Newyddiadur Swyddogol Esgobaeth Caerdydd Official Newspaper of the Archdiocese of CardiffIssue 278 February 2020

Catholic People Pick upyourFREE

copy today

A double blow for Belmont Abbey

Pictures by James Campbell

Belmont Abbey has suffered a double losswith the death of two of its monks withinweeks of each other.

Dom David Bird was described by AbbotPaul Stonham as “loveable and eccentric”and a popular school chaplain and wassought after by many of his boys and girlsas a confidante, advisor and confessor dueto his caring and fatherly nature and hisability to listen in a non-judgemental way.

Abbot Paul pays a full tribute to DomDavid on page 4.

It is just a year since I covered the

ordination of Dom Alistair Findlay. A lovelyman he had spent 35 years as a teacherbefore becoming a monk and going on tobecome a much-loved priest.

His Requiem Mass took place onWednesday 29 January, 2020 and AbbotPaul delivered a moving eulogy, spiced withhumour but underlining the contributionDom Alistair had given to the monasticcommunity and to the local community inhis much-loved role as a pastor.

A tribute to him is on page 5.May both Bro David and Bro Alistair rest inpeace.The Editor

Priests, headed by Archbishop GeorgeStack, process from the Abbey Church

of St Michael and All Angels after theRequiem Mass for Dom Alistair Findlay

The Rt Rev Dom Paul Stonham,Abbot of Belmont, delivered amoving eulogy to Dom Alistair

2 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

Editorial Dr James Campbell-Editor. Archbishop’s House, 43 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HD

Tel: (029) 2022 0411 Fax: (029) 2037 9036 Email: publications@rcadc.org and Articles to be receivedby the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month

Advertising Tel: 0151 709 7567

Designed & Produced Mersey Mirror, Suite 4, Pacific Chambers, 11-13 Victoria Street, Liverpool L25QQ. Tel: 0151 709 7567 Fax: 0151 707 1678 Email: post@merseymirror.comSubmission of photographs Please note photographs submitted for publication must be in jpeg orpdf format. Those in Word format cannot be accepted

Your Catholic People…

ARCHBISHOP GEORGE’S ENGAGEMENTS

FEBRUARY 2020

Saturday 1 Enthronement of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann Newport Cathedral

11am

Tuesday 4 Meeting of Diocesan Trustees Archbishop’s House 10.30

Thursday 6 Assembly at Cardinal Newman School RCT 10am

Friday 7 Education Meeting Pastoral Resources Centre 12.00

Sunday 10 International Committee for English in the Liturgy

Washington

Monday 17 Return from ICEL meeting Washington

Thursday 20 Memorial Mass Westminster Cathedral 11.30

Monday 24 Parish Meeting Our Lady of Lourdes Gabalfa 11.00

Wednesday 26 Mass for Ash Wednesday St. David’s Cathedral 12.00

Lenten Station Mass 7pm

Thursday 27 Trustees Safeguarding Training PRC 6.30

Friday 28 Lenten Lunch Cornerstone 1.30

FOOD FOR THE BODY - FOOD FOR THE SOUL

CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE GOD WHO

SPEAKS AT THE CORNERSTONE

Following last year’s successful series of Lenten Reflections,delivered by a range of speakers, the Cornerstone will play host,again, to a series of talks on each of the Fridays of Lent.

As we are now in the Year of the Word, speakers have been invited togive us an insight into how the Scriptures have shaped and influencedtheir personal Faith journey. The series opens with one of the Diocese’sScripture Champions, while other weeks will include talks by seniormembers of the Benedictine, Dominican and Rosminian Orders. Thepresentations will also provide a chance for a reflection on the Scripturereadings for the following Sunday,

The format will be similar to previous years in that there will be a soupand roll lunch served from 1.15.pm There is no specific charge for thesoup and roll though a donation towards the charitable work of theDiocese is always welcome. Each talk starts at approx 1.30pm and thelunchtime event should be finished by approx 2.30pm

If you have not yet decided what to do for Lent—make anappointment with the Lenten Talks @the CornerstoneThe schedule for the Fridays of Lent is set out below:Friday 28th February - Kate Duffin, Scripture Champion, Archdiocese

of Cardiff Friday 6th March - Christian Mahoney-Chair of Governors, St David’s

College, CardiffFriday 13th March - Fr Chris Fuse IC, Provost Provincial –Institute of

Charity (Rosminians)Friday 20th March - Fr Michael Akpoghiran O.P. - Director of

Evangelisation, MeneviaFriday 27th March – Michael & Nora Woodward - Charismatic Renewal Friday 3rd April - Abbot Paul Stonham OSB- Belmont Abbey

Let BiblicalInspirationFire YourImagination!3 minute reading and meditation with TeresaO’DriscollEmail: teresa@teresaodriscoll.co.uk

You will need a bible, a chair, and few minutesalone

Jesus opened the book and found the placewhere it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord isupon me, because He has anointed me topreach the good news to the poor.”Luke 4:17-18

We are already many weeks into the newliturgical year which has been dedicated toencouraging us to read our Bible regularly. Areyou though, viewing the year of the God WhoSpeaks out of corner of your eye? Whilevaguely promising yourself, that, of course youwill read your Bible more… when you gettime! Apologies. I’m not having a go. It’s justwhat we do isn’t it? Put off even the mostbeautiful and beneficial things. But I am soconfident that if you begin to read even ashort Bible passage daily it will sweeten yourlife. And I humbly suggest that by using thesimple method outlined below that’s well-doable.

