The Feast of Pentecost

The outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit, long promised and hinted at in the Scriptures, finally came to pass in most dramatic fashion on the day we have come to know as Pentecost. A mighty wind shook the house in which the disciples were gathered – a symbol of God’s power and strength – followed by tongues of fire coming to rest on the heads of each one of them. God was being true to his promise, the Church was born, and the story of Christ would now be taken to the peoples of the earth. A remarkable and marvellous part of that sequence of events was the fact that those pilgrims, present in Jerusalem from every part of the known world, could hear the Apostles speaking to them of God’s wonders in their own language. The disunity brought about by the many languages resulting from the sin of the Tower of Babel was now being reversed. We learn that the Spirit is the source of oneness, of unity among peoples.

For all its fragility, even sinfulness in its members, the Church spread throughout the world, yet one in faith, hope and charity, offers us a vision of God’s plan for the human race. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the Church draws together men and women of every language, race and land and creates them as one in Christ.

While he was on earth Christ spoke often of the One who would come after him, who would be with the apostles and disciples as a friend and comforter. He is called the Paraclete, the One who defends us and leads us into the full truth of all that Jesus said and did. Christ loved his own too much, and us as well, to abandon us and leave us like orphans. In future, he would be with us in a different but no less real way, through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

We rightly rejoice on today’s feast, often called ‘the birthday of the Church’. The coming of the Holy Spirit brings Christ’s work of redemption to completion, and God’s message of salvation is now freely offered to Jew and Gentile, slave or free, without exception. As the Holy Spirit rested, flame-like, over the head of each disciple, so on this Pentecost Sunday we pray that the same Spirit will once more refresh and renew the Church, and descend gently upon each one of us. Come, Holy Spirit!

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Pentecost Sunday

[Image by St Wulstans Parishoner Patrica Benson]

Eastertide concludes with Pentecost Sunday, the fiftieth day, and its commemoration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (cf. Acts 2, 1-4), the Church's foundation, and the beginning of its mission to all nations and peoples.

The protracted celebration of the vigil Mass has a particular importance in cathedrals and some parishes, since it reflects the intense persevering prayer of the Christian community in imitation of the Apostles united in prayer with Mother of Jesus.

The mystery of Pentecost exhorts us to prayer and commitment to mission and enlightens popular piety which is a "continued sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church. He arouses faith, hope and charity, in the hearts [of the faithful] and those ecclesial virtues which make popular piety valuable. The same Spirit ennobles the numerous and varied ways of transmitting the Christian message according to the culture and customs of all times and places".

Bishop Emeritus leaves the Diocese and enters into Retirement

After almost 8 years residing in and leading the Lancaster Diocese, the Rt Rev Patrick O’Donoghue left his Apartment at Cathedral House, Lancaster at 7.30am this morning to begin his retirement in his native County Cork, Ireland.
Yesterday after meeting new Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Michael Campbell OSA, the Bishop Emeritus spent the day making the final preparations to his departure. Bishop O’Donoghue who formally retired as Diocesan Bishop on 1 May, will begin a new phase of his ministry as a priest serving on supply for the Diocese of Cork & Ross, particularly in West Cork.

Note: Bishop O’Donoghue will be visiting his family for the next few weeks before taking up a
residence in West Cork. When the Bishop’s Office has this address it will be posted on the Emeritus Bishop page of the Diocesan website.

(from the Diocesan website)

Papal Blessings

The Diocese of Lancaster does not issue Papal blessings itself. Instead, requests for Papal blessings are handled for the Vatican by the Apostolic Nunciature (the Embassy of the Holy See to Great Britain).

The request for a Papal Blessing should be placed in a letter from your Parish Priest tothe Nuncio but sent to the Diocesan Bishop.

In the letter from the Parish Priest the following should be included:

(1) A written recommendation from your Parish Priest of the persons to receive the blessing, attesting to their good standing in the Catholic Church. In the case of a wedding, both parties should be Catholics.

