If you can, please make a donation for your copy to cover its production cost. Thank you.
A Pope from the Diocese, Adrian IV (c.1100-1159)
Join the Companions
... and help us to keep publishing Oremus free of charge
Although we earn income from the advertising which we carry, Oremus relies on donations from readers to cover its production costs.
The Companions of Oremus was established to recognise those who give generously to support us. Open exclusively to individuals, Companions’ names are published in the magazine each month (see page 7). All members are invited to one or more social events during the year and Mass is offered for their intentions from time to time.
If you would like to support us by joining the Companions, please write to Oremus, Cathedral Clergy House, 42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW or email oremuscomps@rcdow.org.uk with your contact details, including postcode. Members are asked to give a minimum of £100 annually. Please mention how you would like your name to appear in our membership list and if you are eligible to Gift Aid your donation. Postal subscriptions to Oremus may be purchased by completing and sending to the office the coupon printed in the magazine. Subscriptions to receive Oremus either by email (free) or as hard copy by post (p & p payable) can also be entered by visiting https://westminstercathedral.org.uk/the-cathedral-community/about-oremus/ and completing the form there.
Thank you for your support.
Oremus
Cathedral Clergy House
42 Francis Street
London SW1P 1QW
T 020 7798 9055
E oremus@westminstercathedral.org.uk
W www.westminstercathedral.org.uk
Oremus, the magazine of Westminster Cathedral, reflects the life of the Cathedral and the lives of those who make it a place of faith in central London. If you think that you would like to contribute an article or an item of news, please contact the Editor.
Patron
The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
Chairman
Fr Sławomir Witon´
Editor
Lorcán Keller
Oremus Team
Tony Banks – Distribution
Marie Carne – Content Compilation
Ellen Gomes – Archives
Zoe Goodway – Marketing & Finance
Paul Moynihan – Proofreading
Manel Silva – Subscriptions
Design and Art Direction
Julian Game
Registered Charity Number 233699 ISSN 1366-7203
Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or the Oremus Team. Neither are they the official views of Westminster Cathedral. The Editor reserves the right to edit all contributions. Publication of advertisements does not imply any form of recommendation or endorsement. Unless otherwise stated, photographs are published under a creative commons or similar licence. Every effort is made to credit all images. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
Inside Oremus
Life: Past & Present The Westminster Way
Welcome to the New Cathedral Hall Caretaker 13
Jubilee Volunteering Fair by Elke Springett 17
Cathedral History in Pictures: The 1963 Big Freeze by Paul Tobin 22
Features
We must heed the deafening silence of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill by Dr Pia Matthews 6 & 7
Homily for the Proclamation of the Holy Year by Cardinal Vincent Nichols 8 & 9
The Genesis of the new translation of the Second Edition of the Lectionary by Archbishop George Stack 10 & 11
The Jubilee Indulgence 13
Walking the Becket Way by Anna Ringler 14 & 15 A Pilgrimage of Curiosities by John Woodhouse 16
Book Review: Fr Nicholas Schofield’s HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS: A European Pilgrimage by the Editor 18
Born in Abbots Langley and educated in St Albans, Nicholas Breakspear has, thus far, been the only English occupant of the Chair of St Peter as Pope Adrian IV. Here he is depicted wearing the early papal tiara (one crown) and his attributed coat of arms (a broken spear). This image is one of two paintings recently gifted to Westminster Cathedral by Provost Emeritus, Canon Brockie, for which we are most grateful. They now hang in pride of place in the Sacristy.
Thank you to those leaving a gift to the Cathedral in their will.
This is easy to do and makes a real difference to the Cathedral. Simply provide your solicitor with the following recommended wording: Westminster Cathedral, part of the Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustee Registered Charity Number 233699
God has blessed us with many gifts. Let us return them to Him with increase so that we can help future generations and enable our Church to grow.
That’s why I’m remembering Westminster Cathedral in my will.
Mary
If you would like to find out more or talk about the impact that you would like your gift to have, please contact Laura on the Cathedral’s Fundraising Team: cathedralgiving@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7798 9058
Oremus is available for collection from the Cathedral, can be sent to you by post, read online at the Cathedral website or delivered direct to your inbox https://westminstercathedral.org.uk/the-cathedral-community/about-oremus/ Email: oremus@westminstercathedral.org.uk
I enclose a donation of £
Name:
Address:
Oremus
Lorcán writes
Roses are red, violets are odious, it used to be Valentine, now it’s Cyril and Methodius.
Growing up in a post-Conciliar Church, it was often remarked that certain popular saints, such as Philomena and Christopher, had their halos revoked in the 1960s, due to a lack of historical evidence. Although this was usually expressed as tonguein-cheek, there was a palpable sense of loss lurking beneath the humour. Indeed, my aunt was an active member of the Sodality of St Philomena in the 1950s, only to have her evicted from heaven in 1961.
A more local example, at least in central Dublin, was the removal of St Valentine from the General Roman Calendar. In 1835, Pope Gregory XVI gifted the heart of St Valentine to an Irish Carmelite priest, Fr John Spratt, for his impressive preaching skills at a Mass in Rome, which he duly gifted to his community upon his return. Although lost for a time, it was rediscovered in the 1940s, and generations of Dubliners have since filled endless ledgers, petitioning the saint for help with their love lives.
Looking at the Calendar more broadly, February marks the great feast of Candlemas, forty days since Christmas when the infant Christ was presented to his Father in the Temple. In addition to removing the Cribs, there will be a Mass of thanksgiving for those in Consecrated Life on Saturday 1 February, with Cardinal Nichols. He will also celebrate Mass for World Day of the Sick, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, at the earlier date of Saturday 8 February.
By now, the five Holy Doors have been opened and the Jubilee Year is well under way. Fr Daniel Humphreys, one-time Sub-Administrator of the Cathedral, and his team have drawn up a Diocesan walking pilgrimage in the footsteps of saints and martyrs. More information can be found in the pages that follow on the ‘Westminster Way’. Perhaps a parish ramblers’ group could be formed in response, walking the ‘Westminster Way’ and other pilgrimage routes? Watch this space!
Speaking of walking, restoration work on the Cathedral floor will begin apace this month, completing the side aisles and tackling the vast Nave, section by section. Thank you to the Friends, and to all who contributed in any way to the Big Give fundraisers.
Happy February! Enjoy the lull between Christmas and Lent while it lasts.
