Some months ago, I issued a survey to understand better what you the people and parishioners of our diocese think and what you consider is important as we journey in faith together. I wished to explore what you thought was good about the diocese, that we should celebrate; what might be identified as the challenges across our diocese; and what we may need to put in place to develop further our mission. The online questionnaire ran over Christmas and into the New Year and was promoted through parish newsletters and websites, parish groups and in the notices at the end of the Mass.

I want to express profound thanks to all those of you who took part in the online survey. We had a magnificent response with 1,775 respondents sharing over 40,000 comments and moments of personal insight. I would like to thank Professor Tim Cain, and the team who completed the analysis for the Herculean effort involved in pulling together the analysis of this survey and presenting them for us here.

‘A Thousand Voices: The views, hopes and fears of the lay faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth’ reflects several cross-cutting themes that emerged from the data. Our clergy featured strongly throughout, and parishioners provided a rich insight into their thoughts on the Mass and the Sacraments, on Prayer, Faith and Catechesis, and on Mission, Service and Evangelisation. Click on the image to download it.

I have asked our clergy to start working with me on developing a pastoral plan for our diocese and to reflect on and consider the themes that have emerged. I hope that you too will take the time to read and reflect on the document. Over the coming months there will be opportunities for clergy to work with laity at a local level so that we can together develop plans and priorities for the diocese so that we can truly be faithful missionary people in a flourishing and vibrant diocese that brings the joy and hope of the Gospel message to our communities and the wider world.

Save the date! Our next diocesan Symposium – on Politics and Religion - is all set for Saturday 6th November. It’s going to be online, so easy to participate in. The diocesan Dialogue with Cultural Sectors Team had originally hoped that the Symposium would take place in Winchester last November 2020. But, because of the pandemic, we decided to postpone it until this November and took the decision to undertake the Symposium online rather than in-person. We also believe this will enable more participants to take part. It could not be a more exciting line-up of speakers and topics! Two keynote speakers will tackle “Should Religion have a Role in Politics Today?” There will also be a choice of workshops on issues such as immigration, homelessness, diversity, being a Christian MP, climate change and Catholic Social Teaching. Our speakers include some great and well-known personalities, the Rt. Hon. Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, Dr. Ruth Kelly, the former Education Secretary, Lord David Alton, Rt. Hon. Mark Hoban, Dr. Elizabeth Slinn, Dr. Mary Sutton from the University of Winchester, George O’Neill CEO of the Cardinal Hume Centre, and Rev. Dr. David Goodill op, moral philosopher, from Blackfriars, Oxford. We’re delighted too that David Wells, the popular inspirational speaker, will be in the front of house as our presenter and guide through the day. There will be more details next week, including how to book tickets. But for now: save the date!! Given everything that’s happening in politics at the moment with COVID, COP26 and Afghanistan, the Symposium promises to be very topical.

We need more priests for our diocese. Could God be calling you to serve Him and Hs people in the sacred Priesthood? Perhaps you've thought about it but haven't discussed it with anyone? If this sounds like you, I encourage you to attend one of our monthly First Friday "Seeker" events in Fareham. They run from 7-9pm on the first Friday on the month. See last week's e-News for more details and the forthcoming dates. Meanwhile, a former regular attendee who used these evenings to help discern their own vocation offers this reflection as further encouragement to potential future attendees...

"Discerning God’s will for your life is a very difficult task. There was quite a bit of noise in my life and finding time just to talk about what God has planned for my future felt impossible. I was working full-time and helping at my parish on the weekend. This is when I started attending the Seeker Evenings in Fareham. I found it to be a place to slow down from the busyness of the week and listen, a place to discuss and ask questions and not be afraid to do so or be judged, a place to share and grow in my faith. I met other people who like me were also discerning God’s will for their lives and it made me realise I wasn’t alone in this. The Seeker evenings also made me more comfortable in talking about my vocation to others and I started thinking more about it. I really enjoyed the meals and fellowship; it built a sense of community.  The discussions each month were varied, and I always found something to take away. We ended our time in silent adoration in the Church, praying before the Blessed Sacrament where Jesus is truly present is the best way to foster and discern your vocation. I found the Seeker evenings a place of support and made a few good friends along the way."

