Angels we have heard on high...

Our parish choir has been brought together digitally to produce a play list of some of the best carols. The project began when the St Vincent de Paul Society approached the Choir to produce a playlist for Nazareth House and some of the nursing homes, and we hope that they will be enjoyed by the wider community. Please find the Youtube link to the Carols by clicking here.

News from the Isle of Man

A few months ago, Deacon Stephen and Anna moved from the parish to the Isle of Man where Deacon Stephen’s family originate. We have greatly missed their presence in the parish and here they share how they have been settling into their new life…

Hello everyone !
Well, we can hardly believe four months have passed since we arrived here in The Isle Of Man!
My father- in- law has told me it’s long enough to be classed as a ‘stopover ‘ now no longer a ‘come over ‘ although Steve is a ‘manxman ‘ by birth ( which I guess makes him a returningover ?!) .
The Island is very beautiful even though the winter weather involves high winds and lots of rain ( not unlike Morecambe really !) . You probably won’t be surprised to hear we’re both very involved in the rich musical life of the Island and of course at Church and in Parish life ; I’m now playing at ‘St . Mary’s Of The Isle ‘and Steve is working with the choir as well as playing trumpet !
We recently celebrated Steves mums’ 80th Birthday and along with some other family members gave her a ‘surprise ‘ performance of ‘The Wizard Of Oz ‘ complete with loaned costumes so we’d look the part ( will let you guess which parts we took ; photos went only to selected family and friends ; sorry but not for Facebook viewing ; we’d never live it down!! ) .
We do miss everyone greatly and look forward to returning for a visit as soon as Covid restrictions are lifted . We are very fortunate here as life is so ‘normal ‘ ; it is easier on an Island but they have done a very good job of keeping it away currently through very strict monitoring ( even those attempting to jet - ski over here don’t get past them !) .
I also hope a Parish visit may be possible late next year and have mentioned to Fr . Philip that I’m sure it would be an enjoyable ‘mini- break ‘ with lots of interesting places to visit and many beautiful Churches to see too.
Meanwhile , we will be thinking of everyone over Christmas and you will all be in our prayers .
Very much love , Anna and Steve x🇮🇲

Preparing for Christmas

There are a number of initiatives that St Joseph’s is getting involved with this Christmas to bring some cheer into gloomy times! We are delighted to announce that the Lancaster Community Fund has given our parish a grant of £1000 to provide Christmas shoe boxes to those children in the community who might not receive presents. In addition to this grant, parishioners have donated a further £860 and many of them have made or bought a beautiful array of presents for children. A whole group of students from Lancaster and Morecambe College have also pitched in and donated boxes of presents, and a whole group of knitters are busy making knitted hearts to go in the boxes. Over the coming days the boxes will be prepared and delivered through our community’s schools.

In addition, St Joseph’s has teamed up with volunteers from the Friends of Ryelands Park and the Friends of the Lune Bank Garden, and we are working with local schools to make Christmas cards for our neighbours, especially those who are vulnerable, or living alone, or who are having a difficult time. The cards are being made out of recycled materials, encouraging the children to reflect upon our environment and what is possible with all that we have at our disposal.

Our parish continues with its Guardian Angels initiative and is happy to reach out and help any person in the wider community who needs some shopping or prescriptions collected, or who would appreciate a friendly chat on the phone or some prayer. We have set up an emergency food parcel scheme at the back of the church for any family who is caught short.

If you would like to get involved or if you can think of any other ways to bring something of the Christmas spirit into our local community, please do not hesitate to contact Zsuzsanna, zsuzsanna.brenner@gmail.com.

Heritage Open Days

Over the past year and a half, St Joseph’s has benefited from a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Besides all the work to repair and preserve the historic Pugin church, St Joseph’s has invested in training up tour guides and reaching out to the wider community. We were delighted to open the doors of the church to visitors for the Heritage Open Days earlier in September. People came from far and wide to view the church and to learn about its unique history. The Covid restrictions meant that numbers were limited and so the church and garden tour were offered online through our parish Facebook. Over 5000 people have now viewed the tours and we hope as Covid eases, many people will be able to come and view our beautiful church. If you missed out on the tour, please click the link here for the church tour and here for the garden tour.

To give and not to count the cost

In the midst of all the chaos of these times, all sorts of things have been happening. Most recently, on the feast of St Gregory the Great, the Apostle to the English, a missive arrived from Pope Francis, conferring upon one of our parishioners the Bene Merenti Award. This is a medal bestowed on remarkably few people, but is a recognition of long and exceptional service. After petitioning from many members of the parish, the award was presented to Josie Rigby, much to her surprise and joy. Josie has offered her humble service to St Joseph’s for many many years, cleaning and polishing the candlesticks and brasses are in our church. Her quiet service has been entirely given from the heart, and she has transformed one of the most mundane and relentless of jobs into a true service to the Lord. Josie’s example teaches us how to persevere in our daily tasks for the building up of God’s Kingdom. Our congratulations go to Josie!

The medal is a gold Greek Cross depicting Christ with his hand raised in blessing. On the left arm of the cross is the tiara and crossed keys, symbols of the papacy. On the right arm is the coat of arms of the current Pope, Pope Francis.

Last weekend we said farewell to two other wonderful members of our parish, Anna and Deacon Stephen Pendlebury. Deacon Stephen has exercised his diaconate here at St Joseph’s for the past 19 years, preaching, teaching, celebrating the sacraments of baptism and marriage, and burying the dead. In addition he has been the Chair of Governors at St Joseph’s Primary School and helped to transform the school in beautiful ways. We are grateful too to Anna who - with Deacon Stephen - have looked after the music of the parish, developing a very fine choir and bunch of musicians. We will miss all the Christmas concerts, high feast days, and the parish sing-a-longs, and the joy and dedication that they brought to our parish, but we wish them well on the Isle of Man as they begin a new stage in their lives together.

And finally, but far from least, is our very own Sister Katherine Mary of Jesus Crucified, a parishioner of St Joseph’s who has now made her first profession as a Carmelite Nun in the North of Wales on 7 June. Due to Covid, no family or friends were able to attend the service, but Sr Katherine reported that the day was so blessed: quiet, simple, just the community and our chaplain from Uganda, the appropriately named Fr Bosco. ‘In a way’, she said, ‘it was a blessing to keep it that way as it kept my focus on Jesus. I felt much supported by all the prayerful support of you all all. VERY JOYFUL’.. At the end of his holidays, Fr Philip was able to visit Sr Katherine in the monastery and found her shining with joy, laughter and love.

Angelic Work

There is so much bad news about and so I asked those involved in our Guardian Angel outreach service to explain briefly what they are doing to keep us all connected to each other.

First of all, Zsuzsanna writes: “I have been working as the Outreach Co-Ordinator at St. Joseph's since September 2018 and I'm responsible for the overarching coordination of the Guardian Angel Outreach Service. I keep in touch with local organisations and the City Council and I chair and participate in meetings with the City Council, the Skerton Community Network and the Guardian Angel coordinators. It is also my task to coordinate incoming requests and I keep in touch with the local Food Club”.

Our parish Guardian Angels Outreach Service has three parts: Natalie Horner co-ordinates those making phone calls, Robert Burrow co-ordinates prayer requests, and Emily & Neil Turbitt co-ordinate errands and food parcels for those who are self-isolating and need of help.

Natalie, on the right in this picture.

Natalie writes: “After a very emotional last Mass held at St Joseph’s in March, I was asked if I could help out the parish community during the lockdown period. I was honoured to be asked to help to co-ordinate the Guardian Angels. I co-ordinate a system of contact telephone calls, pass on prayer intentions and ask for help for those in need. It has been a real blessing and honour to be a part of this amazing initiative. I have spoken to some beautiful people, and I can’t wait to meet them face to face after this lockdown period ends. Not only has it kept me busy, but I have been able to get to know more people in our parish that I perhaps recognised by sight but never had talked to. It hasn’t been doom and gloom; it has been about being a friend in need, someone to talk to, someone you can have a chat with. It has been amazing and thank God I was chosen to do this!”