Westminster Cathedral
Cathedral Clergy House
42 Francis Street
London SW1P 1QW
Telephone 020 7798 9055
Email chreception@rcdow.org.uk
www.westminstercathedral.org.uk
Cathedral Chaplains
Fr Sławomir Witoń, Dean
Fr Brian O’Mahony, Sub-Dean
Fr Patrick van der Vorst, Precentor
Fr John Scott, Registrar
Fr Vincent Mbu’i SVD
Fr Hugh MacKenzie
Fr Javier Ruiz-Ortiz (priest in residence)
Also in residence
Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Victories: Sr Jesuina, Sr Angelina and Sr Fatima
Music Department
Simon Johnson, Master of Music
Peter Stevens Obl. OSB, Assistant Master of Music
Daniel Greenway, Organ Scholar
Cathedral Manager
Peter McNulty
Estates Manager
Stuart Doxey
Fundraising Manager
Awaiting appointment
Chapel of Ease
Sacred Heart Church
Horseferry Road SW1P 2EF
We must heed the deafening silence of the
Dr Pia Matthews
MPs met the announcement of the vote in favour of legalising assisted suicide in England and Wales first with gasps, then with silence. Gasps then silence precisely because a bright red line had been crossed. To be clear, despite its apparently compassionate title, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would make it legal for doctors to assist in a patient’s suicide. That red line once meant that society protected people, even from themselves. And this is what society continues to do by putting in place suicide protection policies – now it seems as long as the person is not seriously ill. The message here is that society values your life if you are fit and
healthy, but if you feel that you are a burden because you are ill and expected to die soon, or you are afraid of how you will die, or you do not want to give up control by entrusting yourself to the care of others, then society will help you to take your own life. A change in the law means that society agrees that you are a burden, that your fears are justified, that you should be able to choose to die even if that choice stops all other choices.
Advocates of assisted suicide often explain that they are not intending to end life but rather they are shortening death. They point to the many stories of people who have had bad, undignified deaths. They claim that there are robust
safeguards in the bill to protect people who are vulnerable to pressure and coercion; but assisting someone to take their own life is ending life. There are many stories of people who have good and dignified deaths. And the safeguards are really not that safe.
One of the problems with the private member’s bill process is that the principles come first, the details only follow later, and the devil is in the details. The bill is modelled on the law in the US state of Oregon where assisted dying is available on request to people doctors agree are terminally ill. There is evidence that this may include people with anorexia, arthritis or diabetes. After all, if a patient
the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
refuses or stops life-saving treatment, intending to die, then the person’s death will be reasonably expected to be sooner rather than later and so the person seems eligible for assisted suicide. There is no requirement of expertise in end-of-life care on the part of the doctors.
Prognosis on life expectancy and the course of a serious illness is notoriously uncertain. While under the bill the capacity of the person is assessed following the Mental Capacity Act, that act did not envisage assisted suicide and was designed to have a liberal interpretation, where capacity is always presumed. Moreover, the age requirement may be challenged by those who are under 18 but could be considered legally competent.
Currently the bill states that a judge may be invited to hear from one of the doctors involved, or from the person making the request. However, it is not the role of the judiciary to approve the administration of drugs to bring about
Companions of Oremus
death and it is not clear how the process would work, whether there would be an appeals process, and how evidence would be tested. There is no indication that judges or indeed pharmacists could opt out of the process. Additionally, court resources are already stretched.
Worryingly, there is no detail on the proposed medication or what happens should the medication fail to kill. Although slippery slopes can always be legislated against, there is a real concern that some may claim the bill as it stands discriminates against those who are not terminally ill but do have serious disabilities. Some people have already begun to campaign for an extension of the bill to include people with long term illness such as Parkinson’s. Under the bill a doctor can offer assisted dying to a patient along with a range of other options including palliative care. But where access to palliative care is already unequal and hospice care itself is underfunded, there may be implicit coercion.
We are very grateful for the support of the following:
Leticia Dominguez Abada
Lally Ambatali
Keith Best
Dr Stuart Blackie
Anne Veronica Bond
Lolita Botanes
Richard Bremer
Lorenzo Cabrelli
Ms Virginia Pinto Cassama
Mrs Erlinda Chin
Francis George Clark
R & L Collyer-Hamlin
Daniel Crowley
Angelita Caronan Duran
Cora Emflorgo
Ms Georgina Enang
Fr Joseph Farrell K.H.S. Golden
Jubilee
Fred Gardiner
William Gardner-Hunter
Connie Gibbes
Zoe & Nick Goodway
Rosalinda Grimaldo
Advocates of the bill may believe that further scrutiny can address most of these real concerns. But the bill is fundamentally flawed from its very premise: that it should be legal for doctors to help patients kill themselves. It may look as if a change in legislation, to allow for an assisted death, is a compassionate response to a few people who do not want to face what they see as the indignities of dying dependant on the care of others. But the message that a life of dependence is a life not worth living is a dangerous and coercive message to all those who do live dependant lives.
The bill will next go to a committee of MPs for further scrutiny before receiving a third reading when further amendments can be made. There will then be a final vote on the bill. Let’s hope and pray that the silence that accompanied the vote at the second reading will weigh heavily on those voting at the bill’s third reading. It is not too late to back away from that bright red line.
Agnes Haein Kim
Mrs Valerie Hamblen
Jithro and Ira Nadine Hangad
Bernadette Hau
Mrs Cliona Howell
Alice M Jones & Jacob F Jones
Poppy K
Rosanne Kay
Mary Thérèse Kelly
John Langan
David Lawton
Raymund Livesey
Alan Lloyd in memoriam
Clare and John Lusby
Linda McHugh
Christiana Thérèse Macarthy-Woods
Ms Ludivina Mangmang
James Maple
Paul Marsden
Mary Maxwell
Dr George Morris
Abundia Toledo Munar
Euphrasie Mundele Kilolo
Chris Stewart Munro
Mrs Brigid Murphy
Kate Nealon
Cordelia Onodu
Cris Ragonton
Alan Rainer
Clementina Rokosu
Precy Salvador
John Scanlan
Veronica Scrope
Sonja Soper
Tessa and Ben Strickland
Yollie Sumayod
Julia Sutherland
Eileen Terry
Robin Michael Tinsley
Lucila Torrefiel
Peter W Wilson and of our anonymous Companions
If you would like to become a Companion of Oremus, see page 2
Homily for the Proclamation of the Holy Year
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Today, we open this Year of Jubilee, the Holy Year 2025.
The Church first declared a Holy Year in 1300 and has continued ever since. They are occasions for the Church to seek renewal, to undergo a ‘reset’. And this Holy Year invites us to deepen and renew the place of hope in our lives. Its theme is simply that we are ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
The urgency of this theme is very clear. Our world is scarred with tragedy, conflict and cruelty. For many people life is simply endured and does not give much ground for hope. So often the pilgrimage of life is harsh and unrelenting. Yet, in the midst of these realities we are given an unshakable gift of hope.
On Christmas Eve, when he opened this Holy Year, Pope Francis declared that we find this hope in the person of Jesus. He said:
‘Sisters and brothers, this is our hope. God is Emmanuel, God-withus. The infinitely great has made himself tiny; divine light has shone amid the darkness of our world; the glory of heaven has appeared on earth. And how? As a little child. If God can visit us, even when our hearts seem like a lowly manger, we can truly say: Hope is not dead; hope is alive and it embraces our lives forever. Hope does not disappoint!’
Today’s Gospel, for the Feast of the Holy Family, contains three rich lessons for this Holy Year.
First, the family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, are on pilgrimage. In travelling to Jerusalem, they acknowledge that they belong to God and dedicate their lives to him.
We do the same, for believing in the name of Jesus, we know ourselves to be ‘children of God’ who have received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. In baptism we, too, are on pilgrimage to God. This is our deepest identity.
Yet, in their pilgrimage the Holy Family suffers greatly. The child Jesus goes missing. For three days Mary and
Joseph search in vain. What dismay and dread must have filled their hearts!
