2 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + September 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 736630 / 07969 967268 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 6710 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 FY8 4DJ Please send articles for publication on CD or by email, supplying any photos separate to the text (i.e. in jpeg format). Otherwise please type double spacing or write very clearly. Last date for copy is the LAST DAY of the month prior to publication. Photographs will be returned if you remember to put your name and address on the back of each and enclose suitable stamped and self- addressed packaging. O ur annual birdwatchin g retreat, Two Win gs and Some Prayer s , took p lace at Boarbank Hall in Cumbria in May, led by Sr Mar g aret Atkin s and Dr Mar g aret Philli ps . Participants joined the resident Community for Mass and sung Daily O

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September 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 3 O ver the p a s t academic year, our three Dioce s e of Lanca s ter s eminarian s at the Beda Colle g e (Simon Marley 4th year, Stephen Bamber 2nd year, and Christopher Sumner 1st year) have ventured out into Rome for monthly for a meal and a chance to catch u p and p rovide fraternal com p anion s hi p and a li s tenin g ear. In a society where well-being and mental health are increasingly more prominent than perhaps they once were our monthly get togethers form part of our human formation which is one of the four dimensions of formation set out by the Church for the training of priests. Fraternity and hospitality have continued back in the Diocese where our three seminarians met at Lancaster on the feast of St Oliver Plunket, and served at the 12.15pm Mass at the Cathedral, at the kind invitation of Fr John Millar, Dean of the Cathedral. The Diocese of Lancaster was well-represented at the end of term Diaconate ordinations which took place in the Basilica of St Paul’,s Outside the Walls, with Stephen Bamber serving as Master of Ceremonies, and Christopher Sumner as organist. Back in the Diocese for the summer Deacon Simon Marley is on placement at the Cathedral and awaits his ordination in October. Stephen Bamber will be spending his placement at St Beuno’,s Spirituality centre in North Wales and will be making the Ignatian Thirty-day Retreat. Christopher Sumner will be on placement in the parish of Christ the Good Shepherd, Workington, before being joined by Simon for the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Towards the end of September, Stephen and Christopher will return to the Beda College, to begin their next year of study. Stephen begins his 3rd year at the Beda College which will include applying for Candidacy for Holy Orders, and Christopher begins his 2nd year, and will be petitioning for the Ministry of Acolyte. l-r: Christopher Sumner, Fr John Millar, Deacon Simon Marley and Stephen Bamber. Our Beda Colle g e Seminarian s Con g ratulation s to Fr John Win s tanley, Penrith, who recently celebrated hi s 25th anniver s ary of ordination to the p rie s thood. 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 £,1.80 provides a child with a meal every weekday for a month Donate Now at www.reachfoundationuk.org THE REACH FOUNDATION UK

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4 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + September 2024 ca s tleri gg manor.com >,>, what’, s comin g u p ? ca s tleri gg manor.com >,>, what’, s comin g u p ? J ack Re g an write s , we are at the very end of July. The la s t s chool g rou p left u s about ten day s a g o and we are currently lookin g after the youth team from the Ke s wick Convention –, a hu g e Chri s tian fe s tival that’, s been runnin g each s ummer in Ke s wick s ince Victorian time s ! Our team are in the process of leaving us for the summer. Some will return next year along with a new crop, while others move on to pastures new. The academic year 2023-24 has been a really successful one. 3415 young people and their leaders have stayed at the manor and out on the road, we’,ve visited 19 di昀,erent schools and parishes in the diocese and beyond. We’,re really excited about 2024-25 too. It’,s looking as though we will be working with more schools than we have ever worked with and even at this stage, there aren’,t that many spaces left in the programme! So, what else? O p en Day // 15 Se p tember // The day starts at midday, 12pm and ends with Mass at 3pm, celebrated by Bishop Paul. We’,ve got a great day planned for you with fun for all the family. Your chance to visit Castlerigg, see what we do, and meet the new team. September 15th. Castlerigg Manor. 