The Archbishop of Westminster is today (Saturday) attending the installation of the new Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally (above), at St Paul’s Cathedral. When her appointment was announced in December, Cardinal Vincent Nichols tweeted his congratulations, saying: “I assure her of my prayers as she prepares to take up leadership in the thriving Diocese of London. I look forward to our partnership in making Christ known in this diverse and unsleeping city.” When the Church of England ordained its first female bishop, Libby Lane, three years ago at York Minster, no one from the Catholic Church was present in an official capacity.
Pro-life march in London
The March for Life took place in London for the first time last weekend. Several thousand people joined it, with American singer Joy Villa leading the participants to Parliament Square. Bishop John Keenan of Paisley and Westminster auxiliary John Wilson gave speeches. London Irish United for Life took part, urging Irish people in Britain to go home on 25 May and vote “no” in the referendum on repealing the 8th Amendment to the Irish constitution, which guarantees the equal right to life of the mother and her unborn child.
Three dioceses, Southwark, Westminster and Brentwood participated in the annual joint Mass for migrants on Monday’s bank holiday, in celebration of the international diversity of congregations. The Mass took place at Southwark Cathedral, celebrated by the Archbishop of Southwark, Peter Smith, Bishop Paul McAleenan and Bishop Alan Williams.
The Bishop of Plymouth, Mark O’Toole, has called on his diocese to take to heart Pope Francis’ “call to a culture of encounter between people on the move and host communities”. Addressing a diocesan gathering last weekend at Buckfast Abbey, Bishop O’Toole said it was necessary “to be prepared to put our heads above the parapet and gently and unthreateningly share our passion for those in need”, adding that “none of us wants an isolationist, closed-in society, where strangers are not welcome and where the richness that others can bring is lacking or not shared.”
He announced the appointment of a Diocesan Caritas Development Officer, “to co-ordinate and support efforts to assist children and families in difficulty, to support the homeless, to support migrants and refugees, the elderly and isolated”.
Dublin volunteers sought
The number of volunteers for the World Meeting of Families in Dublin this August has passed 3,200, organisers have told The Tablet. The volunteer drive is continuing until the end of May and will include radio adverts and a social media campaign. The aim is to secure 10,000 volunteers for the global church event, which runs from 21-26 August and includes the visit of Pope Francis. The 31 May deadline for volunteering allows time for training and police vetting. Anyone aged 16 or over is eligible to be considered.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols travelled to Scotland last weekend to take part in a conversation with Sir James MacMillan at the Boswell Book Festival in Ayrshire. Three weeks ago, they were together in the Sistine Chapel for a performance of the composer’s setting of the Stabat Mater, and their conversation in Scotland was interlaced with musical examples.
They discussed themes from the cardinal’s book, Hope In Action. Sir James told The Tablet that the cardinal was determined to affirm how hope is “not just hand-wringing” but requires “planned and sensible action”. Cardinal Nichols spoke about the work of the Santa Marta group, which aims to tackle sex trafficking and other forms of slavery.
London Irish explored
A north London parish will be exploring the lives of post-war Irish immigrants to Britain over three Sunday evenings, from this weekend. “The Irish Experience”, at Our Lady Help of Christians, in Kentish Town, will chart the arrival of the Irish in the area, how the migrants put down roots and the issues of “being Irish in London today”. Parish priest Fr Tom Forde told The Tablet that it would give people a chance to tell their stories and allow younger people to hear what life was like for parents and grandparents.
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