Flame 2

It's back! 

What is Flame 2?

Flame2 is the largest National Catholic Youth event of 2015, taking place in the SSE Wembley Arena on Saturday 7th March 2015.

Doors open at 11, and Flame2 starts at 12, finishing at 5.30pm.

The SSE Wembley Arena will be filled with 10,000 young people from across the country, receiving faith-filled inspiration from world class speakers. Confirmed speakers include Cardinal Luis Tagle from Manila, Philippines; Baroness Sheila Hollins; Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP; and David Wells.

Throughout the day speakers will give bursts of input, interspersed with world class music and drama, in an atmosphere full of joy. Music will be provided by double grammy award winning Matt Redman and his band. The day ends with a time of Adoration led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

Flame2 is open to anyone in school year ten and above, up to young adult (i.e. aged approx. 14-21).

Find out more info <here>

Synod on the Family (2014)

Image courtesy of Time

This weekend saw the start of an "extraordinary Synod" in the Vatican. It will be a two-week meeting by over 200 leaders of the Catholic Church, including the Pope to discuss marriage, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, contraception and all other matters connecting to family life.

The agenda was set after an opinion survey of Catholics world-wide ordered by Pope Francis last year. Many have claimed it was aimed at looking at to what extent Catholic teaching is being rejected or ignored by the faithful.

Even strongly Roman Catholic countries, have legalised abortion, divorce and same-sex marriages. Many Roman Catholics use birth control and a significant number have divorced (and potentially remarried).

There has been much made of Pope Francis' own views on sexuality which have been conditioned by years of working in the slums of Buenos Aires. He continues to stress the importance of understanding the problems faced by the poor, rather than focussing only on obedience to unbending rules.

"We cannot insist only upon issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraception,.. The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent,.. The church's pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines… We have to find a new balance, otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards."

The world will be listening very carefully to what this Synod has to say...

What do you think the Church leaders will have to say? Will it change much? 

Read more <here>

Full Vatican briefings <here>

Excellent blog post with all the info you need <here>

Why Do People Convert To Catholicism?

Image courtesy of Terra

Each year around 3,500 adults are received into the Catholic Church in England and Wales (see <here>). This is a significant number, especially given the headlines which often claim we live in an increasingly secular society. 

John Beaumont, author of The Mississippi Flows into the Tiber: A Guide to Notable American Catholic Converts to the Catholic Church, recently gave a lecture that summarised eight common reasons that people gave in his research:

1) Visibility - Church buildings, the clergy, religious orders... all remaining distinctively recognisable in the modern world.

2) Universality - "Catholicism is catholic" and it spans the whole globe; it is unifying rather than divisive.
3) Endurance - Despite all the tests and tribulations of the Church, it still remains faithful to it's 2000 year old doctrines.

4) Authority - People see individualism as a false freedom and instead want guidance on what is right and what is wrong.

5) Beauty - Music, artwork, architecture, literature... 

6) Hierarchy - This brings about dignity, and ultimately an ascent to God.

7) Saints -  Witnesses and teachers who give living examples.

8) Moral Witness - High standards that give people high moral goals to aim for.

Read the full article <here>

Do you think these reasons are the appeal of the Catholic Church? Do you think that some of these reasons are exactly the opposite of the 'appeal'? Do you think that this is still only an appeal for the minority?

"Mass Fitness"

Are you walking into Mass out of shape? Idol Chatter is here to help with "Mass Fitness." After all ... "He who dances prays thrice!" - Idol Chatter

"If you come to Mass “out of shape” or unprepared, the graces you could receive are seriously diminished. So how do you get in spiritual shape for Mass? Getting in spiritual shape involves daily discipline and commitment. It’s not just something you can do for an hour on Sundays and expect to compete with the fitness champions in the front row who pay rapt attention to every word and gesture." says Ryan O'Connell

The article and song suggests 'go to confession', 'read the scriptures ahead of time', 'dress up' and 'arrive early' and 'pray after Mass' can all help with your Mass Fitness.

Do you think this is a good idea to get 'Mass Fit'? Is this a good campaign for Life Teen to promote? Do you like the song?

Read more: http://catholicyouthministry.com/blog/mass-fitness/ 

 

Brentwood: Habemus Episcopum

The wait is finally over,

"We have a Bishop, Habemus Episcopum".

Fr Alan Williams will be appointed Bishop of Brentwood on 1st July 2014. He arrives from the national RC shrine at Walsingham in East Anglia Diocese.

Brentwood is not the only Catholic Diocese waiting for a bishop, but Bishop Thomas McMahon announced his retirement on reaching the age of 75 in June 2011. It was over a 1000 days until an appointment was made.

The Catholic Church in England & Wales website gave the following information:

The bishop-elect was born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1951. He took final vows in the Society of Mary [Marist Fathers] in 1981 and was ordained priest in St Anne’s Whitechapel in 1983.

