“, Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations! ”, The Official Newspaper to the Diocese of Lancaster Issue 266 + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk FREE INSIDE: p05 Embrace the Church p09 In the Footsteps of St Teresa of Jesus The Bishops recognise the good work already being done in parishes but they aim, with the help of Proclaim ’,15 , to encourage and animate diocesan and deanery evangelisation initiatives and further support this work in and among our local parishes. In advance of the launch of Proclaim ’,15 , Bishop Campbell announced last September that he had appointed the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma to launch and head up a new Diocesan Office for the New Evangelisation with Sister Mary Julian Ekman RSM named as its first Director. As part of her role as Director, Sister Mary Julian has now begun working with deaneries and parishes across our Diocese of Lancaster to assist and encourage (including coordinating the work of Proclaim ’,15 for the Diocese) , amongst other things, Lay Adult Formation (i.e. training opportunities for Readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Parish Catechists, Parish Pastoral Councils, Parish Finance Committees) –, all through the lens of the needs and demands of the New Evangelisation. The Catholic Voice will carry more in-depth coverage of Sister Mary Julian’,s work in the coming months. Matthew 28:19 Pointing the Way! P roclaim ’,15 is the name of a new national initiative being launched this year by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales in response to the call of Pope Francis who wrote: “,I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’,s journey in years to come.”, Let us pray O God, who in the power of the Holy Spirit have sent your Word to announce good news to the poor, grant that, with eyes fixed upon him, we may ever live in sincere charity, made heralds and witnesses of his Gospel in all the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Our Lady, Star of the New Evangelisation, Blessed John Henry Newman, St Thé,rè,se of Lisieux, K&,M Maintenance Heating - Electrical - Building Telephone: 01772 704530 Fax 01722 798801 Heating, Electrical and Building 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 Building •, Extension work •, Alterations •, Driveways, paths and patios •, Conservatories •, Double glazing •, Fascias and Soffits , Prices Boiler Service - £,39 + 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 9 Romay Way, Preston, Lancs PR2 5BB More information: wwwkmmaintenance.co.uk

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the Jesuits and the FCJ sisters in Preston and the Augustinians in Carlisle, to mention just a few. Today, there are 22 different religious orders working within our diocese in many varied and wonderful ways: bringing the joy of God’,s consolation to all, caring for the sick and running nursing homes, working within university chaplaincy, looking after the needs of migrant communities, supporting work in many parishes, developing outreach and evangelization projects, running retreat centres, and, most importantly, praying for us all and the needs of the world, day in and day out, bringing God’,s embrace to all. We are blessed, too, to have Bishop Michael Campbell as our Shepherd, himself a Religious, who knows the importance of consecrated life, and courageously continues to invite new younger communities to come and be present in our diocese. (See appeal on page 8) The Catholic Voice would like to express its gratitude for the gift of consecrated life to our local Church. The Catholic Voice thanks all those men and women consecrated to Jesus in this particular way for their perseverance and faithfulness through the ebb and flow of the times. And the Catholic Voice echoes the words of Pope Francis that what is expected from those in consecrated life is that they ‘,should be men and women able to wake the world up’,, ‘,to live the present with passion and to listen attentively to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today’, and ‘,to re-discover Jesus as their first and only love’, . Finally, the Catholic Voice exhorts all the people of God to draw close to these men and women, to rejoice with them, to share their difficulties and to assist them, in whatever way possible, in their ministries and works. Let them know the affection, support and the warmth which the entire people of God feel for them, and let us encourage young people to listen to the voice of Him, who continues to call people of our time to lay down everything for the Lord. 2 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk 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 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk ADVERTISING: Caroline Gonella / CathCom Ltd. 01223 969506 carolineg@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, Suffolk CB9 7BN 020 7112 6710 / www.cathcom.org Articles to: voicenews@hotmail.co.uk Letters to: voiceletters@hotmail.co.uk VoiceXtra: voicextra@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. EDITORIAL T his year the Church throughout the world is celebrating the ‘,Year of Consecrated Life’, . From time to time, the Pope shines a light on a particular aspect of the Church’,s life so that all the people of God can appreciate more fully some of the many gifts that have been given, gifts that are all too often taken for granted. And so, in recent years, we have had the ‘,Year of the Eucharist’, , the ‘,Year of the Word of God’, , the ‘,Year of St Paul’, , the ‘,Year for Priests’, , and so on. This year we celebrate Consecrated Life: men and women who have responded with great generosity to a call to dedicate themselves entirely to God through espousing themselves to Jesus and his body, the Church, men and women who seek to imitate Jesus and bring his light to bear upon the world through their witness of life and the many charisms that the Holy Spirit inspires through the ages, men and women who model for us relationships that speak of the Kingdom to come and enliven within the Church the call to be brothers and sisters to one another. The Catholic Voice rejoices in the contribution that those bound to consecrated life have given to the Church in our diocese. We only need think of the many saints who left their mark upon this part of the world. St Bega, St Herbert, and St Cuthbert took seriously the call to bear the Gospel to the ends of the world, often facing great opposition and misunderstanding. The medieval monastic expansion and the influence of the great Cisterican abbey on the Furness peninsula and the Premonstratensians of Shap, helped to unfurl the banner of civilization in this part of the world, contributing to the development of prayer and learning, law and order, industry and agriculture. And, we recall the essential contribution of the religious orders from the nineteenth century onwards who brought education, healthcare and concern for the poor to the midst of the dark satanic mills, the Benedictine monks in West Cumbria,

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February 2015 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 3 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk Sister Mary Stella and Sister Michaela prepare to cut the celebration cake Sister Josephine Mary Prioress ( far right) pictured with former Prioresses of Hyning, front Sister Mary Lucy, back l –,r Sr Mary Lawrence, Sr Mary Phillipa, Sr Helen Mary Prioress General Deo Gratias for 40 Years of Service L ast November the Bernardine Sisters at the Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning celebrated the 40th anniversary of their foundation which was established by four sisters in 1974 from their communities in Slough and Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. 11 sisters, (one junior) and one postulant now live in community following the monastic rule of St Benedict. Work and prayer form the basis of the monastic life with the Divine Office sung 5 times a day. The Sisters are welcoming of people from all faiths to share in the tranquillity and peace of the Hyning way of life and offer retreats and courses on creating cards for all occasions and Icons as well as prayer and gardening days.

