A sixteenth-century crucifix thought to be the sole item to have survived raids on Catholic households after the Gunpowder Plot has gone on display in York. The object belonged to Fr Edward Oldcorne who attended the same York school as Guy Fawkes.
In 1606, Oldcorne, who was not involved in the 1605 plot, was hanged, drawn and quartered for being a priest. The crucifix is displayed at the Bar Convent Heritage Centre in York as part of “Hide & Seek: the Aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot”, an exhibition which runs until 16 November.
Hannah Thomas, special collections manager at the centre, said: “This is one of the most remarkable items in our possession.”
A consultant orthopaedic surgeon has swum the River Mersey to raise funds for the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. Matthew Cartwright-Terry decided to swim for Sciaf after receiving a flyer from the charity asking for donations for its appeal to help people facing famine in Ethiopia.
He said: “The swim was a bucket list activity with the timing the perfect opportunity to provide some support.” On reaching Birkenhead, Cartwright-Terry and his five fellow swimmers were greeted by the Mayor of the Wirral, Jerry Williams.
Schools, parishes and other communities are invited to join in celebrating World Mission Sunday on 22 October. Coordinated by Missio, the Pope’s official charity for world mission, the theme will be “hearts on fire, feet on the move”.
Missio is this year sharing the story of Sister Mary who serves the people in the heart of Kibera, known as the biggest “slum” not just in Kenya but the whole of Africa and which is rife with poverty-related problems including malnourishment, addiction and abuse.
The funds raised will go toward infrastructure such as chapels, schools, orphanages, clinics and dispensaries. Donate here.
A new movement towards ending poverty in the UK is to hold gatherings in Manchester, Liverpool, London, Nottingham, Cambridge, Newcastle, Leeds, Cardiff and Glasgow on 14 October. Caritas in Shrewsbury, Salford, Nottingham, and Brentwood and the National Board of Catholic Women are among those involved in Let’s End Poverty.
“We know that poverty in the UK is an avoidable, solvable problem that can be fixed,” Ben Gilchrist of Caritas Shrewsbury told The Tablet. “With the General Election next year it’s more important than ever for people from across the UK to gather together and speak up for a future where poverty can’t keep anyone down.”
The Diocese of Westminster has launched Catholic Listeners, a new confidential helpline for those who want to return to the faith and are in need of a safe space to be heard. Although not a counselling service, the helpline is staffed by a team of volunteers who are trained to signpost callers to other agencies and services. It is operating three days a week from 4pm-7pm on Mondays,Tuesdays and Fridays. Calls are free: 0800 448 0704.
Friends of the Holy Land are among those offering a prayer to be said regularly for a cease-fire and de-escalation of the violence in Israel and Gaza. The prayer is for those killed and injured, those grieving and those taken hostage by Hamas.
Civilians “killed and wounded in Gaza” are remembered. “And we pray for those in leadership in Gaza and Israel,” says the text, “may you guide them along the right paths.”
The Irish bishops and the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland have commissioned a new review of child safeguarding structures in the Irish Church led by two Scottish experts. The independent review will draw on survivors’ experiences over the last two decades and examine how the Irish Church has dealt with reports of child sexual abuse as well as relevant structures.
It will make recommendations for possible reforms. The review team includes Ranald Mair and Róisín McGoldrick who were both members of the McLellan Commission which oversaw a child protection review of the Scottish Catholic Church.
Two permanent deacons were ordained for the Archdiocese of Armagh by Archbishop Eamon Martin at the weekend. Deacon Francesco Campiello and Deacon Davis Haberkorn will serve in the diocese having studied at the Redemptoris Mater seminary in Dundalk, which was founded in 2012 as part of the Neocatechumenal Way’s outreach in Ireland.
Meanwhile 15 new seminarians begin their studies at the National Seminary in Maynooth this autumn, up from nine seminarians last year and six seminarians in 2021. Another 12 men are expected to begin their propaedeutic year in January next. The Irish Church is currently running a Year of Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood until next April.
The homeless charity founded by Jesuit Fr Peter McVerry has been hit by a financial crisis caused by a rapid expansion of its services in response to Ireland’s homelessness crisis.
In July, the new chief executive of the Peter McVerry Trust wrote to the Department of Housing as well as the Charities Regulator, notifying them of a cash flow problem at the charity. A review of governance and finances is underway and emergency funding is likely to be needed to safeguard the charity’s services.
The trust provides emergency homeless accommodation to more than 2,000 people each night and employs up to 700 frontline staff.
A bill that will see pro-life gatherings at abortion clinics banned has passed its second stage in the Dáil. The Safe Access Zones Bill was supported by 111 TDs to 10. It provides for a 100 metre exclusion zone around all facilities providing abortions.
Ahead of the vote, Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon said there was no need for the new bill as provisions already existed in legislation to allow the Gardaí prosecute anyone engaging in any kind of harassment. He said there had been no request from any abortion provider so far to develop such legislation.
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