Sometimes ‘more’ is the solution, but not always. Sometimes we need to take a step back to see if ‘other’ is the answer this time. And that’s where the imagination comes into play. The same could be said of our explorations into the future possibilities for our Church. Do we need ‘more’ of what we’ve always done (bigger, better, stronger, higher, fuller, firmer)? Or dare we consider ‘other’ (stranger, different, smaller, deeper, easier, kinder, looser)?

CPW hit the news this week with a full article in the Independent Catholic News written by CPW member Ellen Teague. Titled ‘Catholic Peoples Weeks getting underway for 2019’’, the article reports on our first event of 2019, as well as our forward-looking events for the year.

CPW members Joy and Mike Wanless were recently invited to share what they had learnt during their 40 years of marriage at the Salford Diocesan Blessing for Engaged couples . With many couples present, they reminded the couples of the importance of spending time together and talked about the blessings of Catholic Peoples’ Weeks. This is Joy’s reflection on marriage, the importance of mutual support, and CPW.

How many times have we heard politicians adopt predictable and polarised positions in public debate? On matters which affect our children's and grand-children's future, we expect those in positions of responsibility to engage in a meaningful exchange of ideas. Where is the generosity, the openness, 'the words to consider, reconsider'? The answer is that we have the words. We keep them close to our hearts and only speak them when we are in a trusted environment where we are loved, valued and listened to. At CPW we aim to create these environments; sacred places for meaningful conversations, with each other, ourselves and our God. It is our meaningful conversations which will transform our view of the future.

Remembering much-loved CPW chaplain Owen Hardwicke. Owen was a gifted wordsmith and the author of Living Beyond Conformity: (Experience of Ministry and Priesthood). Owen devoted his life to serving those who "danced in the margins of ecclesial life."  A beautiful and touching eulogy was given by Fr, Rob Esdaile at Owen's funeral. We have published it on the CPW website with his permission.

CPW members are invited to attend a private viewing of The Sultan and The Saint at Vue cinema Cardiff on Friday 1st February 2019 at 7pm. This event is taking place in the 800th anniversary year of the little-known, ground-breaking encounter between the Christian, Saint Francis of Assisi, and the Muslim, Sultan Malik Al-Kamil: at Damietta in northern Egypt, in the midst of the horrors of the Crusades. The docu-drama is an hour long and will be followed by a Q&A discussion.

The turn of the year is a time when we naturally stop and consider where we have been and wonder what the future may hold. Looking back over 2018 my CPW highlights have been those which are unlikely to feature in the newsletter reports. They are background moments, hidden breakthroughs which keep our wonderful organisation growing and maturing in response to contemporary challenges. Today, I would like to share five moments in 2018 which made a difference to me; as well as what I’m looking forward to for CPW in 2019.

On 17th November CPW were delighted to welcome Dr Pia Matthews as the speaker for the annual Dora Turbin lecture. Dr Matthews is a theologian and a lecturer in Healthcare Ethics at St Mary's University, Twickenham. The title of the lecture was ‘Disability and a Theology of Hope’ and you can read the full transcript here.

In the interests of making the most inspiring opportunities available to the widest number of people we have added to our 2019 event calendar an Autumn week day evening Lecture in London. Anne Dixon explains more.

Barbara Wilson writes about CPW in the Catholic Universe newspaper.

Reflections from a new member.

Mary Huckfield couldn’t imagine a year without CPW.

Agnes Milne reflects on 30 years of CPW membership.

Mari Girling explains why she keeps coming to CPW.