Prayer in response to the Cry of the Earth

By Sister Maureen Murphy, FMSJ:

Lord, make each one of us an instrument of change to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

Where there is arrogance, apathy and avarice let us be more generous in our service of others and our care of all creation.

Where there is disregard for those who are suffering in any way, let us do all we can to alleviate their pain.

Where people are hungry or thirsty, sick or in prison, let us remember the words of the Gospel and become your hands and feet, your ears, and eyes to provide food, water, medicine, and human contact.

Where global economic greed destroys rain forests and poisons rivers let us plant saplings and promote new green technologies.

Where mines and fossil fuels destroy the natural beauty of our created world, let us find and promote new clean and natural energy resources.

Where we have misused and abused the many plants and creatures on the earth so that they are now nearing extinction, let us listen to experts who can show us how to preserve your gifts of life instead of continuing on the path of destruction.

Where there is land erosion caused by over farming, logging and unsafe construction works, let us seek to educate those responsible and look after and provide for those who are vulnerable from the loss of their livelihoods or homes.

For we can no longer profess to be your followers, Lord, when we ignore what is happening around us, when we turn a blind eye to profiteering, greed and pollution, when we fail to speak out in the cause of truth, justice and right.

It is in promoting what is good, just, and wholesome that we can change mindsets and make the world a better place.

It is in thinking more of others and less of self gratification, that the world’s resources can be protected and more evenly shared.

It is in preserving, protecting, and restoring all of your creation that we can enable new life to continue to be born and a new creation to flourish.

Lead us, Father, towards a new normal, rich in Gospel values with Jesus as our constant companion and with the wisdom of your Spirit as our guide.  

Hundreds attend Cry of the Earth Webinar

Laudato Si’ reflection day in Salford in 2020

Religious and lay associates from across England and Wales and also a number from Ireland joined the first ever webinar put on by the Conference of Religious.   Ten months on from our cancelled Laudato Si’ reflection days, it was a chance to draw Religious together and to flag up ways of mobilising around the issue of climate change, and environmental damage, ahead of the UK hosting a major summit, COP26 in November.

Sr Sheila Kinsey

The keynote speakers were Rome based Sr Sheila Kinsey FCJM, the international Co-ordinator of the UISG Campaign: Sowing Hope for the Planet, Bishop John Arnold, the Lead on the environment for CBCEW and the Chair of Trustees of Cafod and Dr Carmody Grey, Assistant Professor of Catholic Theology at Durham University, working mainly in the areas of philosophical theology and theological ethics, with a focus on science, nature and environment.

Sr Maureen Murphy FMSJ of Salford diocese gave the opening prayer, which is reproduced separately on our homepage.

Three very detailed and illuminating presentations followed, with Sr Sheila outlining the international campaign and collaboration that is underway as part of www.sowinghopefortheplanet.org. Sr Sheila’s slides will be uploaded to the members section of this website shortly.

Bishop Arnold outlined the work of the Bishops and dioceses in raising ecology up the Church’s agenda and the extensive and ongoing work in schools around Laudato Si’ as well as the innovative Laudato Si’ Centre that is being developed in Salford diocese. He recalled a visit to a primary school where a very knowledgeable seven year old gave an account “with some authority” of planting and growing - and that teachers remark how interest in this subject has the added benefit of assisting in literacy and numeracy.

Both Bishop Arnold and Dr Carmody Grey also featured in short films which were played during the webinar, Global Healing and Global Caring  - available to view at:

https://www.ourcommonhome.co.uk/

Sr Margaret Atkins at Boarbank Hall, Cumbria

A video interview, filmed in the grounds of Boarbank Hall in Cumbria, with Sr Margaret Atkins OSA, was used to illustrate what one congregation is actively doing to ‘live’ Laudato Si.’  It’s available on CoR’s youtube channel (click on the red button in the social media symbols on the CoR homepage).

Building on her observations in the two aforementioned films, Dr Grey gave a profound reflection on the Christian imperative to protect planet earth and all its creatures, arguing theologically that non human life has intrinsic value and also drawing attention to the appalling standards of animal welfare through industrial farming: “70 billion animals are raised and slaughtered in factory farm conditions each year.”

A follow on meeting from this webinar will be announced soon, to assist congregations to develop their thoughts and plans around environmental issues.

After the three presentations, the speakers came together in a panel for a lively question and answer session: below is a flavour of the points raised:

In the light of COP26, what if every Catholic were to contact their MP to ask them to put ecology high on their agenda eg., with the development of renewable energy?

(a response to this point): There is a specific thing we can talk with our MPs about: ask them to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill - https://www.ceebill.uk/ ) - it is a private members bill.

Environmental activists in the secular world have much to teach us.... eg. London Mining Network supports indigenous groups throughout the world in their struggles with mining companies registered on the London stock exchange. Columbans work closely with the London Mining Network.

One of my big concerns is about single use plastic. any suggestions for what we can do for this?  

Could Bishop Arnold encourage Bishops and parish priests to do more concerning Laudato Si’ and care of the universe?

To Carmody: How do we see the worship of creation as it happens in some religions, from that of Christian faith on God who incarnates himself in small things as you have said?

For Sr Sheila - you  mentioned training for advocacy. Obviously conversion is integral and personal and communal change is important, but we are all embedded in the system, and we have very little time and urgent system change is needed - so what can we do to motivate and organise Religious and others to get involved in advocacy - that is, to take the political action needed? (political in a broad sense, not party political necessarily)

Bishop John, you mentioned the benefit of ecological activities on the curricular performance in primary schools. Could that be brought into secondary level education?

Lock-down and less travel has proved that we can make a big difference to the quality of the air we breath and also to biodiversity. Should we not be placing more emphasis on reducing our carbon footprint?

Thanks,  Carmody! Excellent! Very inspiring. It reminds me of 'Dream together'. I wonder if you can give any idea how non Christians can be motivated for example?

Think of how one tiny virus has changed our world in the past year  - just a comment.

The Church abandoned Friday fasting from meat just about the time when the rest of the world was starting to embrace veganism! Can we use our liturgical seasons more powerfully by linking them to the way we eat (or don't eat)?

Behaviour change is a lengthy process - and we are restricted with time. What would you say  are the practical priority areas for action that we, as a faith community, can immediately engage with?

Carmody,: Is it possible living in this world without eating animals... ?

I was grateful to Carmody for emphasising the incarnational aspect of our faith. I was also impressed by the educational involvement of children in ecological learning. May I ask Bishop John what is being done in the seminaries to form priests in this regard?

Bishop John, if you had the Prime Minister in front of you today, as ecological lead for the bishops of England and Wales, what is the most important ecological ‘ask’ you would make of the UK government?

How could we as Religious support the bishops of England and Wales in creating the ‘political will’ to make this ‘ask’ a reality? Especially in the light of the UK government’s decision to cut the overseas aid budget?

Carmody - would you urge CAFOD to challenge industrial farming and agriculture?

I wonder how the Church felt about the suffragettes? We women wouldn't have had the vote??

London Mining Network is a great organization involved in the atrocities of mining in poor communities throughout the world.

All invited to NJPN's annual conference in July on issues raised today. https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/

A call to ecological conversion: Cry of the Earth webinar

Bishop John Arnold leading prayer at CoR’s Laudato Si’ reflection day in February 2020

Cry of the Earth Ecology Webinar

Thursday 28th January 2021 from 2pm

With a growing sense of urgency about the need to care for our common home and following on from last year's cancelled Laudato Si' reflection days, we've organised a Webinar on January 28th, to which all Religious & lay associates are invited.

