Catholic February 2019 FREE East Anglia Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia www.rcdea.org.uk Fr Pat’s 40 years East Anglia Tributes to the as an orchestra group heading inspirational conductor for Panama Sister Wendy – page 4 – page 9 – page 10 Youth celebration lights up the Epiphany skies I A youth celebration of Epiphany lit up the skies at Poringland near Norwich on January 6 when around 200 young people and their families from across the Diocese of East Anglia enjoyed a candlelit Mass, bonfire, hot dogs and fireworks. The annual Epiphany Candlelight Mass took place at the church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Poring - land, organised by the Ignite team with attendees from across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambs and Peterborough. The Epiphany Mass, which marks the visit of the wise men to the baby Jesus, included a chance for partici - pants to light a candle and donate a The Epiphany Mass and fireworks at present to be given to children who Poringland. See a full picture gallery are refugees in the UK. at www.rcdea.org.uk In his homily, Youth chaplain, Fr Luke Goymour, said: "Tradition says that the three wise men came from different parts of the world, Persia, Asia and Ethiopia. This represented the whole of the known world at the time that Matthew was writing his Gospel. “Epiphany is the showing forth, the revelation of God to the whole world. Diocese to bid for We celebrate that moment when the eternal, infinite God burst into our world as a little baby. God has come to us and been made man.” Fr Luke also spoke about the bright three new schools star which helped the wise men to navi - The Diocese of East Anglia are occupied. so we need as many people as possible to gate their way to where Jesus was. Helen Bates, Assistant Director for register their support and interest.” “Today we all have a spiritual naviga - has announced its Schools, said: “This bidding round rep - People can express their interest and tion – the Holy Spirit - dwelling within intention to submit bids to resents the first opportunity to build support by going to the Diocesan website us and guiding us,” he said. open three new voluntary- new Catholic schools in East Anglia for at www.rcdea.org.uk/vaschools by fol - After Mass, everyone went outside to many years. Our Diocese has some of lowing us on Twitter @RCNewSchools enjoy hot dogs, a bonfire and a firework aided Catholic primary the severest shortages of Catholic school and on Facebook at RCDEANewSchools. display in the garden of the Bishop's schools in areas of places in the country and, whilst there In 2017, the Diocese was preparing to White House. Cambridgeshire with are many parts of East Anglia where we submit bids for eight new free schools Bishop Alan said: "The fireworks are would like new schools, they have to be but, following the General Election, was part of our celebration of Christmas increasing populations and in areas where there is also a general not able to submit them as the Govern - because we are lighting up the sky with is now asking for people to shortage of places. ment decided not to follow-up on its our belief that Jesus Christ is the true support the bids. “We have worked closely with both manifesto promise to remove the cap on light of the world. That is the faith Cambridgeshire County Council and faith admissions in new free schools. which we share, drawing others into the Peterborough City Council, to identify The three new bids will be for volun - light that gives such hope.” I The three bids are in areas of signifi - these three areas where we all want tary-aided (VA) schools, where there is Youth director Hamish MacQueen cant housing development – Northstowe, more school places. no cap on faith admissions. VA schools, said: “It was great to have a larger Hampton East (Peterborough) and Great “The Government has been very clear like free schools, are state-funded. Deci - Ignite Lite team which really worked Haddon (Peterborough). that only a small number of bids will be sions on bids are expected from the well together to carry off the event suc - Under a new bidding round, bids have approved in this round, so we don’t Government by the end of March 2019. cessfully. It is good to highlight to be submitted to the Department for expect to get all three, but we think we Epiphany as a major event during the Christmas season. In the way that the Education by February 1, 2019, and it is do have three very strong bids. I In a separate move, the Diocese has expected that the schools would open “However, we need to show that there begun a consultation to open a new wise men were on a journey to see around September 2022 or 2023, depend - is widespread support for our bids by Catholic primary school in Swaffham – Jesus , many of our young people are on ing on how quickly the new houses the time we submit them on February 1, full story on page eight. a similar journey.” Page 2 latest online news at: www.rcdea.org.uk Catholic East Anglia / February 2019 news in brief Hidden statue in restored chapel Church joins in I A hand-carved statue of Our Fr Philip Shryane with parishioners in the Lady which had restored chapel with the rediscovered statue. town street fair been hidden in a I Bungay Street Fair was held on Sun - cupboard for day December 2 and during the around 20 years afternoon, 150 people visited St has been Edmund's church. blessed and Being the first week in Advent the placed in a first candle on the Advent wreath was newly-restored shining brightly. Sand trays for votive chapel at St candles were set up around the church Michael the near various cribs and pictures. Visi - Archangel tors took time out of the hustle and church in bustle of the street fair to light a can - Huntingdon. dle and contemplate. This was done in On Saturday a respectful and appreciative way. December 8, the There were Traidcraft gifts on sale feast of the and home-made quilts. The candle Immaculate Con - donations for CAFOD raised £63. Visi - ception of the tors left many positive comments Blessed Virgin about the prayerful atmosphere and Mary people who the beauty of the church. Sue Altarelli, attended the who organised the event in the church Mass for the said: “It is always important to be seen feast were invited to be participating in this yearly town become a devotional chapel of Our Lady. Lady came from the Church of the Good by parish priest, Fr Philip Shryane, into event.” The beautiful statue has been in a cup - Shepherd which used to be in the the newly-restored chapel of Our Lady Comments made by visitors to St board for around 20 years. It is Oxmoor area of Huntingdon. The church for the blessing of the statue. Edmund's included: “I recently lost a hand-carved by Andre Lacome, a sculp - closed and the site was sold in 1995, the loved one and wanted to light a candle Fr Philip said: “For many years this tor who lived near Lourdes and had his lovely statue of the Good Shepherd is ... it has been a real comfort coming in chapel has been a storage area but it shop there, selling his own carved stat - now in the Good Shepherd Room, the here.” “I was brought up a Catholic has recently been cleaned out and ues and medals. parish room for our parish. It is very good and don’t go anymore but this has repainted, given a radiator and some “Along with a statue of the Good Shep - to have both the statues on view in the made me think about returning.” new lights so that it can once more herd, also by Lacome, the statue of our church again,” said Fr Philip. Wall of prayer I A project to build a national monu - ment in the UK with a million bricks, with each brick representing an answered prayer has been launched and stories of answered prayer are Simon is ordained being requested. The project has land on a site next to a motorway in the Midlands, and now they are trying to raise funds and stories of answered prayers. Visit www.thewall.org.uk tDiocoese of Eastt he diaconate Epiphany parish lunch Anglia seminar - ian Simon Davies I An Epiphany parish lunch was enjoyed by parishioners at Our Lady was ordained to and St Charles Borromeo in Wisbech the diaconate at on Sunday January 6, when everyone St John's brought a plate of food to share and a Seminary in wrapped gift for the 'Secret Santa', Surrey by Bishop reports parish priest Fr James Fyfe, who said: “A convivial time was had by Alan Hopes on all - young and old.” December 15. Here Simon Catholic reports on the East Anglia occasion. Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia I Above the great EDITOR: Keith Morris golden mosaic on the tel: 01508 488318 or back wall of Wonersh 07712 787762 Seminary Chapel are Pear Tree Farmhouse, the words that Christ Wymondham Road, spoke to His Apostles at the Last Supper, “Non Wreningham, Norwich, vos Me elegistis, sed NR16 1AT Ego elegi vos: You have Deacon Simon Davies, right, with Bishop Alan and Deacon email: [email protected] not chosen me, but I Johnpromise Umeozuru during Mass at St John's Seminary.