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| Editorial Welcome
Welcome to our Christmas and New Year issue of the New Beacon. At last
the identity of our new Parish Priest is revealed! Read on!
A two-part article on our Eco priorities, the first part challenging us to put our “green” issues in order of priority and make choices, followed later in the magazine by part 2, with some interesting facts and figures. Were our choices in line with the ones that would have the most effect? The At Your Word Lord programme has generated some unusual events. One such delightful musical event is described in these pages. AYWL in action! What happens after AYWL? Find out below! Seasonal articles include Jeremy White writing about a musical version of a famous Franciscan Nativity play, and offering to provide texts and translations for those interested. Barbara talks about Christmas on the other side of the pond. Mena describes an Italian Christmas in the East End. A Holy Alphabet poem puts us in the mood for Christ in all seasons of the year. Wendy Lewis’s description of our Christmas Fayre is beautifully illustrated by photos courtesy of Richard West. Other news and stories On a more general theme, Helen Bassill describes her recent pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella which raised a significant sum for LIFE. There is also an uplifting story of an alcoholic returning from the brink, and there is an inspiring account of Pope Benedict XVI’s inaugural mass. Youth features significantly in this issue. A young parishioner writes of her experience with the poor in Kenya working as a teacher at an orphanage. Alex Stevens writes of the inspiring day hosted at the Pastoral Centre by a “rapping” priest. Another parishioner writes about Youth Ministry and the YouthCaFE Quiz The answers to the quiz from the last issue of the New Beacon, plus some seasonal anagrams, are included at the end. The New Beacon Editorial Team wish all our readers a very happy, holy and joyful Christmas and new year. Other news and stories Click here to go back to the top |
 White Smoke/White Christmas (by Father Jerry) The
more observant parishioners, and we have a few, will have noticed white smoke
coming from the chimney of the Presbytery. We do have a new Parish Priest.
He is Father Charles J. Sweeney MSC.
Click here to go back to the top |
 Christmas is changed foreverFather Martin Murphy She
begins by reflecting on her first Christmas married to Sean and looking forward
to the birth of their first child. That was twenty-seven years ago.
During their years of courtship, although she was aware that Sean liked his
drink, he always seemed to be in control. It was only later that she
learned from friends that he would drink heavily and had often passed out
in pubs. Also, it was not uncommon for him to miss Fridays or Mondays
from work due to hangovers. Shortly before they married, Sean’s mother
had said to Marie that she hoped she knew what she was getting herself into,
that he was “very fond of the drink”. She admits that she was a little
taken aback by the statement, but now realised that Sean’s mother was trying
to warn her about his drinking problem.
The baby was due in early February, and they had just moved into a new council house. Everything seemed so wonderful as they planned to go shopping two days before Christmas. She waited excitedly for him to arrive home at lunchtime, but he never came. One of his work colleagues called and told her that he had gone to the local town after work drinking with some of his friends. Sean did not arrive home until late on Boxing Day evening – he was penniless, unshaven, very aggressive and very drunk. This was to be the beginning of many years of heartbreak, loneliness, emotional and physical abuse. As Sean’s drinking spiralled out of control, Marie watched as the man she had loved and married turned into an uncaring, selfish, useless drunk. Her love for him became angry, resentful, bitter and confused. Marie’s heart and spirit were broken; she did not know where to turn for help or how it would all end. Their home became a house of silence and fear as she struggled to feed and clothe the four children and protect them from the verbal and physical abuse of the father whom they loved, hated and feared all at the same time. She would not tell even her own family and friends, and she closed herself off from those who cared, while the children, too ashamed to bring home friends because of the shabbiness of their home, or worse still, the state of their father, became withdrawn and troublesome both at home and at school. On Christmas Eve seven years ago, following a two-day drinking spree, Sean collapsed near their home and was taken to hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained in the fall. He was also de-toxed from alcohol, and after three weeks in hospital he was advised by doctors that he needed to seek help or face an early death. He agreed to enter a treatment centre, and during this stay Marie and the children attended family days and received help for themselves. Then both Marie and Sean completed a two-year aftercare programme. Sean has never drunk since. He attends regular AA meetings while Marie is actively involved in Al-Anon. Today Sean runs his own small business, and has a great relationship with his wife and children. Sean has much sadness and regrets about the pain his drinking caused to his wife and family, but he, and they, are also full of gratitude for the gift of recovery he has been given, and the opportunity to change Christmas in his home forever.
