2 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 CONTACT US: The Catholic Voice of Lancaster is published on the last Sunday of the month previous to publication date. The Catholic Voice of Lancaster is published by its owners. The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster, a registered charity, (No. 234331), and is wholly independent of and separate from any previous newspaper published by or on behalf of the diocese. EDITOR: Edwina Gillett 01253 73 66 30 / 079 6 9 9 6 72 68 edwinagillett@hotmail.co.uk ADVERTISING: Charlotte Rosbrooke / CathCom Ltd. 01440 730399 charlotter@cathcom.org www.cathcom.org DESIGN &, LAYOUT: Rob Hotchkiss / Hot Creative 01253 730343 rob@hot-creative.co.uk www.hot-creative.co.uk PUBLISHED BY: CathCom Ltd. N2 Blois Meadow Business Centre, Blois Road, Steeple Bumpstead, Haverhill, Su昀,olk CB9 7BN 020 7112 6 710 www.cathcom.org Articles to: voicenews@hotmail.co.uk Letters to: voiceletters@hotmail.co.uk POSTAL ADDRESS: FAO Edwina Gillett 99 Commonside, Ansdell, Lytham St. Annes FY 8 4DJ Please send articles for publication on CD or by email, supplying any photos separate to the text (i.e. in jpeg format). Otherwise please type double spacing or write very clearly. Last date for copy is the LAST DAY of the month prior to publication. Photographs will be returned if you remember to put your name and address on the back of each and enclose suitable stamped and self- addressed packaging. T he St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) was established in England and Wales in 1844 and is p art of a large and thriving Christian voluntary movement dedicated to tackling p overty in all its forms by p roviding p ractical assistance to p eo p le in need in 153 countries. Our core value is one of service and we treat each person as a unique individual deserving of dignity and respect. Person- to-person contact is therefore at the heart of our work and spending time with people is our greatest gift. We o昀,er Innovative new p roject aiming to reach those in most remote areas of Cumbria A cross England and Wales, the SVP is home to 11 Community Su pp ort Projects (CSPs) which are each unique to the area by o昀,ering tailored support and services which re昀,ect that of the local community. A new model has been identi昀,ed within the charity to o昀,er these services to people who are based in remote areas or struggling with transport to get to support. Volunteers are currently needed to help with the day-to-day operation of the van as it drives across Cumbria to make the SVP’,s services accessible. “,All of our Community Support Projects are unique in what they o昀,er across the country, and we want to extend that model so even those who cannot make it to one will still have access to our services,”, explains Head of Centre Development at the SVP Sheena Eastwood. “,We are yet to decide exactly what services would be on o昀,er in this new project, and we’,re currently undertaking extensive research within the most deprived areas of Cumbria to identify what help local people need the most. “,Currently we’,re looking for volunteers who could meet our driv er and jump on the bus to help assist in o昀,ering support to those who will be visiting, whether this is signp osting to advice, with e ducation, food, clothing, or just someone to talk to.”, Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer can get in touch with Sheena directly on SheenaE@svp.org.uk or by calling 07814 553027 . VOL U NTEERS NEEDED –, This new o p eration, set u p by the St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Society (England and Wales), will use a converted and accessible van to p rovide vital services to those who cannot make it to one of the charity’,s centres. non-judgemental support to anyone in need, regardless of faith, race, gender, sexual orientation, background or circumstances. Our 8 70 local groups comprise 8 , 6 00 trained volunteer members who visit vulnerable or isolated people and o昀,er them sincere friendship and practical support. In ten areas of the country our work has evolved into vibrant local community support centres which respond to local needs and o昀,er a warm welcome to everyone.

