44: I wouldn't be without my faith

Episode 44: Pauline shares the people and activities that have inspired her and given her joy and friendship on her faith journey so far. Three pieces of scripture are especially precious  - and following her own prayerful reflection, she explains how she is approaching Lent in this Jubilee Year. 

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The Briars Catholic Youth Centre

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Transcript

 You're listening to All Kinds of Catholic with me, Theresa Alessandro. My conversations with different Catholics will give you glimpses into some of the ways, we're living our faith today. Pope Francis has used the image of a caravan. A diverse group of people travelling together, on a sometimes chaotic journey together. That's an image that has helped to shape this podcast. I hope you'll feel encouraged and affirmed and maybe challenged at times. I am too in these conversations. 

Listeners, I'm joined today by Pauline, and we're gonna have a conversation which is going to be quite wide ranging as always. I'm interested to see where the Holy Spirit takes us. Welcome, Pauline.

Hello. Good to be with you. 

I often start at the beginning of people's lives, and for you particularly - we may well be speaking about children and young people in your life - but let's go back to when you were a child. Were you born into a Catholic family, Pauline? Were you baptised as a baby?

Yes. I was born into a Catholic family and I was baptised at Market Harborough. I was brought up in Melton Mowbray and attended the Catholic primary school there and the senior school. I was very much encouraged with my faith with the Franciscan Sisters in Melton Mowbray, which has stayed with me. Even now I'm still in touch with them.

That's lovely. Are you someone who has remained faithful to the practice of your faith all that time, or have there been moments of wandering off and coming back? 

No. I've been quite happy to stay with my faith. It's helped me through all the different journeys that I've taken through my life, and, yeah, I wouldn't be without it. It's great. Yes. I really enjoy it.

And so tell us a bit about then, leaving those Catholic schools and leaving home and going to work. What kind of path did you take back then?

I was very fortunate in that we had a very strong youth club in Melton Mowbray, and, we went out on an expedition to Wales, pony trekking. From there, I met my husband who lived in Leicester so that was quite exciting. So I had that path, journey, and then ultimately, three years later we got married. We settled in Leicester. I worked for Pira in Melton Mowbray before then, and then British Gas. And then when I had my children obviously I left work. And we moved into the parish in South Leicester, very much inspired by the priest at the time. And as the children - we had three children. They were all baptised into the faith and I went to work at Holy Cross School. I was there for ten years and I really enjoyed that time at the school. I would say my faith was very much inspired by the children there, particularly as I was the secretary at the school, and I used to hear them singing hymns or whatever was going on in the hall close by. The Head at the time was very strong in her faith and I'd say that was an inspiring time for me. 

I'm very glad to have a school secretary joining us because I don't think we've had that before in the podcast. You mentioned that the children at the school inspired you and inspired your faith. I know that supporting young people in their faith has continued to be something you've been really involved in. Tell us a bit about how you got into that. 

Yes. Well, when I was first married, there was a priest - sadly he died quite young but he was very energetic and enthusiastic. And I was asked to help with the Brownie group. This was before I had my children. So that was exciting. And then as my children came along and I moved into my next parish, I was asked by the priest there if I would start a Brownie group which I did. And being with the children and being part of Catholic Guiding was quite a good thing as well. I'm not sure quite how that is now, but I was very much involved with Catholic Guiding and we did Catholic badges. We had parades around Leicester with all the uniform groups and once in Nottingham as well and into the Cathedral. So it was a very exciting time. And because of working with the badges with the youngsters and what Guiding presents to young people, we could link our faith into that as well. So, that did help me a lot with my faith as well as doing the work with the youngsters, and I really enjoyed that. 

And when you say it helped you with your faith, is that because you had to find out more about the faith in order to share it with the children and you had to follow the liturgical seasons in order to share that with the children. Is that the kind of thing you mean? 

