There will be a performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff Vespers by the Keele Bach Choir, 29th June at 7.30pm in the Keele University Chapel. Tickets www.keelebachchoir.org.uk
​

It has come to our attention that there is a misprint on some of the tickets for Sunday's afternoon tea event. The tea will take place at 1.00pm. Please pass this on to anyone you know you has bought tickets. 

All are invited to join the 2024 annual pilgrimage to the Archdiocese grotto at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Hednesford, Staffordshire, on Sunday 7 July.
Programme

• 1pm - Refreshments available in church hall
• 2.15 - 3.45pm - Confessions
• 3pm - Rosary
• 4pm - Mass & Sacrament of the Sick - Celebrant Archbishop Bernard Longley.

The Hednesford Pilgrimage runs annually in response to Our Lady’s invitation to come in procession.
Every year since 1969 (bar the Covid years), pilgrims have come to the shrine to honour Our Lady of Lourdes. The pilgrimage offers a special insight into the care and community that pilgrims share with one another and is a great opportunity to meet old friends.
Pilgrims are asked to please bring your own chairs.
Directions: Hednesford, near Cannock, is a couple of miles off Junction 11 of the M6 and Junction T7 of the Toll Road. Follow signs to Hednesford and Rugeley A460. Train Service from New Street, Birmingham to Hednesford. The Church and Shrine is on Uxbridge Street on the A460, WS12 1DB.

​Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) “There is one sign which we should never lack: the option for those who are least, those whom society discards.”
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 195
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) are encouraging all Catholics to #RegisterToVote before 23:59 on the 18 June 2024 in preparation for the General Election. CSAN have launched a number of resources to help Catholics inform their conscience and navigate the political landscape at this time.
CSAN Resources

News from the Catholic Education Service (CES)
Seeking to protect the Catholic ethos of our schools and to promote the core principles.
CES website
News from the Columban MissionariesRequest extra copies of Vocation for Justice – election edition
The Columban Missionaries in Britain's Justice, Peace and Ecology team are inviting people to request extra copies of their latest 'Vocation for Justice' magazine filled with thought-provoking content that we hope will be useful to Christians in preparation of the general election on Thursday 4 July.
Columban Missionaries


News from CAFODA guide for Catholic voters
As Catholics, we have a responsibility to make sure political parties commit to tackle the injustices that affect our global family and to care for our common home.
CAFOD

News from The Catholic UnionThe Catholic Union has published an election guide ahead of the General Election on Thursday 4 July.
 
The new document contains some suggested questions for candidates, as well as useful quotes from Church teaching to provide context.
 
The questions are based on the results of a General Election survey carried out by the Catholic Union earlier this year. It found that the top five issues of greatest concern to Catholics ahead of this election were:
 
•       Care for the vulnerable
•       Religious freedom
•       Family life
•       Education
•       Dignity of life
The Catholic Union is encouraging people to read the guide and put the questions it contains to their parliamentary candidates – either at hustings or by contacting them privately.
Catholic Union Election Guide

News from Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC)SPUC has launched a campaign to encourage voters to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. 
We have created advanced tools to support this initiative.
SPUC: Value your Vote

Statement by West Midlands Church LeadersA Joint Statement by Senior West Midlands Church Leaders, including Archbishop Bernard Longley, has been issued ahead of the General Election on Thursday 4 July.
21 senior leaders of Churches based in and around the West Midlands have signed the statement.
In the statement, the Church leaders acknowledge the sacrifice involved for all who offer themselves for election to public office. They encourage each Parliamentary candidate to commit to work to eradicate systemic poverty, to build an immigration system that operates with compassion, justice, transparency and speed in its decision-making, and to support efforts to create an environmentally sustainable future.
The joint statement also includes gratitude for the work of faith-based organisations and prayer for a different future. It concludes with an appeal that people of faith engage with the General Election and continue to pray for political leaders.
DOWNLOAD West Midlands Joint Statement (below)

​The Mass of Ordination will be live streamed from St Chad's Cathedral at 12noon on Tuesday 16 July.
Due to limitations on space the Mass of Ordination is by invitation only, but all are welcome to join online via the cathedral's live stream facility. The booklet for the Ordination will be available on the website and it is hoped it will also be recorded.
Invitations have already been issued and unfortunately it is not possible to give out any other invitations on request.
We kindly ask people do not turn up on the day as sadly there will be no space to accommodate extra visitors.

