Newyddiadur Swyddogol Esgobaeth Caerdydd Official Newspaper of the Archdiocese of CardiffIssue 289 January 2021

Catholic People Pick upyourFREEcopy todayPope Francis proclaims “Year of St Joseph” Page 3

Caritas in Action!Briefing 13 –December 2020Pages 4/5

ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATEOF REV CHRISTIAN MAHONEYST DAVID’S CATHEDRAL CARDIFF GAUDETE SUNDAY – 13 DECEMBER 2020

When I saw thevestments which hadbeen put out for Masstoday, I told Fr. Daniel Stanton“that pink is not my colour”.Liturgist that he is, Fr. Danielquickly pointed out that thesevestments are not pink butrose coloured writes our newDeacon.

They are worn,he tells me, on twooccasions in the Church Year. On theFourth Sunday of Lent which is calledLaetare Sunday. And today, the ThirdSunday of Advent called GaudeteSunday. The word “Gaudete” meanssimply “Rejoice”. “Be happy”. The reasonfor that is given in the Old Testamentreading from the prophet Isaiah. He isthe prophet of faith,and hope andencouragement to the Jewish peoplewho were exiled in Babylon twothousand five hundred years ago.

Despite your suffering, Isaiah says,God has not abandoned you. He willsend a Messiah to save you. ThatMessiah will be Emmanuel, God is withus. He will send messengers toannounce his coming. “The Spirit of theLord has been given to me. Toannounce good news to the poor.Tobind up broken hearts. To proclaimliberty to captives”. One day you willreturn to Jerusalem again and be able toworship God in spirit and in truth. Nowonder the anthems and hymns for thisGaudete Sunday proclaim: “Rejoice inthe Lord always; Again I say, rejoice. TheLord is near”.

John the Baptist is often described asthe last prophet of the Old Testamentand the first prophet of the New. He wasthe last of the messengers to be sent toproclaim the coming of our God. Hemight even be called the new Isaiahsince he used the language of Isaiah allthrough his ministry. “I am, as Isaiahprophesied, A voice crying in thewilderness”. Simon Keyes was a soldierin the Second World War who died in

the African campaign at the age oftwenty one. He was also a prolific poetwho wrote of John the Baptist:

I,John, not reed but root.Not vested priest nor saviour.But a voice crying day on,Like a cricket in the heat,Demand your worship.Oh, not for me,But for the traveller I am calling

From beyond Jordan,And the limestone walls,Whose runner and rude servant I am.Only not mine entirely, but God’swatchman.I dwell among the blistered rocksAwaiting the wide dawn:The wonder of his first coming,The doves descend.

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Editorial Dr James Campbell-Editor. Archbishop’s House, 43 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HD Tel: (029) 2022 0411 Fax: (029) 2037 9036 Email: publications@rcadc.org and Articles to be received by the 20thof the month for inclusion in the following month.During the present pandemic the Editor is self isolating but can be contacted through his mobile 07872 580260and personal email address jamescampbell221@btinternet.comAdvertising Tel: 0151 709 7567Designed & Produced Mersey Mirror, Suite 4, Pacific Chambers, 11-13 Victoria Street, Liverpool L2 5QQ. Tel: 0151709 7567 Email: Kim.Obrien@cpmmmedia.comSubmission of photographs Please note photographs submitted for publication must be in jpeg or pdf format.Those in Word format cannot be acceptedEmail: Please send your copy and pictures for publication to both email addresses publications@rcadc.org andjamescampbell221@btinternet.com. Articles to be received by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month.

Your Catholic People…

2 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATEOF REV CHRISTIAN MAHONEY

“Make a straight way for the Lord”. Thestraight path which we are called tocreate for the Lord’s coming goes straightthrough our hearts and our lives. Like anytwo edged sword, it divides right fromwrong, good from evil. Selfishness fromselflessness. The purple we wear duringAdvent is a reminder of the need forconversion to welcome and be welcomedby the dear Christ“entering in” to our lives.

Writing to the Christians in GreekThessalonica and to us on this GaudeteSunday, Paul spells out how that straightpath can be made and journeyed upon:

“Never try to suppress the Spirit….Thinkbefore you do anything. Hold on to whatis good and avoid every form of evil….God has called you and he will not failyou”.

Could the message to our new deaconbe any clearer? He is to be a a Minister ofJoy and Hope and Life and Light andhealing to whomsoever he serves,but alsoas husband,father,solicitor solicitor,schoolgovernor and so much else. Christian,let“Gaudete”, “Rejoice”, be your mottoalways. Isaiah, the prophet of Advent willlead you even further down the “straightway” you are making for the Lord in yourlife. The words of Isaiah were quoted byJesus when he returned to Nazareth andspoke in the synagogue there: “The Lordhas sent me to being good news to thepoor. To bind up hearts that are broken. Toproclaim liberty to captives”. The work ofcharity which lies at the heart of diaconatedoes reach out to reduce levels ofphysical poverty as we are learning so

painfully in the pandemic days. But ourdeacon will know that there is alsopoverty of spirit. Poverty of identity.Poverty where lack of educationalopportunity threatens to impoverish ouryoung people. And prisons are not justlocated in physical institutions likeCardiff,Park and Usk. There are alsoprisons of peoples’minds which need thehealing balm of freedom. All this isdiaconal work which has marked theservice Christian has already offered andto which he borne witness in word andaction.