1. Read Luke 4:16-22

2. Sit up straight and close your eyes. Breathein deeply through the nose. Hold a fewseconds. Breathe out through the mouth andas you do so feel the whole of your body relax.

3. Now meditate for a few moments on thefact that Jesus announced His earthly missionby quoting from scripture – in this case fromthe book of the prophet Isaiah. And Hecontinued quoting scripture regularly.

4. Now say this prayer – or one of your own –‘Dear Lord Jesus, I know that You want YourWord to be a crucial ingredient of my spiritual

food. So I beg You to help me make this partof my daily life. I ask this through the sameChrist our Lord. Amen’

5. When you are ready breathe in and outdeeply as before. Then open your eyes andhave a big stretch.

Wishing you success with this endeavour.God blessTeresaFor more on the above topic please seeTeresa’s blog:http://teresaodriscoll.blogspot.co.uk/Teresa O’Driscoll is the author of 9 Days toHeaven, How to make everlasting meaningof your life.

Homily of the Holy FatherThe humility and the common sense of Pope Francis was shown in his Homily delivered inthe Sistine Chapel on 12 January, 2018, when he administered the Sacrament of Baptismto 32 new-born children – 17 boys and 15 girls

Like Jesus Who went to be baptized, you bring your children.Jesus answers John: “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (cf. Mt 3:15). Baptizing a child

is an act of righteousness for him. And why? Because we in Baptism give him a treasure, we inBaptism give him a pledge: the Holy Spirit. The child comes out (of Baptism) with the power ofthe Spirit within: the Spirit Who will defend him, will help him, throughout his life. That is why it isso important to baptize them as children, so that they grow up with the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is the message I would like to give you today. You bring your children today, [so that theymay have] the Holy Spirit within them. And take care that they grow up with the light, with thepower of the Holy Spirit, through catechesis, help, by teaching, with the examples you set athome... This is the message.

I do not wish to say any more loudly. Just a warning. Children are not used to coming to theSistine, it is the first time! They are not used to being cooped up in an environment that is also abit hot. And they are not used to being dressed like this for a party as beautiful as today. They willfeel a little uncomfortable at some point. And one will start crying... - The concert hasn't startedyet! - but one will start, then another... Do not be afraid, let the children cry and shout. But rather,if your baby cries and complains, perhaps it is because he is too hot: take something off; orbecause he is hungry: nurse him, here, yes, always in peace. Something I also said last year:they have a “choral” dimension: you just need one to give the go-ahead and they all start, andthe concert will start. Do not be afraid. When a child cries in church, it is a beautiful sermon.Make sure the baby feels good, and let us get on with it.

Don't forget: you are bringing the Holy Spirit into the children.

James Campbell

CATHOLIC PEOPLE 3

EditorialDigital hero pupilsCongratulations to the pupils of StMary’s Catholic Primary School,Cardiff (see page 8).

Young people aged 9 to 11, along withtheir iPads, have visited St David’sHospital, Cardiff, to link up withpatients and teach them the benefitsof being on line to keep in touch withfamily and friends.

But in a two-way engagement theelderly patients have been telling thepupils about what it was like in theirown childhood.

A splendid project!

Christian initiationOn this page is an article on the Riteof Christian Initiation of Adults,described by our Archbishop as “aprofoundly moving ceremony.”

Your editor can confirm this,recollecting his own welcome into theCatholic Church some 15 years ago.

Congratulations to all those involved inthe Rite.

Also on this page are some profoundlymoving words and advice from theHoly Father.

Do read them and strengthen yourfaith!

H. TOVEY • J. TOVEYJ. CORTEN • R. DALE

K. FOSTER • D. O’CONNELL

01633 266848Newport Funeral Home,

9/11 Cardiff Road, Newport(opposite Royal Gwent Hospital)

www.toveybros.co.uk

A trusted family business serving local families and the community in

South East Wales for six generations

THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITATION OF ADULTS1st SUNDAY OF LENT - 1 MARCH 2020

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults lies at the heart of ourLenten journey, writes Archbishop George Stack

Lent was originally the climax of the preparation for the EasterSacraments of converts from Paganism in the early Church. It alsobecame a time of reconciliation for those who had apostasised andneeded to do penance before they, too, were reconciled at the EasterMysteries.

The situation in our own day may not be too different! There are manypeople seeking Baptism as adults in the Catholic Church. There are alsothose who have been baptised in other Christian communities seekingFull Communion with the Catholic Church.

Hence the importance of proper preparation and instruction of theseconverts and inauguration into the life of our parishes.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a profoundly movingceremeony which will take place on the 1st Sunday of lent in St. David’sCathedral, Cardiff, at 3pm.

It is a very public expression of the theology and pastoral care of theChurch for the Catechumens and those seeking Full Communion. Ifthere are people in the parishes being so prepared, please invite themto attend this important event.