So too, our pilgrimage of life is never without its tragedies and suffering. Moments of loss and grief, of deadening boredom and depression test us, sometimes to the limit. Hope disappears and we simply hang on.
On her pilgrimage, Mary teaches us a second great lesson. We read that ‘she treasured all these things in her heart.’ She built up a store of precious memories of the good gifts she received. They helped her to live through times of distress and emptiness. She recalled the clarity and love of her son, Jesus. She treasured the ‘hidden years’, their family time together. She remembered key moments and words, pondered and keeping them in her heart. These memories sustained her at the foot of the cross and in all her sorrow.
We are to do the same. For us, too, there are moments of tenderness and consolation, times in which we are comforted, when we receive and give with delight. These we are to treasure and not forget. They will sustain in us, through thick and thin: the hope that does not disappoint. For this we need patience, for not all is given in one moment. Yet we are used to seeking immediate answers, like impatient children rather than wise grandparents. Treasuring the good gifts of life, steadfastly and patiently, is a better way to make our pilgrimage.
And today there is a third, even more important lesson. To his distressed mother, Jesus said: ‘Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ Here he points us to the greatest and most important hope, the hope of heaven. Not only do we belong to God, but God has a home for us, a home in which Jesus has secured our place, a home to which we are drawn throughout our pilgrimage of life. This is the greatest hope of all. From it, life finds its true purpose, for without this hope, life is fundamentally empty. And this hope of heaven, this promise, is guaranteed. It is secure. It does not disappoint.
To be Pilgrims of Hope, then, means to live by the promise of heaven. This is what is meant by the virtue of hope. The Catechism defines it for us:
‘The theological virtue of hope is the power by which we desire the Kingdom of Heaven as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the grace of the Holy Spirit.’
This is the hope we are to seek during the Holy Year. In speaking of this Jubilee, Pope Francis uses the image of the door. He invites us all to enter that door and receive again the gift of true hope. He says:
‘The door of hope has opened wide to the world. God speaks to each of us and says: there is hope also for you! There is hope for each of us. And do not forget, sisters and brothers, that God forgives everything, God always forgives. Do not forget this, which is a way of understanding hope in the Lord.’
The invitation of this Holy Year 2025, then, is clear and compelling. We are called to deepen the key virtue of hope in our lives: the enduring hope of heaven. This we do by a renewed pattern of prayer, quietly in the presence of our Saviour, knowing that the source of this hope lies in his loving heart, for he wants so much to dwell with us, to bring us home with him into our rightful place in heaven. And he overflows with forgiveness for all our waywardness.
Entering this door of hope, we will see with greater clarity not only the gifts Jesus gives us but also the opportunities for us to serve him in others, deepening our bond with him day by day. Working for the good of those around us is to serve the Lord with gladness. We can offer this vision of hope and compassion to those whose lives are broken, for whom promises have been betrayed or dreams shattered, who are weary and have little strength to carry on. This is our calling and our privilege.
As Pope Francis said to us on Radio Four yesterday:
‘I hope that during this Jubilee we can practice kindness as a form of love, to connect with others. May this year bring us peace, fellowship and gratitude.’
Cardinal celebrates Mass for the Launch of the Jubilee Year
The Genesis of the new translation of the
The English Standard Version, Catholic Edition (ESV-CE) Bible was first published in 2001 by Crossway, an American not-forprofit Christian publisher. Crossway holds the copyright for a number of biblical texts, including the English Standard Version (ESV). Their Board is composed of over 100 Evangelical Protestant biblical scholars, from various theological universities and institutes.
Consequently, the ESV has garnered criticism for being a Protestant Bible, unfit for Catholic use. As I have previously explained, every biblical translation is influenced by the personal faith of the translator, in their approach and emphasis. However, there are also many valuable ecumenical lessons to be learned from Protestant scholars, particularly those such as Karl Barth and Rudolf Bultmann, who are eminent in their field. Of course, many Catholic
scholars also acknowledge the influence that their own faith has on their work.
Allow me to share one prominent example of Catholic influence on biblical translation, from the Prophet Isaiah. God commands King Ahaz not to engage in the Syro-Ephraimite War (733 BC), but to trust in him instead. Not only does he disobey, but he appeals to his (pagan) Assyrian protector, King Tiglath Pileser III for support, and refuses to accept a sign from God: ‘I will not put the Lord God to the test’ (Is 7:12). And so, God spoke through his prophet. In the Jerusalem Bible (Is 7:14) he said:
‘The Lord himself, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel.’
The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) reads slightly different:
‘[…] the young woman is with child and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel.’
And in the Revised New Jerusalem Bible:
‘[…] Look, the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel.’
The word ‘betulah’ in Hebrew means virgin, whereas ‘alma’ means a young woman of marriageable age. Catholic texts fluctuate between the two when applying this text to the mother of Jesus.
There are a few things to note here. The ‘young woman’ of Isaiah has become the ‘maiden’ of the Jerusalem Bible. It goes back to the ‘young woman’ in the NJB, but loses the ‘soon’. And wouldn’t ‘behold’ be a better rendering than ‘look’ as in the ESV-CE, which reads:
The Most Rev George Stack, Archbishop Emeritus of Cardiff.
Second Edition of the Lectionary
‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel’ (Matt 1:23).
In the year 2000, members of the Anglican–Roman Catholic International Committee (ARCIC) were tasked by the Archbishop of Canterbury to conduct a study of Mary. One of the main obstacles was the reconciliation of the two Catholic Marian doctrines, the Immaculate Conception (1854) and the Assumption (1950), with mainstream Anglican theology, which asserts that these beliefs are not sufficiently supported by scripture. The ensuing document, Mary Grace and Hope in Christ, was accepted as ‘worthy of further discussion’, given the different emphases and interpretation put on the scriptural texts (particularly in Revelation) by each Church. It carefully stated that:
‘[…] the symbol of the woman has led to a variety of interpretations. Most
scholars agree that the primary meaning of the woman is corporate, the people of God. Given the place of the Book of Revelation within the Canon of Scripture, in which different biblical images intertwine, the possibility of a more explicit interpretation, both individual and corporate, illuminating the place of Mary in the eschatological victory of the Messiah.’ (28-29).
As previously mentioned, use of the ESV-CE in the revised Lectionary was initially explored by the Bishops of England and Wales back in 2011. Interestingly, the Bishops of India also saw merit in this translation and, with permission from Crossway, published their ESV-CE Lectionary in 2017, allowing us to make use of it in our own Lectionary. I must mention here the extraordinary work of ICEL biblical scholar, Archbishop Anthony Jala, for facilitating the delicate negotiations
between Crossway, ICEL, the Bishops of India and ourselves. You will know that the choice of the ESV for the Lectionary has not been without controversy. The pages of The Tablet have reported on it regularly! But I hope I have said enough about the implications of translation methodology to give the main reason for this choice.
One criticism which became the focus of controversy was the perceived lack of inclusive language in the text. We took this issue very seriously, particularly if, as was reported, it was going to alienate half of our congregation. It is synthesised in the use of the word ‘brothers’ and the seeming omission of the word ‘sisters’. On this subject, the preface of the ESV-CE reads as follows:
‘[…] the English word “brothers” (translating the Greek word “adelphoi” ) is retained as an important familial form of address between fellow Jews and fellow Christians in the first century. A recurring note is included to indicate that the term “brothers” was often used in Greek to refer to both men and women, and to indicate the specific instances in the text where this is the case.’