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4 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk Holly, 16, Barrow H i, my name is Holly and I’,m 16 from Barrow. Back in March I came to Castlerigg with my school and the experience changed everything. At that time I wasn’,t even baptized and I hadn’,t been brought up with any faith. But, for the first time, I opened up to what faith means and how it helps us. I went home after the retreat and talked to my mum. She thought all this religious stuff was just a phase, but something in me really wanted to be baptized. I went by myself to the church to see the priest. It was scary but it felt good to be able to do something all by myself. And for every Thursday for an hour over an eight month period, I did sessions with two catechists from the parish. It was quite hard as I had to give up going to Boxing on those nights and I found it hard to digest all the things I was learning as it was all so new and in depth. But when I finally came to the big day, I was so nervous. One of my best friends, Michael, was one of my sponsors, and also Liz, one of the catechists. The moment I was baptized was overwhelming, I had the biggest smile on my face. My faith means a lot to me. I am very proud of it, even when my family and some friends make jokes about it. Faith has given me strength to deal with difficult situations and to help me to understand things like my Dad’,s death. I feel I have been given a new courage and these first few weeks as a Catholic have been exhilarating. I’,d like to thank Fr Manny and everyone who has helped me at Sacred Heart parish on my journey. To keep up-to-date with what is going on, check out www.castleriggmanor.co.uk Meaning and Purpose for this Generation Being a Young Catholic Today The Biggest Smile! T his was my first Advent retreat and after going to two Easter retreats, two Adventure weekends and a school trip, the bar was set quite high. But this retreat was just as good as the others, maybe even better! On the Friday night we enjoyed a team game which included guessing and finding objects to construct a mystery creation. My group had to construct a stable from sticks, newspaper, foil, string and cellotape. It was rather difficult as we only had a limited amount of time and the other groups were making people bigger than our stable! We managed to fit baby Jesus in his manger and Mary and Joseph in the stable. It was a great idea and brought everyone to focus upon the coming Christmas. Saturday started early but with snow during breakfast! We began the day by learning about Saint Lucy. Lucy means light. We then split into groups and did artwork, drama or music to do with the prophets: Isaiah, Jonah and Hosea. I chose to do artwork and I learnt a lot about Isaiah and understand about some of his readings and interpret them into our work. I really enjoyed F or the beginning of Advent, St Benedict’,s school had its first taste of a school mission week. The excellent team from Castlerigg Manor as well as some guest speakers from further afield made the journey to Whitehaven to spend 3 days with us. The team worked with Sixth Form, Year 8 and Year 9. Sessions covered a wide range of topics and really inspired and motivated our pupils. Highlights of the day according to the students were: time for prayer in the school chapel, creative sessions making lanterns, the beauty of life from conception, dis covering what love really is, and many more. The students went away buzzing Advent Adventures working with my friends on the piece of art we did. We then went out on a walk up to the top of the hill where there was an amazing view of the Lake District –, I`m very jealous of the people who get to see these views everyday. We finished the evening with a prayer stations, fun, interactive quiz and singing Christmas carols around the fireplace with Bosco. We began Sunday by learning about John the Baptist in groups. I find the story of John the Baptist very interesting and we all worked with our groups to produce something about John the Baptist to show the others in Mass later on. Before lunch we went to Mass and heard readings from Isaiah before lighting the pink candle of the Advent wreath. I really enjoyed coming to this retreat and meeting up with old (and new) friends while celebrating our faith surrounded by a warm community. I`m currently looking forward to Flame 2, the Easter Retreat and the next Advent retreat! I would definitely recommend Castlerigg to anyone who wants to meet new people or develop their faith further! Jenny, 16, Lancaster Light of the World Mission at St Benedict’,s High School, Whitehaven Richard Teasdale, Lay Chaplaincy Co-ordinator continued on pg5 >,

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February 2015 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 5 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk T his year, more clearly than ever before in my life, I have come to recognize the unlimited power and love of God, from whom all goodness flows and in whom we can and must place our complete trust. Despite having had a very blessed Catholic upbringing and having had much support and involvement in the diocese and diocesan events and pilgrimages since the age of 15, with a family and a job I loved very much, I still felt there was something missing in my life and that the Lord was calling me to a deeper relationship with Him and that any concerns I had about leaving my former life He would sort Himself if only I would heed His call and make Him my centre. Therefore at the beginning of this year I visited, and shortly after, joined, a Catholic Community in Scotland called the Craig Lodge Community. And I can quite honestly say, in my eyes, it has been the best, most fruitful ‘,Yes’, I have ever made. Through living the community life, based on prayer, service and evangelisation, in response to Our Lady’,s call to holiness at Medjugorje, along with other young people who have also taken this year out and the families in the community, God has opened my eyes to what is truly important in life and what is merely distraction. And He has shown me how even with the most tentative of Yes’,s to Him He can transform our lives and turn everything to good, even those things in our lives we once thought impossible. Through this time of healing and transformation I have not only been given the grace to deepen my relationship and understanding of who God is but also to gain a clearer understanding of who I am and what God is asking of me in my life and of the gifts and the graces He is giving each and every one of us every day to enable us to carry out His will and to live a truly happy and fulfilled life. Craig Lodge run a range of retreats for young people, adults and families through the year. Check out their website, www.craiglodge.org Bridget, 23, Millom I n early November four of our team went to Liverpool to attend a Catholic Youth conference called ‘,Embrace’, at Liverpool Cathedral. The event consisted of music, Adoration, a Reconciliation Service, some fun group games and some really interesting speakers, ending the day with the celebration of Mass. The slogan for Embrace, which was repeated several times that day, succinctly summed up what our faith is about: Embrace the Church, Embrace the World, Embrace the Cross. We heard some fantastic talks, one in particular stood out from John Pridmore, an ex-East End gangster. We found his story absolutely incredible. He told us how he had used to carry machetes and beat people up but one night he felt God’,s love and power in his life and now he carries rosaries everywhere he goes! He was nice enough to pose for a picture with us which you can see opposite! I was also really inspired by a workshop that I went to from Lord David Alton. Only 24 hours prior to giving us his talk, he had been in North Korea. He spoke very strongly for the persecuted church, asking us to pray for those who were suffering about everything they had done on the day, comparing what they had made and learned with each other. Year groups who didn’,t have the opportunity to take part all wanted to know what was going on. The students really built upon the school mission statement ‘,A Sense of Faith’, by focusing on the theme of Being the Light of the World: Matthew 5:14 and truly showing their light. The 3 days created a real sense of mission around school, providing the perfect way to begin Advent. As we lit our candle of Joy in the Advent Assembly, we reflected on the week, a week filled with joy leaving behind a sense of peace, and sense of faith. The school looks forward to continuing its work with the Diocesan Youth Team as we move forward. Saying ‘,Yes’, to the Lord Embrace the Church, Embrace the World, Embrace the Cross and to raise awareness of the situation in places like Iraq and Syria. The way he spoke about the treatment of Christian’,s in Mosel likened very chillingly to the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. I realized with a shock that although I had always believed that I would never have stood by had I been living at the time of the Holocaust, here I was in a situation where people were being systematically persecuted and killed for their faith and I did nothing more than say an occasional prayer for the situation and a cursory read of the news online. David Alton encouraged us to write letters, letters to our MPs, to governments, to Ambassadors of countries, stressing that although it is a small act, enough people sending enough letters can indeed help change the course of history. Overall, the day at Embrace was a faith-affirming day. It was great to meet up with old friends, make new ones, and celebrate being a young Catholic in the Church today. Moreover, it was good to go away feeling inspired and encouraged. We do exist not just to talk about our faith, but to embrace it and to embrace the world in that and in the cross so that we all join in each other’,s suffering and hopefully find healing through Christ. Ruth, 24 and Grace, 18 To advertise please contact Caroline on 01223 969506 or email carolineg@ cathcom.org

