind the day-to-day that ensures they feel held, secure, adored and safe. And so it is with the fact that their first instinct, when talking about how we love each other, was about saying sorry, being forgiven and forgiving each other. In the small, everyday conflicts, they are surrounded by the language of reconciliation when saying sorry openly, honestly and in full view is crucial to moving on from the hurt of confrontation and conflict. The children know they are not perfect –, and nor are their parents, who are the first to demonstrate the act of apologising to them and to each other. While we often lament the children having not had opportunity to explore that service we hoped would help to form them through Lourdes and the Fellowship, they certainly seem to know that the love behind the action is the most important thing. In November, we lost the greatest example of service: my dad and the children’,s beloved grandad. Dad was my hero. He was a lot of people’,s hero. And the reason for this was because he was so capable and knowledgeable and intelligent, but he hid all of that behind his humility and desire to serve. Dad’,s faith drove him to quietly support, comfort and act so that others were enabled, so that they could not just participate but flourish. His death has been crushing and we are still reeling, learning how to see the colour in the world without him here to make it brighter. But to remain in that state of “,grey”, would do him a disservice. Dad taught us that life is fulfilled when we live to serve others but not just for the sake of it. We do so because Christ is the first teacher of true service, and we are not people of faith without action. To quote Mother Teresa again, “,It`s not how much we do but how much love we put into doing. It`s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”, And that’,s why, after Dad died, we took the children to help us choose all the items for the hamper we would donate to CAUSE and Peter and I went to help deliver the hampers (something Dad had done for years). Because when our hearts were broken and we didn’,t know what to do next, we went back to our roots, our basic instinct –, to serve. Because when all felt lost and we were too angry with God to pray, we could still feel close to him –, and to Dad –, by “,doing small things with great love”,. So how does family life demonstrate a vocation of holiness? You may, by now, recognise Mother Teresa as a great influence on our family but she says it best: “,If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”, If our children learn that their acts of love-driven service within our home will give them the skills, confidence and conviction to serve their friends, community and global family as they go through life, we will consider our vocation complete and holy. Rochelle Nestor Changing the world starts at home The Nestor family –, Peter and Rochelle with children Anisia, Joachim and Nathaniel Thousands of families worst affected by the floods in Pakistan are to receive food parcels, shelter and medicine as part of an emergency aid package announced by a leading Catholic charity. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) agreed two vital programmes for Sindh and Karachi in response to urgent appeals from church leaders who warned of a health crisis sparked by people drinking contaminated water and the spread of malaria. More than 5,000 families in Hyderabad diocese alone will receive ACN help totalling 200,000 euros (£,172,000) including food parcels, mosquito nets and repellent. Mobile health clinics will be set up as well as temporary shelters. A further 30,000 euros (£,25,000) will support people across Karachi and beyond, including hundreds of food packages, as well as hygiene kits and cooking utensils. Details of ACN’,s aid packages come after the charity pledged to support flood victims. Saying that the floods had severely affected each parish across all 22 districts in Sindh, Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad told ACN: “,Thousands of families are surrounded by floodwater and thousands are sitting by the roadside with improper facilities. “,They have no food, no clean drinking water, no shelter, no latrines and no health facilities.”, The bishop spoke of a “,mosquito menace”, with a surge in malaria and other skin diseases and warned of a health catastrophe caused by people drinking contaminated water. He said: “,Many of the families have taken refuge in local churches as their houses have been flooded with rainwater, but many of the churches are also flooded, which has caused damage to church buildings and community centres in the diocese.”, Warning of more rains and increased devastation, Archbishop Benny Travas of Karachi said: “,People are living under open sky, their houses damaged, floods have cut roads, commodity supply chains are badly disturbed.”, More than 1,340 people have died, according to Pakistan’,s National Disaster Management Agency. The crisis affects a reported 33m people, with up to a third of Pakistan under water. Emergency aid sent to flood-hit Pakistan A flooded church in Nawabshah, Sindh –, ©, Aid to the Church in Need Interested in joining the Legion of Mary? The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organisation of lay people in the Catholic Church, with more than three million act ive members and reaching almost every country of the world. Its main purpose is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members. Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through prayer and service, which includes visiting the sick and aged, visiting t he newly baptised and meeting the spiritual needs of the parish community. Members meet once a week for prayer, planning and discussion in a family setting. Then they do two hours of definite work each week in pairs and under the guidance of their spiritual director. The Legion of Mary is open to all Catholics who faithfully practice their religion, are animated by the desire to participate i n the Church’,s apostolic work and are prepared to fulfil every duty active membership involves. If you are interested in joining, please contact Chris Woodman on 07395 333308.

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October 2022 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + 7 NEWS Former Bishop of Leeds Archbishop Arthur Roche was one of 20 men created cardinal by Pope Francis in St Peter’,s Basilica on Saturday August 27. Bishop Terry was among those present as his close friend received the symbols of the cardinalate –, the red skullcap, biretta, ring, and the bull assigning the title and rank. He then received an embrace of peace from Pope Francis, a gesture repeated immediately afterwards by the cardinal dean, the senior cardinal priest and senior cardinal deacon, representing the entire College of Cardinals. The new cardinals hail from five continents and represent four new countries –, Mongolia, Paraguay, Singapore and East Timor. Sixteen are under the age of 80, hence eligible to serve as electors in a future conclave, and four non-electors, over the age of 80. At the conclusion, the new cardinals approved the canonisation of the founder of the Scalabrinians, Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, and Salesian layman, Artemide Zatti. The Pope then left the Basilica through the Door of Prayer with the new cardinals, and proceeded to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens to visit and greet Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Cardinal Roche then greeted the faithful of Rome and those visiting from England and Wales for the customary post-consistory congratulatory visits in the Paul VI Hall and the Apostolic Palace. The Catholic Church in England and Wales now has three cardinals, for what is thought to be the first time in history. Traditionally, the Archbishop of Westminster can expect to receive a red hat –, and so it came to pass when Cardinal Vincent Nichols was created cardinal in 2014. Five years later, in 2019, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald MAfr, who was president of the Vatican’,s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue from 2002 to 2006, became England’,s second living cardinal, having returned to serve as a priest in Liverpool after half a century away. Bishop Terry and Cardinal Roche met at seminary and are lifelong friends. Monsignor Gerard Robinson and Canon Paul Farrer also attended the consistory. Cardinal Roche, who was born in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, is prefect of the Vatican’,s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Archbishop Roche created cardinal in Rome Pope Francis speaks to Cardinal Roche at the consistory for 20 new cardinals –, Photo ©, Mazur/cbcew.org.uk Francis Hannaway, from St Gabriel’,s Parish, Middlesbrough, lives and works in Basankusu Diocese, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The doctors looked concerned. Mama Te-te had taken her four-year-old daughter, Brigitte, to hospital because she hadn’,t been right for a long time. “,She’,s got severe circulation problems,”, said Dr Philippe. “,To alleviate that, we’,d like to amputate one leg.”, Mama Te-te was speechless. Her lovely, chatty little girl? Cut off a leg? It couldn’,t be true! We weren’,t happy with that and decided to send her to Kinshasa for a better diagnosis. A scan of her heart wasn’,t available in Basankusu. Judith and I were already in distant Kinshasa. We arranged for a riverboat cabin to go 300 miles to Mbandaka, where there are regular flights to Kinshasa, a further 370 miles. The boat would leave on Thursday. Well, perhaps Saturday. No, come back on Tuesday! Te-te and Brigitte found another boat –, a 20-foot wooden canoe with an outboard motor. It was already carrying goats. The river journey lasted 24 hours. It was the first time that Te-te had been to Mbandaka. It had tarmac roads and normal cars, instead of the handful of four-wheel drives of Basankusu. She felt like she’,d arrived in a big city –, so what would Kinshasa be like? Our friends put them up for a couple of days and guided them through the small airport. The next thing they knew they were in Kinshasa. Te-te was in awe! “,How do people get down from those high- rise blocks of flats?”, she asked. There was much to discover. Judith went with them to the hospital. They did some blood tests and gave antibiotics. They made an appointment for a scan and x- rays on the other side of Kinshasa, at the University Clinic. On the morning of the appointment, Judith took a motorbike taxi just before sunrise to collect Te-te and Brigitte from where they were staying. Suddenly, two machete-wielding bandits sprang forth. They had no idea she was carrying £,500 to pay for the hospital tests! The driver put his bike down and both he and Judith pelted the thieves with stones from the road –, causing them to flee. They just managed to race away on the motorbike when a bigger group of bandits came rushing to help their friends! But Judith’,s driver had already sped past them. The hospital fees were intact, and the scan went ahead. Over the next few weeks they had other appointments, more medicines were given, and a diagnosis was arrived at. Brigitte was suffering from TB, which is completely treatable, and some other deep- rooted infections. She has a genetic condition, which she’,s had since birth. It’,s called sickle cell disease –, blood cells get broken because they’,re misshapen. It can cause pain and tiredness. She’,ll need looking after all her life, with frequent doctor’,s visits for infections and even transfusions. The good news is that Brigitte didn’,t need to lose a leg! What I’,m looking for now are sponsors to help Brigitte supplement her diet and pay her medical fees each month. •, You can follow Francis and his work in the Congo on Facebook and Instagram. Mercy mission saves Brigitte’,s leg Four-year-old Brigitte almost lost her leg, but it was saved after a trip to the capital, Kinshasa Please support your Catholic newspaper! , The Catholic Voice is available in all our Catholic parishes and schools, keeping you informed about what’,s going on in the diocese, nationally and throughout the world. The paper is free of charge, thanks to all our advertisers, whose services are publicised in both printed and online editions to an estimated monthly readership of around 25,000. Please support the Voice by sending in news and pictures of events happening in your school or parish. You’,ll see contact details, deadlines and other information at the bottom of page 12. And if you run a business or offer a service, please consider advertising in the paper, and help ensure we can continue to serve the Catholic people of North Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, Teesside and a small part of County Durham. If you would like to advertise or find about about regular special offers, please call Charlotte Rosbrooke on ,01440 730399 or email ,charlotter@cathcom.org. AUGUST 2022 Issue 479 FREE V OICE Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Bishop’,s Column I hope that the summer months have been good for you. It is wonderful that we will be able to celebrate the Mass of the Assumption at the Lady Chapel on Sunday August 14 this year. It is even more auspicious as we will have the joy and pleasure of the presence of Bishop John Crowley, our emeritus bishop. He has agreed to preach at the Mass. I hope to see as many of you there as possible. One of the other important times for the Lady Chapel has always been around the feast of Our Lady’,s birthday. On September 7 1614, Little Lady Day, a group of some 16 pilgrims were arrested at the Lady Chapel. They had come to venerate Our Blessed Lady here, even though the place had fallen into disrepair after the dissolution of the monasteries, there was no roof, and the chapel was in ruins. The authorities got wind of it and came from York to arrest them for praying here. In our days, we have the privilege of being able to pray freely and openly at the Lady Chapel and indeed anywhere we feel able. To celebrate Our Lady’,s birthday this year, and in memory of the group of arrested pilgrims, I will celebrate Mass at the Lady Chapel on Saturday September 10 at 3pm. I invite you to join me there. In order to keep the Lady Chapel open and in a good state we need your help. All donations are gratefully accepted. Why not think of becoming a “,Friend of the Lady Chapel”,? For more information on this, visit ladychapel.org.uk/friends/ or just type “,Friends of the Lady Chapel”, into your search engine. I hope we are able to meet at either or both of these events and I look forward to being with you. Yours in blessed hope, One of the warmest days of the year awaited pilgrims who came to Ugthorpe from across the diocese to honour Blessed Nicholas Postgate and the martyrs of England and Wales. Canon Derek Turnham was the principal celebrant on this first rally since the pandemic, in the absence of Bishop Terry, who was isolating. Canon Derek read the homily Bishop Terry had prepared for the annual event, which alternates between Ugthorpe, where Father Postgate lived, and Egton Bridge, where he was born. “,Nicholas Postgate, the offspring of Catholic parents, and nurtured by the good and solid Catholic community of this area, decided in 1621 to offer himself to the Lord in the priesthood and crossed the seas to the English College in Douai,”, he said. “,After his ordination and a further short stay at the college looking after the sacristy, he returned to England and ministered among the people of our area for 51 years. “,Part of the time was spent in North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire. For some of his ministry he was afforded the hospitality and support of the aristocratic recusant families of these parts, at other times, as he himself says, he ‘,had no certain residence but travelled among his friends’,. “,He knew he was one of the few labourers in this part of the world and he was also very aware, that despite the political climate and prejudices of the times, the Lord’,s words were truer and more urgent than ever before –, ‘,You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself…,do this and life is yours.’, In a letter to the president of Douai College, written when he was around 60 and had returned to this area, Blessed Nicholas reflected in the following manner: ‘,I have always worked to help poor Catholics…,I live as a poor man amongst the poor…,I often repeat to myself those words, Continued on Page 2 Canon Derek Turnham presiding at the Postgate Rally –, Photo by David Smallwood What’,s Inside Lourdes picture special Pages 8 &, 9 Town centre Rosary Rally Page 7 Sun shines for Postgate Rally The statue of Our Lady in the Lady Chapel JUNE 2022 Issue 477 FREE V OICE Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Bishop’,s Column World Meeting of Families Wednesday June 22 –, Sunday June 26 2022 The theme for the tenth World Meeting of Families (WMOF) is Family Love: a vocation and a path to Holiness. The World Meeting of Families was instituted by Pope St John Paul II in 1994. The week is organised and promoted by the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. Although physically hosted by the Diocese of Rome, in 2022 the event will be multi-centred and spread out throughout the world’,s Catholic dioceses. The limitations of the pandemic are, in a sense, presenting the opportunity for more families to truly participate and offer their contributions