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Eco-priorities, Part 1Peter Berners-Lee In one session of the last season of At Your Word Lord, we looked at ecology. I made sure I walked to that meeting, just to be sure of my eco-credentials at least on that one evening. But of all the lengths we go to, in order to save the planet, and put off the Day after Tomorrow until at least some time next week, which really matter? I’ve heard the renewable energy people blow their trumpet. I’ve bought those funny light bulbs which they say are so efficient. I’ve agonised over trying to remember which recycling bag to put envelopes in: are they classified as paper or cardboard, and why? But I’ve always wondered what my priorities should be. If I spent my life recycling bottle tops in the best Blue Peter tradition would I find that I could have done more for less hassle by showing more eco-savvy and applying my limited efforts elsewhere? So here’s the task: put these environmental issues in order of priority: · Recycling waste · Holiday - flying away on holiday each year · Renewable electricity - using electricity from wind-farms etc. · Travel – use of car · Convenience foods · Conserving energy · House size  · Meat eating· Heating - turning the central heating down · Waste production. · Housemates – sharing your accommodation The answer comes later on in this magazine – but no peeking! Just to motivate you, here’s a statistic. Consider two Hertfordshire residents, Fred and Joe. Suppose Fred behaved badly on all of the above ecological issues and Joe behaved well. If everyone in the world behaved like Joe, we could get by with just this one planet. But if we all behave like Fred, then we would need three and a half, yes 3.5, extra planet earths to keep us in our lifestyle. But which are the biggest ecological culprits? What really matters? Have a think, and then turn to the answers later in this magazine. Click here to go back to the top |
 Man proposes and God disposes: AYWL projectTo
paraphrase that a little – AYWL group proposes and the people of the parish
“disposes”. For without the generous help and support of you, the people
of the parish, our project would have come to nought.
Some of our AYWL group had heard several years ago of a remarkable lady who was looking after and educating orphans of AIDS victims, so when, as a group, we were looking for a practical way of showing our love and concern for other people in the world, it did not need much persuasion to do something to help that lady. That lady was Mary Hinde, a Catholic lady with connections with St. Albans, who had taught for many years in Kenya. Approaching retirement, she wandered what to do with the rest of her life. She happened to attend the funeral of one of her pupils and, wondering why all the people following the coffin were children, was told that the dead person was the last parent of those children. She realised then what she would do in her retirement. That was eleven years ago, when she provided a home and schooling for six children at what came to be known as “Double Joy Children’s Farm”. Now she, with a devoted staff, is looking after 89 children. They live together as a family unit in houses with “house parents”. Primary and secondary education is provided for the children, and when they are old enough some vocational training in the form of sewing, dressmaking, bicycle repair and maintenance, so that when the children go back to their villages as young adults, they have a means of making a living. Mary ensures that while looking after and educating the children, their rights to family property and land in the villages are acknowledged by their relations and other villagers. 
To
help this remarkable lady, our AYWL group held a Musical Evening, together
with wine and a Superior Finger Buffet. With the generous and professional
support of Julia and Jeremy White, Gordon Traynor, Monica Jefferies and Mike
Walsh and his talented young people, we had a tremendously enjoyable and
successful evening. £3,350 (including an individual donation
of £780) was raised and sent to Mary.
Many, many thanks for your generous support.
 There are more photos of the evening in the ALIVE section of our website ..... ....click here to have a look)
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 A Franciscan Nativity PlayJeremy White The legend of St Francis inventing the Christmas crib for the villagers of Greccio, using living people and animals to help them to a vital appreciation of the reality of the Incarnation, is well known. Another essential feature of early Franciscan preaching was the ‘laude spirituali’, songs sung by the friars to illuminate and inspire their brethren and hearers along the way, Francis himself being, of course, a notable poet and musician. These two strands are brought together in the 'Lauda per la Natività del Signore' attributed to Jacopone da Todi (+1306), the Franciscan friar who also wrote the Stabat Mater. It is impossible to believe this to be anything other than a playscript for just such a tableau vivant as that at Greccio, with its highly pictorial nature and lines allotted to Angels, Shepherds and Mary. Written in the Florentine dialect of the time, it evokes a poignant image of a village community, perhaps including real shepherds, schooled in their lines by the friars, uniting to remind itself of the intimate and ever-new reality of God taking flesh among ordinary people just such as themselves. The Angel speaks first in a versification of the well known announcement from Luke 2:10, and the shepherds' spokesman replies in like manner. We then cut, as it were, to the stable where we find the Nativity scene familiar from so many mediaeval pictures, with Mary and the Baby, ox and ass, and Joseph, 'desvenuto per la gran vechiezza' (weakened by his old age). 
