*The below message is taken from the weekly Cathedral Record newsletter. The full Cathedral Record is available to pick up from the Cathedral or can be downloaded here.*
Comings and Goings
With the new academic year beginning and the summer holiday period drawing to a close the Cathedral Record returns after a break during the month of August. This last week we bade fond farewell to Fr Ged who departed for a brief holiday in Italy before starting his new assignment as priest in charge at St Francis De Sales, Walton. He managed to accomplish his move over a few car trips in contrast to Richard Lea, our departing Cathedral Organist, who needed a truck to transport his endless boxes of sheet music and harpsichord etc – and that was only half of his collection. We wish them well and hope they settle in to their new homes and respective roles. We welcome our new assistant priest, Fr Dominic Risley who will be moving in this weekend as will our new member of the Cathedral music department, Matthew Searles. Hopefully they will both write a short piece about themselves next week for the newsletter.
The ‘Heritage Open Days’ scheme runs from 8th to 11th September. With regard to our involvement this year we would like to focus attention on St Vincent’s Church – the Cathedral will receive a great deal of attention next year when we celebrate our Golden Jubilee. Next Saturday afternoon St Vincent’s will be open to visitors from 4.30pm, with a talk followed by a tour, then a short organ recital at 5.30pm by Joe Watson, our organ scholar, followed by Vigil Mass at the normal time of 6pm. Designed by Edward Welby Pugin, the church was opened in 1857 and it is substantially in original and unaltered condition. There are still some elements of restoration work to take place within the building – we are due to undertake the re- plastering of the side walls in the next few months with some further work to the central roof needed dependent upon the support of English Heritage.
Next Sunday we celebrate our Annual Community Mass at 11am. It provides an opportunity for us all to come together to welcome new parishioners and volunteers, to pray for the Cathedral at the start of the new term and to commit ourselves to playing our part to support and build up our Cathedral Community. Both our Cathedral Choirs will be singing at this Mass. Also next Sunday at 3pm Bishop Williams will be presiding at the ‘Pause for Hope’ Service for all those who have been affected by or who care for those with cancer.
This Sunday we are acting as one of the control points for a competition run by South East Lancashire Orienteering Club. They are holding one day on the Formby coast and dunes and this Sunday around central Liverpool. The sport involves running and navigation – the competitors start off at intervals and are given a specially drawn map with control points and have to navigate the fastest route with the fastest completed time winning the race. My only surprise at the choice of our Cathedral Piazza as one of the locations was the fact that it doesn’t take a lot of navigation to find our Cathedral but then again not being an orienteer what do I know! If you see anyone running around the city centre looking lost point them in the direction of the Cathedral.
This Thursday 8th September is the Feast of Our Lady’s birthday – why not join us for mass that day and honour her as the Mother of Our Saviour and one who will intercede for us to her Son.
Canon Anthony O’Brien
DEAN
