HOLY WEEK:

I am sure that the coming week will be blessed for all of us. May I encourage you to take part in as much of the liturgy as is possible for you and your families. Easter is the great Feast and, as I so often remind myself and you, St Paul could not have put things more simply or directly in his first letter to the Corinthians:

“IF CHRIST IS NOT RISEN, YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR SINS, AND YOUR FAITH IS FUTILE.”

COMMUNION UNDER BOTH KINDS:

Further to my message last week, I have done a little more research on the subject and had a conversation with Canon Sean Riley, the Chancellor. It seems that intinction is strictly forbidden for the laity in the Latin rite.

Accordingly, we will have to revise the decision we took rather hastily last week. Again, after consulting with Fr Andrew, we will be happy for our ministers to take charge of the situation. At those Masses at which we have Ministers of Holy Communion willing to undertake this ministry, the priest will consecrate one or two chalices, and the deputed minister(s) will be available for those who wish to receive under both kinds, consume any of the Precious Blood which may remain and purify the chalices. I anticipate that there are ministers at St Mary’s wishing to introduce this custom after Easter, but still I have no indication that there are ministers wishing to take up the invitation at Bishop Eton. We will duly liaise and let you know at which Masses Communion under both kinds will be available after Easter.

WELCOME TO ARCHBISHOP-ELECT, JOHN SHERRINGTON:

As we announced last Sunday, the Pope has appointed Bishop John Sherrington to be the next Archbishop of Liverpool and he will be installed at the Cathedral on Tuesday, 27 May, the Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury. I have written to him to assure him of our good wishes and prayers. I have also assured him that he will be very welcome to our two parishes when he has the opportunity.

While I was undertaking the research in the 1990s, Fr John was teaching at the seminary in Wonersh and invited me to speak to his students about the work I was doing. I last had a conversation with him when we were staying in the same hotel in Lourdes during the pilgrimage in 2023.

PRAYERS

Prayers are also requested for our wonderful organist at St Mary’s, Nick Young, and for Lorna, his wife. Finally, Nick has had the major surgery he was waiting for at Wythenshawe Hospital, and, after a nine- and-a-half-hour operation, now has two new lungs. We fervently hope he makes a full recovery and, in due time, can return to continue to enrich our liturgies.

RARELY A DULL MOMENT:

I think you will all be aware that the past couple of weeks have kept us on our toes here in the monastery. Unfortunately, the viruses and infections that are plaguing the country have taken their toll of both the Redemptorists and our staff. Fortunately, Fr Andrew was able to keep going once he had begun a course of antibiotics, and we have managed to fulfil all our commitments so far. The latest casualty in the community is Fr Philip Jones, who was experiencing severe abdominal pains and who is now in the Royal: he was admitted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, which tells its own story. Please keep him in your prayers. Although there is no great anxiety about his condition at present, he is struggling with his memory, which sometimes makes it difficult when it comes to health issues. He retired to Bishop Eton a little while ago, having cared for the Carmelite Sisters at Dysart Monastery in Scotland for many years. He comes from Liverpool and was ordained at Bishop Eton in 1967. Indeed he attended Bishop Eton School in the 1950s when it was still St Anthony’s!

LAETARE SUNDAY:

We have completed the first half of our Lenten journey, and the Church invites us to take a breather on Laetare Sunday (Rejoice Sunday): rose vestments (if you have them!) and a chance to give thanks to God for our mothers. Of course, Mothering Sunday has its origins in the Christian tradition that on this day the faithful would try to go to their mother church, allowing families to come together and take stock before continuing their Lenten observance in preparation for Easter. Like so many of these traditions it has become highly commercialised, but we need not bemoan the fact. Let’s thank God for our mothers and ask the Lord to bless them for all they do for us.

ST MARY’S ADMINISTRATION:

We had a fruitful Fabrics and Finance meeting last Tuesday evening, which helped us look at the bigger picture. We agreed that the present structure of our committees in the parish needs reassessing to help us support the team in the office, so that we can effectively prioritise what needs doing and plan accordingly. As I write, I am preparing for another meeting with the Archdiocese this afternoon about the appointment of someone to take care of Maintenance. We may be in a position to provide you with more information about this next week. The role has long been agreed, but, unfortunately, a number of snags have held up the process.

OUR SYRIAN FAMILY:

I am delighted to share with you that this Sunday, at St George’s Hall, the Syrian Family we sponsored over six years ago are being granted British Citizenship and I am honoured to have been asked to accompany them on the occasion. With Ann Connor we will represent all of you who worked so tirelessly to enable them to build a new life in safety and peace here in Britain. They remain immensely grateful for all the love and support. In return, they have helped us to become more aware of our common humanity and as we reflect on Christ’s call to look out for our neighbour, the need to be in conversation not only with other Christian communities but other Faiths as well.

COPING WITH SICKNESS:

At present we are faced with some considerable health problems both in the Redemptorist Community and among our wonderful support staff. Antibiotics are helping to reverse the chest infections that have accompanied the heavy fluey cold that is doing the rounds, but there are other areas of concern, which we are also trying to cope with. At present, I do not anticipate having to cancel any of the planned timetable for Lent, but, as I keep reminding everyone, it is all becoming more and more tenuous and uncertain.#

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION (TUESDAY):

Tuesday is the special Feast Day of the Bishop Eton parish, so as well as the usual Mass at St Mary’s, we will have a SUNG MASS AT BISHOP ETON AT 7.00PM. I am truly grateful to the members of our music groups who have combined to celebrate the occasion with us. Let’s make it a truly memorable celebration of the life of our parish. Originally, we had considered having some kind of Triduum in preparation for the Feast, but in view of my  message on sickness, I have decided that we have enough commitments for the time being.