“Exult for joy” says Isaiah on thisGaudete Sunday. “Rejoice in the Lord”and there is a great deal to rejoice aboutin this diaconal ordination. After the layingon of hands and the prayer of theChurch,the new deacon will be clothed inthe deacons garment – not pink but rose.He will surely reflect on the words of theprophet Isaiah at that point: ”My soulrejoices in my God, for he has clothed mein the garments of salvation, he haswrapped me in the cloak of integrity”. Andas if that is not enough about which torejoice, when the Book of the Gospels arepresented to him with the words “Receivethe Gospel of Christ whose herald younow are” he will surely remember that thefirst appearance of Jesus in thesynagouge at Nazareth. He opened thescroll at the prophet Isiah and read” TheSpirit of the Lord is upon me. Thesewords are being fulfilled today, even asyou listen”.

Christian, “May the Lord who hasbegun the good work in you, bring it tofulfilment”. Amen.

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Let Biblical Inspiration Fire Your Imagination!Last year, aboard a plane close toGatwick, I was talking to Jesus andrenewing my trust in Him, whensuddenly the plane zoomed almostvertically upwards. Shocked, I asked myneighbour, ‘Did we just abort landing?!’Yes, we had. Seconds beforetouchdown a gust of wind had rockedthe plane, and to avoid disaster we’dclimbed again. That conversation ofrenewal is written on my heart. As weleave behind the bumpy ride of 2020and take stock, have you realized yetjust how much you need Christ? Haveyou put your trust in Him? Starting 2021in another lockdown, but with a light atthe end of the tunnel, I recommend (from experience!) to put “Renew my trust in the Lord”at the top of your New Year’s Resolutions. For help with that try the following meditation.1. Read Jeremiah 17:7-82. Sit up straight and close your eyes. Breathe in deeply through the nose. Hold a fewseconds. Breathe out through the mouth and as you do so feel the whole of your bodyrelax.3. Now meditate for a few moments on the ways that Christ has helped you through tryingsituations.4. Now say this prayer – or one of your own – ‘Dear Lord Jesus, as we enter into the year2021 I dedicate my whole life to You.to use as You will. I do this because I love You.Amen.’5. When you are ready breathe in and out deeply as before. Then open your eyes andhave a big stretch.Wishing you a very happy New Year through Christ’s presence.God blessTeresaFor more on the above topic please see Teresa’s blog:http://teresaodriscoll.blogspot.co.uk/Teresa O’Driscoll is the author of 9 Days to Heaven, How to makeeverlasting meaning of your life

3 minute reading and meditation withTeresa O’DriscollEmail: teresa@teresaodriscoll.co.uk

You will needa bible, achair, and fewminutesalone“Blessed isthe man whotrusts in theLord.”Jeremiah 17:7

CATHOLIC PEOPLE 3

EditorialPlease contact your Sennedmembers over these proposalsThe “consultation” conducted by WelshGovernment to change the ReligiousEducation syllabus and Relationships and SexEducation syllabus in schools has nowconcluded. The Bill to introduce thesecurriculum changes is now being drafted forpresentation to the Members of the Senned.The Catholic Education Service, together withthe three Catholic dioceses of Wales, haveengaged in serious conversations with WelshGovernment in order that amendments bemade to this proposed legislation. Thepurpose of such amendments is to ensure thatwe may teach these important subjects inaccordance with the teaching of the CatholicChurch. If this cannot be done, the very nature,purpose,identity and reason for havingCatholic Education will surely come intoquestion. If this Bill becomes law,the longstanding rights and duty of parents to educatetheir children in both faith and morals will havebeen removed.That is why the Catholic Education Servicecalls on all parents and educators to makeknown to the local Senned Members theiropposition to the proposed changes in theschool curriculum. The letter writing campaignwhich is being mounted will be made easierwith the pro forma document printed on thispage. Once you enter your details, the CatholicEducation Service will automatically providethe name and details of your Senned member.It is important that letters are writtenindividually rather than a communal lettersigned by different people.On Monday 21 December a Zoom meeting washeld between the Catholic Education Serviceand a number of parish priests in thediocese.More information will shortly beavailable in your parish newsletters and parishwebsites. It is important to note that thislegislation will mark a crossroads for CatholicEducation.

With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde”(“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francisrecalls the 150th anniversary of thedeclaration of Saint Joseph as Patron ofthe Universal Church. To mark theoccasion, the Holy Father hasproclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph”from today, 8 December 2020, to 8December 2021.

By Vatican NewsIn a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patriscorde (“With a Father’s Heart”), PopeFrancis describes Saint Joseph as abeloved father, a tender and loving father,an obedient father, an accepting father; afather who is creatively courageous, aworking father, a father in the shadows.

The Letter marks the 150th anniversaryof Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of StJoseph as Patron of the Universal Church.To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francishas proclaimed a special “Year of StJoseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of theImmaculate Conception 2020 andextending to the same feast in 2021.

The Holy Father wrote Patris cordeagainst the backdrop of the Covid-19pandemic, which, he says, has helped ussee more clearly the importance of“ordinary” people who, though far from thelimelight, exercise patience and offer hopeevery day. In this, they resemble SaintJoseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, adaily, discreet and hidden presence,” whononetheless played “an incomparable rolein the history of salvation.”A beloved, tender, obedient fatherSaint Joseph, in fact, “concretely expressedhis fatherhood” by making an offering ofhimself in love “a love placed at the serviceof the Messiah who was growing tomaturity in his home,” writes Pope Francis,quoting his predecessor St Paul VI.

