FREE SEPTEMBER 2012 CATHOLIC POSTwww.dioceseofleeds.org.uk www.catholicpost.org.uk THE NEWSPAPER FOR THE DIOCESE OF LEEDS The Feast of St Bernard celebrated in style at Fountains Abbey The annual Mass held in the grounds people. The key to which is to keep of Fountains Abbey was celebrated, spiritual and mundane aspects of life this year, on the Feast of St Bernard, balanced in order to lead a good and Monday 20th August. Almost 600 perfect life - the perfect example of people attended from across the this comes of course from Our Lord diocese but also from parishes in Jesus Christ. Mrs Barbara Stitt read Newcastle and Nottingham. The Prior the prayers of the Faithful and led the of Ampleforth Abbey Very Rev intercession of Our Blessed Lady in St Terrence Richardson OSB was the Bernard's words. At the end of Mass principal celebrant aided by priests Mr John Tweddle, Catholic Lay from Harrogate, Newcastle and Representative of the Fountains Abbey Nottingham. Lady Deirdre Curteis Chaplaincy thanked everyone who had began the Liturgy of the Word which taken part and in particular thanked was followed by the choir of St the National Trust for their help and Joseph's parish leading the singing of support. He invited everyone to stay the Responsorial Psalm. In his Homily for the rest of the afternoon and enjoy the Prior reminded us of the great the wonderful grounds of Fountains service of St Bernard and St Benedict Abbey including the beautifully not only to the Christian Church but to restored Water Garden. Next year the civilisation as a whole especially in the Mass will be held on the Feast of St fields of education and the arts and Benedict on 11th July at 12noon. ensuring the general well-being of Page 2 Leeds Catholic Post The Post Says The Year of Faith "We trained very hard, but it seemed that every time we were n Sunday 16th October 2011 Pope ushering us into the life of communion with God beginning to form up into teams, we OBenedict XVI announced a YEAR OF and offering entry into his Churchʼ writes Pope would be reorganized. I was to learn FAITH for the whole Church to celebrate the Benedict. And so, the YEAR of Faith is an later in life that we tend to meet any 50th anniversary of the beginning of the invitation to everyone in the Church to celebrate new situation by reorganizing-it can Second Vatican Council and the 20th and renew their faith - individually, in families, in be a wonderful method of creating anniversary of the publication of the parishes and schools, in our Diocese, country Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Year and across our global Catholic community. the illusion of progress while of Faith will begin on 11 October 2012 and • Desiring to respond to Pope Benedict's call creating confusion, inefficiency and continue until the Solemnity of Christ the for 'fresh impetus' in the Church's mission, demoralisation." King on 24 November 2013. Pope Benedict how might we celebrate this Year of Faith? and as witnesses to the teaching of Christ These words attributed to a Roman stated its purpose is 'to give fresh impetus to • As disciples of Jesus Christ, as members of and his Church? the mission of the whole Church to lead his Church through our parish, school, home Army Officer are actually said to We are being called to GREATNESS in faith human beings out of the wilderness in which and diocesan communities how can we enter and service. What can we do? date from 1957, but were once de they often find themselves to the place of into this Year and bring it to life? What will you do? rigeur on the staff notice boards of life, friendship with Christ that gives us life in • How can we put our faith into action in the For information, resources and ideas about long dead- and doubtless fullness.' service of others? how to celebrate the Year of Faith go to reorganised- polytechnics. ʻThe door of faith is always open for us, • How can we grow in our faith understanding www.leedsyearoffaith.co.uk Nowadays, we could look for this same protest note in hospitals and other health establishments, St Joseph’s Catholic School squeezed as they are between payments to the financiers of their ecently, Class 5/6, of St Josephʼs Catholic posh new airport-style hospitals and RPrimary School, from the small town of government savings and cuts of Goole, embarked on an exciting journey of around £500m: with, of course, a cultural enrichment to the capital city, big reorganisation to manage and London. The visit was organised to finance as well- the Health and celebrate the schoolʼs glowing OFSTED report. The trustworthy fundraising group, Social Care Act. the JETS (Josephʼs Enterprising Team