August 2017 (Summer Issue) Issue 24

iVictoria Nonyelim Ekubia

Our Beloved Vicky will be deeply missed

Whoever you met, wherever you went, whatever you did,you shone a light that made such an impression on everyone.

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CONTENTS

Editorial Page 2

Co-ordinator’s Letter Page 3

Refugees: SHCJ Associates' Weekend Pages 3-4

Active Support and Somewhere Safe to Sleep Page 5

Fire of Economic Justice for Africa will start burning Page 5

Refugees Page 6

Good News for Bees Survival Page 7

Andante – An Old Crime in New Forms Page 8

70 Years of Holy Child School and College in Ghana Page 9

HOPSA UK wins GUBA Award Page 9

Victoria’s Eulogy Pages 10-11

Forthcoming Events Page 12

Noticeboard Page 12

Prayers Please Page 12

Contacts for regional prayer groups

Birmingham (monthly meetings, varying dates) Jenny Banks Bryer 0121 427 1207

Hopsans (1st Sunday March, June, Sept, Dec) Eva Adom-Duah /

Sabina Yedu-Agrey 020 8450 6536

Lytham Sister Julian Breakell 01253 731372

Oxford Rose Hill Wendy Wilkinson 07889972586

Salford 1 (last Thursday of month) Julie Courtney 07813 877999

Salford 2 Maureen Hamilton 0161 793 0231

London Prayer Group Celia Capstick 0208 888 0580

EDITORIAL

The early death of Victoria Ekubia which shocked us all so much this Spring is featured prominently in this issue

of the Newsletter, and the testimonies of her fellow-Associates reflect both Victoria’s generous contribution to

our activities and the affection in which she was held by so many.

On a happier note, we should like to welcome the new Provincial Leadership Team: our very own Associates

links, Anne Stewart and Angela O’Connor, together with Carmel Murtagh, Jean Newbold and Geraldine

MacCarthy. We look forward to working with them and are delighted to hear that Anne and Angela hope to

maintain their position on our Core committee where their help and advice is so valuable. Our thanks go also to

Sister Monica and the outgoing PLT who have done so much for us over the past four years. Enjoy the newsletter,

note the dates of future events and please look at the enclosed booking forms – we hope to see many of you there!

Jenny Banks Bryer

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Co-ordinator’s LetterDear Everyone,

We seem to be in such a sad and uncertain time.The sudden and premature death of Victoriashocked and saddened us all. Recent events,political, terrorist linked and the fire inKensington have made many in our countrystruggle to make sense of what is important to us.

However Peter Hennessy, a crossbench peer in theHouse of Lords, writing in the Tablet says,

“There are always reasons to be cheerful in anopen society like ours, which has deep wells oftolerance and civility upon which it can draw. But at times of multiple political uncertaintyoverlaid by our reactions to what the Queen, inher birthday message, called the “sombre” eventsof Manchester, London Bridge and GrenfellTower, they can seem more than a touch hidden”.

It was wonderful to share at the Memorial Mass

and Requiem Mass for Victoria with all the

Associates and Hopsas, who came and sang and

made the sad occasion so uplifting, and were such

a support for Victoria’s family and friends.

We are so fortunate to be closely linked with the

Society as associates, and I should like to express

our thanks to Angela and Anne, both who are

now on the Province leadership team, for all the

help and support they give to us.

I hope you all have a relaxing and peaceful

summer and look forward to our future events

together.

With love and prayers, Sophie Rudge,

Co-ordinator

Refugees: SHCJ Associates’ Weekend31st March – 2nd April 2017

Wilson Nkurunziza is Chairperson for the Forumof Refugees in Salford. He came from Rwanda andmet Sr Anne whilst she was working on ChurchAction on Poverty in Salford. Some of us hadheard him previously at a SHCJ meeting in 2011.

He showed us a TV documentary film. We sawsome of it and discussed the main issue. Britain isbecoming more suspicious of anyone who appearsto speak with a foreign accent, has a differentcolour of skin, or seeking asylum. There are nowstrict rules that organisations that offer Education,NHS services or accommodation that need tocheck their clients Immigration status, thisincludes passports and personal information fromrefugees and asylum seekers. The problem is thisvital information may be passed over tounscrupulous people; some landlords have been

known to pass on the information to criminals

who may blackmail them later. Some restaurateurs

were quoted as saying they were avoiding

employing refugees as they did not want to deal

with all the paper work needed. If an employer

fails to do the paper work they can be fined

£3000. One Doctor said he disagreed with having

to demand an answer to prying questions about his

patient past life as it could affect the trust in the

Patient Doctor relationship.