to diocesan meetings. The aim is for events in Rome and local initiatives to go hand-in-hand. Catholics will be able to listen to and follow the meeting with the Holy Father via live streaming. Each meeting begins with a congress that invites married couples, families, pastors, theologians and professionals with expertise on a variety of issues that affect family life together for workshops, talks, and discussions surrounding the theme. The shape of the event has always been fairly consistent, with an international Theological-Pastoral Congress at the start and ending, in the presence of the Pope, with a vigil and “,Festival of Families”, along with a great final Eucharistic celebration. Among other things, the World Meeting is part of the current synodal journey of the Church and will provide a valuable experience of “,participation, communion and mission”, for our families. For more information, please follow this link: romefamily2022.com/en/. In our own diocese there are several events organised, including a Mass at St Mary’,s Cathedral on June 26 at 5pm, and you will find more about these as you read on in the rest of the Catholic Voice. Just one more thing, can you make sure that you have noted the date for the Postgate Rally which is on Sunday July 10 at 3pm in Ugthorpe. Please note that the date has changed since the Year Book was published. See you all there. In blessed hope, An invitation from the Bishops of England and Wales This is the bread come down from heaven (John 6:58) A beautiful hallmark of the Catholic faith is the profound desire to participate in the Holy Mass and share in the Eucharist. We do so with deep gratitude and joy. The Eucharist gives the Church her identity –, “,The Eucharist makes the Church, and the Church makes the Eucharist.”, It enables us to worship Almighty God, to support each other on our journey of faith, and to be a visible sign of faith in the world. This hallmark is supported and strengthened by the precept that our fundamental Christian duty is to worship God by participating in the celebration of Mass. Attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is the greatest of all privileges, sometimes referred to as “,the Sunday obligation.”, Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, until the present time, we have shared with you our judgment that the situation of the last two years has meant that the Sunday obligation has been impeded and has needed to be fulfilled in other ways. We thank God that this situation has now changed. The pressing challenges of the pandemic have lessened significantly. Most people have resumed the wide range of normal activities, no longer restricted by the previous Covid measures. We therefore believe that the reasons which have prevented Catholics from attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation no longer apply. We understand there will still be some members of our congregations who, for reasons of health, do not feel safe enough to return to Mass. It has always been the understanding of the Church that when the freedom of any Catholic Come back to worship together at Pentecost Continued on Page 2 Our bishops are inviting the faithful to return to regular Sunday worship –, Photo by Chris Booth What’,s Inside Mark`s four decades of music Page 13 Confirmations at the cathedral Page 2 APRIL 2022 Issue 475 FREE V OICE Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Bishop’,s Column The focus for us this April has to be the end of Lent, the celebration of Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter. The month begins with what we used to call “,Passion Sunday”,. Passiontide comprised of the last two weeks of Lent including Palm Sunday. For all of us, the Liturgy goes up a gear as the drama of the Lord’,s last week is commemorated. It’,s a week full of intrigue and plot, of triumph and betrayal, of bitter sadness and expectation. It should be for us all an exceptional week. After all, we are about to celebrate the central events of our faith. If these days had not come to pass together with the precious events, then our faith would be meaningless. At the beginning of the Palm Sunday gathering, the celebrant says: Therefore, with all faith and devotion, let us commemorate the Lord’,s entry into the city for our salvation, following in his footsteps, so that, being made by his grace partakers of the cross, we may have a share also in his resurrection and his life. Nothing about Holy Week and the Triduum should be normal, rather it should be normative. The rest of the Easter Season flows from it, the rest of the liturgical year takes its shape from it, indeed, the rest of our lives derive their meaning from it. Hence it is right that the timings of our celebrations should correspond to the events that we commemorate. We celebrate the Mass of the Lord’,s Supper at evening time. We recall the Lord’,s Death on Good Friday beginning at the ninth hour –, 3pm. We begin the Solemn Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday after dark. Even if these times are inconvenient, we should be prepared to change and adapt. Jesus did not allow convenience to come between him and the ultimate sacrifice he paid for our salvation and for once, once only in the whole year, we should be willing to sacrifice our convenience to celebrate these precious events with awe and thanksgiving. As I write this, I can’,t help but mention the terrible event of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. I am sure that we are all praying and will continue to pray for peace, justice and reconciliation. I hope that by the time we read this, our prayers will have been answered. However, praying for peace, becoming peacemakers ourselves should be central to our lives as Christians. The first words our Risen Lord said to his apostles were, “,Peace be with you.”, May we all experience that same peace this Eastertide. Christ is risen, alleluia! He is truly risen, alleluia, alleluia! Yours in blessed hope, Two priests have been getting to know their “,new family”, after coming over from India to work in our diocese. Father Xavier Santhiyagu, from the state of Tamil Nadu, and Father Anil Kumar Narisetti, from Andhra Pradesh, arrived in the UK in February and are living at St Francis Parish in Acklam, Middlesbrough. They will assist Monsignor Gerard Robinson in the churches within St Mary’,s Cathedral Parish –, St Francis, St Clare’,s in Brookfield and the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace, Osmotherley. The two are both members of the Heralds of Good News, which aims to supply missionaries to dioceses both in India and abroad that are experiencing a shortage of priests due to the lack of local vocations. Father Xavier said: “,I have a strong devotion to Our Lady and I hope and pray that she will assist me. I see statues of Our Lady of Grace everywhere here and I think she will walk before in all my work. “,Father Anil and I joined the seminary, so we’,re very happy that we’,re going to work together in the same diocese.”, He entered a seminary at the age of 15 and since being ordained in 2017 has worked as the vice-rector of a minor seminary and helped the provincial of the order with administration and was assistant in St Mary’,s Basilica in Bangalore, as well as studying languages. Asked if he will miss his mum and two elder sisters, Father Xavier said: “,Yes, but God has given this family to me now and I will enjoy the people who I meet.”, Father Anil joined the seminary at the age of 14 and was also ordained in 2017, celebrating his fifth anniversary as a priest in March. He worked as a parish priest in a remote village in India for a year and then studied pastoral management at the Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram institute in Bangalore. After further studies in Pune, he also worked closely with the provincial superior. Two new priests join diocesan ‘,family’, Continued on Page 2 Easter Schedule 2022 Holy Week St Mary’,s Cathedral, St Clare and St Francis of Assisi and the Lady Chapel PALM SUNDAY Lady Chapel Blessing and distribution of Palms Saturday evening Vigil Mass 3pm St Francis Saturday evening Vigil Mass 6pm Sunday 10.30am St Clare Sunday 9am Cathedral Sunday 10am (LS) with Bishop Drainey 5pm Mass Tuesday, 12th April: Cathedral Only (LS) Chrism Mass 12midday Wednesday, 13th April: Cathedral (LS) 9.30am St Clare 9.30am St Francis 12midday Catherdral only There will be confessions available from 5pm-8pm Maundy Thursday Cathedral only (LS) 7pm Watching until 10pm Good Friday Cathedral 10am Morning Prayer St Francis 3pm St Clare 3pm Cathedral (LS) 3pm with Bishop Drainey Holy Saturday Cathedral 10am Morning Prayer Cathedral only (LS) 9pm Vigil Mass Easter Sunday St Clare 9am Cathedral (LS) 10am with Bishop Drainey St Francis 10.30am Cathedral 5pm Easter Monday Cathedral only (LS) 9.30am Mass *LS –, available on the Diocese of Middlesbrough Youtube Channel Mgr Gerard, Mgr Gerry, Fr Anil and Fr Xavier Wish Everyone a Very Happy and Joyful Easter Special Pilgrimage Feature Pages 8 and 9

