20p 20p WHERE SOLD WHERE SOLD MORE THAN 24 YEARS OF BRINGING THE NOTTINGHAM DIOCESE TOGETHER MORE THAN 24 YEARS OF BRINGING THE NOTTINGHAM DIOCESE TOGETHER Published by Published by Bellcourt Ltd, N2 Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 7BN Bellcourt Ltd, N2 Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 7BN Telephone: 01440 730399 Telephone: 01440 730399 Editor Nick Layton E-mail cn@cathcom.org or davidl@cathcom.org Editor Nick Layton E-mail cn@cathcom.org or davidl@cathcom.org Catholic News ISSUE 317 ISSUE 317 OCTOBER OCTOBER 2023 2023 Earlier this year, a painting of Our Lady feeding the infant Jesus was featured on the TV program ",The Repair Shop",. During the 2nd World War it had been hidden in a coat by a Ukrainian family who were captured and taken to slave labour camps. The painting belonged to the father of the family who was a Ukrainian Catholic Priest, and it hung in his parish church. After the war the family was split up but the painting somehow survived. Eventually the painting was given to the daughter of one of the survivors Maria Kirk, who is a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Eastwood. After many years Maria decieded to apply to the Repair Shop to try and have it restored, and was accepted. The restoration was done by Lucia Scalisi, who said that ",it was Painting that survived World War II is given new lease of life on TV’,s ",The Repair Shop", a miracle it had survived",. So many people had expressed an interest to see the painting, that Maria put it on display in her parish church, she said ",I thought a few people would come out of curiosity but could not believe that over 300 visitors came. Many from other Churches in the area, but many of no faith who just wanted to see the painting. It was very moving to see people in tears just sitting quietly looking at her, many people said that the face of Our Lady just drew them in and touched them. It was lovely to be able to share the story and experience with them.", Maria hopes to display the painting at St Barnabas Cathedral some time in October. Maria Kirk

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MORE THAN 24 YEARS OF MORE THAN 24 YEARS OF BRINGING THE BRINGING THE NOTTINGHAM DIOCESE NOTTINGHAM DIOCESE TOGETHER TOGETHER The monthly paper for the The monthly paper for the Diocese of Nottingham Diocese of Nottingham FRANKLY SPEAKING FRANKLY SPEAKING Page 2 The Catholic News. October 2023. Editor: Nick Layton Editorial Office: Bellcourt Ltd, N2 Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 7BN Telephone: 01440 730399 email: cn@cathcom.org or davidl@cathcom.org Website: www.bellcourtltd.co.uk Distribution enquiries: Nick Layton e-mail nick@cathcom.org, Bellcourt Limited, Publication date: Fourth Sunday of the month for the following month. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Diocese. P ublishers and Owners : Bellcourt Ltd, N2 Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 7BN Advertising: tel: 01440 730399 Parental permission should be sought before submitting photographs of minors. Views expressed in The Catholic News are not necessarily those of the editor. Wanted Parish Correspondents The Catholic News is looking for a Parish Correspondent in your parish to send in local news for publication in this newspaper. All items to be emailed to cn@cathcom.org before 10th of the month I have no previous recollection of the holiday month of August being so dominated by poltical announcements as it was this year. On the last day of the month and just a few days from the Autumn term we learned that some schools would have to close buildings due to unsafe concrete. One of the reactions was to point out that it was only a small number of schools and pupils that had been affected. At the time of writing this article 147 schools have crumbling concrete known as RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete). I have long been concerned about how statistics are being marginally reported as if they are insignificant or unimportant. I am also somewhat weary of hearing how such money has been spent on serious issues much as crumbling concrete as if this is the end of the matter. 147 schools incorporate a lot of pupils, parents and not least teachers and school staff. Our children are growing up in a fast changing world and whilst many will have a good education some will always struggle for a variety of educational reasons. Any obstacle placed in their educationsl life can really affect those who are already at the greatest disadvantage. My own schooling years were not particularly successful but even in the 1950’,s I did not lack the most basic of necessities and getting a secure job in industry plus joining a political youth movement helped me enormously in my late teens. A recent report by the children’,s charity Buttle UK shows the number of children living in destitution has increased significantly since 2021. The reality of this is that “,the lowest standard of living”, is beling felt by some children and young people. When our education starts to be less important than higher fuel bills or the cost of living it is surely time for new wisdom at Westminster. Perhaps a Cabinet Minister for Children and Young People as a start. When you read this article the party conferences will be well underway indeed some commentators feel the General Election scheduled next year have already started. The issues raised by Buttle UK are too serious to ignore for the sake of our most needy children. At the closing Mass in Lisbon Pope Francis gave the World Youth Day gathering of 1.5 million young people a clear message, “,The Church and the world need you, the young as much as the Earth needs rain.”, Frank Goulding Holy Trinity Parish, Newark Synodality and St Vincent de Paul For all your advertising requirements please contact Nick on 01440 730399 Nick@cathcom.org With the SVP celebrating its 190 th birthday this year attention is turning to the future and ‘,where the society will be in 2033 –, 200 years old!’,. The key theme is Synodality, and the analogy is ‘,Enlarge the space, spread out the tent cloths, lengthen the ropes and make ﬁ,rm the stakes’,. Synodality means journeying together, listening to what those around us are saying, discerning what the Holy Spirit tells us needs doing and taking positive action. In essence, Synodality is the SVP in action. The SVP is taking up the challenge to develop its approach to pursuing its mission of seeking out those in need and making the effort to reach out to those marginalised, on society’,s periphery and difﬁ,cult to reach. The ‘,tent’, will accommodate any who wish to be involved with the SVP –, it will always be large enough as: •, The path to greater inclusion. •, A home where the doors never close. •, A space that is constantly expanding. •, A welcome to anyone who needs to be there. The SVP’,s founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam said: “,Charity should never look behind but always in front, because the number of good deeds which we have done in the past is always very small, while the present needs and future needs, which must be relieved, are always endless”, Blessed Frederic Ozanam True now as it was then, the priority is to focus on those in need now and in the future, and history tells us the SVP has a signiﬁ,cant role to play in this regard. There are innumerable statistics that tell us this. The SVP’,s Beneﬁ,ciary Support Team receives Requests for Help and at this stage in 2023 the number of requests is 150% more than the annual average pre- 2022. The SVP will address this growing demand in a number of ways: •, Put the Catholic faith and Vincentian values at the heart of all it does. •, Identify and ﬂ,ag growing areas of need and reach out to those who require support. Work in a Synodal manner to listen to the community to discern what needs doing. •, Increase SVP membership, engaging more with our Young Catholics as well as including those outside of the Catholic faith. •, Expanding the capacity to develop a network of charity, collaborating with ecumenical partners, other charities societies and agencies to source referrals and attract new members. •, Campaign for social justice to effect change for those the SVP serves. •, Develop the SVP brand so that it becomes a household name and ‘,go-to’, resource for support and assistance. The SVP in the Nottingham diocese will be working on these objectives to enhance the service it provides to those in need. Made up of willing volunteers in parishes around the diocese, it would be great to welcome more into the existing conferences or starting up new conferences where none currently exist. The tent is plenty big enough to welcome both members and beneﬁ,ciaries. If you would like to learn more about joining the SVP in these exciting and challenging times, or you know someone who might need the support of the SVP, please contact either Joe Gasan –, joeg@svp.org.uk or Lance Philpott –, lancep@svp.org.uk Blessed Frederic Ozanam St. Vincent

