The world produces enough food for everyone, but it is not shared equally. In our world, in 2013, one in eight people do not have enough to eat. 870 million people struggle every day to put food on the table, and of course many families in the UK are coping with this too. The way that food is grown, sold and shared out is not working for the world’s poorest people. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

CAFOD is working with 170 other organisations as part of the Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign. The ‘IF’ refers to key changes that need to be made to the global food system to make it fairer for everyone. There is Enough Food for Everyone….

IF we force governments and investors to be honest and open about the deals they make in the poorest countries that stop people getting enough food.

IF governments keep their promises on aid, invest to stop children dying from malnutrition and help the poorest people feed themselves through investment in small farmers.

IF we stop poor farmers being forced off their land, and use the available agricultural land to grow food for people, not biofuels for cars.

IF governments stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries, so that millions of people can free themselves from hunger.

The key point is simple: when the G8 leaders come to the UK this June, they have the power to act on global hunger IF enough of us demand urgent action.

So what can you do? CAFOD would love you to come along on June 8 to ensure the G8 leaders hear our demands for a food system that works for the world’s poorest. There will be an ecumenical service in Westminster Central Hall at 11.30pm and a rally in Hyde Park from 2pm, which will include music, speakers and activities for the family. It promises to be a great day with an unforgettable atmosphere.

Many parishes are signing Hungry for Change cards to tell the Prime Minister that we need a food system that works for all. Then the ‘loaves’ and ‘fishes’ parts of the cards are being used to make a Big IF sign, which will be taken to London on June 8 to show the support of each parish.

In the UK we have a proud history of greeting the G8 leaders when they gather here! As many of you will remember, 70,000 people gathered in Birmingham in 1998 for the Drop the Debt campaign, and 250,000 went to Edinburgh in 2005 to make poverty history. Poverty isn’t history yet, but those demonstrations showed some of the world’s most powerful people that ordinary people care about their brothers and sisters around the world and expect the G8 to use their power for good, and will hold them to account. And the politicians sat up and took notice. The worldwide Jubilee Debt Campaign has helped to deliver 130 billion dollars of debt cancellation to the world’s poorest countries, helping 50 million more children to go to primary school. There is lots to encourage us.

But of course, great suffering and hardship continue. As Catholics we believe that we are all one body, the body of Christ. And if one part of that body suffers, we all suffer. It would be wonderful if a small group of people from each parish in the country came together in Hyde Park on June 8, showing the politicians just how deeply we care. IF we put our faith into action, IF we challenge ourselves to recognise Christ in the poorest, IF we act together, we will live out the gospel and help to transform our world. Please join us. Let’s make 2013 the beginning of the end of global hunger.

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PLEASE SPONSOR OUR TEAM!
Our exciting Fundraising Event for 2013 is in aid of International Faith Outreach, International Prison Outreach and The Cheerful Giver Fund.

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Saint Michael’s Church, easily seen on Moor Street in the city of Birmingham was originally built as a Meeting House for the Unitarian community in Birmingham in 1726. This was a time when many nonconformists were persecuted and their buildings burnt and attacked. Like the catholics of the time they disguised their places of prayer to look like domestic houses or factories. This explains the outward simplicity of the Church today.

In the later nineteenth century many workers were needed for the industries of Birmingham. The population was increased as people came in from the countryside and abroad to live and work in the city. As well as the small numbers of English catholics the catholic population was increased by people coming from Europe. Those who settled in the poorer parts of Deritend and Digbeth were in need of a Catholic Church for Holy Mass.

The Parish records show that the Catholics of this early mission were predominantly from Italy and Ireland as well as England. They bought the Meeting House building and after it was adapted for Holy Mass it was consecrated in 1862. Photographs from this time show the influences of the Italian parishioners in the decoration of the ornate sanctuary and altar.

After the Second World War the population of Birmingham was changed with the addition of many displaced and migrant people from Europe. Amongst these were the Polish people who had fought alongside the British armed forces including Father Franciszek Kacki, a chaplain for the Polish Air Force. In 1949 he became the first Parish Priest of the Polish Catholic Mission. He looked after the needs of the Polish Catholics for more than thirty years. He belonged to the religious order of the Canons Regular of the Lateran. This began sixty three years of association between the city of Birmingham and the Polish province of the Canons Regular of the Lateran.