12pm Start. Mass at 3. Get it in your diaries! O p en Weekend s &, Quiet Weekend s // A New Venture // In 2024-25 we will be starting an exciting new initiative aimed at adults and families. Whenever we have a free weekend, we will open it up as either a ‘,quiet weekend’, o r a ‘,family weekend.’, Quiet weekends are there for individual adults who want to have a re昀,ective, peaceful weekend in the Lakes. A single room and all meals are provided as well as Mass on site. Open weekends are similar, but not as quiet! They’,re also open to families and if we get enough people, we’,ll put on a quiz in the evening too! These weekends open up at about 6 weeks notice to keep an eye on our website and social media. Would You Like to Join the Team? Don’,t forget that, we are always 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 MATTERS YO U TH 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 What’, s Comin g Up ? Catholic Student s Retreat // Nov 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 open in the summer. Advent Retreat // Dec 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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September 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 5 I n the dynamic land s ca p e of s ocietal chan g e, understanding di昀,erent generations is crucial for g ra sp in g the s hiftin g contour s of culture, technolo g y, and value s . Generation theory, a framework that cate g ori s e s p eo p le into di s tinct g rou ps ba s ed on their birth year s and s hared life experiences, o昀,ers insights into these g enerational s hift s . The la s t two are Generation Z and Generation Al p ha. Generation Theory: A Brief Overview Generation theory suggests to us that people born within a certain period share certain characteristics, in昀,uenced by the historical, technological, and cultural contexts they grow up in. These generational labels help in understanding societal changes and predicting future trends. Obviously, these characteristics are generalizations and don’,t hold true for every individual within a generation, but as a rough yardstick, they can be very useful. You’,re probably familiar with terms like ‘,boomers’, , ‘,Generation X’,, o r ‘,Millennials,’, but even the latter are now well into adulthood, with new cohorts taking their place: Generation Z: The Di g ital Native s Born between the turn of the millennium and the early 2010s, Generation Z, also known as Gen Z or iGen, is the 昀,rst generation to grow up with the internet and social media as integral parts of their lives. This upbringing has signi昀,cantly shaped their characteristics and outlook. 1. Technologically Savvy: Gen Zers are true digital natives. They are adept at using smartphones, social media, and digital platforms, often using them as their primary sources of information, communication, and entertainment. 2. Diversity and Inclusivity: Growing up in a more globalized world, Gen Z is typically more accepting of diverse cultures, identities, and lifestyles. They value inclusivity and are often vocal advocates for social justice, equality, and environmental issues. 3. Entrepreneurial and Pragmatic: Many Gen Zers are entrepreneurial, having lived through the economic turmoil of the 2010s and, in the UK, the ‘,austerity’, years in the decade after. They tend to be pragmatic, valuing security and practicality in their career choices. 4. Mental Health Awareness: This generation shows a greater awareness of mental health issues. They are more open about discussing these topics and advocating for better mental health support and education. 5. Visual and Creative: With platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Gen Z has a penchant for visual communication. They value creativity and self- expression, often using digital media to showcase their talents and views. Generation Al p ha: The Up comin g Force Generation Alpha, the latest generation, started to be born in the late 2010s and are now just turning into teenagers. While it’,s early to de昀,ne their characteristics fully, certain trends are noticeable. 1. Hyper-Connected World: Alphas are growing up in an even more technologically interconnected environment than Gen Z. They are expected to be the most technologically immersed generation, Understanding Generation s Z &, Al p ha: A Guide to the Future with AI, machine learning, and augmented reality being routine aspects of their lives. Unlike Millenials and Gen Zs, the majority of Alphas will probably never learn to drive manual cars, and to them, SMS messages and Facebook seem massively outdated! 2. Education and Learning: With rapid technological advancements, the education system for Gen Alpha is likely to be more adaptive, personalized, and tech-driven. They may experience more blended and online learning environments. 3. Global Citizens: Generation Alpha is anticipated to have an even more global outlook. Increased connectivity and technological advancements will likely make them more aware of and involved in global issues from a younger age. 4. Health and Well-being: Growing up in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, health and well-being could be signi昀,cant concerns for Gen Alpha. This experience might shape their attitudes towards health, hygiene, and well-being. 