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!

St Thèrèse’s Relics

You may know St Thèrèse’s remains are coming to our Diocese in September as a focus of prayer and renewal. Would somebody like to co-ordinate a parish of Fleetwood pilgrimage to the Cathedral on one of the 3 days she is with us?
Click here to view/download the visit Timetable

Last Week at the Desk

In exactly 1 week from now Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue will enter the Cathedral of St Peter, Lancaster and hand over the Diocese of Lancaster to Bishop Michael Campbell OSA.Bishop Patrick will this week be keeping to his usual busy schedule which includes Mass in the Cathedral tomorrow at 12:15 for Women Together in the Diocese of Lancaster (feel free to join him).

The Chrism Mass

The annual Chrism Mass takes place on Holy or Maundy Thursday morning in St Peter’s Cathedral, Lancaster (Thursday 9th April 11.30am). All are welcome to this Mass which will be the last for Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue who retires on Friday 1 May.
Catholics from across the diocese, together with their priests and Bishop, gather to join in the Celebration of this Mass, during which our diocesan priests renew together their commitment to priestly service, and receive the prayers and support of the people.
At this Mass the oils for the coming year are blessed. The Bishop blesses the
· oil of catechumens
· oil of the sick
· oil of chrism
The Holy Oils for the year are blessed at this Chrism Mass Oil of catechumens is used for adult catechumens and infants, oil of the sick for anointing the sick, and the sacred oil of chrism for baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars. All three are based on olive oil with added spices and perfume, traditionally balsam. Holy Week and the Triduum
The Thursday of Holy Week is known as Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday and the next day is Good Friday. The Triduum is the name given to the three key days at the end of Holy Week - starting with the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday and continuing through Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to the celebration of the Season of Easter with the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.
There is no concluding rite at the close of the first two services of the Triduum - emphasising the continuity of the three days.

Visit of St Thérèse - Timetable Publication

A new blog has been launched in preparation for the visit of St Thérèse Relics. It will carry news and practical information about the event, alert readers to relevant resources and talks etc around the Diocese, mark anniversaries associated with Thérèse and encourage people to participate. The blog will be updated regularly; you can visit it here
On the main Cathedral website, the section devoted to the Thérèse visit has now been completely revised and carries much useful information. From today you can find the programme (timetable) for the visit (click here for pdf version and here for standard web page) and a list of events taking place before the visit (click here).

Women together in the Diocese of Lancaster

All Women in the Diocese are invited to meet on Saturday 25th April 2009, 12.15 p.m. at St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster to celebrate a farewell Mass with Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue on this retirement from the Diocese.

A Buffet lunch will be provided in the Cathedral Social Centre. Lunch (£3) can be ordered by contacting one of the following numbers: Preston 01772 715495. Fylde 01253 733985 Cumbria 01524 61809.

The day will conclude with Reflections by Sister Michaela, a Bernardine Sister from Hyning Hall.

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.

Welcome Canon Alf Hayes

Today we welcome Canon Alf Hayes (Although he did move in Yesterday). We all Welcome you Canon Hayes to our Parish Family, we hope you are able to spend a long time here with us at St Edmund's.

A few facts about Canon Hayes:

Canon Hayes was ordained into the Priesthood on 2nd September 1972
Canon Hayes was Lancaster Cathedral Dean 1999-2003
Canon Hayes is a member of the Cathedral Chapter
Canon Hayes is the Diocesan safeguarding coordinator