Westminster Cathedral Magazine
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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
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.
secondary Patrons of the Cathedral.
Inside Oremus
Introducing our new Fundraising Manager by Laura Dudhee
Youth Confirmation bake sale by Confirmation Catechists 18 Features
Statements on Life Issues by Archbishop John Sherrington 6 & 7
Starting and finishing the Via Francigena to Rome by Paul Tobin 8 & 9
Book Reviews by Liam Hanson and the Editor 10 & 11
Caritas St Joseph’s visits the Holy Door in Rome by Gail Williams, 12 & 13
With Mary, Pilgrims of Hope by Fr Andrew Gallagher 14 & 15
It’s more than More by Joanna Bogle
in Action’ Volunteering Awards 2025 by Caritas Westminster
Pictured is a proposed design for the mosaic tympanum above the West Door, by William Christian Symons, the artist responsible for the Cathedral Rood. Although incomplete, it was designed to portray the dedication of Westminster Cathedral, namely the Most Precious Blood of Christ. For whatever reason, the design was rejected in favour of the much brighter design we see today, Christ the King, flanked on either side by the
Lorcán writes
When I first took on the role as Editor of Oremus, late last year, the Church was preparing to enter the Jubilee Year on Christmas Eve. For my part, I had planned to lean into the theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, by highlighting a pilgrimage destination in each edition. However, with the best of intentions, this fell flat on its face by March. We have now passed the halfway point of the Jubilee Year and, following the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, it seems like a good time to start afresh.
This year, Westminster Cathedral will celebrate 115 years since its consecration in 1910, having paid off all building debts not long before. Although the ceremony took place on 28 June, the Cathedral was dedicated to Almighty God and the Most Precious Blood of Christ, celebrated on 1 July until 1969 when it was merged with the feast of Corpus Christi. As such, the solemnity of the Dedication of the Cathedral Church is kept on 1 July. This also happens to be the feast of St Oliver Plunkett, the martyred Archbishop of Armagh, whose blood was spilled at Tyburn.
Indeed, this is perhaps a poignant time to reflect on the recent assault on the sanctity of human life. In less than one week, abortion was effectively decriminalised up to birth and the ‘End of Life’ Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. We pray that those in authority will work to protect the most vulnerable, and respect the dignity of all human life.
Looking ahead, as the Choir begins to wind down for the summer, following a busy period of touring, filming, and a new album, so too does the calendar of events. During this time, the restoration of the parquet floor will resume apace, tackling the Nave in sections. Works are due to commence on 14 July and will continue until mid-September. Likewise, works on the Crypt toilets and Hall windows will begin soon, and the Friends have organised a ‘Big Give’ fundraising campaign for a new firesafe candle store. See page 17 for more details.
Finally, later this summer we will bid a fond farewell to our Sub-Dean Fr Brian O’Mahony, who will take up his new appointment as Dean of Studies in Allen Hall Seminary, and Fr John Scott our Editor Emeritus, who will retire to Farnborough Abbey in Hampshire due to ill health. A farewell party is being arranged for September, with details to follow.
Have a lovely summer!
Westminster Cathedral
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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 Paul Zhao 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
Cathedral Fundraising Manager
Laura Dudhee
Chapel of Ease
Sacred Heart Church
Horseferry Road SW1P 2EF
In response to the ‘End of Life’ Bill and the decriminalisation of abortion
© Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
On Tuesday 17 June, Parliament voted in favour of the Crime and Policing Bill’s amendment on abortion, effectively decriminalising abortion up to birth. Later that week, on Friday 20 June, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons by just 23 votes. In response, Archbishop Sherrington made the following statements, on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
The decriminalisation of abortion: Today, Parliament passed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, that effectively decriminalises abortion in England and Wales. We are deeply alarmed by this decision. Our alarm arises from our compassion for both mothers and unborn babies.
New Clause 1 lifts any criminal liability for women performing their abortions for any reason, at any time, including up to and during birth. This decision significantly reduces the protection of unborn lives and will result in grave harm for pregnant
The Most Rev John Sherrington, Archbishop of Liverpool Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Bishops’ Conference
women. Women will be even more vulnerable to manipulation, coerced and forced abortions. This legal change will also discourage medical consultation and make the use of abortion pills for dangerous late-term, at-home abortions more likely.
Abortion is often chosen because of the personal challenges that a woman faces, as well as the lack of proper suitable guidance and support. The enacting of New Clause 1 will result in women being more alone, vulnerable, and isolated. However, we cannot lose hope. The Church keeps working tirelessly to protect the dignity of every life. We will not abandon pregnant women and their unborn children in their most vulnerable moment. I thank all those within and outside the Church who share this commitment and continue to serve parents in need and their babies.
Let us continue to pray and commend the lives of these women, children, their families, and all who support them to the maternal intercession of Our Lady, Mother of God.
Companions of Oremus
‘End of Life’ Bill:
The Bishops of England and Wales have been consistent and outspoken in their opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide, and we are shocked and disappointed that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. This Bill is flawed in principle with several provisions that give us great cause for concern.
The Catholic Church believes in promoting a culture of life and compassionate care. Allowing the medical profession to help patients end their lives will change the culture of healthcare and cause legitimate fears amongst those with disabilities or who are especially vulnerable in other ways.
We are also concerned about the future of palliative care, not least because experience suggests that, unless there are explicit protections, hospices may be required to co-operate with assisted suicide. If this were to happen, the future of many Catholic institutions could be under threat.
This is not the end of the parliamentary process, and we should not lose hope. We ask the Catholic
We are very grateful for the support of the following:
Leticia Dominguez Abada
Lally Ambatali
Leonila V Bennabe
Keith Best
Dr Stuart Blackie
Anne Veronica Bond
Lolita Botanes
Richard Bremer
Hajnalka Burai
Lorenzo Cabrelli
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.
Ruby & Joseph Farrell in memoriam
Fred Gardiner
William Gardner-Hunter
Connie Gibbes
Zoe & Nick Goodway
Rosalinda Grimaldo
Agnes Haein Kim
Mrs Valerie Hamblen in memoriam
Amanda Hill
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 Denis Moloney
Dr George Morris
Abundia Toledo Munar
Euphrasie Mundele Kilolo
Chris Stewart Munro
community to continue to pray for members of parliament whilst they consider this legislation and to pray that government will act to promote and protect life from conception until natural death.
We have expressed the view, during this debate, that genuine compassion involves accompanying those who need care, especially during sickness, disability and old age. The vocation to care is at the heart of the lives of so many people who look after their loved ones and is the sign of a truly compassionate society. As we stated after the second reading, it is essential that we nurture and renew the innate call that many people have to compassionately care for others.
The Bishops of England and Wales believe that improving the quality and availability of palliative care offers the best pathway to reducing suffering at the end of life. We will continue to advocate for this, and we ask the Catholic community to support those who work tirelessly to care for the dying in our hospices, hospitals and care homes.
