Fourth Sunday of Lent
Some weeks ago it was announced that Fr Jonathan Brown who had been the full time senior Catholic Chaplain to the Royal and Broadgreen Hospitals had resigned from his post after six years of dedicated service at the hospital due to health issues. He will now act as Parish Priest of Holy Cross parish in St Helens.
Fr Stephen Lee has been appointed as the new senior chaplain. It is envisaged that Fr Stephen will stay on at the Cathedral and still have some limited involvement here in the parish, but he will have to relinquish most of his current responsibilities in the summer months to be able to free himself up for his extra duties in the hospital.
The external works to the paving and step areas around the Cathedral Precinct are due to be completed in time for Holy Week and Easter. This has been funded by a recent government Cathedrals grant and has been a much more complex project than first envisaged, not least due to the inclement weather conditions, and I have nothing but praise for the workers who have carried on throughout it all and have had such a positive attitude despite the challenges.
You may have noticed that the Wellington Rooms (former Irish Centre) is having some initial building works to prevent any further deterioration of the building through ingress of water. The organisation that is trying to move things forward to bring the building back into use is the ‘Merseyside Buildings Preservation Trust’, and they will be holding a consultation day, probably within the Piazza cafe, to consult with the wider local community regarding potential suitable and sustainable uses for the building.
The other final bit of building news is that John Moores University have now announced their plans for the development of the former post office site of Copperas Hill and the area alongside Brownlow Hill. This includes a mix of university buildings and public space which will provide better pedestrian link to the Lime Street area, an improved environment and clearer views of the Cathedral from that area of Brownlow Hill.
Archbishop Malcolm will preside at the Solemn Mass this weekend – this Mass will have a special focus on marriage and family life, with a blessing being given within the celebration of Mass to all couples present who will be celebrating a special wedding anniversary this year. Choral Evening Prayer this Sunday afternoon, on Mothering Sunday, will conclude with a performance of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, by the Cathedral Girls’ Choir, in honour of Our Blessed Lady.
The Lenten Talk this Wednesday at 6.30pm will be given by James Timpson (chief executive of Timpsons) on the theme of employment of ex offenders and helping them integrate back into society.
There is also a Mass for all the Broadgreen and Royal Hospital Chaplaincy staff and volunteers that evening at 6pm at Bishop Eton followed by a social occasion afterwards.
Canon Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
