Newsletter: January 2010
Happy New Year
The start of 2010 sees the annual Holy Land Co-ordination - a meeting of International Bishops in the Holy Land to stand in solidarity with the region's Christian communities. We have news of this and we've built a section on catholicchurch.org.uk for the UK charity Friends of the Holy Land.
Also this month we reflect on the Installation of the Most Rev Bernard Longley as ninth Archbishop of Birmingham and bring the announcement of Mgr Mark Davies as the new Coadjutor Bishop of Shrewsbury.
Below you'll find news of our Catholic Parliamentary Internships for 2010-11, a look back on the Sixth World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees, an update from the Catholic 2012 desk, details of the Caritas Social Action Network dementia and spirituality DVD and more.
Holy Land Co-ordination
Since 1998, the Department of International Affairs has organised the annual meeting of the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land. It's often more simply called the Holy Land Co-ordination.
Mandated by the Holy See, the Holy Land Co-ordination meets every January in the Holy Land with the aim of acting in solidarity with the Christian community there and sharing in the pastoral life of the local Church as it experiences intense political and social-economic pressure.
In 2010, the focus is on the situation in Jerusalem and delegates will visit people in those areas of Jerusalem that have suffered from evictions and confiscations.
Friends of the Holy Land
We've built a new section on catholicchurch.org.uk bringing you the latest from the Friends of the Holy Land.
Established in 2009, the UK charity assists the Christian communities in the Holy Land in many ways, working in close co-operation with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The objectives of the Friends are threefold:
- to raise awareness of the difficulties experienced by the Christian communities in the Holy Land
- to encourage and to provide for prayers to be offered for their intentions
- to create financial support to aid their wellbeing
You can find out more here.
World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Sunday 17 January 2010 marks the 96th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the contribution that migrants make to the Church and to wider society and highlights the issues of particular interest to migrants.
The theme for this year "Minor Migrants and Refugees" focuses on the needs of the most vulnerable category of migrants and refugees, the minors (underage migrants and refugees).
Bishop for Migrants
Echoing the need to focus on the plight of underage migrants and refugees Bishop Patrick Lynch, Chair of the Office of Migration and Refugee Policy of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said that "care for migrant families especially women with children in detention was both a pastoral and policy challenge". He said that raising the plight of families in detention especially women with children by disseminating information on their human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as providing pastoral support was one way of trying to ensure their protection.
Bishop Lynch said: "At the heart of Catholic Social Teaching is the principle that every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ and is therefore invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. This fundamental principle shapes our ministry with migrants - forced or unforced, documented or undocumented. A migrant's legal status is quite separate from his or her human dignity. A human being's worth is defined and determined by their God-given dignity not by the papers they do or do not carry". Bishop Lynch said that every effort should be made to end child detention while their families await decisions on their claim for sanctuary in the UK.
Sixth World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees
A pastoral response to the migratory phenomenon in the era of globalisation
The Sixth Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees took place in Rome last November under the auspices of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
The gathering attracted over 300 delegates representing Episcopal Conferences, Religious Orders, international Catholic organisations, and global organisations - including the United Nations. Representing the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales' Office of Migration Policy (OMP) were Bishop Patrick Lynch (Chair) Canon James Cronin (member of the Advisory Group) and Cecilia Taylor-Camara (Senior Policy Adviser).
Over four days, delegates closely examined the theme of the congress 'A Pastoral Response to the Migratory Phenomenon in the Era of Globalisation' within the context of the implementation of the Papal Encyclical 'Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi', issued five years earlier. There were presentations and contributions from clergy, theologians, academics and from fraternal delegates including the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Anglican Communion and the World Council of Churches.
Cycle of Prayer
During Ordinary Time (Winter), i.e. up to Lent, we are asked to pray for these intentions:
Peace on Earth; Christian Unity; The Sick and Those Who Care for Them; Students and Teachers; The Unemployed.
Peace Day Sunday
17 January [2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time]
Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity
18-25 January
World Day for the Sick
Thursday 11 February
Education Day
Sunday 31 January [3 Sundays before 1st Sunday of Lent]
Day for the Unemployed
Sunday 14 February [Sunday before 1st Sunday of Lent]
Click for more from the Liturgy Office of England and Wales.
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Installation of the Archbishop of Birmingham
The Most Rev Bernard Longley, formerly an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster, has been Installed as the ninth Archbishop of Birmingham.
The Mass and Installation took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of Saint Chad on 8 December 2009 - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and one of the patronal feasts of the Archdiocese (St Chad being the other).
We have image galleries, some video footage and more here.
Mgr Mark Davies - new Coadjutor Bishop of Shrewsbury
The Diocese of Shrewsbury has announced the appointment by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, of Monsignor Mark Davies, Vicar General of the Diocese of Salford, as the new Coadjutor Bishop of Shrewsbury. As Coadjutor, he will have right of succession to Bishop Brian Noble, Bishop of Shrewsbury upon his retirement at a future date. In the meantime the new Bishop will assist Bishop Noble within the Diocese.
The Bishop-elect, on learning of his appointment, expressed his delight at moving south of the river into the Diocese of Shrewsbury, which extends through Cheshire, Shropshire, the Wirral, and parts of Greater Manchester, Tameside and Trafford. "I have spent some 26 years as a priest in Salford, and am looking forward greatly to joining Bishop Brian within the Diocese of Shrewsbury. I look forward to getting to know the clergy, religious and people of the Diocese, and am most grateful to the Holy Father for his confidence in appointing me to this service. I thank Bishop Brian for his warm and kind welcome and I ask for your prayers at this time." said Monsignor Davies.
Bishop-elect Davies will be Ordained Bishop on Monday 22 February 2010, the Feast of the Chair of St Peter, at St Anthony's Church, Wythenshawe, Manchester.