From this point on, the text becomes free and imaginary, with a soliloquy
for Mary on her mingled joy and sorrow that poverty prevents her providing
more warmth and comfort for the Infant – she has only rags to wrap him in.
Now the story moves into essential Franciscan territory; the Divinity found
in the extremes of the life of the poor. The shepherds offer their
cloaks for the child 'che non alita el fieno sua carne pura' (that the straw
may not hurt his pure flesh), begging her not to mind dressing him like poor
men. The dramatic climax comes when they address Mary: 'We would go
home happy if we could just hold him a little; but we ask humbly for we are
only shepherds of no account'. Mary senses this to be the crucial moment
and gladly agrees, and it is only now, when man has made warm human contact
with his God, that the angels (who previously had only isolated lines) sing
their Gloria in excelsis, while Mary speaks raptly of the transcendent joy
'basciando ed abbracciando si car figlio'(of kissing and embracing so dear
a son). 'Io sento un gaudio nuovo'(I feel a new joy) she says, and the Angel
replies, 'Or ecco ched è nato el Salvatore'(for now the Saviour is
born). And we can readily imagine the whole company joining in the
final Amen.This miraculous little piece would almost certainly have been set to, or accompanied by, music; and to hear the musical conception of a twentieth century master, look out for Respighi's astonishingly beautiful setting for choir, soloists and an instrumental ensemble which evokes the sound of the zampogna (Italian bagpipes) and salmò (shawm) – a sound you can still hear in northern Italy at Christmas, when charity fundraisers dress as mediaeval shepherds and go carol singing. A very good recording is available on DECCA 444-8422, and I can provide copies of the text (please call 01727 835493) with parallel translation should anyone wish to see it. Click here to go back to the top |
 Christmas TraditionsMena Farnese One of my earliest memories was of my grandmother and aunts arriving for Christmas laden with food, bundles wrapped in cloths. It was wartime and I was about four years old. Food was rationed so everything was in short supply. Originally from the Naples area of Southern Italy, the family settled in the East End and it was from Bow that they had arrived, having been bombed out of their home in Roman Road. At that time Christmas Eve was a day of fasting and abstinence. The fast was broken in the evening, and the menu contained all sorts of unspeakable horrors for us children. Past’acciughe, which was spaghetti with a sauce of garlic and anchovies dressed with olive oil, Baccala – boiled dried salted cod, and Cupone – stewed eel. Nowadays these are all very trendy! 
The
crib, “il presepe”, is believed to have originated in Naples. Craftsmen
would make them for churches primarily. The figures were made from
various materials – wood, clay, wire and straw, or carved from stone.
These were then painted, decorated, or dressed. Later the custom spread
to family homes. In our home the crib was set up a few days before
Christmas, omitting the Christ child. We processed around the house,
holding lighted candles with our grandmother singing the “Te Deum”.
The youngest family member carried the baby Jesus and placed Him in the manger.
This was an honour that escaped me, my cousin Mario being 11 months my junior.
Neapolitan cribs have become world famous. Sometimes whole villages
are portrayed, including the butcher and baker. Some cribs are more
tasteful than others, with a little Italian kitsch creeping in. One
of my aunts always insisted in including ornaments from around the house.
We always had a family crib, brought out of storage, unwrapped and dusted.