Elaborating on this, and recognising that English has no ‘third’ word, such as ‘personne’ in French, which includes both men and women, the Bishops of England and Wales gave the following guidance in the preparation of the new Lectionary:
‘However wrongly or rightly, the word “man” is no longer acceptable to many in our time as representing men and women or, indeed, humanity at large. Words and language change their meaning. Where the term “brothers” is used to illustrate human kinship, no less comprising “sisters” than of “brothers”, we have followed the footnotes provided in the ESV-CE and applied the words “brothers and sisters” to the body of the text in order to demonstrate the inclusivity which the context implies. This occurs in a not insignificant number of cases. We have applied the same principle to “sons and daughters” where appropriate.’
The Westminster Way
‘A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life. In the coming year, pilgrims of hope will surely travel the ancient and more modern routes in order to experience the Jubilee to the full.’
To celebrate the Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Westminster has created a seven-mile pilgrim route in the steps of saints and martyrs, our ‘Beacons of Hope’, beginning at Tower Hill and ending at Westminster Cathedral.
To download a leader’s guide and a pilgrim passport, visit: rcdow.org.uk/jubilee-2025/westminster-way
(Spes non confundit 5)
Jubilee Indulgence
• Westminster Cathedral
• St Gregory the Great, South Ruislip
• St Mary & St Joseph, Poplar
• Corpus Christi, Covent Garden
• The Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden
• Our Lady, Queen of Apostles, Welwyn Garden City
For more information on obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence, visit: rcdow.org.uk/jubilee-2025
Welcome to John Torres, the new Cathedral Hall Caretaker Diocesan Jubilee Churches
John Torres
My name is John Torres and I am originally from Colombia. Having visited Westminster Cathedral many times over the years, I have always been moved by its beauty, its sense of peace, and its spiritual significance. I am, therefore, thrilled to be joining the Cathedral community as the new Hall Caretaker. To be entrusted with the care of this sacred space is both humbling and exciting.
Before joining Westminster Cathedral, I worked next door in St Vincent de Paul Primary School, as Caretaker, with responsibility for maintenance, preservation and operations, skills which I am sure will continue to be of use.
In my new position, I am responsible for bookings and maintenance of the Hall and the Hinsley Room, working closely with the wider team to ensure the Cathedral’s daily operations run smoothly. I look forward to getting to know everyone here and supporting the Cathedral in its mission for many years to come.
I have a keen interest in history and architecture, and particularly enjoy discovering the stories of the spaces we inhabit. I also enjoy cycling, exploring new places and clearing the mind, and I am an avid reader of history, different cultures and perspectives.
Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to meeting many of you in the days and weeks ahead!
Walking the Becket Way from Southwark Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral
Anna Ringler, House Manager at Caritas Bakhita House
Canterbury Cathedral was my first experience of an English cathedral, many years ago. I can still remember the awe that struck me, and the deep sense of God’s grandeur, when entering this vast space, full of light and colour. It was here that, on 11 December 1170, Archbishop Thomas Becket preached his final sermon, and it was here that he was murdered on 29 December, having defended the Church against Henry II’s Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164. Soon after his death he was proclaimed a saint by Pope Alexander III, and it did not take long for Becket’s fame to spread. Pilgrims from all over the country, and from abroad came visiting the shrine to pray and seek help for their needs.
But what makes one a pilgrim? There is the physical aspect of walking with the aim to reach a sacred place, and the spiritual aspect. Walking with a heart open to encountering God in all, be that nature, or the people you meet along the way. Being a pilgrim makes one vulnerable to this experience.
Pilgrimage has always been present in my life, having grown up in a small Austrian village in the shadow of Maria Brettfall, a Marian shrine perched on an Alpine rock. Dating back to 1536, it attracts both locals and tourists alike. As a child, I was fascinated by the votive tablets left by generations of pilgrims in this little church, showing the deep faith and devotion of our forebears. As a teenager, I also joined the monthly night pilgrimages to St Georgenberg, another Marian shrine perched on a rock. St Georgenberg is the oldest shrine in Tyrol, dating back to 1310. On the thirteenth of the month, local people
from the surrounding valleys would join together, processing in the dark, lit only by candles. It was always a deeply prayerful experience.
So, when I heard about the old pilgrims’ route, ‘the Becket Way’, from London to Canterbury, I knew I had to walk it and, by the end of summer 2024, I decided that I would. I did not have much time to prepare for my journey, but I read some other pilgrims’ experiences and some background information, and, on 20 October 2024, off I went. Walking 92 miles in five days was a challenge. I soon discovered that it would not merely be a physical achievement, but rather, mentally and spiritually, a grounding and touching experience. And so, I affectionately titled the pilgrimage ‘walking resilience’.
My aim was to raise funds for therapeutic activities in Caritas Bakhita House, a safe house for women affected by Trafficking and Modern Slavery,
set up in 2015 by the Diocese of Westminster. I created GoFundMe page and to my surprise colleagues, friends and volunteers from Bakhita House were not only financially supportive, but emotionally and spiritually. I did not feel alone, I felt a strong sense of participation.
I began my journey at Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, the oldest crossing-point of the River Thames. For many centuries, this edifice was the only entrance to the City of London from across the river, and would have frequently been used by St Thomas Becket, as Archdeacon, Chancellor to King Henry II, and Archbishop of Canterbury. There were such a variety of paths along the way, from busy roads to small country roads, where I had to squeeze into the bushes on the roadside when a car passed by. There were also gravel paths leading me through green tunnels, some only as wide as my shoulders, and hard to detect. I loved these tranquil stretches most, as they gave me such a deep sense of being held. My shoes got used to the muddy tracks, walking through forests and open fields, vineyards and orchards, harvested hops and corn. I also enjoyed the small towpaths and walking along the Thames and Darent, beside soothing waters. There was the constant surprise of what was next.
And the weather! Despite being late October, it was very likely the best week of the year. The light of autumn and a whole palette of colours created an astonishing landscape. The morning light appearing through the mist taking over everything, even the sounds of nearby motorways. I needed my rain
gear only on the first day but then, apart from some drizzle, the weather was very good to me. Walking towards Canterbury in full sunshine topped my expectations.
To my surprise, I only met one other pilgrim on the Becket Way; an older man with a light rucksack on the last stage to Canterbury. We met up midmorning and enjoyed the orchards, gathering up some fallen apples, taking in their fresh smell but, after some time, our apps led us in different directions and we parted. Along the way, I never felt like a stranger until I reached Canterbury, walking through crowds of tourists and visitors. Perhaps the root word for pilgrim ( peregrinus – a stranger on a journey) was that feeling of being on a different journey, a meaningful one, not knowing what will be ahead.
On my arrival at Canterbury, the cathedral was hosting an exhibition, ‘Cross-Currents’, of a fleet of beautiful ephemeral vessels, on display from 18 October 2024 until 15 February 2025. Created by Frances Carlile, these delicate boats embarked on
their own journey through the vast architecture of Canterbury Cathedral. Each one symbolising the transient passage of the life of an individual, serving as a powerful metaphor for the impermanence of life and human vulnerability. I spent some time contemplating the delicacy of each of these works of art, wondering which one resonates with my own journey. I found a little boat, simple structured with a golden lining inside. The ends of the oar were made of two tiny shells. It was the grandeur of the cathedral which moved me on my first visit, but this time around it was the beauty found in the fragility of life with this striking display of boats.