Mrs Brigid Murphy
Kate Nealon
Cordelia Onodu
Nigel Parker
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
Dr Timothy I Young in memoriam
Peter and Teresa Zurenkas and of our anonymous Companions
If you would like to become a Companion of Oremus, see page 2
Starting and Finishing the Via Francigena
The Via Francigena (or ‘Road that comes from France’) was once the major pilgrim route to Rome from the north. The route was documented as early as the 10th century by Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, on his return from Rome with the pallium. Unlike other Roman roads, the Via Francigena is not a single road paved with stones; rather it is a series of trails and paths that have been marked with painted signs on trees and poles along the route, in red and white.
Our group of five, including my younger sister Ros, arranged this pilgrimage last November. Little did we know that we would be meeting at the start of the walk on the very evening Pope Leo XIV was elected. On arrival at Montefiascone, I received a simple text from home saying ‘White Smoke!’ We all met in the town square to see a priest going to ring a peal of bells, to mark the successful conclusion to the Conclave. How appropriate therefore that our first destination should have been Viterbo, the location of the longest ever papal election, from December 1268 to September 1271, in the Palace of the Popes. It was here that the cardinals were eventually locked in a room until they had made a decision, electing Pope Gregory X. His encyclical,
Ubi periculum instigated the Conclaves we are now familiar with, for future papal elections.
On this leg to Viterbo, the route was well sign posted, unlike some other parts of the Camino. Approaching the town seemed to take an eternity! Rather than climbing a steep hill, it involved a long, gradual ascent though the suburbs. It was during this stage that two lads on a motorcycle overtook us singing ‘Papa Leone! Papa Leone!’; obviously an early sign that the new Pope was going to be popular with the young. I did feel a little stiff the next morning, but it was fortunate that, as I got used to walking across all manner of terrain, I found my body was adapting to this type of exercise quicker than I thought it would.
From Viterbo we were rerouted to Caprarola instead of Vetralla, this gave us the opportunity to stay in a B&B over the road from the impressive Villa Farnese, which overlooks the town. The site was bought by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese in 1504, but building works
came to a halt when he was elected Pope Paul III in 1534. It was his grandson, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese who oversaw its building from 1559 to 1575, to the designs of Vignola. The route to Caprarola, took us past Lake Vico, a volcanic crater lake which at a height of 510 m makes it one of the highest major Italian lakes. The approach to Caprarola seemed to be a long succession of uphill ascents and downhill descents until, eventually, we reached our destination. On arrival in Sutri at the end of day three, we had reached the halfway point. Sutri is a delightful town which houses an amphitheatre dating back to the Etruscans. Our coffee break en route there happened to coincide with a First Holy Communion Mass. If the area outside the church was chaotic, the proceedings inside were only less so.
The next leg to Campagnano di Roma took us through fields, past rivers and impressive waterfalls, such as Monte Gelato. The ideal place for a break. The guide book recommended it as a suitable place for a swim, but none of us felt the urge to do so. The town of Campagnano stood out atop a steep mountain; it was our luck that we had to walk up this hill, then the length of a long street, which gave the impression that this was a place that had seen better days. Finally, we found a bustling town with plenty of amenities and a good B&B to spend the night.
The penultimate stage of the Camino took us to the outskirts of Rome; like many suburban areas of a major city, there was little to see. We did, however, pass the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sorbo, which is dramatically positioned on a rocky spur overlooking the Sorbo Valley, followed by the Etruscan ruins
Paul Tobin
to Rome
of Veii which, in the sixth century BC, was as big as Athens with a population of around 100,000 inhabitants. Much as it would have been ideal to spend time exploring the ruins, by this stage we just
wanted to reach our destination at La Giustiniana before the final leg to the city of Rome itself.
The climax to the walk was the approach to Rome along the Via Trionfale through two major parks, the Insugherata and Monte Mario on the north west side of the city. Seeing the top of the cupola of St Peter’s and as we descended, gradually more and more of the Eternal City came into view. Walking along the Viale Angelico towards St Peter’s Square, everyone seemed to be wearing the red and black striped replica shirts of AC Milan, heading towards the Stadio Olimpico (Olympic Stadium) for the Italian FA Cup Final that evening. Having arrived at our destination on schedule and being thankful we had completed the Camino without any major mishap, we had arranged to have two full days in Rome before returning late on the day before the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV.
For me, the pilgrimage was an opportunity to walk along a historic route from Canterbury to Rome. It provided an excellent opportunity for prayer and contemplation whilst enjoying much of the Italian countryside, hearing the birdsong, and taking in the fresh air. Pilgrimages were never designed to be easy, but they are certainly refreshing for both body and soul. Knowing that many people were sponsoring me to complete this Camino to raise money for the Cardinal Hume Centre was always an incentive to complete the walk. People are still contributing via my Just Giving page to support the work of the Cardinal Hume Centre, working to support young people and families facing homelessness. The funds raised will allow the Centre to continue delivering essential services, providing not only housing support, but also help with employment, benefits, and immigration advice.
Tour arranged through Macs Adventure Glasgow G3 8JU.
If you would like to support Paul’s efforts and the work the Cardinal Hume Centre undertakes in Westminster, please visit his Just Giving page.
Photographs © Michael Knighton & Paul Tobin
Liturgical Poetry
Liam Hanson
ANOTHER COUNTRY: A Journey Through the Liturgical Year in Sonnet and Haiku, by The Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP; St Paul’s, London, 2025; ISBN 978 1 910365 92 2 (232 pages).
with faith, belief, and orthodoxy’ in the introduction, and yet there is a consistency of hope and belief that underpins even his more morose poetry. Indeed, his dedication to the exercise itself is a statement of hope and belief, which serves as an example of how we can introduce a daily spiritual practice which can diversify our own repertoire. Leigh’s verse reminds us that struggles and doubts are integral to, and even supportive of, our faith, as each bout is an opportunity to express our need of the Lord which, by his mercy, reinforces our faith.
It is particularly interesting to compare each of the Easter poems, across the three years, as it serves to remind us of how our experience of the Passion and the Resurrection affects us differently each year, revitalising and enriching us in new and different ways. The Third Sunday of Easter, in Year B, is glowing and glistening with pastoral imagery, whereas Tuesday of Holy Week in Year C hangs heavy with gloom and despair. Nonetheless, we are strengthened by the range of emotions, and Sir Edward Leigh’s work flourishes in its ability to capture that experience.
Hope!
Lorcán Keller
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, edited by Canon Daniel Cronin; St Paul’s, London, 2025; ISBN 978-1-910365-93-9 (116 pages).
The Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh, titled Father of the House as the longest serving male MP, has always been open about the importance of his Catholic faith. Indeed, in spite of his undoubtedly full diary, he regularly makes time to attend daily Mass. His latest book, Another Country: A Journey Through the Liturgical Year in Sonnet and Haiku , is a testament to the solace Leigh finds in the Mass and, in particular, in the Word. Beginning in lockdown, Leigh observed the readings of daily Mass, and wrote a sonnet or haiku every day for three years, allowing the scriptures to inspire his expression. This book accounts for each Sunday, feast day, and the Easter season. Everything in between can be found online at anothercountry.edwardleigh.org.uk.
Leigh’s poems are written in a spirit of humility, which is certainly a merit of the text. Faith in and reverence for the Lord abounds, as do hints of struggle and longing. Leigh describes himself as a ‘religious person who often struggles
Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest: The soul, uneasy and confin’d from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.
Following on from his popular 2009 anthology, Priesthood: A Life Open to Christ, for the Year of Priests, Canon Daniel Cronin returns with another spiritual companion for the 2025 Jubilee Year. Hope Springs Eternal is a series of short, often anecdotal reflections from a wide variety of contributors, including lay, clerical and ecumenical perspectives, with a foreword from Cardinal Vincent Nichols. Often conflated with cheerfulness, or patience, hope is, perhaps, the least understood of the theological virtues. The hope described in the quote above by Alexander Pope is not merely an emotion, or an optimism, but a vocation; an innate
longing for God and the joys of heaven. Here, Pope echoes the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (11:16), ‘They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one’, and the much later St Thérèse of Lisieux; ‘The world’s thy ship and not thy home.’
This conflation is something which Joanna Bogle reflects upon in her article. She notes that, although practical, the motto of the Girl Guides – ‘A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties’ – is by no means a theological maxim. Instead, she describes hope as a call to courage, with a number of historical examples.
I particularly enjoyed Fr Toby Lees OP’s reflection on Tolkien’s ‘eucatastrophe’ (good-catastrophe), or happy ending against all odds, as a metaphor for the Christian life. As he notes, Tolkien described the Incarnation as the eucatastrophe of human history, and the Resurrection as the eucatastrophe of the Incarnation. There are, indeed, dozens of reflections in this book; a mixture of theology, art, literature, and personal experiences. Although it can be read cover to cover, it is much more suitable for personal and spiritual reflection.
CATHEDRAL HISTORY A PICTORIAL RECORD
The Most Precious Blood of Christ
Pictured is a proposed design for the mosaic tympanum above the West Door, by William Christian Symons, the artist responsible for the Cathedral Rood. Although incomplete, it was designed to portray the dedication of Westminster Cathedral, namely the Most Precious Blood of Christ.
On either side of the wounded Christ, the cross, pillar, and instruments of his Passion are interwoven with grape vines, surrounded by the words of Psalm 41, ‘Sicut cervus ad fontes aquarum’, ‘As the deer [or sacrificial lamb?] yearns for springs of water.’ Although this is quite a striking design, it could be argued that the patron saints were a better fit, as the dedication is spelled out above. We also know that the penultimate design, featuring a similar scene to what we have now, was considered too dark and elaborate for a building that would soon be covered in London smog.
Caritas St Joseph’s visits the Holy Door in Rome
Hope is something we all have – a concept as old as time. In just four letters, the word expresses our deepest desires for a peaceful future, even though we do not know what that future holds.
It was with this hope in my heart that I set off with a group of Caritas St Joseph’s Outreach families to visit the Holy Door in Rome. Until now, I had only led pilgrimages to Lourdes; a wellknown destination and a place of acceptance for pilgrims with intellectual disabilities. Rome would be completely different, and I hoped that all would be well. As it happens, we travelled on the day of Pope Francis’ funeral; a very special time to be at the heart of the Church. After so many months of planning, we arrived at our lodgings in Frascati and the pilgrimage was officially underway. We were finally ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
Joining us on this pilgrimage were a group of young people from Cardinal Wiseman School, who supported our families and embraced the spirit of Caritas St Joseph’s. It was so inspiring to watch them push wheelchairs and share meals with our pilgrims. Friends were made and good times shared; the young people will not forget their encounter with our pilgrims, and neither will we.
Our first day in Rome focused on catechesis, exploring parts of the Mass. Beginning with the penitential rite, we talked about filling our hearts with hope and good wishes, and clearing out
Gail Williams, Head of Caritas St Joseph’s
One of our students with Bishop Paul Hendricks
Pilgrims of Hope
unwanted feelings and experiences. We also brought with us lanterns made by students at our centre in Hendon, so that we could carry with us a little piece of everyone who could not join us in Rome. We continued to learn about the Mass over the next few days, which culminated in lighting the lanterns and tying them to the trees outside; a symbol of hope and of the light we bring to others. It was a very special moment, binding us all in community and joy.
Our time in Rome brought many unique and uplifting experiences, such as carrying the cross to the Holy Door, serving at the altar with Bishop Paul Hendricks, and giving a speech in front of 100 people, something that our students had never done
before; all milestones and memories that inspired our pilgrims to always carry hope in their hearts. Finally, we ended our pilgrimage with a lovely Mass celebrated by our Chaplain, Fr David Knight, whose words enkindled hope in us for the journey home and beyond.
Our new Pope Leo XIV inspires us with his papal motto: ‘In the One we are one.’ We must not only hold hope in our own hearts, but actively bring it those on the margins of our communities. Only then can we truly be ‘one’ with God and with each other.
Caritas St Joseph’s helps people with intellectual disabilities to share their gifts and participate in their communities and the life of the Church. The lifelong learning centre in Hendon offers a variety of courses to over 200 students, ranging from accredited creative arts programmes to practical skills for living independently. The team also run extensive outreach activities across the Diocese of Westminster.
Find out more
Why not support Caritas St Joseph’s by donating or volunteering? For more information, visit caritaswestminster. org.uk/st-josephs or scan the QR code.
Lanterns and decorations made by our students
Carrying the cross through the Holy Door
With Mary, Pilgrims of Hope
Fr Andrew Gallagher, Acting Director of the Westminster Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
To go to Lourdes in any year with the Diocese of Westminster is a very special experience, but there is an even greater incentive in this Jubilee Year of 2025. In his Bull of Indiction, Spes non confundit, the late Pope Francis invited us to discover the gift of the Jubilee Indulgence, in which we can discover the unlimited nature of God’s mercy.
As per the Bull, this plenary indulgence can be received in any location designated by the local Bishop, such as Westminster Cathedral. In the Diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas has declared that those who wish to receive the indulgence may do so by going on pilgrimage or by visiting the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. In doing so, the faithful should participate in spiritual activities of the Shrine, and fulfil the usual conditions; receiving forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and offering prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father. As such, we add a very special grace to many gifts received each time we go on pilgrimage to Lourdes.
