Weekly Record 6 - 19 February 2012
17 Feb, 2012
JOYFUL CELEBRATIONS
Congratulations to Archbishop Patrick Kelly on the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination to the priesthood. We are expecting a very full Cathedral this afternoon when he celebrates his Jubilee Mass joined by many fellow archbishops and bishops, priests and deacons, civic and honorary guests, members of his family and parishioners from across the Diocese. We received delivery of the new crozier about a month ago and have had to keep it in hiding so that he sees it for the first time when it is presented to him at Mass this afternoon. Anyone who knows the Archbishop would know that he doesn’t miss a trick, also that he calls into the Cathedral a great deal, and very often unannounced - so a lot of careful thought had to go in to where to keep it hidden. Fortunately there are still a few areas in the bowels of the Cathedral and Crypt that no one would know about in fact they are so hidden that, if there, I’m always worried in case I lock myself in and wouldn’t be discovered until months later. I suppose it is the only way of ensuring a burial spot on site. Anyway I hope the Archbishop likes the new crozier although he may need to do some extra arm exercises as it is a lot heavier than the one he has been using up to now - perhaps a symbolic reminder of the heavy burdens of running a large Diocese.
Lent begins this week with the blessing and reception of ashes at all the masses on Wednesday. There are usually large congregations at the masses in the Cathedral on this day so the 5.15pm Mass and 7.30pm masses will be celebrated in the Cathedral at the High Altar - the earlier of these two masses being a full choral celebration.
Throughout the season of Lent there are a few variations and additions to our normal timetable. On Friday afternoons instead of Exposition we will have Stations of the Cross at 4.30pm in the Cathedral followed by Mass at 5.15pm, with the regular choral Evening Prayer sung following Mass. On Saturday afternoons there will be Exposition for an hour in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel from 3.30 - 4.30pm, concluding with a simple recited Evening Prayer led by the Archbishop. During this hour Archbishop Kelly and Cathedral clergy will be available for confession. The Archbishop will also preside and preach at Solemn Mass and Evening Prayer on all the Sundays during Lent.
I wonder if the Archbishop envisaged how his priesthood would unfold at the time he was ordained in Rome 50 years ago not least ending up here as Metropolitan of Liverpool Archdiocese. For all of us saying ‘yes’ to God takes us to unforeseen places and ever-fresh challenges. I end the column this week with a quote from a long prayer by Michelle Quoist by way of thanksgiving today and as a call to us all as we journey through the weeks of Lent:
I am afraid of saying yes Lord.
Where will you take me?
I am afraid of yes that entails other yeses.
And yet I am not at peace.
You pursue me, Lord, you besiege me.
O Lord I am afraid of your demands, but who can resist you ?
That your kingdom may come and not mine.
That your will may be done and not mine.
Help me to say yes.
Canon Anthony O’Brien Dean