Their names will be included in the “Book of the Elect” which is animportant part of the ceremony. Please ensure the names of thecandidates and the parishes are sent to Frances Bibey at the PastoralCentre by Friday 21 February so that they may be inscribed properly.

“A profoundly moving ceremony” - ArchbishopGeorge

‘Without a name one remains an outsider’Pope Francis reflects on the Rite of Reception in anaddress made last Easter during his WednesdayAudience in St Peter’s.

In the Rite of Reception, the candidate’s name isrequested, because the name indicates a person’s identity.When we introduce ourselves we say our name right away:“My name is ...”, so as to emerge from anonymity; ananonymous person is one who has no name.

To emerge from anonymity we immediately say ourname. Without a name one remains an outsider, withoutrights and duties. God calls each one by name, loving usindividually, in the concreteness of our history. Baptismignites the personal vocation to live as Christians, which willdevelop throughout our lifetime. And it entails a personalresponse, not taken on loan, with a “copy and paste”.

Christian life bound to God

Christian life in fact is woven with a series of calls andresponses: God continues to pronounce our namethroughout the years, making his call to become conformedto his Son Jesus resonate in a thousand ways. Thus, one’sname is important! It is very important! Parents think aboutthe name to give to a child even before birth: this too ispart of expecting a child who, in his own name, will havehis original identity, also for the Christian life bound to God.Of course, becoming Christian is a gift which comes fromon high. One cannot buy faith, but ask for it, yes; andreceive it as a gift, yes. “Lord, give me the gift of faith” is abeautiful prayer! “That I may have faith” is a beautifulprayer. Asking for it as a gift, but it cannot be bought; it isasked for. Indeed, Baptism is “the sacrament of that faith bywhich, enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, werespond to the Gospel of Christ”.

A sincere faith awakens

The formation of catechumens and the preparation ofparents, as listening to the Word of God in the verycelebration of Baptism, tend to generate and reawaken asincere faith in response to the Gospel.

Whereas adult catechumens personally manifest whatthey wish to receive as a gift from the Church, children arepresented by their parents, with the godparents. Thedialogue with them allows them to express the wish thatthe children receive Baptism and allows the Church toexpress the intention to celebrate it. “These purposes areexpressed in action when the parents and the celebranttrace the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the

children.” The sign of the cross ... marks with the imprint ofChrist the one who is going to belong to him and signifiesthe grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross.

The Sign of the Cross

In the ceremony we make the sign of the Cross on thechildren. But I would like to return to a subject that I havetalked to you about. Do our children know how to make thesign of the Cross properly? So often I have seen childrenwho do not know how to make the sign of the Cross. Andyou, dads, moms, grandpas, grandmas, godfathers,godmothers, must teach them how to make the sign of theCross properly, because it is repeating what was done inBaptism. Do you understand clearly? Teach children how tomake the sign of the Cross. If they learn it as children theywill do it well later, as grown-ups.

The Cross is the badge that shows who we are: ourwords, thoughts, gaze, works are under the sign of theCross, that is, under the sign of Jesus’ love to the very end.Children are marked on the forehead. Adult catechumensare also marked, on all their senses, with these words:“Receive the sign of the cross on your ears, that you mayhear the voice of the Lord”; “Receive the sign of the crosson your eyes, that you may see the glory of God”; “Receivethe sign of the cross on your lips, that you may respond tothe word of God”; “Receive the sign of the cross over yourheart, that Christ may dwell there by faith”; “Receive thesign of the cross on your shoulders, that you may bear thegentle yoke of Christ” We become Christians

4 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

“Christ is risen! He is risen indeed”The Rt Rev Paul Stonham, Abbot

of Belmont Abbey, delivered thistribute at the Requiem Mass for

Dom David Bird on Tuesday, 14thJanuary 2020

One of Fr David’s favourite stories wasthat of the Bolshevik army, with itscommander-in-chief, arriving at aSiberian village in 1917. Afterharanguing the poor villagers for acouple of hours in the freezing cold onthe glories of the Russian Revolution, heturned to the old parish priest, “And whatanswer do you and your God give tothat?” The old man faced the crowd andcried out, “Christ is risen!” to which thevillagers shouted back, “He is risenindeed!”

That true story tells us much about FrDavid’s life and faith. His whole beingwas centred on the Risen Christ, hisIncarnation, Death and Resurrection. Helived and breathed Christ, For Fr Davidthere was no other reality greater ormore important. The Resurrection wasthe answer to all life’s questions, theanswer to man’s search for God and hisquest for meaning and truth. “Christ isrisen! He is risen indeed!”

The beginning of his vocation

John Patrick Bird was born to Cecil andMargaret Bird (née Hughes) at StourportHospital on 31stMarch 1937. His fatherwas manager of Lloyd’s Bank,Bridgenorth. Before his second birthday,his parents moved to Hereford and itwas here that John spent his formativeyears. His mother was a close friend ofSr Philippa of the Poor Clares atBullingham.

