Dr John Sentamu has retired as Archbishop of York. During an online service attended by his daughter, Rev Grace Sentamu-Baverstock, and his wife, Rev Margaret Sentamu, the Archbishop Emeritus laid his crozier on the altar at York Minster, bringing to an end 15 years of leadership of the Northern Province. A moderniser and lifelong campaigner against injustice and racism, he famously cut up his dog collar live on The Andrew Marr Show in 2007 in protest at the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. His successor, Bishop Stephen Cottrell, will be confirmed as Archbishop on 9 July.
The Catholic Union has called on the Government to give greater support to people who live and work in care homes. The letter from its Director, Nigel Parker, to the Care Minister, Helen Whately MP, urged the Government to uphold the dignity of older people during the pandemic and recognise the profound importance of care work to society. Care homes must not become “places where people are forgotten about”.
A new exhibition celebrating the pontificate of St John Paul II has been launched online by the Polish Consulate General in Manchester. “John Paul II – the Pope of Dialogue” celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Karol Wojtyla, later Pope St John Paul II. Created with Poland’s Centre for the Thought of John Paul II and the Polish Embassy in London, it explores the Pope’s pontificate through his dialogue with different groups of people.
Churches are to be encouraged to observe a Climate Sunday from September as part of an initiative to combat the climate emergency. Local observances will start on 6 September 2020, and a national Climate Sunday event will be held on Sunday 5 September 2021 to pray for bold action at the COP26 United Nations climate talks in Glasgow.
Pax Christi England and Wales held its first ever Zoom AGM this week, with more than 60 attendees from ten dioceses, as well as National President Archbishop Malcolm McMahon. Among the issues discussed was reduced support for Peace Sunday’s annual Pax Christi collection in January. The AGM heard that peace work has continued under lockdown, with the publication of a report looking into divesting from financial institutions that support the production of nuclear weapons’, and regular online liturgies.
Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick has called on Catholics to combat racism in Irish society. Preaching last weekend Bishop Leahy said Trinity Sunday is the “celebration of diversity in unity and unity in diversity” and that people must respect difference in the world today. “Hatred, racism, sectarianism of any type, destroys the fabric of any community. The events of this past week have prompted us all to examine the personal judgements we make in our hearts and the social arrangements around us whose injustice we perhaps neglect to notice,” he said. He described allegations of racism surrounding the country’s direct provision centres for asylum seekers as “a hidden and troubling aspect of our society and one we must address. We are surely capable of a greater welcome in this country of ours.” Next week (15-21 June) is Refugee Week in England.
Caritas Westminster is to extend its Emergency Food Voucher Scheme to continue to support 72 parishes and schools during the pandemic with £500 in vouchers to distribute to those in need in their communities. Church and school communities are seeing a steep increase in food poverty, caused by unemployment, reduced family income and higher food bills with children at home. Some people have complex caring responsibilities or have no access to public funds, such as asylum seekers. Long waits for Universal Credit and problems with the Government Free School Meals scheme are common.
HRH Princess Eugenie of York, co-founder of the Anti-Slavery Collective, praised the work of Caritas Bakhita House in an interview with its service manager that was broadcast online last week. Karen Anstiss, a former police officer, was introduced as “one of the unsung heroes who is working tirelessly to look after survivors of human trafficking”. The safehouse for women victims of trafficking is currently supporting eight women and three babies.
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