Given at the Mass celebrating the patronal feast day of Newman Catholic College on 21st October at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden
I am delighted to join you this morning to celebrate the college feast of Saint John Henry Newman and to welcome all the students and staff to Our Lady of Willesden. Early this morning, I have just returned from blessing the food bank at the school and wish to thank all those who have worked so hard to serve the needs of those who are hungry in this area. In the words of St Teresa of Calcutta, ‘There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.’ I am pleased that Newman Catholic College has contributed to the service of the common good.
St John Henry wrote the hymn ‘Lead Kindly Light’ when he was becalmed in a boat off the shores of Sicily. There was the danger that the boat would drift and he would be shipwrecked on the many rocks in that area. ‘The night was dark’ and he felt very homesick and alone. He found his consolation in the Kindly Light of God’s merciful love which would guide him step by step and look after him. There can be many occasions when we feel lost or anxious and the Kindly Light can help us when we ask God in our prayers. Then we can walk ‘one step enough for me’, day by day on our journey. God’s Kindly Light led St John Henry towards the truth and reception into the Catholic Church. He described his life as a pathway from images and shadows into the light, for him this was priesthood and service at the Church of the Oratory in Birmingham.
He describes powerfully the call of God to each person, to each one of you, as you see how God wishes you to use your gifts for the good of others. He prays ‘Lead thou me on’.
Outside Birmingham in Bilston, a very poor area, there was an outbreak of cholera. St John Henry and another priest volunteered to go and take the sacraments to the sick and give them Holy Communion and hear their confessions. Of course, there was a risk to his health and life. Cholera was a killer. It reminds us that whilst he was a great scholar he was also close to the poor and served them in their need. His life has two dimensions, one of which lives out the readings which we have just heard from St James and St Matthew. It is for this reason that it was very appropriate to bless the foodbank on this day when we celebrate St John Henry Newman.
I am reminded of another very moving experience of giving water to the thirsty. I was invited by CAFOD to visit water/sanitation and hygiene projects in Zimbabwe (WASH). We visited a village community who lived at the top of a steep hill. At the bottom was a spring of clean water. Many of the men of the village had left or died from HIV. Women looked after their children, many of whom were stunted because of HIV infection, and cared for their needs. They would walk down the hill and then climb up with large buckets balanced on their heads bringing water to the village. With funds from this country and CAFOD, they had installed a solar panel by the spring and pumped water up to a storage tank. The sun shines most of the time in Zimbabwe. They could then take the water from the tank and injury was prevented as it was much safer than climbing the hill after heavy rains.
May we share our love with those most in need. In the words of the Quran, ‘So give the relative his right, as well as the needy and the traveller. That is best for those who desire the countenance of God, and it is they who will be the successful.’ (Quran 30:38)
Bishop John Sherrington
The Feast Day of St John Henry Newman is observed on 9th October but was celebrated with Newman Catholic College at a special Mass following the blessing of the school-run food bank on 21st October.