THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:

I am preparing my notes in good time this week since I will be in Sheffield for Bishop Ralph’s celebration on Friday and joining him over the weekend as he returns to his home parish of St Benet’s in Sunderland to mark the occasion of his First Mass. It is a long time since I visited Sunderland and I look forward to reviving the many happy memories of my two spells there, firstly as Vocations’ Director and Missioner and later as Rector and Parish Priest. As with every part of Britain and many other parts of the world much has changed from those seemingly halcyon days. I say ‘seemingly’ because it is easy to forget they brought their challenges and struggles and understandably and rightly we prefer to remember the good times and the blessings. And, of course, I have made no secret of my faithful support of the now City’s football team from the time I was a little boy in Clapham. So I return to a people rejoicing in the team’s outstanding first season back in the Premiership. And while we are on the subject of football, what a sensational match that was in the early hours of Monday morning in Mexico. It brought to mind of one of my earliest Freddie Freckles’ stories: Freddie and the Football Match, which duly became the illustration for the two School Leavers’ Masses this past week. Do remember to ask God’s blessing on our children and all the young people about to move on to new schools and colleges to further their education. We well know that these are not the easiest times for them as opportunities and choices appear to be narrowing in spite of – or perhaps because of – the advances in science and technology.

On my journeys to and from London on Wednesday for my friend Gavin’s funeral I completed my reading of Magnifica Humanitas, the Encyclical by Pope Leo. It really is the most remarkable document: a commentary on the challenges which beset the world but offering a practical Christian vision of how we can respond. I do urge you to read it and I am sure, like so many who are not of our faith, you will find it a stimulating and heartening document.

WELCOME BACK FR JOSEPH MUSENDAMI CSsR:

On Tuesday Fr Joseph takes another break from his studies in Rome and joins us until towards the end of August. We welcome him with open arms and hope he enjoys his time with us this year as much as he and we enjoyed one another’s company last year.

FR TIM’S DIARY:

Firstly, thank you for the wonderful celebrations last weekend. Now it seems extraordinary that the end of the school year is already in sight with the Leavers’ Masses for Bishop Eton and Carleton House this coming week. I also have the funeral of my friend, Gavin, in London on Wednesday and on Thursday afternoon the funeral of Sebastian Hall. Please pray for all these intentions too.

 BISHOP RALPH HESKETT’S GOLDEN JUBILEE:

Next Friday 10 July, marks the 50^th anniversary of Bishop Ralph’s Ordination to the Priesthood at our former parish, St Benet’s in Sunderland. I remember it well because as the young priest in the community at the time I had helped to prepare the ceremony and had produced the booklet for the occasion. On the same date in 2010 he was ordained Bishop in Gibraltar and in 2014, remarkably on the same date, he was installed as the third Bishop of Hallam. Bishop Eton was well represented in Gibraltar and at Sheffield Cathedral as it will be again this coming Friday. Ralph and I have shared a genuine friendship over the years and our lives have been interwoven, including that short period from 2008 to 2010 when we formed a mission team working from here in the Bishop Eton community. However, as you know, that venture was interrupted by Pope Benedict XVI and a year later, while he was ministering in Gibraltar, I was asked to look after the parishes of Bishop Eton and St Mary’s Woolton. In the Book of Revelation, as John reflects on the challenges for the early Christians communities, we hear him say repeatedly: “If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” As we seek to discern what the Spirit is saying to the churches of today, we note the need to continue to pool our resources. With Bishop Ralph’s retirement on health grounds, the Diocese of Hallam has been incorporated into the neighbouring Dioceses of Leeds and Middlesbrough and we have had to return the care of St Mary’s Woolton to the Archdiocese of Liverpool. St Benet’s in Sunderland was returned to the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in 2011. None of us can predict how things will reflect on our own histories and the history of the world, the more expansive our vision becomes and the more we recognise that wonderful insight of Père Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, namely the interconnectedness of everything and the fact that the whole of creation is moving towards its ultimate fulfilment in Christ. So, for now, let’s just thank God for all the blessings that Bishop Ralph has brought to so many of us and to the wider Church and pray that he may now be able to relax and regain his health and strength.