The nuns loved baby John and hismother would pass him into theenclosure by way of the turn, so that thenuns could cuddle and play with him.Could that have been the beginning ofhis vocation? It was at Hereford too thathis sister Monica was born 9 years afterJohn. When she was still a baby, Johnwas sent off to school with the SalesianFathers at Cowley, but he didn’t like itthere, so, at the age of 13 he came toBelmont as a dayboy. When his parentsmoved to Stow in the Wold, he becamea boarder. His father served in the armythroughout the war and always said hemuch preferred the war to working in abank! John was very much like hisfather.

He loved reading

As he grew up, John developed acertain absentmindedness. Once whenhis trunk was sent home at the end ofterm, his mother was surprised, onopening it, to find nothing but a sock. Onanother occasion, his parents werewaiting for him at the station. As onetrain after another came and went, theyfinally walked to the police station.

Enquiries eventually led to thediscovery that John was still sitting onthe platform at Hereford station. He wasso engrossed in his book he hadforgotten why he was there. John lovedreading and, when stuck into a book,became oblivious to what was going onaround him. He was beginning to live ina world of his own. On finishing school,John remained at Belmont as acandidate for the monastic life. He neverlived a normal life, never had to findwork or hold down a job and never had

the responsibility of providing for a wifeand family.

John was clothed as a novice on 28thSeptember 1955 by Abbot MauriceMartin and given the name David. Hemade his Temporary Profession a yearlater and was solemnly professed on29th September 1959. He studied forthe priesthood at Belmont and wasordained on 1st June 1961, togetherwith Fr Illtud.

By now he was seriously interested inTheology and so he was sent study for aLicense with the Dominicans at Fribourgin Switzerland. In those days theteaching of Theology was done in Latin,but for everything else French was used,so David began to learn French. Wedon’t know how proficient he became,but he loved telling the story of his firstsermon in French. It was given at awoman’s penitentiary in Paris to a largegroup of prostitutes.

The only subject he could talk about inFrench was ecumenism, so that is whatthe poor ladies were subjected to.Bishop Mark, who was studying FrenchLiterature at Fribourg, remembers Davidrushing late into class carrying a largebottle of Chianti and leaving it on hisdesk. David was very open andstraightforward. Nothing was hidden. Hewas innocent in so many ways. He lovedwine, beer and whisky and was neverwithout his favourite pipe.

He enjoyed teaching

Fr David returned to Belmont and wasappointed to teach Theology to monksin formation and Scripture and Divinity inthe school. He also became curate to FrLuke on the Belmont Parish. He lovedhis subject and enjoyed teaching,although he could never be relied uponto remember the day or the hour of aclass.

He was a popular School Chaplain; hiscaring, fatherly nature and his ability tolisten in a non-judgemental way meantthat he was sought after by many of theboys and girls as a confidante, advisorand confessor. David was always fun tobe with and his room in the school,smelling of toast and coffee, was alwaysfull of young people talking loudly anddiscovering their faith in a positive,happy way.

Some thought he was rather avantgarde, yet his Theology was soundlyorthodox and traditional. The wonderfultributes from old girls and boys are amoving testimony to the lasting effect FrDavid had on their lives. It was BishopDaniel Mullins, who said that what madeBelmont such a good school was thefact that so many of its former pupilshad kept the Catholic faith. Fr David wasa keen ecumenist, forging relationshipswith Anglicans and Orthodox.

He was lovable and eccentric. Longbefore health and safety and low costairlines, he organised pilgrimages toChartres and Lourdes, usually combinedwith a week on the Costa Brava. Theytravelled by train, often having to gofrom one station to another by traipsingacross Paris and invariably getting lost.On one occasion a group of 30 boyswoke up at crack of dawn to findthemselves camped on a traffic islandsurrounded by rush hour traffic. Onanother, in a hurry not to miss the train,one of the boys picked up what he

thought to be the big communal tent. Noone took notice until, half way toToulouse, Fr David asked where it was.

A boy pointed not to a tent but to amailbag. Out of fear, a window wasopened and the mailbag thrown out.Boys constantly got lost, but on oneoccasion, when a boy lost his passport,David simply wrote the boy’s Christiannames in his own passport, declaring atthe Spanish border that the boy was hisson. As ever, he got away with it. Youhave probably heard the apocryphalstory of his burning down a monastery inAustria. The truth is, it was only a wing ofthe monastery!

Mission in Peru

In 1978, Fr David was asked by AbbotJerome to join Fr Luke at St Begh’s,Whitehaven, as assistant priest. In thosedays monks were not consulted on theirappointments.

Fr David returned from holiday to finda letter from the abbot on his bed andthat was that. Next day he packed hisbags and went north. He enjoyed histhree years in Cumbria, an experiencethat prepared him for the next stage ofhis life. In 1981, Fr David was chosen,together with Fr Luke and myself, tobecome a founding member of Peru’smission in Peru. He was thrilled. Hestudied Spanish in Cochabamba, Bolivia,with the Maryknoll Fathers and finallyarrived at Tambogrande on 20th August.Here he was to live and work for 9 ½years.

The Jesuit Archbishop FernandoVargas, who had invited us, suggestedwe live in this small country town inorder to get to know the Peruvian realitybefore actually founding the monastery.In fact, it was a vast parish of over100,000 souls with 123 villages spreadover 5,000 sq. km. Fortunately, theSisters of Notre Dame and the Sisters ofSt Joseph of the Apparition were alreadythere and together we trained an

excellent team of catechists andvolunteers. Through the hard work of FrDavid and everyone else, it became amodel parish.