As children my brother and I had great fun in putting it up. Then my
father set up an elaborate lighting system. Backcloths were painted,
caves made of crumpled paper. Suspending the angel, aptly named Gloria,
was more difficult. She always refused to remain in the correct position.On Christmas Day the dinner was traditionally Italian; Antipasto – a cold plate of salami, olives, roasted and pickled vegetables, followed by Minestra – endive or escarrole cooked in broth. Then came the pasta, always homemade for a feast-day. It required a lot of work and many hands; made on the previous day and hung to dry on clothes on the backs of chairs. Afterwards, meatballs or homemade sausage, sometimes cooked in the tomato sauce for the pasta. We children always looked forward to the sweetmeats – Zeppole – crescent-shaped dough, or Stroffoli – little balls of egg pastry, both deep fried, drenched in honey, and dusted with cinnamon. No-one worried about the glycaemic index then. Wine was drunk with the meal by all. It ended with a small cup of strong black coffee and a liqueur, Strega, a fiery yellow liquid; translated as “the witch”. The whole proceedings seemed to last hours, with much talk and laughter, but my overriding memory was of celebration, sharing, and love. Click here to go back to the top |
 Christmas Fayre and DanceWendy Lewis To us few “back-room boys” who make sure that the Christmas Fayre is run every year, it never ceases to amaze us how the parishioners come up trumps every year. Each time we worry that the boxes at the back of the  church will
remain empty, or perhaps filled with unsaleable rubbish, but we are always
surprised by the quality, and quantity, of the goods left in it. If
only we could thank you all individually, but of course we don’t know who
has left what. From all of us, thank you, thank you, thank you so much.
This year we had so many beautiful gifts to sell, that it was no surprise that we made £2488.34. Perhaps the people who attended the fayre were fewer in numbers this year, but they made up for it by spending their money! We always think that when this event is over, the Christmas season has really begun! The Dance this year was a sell-out, and the “cabaret” was very well-received, with acts which would have won the “X Factor” hands down. We are hoping to expand on this idea next year. The total raised from the raffle amounted to £1,995. There are plenty of photos (courtesy of Richard West) in the ALIVE section of our website .....click here to have a look Click here to go back to the top |
 Christmas across the Atlantic: 1965–1985Barbara Bolgiano Christmas when I was growing up in America was an evolving celebration. It had as much to do with the sheer size of the family, the composition of its gene pool, and, the generosity of the neighbours, as it did with past family traditions or regional customs performed year-on-year. The most memorable occasions happened only once. I’d like to cut the culinary and get to the gifts, but then you wouldn’t hear what happens on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on the 24th. If the crabbing’s been good (prices low), you cover your table with newspaper, get out your old crab mallets and feast on Old Bay spice covered-Maryland Blue crabs until your stinging lips cry out for relief. Better not linger over this tradition too long, as Christmas is on its way. 
Our
season wouldn’t have been complete without certain presents from our next-door
neighbours. Mr. Shenk, who had connections, always brought a fruit basket,
and Mr. Bachman, a Presbyterian minister who lived in the Shenk’s old farm
house, always sent us a thick envelope full of his recently typed poems and
compositions. One dark Christmas Eve, Mr. Francz even came across the backyard
ringing a bell, dressed like Santa Claus and bearing a sack of gifts.
If it wasn’t for the familiar sound of his deep voice and the tell-tale twinkling
of his eyes, I might have been fooled. He had gifts for believers and non-believers
alike.To us as children, the importance of receiving presents ranked extremely high on our lists. The question of what we would get in the bottom of our stockings became more concerning, though, the older we got. We’d always been shown the coal and nails in Aunt Patsy’s stocking each year. If she’d gotten coal, what chance did we have? Mercifully, America in the 60s had mainly moved onto electric. One year, however, my sister began babysitting a little German boy and found out that if you’d been bad, you’d receive potatoes in your stocking! This was new to us, and it caught on big with Mr. & Mrs. Claus. They started small, those cute, round potato buds you could ignore or laugh off, and then as you got older, the potatoes began to take on more obscene proportions. By the time you were in college, you avoided looking in your stocking while anyone else was watching! Things have changed, and it’s soon time I went back home for Christmas, for in the intervening years, new traditions have begun – for one thing, the big Yankee Swap on Christmas afternoon. Danny or Mimi still drive a hundred miles to provide the crab feast and certain favourite Christmas goodies are still made. Sadly now, Messrs. Shenk, Bachman and Francz have all passed away, the annual kindness that they extended to our family will remain - and perhaps prompt me to wonder what neighbours I will give gifts to this Christmas? It’s never too late, maybe, to start a new tradition. Click here to go back to the top |
 The Holy Alphabet(reproduced, source unknown) Although things are not perfect Because of trial and pain
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 Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela Helen Bassill Eighteen months ago I had never heard of Santiago de Compostela – but suddenly everywhere around me people were talking about it. A pilgrimage on foot sounded wonderful and I knew I had to go. I also knew I would have to train hard as walking every day for five weeks carrying everything on my back would be a new and testing experience. I planned my trip carefully working out where I would spend each night and, in readiness, walked miles around St Albans every day with my heavy rucksack on my back 
A week before my planned departure – 25th April – everything went wrong.