5. Environmental Consciousness: Born into an era of climate change awareness, Gen Alpha is likely to be highly conscious of environmental issues. This generation will almost certainly witness signi昀,cant strides in sustainable living and green technologies, but will probably also witness severe e昀,ects of climate change in their early adult years. Conclu s ion Generations Z and Alpha are at the forefront of societal change. Understanding their characteristics, preferences, and values is crucial for businesses, educators, policymakers, and society at large. As digital technology continues to evolve and global issues like climate change and pandemics shape our world, these generations are poised to rede昀,ne the way we live, work, and interact. Their in昀,uence is just beginning to be felt, and it’,s certain to grow as they step into adulthood and take their place as leaders and innovators in a rapidly changing world. Of course, Christ and his Church are both ever ancient and ever new. Every generation is as loved as the last and the heart of each individual –, as Augustine said in the fourth century –, will only ever be restless until it rests in God. The way in which this truth is communicated though, is changing rapidly and those of us in youth ministry need to constantly adapt. To advertise please contact Charlotte on 01440 730399 or email charlotter@cathcom.org Independent Catholic Funeral Director Arranging and conducting funerals in the Catholic Diocese of Lancaster since 1986 Lytham Funeral Service Ltd. 42 Clifton Street, Lytham FY8 5EW Tel. (01253) 733909 www.lythamfuneralservice.co.uk David Pope dip FD MBIFD

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6 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + September 2024 Your Letter s Send u s your letter s : Write to: The Editor, 99, Common s ide, An s dell, Lytham St. Anne s , FY8 4DJ. Email to: voiceletter s athotmail.co.uk •, Please keep your letters concise (max 300 words) •, Include your full name and address •, Letters should not include any personal criticism or attacks •, The editor reserves the right to: –, Amend or shorten letters or to refuse to publish them (no correspondence to discuss decisions taken will be entered into) –, Publish a response if deemed appropriate Dear Editor Re the article Guiding Youth in Today’,s Complex World in the June edition of the Catholic Voice of Lancaster. It states a primary task is to address the disconnect between what the Church teaches and contemporary societal norms. Given the signs of the times, including the high level of apathy displayed by the laity when it comes to faith matters (know when the Church and the world become as one it is the end) the Church is only reaping what it sowed given its low expectations of them over the years, Lord David Alton once described Catholics as the Gethsemane people asleep. That is why anything that is put on outside of the Sunday service like the Stations of the Cross is poorly attended, as their faith is at the bottom of the list. Our faith is never put into the context of a spiritual war where daily prayer of the rosary, some fasting etc is needed to counter the demonic agenda, where each has a part to play &, doing the least is not best. There are parishes, dioceses and people like the Tennessee governor (www.tldm.org) who has signed a bill calling for 30 days of prayer/fasting in July who recognise these times and are prepared to take more radical action. This is what our church as a whole should be doing, the spiritual fruits from this approach would then follow. Yours Sincerely John Deegan, Manchester A cro ss the dioce s e, CAFOD’, s team of amazin g s chool volunteer s vi s it p rimary and s econdary s chool s to deliver a ss emblie s and work s ho ps . They encoura g e youn g p eo p le to take action, fundrai s e and p ray with Cafod. Here are some re昀,ections from Diane about her ex p erience –, do you think you could join her? Retiring from teaching I knew that I would need something in my life to help me feel needed. For years I had harboured a desire to volunteer for Cafod and I contacted Cafod after I had had the obligatory term time holiday in September 2022. Training was thorough and interesting. I learned a great deal about Cafod in this time. After safety checks and safeguarding training and a shadowing session I was ready for my 昀,rst school visit in January 2023. My schools are mainly Fylde and Blackpool based but with the shortage of volunteers I have ventured as far north as Windermere. Cafod volunteers o昀,er assemblies explaining the work of Cafod and explaining how this 昀,ts with their work on Catholic Social Teaching. We also o昀,er School Volunteer s Needed Catholic Social Teaching workshops for all age groups in primary and secondary. Lesson plans and presentations are prepared by the Education team and refresher sessions are o昀,ered each term. The photographs on the presentations are fantastic quality and really capture the attention of the young people. Some of the volunteers are retired teachers but many of our volunteers do not have a teaching background and as long as you are happy to stand up in front of children and talk, you will soon be very con昀,dent in delivering the materials. Cafod policy is that you are not left on your own, so you always have help on hand if needed. If you can spare a little time, please consider joining our lovely group of volunteers. We really do need you to make a huge di昀,erence to our global neighbours but it will also be greatly enjoyable and rewarding for you too. If you are interested in 昀,nding out more, please visit Cafod website and sign up: Schools volunteers ( cafod.org.uk ) Or please contact Anna Letizia, Cafod Community Participation Coordinator (Education Focus) , Diocese of Lancaster Mobile: 077100944449 or email: aletizia@cafod.org.uk