Natalie adds, “On Saturdays in the month of May, we have been holding weekly Rosary meetings via Zoom. This has been attended by many parishioners and people from across the Diocese, as far as West Cumbria to the Fylde coast. It has been a wonderful, calm and peaceful time during these strange days. It has been a time for focus, and to spend time with Our Lady. A truly blessed moment to come together with fellow Christians to pray to our Blessed Mother. Come along and join us for the Rosary on Saturdays, you will find the warmest of welcomes”.

Emily & Neil, with Dawn

Emily runs the Angels Wings part of the operation. Here she explains what the group has been doing: ‘We are a group of 8 individuals who are carrying out errands for members of our parish who are housebound and / or in need of some additional support at this time. So far we have: helped to send out Easter letters, delivered palms on Palm Sunday, collected prescriptions for people, and ordered emergency food parcels. We also have delivered food parcels from the Melbourne Pub Food Club and delivered plants to 20+ parishioners. If you need some support then please contact St Joseph's. We are here to help”.

Robert & Maureen, at the centre.

Robert coordinates the Angel Warriors. Here, Robert explains what has been happening: “Since the outreach work started, the Angel Warriors prayer group have had over 100 prayer requests. These have been from people, whose loved ones or friends are ill, have passed away or more general ones particularly related to the pandemic. The Angel Warriors prayer group are 10 parishioners who, once a prayer intention is received, will storm heaven and offer up prayers as soon possible. They all pray individually on a daily basis and meet up once a week on Zoom to say the Rosary, keeping in mind all the intentions received”.

The whole parish is immensely proud of all the hard work and dedication of all those who have been volunteering with this programme in reaching out to the whole parish and wider community in these difficult times.

Blessings in Difficult Times

The parish is receiving a lot of messages and letters from both people from within the parish and further afield. Here’s a flavour in thanksgiving to a good God:

“The world needs this isolation. We all need it personally to reconnect with our souls so that we can rediscover who God made us to be and to live out our real mission. The family of St Joseph’s is really helping me to reflect on all that is good and needed and I feel alive, awake and spiritually inspired”.

“A huge thank you for all that your parish are doing during lockdown. It is so evident that the Holy Spirit is working overtime in St Joseph’s. Fr Philip spoke about the parish as a tree in one of his homilies, but I wonder whether the parish can see the seeds on it? St Joseph’s and all its ministries is, as it were, sending out seeds like tealights of the Holy Spirit which are then growing in other parishes”.

“Being able to ‘attend’ Mass from home has been a new and strange experience for me. This online presence of St Joseph’s has brought something of the nature of God into our homes and is a silver lining in these times and I did want the parish to know that you are touching people who may not have otherwise experienced Easter or Resurrection. I find myself beginning to discover some resurrection of the spirit within me, helping me to rebuild once again a closeness to God that has been lost to me for far too long”

Guardian Angels Initiative

Do you live near St Joseph’s Church in Skerton Lancaster, or are you part of our community?
Are you isolated or alone and need help? Does one of your family members or neighbours live in our community and need help?

Our Outreach Service offers practical support and a befriending service.
If you need prescriptions picking up or supplies getting and have no one else to help you, we can. If you want to hear a friendly voice we have people who can call you.
If you want someone to pray with you or for you, that can be arranged too!
For those is desperate need, we’re working with our Food Club and the Council and can get emergency food packages delivered to your door.
To access any of these services you can
-send us a direct message through here
- email Zsuzsanna at zsuzsanna.brenner@gmail.com  
-call St Joseph’s Church 01524 32493

Remember we’re here for all in our community, regardless of walk of life or religion. You are also invited to join our Guardian Angels Group on Facebook.

We are here for you!

The parish’s weekly newsletter and also Mass sheet with the Sunday readings is available on the parish website. Please read on to hear about exciting new initiatives for the parish and wider community in this Covid era…

Our Guardian Angel Network. Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the ensuing lockdown, the parish has worked hard to develop a system to help to support the housebound and those who are self-isolating, and anyone in the parish or wider community who may need help. The parish has instituted a Guardian Angel Team who are there to pray for you (run by Robert & Maureen Burrows), speak to you on the telephone and make sure that you remain connected and reassured in these difficult times (run by Natalie Horner), and a dedicated team who are available to help with any errands (trips to the shops, pharmacy, etc), run by Neil & Emily Turbitt. Zsuzsanna, the parish’s Outreach Coordinator, is overseeing this whole service and coordinating this response, linking the parish’s efforts with the Council’s services, the Food Club, and other external groups. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to phone Zsuzsanna on 0742 723 0032, or phone Fr Philip on 01524 32493.

Same ministries, new ways. The Parish has certainly not closed down; quite the opposite. We are working hard to continue all the same services and ministries that have always taken place, and reaching out to new people, albeit in new ways. Our parish Facebook has become a platform for four groups: Children’s Corner (run by Joanne Garnock-Jones and team); Prayer Ministry (run by Lisa Valente-Osborne); Forever Amen music ministry (run by Emily Boyd); and, Liturgy of the Word (run by Leigh-Ann Higgins). In addition, the leadership and strategic teams of the parish continue to meet on Zoom to plan a way ahead, and our choir is having its first Zoom Choir Practice on Tuesday. Though we are all physically distant from each other, we need not be socially distant. St Joseph’s continues to beat as the heartbeat of this community, and we hope to reach out to anyone and everyone who needs our help, and bring into the fold anyone who feels isolated and afraid at this time. Please do not hesitate to contact Zsuzsanna if you would like to be involved or if you have any bright ideas.

Collection. At the Offertory, we offer up the fruits of our work to the Lord. As part of that offering, it is customary to make a financial contribution to the ongoing costs of running the parish. With the temporary cessation of public Masses, the church has no income to keep it going for when everyone returns. Please continue to use the Mass Offering envelopes, and either keep them for now or post them through the Presbytery door, or you can use the ‘RC Diocese of Lancaster’ Just Giving Page, being sure to assign your contribution to ‘St Joseph’s Church Lancaster’. Or, you can phone Fr Philip for BACS details, or send a cheque made out to ‘St Joseph’s’ to Fr Philip. Likewise, any Lenten alms for Burkino Faso can be posted into the house. On behalf of the parish, Fr Philip would like to thank everyone for their generosity.

Coronavirus and Mass times

Today, Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales has issued a statement with regard to the celebration of Mass. From Friday evening, public celebration of Mass is suspended. However, please keep your eye on this website, and download the Facebook App and follow our parish page. Our Facebook page will keep you up to date with goings-on and provide spiritual sustenance during these difficult days. We aim to be a people that walk together, with the light of Christ, in these times.

Letter on public acts of worship in Catholic Churches in England and Wales in light of COVID19

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, so many aspects of our lives must change. This includes the ways in which we publicly express our faith. It is very clear that, following official advice and in order to keep each other safe, save lives and support the NHS, at this time we must not gather for public acts of worship in our churches. This will begin from Friday evening, 20th March 2020, until further notice.

Our churches will remain open. They are not closing. They will be a focal point of prayer, where you will find solace and strength. In visiting our churches at this time, we will observe with great care the practices of hygiene and the guidance on social distancing.

However, the celebration of Mass, Sunday by Sunday and day by day, will take place without a public congregation.

Knowing that the Mass is being celebrated; joining in spiritually in that celebration; watching the live-streaming of the Mass; following its prayers at home; making an act of spiritual communion: this is how we share in the Sacrifice of Christ in these days. These are the ways in which we will sanctify Sunday, and indeed every day.

We want everyone to understand that in these emergency circumstances, and for as long as they last, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is removed. This is, without doubt, the teaching of the Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2181). This pandemic is the 'serious reason' why this obligation does not apply at this time.

You will find more details about the pathway of prayer and sacramental life we are now to take in the accompanying document and on the Bishops’ Conference website (www.cbcew.org.uk). Your own bishop and parish priest will provide further support, encouragement and information about our way of prayer together in the coming weeks.

The second vital aspect of these challenging times is our care for each other. There are so many ways in which we are to do this: being attentive to the needs of our neighbour, especially the elderly and vulnerable; contributing to our local food banks; volunteering for charitable initiatives and organisations; simply keeping in touch by all the means open to us.

During these disturbing and threatening times, the rhythm of the prayer of the Church will continue. Please play your part in it. The effort of daily kindness and mutual support for all will continue and increase. Please play your part in this too. For your commitment to this, we thank you.

"The Lord is my shepherd,

There is nothing I shall want."

May God bless us all.

