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Issue 257 May 2018
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Official Newspaper of the Archdiocese of CardiffNewyddiadur Swyddogol Esgobaeth Caerdydd
A reflection on the Pope’s Exhortation
Page 3
Holy Week celebrated atSt David’s MetropolitanCathedral
Pages 4/5
Rememberingall the dearones who havepassed onThere is a lovely garden of remembrance in St
David's Metropolitan Cathedral, seen here with its
creator Liz Sorensen (seen here), the flower
arranger at the cathedral for the past few years
whose touch has been a blessing and an inspiration
to parishioners who have placed their individual
tributes at its foot as you can see.
Full details of the Easter Garden on page 2
2 CATHOLIC PEOPLE
BEL – Belmont Abbey – The Retreats Secretary - email: [email protected] or tel: 07799 811 646. Allretreats begin with Vespers at 6.00 pm – check-in at Hedley Lodge from mid afternoonLL – Ty Croeso Centre, Llantarnam Abbey, Cwmbran tel: 01633 867317PRC – Pastoral Resources Centre, 910 Newport Road, Rumney, Cardiff tel: 029 20360044St.P – St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Street, Cardiff CF24 3BAWeek of 6 May
Friday 7pm Confirmation St Dyfrig’s, TreforestSaturday 6pm. Confirmation St Mary’s CantonSaturday 9.30am to 4pm. Divine Mercy – A Day of Prayer and Discovery, St Michael’s Centre,AbergavennyWeek of 13 May
Mondy 7.30-9pm. Keep FIT for Mission – Intercessory Prayer for June Outreach and Fellowship. PastoralResources CentreWednesday 9pm Torchlight procession in honour of Our Lady at Belmont Abbey. Refreshments availablein Hedley Lodge before and after Procession. BEL
Friday 7pm Confirmation St Mary’s Merthyr TydfilSaturday 6.30pm Confirmation St Helen’s, BarryWeek of 20 May
Sunday 10am Confirmation St Alban’s, Cardiff.Sunday 5.30pm Pentacost Mass for New Catholics, St David’s Cathedral
To list Archdiocesan and Deanery Events in this Diary contact: Dr James Campbell-Editor. Archbishop’s
House, 43 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HD
Tel: (029) 2022 0411 Fax: (029) 2037 9036 Email: [email protected]
Articles to be received by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month.
ARCHDIOCESANDIARY OF EVENTS
ARCHBISHOP GEORGE’S ENGAGEMENTS
MAY 2018
Week of April 29
Sunday: Confirmation at Our Lady of the Angels, Cwmbran. 9.30am
Tuesday: Cathedral Development Meeting, Archbishop’s House 10am
Wednesday: Clergy Appointments 11amFriday: Presentation of KSG, Holy Trinity Brook Green 7.30pmSaturday: Presentation of KSG, Belmont Abbey. 6.00pm
Week of 6 May
Sunday: Baptism, St. Edmund of Canterbury Loughton. 4pmTuesday: Meeting of the Council of Priests, The Cornerstone,
10.30amFriday: Confirmation, St. Dyfrig’s Treforest. 7pmSaturday: Confirmation,St. Mary’s Canton.6pm
Week of 13 May
Monday: ICEL Teleconference 12.00 noonFriday: Confirmation, St. Mary’s Merthyr Tydfil. 7pmSaturday: Confirmation, St. Helen’s Barry. 6.30pm
Week of 20 May
Sunday: Confirmation, St. Alban’s Cardiff 10amPentecost Mass for New Catholics, St. David’s Cathedral. 5.30pm
Monday: Clergy Retreat at Douai AbbeyThursday: Millennium Celebrations, Buckfast Abbey
Editorial Dr James Campbell-Editor.Archbishop’s House, 43 Cathedral Road,Cardiff, CF11 9HD
Tel: (029) 2022 0411 Fax: (029) 20379036 Email: [email protected] andArticles to be received by the 20th of themonth for inclusion in the following month.
Advertising Tel: 0151 709 7567
Designed & Produced Mersey Mirror,36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS. Tel: 0151 709 7567 Fax: 0151 707 1678Email: [email protected]
Your Catholic People…
BREXIT AND THE BORDER
An important talk on ‘Brexit and the Border’ will be given at The Cornerstone by Lord
Murphy of Torfaen on Friday 1 June at 1.15pm.
