Among the concelebrants were Fr Laurence Brassill, OSA, a member of the Augustinian community at St Mary’s, and Fr Stephen Wright, Parish Priest of SS Mary and Modwen, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, the newly appointed Episcopal; Vicar for Religious.

During his homily the Archbishop of Birmingham said: “Today we give thanks for the collective service of Religious brothers and sisters in this Archdiocese over the last year. In particular we thank God for all the jubilarians who have given so many years of witness to our Lord by living out the particular charisms he entrusted to them so many years ago.”

Archbishop Longley continued: “In a year which will witness the Olympic games in our own country it is fitting that the reading from St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians should have a sporting theme.

“We may not all be feeling too athletic this morning but these words nevertheless have a resonance for us: Every athlete concentrates completely on training, and this is to win a wreath that will wither, whereas ours will never wither.”

The Archbishop emphasised: “Occasionally we may have to sprint but I think Religious life more closely reflects the marathon runner – commitment, stamina and having our sights set on the final goal were important to St Paul and they are also to us.”

Archbishop Bernard Longley added: “It is my impression, too, that you are not content to lie back on your laurels, to carry the metaphor further. It is not uncommon, as I heard at our meeting of jubilarians, for someone with fifty years of experience and service as a Religious to be assigned a new posting and fresh responsibilities. The Lord can always surprise us in ways that help us know ourselves better.”

After the homily the Archbishop invited the religious present to hold a lighted candle and renew their commitment to the service of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

Religious sisters renew their commitment during the Mass for Religious.

Among those present were eight sisters who celebrated their Golden Jubilee during 2012: Sr Jean Shedden, Sr Margurita Ecliarri, Sr Anita Duhig, Sr Maura Halpin, Sr Margaret Murray, Sr Joan Coffey, Sr Mary Jude Bogie, and Sr Julian Burrows.

 Before the final hymn, Archbishop Longley invited the jubilarians to join him on the sanctuary for a photograph as a memento of a memorable occasion. Sr Anna O’Connor SP, Episcopal for Religious, Catholic Chaplain at the University of Birmingham, and Fr Stephan Wright joined them.

Archbishop Bernard Longley pictured with the jubilarians at the end of Mass for Religious, held at St Mary’s in Harborne, Birmingham, on Saturday, 18 February.

 “I am shocked to learn of the terrible coach accident in Northern France involving the school group from Alvechurch, Church of England Middle School in Worcestershire – in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.”

 Archbishop Longley added: “I pray that God will give strength and comfort to the children’s anxious families and to those affected by the death of their teacher.”

The visit followed the statement made by Archbishop Longley at Cathedral House, Birmingham, on 7 February after Bede Walsh, a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, was convicted by a jury of 21 sexual offences against eight boys. The offences took place between the 1970s and the early 1990s. Bede Walsh is due to be sentenced on 9 March.

The Archbishop of Birmingham and Canon Timothy Menezes, the Vicar General, spoke to parishioners both before and after the 11.15am Mass.

During his homily, Archbishop Bernard Longley said: “When I was last with you in Coventry to celebrate Mass here at All Souls I came to bless your statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace in the parish garden. That was during September 2011 and I am grateful to the Parish Priest, Father Michael Brandon, for welcoming me back today.

“Many things have happened in the intervening months – many events and celebrations that will have brought great joy into the life of this Coventry parish community – and at the same time the unfolding of some events that have undoubtedly brought their share of confusion, sadness and suffering.

“I know that you will appreciate that I cannot enter here into great detail about all the events or news that have been so disturbing over recent days.  But neither can I simply ignore things which will have been before you on the television news or in the Coventry newspapers – because it is never helpful to our spiritual wellbeing to try to block such things out entirely from our prayers.  Along with the gifts of bread and wine that we offer in this Mass we need to bring all our concerns into the presence of God.

“As we prepare for the season of Lent beginning this Wednesday, today’s Gospel emphasises that Jesus Christ is the one who brings wholeness and healing into our lives and the lives of all those who suffer as individuals or as communities.  Sometimes a wound has to be exposed to the light of day before it can begin to heal.”