ANNIVERSARIES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE:

Last weekend I drew your attention to the fact that this weekend we have special reason to celebrate a significant milestone in the history of the Redemptorists and our home in Liverpool, Bishop Eton. One hundred and seventy-five years ago on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul the first team of Redemptorists, who had arrived less than three weeks before, opened their small chapel to the general public. Within seven years the present church was built and opened with a fanfare. The Mass was an all-ticket affair and attended by many dignitaries. However, it was not until 1961 (just 65 years ago) that the church, dedicated to Our Lady of the Annunciation, became a parish church and members of the community were appointed to serve the local community. Prior to that it was the base from which our missionary work was carried out, especially in the north-west of England. The extended buildings at one time served as the Junior Seminary and later as a Retreat House: there are still clergy who recall having their annual retreats here, as well as men who came for the famous ‘Weekend Retreats’!

Above all, I think anniversaries are important because they provide us with the opportunity to look back in thanksgiving for all the blessings associated with the people and the places that have shaped our lives. As you well know, this is becoming a constant theme in my reflections because it enables me to see the connections and recognise that wonderful vision of the Jesuit Priest, Fr Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who saw the interconnectedness of the whole of creation. At the same time, hopefully, these occasions can also provide us with the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and allow the Lord to heal the hurt and forgive us our sins.

✟✟✟✟✟✟✟✟✟✟

REJOICE AND BE GLAD THIS WEEKEND:

Party in the hall after the 10.00am Mass and the School Summer Fete in the afternoon.

 BISHOP RALPH HESKETT’S GOLDEN JUBILEE:

Bishop Ralph will be celebrating 50 years of priestly service on Friday 10 July, with Mass in Sheffield Cathedral at 11.00am. We sense that a number of people might like to join him for the occasion and  it may be worth seeing whether it would be helpful to hire a coach for the occasion?

If you think this is a good idea, could you please respond immediately and contact the office before 4.00pm tomorrow, Monday 22 June.

 NEXT WEEKEND: A TIME TO CELEBRATE:

You may have noticed a banner in the Lady Chapel reminding us that the Redemptorists came to Liverpool 175 years ago. The other day I felt prompted to check any significant dates in relation to their arrival. As with the Notre Dame Sisters our coming was on the recommendation of the famous Fr James Nugent. Accordingly Bishop George Brown, the first Catholic Bishop of Liverpool, invited the first Redemptorists to take possession of his own home and he moved to Catherine Street. The first three missioners came on June 10^th but did not open the chapel to the public until the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, which happened to fall on a Sunday that year. Next Sunday will be the Feast of Peter and Paul, transferred from the Monday this year. And for good measure next Saturday is the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and remember the first copy of the icon to leave Rome after the original was entrusted to the Redemptorists in 1866 came to Bishop Eton in thanksgiving for the cure of Fr Francis Hall, a young member of the community at that time. So, let’s celebrate:

SATURDAY: THE NOON MASS TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF OUR LADY.

Once again we will transfer that treasured copy from our private oratory to the church for your veneration.

SUNDAY: AFTER THE 10AM MASS THERE WILL BE A PARTY IN THE FISHER-MORE HALL.

It will not be extravagant, but more than an ordinary Coffee Morning and hopefully many of the children and their families will come and with us thank God for the last 175 years.

MONDAY (THE ACTUAL DATE): NOON MASS OF THANKSGIVING

Led by Fr Andrew Burns, our Rector. I have alerted Bishop Eton and Carleton House Schools that we have this special weekend approaching and hopefully some of the children will be able to provide us with some of their own artwork to commemorate the occasion.

 CELEBRATING THEIR FIRST COMMUNION:

At the 10am Mass this Sunday we welcome back the children who made their First Communion last month so that they can celebrate with the community of the parish. It provides me with another opportunity to congratulate them and their families and thank our wonderful team of catechists and our schools for having accompanied them on their journey.

PARISH GARDEN PARTY:

Even though it is still pouring with rain as I write my message on Friday morning, the weather forecast for Sunday promises something much brighter, so let’s hope that the decision to move from the autumn will be rewarded. As you know this is one of the many events we hold each year to support the missionary work of the Redemptorists in Zimbabwe, the region still attached to London Province. Many people commented on how eloquently Frances Sibert spoke at the end of the Masses last Sunday, so you don’t need me to remind you of how grateful we are for your support of our confrères in that part of Africa.

I am sure you will also be pleased to know that Fr Joseph Musendami, who is continuing to work on his doctoral thesis in Rome, has offered to spend another six weeks with us from the middle of July.

ANNUAL MISSION APPEAL:

Firstly, we welcome Fr Emmanuel OSA, who will appeal at all the Masses on behalf of the Augustinians, who, like the Redemptorists, have missionaries in many parts of the world. I know that you will make him welcome and do what you can to respond. We all know that Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian Friar, who at one time was the General of the Order and travelled the world visiting and encouraging the various communities in their vocation.