Vincent Cardinal Nichols

President, Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales

Song for Unity

Lisa Vallente-Osborne writes about a recent event that was run at St Joseph’s to mark the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:

Christian Unity- a pipe dream or something attainable? Sometimes we feel worlds apart from our fellow christian brothers and sisters, other times we are so close and so similar. After all our goals and purpose are the same, even if our methods can somewhat differ. It’s easy to focus on the valleys that divide us instead of looking for unity which holds us as one family.

Normally we’d all be praying for unity. Something out there far off, something that feels so unattainable but actually it’s a little easier that we think to achieve.. Tonight, our packed church celebrated our annual ‘Song for Unity’ event,  welcoming Christians from all over Lancaster and beyond. Housed in those pews sat side by side were Catholics (from other churches in Lancaster and Morecambe- which in itself is a wonder!) Anglicans, Protestants, Methodists and other Christian brothers and sisters from at least 14 different churches! Not only did we have Christian diversity, we had a global mix of visitors too, from Peru, China, Singapore, as well as Dent and sunny exotic Barrow-in Furness! Together in a little Catholic Church in Lancaster, we stood, sat and prayed. Together we stayed for some time, breathing the same air for the entire evening, laughing, smiling, crying, honouring and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our regular ‘Forever Amen’ praise & worship band swelled taking on more musicians from the Lancaster Univerity, New Life Church and more ‘free people’ (as one of the congregation leaders put it!) Free Methodists. Promoted this time through Churches Together Lancaster, we took to the front of house after a short and beautiful impromptu prayer of unity in the sacristy. We were supported by a local firm of sound engineers (Audioworks) who also represented St T’s Church!

The night began with a welcome from Fr. Philip Conner and an opening prayer from the Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Bishop Jill Duff. The music was coordinated and set by Emily Boyd, our Praise & Worship leader for St Joseph’s. The music was spaced out to hold time for the larger sound of praise and worship, but also slower softer lower sounds for reflection, contemplation and prayer. A large screen provided the words for the congregational songs as well as scripture quotes from St Paul for reflective prayer. Our theme ‘Forgiven & Redeemed’. The lights went down, the stage lighting on, and the band began!

‘How amazing, isn’t He wonderful, sing Hallelujah Christ is Risen!’ (Come to the Altar).

‘HE IS RISEN!’ and tonight He joined us and made His presence felt. Tonight our voices were filled with the Spirit and he taught us how to honour and adore Him, not to just sing but spirit filled to praise and worship Him. Tonight we were raised our eyes and hearts to heaven, and heaven came to meet us. The Holy Spirit worked in us, through us and we sat or stood in awe, knowing and feeling the Kingdom present, here and now!

This is what unity looks like! THIS!! Not a pipe dream of Christians agreeing with every doctrine , although given that would by nice.. No but this!!! A night were those divided stand be side; a time to unite, pray enjoying fellowship and the belonging to one Kingdom. A night where we let Him work through us and unite our voices with those of the heavens. We were made for this. This is why Christ died, and rose! Yet so many of us in our churches are stuck with the death durgy bit, we forget what the celebration of the resurrection looks and feels like.

At the end, of the music we concluded with Colossians 3:12-17. A letter from St Paul on prayer, unity, love and the use of music for the praise and glory of the Lord. A prayer of love expressed through psalms and hymns and songs from our voices! Our voices weren’t given to us to shy away from, they are there to use! Our voices weren’t given to us so we can judge and condemn, or be ashamed of ourselves and others. Our voices were given to us so we can join the angels in praise and prayer! We can all sing! Yes! Even you who thinks you’re tone deaf, have courage and faith!

‘Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our work give you honour, and our voices celebrate you for ever’.

Tonight, the band didn’t sing and perform, they led us all in praise and prayer. It wasn’t a show of ego or precise timing, and certainly wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was Spirit filled. The band lead to congregation to sing, and how they did!

All thoroughly enjoyed the event. All left elated, filled with hope and encouragement for life’s journey ahead. Even Bishop Jill stated that there was a gentleness in the Spirit present, that the spacing of the songs created easy moments for prayer and being with Jesus. In her words it “literally was the most moving service I have been to as Bishop of Lancaster”.

So going back the the opening statement.. Christian Unity- a pipe dream or reality? Admittedly we all have differences, beliefs and different doctrines. It does break my heart when my sister-in-law, an Anglican priest comes with me to Mass, and can participate in everything but can’t receive communion. It breaks my heart to see division and defence. Is would be easy to feel anger, resentment and be scarred by this. It would be easy to close the door to faith and judge stating that ‘our faith is the one true faith’ and then turn our backs on the rest. But if we stop and talk and listen, we realise our goals and purpose are the same. If we take a moment and breath, we realise that there’s so much we can share in! If we let our guards down, we realise we all have our faces turned to Christ, we just have a different way to express it.

“Are you hurting and broken within?

Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?

Jesus is calling”

Our redemption is certain, whatever denomination we are. United we are all children and beloved and blessed sons and daughters of the Father.

“O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ”

Don’t lose hope. Unity is very much alive and the Kingdom is here in all of us, just look within!

Unbound

‘Unbound’- Finding Freedom in Christ. 

Recently, Lisa Vallente-Osborne attended a transformative conference. Here she writes up her report of the training.

“There’s freedom to be found in Christ!”. We’ve all heard this time after time from the pulpits across the world. But do we truly believe it? I certainly didn’t!

As a cradle catholic, saying my rote daily prayers, going to church and ‘doing’ my regular embarrassed confession summed up the life of my faith. Stagnant. Suffocated. Lifeless. 

It was mine, that came alive in the troubled times when I really needed it to, but for the most part a heartless lip-service and a life insurance policy for the after life.. 

But something rumbled deeper. Living next door to the church, I found myself attending the odd weekday mass. I enjoyed the peace and stillness of the moment. I was emotionally numb, the priest would preach but I didn’t have the ears to listen to the message..... still I came for the peace and stillness more and more, till daily mass became a regular habit. The papers and kindling of the fire were being laid. The air was stirring....

Then the changes in our little church took a new direction. A pair of young and challenging priests were delivered, gifted preachers. For the very first time in forty years of listening, I heard the Gospel’s message of love. I was love, and was capable of being loved, unconditionally. As you can imagine the fire lit, and the thirst for more became un-quenching. 

Fast forward a few years, and the ups and downs of life and church life has fuelled and doused down those flames, but even in the spiritual desert there are embers; and hope of what is possible.

So very recently, after a ‘usual’ ‘routine’ confession, our priest gave me a book to read called ‘Unbound’’-by M Lozano. At first I thought cheers mate! - this is one hell of a penance! and I vowed under my breath to find a new confessor quick! But I began to read......

As I did I understood my faith and it’s purpose for the very first time. I found that the complexities of life and ups and downs with people doesn’t happen to just me, but to all of us. So many times people tell us ‘it’s all in God’s plan’ and we want to strangle them because we’re frustrated, angry and lost. But ‘Unbound’ gave me a map to freedom in Christ, a sense of purpose, a drive and a reason to breathe. For me ‘Unbound’ was the much needed spiritual psychotherapy I was seeking. It helped me to understand how we each internally interpret our life experiences and how they define you. From that very early age, the brain listened and set up thinking patterns, often unhelpful and filled with lies you’ve told yourself along the way that bind you from blossoming and believing your self worth and identity. 

Reading the ‘Unbound’ book and then experiencing the ministry gave me the language to surrender myself, my experiences and life to God, and take up the role He intended, as His Child. Through this ministry I met God the Father. I learned that I am worthy! I am loved! I don’t need to ‘do’ anything to win the love of the Father! I am the apple of His eye. He delights in me! Yes ME!!! I’m His creation. I’m uniquely me, made in His image and likeness. HE LOVES ME! 

So what is ‘Unbound’?  And how does it work?

‘Unbound’ presents a simple model of FIVE KEYS of deliverance to find your freedom in Christ. These keys being Repentance & Faith, Forgiveness, Enemies/Lies to renounce, Command and Father’s Blessing. 

Imagine there’s  a door with five locks, and in the other side is Christ, and our freedom. We can use  one or two keys, but that won’t open the door. We need to use all five to experience real freedom in Christ. The seal is the Father’s Blessing, and in my option the most beautiful part of it all. 