Archbishop Longley told the congregation that he was offering the Mass especially for their intentions at a most difficult moment in the life of their parish. He said: “Yet it is also a moment when your witness as a Christian community is more than ever important.  It is never easy to be under scrutiny or to know that we are being watched critically by others, and yet it is in these very circumstances that we can reflect most powerfully the love of God that we ourselves have received, and the faith that sustains us.

“This moment offers an opportunity to demonstrate our confidence in Christ’s healing power, our trust in his forgiveness and our own compassion for all those who suffer.

“It is important that we regularly hold in our prayers individuals, families and parish and local communities affected directly or indirectly by any betrayal of trust experienced in the Church.  I know that this is well appreciated by the Coventry’s Catholic communities.”

The Archbishop of Birmingham emphasised: “It contradicts the Gospel that anyone should look for the presence of Christ, among us as one who serves, only for their faith in his Church to be undermined.  It can be a long and difficult journey to find peace of mind and to build up sufficient confidence once again to approach the Church’s ministers in their search for understanding, spiritual guidance and support.

“It is only right that we expect those who are ordained to reflect the compassionate presence of Jesus among us.  I am grateful that the parish communities of Coventry are very rarely disappointed in this expectation.

“Our priests and deacons, together with those in formation at our seminaries wish to follow the Lord’s example by having compassionate feelings for others and by accepting and respecting people’s dignity as Jesus himself did.

“I ask you to pray today for those who have pastoral responsibility in the Church – especially the deacons and priests in the parishes of Coventry – that they may have the strength and wisdom to exercise it under the guidance of the Word of God.”

Archbishop Longley concluded his homily: “During the Papal Visit in September 2010 Pope Benedict XVI remembered the people of Coventry at the beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman. Recalling the seventieth anniversary of the Battle of Britain the Holy Father said: “For me as one who lived and suffered through the dark days of the Nazi regime in Germany, it is deeply moving to be here with you…, and to recall how many of your fellow citizens sacrificed their lives, courageously resisting the forces of that evil ideology. My thoughts go in particular to nearby Coventry, which suffered such heavy bombardment and massive loss of life in November 1940.”

“In the course of his homily the day before in Westminster Cathedral the Holy Father had offered some powerful words which are a comfort to us today and which enable us once again to feel united with him in his own witness to the love of Christ.

“Pope Benedict said: ‘I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children, especially within the Church and by her ministers. Above all, I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes, along with my hope that the power of Christ’s grace, his sacrifice of reconciliation, will bring deep healing and peace to their lives. I also acknowledge, with you, the shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins; and I invite you to offer it to the Lord with trust that this chastisement will contribute to the healing of the victims, the purification of the Church and the renewal of her age-old commitment to the education and care of young people.’

“Pope Benedict concluded: ‘I express my gratitude for the efforts being made to address this problem responsibly, and I ask all of you to show your concern for the victims and solidarity with your priests.’

Archbishop Bernard Longley added: “May these wise words help us to move forward and witness over the coming weeks and months here in Coventry ever more effectively to the powerful presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of this parish community of yours which he loves and will always guide.”

The visit followed the statement made by Archbishop Longley at Cathedral House, Birmingham, on Tuesday, 7 February after Bede Walsh, a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, was convicted by a jury of 21 sexual offences against eight boys. The offences took place between the 1970s and the early 1990s. Bede Walsh is due to be sentenced on 9 March.

The Archbishop of Birmingham and Canon Timothy Menezes, the Vicar General, spoke to parishioners after the 10.30am Mass.

Archbishop Bernard Longley pictured during February 2012.

During his homily, Archbishop Bernard Longley said: “It is a year since I was last with you to celebrate Mass here at St Giles and I am grateful to the Parish Priest, Father Sandy Brown, for welcoming me back today. Many things have happened in the intervening year – many events and celebrations that will have brought great joy into the life of this parish community – and at the same time the unfolding of some events that have undoubtedly brought their share of confusion, sadness and suffering.

“I know that you will understand and appreciate that it cannot be my purpose in the course of preaching God’s Word during this Mass to enter into great detail about all the events or news that have been so disturbing over recent days.  But neither is it helpful to our spiritual wellbeing to try to block such things out entirely from our prayers and our worship in God’s presence.