This year the Shrine invites us to join ‘With Mary, Pilgrims of Hope’. In her trusting response at the Annunciation, through the words of her Magnificat at the Visitation, through her direction to the servants at Cana, and in her actions at the foot of the Cross, we see that Mary placed her hope entirely on God. Rather than some misled optimism, this hope was one of expectation of the fulfilment of God’s plan.
In Lourdes we also journey with the young St Bernadette. In the third apparition on 18 February 1858, it was reported that Mary said to the young peasant girl,
‘I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the other one.’
This promise of eternal happiness, in contrast to our sufferings in this life, lies at the heart of Christian hope; a hope that St Bernadette demonstrated with extraordinary strength and resilience.
A social outcast from an early age, Bernadette’s life was often overshadowed by ill-health and tragedy. She suffered terribly with bronchial asthma and, after her mother’s accident, was sent away to work as a shepherdess. Her family later went bankrupt and were evicted from their home, forced to live in a disused prison. Bernadette would later develop a bone tumour, which must have led to great pain and frustration. Even after she left Lourdes for the refuge of a convent in Nevers, she was often treated unfairly by her fellow sisters. And yet she remained steadfast, focused on the glory to come, and filled with unwavering hope in God’s promises. Indeed, she had a deep certainty that her suffering in this life was a part of God’s greater plan.
As pilgrims, we naturally share in this great virtue of hope that Mary and Bernadette exemplify. In addition to the small hopes that our plan runs smoothly, or that the rain holds off, we also carry much deeper ones. We
hope that our time in Lourdes will bring us healing. For some of us, that might mean physical healing. For many more of us it is a spiritual healing, or a renewal in faith. We also go to Lourdes with the hope of rediscovering God’s love, found so often in the gestures we witness around us.
We find hope in our young people, known as ‘Redcaps’, who come from across the Diocese to support us throughout the week. We find hope in our medical team, doctors and nurses, who come to Lourdes to continue to live out their vocation, caring for the sick with love and great joy. We find hope in our clergy, whom we come to know better in Lourdes, and discover their commitment to serve us. We find hope in our sick, whose humility and faith in the face of suffering gives great inspiration to all they encounter.
Of course, every pilgrimage must come to an end, and it is only by returning home that we can gain some perspective. Pilgrimage mirrors the greater journey of life. There are undoubtedly hardships, and we must expect the unexpected, but we are not alone. We walk with other pilgrims in this life who encourage and support us when things get too difficult. In Lourdes, we are reminded that we walk with Mary, as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. But most of all, pilgrimage renews our awareness that God walks with us, to guide us and lead us to our final destination; heaven. On pilgrimage, we rediscover God’s love and the joy that comes from focusing our hearts on the one place where our true and lasting hope can be found.
You can follow daily updates of this year’s Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes via the Diocesan news page from 25 July to 1 August.
The 2026 pilgrimage will take place from 17-24 July. Further details about the Westminster Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes can be found at rcdow.org.uk/pilgrimages/lourdes.
It’s more than More…
Joanna Bogle
When a group of us first conceived the idea of Catholic History Walks around London, it was not a very big plan. I certainly did not imagine that the project would come to occupy such a large part of my life twenty years on, nor that I would enjoy it all so much!
We began by distributing leaflets to parishes across London, listing the various Walks. Then, of course, email took over, and we could simply whizz the information to priests to copy-npaste into parish newsletters. However, I also wanted to attract casual Londoners, which is why you will occasionally still see me handing out leaflets to people in Victoria Street or around the Piazza. Despite our humble origins, the people came, and still they come!
There is a fascination with history and, in many cases, an enormous enthusiasm that is sometimes coupled with a rather touching ignorance. Many (most?) people announcing a particular interest in Catholic London will, of course, mention St Thomas More. I yield to no one in admiration for this heroic figure; by far the noblest Lord Chancellor we have ever had, and a saint whose life and martyrdom has inspired generations. But, as it happens, the Church in Britain was not founded in the 16th century! Our faith story goes much further back, and part of St Thomas More’s own understanding of its importance was rooted in precisely that fact. Britain was part of the Roman Empire; that same Empire into which Our Lord was born, stretching across much of the Middle East and Europe. We do not know when the Faith first reached our shores. Our Lord told his disciples (Matt 28:19-20) to make disciples of all nations. The mission certainly began to flourish here at a very early date, and there was a thriving Romano-British Church when the Empire eventually collapsed at the beginning of the fifth century. Later, in 597, when Pope St Gregory the Great sent St Augustine and his band of
Benedictines to preach to the Anglo-Saxon pagans, who had invaded in the wake of the Empire’s collapse, they encountered the remaining groups of British Christians with their own customs and traditions. Tensions naturally arose, which were finally resolved at the Synod of Whitby in 664.
London’s Saxon saints would, in due course, include St Mellitus – appointed Bishop of London in 603, he had quite a tough time with pagan rulers – along with St Erconwald, and his sister St Ethelburga who is now commemorated in a large housing estate across the river in Battersea. The martyr St Elphege (d.1012) is memorialised in the stone roundels outside Westminster Cathedral. He met his death at Greenwich at the hands of pagan Vikings.
When the Saxon King, St Edward the Confessor, established a monastery to the west of London, and the monks drained the land at Thorney Island, could they ever have imagined our modern city with its towering concrete office slabs? They named their fields after saints and we can still trace them; St Ann’s Street and St Matthew Street along by Abbey Orchard Street. In later years a ferry was established linking Westminster with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s London home at Lambeth. It was a goodsized ferry; you could even take your horse on it. The name stuck, and Horseferry Road now leads off the much-later Victoria Street.
But was there also an ‘Eastminster’? Yes, indeed there were several, and not least in Barking where Ethelburga ran a double monastery for both men and women.
Today’s Westminster City Hall is a disappointment; a dull office block indistinguishable from any other. It does, however, carry the City’s rather splendid Coat of Arms, depicting Mary cradling the Christ-child in her arms. This serves as a reminder that many places in London still carry her name, including Marylebone (Mary-the-burn, standing on the banks of a branch of the Tyburn stream) and Muswell
(Mary’s Well). The old City Hall in Caxton Street is a much finer building, carrying the statues of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and a plaque commemorating Sir Winston Churchill who addressed a meeting there. It was famous in its day for the many notable people who were married there. Its main hall was also a most useful, and inexpensive, place to hire for public meetings; I remember speaking there at a Catholic event in the 1970s.
Parliament has not always met at Westminster. When St Thomas More was Speaker it often met at Blackfriars, further along the river. But Westminster is strongly associated with More as it was here that he was unjustly tried for treason, leading to his execution at Tower Hill in 1535. Five centuries later a Pope would address, to resounding and sustained applause, a great gathering of MPs, peers, and representatives of Britain’s public life at Westminster Hall. He even paused to pray at the plaque marking More’s trial.
