Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
Pastoral Letter for Pentecost 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Solemnity of Pentecost reminds us that everything which exists, every person and the whole of creation, is a gift of “God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” God our loving Father creates and continues to give life to the world through His Word, Jesus Christ, in the power of His Holy Spirit. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church, which we celebrate at Pentecost, is not something separate from Creation. God’s revelation of himself in Creation is inseparable from the revelation of his love for us in Christ and in his desire to live in us through his Holy Spirit.
‘God’s Spirit is always and everywhere “the Lord, the Giver of Life”, and the voice of Pentecost is echoed in the voice of creation being transformed into the glorious liberty of God’s children.’ In this liberty, as God’s children, we call on the Spirit to ‘renew the face of the Earth’, and as his children, we are called, in turn, to use this liberty for the good of creation and for the good of all that brings life. Our world, God’s creation, is a precious gift to us. It is our common home entrusted to each generation. But how have we used that glorious liberty? How do we honour this precious gift? Are we really demonstrating love, care and respect for our common home?
As we celebrate Pentecost this year, we are acutely aware of the damage that continues to be inflicted on the Earth, and the repercussions for the well-being of our brothers and sisters, both here in our own countries and, more especially, in the poorest countries of our world. Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have both taught us that everything is interconnected and interdependent. The way we live our everyday lives has an impact on everyone and on the earth. The urgency of the situation, and the enormity of the challenges we face, have spurred us to speak out together this Pentecost Sunday, as bishops of England, Wales and Scotland, about the role that the Catholic Church and our faith must play in our shared care for God’s gift to us.
For all too long we have either been ignorant of, or ignored, the systematic exploitation of our planet and the unsustainable consumption of its resources. While accepting the crucial need and demand for energy for the benefit of the poorest of our brothers and sisters, the provision of our energy must, nonetheless, be by means which radically reduce the use of carbon-based fuels. In our political thinking, there must be a new global understanding of our world, where nations recognise our common responsibility for the dignity of all people and their rights to sustainable livelihoods, in authentic freedom. Pope Francis speaks of a global politics that looks beyond our own needs to the needs of all, most especially the poor and the marginalised.
But we cannot leave the healing of our common home and the wellbeing and care of our brothers and sisters merely to a response from industry and governments. Our own local concern and action is necessary and has far-reaching consequences. We all have a part to play, each and every one of us, in the routines, choices and decisions of our everyday lives and our aspirations for the future. The actions of parishes, families, schools, and individuals will have a significant impact on our efforts to restore our common home. There are now many resources, freely available, to advise us on our choice of food, saving of water and electricity, suggestions about travel, waste, and re-use. These are measures that everyone can employ, in some degree, with minimal inconvenience and change. They are effective ways in which we can each reaffirm our personal vocation to be stewards of creation.
This Pentecost comes at a time of remarkable challenge and opportunity. We are gradually emerging from the tragedies and restrictions of the pandemic. We have the ability to make changes. Our countries are also hosting two most important meetings this year, the G7 in June and COP26 in November. These meetings will gather together men and women who have the power to make defining choices and policies which will help us build back better, provide for our brothers and sisters, and take care of our common home.
In all our human endeavours, we need the presence of the Holy Spirit, “the Lord, the Giver of Life”, whose gift to the Church and the world we celebrate again at Pentecost. Let us keep this Feast with that enduring hope that we can begin to repair the damage we have done and provide a healthy home for future generations. Our hope will be strengthened by our prayer. May our constant request be that the Holy Spirit guide us, strengthen our resolve and ‘renew the face of the earth’.
(23rd May 2021)
Letter from Tony McNiff, Chief Operating Officer for the Diocese of Northampton
Dear Fellow Parishioners
I am writing to introduce myself as the new Chief Operating Officer at the Diocese having joined at the beginning of September.
I am very much looking forward to visiting the parishes across the Diocese as soon as possible but unfortunately the constraints of COVID-19 have meant that I have been unable to visit as many as I would have wished.