(2) The contents of the blessing, clearly printed, including:

a. The name(s) (typed or written in capital letters) of the people to receive the blessing.

b. The occasion to be celebrated (birthday, wedding, ordination, wedding anniversary, etc.). Anniversaries should be of a special nature, such as the 25th, 50th, or 60th. Birthdays should also be special, such as 80th or 90th, and so on.

c. The date of the occasion.

d. If the blessing is for a wedding, include the full name of the church and town/city.

(3) An honorarium offering of £25, (cheque) made payable to the “Apostolic Nunciature.”

The Bishop will then examine the request and if appropropriate add his endorsement before the application is sent on to the Nunciature.

Your priest would need to apply at least 3 months before any designated celebration, as it may well take some time to process the blessing in the Offices of the Vatican.

(from the Diocesan website)

How to get tickets to papal audiences and Masses

To attend a Papal Mass or the Wednesday general audience, visitors to Rome need to have tickets, which are free. Visitors should remember that there is a strictly enforced dress code for entering St. Peter's Basilica - shoulders must be covered, shorts are not allowed and skirts should reach the knees.

Visitors to Rome should write directly to the Vatican (The Prefecture of the Papal Household) for tickets. Letters should be addressed to: Archbishop James Harvey, Prefect of the Pontifical Household, Vatican City 00120, Europe. The requests may also be faxed to the archbishop's office: (00 39-06) 6988-5863.

A written request with number of tickets required, names of those wishing to attend, and the date of the Audience or Liturgical Celebration should be submitted to the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household with as much notice as possible (at least 10 days in advance of the Audience/Mass).

Tickets can be collected on the afternoon before the Audience or the Liturgical celebration (from 15.00 to 19.30) or on the morning of the Audience (from 8:00 to 10:30) from the ticket office at the Bronze Door (end of the right-hand colonnade in St. Peter's Square).

The location of the general audience varies; they are held in St. Peter's square, the Paul VI Hall (Aula Nervi), or in St Peter's Basilica. During the summer, audiences may also be held at Castel Gandolfo, the pope's summer residence (40 min outside Rome by car).

Should you be unable to get tickets for an audience, you can always attend the Sunday Angelus, held at noon in St. Peter's Square and presided over by the Pope. While the Pope is at his summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, he says the Angelus from his study window; space is very limited in the courtyard. Please note that private audiences with the Pope are reserved for heads of state and other high-ranking officials.

The best guarantee for a good position is to arrive early and get a seat near one of the aisles where the pope may pass.

You can also follow the weekly General Audience live on Wednesdays at 10:15 am CET on internet, produced by the Vatican Television Center, and hear the most recent Angelus on the website of Vatican Radio.

(from the Diocesan website)

Seventh Sunday after Easter – Feast of the Ascension

With the feast of the Ascension the Church marks the final appearance of the risen Lord to his disciples. From now on his presence would be of an entirely different order. The work of the apostles and disciples was now beginning, a work that would need the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to give it impetus and sustain it in the course of history. When we try to picture the Ascension our powers of imagination fail us. Even the New Testament writers, such as Luke, were consciously aware that the Ascension, together with the Resurrection, belongs to that category which is ultimately indescribable. What they did proclaim, however, was the solid
truth that Christ had now taken his place in heaven with his Father, that he commissioned his apostles to be bearers of his gospel, and that he would one day return again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Through his resurrection and Ascension Christ is Lord of the whole universe, and his full identity as Son of God has become manifest. He has left us in his body so as to be with each believer in any part of the world. No longer is Christ confined to Palestine and Galilee, but is present to his Church in every part of the world. The redemption which he has gained for us is ours through our faith in him as the crucified and risen One. It is the task of the Church to mediate that salvation to each generation. When we encounter that salvation through the sacraments and other means, we are encountering Christ himself. He has passed beyond our sight, but remains very much with us!

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Pope2You

Pope2You is a new project from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications with links to the YouTube channel, WikiCath, and Facebook and iPhone apps.

Most Reverend Vincent Gerard Nichols installed Eleventh Archbishop of Westminster

The Most Reverend Vincent Gerard Nichols has been installed as the Eleventh Archbishop of Westminster during a Mass of Installation held at Westminster Cathedral, from 12pm noon to 2pm on Thursday 21 May 2009, and attended by a congregation of 2,200 specially invited guests.