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September 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 7 E mma Jack s on, head teacher at St Benedict’, s Catholic Hi g h School, Whitehaven ha s recently announced her deli g ht at their late s t in sp ection. The Section 48 inspection was carried out a few weeks ago by the Catholic Schools Inspectorate. A Section 48 inspection is a process carried out in Catholic schools to evaluate their Catho lic life, quality of Religious Education, and collective worship. Inspectors found St Benedict’,s to be a ‘,good’, school, with some ‘,outstanding’, features. They judged the life and mission of the schoo l as ‘,outstanding’, along with some elements of collective worship. The school are particularly proud of some of the strengths they found. These included: St Benedict’, s School Deli g hted with In sp ection Re s ult s •, Leadership of our Catholic School •, Excellent behaviour •, Pastoral care which puts the most vulnerable at the heart of the school’,s work •, The care of sta昀, for all the students in their charge and for each other Mrs Jackson commented: “,We are delighted with our latest inspection report. We have already considered the recommendations made in the report and will continue to work to the highest standards. I would like to take this opportunity to thank sta昀,, parents and governors. All of whom made a positive contribution to the inspection. My biggest thanks go to our students who were incredible and did us all proud.”, We would like to thank these schools for always supporting the paper St Vincent’,s Road, Preston PR2 8QY Telephone 01772 716912 Email admin@ccc.lancs.sch.uk www.ccc.lancs.sch.uk Together in One Body CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Headteacher: Mr John Hankin Cardinal Allen Catholic High School Melbourne Avenue, Fleetwood FY7 8AY Headteacher : Andrew Cafferkey Tel : 01253 872659 E-mail : head@cardinalallen.co.uk

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8 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + September 2024 O n the 14th of June 2024 our p ari s h, Our Lady of Windermere and St Herbert, celebrated the 60th anniver s ary of the dedication of our church. The Ch ur ch w as t o r e pl ace t he o r i g ina l one, bu i lt in 1 88 7 and kno w n as S t He rb e rt s. The o l d ch ur ch bu i l din g had b ecome u nsa f e, and b eca u se o f t he cos t t o r e p ai r i t , i t w as decided t o demo l ish and bu i l d a l a rg e r ch ur ch t o g i v e mo r e s p ace t o accommoda t e t he gr o w in g n u m b e r o f v isi t o r s t o Winde r me r e. The f o u nda t ion s t one f o r t he ne w ch ur ch came fr om one o f t he l s l ands in Lake Winde r me r e, kno w n as Lad y ho l me. This w as a l ink w i t h his t o ry , as t he r e had b een a chan try on t he is l and, l as t r eco r ded in 1354. The s t one w as r o w ed o v e r , and some o f t he men fr om t he p a r ish ca rr ied i t on a hand-he l d b ie r t he up hi ll mi l e t o t he si t e. The con gr e g a t ion f o r med a pr ocession b ehind and i t w as es t ima t ed t ha t by t he t ime t he pr ocession r eached t he si t e, 100 p eo pl e had joined in. The o

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September 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 9 I wa s p rivile g ed to be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on 13th July by the Ri g ht Reverend Paul Swarbrick, Bi s ho p of Lanca s ter, at St Peter’, s Cathedral. It wa s a wonderful family celebration and sp iritual s ervice for me and the many Pari s hioner s who attended from Our Lady Star of The Sea Pari s h, St Anne s , where I will be a Deacon. I wa s al s o g rateful for the s u pp ort of the many Prie s t s , Deacon s and member s of Lanca s ter Dioce s e on thi s sp ecial occa s ion celebrated with g reat mu s ic from the Cathedral Choir to enhance the atmo sp here. O r i g ina lly fr om Wes t London I mo v ed t o Lancashi r e a t t he a g e o f 1 8 t o s t a rt m y en g inee r in g ca r ee r in Mi l i t a ry A v ia t ion w i t h an a ppr en t iceshi p a t BAE Wa rt on and t hen joinin g t he RAF as an Engineering O