All deep encounters start from here I believe: showing our vulnerability, as a gateway to an experience of sacredness. This seems to me the essence of going on a pilgrim’s journey. Looking back on my different experiences it has always been this space of sacredness I was hoping to encounter. In having reached the physical destination I have become aware that the journey itself has been the reward.
Caritas Bakhita House is a safe house for survivors of modern slavery, exploitation and human trafficking.
Since opening in 2015, the centre has provided accommodation to 205 women and 16 babies from almost 50 different countries.
Alongside tailored therapeutic and trauma-informed care, the centre also assists women with bringing perpetrators to justice, and has helped to secure a total of over 223 years of prison sentences.
caritaswestminster.org.uk/ bakhita-house
A Pilgrimage of Curiosities
John Woodhouse
On Wednesday 19 February, the Cathedral Interfaith Group will visit the Burton Mausoleum, Mortlake, led by Tharik Hussain, followed by a simple lunch and a trip to the Kilmorey Mausoleum at St Margaret’s, Twickenham.
The Burton Mausoleum is a Grade II* listed, tent-shaped structure; the final resting place of Isabel, Lady Burton (1831-96) and Sir Richard Burton (1821-90), the intrepid Victorian explorer who sought the source of the River Nile and translated The Arabian Nights. Designed by Lady Burton in Carrara marble and Forest of Dean stone to stand in the Roman Catholic churchyard of St Mary Magdalen, Mortlake, it was completed in time for the death of Sir Richard. Both coffins can be seen through a window at the rear of the tent, accessed via a short, fixed ladder. There is also a stained-glass memorial in the church's Lady Chapel.
Restored in 1975 and 2012 with the support of the Friends of Burton and the Environment Trust for Richmond upon Thames, it is now maintained by Habitats & Heritage, with plans to open the tomb to visitors and present a new interpretation of Burton at the Richmond museum.
After lunch, we will make our way to the ancient Egyptianstyle Kilmorey Mausoleum, built in Scottish granite. This striking pink and grey edifice is the tomb of Priscilla Hoste, and is also maintained by Habitats & Heritage.
Meet at 11am by the church entrance of St Mary Magdalen’s, 61 North Worple Way, Mortlake, London SW14 8PR, not far from Mortlake Station. Please let John Woodhouse (woodhousesopten@btinternet.com) know if you intend to join the tour.
The Interfaith Group also meets in the Hinsley Room from 1.30pm to 3pm on the third Wednesday each month and will begin studying Dilexit nos, Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on the Sacred Heart. Copies are available online and at St Paul’s bookshop. All are welcome to join – refreshments provided.
Entrance to the Kilmorey Mausoleum
Sir Richard Burton's tomb
Jubilee Volunteering Fair
Elke Springett, Volunteer Coordinator for Caritas Westminster
Pilgrims of Hope: Join Us at the Volunteering Fair
As part of the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering, Caritas Westminster are delighted to invite you to a Volunteering Fair hosted at Westminster Cathedral Hall from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday, 8 March. This is a great opportunity to discover new ways to serve our neighbours in need, embracing our shared Christian mission and the spirit of the Jubilee.
This Jubilee Year calls us to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, and reflect on how our faith drives us to act as Christ’s hands and feet in the world. Volunteering is a powerful expression of that hope, enabling us to bring light and love to those who need it most. Our Volunteering Fair embodies this theme by gathering a diverse range of charities and parish initiatives, eager to share their work and welcome your gifts of time and talent.
Why volunteer?
Jesus came ‘not to be served but to serve’ (Mark 10:45), and calls us to follow him on this path. Volunteering allows us to live out this call, becoming instruments of God’s love in the world. It is a chance to encounter Christ in those we serve and to grow spiritually.
Volunteering is more than just giving; it is a journey of growth, connection, and purpose. Food project volunteer Hannah says simply: ‘I am always happier when I volunteer.’
At the fair, you will have the chance to:
Find out more about Caritas Westminster: discover our services that support the Deaf Community, people with intellectual disabilities, survivors of exploitation and domestic abuse and aspiring entrepreneurs, and learn about how we can help you, your parish or school get involved in social action. Meet representatives from a wide range of organisations: speak to staff and volunteers from across the charity sector to hear about their work and how to get involved. Past Volunteering Fairs have included charities such as CAFOD, Age UK, the Jesuit Refugee Service, PACT, Marriage Care, Radio Maria England and many more.
Explore opportunities in your parish: many parishes across the Diocese have thriving projects that need volunteers to continue running. From leading a youth group to assisting at a food bank or visiting the elderly, your help can make a real difference in your local community.
Discover ways to serve that align with your talents: God calls each of us to contribute in our own unique way. Whether you have a gift for organising, listening, creating or leading, volunteering offers a variety of ways to use your gifts.
About your hosts
The fair is hosted by the Caritas Volunteer Service. Part of Caritas Westminster, we work to match volunteers with opportunities that suit their interests and availability. We do this through a volunteering portal on our website, as well as through in-person events and resources to support volunteering. Our team look forward to meeting you at the fair, and are happy to answer questions and help you take the next step in your volunteering journey. Light refreshments will be provided.
Find out more
Scan the QR code to learn more about the Caritas Volunteer Service, browse volunteering opportunities and see our events.
Visit caritaswestminster.org.uk/ volunteer-service or email cvs@rcdow.org.uk to speak to our team.
A Grand Tour
Lorcán Keller
HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS: A European Pilgrimage, Fr Nicholas Schofield; Gracewing, Leominster, 2024; ISBN 978 085244 571 6 (306 pages).
What do Transylvania, Fatima and the tomb of William the Conqueror have in common? Why they are all pilgrimage sites in Fr Nicholas Schofield’s wonderful new book, Highways and Byways, the European sequel to his Discovering Catholic England, which was reviewed in this magazine last February.
The book is a collection of short, easily digestible articles from Fr Nicholas’ ‘Nova et Vetera’ (new and old) series in the Catholic Times, written between 2010 and 2020, with some post-Covid, and post-Brexit additions. Written in his hallmark style, it is heaving with historical, legendary and devotional information, while somehow remaining light and entertaining. In addition to
the major pilgrimage sites, such as Lourdes and Compostela, he has showcased many less obvious destinations of Catholic interest, particularly those with a connection to the British Isles. Rome, of course, is treated separately and includes less well-known sights with some seasonal information, such as the Lenten Station Churches; particularly pertinent in this Jubilee, when many will travel as pilgrims to the Eternal City.
Having initially bypassed a few sections to read the Irish entries, I found myself reading articles in the order of what piqued my interest first. Fr Nicholas notes this in his introduction, advising that the book should be ‘dipped into’, rather than read as a single unit, ‘cover to cover’.
