FREE www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk The Official Newspaper to Inside this month: the Diocese of Lancaster p3 & 13 Mgr. Canon Turner RIP p11 Fundraising in Blackpool Issue 225 + December 2010 p16 Catenian’s Celebrate reparing for Advent seems a strange each one of us. It is the nature of love to Ptitle for an article about Advent. The seek union. We see this in the realm of word itself means “coming” and with it, the internet, mobile phones and emails, the familiar theological dimensions of which serve to facilitate the one-to-one preparing for the Liturgical celebration meetings we all need and desire. The of the Incarnation, the Second coming nature of love to seek union is seen in our of Christ, and the continued coming of desire to be in the physical presence Christ in the hearts which are open to of the beloved, and even within that Him. If the Church gives us four weeks proximity to show affections such as to prepare for the coming of Christ, with hugs. The intrinsic desire to unite with the special emphasis given to John the beloved is seen in our human sexuality, Baptist whose mission it was to “prepare which shows forth a powerful enactment the way” then why talk about getting of mutual giving and receiving. It is this ready for Advent? Well, I would suggest mystery which concerns us in Advent – that Christians living in today’s the mystery of God who gives himself society with the commercial aspect of completely to his beloved, irrespective of Christmas almost outdoing the sun and the cross, and continues to abide with us moon in regulating our feasts, should be through the Church and in the Eucharist “as wise as serpents” and get their claim where we can daily partake of that in first! Like any big feast or meal, it divine union. sometimes helps to plan how we are going to approach it and how we plan Perhaps this Advent we could try to go to to spend Advent might help us to get daily Mass more regularly and by spending the most out of such a short and often time in adoration of the Eucharist. hijacked season in the Church’s year. In adoration of the Eucharist we place What makes advent special is the fact ourselves in the presence of the God who that we are brought face-to-face with has sought our presence by becoming the God who is beyond our grasp and yet incarnate. We sit in the presence of God makes himself tangible to our experience. who has longed for our company. The Denture Studios This gives our human life on earth an CALL FOR FREE CONSULTATION/ADVICE immense dignity as it is now shot In adoration we sit before the Jesus who ☎ 08455 230 230 through with the presence of God. That healed the leper. What do I need that same [email protected] God became poor so that we could Jesus to heal in me? become rich is a theme throughout the All dentures made by an Experienced Denturist whose Christmas narratives. In adoration we sit before the Jesus who attention to detail creates outstanding natural results gave sight to the blind. What blindness do • Quality Dentures at affordable prices I want Jesus to set me free from? • Emergency dental repairs • Friendly & informal atmosphere In adoration we sit before Him who raised • Latest techniques & materials available Lazarus from the dead. What area of my life do I want Jesus to raise up to new life, Milnthorpe ☎ Option 1 even if I am reluctant to let him near Old Hall, Beetham Road, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7QR because of the stench! Blackpool ☎ Option 2 17a Newton Drive, Blackpool FY3 8BT The story of Martha and Mary in Luke Formby ☎ Option 3 40 Liverpool Road, Formby, Merseyside L37 6BZ Advent is a time of devotion to Our 10.38-42 can help us in approaching how Lady as the second Eve. Mary is the one we choose to spend Advent. In Advent let www.thedenturestudios.co.uk through whom God will enter humanity. us choose to sit with Mary at the Lord’s Clinical Dental Technicians - GDC Registered , R.C.S. (Eng) Mary is the one who nurtures and gives feet, safe in the knowledge that we life to Christ, and through her place in the have chosen the better part. Whilst the Church she continues to “mother” the Christmas rush clamours around us, image of Christ in each of us. Perhaps this and demands that we help with the Advent we can try to become close to Our preparation, perhaps we can simply wait Lady through praying the Joyful Mysteries on the Lord who wants to spare us from of the Rosary. With Mary we can respond the “worry and fret about unnecessary to God’s invitation to allow that image of things”, and let him be who he wants to be Christ, given in Baptism, to become more – our loving