The Church continued to serve the Polish Catholics of Birmingham and beyond as well as the local catholics and those who come in to the city centre for daily and week end Masses and confession. Since 2004 with Poland’s accession to the European Union, Birmingham has seen a large influx of young Polish people in search of work. There are now three priests serving the increased needs of the parish which includes 1500 Polish Mass goers and 400 English speaking Mass goers for Sunday Masses alone.

In 2010 Archbishop Longley asked the priests of the Canons Regular to live in the presbytery and serve the needs not just of the Polish but of the English speaking catholics as well.

The refurbishment of the church started in August 2012. From the start it was known that on such an historic building this would be a huge task and care was needed to enhance the sacred character of the place and the centrality of the celebration of the sacraments.

Archbishop Longley celebrated Mass on Saturday the 27th of April to consecrate the new altar and bless the lectern, font and tabernacle. He was joined by several local priests as well as the Abbot General of the Canons Regular of the Lateran from Rome Giuseppe Cipolloni; the Provincial Superior of the Polish province of the Canons Regular of the Lateran Marian Szczecina, the Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission of England and Wales Stefan Wylężek, the architect of the refurbishment Daniel Hurd and the artist Bartlomiej Roczniak. This was a great event which united in faith and prayer Polish and English speaking Catholics of the city.

Today with the need of greater evangelisation the church is open all day to be used by the visitors to the city centre in search of the presence of God. The two communities have worked together to achieve the restoration of this historic and important Church and will move forward together with the faith of all enriched by contact with the other.

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These words of encouragement were given by Archbishop Bernard Longley to the Permanent Deacons of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, during his challenging homily at the annual Mass of Renewal for Deacons, at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad, Birmingham, on Saturday, 11 May.

Speaking on the theme of service, the Archbishop of Birmingham, emphasised: “Christ serves the sick as you visit them at home or through your hospital chaplaincy work.  He comforts and guides those who have gone astray through your dedicated chaplaincy to those who are in prison.  He instructs young people and enables them to flourish through the chaplaincy you offer in our schools.  Christ upholds and strengthens the bereaved as you pray with them for the faithful departed in funeral services and at the graveside.”

Archbishop Bernard Longley added: “These are some of the more obvious and visible ways in which you make the risen Lord sacramentally present in and through his Church – and there are other channels for your service for which we give thanks today.  You serve the bishops of the diocese in a particular and welcome way, through your contributions to the liturgy and to the Church’s mission to teach and evangelize.  You serve the wider diocese in a diverse range of administrative and organisational roles, offering valuable support to the lay faithful in many of the apostolates and associations that enrich the life of the Archdiocese.”

Bishop Philip Pargeter, Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham; Mgr Timothy Menezes, Vicar General; and the Director of Deacons, Fr David Bazen concelebrated the Mass with Archbishop Bernard Longley, assisted by 40 of the 82 Permanent Deacons who serve in parishes throughout the Archdiocese Birmingham. Many of the Permanent Deacons are married, and St Chad’s Cathedral was filled with their wives and members of their families.

After the homily, the Archbishop of Birmingham invited all the Permanent Deacons present to stand for the Renewal of Commitment to Diaconal Service which they had made on the day of their ordination. Among the questions asked by the Archbishop was: “Are you ready to renew your own dedication to serve Christ as deacons in his Church?” They answered in unison as one, “I am.”

Earlier, Archbishop Bernard Longley concluded his homily by speaking about the service of Pope Francis. He said: “In recent weeks the Church and the wider world have been inspired in a new way by the way in which Pope Francis has begun his universal ministry of service.  In gestures that speak clearly of Christ as servant the Holy Father has touched people and made them think about the true values and the central meaning of our Christian faith.  In a direct way he has been demonstrating the compassion and humility of the Lord whose own gestures illuminated his teaching and enabled people to listen to his words.

“Each succeeding Pope in his own way is the Servant of the Servants of God.  Deacons are called and commissioned by the Church to be servants of God after the heart and example of Christ himself.”