The Home office has been known to lose precious

documents as well as careless landlords. Sr Anne

quoted a young girl who this happened to. She

became hysterical with grief when she heard.

Would she be sent back now like so many who

had no papers.?

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Since 2016 Asylum seekers are not allowed to

appeal if their requests to stay here fail. They can

be taken by the authorities often in the middle of

the night and are deported. Some manage to run

away and live a life of fear and misery as illegal

immigrants. Even after their asylum status has

been accepted since 2016 they have to be

reviewed after 5 years. The checking of migrants

has now affected students on courses. SOAS

School of African and Oriental Studies based in

London raises this additional problem. It

illustrates the damage in encouraging bright

students to come to the UK. Students can be

studying for a PHD or a Masters Degree. They can

then suddenly be whisked away in the middle of

their courses and sent home. This is because there

are new immigration laws that have not been

publicised in advance. The students suffer as they

have not been informed of the recent changes. As

a result of the disruption their degree has not been

completed causing distress and disappointment all

round. This does not bode well for future bright

sparks wanting to come to UK and learn at our

historic universities and colleges.

Help for RefugeesTwo helpful groups were described in the film; the

Southall Black Sisters who support 15 women

asylum seekers and Ramhill. The good news is

churches and community groups are rallying

round offering help in many ways: transport to

solicitors, access to food banks, needy clothing. In

my area in Lancashire we have found a stumbling

block regarding Serco. This is the Government

paid supplier of properties that house the asylum

seekers. They have not been keen to cooperate

with us in the social welfare of the refugees. I met

one young Middle eastern mother who was

desperately lonely. She needed to fill in a form and

deliver it or send it to the drop-in centre then we

would be able to go into action and help her. Our

hands are tied. We cannot visit her or offer

transport. Serco has said it is not their job to get

her to fill in the form or translate it or deliver it or

pay for the stamp!

The Government has agreed to look after 20,000

Syrians. They are given a full package of support

and care, This is excellent for them. None of us

could have anything but sympathy for the

continuous misery and appalling atrocities being

inflicted on the fleeing people of Alleppo, Syria

has been at war for the last 4 years. Still there is

no sign of it ending or any winners on either side

living in peace.

The North of England is taking many more

Asylum seekers than the Richer south, according

to the Guardian newspaper.

In the north-west town of Rochdale, every 200th

person is an asylum seeker. This can cause

resentment and problems supplying their needs

when the services are already very stretched with

the Government cuts.

On the 4th April 2017, Our Prime Minister

Theresa May dedicated £1bn in aid money for

Syrian refugees in host countries. That means

giving help to countries such as Jordan which is

estimated to have 650,000 Syrian Refugees. This

seems a wise decision to encourage more people to

stay in the same region nearer their home, rather

than risk all in a flimsy boat.

Forum of Concerned Professionals

Wilson has started a group based at Salford

University. He would like some SHCJ Associates

to attend one of their meetings and possibly join.

We are keen to help if we can.

Betsy Keating

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Fire of economic justice for Africa will start burningOur SHCJ Myra Cummings secretary of AEFJN – UK brings good news of a new Kenyan antennaDear Friend,

Since January the UK Antenna of AEFJN AfricanEuropean Faith and Justice Network UK has been incontact with Shisanya Johnstone, an Associate of theChristian Brothers and director of the Edmund RiceAdvocacy Centre (ERAN) in Nairobi, with a requestfor help in the formation of a Kenyan Antenna. FrChika, from the Brussels Office visited Nairobi inFebruary and discussed the matter with Shisanya andthe JPIC committee. Since then there has beensignificant progress on the proposal.

I have attached comments from the letter from FrChika.

Our vision is to create a synergy of advocacy amongthe three continents with a view to contributing tochange in the economic relations between Africa andthe two continents of the global north.