Parishes I have visited and the financial returns from those I have not, tell a very similar story. The reality of the situation is that they have been struggling to cover their costs with reduced income. Over the period to September 20 (the latest accounts produced), income received has dropped by almost £1.7m and whilst efforts have been put in place to reduce costs including claiming support from the Government’s furlough scheme and reducing property expenditure to all but essential H&S related matters, a reduction of this magnitude has been difficult to manage.
For Our Lady of Peace and St Andrew’s, income from Offertory is down by 50% from £26000 for 6 months to September 2019 to £13000 to September 2020 and total income for the same period, down by 55% from £47000 to £21000.
I would, first of all, like to thank you for the generosity that you have shown in continuing to support the life of our parishes over recent months. I am also acutely aware that many are suffering significant hardship as a result of the pandemic.
But, as we come out of lockdown and our churches reopen more fully, our costs will start to increase and it will become increasingly challenging to support our parishes with reduced levels of donations. For that reason, I am asking you consider recommencing or increasing your donations if you are able to do so.
The support of those parishioners who contribute regularly by standing order and the associated Gift Aid we have been able to claim from the Government have been invaluable over the last 9 months and have highlighted how important this method of giving is. If you are able to contribute by standing order, please consider doing so. The Finance Team at Bishops House can help you with this if you are unable to arrange this locally.
If you are unable to attend Church and therefore find it difficult to contribute, please remember that you can do so online or by ringing the Diocesan Finance Team at Bishops’ House who will be pleased to help you donate.
Our priests rely heavily on your contributions, particularly at Christmas and Easter and your generous offerings at these times are hugely appreciated.
Thank-you for listening and for your ongoing support.
Tony McNiff
(13th December 2020)
GOVERNMENT TIER GUIDANCE – PLACES OF WORSHIP
What we are able to do in each local restriction tier:
- Opening Places of Worship for communal prayer
- All tiers: Open for as many people as can be safely accommodated with social distancing measures.
- Attending Places of Worship for communal prayer
- Tier 2: Can only interact indoors with your own households, but outdoors can interact in groups of up to 6.
- Tier 3: Can only interact with your own household both indoors and outdoors.
- Wedding Ceremonies
- All tiers: Can take place with up to 15 attendees, all of whom can interact.
- Wedding Receptions
- Tier 2: Can take place with up to 15 attendees, all of whom can interact.
- Tier 3: Cannot take place.
- Funerals
- All tiers: Can take place with up to 30 attendees, all of whom can interact.
- Commemorative events post-death
- All tiers: Can take place with up to 15 attendees, all of whom can interact.
- Other Standalone Life-Cycle Ceremonies – that do not take place as a part of communal worship
- Tier 2: Can only interact indoors with your own households, but outdoors can interact in groups of up to 6.
- Tier 3: Can only interact with your own household both indoors and outdoors.
- Supervised Activities for Children (including Sunday schools, etc.)
- All tiers: Can take place with no limit on the number of children permitted to attend, following COVID-Secure guidance. Adults must ensure social distancing at all times.
N.B. Wherever interaction can take place, social distancing of 1m+ should still be strictly maintained between anyone who doesn’t live together or are in a ‘support bubble’.
(29th November 2020)
ST THOMAS CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST has updated their Admission Policies (for admission in September 2022) for St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School, St Ethelbert’s Catholic Primary School and St Joseph’s Catholic High Schools. The consultation period is now open until 31st December 2020. Details of the policies can be found on the Trust website (https://www.stcat.co.uk/trust-governance/consultation-documents/).
If you require a hard copy or have comments to make in regard to the proposed policy, please contact Maxine Gilmartin (email consultation[AT]stcat.co.uk, or by post to Maxine Gilmartin, St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust, c/o St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School, Pastures Way, Luton, LU4 0PF).