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10 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + September 2024 Fr Robert Timothy Hal s haw RIP Fr Bob’, s Requiem Ma ss wa s celebrated in St Peter’, s Cathedral Lanca s ter on Friday 28 June. The p rinci p al celebrant wa s Bi s ho p Paul Swarbrick and the followin g homily wa s g iven by M g r. Paul Owen s of the Dioce s e of Leed s . I am rarely s hort of word s , but when I heard the new s of Bob’, s s udden death I wa s sp eechle ss and even the word s I could mu s ter challen g ed my vocabulary. I am s ure I wa s not alone it that, mo s t of you here will have felt equally bereft. U nex p ected death hit s all of u s , with a pp allin g s uddenne ss . Even with the reality of today’, s event, we can s carcely believe it ha s ha pp ened. Robert Timothy John Halshaw was born on 25 August 1962, second son to John and Monica Halshaw and younger brother to Tony. Robert, or “,Bob”, to most of us here, was truly loved by his family and it was in that ‘,domestic church’, that his love of the faith was nurtured and ultimately his vocation nourished and supported. Having been supported in the security and love of his family, in September 1974, he left home to pursue of his vocation to priestly life. He went 昀,rst to Underley Hall in Kirkby Lonsdale and then went on to Upholland College where he studied until he was 18 years of age. In September 1980, Bob arrived in Ushaw College Durham. Like all seminarians Bob did several pastoral placements, in schools, in Durham Prison and in St Mary’,s Cathedral in Newcastle, he made friends some of whom he was still in regular contact with. Bob was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood, on this very Sanctuary, by Bishop Brewer, on Saturday 30 August 1986, 昀,ve days after his 23rd birthday. Bob’,s 昀,rst priestly appointment was to in 1986 to St Maria Goretti’,s Parish in Preston and he stayed in Preston until 1989 when he was appointed to Castlerigg where, apart from a short sojourn to Dundee, he stayed until 1999 or 2000 –, 昀,rstly, as second in command, and then as head honcho. Bob 昀,ourished at Castlerigg, he was so suited to Pastoral work with the young and, also, working closely and collaboratively with young adults on the sta昀,. He loved the work and was good at it, remarkably he had great patience with young people. The Holy Spirit truly worked in and through him during that phase of his ministry. He maintained close friendship with many from those days, two of his former sta昀, became priests, and it was with one of his former colleagues, his friend Sarah, where he was recuperating before his sudden death. The next 10 years of his life were spent as a Chaplain in the Royal Air Force. He 昀,tted in well and his 昀,rst appointment after ‘,basic training’, was at RAF College Cranwell –, to go from Cadet one day to member of sta昀, the next must have been a di

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September 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 11 mindful of this and was more that aware of the power of prayer and the love of God in his life. Today’,s Gospel of John comes immediately after Jesus foretells the betrayal of Peter, the Apostles were saddened by the prophecy of Jesus and He cheers their spirits by telling them He is going to prepare a place for them in heaven, the heaven they will all aspire to, despite their failures and shortcomings, however, they still failed to understand- Jesus says ‘,you know the way to the place I am going’, - the way is, in the words of my prayer, to prepare by a Good life! Je s u s i s the Way, the Truth and the Life He is the way through what he teaches, He is the way because he reveals to us the Father, with whom He has one from the very beginning. As the Prologue of St John tells us “,full of Grace and Truth…,”, St Josemaria Escriva in his book ‘,Friends of God’, said “,Jesus is the way, behind Him on this earth of ours He has left the clear outlines of His footprints. They are indelible signs which neither the erosion of time, nor the treachery of evil have been able to erase.”, Bob was well aware of this. For Bob Jesus was the Way, the Truth and the Life, despite Bob’,s inevitable shortcomings, he believed in the compassionate love of God and in the ultimate power of prayer. In my experience if Bob said he would pray for you, you would be prayed for –, from his place now we hope he will continue to prayer for us. Ultimately Bob was a man of prayer. He was an Oblate of Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland and today they are with us in prayer for the repose of his soul, as too are the community of St Lawrence at Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire. Archbishop Wilson, Grand Prior of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, is celebrating Holy Mass for the repose of his soul. It is so lovely to see so many Members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre present with us here today, grateful too they chose not to exercise their right to ride their horses through the Cathedral door –, otherwise the Dean would have had a busy afternoon with a shovel. Bob was loved for who he was not what he had or had not achieved and our main purpose at this Funeral Mass is to prayer for Bob. He was not perfect, like all of us here today, he was a fallen frail human being, with faults and failings. Despite all his