The people and their way of lifefascinated David. For many years heproduced a newspaper called TheTambogrande Times for ourparishioners, friends and benefactorsback in the UK. It included a regularcolumn offering constructive criticism ofLiberation Theology.

Putting together this newssheet, hediscovered his flair for journalism and hislove of writing, skills he would developlater writing two books, The Royal Roadto Joy, published in 2003, and HeavenRevealed, in 2008. With the advent ofthe Internet, he would produce a highlyrespected blog, “Monks and Mermaids.”At Tambogrande and the villages, whichhe visited on his motorbike, hededicated himself to pastoral work, notonly celebrating fiestas and thesacraments but praying with the sickand dying.

Everybody loved Fr David, especiallychildren, who would follow him aroundlike he was the Pied Piper. He playedgames with them, made them laugh,spoke to them of the love of God, spentprecious time with them and enthralledthem with his imitations of farmyardanimals. He visited schools, chattingwith teachers and pupils, and wasinstrumental in the setting up severalvillage schools, including a secondaryschool at Progreso Bajo. He was full ofenergy and enthusiasm, yet asabsentminded and forgetful as ever.Although he returned to Cochabambafor a refresher course, he was neverfluent in the language, often slippingfrom Spanish to English without realisingit.

Not a happy relationship

When the time came to move to theMonastery of the Incarnation, built by Fr

CATHOLIC PEOPLE 5

Mark in San Lorenzo, David asked to remain atTambogrande, but on Fr Luke’s return toEngland, he was made parish priest of Cruzdel Norte, Piura. Here, to the horror ofArchbishop Oscar Cantuarias, he kept an openhouse for young men from Tambogrande whowere studying or working in the city. You canimagine the noise and the chaos.

Eventually, the Archbishop’s patience ran outand David had to go. He returned to Englandfor a while and was sent to look after theparish at Harrington, but he was heartbrokenand wanted to return to Peru. I pleaded withthe Archbishop to let David back and heeventually relented, offering David the parish ofNegritos, a coastal town 100 miles north ofPiura.

Here he worked for a number of years,enjoying the charismatic spirituality of theparishioners and the diet based on fish foundlocally in the Pacific. He was particularly happyin Negritos: he was his own boss and theArchbishop seemed a long way away.However, these bishops eventually catch upwith you and, if they don’t like the way you aredoing things, they ask you to leave. ArchbishopOscar and Fr David did not enjoy a happyrelationship.

God is good: when one door closes, anotheropens. Fr David was invited to the Diocese ofCajamarca to serve in the parish of San Miguelde Pallaques, high up in the Andes. This was acompletely new experience, accustomed as hewas to the deeply religious, affectionate andhospitable people of northern Peru.Nevertheless, he enjoyed his time at SanMiguel.

However, he was no longer a young man. Hewas now in his mid 60s and beginning todecline. His mind turned to the possibility ofjoining the monastic community that wasrelocating to Pachacamac, an hour south ofLima. However, before returning to themonastery, he worked for two years as acharismatic spiritual director in the formationhouse of a new Peruvian religious order atChosica on the central highway.

He finally came to the monastery in 2007and was appointed superior in 2008, a positionhe held with the faithful support of the Peruvianbrethren until 2016. One of his manyextraordinary feats was the erection of thelargest and tallest Cross of St Benedict in theworld on the mountaintop behind themonastery, a task accomplished with the helpof Peruvian Air Force helicopters. On a visit toEngland, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodkin’sLymphoma, which necessitated protractedtreatment with chemotherapy. He wasdistraught, but eventually, he returned toPachacamac, dedicating himself almostexclusively to his blog and corresponding withtheologians all over the world.

May he rest in peace

By the end of 2017, it was clear that Fr David’shealth made it impossible for him to remain inPeru. So it was that in February 2018 I met adowncast Fr David at Birmingham airport. Hesettled remarkably well to life at Belmont, butdreamt only of returning to his beloved Peru.He knew and we knew that this was not to be.To begin with he continued working on hisblog and kept contact with brethren andfriends in Peru, but gradually his healthdeteriorated and he was unable to do verymuch, other than pray, read and watch oldfilms on his laptop. His lifeline was Monica’sregular visit on a Saturday night to deliver hissupply of whisky and take him out to the ThreeHorse Shoes.

His dying wish was to go to the pub withMonica. After three years of grace, the cancerhad returned and this time there was noturning back from the road that leads to Godthrough the gateway of death. Early on NewYear’s Eve, he passed peacefully into the lifethat lies before us all. As St Paul reminds us,writing to the Romans, “All of us who possessthe first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groaninwardly as we wait for our bodies to be setfree.”

May his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.

Dom Alistair Findlay - a much loved monk and priest

The sudden death of Dom Alistair Findlay on Wednesday 15th January has deprived Belmont Abbey of amuch loved monk and priest. He had been ordained for little over a year, but made a lasting impression onthe congregation during his all too brief ministry.