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6 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk Your letters How to send us your letters: Write to: The Editor, 99, Commonside, Ansdell, Lytham St. Annes, FY8 4DJ. Email to: voiceletters@hotmail.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, Readers may be interested in this exchange of correspondence relating to an article carried in the November edition of the Catholic Voice . Dear Royal Society of Chemistry Our Lady`s Catholic College Lancaster teachers and sixth formers had visited some colleges in Uganda. In Kanunga District they had visited Poullart des Places Secondary School. There the teachers had given courses on Biology, Physics and Chemistry in the new science laboratory which their donations had helped to build. They had also run the RSC Global Experiment for the students there. They reported that their results were logged on line, the first school in Africa to do so. I wonder if you could confirm this? Harry Smith MRSC, Preston Dear Harry Thanks for getting in touch. I can confirm that’,s correct- Poullart des Places Secondary School, Uganda is our first (and only!) Global Experiment submission from Africa so far. You can view their results, and the results from Our Lady`s Catholic College Lancaster, on our interactive map at http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/c ollections/experimentation/collaborative- chemistry/global-experiment-2014 It’,s great to hear that our Global Experiment has reached such a wide audience! Kind regards, Jenny O’,Hare Education Executive, Royal Society of Chemistry ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Editor, Think on this. Places of worship for non Christian religions are filled to capacity. Attendance at Christian churches are diminishing at an alarming rate. If Christian people really believe in God, saying their prayers, and being good in themselves, and towards their neighbours, then that in itself is very creditable, as a Christian. When we go to church, to worship God, that in itself is when other people see what we are about, and realize the significance of our belief, and our religion. Another thought is this. When you see the sticker in the rear window of a car, relating to. ‘,A dog is not only for Christmas,’, It really is also applicable, when you substitute “,Church Attendance,”, for, a dog. These are my personal thoughts on the subject. Best wishes to each one of you. May your New Year be happy, contented, and peaceful. Yours sincerely, Albert. E. Short. Via e-mail. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rachel from Cardinal Allen School Fleetwood is presented with her certificate after being awarded third place in the Knights of St Columba National Prayer competition. The winners were chosen by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon the spiritual Director of the Knights of St Columba. The certificate and prize were presented by Brother Bruce McCalla Chancellor of KSC Province 7 (Lancaster) and by Brothers John Brady and Tom Pinder of Council 30 Fleetwood . Your Letters Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9PZ Headteacher Mr Andrew Johnson Tel 01254 827073 Celebrating our Schools Education Sunday 1St February 2015 Our Lady’,s Catholic College Lancaster Top 5% nationally for Pupil Progress Headteacher Mr Brendan Conboy Email head@olcc.lancs.sch.uk or Tel:01524 66689 St Joseph’,s Catholic High School Harrington Road Workington CA14 3EE Headteacher Mr T Ryan Tel: 01900 873290 Email: office@st-josephs.cumbria.sch.uk ‘,High Challenge, High Expectations, High Aspirations’, St Peter’,s Catholic Primary School Norfolk Road, Lytham FY8 4JG Headteacher: Mrs Heyes Tel: 01253 734658 E: head@st-peters-pri.lancs.sch.uk

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February 2015 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 7 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk O ne of Preston`s oldest charity shops is facing closure because of a lack of volunteers. The Rwanda Group Trust, which has a shop on Syke Street, may have to close if people do not come forward to help out. The charity, that aims to help the poorest of the poor recently welcomed the Mayor and celebrated raising £,1m in funds last summer. But it has since been unable to find volunteers and is desperately appealing for help. The Rwanda Group Trust was founded by Joe and Rosemary Bamber over 15 years ago and the shop is now looked after by 55 year old teacher, John Poulton. John said: “,We are desperately short of volunteers. We would be so grateful for anyone who can Charity Shop Help Needed in Preston spare three hours in the morning or afternoon, any day of the week.”, The trust aims to help people and families in Rwanda in the areas of health, education, food and shelter. Volunteer Aileen Toole, 79, said: “,When you see the great work the charity does in Rwanda, it is desperately sad to think that those projects might have to end. They are the people in the most need and they rely on us raising this money. The shop is really friendly and I enjoy my time there. ”, The charity shop is the organisation’,s main source of income and it is staffed and run purely by volunteers. The shop is open Monday to Friday from 10am until 4pm. Any offers of help please contact John Poulton by calling on 01254 851272 or email johnpoulton42@yahoo.co.uk Ann Cusack The Smart Group Electrical Contractors/Testing &, Inspection Engineers •, Ecclesiastical Specialists •, •, Domestic &, Commercial •, •, Industrial and Agricultural •, •, Periodic Inspections and Testing •, •, Portable Appliance Testing •, Part P and Trustmark Registered Tel: 07702 208519 and 07932 045773 Email: enquiries@smartgroup.org.uk DIOCESAN SUPPLIERS Serving Churches Schools, Commercial and Domestic Sector Complete pest control solutions call To advertise please contact Caroline on 01223 969506 or email carolineg@ cathcom.org To advertise please contact Caroline on 01223 969506 or email carolineg@ cathcom.org Call Brandon 07865 981099 01253 345715 BES PLASTERING QUALIFIED PLASTERER * PLASTERING * EDGE WORK * RENDERING * DOT &, DAB No Call out Fees No Job too small School building work and refurbishment/ conversion, building and joinery work, extensions, alterations &, repairs, loft conversions, replacement doors and windows Builders Yard, 66 Marsden Street, Kirkham, Preston PR4 2TH Tel: (01772) 684489 Fax: (01772) 671486 email: admin@jeharrison.co.uk www.jeharrisonbuilders.co.uk M ass Listings –, February 2015 Sunday February 1st at 6.00 pm Septuagesima Sunday Our Lady &, St Joseph, Carlisle Sunday February 8th at 6.00 pm Sexagesima Sunday Our Lady &, St Joseph, Carlisle Wednesday February 11th at 7.00 pm Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate (Missa Cantata with polyphonic choir, Rosary at 6.30 pm) Our Lady &, St Wilfrid, Warwick Bridge, Carlisle Sunday February 15th at 6.00 pm Quinquagesima Sunday Our Lady &, St Joseph, Carlisle Sunday February 22nd at 3.00 pm First Sunday in Lent St Peter`s Cathedral, Lancaster Sunday February 22nd at 6.00 pm First Sunday in Lent Our Lady &, St Joseph, Carlisle Shrine Church of St Walburge, Preston Mondays –, Fridays: 12 noon, Low Mass (except First Fridays when it will be at 7.00 pm) Saturdays: 10.30 am, Low Mass Sundays: 10.30 am, Sung Mass Mass is also celebrated every Sunday at 8.30 am at St Mary Magdalene, Leyland Road, Penwortham and 11.30 am at St Catherine Labouré,, Stanifield Lane, Leyland. Local Representatives: Bob &, Jane Latin Telephone: 01524 412987 Email: lancasterlms@gmail.com Website: latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com