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July 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 3 Celebrating The Season of Creation 2024 “,To hope and act with Creation”, T he Season of Creation runs from 1 Se p tember until 4 October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. It is a time of ecumenical celebration when we re昀,ect on God’,s generosity in giving us our beautiful world and we are ins p ired to p rotect it. Modern media have given us an unrivalled opportunity to see the huge diversity of landscapes, 昀,ora and fauna on the planet but, equally, they have shown us the devastation that has occurred when we have taken it for granted. This year’,s theme for The Season of Creation is “,To hope and act with Creation”,. It is inspired by Romans 8 :19-25. This biblical image pictures the earth as a mother groaning as in childbirth. Saint Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle. Today, we no longer see the earth as a gift from our Creator, but rather as a resource to be used. “,Creation is groaning”, (Rom 8:22) because of our sel昀,shness and our unsustainable actions that harm her. Along with our sister, Mother Earth, creatures of all kinds, including humans, cry out because of our destructive actions causing a climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, and human su昀,ering. We have celebrated Creation in my own parish for the last four years. It has always been joyful and inspiring and brings home to parishioners the simple idea that we protect what we value and we value what we experience. If we never celebrate the natural world, what hope do we have of protecting it? We need to prepare now if we are to celebrate the season properly and not to suddenly realise that we have been overtaken by the summer holidays! Let us think about how we might celebrate both in our own churches and with the other Christians in our neighbourhood. In our own churches, we could have a Creation weekend when our Masses have the theme of caring for Our Common Home. When thinking of decoration, the fruits of the harvest have their place, but it is much more than a simple harvest celebration. Let’,s not forget the mosses and the ferns. Let us display pictures of 昀,sh, and invertebrates such as bugs, beetles, bees, butter昀,ies and spiders - all part of God’,s wonderful web of life. A friend said “,We have a Christmas Crib, an Easter Garden, so why not have a Bug Hotel to celebrate Creation?”, The Season provides a great opportunity to grow our community by engaging with our parishioners, schools and perhaps with those who use our parish facilities. We might have a picnic, a soup lunch or other simple meal, an art or photographic exhibition celebrating all that is wonderful in our local area. Maybe a family fun night celebrating the individual actions that we already take. Such an evening might include a meat-free meal, an environmental quiz and some folk songs with sing-along choruses to remind us a way of life that was more at one with nature. It should not be a one-o昀, celebration, but a turning point in our relationship with our planet and all the species, including ourselves, who depend on it. We could invite individuals or groups to make pledges, for instance. An individual or a family might pledge to reduce the amount of meat they eat, walk to church or take a bus instead of the car. A parish or school might register for the CAFOD Live Simply award, hold a tree planting or commit to having only reusable utensils at parish events. These are just some ideas. All of our parishes and schools are rich in talent. May we use the Season of Creation to release our own creativity. For more information, search Season of creation 2024. Stephen Garsed (Our Lady &, St Edward’,s, Preston) Environmental Justice Lead, Diocese of Lancas ter K&,M Maintenance Heating - Electrical - Drainage Established 25 years Telephone: 01772 704530 Fax 01722 798801 Heating, Electrical and Drainage and Plumbing services across the North West of England Gas •, Emergency Boiler Repairs for all makes •, Boiler Installations &, servicing •, Central Heating System repairs/upgrades/leaks •, New fitted Central Heating Systems •, Landlord Gas Safety Certificates (CP12) Electrical •, New consumer units supplied and fitted •, All emergency breakdowns •, Power tripping •, New lighting •, Additional sockets •, Faulty sockets •, Rewiring •, Outdoor lighting/sockets •, EICR - electrial safey certificates Drainage and Plumbing •, Blocked drains, internal and external •, Leaks •, New taps •, Camera surveys Prices Boiler Service - £,49 + VAT plus £,10 for every additional appliance. Tel No: 01772 704530 Mobile: 07941 554730 Fax No: 01772 798801 Address: K &, M Maintenance Services Ltd, Unit 8A, Electron Mill, Brook Street, Preston PR1 7NH More information: www.kmmaintenance.co.uk Hello La ncaster, Our caring and professional teams are here to help, guide and advise you through the best ways to say goodbye. Find us at 5 George Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XQ, or call us on 01524 64650. coop.co.uk/funeralcare

