Weekly Record

Last Sunday afternoon I attended the Civic Service at Princes Rd Synagogue along with Archbishop Kelly. I think we were the only truly orthodox non Jewish guests at the service as we walked there and back to the synagogue from the Cathedral to the surprise of a couple of young boys waiting at the bus stop on Catherine Street who recognised us and looked at us as though we had just dropped out of the sky. Hearing the psalms sung in Hebrew by the visiting cantor was a real privilege and the service, broadly equivalent to our evening prayer, was celebrated with great dignity. The one detail I couldn’t understand was how the rabbis and cantors could say their lengthy preparatory prayers out loud in a room packed with invited guests all chatting away and greeting one another – I struggle sometimes in a silent chapel.

We are almost halfway through the season of Lent and this week we are presented with the annual question - St Patricks Day on Tuesday 17th March - is it a part of Lent or not?

A crucial question for those who may have given up alcohol until Easter and who have Irish blood in them. The Archbishop is here for Solemn Mass this Sunday perhaps he may throw some light on the problem for us. I rather think he will just remind us that St Patrick lived a very ascetical life and never took a drink himself. Anyway I hope to see a good few more of you at mass on that day – a more authentic way of remembering St Patrick.

This week I am accompanying the Cathedral Architects- Nightingales – to London. The new Rotunda linking the Cathedral and the Crypt has been shortlisted for the National Civic Trust awards. I don’t hold much hope of us winning as we are up against some very large high profile schemes such as the new Law Courts in Manchester, the Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool and that is just in the North West. It is due to be held in the Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club, I hope that there is no match to be played that evening.

The first wedding of 2009 takes place in the Crypt Chapel this Saturday. The bride is the daughter of our surveyor who has been on site and co-ordinated the Crypt works over the last 15 months. I think he is planning to march the bride right around the Crypt before she gets to the chapel just to make sure she is aware of all the hard work that has gone into the scheme which will make her at least half an hour late and dizzy from going up and down in the lift!

Next Sunday is Mothers Day. The Choral Evening Prayer that afternoon will be a joint service here with Liverpool Cathedral. Both choirs will be singing and one of the new Canons of the Anglican Cathedral Chapter, Canon Cynthia Dowdle, will preach. A female voice in the Cathedral for Mothers Day.

I finish this week with an Irish Blessing

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been,
the foresight to know where you’re going
and the insight to know when you’re going too far.
May St Patrick guard you wherever you go and guide you in whatever you do and may his blessing be with you all.

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathedral Dean