sins and shortcomings, Bob truly believed in the love and the mercy of God, he had a 昀,rm relationship with Christ in prayer and as a priest, ful昀,lled his pastoral duties with the sincere hope that the love of God was working in him a through him, in persona Christi. We pray for Bob, that he may be reunited with his beloved parents, with Jo and all his relatives who has gone before us marked with the sign of faith, and that Christ will welcome him kindly and that Bob may truly experience the consolation of Christ’,s love for him because scripture tells us, …, “,that I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.”, Eternal Rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him may he rest in peace. Amen. Goodbye, good friend, and may 昀,ights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Editors note: Space has not allowed the full homily to be published, if you would like a copy of the full text please contact me, details on page 2. C on g ratulation s to Sr Harriet of the Con g re g ation of the Handmaid s of the Holy Child Je s u s who i s celebratin g her Silver Jubilee of Profe ss ion. The p ari s h of Chri s t the Kin g and St Kenti g ern, Black p ool thank her for the s u pp ort s he g ive s to the p ari s h and for the year s of s ervice to God and hi s Church. She i s p ictured centre ri g ht of Fr Phili p Wri g ley with member s of her Community. 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 + September 2024 F rom county Ti pp erary to Tyrone in Ireland, from the mi ss ion s in Zambia to hi s beloved Dioce s e of Lanca s ter Fr Tim touched the live s of many with hi s reassuring con昀,dence and perpetual calm that ha s it’, s ori g in s in a dee p faith. For those of you who had the privilege to meet Fr Tim’,s mother, Hannah you will understand that “,the apple, indeed does not fall far from the tree.”, Family was very important to Fr Tim and he was pivotal to our family events and celebrations. From weddings to baptisms and funerals he was the anchor, whose strength we all relied upon. The most recent of these, in April of this year, Fr Fr Tim Sullivan RIP Tim presided over the funeral of his cousin, my dad. Little did I know then as he helped me with my father’,s eulogy that only a few weeks later I’,d be writing this one for him. He was central to all of the happy and sad moments in our family and yet it was never about him - he was a master at switching the focus from himself to the people, he believed, really mattered - you. With Fr Tim it was all about you. I’,m sure many of you here have experienced the same. Fr Tim knew that that beauty of serving others is that it doesn’,t require grand gestures or erudite speeches. Just love - unconditional love ...continued on page 13 >, W e have come to g ether in thi s church today to p ray for the s oul of Father Tim Sullivan, at thi s , hi s funeral Ma ss . We g ather with clo s ene ss to dear Marianne, and with Father Tim’, s many relative s and friend s , hi s brother- p rie s t s , s ome of whom have s hared a p ari s h mini s try and home to g ether with Father Tim a s well a s with hi s former p ari s hioner s . All of u s are indebted to Almi g hty God for Father Tim’, s 65 year s of dedicated p rie s tly mini s try and for hi s faithful witne ss to Chri s t, in thi s Dioce s e, whil s t s ervin g a s a p rie s t for the p eo p le at: St Augustine’,s, St Joseph’,s St Maria Goretti and English Martyrs Preston, Christ the King Carlisle, St Mary’,s Cleator and St Mary’,s Newhouse, Holy Family Blackpool and 昀,nally his last appointment at St John Vianney and St Monica’,s and St Cuthbert’,s, Blackpool We also acknowledge his 昀,dei donum missionary ministry to the people of the Parish of Holy Cross, Maamba in the Diocese of Monze, (Zambia) , as well as his service to the Church nationally, in London, where he served as secretary to the National Liturgical O

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September 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 13 ...continued from page 12 >, - and he had plenty of that. Fr Tim came to Lancaster Diocese from a foreign land but believed that despite our di昀,erences, we share common aspirations and obstacles. He saw the potential for unity in our diversity and the strength that comes from togetherness. There were no outsiders for Fr Tim - everyone was welcome. It was the people he served that enriched and invigorated Fr Tim. The people of Carlisle Preston, Harraby, Cleator Moor, Newhouse and Blackpool were always his priority. He was proud to be counted as one of your own. Fr Tim had one 昀,aw, however, - it was his devotion to Arsenal Football Club - that, I never understood. But that was Fr Tim, loyal to the core. As many of you here who knew Fr Tim well will appreciate when you were in with Tim you were in - he would never let you down. On behalf of Fr Tim’,s sister Marianne (another golden apple that landed by the Hannah tree) and the rest of his family I like to end by thanking the people of the Diocese of Lancaster for embracing Fr Tim within your community and giving him the