Of course, as a true ‘Dub’, my first port of call had to be Dublin. Even an armchair pilgrim, with all of Europe laid out before him, is going to start from home. Would it be Newman’s Church, the shrines of St Lorcán O’Toole, St Charles of Mount Argus or St Valentine? No! The destination of choice was the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park, a man-made hill where I spent many hours as a child racing down the slope on anything with wheels, or on bin lids in the snow. How ordinary! And yet, it was indeed the site of the open-air Masses for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress, and the papal visits of Pope St John Paul II (1979) and Pope Francis (2018). In these few short pages, Fr Nicholas was able to distil all of Irish Catholicism and modern history into an interesting reflection on a site where I used to play.
However, what surprised me most was much more foreign, with clear links to these islands; the short section on Northern Europe. From Danish King Harald Bluetooth adopting Christianity to Englishman St Henry becoming patron of Finland, the least Catholic country in Europe; last to adopt the faith and one of the first to turn to Protestantism. Coincidentally, Fr Nicholas notes that St Henry was a follower of another Englishman, Nicholas Breakspear, then papal representative to Scandinavia and pictured on the front cover of this magazine!
Highways and Byways is by no means a comprehensive guidebook, nor does it claim to be. It is an interesting overview of the faith that built Europe, showcased in a unique list of destinations, some grand, some ordinary. It is something that would equally suit an armchair pilgrim and an intrepid traveller. My only criticism is that upon finishing this book, much like Alexander the Great, I wept that there were no more worlds (or European pilgrimage destinations?) to conquer!
In retrospect: from the Cathedral Chronicle
A Weekly Course of Instruction in Westminster Cathedral
[…] To the clergy the instruction of converts is an evergrowing problem. It is realised that we have hardly enough clergy to cope with it, for the proper instruction of one who desires sufficient knowledge of the Catholic faith is a matter which takes considerable time; and if a priest has on hand four or five catechumens there is not a moment of free time left for him. The statistics of conversions in England and Wales during the last decade show that the situation has developed in wonderful fashion. Whereas in 1911 the number of conversions was 3,609, by the year 1923 it had grown to 12,796. This is the latest year for which the figures for the country are available. They give a true idea of the extent to which the instruction and reception of converts has developed. It is a question so large that some additional efforts must be made to help in the ingathering of the abundant harvest that is waiting to be garnered.
In certain parishes in the north of England there are classes for the instruction of converts, and this does much to prepare for the more intimate and absolutely necessary instruction of the convert by the priest who is responsible in each case. Much good has been done in that way, and as the problem is assuming larger and ever-growing proportions in the south, some means of general instruction will have to be found.
At Westminster Cathedral it has now been decided to devote one evening a week to this work. Hitherto, each evening there has been an instruction followed by Benediction (except on Saturdays, when the instruction is omitted), intended for the spiritual benefit of the members of the various confraternities which meet on the different evenings of the week. In future on Friday evenings at 8.15 there will be an instruction on the Catholic faith from an apologetic point of view. The catechism will form the basis of the instruction, and will be steadily worked through, and any person attending regularly will thus receive a complete course of instruction in the Catholic faith.
[…] They will be given a solid foundation of Catholic truth on which may be built up the particular instruction in the faith that would be given should they desire later on to be received into the Church. It is well to say now that there will not be any controversy on these evenings, but plain and simple teaching of the faith ‘once delivered to the saints.’
Westminster Cathedral Chronicle, February 1925
The Church Unity Octave – Mgr Canon Gordon Wheeler
N.B. Prior to 1960, there were two feasts for the Chair of St Peter, 18 January and the remaining feast on 22 February. We still celebrate the Octave described below, focussing instead on the final day, the Conversion of St Paul on 25 January.
The solemn daily performance of the Liturgy in Westminster Cathedral is a magnet that attracts the interest of many nonCatholics as well as our own people.
This is not only because our Cathedral has a national importance and significance or because of its location, but also because the liturgical conception is something which is, to my mind, particularly fundamental in the English character. This is no doubt due in some degree to the character of Christianity here in medieval times.
The Faith of England was inseparably connected with the great Benedictine foundations and this is not surprising when we realise that it was a Benedictine monk on Cœlian Hill who was sent by Pope Gregory to convert our country.
The first thing St Augustine did at Canterbury was to establish the Liturgy, and despite the gaps since Reformation times, the idea of liturgical worship is particularly evident in our character.
Indeed, Anglicanism has always been to some degree liturgical rather than popular, especially in the cathedrals, and after all, the prayer of the Liturgy is very largely based on and drawn from Catholic liturgical sources.
This means that when non-Catholics see the solemn performance of the Liturgy in our Cathedral in the traditional Christian style, it strikes a chord in their hearts.
We all know that Faith is a gift from God. There are many preambles to this gift and a notable one is the intellectual approach and assent. But the Divine Liturgy can also be one of these preambles and make people realise that here is the only perfect worship because it is the official act of praise and thanksgiving of the Mystical Body and therefore the prayer of Christ himself.
When this is realised, another rapport is established, for many non-Catholics in this country have a personal devotion to Our Divine Lord and so seek to be united with his prayer.
The Chair of Unity Octave programme which was held in Westminster Cathedral is only meant to draw attention to and emphasise these things; to enquire into the relations between the Church and other Christian and non-Christian bodies, and to draw people to love the Chair of Unity which Our Lord established.
Westminster Cathedral Chronicle, February 1955
Heading
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Earlier in January, Westminster Youth Ministry tested out the Westminster Way, the seven-mile Diocesan pilgrimage route for the Jubilee Year, following in the footsteps of saints and martyrs, ending at Westminster Cathedral.
Name
A Knighthood for the Lord Mayor
We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor of Westminster and his team for a tour of Westminster Cathedral, with our Guild Coordinator Breda. As former chair of the Catholic Union, and a lifelong Catenian, Councillor Robert Rigby will be invested as a Knight of St Gregory later this year for his service to the Church.
© Luke Fernandes, WYM Outreach
From Zagreb to London!
On Gaudete Sunday, Fr Ljubomir Šimunović OFM and the Croatian Catholic Chaplaincy in Horseferry Road, the Cathedral’s Chapel of Ease, celebrated Mass in thanksgiving for 55 years of ministry in London, with His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James’.
Popes from the Provost (Emeritus)
Recently, Provost Emeritus, Canon Michael Brockie generously gifted two papal portraits to the Cathedral Sacristy, for which we are most grateful. On the left is Adrian IV (1154-59), the only English Pope, and on the right, Benedict XV (1914-22).
Laudate Pueri Dominum
Congratulations to our two newest choristers, Ikechukwuwho and Alex. Each received a cotta (short white garment) and a personal copy of the Graduale Romanum, the main tool of their trade. The cotta is worn by all choristers who have been formally inducted into the Cathedral Choir.
CATHEDRAL HISTORY A PICTORIAL RECORD
The 1963 Big Freeze
Paul Tobin
On 26 December 1962, temperatures in the United Kingdom dropped to below freezing, where they remained. It was not until 6 March 1963, the first time in well over two months, that no frost was recorded anywhere in the British Isles. This ‘Big Freeze’, the worst for two hundred years, was caused by a trough of high pressure across Scandinavia, which drew cold winds from Russia across the British Isles.
