Monks Family’s Easter Holiday 2007

Via Crucis al Colosseo, Venerdi  Santo

The crowd roared a greeting indicating Benedetto XV1 had arrived. The Holy Father was to carry the cross during Good Friday’s first station of the Way of the Cross. Solemn music played and the Vatican Choir sang. His beautiful voice intoned the opening prayer in Latin and there was respectful silence.

Two hours earlier that evening I was already part of an ever-increasing queue going through security checks. The nun in front of me laughed and shook her head to say she had nothing on her to check and the police good-naturedly waved her through along with the rest of the sisters from her convent.

When I eventually got to sit down at 7.30 p.m. it was on some steps outside the Colosseum, the Gladiatorial Arena of Ancient Rome. Next to me were a Philipino woman and her little dog. “We are early!” she stated and kept me company. She was with UNESCO working on a food programme and so she lived in Rome. Her husband joined her and passed me a prayer booklet, in Italian, of course, but beautifully illustrated. A lady handed out small wooden crosses and some people had candle torches ready to light.

 The sky was bright with television arc lighting but high above us the huge cross, burning orange, drew the eye. The cross in the massive Colosseum was also lit and I felt humbled remembering the Christian martyrs of long ago. I learnt a little Italian as the priest leading the meditation quoted Luke 9:3 in Italian with the exhortation from “Signore Gesu”, (Lord Jesus), to “mi segua”, (follow me). Although I could not see inside the Colosseum I was aware of the solemn procession within. Their prayers were heard for some time over the loud speakers as I said goodbye and left with my husband and three children. We were all tired from sightseeing. It was quite a penance to find our way out of the city and travel on public transport to where we were staying, as the local metro station had been closed, because of the crowds.

 

Domenica Di Pasqua, San Pietro

Morning mist still clung to the hollows as we got up early to journey to Vatican City. It felt as though the whole world was making the journey as streams of pilgrims from all directions joined us. The queue stretched around the Wall of Vatican City, the Papal Territory of 108 acres that is separate from the Italian State, and it was an hour before we were let through the barriers. A lady kindly reached into her handbag and gave me a numbered ticket for a seated area.

My excitement was mounting as I entered the famous piazza surrounded by the colonnades with the marbled saints looking down. I passed the Egyptian obelisk and the beautiful fountains towards the huge dome of St. Peter’s as the marshals and Swiss Guard, in ceremonial costume, directed us to our area of seating. Luckily it was not far from the front of the Basilica and nearby sat a Priest and French choir. As we sat patiently they spontaneously broke into hymns of praise and entertained the crowd. Italian and German voices were heard around us and people waved flags of many nations. The Swiss Guard and the Italian Police Bands processed into the Square but this was just the build up to the main event: the arrival of Pope Benedict himself.

My heart was thumping as I strained for my first sight of the Pope. He processed from our right and up the steps towards the open-air altar outside the Basilica. There was clapping and cheering and many stood on their chairs. Of course I stood up too and shouted for his attention as I got my glimpse. Everyone was affected. Cameras were snapping and videos were being taken as if a pop star or Hollywood actor was arriving. We recovered our poise as we saw the priests kissing the altar.

The music began for the Easter Sunday celebrations exactly at 10.30 a.m. and from our booklets we followed the Mass. Large screens showed us who the readers were and who took up the gifts. It was with a serene sense of joy I received Communion. Many priests had fanned out to the different sections to meet us. I felt so proud to be part of the occasion with my whole family around me.

I shifted about in my chair and covered up the back of my neck as I felt the noon sun burning my skin.

We did not go home straight after Mass. Many of the crowd began a chant of BEN-A-DIC-TO! followed by four claps in rhythm. This chant grew louder until the Holy Father finally appeared on the balcony. He looked down over the 120,000 worshippers to give his “Urbi et Orbi”, his message to the City and the World. It was wonderful to see him stand so still after his Papal Blessing and acknowledge the crowds. I waved my scarf in the air and my husband waved his hat. As I looked around there were flags waving as far as the eye could see; way beyond St. Peter’s Square and into the Roman Streets.