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4 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 castleriggmanor.com >,>, what’,s coming u p ? castleriggmanor.com >,>, what’,s coming u p ? A s I write the rain is p ouring down and the summer seems to have forgotten Keswick. We’,re ho p ing the weather p icks u p in time for our Summer Retreat –, re p ort to follow next time! At this time of year, we re昀,ect on the people we are losing in the summer, and it’,s always with a tinge of sadness!! Kylie McKenna will be leaving us after two years as a leader and our interns, Felix, Veva and Veronica will also be heading o昀, to take up the next challenge. We also said goodbye to Charlotte at Easter. We’,ve got a good crop joining us in August though. We have a new leader to replace Kylie and four new interns so far with a few more hopefully in the pipeline! The new team members will be formally commissioned by Bishop Paul at our Open day on September 15th. Talking of which…, Have you put 15 September in your diary yet? As we’,ve mentioned before, we are holding our 昀,rst Castlerigg Open Day since before Covid! We are opening up the house and grounds for a day and welcoming not just the local Keswick community but the whole diocese. Basically, anybody who wants to come. The day starts at midday, 12pm and ends with Mass at 3pm, celebrated by Bishop Paul. 15 Se p tember Castlerigg Manor, 12 p m Start with Mass at 3 p m. Get it in your diaries! Would you like to join the team? We are currently looking for young Christians (usually aged 18-22) to join our Youth Ministry Internship Scheme. It’,s a great chance to get some brilliant training, quali昀,cations, and experiences. We now operate a rolling recruitment system for interns (formerly called Gap Year volunteers) which means that suitable people can start at various di昀,erent points in the year. For more information contact jack@ castleriggmanor.co.uk or check out our website –, castleriggmanor.com - or our Instagram channels atcastleriggmanor and atteam_castlerigg PARISH VISITS At the moment, we are trying to visit as many parishes as we can. The aim of this is to introduce people to the Youth MATTERS YO U TH Service and the work that we do. We are slowly working our way outwards from Keswick, doing a couple of visits a month, so look out for us. What’,s Coming Up? Catholic Students Retreat // November 15-17 // After the success of our 昀,rst students retreat last year, we are holding another one this autumn. Once again, there will be a discounted rate for students and this year there will be a theme holding the weekend together. Bookings will o p en in the summer. Advent Retreat // December 13-15 // The next open retreat after the summer retreat will be the Advent Retreat in mid December. Bookings open in September.

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July 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 5 O ne thing we are often asked in the Youth Service, is how youth leaders can develo p themselves. In any 昀,eld it’,s important to invest in ourselves, so how can we ask youth leaders shar p en the sword..? In the dynamic landscape of church ministry, the personal development of youth leaders is as crucial as the spiritual guidance they o昀,er. Leaders play a pivotal role in shaping the faith journey of young people, making their continuous growth and development vital not only for themselves but also for the communities they serve. The 昀,rst cornerstone of personal development is spiritual growth. As youth leaders, deepening one’,s own faith is essential. This can be achieved through regular prayer, meditation, and study of scripture, and of course regular reception of the sacraments. The treasury of Catholic prayers and devotions (rosary, Adoration…,) can also be incredibly helpful. Attending retreats, workshops, and conferences focused on spiritual development can also provide new insights and inspiration. A strong spiritual foundation enables leaders to guide others more e昀,ectively and authentically. Emotional intelligence is another key area for development. Working with young people often involves navigating complex emotional landscapes. Youth leaders should cultivate skills like empathy, active listening, and con昀,ict resolution. Understanding and managing one’,s own emotions is also crucial, as it in昀,uences how one interacts with and supports others. Training sessions or courses in counselling and psychology can be incredibly bene昀,cial in this regard. Professional skills are equally important. This includes e昀,ective communication, organization, and leadership skills. Being able to plan, execute, and evaluate youth activities e

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6 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 A s a result of the con昀,ict in Gaza, shi p s sailing through the Red Sea face the threat of Houthi missiles, drone attacks and raiding p arties. Since last November, the Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels. Ships bound for Ukraine are now regarded by Russia as potential carriers of military cargo, making them legitimate targets. This follows the collapse of the UN Black Sea grain initiative to create a safe corridor for ships carrying Ukrainian food and fertilizer. Catholic charity Stella Maris (formerly called Apostleship of the Sea) is one of the few maritime charities with chaplains based in Ukraine. They carry out ship visits from the southern port city of Odesa. Here they work with seafarers on the frontline, witnessing the impact it is having on them. Many shipowners are not allowing crew members to go ashore during their time in Odesa, for security reasons. So visits on board ships by the Stella Maris team there are proving increasingly important in countering the isolation and loneliness that seafarers often experience. “,Seafarers have signed on knowing the risks and receive additional pay as a result, but there is no respite for them and that has an e昀,ect,”, says Fr Alex. “,Once here in Odesa they can witness the drone attacks on the port and the city at close hand. This only adds to their stress and anxiety.”, Being a seafarer is a tough job at the best of times. You are away from home for months, you work long hours, and you face possible accidents at sea. But ships being hit by bombs or missiles is an additional problem facing seafarers currently –, and not the only one. There is now an alarming rise in cases of seafarers abandoned by shipowners: left in distant ports without money, support, or the means to get home. Deacon Joe O’,Donnell, Stella Maris’, Senior Area Port Chaplain for Scotland helped an Indian crew recently. They had not received their wages for several months and were abandoned in Troon SEA S U NDAY 14 July - Let us remember seafarers facing con昀,ict, abandonment and tough times “,Some of the seafarers I meet have travelled through the con昀,ic t area of the Red Sea, with its risks of attacks from Houthis, th en have sailed on to the Black Sea with its own dangers, given the re is no agreement on maritime safety,”, says Stella Maris’, Odesa p ort cha p lain Fr Alex Smerechynskyy in U kraine. in south-west Scotland. “,We supplied groceries, clothing, and free mobile phone SIM cards so they could talk to their families back home,”, he said. “,The crew were also under a huge mental strain, with no money, no means of getting home and absolutely no idea what their future is. So, we o昀,ered them pastoral support and reassurance. Following our intervention, the crew was paid and returned home.”, What happens on global shipping routes a昀,ects us all because much of the food and other products in our shops arrive on ships. That is everything from 昀,sh and fruit to computers and cars. We rely on seafarers and 昀,shers perhaps more than we realise. This year’,s Gospel for Sea Sunday (Mark 6: 7-13) emphasises the importance of service and hospitality for strangers as a sign of Christ’,s love. In this reading, Jesus instructed the disciples to take almost nothing with them - so they had to rely on the providence of God on their travels - and the generosity of the people they would stay with on the journey. Those people would be strangers to them - but the disciples were reliant on their hospitality. When seafarers arrive in a foreign port, they are strangers, often thousands of miles from home. Stella Maris’, chaplains and volunteer ship visitors welcome them, listen to their concerns, and help provide what they need. The Stella Maris teams answer Jesus’, call to give hospitality to the stranger. They put their faith into action. On Sea Sunday let us pray for seafarers, 昀,shers, and the work of Stella Maris. Let us remember especially those seafarers who are sailing through con昀,ict zones and those who have been abandoned in distant lands. To 昀,nd out more about Sea Sunday, please visit: https://stellamaris.org.uk/ seasunday/ To donate to Stella Maris, please go to: https://stellamaris.org.uk/donate/ Greg Watts