We already have some presence in West Africa andour attention is now on East African countries to themajor superiors and other interested parties inNairobi, dated 15 June. You will be delighted to seethat the UK antenna, and particularly the ChristianBrothers, have been privileged to play a major role inthis exciting development.

As I am writing this, AFJN is already in a formationsession with the Religious in Tanzania and it will begreat if that of Kenya follows quickly so that the fire ofeconomic justice for Africa will start burning. I amalso reaching out to other individual religious and laypeople in Nairobi who are committed to economicjustice in Africa to be part of the group.

Fr Chika also highlights the collaboration betweenAEFJN in Brussels and AFJN in Washington in thecommon policy of supporting the development ofAntennae in African countries in order that religious inthe three continents can work together to promoteeconomic justice for Africa.

Message to SHCJ associates

With the onset of Brexit negotiations and particularlyon future trade deals, we in UK, will need to lobbyour new government to ensure that Britain’s tradedeals, on which African exports depend, are notcompromised. Meanwhile we will still have our MEPsin Brussels for nearly two years!

This advocacy will become our major task in theforeseeable future in which everyone, religious and laity,especially our associates, are invited to to take part.With all best wishes, Myra

For our weekend reflection at Wistaston onRefugees, we were lucky to find Sister Cathleen whoworks at Wistaston Hall. She kindly told us how hercongregation, the Holy Family of Bordeaux cares forwomen asylum seekers. One community of her orderis giving living-in support to single women asylumseekers. It is under the scheme run by the JesuitRefugee service. A house with 4 sisters who havelived abroad were happy to take on an asylum seekerfor the advised 8 week period. It is not encouragedfor them to stay longer. One incident occurred whenthe woman became ill and stayed for another twoweeks. The sisters and the ill woman became soattached it was very hard to say ‘Goodbye’ and moveon. Eventually over a year the same woman maycome back to them. They are not allowed anymoney or allowed to work. They are given food bythe sisters and vouchers for essentials. They have toleave the house every day and pursue their attempts

to gain asylum through the official organisations andthe Law.

The sisters have found it hard to take on the strictregime advised by the Jesuit Refugee services. But itdoes work and is manageable as they can helpseveral women over a year.

Over a year they may be lucky to see the samewoman for another 8 week period. I imagine thewomen involved would sigh with relief to see thesisters she had stayed with previously, instead ofstaying with a cold detached landlord. It is often thereligious sisters of Christian orders that provide thisrotational reliable care.

Oscar Romero gave some helpful advice:

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense ofliberation in realising that. This enables us to dosomething, and to do it very well.

Active Support and Somewhere Safe to Sleep

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RefugeesThe focus on Refugees in this issue of the Newsletter may prompt the reaction

“what can I do?” – Here is another suggestion of an online campaign Associates may care to follow up.

You may already know this – when people areapplying for protection and safety here in the UK(a.k.a. seeking asylum), they’re not allowed towork. As a result, they can apply for AsylumSupport which is a payment of £5.28 a day and foraccommodation if they need it. So far, so ok.

But we’ve just done research that shows how badlythis support system is failing the people who needit most. Not only do people wait months fordecisions, but in the cases we looked at over halfof people were initially refused emergencysupport. Wrongly. And we know it’s wrongbecause a lot were overturned on appeal.

Would you like to guess how often the HomeOffice had to back down on its initial decisionwhen challenged? Take our quick poll and findout:*

• 34% of cases• 66% of cases• 92% of cases

The asylum system is broken. We’re gearing up tohelp fix it. We really hope you’ll join us in thefight for a system that treats people with dignityand respect.

with thanks, Mariam, Campaigns team

Refugee Actionis a registered charity.

Charity Number in England and Wales: 283660.

Company Registration Number: 1593454.

Our mailing address:Victoria Charity Centre,

11 Belgrave Road,London SW1V 1RB

*The answer to the poll is 92%

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Celia Capstick, Helen Price, Freda Ogunade and Betsy Keating

Barbara Parkhurst and Betsy

Good News for Bees SurvivalFrom The Guardian, 23rd March 2017

The world’s most widely used insecticides wouldbe banned from all fields across Europe under draftregulations from the European commission, seenby the Guardian. The new proposals are for acomplete ban on their use in fields, with the onlyexception being for plants entirely grown ingreenhouses.

