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Last Sunday, the 13th of July, Nadine Gordimer the Nobel winning South African novelist died. This week I have been thinking about the huge impact that her writing has had in shaping the person I am. I have read again some of her novels and been reminded of her visceral, poignant style of writing. It was in reading Nadine Gordimer as a young person 25 years ago that I came to see clearly the incredible destructive force of Apartheid. Her books are about a nation that destroys the lives of many, and yet their real genius is that they are intimate and particular.
For the second time in a week L’Arche gathered at Canterbury Cathedral. Still full of the joy of the double jubilee of L’Arche in France and the UK, we came to say goodbye to Thérèse Vanier, founder of the UK communities, here in Kent, where the seed was sown. Here was a Catholic Requiem at the beating heart of the Anglican Communion, a generous and appropriate gesture to one who was alive to the scandal of disunity, still achingly present in this Eucharist as the Very Reverend Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury, welcomed
Thérèse Vanier, co-founder of L'Arche UK, died peacefully on Monday, 16 June, aged 91. She was the dearly loved daughter of former Canadian Governor General Georges Vanier and his wife Pauline, the sister of Benedict, Bernard, Jean and Michel. A former consultant haematologist at St Thomas's Hospital, Thérèse was the co-founder of L'Arche UK and a palliative care specialist. The Requiem Mass will take place in Canterbury Cathedral (CT1 2EH) on July 10th at 12 noon. Vigils will be held in Kent and London
This beautiful obituary was featured in the 2014 Birmingham Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage booklets. On the first anniversary of his homegoing, we remember Mike with much love and deep gratitude. Many of us have fond memories of Mike going as far back to his days with Drowsy Maggie; his time at the Diocesan Youth Centre, Soli House; Charismatic Renewal gatherings; and on stage with his wife, Yvonne in Shenanigans; and many other settings besides.
Posted on: April 13, 2014
Karem Delly was born in Tel Keppe, in northern Iraq, on September 27, 1927 to Jarjes Murad Delly and Katrina Putros .He was baptized on October 6, 1927 by father Francis Kattola.When he completed his high school education, Delly enrolled at the St Peter seminary in Mosul on September 21, 1940. After studying philosophy for two years he was sent by Patriarch Emmanuel II Toma to Rome to further his education. Delly obtained a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
Posted on: April 10, 2014
Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch emeritus of Babylon of the Chaldeans died in hospital in San Diego, California on 8 April. He was 87 years old. The news was announced by Chaldean Church sources. The current Chaldean Patriarch, Raphael Louis Sako I, said Cardinal Delly "served the Chaldean Church for more than 60 years with dedication, first as a priest and then as Bishop and as Patriarch. He lived through the crises of his country: the revolution in 1958; the wars in the last decades; the persecution of Christians followed by the invasion of the USA.
Tributes have been pouring in to Dutch Jesuit Fr Francs van der Lugt who was killed yesterday in the besieged city of Homs. Fr Francs was shot twice in the head by an unknown sniper while he tended his small garden. Speaking from Syria, fellow Jesuit Fr Ziad Hillal explained that Fr Francs had been looking after a group of Christians trapped in the Old City who were sheltering in an old monastery. Several had managed to leave during a truce but 20 or more were still left and he had remained to take care of those who could not leave.
Posted on: March 28, 2014
Riccardo Carini was born in London in 1930 to Italian parents. His brother Romolo followed four years later. They were inseparable. Shortly afterwards Italy declared war on England, and the Carini brothers endured six years of war bearing an Italian surname in a London that was more openly xenophobic even than today. Young Riccardo was forged with the fierce family loyalties and staunch Catholicism typical of his Sicilian forbears. He was endowed with huge abilities – including an extraordinary appetite for hard work.
Rosemary Keenan, CEO Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster) writes: the For those of us who worked with James Manson Richards, known to us as Jim, his most outstanding attributes were his faith and commitment to children and families in need and the love he had for his own family and friends. Since he qualified as a Probation Officer and Child Care Officer in 1970, Jim Richards was a passionate advocate of children’s rights, concerned to address child poverty and a campaigner for excellence in adoption and children’s care services.
Posted on: February 27, 2014
Deacon Jim Richards, who served as head of the Catholic Children's Society, Westminster, for 16 years, died on Saturday, 22 February, 2014, the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, after a long illness. Jim was ordained as a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Westminster in July 2006. He is survived by his wife Diane and their two children. Rosemary Keenan, who succeeded Jim as CEO of the Catholic Children's Society Westminster said: "Deacon Jim Richards was a man of integrity and for whom the faith was a reality to be lived and expressed in all that he did.
Posted on: February 11, 2014
The priest who presided over Philip Seymour Hoffman’s funeral at the Church of St Ignatius Loyola in New York on Friday, has spoken of their 10-year friendship, and paid tribute to the actor's modest personality. Fr James Martin is a Jesuit priest who first met Hoffman when the actor asked him for advice in 2003 about the Labyrinth Theatre Company’s production of the off-Broadway play The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, which was directed by Hoffman. Five year's later, Fr Martin assisted Hoffman with writing the role of Fr Flynn in his 2008 film Doubt,
Posted on: January 14, 2014
The funeral of Paul Goggins, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, who died on 7 January, will take place at St John's Cathedral, Salford on Thursday 16 January at 12 noon. This will be a public service and Paul’s family have asked that donations to CAFOD, the Cardinal Hume Centre or Leukaemia Lymphoma Research are made instead of flowers. Chris Bain, Director of CAFOD, writes: I have known Paul and his wife Wyn for 40 years since our University days. I have always felt part of their wonderful extended family and seen their children grow up to be
Posted on: January 9, 2014
Tributes have been pouring in to ICN since the death of Paul Goggins MP was announced yesterday - from the many people who he worked with over the years, and whose lives he touched. Niall Cooper from Church Action on Poverty; Lewis Rose, Chair of Church Action on Poverty; Christine Allen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Christian Aid; Cathy Corcoran chief executive of the Cardinal Hume Centre write ...'Paul was an energetic, caring and deeply committed person who was enormously generous with his time and support.