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The Catholic News. October 2023. Page 3 accordance with both company and charity law, in addition to Church Law. Here, I would welcome applications from parishioners who have a suitable background in areas such as finance, law, personnel, marketing, and education. Each of our schools also has a local governing body which is responsible for Catholic Life and academic standards, and foundation governors also ensure that school and parish links remain strong. This role is not solely for those who have a knowledge of education. Our local governing bodies need to have committed Catholics, from all walks of life, who wish to support Catholic education in their local area. I am aware that, each year, we lose a number of experienced and committed foundation governors who have reached the end of their term of office. I would ask these governors to consider offering their skills to a nearby Catholic school. These roles may seem a little daunting, especially to those with little recent experience of schools. But I assure you that there is excellent training and support for Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Sunday, 10th September, marked the 175th celebration of Education Sunday for the Church in England and Wales. Education Sunday, coinciding with the beginning of the academic year, provides our Catholic community with the opportunity to celebrate the vital work of education that our schools carry out. It also gives me an occasion, on behalf of us all, to acknowledge the sterling work and commitment of thousands of teachers, support staff, governors, and directors, alongside our Diocesan Education Service. They all play such a crucial role in making our Catholic schools among the most successful in the country. Here in our diocese, it is now five years since the creation of our Catholic Multi- Academy Trusts. During this time, always working in collaboration with our Diocesan Education Service, the Trusts have provided a sense of structure, support, and stability for our schools. I know that this close partnership between the schools in the Trusts was particularly welcome during the challenges of the Covid pandemic. It has also helped to underpin the distinctive nature of our Catholic schools: as places to assist parents in the education and religious formation of their children, where Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church are at the heart of everything, and where each young person is treasured and encouraged to achieve their full potential. Over those years I have used my Pastoral Letters on Education to appeal for volunteers from our parish communities to act as both foundation directors and foundation governors. I would like to repeat this request today. The roles of foundation directors and governors are different, but both are very important. Each of them play a part in helping me, as diocesan bishop, to ensure that our Trusts and schools remain faithful to the mission of the Church, and that they are governed effectively. Foundation directors sit on the Board of each Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, they are company directors and must act in foundation governors and directors, given by our Diocesan Education Service. Please don’,t let a sense of the unknown stop you from offering yourself for either of these roles. Jesus often tells his disciples: ‘,do not be afraid’,! I dare to ask all this because the continued support of committed Catholic governors and directors is simply invaluable! Please consider contacting our Diocesan Education Service to find out more. On this 175th Education Sunday, confident that Jesus is, as he promised, truly with us, let us give thanks for all those people who, over the years, have heard and responded to his call to support the children and young people in our diocesan schools, as headteachers, teachers, support staff, foundation directors and governors. May more and more committed Catholics hear the invitation to take up these wonderful ministries in the service of the young people in our diocesan schools. With my prayers and blessing to you all +Patrick Bishop of Nottingham Pastoral Letter for Education Sunday from Bishop Patrick

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From: Elston Hermitage…,…, By tradition the Catholic Church dedicates certain months of the year to certain devotions. The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, one of the best known of Catholic devotions. October includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary ( 7th October ). For myself the rosary is a devotion, as for many Catholics, which I have prayed daily for many years. I was first introduced to the rosary seriously as a young Benedictine novice in the early 1970s when I read a book by a man named J. Neville Ward, who was not a Catholic himself but a Methodist, the writer describes a Methodist’,s personal adventure into prayer with a help characteristic of the Roman Catholic Church. The book which I often re-read is titled Five for Sorrow Ten for Joy. The Holy Rosary is a prayer with a long history. Throughout the ages countless Saints have stressed the importance of its intercessional power, and the miracles which they attribute to this power are a testament to the truth of their teaching. On October 7th 1571, a great victory over the mighty Turkish fleet was won by Catholic naval forces primarily from Spain, Venice and Genoa under command of Don Juan of Austria. It was the last battle at sea between oared ships, with between 12000 and 15000 Christian slaves as rowers. The patchwork team of Catholic ships was powered by the Holy Rosary. Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff St. Pope Pius V asked all of Europe to pray the rosary for victory. We know today that the victory was significant, prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe, and evidenced the hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St Pope Pius V is said to have got up from a meeting, gone over to a window and exclaimed, “, The Christian fleet is Victorious”, One of the three admirals commanding the Catholic forces at Lepanto carried a small copy of Mexico’,s Our Lady of Guadalupe into battle. This image is now enshrined in the Church of San Stefano in Aveto, Italy. The miraculous events of the battle of Lepanto stand as an inspiration for all of us many centuries later. While physical battle and warfare are not quite as commonplace as they were in the 1500s, each and every one of us is engaged, to some degree in a spiritual struggle. The fight against sin and temptation still rage within our hearts, perhaps more dire and significant than the physical clash of forces at Lepanto, for so much more is at stake in our spiritual combat. Not only do we fight for the souls of each person in this battle, but for the soul of the Church, in short, we fight to save the world. The good news is this, the battle of Lepanto shows that we are beyond all doubt on the winning side. Just as it was during that clash many centuries ago, in this great spiritual battle the Blessed Virgin Mary is constantly with us, ready to support us, guide us, and carry us to victory for the glory of God. Even when the odds seem completely against us, we can always fall back on the command of St. Pope Pius V, our marching orders, take up the Rosary, pray for victory, and trust in the Lord in the great battle of our times. If then October is the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, it is also the month par excellence to rediscover the companion of the road that God has given us, to walk with us during our life. The Holy Guardian Angels who we also keep in October. The words of Jesus, the teaching of the Doctors and the Saints, the authority of the Church - do not allow us to doubt the reality of our Holy Guardian angel. So, take up the ‘,battle beads’, with the help of Our Lady and our Guardian Angel we shall gain Victory ! Fr David + h.d.n. Priest and Hermit Page 4 The Catholic News. October 2023. As summer draws to a close and autumn beckons our thoughts turn to the ",Apostleship of The Sea",, a charity we are proud to support. Each year our generous parish collects items for the men who work on the ships delivering goods at Immingham docks. Our thoughts turn to Apostleship of The Sea This year we have woolly hats in a kaleidoscope of colours and a tempting selection of chocolate treats. We send our gifts in the hope that they will know they are not forgotten by the congregation of Ss Peter &, Paul`s Church. Representatives from the Department for Education visited the Sisters of Mercy to talk about the new eco building for St Mary’,s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby. The Sisters heard how the biophilic design of the new school focuses on connecting those inside the building –, set to be the UK’,s first biophilic school - with nature, with the goal of promoting physical and mental health. Duncan Craig, Development Projects Lead for the DfE, and DfE’,s Lead Design Advisor, Ian Naylor, gave a presentation to the Sisters at St Philomena’,s Convent in Derby. St Mary’,s original building, in Broadway, was destroyed by fire in October 2020 and the school has been based at St James House in Mansfield Road, Derby, since April 2021. Work started on the new building in February 2023 and it is set to open to pupils and staff later this year. Sister Carmel said that everyone was looking forward to the opening of the new building. She said: ",We were all privileged to see and hear first-hand how this ",Phoenix", was rising from the ashes. A detailed and very professional presentation of the design, craftsmanship and outstanding ideas on how this biophilic school will benefit so many children, parents/carers and indeed the whole of this area of Derby. We now await the Grand Opening which will soon be on the horizon.", Sara Bolton, Vice Chair of Governors at St Mary’,s, also attended the DfE presentation. She said: “,I was most impressed by the DfE presentation and their attention to detail. Our new school will be an excellent and unique learning environment for our pupils. Furthermore, our valued staff will have the opportunity to teach in a brand new building with endless opportunities for everyone.”, In attendance also was Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher of St Mary’,s, she said: “,We continue to look forward to moving back to the original Broadway site. It was a wonderful opportunity for the Sisters of Mercy to hear first-hand how the site they gifted in 2000 is being restored to provide the best Catholic education for the children of Derby. The Sisters of Mercy have a long-standing history and relationship with the school having founded St Mary’,s in 1814 on Edward St, and so it was vital for us to share the journey of the re-building of what will be the first UK biophilic school.”, Sisters of Mercy welcome plans for new eco school

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Subscribe@catholicpost.co.uk 01440 730399 www.catholicpost.co.uk Monthly National Catholic Newspaper National and International News from a Catholic Perspective with thoughtful articles to deepen Faith The UK’,s ﬁ, rst Carbon Neutral National Catholic Paper The Catholic News. October 2023. Page 5 On Friday 8th September, St Mary’,s Church and St Mary’,s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby celebrated the feast of the birthday of Mary, with Mass and a free cake stall. The children arranged the cakes and worked enthusiastically on the stall, giving out cake of all descriptions. It was a lovely beginning to the Advent term. Fran Hazel Lay Chaplain St Mary’,s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Derby St Mary’,s Derby Celebrate the Birthday of Our Lady

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Page 6 The Catholic News. October 2023. Each month the Pope`s Worldwide Prayer Network shares a video recorded by the Pope. It is a way of sharing the Pope`s in - tentions for that month with the world and is an opportunity for the Holy Father to speak directly to the listener. This month`s intention is for those living on the margins of society and what follows is the transcript of that video. A homeless person who dies on the street will never appear among the top stories of search engines or newscasts. How could we have reached this level of indifference? How is it that we allow the “,throwaway culture”, –, in which millions of men and women are worth nothing compared to economic goods –, how is it that we allow this culture to dominate our lives, our cities, our way of life? Our necks are going to get stiff from looking the other way so we don’,t have to see this situation. Please, let’,s stop making invisible those who are on the margins of society, whether it’,s due to poverty, addictions, mental illness or disability. Let’,s focus on accepting them, on welcoming all the people who need it. The “,culture of welcoming,”, of hospitality, of providing shelter, of giving a home, of offering love, of giving human warmth. Let us pray for those people on the margins of society in subhuman living conditions, that they may not be neglected by institutions and never be cast out. Those forgotten by the press It is specifically for them, those forgotten by the press, that this month’,s video seeks to draw attention to. The images accompanying Pope Francis’,s words show homeless people –, alone or in small groups, at times almost stepped on by passersby –, on the sidewalks of Canada, the United States, Kenya, Cameroon and The Pope Video - For people living on the margins India, street children who spend their day washing the windshields of cars stopped at stoplights in San Salvador, people with different disabilities in Spain, the Philippines and Central America, shantytowns near skyscrapers in Vancouver, and near buildings in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Various types of people live on the margins of our society. Their numbers are much higher than we think. In fact, according to the United Nations, more than 700 million (10% of the population) live in extreme poverty, facing major difficulties in obtaining basic necessities, such as healthcare, education, access to water and sanitation. The UN also adds that around 1.6 billion people live in inadequate living conditions, including in the most industrialized countries. Similarly, reports from the World Health Organization reveal that one of every eight persons lives with a “,mental disorder,”, and that 16% of the world’,s population lives with a “,serious disability.”, Welcoming is more than helping “,Prayer brings to light what is hidden