From the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales The Shrine of St Winefride in Holywell, north Wales, has been elevated to the status of a National Shrine for England and Wales. It’s one of the oldest places of pilgrimage in Britain and has an unbroken 1,400-year tradition of pilgrimage. The local Catholic bishop, Bishop Peter Brignall of Wrexham, is delighted the Bishops of England and Wales have given the shrine this recognition: “It’s an important recognition by the bishops of the value of shrines and is totally in accord with Pope Francis. Recently, the Holy Father met the directors of shrines and spoke to them of the importance of shrines as places of pilgrimage, prayer, consolation, and hope for all who visit them. Indeed, the Jubilee Year of 2025 has been given the theme Pilgrims of Hope. We are all pilgrims and these shrines are little windows onto the whole pilgrimage of our lives.” Bishop Brignall also wants St Winefride’s Shrine to be a beacon of hope and healing for women who have suffered from violence and abuse in parallel with the experiences of the saint herself. In 630, St Winefride spurned the advances of Caradog, a chieftain from Hawarden who attempted to seduce her. The aggressor then pursued and decapitated her as she ran towards the church which had been built by her uncle, St Beuno. In the place where her head fell, a spring of water came up. St Beuno came out from the church, took up her head and placed it back on her body before praying and miraculously raising her to life. Bishop Peter Brignall: “One of the things that I inaugurated this year, drawing on the story of St Winefride and the abuse and attack upon her, was to make the shrine at Holywell a place of consolation for those who have suffered similarly in their own lives. I wanted to draw on that tradition of healing in Holywell, that healing that comes through the intercession of St Winefride, through the grace of God, that those who in our own time have suffered violence of any sort and are inevitably traumatised by it – particularly women – may find consolation, hope, comfort, reconciliation and healing at Holywell. When we speak of healing, to my mind, it’s that global form of being made ‘whole’ rather than being ‘cured’ of a particular illnesses or disease.” Visit: St Winefride’s Shrine and Well is administered by the Catholic Diocese of Wrexham. Visitors are, of course, welcome. More information can be found here.
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News from the Catholic Bishops' Conference Monday 6 November, 2023
Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference’s International Affairs department, and Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the Holy Land Co-ordination have released a statement on the ongoing Israel/Hamas war: “To our brothers and sisters across the Holy Land, particularly those sheltering in the Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza along with those in the West Bank, we remain close to you and in constant prayer for you at this most difficult, terrifying, and testing of times. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always. “To our own government, we urge you to continue your diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages and the facilitation of humanitarian aid so that desperately needed food, water, fuel, and medical supplies can be safely delivered into Gaza. We will continue to add our voice to the impassioned chorus calling for justice, peace, and the cessation of the suffering that has descended upon the Holy Land. “To the Catholic Community here in England and Wales, please join us in prayer for those in the Holy Land, particularly for those who have been taken hostage, those who have been killed, those who have been injured, and their families. “We also pray for those who are wearied by the conflict to receive strength, and those in positions of power and authority receive the wisdom to guide them into ways of peace and justice.” Bishop Declan Lang Chair, Department for International Affairs Bishop Nicholas Hudson Chair, Holy Land Co-ordination 23/11/2023 0 Comments Could you help our Parish schools?St John Fisher Catholic College is currently in search of a committed Catholic to serve as a Foundation Governor. This role presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of one of our parish schools while upholding the values and teachings of the Catholic faith.
