The Catholic Bishops’ Mental Health Project

This project, funded from ‘Day for Life’, offers support and resources to local Catholic communities as they respond to those facing difficulties in mental health. It seeks to identify and highlight good practice in pastoral care for those with mental health needs, their families, and their carers. The project aims to develop a network of those within the Catholic community in England and Wales with a special interest in locally based mental health support.

Reports from the project, examples of good practice and further resources can be found on www.mentalhealthproject.co.uk

On Divine Mercy Sunday, 1st May 2011, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed the beatification of Pope John Paul II at a Mass of celebration in Rome.

To see a special collection of images issued by the Vatican eo mark the occasion, click here.

Many people in prison need more help and support, at this time in their lives, than at any other.

Roman Catholic Chaplains work to ensure the Sacramental and Pastoral needs of Roman Catholic prisoners are met.  As a Chaplain you will carry out faith specific and generic duties, within a multi-Faith team, taking part also in a range of resettlement activities including engaging with the local Faith communities.

To be considered you must be an ordained priest, an ordained Deacon, Religious Brother or Sister, or a suitably qualified lay person in the Roman Catholic Church. Formal endorsement in the form of recognition from the Diocesan Bishop or Religious Superior is essential.

Vacancies arise in all prison establishments in England and Wales

For further information, please visit the current recruitment section of our website www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk. to initiate a job alert for current and future vacancies.

For more information or an informal chat, please contact the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain for Prisons:

Monsignor Malachy Keegan  on  020 72178714  or 07966 114526

[email protected]

FAMILIAS was formally inaugurated during a concelebrated Mass at Hinsley Hall in Leeds on Wednesday, September 10th attended by diocesan coordinators past and present, and representatives of marriage and family life organisations and movements.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor sent a special message of support for FAMILIAS in which he commended its vital work: “which has the indispensable task of supporting couples and families in every way that will be open to it. May God bless everyone connected with this most important initiative.”

In his sermon Bishop John Hine, chair of the Bishops’ Committee for Marriage and Family Life, told members and friends of FAMILIAS that they have a special responsibility in the service of the households of God. “It is with your assistance that others will come to appreciate the vocation of Christian family life and, through you and those you work with, experience the Church’s loving concern for families.”

Dr David Thomas, Professor of Family Ministry at Dominican University, Illinois, delivered the inaugural FAMILIAS Annual Lecture on the topic ‘What is Family Ministry and Why is it Important’. “Church ministry in general, and most particularly family ministry, is about being prophets and ministers of love,” he said. “We are to be the prophets and the ministers of the value and the importance of love. That’s the heart of family ministry. And why is that important? Because it is central to the life of God and to the life of the Church.”

Clara Donnelly, FAMILIAS steering group member from Shrewsbury Diocese commented: “I hope that FAMILIAS raises the whole profile of marriage and family life nationally as well as at diocesan level and makes people more aware that there are people in the field working for this.” Liz James from Arundel & Brighton expressed the hope that FAMILIAS will be “an association of welcome and assistance to all those who need and want our information. We’ve seen a lot of energy here today from those who have helped towards this foundation, which was really good.”

It is deeply disturbing that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill will allow the creation of human animal hybrid embryos and cloned human embryos. To make matters worse the government is now proposing that this can happen without the consent of the person whose cells are used.

The creation of a human embryo is a deeply personal human action. To use someone’s gametes or cells to create a human embryo without their consent is an infringement of basic human rights. It is an affront to human dignity. It shows disregard for the consciences of people who may not want their cells to be used to create an embryo. It is appalling that scientists could take cells from vulnerable people who cannot consent and use them in this way.

There has been no public consultation on this question. Indeed even the House of Commons have not had an opportunity to debate this, so short was the time given to the third reading of the Bill.

People have not been given a chance to say what they think of scientists using their cells, their DNA, without being asked, to make human animal hybrids. When people find out that scientists are taking cells without asking to make admixed embryos they will rightly react.

Who can trust scientists, if they can do this with your cells without asking you? This is neither ethical nor beneficial for science. It will harm public confidence in science and will thereby harm the progress of science.

I urge the House of Lords to reject Commons Amendment 92 and to restore to the law the strict requirement for effective consent before human or human admixed embryos are created.

A new book by Rev John Lochran, parish priest of St Asaph, has been published.  It appears in this 150th Anniversary year of the apparition of Our Lady to Saint Bernadette.

Entitled 'The Miracle of Lourdes - A Message of Healing and Hope', the book is obtainable from:
Redemptorist Publications - Freephone 01420 88222
        Reference Py 13526      Price £7.95
It is also available from www.amazon.co.uk