Amongst those present at the Mass of Installation were: Lord Guthrie, representing HRH Prince Charles; Rt Hon Paul Murphy representing The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP; The Duke of Norfolk; Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor; Cardinal Sean Brady; Cardinal Roger Mahoney; Cardinal Keith O’Brien; His Excellency, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz; Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York; The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councilor Duncan Sandys; Francis Campbell, the British Ambassador to the Holy See; Sir Gus O' Donnell, Head of the Cabinet Office; 50 Catholic Bishops Including Rt Rev Michael Campbell OSA (Bishop of Lancaster) and Rt Rev Patrick O'Donoghue ( Emeritus Bishop of Lancaster); over 500 priests from the Archdiocese of Birmingham and the Diocese of Westminster together with MPs, Peers, Ambassadors and representatives of parishes, schools and Catholic societies and organisations.

The Mass of Installation was broadcast live in the UK on BBC2 and also around the world by EWTN, the Catholic Satellite Television Channel.

The Mass of Installation followed a Service of Solemn Vespers, which was held at Westminster Cathedral at 7pm on Wednesday 20th May. This was attended by Archbishop Vincent Nichols and an estimated 2,000 specially invited guests including Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests and representatives from schools, parishes and Catholic societies and organisations from the Diocese of Westminster.
The ceremony of the Reception and Installation of the Archbishop of Westminster was carried out according to the ancient Catholic rite used in similar circumstances for the Reception and Installation of the Archbishops of Canterbury prior to the Reformation.

At 12 noon, to the sound of a specially composed fanfare, Archbishop Vincent Nichols entered Westminster Cathedral by the main West Door, and was greeted by the Provost of Westminster Cathedral, Canon Michael Brockie. He then processed to the High Altar where he joined over 150 Clergy in the Cathedral’s Sanctuary, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, 50 Catholic Bishops, the Provost and Chapter of Westminster Cathedral, Deans and the Vicar General of the Diocese of Westminster, Monsignori and ecumenical guests including Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Most Reverend Vincent Gerard Nichols officially become the 11th Archbishop of Westminster at around 12.15 pm after the reading aloud of Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Letter of Authority, or Papal Mandate, by Bishop John Arnold, Chancellor of the Diocese of Westminster, and the formula of Installation by the Provost of Westminster Cathedral, Canon Michael Brockie.

The Archbishop-Emeritus, His Eminence Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor then presented the new Archbishop with the Crozier, the bishop’s staff, symbolic of his office as bishop. The Provost and Canons of the Metropolitan Chapter then greeted the new Archbishop, followed by other representatives of the Diocesan clergy, ethnic chaplaincies, pastoral and administrative bodies.

Catholic Identity Card.

Our wallets are filled with plastic cards proclaiming that we shop at this store, deal with this bank or are a member of that gym. In this context it is surely the right time to stand up and in a gentle way make a statement proclaiming that we are Catholic, and one tangible way to do this is to carry the Catholic Identity Card.
We are proclaiming our identity as Catholics. This is no less than what we are called to do in Confirmation, as we pledge to be witnesses for Christ. The quote contained on the card: "You will be His witness" epitomises this and affirms to ourselves and to others that we will bear witness as Catholics for Jesus Christ in the world. Carrying the card will serve as a constant reminder to us that we must honour this pledge as we go about our daily lives.
The sacrament of the sick is a very healing one, which can only be administered by a Priest. Carrying this card will ensure that if the holder is in great need of this sacrament, he/she will receive it. In times of great need or crisis, we should feel content to know that we carry a card which will ensure that a priest, the centre of the Catholic faith and one of God's representatives on earth, will be called to give us comfort.

Click Here to order yours now (1Euro for 3)

Holy Days Petition to Archbishop Vincent Nichols

A petition has been posted regarding the celebration of Holydays:

We would like Archbishop Vincent Nichols to reinstate the celebration of Ascension, Corpus Christi and Epiphany to their correct days.

It runs until the eve of Corpus Christi.

Sign the petition here.

