Prayer for Vocations
This Sunday is set aside as a day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We have two of our diocesan seminarians Peter and Joseph with us for the weekend so that they can speak at the various masses here and at the chaplaincy on the call to serve Christ the Good Shepherd in the priesthood. Having the opportunity to hear them speak about their vocation and meet them reminds us to pray for those in seminary and also for one another that the Lord will give us the grace to be worthy of the different vocations that we have chosen and been called to, whether that be married life or single, religious or priesthood. There will be a retiring collection for the priests training fund.
Next Friday evening is what is known as ‘Light Night’ in the city centre with a variety of free events taking place in different venues. Unusually this year we don’t have anything taking place within our Cathedral. Some of the activities that we initiated in the past have been taken up by organisations at other venues and with Easter being late this year it was more difficult to partner with other groups on activities – anyway there will be plenty of activity along Hope Street. Next weekend the Catenians are meeting in Liverpool for their Annual Conference and they will be joining us for the Solemn Mass next Sunday. The Cathedral Walking group will be stepping out next Sunday, the walk will start at Croxteth Park, those taking part can either meet at the Cathedral at 12.30 or at the car park in Croxteth Park at 1pm.
I’m due to go to the shrine at Knock in Ireland for the first time for a few days this week on Retreat. I hope it will be quiet and peaceful at this time of the year but not having been there before I don’t know how busy the shrine is during weekdays. As it happens there was a short piece about Knock on TV the other week as part of a series on travels throughout Ireland presented by the comedian John Bishop. This included a clip of the former parish priest, Monsignor Horan at the time when he was embarking on the building of an airport for visitors to the shrine. The video showed him being interviewed with bulldozers working away in the background – his words were “We’re building an airport and I hope the department of transport doesn’t hear about it –Now don’t tell them. We’ve no money but we are hoping to get it next week or the week after.” Amazingly despite all the odds he made it happen. There is an hour long video entitled ‘On a wing and a prayer’ which is well worth a watch which tells the story of the development the airport which made the shrine more accessible and opened it up to many more visitors.
Prayer for Vocations
Lord of the harvest,
bless young people with the gift of courage
to respond to your call. Open their hearts
to great ideals, to great things.
inspire all of your disciples to mutual love
and giving—for vocations blossom in the good soil of faithful people.
instil those in religious life, parish
ministries, and families with the confidence and grace to invite others to embrace the bold and noble path of a life consecrated to you. unite us to Jesus through prayer and sacrament, so that we may cooperate
with you in building your reign of mercy
and truth, of justice and peace.
Amen.
Pope Francis
Canon Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
