Weekly Record

7th September 2008

Last Easter Monday a couple of thousand people assembled in the Cathedral on the Bank Holiday afternoon for the recording of hymns to be used in two ‘Songs of Praise’ programmes and also, I suspect, to get a glimpse of Aled Jones if they were lucky. One of these programmes has already been broadcast the second entitled ‘The world in one City’ will be televised on Sunday 14th September. Archbishop Kelly pre-recorded his blessing for the first programme in an empty Cathedral. I was requested to give the final blessing for the second programme but with a full Cathedral of singers. In keeping with the theme I thought I should memorise the Diocesan Prayer for 2008 and had it word perfect until the producer insisted on endless takes with the assembled congregation saying ‘Amen’. By the end I must have recited it mixing sentences in every order possible. I wonder which version they will use if any?

Everything should be back in full swing this weekend following the Summer Holidays. The Archbishop will preside at 11.00am Solemn Mass and it will be interesting to see if he has picked up any new American phrases or ideas from his trip Stateside.

This coming week the Friends Committee meet to discuss and plan future events for the Autumn and Winter. The new choir parents have a meeting this week as a welcome and to provide them with information of the routines, procedures and show them the areas of the building where their sons rehearse and use. No doubt there will be a similar meeting for the intermediate girls choir parents as they will begin to rehearse later this month and eventually start singing at some weekday services. A new recreation room is being created for the girls opposite the boys room in the Undercroft area. Just in case you think that could be a recipe for trouble – they won’t be in the building at the same time.

Next Saturday there will be a Celebratory Mass to mark the 150 years Anniversary of the Foundress of the FCJ sisters, Marie Madeleine d’Houet. The Mass will be at 12 midday with Archbishop Kelly presiding and past pupils of FCJ schools, relatives and friends are welcome to take part in this celebration.

Our Annual Cathedral Community Mass will be at 11.00am next Sunday. It is an opportunity to give thanks for all the hard work and commitment by so many of you as part of the Cathedral Community over the last year, and for all that has been achieved. It is equally important that we look forward and seek the Lord’s blessing and renew our commitment to work together for the good of the Cathedral.

Finally, this week just a brief note on this months exhibition in the West Apse. I thought I was being helpful by offering to have a few extra spotlights in the area but then realised I had said the wrong thing. The artist wanted to create a light to darkness effect and wished to maintain the level of lighting that we normally have in this area. I realised afterwards that the paintings, by DFS Stubbs, are inspired by a Medieval book of hours and they reflect prayerful moods of different times of the day and evening. The exhibition is entitled ‘The Still Hours’.

Canon Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean