Synod Journey
We welcome pupils, staff and parents of St Edwards College and Runnymede who join us at the 11am mass this Sunday which is the closest Sunday to the memorial day of St Edward the Confessor. He was the last Anglo Saxon king of England and for a short while was venerated as the patron saint of England until he was deposed in favour of St George. As well as his piety he was renowned for his generosity to the poor and the students will be bringing donations of food for our local church foodbank – Micah.
Last week echoing the words of Pope Leo Archbishop John encouraged us to pray the rosary during the month of October and to offer our prayers along with our own local intentions, offering our prayers for peace and an end to the suffering and loss of life that conflict brings. It was announced this week that Pope Leo has published his first apostolic exhortation ‘Dilexi Te’ (I Have loved you) reflecting on the call to charity and how we show our love of God through our concern for one another, especially the poor. Prayer and dialogue for peace will only be effective if accompanied with genuine charity to enable a rebuilding of lives and relationships. Let us hope that this will be the reality following the announcement of a ceasefire and the return of the hostages in the Holy Land.
Next Wednesday the University of Liverpool are hosting their annual careers fayre for students in the Crypt Halls. This tends to attract large numbers of attendees and to avoid disturbance the 12.15pm mass will be celebrated in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel instead of the Crypt Chapel.
Over the next few weeks there may be areas of the Cathedral precinct that could be closed to the public as work takes place. Last week a large scaffolding tower was erected outside the east doors of the Cathedral in readiness for the return of the repaired doors following fire damage 18 months ago. Nothing seems to happen fast when it comes to construction work and we are still waiting for the stone masons to carry out the stone and slate repairs around the door entrance before the actual doors are returned from the heritage centre. Also we finally have a date for the damaged glass panels to be taken out of the columns to be taken back to the glass studio in Germany. Work will begin in readiness for the removal this week and the crane is booked to lift them out the following week. We will need it to be a calm day when the panels will be lifted out.
Diocesan Synod;
The next steps for the Synodal journey following the gatherings in Rome and the work within our own diocese are twofold.
To embed synodal structures at Diocesan levels
To study the final document and make it known.
You will be aware of the ways in which we in the Diocese are trying to embed synodal structures not least the ASC (Archdiocesan Synodal Council) which meets on Nov 1st this year.
Pathways for Implementation: next steps on our synod journey
Date: Saturday 18th October 2025
Time: 11:00am – 1:30pm
Join us live on Saturday 18th October to explore all this and more, with prayer, small group sharing, testimony, and our keynote speaker Bishop Brendan Leahy of the Limerick Diocese in Ireland.
We will also have a panel discussion and live Q&A with author and commentator Austen Ivereigh and School for Synodality Directors Dr Avril Baigent and Fr Matthew Nunes.
Register: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/schoolforsynodality/1809807
Monsignor Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