Bees and other pollinators are vital for many foodcrops but have been declining for decades due tohabitat loss, disease and pesticide use. Theinsecticides, called neonicotinoids, have been inuse for over 20 years and have been linked toserious harm in bees.

A fierce battle has been fought betweenenvironmental campaigners and farming andpesticides groups. The latter argue the insecticidesare vital for crop protection and that opposition isto them is political. Some of us SHCJ associatessigned A petition to ban neonicotinoids, fromAvaaz, This has gathered 4.4m signatures whichhave had to be taken seriously.

The documents are the first indication that thepowerful commission wants a complete ban andcite “high acute risks to bees”.

A ban could be in place this year if the proposalsare approved by a majority of EU member states.

We still await confirmation but continued

prayers and petitions are needed to keep up the momentum.

Making Your Voice Heard the Easy WayYou can sign on line in the comfort of your home.This seems to be an easier way of making a standfor Justice in the world than marching throughmiles of traffic and beefy men, whilst carryingheavy banners to parliament to hand in yourfragile paper list of petitions.

If there are over a certain number, 3 millionsignatures. I believe, Action has to be taken.

AEFJN has lists of organisations such as ‘Avaaz’and ‘38 degrees’ that are found to be quitereliable for on line petitions.

Betsy Keating

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I was grateful to the SHCJ for the opportunity tojoin Sister Jean Newbold at the Andante summerschool, which focused on Modern Slavery as anold crime increasingly occurring in new forms inall countries of Europe in the 21st century.Trafficking for exploitation is found in forcedprostitution, and in agricultural, construction,industrial and supply industries as well as indomestic work. The location had been chosenbecause Albania is one of the poorest countries ofEurope where vulnerable women and men arefrequently victims of trafficking for exploitation.

“It is very important that also Catholic women inEurope fight against this crime which isdevastating the lives of so many women, childrenand men”, said Mary McHugh and VroniPeterhans, presidents of Andante. Andante is anetwork of 24 Catholic women’s organisations in14 European countries of Western, Central andEastern Europe, with communications with overone million catholic women. The countriesrepresented at this meeting, number amongst theprinciple source and destination countries for thistrade in human beings.

The more than fifty delegates includedrepresentatives of some member organisationswith particular expertise in this field working bothwith the rehabilitation of victims and in strategiesto reduce vulnerability to exploitation and toimprove women’s economic independence andempowerment. Other delegates represented largemembership organisations of Catholic women,many of which are active in education and insupporting victims.

We learnt that study of this subject should includeexamination of the “Bought” (victims of modernslavery), the “Buyers” (those whose demand forcheap and available goods and services lead toexploitation of the vulnerable) and the “Business”

(how those who profit by this trade in humanbeings work). Pope Francis has been clear in hiswords and his actions that modern slavery“violates the God-given dignity of so many of ourbrothers and sisters, and constitutes a crimeagainst humanity”.

The Coordinating Committee of Andante and itsmember organisations represented at these StudyDays committed themselves to the followingactions:

• raising awareness of modern slavery withintheir organisations by educational programmes;

• sharing information and expertise;

• networking with other organisations involvedin campaigning on this issue;

• mainstreaming a consideration of modernslavery and exploitation into all campaigns;

• supporting preventive work in source countries;

• campaigning to improve legislation, to convictperpetrators and to protect and support victims;

• using Andante’s position as an InternationalNGO, with participatory status at the councilof Europe to ensure that this issue is given ahigh priority in the COE work programme;

• encouraging all Catholic women to beresponsible buyers of goods and services beingaware of the potential for exploitation in thesupply side.

As a result of this conference Jean and I returneddetermined to try and use the SHCJ to try andmake a difference in the U.K. Next year we shalldedicate our wedding feast weekend to educateand inform as many people as possible of ways wecan help, as this involves far greater numbers ofmen and women than were involved in thehistoric slave trade.

Sophie Rudge

Andante3rd – 8th May 2017, Durres, Albania

AN OLD CRIME IN NEW FORMS: MODERN SLAVERY

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70 Years of Holy Child School and College in Ghana

HOPSA UK wins GUBA Award

In 1946 the first of the Society of the Holy Childnuns arrived in Ghana to establish what becameknown as Holy Child School, at Cape Coast, alsoknown as ‘Angel’s Hill’. Both the College andSecondary School were initially based at CapeCoast. Later the College was moved to Takoradi,where some of the best teachers are trained.Students who passed through these institutions,were encouraged by Cornelia’s vision ofeducation, to develop their special gifts andtalents that they have been endowed with, for thecommon good of all in society.