The Provost of the Brompton Oratory in London, the Very Reverend Julian Large, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to Faith and Integration.
Awarded an MBE is a Ukrainian priest instrumental in setting up a welcome centre for displaced Ukrainians in London fleeing the war.
Father Mykola Matwijiwskyj, Vicar General of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (or diocese) of the Holy Family of London, had the honour conferred on him for services to refugee resettlement. 
The Ukrainian Welcome Centre was set up in central London to provide a single point of contact for essential information for arrival, settling and long-term living in the UK for those displaced by the war in Ukraine.
Fr Mykola said:
“It is an honour to be awarded an MBE in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours list and I am humbled by this recognition. I see it as my pastoral duty and a part of my priestly ministry to support Ukrainians in the UK – especially those who have fled war in Ukraine in the hope of finding sanctuary.
“This award recognises the important role our Eparchy plays in supporting Ukrainians in the UK. I consider this to be an honour for our entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the UK and an award for every person who has worked or volunteered with the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. I pray that God rewards and blesses them for all they have done and all they will continue to do.
“I also express my sincere gratitude to His Majesty The King for considering the Eparchy worthy of such public acknowledgement. Thank you.”
ImageThe image is of the Vicar General of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Father Mykola Matwijiwskyj.
​
Priests honoured in King Charles III Birthday Honours List - Catholic Bishops' Conference (cbcew.org.uk)

The talk on "Prayer and the Virtue of Hope" due to be held at Wolstanton on Friday 21st of June has been cancelled owing to illness. We hope that the talk will now take place later in the year. 

 
Holy Trinity, Newcastle, and Sacred Heart, Silverdale
General Election 4 July 2024
 
The Bishops Conference of England and Wales writes:
“Gospel values inform how we look at the world as Christians, a way that puts the common good before self-interest. Throughout this election season we will be seeking answers which will help the poor, the marginalised, and the vulnerable. We seek a society in which all families can flourish and where we care for our common home, where we offer a welcoming hand to strangers in need, where we look out for those struggling to get on. Families are the heart of our communities and society.
“We seek, therefore, political leaders who can reflect and share these values. We are not merely the passive recipients of politics but active citizens. An election is the best time for us as Christians to speak out, to get involved, and to lead. We hope that these resources will help in that endeavour.”
It is important for each of us to vote. Make sure you are registered to vote AND you have photo I.D.
 
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference and CAFOD/SVP have prepared suggested questions to ask candidates if they call at your home. Also, attend the hustings and ask one of these questions of all the candidates. This is an excellent way of making our Catholic voice heard. These questions may be useful to you to consider as you decide how to cast your vote.
CAFOD and SVP would like to know if you have asked one of their questions of a candidate. If you have, please can you place a tick against the question you asked on the sheet at the back of Church. Thank you.
 
 
FROM CAFOD/SVP:   

COST OF LIVING CRISIS:  
1. With almost 2 million people using foodbanks, the highest number on record, what are your plans to tackle the cost of living in our area and nationally?
2. If elected, would you commit to improve our social security system by raising the basic rate of Universal Credit so that people can meet their basic needs?

CLIMATE:
1. Would you work to ensure that the U.K. finally ends all new oil, gas and coal projects and phases out existing ones.
2. Climate change is affecting some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. Would you support working with other countries to raise new taxes from the most polluting industries, aviation, shipping, and fossil fuels to support countries most affected?