A huge painful swelling appeared on the base of my right foot (plantar fasciitis)
and I was banned from walking for a month by my podiatrist. I was devastated!!
A very wise work colleague observed that I had done lots of training for
my body and perhaps I might need this time for spiritual training. How right
he was. A month later on 23rd May I set off for Spain not knowing how far my feet would take me each day, or even if I would complete the journey. My pilgrimage was in God’s hands and He would be my guide. I started my pilgrimage at Pamplona Cathedral, found the waymarker signs and was on my way. I only walked five miles the first day and was delighted when a group of cyclists went past ringing their bells, whistling and calling “ Hey Peregrino!” That was me – a pilgrim - fantastic! The route was very varied. Quite hilly from Pamplona to Burgos, followed by miles of very flat “meseta” until Astorga, then back to mountains with the wonderful wooded, rural area of Galicea to finish. As I walked I never failed to be delighted by the many colourful wild flowers - particularly the poppies. I loved the silence which was only broken by the song of the birds which were my constant companions. I was also fortunate to have fantastic weather with temperatures up to 40ºC on some days. An extract from my diary reads “The walk is wonderful – uphill, but flowers, falcons, beautiful views – Heaven.” The majority of the pilgrims I met were French, German and Dutch so conversation was limited. However I was very lucky to meet a Dutch lady called Jacoba (Coby) who spoke excellent English and who became my walking companion and firm friend – one could say she was a Godsend. A week into the walk the pain in my right foot became unbearable and so I was forced to phone my podiatrist to ask if I should come home. He told me to (1) increase my anti-inflammatories, (2) keep my foot tightly strapped up, and (3) come home ONLY when I could walk no longer. Immediately Coby bound up my foot and this was a job she was to undertake every other day for the next month. There is no doubt in my mind that I would never have reached the end without her kindness and support. I stayed in pilgrim refuges which all varied greatly. I spent one night in a bell tower and the bell rang every hour and every half hour. No need to worry about the snorers keeping me awake that night Some of the refuges were very large and one night I shared a room with 60 other pilgrims. Very cosy! Another night I stayed in a monastery and another in a church. I often shared a communal meal with other pilgrims and took part in the pilgrim services in the local churches .My walking was pretty slow due to my painful feet (the left one acquired several blisters) and I was usually the last to arrive at the refuge-my reward being a climb up to a top bunk (no ladders) – but it didn’t matter. Before my pilgrimage I had always wanted to be at the front but now I found that being slow meant I didn’t miss anything and I felt so relaxed. 
I
found the Spanish people to be so very kind. One night sitting outside a
restaurant having my supper, the owner came out, took one look at my swollen
feet and gave me a bottle of vinegar and packet of salt with which to bathe
them. Another day I asked the chemist if she knew where I could find
the doctor’s surgery as I had a severe toe infection. She immediately locked
up the shop and took me to the doctor offering to interpret for me if necessary.
I also had several free massages and even got reduced rates at a hotel one
night because the owner took pity on my bad feet.The cathedrals I passed were spectacular with lots of statues and gilt. They were very grand. However I especially liked the small churches in the little villages which were a haven from the hot sun and provided welcome moments of rest. I lit several candles and said numerous prayers in these lovely churches. In one very beautiful old church I heard the Gregorian chants of the Benedictine monks as they sung Vespers, Compline and Lauds. What an uplifting experience that was!  As
I neared Santiago the route became much more crowded as many young pilgrims
joined for the last 100km. Arriving at Santiago was fantastic. I showed my
well stamped pilgrim passport at the Cathedral office and in return received
my compostela (certificate). I attended the very crowded pilgrims' Mass and
saw the spectacular swinging of the giant botafumeiro. I hugged the very
large statue of St James on the altar and pressed my fingers into the marble
column by the door – as had been done by thousands of pilgrims down the ages.