As the former Member of Parliament for Torfaen, Minister of State for Northern Ireland andSecretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1999- 2002, Paul Murphy was one of the architectsof the Good Friday Agreeement in 1998. He is therefore uniquely placed to give a unique insightinto the issues surrounding the border between the North and South of Ireland in the post Brexitworld. There will be 120 places available for this talk. Interest will inevitably be great for thisimportant topic. Free tickets for admission are available on a first come first served basis from:[email protected]
Reflections on theEaster GardenThe stunning Easter Garden at St. David’s
Cathedral (see page 1) was created by
Elizabeth Sorenson of St. Mary’s parish,
Canton.
Using the life sized cross which wasprocessed for adoration on Good Friday, Lizmoved it to the Easter Garden as the PaschalCandle was prepared for Holy Saturday night,symbolising the Death and Resurrection ofJesus.
During his homily, the Archbishop reflectedthat the cross is plunged deep into the heart ofthe earth. It reminds us of the wonderful mottoof the Carthusian order “The cross stands still
whilst the world turns”. “It is only when weembrace the cross that the cross yields up it’smystery” wrote Cardinal Basil Hume.
“Where is God in the midst of humansuffering? ” we often ask. “Here” says Jesuswith arms outstretched on the cross. Liz invitedparishioners to donate lilies in memory of theirloved ones who have died. Cards with thenames of the deceased were placed at thefoot of the cross. All those who pass by,seeingthe cross, remember in faith and love thosewho have gone before us marked with the signof faith. The Easter Garden will remain until thefeast of the Ascension of the Lord.
Lord Murphy with Archbishop George and the proclamation from Pope Francis promoting
him to a higher rank as a Papal Knight.
CATHOLIC PEOPLE 3
Editorial
Faith andcharityYou can read on this page the mostmoving exhortation of Pope Francis...Guadate et Exsultate.
I think it shames us all in the sense of “Arewe really doing enough for thoseunfortunate people outside of society?”
On the way to the Easter Vigil Mass at StDavid’s Metropolitan Cathedral, walkingthrough the centre of Cardiff, I passedmore than seven rough sleepers huddledin sleeping bags and blankets in thedoorways of closed shops.
Are we as a society doing enough for themin terms of rescuing them from thismiserable lifestyle?
Should we not be following the example ofPope Francis and providing shelter,warmth and food for them? Somecharities and individuals are but it is notenough.
VietnamIn his Exhortation the Pope refers to the,hopefully soon-to-be sanctified CardinalNguyen van Thuan.
I have been privileged to have worked inthe country for our Foreign Office and theUnited Nations. When attending Mass inthe cathedral in Hanoi, the Vietnamesecapital, in this one party communist statethe cathedral was packed out with peopleeven sitting in the aisles.
All five masses on Sunday were packedout. The Catholic faith, despitepersecution, had not died and on my firstvisit in 2007, the Vietnamese governmenthad met with Holy See representatives toagree to an increase in the number ofpriest training in the seminaries.
What a wonderful example of the secularand religious world working together.
Dr James Campbell
A reflection on thePope’s Exhortation
By Dr James Campbell
Pope Francis has issued an
Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete
et Exsultate which means
Rejoice and be Glad. The
purpose of the document is to
reaffirm “…universal call to
holiness of all baptised people”
proclaimed so eloquently by the
Fathers of the Second Vatican
Council.”
Pope Francis explores this themein his own unique way, building onthe teaching of his twopredecessors John Paul II andBenedict XV.
The Holy Father says it is notmeant to be a treatise on holiness,but has its goal to place holiness ina practical way for our own time,with all its risks and challenges andopportunities.
Here are some moving somemoving quotes from hisinspirational guidance:• If I encounter a person sleeping
outdoors on a cold night, I canview him or her as anannoyance, an idler, an obstacleto my path, a troubling sight, aproblem for politicians to sort outor even a piece of refusecluttering a public space. Or, Ican respond with faith andcharity, and see this person as ahuman being with a dignityidentical to my own, a creatureinfinitely loved by the Father, animage of God, a brother or sisterredeemed by Jesus Christ.
• Equally sacred, however, are thelives of the poor, those alreadyborn, the destitute, theabandoned and theunderprivileged, the vulnerable,infirm and elderly exposed tocover euthanasia, the victims ofhuman trafficking, new forms ofslavery and every form ofrejection.
• When a stranger resides withyou in your land, you shall notoppress him. The stranger whoresides with you shall be to youas the citizen among you; andyou shall love him as yourself.