Dom Alistair was a native of North East of England, proud of his northern roots. He trained as a teacher at BedeCollege in the University of Durham and spent 34 years in education. Having been baptised as a Methodist andconfirmed as an Anglican, he was received into the Church in 1994 whilst teaching in a Catholic school. He firstvisited to Belmont on retreat and then became a frequent visitor. In recent months, Dom Alistair had been leadingretreats, and had become Retreats Secretary and Procurator for the Monastery.

After taking early retirement in 2010 he came to test his vocation two years later. He entered the monastery as apostulant in July 2012, was clothed as a Novice on 1st February 2013, making his Simple Profession on 2ndFebruary 2014. Brother Alistair took his solemn vows on 4th September 2017 and became a full member of theBelmont Community.

He was ordained to the Diaconate on the Feast of St Lawrence, Martyr and Deacon, on 10th August 2018,having worked on a Licence in Monastic Theology and studied in Rome for three years at Sant’Anselmo and theMonastic Institute.

Dom Alistair was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace, Archbishop George Stack at Belmont Abbey onSaturday 12th January 2019, on the feast of St Benet Biscop, one of the great northern saints.

It is a great sadness for everyone that we will be returning to the Abbey Church for Dom Alistair’s funeral sosoon after that joyful occasion. His body will be received into the Abbey Church on Tuesday, 28th January, at7.45pm. His Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, 29th January, at 2.30pm.

Please pray for the repose of his soul, and for all the members of the Belmont Abbey community at this difficulttime.

The Abbey church was packed to overflowing in tribute to Dom Alistair

Abbot Paul delivered the Host to those who had gathered for the Requiem Mass

6 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

The Year of the Word in Merthyr Tydfil“Catholics don’t know the Bible!” That’s a claim I used to hearquite often when I was in Cameroon; I’ve also heard it said a fewtimes in the UK as well.

The suggestion is that Catholics can’t quote the Bible chapter andverse like some other Christians or that they don’t place as muchimportance on reading it as they do on other devotions. Whether that’strue or not, the Year of the Word is a wonderful opportunity for all of usto engage with the Word of God in new and deeper ways.

In Merthyr Tydfil we’ve started the Year of the Word by holding ‘TheBible Course’. It is a series of eight sessions, produced by the BibleSociety, that present the big picture of the Bible and how the variousbooks work together to make one story: the story of the relationshipbetween God and his people and our salvation in Christ. At variouspoints the video pauses and gives participants the chance to discusswhat they have have seen so far. Each week participants are given sixpassages of scripture to read in preparation for the following week’ssession.

The Word of God has power!

We’ve had about 40 people attending the course and it has also beengood to see some people turn up who are not Catholic, who areconsidering joining the Catholic Church or who have been away fromthe Church for a while. The Word of God has power!

Last year we ran another successful course: ‘The Big Picture BibleCourse’. It too is produced by the Bible Society and by CaFE (CatholicFaith Formation). It follows a similar format with weekly meetings, ashort DVD presentation and readings for each day of the week. Thedifference is that participants have a book and are invited to makeshort, guided meditations each day on a passage of scripture and theCatechism of the Catholic Church.

Street evangelisation call

At the start of each meeting the participants share in small groupswhat they have discovered by ‘digging’ into the scriptures the previousweek. Everyone who took this course really enjoyed themselves and formany people it was their first real engagement with the scripturesoutside the Sunday readings. It was while doing this course that we feltcalled as a parish to engage in street evangelisation.

On 1 January another group of parishioners began the journey ofreading the whole Bible in a year—from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation22:21. We produced and shared a reading schedule that we are

following together. Since we started, a fewothers have joined the group as the word—orshould that be Word?—has spread. It is lovelyto think that every day this year parishionerswill read prayerfully the scriptures and we’relooking forward to the fruits the Holy Spirit willbring us.

Gospel of Matthew

Reading the whole Bible in one year is a bigundertaking (although, it only works out at twoor three chapters or about 15 minutes a day).Therefore, we’re planning to invite ourparishioners to read the whole of the Gospel ofMatthew during Lent. Parishioners can use

either their own Bibles or the Gospel ofMatthew books that were given out at the startof the Year of the Word and we’ll publish areading plan in the newsletter each week. Inaddition to the various observances Catholicstraditionally make during Lent, we think thisone is particularly suitable for the Year of theWord.

Do Catholics know their Bible? I’m not sosure. In any case the parish is determined thatby the end of this year Catholics in MerthyrTydfil will have had many opportunities both toknow better and engage deeper with the Wordof God.

Fr Christopher Hancock MHM

THE 2020 WELSH NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES - 19TH – 24TH JULYPilgrims depart Cardiff Airport by chartered flight and are transferredfrom Lourdes Airport to the town by prearranged transport.

The cost of the pilgrimage includes full board accommodation inone of the hotels in the town. Whether you are able-bodied, sick oryoung Lourdes holds something for you and Our Lady invites you toexperience this special place.

Able bodied and young pilgrims may wish to volunteer to workwith the sick pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage. Aiding the sickadds to the experience of Lourdes. For more information pleasecontact the Pilgrimage Director,

Fran Mainwaring by emailing welshnationalpilgrimage@gmail.com

A gift to the ChuchMy Dear People, For nearly 2,000 yearsChristianity has been present in Wales,writes Archbishop George.

