ST GREGORY’S TOP OF CLASS FOR VALUE

Mrs Scanlan, staff and pupils of St. Gregory’s Catholic Primary School in Preston were thrilled to be placed in the 20 top performing schools in Lancashire. They were also acclaimed as top Lancashire school for ‘Most Value Added’ achievement. In this category the school was placed 13th. Nationally. A letter of congratulations has been received from the Minister for Standards in Education for consistently improved results over the last three years. Pupils, staff, Parish and parents are delighted with the excellent results. Well done!

BABY CLOTHES FOR AFRICA

Here is help for some of the most desperately needy people in the world – young mothers living on the streets in the cities of Africa. Having learnt something of their plight from Fr. Patrick Shanahan of Street-Child-Africa, the 7Up group of St. Anthony’s, Preston organised a collection of baby clothes and blankets. A few of the group, with Sheila and Francis O’Gara, show off boxes ready to ship to Africa. The boxes hold several hundred pounds worth of beautiful clothing, and 7Up would like to thank the people of St. Anthony’s for their incredible generosity. Find out more about Street-Child-Africa at: www.streetchildafrica.org.uk

TOGETHER AT YEALAND
Bill Arnold K.S.G.

All known parishioners have recently been circulated about the forming of a Parish Council, especially important if we are ever without a resident priest. But some of our parishioners go elsewhere to Mass, so we are using the Voice to reach them. Our parish includes Silverdale, Borwick to Priest Hutton, the north and west sides of Warton, north of Borwick Lane and all hamlets in that area. If you have not already been contacted, please get in touch with St. Mary’s soon.

THE BROUGHTON SOCIETY
Story and Picture: Andrew Seacombe

Many years devotion to the work of Britain's oldest charity, the Broughton Catholic Charitable Society, have been marked by the presentation of a colourful bouquet of flowers to Mary Shenton of Goosnargh near Preston. An honorary vice-president of the 217-year-old society, 86-years-old Mary has retired from the task of collecting subscriptions from members living in Goosnargh, Broughton, Longridge and surrounding areas. The presentation was made by current president Kr John Cranshaw, pictured left with Mary and Broughton Chairman Fr Peter Birmingham. Alms totalling £4,550 were handed over to needy people and organisations in 2004.

SCHOOL RAISES FUNDS FOR ZAMBIAN PARISH
Rev Peter Williams

Over the past three years Year 11 pupils from All Hallows Catholic High School in Penwortham have been collecting money for Kalomo parish in Zambia which is linked with Our Lady & St Edward's parish in Fulwood. They raised £600 in a simple but novel way. Every dinner time Registration, two pupils went round the classes with a bucket collecting 1p and 2p coins. They got this idea from Our Lady & St Edward's where buckets are placed outside church on a Sunday into which parishioners put their odd change. They presented this money to Peter Williams, the deacon from Our Lady & St Edward's, who spent some time in Zambia a few years ago.

SCHOOL HOUSE AT LEA
John Bisby

Over the past 9 months or so the old ‘School House’ at St.Mary’s Lea, once the home of the Caretakers at the School has been completely refurbished to provide extra up to date facilities for the school itself. The new facilities include a new Library, a dedicated IT Computer facility, a larger and more secure Reception area, new offices for the Headteacher and Secretary, an appropriately sized Staff Room, a separate Resources Area, a Medical Inspection room, Cloakroom facilities for the children on the first floor and a much larger playground. In addition, we have provided new facilities for any disabled staff, pupils or parents who use or visit the school in the future. The project, which has been a difficult one, has cost well over £400,000. There was a low-key ‘Official Opening’ ceremony on Sunday 14th November after the 9-00 a.m. Mass attended by over 100 Parishioners, Parents, Governors, Staff and Children. Our picture shows Mr Raymond Eaves, who has a long history of helping the School, cutting the tape.