Fifth Diocesan Altar Servers Mass

On Saturday our Parishes Altar Servers went along with Fr Alf to the Cathedral where Bishop Michael Campbell OSA celebrated the Fifth Diocesan Altar Servers Mass. During Mass all of the Altar Servers were Presented with the 'Letters of St Paul' which were blessed by Bishop Michael. After the Mass the Altar servers went into the Cathedral Social Centre for some refreshments and had there photo taken with Bishop Michael (Pictured Right). Whilst in the Social Centre we noticed a familiar face to the Diocese, Emeritus Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue. Bishop O'Donoghue had not been in the Mass but called in to see all the Diocesan Altar Servers for the last time before he leaves. After a Cup of Tea and a few Biscuits the Altar Servers went to Morecambe bowling! The Altar Servers had a little tournament Boys vs Girls, can you guess who won? of course the boys with 521 points!
The day was most enjoyable for all, and was a colourful sight at the cathedral with all of the different parishes Altar Servers vestments. The day also proved to be a great chance to meet other servers from across the Diocese.

To read Bishop Michael's Homily please click here

Sixth Sunday of Easter 2009

John the Evangelist has a rare gift for expressing profound religious truths in simple language, as is evident in today’s gospel passage. The setting is the Last Supper room where the Lord Jesus is sharing intimate moments with his apostles just before his arrest, passion and death. His words represent something of a final testament and hence all the more precious for that. Love, joy, friends are words which frame Christ’s farewell discourse. The unique love which he enjoys from eternity as the Father’s only Son is nevertheless a love which he wants his disciples to know and experience. In theological terms, Jesus is referring to the mystery of the Holy Trinity, which is love itself. That love far surpasses all human love; it is a divine love, of which we believers are privileged to be part. Words are inadequate to describe the mystery of God’s love which Jesus came to reveal to us. In the midst of the difficulties and tribulations of life we can often forget the joy which is so characteristic of the message of Christ. Here he speaks explicitly of his desire to see his disciples’ joy reach full completion. By his cross and resurrection he would defeat the ancient enemies of sin and death. In all that lay ahead of them they were to be joyful in heart, because their master’s victory would be theirs as well. In the complex world of the twenty-first century where we find ourselves we can feel overwhelmed by the pace of change and technological progress. The recent economic and financial setbacks can engender a sense of pessimism, even foreboding where the future is concerned. At such moments we need to ponder and cherish those words of Jesus, that he wants us to be filled with the joy he gives, a joy that is complete. Theologians speak of the mystery of God’s revelation, of how Jesus Christ brings us truths about God we could not otherwise know. The Lord in our gospel expresses this to his disciples in another way: we have now passed from being servants or slaves to an entirely new relationship with the Son of God. We have become his friends. And he has let his friends into the secrets of heaven! This is the wonder of the Christian faith which springs from the incarnation of God’s Son, speaking to us of divine things in language we are able understand. However, and here lies the challenge, our friendship with Jesus implies that we be friends with one another. In the Lord’s own words, Love one another as I have loved you. It’s a humbling thought to realise that there can be no love of God worthy of the name without an equal love for our neighbour.

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

INTERDIOCESAN YOUTH FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2009

The tournament is scheduled for Saturday 13 June 2009 and the plan is as follows:

11.00am Arrivals. Meet at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Jeanne Jugan Residence, 228 Garstang Road, Preston PR2 9RB: Junction 32 on the M6/ Junction 1 on M55 and follow signs to Preston City Centre (A6). The Jeanne Jugan Residence is on the left shortly after the Texaco Garage on the right, going into Preston.
11.30am Mass in the chapel of the Little Sisters.
12.15pm Registration and packed lunch at Corpus Christi Catholic Sports College, St Vincent's Rd (just next to the Little Sisters), PR2 8QY.
1.00-3.15pm Tournament
3.30pm Refreshments and Presentations.
4.00pm Departures.