And because of his role at “thecrossroads between the Old and NewTestament,” St Joseph “has always beenvenerated as a father by the Christianpeople” (PC, 1). In him, “Jesus saw thetender love of God,” the one that helps usaccept our weakness, because “it isthrough” and despite “our fears, ourfrailties, and our weakness” that mostdivine designs are realized. “Only tenderlove will save us from the snares of theaccuser,” emphasizes the Pontiff, and it isby encountering God’s mercy especially inthe Sacrament of Reconciliation that we“experience His truth and tenderness,” –because “we know that God’s truth doesnot condemn us, but instead welcomes,embraces, sustains and forgives us” (2).

Joseph is also a father in obedience toGod: with his ‘fiat’ he protects Mary andJesus and teaches his Son to “do the willof the Father.” Called by God to serve themission of Jesus, he “cooperated… in thegreat mystery of Redemption,” as St JohnPaul II said, “and is truly a minister ofsalvation” (3).Welcoming the will of GodAt the same time, Joseph is “an acceptingFather,” because he “accepted Maryunconditionally” — an important gestureeven today, says Pope Francis, “in ourworld where psychological, verbal andphysical violence towards women is soevident.” But the Bridegroom of Mary isalso the one who, trusting in the Lord,accepts in his life even the events that hedoes not understand, “setting aside his

own ideas” and reconciling himself with hisown history.

Joseph’s spiritual path “is not one thatexplains, but accepts” — which does notmean that he is “resigned.” Instead, he is“courageously and firmly proactive,”because with “Holy Spirit’s gift of fortitude,”and full of hope, he is able “to accept lifeas it is, with all its contradictions,frustrations and disappointments.” Inpractice, through St. Joseph, it is as if Godwere to repeat to us: “Do not be afraid!”because “faith gives meaning to everyevent, however happy or sad,” and makesus aware that “God can make flowersspring up from stony ground.” Joseph “didnot look for shortcuts but confronted realitywith open eyes and accepted personalresponsibility for it.” For this reason, “heencourages us to accept and welcomeothers as they are, without exception, andto show special concern for the weak” (4).A creatively courageous father, exampleof lovePatris corde highlights “the creativecourage” of St. Joseph, which “emergesespecially in the way we deal withdifficulties.” “The carpenter of Nazareth,”explains the Pope, was able to turn aproblem into a possibility by trusting indivine providence.” He had to deal with“the concrete problems” his Family faced,problems faced by other families in theworld, and especially those of migrants.

In this sense, St. Joseph is “the specialpatron of all those forced to leave theirnative lands because of war, hatred,persecution and poverty.” As the guardianof Jesus and Mary, Joseph cannot “beother than the guardian of the Church,” ofher motherhood, and of the Body of Christ.“Consequently, every poor, needy, sufferingor dying person, every stranger, everyprisoner, every infirm person is ‘the child’whom Joseph continues to protect.” FromSt Joseph, writes Pope Francis, “we mustlearn… to love the Church and the poor”(5).A father who teaches the value, dignityand joy of work“A carpenter who earned an honest livingto provide for his family,” St Joseph alsoteaches us “the value, the dignity and thejoy of what it means to eat bread that is thefruit of one’s own labour.” This aspect ofJoseph’s character provides Pope Francisthe opportunity to launch an appeal infavour of work, which has become “aburning social issue” even in countries witha certain level of well-being. “there is arenewed need to appreciate theimportance of dignified work, of whichSaint Joseph is an exemplary patron,” thePope writes.

Work, he says, “is a means of

participating in the work of salvation, anopportunity to hasten the coming of theKingdom, to develop our talents andabilities, and to put them at the service ofsociety and fraternal communion.” Thosewho work, he explains, “are cooperatingwith God himself, and in some waybecome creators of the world around us.”Pope Francis encourages everyone “torediscover the value, the importance andthe necessity of work for bringing about anew ‘normal’ from which no one isexcluded.” Especially in light of risingunemployment due to the Covid-19pandemic, the Pope calls everyone to“review our priorities” and to express ourfirm conviction that no young person, noperson at all, no family should be withoutwork!” (6).A father “in the shadows,” centred onMary and JesusTaking a cue from The Shadow of theFather — a book by Polish writer JanDobraczyński — Pope Francis describesJoseph’s fatherhood of Jesus as “theearthly shadow of the heavenly Father.”

“Fathers are not born, but made,” saysPope Francis. “A man does not become afather simply by bringing a child into theworld, but by taking up the responsibility tocare for that child.” Unfortunately, in today’ssociety, children “often seem orphans,lacking fathers” who are able to introducethem “to life and reality.” Children, the Popesays, need fathers who will not try todominate them, but instead raise them tobe “capable of deciding for themselves,enjoying freedom and exploring newpossibilities.”

This is the sense in which St Joseph isdescribed as a “most chaste” father, whichis the opposite of domineeringpossessiveness. Joseph, says PopeFrancis, “knew how to love withextraordinary freedom. He never madehimself the centre of things. He did notthink of himself, but focused instead on thelives of Mary and Jesus.”

Happiness for Joseph involved a true giftof self: “In him, we never see frustration,but only trust,” writes Pope Francis. “Hispatient silence was the prelude to concreteexpressions of trust.” Joseph stands out,therefore, as an exemplary figure for ourtime, in a world that “needs fathers,” andnot “tyrants”; a society that “rejects thosewho confuse authority withauthoritarianism, service with servility,discussion with oppression, charity with awelfare mentality, power with destruction.”