I also met up with many other pilgrim friends and we greeted each other with
joy and happiness, delighted that we had all reached our goal. So now it is all over and even though I had to use public transport for about 50 miles of the journey I still managed nearly 400 miles on foot. I have some wonderful memories and have made several new friends. My pilgrimage has taught me a great lesson. I believe my painful feet were a gift from God to teach me to slow down in life – enjoy the moment and not let stress and worry effect the way ahead. It is the quality of the journey we make that is important not the speed. Finally a big thank you to everyone who gave me such tremendous support and sponsorship. A total of over £3,600 was raised for the education work of LIFE. There are plenty of photos and some of Helen's diary entries in the ALIVE section of our website .....click here to have a look Click here to go back to the top |
 Wake up to Africa 2005 Cecilia Crabtree My friend said one word to me about the Kenya project: “Go!” That was my incentive and I needed £1200 of funds to get there. After many different fundraising events (such as 24 sponsored silences and donations from the parish), I finally had enough money to head off on a four week project with 9 other students from around the UK. During the project we were working with the families who mainly worked in tea plantations in Limuru, an area around Nairobi. Living on less than £1 a day, they mainly lived in wooden house with steel roofs. No running water, no electricity, no toilets. But even with all this, the people that we came into contact with there were so happy, and so pleased that we came to visit them. One of the main messages was “Karibu Kenya!” which means “Welcome to Kenya!”  A
few days in, we began working in Limuru school, about an hours drive from
where we were staying. What was amazing was the education the children
craved, and the lack of facilities for it. The classrooms were never
cleaned, teachers taught over 100 children in each class, and the latrines
(with no doors), left much to be desired. The boys and girls (between
11 and 15 years old), had arrived at 8pm at the school, even though they
knew classes weren’t supposed to start until 9:15. We were put into
pairs and we set off into our respective classrooms, each terrified of the
numbers we were going to be expected to teach (without having any practice
before!). The
children were as good as gold, and eager to learn, so it wasn’t difficult
for us to enjoy ourselves while we were there. In the afternoons of the first two weeks (after teaching), we would head off to the orphanage next door and play with the children. 18 children lived there, of whom 3 had HIV. We would play energetic games, and help them brush their teeth, and then before we left they would sing songs for us including the chant “Amen Jesus Loves YOU!”  Being
at the orphanage was such a learning curve, because we saw how little they
had and how happy they were to see us every time we stepped through the gate.
One little girl (who would cling on to me as soon as I arrived) said, in
Swahili: “I want to come home with you.” After the first two weeks, we said goodbye to Limuru School and Orphanage and head off on the next part of the project. We were to work in Kimlea training centre for women. Kimlea works with women in the rural areas of Limuru to teach them various skills so that they can use it to earn money for their families. We spent 2 weeks working there, teaching first aid to and English to around 40 girls, most of whom were older than us. It was much more nerve racking than at the school, but still quite exciting. Soon we were heading back home and couldn’t stop talking about the adventures we’d had. What I remember about Kenya is the music, the smiles, and how happy he children were with so little. I shall miss Kenya very much, but the Kenyans even more. Click here to go back to the top |
Older than IsraelAlex Stevens (aged 13) On 11 July 2005 I went to lectures at the All Saints Pastoral Centre by a priest called Fr Elias Chacour and a priest who raps named Fr Stan Fortuna. 
Fr Chacour is a Melkite Catholic priest. He was born in Upper Galilee in
1939 and his family were Palestinian Christians. The Israeli authorities
evicted his whole village in 1947 and he became a refugee in his own land.
He was given Israeli citizenship when the country was created in 1948. In
1965 Fr Chacour became the priest of the Ibillin village church in Palestine
and has been there ever since. He realised he would have to do a lot
more than be the priest. His vision was to build a school for the children
of his village of all different faiths. Fr Chacour has struggled with the
authorities but has finally built a successful school for all children –
Christian, Jew, Muslim and Druse, it does not matter. He has been nominated
for the Nobel Peace Prize 3 times. Fr Chacour is an inspiration to
all ages. He puts Christian teachings into something everyone can understand
by using Bible references and explaining them as real life situations. For
example, he described the harvest storage room in his own family’s house
where the roof could be removed for hay to be piled in as described in the
Bible where the crippled man was lowered down on his bed through the roof.
