They were just children The parish of St Anne’,s Catholic Church in Buxton, Derbyshire held a ‘,Day of Prayer for the Victims and Survivors of Abuse’, on 23rd April 2024. A previous parish priest, Fr. Paul Cullen, was found guilty in 2012 of abusing three young children in the 1980s, he was subsequently convicted, sent to prison, and died there in 2018. Rt. Rev. Patrick McKinney, the Bishop of Nottingham, encouraged the parishioners of St. Anne’,s to hold this Day of Prayer, and came himself to an evening service to publicly apologise to the victims and the people of the parish. He said “,…,My prayers and thoughts are with all the victims of sexual abuse, but particularly with the survivors here in Buxton. As current Bishop of the Diocese of Nottingham, I wish to try and apologise to you for his (Fr. Cullen’,s) actions, for the way the diocese responded to them and most importantly, for the abuse and hurt each of the victims and their families have continued to experience…,”, He also apologised to the people of St. Anne’,s parish for the hurt Fr. Cullen has caused them. “,…,I can well understand your very real feeling of having been betrayed by him as your parish priest…,.”, He finished by pledging his commitment, and that of the Diocesan safeguarding team, to ensure that everyone in this diocese is kept safe, especially the most vulnerable. He promised that his door, and the door of his safeguarding team, is always open to anyone affected by abuse. During the evening service, a Candle of Atonement was lit by Bishop Patrick from the Paschal Candle and the light shared with the people present. This candle will be lit at each Sunday mass and be placed at the front of the church so that everyone, including those who pray with us on the livestream, can pray for the victims and survivors of abuse. (It was made by one of our parishioners from an old Paschal Candle!) Continued on page 3 Day of Praye r for Victims and Survivors of Abuse at St Anne’,s, Buxton Speak Out 20p 20p WHERE SOLD WHERE SOLD MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF BRINGING THE NOTTINGHAM DIOCESE TOGETHER MORE THAN 25 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 325 ISSUE 325 JUNE 2024 JUNE 2024 LOUDfence Ribbons outside St Anne’,s, Buxton

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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. June 2024. 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 Back in 1961 I joined a political youth movement, I believe it was for the right reasons but that is for others to judge. In early 1962 the organisation produced a booklet on “,Aid for underdeveloped countries”, which examined the then problems of the British Commonwealth. The conclusion reached in the early sixties was that we should aim to increase our aid substantially. In 1970 the United Nations urged a figure of 0.7% was needed from our national funds for what amounted to “,the song helping the weal.”, In the 2 General Elections of 1974 this statistic was mentioned but only as a minor item. Many years passed before the 0.7% was reached and during recent years the figure was cut back to 0.5%. Overseas Aid during any period of economic austerity is likely to get a similar low priority as it did in 1974. We will have a General Election later this year and it may take a brave politician to even raise this issue when we examine the many more demands on our economy. For the record back in 1962 we spent £,13 per person on gambling compared with £,5 in aid to underdeveloped countries. I have been fortunate to be able to vote in every local and national election since 1966 but I fully understand that many young people do not join any political group and may well not even vote in a parliamentary process later this year. Father Ed O’,Connell a priest since 1973 writing in “,Far East”, the magazine of the Columbian Missionaries speaks of “,democracy in practice letting us down and of politicians behaving more according to their own needs and interests also having lost contact with the sufferings of ordinary folk.”, Father O’,Connell has worked with marginalised children and women in Peru and is now based in Britain, he has taken an interest in politics and young people since the 1960s. I suspect many share his concerns. As the activity and welfare of our young people have featured in this article I do welcome the possibility of new Catholic free schools from the Department for Education. I hope this does become a vote of confidence in Catholic Education particularly as the most needy of our children will benefit and who knows get involved in politics for the right reason. Frank Goulding, Holy Trinity Parish, Newark Blessed Frederic Ozanam The SVP first started in England and Wales in 1844. It is celebrating 180 years of service through its commitment to fulfil the society’,s mission: ‘,to seek out and find those in need, providing practical support and fellowship in a spirit of justice, while tackling the causes of poverty’,. This has been the guiding principle to this day and members continue to help anyone experiencing poverty in England and Wales or overseas at any point before, during or after a crisis. The SVP –, Then and Now Over the past 180 years the SVP has applied this adage. An integral aspect of the Vincentian experience has always been to visit the isolated, vulnerable, lonely, housebound and sick to offer company, conversations and unconditional friendship. The SVP may be unique in its approach to supporting those in need as it works in a face to face, hands-on manner, engaging with its beneficiaries on a personal level. Working with Christ, and seeing Christ in those who are suffering poverty, members are non-judgemental, compassionate and unquestioning of those they help. Working at this personal contact level really does make a difference. So what was it like for a Vincentian in those formative years? The abject poverty experienced by those in the mid-19th century unfortunate enough to be trapped within its clutches is almost too much for us to comprehend today. It had a dramatic impact in a vast range of ways: unemployment, hunger, social deprivation, lack of education, oppression, persecution and perhaps most devastatingly, health and hygiene. With such a wide social divide there were many barely scraping a living and a significant stratum of society was marginalised and ignored by the more well to do. The SVP stepped up to help. They assisted those affected by various pandemics, including cholera, they provided medicines, nursing resources and support with burial costs. As there was no welfare state local conferences provided support with food parcels, clothing and 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”,. debt relief. Children were offered access to rudimentary education with teachers offering their time with evening classes running. People living in slums in what we would deem inhuman conditions were the main beneficiaries of SVP support. A court for King Cholera Slum conditions in the 19th Century Fast forward to 2024 and the parallels are clear to see. The recent COVID pandemic had a major impact on many people, in - cluding those on low incomes. The SVP supported with food bags, financial support to cover bills and other forms of debt, en - abled many children to continue learning at home by providing laptops and tablets, and continued to support those lonely or iso - lated with phone calls, a ‘,shop and drop’, service and doorstep visits. The COVID legacy The pandemic has passed but its legacy is tangible. The SVP continues to seek out those in need and its services are needed more than ever. Figures from National Office show an exponential increase in requests for help, which reflects the dire straits too many people find themselves in. Reminding ourselves of Frederic Ozanam’,s prescient words are a good way to finish as he stated that present and future needs are endless but must be relieved. If you would like to learn more about the SVP or are interested in joining, please contact Joe Gasan at joeg@svp.org.uk

