Red Wednesday

This Wednesday, 23 November, Aid to the Church in Need has organised a day in which Christians, Muslims and Jews will be coming together in an act of solidarity with those around the world suffering persecution because of their faith, and standing up for faith and freedom. Across the country, key religious buildings will be flood-lit in red. ACN are inviting everyone to wear red – as a symbol of the suffering today of people of faith

Sr Annie is towards the left of this picture.

A few weeks ago we were privileged to welcome to St Joseph's Primary School Sr Annie Demerjian from Aleppo in Syria.  Sr Anne was able to share from her experiences the tragedy of persecution and conflict.

Sr Annie spoke of the events in Aleppo, a place we have got to know through the news. But to meet someone who lives there brought the whole tragedy of war to the fore. She spoke of the shrapnel embedded in people's bodies as they go about their everyday tasks, the difficulty of learning how to live without legs and arms, the reality of death everywhere, the sounds of ambulances, shells, missiles, the smell of fear. Families are divided because of death and displacement. In these desperate times the Church is providing the basis of a welfare state, coordinating food distribution, caring for the elderly, helping where she can. Sr Annie even brought with her some pictures that some of the children from her school had drawn of the traumatic events that they had witnessed. 

On Wednesday 23 November ACN are sponsoring an event called Red Wednesday to remember all Christians and other faith groups who suffer for their beliefs. ACN is asking everyone to stand up against religious persecution and to make a stand for peace and tolerance by wearing an item of red clothing on the day. 

World Youth Day

In August, two of our young people, Carina and Polly, joined other young people from the Diocese at the World Youth Day event in Krakow in Poland. There, they were part of a crowd of over two million other young people from every nation of the world, all sharing and celebrating their faith with Pope Francis.

Gathered together for a candle-lit vigil in a field outside Krakow, the Pope exhorted young people not to go into 'early retirement', not to 'throw in the towel even before the game has begun'. 'It saddens me to see young people who walk around glumly as if life had no meaning', young people who are bored with life and who have confused happiness with a sofa, retreating to the comfort of a sofa, hiding behind a computer screen and holding the world at bay. This 'sofa happiness' is 'the most harmful and insidious form of paralysis which can cause the greatest harm to young people'. Pleading with the young people, Pope Francis said that 'we didn't come into the world to vegetate, to take it easy, to make our lives a comfortable sofa to fall asleep on!' He added that it also saddens him to see young people who have gone after 'peddlars of false illusions... who rob you of what is best in life' and who end up in 'nothingness'.

The fulfilment that we all yearn for, Pope Francis said, cannot be bought, and is not a thing or an object, but a person. His name, he declared, is Jesus. He is the only one who 'can give you true passion for life' and inspire us 'not to settle for less, but to give of the very best of ourselves'. And then the Pope exhorted young people to leave a mark, to have the courage to 'trade in the sofa for a pair of hiking boots' and to get out and to 'set out on new and unchartered paths, to blaze trails that open up new horizons', and to follow the 'Lord of Risk' in encountering him 'in the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, the friend in trouble, the prisoner, the refugee and the migrant, and our neighbours who feel abandoned', 'to build bridges rather than walls'. Using a football analogy, he declared, that the 'times we live in require only active players on the field, and there is no room for those who sit on the bench'.

Asked to share their favourite memories of the whole experience, Polly said she enjoyed 'meeting people from around the world and just talking to them as friends' because we 'knew that we had at least one thing in common, our faith!' She said she enjoyed the mixture of fun too, 'singing Mamma Mia on the coach, praying a few cheeky decades of the rosary, and becoming really close friends with the other pilgrims from the Diocese, and laughing in the rain when we were soaked to the skin'.
 

Carina added that she had enjoyed being part of the crowd and 'just being able to see millions of people who were around my age, all gathered for the same thing was extremely touching. The people were so friendly and each individual added to the atmosphere. I am glad to say that I have made so many new friends, not only from England but also from around the world. I met people from countries such as Brazil, America, South Korea and Indonesia. Over 100 countries came together in Blonia Park to welcome the Pope and it was amazing to see so many different flags, many of which I didn’t recognise at first like that of Kazakhstan!'
 

The next WYD will take place in Panama in 2019.

Welcome to Fr Sony

We are delighted to welcome Fr Sony Joseph who has arrived from Kerala in India. Fr Sony completed his studies in Rome. Earlier this week, Fr Sony swore his oath to Bishop Michael and he is now appointed to be the Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Lancaster. He will be the assistant priest here at St Joseph's for the coming years, and we hope that he will be very happy here.