He spoke about making peace between all nations and particularly, Israeli and Palestinians. The message he put across to me was that war is not the answer to disagreements because when one war starts many others will follow. He described Galilee as a poor country but very beautiful. He spoke about his students who worry every day if the Israelis will turn the water supplies off and if they do it would take a couple of days until they turn them back on again. It is the same with the schools but longer as they can close the school for more than a year. On their way to school, at the military checkpoints the Israeli army keep you waiting for hours then let you through. In the Palestinian region of Israel they only see the UK and the USA through TV pictures that misleads the Palestinians to think we are only interested in weapons, power and money. When Jesus came to this world he didn’t go to the USA or UK, he went to a country that needed him the most at that time. I have never met a Palestinian before and I had only heard of those Palestinians who would be suicide bombers in Israel. I am glad I met Fr Chacour who has helped me learn more about my faith. My family bought one of his books and in it he writes “God does not kill”. I think he means you should not fight on God’s behalf. There is always another way. 
Fr Stan Fortuna is probably the coolest priest you are ever likely to meet.
He is a Franciscan Friar who lives in the Bronx, New York where he and the
brotherhood look after the poor and needy. He plays electric guitar and raps
his teachings to songs he writes himself. This is to get his message across
to people like me. His message was about the “Zipper Zone” and he asked people to think of the real meaning of the word LOVE and called for self-control. He spoke about sexually transmitted diseases and asked people to think of no sex before marriage. He was not embarrassing and he put things across in a good way. The marquee was full of young people from schools across the country and at the end they all stood up and cheered him. Fr Stan travels around the world, talking to young people and showing them that Christianity is not boring. He tells everyone to “unbore yourself” in a way that shows the good in you. He is trying to build a new cultural centre for the youth in the South Bronx and he asked for a giant, giant XXL size Oxford English Dictionary. His website is called www.francescoproductions.com I found the day a good experience and would happily go again next year. Between the lectures there was praise and worship sessions throughout the day. If people want to go they should know that it is a full on experience of Christian praying, singing, dancing and rejoicing. I would suggest people who attend church normally would be OK but others need to know what to expect. The next Bright Lights festival is at SPEC between Friday 7 July and Monday 10 July 2006. Cardinal Cormac says it is a wonderful occasion to enable young adults to be renewed and re-energised in their faith and I agree. There are more photos of the event in the ALIVE section of our website .......click here .. plus more about Fr Elias Chacour .. click here Click here to go back to the top |
 “Plugged-in” to Youth Emily Davis As a new parishioner with a background in youth ministry, friends amongst the youth in the Ss Alban and Stephen parish, and a new employee of the Catholic Evangelisation Services…it was kind of inevitable that I’d find myself involved with the young people here at some point. But I have to say, getting involved has been a complete delight. The existing Impact group, which is for years 10–13, and meets on Sunday at 7:45pm – 9:15 pm, decided they wanted to run the new ‘Plugged In’ YouthCaFE, to explore faith together, and to help them refocus on their reason for meeting (i.e. reconnect as a group, with God). It also seemed a great opportunity to open up the group to other young parishioners – having a short course to invite them to. 