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The Catholic News. June 2024. Page 3 The photo of the prostration of the clergy: Rt. Rev. Bishop Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham Rev. Dominic Allain: International Pastoral Director of `Grief to Grace` Rev. Simon Gillespie: Private Secretary to the Bishop of Nottingham Rev. Gerry Murphy: Parish Priest of St. Anne`s Deacon Don Lavery: of St. Anne`s Buxton and Sts John Fisher and Thomas More, Chapel-en-le-Frith Continued from page 1 The church was open all day for group prayer sessions including listening to recorded testimony of survivors and praying the Way of the Cross through the Voice of Victims. Prayer stations were set up around the church for personal prayer which helped people to reflect and pray for the victims and survivors. Fr Dominic Allain, from ‘,Grief To Grace’, (www.grieftograceuk.org) who provide retreats for victims and survivors of abuse, and Antonia Sobocki, from LOUDfence UK, (www.loudfence.com) a pro-healing and reconciliation movement, joined us for the day and spoke to both groups and individuals. As part of the day, a LOUDfence was held where people are invited to tie ribbons and tags of all colours and styles to railings, around trees and inside the church as a visible act of solidarity with the victims of abuse, this enables people to pray for them and send messages and prayers of support. Everyone is invited to come and have a look at the display of ribbons, messages and prayers which will be on display for the next few weeks. www.stannes.gbr.cc Twitter/X stannesbuxton MAY 2024 Every vote counts page 6 Chrism Oil from the Holy Land New life in the desert page 4 O u r L a d y o f F a t i m a 1 3 t h M a y Edition 29 Please donate £,1 to support your parish See below for details page 11 www.CatholicPost.co.uk If you have been given the Catholic Post for free in your parish, PLEASE would you be able to donate £,1 to your parish for it, or even £,10 per year! There seems to be a new stirring of the Holy Spirit at the moment. People are suddenly turning up in church who haven`t been for a long time or have never been. Apparently there were so many people trying to enter Westminster Cathedral this Easter that they couldn`t all fit in! There are reports of similar things happening at parish level. indcatholicnews.com People are beginning to look for deeper truth and meaning. How is the Church to deal with these new spiritual seekers? New stirring of the Spirit in the Church This is perhaps not surprising in the face of the state of the world, and the inability of politicians and world leaders to fix things. People are now beginning, perhaps, to look elsewhere for deeper truth and meaning. But how is the Church to deal with these new spiritual seekers? How do we help them open themselves up to the transforming power of the gospel message and to a personal relationship with Christ? One of the most effective evangelistic tools that have emerged in the past 60 years is a course called The Life in the Spirit Seminars. This is not an academic course, despite the name. Rather it is a series of seven sessions, often led by lay people which takes participants on a journey of conversion through a mix of talks, prayer and small group sharing. This culminates in a time of special prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through this participants come to a more conscious experience of their baptism and its meaning and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become more effective disciples of Christ in the secular world today. Pope Francis considers the Life in the Spirit seminars to be so effective that he has asked the Charismatic Renewal to run them throughout the Church worldwide. This has been happening over the last few years, particularly in the Southwark diocese. Here the local diocesan charismatic team has partnered with the Southwark diocesan Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis to put these on. This began during COVID with the talks and small group sharing taking place online. This year, however, as last year, the seminars will take place live at St George`s Cathedral, Southwark. They will then be beamed to a dozen or so hubs both in Southwark and Westminster dioceses. Here groups will meet locally in homes and parish halls and access the talks virtually. To register and get more info about the individual hubs and timing see: visit rcsouthwark.co.uk and search for Life in the Spirit Continued on page 3 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

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From: Elston Hermitage…,…, One of the great joys of following the rule of St. Benedict as we do here in our little hermitage in Elston, is that it is as relevant today in our century as it was when written in the 5th century - hospitality for St. Benedict and his monks was placed highly and it was said that ‘,every guest should be received as Christ for he himself will say ‘,I was a stranger and you welcomed me’, (Matt.23:35). Alongside this importance of hospitality it is that we are able to share our prayer, our spirituality, our common table with our guests and those who come to us from time to time. It is also daily that we as a small community of hermits gather around the table of the Altar - to share in that common meal that the Lord commanded us to do. ‘,While they were eating he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “, Take it, this is my body “, (Mark 14:22) At the very beginning of this month we will celebrate the Church’,s annual celebration of Corpus Christi - the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This solemnity was inspired by the devotion of St. Julian of Cornillon and Blessed Eva of Lie’,ge and was added to the Church’,s calendar in 1264. We could say that, in a sense, every celebration of our gathering around the Lord’,s table for Mass is a celebration of Corpus Christi, but on this day in particular we are invited to reflect on the gift of Christ’,s abiding presence in the Eucharist in a particular way - and pause to consider the sacrifice and self gift that are embodied in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, we have both sacrifice and gift as his handing over of his Body and Blood -all that he is - at the anticipation of the total offering of himself that took place on Good Friday. Jesus loves us so much that he holds nothing back from us. He gives all of himself to us. So that his love may become the source of each of our lives. As we adore and give thanks for the gift of the Eucharist on this Corpus Christi, we are