After Mass, the Director of Deacons, Fr David Bazen, who lives and works in St Francis of Assisi Parish in Kenilworth, Warwickshire confirmed that there are now 82 Permanent Deacons serving in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

Fr Bazen said explained: “The Permanent Deaconate is a four-year, part-time course and the next Diaconate Ordinations will be held on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July, when ten candidates will be ordained by Archbishop Bernard Longley.”
Fr Bazen added that one of the men to be ordained, Mr Max Ngamsha on 20 July, is from the Cameroon. He said: “There is great interest in his ordination as at present there are no Permanent Deacons in the Republic of the Cameroon in West Africa, and the Archbishop of Bamenda, Cameroon, will also take part in the liturgy.”

Next year, 2014 is the 25th Anniversary of the ordination of the first Permanent Deacons in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, by the late Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville. A series of special events are being planned to mark this important occasion in the life of the diocese.

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Pope Francis was elected during the afternoon of Wednesday, 13 March 2013, by the Cardinal-Electors during the fifth ballot of the Conclave in the Sistine Chapel. He is the 265th Successor of St Peter, the Supreme Pontiff, the Bishop of Rome, the Head of State of the Vatican City, and the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

A thorough reform of the Curia, which has become preoccupied with rules, regulations and ritual, is seen as a top priority on the agenda for Pope Francis.

Interestingly, instead of reappointing the Heads and members of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as their Secretaries, within 24 hours of his election, Pope Francis had decided, as the Holy See announced on Saturday, 16 March, that they should all continue, provisionally, in their respective positions.

The Vatican statement added: “The Holy Father wishes to reserve time for reflection, prayer, and dialogue before any final appointments or confirmation.”

Pope Francis is the first Pope from Latin America. He is the first non-European Pope since the 8th Century. He is the first Jesuit Pope. He is the first Pope to take the name Francis, after St Francis of Assisi, who identified with the poor. He was ordained a Jesuit priest on 13 December 1969.

To understand something of the thinking and strategy of Pope Francis it is necessary to understand Ignatian spirituality and the Jesuit way of doing things. During mid-April I met with Fr Gregory Brenninkmeijer, SJ, Socius (assistant) to the Director of Novices,

based at Manresa House in the Harborne area of Birmingham, and asked him to explain.

St Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556, a Spaniard of Basque origin, founded the religious Order, known as the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, of which he was the first Superior General, in September 1540.

Fr Gregory, a delightful Dutchman now in his mid-70’s, explained succinctly that the Jesuits draw inspiration from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola and the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus which its founder wrote during the last 15 years of his life.
St Ignatius of Loyola died on 31 July 1556, aged 65. He was Beatified on 27 July 1609 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12 March 1622 together with St Francis Xavier. His Feast Day is kept by the universal Church and by the Jesuits on 31 July.

Fr Gregory emphasised that the Apostolic Mission of the Society of Jesus is to draw people to God. To be able to do that Jesuits have to be men who are in contact with God themselves. He explained that every Jesuit will “examine” twice a day, at the end of the morning and in the evening where he experienced God during the previous hours. He will ask himself: what did I experience, how do I feel, and what did I do? How can I through prayer discern the will of God? How do I proceed? Then he will seek advice from competent advisors. This in turn leads to decisive action and change.

Pope Francis, who has never been a member of the Roman Curia or been based in Rome, revealed the first part of his strategy on Saturday, 13 April 2013, a month to the day since his election as Pope. The Vatican announced that Pope Francis had appointed a group of senior Cardinals to advise him on Church government and a revision plan of the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia. This news-breaking story received a significant amount of media coverage throughout the world

The statement from the Vatican Secretariat of State, read: “The Holy Father Francis, taking up a suggestion that emerged during the General Congregations preceding the Conclave, has established a group of Cardinals to advise him in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, Pastor Bonus.

“The group consists of: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State; Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago de Chile, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, India; Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Germany; Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley OFM, Archbishop of Boston, USA; Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia; Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, SDB, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in the role of Co-ordinator; Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, Italy, in the role of Secretary.”

The statement concluded: “The group’s first meeting has been scheduled for 1-3 October 2013. His Holiness is, however, currently in contact with the aforementioned Cardinals.”

Fr Gregory said: “Most religious orders fit certain characteristics, e.g., some were founded with a specific mission to teach boys, others girls, while others were founded to look after the sick and the poor. Being a Franciscan or a contemplative Benedictine does not suit everyone.

