Weekly Record

20th May 2007

Our 40th Anniversary celebrations seemed to pass very quickly which is always a sign that things have gone well. The service of memories and music on Saturday afternoon was quite moving and appreciated by all. It was also great to see so many people at the Solemn Mass for the actual anniversary of consecration. So many who had been involved in the Cathedral over the years had made an effort to be there for the occasion. It was only sad that Monsignor Cookson was not well enough to join us for Mass on that day. The display of photographs and memorabilia will remain in the area next to the Baptistry for the next two weeks. Many thanks to all those who helped to organise the services and display and to those who contributed with memories and memorabilia.

This week we welcome a team of ten members of the Legion of Mary who will be staying in Cathedral House and various homes in the parish. During their week-long stay they will be visiting homes in the area and talking to people in a couple of the shopping areas in the city centre. It is an opportunity to encourage people to take their faith more seriously. This is not an easy task so I encourage you to pray for them as they embark on this outreach work in the name of the church. There will be a closing Mass in the Crypt next Friday evening to mark the end of the visit and to give thanks for their achievement.

This week I have to meet with the Historic Churches Committee over the proposed work in the Cathedral and Crypt. They are the planning authority for listed places of worship and we need their approval to the details of the scheme before we can go ahead. The Committee is made up of architects, conservation groups and local authority and diocesan representatives. I was a member of this committee for a few years and the Cathedral Dean and his architects were the most frequent attendees at these meetings due to all the repair work that was needed here. Monsignor Cookson had the knack of explaining technical things very well when needed and of pulling the wool over their eyes when he didn’t want everyone to know the full detail – I think I’m going to need to master this skill very quickly.

The Cathedral Friends have their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday with Mass at 7.00pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel prior to the meeting. At present we are attempting to renew our brochures and offer more benefits for those who are members of the Cathedral Friends Association. If you are an existing ‘Friend’ and wish to get more involved please come along for the AGM. If we are to continue to progress as a Cathedral we need to have an active Friends Association with an extensive membership.

Last week I celebrated the first anniversary of starting in the Cathedral. The staff had very kindly remembered and we had a toast to celebrate and they were threatening to carry out my first appraisal. I think they intended to do an Alan Sugar and tell me that I was fired! Anyway I managed to get in first and reflect on the first year and to genuinely remark that I wouldn’t have coped without their welcome, support and loyalty. In my experience flattery gets you everywhere. I think I have now experienced most things that could happen here from the full year round of liturgical services and the range of social and cultural activities. I have come to realise that the Cathedral is always busy and that there are no slack times but that there is an important and rewarding ministry here for us all to share in. Here’s to an exciting future!

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathedral Dean