Guest speakers are Sr Sheila Kinsey FCJM, Bishop John Arnold and Dr Carmody Grey 

Five years ago Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: On the Care for Our Common Home, was published. The document called on the entire global community to recognize how every person is connected and dependent on one another, as well as on the world in which we all live.  Recently, during an audience with a group of ecological experts, Pope Francis welcomed the fact that “the issue of ecology is increasingly permeating the ways of thinking at all levels and is beginning to influence political and economic choices, even if much remains to be done and even if we are still witnessing too slow and even backward steps.”

We're aiming to make the environment a key theme in 2021 so that the Religious of England and Wales can lend their voice to this most pressing issue, especially as the UK is hosting the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference.

Speaker Information

Sr Sheila Kinsey is the international Co-ordinator of the UISG Campaign,  Sowing Hope for the Planet. 

Bishop John Arnold is the Lead on the Environment for CBCEW, and Chair of Trustees for Cafod

Dr Carmody Grey is Assistant Professor of Catholic Theology at Durham University, working mainly in the areas of philosophical theology and theological ethics, with a focus on science, nature and environment. 

TO REGISTER, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO:   

communications@corew.org

Keeping the rich heritage of religious orders alive in schools

An update on the work of ROE, the national association of founders or trustees of religious order schools in England and Wales:

By Sr Brenda Wallace FCJ 

              “When you say you would like to work in a school in trusteeship………you are saying that there is a group of people with a history and a community that you want to be part of.  You want to work for those people, you want to work alongside those people, you want to understand the history of the Order and of the schools and you want to be part of the future of those schools born out of that history. That is something very powerful and very strong. ……. You have the order of sisters, brothers or priests always behind you, supporting you in that role. This is absolutely invaluable and extraordinarily precious”.

Religious & lay people in collaboration: ROE Charism working group

              There are a number of striking aspects to these words – the fact that they were spoken by a lay head some twenty years after the last religious head of her school had retired is sufficient grounds for hope that the rich heritage of religious orders can continue to make a difference in our schools. Even more encouraging is that they were heard at the end of a wet November afternoon by 93 new senior leaders who had opted to take part in ROE’s inaugural webinar on charism. We were amazed and delighted by the number of senior leaders who wanted to participate; this in spite of all the additional stresses and strains on them caused by the pandemic. They came from schools and colleges in the trusteeship of twenty different religious orders. Focusing on charism and community, the symposium was the first of three webinars designed to help new senior leaders to reflect on the distinctive spirit of their founding order and to think about how it might shape their approach to their new role.  Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The next webinar on 16th March will explore charism and spirituality. ROE members attending the on-line plenary this month were delighted to hear of the success of this initiative. This work is at the heart of the mission of ROE and our vision  “to see 21st century Catholic education strengthened and enhanced by the distinctive charisms of religious orders continuing to animate and enrich the schools and colleges of which they are the trustees or founders.”

              ROE is also making progress on its other key project – looking into the possibility of setting up a collaborative trust for those religious orders who no longer feel able to carry alone the responsibility of trusteeship of their schools and colleges.  At our July plenary we had shared with members the guiding principles of such a trust and our vision of education.  In the breakout groups members spoke then of the vision as “powerful and aspirational” and resonated with the phrase “co-creators of a better world” and the desire for our young people to achieve excellence in both learning and in living. In the second year of this three year project, we have turned our attention to legal and financial issues.  In our plenary this month, we were able to share with members our preliminary thoughts on what the governance of the trust might look like and hear their views on some of the legal and financial aspects we have been researching.  Members were pleased to hear of the help and advice given to us by Paul Barber of the CES and by Paul Meany from Le Cheile.  There is much more work to do and we hope to have a business plan ready for the plenary in July 2021.

Sr Brenda Wallace at the launch of ROE

              “I enjoyed seeing and sharing with like-minded friends, once again feeling part of a larger whole and the support that comes from that.” This was a constant theme of the feedback after the recent plenary.  We were pleased to receive this and other similar comments.  They reflect our mission and purpose which is to “seek to work together collaboratively, responding creatively to the unfolding needs of our members.”

              At the end of the plenary we were reminded again of the inspiring words of Pope St. John Paul: “You have not only a glorious history to remember and to recount, but also a great history still to be accomplished! Look to the future where the Spirit is sending you in order to do even greater things.”

              If you would like to be involved in either of these two projects or if you would just like  further information on the work of ROE please contact either brendawallacefcj.roe@gmail.com or (for information about the charism group)     patriciagoodstadt.roe@gmail.com

How one congregation harnessed the power of technology to combat pandemic challenges

 By Sr Maureen Tinkler DC

“ZOOM and our meeting went boom! High as a rainbow we went flying by! “

(….to paraphrase the famous song by Fat Larry’s Band ) 

Plan A:  Originally our Provincial Assembly (to bring Sisters in Great Britain and Australia together) was to have taken place in a hotel in Bradford last July, but we had to cancel because of COVID-19 restrictions.    

Plan B: The British side then arranged to meet in two different venues in the north and south of England and connect via technology with each other and with Australia – but both venues then also cancelled!  

Plan C:   We had to go back to the drawing board and think of another way around the huge logistical difficulties. The result was a technological experiment from our Provincial House in North London.  We decided to run the Assembly by Zoom with Screen Share Presentations and Break Out Groups for small group work - using the White Board feature in our meeting room for group feedback purposes. The financial outlay for the technology was appreciable but when balanced against the costs that we would have incurred for hiring venues and technicians, we easily broke even and had the added investment value of having this equipment available for the future. It was a good strategic decision, with future planning in mind.  

This required a lot of preparation and training. At our Provincial House in Mill Hill we created a HUB - a Social Comms Room. Here we installed a PTZ (PAN, Tilt, Zoom) video camera which filmed proceedings via Zoom using a 98” LCD Screen which we installed on the wall.  

We had 66 delegates attending the Assembly - from both Great Britain and Australia (For the DCs - these Geographic areas now form the Province of ‘Rosalie Rendu’). The average age of our Sisters is 72, and very few of them had used Zoom before, so we had to put on a focussed Zoom Training Programme. 

Sr Ellen Flynn DC

Before the training began, we had to make sure that every house had superfast broadband  installed and that each delegate had access to an up-to-date laptop or PC. Also, when using Zoom, each delegate had to be in her own room on her own machine otherwise there would be terrible feedback problems!! 

Zoom Training took place on 5 working days before the Assembly began. A Zoom link was sent to each delegate and the training session lasted for one hour. Sisters who felt confident just came to a single session. Other, less-confident delegates attended all the training sessions. We also conducted about 30 individual sessions for the very diffident Sisters. 

During the Assembly we voted on various proposals and propositions. For voting purposes each delegate had been sent 3 large squares - RED (no), GREEN (yes) and YELLOW (abstain). Our delegates filled 3 Zoom screens (25+ per page) When each delegate voted by holding up her card screen shots were taken of the three Participants’ Gallery pages, so it was easy to count and get accurate results. 

Sisters in Australia

We also elected two delegates to attend the General Assembly next year with our Provincial, Sr Ellen Flynn. For this voting, (which needed to be private), we used survey monkey.  

In conclusion, nothing can ever replace being together for a Provincial Meeting, but we asked our Sisters to evaluate their experience afterwards and they overwhelmingly fed back that they had really enjoyed it. The Assembly on Zoom had achieved its purpose and the Sisters were pleased with their newly acquired IT skills; in fact the Zooming still continues on a regular basis across the Province : we link up to “Meet and Greet”, share prayer & participate in webinars……. 

To misquote Vera Lynn,  the following refrain has become our very own: 

“We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again - using Zoom-ing skills!” 

Service to commemorate the women martyrs of El Salvador

On December 2nd 1980, four Catholic missionaries from the United States working in El Salvador were raped and murdered by five members of the El Salvador National Guard. They were Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, Cleveland Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, and lay missionary Jean Donovan. This was nine months after the assassination of Archbishop Romero and the Salvadoran civil war was underway. 