“St Francis of Assisi reflects a particular way of life that is humble, uncomplicated, direct, concrete and down to earth.”

Fr Gregory said: “After the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965, the Society of Jesus opted for the poor and took on board and embraced the Council’s teaching. The Jesuits try to change the structures that make the poverty. We have a passion for education and social justice. We reach out to the poorest and least in society.”

Fr Gregory stressed that: “The Jesuits go all out – for example as teachers, they will give their very best. We are always living in tension.” He added: “If we do not have the right men to undertake a particular task then we do not take on the work.”

Fr Gregory said that: “In Argentina, Fr Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, showed great leadership talent and was appointed as the Jesuit Provincial, 1973-1979.” Fr Gregory agreed that as Jesuit Provincial in Argentina Fr Jorge Bergoglio, SJ, was critical of Liberation Theology.

Fr Bergoglio was appointed Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, by Pope, now Blessed John Paul II, on 20 May 1992. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 28 February 1998. He was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 February 2001.

Fr Gregory recalled that as Archbishop of Buenos Aires the new Pope had lived a simple life and identified with the poor and the marginalised. He said: “The Society of Jesus moves with trends in the Catholic Church and since the Second Vatican Council it has moved more towards poverty. Therefore there is no conflict in Pope Francis following the Jesuit spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola, or the Franciscan spirituality of St Francis of Assisi.”

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio used public transport and travelled on buses rather than using taxis or a chauffeured car. He lived in a small flat and cooked his own meals rather than occupying his luxurious official residence. He served as President of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina from November 2005 until November 2011.

A news story, “Eyes on the Conclave”, published in “SJ”, the Newsletter of the British Province of the Society of Jesus, Issue 63, March 2013, included the following paragraph: “There are currently six Jesuit Cardinals, but only one of them will participate in the Conclave: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The other Jesuit Cardinal entitled to vote, Cardinal Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja of Indonesia, is unable to attend due to ill-health.”

Towards the end of our conversation, Fr Gregory Brenninkmeijer, SJ, said: “Blessed John Paul II taught what the Catholic Church is. Pope Benedict XVI (who resigned the Papacy on 28 February 2013) taught why the Catholic Church is and that Pope Francis is now showing how the Catholic Church is.”

Fr Gregory added: “Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI was at heart a professor, a great academic and theologian. He was not an administrator; hence he did not reform the Roman Curia. The Jesuit Pope Francis has a different way of looking at things.”

Since the surprise election of Pope Francis the Catholic Church has entered an exciting new era under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It will be most interesting to see whom Pope Francis appoints as his Secretary of State, the number-two man in the Vatican. It is likely that he will be a Cardinal from a country in the Southern Hemisphere, a part of the world where the Catholic Church is flourishing!

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A new residential project and retreat base for 14-25 year olds will be based in the Lord Shrewsbury Hotel, Alton Village, offering dynamic and prayerful retreat programmes that incorporate the excellent work of Soli House.
To raise funds for this exciting new development in our Diocese, and in collaboration with Catholic Today, we will be launching a unique fund raising event.

This Autumn we invite you to join us on The Kenelm Challenge as we walk, run or cycle The Kenelm Way, a 50 mile ancient pathway linked with the legend of St Kenelm, the very Saint who inspired the name of our new Trust!
Our journey will take us from the Clent Hills in South West Birmingham,  the scene of his death,  south across Worcestershire into Gloucestershire to his burial place, Winchcombe in the Cotswolds.

Would your Parish/School like to take part and help us raise funds for the future new Centre for Youth Ministry (the New Soli) in our Diocese? If so, please contact Debbie at Alton Castle on: 01538 703224 (debbie@altoncastle.co.uk) or Tasha on: 01782 745600 (tasha@alivepublishing.co.uk)

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Nowhere is this best illustrated than in Blessed Dominic’s early years in Stone, Staffordshire from 1842. Having established himself in Aston, he would walk daily into Stone to teach the Catechism and celebrate Mass. Father Alfred Wison C.P. in his biography of Blessed Dominic published in 1967, recounts that a gang of young people would await him by the roadside to insult him and then pelt him with stones of all sizes. Once, Dominic was injured on the head, but he never retaliated – he picked up the stones, kissed them and often put them into his pocket of his habit.