Cornelia Connelly the Foundress of the Society ofHoly Child School, had the vision of education,that is based on trust and respect for humandignity. Holy Child Education is said to addressthe needs and wants of every age. This is whatmakes Holy Child education unique.

Those of us who were blessed with Holy ChildEducation, feel privileged to have had such ‘HolisticEducation’, making us women of Substance.

Last year 2016, Holy Child School and College inCape Coast and Takoradi respectively, celebrated

70 years of its existence in Ghana. Some of ourmembers in the UK travelled to Ghana to be partof such momentous celebration.

Later in the year Hopsa UK, also celebrated in itsown unique way. This was marked in May 2016 byMass at Corpus Christi Parish in Brixton, SW 2.Mass was by Fr. Adrian McKenna-Whyte and Fr.Bartholomew Zubeviel. In October 2017, dinnerand dance was organised as fund raising event andalso to crown 70 years of Holy Child School andCollege in Ghana. A very memorable celebrationit was.

By Rose M-Akollor

Guba award is an annual event for Ghanian companies in the UK. Among the categories is theGhana past Students Alumni which this year was won by HOPSA UK. Well done Sisters. Facta Non Verba – Actions not words! Rose M-Akollor

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Victoria Nonyelim EkubiaA tribute to Victoria delivered at her memorial service and her funeral service by

Julie Courtney and Cynthia Edwards-Wilson

Our Dearest VictoriaYou are truly a light that will never go out.Whoever you met, wherever you went, whateveryou did, you shone a light that made such animpression on everyone.

You spent your professional career helping others.Most recently supporting and encouragingfamilies in Barking and Dagenham as part of theGovernment Troubled Families Programme. Youcould say that this was a culmination of your life’swork, which included living as part of the L’Archecommunity, neighbourhood projects like Splash.Local government community andneighbourhood manager. National charities likethe Children’s society and youth projects likeSouthwell Youth project where we met over 25years ago.

I headed up the Youth programme team. Cynthiawas the Marketing and fundraising Manager. Veryearly on you told that us that respect is earned notautomatically given and that you would be closelymonitoring us! Work continued … we got on withplanning and running youth programmes.Making, begging or borrowing resources. A fewweeks later you enthusiastically told us howimpressed you were with our work. We politelythanked you, and you gave us your, nowrenowned, full and genuine smile.

It was only much later, when we had workedtogether for some time and saw your self-imposed

exacting standards, the quality andprofessionalism of your work, that we realisedwhat praise you had given us.

The project was challenging, we were attemptinga new and innovative approach to working withdisadvantaged young people with limitedresources. But a camaraderie and communityexisted between us, we were impressed by yourgreat qualities of compassion and integrity, youhad a real sense of fun and would light up a roomwith your deep and easy laugh. You had a realability to hear, even the silences, understand andempathise. Through the pain and in the midst ofthis chaos we became firm friends while the Jesuitstaught us how to enjoy pre dinner Gin and Tonics,and here we are 25 years later.

The light shone from within you.

Cornelia Connelly says ‘You must not hide thegifts God has given, but use them in his service’.

And you did.

You had a great passion for learning, which didn’tstop after successfully completing your TeachingDegree. You continued gaining professionalqualifications throughout your life. Through yournumerous and various activities you also workedceaselessly at personal improvement.

I remember my husband Chris, your sister Ndidiand myself arriving at a hotel in Swiss Cottage,

21st February 1964 – 26th January 2017

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with varying degrees of cynicism, to welcome youback, although you hadn’t left the hotel, from amindfulness weekend. This was beforeMindfulness was ever invented.

You helped set up, 18 years ago, a Local Women’sreading group. You wanted to take your readingchoices out your comfort zone. You were a foundermember of the East End Women’s Institute, andalthough you never made jam you enthusiasticallytook part in Guerrilla Gardening.