CoR working with Archbishop Romero Trust, Cafod and Pax Christi invite members to share the zoom invitation :

Live Streamed Service at 7pm on 2nd December 2020.

You can join by clicking on the following links

www.botwell.org.uk And

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCNvHNooijkNJ3CedpME2NSQ

An invitation to congregations to reflect on IICSA - with renowned theologian, Fr Nick King SJ

Join us for a one off talk by the renowned theologian, Fr Nick King SJ:  On Being A Religious today – Responding to the IICSA report:

Nov 26: 4-5.30pm (to receive a zoom link, email admin@corew.org)

A chance to come together as members of religious congregations to reflect on the painful findings of IICSA – a biblical and spiritual reflection.  Also to turn our thoughts into making the Church a safer place for  those entrusted to us:

The Awfulness

Signs of Hope?

A Possible Way Ahead

Have Religious Got It Wrong?

What Do the Scriptures Tell Us?

·         Beatitudes

·         Lucan Summaries

·         Petrine Failures

·         A Concluding Vision 

To register, email admin@corew.org

Five UK religious orders join new wave of fossil fuel divestment

Five Catholic religious orders in the UK were among those announcing their divestment from fossil fuel companies, in the recent  largest-ever divestment announcement by faith organisations. In total, 47 faith institutions from 21 countries contributed to the announcement.  

The UK congregations were:  the Mill Hill Missionaries (British Region), the Sisters of the Holy Cross (English Province), the Society of the Sacred Heart (England and Wales Province), the Sisters of St Andrew in England and the Congregation of Our Lady, Canonesses of St Augustine. The full list of participating institutions is here.

The new announcement brings the total number of UK religious orders that have divested to 12, along with three out of 22 Catholic dioceses in England and Wales. Around the world, more than 400 religious institutions have now committed to divest.

In June this year, the Vatican recommended in its first-ever operational guidelines on ecology that all Catholic organisations divest from fossil fuels. During the same week as the announcement, Pope Francis convened the Economy of Francesco, an online conference involving more than 1000 young adults, which explored innovative ways of shaping a sustainable economy.

The announcement coincided with the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The UK government faces increasing pressure to demonstrate global leadership on the climate crisis ahead of the UN climate talks (COP26) taking place in Glasgow in November 2021. Faith organisations participating in the announcement strengthened calls for the UK government to end support for fossil fuels overseas and support countries to leapfrog to renewable and efficient energy.

Fr Dermot F Byrne MHM, Regional Representative of Mill Hill Missionaries (British Region), said: ‘Our members have always worked among the poorest and most disadvantaged in Africa, Asia and South America, and the pursuit of social equality and justice has always been a serious priority for us. Concern for what Pope Francis reminds us is ‘our common home’ has to be part of that pursuit. As our numbers decrease worldwide, there can seem to be little that we can do to make an impact, but divestment from fossil fuels is a practical choice that is open to us all and may have far-reaching results. Consequently, we feel that such divestment is in line with Catholic social teaching and the spirit of the present age, and we are happy that we, as a Region, are able to make this small contribution.’

Sr Catherine Lloyd RSCJ, Provincial of the Society of the Sacred Heart (England and Wales Province), said: ‘The Province has actively engaged in reducing its carbon footprint for a number of years as the impact of the climate crisis became more apparent and urgent. After reflecting on our own values and the charism which underpins them, we have actively engaged with our fund managers to divest our investment portfolio of fossil fuels. Hopefully, we are making a contribution to working towards a future which is more sustainable and carbon neutral.’

The Leadership Team of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in England said: ‘As Sisters of the Holy Cross in England, Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si’, has encouraged us to focus on care of creation. For some time, we have been urging our investors to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels... We have realised that engagement with these companies only has limited success. We have now informed our investors that we have decided to completely disinvest from fossil fuels, and thus work towards a zero carbon future.’

Lord Deben, Chair of the UK Committee on Climate Change, recently urged Catholic leaders to play a more active role on the climate crisis when he addressed hundreds of people in a webinar on Catholic investment for an integral ecology. He said: ‘It is hugely important for the Catholic community to be very visible…it must be very determined, and it must be clear that we all ought to be in this together.’

In September, it was revealed that Shell plans to resume oil and gas exploration in the Arctic for the first time since 2015, despite pressure from faith investors and others that has exposed the inherent weakness of the fossil fuel industry.

James Buchanan, Bright Now Campaign Manager at Operation Noah, said: ‘It is hugely encouraging that so many religious orders have divested from fossil fuel companies as part of this announcement. We encourage more religious orders to divest from fossil fuels as a practical response to the climate emergency, especially in this crucial year for climate action ahead of COP26 [the UN climate talks in Glasgow] in 2021.’

How your religious order can get involved:

Could your religious order make a commitment to divest from fossil fuels and participate in a future joint divestment announcement? Please get in touch with Bokani Tshidzu on bokani.tshidzu@operationnoah.org for further information or to register your interest.

From refugees to worldwide congregations: a celebration of 150 years

The Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary at Chigwell Convent recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Order in the UK. Bishop Alan Williams presided at a Thanksgiving Mass zoomed to their 29 communities worldwide.

On the altar was a book of remembrance, detailing the many sisters who have served since 1870 – to be included in the prayers during Mass. Sr Mary Mangan, leader of the congregation said, “There are at least 600 names in the book – and we must always remember that we are standing on the shoulders of those who went before us.”

She referred to the story of the nuns’ arrival in England as refugees during the Franco-Prussian War. “Just think for a moment about their situation then: not knowing what was going to happen when they left Germany or France, simply having to trust in the Holy Spirit.”

Sr Lorna Walsh went on to tell that story in more detail: In 1865 Fr Victor Braun, working in Paris, recognised that young German women arriving in Paris looking for work were in danger of being picked up and trafficked for sexual exploitation or slave labour. He gathered a few young women to help him to establish safe houses for them and on the 17 October 1866, the feast of the Blessed Margaret-Mary, he consecrated those helpers to the Heart of Jesus. “This day is seen as the Founding Day of our Congregation which was then known as ‘Servants of the Sacred Heart’.”

Just four years later, in 1870, the Franco-Prussian war broke out. All German nationals were ordered to leave France – this included many of the sisters and Fr. Braun himself, who returned to Metz before joining the army as a chaplain.

A Red Cross worker from Ireland called Josephine Gibson met the remaining sisters while working in the army hospital in Versailles and joined them as a postulant. Despite the danger, Josephine decided to take three German-born sisters to safety in England under the protection of the British Red Cross. But even with Red Cross passports they were looked on as spies by the French soldiers, badly treated and one sister was even imprisoned for a short while.

Josephine made three more journeys eventually bringing ten sisters to safety in England. Fr. Braun came with her on her last journey – going the long way around through Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium in order to avoid war-torn France.

On their arrival in England the sisters had been welcomed into the Diocese of Westminster by Cardinal Manning and different congregations gave them accommodation – the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Mercy and the Nazareth Sisters. When Fr Braun arrived, a meeting with Cardinal Manning led to the congregation’s first foundation in England at 2 Eden Villas, Stratford, London.

“Josephine became a novice known as Sister Marie of Jesus, but after this she disappears from our history. We have no record of what happened to her. She was the instrument chosen by God to establish our congregation in England. We owe her a deep debt of gratitude and pray that her life was blessed as she moved on,” said Sr Lorna.

Stratford at that time was overcrowded, she added. People were very poor, and many were sick because they could not afford decent housing or food. The sisters were soon fully occupied nursing the sick in their homes, offering working girls an education and a future and providing spiritual and practical support. Young women from England and Ireland were soon inspired to join this small group. In 1871 alone, nine young women joined as postulants.