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Help Bishop Campbell bring New Religious Communities to the Diocese of Lancaster 8 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk Dear Friends in Jesus Christ, 23 December 2014 Ever since his election, Pope Francis has had a remarkable impact not only within the Church, but far beyond on believers and non-believers alike. His manner of speaking and in the way in which he expresses himself, as well as his very warm, deeply human gestures, have touched so many people in a quite remarkable way. Pope Francis is demonstrating in a very powerful fashion the relevance and appeal of Jesus Christ, and of the Church he founded, to the world of the twenty- first century. In his public addresses and writings the Pope is urging all of us, especially bishops and priests, to draw deeply from our Catholic tradition and, as he is doing, reach out with the good news of Christ’,s gospel to a waiting and spiritually needy world. The Holy Father is calling for a New Evangelisation, as did our Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope St John Paul II. As Bishop of Lancaster, and with the help of others, I am endeavouring to answer the call of these Popes to initiate a programme in keeping with the spirit of the New Evangelisation. As well as with our present diocesan bodies, organisations, and religious communities, a few years ago I was glad to welcome the Polish Missionary Sisters of Christ the King to Morecambe as they made a foundation there working for both Polish migrants and the local Catholic community. In fact, they are a wonderful bridge between both communities in both the Polish and English parishes as well as in the local Catholic schools. We are so glad to have their joyful witness! More recently, I have invited the dynamic Religious Sisters of Mercy, Alma, Michigan, to take up residence in Preston to assist us in the work of evangelisation –, currently in University Chaplaincy work and much-needed diocesan responsibilities as well leading as our new Office for the New Evangelisation. The magnificent and greatly underused St. Walburge’,s Church, also in Preston, has recently been entrusted to the care of the young Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, where a daily routine of Mass, liturgy, instruction in the faith, prayer and the sacraments, according to the Extraordinary Form, is now happily in place for the spiritual benefit of those Catholics who choose to worship in this form at St. Walburge’,s. Resources permitting, and with the support from priests and people, it is my intention to continue to invite and introduce gradually other male and female religious communities into other parts the Diocese who will help us in diverse ways in the work of the New Evangelisation. The mention of resources leads me here to directly appeal to those of you who read this, and who can afford to assist us financially, to help further this essential work of the Church in the Diocese of Lancaster. Every little helps and your generosity will be greatly appreciated. I firmly believe that Almighty God does not forget those who assist the work his Son came to do on earth. Above all, I ask for the support of your prayers in our efforts to proclaim the New Evangelisation to the people of our time in the Diocese of Lancaster. As ever in Christ our Lord, , Michael G Campbell OSA Bishop of Lancaster Please send your pledges of assistance/legacies to me at: Bishop Michael Campbell OSA, The Pastoral Centre, Balmoral Road, LANCASTER, England LA1 3BT (+ 44 (0)1524 596050) Cheques should be made payable to: ‘,Bishop’,s Evangelisation Fund’, Bank details: Sort Code: 40/27/02 Account number: 81599275 Account Name: Bishop’,s Evangelisation Fund

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February 2015 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 9 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk I n 2015 Pilgrims are marking the quincentenary of St Teresa of Avila’,s birth by visiting some of the 17 convents of nuns, and two monasteries for friars, which she founded. Te r e s a ’,s L i f e St Teresa was born in Avila in 1565, the third of ten children to her father’,s second marriage. He was a merchant from Toledo with Jewish roots. They were people of distinction in Avila and devout Catholics. Teresa and her brother used to play at being hermits, and planned to run away to Africa in the hope of being martyred by the Moors. Her mother died when she was thirteen, and she asked Our Lady to be her Mother. She was sent to an Augustinian boarding school in the hope that she would get over a crush. She did, but admits in her Autobiography to continued interest in fine clothes, flirtations, and romantic novels which had a bad effect on her spiritual life. Reading the letters of St Jerome inspired her to enter the Incarnation Carmel in Avila at 20, which she did without her father’,s consent, believing it was her best chance at holiness. She spent the next 20 years battling against God, oscillating between fidelity to prayer and the love of social chatter in the parlour. At 39 before a statue of the wounded Christ she had a dramatic experience which was to convict her of the superficiality of her former way of life, and confirm in her a desire to give herself completely to God in prayer: ‘,I was deeply moved to see Him thus, so well did it picture what He suffered for us. So great was my distress when I thought how ill I had repaid Him for those wounds that I felt as if my heart were breaking, and I threw myself down beside Him, shedding floods of tears and begging Him to give me strength once for all.’, Reform Between 1557 and 1562 she began to receive inspirations from Jesus about reforming the Carmelite order. She experienced great trials, as –, for some time –, many of her confessors believed her mystical experiences came from the devil. In attempting to found St Joseph’,s she faced uproar among the townsfolk, was suspected of motives of self- aggrandisement, and accused of disobedience (in spite of getting permissions at every stage) , and of pride for seeking a greater degree of strictness than existed at Incarnation. Those in authority were sceptical of her wish to found the order in poverty (on the advice of Franciscan Fra. Pedro de Alcantara) , and she came under pressure to accept an endowment. This she withstood. When she was asked to return to her original convent (Incarnation) as unelected prioress, she faced suspicion from the sisters that she would try to change their way of life. She was forced to enter through the servants’, entrance. She got the Incarnation sisters on a better financial and spiritual footing. This was helped by finding them good confessors, one of whom was St John of the Cross. The chief features of the discalced reform were strict enclosure, poverty, and a greater degree of solitude and silence to facilitate prayer, alongside a vibrant community life. A sister of Medina del Campo Carmel explained ‘,we are really a family. All the sisters are really sisters’,. Great joy was evident on their faces. They explained: ‘,This happiness is something which is part of our charism, passed on to us. St Teresa said, “,Lord, deliver us from sour-faced saints”,.’, Carmelite life today Today discalced Carmelite sisters only leave their convents in case of medical necessity. The nuns restore books and furniture, and in Valladolid grow and prepare flowers. The nuns of Preston prepare many of our churches’, altar breads. There is limited contact with the outside world: Visitors are met in the parlour, from the other side of the grill (symbol of their hidden life) . A sister from Valladolid explained: ‘,It’,s not that we don’,t love our families, but rather that, as Saint Teresa said, “,Solo Dios Basta”, –, God alone is enough’,. ‘,St Teresa teaches us three things: humility (this is the most important), loving one another, and letting go of luxuries’, . In Medina del Campo a cell has been preserved by the nuns over the centuries in exactly the state it was in Teresa’,s time. It is simply furnished: a tiled floor, a bed of planks with straw mattress, a candle, a jug and cup, wool-spinner, a basin for washing, holy water, and a crucifix. One feels as if time has moved more slowly within the monastery walls than in the world outside. St Teresa might have been here only yesterday. Prayer ‘,We are here to pray for the Church, especially for the priests. Without prayer our life wouldn’,t have meaning.’, Mental prayer, according to St Teresa ‘,is nothing else than a close sharing between friends, it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us’,. Should you choose to visit Spain this year, places of special interest are Avila, Medina del Campo (the original cell) , Alba de Tormes (her tomb) , Salamanca (the Dominican monastery and university where St John of the Cross studied) and Segovia (with its breath-taking aqueduct and St John’,s tomb) , all within easy travelling distance from Madrid. You may be in good company: rumour has it that Pope Francis expects to join the celebrations in August. For Spanish Tourist Board: http://marcaespana.es/en/economia- empresa/turismo/articulos/415/ See also: http://www.teresaofavila.org/2015.html Katherine Daniels Thought to be Ecce Homo statue which inspired St Teresa’,s turning point. St John of Cross’,s sketch based on a vision he had of Christ whilst at Incarnation. In the Footsteps of St Teresa of Jesus