also invited to consider how we are using this great gift we have received. Page 4 The Catholic News. June 2024. Are we open to the life -His life- that Jesus offers us in the sacrament of his Body and Blood and are we willing to offer the gift of our- selves for the sake of others in remembrance of him? This wonderful Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ reminds us that in our fragmented lives, the Lord comes to meet us with a loving ‘,fragility’,, which is the Eucharist. In the Bread of Life, the Lord comes to us, making himself the humble meal that we share around the table of the Lord, that lovingly heals our memory wounded by life’,s hectic pace. Pope Francis said “, the Eucharist is the memorial of God’,s love “, St Benedict called the monastery “, a school for the Lord’,s service “, and a place where the monks would seek to find God. And so for us by seeking God in the midst of all things, sharing in the table of the Eucharist we are able to discover that our ordinary lives can become extraordinary and a blessing for our world.Because through the Eucharist - the Holy Mass we are transformed by the very person we receive. Fr David + h.d.n. Priest and Hermit Hot on the heels of the ‘,40 days for Life’, campaign held in Nottingham during Lent this year, an annual campaign our bishop has shown support for, a roadside pro-life vigil was held in Lincoln at the end of April, organised by Julie, a parishioner at St Peter &, St Paul Church. Julie, seen in the photograph, is proud to be pro-life and has been passionately involved with the movement for an incredible fifty years. She is the SPUC point of contact for the three Catholic parishes in Lincoln. SPUC, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, is one of a number of pro-life charities in the UK. It campaigns for the right to life, from conception to natural death, seeking to protect the most vulnerable in society. In addition to its national campaigns and youth outreach to schools and universities, it provides financial assistance to pregnant university students in difficulty, to help enable them to continue with their studies. It is, however, perhaps best known in the parishes through its annual White Flower Appeal. Fifteen individuals, from various Christian denominations, including a priest with three of his children, took part in the vigil, Anyone for rock, paper, scissors? and like an unborn child (or person with dementia) without a voice to advocate for themselves, stood in silence, their presence enough. After a promising start weather wise, heavy rainfall, part way through, did not dampen spirits and hopefully added to the witness given. It was encouraging to see traffic often slowing down and drivers, together with passengers, reading the placards, some joyfully tooted their horns, others gave a thumbs up. A sprinkling of drivers added to the mix, appearing keen to engage in a game of rock, paper, scissors, the offers were not taken up! The time flew by and, too quickly, the vigil was at its end. The group then headed off together for warm drinks and a much appreciated feast, a fitting finish to what was, all round, a wonderfully life affirming day. With thanks to Julie for organising the event and for all her work, year in, year out, throwing a spotlight on the value and dignity of life and, in doing so, echoing the work of successive Popes and the Church. To find out more about the work of SPUC and 40 days for Life, make a donation or to get involved please visit their websites: www.sp uc.org.uk and www.40daysforlife.com

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Page 5 The Catholic News. June 2024. Playing football in Italy and visiting Venice were highlights of a memorable trip for pupils from St Philip Howard Catholic Voluntary in Glossop. Sixty boys and girls in Years 8,9 and 10, along with six members of staff, spent four nights in Italy where they took part in football coaching sessions and matches as well as seeing the sights. The group was based at the Bella Italia Village in Pineta, one of the best sports resorts for school trips. The international standard facilities include three football centres, an indoor stadium, an Olympic swimming pool, a water park and a beach. As well as training and playing football, the group also spent a morning in Venice, travelling by water taxi to St Mark’,s Square and enjoying some free time. The trip was organised by Leanne Urquhart, pastoral manager at St Philip Howard, and PE teacher Derron Clarke, who said that the trip had been an incredible experience for the students. Leanne said: “,We’,ve had some amazing feedback from parents of the students who went on the trip, I’,ve had nothing but positive comments from them. This is the first trip I have organised and it went really well. The students were great but I would also like to thank the staff who were brilliant. “,Priority was given to anyone that played football for school or was affiliated to a football team outside of school. We were overwhelmed with the response as we were originally planning on taking 40 children but had to increase that to 60 because of the amount of interest in it. “,It was also about much more than football, it was great to see the students grow in confidence and become more independent as it wasn’,t like going away with their parents, they had to do things for themselves. As it was a coach trip they also saw some incredible sights travelling through Switzerland and past Lake Como, they now have some incredible memories to look back on. I would definitely like to run another trip next year and I’,m already looking into it.”, Leanne said she wanted to thank Glossop Round Table who gifted £,500 to the school to buy hoodies for the trip. Student Arabella Berry said: “,I don’,t play football in school but I train with Glossop North End. The opportunity came up to go on this trip and I thought it would be fun. I really enjoyed it, there was lots of great things to do.”, Student Joe Kidd said: “,I don’,t really play football out of school but I really wanted to go abroad. It was exciting to play football as well though. The best thing about the trip was that we never really stopped, we were always doing something, and we were also given a bit of freedom too.”, Student Adam Turton said: “,I liked playing football with my friends and at school I write match reports for the team. I liked playing in the games in Italy, they were very competitive.”, Student Fionn Murphy said: “,I like football and a lot of my friends were going on the trip so I really wanted to go. Going to Venice was fun and I liked exploring and seeing the sights. The football matches were tough and competitive. It was definitely a trip that I will always remember.”, Memorable trip for pupils from St Philip Howard Catholic Voluntary in Glossop Headteacher Mike Kays said: “,I would like to thank all of the staff for the time they gave up during the Easter holidays to enable the pupils to have such an unforgettable experience. Since the return we have had a letter from the managing director who was in the resort at time, saying how much of a pleasure it was to spend time with our pupils and that the behaviour they showed at all times was exceptional.”,