Father Alan holds degrees in theology, psychology and religious education [he is an MA and a Ph.D] and has served in a number of pastoral roles. He has worked as a teacher and chaplain in secondary schools. He also served as Catholic Chaplain at Sheffield Hallam University and taught Christian Spirituality at postgraduate level.

He is a former major superior of the Marist Fathers in England and has worked as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Southwark. At Walsingham he has had overall responsibility for pilgrimage and retreat work.

<read here>

His words at the press conference announcing his appointment were:

“I am both surprised and humbled to have been appointed by Pope Francis as the new Bishop of Brentwood. There is indeed a God of surprises and in my life as a priest and religious I have learned to trust ever more in the grace of God for whatever task has been assigned to me.

“The Diocese of Brentwood embraces many and diverse communities in city and rural locations. I look forward to getting to know the people and clergy of the Diocese; I am aware that I will have a lot of learning and listening to do.

“Emeritus Pope Benedict encouraged Shrine Directors to have a special regard for those on the margins of the Church, ‘of weak ecclesial affiliation’. Great numbers of those on the margins make their way to England’s National Shrine at Walsingham. I believe that the pilgrim journey is an invitation to everyone; Pope Francis reminds us that those who accept the gospel are set free- ‘With Christ joy is constantly born anew’.

“There are many parishes, educational and other communities in Brentwood Diocese and my previous ministries as parish priest, teacher and school and university chaplain, have made me eager to share Christ’s joy with all whom I meet.

“I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Bishop Thomas McMahon for his faithful and long service to the Diocese. I have worked in a number of different dioceses in England and I know that I can count on the generous support of the priests and deacons of Brentwood.

“I ask for your continued prayers as I undertake my new ministry. Over the years many pilgrims from Brentwood Diocese have made their way to Walsingham; my own pilgrimage now takes me to Brentwood under the patronage of Mary the mother of Jesus and all the saints of the Diocese.”

The Brentwood Diocese website contains more information here:

• Brentwood welcomes new Bishop
• 'A listening Bishop'

Blogger Mark Lambert goes into some detail in his blog post <here>

On a personal note, I have met Bishop Thomas McMahon on many occasions. He was my grandparents' parish priest in Westcliff-on-Sea and through my involvement with the BCYS, I have got to know the Bishop well; I was fortunate enough to be at the celebration of his 25 years as Bishop. He passionately cares about the youth of the Church and has done a huge amount of ecumenical work and ministry to those on the 'fringes' of society. He will be sorely missed. Thank you.

Things People Who Grew Up Going To Catholic Church...

Many students in a Catholic school will identify with this BuzzFeed list... I know I certainly did!

Attending Mass is obviously a big part of Catholic upbringing and can shape the rest of your life. I'm sure many even look forward to taking their own children years on! How many of these 23 things do you relate to?

Check out the list <here>.

What would you add?

Your Parent's Faith?

"My wife, who’s a pretty vehement atheist, said that she could cope with just about any life decision our children may make - apart from them wanting to join the military or the clergy."

Often parents are accused indoctrinating their children, forcing them into their own faith at a young age. However the counter argument is that when something is so important to you, surely you want to pass it on to your children? Most parents would encourage their children in their beliefs until the point that they can make up their own mind.

One family have spoken in The Guardian about how, while living in France, their daughter has decided to become Catholic. She has attended a Catholic school and now wants to fully join the faith.

The author of the article talks about how "our world view isn't enough for her" and that she has decided she wants to be baptised and receive the other sacraments. Her mother in particular, struggles with her decision.

The article ends with the author (the father) saying: "I just hope that, the next time she faces a life-defining decision, she remembers this time when she told us she had faith in something we don't. And we believed in her."

Do you think parents are right to impose their world view on their children? At what age can you make up your own mind? Is it better when people choose a faith for themselves? Do you think their belief will be stronger?

Read more here: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/14/daughter-of-atheist-wants-to-be-catholic 

Is Hulk a Catholic?

 
L'Osservatore Romano have recently run an article on  'the religiousness of superheroes' - including comic book favourites the Hulk, Batman and Superman.

The article featured images of Bruce Wayne (Batman) as a boy saying his prayers by his bed and the Hulk depicted with rosary beads in his hands.

Senior journalist Gaetano Vallini wrote, "Is it enough for a person to have a rosary in his hand to be defined a Catholic? ...Bruce Banner, the incredible green man, in fact married his beloved Betty Ross in a church and a Catholic priest presided at the ceremony... There are other indications dispersed among the hundreds of comic strips dedicated to him that are said to unequivocally reveal his faith."

He then goes on to say there is evidence to suggest the mother of Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne was Catholic while the character Nightcrawler from the X-Men films explicitly refers to his Catholic faith.

Do you think many people have worked out these superheroes are Catholic? Do you think it just use of distinctive imagery? Is it more just the illustrators Catholic upbringing? Do you think it's right (or indeed useful!) that Churches are encouraging their congregation to view these films in a Christian context?


Read more <here> and <here>