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10 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk B ishop Michael Campbell visited St Bernadette’,s Primary School Bispham in October to bless the new entrance. After a short service outside, the Bishop, some pupils and parishioners processed into the school hall where a special service took place. The Bishop then blessed the new statues of Our Lady and St Bernadette which adorn the school entrance. The children presented their specially made card to Bishop Michael together with an Irish themed cross-stitch table cloth made by one of the parents. The Bishop was thrilled with his small souvenirs and said that they will always remind him of his visit. Later Bishop Michael enjoyed tea and cake with staff, pupils, governors and parishioners before visiting all the children in their classrooms. Michelle Holden, Head teacher of St Bernadette’,s said, “, It was a lovely occasion and Bishop Michael’,s blessing has completed our new entrance. The children were delighted to chat with Bishop Michael.”, D uring the summer of last year the Parish Pastoral Team at St Joseph’,s in Ansdell organised a charity showcase to encourage parishioners to link into local Charities and, if they wished, to volunteer their time and skills. On the day eight charities manned stalls in the church hall for 3 hours: Blackpool Food Partnership, CAFOD, Caritas Care, Helping Hands, Homeless Blackpool, Lancaster Faith &, Justice Commission, Life (Blackpool) , nCompass North West and Streetlife. Visitors to the showcase came from St Joseph’,s own parishioners and the local Churches Together. People were able to simply browse around, chat to any that interested them, and become more aware of the needs in the local community. A commemorative display created by English Martyrs, Preston for Remembrance Sunday NEW School Entrance Lest We Forget So what did the charities make of the event: ",It was a complete joy", “,We are always keen to put ourselves about as many people, even Catholics, don`t know who we are. Specifically we gave out several membership forms to interested people”, “,We were able to share important information about the work of Streetlife and also had some interest from potential volunteers, who we hope to hear from in the future”,. At least one gap-year student found a volunteering role as a result of the event and an unexpected spin-off has been some networking between the charities. If you would like to do something similar in your parish contact the St Joseph’,s team at PPT@st-josephsansdell.net Paul Kelly Faith in Action –, a Charity Showcase Event Wet Hands against Dry Rot O ver a year ago part of the church hall complex at St. Cuthbert’,s in Wigton had to be cordoned off when dry rot was discovered –, r epairs would be costly. Up to the mark stepped St Cuthbert’,s youth who undertook the Jennings River Cycle Ride raising £,905 and then raised a further £,185 by running a car wash. The youth are planning further events –, anyone for a hair-cut? Boarbank Hall Contact: Sr Anne Donockley Boarbank Hall, Grange over Sands Cumbria LA11 7NH Telephone: 015395 32288 Website: www.boarbankhall.org.uk Canonesses of St Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus “,You desire to be builders of peace, possess it yourselves first”, - St Augustine A Warm Welcome to Everyone Prayer , Community , Hospitality , Care of the poor and sick Able Wills Professional Will Writers &, Estate Planners Have you been meaning to make a Will but never got round to it? Do you own property? Are your children under 18? Are you worried about nursing home fees? Might your estate be liable to Inheritance Tax? If the answer to any of the above is “,Yes”, then we can help. Specialists for: Wills and Probate, Lasting Power of Attorney, Property &, Discretionary Trusts, Funeral Plans Call Malcolm Nightingale For a FREE home visit. 01539 737400 7, Windermere Road, Kendal SELF STORAGE Secure Units Available Sizes To Suit All Needs Competitive Rates From as little as £,5 per week Open 7 Days Also Caravan/Car/Boat Storage Curly Tail Storage, Park Lane, Forton Tel: 01524 791837 www.curlytailstorage.co.uk Church Pews Uncomfortable? Why not try top quality upholstered foam pew cushions? Safefoam, Green Lane, Riley Green, Hoghton, Preston PR5 0SN www.safefoam.co.uk Freephone 0800 015 44 33 Free Sample Pack of foam &, fabrics sent by first clss mail When phoning please quote MV101