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Page 6 The Catholic News. June 2024. TEN YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER (Plenty of people are thankful for YOU) W h a t a r e y o u What are you t h a n k f u l f o r ? thankful for? At Your Catholic Legacy we’,ve been working together for a whole decade. Looking back, we’,re grateful for people like you who have pledged gifts in your Wills to Catholic causes. When you look back over the last 10 years of your life, what makes YOU thankful? Tell us what you’,re grateful for. A gift in your Will is a way to express your gratitude to God for all you’,ve been given. It’,s a way to give back, in thanks. Please could you consider a gift in your Will to Catholic causes today? Visit yourcatholiclegacy.org.uk to tell us what you’,re thankful for and ﬁ,nd out how to leave a gift in your Will. CATHOLIC LEGACY WEEK 20-26 MAY Credit: CAFOD/Thom Flint Credit: World Villages for Children Credit: HCPT Giving back, in gratitude What are you thankful for, in your life? So, today, please join us in looking back over the last 10 years of your life –, and tell us what makes you thankful. We’,d love to know what fills your heart with gratitude. We’,ll publish all the messages of thanksgiving on our website, so you can be inspired by other Catholics. As well as looking back, we invite you to look forward too…, Many people choose to express gratitude by leaving a gift in their Will to Catholic causes. It’,s a way to give back, in thanks to God, for all we’,ve been given. And it’,s a gift of faith which will continue through generations. Please could you consider a gift in your Will to Catholic causes today? Thank you so much. Visit yourcatholiclegacy.org.uk to tell us what you’,re thankful for and find out how to leave a gift in your Will. “,Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.”, Psalm 107:8 This year marks a whole decade of more than 20 charities working together, through Your Catholic Legacy, to encourage people like you to remember Catholic causes in your Will. The milestone prompted us to look back, with thanks, over the last 10 years…, We remembered kind people whose legacy gifts have changed lives and transformed ministries. We chatted about the survey which showed Catholics are more generous than most people. We recalled the time you ‘,shared your Saint’, and told us about the heroes of faith who inspire you. Looking back with gratitude is good for us. After all, Scripture says we should ‘,give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’, (Thess 5:18). Give back in gratitude Leave a gift in your will to a Catholic charity

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The Catholic News. June 2024. Page 7 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 By Fr Jeremy Corley Scripture Focus The first reading on the Tenth Sunday of the Year (9th June) speaks of the result of the first sin, as told in the Book of Genesis. This ancient story is the inspired author’,s explanation of how evil and death came to exist in the world. According to the story, Adam and Eve have disobeyed God’,s command by eating the fruit of the tree. Now they realise they are naked, and so they try to hide from God—,an impossible task. The serpent has promised Adam and Eve: “,You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”, In their human pride, they have presumed to make themselves like God. But they did not seek to become like God as a gift received. Instead they wished to seize such equality for themselves. Despite the serpent’,s assurance, eating the fruit does not give them a moment of enlightenment. Instead, the previous harmony between Adam and Eve is now broken, and a blame game begins. Adam blames Eve, as well as God for having given her to him. Then Eve blames the serpent for tempting her. Adam and Eve both wish to evade full responsibility for their actions. According to the Genesis story, God curses the serpent: “,You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life.”, Whereas other animals have legs to move around, the serpent will move in a mysterious slithering way. God adds: “,I will make you enemies of each other, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring.”, This story explains the particular hostility between humans and snakes in warm climates. God outlines the effect of this hostility. Human beings descended from Eve will crush the serpent’,s head by beating any snake that attacks them. However, the serpent will strike the heel of human beings, attacking them where they are vulnerable. When it was first written, the Genesis story was about God’,s ancient dealings with human beings and animals. Readers had an explanation of why snakes can be so hostile and dangerous for human beings. But later interpreters saw it as pointing to the malicious role of the devil, depicted as the serpent. The Book of Wisdom speaks of the devil’,s role in bringing sin and death into the world (Wis 2:23-24). As it was interpreted by early Christians, the last verse of our reading was understood as the Protevangelium—,the first biblical statement of the gospel (Gen 3:15). According to the church fathers, Eve’,s messianic descendant will defeat the devil: “,Christ will crush your [Satan’,s] head.”, However, the devil will strike a mortal blow against Eve’,s messianic offspring: “,You [= Satan] will crush his heel”,—,by causing Christ’,s crucifixion. When Jesus was fulfilling his public ministry, he encountered many people suffering from demons of various kinds, and he cured them by freeing them of these harmful demons. Yet some scribes accused Jesus of healing and exorcising through the power of the devil. But Jesus replied: “,How can Satan cast out Satan? A divided kingdom will not survive. If Satan is divided, his reign is over.”, Jesus uses an illustration of a burglary. If a strong man has property, he can guard it. But if someone stronger comes along, he can tie up the previous owner and take control of the property. Jesus is the strong one who overcomes evil for us. The good news is that if anyone has been under the devil’,s control or influence, Christ can come and overcome the devil. Christ can take control of the person’,s life, bringing wholeness and peace. The only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—,an unwillingness to recognise and welcome the light of Christ. If we attribute Christ’,s work to the devil, how can we receive forgiveness? But if we honestly confess our sins, the Lord is graciously willing to forgive us. God does not wish us to remain under the power of the evil one. Indeed, Christ suffered and died to save us. Instead of seeking to grasp equality with God, Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death on the cross, but God raised him high. He seeks to raise us up, if we have faith in him. Let us turn to him for healing and life. 6 The Precinct, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3JQ Tel: 0115 989 0060 632 Farnborough Road, Clifton, Nottingham, NG11 9GU Tel: 0115 784 4351 64 Carlton Hill, Carlton, Nottingham, NG4 1ED Tel: 0115 667 0086 Offices open from 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Phone lines manned 24hrs day 365 days a year We also manage the Hollygate Memorial Woodlands –, a natural burial site on the edge of Cotgrave. Email: ambuckinghamfunerals@outlook.com www: ambuckingham.co.uk We are small independent family funeral service that are here to help at your time of need. We are here to listen, reassure and guide you through all your options. Please do not hesitate to contact us on the details provided below. We understand how difficult losing a loved one can be, and we promise to help you through every step of arranging a funeral with, care, dignity, and respect. A.M. BUCKINGHAM INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICE DIRECT PRICE - £,1,200 SIMPLICITY FUNERALS STANDARD FUNERALS TRADITIONAL FUNERALS PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS PERSONALISED FUNERALS TAILORED TO YOUR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS PERSONAL FUNERAL PLANS Funeral Services To Advertise in the Catholic News contact Nick on 01440 730399 nick@ cathcom.org Overcoming Evil