Over the weekend, I was pleased to undertake the Pastoral Visitation of the parish of Crowthorne and Sandhurst: the picture here was taken after the vigil Mass in Immaculate Conception, Sandhurst, with Fr. Marcus Brisley, the parish priest, Deacon Craig, who was assisting over the weekend, and a group of Filipino parishioners, some of whom are part of the “Couples for Christ” team. Things are someway towards normal after Covid in the parish, but as elsewhere, there is still a way to go, so the Visitation took a simpler format than usual. I met with Fr. Marcus on Saturday afternoon to discuss the parish and the Visitation Form with its details, before spending time with some of the key parishioners, including the chair of Finance. We discussed the mission of the parish and how not only to attract new members who might be moving into one of the many housing developments in the area, but also how to bring back families and other parishioners after the pandemic. I then met and prayed with a dozen of the youth of the parish, many of whom are altar servers. I returned next morning for the 9 am Mass at Sandhurst and the 11 o’clock Mass at Holy Ghost Church in Crowthorne. You can see some more pictures here. These communities have some wonderful parishioners, and it was good to thank them for their faith and encourage them in their loyalty. The sun was shining brightly by noon and so Fr. Marcus, Deacon Craig and I finished with a splendid Sunday lunch at a nearby pub.

Here is the homily I preached at Mass last weekend during the Episcopal Visitation of the parishes of Immaculate Conception Sandhurst and Holy Ghost, Crowthorne.
 
I’m very happy to be here for the Visitation of this parish. The Bishop is meant periodically to visit all the parishes of the Diocese. Our Diocese stretches from Oxford to the Channel Islands, with almost 100 parishes and 120 priests. To me the best thing about a Visitation is meeting you the people: I look forward to that after Mass. I know we’re still rebuilding after COVID; this is a big job and people are missing. But I must thank all of you especially Fr. Marcus, for all you do to keep the mission of the Church so vibrant here in this place and across this area.
 
In today’s Gospel, we hear the dramatic account of Jesus healing a deaf mute: Ephphatha! Be opened! In the Gospels Jesus performs miracles out of love for the one in need, but also to teach us truths we need to know for our salvation. The miracle-stories tell us Who Jesus really is: God the Son, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. This cure of the deaf-mute is recalled in the Rite of Baptism, when the priest touches the child on the ears and mouth saying: the Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May He soon touch your ears to receive His word and your mouth to proclaim His faith. In other words, this miracle, Jesus healing the deaf mute, symbolises something truly great: the gift of faith, a gift that heals and totally transforms the human person, a gift that inserts us into a life-changing friendship with God. Just as this miracle restored the deaf and mute man, physically enabling him to see, hear and speak, so too the gift of faith heals and transforms us spiritually, enabling us to know God, to hear His Word, to enjoy His company. Faith is a relationship with God that totally changes our life, our dreams, our hopes.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 8th September, is the Feastday of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – a great day to go to Mass, if you can. The origin of this feast day is connected with the basilica constructed in the fifth century on the site of the pool at Bethesda (cf. John 5: 1-9). That was the supposed location of the house of SS. Joachim and Ann, the parents of the Blessed Virgin.  The feast spread through the East in the six century and was introduced at Rome by Pope Sergius I (d. 701). The prayers of the Mass provide a biblical foundation for this feast. In the opening Collect, the Church prays that this feast “may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation.” The same theme is found in the Introit or Entrance Antiphon, which refers to Mary from whom “arose the sun of justice, Christ our God.” The focal point of this feast is Jesus Christ, the Son of God born of Mary. From her, as the Prayer over the Gifts says, Jesus Christ “was pleased to take flesh.” The liturgy of this feast reminds us of what the Second Vatican Council said in its document on the liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, that Mary is inseparably linked with her Son’s saving work. An ancient Preface – although one not incorporated into the Roman Missal – says: Today we celebrate that happy day on which the glorious and immaculate Mother of God appeared in the world like a shining star. After the sin of the first woman, there was finally opened to us the long desired gate of life and we have been called by the Son of the Virgin Mary out of the darkness into the joy of eternal light. Tomorrow, then, let us keep the day in Mary’s honour, thankful for her prayers and asking her intercession for all our needs.