If you would like to be involved please contact the Youth Office by phone on 01524 596063 or e-mail youth@lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk

New coat of arms unveiled on the Cathedra

Yesterday the new coat of arms was unveiled on the cathedra; Bishop Patrick's shield was left there until after the handover. Beneath the shield is the Bishop's motto, "Ecce nova facio omnia" - "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev. 21:5).
Bishop Campbell's coat of arms was revealed for the first time at the inauguration Mass on 1st May. The left hand side of the shield is the diocesan arms, while the Bishop's personal arms are seen on the right. The green hill represents his home town of Larne, Co. Antrim; the book signifies the Bishop's devotion to the Word of God in Sacred Scripture; the heart and arrow are a symbol of the Augustinian order.
A new hanging at the back of the Cathedral also shows the Bishop's coat of arms. To the left of it hangs an image of Our Lady of Lourdes and to the right an image of St Cuthbert. These are the two patrons of the Diocese of Lancaster.
Bishop O'Donoghue's shield is now to be found on the choir stalls, part of a series of five shields which hold the arms of the five Bishops of Lancaster.

New Canon's

The new canons (front row either side of Bishop Campbell) now join the ranks of the Cathedral Chapter, which has a role in supporting the work of the Cathedral and advising the Bishop. The Chapter is now back up to full strength; the new canons take the place of Bishop Campbell, who had been on the chapter during his time as Coadjutor Bishop, and Monsignor Canon Eddie Gould (R.I.P)
After the Mass the canons voted for a new Provost, whose role it is to chair chapter meetings and oversee their work. Canon Dunstan Cooper (back right) was elected to this role, which he will hold until he retires from the Chapter at his 75th birthday. Congratulations to him and to the two new canons.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

During these days of Eastertide the Lord’s words to us in the gospel seem to ring out with ever greater clarity. The liturgy of this season makes us particularly aware that Christ has risen, never to die again, and that through the ministry of the Church we believers become sharers in that new and divine life he now enjoys. In fact, the Church’s only lifeline is her union with her glorified Lord. Christ’s use of the image of the vine and the branches makes the point in a very striking way. Just as the vine provides the sap and the nourishment for the branch to blossom and bear grapes, so the source of life and fruitfulness for the Church is Christ himself. If the Church ever loses sight of Christ, or seeks salvation and fulfilment apart from him, then like a branch severed from the trunk it withers and dies.

As she makes her way through history, the Church as the community of believers is often tempted to seek quick solutions to her difficulties according to the criteria and outlook of this world. Christ does guarantee success and reassurance, but not in this way. Openness to his word and teaching will alone ensure that the Church remains faithful to her mission of offering God’s grace and salvation to the world. The words of the Lord Jesus today come from the upper room on the eve of his passion and death. The disciples would face an uncertain future without his visible presence, yet he left them a programme which would help them negotiate the perils of rejection and persecution. It is a programme which remains valid for all time.

Jesus teaches us that like a vigilant vinedresser his heavenly Father is ever active in the Church, at work in the lives of believers. We need not fear that he is an absent God! The life which flows from Christ the vine is mediated to us through the sacraments, above all through the holy Eucharist which may well underlay the image of the vine. Union with Christ also brings union with the Father, that indwelling within the Church of the Father and the Son which is truly astounding when we think about it. When the word of Christ takes root within us then we have nothing to fear, and he himself comforts us with the assurance that our prayers to God will be heard. May the depth and manner of our Christian living always give glory to God our Father!

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Maresa Walsh R.I.P

Today at 11:00am there will be a Requiem Mass held at St Wulstans for Maresa Walsh who was sacristan there for 15 years.Maresa died quite suddenly on Sunday 26th April at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Sadly Maresa's Family were unable to be with her when she died, however she died peacefully how she would of liked in the company of Fr. J. Winstanley (Sacred Heart Blackpool) after receiving the Last Rites of the Catholic Church. After the Mass there is a reception in the Green Hut - Everyone Welcome!
We pray for Maresa's Family - Lena, Maria, Diane, Robert, Gillian, Rob & Tomas.

Some of you may remember Maresa as the Last Mayoress of Fleetwood (pictured to right), before Wyre Borough Council took over.

Click here to light a virtual candle for Maresa.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2009

Pope Benedict XVI has decided that today shall be World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2009.