True fathers, instead, “refuse to live thelives of their children for them,” and insteadrespect their freedom. In this sense, saysPope Francis, a father realizes that “he ismost a father and an educator at the point

Pope Francis proclaims“Year of St Joseph”

when he becomes ‘useless,’ when he sees that hischild has become independent and can walk thepaths of life unaccompanied.” Being a father, thePope emphasizes, “has nothing to do withpossession, but is rather a ‘sign’ pointing to a greaterfatherhood”: that of the “heavenly Father” (7).A daily prayer to St Joseph… and a challengeIn his letter, Pope Francis notes how, “Every day, forover forty years, following Lauds [Morning Prayer]” hehas “recited a prayer to Saint Joseph taken from anineteenth-century French prayer book of theCongregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary.” Thisprayer, he says, expresses devotion and trust, andeven poses a certain challenge to Saint Joseph,” onaccount of its closing words: “My beloved father, allmy trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked youin vain, and since you can do everything with Jesusand Mary, show me that your goodness is as great asyour power.”At the conclusion of his Letter, he adds anotherprayer to St Joseph, which he encourages all of us topray together:Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.Blessed Joseph, to us too,show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.

4 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

Caritas in Action!Briefing 13 – December 2020

13.1 Formation of the laity and theevangelization of professional andintellectual life Pope Francis wrote in EvangeliiGaudium, ‘Lay people are, put simply,the vast majority of the People of God.The minority – ordained ministers – areat their service. There has been agrowing awareness of the identity andmission of the laity in the Church. Wecan count on many lay persons,although still not nearly enough, whohave a deeply-rooted sense ofcommunity and great fidelity to the tasksof charity, catechesis and the celebrationof the faith. At the same time, a clearawareness of this responsibility of thelaity, grounded in their baptism andconfirmation, does not appear in thesame way in all places. In some cases, itis because lay persons have not beengiven the formation needed to take onimportant responsibilities. In others, it isbecause in their particular Churchesroom has not been made for them tospeak and to act, due to an excessiveclericalism which keeps them away fromdecision-making. Even if many are nowinvolved in the lay ministries, thisinvolvement is not reflected in a greaterpenetration of Christian values in thesocial, political and economic sectors. Itoften remains tied to tasks within theChurch, without a real commitment toapplying the Gospel to thetransformation of society. The formationof the laity and the evangelization ofprofessional and intellectual liferepresent a significant pastoralchallenge.’

13.2 Formation of the HeartCaritas believes that “…whileprofessional competence is a primary,fundamental requirement, it is not ofitself sufficient. We are dealing withhuman beings, and human beingsalways need something more thantechnically proper care. They needhumanity. They need heartfelt concern.Those who work for the Church’scharitable organisations must bedistinguished by the fact that they donot merely meet the needs of themoment, but they dedicate themselvesto others with heartfelt concern, enablingthem to experience the richness of theirhumanity. Consequently, in addition totheir necessary professional training,these charity workers need a ‘formationof the heart’”.

13.3 Formation of community and thepractice of love in development workAs a community, the Church mustpractise love. Love thus needs to be

organized if it is to be an orderedservice to the community… Imaginethree interlinking spheres asrepresenting processes in our personal,organisational and spiritual life andexperience. The first sphere representspersonal integrity and responsibility andis about me; the second representsinterpersonal respect and is about youand me; the third represents social andstructural justice and is about things thataffect you, me and others.

In his book, Integral Spirituality:Resources for Community, Peace,Justice, and the Earth, Fr. Donal DorrSPS illustrated an approach to usingcircles based on the prophet Micah 6:8“This is what Yahweh asks of you, onlythis: that you act justly, that you lovetenderly, that you walk humbly with yourGod.”

Donal suggested that ‘act justly’ couldbe taken to refer to the ‘public’ aspect ofspirituality which has to do withstructural justice and option for the poor.‘Love tenderly’ could be taken to refer tointerpersonal respect; ‘Walk humbly’could refer to personal integrity andresponsibility.

He tells how he began to explore theareas where the spheres overlapped.The area between personal andinterpersonal he called ‘transparency’,between interpersonal and justice was‘participative community building’, andbetween personal and justice was‘ecological sensitivity’. Where they all overlapped he called it‘shalom’Donal writes: “The area where they meetmay be called ‘Shalom’ the biblical wordwhich means all-embracing peace inevery sphere of life:• the peace of being in harmony with

nature and the cosmos;• peace based on justice and

reconciliation in society and the world;• peace in our relationships with family,

friends and community;• a deep personal peace arising from

being at home with oneself;• and opening oneself up to experience

peace as an utterly undeserved gift ofGod, a peace that passes allunderstanding in all and any of theseareas of life.”

13.4 Exploring insights and outcomesgenerated by these integralprocesses within our parishes In the area called ‘transparency’, we arelooking at getting to know, love andserve God and our neighbour. In thefamily of the parish we need to get toknow each other personally and

collectively; we need to grow inconfidence with each other, building ourpersonal and mutual capacity to worktogether in our ‘faith practice’, sharingthe ‘joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties’of those in life around us.

In the area referred to as ‘participativecommunity building’, we are, as aCatholic community, called to participatein building the community of the peopleof God in our families, parishes, schools,organisations, and neighbourhoods,working for social justice and thecommon good. This is where interpersonal respectcoincides and overlaps with the

promotion of social and structural justicein society.