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8 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 LOURDES Parishioners at St Mary’,s Cathedral were delighted to share in the celebrations as Lourdes head handmaid Chris Tillotson was presented with the Benemerenti medal. Chris was taken by surprise as Bishop Terry called her onto the altar during Sunday morning Mass. Chris is an inspiration to all who know her, working tirelessly for Lourdes and many other good causes throughout the diocese. She has been involved in planning the pilgrimage for 10 years and also helps organise the conference of Lourdes directors. Since being appointed head handmaid in 2012 she has brought in many innovations, introducing the formation day and health and safety protocols, as well as the famous Lourdes tea parties, both on the pilgrimage and back home in Middlesbrough and Hull. During the pandemic she has constantly kept in touch with our supported pilgrims offering any help possible, making sure they are in contact with someone while in isolation. She is a Eucharistic Minister in the cathedral parish, helped organise the Millennium Mass at the Riverside in 2000 and has played an important role in running the diocesan youth service. Chris, who is married to Lourdes Director Keith and has three children and seven grandchildren, has also organised fundraising events including shows at Middlesbrough Theatre, race nights, Irish nights and bingo, to name but a few. Congratulations, Chris –, the papal honour couldn’,t go to a more deserving person. Papal medal of honour awarded to caring Chris Chris Tillotson is presented with the Benemerenti medal by Bishop Terry We are pleased to announce that our 70th Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from Friday May 26 to Friday June 2 2023 and will be led by Bishop Terry. As an organising committee, we have been working extremely hard since our return from Lourdes this year to negotiate the best possible prices and we have taken on board the economic situation, inflation and the soaring energy and food costs. Bearing all that in mind, we have secured full board prices starting at £,799 with a flight-only option at £,550. Insurance is in addition, as is with any single room supplement. We encourage you to book early as demand for the pilgrimage is expected to be extremely high. To improve the pilgrimage experience, we have put in place the following booking system: Pilgrims wishing to stay in the Accueil Notre Dame Please complete the supported pilgrim application available from our pilgrimage secretary, Pat Ling. Our medical team will review your application and will be in touch to carry out a nursing assessment on each applicant. Initially, booking will not be through Tangney Tours but directly with the pilgrimage, as detailed on the application form. Those who wish to come as hotel supported pilgrims We will only be able to support those pilgrims with assistance from the designated hotel to the services and return. Because of limited numbers of volunteers, we will not be able to offer any personal care. You will be required to fill in a “,Hotel Supported Pilgrim”, application, available from Pat Ling, which will enable our medical team to assess your needs while on pilgrimage. As well as the “,Hotel Supported Pilgrim”, application, you will need to complete a Tangney Tours booking form. This should be completed after your nursing assessment. Pilgrims not requiring assistance All other pilgrims not requiring assistance are asked to complete either an online booking or paper booking form and send it to Tangney Tours. Application forms will be available during the visit of the relics of St Bernadette to both Middlesbrough and Hull. Email Pat Ling at lourdessecretary@rcdmidd.org.uk or call her on 01642 760105. Join us to celebrate on our 70th pilgrimage! The 2022 pilgrimage to Lourdes was a tremendous success –, Photo courtesy of Lacaze, Lourdes

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October 2022 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + 9 NEWS Several St Vincent de Paul members from St John of Beverley and Sacred Heart, Hornsea, volunteer regularly at Welcome House, a support centre for refugees and asylum seekers in Hull city centre. One member was so upset by the sight of a young mother crying because she had no nappies for her baby that she turned her concern into action, in line with the SVP’,s mission statement. Her conference, along with parishioners from there and Hornsea, had done so much but needed support from others. On the way home she invoked the Holy Spirit and thought she would contact the Middlesbrough Central Council president, who started the ball rolling and contacted SVP conferences around the diocese to see who could help. Packs of nappies, shopping vouchers and cash came in thick and fast from conferences in York and Middlesbrough, including St George’,s, St Wilfrid’,s and English Martyrs in York and St Bernadette’,s in Nunthorpe. There was even a donation of knitted toys from an ecumenical group, the Marton and Nunthorpe Knitters, to add to the donations from Helping Hands in Beverley, who heard about the asylum seeker children being housed in hotels in Hull –, sometimes whole families in one room. We will use these for Christmas parcels. Morrisons supermarket has also donated sanitary products, razors, toiletries and fruit. This summer, Welcome House organised two day-trips to Bridlington for 60 adults and children. Conferences in Hull paid £,550 for the coaches with support from the SVP Asylum fund of £,300. The Beverley and Hornsea parishes also organised the food and drink for the picnics. In the coming weeks and months, as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, there will be many more “,cries for help”,. The SVP national office received 50 calls over one weekend in September. Could you turn your “,concern into action”, and find those who are suffering or deprived? Could you help your community with faith and love? Belonging to a family of SVP members has the power to reach out far and wide. The support cascades through and reaches those who need it most, whether they are lonely, isolated, sick, poor, cold or hungry. The SVP already has a fund for refugees and asylum seekers, a hardship fund and is setting up ways to support people during the cost-of-living crisis. Members can access these resources to help them support those in need in their communities. Donors have given generously to these funds nationally, as well as parishioners locally, without whom we could not help in the way we do. We thank you all for your continued generosity. If you would like to help further, you may give to your local conference or on the website svp.org.uk, directing your aid to specific needs or areas, locally or further afield, or join one of our conferences to help us in our work. If you, or someone you know, need help or support, contact your parish SVP conference, visit svp.org.uk and select “,Request Help”, or email sharonp@svp.org.uk for a local contact. Frances Gilchrist, Middlesbrough Council President SVP answers young mother`s cry for help The SVP’,s appeal to help a young mother even saw a donation of knitted toys from the Marton and Nunthorpe Knitters We are well into autumn and noticing the shorter days, longer nights and the cooling of temperatures. Autumn is a wonderful season. Many trees give us one last vivid, golden flourish as they lose their leaves. As the sun sets earlier, we are more likely to see some beautiful red, gold and purple colours in our evening skies. As autumn gently melds into winter, in previous years we would close the curtains and snuggle in front of the TV, cosily warm. This year things could be very different. We’,ve heard much talk in the media about rising poverty levels here at home and the genuine fear that many people have over whether they will be able to eat or heat their homes this winter. Many small business owners fear that they may have to close. To add to this, we could find ourselves in another wave of Covid –, and that’,s not to mention climate change! I’,m not trying to spread doom and gloom but seeking to draw our attention to our “,mission”, as Christian people and communities. It is probably more necessary now than it has been for some time, for us to live out our mission by looking out for each other. Making sure that in our own neighbourhood, we know who might be in need and who might need help or support and are maybe too