in the heart. Therefore, those living on the margins, as if invisible, must find room in our hearts. They are in the heart of the Church: a heart of flesh and not of stone. A heart of stone casts out, a heart of flesh welcomes,”, says Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, about the Holy Father’,s video for the month of September. He adds, “,Pope Francis is aware of the educational power of prayer and through it, he invites us to develop a culture of welcome. ‘,The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone.’, This message will be strong and credible if, even today, we give a voice to the outcasts, if we recognize the indelible dignity of those who have been crucified by a ruthless economy, by harassment or by indifference. Welcoming is more than helping: it means putting the other person at our level, rediscovering a sister or a brother we have lost. We are transformed into one Body through prayer.”, A “,culture of welcoming”, Father Fré,dé,ric Fornos S.J., International Director of the Pope’,s Worldwide Prayer Network, comments: “,How is it possible to find a tangible solution to the millions of outcasts who often meet only with indifference, or even annoyance, in response? Pope Francis invites us to We are sorry to report that Axe (aka Alun Evans) who has kept us entertained (and challenged!) with his crosswords since 2015, has recently passed away very suddenly. We were notified by Alun’,s daughter Katy and we hope you’,ll join us in sending love and prayers to the family. Thank you Axe Funeral specialists here for you Free home visits 0800 092 0645 Funeral homes throughout Nottingham, Derby &, Mansfield •, Pre-paid funeral plans available •, In-house masons and florists approach poverty and exclusion differently. This means praying, since prayer transforms our hearts, it changes our outlook and opens us up to others, in particular, to the most vulnerable. Let us pray with Pope Francis for a ‘,culture of welcoming,’, so that everyone who needs it might find welcome, shelter, a home, love, and human warmth.”, Visit thepopevideo.org where you can view the video yourself and sign up to receive future videos in your email. To Advertise in the Catholic News contact Nick on 01440 730399 nick@ cathcom.org

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The Catholic News. October 2023. Page 7 The Season of Creation runs from 1st September to the Feast day of St Francis of Assisi, 4th October. An ecumenical and global movement, it calls us to ponder the gift of creation. The theme this year ‘,Let justice and peace flow’, with the symbol of a mighty river, came from Amos 5:24 and encouraged Christians of all denominations to come together to work in unity for justice and peace. On Thursday 7th September ten members of the Catholic community in Lincoln undertook a cruise along a canal called the Fossdyke, on a boat known as the Brayford Belle, to mark the Season of Creation. The hour long voyage provided an opportunity for parishioners from the Lincoln parishes to come together whilst enjoying the sights of creation. As it turned out, each of my intrepid travel companions, who had turned up despite the fierce heat, was from the one parish - St Peter and St Paul Church, though not everyone knew each other. The boat trip, during which we saw families of swans, a heron, caught glimpses of kingfishers and turtles, as well as a multitude of butterflies, huge dragonflies La vie est belle and ducks, included a commentary. We learned the Fossdyke Navigation was built around 120 AD to connect the River Trent to the River Witham in Lincoln, and is considered to be Britain’,s oldest artificial waterway still in use today. The canal had been used to transport cargo for almost 2000 years, including the stone used to build Lincoln Cathedral in the 11th century, with agricultural produce still being routinely carried by sailing keels and barges from the River Trent right up to the 1970s. Competition led to its commercial decline and since about 1972 its use has been recreational. After disembarking we walked a few steps to a nearby eatery and tucked into puddings (mostly of the ice cream variety) and cool drinks, a further chance to get to know each other better and an early celebration of Our Lady’,s birthday! With awe for my fellow parishioners, Matthew 18:20 came to mind and how by their presence they had brought Jesus, only for the parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14) to surface and I saw that it was He who had invited each of us to join Him! A hot date! Thank you Lord for the grace and opportunity to take up your invitation, albeit unwittingly on my part, and to spend time with you, enjoying many good gifts you delight in providing. The canal has proved itself a gift to the city and the afternoon was a reminder that all is gift. With Diocesan reorganisation underway, a single Lincoln parish comprising all three churches is on the horizon and with it will come the opportunity and challenge to operate as one, not only for social activities, but for missionary activities too, including justice and peace projects. Hopefully Catholics in the city will be able to embrace the chance to collaborate en masse (and team up with ecumenical and interfaith partners), so that the gift of our Catholic faith and church communities can be shared and play a part in helping Lincoln to thrive, reduce injustice and create sustainable peace, building up the Kingdom of God, a kingdom of grace and mercy, on earth, as in Heaven. The literature for the Season of Creation reminds us that Prophet Isaiah proclaims: “,Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth, will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”, (Isaiah 43: 19) ... The question perhaps is: are we aware of what is being asked of us and are we willing to take up our place? Let us pray for the grace to be aware of how much we receive as gift and for what we need to hear and heed the call for each to take their place in the mighty river that is the Holy Spirit, so that, together, all people and creation may receive justice and peace. Then may ‘,la vie est belle’, be something we can all say and not just my favourite perfume. Come Holy Spirit! Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us! St Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

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Page 8 The Catholic News. October 2023. NATIONWIDE SERVICE IN DESIGN, INSTALLATION &, MAINTENANCE OF LIGHTNING PROTECTION AND EARTHING SYSTEMS HAVE YOU BOOKED IN YOUR ANNUAL LIGHTNING PROTECTION TEST AND INSPECTION? IS YOUR SYSTEM COMPLIANT TO THE STANDARD BS EN 62305: 2012? CONTACT US NOW TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATION OR FREE ADVICE AND SUPPORT REGARDING YOUR LIGHTNING PROTECTION WWW.LIGHTNING-PROTECTIONUK.COM 0115 8411 211 INFO@LIGHTNING-PROTECTIONUK.COM Please support our Advertisers By Dr Jay Kettle-Williams View from the Pew Dr J L Kettle-Williams is an experienced business communications consultant and wordsmith (tutor, writer, translator). My attention always turns to what the MSM (Mainstream Media) might be up to reporting and saying about the Orange Walks, come the anniversary of The Battle of The Boyne. The , Battle of the Boyne was fought between King James II (James VII of Scotland) and King William II (House of Orange) –, rival claimants to the English, Scottish and Irish throne . The battle took place on 1 July 1690 across the River Boyne ,close to the town of Drogheda, on the east coast of Ireland. William’,s army won the day, being better prepared than the opposing forces consisting mainly of raw recruits. The continued Protestant ascendancy in Ireland was thereby ensured. The Twelfth ,(aka , Orangemen’,s Day ) is an Ulster Protestant ,celebration traditionally held on 12 July to celebrate the Glorious Revolution , (1688) along with William’,s victory at