(22nd November 2020)
A note from Bishop David clarifying what the Holy Father said and meant in a recent documentary about homosexual relationships
In the last few days, some statements contained in the documentary Francesco by the director Evgeny Afineevsky have given rise to various reactions and interpretations. We are making available to you some points we hope you will find useful to help people understand correctly what the Holy Father said.
In an interview he gave more than a year ago, Pope Francis answered two separate questions at different times, but they have been edited and published as a single answer, without being put into context in they way they should have been, and this has created confusion. In the first place, the Holy Father had made a pastoral reference to the need for homosexually oriented sons or daughters not to suffer discrimination within their own families. That is what these words refer to: “Las personas homosexuales tienen derecho a estar en familia. No se puede echar de la familia a nadie ni hacerle la vida imposible por eso” (Homosexual persons have a right to be part of a family. You cannot throw someone out of the family or make his or her life impossible for that).
The following section from the Post-Synodal Exhortation Amoris Lætitia on the family can shed some light on these expressions: “During the Synod, we discussed the situation of families whose members include persons who experience same-sex attraction, a situation not easy either for parents or for children. We would like before all else to reaffirm that every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while ‘every sign of unjust discrimination’ is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression and violence. Such families should be given respectful pastoral guidance, so that those who manifest a homosexual orientation can receive the assistance they need to understand and fully carry out God’s will in their lives” (§ 250).
A later question in the interview was related to a local law ten years ago in Argentina on “matrimonios igualitarios de parejas del mismo sexo” (equal marriages of same-sex couples) and the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires’ opposition to it. Pope Francis said about this that “es una incongruencia hablar de matrimonio homosexual” (it is inconsistent to speak of homosexual marriage) and he added that, in precisely this context, he had spoken about these people’s right to be covered legally: “lo que tenemos que hacer es una ley de convivencia civil; tienen derecho a estar cubiertos legalmente. Yo defendí eso” (what we need to have is a law of civil partnership; they have a right to be covered by the law. I defended that).
The Holy Father said this in an interview in 2014: “Marriage is between a man and a woman. Secular states want to justify civil unions to regulate different situations of people who live together, driven by the need to regulate financial matters between persons, for example ensuring health care. It is about agreements on various kinds of living together, of which there are so many I would not be able to list them. We have to look at different cases and evaluate them in all their variety”.
It is clear, therefore, that Pope Francis was referring to particular state arrangements, and certainly not to Church doctrine, which has been re-stated various times through the years.
(15th November 2020)
CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF ENGLAND AND WALES
Statement from the President and the Vice-President of the Conference on the National Lockdown
Wednesday 4th November 2020
Today, Parliament passed into law the Regulations governing many aspects of activity in the whole of England until 2nd December. These Regulations prohibit the gathering of people for communal worship in churches and other religious buildings.
Churches remain open and in use for activities other than communal worship, including personal prayer and support for those in need.
Funeral Masses and funeral services may be held. Please refer to the Regulations (for places of worship see paragraph 18) and associated Guidance.
Despite profound misgivings it is important that we, as responsible citizens, observe these Regulations, which have the force of law: ‘Remind them to be obedient to the officials in authority; to be ready to do good at every opportunity’ (Titus 3:1).
We do this in solidarity with so many others on whom are being imposed restrictions which impact severely on their lives and livelihoods.
It is also important to recognise that these Regulations are not an attack on religious belief. However, they do demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding of the essential contribution made by faith communities to the well-being, resilience and health of our society.
At this difficult moment, we ask that, as a Catholic community, we make full use of our churches as places of individual prayer and sources of solace and help.
Daily Prayer
We must sustain each other in our patterns of prayer, joining a national shared moment of prayer each day at 6pm, and observing the Vigil of Christ the King (21st November) as a day of prayer for the ending of this pandemic.
We encourage you all in your practical service and support of each other and those around you in need.
This pathway of prayer and service is the royal road we are to take as a gracious witness in our society today.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
President
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP
Vice-President
(4th November 2020)
SAFEGUARDING The Bishop has instructed that all Eucharist Ministers require to have a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check in place. If you are a commissioned Eucharist Minister, and have not had a DBS check carried out, then please contact Yvonne on 01628 605764 or by email using this link as a matter of urgency and she will arrange for a DBS to be carried out.