It was the next day before I went into the Basilica and heard Mass. I also went down into the Tombs of the Popes. The tomb at the site of St. Peter’s martyrdom had pilgrims gathered round it. However, the crowd was overwhelming at the resting place of John Paul 11, the Servant of God. Flowers and petitions surround his tomb and there was a small cordoned off area where people could kneel and pray. I spent a few moments until the crowds and a marshal who yelled at anyone who tried to take a photograph of the tomb, hastened me on. In spite of this there was a special aura to the place and I would love to see John Paul declared a Saint of the Church.

I hope that many other families can make a holiday into something of a pilgrimage. There are many places in the world and certainly in this country where there are holy shrines. This is a wonderful way to promote the faith if not all the family are churchgoers.

CELIA MONKS

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LOURDES 2006 by Frances McCarron

When Fr. Carvill asked me to represent our parish as a helper in Lourdes, I was suprised and felt honoured and happy. I'd been to Lourdes once before with a school group and ever since then had wanted to go again.

On Monday, 16th July Fr. Carvill took me to Newark where I boarded the coach and we left at 6.00 a.m. I met some lovely people and the journey was quite penitential at times!Approaching Lourdes in the daylight, I couldn't help but thank God for the mountains. We missed the opening ceremony in Lourdes but I had my own with the mountains.

On Tuesday morning the helpers started work right away. I met the girl (Alison) with whom I was going to work and we befriended our pilgrim, (Sarah), 'Sally', who was a kind old lady. We pushed Sally to Mass at the Esplanade altar; the weather was very hot. Later was the torch-light procession. It wasn't easy to keep our torches lit as it was quite breezy. Bishop Malcolm was leading some of the prayers, there were hymns too and, as always, the procession was very beautiful even though it wasn't fully dark at the end.

The next morning was the Mass at the Grotto. Alison and I were pushing a gentleman called Ray by now, as it was easier for us. Again it was very hot but a Mass at the Grotto is always special. The Priest reminded us that the theme for the week was "The Light of Christ" and he said that Our Lady appeared in a cave that faces north so it doesn't get much sunlight but that God's light came with Mary. I felt that Our Lady was definitely watching and I remembered to pray for our parish. We next went to Stations of the Cross on the prairie. That afternoon my friends and I got caught in a thunderstorm but we were glad of the rain. Holy Hour in St. Joseph's Chapel was very good, a mix of quiet, prayer and song. I was given a small part in the Youth Liturgy along with a group of my new friends; the service was fun, also moving. I was so happy to witness the faith of the young people of our Diocese. Afterwards a large group of us (including the Bishop, so that makes it alright!!) had drinks and sang songs in a pub. We had a room to ourselves. It was a great evening.

The Mass of the Anointing of the Sick took place the next morning in St. Joseph's Chapel and was led by our Bishop. The weather was very hot again in the afternoon and so the Blessed Sacrament procession was shortened. Exposition took place in the underground Basilica. I felt it was a wonderful thing to see all those nationalities adoring Jesus hidden in a small host. That evening we young helpers and a few of the sick pilgrims went to the international Youth Mass. This was said in about five languages with young people doing the prayers, singing and readings.

Early next morning Alison was pushing someone else so I took Ray down to the baths. Ray has Welsh connections and he was asked to serve in a Welsh Mass so I took him to that. Our Mass followed at the Esplanade altar; the helpers had to stand along the side like guards, to stop people walking through the Mass. That afternoon I went with a group to Lac Vert (the Green Lake). I found this to be one of the most inspring parts of the pilgrimage. It was only ten minutes from Lourdes and the lake was surrounded by mountains and trees. Just to look silently at the mountains was like a prayer. I knew that the angels must walk there. I had fun on the lake also with my new friends and even though I didn't fall in I got soaked! We went to a Taize service which was organised by our musicians and singers; it was beautifully done.

On Saturday 22nd we were free until 4.00 p.m. when we went to the final Mass of the pilgrimage, a Sunday Mass in St. Joseph's Chapel. I felt sad that this was our last Mass together. Afterwards at 8.30 p.m. there was a pilgrimage social evening for everyone. Some people got up and sang songs and a lot of us joined in if we knew them. A man from Scunthorpe recited a monolgue. We helpers were called up and given a little prayer card as a thank you from the head handmaid and brandcardier.

Next morning it was time to leave Lourdes and as I said my goodbyes, I felt that I was leaving behind a part of myself. For those of us travelling by coach our pilgrimage was extended as we stayed overnight in Nevers and visited the shrine of St. Bernadette in the morning. We saw her body all peaceful and as if she were asleep. We arrived back in Newark at 3.30 a.m. the next morning and Fr. Carvill was there to take me home. Going to Lourdes as a helper is a great privilege and my pilgrims made it a joy all through. I felt I had found the 'Light of Christ' in all the people I met. Among the other handmaids and brandcardiers I found beautiful people with a strong faith; they were almost all young people and we became good friends. I hope some day to return - you can never regret going to Lourdes.

If you would like to see some photographs of our pilgrimage, please go to the photo album.

View from the Pew

HOME EDUCATION

Parishioners will be aware that since early 2005, our parish school has been producing a weekly newsletter for all to read. Since Fr.Carvill has asked parishioners for articles I feel it appropriate with the launch of our parish website that people should also be made aware that there is at least, and as far as I know, only one family in the parish that has taken another path for the education of their children.

My wife Elizabeth and I have six children. The oldest three have been all the way through school at St. Joseph's and St. Mary's. The youngest three we withdrew between July and November 2004 in order for them to be educated at home. I should point out that home education is legal under the 1944 Education Act which states that children must be educated 'at school or otherwise'.

There are many reasons why people choose home education. Often it is due to bullying but not always. In our case, after much prayer and research, we decided that we wanted to 'reclaim' our children and try to give them a happy and carefree childhood. Home education is the best way we could fulfil our vocation as parents and as the prime educators of our children. Unfortunately I have to work full time so that the daytime 'prime educator' is my wife. I support the children's education in the evenings, at weekends, holidays and the fairly regular days off I manage to get through working flexible hours. Whilst we may have turned our backs on our Catholic schools, we have not turned our backs on a Catholic upbringing for our children. Our faith is central to our lives and daily prayer is a feature of our home education, as it is in our Catholic schools.

As regards the rest of the home educating day, it is mostly autonomous and we do not follow the National Curriculum. Neither the Government nor their committees in London knows or cares for our children. Why should they decide what they learn? Children are natural learners and we believe they can be trusted to learn what, when and where they need to learn. All they need is a loving parent to show an interest in what they wish to learn and to support them in doing so. We believe that for the parent and child to want to be together is the most natural thing in the world. Much of their learning comes from purposive conversation with their parents. Between us, we have all the time in the world to talk with them, one-to-one. When we withdrew our children more than one person expressed concern that they would miss out on the socialisation aspect of school. How will they 'mix' with other children? Firstly I would like to say that much of the socialisation of children in schools is of dubious quality. Secondly, home education does not mean being stuck in the house all day. Our children meet with other home educating families at a weekly venue and have formed friendships through that. They also go horse riding each week and meet other children and adults there. Our youngest has a weekly piano lesson under a tutor. There are other opportunities when we are 'out and about' to interact with people of all ages. None of this involves the peer pressure to conform, to be part of the 'gang' and to do 'what everyone else does'.

There is no need for anyone to feel threatened or to see home education as subversive. It is not something that is confined to the rich, eccentrics, oddballs or hippies! Home educating families come from all social backgrounds, faiths and races. Indeed research has shown that their income is mostly below the national average. That is certainly so in our case and anyone who knows us can judge whether or not we are eccentric, oddballs or hippies. We are not qualified teachers. We qualify as the two people who love and care most for our children. We do not concern ourselves with how many GCSE's or other certificates our children will gain. We do not worry over what work they will do, if they will enter a profession or if they will go to university. We are concerned with whether or not they will still be practising their faith by the time they reach university age and if they are caring, compassionate people. We will take our chance that on being their best friends and allowing them the freedom to be themselves, take charge of their own learning with us as mentors and guides, that they will have the best chance to turn out in the way I have indicated.

If anyone has any queries or comments I would be pleased to answer them. You can contact me via our parish office.
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Hugh