The Franco-Prussian war ended in May 1871 and on 29 January,1872 in the Parish of Stratford, East London for the first time since the founding of the congregation in 1866, thirteen sisters made their first profession. The superiors of the four houses in France also came over to make their first professions. On the same day two more postulants joined the congregation.

“This year is the 150th anniversary of the sisters’ arrival in England: the seed that grew into our congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. From a few German refugees, our Charism has spread throughout the UK and Ireland, to the Americas, Africa and The Philippines. Today, refugees get a bad press; as we remember with gratitude our own refugee beginning, let us pray that all refugees will be welcomed in their new countries.”

Given the Covid-19 restrictions, she said, it had been agreed that the congregation would celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first professions in 2022, “but we wanted to mark this anniversary of our arrival in England and give thanks to God for all the blessings we have received”.

Sr Lorna concluded: “Let us echo the voices of our first sisters and join together in the prayer that has been said from the beginning of our foundation – ‘May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us. Amen’.”

In his homily, Bishop Alan referred to the “wonderful gospel of the visitation” that had been read during Mass. “It marks the beginning of the adventure of Mary, the Mother of God. It is a very personal moment when Mary looks towards God, questions, and then says a grace-filled ‘yes’ to him. As Elizabeth will say when she visits her, ‘blessed is she who believes’.”

While the gospels narrate the work of Jesus, there are precious moments about Mary, he said. “Remarkably, in the really important, critical times, we hear about her. At the wedding in Cana, for example, and at the cross of Jesus, when the apostles have fled, it is Mary and the faithful disciple who remain.”

He added: “Most of Mary’s witness, her work, was hidden, but 2000 years later that wonderful work of mercy is still continuing in this congregation. The book of remembrance contains the names of all the sisters. Many lives have been changed by the witness, faith and goodness of these sisters. We give thanks for that.”

He read a prayer that he felt was very apposite, derived from the Order’s own mission statement:

Faithful to our call to an everlasting faithful God,

We devote ourselves to our share in the mission of Jesus.  

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we deepen our relationship with God and each other.

Attentive to the needs of the world, trusting in God’s goodness and inspired by the fidelity and Faithfulness of Mary, we open ourselves to Spirit-filled newness of life.  

We live in this blessed moment and move forward in hope to serve the living, all powerful, Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen, Amen, Amen  

The Bishop concluded: “The Sisters have the heart of Mary as they respond to the gospel and they take it all on trust – yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

After the Mass, Sr Mary Mangan, leader of the congregation, said: “It was a wonderful memorial service of thanksgiving for our early sisters who were refugees. We celebrated their bravery – and that of Josephine, the young woman who brought them here. It was wonderful to be able to link with our 29 other communities worldwide for the Mass.”

She says the congregation today shares the spirit of those early sisters. “They wanted to work with the poor and marginalised, in areas where no one else would be working, and we haven’t moved from that.”

She sees young women joining the order in Africa and Asia for that very reason. “I ask them what attracted them to the Order, and they say that when they were children, they would see sisters going into compounds and would say to one another, there is someone very sick in there.

“They respond to our work with the poor. And that goes back to the very beginning, when Fr Braun gathered a group of women at the railway station in Paris to meet and help women coming in from Alsace-Lorraine, often falsely promised employment by those wishing to traffic them into prostitution.” That focus on trafficked people has not changed either.

Once those early sisters arrived in England, they opened several places in northern England and set about helping the poor, concentrating on areas of need. “Many sisters became nurses and teachers. We were pioneers in bringing in education for children with special needs and we are still involved with that in our different countries.”

She herself made the decision to become a sister in 1962. “I remember very clearly saying that I wanted to help others. Although I enjoyed the social life of my teenage years, still there was an inner stirring and a desire to offer myself to the Lord, but I felt that I couldn’t do it on my own. I needed the support of others to do this wholeheartedly.” Sr. Mary left her home in the west of Ireland and joined the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Chigwell.

Since then she has taught special needs children, worked over many years supporting women trafficked into prostitution, and developed a community service in Ireland for adults with special needs.

“As we have got older as a congregation we tend to support campaigns rather than do work on the ground, but we have someone who sleeps in a sheltered house once a week for women who have been trafficked, while others collect clothing for trafficked people,” she says. “Sisters help in local areas in whatever way they can to relieve poverty, homelessness, and help the families of prisoners at Christmas and Easter. We are supported by the prayers and fundraising of our many Sacred Heart Companions in various parishes where our sisters served.”

In Zambia, Uganda and The Philippines the Order still has professions every year but there are far fewer enquirers here in the UK. Looking back, Sr Mary says she was completely certain of the call to offer her life to God: “There are many more opportunities for people to help others as volunteers nowadays,” she says, “but the call to religious life is still there but perhaps that inner stirring, that still small voice is not always listened to. We thank God for the witness of our Sisters since 1870 and we pray for all who are discerning their way of life be it religious life, priesthood, married or single.”

Statement on the IICSA report

The Conference of Religious of England and Wales (CoR) would like to express profound sadness and sorrow to all those who are victims and survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy and members of religious congregations.

We thank IICSA for bringing to light the acute suffering that has been inflicted over many years and our failures in safeguarding including engagement with victims and survivors. We also thank the victims and survivors for their courage in coming forward.  We are wholeheartedly committed to learning lessons from this Inquiry and making every effort to assist religious congregations to embed a safeguarding culture at all levels of religious life.

As Christians we approach safeguarding with a determination to protect people from harm – especially when they are particularly vulnerable. We acknowledge that in the past the needs of the vulnerable have not been paramount. We undertake to remedy this through a new approach to safeguarding within the Church.

Details: communications@corew.org

Rebuilding Our Common Home in the light of Coronavirus : An Advent Reflection for Religious Communities

CAFOD writes:

You are warmly invited to join us for an online afternoon of reflection in preparation for the Season of Advent: Thursday 19 November 2020 – 1pm - 4:30pm

Fr. Augusto Zampini-Davies (Integral Ecology dicastery and the COVID 19 commission at the Vatican) and Sr. Yvonne Mwalula (Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, Zambia) will speak to us on how Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ focused the world’s attention on the need to defend the poor and their natural environment, why this is more important than ever in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic and how we can make a difference.

You will also hear how CAFOD and the Church’s Caritas networks are coming together in response to this call to action. There will be time allotted for prayer, reflection, group discussion and asking questions of our guest speakers.

Please register in advance here: https://rebuildingourcommonhome.eventbrite.co.uk[KD1] 

A zoom link and instructions on how to join the event will be emailed to you. If you have any questions please contact majorgifts@cafod.org.uk

Living Laudato Si’ : lessons from Boarbank

To celebrate the recent fifth anniversary of Laudato Si’ a pamphlet written by Sr Margaret Atkins OSA – ‘Catholics and Our Common Home’ has been reprinted in a revised version, with the new subtitle, ‘Caring for the Planet in a Time of Crisis.’ It’s available from  https://www.ctsbooks.org

Sister Margaret, who’s based at Boarbank Hall in Cumbria, has spent decades talking about the Christian imperative to care for planet earth and the coronavirus pandemic has become a moment for further intense reflection on the environment:

“Here at Boarbank we’ve been thinking about these issues for a long time and during lockdown I had the chance to focus even more, given that what I usually spend my time doing such as retreats stopped happening” said Sr Margaret.

Adapting to the ‘new normal’  has involved a crash course in caring, in case emergency help was required at the care home run by her community;   there has also been the necessity to rethink her regular courses and retreats, to see what can be offered online instead;  and also greater time to be ‘hands on’ outside in the extensive grounds of Boarbank, learning, not least from the Boarbank gardeners, more about conservation, sustainability, tree planting, food crops, cuttings, seed planting, wildflowers and pollinators ….