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July 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 7 Re p resentatives from 25 Catholic charities gathered together in May to recognise a decade of collaboration to p romote legacy giving. The meeting, at Catholic Bisho p s’, Conference of England and Wales in London, marked 10 years since the o

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8 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 L ast year I received a p hone call from the Vicar General on behalf of the Grou p meeting to p lan the Diocese’,s Centenary Jubilee which begins later this year. They asked if I could organise a logo for them and suggested that I ask schools to come up with ideas which they duly did. What immediately became clear from this e昀,ort is that our Diocese is a very diverse entity and something that represented the towns and cities didn’,t necessarily re昀,ect the large areas of rural landscape that our diocese comprises. Similarly, that which represents Lancashire certainly doesn’,t necessarily re昀,ect Cumbria, and Westmorland is di昀,erent again, and please don’,t forget the di昀,erences between Preston and Blackpool, or those between Whitehaven and Workington. This beautiful diocese of our’,s is truly a mosaic of peoples and places. The diversity of our Diocese of course left the problem of 昀,nding an emblem or image that would somehow encapsulate the whole of our Diocese and its Centenary. Asking for a little bit more guidance, I asked the Bishop for a quotation from the Scriptures which might provide a steer to the various designs that were beginning to appear. After going on retreat, the Bishop returned with the text: ‘,The Lord’,s is the earth and its fulness, the world and all its peoples’, (Ps. 23:1) . It didn’,t exactly narrow it down, quite the opposite. The text speaks of fulness and plenitude of God. By this time, the months were passing A Pattern of Many Parts: Celebrating the Centenary of our Diocese by, and I mentioned the predicament to Paddie Denton who was a Team Leader at our diocesan youth retreat centre at Castlerigg Manor. ‘,Leave it with me’, , he chirped, as he disappeared into the ethereal world of graphic design. After much cogitation, the logo began to emerge, and whilst it is marked by simplicity, it is also many-layered, drawing many themes of our diocese together, and whilst it has a certain Pugin-esque traditional pattern to it, it is also very contemporary in its feel. I think that after working for several years in our Diocese with all its schools Paddie had intuited the di昀,erent dimensions of our beloved Diocese and the need to express what made our Diocese distinctive. Let me explain some of the symbolism and you may also be able to 昀,nd meanings which Paddie hasn’,t considered and which I have yet to see. That is the whole point of a logo, it is like a diamond that glistens with meanings, resonating with people in di昀,erent ways and at di昀,erent times. By the way, you don’,t need to ‘,like’, the logo, it may not be your cup of tea (and that’,s 昀,ne) but it’,s meant to be something instantly recognisable and provoke an emotional response. We live in a highly visual world these days and a good logo should catch our attention and point to what is beyond it. So, 昀,rst and foremost, the letter ‘,C’,. Why C? C stands for Centenary which means One Hundred, the one hundred years of our diocese’,s existence. It also happens to be the Latin numeral for One Hundred, Centum. The next thing is to point out to you is the tapestry design of the logo, a pattern of many parts representing the landscape of our Diocese. You can see the ‘,Red Rose’, of Lancaster, the heraldic badge of the region which dates back to the fourteenth century and which proudly adorns our diocesan crest. Next, and lesser known perhaps, is the white 昀,ower –, NOT the Yorkshire White Rose –, but the Grass of Parnassus 昀,ower, which since the 1950s has been adopted on the 昀,ag and coat of arms of Cumbria. The two 昀,owers represent the people of the north and the south of the Diocese. Besides the Rose and Grass of Parnassus 昀,ower, there are small circles containing waves of water. This is taken directly from the Diocesan coat of arms and represents the Ribble Estuary and Fylde Coast, Morecambe Bay, the West Cumbrian coastline and Solway Firth, and reminds us of the way in which the seas envelope many of our major towns and cities of our diocese. Water has a deeper resonance for us as Catholics since we are bathed in the Springs of Living Waters in our Baptism, and the waters of baptism become the source of our life and mission as Christians. Finally, the intercalating pattern of blue and green stars and cross bring winding together the fells and moors, the rivers and lakes, the entirety of the landscapes, that de昀,ne our region. Into this pattern we can discern Our Lady (Star of the Sea) and our Lord Jesus Christ (represented by the Cross) . It is this background that picks up on the Bishop’,s Scriptural text: we see in the beauty of the people and world around us so much of God’,s beauty who continues to bless us with riches and resources. Paddie Denton writes that his hope is that ‘,this piece of Scripture which the logo evokes will remind us as a Diocese to express gratitude and jubilation for the last hundred years and all that God has given to our great diocesan family, and also to inspire us to seek out ways in which the Lord will continue to bless us: Lord, how am I to bring your fulness to the earth, and to all your peoples in the world?’, It is hoped that over this year the logo for our diocesan centenary jubilee will be used across the Diocese in our diocesan communications, on social media and websites, letterheads, spread through the agency of the Bishop’,s O

