January 2016 FREE Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia web edition at: www.rcdea.org.uk YYeear of Mercy begins in Norwich and WWaalsingham Bishop Alan’s Holy Door opening Christmas starts YYeear of Mercy message During the Addvvent Season, the Church’s liturgy is filled with reffeerences of the longing of the The YYeear of Mercy began prophet, Isaiah: Droopp down you heavens ffrrom in the Diocese of East abovee,, and let the skies pour down the JJuust One. Anglia on Sunday This longing is ffuulfilled ffoor us at Christmas December 13 with Bishop by the One who is JJuustice itselff,, God-made-man, Alan opening the Holy Jesus Christ. At this moment, our hearts especially long Door at St John the ffoor justice. WWee are liivving in a situation in whicchh Baptist Cathedral in terrorism, war and poverty are constantly in Norwich and inviting the our minds and beffoore our eyes. In the midst of 500-strong congregation, it all, our prayer surely mirrors that of the which included represen- prophet: Lord, give to the world the gifftt of tatives ffrrom every parish justice. in the Diocese, to walk And so our eyes turn through it with him. to the poor stable in Bethlehem. In the midst of poverty and social A second Holy Door was also instabilityy,, in a land opened at the Slipper Chapel at which continues today to the National Shrine of Our Lady be torn apart by warffaare in WWaalsingham by Shrine Rectorr,, and injustice, God enters Mgr John Armitage. into the scene of human Pope Francis began the Jubilee history and is born as YYeear of Mercyy,, which will end on one of us, made ffllesh in November 20, 2016, by opening a the womb of the Blessed Virgin Maryy. Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica Jesus Christ came and lived among us, on December 8. experiencing himself the messiness of human The opening of Holy Doors is liffee in order to offfffeer us, through that, a way to an ancient tradition in the find mercy and peace. As we continue to Catholic Church. For centuries it journey together through this Jubilee YYeear of has marked the start of a Jubilee Mercyy,, let us look to the Christ Child and so YYeearr.. During Emperor come to know that despite our human ffrrailties Constantine’s time in the ffoourth and mistakes, God is here with us. WWaalking by centuryy,, Christians could claim our side, and offfffeering us constantly the oppor- ‘sanctuary’ and immunity ffrrom tunity to turn away ffrrom darkness and punishment if they crossed the embrace the gifftt of mercy and peace which he threshold of the main doorway wants to share with all of his creation. into the Lateran Basilica in Rome. Speaking in a Catholic Bishops’ RELAX! WITH UP TO 4,000 USED CARS PRICE CHECKED DAILY, Conference Advent podcast, COMPREHENSIVELY CHECKED & GUARANTEED Bishop Alan said: “The YYeear of Mercy is a wonderffuul opportunity to reffllect on the whole idea of YOU’RE SURE TO FIND mercy both in the scriptures and in the liturgy of the church. And YOUR PERFECT CAR! particularly the way in which REDUCED! compassion, love and mercy should be part of the church’s pastoral care of the people of God and those on the margins. 62 REGREG 11 REGREG BRANDBRANDA NEW “The main Holy Door within CITROEN C1 1.0i VAUXHALL INSIGNIA FORD FIESTA DIESEL the Diocese at the Cathedral of VTR 3DR RED 38K 2.0 CDTi SE 5DR GREY 77K 1.5 TDCi STYLE 3DR 48 MONTHS (9+47) St John the Baptist in Norwich NOWNOW NOWNOW NOWNOW .00 PER ONLYONLLYY £4516 ONLYONLLYY £6995 ONLYONLLYY £137£137MMONTHONTH* will be open all year ffoor people to make pilgrimage and walk PART FULL FLEXIBLE NATIONWIDE BRANDBRAND NEWNEW Opening of the Holy Doors in Norwich, ttoop, and at WWaalsingham, abovvee. EXCHANGE HISTORY FINANCE DELIVERY CARSCARS AVAILABLEAAVVVAAILA ABLE through it. WELCOMEWELCOME CHECKCHECK AVAILABLE TOTO YOURYOUR DOOR ALL MAKES “Going through the Holy Door hear them), and think about some Sacrament of Reconciliation is such an important thing. It is of the spiritual and corporal with the prisoners. AUTOSAVE...AUTOSAAVVE... SERVING THE CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN COMMUNITYCOMMUNITTYF FOROR OVEROVER 35 YEARSYEARS the opening into the very heart works of mercy that they can “One of the most beautiful of God’s mercy reallyy.. People will carry out in their own lives.” things that Pope Francis said was Call 0845 122 6910 be encouraged to make the Bishop Alan also revealed that that prisoners, who are pilgrimage through the doorr,, during the year he will be visiting obviously not able to make a autosave.co.uk *Based on personal Contract Hire (PCH) payment profile 9+47. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions applyy.. Applicants must be 18 or over. Guarantee/indemnity make their conffeession (there will each of the 11 prisons across the pilgrimage to a Holy Doorr,, could may be required. We can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers. We may receive a commission from them for the introduction. be priests in the Cathedral to Diocese to celebrate Mass and the Continued on page 2 Page 2 CATHOLICCAATTHOLIC EASTEAST ANGLIAANGLIA January 2016 news in brief Holy Doors open ■ Continued ffrrom page 1 treat the door of their cell as 2016 YYeear Book the door of mercyy,,” said The 2016 edition of the Diocese of East Bishop Alan. Anglia YYeear Book & Liturgical Calendar “I hope that we Catholics is now available, packed with useful will invite those who have inffoormation and new ffeeatures. not been to church ffoor a very Bishop Alan said: “I commend the long time, and those who publication of the Diocesan 2016 YYeear don’t believe, to come and Book and ask that you actively promote explore this whole area of it in your respectiivve communities. mercy and see what we are “This year there are a number of doing and, who knows, they relevant articclles: Pope Francis reffllecting may encounter the Lord on the meaning of the Jubilee YYeear of Jesus Christ in a new and Mercy; The exciting way in their own New Evange- lives.” lization; 40th The year is also being Anniivversary of marked in WWaalsingham ac- the Diocese; cording to Julian Foord, pil- Wa l s i n g h a m grimage coordinator: ““AA and its role in spiritual pathway of devo- the YYeear of tions has been established in- Mercy; The cluding the Stations of Cause for Mercyy.. Special prayer cards L e o n a r d haavve been produced ffoor each BBC set to broadcast service Cheshire of the seven elements of the “The Organi- BBC Radio Cambridgeshirree rreecorrdded its Christ- language contributions including Polish, English pathway and there are dis- sations’ section of the YYeear Book has mas service at St Peter and All Souls Catholic and Filipino plus Fr Adam’’ss multi-lingual play boards in the shrine been thoroughly updated together with church in Petteerborroough on December 12. blessing. BBC Cambs ffaaith prreesentteer Pam grounds to aid devotion. It is a more integrated colour section The service ffeeaturreed singing from the Polish Mungrrooo also did a rreeading. anticipated that the YYeear of Mercy will attract a large covering a wide range of events, people Mission Choir and the parish’’ss Children’’ss Choirr,, The service is due ttoo be brrooadcast on BBC and ffuuture actiivvities. number of pilgrims.” under the expert dirreection of choirmastteer Radio Cambridgeshire at 6pm on Christmas Eve “I am grateful to all who haavve been YYoou can read Bishop Alan’s Andrreew Reid, who helped ttoo orrgganise the service and at 9am on Christmas Dayy.. The prroogrraamme involved in helping to produce this homily at wwww..rcdea.org.uk year’s publication, for producing contteent along with Fr Adam Sowwaa who gavvee the will also include a piece bbyy Bishop Alan and and Mgr Armitage’s at something that we can be proud of as a homilyy.. features about some of the communittyy work that wwww..walsingham.org.uk. Diocese,” said Bishop Alan. Also included wweerree a number of difffeerreent takes place acrrooss the parish. The new YYeear Book is aavvailable, priced £4, ffrrom all parish churches across the Diocese and the Cathedral in Norwich. Judith completes 200-mile WWee want your vieewws WWee want to hear you views on the Paris climate change walk Catholic East Anglia newspaperr,, on its content, frequency and distribution. A Diss parishioner and mum of Please return the enclosed survey postcard orr,, if you preferr,, you can go ffoour completed a 200-mile walk online and fill out the quick survey at to Paris in late November to ask wwww..rcdea.org.uk world leaders to take action against climate change. JJuudith Tooth, 49, a volunteer ffoor Catholic charity CAFOD, walked with 40 people ffrrom across the UK ffrrom London to Paris on a pilgrimage. The parishionerr,, ffrrom Newspaper of the Diocese of East Anglia St Henry Morse Catholic Church in Diss, EDITOR: Keith Morris was taking part in the pilgrimage to call tel: 01508 488137 or ffoor a fair and ambitious deal ffrrom world leaders on tackling climate change at a 07712 787762 major UN meeting. Pear Tree Farmhouse, WWaalkers ffrrom CAFOD, Tearffuund, the WWyymondham Road, Church of England and Christian Aid, Judith Wreningham, Norwich, lefftt St Martin-in-the-Fields in London to TToooth on NR16 1AATT join tens of thousands of people her LLoondon email: [email protected] marching ffoor climate action. ttoo Paris Earrllier this yearr,, Pope Francis urged climattee everyone to take better care of the worrlld Articles and photogrraaphs ffoor the neexxt edition change we liivve in, recognising the devastating are very wweelcome and should be sent ttoo the impact climate change has on the walk.