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Page 8 The Catholic News. June 2024. 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 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 090699502 Subscribe@catholicpost.co.uk 01440 730399 www.catholicpost.co.uk Monthly National Catholic Newspaper MAY 2024 Every vote counts page 6 Chrism Oil from the Holy Land New life in the desert page 4 O u r L a d y o f F a t i m a 1 3 t h M a y Edition 29 Please donate £,1 to support your parish See below for details page 11 www.CatholicPost.co.uk If you have been given the Catholic Post for free in your parish, PLEASE would you be able to donate £,1 to your parish for it, or even £,10 per year! There seems to be a new stirring of the Holy Spirit at the moment. People are suddenly turning up in church who haven`t been for a long time or have never been. Apparently there were so many people trying to enter Westminster Cathedral this Easter that they couldn`t all fit in! There are reports of similar things happening at parish level. indcatholicnews.com People are beginning to look for deeper truth and meaning. How is the Church to deal with these new spiritual seekers? New stirring of the Spirit in the Church This is perhaps not surprising in the face of the state of the world, and the inability of politicians and world leaders to fix things. People are now beginning, perhaps, to look elsewhere for deeper truth and meaning. But how is the Church to deal with these new spiritual seekers? How do we help them open themselves up to the transforming power of the gospel message and to a personal relationship with Christ? One of the most effective evangelistic tools that have emerged in the past 60 years is a course called The Life in the Spirit Seminars. This is not an academic course, despite the name. Rather it is a series of seven sessions, often led by lay people which takes participants on a journey of conversion through a mix of talks, prayer and small group sharing. This culminates in a time of special prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through this participants come to a more conscious experience of their baptism and its meaning and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become more effective disciples of Christ in the secular world today. Pope Francis considers the Life in the Spirit seminars to be so effective that he has asked the Charismatic Renewal to run them throughout the Church worldwide. This has been happening over the last few years, particularly in the Southwark diocese. Here the local diocesan charismatic team has partnered with the Southwark diocesan Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis to put these on. This began during COVID with the talks and small group sharing taking place online. This year, however, as last year, the seminars will take place live at St George`s Cathedral, Southwark. They will then be beamed to a dozen or so hubs both in Southwark and Westminster dioceses. Here groups will meet locally in homes and parish halls and access the talks virtually. To register and get more info about the individual hubs and timing see: visit rcsouthwark.co.uk and search for Life in the Spirit Continued on page 3 The UK’,s ﬁ, rst Carbon Neutral National Catholic Paper National and International News from a Catholic Perspective with thoughtful articles to deepen Faith 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). VOX POPULI, VOX DEI? Free Sample Pack of Foam &, fabrics sent by first class mail. When phoning please quote MV101 CN101 GB News is a bit like Marmite, no? People either love the news channel or they can’,t stand it. Personally it makes no difference to me whether people are for or against on this or on any other matter, as long as they remain reasoned, just, dignified and respectful in their persuasion. One of the channel’,s presenters is the unashamedly Catholic and conservative The Rt Hon Sir , Jacob , William , Rees-Mogg , (pictured), born 24 May 1969, member of the Conservative Party serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for , North East Somerset , since , 2010. , He has adopted the expression Vox Populi, Vox Dei very much as a call sign or type of positioning statement. That Latin phrase, meaning ‘,The voice of the people is the voice of God’,, relates to a , Whig tract - a tract being a short article expounding a religious, moral or political opinion in an attempt to influence people`s attitudes - of 1709, but which lost the entire pithiness it has in Latin when expanded in 1710 and in later reprints to , The Judgment of whole Kingdoms and Nations: Concerning the Rights, Power, and Prerogative of Kings, and the Rights, Privileges, and Properties of the People. , It’,s fascinating how in a pattern akin to Parkinson’,s Law, the number of words we use expands with the opportunity, time and ability, we have at our disposal: the Lucan Text of the Lord`s Prayer (Lk XI 2-4) contains 55 words, there are some 313 words (depending on the version) in The Ten Commandments (Exodus XX 2-17) but about 7,700 are used in Commission Regulation (EC) Number 557/2007 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006 on marketing standards for eggs. , I digress. All I hear these days, when I listen for the voice of the people, are echoes of the tumultuous cry resonating down through the ages for the crucifixion of Jesus in return for the release of Barabbas. Barabbas had been a violent man, a brigand, a rebel, presumably a revolutionary, who had been jailed for sedition and murder, crimes which, under Roman law, were punishable by death. As a prisoner mentioned in all four Gospels, Barabbas was chosen by the baying crowd, over Jesus, to be released by Pontius Pilate in a customary pardon before the Jewish feast of Passover. Historically, the release of Barabbas at the crowd`s behest, and their subsequent demands to crucify Jesus, have been used to justify anti-Semitism. Barabbas represents a faction, perhaps among many at the time and certainly very many since, set on challenging the society of which they might form part or otherwise wish to wage war against. But with war come casualties. `The first casualty, when war comes, is truth`, is the oft-quoted term coined during World War 1 by Hiram Johnson (1866-1945), a Progressive Republican senator in California. He died on 6 August 1945, the day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Man`s inhumanity to man,’, to quote Robert Burns, ‘,makes countless thousands mourn!’, Not that such negativity necessarily makes me feel negative. But the optimism I normally feel is sorely put to the test by our human inhumanity working hand in glove with the ability to distort, misrepresent and condemn. Such, we know, can now be the Vox Populi whether that be at the micro or macro level, continuing in just the same way as has been the pattern in the past. Well, folk might like to hear what people like us Catholics have to say. You never know, they might love it. 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/

