Anniversary icon
A new icon has been created to mark 100 years of Catholic education in Scotland. Painted by Bernadette Reilly, Jesus Our Teacher (pictured) incorporates text in both English and Gaelic from the Gospel of John, while the central image of Christ is surrounded by episodes from the history of Catholic education in Scotland, culminating in the 1918 Education Act, which brought Catholic schools under state administration. The role of migrant workers and of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Poland and Lithuania is particularly emphasised.
Nichols underlines gay support
Cardinal Vincent Nichols has written to clergy reiterating his support for groups within the Church that minister to gay people. In a letter to the clergy of Westminster diocese, he said: “Among the many sensitive and pastoral issues around today is the situation of those who live with a same-sex attraction and are often very anxious about their journey to God and their relationship with the Church.”
He said he wanted to provide details of a number of initiatives that “try to respond to the tensions that are often felt in this matter”. His letter provided contact details for three groups: Courage, LGBT Catholics Westminster and Quest, as well as a priest who provides specific pastoral support.
Five years ago, Cardinal Nichols asked the Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain to offer a meeting space in Farm Street parish premises in London for the LGBT Catholic Community; the group now meets there twice a month for Mass.
Tomorrow is the Catholic Church’s first World Day of the Poor, an initiative launched last year by Pope Francis at the end of his Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Pope Francis suggested that Catholics could reach out to homeless or poor people in their areas and invite them to Mass or a meal. Resources to assist parishes have been created by Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) working with Cafod, SVP, Justice and Peace and the National Board of Catholic Women. “They enable people to hear real stories from people living in poverty,” CSAN said.
Military chaplains remembered
The role and experiences of military chaplains in the First World War is explored through a collection of original artefacts belonging to Jesuits who served in the trenches in a new exhibition in Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin. Of the 32 Irish Jesuit chaplains who served in the First World War, six died.
The artefacts include Fr Willie Doyle’s bloodstained vestments and altar kit, which he used to say Mass, as the war raged around him. Jesuit archivist Damien Burke told The Tablet that Irish Jesuit chaplains gained many military awards, including the Military Cross, Distinguished Service Order, the Belgian and French Croix de Guerre and Portugal’s Ordem de Cristo. The exhibition follows Burke’s 2014 book, Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the First World War.
Cathedral of choice
Lincoln has been voted the nation’s favourite Anglican cathedral in the lighthearted #cathedralsworldcup on Twitter, which an architectural fan set up last month.
More than 27,000 people voted in the contest in which Lincoln narrowly beat York Minster for first place.
An exhibition about the Swiss Guards opened this week at Westminster Cathedral. It features photographs by Fabio Mantegna alongside uniforms and artefacts that document the Swiss guards’ long history. The exhibition in the Chapels of St Patrick and Ss. Gregory and Augustine will run until 13 December.
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