“Today’s Gospel emphasises that Jesus Christ is the one who brings wholeness and healing into our lives, and the lives of all those who suffer as individuals or as communities.  Sometimes a wound has to be exposed to the light of day before it can begin to heal.  The leper in St Mark’s Gospel had to come to Jesus and show himself to the Lord before he could be healed.  We are strengthened and re-assured when we see the compassion of Christ and his readiness to reach out with his healing touch: Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.”

Archbishop Longley told the congregation that he was offering the Mass especially for their intentions at a most difficult moment in the life of their parish. He said: “Yet it is also a moment when your witness as a Christian community is more than ever important.  It is never easy to be under scrutiny or to know that we are being watched critically by others, and yet it is in these very circumstances that we can reflect most powerfully the love of God that we ourselves have received, and the faith that sustains us.

“This moment offers an opportunity to demonstrate our confidence in Christ’s healing power, our trust in his forgiveness and our own compassion for all those who suffer.”

The Archbishop emphasised: “It is important that we regularly hold in our prayers individuals, families and parish and local communities affected directly or indirectly by any betrayal of trust experienced in the Church.”

Archbishop Longley stressed: “It contradicts the Gospel that anyone should look for the presence of Christ – among us as one who serves – only for their faith in his Church to be undermined.  It can be a long and difficult journey to find peace of mind and to build up sufficient confidence once again to approach the Church’s ministers in the search for spiritual guidance and support.  It is only right that we expect those who are ordained to reflect the compassionate presence of Jesus among us.  I am grateful that our parish communities are very rarely disappointed in this expectation.

“Our priests and deacons, together with those in formation at our seminaries, are motivated by a desire to be like our Lord.  They wish to follow his example by having compassionate feelings for others and by reaching out as Jesus did. I ask you to pray today for those who have pastoral responsibility in the Church that they may have the strength and wisdom to exercise it after the mind of Christ himself.”

The Archbishop concluded by quoting from the words given by Pope Benedict XVI during his homily in Westminster Cathedral during the Papal Visit in September 2010, and on the day before he came to Birmingham to beatify Blessed John Henry Newman.

Pope Benedict said: ‘I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children, especially within the Church and by her ministers.  Above all, I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes, along with my hope that the power of Christ’s grace, his sacrifice of reconciliation, will bring deep healing and peace to their lives.

‘I also acknowledge, with you, the shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins; and I invite you to offer it to the Lord with trust that this chastisement will contribute to the healing of the victims, the purification of the Church and the renewal of her age-old commitment to the education and care of young people.’

Archbishop Bernard Longley added: “May these wise words help us to move forward and to witness, ever more effectively, over the coming weeks and months to the powerful presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of this parish community of yours, which he loves and will always guide.”

The Archbishop of Birmingham warmly welcomed more than 200 delegates from various dioceses in England and Wales including the Archdiocese of Birmingham and the diocese of Shrewsbury and Nottingham. The conference had been well publicised in advance and there was an overwhelming demand for places and a long waiting list.

Archbishop Bernard Longley pictured during his address of welcome to delegates on Saturday, 4 February.

This was the second of five special days called Crossing the Threshold, a resource day about ministry and outreach to non-churchgoing Catholics, initiated by the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Archbishop Bernard Longley, pictured in St Chad's Cathedral House before Mass with (left to right) Bishop Edwin Regan, Bishop of Wrexham, Clare Ward, Home Mission Desk, and Father David Oakley, Maryvale Institute.

The conference held in the Grimshaw Room, St Chad’s Cathedral, Cathedral House, was meticulously organised by Home Mission Desk, London, in partnership with a team from the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

During his address Archbishop Bernard Longley said: “I see our gathering as an important part of our diocesan preparation for the forthcoming Year of Faith that Pope Benedict XVI will inaugurate in October the Synod of Bishops.

“The year itself will help us to recapture something of the richness of our faith as it is expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It should encourage us to re-equip ourselves to take the message and the example of faith to those whose faith has grown weaker or who have drifted away from the Church for whatever reason.”

Archbishop Longley emphasised: “The New Evangelisation in not only for Europe but is especially for places where secularisation has changed people’s experience and practice of faith.

