I had forgotten that the Chapter Mass last week involved the installation of two new Canons to the Chapter. While looking through the Cathedral diary to check on events this week I suddenly realised that we would need to have two ‘Cappas’ for the ceremony. For the uninitiated these are the little red cloaks with fur edgings which transform senior clergy into an approximation of St Nicklaus or Father Christmas without the hat. The installation ceremony involves investing with the cappa. They will probably never wear it again – the only time I can remember wearing it was for the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury and it caused a great deal of amusement – but we shouldn’t let these ancient rituals and ceremonies die out. The panic is on to root out two of these cloaks from the store of vestments and make sure that they are de-bugged before use.
Congratulations to all the children who receive their First Holy Communion this Sunday at the 10.00am Mass in the Crypt. The children and their families have been preparing for this day over the last few months and we are very grateful to the teachers in the school and the adults in the parish who have helped with these preparations. May the children and their families give thanks to God today, and grow in their appreciation of this Sacrament as the years go by. Congratulations also to the many young people from the Old Swan and West Derby Pastoral Area who are to be confirmed at 3.00pm on Sunday by Bishop Williams during Sung Evening Prayer.
Many of you will have witnessed the arrival of the silver ‘Lamb Banana’ last Sunday as you came out of the Solemn Mass. Compared to many of the others around the city ours is rather unadorned which I think is a more understated but classic look. I have not got to the bottom of the significance of the sequence of numbers that are painted on. But just in case anyone thinks it is some form of ‘Da Vinci Code’ conspiracy incorporating the hidden secrets of the Catholic Church or the Vatican, neither the Archbishop or anyone at the Cathedral knows anything about it. It could be a good selling point ,though, when it eventually goes up for auction.
Next Sunday, the Feast of St Peter and Paul, marks the end of the series of walks by the Archbishop within the Liverpool Pastoral Areas to highlight the importance of faith and pilgrimage in our Year of Culture. The walk on Sunday is a short one from Our Lady and St Nicholas on the waterfront (starting with a short service at 9.15am) to the Cathedral in time for Solemn Mass. We will be joined by up to 1,000 Catenians for mass that day – they are in Liverpool for their National Conference and it is their 100th anniversary. It is also the 100th Anniversary of Fr Nugent’s death. He was one of the great social reformers in Liverpool and was responsible for the beginnings of our Catholic Social Services now named Nugent care in memory of him and for the founding of St Edwards College. Some of those connected with Nugent care will meet the walk from the waterfront at the Statue of Fr Nugent in St Johns Gardens and then make their way with us for Solemn Mass at 11am. It should be an interesting Sunday Morning-why not join us!
I had forgotten that the Chapter Mass last week involved the installation of two new Canons to the Chapter. While looking through the Cathedral diary to check on events this week I suddenly realised that we would need to have two ‘Cappas’ for the ceremony. For the uninitiated these are the little red cloaks with fur edgings which transform senior clergy into an approximation of St Nicklaus or Father Christmas without the hat. The installation ceremony involves investing with the cappa. They will probably never wear it again – the only time I can remember wearing it was for the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury and it caused a great deal of amusement – but we shouldn’t let these ancient rituals and ceremonies die out. The panic is on to root out two of these cloaks from the store of vestments and make sure that they are de-bugged before use.
Many of you will have witnessed the arrival of the silver ‘Lamb Banana’ last Sunday as you came out of the Solemn Mass. Compared to many of the others around the city ours is rather unadorned which I think is a more understated but classic look. I have not got to the bottom of the significance of the sequence of numbers that are painted on. But just in case anyone thinks it is some form of ‘Da Vinci Code’ conspiracy incorporating the hidden secrets of the Catholic Church or the Vatican, neither the Archbishop or anyone at the Cathedral knows anything about it. It could be a good selling point ,though, when it eventually goes up for auction.
Next Sunday, the Feast of St Peter and Paul, marks the end of the series of walks by the Archbishop within the Liverpool Pastoral Areas to highlight the importance of faith and pilgrimage in our Year of Culture. The walk on Sunday is a short one from Our Lady and St Nicholas on the waterfront (starting with a short service at 9.15am) to the Cathedral in time for Solemn Mass. We will be joined by up to 1,000 Catenians for mass that day – they are in Liverpool for their National Conference and it is their 100th anniversary. It is also the 100th Anniversary of Fr Nugent’s death. He was one of the great social reformers in Liverpool and was responsible for the beginnings of our Catholic Social Services now named Nugent care in memory of him and for the founding of St Edwards College. Some of those connected with Nugent care will meet the walk from the waterfront at the Statue of Fr Nugent in St Johns Gardens and then make their way with us for Solemn Mass at 11am. It should be an interesting Sunday Morning-why not join us!