Posted on: January 8, 2014
Following the sad news of the death of Paul Goggins MP, CAFOD's Chair of the Board of Trustees, Bishop John Arnold, has today hailed the huge contribution Paul made to supporting and furthering CAFOD's work over the last two decades. While serving as MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East from 1997 and as a minister in the Labour government from 2003 to 2010, Paul volunteered his own time to help the most disadvantaged in society, both in Britain and overseas.
Posted on: January 8, 2014
Catholic MP Paul Goggins has died after a short illness. He was 60 years old. Mr Goggins collapsed while out running with his son last week. Mr Goggins was MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Greater Manchester. In a statement his family said: "Last night Paul Goggins, our dear dad and husband, died in hospital in Salford with us by his side. We are completely heartbroken.
"He had been very ill since collapsing last week. The way in which he has been cared for at Salford Royal has been such a comfort to us and we can't thank the staff enough for this.
Posted on: January 2, 2014
Father Dermot Nunan, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, Lobster Road, Redcar died on Monday, 30 December 2013 after a relatively short but severe illness. Fr Nunan was born in Quianna, Limerick on 18 August 1941 to parents Thomas and Bridget, and was the youngest of seven children: Catherine, Margaret, John, Criena, Con and Tom. His early schooling was at the National School in Monaleen and St Munchin’s College, Limerick. Following his seminary formation at St Patrick’s Seminary, Thurles, he was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Middlesbrough in
Posted on: December 10, 2013
The Official UK Memorial Service for the late former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela will take place on Wednesday 11 December at 10.30am (Doors open at 10am) in St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4J. The service is open to all. The Address wil be given by Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Among the speakers there will be Sir Sydney Kentridge KCMG, QC who represented Nelson Mandela at his treason trial ..Mama Thembi Nobadula,
Posted on: December 6, 2013
Mgr Canon James Cronin, National Director of Missio in England and Wales spoke on behalf of Catholics throughout the two countries as he expressed his sorrow on hearing the news of the death of Nelson Mandela. "As Catholics we believe that death is not the end of life: it is a transition into the fullness of life with God and the end to which we all aspire. Life is the real 'long walk to freedom'. Our hearts have all been touched and enriched by the magnificent example of such a great man."
Posted on: December 6, 2013
By: Frances Correia and Peter-John Pearson
As the world learns of the death of Nelson Mandela, Thinking Faith asks two South Africans to reflect on the life and legacy of a great leader. Frances Correia and Fr Peter-John Pearson tell us what Madiba means to them. Frances Correia writes: I was 16 when the ANC was unbanned. We were sitting, appropriately, in our History class and suddenly over the school loudspeaker they began to play FW de Klerk’s speech from the radio. As a Catholic school we were, by South African standards in 1990, very unusually multi-racial.
Posted on: December 6, 2013
Following the sad news of Nelson Mandela's passing, CAFOD's Director Chris Bain has issued the following statement: "Today, we have lost a brother, a leader, and a legend. But more than ever now, we must dedicate ourselves in Nelson Mandela's memory to the fight for freedom, peace and justice. The greatest honour we can pay him - the legacy that he warrants - is that we build the world he wanted to see: a world free from any form of division, whether between black or white, rich or poor, man or woman.
Posted on: December 6, 2013
Pope Francis paid tribute to Nelson Mandela this morning, expressing his hope that the late President's example will inspire generations of South Africans to put justice and common good at the forefront of their political aspirations. The Pope's words came in a telegramme of condolences that he sent to the South African President, Jacob Zuma. The full text follows: It was with sadness that I learned of the death of former President Nelson Mandela, and I send prayerful condolences to all the Mandela family, to the members of the Government and to all
Posted on: December 5, 2013
Prayers are being said around the world for Nelson Mandela, following the announcement of his death late last night by the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. Mr Zuma said: "Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has departed. He is now resting. He is now at peace. Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father." Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "How blessed we have been.
Posted on: November 26, 2013
The readings in today’s funeral Mass tell us how the significance of the things we do, not least for others, will follow us in the memory of others, even the eternal mind of God. Yet at the same time, there is a paradox that the grains and seeds which we plant must die before they can bear such fruit. In the midst of life we are in death, facing deaths of relationships, death of a future we held to be precious, but we are also in moments of resurrection, experiences of rising above much that would drag us down in all sorts of situations, moments of freedom from all those
Posted on: November 12, 2013
Reverend Dr Jerome Murphy-O'Connor OP died yesterday, 11 November 2013, in Jerusalem. He was 78. Fr Jerome was a Dominican priest, a leading authority on St. Paul and Professor of New Testament at the École Biblique in Jerusalem. He was a cousin to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. Born on 10 April 1935 to Kerry Murphy-O'Connor and Mary McCrohan, Fr Jerome was the eldest of four children. He attended the Christian Brothers College in Cork, going on to study at the Vincentian run Castleknock College in Dublin.
Posted on: October 15, 2013
The Diocese of Middlesbrough is sad to announce the death of The Right Reverend Monsignor Canon Kevin Coughlan RIP, a priest of the Diocese retired from active ministry who had served as Vicar General. Monsignor Kevin Coughlan died on the morning of Monday 14 October 2013. Monsignor Coughlan was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough on 18 January 1929. He was one of five children born to Daniel and Mary Coughlan - Moira, Margaret, Gerard, James and Kevin.
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