(12th January 2020)
GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION (GDPR) YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED! You may be aware that new data protection legislation came into force in the UK on 25th May 2018. It governs how personal data is processed and we as a Parish now need to obtain your informed consent to continue to use your personal data in our Parish. GDPR covers the personal data (e.g. addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses) we collect and hold in our Parish to ensure you as Parishioners can be contacted, for example for preparation to receive the Sacraments, when organising Parish group meetings or rotas, or to process Gift Aid donations. ‘Informed consent’ means that we tell you how we process and use your data, so that you can decide whether to give your consent for its use within the Parish to continue.
If we do not receive a written consent from you, we have to remove your details from our Parish register and from any groups to which you may belong. Consent forms can be found at the Church porches, we ask that these are returned to the Presbytery, as soon as possible. A separate Consent Form is required for each adult within each family. A Data Privacy Notice sets out how the Parish processes personal data, and a copy of the Data Privacy Notice is available on the Parish website, or from the Parish office. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish office.
(May 2018)
WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR DBS CERTIFICATE…
Once you have received your DBS certificate you have 14 days to send it to be verified by the safeguarding and welfare Co-ordinator, Ms K Taylor-Duke at Safeguarding office, Bishops House, Marriott Street, Northampton, NN2 6AW. (In the past this did not need to be done as two copies were sent out, one to Ms K Taylor-Duke and one to you.
Due to Government cutbacks only one is now sent out which has created a lot more paperwork and work for you.) You will need to enclose a self-addressed envelope so the DBS form may be returned to you. (Both these envelopes can be provided if required). You now also have the opportunity to register your new DBS certificate online at www.gov.uk/dbs which may help with you not having to renew your DBS every three years. (That is unless you change your volunteer role which may require another DBS certificate!). I hope this information helps clarify the steps to validating your DBS certificate when it arrives.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
The group offer a safe and confidential place to speak about your loss in an informal and relaxed setting. It is held at Holy Family Church, Langley. Please contact Graham Wheeler on 01753 538072 for further details.
Holy Family RC Church, 226 Trelawney Avenue, Langley | SL3 7UD
Holy Family Parish website
RAISE MONEY FOR CAFOD WHILE SHOPPING ONLINE
Do you do any shopping on the internet? Gifts? Books? At no extra cost to you or to CAFOD, you can raise money to support CAFOD’s work by doing your online shopping with a simple tool called Give as you live. It’s really simple. Visit www.cafod.org.uk/giveasyoulive to find out more and sign up.
Give As You Live (for Cafod)
MASS INTENTIONS
We are very booked up with Mass intentions at the present moment and a number of you have been disappointed and unable to get the dates you had hoped for. Please book very early if you want a specific date or anniversary. Please let us know if you are happy for us to send on your intentions to another priest (perhaps a retired priest or a priest in a parish with fewer Mass intentions) or to the missions. We are of course always happy to include your intentions in the Bidding Prayers of any Sunday Mass. Please be aware too that very occasionally Mass dates have to be moved because of funerals, holidays, illnesses and other unexpected circumstances.
CAR PARKING WITH CARE AND CONSIDERATION
Please don’t block our neighbours’ driveways. Don’t park on the yellow hashed access to the Vicarage at St Andrew’s. Don’t park on the pavements: disabled/children’s buggies can’t pass. At Our Lady of Peace if you park on the descending access road near the side door of the Church you are blocking access to the disabled parking spots and leaving our disabled parishioners stranded.
PAX CHRISTI
Pax Christi, Peace of Christ, is a gospel-based lay-inspired, peacemaking movement. The movement strives to help the Church and the wider community to proclaim and to make peace, through its experience and ideas, and especially through the witness and action of its members.
Visit the Pax Christi website.