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February 2015 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 11 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk O ur Lady’,s Catholic College, Lancaster came together in the Cathedral in November for their annual prizegiving. The importance of the occasion was noted by the number of invited guests in attendance –, including the Mayor of Lancaster, David Morris MP and the majority of the school’,s governing body. The ceremony was opened by a stunning, haunting rendition of Ave Maria sung by Caitlin Bibby, Year 13 student and accompanied by Mrs Pendlebury on the grand piano. The proceedings then got underway with Head teacher Mr Conboy welcoming all those present and expressing his pride and pleasure to be faced with such a successful and hardworking group of pupils. Prizes were awarded by Anthony McNamara, Leader for Diocesan Secondary Education and over 100 students were presented with T o commemorate World Day of the Sick and the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes, there will be Mass and the Anointing of the Sick at Sacred Heart, Blackpool on 11 February at 7pm. On February 11th 1858 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared for the first time to a fourteen-year-old Marie Bernade Soubirous (St. Bernadette) . Following this apparition the Blessed Virgin appeared eighteen times to St. Bernadette. Lourdes has since become one of the most significant shrines known to the Church. Every year thousands upon thousands of people go on pilgrimage to Lourdes to seek physical or spiritual healing. Have you booked yet? Our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place after July and it is a rather significant pilgrimage as Our Lady of Lourdes is the patron saint of our Diocese. Posters providing details of how you can book your place are available in each church. Ask your Parish Priest for more details. Alf Benson C hrist the King Maths &, Computing College, has received a `Diana Award` for the outstanding charity work which it undertakes. The school has a relentless and coordinated approach to supporting both local and international charities in the knowledge that their efforts always make a difference to the lives of others. Efforts are led by the Year 8 Charity Group under the guidance of Mrs Forshaw who commented, “,We are all extremely proud of the way in which the students engage so generously and enthusiastically, the Charity Group have organised many events and the whole school community has supported them. We have had a lot of fun along the way and receiving the Diana Award is the icing on the cake.”, The school celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Head teacher Damien Callagher said “,I believe very strongly that the school has a responsibility to teach our students how to contribute positively to society and that we must help to develop the whole person. I am particularly proud of the charity work which the school does, especially as this is driven by the students.”,. “,Receiving the Diana Award is really good recognition for the students and staff who are always so generous and I am delighted for everyone involved.”, Janet Dockray S t Mary’,s Catholic Academy, Blackpool, welcomed Sister Eu- nice visiting them from Onuoha from Ghana. Sister Eunice is of the Order of the Holy Child Jesus, the same order which built the original school at the Layton Hill site. Head teacher Simon Eccles said, “,We were delighted to welcome Sister to our Academy, she has brought news of the projects that our students and staff have been raising money for, St John’,s and St Clement’,s Junior High Schools in Bolgatanga. Our students and staff have really enjoyed working with Sister in RE lessons and assembly as well as hearing about what life is like for students in the schools in Ghana and the challenges they face. It has been a truly enriching experience for us all. We will continue to raise money to support the schools and hope to send a few of our staff to Ghana for a return visit in the near future.”, Sister Eunice returns to Ghana bearing gifts to the Head teachers and students in the two schools including a plaque from St Mary’,s and a football shirt and scarves, kindly donated by Blackpool Football Club as a memento of her visit. Annual Prizegiving at the Cathedral certificates. Whilst academic excellence is celebrated, so also is effort and progress, charitable work, overcoming challenges and contribution to the life of the school. Mr McNamara f ollow ed the presentation with a speech which was warmly received by those gathered. Also to speak to the audience was David Morris MP who congratulated the diligent and inspiring young people of Our Lady’,s. A vote of thanks given by the Head Boy, Oliver Seddon, and the Head Girl, Erin McKnight fol lowed by closing remarks shared by Frank Rycroft, Chair of Governors. Mr Rycroft’,s words highlighted the hard work not only of the students but also all the teachers, senior leaders and support staff of the school. The school choir sang the final Hymn, Mary Most Holy, and Father Jim Burns, School Chaplain, gave the Blessing. Katy Walker, Bursar/Clerk to the Governors Anointing of the Sick Greetings, Gifts and Ghana Diana Award for Preston School Martin`s The Funeral Directors 188, Tulketh Brow, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston 1, Stonebridge Parade, Preston Road, Longridge Tel. 01772-733007 or 01772-782121 Proprietor W. 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12 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk L ast year I went on a pilgrimage to Rome through the Catholic magazine The Angel Magazine. I know the assistant editor who organises the trip and went with a few friends. The pilgrimage started in Rome and then went to Monte Sant Angela where St Michael’,s shrine is and to San Giovanni Rotondo, and to see the Eucharistic Miracle at Lanciano. The pilgrimage was lead by Fr Peter Prusakiewicz who is also the Chief Editor of the Angels Magazine and also from the Order of the congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel in Warsaw. Fr Peter travels the world on his mission to promote the Divine Mercy and also to tell people about The Knights of St Michael. For me the pilgrimage was an amazing experience and as I have always had a special devotion to St Michael, my son and brother are both called Michael. It seemed the next part of my journey to Our Lord was to commit to becoming a Knight of St Michael, I felt this was why I was there and it was the most amazing and moving experience for me to commit myself in this special place of St Michael who is the most powerful angel of Our Lord. About 10 people came forward to the steps of the altar at St Michael’,s cave in front of the most beautiful statue and committed themselves to being a Knight. To be a knight you have to promise the following: •, Daily bible reading •, Daily chaplet and exorcism prayer to St Michael •, Fast on Friday on bread and water (or a good deed) •, Nine day Novena to St Michael before the feast day on 29th September •, Monthly Reconciliation and Adoration If you would like the booklet beads and scapula to become a Knight these are available from: Fr Peter Pruskiewicz CSMA C/O BOX 4332 Harlington, Dunstable Beds LU6 9DG or e-mail: holyangelsinfo@gmail.com In July this year I went over to Noreen Bavister’,s house which is called St Michael Archangel and has its own chapel and is just outside Knock. Noreen is the Assistant Editor for the Angel Magazine and I had met her previously when I stayed at her house on a pilgrimage to Our Lady’,s shrine at Knock. I went with 7 other people 5 of whom are Knights of St Michael and we wrote our first icon of St Michael in a very intense week working many hours to finish the icon in a week. It has been a wonderful year and being a Knight has without doubt given me courage to stand up and tell others about faith not just to Catholics but to anyone who wants to listen. This year on St Michael feast day I went to Bradford to visit the Brothers of the Renewal, where instead, and one of the priests and a brother committed themselves to becoming Knights. The same night I received a phone call from another priest, who told me he knew I was a Knight and this was a special day for me. He also had committed himself to being a Knight Today, more than ever, in the times we live in, if you have faith but believe you cannot make a difference think about becoming a Knight and believe me –, you will make a difference with St Michael and the angels guiding your way. Teresa Smith, Knight of St Michael Are you being called to be a Knight of St Michael ?