This continued for months – as he entered Stone, crowds would rush out to stare at him and shout insults at him. Everyone seemed to mock him.
Blessed Dominic persevered with his talks at the Crown Inn at Stone where he had rented a room. Many people wanted to attend, so as Father Alfred records, plans were set afoot to create a disturbance during his lectures. Horses in nearby stables were disturbed to make a noise and drunken men were encouraged to sing! Any method of noise was employed to try to stop him in his teaching of the faith.

Blessed Dominic was unperturbed and often stood and recited the rosary for his opponents. In time he won them round – although he himself admitted that it had caused him a lot of suffering, but at all times he remained convinced of his mission. He once remarked ‘If I could write a book, I could not explain adequately all the difficulties, the distress, the crosses that God has sent me since I left Italy’. ‘Blessed Dominic Barberi, Supernaturalized Briton’, Alfred Wison 1967 Sands and Co. Limited Ch. XXV.

What Father Alfred calls Blessed Dominic’s exterior crucifixion began to bear fruit. Lapsed Catholics returned to the faith, people asked to be instructed in the faith and so because of the increased numbers of people, a chapel had to be built. In April 1844, a small church dedicated to St Anne was opened in Stone. The light of the Resurrection was beginning to shine through.

People now came in great numbers to hear Blessed Dominic preach and stopped making fun of him in the street. They began to recognise something different about him. Furthermore Blessed Dominic held his first outdoor procession of the Blessed Sacrament – it was overflowing with people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Blessed Dominic’s shear determination and holiness had dawned on the people. In four years he had moved the people to love and respect. Now it was time for further development in the apostolate in England.

Next month we shall look at the devotion Blessed Dominic had for the Virgin Mary.

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The Archbishop of Birmingham stressed: “The Government’s legislation for same-sex marriage will further undermine this view of the family.  Government policy cannot foresee the full consequences for the children involved or for wider society of being brought up by two mothers without a father’s influence or by two fathers without a mother’s influence.  We first learn about diversity and acquire a respect for difference through the complementarity of our parents.”

Archbishop Longley said: “As Catholics we are not claiming to better than others, since we have the same struggles as everyone else to live a good life.  But we have received from the risen Christ a light to show us the way and he has told us to share that light with others.

“The circumstances in which we live our faith as Catholics today are different from those of previous generations.  The basic message of God’s love in Jesus Christ remains the same, but the challenges that we face are different.  We have to prepare ourselves to face those challenges so that the message of the risen Christ is not ignored, distorted or undermined.”

Archbishop Bernard Longley emphasised: “The complementary love of father and mother is a precious gift that we should wish for every child.  We know that many single parents courageously and generously look after their children and often struggle to give them a fine up-bringing. 

“If it had not been for the understanding of St Joseph, Our Lady herself might have had to face the difficulties of being a single parent.  Even so, the experience of growing up with our father and mother to teach and guide, to console and love us unconditionally is an invaluable blessing in life.”

The Archbishop of Birmingham was the Principal Celebrant and Preacher at the special Mass, promoted and organised by the Catholic Men’s Society, that has taken place each year in Birmingham since 1919.

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The Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, said during his Easter Vigil homily: “It is significant that we have not stayed at home tonight as if we regarded the Resurrection as something to be celebrated privately for those of us privileged enough to have faith.

“We have gathered in this very public way, as Catholics are gathering all over the world. We must witness before the world to the truth of Christ’s rising from the dead and its impact on us and on the whole world.

Easter emboldens us so that we are no longer frightened or bewildered by a world that seems to be going badly astray. We need to see the world with our eyes opened and clear and illumined by the light of the resurrection.

Archbishop Longley emphasised: “Easter does not overturn Good Friday – our Lord’s great outpouring of love for us cost him his suffering and death – but his resurrection means that we and our world can be changed by his sacrifice. The Cross is not forgotten – it is now transformed into the life-giving sign of his victory over sin and death.”

Archbishop Bernard Longley Concluded: “Easter means new life: not the destruction of our old life, not conquering the world by power or coercion but seeking its gradual transformation as the light of Christ penetrates and reveals the beauty and holiness that were formerly hidden in the dark.

