PENTECOST SUNDAY:

The Easter Season concludes with the great Feast of Pentecost: the coming of the Holy Spirit. Periodically in the Church’s history, there are calls for new outpourings of the Spirit to encourage and revive us. In today’s world it seems to have become a constant refrain and it was interesting to note during our recent Redemptorist meeting in Rome, how regularly confrères were moved to invoke the Holy Spirit or even prophesy!  

Discerning the movements of the Spirit is not always easy and I must admit to being inclined to err on the side of caution, but, as you know by now, I do believe that there are clear indications that the Spirit is calling us to a radical rethink, and we are beginning to respond. It is certain that for the foreseeable future there will be fewer priests and we are going to have to accommodate accordingly.

Earlier in his life as a professional theologian, Pope Benedict had foreseen that congregations would become smaller but, hopefully, more fervent, and Pope Francis is driving forward his vision of Synodality, whereby we recognise and respect the gifts of all the faithful and walk together with the Lord on our pilgrimages through life.

PRAYERS PLEASE:

Barbara Taylor, our faithful sacristan at Bishop Eton for so many years, died on Wednesday evening. Please pray for the repose of her soul. Her funeral will be at 11:00am on Monday, 5 June.

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF TIME FOR MASS ON THAT DAY!

PROVIDENCE:

I am sure that providence was at work again when I attended the licensing of Rev Julia Pratt as the Anglican Chaplain at Hope University on Monday. Fr Stephen Pritchard reminded me of a session for the clergy the following day at the Carmelite Convent, which proved very rewarding. It was a chance to get away from business and spend time reflecting on how we are emerging from the pandemic.

Fr Richard Sloane guided us over the few hours we were together and a few more pieces of life’s puzzle seemed to slot into place. Again: watch this space!

Meanwhile, remember to keep Julia and the chaplaincy team at Hope in your prayers, as also the new Vice-Chancellor, Claire Ozanne, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting.

THE ALPHA COURSE:

I am delighted that this venture has proved so successful and is going from strength to strength. Our thanks to Elizabeth Parsons and her mother, Margaret, for all the hard work in the planning and promoting of the course. It is encouraging to hear that one or two younger people have started coming. It is my fond hope that, in due course, we will be able to arrange a forum for young adults to come together to discuss and share their faith.

THE WEDNESDAY NOVENA:

I hear that the first two weeks of the lay-led Novena in honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour have been very well attended and very blessed occasions. My thanks to John Elcock for taking the initiative and all of you who are supporting him as we seek to develop our Shrine Ministry. On both the last two Wednesdays I have been at the Cathedral: firstly, for the Ecumenical Service, praying for peace as we focused on Liverpool hosting the Eurovision Song Contest and last Wednesday, marking Bishop Tom Williams’ twenty years as Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese. 

 FIRST COMMUNIONS:

This weekend we have the remaining two First Communion Masses at Bishop Eton. St Mary’s will have their celebrations on the corresponding weekends in the middle of June. The ‘I BELONG’ programme, which our catechists have used this year, has been successful and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Trish Brophy and Mary Monkhouse and their teams for the terrific job they do in preparing the children and their families.

The short, filmed meditation, which I have used before we celebrate the Masses, has been well received. I have used it as a reminder that, in the midst of all the confusion – and at times wreckage – of modern life, the Spirit of God continues to make Christ present in our midst. We are now in that period between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost next weekend, waiting to celebrate God’s gift of the Spirit. These are the nine days from which come the tradition of Novenas! Let’s pray for a new outpouring of the Spirit on us all, as we continue to emerge from the trauma of the pandemic and seek to rebuild our communities of faith.

ROME MEETING:

We will continue to look for ways of co-operating with our Redemptorist confrères in Ireland and on the continent. I am keen to explore the possibility of some form of twinning with our Redemptorist community and parish in Dundalk. Watch this space!

SHRINE MINISTRY:

Congratulations to John Elcock and the team who relaunched the Novena Devotions last Wednesday. I hear there was a great response, and I am delighted. At that time, I was at the Metropolitan Cathedral for a service linked with the Eurovision Song Contest and praying for peace, especially in Ukraine. It was a powerful experience with the massed choirs of both Cathedrals, the Salvation Army band from Walton and New Song Wirral all taking part. Let’s renew our prayers for all those who continue to suffer from this horrendous conflict and for those who can influence the road to peace.

Aside - the service Fr Tim was streamed on the internet and you can watch the video below.

A BUSY WEEKEND:

As I write my notes this Friday morning, I am conscious of just how much is going on at present. I am planning to get to Bishop Eton School and Carleton House today to see the children who will be making their First Holy Communion this weekend. Please pray for them and their families. I also have the Leavers’ Mass at SFX College at 11:30am this morning. Please remember those from Years 11 and 13, who will be moving on in their lives. May the Lord be close to them as they face the challenges that inevitably accompany these transitional moments in life.

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION:

Please note that this Feast is now back in its rightful place this coming Thursday. Accordingly, we will celebrate the extra Masses for the Holy Day.

Vigil Mass at St Mary’s at 7:00pm on Wednesday, 12 noon in both churches on the day itself, and 7:00pm at Bishop Eton on Thursday evening.

If at all possible, let’s try to revive the great tradition of the Church of joining together for Mass on these great Feasts.