Promotion surprise
A parish priest who has served the Diocese of Lancaster for more than 35 years has been named by Pope Francis as its new bishop.
Canon Paul Swarbrick, aged 59, from Lancashire, confessed to “being in a state of surprise and shock” at his appointment and said he felt “great inadequacy” when faced with what lies ahead. Promising to serve to the best of his ability, he added: “Since my ordination to the priesthood at Garstang in July 1982 this was never something I expected or feel prepared for. I have given my acceptance in a spirit of profound humility.” Canon Swarbrick spent 15 years serving in Zambia until 2005. He succeeds Bishop Michael Campbell, who has resigned on reaching the age of 75.
Parishioners in Wales fighting a church closure flocked to the final Mass at the church last Sunday and vowed to appeal the decision under canon law. Regular members of the congregation of St Michael’s church in Conwy were joined at the last Mass by many others who had been baptised, confirmed or married there over the years. Parishioner John Lewis told The Tablet: “The Mass was also attended by members of all other church denominations in Conwy who were showing their support for St Michael’s people. After Mass breakfast was served in the church hall, which was packed with people being welcomed by the regular parishioners as they recalled happier times.”
A candlelit evening vigil was later held in front of the historic Stations of the Cross built into Conwy’s medieval walls outside the church. Bishop Brignall of Wrexham announced two years ago that he planned to close around a third of the diocese’s 62 churches by 2020, because of the falling numbers of priests under retirement age.
Lindisfarne retreat
Bishop John Arnold has this week been leading a retreat on Lindisfarne, off the north-east coast of England. A frequent visitor, the Bishop of Salford told The Tablet: “I always look forward to visiting Lindisfarne as I come away feeling spiritually rested and refreshed. Lindisfarne is also called Holy Island because of its remarkable history. Once known as ‘the Cradle of Christianity’ for its monastic life and evangelisation, it retains for many people an atmosphere of prayer and contemplation.” A spokesman for Marygate retreat house, where the pilgrims were staying, said Bishop Arnold’s presence would offer the 20 Catholics resident on the island the rare opportunity to attend Mass there on Ash Wednesday.
The General Synod of the Church of England has given unanimous backing to a call for people with Down’s syndrome to be welcomed, celebrated and treated with dignity and respect. A motion affirming the full humanity of people with Down’s syndrome was passed as a new form of prenatal screening, Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing, is to be rolled out in the NHS. The Synod called on the Government and health professionals to ensure that women told their unborn child has Down’s syndrome are given “comprehensive, unbiased” information. The Bishop of Carlisle, James Newcome, said the Church’s belief is that every human being is made in the image of God and is of unique and equal value.
The environmental crisis is an expression of humanity’s failures which the Pope is challenging us to tackle, according to former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord (Rowan) Williams. He was speaking at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, where he gave an address on Francis’ encyclical, Laudato si’. Lord Williams said one of the gravest aspects of the crisis is the way society is failing children: “Children need to know what beauty is and we need to think how this can be nurtured and developed in education,” he said.
A prominent Episcopalian minister, who is Dean of the American Cathedral in Paris, has stood down as the keynote speaker at this year’s Galway novena over her pro-choice views. The Revd Lucinda Laird (above) was invited to speak by the Redemptorist organisers of the novena, which sees up to 10,000 people daily take part. Fr Brendan O’Rourke CSsR “disinvited” the cleric when the Catholic group Lumen Fidei protested over her past role on the board of Planned Parenthood, an abortion provider in Louisville, Kentucky.
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