Through our deaneries and across ourdioceses we can build a participativeCatholic community by getting to knowother parishes and their groups,organisations, schools, and parishneighbourhoods and sharing with themour common concerns.

Here, too, we can grow in confidence inour work between our parishes and theirgroups, organisations, schools, and theirparish neighbourhoods, sharing withthem our wider common communityconcerns. As a diocesan family, with our

Pope Francis: “We can count on many

lay persons, although stillnot nearly enough, who

have a deeply-rootedsense of community andgreat fidelity to the tasksof charity, catechesis and

the celebration of thefaith.

CATHOLIC PEOPLE 5

Archbishop, we can continue buildingour capacity to work together for socialjustice and the common good.

Together we may be involved in listeningsurveys, analysing and prioritisingissues, conducting local hearings,planning and engaging in social actionbased on Catholic Social Teaching andalways fostering wider participation offamilies and communities in the socialissues having an impact on their lives.Catholic Social Teaching is anauthoritative Church teaching on social,political and economic issues which hasbeen developing since 1891. It offers"principles for reflection", "criteria ofjudgment" and "directives for action" Wemay also need to look at the rootcauses of problems and explore theneed for change. This might requirelobbying for a change in policy andcalling for local and national decision-making bodies to be accountable. Wemay be stronger taking action forchange if we do it with others.

Where personal integrity andresponsibility overlap with social andstructural justice in the area referring to‘ecological sensitivity’, we look at theimpact and outcomes of our activity andwe examine all that we undertake in thelight of sustainability issues,regeneration, recycling and our personallifestyles, and stewardship of God’screation.

Briefing 14 – December 2020

14.1 ‘Testimony to Christ's charity… ispart and parcel of evangelization’The Apostolic Exhortation EvangeliiNuntiandi, for its part, is very closelylinked with development, given that, inPaul VI's words, “evangelization wouldnot be complete if it did nottake account of theunceasing interplay ofthe Gospel and ofman's concrete life,both personal andsocial.”[30] “Betweenevangelization andhuman advancement —development andliberation — there are in factprofound links”[31]: on the basis of thisinsight, Paul VI clearly presented therelationship between the proclamation ofChrist and the advancement of theindividual in society. Testimony toChrist's charity, through works of justice,peace and development, is part andparcel of evangelization, because JesusChrist, who loves us, is concerned withthe whole person. These importantteachings form the basis for themissionary aspect[32] of the Church'ssocial doctrine, which is an essentialelement of evangelization[33]. TheChurch's social doctrine proclaims andbears witness to faith. It is an instrumentand an indispensable setting forformation in faith.

14.2 Promoting integral humandevelopment learning processes inthe life of parishesLearning, in the social pastoral practicesof the Church, needs to take place inthe parish as a lived reality of thecommunity of faith. Here we learn to bewitnesses and practitioners of Christ'scharity, through works of justice, peaceand development, as part and parcel ofevangelization. Learning and practicetakes place in an experiential way. It ishere that the people of God undertakelistening surveys, carry out local needsassessment, develop strategic plansand animate local communities.

14.3 Caritas in Veritate – 10 years on(Message from Cardinal Peter Turkson,Prefect, Dicastery for the Promotion ofIntegral Human Development)https://youtu.be/8o5SXq7erXYCaritas in veritate is an Encyclicalpromulgated by Pope Benedict XVI on29 June 2009. He wrote it about fortyyears after Pope St Paul VI issued theEncyclical Populorum progressio. Assuch, Caritas in veritate updated PaulVI’s thought not only by placing attentionon the theme of “human ecology”, butalso stressing that, “authentic humandevelopment concerns the whole of theperson in every single dimension” (CV,11).Context: Providing the background forthe Encyclical were various internationalrealities present at the time: persistentpoverty, hunger, exploitation, theemergence of environmental issues,globalization and planetaryinterdependence, the new means ofcommunication, the growing difficulty ofnational governments to confront globalpowers and multinational companies,the financial crisis and financialinstitutions, etc.Vocation of the human person: From

Pope Benedict’s perspective, thesesocial questions have their basisin essentially anthropologicalquestions (see CV, 75). Theyregard the truth of the humanperson which must be sought inthe truth of who we are in Christ

who is the carità nella verità(charity in truth), and who is “the

principal driving force behind theauthentic development of every personand of all humanity” (CV, 1). If, therefore,development is understood as everyperson’s “vocation”, his or herdevelopment must be inspired byChrist’s charity and by the consequentvirtue of gratuitousness.

14.4 A time for reflection andplanningOver the past few years, Caritasrepresentatives from dioceses inEngland and Wales have been exploringthe role and purpose of parish anddiocesan Caritas, and how they relate toeach other, and to the national Caritas(CSAN), using different models andapproaches. The Covid-19 pandemichas slowed down physical meetings and

practical training events, but hasprovided time for further research andreflection. Pope Francis has called thewhole Church to prepare the future. Inrecent years, Caritas Internationalis,Regional Caritas, such as CaritasEuropa, and CSAN, have provided newinsights, materials and resources, andare also taking account of the pandemicexperience. Programmes of training andformation are available, too, throughexisting organisations andMovements of theChurch, and willprovide a richportfolio of learningand formation in thepraxis ofdevelopment.

