Paul Marley reflects on a challenging and instructive evening in which the vast scale of time and space allowed us to explore questions beyond our comfort zones.

CPW Member Bill Phillips thanks Professor Monica Grady for a wonderfully informative and stimulating evening at the CPW Autumn Lecture on 22nd October 2020.

In this article Mike Campbell shares his experience of virtual church: “I am certain God is present at these services, and I have found myself spiritually refreshed and renewed by them. There is a real feeling of community… This lockdown has shown the laity can survive without the Church, but I am not sure how long the laity could survive without the Eucharist.”

“CPW is my favourite part of the summer holidays, so when I was told that it was cancelled, I was really upset. Then I was told that it was going to be held over Zoom and, to be honest, I didn’t want to do it. I thought it wouldn’t work and I didn’t want to talk to people I miss and can’t hug but, after the first session, I was so happy that I had joined.”

“What a wonderful week! How so worthwhile it has been for all of us privileged to be part of it. Thank God for people of vision in 1945 who set in motion such a wonderful “CPW Way” for our continuing re-discovery of the beauty and wonder of Him who walks shoulder to shoulder alongside us. This week has been a truly “HUMAN” experience of authentic Incarnation embodied in a Zoomed week in which young and old have celebrated together.”

“CPW is the embodiment of joy, it is a community which has refused to give into the challenges of a pandemic. I felt myself being lifted up, reminded that God is with me and in that I should feel an overwhelming joy knowing this. I was reminded of the reason I joined CPW, the joy and enthusiasm I experienced through a CPW family in my parish. I found this joy infectious and wanted my family to experience it also.”

On the 5th day of the virtual week, on a day titles ‘wake up’, three speakers gave us moving and vivid examples of how they are responding to calls for justice, peace, and the integrity of the earth within their own lives and the organisations for which they worked.

A speaker told us about many families in Leicester who were struggling to survive – refugees and asylum seekers who are now struggling to navigate the UK benefits system, access food points and ensure they are obtaining the assistance to which they are entitled.

Dr Ally Kateusz is an art historian, specialising in the intersection of women and religion. In her report on Dr Kateusz’s talk, Mary Ring describes how Ally uses her research to depict that Jesus left women followers as equals: powerful leaders who preached, prayed publicly, healed, evangelized and baptised.

On CPW’s first virtual week, Derek Reeve spoke on ‘The Future of the Church’. In this article Bill Phillips summarises Derek’s thoughts and arguments.

The first speaker to present at the Virtual Summer week was Diarmuid O’Murchu, a member of the Sacred Heart Missionary Order and a social psychologist who has spent most of his working life in social ministry. Read the report on his input here.

When CPW’s summer weeks were cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, the undeterred CPW team got together to stage the first ever online CPW, using Zoom. In this article Sam Corcoran gives his review of CPW’s first virtual week!

During this time when churches have been closed, many of us have been finding different ways to attend Mass. In this blog, Patrica Worden reflects on the subject of exile and asks: ‘Are we missing an opportunity to rethink how we celebrate the Eucharist?’

Anne Dixon shares her memories of well-known CPW member Agnes Milne, who died this month. Anne writes that Agnes “was, without doubt, one of CPWs most dedicated ambassadors, well known at Adult and Family events as she attended both. She was a dear, wise and compassionate friend.'“

A year ago, I had the privilege to meet you all during what became one of the most delightful and exciting experiences I had during my stay in England, replete with beautiful and warm memories. I remember being asked how my family celebrates Easter according to the Byzantine Rite. I couldn't provide pictures then, but now I can!

Teresa and Frank Monteiro remember their friend and fellow CPW member Kathleen Hypher, who sadly died in April.

Over the course of the weekend we descended into the underworld (where we found both buried treasure and things that are meant to be hidden away forever) before journeying on to build the heavenly Jerusalem. 

CPW member Dave Yates write about the Kintbury all-age week: “We were invited to discover how we could live our lives more eucharistically. Various stimulating sessions challenged us to be more blessed, broken, poured out, and shared, and how they could be woven into our daily lives.” Read more here.

A first-time summer week participant recounts their family’s experience at Malvern. From a reluctant start, the writer recounts that, “All the children showed an enthusiasm for everything they did and not once did they use the word ‘bored’. As a parent I felt rested, refuelled, and genuinely as if I had been given a new lease of life.” Read more about their experience here.

Mike Winston shares his report of the 2019 Walking Week at Willersley Castle near Matlock. In the words of one of the group he recalls that there was “over everything, an awareness of the presence of God in nature, in the stones on our path, in words spoken out-loud or in the depths of our hearts - a precious closeness with one another, immediate and lasting.” Read the full report here.