ST KENTIGERN’S DEANERY QUIZ
Cath Cavanagh

Over 60 people from St Kentigern’s Deanery, Blackpool, attended an inter-parish Quiz Night at St. Kentigern’s club, in November. Teams from St Kentigern’s, Holy Family, St John Vianney, Christ the King and St Bernadette’s all pitted their wits and enjoyed “A Night of 100 Questions” followed by a hot pot supper. The home side won, with St.Bernadettes coming a close second. The night was part of St.Kentigern’s centenary celebrations, but it is now hoped to make it an annual event.

BOOK REVIEW
By Fr Patrick Lombard, O.Carm

Mike Higton: Difficult Gospel The Theology of Rowan Williams SCM Press (2004) This is a dangerous book. Quite literally as it happens because I cut my finger on the edge of the cover. Dangerous perhaps also in a more prophetic sense in that it can help us reflect and deepen our faith and the living of our faith, though maybe not in the way which we might expect from its title. The back cover describes the book as “a clear and simple guide to all the main themes of his theology” The author in his introduction though says that it is a description of Rowan Williams’ theology and that is more accurate. Mike Higton is himself an Anglican theologian and in this book he is reflecting upon the theology of Rowan Williams and the effect it might have on his ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury. As such, he is primarily an Anglican speaking to Anglicans. That though does not mean it cannot be read with profit by those coming at the book from another direction.

Rowan Williams came to Canterbury from Wales with a reputation more than anything else as a theologian. His learning is vast and deep, rooted perhaps in the Russian Orthodoxy which was the theme of his doctoral thesis but including also the 16th Century Spanish Carmelite mystics Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. If this book had been a guide to the theology of Rowan Williams then I would have expected a more biographical and developmental approach. This would have given us an insight into the development of his theology. I would certainly like to know how he came to take an interest in Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, what led him to write his book on Christian spirituality The Wound of Knowledge, only four years after taking his doctorate. That sort of approach I would have found helpful and useful.

The author though has taken another way of reflecting on the theology of Rowan Williams, an overall exploration of his theology as it is now. This approach is more thematic, moving from the foundations through to the practical consequences. The result is the need for a quick endnote because as the author notes, it would be a pity if the book ended with a discussion of sex. (To an outsider though this may well be the heart of the matter because homosexuality is the issue which seems to be breaking the Anglican communion today).

The book therefore begins with an introduction explaining why Williams’ theology is difficult, why popular writers shy away from his writings regarding them as “formidable”, “complex”, “dense” and “difficult”. I would not myself have begun on such a negative note. Williams’ theology may indeed use academic jargon but there is no need to dwell on the point. With so many well-educated people today, educated to degree level or higher, the need is to encourage them to engage with serious religious writing and discussion. A book like this would serve the Church better by not being so apologetic at the beginning.

The introduction though moves onto the title of the book “Difficult Gospel” and here the word “difficult” is appropriate and suitable: “The real difficulty, the deep, disturbing challenge of the Gospel is ... inherent, it is unavoidable. If we do not hear that difficulty, we have not heard the Gospel.”
With which we cannot but agree. And that is then explored in the following chapters from different points of view. It is in these reflections that I find the confusion, which I have already mentioned. Higton is reflecting on Williams but Williams is himself reflecting on the Christian tradition which he and we have inherited. Williams is not doing his theology in a vacuum though that is rather the impression I have given. There are occasional references to the influences on Williams but these need further explanation and exploration. Thus in speaking of coming to adult maturity, Higton refers to John of the Cross and to Luther. I have never seen those two paired before.

Nonetheless, because Williams is a perfectly orthodox theologian, this book can be usefully read by those who wish to deepen their faith by this synthesis of Williams’s own faith. Higton’s own reflections can also be helpful – his meditation for example on Jacob and Esau, two brothers who failed to find a Common Good and remained rivals. Whatever its shortcomings therefore, there is much in this book which can be read with profit and help us reflect upon our Christian calling.