Pentecost Sunday
Happy Feast Day to you all! It was at Pentecost in 1967 that Bishop Harris, the then Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, celebrated the Opening Mass within the newly completed Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. At this occasion Pope Paul VI sent Cardinal Heenan as his representative for the opening ceremony. It was some 15 years later, again on the Feast of Pentecost, that Saint Pope John Paul 2nd visited our Cathedral in person and Celebrated Mass here. Prior to the service at our Cathedral he visited Liverpool Cathedral where he was welcomed with great joy as he encouraged us to work for unity and, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit, give common witness to our shared faith in Christ. This walk between the two Cathedrals on the Feast of Pentecost has been a continued tradition and symbol of our unity ever since that moment and we will join in a shared service and walk between the two Cathedrals this afternoon at 3pm beginning at Liverpool Cathedral. Although these are now historical events they define what we are today and give added significance to the way that we celebrate this Festive Day. It is a day of rejoicing and celebration of the beginnings of the church and our own beginnings here as a Cathedral Community with Christ as our Foundation and the Holy Spirit as inspiration and guide.
Archbishop John has to be installed and be welcomed into his other Cathedral of St Mary’s in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, on Tuesday this week. So along with some of the other Canons we will all be taking a flying day visit over there to accompany the Archbishop and welcome him into the Co Cathedral. Thankfully the TT races will be finished this weekend so we won’t be dodging the motorbikes. On Wednesday at 10.30am Archbishop John will celebrate the Annual Good Shepherd Mass with children from our Catholic Schools.
Monsignor Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