More never knew Westminster’s most famous and iconic feature, Big Ben, nor its chimes that toll the hours, calling us to silence at 11am on Remembrance Day, and chiming out each New Year at midnight on 31 December. He did, however, know the great Abbey that still stands alongside, where our King was crowned in 2023 in a ceremony that More, and his predecessors would have recognised, planted deep in our history.
Here at Westminster Cathedral our own bell, Big Edward, calls us to Mass and announces the consecration day after day. And the story goes on. We are still writing history with every Chrism Mass, gathering priests from the parishes that were once pagan Saxon villages, with every crowded Easter Baptism, and with every pilgrim group that journeys to Westminster in this Jubilee Year.
Join a Catholic History Walk. The latest Walks are listed at catholichistorywalks.com.
Candles: A Light of Faith and Tradition
Andrew Hollingsworth
Candles hold a profound significance here in Westminster Cathedral. Beyond their practical use, candles and light are rich in symbolism, representing Christ the ‘Light of the World’ and the beautiful imagery of divine light throughout St John’s Gospel.
The Symbolism of Candles
Step into any Catholic church, and you’ll see the warm glow of votive candles. They serve as offerings—petitions for divine favour, and expressions of gratitude for prayers answered. Although much less common in candles today, beeswax is itself symbolic, representing Our Lady and the purity of Christ, much like the diligent worker bees.
A wide variety of candles are also used in liturgical celebrations. The most common example of these are altar candles, which harken back to the days when early Christians celebrated Mass secretly, by candlelight, in catacombs during persecutions. They serve to remind us of the sacrifices and resilience of those who paved the way for our faith. Additionally, during the Easter season, and at baptisms and funerals, the majestic Paschal Candle stands as a powerful symbol of Resurrection and new life. Its colourful designs, the year marked on it, and the cross with five cloves remind us of Christ’s victory over death and the promise of eternal life. Likewise, the Advent wreath, in the weeks before Christmas are full of symbolism with violet representing prayer and penance, and rose symbolising joy and anticipation. Traditionally, an annual supply of candles would be blessed each year at Candlemas:
‘Holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, who hast created all things out of nothing, and by thy word hast caused this liquid through the work of bees to come to the perfection of wax, and who on this day did fulfil the petition of just Simeon; we humbly beseech thee, to bless and sanctify these candles for the uses of
men, for the health of bodies and of souls, whether on the land or on the waters, by the invocation of thy most Holy Name […]. Amen.’
A Need for a New Candle Store
We often take for granted how many candles are used in our Cathedral. As votive candles are lit and used, stocks are replenished from storage below the Cathedral. Over time, altar candles grow shorter and are replaced. Until now, we haven’t given much thought to where all these candles are stored.
Because of the large volume of candles used, storing them safely is essential. Currently, many candles are kept in crypt storage below the Cathedral, which poses a fire risk due to the flammable nature of the materials. To ensure safety, we plan to build a new external candle store next to the toilet block. This will reduce fire hazards and help us manage supplies more efficiently.
Your Support Is Needed
We are launching a Big Give Appeal from 12 noon on Thursday 3 July to 12 noon on Tuesday 15 July, to fund this important project. Every donation will be doubled; therefore a £20 gift becomes £40,
and with Gift Aid, it’s worth £45! Your support will help us create a safer, more efficient space to care for the candles that are so vital to our worship and tradition.
Please consider supporting this project via the QR code, or at tinyurl. com/FriendsBGJuly25. You can make a difference!
A full programme of Friends events for the period from September to Christmas will be published in the next edition of Oremus. With grateful thanks to ‘Live your faith’ for their contribution above.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Upcoming Quizzes at Westminster Cathedral Hall, 6.30pm:
Tuesday 30 September, with Fr Hugh Mackenzie.
Thursday 20 November, with Fr Patrick van der Vorst.
Introducing Our New Fundraising Manager
‘God loves a cheerful giver.’
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
Laura Dudhee
The first time I heard the Westminster Cathedral Choir sing, I was deeply moved by the beauty of the music, and felt a tangible presence of God. That experience continues to inspire and motivate me every day in my role as Fundraising Manager.
I first joined the Cathedral team in September 2023 to cover maternity leave for one year, and I am delighted to have returned permanently in May this year. Fundraising isn’t just a career for me, it is my vocation, a calling to serve God and his Church and to help build his Kingdom on Earth.
With over seven years’ experience in Catholic fundraising, I’ve led parish appeals, and secured significant major gifts, grants, and legacy gifts. I’m committed to offering people an opportunity to support the vision and mission of the Catholic Church. Here at the Cathedral, I focus on raising funds for our world-class Choir and for the vital conservation of this magnificent building, including its mosaics and architecture.
Sweet Generosity Youth Confirmation
Bake Sale at Westminster Cathedral
Youth Confirmation Catechists
In the weeks leading up to the Sacrament of Confirmation, the youth candidates hosted a bake sale on the steps of the Cathedral, after the 10am Sunday Mass, to raise funds in support of Mary’s Meals. Indeed, the air was filled with the scent of fresh-baked treats and the warm buzz of community spirit.
I hold Westminster Cathedral very close to my heart. I’ve been a parishioner for over ten years and serve as a Eucharistic Minister. Welcoming over a million visitors each year, the Cathedral offers a sacred space for prayer, reflection, and outreach. It’s a place where prayers are answered, vocations discerned, and lives are touched through liturgy, music, and art. I’m grateful to play a part in the Cathedral’s life, both professionally and spiritually.
With the help and guidance of Fr Vincent Mbu’i and catechists Julie, Donal, Caroline, and Zara, the event was a testament to youthful enthusiasm put to good purpose. With tables of cakes, biscuits, traybakes and more, all lovingly baked and donated by the confirmandi and their families, the sale drew the attention and generosity of parishioners and visitors alike.
Cardinal Vaughan envisioned that each generation would build upon the care, upkeep, and beautification of this Cathedral for the glory of God. It is a privilege to contribute to that legacy.
Thank you to everyone who already supports the Cathedral through your time, prayers, and generosity. Your commitment helps ensure this sacred place continues to flourish.
If you haven’t yet had the chance to get involved, I warmly invite you to support the ongoing mission of the Cathedral through a donation, a legacy gift, or your prayers, so that it may continue to inspire faith and hope for generations to come.
If you would like to know more about how you can contribute to the Cathedral please contact me directly on lauradudhee@ rcdow.org.uk. It would be a pleasure to hear from you.
Mary’s Meals, provides life-changing school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest communities. The charity was selected by the candidates themselves following discussions in their catechism sessions around global justice, hunger, and the call to serve those in need.
With Confirmation day approaching, the Bake Sale served as both a milestone and a mission; a joyful expression of faith, fellowship, and service in the heart of Westminster. Fr Vincent praised the initiative, noting how the event captured both the joy and responsibility of the Confirmation journey. ‘It’s about recognising Christ in others and acting with love and compassion’, he said. ‘Supporting Mary’s Meals is a beautiful way for our young people to put their faith into action.’