Prayer life has been impacted too: “So many people have been in touch to ask for prayers over these difficult months of worry and loss. We have been drawn into much more intercessory prayer” reflects Sr Margaret, who sees the ‘pause’ that has been forced upon humanity as a moment to reassess many aspects of life.

Boarbank is a large complex with a Guest House in a 19th century building, a convent and chapel, a more modern nursing home and grounds equating to the size of a small farm, with fields, woodland and a substantial vegetable garden and greenhouses. Sr Margaret says they regard themselves as the guardians of a precious resource: “We’ve been asking ourselves, how do we look after all of this and what more can we do?” 

Sr Margaret

To encourage other congregations who may also have to tackle old fashioned buildings which are blocking their efforts to “go green”  - Sr Margaret insists obstacles can be overcome: “We have more than 190 radiators on one of our two main heating systems, but there are six systems in total. So it’s been a huge challenge but we’re delighted that a project that began a year ago to instal thermostats on each radiator has finally just been completed. So it is possible to make these changes, but it’s taken a year of planning….. We’ve also put in a lot of insulation which will make a huge difference to the heating bills in this very old building where we’re stuck with an ancient system. Future challenges involve changing the lighting system and installing more double glazing.”

Lockdown also provided the opportunity to focus more on the beautiful grounds at Boarbank.  The vegetable garden is already well established but more thought is going into composting and cutting back on waste, eg., when there’s a glut of tomatoes, the excess now goes to a local food club ;  a partnership has also been formed with a local group  to harvest all the plentiful apples to produce and sell juice locally. The windfall apples are included and juice is given back to Boarbank.

Planting has been another focus.  There’s been a tree planting project with a local school and sustained efforts to develop wildflower areas and lavender bushes, leading to a riot of colour, to the delight of the carehome residents.

Newly planted lavender beds

“There are a lot of challenges” concedes Sr Margaret. “Through spending more time in the grounds I’ve realised how much you need to KNOW botanically and biologically. It’s a very interesting journey that we’re just at the beginning of, but we can already see big changes.“

Sr Margaret has also become involved in preparing for a local ‘seedlings’ project – to enable people to grow their own vegetables even on very small patches of land: “People can share seeds, learn from each other and develop self sufficiency. It also reduces food miles and is good for community building.”

Tree planting project with a local school

Reflecting back on decades of commitment to ecology from a Christian perspective, Sr Margaret now observes the very striking convergence of faith and secular principles: “In a sense what we’re seeing is the Church and the world coming closer together around this issue, coming to a deeper appreciation of our common home. One of the really exciting things is that it’s an area where the whole secular teaching is converging on Catholic social teaching principles.”

“There’s also a connectivity in all of this,”  adds Sr Margaret. “As Laudato Si’ emphasises, if you do things better in one area, other spheres will be impacted for the better and as Pope Francis stresses, you can’t separate the cry of the earth from the cry of the poor.”

So to sum up, Sr Margaret hopes  to encourage other congregations to become more environmentally conscious and hopes the learning curve at Boarbank will help other communities consider making care of the environment central to their ministry and outlook.

A reflection on the pandemic by Sr Margaret Atkins OSA:

We have learnt how much we want to protect vulnerable people from sickness and death.
How much do we want to protect our vulnerable planet, on which the lives and health of all of us and every living thing depends?

We have learnt that we are prepared to sacrifice our travel, our comforts to reduce the spread of a pandemic.
What are we prepared to sacrifice to reduce forest fires, floods, drought and the destruction of other species?

We have learnt that we can act with boldness, energy, speed and conviction, that we can change our habits drastically and effectively, that we can work together as a global family, east and west, rich and poor, to respond a short-term and temporary emergency.
Are we prepared to do this to respond to a long-term and permanent one?

We have discovered the resilience of our local communities, the generosity, compassion and courage of millions of ordinary people, the inventiveness and creativity of the same.
How can we harness these to face the biggest collective challenge of all?

We have been given space and time to ponder and pray. We have glimpsed clean air and clean seas. We have listened to birdsong where once there was only traffic. Can we grasp the hope that this offers?

The Christian Church can make a unique contribution to the healing of our planet, in at least three ways. Firstly, if most Christians, let alone most religious people, were to live fully the ecological implications of their faith, their numbers are significant enough to reach a tipping point for positive change; we can be the anticipation of the kingdom of heaven, the ‘leaven in the dough’ (Matthew 13.33). Secondly, the Church can offer an existing structural model of an organisation that connects global with local moral leadership, understood precisely as service, along with a mass of members explicitly committed to trying to live well as communities. The Church also has a history of successfully effecting dramatic changes of behaviour; it is not far-fetched to read the history of the Church as a history of successive reforms. There is much here from which wider society might learn.

Above all, we have our faith. We do not need to invent a new way of living. Our saints have been living ‘ecology’, out of love of God, for the last two millennia. Let us take them as our models as we commit ourselves to acting, yes, with urgency, but also with calm and patient trust, as God is calling us to do.

Life in lockdown: the view from the Monastery

Sisters from the Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning, near Carnforth, in Lancashire, have shared their thoughts on how monastic life has changed during coronavirus. Their congregational website indicates how significantly they’ve been impacted:

“Normally September would start the new Bernardine year in the guesthouse and we would be advertising a whole range of events. This year everything is a lot different and we are still waiting for guidelines to ensure everything is safe for us and guests. We are looking at using the time to update building work etc. So at the moment we will remain closed for large residential groups and events.

The garden is producing a mountain of vegetables and we are busy making jams, marmalades and chutneys. In the absence of guests, we hope to sell these things online soon. “

Sister Elizabeth Mary leads the Community, having recently moved there from Brownshill, in Gloucestershire:

“As the novelty of lockdown began to recede and the reality of the presence of Covid 19 sank in, I shared the desire to DO something to help the nation’s effort, over and above the ‘little things’ we were doing: Community’s increased weekly contributions to our local foodbank, ‘staying safe’ so that we did not add to the burden of the NHS, sowing extra vegetables to reduce our dependence on food supplies, extra time of Community prayer together for the pandemic etc,. I think that this was a natural human reaction, shared by so many who helped produce PPE, delivered essential items to the vulnerable, kept an eye on elderly neighbours……..

All I seemed to have to offer was my prayer and the day to day commitment to my vows and monastic living. Then, a conversation from years ago flashed through my mind. Weeks before entering, I was trying to explain my life decision to a friend whose reply was the all too familiar phrase ‘what a waste’. After all, 30 years ago the shortage of secondary maths teachers drew financial government incentives to attract newly graduating mathematicians – I was ‘useful’!

The friend then reflected:  “I suppose the difference is that you believe in the power of prayer and I don’t” but, after a moment’s pause, she added “but then I would never not say a prayer whenever one of my children has an exam.”   The pandemic brought an opportunity to deepen my prayer, particularly the prayer of intercession and to live the 'starkness' of my vocation.

During the first months of lockdown I was also facing the probability of being asked to move to a new Community. I knew this would feel like an  ‘uprooting’ with an inevitable journey through grief. In solidarity with all those for whom the pandemic has brought the ongoing suffering of uncertainty, loss and bereavement, I have tried to live this generously in faith, trusting in God’s goodness and love.”

Reflections from several other Sisters at Hyning:

“In one sense monastic life is a classic ‘lockdown scenario’.  We’ve chosen a life of prayer, solitude and some degree of separation from the world.  We are a Community of 12 sisters, 3 of whom are sisters in temporary profession, comprising 5 different nationalities.  The oldest sister is 95 and the youngest member is 29.  This broad mix ensures a balance and richness in our community life together.  Work and prayer form the basis of our life.  We celebrate the Divine Office daily; it is sung 5 times a day in our Chapel.  This is our life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round we are ‘in lockdown’ with each other.  Of course, for us the main difference is that we chose this life, whereas during 2020 the various ways of lockdown have been enforced on the world-wide community because of the pandemic. 