As geographical, social, cultural and religiousboundaries have changed the Catholic Churchhas been a constant presence responding tochanging times and needs. In 2016 theArchdiocese of Cardiff celebrated theCentenary of its formation from the roots of theformer Diocese of Newport. I am humbled andprivileged to serve as the 7th Archbishop.

Whilst my role is to shepherd and lead theArchdiocese, I am very aware that role is notrestricted to the present. Shepherds are calledto look ahead when leading the sheep.Planning for the future is vital for the Church togrow and thrive, to continue to respond to thechanging times and needs. Parishioners havelong been generous in providing financialsupport through regular gifts or by leaving aLegacy that has helped form the Archdiocese

we are all part of today.Our circumstances change as we move

through life. The importance of making a will isrecognised but often neglected.

If you are considering making a Gift to theChurch the following pages detail someexamples of our commitments as a Dioceseand how we would ensure a lasting gift is bestused. I would strongly urge you to speak toone of the team at Archbishop’s House so thatwe update you on progress of our currentprojects and to take professional advice beforemaking such a commitment.

In working together our Church has apositive future and will remain the firmfoundation of our daily lives despite theseemingly increasing speed of change in otherareas.

Any Gift that you wish to consider will helpthe Church continue the good you do duringyour life. ‘Let the good you do live after you.’

Sacred Scripture, the Bible, theword of God, the Holy Book isat the heart of everything theChurch says and does.

It is permeates our prayer andworship, how we understand theworld, how we are called to liveand how we relate to eachanother.

2020 marks the 10thanniversary of Verbum Domini –the Apostolic Exhortation of PopeBenedict XVI on ‘The Word of theLord’ and will also be 1,600thanniversary of the death of StJerome. As such the CatholicBishops’ Conference of Englandand Wales have designated 2020a year of focus on the Bible and

‘The God Who Speaks’.During the year, we will be

celebrating, living and sharingGod‘s word in an exciting andnew way. We will have theopportunity to enrich currentpractice and to develop andexplore new ways of respondingto ‘The God who Speaks’.

“For the word of God is livingand active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to thedivision of soul and of spirit, ofjoints and of marrow, anddiscerning the thoughts andintentions of the heart”. (Hebrews4:12)

God continues tospeak through His wordand can transform ourhearts and communities.To help thistransformation there willbe three themes ofcelebrating, living andsharing God’s word.

As news, events,activities and resourcesbecome available, wewill update this sectionof our website. Check

back often to makegood use of this Year ofthe Word.

In anticipation of thisdedicated year in the lifeof our Church, theBishops invite anyonewho is interested to takepart in a preparationsurvey to help plan thisspecial year. Visit ‘TheSurvey’ above to takepart.

‘The God Who Speaks’: A Year of the Word

In past centuries during the Twelve Days ofChristmas, wassailers would visit homesand churches to sing carols.

They would also visit orchards to encouragethe apple trees to grow well in the comingyear. Historic records show that this took placeat Rotherwas House, the seat of the RomanCatholic Bodenham family.

On the Feast of the Epiphany, the BushellBag Carollers helped to continue this traditionat Rotherwas Chapel. Organised by theFriends of Rotherwas Chapel, the Wassail wasa special celebration bringing together music,carols and readings.

The chair of the Friends, Barbara Ferriswelcomed all the participants: “Whatever youmean by wassail, I suggest we are all here tocelebrate life and creativity. Present timesmake us very much aware of our dependencyon nature. Every event we hold here makesme more grateful to the Bodenham family, toEnglish Heritage and to the people who havepreserved this Chapel and treasure the sitearound it.”

Rotherwas Chapel is an English Heritageproperty, cared for on a day to day basis by

The Friends of Rotherwas Chapel. The Chapel can be viewed anytime from the

outside, but can be visited between 10am and4pm Tuesday – Friday and the secondSaturday of each month, with the key to becollected from the nearby HerefordshireArchives and Records Office.

You editor writes:I drink to thee old cider tree...I have three apple trees in my garden in Cardiffand have bought a cider press.Next year I am hoping to make cider and thisarticle from Clare on this page has inspired meto perform the wassail with my three littlegrandsons before the end of the month.

Here is what we will sing:Old apple tree, we'll wassail thee, And hoping thou wilt bear. The Lord does know where we shall be To be merry anither year. To blow well and to bear well, And so merry let us be; Let ev'ry man drink up his cup And health to the apple tree.

BrotherAmbrosetakes hisvowsBy Clare Wichbold

On 9th January at Belmont Abbey Brother Ambrose Strudleytook Temporary Vows for a period of three years.

It was a beautiful Mass in the days of Epiphany, whereChristmas carols were sung together with the traditionalGregorian Chant.

Brother Ambrose was supported by the monasticcommunity and congregation, and some of his family andfriends who came from London and Kent. His parentsbrought up the gifts at the Offertory.

During the Mass Brother Ambrose sang his vows, signedthe document and showed it to the people. He then wasclothed in the cowl by Abbot Paul.