In retrospect: from the Cathedral Chronicle
Westminster Cathedral Chronicle, July 1925
A Modern Pilgrimage, an Impression by a Convert Jubilee Year and the Call to Rome—in Chaucer’s day we would have saddled our horses and settled our affairs and hoped to be back at the end of the year. In 1925 the English National Pilgrimage went out to Rome and was back in London within three weeks. Yet, though we had special trains, and though food and shelter of the best were provided, there still was plenty of room for adventure even in this year of grace.
There were unexpected halts in strange towns, where one just had time for a hurried walk to the nearest church; then back to the train again and on through lovely and (to many) unknown country. […] And so we got to Rome. In the olden days the English College in Rome used to house and clothe the pilgrims coming to the city. That spirit still remains, though the outward expression has changed. Today the 1,200 English pilgrims were housed in many different hotels, but each hotel was put in charge of one or more students from the English College. These students were responsible for their group and they made all the difference to the stay in Rome. […] The basilica visits were accomplished with due order and solemnity with our Cardinal as Leader. Then came the Holy Father’s Mass, at which the English were present, and on the same day the Audience at which every pilgrim was able to kiss the Holy Father’s ring.
The last ceremony and a fitting ending to the stay in Rome was the canonisation of the Blessed Thérèse of the Child Jesus. The great basilica of St Peter’s was filled long before the ceremony was due to begin. So great had been the demand for tickets that only pilgrims could obtain them. The citizens of Rome could get none—so it was said. There were waiting crowds gathered from all nations expectant for that humble Carmelite to be pronounced ‘Sancta’ by the Holy Father. In this so-called materialistic age it surely showed that men are waiting and longing in their souls for that simplicity, and for that love for which the ‘Little Flower’ stands. It was a wonderful moment when her banner was carried in, and was it mere chance that rose leaves fell at the Holy Father’s feet when the words of canonisation had been pronounced by him? Rome was lit up until late that night. The great dome of St Peter’s outlined by thousands of small flames seemed almost to float in the sky above the earth.
Westminster Cathedral Chronicle, August 1955 Chronicle
The sixty years since the foundation stone of the Cathedral was laid culminated on the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul in Pontifical High Mass celebrated by His Eminence the Cardinal. It was a great Jubilee, and the publication this month of The Pictorial Story of Westminster Cathedral has extended the spirit of rejoicing through July which, despite its first-class feasts, has hitherto been a quiet period by contrast with its predecessor. We say ‘hitherto’ advisedly, for much of the contrast will disappear after this year, when the new rubrics, which inter alia expunge from the Calendar the Octaves of Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart, come into force.
In working out the implications of these changes, we shall be fortified by the constant assistance of Fr Peter Anglim, who is now appointed to the Cathedral as a Chaplain. A move from Archbishop’s House, where he was until now Assistant Secretary, is very much more than a change of residence, and no one could be more welcome to the Clergy House and its daily round of duty.
During July most of the singing has come from the boys of the Choir, while the adult members have had their annual holiday. During August the men will be singing, while the boys are away. To one of these latter, Stephen Ryle, who has won an Open Scholarship to Douai School, which he takes up next term, we offer hearty congratulations.
To the Choir as a whole we also offer our congratulations—and our thanks—for the Cathedral music during the past year, particularly for the thrice-repeated delight of Mozart’s Missa Brevis in B flat. Though we could not emulate the lady who burst into spontaneous applause at the end of the Credo on 29 June, we endorse her tribute, and we hope that what was this year an innovation will henceforth become a part of Cathedral tradition.
Flores de Mayo
On a sunny Saturday in May, the Filipino Community gathered for their monthly Mass in Horseferry Road, followed by a special procession of flowers and queens to Cathedral Hall. Each queen wore a sash with a different dedication; Reyna Paz (Queen of Peace), Reyna Caridad (Queen of Charity) etc, led by Isabel Lim as Reyna Elena (the Empress Helena). In addition to the Marian element, the traditional feast of St Helena’s discovery of the True Cross (Roodmas) on 3 May is also incorporated.
Caption in here
Art for Art’s Sake?
A debate is currently raging in the upper echelons of the Oremus office. Is this the philosophical concept of art, or did Art (Arturas) sign his name on a clean-up well done? I guess we will never know! On a side note, the dismantled stone grille that once divided the transept from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel can be seen in the background.
Caritas Deaf Community Tour
To mark the Jubilee, the Caritas Deaf Community had a BSL interpreted tour of Westminster Cathedral. The Community celebrate Mass together at 4.30pm on the first Sunday of every month in Cathedral Hall. All are welcome.
Christian Art (and Music)
In addition to a new album for Pentecost, the Cathedral Choir were filmed for Fr Patrick van der Vorst’s new video on Christian.art and YouTube; ‘The Mystery of Pentecost in Music – Tallis and the sound of the Holy Spirit’.
Caritas Ambassadors Festival
Recently, we welcomed student Ambassadors across the Diocese, in a service led by Bishop Paul McAleenan. Here the children shared how they put Catholic Social Teaching into action to serve their local communities.
A Tour of Hungary
Fresh from their tours of the United States and Palestrina earlier this year, the Choir of Westminster Cathedral performed four concerts across Hungary, to rapturous applause, at the Con Spirito Church Music Festival, organised by Filharmónia Magyarország..
© Mr Robert O’Brien
‘Love in Action’ Volunteering Awards 2025
Caritas Westminster
Every parish and community has them—those generous people who quietly keep things going, reach out to others, or go the extra mile to put their faith into action. Now is the time to recognise them.
Caritas Westminster is inviting nominations for the ‘Love in Action’ Volunteering Awards 2025, celebrating volunteers across our Diocese who bring hope, compassion and connection to those around them. Whether their service is seen by many or few, these awards are an opportunity to say ‘thank you.’
‘I look forward to meeting the finalists in November’, says Bishop Paul McAleenan, who will be presenting the awards.
What is it?
Held in November, the awards celebrate volunteers working in parishes, schools and communities across the Diocese of Westminster. Nominations are open in six categories, from Young Volunteer of the Year to Lifetime Achievement, with a particular focus on acts of loving service and social outreach.
In recent years, volunteers connected to the Cathedral have been recognised, including the Westminster SVP Vinnie Packs Team for their tireless work in providing ‘Vinnie Packs’ with warm hats, gloves and other items to homeless people.
‘It was an honour to receive the award’, said a volunteer with the Soup Run Team at St James’s Church, who won the Parish Social Action Award in 2022. ‘This recognition continues to be a significant motivating factor in our team. This encouragement has been instrumental to me feeling buoyed on difficult days.’
Why nominate?
The ‘Love in Action’ Volunteering Awards shine a light on the work happening every day in parishes across the Diocese: people delivering food parcels, offering companionship, visiting the housebound, supporting day-to-day parish life or building new projects from scratch. Nominees might be individuals, families, parish teams or even school pupils—anyone whose actions have made a difference.
