Cathedral Record

consider coming this year (Wednesday 5 April, 7.30 pm). It is at this celebration that the holy oils are blessed by the Archbishop that are used in parishes throughout the archdiocese in celebrations of the sacraments, and which typifies (particularly due to the circular shape of the Cathedral) the statement of the liturgical constitution of Vatican II which says:

Canon Anthony O’Brien –Cathedral Dean

capacity of forest trees to communicate with each other. Her research showed soil fungi and tree roots provided a complex below-ground alliance allowing exchange of nutrients and carbon. This has become known as the ‘Wood Wide Web’.

Lockdown demonstrated trees can engender a sense of peace and spiritual nourishment. A survey by Natural England showed 89% of respondents believed green places are good for mental health and wellbeing.

Many religions use trees as metaphors. In the Christian Bible we find reference to the Tree of Life, the Tree of Good and Evil and, of course, the tree from which Christ’s cross was hewn. Different trees are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. The Jewish Torah is often referred to as the Tree of Life; many Torah stories feature trees. In Islam, tree planting is seen as an act of charity. Similarly, Buddhism recognises the roles of trees as providing shelter, food and enlightenment. Trees, in Hinduism, are seen as givers of knowledge and enlightenment.

In the UK and worldwide trees face many threats including climate change, wildfires, invasive pests and land development. Thankfully, there is good news. Globally, faith-based groups are helping to restore forests. There are more woods and trees in the UK than at any time in the last 100 years. However, we are still one of the least wooded countries in Europe.

In his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ Pope Francis writes of the impact of forest and woodland loss: ‘The loss of forests and woodlands entails the loss of species which may constitute extremely important resources in the future, not only for food production but also for curing disease and other uses’ [para. 32]. In a recent report, the Woodland Trust remarked: ‘We need to at least quadruple the current rate of woodland creation and increase the proportion of UK-grown native species to help tackle the effects of climate change and give nature a fighting chance of recovery.’ The good news is that much tree planting is taking place but we must plant the right trees in the right place. One way we can help is to become more tree aware. At this Easter season, as we reflect on resurrection, it is worth spending time close to a tree or collection of trees, getting to know them like you might encounter a new friend. We can use all our senses: what does it look like, smell like, feel like, what sounds can we hear when we stand near a tree? It is worth looking up to see if any birds are roosting there, then to look down to the soil to imagine that huge network of chemical activity beneath our feet. We can imagine those chemical messages passing from tree to tree. Close encounters with trees may inspire us to prayer, to express gratitude for all a tree gives us, or to pray for their protection.

Trees are not our enemies; we need them. Let’s rejoice in them.

Much has changed during the intervening years. One important thing that we have learnt is how sensual our liturgical journey through Holy Week is. From the smelling of the sacred oils at the Chrism Mass, to the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, to the kissing of the cross on Good Friday and the sharing of the Easter light at the Easter Vigil. All of these actions invoke our senses and help us to enter more deeply into the ritual action. The necessity of live streaming during lockdown did not allow for these actions. One of the great positives of the liturgical renewal of Vatican II is the centrality of the congregation fully participating through the invocation of the senses in the liturgical ritual.

Singing is another primary ritual action which was disrupted during the Covid pandemic. Having now been in post as Director of Music here at the Metropolitan Cathedral for over 10 years, can tell you that there can be few better sounds on this earth than a congregation of over 2000 people lustily singing together with our Grand Organ. With the return of our organ from its recent restoration, and the normality of congregational singing having fully returned, am very much looking forward to this year’s Chrism Mass!

For the first time since 2019, we will be singing the Gloria from the ‘Liverpool Mass’ by composer Colin Mawby KSG. Commissioned by the Cathedral during Archbishop Worlock’s time the Mass is scored for congregation, cantor, choir, organ and optional brass and timpani. This Mass was subsequently re-written in 2012 to match the words of the new translation and first used in this format at the Mass to celebrate the golden jubilee of Archbishop Patrick Kelly and was used regularly at large diocesan celebrations prior to the pandemic.

If you have never experienced the Chrism Mass here at the Metropolitan Cathedral, do

‘..all should hold in great esteem the liturgical life of the diocese centred around the bishop, especially in his cathedral church; they must be convinced that the pre-eminent manifestation of the Church consists in the full active participation of all God’s holy people in these liturgical celebrations, especially in the same eucharist, in a single prayer, at one altar, at which there presides the bishop surrounded by his college of priests and by his ministers.’

The liturgies of Holy Week and Easter take precedence for the first two weeks of April. It is such a privilege being at the Cathedral and taking part in the beautiful services over this period but by the end of Easter Sunday evening everyone needs a well-earned rest.

The times of the main liturgies are advertised elsewhere in this edition but can also be found on the Cathedral Website. There is also a sung service of Tenebrae on Palm Sunday, and the Sung Office of Readings and Morning Prayer on the Triduum Days in Holy Week as well as two services of the Stations of the Cross in the main Cathedral. Archbishop Malcolm will preside at the Easter Vigil at 9.00 pm and as well as the normal Mass times on Easter Sunday we have Sung Evening Prayer beginning in the Baptistry of the Cathedral. If you can, please come and join us for some of these beautiful and moving services.

Later in the month on Wednesday 26 April, Liverpool Hope University will be holding a Ceremony of Inauguration at our Cathedral at 3.00 pm to welcome their new Vice Chancellor Professor Claire Ozanne as she takes on her new role in leading the University.

By the end of the month we start to welcome events leading up to the Coronation of King Charles and the Eurovision Song contest. Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, of the Ukrainian Eparchy, will be at the Cathedral on Sunday 30 April to celebrate a Pontifical Ukrainian Divine Liturgy at 3.00 pm. We are also hoping to host a sculpture by the Ukrainian artist Dmitry Iv ‘The need for freedom’ which is a very impressive image of a figure made from chains.

Looking ahead there will be a Mass on the Vigil of the Coronation in the Cathedral at 5.00 pm on Friday 5 May.