proud to ask us for it. In the recent synod process, in which over two-thirds of parishes in this diocese took part, Pope Francis asked parish groups to find ways of reaching out to people on the margins of our faith and wider community. This was a big ask, given the speed with which the synod consultation process had to be worked through. Nevertheless, it should have made us think about how we might reach out to people on the margins and put structures in place to help us do this. We have known since very early this year that people were going to be plunged into a cost-of-living crisis because of a combination of the effects of Covid, Brexit and more recently, Russia’,s invasion of Ukraine, further exacerbated by increasing oil prices. Because of this combination of events, we may well see the impact on our own doorsteps. We may see family and friends affected –, indeed, we may already be seeing these effects. For the first time in many of our lives, the cost of the basics seems to spiral out of control. You’,re probably asking, “,What can I do?”, We may not be able to impact decisions made in boardrooms or government plans, but we can do some things: •, You can offer practical help locally such as donating to the nearest food bank. Find out who the local charities and groups are that support the unemployed and low-paid, the homeless, victims of domestic violence, those with addictions, the elderly, the disabled, the vulnerable, refugees…, There are so many groups and charities you can support, either with financial donations or by giving of your time. Why not explore how your parish community might help? •, Inform yourself and those closest to you. Catholic Social Teaching offers us sound analysis of the causes of many of the social and economic issues we now face and offers responses, many of which are ignored by those in positions of power and authority. We should start making them aware of what our Church and we ourselves think ought to be the responses to our situation. Maybe we could lobby our MPs and the CEOs of multinational corporations? We often forget that the cost of things is decided by people and not some invisible hand. Maybe we can begin by asking, “,What has become of the Common Good?”, Just as in the depths of the pandemic, our parish communities responded to the needs arising around them, so they are well placed to respond in this latest crisis. The 1980s’, slogan. “,Think globally, act locally”, is so appropriate, as are the thoughts of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVl in his Encyclical Caritas in Veritate, para 7: “,[An] important consideration is the common good. To love someone is to desire that person`s good and to take effective steps to secure it. Besides the good of the individual, there is a good that is linked to living in society: the common good. It is the good of ‘,all of us’,, made up of individuals, families and intermediate groups who together make up society. It is a good that is sought not for its own sake, but for the people who belong to the social community and who can only really and effectively pursue their good within it. To desire the common good and strive towards it is a requirement of justice and charity.”, Let us not despair at what might be but work with our sisters and brothers to seek just solutions to the issues and problems we face. Let us remind ourselves that each of us is in God’,s hands. Jesus invites us to be lights in the darkness for all people, bringing the light and peace of Christ to those whose hearts are trembling with fear. This is our mission. We are a people of love, hope, peace and of justice with mercy –, people of Good News. The diocese has a very simple checklist-type resource for groups and individuals that offers some ways of reaching out to people on the margins. For a copy, email adultformation@rcdmidd.org.uk or call 01642 850505 and ask to be put through to Adult Formation. The Diocesan Synthesis of our synod parish consultations is available on the diocesan website and may help your parish plan its way forward. Visit middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk/adult- formation-resources for more resources available to help your parish community in just about any venture. David Cross, Adult Formation Coordinator Reconnecting with our mission as Christians David Cross says we should work to find just solutions to the problems we face Calling former St Michael’,s pupils A group of pupils who left St Michael`s RC Secondary School in Stockton Road, Middlesbrough, in 1979, are looking for former classmates and teachers to join them at a reunion in March 2023. The school later merged with St Thomas’, Secondary School and then St George’,s Secondary School, when the Stockton Road site closed. So far, 47 former pupils have confirmed their attendance. If you are from the class of ’,79 and have not been contacted, or if you know any former pupils or teachers who may be interested, email bonaschris@btinternet.com or dave.hawkins@ntlworld.com.

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10 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 NEWS A personal view on the need to act to protect our planet, from Our Lady and St. Benedict’,s, Ampleforth, parishioner David Cragg-James…, If the fossil fuel industry had ceased to farm and promote its product when it discovered that it was rapidly heating the planet, we should not now be in a climate emergency. Instead, it denied. We subconsciously accepted this because it suited us to do so, and because the warnings of the opposing argument frightened us. This remains true. Even the last two candidates for the leadership of our governing party needed to be forced by the media and public opinion to confirm their allegiance to the net zero policy. The writer Jonathan Freedland, in The Escape Artist, contends that “,humans are innately unable to believe in their own extinction, right up to the moment of death”,. Denial remains integral to many crises we face today. The French philosopher Raymond Aron said of the Holocaust: “,I knew, but I didn’,t believe it. And because I didn’,t believe it, I didn’,t know.”, If we know, as St Paul reminds us, we have to speak (2 Corinthians 4:13). Otherwise, our faith is inauthentic. Speaking must result in action if it is to be authentic. Our awareness that this is so will lead to difficulties when resultant action involves inconveniencing, even endangering, others and here many of us, understandably, draw the line. So far, I have not been inconvenienced by now essential protest. I have not had a loved one unable to reach hospital because protesters (like me) were blocking the road. Nor have I had to witness suffering or dying for the same reason. Others have, and this is awful. Does this justify, condone or advise my silence or inaction? If we remain silent, if inaction has set in, then humanity is doomed. We have, as John Harris wrote in The Guardian, a “,very human talent for just about averting our eyes from what is directly in front of us, so as to live a quiet life, and a political culture that just about keeps the ‘,everything will be OK’, veneer in place.”, If our governments still fail the planet and humanity in its hour of need, this is because we have not made clear enough our desire that they address the problem. Do we really want our leaders to grasp the nettle? The answer has to be “,So far, no!”, Is this the crisis of democracy, that we do not do what we know we should? Carmody Grey, a distinguished theologian at Durham University, argues that our inaction results from our awareness of the facts not corresponding to our stated, merely to our real values. If real values are determined by modern western consumerist and egocentric preferences, lacking a “,transcendent horizon”,, then our own failure to grasp the nettle should not surprise us. St Luke quotes our Saviour: “,…,where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”, (Luke 12) So where do you go? My answer: I should try humbly to establish the facts regarding, for example, global overheating and the reasons for it and then, in line, I hope, with my faith, I should try to speak and act within my competence to prevent our continuing down the same disastrous paths. In doing this, I know I shall be inconvenienced and occasion inconvenience. I shall certainly be criticised, but I should try to hold on to the Common Good of Catholic Social Teaching. None of this is easy, but, as people of faith, our transcendent horizons mean we will not lose hope. After five or so years of noisy opposition, firstly to fracking and then to climate change denial, and consequent inaction or worse by our leaders, I remain amazed at those who insist politics has no role in religion. Our Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, as