14.4 Community-basedlearning and development –building capacity in the parishcommunityBuilding capacity for integral humandevelopment needs to be rooted in thelife of the parish community. It is herethat catechesis, animation, formationand training take place, in the Churchand in community, attending to the joysand the hopes, the griefs and theanxieties of the communities we serve.This is part of the evangelisation missionof the Church. The Church’s charitablelife is undertaken through a series ofprocesses and projects. Processes tendto be generic and transferrable. Projects,more often, have a specific focus, themeor service in mind. Many of the themesand services are provided by existingcharities and agencies of the Churchand parish Caritas will work with them,promoting their ongoing development.

14.5 A listening survey and localneeds assessmentIn Caritas in Action! Briefing 9.5 Layingfoundations in parishes and preparingthe future, a series of steps in aframework for development was given(which also included a list of basictraining modules). Communitydevelopment needs to be based on theneeds of the local community. ParishCaritas carry out local needsassessments.

The parish could carry this out as alistening survey, nominating people toparticipate in a Zoom session with thediocesan Caritas Coordinator. The groupcould be a cross-section of the parishcommunity, including representativesfrom existing charities and other parishgroups and services. The work would be

undertaken using the see, judge, actprocess recommended by the Church inits Social Teaching. The listeningsurvey would gather information on, forexample, what new activities have beenstarted as a result of the pandemic orrecent flooding; what new needs havebeen identified; what types of charitywork takes place; what social justiceactivities are there.

Parishes may wish to begin theirCaritas development learning with

others, and this is to beencouraged. Ideally, this will bein deanery clusters so thatparticipants can learn from andsupport each other. The

purposes of the working sessionswill also be to explore the purpose

and role of Caritas in the Church andparticularly in the parish; to buildsolidarity between parishes and acrosscommunities; and to plan future jointsessions. The hope would be to meet inJanuary for short sessions, throughZoom, and prepare the ground forpractical action in the Spring to earlySummer.

14.6 Caritas, at different levels, hasvarious rights for undertaking thisdevelopment Parish• To receive guidance and support from

the diocesan and national Caritas tomeet the needs of those they serve

• To have clear terms of reference andauthority service

• To receive various developmenttraining sessions

• To develop self-supportivemechanisms in providing pastoral andsocial development work

• To access diocesan financial andmaterial resources

• To have information on resource useand Caritas activities

• To base work on integral humandevelopment

• To be listened to and respected

Diocese• Capacity building • To influence national Caritas policies • To participate in the strategic planning

of the national office • To receive development training • To receive an appropriate share of

resources • To develop own plans and seek

outside support for implementation • To choose whether to participate in

programmes at any given level • To choose to use Caritas name or not

The parishcould carry this out as a

listening survey

“

”

Here we learnto be

witnesses andpractitioners ofChrist's charity

“

”

6 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

This EducationBill is an affrontto all religionsBy Father Sebastian Jones

The Curriculum andAssessment (Wales) Billcurrently before the Seneddwill effectively remove therights of parents as the firsteducators of their children.

It will threaten the nature andpurpose of Catholic schools aswell as being an affront todevout Jews, Christians,Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims inWales. In the provisionsconcerning “Human and SexEducation,” the responsibilityand privilege of parents tochoose the right moment andlanguage to discuss love andhuman sexuality with theirchildren will be overridden bythe imposition of a curriculumnot in conformity with Christianteaching or that of many otherfaiths.

Parents rights ignored

The right of parents to removetheir children from such classeswill be removed, as the Bill’s“Relationships and SexualityEducation” will be “mandatory”(Curriculum and Assessment

[Wales] Bill [as introduced], § 3,no. 2). Indeed, the Billempowers the Welsh Ministersto draft and enact a“Relationships and SexualityEducation Code” that sets out“themes and matters to beencompassed” with respect toromantic relationships andhuman sexuality (id., § 8; seealso § 72).

The implications of this Billplaces the right of the Statebefore that of the parents of achild in such an important partof life. Should this ideologicallydriven Bill become law, it willremove the ancient freedomsand duties of parents in theeducation of their children.

Fundamental human rights

It would restrict freedom ofconscience, freedom ofexpression, freedom of worship,and conscientious objection.No one would be able to optout of whatever the WelshMinisters decide children oughtto know about human sexuality.These freedoms arefundamental human rights, andthey should be respected in a

pluralistic society. They are notbeing upheld by this legislation.

The assertion of power by theWelsh Government in the livesof its citizens may not bemalicious, but nonetheless, itcannot go unchallenged. Theresponses to the consultationon this Bill have been largelyignored.

Parents rights usurped

The First Minister of Wales andthe Members of the Seneddneed to be reminded veryclearly they were elected by usin order to represent us. We donot elect members of theSenedd to usurp our role asparents, grandparents andfamilies. The rights and dutiesof parents are more significantand profound than party viewsand politics. This abuse ofgovernment power must bechallenged. If we remain silent,there will be no appeal.

Write now or email our localSenedd Member, VaughanGething, MS, and urge him toreject the Curriculum andAssessment (Wales) Bill.

See editorial on page 3.

Father Sebastian Jones - Bill threatens Catholic schools

Vaughan Gething MS | Cardiff South & Penarthhttps://www.vaughangething.wales/en/You can contact the team via emailVaughan.Gething@senedd.wales or 0300 200 7150. Mystaff will be available during the weekday, as usual andare here to help. We’re aiming to continue to provide aconsistent service across the constituency, but we doanticipate that things may take longer, please bear withus.

