News Briefing: Britain and Ireland

Ruth Gledhill, Bess Twiston Davies, Ellen Teague, Sarah Mac Donald

Briefings

The Bella Voce Choir of St Mary’s School, Cambridge has won the accolade of Junior Choir of the Year in the Girls’ Schools Association junior choir competition. Twenty-six pupils from Years 5 and 6 performed an interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s poem Jabberwocky by Carolyn Jennings, followed by How Can You Catch the Wind by Dan Walker. Judges praised the choir’s “warm, rounded tone” “impressive, dynamic contrast” and ability to “breathe together as one”. St Mary’s is a private day and boarding school for girls aged 3-18, inspired by the vision of Mary Ward, the 17th century Yorkshire-born religious sister and founder of the order now operating in two branches, the Congregation of Jesus and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Loreto. (possible pic in 05)

The choir of St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth Liverpool has won first place in the Catholic Schools’ Choir of the Year competition. Twelve schools across the north-west entered the competition, whose final was held in crypt concert room of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. The choir performed  Hosanna by Ligertwood and Shine by Emeli Sandé. The Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon presented the prizes. 

On Saturday, 29 March, St John’s Passion by Bach was performed at the Cathedral of St Barnabas by the Nottingham Cathedral Choir and Youth Choir. Gregory Treloar, director of music for Nottingham Diocese said: “Bach St John Passion was first performed in Leipzig on Good Friday in 1724 and is an extremely powerful way of preparing yourself for Holy Week, which is the pinnacle of the Church’s year.” He added: “This sacred oratorio, uses the biblical text of Our Lord’s Passion according to St John, and narrates the story of Christ’s death and resurrection through poems and chorales set to music.” 

Anna Dixon, the Labour MP for Shipley, West Yorkshire has been appointed chair of Christians on the Left. She replaces Jonathan Reynolds, minister for business and trade, who led the group which has more than 2,400 members across the UK including local mayors and councillors, for nine years. Dixon said: “It is important we remain true to the traditions of Christian socialism and our values of social justice, loving our neighbour and tackling poverty.” She added: “We will continue to encourage people of faith to stand for office and support candidates through prayer and practical help.”

The number of people trapped in slavery in East Anglia diocese may be as high as 6000, according to Simon John, co-lead of the East Anglia diocesan initiative on modern slavery. Awareness-raising initiatives have taken place across the diocese throughout March, including talks delivered to diocesan priests during deanery meetings and nearly 40 people being trained to recognise signs of modern slavery. “Modern-day slaves are not hidden away,” said John, a retired solicitor and human rights activist. “They are working among us, but their wages are often paid directly into their traffickers’ bank accounts.” 

British Filipino Band Ooberfuse has joined a project in the Philippines to support trafficked, abused, and exploited children. The proceeds of its new reggae song, “We will overcome”, are going to the Preda home for girls in Olongapo. Ooberfuse has worked directly with Preda, the People’s Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance Foundation, and its founder Nobel peace prize nominee Columban Father Shay Cullen, to produce the song. Some of the young people at Preda sing on the recording and video. Ooberfuse says it aims to jolt global consciousness into the “horrifying reality of an unprecedented rise in child abuse and trafficking”.

Catholic bishops are urging voters to continue to speak out against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill as it progresses through parliament. Last week, Bishop John Sherrington, the lead bishop on life issues, urged people to MPs to voice concerns. “All is not lost, and we must continue to fight this Bill, especially for the third reading,” he said. Meanwhile, last week the Isle of Man became the first place in the British Isles to agree to legalise assisted dying.

Canterbury Cathedral has appointed a dedicated pilgrim officer as it seeks to reclaim its medieval legacy as England’s premier pilgrimage centre. Once as significant as Rome and Santiago de Compostela, Canterbury was a magnet for pilgrims in the Middle Ages and hopes to be again. Projects underway include the cathedral’s involvement in Canterbury’s pilgrimage-themed medieval pageant this summer. Torin Brown, the new pilgrim officer, said, pilgrimage “appears to be enjoying quite a renaissance in our post-pandemic, climate-sensitive era” and Canterbury “can provide a space where the big questions of life, death, and suffering can be offered up for profound contemplation”.  

Speaking from London’s Ukrainian Embassy on 27 March, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, the Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, said, “Ukraine and Ukrainians in the UK remain grateful to the people of Great Britain. Prayers and comfort are needed now more than ever.” He thanked Britain for taking in 300,000 Ukrainians since 2022, who “through the generosity and kindness of British people, have found safety while they await the end to the war and a true, lasting, and just peace”. He was grateful to the Catholic Church in England and Wales which “has been supportive of our pastoral outreach to our sisters and brothers in this time of great need”.  

Christ the King Sixth Forms in Kent have been have been awarded the Oscar Romero Award in recognition of commitment to Catholic Social Teaching, social justice, and solidarity. The award was presented at Southwark Cathedral in a special ceremony attended by students and staff, where Archbishop of Southwark John Wilson and the Oscar Romero representative praised CTK’s achievement, given that the award is usually given to primary and secondary schools. “Our students proudly represented CTK, demonstrating their engagement with the values of Oscar Romero and their dedication to social justice,” said CTK. This award comes at a poignant time as people worldwide mark the 45th anniversary of Romero’s death. (possible pic in 05)

The Franciscan Centre in Ladywell, Godalming is offering days of reflection on Saturday, 12 and Tuesday 22 April. The centre is run by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, who believe the gospel vision of St Francis and St Clare of Assisi is as relevant today as it was in the 13th century. The missionaries said: “Our hope is that the Franciscan Centre, set in the grounds of Ladywell, will provide a contemplative space for you to nourish your spirit.” Tickets cost £25 and include a homemade lunch. 

The Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland has echoed Pope Francis’ call “for an immediate halt” to the attacks in Gaza and a resumption of dialogue so that a ceasefire can be reached. The association said it was “horrified” at the renewed mass bombardment of Palestinian civilian populations and their critical social infrastructure by the Israeli government.

“Targeted attacks towards already traumatised children, women and men is unconscionable, illegal and wrong,” the group stressed and urged the Israeli government and Hamas to establish an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan has said his faith was “uplifted” by the 22 men from across Ireland who took part in a vocations day at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Chair of the council for vocations, the bishop said the “fine group of men, young and not so young” engaged thoughtfully, asking deep and insightful questions that “revealed how strongly priesthood is on their hearts”. The 22 are part of discernment programmes in their own dioceses, and with their vocations directors, “are on the road to diocesan priesthood” according to Fr Willie Purcell, national vocations director.

The Sacrament of Confession, as one of the seven sacraments of the Church, is as necessary and as vital as the other six sacraments, Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has said. Acknowledging that the practice of confession “has slid even among many who avail of the other six” sacraments, he added, “We undermine or don’t celebrate the sacrament in its fullness, we inhibit our openness to the sacramental way that God wants to communicate his mercy to us”. He appealed to the priests to make Confession a pastoral priority this Lent.

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