Yes. To a certain degree, yes. It wasn't too deep with the children in the uniform groups. Alongside that I was also asked by the priest if I would run a music group. Fortunately, that is still going, although we're getting a bit old now, but that proved very much an inspiration for me because, yes, I had to look into liturgy and what we could sing, where we could sing it, and what did the readings mean, all that kind of thing. So, yes, I would say that was very inspiring. And the next priest that came along particularly was very supportive. To this day, he still inspires me with all the things that he's had to tell us. We all fall back on what he used to tell us. So that's why I enjoy my faith so much because of having that kind of involvement with it. I'd hate to be without it. 

And I also think that when you've been involved like that in supporting other people, children and young people, and of course, then you meet their families and see them growing up, and then you have a music group around you. You know, you make a lot of friends too, don't you, who are people with shared values? 

Yes. That's been terrific. Yes. And people during the years of Guiding, the parents were so supportive, very, very supportive, and made lots of friends alongside our own children, of course, as well. And also the schools were very supportive of what we were trying to do, the local schools. You know, having that, the youngsters enjoyed it as well because they were with their friends. If they were with their friends, they enjoyed whatever was going on, yeah, which was important to me to pass on our faith in that way. 

And just to go back to, I think you mentioned Catholic badges for Brownies and Guides. I'm interested in what they might be. Go on and tell us, for people who don't know. 

There was a badge, with the Brownies, and we had a booklet. And we'd do things like touring the church. They don't do it now. I'd have to go into my archives to find it. I probably have got a copy somewhere. But it was interesting. They learned different things about the church, about where things were in the church.  Or you'd get them to write a prayer or show them signs and symbols and that type of thing. It was very low key, low level for the Brownies. It wasn't available when I was doing Guides. And we also had a Brownie prayer, a Catholic Brownie prayer. I'm not sure because I'm out of Guiding now what links there are because the groups do struggle to get leaders now. Ours are still going. I'm really chuffed because my old Brownies and Guides are all leaders, and the same with our Scouts. One of the Brownies is now a scout leader as well. So, yeah, very rewarding. 

It's lovely, isn't it, when you see fruits being borne from the seeds that you sowed?

Oh, yeah. I had a nice experience a few weeks ago. Well, a young lady came to me with her daughters, and she said, Pauline, do you remember me? And she told me her name, and she was one of my daughter's friends from years ago. And she said, I'd just like to introduce you to my girls because they're going through Guiding and they're leaders now, and they're doing an international camp. And she said and I carried on and just thought you might like to know. That was lovely. We're really appreciative to hear that. Because I think Guiding is part of all different denominations but what it represents is love of God and love of one another and I think that's the most important thing. 

Well, if I can find a link to something useful around Guiding and the Guiding world, I'll put that in the episode notes, Pauline, so that people can follow-up.

Yeah. Thank you. 

And then if we just skip ahead a little bit, I know that you didn't stop there. You now look after some work with young people in Leicester as part of the Nottingham diocese. 

In 2011, our parish priest asked me. He was the dean at the time, and he asked me if I would do something with the youth for the deanery in Leicester, and I said yes. I managed to chat to the priests. They invited me to a deanery meeting. We gathered together a working team to put on events and celebrations every now and again with the aim of faith and fun. Basically on our leaflet we put We are for young people. Meet people like you. Learn new skills. Share the experience. We inspire, lead, and create the fun, but it is the youth that make each event so special. Memories are made, and the journey of their faith is energised. Encounter Christ through being a part of that experience. And that was from the LACY team. Our vision is faith and fun. So whatever we do, whatever events we do, we do always have either a youth mass or a liturgy. The team has changed over the years. As you might imagine, people come and go. We've had young people on and older people. There's four of us at the moment. Currently, we're having a walk for cancer research on the April 6 with a nature hunt as well and then we're doing some youth Stations of the Cross. Then we're hoping to do something for post-Confirmation probably towards June, and then we're going to do a Big Sing in November towards the feast of Saint Cecilia. We keep advertising in the parishes and the schools and we hope to engage with the young people. One of the nicest things we've managed to achieve, and that was at Christmas, a chaplain at the Leicester General Hospital, he asked LACY if they would be prepared to create a crib for the hospital. We were able to go into school and worked with the chaplaincy team one afternoon. And we went to the General Hospital, and the deacon came along, and he blessed the crib. That was a real highlight for us because we loved working with the young people. I'm currently helping with the Confirmation group in my own parish, just about to embark on another Confirmation journey with our neighbouring parish. So it's great for me because I meet new like you say, I meet new catechists with new ideas, and it's lovely because you can get a bit down the same road if you're not careful. You need to be open to other people's ideas and the ideas of the young people as well. They're important. 