Protecting parents' rightsStop the Welsh Government revoking parents’ rights as the primary educatorsof their children. It is important that sensitive subjects like Relationship and SexEducation and Religious Education are taught in accordance with parents’views. Removing the rights of parents’ to withdraw their children from thesesubjects will undermine their role as parents.

If you are concerned then please use theform below and write to your MS.

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CATHOLIC PEOPLE 7

A cynical caricature of the Nativity PlayThis is Archbishop George’s Homily on Christmas DayI should have done my homework more carefully! The other night I was invitedby a family to watch a children’s’ nativity play on BBC television whereeverything goes wrong.

Now we have all been to nativity plays in primary schools where halos fall offangels, wings get broken off, children forget their words and the shepherds steal thegold brought by the kings. But nothing prepared me for “The Show Goes Wrong –The Nativity Story”.

This was no children’s’ nativity. This was a cynical caricature, a deliberate distortionand a triviliasation of the central mystery of our faith. To quote the publicity which Iread afterwards: “It’s really an excuse for conflagrations, collapsing scenery, fallingangels and two actors squabbling inside a donkey”. I wondered afterwards (it isgood to wonder at Christmas) if any other of the world’s great religions wereportrayed in this way, whether Judaism, Islam or Hinduism, what the reaction wouldbe?

Sense of humour

Don’t get me wrong. I love comedy! “Dad’s Army” and “Only Fools and Horses” areamong my favourites. And even the pandemic has inspired many Christmascartoons which contain a deep meaning – as the best cartoons do. My favourite isof Joseph, seeing the three Magi appearing at the door of the stable, and clearlythinking of the ‘rule of six’ does some quick calculations and exclaims “You are fromthree independent royal households and the baby counts as three”.

“The baby counts as three” – Father Son and Spirit. The eternal Word made Flesh,Emmanuel, God is with us.

The beautiful Christmas carol puts it so well:

O Holy child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray.Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell:O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel.

Descend to us. Come to us. Be born in us. Why? Because as we are told in the OldTestament Book of Proverbs “Where there is no vision the people perish”.

(Prov.29:18) We are given that vision through the communication of God’s life,God’s love, God’s forgiveness, God’s salvation. All revealed and communicated tous, and in us, through Jesus Christ His Son. Even when that message is not heard,is misunderstood, is rejected by hanging him on a cross, Jesus goes on

Separation from our loved ones

Revealing, goes on loving, goes on forgiving – the key to his rising from the deadbringing us with him. Eternity now for everyone.

Communication of this truth and vision lie at the heart of the Christmas story.Communication is a word very close to communion – joining with. We receive Jesusin Holy Communion, certainly. But equally we are received by Him into Communionwith the very life of God Himself. “The divine became human so that humans mightbecome divine”. How painful it is this Christmas that many of us are not able tocommunicate in the usual ways with our loved ones. Zoom and face book don’thave quite the same impact as being physically present to those we love.

Sad too that the more ‘connected’ our world becomes the more lonely andisolated many people are, not least through poverty and hunger which have beenrevealed during this pandemic. Thanks be to God for the heroic work of healthworkers and teachers, for the untold numbers of schools and parishes andvolunteers who have communicated compassion and love and food and money tocommunicate God’s healing love to those in need. Thank God that “we here” tokeep alive the Christmas story, not “once upon a time” or a disaster ridden nativityplay. The poet John Betjeman summed it up so well:

And is it true? And is it true,That most tremendous tale of all, Seen in a stained-glass window’s hue, A baby inan ox’s stall?The maker of the stars and sea Become a child on earth for me?And is it true? For if it is,No loving fingers tying stringsAround those tissued fripperies,The sweet and silly Christmas things. No love that in a family dwells,No carolling in frosty air,Nor all the shaking steeple bellsCan with this single truth compare: That God was man in PalestineAnd lives today in bread and wine.

8 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

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Pope Francis: Ministries of lector and acolyte to be open to women

Pope Francis changes the Code of CanonLaw to institutionalize what is alreadyallowed in practice: the access of laywomen to the service of the Word and theAltar. The Pope explains his decision in aletter to Cardinal Ladaria.By Vatican News

With a Motu proprio released on Monday,Pope Francis established that from now onthe ministries of Lector and Acolyte are to beopen to women, in a stable andinstitutionalized form through a specificmandate.

There is nothing new about womenproclaiming the Word of God during liturgicalcelebrations or carrying out a service at thealtar as altar servers or as Eucharisticministers. In many communities throughoutthe world these practices are alreadyauthorized by local bishops.

However, up to this point, this hasoccurred without a true and properinstitutional mandate, as an exception towhat Pope St Paul VI had established when,in 1972, even while abolishing the so-called“minor orders”, he decided to maintain thataccess to these ministries be granted only tomen because both were considered to bepreparatory to the eventual admission to holyorders.

Now, in the wake of the discernmentwhich has emerged from the last Synods ofBishops, Pope Francis wanted to formalizeand institutionalize the presence of womenat the altar.

Shared baptism

With the Motu proprio Spiritus Domini, whichmodifies the first paragraph of Canon 230 ofthe Code of Canon Law, Pope Francis,therefore, establishes that women can haveaccess to these ministries and that this berecognized through a liturgical act formallyinstituting them as such.