companion. clearly seen in each of our lives. Perhaps we could pray to Mary for vocations to the Christopher Sumner is from St Peter’s priesthood so that Christ may become parish, Lytham. He studied Theology at incarnate in our own age through the Oxford University and is ministry of the Church. currently teaching Religious Studies at Our Lady’s School, The season of Advent is one where we are Abingdon. He is also the reminded of the urgency of God’s love in Musical Director of the becoming completely united with the Oxford University Catholic object of that love, humanity – namely Chaplaincy. Preparing the Way the Preparing 2 + The Catholic Voice of Lancaster + December 2010 www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk EDITORIAL t has become popular among some Catholics during “I cannot live my being Arabic without the Middle IChristmas to support the persecuted Christian Eastern Christian Arab. The emigration of communities of the Middle East through the purchase of Christmas cards and religious art, through the Christians is an impoverishment of the Arabic encouragement of Aid to the Church in Need and the identity, of its culture and of its authenticity. For Bishops’ Conference. This Christmas, now more than ever, this reason, I underline once again here, before we need to support the Christians who remain in the birthplace of our Faith. Over the past couple of months the the stands of the Vatican, what I have already said threats against the region’s 17 million Christians, including before the stands of the venerable Mecca: I am 3 million Catholics, have intensified, particularly in Iraq. concerned with the future of Eastern Muslims Let us remember our fellow Catholics killed by the Al Qaeda because of the emigration of Eastern Christians. in November during an attack on a Sunday evening Mass at To maintain the presence of Christians is a Our Lady of Salvation, Baghdad. The terrorists killed 55 common Islamic duty as well as a common Catholics, including the three priests concelebrating, 10 Christian duty. They are an integral part of the children attending with their parents, and leaving 70 wounded. Contact us Father Wasim Sabieh and Father Thaier Saad Abdal were cultural, literary and scientific formation of The Catholic Voice of Lancaster martyred during the attack. The third priest, Father Qatin, Islamic civilisation. They are also the pioneers is published on the last Sunday of the was wounded and died later in hospital. month previous to publication date. of modern Arabic renaissance”. Only about 500,000 Christians remain in Iraq out of a During the Synod Pope Benedict emphasised the importance of The Catholic Voice of Lancaster is population of nearly 31 million, but after this latest massacre the Middle East to all Christians, it is the land of the Church’s published by its owners. The Trustees it is predicted that many will join the Iraqi Christian diaspora twofold birth, ‘Birth in Bethlehem, birth in the cenacle. Birth of the of the Roman Catholic Diocese of around the world. We are witnessing the destruction of one of Child Jesus, birth of the body of Christ of the Church. They are two Lancaster, a registered charity, the most ancient Christian Churches and this tragedy receives events, or one single event. But between the two really stand the (No. 234331), and is wholly independent hardly any coverage by our media. of and separate from any previous cross and the resurrection.’ newspaper published by or on behalf Since this appalling crime Al Qaeda has issued a statement The Catholic Voice of Lancaster believes that this is why it is of the diocese. threatening violence against all Christians and singling out important for all of us to think about and pray for our fellow the Vatican. The terrorists attempt to justify their threat by Christians in the Middle East as we gather around our EDITOR: demanding that the Coptic Church in Egypt release two women altars and cribs this Christmas. Even in this remote corner Edwina Gillett they claim have converted to Islam and are being held by of north-west England the Christians of the Middle East are 01253 736630 / 07969 967268 Christians against their will. [email protected] important to our identity, history and culture. If the day comes www.catholicvoiceoflancaster.co.uk The so called ‘conversion’ of these two wives of Coptic priests has when the final Christians are driven from the birthplace of been categorically denied by all Islamic religious authorities in Christianity we will all be impoverished and diminished. ADVERTISING: Egypt, and the militant Egyptian group, the Muslim Brotherhood, Nick Layton / CathCom Ltd.