• Hedonism and consumerismcan prove our downfall, for whenwe are obsessed with our ownpleasure, we end up being alltoo concerned about ourselvesand our rights, and we feel a
desperate need for free time toenjoy ourselves. We will find ithard to feel and show any realconcern for those in need,unless we are able to cultivate acertain simplicity of life, resistingthe feverish demands of aconsumer society.
• Christians too can be caught upin the networks of verbalviolence through the internet andthe various forms of digitalcommunication. Even in Catholicmedia, limits can beoverstepped, defamation andslander can be commonplace,and all ethical standards andrespect for the good name ofothers can be abandoned.
Care for the homeless
The Holy Father has beenresolutely and personally active inall the above. Witness his care forthe homeless in Rome, providingsleeping bags, showers and mealsfor them; his condemnation ofhuman trafficking; his appeal toWestern nations to take inrefugees and make themwelcome.
His Exhortation could not havecome at a more opportune time forpeace and survival in the worldwhen we seem to be in the middleof a possible world-wide conflictbetween the East and West,between the United States ofAmerica and Russia, being playedout in the Middle East.
Pope Francis writes: “To be holydoes not require to be a bishop,priest or a religious. We arefrequently tempted to think thatholiness is only for those who canwithdraw from ordinary affairs tospend their time in prayer. That isnot the case.” In other words he isasking all of us, including ourpolitical leaders, to stop, think,reflect and look at options whichpreserve peace rather thanviolence. This is so true when wesee the constant criticism comingfrom the USA and Russia on eachother’s motives and policies.
Pope Francis, in his Exhortation,refers to the imprisonedVietnamese Cardinal Francis XavierNguyen van Thuan who refused towaste time waiting for the day hewould be set free. Instead, hechose “to live the present moment,filling it to the brim with love. I willseize the occasions that presentthemselves every day; I willaccomplish ordinary actions in anextraordinary way.”
One of our world's greatwitnesses, Cardinal Nguyen vanThuan died on 16 September2002 at the age of 74.
On 16 September 2007, the fifthanniversary of the cardinal's death,the Roman Catholic Church beganthe beatification process forNguyễn Văn Thuận.
Pope Benedict XVI expressed“profound joy” at news of theofficial opening of the beatificationcause.
Roman Catholics in Vietnam alsopositively received the news on
beatificationprocess openingfor the cardinal. Inthe words of acatechist from theRoman CatholicArchdiocese of HồChí Minh City,“Nguyễn VănThuận is anexample ofholiness forVietnameseCatholics and forthe entire world.”
Pope Francis, in his Exhortation, notes:“Anything done out of anxiety, pride or the needto impress others will not lead to holiness.” Onecould interpret “holiness” here as commonsense and the ability to productively interactwith others, a lesson to Presidents Trump andPutin I suggest?
The Holy Father states: “We are overwhelmedby words, by superficial pleasures and byincreasing din, filled not by joy but rather by thediscontent of those whose lives have lostmeaning.”
The Pope refers to Gnosticism as “a purelysubjective faith whose only interest is a certainexperience or a set of ideas and bits ofinformation which are meant to console andenlighten, but which ultimately keep oneimprisoned in his or her own thought andfeelings.” This philosophical look at faith equallyrefers to Trump and Putin, a parallel view ofGnosticism where their ideologies are “one ofthe most sinister ideologies: since they feed onthemselves and become even more myopic.”As the Pope notes “When somebody has theanswer for every question, it is a sign that theyare not on the right road.”
Pope Francis says: “Experience shows howeasy it is to become mired in corruption,ensnared in the daily politics of quid pro quo,where everything becomes business. Howmany people suffer injustice, standing bypowerlessly while others divvy up the goodthings of this life. Some give up fighting for realjustice and opt to follow in the train of thewinners. This has nothing to do with the hungerand thirst for justice that Jesus praises.”
Gaudete et Exsultate is available on line athttp://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html
“When a stranger resides withyou in your land, you shall notoppress him.”
4 CATHOLIC PEOPLE
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Holy Week celebrated at St DaA full week of Masses celebrated Holy Week at our cathedral.
The Chrism Mass was packed with priests from all over the Archdioceseattending to celebrate and collect the Holy Oils blessed by Archbishop
George. Also present were representatives from every parish.
A young pupil receives the Host from Archbishop George Both
Bishop Hlyb Llonchyna and Archbishop George listen to Director of Music Jeffrey Howard as he
sings the antiphon "By this sacred oil..."
Bishop Hlyb is the Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family in London. He
was in Cardiff leading an Easter retreat and was invited by Archbishop George to concelebrate
at the Mass of Chrism.