Brother Ambrose is a musician and accomplished organistwho is continuing his studies on the Nicholson organ at theAbbey.

He is also a baker and cook whose skills includeChristmas pudding and jam making.

Wassail Celebrationat Rotherwas Chapel

CATHOLIC PEOPLE 7

Left to right: The Bushell Bag Carollers, Mark Waters, Kate Gathercole, Lu Mason and Robin Scott-Wilson.

Safeguarding Advisory CommissionThe Safeguarding Advisory Commission seeks to ensure the safeguarding ofchildren and vulnerable adults through the implementation and monitoring ofappropriate policies and procedures.Chair: Mr Tony BishopClergy Advisor: Canon Peter Collins Telephone: 029 2023 0492Safeguarding Co-ordinator: Mr Martin MahoneyContact: Martin MahoneyPastoral Resources Centre 910 Newport Road Rumney Cardiff CF3 4LLTel: 029 2036 5961Email the Safeguarding Co-ordinatiorAdministration Assistant: Email the Safeguarding AssistantThe Archdiocese of Cardiff follows the procedures and policies laid down by the CatholicSafeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) – an arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference ofEngland & Wales.

8 CATHOLIC PEOPLE

Designed and produced by CPMM Media Group, Suite 4, Pacific Chambers, 11-13 Victoria Street L2 5QQ. Tel: 0151 709 7567

Digital hero pupils help the elderlyA band of digital heroes is just what thedoctor ordered for some elderly patients inhospital this winter.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School has linkedup with St David’s Hospital in Cardiff, to bringtogether pupils and patients in a very modernway, as this photograph shows. Theyoungsters aged between 9 and 11 bring theiriPads with them on their ‘ward rounds’ andteach patients about the benefits of beingonline.

As well as showing the patients how to usethe internet and what it has to offer them, fromhaving shopping delivered to keeping up-to-date with news or chatting to family andfriends, they have also been sharing theirfavourite songs and videos and comparingtheir very different childhoods.

New skills

As a result of the online connection theyhave developed their own real-life connectionand learned new skills from each other.

Ten-year-old Leona Atabong said: “I learnedhow to talk to people who are much older thanme and found that we had things in common.I spoke to one lady who was 95 years old. Weshared some old music, which she listened towhen she was younger and I asked her abouther childhood. I really enjoyed making hersmile as she was not well. She had neverheard of Google but there so much on therethat she could enjoy. It made me feel happyand proud of myself that I was able to dosomething to make her time in hospital a littleeasier.”

Patrick Mansfield, who is also in Year 6, said:“I enjoyed being a digital hero because it wasreally rewarding to know that we are changingsomeone’s life for the better, not just byshowing them how to be online but also justby chatting to them, by visiting them andtaking time to find out about their lives.”

Positive impact

The link is part of the Welsh Government’sDigital Communities Wales initiative whichaims to train children and young people tobecome Digital heroes and change the lives ofolder people in their communities.

The school in Canton was linked with thelocal hospital with the support of MentalHealth Matters Wales (MHM).

Claire Davies from Mental Health MattersWales, who supported the children on thevisits, said the connection made between thepatients and pupils has had a very positiveimpact on the well-being of patients.

"This link makes a huge difference to thesepatients' lives,” she said. “For some people,their families don't live close by and they don'talways have visitors so when these childrencome in with their enthusiasm and willingnessto share their ideas, sense of humour and

Wanted for theMissions

Large Statues (Even damagedones), old vestments, pictures,church fittings, rosaries, prayer

books, religious books, relics etc.

Please ring Mr. B. Ferris KSC,

102 Moor St, Earlsdon, Coventry CV5 6EYM: 07764 460041

We Three Kings of Cardiff are!Children of St Alban’s School, Cardiff at their weekly School Mass. Here celebrating the Epiphany that included acatechesis after Mass on the arrival of the Magi to Bethlehem.

Questions and answers, and questions from the children showed the excellent preparation the children had receivedfrom their teachers on the Epiphany.

This was followed by a party in the Parish Hall, as the Refectory was too small for the whole school. All were treated tochocolates, biscuits, cakes and fruit drinks.

Each child received a holy picture of the Christmas scene to recall their visit to the crib in the church.

The Three Magi at the Holy Crib The Parish Priest of St Alban-on-the Moors Father Sebastianand the Three Magi bearing their gifts for the Baby Jesus

engage in conversation, it justbrightens up their day and makesthem feel better. It has a lastingimpact for the week.

"These children can feel so proud ofthemselves for being such fantasticteachers and opening a new world oftechnology to these patients and forbeing such good friends and suchgood company. They have laughedtogether, sung together and learned

together. It is an inspiring projectlinking generations."

Compassionate pupils

Claire Russell, head teacher of StMary’s Catholic Primary said: “One ofour themes we have focused on thisterm is teaching the children theimportance of being compassionateand loving as part of our development

of the Jesuit Pupil Profile. There is nogreater example of beingcompassionate and loving than thesehospital visits. These children arelearning skills for life that we could notreplicate in the classroom. It is afantastic opportunity with so manybenefits. I am delighted we areinvolved and that our pupils aremaking a difference in their localcommunity.”