BEING PREPARED:

The Mission week in Erdington Abbey, Birmingham, last week was a truly blessed occasion and marked the centenary of the Redemptorists serving the people there. However, I was not prepared for the news that, back in Liverpool, plaster from the ceiling at St Mary’s had crashed onto the sanctuary. At this juncture, we are not sure of the extent of the problem and await a thorough investigation. In the meantime, the sanctuary is out of bounds, and we have a temporary altar and sanctuary at the top of the nave.

May I pay tribute to our administrator, Ann O’Neill, who immediately responded to this new crisis with the utmost efficiency. This meant that we were able to celebrate the weekend Masses and the funeral of Leo Murray last Tuesday as planned.

Each day I give thanks for the magnificent administrative teams we have in both parishes. Alongside those who are employed by the Archdiocese, we have groups of volunteers who have ensured that, in spite of the challenges of the past two years, we have managed to function.

May I gently encourage others to think about volunteering to train as catechists, ministers of funerals etcetera.

In the autumn I hope to have conversations with you about structuring for the future so that we are as well prepared as possible for a future which promises to be very different from the past, but which, I hope will be equally as vibrant and life-giving.