Archbishop Sherrington installed as Liverpool’s Archbishoptenth

by Simon Hart

Tuesday 27 May was an auspicious day in the life of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. It was the day when Archbishop John Sherrington took ‘canonical possession of the See of Liverpool’ at a midday Mass of Installation at the Metropolitan Cathedral. By this, he became the tenth Archbishop of Liverpool, succeeding Archbishop Malcolm McMahon. “I place myself at your service as bishop and shepherd,” he told the congregation.

It was a day of celebration which began with the new Archbishop knocking on the door at the main entrance of the Cathedral. There, he was greeted by the Provost, Monsignor Anthony O’Brien, and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, along with other members of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter. The clergy present in the Cathedral included Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, along with Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Kelly and Bishops Tom Neylon and Tom Williams. Among the bishops was Bishop Kevin Doran, whose role as chair of the Irish Bishops’ Council for Life is equivalent to Archbishop Sherrington’s position with the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. There were concelebrating priests from the dioceses where Archbishop

Sherrington previously served, Westminster and Nottingham, as well as Liverpool. Also present was Father Edmund Montgomery, a priest of the Diocese of Shrewsbury, who helped design the Archbishop’s coat of arms. In addition, there were civic leaders present along with Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre, representatives of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and Papal Knights and Dames.

For Archbishop Sherrington, it was important that the young people of the archdiocese were well represented, and he spoke directly to them in his homily when he said: “An urgent challenge is to find new ways to help our young people grow in faith and service and so discover the unique call God has planted in their hearts. This is part of the mission of the Catholic schools which educate about 88,000 young people in this archdiocese.

“My first visit to Lourdes many years ago, as a helper on the Jumbulance, helped me discover God’s call to be a priest. I will return in July with the Liverpool Archdiocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes this year to thank Our Blessed Lady once again. To our young people I say, God has created each one of you to do Him some definite service. Know that “Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive! He is in you, he is with you and he never abandons you.”’ (Pope Francis, Christus Vivit 1-2). It is fair to infer that young people will be a priority for the new Archbishop.

At the start of the Mass, Archbishop Sherrington said, “Let us pray for this city” – a response to the appalling events of the day before when a car ploughed through the crowds during Liverpool FC’s victory parade, leaving many people injured. In his homily, the Archbishop spoke of that ‘trauma’, adding: “While we see dreadful images, I know that the people of Liverpool will unite together and be close to those who are suffering.”

The Archbishop referred also to Pope Leo XIII’s writings about “the dignity of human work and the conditions needed for people to flourish” and noted that “Pope Leo XIV continues this thread and calls for the dignity of every woman and man to be respected in our society, especially in the ever-changing world of work with the impact of Artificial Intelligence, and the challenge that many people fail to find work.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the now Archbishop Emeritus Malcolm McMahon for “laying the foundations of renewal in the Diocesan Synod”. He added: “The foundations that have been laid need further reflection and ongoing discernment as we walk together on the road of hope.”

The liturgical celebration was enhanced by music from the Cathedral Choir and this included hymns chosen personally by the new Archbishop, such as ‘O Bread of Heaven’.

Reflecting on the occasion afterwards, Archbishop Sherrington said: “The Mass of Installation was a joyous occasion. It was wonderful to see so many people from across this archdiocese and beyond gather together in prayer as we continue to preach Christ to the people of our time.

“I give thanks to Archbishop Malcolm who has served the archdiocese with love and generosity, and I am honoured to succeed him. I look forward to serving as a shepherd to this historic and faith-filled archdiocese and to bring the hope and joy of Christ to all people.”