Trinity Sunday
The Pentecost Joint afternoon Service this year entitled ‘One Church, Many Nations’ was a truly happy and joyful occasion attended by 350-400 people. Bishop John Perumbalath gave a short address at Liverpool Cathedral encouraging us to be a church that embraces the challenge of treating people of all cultures and walks of life equally.
The journey along Hope Street was a colourful occasion with a considerable collection of national flags, colourful vestments and giant puppets. Bystanders were intrigued by the sight with some joining in for the final part of the walk and service. The conclusion of the service on the steps of the Metropolitan Cathedral brought everyone together in prayer and celebration ending with the joint choirs singing the Hallelujah Chorus on the steps.
There was a real sense of unity and togetherness with children’s games, dancing and music following the service. Even the ice cream man left in a happy mood having had a steady trail of customers on such a warm and sunny afternoon. This weekend we celebrate the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as three persons, a Holy Trinity, but one God in one undivided unity.
As scheduled, Michael Portillo arrived last Wednesday to shoot a small piece about our Cathedral for his upcoming new railway travel series and as expected I was completely out-dressed- he looked as debonair as ever. His short rail journey on Merseyside was limited to Cressington Park to Lime Street as there was only Merseyrail operating that day with the rest of the rail network preparing to strike.
The hoardings around the Piazza and garden area are going up at a pace and the site set up should be established by the middle of this coming week. Once the area has been secured and isolated from the public the final stripping out of the café and gift shop take place and the landscaping above the building will be removed. With the hoardings stretching along the pavement pedestrians will need to take care on the perimeter of the Cathedral site. It is intended that there will be a mirror on the opposite side of the road at the entrance to the car park to assist drivers leaving our car park and turning out into Mount Pleasant. In the meantime please take care.
This Sunday we welcome a visiting choir from St Aloysius Parish in Glasgow who will be singing at 11am Mass and Choral Evening Prayer at 3pm.
It will be another busy week of visitors to the Cathedral with further cruise liners in port. There is a high profile prestigious Dinner in the Crypt Hall on Tuesday evening with representatives from across the world in attendance.
At the close of the week on Saturday the Knights of St Columba celebrate their Bi- Annual National Mass here at 3pm with Archbishop Malcolm.
Canon Anthony O’Brien
Cathedral Dean