CATHOLIC PEOPLE 5
avid's Metropolitan Cathedral
h prelates bless the Oil of Chrism
Archbishop George prepares the Paschal Candle before entering the Cathedral for the Vigil
Mass.
Bishop Hlyb and Archbishop George with some of the many young children at the Chrism
Mass.
The Blessing of the Fire outside the Cathedral
6 CATHOLIC PEOPLE
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Hospital Chaplaincy matters! However the
present state of the NHS and manpower
issues mean that there are fewer
designated Catholic Chaplains in our
hospitals. So it is ever more necessary for
any Catholic who is waiting to go into
hospital to let their parish priest know in
plenty of time. The priest will then be able
to celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick with
you or provide any pastoral support
needed. Once you go into hospital, you
should also ask the person registering you
and the staff nurse on the ward to let the
chaplaincy service know that you are a
patient, and that you are a catholic.
To provide better cover in the busy Cardiffhospitals, the Diocese has set up an On-Callservice for emergencies. But pressures arealso increasing on the small band of priestswho provide this 24/7 emergency cover. Thismeans that even with this service, there maynot always be a priest immediately available in
a hospital emergency. In this eventuality thehospital switchboard will try to make contactwith the patient’s own parish priest. If thisproves not to be possible then with theagreement of the patient/family the generic(non- Catholic) on-call chaplain will becontacted. The more catholic priests we haveon the rota will obviously mean that thissituation is less likely to arise, which is whythere has been a renewed push to recruitmore priests.
Meanwhile, both in the Cardiff area, andthroughout the rest of the Diocese, you areurged to work with your own priest and parisharrangements to ensure that you or anymember of your family who is ill, either athome or in hospital, get the care and supportthey want and need. Though our priests andthe parishes work hard and always want tocare for you in any need or crisis, the onus isin you first to make sure they know what ishappening, and what help you need.
HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY MATTERS:
Cardinal Tagle - Don'traise up walls, we allhave migrant bloodCaritas Internationalis, an international
confederation of Catholic aid agencies, is
launching a “Week of Global Action” as
part of its Share the Journey campaign “to
make a positive difference to everyone with
experience of migration.” The Share the
Journey campaign, which began last
September, is inspired by Pope Francis’ call
to join the “culture of encounter,” with the
goal of “increasing the spaces and
opportunities for migrants and local
communities to meet, talk, and take
action.” Caritas says, “We must be
welcoming and speak up for the rights of
migrants.” The initiative encourages local
communities, beginning with parishes, to
undertake concrete actions of solidarity,
such as sharing lunch with migrants and
refugees, and speaking out for their rights.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop ofManila and President of Caritas Internationalis,spoke with Alessandro Gisotti of Vatican News.
A dramatic international phenomenon:“Migration is a fact of life,” Cardinal Tagle said,“But in these recent years, it has become adramatic international phenomenon.” BothPope Francis and Caritas Internationalis, hecontinued, “have this advocacy of welcomingand accompanying migrants, first becausethey are human beings, and through ourhumane treatment of the migrants, we want toshow the world that this is not just a politicaleconomic problem, it is a human problem.”
A second motive for that advocacy, CardinalTagle said, is the Christian Faith. Israel was amigrant people; and, in the New Testament,Jesus was close to outsiders. “He even said, ifyou do this to the least of My brothers andsisters, if you welcome the stranger. You’rewelcoming Me.” So there are both human andspiritual reasons for efforts to assist minors.
Extra courage and motivation: Asked abouthis hopes for the campaign, Cardinal Taglesaid, “We are very happy to note that in manycountries now, where the episcopalconferences, and the national caritasorganizations have picked up the SharedJourney campaign, it is slowly spreading.” Hesaid he was happy to see that wherever localCaritas organizations are found, new programsare moving ahead: “I am very pleased to saythat bishops and local caritas organizations,even on the parish level, have been given
extra courage and motivation by thecampaign.”
"Go and meet a migrant": Cardinal Taglealso spoke about the challenge presented bythose who fear migrants, and governmentsthat raise walls to stop immigration. It is clear,he said, that the migration issue is verycomplex; “and so we understand the variousreactions.”
But he encouraged those who areconcerned about migration to “go and meet amigrant.” Sometimes, he said, “we discussmigration as an idea, as a concept, but it isdifferent when you see a migrant, when youhear their stories, when you touch their hands.And then you realize their stories could beyour story. You could see yourself in them.”