There are a couple of ways to unlock the door. One, read the book and talk it through as directed (in the book) with spiritual friend or priest. Another option is to attend a prayer ministry session where you will be able to share your unique story confidentially, and a prayer leader and intercessor will guide you through the process. 

A few months after reading the book I was fortunate enough to attend the national training and conference; lead by Matt Lozano, the writer’s son. After receiving the ministry, I was given what felt like an impossible task, to intercede and eventually lead the prayer ministry. With trust and the will the Father, I discovered it was easy to share this new found freedom. 

This deliverance ministry doesn’t replace the sacrament of confession, but enhances it. For instance; the mother that comes time and again to the confession asking for forgiveness for the way she is with her kids on a school day morning.. It doesn’t matter how organised she is, or how she goes about things, the early morning rush to school is alway manic, and it seems she has to ‘loose it’ in order to be heard and listened to. By the time they’ve all got to the school gates, she feels wretched, beaten and a failure. She is sorrowful, angry at herself and resents herself for having to resort to this behaviour over and over to get by. Despite her repentance and prayer, things never seem to change. ‘Unbound’ deliverance ministry would listen to this account, but look deeper. This mum is angry and resentful because under all this is a mum who is struggling with her identity. Underneath all this she believes she is a terrible mum, ill equipped, trying hard but doing an awful job of it all. Looking a little deeper, we learn the lies of the enemy, whispers of worthlessness, isolation and anxiety of being a mother. We hear the fear of responsibility which paralyses, her role as a woman and a mother never really blessed; and the echos of how her own mother cared for her. This ministry would unbind her from the these lies; and show her the true identity of love in Christ. A new perspective, a new blessed identity and a sense of hope. 

Deliverance isn’t a ‘dirty’ word, any more than redemption! The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer of deliverance and each time we ask Our Father to “deliver us from evil”. This Unbound model is gentle, respectful and lets the Holy Spirit guide the process. We’re all destined to find our true identity in Christ.

Curious? Look up ‘Unbound’ via Heart of the Father, get the book by Neal Lozano. Open your heart and the rest will follow. 

‘Unbound’ Deliverance Prayer Ministry. Available soon, near you! 

Celebrating the Lancaster Martyrs

On his recent visitation to the parish, Bishop Paul Swarbrick blessed the new icon of the Lancaster Martyrs.

This icon was created by Martin Earle, commissioned by the parish and paid for by a generous benefactor. It is a unique piece of work and will serve as a setting for devotion to the martyrs and the beginning of a new martyrs walk which will link the shrine with the Castle where all these martyrs were incarcerated and condemned, and the martyrs monument on the Moor, near Williamson Park, and St Peter’s Cathedral. The Icon of the Lancaster Martyrs draws on a Medieval tradition of dyptychs and tryptych (two-part and three-part panels which would have formed the backdrop to an altar or to a shrine). Here are some examples from the National Gallery.

In writing the icon, Martin Earle drew much inspiration from some of the great Medieval altarpieces celebrating the communion of saints. As in the examples, it was customary for the saints to be set upon a floral carpet, rich patterns reflecting the glory of heaven.

In this case, the pattern beneath the holy family is made up of Lancashire roses and curlews, whose bills are intertwined. The curlew is a familiar bird of the Lancashire wetlands and moorlands. It has a high-pitched, almost haunting, cry; very appropriate for an icon speaking of martyrdom. The Lancashire rose reminds us of the crown of thorns that wreathed Jesus’s head in his passion. The harmony of these images reveal to us the radiance of the whole of creation, caught up and transfigured in the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ: the martyrs, the whole of the cosmos, and, ourselves as we look upon this icon.

Nothing is apart from Christ as indeed the very icon signifies in its poplar wood panel and oak batons, the rabbit glue and chalk that make up the gesso base, the water, egg yolk and different pigments and minerals used in the paints, the gold leaf, and the blood and sweat and prayer involved in writing the icon itself. To see how the panel was made click here.

Beneath the feet of the martyrs the pattern is inspired by a wallpaper design from the Pugin house in Ramsgate. The Pugin family are associated with restoring the Gothic style to British design and architecture, and given that St Joseph’s church was designed by Peter Paul Pugin, it seemed entirely appropriate to include this detail too.

Looking at the martyrs, several of the priests are identified by their religious garb: Robert Middleton, a Jesuit; Ambrose Barlow, a Benedictine; and, Robert Nutter, a Dominican. Since all the martyrs died for their adherence to the Catholic faith and for their love of the sacraments which make present Christ’s abiding presence with us, each of the priests represent a different sacrament: James Bell carries a scallop shell around his neck which symbolises the Christian pilgrimage through life that begins with baptism; Thomas Thules carries a jar of Chrism oil and his red chasuble is adorned with tongues of fire; Thomas Whitaker carries a chalice representing the Eucharist and reminding us of his portable tabernacle that is preserved at Claughton-on-Brock; Thurstan Hunt is confessing his sins to Robert Middleton; Edmund Arrowsmith, who was handed over by a disgruntled couple whose marriage he was attempting to regularise, is holding the wedding rings of the sacrament of Matrimony on a cushion; Edward Thwing has his manipled arm outstretching and resting on the shoulder of Robert Nutter who clings to the Word of God in a gesture symbolising the sacrament of Ordination; and, John Woodcock likewise lays his hand upon Edward Bamber, in a comforting gesture representing the Last Rites, now known as the Sacrament of the Sick. In addition to the priests, there are three laymen who enabled the mission in Lancashire to flourish. Blessed John Finch, the farmer Richard Hayhurst, carrying a lamb, an ancient symbol of sacrifice and of course intimating the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and the extraordinary weaver from Chorley, Roger Wrenno. He holds in his hand the rope that snapped as he was being hanged. Falling to the ground, he was offered his life should he recant his faith. But he related the heavenly things that he had just seen and had no hesitation in mounting the gallows once again. This mystical experience that he enjoyed in his last moments is depicted by his upwards gaze, orientated towards Christ in glory.

Finally, at the centre, is the Holy Family. Mary the Mother of God, and St Joseph, the patron of this church. St Joseph is often depicted in religious art as an old man, but there is nothing in the Scriptures to verify this, and in designing this icon, it was felt that a younger St Joseph, a man in his vigour and a man passionate about life, a man who was faithful to his vocation to God at the cost of all his plans, is far more inspiring. Mary bears Jesus towards us, and Joseph points to Jesus, and in particular, points to the cross which is at the crux of the icon: Jesus Christ Saviour of the World. Jesus clings to the cross which is his mission, and holds his hand in blessing, his two fingers proclaiming the two natures of Christ: his divinity and his humanity. Directly above the holy family is Christ in all his glory in the celestial realms, flanked on either side by the archangels, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael.

The Pugin Letters

Peter Paul Pugin

Last year the Houses of Parliament agreed upon a £3.5 Billion refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster and Elizabeth Tower which houses the bell known as Big Ben. The price of refurbishment reflects the commitment of the country to this iconic building, a building whose interior was designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52). Pugin was an English architect, designer, artist and critic who is principally remembered for his pioneering role in the Gothic Revival style of architecture. Besides the Palace of Westminster, Pugin designed many churches in England and some in Ireland and Australia. Upon his death two of his sons, Edward Welby and Peter Paul Pugin, continued his architectural firm as Pugin & Pugin. It was the latter of these, Peter Paul Pugin (1851-1904), who was the architect of St Joseph’s church in Skerton alongside other outstanding churches in our Diocese: Our Lady Star of the Sea in Workington (1876), Our Lady Star of the Sea in St Annes (1890), St Mary’s in Morecambe (1895), Sacred Heart in Thornton (1899), and he developed and enlarged English Martyrs in Preston and Sacred Heart in Blackpool.

With the support of a substantial Heritage Lottery Grant, work is currently underway to restore St Joseph’s Church. The church is 118 years old and the Lancashire damp and driving rains have with time damaged the interior of the church. At this time when the church is being restored it is fortuitous that a sheath of letters has come to light. At a recent garden party in the church grounds, the parish priest was approached by a lady who works in Lancashire County Council Archives in Preston who said that the archives had recently acquired the original correspondence of Peter Paul Pugin relating to the building of the church (RCLV/ACC12549).