The Archbishop stressed: “We should be cautious not to adopt a wholly negative attitude towards secularism and we should distinguish it from secularisation. Secularism can certainly have some negative impacts but the phenomenon can also offer a new freedom for the Gospel to be proclaimed.”

Archbishop Bernard Longley concluded: “An important part of the preparation for our own Bishops’ Conference representatives to the Synod in Rome will be the feed-back from these Crossing the Threshold days being organised in several locations across England and Wales.”

Bishop Edwin Regan, Bishop of Wrexham in North Wales, gave a challenging and thought-provoking keynote address which he delivered with great enthusiasm and a touch of Welsh humour.

Bishop Edwin Regan pictured during his thought-provoking keynote address.

Bishop Regan emphasised: “Only God can call people back to the practice of their faith, from whatever was dead in their past lives. Only God can forgive sins – but we can play our part, and be part of the invitation to cross the threshold, to unbind them and set them free.”

Bishop Edwin Regan concluded with some helpful practical points under various headings including: “use modern communications; be yourself, be patient and witness to the love of Jesus in your own lives; remember it’s God’s work.”

Archbishop Bernard Longley celebrated Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad, situated next to Cathedral House. Bishop Edwin Regan concelebrated together with eight priests. Father David Oakley, Department for Parish and Family Catechesis, at the Maryvale Institute, gave the homily.

Archbishop Bernard Longley pictured during Mass in St Chad's Cathedral, with Bishop Edwin Regan (left) and Father David Oakley

Delegates pictured during Mass in St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham, on Saturday 4 February 2012.

The packed day-conference programme included workshops, discussion and time for corporate and private prayer.

Archbishop Bernard Longley and conference delegates pictured during the Opening Liturgy.

The next “Crossing the Threshold” conference on the tour will take place in Crawley on Saturday 3 March when Bishop Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, will deliver the keynote address.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, was the principal celebrant and more than 18 bishops and 30 priests concelebrated Mass. Among then was Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, and  Bishop William Kenney CP, Auxiliary Bishop of  Birmingham.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, was present on the sanctuary for the joyful, memorable and important occasion in the history of CAFOD.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, pictured with Bishop John Arnold, Chair of CAFOD Trustees and Mr Chris Bain, CAFOD Director, before Mass in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 28 January 2012. Exclusive picture by Peter Jennings.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood was packed to capacity with CAFOD workers and supporters from throughout England and Wales, together with representatives of Caritas agencies across Europe. Mr Chris Bain, Director of CAFOD, warmly welcomed everyone present during a short address before Mass started at 2pm.

In the service booklet, Mr Bain wrote: “Thank you for being with us here today and for the tremendous support you have given CAFOD throughout the last 50 years. I hope we can recommit ourselves to building a just, peaceful and sustainable world.”

Bishop John Arnold, Chair of CAFOD Trustees, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, preached a challenging homily about the work of CAFOD. He said: “The work of CAFOD is founded on the Gospel, from which are drawn the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. CAFOD’s work with partners is based on those core values of Compassion, Dignity, Hope, Partnership, Solidarity, Sustainability and Stewardship.”

Bishop Arnold added: “These principles guide and give shape to CAFOD’s work. These are the same principles that guide Caritas International, which now has 154 member organisations throughout the world, which when it pools its resources is second in size only to the International Red Cross.”

Details about a unique opportunity that CAFOD has during Lent Fast Day 2012 were included on the back of the service booklet.

In recognition of the generosity of CAFOD supporters the British Government has agreed, that through UK Aid Match funding, it will match a pound for pound every donation given to CAFOD to help some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world.

Father Gregory Winterton 1922-2012, pictured in Cardinal Newman's Room at the Oratory House, Edgbaston.

Bishop Terence Brain, Bishop of Salford and Bishop Philip Pargeter, retired Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, were present on the sanctuary, together with Fathers from the London and Oxford Oratories including the Oxford Provost, Father Daniel Seward.

Father Robert Byrne, Father Dominic Jacob and Father Richard Duffield, who left the Birmingham Oratory in September 1990 to found the Oxford house, were also here to say a last goodbye to their former Provost.