Not only is today about Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life, but also to other professions.However i am going to promote Vocations to the Catholic Priesthood. Our website has a regular updated section on Vocations to the Priesthood which features Booklets, Prayers, Videos and links.
The Section on the Priesthood can be accessed if you click here.

It’s All About Prophets is the tagline for this year’s poster that is being sent to parishes and schools all over England and Wales for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Sunday 3rd May.

The image (above) shows a number of men and women around a board-room table; some of them have name-plaques indicating the vocational choices they have made and others are writing down possible choices to indicate that they are ‘discerning’. The business setting is a timely reminder that a vocation is an active decision not necessarily to pursue money, power or fame but to follow Christ use our talents in the service of others.

In addition to the poster, schools will have access to resources that will encourage students to reflect on the varieties of vocation in today’s Church and their own faith journey.

Usefull websites:

www.ukvocation.org

www.ukpriest.org.uk

www.lancastervocations.blogspot.com

4th Sunday of Easter

The gospel of John today presents Jesus to us as the supremely good shepherd whose care and love for his flock knows no limits, even to the extent of laying down his life for them. The image of God the shepherd is a much favoured one in the pages of Sacred Scripture and conveys the close and tender bond that exists between God and his people. The public ministry of Jesus Christ and especially his passion and death gives to the shepherd image a new and definitive meaning. By surrendering his life freely on the cross the Lord Jesus revealed the depth of the divine love that he has for us. He was not compelled to die, but of his own accord died so as to bring into unity all God’s scattered children. Through his death and resurrection not only did he prove himself shepherd of Israel; all the nations of the earth became his flock. In his own words there is to be just one flock and one shepherd.

The liturgy of this Good Shepherd Sunday calls us to an ever deeper belief in Christ’s love for us. Nothing can be more reassuring or needed than to know that we are held securely in Christ’s loving arms in a manner which passes human understanding. The First Letter of John assures us that this love is a pledge of that wonderful and unspeakable future which God has in store for us his children. This hope is part of the blessing of Easter peace. Christ mediates all these blessings to us through his Church, and in a particular way through those who minister in his name and share in his office of shepherd: bishops, priests and deacons. Good Shepherd Sunday has now become a traditional day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood, and the Pope always writes a letter for the occasion. We must never tire or underestimate the power of our prayer for vocations. The gospels teach us that prayer can move mountains, provided we have sufficient faith.

The ultimate source of priestly vocations is the Good Shepherd, Christ himself, and we must believe that he will ensure a sufficient supply of other shepherds to feed his people in his name. Yet humanly speaking vocations are the task of all of us, through prayer, encouragement and example. Our young people need encouragement, but also the generosity of parents and family to nurture and sustain a priestly vocation. Let none of us be found wanting in this regard and the Lord will indeed complete our often faltering efforts. The harvest is great but the labourers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest that he may send labourers into his harvest…..

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Vocations – The Cochrane Chalice:

Tomorrow is Good Shepherd Sunday, when we pray worldwide for vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious life. I would like to start a scheme where a different name each week takes to their house Canon Cochrane’s chalice, and prays each day for a week that God will send us more priests. If you would like to be part of the scheme, please put your name on the form at the back of church.(more info on vocations can be found on our website here or on the Diocese Vocations Blog here)

The sixth Bishop of Lancaster

Your New Bishop:
Tonight Bishop O'Donoghue retired from the Diocese of Lancaster and Bishop Campbell became Bishop of Lancaster. The occasion was marked with Mass at St Peter's Cathedral with; over 180 clergy, Cardinal Keith O'Brien (St Andrews & Edinburgh) and the Papal Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Saniz James (Pope Benedict XVI Representative).Unfortunately His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor could not be there due to health reasons.

New Titles:
Bishop Michael Campbell - Sixth Bishop of Lancaster
Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue - Emeritus Bishop of Lancaster

A new start

Today at 6pm there will be a Mass held at the Lancaster Cathedral (TICKET ONLY). At the Mass Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue will hand over the Diocese to Bishop Michael Campbell OSA. We wish Bishop Patrick a Happy retirement and a thank you for what he has done for us all. We also wish Bishop Michael good luck!