Much disruption to everyday life ensued, including the cancellation of many sporting fixtures, notably football and horse racing. Indeed, a ‘Pools Panel’ of experts was set up to predict the results of postponed matches, so that people could fill in their weekly coupons as usual. A BBC documentary showing the impact of the freeze was made at the time and retransmitted as Winterwatch, 1963: The Big Freeze in January 2013, to mark the fiftieth anniversary. This programme, introduced by Chris Packham, is still available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.
In this undated picture, long before Ashley Place was incorporated into the new Piazza of the 1970s, cars can be seen parked outside the West Doors of the Cathedral with no visible restrictions, although parking meters were slowly introduced in the City of Westminster from 1958. Of course, the main entrance to the Cathedral was not by any of the doors on the West façade, but by the doors at the top of Ambrosden Avenue, through what is now the Cathedral Gift Shop. Unfortunately, there would be no disabled ramp for another decade, when the entrances on either side of the Great West Door were brought into service, as part of the redevelopment of Victoria Street.
Looking back and looking forwards
Joe Allen, Coordinator
In recent editions of Oremus, my focus has almost entirely been devoted to the Big Give campaign which, as you may have read, was a hugely successful (and stressful) venture, meeting our target with only minutes to spare. As a fundraising charity, these projects are foundational, but the Friends are far more than a mere fundraising conduit. We are several hundred members, gathered together in fellowship and with a common mission, to support our beloved Cathedral.
Our members are the beating heart of all that we do, and in recent months we have enjoyed an array of social events, in the Cathedral, online, and further afield. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who made these events possible by sharing their wisdom, and affording us the opportunity to explore and to gather.
Back in October, many of us enjoyed a Catholic-themed walking tour of Richmond with long-term supporter Joanna Bogle. Her new book, St Elizabeth of Portugal Richmond, is now for sale, and she provides regular tours of London via ‘Catholic History Walks’.
In November, we were joined online by Caroline Leighton, composer, musician and former Carmelite novice, who provided fascinating insights into music and her vocation in and out of the religious life. You can find out more about Caroline on her YouTube channel (‘Caroline Leighton’) or explore her musical career via the Royal School of Church Music, and Encore Publications.
Finally, we were welcomed by the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, and St James’, Spanish Place, both of whom are celebrating anniversaries this year. Visit jesuitarchives. co.uk/online-exhibitions and sjrcc.org. uk/75thanniversary for more information.
St Elizabeth of Portugal, Richmond
Again, thank you to all who made these events possible.
2025 looks to be an even busier year, as the Friends will be organising extra events to mark the Jubilee and the 1,700 anniversary of Nicæa. Keep an eye out for those.
In the meantime, I encourage you to sign up for Friends’ membership, if you haven’t already (details via the Cathedral website). Tell a friend, and help us care for this place which is none other than the house of God (cf. Gen 28:17), and the place we love so dearly.
©
Joe Allen
2025
Sorrow turned to joy, Blessed George Haydock
He was the son of Verran Haydock, the representative of an ancient Catholic family of Cottam Hall, Lancashire. His mother, when on her deathbed, to console her sorrowing husband, pointed with the infant George in her arms, to the motto embroidered at the foot of the bed, ‘Tristitia vestra in Gaudium vertetur.’ But the joy prophesied was not to be of this world. The widowed husband, seeing how the persecution was ravaging the Church in England, to offer some reparation made over his property to his son William, and went over to Douay with the two others, Richard and George, all three to be trained for the priesthood. Fr George Haydock, having been immured within the Tower, was hung at Tyburn on February 12, 1584.
The Month of February
The Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions
For vocations to the priesthood and religious life
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
Saturday 1 February
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday 11am Mass for Consecrated Life (Cardinal Nichols)
4pmLow Mass (Blessed Sacrament Chapel) 6pm Vigil Mass of Candlemas
Sunday 2 February Ps Week 4
THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
12 noon Solemn Mass (Full Choir)
Victoria – Missa quarti toni
Holst – Nunc dimittis
Organ: Dubois – Toccata
4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction
Vivanco – Magnificat octavi toni
Tallis – Videte miraculum
Organ: Tournemire – Diptyque (L’Orgue mystique XI)
4.30pm Mass for the Deaf Community (Cathedral Hall)
Monday 3 February
Ss Laurence, Dunstan & Theodore, Archbishops of Canterbury (Diocesan) The blessing of throats (St Blaise) will be given after each Mass.
Tuesday 4 February Feria
5.30pm Chapter Mass
Wednesday 5 February
St Agnes, Virgin & Martyr
1.15pm Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 6 February
St Paul Miki & Companions, Martyrs
Friday 7 February Friday abstinence Feria
The Cathedral is open from 7.30am and closes in time for 7pm.
Monday to Friday: Morning Prayer 7.35am, Mass 8am, Mass (Latin, unless there is a Funeral) 10.30am, Confessions 11.30-12.30pm, Mass 12.30pm *, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 1.15-4.30pm, Benediction 4.30pm, Confessions 4.30-5.30pm, Sung Vespers 5pm (Latin, Choir, except Tuesday, English, Cantor), Solemn Mass 5.30pm (Choir, Tuesday: Boys’ voices, Wednesday: Men’s voices)
Saturday: Mass 8am, Morning Prayer 10am, Mass 10.30am (Latin, Choir,) Confessions 11.30-12.30pm, Mass 12.30pm *, Confessions 5-6pm, Sung Vespers 5.30pm (English, Cantor), Sung Mass 6pm.
Sunday: Mass 8am, Sung Morning Prayer 9.30am, Sung Mass 10am, Confessions 10.30-12.30pm; Solemn Mass (Choir) 12noon *, Solemn Vespers (Choir) and Benediction 4pm, Confessions 5-6.45pm, Sung Mass 5.30pm, Mass 7pm.
For full opening and closure times of the Cathedral and for confession and service times please consult the Cathedral diary on the website.
* Live streamed via the Cathedral website
Saturday 8 February
St Josephine Bakhita, Virgin (St Jerome Emiliani)
2pm Lourdes Mass with Anointing of the Sick (Cardinal Nichols)
6pm Westminster Cathedral Junior Voices sing at Mass
Sunday 9 February
Ps Week 1
5th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass (Full Choir)
Byrd – Mass for five voices
Palestrina – Perfice tresses meos
Dering – Iesu dulcis memoria
Organ: Brahms – Prelude & Fugue in G minor 4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction Lassus – Magnificat primi toni
Victoria – Ave Regina cælorum a 5
Organ: Couperin – Offertoire sur les grands jeux (Messe pour les Couvents)
Monday 10 February
St Scholastica, Virgin
Tuesday 11 February
Our Lady of Lourdes World Day of Prayer for the Sick
Wednesday 12 February Feria 1.15pm Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 13 February Feria
St Josephine Bakhita
Friday 14 February Friday abstinence
Ss CYRIL, Monk & METHODIUS, Bishop, Patrons of Europe
Saturday 15 February
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
Sunday 16 February Ps Week 2
6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass (Men’s voices)
Lassus – Missa super Bell’ Amfitrit’ altera Palestrina – Benedictus es Domine
Byrd – Beati mundo corde
Organ: Demessieux – Te Deum
4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction de Monte – Magnificat primi toni
Willaert – Beati pauperes spiritu
Organ: Barraine – Prelude in G minor
Monday 17 February Feria
(The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order)
Tuesday 18 February Feria
Wednesday 19 February Ps Week 2 Feria
1.15pm Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 20 February Feria
Friday 21 February Friday abstinence
Feria
(St Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor)
Saturday 22 February
THE CHAIR OF ST PETER THE APOSTLE
6pm A visiting choir sing at Mass
Sunday 23 February
Ps Week 3
7th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass (Full Choir)
Berkeley – Missa brevis
Elgar – Intende voci orationis meæ
Elgar – Ave verum corpus
Organ: Dupré – Toccata (Symphonie II)
4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction
Victoria – Magnificat octavi toni
Palestrina – Exsultate Deo
Organ: Franck – Cantabile
Monday 24 February
Feria
Tuesday 25 February Feria
Wednesday 26 February Feria
1.15pm Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 27 February
Feria
(St Gregory of Narek, Abbot & Doctor)
Friday 28 February Friday abstinence Feria
FROM THE REGISTERS 2024
The Data Protection Regulations prevent names being printed without consent; however, the bare numbers do give an indication of the Cathedral’s pastoral activity during the year past.
Baptisms up to 1 year old: 27 1 to 7 years old: 6 over 7 years old: 9 Reception into Full Communion 9 First Holy Communion under 18 years old: 26 Confirmations includes Diocesan Youth and Adult Confirmations 227 Marriages 7
Funerals in the Cathedral 9
The figures do not show funerals performed elsewhere, nor marriages prepared in the Cathedral but celebrated in another church.
Key to the Diary: Saints’ days and holy days written in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS denote Sundays and Solemnities, CAPITAL LETTERS denote Feasts, and those not in capitals denote Memorials, whether optional or otherwise. Memorials in brackets are not celebrated liturgically.
What Happens and When
Catholic Evidence Guild
Clergy House Room 2, Tuesdays 7pm
Catholic Grandparents’ Association
Hinsley Room,
Second Sundays 12-3.30pm
Charismatic Prayer Group
Cathedral Hall, Fridays 6.30-9pm
Divine Mercy Prayer Group
St Patrick’s Chapel, Sundays 1.30-2.30pm
Filipino Club
Cathedral Hall, Second Sunday 1-5pm
Guild of the Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Mondays 6.15pm
Guild of St Anthony Lady Chapel, Tuesdays 6.15pm
Interfaith Group Hinsley Room, Third Wednesdays 1.30 -3pm
Legion of Mary Hinsley Room, Monday 1.30-3.30pm
Nigerian Catholic Association
Hinsley Room, Fourth Sundays 1.30-2.30pm
Oblates of Westminster Cathedral Hinsley Room, Fourth Sundays 2.30-4pm
Padre Pio Prayer Group
Sacred Heart Church, First Thursdays 1.30-3.30pm
Rosary Group
Lady Chapel, Saturdays 11.15-12.00noon
Walsingham Prayer Group
St George’s Chapel, First Tuesdays 2.30-4pm
Yoruba Association Hinsley Room, Third Sundays 1.30-3pm
Heart of St Valentine, Dublin © Carmelite Fathers, Whitefriar Street Church, Dublin
Clues Across
1 Passages used by commuters on the ‘Tube’ (7)
6 Container of the Host for the sick (3)
8 Camera image (5)
9 10th c. Queen of Germany and Saint (7)
10 Convey information for race at London and later Olympics (5)
11 Laurence, Anglo-Irish author of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy (6)
13 Early Persian King and subject of Handel opera (6)
15 Trafalgar for example (6)
17 ‘Dombey’ with offspring for Dickens’ novel (3,3)
20 Lionel, multi-award-winning footballer for Argentina and Barcelona (5)
21 The first public one by Our Lord was at Cana (7)
23 Enduring cobblers’ equipment? (5)
24 See 3 Down
25 Makes steps forward, could be great career-wise! (7)
Clues Down
1 Makes an assumption about (8)
2 Hastings in 1066 for example (6)
3 & 24 Across: Lake in Central Asia greatly reduced in size (4,3)
4 Give voice (5)
5 Number in the month for St. Valentine (8)
6 With Castor, legendary Greeks in Rome (6)
7 Essential item of hospital equipment (1-3)
12 Spring flowers in love with themselves? (8)
14 Cheerful emissions of solar light? (8)
16 Saint martyred with many followers in Cologne [4th.c] giving name to order of nuns (6)
18 Minute division timewise (6)
19 Single girl gone wrong? (5)
20 Belligerent member of the solar system? (4)
22 Nurture from the back? (4)
The Giveaway
From The Love Letters of Phyllis McGinley, 1957.
Saint Bridget was a problem child. Although a lass demure and mild, and one who strove to please her dad, Saint Bridget drove the family mad. For here’s the fault in Bridget lay: She WOULD give everything away.
To any soul whose luck was out she’d give her bowl of stirabout; she’d give her shawl, divide her purse with one or all. And what was worse, when she ran out of things to give she’d borrow from a relative.
Her father’s gold, her grandsire’s dinner, she’d hand to cold and hungry sinner; give wine, give meat, no matter whose; take from her feet the very shoes, and when her shoes had gone to others, fetch forth her sister’s and her mother’s.
She could not quit. She had to share; gave bit by bit the silverware, the barnyard geese, the parlour rug, her little niece’s christening mug, even her bed to those in want, and then the mattress of her aunt.
An easy touch for poor and lowly, she gave so much and grew so holy that when she died of years and fame, the countryside put on her name, and still the Isles of Erin fidget with generous girls named Bride or Bridget.
Well, one must love her. Nonetheless, in thinking of her givingness, there’s no denial she must have been a sort of trial unto her kin.
The moral, too, seems rather quaint. WHO had the patience of a saint, from evidence presented here? Saint Bridget? Or her near and dear?
a poem whether by yourself or another for
please contact the Editor – details on page 3.
Alan Frost February 2025 – No. 129
St Mary of the Rosary Window (St Brigid holding her Lamp)
Candlemas
Agnes, Year 6
Candlemas (also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Presentation of the Lord) is a special Christian feast day that commemorates the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple on 2 February, 40 days after Christmas.
Joseph and Mary first presented Jesus to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. In the Gospel of Luke, Simeon and Anna the prophetess met Jesus there and recognised him as the Messiah. Simeon also called him ‘Light to the World’. Mary was then ritually purified 40 days after Jesus’ birth.
For Christians, Candlemas is a reminder that Jesus is a guiding light in the darkness, and that he is always there for us. The blessing of candles during the service also symbolises him as the light that guides believers.
During Candlemas you can make candles, bring candles to the church to be blessed by the priest, light candles, have a candlelit meal while telling stories, play games, and eat crêpes. It is known as the ‘day of crêpes’.
In some traditions, Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas season, and the decorations are taken down. In Europe, people believe that clear skies on Candlemas means that there will be a longer winter. In America 2 February is Groundhog Day, but for them the weather for the next six weeks is predicted by a groundhog leaving its burrow.
There are lots of prayers for this special day, such as the blessing of candles asking God to sanctify the candles carried in praise of his name. It is a day when we reflect how this little 40-day old baby grew up to give his life for all of us. So, we should remember to love God with all our heart, all our strength, and follow in his footsteps.
