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.

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

New Archbishop of Westminster

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has today appointed the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, who has been Archbishop of Birmingham since March 2000, as the next Archbishop of Westminster. Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor as Archbishop of Westminster. The Cardinal will now become the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Westminster until Archbishop Nichols is installed at Westminster Cathedral on Thursday, 21 May 2009.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols said: “As the Cardinal so graciously says, it is for me something of a return. I spent 16 very happy years here in Westminster, eight of them as General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference and eight of them as an Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal Hume in North London. I learnt a great deal from him, not least about the demands of the office of the Archbishop of Westminster and I am daunted by the task that lies ahead.”

Archbishop Nichols will succeed Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, who has been Archbishop of Westminster since March 2000, becoming the 11th Archbishop of Westminster since the Restoration of the Hierarchy in 1850, when the diocesan structure was re-established.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said: “I would like to welcome Archbishop Vincent back to the diocese, 17 years after he was ordained as an auxiliary Bishop in Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Basil Hume. He has many friends and colleagues among the Bishops, priests, religious and lay people of the Diocese.“

Successor to the See of Westminster; Who shall it be?

The Independent has suggested that the Vatican is due to announce Cardinal Cormac's Murphy-O'Connor's successor to the See of Westminster this week and perhaps, as they suggest, as early as today! The three front runners still seem to be Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham, Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff and Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP of Nottingham. The Independent then lists numerous other possible outside candidates who the Vatican may be more in favour of.

Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham:
Nichols, a football-mad 64-year-old, was passed over by the Vatican last time around, largely because Rome considered him too liberal. Since then, he has emerged as a more orthodox defender of the Church, regularly appearing on TV to answer criticism of clerical paedophile abuse, as well as supporting adoption agencies that refuse to place children with same-sex couples. Some suggest he is the obvious front-runner but he is not the bookies favourite.

Peter Smith, Archbishop of Cardiff: Formerly the bookies' favourite, Battersea-born Smith was the Papal nuncio's first choice but many in the Vatican may regard him as being too liberal. Pope John Paul II made Smith the Bishop of East Anglia in 1995. The 65-year-old was sent to Cardiff in 2001 following the resignation of his predecessor amid a controversy about paedophile priests in the archdiocese. He is widely thought to have done a good job there.

Malcolm McMahon, Bishop of Nottingham: A left-wing Dominican in favour of the Latin Mass, McMahon was recently summoned to Rome and, alongside Smith and Nichols, is thought to be one of the three names on the "terna" list drawn up for the Papal nuncio. Courted controversy last year when he suggested there was no doctrinal reason why Catholic priests should not marry. In January Paddy Power suspended betting on McMahon after a surge of late bets.

Celebrating Marriage

A Mass in Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Marriage will be held in Lancaster Cathedral on Saturday 23 May at 3pm with Bishop Michael Campbell as Principal Celebrant. All are welcome, most especially married couples and families. Last year, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor celebrated such a Mass in Westminster Cathedral and this year, dioceses all over England Wales are holding similar events. For more information, contact Deacon Keith Armstrong email p.armstrong1@sky.com, tel. 01539 739806.

Cardinal sets out his vision of Catholic Church in Britain today

In a major lecture reflecting on his ministry as Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor set out his vision of the Catholic Church in Britain today.

The lecture “Gaudium et Spes: Joy and Hope. The Shape of the Church : Past, Present and to Come” looked at how the Church has responded to the various challenges since the restoration of the Hierarchy 150 years ago.

The Cardinal said that it is through understanding the dignity and destiny of every person before God and their infinite value in His eyes that the Church’s first word is always a “yes” to the fundamental calling and dignity of life.

The Cardinal went on to warn against a false pessimism within the Church:

“The greatest danger for us at the moment is to let ourselves believe what secular culture wants us to believe about ourselves, namely, that we are becoming less and less influential and in decline. There are certainly challenges and there is much work to do. But on the contrary I believe that the Church has a vigorous life, and a crucial role to play in our society – more important than at any other time in our recent history.”

The Cardinal also said that focusing primarily on what is wrong leads to an unbalanced negativity in any analysis about our culture.

“It is tempting and certainly headline making simply to list what is wrong. One could say, for instance, that we now live not in a liberal but a libertine society in which all moral and ethical boundaries seem to have gone out of the window. But that ignores the fact that there are very many people trying their best, deeply concerned about the future and alive to the humanly destructive power of so many forces at large. The truth is that to be human is to be deeply tempted to be good. What is needed is a renewed sensitivity to the moral and ethical dimensions of living which very many want to see more firmly embraced… We need to encourage and affirm the good in each person, rather than simply naming the bad. It is only if the joys and hopes of humanity are shared first that true and lasting change is possible.”

The argument that most people agree with the Cardinal’s view that religion does and should play a significant role in society is backed by a survey this week. The Cardinal pointed out that in the BBC survey two thirds of those questioned in this country said the law should respect and be influenced by UK religious values and two thirds also argue that religion has an important role to play in public life. He argued that the Church “has a perspective and a wisdom which society cannot afford to exclude or silence.”

Gordon Brown will visit the Vatican next week for an audience with the Pope

Mr Brown will talk to Pope Benedict XVI about the global financial crisis and the worldwide response to the economic meltdown. It was an open secret that Tony Blair planned to convert to Catholicism and his trips to Rome were often seen as personal. But Mr Brown will be anxious for his trip to be seen as an important visit highlighting the threats that the world faces from the recession.

While he was Chancellor Mr Brown met Pope Benedict to talk about medical aid to the developing world. During the meeting Mr Brown gave the Pope a book of sermons written by his father who was a Church of Scotland minister.