well as other Church and religious leaders, have all contradicted this position. What use is my belief if I do not act? Otherwise, I hide my light under a bushel. The recent impressive BBC2 documentary Big Oil vs. The World (available on BBC iPlayer) reveals the extent to which humanity has been intentionally nourished on a lie to the point where our increasing awareness of this fact risks being too late. Now is a time to speak and to act. Archbishop Justin Welby has recently told bishops to speak, act and take risks at any and every level: “,To be silent…,is to be one of the oppressors.”, A Christian predicament over climate change The theme for this year’,s Sight Loss Sunday (October 16) is “,Made in God’,s image”,. Sight Loss Sunday is an opportunity for churches to put sight loss into focus, whether they have someone in their congregation experiencing sight loss or not. The organisers say churches with visually impaired congregation members may want to encourage them to be involved in the service. Resources including prayers and children’,s work are available at torchtrust.org/slsunday, together with a video in which people with different forms of sight loss reflect on their faith in relation to being visually impaired. God`s image is this year`s Sight Loss Sunday theme Russia ‘,bombing schools and hospitals’, A bishop in Ukraine has condemned the shelling of schools, hospitals and other non- military targets by Russian forces. Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that residential areas in the Latin Diocese of Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia are being targeted. He said: “,If anyone is still stuck in the fantasy that Russia is only bombing military facilities, they are not only mistaken, but they are also badly deluded. “,Hospitals, businesses, schools, universities, kindergartens and homes have been destroyed.”, Recently, regional governor Oleg Synegubov said at least six civilians were killed and 16 wounded when a block of flats was hit by Russian artillery. Bishop Honcharuk added: “,What is the purpose of shooting at residential buildings and at markets? They also destroy villages –, some are simply razed to the ground. What is the purpose of doing this?”, Russian troops started besieging Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, shortly after they entered Ukraine in February. Attempts to surround the city were successfully defeated in May, but soldiers have continued to bombard Kharkiv in an attempt to take the city. ,Bishop Honcharuk described being upset deeply by seeing a young child during one of his pastoral visits to a hospital. , , , , , , , , , , The prelate said: “,One of the most difficult things for me was seeing a three-year-old child…, who was wounded during shelling. “,It is unclear whether he will survive. He is only here because someone wanted a war.”, He added: “,Here one feels powerless. On the other hand, there is also the awareness that the Lord is sending me here to serve.”, Bishop Honcharuk during a pastoral visit to a hospital –, ,Photo ©, ACN

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October 2022 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + 11 NEWS Please remember in your prayers the following clergy from our diocese whose anniversaries are this month. They are listed here along with their final resting place. 2 1935 Very Rev Canon Sidney Calvert Leyburn 4 1986 Rev Edward Taylor MCCJ Leeds 6 1937 Rt Rev Mgr Canon Francis Hall Hull 9 1930 Rev John Murphy Market Weighton 9 2012 Rev Keith Hutchinson Ampleforth 11 1998 Rev Maurice Hardy Hornsea 12 1941 Rev Peter Kennedy Whitby 14 1996 Rev Adrian Poole Pocklington 14 2013 Rt Rev Mgr Canon Kevin Coughlan Hessle 15 1921 Rev John McCabe Pocklington 16 1881 Rev Jeremiah Murphy Middlesbrough 16 1971 Rev Fredrick Bird York 16 1986 Rev Patrick Fitzgerald Middlesbrough 17 1969 Rt Rev Mgr James McMullan Scorton 17 1977 Very Rev Canon Austin Wood York 19 1937 Rev William McGlone Loftus 20 1957 Rev Thomas McEntegart Cottingham 20 1935 Rev John Cronin Bedale 21 1919 Rev Jeremiah O’,Leary Brough Park 21 2017 Rev Patrick Cope Hull 21 2021 Rev John James “,Jack”, McKeever Ardee 25 2008 Rev Michael O’,Connor Hedon 27 1951 Rt Rev Mgr Canon Nathanial Dune VG Middlesbrough 27 1958 Rev Maurice O’,Regan Driffield 27 1969 Very Rev Canon Stephen O’,Brien Beverley 27 1993 Rev Stephen Kitchen Lealholm 27 2017 Rev Michael White Cappawhite 31 1978 Very Rev Canon Gerald Quirk Scorton 31 1992 Rev Bernard Hawksworth Market Weighton Father Pat Cope, who died in 2017. If you would like to advertise in the Funeral Directors section, please contact Charlotte Rosbrooke on 07932 2 48225 or email charlotter@cathcom.org Our family caring for your family Covering all areas Tel: 01642 459555 King George House, 92 High Street, Eston TS6 9EG Website: www.fawcettandhetherington.co.uk Email: info@fawcettandhetherington.co.uk Fawcett &, Hetherington Funeral Service The parishioners of Corpus Christi and St Gabriel’,s churches in Middlesbrough held a very special celebration for Canon John Lumley. As well as saying goodbye, the evening was also a chance to mark the silver jubilee of Canon John’,s ordination and his 60th birthday, which both took place during lockdown when we were unable to gather. “,This party is very special, as it replaces parties not held because of Covid,”, said parishioner Peter Carey. “,Canon John, we wish you true happiness in your new parish and always keep happy memories of Corpus Christi and St Gabriel’,s parishioners,”, said Peter. Canon John said: “,This parish has a really special spirit. When I came, I was very conscious of all the priests and people who had made the parish what it is, building up from scratch from the 1960s. “,I think the reason I’,ve been so happy here is that you gave me your trust and let me be a priest. It meant I trusted you and really relaxed here. You will always have a very special place in my heart.”, Gifts presented to Canon John included cash, a pair of Robert “,Mousey”, Thompson bookends and photos of parishioners from Corpus Christi and St Gabriel’,s at weekend Masses. The final gift was a stunning tapestry of Noah’,s Ark, made by parishioner Jocelyn Hayes. Canon John has now moved “,over the hill”, to neighbouring St Bernadette’,s, Nunthorpe, while Corpus Christi and St Gabriel’,s have welcomed new parish priest Father James Benfield. Parish says fond farewell to Canon John Canon John and Jocelyn Hayes with the tapestry of Noah’,s Ark she made FUNERAL DIRECTORS

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12 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 NEWS Copy Deadline Copy and photographs for inclusion in the Catholic Voice should be sent to: The Editor, Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice, Curial Offices, 50a The Avenue, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, TS5 6QT. Tel (01642) 850505, email catholicvoice@rcdmidd.org.uk Deadline Friday October 7 for our November edition. Where possible please send articles in Word and photographs as jpegs. Please confirm when you send in your photographs that those who appear in them have given their permission for publication. Our Lady of Fidelity 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 life. By wearing the religious habit we are witnesses of the consecrated way of life. If you are willing to risk a little love and would like to find out how, contact Sister Bernadette Mature vocations considered. CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF FIDELITY 1 Our Lady`s Close, Upper Norwood, London SE19 3FA Telephone 07760 297001 3 Monday 9.45-10.25am Beverley Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Christianmeditation.beverley@gmail.com. 4 Tuesday 10am Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Terry Doyle. Please email terry-doyle@live.co.uk. 7pm Knights of St Columba Council 29 meets at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough beginning with Mass at 7pm in the cathedral chapel. 5 Wednesday 5.30pm Vespers and Benediction at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough. 7 Friday Events, articles and photographs for November Voice are due by today. 10 Monday 9.45-10.25am Beverley Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Christianmeditation.beverley@gmail.com. 2-3.30pm Music for the Mind, for people who enjoy singing and connecting memories, St Mary’,s Cathedral Hall, Middlesbrough. No charge, and everyone is welcome. Tea, cake and biscuits followed by fun. You can also join in on the Diocese of Middlesbrough YouTube page. For details call 01642 710179. 