My involvement hasn’t needed to be much because there are such gifted leaders
amongst the group itself. I see some of my main tasks being getting there
a bit early to turn the heating on (essential!!), putting gaffa tape over
extension leads, and making sure the team who are leading get to pray together
before running the session. Meanwhile, five fantastic 17 year olds, are responsible
for small group leading, preparing and leading the whole group in prayer
at the end of the session, and – the other essential – catering! We’ve
had three really good sessions. Each week we’ve had over twenty teenagers gathering
together. There’s always a bit of fun, and catching up with friends and making
new ones, but at the heart of what we’re doing is exploring the Gospel together
and responding to it. ‘Plugged In’ YouthCaFE makes this very easy – the DVDs
are engaging and relevant, each week focussing on a different topic and based
around a young (or young-ish!) person’s personal experiences of faith, giving
plenty to talk about in our small groups. In terms of responding to what
we’ve talked about, in the last session, which focussed on the cross and
the sacrament of reconciliation, Fr Manus came in to hear confessions – an
opportunity lots of people took advantage of.For myself, meeting with other teenagers was key to my faith coming alive. I spent some of my teenage years attending the Upper Room prayer group in the parish hall, and I know from experience that the Holy Spirit moves powerfully when we gather together in Jesus’ name. These young people, faithfully gathering, excite me, because I know the Holy Spirit is at work amongst them and God is doing great things with them. If you’ve not seen anything of ‘Plugged In’ YouthCaFE, check out the trailer at www.youthcafe.org. Click here to go back to the top |
 Pope Benedict XVI’s Inaugural Mass, Rome, April 2005Mary Darby I was in St Peter’s Square in April for the Pope’s Inaugural Mass. Earlier in the year I had booked flights to Rome with the intention of attending the Beatification of Father Leo Dehon. Despite feeling sad at the Beatification not taking place in April as planned, I found myself present at this historic event.
For more about Pope Benedict XVI, and pictures from his inaugural Mass, have a look at the ALIVE section of our website .....click here to have a look
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| Eco-priorities, Part 2 Peter Berners-Lee 
Yikes. I am not pleased. I have a great liking for lentil soup
and I believe that a veggie burger, properly garnished can be nearly as delightful
as the real thing. I had inkling that there must be something
terribly wrong with annual holidays flying to distant sun-drenched beaches,
but this may simply have been sour grapes. The data comes from the people at www.bestfootforward.com
who have worked hard to compare the ecological footprint of such different
aspects. In my defense as a meat eater, I can point out that land used
for grazing sheep generally can’t be used for  much else. I suspect that every figure is open to scrutiny and there may be other analyses. But
I wanted to find someone who would give me some ideas about priorities and
perspectives and in a way that at least attempts to be objective, and now
I have. It looks as though having one more vegetarian meal a week is
more important than a number of other actions I could and should take.
Anyone for vegetable lasagna?Click here to go back to the top |
| Year 1905 Questions Answers 1. Which Pope was on the throne in 1905? Pope Pius X 2. Which English king was on the throne in 1905? King Edward VII 3. What two coins are these, minted in 1905? Florin (left) and Gold Sovereign (right) 
1905? Hitting the ground for the duration of the Wright brothers record breaking flight of 1905 5. How much energy is there in a Mars bar? About 200 billion calories, if you convert all the mass into energy according to E=mc2 (set forth by Einstein in 1905). I’ll stick to Cadburys Dairy Milk 6. Is everything relative according to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity? No. That’s not what Einstein meant when he put forward his theory of relativity in 1905. Think about it: “everything is relative” is itself an absolute statement. Einstein, like all physicists, believed that many things, such as the laws of nature, are absolutes. It’s thought that “everything is relative” was a misunderstanding by a journalist. The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy says that it’s astonishing that such a naff philosophy should have such popular appeal 7. Why do you need hay to fight fires in 1905? To feed the horses which pull the fire engines. Motor driven fire engines were only just appearing in 1905. Similarly with ambulances. 8. What was 1905 the centenary of? The Battle of Trafalgar 9. Who was Parish Priest of SS Alban and Stephen in 1905? Fr. Michael Tierney 10. How many OAPs lived in St Albans in 1905? None. Old age pensions didn’t come in until 1906 X Click here to go back to the top |
| Seasonal anagrams Some festive anagrams for your enjoyment. Have fun!
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Issue 3, NOVEMBER 04
Mary’s letter of thanks is reproduced below
months
ago, but we could not afford to follow it then. Now your generosity
will enable us to go ahead. This insurance is just one of the expenses
facing us – the main one being the beginning of the new school year in January
when we shall have 38 teenagers in secondary schools and polytechnics.
For all of them fees will need to be paid, and for the 19 new children who
have just completed their national primary school leaving examination we
shall have to buy uniform, books, and everything for a boarding life such
as mattresses etc. We pray that your Christmas season will be one of
many blessings as we expect ours shall be. 
After AYWL ... 
Project 2030