Miss Coulston (centre), flanked by Miss Smith and Fr Thomas Murphy

The correspondence relates to the period of 1897-1901 and is addressed to the first Rector of the mission at St Joseph’s, Fr Philip O’Bryen. The letters reveal Peter Paul Pugin’s frustration at the length of time that Margaret Coulston’s house (now the presbytery) was taking. The cost of the house, we are told, was £2000 (£250K in today’s money), a cost that could be held down ‘especially if the local builders are hungry for work’. Nevertheless, Peter Paul became impatient, lamenting the ‘slow progress being made with the building’ and writing to Harrisons of Lancaster that ‘if the building is not completed in time the penalty will be enforced’. Peter Paul took delight in designing the stairwell which was made by Hardman Powell & Co, a Midland company with family connections to the Pugin family.

The correspondence reveals Peter Paul’s excitement as he began to think about a design for a church alongside the house. Margaret Coulston had set aside a sum of money for a substantial church, costing about £6000 (£758K in today’s terms). For this amount, Peter Paul felt that ‘something could be done for that but’, he added, ‘I must keep it simple’ and his ambitious designs for the upper part of the tower had to be restrained to fit within the said budget. ‘I must keep all the detail as simple as I can consistent with the perpendicular style’, he wrote.

One of the grotesques, looking out from the tower

Peter Paul was to spend the next couple of years dealing with contractors, negotiating with Margaret Coulston and the parish priest, Fr O’Bryen, and Bishop Whiteside of Liverpool, who he kept on meeting at different events up and down the country. Time after time he would submit new plans and it is fascinating to see how many of the details of the interior of the church were still be negotiated as the church was being completed. It was a task that absorbed Peter Paul and the letters reveal a man who was committed to develop a vision of the church alongside the house, set back from the road amidst ample grounds. ‘I think the whole thing will look very well and will make a beautiful group of buildings’, he wrote.

But it wasn’t long till the project ran into problems. Given the cap on the amount that could be spent Peter Paul became anxious over the price for the stone, recommending the use of Grinshill from Shrewsbury over Yorkshire stone which was too expensive. In the event, a local company, Hatch & Son, were able to provide Lancaster Freestone, a millstone grit, that was quarried locally and at a more competitive price.

On numerous occasions Peter Paul sought to stretch Margaret Coulston’s generosity, but always in the name of creating a more beautiful church. For example, for a little more, he insisted, the arches in the main nave of the church could be made of stone rather than brick and plaster. By and large Margaret Coulston, with Fr O’Bryen’s gentle persuasion, acceded. The total cost of the project which was overseen by Walkers of Preston ended up costing £8431 (£1.06M in today’s money).

The high altar

Once the building was underway, Peter Paul Pugin busied himself with the interior design of the church. He would send through plans to Fr O’Bryen for the high altar, insisting that ‘it will look much better in reality than it does on paper’, relishing his use of mosaic to create ‘emblems of the Blessed Sacrament’ and attractive ‘inscriptions’. Initially the idea was a niche at either end of the High Altar presenting ‘Our Lady Mother of God and St Joseph’. In between there would be paintings of St Joseph’s life or choirs of angels, adding a brightness of colour. At the centre there would be a ‘canopy with adoring angels on each side’ which would be ‘very effective’ and ‘break up the centre line well’. He concluded, ‘I am sure the altar will look very well and will be quite in keeping with the church’. In the end, the altar was redesigned to its present design and built by Boulton’s Ecclesiastical & Architectural Works of Cheltenham in Caen stone and polished marble shafts at a cost of £604 (£76K in today’s terms).

Mosaic of the Lamb of God

Peter Paul worked with his long-time associates, Hardman of Birmingham, to create stained glass windows, particularly for the chancel, and to execute the mosaic work.

The hanging rood and stained glass windows with murals on either side

At this point, the Bishop put his oar in and complained that the design of the tower was still too plain, and Peter Paul was to spend the next few months arriving at an alternative design ‘which I think will be most effective and will add very much to the appearance of the church’ and which he hoped Miss Coulston would accept.

Finally, Pugin was gratified to discover and to make use of a local firm, Gillows, to build the pulpit at £135 (£17K in today’s terms), communion rails at £50 (£6K in today’s terms) and oak screens between the side chapels and chancel. ‘Gillows is a good firm’, he wrote, ‘and I have no doubt will do first class work so I feel they would be safely entrusted with the work’.

The Gillow pulpit

Peter Paul took particular pleasure in the Sacred Heart chapel which became a labour of love for him. ‘It has not been an easy thing to manage but I am satisfied with it now’ and he concluded that ‘the altar will be quite unique of its kind’ with the round stained glass window cupped by the altar and its reredos beneath. Peter Paul then set to work on a flourish of other projects: the design for the font and baptistery, the redesign of the frames for the Stations of the Cross, and the design of hanging rood above the chancel. By the same token he rebuked Walkers for suggesting that there should be radiators in the chancel, something that he strongly objected to.

The Sacred Heart window

The roof of the baptistry

All, of course, was not roses. We learn from the letters that Peter Paul became exhausted from all his exertions, travelling up and down to Scotland, and looking after so many projects. A number of times he complained of feeling ‘very seedy’, and he found the hot weather in London ‘very trying and difficult to work in’. From time to time he was forced to take a holiday, writing that ‘I am thankful to say I feel all the better both in mind and body’ and ‘I now feel ready for any amount of work again’. But he could become prickly when his own bills were not paid. He complained on one occasion of how he disliked ‘having to write about money matters and I am very sorry this should arise’. He had reminded Fr O’Bryen that he was due his architect’s commission but this as yet had not been paid. ‘I am asking no favours but simply what is due to me as a matter of business. Kindly attend to this matter without delay. I shall be much obliged’. The message could not be clearer.

One of Peter Paul’s letters with sketch

The Pugin Letters reveal the industry of Peter Paul Pugin, a man on a mission. Almost every week Peter Paul wrote to the Rector of St Joseph’s updating him on the progress of the project, asking his opinion on architectural and interior design features, and reflecting on the advantages and disadvantages of different contractors. Peter Paul relied heavily upon his family and business associates to fulfil the task, the good will of patrons such as the Bishop of Liverpool, and the untiring cooperation of clergy and benefactors, and his unstinting efforts have bequeathed a church of breathtaking beauty which, with the help of our Heritage Lottery Grant, will continue to inspire many generations to come.

A Heroine of the Holocaust

Anna Pendlebury, our wonderful organist at St Joseph’s writes: ‘My Great Auntie Mary was a nun from Morecambe who saved Jews during the Holocaust who was honoured more than 15 years after her death.

Sister Maria Antoniazzi, known as Sister Anthony, was intiated into Israel's Righteous Among the Nations at a ceremony in Rome.

She was born Maria Anna Francesca Antoniazzi in Bardi in Piacenza in Northern Italy on November 12, 1900.

She left Morecambe and her father's cafe against his wishes to become a Notre Dame sister shortly before the second world war.(She had to sell her piano to raise money for a dowry to enter the convent!)

The order sent her to a poor part of Rome when war broke out. Under the leadership of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, the convent became one of a network of safehouses in the city.

Mgr O'Flaherty's wartime experiences were made into a film, The Scarlet and the Black. Sister Anthony's work hiding Jewish children in the school and gardens remained unrecognised, because she had managed to keep it secret from both the Gestapo and the order.

She provided false papers for the children so that they could be smuggled out.

After the war she returned to England and joined the Parbold Notre Dame convent, near Wigan. She never talked to any of the family at any time about her activities during the war, even though Jewish survivors visited her to thank her.

Thanks to pressure from some of the children she saved now living in the US and their determination to track her down, Sister Antoniazzi (Anthony) was awarded this very special honour, which as far as we know has only been awarded to seven other British citizens. Her name is inscribed on the wall of the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, (the pictures below show the medal awarded, the wall on which her name is inscribed and a picture of Sister Antoniazzi at the time and in later life).

It was a great honour on our recent pilgrimage to the Holy land to visit Yad Vashem and to see her name on the memorial wall in the garden. Thanks to Deacon Stephen and Fr. Philip for going beyond the call of duty to locate and photograph her name and then manage to get back safely to the coach after passing through two check points!!