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February 2015 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 13 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk S eptember 7th marked the start of a Week of Guided Prayer for 18 people from 7 parishes across the Fylde. This retreat in daily life provided a welcome opportunity to spend time in personal prayer with the help and support of a prayer companion. Holy Family, Freckleton, provided a most welcoming venue for the Opening and Closing Sessions. At the Opening Session, people quickly made friends over a cup of tea before being introduced to the Prayer Guides and being given information about the format of the week ahead. A guided Scripture Meditation gave everyone time to become still and begin to get a sense of starting their personal spiritual journey. After taking time to share something of their experience, everyone was allocated a personal Guide for the week. The Guides arranged to meet the participants individually for about half an hour each day in their own parish to talk about how the prayer had gone and to offer appropriate prayer resources for the next day. Each person committed themselves to spend 15 to 30 minutes in personal prayer each day. Each person is unique, so each session with the Guide is quite different. The week is tailored to individual needs by the Guide who is trained and experienced in this work. Most of the Guides for this week belonged to the Blackpool Prayer Guides team. Most participants found that it took a while to settle into the routine of the retreat, but all too soon it was the end of the week and the group were gathered for the Closing Session. The final Scripture Meditation and time of reflection really helped everyone to notice where the journey had taken them. Comments, on the optional evaluation sheet, revealed that despite the many different journeys through the retreat week, there was a shared enthusiasm and common benefits were described. People had found they could pray with scripture, they experienced a sense of renewal, a growth in faith, a deeper relationship with God and a sense of God’,s presence and love. Turning now to a personal perspective on the impact of this Week of Guided Prayer, one of the participants, Cath Chambers, has written the following account: T.O.G…,…,Time Out With God! –, Experiencing a Week of Guided Prayer. By Cath Chamber, St.Annes, Westby Mills “,Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”, Following a talk given one Sunday at Mass by Sister Anne Stewart, I was inspired to sign up to a week of guided prayer. I had previously dismissed the idea of a prayer retreat thinking “,I don’,t have the time”, or that “,going to Mass occasionally during the week”, or even “,tapping into God daily”, was sufficient for me. How wrong could I have been! I think the Holy Spirit was calling me to “,sign up”, , this was the right moment in my busy life and WOW, was I glad I did! This exhilarating week began with a 2 hour service and introduction at Holy Family in Freckleton. We met our prayer guides and our fellow companions who had signed up for this retreat. We were each to meet our personal guide daily for 30 minutes and promised that we would spend some time at home in the presence of God. I needed a sacred space where I wouldn’,t be distracted –, not easy for me whose mind is like a Monkey Puzzle Tree most of the time! My husband, Jeff, prepared a little table complete with cloth, bible, candle and a lovely statue of our Lord in a spare bedroom. I knew then, there was no going back and certainly no excuse not to engage fully in the week. Each day I would spend half an hour in the presence of God –, just me and him! Was it easy for me just to sit and empty my mind of all earthly thoughts and focus on God? Not for a butterfly brain like mine! But with the help of my friend, guide and mentor Fr David Elder, I found ways to help me on this journey. I developed new skills of praying through scripture, focussing on His message to me. Although it wasn’,t easy NOT to keep asking God for his help especially as my dearest friend’,s son was critically ill and there are many people on my Top 20 who need prayers. Fr David helped me to use this time just for me and God. T.O.G. was to deepen my personal relationship with my best friend –, God himself and using the Bible as a tool I was able to develop new ways of getting to “,see God more clearly, love him more dearly and follow him more nearly”, . “,Look Jesus in the face... There, you will see how He loves us.”, St. Therese. Yvonne Stewart A Week of Guided Prayer for Fylde Parishes For further information or to arrange a Week of Guided Prayer, please contact Sr. Helen Bamber Tel: 01253 318196. THE SISTERS OF NAZARETH Do you believe there is more to Life? Looking for a Challenge in ......... PRAYER? COMMUNITY? MINISTRY? IF SO CONTACT... SISTER FRANCES 07906372786 vocinfo@sistersofnazareth.com Friday 13th –, Sunday 15th March 2015 A Weekend of Prayer and Discernment for women (21 –, 35) who are considering a call to the religious life at The Cherwell Centre, 14, Norham Gardens, Oxford OX2 6QB This weekend will include workshops on: , the life and legacy of Cornelia Connelly (foundress of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus) , what it means to be a sister in the Society of the Holy Child Jesus For more information and application form contact Anne Stewart astewart@shcj.org Tel. 01253 318196 RELIGIOUS LIFE IN THE SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS

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14 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk O n 25 November 2014 Marie Worden and Marie Rodden, took their final vows as Secular Ursulines. They tell Katherine Daniels more about Secular Consecrated life. Could you tell Catholic Voice readers what Secular Ursulines are? M.R. We are lay Ursulines, so instead of living in a community with other Ursulines, having taken exactly the same vows –, poverty, chastity and obedience –, we live them out in our own homes, in the world. We follow the same Ursuline spirituality of Saint Angela Merici. We are meant to be the “,leaven in the dough”, , which means that we are in the world but invisible. Leaven in the dough M.W. The Ursuline order was founded in 1535 in Northern Italy. This was a volatile time in history and the choice for women was limited to marriage or religious life in a convent. Both of these would usually require a dowry, so women from poor backgrounds often ended up in service and many were exploited. St Angela`s vision was to set up a new way of life which would enable women to consecrate their lives to God whilst living in the world. St Angela`s life was dedicated to prayer and the service of others. How did you know this was your calling? M.W. Like many people living and worshipping close to a convent we became drawn to what they offered. We`ve been blessed to have the Ursulines in Lancaster for the past 20 years and during this time I have attended many of their spirituality days, weeks of guided prayer and a monthly group which explored the spirituality of various orders: Benedictine, Franciscan, Carmelite and Merician –, that is, of St Angela Merici. It was at this point that I realised that this is what I had been searching for. M.R. I always wanted to be a religious sister, but for personal reasons I was not able to pursue this. Having lived here in Lancaster for 25 years, I decided to revisit my religious vocation. I had been exploring the charism of a particular order and it reached the point where I was meant to spend some time with them in the convent. I remember going away to think about it and experiencing anxiety, and somehow I knew then that something wasn`t quite right. I decided to ask for more time to consider it, whilst all the time I was praying to find my vocation. One day I was at Mass and Sister Zela invited me along to an Advent group. During this time she introduced me to this alternative form of consecrated life which Saint Angela had developed: taking the same vows, but living in the world. It took some time to realise that this was what God was calling me to. It became a lot clearer through prayer and the formation process and I eventually learned that your vocation is simply who you are. It’,s unique to me. Over time I feel like I have come home and I can now differentiate between the feeling of peace I have now, compared to the anxiety I experienced previously. What is the formation process? M.W. There is a time of “,getting to know”, whoever will be carrying out your formation. After about a year you may be ready to take your first vows, initially for two years. These are renewed for a further 3 years before your final profession for life. We keep in regular contact with each other, individually and as a Company, for sharing, support and encouragement, following St Angela`s vision of “,togetherness”, . We say the Divine Office of the Church every day, endeavour to attend daily mass, and practice private prayer, daily spiritual reading and monthly confession. What differentiates us from devout Catholic single women, who may do all of the above, is that we take vows and form a Company. Could you say a bit about how you live out the vow of poverty in the world? M.R. With poverty, we adapt the vow because unlike religious sisters we don`t have to hand in our salary or pension into the community but, like my sisters, the way I see it is –, whatever I have I don`t see as my own any more. We have to pay bills, or run a car, we have to feed ourselves and provide for all the other things necessary to life. We do share with one another, give to charity (like everyone else) and support each other. Beyond that it is very frugal. How do Seculars understand the vow of chastity? M.W. It’,s about love first and foremost –, “,to be virginal spouses of Christ”, . I’,m a mother, grandmother and a great grandmother, so this concept was difficult for me to grasp. However, it is about giving yourself totally, in every way to God in the present. The Rule says it’,s about not acting in any way unworthy of a spouse of Jesus Christ. The vow of chastity affects all areas of our lives. If you really love someone you want them to be happy and give everything to them. M.R. It is about charity towards others. I’,m a spouse of Christ and this is how people should see me in the world. How do you live obedience? M.W. The Company is international and has its own authority structure. Our Directress from Slovakia supports, directs and guides us. She delegates much of this to our Ursuline Sister Zela. Obedience is about fitting in with whichever group you are with and not being contentious. We obey the Law of the land and those who represent the Holy Spirit e.g. our spiritual director, confessor, Bishop and priest, providing nothing is asked of us that is contrary to the honour of God or our own integrity. We discuss all major decisions with our spiritual director, for example buying a new car or moving house. St Angela has written “,if in any way this is not possible, then do what is possible”, . So it is not black and white, but having said that we try our best to follow the spirit of the Rule. We pray for every blessing for the two Maries as they live out their vocation.