This Thursday, 9th September, is the Optional Memorial of St. Peter Claver. He came from Catalonia (b. 1580) and at the age of 20 enrolled with the Jesuits. He studied in Majorca and it was there that he met Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez who encouraged his desire for missionary work in the New World. He left Spain in 1610 and landed in Cartagena in modern Columbia, where five years later he was ordained a priest. Cartagena was the city at the centre of the slave trade, to which people from West Africa were shipped in appalling conditions and kept in enclosures like animals, before being distributed to traders or new owners.  When the slaves were herded into their enclosures, Peter would visit them, bringing food, medical care and comforts like brandy and tobacco, preaching the message of the Gospel all the time by means of a team of interpreters. He aimed to bring a sense of dignity and worth to these men, who had been treated so inhumanly by their captors, teaching about the grace, joy and salvation available through Jesus Christ. When the slaves were sold to mines and plantations, Peter followed up his care by paying visits to check on their conditions to ensure that the basic laws were being observed. He made himself unpopular with many of the masters and slave traders, but his influence among the slave community was enormous. He baptised hundreds of thousands in his forty year ministry and won the admiration of many. In addition to his work among the slaves, Peter also spent a lot of time visiting the inmates of the city jail and patients in the local hospitals. He was known for his disciplined and austere life and was attributed with miracles and prophecies.in 1650, Cartagena was struck by a plague and Peter was one of those infected. He never fully recovered. He carried on with his work and as best he could, but spent more time alone in his cell, apparently neglected and mistreated by the slave appointed to look after him. He died alone on this day in 1654. At his death, his friends and enemies united in extolling this extraordinary man. He was canonised in 1888.

Next Sunday, 12th September is 24th Sunday of the Year and the Gospel reading is Mark 8:27-35. The identity of Jesus is the mystery at the heart of Mark’s Gospel. This week, Peter proclaims Jesus to be the Christ - the one anointed with the mission of saving God’s chosen people from the darkness of sin and death. Jesus’ reaction makes it clear that to truly believe that Jesus is our Saviour takes more than saying a few words. To believe in the Good News of Jesus is to take up our own cross and follow Him.

You can find the Sunday readings here and read Scott Hahn's reflection here. You can register to watch our Diocesan Wednesday Webinar here, or join via Facebook live. If you can’t join on Wednesday, you can subscribe to the podcast here.

Next Sunday, 12th September 2021, is Education Sunday in England and Wales. The annual national focus on Catholic education this year will home in on the theme of “Thank You, Teachers!” We give thanks to God for all those who work in Catholic schools, for their hard work and for their dedication over what has been a very challenging 18 months. It would be great if our parishes could in some way acknowledge the great contribution that our schools have made during the pandemic. The Catholic Education Service has provided a range of resources to support the Day, including a special prayer to say at home: Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of Catholic schools. Thank you for all those who have given their talents to educating our young people. Through the challenges they encounter each day, lead them to an ever deeper appreciation of the sacred duty to which you have called them. Thank you for all those who contribute to the efficient running of our schools; support staff, kitchen staff, maintenance staff, governors and chaplains. We thank them for their hard work and dedication. Thank you for all those who lead our Catholic schools. May they be people of integrity so that they can be witnesses as well as teachers. We pray that the schools they lead will become places where our young people can experience your love in their lives. Thank you for our pupils. May your love strengthen and nurture them through the influence and example of those who care for them. We pray that through their time at school they will flourish and grow to discover who you have called them to be. We make this prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ, our teacher and our Lord, Amen.