opportunity to serve you. For Fr Tim it was always about you and Fr Tim would often say: “,All this and heaven too”, May he rest in peace. Joe Sullivan - A Family Tribute CAFOD’, s Family Fa s t Day A pp eal Carving a Better Future T hi s Harve s t s ea s on, we will mark CAFOD’, s Family Fa s t Day on Friday, 4th October, the Fea s t Day of St. Franci s of A ss i s i. We have a sp ecial o pp ortunity to follow the exam p le of St Franci s and reach out with love to our s i s ter s and brother s . One example of the impact our collective generosity makes is the life-changing work in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) . Thanks to your support, CAFOD is helping young people overcome poverty and build better futures. In Goma, young people face big challenges due to ongoing con昀,ict, poor infrastructure and few job opportunities. Many families cannot a昀,ord food or education for their children. Thanks to generous donations from the Catholic community in England and Wales, CAFOD partners with local organisations like CAJED (Concerted Action for Disadvantaged Young People and Children) in the DRC. CAJED operates a vocational training centre in Goma, teaching young people skills to earn a living. “,If God helps and this work expands, I can do greater things,”, says Daniel, a young man from Goma. His story shows the impact of vocational training. Despite his parents’, hard work, Daniel’,s family often went hungry, and there was no money for school. As soon as he could, Daniel took on labouring jobs to support his family. Re昀,ecting on his childhood, Daniel said, “,I never want anyone to go through the life I had when I was younger.”, Determined to change his life, Daniel enrolled in an eight-month carpentry course at the CAJED centre. With the guidance of local experts like Simon, Daniel learned to make furniture like doors, chairs and cabinets. Simon saw Daniel’,s potential, saying, “,I saw that Daniel understands things quickly. I am proud when I see the young people I trained becoming independent.”, Today, Daniel runs his own workshop, making furniture for customers in Goma. He earns a stable income and is supporting his family. Daniel’,s work is a sign of hope to others striving for better futures. The training centre needs ongoing support to provide tools, equipment, and teaching materials. Funds raised by our parishes make a signi昀,cant impact. For example, £,998.40 can fully fund a carpenter from training to independent work, including tools and materials. Simon told us: “,I would love for people in the UK to keep helping these young people so those on the streets can 昀,nd occupations and have better lives.”, How You Can Hel p This Family Fast Day, join CAFOD in making a di昀,erence. By supporting CAFOD, you contribute to vital projects worldwide addressing poverty, con昀,ict, and climate change. Your generosity and your prayers enable more people like Daniel to carve out better futures for themselves and their families. You can donate during parish collections for CAFOD’,s Family Fast Day appeal this Harvest season. Remember to pick up your Family Fast Day envelope and Gift Aid your donation if you can. You can also give online at cafod.org.uk/envelope Thank you for your generous support and prayers this Harvest Family Fast Day, and for being part of our mission, in working towards a world that re昀,ects the Kingdom of God. Patrick Gardner CAFOD Lanca s ter Email: lanca s ter@cafod.or g .uk Tel: 07920 565 454 cafod.or g .uk/envelo p e Together in One Body CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL www.ccc.lancs.sch.uk St Vincent’,s Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 8QY | 01772 716912 | admin@ccc.lancs.sch.uk Open Evening Wednesday 18 September 2024, 6.00 –, 8.30pm Our vision for Corpus Christi Catholic High School is a vision of Catholic education at its best: an education of the highest quality that enables all children to thrive. An An ‘, o u t s t a n d i n g C a t h o l i c s c h o o l ’, ‘,outstanding Catholic school’, Section 48 Report 2022 Our most recent Ofsted report was carried out in February this year. Although the inspection was an ungraded section 8 inspection, the report states ‘,evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might be outstanding if a graded (section 5) inspection were carried out now.’, The report describes pupils behaviour as ‘,impeccable’, and tells how classrooms are an ‘,oasis of calm’,. The language used in the report about all aspects of our provision is very strong. Words such as ‘,extraordinary’,, ‘,exceptional’, and ‘,impressive’, are used throughout. However, we are most proud of the way in which inspectors describe the conduct and attitudes of our pupils. The report recognises that ‘,sta昀, and governors have rapidly improved the s chool into a place where pupils thrive’,. It also notes how the ‘,curriculum is highly ambitious and extremely well delivered’,. We encourage you to visit our website to read our latest Ofsted and Section 48 reports, and we look forward to welcoming you to our exceptional school on 18 September.