How to nominate:
1. Think of someone whose volunteering reflects love in action
2. Visit caritaswestminster. org.uk/volunteer-service/ awards/#nominate
3. Complete the short online nomination form
4. Submit your nomination by 31 July 2025
Whether you nominate someone, encourage others to do so or simply spread the word, this is a chance to honour the people who build up our Church and community.
The Passage
Anna Church, Community and Events Fundraising Manager
The Passage is a 45-year-old charity located on Carlisle Place, just steps from Westminster Cathedral. Founded in 1980 by Cardinal Basil Hume and the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, our mission is to prevent homelessness by intervening quickly before people reach crisis point, to end homelessness by providing innovative and tailor-made services that act with compassion and urgency, and to advocate for, and with those who feel they are not heard by amplifying their voice to bring about real systemic change.
Launch of new 3-year strategy
April saw the launch of our new three-year strategy, The Art of the Possible, we look forward to celebrating and sharing more about this in September. Our new strategy focuses on our belief that as a society, we need to reframe homelessness as something that is prevented from happening in the first place, rather than simply being managed when it does.
Our new strategy focuses on three core objectives: preventing, convening and sustaining. In practice this will involve actions such as expanding our No Night Out scheme to further reduce the number of people spending a first night on the street, developing new accommodation models, collaborating with others to capture and share evidence of what works to shape and influence national policy, and developing new projects which foster community integration to create a sense of ‘home’, not just housing.
To read more about our new three-year strategy, please scan the QR code below or visit www.passage.org.uk.
How you can help
Feeling inspired to support our mission? Here are two great ways to get involved in the coming months:
Victoria Underground Station Collection – 15 July
Our station collections are a vital source of funding, helping sustain the essential services we offer daily. On 15 July we are holding a collection at Victoria Underground Station and are encouraging new volunteers to come along and give collecting a go. If you have a couple of hours spare on the 15th and would like to be involved, please contact Anna, our Community Fundraising Manager, at anna.church@passage.org.uk.
School Speakers
Do you enjoy working with young people or delivering presentations? Join our team of school speakers and help raise awareness about homelessness by delivering engaging talks in local schools. You’ll inspire the next generation and encourage meaningful fundraising efforts.
To learn more about becoming a school speaker please contact Anna at anna.church@passage.org.uk.
Please scan the QR code below to find out more about The Passage, or to make a donation in support of our essential services.
Find out more
Please scan the QR code below to find out more about The Passage, or to make a donation in support of our essential services.
2025
St Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, 1681
Of a noble Irish family, he went to Rome, lived for many years with the priests of San Girolamo della Carità, and was appointed by Clement IX to the See of Armagh. There he found himself obliged to pass censures on certain scandalous livers in his flock, among them priests and religious. In revenge they took advantage of the Oates Plot to denounce the Archbishop as conspiring to raise 70,000 Irish, with the help of French troops, to destroy the Protestant religion. In Newgate his life was one of continual prayer; he fasted usually three or four days a week, and he dwelt under the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Outwardly there appeared no sign of anguish or fear. His very presence kindled in men’s hearts a desire to suffer for Christ.
The Months of July & August
The Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions
July: For formation in discernment.
Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.
August: For mutual coexistence.
Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.
Tuesday 1 July
DEDICATION OF THE CATHEDRAL (1910)
5pm Solemn Evening Prayer with the Cathedral Chapter and College of Chaplains
5.30pm Solemn Mass celebrated by the Cathedral Chapter and College of Chaplains (Full Choir)
Palestrina – Missa brevis
Malcolm – Terribilis est locus iste Organ: Vierne – Carillon de Westminster
Wednesday 2 July
Feria
1.15pm Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 3 July
St THOMAS, Apostle
2.30pm Yago School Mass
5.30pm Mass attended by the Diocese of Westminster Education Service (Cardinal Nichols)
Friday 4 July Friday abstinence Feria (St Elizabeth of Portugal)
2.30pm WCCS End of Term Mass
Saturday 5 July
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (St Anthony of Zaccaria, Priest) 10.30am Mass of Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate (Bishop McAleenan)
No 12.30pm Mass
4pm Low Mass (Lady Chapel)
Sunday 6 July Ps Week 2
14th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass (Full Choir) Rheinberger – Cantus missæ Lassus – Improperium exspectavit
Organ: Rheinberger – Introduction and Pasacaglia (Sonata No 8 in E minor)
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
4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction
Bevan – Magnificat octavi toni
Victoria – Ascendens Christus in altum
Organ: Janáček – Organ Solo (Glagolitic Mass)
4.30pm Mass for the Deaf Community (Cathedral Hall)
Monday 7 July
Feria
Tuesday 8 July
Feria
Wednesday 9 July
Feria
(St Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, Martyrs)
1.15pm Lunchtime Concert
5.30pm Mass attended by Catholic groups supporting the Climate Coalition (Bishop Arnold)
Thursday 10 July
Feria
2pm Mass for the 30th anniversary of St Anne’s Catholic High School
Friday 11 July Friday abstinence Day of prayer for Europe
St BENEDICT, Abbot, Patron of Europe
Saturday 12 July
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturda
Sunday 13 July
Ps Week 3
15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Sea Sunday
12 noon Solemn Mass (Men’s voices)
Palestrina – Missa Ut re mi fa sol la Victoria – Laudate Dominum
Organ: Bruhns – Præludium in E minor
4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction Guerrero – Magnificat septimi toni
Lassus – Omnia tempus habent
Organ: Bach – Passacaglia (BWV 582)
Monday 14 July
Feria
(St Camillus de Lellis, Priest)
Tuesday 15 July
St Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor
Wednesday 16 July
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Thursday 17 July
Feria
Friday 18 July Friday abstinence
Feria
Saturday 19 July
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
Sunday 20 July Ps Week 4
16th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass 4pm Solemn Vespers (English) and Benediction
Monday 21 July
Feria
(St Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest & Doctor)
Tuesday 22 July
St MARY MAGDALENE
Wednesday 23 July
St BRIDGET OF SWEDEN, Religious, Patroness of Europe
Thursday 24 July
Feria
(St Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest)
Friday 25 July Friday abstinence
St JAMES, Apostle
Saturday 26 July
Ss Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday 27 July Ps Week 1
17th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass
4pm Solemn Vespers (English) and Benediction
Monday 28 July
Feria
Tuesday 29 July
Ss Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Wednesday 30 July
Feria
(St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop & Doctor)
Thursday 31 July
St Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
