Weekly Record

22 February 2009

The problem with going away is that when you get back you can find that you have been volunteered for things unknowingly. At present the City is reviewing its large incident/emergency disaster plans and while I was away we received a visit to request that the Cathedral would be one of the evacuation and assembly areas. Naturally we would want to play our part in the unlikely event of this happening. Because of our agreeing to this I was volunteered to go on what was announced at the Staff Meeting as S.A.S. Combat Training. This seemed to cause some amusement as staff pictured me wearing a black polo neck and scaling the Cathedral walls. When it was announced that our Security team would also have to go on a training course one of our members of staff declared that he already possessed an ‘NVQ in Bomb Disposal’. I know that there are a great many more courses available now than in the past but the thought of a half day release to practise de-fusing bombs was a bit too much for me to comprehend. But none the less a useful skill to have in a crisis. Maybe the waft of real ale fumes drifting up from the Crypt had caused me to mishear. Anyway it became apparent that this was actually a half day course certificate in the detection of suspicious packages under cars etc. As you may imagine it was difficult for everyone to re-focus for the rest of the meeting but all seemed to agree that the Cathedral was in safe hands as a result. What other unusual NVQ’s could there be?

This Sunday we welcome Civic Leaders, members of the judiciary and other statutory bodies and agencies who join us for Solemn Mass in the Cathedral. It is a special opportunity to celebrate the life of our City and to pray for those entrusted with leadership and responsibility for political decisions and law and order.

Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday. Masses are at our normal weekday times with the addition of a later evening Mass at 7.30pm in the Crypt Chapel. The 5.15pm Mass will take place within the main body of the Cathedral due to the large attendance that we normally have at this service consisting mainly of young adults. This is one of the two days in the year when adults are expected to practise fasting and abstinence.

Next Sunday, the First Sunday of Lent, there is the special afternoon service for those adults from across the Diocese who are preparing to be received into the Catholic Church this Easter. The Service of ‘Election’, as it is known, takes place at 3pm and the Archbishop will welcome the various candidates and enrol them to be received/ baptised in their home parishes.

If you are considering what to do for your Lenten resolutions. Here are a few suggestions. On the Tuesday evenings throughout Lent Fr Andrew will be giving a series of talks on Mark’s passion. Next week we will announce a couple of times in the week for the Stations of the Cross Devotion if you want to join us for one of these. The Archbishop in his Pastoral Letter this week encourages us all to try and attend mass more often during the Lenten Season. Enjoy your pancakes on Tuesday!

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathedral Dean