Next Monday, 13th September, is the Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, one of the four Greek Doctors of the Church (along with Saints Basil, Athanasius and Gregory of Nazianzus). He was an outspoken and persuasive preacher of absolute integrity, a Scriptural exegete and a scholar. Born in Antioch in 347, he was brought up a Christian by his mother. Abandoning a promising legal career, he went to live as a hermit in a mountain community, but the austere life ruined his health and in 381 he returned to Antioch. Five years later he was ordained a priest and worked closely with his Bishop. His powerful sermons soon earned him the nickname Chrysostom, the ‘golden mouth.’ He belonged to the Antiochene School of Scripture scholarship, and so he interpreted the scriptures literally, seeking to show how they applied practically in daily life. In 398 he was appointed the Patriarch of Constantinople and began wholeheartedly to reform the Church of his day. John’s primary concern was the misuse of wealth by the rich. In his reforms he made huge personal donations to the poor, cutting back on clerical pump and extravagance, and funding mission is to the East. He soon made many enemies, both at the Imperial court but also among churchmen. At one point he was banished and sent into exile, despite the support of the Pope. He travelled to Armenia where he wrote many letters about his sufferings. He died in Pontus in 407, treated harshly by his captors. His sermons are still available today. They are remarkable for their practical tone. In the Eastern Rites, his name is associated with an important revision of the Greek liturgy. Please ask his prayers for all preachers.

Next Tuesday, 14th September, is the Feastday of the Exaltation of the Cross. The Magnificat publication puts it well when it says this feastday “stems from the truth that ‘apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven’ (St. Rose of Lima). Christ won our salvation on the Cross, redeeming us from sin and meriting all the graces we continue to receive through the sacraments. Exalting the Holy Cross each year encourages us in the midst of our own sufferings, assuring us that suffering is a sign not that God has abandoned us, but that we are being invited into a closer union with our Saviour.” Crucifixes came into use from the mid-4C when, according to tradition, St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, brought back from Jerusalem pieces of the true Cross, which she then distributed throughout the world for veneration. The feast of the Exaltation originated with the dedication on this day in 335 of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where relics of the cross were kept. It also marks the rescue of the relic of the true Cross by Emperor Heraclius in 629 after they had been captured by the Persians. But our focus on this day is on the Cross itself, the instrument of our salvation. 14th September is, in many ways, an extension of Good Friday.

From the Vatican News Service...
 
Pope Francis last weekend received in audience Christopher John Trott, Great Britain’s new Ambassador to the Holy See. A statement released by the British Embassy to the Holy See stated that following the audience, Ambassador Trott said: “I was honoured to present my Credentials to His Holiness Pope Francis this morning. Today marks a highlight of my diplomatic career and I look forward to building further on the excellent relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See during my ambassadorial mandate”. The Ambassador went on to note that “Throughout his Pontificate, Pope Francis has been working tirelessly on the global issues of our time,” and said it will be a great privilege for him to “work together with the Holy See and the Catholic networks to make a difference to the issues which concern us, from poverty to climate change, conflict prevention, international development, and freedom of religion and belief.”

Recently, Bishop Paul McAleenan, the lead Bishop for migrants and refugees, and Bishop Terry Drainey, Chair of Caritas Social Action Network, wrote to me and to all the bishops outlining the need for engagement with local authorities to support the resettlement of those displaced from Afghanistan over the past weeks. There is a pressing need for support and contact by Church agencies (such as diocesan Caritas) with local authorities is vital to offer what we can. There are things we can all do to help at this time. Here in the Diocese of Portsmouth, we are currently in discussion with Caritas as to how we can help and respond. More anon.
 
On the World Day of Migrants and Refugees last year Pope Francis reminded us that: “In each of these people, forced to flee to safety, Jesus is present as he was at the time of Herod.” Throughout England and Wales, the Catholic community has recognised the face of Christ in refugees and taken up the Holy Father’s call to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate those seeking sanctuary here. Today we are deeply moved by images of people fleeing the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and are called to play our part in responding to this crisis. Outlined below is some practical information which we hope will be of help in planning what steps to take in your diocese.