Mr Brown has a close relationship with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the senior Roman Catholic priest in England and Wales. Over Christmas last year he defended Mr Brown from criticism by Anglican bishops who had accused Labour of being "morally corrupt" and "beguiled by money". Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor also interviewed the Prime Minister when he guest-edited BBC Radio's Today Programme.

However, Mr Brown has had to face down a rebellion from Catholic Labour MPs and ministers during his time as Prime Minister. Many objected to the Government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which will see hybrid embryos used for medical research. Several Cabinet ministers raised concerns over the Bill, including Des Browne, the then Defence Secretary, Paul Murphy, the Welsh Secretary and Ruth Kelly, the then Transport Secretary. Miss Kelly, a member Catholic group Opus Dei, resigned from the Cabinet in September citing personal reasons.

The Pope's decision to pardon a British bishop who denies the Holocaust was recently criticised by a Government minister. Sadiq Khan, a junior Communities Minister, said that he found the move to lift the excommunication of Richard Williamson "highly unsavoury" and of "great concern".

BBC Sunday Worship with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor will lead Sunday Worship for BBC Radio 4 at Allen Hall, the Diocese of Westminster seminary on Sunday 8th February 2009 at 8:10am

Cardinal Cormac will join the community of seminarians at Allen Hall in London to reflect on priesthood and vocation in the 21st century.

The service will be led by the Rector of Allen Hall, Mgr Mark O'Toole. The Director of Music will be Charles Cole of the Schola Cantorum from the local Catholic school; the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. The programme can be heard live on BBC Radio 4 and then on the BBC Online Radio Player.

Funeral Mass for Bishop Hugh Lindsay

Today we also ask that you keep the Family and freinds of Bishop Hugh Lindsay in your prayers.

The Funeral Mass for Bishop Hugh Lindsay was celebrated in St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle today by Bishop Ambrose (Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle 1992-2004) , many priests and a number of bishops from other diocese. Extreme weather in many parts of the country prevented several other Bishops, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, from travelling to Newcastle for this Requiem Mass.

The cathedral was filled with people - family and friends of Bishop Hugh and many others whose lives in one way or another he had touched, and who had come to pay their respects. Bishop Hugh seemed to have quietly touched the hearts of so many people, and the cathedral was filled to overflowing.

At the end of Mass the coffin was carried in procession to the cathedral crypt, for the Rite of Committal and, after prayers, the coffin was lowered into the crypt.

Bishop Hugh Lindsay RIP

Today the news was announced that Bishop Hugh Lindsay had died suddenly on the 19th January in his home at Boarbank Hall, Cumbria. He had lived at Boarbank since his retirement in 1992 and worked there as chaplain to the community of Augustinian sisters. Some of you might remember him from the Ordination of Deacon Paul Conneeley. Bishop Lindsay came to ordain Paul to the Diaconate back in September. Bishop Lindsay was Emeritus Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle, and has been living in the Diocese of Lancaster since 1992.Bishop Lindsay was a well-known figure around our own Diocese after his retirement, sometimes covering for our own bishops during times of illness or Holidays.

Bishop O'Donaghue upon hearing this news said:
" We offer all our prayers and sympathy to the Bishop’s remaining family, the Sisters at Boarbank, the priests and people of the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle and indeed to all Bishop Lindsay’s many friends.”

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor tribute to Bishop Hugh Lindsay:
The sudden death of Bishop Hugh Lindsay is a great sadness for all those who knew him. Above all, however, we are comforted by his own deep faith in the love and mercy of God and his fidelity to Jesus the Good Shepherd. Particularly in retirement Bishop Hugh assumed the mantle of the memory of the Bishops of England and Wales, referring us to the lessons of the past with great pastoral sensitivity and intellectual clarity. We will miss the words and presence of this dedicated pastor and with confidence we commend his soul to the loving mercy of the Lord. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Lindsay's body will be received into St Mary's Cathedral (Hexham & Newcastle)on Sunday 1st February 2009 at 6.30 pm and Mass will be celebrated.
There will be a vigil of private prayer which will end with Compline at 8.30 pm.
Bishop Lindsay's Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon on Monday 2nd February 2009 at the Cathedral, followed by burial in the Cathedral Crypt.

* Please note these Masses are not at St Peters Cathedral (Lancaster) These Masses are at St Marys Cathedral (Newcastle)

A Christmas Message to Children From Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor

In his last Christmas as Archbishop of Westminster, the Cardinal has written to children with a special Christmas message. This is what he writes:

‘My dear children,
You are very precious to Jesus and he loves you very much, and so does his Church.

Christmas is a time when we draw close to Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem and celebrate his birth. During the school holidays, spend some time with him, talk with him, share your joys and the things that worry you. He will be so happy to see you and to listen. Don't be afraid, and in the silence, listen to what he is saying to you.

But remember, don't keep the wonderful gift of knowing him to yourself! Be courageous, through your kind words and actions, and in telling your friends of his presence in your life. On the Yfaith website (www.yfaith.co.uk) you'll be able to find ideas about how to do this.

Saint Paul wrote in a letter to the Philippians (2: 15), "shine like stars in the universe". This Christmas, be a shining star, just like the one that led the kings to the stable all those years ago. Let the light of Jesus shine through you. It's not hard. Just say “yes” as Mary did, and Jesus will do the rest.

In a special way children, you will be in my thoughts and prayers as I celebrate Mass this Christmas. Let's pray for one another. Do remember me in prayers when you go to Mass in your own parish.

God bless you and thank you for all that you are.’

Father Cormac
His Eminence, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster