One thousand children look to future at Good Shepherd Mass

19 June 2009

Bishop John Arnold presides at the Good Shepherd Mass at Westminster Cathedral where he reminded children that God was all around and in them as well. Behind him stand Tito Pereira, deacon, Mgr Martin Hayes and Jim Richards, a deacon and head of CCS (Westminster)

More than 1,000 schoolchildren from Catholic schools around the Diocese of Westminster attended the annual Good Shepherd Mass at Westminster Cathedral on Wednesday June 3.

The Good Shepherd Mass is the Catholic Children's Society's (Westminster) "thank you" to staff, pupils and parents who have supported the Society's Lent Appeal.

The Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Arnold, who reminded the children during his homily that God was all around them and inside each of them.

He demonstrated this by inviting them all to breathe in and out, saying that God was in each breath.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Catholic Children's Society (Westminster) and the Mass was an opportunity to look forward, taking the theme of "Faith in the Future".

Children were invited to write a word on a paper brick which represented what they would like to change about the future.

One child said "family" another said "hope" and another "trust" and another "justice". The bricks were used by the children to build a wall before the altar, which was designed to symbolise the foundations their faith provides for the building of their future and the future of the world.

The Catholic Children's Society of Westminster was established in 1859, so it celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. The society provides child care services to assist children and families in need, irrespective of race or faith, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster. More information can be found at www.cathchild.org.uk.

Mgr Martin Hayes, who is private secretary to Archbishop Nichols as he was previously to the cardinal, concelebrated with the bishop. Two deacons were present, one of whom, Jim Richards, is chief executive of the Catholic Children's Society in Westminster.

A makeshift altar was set up in front of the sanctuary, in the nave of the Cathedral, on a raised platform.

The children came from different primary schools around the diocese which had been involved with the Society's Lenten appeal. Meanwhile, a thanksgiving Mass was celebrated at the Westminster Cathedral on June 10 especially for the Society. Archbishop Nichols and Bishop Longley celebrated the Mass for all supporters and friends of the Catholic Children's Society.

Deacon Jim Richards, chief executive of the Catholic Children's Society (Westminster), gave the homily. Mr Richards spoke about the key role played in the establishment of the society by Cardinals Wiseman, Manning and Vaughan, all of whom "saw the need to act and thereby do something to alleviate the crushing and debilitating poverty that was the lot of so many children at that time". He also remembered administrators of the society Fr Banns and Fr Harvey, later Bishop Harvey.

Mr Richards referred to changes in adoption law and recent unsuccessful efforts by the Church to challenge the new law.

He said: "The position we have taken springs from our faith and the teaching of the Church" and summarised the Church's stance as "you cannot have the fruits without the roots".