Craft work during lockdown

None of us is perfect and we accept each other's weaknesses, knowing that we are stronger together, than alone.  When we are open, we are all involved in the work of the guesthouse in our different ways, from welcoming people at the door, domestic work and in retreat giving.  The main focus of our life is prayer and work at the service of God.  As Bernardine Cistercians we seek God through the work of hospitality and prayer.  When we hear our bell ringing it is a call to rise, to prayer, to eat and meet together as community.  The daily timetable during lockdown hasn’t changed, we still pray and work together. 

What has been the biggest impact?  Our welcome of guests.  As a monastic guesthouse we welcome guests into our home, into our chapel.  Receiving guests isn’t just about making ends meet or ensuring an income, it’s about living out our Rule that reminds us ‘that we see in our Guests the face of Christ’.  (cf. Rule of St. Benedict Chapter 53.)  So apart from limited family visits under ever changing rules, we have not received guests, given talks to groups or welcomed retreatants to the peace and beauty of our home and garden.  This has been very hard for us on many levels, it is as if a fundamental aspect of our life has been ripped out – so  a large part of our daily life has changed  during lockdown. 

Gardening has been a big activity in the absence of guests

We have tried to reach out in various ways during this time.  Several of the sisters have been involved in Zoom retreats and giving online sessions.  We have also used technology to accompany guests and give spiritual advice and support.  Numbers in our Facebook group and page have risen dramatically over the past few months.  Some weeks, thousands have tuned in to our Facebook talks, other weeks several hundred.  It has been a learning experience to be able to reach out to people in different ways.  We’ve set up equipment for future streaming, though for us, it’s not about being a performance but singing the praises of God.  

Over the past few months, we realise how fortunate we have been to have the grounds to walk in and pray, aware of the suffering of those locked down in high rise flats on council estates, individuals with no human contact for months, those in dire financial restraints etc,.  Each day we gather together for an extra time of prayer to pray for those affected by Covid 19, for those who have died, for those who grieve and for all those who have worked so hard to help all those suffering at this time. 

Soon available to purchase

On a practical level we have looked at ways of simplifying our life, decluttered the house where possible and tried to find ways of replacing some of the income lost from the guesthouse.   Like other people we’ve struggled on a financial level but are fortunate to have a garden and have been touched by the generosity of those who’ve helped us.  We’ve been converting the fruits and vegetables in our garden to jams and chutneys to sell on our Facebook page, looking at simple crafts to sell as well. 

It hasn’t been easy separated from our friends and families at this time, unable to help in many practical and spiritual ways.  We share in the suffering of our world, and we try to follow the rules imposed upon us.  Not being able to share our public worship for many months was very difficult and it is still limited by regulations.  We know so many people who have suffered so much that we know we cannot complain.”

Another Sister reflects :

“Lockdown for me was/is a call to intensify intercessory prayer through our monastic routine where we meet as a community for the Divine Office,  meals & some shared work in the garden & preparing gluts of fruit & veg.  We pledged 15 minutes as a community before Vespers for those suffering from Covid 19- which we have done faithfully & gladly.

The weather was beautiful & allowed me to do much needed outdoor painting of multiple exterior doors & fascia boards. Much intercession for Carers & the NHS. Much reflection on what we can learn from this pandemic & to prepare for future guests with upgrading of facilities & services.”

Another Sister reflects:

“Our monastic life is mostly lived within the monastery and grounds, so in some ways the lockdown was not too difficult. We have had time to deepen the essentials of our life and to appreciate even more the beauty that surrounds us. But it has been very hard not to be able to welcome here our guests, volunteers, Oblates, friends and family. So many come here for the peace of the monastery and the garden, and to join us in our Divine Office and Mass. All this has been denied them, and some have been lonely during these last months. We have kept in touch in different ways.

I have certainly increased and deepened intercessory prayer. Each day we take a short time together before Vespers to pray for all affected by the pandemic, and this has been a good thing to do, especially all of us together. In addition, I have been trying not to grumble but to remember all the millions who are living with much greater sufferings than we have known here.”

Tree planting to mark the simple profession of Sr. Mary Gabriel (left) in February 2019.

Long established Pauline bookshop in Kensington to close after more than fifty years

A message from Sr Angela Grant FSP:

Our Congregation throughout the world has been suffering the harsh effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on our lives, on our apostolate and on our financial resources.  Here in Great Britain, for the past twelve months we have been undergoing a redesigning process with the support of our leadership in Rome and professional advisors who are sensitive to the Pauline mission.  This Covid-19 pandemic has forced the Trustees and leadership team to, inevitably, make some major decisions. Sadly, this has led us to authorise the closure of Pauline Books & Media Centre in Kensington on Saturday 24th  October 2020.

Prior to this pandemic, High Streets in Britain were being hit hard by the decline in footfall, by competition from retail giants and by increased on-line buying, particularly through Amazon. The commitment to our mission is the reason we have stayed there for so long, as our Pauline Centre is a visible sign of our Catholic faith, and our helping to promote Christian values amidst a consumerist society.

Since arriving in Great Britain in 1955, our Sisters have lived in London and, with great commitment, have been a beacon of light on the High Street through interaction with our customers, supplying various books and resources, and providing talks, animation and other organised events. We have enjoyed collaborating with the neighbouring parishes, bishops, priests, religious and many committed lay people in the Westminster Archdiocese, as well as other dioceses and people from around the world, as Kensington was a favourite stop-off point for many people.

We are most grateful for the many blessings bestowed on our community and mission over the past fifty five years. I thank all the people who over these years have supported us but, most importantly, who have believed in and supported the mission of the Pauline Book Centre, not only as a place where they could purchase something but a place where, in the words of our founder, Blessed Alberione, ‘the truth and love of Jesus Christ are found and shared’.  We hold special memories of many our supporters and customers, some of whom have gone before us to God in faith.

It is with great sadness that we withdraw our missionary presence from Kensington although we hope to be able to maintain a small community presence of three or four sisters in the London area. At the moment all is in God’s hands. 

In the meantime, we are redesigning our website www.pauline-uk.org and introducing a new telephone order line on 017535 77629.  We will be grateful for your continued support and we will do our best to serve you.  

Sr Angela Grant on behalf of the sisters in UK

Reflecting on the world we will leave behind for those who follow

By Sister Susan Reicherts PBVM, Nottingham Diocese Vicar for Religious

The question posed by Pope Francis  :  “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (art.160) – is a question that lies before us as we reflect on Laudato Si’.

Earlier this year, during lockdown, it was decided that given the pandemic, this year the Vicars for Religious would not have their usual “face to face” October conference in Leeds. Instead we would meet virtually and take the opportunity to have some input throughout the year from various speakers.

The first of the inputs was from Dr Peter Coughlan on Laudato Si’ – to coincide with the Season of Creation.   It is 5 years since this document was published and thus the 1st September was an excellent day to re-visit it. Since there is a tremendous amount to “unpack” in the document, Peter had to be selective in his presentation.  He set the question – “from your experience or reflection could you share what actions – from the most ‘global’ to the very, very local at home or overseas - you judge necessary or desirable to carry forward Pope Francis’ call for action in Laudato Si’?“

Pope Francis referred to Saint Therese of Lisieux, in inviting us to practise the little way of love, not to miss out on a kind word, a smile or any small gesture which sows peace and friendship. An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break the sequence  of violence, exploitation and selfishness. In the end, a world of exacerbated consumption is at the same time a world which mistreats life in all its forms’ (art.230). Peter suggested three publications to us -

Laudato Si’ Study & Action Guide, produced by the Columban Centre for Advocacy and Outreach in Washington D.C. (www.columbancenter.org)

Dermot A. Lane, Theology and Ecology in Dialogue: the Wisdom of Laudato Si’, Messenger Publications, Dublin, 2020.