Faith of our Fathers

First design and colour scheme

Some time ago, the parish was left a bequest to develop a shrine dedicated to the fifteen Lancaster Martyrs. Few towns in the world can boast of so many martyrs, and yet we make so little of them. In the first half of the twentieth century, several thousand of the faithful would gather on the martyrs field above the Cathedral to remember those that died in the sixteenth and seventeenth for their love of the Church: priests like Fr Edmund Arrowsmith or Fr Thomas Whittaker, but also simple folk, weavers and yeomen, who hid priests and refused to disavow the faith, and about whom we know precious little else. It’s great to see some good old Lancashire names amongst the martyrs: Wrennall, Thwing, Bamber, Hurst, Nutter, and the like. These are our martyrs, martyrs of the Catholic Church, and they intercede for us, and we can pray to them to ask them for help in our efforts to witness to Christ in our times.

The Transfiguration Secco Icon at the Catholic Chaplaincy, Lancaster University, completed in 2017.

The icon of the Lancaster Martyrs is being written by Martin Earle who assisted in the fresco of the Transfiguration at the University of Lancaster Catholic Chaplaincy (see above). Hopefully it will be with completed by the middle of the Summer, but we thought you would like to see the process by which it is coming into being.

Stained Glass window of St Edmund Arrowsmith in the Cathedral

At the centre of the tryptych (3-part panel) is an image of the Holy Family: the patron of our parish, St Joseph, with Mary and Jesus. On either side of the tryptych are the martyrs. The priests are identified by their religious garb or the vestments that they wear; they are all holding a different symbol of the 7 sacraments: Fr Bell has a scallop shell around his neck to remind us of baptism (often scallop shells are used to pour water on those that are being baptised), Fr Whitaker is holding the chalice (which is kept at Claughton on Brock parish), representing the Mass, Fr Thules is holding a bottle of oil for Confirmation and for the Last Rites, Fr Bamber is wearing a purple stole for Confession, Fr Arrowsmith is bearing two rings on a cushion, representing marriage, and the fact that he was handed over to his pursuivants by a couple who were not honouring the bond, and Fr Thwing is resting his hand on the shoulder of Fr Nutter with the maniple on his arm, representing Holy Orders.

In time, the finished icon will have red Lancashire roses around the bottom, reminding us of the blood of the martyrs and also the thorns that pierced Jesus in his passion, and there will be representations of local wildlife: curlews, oyster catchers and peewits, all familiar birds to our coastal town, linking the martyrs to us today.

The photos below detail the progress made so far (end of May 2019). Watch this space for further developments…

Beautiful oak being prepared for the back of the panel

Making the faces of the wood perfectly flat for gluing together

The panel, including the oak in the back, is made of 12 boards affixed together

Marking up the arches

Oak battens dovetailed into grooves to make the panel stable

Fine tuning the battens for a perfect fit

Carving out the mouldings and changing the depth of some of the areas by carving the columns and capitals.

Applying the gesso, chalk and rabbit glue - the foundation for the icon.

Sanding and polishing.

On and on. More sanding and polishing.

The shrine in site, in St Joseph’s, to the right of the Confessionals. Artists impression.

In the Footsteps of the Master

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land

28 pilgrims set out on an adventure; to boldly go where all Christian humans want to go; even just once! The Holy Land. Here are some highlights of a eight day intensive pilgrimage to this very tactile and very Holy Land. 

Bethlehem 

Putting you hands in the hand of the man from Galilee. What a fantastic opportunity! So if waking in Bethlehem isn’t awesome enough; we now begin our tour. Bleary eyed, it’s time to face the dawn, and the two hour time difference and get up and going. 

Just as John the Baptist announced the arrival of Christ, so he does once again- in our time at our pilgrimage beginning. As we battled the first set of unruly pilgrims (from other countries) the Canticle of Zechariah shone out in its wonder; “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, he has visited His people and redeemed them!”. 

Leaving John’s birthplace we walk for a short while up an ancient hillside, surrounded by terraces of olive groves. Here lies the church of the visitation where a newly pregnant Mary and heavily pregnant Elizabeth meet on the hilltop, witnessed by the sheep and shepherds below. Elizabeth filled with the spirit gives us those words so common to our tongue ‘Blessed art thou amongst women’. The response is cried out from every inch of this church; the great ‘Magnificat’. My soul glorifies the Lord, and this church glorifies creation; her arches, embracing all who enter in that unconditional motherly love, celebrating the bringing forth of new life and the wonder of creation. As it did for John the Baptist, this church also provides sanctuary. Nestled within the lower chapel lies the stone which hid John the Baptist from Herod’s deathly decree. This stone worn by the millions of hands transmits the vibrations from every foot that has crossed this threshold. 

The next up, the Church of the Nativity and birth place of Christ. Getting to grips with crowds and multinational pilgrims was the task of these long tiring days! As we each move forward for the same purpose, conversations began in the queue. Different nationalities held together by the love of Our Lord. In the chaos that is thousands of pilgrims, the place held grace and peace; overseen eagerly by a zealous Orthodox Monk! Descending into the crypt to see that twelve pronged star, to touch and be in the place where Our Lord came into this world! We were each swept up by sheer disbelief that we are here. The awesomeness of this moment and the place where our God became incarnate and palpable. The wonder and disbelief became real; how did our creator put so much trust in us (His creation) to give us himself as this tiny helpless babe?

Dinner was spent in the Shepherd’s Field. As a group we sat and discussed the day. Many were overwhelmed by their experiences. As we ate, we wondered what the shepherds of these fields 2000 yrs ago would have eaten. We discussed how far they would be travelling, with their best lambs to arrive at Jerusalem’s temple ready for the Passover. Thousands of lambs would have been slaughtered that day. Imagine that! The temple would look less like a temple of our time, and more like a butchers shop! Our table discussions held the same threads of the others; of wonder and honour and privilege. This faith we believe is real! It comes alive in physical form in front of us. Us mere mortals are being given the opportunity to touch the place of God! 

Jerusalem 

A new morning brings us to the Wailing Wall at Pesach (Passover) and Sabbath. Here we share a special peaceful moment with the tormented chosen race. Whilst this wall is only the retaining wall of the temple that would have dominated Jerusalem 2000 years ago, it stands tall with stone bricks so large they drown us humans, difficult to climb or to besiege; and steeped with so much history. 

For the Jews, this wall is beyond sacred. They believe this wall gives them direct access to God and so will come from all over the world to visit this wall. The wall is treated as a temple and before we approach we are separated into male and female, and given the relevant headwear. The atmosphere is quiet, prayerful, friendly, inclusive and relaxed. We edge forward and get to stand alongside our fellow sisters holding and praying at the wall. The wall tells the history of its pain. Over 2000 years later and this wall is still weeping!!!!! It weeps for all it has witnessed; the rise an fall of its people, their holocausts and suffering, their rejection. It also weeps for the troubled land on which it stands. The wall also tells of hope. Into the tiniest of crevices there are papers, prayers of those who have visited. There is a presence far larger than humanity here and as swifts dance with joy above our heads we leave feeling different and elated. This ancient temple isn’t just a holy site for the Jews, but for us Christians too. Here Christ was presented to as a baby; here He got lost and was found teaching and arguing with the priests, here He was condemned.

From the Mount of Olives overlooking the city, we stopped at Pater Noster - the place where Jesus Christ taught the disciples the Our Father before descending down the Palm Sunday and Passion Route. Along this hillside we take in Dominus Flevit. Here we’re told by the gospels that Jesus wept for Jerusalem; but I’m sure he wept for us all. The view of the city dominated the horizon, the Kidron valley, the city of David. The view reminds us of the endurance of the passion and the lengths Christ went to to free us. Mass was celebrated outside in the garden overlooking the Jerusalem. People passed us, some stopped to sing. Mass outside is always moving and something very special. Jesus wasn’t the only one who wept there! 

Towards the bottom of the mount, as the sounds and smells of the city begin to fill our senses; we arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane.  The stillness of this garden echos the peace Jesus sought before he faced his passion ahead. As a child when we feel frightened or low, we turned to our parents for refuge. As adults we turn to those around us whom we love and trust. Here Jesus took his friends, his brothers and sisters in faith to a place of refuge. As we touch the stone where Jesus knelt, where in his anguish he sweated blood, we feel the place where Jesus sought the love and guidance of his father.  The All Nations Church was breathtaking! Grace and peace filled the expanse. Here mass was being celebrated in chinese reminding us of the multiple faces of Catholicism. Both the church and the garden filled each of us with overwhelming sadness. Here Jesus witnessed the diminishing hope in humanity. Here He lessened himself so God can do more. Here He began his surrender; giving everything over to the Father out of love for us all. 

