Cambridge students and worshippers at Westminster Cathedral are among the many mourning the death of Mgr Mark Langham, a former Chaplain of Fisher House, the Catholic Chaplaincy at the University of Cambridge, and former administrator of Westminster Cathedral, who has died after entering hospice care earlier this month. Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: “Since last March last year 18 priests of this diocese have died. The latest sad death is that of Mgr Mark Langham. Each of these priests contributed mightily to the work of the Church, as did Mgr Mark. We pray for them all, and today we pray especially for Mgr Mark. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.”
The founder of a housing charity for the homeless has called on the Irish Government to insert the right to a home into the Constitution. Sophia Housing, set up by Sr Jean Quinn in 1997, last year supported 1,034 people, including 226 families and 510 children, a 14 per cent increase on the number of people it supported in 2018, and a 100 per cent increase from four years ago. Speaking to the Tablet Sr Quinn said, “There is no reason for the Government not to take this step. Other places in Europe have already done it, even if they don’t have it in their constitution, they have it in their statutes.” The right to housing is guaranteed by the Dutch Constitution. Belgium, Finland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have also placed a similar obligation on the State through their constitution or laws.
Church groups have urged better protection for homeless people. “We know that the situation is as bad as ever from our outreach on the streets,” said Fr Dominic Robinson SJ of Central London Catholic Churches. “We meet people in desperation who have lost jobs and homes, not being able to pay their rent because of the pandemic and the economic downturn.” He reported the outreach team as helping with emergency accommodation and hot food, feeling the work “shows something of the human face of the Church”. Many homeless are migrants and he reflects that, “in any civilised society we need to look at the human being not their immigration status and show compassion.”
Church groups are celebrating that on Friday 22 January the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, described as an “historic milestone” by the bishops of England and Wales, is due to comes into force. Campaigning is building now to urge the UK government to get rid of its Trident nuclear weapons system. However, none of the world’s nuclear powers are currently signed up.
Peace Sunday celebrations last weekend included peace liturgies, children’s activities, a twitter storm, and an online national prayer service. The service on Saturday evening was led by Pax Christi England and Wales vice-president Pat Gaffney.
Catholic Concern for Animals (CCA) held a Fish and Marine Welfare Conference’online last Monday. CCA said that “fish are forgotten creatures of animal welfare, but this has begun to change in recent years”. The conference brought together experts to discuss the latest situation concerning the welfare of fish and marine creatures with a faith-based emphasis. There was a welcome from Bishop John Arnold, Environment Spokesperson for the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, and one talk looked at, ‘A Christian Ethical Assessment of UK Fish Farming.’
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins has led tributes to Irish Jesuit Fr Michael Kelly who died in Zambia last week aged 91. Professor Kelly was a well-known educationalist, researcher and author who won numerous awards for his tireless efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. In his tribute, President Higgins spoke of the missionary’s “immense contribution to improved health outcomes for many people in Sub-Saharan Africa”. Born in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Fr Kelly studied at University College Dublin and was awarded a first-class honours BA in maths and mathematical physics in 1952. He was ordained a Jesuit in 1961.
Archbishop of Glasgow Phillip Tartaglia died suddenly at his home in Glasgow last week on the feast day of St Kentigern, known as St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow. According to the Archdiocese he “had tested positive for Covid-19 shortly after Christmas and was self-isolating at home. The cause of death is not yet clear.” The eldest son of Guido and Annita Tartaglia, the Phillip Tartaglia was born in Glasgow on 11 of January 1951, and was educated at the National Junior Seminary at St Vincent’s College, Langbank and, later, St Mary’s College, Blairs, Aberdeen. He completed his ecclesiastical studies the Pontifical Scots College, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. The late Archbishop was ordained by then-Archbishop Thomas Winning in 1975, and after completing his doctorate in Rome he returned to Scotland where he served as assistant priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardonald, and as a visiting lecturer at St Peter’s College, Newlands, Glasgow.
Bishop emeritus Vincent Logan, former Bishop of Dunkeld, died at the age of 79 after contracting coronavirus on Saturday 15 January. Vincent Logan was born in Bathgate, West Lothian, and was put on the path to the priesthood at a young age when he was enrolled for his secondary education at the junior seminary of St Mary's College at Blairs. He completed his education at St Andrew's College, Drygrange and was ordained to the priesthood in 1964.
Kevin Mayhew Publishers have announced “with great sadness” the peaceful passing of Kevin Mayhew on Thursday 14 January, after bravely battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy for a number of years. He and his wife Barbarba had seven children and many grandchildren. He founded the company 45 years ago with “a dream and passion for music which continued throughout his life” the company said in a statement.
Loading ...