The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, Manilla Press, 2020.

Peter gave us the background to the Encyclical On Care for Our Common Home, beginning as far back as 1962 and Pope John XXlll – linking in with Pope Francis’s own journey to the production of such an inspiring and challenging document. When Pope Francis prepared this document, he did so with the deliberate intention that his Encyclical should play its part in a specific historical moment.

Laudato Si’ appeared in June 2015 - timed so as to enhance and encourage two vitally important meetings organised by the United Nations - and the Pope did this in close dialogue and collaboration with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, his advisers, and the representatives of nation states who were working on these two meetings.

The first meeting was due to take place three months after the publication of Laudato Si’, namely the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York in September 2015, from which there eventually resulted the Sustainable Development Goals for the next 15 years.

The second meeting was due to take place six months after the publication of Laudato Si, namely the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris in December 2015.This meeting resulted in the Paris Climate Agreement of 12 December 2015. And that meeting had its roots in the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

It was these meetings, and above all the December meeting regarding climate change, that the Pope had in mind when he spoke in art.15 of ‘the immensity and urgency of the challenge we face’. Pope Francis wanted to influence the Paris meeting to the good.

For the first time, an Encyclical is addressed to ALL PEOPLE. Pope Francis says: ‘I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home’ – and reminds us of our shared responsibility.  ‘The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change (no.13).

The common good – care for our common home – is an underlying theme that runs through every page of Laudato Si’. This theme of the common good is inseparably connected with the idea of the interconnectedness of everything.

‘When we speak of the “environment”, says Pope Francis in art. 139, what we really mean is a relationship existing between nature and society which lives in it. Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which we live. We are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it’.  Pope Francis reminds us that Creation has to do with God’s loving plan in which every creature has its own value and significance.

Teilhard de Chardin understood the process of evolution as all things being drawn forward towards the God who communicates his love. In the words of art. 83: ‘The ultimate destiny of the universe is in the fulness of God, which has already been attained by the risen Christ, the measure of the maturity of all things.’  Teilhard de Chardin and Karl Rahner point us towards an evolutionary dynamism that is truly intrinsic to creation, but which occurs through the creative and saving power of the immanent God – the Holy Spirit, who draws all of creation towards the Father through and in the Word made flesh.

Peter ended with this reminder from Pope Francis: ‘Joined to the incarnate Son, present in the Eucharist, the whole cosmos gives thanks to God. Indeed, the Eucharist itself is an act of cosmic love ... The Eucharist joins heaven and earth; it embraces and penetrates all creation. The world which came forth from God’s hands returns to him in blessed and undivided adoration: in the bread of the Eucharist, ‘creation is projected towards divinisation, towards the holy wedding feast, towards unification with the Creator himself.’ (art.236)

Francis of Assisi’s canticle is the vision of a mystic. We pray with him -

Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures,

especially Sir Brother Sun,

who is the day and through whom you give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;

and bears a likeness of you, Most High.

Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.#

Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind,

and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather

through whom you give sustenance to your creatures.

Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water,

who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire,

through whom you light the night,

and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.’

Having shared such an inspirational, challenging and beneficial insight,   Peter was asked to give a second talk to any Religious who wished to hear his reflection on Laudato Si.   Thirty-nine Religious joined us on the second occasion. The feedback was very positive – a feeling that those who had heard Peter had been re-vitalised and re-energised to do our little bit and to spread the word with those among whom we live and minister…..

We are deeply grateful to Peter for reminding us of our responsibility and indeed of the influence we as Religious can have on people. This is especially the case given that the next crucial meeting regarding CLIMATE CHANGE will be here in the UK – in Glasgow in 2021.  We ask ourselves, what can we, as Religious do, to join with others, to influence this meeting?

 (Dr Peter Coughlan  was studying theology at the Gregorian University in Rome when the Second Vatican Council opened in 1962. After attending the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, the staff college for the Holy See’s diplomatic service, he was appointed to the Secretariat for Non-Christian Religions (now Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue). From 1980 to 1991 Peter was Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. During this period, he was also a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and a member of the Joint Working Group between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches (headquartered in Geneva). In recent years Peter taught ecclesiology, ecumenism and ethics at Heythrop College, University of London. He now lectures at the Margaret Beaufort Institute in Cambridge.)

Green Investment / Divestment: what's it all about?

Catholic investment for an integral ecology webinar series: September/October 2020

This autumn, you are invited to join a webinar series to find out how Catholic religious orders, dioceses and other organisations can use their investments to accelerate the clean energy transition and support a green recovery. Speakers include Fr Augusto Zampini, Dr Lorna Gold, Stephen Power SJ, Sr Susan Francois CSJP, Lord Deben, Neil Thorns, Sr Pat Daly OP and Shaun Cooper.

The Conference of Religious is one of the co-sponsors of the webinar series, together with Operation Noah, Catholic Impact Investing Collective, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, CAFOD, Trocaire, Association of Provincial Bursars, National Justice & Peace Network and Justice and Peace Scotland.

Part 1: Fossil fuel divestment: Accelerating the clean energy transition

Tuesday 22 September 2020, 4.00-5.30pm

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/part-1-fossil-fuel-divestment-accelerating-the-clean-energy-transition-tickets-118279058849 

Part 2: Investment for a green recovery: Innovation in impact investing

Wednesday 21 October 2020, 4.00-5.30pm

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/part-2-investment-for-a-green-recovery-innovation-in-impact-investing-registration-118552167725 

Pioneering research project into the role of Religious in the inner cities

Austin Smith House in Birmingham

The Little Sisters of Jesus live on the 13th floor of an east London tower block, opening their home to the community

The Centre for Catholic Studies in Durham and the Passionists (St Joseph’s Province) have launched a  collaborative study into those Religious, who, motivated by a desire to put into practice an ‘option for the poor,’  have moved to the inner cities, the outer estates and tower blocks in the years following Vatican II.

One of the driving forces behind the project, Fr Martin Newell CP, who himself shares a house in inner city Birmingham with asylum seekers, explains that the project will look not just at the tangible realities and impact of moving to these areas but also at the inner life of prayer and spirituality that has led certain Religious to make these radical choices:

“Part of their spirituality was often an association with 'hiddenness'.  We think that it is time to tell this important story of Gospel commitment to the poor, forgotten and marginalised people and places in our midst” says Fr Martin.

The Passionists are currently in discussions with the Centre for Catholic Studies in Durham about funding for the  research; their vision at present includes events and publications that will reach beyond academia into wider Church and society.

“However” adds Fr Martin, “we also want to share this project with other Religious, who were mostly women, especially those who have been part of the story. If you or your Congregation are at all interested in supporting this project, please do get in touch.”

Bede Professor of Catholic Theology at Durham, Karen Kilby,  welcomed the collaboration with congregations: “We consider this a very important research project because the distinctive way of living out the religious life it will explore is so significant. We hope the research will provide the means to remember, learn from, reflect on and pass on to new generations something of the contribution of this group of Religious, and thus also to properly honour their work and their lives.”  

Fr Martin hopes that the research into the urban mission of Religious in the UK post Vatican Two will shine a light on a radical living out of the Gospel that has often been so under the radar that it’s gone unnoticed: "This is a good news story about the Catholic Church that up till now remains largely untold" he says.