Pope Francis specifies that he wanted towelcome recommendations which haveemerged from various synodal assemblies,writing that “a doctrinal development hasbeen arrived at in these last years that hasbrought to light how certain ministriesinstituted by the Church have as their basisthe common condition of being baptized andthe royal priesthood received in theSacrament of Baptism.”

The Pope, therefore, invites us to recognizethat what is under discussion are layministries “fundamentally distinct from theordained ministry that is received through theSacrament of Holy Orders.”

The new formulation of the canon reads:“Lay persons who possess the age andqualifications established by decree of theconference of bishops can be admitted on astable basis through the prescribed liturgicalrite to the ministries of lector and acolyte.”The specification “lay men” qualifying thelaity and present in the Code until today’smodification, is, therefore, abolished.

Part of Vatican II renewal

The Motu proprio is accompanied by a letteraddressed to the Prefect of the Congregationof the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal LuisLadaria, in which Pope Francis explains thetheological motivations behind his decision.

The Pope writes that “within the spectrumof renewal traced out by the Second VaticanCouncil, the urgency is being ever more felttoday to rediscover the co-responsibility of allof the baptized in the Church, and themission of the laity in a particular way.”

And, citing the Final Document of theSynod for the Pan-Amazon Region, the Popeobserves that “regarding the entire Church, inthe variety of situations, it is urgent thatministries for men and women be promotedand conferred… It is the Church made up ofbaptized men and women that we mustconsolidate, promoting forms of ministry and,above all, an awareness of baptismaldignity.”

Lay people and evangelization

In his letter to the Cardinal, after recalling thewords of Saint John Paul II that “regardingordained ministries, the Church does nothave the faculty in any way to confer priestlyordination on women,” Pope Francis addsthat “regarding non-ordained ministries, it ispossible, and today it seems appropriate, tosurmount this reservation.”

The Pope explains that “to offer to laypersons of both sexes the possibility ofaccessing the ministries of Acolyte andLector, in virtue of their participation in thepriesthood of the baptized, the awarenesswill grow, through a liturgical act (ofinstitution) as well, of the preciouscontribution that many lay persons, includingwomen, have been offering for some time tothe life and mission of the Church.” Heconcludes that “the decision to confer theseoffices even on women, which entailsstability, public recognition and a mandateon the part of the bishop, will make moreeffective everyone’s participation in the workof evangelization.”

Mutual collaboration

This provision comes after extensivetheological reflection on these ministries.

Post-conciliar theology has, in fact,recovered the relevance of the ministries ofLector and Acolyte, not only in relation to theordained priesthood, but also, and above all,in relation to the priesthood of the baptized.

These ministries are situated within thedynamic of the mutual collaboration thatexists between these two priesthoods, andtheir specifically “lay” nature has becomeever more pronounced, in connection withthe priesthood exercised by all the baptizedin virtue of their baptism.

This entire article, including the citationsattributed to Pope Francis, is a workingtranslation from the Italian original.

A lay woman reads at Mass in the CasaSanta Marta on 4 February 2020

UISG welcomes Motu Proprio as response to dynamism of the Church

Expressing gratitude to PopeFrancis for institutionalizing theparticipation of women in theChurch through the ministries ofLector and Acolyte with a MotuProprio Spiritus Domini, theInternational Union of SuperiorsGeneral (UISG) highlights the roleof women as contributors to theChurch’s mission.By Vatican News staff writer

The International Union of SuperiorsGeneral (UISG) has expressed itsgratitude to Pope Francis for his MotuProprio Spiritus Domini, whichinstitutionalized the ministerialparticipation of women in the Church.

On Monday, Pope Francis, with aMotu Proprio, established that fromnow on the ministries of Lector andAcolyte are to be open to women, in astable and institutionalized formthrough a specific mandate.

Though it is not new in manycommunities to see womenproclaiming the Word of God duringliturgical celebrations or carrying out aservice at the altar as altar servers orEucharistic ministers, it had been doneup till now without a proper institutionalmandate.Spiritus Domini: response todynamism of the Church“We are pleased to note that the title ofthe Motu Proprio is Spiritus Domini,”UISG said in a statement released onTuesday on its website.

“The decision that not only men butalso women may be instituted asLectors or Acolytes is a sign and aresponse to the ‘dynamism thatcharacterizes the nature of the Church,’a dynamism that is proper to the Holy

Spirit constantly challenging theChurch in obedience to Revelation andreality.”

UISG also notes that the documentwas released in conjunction with theSolemnity of the Baptism of the Lord –a day God “is revealed in communionwith Jesus who became a servant.”Looking at Jesus “we renew ourcommon baptismal dignity as sons anddaughters in Him, as brothers andsisters. From the baptismal font andthen the chrismal anointing we, allbaptized men and women, becomesharers in the life and mission of Christand capable of serving thecommunity.”Contributing to the Church’s missionBeing able to contribute to the missionof the Church, sharing the ministries,the Superiors General emphasize, will“help us understand, as the Holy Fathersays in his letter accompanying theMotu Proprio, that in this mission “weare ordained to each other”, ordainedand non-ordained ministers, men andwomen, in a mutual relationship.

This, UISG stresses, “strengthens theevangelical testimony of communion.”

UISG also highlights that theuniversal character of the Motu Propriois a confirmation in the Church’s pathin acknowledging the service of somany women who have cared andcontinue to care for the service of theWord and the Altar.

In many places, the statement notes,“women, and especially consecratedwomen, fulfill different pastoralministries following the guidelines ofthe bishops, in responding to theneeds of evangelization.”

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