Cathedral Community
The return to schools and colleges marks the end of the long summer break and the beginning of a new term and new educational year. Welcome back to those who have been away during the summer period and an especially warm welcome to any children, young adults or families who are joining us for the first time as they begin a new career or university education here. As a community we will renew and rededicate ourselves to support one another and the Cathedral in the roles and ministries that we are involved in for the coming year at our Masses this weekend.
Next Sunday, being 14th September, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Honouring the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ as a symbol of love, salvation and of triumph. In the words of the entry antiphon for mass “We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and Resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered. Archbishop Sherrington will be celebrating his 14th Anniversary of Ordination as a Bishop on this day and he will preside at the Choral Evening Prayer next Sunday afternoon at 3pm.
Fr Derek Lloyd moved from the Cathedral mid- August to take up his new role as parish priest in Thornton and Little Crosby. I know that you will remember to pray for him as he settles in to his new parish. Next weekend we welcome Fr Hugh Dunleavy who has been appointed as assistant priest at the Cathedral. Fr Hugh has been assistant priest at St Patrick and St John in Wigan for the last two years since his ordination to the priesthood. Having met a number of parishioners from Wigan over the last few weeks they have all said that he will be sadly missed by the parishioners in Wigan. Their loss is our gain so I hope that Fr Hugh will be given a warm welcome and enjoy his ministry here at the Cathedral.
A message from Archbishop John Sherrington
“Both Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati will be canonised on Sunday 7 September and recognised in the communion of saints. I hope that across the Archdiocese, people will give thanks to God and ask their intercession for our young people. These two new saints can inspire young people to be more active in the mission of the Church as well as develop a life of prayer and adoration.”
Prayer for the Intercession of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati
God our Father, we thank you for your gift of saints who are models of life for all people, especially the young. We ask that through the intercession of St Carlo Acutis and St Pier Giorgio Frassati, we would be inspired to love and serve you with courage and joy.
In Carlo’s falling in love with your son Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we find example of the transformative power of the Eucharist, our ‘highway to heaven.’ In Pier Giorgio, we find example of a ‘man of the beatitudes,’ showing us how to live out our faith through service of the poor, the meek, the sick and the stranger.
By their prayers we ask for the grace to follow closely their examples of faith, generosity and prayer in living out our eucharistic faith. And so, asking their powerful intercession, we ask for this grace (name your intention).
We pray that all people of the Archdiocese of Liverpool, especially the young, will be inspired by these saints and seek to find the joy and love that Christ brought to their lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Carlo Acutis Pray for us
Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Pray for us