Church of St Peter Gallicantu marks the place of Peter’s denial. It is also the site of Caiaphas palace, where Jesus was lowered down through a narrow opening into a stone pit before being lifted out to be beaten. The stone cell was oppressive. Sitting in the corner you could imagine the eeriness of the darkness, the chaos of the mind and pain of the body, exhausted; not knowing when next you are going to be dragged out to be beaten again. In this place men have been flogged. Ropes mark the places where arms would have been held, the smooth shiny stone below speaks of hundreds of knees dragging as men were flogged, wiped down with salt water and vinegar, before being flogged again. We know that through the long torturous night before his crucifixion, Christ was flogged at The Church of Flagellation tied to stones like these. We know he received over 120 lashes, bearing more than any human could dare. From this point of exhaustion and dehydration he began his passion walk. His torture was present till the very last breath at the ninth hour. Before his last breath, Jesus endured a walk of shame with his cross through the narrow streets of Jerusalem. He experienced over 18hours of vicious torture to save humanity. Sometimes I wonder if humanity is really worth saving. 

We followed the Via Dolorosa, ending our stations of the cross at the Holy Sepulchre. This church houses Calvary and the burial place of Christ. Naturally this is the busiest place in the whole of Jerusalem. The jostle to the tomb was hard as not everyone was willing to wait their turn. The Devil certainly had his work cut out here sending people in to jump the queues and push, to make pilgrimages angry. What better way to become disillusioned by Christianity than to see fellow brothers and sister misbehaving in the name of Christ? What better way to try to get us to turn away from the most blessed place of Christianity, the foundation block of our faith. After hours of waiting we were given permission to enter the inner sanctum. Like many other holy places the doorway was tiny. It forces us all to our knees to walk humbly in front of the Lord. Once in the tomb, kneeling in front of it wasn’t really an option. Overwhelmed with emotion and elation, you simply fall to you knees. Here is the birth place of Christianity! Us mortals are here in this immortal place of God!

Like all the sites in Jerusalem it was hard to find some space to pray and peace, everywhere was bustling and crowded. But watching the sheer numbers of pilgrims visiting is a prayer in itself. This is a Holy Land and pilgrims will flock from all four corners of the globe to be here! 8 pilgrims set out on an adventure; to boldly go where all Christian humans want to go; even just once! The Holy Land. Here are some highlights of a eight day intensive pilgrimage to this very tactile and very Holy Land. 

Here is the second part of this two part series; Christ be beside me as we walk the hill towns and shores of Galilee.. 

Before heading north to Galilee we journeyed to the desert. A barren place, where it’s easy to lose hope and faith. Jesus spent forty days and forty nights out here. Our visit to Masada wasn’t that long, yet under the relentless oppressive heat, we left exhausted and slightly crispy. It’s hard to find any spiritual grounding here, but then, that’s what the desert is. Even the psalmist cries: 

“Oh God, you are my God, my body pines for you, like a dry weary land without water” (Psalm 62/63). Floating in the Dead Sea 420 meters below sea level, soon brought us back down to earth, and revived our senses before we continued on. 

Nazareth

Does anything good come out of Nazareth? Well we all know plenty does! The Church of the Annunciation illuminated the idea that Mary, whist in essence is the same, her image differs in different nationalities. She truly is a mother to all people’s! Next door stood Joseph’s workshop. In-between both, a statue of Joseph and a Indian Banyan Tree. The statue was fascinating, as the back of it portrayed Joseph being supported by angels. He apparently spoken to Angels quite a bit in his lifetime. For me, finding an Indian banyan tree in the midst of the most important parents of humanity reminded me of my home, my heritage, and my parents; the merging peoples, religions and lands. In India these are sacred trees which symbolise immortality. Hindu temples are often built to incorporate these trees. What a perfect place for a very special and quite rare (in these parts) tree. 

Cana 

‘We’re going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married’... 

How we all laughed at the prospect of going to Cana. Expecting a ‘Vegas wedding chapel’; we  got something altogether classier. Cana; the place of the first miracle, where Mary asked Jesus to transform the water into the wine. Here we saw the stone urns that stood larger that the average man of today. There were six, and each held 20-30 gallons. How I wished I’d been at that wedding! But their wedding joy became ours. Standing alongside 3 other couples I renewed my wedding vows with my husband, with my pilgrim friends and God as our witness. We thanked God for the gift of our marriage asked for support in those difficult times.

Galilee’s shores!

Imagine sitting on the shores of the calm Sea of Galilee at sunrise and saying morning office. Looking out over the vast waters, with the joy of dawn chorus and the swifts working, dipping up and down to get their own breakfast. 

‘O the works of the Lord or bless the Lord, the sun, the sea, all creatures of the sea, birds of the air, O bless the Lord’.. The Canticle of Daniel cries out that God is here in all that surrounds us. He sends the birds to sing, the sun to us warm us, the wildlife and flowers to capture our wonder. To say it was magical is an understatement.  Jesus and his followers would have done this, saying these ancient prayers on these shores. As I look up and look across the waters into the rising light, I can imagine Him walking across the water; apparently he walked across the full width (approx 5 miles) to Jordan. I wonder if my faith is strong enough to walk across these waters as Jesus and Peter did. Can I go into the deep waters and focus only on Him? I’d love to think I could. But for now, I settled with being able to swim, not once but twice, in the incredible Sea of Galilee! 

Capernaum

On the shores of Galilee stands Capernaum, the town where Jesus’s would settle, Peter’s hometown. Situated on the main highway, people would pass through here and would stop and listen to Jesus preaching. It is documented that in the synagogues; He read and taught with authority. Here Jesus met the man with the demons who asked ‘what are you going to do with us Messiah?‘. Here too, He healed the servant of the centurion and we get our communion prayer from ‘Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof’. Jesus responded that he had never seen such faith in all of Israel! In Capernaum Jesus chose all of his disciples, preaching that we must be like children if we are to enter kingdom of heaven.

Mount of beatitudes

Above the Sea of Galilee stands a mound, the Mount of the Beatitudes. Sitting on an ancient rock on the mount overlooking the valleys, hills and Sea of Galilee, I closed my eyes and listened. Amongst the birdsong, there was music. Hymns being sung and mass celebrated in different languages. 

‘Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are those who hunger for what is right.. come all who are thirsty.. ‘

This was the place of Jesus’s most famous sermon of love and peace. If Jesus was assumed to be ordinary man, he was a man who changed the world; not with an army or force, power or might, but with love. He was not a worldly king but a king nonetheless. Some say the beatitudes are a self portrait of Christ. If he can forgive all then so should we. As I walked, a music worm sang in my head echoing, “All who are thirsty....come to the fountain, dip your heart in the stream of life.. come Lord Jesus come. Holy Spirit come”

Magdala 

Sunday mass was celebrated in Magdala IN A BOAT on the shores of Galilee. Imagine, reading from a boat, preaching from a boat, being fed from a boat!! During the sermon the boat ‘spiritually’ launched 

 “YOU ARE ALL MY DISCIPLES! I AM HERE. I will be with you, always!”. 

This beautiful place is just being discovered by pilgrims, and this stunning new church celebrates not only the life of Mary of Magdala, the first female apostle, but all women of the gospels. Not far from Magdala, on the top of a hill stands the Church of multiplication, where the feeding 5000 men took place under the shade of the Olive groves.

The pilgrimage route progressed and we left Galilee behind just for a short while. In the distance a high mountain.. Mount Tabor, the mount of the transfiguration. Standing on this mountain we get to look down at the beauty of the land below, the land that stretches on and on to Jordan, overshadowed by Mount Herman (Israel’s highest peak). Above us migrating birds find the thermals and soar, others in the flock falling back to let others lead and save energy. It’s natures perfectly engineered team, something often so lacking in today’s world of competition. Yet here, love of our fellow human is what we’re here to remember and like those birds, there are times when we are weak and others step forward to carry us. Likewise, we will also carry them! Mass was celebrated in a newly built glass chapel outside of the basilica. Light streamed in renewing and transforming our souls. It was a small intimate setting; us and our Lord Jesus. The gardens surrounding the Basilica exuded peace and tranquility; a stark contrast to the single track snake road that took us to the hilltop driven by suicide taxi drivers! 