As a Foundation Governor, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our educational institutions. Your responsibilities will encompass: 1) Upholding Catholic Ethos : As a practising Catholic, you will ensure the preservation of the Catholic ethos within our schools, fostering an environment that nurtures spiritual, moral, and academic growth. 2) Strategic Planning : Collaborating with fellow Governors, you will actively participate in the development and implementation of strategic plans, policies, and objectives to enhance the quality of education provided. 3) Monitoring and Evaluation : Regularly reviewing the performance of our school, you will provide constructive feedback and support to ensure continuous improvement in all areas. 4) Safeguarding and Pastoral Care : Ensuring the safety and well-being of learners and staff will be a top priority. You will work closely with the school leadership team to maintain a secure and caring environment. To be considered for this role, you must be a practising Catholic as it involves upholding the Catholic ethos within our schools and promoting the values of the Catholic faith. Ideally, you must also have the following skills and ambitions: - excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with fellow governors, school staff, and parents. - A passion for education and a desire to contribute to the development of young minds. - The ability to think strategically and make informed decisions in the best interest of the schools and their students. - A willingness to dedicate time and effort to attend meetings, training sessions, and school events. If you are ready to make a difference and play an integral part in shaping the future of one of our parish schools, we invite you to apply for the position of Foundation Governor. To express your interest or for further information, please contact the Headteacher, Mr G Murray on 01782 307551 or email [email protected]. Top of Form 20/11/2023 0 Comments Thanksgiving Mass for Bishop StephenAltar Servers from Holy Trinity assist at the celebration Mass for Bishop Stephen Hundreds welcomed Bishop Stephen Wright back to the Archdiocese today, Friday 17 November, for a Mass of Thanksgiving at St Chad's Cathedral.
Bishop Stephen, a former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, was installed as the Fifteenth Bishop of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in July. The Mass of Thanksgiving was attended by Bishop Stephen’s fellow clergy, family, friends and former parishioners from parishes he served in Stechford, Banbury and Burton upon Trent, along with a group from his home parish of St Austin’s, Stafford. School children from St Modwen’s Catholic Primary School, Burton; St Chad’s Catholic Primary School, Birmingham; Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, Stechford; St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, Stechford; St Austin’s Catholic Primary School, Stafford; Blessed Mother Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Stafford; Blessed William Howard Catholic School, Stafford and Blessed George Napier School, Banbury were also in attendance. Archbishop Bernard Longley warmly welcomed Bishop Stephen back to the Archdiocese and gave an introduction to the congregation. Today felt extra special as people were able to gather and celebrate in person with Bishop Stephen. He was ordained Bishop at St Chad’s Cathedral in October 2020 with a limited congregation because of Covid restrictions, and not many people were able to travel to his installation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. During his Homily Bishop Stephen talked about his new home in the North and how he was settling in, including regular walks and bird watching in Northumberland and discovering places of pilgrimage. He also shared his thoughts on the Northern Saints, and how they were a continual inspiration - especially St Cuthbert, who is widely revered today. Bishop Stephen said he was very privileged to wear the cross of St Cuthbert and be the Bishop of his homeland. He said there was much to learn from his style of ministry – that being 7th century synodality. He concluded his Homily with: “Respond with generosity to the Lord’s call to serve His people”. On Wednesday 22 November and throughout the Autumn you are invited to join Aid to the Church in Need's #TeamRed, taking action to help countless Christians in Africa suffering targeted violence for their loyalty to Christ.
Together with Archbishop Bernard Longley let us stand in solidarity with the millions of Christians, as well as those of other religions, who are persecuted for their faith. Archbishop Bernard's reflection: I am delighted to stand with you in solidarity with the millions of Christians, as well as those of other religions, who are persecuted for their faith. We are doing something remarkable, we are BREAKING THE SILENCE on behalf of those who suffer – but whose stories sadly are not known. Aid to the Church in Need is asking us to show the world that we care about the 5,000 Christians who died in Nigeria last year because of their faith. With you I want to ask why Africa is among the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian and to ask what our government is doing to help. I'm joining you today to encourage and thank each one of you; your prayers make a difference, your voice makes a difference, every cake sale, each sponsored walk makes a difference and on this Red Wednesday, we say that we will do what we can to ensure this world is safe and peaceful for all people of faith. If you are already involved in a Red Wednesday event in your parish or school community I wish you much success and I also thank you for standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. We must BREAK THE SILENCE on their behalf. Find out more about three key events taking place in the Archdiocese next week to mark Red Wednesday The annual diocesan pilgrimage will take place from Monday 27 May to Saturday 1 June 2024 under the leadership of His Grace, Archbishop Bernard Longley and Bishop David Evans.