“Easter demands a new attitude from us because the world, with all its sinfulness and corruption, is the very world that God has always loved. He wants it to be made beautiful through the forgiveness of sins.

Archbishop Longley was the Principal Celebrant and Preacher at the Easter Vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday, 30 March, at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad, Birmingham.

The first part of the Easter Vigil took place in the bitter cold outside the Cathedral Crypt. The Archbishop of Birmingham blessed the fire and prepared and lit the 2013 Paschal Candle, which was then carried by the Deacon, Fr Paul Moss, in procession, into the warmth of the Cathedral. Twice the Deacon held the Paschal Candle aloft and sang “Lumen Christie”, “The Light of Christ”.

Once the congregation, holding lighted candles, were back inside the darkened Cathedral, the Deacon sang “Lumen Christie” for a third time and placed the Paschal Candle in its stand, before he sang the Easter Exultet.

The Second Part, the Liturgy of the Word included three readings from the Old Testament. Archbishop Longley then intoned the Easter, Gloria in excelsis Deo, one of the high point of the Easter Vigil. The bells rang out and the sound of the organ reached every corner of the great Pugin Cathedral, now symbolically filled with light and the joy of the Risen Christ.

After the New Testament reading, Archbishop Longley solemnly intoned the great Easter Alleluia which was repeated by the congregation. The Gospel, a vivid account of the resurrection, according to St Luke, was read before the Archbishop gave his homily.

The Baptismal Liturgy followed. After blessing the baptismal water, which included holding the Paschal Candle in the water, the Archbishop asked the four adult candidates – and a baby – their Godparents, and Sponsors, to make their Baptismal Promises and renounce sin and Satan. The congregation, holding lighted candles, also renewed their Baptismal Promises.

Archbishop Longley then received a number of adults into Full Communion with the Catholic Church and then administered the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Archbishop and all the priests present held their hands outstretched over the candidates and prayed that God would pour out the Holy Spirit on them. The Archbishop dipped his right thumb in the Oil of Chrism and made the sign of the cross on the forehead of each candidate and said: “Be sealed with the Gift of the holy Spirit.”

The Liturgy of the Eucharist followed. Canon Gerry Breen, Cathedral Dean; the new Rector, Fr David Oakley of St Mary’s College, Oscott, the Diocesan Seminary; members of staff, and other visiting priests, concelebrated the Mass with the Archbishop of Birmingham.

Before he gave the final blessing, Archbishop Bernard Longley wished everyone a very Happy Easter and encouraged them to pray for Pope Francis as he began his Petrine Ministry at the start of a new era for the Catholic Church.

A memorable Easter Vigil, which lasted more than 2½ hours, ended with the wonderful recessional hymn, Jesus Christ is risen to-day, Alleluia!

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Archbishop Bernard Longley accompanied by Bishop David Urquhart, the Anglican Bishop of Birmingham, led the annual Good Friday Walk of Witness through the streets of Birmingham city centre.

More than 200 people from different Christian traditions took part in the Walk of Witness on a cold but bright morning, 29 March 2013.

In St Michael’s Catholic Church, Moor Street, Archbishop Bernard Longley read an extract of the Passion from the Gospel according to St Mark, and prayed that: “The Good News of Jesus may be proclaimed to the ends of the earth.”

Singing traditional hymns including, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “There is a green hill far away”, the members of the Christian communities made their way along the length of New Street to the statue of Queen Victoria in front of the old Birmingham Town Hall.

Here an extract of the Passion was read by Fr David Oakley, the New Rector of Mary’s College, Oscott, the Diocesan Seminary, who said a prayer for the citizens and the City of Birmingham.

The Walk of Witness continued along Colmore Row to St Philip’s Anglican Cathedral, where Bishop Urquhart read a further extract from the Passion and said a prayer for peace in the world.

The Walk of Witness then made its way to the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad, where Stations of the Cross were led alternately by the Archbishop and the Bishop of Birmingham.

At the end, Archbishop Bernard Longley said a prayer for the ministry of Archbishop Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishop David Urquhart said a prayer for the ministry of Pope Francis.

This was a deeply symbolic ecumenical moment by two well-known Birmingham Church Leaders at the start of a new era for the Anglican Communion and for the Catholic Church world-wide.

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