11 Tuesday 10am Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Terry Doyle. Please email terry-doyle@live.co.uk. 12.45pm Hull and District Catholic Women’,s Luncheon Club. Lunch at the Kingston Theatre Hotel, Kingston Square, Hull at 12.45 for lunch at 1pm. Everyone welcome. For further details, please call 01482 446565. 12 Wednesday 5.30pm Vespers and Benediction at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough. 13 Thursday 7.45pm Middlesbrough Catenian Circle, sharing faith and friendship with kindred spirits throughout Teesside. Meeting at Middlesbrough Cricket Club, Green Lane, Middlesbrough TS5 7SL. Call Peter Carey on 01642 317772 or Chris Rhodes on 01642 319161. 15 Saturday 7.30pm The Eddie White Sacred Heart Parish Dances –, Sean Kelly. All dances take place at the Erimus Club on Cumberland Road, Middlesbrough TS5 6JB. Please contact John Brown for further details on 07871 958412. 16 Sunday 3pm Middlesbrough Fellowship Mass at St Gabriel’,s Church, Ormesby. 17 Monday 9.45-10.25am Beverley Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Christianmeditation.beverley@gmail.com. 18 Tuesday 10am Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Terry Doyle. Please email terry-doyle@live.co.uk. 19 Wednesday 5.30pm Vespers and Benediction at St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough. 7.30pm Newman Circle Talk: “,Scripture Through Art”, by Father Bede Leach OSB at Wednesday October 19, St Mary’,s Cathedral, Middlesbrough TS8 OTW at 7.45pm refreshments from 7.30pm. All welcome. 24 Monday 9.45-10.25am Beverley Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Christianmeditation.beverley@gmail.com. 7.30pm York Newman Circle meets at the Bar Convent, with tea and coffee available from 7pm. Barbara Hungin, chair of Middlesbrough Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, will talk about the encyclical Laudato S’,i and the growing response to it. 25 Tuesday 10am Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Terry Doyle, email terry-doyle@live.co.uk. 26 Wednesday No Vespers or Benediction due to half term. 31 Monday 9.45-10.25am Beverley Christian Meditation Group meets online. Further information from Christianmeditation.beverley@gmail.com. Out and About Please support our advertisers. Revenue from advertising pays for the production of this paper and without them we would not be able to produce the Catholic Voice free of charge each month, so please support their businesses. Emeritus Bishop John returned to the diocese to preach at this year’,s Assumption Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace, Osmotherley. He is pictured with Bishop Terry and Father Phil Cunnah –, Photo by Dan Woodgate

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October 2022 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + 13 NEWS August and September were busy months for our director of music, Steven Maxson, as he visited all four deaneries within the diocese. Steven said: “,It has been wonderful to worship in some of our parishes, and to work with individual priests and musicians in supporting them with their continuing music ministry.”, A particular highlight was meetings with parish musicians and priests in Hull and Hessle, which were not just an opportunity for Steven to meet those who enhance the liturgy week by week, but also for musicians from different parishes to meet each other and share their experiences. He hopes to arrange similar sessions for musicians in the other deaneries. If you wish to contact Steven, email musicdept@rcdmidd.org.uk or telephone St Mary’,s Cathedral on 01642 597750. Taking music across the diocese Parishioners and musicians from the Blessed Nicholas Postgate parishes, pictured in Sacred Heart, Redcar with diocesan director of music Steven Maxson (rear centre) Janine Busbridge, Steven Maxson and Andrea Maxson at the Lady Chapel after the Assumption Pilgrimage Mass Last month saw a change of staff within the diocesan music team. Janine Busbridge, who had been choral director since October 2021, has moved to a new job teaching music in a school closer to her home. Janine was also assistant music director at St Mary’,s Cathedral, working alongside Tim Harrison in his last month in post, before taking charge of the music during Advent and Christmas, ahead of Steven Maxson’,s arrival as diocesan director of music in January. The major part of Janine’,s role involved delivery of the National Schools Singing Programme in seven of our diocesan primary schools, as part of a programme where, between her and Steven Maxson, 800 children a week took part in the programme, developing singing in schools, both sacred and secular. September also saw the arrival of our new choral director, Andrea Maxson. She comes to the diocese with a wealth of experience as a musician and as a teacher, and some of you will already have heard her singing and playing the violin at the Postgate Rally and Assumption Pilgrimage earlier in the year. As we thank Janine for her contribution to the diocese and, in particular, for being instrumental in the successful delivery of the National Schools Singing Programme, we warmly welcome Andrea as she begins her work here. Steven Maxson, Director of Music Goodbye Janine, hello Andrea! Follow the Diocese of Middlesbrough on social media Twitter: atMbroDiocese Facebook: facebook.com/MiddlesbroughDiocese Flickr: flickr.com/photos/middlesbroughdiocese/ The Diocese of Middlesbrough would like to point out that while every care is taken with advertisements placed in the Catholic Voice, publication does not suggest an endorsement of any views expressed.

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14 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 NEWS Environment Corner Pope urges prayer ahead of dual climate summits Pope Francis’, message for the Season of Creation highlighted the next two important international meetings concerning climate change and biodiversity. The COP27 conference on climate change, to be held in Egypt in November 2022, represents the next opportunity for all to join in promoting the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. As Pope Francis states: “,The effort to achieve the Paris goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5°,C is quite demanding, it calls for responsible cooperation between all nations in presenting climate plans or more ambitious, nationally determined contributions in order to reduce to zero, as quickly as possible, net greenhouse gas emissions. There is need for a covenant between human beings and the environment, which, for us believers, is a mirror reflecting ‘,the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying’,. The transition brought about by this conversion cannot neglect the demands of justice, especially for those workers who are most affected by the impact of climate change. For its part, the COP15 summit on biodiversity, to be held in Canada in December, will offer to the goodwill of governments a significant opportunity to adopt a new multilateral agreement to halt the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of species.”, Pope Francis urges us to pray and encourage our government to become a major partner in a commitment to combat the loss of biodiversity, to support conservation and cooperation and to give priority to people most affected by the loss of biodiversity, such as indigenous peoples, the elderly and the young. In the strongest terms, he declares: “,Let me repeat: In the name of God, I ask the great extractive industries –, mining, oil, forestry, real estate, agribusiness –, to stop destroying forests, wetlands, and mountains, to stop polluting rivers and seas, to stop poisoning food and people.”, He urges us all to pray that COP27 and COP15 can unite the human family in effectively confronting the double crisis of climate change and the reduction of biodiversity. As individuals and as parishes, we can both join the Holy Father in prayer and bring these issues to the attention of our local MPs. He finishes his message with this exhortation: “,Let us hear the plea of creation and respond to it with deeds, so that we and future generations can continue to rejoice in creation’,s sweet song of life and hope.”, Barbara Hungin Pope Francis at his weekly general audience in Aula Paolo VI on August 31 2022 –, Photo ©, Mazur/cbcew.org.uk Father Michael Keogh has celebrated Masses of thanksgiving Sacred Heart RC Church, Northallerton, for two couples who reached special milestones. David and Elizabeth Turner’,s golden wedding anniversary was on Friday August 5. The couple moved to Northallerton more than 30 years ago. David returned to altar serving soon after arriving and later became a Minister of the Eucharist. For the past 20 years, David has also been the parish bookkeeper. After Mass, their Sacred Heart friends accompanied them for refreshments in the parish hall. Michael and Jean Brogan celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They were married at St Mary’,s Church in Horsforth on August 31 1957 and in 1963 moved to Northallerton, where they raised their three children, Dominic, Alyson and Judith. They were also part of the group who were instrumental in helping to set up a school bus to enable children from the parish to attend All Saints Primary Catholic School, Thirsk. Afterwards, their family, friends and Sacred Heart parishioners attended a reception at the Golden Lion Hotel. Marriage milestones at Sacred Heart Cake –, David and Elizabeth Turner with Father Michael Keogh Celebration –, Jean and Michael Brogan