Sr Hyacinthe OP, Leader of our Formation for Mission Team draws our attention to a Lecture by Professor Sarah Foot on Biblical Scholarship in England before the Norman Conquest...
 
On Friday, 24th September at 7pm, Professor Sarah Foot will be giving a lecture on Biblical Scholarship in England before the Norman Conquest at Winchester Cathedral Presbytery. You can attend either in person or via Zoom. Join Professor Sarah Foot, Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Oxford, for this fascinating lecture, taking place both online and in the cathedral.
 
Study of the Bible lay at the centre of religious life in the Anglo-Saxon period and underpinned the whole written culture of early medieval England.  Professor Foot leads us through the times of Bede, Alfred and Æthelwold to reveal a tradition interrupted but not destroyed by the Norman Conquest. This lecture will be of interest to all those wishing to understand how our forebears, including the monastic scholars of the Priory of St Swithun at Winchester, understood and studied the scriptures in the later part of the first millennium. Sarah Foot is author of Monastic Life in Anglo-Saxon England, c. 600–900. You can book your ticket here.

The Society of St Gregory is committed to promoting and supporting the liturgy of the Catholic Church in Great Britain.  They are offering this new modular course as their contribution to the development of liturgical understanding and study in twenty first century Britain and invite our readers to join them...

Taking Liturgy Seriously is the Society of St Gregory's new study course, starting in September via Zoom. The first session is on Thursday 30th September, 7:30-9:00pm.

As part of our commitment to promote and support the liturgy of the Catholic Church, Society of Saint Gregory will be offering a new modular study course, aimed at developing liturgical understanding.  The course, which will be run in partnership with the London Jesuit Centre, starts in September and will take place via Zoom. Held over 1 year, each module will comprise 3 sessions and provide a theological and historical overview, which will form the background for a deeper study of how we celebrate the liturgy today. Modules include The Paschal Mystery, Healing and Forgiveness, Initiation, Commitment and Ways of Prayer.

Within each theme we will look at how we apply general principles of liturgy, how music and space affect the way we celebrate, and above all how we are enabling people to pray together.  The course is aimed at all who wish to widen their understanding of the liturgy.  Further information, including details of the course leaders and online booking, is available here.

Bishop John Sherrington, auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, writes to ask our prayers, advocacy and action to thwart Baroness Meacher's 'Assisted Dying Bill 2021' coming before the House of Lords.
 
In the next weeks, we face an unprecedented attack on the sanctity of life with Baroness Meacher's 'Assisted Dying Bill 2021' which received its First Reading in the House of Lords and is due its Second Reading with full debate on Friday 15th October. The term 'Assisted Dying' is euphemistic; the truth is that this bill seeks to introduce Assisted Suicide. If legalised, this Bill would allow a terminally ill adult, with less than 6 months to live, to be assisted in committing suicide.
 
The context of the debate is fundamentally different from the Marris Bill in 2015. Dignity in Dying are running a vigorous campaign, which is highly mobilised. They have some national papers on side and are using strong, personal and emotional narratives to win hearts and minds. They also have a high presence on social media and are encouraging their supporters to write to Peers. Those in favour of the bill are making good use of language to confuse the issue and call it a compassionate and caring approach to obscure the actual reality and consequences of such legislation. As Pope Francis has said, 'Physician-assisted suicide is part of a "throwaway culture" that offers a "false compassion" and treats a human person as a problem... True compassion does not marginalize anyone, nor does it humiliate and exclude - much less considers the disappearance of a person as a good thing.' He criticised 'those who hide behind an alleged compassion to justify and approve the death of a patient.'

Maureen Thompson from our diocesan Living Laudato Si Network shares some ideas for us to engage with the Season of Creation which runs from 1st September to 4th October each year...

One way to help engage people creatively and constructively with this Season of Creation and the issues of environmental breakdown might be in engaging in a community Art project.  There are a number of projects for arts and crafts in preparation for the climate conference in Glasgow and still a short time to join in:

• Loving Earth project where people are invited to stitch a square to be made into a larger installation
• Stitch for Survival knitting project where lots of square of green knitting will be displayed then made into useful items
• Or support the Art for the planet project at Edinburgh School of Divinity, encouraging community and faith groups to create a group or community patch for two banners to be hung on the Mound in Edinburgh. 