Caesarea Philippi.

Still in under the guard of Mount Herman we travel, stopping at our most northern spot, Golan Heights. Today this often a troubled place due to political unrest, this the Israeli- Syrian border.

Yet, our visit to this most beautiful nature reserve of Israel shone in its peace! Glacial waters tumbled from the snowy peaks of the high mountains, bringing fresh life to Israel and forming one of the three springs of the River Jordan. These ancient hills and springs will have provided the water for John the Baptist’s ministry and the Baptism of Christ! 

For us Christians reading the bible, we know this place by another name- Caesarea Philippi. Here the Lord asks Peter- ‘Who do you say I am?’. A simple question with a ground breaking response! The other disciples stated John the Baptist ,a prophet, but Peter knew and professed: 

 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” You are the Messiah! You are the chosen one that scriptures foretold. 

At that point Peter became the rock, on which the church was built. Even though his faith was so strong, and he knew the Lord well, Peter’s faith still wavered. In the pressure and fear for his own life, this rock breaks, three times; denying our Lord at his passion. As with all the disciples, broken-hearted and ashamed, he returns to his old life, the familiar life of fishing after his Lord is crucified. 

But Peters story doesn’t end there. In fact, on this shores around Galilee he picks up his cross and begins a ministry that will defy all, but first he needs to recognise that the man on the shore making him breakfast. The man by the fire, breaking and blessing fish and bread is his Lord and he needs to answer three more questions..  ‘Peter, do you love me?’. On these shores of Galilee the Lord gave Peter his Primacy asking him to ‘lead my sheep, feed my sheep’. Those words, ‘Do you love me?’ are as haunting and accurate today to us as to Peter 2000 years ago, ‘Do you love me?’; a mantra for us all to answer every moment of every day. 

Serving our Community

Last December we started to support needy families in our area; we donated food and toys for Melbourne Food Club members. Since then we have been donating food on a regular basis for which we say thank you again to everybody. We would like to invite the food club members to our church for Easter lunch on Wednesday 3 April from 12 noon til 1pm. This will be another great opportunity to show our commitment to help as well as make our relationship more personal with the food club members. We would appreciate your valuable contribution to achieve our aim and make Easter full of joy and happiness for everyone. We are looking for volunteers who can help buy and deliver food, prepare lunch and welcome people as well as take part in the lunch. Everybody's work and time are much appreciated!

From spring we will be running a clothes donation service for families struggling in our area. Parents will have the chance to swap good quality clean children clothes from birth to age four. All clothes donations and help are welcome.

Should you have any questions about the programmes or you would like to volunteer for the Easter lunch or for our clothes donation service, please see Zsuzsanna, our outreach coordinator on st.josephslancaster@yahoo.co.uk

Restoring our Church

The church, upon its completion in 1901.

Last year, the parish was delighted to receive the news that the Heritage Lottery Fund had awarded St Joseph’s Catholic Church a grant. Made possible by National Lottery players, the grant will support a project to renew the fabric of this historic building and make it more accessible to the wider community. Only last year, the Church, which is a Grade II listed building designed by the famous Pugin family and boasting some unique Gillow furnishings, was placed on the National Buildings at Risk Register. The Grant will help to galvanise local support to preserve this unique building in the lives of the people of Skerton and beyond.

More than one hundred years on from its foundation, St Joseph’s church is facing problems that are besetting much of our national Victorian heritage. Recent architectural surveys have revealed structural faults in the Tower, and damp ingression caused by corrosion of the external masonry and damage to the spouts and guttering. Development funding of £15,700 has been awarded to St Joseph’s to help to ascertain where the difficulties lie and to explore ways in which to address them. Plans will also be developed to make the church more accessible with disabled access and facilities, and ways will be explored to make the church open throughout the whole year so that people can enjoy the beauty and tranquillity that the church provides. These development plans will enable St Joseph’s to apply for a full grant at a later date.

Drones with cameras were used to help with the topographical survey

Parish Priest, Fr Philip Conner, says that the wider parish community is delighted to have received support thanks to National Lottery players. ‘The project is the fruit of much hard work from our parish finance and property committee, and reflects the desire of our parish to reach out to the wider community, to welcome people of every age, background and nationality, and to find ways to serve the particular needs of Skerton. It is our desire’, Fr Conner explained, ‘that St Joseph’s, once restored to its former glory, will continue to serve as a beacon of hope for many generations to come: a place of rest for all people in this busy world, a place to enjoy the beauty and history, prayer and silence, and warmth and friendship that St Joseph’s offers’.

Protective gear required for the clearance of pigeon guano from the tower

Already a group within the parish has been looking at ways to involve as wide a group as possible in the fundraising and the development of outreach with the local schools, the university, musicians and artists, other churches and religious groups, local heritage groups, and of course, its faithful parishioners who hold amongst themselves a rich tapestry of memories and experiences associated with the church. ‘The great thing about this Grant’, Fr Conner added, ‘is that it provides an opportunity to generate a sense of local pride in what we have, a sense of community, and a sense of hope as people learn new skills and take up the new opportunities that we hope will emerge from this venture’.

Have you ever wondered what is beneath your feet? The drainage survey unearthed all sorts of interesting things...

Towards the end of last year there has been a raft of preliminary investigations so that we can develop our plans. There seems to have been an endless stream of surveys: bat surveys, asbestos surveys, drainage surveys, topographical surveys, structural surveys, pigeon guano surveys... Additionally, the Parish Social Committee has been organising a number of fundraising initiatives to help to support the project and to bring the wider community on board. Plans are now lodged with Historic Churches Committee and are available for inspection.

Enlisting the support of Buzz Lightyear and Fireman Sam for the parish fair and fundraising initiatives!

The Pope in Arabia

Last week, Pope Francis was the first Pontiff ever to visit the Arabian Peninsula. Some of our parishioners, the Ellis family, currently live in the UAE and were privileged to attend the Papal Mass in Abu Dhabi. Here, Mark Ellis recounts an unforgettable day…

“Tuesday 5th February 2019 was an extraordinary day in the short history of the United Arab Emirates. The visit of His Holiness Pope Francis culminated in an open air mass attended by over 170,000 people. Interestingly, the local media here reported that at least 5,000 of those attending were Muslims. This year has been designated as ‘the year of tolerance’ in the UAE and the Papal visit was certainly a high profile event to get things started!

In comparison to other Gulf nations, the UAE has a fairly liberal approach to religious tolerance and Christians of all denominations are permitted to practice their faith. However, this is usually restricted to churches and this was the first time that mass had been held in such a public arena. Many of the faithful travelled from other countries as well as the far corners of the UAE and some arrived at the venue at midnight, more than 10 hours before the Holy Father was due to arrive. Such commitment was quite humbling I can tell you.

We set off from our home in Dubai at 4.30am for the relatively short drive to Abu Dhabi. We arrived at the stadium just as the sun was beginning to rise. You would be surprised at how cold it can be here in the UAE at this time of year but the huge crowds were cheerful and orderly as we queued to enter the venue.

During the long wait we were kept busy by the choirmaster who organized the 50, 000 inside the stadium as well as the 120,000 outside in rehearsing the selected hymns. Then, at 10am, Pope Francis arrived, waving happily from the Pope mobile which made steady progress around the whole area allowing virtually everybody to get a good view of him. The mass itself featured contributions in the many languages of the UAE; English, Arabic, Tagalog, Malayalam and Urdu so there was something for everyone. The gospel could not have been more appropriate; the sermon on the mount!

By 12.30pm it was all over and people started to drift away back to normality having been part of an extraordinary, unforgettable event. The Pope left for Rome within hours but his three day visit certainly left an impression. The school where I work, like all schools across the whole UAE, was closed for two days in recognition of the importance of the visit. Muslim friends, colleagues and students have been prompted to ask me questions about my faith which showed a genuine respect and an attempt to find common ground which can only possibly be a good thing.

We said a prayer for everyone at St. Joseph’s and I’m pretty sure the Holy Father knew that we were there!