Fr Martin can be contacted at : martinnewellcp@yahoo.co.uk

Fr Martin, pictured (centre) left, in Austin Smith House

A cry from the heart from CoR member, Fr Fadi Kmeid

A newly joined member of the Conference of Religious, Fr Fadi Kmeid of the Lebanese Maronite Order, has issued the following urgent appeal on behalf of the suffering people of his homeland:

Dear Fellow Humanitarians,

Fr Fadi Kmeid

On the afternoon of August 4 th, the skyline of our beloved city, Beirut, was tainted. Our people’s bodies were dismantled, limb from limb, after a most devastating explosion. Bodies on the pavements, bodies on hospital floors, bodies decapitated in crushed and blown cars, bodies humiliatingly lying in the middle of the streets, violated by tragedy. Every single body was accompanied by a phone, being rung ruthlessly by loved ones praying it wasn’t their daughter, their son, their sibling, their parent, their relative, repulsively torn apart on the gravel of their homeland.

More than 200 people died and more than 6,000 were injured in the blast, according to the city's governor Marwan Abboud. The explosion was caused by more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the city's port.

Our people are crying. A mother’s scream is distinct one. Our 10,452 km 2 bellowed with shrieks and wails of women whose children have been ripped from their embrace. Children screeched at the sound of smashing glass and fallen roofs. The streets were filled with shards of glass. People’s homes surrendered to ruin. Several hospitals were shattered. Warehouses stocked with medical supplies, demolished. The port, our main mean of importing supplies, food, product, burned to ashes. Grain, a nutrient so basic yet so necessary, has been wiped from a six-month reserve storage. Our economy will crash even further.  

The medical system is in turmoil because of the overriding pressure and lack of medical supply. Civilians are racing to hospitals to donate blood in the midst of a pandemic. A good number of local people are still missing, with hopeless alerts being sent around. If a mask was not being worn for the purpose of the pandemic, they are now being worn for the fright of getting poisoned through the soiled air. Despite all the distress being lived, our people still have the will to press the palms of their hands together and call for God.

Our country is bleeding. We are encountering a disturbance greater than all of us, and we cannot do it alone. The Lebanese Maronite Order has opened the doors to its monasteries and schools to house many nationals who have lost their homes and has medicated and cared for as many as seven hundred in its hospitals. It is our duty to help our people, and we very much hope that it is yours too. The donations will go to the LMO and ‘Solidarity Lebanon’ in order to raise a sufficient amount of donations to aid the vulnerable residents in restoring the homes they have lost to this disaster, as well as providing medical supplies, and food distribution.

They say Beirut represents a Phoenix, its glory shines exceptionally beyond the rest. It is a city that never sleeps. It is a city that is alive with energy, love, and laughter. Its seas never show fear and its streets never submit to the ordinary. And while it is in grief and sorrow, Beirut will rise from the ashes again, just like the resilient Phoenix it always has been.

While we are actively attempting to secure aid to our devastated nation, we need your help to make our efforts go even further.  Your support is crucial to our efforts in reinforcing hope to our nation.

We thank you for taking the time to read our message and for any potential contributions you may present.

Fr Fadi Kmeid

Our Lady of Lebanon - UK

Lebanese Maronite Order

You can help us by donating to the below bank account:

Account Name:                The Lebanese Maronite Order Charitable Trust             

Bank Name        :               Bank of Beirut (UK) ltd

Bank address    :               66 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AE

Sort code            :              60-83-75

Acc Number       :              12 02 38 02 

Purpose:             :            Aid to Beirut

Religious invited to support new project helping vulnerable women in Staffordshire

By the Sisters of Mercy:

In Stoke on Trent a group of concerned individuals are in the process of setting up a registered charity, Whispers of Hope,  which will provide a safe haven for women who are fleeing domestic abuse who also have complications regarding their immigration status. 

Sr Geraldine Sweeney

In November 2019, Sr Geraldine Sweeney moved from her community in Newcastle under Lyme to Avan House, a house in the Stoke on Trent area to become part of the hosting presence to women who have immigration issues and who are also fleeing domestic abuse.  These women have no access to public funds.  The project has established a “safe space” drop-in and the opening of Avan House will give women safe shelter whilst they are supported with their immigration difficulties. As Sisters of Mercy, we feel this work is very much in line with the support of women that our foundress Venerable Catherine McAuley encouraged.

Each person who is referred to Whispers of Hope is assigned a befriender and there are also volunteers offering English lessons. Each week, Avan House will have a house meal which female volunteers are invited to attend.

Although Whispers of Hope has only been established less than a year it has already had referrals of women from various agencies including the Asylum Nursing team and Staffordshire police. When the police visited Avan House they were very impressed and said that such a place was so needed as there is a huge number of incidents of so-called ‘honour-based’ violence in the Stoke on Trent area. Many women who are supported by Whispers of Hope are in the UK on spousal visas with a condition of living with their husband; when a woman leaves her husband, she is not entitled to any benefits and one of the first things to do is to apply to the Home Office to have the conditions of her visa changed.

Whispers of Hope are very grateful to the Institute for the donation which has enabled them to open Avan House.  Sr Geraldine Sweeney is living in Avan House as a member of the hosting community.

If there is any religious congregation of women who has a member who feels that this is a work that she could undertake, please contact Sr Geraldine Sweeney on :

geraldine.sweeney@iolmercy.org.uk

“A life of many blessings:” Ad Multos Annos Fr Paul

As the President of CoR, Fr Paul Smyth CMF celebrates the 30th anniversary of his priestly ordination on July 8, a message from CoR’s Vice-President, Sr Frances Orchard CJ:

July 8 1990

“As everyone knows, Paul is an indefatigable worker for CoR and this is an opportunity to thank him wholeheartedly for what he does for religious life in England and Wales as well as for his own Claretian congregation. May he continue in good health and vigour. I am sure he will be pleased to have our special prayers for today, and for the next 30 years.”

In a Youtube video released to reflect on thirty years of priesthood, Fr Paul looked back over his vocational journey, with contributions from those who have known him over the years. Now serving in Hayes in Middlesex, the parish he grew up in and was ordained in, his parish website notes:

In Guatemala, after ordination

“Born in Hayes, it might appear Fr Paul has not gone very far in life, though that would not be true.  After his ordination he served until 1996 in Rio Dulce, Guatemala.  From 1996 until 2008 he worked at the Claret Centre, Buckden Towers, in Cambridgeshire, before moving to Hayes for a year where he served until he went to Rome to serve as a member of the General Leadership team of the Claretian Missionaries from 2009 until 2015.”

During his time in the General Leadership team Fr Paul travelled all over the world; he recalls one year in particular where he stayed in eighty different locations across four continents!

Working for Solidarity with South Sudan

In addition to now being Parish Priest and President of CoR,  he is also Regional Superior of the Claretian Missionaries in the Province of Fatima in the UK and Ireland and in addition, President of Solidarity with South Sudan, an intercongregational project to help the people of that country.

In the Youtube video to celebrate his thirty year anniversary, members of his congregation and parishioners pay warm tributes to him, one confrere describing him as a “super active man!”  A longstanding parishioner who read at his ordination Mass said the parish was delighted that he is now back in their midst – adding jokingly that “he is very pushy – he always wants you to do things – but we love him for that!”

An accomplished cook, Fr Paul is the maitre d’ at parish events

Reflecting back, Fr Paul gave thanks for the support of his congregation and parishioners and said he’d been blessed by the opportunity to serve so many different people in so many places. He said that in compiling the video he’d been reminded of how his life as a Priest has been exciting and certainly never boring. He expressed thanks to all those who have supported him along the way – “a life of many blessings” he concluded.

To view the Youtube video, copy and paste this link: https://youtu.be/walk0ZO7tOU

Singing the Salve Regina with his congregation