This patch work was made by a group in Emsworth and was an opener to lots of conversation. If your parish is doing something creative please let Maureen know: mthompson@cafod.co.uk

Jo Lewry invites you to join the CAFOD Faith in Action online day of talk and prayer to learn more about this year’s climate talks, Pope Francis’s call to action and how people in the Amazon region are leading the fight to care for our common home.

The countdown is on. In a few months, the UK will host the largest gathering of world leaders ever to take place on British soil: the ‘COP26’ climate talks. Our government has a vital role to play in leading global efforts to tackle the climate crisis. But as citizens of the host nation and as people of faith, we have an important role to play too. This is the time to come together, build a community and act. Do not miss our Faith in Action Day 2021 on Saturday 11th September, 11am-4pm. You can register here.

We continue our new series of videos to help us focus on our Diocesan Year of the Eucharist...

Have you every wondered what Catholics do when they are at Mass? Have you ever wondered what the different signs, symbols, and postures mean and where they come from? Join Father Michael Schmitz from the UMD Newman Center as he slows down the Catholic Mass and explains the signs and symbols, as well as the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist as Jesus describes it in the Gospel of John. Filmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, MN.

Sheila Wade Interim Head of Charity, Caritas shares news of two new members of the Caritas Portsmouth Team...

Phil Paulo has recently joined the Caritas team as Programme Manager Environment. Phil has extensive experience outside the diocese in developing and implementing environment projects and working jointly with other organisations.

He joins Sue Cregan who has recently been appointed to the position of Programme Manager Social Justice. Sue has spent a number of years successfully developing Caritas projects in the Portsmouth area.

Sue and Phil will be working closely together, and with other Caritas staff and volunteers throughout the Diocese, developing and supporting Caritas social justice and environment outreach projects within the parishes. Welcome to them both.

Christine Wohar, from FrassatiUSA recently edited a splendid new book called ‘Finding Frassati’. She has just emailed me with this message...
 
Dear Bishop Philip, What was your first job? Do you remember getting your first “real” paycheck? That is an experience Pier Giorgio Frassati never had. In fact, even if he had lived long enough to complete his university degree, he still had to fulfill the required year of military service. That means he would have been 25 or so before he earned spending money of his own. It’s hard for me to imagine being that old and still depending on your parents for whatever money you had. Our family had the paper route tradition that was handed down to all 10 of us. By the time I was nine or so, I had a regular source of money to spend on whatever I wanted—which all too often was candy! One of the handwritten notes of Pier Giorgio that made an impact on me was this one that he left for his mother one night (above). He writes, “Mamma, can you please give me three or four cents to take the tram tomorrow morning.” Something about that note makes me a little sad. He was surrounded by wealth but, as a young adult, still had to ask his mother for bus money. I don’t know if he and his sister got something similar to what we would consider an allowance on a regular basis but he was always broke. “Tasche verde,” they would say about him. That is, “empty pockets.”

Raymond Tam, a recent arrival from Hong Kong who now lives in Portsmouth, recently organised a pilgrimage to the Cathedral in which other recent arrivals took part. Here he tells the story.
 
