Jubilee Celebrations Planned
After a very busy and enjoyable Easter weekend here, we managed to have a few quieter days celebrating the Easter Octave. The pace of life picks up again this week. This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter is also Divine Mercy Day. Our service times return back to normal next week but the various chapels where Mass will be celebrated will be different. Morning Prayer and Mass from 7.45am each weekday will be celebrated in the Crypt Chapel. All other Masses during the week, and on Saturday will be celebrated in the Cathedral, normally in the Lady Chapel unless there is a funeral which will then be celebrated at the High Altar. This is to allow the work to proceed with the erection of scaffolding and the rebuilding of the Grand Cathedral Organ.
The Crypt Halls will also be buzzing with activity over the next two weeks with Liverpool John Moores University Graduation events followed by some of the University exams for the next cohort of students.
The Feast of St George, Patron of England falls on Sunday 24th April this year so Masses to mark the Feast are translated to Tuesday 26th with the Feast of St Mark, Evangelist, celebrated on Monday 25th April.
Recently I have been involved in meetings regarding the joint Cathedrals Pentecost celebrations for this year. The Feast of Pentecost is on 5th June this year, which is the same weekend as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee celebrations. We have normally had a joint celebration and walk between the two Cathedrals on Pentecost Sunday afternoon and it is envisaged that we would incorporate this with a Jubilee party at the end of the service and walk, with picnic tables and a party celebration within Liverpool Cathedral. There will be a short service outside on the Piazza of our Cathedral at 3pm, followed by a procession along Hope Street to Liverpool Cathedral with a concluding service there followed by the Jubilee celebrations. It is envisaged that families and groups would want to book a picnic table and either bring their own refreshments or order a picnic basket from Liverpool Cathedral caterers (who would make a charitable contribution to the Ukraine Appeal). There would be party games and children’s activities and singing at the Jubilee party. Details for this are still being worked out but we will need some adult volunteers to help steward the procession along the short route between the two Cathedrals. If you will be attending and may be able to assist with this could you contact Cathedral House by phone or e-mail.
Once again I would want to thank everyone involved in ministering, helping or preparing the Cathedral for the services over Holy Week and Easter. It is such an important, special and sacred time for us all and it can only be celebrated properly when we all work together. We had more people attending services over the Easter Weekend than any over recent years! Once again thank you and may we all experience a real sense of joy and peace over this Easter Season.
Canon Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