of Squeezed between all this are the Saints), part funded the trip to reward the actual recipients of episodes of children for all their hard work. While they care- or as we used to call them, were in London the children visited Parliament where they met and interviewed patients. Some local trusts, like Mid- one of the most well-known and respected Yorkshire, are sounding the alarm figures in education, minister and M.P: Nick bells: will essential services be Gibb. concentrated in just one large town Another predominant reason for their or city? voyage was to celebrate the recent academic achievement of this wonderful school, coming in Once, patients were promised the top fifty (out of 17,000) most improved choice, but it looks as if it is now schools in England. Nick Gibb was quick to just Hobsonʼs. So we have the comment on the schoolʼs meteoric rise in pupils, at St Josephs, were also pointed out that discussion with Mr Gibb. Connor Pearson, a prospect of losing the childrenʼs improvement and he praised pupils and staff learning times tables and languages are year 6 pupil, commented, ʻTalking to Mr Gibb and their attitude toward learning, saying “The beneficial to their young minds; however, while was very inspirational. We should also thank heart surgery centre in Leeds, only way schools are going to improve is if they causing much distress. It certainly Mr Gibb does see the importance of times Andrew Percy, our local M.P, for suggesting the are more like St. Josephʼs”. tables, he is still certain that his poem policy and visit and Mrs Marten our Headteacher for seems odd that a Government According to Nick Gibb, learning poetry off language learning technique will prove popular arranging the meeting with Mr Gibbʼ. committed to choice and excellence by heart, from the early age of five, will improve in schools around the country. By Holly Allen, Mollie Wilkinson, Bailey seems set on imposing excellence memory and writing skills, due to the fact that The high achieving youngsters are now McNamara, Connor Pearson, Thomas Hairsine you learn words and phrases from authors. The only where it wants: the strange back in Goole. They are very grateful for their and Jessica Martin, Y6 pupils socialist prospect of a command health economy. The politicians by Margaret Jackson St, Maryʼs Parish Selby should listen to one real-life mother 50 years for Sr. Sylvia friends, parishioners and relatives from Selby travelled to in this diocese, trying to plan a trip 20Newcastle to join Sr. Sylvia (Swift) to celebrate her Golden as far as Newcastle with a young Jubilee as a Sister of the Assumption. The date of the Jubilee was child, and unable to book and fund June 11th but the formal celebrations were of Mass with Sr. Sylvia cheap train tickets (to be eventually renewing her vows on Saturday 16th June. A reception followed in the church hall at the parish of St. Anthony of Padua, in Walker, reimbursed, which is fine for the Newcastle. About 80 guests joined in the celebrations including a well-off) because these party of parishioners from Poplar, Isle of Dogs. appointments are never definite, Sr. Sylvia was formerly a pupil of St. Maryʼs R.C. Primary school, and so she must find the money to Selby, and then at the Bar Convent, York, followed by teacher training in London. Sylvia taught at St. Maryʼs Primary school for a few years fund full-price, flexible tickets. before joining the Sisters of the Assumption, Richmond, Nth. Yorks. She Can patients not discern excellence has had many different positions throughout the years including, 8 years and make their own choices, as as Assistant Chaplain at St. Andrews University and 16 years in Poplar they were promised? Why canʼt as Pastoral Assistant to the Parish Priest of St. Edmunds. Sr. Sylvia has excellence be left to flourish where it been in Newcastle for 6 years with the Community of St. Aidan, where four Sisters and two De La Salle Brothers work in the community. will? Our new Health Secretary Although the weather was dreadful, everyone enjoyed the day and Jeremy Hunt needs- quickly- to give was pleased to be able to support St. Sylvia on this lovely milestone in these questions some thought... her journey. Relations and friends of Sr. Sylvia, (fourth from right) next to her brother Steven and her Bridesmaid of 50 years ago, Helen Scarcliffe, ( l right.) FROM JUST £299 Friends Turn Out To Greet Fr Paddy QUALITY packed church greeted Fr Patrick Waldron when he Until ill-health forced him to stand down, Fr Patrick, 81, Areturned for his retirement presentation to St had been the oldest active parish priest in the oldest parish MEMORIALS Joseph's, Bishop Thornton.