The Oratory Church is also the parish church and it was packed to its doors for the sung Latin Mass.  Members of Father Gregory Winterton’s family, including his nephew Michael Winterton, parishioners, and former parishioners, and priests from the Archdiocese of Birmingham were among the great company of mourners.

Also present were representatives of many of the organisations that Father Gregory had been involved with over the long decades since his ordination in March 1963 as priest of the Birmingham Oratory.  The Birmingham Oratory, along with the Oratory School, was founded by Blessed John Henry Newman.

After the welcome by Father Chavasse, a special message from the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, was read by the Vicar General, Canon Timothy Menezes.

Canon Timothy Menezes, Vicar General, pictured reading the message from Archbishop Bernard Longley at the Requiem Mass for Father Gregory Winterton, on 24 January 2012.

Archbishop Longley expressed himself in these thoughtful words: “As you gather today at the Oratory for Father Gregory Winterton’s Requiem Mass I wish to unite myself with you in prayer. I am sorry that a long-standing pastoral commitment in Staffordshire prevents me from being with you this morning.

“Father Gregory would wish us, above all, to pray that he may now be admitted to the company of the saints with all his sins forgiven through the death and resurrection of Our Lord. May we not also imagine the welcome awaiting him from Christ and entrusted to his brother Oratorian and his guide Blessed John Henry Newman?

“We offer a prayer of gratitude today for the way that God’s Providence led Father Gregory to work so assiduously for Cardinal Newman’s canonisation. We can be thankful that he had the great joy of taking part so recently in the Beatification ceremony at Cofton Park, close to the cemetery at Rednal where he will be buried today.”

Archbishop Longley concluded: “As we bid farewell to Father Gregory we know that it is only for a while, and we can be certain that he will be praying for the well-being of his home for so many years, the Oratory in Hagley Road, and for the Fathers and parishioners who have been so dear to him. Let us commend his soul to the loving-kindness of Our Lord and to the prayerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

By custom, no homily or panegyric is preached at the funeral Mass of an Oratorian Father. During the distribution of Holy Communion two of the great hymns by Blessed John Henry Newman, Praise to the Holiest in the Height, and Firmly I believe and truly were sung.

After Communion the pall was carefully removed to reveal the American light oak wooden coffin and the simple crucifix on the top. Bishop Philip Pargeter began the solemn prayers of the Final Commendation while Bishop Brain and the Fathers of the Birmingham, London and Oxford Oratories and other visiting clergy stood with lighted candles around the coffin.

Bishop Philip Pargeter retired Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham pictured during the Final Commendation at the end of the Requiem Mass for Father Gregory Winterton.

The Fathers and congregation sang the Song of Farewell - May the choirs of angels come to greet you, as the coffin containing the earthly remains of Father Gregory Winterton was taken in solemn procession out of the church and carried past the tablet dedicated to Blessed John Henry Newman and the deceased Fathers in the Cloisters.

The procession pictured at the end the Requiem Mass.

The funeral cars made their way solemnly along Hagley Road, at the start of their journey to the Oratory House at Rednal on the outskirts of Birmingham, where Father Gregory Winterton was buried in the small secluded community grave-yard.

The hearse pictured outside the Plough & Harrow Hotel as it made its way slowly to the community graveyard at Rednal.

That earlier drizzle had stopped and the sun was gently breaking through the late January clouds as Father Paul Chavasse said the final prayers. The coffin was lowered gently into the newly dug grave situated not far from where Blessed John Henry Newman had been buried on 19 August 1890.

The procession pictured as it entered the secluded Victoria graveyard at the Oratory House, Rednal.

It was a deeply emotional but memorable moment as this last in a long-line of much-loved “old-style” Birmingham Oratory Fathers, going back to Blessed John Henry Newman, was laid to rest.

The grave of Father Gregory Winterton is to the right of the green covering and near to where Blessed John Henry Newman was buried in August 1890 (centre of the picture).

Fr Gregory Winterton was born on 9 July 1922. He was Provost of the Birmingham Oratory 1971-1992 (except for six month). He died in the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor at their home in Harborne, on Wednesday 18 January. Like his father Major-General Sir John Winterton and Blessed John Henry Newman, he was aged 89.

*NB All pictures are my copyright but be used provided they are acknowledged: Picture by Peter Jennings.