Pope Francis Selfie OFFICIAL!

https://www.instagram.com/p/_RL2zkGq0h/

The Pope has finally taken his first official selfie! Instagram has gone mad over the first official papal, self taken shot.

It isn't his first involvement with a selfie and many people, particularly the young have taken a snap with him:

http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/first-papal-selfie-goes-viral-on-social-media-533193 

However the selfie has universal appeal with this Christmas jumper selling out in super quick time:

http://www.funkychristmasjumpers.co.uk/baby-jesus-selfie-jumper

Are you celebrating Christmas with a selfie?

SHoM Christmas Charities 2015

It has been decided to split the money from:

• Non-uniform day
• Carol Service retiring collection
• Staff Christmas cards (for new staff: many staff donate to charity instead of sending individual cards, please send money to Finance office)
• RE fundraising lessons

 The money will be divided equally between four charities:

• Little Angels Trust – supporting children in the UK and Ghana suffering from cancer (working in partnership with GOSH)
• Text Santa – ITV’s annual charity appeal
• Crisis – supporting the homeless on the streets of the UK
• Newman Catholic School in Carlisle – A school that has been devastated by the recent flooding and is appealing for help to rebuild

A Prayer From Santa to Jesus

I'm never sure how Father Christmas and Jesus can be fully reconciled... Here's an attempt. What do you think?

My dear precious Jesus, I did not mean to take your place,

I only bring toys and things and you bring love and grace.

People give me lists of wishes and hope that they came true;

But you hear prayers of the heart and promise your will to do.

Children try to be good and not to cry when I am coming to town;

But you love them unconditionally and that love will abound.

I leave only a bag of toys and temporary joy for a season;

But you leave a heart of love, full of purpose and reasons.

I have a lot of believers and what one might call fame;

But I never healed the blind or tried to help the lame.

I have rosy cheeks and a voice full of laughter;

But no nail—scarred hands or a promise of the hereafter.

You may find several of me in town or at a mall;

But there is only one omnipotent you, to answer a sinner’s call.

And so, my dear precious Jesus, I kneel here to pray;

To worship and adore you on this, your holy birthday.

Source: Unknown

Image courtesy: http://famvin.org/en/2013/12/24/santa-claus-jesus/

Charleston: A Tale of Reconcilliation

Charleston Church Reopens <source>

On the evening of June 17, 2015, a mass shooting took place at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The church is one of the United States' oldest black churches and has long been a site for community organization around civil rights. Nine people were killed, including the senior pastor and state senator, Clementa C. Pinckney. A tenth person was shot and survived.

Police arrested a white suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Dylann Roof, in Shelby, North Carolina the morning after the attack. <link>

The shooter wanted to start a race war, dividing the United States. However the way the community reacted has been the complete opposite:

Firstly the victims, the families of those killed, spoke to the killer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWzTU6TLyRs

Then a UK based teacher, asked a friend to document what has been happening in Charleston, with the result being a powerful witness to reconciliation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLPLvBM7RKc

Watch the first full sermon from the church where the shooting took place:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7T7QQ90Jtk

The community of Charleston singing, "We Shall Overcome" together:

<source>

Laudato Si: Key Things To Know

Image courtesy of The Independent

The long awaited encyclical on the environment has arrived! Pope Francis has released Laudato Si, an encyclical on the environment on 18th June 2015.

This video has ten key points from the document:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_lqFTYLc_4 

1- What is an encyclical?

Considered one of the weightiest forms of papal writing, an encyclical takes the form of a letter, usually addressed to members of the Catholic Church but sometimes also to society at large. A pontiff typically expands on some teaching of the Catholic faith, pointing out errors that could threaten the faithful’s understanding of Catholic doctrine or suggesting possible solutions to global problems.

2- How many encyclicals has Pope Francis written?

Pope Francis has published two encyclicals: “Lumen Fidei” (“Light of Faith”), released in 2013, and now “Laudato Si’” (“Be Praised”). However, the former was largely the work of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, so the latter is the first to express Pope Francis’ distinctive teaching.

3- Why has this encyclical received so much attention?

No previous pope has devoted an entire encyclical to the environment. Moreover, Pope Francis has said he wants it to “make a contribution” to a Paris summit on climate change at the end of this year. The pope’s huge popularity and moral suasion means his stance could influence the debate.

4- What does the encyclical say about climate change?

Pope Francis calls global warming a major threat to life on the planet and says it is mainly caused by human activity. He argues there is an “urgent” need for policies that reduce carbon emissions, among other ways, by “substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy.”

5- What other topics does the encyclical address?

It highlights the depletion of clean water and the loss of biodiversity. The 183-page encyclical includes an extensive section on Catholic theology of creation and critiques of economic globalization and consumer culture. Emphasizing his signature theme of economic justice, Pope Francis focuses on the unequal social effects of environmental problems on the “most vulnerable people on the planet.”

Published in the WSJ <here>

Here are a few key quotes:

On waste - The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.

On the extinction of species - Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right.

On God’s love - The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.

More found <here> in the Catholic Herald

CAFOD have also produced some great resources:

• The news / campaigning section has some further information and actions <here>
• There is also a whole encylical section including activities for students <here>

Pope Francis: Laudato Sii is coming!

The encyclical, to be published June 18, is titled “Laudato Sii” (“Praised Be”), the first words of St Francis’ “Canticle of the Creatures.”. Here is a video that introduces in a light-hearted but informative way.

"The encyclical is not expected to be a theological treatise or a technical document about environmental issues, but a pastoral call to change the way people use the planet’s resources so they are sufficient not only for current needs, but for future generations, observers said." (Source <here>)

Do you think the Vatican can help save the environment? Why will some people disagree with it? (Think money!) Do you think Catholics will make an extra effort to take care of the environment? Why? How is this biblically based?

#shomRE Twitter #REvision

From Tuesday 28th April there will #shomRE #REvision taking place on Twitter. Questions will appear daily as follows:

• 4pm - a 4 mark Part B question
• 6pm - a 6 mark Part D question
• 8pm - an 8 mark Part C question
• 10pm - a revision video

In the first run of tweets, the following topics will be covered:

• Tuesday 28th - 3.1 - Believing in God
• Wednesday 29th - 3.2 - Matters of Life and Death
• Thursday 30th - 3.3 – Marriage and the Family
• Friday 1st - 3.4 – Religion and Community Cohesion
• Saturday 2nd - 10.1 – Beliefs and Values
• Sunday 3rd - 10.2 – Community and Tradition
• Monday 4th - 10.3 – Worship and Celebration
• Tuesday 5th - 10.4 – Living the Christian Life

Make sure you are following Mr Lewis @TalkingDonkeyRE

Check all the #shomRE tweets <here> - remember if you miss a question you can always go back and find it!

"Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and he spoke to Balaam" - Numbers 22:28