Weekly Record

2nd December 2007

We begin the Advent season –the message of salvation unfolds and hope is rekindled. In the words of one author “Advent is both a beginning and an end, an alpha and omega of the church’s year of grace. Too often considered merely a season of preparation for the annual commemoration of Christ’s birth, this rich and many layered season is actually designed to prepare the Christian for the glorious possibilities of the present and future coming of Christ. It is a season of longing expectation – Come Lord Jesus.”

St Charles Borromeo wrote, “Now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced to see. This is the season that the church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery.” A happy new liturgical year to you all.

Following the Car Boot sale on Saturday the weekend Masses will begin with a blessing and sprinkling of holy water and the lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath. In place of sung Evening Prayer Sunday draws to a close with the Advent Sequence at 5.00pm in the Cathedral not forgetting the evening Mass in the Crypt Chapel. There will be mince pies and mulled wine after the Advent Sequence, arranged by the Choir Association, and we have taken the opportunity of inviting all of the Cathedral Friends to come along to this with refreshments provided as one of the annual occasions for the Friends to meet one another and enjoy a unique ceremony in the Cathedrals year.

Two schools have their prize giving ceremonies this week- Bellerive and St Mary’s College. Unfortunately this means that the midday Mass on Tuesday has had to be cancelled. When these events were booked we didn’t realise that the Crypt Chapel would be out of use during the week for such a long period. Apologies for this but the Crypt external work should be finished by Christmas and it will be well worth the wait.

The Chapter of Canons meet on Wednesday and after Mass we have our Christmas lunch, the first of the season, in Cathedral House. I’m sure that we will get a full turn out of the Chapter for this.

Friday is the feast of St Nicholas – the patron of our primary school and they will begin the day with mass to celebrate their feast. Also on Friday, at 7.30pm there will be a service led by Bishop Williams in the Cathedral. This is the annual Christmas service arranged by SAMM (Support After Murder and Manslaughter) and will bring together families who have tragically lost a loved one and the agencies that deal with these situations and who provide support to families.

At the other end of Hope Street there will be much activity this week as the Anglican Cathedral prepares for the installation of their new Dean, Justin Welby, next Saturday at 3.00pm. I’m looking forward to the service and will assure them of our prayers and best wishes at this time.

Advent is really a time of new beginnings for them this year.

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathedral Dean