It was a miracle; it was God’s work; it was the guidance made by the Holy Spirit! Our group of recent arrivals from Hong Kong gathered at St Michael and All Angels Parish, Leigh Park, on 16th August, the feast-day for St Stephen of Hungary, as a starting point for our pilgrimage tour to Portsmouth and we concluded our trip with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction at the Cathedral. St Stephen of Hungary is a saint who was born in the 10th century. He was a King, a King who practised the Catholic faith and loved his people. He has built numerous churches in the country and help spread the good news to everyone under his ruling. His has utmost faith in the Lord. He loved the poor, he respected them as he sees Jesus in them. (Matthew 25:35-46) When his son died in an accident, he saw that as an early redemption by the Lord. St Stephen’s faith has made us think. Is our government in Hong Kong exercising her power with God’s teaching? “For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.” Everyone having powers of any kind should realise that their powers are from God and they should exercise power for the benefit of their citizens and act according to God’s will and to build the world a better place to live in. In the last two years, because of the worsening situation in Hong Kong, many Hong Kongers have decided to leave the city that we are familiar with, a city that is full of memories embedded deeply in our hearts, to start a fresh life for our future and for the next generation here in the UK. It is never easy for someone to uproot their routines, leave their families and friends to migrate to another country. A lot of courage and strength is needed and most importantly, the guidance of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus, “Listen graciously to the prayers of this family, whom you have summoned before you in your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.” We pray that, one day, our friends and families will reunion again under the same roof. We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Bishop Philip, Canon PJ Smith, Fr Nishan to your great hospitality. Thanks for your prayers and without doubts, we felt connected and united under the same Holy Catholic Church. St Stephen of Hungary, pray for us!

Fr Chris Rutledge, Dean of Guernsey shares news of a recent celebration in Guernsey in honour of the feast of Our Lady's Assumption organised by Luke O’Donnell, the Director of Music...

On Saturday 14th August, the Parish of Our Lady and the Saints of Guernsey gathered in large numbers outside of Blanchelande College, Les Vauxbelets. We gathered for a candlelight procession around the grounds, praying the Rosary in honour of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary ending outside the very beautiful Little Chapel. Originally built by Brother Déodat in March 1914 and modelled on the Grotto and Basilica at Lourdes, France, this little chapel is decorated with seashells, pebbles, and broken china. From a distance the colours and design make a pleasing whole, close-up it's amazing to see all the different pieces used to create the effect. It is only 16 feet by 9 feet and has room for around eight people inside.
 
The Hymn Immaculate Mary, so often sung at Lourdes could be heard across the valley at Les Vauxbelets, especially that most iconic chorus Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Our Lady Assumed into Heaven – Pray for us!

Peter Clarke from the Isle of Wight Catholic History Society shares news of this year's Annual Walk from Ryde to Quarr Abbey - now in its 20th year - on the Feast of the Assumption...

This year’s annual Walk from Ryde to Quarr Abbey was on the Feast of the Assumption. It was most appropriate walking from a parish (Ryde) where the church is dedicated to Our Lady, to an abbey (Quarr) also dedicated to Our Lady. Thirty four people joined the walk. This was a much improved attendance at this (Post Covid) time, for the 20th anniversary of this annual walk, organised by the Island Catholic History Society.
 
The origins of the walk, however, go back to Victorian times when Catholics would walk on Sunday afternoons in summer to the Medieval Cistercian ruins to pray for the return of monastic life to Quarr. This prayer was answered by God when the Benedictines moved to Quarr in 1907 from Appuldurcombe (on the south of the Island). This short annual pilgrimage (just three miles) emphasises our affiliation with our Victorian Catholic ancestors who walked the same route.

On Wednesday 1st September in the Cathedral I was the chief celebrant of the Funeral Mass for Mgr Cyril Murtagh. If you missed it you can watch a recording by clicking on the picture. I was joined for the Mass by many priests of the Diocese and by Bishop Crispian and Bishop Peter Doyle, Bishop-Emeritus of Northampton. Bishop Doyle was the homilist and he preached the following homily...

Dear Brothers and Sisters, yesterday I went to Liphook to join the vigil for Provost Emeritus Monsignor Canon Cyril Murtagh. As I drove into the lovely grounds of the church, I was reminded of the many times I visited Cyril there and previously at St. Laurence’s in Petersfield. I usually went on a Monday evening after Cyril had been out for a long walk on his day off. He was a brother priest, a friend, a spiritual guide and my confessor. In his sitting room were photos of his family, including his oldest brother, Canon Joe, playing the violin. The family was so important to him, and he loved the family celebrations and get togethers. Scattered around the room were books and periodicals covering history, theology, English literature, canon law and the occasional novel as well. And on the dining room table would be notes for the Sunday homily which he would type out in full or for a talk or an article.
 