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October 2022 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + 15 NEWS From the Archives 40 Years Ago (From October 1982 Catholic Voice) It was ‘,all change’, shock news for Managers at the September meeting of the Children’,s Department at Nazareth House, Middlesbrough. Firstly, it was confirmed that the Sisters’, request that one of the children’,s group close, reducing the number of places for children from 30 to 15, mainly because the call for all children’,s places has been greatly reduced in recent years. The unhappy news is that Reverend Mother Magdalen and Sister Oliver, the children’,s Housemother, are both leaving very shortly. Mother Magdalen goes to Lancaster and Sister Oliver to Sligo in Ireland. Have you noticed in God’,s earthly kingdom that we spend a lot of time saying “,Goodbye”, to nice people? Heaven won’,t be like that. 100 Years Ago (From Bishop Shine’,s Visitation Notebook, October 5 1922) Pickering. Stayed the previous night at St George’,s York. Motored from there on Sunday at 11 (1 ½, hours journey), lunched at Wrelton Hall with Mr J. Austin arrived at Pickering at 2 p.m. Saw convent and all church property. Fr Bryan complained that the Sisters did not help him sufficiently. 25 children and adults confirmed at 3 p.m. David Smallwood The Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality is offering a series of retreats by Rev Nigel Rooms, an Anglican priest, practical theologian, spiritual director and supervisor drawing on the Carmelite tradition. You can attend each individually or as a full retreat of three presentations. The retreats take place in Oxford from October 18 to 22 and residential, day participation or online is offered. The theme running through all three retreats is that of transition. They will include talks, group facilitated sessions and possible one- to-one meetings with the retreat director for those who attend in person. Tuesday October 18: Navigating Life Transitions –, For anyone in transition such as moving house or job, into retirement or just coping with change. Wednesday October 19: Seeking integration through the mid-life transition. Generally, for people aged around 35 to 55 engaging with that transition when we have less time left than they have already lived. Thursday October 20: The ultimate transition: facing up to death. In an age of denial, we spend a day embracing the reality of our own death. For more information visit carmelite.uk.net/online-talks- retreats/transition-retreats. Carmelite retreats focus on transition Catenian brothers and their families from the Hull Circle 007 enjoyed a day visiting the North York Moors Railway. The day included a trip from Grosmont Station to Pickering, with an excellent three-course meal and wine served during the journey. The Catenians enjoyed their day so much that they have booked a hotel stay and winery tour in the same area this month. A new book has been published for Christians who want to make a difference by fighting poverty in the communities they live in. Written by John Evans, “,Christian Social Action: Making a difference where you are”, is described as a wide-ranging manifesto and practical handbook for Christian social action. The book combines research-based descriptions of growing household debt, food, child and housing poverty with inspiring historical and up-to-date examples of Christian action. The content is designed to both inform and inspire the decision-making of activists and should become a key resource when building stakeholder support and bidding for income. It also includes practical guidance on identifying local needs, building a committed team, deciding how and where to do the good that’,s so desperately needed, measuring and reporting results, growing resources and communicating with partners and stakeholders. Stephen Timms MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society, says: “,As hopeful as it is sobering, John Evans’, infectious vision, set out in his guide to outreach in Christian fellowship, provides a stirring call to action. “,Here is a practical approach, post-pandemic, to help churches tackle the injustice around them. It draws on inspiration from history but is clear-sighted about the emerging realities of poverty in Britain today, and the barriers faith groups face in addressing them.”, Copies are £,7.99. Visit christiansocialcation.net for more information. New book is guide to making a difference If you would like to advertise please contact Charlotte Rosbrooke on 07932 248225 or email charlotter@cathcom.org

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16 + Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice + October 2022 NEWS Designed typeset and printed by CathCom, N2 Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suffolk. CB9 7BN. To Advertise call 01440 730399. or e-mail: ads@cathcom.org –, serving Schools, Business and Homes If you would like to advertise please contact Charlotte Rosbrooke on 07932 248225 or email charlotter@cathcom.org Please support our advertisers. Revenue from advertising pays for the production of this paper and without them we would not be able to produce the Catholic Voice free of charge BODDY PRINTERS For all your parish printing, prayer cards, booklets, calendars, photocopying, stationery, business stationery, bingo and raffle tickets Wedding Stationery, Leaflets and Flyers Bingo and raffle machines also available 210 Parliament Road, Middlesbrough TS1 5PF T: 01642 224800 E: kevin.boddy@btconnect.com W: www.boddyprinters.co.uk The plight of a bulk carrier crew who were denied shore leave for up to 10 months, and whose work contracts had been extended, has finally ended thanks to Stella Maris’, Tees ship visitors. The ship arrived at Tees Dock on the weekend of August 13 and 14, with 22 seafarers on board. On August 15, two Stella Maris’, ship visitors, Billy Barnett and Roger Worton, conducted a routine visit, taking with them welcome packs and bags of clothing for the crew. These were well-received by the men. During the conversation, several crew members indicated that all was not right on board. Billy and Roger found out that some of the crew had not been allowed shore leave for up to 10 months, due to Covid risks. Their contracts had also been extended for up to 10 months. This initial contact with the crew was followed up by a second one the day after by another two of our Tees ship visitors, Graham Sargeant and Wico van Mourik. They were not allowed to board the ship, so a senior crew member came down to meet them. The seafarer said the crew was under huge mental and physical strain. He said he was only getting two hours of sleep a day during the voyage from the United States to Teesport because he was so stressed and overworked. Communication with family back home was also limited. There was internet onboard, but it wasn’,t very good, the seafarer had said. He was also concerned that the crew could no longer operate the vessel safely, as they were exhausted. Worried about the crew’,s physical and mental wellbeing, and their safety, the Stella Maris team contacted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), who visited the vessel on August 17. They served a vessel detention notice that afternoon. Following that, the seafarers could go ashore for the first time in many months, and they relaxed at the South Tees Mission Centre. More good news was to follow, as 11 of the crew were repatriated to the Philippines on August 20. The men had been through a lot and were struggling to cope, but fortunately, our Stella Maris ship visitors were present to check on them and find out about their trouble and inform the MCA and ITF so they could take prompt action. They visited the crew and offered advice, reassurance and encouragement throughout their ordeal. They also supplied SIM cards, clothing and chocolate, for which they were all grateful. Stella Maris visitors support stranded crew Some of the crew, with our Tees ship visitors Billy Barnett and Roger Worton

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