THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY:

Watching the extraordinary welcome Pope Leo received in France is a reminder of the truth of what I have just written. People are yearning for a world leader who speaks the truth and can inspire. Indeed, many secular commentators are saying that he is the only one today commanding respect. His visit to Lourdes reminds us that this is the month of the Rosary.

Let’s all pray at least a decade every day.

 RESURFACING:

After the recent particularly busy and demanding few weeks, I feel I am gradually resurfacing. It is sometimes difficult to take stock and determine the priorities, even though I feel that now I should be long enough in the tooth to have learnt how to cope. Once again I do appreciate the fact that you are aware of the demands placed upon our diminishing and aging Redemptorist Community: it was lovingly expressed in virtually all the greetings I received for my 80^th birthday. So, a huge ‘thank you’ and once again let’s move forward confidently, knowing that ultimately we are caught up not just in our own little world, but in the great mystery of Christ’s redeeming presence: a mission that simply cannot fail.

 IMAGINATIVE PLANNING:

Some of you are aware that over the past few years Mr John Elcock has made some significant contributions to the life of our parish. A gifted artist, he gave us the beautiful copy of the Russian icon of ‘The Virgin of Tenderness’, has provided some magnificent new notice boards and banners highlighting the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and the fact that this year we are celebrating 175 years of the Redemptorists in Liverpool. And, of course, since the liturgical timetable was restored after Covid, he has taken responsibility for the Novena Devotions each Wednesday evening.

During these years John has also been discerning a vocation to the Diaconate and after a preparatory year, this weekend he is being commissioned by Archbishop John to complete the remaining three years of training. This is a wonderful moment for our parish community to thank God and promise John and his family our prayers as we look forward to his Ordination as a Deacon in three years’ time.

Meanwhile, we have also been in discussion with John about how to re-constitute a Parish Council which will be in keeping with the synodal vision the Archdiocese has of moving into a future where more and more people are able to share their gifts with the wider community. You will have seen his analysis of the questionnaire, to which many of you took the trouble to reply and soon we will be sharing the possible new framework of a parish team, less structured and more flexible in keeping with this vision. Accordingly, I encourage everyone to pray and reflect about how they may be able to contribute to this process. Just remember the old slogan holds true: EVERY LITTLE HELPS.

 CORRECTION:

My apologies to Fr Jean Pierre for stating in last week’s bulletin that he comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo when in fact he is from the Republic of Rwanda.

 GENERAL VISITATION:

As I write these notes mid-week, before going to London to meet Fr General and the visitors, Fr Peter and Brother Larry, for the conclusion of their fraternal visit, I can tell you that so far the whole experience has been utterly positive and encouraging. As I noted in last week’s message, we all know that there are no obvious answers to many of the questions that are presenting themselves to us, but to be able to have an honest conversation and acknowledge the reality is liberating in itself. Let’s continue to pray for the grace to continue to listen to one another and walk together patiently with the Lord.

 WHAT A WEEKEND!

I must confess that I was not quite ready for the roller-coaster few days that accompanied my birthday last weekend. Firstly, I wish to thank you for the seeming avalanche of cards, gifts and good wishes that descended on me. Usually at Christmas and on special occasions, I make a point of hanging up in my room all the cards I receive, but this was just not possible, not least because of the size of many of the cards. However, as some of you may have seen on my recorded message, I did clear the table and place many of them there as well as on top of the bookcases. Last weekend I commented on the fact that the past fifteen years have offered me some of the most rewarding years of my ministry as a priest: indeed more than I could possibly have dreamt up, so, once again, thank you.

Among the unexpected joys of last weekend was the chance to see a live football match after so many years of simply being an armchair supporter and what a match it was as Sunderland pushed Manchester City all the way in an eight-goal thriller. Naturally, I would have preferred it had the spoils been shared, but you couldn’t leave disappointed after such an exhibition of attacking football from both sides: hopefully, it augurs well for the rest of Sunderland’s season.

The assemblies in Bishop Eton and Carleton House Schools on Monday have provided me with more joyful and emotional memories and more reasons to be nostalgic in the future. As I read through all the children’s greetings and indeed looked at Bridie’s sensational cakes, I could not help but wonder whether people will remember me more for my passion for Sunderland’s football team than the love of the Lord! No, I am happy that the message is more that we all need to live a balanced life, including our prayer, our work and our recreation, and, like you, I will try to continue to live my life accordingly.

 VISITORS:

As well as our visitors from Rome, we have also had the pleasure of the company of Fr Scott Davidson from our South African Province during recent weeks. Among his many talents, he is an organist and has offered to play a voluntary at the end of the 10.00am Mass this Sunday. Also with us is Fr Jean Pierre Gatete, a Pallottine Father from Rwanda, who is doing a three-month Course in Liverpool this autumn.

 ILLNESS AND BEREAVEMENT:

Both in the parish and in the Redemptorist Community we are having our fair share of suffering with sickness and deaths. Indeed, in the week following this, we will have three funerals in the church, including that of our own Fr Tom Molloy on Wednesday 30 September. The names of others who have died or who are suffering with serious or terminal illnesses are in the bulletin. Please keep all of them and their families in your prayers, including Sheila Reade, who was incorrectly recorded in last week’s bulletin as having died, when, in fact, she has rallied after being very close to death.

 MILESTONES:

As you well know I reach a significant milestone in my life this weekend and thank you for all the greetings and good wishes. When, over fifteen years ago, I was invited to serve the parishes of Bishop Eton and St Mary’s Woolton, I could not have imagined a more rewarding opportunity in the latter part of my life to live my Redemptorist vocation. Over the last 62 years since Andrew Burns and I went to Perth to begin our training the world and the Church have changed dramatically. Our ways parted after ordination, Andrew going to South Africa for 35 years, before returning to the London Province, whereas all my appointments have been in Britain. Both of us have been engaged in a variety of ministries and been entrusted with responsibility in the governance of the Congregation. Likewise, both of us look back in gratitude that our ministries have been enriched by being part of a worldwide Congregation, which enabled us to travel, study and work with confrères from other parts of the world. The visitation of the Province by our General Council at the moment is providing us with a further opportunity to contribute to the conversation which seeks to discern how best to respond to all the challenges confronting society and the Church at this present time. In my report on behalf of the Provincial Council, I suggested that we use the recurring theme of the Book of Revelation, which calls upon the early Churches in Asia Minor, “to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church.” We all acknowledge that answers may not be readily available, but I must say that the conversations we have had to date have proved refreshingly honest and helpful. Please do continue to pray for us and for yourselves that we will all remain patient and faithful with one another. Next Friday, Brother Michael, Fr Anthony Cassidy, Andrew and I will be in London for the final part of the visitation with Fr General himself. Fr Michael Henesy is staying behind and will offer the usual midday Mass that day.

 SPIRITUAL READING:

In my recorded message this week I spoke of a compelling book I have been reading. It is some of the collected writings of Fr John Daley. John was a Rosminian priest, who died in 2024. He had a rich and varied life, culminating in the development in his parish in Leicester of a remarkable apostolate, called Watermead. This sought to share the gifts of his people as widely as possible by publishing their prayers and insights and music: a very synodal vision! I had the privilege of meeting John many years ago and realised what a gifted and committed priest he was and now I see a remarkable number of connections, including my family background and my father’s love of the Rosminians as an old boy of their college in Leicestershire. He writes about his life experiences with an openness and honesty that is refreshing. As you receive the first analysis of the parish survey this weekend, I suggest we continue to look for imaginative ways in which we can share our gifts and continue to build our community of faith in love and service of one another and the wider Church community.