Friday 1 August Friday abstinence
St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop & Doctor
Saturday 2 August
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (St Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop; St Peter Julian Eymard, Priest)
4pm Low Mass (Lady Chapel)
Sunday 3 August Ps Week 2
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass
4pm Solemn Vespers (English) and Benediction
4.30pm Mass for the Deaf Community (Cathedral Hall)
Monday 4 August
St John Vianney, Priest
Tuesday 5 August
Feria (Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major)
Wednesday 6 August
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
Thursday 7 August
Feria
(St Sixtus, Pope, and Companions, Martyrs; St Cajetan, Priest)
Friday 8 August Friday abstinence
St Dominic, Priest
Saturday 9 August
St TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS, Virgin & Martyr, Patroness of Europe
6pm Visiting Choir sings at Mass
Sunday 10 August Ps Week 3
19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass
4pm Solemn Vespers (English) and Benediction
Monday 11 August
St Clare, Virgin
Tuesday 12 August Feria
(St Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious)
Wednesday 13 August Feria
(Ss Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs)
Thursday 14 August
St Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr
5pm Solemn First Vespers (English)
5.30pm Vigil Mass of the Assumption (fulfils obligation)
Friday 15 August
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Holy Day of Obligation; Masses at the usual times
Saturday 16 August
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (St Stephen of Hungary)
Sunday 17 August Ps Week 4
20th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass
4pm Solemn Vespers (English) and Benediction
Monday 18 August Feria
Tuesday 19 August Feria
(St John Eudes)
Wednesday 20 August
St Bernard, Abbot & Doctor
Thursday 21 August
St Pius X, Pope
Friday 22 August
The Queenship of Mary
Friday abstinence
Saturday 23 August
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (St Rose of Lima, Virgin)
6pm Visiting Choir sings at Mass
Sunday 24 August
Ps Week 1
21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass
4pm Solemn Vespers (English) and Benediction
Monday 25 August (Bank Holiday) Feria
(St Louis; St Joseph Calasanz, Priest)
Tuesday 26 August Feria
(Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, Priest)
Wednesday 27 August
St Monica
Thursday 28 August
St Augustine, Bishop & Doctor
Friday 29 August Friday abstinence
The Passion of St John the Baptist
Saturday 30 August
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (Ss Margaret Clitherow, Anne Line and Margaret Ward, Martyrs)
Sunday 31 August
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
Ps Week 2
22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
12 noon Solemn Mass
4pm Solemn Vespers (English) and Benediction
St George’s Chapel, First Tuesdays 2.30-4pm
Yoruba Association
Hinsley Room, Third Sundays 1.30-3pm
Italian pasta dish (7)
Towards the rear of a boat (3)
8 Woody tissue in plants (5)
9 Worcestershire town with shrine to Our Lady (7)
10 Type of corundum used in heavy polishing (5) 11 John, first Poet Laureate, one of whose sons became a priest (6) 13 A female Doctor of the Church (6)
15 Lay person delivering Epistle at Mass or university academic (6)
17 Old colloquial name for telephone (6)
20 Enables wallpaper to be secured to walls (5)
21 Platform for a speaker addressing a crowd (7)
23 Longest river in France (5)
24 See 7 Down
25 Escapee (7)
Clues Down
1 Flower whose fragrance used in cosmetics (8)
2 Guarantee usually involving money (6)
3 Cut or ‘Lovejoy’ series author (4)
4 What students study to take (5)
5 Flower and famous preserved steam railway (8)
6 Unit of electrical current (6)
7 & 24 Across: Dickens’ little boy; ‘God bless us every one!’ (4,3)
12 Scholarly interpretation of Scripture (8)
14 Feeling of bitterness (8)
16 Saint and 11th c. Archbishop of Canterbury (6)
18 Capital of Poland (6)
19 A religious or knightly fraternity (5)
20 Formal agreement (4)
22 Period of time or breadth of a hand (4)
In Magno Silentio
John Bradburne, a former Sacristan of Westminster Cathedral martyred in Rhodesia, 1979
Haunted by God The Holy Ghost from Prime Till Compline and from Compline till the dawn Being ridiculous is more sublime Than being wise like pedants on the lawn Forlornly arguing about the class And genus of the daisies in the grass.
They say we’ll push them up as we’ll be down Presently six good feet beneath God’s turf And that for each of us, whether a clown, A king, a queen, a lawyer or a serf: Below the surface shall our bodies lie And rot, but shall our souls not be more high?
I saw a brainy head inside a glass Jar and it jars upon me even now... Perhaps a pauper from the bottom class Carried that head as high as he knew how And so perhaps it was not such a brain As Bertrand-Russell had, but just a plain.
I begged a Priest to pray for all the folk Whose bygone brains stand pickled on the benches And neither did he think it was a joke But took me seriously... not like wenches Disarming as a grocer’s charming daughter Who thought the courter’s brain had caught the water.
Fraught with these melancholy thoughts I go Weaving towards the twilight with my keys And, suddenly recalling Pimlico And Westminster Cathedral on my knees In the confessional, I will rehearse How I was overawed, in awful verse.
As sub-sub-sacristan, a simple wight Determined to be coloured by the sun Whenever I could get into its light, I used to drain the cruets: more than one Over the eight, on certain days were said Seventy Masses there, some for the dead.
I quoted for the quiet of my mind ‘Muzzle the ox not as it treads the corn’ But conscience bid me presently to find Confessor kindly as was ever born; ‘I’ve swallowed such a lot of the remains’ I told him, and his golden answer reigns –
‘There is a saying, Muzzle not the ox’ Said Michael Hollings from his hollow box! No water wrought upon that giant brain And, Master of Love’s art, God’s heart’s his gain And, not long after that which I record, They made him Chaplain up at Oxenford.
To submit a poem whether by yourself or another for consideration, please contact the Editor – details on page 3.
St Vincent de Paul, 50 Years at Morpeth Terrace
Andrew, Year 6
As we approached our school’s 50th year anniversary, we prepared by drawing pictures of our school values, practising hymns and readings. We each put our handprint on a banner saying ‘50 years of St Vincent de Paul at Morpeth Terrace’. Once the Cardinal arrived, he taught us that when you high five someone you are telling them that Jesus loves you very much, and that is why we each had our handprints done. He then talked about the founders of our school, Sr Marie Chatelain and the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. After Mass, the Cardinal came to all of our classrooms and asked us what we were doing. We responded by saying that we were drawing a picture of how we could celebrate 50 years of our school.
As we are under the shadow of the Cathedral, we pray that the current and future students and teachers of St Vincent de Paul school will grow in wisdom and knowledge.
Message from the Headteacher, Mr N Scott Cree
Wednesday 18 June was a day filled with sunshine, joy and celebration as we marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of our Morpeth Terrace building.
We were honoured to be joined by Cardinal Vincent, Fr Alexander Master and our chaplains, Fr Vincent and Fr Chinedu to lead our special Mass. The celebrations continued with a picnic lunch and a singsong spanning the five decades in the afternoon.
We look forward with hope and prayers that our school continues to thrive for the next 50 years.
May God continue to bless our school community.