Cyril would talk about his family and how his mother coped with nine children following the early death of his father during the 1928 flu epidemic when Cyril was only two. By that time they had moved from Jersey to London where the parish of St. Anselm was very supportive. Cyril spoke about his National Service and very modestly about his time at Oxford and at the English College in Rome. His great enthusiasm was the service he could give to his people, and that enthusiasm continued into his nineties. What could he do to communicate the Gospel and the faith of the Church? Then, we would chat about spiritual things and hear each other’s confession. After that, he would clear his papers from the dining room table and provide a simple meal with an elegant bottle of red wine.

Our prayers for Mgr. Paul Townsend and our congratulations to him! Last weekend, the Holy Father made Canon Paul a Chaplain to His Holiness, with the tile of ‘Monsignor’. The title is an honorific form of address and is granted only to individuals who have rendered valuable service to the Church and who provide some special function in church governance. There used to be many different ‘grades’ of being a monsignor, but in 1968, Pope St. Paul VI reduced the grades to three: Protonotary Apostolic, Honorary Prelate and Chaplain of His Holiness. Soon after his election in March 2013, Pope Francis suspended the granting of the title of monsignor except to members of the Holy See's diplomatic service. He wanted to scale things back as part of an effort to project a more modest and pastoral vision of leadership. In 2014, he indicated his intention to accept no further requests for appointments to any class of monsignor except that of Chaplain of His Holiness. Now candidates presented must be of a certain age. So, our joyful thanks to Mgr. Paul for all the service he has given to our Diocese and for all the blessings God has given us through his ministry: congratulations ad multos annos!

Fr Denis Blackledge SJ, former Parish Priest at Corpus Christi Bournemouth shares an obituary of his predecessor Father Joseph [Joe] Duggan SJ, R.I.P. who died on 24th August...

Father Joe, as he was usually known, was a Joseph both by name and by nature. A quiet man, who preferred to be in the background, a reverent and just man, who served his sisters and brothers unstintingly and unobtrusively in so many ways.

Joe was an only child, born to Joe and Vera on 30th May 1944, and brought up in St Matthew’s Parish, Clubmoor, where he attended the parish school, and tended to be top of the class. Most of his cousins were much older than himself, apart from Elaine, a regular chum. Joe passed his 11+ and went to SFX Grammar School, then sited next to SFX Church near the city centre. From an early age he wanted to be a priest, and when asked by the Head at SFX in 6th form if he’d like to be a Jesuit, he readily said “yes!”. He was only 17 at the time, and had just gained a State Scholarship. Not a sporty type, Joe was a backroom boy at SFX, spending most of his time in labs setting up for classes, or doing all the lighting and technical for the big affair of the annual school play. He had two close friends from SFX, Bernard Aspinall, now deceased, and Bill Ryan, very much alive and a family man and Deacon.

CARITAS PORTSMOUTH
Two part time vacancies: 
1.    Project Officer – Social Justice
2.    Resources Officer

Caritas Portsmouth is looking for committed, experienced and professional people to help us to expand and deliver our social justice and environment programmes and projects.

Caritas Portsmouth mostly works at parish level, helping to determine and address local needs and to design social action projects which respond to these needs, especially to help the most vulnerable. All projects are firmly rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.
The posts available are:

Project Officer-Social Justice (14-21 hours per week)
You will assist in the development of new projects and programmes, assisting in research and provision of information about need and service provision, contributing to approval process and funding process. You will also work closely with volunteers in the delivery of projects and programmes. 

Resources Officer (7 hours per week)
You will provide an administration service to back up the delivery of Caritas projects and programmes. This will include operating financial systems to monitor and control income and expenditure along with the management of an effective data storage system for Caritas activities.

If you would like to join our small team, in either of our new part time paid roles, then please get in touch with Sheila Wade, Interim Head of Charity, for more information and full job descriptions: swade@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

Closing date:  Monday 13th September 2021
 

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Opportunities in our Diocesan schools can be found here.