How Historic Hall Is Helping to Spread the Word
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Pentecost 2021 NewsSOWER from How historic IN THE SPOTLIGHT ELISA hall is helping to G T N I A O V N E spread the word >> CENTRE PAGES l Photos in this magazine take into account social distancing measures in place in England due to the Covid-19 pandemic. WELCOME By ARCHBISHOP BERNARD LONGLEY To our Diocesan family, HELLO and welcome to this Pentecost edition of The Sower, your Diocesan magazine. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you blessings for this very special season, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Our Lady and the Apostles. Many of you will be joining in the Pentecost Novena, which offers several days of intercessory prayer for evangelisation and renewal of the Church in the days from Ascension to Pentecost. I hope you find this spiritually uplifting. We pray that the Gift of the Holy Spirit we receive through Baptism and Confirmation is once again poured upon us Power of the Holy Spirit is as we celebrate Pentecost this year on Sunday, 23 May. Over the last 12 months evident in countless acts of the power of the Holy Spirit has been ever more evident in our daily lives as people have stepped forward to support compassion and goodwill foodbanks, make PPE, become stewards at their church to inspire us as we rebuild our There are four areas I am parish community and we hope ensure it can open safely, checked church communities. asking us all to focus on: others will respond positively to on neighbours and many other We have an opportunity to Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy the call to evangelise. countless acts of compassion and focus on renewal and be open to and Worship and Social Outreach. I also encourage you, if you goodwill – the transformation of change. A key part of this is our I invite you to join me in haven’t already, to complete a words into actions. Diocesan Vision, Unfolding God’s looking with fresh eyes at our Covid-19 impact survey. I hope and pray that this strong Plan. Over the coming months mission. Please share your experience sense of community continues as I will be sharing much more We must take this opportunity of faith during the pandemic we navigate our way through the information on where we are with to do all we can to make sure the with us. This will help us to ‘new normal’ and that it helps to this important piece of work, and Gospel is seen and heard through understand what has been reignite our spiritual fire. how we want you to be involved. the example of our daily Christian happening in our communities Although the devastation I have commissioned a number lives. and see the bigger picture of faith caused by the pandemic of groups who are looking at how For now, in preparation, I in action as we move forward. continues to affect us all, it has we work in our parishes and in will be praying about all that is You can complete the survey focused our minds on what really the Archdiocese to increase the before us as we step out on this here: birminghamdiocese.org. matters and offers the chance for opportunities that enable us to pilgrimage of faith together. I uk/C19survey change. do God’s work and to fulfil the hope you will too. As we continue on our faith Even though our church promises of our baptism. It is very timely that the theme journey I look forward to the buildings haven’t been fully open, I want us to look at how we running through this edition of days when more of us are able to the communal life of our Church will individually respond to God’s The Sower is evangelisation. gather together in our churches has continued with the support call to be missionary disciples Stories and examples focus on and be reunited in person. of so many people across the in the Church and in our local encouraging others to know God’s With every blessing for the Archdiocese. We have kept going. communities, working joyfully love for them by inviting them to days ahead. Now, as we make a fresh together to spread the Word and church, to pray and to encounter beginning in a very different the work of God. Christ, and to groups where they setting, and as we celebrate In essence, how will we unfold can learn about Him. Pentecost, let us pray that the God’s plan for our Diocesan Many of you will recognise that Holy Spirit will guide us and church? this is already happening in your 2 The Sower Pentecost 2021 With COVID-19 continuing to make overseas travel difficult, this year’s annual pilgrimage to Lourdes is, once again, a virtual online event, with everyone invited to tune in and take part... Pilgrims to make virtual journey to visit sacred © i.creation Lourdes site ILGRIMS of all ages from virtually through their TV, across the Archdiocese computer or smart device. P and beyond are invited to “We want to encourage as take part in the Virtual Lourdes many people to get involved Pilgrimage 2021; taking place as possible, whether they from Sunday, 30 May until Friday, are seasoned pilgrims or 4 June. have never joined us before destination of the Archdiocese’ The pilgrimage will draw to The theme of the six-day but would like to take part. own annual pilgrimage to the an end with a Closing Mass on event is “I Am The Immaculate “As it is taking place during the Marian shrine) and people are Friday, 4 June, led by Bishop Conception” and it will include half term break, we are hoping able to send in petitions to be David McGough – Chairman of daily Masses, virtual Marian many families will want to tune in presented during the ceremony. the Lourdes Pilgrimage Executive Processions, a Service of Healing, and watch the events unfold and Wednesday, 2 June, will be Committee, followed by a virtual Stations of the Cross, a Blessed join us in prayer and maybe even a youth-focused day and will farewell to the Grotto with the Sacrament Procession and a create their own Grotto as a focus include a Children’s Mass from lighting of candles. Reconciliation Service; together for the week.” Cannock and a Youth Worship with visits to key sites in and The virtual pilgrimage will Night, organised by the Kenelm n People will be able to access around the holy site in southern start on Sunday 30 May (Trinity Youth Trust (KYT). the virtual pilgrimage directly France. Sunday) at 3pm with a live- In association with this, the from the Diocesan website – It will also build on the online streamed Opening Mass from St KYT has launched a challenge – birminghamdiocese.org.uk/ version of the pilgrimage staged Chad’s Cathedral. encouraging young people and lourdes. In the run up to the last year, which was a great This will be the first of a schools to take part in a virtual event more information, including success. series of Masses, which will be sponsored walk to Lourdes. a full timetable of events will also Kath White, Lourdes Pilgrimage broadcast from places of worship All proceeds raised will be be published on the site. There Administrator, said: “It was with around the Archdiocese. donated to the will also be regular updates on a very heavy heart that the Each day there will also be a Diocesan Pilgrimage social media under the hashtag Executive Committee had to take virtual tour featuring significant Sick Fund. Lourdes2Brum. the decision to cancel this year’s locations in Saint Bernadette of annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. Lourdes’ life and each evening Flashback to 2019... “But our aim is to offer a virtual Marian Procession. Young pilgrims from the people the home experience, Monday, 31 May, the Feast Archdiocese take part in the so that individuals can join in of Visitation Mass, will be International Procession. communion with fellow pilgrims broadcast from Hednesford (the New MAC welcomes pupils A NEW Multi Academy Trust from the Secretary of has been launched as part of State for Education Gavin the Archdiocese’s Education Williamson. Strategy Programme. The MAC has welcomed The formation of Our more than 700 staff and Lady and All Saints Catholic 4,500 children and young Multi Academy Company people from 13 schools (MAC), took place on across the Birmingham, Holy Thursday (1 April Solihull and Warwickshire 2021) following approval areas. Pentecost 2021 The Sower 3 ELISA G T N I A O V N E Accessible team’s work has never been so vital EVER has the work of evangelisation been N more vital across We want the Archdiocese, and a video to support conferencing platform is ensuring that essential resources remain people in these available during the Covid crisis. challenging Despite the restrictions arising from the pandemic, formation and restricting and training for clergy and lay times. parishioners are being provided through a series of monthly webchats. Natalie Orefice Evangelisation Zoom Meetings provide materials, networking I are trying to make ourselves contacts and a general forum for as available and accessible as people wishing to share their faith possible to people,” said Natalie. in their local settings. “Zoom is allowing us to be in all Organised by Advisor for Parish places in the Diocese at once.” Evangelisation, Natalie Orefice, The Zoom sessions, which the on-screen meetings are link up with people in their shared by around 20 people at homes, begin with prayers and a time with a lunchtime session include a talk and formation from 1-2pm and an evening on evangelisation followed by session, which takes place from discussion.