MIGRATION AND ASYLUM:
Will you ensure that the country is a welcoming one to refugees and migrants, including ending the unjust deportation of people who have not had their cases heard?

FOOD SYSTEMS:  
1. Ten per cent of the world’s population go to bed hungry. Will you work towards ending hunger both in the U.K. and globally?
2.Will you work to ensure that small scale farmers across the world who are practising sustainable techniques receive support from the UK ?

DEBT CANCELLATION: Over 50% of the world’s poorest countries are struggling with a debt crisis and cannot fund essential services such as health and education. Will you support the idea that the UK should champion debt cancellation for those countries who desperately need it?

AID AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Our overseas aid budget has been cut and the Department for International Development has been shut down. Will you work to ensure that Britain restores its Aid Budget to 0.7% of national income, and supports people across the world experiencing poverty?

BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES & TACKLING REGIONAL INEQUALITIES:  1.  What will your party do to address Regional inequalities and help communities thrive?  2. Will you commit to working more closely with local groups, such as the SVP, to identify the best policies to support left behind areas.

BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS:  Many of the things we consume are produced overseas by workers who may be exploited and/or the environment is damaged. Would you support the introduction of legislation for greater oversight of business practices to ensure workers rights are upheld, affected communities are safeguarded and the natural environment is protected?

FROM General Election 2024 - Catholic Bishops' Conference (cbcew.org.uk)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE:

• Do you consider the criminal justice system to be in need of reform and, if so, what do you consider to be the major priorities for reform?
• Do you support a reduction in the use of custodial sentences for non-violent offences, where appropriate, and greater use of community sentences and restorative justice? Do you support measures to strengthen the place of prison chaplaincy within prisons?
• Do you support an appropriately resourced probation service that is effective in reducing re-offending and rehabilitating offenders in the community?

 
POVERTY: 

• Do you support the removal of the two-child cap on Universal Credit payments? And  Do you support policies that will reduce the cost of housing?
• What are your views on taxation, especially the taxation of families where the adults have caring responsibilities for children or other adults?
• Do you recognise the value of local government, civil society, and faith communities in supporting those in need?

 
EDUCATION: 

• Do you support the creation of new Catholic schools, including new Catholic Special Schools, through the removal of the cap on faith-based admissions? And Will  you protect current admissions arrangements in Catholic schools?
• Do you recognise the importance of Catholic leaders, teachers and governors in maintaining the Catholic school ethos? And What support will they give to raising the importance of Religious Education?
• How will they safeguard parents’ rights as the primary educators including their right to withdraw their child from Relationships and Sex education and Religious Education?

 
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT:

• Do you support credible policies for the delivery of net zero by 2050, including a transition away from the use of fossil fuels? 
• What policies will you support at national and local level to promote the natural environment and biodiversity? 
• Are you willing to work with faith communities to protect our common home? 

 
 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:

• Do you support the UK’s continued commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights? 
• What are your views on promoting peace through working with international bodies and faith communities? 
• Do you support working with other nations to promote worldwide nuclear disarmament whilst securing the effective defence of the UK? 

 
LIFE ISSUES:   

• Will you challenge the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia?  Families, charities, hospices, and civil society organisations should be supported appropriately so that vulnerable individuals and their families have access to appropriate care. Do you agree?
• Parliament should legislate to ensure that disability cannot be given as a reason for abortion and babies diagnosed with disabilities cannot be aborted up to the point of birth. The government should also end the practice of medically unsupervised abortions in the home and Parliament should resist attempts to extend abortion limits further. 
• Do you agree that National and local government, as well as civil society, should respond to the need to support vulnerable mothers and babies. 

 
 
 
CCC 2239. It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follows from the duty of gratitude and belongs to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country (Rom. 13:7) …. . . . The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way." (1 Tim 2:2)
The duty to vote is one of co-responsibility for society. Its moral object is the common good. As Catholics our consciences should be specifically informed as to the greatest moral principles, so that we may vote with them in mind.