the Boyne. On and around the Twelfth, large parades are held by the Orange Order ,and Ulster Loyalist ,marching bands. My mother’,s birthday fell on 12 July. God rest her. The day always held further interest for her as her Irish side of the family was split Catholic/Protestant, one faction never attending life’,s major events celebrated by the other. The antagonism within the family had been inherited from the warfare the of 17 th century and as latterly perpetrated by the Orange Walk. But, for me, an event on 12 July this year put a totally different complexion on those anniversaries. Our local library works, not so much as a reading room, but more like a community centre with all manner of activities ever on the go. The library also offers what can be a busy cut-through between the local hypermarket and the town’,s city precinct. Like all shopping precincts, ours has dramatically lost the breadth of retail Hope for the Future formerly on offer. Instead, we have umpteen cafes and coffee houses where people relax between visiting the umpteen charity shops between a number of closed units. My wife and I had just finished talking to one of the librarians we knew at one of the desks when I felt a sharp tug on the back of my jacket. A voice called: ‘,Chase me, mister?!’, I turned to see the bright, smiling face of a wide-eyed, young black boy immaculately dressed in his school uniform. He couldn’,t have been more than 8 or 9 years old. ‘,Yes?’, he said eagerly. ‘,Ok’,, I said, handing the bag I was carrying to my wife. ‘,I’,ll count to five,’, I said as he quickly took a step or two back. The race was on, more like a brisk walk or controlled trot, while the librarian laughed and those passing the day on the open-access work stations stopped to look, and those on the chairs put their books down either in amusement or in total bewilderment. Could this be another activity put on by the library? The lad slipped, stood up. Round two was quickly under way with him cackling and guffawing. I never did catch him. His mother then called from further down the library. Dressed colourfully and wearing a dramatic headdress, she’,d finished logging books in or out at the front desk. The young boy scampered up to her. As they left the library, mother and child hand in hand, he turned to offer the widest of beaming smiles and waved goodbye. I pray that our children’,s innocence be ever defended together with freedom for us all from the divisive and corrosive pressures ardently at work around us. Acknowledgements and Attribution: Texts/References adapted and/or adopted from http://en.wikipedia.org under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/4.0/ , World History Encyclopedia ref: The Battle of The Boyne . Subscribe@catholicpost.co.uk 01440 730399 www.catholicpost.co.uk Monthly National Catholic Newspaper National and International News from a Catholic Perspective with thoughtful articles to deepen Faith The UK’,s ﬁ, rst Carbon Neutral National Catholic Paper SEPTEMBER 2023 From Parish Life to the Thin Blue Line page 11 Love in a Bottle Ukraine Bishop Visits Liverpool page 3 Edition 21 Please donate £,1 to support your parish Everyone! Everyone! Everyone! ",In the Church there is room for everyone. “,Father, but I am a wretch, is there room for me? There is room for everyone! All together now, everyone, repeat with me in your own language: Everyone, everyone, everyone.", Pope Francis World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 page 7 page 13 www.CatholicPost.co.uk

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The Catholic News. October 2023. Page 9 For all your advertising requirements please contact Nick on 01440 730399 Nick@cathcom.org On Prisoners’, Sunday the Catholic Church encourages everyone to reflect on and pray for prisoners and their families. This year, Prisoners` Sunday takes place on 8th October but you can mark the occasion on a day that suits your parish calendar. What is Prisoners’, Sunday? Prisoners’, Sunday is a time to think about how we as individuals, as a Church and as communities are serving those affected by imprisonment. Prisoners, people with convictions, and their children and families often find themselves on the margins of our society. Yet Jesus challenges us with His words: Prisoners` Sunday Our work at Pact draws on the values of our faith: dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity. We believe that everyone can make a fresh start whatever they may have done. Bishop Richard Moth, Catholic Liaison Bishop for Prisons, writes to all parishes in the Pact Prisoners` Sunday Pack, to encourage support for this time of reflection, prayer and action everywhere on Prisoners` Sunday. We are grateful to parishes who are able to hold a second collection to support the work of Pact - and to individuals who may send a donation at this time. A second collection can also be arranged on an alternative date if that works better for your parish. Perhaps some supporters may be able to hold a simple Prisoners` Sunday fundraising event. Find out more about Marking Prisoners` Sunday in your Church by visiting www.prisonadvice.org.uk/hold-a- prisoners-sunday-service How can I find out more? Contact Theresa Alessandro, Catholic Community Engagement Manager at parish.action@prisonadvice.org.uk We hope that you will join us in marking this day. Thank you for your support. Prisons Week 8 - 14 October Prisoners’, Sunday marks the first day of the ecumenical Prisons Week, a dedicated week of prayer across our Christian communities. Prisons Week was founded by Bishop Victor Guazzelli in 1975. Since then, the Prisons Week group has prepared resources to enable the Christian community to pray for the needs of all those affected by imprisonment. The Prisons Week Prayer Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime. Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ, in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day. Amen Donate now at www.reachfoundationuk.org Your money goes a long way! Reach Foundation UK - charity no: 1171521 For ALL of your Parishioners For some of your Parishioners Individual Subscriptions Online Subscriptions 100 copies: from £,12 (12p per copy) 200 copies: from £,23.20 (11.6p per copy) 300 copies: from £,32.80 (10.9p per copy) 50 copies: from £,9.60 (19.2p per copy) 10 copies: from £,7.20 (72p per copy) Annual 1 Copy from £,3.20 per month 1 Online Copy via Email from £,2.40 per month Subscribe to JUL y 2023 page 11 Creating icons is an aid to prayer page 7 All Together in Leeds: A Mission Celebration Tackling Loneliness –, we can all play our part page 4 Edition 19 www.CatholicPost.co.uk S t T h o m a s t h e A p o s t l e F e a s t d a y 3 r d J u l y OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Hare Lane, Langley Green, Crawley RH11 7PZ Headteacher Tobias Melia Telephone 01293 526057 Beer Never Stops! A Warning to the World A student from one of our Lancashire primary schools has rece i ved special recognition after going above and beyond to live out Christ’,s call to love and serve one another. Harvey, from St Charles RC Primary Schoo l in Rishton, has been presented with the Caritas dioceseofsalford.org.uk Catholic Social Teaching Award in recognition of his efforts to put love into action. During the school holidays, Harvey attended Park View Resource Centre to offer support to individuals accessing a coffee morning at the food bank. As a family, we are extremely proud of him and he fully deserves the recognition for what he has done Harvey with his award and certificate The “,radical”, and “,rapidly expanding”, euthanasia practices of Canada and the Netherlands were under scrutiny recently during the third oral evidence session of the UK Health and Social Care Select Committee’,s (HSCSC) inquiry into assisted suicide. MPs heard testimony from six experts concerning euthanasia laws in Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium, jurisdictions where euthanasia is permitted for th o se who are not terminally ill. Canada a “,warning sign”, Prof Trudo Lemmens of the Faculty of Law at the Un iversity of Toronto explained how Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada is “,accessible largely on demand in very broad circumstances”, and is “,the most rapidly expanding system in the world”,. Speaking in follow up to Prof Lemmens’, comments, Steve Brine MP, the Committee’,s Chair, put it to Scott Kim, professor of psychiatry at t he University of Michiga n, that Canada is “,a warning sign to the rest of the world”,. Agreeing with the assertion, Dr Kim labelled MAID in Canada as the “,most radically medicalised system of providing assisted dying”,, describing “,the combination of very open eligibility that is implemented th r ough a well-networked framework of medicalisation”, as “,sobering”,. Dr Kim further described the evolution of Canada’,s MAID programme as “,a very dange rous situation in my view”, since, unlike in other jurisdictions, seeking an assisted death “,does not have to be a last resort option in Canada”,. Even when Canada’,s MAID laws were limited to those with a terminal illness (the criteria some advocates of assisted suicide in the UK seek), Dr Kim warned that “,the reasonably foreseeable death criterion has always been interpreted so broadly t hat it really in c ludes many cases that many people would not see as terminal illness”,. Continued on page 10 UK Parliament Committee hears Canada euthanasia policy is “,a warning sign to the world”, righttolife.org.uk The death criterion is interpreted so broadly it includes many cases people would not see as terminal illness Lancashire student bags Caritas award for service to the community Continued on page 6 AUGUST 2023 page 11 The boys are back in town page 5 A new Bishop for Hexham &, Newcastle Dear Grandpa rents page 3 Edition 20 www.CatholicPost.co.uk T h e A s s u m p t i o n o f t h e B l e s s e d V i r g i n M a r y , 1 5 t h A u g u s t OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Hare Lane, Langley Green, Crawley RH11 7PZ Headteacher Tobias Melia Telephone 01293 526057 Beer Never Stops! Lisbon is preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world to celebrate World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 Lisbon gears up for WYD 2023 World Youth Day (WYD) is t he gathering of young people to have an audience with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world. Alth ough its Catholic id entity is clearly evident, WYD opens its doors to everyone, no matter how close to or distant from the Church they are. It is celebrated at the diocesan level on Palm Sunday, and every two, three or four years as an international gathering in a city chos en by the Pope, with the presence of the Holy Father. It brings together millions of young people to celebrate their faith and sense of belonging to the Church. Since its first edition in Rome in 1986, World Youth Day has proven to be a laboratory of faith, a place of birth for vocations to mar riage and consecrated life, and an instrument for the evangelization and transformation of the Church. It aims to provide all participants with a universal Church experience, fostering a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. It is a new stimulus to the faith, hope and charity of the entire host country community. With young people as its protagonists, World Youth Day also seeks t o promote pea ce, unity and fraternity among peoples and nations around the world. Over the course of a week, young people from all over the world ar e welcomed, mainly in public (gymnasiums, schools, pavilions …,) and parish facilities or family homes. In addition to the moments of prayer, sharing and leisure, the young people enrolled in this celebration participate in various initiatives orga nized by the WYD team, in different locations across the host city. The highlights are the celebrations (central features) for which the Pope is present, such as the welcoming and opening ceremony, the Way of the Cross, the vigil and, on the last day, the closing Mass. Founded by Pope John Paul II in 1985. WYD has been, since then, a time of encounter and sharing for mil lions of people throughout the world. The first edition took place in 1986 in Rome, and since then WYD has passed through the following cities: Buenos Aires (1987), Sa ntiago de Compostela (1989), Czestochowa (1991), Denver (1993), Manila (1995), Paris (1997), Rome (2000), Toronto (2002), Cologne (2005), Sydney (2008), Madrid (2011), Rio de Janeiro (2013), Krakow (20 16) and Panama (2019). On 27 January 2019, at the closing ceremony of World Youth Day in Panama City, it was announced that Pope Francis had chosen Lisbon to host the next World Youth Day. WYD Lisbon 2023 will be held from 1 to 6 August 2023. Please donate £,1 to support your parish lisboa2023.org All pilgrims - including Pope Francis, are issued with their own WYD backpack www.catholicpost.co.uk All prices include delivery

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Page 10 The Catholic News. October 2023. Book Reviews Please support our Advertisers A Simple Prayer Book (Gift Edition) Catholic Truth Society £,9.95 CTS Product Code: D711 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781860825989 www.ctsbooks.org This illustrated gift edition of CTS’,s bestselling Catholic prayer book contains all the essentials for a life of prayer, including a vast assortment of prayers and devotions, the Order of Mass, and explanations on Catholic teaching. Illustrated and bound in a soft imitation leather cover, A Simple Prayer Book (Presentation Edition) is a deluxe gift edition of CTS`s trusted and timeless bestselling Catholic prayer book. Divided into three main sections, this leatherette prayer book contains all the essentials for a life of prayer: 1. Prayers and Devotions: including basic prayers, morning, evening and night prayers, the rosary, the Divine Mercy chaplet, Stations of the Cross, a guide to confession, and prayers to the Holy Spirit. 2. The Eucharist: this section guides Catholics through the Mass, with the Order of Mass, prayers before and after Holy Communion, and an act of Spiritual Communion. It also explains how to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. 3. Catholic Teaching: featuring a summary of Christian doctrine, while also explaining the Mass, the Sunday obligation, fasting and abstinence, and indulgences. The Bible for Little Children Maï,te Roche £,6.95 CTS Product Code: CH60 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784690625 www.ctsbooks.org Telling the most important moments of Salvation history in simple language that smaller children can understand, the most famous Bible stories are brought to life with Maite Roche’,s beautiful illustrations, full of detail and colour that will captivate children. The most famous stories from the Bible retold for little children in The Bible for Little Children. Telling the most important moments of Salvation history in simple language that smaller children can understand, the stories are brought to life with Maite Roche`s beautiful illustrations, full of detail and colour that will captivate children. Beginning with Creation and The Holy Sacriﬁ,ce of the Mass Barbara Reed Mason £,3.95 CTS Product Code: DO963 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784697556 www.ctsbooks.org Every time the Mass is celebrated some - thing astonishing occurs: the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross is made truly present. Draw - ing on Sacred Scrip - ture, the Catechism, and the words of saints and popes, this book explains how the Sacrifice of the Mass unites the faithful with God. Every time the Mass is celebrated some - thing astonishing occurs: the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross is made truly present. The