Through Sr Anne Stewart you were introduced tothe Society of the Holy Child Jesus; Cornelia’s lifephilosophy really resonated with you and youbecame a member of the SHCJ Associates. Youembraced the Associates, as they did you. You were invited to join the Core team, helping toorganise many events including the Internationalmeeting in the Dominican Republic. It istestimony to your impact that so many of yoursister Associates have travelled to be here today.

The success and security in yourself made youeven more determined to do as much as possibleto help and protect the most vulnerable membersof our society. You know, Vicky, some might havesaid you were somewhat eccentric in some of yourways, and having seen some of the most appallinglife circumstances through your work youcertainly had, at times, the most incredibleinnocence.

Many of us would have experienced you arrivingto babysit, attend a meeting, or just visiting.Frequently late, always with a flask of coffee,perhaps some tasty morsels to snack on, yourlaptop, IPad, and a spare with you. A number oflarge bags containing work, some articles youwanted to catch up on reading, a settee and achest of drawers! You saw the joy and pleasure inso many large and small things. You loved to drive,and you were a great driver, as long as you hadample supplies of coffee and were periodically fedyour favourite jelly babies. I’m carrying preciouscargo you once said. Although your early morningdashes to Billingsgate fish market could afterwardsmake a lift with you an experience for the senses!

Vicky, you were blessed with a voice that couldmake our spines tingle. Whether singing SalveRegina, On Eagles’ Wings or Summertime.Perhaps you and Maria Callas are now singingyour beloved Ave Maria together. You had a greatlaugh and an ability to laugh at yourself. You couldsometimes appear stubborn but this is because youneeded time to reflect. Time to figure out the bestway to do something, but to your credit you hadthe strength to accept another view, to go withthe consensus even when it wasn’t your preferredoption, and to do so with your eye for detail andperfection.

You loved a bargain but also enjoyed the finerthings in life. You would meticulously do yourresearch and became an expert on everythingfrom tumble dryers, to skiing boots. You enjoyedyour food and would wax lyrical about your Mum’spepper soup, or when you were ordering 2 mixedgrills at a restaurant, some to be saved for later.

The last time I saw you was the Sunday before youdied. We met to plan the Confirmation sessions.You arrived late having attended another meetingbeforehand. You shared your coffee with me, youhad your iPad and bags. We went to Mass togetherafterwards. You gave your god-daughter Cedar abig hug and some advice on settling into her newschool.

My last contact with you Vicky was the voice mailyou left me on the night before you died. Yougreeted me as you always did with ‘Hello my Julie’Vicky you were happy and optimistic and full oflife.

We can no longer ring you or hug you, hear yourlaugh, argue a point with you, agree to disagree, beenlightened by your wisdom and entranced byyour voice.

You touched each of us in your own unique wayand for this we are grateful.

Vicky, you were a woman of great faith and prayer,go with our blessing back to God, the God youloved and served faithfully throughout your life.

Julie and Cynthia

Newsletter editor: Jenny Banks Bryer • Design and layout: Andy Harper – Printers: Set & Match, Birmingham Thanks to all contributors and to Betsy Keating and Rose Amuah for photographs.

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NoticeboardENCLOSURES

Please note the booking forms enclosed giving details of the Associates’ Autumn

meeting on Saturday 7th October at Apley Grange, Harrogate from 10.30 – 4 p.m.

This Cornelian Day of Reflection is led by Philomena Grimley, SHCJ. Numbers are

not limited and please bring a packed lunch. Tea and Coffee will be available.

Further details if required from Sophie.

A booking form is enclosed also for the Annual Retreat, to be held at the Cherwell

Centre, Oxford, 1st – 3rd December. Details are on the booking form and we ask you

to return the form to Sophie by 1st November.

Enclosed also is an application form for 100 Club Membership 2017-18.

Forthcoming EventsAs above: Saturday 7th October 2017: 10.30 – 4 p.m. at Apley Grange, Harrogate,

Friday 1st December – Sunday 3rd December 2017 – Associates’ Annual Retreat.

Cherwell Centre 14-16 Norham Gardens Oxford.

Details on booking form which should be returned by 1st November

Your PrayersRIP

Victoria Ekubia

Please pray for:Josephine, Victoria’s mother and all the Ekubia family

Thanks from Jenny for prayers and messagesfollowing her broken hip – now mending!