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February 2015 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + 15 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk What is my vocation in life? If you are looking for a simple definition of a vocation, the literal meaning of the word is a ‘,call’, , but a vocation is more than an ordinary call. A vocation is a call from God to do something specifically for God and His kingdom. It is important to understand that the primary call from God is a call to be holy! –, The universal call to holiness. It is the divine calling to love and serve God, to obey his commandments, and to cooperate with Christ in the work of redemption by loving and serving others. Everyone is called to live the vocation of holiness, but everyone lives it in a special and unique way according to the plan of God. As we grow up and develop, and especially as we approach the age where major choices are to be made in our life, God offers us His plan for our lives, a call, an invitation. God does not make demands on our life, His call and invitation is open and one that we can reject or indeed miss, if we do not have the right support and encouragement to be able to discern what God is calling us to. How do I discern? The best first step in this sometimes difficult process is to follow the words most spoken in the Holy Scripture, “,Be not afraid!”, Whether it was an angel announcing good news, or Christ speaking to His disciples, setting aside your fear is the first step. Once you are open to hearing the Lord speak to your heart, the process of discernment can begin. Discernment must involve prayer, the willingness to seek out quiet in an otherwise noisy world, a desire to know God’,s will for your life. All men should be open to the fact that God may be calling them to serve Him as one of His priests. Consider Your Calling Who does God call to be a priest? God can call any man He chooses to become a priest, any time He chooses, and under any circumstances He chooses. You have only to join a gathering of priests anywhere, or visit a seminary, to realise that there is no such thing as one single ‘,priestly type’, that God calls to be a priest. Priests are people as varied as any other group, widely different in interests, temperament and background. Sometimes you may even be surprised by who God calls, especially if He is calling you. One of the first things that you may think of if God is calling you to priesthood is that you are not worthy, you are not alone, no one who is called is worthy. You may question God “,you know that I am a sinner, you know my weakness, there are much holier men that me why don’,t you call them?”, God in His divine wisdom calls those whom he wants to call. If you have the feeling that God is calling you to priesthood, remember that He has the power to qualify you for the work of a priest, it is through His grace, for nothing is impossible to God. For further information with regard to vocations to the priesthood contact one of the team: Vocations Director Fr. Darren Carden –, Email: priest@lancastervocations.org Tel: 01772719604 Mobile: 07552795060 Assistant Vocations Director Fr. John Millar –, Email: jwmillar1@gmail.com Tel: 01228521509 Facebook: Lancaster Vocations Twitter: atLancVoc

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16 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + February 2015 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk T hat feeling when you’,re on your bike ride, five miles in with five miles to go, you feel a drop of rain on your nose and realise you aren’,t wearing your waterproofs…, On a grey autumnal afternoon after Holy Mass and eating Sunday lunch with the college community I decided to burn some calories by going out for a bike ride. Wanting to get back to the college in plenty of time for evening prayer I grabbed my Hi-Vis jacket and cycle helmet and headed out to the bike sheds. It was crisply cold as I headed out through the imposing front gates but I had my fleece on and was sure to warm up as I cycled. It felt great to be out on the road, the Drenched in the Water of Life Taken in Sutton Park during the summer when there were no rain clouds in the sky whirring of the wheels, the biting wind and houses and shops flitting by as I headed towards Sutton Park. The usual circuit takes me down the long Chester road, through Boldmere town centre, then up through Sutton Park, down into Streetly and then return down Chester road from the opposite direction back to the college. Now halfway through the ride in the middle of Sutton Park it suddenly got very dark, very dark indeed! Was that a drop of water on my nose... and another on my forehead... Oh no! I’,m not wearing any waterproofs and its really starting to come down. Typical! Exactly half way through the ride, five miles in and five to go and now it decides to start raining! “,Come on Lord! What are you playing at”, I thought. But as soon as I thought it I laughed to myself, what a ridiculous thought to have. Almighty God, creator of the universe is sitting up there by the rain switch, just waiting for me to get as far from the college as I could before saying “,HAH! Got ya!”, and flicking the switch to start the downpour. It did get me thinking about the rain though, how wonderful. Water, the source of life, is just falling out of the sky! Falling on the road, washing it clean, falling on the trees and grass making them grow, green and verdant. If I tilt my head back and open my mouth (which I wouldn’,t do whilst cycling of course) the rain would quench my thirst and refresh me. This life-giving, cleansing water is just falling out of the sky, soaking me to the skin, I’,m soaked in life! Thank you, Jesus. It dawned on me why we use water in the Sacrament of Baptism, what better symbol to represent new life, life in Christ, and being washed clean, ready to start out on the spiritual journey of life on which the baptised person is beginning. So back now at the college after a nice hot shower, sitting here with a cup of tea, I thought I would share my little revelation with you. God is great, and rain is brilliant. God bless. Stephen Talbutt (2nd year Seminarian Oscott college) Hedley Lodge Set in the magnificent grounds of Belmont Abbey, on the rural outskirts of the ancient city of Hereford, Hedley Lodge has accommodation for 35 and conference facilities for up to 200, with full bespoke catering. All rooms are en-suite. WiFi is available and the parking is excellent. Hedley is a popular venue for groups, large and small, from parishes, Orders, charities and inter-diocesan organisations. While here Join with the resident community of Benedictine monks in their daily round of prayer, or buy the Abbey’,s own CDs of Gregorian Chant, hymns, motets and organ preludes, or visit the unspoilt countryside of the Welsh Marches, with its ancent churches and castles, such as Tintern, Goodrich and Kilpeck. Getting here Hereford is only a little over an hour from Birmingham and two and a half from London and easily accessible from the North West. Direct trains run from South Wales, London, the Midlands and the North West to Hereford and transport to Belmont (10 minutes) can be arranged by Hedley Lodge. Telephone 01432 374747 Email: hedley@belmontabbey.org.uk Web: www.belmontabbey.org.uk Organising a Conference, a Parish Retreat or Holiday? Come to Hedley Lodge, Belmont Abbey’,s Guesthouse Please support our advertisers, without them we could not publish this paper free of charge to the parishes Normal Delivery Terms: 5-7 Working Days or Next Day Nationwide, if needed Whether you are looking for kiln-dried crates, heaps of wood or simply a few bags of seasoned timber or bags of coal, Logs Direct are guaranteed to have a solution for you! From their base in Halton Nr Lancaster and through distributors across the country, Logs Direct Ltd offers free delivery throughout mainland UK.

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