Emma is 17 and a parishioner of Christ the King and Our Lady of Lourdes Coventry, she was born 13 weeks prematurely and has cerebral palsy. She first came to Lourdes with the HCPT when she was eight. Ruth remembers vividly her coming in to the house on returning and saying, ‘That was an amazing and life changing experience mum, you must promise me that you will go one day.’ A remarkably mature reflection for an eight year old, but Emma has a presence and a maturity about her which is striking. It was Ruth’s and Liz’s first visit to Lourdes and at times Ruth said she had been quite simply overwhelmed by the warmth and friendship she has encountered: ‘Emma just kept laughing at me but I just haven’t been able to stop crying because it was all just so lovely and beautiful.’

At 12.00 noon, to the sound of a specially composed fanfare, Archbishop Vincent Nichols entered Westminster Cathedral by the main West Door, and was greeted by the Provost of Westminster Cathedral, Canon Michael Brockie. He then processed to the High Altar where he joined over 150 Clergy in the Cathedral’s Sanctuary, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, 50 Catholic Bishops, the Provost and Chapter of Westminster Cathedral, Deans and the Vicar General of the Diocese of Westminster, Monsignori and ecumenical guests including Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Catholic Today are teaming up with CAFOD once more to run the Great North Run to help raise the funds needed to support CAFOD’s vital work in Zimbabwe. In this special report we highlight the plight of the people living there and how every penny of money raised will literally change lives.

‘I would like to travel the earth, preaching your name…’ This was how Thérèse of Lisieux explicitly expressed her deepest desire just a year before she died. ‘I would like to proclaim the Gospel on all five continents and to the furthest isles.’

Plans are well in hand for a programme of special events this year as Brushstrokes celebrates 10 years of helping the hidden poor in Smethwick.

At the same time they are launching an Appeal for help as their current funding for staff runs out at a time when it is proving extremely difficult to replace it. As they look back in celebration of 10 successful years they look ahead with real concerns about funding. It is inconceivable that their valuable work could be affected because of funding for all staff posts running out this year.