Mass is the sacrifice of Christ. In this way, it offers all Catholics a powerful and personal encounter with the loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for the salvation of sinners. Drawing on the sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the wise words of saints and popes, this book explains how the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass unites the faithful with God . Love’,s True Meaning Fr Anthony Doe, Pope St Paul VI £,10.99 CTS Product Code: Pa57 Please refer to this code when ordering over the phone ISBN: 9781784695767 www.ctsbooks.org A significant pastoral assessment of today’,s sexual culture on the 50th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. The full text of Humanae Vitae is also included. EBOOK ONLY. IMPORTANT: This UK ONLY item is a special order and will take approximately 7-10 days to arrive. It will be delivered separately from the rest of your order. Catholic Social Teaching By Raymond Friel £,11.95 PRODUCT CODE: 1969 ISBN NO:9780852316405 www.rpbooks.co.uk Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is some - times referred to as the Church’,s best kept secret, perhaps because it’,s so radical. Diary 2024: Through the year with 12 Parables of Jesus By Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R £,7.96 Pre-Order Product Code: 1960 ISBN NO:9780852316399 www.rpbooks.co.uk This stunning hardback diary features a thought- provoking reflection by Fr Denis McBride on twelve parables of Jesus. Through the parables we learn that inside the story of our everyday life lies the deeper story of our salvation. If the parables work, they leave us wondering not just about the dynamics of an interesting story but about deeply personal and social questions we face every day. Parables are not fictional diversions from real life but deliberate probes into the lives we actually live. They call us to think again about how we see and how we behave, to think again about attitudes and behaviour in our community or society that we accept lazily or uncritically. The parables of Jesus make the ordinary important:Jesus speaks out of a theology of ordinariness when he begins his theological thinking with things as they are. Religion is not primarily about special cultic activities or secret wisdom, it is about loving the God who created us and loving the neighbour we find ourselves beside. Liturgy can be left to one side when more important business, like forgiving our brother or sister, is waiting as the real religious agenda. Our 2024 diary is A5 in size and has a practical full week to view across a double page spread. Included in the diary is an introduction from Fr Denis, year planners for both 2024 and 2025, key dates and feast days, notes pages, and a ribbon page marker. All of these features make it the ideal faith companion, appointment organiser and thoughtful gift. Catholic Social Teaching, as found in the letters and exhortations of popes since 1891, shows us a Gospel- inspired pathway to a society reconciled and in harmony through justice and love. Raymond Friel, in his latest book, provides an introduction to this treasure of the Church. The book is aimed at those who don’,t know much about CST and are looking for an accessible guide to the main principles, with helpful references to scripture and the key Church documents. There’,s a section on Catholic Social Action, to make it clear that all this teaching is meant to inspire people to build a better world founded on truth, justice and love. With moving examples from frontline charities and schools, readers will see what CST looks like when it hits the streets. The final section of the book includes a CST calendar, with suggested dates throughout the year to celebrate some of the key figures and milestones in the long struggle for social justice. This book is suitable for staff working in Catholic schools, or charities, or volunteers in parishes. It will motivate and inspire anyone who wants to make a difference, who believes that we are all in this together, one human family in a common home. ending with Pentecost, this is a wonderful introduction to the Bible for children. Read with children aged 4 and up. Independent reading from age 7. The 50th anniversary of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae in 2018 provided Catholics and others with the opportunity to rediscover how to live the true meaning of love, in all its aspects, and above all the gift of sexuality that finds its most creative expression in marriage and family life. This is particularly important today in a society that has reinterpreted love through the lens of a contraceptive culture. Fifty years on, can we grasp the opportunity to reclaim the wonderful truth of the Gospel message: that genuine love, respect for the dignity of others and true generosity of heart develops within our humanity only through the presence of Jesus Christ himself?

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The Catholic News. October 2023. Page 11 OPEN DAY 7 OCTOBER Loughborough Amherst School , an independent Catholic day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 4 to 18. Offering sector-leading music, performance and sports facilities, Loughborough Amherst School is a close-knit, happy community in which every pupil can thrive. Book your tour today www.lsf.org/amherst Loughborough Amherst School, an independent Catholic day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18, is delighted to welcome Mr James Neville as its new Headmaster this term. Having served as a senior leader at several Catholic independent day, boarding and maintained secondary schools, Mr Neville has an outstanding track record of whole- school leadership. He read Modern History at Magdalen College Oxford before completing an MPhil at King’,s College Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar in the world-famous choir. A lifelong committed Catholic, Mr Neville is excited to be working together with staff, pupils and parents on an ambitious vision for this historic Catholic independent school to provide the highest quality all- round education and a happy environment in which all pupils can thrive. Originally founded in 1850 by the Rosminian Order of the Sisters of Providence, Amherst has at its heart the philosophy of Blessed Antonio Rosmini, who believed that a ‘,pupil must be allowed to grow and develop as an integrated human person’,. The School seeks to educate the whole person, inspiring pupils to be enquiring, kind and brave. High-quality teaching is complemented by an emphasis on personal Loughborough Amherst School educates the Whole Person development and a vibrant co-curricular programme. Pupils thrive in the context of this close-knit, happy community, and develop into compassionate, resilient and responsible young people. Central to the academic curriculum is the ‘,Minerva’, teaching and learning philosophy. Named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva develops pupils’, habits in four key areas: growth mindset, memory capacity, articulation and confidence. Fostering these vital skills, habits and attitudes at a young age helps pupils develop into self-assured, expressive and independent young people who are prepared for the demands of their professional and personal lives. The School’,s personal development programme instils a moral sense of decency and kindness to one another, equipping pupils to navigate a changing world, to make the most of future opportunities and contribute to their community as active citizens. Beyond the classroom, the co-curricular offer is integral to an holistic education and pupil wellbeing. High calibre educational visits and guest speakers complement learning in the classroom, and pupils are encouraged to develop leadership skills by taking on positions of responsibility. Clubs and societies give pupils the opportunity to be creative, perform, play sport and be active. Amherst’,s through-school, co-educational offer, from Nursery to Sixth Form, allows pupils to progress from infancy to young adulthood. Together with its small size, this creates a distinct, family atmosphere that makes Amherst uniquely warm and welcoming. With an excellent pupil-to-teacher ratio, it offers exceptionally high levels of individual support, giving every child the opportunity to realise their goals. As one of four schools within the Loughborough Schools Foundation, Amherst pupils benefit from cross- foundation collaboration and sector-leading music, performance and sports facilities. We warmly encourage you to visit us in person and experience for yourself what makes our school community so special. Register now for Loughborough Amherst’,s Open Day –, Saturday 7 October, 9am-12pm: https://lsf.org/amherst/admissions/open- day/ Mr James Neville