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14 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + September 2024 B ishop Paul re昀,ected at the start of Ma ss that Retirement can be a fruitful time, a time to p re p are for the 昀,nal stage of our journey to eternal life. Fr. Harry Holden often ex p re ss ed hi s readine ss to g o to “,him u ps tair s ”,. He wa s im p atient to meet with hi s Lord. As Jesus approached his death, St. John records his priestly prayer: “,’,Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you, and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him, let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him. And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”, Life, Death and resurrection belong to the very essence of Christian belief. We are created for life, for intimacy with God, through the death and resurrection of JC. A priest has a particular role in leading the 昀,ock of Christ. A priest is described as teacher of the Word, minister of the Sacraments and leader of the Christian community entrusted to him. In doing that he brings his own character and gifts. Fr. Harry served as a priest for more than 60 years and we give thanks to God for his many years of faithful service. “,A priest is called by God to act for men in their relations with God, to o昀,er gifts and sacri昀,ces for sins, and so, he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness.”, (Letter to the Hebrews.) Fr Harry was born on 13th April 1935 in Lytham, to parents Henry and Madge, and had two sisters Wynn and Mary and a brother Ron. At the age of 11, Harry joined the seminary at Upholland, and soon showed his interest in football, playing for the clergy, and ‘,doing his own thing’, which included escaping to go and watch his then favourite club, Preston North End. That streak of independence became a mark of his life. Fr Henry (Harry) Holden RIP He was ordained in April 1961 (18 months before the opening Session of the 2nd Vatican Council). At the same time, the Country was changing after the years of austerity following the 2nd World War, and the church too was to undergo signi昀,cant changes, particularly noticeable in the liturgy. Fr. Harry was impatient - mainly with bishops - for positive changes to take place. He was described as a bit of a rebel or more politely, a “,character”,. He was an active member of the National Conference of Priests and for a while served on its steering Committee. He was 昀,rst posted to St Joseph’,s Preston where he was 4th curate under the guidance of Mgr. B K O’,Neill, and forming a great partnership with Fr. Michael Taylor and others. Soon after arriving he was not pleased to 昀,nd the house-keeper’,s cat sitting on his bed, and he helped it out of the window. The housekeeper panicked and ran outside relieved to 昀,nd the cat outside, safe from harm. From Preston Fr Harry moved on to Carlisle serving in the parishes of Christ the King and then St. Bede, before becoming Secretary to Bishop Pearson. Although he only held this post for a short time it was enough to convince him that bishops weren’,t that bad after all, though we are left wondering why he worked with Bishop Pearson for only one year. After a spell in Sacred Heart, Barrow Fr. Harry returned to Carlisle as Parish priest of Our Lady &, St Joseph. One of his great joys here was working with two permanent deacons, who he called and supported, and with whom he became strong personal friends. He valued their ministry and the responsibility they undertook. They were amongst the 昀,rst permanent deacons in the diocese. After 7 years he moved on to St Mary’,s, Morecambe where he spent the longest time of his priesthood. For a while his heart remained in Carlisle and it took him a few months to unpack his bags. It was no re昀,ection on Morecambe, more a wrench away from the work he had begun in Carlisle. At Morecambe he opened up the Presbytery and frequently invited people in for meals. He enjoyed a very happy 17 years - a bonus was his closeness to his sister Wynn and her family. His 昀,nal appointment which lasted 昀,ve years, was here at St Joseph’,s, Ansdell, where he rapidly reached out to his new congregation, very close to his home town. Again, he pursued his love of cooking and watching his now favourite team Manchester United. He was dedicated to evangelisation and again used to good e昀,ect both his cooking skills and interest in football. He regularly provided meals in the presbytery, entertaining both the parents of children preparing for baptism or con昀,rmation and also parents wishing to enter the church. And whilst watching Manchester United on TV he regularly invited parishioners to join him - such that there could be ten or twelve enthusiastic parishioners enjoying the games in a very sociable presbytery. The 昀,ow of wine became a key part of the mission to evangelise. Fr Harry was and still is revered for his love of the gospel and desire to live his life as would Jesus. During his priestly service here at St Joseph’,s he introduced the parish to the Bernadine Sisters which, while based at Carnforth were developing a new Mission in Burkina Faso, the 2nd poorest country in the world. As part of St Joseph’,s centenary celebrations, the parish agreed to fund the construction of a new church at the heart of the Bernadine community in Burkina Faso. St Joseph’,s has continued to support the Mission each year since. His last few years at St Joseph’,s were plagued with back problems but he hung on until his o

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September 2024 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 15 would like to hear from you! If your p ari s h or s chool ha s any new s or if you would p er s onally like to s ubmit an article for p ublication, p lea s e s end u s what you have. Contact detail s can be found on p a g e 2. On Sunday 2 June Pre s ton held it s annual Cor p u s Chri s ti p roce ss ion which wa s well attended. It be g an and 昀,nished at St Walburge’,s s to pp in g in between at three external s tation s . Con g ratulation s to the Catholic Women s Lea g ue of St Peter’, s Lytham who celebrated their 50th birthday recently. 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. DIOCESE OF LANCASTER Centenary Prayer

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16 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + September 2024 Succe ss for St Mary’, s Primary School Great Eccle s ton T he children of St Mary’, s p rimary s chool, Great Eccleston won 昀,rst prize at the Great Eccleston Show, a fanta s tic achievement! Di sp lay s of their work are s een here to g ether with the p rize p re s entation s . 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

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