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July 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 9 Diocese of Lancaster Centenary Prayer God our Father, we thank you for all the graces and blessings You have bestowed on our Diocese since its foundation one hundred years ago on ground made fertile by the blood of the martyrs. Nourished by your Son, Jesus Christ, in Word and Sacraments, and led by your Holy Spirit, may we move forward with hope and trust, helping future generations to discover the “,pearl of great price”, which will bring them eternal life. And when time shall be no more, may our Diocese rejoice as the “,mother of countless children,”, and be given her place in heavenly glory. This we ask of you who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Cuthbert, pray for us. Holy Martyrs of our Diocese, pray for us.

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10 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 S adly, shortly before his birthday, Tom had a fall. Prior to this he never missed attending Sunday Mass and Catenian meetings and celebrations. Des p ite being in hos p ital for his birthday, Tom managed to get a “,pass”, to attend his celebration in the Parish Centre of OLSS. The celebration was attended by numerous family and friends including his three children, Damian, Bernadette and Paul, his ten treasured grandchildren, numerous nieces and ne p hews, great-nieces and ne p hews and a great great-ne p hew. Guests travelled from all over the world including, U SA, Dubai, France, Portugal and Scotland. The celebration was started by the Town Crier proclaiming his birthday, followed by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire showing his birthday card from the King. Then a detachment from RAF Leeming, a World War II bomber base presented Tom with a RAF Ensign and photographs of a Lancaster bomber. Tom had 昀,own in Lancasters during and after the war. Nieces and nephews had also acquired a signed Preston North End football shirt with the logo “,Uncle Tom 100”, . This was followed by Canon Peter Hart presenting Tom with a Papal Blessing on behalf of the Parish. Much Ado About Something... Catenian Tom Carter of Our Lady Star of the Sea recently celebrated his 100th birthday with family, p arishioners and brother Catenians of the Lytham St Annes Circle of the Catenians Association Tom received so many cards - many from colleagues and past pupils. Tom was born in Thornton and attended Sacred Heart and St Joseph’,s schools. In 1941 he began to train as a teacher at St Mary’,s in Twickenham. He went on to become headteacher of St Thomas of Canterbury School in Rainham, Kent. The letters and cards received from former colleagues and past pupils clearly show that he truly was an inspirational and dearly loved headteacher. The celebration continued with a slide show chronicling his remarkable life story. This showed what everyone gathered there already knew - Tom Carter is an amazing gentleman, a legend in his own lifetime and deservedly treasured by so many. In their turn, the Catenians presented him with a Mass Bouquet and a signed scroll by the GB National President in recognition of this latest achievement. Tom had recently received a scroll on achieving sixty years in the Association. Congratulations Tom Carter - it is an honour to be p art of your life! Robert Thompson Boarbank Hall Contact: Sr Marian Boarbank Hall, Grange over Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7NH Telephone: 015395 32288 Website: www.boarbankhall.org.uk Canonesses of St Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus “,She who accepts the common life possesses God”, St Augustine A Warm Welcome to Everyone Prayer •, Community •, Hospitality •, Care of the poor and sick SELF STORAGE Secure Units Available Sizes To Suit All Needs Competitive Rates Open 7 Days Curly Tail Storage Park Lane, Forton PR3 0JX Tel: 01524 791837 E: andrew@curlytailstorage .co.uk www.curlytailstorage.co.uk 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 Our advertisers are great supporters of the Lancaster Voice, so please help them by supporting their businesses