Applications for doctors, nurses, carers, hospitaliers (handmaid – female non-medical helper, brancardier – male non-medical helper) are now open. You can also make booking enquiries and find out more about what the pilgrimage entails. Join us for the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2024 | Birmingham Diocesan Trust (birminghamdiocese.org.uk) The Sanctuary of Lourdes has suggested as a pastoral theme the words that Mary, the Mother of God, entrusted to Bernadette Soubirous on 2nd March 1858: “Go tell the priests to build a chapel here and that people should come in procession.” The theme for 2024 is – “…and that people should come in procession.” Every year (apart from the Covid pandemic years) hundreds of people from across the Archdiocese have joined together for the spiritual journey to be with Our Lady. Doctors, nurses and carers have volunteered their time – along with young people from across our schools – to look after the assisted pilgrims (those who may require support with their personal or medical care or transit around during the pilgrimage) attending Lourdes and for many it has been a life-changing experience which they repeat year-after-year. Each Lourdes pilgrimage also brings new volunteers into the pilgrimage family – all are welcome to answer the call from Our Lady. Archbishop Bernard said: “Every pilgrimage to Lourdes is very special for the individuals who come here. But to be here as a group is also really important because it's a place where we can witness to our faith to one another but also draw inspiration from all the other pilgrims who come here from around the world. “Our Lady has invited us to come here to be close to Jesus Christ so that we can strengthen our own mission as we go back to our homes and our churches. So here in Lourdes we never know exactly what we will encounter but the important thing is it's time with the Lord, it's time with one another in company with Mary. “We keep one another in prayer during pilgrimage and especially we pray for the sick, who are very much a part of our pilgrimage to Lourdes. We pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen all those who are in particular need at this time. These and many other intentions we bring to our Lady of Lourdes and the prayers of St Bernadette.” 14/11/2023 0 Comments CSAN statement on Israel-Gaza conflictFrom www.cbcew.org.uk:
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has released a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict: Caritas Social Action Network supports the call by Pope Francis for an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli-Gaza conflict. In his comments after the Angelus on 29 October, Pope Francis said, “…in Gaza, may space be opened to guarantee humanitarian aid, and may the hostages be released right away. Let no one abandon the possibility that the weapons might be silenced – let there be a ceasefire.”1 We deplore the atrocities carried out by Hamas on 7 October and we agree with our sister Caritas agency CAFOD that “responding to the atrocities committed by Hamas with what amounts to a collective punishment of civilians living in the occupied Palestinian territory is leading to unimaginable levels of death and suffering.”2 We urge the Catholic community in England and Wales to pray for peace and reconciliation and to learn more about the background to this conflict, including the role played by Britain during the period of the Mandate (1920-1948). We urge Catholics to raise the voice of peace and justice in their communities with their elected representatives. In particular, we urge all Catholics to take a stand against antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes in their own communities. We share the concern of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has appealed for “restraint and the total avoidance of hateful language and action, as the impact of this conflict is felt in communities here.”3 1 Angelus, Pope Francis, Saint Peter’s Square, Sunday, 29 October 2023 2 Israeli-Palestinian crisis: Calls for ceasefire shared with Foreign Secretary, CAFOD, 2 November 2023 3 Cardinal calls for sustained prayers for peace, 13 October 2023 We have all been shocked and saddened by the devastating conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. CAFOD’s local partners in Gaza and southern Israel are now actively responding and providing urgent humanitarian aid to those in need.
Sadly, staff and volunteers in our partner organisations have already lost their lives and tragically news has reached us this morning that more local staff in Gaza have been killed. They tell us that your support and your prayers of solidarity for those putting their lives at risk to help during this crisis are needed now more than ever. You can also help by donating to our appeal. Donate to CAFOD’s Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal at cafod.org.uk/ipc or call 0303 303 3030 to support those affected and get funds to local trusted experts in Gaza and southern Israel who have been working alongside communities helping those most in need. Your donation will help support aid workers providing urgent humanitarian aid including food, water and emergency shelter to those in need. Purchasing this Winter Survival Kit from our website or catalogue this Christmas can support communities experiencing the terrible impact of this conflict as the weather gets colder. You can pick up a copy of the CAFOD World Gifts Catalogue in church. Thank you for your prayers. |
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