the Advent 2020 NewsSOWER from Community in harmony for The Journey MEETING THE Coronavirus Onwards Challenge >> PAGES 3-7 >> PAGES 3-7 l At the time this magazine was published England was in a lockdown situation due to Coronavirus and was produced in accordance with government WELCOME guidelines on social distancing. By ARCHBISHOP BERNARD LONGLEY To our Diocesan family, WELCOME to the Advent 2020 issue of The Sower magazine. It has been several long months since our last magazine was published due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Every single one of you has been affected in some way by this devastating disease, which shows no sign of abating. Many of us will have lost family and friends to Covid-19, jobs and livelihoods Together we can overcome have gone, our way of life significantly changed. But with all the hardships we have endured, and difficulties and continue to continue to endure, we are learning to trust more in God’s loving care and to care more for each other. support the Church’s mission We are all learning to live a ‘new normal’. celebrate Mass, and pray together, in October, entitled Fratelli Tutti, You can read more about these The threat of Covid-19 remains albeit online. Technology has couldn’t be more timely. It is appointments on page 10. constant, and the restrictions played a huge part in keeping dedicated to human fraternity There is no doubt that we will imposed are ever-changing, people connected this year and social friendship. continue to face many challenges but we are adapting our lives and that will continue moving We have to focus on working on the road to recovery from accordingly. forward. together for the benefit of each Covid-19. In this edition of The Sower I want to thank our Parishes, other and our world. But together we can overcome there is of course reflection and the entire Diocesan school Pope Francis draws on many difficulties and continue to on how we coped during the community, for keeping going important themes in this support the Church’s mission in first lockdown. It has shaped a during the lockdown. In such publication and I encourage you the months ahead. significant part of our lives in difficult times people rose to the to read it. We must do all we can to make 2020 and cannot be downplayed. challenge and went above and This year, despite the sure the Gospel message is heard But there is a message of hope beyond to serve others selflessly. restrictions faced, our Archdiocese through the experience of our and encouragement too. And when our church doors has been blessed with four new daily Christian lives. During the lockdown period reopened that momentum priests, who were ordained at When churches across the there were countless wonderful continued. Helping to keep people St Chad’s Cathedral. Archdiocese reopened for the stories emerging across our safe and well while we pray has to This was a momentous celebration of public worship, Archdiocese of communities remain our priority. occasion for Frs Clive Dytor, numbers were of course working together to help the most We are now facing a fresh Alex Taylor, Benedict Skipper restricted, but it was encouraging vulnerable. beginning in a very different and Sean Gough, who had spent to see so many going back to be Daily acts of heroism which will setting, but with the Lord always several years studying at St Mary’s with the Lord in a building that continue as we move forward. beside us. College, Oscott. is truly home. By the time this Voluntary groups and schools The pandemic has focused our Three new Permanent Deacons magazine is published I hope that making much-needed PPE minds on what really matters. We have also been ordained. You can we will be able to soon worship equipment for our medical and have had the opportunity to get meet Deacons John Garvey, Dirk together again. health teams. back to the basics of our faith and Hermans and Dominic Kerr, and You are in my prayers always. Foodbanks being set up and become acutely aware of the part their wives, in a special feature on With every blessing for the people donating what they could. we all need to play in the service pages 16 and 17. Advent and Christmas season. Neighbours checking on each of others, especially those in We are also delighted to other through phone calls, emails, particular need. have celebrated the episcopal online chat groups. We are all part of God’s family, ordinations of Bishops David We saw a surge in the number we are all brothers and sisters. Evans and Stephen Wright and of Churches offering a live stream The publication of the Holy the appointment of Canon facility, so we could continue to Father’s third Encyclical Letter Richard Walker as Vicar General. 2 The Sower Advent 2020 The Journey ONWARDS As Covid-19 continues to impact the world, The Sower looks at how the Archdiocese of Birmingham community is rising to the challenge through innovative ways of worship, personal endeavour, technological support and Caritas – while, all the time, planning for a post-Coronavirus future… Medical team astonished by priest who ‘died’ twice PARISH priest of the He fell ill at the start of a short Archdiocese who spent break from his role at Christ the A nearly 25 years as a King in Coventry where he had hospital chaplain was himself been supporting the parish and given Holy Communion at his deanery in his semi-retirement. bedside as he battled to survive The 69-year-old, who Coronavirus earlier this year. during his church career was Father Michael Stack “died” hospital chaplain at four high twice and was in critical care for profile hospitals in Nuneaton, five weeks before he miraculously Wolverhampton, Birmingham and pulled through, astonishing the Coventry working in critical care medical team with his recovery. wards, was planning to stay with He is full of praise for the his sister in East Anglia. doctors and nurses – but he also Within a short time of arriving drew strength from being visited in Norfolk he had developed a bad by two priests and from the cough and started hallucinating. support of a Baptist Minister who He was admitted by ambulance to was acting as chaplain. hospital. Father Michael Stack who made a remarkable As the author of a book entitled “I was on a ventilator for 21 recovery from Coronavirus earlier this year. Lord When Did We See You Sick, days and 36 days in critical care,” about the healing power of said Father Michael. “I don’t having the sacrament helped me, with his sense of humour intact prayerful companionship with the remember much because I was I felt better. – and he has already been back sick and dying, Father Michael completely medicated – a blessing “It strengthens my faith to to visit the critical care ward at feels the experience has only in disguise. know that we are part of the Queen Elizabeth’s where he met strengthened his faith. “When the priests came in healing process of Jesus Christ.” other survivors. Prayers were said around to give me the sacrament of Father Michael had a He also returned to Christ the world for him as he lay anointing it was quite strange tracheotomy to help his breathing the King in Coventry to give unconscious with the most because I had been independent and he had to learn to walk again thanks for his recovery and show severe form of the virus in Queen for so long – but we all need after his 10-week hospital stay. gratitude to the parishioners who Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn. other people. The knowledge of He is now back on form – still offered prayers for him. Parishes find many new ways to stay in touch PARISHIONERS at St Augustine’s others, our parish is big on prayer,” church in Solihull came together said evangelisation group member via Zoom to discuss practical ways Helen Brookes. of demonstrating their belief that “The hope is that the bouquets prayer should be “at the start and will serve as a reminder to the the heart” of everything. staff, students and families of our They pledged prayers by way of schools and college that the parish support for St Augustine’s Catholic community cares about them and primary school, St Peter’s Catholic that we wish to offer them our secondary school and St Peter’s friendship and support.” sixth form college. Meanwhile, St Peter Apostle In a token of their support the parish in Leamington Spa group presented the schools with organised a community picnic in framed Prayer Bouquets beautifully the Pump Room Gardens near the produced by the Carmelite sisters of church with others attending from Wolverhampton. the parishes of St Joseph’s and Our event in September enjoyed the Father Dominic, left, and Father Joseph of surroundings of the recently “With parish priest Father Lady’s. St Augustine’s church Dominic Kavanagh frequently Practising social distancing, restored gardens while meeting in Solihull, with one of encouraging ‘prayerful support’ for those who attended the outdoor up with other parishioners. the prayer bouquets. Advent 2020 The Sower 3 Staying connected through technology GROUP of four Catholic churches turned to technology when the A Covid-19 outbreak enforced restrictions on communal worship. The members of the St Newman Cluster began livestreaming masses via their shared website and Facebook so that parishioners could stay connected. St Joseph’s Wolverhampton, St Mary’s Willenhall, St Joseph’s Darlaston and Holy Trinity Bilston also launched their own YouTube channel.