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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 FEBRUARY 2024 Mary Ward for Saint page 7 Peace is a collective responsibility Following Fr Brown page 4 S t B l a i s e , 3 r d F e b r u a r y Edition 26 Please donate £,1 to support your parish page 12 www.CatholicPost.co.uk Eig ht children from the p arish of Gaz a receive First Holy Communion On Sunday, January 7th, 2024, on the Feast Day of the Baptis m of the Lord, also known as Theophany , Fr. Yousef, Vicar priest of the Latin parish of G aza, admi nistered the s acrament of First Holy Communion to eight children of the parish after completing their p repa ratio n p r ogram and education, despite the war. During the past three months, the Sacraments of the Church continued t o be given in the Holy Famil y Chu rch of Gaza, notin g that the Sacrament of Baptism was al so recent ly given to a child . The war has not prevented divine graces from happen ing. We have pre viously witnessed their ab ility to open a p rivate production room to produce the special brea d (the host), which is used during Mass. Cardinal Pierbattista , La tin Pa triarch o f Jerusalem, has formerly expressed the strength and steadfast faith d emonstrated by the parishioners of Gaza, which he has witnessed during his che ck-up calls to those taking refuge in the monastery. We note, from the images shared on the parish Facebo o k page, that the parish of Gaza lpj.org The war has not prevented divine graces from happening continued to celebrate daily Mass. Many of those who are sick have been taking refuge in the w alls of the church, which also enables them to receive the Churc h’,s Sacraments daily . We continue to pray for our pe op le in Gaza so tha t God would give t hem s t rength and patien ce du r ing these t ough times . And we continue to plead for a c ease-fire and hope for a comprehensive plan of peace and justice to take pla ce. Eight children from the parish of Gaza receive First Holy Communion MAY 2024 Every vote counts page 6 Chrism Oil from the Holy Land New life in the desert page 4 O u r L a d y o f F a t i m a 1 3 t h M a y Edition 29 Please donate £,1 to support your parish See below for details page 11 www.CatholicPost.co.uk If you have been given the Catholic Post for free in your parish, PLEASE would you be able to donate £,1 to your parish for it, or even £,10 per year! There seems to be a new stirring of the Holy Spirit at the moment. People are suddenly turning up in church who haven`t been for a long time or have never been. Apparently there were so many people trying to enter Westminster Cathedral this Easter that they couldn`t all fit in! There are reports of similar things happening at parish level. indcatholicnews.com People are beginning to look for deeper truth and meaning. How is the Church to deal with these new spiritual seekers? New stirring of the Spirit in the Church This is perhaps not surprising in the face of the state of the world, and the inability of politicians and world leaders to fix things. People are now beginning, perhaps, to look elsewhere for deeper truth and meaning. But how is the Church to deal with these new spiritual seekers? How do we help them open themselves up to the transforming power of the gospel message and to a personal relationship with Christ? One of the most effective evangelistic tools that have emerged in the past 60 years is a course called The Life in the Spirit Seminars. This is not an academic course, despite the name. Rather it is a series of seven sessions, often led by lay people which takes participants on a journey of conversion through a mix of talks, prayer and small group sharing. This culminates in a time of special prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through this participants come to a more conscious experience of their baptism and its meaning and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become more effective disciples of Christ in the secular world today. Pope Francis considers the Life in the Spirit seminars to be so effective that he has asked the Charismatic Renewal to run them throughout the Church worldwide. This has been happening over the last few years, particularly in the Southwark diocese. Here the local diocesan charismatic team has partnered with the Southwark diocesan Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis to put these on. This began during COVID with the talks and small group sharing taking place online. This year, however, as last year, the seminars will take place live at St George`s Cathedral, Southwark. They will then be beamed to a dozen or so hubs both in Southwark and Westminster dioceses. Here groups will meet locally in homes and parish halls and access the talks virtually. To register and get more info about the individual hubs and timing see: visit rcsouthwark.co.uk and search for Life in the Spirit Continued on page 3 www.catholicpost.co.uk All prices include delivery The Catholic News. June 2024. Page 9 More than £,1,300 was raised through a sponsored line dance by 250 children and staff at St Thomas’, Catholic Voluntary Academy. The whole school dressed up and took part in line dancing sessions across a day at the Ilkeston school. Money raised will go to CAFOD, a global aid charity, which organises a fundraising walk every year involving primary and secondary schools but St Thomas’, decided to turn the walk into a line dance. Teacher Lyndsey Ford, who runs a clubber - cise exercise class, led the sessions with all year groups. Sponsored Line Dance raises £,1,300 She said: “,We were planning on doing a walk but doing it to the song ‘,these boots are made for walking’, and then we thought why don’,t we do a line dance instead. We asked everyone to dress up and each class came into the hall and learnt some steps. We had a set playlist and the teachers took part too. The older children learnt a dance, the pupils in Years 5 and 6 really got into it, it was a lovely atmosphere. Everyone really enjoyed it and it really got the boys talking too. Everyone was engaged with it. We do lots of things like this at St Thomas’,.”, Pupil Caitlin, 10, said: “,I used to dance when I was younger but then I stopped. I was a bit nervous about doing the line dancing but it was really fun. I have seen line dancing before but I’,ve never done it. The steps were quite easy to learn. It was about keeping to the beat and repeating the same steps. I loved it because of the country music, I’,ve started listening to it at home now too.”, Michael Sellors, Headteacher at St Thomas’,, said: “,It was brilliant to raise such a large sum of money for CAFOD in such a fun way. We have such a generous community in Ilkeston and we are so thankful for all the money that was sponsored.",