I find it very moving listening to you speaking about, you know, making that crib for the General Hospital and getting other people involved in it, bringing in different talents, and making new relationships. I think that's very powerful. I admire your energy and enthusiasm to keep going. You've really built something to last there with the LACY group. What a great idea and that will spark ideas among listeners where they are for things they might get involved in, and that's really valuable too. So thank you for telling us about that. I'd like to just dig into your faith a little bit more, Pauline. We've heard about what inspires you. Now I'm wondering if there's a little bit of scripture that stays with you. You mentioned sometimes going back down the same road. I think individually there can be something that continues to mean something to us. 

There was a song that we learned years ago with Chris O'Hara. Something that stuck with me is this psalm that he put to music, There is one thing I ask of the Lord to live in the house of God each day of my life. That's always with me. I I suppose it's my time of life. We've been to quite a few funerals over the past few years. I love the phrase, Think of the love that the Father has lavished upon us. I really like that. One of the other strong things for me is the Beatitudes because wherever we are in life, however we're feeling, if we look or read those, they can sustain us. And I know one of my daughters is very, very much thinking along those lines as well.

Oh, thank you. That's beautiful. We haven't talked too much about you singing and playing the guitar in church, but I know that's been a big part of your life. Tell us a bit more about how you've been involved in part of the church music over the years. 

With the folk group, I've been very fortunate. I have got a strong group but as I mentioned earlier, we are getting quite old now with different challenges. But when we set up, I didn't know an awful lot about it. But over the years, we've had a keyboard player, guitarist, violinist, flautist, and my husband plays bass guitar. And at one time, we did have a drummer and for me, that was the most fantastic time. And the priest that we had at the time was so sympathetic to that. He was quite happy for us and it was a very lively, joyful time with the group. Things change as different priests come and go so we need to think about other things. But for me, I find that the music, both traditional music and modern Christian songs, inspire me and help me with my faith because of the wording. I've loved to play my guitar. I played my guitar since I was 15, but sadly after COVID, I've now got rheumatoid arthritis and it's quite bad in my hands and feet. So my hand - I just can't play the guitar. So that has been, to be honest, I was devastated with that. Perhaps our Lord is sending me in a different direction because I must admit, I still lead the folk group. They asked me to carry on so I still lead and sing. Like I say, we're all getting older and so we're dealing with different challenges that each of us have, or not able to be as quick as we used to be. But we still have a lovely time and the friendship with that group -  we meet once a month. We have a workshop, and we play once a month at church. I've learned a lot over the years with the different priests and expectations and what you need to do and what you can't do at certain times. And some of the group have said to me, I don't know whether I'd still be coming to church if I wasn't part of something like this. The scripture comes alive in the music. Over the past two years, I've been going online with Jo Boyce from CJM, who is amazing. Meeting up online with other people who’re all over the country, who play music. I really enjoy that too. 

I can hear in what you're saying that you've had to adapt to different priests coming and their thoughts about the music. And I wonder how you feel as somebody who has got many years experience and is embedded in a community and a way of playing and singing together at Mass. 

Yes. Initially, I found it very hard because I like Christian music as well. I think there's a place for Christian music and particularly for our young people. Because our young people, I don't feel, are going to respond to a hymn that was written in 1800-odd because they don't live in that time. Yes, I think the words can be quite beautiful and sometimes it's good to have that. I think you need a variety of music. So yes, I have found it more difficult to put together a list of hymns for a Mass and what is required of us. What I tend to do now is I try and go with that and think, Well, they're our spiritual director at this time, and so that's what God's calling us. I can put out feelers and say, Father, what do you think about this? But the other thing is with LACY particularly, if we do our own liturgy then that's a great opportunity to put in modern music. And I think it does raise people's spirits but I do like reflective modern music as well. Well, we've got different cultures coming in which is great. I was thinking perhaps I'm set in my ways and not open to listening to what else. Having said that, I do know what I like.