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CRYPTIC Across 1 European language that`s not totally suitable (6) 4 Israelite divisions baptiser created without Father`s backing (6) 9 Kind of 11 gets to look arch here in New York (7) 10 Laugh head off reading alternative Welsh writer (5) 11 Long term work on the Metropolitan, maybe (5) 12 Levi`s boy is among Rangers honourees (7) 13 . One in the habit of going to a particular London station (11) 18 Native American, a Margaret Mitchell character, Pennsylvania allowed in (7) 20 Bye, say, after painting flipping divorcee (5) 22 Attempt to resign from work to expose Pakistani water feature (5) 23 Spats as Tiger scratched (7) 24 Variant doctrine being something inadmissible in court, advocate`s opening is dismissed (6) 25 Swift is one in pursuit of a name for the mountain man (6) CRYPTIC Down 1 Judge`s key changes make a Benjaminite town (6) 2 Ransack Winchester, for one (5) 3 Bend a month in the Sorbonne to absorb old speech (7) 5 One of eight, the one that boasts, his head`s gone (5) 6 Prussian`s oddly uncharitable seeing poor Anita depart (7) 7 Inscrutable Egyptian`s wrecked ship and an indefinite number get cross (6) 8 Solomon`s greatest hit, this book? (4,2,5) 14 Hero`s love is torn between Adele and Erica (7) 15 . Russian secret policeman`s at home about one –, that`s out of Lisbon (7) 16 . European city, home to 17 and his flock (6) 17 . Needs no round to be showing below aver age scores to get a clerical job (6) 19 Fool, over a very large port, Paul steered away from (5) 21 Motif of the egoist? (5) QUICK Across 1 Teutonic (broadly) (6) 4 Twelve divisions of Israelites, from the sons of Jacob (6) 9 City of New York state, on the shores of Lake Erie (7) 10 Novelists Evelyn or Auberon? (5) 11 Musical piece accompanying a stage drama or comedy (5) 12 . Eldest son of Levi (7) 13 . RC clergy in the mantle of the Dominican order (11). 18 Uto-Aztecan American of the Great Plains (7) 20 . Additional, surplus (5) 22 Major river of Pakistan (5) 23 Cloth or leather overshoes or leggings (7) 24 . Formal denial or doubt of any defined doctrine of the RC Church (6) 25 Ecuadorean (broadly), for example (6) QUICK Down 1 Town where the Tabernacle was kept and where Solomon worshipped (6) 2 Weapon with a long barrel which features spiralling grooves for accuracy (5) 3 Language presumed spoken by Christ (7) 5 Oarsman or woman (5) 6 Prussian general, Britain`s ally at Waterloo (7) 7 Statue with the body of a lion and the head of a man (6) 8 OT book, alternative title in some Bibles being `Canticles` (4,2,5) 14 Lover of the priestess Hero in Greek myth (7) 15 Peninsula of south-west Europe (7) 16 Local church community (6) 17 Beneficed member of the clergy (6) 19 Port of Mysia visited by Paul (5) 21 Topic: melody (5) You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same. 123 8 9 11 13 14 16 18 22 19 24 12 15 17 20 21 23 25 10 45 6 7 SOLUTION Across: 1 German, 4 Tribes, 9 Buffalo, 10 Waugh, 11 Opera, 12 Gershon, 13 Blackfriars, 18 Arapaho, 20 Extra, 22 Indus, 23 Gaiters, 24 Heresy, 25 Andean. Down: 1 Gibeon, 2 Rifle, 3 Aramaic, 5 Rower, 6 Blucher, 7 Sphinx, 8 Song of Songs, 14 Leander, 15 Iberian, 16 Parish, 17 Parson, 19 Assos, 21 Theme. Page 12 The Catholic News. October 2023. By Fr Jeremy Corley Scripture Focus Around harvest time, we are invited to celebrate the Season of Creation. This significant season concludes on the feast of St Francis of Assisi (Wednesday 4th October), who is patron saint of ecology. His example inspired Pope Francis’, 2015 document on Care for our Common Home (Laudato Si’,). The document begins by quoting the saint’,s canticle, praising God for the marvels of creation: “,Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.”, The Old Testament prophets often describe the creation, which can reveal God to us. In the first reading on Sunday 8th October (27th Sunday of the Year), Isaiah tells a parable about a vineyard. His hearers would have been familiar with this, because the hill country around Jerusalem was often used to grow grapes. The prophet depicts a fertile hillside where the soil had been cleared of stones and planted with choice vines. With well-prepared soil and a suitable climate, the farmer expected it to yield a rich harvest of grapes. Instead, all it produced was a harvest of sour grapes. In disgust, the farmer decides to leave the vineyard to go wild and be trampled on. Isaiah’,s parable speaks of the vineyard to illustrate God’,s love for Israel. God had provided all the conditions Israel needed to produce a harvest of goodness and justice. Instead, the land was marked by bloodshed and oppression of the poor. God had greatly blessed the people, but they failed to respond to his love or treat their neighbours justly. That is why he decides to cease protecting his chosen people. Instead, they will become liable to attack from enemies (the Assyrian invaders). Jesus recalls Isaiah’,s vineyard parable in the gospel on Sunday 8th October (27th Sunday of the Year). Again the parable concerns a vineyard, suitably prepared and planted with vines. In the course of time, the landowner expected it to produce a harvest of grapes. When he sent his servants to collect the produce, they were beaten or stoned. Finally, he decided to send his own son, expecting that they would respect him. Instead, the vineyard tenants plotted to kill the heir and seize the vineyard for themselves. After they had killed the landowner’,s son, he took action to punish those wicked tenants and find new tenants who would produce the proper harvest of fruit. The parable ends with Jesus’, challenge to his original audience: “,God’,s kingdom will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”, St Matthew was writing his gospel after the Roman destruction of the Jerusalem temple, understood as fulfilling Jesus’, warning to the Jewish leaders. He saw the community of Jesus’, followers as taking on the call to work in the vineyard. The vineyard parables of Isaiah and Jesus serve as a reality check for us. Are we really producing the fruit that God asks of us? Do we pay more than just lip-service to loving God and loving our neighbour? Our world has a vast gap between the richest and the poorest—,do we think of those in need and try to help them? Our world is now in the middle of a climate crisis—,are we taking steps to protect the earth, which is our common home? St John’,s Gospel presents Jesus as the true vine and reminds us that we can only bear fruit if we remain united to him. St Paul reminds us of the Holy Spirit’,s fruits of love and joy and peace, patience and kindness and goodness, faithfulness and gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). As we conclude this harvest season, let us thank God for his many gifts to us. Let us pray that we may indeed bear good fruit, by loving God and loving our neighbours in our daily live s. PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD

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