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Page 10 The Catholic News. June 2024. Laity In Search of Fraternity? Myself and Deacon Owen le Blanc, have been members of Jesus Caritas Fraternities for many years, regularly attending monthly meetings with local clergy. These are based on the spirituality of St Charles de Faucauld, a hermit monk who lived and died among the Twareg Tribe of Muslims in Algeria at the beginning of the 20th Century. His spirituality is one of presence rather than preaching, fascinated by and wanting to learn from the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth, and aiming to be a universal brother or sister with those on the margins of society, especially from other cultures and faith’,s than our own. Recently, wanting to see Fraternities grow in the Diocese, we have been arranging a Day of Recollection for the Clergy on the Spirituality of St Charles de Faucauld on Wednesday 5th June in the Hall of St Joseph’,s Church Matlock –, open to any clergy in the Diocese and beyond. But, it occurred to me that perhaps lay people in the Diocese might be interested in being part of a small, local fraternity based on the spirituality of St Charles de Foucauld, or “,Brother Charles”,, as he preferred to be called. Currently, there are ten lay fraternity groups in England with a total of just over 100 members. They are based mainly in the London area, but also in Liverpool and the West Country. They are part of a world-wide family of fraternals. But we would love to see a few lay fraternals in our Diocese. We cannot be Christians on our own. We need each other. And these fraternals are one way to meet this need. These different fraternities for clergy and lay people follow a similar pattern when they meet, although each fraternity decides for itself how they prefer to meet. They aim to be sisters &, brothers to each other so that they can be better sisters &, brothers to the people among whom they live. They meet to pray, especially eucharistic prayer [adoration &,/or Mass], to reflect on the Gospel &, encourage one another in the living out of the Gospel, and enjoy each others company by sharing some food together. Recently, the lay fraternities have been considering how they can respond to various “,turning points”, they have discerned in England and around the world –, for example: with regards to ecology &, climate change, with regards the Church after sex abuse scandals &, the adoption of the synodal way of discernment, with regards to the migration issue, with regards to conflicts &, wars, with regards to housing problems, with regards to listening &, dialogue rather than confrontation, with regards to profit &, consumerism. Brother Charles warned us against becoming “,mute dogs or sleeping sentinels”,. And also wrote: “,I do not believe one should talk a lot or write a lot, but one needs to improve oneself and improve the lives of people around us, but doing so as a friend, softly…,above all one should act with perseverance without despair”,. If you would like to know more, Moira Potier is the UK Representative for the lay fraternals: moira.cdf@gmail.com. Deacon Owen and myself can be contacted on: owen.leblanc@dioceseofnottingham.uk, jonathan.cotton@dioceseofnottingham.uk Fr Jonathan Cotton Clergy Delegates at European Conference St Charles de Faucauld

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The Catholic News. June 2024. Page 11 On the radiant Saturday afternoon of May 4th, 2024, a group of parishioners from diverse churches embarked on a journey of enlightenment at the Mary Potter Heritage Centre in Nottingham. This auspicious day unfolded under a warm, sunny sky, echoing the brightness of Venerable Mary Potter`s enduring legacy. As we traversed the halls of the Mary Potter Heritage Centre, each step carried us deeper into the rich tapestry of Venerable Mary Potter`s life and the founding of the Little Company of Mary Sisters in Nottingham in 1877. The gleaming displays and poignant artifacts served as windows into the past, allowing us to witness firsthand the genesis of her profound vocation. Gratitude fills our hearts as we reflect on the generosity and warmth extended to us by the dedicated individuals Olimpia, Teresa, and Diane, particularly Sister Anita, whose unwavering dedication illuminated our path throughout the visit. Their passion for preserving and sharing the timeless story of Mary Potter`s life is a beacon of inspiration for us all. Our visit left an indelible imprint on our souls, reaffirming the timeless relevance of Venerable Mary Potter`s message of compassion and service. Through her tireless devotion to the sick and dying, she exemplified the transformative power of love in action. As we eagerly anticipate sharing our profound experience with the wider community, we do so with a sense of purpose and conviction. Through our words and actions, we seek to ignite curiosity and Pilgrimage to Mary Potter Heritage Centre organised by Hong Kong Catholic Community (Derby &, Nottingham) kindle a flame of interest in the Mary Potter Heritage Centre among all who yearn to uncover the hidden gems of history. I am grateful to have joined this blissful visit and to have the opportunity to share my reflection in this write-up. We should extend an open invitation to all who wish to join us in honouring the remarkable life and legacy of Venerable Mary Potter. May her radiant spirit continue to guide and inspire us to walk the path of compassion and service, illuminating the world with the light of her enduring legacy. Angelina Tsui, the key contact of Hong Kong Catholic Community (Derby &, Nottingham), who organized this pilgrimage, felt it was a remarkable experience visiting the Mary Potter Heritage Centre. Sister Mary Potter was a resilient and determined woman. Despite suffering from illness since birth, she never wavered in her commitment to follow God’,s will. Sister Anita from the centre provided us with insightful details about Mary Potter’,s life. Angelina eagerly anticipates the day when Mary Potter is recognized as a saint and will continue to pray for her journey towards canonization. Cecilia Chan, who participated in this pilgrimage with her family, felt incredibly grateful to have visited the Mary Potter Heritage Centre. Sister Mary Potter`s life exemplifies the journey of faith, marked by numerous challenges and triumphs. What resonates with her the most is her courageous pursuit of God`s calling to serve the sick, the suffering, and the dying. Despite facing physical frailty, she persisted in carrying out the important work of God. Background of Hong Kong Catholic Community (Derby &, Nottingham): We are an informal group committed to serving Hong Kong parishioners in Derby and Nottingham. We endeavour to foster connections among HK parishioners, offer support on our faith journeys, and integration into the local Catholic community through various events and activities. We organized this pilgrimage with the aim of experiencing and promoting awareness of Venerable Mary Potter within the Hong Kong Catholic community. Our goal is to introduce more people to Mary Potter`s remarkable life and inspire them to pray for her journey towards canonization. If you wish to stay connected, we invite you to visit and like our Facebook Page. Terence Ho, Parishioner of the Parish of The Annunciation, Rushcliffe, Holy Spirit West Bridgford.