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July 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 11 Editorial credit: Taljat David / Shutterstock.com M gr Frank Slattery celebrated 70yrs of p riestly ministry with a Mass at Christ the King in Milnthor p e at which he renewed his p riestly vows and delivered a homily evoking his own life journey and all the di昀,erent missions he had undertaken and ex p erienced during his p riestly life. Bisho p Paul Swarbrick and other p riests were in attendance as well as many family friends. After Mass everyone retired to the Crooklands Hotel for a celebratory meal. F r Alf Parker celebrated 60 years of p riestly ministry with Mass at St Charles Grange -over -Sands followed by a bu昀,et. In his Homily Fr Alf said “,It is not about what you can do for God but about doing what job God has given you to do…, ”, Fr Alf Parker Celebrates his Diamond Jubilee Mgr Slattery Celebrates 70 Years JILL GLENCROSS FUNERAL DIRECTORS An Independent Multi Award Winning Family Funeral Directors Female and Male Funeral Directors Private Chapels of Rest Nothing Is Ever Too Much Trouble 16 The Square, Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7PY Tel: 01228 317373 https://www.jillglencrossfuneral - director.co.uk/ 14th July is Sea Sunday. Please pray for seafarers and fishers and support the Catholic charity ministering to them: Stella Maris (formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea). To donate, go to www.stellamaris.org.uk/donate Martin’,s The Funeral Directors 186-188 Tulketh Brow, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 2JJ Tel: 01772-733007 1 Stonebridge Parade, Preston Road, Longridge PR3 3AP Tel: 01772-782121 Windy Nook House Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 8JY Tel: 01772 500830 Proprietor W. Martin Wooton Dedicated and Blessed Chapels of Rest Golden Charter Pre-Paid Funeral Plans The complete funeral service from a private family owned and run firm

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12 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 S t Joseph’,s Lancaster Altar Server Matas was recently con昀,rmed b y Bishop Paul at the Cathedral. Here he is p ictured with Bisho p Paul and his s p onsor Deacon Ste p hen Pendlebury. C hristo p her Sumner a 1st year Seminarian at the Beda College in Rome has recently been commissioned as Lector, Proclaimer of the Word of God, in a s p ecial ceremony held in the Collage’,s Cha p el. The college is named after the great English Saint, Bede, and was founded in the 19th century and it is the responsibility of the Bishops of England and Wales. Students come from the English-speaking world and is for men of mature years (that is those who have had 昀,rst careers) and their period of study and formation is four years. Lancaster Seminarian commissioned as Lector in Rome (Right) 1st year students in the Chapel at the Beda College holding their newly presented Bibles. (Below right) –, Christopher Sumner 昀,anked by fellow Lancaster Seminarians left Stephen Bamber 2nd year student and right Deacon Mr Simon Marley who will be ordained to the priesthood later this year by Bishop Paul Swarbrick.