May Magnificat

Have you ever wondered why the month of May is dedicated to Our Lady? In many churches, statues of Our Lady are crowned and wreathed with flowers and there are processions to honour Our Lady. Cardinal Newman speaks of May as the 'month of promise and of joy'. May is a time of Spring, when 'the earth bursts forth into its fresh foliage and its green grass... blossoms are upon the trees and the flowers are in the gardens... The days have got long, and the sun rises early and sets late'. After the bleakness of Winter, the promise of something new. The prophet Isaiah spoke too of this hope: 'There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise out of his root'. After the long wait, hope springs again: the bursting forth of nature provides a metaphor of God's life bursting forth into our world through Mary's Yes. 

Gerald Manley Hopkins, the famous nineteenth Century Jesuit Poet, writes these beautiful words in his poem, 'May Magnificat':

MAY is Mary’s month, and I

Muse at that and wonder why:

Her feasts follow reason,

Dated due to season—

Candlemas, Lady Day;   

But the Lady Month, May,

Why fasten that upon her,

With a feasting in her honour?

Is it only its being brighter

Than the most are must delight her?       

    Is it opportunest

    And flowers finds soonest?

Ask of her, the mighty mother:

Her reply puts this other

    Question: What is Spring?—      

    Growth in every thing—

Flesh and fleece, fur and feather,

Grass and greenworld all together;

    Star-eyed strawberry-breasted

    Throstle above her nested      

Cluster of bugle blue eggs thin

Forms and warms the life within;

    And bird and blossom swell

    In sod or sheath or shell.

All things rising, all things sizing       

Mary sees, sympathising

    With that world of good,

    Nature’s motherhood.

Their magnifying of each its kind

With delight calls to mind       

    How she did in her stored

    Magnify the Lord.

Well but there was more than this:

Spring’s universal bliss

    Much, had much to say       

    To offering Mary May.

When drop-of-blood-and-foam-dapple

Bloom lights the orchard-apple

   And thicket and thorp are merry

    With silver-surfèd cherry      

And azuring-over greybell makes

Wood banks and brakes wash wet like lakes

    And magic cuckoocall

    Caps, clears, and clinches all—

This ecstasy all through mothering earth      

Tells Mary her mirth till Christ’s birth

    To remember and exultation

    In God who was her salvation.

Time of Grace

Over the past few weeks, there has been alot of celebration in the parish: fifteen children made their First Holy Communion and two parishioners were Confirmed in the Cathedral by Bishop Michael. There are many photos on Facebook, but here are just a few of the highlighted ones. We would like to thank all those that were involved in the preparations and catechesis, and those who made the celebration so joyful.

Congratulations to Philip

Philip Wrigley arrived at St Joseph's at Easter and he has recently been accepted by the Bishop to begin to train for the priesthood at Oscott Seminary. Here, he shares with us something of his journey so far...

I was born and raised in Carlisle with my brother Matthew. My family parish is St. Edmund’s, Carlisle.  Canon Dewhurst was parish priest when I was a boy, and he asked me if I was interested in serving on the Altar.  I was shown the ropes and started serving for many years before I moved to University.  During my time at St. Edmund’s I helped with Benedictions and Funerals.  One of my highlights was Altar serving with the late Bishop John Brewer on his parish visits.  I remember one Sunday we were waiting in the sacristy just before Mass and he asked me if I ever considered joining the priesthood.  Without thinking, I quickly answered “No”, shy that the Bishop was actually talking to me.  This was the first seed being planted in my heart.  Bishop Brewer smiled at me and said “Trust in the Lord, as you do not know what he has planned for you”.  Bishop Brewer was correct in his statement, I didn’t think my life would turn around like this.  I believe this seed has grown within me, and reminded me of my trust in Jesus.

In Newcastle I was finishing off my last year, of a three year H.N.D course at Northumbria University (Years 1 & 2 were in Carlisle), then I stayed an extra year, to top it up to a degree studying B.Sc. Applied Business Computing.  I continued with my faith and started going to a nearby Catholic Church - St. Andrew’s parish.  After I graduated from University I was offered a job at Dumfries Royal Infirmary as a Technical Support Officer.  I met lots of good friends, especially Dr John Rutherford an Anaesthetics Consultant who taught martial arts in Aikido, so I started going for lessons with him and passed many examinations.  

I moved to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals in Preston with a job promotion.  My Grandparents and cousins lived around the area so I didn’t feel too far from home and this gave me the opportunity to visit them more regularly.  I started going to English Martyrs church and enjoyed the whole atmosphere; the sermons from Fr. Singleton (who was P.P at the time) opened up the Gospel message, and explained it easier for me to understand.  I was asked to join the church choir as there were a limited number of male singers, so I agreed and started singing with them on the following Sunday.