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Page 12 The Catholic News. June 2024. 2-in-1 Crossword by Axe C R O S S W O R D You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same. C RYPTIC Across 7 Landmass of alkali –, silicon, iron, aluminium, primarily (4) 8 7 city Paul sought, but could not see? (8) 9 Brigand hierarchy`s share supplies a 7 political leader... (6) 10 ...toplaceAmericansailorswestofSaul`splacein7(6) 11 Guy retired following return of writer`s block (7) 13 Tree tissue needs unspecified quantities of citrus fruit, mostly (5) 15 Titus helped make Church here tangible without deception (5) 17 Rebel top guns pulled out of housing project being built in 7 town (7) 21 Apostle has cheek to back a Greek character (6) 23 Italian town –, East-South-East following French department`s lead? (6) 24 Praise for Capri`s evacuation of American leader to Rome (8) 25 Ancient 7 country`s secure wall: extra dam`s eventually built (4) CRYPTIC Down 1 Father`s vessel`s first-class, about to go north to fish (8) 2 In need of cash for Oliver Trophy after Yacht Club p ulled out (4,2) 3 Recommendation to expose weakness after promotion (6) 4 Rug`s edging looks top-notch –, it`s an enduring fiddle (5) 5 One in flight seen above quarry`s very large (6) 6 African stays after little Benjamin somehow gets free from Zebulun (4) 12 7`s British administration conflict is overturned (3) 14 Record a fellow and a Welsh girl being recipient of a letter from Paul (8) 16 Jewish commentary on the Torah, and thanks over Left`s abuse being put down (6) 18 The King`s hard to follow, like Tolkien`s take on some in Middle Earth (6) 19 Setback: part of a clear single-mindedness of this 7 country? (6) 20 One of Joktan`s boys at work: say hello, Rex (5) 22 Sacred-soundingfestivalin7(4) QUICK Across 7 Roman province of western Turkey, and home to 14 for instance (4) 8 Syrian home to Aramaeans who fought and lost to David (8) 9 Mohandas Karamchand - -- --, leader whose nickname meant `Great Soul` (6) 10 One-timehomein7forNTcorrespondent?(6) 11 Assembly of church canons (7) 13 Woody tissue (5) 15 One-time island home of the Philistines (5) 17 First city taken by the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land (7) 21 Son of Herod the Great –, the first husband of Herodias (6) 23 City of Lombardy set between Lakes Maggiore and Como (6) 24 Emperor, 41-54 AD, who forced all Jews to leave Rome (8) 25 OT country east of Babylonia, capital Susa (4) QUICK Down 1 One of the Twelve Tribes (8) 2 Penurious, impecunious (4,2) 3 Counsel,warning(6) 4 Cremona violin-maker and music teacher to Stradivarius (5) 5 Marine bird of prey: rugby player from a merged Welsh regional team (6) 6 Part of the Nguni group of languages along with Swazi and Xhosa (4) 12 British rule in colonial India (3) 14 One in receipt of a letter from Paul, written about 62 AD while in prison in Rome (8) 16 Some Jews` interpretation of the Torah (6) 18 Puckish, imp-like (alternative spelling) (6) 19 David, `the sweet psalmist of - -- -- -` (6) 20 Descendant of Shem, one of Joktan`s sons (5) 22 BoisterousandcolourfulHindufestival(4) Across: 7 Asia, 8 Damascus, 9 Gandhi, 10 Tarsus, 11 Chapter, 13 Xylem, 15 Crete, 17 Jericho, 21 Philip, 23 Varese, 24 Claudius, 25 Elam. Down: 1 Issachar, 2 Hard up, 3 Advice, 4 Amati, 5 Osprey, 6 Zulu, 12 Raj, 14 Ephesian, 16 Talmud, 18 Elvish, 19 Israel, 20 Ophir, 22 Holi. SOLUTION A 14-year-old student at St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy who has a ‘,remarkable talent’, is studying for a GCSE in Music two years early. Ben Giliker, who is in Year 9, will be joining Year 11 students on GCSE results day in August to find out his result. The teenager plays violin and has just achieved a Distinction in his Grade 8 ABRSM exam –, a qualification usually achieved by students at least two years older than him –, scoring 145 out of a possible 150 marks. Ben started playing the violin when he was six years old and aspires to be a soloist or join an orchestra when he is older. He said: “,I listened to lots of different types of music from a very young age, my mum played trumpet and my dad played the violin when he was younger. I practice for an hour a day and I have lessons once a week. I also go to a local orchestra once a week. “,I love playing the violin as I think it’,s a way of expressing yourself. I’,m studying for my GCSE in Music which I’,m taking two years early. I would like to get a grade 8 if I can. My lessons are with Year 11 students and I really enjoy them.”, Ben has also performed as part of the Derby &, Derbyshire Schools Orchestra, when he was lead violin, and the National Children’,s Orchestra. He is also a member of the City &, County Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra as well as being a joint leader of the Peak District Strings Orchestra. He was one of six violinists of school age from across the world to take part in a masterclass with the Benedetti Foundation with internationally acclaimed baroque violinist Rachael Podger. Shelley Gray, Head of Expressive Arts at St Thomas More, said: “,It’,s been such a pleasure working with Ben these past few years. He has a remarkable talent for music and I’,m thrilled that as a school we’,ve been able to provide him with the opportunity to sit his GCSE Music early. We’,ll all be watching his progress closely in the years to come and enjoying his role on Remarkable Talent

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