Weekly Record

Congratulations to Archbishop Patrick who will celebrate the Twenty Fifth Anniversary of Ordination as a Bishop this coming Friday 3rd April. The Archbishop will celebrate his Anniversary at a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Cathedral at 5.30pm, and will be joined by many Bishops and Priests from across the country and hopefully a packed Cathedral of people from across the Archdiocese. Quite what we do with all the Archbishop’s guests afterwards is presenting a few challenges with different groups going to different areas of the building. I’m sure it will all work itself out on the night!

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and we gather outside the Crypt Chapel for the 10.00am Mass and in the Cathedral Garden around ‘Still Point’ for the 11.00am Solemn Mass for the Blessing of Palms and Procession. We hope for a dry and wind free day. If there is inclement weather we will revert to plan B – an internal solution. The Passion of St Mark will be sung at the Solemn Mass.

The ‘Cathedral Friends’ are having a brief talk and private tour of the Crypt after Choral Evening Prayer on Palm Sunday. The internal work is now 99% completed and externally we are now just waiting for delivery of the glass features to be erected on the Cathedral Precinct from 23rd April. Fund raising continues apace and we are still looking for more volunteers to help with bag packing at Marks and Spencers next Saturday (2nd April).

The Bishops Conference are conducting a consultation regarding Fasting and Abstinence and have issued a discussion paper which has been circulated to a number of consultees. The concern that they have is that fish is fast becoming a luxury food and out of concern for the environment fish stocks could soon be at critical levels. Other concerns are that we as a catholic community do not take fasting seriously enough compared to other faith communities, and that our abstinence should incorporate efforts to conserve the environment and that the elderly and the young should be encouraged to participate more despite the Canon Law stating that they are exempt from the Fasting and Abstinence Obligation.

The Bishops insist we need to agree a number of new traditions which mark us out as Catholics – as we were known in the past for not eating meat on Fridays. Suggestions for change range from:

• A recipe for a vegetable casserole which can be cooked all day in a slow cooker and be ready for returning home from work. You may have even better ones to suggest!

• Use of hot cross buns for children and elderly to have for lunch. With the increase in ‘Buy-One-Get-One-Free’ offers on these there should be enough for groups to share them in common and have Fast Day Parties. This will bring the young and old and the whole community together.

• If Catholics have to shop on these days they should buy goods and produce that are Fairtrade Friendly. You may need to allow more time for shopping as it can take some time finding shop staff that are able to tell you whether the grower or manufacturer at the country of origin is fairly treated and remunerated.

• Wearing an extra jumper on these days and switching off your heat and light. Normally there is nothing on telly on a Friday so you won’t be missing anything in the way of entertainment. Catholic homes would then be known for being in darkness on these special days.

The consultation period is very tight – if you have any comments or suggestions regarding this I need to have them by Wednesday!

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathedral Dean