I started thinking more deeply about my life’s direction, praying to Jesus for His guidance and grace, trying to determine whether a vocation to the Priesthood was my calling.  I felt a desire in my heart to start going to Mass more often, because I felt one Mass on Sunday’s wasn’t adequate.  I started going to a few daily Masses and I restarted my Altar serving duties.  I loved getting more involved and becoming an active member of the Parish – Chair of the Liturgy sub-committee group, Altar serving, Sacristan, Reader and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.  Taking Communion to a nursing home “Kenmure Lodge” every Sunday and seeing their faces light up was a real privilege.

I have been on three diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes, and on my last trip I helped as a Brancardier.  I met so many new friends on these pilgrimages, assisting the VIP’s either by pushing them in their wheelchairs, or spending time with them at their hotels.  The schedule is busy and requires early starts when working on the rota, but it is very rewarding seeing everyone enjoying themselves.  

After two unsuccessful attempts getting through the interview stages for the priesthood, I was looking into the Benedictines at Belmont Abbey, then I had news about a placement opportunity with the Lancaster Diocese, so I had to pray and decide which path to explore.  My commitment has always been with the Diocese, so I accepted a ten month pastoral placement with the Lancaster Diocese, in order to develop my Human Formation.  I was sent to the parish of “Christ the Good Shepherd” in Workington, with Canon Paul Swarbrick, Fr Paul Harrison and Sister Eleanor Gilligan.  During my time in Workington, I have been visiting and working closely with three primary schools (St. Gregory’s, St. Mary’s, St. Patrick’s), and St. Joseph’s Catholic High School.  Spending time with the children in the playground and classrooms was really enjoyable which I wasn’t expecting.  Seeing the pupils on a weekly basis over seven months made me relate with them on a more personal level.  My other activities were to help train the junior Altar servers, and becoming a Catechist for both the Confirmation and the First Holy Communion programs, visiting the sick and housebound and giving them Communion.  I really enjoyed my time in Workington and it came as a surprise to be given a second placement opportunity to assist Fr Philip Conner at St. Joseph’s parish, Lancaster.  Saying goodbye to everyone in Workington, especially the children was the hardest part of the placement.  I arrived at St. Joseph’s Lancaster after Easter (2016), and I am currently enjoying my time here.  I have been introduced to my new parishioners at the church and visiting the housebound.  I had an interview on 5th May with Bishop Michael Campbell, including six people on his Advisory panel.  I was told shortly afterwards that I was accepted for priestly formation and that I would be joining Oscott Seminary College in September.  Until then I will be based at St. Joseph’s Parish, Lancaster gaining as much experience as I can.  I am really looking forward to see what the future holds, and the vocational path Jesus has in store for me.

In or Out?

The Bishops of England and Wales have issued a message for the forthcoming Referendum. It runs as follows:

Reflecting on the forthcoming vote, we recognise the historic nature of this referendum and its implications for future generations. The outcome will have consequences for the future not only of the United Kingdom, but for Europe and for the world.

In our view, three things are essential:

• that we pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit;
• that we all inform ourselves of the arguments on both sides of the debate;
• that we each exercise our vote with a view to the common good of all.

The coming together of European countries in the aftermath of a catastrophic war was designed to bind together former combatants and the contribution of the European project to peace in Western Europe should be recognised. Pope Francis reminds us, in his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 25 November 2014, that the ideals which shaped this European project from the beginning were peace, subsidiarity and solidarity. In the Treaty of Rome, trade was harnessed to peace. The peace achieved in Western Europe shows indeed how "our problems can become powerful forces for unity" (par 5). Our decision in the referendum should thus be taken in the context of how best we can promote justice and peace.

Our focus needs to be above all on the human person. We need to build a Europe "which revolves not around the economy but around the sacredness of the human person, around inalienable values" (par 37). We all have a responsibility to keep the dignity of the human person at the forefront of the debate. We must ask ourselves, in the face of every issue, what will best serve the dignity of all people both within Europe and beyond.

This referendum therefore is about much more than economics.

We must not forget the profoundly religious roots of European nations; that Europe has a two thousand year-old Christian culture that has shaped the continent and is a dynamic spiritual, moral and intellectual resource as we address the future. As Pope Francis reminds us, we need continually to ask ourselves: who is my neighbour? In response to grave challenges, we are called to be generous and welcoming to all others, especially the most vulnerable.

Each person will have their own views about the best political framework in which to realise these ideals. We acknowledge the justifiable concerns that many people have in relation to the European Union, its institutions and the implications of increasing integration.

