Substance and fun

Last weekend we had a Chaplaincy trip to Sutton near St Helen's for the annual Mass in honour of Elizabeth Prout, the nineteenth century foundress of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion. In a fascinating address during the Mass, Sister Elissa Rinere, one of the order's sisters in the United States, told us that a team of theologians attached to the Congregation for the Cause of Saints has recently concluded that Elizabeth Prout possessesd the virtues of faith, hope and charity to a heroic degree. Their work has to be scrutinised by a commitee of cardinals and other scholars but it now seems quite likely that she may be declared Venerable, the first stage in a process which may lead towards canonisation. It's all exciting stuff: another saint for England! We are pictured at her tomb, which is adjacent to the tomb of Blessed Dominic Barberi who received Blessed John Henry Newman into the Catholic Church. In the centre of our gang at the back is Sister Dominic Savio who was recently awarded a doctorate for her work on Elizabeth Prout's life and writings. Leeds Trinity was co-founded by the Sisters. Afterwards we had a tour of Liverpool Cathedral and then had a pizza in the atmospheric Albert Dock. We do substance; but we also do fun.