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July 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 13 N ot sure what to ex p ect, a coachload of p arishioners from Christ the Good She p herd Parish in Workington set out for Hyning Monastery early on the Feast of the English Martyrs, a, p ro p itious since the day had a focus on disci p leshi p : what it means to be one and how we can make more. Led by our Parish Priest, Fr Philip Conner, we prayed the Rosary on the coach, placing the day under the patronage of Mary who, as Pope St. Paul VI taught, is the 昀,rst and most perfect of Christ’,s disciples. The day included presentations S p ring Summit: To be disciples and to make disciples by Fr Philip and a team of lay speakers drawn from our parish, testimonies from several lay people, including two received into the Church this Easter, group discussion and time for prayer and worship. Powerful points were made by our speakers. Discipleship is a calling, the baseline and core substance of all Christian vocation. It also brings the joy and privilege of being called friends by Jesus (John 15:15). We were shown an image of Noah’,s ark which had been drawn by Fr Philip for a previous parish vision-setting session. It showed stylised 昀,gures, drawn so that they could be 昀,owing either into or out of the ark, reminding us that the Church exists for all and is called to go and make all nations Christ’,s disciples. One speaker reminded us of the scale of the challenge we face in making disciples in the West: ours, he said, is not so much an age of change as a change of age. We are confronted by a secular culture, where many have long since lost the language and memory of faith. The testimonies lifted our spirits and were deeply moving. Several spoke of 昀,nding faith despite its total absence in their family background and upbringing, reminding us that with God all is possible and that we should trust in Christ’,s promised gift of the Holy Spirit. The day concluded with prayer, the laying on of hands and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The sense of the Holy Spirit at work was evident throughout the day. We saw signs of His presence all around: in lives wonderfully changed, in longstanding Christians eager to learn more about their faith and to share their journey with others, above all in the visible manifestation of growth and renewal in our parish community. Robert Hannerford

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14 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 G erry was born in Lancaster, in the Cathedral Parish, on 24th A p ril 1928. He attended the Cathedral school before going to Up holland. Thirteen years later he was ordained by Bisho p Flynn on the 30th May 1953. He was about three weeks short of 71 years as a p riest of this Diocese and in his 97th year when he died on the 6th May. He came from a family of priests, many will remember his elder brother Tom, who died in 2019, but few will remember his uncle, Ham Cunningham, Parish Priest of Knott End, who died in 19 66 . Gerry served in St. Gregory’,s and St. Augustine’,s in Preston, then the Shrine and Holy Family in Blackpool. He got his 昀,rst Parish, St. Thomas Moore in Lancaster, after only 1 8 years, before moving to St. Margaret Mary’,s Carlisle, where I lived with him, then back to Preston here in Sacred Heart Parish, Preston, for 21 years till his retirement in 2003, then he spent some 15 happy years in Lea. Gerry loved music, and enjoyed his piano. But his great love was for Steam Locomotives. He told me that he had travelled on every Steam train in the north and in Scotland, and many of those in the South. Deacon Chris Barwise claims that he was called upon to bless a Steam Loco once, but I do know that when he was in Carlisle he arranged to say Mass in the Guards Van for the children, on a School trip to York which happened to fall on an inconvenient Holy Day. Gerry was determined to get to the Railway Museum. Listening to Gerry talking about his early life as a priest in our Diocese, it’,s obvious that it was very di昀,erent from what we are used to today. Masses were all Tridentine Latin, as was your Breviary, fasting was from Midnight so no evening Masses. Every Church had a Parish Priest and a housekeeper, most had a curate and the big ones two or three. You could wait for 20 years to become a Parish Rev Canon Gerry Dakin RIP Priest. In your Parish, as a curate, you had your district and a visiting book and were expected to know both. Often two of three evenings a week were spent instructing converts, usually as a preparation for marriage –, dispensations were hard to come by. Up to six hours a week were spent in the confessional, and you were busy. No priests retired. If you got too old and in昀,rm the Bishop just sent you a curate. It was probably his experiences as a curate that made Gerry such a good pastoral priest. He cared for people, especially the sick. That 昀,rst reading sums him up. “,Treat everyone with equal kindness, never be condescending and make real friends with the poor.”, It is appropriate that we are celebrating today the feast of the Visitation, when Our Lady put the needs of Elizabeth above her own needs. For all the changes that Gerry lived through, the Priesthood is unchanging –, though lived out in a di昀,erent way. It’,s always a vocation, a gift, a responsibility, a call to imitate Christ. A call to serve people with joy and dedication with compassion and care. In these days we need to give thanks for the priests that we have, for their faithfulness and dedication. Pope Francis made the obvious point a few weeks ago, addressing a group of Parish Priests, “,the Church could not go on without your dedication and your pastoral service”, . Gerry experienced great changes, but he continued to live out his priesthood for almost 71 years, in the last six years or so, living at McAuley Mount, Burnley, where he received such great care. In his 昀,nal years his speech was di