This referendum is an opportunity to reflect on those values we cherish as a nation and as Catholics. High among these values are mutual respect and civility, vital in this national conversation about the very future of our nation within the world.

Prepare and Act

Before voting, ask yourself the following question:

How in the light of the Gospel, can my vote best serve the common good?

As you vote, you may wish to use this prayer:

"Lord, grant us wisdom that we may walk with integrity, guarding the path of justice, and knowing the protection of your loving care for all".

Holy Door

Gathering at the Martyrs Memorial

The Year of Mercy was inaugurated by Pope Francis. As part of the year, he asked every diocese throughout the world to establish a Holy Door. In crossing the threshold of this Door, the faithful are invited to open the door of their own hearts to God's mercy.

Last weekend, parishioners from St Joseph's joined about one hundred parishioners from other parts of the Diocese. We began our day by gathering at the Martyrs Memorial, and remembered those who cried out for God's Mercy as they were dragged up the hill and butchered on the hillside for their faith. 

We then formed a procession and prayed the Rosary, asking Our Lady to accompany us and to help us to understand the mercy of God, who stooped down into our world and took on our flesh, so that we may enter into His life.

Arriving at the Holy Door

Passing through the Door, the faithful gathered in the main body of the Cathedral. We sang together, professed our faith together, and listened to the Word of God, before taking the opportunity for confession.

It was a very blessed day, the sun shone, and more importantly, our hearts shone as we experienced the goodness of God's mercy.

The Deanery Clergy in all their finery!

Abaseen Foundation

Last night we were delighted to be able to host Helen Bingley and Jabien who came to speak to us about their work with the Abaseen Foundation. 'Abaseen' means 'Father of the rivers', a reference to the great river Indus whose source is found in the mountains where the Abaseen Foundation works in NW Pakistan.

The Abaseen Foundation seeks to make a difference to the marginalised communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhira. This part of Pakistan is to all intents and purposes 'stateless' with no welfare or education provision for the people. To the outside world, we think we know about this area and identify it with Taliban and Al Queda, but beneath this designation, lie a whole nexus of forgotten tribes and refugees from this war-torn area, many of them ophans from the conflict. In their poverty, whole families and children as young as 6 are caught up in indentured labour at the brick kilns with no hope of redemption. To give us an idea of the situation here, Helen shared with us some troubling statistics: average mortality age of 38 years old, 3% female literacy rate, and almost complete lack of medical care. Currently 67% of the children are severely malnourished with the associated effects of stunted growth and diminished cognitive function.

Deep in discussion.

The Foundation is seeking to alleviate the situation with the establishment of a hospital, water pumps, education with sports and vocational training, and food. In the recent earthquake, the Foundation was able to help with co-ordinating relief to isolated villages.

Helen and Jabien helped to open our eyes to this part of the world, to the troubling realities that we are not separate from, especially in light of our involvement in the military campaign in Afganistan which has left so much dislocation. We thank them for their wonderful work and inspiring witness.

Year of Mercy in Piccies

Hospice Masses

Just before Christmas last year, we celebrated Mass in the Hospice, inviting especially all those who had lost loved one's through the course of the year, and anointing the sick in our midst. It was a very well attended event, and we were made very welcome by the Hospice. Many of those attended asked that from time to time there would be other such celebrations.

With this in mind, there will be a Mass on Tuesday 26 July at 7pm on the feast of Ss Joachim and Anna. These saints were the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, and in this Mass we will be celebrating and praying especially our grandparents. On Tuesday 18 October at 7pm on the feast of St Luke, who was a physician by trade, and emphasised the mercy of God in his Gospel, we will pray for the doctors, nurses, staff and patients of the Hospice. And on Wednesday 21 December at 7pm, the shortest day of the year, we will have once again, a Mass for the bereaved, for all those who have lost loved ones through the year. 

This year the Hospice is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, and we would like to remember the pioneering efforts of the likes of Sr Aine and Sr Callistus and the other sisters who helped to get the Hospice off the ground, and create the very special atmosphere of the place. Everyone is very welcome to attend the above celebrations of Mass and the refreshments and gathering afterwards. Our thanks once again to everyone at the Hospice for making us so welcome.

Welcome to Philip

Welcome to Philip Wrigley who has joined the parish and will be with us till the Summer, in preparation, God willing, for seminary. Philip was born and raised in Carlisle and has been working these past years in Preston Hospital as a technical support officer, maintaining the hospital computer systems. Before arriving here, Philip has spent seven months on a pastoral placement in Workington. During his time here, Philip will work in the schools, visit parishioners and help out in the parish and at the university.