Catholic April 2020 FREE EastAnglia Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia www.rcdea.org.uk Ash Wednesday A life-changing Grandmother marks the start year with Ignite makes 100s of of Lent for Jess dresses for – page 2 – page 8 African girls – page 10 Archbishop Peter Smith. Picture © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk Public acts of worship to stop A letter from Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Mal- colm McMahon OP, on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Con- ference of England and Wales, was issued on March 18, stop- ping public acts of worship in Catholic churches until further notice. n Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, so many aspects of our lives must change. This includes the ways in which we publicly express our faith. It is very clear that, follow- ing official advice and in order to keep each other safe, save lives and support the NHS, at this time we must not gather for public acts of worship in our churches. This will begin from Friday evening, 20th March 2020, until further notice. Our churches will remain open. They are not closing. They will be a focal point of prayer, where you will find solace and strength. In visiting our churches at this time, we will observe with great care the practices of hygiene and the guidance on social dis- tancing. However, the celebration of Mass, Sunday Tributes paid to by Sunday and day by day, will take place without a public congregation. Knowing that the Mass is being celebrated; joining in spiritually in that celebration; watch- ing the live-streaming of the Mass; following its prayers at home; making an act of spiritual Archbishop Peter communion: this is how we share in the Sac- rifice of Christ in these days. These are the Tributes have been paid to 2010 until his retirement in 2019. Lord in His Church. Peter served as ways in which we will sanctify Sunday, and “I know that many of you will have bishop in three dioceses. There are, indeed every day. Archbishop Peter Smith, pre- fond remembrances and many stories of then, many who will remember him per- We want everyone to understand that in viously the second Catholic Archbishop Peter during his six years sonally and treasure those memories.” these emergency circumstances, and for as Bishop of East Anglia, who here which you will share with each A Diocesan Solemn Requiem Mass is long as they last, the obligation to attend other,” said Bishop Alan. “I have always due to be celebrated for Archbishop Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is died peacefully on March 6, been most grateful to him for his wise Peter in St John’s Cathedral on Friday removed. This is, without doubt, the teaching after a short illness. advice and encouragement both person- March 27 at 11.30am. This is now to be a of the Church (Catechism of the Catholic ally and at the Bishops’ Conference. private Mass with no public allowed. Church 2181). This pandemic is the ‘serious n Bishop Alan Hopes said: “Archbishop “For over 50 years, he made an out- With great sadness the Archdiocese of reason’ why this obligation does not apply at Peter Smith died peacefully just before standing contribution to the Catholic Southwark has announced that the this time. midnight yesterday – March 6. He had Church across three dioceses and Funeral Liturgies of the late Archbishop Your own bishop and parish priest will pro- received the Sacraments of the Church nationally on the Bishops’ Conference. Emeritus Peter Smith, which are due to vide further support, encouragement and and his former secretary was with him His straightforward faith, his sense of take place on 29th and 30th March, will information about our way of prayer together when he died. His illness progressed humour, honesty and humanity and his no longer be open to the public due to in the coming weeks. very quickly just after his diagnosis ability to cut to the chase in any debate current public health concerns. The second vital aspect of these challeng- with cancer a few weeks ago.” stand out in a life which was dedicated It is hoped that it will be possible to ing times is our care for each other. There Archbishop Peter, aged 76, was the sec- to the Lord and his Church. May he rest hold a Mass In Memoriam later this are so many ways in which we are to do this: ond Bishop of East Anglia and served in peace.” year. Please continue to pray for the being attentive to the needs of our neighbour, the Diocese from 1995 until 2001 when he Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said: “Arch- repose of the sould of othe much loved especially the elderly and vulnerable; con- was translated to the See of Cardiff. He bishop Peter devoted his life entirely Archbishop Emeritus: may he rest in tributing to our local food banks; volunteering became Archbishop of Southwark in and unwaveringly to the service of the peace. for charitable initiatives and organisations; simply keeping in touch by all the means open to us. During these disturbing and threatening To keep up with the latest Diocese of East Anglia news, times, the rhythm of the prayer of the Church will continue. Please play your part in it. The including updates on precautions and events affected by effort of daily kindness and mutual support for all will continue and increase. Please play Coronavirus, please sign up for our weekly enews your part in this too. For your commitment to bulletin at rcdea.org.uk this, we thank you. Page 2 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia / April 2020 Ash Wednesday marks start of Lent n On Ash Wednesday priests across the Diocese of East Anglia placed ashes on Bishop Alan distributing the foreheads of parishioners to mark the ashes at St John’s Cathedral. beginning of the season of Lent. At St John’s Cathedral in Norwich Bishop Alan Hopes was the main celebrant of the Ash Wednesday evening Mass, and led the blessing and distribu- tion of ashes, using the words: “Repent and believe the Gospel.” “Along our journey we are called to enter into a relationship with God,” he said in his homily. “Over the next six weeks the Church calls us to accompany Jesus on His journey. “To start the ball rolling,” the bishop pro- posed, “choose one of the Gospels and just read a short passage each day… There is so much joy and peace in know- ing and discovering God’s presence. “If something has gone wrong in a rela- tionship with someone, Lent is a time to seek healing and reconciliation.” Bishop Alan encouraged his listeners to Some positive “make a space for themselves” and at the same time to engage in prayer, fasting and giving. “Friday is a good day to miss a thoughts from meal altogether,” he suggested. “May the Lord,” he concluded, “grant us Pope Francis all a faithful and fruitful Lent.” n Pope Francis has written some thoughts giving a more positive out- look to the current situation: “Tonight before falling asleep think Fr Sandro talks of about when we will return to the street. When we hug again, when all the shopping together will seem like a party. Let’s think about when the coffees Ethiopian mission will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other. Our Lady of Lourdes, Sawston We think about when it will all be a and St John Fisher Fr Sandro Barbieri meeting and talking memory, but normalcy will seem an to parishioners at Cambourne. unexpected and beautiful gift. Cambourne welcomed back Fr We will love everything that has so Sandro Barbieri, who had far seemed futile to us. Every second spent several months with the will be precious. parish studying English a cou- Swims at the sea, the sun until late, ple of years ago, to talk about sunsets, toasts, laughter. We will go back to laughing his work as a missionary in together. Ethiopia. Mel Ward reports. Strength and courage, See you soon! n After years of parish work in Italy, Fr Sandro had felt called to serve as a mis- Catholic sionary. In February, he spent one evening talk- EastAnglia ing at OLOL and the next sharing his experiences in Ethiopia at Cambourne. Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia The Maranto family opened up their EDITOR: Keith Morris home to us and he talked us through the tel: 07712 787762 life, culture, and daily life of his commu- ‘enemy’ is a real and ongoing challenge Many people come to hear the ‘catech- Pear Tree Farmhouse, nity in Abol in Ethiopia. and crucial in such a fragile and troubled esis’ at the compound and the Catholic Wymondham Road, The village is not far from war-torn community. community there is beginning to flourish Wreningham, Norwich, Sudan and the large community of dis- There are three local dialects and few as more choose to get baptised – a danger- NR16 1AT placed people in the region causes tribal able to speak English or Italian, but Fr ous choice for many. As with many of email: tension and fear in a land with limited Sandro’s cheerfulness and joy in the our own children at times the draw of a [email protected] resources. Now known as ‘Abba’ Sandro gospel shines through. He admits to frus- biscuit at the end is attractive. he has decorated the church with murals tration at times and the 40 degrees heat If you wish to support Abba Sandro’s Articles and photographs for the next that preach the gospel with joy and inclu- makes physical tasks a struggle, but he is mission please contact our parish priest, edition are very welcome and should be siveness.