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July 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 15 J enny McLaughlin is a Catholic Artist based in the North West of England and a member of the Society of Catholic Artists. Her aim is for her Catholic Artwork to ins p ire the viewer, hel p ing them to focus on God and feel the p eace and love of God as they go through life’,s challenges. Jenny trained in Art and Illustration and undertook commissions for various secular clients before she felt inspired to express her faith through Religious Artworks. In 2023 she received a Commission to produce Stations of the Cross for St Monica’,s Chapel in St. John Vianney’,s church, Blackpool. Jenny said “,I am very grateful to Canon Chris Loughran and the Parish of the Guardian Angels for this very special Sacred Art Commission. The Artworks took several months to complete and I am very grateful for all the feedback and guidance I received whilst working on them. The Stations are now in St.Monica’,s Chapel where they have been hung and Blessed. The Stations of the Cross follow this order: I. Jesus is condemned to death. II. Jesus takes up his cross. A Work of Art III. Jesus falls for the 昀,rst time. IV. Jesus meets his mother. V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross. VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. VII. Jesus falls a second time. VIII. Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem. IX. Jesus falls a third time. X. Jesus is stripped of his garments. XI. Jesus is nailed to the cross. XII. Jesus dies on the cross. XIII. Jesus is taken down from the cross. XIV. Jesus is placed in the tomb. “,I consider the undertaking of this commission a great honour. I had not realised the depth of Christ’,s love for us quite as fully as I did whilst working on this commission. I also don’,t think I have cried quite as much whilst working on Artwork, the incredible sacri昀,ce Christ made for us all…, and how Mary’,s heart must have been pierced to see her son su昀,er so much. ‘,But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us’,. Romans 5:8 ‘,Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’, John 15:13.”, The Stations of the Cross Commission 2023 has been a great honour and can be viewed at: jennifersillustrations.co.uk Website, Graphic &, Logo Design for Parishes &, Charities christiancreativedirectory.com/rob-hotchkiss

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16 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + July 2024 W e can easily overlook that young p eo p le value diversity, p rioritise p eaceful activism, and care about sustainability and climate justice. Sadly, many young p eo p le witness or ex p erience violence and lack alternative ways of dealing with con昀,ict. The con昀,ict can be as simple as being cancelled to domestic, civil, or international violence. It is, therefore, important to equip young people to be peacemakers and reconcilers, which is at the heart of Christianity. The Action Impact Youth Group at St Bede’,s Catholic High School, UK, is a group of young people who seek to promote peace. The following is a letter they write to you. We attend the Action Impact Youth Group at St Bede’,s Catholic High School Lytham. We are part of the National YCW/IMPACT Yo u n g Pe o p le seek Love, Equality, and Peace movement of England and Wales based in Manchester: “,the movement run for &, by young people and amongst young people”,. The age range of our youth group at St Bede’,s is 12-1 6 years old, and there are 40 young people involved in the youth group. We meet regularly every week in school during term time to create and develop opportunities for youth-led projects/activities on various Social and Community Action Projects in the local community. We have a “,Youth Hub”, which meets in school every Wednesday during the school term, for young people to meet, have time out at lunchtime, chat and make friends and have “,FUN”, . Recently, we applied for a grant to the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace and were successful in being awarded a grant. We worked together as young people on the youth-led application, combining multiple ideas and 昀,nding a focus. As young people, we decided that we wanted change in our community and the wider world through peace. We have noticed that peace has been neglected throughout the world, in favour of money, power and status. It consumes people, turns them away from it, and creates more important issues like inequality, injustice, segregation, con昀,ict and war. We know that if this cycle continues, future generations will grow up with little sense of diversity, community and global love. This is why we would love to use this money to educate the young and old on topics of peace and justice and to provoke change. We believe that we can improve the lives of all people in our local and global communities, highlighting themes of peace, love and equality for people of all ethnicities, faiths, ages, genders and sexualities. It is hugely important to us that this reaches all people, especially those young people and families on the margins of society. As a Catholic school, love, peace, and inclusion are some of the most signi昀,cant parts of our everyday lives. It would be amazing for us to extend these qualities to our community and further. Using social media, workshops, and programs, we will aim to do this, hopefully initiating a wave of change around the world: encouraging love, equality, and peace. Young People of St Bede’,s Catholic High School’,s Action Impact Youth Group Church Supplies –, ser v i ng Sch oo ls , B usi n ess and Hom es Our advertisers are great supporters of the Lancaster Voice, so please help them by supporting their businesses To advertise please contact Charlotte on 01440 730399 or email charlotter@cathcom.org Two amazing care homes. One unwavering standard. Evermorecare.com The way a perfect care home should be. For a brochure or tour, please call Chorley Astley View, Euxton Lane PR7 1PS. Tel 01257 444860 Lancaster Ashton Manor, Scotforth Road LA1 4XN. Tel 01524 566007

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