Cathedral Record

Canon Anthony O’Brien –Cathedral Dean

Clatterbridge Hospital have organised a ’Glow Green’ night walk around the city centre to mark world cancer day on Friday 3 February. The walk will end with a very short gathering on our Cathedral steps with lighted candles. Following new security laws in Hong Kong last year there have been a considerable number of former residents from there taking up citizenship in the UK and settling in the north west of England. On Saturday 18 February there will be a Mass at 2.00 pm in the Cathedral Blessed Sacrament Chapel celebrated in Cantonese by a visiting priest, Father Bruno, for the Chinese community within our local area. There will also be the opportunity for confession from 1.00 pm in Cantonese.

We celebrate our Annual Archdiocesan Civic Mass on Sunday 19 February. This comes at a time when our public services are under further pressures which has had a significant impact on those who serve us in public life. It is important that we can gather as a Catholic Community and celebrate Mass that day to pray for all those who represent us in civic and public life and for the communities within our local region.

We have a slightly later start to Lent this year with Ash Wednesday celebrated on 22 February and the First Sunday of Lent on 26 February. On this first Sunday of Lent we have the customary service of welcome and enrolment for all those adults who have been preparing in groups throughout the archdiocese for reception into the Church. Archbishop Malcolm will preside at this service at 3.00 pm to formally acknowledge the journey of faith and preparation that these adults have undertaken and to bless them and their families as they prepare in these final weeks for baptism and confirmation in their local parishes at Easter.