Finally, he invited everyone to remembertheir own histories, to not forget the migrantsin their own family histories. “If we onlyremember how our forefathers were acceptedto start a new life in other countries, maybe wewould be a bit more open.”
When is the Week of Global Action? Theaction week runs from 17th to 24th June. It’sthe week around World Refugee Day which ison 20th June.
Where does it take place? Caritasorganisations across the world will bepromoting action that week. Our organisationswork in communities in over 160 countries.
Who can take part? Migrants and refugeeswill be at the heart of our week of action. Weinvite communities that they leave, where theypass through and where they go to make newlives to organise a shared meal or undertakean activity together.
What if I can’t manage to organise a meal
with migrants and refugees? There are lotsof other activities you can do together such asorganising a prayer service or, quite simply, bylearning more about why people migrate andabout the myths surrounding migration. Even ifthere is not migration in your area, you canlearn more and participate online throughourwebsite and through the #sharejourneyhashtag.
How can I participate and where do I get
resources to help me promote the global
week of action?
Contact Jim Barnaville, Chair of CaritasArchdiocese of Cardiff [email protected]
Cardinal Tagle - Migration is a fact of life and we must welcome
migrants
CATHOLIC PEOPLE 7
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A MEDITATION FOR PENTECOST 2018 – ARCHIBISHOP GEORGE STACK
Today we feel the wind beneathour wings, Today the hiddenfountain flows and plays, Today thechurch draws breath at last andsings, As every flame becomes atongue of praise. This is the feast ofFire, Air and Water,
Poured out and breathed andkindled into Earth. The Earth itselfawakens to her maker, Translatedout of death and into birth.The right words come in their rightorder
And every word spells freedomand release. Today the gospelcrosses every border,All tongues are loosened by thePrince of peace. Today the lost arefound in his translation, Whosemother tongue is love, in everynation.
Malcolm Guite
The events of Pentecost areportrayed graphically in thebeautiful painting of the scene bythe 16th century Greco- Spanishartist El Greco. The original is to befound in the Prado Museum inMadrid. My favourite gallery in themuseum is dedicated to the workof this great artist. (In second placeis the Goya Room with the brilliantportrayals of the Spanish RoyalFamily in the 18th century.)
El Greco’s Pentecost is muchmore sedate than the scenedescribed in the Acts of theApostles. “Now there were devoutmen from every nation underheaven. Parthians, Medes andElamites, and residents ofMesopatamia, Judea andCappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, and visitorsfrom Rome, both Jews andproselytes, Cretans and Arabs”.(Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11).
It sounds like the maelstrom ofpeople invading Cardiff for a RugbyInternational or the major boxingtournament on Holy Saturday night.But the purpose of the visitors toJerusalem was different. It was tocelebrate the great Jewish festivalfifty after the feast of Passover.
Into this excitement there isinjected another fantastic andecstatic experience – a mightywind and tongues of flame settlingon the heads of the apostles whothen proceed to speaking intongues in such a way that peoplefrom every tribe and nationunderstand what they are speakingabout. Nothing less than thewonders of God.
This, for me, is the real lesson ofPentecost. The gift that God’s Spiritoffers is that of understanding thatthe particular becomes universal,that God reveals himself not just toindividuals but to the whole humanrace.
The gift of Pentecost overcomesthe curse of Babel when, in theBook of Genesis chapter 11 verses1-9, we read arrogant men thinkthey can build a tower reaching toheaven in order to re-create God intheir own image and likeness. Theyare destroyed by the babble ofdifferent languages and conflictinginstructions, lacking the unity whichmust lie at the heart of anywholesome and worthwhile activity.
The gift of understanding The gift of understanding is aninvitation to listen and learn, not to
MASS FOR NEW CATHOLICS – PENTECOST SUNDAY 20 MAY - 5.30PM
ST DAVID’S CATHEDRAL CARDIFF
On the First Sunday of Lent we welcomed almost sixty people to St. David’sCathedral as they began their final preparation for Baptism or entry into FullCommunion with the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil. They will haveexperienced at first hand the joy of belonging to the Body of Christ at theirBaptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. Together with their sponsorsand the whole parish community and the wider Diocese, we give thanks toGod for the journey they have already made and will continue to make with
us. What better
be so preoccupied with our own view andopinion, making judgments about the cultureand practices of others, judging byappearances only, not listening to what is reallybeing communicated. These lessons areparticularly important in anage of instant communication, wheninformation flows backwards and forwardsmaking it hard to digest.