Home Mission
The words of Jesus "go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19-20), are directed to everyone in the Church, each according to his own vocation. At the present time, with so many people in the world living in different types of desert, above all, in the "desert of God's darkness, the emptiness of souls no longer aware of their dignity or the goal of human life",[35] Pope Benedict XVI has recalled to the world that "the Church as a whole and all her Pastors, like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God, towards the One who gives us life, and life in abundance".[36] This apostolic commitment is an inalienable right and duty, an expression of religious liberty, with its corresponding ethical-social and ethical-political dimensions.[37]
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN)
It's STILL me, Lord
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has released a DVD that aims to raise awareness of the spiritual needs of people with dementia.
There are now 700,000 people with dementia in the UK. In recognising the dignity and rights of people with dementia and their carers, there must also be greater awareness of their spiritual needs and their need to practice their faith. At the launch of a mapping report on older peoples' services provided by the Catholic Church, Archbishop Vincent Nichols said "the elderly are not a burden, but a gift".
Caritas Social Action Network has created a valuable resource for carers, tackling dementia from a spiritual perspective, helping to bring forth the inner value and dignity of elderly people.
The Bishops' November 2009 meeting
Press conference
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales meet twice yearly in Leeds to discuss matters of national and international interest both to the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the wider world.
During their last meeting (16-19 November 2009), the bishops discussed and formulated a response to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Consultation on assisting suicide; reflected on the pilgrimage of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux; warmly received the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus and established a Commission to consider in detail the next steps in this process in England and Wales; gave their full backing to the launch of 'Friends of the Holy Land', a new charity designed to foster closer parish links with the region of Christ's birth and completed voting on the new English Translation of the Roman Missal.
Catholic 2012
The Sport Office of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) hosted its third International Study Seminar addressing 'Sport, Education and Faith: towards a New Season for Catholic Sports Associations'.
The aim of the seminar, that took place last November, was to explore the relationship between sporting activity, the formation of the human person, and faith, within the field of Catholic sport associations.
It was attended by representatives of sport and youth ministry from episcopal conferences, presidents of Catholic associations at national and international levels, and personalities from the worlds of professional and amateur sport.
James Parker, Catholic Coordinator for the 2012 Games, who attended the symposium on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, concluded that "The Pope has clearly spoken and we have been given the mandate to rightly use sport as a God-given tool to teach, form and educate those around us and in doing so to more fully enhance all our lives. Now is the time for the Catholic community in our nation to pool its sporting resources, efforts and energies, and to recognize the wonderful tool that sport is to assist in forming and evangelizing people in both human and spiritual values. We owe it to the sporting world and to our young people not to miss this important and timely opportunity, especially as the nation approaches 2012 and the hosting of the world's leading sporting events."
Interfaith
New Secretary to the Committee for Relations to Other Religions
Katharina Müller has been appointed to fill the position of Secretary to the Committee for Relations with Other Religions (a committee of the Bishops' Conference Department for Dialogue and Unity).
Katharina will be supporting local interfaith work carried out by Catholic organisations and parishes, and liaise with our many contacts in other religious communities. This is to maintain an atmosphere of respectful dialogue that's intrinsic to the life and mission of the Church, and as a chance to deepen our own faith in contact with those of other faiths. She can be contacted on 020 7901 4853, or by email.
Interfaith Week 2009
Interfaith Week, from 15-21 November 2009, was a wonderful opportunity to meet a truly fascinating variety of people, and to discuss their faith and convictions with them. Representatives of the Bishops' Conference were among the attendees at the launch event at Lambeth Palace, an Interfaith Event at Regent's Parks Mosque and a visit to the Jain Temple at Potters Bar organised by Westminster Interfaith.
The warm welcome and kind hospitality received at the events was as heart-warming as humbling. The highlight of Interfaith Week, from a Catholic perspective, was arguably Archbishop Vincent Nichols' visit to the Neasden Temple on Saturday 21 November. The temple itself is breathtaking, and a visit strongly recommended.
Catholic Parliamentary Internship (CPI)
Young Catholics making a difference in the public square
The Catholic Parliamentary Internship programme offers a year's intensive experience of political and social action in a spiritual context.
Now in its seventh year, the scheme will provide seven recently graduated Catholics with an intensive experience of political and social action in a spiritual context.
Three interns will be placed with Christian MPs and there are two further public affairs internships - at Archbishop's House, Westminster and the Catholic Education Service (England and Wales).
We will also be recruiting two further interns for work with Christian MEPs in Brussels in a parallel scheme run by the office of the European Catholic Bishops' Conferences based in Brussels (COMECE).
London-based interns join part-time MA students for one evening a week during the autumn and spring terms at Heythrop College, University of London for modules on Catholic Social Teaching and Foundations of Christian Ethics. (Equivalent studies for Brussels-based interns).
Interns are selected on the basis of ability and potential to gain most benefit from this unique experience.
Financial support is provided which will fund accommodation, living and travel costs for the duration of the internship.
Candidates for Brussels internships will be required to demonstrate good working knowledge of French.
All applicants must be UK citizens.
Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ)
The Changing Face of Britain
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Over 400 people attended the national day of celebrations at Westminster Cathedral to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ). Also joining the celebrations were several bishops from the Dioceses of England and Wales, Ethnic Chaplains and Clergy.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols challenged the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) to act on words found in Pope Benedict's third Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate to use globalisation to make us brothers and sisters.
Celebrating Mass at Westminster Cathedral as part of the 25th anniversary celebration, Archbishop Nichols paid tribute to "the steady and structured" progress of CARJ since it began. "Love and truth have been central as it responded to needs," said Archbishop Nichols. He referred to the difficulties with the Human Rights Act, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and the new Single Equalities Act in finding a balance between different groups and individuals.