Weekly Record

12 July 2009

Many thanks to all those who helped in preparing for the Car Boot Sale and the 4th July Dance last Saturday. It was a very busy day in the Cathedral and it meant some people helping here for about fourteen hours that day. It didn’t seem to diminish their spirits or ability to dance. One member of staff, who shall remain anonymous as Claire, managed to bag her second Bishop this year as a dance partner but no paparazzi were available to record the event for ‘Hello magazine’. There were a number of items left behind after the party namely a toy gun, one bandana, a pair of shades and a cowboy hat. We are looking forward to the budding Clint Eastwood/John Wayne coming to pick their things up from Cathedral House.

I accompanied Archbishop Patrick on a tour around the new Art and Design Academy building of John Moores University last Thursday. Although it is still not quite complete inside we were impressed by the building, the interior facilities and spaces, and fabulous views from the top floor. The Vice Chancellor asked the Archbishop whether he liked the wonderful views of the city from their new building to which he replied that this was almost the view that we had from the Cathedral precinct before their building got in the way! Now that the circle of developments around the Cathedral are almost complete I think they deserve recognition as a group development. Although they are owned by different institutions they blend well together having a synergy of design and a similar use of materials so that they complement each other and the Cathedral. I think the whole development deserves an urban design award?

Next Saturday we welcome Keralan families from across Merseyside to the Cathedral for their gathering for the Feast of St Thomas and Celebration of Mass in the Syro-Malabar Rite. Although this starts at 10am it is unlikely that it will finish before 1pm. This is the first time that they have had Mass in the Cathedral so I’m not sure what to expect. The best advice I can give is that anyone who wishes to come needs to make sure that they have had a substantial breakfast!

Next Sunday there is a Diocesan Mass at 3pm to pray for those travelling on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes this year. Sadly the poor exchange rate from Sterling to Euros has had a considerable impact on the price of travelling on this years  pilgrimage. This will have affected the numbers who can afford to travel. One or two smaller Dioceses have cancelled their pilgrimages this year as a result. During the period of the Pilgrimage there will be a number of station masses said in key parishes within the Archdiocese so that we can join in spirit and in prayer with those who travel to Lourdes.

The retiring collection today is in support of the Apostleship of the Sea. The Catholic Seamans Mission now shares  premises with the Anglican Mersey Mission at Colonsay House in Crosby. The majority of seafarers who arrive at the port are unfamiliar with our country and our culture and are grateful for the practical and spiritual help they receive from the ships visitors and the welcome they receive at Colonsay House. The majority of these seafarers come from Catholic countries and the Apostleship of the Sea strives to respond to the Gospel call to welcome the stranger and minister to those whose work takes them away from home and family.

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathedral Dean