I think you've expressed that well, Pauline. I think there is something about understanding who I am and what helps me in my faith but also being open to different things, helping different people, like you say, the variety being important. This episode is going out in Lent, Pauline. So what does Lent look like for you? What do you do for Lent?

For myself for Lent, I've always enjoyed the Walk With Me booklets. But somebody suggested to me the app Laudate, which I've gone on, and so I've been reading the readings on there daily which I found very helpful. I've been asked to lead some Stations of the Cross one night for our parish. I'm putting together some youth Stations of the Cross when we have our sponsored walk. So that is important to me and it helps me to think about where we are in Lent, the weekends that we've got, the different weekends. I'm preparing a list now for our folk group to play on fifth Sunday of Lent. Just reading the readings, helping me with my thoughts, thinking about what I can do during Lent, perhaps looking on it as a more spring-like time rather than taking me down into the depths of feeling gloomy. Because sometimes when Lent comes along, you think, Oh, dear. Don't you? Well, I have done in the past, and so, Oh, dear. This isn't an exciting time. But actually I think it is. If we take on the experience of our Lord when he went into the desert, he'd have been thinking and storing things up in his mind, wouldn't he? And I think that's an opportunity for us to think more deeply about our faith and where we're going and what we might like to achieve more in the future. Which direction are we going? What have I been doing? Could I do a bit more, or am I happy and settled where I am? 

I think that's helpful, Pauline. Certainly, I sometimes have approached Lent, like you say, in a kind of one massive penance kind of experience and it's a long time to sustain that feeling of doing penance, suffering, not to dismiss that experience. It can feel, you know, if the weather's gloomy as well and you've got other challenges going on around you, actually it can feel very depressing. Like you say, using it as a time of reflection, not in a negative way, but in a positive way can be more helpful. 

Well, I think, this Pilgrim Year of Hope, isn't it? I think if we could take that on and hope more and not  - don't go downhill. Try and go uphill. This year, I've thought about it a bit more when we see all the flowers beginning to bloom and coming into their own. You know, perhaps we can do that in a different way. 

You mentioned before we started recording that you've got a role as trustee at the Catholic Youth Centre? 

Yeah. Probably is about seven years ago, I was asked by Bishop Patrick if I will be a trustee and I said Yes. I wasn't quite sure what it involved. I'm quite in awe of the trustees there, all the work that they've done over the years and are still doing to support the Director at The Briars and all those that work there. A little team of people are getting together to advertise more out to the diocese about the work of The Briars and how we can help by fundraising in our own little areas. And sometimes there'll be social events we hope that people can join in with to help support with finance.

Well again, if there's a useful link I can find, I'll put that in the episode notes that people want to follow-up  - or get ideas for how to support the youth centre they may have in their diocese. 

What I would like to finish by saying, a huge thank you to all the priests and religious who have helped me over the years. Because I know when I'm chatting to a nun or a priest and they're giving me thoughts and discussed things with me, I find that a tremendous help. Where would we be without that? And I'm so grateful too for my parents who had me baptised in the very beginnings. So, I wouldn't want to be without my faith.

I'm grateful for your witness all these years, the work and energy you've put into being involved in church communities in different ways and supporting children and young people. And I know their families will be grateful too for your time and energy. And it's amazing to hear how you're still finding new ways to share the faith and bring faith alive for people around you. So thanks ever so much for talking to us today. I think there's lots there that listeners will be interested to hear about and that will inspire them too.

That's good. You're very welcome. 

Thanks so much for joining me on All Kinds of Catholic this time. I hope today's conversation has resonated with you. A new episode is released each Wednesday. Follow All Kinds of Catholic on the usual podcast platforms. Rate and review to help others find it. And follow our X/ Twitter, and Facebook accounts, @kindsofCatholic. You can comment on episodes and be part of the dialogue there. You can also text me if you're listening to the podcast on your phone, although I won't be able to reply to those texts. Until the next time.