Words and language which are meant to betools of communication can easily becomeweapons of antagonism and war andbreakdown in society. The story of the Tower ofBabel is a reminder that often we are captivesof our own languages, divided by our inabilityto hear and be heard, to understand or beunderstood. The breakdown of communication,with all that implies, lies at the heart of somuch of the disfunction we experience aroundus and within us.
Bound by faith and baptism One of the identifying marks of the Church isthat it is One. People from every nation,background, culture are bound togetherthrough Faith and Baptism. This communion isexpressed ultimately whenever we cometogether to celebrate Mass and become “OneBody in Christ”. We are members of that Bodywhich exceeds our capacity to define it.
During Easter we have celebrated theredeeming power of the death and resurrectionof Jesus Christ our Saviour and our Lord. Whata joy that here in our own Diocese, Sunday bySunday, people from “every nation underheaven” enrich the life of our parishes and ourChurch. They are an inspiration to us all.
Picture: El Greco [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
This work depicts the momentwhen the Holy Ghost, in theform of flames, rests on theVirgin and the Apostles on
Pentecost day in Jerusalem, asis told in the book of Acts (2: 1-5). The bald, bearded Apostlewho looks out at the viewer
from the right of the canvas hasbeen identified as a self-
portrait, or as a portrait of theartist s friend, Antonio de
Covarrubias. Along with otherpaintings in the Prado Museum,this work was painted as part of
the main altarpiece for thechurch of the Augustine College
of María de Aragón in Madrid.
8 CATHOLIC PEOPLE
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Letters PageDoner cards
Dear SirI write further to the Editor’scomments on organ donationin your March issue.I am now 72 and when I wasin my 20s I carried a donorcard. As I recall, at that time,my husband had to sign it too.Not sure whether that was tosay he agreed (which hedidn’t really) or to indicate thathe was aware of my intention.Some years later I tore it upbecause of the proliferation ofIVF and egg donation. WhilstI have no concerns aboutdonating liver, kidneys, heart,etc., I didn’t want to risksomeone deciding that Iwould be happy to donate myeggs. I felt that these were avery personal part of mewhich I did not want to give tostrangers.Obviously, at my age, this isprobably no longer an issue.However, as time goes ontransplants are becomingmore and more ‘clever’. Iwould not even rule out thepossibility that, for example,brains could be used to helpproblems in other people.Again, something I would notbe happy to do.Consequently, I have optedout of the Welsh all-embracing agreement bydefault to donate my organs.As I said, I have no concernsabout my basic organs, butwould need to be sure that
the boundaries were notpushed too far.Name and address supplied
Royal wedding appeal
Dear Editor,I’m a producer at BBC Radio 5live in Salford. We want to find couples whoare getting married on thesame day as Prince Harry andMeghan – Sat 19 May – andfollow some of them in theirpreparations. It would involve a reportermeeting them for an hour orso in the run up to theirwedding day and really justhaving a chat about howthey’re getting ready for it. Itwould probably be prerecorded rather than a liveinterview. But there may alsobe scope for us to do short,live phone or skype interviewswith some of them. Please could you put the wordout around your churches inEngland and Wales? If any ofyour people know a couplewho may be interested in this,we’d be keen to get in contactas soon as possible. Thanks for your help. Maria La Rocca
Planning BBC Radio 5 live
909 & 693 MW
BBC Quay House,
MediaCityUK, Salford M50
2QH
(News desk: 0161 335 6507
twitter.com/MariaBBC5live
Suggestion boxes
Dear Editor, It's such a pity that PopeFrancis' call for consultationbetween the bishops / priestsand the laity is rather slow inbeing implemented. PopeJohn XXIII's Second VaticanCouncil also called forconsultation, but these daysParish Councils are rare. One simple, cheap, efficientand effective way for theclergy to consult with thefaithful is for 'suggestionboxes' to be put up in everychurch. Their presence can bepublicised in the SundayNewsletter, and their usepromoted by the priest. Thiswould generate a feeling ofinclusion and of beingappreciated among thefaithful. It is important I thinkthat anonymity be allowed,because people may feel thattheir concern / suggestion ispetty or embarrassing. May I urge your readers /subscribers to ask their parishpriest to set up a suggestionbox in their church? Myattempts have so far beenunsuccessful, but I will notgive up! I'd be grateful toknow of any successes:[email protected]
Virginia Bell, Catholic Action
for Animals (Address for
Editor - 2 Dodkin, Beanhill,
Milton Keynes MK6 4LP
Phone 01908 609647)
